Our National Conversation (ONC)

TOM JOHNSON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF CNN, TO DISCUSS HIS NEW BOOK NOVEMBER 24 I had the honor of working for Tom Johnson when he was publisher of the Los Angeles Times. He started off as an aide to LBJ (as a member of the White House Fellows program), went on to run The LA Times (breaking all records for revenue, circulation, profitability, Pulitzers, etc.) and later was picked by Ted Turner to run CNN just as the first Gulf War broke out. On Monday, Nov. 24, starting at 6:30 p.m. EST, my students at OUR NATIONAL CONVERSATION and I will interview Tom about his recently-published memoir, "Driven: A Life in Public Service and Journalism from LBJ to CNN." Tom has a lot to say about today's media landscape, the state of democracy and mental health issues. If you'd like to join this one-hour program, please go to EventBrite and sign up: https://lnkd.in/gKwmrBQc Admission is free; tax-deductible donations are welcome.

We would like to thank Samson Crouppen for coming on our most recent podcast episode: "Is Civility Possible? Talking Trump and Commentary w/ SecretServiceSam." His insights on political commentary, social media and depolarization were greatly appreciated. You can listen to our podcast by searching Our National Conversation on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other platforms. We aim to have conversations that build bridges, explore alternative perspectives and talk solutions. Samson is a commentator and influencer who has garnered a large following by giving his honest thoughts on politics and current events. He goes by SecretServiceSam on TikTok and Instagram. Consider checking out his content!

Hello ONC alumni and friends! Today, American politics is dominated by confusion and partisan incivility. We need to equip aspiring professionals with the skills necessary to reduce toxic partisanship. Our leaders won’t do it themselves — it’s up to us to make change from the bottom-up. At ONC, we're currently undergoing a fundraising push! Our goals are to (1) provide stipends to our student interns, (2) improve our website design and functionality more quickly and efficiently, and (3) boost our advocacy on social media. Meeting these goals will allow us to produce and publish more content that advances respectful, solutions-focused dialogue while equipping our interns with the research-backed skills necessary to reduce polarization long after their time at ONC ends. If you want to help us invest in America’s future, consider donating at the link below. https://lnkd.in/gm_UVMNz If you’d like to help fundraise while being compensated for your efforts, let us know. At this time, we can provide 10% success fees to those who help ONC fundraise!

In this podcast, Eric and Sam, host, discuss whether DOGE is a threat to the U.S. Constitution or American democracy. The pair explore where they disagree and where they can find common ground. What do you think about this issue? https://lnkd.in/gqzUrMvA

In this podcast, Tania, who conducts policy research on healthcare at the state level, explains why she supports gender-affirming care and offers her thoughts on RFK Jr. Tania talks about what she wishes conservatives understood about her position. What do you think about the conversation? We recognize that this conversation was limited by the fact that it didn't include (1) members of the genderqueer community or (2) conservatives with respect to healthcare policy. #ONC #publichealth #healthcare #genderaffirmingcare https://lnkd.in/gUy8xEvg

In the latest ONC podcast, Eric walks Sam through the pros and cons of Trump's tariffs. We want to know: What do you think about this issue? What trade policies or outcomes are most important to you? #ONC #POTUS47 #ECONOMICS #TRADE #TAXATION #TARIFFS https://lnkd.in/gdEMmeBA

Hello everyone! We are looking for guest participants for ONC's podcast, especially ONC friends and alumni. If you love discussing current events or policy, having respectful and solutions-focused conversations, and better understanding perspectives with which you disagree, please fill out the form below! You don't need to be a policy expert or journalist to join in -- we are interested in your perspective. https://lnkd.in/gnbfXqvC

Be sure to check out this series if you haven't already! #ONC #OurNationalConversation https://lnkd.in/gm7gBbG5

In this ONC podcast, we discuss the Trump Administration's plans and rhetoric on DOGE and DEI. Conservative, progressive, and mixed views are shared. Our focus is on civil, solutions-focused conversation and understanding one another's perspectives. If that sounds refreshing, check out the discussion! #ONC #OurNationalConversation #DOGE #DEI https://lnkd.in/gFqVjScz

We recently recorded a discussion between people from different parts of the political spectrum about President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and the WHO, and about America’s place in global affairs. Instead of blindly advancing their own views, participants' main focus was on trying to understand positions they disagree with and on finding common ground. Let us know what you think of the issues and the discussion! See the full debate: https://lnkd.in/djUFmMHS #ONC #USPOLITICS #CLIMATECHANGE #GLOBALHEALH #POTUS47