UW–Madison stories and experts for election 2020

Results from the third Battleground Poll

The latest Battleground Poll results are out from the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison  They are the first ERC surveys since both parties held their presidential nominating conventions.

As voting gets underway in many states, Joe Biden remains ahead of Donald Trump in three key battleground states — Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — according to a poll by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Elections Research Center. Read the full report here.

Contact: Barry Burden, bcburden@wisc.edu

The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what’s next for SCOTUS

Linda Greene, a law professor and expert on constitutional law, is available for interviews on the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the nomination and confirmation process of SCOTUS judges.

Greene says, “As a lawyer, she was a pathbreaking figure who changed the role of women in society. As a pop culture figure, improbably, both legal elites and ordinary people knew and loved ‘the Notorious RBG.’ She became a pop culture icon for elite septuagenarians as well as young people who were not even born when she joined the Supreme Court.

“What will be her legacy be as a Supreme Court justice? Like Justice Thurgood Marshall, she wrote many opinions on a wide range of topics; many will note those contributions. But her singular legacy, like Marshall’s, will be her resolute and enduring commitment to equal justice under law for both women and African Americans.”

Contact: Linda.S.Greene@wisc.edu

Ryan Owens, an expert on the Supreme Court, can comment on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87.

Contact: rjowens@wisc.edu

The first presidential debate

The first presidential debate is coming up. What should you look for when it comes to the big issues? UW–Madison experts share their insights on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m. in a virtual Crossroads of Ideas discussion.

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The following experts are available to the media for analysis on the presidential debate. All are being featured in the Crossroads of Ideas panel.

Kathy Cramer is a professor of political science. Cramer, an expert on civic engagement and political discussion, will talk about what she hears from supporters of President Trump on conservative talk radio.

Contact: kathy.cramer@wisc.edu

Steven Deller is a professor of agricultural & applied economics. Deller, an expert on economic growth and rural economies, will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Wisconsin’s rural counties.

Deller’s recent report, “WIndicators: Impact of COVID-19 on the Wisconsin Economy,” can be found here.

Contact: scdeller@wisc.edu

Linda Greene is Evjue Bascom professor of law. Greene, an expert on constitutional law, civil rights, race and police use of force, will offer analysis of how the candidates choose to discuss racialized police violence and what the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg will mean for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Contact: Linda.S.Greene@wisc.edu

Baron Kelly is a professor of theatre and drama. Kelly, an expert on theatre and stagecraft, will discuss the positions of status on stage and the Black Lives Matter movement as it relates to theatre and the arts.

Contact: baronkelly@wisc.edu

Allison Prasch is an assistant professor of communication arts. Prasch, an expert on presidential rhetoric, will look at the coming debate in terms of narrative, character, language and use of symbolism.

Contact: aprasch@wisc.edu

Ajay Sethi is an associate professor of population health sciences. Sethi, an expert in public health and infectious disease epidemiology, will discuss conspiracy theories and misinformation in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact: ajay.sethi@wisc.edu