Experts in the News | Miller Center

Yes, We Just Saw the Future of Conventions

Crazy hats, cheering delegates, balloon drops, drama on the floor—all gone in 2020. These mainstays of political conventions went the way of the rotary dial phone. But as we mourn the loss of the festivities we’ve become accustomed to every four years, let’s also celebrate some of the new innovations that allowed the parties to move forward amid a pandemic.

Jennifer Lawless

POLITICO Playbook: What we learned over the last two weeks

TRANSITION -- Ron Christie will be a senior fellow at U.Va.’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. He is president and CEO of Christie Strategies, and is a Bush 43 alum.

Ron Christie

'Have it both ways': Trump makes appeal to suburban voters and base in RNC balancing act

Barbara Perry, a presidential historian at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, said Trump delivered on his "Promises Made, Promises Kept" motto for his fervent supporters by highlighting his achievements on taxes, immigration and packing the federal courts with conservative jurists. "For the Team Trump home crowd, he hit a grand slam over the wrought iron fence surrounding the executive mansion," she said.

Barbara Perry

Republican National Convention

Barbara Perry is interviewed about the Republican National Convention on Alhurra TV.

Barbara Perry

The Future of China Studies in the U.S.

China Studies is changing irrevocably before our very eyes. What is emerging are differences in language study, classroom education, field research, and advocacy that decrease the connectedness between learning and scholarship in both countries.

Aynne Kokas

We will emerge: Action

We will emerge and build an economy that works for everyone. It’s true that pandemics don’t discriminate based on wealth. But the impact of a crisis of this magnitude falls disproportionately on the millions of Americans living on the financial edge. Despite a decade of stock market gains, far too many people are working longer hours for the same pay, while facing rising healthcare, education, and housing costs. We need to build a more inclusive economy that addresses systemic inequities and creates real opportunities for all Americans. We will emerge and find a better way.

Chris Lu