Author: TheConversation

By Stephen A. Jones, Adjunct Instructor of History, Central Michigan University; and Eric Freedman, Professor of Journalism and Chair, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University The fury over racial injustice that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s killing has forced Americans to confront their history. That is unfamiliar territory for most Americans, whose historical knowledge amounts to a vague blend of fact and myth that was only half-learned in high school and is only half-remembered now. If their historical knowledge is lacking, Americans are not any better informed about the role of presidential leadership – and...

By Brian J Purnell, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History, Bowdoin College; Morgan Marietta, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell; and Neta C. Crawford, Professor of Political Science and Department Chair, Boston University The American public has had its say and for the first time in a generation denied a sitting president a second term. President’s Trump’s tenure lasted just four years, but in that time he dragged policy on an array of key issues in a dramatic new direction. Joe Biden’s victory, confirmed by the Associated Press late morning on Nov. 7, presents an...

By Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, Erie campus, Penn State As states continue to count their ballots in the 2020 election, it seems possible that Democrats and Republicans will end up in court over whether President Trump will win a second term in the White House. President Trump has said he was going to contest the election results – going so far as to say that he believed the election will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has a team of lawyers lined up for a legal battle. Unprecedented changes...

By Melanie Green, Professor of Communication, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Former Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia were on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Yet despite their obvious legal disagreements, the liberal Ginsburg once described herself and the conservative Scalia as “best buddies.” This connection across ideological lines may seem surprising today. A striking feature of the current political moment is the extent to which it has affected personal relationships, with friendships fissuring over political issues. In fact, a recent Pew study showed just how deep that divide has become....

By Donald Nieman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Binghamton University, State University of New York With so much unclear about the upcoming presidential election, it’s nice to know that there is one absolute certainty. Mail-in ballots may take a long time to count. Many states will have recounts, either statewide or in specific areas. President Donald Trump has signaled he may not like the outcome – and it remains to be seen if he or others will accept the result. As a historian who has taught and written about the Constitution for over 40 years, however,...

By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, IUPUI The American public may not find out who wins the presidential election on November 3, 4, or even 5. But, at some point, we will learn whether Republican Donald Trump is elected to a second term or if Democrat Joe Biden will be the next president. For the winner of the election, the moment of victory brings unbridled joy and acclamation, applause, laughter, hugs and champagne to celebrate the biggest prize in politics. Not so for the loser, who must ultimately accept the responsibility for the defeat. In my book, The Art...