The School of Public and International Affairs and the University Honors Program will present the American Ideals Lecture. Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist, Duke University public policy professor and author of The Age of Grievance, will explore the ways in which grievance has come to define our current culture and politics, on both the right and left.

American politics has taken a troubling turn toward grievance. Many citizens believe their losses stem from others' gains, tallying perceived slights and assigning blame. Victimhood has become fashionable, and the blame game is a national pastime. Grievance isn't inherently negative; it's been a catalyst for positive change throughout U.S. history. However, problems arise when various grievances — legitimate and imagined — are conflated and taken to extremes. This has led to concerning developments: election denial, conspiracy theories, media misinformation, campus censorship and hypersensitivity to benign words and gestures. These trends threaten the civility, common ground and compromise essential for democracy. How did we get here? What does it say about us, and where does it leave us? Bruni will examine these critical questions and chart a path forward.