Let's Find Common Ground

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy leads a panel discussion with political and media experts Tad Devine, Shaniqua McClendon, Neera Tanden, and Raúl Torrez on whether Democrats can make a comeback. They discuss what Zohran Mamdani's electoral victory means for Democrats, the government shutdown, California Governor Gavin Newsom as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the 2028 presidential election. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" Featuring: Tad Devine: Democratic Strategist Shaniqua McClendon: Vice President of Political Strategy, Crooked Media; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Neera Tanden: Former Domestic Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden Raúl Torrez: Attorney General, State of New Mexico Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" begins with welcome remarks from CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy, and William Deverell, USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences. Then Shrum talks with Dick Gephardt, former Democratic Leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, on how Democrats and Republicans in Congress can reach across the aisle to work together. Featuring: William Deverell: USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences Dick Gephardt: Former Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

For the 2025 USC Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy host a conversation on the 2025 election results and the latest political headlines. They discuss the 2025 California special election, 2025 New York City mayoral election, and analyze the election results across the nation and what it means for Democrats and Republicans. Featuring: Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins voting experts Mike Madrid, Chuck Rocha, and Helen Torres for a discussion on Latino voters, the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country. They discuss shifts in Latino voting patterns, what to expect from Latino voters in the upcoming elections, and how Democrats and Republicans can connect with the Latino voting community for the 2026 midterms and beyond. Featuring: Mike Madrid: Principal, Grassroots Lab; Co-Founder, Lincoln Project; Former Political Director, California Republican Party; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Chuck Rocha: President and Founder, Solidarity Strategies; Founder, Nuestro PAC & CAMPEONES PAC; Democratic Campaign Strategist Helen Torres: CEO, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE); Board Member, Public Policy Institute of California; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

Hear young USC alumni discuss their work in the nonprofit field. What fueled their success? How do they raise money? What impact are their efforts having? These inspirational and educational stories come from students who took the USC Dornsife Toolkit course "Doing Good: How to Start and Run a Successful Nonprofit Organization" CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan serves as the proud moderator of his former students. Gain valuable insights into nonprofit career opportunities. Featuring: Laura Calero: Philanthropy Manager, Achieve Miami; Artist, USC Arts and Climate Collective; Former VP and Advocacy Chair, Challah for Hunger Keli'i Rubin: Program Coordinator, Berkeley Food Network; Ambassador, africActive Foundation; Former Intern at Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants; Pinole Valley Varsity Football Defensive Back Coach Sara Zuluaga Sierra: Humanitarian Aid Intern, Share a Meal; Former Volunteer, JusticeCorps; Former Treasurer and Social Chair of Progressive Christians at USC; former Assistant Director of the USC Undergraduate Student Government Assembly for Accessibility Brandon Tran: Cofounder/CEO, ChallengeUS; Advisory Associate, KPMG US; Former Senior VP, Institute for Youth in Policy; Deferred MBA Admit, Stanford Graduate Business School Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future

CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan joins gun safety activist Shannon Watts and environmental protection activist Benji Backer for a discussion on civic engagement, lessons from activism, and how to utilize your passion to enact social change. They discuss their books, how to work across the aisle to drive progress on causes, and how to build movements while reducing political polarization. This discussion is part of CPF's Dialogue Across Difference series. Featuring: - Benji Backer: CEO & Founder, Nature is Nonpartisan; Author of "The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future" - Shannon Watts: Founder, Moms Demand Action; Author of "Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age" and "Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World;" Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future - Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins legal experts Franita Tolson, Jeffrey Toobin, and Alexander "Sasha" Volokh for a discussion on the role and state of the judiciary today. They discuss the role of the courts in safeguarding checks and balances, the James Comey indictment, and how Donald Trump and his administration affect the Supreme Court. This event was in partnership with the USC Gould School of Law. Featuring: Franita Tolson: Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law at the USC Gould School of Law Jeffrey Toobin: Contributing Opinion Writer, The New York Times; Bestselling Author of "True Crimes and Misdemeanors," "The Oath," "The Nine," "Too Close to Call," "The Run of His Life" (made into the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson), and "A Vast Conspiracy" Alexander "Sasha" Volokh: Associate Professor of Law, Emory University; Former Law Clerk for Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Samuel Alito Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin for a talk on his new memoir, "Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense." They discuss Manchin's decision to become an independent, his public service and White House experiences, and the importance of bipartisanship today. This event, part of CPF's Jeff and Sue White Dialogue Series, was in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Featuring: - Joe Manchin: Former U.S. Senator from West Virginia - Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Fred Ryan, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Center on Civility and Democracy, for a discussion on civility and the presidency. They discuss how past presidents bridged divides when working with political leaders they disagreed with, the importance of civility in today's political climate, and how political leaders influence the public and Congress. This event was in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. Featuring: Fred Ryan: Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Center on Civility and Democracy; Chairman, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute; Co-Founder, Politico; Former Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Assistant Director Diego Andrades joins voting experts Laura Brill, Jahnavi Rao, and Maddy Roth for a discussion on the forces reshaping how young voters approach civic life and democracy. They discuss Gen Z's voting patterns, strategies for reaching young voters, and how Democrats and Republicans can capture Gen Z voters. Featuring: Laura Brill: Founder & CEO, The Civics Center; Former Law Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg Jahnavi Rao: President & Founder, New Voters Maddy Roth: Executive Director, I Am A Voter Diego Andrades: Assistant Director, USC Center for the Political Future Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife