AU Newsmakers 7.17-7.24, 2020

Top Story

Study of Emissions and Virus Deaths Implicates EPA Policy

E&E News featured the results of a new working paper by Assistant Professor of Public Affairs Claudia Persico. The study found evidence of a connection between air pollution levels and COVID-19 deaths. (7/17)

Faculty Authors

We're Living in a Perfect Storm for Extremist Recruitment. Here's What We Can Do to Stop It.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, wrote an article for CNN about how to prevent youth radicalization online. Miller-Idriss wrote, “Preventing radicalization is not only about recognizing risk.” (7/19)

'In a Perfectly Just Republic,' Bella Abzug – Born a Century Ago – Would Have Been President

Pamela Nadell, Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women's and Gender History, wrote an article for The Conversation about the legacy of Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Nadell wrote, “In the bicentennial year of 1976, her congressional colleagues ranked her, after the speaker and majority leader, their most influential member.” (7/21)

Twitter Hack Exposes Broader Threat to Democracy and Society

Interim Dean of the School of Communication Laura DeNardis wrote an article for The Conversation about the recent Twitter hack. DeNardis wrote, “Cybersecurity is the great human rights issue of our time.” (7/17)

Expertise

A Rush to Use Black Art Leaves the Artists Feeling Used

Professor in the Kogod School of Business Sonya Grier spoke to The New York Times about corporate shows of solidarity with racial justice movements. Grier said, “It has become almost standard for companies to jump in, because everyone expects them to have some kind of social presence explaining how they align on race.” (7/20)

Political Outsiders Saw Surpirse Wins in Maryland's Democratic Judicial Primaries

Professor of Public Affairs David Lublin spoke to The Washington Post about surprising wins in the Maryland judicial primaries. Lublin said that the wins were particularly surprising because the complex electoral process makes it difficult to unseat incumbents. Lublin also spoke to ABC News about mail-in ballots. (7/19, 7/17)

Big Tech Has a Big Climate Problem. Now, It's Being Forced to Clean Up

Simon Nicholson, co-director of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy, spoke to The New York Times about Apple's new carbon emissions pledge. Nicholson said, “What Apple has signaled here is the beginning of a strategy on the carbon-removal side.” (7/21)

Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, a Black Housing Crisis Gets Worse

Associate Professor of Public Affairs Bradley Hardy spoke to the Los Angeles Times about how the pandemic and systemic racism have created a housing crisis in the Black community. Hardy said, “When you put that all together I don't think the results are all that surprising.” (7/19)

Fox's Chris Wallace Gets Praise for His Interview With Trump

Jane Hall, professor of communication, spoke to the Associated Press about Chris Wallace's interview with President Trump. Hall said, “You can confront people without being confrontational.” The article was reprinted in over 400 outlets, including The New York Times and U.S. News & World Report. (7/20)

Biden Announces $775 Billion Plan to Help Working Parents and Caregivers

Taryn Morrissey, associate professor of public affairs, spoke to The New York Times about Joe Biden's plan to help working parents and caregivers. Morrissey said, “This would change families' finances.” (7/21)

Is It Safe to Go to the Doctor? Here's What Health Experts Say

Melissa Hawkins, director of the Public Health Scholars program, was one of several experts who spoke to CNN about whether visiting the doctor was safe during the pandemic. Hawkins said, “In general, it is better to treat sooner rather than later.” Hawkins also spoke to Popular Science magazine about creating social bubbles, to DCist about the rising number of cases in the D.C. region, and to Motherly about kids and wearing masks. (7/19, 7/21, 7/22)

In Washington, Ron Rivera Has Opportunity to Lead Like Never Before

Washington College of Law Professor Jeremi Duru spoke to The Undefeated about the challenges ahead for Ron Rivera, the new head coach of the Washington Football Team. Duru said, “He [Rivera] will not stand for what's been going on.” (7/17)

Prepared by University Communications

American University's faculty, staff, students and programs appear in regional, national and international print, online and broadcast media regularly. Each week, AU Newsmakers provides highlights of AU in the news. For prior weeks, go to: http://www.american.edu/media/inthemedia.cfm

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