No issue will command more attention in Washington, D.C. this year than the 2024 election. Its outcome may define the nation’s future for decades to come. This course will explore the campaign in real time, using developments as a backdrop to gain a broader understanding of the changing nature of American politics. We will explore widening political divisions, the growing role of social media and fake news, the convoluted primary, caucus and Electoral College system, the role of money and polls, and reforms which might produce better outcomes. This is a course for those who enjoy politics and will require keeping up with campaign developments. Classes will combine lecture, discussion, guest speakers and exercises with an emphasis on current developments. Students should emerge with a sophisticated understanding of American elections, the ability to go beyond media reports in assessing campaign developments, and a strong background in the details of the 2024 campaign. The course will also provide UCDC students a place to share internship experiences, fostering a sense of community and support for experiential learning.
About the Instructor: Professor Marc Sandalow (msandalow@ucdc.edu) is a senior faculty member at the University of California’s Washington Program. He worked as a journalist for nearly four decades, traveling with and interviewing candidates, and attending multiple Democratic and Republican nominating conventions. He spent 21 years at the San Francisco Chronicle, the last 10 years at the paper’s Washington Bureau Chief. He is the author of three books, including “Madam Speaker,” a biography of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He is currently a political analyst for KCBS radio in San Francisco and Hearst Television and writes a regular column for the San Francisco Examiner. He has been with UCDC since 2008.