Jerry Seib Serves as Moderator for a Third Politics Unplugged Series

June 18, 2026 - Features

by Jacob McCarty | Discussion Group Coordinator

This spring we had the third installation of the Politics Unplugged Series. Politics Unplugged was a three-part series of off the record conversations surrounding politics. The mission of this series was to foster discussion over current hot topics that face the United States and the wonderful state of Kansas.This semester was filled with even more discussions on hot topics for KU students to attend. These conversations were designed to promote bipartisan conversations among college students. The Dole fellow for this series this semester was Jerry Seib!

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan. We were lucky enough to have him in residence this semester.

The first program was titled “Should the Government Regulate Student Phones and Social Media?” This program focused primarily on the recent discussion and follow-up policy of cell phone bans in Kansas for K-12. This program looked at the proposed policy to ban cell phone use in K-12 in classrooms in the State of Kansas. The proposed policy had bipartisan support in the legislature but when brought to the students lots of concerns arose. During the program moderator Jerry Seib asked the participants to act like they were legislators and “vote” on this proposed policy.

The second program in this series was titled “What’s the Most Democratic Way to Fund Campaigns?” This conversation focused on the current problems, campaign contributions for the Kansas Gubernatorial race, and even campaign finance reform. This program really got the students to critically think about this issue and some of the issues that arise in our current system. To get a closer and better understanding of campaign finance information regarding the 2026 Kansas Gubernatorial Race were provided to give the students a real world example of how campaign financing is happening here in the state of Kansas. This case study helped students not only learn more about how the candidates are being financed but also the systematic ways our current system is set up. In the end, students were innovative in their ideas of reform and ways that the financing of campaigns could be changed to be more representative of the people.

Last, was a program titled “America’s Global Role: Leader or Isolator.” The final discussion in the series focused primarily on the United States relationships with allies and foes alike. We conversed about the current era of foreign relations. Students got the chance to discuss America in a global context and dive deep into the complexities that arise from foreign debates. From the current use of tariffs to US involvement in the Middle East, the conversation was very lively and filled with insights on the direction the United States should go in when it comes to our foreign policy.

Students with spring fellow Jerry Seib after the final Politics Unplugged program.

Overall, this series was a complete success with students getting to engage in these discussions on a state, national, and international focus. It is truly inspiring to watch as the students engage with one another and both challenge and expand upon each other’s thoughts.  It was an honor to work with Jerry Seib and we are very grateful to have him as a Dole Fellow.

Jacob McCarty serves as one of the Discussion Group Coordinators. In this position, he promotes the events, provides assistance to guests, and makes sure the programs run smoothly. He is currently a senior studying Political Science, Public Administration, and Leadership Studies.

About the Dole Institute
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement, and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits, and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator, and statesman Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial.