Let's Find Common Ground
News & Politics
About
The Bully Pulpit has merged with the Let's Find Common Ground podcast. As the tone of public discourse becomes increasingly angry and divisive, Let's Find Common Ground offers a healing path to reaching agreement and moving forward. At the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, we bring together top Republicans and Democrats to transcend partisan divisions and explore solutions to our most pressing national and global challenges. Join veteran strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy along with other Center staff and major voices for fun conversations that advance civil dialogue and practical politics. The conversations go behind the curtain with elected officials, campaign staff, journalists, academics, pundits, and political operatives. Every exchange is guided by standards central to the Center's mission: Respect each other and respect the truth. Opponents are adversaries, not enemies. And if you lose, don't burn down the stadium.
Episodes
- Climate Forward 2026: "Is There A Republican Way Forward?"
Bob Shrum interviews Claudine Schneider on Republican approaches to climate policy, discussing cooperation between parties on climate change issues during the Trump administration. The conversation was part of the "Climate Forward 2026" co…
- Climate Forward 2026: "Can States And Cities Lead On Climate?"
This episode features former California Senator Martha Escutia in conversation with Mary Nichols, Alex Nieves, and Nancy Sutley. They explore the capacity of states and cities to lead on climate change, the obstacles to climate policy duri…
- Climate Forward 2026: "Opening Plenary with Former EPA Administrator Regan"
Michael S. Regan, former EPA Administrator, and Joe Árvai, Director of the USC Wrigley Institute, discuss the EPA's function, environmental justice, and the influence of politics on climate action during the Climate Forward 2026 conference.
- Can You Really Say That? A Conversation with Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen and USC Gould Dean Franita Tolson
Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen and USC Gould Dean Franita Tolson discuss free speech law in the United States, addressing common misconceptions and how First Amendment conflicts influence politics, the courts, and civil liberties.
- California at 175 Conference: "First in Taxes, First in Results?"
Former LA Controller Ron Galperin moderates a discussion with political experts on California's tax system and its national comparison. They examine if high revenues lead to effective outcomes and consider fiscal policy reforms. The event…
- California at 175 Conference: "The Trends That Turned California from Red to Blue"
POLITICO's Melanie Mason moderates a conversation with political experts Douglas Becker, Susan Estrich, Ken Khachigian, and Hank Plante on the history of political parties in California, voter trends from the 2024 presidential election, ho…
- California at 175 Conference: "Ballot Initiatives 2026"
CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference begins with welcome remarks from CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy, CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan, and Neeraj Sood, USC Open Dialogue Project Director. Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Se…
- Rage & The Republic: A Fireside Chat with Jonathan Turley
CPF hosts a conversation with attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley and USC Professor Morris Levy about Turley's new book, "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution." They discuss the crisis of faith in A…
- Redistricting Is Sexy! A Look Back on Prop 50 with CPF Fellow Seema Mehta
Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Seema Mehta joins redistricting experts Christian Grose, Paul Mitchell, Matt Rexroad, and Amy Thoma Tan for a conversation on Prop 50, redistricting, and the future of representation in the United States. They discus…
- Britain, Europe, and America: The Future of the Transatlantic Alliance
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins James Cleverly, former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department, for a conversation on the past, present, and future of US-UK relations. They discuss how leadership transitions, elections, and global crise…
- New CPF Fellows on Politics Today
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Spring 2026 CPF Fellows Mark Campbell, Yemisi Egbewole, Garret Graves, and Seema Mehta for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the 2026 midterms, the Trump Administration's impact…
- Warschaw Conference 2025: "From The Off-Year to the Midterms"
USC Annenberg Media Center Director Christina Bellantoni leads a panel discussion with political and media experts Mark Campbell, Jon Favreau, John Heilemann, and Seema Mehta on the 2026 midterms. They discuss what to expect as we approach…
- Warschaw Conference 2025: "Redistricting: Are Politicians Choosing Their Voters?"
POLITICO Enterprise Managing Editor Sasha Issenberg leads a panel discussion with political experts Jim DeBoo, Christian Grose, David Simas, and Amy Thoma Tan on redistricting and whether it's getting too partisan. They discuss the state o…
- Warschaw Conference 2025: "American Democracy: From George Washington to Donald Trump and Beyond"
This panel discussion from CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" begins with welcome remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum and USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim. Then CNN Anchor Elex…
- Warschaw Conference 2025: "The Democrats: Coming Back or Cracking Up?"
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 vict…
- Warschaw Conference 2025: "Is Reaching Across the Aisle Now A Reach Too Far?"
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 Sc…
- 2025 Trojan Family Weekend: How's Trump Doing? What About the Democrats?
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 spec…
- Latino Voters: The 2026 Midterms and Beyond
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 fr…
- Doing Good: USC Nonprofit Leaders Shaping America's Future - Part 2 Even More Good
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 Dorn…
- How to Scale Your Passion And Build a Movement: Dialogues Across Difference
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 chan…
- The Courts and the Future of Democracy
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,…
- Former Senator Joe Manchin in Conversation with Bob Shrum
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,…
- U.S. Presidents and Civility
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 workin…
- Gen Z and Democracy: Disillusioned and Disengaged?
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, strategi…
- New CPF Fellows on Politics Today
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2025 CPF Fellows Jim DeBoo, Frank Lavin, April Ryan, David Simas, and Helen Torres, for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the Trump Administration, Gavin…
- Doing Good: USC Nonprofit Leaders Shaping America's Future
Discover the power of young leaders changing the world through nonprofits! USC alumni share their incredible journeys in the nonprofit sector and reveal what it really takes to make a difference. CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan joins no…
- The Politics of the Conclave
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Paulist Productions Vice President Father Tom Gibbons and USC Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies President Richard Wood for a discussion on the politics of the conclave to select Pope Francis' successor. T…
- Pathways to Peace in the Middle East? A Conversation with Ben Rhodes and Max Boot
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins renowned foreign policy experts Ben Rhodes and Max Boot for a discussion on pathways to peace in the Middle East. They discuss the current conflicts in the Middle East, the prospects of a two-state or single st…
- Boom, Not Gloom: A Battle Plan for the Next Four Years of Climate (In)Action
USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability Director Joe Árvai joins former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm for a discussion on how to move forward with climate change and energy issues under the Trump administratio…
- Climate Policy and the Two Parties: The Search for Common Ground
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and former U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) for a discussion on the state of climate policy under the Trump administration and how Democrats and Republicans can…
- Are Cable News and Legacy Media All But Dead?
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins media experts, Martin Gurri, Adam Nagourney, and Gordon Stables, for a discussion on how the changing media landscape has contributed to global populist trends. They discuss the transformation of the media land…
- Immigration: Is There a Way Forward? - Sue and Jeff White Dialogues
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins immigration experts, Andrew Arthur, Steven Davis, Deisy del Real, Ed Goeas, and Ehsan Zaffar, for a discussion on the future of immigration policy. They discuss the current immigration system and policies, amne…
- Let's Find Common Ground with Anthony Scaramucci
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci for a discussion on current events and the first month of the second Trump administration. They discuss the state of the Republican and Democratic p…
- "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy" - Book Talk with CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins bestselling author and CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin for a discussion on presidential pardons and Toobin's new book "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy." They discuss famous pardons through…
- "The Future Lies Ahead": The Second Trump Presidency
Author Sasha Issenberg joins political and media experts, Jane Coaston, Reince Priebus, Simon Rosenberg, and Chuck Todd, for a conversation on what to expect during Donald Trump's second term as president. They discuss Trump's first action…
- How Democrats Lost the Plot
Democratic Strategist Tad Devine joins political and polling experts, Dale Butland, John Della Volpe, Mike Madrid, Carissa Smith, and Stephanie Young, for a conversation exploring how Kamala Harris and Democrats performed during the 2024 g…
- Trump's Historic Comeback
FOX 11 News Anchor Elex Michaelson leads a panel of political and media experts to examine why and how Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump's and Kamala Harris' campaign strategies and messaging, and how the…
- Bully Pulpit Podcast and "Let's Find Common Ground" Podcast Merge Into One Super Podcast
CPF is proud to announce that our "The Bully Pulpit" podcast and the Common Ground Commtitee's "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast are now merged into one powerhouse program. The new "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast brings together Americ…
- Inaugurating A New Future?
Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy welcome the Spring 2025 CPF Fellows to USC for a virtual discussion of Donald Trump's inauguration and what a second Trump term may look like. The conversation features: Bob Shrum (moderator) - Director, USC Dorns…
- Election 2024: What Mattered Most?
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Tad Devine (Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign) and Steve Grand (Republican political consultant) to discuss the 2024 presidential election results and which issues mattered the most f…
- Election 2024: The Last Lap
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Todd Purdum (author; former New York Times Washington Correspondent), David Simas (former CEO of the Obama Foundation), and Carissa Smith (former Senior Public Engagement Advisor in the White House Office of Pu…
- Democracy in the Middle East: A Conversation with His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, The Crown Prince of Iran
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, for a discussion on democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Middle East at a critical moment in the region's history. Featuring: - Reza Pahlavi: Cro…
- Election 2024: Where Are We Now?
Election 2024: Where Are We Now? CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Jane Coaston, journalist and CNN contributor, and David Simas, former CEO of the Obama Foundation, for a discussion on how the 2024 election looks with less than two weeks to go…
- Experiencing Hatred: True Stories to End Hate and Educate
CPF hosts a panel discussion on "Experiencing Hatred: True Stories to End Hate and Educate" as part of our "Combating Antisemitism and Hatred Series." The series explores the struggle against antisemitism in the context of countering hate,…
- Inside the East Wing: The Role of the First Lady
CPF Director Bob Shrum and Marylouise Oates, former activist and LA Times journalist, join former First Lady staffers Anita McBride, Noelia Rodriguez, and Tina Tchen for a discussion on the influence of presidential First Ladies on politic…
- Presidential Debate: What Just Happened?
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy share their reactions on the historic presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and the implications for the 2024 presidential election. They discu…
- Trials, Debates, and the Strange 2024 Election
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2024 CPF Fellows, Jeff Blattner, Mike Bonin, Jane Coaston, Lea Endres, and Carissa Smith, for a discussion on recent political trials, the historic presidential debate between former Pre…
- Finding Common Ground in a Divided Congress: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) and Abigail Spanberger (D)
This episode makes a powerful case for compromise and pragmatism as crucial ingredients in passing laws and getting things done. Our guests are Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, who are both members of the Probl…
- Public Schools: Talking Across the Divide. Becky Pringle and Gisele Huff
Almost everyone has an opinion about public education, especially in the years since the COVID pandemic when the physical closure of schools and online schooling became highly controversial. The vast majority of American students attend pu…
- Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Leaders Together in the Same Room: Reverend Anne Fowler and Francis Hogan
Abortion is one of the most passionate, divisive, and emotional issues in the 2024 election campaign. The debate is often dominated by extremes on both sides. But what if passionate pro-life and pro-choice movement leaders could get togeth…