HOW AMERICA’S CULTURE WARS INFLUENCE PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND POLICY DURING THE 2024 ELECTION SEASON

PRESENTED BY THE RILEY INSTITUTE AND OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

September 3, 10, and 17 | 6:30 p.m. | McAlister Auditorium at Furman University

The U.S. 2024 presidential election has been coined “an election about everything,” as nearly every political issue today is presented as a battle in which our national identity and values are at stake. During this Straight Talk series, we will explore the impact of our political division as we approach the 2024 elections. We will examine how our media landscape—rife with structural disinformation and artificial intelligence campaigns—shapes partisan public opinion on key voter issues, often clouding our understanding of actual policies and their real-life repercussions. We’ll unpack how issues are framed to divide us, repressing our interest in facts that may stand in opposition to our “side” and weakening our collective ability to solve problems. Finally, we will learn what can be done to foster political common ground and seek a more holistic understanding of the facts, myths, nuances, and outcomes regarding issues that matter to us and to our communities.