E.J. Dionne to present lecture on 'making America empathetic again' March 19

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Democracy and the institutions that make it run are a central theme to E.J. Dionne’s work, whether it’s his books, Washington Post column, NPR appearances or lectures at Georgetown University. Dionne will visit Penn State on March 19 to discuss his work at the intersection of politics, media and democracy, and why he says America needs to become empathetic again in order for democracy to thrive. The lecture will be held at 4 p.m. March 19 in the Katz Building auditorium.

Dionne writes a twice-weekly column on politics for The Washington Post. He also is a government professor at Georgetown University, a visiting professor at Harvard University, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, and a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio and MSNBC.

He is the author of 14 books, including “One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported” and “Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism — From Goldwater to Trump and Beyond.”

Dionne frequently writes about the importance of the free press and civic organizations to a healthy democracy, and the need for empathy across the political spectrum. McCourtney Institute for Democracy Managing Director Chris Beem said Dionne’s approach to politics makes him a good fit for the Institute’s mission.

“E.J. is a premier journalist and a well-respected public intellectual,” Beem said. “Most of all, he epitomizes the democratic balancing act of fighting for what you believe in even as you practice civility and even generosity with those who think otherwise.”

Dionne’s visit to campus is sponsored by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy and the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.