Mondays, 5:30 – 7:00 pm (PT) • 8 weeks • October 2 – November 27
Join us on campus or online!
Join us this fall for an immersive speaker series that delves into the core of American democracy. Prominent figures from politics, business, foreign policy, academia, and media will analyze the implications of the 2024 elections and the challenges our nation faces. Explore topics such as harnessing the power of AI responsibly, addressing climate change at various levels, strengthening commitments to democracy and voting rights, safeguarding youth from the impacts of social media and technology on mental health, and ensuring accountability for wealth disparities. This series will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the elections and the broader American political landscape.
Students can choose to attend this course on campus or online. Sign up for Section A 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. Sign up for Section B if you know you will exclusively attend via Zoom.| SECTION A: Register for On-Campus Course » |
SECTION B: Register for Online Course » |
Course Instructor
Jim SteyerFounder and CEO, Common Sense Media; Adjunct Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Education
James Steyer is the founder and chief executive officer of Common Sense, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing information and education. For more than 30 years, Jim has taught a variety of courses on civil rights, civil liberties, and education issues at Stanford, where he is an adjunct professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. He has received many teaching honors, including the Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is the author of The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media’s Effect on Our Children, Talking Back to Facebook: The Common Sense Guide to Raising Kids in the Digital Age, and Which Side of History? How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives. Steyer received a JD from Stanford Law School.
Guest Speakers
Pam Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford Law School
David Simas, Former White House Political Director (Obama Administration)
Condoleezza Rice, Former US Secretary of State and current Director of the Hoover Institute, Stanford
Jamie Raskin, US Representative for Maryland's 8th Congressional District
General Jim Mattis, Former US Secretary of Defense (Trump Administration) and retired US Marine Corps Four-Star General
Tom Steyer, Climate Investor and Activist
Nicholas Kristof, Journalist and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Ruth Marcus, Journalist at The Washington Post
Steve Schmidt, Political Analyst, longtime Republican Campaign Strategist
Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States (Biden Administration)
Laurie Santos, Cognitive Scientist and Professor of Psychology at Yale
Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn and Internet Entrepreneur
Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and Chair of the Emerson Collective
Bill McKibben, Founder of Third Act and Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of Climate Campaign Group 350.org
Jane Fonda, Actor and Activist
Tom Friedman, Commentator and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Neal Katyal, Former US Principal Deputy Solicitor General (Obama Administration)
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.
David Simas, Former White House Political Director (Obama Administration)
Condoleezza Rice, Former US Secretary of State and current Director of the Hoover Institute, Stanford
Jamie Raskin, US Representative for Maryland's 8th Congressional District
General Jim Mattis, Former US Secretary of Defense (Trump Administration) and retired US Marine Corps Four-Star General
Tom Steyer, Climate Investor and Activist
Nicholas Kristof, Journalist and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Ruth Marcus, Journalist at The Washington Post
Steve Schmidt, Political Analyst, longtime Republican Campaign Strategist
Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States (Biden Administration)
Laurie Santos, Cognitive Scientist and Professor of Psychology at Yale
Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn and Internet Entrepreneur
Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and Chair of the Emerson Collective
Bill McKibben, Founder of Third Act and Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of Climate Campaign Group 350.org
Jane Fonda, Actor and Activist
Tom Friedman, Commentator and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist
Neal Katyal, Former US Principal Deputy Solicitor General (Obama Administration)
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.