Prof. Andrew Busch was quoted in a piece on the topic of consequential deaths in Congress in light of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death. He shared insight on the 1930 midterm elections, in which Republicans narrowly won. However, with the deaths of 14 representatives-elect, the Democrats were able to flip the House, which, according to Prof. Busch, “…established the groundwork for the New Deal.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece about Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s approach to avoid a government shutdown. He stated, “The calculation would be that Democrats dislike him but they would dislike his successor even more. That would be a bold, risky move that would be very much out of character for Kevin McCarthy. But that’s the only path forward that I see where he actually comes out looking good. He might survive. But survival is a relative term. He’ll be spoiled goods.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece about President Donald Trump courting California GOP voters. He shared, “…a lot of party professionals understand that Trump and Trumpists cannot win statewide elections, but the party base is different.”

Prof. Jack Pitney joined the KCAL 9 News team to discuss the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s accomplishments, character, final days and possible successor. 

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece on the rise of Sen. Alex Padilla to the position of senior senator of California following Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death. Prof. Pitney was asked about Sen. Feinstein’s successor stating, “…a lot will depend on how experienced that person is.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece on the emergence of Gov. Gavin Newsom as a major defender of President Biden’s reelection. Prof. Pitney shared in reference to the alliance, “It works to their mutual benefit. Biden takes a potential party critic and turns him into an ally, and Newsom gets abundant national exposure. So it’s a win-win.”

Prof. Jonathan Petropoulos was quoted in a piece around claims that Carnegie Museum of Art’s $1M drawing by Egon Schiele was plundered by Nazis. He stated, “The Carnegie Institute could have asked Otto Kallir [the art dealer who sold the painting to the Carnegie] where the Artwork came from, collected appropriate documents and interviewed relevant witnesses, but, through its own willful blindness, chose not to do so.”

Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in a piece on how California transformed from Reagan’s red state to Newsom’s blue state. Prof. Pitney cited that the Democratic political surge in the state the past half century is due to “a combination of things—economics, demographics, Prop 187. The end of the Cold War meant the defense industry downsized. The defense industry was always a bulwark in California of the Republican Party.”