News

Articles about events and initiatives at the Center for the Political Future and Unruh Institute, as well as contributions from our team to significant publications in California and beyond.

Sponsored by the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, and GRoW@Annenberg.

Climate Forward 2021

Taking place from April 19-23, 2021, each day will focus on a different policy area that is critical to advancing climate change solutions. Register at bit.ly/Climate-Forward21.

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Former CPF Fellow Barbara Boxer to join CPF Board of Councilors (Source: Barbara Boxer)

Senator Barbara Boxer Joins Growing Board of Councilors at USC Center for the Political Future

The Center for the Political Future (CPF) is proud to welcome former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer as a new member of its Board of Councilors.

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Instead of the usual events held on campus, the Center for Political Future hosted a Zoom discussion Thursday evening to discuss President Joe Biden’s Inauguration and years ahead. (Source: Charles McCollum/Daily Trojan)

Daily Trojan - Center for Political Future hosts zoom event discussing the future ahead for the Biden Administration

After the inauguration of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president, Spring 2021 CPF Fellows, Rep. Barbara Comstock, Shaniqua McClendon, and Todd S. Purdum, joined CPF co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss the future of the country under the Biden Administration. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan shared how CPF looks to use future events as a way to reflect on what's important to the USC community and the world.

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Statement from the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

Statements from the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future on Trump Supporters Storming US Capitol

Statement from the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) regarding Trump supporters storming the United States Capitol.

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With the help of the Dornsife Toolkit course “Doing Good: How to Start and Run a Successful Nonprofit Organization,” undergraduate Joanna Maniti made her dream of building an orphanage and a school in the Philippines a reality. (Photo: Courtesy of Joanna Maniti.)

USC Dornsife News - Students build an orphanage, provide water to the homeless and assist immigrants

USC students in CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan's course, “Doing Good: How to Start and Run a Successful Nonprofit Organization,” put their classwork into practice by helping the homeless, immigrants, and orphaned children. This course was offered through the Dornsife Toolkit, which provides students with skills that can help them beyond college. USC Dornsife News profiled three amazing students in Akhavan’s course and their efforts to help vulnerable communities.

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Cobb County election officials handle ballots during an audit on Monday in Marietta, Georgia. (Source: Mike Stewart/Associated Press)

Los Angeles Times - As Trump attacks election outcome, Americans are less confident in the vote count, USC poll finds

CPF, USC Dornsife, and USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research launched the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll, a daily nationwide poll to track Americans’ opinions about the presidential candidates. The post-election poll results found Joe Biden had a 15-point lead with Generation Z and millennial voters. On November 19, 2020, Los Angeles Times analyzed the post-election poll results, including comments from CPF Director Bob Shrum.

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In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo, potential voters wait in long lines to register and vote at the Los Angeles County Registrar's office in Los Angeles. A pair of propositions on California's November 2020 ballot would expand voting rights in California - restoring the vote for parolees and allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turn 18 before the general election. (Source: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

USC Annenberg Media - Experts say California’s rejection of Proposition 18 highlights resistance toward younger voices in the voting process

Proposition 18, a measure that would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in certain elections, was voted down in California by a 55% majority, according to the Associated Press. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan commented on the proposition that if passed, would have given 17-year-olds the right to vote in special elections and primaries if they turned 18 by the next general election date.

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President Trump finishes a campaign rally Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa. Since 2016, he has retained many followers but lost ground among key groups, the final USC Dornsife poll of the election shows. (Source: Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press)

Los Angeles Times - Joe Biden leads President Trump by double digits nationally, USC poll suggests

CPF, USC Dornsife, and USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research launched the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll, a daily nationwide poll to track Americans’ opinions about the presidential candidates. The final poll results show Joe Biden leads President Trump by double digits nationally in the poll’s daily tracking. It also reveals President Trump has lost ground among key groups that powered his drive to the presidency four years ago. On November 2, 2020, Los Angeles Times analyzed the final poll results, including comments from CPF Director Bob Shrum.

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An official drive-up ballot box is seen outside the public library in Warren, Michigan, Wednesday, October 28, 2020. (Source: AP Photo/David Goldman)

USC Annenberg Media - What is election anxiety and how can consumers manage it?

More so than arguably any election in American history, the divisive 2020 presidential race has provoked an overwhelming sense of anxiety in many Americans. Nearly 70% of American adults said the 2020 presidential election brought them a significant amount of stress. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan shared his suggestions for reducing election-related stress.

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The USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team spearheaded the Galen Center voting operation in response to lack of voting access in South Central. (Source: Emily Bonilla/Daily Trojan)

Daily Trojan - USC Athletics opens Galen Center as voting site

For the 2020 presidential election, the USC Galen Center served as an official voting center for Trojans and community members. This effort was led by USC Athletics and the USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team and in partnership with various partners, such as the USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) and the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan and Communications and Media Manager Kristy Plaza shared how CPF helped organize the vote center and bolster voter turnout in the community.

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