Government and Politics   

Terry McAteer leads a two-hour discussion about what to be watching in these early stages of the 2026 mid-term elections. He will provide you with websites, polling, and data to make this election season easier to follow.

This unique course will present experts from five different disciplines of our criminal justice system who will answer questions in a conversational format with Professor Panneton. Representatives from the police, the D.A. and public defender offices, the judiciary and corrections will share how their decades of experience shaped their perspectives on how we handle crime in our communities. Their opinions will also serve to promote provocative class discussion.

Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book (short sections), watching the DVD and meeting in a Discussion Group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. Each year, a panel of experts chooses the topics. Members will need to purchase GREAT DECISIONS, 2026 EDITION, and read the topic of the week in preparation for discussion at the first meeting. The book will be about $35 and can be ordered at: https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/ or call 1 (800) 477-5836.

Great Decisions 2026 Topics

1. America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
   Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.
   By G. John Ikenberry
2. Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
   Trump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?
   By Michael Mastanduno
3. U.S.-China Relations
   Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options?
   By Oriana Mastro
4. Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
   U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration’s rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?
   By Gideon Rose
5. Ukraine and the Future of European Security
   With reduced U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, Europe faces strategic uncertainty. The Trump administration has signaled an intention to reduce its security role in Europe. What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas, and how might Europe respond?
   By Thomas Wright
6. Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
   Can multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? This chapter examines the future of global cooperation across trade, health, and finance.
   By Scott Bessent (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
7. U.S. Engagement of Africa
   Africa’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there, and how might it strengthen ties, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa?
   By Jendayi E. Frazer
8. The Future of Human Rights and International Law
   As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?
   By Jose Enrique Alvarez

The absolute brilliance of our Constitution is that our Founding Fathers placed a system of checks and balances between the three branches of government. The intended purpose was that no branch could be more powerful than the other. We will examine each of the checks to ensure that our Founding Fathers’ intent is still being carried out by the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. This is perfect to understand the Constitutional crisis we are currently in.

Despite the efforts by Republican and Democratic administrations to hide the truth of Jeffrey Epstein’s life, much is known about his endeavors. In this journey, we will separate the fact from fiction, the signal from noise. We will see that Epstein was more than a child sexual predator. We will discover how he provided a variety of services to many of the most powerful men on the planet during 40 years of deceit. We will realize, much to our chagrin, that Epstein, far from being an exception, is the “way of the world.”

The 2026 mid-terms election matchups will be in full swing and you need to know what to watch for, how to be an informed voter and what tools to use to find campaign reports, polling data, insider news and more. Terry McAteer will have you dialed in to being astutely ready for his fall election classes.

This class explores the role of religion in shaping American politics and national identity from the colonial period to the present. The United States is rare among modern nations in its enduring reliance on religious language to define national purpose, with theological frameworks providing many of the basic assumptions underlying American notions of politics, power, and belonging. Beginning with Puritan covenant theology and ending with contemporary Christian nationalism, we examine how religious actors constructed the dominant narratives of America as a redeemer nation with a special role to play on the world stage. Through close reading of sermons, speeches, theological writings, and political rhetoric, we analyze how these narratives draw on literary forms like the jeremiad, prophecy, and apocalyptic vision. We also examine how those narratives of chosenness were contested over time by marginalized communities offering alternative visions rooted in different theological traditions and experiences of exclusion. Students will learn to identify the rhetorical strategies used to sacralize political power and to recognize how these contests over American identity continue to shape our present.

Have you ever thought... what do Supreme Court Justices do? How do the nine of them get along? What happens behind those closed doors as they decide important cases? How do cases reach the Supreme Court? How do they decide what cases to hear? Through video clips and a bit of lecturing, this two-hour long class will answer these questions and more. This class will provide you with a much better understanding of the third branch of government.