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Melody Barnes on stage with Ken Burns and Jeffrey Rosen
News | November 6, 2025
November 6, 2025

'A More Perfect Union,' a New PBS Special, To Premiere on Nov. 24

Recorded at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, "A More Perfect Union" features filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein and AEI’s Yuval Levin in conversation with co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitution Center and Melody Barnes of the Karsh Institute of Democracy.

www.pbs.org

Photo illustration with a lighthouse illuminating the Washington, D.C., skyline
News | December 18, 2025
December 18, 2025

Why Democracy Depends on Watchdog Agencies

As laws, institutional norms, and political pressures collide, effective oversight reinforces the principle that no officeholder is above the law.

Collage of some of the books featured in Karsh Institute events in 2025
News | December 16, 2025
December 16, 2025

The Karsh Institute’s 2025 Reading List

Throughout 2025, the Karsh Institute convened authors of notable new books—leaders across policy, history, law, and journalism—for conversations that examined the forces shaping democracy today.

UVA Student Council's final meeting of the fall 2025 semester
News | December 11, 2025
December 11, 2025

UVA Student Council’s Final Meeting of the Semester

At a UVA Student Council meeting, the president highlighted the ongoing applications for the Karsh Institute’s Civic Cornerstone Fellowship—a program that allows students to engage in structured dialogue and mindfulness practices.

www.cavalierdaily.com

Student holding a pamphlet about free speech
News | December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025

A Look at Free Speech on Grounds

Despite outside criticism, the University has many ongoing free speech initiatives, including the Karsh Institute's Civic Cornerstone Fellowship.

www.cavalierdaily.com

An illustrated table filled with various dishes, desserts, and utensils, with two large speech bubbles in the center—one containing exclamation marks and the other containing question marks—suggesting lively or conflicting conversation.
News | November 24, 2025
November 24, 2025

How To Talk Politics Without the Drama This Holiday Season

As Thanksgiving arrives, some UVA students are approaching this year’s holiday gatherings differently. Instead of dreading difficult conversations, they’ve been preparing for them through the Karsh Institute of Democracy’s Civic Cornerstone Fellowship.

news.virginia.edu