Top Story
| Which Trees Are the Coolest? American University Researchers Battle the Heat |
| WRC-NBC4 covered tree mapping research by Michael Alonzo, assistant professor of environmental science. Findings from the research will help groups in Washington, D.C. that manage forests and trees understand how trees are responding to warming temperatures. Officials can use the information to make better planting decisions for a more resilient urban ecosystem. (6/21) |
Additional Feature
| Allan Lichtman: The Keys to 2020 |
| Allan Lichtman, distinguished professor of history, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher to discuss what the Democratic Party needs to do to win the 2020 presidential elections. Lichtman said, “For decades, the Democrats have believed that the way to win elections is to pick someone from the center line, an establishment candidate… Democrats, you need to rethink what you're doing.” (6/21) |
Faculty Authors
| The Forgotten Riot That Explains Trump's Appeal to the White Working Class |
| Professor of Communication Leonard Steinhorn wrote an article for The Washington Post about the 1979 Levittown gas riots, and what it explains about President Trump's appeal to his base. Steinhorn wrote, “In the three decades after World War II, members of the white working class had grown accustomed to securing jobs and expanding opportunities. Yet as the 1970s ended, they began to feel they were falling behind, no matter how hard they worked.” (6/24) |
| How Cyber Operations Can Help Manage Crisis Escalation with Iran |
| Benjamin Jensen, scholar-in-residence in the School of International Service, co-authored an article for The Washington Post about how cyber operations can be used to manage crisis escalation, such as recent escalations in Iran. Jensen and his co-author wrote, “In times of crisis, countries increasingly opt for non-military coercive instruments of power, including cyberattacks and economic sanctions, to control escalation risk.” Erik Lin-Greenberg, incoming assistant professor in the School of International Service, also spoke to The Washington Post. (6/25, 6/21) |
| When a Politician Is Called a 'Lousy Traitor,' Should Facebook Censor It? |
| Jennifer Daskal, associate professor in the Washington College of Law, co-wrote an article for The New York Times about a court case in the European Union and what it means for the future of political speech. Daskal and her co-author wrote, “Discourse would, over time, become increasingly stilted and constrained.” |
| Corporate Boards Are Supposed to Oversee Companies but Often Turn a Blind Eye |
| Siri Terjesen, former director of AU's Center for Innovation, wrote an article for The Conversation about the role of corporate boards in company oversight. Terjesen wrote, “Boards of directors often fail to act in time to protect brands, prevent harm to the public and safeguard investors.” The article was published in 13 outlets. (6/24) |
Expertise
| Democratic Debate Expectations |
| Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies David Barker spoke to Hearst Television about expectations for the Democratic debates. Barker said, “What you want to do right now is not rule yourself out and keep yourself in the game.” Barker also spoke to KERA-FM about Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. In addition, Capri Cafaro, executive-in-residence at the School of Public Affairs, wrote an opinion article for Fox News, and James Wallner, adjunct professorial lecturer of public affairs, spoke to Bloomberg News about how Joe Biden's senatorial legacy has been impacting his run. Leonard Steinhorn, professor of communication, spoke to KRLD-AM about the first two Democratic debates. (6/23, 6/26, 6/27) |
| Screen Time Is Rising, Reading Is Falling, and It's Not Young People's Fault |
| Gray Kimbrough, researcher in the School of Public Affairs, spoke to The Washington Post about changing trends in how Americans spend their leisure time. Kimbrough said, “Old people have been spending more and more time watching TV/movies/streaming video, while for those under 40 it's held steady or fallen (on average).” (6/21) |
| White Supremacist Propaganda Swells to Record Levels on Campuses |
| Cynthia Miller-Idriss, professor of education and sociology, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about extremist groups' recruitment efforts on college campuses. Miller-Idriss said, “It's important for students to know there's a range of ideologies that are welcome on campuses, but there's a line. This is not about legitimate conservative opinion; it's about the ideology that falls out from extremist attitudes. ” (6/27) |
| How Documentaries Seek to Bring Climate Change Stories to Life |
| Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking Maggie Stogner spoke to the CBC about how climate change activists can use documentaries to spread their message and empower people to act. Stogner said, “You lure people in through entertainment, through dramatic characters, through compelling storytelling.” (6/21) |
| Bernie's Student Debt Plan Is Way Too Nice to the Rich |
| Louis Caldera, adjunct professor in the Washington College of Law, spoke to Vice News about Bernie Sanders' student debt elimination plan. Caldera said, “There's a danger these plans lead to a stereotype that Democrats will promise the moon and are not serious.” (6/24) |
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