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Farnsworth Coauthors Book on Political Humor

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is coauthor of a new book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency, recently published by Routledge. This project is Professor Farnsworth’s ninth published book on U.S. politics.

From the publisher: “This book traces the trajectory of late-night political humor, which has long been a staple of entertainment television and is now a prominent part of social media political discourse, especially when it comes to the presidency. From Richard Nixon on Laugh-In to Donald Trump’s avatar on Saturday Night Live, this book takes the next step and considers how late-night comedy treats Joe Biden, the new American president who strives to restore a civil public tone but offers far less comedy fodder than his predecessor. Employing content analysis, public opinion surveys, and a variety of other quantitative and qualitative research, the authors look beyond the day-to-day memes and mimes of late-night comics and show how political humor may evolve. For students and scholars of politics and the media, this book will appeal to the general public and political pundits as well.”

Ordering info here

Political donors favoring constitutional changes (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

The Congressional races — with the possibility that flipping Virginia districts could gain Democrats control of the House of Representatives — are what’s drawing the bulk of donor attention, said Stephen Farnsworth, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.

“It is clear that most donor money is going to midterm Congressional races, where it can make a difference for control of Congress,” he said.

Link

Dr. Farnsworth’s International Programs

J. William Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences: Poland

J. William Fulbright Faculty Research Chair in Public Policy: Canada

J. William Fulbright Faculty Specialist: Malaysia

U.S. State Department International Lectures: Poland, Malaysia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Canada, India, Armenia, Ukraine, the Philippines

International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) Media Training Seminars: Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

International University Lectures and Research Conferences: Poland, Germany, Norway, Canada, Switzerland

National Democratic Institute International Election Monitoring: Cambodia

Washington Lectures for International Audiences: Cyprus, Australia, India, Canada, Norway, Malaysia, Moldova, Zambia, Yemen, China, Sierra Leone, Germany, Egypt, the Palestinian Territories, Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, Ukraine.

Other International Travel: Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Ecuador, United Kingdom, France, Mexico

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Trump White House Rebuilding Project to Proceed (CTV News Canada)

Stephen Farnsworth, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Mary Washington, said that the ruling removed a key barrier to the president’s plan to build a new White House ballroom. “While there are other legal strategies that remain possible, the project may be finished before the Supreme Court faces this question again,” Farnsworth said.

Farnsworth Discusses Politics in Newsweek

Professor Emeritus of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in a Newsweek article titled “Democrats’ Chances of Flipping the Senate 75 Days to Midterms—Polls.” In the article, Farnsworth discussed Democrats’ prospects for gaining control of the Senate in the midterm elections, putting their chances at “about 50/50.” Read the article in Newsweek.   Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Iran War Weighs on Virginia Beach Voters in Key House Race (The New York Times) “Midterm elections are always tough for the president’s party, and Trump’s very low public approval numbers create a lot of challenges for people in districts like the Virginia Second,” said Stephen Farnsworth, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.

Taylor, Perriello Announce Opposition to Dominion-NextEra Merger (WRIC; MSN; WFXR) University of Mary Washington Political Science Professor Emeritus Stephen Farnsworth said Taylor and Perriello may be trying to tap into the current public opinion on AI, data centers and the merger. “One of the most important things in politics is being where the people are,” Farnsworth told 8News.

Trump Reveals $850 War Chest, Says He’ll Use it to Support ‘Good’ Republican Candidates (BizPac Review) Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said that he thinks the odds are “about 50/50.”“The good news for Republicans is that the path to keeping their majority runs through states that President Trump won two years ago,” he told Newsweek. “The bad news is that polls show that Democratic voters are far more motivated than Republicans and that President Trump is particularly unpopular at the moment.”

Virginia Officials say Donations Aren’t Influencing Their Views on Dominion-NextEra Merger (WVTF) University of Mary Washington political science professor emeritus Stephen Farnsworth said political donations wouldn’t be given if they didn’t have some kind of return, but officials can avoid accusations of bias, at least in this case, by passing the buck to regulators. “Take money as people are willing to give it to you and leave the decision in the hands of the State Corporation Commission,” Farnsworth said.

Virginia Primaries in August? Republicans Won’t Want to do that Again (FXBG Advance) August is a month for packing up the belongings of young adults and moving them into apartments and dorm rooms, for back-to-school sales and maybe for squeezing one more out-of-town trip into the summer calendar. A time for holding Republican primaries in Virginia? Well, not so much.

Republicans see Virginia’s 7th District as their best chance to flip a Democratic seat in the state (The Washington Examiner) “Certainly, if Republicans are going to take one seat now held by a Democrat in Virginia, the 7th [District] is the most likely scenario,” political analyst Stephen Farnsworth told Washington Examiner.