Political Science | Penn Today

Congress expected to certify Biden’s win this week—despite GOP push to subvert the vote

Kermit Roosevelt of the Law School attributed efforts to call into question the results of the presidential election to longer term political objectives. “I’m afraid that it’s going to make the next four years a lot more difficult—not that they were going to be easy, anyway,” he said. “To the extent that we’re in an era of people living in different realities, this exacerbates that.”

Closeup of a syringe with a droplet at the tip of the needle reflecting the American flag pattern.

Science, politics, and vaccine acceptance

As the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed across the country, new research out of the Department of Philosophy shows that knowledge about the nature of science can combat political biases.

America, we have a problem

Research conducted since 1996 by Diana Mutz of the Annenberg School for Communication and School of Arts & Sciences found that voters on the losing side of the election have consistently claimed the winner was illegitimate. “What’s new this year,” she said, “is taking these sour grapes feelings to court.”

Group of women wearing colorful knitted balaclavas sit on the floor in front of Marshall speakers and amps

Pussy Riot co-founder talks politics, prison time, and protests

In a virtual talk hosted by the Andrea Mitchell Center, Nadya Tolokonnikova, a co-founder of the Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot, had a wide-ranging conversation with Penn’s Kevin M.F. Platt.

Cartoon of the U.S. map with imagery of political parties, racial justice protests, and coronavirus molecules.

‘Crisis Upon Crisis’: The coronavirus is not the only emergency we are facing

Episode three of the SAS podcast ‘In These Times’ looks at other urgent issues of our time, and examine how they affect and are affected by COVID-19.

A hand is seen waving a small American flag as traffic zips by on a city street at dusk

Inside election night 2020

During a virtual panel, Penn students, faculty, and staff who worked on NBC’s Decision Desk on Election night gave a behind-the-scenes look at the high-pressure night

Governors are persuasive on COVID and Republicans have surprising impact: Researchers

Guy Grossman of the School of Arts & Sciences, Wharton doctoral student Jonah Rexer, and Harsha Thirumurthy of the Perelman School of Medicine wrote an op-ed about how governors can take action to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Tracing Montco’s decades-long shift from GOP stronghold to boon for Biden

Obed Arango of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the diversification of Norristown, Pennsylvania. “I am one of the few Latinos, or perhaps the only Latino, who participates in a county commission,” he said, “When you have lack of representation, the agenda that is set will benefit the groups that are represented there. Many times, I’ve had to bring that perspective.”

‘Safe harbor’ deadline underscores futility of Trump challenges to 2020 election

Claire Finkelstein of the Law School commented on challenges to the results of the presidential election and the Electoral College deadline. “I’m concerned if this kind of litigation terrorism becomes a standard aftermath after every election,” she said.

As Electoral College vote looms, many avenues remain for Republican obstruction, experts say

Kermit Roosevelt of the Law School says “faithless electors” have never changed the result of a presidential election. “There have been isolated instances of faithless electors over the years but never in a way that would make you say the Electoral College is exercising its independent judgement,” he said.

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