Public Affairs (Video)

Canada and the United States enjoy a truly unique relationship with deeply intertwined economic and cultural ties. The two countries also happen to share the biggest bilateral trading partnership in the world. The four-person panel of Eric Miller, Colin Robertson, Ian Saunders and Kirstine Stewart discusses several topics that include the importance of trade between the two countries, shared environmental interests along our common border, and the aftermath that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing to the economies of both the Canada and the U.S. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37202]

Canada's Deputy Head of Mission and the CEO of the Canadian American Business Council deliver keynote addresses during the "Build Back Better Together" webinar discussing how to restore international trade between Canada and the U.S. in a post-pandemic era. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37082]

This forum examines the binational Canada-United States relationship and explores new possibilities in the post-pandemic era to build back better together as both nations grapple with the emerging regional and global challenges of the 21st century, including future public health crises, regional security threats, climate change as well as our shared interests on the global stage. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37249]

David Beckmann reviews what we've learned from the Poverty, God & Politics series, talks about the students in his UC Berkeley class, and thanks the people—about 3,000 a week—who have watched webcasts and read the companion blog posts. He stresses the importance of advocacy with Congress this year and active participation in next year's elections. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36998]

Eugene Cho, president of Bread for the World, explains how this nationwide Christian citizens' movement repeatedly wins large-scale change for people struggling with hunger in this country and around the world. He concludes with Bread's current campaign to strengthen U.S. support for progress against child malnutrition worldwide.  Eugene is introduced by David Beckmann, who served as president until a year ago. These two leaders are different in many ways and Eugene is leading Bread for the World in new directions. But they are clearly united in faith and in deep appreciation for the people and congregations across the country who persistently urge their members of Congress to help hungry people. Eugene spoke to David's class in March 2021, an intense period of anti-Asian hate crimes. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36997]

John Carr provides a witty and incisive assessment of the liabilities and strengths of the Catholic community and its role in the politics of poverty. Its strengths include the leadership of Pope Francis and the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching. Carr is director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Teaching and Public Life at Georgetown University. Their educational programs are influential among Catholics in the United States and extend to thousands of people around the world. John previously served for more than two decades as director of the department that works on issues of peace, justice, and international development for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. John and David Beckmann have worked together for many years and are close friends. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36996]

Tom Hart, acting CEO and North American Executive Director of the ONE Campaign, explains how a strong advocacy community, including people of faith and faith-based organizations, have helped to reduce poverty, hunger, and disease around the world over the last generation. David Beckmann and Tom Hart open and close with lively discussions of two advocacy campaigns—debt relief for poor countries in the year 2000 and global child nutrition right now. Tom concludes with ambitious proposals to address the still-raging COVID pandemic and its consequences in low-income countries. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36995]

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador (The Northern Triangle) are experiencing a historic Diaspora to the US southern border. The precipitants of this migration are an unprecedented economic contraction occurring after back-to-back major hurricanes compounded by a pandemic and further complicated by heightened crime, violence and corruption. Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus and a native of Guatemala, shares her perspective on the importance of addressing corruption and promoting good governance as key preconditions of future direct foreign assistance by the United States. Then, Congress members Juan Vargas (CA-51) and Scott Peters (CA-52) discuss the Biden Administration's proposed four-year, $4 billion regional strategy for the Northern Triangle region to address security and economic factors driving migration from Central America to the US. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37083]

Many faith bodies and faith-related groups organize legislative advocacy. Amy Reumann, director of Witness and Society for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), explains how the ELCA's legislative advocacy is rooted in faith and theology, collective study of policy concerns, and ELCA ministries at the local, national, and international levels. The ELCA, its churches, and people are active in advocacy with state governments, the United Nations, and corporations as well as with the federal government. Whenever possible, they bring powerful decision-makers into conversations with the people and organizations that the ELCA and its people know through their on-the-ground ministries—homeless people, for example, or local churches in Central America. ELCA congregations bring people from all across the political spectrum together in worship, fellowship, and study. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36994]

Anna Eng, a senior organizer for the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), explains from experience how faith-based community organizing works. David Beckmann argues that the faith-based community organizing movement has contributed to increasing political participation among low-income Americans. He also talks about the Poor People's Campaign and the positive impact of social media. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36993]

911 dispatchers have some of the most stressful jobs in the world. They are constantly helping people through the toughest moments of their lives. All that stress can lead to high levels of burnout and turnover. That is bad news not just for the dispatchers, but for everyone who needs their help, and city budgets. Researcher Elizabeth Linos at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy has found a simple but effective way to address burnout among dispatchers by giving them a sense of community on the job. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35616]

Galen Carey, Vice President for Government Relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, explains the Evangelical movement, its ministries to people in poverty, and its relationship to politics. Then David Beckmann probes how it's possible that most White Christians, including a large majority of White Evangelicals, voted repeatedly for Donald Trump. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36992]

Join us for a candid conversation between trailblazing women leaders about their personal journeys, their hopes, and their visions for the future. Feminist scholar and author Brittney Cooper, astronaut and scientist Kathy Sullivan, news anchor and reporter Maria Hinojosa share with author and journalist Lynn Sherr what it means to them to be leaders and inspire others. Series: "Women in Science" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36626]

Únase a nosotros para una conversación sincera entre mujeres líderes pioneras sobre sus viajes personales, sus esperanzas y sus visiones para el futuro. La erudita y autora feminista Brittney Cooper, la astronauta y científica Kathy Sullivan, la presentadora de noticias y reportera Maria Hinojosa comparten con la autora y periodista Lynn Sherr lo que significa para ellas ser líderes e inspirar a otros. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Science] [Spanish Language] [Show ID: 37099]

Eric Sapp, a pioneer in the use of digital communications for good purposes, explains uses of digital technology to repair the divide between the Democratic Party and many faith-based voters, to communicate with vaccine-hesitant people, and to counter Russian digital propaganda. He stresses the importance of really listening to people. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36991]

Henry Brady, Dean of Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, draws a data-based picture of how religious attendance affects politics. Churchgoers tend to be more charitable and engaged in civic organizations than other Americans. But they tend to prefer elections and negotiations to conflict and protests -- even though conflict is important in overcoming the country's deep racial and economic divisions. In general, churchgoers are much more inclined than other Americans to be pro-life and anti-gay and, since the 1980s, increasingly inclined to vote Republican. Brady talks briefly about his own religious and philosophical development. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36990]

The two-time Governor of New Mexico (2003-2010) and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1997-1998) and Secretary of Energy (1997- 2000) Bill Richardson shares his perspective on the challenges and opportunities confronting the Biden Administration on a wide range of issues across the Western Hemisphere including national security, migration, trade and investment, energy policy, regional cooperation as well as climate change. He also share his thoughts about the challenges ahead in rebuilding America’s soft power influence in Latin America and the Caribbean amidst the growing influence of China and Russia in the region. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37036]

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, Founder and President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NALEC), explains the religious and political diversity among Latinos. Although Latinos are an important source of support for immigration reform, it is not a top priority political issue for most Latinos. Salguero explains how NALEC has amplified the voice of Latino evangelicals on immigration and other poverty-related issues. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36989]

Reflecting on the devastating, disparate impacts of the COVID pandemic on communities of color, this panel examines the role of structural racism in health outcomes and the systemic changes necessary to ensure health equity. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 36860]

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee speak from the heart about how the Black Church has helped to build African American electoral power. It’s a powerful story with practical lessons for present times. Dr. Williams-Skinner is head of the Skinner Institute and Co-convener of the African American Clergy Network. Rep. Lee represents Berkeley, California. She is a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and now Chair of the House of Representatives’ foreign affairs appropriations subcommittee. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36988]

Explore economic perspectives for Mexico, the country’s energy sector outlook, work force development and local content with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier. The conversation is moderated by Richard Kiy, President of the Institute of the Americas (IOA) and Jeffrey Davidow, former US ambassador to Mexico and Member of the IOA’s Hemispheric Advisory Board. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36882]

Hear remarks by Joshua Dickson to Berkeley's graduate seminar "Poverty and Communities of Faith in the Politics of 2021," taught by David Beckmann. Josh was the National Faith Engagement Director of the Biden-Harris campaign and is now Deputy Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Josh discusses the importance of persuading, mobilizing, and listening to faith voters; presents data on voting patterns across faith groups; and explains the Biden-Harris campaign's commitment and strategy to reach voters in diverse faith communities. He shows how an electoral campaign translated faith-grounded concerns into a dramatic shift in public policy to the benefit of people in poverty. He joins students in his unofficial, personal capacity, and not as a White House representative. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36987]

David Beckmann explains the purpose of his “Poverty, God, Politics” series—to highlight spiritual and political strategies that can move us from the current crisis in a way that puts us on track to end hunger and poverty. They are drawn from a joint seminar on poverty, communities of faith, and politics cosponsored by UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. David then discusses two foundational insights from his years as president of Bread for the World—that dramatic progress against poverty is possible, and that faith communities can help change the politics of poverty. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36986]

With the Biden Administration there is the growing prospect of a potential reversal of sanctions and regulations imposed by the Trump Administration that resulted in restricting travel, investment and remittances. At the same time, President Biden faces a challenging political landscape with Cuba as human rights abuses continue to be a serious problem in the country, its intelligence service continues to support Venezuela’s autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro, and unanswered questions about the strange brain trauma injuries experienced by U.S. diplomats and their families in Cuba linger. Additionally, pressure from the American Cuban community against a possible détente between Washington and Havana remains, adding a domestic political dimension. The recent San Isidro Movement led by Cuba’s artistic community provides hope that a new re-set in U.S-Cuba relations could lead to social and political changes on the island that would otherwise not be possible if current sanctions remain. Panelists: Richard Feinberg, UC San Diego; Michael Bustamante, Florida International University; Javier Corrales, Amherst College; Ted Henken, Baruch College, CUNY; William LeoGrande, American University. Moderator: Margaret Crahan, Colombia University. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36855]

A panel of domestic experts in election security practices focus their discussion on how we can advance our own election security practices by using the knowledge we’ve gained from our experiences in 2020 as well looking at best practices in other countries to improve our system overall. Panelists: Wayne Williams, former Colorado Secretary of State; Jennifer Morrell, former local election official and Partner at The Elections Group; Kammi Foote, Clerk Recorder and Registrar of Voters for Inyo County, CA; Philip Stark, Professor of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Moderator: Henry Brady, Dean, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36936]

Elected officials in some of the key battleground states in the 2020 election discuss their experiences, lessons they learned, and how we can better prepare for 2024. Panelists: Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, Michigan; Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State, Arizona; Josh Shapiro, Attorney General, Pennsylvania; Matthew Masterson, Former Senior Cybersecurity Advisor at CISA, Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moderator: Janet Napolitano, Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36935]

A panel of experts looks at election security from an international comparative aspect focused on election security practices in Brazil, India, and Sierra Leone. What might the United States be able to learn from what’s being done in these three countries to protect against election interference and voter fraud? Panelists: Katherine Casey is an Associate Professor of Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Thomas Fujiwara is an Associate Professor of Economics at Princeton University. Gianmarco León-Ciliottais an Associate Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Aila M. Matanock is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Moderator: Susan Hyde, Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36934]

Following the police murder of George Floyd, there have been calls to “Abolish, Defund, and Reform” the police. Elected officials around the country have called for 50% reductions in the police budgets that account for much of local government spending. At the same time, there is little agreement on the meaning of what could or should be defunded or what can be reformed; in many cases, the very language of this movement has impeded the necessary public debate about the appropriate role of police and policing in our society. This panel brings together experienced police, elected officials and faculty experts at UC Berkeley to address these critical, and timely, issues. Panelists: Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland City Council President; Jack Glaser, Professor at the Goldman School for Public Policy and expert on police bias and police reform; Danielle Outlaw, Chief of Police in Philadelphia. Moderator: Dan Lindheim, Goldman School of Public Policy Professor Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36879]

With Amazon's Alexa spying on her owners, a massive data breach masterminded by Cambridge Analytica, and evidence of election interference promulgated by Facebook, tech policy has never had more significant implications for our society and democracy. Roger McNamee—noted tech venture capitalist, early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg, and Facebook investor—talks with Henry Brady, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, about how he came to realize the serious damage that Facebook and other social media giants are doing and how he has committed to try to stop them. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36880]

Four former Secretaries of Homeland Security discuss current issues in homeland security, the overlap between security and politics, and how our country can move forward by embracing the challenges—and opportunities—the Biden-Harris administration will face in their first year. Panelists: Michael Chertoff (2005-2009), Jeh Johnson (2013-2017), Janet Napolitano (2009-2013), Tom Ridge (2003-2005). Moderator: Doug Wilson. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36811]

The People’s Republic of China has become a major investor, lender and actor across the energy sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, loans and investments from China have financed an impressive array of projects in infrastructure, energy and mining. Cecilia Aguillon, Energy Transition Initiative Director and Jeremy M. Martin, Vice President, Energy & Sustainability at the Institute of the Americas present an overview of the Energy & Sustainability program’s report followed by a discussion with Matt Ferchen, Head of Global China Research at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and Michael Davidson, Assistant Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) at UCSD. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36789]

Since 2017, California’s institutional prison population has hovered at about 115,000 inmates. Steven Raphael, Goldman School of Public Policy, looks at the last decade of prison reform including reducing overcrowding, the impacts of proposition 47 and the effects of racial disproportionality in criminal justice involvement. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36684]

General H.R. McMaster ranks among his generation's most distinguished scholar-soldiers. An acclaimed historian, his military service has spanned from West Point to Iraq and Afghanistan, to the Pentagon and the Oval Office. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, General McMaster is the author of Battlegrounds (2020). In conversation with Lowell Bergman, he discusses challenges facing the Free World and the case for responsible US leadership in world affairs. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36567]

Grosche International Inc. is in the business of tea and coffee products but also in the business of action. Action to take action, and better the lives of those who are not able on their own, teaching developing communities how to make, install and maintain water filtration systems and providing communities with the tools to succeed. Megan Buchter talks with CEO Helmi Ansari and teacher Matthew Mulhern about the mission of the company and inspiring a new generation of change makers. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Business] [Show ID: 36368]

Grosche International Inc. is in the business of tea and coffee products but also in the business of action. Action to take action, and better the lives of those who are not able on their own, teaching developing communities how to make, install and maintain water filtration systems and providing communities with the tools to succeed. Megan Buchter talks with CEO Helmi Ansari and teacher Matthew Mulhern about the mission of the company and inspiring a new generation of change makers. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Business] [Show ID: 36368]

Robert Reich reflects on the recent election; the presidential contest and initiative results. He also discusses UBI, income inequality and what he'd like to see in a Biden administration. Recih is a former Labor Secretary and currently Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36611]

The purpose of public health is to fulfill society’s interest in assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, says Dr. Richard Jackson, Professor emeritus at the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. For nine years he was Director of the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. In this talk. he explores environmental impacts on health ranging from climate change, toxicology, terrorism, and sustainability. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 36489]

Economist Hilary Hoynes explores her research on the COVID-19 crisis. She discusses the effects on low wage workers and the tripling of food insecurity in children. She also looks at the consequences of the delays and lack of inclusion in relief packages. Hoynes is a Professor of Public Policy and Economics and Haas Distinguished Chair in Economic Disparities at the UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36540]

For the final session of the semester, we offer a discussion of very local politics in the most famous (infamous?) small city in America. Everyone knows of Berkeley, and everyone seems to have strong feelings about it, especially if they don’t actually live here. So we talk with a former UC Berkeley student who is now a member of the Berkeley City Council and think about our small town and what it is like to serve in public office. Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson was elected to represent District 7 on November 6th, 2018. Elected at 22, Robinson is the youngest person to ever serve on the Berkeley City Council. Prior to his election, Robinson was a leader in student efforts to support development of more affordable housing and student housing, divest the University of California from the Dakota Access Pipeline, oust a UC Regent accused of sexual harassment, and secure additional state funding for the UC and the first tuition decrease in 20 years. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36296]

Today’s lecture takes a look ahead at the leading challenges and opportunities facing American democracy in this moment. We begin with a discussion of Trump’s refusal to admit defeat in the presidential election and the conspiracy theories and rising white male violence that are emerging out of the realignment of the defeated white power wing of the Republican party. Here we are confronted with the role played by conspiracy theories in the politics of the right and the threat to multiracial democracy posed by Trump’s defeated authoritarianism. This discussion is followed by a focus on the Black women who won Georgia for the Democrats. We consider how they achieved this remarkable goal through organizing and what this model of direct voter engagement portends for the future of democracy in America. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36293]

More than one in ten children in the United States live in poverty. There are two main programs aimed at helping them and their families: the earned income tax credit, and food stamps. Hilary Hoynes studies these programs and other aspects of the social safety net at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. She has gone through decades of research to find that these programs act as an investment, improving the lives of the children who benefit from them for decades to come. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35617]

To help us break down this weekend’s victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential race, we are honored to have local hero and Black feminist activist Alicia Garza. Alicia Garza is an organizer and political strategist based in Oakland, California, where she is the principle at the Black Futures Lab and the Black to the Future Action Fund. She is, along with Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors, the co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network. She is also director of strategy for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and host of the podcast Lady Don’t Take No. Most recently, she is the author of The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36295]

What just happened? What happens next? As Americans wake up to a still uncertain presidential race, we take on these critical questions as we both look back to the election and its outcome, while beginning to plan for what is to come from the immediate needs for political mobilizations to long term visions of what kinds of politics are needed. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36292]

What should we expect on election day? What should we look for in the early results and how long will it take before we know who won the Presidential race, the US Senate and all of California’s ballot measures? What should we do – besides vote – to help ensure that every vote is counted and that the democratic process works as it should? How has the election impacted immigrant populations and the process of naturalization? What is happening in Arizona right now? These questions and more are taken up today in our Pre-Election Day preview. The election ends on November 2nd, but the fight to determine who governs and how is about to begin. So start rolling that 10-sided dice, stay hydrated, make yourself a plan for election day, and get prepared to defend our democracy. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36291]

AIM2Flourish is the world’s first higher-education curriculum incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals and businesses working toward a better world. Roberta Baskin, Megan Buchter, and George Dionne discuss the foundations of the program, its global reach, the art of appreciative inquiry, student success stories and more. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 36224]

This panel features leaders and experts addressing these unprecedented times and all the challenges confronting Election 2020. What can we do to make voters' voices heard during an unprecedented pandemic and a historic civil rights uprising? Panelists: Aimee Allison, She the People; Betrall Ross, Berkeley Law; James Schwab, Chief Deputy Secretary of State, California; Dr. John Swartzberg, UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. Moderator: Dan Lindheim, Center on Civility and Democratic Engagement at the Goldman School of Public Policy. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36509]

Ian Haney López is is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Public Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes on race and racism in the law. His focus for the last decade has been on the use of racism in electoral politics, and how to respond. Ian develops and promotes a race-class praxis which argues that powerful elites exploit social divisions for private gain, so no matter what our race, color, or ethnicity, our best future requires building cross-racial solidarity. Ian is the author of three books, White By Law: The Legal Construction of Race (2006), Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism & Wrecked the Middle Class (2014), and most recently, Merge Left: Fusing Race and Class, Winning Elections and Saving America (2019) Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36290]

This lecture begins with a discussion of California’s ballot measure Prop 16 which seeks to overturn Prop 209, the 1996 ban on affirmative action in the state. This discussion considers both the history of California ballot measures and looks closely at how ballot measures have remade racial liberalism in postwar California. From there we turn to our primary topic which is that of political messaging and political strategy. We begin with the ideas promoted by Ian Haney Lopez and several other prominent Democratic party strategists for how to confront challenging questions of race and class in building electoral majorities and social movements. Remember the words of Stuart Hall: “Race is a modality in which class is lived.” Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36289]

Dr. Javiera Barandiarán is Associate Professor in Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2019 through 2021, she will be Faculty Director of the University of California’s Study Center in Santiago, Chile, supervising education abroad in Chile and Argentina. Her work explores the intersection of science, environment, and development in Latin America. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 36520]

Matt Nelson is Executive Director of Presente.org, the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group dedicated to advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture. Born in Colombia and raised in the Midwest, Matt was the Organizing Director at ColorOfChange.org and co-founded several worker-owned cooperatives in multiple midwestern cities. He is a seasoned campaign strategist who has won dozens of local and national campaigns and a community organizer who has trained thousands of activists. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36288]

This lecture kicks off with Professor Jayaraman’s discussion of “astroturf” social movements and the growing battle around California’s Ballot Propositions 15 and 22. These propositions represent two attempts of billionaires to privatize the public-school system in California and to re-write the state’s labor laws to impose “independent contractor” status upon millions of gig workers. From there Professor Cohen takes up the main topic of voting rights and the long history of voter suppression in the United States with particular emphasis upon the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress voter turnout and challenge the election results after November 3. Remember, if your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t try so hard to suppress it. So if you have not already, go and vote early, especially in those down ballot races that really matter. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36513]