Public Affairs – UCSD-TV Blog

Gavin Newsom: Citizenville

Today he’s California’s Lt. Governor, but Gavin Newsom has the energy and enthusiasm of someone with far higher ambitions.

Newsom recently shared some of his fresh ideas — and a dose of optimism — during his recent visit to UC San Diego’s Revelle Forum, where he sat down for an interview with Political Science Professor Thad Kousser to discuss his new book, Citizenville: Reconnecting People and Government in the Digital Age. The program premieres on UCSD-TV tonight (March 18) at 8pm, and is online now.

During the lively interview, Newsom cites examples of individuals around the country who are bridging the vast chasm between government and the technologies that are already revolutionizing other parts of our daily lives. He contends that the best way for Americans to secure their future is to reinvent their relationship with their government, as they have countless times before, and have the power to do so again.

Watch “Citizenville” with Gavin Newsom — Revelle Forum, airing this week on UCSD-TV, and online now.

It’s A Great Time To Be Sam Popkin

by Shannon Bradley UC San Diego political scientist Sam Popkin has a wonderful new book out called “The Candidate: What It Takes To Win — and Hold – The White House” and for political junkies like me, it’s pure heaven. So many great stories about the inner workings of campaigns that, when viewed together, show […]

by Shannon Bradley

UC San Diego political scientist Sam Popkin has a wonderful new book out called “The Candidate: What It Takes To Win — and Hold – The White House” and for political junkies like me, it’s pure heaven. So many great stories about the inner workings of campaigns that, when viewed together, show patterns among successful and failed candidates.

The book’s getting all sorts of attention, my favorite review is here in the Washington Post, and he continues his online chats with James Fallows at theatlantic.com, in what Fallows teasingly calls, “Ask Dr. Popkin.”

I had the pleasure of talking with Sam about his book and the presidential election in the downtime between the conventions and the debates. Our conversation lasted more than an hour but we’ll present his commentary in short, web-friendly chunks on our YouTube channel, UCTV Prime.

We’re starting today with The Candidate: Debate Prep, given that Obama and Romney are well into that right now, with Sam’s insight into how it feels to stand face to face with the president, and repeat what’s being said about him on the campaign trail. As Jim Lehrer would say, “Tension City!”

Next up, Popkin evaluates how Romney is doing as The Challenger and Obama as The Incumbent. We’ll get to Sam’s thoughts on The Successor when we have time. It may not be relevant in this election, but if Obama prevails in November, it could become so in 2016.

Channeling Judy Woodruff

Shannon Bradley

Early in my career, I had the wonderful job of preparing political segments for Jim Lehrer, Robin MacNeil and Judy Woodruff for the PBS nightly program, then called the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. It was great fun because I got to pre-interview smart and connected people about issues of the day and recommend who should be invited to appear on the program that night. Jim and Robin were first rate, of course, but the host who I admired the most was Judy. She was calm, authoritative and classy. She brought out the best in guests by presenting politics with such grace that she made it seem like the noblest of professions.

Well, some 20 years later, I’ve been thinking about Judy a lot as we launched a new political series, Prime: Vote on our YouTube original channel, UCTV Prime. Each segment features the faculty of the University of California using their expertise to analyze what’s happening on the 2012 campaign trail. We began the series in March with video commentaries from three UC professors on issues including the high cost of austerity, incumbents’ responsiveness to voters and the economic impact of immigration.

With today’s premiere of “Political Messaging on the Economy,” UCTV Prime moves from commentary into analysis, with me playing the role of the esteemed Ms. Woodruff as I talk to political scientists Lynn Vavreck of UCLA and Thad Kousser of UC San Diego about how Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Barack Obama are crafting their economic messages to appeal to voters. It’s great talk from engaging professors who clearly enjoy politics. Thanks, Judy, for showing us how it’s done.

Learn more about UCSD-TV and UCTV Prime:Vote producer Shannon Bradley.

Ronald Reagan at 100: A Son Reminisces

February 6 would’ve been President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday and, while his name is so often invoked in political discussions, there’s still plenty to say about the man as, well, a man. In his new book “My Father at 100,” the President’s youngest child Ron sets out to do just that, and he stopped by […]

Ron Reagan at UCSD's Revelle Forum

February 6 would’ve been President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday and, while his name is so often invoked in political discussions, there’s still plenty to say about the man as, well, a man.

In his new book “My Father at 100,” the President’s youngest child Ron sets out to do just that, and he stopped by UC San Diego Extension’s Revelle Forum at the Neurosciences Institute to share some of his most endearing memories and frank opinions with Phyllis Pfeiffer, publisher of the La Jolla Light newspaper.

The affable Reagan describes the complicated, yet loving relationship he enjoyed with his father, even as his own political views veered decidedly to the left. A compelling storyteller like his father, Reagan steers clear of nitty gritty politics and lets us in on his own journey to understand the more private side of this very public man. It’s a respectful yet compelling conversation that all will enjoy, no matter what your politics.

Revelle Forum: Ron Reagan