In an op-ed piece, Prof. Terril Yue Jones discussed the rapid downfall of Chinese diplomat Qin Gang, attributing his fall from grace to missteps in handling diplomatic relations and failing to navigate international politics effectively, leading to diminished influence and strained foreign relations between China and the United States.
Prof. Jack Pitney was quoted in an article on President Biden’s Grand Canyon event and how Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) attended, while Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) did not attend. Rep. Gallego is running to fill Sen. Sinema’s seat. “If you’re running a tough campaign against an incumbent, embracing a not very popular president isn’t the smartest tactic.”
Prof. John Roth was interviewed on the topic of Trump’s dangerous Nazi-style rhetoric and how this resurgence of antisemitism impacts America’s larger democracy crisis.
Prof. Lars Schmitz was quoted in an article about a recent discovery of an ancient whale that might have been the heaviest animal that ever lived at 340 tons. “What a remarkable find! Estimating body mass in fossils is always super difficult, but I don’t think there is any doubt that this whale was very large.”
In a book review, Prof. Lily Geismer discussed historian Robert L. Fleegler’s recent release, Brutal Campaign: How the 1988 Election Set the Stage for Twenty-First-Century American Politics. The book examines the 1988 presidential race featuring Michael Dukakis and highlights how his embrace of centrism ultimately contributed to his defeat against George H.W. Bush. Dukakis's strategic shift toward the political center failed to resonate with voters and explores the broader implications of his campaign for the trajectory of American politics.
Prof. Minxin Pei was quoted in a story about the removal of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang after only 7 months. Whatever the final explanation, Qin's removal suggests that senior officials lack job security under Xi. "Today, Xi is the only patron who can protect you. If you lose his favor, you are gone," said Pei, an expert on Chinese politics.
