‘It’s Difficult to Win Hearts and Minds When You’re Holding a Gun’

When War Becomes the Means of Governing, Civilians, Soldiers, and Veterans Lose

With wars playing a crucial role throughout history in shaping American influence and character—and with present-day conflicts devastating countries such as Ukraine and Yemen—Zócalo convened a panel to probe the question, “What is Our Responsibility for Our Government’s Wars?”

It was the first event of four in Zócalo’s events and editorial inquiry, “How Should Societies Remember Their Sins?,” supported by the Mellon Foundation.

The live, in-person panel at the ASU California Center in downtown L.A. featured Lt. Gen. (ret.) Robert E. Schmidle Jr. and Air Force veteran and social worker Noël Lipana; …

More In: The Takeaway

Heather McGhee Offers a New Story of American Solidarity

The 2022 Zócalo Book Prize Winner Sees Hope Beyond America’s ‘Zero-Sum’ Mindset

The 2022 Zócalo Public Square Book Prize event’s return to in-person programming for the first time in three years—and the hopeful chord struck by the winning author—arrived at the ASU …

Not Your Average L.A. Mayor Voter Guide

From South L.A. to the Valley, Angelenos Will Have to Vote Their Values

As the primary election for Los Angeles’ next mayor nears and narrows, Zócalo, together with Creating Our Next L.A., convened a panel to answer the question on every Angeleno’s mind: …

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of California’s Direct Democracy

Keep the Mail-In Ballots. Lose the Money and Special Interests. Give the People More Information

While majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents in California agree that the state’s system of direct democracy is a good thing, they also agree that it needs some fixing, especially …

A Better L.A. Is Possible—If We Create Space for All Angelenos | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

A Better L.A. Is Possible—If We Create Space for All Angelenos

Community Organizing, Creativity, and Inclusive Planning Will Improve the City for Everyone

“Can We All Live in the Best Version of Los Angeles?,” today’s Zócalo/Goldhirsh Foundation event, discussed what Angelenos really need to thrive. Moderated by Joel Garcia, artist, cultural organizer, and …

The Immigrants Who Composed L.A.

In the Herald Examiner’s Historic Lobby, the Modern and the Classic Blended Sound and Style

There was no better space—the grand entryway into a bygone era of downtown Los Angeles—to convene last night’s event “How Immigrants Composed L.A.”

The special musical presentation in the historic lobby …