News and Achievements

September 1, 2026 – US Midterm Election Series Seth McKee: “Midterm Elections in an Age of Political Volatility, 1004–2026” Midterm elections have often acted as an approval barometer for presidential popularity. What does the past history of co-called negative voters tell us about what is likely to happen in 2026? Seth C. McKee is a […]

January 27, 2026 – Public Lecture Kate Starbird: “Rabbit holes, rumors, & online propaganda” On January 27, the Foley Institute hosted Kate Starbird, University of Washington, who discussed the ways that online rumors and misinformation are spread during crisis events. Professor Starbird opened her discussion with a pervasive internet rumor created in the wake of […]

September 4, 2025 – The Future of Liberal Democracy Series Gary Gerstle: “Neoliberalism and the changing political order” On September 4, the Foley Institute hosted Gary Gerstle, from Harvard University, who spoke on how the neoliberal order rose and fell in American politics and where the resulting ideological shift may take us in the future. […]

February 12, 2025 – Public Lecture Michael Goldsby: “Can beer save democracy?” On February 12, the Foley Institute hosted WSU’s Michael Goldsby, who spoke on how the damaging effects of increasing polarization and lack of common ground between citizens may be mitigated by sharing a beverage.   Professor Goldby opened his presentation by addressing the […]

August 27, 2024 – Public Lecture David Lublin: “Welcome to the 2024 Election!” On August 27, the institute hosted David Lublin, who spoke on the state of our political parties, their functionality, and the trends of heightened partisanship over the past decade.   During his presentation, Professor Lublin joked that political parties “disagree because they disagree,” […]

April 18, 2024 – Public Lecture Shepard Siegal: “Politics and the trickster” On Thursday, April 18th, The Foley Institute, along with the WSU Political Science Club, hosted author and activist Shepard Siegal as he spoke broadly about the Trickster character type. The trickster is a universal folktale archetype that commonly challenges societal values and beliefs. […]

November 14, 2023 – Public Lecture Brian Henning: “Fixing the Climate Crisis” On November 14, the Foley Institute hosted Brian Henning from Gonzaga University who explained our role in caring for the earth. He believes that humans are tasked with being stewards of the earth, rather than owners, as stewardship implies a level of respect […]

March 2, 2023 – Public Lecture Jason De León: “The Land Of Open Graves” On March 2, Jason De León, University of California Los Angeles, delivered a talk on migrant deaths caused by United States border policy.   De León began by showing footage of a migrant caravan stuck in Tijiuana, in limbo between the United […]

The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service has selected Thessalia Merivaki as the institute’s next director.

The 48th Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, will receive this year’s Thomas S. Foley Award for Distinguished Public Service in a ceremony to be held in Spokane, Sept. 10, 2026.

Former ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul will deliver a lecture based on his recent book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the new Global Disorder, Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Past, present, and future challenges to liberal democracy are the focus of this fall’s lecture series at the Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service.

In the We the People series, The Spokesman-Review examines a question from the Naturalization Test immigrants must pass to become United States citizens.

From radical partisanship to the role of race and gender in upcoming elections, this fall’s Foley Institute speaker series is bringing experts from across North America to weigh in on important topics leading up to Election Day.