Give and Take: Is Our Presidential Election Process Broken?
We’re in the midst of another consequential campaign season, which many would say shows once again how unreliable and capricious the presidential selection process can be. What can we do to fix the way we choose our candidates for the highest office in the land?
Although historically this process has never been easy, 2024 saw unprecedented twists and turns. In the beginning there were 14 Republican contenders challenging Donald Trump, the first president ever convicted of a crime. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Joe Biden seemed inevitable–until he didn’t. How did we get to this point, and is there a way to streamline the process? Join retired UW lecturer Stuart Streichler for an in-depth conversation about American presidential politics and the bumpy road to the White House.
Give and Take is structured as a discussion. Please come with ideas and opinions as well as questions, so you can enjoy diving in with our expert facilitator. This program will not be recorded or streamed on Zoom.
Our facilitator, Stuart Streichler, has taught constitutional law, American politics, and human rights at the University of Washington and as a Fulbright scholar at Tohoku University in Japan. Previously, he practiced law in Washington, DC, where, among other things, he participated in constitutional litigation before the US Supreme Court. Streichler is the author of Presidential Accountability in Wartime: President Bush, the Treatment of Detainees, and the Laws of War. He has also provided volunteer legal assistance to the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and Barack Obama.
Accessibility Notes: This session will be held in the HUB, which is accessible for wheelchairs and walkers. Disabled parking stalls are available in lot N22, adjacent to the HUB. Amplified sound will not be used for this small-group discussion. You can learn more about HUB accessibility, including assisted listening devices, on this page.