Schar School of Policy and Government

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: December 15th to 19th, 2025

US intelligence is the key to maintaining national security, state welfare, and peace across the land. David Ramadan takes a deep dive into how decisions are made at the highest levels of government with Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director at FBI, and Gregory Crabb, former CISO at USPS. They explore how their neighborhood friendship and bike rides have given birth to groundbreaking ideas on securing the nation’s mail and elections. They also share insights into their biggest intelligence policy challenges and how they handled them, the current state of our election security, and what they would do if given the chance to become US cyber czar for a day.

A roundup of recent media appearances by Schar School faculty, students, and staff for Schar School in the News: December 8th to 12th, 2025

Kennedy Solomon: Meet the 2014 Master of Public Policy graduate who has landed an important position at a major advocacy firm.

Schar School faculty continue to shape public policy, global affairs, and social innovation through a wide range of new and forthcoming publications. Recent books explore topics including U.S. and global urban governance, European integration, Indo-Pacific security, East Asian international relations, Chinese foreign policy, religion and U.S. politics, scientific public engagement, disability and entrepreneurship, and comparative party politics. Together, these works reflect the Schar School’s interdisciplinary strengths and its faculty’s ongoing contributions to scholarly research, teaching, and public discourse.

Fairfax County is one of the most important economic engines in the Commonwealth of Virginia. But due to economic pressures from federal cutbacks, the recent government shutdown, and the crippling housing market, this region is currently facing some serious issues. David Ramadan breaks down the county’s biggest problems with Hon. Jeff McKay, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and guest co-host Theo Stamatis. Together, they discuss what must be done to address the massive drop in available jobs, the alarming number of displaced federal employees, and the negative impact of DOGE cuts. Chairman McKay also explains how empowering small businesses and building more mixed-use buildings can help replenish Fairfax County’s wealth and solve its fiscal issues.

For years, I would find myself thinking about the voice in my head. It doesn’t feel like me because sometimes we, well, talk. I would ask, “Who’s in there?” Who are the we? I had never been taught about the voice in my head that talks to the other voice in my head. A second voice. I decided to uncover this mystery and learn the neuroscience of this phenomenon, which is what I am sharing with you here.

Tereana Battle can look back on many accomplishments during her time at George Mason University, but one of the memories that gives her the most satisfaction is her capstone project, creating an anti-bullying workshop for middle school students.

The US Constitution clearly states that lobbying is legal. However, systemic corruption in Washington has turned it into a playground of billionaires and the powerful. David Ramadan delves into this shadowy world of political power with Brody Mullins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and guest co-host David Rehr, a former high-profile lobbyist. Together, they break down how lobbying tactics have evolved from smoke-filled rooms and relationship-based approaches to uncapped and undisclosed Super PACs. They also present possible solutions to fix this broken billion-dollar machine that currently shapes American policy and puts public participation in reforms into jeopardy.

Migrants are vital to the world order yet are often vilified. In an op-ed, a Schar School sophomore suggests movement is resistance and mobility is justice.