Maxwell School News and Faculty Media, Opinion and Analysis

Barkun cited in VICE articles on conspiracy theories

According to Michael Barkun, professor emeritus of political science, three core principles characterize most conspiracy theories. First, the belief that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. Secondly, that nothing is as it seems: The "appearance of innocence" is to be suspected. Finally, the belief that everything is connected through a hidden pattern.

July 20, 2020

Barkun quoted in Foreign Policy article on QAnon movement

"If there is any lesson to be taken from this bizarre episode, it is that, in the age of Trump, no claim seems too preposterous to find an audience and that, in the age of the internet and social media, these beliefs and those willing to accept them are only too easy to bring together," says Michael Barkun, professor emeritus of political science. He was cited in the Foreign Policy article "QAnon’s Madness Is Turning Canadians Into Potential Assassins."

July 15, 2020

Gadarian quoted in Science article on coronavirus messaging

"When you hear [health] experts saying one thing and the head of your [political] party saying another, that’s a troubling kind of thing to decide," says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science. In the United States, "What we’re seeing evidence of is that Republicans are basically going with what the president says."

April 17, 2020

See related: COVID-19, Media & Journalism, United States

Reeher weighs in on coronavirus communications in Newsday

Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute says, "If it’s constant updates and endless press conferences with nothing new but an updated number, it doesn’t help," about how much information should be shared about the coronavirus pandemic.

March 16, 2020

See related: COVID-19, Media & Journalism, United States

Mazur cited in Conversation article on fake science

According to Professor Allan Mazur, conspiracy theories are, by definition, resistant to evidence or data that might prove them false.

March 10, 2020

See related: Media & Journalism, United States

Thorson quoted in Scientific American article on fake news, elections

A single piece of information rarely changes anyone’s opinion, "whether it’s true-or false," says Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science, "That’s a good thing." The idea that a handful of unreliable outlets were going to substantially alter views or behaviors "is pretty far-fetched, given what we know about the stability of people’s political attitudes," she adds.

March 3, 2020

Thorson quoted in CT Mirror article on Connecticut's tax myth

“Misconceptions about a particular policy, these are pretty common,” says Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science, about falsehoods about policies for an article for the CT Mirror.

November 22, 2019

Sernett quoted in Slate article on new Harriet Tubman movie

November 4, 2019

See related: Media & Journalism, United States

Banks speaks to CNN about Trump's comments about Rep. Adam Schiff

"Rep. [Adam] Schiff is protected by the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution from being questioned 'in any other place,'" said William Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs. "The protection clearly extends to the offending Tweets."

October 22, 2019

Thompson speaks with ABC radio about presidential racial rhetoric

In the wake of President Trump's recent tweets about four Democratic congresswomen of color, Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science, assesses that coded racial language began to be used as a political strategy under President Richard Nixon.

July 24, 2019

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