The Medium Is The Message: Medias Impact on National Politics
Between social media platforms and 24/7 broadcast news, there is more political coverage than ever, and more people can voice their opinions. President Donald Trump has even been able to bypass traditional gatekeepers, creating his own social media platform, Truth Social, to directly engage and spread information. How did we get here? Dr. Larry Sabato will discuss the digital advent from the first TV ad to the current 24-hour news cycle and its impact on national politics.
Citizens often learn about politics through television, newspapers, and social media. No matter the medium, each impacts our understanding of politics and can shape our thinking and voting behavior. A lifelong political analyst, Sabato harnesses the power of media alongside other predictors to forecast political outcomes.
He leads Sabato's Crystal Ball, one of the most accurate political forecasting platforms in the U.S., praised by outlets including The Daily Beast, Harvard Political Review, and Pew Research. Sabato is also a frequent commentator on CNN, BBC, and major networks, and has written over two dozen books on American politics. His latest, "Campaign of Chaos: Trump, Biden, Harris and the 2024 American Election," analyzed the unique November 2024 election with the late exit of President Biden from the campaign and the resurgence of President Donald J. Trump for his second term.
Sabato is a respected political analyst, best-selling author, and founder of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. A Rhodes Scholar and four-time Emmy winner, he has taught over 20,000 students and earned UVA's highest honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St, Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Friday, November 14, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Admission:
General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
Preferred Seating (Early Bird Pricing) $50
Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee
Dr. Larry J. Sabato is a New York Times best-selling author, four-time Emmy winner, and one of the nation’s most respected political analysts. A frequent guest on major networks such as CNN, BBC, and CNN International, he provides sharp, insightful commentary on American politics. A Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Sabato is the founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and has held visiting appointments at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Over his distinguished career, he has taught more than 20,000 students, earning the Thomas Jefferson Award, the University of Virginia’s highest honor. In 2021, he celebrated his 50th year of affiliation with UVA.
Dr. Sabato has authored or edited more than two dozen books on American politics. His latest, The Red Ripple: The 2022 Midterm Elections and What They Mean for 2024, analyzed the November 2022 elections and the implications for the 2024 presidential race.
As the head of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, he has built one of the most trusted political forecasting platforms in the country. The Crystal Ball has won numerous accolades, including a recent feature as a Jeopardy! question. The Pew Charitable Trust ranked it the #1 leader in political prediction, and The Daily Beast recognized it as a top political site. In 2020, the Harvard Political Review declared it the most accurate in forecasting the Electoral College, stating: "While crystal balls may not exist in real life, Larry Sabato’s editorial team might be the next best thing." In 2024, an independent review by Split Ticket found the Crystal Ball to be the most accurate of all predictors of House, Senate, and presidential elections.
Dr. Sabato has won four Emmy Awards for historical and political documentaries, including:
- Out of Order – an exposé on dysfunction in the U.S. Senate
- The Kennedy Half-Century – a look at JFK’s life, assassination, and enduring impact
- Feeling Good About America – an exploration of the 1976 presidential election
- Charlottesville – a gripping account of the tragic events of August 11-12, 2017
An influential voice in political discourse, Dr. Sabato is active on social media. His Twitter feed (@LarrySabato) was named one of the 140 best by Time Magazine.
