1. Home ›
  2. News and Events ›
  3. Media Mentions

Media Mentions

Archive

  1. Why oil tankers remain hesitant to travel the Strait of Hormuz, according to experts

    March 17, 2026

    Eugene Gholz, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame who studies national security and economic policy, described the halt of tanker traffic as a "pause" meant to offer shipping firms an opportunity to assess the risk of navigating the strait.

    Mentions

    Eugene Gholz headshot. Headshot of a fair-skinned man with a salt and pepper goatee, wearing glasses, a lilac shirt, and a patterned purple tie with a gray suit jacket. He has short dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Framed artwork is visible in the background, out of focus.

    Eugene Gholz

    Political Science

  2. Iran's Chokehold on Persian Gulf Waterway Strains Shipping

    March 06, 2026

    Over the years, Iran has often used its proximity to the strait to threaten shipping, but if tankers continue avoiding the strait into next week, it will be one of the longest de facto shutdowns on record.“We’re five days into it, and that’s approaching the longest pauses that happened,” said Eugene Gholz, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame and an expert on the Strait of Hormuz.

    Mentions

    Eugene Gholz headshot. Headshot of a fair-skinned man with a salt and pepper goatee, wearing glasses, a lilac shirt, and a patterned purple tie with a gray suit jacket. He has short dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Framed artwork is visible in the background, out of focus.

    Eugene Gholz

    Political Science

  3. Shipping companies reroute, add fees amid Middle East conflict

    March 02, 2026

    Global shipping likes to pass cargo through the most direct route to minimize costs and time, said Eugene Gholz, a political science professor at University of Notre Dame.

     “The shortest routes … often, say, between Asia and Europe might … go past the Persian Gulf, through the Gulf of Oman, through the Red Sea,” he said.

    Mentions

    Eugene Gholz headshot. Headshot of a fair-skinned man with a salt and pepper goatee, wearing glasses, a lilac shirt, and a patterned purple tie with a gray suit jacket. He has short dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Framed artwork is visible in the background, out of focus.

    Eugene Gholz

    Political Science

  4. Oil Shipments in Persian Gulf Already Disrupted by Iran Attack

    February 28, 2026

    Some analysts said they did not expect the conflict to lead to a lengthy pause in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. No country has closed the strait since large scale oil production began in the Middle East, said Eugene Gholz, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame and expert on the Strait of Hormuz.

    Mentions

    Eugene Gholz headshot. Headshot of a fair-skinned man with a salt and pepper goatee, wearing glasses, a lilac shirt, and a patterned purple tie with a gray suit jacket. He has short dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Framed artwork is visible in the background, out of focus.

    Eugene Gholz

    Political Science

  5. Ukraine Is Losing the War

    February 26, 2026

    By Michael C. Desch, the Packey J. Dee Professor of International Relations at the University of Notre Dame and founding Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the O’Brien Notre Dame International Security Center.

    Mentions

    Michael Desch headshot. A man with a full white and gray beard, wearing amber-colored glasses, a green tweed jacket, a plaid collared shirt, brown sweater vest, and a dark green textured tie. He is smiling against a gray background.

    Michael C. Desch

    Political Science

  6. How some Democrats are using scripture to try to reach Christian voters in US midterms

    February 17, 2026

    “When you say that a candidate is religious, most voters then assume that they're Republican, that they're pretty conservative,” said David Campbell, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame. “What you're seeing now is a small group of Democrats who are using religious language to speak about issues on the left.”

    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

  7. After Trump’s Cuts, Some Former Federal Workers Are Now Seeking Office

    February 09, 2026

    Rachel Porter, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame, said there has been a rise in the past decade of what she calls “amateur” candidates — those without previous political experience — running for Congress. The pandemic prompted many doctors and scientists to pursue office, she noted. But this may be the first time in recent history that so many former federal workers have jumped into the fray, she said.

    Mentions

    Rachel Porter headshot. A woman with long dark hair, wearing a patterned brown and cream blazer over a white blouse. She smiles against a plain gray backdrop.

    Rachel Porter

    Political Science

  8. Understanding the partial government shutdown happening right now

    February 03, 2026

    A partial government shutdown is now in its third day. This comes months after the longest shutdown in U.S. history last fall. ABC57’s Jordan Tolbert spoke with Notre Dame political science professor Jim Curry, PhD, about what makes this shutdown different. Curry says this one is likely to be temporary and impacts can be felt when shutdowns drag on.

    Mentions

    Headshot of a man with a beard and reddish-brown and navy plaid shirt, smiling against a blurred green, outdoor background.

    James M. Curry

    Political Science

  9. The chaos of the new world order: How will middle powers survive in the Trump era?

    January 27, 2026

    Regarding an approach to what middle powers can do, Michael Desch, professor of international relations at the University of Notre Dame and founding director of the Notre Dame Center for International Security, told CNBC Arabia that "the field is always open for political wisdom, even for weaker powers," noting that "the list of small countries that have influence beyond their size in international politics is long... but the key is for their leaders to realize the limits of their influence, as well as the priority of self-interest in the behavior of other countries, especially great powers."

    Mentions

    Michael Desch headshot. A man with a full white and gray beard, wearing amber-colored glasses, a green tweed jacket, a plaid collared shirt, brown sweater vest, and a dark green textured tie. He is smiling against a gray background.

    Michael C. Desch

    Political Science

  10. Notre Dame expert: On Greenland, Catholic social teaching has something to say

    January 21, 2026

    Michael Desch directs the Notre Dame International Security Center and teaches in Notre Dame’s political science department. Desch spoke with OSV News about Greenland and other U.S. foreign policy concerns in light of Pope Leo XIV’s recent address to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

    Mentions

    Michael Desch headshot. A man with a full white and gray beard, wearing amber-colored glasses, a green tweed jacket, a plaid collared shirt, brown sweater vest, and a dark green textured tie. He is smiling against a gray background.

    Michael C. Desch

    Political Science

  11. "Invasion is justified": A 40-year-old aide leads U.S. military operations? The shock of a U.S. attack on Venezuela.

    January 08, 2026

    Interview with Michael C. Desch (begins at 34:00), the Packey J. Dee Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science and the Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center at the University of Notre Dame.

    Mentions

    Michael Desch headshot. A man with a full white and gray beard, wearing amber-colored glasses, a green tweed jacket, a plaid collared shirt, brown sweater vest, and a dark green textured tie. He is smiling against a gray background.

    Michael C. Desch

    Political Science

  12. Seizing Venezuela’s Maduro, Trump implements his corollary to Monroe Doctrine

    January 05, 2026

    “The big powers, and especially China and Russia, are likely to draw two very different lessons about the U.S. from all of this,” says Michael Desch, an international affairs professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

    Mentions

    Michael Desch headshot. A man with a full white and gray beard, wearing amber-colored glasses, a green tweed jacket, a plaid collared shirt, brown sweater vest, and a dark green textured tie. He is smiling against a gray background.

    Michael C. Desch

    Political Science

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Het gemeenschappelijke goed is niet simpelweg wat mensen willen, maar wat menselijk floreren mogelijk maakt

    November 30, 2025

    Ideoloog Patrick Deneen geldt als een van de prominentste conservatieve denkers over deze nieuwe politieke tijd. Hij pleit voor „aristopopulisme”, waarin een goedwillende elite de zorgen van de „arbeidersklasse” omzet in veranderingen.

    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