Commentary

The Levin Center provides occasional commentary on issues relating to oversight, civil discourse, good governance, and ways to strengthen our democracy. Read our op-eds or view our media appearances here. 

Op Eds

Newspapers

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2015

Commentary on the House Select Committee's January 6th Hearings

Radio and Television

Camera media coverage

2023

April 6: WDET public radio – Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson

Jim Townsend introduces the Levin Center’s new State Oversight Academy.

2022

February 2: WDET public radio – Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson

Governmental oversight does not always lead to true accountability. The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy has a new project titled “Portraits in Oversight,” which explores the history of such investigations throughout the United States’ past.

2021

September 29: WDET public radio – Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson

The U.S. Constitution doesn’t mention the word “truth.” But the document does rely on Americans to seek it. In a world of mass disinformation where facts are often contested, scholars Jonathan Rauch and Levin Center Director Jim Townsend discuss the ways misinformation is being weaponized in contemporary America, how oversight can encourage honest fact-finding, and why the public should demand fact-based discourse in the public square.

Policy Recommendations

Close-up shot of student hand holding pen and writing in notebook, working at home. E-learning

2022

Blog Contributions

WSU-School of Law_702

2022