IGS in the News

In answer to the question “Why does Trump get away with it?” NYT Opinion columnist Thomas Edsall quotes IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler’s recent Political Science Quarterly article, “What Donald Trump has Taught us about American Political Institutions,” stating: "it would be difficult to match or improve upon” Schickler’s “overarching analysis of the contemporary dilemma over American democracy.” Read Prof. Schickler's article here.

A new study found that Republicans in California are more divided on Trump’s immigration policies.

In the final days before Californian's will vote on Proposition 50, a temporary redistricting initiative championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to the Texas state legislature's own redistricting plans, ABC7's Monica Madden interviewed UC Berkeley political scientist and IGS Co-Director, Eric Schickler, to discuss the history of "gerrymandering", the factors at play ahead of this special election, and some of the impacts the outcome may have on California's legacy of independent, citizen-led redistricting efforts.

The White House is withholding billions of dollars in federal funds for infrastructure and energy projects in blue states, a move legal experts say is likely unlawful. IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler was featured among several legal and political science scholars to provide facts and evidence about what the Constitution actually says about the executive branch's power over spending, and the implications moving forward. 

A panel of historians and political scientists, including IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler, answer the question: "Historically speaking, since the end of the Civil War, has the country ever been more polarized than it is right now, and are you more optimistic or pessimistic about conditions improving?" Click here to read the full article.

For more than a half-century, the Cal-in-Sacramento fellowships have given UC Berkeley students firsthand experience in shaping California policy across a range of issues. Many have risen to positions of influence — and new fellows have high ambitions for future impact.

In a roundup of news happening in Berkeley, Berkelside highlights the IGS Library Local Document Digitization Project (LoCalDig): Cal’s Institute of Governmental Studies Library has now digitized more than 5,000 local government documents from across California. (UC Berkeley)

The vast majority of California voters support expanding access to translated ballots for people who speak limited English, an effort that would likely increase turnout,a new poll found.

IGS Co-Director and Professor of Sociology, Cristina Mora, co-wrote an opinion essay in the LA Times on findings from Berkeley IGS Poll between August 2024 and May 2025. The finding show that, despite the tumultous transition between administrations, and the bellicose efforts of the second Trump administration, a majority of Californians, across the partisan aisle, and across all kinds of different groups and places, still support legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler joined Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy on Civics 101: A Podcast to discuss congressional checks on presidential power and overreach. 

Checks and balances are at the absolute core of our governmental workings. 

SACRAMENTO, California — The majority of California voters think Gov. Gavin Newsom is devoting more of his attention to matters that could help him win the presidency than to governing the state, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll.

• Republicans in California, who make up roughly a quarter of registered voters, continue to support the president’s policies.
• Among all registered voters, 61% said they believe that Trump’s second term will be worse than his first.

In the Federalist, James Madison laid out the logic by which tyranny would be prevented in the new American nation. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are testing his logic as never before.

In the aftermath of the 2024 general election, August Berkeley IGS poll data showing 60% of likely Los Angeles County voters thought public safety declined in the previous three years proves prophetic: Los Angeles elects former Republican candidate for California attorney general and federal prosecutor, Nathan Hochman as the new district attorney for the largest district in the nation.

California leaders are mobilizing to counter Donald Trump’s reelection, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and others preparing lawsuits and legislative defenses against anticipated federal challenges. However, experts like UC Berkeley’s Eric Schickler warn that sustaining resistance for four years may be difficult, given Trump’s strengthened political position and a more conservative judiciary.

As a part of the last of the IGS Poll releases prior to the Nov. 5 election, respondents were asked: "Suppose VIce PResident Kamala Harris is not elected President in November, and she decided to run for Governor in 2026. How likely would you be to vote for Harris for Governor of California?" LA Times reports, nearly half of voters would be very or somewhat likely to support her.

With almost a week having past since Election Day, California's top election official, Shirley Weber, defends its slower-than-average, deliberate process of counting mail-in ballots to ensure an accurate election result.

In the aftermath of Former President Donald Trump's decisive reelection to the U.S. presidency, Berkeley News asked prominent UC Berkeley scholars across political science, sociology, international releations, and more to weigh in on the implications for the electorate and the country. Among the scholars quoted, political scientist and IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler shares: