Experts Matter. Find Yours.

Covering the race for the White House? Georgia Southern's presidency expert can help

It has been far from a quiet summer on the American political scene. Each day seems to bring a different twist of turn for both parties seeking to claim power in the upcoming November elections. And if you're covering - Georgia Southern University political science professor Joshua Kennedy, Ph.D., is here to help with any question you may have, angle you're looking to explore or simply be a reliable, informed and objective source for your stories. Kennedy's principal area of study and teaching is in American politics, with a more particular focus on the presidency and the federal bureaucracy. His research has appeared in such outlets as American Politics Research, Research and Politics and Presidential Studies Quarterly, and he is a renowned expert for local, regional and national media when it comes to the American presidency. So if you have a story to file between now and November 05 - simply click on Joshua Kennedy's icon now to arrange an interview today.

Expert Q&A: Ralph Carter Speaks on the Politics of the Olympic Games

The 2024 Summer Olympics in France are a celebratory time for many – including a record nine Horned Frogs competing – but the Games are against the backdrop of dynamic circumstances throughout the globe. TCU News spoke to Ralph Carter, Piper Professor of political science, about viewing the Olympics through the lens of current affairs. Q: Between the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the Israel/Palestine conflict and more, the Olympics are occurring during a tumultuous time in our world. Would you share your observations on that as a political scientist?  The Olympics always take place against a backdrop of international politics. They often generate a surge in nationalism on the part of participating countries. There could be demonstrations for or against certain countries or their athletes that get the attention of the media, but the conflicts currently underway in the world will be largely unaffected.  Q: This is not new. Do any other Games stick out in your mind that occurred during disruption?  The 1980 Olympics were held in Moscow less than a year after the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. As a result, many countries boycotted participating in those games, including the United States. Ultimately, 67 countries chose not to participate in 1980. In retaliation, the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles along with a handful of pro-Soviet or anti-US countries. Nonetheless, 140 countries participated in 1984, making it the largest number of participating countries up to that point. Q: Do you feel the Olympic Games happening during times like these helps or hurts? Do you feel it brings a respite or instead makes things more uncomfortable?  It magnifies both the good and bad emotions that arise with heightened nationalism. However, this is usually short-lived, and relationships return to their prior state pretty quickly. Q: For years the Olympics have looked past differences in governments, societies, politics, even human rights. From a historical and political standpoint, what do you think the impact of the Games has been?  The Olympics are a mirror of current realities in international politics. The fact that in 1936 four Olympic gold medals were won in Berlin by a Black American – Jesse Owens – did not change Adolf Hitler’s racism. The 1980 boycott of the Moscow games did not result in a Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. In short, the Olympics have minimal impact on global politics, if that.   Q: Anything else you would like to add?  In the past, many countries have gone on spending sprees to host an Olympics, building arenas and sporting facilities, “Olympic villages” of apartments, etc. Many of those countries have failed to recoup any meaningful return on their investments. Oftentimes, those facilities fall into disrepair and lead one to wonder how those financial resources could be better invested for the people of that country. Only a limited number of countries have the in-place sporting facilities and hospitality infrastructure to host such events. It’s long past time, in my opinion, for there to be some changes in the decision-making process regarding host countries. Ralph Carter is available to speak with media about the upcoming Olympic Games - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

States Most and Least Impacted by Natural Disasters

For a report on states with the most (and least) climate risk today, MoneyGeek interviewed Jase Bernhardt, associate professor and director of Sustainability Studies and Meteorology in the Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability. Dr. Bernhardt talked about the biggest natural hazards that are affecting the country and how the population can prepare for events like flooding, extreme heat, and severe thunderstorms. Jase Bernhardt is also an expert on hurricane preparedness. He is available to speak with media about these topics - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Hofstra Experts Weigh In on the 2024 Presidential Election

Hofstra University boasts a team of distinguished media-ready experts, ready to talk about the newest developments in the 2024 presidential race. They  include presidential scholar Meena Bose, constitutional law professor James Sample, media expert and former NBC executive Mark Lukasiewicz, and Lawrence Levy, an expert in suburban studies and  suburban voting trends More details on their expertise and recent media appearances are provided below, along with information on how to connect with them for interviews and commentary. Dr Meena Bose Executive Director of the Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency & Professor of Political Science Dr. Meena Bose brings her extensive experience and frequent media  presence to discussions on the historic nature of the 2024 presidential race. Recent topics she has been interviewed about include next steps for the Democrats now that President Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate, how the assassination attempt on Trump may have impacted the race, and the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity rulings View Profile & Connect Recent Media Dr. Meena Bose has recently been called on by media to discuss: CNN's Biden-Trump debate; how President Biden may recover from his poor debate performance; and the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling. She has appeared on WABC-TV, WNYW Fox 5, Fox radio stations across the country, and Reuters TV. She is frequently interviewed by Newsday and Newsweek, and her expertise has also been prominently featured in The Washington Post and The New York Times. She is the author of the forthcoming book: Pragmatic Vision: Obama and the Enactment of the Affordable Care Act. James Sample Professor, Maurice A. Deane School of Law James Sample, a constitutional law professor, is a sought-after legal and  political commentator on legal challenges facing former President Donald Trump, Supreme Court ethics, the broader implications of presidential immunity, and the guilty verdict delivered in the Senator Robert Menendez trial. He most recently was interviewed about President Biden leaving the race and throwing his support behind VP Kamala Harris. View Profile & Connect Recent Media James Sample is a regular commentator for Reuters, CNN, CBS, WNYW Fox 5, and WCBS on topics like the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity; ethics questions facing Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas; former President Donald Trump’s legal challenges, including the election interference case and the “Hush Money” trial. In addition to his broadcast media interviews, Professor Sample has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, U.S. News & World Report, the Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, Salon, USA Today, and The National Law Journal, as well as in leading blogs and regional outlets throughout the country. Mark Lukasiewicz Dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication Mark Lukasiewicz offers his expertise on media coverage of the presidential race, drawing on his vast experience in planning and supervising election coverage. Before joining Hofstra, Dean Lukasiewicz was senior vice president of specials at NBC News, planning and supervising coverage of major breaking news events, including presidential elections and debates from 2004 to 2016. View Profile & Connect Recent Media A former NBC executive, Dean Lukasiewicz is available to speak about media coverage of the 2024 presidential race. Recent examples include the June 27th debate and expectations for President Biden’s interview on July 5 with George Stephanopoulos. Before joining Hofstra, Dean Lukasiewicz was senior vice president of specials at NBC News, planning and supervising coverage of major breaking news events, including presidential elections and debates from 2004 to 2016. He has been interviewed in recent weeks by the Wall Street Journal, Newsday, Tribune News Service, Scripps Morning News, and the AP. Lawrence Levy  Associate Vice President and Executive Dean of the National Center for Surburban Studies (NCSS) In his leadership role at NCSS, Dean Levy has worked with Hofstra's  academic and local communities to shape an innovative, interdisciplinary agenda for interdisciplinary suburban study. He has commented on a variety of political issues – most recently President Biden dropping his reelection bid and what that means for down-ballot elections.  View Profile & Connect Recent Media Prior to joining Hofstra, Dean Levy spent 35 years as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and PBS host, winning many of journalism's top awards (including Pulitzer finalist) for in-depth works on suburban politics, education, taxation, housing and other key issues. As a journalist, he was known for blending national trends and local perspectives and has covered seven presidential campaigns and 15 national conventions. Visit our Expert Center for a full directory of Hofstra experts insights.

What is an Open Convention?

In the ever-evolving landscape of American politics, the concept of an open convention stands as a pivotal event that can reshape the trajectory of a presidential election. This topic is particularly newsworthy because it signifies a departure from the traditional, predetermined nominating processes, opening up a dynamic and potentially unpredictable political battleground. Understanding an open convention is crucial for the public as it underscores the democratic principles of debate, decision-making, and party unity, or lack thereof. The implications of an open convention extend to voter engagement, party strategies, and the broader political discourse. Key story angles for journalists could include: Historical Context and Precedents: Exploring past instances of open conventions in American history, their outcomes, and how they have influenced subsequent elections. Mechanics and Process: Detailing how an open convention operates, the rules and procedures involved, and the roles of delegates and party officials. Political Strategy and Maneuvering: Analyzing the strategies employed by candidates and their campaigns during an open convention, including coalition-building, negotiations, and power plays. Impact on Voter Perception: Investigating how an open convention affects public opinion, voter trust, and engagement with the political process. Potential Outcomes and Scenarios: Examining the possible scenarios that can emerge from an open convention, including contested nominations, brokered deals, and unexpected candidacies. Expert Insights and Analysis: Featuring commentary and analysis from political scientists, historians, and party insiders on the significance and implications of an open convention. By focusing on the intricacies and potential ramifications of an open convention, journalists can provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of this critical aspect of the American political system, offering diverse and compelling angles for coverage. Connect with an expert if you need to know more about Open Conventions: To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo credit: PBS Learning Media

Global Technology Outage Raises Concerns About Ease of Future Cybersecurity Attacks

The world came to a standstill after a technology outage reported Thursday evening grounded airplanes, disconnected hospitals and shut down banks across the globe. A faulty software update was to blame, not cybercriminals, but Florida Tech assistant professor TJ O’Connor said the outage’s cascading effect points to larger concerns about our society’s reliance on the internet. The outage, which affected users’ ability to access Microsoft 365 applications, was traced back to a defect found in a software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. CrowdStrike quickly released a statement confirming that the outage was “not a security incident or cyberattack.” The outage was nonetheless damaging, kicking institutions offline. Issues remained more than a day later. “Once those services go down, there’s this massive cascading effect,” O’Conner said. “If bank processing doesn’t work, then aviation doesn’t work. If aviation doesn’t work, shipping doesn’t work.” Ultimately, O’Connor explained, the biggest concern isn’t the glitch in the system; it’s the number of systems that broke because CrowdStrike wasn’t working. “I think what we’ll see a lot of people learn from this CrowdStrike incident is…that if they want to take the internet down in the future, all they have to do is hit one target,” O’Connor said. “It makes the threat landscape a lot smaller to attack for an adversary.” Over the course of several hours, a blue Microsoft error screen taunted companies worldwide. Airlines including Delta, American and Frontier grounded all flights. Several television news outlets, including the United Kingdom’s Sky News, were unable to hold live broadcasts. Some of the biggest concerns lie in the hospital industry, where planning, evaluation and continuous monitoring are essential, O’Connor noted. “[Hospitals] are constantly processing so much data, and for them to go out for a couple of hours means that decisions aren’t being made on an automated basis,” O’Connor said. “We’ve kicked over so much of our decision making to automated systems that we can’t let those networks fail.” According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), the outage disrupted its appointment and patient record system. Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts was also one of several U.S. hospitals that cancelled non-urgent surgeries, procedures, and medical visits because of the disruption. 911 outages were also reported in several states, including Phoenix, Arizona, whose computerized dispatch center was affected, the police department posted on social media. In Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler issued a citywide state of emergency due to the outage’s impact on city servers, computers and emergency communications. Although CrowdStrike confirmed the incident was not malicious, O’Connor said it raises questions about overall reliance on the internet to make decisions, as well as ineffectiveness in securing it. “We continually have these wake-up moments where something happens, it’s large scale, it’s a news blip, and then we forget about it… but our adversaries don’t,” O’Connor said. “Unfortunately, the attack infrastructure and the ability to attack is getting easier and easier.” O’Connor also expects future network attacks to get worse, calling the unstable global environment a “national-level issue to address.” While large-scale attacks and outages are mostly out the individuals’ control, O’Connor said, people can take action to protect themselves from personal cybersecurity attacks by using multi-factor authentication as much as possible. Looking to know more?  Dr. TJ O’Connor’s research is focused on cybersecurity education, wireless protocols, software-defined radio and machine learning. If you're looking to connect with Dr. O'Connor - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Understanding What Vance Does and Doesn’t do for the GOP Ticket

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, talked to News 12 about the selection of Senator J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the presidential race. “It’s a little surprising that he didn’t try to expand his base a little bit because it’s almost certain that the people who are going decide this election, our moderate middle of the road, suburban voters, most of whom are unhappy with Donald Trump after having supported him in 2016. J.D. Vance does almost nothing to build those bridges in some circles. Actually instead of a bridge builder, he is considered a bridge burner.” Lawrence Levy is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Goizueta Professors on Olympic Fandom, Viewership, Economics of the Games

As we countdown to the July 26 opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, we have two Goizueta Business School experts who can discuss the Olympics, including fandom, viewership, and the economics of the Paris Games. Professor Mike Lewis studies fandom and has spent many years tracking how sports can stay relevant and lucrative across generations. “While the Olympics is presented as a pure sports competition, it’s actually a unique sports entertainment event that leverages underpaid athletes and national identities to create one of the foremost sports-based advertising platforms.” His research on this year’s Olympics finds: Viewership skews to an older audience - with Baby Boomers showing the biggest fandom. The Games have an ongoing challenge to attract a younger audience. The Olympic broadcast will have to work hard to gain the attention of Gen Z and Millennials. Olympic fans are pretty even between genders, which is very different from typical sports fans that are more than 50% male. Check out his latest research: And his latest podcast on the Games: Professor Tom Smith studies the economics of sports. He can discuss: The economic impact of the Games for Paris during what is usually a high tourist season. The economics of decisions by city leaders to repurpose current facilities, landscape and architecture for the Paris games. What other cities can learn from the Paris games. Both Tom and Mike are available to speak with media about the upcoming Olympic Games - simply click on either expert's icon now to arrange an interview today.

Should campaigns be concerned about cyber threats?

Presidential campaigns are massive machines that require vast numbers of volunteers, staff working in each state. doors and supporters. And with everything digital - that's a lot of data that are valuable to those inside the campaign and just as valuable to those on the outside of a campaign. In this ExpertSpot MSOE's Walter Schilling answers the question: Should campaigns be concerned about cyber threats? Walter is available to speak with media - click on his profile below to arrange and interview today.

How Do Political Conventions Work?

Political conventions in America are a fundamental aspect of the democratic process, serving as pivotal events where major political parties select their presidential candidates, solidify party platforms, and galvanize their bases ahead of the general election. These conventions are not only newsworthy because of their immediate political significance but also due to their historical, cultural, and strategic importance. They provide a stage for showcasing party unity, leadership vision, and policy priorities, making them crucial for understanding the direction of American politics. Key story angles for journalists could include: Convention History and Evolution: Exploring the origins and historical changes in political conventions, including how their roles and significance have evolved over time. Nomination Process: Examining the mechanics of how delegates are selected, how they vote, and the strategies candidates use to secure their party's nomination. Party Platforms: Analyzing the process of developing and ratifying party platforms, highlighting key policy positions and their implications for voters. Role of Delegates and Superdelegates: Investigating the influence of delegates and superdelegates in the nomination process and their impact on the democratic process within parties. Media and Public Perception: Assessing how conventions are covered by the media, the role of speeches and presentations, and their effect on public opinion and voter behavior. Security and Logistics: Providing insights into the extensive planning and security measures required to host these large-scale events, especially in light of recent public health and safety concerns. By focusing on how political conventions work in America, journalists can provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of these complex and significant events, shedding light on their impact on the democratic process and the broader political landscape. Connect with an expert about the role, purpose and history of political conventions in America: To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo credit: Isai Ramos