Sanford Summer Reading & Listening 2025

Deondra Rose: The Power of Black Excellence

In "The Power of Black Excellence: HBCUs and the Fight for American Democracy", Professor Deondra Rose explores the political power and democratic promise of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Combining policy research with historical depth, she highlights how HBCUs have advanced civic engagement and equity across generations.

Yuval Levin: American Covenant

Yuval Levin argues in *American Covenant* that the Constitution once unified the nation and still holds the potential to do so. Through a blend of political philosophy and history, he makes the case for reviving America’s shared commitment to its founding principles.

Bill Adair: Beyond the Big Lie

Fact-checking pioneer Bill Adair outlines a strategy for fighting disinformation in "Beyond the Big Lie". From media literacy to platform accountability, the book is a roadmap for strengthening truth in the digital age.

Gunther Peck: Race Traffic

In "Race Traffic: Antislavery and the Origins of White Victimhood, 1619-1819", historian and Sanford professor Gunther Peck traces the economic forces that fueled racialized policing in the South. It’s a powerful examination of how exploitation and racial control have been intertwined for over a century.

Brandon Garrett: Defending Due Process

Brandon Garrett’s "Defending Due Process" explores why fairness in law matters more than ever in an era of polarization. From criminal justice to civil liberties, Garrett defends due process as a pillar of both trust in institutions and the rule of law.

John Hillen: The Strategy Dialogues

What does it mean to think strategically? In "The Strategy Dialogues: A Primer on Business Strategy and Strategic Management", John Hillen—former Assistant Secretary of State and accomplished CEO—offers a practical guide to mastering strategic thinking. Framed as a series of engaging workshops and conversations, this book unveils the tools, frameworks, and habits that define great strategic leadership.

David A. Graham: The Project

What is Project 2025—and why does it matter? In “The Project”, Atlantic journalist and Sanford visiting lecturer David A. Graham delivers an urgent, accessible breakdown of the sweeping policy blueprint shaping the second Trump administration. Drawing from a nearly 1,000-page document created by The Heritage Foundation, Graham explains how Project 2025 aims to dramatically expand executive power and overhaul everything from immigration and civil service to gender norms and worker protections. This is a vital read for anyone trying to understand the ideological and structural shifts underway in American governance.

Sanford's Policy 360

Policy 360: Policy Perspectives in a Divided Time

In the 2024–2025 season, the Sanford School of Public Policy’s podcast series brought together Duke experts to explore the year’s most pressing policy issues from both pre- and post-election vantage points. Framed by the backdrop of a pivotal U.S. election, the series examined themes of democracy, civil discourse, political misinformation, and social equity, highlighting topics like racial wealth inequality, HBCUs, and support for families.

As the new administration took shape, episodes shifted toward key global and domestic challenges, including the future of NATO, the race for influence in the Arctic, information channels, immigration policy and the implications of dismantling major government institutions. Timely financial topics such as tariffs, housing affordability, and consumer protection anchored the conversation in everyday economic realities. With Sanford thought leaders lending their voices, the series offered both critical analysis and hopeful dialogue for navigating a complex policy landscape.

Mallory SoRelle on the CFPB – Wall Street Journal

In this sharp explainer video for The Wall Street Journal, Mallory SoRelle breaks down the political and legal battles over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It’s a crash course in financial regulation and democratic accountability. 

David A. Graham on "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart"

Sanford’s David A. Graham brought his journalistic insight to *The Weekly Show*, discussing media polarization, democracy, and how the press can hold power accountable.

Phil Napoli on Tech Policy Press

Professor Phil Napoli joined “Tech Policy Press” to discuss the escalating challenges to disinformation and hate speech research. The episode became the platform’s most listened-to podcast of 2024.

Barry Yeoman on "Criminal"

Journalist and Sanford faculty member Barry Yeoman teamed up with "Criminal" and "The Assembly" to tell the delightfully offbeat tale of Jolene Strickland—a made-up candidate in a very real gubernatorial race. The story offers a humorous, behind-the-scenes look at an indie newspaper’s imaginative attempt to shake up the status quo and draw attention to overlooked voices in North Carolina politics.

Read his story from The Assembly: Meet Jolene Strickland, N.C.'s Fake Candidate for Governor

Anirudh Krishna TED Talk: "Talent Ladders"

Professor Anirudh Krishna delivered an inspiring TED Talk on how “talent ladders” can unlock hidden potential in underserved communities. A compelling argument for rethinking how we identify and develop human capital.

Frank Bruni: New York Times

Frank Bruni is a celebrated journalist and writer with a career that spans politics, global affairs, pop culture, and culinary critique. He writes for the New York Times about myriad topics, including his life experiences, opinions, and, most importantly, his dog Regan. 

Eric Deggans: NPR

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic, also serving as media analyst and guest host for the network.

Deggans has been a journalist for more than 30 years; he is also the author of "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuel some elements of modern media. Deggans Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy with the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy. 

You can read Deggans' column and hear him regularly on all NPR stations. 

David Graham: The Atlantic

David A. Graham is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers U.S. politics and global news. Graham's articles include timely reporting about social, political and global events, as well as opinions analyzing the current dynamics of policies and policymakers.

As a self-described "jazzbro", Graham will also occasionally write about his love for jazz, as recently shown in this story. 

Graham previously edited The Atlantic‘s politics section and has reported for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The National. He lives in Durham, North Carolina and is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy with the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy. 

David Schanzer: Perilous Times

David Schanzer, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy Director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, draws upon his decades of experience in domestic and international conflict in his column on Substack. With thousands of subscribers, Schanzer is often cited by the media and contributes to reports from international news outlets regularly. 

With his legal background, and ability to assess events with historical context, Schanzer's "Perilous Times" is worth the free subscription. 

John Hood: Carolina Journal

Sanford faculty member John Hood writes twice a week for the Carolina Journal with his historic perspective on politics, economics and policy. He brings a pragmatic approach that envisions a North Carolina that embraces new ideas while understanding it's history.