The Trump administration promised it would spare no effort to eliminate what it called “government waste” and lost no time once in office launching a campaign to dismantle and eliminate large parts of the civil service. But what exactly is the civil service and what is its role in the process of American democratic governance? What will be the short- and long-term impact of the deep cuts in the civil service, and what can the other branches of government do to slow or stop the actions of the Executive Branch? This online OLLI @Berkeley Town Hall will offer an in-depth look at the ongoing campaign to dismantle the civil service, with a panel of experts offering their critical perspective.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Join us for a docent-led tour of Blake Garden in Kensington. The gorgeous 10+ acre garden serves as a resource for experiential learning for Berkeley's landscape architecture students. Amazing landscapes abound here including a formal garden with a reflecting pool, a shady canyon with towering redwoods, and a California native wetland zone populated by Pacific Chorus frogs.
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As Viktor Orbán dismantles Hungary’s democratic institutions, three women — a journalist, a politician, and a nurse — work tirelessly to fight for their country’s soul in Democracy Noir, a chilling expose of far-right nationalism and an inspirational beacon of resistance. After the screening, director Connie Field will discuss the making of the film and what drew her to the subject of the grassroots fight for democracy in Hungary.
[Open to OLLI members and non-members • Learn more and register]
This exploration traces the evolution of Silicon Valley companies, culture, and customers from the early days of marginal idealistic geekery to today — a world in which Silicon Valley products have redefined nearly all aspects of how we live and think, and which mediate our every action.
[Open to OLLI members and non-members • Learn more and register]
Can the President deport legal residents to a prison in a foreign country or unilaterally dismantle government agencies? Can the Secretary of State revoke a visa based on someone’s speech or writing? Can the government cut university funding because of campus protests? Erwin Chemerinsky, one of the nation's leading constitutional law scholars, and interlocutor Bill Sokol will examine the attack on the rule of law in the Trump administrations and propose how best to counter it.
[Open to OLLI members and non-members • Learn more and register]
Are predictions of the dollar's demise greatly exaggerated? Economist Barry Eichengreen, one of nation's foremost experts on the international financial system, will discuss the implications of the U.S. dollar in the age of cryptocurrency and government deregulation, and the forces propelling both. A facilitated Q&A will follow.
[Open to OLLI members and non-members • Learn more and register]