AU Newsmakers 12.18, 2020-1.8, 2021

A panel of American University experts in the School of Public Affairs and School of Education discussed the implications of President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for education secretary. The panel was streamed on C-SPAN and featured in coverage by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (12/24)

American University Experts Weigh in on the Breach of the Capitol

Kurt Braddock, assistant professor of communication, talked with Diverse: Issues of Higher Education and Sinclair Broadcasting. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, spoke to Deutsche Welle, BBC News, BBC World, CBC News, and Wired. David Barker, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, spoke to USA Today and the Voice of America. Lara Schwartz, director of the Project on Civil Discourse, discussed concerns of right-wing extremism with WUSA-TV. Allan Lichtman, distinguished professor of history, and Lenny Steinhorn, professor of communication, spoke to KNX-AM and KYW-AM, respectively. Jorhena Thomas, adjunct professorial lecturer of public affairs, spoke to News Nation and Nexstar Media. Thomas Zeitzoff, associate professor of public affairs, spoke to KUNC-FM and Agustina Giraudy, associate professor in the School of International Service, spoke to Politico. Brian Hughes, associate director of PERIL, spoke to Al Jazeera English. (1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8)

Faculty Authors

The Nashville Bombing and Threats to Critical Infrastructure: We Saw This Coming

Audrey Kurth Cronin, professor in the School of International Service, wrote an article for War on the Rocks about the motivation behind the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville. Kurth Cronin wrote, “Anti-technology violence also has deep roots and may have a broader impact, since it often targets critical infrastructure and could affect millions.” (12/31)

Fewer Kids Are Enrolled in Public Kindergarten – That Will Have a Lasting Impact on Schools and Equity

Associate Professor of Public Affairs Taryn Morrissey wrote an article for The Conversation about the pandemic's lasting impact on public education. Morrissey wrote, “What widespread delays in kindergarten enrollment means for children's learning depends on how they are spending their time when they are not in public school.” (1/5)

Expertise

A Century After Phony Flu Ads, Companies Hype Dubious Covid Cures

Manoj Hastak, professor of marketing, spoke to The New York Times about medical advertising. Hastak said that regulators have struggled to keep up with deceptive advertisers. (12/24)

Backlash Over Leniency at West Point After 73 Cadets Are Accused of Cheating

Daniel Gade, professorial lecturer of public affairs, spoke to The New York Times about a cheating scandal at West Point. Gade said, “The academies are trying to live up to the ideals of honor and integrity, but that is hard to do when they are drawing from a society where those things are not always valued.” (12/23)

How U.S. Homeowners Are Battling Racism in Property Deeds

Washington College of Law Professor Susan Bennett spoke to Reuters about how U.S. homeowners are dealing with racist and restrictive clauses in property deeds. The article ran in the Christian Science Monitor. (1/5)

Seismic Change: How COVID-19 Altered World Events in 2020

Allan Lichtman, distinguished professor of history, spoke to BBC News about how the pandemic impacted the 2020 elections. Lichtman said, “It was Trump's failed response to the pandemic that resulted in his defeat.” (12/27)

How the U.S. Misread China's Xi: Hoping for a Globalist, It Got an Autocrat

Assistant Professor in the School of International Service Joseph Torigian spoke to The Wall Street Journal about American strategic miscalculations in China. (12/23)

Democrats Pass Independents, Can't Overtake GOP in Voter Registration

Jason Mollica, professor of communication, discussed each party's voter registration efforts with Cronkite News. Mollica said, “I don't think in any stretch of the imagination should Democrats be celebrating.” (12/31)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Changing the Dress Code of Politics

Associate Professor of History Kate Haulman spoke with Business Insider about the politics of fashion and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's style choices. "Red becomes so associated with the Republican party, and also because of the 'MAGA' hats," Haulman said. "I thought it was her way of saying, 'I'm reclaiming this color.' It was such a vibrant shade, too. I thought it was a real statement." (12/22)

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

Disclaimer: Material supplied may be used for internal review, analysis or research only. Any editing, reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display is forbidden and prohibited by copyright law.