Getting Beyond the Border: How Immigration Became a Political Crisis

Immigration has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics—but how did we get here?

In this episode of America at a Crossroads, Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist Patt Morrison for a wide-ranging conversation about immigration, power, and political narrative in the United States.

Blitzer draws on years of reporting and his award-winning book, Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, to examine how immigration policy became untethered from reality—and why border politics now dominate national debate. Together, Blitzer and Morrison explore the human consequences behind the headlines and what meaningful reform would require.

This conversation is part of America at a Crossroads, a virtual series presented by the Community Conversations Series and founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice. Recorded: January 21, 2026 ⸻ Subscribe for future conversations on democracy, justice, and the defining issues of our time.

Why does hunger persist in the wealthiest nation on earth? In this episode of America at a Crossroads, Abby J. Leibman (MAZON) and Bob Greenstein (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) join veteran journalist Larry Mantle to examine the politics behind poverty, food insecurity, and inequality in America today. This conversation explores the policy choices shaping hunger, the human impact of economic division, and what’s at stake as the nation faces overlapping social and political crises.

#Politics #News #America #Democracy #PublicPolicy #Economy #Inequality #Poverty #Hunger #SocialJustice #CurrentEvents

How is the Supreme Court really operating today—and what does it mean for American democracy?

In this episode of America at a Crossroads, legal scholar Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and co-host of Strict Scrutiny, joins journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely conversation about the modern Supreme Court and the forces shaping its decisions.

Drawing from her New York Times bestselling book Lawless, Litman argues that the Court is increasingly driven by conservative grievance, fringe legal theories, and ideological outcomes rather than consistent legal principles. The discussion explores how this shift affects voting rights, reproductive freedom, executive power, and public trust in the judiciary.

Topics include:

• How the Supreme Court’s decision-making has changed in recent years
• The role of conservative legal movements and grievance politics
• What “lawlessness” looks like inside a powerful institution
• Consequences for democracy, civil rights, and the rule of law
• What comes next — and what citizens should be paying attention to

This program is part of America at a Crossroads, a virtual community conversation series examining the challenges facing American democracy.

Guest & Host

Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes.

Madeleine Brand is the host of the award-winning daily news and culture program Press Play and co-host of The Legal Eagle Files podcast.

About the Series

America at a Crossroads brings leading voices in law, politics, journalism, and civic life together for in-depth conversations about the future of American democracy.

#SupremeCourt #AmericanDemocracy #LeahLitman #Constitution #RuleOfLaw #AmericaAtACrossroads

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins leading democracy scholar Larry Diamond for a critical discussion on the intensifying global struggle between authoritarianism and democracy. Drawing on decades of experience in diplomacy, national security, and democracy studies, they examine how autocratic regimes are reshaping the international order—and what democratic societies must do to respond.

Michael McFaul served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council, and later as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012–2014). He is a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

Larry Diamond is a leading scholar of democracy studies and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. His work has shaped global understanding of democratic development, backsliding, and resilience.

This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice, bringing leading voices together to examine the most urgent challenges facing democracy at home and abroad.

🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/

#MichaelMcFaul #LarryDiamond #Democracy #Authoritarianism #GlobalPolitics #AmericaAtACrossroads #CommunityConversations #ForeignPolicy #InternationalRelations #DemocraticValues #CurrentEvents

What happens when the guardrails of the Constitution start to shake? In this America at a Crossroads program, renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky joins veteran journalist Warren Olney to examine “The Constitution in Crisis: What’s at Stake for American Democracy.”

They break down threats to the rule of law, the future of the Supreme Court, voting rights, presidential power, and how ordinary citizens can respond when core democratic norms are under pressure.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the Dean of Berkeley Law and one of the nation’s leading experts on constitutional law and civil liberties. Warren Olney is the award-winning former host and executive producer of KCRW’s nationally syndicated program To the Point.

Recorded on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific, this conversation is part of the Community Conversations series founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice.

👉 Learn more and sign up for upcoming programs at americaatacrossroads.org.

#Podcast #AmericaAtACrossroads #ConstitutionInCrisis #AmericanDemocracy
#RuleOfLaw #SupremeCourt #VotingRights #PresidentialPower
#CivilLiberties #ConstitutionalLaw #ErwinChemerinsky #WarrenOlney
#DemocracyMatters #CivicEngagement

Israel, the U.S., and the wider Middle East are at a critical inflection point. In this special America at a Crossroads program, veteran Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller joins host Madeleine Brand to unpack “Israel Update: Trump’s Plan — Breakthrough or Breakdown.” They’ll explore what the plan actually proposes, how it’s being received in Israel and among Palestinians, and what it means for regional stability and U.S. foreign policy.

Aaron David Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and spent 24 years at the U.S. Department of State advising both Republican and Democratic administrations on Arab–Israeli negotiations. Madeleine Brand is the host of the award-winning KCRW daily news and culture show Press Play and co-host of the legal affairs podcast The Legal Eagle Files.

Recorded on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific, this conversation is part of the Community Conversations series founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice. Tune in for a nuanced, historically grounded look at one of the most contested issues in global politics.

America at a Crossroads presents:
“Courts in the Crosshairs: What’s Next for Justice in America”

Mark Joseph Stern with Larry Mantle
📅 Wednesday, November 19, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM Pacific / 8:00 PM Eastern

For upcoming programs and future replays in your inbox, join the America at a Crossroads list by visiting jewsunitedfordemocracy.org

Legal journalist Mark Joseph Stern joins veteran broadcaster Larry Mantle for an in-depth conversation about the mounting pressures on America’s courts and the future of justice in a transforming legal landscape. From the Supreme Court to appellate courts and state judiciaries, Stern examines the political, cultural, and ideological forces reshaping the judiciary—and what they mean for the rule of law.

Mark Joseph Stern is a senior writer for Slate, where he covers the U.S. Supreme Court, appellate courts, and the law. Known for his sharp, provocative analysis of politics, law, and culture, Stern is a frequent guest on MSNBC and numerous podcasts, offering clear and accessible commentary on major legal developments.

Larry Mantle is the longtime host of AirTalk on NPR-member station KPCC (89.3 FM), the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California. His thoughtful interviews and deep reporting have made him one of the region’s most respected voices in journalism.

🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/

#MarkJosephStern #LarryMantle #SupremeCourt #Judiciary #JusticeSystem #AmericaAtACrossroads #CommunityConversations #Slate #LegalAnalysis #Courts #RuleOfLaw #Democracy #CurrentEvents