Robert Schmuhl

American Studies

Office
515 Flanner Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone
574-631-5128
Email
rschmuhl@nd.edu
Website

Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Chair Emeritus in American Studies and Journalism

  • American culture
  • American politics and the media
  • The Making of Irish America  
  • The U.S. role in Ireland's Easter Rising
  • History of the modern presidency

Video

Audio

Schmuhl’s Latest News

Schmuhl in the News

Catholics react to Trump’s Bible sale with concern and humor

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News that “there’s a certain incongruity and a strange marriage of ‘church and state’ in this blatant merchandising of the Bible.”

Joe Biden Faces Irish Anger on St. Patrick's Day

Robert Schmuhl, Professor Emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and the author of Ireland's Exiled Children, said that while there were "brickbats of criticism" over Biden's approach to Gaza, Ireland and the U.S. still have "important and strong" ties.

WalletHub

Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations (2024)

"Ask the Experts" Q&A with Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame and author of Ireland's Exiled Children.

DeSantis ends presidential campaign, endorses former rival Trump

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News that DeSantis “never fulfilled the expectations that many Republicans had for him.”

Ireland Turns on Joe Biden Over Israel

Michael Desch, a professor of international relations at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in international relations, told Newsweek: "Blood is generally thicker than water and President Biden has had a good relationship with the Emerald Isle over the years given his family ties to the Old Sod. But there are limits to how much Irish ancestry will make up for the gallons of innocent blood being shed in Gaza by Israel with the Biden administration's reluctant support."

Meanwhile, Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor of law and government at Dublin City University, said: "President Biden's Irish heritage is important to his identity, but its value in Ireland is in jeopardy for what appears to many to be a lack of concern for the Palestinian people caught up in the war in Gaza."

Trump wins Iowa caucuses as DeSantis edges out Haley for second

“More than anything, Donald Trump’s victory in Iowa demonstrates how much he and his political organization have learned since 2016,” Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News.

Catholic political scholars weigh in on Trump indictment in Georgia and 2024: ‘It’s not a happy prospect’

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News the Georgia indictment “reads like a who’s who of Trump loyalists — and lawyers — at the center of the alleged attempt to change the outcome of Georgia’s presidential vote count in 2020.”

Trump’s Jan. 6 indictment puts the U.S. in ‘uncharted territory,’ Catholic scholars say

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News that “as indictments and court cases against former President Trump increase, he becomes stronger with his supporters.” 

On This Day: Sir Roger Casement sentenced to death

Robert Schmuhl is the Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Chair in American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame and the author of "Ireland’s Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising" (Oxford University Press).

Catholic experts weigh in on Donald Trump’s latest indictment and potential impact on 2024 campaign

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News the latest Trump indictment “doesn’t come as much of a surprise.”

Catholic Review

St. Anselm College defends and criticizes controversial CNN town hall with Donald Trump

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame, who critically observes the modern American presidency, told OSV News that the town hall’s “major lesson is that mainstream media outlets need to be careful in giving Donald Trump a platform.”

Tucker Carlson Reveals He Was 'Excited' by Obama's Presidency

Robert Schmuhl, a professor emeritus in American studies and journalism at the University of Notre Dame, told Newsweek that for "Tucker Carlson to talk about race as he did in his recent speech just pours gasoline on a fire he started."

Fox News Loses Half of Tucker Carlson's Viewers

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies and journalism at the University of Notre Dame, told Newsweek that Fox News' viewership drop is "predictable" and similarly occurred after the network called Arizona for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Tucker Carlson Teases Fans With His New Plans

University of Notre Dame's Robert Schmuhl told Newsweek that, whether Carlson decides to remain in mainstream media or moves to more conservative outlets, he will "be a major player in the 2024 campaign on one side or another."

Don Lemon 'Stunned' After CNN Fires Him

Robert Schmuhl, chair emeritus of American studies and journalism at the University of Notre Dame, said that Lemon had "been skating on thin ice since" beginning his co-hosting duties on CNN This Morning. "Today the ice cracked, and the network decided to avoid future problems by letting him go," Schmuhl said.

Is This the End of Tucker Carlson?

Americans can continue expecting to see "much more" of Carlson in the future, the University of Notre Dame's Robert Schmuhl told Newsweek. "The question is: Where? Will he continue to play a role in the media, or will he decide to engage more directly in conservative politics?" Schmuhl said. "He'll be a major player in the 2024 campaign on one side or another."

The Rise and Fall of Don Lemon

Robert Schmuhl told Newsweek that the "morning slot really wasn't working very well for him," adding that Lemon's opinions and actions were becoming problematic for CNN. "An anchor at any news organization that wants to be perceived as impartial has to be very careful delivering opinions or analytical points," Schmuhl said. "In Don Lemon's case, he flew too close to the sun too many times, with comments that left many people shaking their heads."

As Trump pleads not guilty, Catholic experts weigh in on impact of indictment on 2024 campaign

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame who critically observes the modern American presidency, said that “the word ‘unprecedented’ is becoming the most common word associated with Donald Trump and his political career.”

InformNY.com

Syracuse ranks as a top U.S. city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

“With some 32 million Americans – nearly 10 percent of the population – identifying as being Irish in a 2020 U.S. Census Bureau survey, there is a strong incentive to celebrate the ancestry and heritage of so many people. St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally provided the occasion for both celebration and contemplation. It is certainly a time to cheer but it is also a chance to look back and consider a relatively small place that has been so important to the development and history of the U.S. Many Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries considered themselves ‘exiled children’ from Ireland, and that sense created an enduring bond,” said Robert Schmuhl, Professor Emeritus; Chair in American Studies and Journalism, University of Notre Dame.

Catholic Review

Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 narrative engages in post-truth journalism, Catholic scholars warn

Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame who studies journalism and the modern American presidency, told OSV News that Carlson “is using the video that Speaker McCarthy gave him exclusively to try to create an alternate narrative to what happened on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.”

WalletHub.com

2023 St. Patrick's Day Facts

You can also learn more about the financial impact of St. Patrick’s Day from the Ask the Experts Q&A below. Robert Schmuhl, Professor Emeritus of American Studies, Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Chair in American Studies and Journalism – University of Notre Dame & Author of Ireland's Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy twists to victory, but now can he control the ‘crazy caucus’?

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor at Dublin City University.

Irish Examiner

The Mick Clifford Podcast: The Trump card — Robert Schmuhl

Audio

This week’s guest on the podcast is presidential historian, Robert Schmuhl, who is emeritus professor at the University of Notre Dame and Adjunct Professor in the School of Law and Government in DCU.

What the failed Republican wave means for the 2024 US election

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dame.

Iqna

Scholar Points to Concerns, Doubts over Minorities' Participation in US Midterm Elections

Robert Schmuhl is the inaugural Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Chair in American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame.

US prepares to go to the polls for mid-term elections

Audio

Bob Schmuhl, Professor Emeritus of American Studies at Norte Dame University, on the mid-terms, and former President Donald Trump's strong hint that he will be a candidate in the 2024 Presidential election.

Pravda

Political violence: fear of democracy overshadowed the US election (Politické násilie: strach o demokraciu zatienil voľby v USA)

"Nancy Pelosi has been and is the target of millions of dollars in Republican political ads. She has been called the devil and worse. The attack on her husband showed what can happen when such negative views turn into hate-fueled actions." Robert Schmuhl, an expert on American politics from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, told Pravda. ("Nancy Pelosiová bola a je terčom republikánskych politických reklám za milióny dolárov. Označovali ju za diabla a dokonca jej hovorili aj horšie. Útok na jej manžela ukázal, čo sa môže stať, keď sa takéto negatívne názory pretavia do činov, ktoré poháňa nenávisť,“ povedal pre Pravdu Robert Schmuhl, expert na americkú politiku z Notredamskej univerzity v Indiane.)

If US presidents could serve three terms

In his insightful and learned look at the presidency, Robert Schmuhl, a Notre Dame professor emeritus in American studies and author of "Ireland’s Exiled Children," provides some fascinating insights into why the pattern came about and the importance of the 22nd Amendment which bars a president from running for more than two terms, put in place by a disgruntled Republican Congress who wanted badly to see the back of FDR.

Map News

Ahead of the US Midterms, What Is at Stake ?

Dr. Robert Schmuhl, Chair in American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame, focuses on a much bigger picture, however.

Sandusky Register

Local theater rolling out red carpet

Dr. Robert Schmuhl of the University of Notre Dame will be speaking about the changing shape of the presidency throughout American history in his talk titled, “From Log Cabin to Trump Tower: The Presidency Amid Change and Conflict.”

Fremont News Messenger

Community Roundup: Film festival slated for Saturday in Fremont

The keynote speaker is Dr. Robert Schmuhl, University of Notre Dame, who will discuss the changing shape of the presidency throughout American history in his talk titled, “From Log Cabin to Trump Tower: The Presidency Amid Change and Conflict.”

Young female 1916 Rising fighter in the GPO tells her story

Kilmer’s life and this article feature in the forthcoming book "Ireland’s Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising" by Robert Schmuhl, which was published by Oxford University Press in March 2016.

If Trump were to lose again, would he succeed in overturning 2024 election?

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor at Dublin City University.

Is the US really on the brink of a second civil war?

With public hearings on the US Capitol assault set to begin next week, Robert Schmuhl surveys the divisions besetting his country — and explains why the outlook is alarmingly bleak.

US democracy is still under threat a year after Capitol chaos

By Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor in the School of Law and Government at DCU. He is the author of The Glory and the Burden: The American Presidency from FDR to Trump.

Express

Meghan Markle backlash as celebrities in politics branded ‘real danger’ after Trump

University of Notre Dame academic Robert Schmuhl, whose research has focused on the culture of celebrity in politics, claimed that celebrities with political aspirations were a “real danger” to American democracy.

Big Read: Joe Biden’s Afghan humiliation: ‘This betrayal will live in infamy’

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor in the School of Law and Government at DCU.

‘Revenge tour’: How showman Trump is ready to throw his hat back in the ring

By Robert Schmuhl professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor at Dublin City University. He is the author of ‘The Glory and the Burden: The American Presidency from FDR to Trump’.

Biden’s first 100 days: US president starts fast and aims high

By Robert Schmuhl professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor at Dublin City University. He is the author of ‘The Glory and the Burden: The American Presidency from FDR to Trump’

VOA News

Politicians Use Hollywood Agencies to Build Image (Politisi Gunakan Agensi Hollywood untuk Bangun Citra)

Robert Schmuhl is Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame. "Today's politicians - in most cases - already have a support base, loyal people, following them on social media, interested in their careers, whatever the phase of their career!" (Robert Schmuhl adalah Profesor Studi Amerika du Universitas Notre Dame. "Politisi jaman sekarang - dalam kebanyakan kasus - sudah memiliki basis pendukung, orang-orang yang setia, mengikuti mereka di media sosial, tertarik pada karir mereka, apapun fase karir mereka!")

Book Brief: A new thriller from Gianrico Carofiglio, plus new titles by Mel Giedroyc and Claire Fuller

In these 15 insightful pieces, Robert Kennedy’s daughter Kerry, former Bernie Sanders adviser Tad Devine, Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan plus regular Review writer Robert Schmuhl are among the contributors who look at JFK’s enduring legacy.

Breaking News Ireland

New book on Kennedy's legacy, and Irish-US relations through to Biden

“There are some great pieces on Irish-American relations in the Kennedy era by Professor Mary Daly from UCD, Professor Bob Schmuhl from the University of Notre Dame and Felix Larkin, a well known Irish historian.

Republicans still in thrall to Trump as he faces into Senate trial

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

The Diplomatic Pouch

Episode 5 : The Inauguration

Audio

We speak to Robert Schmuhl, the Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Professor Emeritus of American Studies and Journalism, John Podesta (Founder, Center for American Progress) and Elizabeth Goldsmith, FSU Professor Emerita & Fulbright Scholar and expert in inaugurations.

Trump lived up to the nickname by disrupting in ways we never could have imagined possible

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

5 ways in which this inauguration will look and feel very different to any other

"It’s really been a rollercoaster," says Bob Schmuhl, Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame. 

Trump makes history as he's impeached for second time

Bob Schmuhl, Professor Emeritus of American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame, discusses the second impeachment of President Donald Trump.

IQNA

Politics in US Has Become a Blood Sport: Scholar

“The past few days show that there are even sharp divisions within one of those tribes: the Republican Party,” Robert Schmuhl told IQNA in an interview, after mobs stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

WNIT

Politically Speaking - Discussing the Electoral College Vote Certification

Video

Robert Schmuhl offers his thoughts on the events of January 6th, 2021 when protests turned to riots as Congress certified the November election's Electoral College results and how this might impact the new administration.

Donald Trump’s days may be numbered, but it is not in his nature to leave quietly

Robert Schmuhl is professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame.