POL 72 H — Will America Fail the Midterms? The State of Democracy at Home and Abroad
Quarter: Fall
Instructor(s): James Steyer
Date(s): Sep 28—Nov 30
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Mondays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Please Note: No class on November 9 and November 23
Tuition: $455
Refund Deadline: Sep 30
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 200
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Fall
Day: Mondays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Sep 28—Nov 30
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $455
Refund Deadline: Sep 30
Instructor(s): James Steyer
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 200
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
Please Note: No class on November 9 and November 23
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Americans are navigating a rapidly changing political and technological landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, global instability, shifting media ecosystems, and growing generational divides. This timely speaker series brings together leading voices from politics, journalism, academia, business, foreign policy, and civic life to examine the forces reshaping democracy in the United States and around the world.
Together, we will explore pressing questions facing Americans going into the 2026 midterm elections. How can democratic institutions build public trust in an era of misinformation and polarization? What responsibilities should governments and technology companies bear as AI transforms communication and civic discourse? How are global events influencing political life at home? Will voters turn out in November and overcome the proliferation of gerrymandered political maps? And how can leaders better engage younger generations whose participation will shape the future of American democracy?
Through thoughtful discussion and diverse perspectives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving relationships among politics, technology, media, and citizenship in a changing world.
Guest speakers may include:
W. Kamau Bell, Comedian, Director, and Host and Executive Producer of CNN’s Emmy Award-winning Docuseries United Shades of America
Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California
Pamela Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford Law School
David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning Historian and Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, Stanford
Nicholas Kristof, Journalist and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Ned Lamont, Governor of Connecticut
Jonathan Levin, Economist and President, Stanford
Margaret Spellings, Former US Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush
Together, we will explore pressing questions facing Americans going into the 2026 midterm elections. How can democratic institutions build public trust in an era of misinformation and polarization? What responsibilities should governments and technology companies bear as AI transforms communication and civic discourse? How are global events influencing political life at home? Will voters turn out in November and overcome the proliferation of gerrymandered political maps? And how can leaders better engage younger generations whose participation will shape the future of American democracy?
Through thoughtful discussion and diverse perspectives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving relationships among politics, technology, media, and citizenship in a changing world.
Guest speakers may include:
W. Kamau Bell, Comedian, Director, and Host and Executive Producer of CNN’s Emmy Award-winning Docuseries United Shades of America
Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California
Pamela Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford Law School
David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning Historian and Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, Stanford
Nicholas Kristof, Journalist and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Ned Lamont, Governor of Connecticut
Jonathan Levin, Economist and President, Stanford
Margaret Spellings, Former US Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush
Please note: Speakers are tentative and may be subject to change. The list of speakers will also continue to be updated, with more participants to come. This course is designed for the entire Stanford community, and Continuing Studies students will be joined by Stanford undergraduates, graduate, and professional students.
Students can choose to attend this course on campus or online. Sign up for Section H if you think you might attend class on the Stanford campus at least once. There is no commitment—you can still choose to attend via Zoom for any session. Sign up for Section Z if you know you will exclusively attend via Zoom.