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KU experts can comment on 2024 elections, related topics
LAWRENCE — As a contentious U.S. election season heads toward November, University of Kansas experts are available to discuss with media the candidates, key issues, procedures and narratives of the 2024 races.
Read on for experts by topic; some experts appear under multiple categories.
Artificial intelligence
John Symons, professor of philosophy, can discuss artificial intelligence, including large languages models such as ChatGPT. His research explores the social, technological and existential concerns inherent to AI. Symons also is director of KU’s Center for Cyber Social Dynamics, home for the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study of the relationship between internet and data-driven technologies and society, politics and culture. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Children and politics
Meagan Patterson, professor of educational psychology, can discuss how parents can talk about the election, candidates, politics, civic processes such as voting and difficult topics with children. Patterson has conducted research on children’s opinions on race, how picture books can introduce young readers to politics, political and civic engagement, intergroup attitudes as well as gender and race in child development. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
China, international trade
Raj Bhala, Brenneisen Distinguished Professor of Law, can discuss the international trade policies of the respective candidates and parties, the trade war with China, free trade agreements (including NAFTA/USMCA), the World Trade Organization, U.S. relations with India and Iran, labor rights and forced labor, and other international legal, economic, political and national security matters. With over three decades of experience, Bhala is the author of 100 law review articles and 13 books, including the brand new “International Trade Law: A Comprehensive E-Textbook, Sixth Edition,” which is freely available Open Access on KU ScholarWorks. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science, can discuss the political and economic relationship between the U.S and China. Zhang is also the founder and director of the KU Trade War Lab. His research explores the political economy of trade and conflict in East Asia with a focus on explaining why interdependent countries use military versus economic coercion in foreign policy disputes. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Conservatism, social movements
David Farber, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor in the Department of History, can discuss the history of modern conservatism, capitalism in 20th-century U.S. history, democratic practices and social change movements, particularly how those of the 1960s and 1970s relate to events of today. Farber is the author of more than a dozen books, including “The War on Drugs: a History,” “The Rise and Fall of Modern American Conservatism” and “The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s.” (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Rachel Schwaller, multiterm lecturer in the departments of History and of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, can speak about the history of white, conservative Christians in America. Her research builds on the field of anthropology of scriptures, scripturalization and biblicism. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Debates and speeches
Brett Bricker is a Department of Communication Studies faculty member and assistant coach for KU’s nationally ranked debate team. He co-wrote a chapter in the 2016 book “Debating the Donald,” which analyzed Trump’s performances in the intraparty debates that led up to him winning the GOP nomination. Bricker is available to comment upon any candidate’s debate preparation and/or performance. As a scholar, Bricker has examined how hyperpartisanship has affected the “political apology.” (Media contact: Rick Hellman, 785-864-8852)
Robert Rowland, professor of communication studies, is available to journalists to comment upon the speeches, campaign rhetoric and debating styles used by candidates seeking the presidency and vice presidency. Rowland is a leading expert on presidential rhetoric and author of the 2021 book “The Rhetoric of Donald Trump: Nationalist Populism and American Democracy.” The KU researcher has specialized in the rhetorical legacies of presidents, calling Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama “once in a generation” communicators who raised the sights of their fellow citizens to lofty national ideals. Trump, he has called “a master at creating fear and hatred of others,” while he assesses President Joe Biden’s performance in his June 27 faceoff with Trump as the worst in the history of televised presidential debates. (Media contact: Rick Hellman, 785-864-8852)
Election administration and election workers
Zach Mohr, associate professor of public affairs & administration, can speak about the business of elections, including the cost of holding elections on federal, state and local levels, public accounting of government spending, election administration and the role of election workers. Mohr studies public budgeting, accounting and financial management and is the author of the book “Cost Accounting in Government: Theory and Applications” and is writing a book on the cost of elections on a local level. Mohr has also testified before the Congressional Committee on House Administration and was a city administrator before entering academia. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Energy policy
Christopher Koliba, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Affairs and Administration, can speak about issues including governance; accountability in governance; government employees at federal, state and local levels; sustainability in policy and communities; critical infrastructure; natural disaster mitigation and energy policy. He is author of the book “Governance Network in Public Administration and Public Policy” and dozens of book chapters and journal articles on governance, government networks, sustainability, policy and related topics. Koliba will also be director of KU’s Center for Democratic Governance, which will open this fall. Editors: Koliba can also discuss government accountability and the labor force. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Extremism
Don Haider-Markel, professor of political science, can speak about political extremism, national political trends and potential policy implications. His research includes American politics and public policy that deals with a wide number of issues, including Christian nationalism, gun ownership, military service controversies and LGBTQ politics. Editors: Haider-Markel can also discuss gun ownership and LGBTQ politics. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Gun ownership
Margaret Kelley, professor of American studies, examines the relationship between women, guns and modern culture. Using her comprehensive Guns in American Life Survey, she has explored topics involving how this is intersects with gun ownership, racism, religion and veterans. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Mark Joslyn, professor of political science, can discuss issues of partisanship and political attitudes. He is co-author of several studies on what influences voter attitudes, including level of education, gun rights and understanding of genetics. His book “The Gun Gap” captures the differences between gun owners and non-gun owners and shows how this gap improves conventional behavioral and attitudinal models. Joslyn can also discuss partisanship. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Editors: Don Haider-Markel can also discuss gun ownership.
Housing
Kirk McClure, professor emeritus of public affairs & administration, can speak to issues of housing, housing policy, affordability of housing and government housing programs, as well as homelessness. McClure has conducted research in housing markets, examined federal affordable housing programs and was a scholar in residence in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Department of Policy Development and Research. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Labor force
Misty Heggeness, associate professor of public affairs and administration and associate research scientist at the Institute for Policy & Social Research, can discuss women in the American workforce, economics, the care economy, working mothers and how government policy influences women’s economic well-being. Heggeness has published research on “girly economics,” or how care work influences the economy; “Swiftynomics,” how Taylor Swift is both an economic engine and representative of women’s influence in the larger economy; and she is leading research on the role of young adults in the workforce. Editors: Heggeness can also discuss women and politics. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Editors: Koliba can also discuss the labor force.
Latino American politics
Tiffany Gonzalez, assistant professor of history, can speak about U.S. politics, Chicano-Latino history, women’s history and social movements. Her upcoming book is titled “Representation of Change: How Chicanas Reshaped the American Political Process in the Late Twentieth Century.” Editors: Gonzalez can also discuss women and politics. (Media contact: Rick Hellman, 785-864-8852)
Alcides Velasquez, associate professor of communication studies, has researched several topics relating to the use of social media by the Latino community and how that relates to their political participation like his 2018 study. (Media contact: Rick Hellman, 785-864-8852)
LGBTQ politics
Editors: Haider-Markel can discuss this topic.
Partisanship
Kevin Mullinix, associate professor of political science, examines the extent to which political parties and elected officials shape the public’s attitudes toward various policies. His past articles include studies of police use of excessive force, wrongful convictions and racial disparities in traffic stops. He is author of the book “The Politics of Innocence: How Wrongful Convictions Shape Public Opinion.” (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Editors: Joslyn also can discuss partisanship.
Women and politics
Mary Banwart, professor of communication studies, is available to comment on topics that relate to women in American politics, from suffrage to today. Banwart has co-written the book “Gender and Politics: Changing the Face of Civic Life,” coming out later this summer. The book analyzes the latest research — including results from the 2022 midterms — on the role that gender plays in political campaigns, from media coverage to social attitudes. (Media contact: Rick Hellman, 785-864-8852)
Hannah Britton, professor in the departments of Political Science and of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, can discuss women and politics and the prevention of gender-based violence. She is also the director of KU’s Center for the Study of Injustice at the Institute of Policy & Social Research. (Media contact: Jon Niccum, 785-864-7633)
Teri Finneman, associate professor of journalism, can discuss media representations of women candidates, coverage of presidential and other candidates, political coverage outside of major media markets and media portrayals of first ladies throughout U.S. history. Finneman is the author of the books “Reviving Rural News: Transforming the Business Model of Community Journalism in the U.S. and Beyond” and “Press Portrayals of Women Politicians, 1870s-2000s” and is creator and host of “The First Ladies” podcast. (Media contact: Mike Krings, 785-864-8860)
Editors: Gonzalez and Heggeness can also discuss women and politics.
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