POL SCI 747

Osher (50+). This current events lecture series features a different speaker each week. Guest speakers are experts in their field who provide a one-hour lecture followed by a thirty-minute Q&A.

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Typically Available

Fall

Winter

Spring

Duration

As few as 8 weeks

Units

0.0

Current Formats

Hybrid

Cost

Starting at $120.00

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About This Course

Pulled from today’s headlines, this exclusive speaker series offers an in-depth analysis of significant contemporary issues. Each week, an expert from the political, social, technological, or economic spectrum provides a 1-hour lecture focused on a major global, national, or local issue. Afterwards, students participate in a 30-minute Q&A session with the speaker. A list of speakers for this term will be available online approximately one month before the course begins. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. Speakers will be in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

DATE			LECTURE
Mar. 31			Will Federal Courts Save American Democracy? Comparing Trump’s First and Second Terms Richard L. Abel, PhD Michael J. Connell Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor, UCLA
Apr. 7			Iran (working title) Benjamin Radd, JD, PhD Lecturer, UCLA School of Law; Senior Fellow, Burkle Center for International Relations at the UCLA International Institute
Apr. 14			The Current State of Hate and Antisemitism April Loewenstein Deputy Regional Director, American Defense League
Apr. 21			The U.S. Economic Outlook and the Economic Impact of AI William Yu, PhD Economist, Anderson Forecast, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Apr. 28			NATO’s New Frontier: Adapting to 21st-Century Threats Linas Kojelis, MPA Former special assistant to the President (OPL/Defense and Foreign Policy) at the White House and deputy assistant Secretary of State
May 5			Challenging Mass Immigration Detention Under Trump 2.0. Ingrid V. Eastly, JD Professor, UCLA School of Law, Faculty Co-Director of UCLA’s Criminal Law and Policy Consortium
May 12			The Case Against Political Parties Chris Baylor, PhD Lecturer, Department of Political Science, UCLA: American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow; author, The Case Against Political Parties
May 19			International Law and the Iran War David Glazier, JD Professor of Law, Department of Political Science, LMU

Spring 2026 Schedule

Date

Details

Format

March 31 - May 19

Tuesday 10:30AM - 12:00PM PT

Instructor:

Jim Aldinger

REG#

407302

Fee:

$120.00

Hybrid

UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood

Updating...

Notes

Hybrid course: combination of in-person and live-online.

Course fee is $120 for both OLLI Basic and Plus members. Enrollment limited; enrollment prior to the first class required. Visitors not permitted.

You must be at least 50 years old and a current member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UCLA to enroll in this course. If your membership has expired or if you wish to become a new member, please proceed with enrolling in courses and you will be automatically prompted to add a membership during checkout.

If you participate remotely, please download a free version of Zoom at https://zoom.us/ to participate in this course.

Deadline

Refunds only available from February 02, 2026 to April 12, 2026

Schedule

Type

Date

Time

Location

Lecture

Tue Mar 31, 2026

10:30AM PT - 12:00PM PT