Advertise on podcast: Let's Find Common Ground

CPF and the USC Open Dialogue Project host a conversation on free speech in the United States with former ACLU President Nadine Strossen and USC Gould Dean Franita Tolson. They discuss free speech law, misconceptions, and how First Amendment conflicts shape politics, the courts, and civil liberties. This conversation is in partnership with Voices for Liberty, USC Gould School of Law, USC Heterodox Academy, USC Price School of Public Policy, and the USC Open Dialogue Project.   Featuring: - Nadine Strossen: Former President, ACLU; Professor, New York Law School - Franita Tolson: Dean, USC Gould School of Law; Former Election Law Analyst, CNN - Andrew T. Guzman: Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, USC

Former Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin moderates a conversation with political experts David Crane, Bob Hertzberg, and Richard Leib on how California's tax structure compares nationally. They discuss whether the state's high revenue levels translate into effective public and private outcomes, and what reforms could better align fiscal policy with performance. CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan gives closing remarks. This conversation is part of CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and USC Casden Institute.   Featuring: -David Crane: Co-Founder and President, Govern for California -Bob Hertzberg: Former Speaker, California State Assembly; Former Majority Leader, California State Senate -Richard Leib: Chair, Board of UC Regents; President and CEO, Dunleer Strategies -Ron Galperin: Former Controller, City of Los Angeles; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future

POLITICO's Melanie Mason moderates a conversation with political experts Douglas Becker, Susan Estrich, Ken Khachigian, and Hank Plante on the history of political parties in California, voter trends from the 2024 presidential election, how the "Trump factor" affects Democrats and Republicans, and the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conversation is part of CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and USC Casden Institute.   Featuring: -Douglas Becker: Professor of International Relations, USC -Susan Estrich: Legal Expert; Political Strategist -Ken Khachigian: Aide to President Nixon; Chief Speechwriter for President Reagan -Hank Plante: Peabody and Emmy Award Winning Journalist; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Melanie Mason: California Bureau Chief and Co-Author of POLITICO's California Playbook

CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference begins with welcome remarks from CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy, CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan, and Neeraj Sood, USC Open Dialogue Project Director. Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Seema Mehta moderates a conversation with political experts Mike Bonin, Fernando Guerra, Mike Murphy, and Amy Thoma Tan on the 2026 ballot initiatives in California. They discuss the most impactful ballot measures in California history, how Democrats and Republicans utilize ballot initiatives, and the initiatives in the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conference is in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and USC Casden Institute.   Featuring: -Mike Bonin: Director, CSULA Pat Brown Institute; Former Member, Los Angeles City Council; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Fernando Guerra: Director, LMU Center for the Study of Los Angeles -Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future -Amy Thoma Tan: President, Cobalt Public Affairs -Seema Mehta: Veteran Political Reporter, Los Angeles Times; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future -Neeraj Sood: Director, USC Open Dialogue Project

CPF hosts a conversation with attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley and USC Professor Morris Levy about Turley's new book, "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution." They discuss the crisis of faith in American institutions, how key lessons from history can guide us through today's radical reform and political instability, and how the state of politics today affects democracy and freedom in the future. This conversation is in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and the USC chapter of the Heterodox Academy.   Featuring: -Jonathan Turley: Attorney and Legal Scholar; Author, "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution" and "The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in the Age of Rage" -Morris Levy: USC Professor of Political Science and International Relations; Immigration and Voting Policy Expert -Neeraj Sood: USC Open Dialogue Project Founder; USC Professor -Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future

Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Seema Mehta joins redistricting experts Christian Grose, Paul Mitchell, Matt Rexroad, and Amy Thoma Tan for a conversation on Prop 50, redistricting, and the future of representation in the United States. They discuss the history of redistricting, California's Proposition 50, Texas's redistricting bill, and how this influences political power, changing political norms, and the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conversation is part of Mehta's study group "Politics, Polls, and Punditry — the Inner Workings of Modern-Day Campaigns."   Featuring: -Christian Grose: Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC; Director, Democracy and Fair Elections Lab at USC Dornsife -Paul Mitchell: Democratic Redistricting Strategist -Matt Rexroad: GOP Redistricting Strategist -Amy Thoma Tan: President, Cobalt Public Affairs -Seema Mehta: Veteran National & State Reporter, Los Angeles Times; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Diego Andrades: Assistant Director, USC Center for the Political Future

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins James Cleverly, former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department, for a conversation on the past, present, and future of US-UK relations. They discuss how leadership transitions, elections, and global crises shape cooperation between Washington and London, and what the next chapter of this transatlantic relationship may hold. This conversation is in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.   Featuring: - James Cleverly: British Conservative Politician; Member of Parliament for Braintree; Former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department; Former Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Education; Army Reserve Officer - Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Spring 2026 CPF Fellows Mark Campbell, Yemisi Egbewole, Garret Graves, and Seema Mehta for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the 2026 midterms, the Trump Administration's impact on the upcoming elections and media, ICE raids, and how the Democrats and Republicans are approaching the midterms. The conversation also explores the Fellows' study groups and their wide-ranging careers in politics and public service.   Featuring: Mark Campbell: GOP Campaign Strategist; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Yemisi Egbewole: Former Chief of Staff and Advisor to the Biden White House Press Office; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Garret Graves: Former U.S. Representative (R-LA); Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Seema Mehta: Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

USC Annenberg Media Center Director Christina Bellantoni leads a panel discussion with political and media experts Mark Campbell, Jon Favreau, John Heilemann, and Seema Mehta on the 2026 midterms. They discuss what to expect as we approach the 2026 midterms, what Democrats and Republicans need to do to reach voters, and the political implications of the 2025 special elections on the 2026 midterms. The panel ends with closing remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum and USC Dornsife Dean James Bullock. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?"   Featuring: Mark Campbell: CEO and Founder, Intellz Inc.; Former Campaign Manager for Glenn Youngkin; Fellow, University of Chicago Institute of Politics; Political Director for Ted Cruz's 2016 Presidential Primary Campaign Jon Favreau: Co-Founder, Crooked Media; Host, Pod Save America; Former Chief Speechwriter for President Barack Obama John Heilemann: Chief Political Columnist & Host, Impolitic with John Heilemann, Puck; National Affairs Analyst, MS NOW Seema Mehta: Veteran National & State Reporter, Los Angeles Times Christina Bellantoni: Professor & Director, Annenberg Media Center, USC James Bullock: USC Dornsife Dean Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

POLITICO Enterprise Managing Editor Sasha Issenberg leads a panel discussion with political experts Jim DeBoo, Christian Grose, David Simas, and Amy Thoma Tan on redistricting and whether it's getting too partisan. They discuss the state of redistricting nationally, the California Prop. 50 results, and how the results impact Democrats and Republicans moving forward. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?"   Featuring: Jim DeBoo: Founder, DeBoo Strategic Affairs; Former Chief of Staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Christian Grose: Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC David Simas: Managing Director, Emerson Collective; Former President, Obama Foundation; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Amy Thoma Tan: President, Cobalt Public Affairs Sasha Issenberg: Managing Editor, Enterprise, POLITICO; Author, "The Engagement: America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage"

This panel discussion from CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" begins with welcome remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum and USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim. Then CNN Anchor Elex Michaelson leads the panel discussion with political experts Mike Donilon, Ed Goeas, Jeffery Jenkins, and Richard North Patterson on the state of American democracy. They discuss how democracy drives voters, key lessons from history that are most helpful in today's political climate, and what to expect from Democrats and Republicans as we approach the 2028 presidential election.   Featuring: Mike Donilon: Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden Ed Goeas: Pollster; Former President & CEO, The Tarrance Group; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Jeffery Jenkins: Provost Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, and Law, USC Richard North Patterson: Best-Selling Novelist; Commentator & Author, "America on the Precipice" Elex Michaelson: Anchor, CNN & CNN International Beong-Soo Kim: USC Interim President Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy leads a panel discussion with political and media experts Tad Devine, Shaniqua McClendon, Neera Tanden, and Raúl Torrez on whether Democrats can make a comeback. They discuss what Zohran Mamdani's electoral victory means for Democrats, the government shutdown, California Governor Gavin Newsom as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the 2028 presidential election. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?"  Featuring: Tad Devine: Democratic Strategist Shaniqua McClendon: Vice President of Political Strategy, Crooked Media; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Neera Tanden: Former Domestic Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden Raúl Torrez: Attorney General, State of New Mexico Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" begins with welcome remarks from CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy, and William Deverell, USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences. Then Shrum talks with Dick Gephardt, former Democratic Leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, on how Democrats and Republicans in Congress can reach across the aisle to work together. Featuring: William Deverell: USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences Dick Gephardt: Former Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

For the 2025 USC Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy host a conversation on the 2025 election results and the latest political headlines. They discuss the 2025 California special election, 2025 New York City mayoral election, and analyze the election results across the nation and what it means for Democrats and Republicans.   Featuring: Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins voting experts Mike Madrid, Chuck Rocha, and Helen Torres for a discussion on Latino voters, the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country. They discuss shifts in Latino voting patterns, what to expect from Latino voters in the upcoming elections, and how Democrats and Republicans can connect with the Latino voting community for the 2026 midterms and beyond.   Featuring: Mike Madrid: Principal, Grassroots Lab; Co-Founder, Lincoln Project; Former Political Director, California Republican Party; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Chuck Rocha: President and Founder, Solidarity Strategies; Founder, Nuestro PAC & CAMPEONES PAC; Democratic Campaign Strategist Helen Torres: CEO, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE); Board Member, Public Policy Institute of California; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist