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.
Washington Monthly - USC Recognized for High Voter Registration Rates
The University of Southern California has been included in the Washington Monthly’s 2022 Best Colleges for Student Voting Honor Roll. USC earned this top ranking because more than 85% of the eligible student population registered to vote. The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future helped drive those student registration efforts along with partners VoteSC, USC Athletics, and a coalition of other campus organizations. Fight On and Vote On!
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Insider - What Kanye West, Oprah Winfrey, and The Rock have in common: They're top third-party alternatives to the Biden-Trump 2024 presidential binary.
Nontraditional, third-party candidates are interested in making an independent presidential run. This article examines 14 notable celebrities and would-be politicians to watch ahead of the 2024 presidential race. CPF Director Bob Shrum shared his insights on Andrew Yang's candidacy and the challenges of Green Party and Libertarian Party candidates.
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Los Angeles Times - With unprecedented spending, Caruso is everywhere. Can the billionaire become overexposed?
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy comments on Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso's $24-million investment in television, radio and digital advertising. This surge of spending is unprecedented in Los Angeles political history and remarkable even by national standards. Murphy shared his insights into the political strategy behind this wave of advertising and whether it's successful.
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USC Annenberg Media - College students could be spending their time partying outside of the classroom. Instead, they’re thinking 30-50 years ahead about the future of politics.
USC Annenberg Media profiled Sydney Brown, a junior majoring in political science with a minor in law and social justice, who is leading political action at USC. On campus, she is the USC Trojan Democrats president, participates in Undergraduate Student Government, and is incredibly involved with CPF. Brown also works as a political strategist for The Next 50. This profile demonstrates how young voters are participating in public service and civic engagement to impact the future of politics.
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Daily Trojan - Student club helps unhoused communities in L.A.
During the Spring 2022 semester, CPF Administrative Coordinator Teya Hisel, alongside two USC students, created advocaSC, a club that aims to support unhoused community members of Los Angeles through policy advocacy, education, outreach, and direct service. Hisel is a junior double majoring in Global Studies and Philosophy, Politics, and Law. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan serves as the club’s adviser. Although the club is not directly affiliated with other organizations, Hisel said she hopes to partner with CPF and other student organizations in the future.
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Beverly Press - CD13 candidates debate in virtual forum
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy moderated an online forum for all five Los Angeles City Council 13th District candidates on Monday, April 4 hosted by Larchmont Boulevard Association, Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association, and Windsor Square Association. The forum offered candidates an opportunity to discuss several issues facing the district, including crime, homelessness, and the L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón recall campaign.
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Los Angeles Magazine - L.A. Mayoral Debate: Informative, Entertaining and Truly Bashtastic
USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) co-hosted a Los Angeles mayoral debate with FOX 11 Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times at the USC Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday, March 22. The leading Los Angeles mayoral candidates, Karen Bass, Joe Buscaino, Rick Caruso, Kevin de León, and Mike Feuer, faced off for the first time in a debate. All five candidates had strong moments and weak ones, in an evening filled with attacks and candidates’ efforts to stand out.
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Spectrum News 1 - Caruso on receiving end of attacks during mayoral debate with 5 top candidates
USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) co-hosted a Los Angeles mayoral debate with FOX 11 Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times at the USC Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday, March 22. This debate was the first time the leading Los Angeles mayoral candidates, Karen Bass, Joe Buscaino, Rick Caruso, Kevin de León, and Mike Feuer, faced off. Rick Caruso was on the receiving end of attacks from several of the other candidates. Kevin de León took aim at plans to expand the LAPD, saying it would come with added cost to Angelenos.
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CNN - Los Angeles mayoral race shows shift in policing debate in heavily Democratic city
USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) co-hosted a Los Angeles mayoral debate with FOX 11 Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times at the USC Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday, March 22. The leading Los Angeles mayoral candidates, Karen Bass, Joe Buscaino, Rick Caruso, Kevin de León, and Mike Feuer, faced off for the first time in a debate. When the debate turned to policing, the candidates pledged to either maintain the current budget and size of the city's police department ranks or to expand them.
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LA School Report: ‘Not for the faint of heart’: Education experts and leaders warn school boards dominated by politics
USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) hosted a virtual event, “The Politics of Education at School Boards,” on Tuesday, March 1 in partnership with USC Rossier School of Education. This event featured a panel of experts, such as education expert Alan Arkatov and current/former school officials Lisa Korbatov, Nick Melvoin, Pedro Noguera, and Darline Robles. They discussed how political polarization across the nation is making parents’ collaboration with educators and elected school board officials more challenging.
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