Inside American Politics: An Avenue for Youth Social Impact

One of the reasons I chose to major in political economy was my genuine passion and interest in current events and social issues. As an NYU London student, I was fortunate to attend the 2024 Inside American Politics Conference at Oxford University. This was a transformative experience, immersing me in the complex issues shaping today’s world.

Evidently, the U.S. 2024 presidential election was one of the most contentious and consequential elections in generations, with various social issues at stake, from policies on abortion to climate change. The conference featured a series of politically involved speakers—“insiders,” if you will—who discussed current political dynamics in the aftermath of the 2024 election. These included campaign strategists, political and communications consultants, and influential political journalists. The conference took place on Tuesday, November 12, and Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

On Tuesday, panelists explored “What Happened and Why” as well as the demographic voting gaps that drove the election outcome. Since I was only able to attend Tuesday’s sessions, I’ll provide a more personal account of the topics discussed.

The first panel, featuring Michael Steele, Elise Jordan, Jarrod Agen, and JoDee Winterhof, examined the factors that ultimately led to President Trump's victory. They highlighted the outcomes in swing states and the campaign ads and strategies that contributed to the results. The second panel, with Joel Benenson, Karen Finney, Bettina Inclan, and Kimberly Johnson, focused on post-election polling and the demographics that supported President Trump. They debated how factors such as gender, age, race, and education drove the outcome.

I personally found the second panel more engaging, as much of it related to how the election impacted youth and addressed youth voter turnout. One of the panelists remarked, “Young voters simply didn’t show up,” warning that if this trend continues, political parties will allocate fewer resources to appeal to Gen Z voters. As a Gen Z voter myself, this realization was grim. We are supposed to be driving the future of politics, yet according to CIRCLE at Tufts University, only about 42% of young voters cast a ballot this election cycle, compared to 53% in 2020. Today, political decisions directly impact youth—whether in terms of bodily rights, higher education, or financial policies—yet young people around the world failed to show up.

Moreover, despite the urgency of the climate crisis, discussions around the topic were noticeably absent during both panels and this past election cycle. Given the severity and relevance of the issue, I expected more emphasis, especially in discussions about voter gaps and social issues. However, the lack of focus highlighted a troubling trend of sidelining environmental concerns in favor of more “media-worthy” topics that are contentious or polarizing. Perhaps this reflects the growing influence of media in elections, where candidates prioritize appearances on talk shows over meaningful debates on pressing issues.

Wednesday’s Panels

For a broader perspective: On Wednesday, panelists delved into “Where Do the Parties Go From Here?” and “The First Hundred Days.” In “Where Do the Parties Go From Here?” Maria Cino, Rob Collins, Michael Steele, Pat Egan, and Karen Finney discussed the future of the Democratic Party after Harris/Biden and whether Trump has permanently reshaped the Republican Party. They also explored the role of political parties in campaigns and the platforms that influenced election strategies.

The second panel, “The First Hundred Days,” moderated by Steve McMahon, featured Elise Jordan, Bettina Inclan, Kiki McLean, and Robert Saldin. They discussed what the first hundred days of the new administration might look like, which policy areas would be prioritized, and the potential for major legislation given the narrow margins in Congress.

Dining with Influential Leaders

After the panels, students had the opportunity to dine with the speakers at Exeter College. At 7 p.m., attendees gathered in the drawing room to network with those they resonated with before being ushered into the main dining hall. In the drawing room, my friends and I met Andrew Hamilton, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Provost of Yale University, and President of NYU. He kindly gave us a tour of the space and asked about the BPE program and our experiences in London.

At dinner, I was seated next to Michael Steele, the first African-American to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and Chair of the Republican National Committee. During our conversation, we discussed women’s rights and the experience of growing up as people of color in the U.S. Steele and I particularly connected over the shared experience of “code-switching” and the challenge of balancing multiple identities. We laughed heartily about the paradox of being a “true American” in a nation built by immigrants and pondered the societal constructs of race.

Key Takeaway
Ultimately, I left the conference with new perspectives and a deeper understanding of this year’s election results. My main takeaway: to drive meaningful social impact, we as a generation must be politically engaged and “woke.” From voting to advocating for policies that directly impact youth, we must actively participate in every step of the political process because we are the future.