Top Story
| In a Tense Election Year, Laura Bush Picks an Interesting Ally: Michelle Obama |
| Former First Lady Laura Bush joined First Lady Michelle Obama for a forum sponsored by the School of Public Affairs and held at the U.S. National Archives. The event was featured in The Washington Post, which reported that both First Ladies addressed issues such as military families and raising daughters, among other topics. Michelle Obama offered, “As you all know, I deeply admire and respect Laura. And I think that it's important to collaborate with people you admire and respect, regardless of party. That's what makes a democracy work, truly.” More than 100 outlets covered the event or ran stories including McClatchy, WTOP, Associated Press, CNN, and The Washington Times. (9/16) |
Additional Features
| A Car Bomb Killed Orlando Letelier on Embassy Row 40 Years Ago. A Mural by His Son Marks the Tragedy and the Progress It Inspired. |
| “Todas las Manos,” a five-panel mural, 10 feet by 40 feet, that is exhibited in the sculpture garden of the American University Museum, was featured in The Washington Post. The mural is the work of artist Francisco Letelier and features his father Orlando Letelier, who was assassinated in Washington D.C. in 1976 by the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Letelier said the mural celebrates the global activism that resulted from the tragedy. The exhibit was also featured on WUSA9, NPR and in DCist. WAMU-88.5 featured a story about a second exhibit, “It Takes a Nation.” |
| American University Investigating After Black Student Says Banana Was Thrown at Her |
| The Washington Post featured a story about incidents of unacceptable student behavior at AU. Students and community members protested and have demanded university-wide changes and disciplinary action against the offending students. As part of the university's response, a Town Hall and Community Conversation were held, and President Neil Kerwin issued a community memo, saying, “Do not be discouraged. We will not be dissuaded from our goal to create a more inclusive climate. Despite the efforts we have begun, there is still a great deal more to do.” More than 130 outlets covered the issue and response by university leadership including Associated Press, The New York Times, Inside Higher Ed and WUSA9, WTTG Fox 5, WRC-DC-NBC4 and WJLA-ABC7. (9/16) |
| American CEOs Sound Off: What They Would Tell the Next Prez |
| For Washington Business Journal, the Kogod School of Business and Executive-in-Residence Rebecca Cooper were featured for a new report on what American CEOs would tell the next president. The report, based on Cooper's interviews with business executives, shows that infrastructure, reforming the tax system and investing in a changing workforce are all priorities for executives. (9/22) |
Faculty Authors
| Beware Hype About Border Dangers |
| Ernesto Castaneda, assistant professor of sociology, wrote an op-ed in The El Paso Times about border security. Castaneda wrote, “What is missing from discussions about the border and crime are the views of border residents. How do they feel about security and crime? Recent surveys reveal that the majority of residents living in cities along the U.S.-Mexico border feel safe.” (9/17) |
| How Donald Trump Gets Away with Birther Conspiracy and Other Lies |
| Chris Edelson, director of the Politics, Policy, and Law Scholars Program, authored an article for Marketwatch on Donald Trump. Edelson wrote, “Trump has effectively used political correctness to shut down criticism of both him and his supporters. It has become off-limits to describe people who endorse nakedly racist ideas as what they are: racists.” (9/17) |
Expertise
| Russia Accuses U.S. Of Defending ISIS |
| Director of the Carmel Institute of Russian Culture and History Anton Fedyashin spoke to CNN about the ceasefire in Syria and Russia's claim that a recent U.S. strike was helping ISIS. Fedyashin said, “There are two reasons for Russia to make this claim. One this is PR posturing before the security council meeting and two this is a Russian signal to the Syrians that they are sticking by their ally.” (9/18) |
| 'Broad Shoulders' and 'A Presidential Look': The Trump Campaign Uses Gender to Try to Undercut Clinton's Candidacy |
| Director of the Women and Politics Institute Jennifer Lawless spoke to The Los Angeles Times about Donald Trump's use of gender. Lawless said, “When you look beyond the presidential level, voters are amenable to women candidates. At the presidential level it's trickier — we only have one case. It's hard to know whether attitudes toward Clinton have to do with her being Clinton, or that she's a woman.” Lawless also spoke to The Christian Science Monitor and AFP. (9/21) |
| Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Turn Their Attention to the Upcoming Presidential Debates |
| Elizabeth Sherman, professor of public affairs, spoke with the Diane Rehm Show about the presidential debates. Sherman said, “Clinton has to have a clear message and show her command of the issues. She made the choice to go negative in the campaign but will need to do more than say that Trump is unfit to be president. She needs to illustrate her plans.” (9/19) |
| Does the Media Hold Clinton to a Higher Standard? |
| Communication Professor Jane Hall spoke with USA Today following Hillary Clinton's pneumonia diagnosis about her perceived unfair treatment by the press. Hall said Clinton's “legitimate health issue was made worse by the way the campaign handled it.” (9/15) |
| Superbugs Reach Apex of Global Health Worries |
| For Al Jazeera English, School of International Service Professor Mike Schroeder spoke about global health and superbugs. Schroeder said of the World Health Organization, “Whether it can answer those concerns by taking the lead in public health emergencies while also forging longer-term, multi-stakeholder commitments on antibiotic resistance for 10 years down the road remains a big question.” (9/19) |
| Is the IRS Targeting Small Businesses? Yep, Says One Expert |
| Don Williamson, executive director, Kogod Tax Policy Center, was quoted in an article by Small Business Trends about how IRS tax return audits seem to target small businesses. Williamson's recent testimony submitted to the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Small Business was featured. Most audits are not random and due to the nation's complex tax code, Williamson says. (9/20) |
| Syria, Nuclear Arms and Refugees Top UN Assembly Agenda |
| For Al Jazeera English, School of International Service Professors Kenneth Conca and Derrick Cogburn weighed in on the Sustainable Development Goals. They called the complex set of goals a “broad and complicated agenda that almost looks like everyone tossed their favourite concern into the pie.” (9/19) |
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