Imposter syndrome, photoshopping, the complexities of foreign alliances, political humor, the magic of Disney World and shared musical experiences – these are just a few of the topics on which University of Mary Washington professors have contributed their expertise over the radio airwaves this past year.
UMW is proud to announce the continued success of its collaboration with Virginia Humanities’ With Good Reason radio program, which brings the research and insights of Virginia’s top educators to audiences across the nation. Each week, over 100,000 listeners tune in to 128 radio stations throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., and 38 states to hear thought-provoking discussions with leading academics. Thousands more listen to the episodes through iTunes podcasts.
The partnership between UMW and Virginia Humanities helps showcase valuable work in Virginia’s higher education system. Since last summer, a dozen Mary Washington faculty members were featured on With Good Reason, either as new guests or in re-aired episodes that continue to draw audiences.
Some of the instructive topics shared recently by UMW faculty include:
Taking a Presidential Joke: Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, explained how the world of political humor can give Americans a glimpse of the major players and issues. (Oct. 4, 2024)
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a book chapter, “Late-Night Political Humor and the 2020 Presidential Campaign: Still All Trump, All the Time.” The chapter is published by Routledge in the edited volume Social Media Politics: Digital Discord in the 2020 Election. The chapter was derived from portions of Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Running for governor, Spanberger a force in 7th District race (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Certainly, she’s lending her credibility to the (Vindman) campaign,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. “It would be a bad look for Democrats going into 2025 if Virginia Democrats can’t keep Virginia 7.”
ANALYSIS: Are Candidates Trading Shoe Leather for Online Ads? (FXBG Advance)
The Advance contacted University of Mary Washington professor Stephen Farnsworth to get his take on the lower turnout numbers.
“Wow,” he began. “These declines raise questions about whether the parties are investing enough in getting out the vote efforts. With a very close congressional election in the region we should be seeing a lot of early votes locked in – not the declines we are seeing so far.”
Youngkin blasts DOJ lawsuit that trust Virginia’s voter roll removals into national spotlight (Virginia Mercury)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse. “I think Governor Youngkin is available to the national media because he wants to keep Republicans thinking about Glenn Youngkin. With the one consecutive term limit, Youngkin’s political fortunes may be improved with greater national media visibility.”
Political expert Steve Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington noted that Biden’s economic record is, in fact, quite strong. Unemployment is at a low level, and lucrative opportunities abound, particularly in real estate and the stock market. However, public perception does not always align with this economic recovery.
Youngkin blasts DOJ lawsuit that thrust Virginia’s voter roll removals into national spotlight (WHRO)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse. “I think Governor Youngkin is available to the national media because he wants to keep Republicans thinking about Glenn Youngkin. With the one consecutive term limit, Youngkin’s political fortunes may be improved with greater national media visibility.”
Early voting for 2024 General Election in DC begins Monday (WJLA)
“You cannot imagine a race much closer than this one this time,” Steve Farnsworth, PhD, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told 7News. “The polls have consistently shown a very, very close race – not only nationally, but in those key swing states that will determine who wins the electoral college.”
How the Networks will Deal with Disinformation, Exit Polls, Toss-Up States and More (Newsday)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist with the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg,Virginia, and an expert in disinformation’s impact on elections, says, “Each election becomes more fraught because more and more disinformation enters the public discourse and that makes it harder and harder to sort out what is true in that high pressure get-it-first environment of breaking news.”
Local registrars give vote of confidence to early turnout at the polls (Fredericksburg Free Press)
University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth said declines in early voting in the Fredericksburg area could mean that political candidates are spending too much on advertising this year and not enough on early voting efforts. “Early voting is a key thing for political campaigns,” said Farnsworth, who is also director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Two Virginia candidates for Congress say democracy is at stake. It’s there the campaigns part ways (The Washington Post)
Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor, said it’s Virginia’s most competitive race. “There’s a lot of national interest in the Virginia 7th, and it is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” he said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.”
Voter roll removals draw national scrutiny as election nears (Richmond Free Press)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse.
Road closures set for Kamala Harris campaign address in DC Tuesday (WJLA)
“One of the things you have seen the Democrats lean into a lot in the last several weeks is this character argument about Donald Trump. He is not suitable to be President, they say”, said Stephen Farnsworth.
Eugene Vindman vs Derrick Anderson: Who will fill the open VA-7 seat? (Fox 5DC)
Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor, said it’s Virginia’s most competitive race. “There’s a lot of national interest in the Virginia 7th, and it is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” he said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.”
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a keynote lecture, “The State of the U.S. Presidential Election," to a group of political leaders from Australia participating in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington. The political leaders participated in a two-week program that focused on learning about the U.S. political system.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Congressional Seats (Virginia Dogwood) “We have in the U.S. right now a very divided Congress,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1460354387966817
Updating Donald Trump’s Criminal Charges (RTVI Media) “That [New York] case was delayed at the request of the Trump campaign,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “There was a thought from the Trump legal team that it would harm his campaign for sentencing to take place before the election.” https://www.youtube.com/live/TG0aobFr7dc?t=493s
Taking a Presidential Joke (With Good Reason) Presidents have to know how to take a joke. And how to tell one about themselves. Steve Farnsworth says that many young people are finding their way into understanding the political landscape one joke at a time. https://www.withgoodreasonradio.org/episode/early-voting/
Presidential Election 2024 (Indian Institute for Governance, Policies, and Politics) “I think the first important thing to understand about American politics and how different our society is from say the structure of a Westminster style parliamentary democracy is that we are very very open to new people and new ideas,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.youtube.com/live/-7dvnLbBdj4
The following articles are among the most recent to which Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the UMW Center for Leadership and Media Studies, contributed:
Spanberger and Earle-Sears tied in first 2025 gubernatorial poll
Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “The big challenge for these potential candidates is becoming better known across the Commonwealth.”
STATE NEWS Spanberger and Earle-Sears Tied in First 2025 Gubernatorial Poll
“Virginia elections are often close, and the look ahead to next year suggests more of the same in the campaign for governor,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “The big challenge for these potential candidates is becoming better known across the commonwealth.”
Trump, Youngkin urge early voting during tele-rally
“Both campaigns are really talking about the election in apocalyptic terms, and this is really motivating voters,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. Read more.
Americans Living Abroad Could Swing Key States
Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, said the data shows how much “every vote counts.” “When presidential elections come down to several thousand votes in a handful of key swing states, every vote really does count,” he told Newsweek. “While Americans abroad are not a huge voting bloc, these narrow-margin elections of recent years mean that they could be a decisive voting group in a few closely contested states.” Read more.
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Federalism and Separation of Powers in the United States," to a group of international journalists participating in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington. The journalists, from 18 different nations, are participating in a three-week program focusing on learning about the U.S. political system.
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Battling Disinformation with Political Humor,” at the Rappahannock-Fredericksburg Rotary Club. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored books, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists and News Consumers and Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency.
Other recent media mentions of Farnsworth include:
Biden at the Democratic National Convention: “Democracy Must Be Preserved” (CTV News Canada)
“I think it is important to recognize that the current president was giving a speech he didn’t want to give,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more.
Can a political party get any attention when its rival holds a national convention? Yes, but it’s not easy (The Conversation)
Even for former U.S. President Donald Trump, a master at attention-getting, trying to counterprogram during the Democratic National Convention is nearly impossible. Read more.
Democratic National Convention Recap (WCPT 820, Chicago)
“The Democrats are in a very good position with this convention,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Listen here.
Virginia 7th District candidates battle over residency, service (Daily Progress; Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“They may not move a lot of votes in this case, but you may get the handful of votes you need,” Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Everything matters to somebody.” Read more.
