LSU Political Experts Available to Speak on Local, State and National Politics
July 02, 2020
From local elections to the debates and campaigns for the U.S. presidency, LSU has
researchers available to talk about each issue being discussed or in general about
these elections. LSU researchers available to speak are listed below by topic areas.
To schedule interviews, contact LSU Media Relations.
Constitutional Law/Supreme Court Appointments
- Michael Coenen
Areas of Expertise: Constitutional law; federal courts; criminal procedure; administrative law.
LSU Law Center – assistant professor of law
225-578-8701
michael.coenen@law.lsu.edu - Ray Diamond
Areas of Expertise: Constitutional law; race relations; legal history
LSU Law Center – Jules F. and Frances L. Landry Distinguished Professor of Law and James Carville Alumni Chair
225-578-8846
ray.diamond@law.lsu.edu - James Stoner
Areas of Expertise: Political theory; English common law; American constitutionalism
Political Science – professor
225-578-2538
poston@lsu.edu
Crime
- Ed Shihadeh
Areas of Expertise: Crime and criminology; demography
Department of Sociology – professor and chair
225-578-1635
edsoc@lsu.edu
Economy
- Leonard M. Apcar
Areas of Expertise: U.S. economic policy, Federal Reserve interest rate decisions
Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School
225-587-2216
lenapcar@lsu.edu - Daniel Brent
Areas of Expertise: Environmental economics; water resource economics; applied econometrics; experimental economics; transportation; public finance; policy evaluation; energy economics
Department of Economics – assistant professor
dbrent@lsu.edu - Brian Marks
Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting, the Voting Rights Act, citizenship, foreign policy and geopolitics
Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
225-578-6077
bmarks@lsu.edu - Joseph Mason
Areas of Expertise: Financial intermediation and economic growth, with special emphasis on financial innovation and the role it plays in financial expansions as well as financial crises.
Department of Finance – professor
225-578-6255
masonj@lsu.edu - James Richardson
Areas of Expertise: Regional economics; energy economics; state and local taxation; forecasting; public policy
Public Administration Institute – professor; Department of Economics – professor
225-578-6745
parich@lsu.edu
Education
- Roland Mitchell
Areas of Expertise: History of U.S. higher education; the experiences of underrepresented populations in post-secondary education; school-to-prison-pipeline issues; and university to community outreach/relational issues
College of Human Sciences & Education – interim dean and professor
225-578-2156
rwmitch@lsu.edu - Dereck J. Rovaris Sr.
Areas of Expertise: Responsible for the oversight of LSU diversity and outreach efforts including administrative oversight of Office of Diversity reporting units, provides vision and executive leadership for inclusive excellence at LSU, and represents the university in promoting the diversity leadership agenda locally, regionally and nationally
Office of Diversity, vice provost for diversity & chief ficersity officer
225-578-5736
drovaris@lsu.edu
Energy/Oil and Gas
- David Dismukes
Area of Expertise: Analysis of economic, statistical and public policy issues in energy and regulated industries
LSU Center for Energy Studies – executive director
225-578-4343
dismukes@lsu.edu - John Russin
Areas of Expertise: Renewable energy; sustainable bioproducts and biofuels; Agriculture – LSU LSU AgCenter – vice president
225-578-4880
JRussin@agcenter.lsu.edu
Environment
- Chris D’Elia
Areas of expertise: Nutrient dynamics in aquatic systems; estuarine ecology; coral reef ecology; algal/invertebrate symbiosis; science history and policy; math and science education; marine pollution; global climate change; analytical chemistry
College of the Coast & Environment - dean and professor
225-578-7188
cdelia@lsu.edu - Margaret Reams
Areas of expertise: Environmental policy and management; resilience; sustainability
Department of Environmental Sciences - professor
225-578-4299
mreams@lsu.edu - Robert Twilley
Areas of Expertise: Coastal and environmental issues including land loss and storm surge; seafood industry support
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program executive director and LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences professor
225-578-6710
rtwilley@lsu.edu
General Election
- Leonard M. Apcar
Areas of Expertise: Political journalism, media criticism, campaign communication, social media strategy.
Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School of Mass Communication
225-587-2216
lenapcar@lsu.edu - Nichole Bauer
Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
nbauer4@lsu.edu - Robert “Robbie” Hogan
Areas of Expertise: American electoral politics; campaigns; political parties & interest groups and state politics
Political Science – professor
225-578-3217
rhogan1@lsu.edu - James Honeycutt
Areas of Expertise: The effects of political partisanship on voting intentions; psychology and political ideology
Communication Studies – professor
225-578-0032
sphone@lsu.edu - Lyman Hunt
Area of Expertise: Political ideology
Communication Studies – senior instructor
225-578-5989
lhunt@lsu.edu - Nancy Isenberg
Areas of Expertise: Gender and politics, cultural and legal history in the U.S.; Author of "White Trash. The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America"
Named to Politico's Top 50 Guide to the thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American Politics
History, T. Harry Williams Professor
225-578-4492
nisenberg@lsu.edu - Nathan Kalmoe
Areas of Expertise: Voting & elections, public opinion, political news & advertising, partisanship/ideology & polarization, political violence
225-578-8013
nkalmoe@lsu.edu
Immigration
- Lauren R. Aronson
Area of Expertise: U.S. immigration law and unaccompanied immigrant children - director of Immigration Law Clinic and assistant professor of professional practice
225-578-2071
lauren.aronson@law.lsu.edu
Brian Marks
Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting; the Voting Rights Act; citizenship; foreign policy; and geopolitics
Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
225-578-6077
bmarks@lsu.edu
International Policy
- Brian Marks
Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting; the Voting Rights Act; citizenship; foreign policy; and geopolitics
Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
225-578-6077
bmarks@lsu.edu
Mass Media/Political Communication
- Leonard M. Apcar
Areas of Expertise: Political journalism, media criticism, campaign communication, social media strategy.
Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School of Mass Communication
225-587-2216
lenapcar@lsu.edu - Nichole Bauer
Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
nbauer4@lsu.edu - Joshua Darr
Areas of Expertise: Campaign strategy, earned media, presidential primaries, field offices, voter contact
Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
225-578-0395
jdarr@lsu.edu - Mike Henderson
Areas of Expertise: Public Opinion and election
Public Policy Research Lab research director
mbhende1@lsu.edu - Nathan Kalmoe
Areas of Expertise: Voting & elections, public opinion, political news & advertising, partisanship/ideology & polarization, political violence
225-578-8013
nkalmoe@lsu.edu - Robert Mann
Area of Expertise: Political history; political communication
Manship School of Mass Communication – Manship Chair and professor
225-578-2053
bobmann@lsu.edu - Ofer Mintz
Areas of Expertise: Marketing analytics, marketing strategy, political marketing, and digital marketing (social media)
Department of Marketing – assistant professor
225-578-8321
omintz@lsu.edu - Kathleen Searles
Areas of Expertise: News media; campaign advertising; political psychology
Political Science/Manship School of Mass Communication –associate professor
Race Relations
- Lori Martin
Areas of Expertise: Race and ethnicity relations; demography; racial wealth inequality; asset poverty; race and sports
Department of African & African American Studies and Sociology – professor
225-578-1785
lorim@lsu.edu - Bryan McCann
Areas of Expertise: Race, racism and criminal justice; primary and general election debates; and how campaigns structure arguments
Communication Studies
225-578-6813
504-330-8166
bryanm@lsu.edu - Roland Mitchell
Areas of Expertise: History of U.S. higher education; the experiences of underrepresented populations in post-secondary education; school-to-prison-pipeline issues; and university to community outreach/relational issues
College of Human Sciences & Education – interim dean and professor
225-578-2156
rwmitch@lsu.edu
Women and Gender
- Nichole Bauer
Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
nbauer4@lsu.edu - Summer Steib
Areas of Expertise: Women and gender
LSU Women's Center, director
225-578-7563
summers@lsu.edu
In the News
July 26, 2021
Are Americans More Trusting Than They Seem?
The New Yorker
July 19, 2021
‘It’s chilling what is happening’: a rightwing backlash to Biden takes root in Republican
states
The Guardian
July 14, 2021
Talk Louisiana: Jerry Ceppos
WRKF
Jan. 27, 2021
Biden’s ban on new federal leases prompts outrage from energy industry
Business Report
Jan. 26, 2021
Why Joe Biden's oil and gas moratorium is expected to have long-term effects on Louisiana's
economy
The Advocate
La. Should Equalize Oil, Gas Taxes, Nix Exemptions, Prof Says
Law360
Jan. 24, 2021
The Trump presidency is now history. So how will it rank?
The New York Times
Jan. 17, 2021
Research: TV news outlets overrepresent extreme partisans in Congress (Plus: 4 tips
for better coverage)
Journalist's Resource
Letter to the Editor: U.S. Capitol riot revealed distrust of media, importance of
journalism
The Reveille
Jan. 14, 2021
Trump's Second Impeachment and the Lessons of History
Governing
Jan. 11, 2021
What you need to know about how many Americans condone political violence — and why
Washington Post
Jan. 8, 2021
Social media calls for boycott of Rouses and Red Zeppelin Pizza following owners photographed
at rally at U.S. Capitol
WVLA
Jan. 7, 2021
Are we entering a new era of political violence?
Vox
Local social media expert weighs in on Trump’s Facebook ban
WAFB
Dec. 3, 2020
Mornings w/Brian Haldane: Greg Upton
Talk 107.3
Nov. 10, 2020
Explaining the religious vote for Trump
Phys.org
Oct. 18, 2020
Why Joe Biden's effort to promote new, green jobs would be a hit on oil-dependent
south Louisiana
NOLA.com
Oct. 13, 2020
American Governmental Propaganda Starts in WWI but Still Thrives Today
WOUB
Recommendations for Media Covering the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Media for Democracy
Oct. 9, 2020
In 2020, the Ground Game is All Trump
Mischiefs of Faction
Oct. 8, 2020
Could Biden Rebuild the Economy by Funding Green Energy?
Wired
Call It What It Is: Propaganda
Politico
Oct. 5, 2020
Geaux Vote LSU embraces voter education week
Tiger TV
Sept. 10, 2020
National political experts to discuss 2020 presidential election
Bossier Press Tribune
Aug. 24, 2020
Joe Biden's ban on offshore drilling could wreck Louisiana's economy
The Advocate
Aug. 21, 2020
Biden gets rave reviews for DNC speech - but will a polling bump follow?
WWL
Aug. 16, 2020
Political scholar explains how partisan division fueled bloody conflict in the 1860s
— and how it could happen again
Alter Net
July 10, 2020
Voting 101: LSU professor gives guidance on importance of voting, why, how to vote
in upcoming Louisiana primary
The Reveille
June 17, 2020
LSU's Geaux Vote encourages students to vote in presidential primaries, presidential
election
The Reveille
March 18, 2020
LSU professor launches website to fight coronavirus fake news
Manship News Service
This website by an LSU professor debunks fake news on coronavirus, presidential election
Raw Story
March 13, 2020
Coronavirus Roils 2020 Race, Forcing A Virtual Campaign Season
Financial Advisor Magazine
March 4, 2020
California delegate wave didn’t quite break as expected
Associated Press
March 3, 2020
What Went Down On Super Tuesday
Five Thirty Eight
March 2, 2020
Louisiana College Students Launch Site to Battle Fake News
Government Technology
LSU professor behind online resource guide for spotting fake news
Louisiana Radio Network
Feb. 29, 2020
The big crunch: For 2020 Dems, March is key in delegate race
Associated Press
Feb. 28, 2020
LSU students keep eyes peeled for 'fake news'
The Advocate
Fake news
Business Report
Feb. 18, 2020
Election angst sparks massive activism from Democrats
MSNBC
Jan. 27. 2020
Inside The Field Offices Of The Iowa Caucuses
FiveThirtyEight
Talk Louisiana: Nancy Isenberg
WRKF
Jan. 1, 2020
Politicians can’t solve partisan divide
Paris News
Dec. 31, 2019
What were the Top 10 political stories in Louisiana in 2019?
Monroe News Star
Dec. 30, 2019
LSU law professor: Despite posturing U.S. Sen. John Kennedy gives thumbs-up to dubious
Trump judicial nominees
The Advocate
Dec. 26, 2019
Newspaper demise feeds partisanship
News Register
Dec. 24, 2019
Commentary: Americans are at each other’s throats. Here’s one way out.
Washington Post
Science gives us a recipe for handling holiday conversations
Las Vegas Sun
Dec. 23, 2019
In 2019, Election Spending in Louisiana Likely Topped $100 Million
Bayou Brief
Dec. 19, 2019
Welcome to third-world democracy and impeachment
The Hill
Nov. 26, 2019
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy's often-recycled quips win over national audience
The Advocate
Nov. 17, 2019
Did Louisiana football success boost Edwards? Couldn’t hurt.
Associated Press
Odd-year elections have let Democrats expand footprint in Southern states
Associated Press
Nov. 16, 2019
Edwards keeps Governor’s Mansion blue in a deep red state
Louisiana Radio Network
Democratic Governor Wins Reelection in Deep-Red Louisiana
Mother Jones
Nov. 15, 2019
Louisiana Votes For Governor
NPR
What is it going to take to win the Governor’s mansion?
KTVE
Nov. 14, 2019
At rally, Trump says impeachment probe has been ‘very hard’ on family
PBS News Hour
Trump impeachment hearings begin before a deeply divided audience
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Nov. 13, 2019
Tight Louisiana governor's race is testing Trump's coattails
Associated Press
Nov. 12, 2019
Attack ads move to state issues in Louisiana governor's race
Associated Press
Nov. 11, 2019
This impeachment brought to you by…
Marketplace
Newest poll shows Gov. Edwards 48%, businessman Rispone 46%
WWL
Nov. 9, 2019
How the term ‘trial lawyer’ became a vicious attack this campaign season in Louisiana
The Advocate
Oct. 26, 2019
55 Years Ago, “The Speech” That Launched Ronald Reagan’s Political Career
Bayou Brief
Oct. 22, 2019
Louisiana GOP Rallies Behind Eddie Rispone in Governor's Race
WWNO
Oct. 15, 2019
What's Next in the Race for Louisiana Governor?
WRKF
Oct. 14, 2019
Governor John Bel Edwards confident he'll win runoff, political analysts more cautious
WBRZ
The GOP is two seats away from Super Majority in the state House
WWL
Oct. 13, 2019
Eddie Rispone won a spot in the runoff against Gov. John Bel Edwards; Trump may be
the reason why
The Advocate
Oct. 11, 2019
Gov. John Bel Edwards stars at glittery medical school groundbreaking
Shreveport Times
Oct. 9, 2019
GOP early voting up in Louisiana gubernatorial election
The Washington Times
Republicans target Dem incumbents to gain majority in Baton Rouge
Manship News Service
Oct. 8, 2019
Trump gets 51 percent approval in Louisiana
WWL
Oct. 4, 2019
A short primer on preventing political violence
Washington Post
Oct. 3, 2019
Impeachment takes 'oxygen out of the room' for 2020 Democrats
Bloomberg
Oct. 1, 2019
Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon
New York Journal of Books
In Today's America, Everybody Who Disagrees With You Is a Traitor
Reason
Sept. 27, 2019
Republicans Target Taxes, Medicaid in Louisiana Governor’s Race
Bloomberg Tax
Sept. 23, 2019
Democratic race tightens at Steak Fry
Tribune News Service
Sept. 22, 2019
LSU reacts to the Sept. 19 Gubernatorial Debate; faculty, students express frustration
with questions
The Daily Reveille
Sept. 21, 2019
Louisiana students heading to Iowa this winter for campaigns
Associated Press
2020 Democratic Steak Fry separates top tier and rest of field
Bloomberg
Sept. 20, 2019
Four takeaways from last night’s governor’s debate
Business Report
Governor Edwards defends his record on the economy in first televised debate
Louisiana Radio Network
Highlights from the first Gubernatorial Debate of this election season
Tiger TV
Friday, September 20th: Bob Mann, Bridget Gordon, Holly Howat, Carlos Thomas
WRKF
Washington Post: Elizabeth Warren Is a Modern-Day Frederick Douglass
Washington Free Beacon
Washington Post mocked for comparing Elizabeth Warren to Frederick Douglass
Fox News
Sept. 19, 2019
Louisiana governor debate: Gov. Edwards touts accomplishments; opponents hit on taxes,
economy, more
The Advocate
Edwards' record challenged in Louisiana governor's debate
Associated Press
Governor’s debate not short on small jabs between candidates
WAFB
La. governor candidates tangle in first debate
WVLA
Three Louisiana gubernatorial candidates clash in debate at LSU Thursday
WBRZ
Three Louisiana gubernatorial candidates clash on debate stage Thursday night
The Daily Reveille
First Gubernatorial Debate of the season held on LSU's campus
Tiger TV
Candidates weigh in after heated gubernatorial debate
KLFY
Top gubernatorial candidates share stage in Baton Rouge debate
KLFY
Rivals hit Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on economy in first debate
Washington Times
Claws Out? Three way candidate debate tonight at LSU
WWL
Candidates ready for first Louisiana Governor’s race debate
Associated Press
Gubernatorial candidates square off at LSU tonight in televised debate
Louisiana Radio Network
Louisiana journalist Robert Mann's book explores Ronald Reagan
Shreveport Times
Sept. 18, 2019
Louisiana Governor Primary Debate Thursday night at Louisiana State University
WVLA
What you need to know: Louisiana's governor's race candidates face off in debate tonight
The Advocate
Louisiana gubernatorial candidates Edwards, Rispone, Abraham prepare for debate
Washington Times
LSU students share their predictions for the Gubernatorial Debate
Tiger TV
LSU Gubernatorial debate preview with moderator Chad Sabadie
Tiger TV
Sept. 10, 2019
No, Trump isn’t Teflon. Scandals lower his approval among Republicans — if they see
the news.
The Washington Post
Sept. 6, 2019
Justice Dept. Investigates California Emissions Pact That Embarrassed Trump
The New York Times
Aug. 15, 2019
Global recession fears could impact US economy, 2020 election
Sinclair Broadcasting Group
Aug. 14, 2019
ICE blames 'political rhetoric' for violence against offices as immigration tensions
rise
Sinclair Broadcasting Group
Aug. 8, 2019
Quiz: Let Us Predict Whether You’re a Democrat or a Republican
New York Times
Democrats train students of color in battleground states, hoping to avoid Clinton’s
2016 mistakes
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Advocates Say LGBT Issues Need More Time in Next Democratic Debate
Bloomberg
Aug. 7, 2019
Rage Rules American Politics
Reason
Aug. 6, 2019
While Trump condemns white nationalism, his campaign Facebook ads lean on talk of
migrant invasion
USA Today
Trump is provoking far-right terrorism — but the New York Times still handles him
with kid gloves
AlterNet
Aug. 5, 2019
Texas gunman’s manifesto carries echo of Trump’s language
The Irish Times
Echoes of Donald Trump’s language in the rants of the Texas gunman
The New Daily
Aug. 4, 2019
El Paso Shooting Suspect’s Manifesto Echoes Trump’s Language
New York Times
July 26, 2019
Democrats should run on the popular progressive ideas, but not the unpopular ones
Vox
July 4, 2019
10 New Books We Recommend This Week
The New York Times
July 3, 2019
Why the president is feuding with Megan Rapinoe, star of the US women’s soccer team
Vox
Related Campus News:
Iowa of the Tiger Program Gives LSU Students Front-Row Seat in Presidential Politics
LSU’s Manship School to Host 2019 Gubernatorial Debate in Partnership with Nexstar Media Group Inc.
Media Note:
Please check back as experts will continue to be added to the list throughout the
election year.