Pod Save America Takes Hyde Park!

Thanks to Recruitment Specialist Emma Richardson for this post! 

I had the pleasure of seeing the co-hosts of "Pod Save America", the wildly popular podcast series from former Obama speechwriters and strategists, twice last week during their stop in Chicago on tour.

"Pod Save America" has risen in popularity as younger voters turn to political activism. The co-hosts include: Jon Favreau, head speechwriter to President Obama; Jon Lovett, speechwriter to Hillary Clinton and Obama; Tommy Vietor, National Security Council spokesman for Obama; and Dan Pfeiffer, Chief of Communications to Obama. They engage in bi-weekly spirited political discussions and invite guests like Senator Chris Murphy and author Ta-Nehisi Coates to provide commentary and a news digest for liberal political junkies. 

My first viewing was through the Institute of Politics (IOP) here at UChicago. IOP Director --and former senior advisor to President Obama--David Axelrod has provided a wonderful resource for the UChicago community in the form of events, speakers, and films for the politically-minded. Fellowships through the IOP are available to undergraduates, but the IOP is certainly an institution that you can take advantage of as a Harris student - I do as a staff member! 

After the "Pod" co-hosts spoke at the International House on campus, I headed to the beautiful Chicago Theater later than evening to attend a taping of their latest episode. To my surprise and delight, one of two guests on the show that night was none other than Harris faculty member Jens Ludwig! The second panelist was Tamar Manasseh, founder of the organization "Moms Against Senseless Killing" (MASK). It was particularly meaningful to me to hear the panelists, as they both talked about the issues of gun violence in Chicago from two different but important perspectives: that of grassroots organizing (MASK), and data-driven tools for social change (background checks of registered gun owners). Not only was I proud to work for Harris, but I was able to witness the best kinds of policy change - bringing varying methods and communities together to create social impact.