WFU in the news: July 8-14, 2024

FEATURED NEWS

Local experts weigh in on security concerns after assassination attempt
By Joshua Davis | WXII-TV (Winston Salem, NC)
“Throughout American history, it’s been all too common of presidential assassinations and efforts to target presidential candidates,” said politics professor John Dinan. “Security concerns and the failed assassination attempt at Donald Trump will dominate the convention in a way that they were planning on talking about all kinds of policy issues and leadership issues. It’s not only that he survived, as crucial as that is, it’s the way that he acted in the immediate moment,” he said. “There will be some iconic footage, photos and video played of how he reacted.” – 7/14/2024

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Betting markets are useful when politics is chaotic
The Economist
In the early 20th century, for brief periods, the most frenetic American trading pits were not the raucous markets in which stocks were traded, nor the venues where bonds were exchanged. The real action was in the market for betting on the next president. “Crowds formed in the financial district…and brokers would call out bid and ask odds as if trading securities,” write Wake Forest economist Koleman Strumpf and co-author University of Michigan economist Paul Rhode. – 7/11/2024

Donald Trump wants to reinstate a spoils system in federal government by hiring political loyalists
By Sidney Shapiro, Joseph P. Tomain | The Conversation
If elected to serve a second term, Donald Trump says he supports a plan that would give him the authority to fire as many as 50,000 civil servants and replace them with members of his political party loyal to him. Under this plan, if he eventually deemed those new employees disloyal, he claims he could fire them too. The United States has tried such a plan before. – 7/12/2024

Wisconsin constitutional amendments seek more power for Legislature
By Tom Kertscher | Amery Free Press
Politics professor John Dinan, author of “State Constitutional Politics: Governing by Amendment in the American States,” said constitutional amendments are commonly used in divided-government states such as Wisconsin. “It may seem unusual to see amendments being advanced for the purpose of bypassing gubernatorial opposition or insulating policies from state court reversal because we don’t see similar amendments advanced at the federal level.” – 7/11/2024

REGIONAL & TRADE

Beckman Foundation appoints President Wente to Board of Directors
Beckman Foundation
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has appointed Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente to its Board of Directors. Located in Irvine, California, the Beckman Foundation supports researchers and nonprofit research institutions in making the next generation of breakthroughs in chemistry and the life sciences. “It is an incredible honor to have Dr. Wente join the Beckman Foundation Board of Directors,” said Andrew Lyon, chair of the board of directors for the Foundation. – 7/15/2024

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist expanding services in East Winston-Salem
Triad Business Journal
Winston East will add internal medicine, women’s services and on-site lab, pharmacy and imaging to the existing pediatric and occupational medicine services. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is expanding services in East Winston-Salem to better meet the needs of the community. – 7/14/2024

LOCAL

Harris to visit Greensboro today as more plead with Biden to step aside
By Camdyn Bruce, Caroline Wills | Greensboro News & Record
After the news conference, FOX8 spoke with Wake Forest University professor Nate French, who said that even though the president stumbled, he was coherent. “If his administration wanted to display competence, I think he’s done that. He’s displayed competence, and he’s displayed competence as an old man. He’s not going to be younger, and he’s really clear on that. He’s not going to lose 40 years, and he seems to be stepping into that space that he’s an older statesman.” – 7/11/2024