News & Stories

All Feature Stories Research News & Awards Newsmakers Q&A Community Profiles

Politics & Polls #7: The Coattail Effect, Gerrymandering & Third-Party Candidates August 10, 2016

Politics & Polls #7: The Coattail Effect, Gerrymandering & Third-Party Candidates

Donald Trump has focused on easing tensions with the Republican Party this week by endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator John McCain and Senator Susan Collins. But while these endorsements are intended to unify the ticket, it's not clear whether these Republican candidates actually want Trump's endorsement, as evidenced by Collins's refusal to support Trump. If disaffected Republicans like Collins stay home, this could spell trouble for downticket races. What kind of effect will these endorsements - and Trump's campaign in general - have on the House and the Senate? Could Trump have inverse coattails, and drag other candidates down? How does…

Politics & Polls #6: Does Election Media Coverage Tell the Right Story? August 03, 2016

Politics & Polls #6: Does Election Media Coverage Tell the Right Story?

The media have played a powerful role in the 2016 presidential election.Some critics argue Donald Trump became a viable candidate thanks to his “free airtime,” and that he might not have won the Republican bid without the attention. Others point out blatant sexism in the media given the attention paid to Hillary Clinton’s voice and clothing—something reporters didn’t do as much with male candidates. And Bernie Sanders’ supporters contend “corporate-owned" media are uninterested in scrutinizing his campaign and platform issues.What is the right way to tell the story of the election? What are the roles of polling data and of shoe-leather journalistic…

WooCast Series: Politics & Polls August 02, 2016

WooCast Series: Politics & Polls

Produced by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, "Politics & Polls" features professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang, who debate and discuss a broad spectrum of topics related to politics and current events. Subscribe on iTunes by searching for "WooCast."About the Hosts:Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941  Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He has been one of the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the author of several books including, most recently, "The Fierce Urgency…

Politics & Polls #5: Courting the Working Class July 28, 2016

Politics & Polls #5: Courting the Working Class

Within the grand speeches at this week’s Democratic National Convention lies a central message — Clinton and the Democrats, not Trump, can better serve struggling working and middle-class voters who have felt excluded from both parties. When both candidates return full-throttle to the campaign trail, they’ll be competing for these voters in key states such as Pennsylvania.How has the Democratic Party’s relationship with these voters evolved in the past? What messages should the candidates deliver to sway them, and in what ways? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more in episode five of Politics & Polls.Zelizer is the…

A Public Policy Summer for Rising College Seniors July 28, 2016

A Public Policy Summer for Rising College Seniors

“Any questions?”Professor Leonard Wantchekon, professor of politics and faculty associate in economics at Princeton University, looks around the classroom to a sea of raised hands at the Wilson School’s Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute (JSI).He has just given a presentation on his book, “Rêver À Contre-Courant” (Dreaming Against the Current), about his journey from being a political activist in Benin to a professor at Princeton and founder of the African School of Economics.To the college students in his audience, Wantchekon’s speech illuminated new doors for future careers. What resonated deepest with his…

WWS Reacts: Nice Attacks and the Future of ISIS July 22, 2016

WWS Reacts: Nice Attacks and the Future of ISIS

France has experienced three major terrorist attacks in the past 19 months. The most recent attack, which occurred July 14 on Bastille Day, resulted in 84 deaths.Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, the 31-year-old Tunisian immigrant who committed the attack, planned his assault over several months with the help of at least five people, according to Paris prosecutor François Molins.The French government has responded by extending a state of emergency for another three months beyond July 26 and is investigating whether the attacker had ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). While ISIS claimed responsibility for last week’s attack, there has been no…

Politics & Polls #4: How the RNC is ‘Unconventional’ July 21, 2016

Politics & Polls #4: How the RNC is ‘Unconventional’

It’s been an interesting week at the Republication National Convention in Cleveland. Donald Trump’s wife Melania was accused of plagiarizing her speech. Ted Cruz was booed offstage after failing to endorse Trump. And Hillary Clinton was called a “criminal” and compared to “Lucifer.”Will such dramatic incidents have an impact on voters? And more generally speaking, what role do these conventions play in modern America? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more in episode four of Politics & Polls.Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941  Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow…

Servicemen as Students: Active Duty Military at the Woodrow Wilson School July 20, 2016

Servicemen as Students: Active Duty Military at the Woodrow Wilson School

Candidates for Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs usually enter the School's degree programs with real-world professional experience. Students with military backgrounds also bring a global viewpoint of the effect public policy has on the ground. Their leadership and experience in the field enriches classroom conversations. Below are four profiles of these students.Michael KelvingtonFrom the time he watched G.I. Joe cartoons as a child, Michael Kelvington MPA ‘17 felt compelled to join the military. In 2001 Kelvington followed that calling by attending West Point and then serving in the U.S. Army both in…

Picture of Johannes Haushofer

Failures Aside, Haushofer Reaches Across Disciplines to Tackle Poverty July 18, 2016

Failures Aside, Haushofer Reaches Across Disciplines to Tackle Poverty

The ultimate goal of Johannes Haushofer's work: alleviating poverty.Haushofer, an assistant professor of psychology at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, works toward that goal with a combination of lab and field research that explores the relationships among poverty, psychological well-being and economic decision-making."In particular I've been interested over the past few years in the question of whether poverty causes stress and whether stress might lead to economic decision-making that is short-sighted and risk-averse, which keeps people trapped in poverty," said Haushofer, who joined the faculty in…

Politics & Polls #3: Is the Election a Referendum? July 14, 2016

Politics & Polls #3: Is the Election a Referendum?

People often vote based on who’s already in the White House. In 2008, public opinion of the Bush administration played a major role, influencing both the campaigns of the candidates and the resulting votes. But sometimes, it’s more complicated than that. Take 2000 for example, when incumbent Vice President Al Gore — who served with President Clinton, who had both high approval ratings but was also impeached — lost to George W. Bush.So how does the incumbent party affect elections? And how is President Obama’s legacy influencing the current campaign? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more in episode three of Politics &…

Stokes’ Award Winners Look Ahead to Washington July 07, 2016

Stokes’ Award Winners Look Ahead to Washington

The Stokes' Prize is one of four prestigious awards granted to graduating MPA and MPP students at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The award recognizes both academic achievement and public service leadership and is awarded to the graduating students whose achievements best exemplify the work of the late Donald E. Stokes, former dean of the Wilson School.This year’s graduation honored students Michael Carlson MPA '16 and Kabira Namit MPA '16 with Stokes’ Awards for their outstanding academic and service accomplishments.Carlson grew up in Galena, Illinois, and studied economics and history as an…

Politics & Polls #2: Does the VP Pick Still Matter? July 07, 2016

Politics & Polls #2: Does the VP Pick Still Matter?

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will soon announce their running mates—but does the vice president pick still matter? While it was once used as a way to bring regional balance to the ticket, it's not clear what the vice president selection means in 2016.Tune in to the second episode of Politics & Polls as Professors Julian E. Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more.Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941  Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He has been one of the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the author of…

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas June 30, 2016

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas

Last week, the Supreme Court voted to uphold the use of race in the admissions process at the University of Texas (UT). The 4-3 ruling came as a surprise for some, especially university officials and civil rights advocates who believe affirmative action is an important piece in promoting diversity in higher education. The majority opinion was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was joined by Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. Elena Kagan was recused. She served as the solicitor general when the Fisher v. University of Texas case was before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We discussed the ruling…

Politics & Polls #1: Goldwater, Brexit, and The Party Decides June 30, 2016

Politics & Polls #1: Goldwater, Brexit, and The Party Decides

In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson crushed Barry Goldwater in the presidential election. Could we see another landslide like this in 2016? Or does today’s political environment make that impossible? Tune in to the first episode of "Politics and Polls” as Professors Julian E. Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941  Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He has been one of the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the author of several books including, most recently, "The Fierce Urgency of…

WWS Reacts: Supreme Court Rules Texas Abortion Law Unconstitutional June 29, 2016

WWS Reacts: Supreme Court Rules Texas Abortion Law Unconstitutional

In a 5-3 ruling, the Supreme Court this week struck down a Texas law that imposed regulations on abortion clinics in the state. The law, passed in 2013, required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Clinics were also required to be outfitted like surgical centers. Both provisions placed "unconstitutional burdens" on women's reproductive choices, the court ruled in a decision issued June 27. Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the liberal side in the ruling, the first time in 15 years that the court limited state abortion legislation. Heather Howard, a lecturer in public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow…