October 16, 2023

Prof. Jack Pitney commented in an article on how the White House is maintaining its distance from the current chaos in the House. Prof. Pitney shared that lawmakers may “resent outsiders meddling in their internal affairs. Democrats support President Biden’s policies, but they might push back if he openly tried to tell them how to conduct their own business. Any intervention would have to go through back channels.”

October 11, 2023

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in an article about the internal conflicts of the modern GOP. He explained, “…you have a party consisting of constituencies that see themselves as under siege—white Christians who see a country that is less white Christian, working-class people who see a country where all advantages go to the college-educated. It’s the coalition of the ascendant versus the coalition of the resentful.”

October 2, 2023

Prof. Pitney was quoted in an Associated Press piece on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s temporary appointment of Laphonza Butler, a former union leader and Democratic insider for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s vacant seat. He shared, in reference to the Governor’s choice, “…a comfort level is important. Any governor might be a little hesitant about somebody with too many degrees of separation.”

October 2, 2023

Prof. Minxin Pei was quoted in an article on China’s president, Xi Jinping and the question of whether or not he is currently weak or powerful. Prof. Pei shared, “…objectively speaking, Xi is not doing well. But in terms of his control of the levers of power, he remains unassailable. He is not acting out of strength, but out of insecurity. You can have a leader who faces no real threat but nevertheless behaves as if he is in danger.”