Political Life in the United States—Perspectives from Missouri

News cycles are saturated with US political coverage, both domestic and international, with headlines focusing on big items like national policy changes and sweeping decisions of the new administration. Amid this noise, understanding how politics are experienced day-to-day by ordinary Americans, and what public sentiment truly looks like beyond the headlines, has never been more important.

Despite recent dips in overall approval ratings, the Trump administration continues to enjoy significant public support, raising questions about how the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and populist conservatism in America shape everyday life and political realities beyond national headlines and major political centers.

Join the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and its American Friends for a virtual transatlantic town hall on April 29, 10:00–11:30 a.m. EDT, as two Missouri-based Humboldtians, Professor Sophia Hayes and Professor Mark Edward Ruff, offer firsthand perspectives on how conservatism and the MAGA movement shape everyday political life in their state. Moderated by Professor Louise Davidson-Schmich, the conversation will bring together German federal and state administrators with Humboldtians living in predominantly conservative regions of the US, creating a rare space for informed transatlantic dialogue, direct questions, and genuine exchange beyond the headlines.