CMC In The News

In a book review, Prof. Lily Geismer discussed historian Robert L. Fleegler’s recent release, Brutal Campaign: How the 1988 Election Set the Stage for Twenty-First-Century American Politics. The book examines the 1988 presidential race featuring Michael Dukakis and highlights how his embrace of centrism ultimately contributed to his defeat against George H.W. Bush. Dukakis's strategic shift toward the political center failed to resonate with voters and explores the broader implications of his campaign for the trajectory of American politics.

Prof. Minxin Pei  was quoted in a story about the removal of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang after only 7 months. Whatever the final explanation, Qin's removal suggests that senior officials lack job security under Xi. "Today, Xi is the only patron who can protect you. If you lose his favor, you are gone," said Pei, an expert on Chinese politics.

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a story about Donald Trump’s chances in California’s 2024 Republican presidential primary. “Trump definitely has a base that will stick with him,” said John Pitney, professor of government and former Republican National Committee staffer. At the moment, Pitney said, DeSantis’ prospects in California are “pretty slim.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in an article profiling Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "Some Democrats like him because he is a Kennedy. As more have learned about who he is and what he stands for, his Democratic support has edged downward."

Prof. Jack Pitney was interviewed in a story about President Biden’s continuing fight over student debt forgiveness. "Many average voters are skeptical about student debt relief, but it's not their top issue. For young borrowers, it is a life-shaping concern that could drive them to the polls," said Pitney.

Prof. Jack Pitney was interviewed in a piece on Casey DeSantis’s recent video against LGBTQ and trans rights. He shared that there is a long tradition in conservative politics of women taking the lead on social issues, citing Phyllis Schlafly, a mother of six who played a role in Republican efforts to end the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and singer Anita Bryant, whose “Save the Children” campaign in the 1970s was a precursor to the policies championed by DeSantis.

Prof. Colin Robins was quoted in a story about Rolling Hills Estates’ landslide. “Our lives are relatively short. We don’t understand that something in a hazard area can very easily sit there for years and appear fine by all outward appearances, until suddenly the stresses that have been active all along suddenly reach their breaking point.”

Prof. Hilary Appel was interviewed about the NATO summit in Lithuania, where President Biden and world leaders have gathered to discuss, above all else, three top issues: the war in Ukraine and its push to enter NATO, Sweden's entry into NATO and Vladimir Putin's reaction.

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a n article about how control of the U.S. House in 2024 could be determined by congressional districts in California. He shared, “A lot will depend on the economy. The problem for Democrats is wages did not keep up with inflation. That may be changing, but if people have less money to spend next year, that will be a big problem up and down the Democratic ticket.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a story about an executive order by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on the first anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. “If this was a Republican governor taking authority away from local Democratic officials, I think the ideological lines would be very different, so there is a legitimate question about state government overreach and lack of deference to local officials,” Pitney said.

Prof. Manfred Keil co-wrote an opinion piece discussing the future state of the Inland Empire and how decisions by the Federal government may play out in the region.

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a story about how crime has reached historic lows, as compared to the 1960s. “It takes time for perception to catch up to the data. People are in the suburbs because they are afraid of the cities. I say that as a suburbanite. Orange County and surrounding areas tend to be pretty conservative on these issues despite their votes in recent presidential elections,” he said.

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to Temecula School Board President Joseph Komrosky and his negative comments about civil rights activist, Harvey Milk. “Newsom relishes fights with right-wing culture warriors,” Pitney said. “He won’t make any converts, but he will earn points with progressive Democrats for taking the fight to the opposition.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece discussing how President Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis are both scheduled to visit Northern California. “Right now, DeSantis only cares about Republican primary voters, and they like such maneuvers. It is hard to think of anybody who has lost a GOP presidential primary by being too tough on immigration. Even California Republican voters will like it. They’ll applaud just about anything that looks like a slap in Newsom’s face. If the state government takes any action against DeSantis, Republicans will applaud even louder,” Pitney said.

In a book review by The New Yorker, Prof. Henri Cole was featured for his work of poetry, Gravity and Center. The review stated: “This volume of sonnets by one of the form’s most distinctive practitioners calibrates tensions between mind and body, nature and culture, self and society, freedom and restraint.”