March 28, 2024

Farnsworth Presents Lecture on Biden Presidency

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented an online lecture, “Presidential Communication and Character: The Case of Joe Biden,” to students at McGill University in Montreal. The talk drew on Professor Farnsworth’s book, “Presidential Communication and Character.” Dr. Farnsworth previously served as a Canada-U.S. Fulbright Scholar at McGill.

Other recent media mentions Dr. Farnsworth has received include the following:
Virginia lawmakers kill bill that would have repealed law on California car emission standards (The Virginian-Pilot; Inside NoVA)
The effort to overturn the Clean Car law could be a factor in the upcoming November election, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and a political science professor. “Republicans often run on issues of individual freedoms and a bill that comes out of California and shapes public preferences in a liberal direction is a useful thing for Republican candidates to talk about,” Farnsworth said.
Anti-trans bills cause harm, fear even if they fail, advocates say (Suffolk News- Herald)
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor, said there are a few questions to ask for balanced legislative coverage. 
Bills on divorce period, sexual harassment, wrongful death, absentee voting fail in General Assembly (Suffolk News-Herald)
There will be plenty of other failed bills this session. In fact, gridlock is to be expected when “voters put one party in charge of one chamber and the other party in charge of the other,” according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor.
Virginia Lawmakers Unsuccessful at ‘Decoupling’ from California Clean Car Law (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)
The effort to overturn the Clean Car law could be a factor in the upcoming November election, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and a political science professor.
Virginia lawmakers unsuccessful at ‘decoupling’ from California Clean Car law (Royal Examiner)
The effort to overturn the Clean Car law could be a factor in the upcoming November election, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and a political science professor.
House Republicans didn’t want to vote on abortion. A Democrat is forcing them to anyway. (Cardinal News)
But Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the refusal of House Republicans to consider legislation seeking to restrict access to abortion that had already been defeated in the Senate is likely a political rather than practical calculation.
Most Virginia firearm bills fall victim to bipartisan stalemate (The Free Lance-Star)
Stephen Farnsworth is the director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor. Firearms need to be secured effectively, especially in places where kids are present, Farnsworth said. “What we learned in the wake of what happened at that Hampton Roads elementary school is that standards to keep guns from children could stand to be improved,” Farnsworth said.
Rep.-elect Jenn McClellan’s winning margins (AXIOS)
Don’t read too much into low Republican turnout, said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth.
Most Virginia firearm bills fall victim to bipartisan stalemate (Culpeper Star-Exponent)
Stephen Farnsworth is the director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor. Firearms need to be secured effectively, especially in places where kids are present, Farnsworth said.
McClellan becomes first Black woman from Virginia elected to Congress (Henrico Citizen)
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor, called her victory “another landmark moment in Virginia politics.” “She benefited from years of experience in the Virginia legislature and from districts with lines that are very favorable to a Democratic candidate,” Farnsworth said.
With much of budget still out, Youngkin tallies wins and losses in session (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Legislatively, this wasn’t a very successful session,” said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “The reality is there wasn’t much interest in bipartisan agreement across a wide range of issues.”
Did No White House Officials Visit East Palestine Before Trump? (Newsweek)
Professor Stephen Farnsworth, a director at the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, added that the term was “routinely used to cover the cabinet and other people close to the president.”
“That they work for Biden is what matters – not whether they are based in the White House, OEOB, NEOB, etc…” Farnsworth added. “Top Biden administration official would be a better term. But the terms mean the same thing in common usage.”
General Assembly adjourns without a budget deal (Cardinal News)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that this year’s General Assembly session was an “extreme case” of what an election year legislature looks like. “Lawmakers generally wanna put off controversial decisions until after they are reelected, but this session really is a strong example of that,” Farnsworth said.
Lawmakers pass gun locker tax credit, shoot down improper gun storage penalty (Henrico Citizen)
Stephen Farnsworth is the director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor. Firearms need to be secured effectively, especially in places where kids are present, Farnsworth said.
EDITORIAL: Virginia’s leaders opt for safe route over gun safety (The Free Lance-Star)
As to why our elected officials can’t do what the majority of Virginians want, Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has perhaps the best answer: primaries.
McClellan’s whirlwind congressional campaign ends with decisive, historic victory (Brunswick Times-Gazette)
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor, called the victory “another landmark moment in Virginia politics.”
Most Virginia firearm bills fall victim to bipartisan stalemate (RVA HUB)
Stephen Farnsworth is the director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor. Firearms need to be secured effectively, especially in places where kids are present, Farnsworth said.
Georgia Grand Jury Report on Trump (CTV News)
“Obviously, this is a very big deal. The Georgia case has always been the single biggest obvious threat to Trump’s innocence,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
Virginia lawmakers kill bill that would have repealed law on California car emission standards (Wytheville News Station)
The effort to overturn the Clean Car law could be a factor in the upcoming November election, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and a political science professor.
Stats from the General Assembly midpoint and what issues are ahead (RVA Hub)
“Even things that passed in one house that are contentious will face problems in the other house, given divided government,” Farnsworth said.
D.C. officials respond to clearing of McPherson Square homeless encampment (WAMU 88.5)
Then, we talk about what’s happening in Richmond, where lawmakers are quickly approaching the end of their session. University of Mary Washington’s Stephen Farnsworth breaks down what’s happened so far, and what — if anything — will pass.
Youngkin resumes out-of-state travel amid mixed signals on 2024 plans (The Washington Post)
“No one would describe Youngkin’s prospects as great, but it would have been useful to have him described as potentially good, at least,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “If he had just said ‘at the moment’ in that quotation, he could have saved himself a lot of grief.”
No Budget Deal (WMAL)
“Democrats offered a deal to create a lower tax rate for low income Virginians but Republicans didn’t want to sign on to that unless there was also a deal for lowering corporate tax rates, so we aren’t looking at a government shutdown,” said Stephen Farnsworth.