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AU Newsmakers 5.14-5.21, 2021
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Top Story
Both Israel and Hamas Are Aiming to Look Strong, Instead of Finding a Way Out of Their Endless War
Boaz Atzili, associate professor in the School of International Service, wrote an article for The Conversation about the escalation of violence in the current Israel-Palestine conflict. Atzili wrote, “This boils down to a deadly calculus: The more the other side suffers, the better your reputation, no matter how much your side suffers as well.” Dan Arbell, scholar-in-residence in the Center for Israel Studies, spoke to Deutsche-Welle, VOA, The Globe and Mail and BBC World News about the U.S. reaction to the crisis. Thomas Zeitzoff, associate professor of public affairs, spoke to Vox about how Palestinians are using social media to draw attention to their situation. (5/17, 5/18, 5/20)

Faculty Author
Survey Experts Have Yet to Figure Out What Caused the Most Significant Polling Error in 40 Years in Trump-Biden Race
W. Joseph Campbell, professor of communication, wrote an article for The Conversation about polling errors in the 2020 presidential race. Campbell wrote, “The polls overstated support for Biden and underestimated backing for Trump.” (5/20)

Expertise
Child Care at Core of Women's Slow Post-Pandemic Return to Work
Associate Professor of Public Affairs Taryn Morrissey spoke to Good Morning America about America's child care crisis. Morrissey said, “The cost of child care is just not feasible for so many families.” (5/18)
Spike in Anti-Asian Hate Could Lead to Systemic Change in Schools
Lily Wong, associate professor of literature and faculty associate in the Antiracist Research and Policy Center, spoke to The Hill about how educational institutes are creating resources to combat anti-Asian hate. Wong said, “It gives us in academia some space to connect with the public, and I think that is what most BIPOC faculty really want to do — to give back to the community.” (5/20)
Inspired by George Floyd Case, Other Police Brutality Victims Seek Justice
Janice Iwama, assistant professor of public affairs, spoke to the Voice of America about the challenges victims of police brutality face while seeking justice. Iwama said, “The controversy is prosecutors are so used to working with law enforcement.” (5/14)
"Whig"ing Out About the GOP Infighting
Distinguished Professor of History Allan Lichtman spoke to MSNBC about infighting in the GOP following the removal of former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Lichtman said, “There are some very important lessons from the collapse of the Whig party, which imploded from within over the burning issue of the time.” Lichtman also spoke to The Hill about party tensions. (5/16, 5/15)
Clubhouse Is Being Sued for Trademark Infringement by a Sports Networking Site. Experts Are Divided on Whether the Case Will Succeed.
Christine Haight Farley, professor in the Washington College of Law, spoke to Business Insider about a trademark infringement case against Clubhouse. Haight Farley said, “Essentially, each company provides a digital space for users to meet. But beyond that the similarities end.” (5/16)
Spare a Thought for These People Who Are Still Waiting for Their 2019 Tax Refund
Donald Williamson, executive director of the Kogod Tax Center, spoke to MarketWatch about tax refund delays. Williamson said, “We have to stop using the IRS as a means of distributing money across the population this way.” (5/18)
The California City That Sends a Drone Almost Every Time Police Are Dispatched on a 911 Call
Washington College of Law Professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson spoke to Slate about police drones and data collection. Ferguson said, “Police are of the mindset that more info is better.” (5/17)
Landmark Report Calls for Stopping New Fossil Fuel Development Next Year
David Morrow, director of research at the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy, was quoted in a Gizmodo article about fossil fuel development. Morrow said, “Carbon removal is important because it closes the gap to get us all the way to net zero.” (5/18)
The World May 19, 2021
Chuck Call, associate professor in the School of International Service, spoke to PRI's The World about American reactions to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's attempt to centralize power. Call said, “They're not picking a fight with him, but they're clearly putting down a marker that they don't recognize this and don't accept it.” (5/19)


Prepared by University Communications

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