Schar School of Policy and Government

For years, I would find myself thinking about the voice in my head. It doesn’t feel like me because sometimes we, well, talk. I would ask, “Who’s in there?” Who are the we? I had never been taught about the voice in my head that talks to the other voice in my head. A second voice. I decided to uncover this mystery and learn the neuroscience of this phenomenon, which is what I am sharing with you here.

The US Constitution clearly states that lobbying is legal. However, systemic corruption in Washington has turned it into a playground of billionaires and the powerful. David Ramadan delves into this shadowy world of political power with Brody Mullins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and guest co-host David Rehr, a former high-profile lobbyist. Together, they break down how lobbying tactics have evolved from smoke-filled rooms and relationship-based approaches to uncapped and undisclosed Super PACs. They also present possible solutions to fix this broken billion-dollar machine that currently shapes American policy and puts public participation in reforms into jeopardy.

Migrants are vital to the world order yet are often vilified. In an op-ed, a Schar School sophomore suggests movement is resistance and mobility is justice.

For first-year Schar School student Bora Yoon, identity and advocacy are inseparable. As a woman, a person of color, a child of immigrants, and an LGBTQ+ student, she says her story fuels her drive to pursue political study—and to fight for equity for everyone.

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: December 1st to 5th, 2025

Chief Justice John Roberts swore in Schar School Assistant Professor Shea Holman Kilian as a member of the SCOTUS bar. The beneficiaries will be the students in the Jurisprudence Learning Community. See why.

New research led by Schar School Associate Professor Jennifer Victor challenges the common belief that low youth voter turnout stems from apathy. Working alongside undergraduate researchers over several election cycles, Victor found that young voters face logistical barriers—from multiple or temporary addresses to confusion about state-by-state rules—that make participation difficult, not undesirable.

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: November 17th to 21st, 2025.

Virginia is currently facing a number of energy issues, particularly with the rising costs and an increasing inability to meet consumer and climate demands. David Ramadan and guest co-host Dr. Michael Webb unpack how to take care of these problems before it is too late with Hon. Glenn Davis, Director of the Virginia Department of Energy.

Despite countless frictions and hurdles, the 2025 election results swung in favor of the Democratic Party. How did they manage to do this, and what could it mean for the country? David Ramadan answers these questions with Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman from Sabato’s Crystal Ball, one of the most respected election forecasting teams in the country. Together, they take a closer look at the winners (and losers) of the election, particularly in Virginia and New Jersey, to determine how this will shape the 2026 cycle. They also unpack the most surprising things about the 2025 elections, particularly the shifting political winds in key states, as well as how the government shutdown impacted voter turnout.