Top Story Additional Feature Faculty Authors Expertise
AU Newsmakers 10.19-10.26, 2018
Top Story
Lessons I Learned- and You Can, Too- From My 'Today' Show Appearance
Cynthia Miller-Idriss, professor of sociology and education, wrote an op-ed for The Chronicle of Higher Education reflecting on her decision to appear on an NBC Today show segment about white nationalist group Identity Evropa. Miller-Idriss wrote, “I came to see public engagement as a sort of ethical and moral obligation- sharing what I had learned about youth radicalization with policy makers and the public in ways that I hope will make a difference.” (10/19)

Additional Feature
'Paradise of Serpents': How Runaway Slaves Lived in the Great Dismal Swamp Before Escaping to Canada
The National Post featured research by Dan Sayers, chair of the Department of Anthropology, about the history of runaway slave communities of the Dismal Swamp. Sayers said, “No one's saying nobody ever ran in there, but there's a difference between a slave running into the Dismal and slaves sustaining communities through generations.” (10/19)

Faculty Authors
The Pitfalls of Political Polling
Professor of Communication Joseph Campbell wrote an article for The Baltimore Sun about the relationship between political polling and election forecasts. Campbell wrote, “Polls and poll-based forecasts helped set the election narrative for journalists and pundits in 2016, much as they had in 1948.” (10/19)
Foundations Are Making Climate Change a Bigger Priority
Morten Wendelbo, research fellow in the School of Public Affairs, wrote an article for The Conversation about the role of philanthropic foundations in fighting climate change. Wendelbo wrote, “The biggest difference climate philanthropy can make, in my view, is by helping the most vulnerable people around the world cope with climate change.” (10/25)

Expertise
Trump Uses Inflated Figures to Argue That Foreign Sales Are Ties That Bind U.S. to Saudi Arabia
Gordon Adams, professor emeritus in the School of International Service, spoke to The Los Angeles Times about President Trump's push to maintain ties with Saudi Arabia. Adams said, “[Trump] has been probably more explicit than any other American president has ever been in saying, ‘This is money, this is jobs, this is work for American defense contractors, and why would you kiss it goodbye?'” (10/19)
Abroad in America: 'Why Does It Cost So Much (Insert Extreme Word of Choice) Money to Run for Office?'
Capri Cafaro, executive-in-residence in the School of Public Affairs, spoke to The New York Times about the financial cost of running for elected office. Cafaro said, “You have to have the money to communicate the message, but the message has got to be able to resonate with voters. If your message isn't right, it's not going to win you the election.” (10/19)
Employer ID Numbers, 1099s Would Improve Gig Economy Tax Compliance
Caroline Bruckner, managing director of the Kogod Tax Policy Center, spoke to Politico about improving tax law compliance of workers in the gig economy. Bruckner suggested that platform companies should supply on-demand workers with 1099 forms. (10/23)
Russia Fires Back After Trump Threatens to Ditch Nuclear Arms Treaty
School of International Service Associate Professor Keith Darden and Professor James Goldgeier spoke to CNN about U.S.-Russia relations following President Trump's announcement that the U.S. intends to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Goldgeier said, “[Putin] hasn't really gotten anything positive from Donald Trump. But he has gotten the disruption, and that… disruption will continue to undermine the West's unity.” Darden added, “There's an argument that Putin has reached the point of no return, that he has to keep probing, he has to keep seeking influence, because he is really outside the politics of the West at this point.” (10/22)



''Online, consumer'' news refers to online news outlets and blogs such as Huffington Post, NY Times
"Online, consumer" news refers to online news outlets and blogs such as Huffington Post, NY Times
Both charts are based on the week's Newsmakers highlights only, not total AU mentions for the week
Both charts are based on the week's Newsmakers highlights only, not total AU mentions for the week

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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