Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: U.S. Elections
The House that Fox News Built? Representation, Political Accountability & the Rise of Partisan News
Johanna Dunaway, professor of political science, has co-written “The House that Fox News Built? Representation, Political Accountability, and the Rise of Partisan News” (Cambridge University Press, 2025). The book scientifically examines the impact of partisan news on political elites.
See related: Media & Journalism, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-liberal Demonology Possessed U.S. Religion, Media, and Politics
Mark Brockway, assistant teaching professor of political science, has co-authored “The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-liberal Demonology Possessed U.S. Religion, Media, and Politics” (The MIT Press, 2025). The book explores the American right, evangelical rhetoric and attacks on liberalism over the last eight decades.
See related: Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
Dunaway Weighs In on CNN and MSNBC Postelection Ratings Decline in Wall Street Journal Article
Partisan viewers “turn away in disgust when it’s the other side having that postelection euphoria,” says Johanna Dunaway, professor of political science and research director of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship.
See related: Media & Journalism, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
Murrett Talks to Fox News About Russia Firing a New Ballistic Missile at Ukraine
“I do think it is a response to the unconstrained use that we have now for ATACMS missiles and also Storm Shadow missiles in the Kursk region of Russia and allowing the Ukrainians to use them,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. “I think what the Russian leadership did with the Oreshnik missile—MRBM—is probably a response to that.”
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, National Security, NATO, Russia, U.S. Elections, Ukraine, United States
The Impact of Inflation on Support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election
Professor of Political Science Daniel McDowell and his co-authors find that priming Americans to think about inflation reduces approval of the Biden-Harris administration and lowers confidence in the Democrats' ability to manage the economy. Published in SSRN.
See related: Economic Policy, U.S. Elections, United States
Taylor Comments on Election Interference by Russia in Associated Press Article
“Russia clearly interfered in this election,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science and expert on Russian politics. He says Russia’s objectives were to “help Trump and to sow chaos more generally—although there is no evidence that their activities changed the outcome.”
See related: International Affairs, Media & Journalism, Russia, U.S. Elections, United States
Thompson Talks to Catholic Standard, Miami Herald About the Catholic Vote in the 2024 Election
“One thing we do know is that the Latino vote broke for Trump to a much greater extent than it has for any Republican,” says Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science. “So the question is, does that add significantly to the Catholic margin?”
See related: Federal, Race & Ethnicity, Religion, U.S. Elections, United States
McFate Talks to Fox News About How a Trump Presidency Will Factor Into Iran’s War With Israel
“Trump’s victory will give Iran pause as it considers striking back at Israel in their tit for tat,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
Taylor Speaks With AFP, The Hill and Newsweek About Trump’s Victory, Impact on Ukraine-Russia War
“I can’t imagine Donald Trump rolling up his sleeves and digging into the nitty-gritty of the words of this conflict,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science. “That’s not who he is [but] that’s what it takes to bring about ceasefires and peace settlements, lots of detailed, nitty-gritty negotiation on a whole host of issues. It’s not simply tell both sides to stop.”
See related: Conflict, Federal, Russia, U.S. Elections, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. National Security, Ukraine, United States
Reeher Discusses the Presidential Election With EFE, Fox News and Newsweek
“In recent decades the country has gotten incredibly polarized politically. Both candidates have 43% in the bank no matter what. I think what the last week is about—it's not about persuasion, we're done with that—it's about mobilization, it's about turnout. The election is going to turn on turnout,” says Grant Reeher, professor of political science.
See related: Federal, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States