Dialogue Across Difference

This online event took place on August 13, 2020.

The Democratic and Republican parties are holding their national conventions to formally nominate their candidates. The Chair of the Democratic National Convention, Tom Perez, discusses the convention and presidential campaign with Justin Buoen (campaign manager for Sen. Amy Klobuchar's presidential run) and Vin Weber (former Republican Member of Congress and national political consultant). The Republican National Committee was invited to participate and declined.

American conservatism champions individual freedom, limited government, and social and religious traditions. A number of conservatives—including George Will and Peter Wehner—recoil from President Donald Trump, singling out his erosion of the US. Constitution, budget discipline, and the dignity of his office. Wehner and scholar David Hopkins join us to discuss the state of American conservatism today.

The coronavirus is stretching our health care system and forcing re-examination of long-followed practices. Telehealth is advancing rapidly and clinical trials and treatment protocols are being assessed at unprecedented speed. As the pandemic develops, will it also reduce inequities in the delivery of care, reorient care toward treating the whole person, and link the payment of hospitals and doctors to the value and cost-effectiveness of patient treatment?

Join us for a discussion with a distinguished panel including Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Craig Samitt, as well as Minnesota State Senators Michelle Benson and Matt Klein.

The support of white Americans for the Black Lives Matter movement may contribute to the Democratic Party winning elections in November. Republicans disagree. They see an opportunity to use the remedies proposed by Black Lives Matter—especially the dismantling of police departments—to rally white voters.

University of Minnesota political science professor Michael Minta leads a distinguished panel to sort out the implications of Black Lives Matter on the 2020 elections. Panelists include Ashley Jardina from Duke University, Christopher Parker from the University of Washington, and LaFleur Stephens-Dougan from Princeton University.

President Barack Obama's former strategist David Axelrod and star Republican strategist Vin Weber size up the advantages and disadvantages of Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Trump. Biden's vice presidential pick, summer conventions, and fall campaigning are some of the topics.

Minnesota boasts a history of progressivism, yet its racial inequalities are nation-leading. How and why is this the case? This panel discussion features Professor Samuel Myers Jr., Professor Joe Soss, and MayKao Hang, president and founding dean of the University of St. Thomas's College of Health.

Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (6th CD) chairs the National Republican Campaign Committee. Congressman Emmer is leading the GOP effort to retake the majority in the US House of Representatives. He discussed his work in Congress and the NRCC with Professor Larry Jacobs.

This event took place online on June 23, 2020.

Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm has been a leader of Minnesota's response to the novel coronavirus and joined us to discuss the Walz administration's policy.

Scott Keefer, Vice President of Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota closed the event. Professor Larry Jacobs moderated the conversation.

America is facing a double-whammy: a public health emergency and an economic depression that is eliminating health insurance for millions of unemployed. How can America preserve health insurance? Policy makers are weighing three options: preserve the current employer-based insurance, strengthen President Obama's program of offering subsidies to purchase private insurance, or creating a government-run health insurance system.

Joel Ario, former Obama health official and a consultant at the Manatt firm, will assess each of these options. He will be joined by the the Deputy Majority Leader in the Minnesota State Senate and chair of the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, Sen. Michelle Benson.

The campaign for the 2020 presidential election will be unlike any in our lifetime as candidates respond to the Coronavirus and unprecedented economic collapse. What issues, campaign themes, and candidate strategies will dominate? Have your expectations about likely outcomes changed? Three months ago, media commentators often described President Donald Trump as a favorite to win reelection. Have today's public health and economic crises made the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden the favorite?

Anna Greenberg, Ph.D., is the managing partner at the public opinion research firm GQR. She has been a pollster on many campaigns including Congressman Dean Phillips, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Previously, she taught public opinion and survey research methodology at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Vin Weber is a partner at Mercury where he provides strategic advice to institutions with matters before the legislative and executive branches. Previously, he represented Minnesota in the U.S. House from 1981-1993. He is one of the most prominent and successful strategists in the Republican party and enjoys strong bipartisan relationships across the different branches of government.