Sharing Slices and Exploring Public Policy: A Semester Recap of Pizza & Politics

May 16, 2025 - Features

by Nathan Binshtok | Pizza & Politics Coordinator

Lecturer Eric Thomas (left) and Associate Professor Misty Heggeness (right) discuss the role of the wealthy in today’s politics on Feb. 7. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Pizza and Politics provides a welcoming space for students to engage with complex political topics, meet public service professionals, and enjoy a few slices of free pizza! Programs begin with an interview led by the Dole Institute’s Pizza & Politics Student Coordinator, followed by a period for student questions. This Spring, we held five Pizza & Politics events that gave students a chance to explore timely issues on topics from across the political spectrum.

The spring semester began with a conversation on The Evolving Role of the Wealthy in Politics. Guests Eric Thomas, a Lecturer in the KU School of Journalism and Columnist for the Kansas Reflector, and Misty Heggeness, an Associate Professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration, explored the influence of high-profile figures on American political life. Our guests touched on the creation of the Department of Governmental Efficiency, the political significance of Beyoncé’s appearance at a Kamala Harris rally, and Heggeness’s own work on Swiftynomics as a lens for understanding the cultural and economic power of celebrity figures. Boasting our largest student audience of the semester, the discussion further examined how celebrity status and access to wealth can shape popular discourse and potentially influence political outcomes.

Stephen Jacques, author and former senior national advance man to President Barack Obama opens up the Feb. 21 Pizza & Politics event in the Kansas Union. Photo by Kenna McNally.

On February 21, we welcomed Steven Jacques, a former Associate Director at the Dole Institute and longtime presidential advance worker. Jacques gave students a peek behind the curtain of political campaigning by recounting the role of advance teams in coordinating the logistics and optics of candidate appearances. Drawing from his decades of experience spanning twelve presidential campaigns and three administrations, Jacques shared memorable stories about the challenges and creativity involved in staging a successful campaign event. A compilation of the highlights, lowlights, and other stories from Jacques’ career can be found in his new book, Advance: On the Presidential Campaign Trail.

As anticipation for March Madness built across campus, our March 7 event turned to a timely topic at the intersection of sports, law, and policy: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).  Nataliya Bredikhina, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences, and Mit Winter, a College Sports Law Attorney and former Division I college basketball player, helped students navigate the complex and evolving NIL landscape. Our guests broke down how rules differ across the NCAA, states, and specific universities. The conversation also touched on ongoing litigation, including the pending House v. NCAA case, and current proposals for federal legislation. Our guests concluded with a reflection on their own experience as college athletes, and what current student-athletes should consider as NIL opportunities continue to expand.

Mit Winter and Nataliya Bredikhina discuss the recent evolvement of NIL deals in college athletics on March 7. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Students enjoy pizza as Chris Courtwright presents on Kansas tax and budget policy. Photo by Ella Rhuems.

The final program of the semester was Supreme Court Spotlight: What’s on the Docket? This program featured two returning Dole Institute guests, Shannon Denmark, Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP, along with Mark McCormick, Executive Director at the Kansas Black Leadership Council. Our guests discussed major cases on the October 2024 docket, including Louisiana v. Callais and Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond. The conversation also considered broader themes such as the Court’s approach to stare decisis, the legal implications of emerging technologies like AI, and how shifting social norms influence constitutional interpretation.

Shannon Denmark and Mark McCormick give an overview of the Supreme Court Docket during the final Pizza and Politics event of the semester on April 25. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Nathan Binshtok is the Pizza and Politics Coordinator at the Dole Institute of Politics. In his role, Nathan hosts discussions with local leaders to promote civic discussion and political engagement at the University of Kansas, where he is a sophomore studying Economics and Political Science. Nathan participated in the Spring 2024 Counselors Program as a student cross-examiner and served as the moderator for this year’s program. He plans on attending law school in the future.

About the Dole Institute
Inspired by the leadership legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service, and civic education and engagement.