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Detroit Rock City – Did any Rock Stars Emerge from Day 1 of the DNC Debates?
It was the first of two crucial days for anyone looking to lead the DNC into the 2020 election next fall. The reality is, with more candidates on the field than a World Cup soccer match, it’s too crowded for the very limited amount of airtime, fundraising and attention needed to win this race. Quite soon, there will need to be a substantial culling of this herd. Odds are, come the end of summer the field will be whittled down to three or four from the current two dozen (or so) currently contesting. Last night was Day 1 of the DNC debates in Detroit. Here were the key takeaways: Bernie Sanders came out spitting fire about health care and tried to reassert his prominence. Sanders has receded recently, was this the resurgence he needed? Pete Buttigieg made it clear he is the young, fresh and non-Washington choice – will it stick and can he gain traction? Montana Governor Steve Bullock knew this was his shot to get the attention a campaign needs. Late to the game, can he emerge as a credible candidate? And Elizabeth Warren and Beto O’Rourke seemed to fade into the crowd – is this a death knell for a campaign at this point? It was a long night and another one happens tonight. So, who emerged as the winner and who fell hard on Day 1? Who needs to leave? And what were the key policy planks that are starting to stick There is still a long way to go until the first Iowa primary in February, but if you are a journalist covering this long road – let us help. Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington. A published author and a media ‘go-to’ on U.S. politics, he is available to speak with media regarding the long journey to lead the DNC in 2020. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
A crowd of presidential candidates – who needs to surge and who needs to go?
To date, there are 25 registered and “serious” candidates vying to lead the Democratic Party in the 2020 election against President Donald Trump. To put it in perspective: If this were an NFL game, you’d have a full field and still three players left watching and waiting on the sidelines for their chance to touch the ball. It’s a lot of people. Odds are, given the enormous costs and time a campaign requires, it’s just not sustainable for most of the candidates. On July 30 and 31, CNN will be hosting two debates to try and introduce all these candidates to a national audience. Screen time will be limited and opportunities must be seized. It’s a crucial moment for most of the 25. So next week, some will emerge and likely, others will have to accept the reality that they just won’t be president. What will it take to emerge from the pack? Of the more popular candidates – who is at risk of losing relevance? Is there a dark horse who could upset the more usual suspects? There is a lot to know going into these debates and that’s where our experts can help. Dr. Gregg R. Murray, professor of political science at Augusta University, is available to talk about the current race to lead the DNC. Murray’s research focuses on political behavior and psychology with specific interests in voter mobilization and turnout. He is also executive director of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences.
Ticks…for most the word conjures up fears of Lyme disease, pets getting sick or having to twist those tiny bugs off your dog or yourself after a day in the fields or countryside. But at Georgia Southern University, our experts have taken a certain shine to the usually awful arachnid. In fact, just recently, Jackson Tomlinson, a graduate student in the Department of Biology was rewarded with the discovery of two species of ticks that are entirely new to science. It’s an astounding find and there are more details in the articles attached below. Are you a reporter covering ticks or looking to learn more about them? There are a lot of questions to be asked: What dangers and diseases do they carry? Are ticks regional and how many different species are there? Is there really a tic that makes people allergic to red meat? If you need to get to the bottom of what makes tick…tock – well then let our experts help. Lorenza Beati's research focuses on the study of the taxonomy, evolutionary relationships, and population genetics of arthropods, in particular hard-ticks. She’s also the Curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection. Lorenza is available to speak with media – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.
Democratic Presidential Debates
Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and associate professor of political science, recently offered his thoughts about the crowded field of contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, and how viewers can assess the performance of the host of candidates during televised debates. "It's easy to think about these debates in terms of a sports metaphor — who won?" Husser says. "If we think about these debates as a game, that would mean you have 20 teams on the field, you have an unclear set of rules that change depending upon who you're talking to about how you score points and what it takes to win. And you have refs that are biased ... . When we think about these debates, especially about who won and who lost, we miss a real opportunity to learn about the candidates." The Elon University Poll will be offering valuable insight into what's on the mind of N.C. voters leading up to the 2020 elections, with North Carolina to host the GOP Convention in August 2020 and sure to be a battleground state again. If Dr. Husser can assist with your reporting about the 2020 presidential election and N.C. politics, please reach out to Owen Covington, director of the Elon University News Bureau, at ocovington@elon.edu or (336) 278-7413. Dr. Husser is available for phone, email and broadcast interviews.
The political math behind the numbers - let our experts explain why a census is suddenly a hot topic
Usually, there’s nothing particularly interesting, let alone controversial, about a census. It’s an objective collection of data that allows the government and other organizations to use pure evidence to determine things like population growth and shift, income rates and education participation rates. For those who rely on metrics, it means a lot. For everyone else — it’s a form we fill out once a decade. However, these are not normal times. There's an ongoing debate among politicians and the courts regarding the request to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 census. Here’s the question: So, is it right to inquire about citizenship in a census? What are the benefits? What are the concerns And why is this such a big deal? That’s where our experts can help. Dr. Martha Ginn, professor of political science at Augusta University, is an expert on the judicial process, constitutional law and the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. William Hatcher, associate professor of political science and director of the Master of Public Administration program at Augusta University, focuses on public administration and social, economic and political institutions in local communities. Both are available to speak with media regarding the census issue. To arrange an interview, click on either expert’s icon.
A closer look at deepfakes. Let our experts explain if there’s a reason to worry.
Deepfakes…they’re eerie, entertaining and getting a lot of attention. Deepfake videos are made using artificial intelligence technology which can manipulate someone's face in a video to make it look like they are saying something that they didn't. It's one level up from dubbing, or lip syncing, and can appear very convincing. One example is a video that was made using footage of Mark Zuckerburg in 2017; it was doctored and falsely portrays the Facebook CEO discussing how he had stolen data. – The Sun, June 26 The new concept is all the rage and has seen people spoofed, mocked and tricked. But as once again technology outpaces legislation and with an election approaching, deepfakes have some people going off the deep end. Every day, thousands of videos are posted online, which means that any potential filtering program would need to be able to quickly and efficiently detect fake content. Even then, such media would likely be removed only after being published, meaning that the video would likely have already had an impact. For these reasons, deepfakes are expected to contribute to the upcoming 2020 election in the United States, likely acting as an agent of spreading fake news. However, Edward Delp, a Purdue University professor who developed a computer program to help detect these videos, believes deepfakes pose a bigger threat. “Deepfakes pose a threat to more than just political videos,” he said. “It can be used in making fake child pornography, revenge porn and financial bribes. Just general criminal behavior.” – The Exponent (Purdue University), June 21 As deepfakes become more common on social media and the internet, odds are they will make their way – accidentally or not – into the actual media. And as America still battles with the fake news phenomenon, will Deepfakes further erode our trust in media and our leaders? As deepfakes become more common on social media and the internet, odds are they will make their way into the actual media. So, what can be done? How will these deepfakes affect the perception of news media? What simple advice can we apply to verify if something is real or fake? And do these videos represent a threat to democracy, as some experts are saying? Dr. Gregg R. Murray, professor of political science at Augusta University, is available to talk about the implications of this new threat. Murray’s research focuses on political behavior and psychology with specific interests in voter mobilization and turnout. He is also executive director of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences.
The Increasing Tension Between the U.S. and Iran
Two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman and an unmanned drone was shot down in the last two weeks, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. After a last-minute bailout of a retaliatory airstrike, President Donald Trump announced additional sanctions against Iran on June 24. Lowell Gustafson, PhD, a political science professor, taught American foreign policy and a course titled "Theories of War and Peace" for several years. He says, with the talk of airstrikes and President Trump claiming there will be "obliteration like you've never seen before," Congress needs to step in. "Congress should immediately hold hearings and vote on exactly what conditions would need to be met before such an order was given. Before Congress makes an initial authorization to use force against Iran, the military should not follow any order to do so by the President. Our founders gave Congress the power to declare war since a single executive, whether monarch or president, should not have the authority to make such a weighty decision unilaterally." Dr. Gustafson noted that so far, sanctions have proven counterproductive and a "unilateral presidential decision to use force undermines American constitutional democracy." He said the president's failure to think systematically about this issue leaves us moving from tactic to tactic.
It’s been 50 years since Stonewall…but has America really accepted gay rights?
It’s been a half-century since the Stonewall Uprising and the emergence of the gay pride movement. As cities across the world celebrate this month, it might also be time to look at where America stands today when it comes to gay rights. “From the perspective of veteran activists, the progress has been astounding. In 1969, every state but Illinois outlawed gay sex, psychiatric experts classified homosexuality as a mental disorder, and most gays stayed in the closet for fear of losing jobs and friends. “Today, same-sex marriage is the law of the land in the U.S. and at least 25 other countries. LGBT Americans serve as governors, big-city mayors and members of Congress, and one — Pete Buttigieg — is waging a spirited campaign for president.” June 17, ABC News But there is still a lot of work to do. LGBTQ people not only face discrimination in the workplace, in health care settings and even public restrooms, but can also suffer threats of violence. Just last month, the nation was shocked to learn of the chilling attack of an American woman and her partner overseas in London. The lesbian couple was violently assaulted by teens on a double-decker bus, leaving one of the women with a broken jaw, after they refused to publicly kiss one another in front of the group of young men who were harassing them. Are you covering this topic? There are a lot of questions about what needs to be done and that’s where our experts can help. Todd Powell-Williams, associate professor of Sociology at Augusta University, is an expert in social movements, social control, religion, police science and symbolic interactionism. Dr. Powell-Williams is available to speak with media about gay rights and where America stands 50 years after Stonewall. Simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.
Learn the facts – and falsehoods -- about ‘curing’ cancer
When it comes to cancer awareness, any news, promotion and exposure is good news. The goal of those on the frontlines of the battle against this disease is to inform the public, every message encouraging healthier living, prevention methods and hopefully, inspiring more people to support cancer research. Doctors can successfully treat cancer. However, there is no cure. Just this month, as the political rhetoric continues ramping up for the 2020 election, former Vice President Joe Biden used cancer as a platform. "A lot of you understand what loss is and when loss occurs, you know that people come up to you and tell you 'I understand' if you lose a husband, a wife, a son, a daughter, a family member," he said. "That's why I've worked so hard in my career to make sure that — I promise you if I'm elected president, you're going to see the single most important thing that changes America, we're gonna cure cancer." – USA Today, June 12 For Biden, cancer is an issue that is close to him. He lost his son to brain cancer in 2015. He’s passionate and deeply invested in those who have also lost a loved one to the disease. But his messaging was not accurate. If you are covering cancer research, prevention and the quest for the best possible outcomes for those diagnosed and being treated for the disease, the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University has experts who can help with your stories. Dr. Daniel Albo is able to discuss the fact that yes, there are highly successful treatments for a variety of different cancers. But, there is no “single bullet” that will cure every kind of cancer there is. This is the mistake Biden made during his speech. For some cancer patients, it’s about working with their doctor to find ways to manage their disease during the entirety of their life, similar to high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. To find new treatment options and therapies for all kinds of cancer, it will take investment from multiple levels of government. But money is not all that is needed. It will take basic science researchers working with clinicians to make new “bench-to-bedside” treatment discoveries. Also, public health and prevention, as well as improving access to health care, are essential to ending the burden cancer puts on patients, their family and their friends. Dr. Albo serves as Chair in the Department of Surgery for the Medical College of Georgia, the Surgeon-in-Chief for Augusta University Health System and associate director of surgical services for the Georgia Cancer Center. He is available to speak with media – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Research Suggests Future Tropical Storm Trends Related to Climate Change
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a "near-normal" 2019 Atlantic hurricane season with nine to 15 named storms, four to eight of which could become hurricanes, including two to four major hurricanes. Hurricane forecasting is an imprecise science, but current research indicates several important trends regarding future tropical storms and climate change, says Stephen Strader, PhD, a severe storm specialist and assistant professor in Villanova’s Department of Geography and the Environment. "Research has suggested that in the future there will likely be fewer tropical storms and hurricanes, but those that do occur are expected to be more intense. This is likely due to the combination of changes in wind shear (i.e., change in wind speed and direction as one goes up in the atmosphere) and warmer ocean temperatures that provide 'fuel' for tropical cyclones," says Dr. Strader. Climate scientists also suggest that tropical storms making landfall will be more likely to "stall out" due to climate change influences on the upper-level atmospheric air pattern, he adds. The combination of more intense tropical storms, greater rainfall rates and the propensity for these storms to stall or slow down once they make landfall will likely result in greater future flooding risk to some major U.S. cities, such as Houston, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Miami, according to Dr. Strader. Recent examples of this phenomenon include Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017 and Florence and Michael in 2018. "Although NOAA has suggested a near normal tropical storm season, it only takes one devastating storm making landfall to have devastating consequences," Dr. Strader notes.
