Overview:
"I think it just shows how important the San Joaquin Valley is in national conversations."
Journalist Robert Costa returned to Fresno State on Monday as part of The Maddy Institute’s Speaker Series to talk about his experience covering elections and how politics have evolved.
Costa, the chief election & campaign correspondent for CBS News, spoke at large about what’s to come for both the Republican and Democratic Parties, how President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration may play out, and where California’s central San Joaquin Valley fits in.
“This is Robert’s fourth visit to the valley and I think it just shows how important the San Joaquin Valley is in national conversations,” said Blake Zante, executive director for The Maddy Institute, who co-hosted Monday’s discussion alongside Costa.
Costa has previously worked with The Washington Post, PBS, NBC and co-wrote a book titled “Peril” about the transition of power between the Trump and Biden administrations with acclaimed journalist Bob Woodward.
Jim Boren, a professor and director of the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State, said that Costa’s experience in political reporting gives him a unique view of American politics and its trajectory.
“We think (Costa) offers a view of Washington that we often don’t get every day and there’s a chance to get to ask him in-depth questions that you don’t really get a chance to do,” said Boren.
Monday’s discussion allowed attendees to engage in dialogue with Costa’s extensive knowledge of Washington and a peek into the journalist’s ideas as to how Trump will arrive at the White House.
“Back in 2017, it was so evident to me as a reporter that Trump was just starting to get used to power; he was a political outsider,” Costa said during the discussion.
“Now, years later, we see President-elect Trump, someone who’s not necessarily an insider, but someone who is fully comfortable with power.”
During the discussion, Costa explained that while many Republicans may support Trump’s plans to enact mass deportations, it remains to be seen how those plans could impact business owners and farmers who rely on immigrants for labor.
“Many business leaders I’ve spoken to here and elsewhere believe that the Trump administration (is) going to focus mainly on undocumented migrants who have track records of criminality, but there’s no guarantee about how this is all going to play out.”
A recording of the discussion can be viewed here.
