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Articles from Kristen de Groot
America’s first fossil fuel state
spruce power station

America’s first fossil fuel state

History course looks at Pennsylvania’s role in helping fossil fuel power the making of the modern world.

Kristen de Groot

The state of U.S. democracy
the capitol building in washington dc

While a new administration transitions into office, the past four years have left the country asking, “How strong is our democratic foundation?”

The state of U.S. democracy

On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.
Inauguration Day: History, meaning, and significance
inauguration day for fdr

Inauguration Day: History, meaning, and significance

David Eisenhower, professor at the Annenberg School and grandson of the former president, offers his observations on the historic occasion

Kristen de Groot

Capitol attack: Where does American democracy go from here?
The U.S. Capitol building is seen at dusk

The U.S. Capitol at dusk.

  • Q&A

    • Capitol attack: Where does American democracy go from here?

    As the nation processes the unprecedented mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, many are wondering what happens now for America. Legal scholar Claire Finkelstein shares her thoughts on the siege and its effects on democracy.

    Kristen de Groot

    Pussy Riot co-founder talks politics, prison time, and protests
    Group of women wearing colorful knitted balaclavas sit on the floor in front of Marshall speakers and amps

    (Pre-pandemic image) Pussy Riot members in their signature colorful balaclavas in 2012. (Image: Denis Bochkarev)

    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.

    Kristen de Groot

    Inside election night 2020
    A hand is seen waving a small American flag as traffic zips by on a city street at dusk

    Election Night 2020 was an unprecedented evening. In a virtual panel, Penn students and faculty who worked on the Decision Desk at NBC shared a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges this year posed.

    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

    Kristen de Groot

    Presidential pardons, explained
    President Gerald Ford and two others are see from behind walking down a White House outdoor walkway in 1975

    President Gerald Ford walking to his office at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 1, 1975, months after pardoning his predecessor Richard Nixon. (Image: Marion S. Trikosko/Library of Congress) 

  • Q&A

    • Presidential pardons, explained

    Law expert Kermit Roosevelt discusses how the pardon process works and why it exists in the first place.

    Kristen de Groot

    Latino voters and lessons from the 2020 election
    A young child smiles at the camera standing in green grass holding a small American flag next to his head as a pickup truck passes on the street behind him with a passenger waving an American flag.

    One of the narratives emerging from Election Night 2020 was how Latinos around the country voted.

    Latino voters and lessons from the 2020 election

    Political scientist Michael Jones-Correa, historian Ann Farnsworth-Alvear, and demographer Emilio Parrado share their thoughts on the election results and what both parties might take away from looking at how Latinos voted.

    Kristen de Groot

    The party of Lincoln? GOP’s future after the 2020 election
    A faded wooden sign reading "save America vote Republican" stands amid scrubby plants on a Texas roadside.

    The party of Lincoln? An event at the Andrea Mitchell Center looked at the future of the Republican Party in the wake of the 2020 elections.

    The party of Lincoln? GOP’s future after the 2020 election

    As part of the Andrea Mitchell Center’s Race and Politics series, political scientist Rogers Smith spoke with former GOP communications director Tara Setmayer about the election’s impact on the identity of the Republican Party.

    Kristen de Groot

    Looking ahead to the election’s impact on U.S. foreign policy
    Flags of various nations wave atop flagpoles against a blue sky with clouds American foreign policy remains a critical issue for the Biden administration. Perry World House held a roundtable discussion to discuss key issues the new administration should focus on.

    Looking ahead to the election’s impact on U.S. foreign policy

    President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will make important choices about America’s relationships with allies and partners. A Perry World House roundtable looked at key topics for the new administration.

    Kristen de Groot

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