President Barack Obama will deliver his 2014 State of the Union address Tuesday night, during which he is likely to discuss income inequality, immigration, health care policy, foreign policy and global affairs, among other issues. Experts from The University of Texas at Austin are poised to share their insights on a variety topics related to the speech and are available to speak with the media.
Global Affairs
Jeremi Suri
Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs
Professor of History
Professor of Public Affairs
608-213-3552
suri@austin.utexas.edu
Suri is the author of five books on contemporary politics and foreign policy, including “Liberty’s Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama.” He is available to talk about diplomacy, global security, defense and American presidential history.
Health Policy/The Affordable Care Act
Sam Richardson
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
512-232-3687
Samr@austin.utexas.edu
Richardson is a health economist whose research broadly addresses how government should intervene in health care markets. Richardson is available to discuss issues related to health care that arise during the State of the Union address.
U.S. Foreign Policy
William Inboden
Executive Director, the Clements Center for History, Strategy and Statecraft
512-471-2411
Inboden@austin.utexas.edu
Inboden has served as senior director for strategic planning on the National Security Council at the White House, where he worked on a range of foreign policy issues including the “National Security Strategy.” He is available to discuss topics related to U.S. foreign policy.
National/Texas Politics
Sherri Greenberg
Director, the Center for Politics and Governance
512-471-8324
512-656-6592
srgreenberg@austin.utexas.edu
Former Texas state Rep. Sherri Greenberg is available to discuss any implications for the State of Texas as they relate to comments by President Obama in his State of the Union address.
Income Inequality and Labor Unions
Dana Cloud
Associate Professor of Communications
512-471-1947
dcloud@austin.utexas.edu
Cloud is an expert in political rhetoric and violence as political expression, popular culture studies, labor movements and public life in the United States. She can comment on the State of the Union’s focus on income inequality.
Presidential Character
Bruce Buchanan
Professor of Government
512-232-7212
bruceb@austin.utexas.edu
Buchanan is a nationally renowned expert on politics and government. He has written multiple books on the American presidency and is frequently quoted in media stories about state and national politics. He is available to speak about the presidency and the public, public policy and political behavior
Presidential Rhetoric and Party Polarization
Sean Theriault
Associate Professor of Government
512-232-7279
seant@mail.utexas.edu
Theriault’s research includes American political institutions, primarily Congress. He is available to speak about party polarization in Congress, presidential rhetoric and public approval of Congress.
Politics and Media: How Journalists Cover Politics and Elected Officials
Regina Lawrence
Director, Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
regina.lawrence@austin.utexas.edu
512-232-4433
Lawrence has written numerous articles analyzing media coverage of high-profile news events and policy issues. Her current research includes journalists’ use of social media to cover politics; media coverage of political candidates; and film and politics. She is available to speak about how journalists are portraying the State of the Union address and President Obama.
Politics and Media: Campaign Messaging
Paul Stekler
Chair of the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the Moody College of Communication
512-560-2851
paul.stekler@austin.utexas.edu
Stekler’s documentary work about American politics and society includes a long list of successful films that have earned numerous awards. His research focuses on politics, political campaigns, political advertising and how polls affect campaigns and campaign messaging.
Presidential History
H.W. Brands
Professor of History
512-475-7238
hwbrands@mail.utexas.edu
Brands has written more than 20 books on such leaders as Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his book “Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
