Four former Secretaries of Homeland Security discuss current issues in homeland security, the overlap between security and politics, and how our country can move forward by embracing the challenges—and opportunities—the Biden-Harris administration will face in their first year. Panelists: Michael Chertoff (2005-2009), Jeh Johnson (2013-2017), Janet Napolitano (2009-2013), Tom Ridge (2003-2005). Moderator: Doug Wilson. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36811]

General H.R. McMaster ranks among his generation's most distinguished scholar-soldiers. An acclaimed historian, his military service has spanned from West Point to Iraq and Afghanistan, to the Pentagon and the Oval Office. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, General McMaster is the author of Battlegrounds (2020). In conversation with Lowell Bergman, he discusses challenges facing the Free World and the case for responsible US leadership in world affairs. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36567]

This panel features leaders and experts addressing these unprecedented times and all the challenges confronting Election 2020. What can we do to make voters' voices heard during an unprecedented pandemic and a historic civil rights uprising? Panelists: Aimee Allison, She the People; Betrall Ross, Berkeley Law; James Schwab, Chief Deputy Secretary of State, California; Dr. John Swartzberg, UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. Moderator: Dan Lindheim, Center on Civility and Democratic Engagement at the Goldman School of Public Policy. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36509]

This lecture kicks off with Professor Jayaraman’s discussion of “astroturf” social movements and the growing battle around California’s Ballot Propositions 15 and 22. These propositions represent two attempts of billionaires to privatize the public-school system in California and to re-write the state’s labor laws to impose “independent contractor” status upon millions of gig workers. From there Professor Cohen takes up the main topic of voting rights and the long history of voter suppression in the United States with particular emphasis upon the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress voter turnout and challenge the election results after November 3. Remember, if your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t try so hard to suppress it. So if you have not already, go and vote early, especially in those down ballot races that really matter. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36513]

Today we take up the question of racial classification and the 2020 census with professor Michael Omi. Professor Omi is Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies, Asians American and Asian Diaspora Studies at UC Berkeley. He is the author, along with Howard Winant, of the ground breaking work Racial Formations in the United States, now in its third edition. At Berkeley, Professor Omi serves as the Associate Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, and is an affiliated faculty member of Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies. In today’s talk, Professor Omi uses racial formations theory to discuss his research into the United States census and its evolving system of classifying and categorizing race. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36278]

The principle question for this presentation is what is “race” and how does it shape our politics? We begin with an introduction looking at the ongoing western wildfires, its differential impact upon white versus communities of color and the prison workers who get paid pennies a day to fight wildfires in California. From there we turn to a consideration of race and racism as defined by sociologists Michael Omi and Howard Winant. Together, they define race as “a concept which signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests by referring to different types of human bodies.” Using this definition, we consider a range of examples of how racial categories and racial formations are “created, inhabited, transformed and destroyed.” We begin with the 1790 Naturalization act which reserved the rights of citizenship to “free white persons.” Then move on to consider how racial categories have both fixed our identities and shifted our history from Columbus to the 2020 Census. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36277]

Aimee Allison is founder and president of She the People, a national network elevating the voice and power of women of color. She brings together voters, organizers, and elected leaders in a movement grounded in values of love, justice, belonging, and democracy. In 2018, Ms. Allison was one of the primary architects of the "year of women of color in politics." She is building a political home for a million women of color, nationally and in battleground states. In April 2019, she convened the first presidential forum for women of color, reaching a quarter of the American population. A democratic innovator and visionary, Ms. Allison leads national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions led by women of color. She leverages media, research and analysis to increase voter engagement and advocate for racial, economic and gender justice. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36275]

Explore what’s ahead for November with political expert and author Thad Kousser, Chair, Department of Political Science at UC San Diego, in conversation with Chancellor’s Associates Scholar and UCDC program alumnus, José Luz González ’20, who recently graduated with a degree in Public Health. The conversation covers burning election topics, such as the use of social media, interest group influence, and the voting process and outcomes. Series: "American Politics" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36180]

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis threatening to become an economic catastrophe that affects tens of millions of Americans. Is the $2 trillion aid package recently passed by Congress and signed by the president enough to keep the economy from freefall? What more is needed? A panel of UC Berkeley's leading economists and public policy experts discuss the economic consequences of sheltering-in-place, evaluate the Congressional response and discuss strategies that could help to stabilize the economy, safeguard jobs and protect society's most vulnerable people. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35876]

Building on an already tense relationship aggravated by the trade war, will the recent War of Words between the U.S. and China lead to further escalation of bilateral tension? Or can a call for humanity and cooperation join the nations in a fight against a common enemy? Join experts from the 21st Century China Center as they explore the issues from all angles. Series: "American Politics" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35862]

The Honorable David Shulkin served as the 9th Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2017 to 2018. An experienced healthcare executive, Shulkin had been CEO of several hospitals and had served as the VA’s undersecretary. So he was entirely prepared for stepping into the role of leader of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system (and was confirmed by the Senate 100-0). Yet, soon after he began, he realized that he was not fully prepared for the realities of the role in the Trump administration. A group of political appointees committed to privatizing the VA system began – subtly at first, more brazenly later – to undercut Shulkin’s authority, using back channels that have now become a familiar theme. Ultimately, he was fired by President Trump…by tweet. In this wide-ranging interview, he covers all of this, along with his experience as the “Lone Survivor” for the State of the Union Address and standing by the President’s side after the news of Charlottesville hit. Series: "American Politics" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Business] [Show ID: 35508]

Experts weigh in on a number of key issues ahead of the 2020 election including: democratic engagement, voter participation, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the push to change the Electoral College. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35336]

Women played a huge role in the 2018 midterms. A record number of women were elected to congress, some marking other historic firsts along the way. Women organized massive rallies, and made their voices heard at the polls. Former Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm sits down with PhD student Charlotte Hill to discuss congresswomen shaping the future of politics in the United States. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34722]

Experts on immigration, national security and refugee movements engage in a debate about the U.S. immigration system, the values and interests it serves and the impact of immigration on the nation. The debate features Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies, and Rubén Rumbaut, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at UC Irvine. The moderator is Donald Kerwin, Jr., Director of the Center for Migration Studies of New York. Series: "Voices" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35057]

This panel discussion features former elected officials, legal and political experts discussing the role of late UCLA professor Leo Estrada in redistricting in California. They say Estrada's work was integral ensuring people of color achieved equal representation in the legislature. Not only was his expertise and data collection essential in understanding the makeup of California communities, but it also proved invaluable in recruiting the best candidates to represent those communities. Series: "American Politics" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34994]

Quality data is paramount to ensuring equal representation. If we don’t know who is living in our communities, we can’t create and maintain the systems needed to care for and support those people. In this panel discussion, experts on data collection, Chicano studies and urban planning discuss the challenges of getting good data, and how to turn data into action. This panel was part of a day long symposium celebrating the life and legacy of Leo Estrada, who spent 40-years at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA. Series: "American Politics" [Public Affairs] [Education] [Show ID: 34993]

The history of the U.S. census is riddled with examples of efforts to exclude immigrants and minorities. Arturo Vargas, president and CEO of the NALEO Educational Fund discusses that history, and the ongoing fight to make sure everyone living in the country is counted fairly and accurately. Vargas focuses much of his talk on the controversial proposal to require undocumented immigrants to identify themselves, which he calls a scare tactic aimed at decreasing representation in Washington. He details other challenges ahead, and what must be done to overcome them. Series: "Immigration" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34954]

The Trump Administration has an anti-ISIS military policy but has zeroed out reconstruction support for areas that have been liberated from ISIS in Syria. It has an anti-Iranian policy both rhetorically and economically, but it leaves containing the spread of Iran and the Shia militias in Syria to Israel and to the Russians and leaves Israel on its own to deal with the Russians. It has declared it will present a peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinians but at this point is unable to deal directly with the Palestinian Authority. In all these areas, there are elements of a policy but inconsistencies as well. The gap between objectives and means remains wide. Can it be bridged? Will we see an effective strategy for the area? And, what would an effective strategy look like? Dennis Ross will cover all this in his lecture. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34373]

In this talk, based in part on his forthcoming book, The Trump Administration and International Law (Oxford University Press, 2018), Yale professor Harold Koh discusses the possibility for “denuclearization” on the Korean peninsula. Koh has worked in the highest levels of government, most recently as Legal Adviser and Assistant Secretary of State in the Obama Administration. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34371]

Women played a huge role in the 2018 midterms. A record number of women were elected to congress, some marking other historic firsts along the way. Women organized massive rallies, and made their voices heard at the polls. So, what can we expect in 2020 and beyond? Former Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm and UC Berkeley Public Policy professor Sarah Anzia sit down with PhD student Charlotte Hill to discuss how they see women shaping the future of politics in the United States. Series: "Public Policy and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34399]