December 26, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Farnsworth Co-authors Book Chapter on Political Humor

by

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a book chapter, “Late-Night Political Humor and the 2020 Presidential Campaign: Still All Trump, All the Time.” The chapter is published by Routledge in the edited volume Social Media Politics: Digital Discord in the 2020 Presidential Election. The chapter was derived from portions of Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency.

In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Running for governor, Spanberger a force in 7th District race (Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Daily Progress)
“Certainly, she’s lending her credibility to the (Vindman) campaign,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. “It would be a bad look for Democrats going into 2025 if Virginia Democrats can’t keep Virginia 7.”
ANALYSIS: Are Candidates Trading Shoe Leather for Online Ads? (FXBG Advance)
The Advance contacted University of Mary Washington professor Stephen Farnsworth to get his take on the lower turnout numbers.
“Wow,” he began. “These declines raise questions about whether the parties are investing enough in getting out the vote efforts. With a very close congressional election in the region we should be seeing a lot of early votes locked in – not the declines we are seeing so far.”
Youngkin blasts DOJ lawsuit that trust Virginia’s voter roll removals into national spotlight (Virginia Mercury; Yahoo.com)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse. “I think Governor Youngkin is available to the national media because he wants to keep Republicans thinking about Glenn Youngkin. With the one consecutive term limit, Youngkin’s political fortunes may be improved with greater national media visibility.”
Evaluating Biden’s Presidential Accomplishments (All News Press)
Political expert Steve Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington noted that Biden’s economic record is, in fact, quite strong. Unemployment is at a low level, and lucrative opportunities abound, particularly in real estate and the stock market. However, public perception does not always align with this economic recovery.
Trump Escalates His Attacks on Harris (RTVI News)
“I think the challenge Donald Trump is facing right now is trying to say something new about the vice president,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “The vice president has been attacked as a socialist and not very smart in speech after speech by Trump. I don’t think these latest insults are going to move the needle all that much.”
Youngkin blasts DOJ lawsuit that thrust Virginia’s voter roll removals into national spotlight (WHRO)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse. “I think Governor Youngkin is available to the national media because he wants to keep Republicans thinking about Glenn Youngkin. With the one consecutive term limit, Youngkin’s political fortunes may be improved with greater national media visibility.”
Harris has 6-point edge on Trump in Virginia: Poll (The Hill)
In a survey conducted by the University of Mary Washington and released in September, Harris led Trump by 2 points, 48 percent to 46 percent, in Virginia.
Early voting for 2024 General Election in DC begins Monday (WJLA)
“You cannot imagine a race much closer than this one this time,” Steve Farnsworth, PhD, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told 7News. “The polls have consistently shown a very, very close race – not only nationally, but in those key swing states that will determine who wins the electoral college.”
How the Networks will Deal with Disinformation, Exit Polls, Toss-Up States and More (Newsday)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist with the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg,Virginia, and an expert in disinformation’s impact on elections, says, “Each election becomes more fraught because more and more disinformation enters the public discourse and that makes it harder and harder to sort out what is true in that high pressure get-it-first environment of breaking news.”
Local registrars give vote of confidence to early turnout at the polls (Fredericksburg Free Press)
University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth said declines in early voting in the Fredericksburg area could mean that political candidates are spending too much on advertising this year and not enough on early voting efforts. “Early voting is a key thing for political campaigns,” said Farnsworth, who is also director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Two Virginia candidates for Congress say democracy is at stake. It’s there the campaigns part ways (The Washington Post; MSN; Star Tribune; ABC News)
Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor, said it’s Virginia’s most competitive race. “There’s a lot of national interest in the Virginia 7th, and it is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” he said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.”
Voter roll removals draw national scrutiny as election nears (Richmond Free Press)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the legal fallout over Youngkin’s executive order and the subsequent debate in the national media will likely benefit the governor’s desire to remain in the public discourse.
Road closures set for Kamala Harris campaign address in DC Tuesday (WJLA)
“One of the things you have seen the Democrats lean into a lot in the last several weeks is this character argument about Donald Trump. He is not suitable to be President, they say”, said Stephen Farnsworth.
Eugene Vindman vs Derrick Anderson: Who will fill the open VA-7 seat? (Fox 5DC)
Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor, said it’s Virginia’s most competitive race. “There’s a lot of national interest in the Virginia 7th, and it is the sort of district where congressional majorities are won and lost,” he said. “If you can’t win the outer-ring suburban counties of big cities in America, then you’re not going to be in the House majority.”
Trump tries to push borderline states into battleground territory down homestretch (The Denver-Gazette; Washington Examiner)
In the Old Dominion, Harris leads Trump, 50.2% to 43.8%, in the polling average, with an October Christopher Newport University poll showing Harris leading by as much as 11 points and a September University of Mary Washington poll showing Harris leading by as little as 2 points.
Presidental Election (WTOP)
“I think when the electoral college environment comes into play, there are better places for Donald Trump to spend his time other than Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Listen to the segment.