What if we treated politics more like a park and less like a sport?
I asked an audience at Montana State University in Bozeman that question a few weeks ago, my written remarks are here.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/what-if...
I've had versions of these conversations with faculty around the country and with employers who are struggling to hire good entry-level staff. I've begun talking to students about these challenges as well - seems like a missing voice in the conversation. Thoughts?
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
As part of this series I gave a talk on treating our politics the way we do our public lands earlier this week - you will have an interesting and engaged audience, plan to spend time sticking around after the panel to talk to people.
I've received a couple of invitations to talk about my edited volume, Political Communication Ethics: Theory and Practice - for a fee.
I won't pay to talk about ethics, though the requests seem to make the point that ethics is something we need to talk more about.
Emer-people (and Emerson adjacent people) - I will match every dollar you donate to Emerson College up to $5,000. Navigate around Matches & Challenges until you see mine. It's a weird and special place, and it's also why we're in each other's lives.
www.givecampus.com/schools/Emer...
Dear @washingtonpost.com - would love to read about DC United's road win last night in my local paper, but you fired all your sports reporters. Why should I pay you for national news I get from others when you don't cover local sports news I want?
Attacking a free press is anti-democratic. The point of the press is to be critical, that's their job in a democracy. Journalists who always make government happy aren't doing their job.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Call for Proposals: Civic Education and America’s 250th | Deadline: April 5, 2026
Call for Proposals: Civic Education and America’s 250th APSA Teaching & Learning Symposium In-Person | APSA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. June 25-27, 2026 Application Deadline: April 5, 2026 Start Your Application…
On March 4, 1865 President Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. It's worth revisting on March 4, 2026.
avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century...
"We are trading serious governance for a carnival atmosphere, and it’s tearing the seams of our 1787 agreement. Democracy isn't a game show—it’s fueled by truth and the mutual respect to listen, even when we don't get our way."
- Former MT Gov and RNC Chair Marc Racicot
youtu.be/AJFwf094-_k
Tomorrow I'm talking to former MT Governor and RNC Chair Marc Racicot about ethics in political communication. Yes, the SOTU will come up.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/event-c...
Life lesson from William Shatner: Boldly headbang where no one has headbanged before.
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
You know what would be great? Local media coverage of DC United's win last night in their home opener. The Philadelphia Union got local coverage of their loss to DC because the @phillysport.bsky.social knows that local sports matter to people who pay for news.
The Montana Republican Party rebuked their former Governor and former RNC Chair Marc Racicot for endorsing Biden. We talk to him on Thursday about ethics his new role at Republicans for Integrity.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/event-c...
People don't do things they think they will be punished for. Until voters and viewers punish pols and pundits who pull racist garbage, that racist garbage will continue.
Candidates, elected officials, and pundits should not promote or excuse threats or violence. They should call out and condemn threats and violence, regardless of who is doing it and who the target is.
www.thefp.com/p/fear-is-no...
Political violence should be condemned, even when that violence is committed against people you disagree with. The point of democracy is that we argue rather than fight. Normalizing violence undermines the point of democracy.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Possibly the perfect metaphor for 2026.
Jay Vine wins Tour Down Under after two kangaroos cause mass crash www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Pleased to announce that John Barth has endowed a Democracy Innovation Prize at @smpagwu.bsky.social. Modeled on venture competitions, the prize will reward GW students who come up with ways to strengthen our democracy. I hope other schools follow John's lead.
mediarelations.gwu.edu/school-media...
Want a good perspective on ethics and AI? Read Plato's Phaedrus. Want a good perspective on debates about gender and identity? Read Plato's Phaedrus.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
What political elites say matters.
Fellow faculty updating spring syllabi: Below are resources for teaching ethics in campaigns, advocacy, and political communication from @engagingnews.bsky.social and the Project on Ethics in Political Communication (that I direct, so a bit selfish but still worth checking out).
"You wouldn't believe it - eggs have gone up again. Never vote for this Government again, I won't. I'll give the Liberals a go."
Albert in Agatha Christie's Postern of Fate (1973)
www.agathachristie.com/stories/post...
A volunteer fan group ran a campaign to keep DCU from moving to Baltimore before Audi Field opened. In the ever expanding universe of ways to further alienate its supporters, this is a bright shining star.
The 2026 plan includes further alienating season ticket holders by playing the Miami game, the one game anyone might want to see to Baltimore, a city a group of fan volunteers organized to keep DCU from moving to befor Audi opened.
Quick and easy paper or article:
Review Tetlock and related literature
Collect talking head and pundit predictions about political events (Jan 30 shutdown? who does polling say the public blames?)
Ask several LLMs the same question
Compare the accuracy of the predictions
My money is on the bots
My end of semester note to students in @smpagwu.bsky.social at the George Washington University: Embrace rituals.
"Routines are about doing. Rituals are about being."
www.peterloge.com/uncategorize...
Most campuses, most of the time, are full of people learning and working together.
Put down your phone, take a walk, talk to your neighbors. And for heaven's sake, don't believe every headline you read.
wapo.st/3XJkFf5
Public service is not for private gain.
“Government officials should not, and should not appear to be, endorsing a commercial product. Full stop,” Project on Ethics in Political Communication director Peter Loge.
www.notus.org/money/mike-h...
"...calling your opponents traitors — and then specifically saying that it warrants the death penalty — is reckless, inappropriate, irresponsible.” US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
We couldn't have said it better.
thehill.com/homenews/562...