2020 Story of the Year: The Coronavirus Pandemic and Its Impact on American Life
Air Dates: December 14-20, 2020 2020 is a year we won’t forget any time soon—though many of us might want to. From the impeachment trial of the president, through the pandemic, and the 2020 election, this year has seen more than it’s fair share of important narratives. Dr. Evelyn Farkas helps us make sense of them all and name our 2020 Story of the Year. Farkas is one of the … Read More
Enough
This week, the notes I take to write this essay were marked by a terrifying consistency: American democracy is under assault. And just as in some of the worst/best horror movies that I watched as a teenager, the calls are coming from inside the house: in this case, the White House. Let’s be crystal clear: the president of the United States has locked himself on a path in which he … Read More
Recap: “What’s Next? Discussing the 2020 Election Results with Evelyn Farkas and David Shuster”
The American people may be as divided as they ever have been politically, but there is one thing that all people in this country can agree on: the 2020 Election was an emotional rollercoaster. On Tuesday, November 12, Pell Center Executive Director Dr. Jim Ludes met with David Shuster and Evelyn Farkas via a Facebook live event entitled, “What’s Next: Discussing the 2020 Election Results” to debrief the Election of … Read More
Recap: “2020 Election Security: Threats, Strategies, and Solutions”
The security of our elections has been an issue of great importance following the 2016 election. Many fear that interference from foreign powers in our elections, specifically from Iran, Russia and China could threaten our democracy and the democratic process. The threat to our elections continues to be an important topic following the 2020 election and it appears this will be a topic of discussion for years to come. During … Read More
Recap: “The Constitution and Foreign Affairs with Dr. Anthony Clark Arend”
Constitution Day in the United States is held annually on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on that same day in 1787. While it spells out much of the American government’s framework, it says very little about the exercise of foreign affairs powers. However, some of the most contentious disputes between the legislative branches of the U.S. government have centered around foreign affairs. Dr. Anthony Clark … Read More
Artistic Resilience with Gayle Kabaker
Air Dates: December 7-13, 2020 The uncertainty of a creative career—waiting for acceptance and dealing with rejection—can be an isolating experience. Gayle Kabaker turned artistic resilience into advice for coping through the pandemic. Kabaker is a graduate of the Academy of Art in San Francisco and has illustrated for various markets worldwide for over 35 years. She illustrated her first New Yorker magazine cover, “June Brides,” in 2012, which celebrated … Read More
Imagine
Yesterday, Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that this winter could be “the most difficult time in the public health history of the nation.” According to his estimates, another 200,000 Americans may die in the next two months from COVID-19, which would raise the total death toll to something in excess of 450,000 Americans in less than one year. To put that … Read More
Harnessing the Power of Laughter with Gina Brillon
Air Dates: November 30-December 6, 2020 There hasn’t been a lot to laugh about in 2020, but Gina Brillon reminds us of the power of laughter and good humor even amidst so much tragedy. Brillon is a standup comic, singer, published writer, and poet. Her newest one-hour comedy special, “Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava,” is now available on Amazon Prime Video, along with her first one-hour special, “Pacifically Speaking.” … Read More
Making the Case for Multiparty Democracy with Lee Drutman
Air Dates: November 23-29, 2020 America’s founders feared the rise of political factions that would pit Americans against Americans. Lee Drutman warns that the founders’ greatest nightmares have come true and threaten the health and welfare of our republic. Dr. Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America. He is the author of “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in … Read More
This Way, Tyranny Lies
One of my favorite topics to teach is the 16th century scientific revolution in Europe. If I could, I would spend an entire semester dissecting the way Ptolemy’s second-century explanation of the universe prevailed for 13 centuries, only to be challenged by Copernicus and then utterly destroyed by Tycho Brahe and Johanne Keppler, who turned 20 years of nightly observations of the heavens into three laws of planetary motion: Planets … Read More