UNC Program for Public Discourse

09/09/2026

Join the Program for Public Discourse for an engaging lineup of events this fall, beginning September 14. Topics include the Constitution, immigration, AI and human well-being, and more. All are welcome!

08/26/2026

The new semester is underway, and we are excited to share our fall lineup. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about upcoming events and activities!

UNC Program for Public Discourse Email Forms

04/29/2026

That’s a wrap on 2025–2026! You can find recordings of this year’s events in the first comment. Have a wonderful summer—we’ll see you in September!

04/13/2026

North Carolinians will head to the polls next November in what is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races of 2026.

On April 8, political strategists Jonathan Felts and Morgan Jackson came to campus to offer an early preview of the campaign, moderated by veteran journalist David Crabtree.

Watch the full conversation—link in the comments.

04/06/2026

What does the Iran war mean for the global balance of power and U.S. foreign policy? Last week, our expert panel explored the political, economic, and military consequences of the conflict. Watch the video here!

What does the Iran war mean for the global balance of power and U.S. foreign policy? This expert panel explores the political, economic, and military consequ...

03/04/2026

Missed our recent Abbey Speaker Series event on race and the American founding?

The full conversation featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Lucas Morel is now available on YouTube (link in comments).

We’re grateful for such an informative and engaging discussion on a topic of enduring importance. We also thank Max Owre, executive director of Carolina Public Humanities, for moderating.

02/20/2026

We’re honored to welcome Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of “The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family,” to the Abbey Speaker Series next Thursday!

Join us for a conversation on race and the American Founding—and what this history means for American democracy today. CLE credit available for UNC students attending in person.

Livestream link available; visit https://publicdiscourse.unc.edu/event/abbey-speaker-series-race-and-the-american-founding/

🕠 5:30–7 P.M. on Feb. 26, 2026
📍 FPG Student Union Auditorium
2h

01/22/2026

The Abbey Speaker Series explores Race and the American Founding from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 26 in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union Auditorium.

Join historian Annette Gordon-Reed and political theorist Lucas Morel for a conversation on this topic, moderated by Max Owre, Executive Director of Carolina Public Humanities.

Students who attend in person can earn CLE credit. No tickets necessary; seating is first-come, first-served. Reserved tickets are available for guests coming from outside Chapel Hill; email [email protected] to reserve seats. You may also live stream by registering at this link. Please note that CLE credit is only available for students who attend in person.

Join us for pizza in the lobby afterward!

The Abbey Speaker Series marks the 250th anniversary of American independence with a discussion of Race and the American Founding from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 26 in the Frank […]

01/22/2026

We have lots of opportunities for hearing and engaging in civil discourse this semester. And often, there is free pizza!

For more info on these events, check publicdiscourse.unc.edu. Hope to see you there!

12/11/2025

Last week, PPD welcomed political scientist Frances Lee (Princeton) and infectious disease expert Dr. David Wohl (UNC) for a lively conversation about what has been learned from America’s response to COVID-19. The speakers discussed the role of the World Health Organization in responding to the outbreak, the history of pandemics, and the impact of partisanship on the U.S. pandemic policy. The conversation also included points from Lee’s recently published book, “In Covid’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us.” In case you missed it, here is the recording.

What can we learn from America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic?  How should policymakers deal with future pandemics?  In a recent book co-authored with S...