Princeton Profiles: Yusuf Dahl MPA ’17, from Prison to Princeton

Politics & Polls #55: Has the Conservative Revolution Succeeded? A Conversation with Nancy MacLean

Joining today’s episode is Nancy MacLean, an award-winning scholar of the twentieth-century United States, whose new book, “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America,” has been described by Publishers Weekly as “a thoroughly researched and gripping narrative… [and] a feat of American intellectual and political history.” Booklist called it “perhaps the best explanation to date of the roots of the political divide that threatens to irrevocably alter American government.”

MacLean discusses her book with Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang, as well as the widely publicized controversial debates that have surrounded its publication. MacLean responds to some of her critics in an illuminating conversation. Podcast here.

Junior Summer Institute Serves as “Boot Camp” for Future Leaders in Public Policy

Thirty-four rising college seniors from 13 states and three countries participated in the annual PPIA Junior Summer Institute at the Woodrow Wilson School, a seven-week intensive program on public policy. Their studies culminated in oral presentations of their policy research to panels of distinguished practitioners. Full story here.

Politics & Polls #54: The Republic of Spin with David Greenberg

Spin. It’s used by public relations gurus and politicians to shape an image or message, thereby influencing the public’s perception of a story. And it’s engrained in American politics, as presidents and presidential candidates both have used the art of spin to frame stories and public opinion.

To discuss the art of spin, David Greenberg, a professor of history and journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, joins this episode of Politics & Polls. Podcast here.

Politics & Polls #53: Battles for Freedom with Eric Foner

Drawing connections between the past and present often sparks fierce debates within the American political landscape. In this episode, Eric Foner, one of America’s most distinguished historians, discusses these interpretations of history and how they relate to today. His latest book, “Battles for Freedom,” explores this “use and abuse of American history,” unearthing the hidden history of American radicalism. Podcast here.

Politics & Polls #52: How Social Movements Achieve Change with Steven Levingston

The Civil Rights Movement is often looked back upon as a time when social activism sparked real political change. During that time, the United States saw some of its greatest leaders guide the country through turbulent years. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy provided different models of leadership, which some argue are needed today. In this episode, Professor Julian Zelizer interviews Steven Levingston, nonfiction editor at the Washington Post, about the battle over civil rights. Listen here.