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  5. December 2025

Media Mentions: December 2025

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  1. This Christmas will be even harder for China’s Christians

    December 23, 2025

    “The (Chinese) government is inherently suspicious of religious communities, especially Christian groups,” said Karrie Koesel, an associate professor specializing in Chinese politics and religion at the University of Notre Dame. 

    Mentions

    Karrie Koesel headshot. A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, olive -tone skin, and rose-colored glasses smiles against a gray background. She wears a green v-neck top with a black stripe detail.

    Karrie J. Koesel

    Political Science

  2. Candidates from the clergy see role for religion in Democratic Party

    December 17, 2025

    White Democrats — from Jimmy Carter, a born-again Christian, to Pete Buttigieg, an Episcopalian who made his faith a prominent part of his 2020 presidential campaign — have openly embraced religion. But doing so risks alienating the party’s secular base, said David Campbell, a professor at the University of Notre Dame and director of its Democracy Initiative.

    Mentions

    David Campbell headshot A man smiles warmly at the camera against a plain, light gray backdrop. He wears a textured dark blue blazer over a light pink and white plaid button-down shirt. His light brown hair is styled neatly.

    David Campbell

    Political Science

  3. Today’s Conviction of the Hong Kong Freedom Activist Jimmy Lai

    December 15, 2025

    Then finally we speak with Victoria Hui, a professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame where her research examines the dynamics of international politics and state-society relations in historical China and historical Europe. She is the author of War and State Formation in Ancient China and Early Modern Europe, has worked in the democracy movement in Hong Kong and now serves on the Academic Advisors Committee of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. We discuss today’s conviction of the freedom activist Jimmy Lai under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed National Security Law.

    Mentions

    Victoria Hui headshot. An Asian woman with black hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a green velvet shirt and a delicate necklace.

    Victoria Tin-bor Hui

    Political Science

  4. The 77-Year-Old Book That Helps Explain the MAGA New Right

    December 15, 2025

    Some names have become familiar, such as Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation, Patrick Deneen at the University of Notre Dame and Yoram Hazony, an Israeli political theorist and a leading advocate for national conservatism. Mr. Deneen has a phrase for this: “using Machiavellian means for Aristotelian ends,” by which he primarily means reorganizing America’s social order and “replacing the elites.” 

    Mentions

    Patrick Deneen headshot. A Caucasian man with salt-and-pepper hair wearing a navy blue suit and blue glasses over a blue and gray patterned tie. He is posing for a headshot against a gray background.

    Patrick J. Deneen

    Political Science

  5. A moral reckoning

    December 14, 2025

    David Campbell, a political science professor at Notre Dame, told me it’s always a mistake to “speak of religion or Christianity writ large, as though it is a monolith.”

    Mentions

    David Campbell headshot A man smiles warmly at the camera against a plain, light gray backdrop. He wears a textured dark blue blazer over a light pink and white plaid button-down shirt. His light brown hair is styled neatly.

    David Campbell

    Political Science

  6. Hong Kong Holds Vote as Officials Move Against ‘Anti-China’ Elements

    December 07, 2025

    The outreach effort may also be a way for the authorities to monitor residents in case they begin organizing opposition to the government and its handling of the fire, said Victoria Hui, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame who studies Hong Kong. “It seems that they are trying to kill two birds with one stone,” Ms. Hui said.

    Mentions

    Victoria Hui headshot. An Asian woman with black hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a green velvet shirt and a delicate necklace.

    Victoria Tin-bor Hui

    Political Science

  7. Indiana congressional redistricting proposal advances to vote in House

    December 02, 2025

    Jeffrey Harden, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame, said redistricting in the middle of a census cycle isn’t as common because it’s not new data, but it can be done. “I think one perspective is, why fix something that isn’t broken? You know, we’ve already got a set of maps that were approved at least at one time. Why should we do this again until we actually have new data that’s going to reflect changes in where people live? And that won’t, of course, won’t come until 2030,” Harden said.

    Mentions

    Jeff Harden headshot. A man wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and gold patterned tie. He is smiling at the camera against a plain gray background.

    Jeff Harden

    Political Science