America at a Crossroads: Recent Episodes
Jews United for Democracy and Community Advocates, Inc.
America at a Crossroads is proud to present an esteemed roster of guests and moderators to discuss the state of American democracy and the very real challenges facing it today. Past guests and moderators have included Congressman Adam Schiff, Congresswoman Karen Bass, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, George F. Will, Patt Morrison, Warren Olney, Madeleine Brand, Bill Kristol, David Axelrod, James Carville, Jonathan Greenblatt, and many more.
Award-winning investigative journalist and George Polk Award recipient Theo Baker joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a conversation on power, privilege, and the institutions that shape America's political, economic, and cultural elite.
Drawing on his acclaimed book How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University, Baker examines how elite universities cultivate influence, how networks of privilege are formed, and what these systems mean for leadership, opportunity, and democracy in the United States.
Election law scholar Rick Hasen joins veteran journalist and broadcaster Patt Morrison for a timely discussion on voting rights, election law, the Supreme Court, and the future of American democracy.
Drawing on decades of scholarship and his leadership of UCLA Law's Safeguarding Democracy Project, Hasen examines the legal, constitutional, and political forces shaping U.S. elections, from voting access and redistricting to campaign finance and the courts' growing influence over the electoral process.
Topics include:
• Voting rights and election integrity
• The Supreme Court's role in election law
• Redistricting, campaign finance, and ballot access
• Constitutional reforms and safeguarding democracy
• The future of American elections and democratic institutions
Political strategists Mike Murphy and Bob Shrum join award-winning journalist Madeleine Brand for a bipartisan conversation examining the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Bringing decades of campaign experience from both sides of the aisle, Murphy and Shrum separate conventional wisdom from political reality, exploring the electoral dynamics, voter behavior, and strategic narratives likely to shape the fight for Congress.
Topics include:
• The 2026 midterm elections and control of Congress
• Swing states, battleground districts, and electoral strategy
• Political polarization and shifting voter coalitions
• Campaign messaging, media, and public opinion
• What the election could mean for the future of American democracy
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, will voters deliver a political reckoning?
In this timely edition of America at a Crossroads, journalists Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser join moderator Larry Mantle to examine the forces shaping the midterms, the stakes for both parties, and what the results could mean for the future of American politics.
Peter Baker is chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for MSNBC. Susan B. Glasser is a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of its “Letter from Trump’s Washington” column. Larry Mantle is the longtime host of AirTalk on NPR member station LAist 89.3.
Wednesday, July 15, 20265:00 p.m. Pacific
Veteran diplomat and Middle East negotiator Dennis Ross joins longtime public radio host Larry Mantle for an in-depth discussion of the rapidly evolving relationship between Iran, Israel, and the United States, and what American diplomacy should look like in an increasingly volatile Middle East.
Drawing on decades of experience advising both Republican and Democratic administrations, Ross examines regional security, nuclear tensions, shifting alliances, and the strategic choices facing U.S. policymakers in a changing global order.
Topics include:
• U.S. policy toward Iran and Israel
• Middle East diplomacy and regional security
• Iran’s nuclear program and deterrence
• American leadership in a multipolar world
• Prospects for peace, stability, and future diplomacy
AmericaAtACrossroads #DennisRoss #LarryMantle #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #NationalSecurity #CurrentEvents
Former federal prosecutor and legal analyst Andrew Weissmann joins acclaimed journalist and broadcaster Patt Morrison for a discussion of the rule of law, democratic accountability, and the legal and political challenges confronting the United States.
Drawing on his experience leading major public corruption and organized crime prosecutions—including service on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team—and his book Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America, Weissmann examines the intersection of truth, justice, political power, and democratic institutions.
Topics include:
• The rule of law and democratic accountability
• Political misinformation and public trust
• Prosecuting public corruption and abuse of power
• The future of American democracy and its institutions
• Lessons from high-profile federal investigations
Veteran journalist, media executive, and author Josh Tyrangiel joins acclaimed journalist and columnist Patt Morrison for a timely conversation on the promises and perils of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on government, democracy, and everyday life.
Drawing on reporting for his new book, AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter, Tyrangiel explores how AI is already transforming healthcare, education, public services, and civic institutions while also raising urgent questions about regulation, employment, misinformation, and democratic governance. The discussion examines how society can harness AI's benefits while mitigating its risks in an era of rapid technological change.
Topics include:
• How artificial intelligence is reshaping government and public services
• The opportunities and risks posed by AI for democracy and society
• AI regulation, public trust, and the role of government oversight
• The future of jobs, education, and the workforce in the age of AI
• Healthcare breakthroughs and real-world applications of AI
• Data privacy, misinformation, and cybersecurity concerns
• The role of technology companies in shaping public policy
• Why human judgment, creativity, and civic engagement still matter in an AI-driven world
Veteran Democratic strategist and political commentator James Carville joins Madeleine Brand for a wide-ranging discussion on the 2026 midterm elections, the future of the Democratic Party, and the political landscape leading into the 2028 presidential race.
Drawing on decades of campaign experience, Carville shares his candid assessment of key Senate and gubernatorial races, Democratic messaging, voter turnout, coalition-building, and the party's next generation of leaders. He also weighs in on the lessons of the 2024 election, the role of identity politics, and why winning elections remains the Democratic Party's most important objective.
Topics include:
• The 2026 midterm elections and Senate battleground map
• California's governor's race and national political trends
• Democratic messaging and coalition-building
• Potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028
• Lessons from the 2024 election and the Biden-Harris campaign
• Voter turnout, election integrity, and the SAVE Act
• Identity politics, populism, and the future direction of the Democratic Party
• Why concise messaging and coalition politics still win elections
National security columnist and global affairs analyst Josh Rogin joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a discussion of America’s role in an increasingly fragmented world and the strategic challenges posed by China’s growing influence.
Drawing on decades of reporting on foreign policy, national security, and U.S.-China relations, Rogin examines how geopolitical competition, economic interdependence, technological rivalry, and shifting global alliances are reshaping international affairs.
Topics include:
• U.S.-China relations and strategic competition
• Global security and shifting alliances
• Trade, technology, and economic rivalry
• The future of American leadership abroad
• Geopolitical flashpoints and international stability
Senior democracy scholar and former White House policy advisor Ami Fields-Meyer joins award-winning investigative journalist Julia Angwin in conversation with acclaimed broadcaster Patt Morrison for a timely discussion on courage, dissent, and democratic engagement in an era of growing fear and polarization.
Drawing on their book On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear, Fields-Meyer and Angwin explore how individuals and institutions can respond when democratic norms, public trust, and civic participation are under pressure.
Topics include:
• Courage and dissent in modern democracy
• Free expression and civic engagement
• Media, technology, and public trust
• Political polarization and democratic resilience
• How individuals can act in challenging times
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman joins veteran broadcaster Larry Mantle for a wide-ranging conversation on global instability, geopolitical conflict, technology, climate, and the forces reshaping the modern world.
Drawing from decades of reporting on international affairs and themes explored in The World Is Flat, Friedman examines how globalization, political fragmentation, economic disruption, and environmental pressures are colliding in unprecedented ways.
Topics include:
• Global instability and shifting world order
• U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East
• Technology, AI, and economic disruption
• Climate change and global resilience
• Democracy, polarization, and the future of leadership
Former Homeland Security official and national security expert Juliette Kayyem joins veteran journalist Warren Olney for a timely conversation on security, democratic stability, and the growing challenges facing the United States.
This episode of America at a Crossroads examines domestic instability, political violence, crisis response, and the future of public trust in democratic institutions. Drawing on decades of experience in homeland security, journalism, and public policy, Kayyem and Olney discuss what resilience looks like in an increasingly uncertain era.
This week on America at a Crossroads, presidential historian Tim Naftali joins Madeleine Brand for a timely conversation on democratic resilience, political polarization, and the institutions shaping America’s future.
Topics include:
• Historical parallels to today’s political climate
• The role of the presidency and democratic institutions
• Extremism, accountability, and constitutional limits
• Whether American democracy is built to withstand this moment
Recorded live on May 6, 2026.
AmericaAtACrossroads #TimNaftali #MadeleineBrand #Democracy #AmericanPolitics #PoliticalExtremism #Constitution #USPolitics #PoliticalHistory #DemocraticInstitutions
In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former federal prosecutor Elie Honig joins Larry Mantle (AirTalk, NPR) to break down the evolving legal landscape in the United States.
With deep experience in federal and state prosecution, Honig examines how recent legal battles, shifting precedents, and questions of executive power are reshaping the rule of law—and what it means for the future of American democracy.
The discussion explores key questions including:
• How are legal norms and precedents changing in today’s environment?
• What are the implications of expanding or challenged executive power?
• How should the public interpret major legal developments and rulings?
Offering clear, accessible analysis, Honig provides insight into the forces redefining the American legal system and the potential paths forward.
Speakers
Elie Honig – CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He prosecuted organized crime and public corruption cases and later served as Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. He is the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and Untouchable.
Larry Mantle – Host of AirTalk on NPR-member station KPCC 89.3 FM. Mantle has led one of Southern California’s longest-running public affairs programs since 1985.
Event Details
America at a Crossroads
April 29, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice
America is at a pivotal crossroads.
Join us for a timely and urgent conversation on the state of democracy in the United States. As political divisions deepen and democratic norms face increasing strain, what signals should we be watching? Are we approaching a turning point—or moving further into instability?
Aaron David Miller is an American Middle East analyst, author and negotiator, brings sharp analysis examining the future of US-Israeli relationship.
He is joined by veteran journalist Patt Morrison who has a share of two Pulitzer Prizes as a longtime Los Angeles Times writer and columnist.
Democracy Under Stress: Is the Tide Turning?
Featuring David Frum in conversation with Warren Olney
America is at a pivotal crossroads.
Join us for a timely and urgent conversation on the state of democracy in the United States. As political divisions deepen and democratic norms face increasing strain, what signals should we be watching? Are we approaching a turning point—or moving further into instability?
David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, brings sharp analysis from his latest work examining the enduring appeal of Trumpism and its implications for the future of American democracy.
He is joined by veteran journalist Warren Olney, former host of KCRW’s To the Point, for a probing discussion on political culture, media narratives, and the durability of democratic institutions.
Topics include:
• The persistence of anti-democratic movements
• Cultural vs. policy-driven politics
• Warning signs for democratic erosion
• Whether the political tide may be shifting
⸻
📅 Recorded: April 15, 2026
🎙 Part of the “America at a Crossroads” weekly forum
In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, Middle East policy expert Dalia Dassa Kaye joins award-winning journalist Robin Wright to examine the critical decisions facing the United States in its approach to Iran.
At a time of heightened geopolitical tension, this discussion explores the strategic, diplomatic, and security implications of U.S. policy in the region—and what is at stake for global stability.
Drawing on deep expertise in foreign policy and decades of reporting, Kaye and Wright analyze the evolving dynamics between the U.S. and Iran, regional power shifts, and the risks and opportunities shaping America’s next moves.
The discussion explores key questions including:
• What are the current risks and flashpoints in U.S.–Iran relations?
• What policy options are available to the United States?
• How do regional and global actors influence the path forward?
This conversation provides a clear, informed perspective on one of the most consequential foreign policy challenges facing the United States today.
Speakers
Dalia Dassa Kaye – Senior Fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and former Director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy. She is a leading expert on U.S. foreign policy and Middle East affairs.
Robin Wright – Award-winning journalist, author, and foreign affairs analyst specializing in the Middle East and global security. She has reported from more than 140 countries and has written for The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and NPR.
In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, political commentator Jennifer Rubin joins journalist Patt Morrison to examine the state of American democracy and the responsibilities of leadership in a time of institutional strain.
Rubin, co-founder of The Contrarian and former longtime columnist for The Washington Post, brings a sharp perspective on the rule of law, political accountability, and the consequences of silence and inaction in the face of democratic erosion.
The discussion explores key questions including:
• What does accountability look like in today’s political environment?
• How have institutions responded to challenges to democratic norms?
• What role do individuals—inside and outside government—play in defending democracy?
Drawing on her work as a commentator and author, Rubin addresses the moral and political stakes facing the country and the choices that will shape its future.
Speakers
Jennifer Rubin – Political commentator and co-founder of The Contrarian. A former conservative and longtime Washington Post columnist, she is widely recognized for her analysis of democracy, the rule of law, and authoritarianism in American politics. She is the author of Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump.
Patt Morrison – Journalist, author, and longtime Los Angeles Times columnist and broadcaster. Morrison has received two Pulitzer Prizes and numerous Emmy and Golden Mike awards.
Event Details
America at a Crossroads
March 18, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice
In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Larry Mantle, host of NPR’s AirTalk, to examine the shifting global landscape and the challenges facing American leadership in an era of renewed power politics.
Drawing on decades of experience in national security and government, Panetta discusses how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international relations—from Ukraine and China to Venezuela and Greenland—and what these developments mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and global stability.
The discussion explores key questions including:
• How is the global balance of power changing?
• What challenges does the United States face in responding to rising geopolitical tensions?
• What lessons from past administrations can guide today’s foreign policy decisions?
With insight from one of the nation’s most experienced national security leaders, this conversation provides perspective on the strategic realities shaping today’s international environment.
In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson join journalist Patt Morrison to examine how the American founding era continues to shape today’s political and cultural debates.
Drawing on their extensive work exploring the Revolutionary period, Burns and Atkinson discuss the ideas, conflicts, and leadership that defined America’s birth—and how those same tensions echo in the nation’s present moment.
The discussion explores questions including:
• What lessons does the American Revolution offer for today’s challenges?
• How did the founding generation navigate division and uncertainty?
• What historical perspective can help illuminate the crossroads America faces today?
Burns reflects on themes from his documentary The American Revolution, while Atkinson discusses insights from his bestselling Revolution Trilogy, including The Fate of the Day.
Speakers
Ken Burns – Documentary filmmaker known for landmark series including The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The Vietnam War, and The American Revolution.
Rick Atkinson – Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Long Gray Line, The British Are Coming, The Guns at Last Light, and The Fate of the Day.
Patt Morrison – Journalist, author, and longtime Los Angeles Times columnist and broadcaster.
Event Details
America at a Crossroads
March 4, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice
Max Boot with Larry Diamond
What Is the Endgame? U.S. Policy and the Future of Venezuela and Beyond
Recorded Wednesday, February 25, 2026
In this episode of America at a Crossroads, Max Boot and Larry Diamond examine the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela and its broader implications for democracy, authoritarianism, and global stability.
The conversation explores:
• The current state of Venezuela’s political and economic crisis
• The effectiveness of U.S. sanctions and diplomatic strategy
• Democratic backsliding worldwide
• The future of American leadership in supporting democratic movements
• Strategic lessons for U.S. policy beyond Latin America
Max Boot is a Russian-American author, historian, and foreign policy commentator. He is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post. His most recent book, Reagan: His Life and Legend, was released in 2024.
Larry Diamond is a leading scholar of democracy studies and a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
Subscribe for future episodes of America at a Crossroads and join the conversation on the critical issues shaping democracy at home and abroad.
Collapsing Norms: Can American Democracy Survive This Stress Test?
Recorded February 18, 2026
In this recorded conversation from America at a Crossroads, journalist Susan B. Glasser joins Madeleine Brand to examine the current state of American democracy and the pressures facing its institutions. Drawing on Glasser’s reporting and editorial leadership across major national publications, the discussion explores how political norms are evolving and what this moment means for the country’s future.
Part of the America at a Crossroads webinar series, a project of Jews United for Democracy and Justice. Subscribe for more conversations on politics, media, and democracy.
On February 11, 2026, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Carol Leonnig joined veteran broadcaster Warren Olney for a timely conversation on her latest book:
Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America’s Justice Department
Leonnig, a five-time Pulitzer Prize winner and longtime investigative reporter for The Washington Post, examines how political pressure, institutional fear, and shifting norms reshaped the U.S. Department of Justice. Drawing on deep reporting inside presidential administrations and federal law enforcement agencies, she explores what happens when independence erodes within one of the country’s most powerful institutions.
Warren Olney, longtime host of KCRW’s nationally syndicated program To the Point, brings decades of journalistic experience to this in-depth discussion about accountability, democracy, and the rule of law.
This conversation is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, designed to foster thoughtful dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the country today.
CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins journalist and author Patt Morrison for a timely conversation on the 2026 midterm elections. Together, they examine the political forces shaping the cycle ahead, the balance of power in Washington, and what the outcomes could mean for democracy, governance, and the country’s future.
📅 Wednesday, February 4, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM Pacific
🎙️ America at a Crossroads
Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on politics, democracy, and civic life.
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
National security expert Steven A. Cash joins journalist Larry Mantle for a critical conversation about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States. Drawing on decades of experience across intelligence, homeland security, diplomacy, and defense, Cash offers a rare insider’s view of how democratic institutions are being tested—and what former national security professionals believe must be done to safeguard them.
Steven A. Cash is the Executive Director of The Steady State, an advocacy organization composed of former senior national security officials. He most recently served in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence & Analysis as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary. Cash previously served as Deputy Chief Intelligence Officer and Acting Executive Director of the Intelligence Enterprise Program Office, overseeing the department-wide intelligence program.
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. Known for his insightful interviews and deep reporting, Mantle is one of the region’s most trusted voices in public affairs.
This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice, bringing leading voices together to address the most urgent issues facing American democracy.
🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
StevenCash #LarryMantle #NationalSecurity #Authoritarianism #Democracy #AmericaAtACrossroads #CommunityConversations #HomelandSecurity #Intelligence #PublicService #CurrentEvents #RuleOfLaw #TheSteadyState
Election law expert Rick Hasen joins veteran journalist Larry Mantle for an essential conversation on the future of American democracy as the nation heads toward the 2026 midterm elections. Together, they explore the threats facing voting rights, the integrity of election systems, and how legal and political reforms could determine the strength—or fragility—of democratic institutions in the years ahead.
Rick Hasen is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on election law, campaign finance, and voting rights. He is a Professor of Law at UCLA and Director of UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. Hasen is the author of six critically acclaimed books, including his latest, A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.
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 interviews and analysis have made him one of the region’s most respected voices in public affairs and journalism.
This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice, featuring leading voices discussing the most urgent challenges to our democracy.
🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
📘 A Real Right to Vote is available wherever books are sold.
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Former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance joins journalist Patt Morrison for an insightful and timely discussion on the state of the American justice system—its resilience, vulnerabilities, and the tests it continues to face in today’s polarized political climate. Together, they explore the balance between accountability and power, the role of the courts, and what justice means in a democracy under strain.
Joyce White Vance served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and is a distinguished legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC. She writes the acclaimed Civil Discourse newsletter on Substack and cohosts the podcasts #SistersInLaw and The Insider. Vance is a Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Alabama and a Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.
Patt Morrison is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, columnist, and broadcaster for the Los Angeles Times. She has received multiple Emmys, Golden Mike Awards, and authored bestselling books, including Rio LA and Don’t Stop the Presses! Truth, Justice, and the American Newspaper.
This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy, featuring leading voices discussing the most pressing issues shaping our democracy.
🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Linda Greenhouse, one of the nation’s preeminent voices on the U.S. Supreme Court, joins renowned journalist Patt Morrison for a powerful conversation about the Court’s influence on American democracy. Greenhouse will discuss the evolving role of the judiciary, landmark decisions, political pressures on the Court, and insights from her decades covering its inner workings.
Linda Greenhouse reported on the Supreme Court for over 30 years for The New York Times. She is currently the Knight Distinguished Journalist in Residence and Joseph M. Goldstein Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School. Her books include Before Roe v. Wade, The Burger Court and the Rise of the Judicial Right, and Justice on the Brink: A Requiem for the Supreme Court.
Patt Morrison is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, columnist, and radio/television host. She has earned multiple Emmys, Golden Mike Awards, and authored bestselling books including Rio LA and Don’t Stop the Presses! Truth, Justice, and the American Newspaper.
This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice and Community Advocates, Inc., bringing leading voices together to examine the most urgent issues facing our democracy.
🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
📚 Explore Linda Greenhouse’s books wherever books are sold.
LindaGreenhouse #PattMorrison #SupremeCourt #Judiciary #LawAndPolitics #AmericaAtACrossroads #CommunityConversations #Democracy #USConstitution #SCOTUS #LegalJournalism #CurrentEvents
Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Anne Applebaum joins journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely and urgent conversation about Applebaum’s latest book, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. Together, they explore the growing network of authoritarian regimes, the methods they use to consolidate power, and the global threats they pose to democratic institutions.
Anne Applebaum is a staff writer for The Atlantic and a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the SNF Agora Institute. Her acclaimed works include Gulag: A History, Iron Curtain, and Twilight of Democracy.
Madeleine Brand is the host of Press Play on KCRW, an award-winning daily news and culture program offering deep insight into national and international stories through a Southern California lens.
This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice and the Community Advocates, Inc., bringing leading voices together to discuss the most pressing issues facing our democracy.
🔗 Learn more and register for upcoming events: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
📘 Autocracy, Inc. is available wherever books are sold.
AnneApplebaum #MadeleineBrand #AutocracyInc #Democracy #AmericaAtACrossroads #CommunityConversations #AuthorTalk #PoliticalDiscussion #History #CurrentEvents #FreeSpeech #TheAtlantic
An important discussion with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian National Authority Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa. They will analyze why Oslo failed and discuss what can be done today to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The conversation will be moderated by Professor Kenneth A. Bamberger (UC Berkeley) and Professor Steven E. Zipperstein (UCLA).
Organized by the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies and the UC Berkeley Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law & Israel Studies. Co-sponsored by America at a Crossroads, the UCLA Department of Public Policy, and the UCLA Center for Middle East Development.
Can America's Universities Survive the Current Assault? A Conversation with UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk
Mary Ziegler is a Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis School of Law and a leading legal historian specializing the struggle over reproductive health policy in the United States from 1945 to present. A 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, she is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on the history of the U.S. abortion debate. She is the author of seven books on reproductive rights and the law. Her latest work, “Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction,” was published in May 2025.
Patt Morrison has a share of two Pulitzer Prizes as a longtime Los Angeles Times writer and columnist. As a public television and radio broadcaster, she has won six Emmys and a dozen Golden Mike awards. Her first book, “Rio LA,” about the Los Angeles River, was a bestseller. Her most recent book is, “Don’t Stop the Presses! Truth, Justice, and the American Newspaper.”
Recorded live on August 27, 2025: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen joins Warren Olney for War, Peace and the American Future, a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. leadership, global security, and the challenges ahead.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman joins journalist Madeleine Brand for an America at a Crossroads conversation on U.S. foreign policy, democracy, and global security. Subscribe for more conversations.
Recorded live on August 6, 2025, veteran journalist Jonathan Weisman joins Madeleine Brand for a powerful conversation on rising antisemitism in America, Jewish identity, and the political climate in the age of Trump. Part of the America at a Crossroads series.
🎥 Subscribe for weekly conversations: youtube.com/channel/UCL_7hJyHHmrRruxix3V1mCA
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In this compelling conversation, foreign policy expert and author Max Boot joins veteran journalist Warren Olney to examine the state of American democracy, global threats, and what’s at stake in the months ahead. This episode of America at a Crossroads offers thoughtful analysis, historical perspective, and urgent questions about the direction of the U.S. and the world.
🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions with leading voices on politics, society, and global affairs.
Karen Bassis the 43rd Mayor of Los Angeles and the first woman and second African American to be elected as the city’s chief executive. Bass previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022 and in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010, serving as speaker during her final Assembly term.
Patt Morrisonhas a share of two Pulitzer Prizes as a longtime Los Angeles Times writer and columnist. As a public television and radio broadcaster, she has won six Emmys and a dozen Golden Mike awards.
In this thought-provoking episode of America at a Crossroads, Wesleyan University President Michael Roth joins Patt Morrison, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, for a timely conversation on the role of higher education in American democracy.
📌 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leaders, thinkers, and changemakers.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
MichaelRoth #PattMorrison #HigherEd #FreeSpeech #Democracy #AmericaAtACrossroads
Join us for a conversation between Washington Post columnist and bestselling author David Ignatius and veteran broadcast journalist Larry Mantle. In this episode of America at a Crossroads, they explore America’s role in a rapidly shifting global landscape, the state of U.S. intelligence and foreign policy, and the challenges facing democracy at home and abroad.
🔴 Originally broadcast on May 28, 2025
📍 Presented by America at a Crossroads
🎙 Hosted by Larry Mantle
David Ignatius brings decades of reporting experience on national security, diplomacy, and global affairs. Together with Larry Mantle, host of KPCC’s AirTalk, they engage in a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of journalism, power, and policy.
Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading thinkers, journalists, and public figures.
Learn more at: jewsunitedfordemocracy.org
DavidIgnatius #LarryMantle #AmericaAtACrossroads #ForeignPolicy #Journalism #GlobalAffairs
Join Andrew Weissmann, NYU Law Professor, former lead prosecutor in the Mueller investigation, and MSNBC commentator, as he sits down with veteran journalist Warren Olney on America at a Crossroads. They discuss the state of democracy, the rule of law, and the implications of ongoing legal battles. Weissmann, author of the New York Times bestseller Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation, offers his expert insights on the current legal landscape.
AmericaAtACrossroads #AndrewWeissmann #WarrenOlney #RuleOfLaw #MuellerInvestigation #MainJustice #LegalAnalysis #CurrentEvents
Douglas Brinkley is a Professor of History at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. He has received seven honorary doctorates in American Studies. He has authored more than 25 books, including several highly acclaimed presidential biographies. Six of his books were named New York Times “Notable Books of the Year” and seven became New York Times bestsellers. The New York Historical Society selected Brinkley as their official U.S. Presidential Historian. He is on the Board of Trustees at Brevard College and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. He is a member of the Century Association, Council of Foreign relations and James Madison Council on the Library of Congress.
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Bret Stephens joins Larry Mantle for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on today’s most pressing issues — from the state of American democracy to foreign policy, media polarization, and the future of political discourse.
Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul and democracy scholar Larry Diamond join America at a Crossroads to explore the global state of democracy, the threat of authoritarianism, and America's role in defending freedom. Drawing on deep foreign policy and political experience, they discuss Russia, China, and the future of democratic values at home and abroad.
In this week’s America at a Crossroads, political strategist Sarah Longwell and attorney George Conway join veteran journalist Warren Olney for a candid, forward-looking conversation about where the country is headed. Amid deep polarization and political uncertainty, they explore signs of optimism, the resilience of democratic institutions, and what it will take to secure a better future for the United States.
What does a second Trump term mean for the Middle East and America’s global role? Ambassador Dennis Ross, a veteran diplomat and Middle East expert, joins journalist Larry Mantle for a timely and wide-ranging conversation on U.S. foreign policy in 2025. From Israel and Iran to shifting alliances in the region, Ross offers insight into how statecraft may evolve under Donald Trump—and what’s at stake for America abroad.
Join legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Patt Morrison for a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the future of the American justice system. As political pressures mount and public trust wavers, they explore whether our legal institutions can withstand today’s unprecedented challenges.
Susan B. Glasser writes Letter from Biden's Washington for The New Yorker. She previously served as editor of Politico during the 2016 election cycle, founding editor of Politico Magazine, and editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine — earning three National Magazine Awards during her tenure.
Madeleine Brand is the host of the award-winning daily news and culture show Press Play on KCRW, where she covers national and local stories through a Southern California lens. She's also the co-host of The Legal Eagle Files, KCRW's popular legal affairs podcast.
Join Jennifer Rubin, opinion columnist for The Washington Post, and Larry Mantle, host of AirTalk on KPCC, for a timely conversation about the evolving media landscape and its impact on democracy and the free press.
Jennifer Rubin, known for her political commentary across major media outlets, brings her insights on the shifting political climate and media influence. Larry Mantle, a trusted voice in Southern California since 1985, leads the discussion on how billionaire ownership of media outlets could shape public discourse and democracy.
Can we reclaim a common truth in the age of social media? In this America at a Crossroads conversation, human rights expert Michael Posner joins journalist Madeleine Brand to discuss how social media shapes democracy, the spread of misinformation, and what can be done to restore trust in facts.
In this episode of America at a Crossroads, UC Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky joins journalist Larry Mantle to discuss the possibility of a constitutional convention and other important constitutional issues shaping the country today.
Join Haaretz Editor-in-Chief Aluf Benn in conversation with Patt Morrison for a critical discussion on Israel’s ongoing crisis. As part of the America at a Crossroads Israel in Crisis Briefing series, Benn provides expert analysis on the latest developments in Israel, including military strategy, political shifts, and regional tensions.
From the impact of the war in Gaza to the evolving relationship between Israel and the United States, this briefing delivers key insights into the challenges facing Israel today.Aluf Benn has been the Editor in Chief of Haaretz, the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel, since 2011. Haaretz is now published in both Hebrew and English. Aluf Benn holds an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a degree from Tel Aviv University. At Haaretz, Benn has served as an investigative reporter and head of the news division. His articles have been published in a variety of international newspapers, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs and Newsweek.
In this week's America at a Crossroads conversation, legal expert and former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance joins award-winning journalist Patt Morrison to explore the evolving challenges facing the American justice system.
From the increasing politicization of the courts to the resilience of democratic institutions, Vance and Morrison discuss how legal norms are being tested and what it means for the future of justice in the U.S.
In this episode of America at a Crossroads, veteran political strategist Ken Khachigian joins journalist Warren Olney to discuss how Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan might react to today’s political climate. Drawing from his years as a speechwriter and advisor to both leaders, Khachigian explores their leadership philosophies, approach to policy, and how they might view the modern Republican Party. Would they recognize today’s political landscape? How would they handle the challenges of media, global affairs, and partisanship? A fascinating discussion on history’s lessons for the present.
This compelling episode of America at a Crossroads features Marvin Kalb, esteemed journalist, and former Moscow bureau chief, in conversation with Warren Olney, award-winning broadcaster.
In "America’s Continuing Anguish: Russia from Khrushchev to Putin," Kalb traces the complex and often tense relationship between the U.S. and Russia over the decades. From the Cold War to today’s geopolitical challenges, how has Russia’s leadership shaped global affairs—and where is it headed next?
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
Register for our upcoming programs at jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
Register for our upcoming programs at jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
Register for our upcoming programs at jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
Register for our upcoming programs at jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
The Election is Over: What Do the Results Mean for Ukraine, the Middle East, and U.S. Foreign Policy?
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 at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014. He is Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, where he serves as Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
LARRY DIAMOND is an American political sociologist and leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies. Diamond is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
America stands at a pivotal crossroads.
With serious threats to America’s democracy posed by nationalists, populists and other non-democratic candidates and forces, America at a Crossroads has offered weekly programming continuously since 2020 to encourage activism and passion to combat these threats to our American democracy.
Through our weekly virtual town hall series, America at a Crossroads, we focus on combating authoritarianism and preserving American democracy.
Register for our upcoming programs at jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/events/
Jennifer Rubinis an American political commentator who writes opinion columns for The Washing Post. Previously she worked at Commentary, PJ Media, Human Events, and The Weekly Standard. Her work has been published in media outlets including Politico, New York Post, New York Daily News, National Review, and The Jerusalem Post. A conservative political commentator throughout most of her career, she became a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and in September 2020, she announced that she no longer identified as a conservative.
During this America at a Crossroads program, Patt Morrison, veteran LA Times
columnist and winner of a Pulitzer, many Golden Mikes and multiple Emmy
Awards, will engage January 6 Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn in conversation
about the January 6 insurrection. Dunn has been one of the most prominent and
essential voices regarding the truth of what happened in and around the Capitol
on January 6.
Harry Anthony Dunn served in the United States Capitol Police and was one of many police officers present during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. During the attack, Dunn was stationed outside the Capitol. Once the Capitol was breached, Dunn was called inside to guard a stairwell with injured officers and to guard Speaker Pelosi’s office. He interacted with rioters extensively that day. Officer Dunn testified in front of the House Select January 6 Committee. He also testified at the 2022 trial of the Oath Keepers for seditious conspiracy for their actions relating to the Capitol attack. Dunn’s heroic conduct on January 6 earned him a Congressional Gold Medal.
Officer Dunn recently wrote a NY Times best-selling memoir entitled Standing My
Ground which has been called a “must-read.”
This is sure to be a stimulating and informative hour intended to provide insight into the insurrection from the perspective of someone whose fists were bloodied and whose life was threatened on that dark day.
This America at a Crossroads program will feature Ron Brownstein,
one of the country’s foremost political journalists and analysts, in
conversation with award winning veteran NPR-affiliate LAist radio talk
show journalist, Larry Mantle. With less than 4 weeks before election
day, the program will focus on up-to-the-minute current events related
to Election 2024.
Brownstein is a senior political analyst for CNN and a senior editor at
The Atlantic. He is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his
coverage of presidential campaigns and the author or editor of seven
books.
There may be no political pundit with greater insight, depth of
experience, and knowledge about all aspects of the current election
than Ron Brownstein. He is conversant with the nuances of polls and
the voting practices of rural as well we urban Americans—from the
smallest American town to the largest American cities. It will be a
highly informative as well as entertaining hour—we promise!
RICK HASEN is one of the country’s foremost experts on American
election law, campaign finance, voting rights, voter suppression, and
transitions of power. In conversation with the highly awarded
broadcast journalist Warren Olney, Rick will provide his analysis on
the state of the current election with emphasis on efforts at voter
suppression, legal cases impacting on voting rights, ballot counting,
and challenges to election outcomes. Warren and Rick will discuss
the prospects of a repeat of the events of the attack on the Capitol on
January 6, 2021.
RICK HASEN is a professor of Law at UCLA Law and the Director of
UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. He was a founding
editor of the quarterly Election Law Journal, a peer reviewed
publication on election law. He runs Election Law Blog and is the
author of 6 critically reviewed books including A Real Right to Vote:
How a Constitutional Amendment can Safeguard American
Democracy.
Warren Olney was the host and executive producer of the naitonall
syndicated weekday afternoon program “To The Point.” He has been
honored with nearly 40 awards for his work.
BOB SHRUM AND MICHAEL MURPHY are arguably amongst the most
respected and experienced political analysts and pundits of our time.
Both have extensive experience working on numerous presidential
campaigns over the past many decades. In conversation with Patt
Morrison of the LA Times, who has won the Pulitzer, six Emmys and a
dozen Golden Mike awards, Bob and Mike will share their honest and
always insightful thoughts and predictions about the upcoming
elections.
Bob, a Democratic consultant, consulted to the George McGovern,
Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, to the Gore-Lieberman and Kerry-Edwards
campaigns. He strategized 30 winning Senate campaigns, 8 winning
gubernatorial campaigns, and for scores of winning mayoral
campaigns in every major city in America. Currently, Bob is the
Director of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and
Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the University of
Southern California (USC).
Mike, a Republican consultant, consulted to John McCain, Mitt
Romney, Jeb Bush, Tommy Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Christie Whitman, and many more at all levels of government. Mike, a
vocal critic of MAGA and Donald Trump, is Co-Director of the USC
Center for the Political Future.
Aside from being America’s most prolific, acclaimed, and respected
documentary film maker, Ken Burns is an astute observer of
American political life, both past and present. Known for his dogged
commitment to pursuing the truth through locating and uncovering
primary source documents, Ken Burns has had dramatic influence
not only as the greatest documentarian of the day, but also as an
influential thinker and analyst of American life.
In this America at a Crossroads program Pulitzer Prize winning writer,
columnist and broadcast journalist, Patt Morrison, will engage with
Ken Burns, the country’s greatest filmmaker and popular historian,
about the current state of American life, politics and where, through
his special lens, he sees America headed.
Since 2011, Aluf Benn has been the Editor in Chief of Haaretz, the
longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel. Haaretz,
founded in 1918, describes itself as “an independent daily newspaper
with a broadly liberal outlook both on domestic issues and on
international affairs.” Aluf Benn holds an MBA degree from the
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a
degree from Tel Aviv University. At Haaretz, Benn has served as an
investigative reporter and head of the news division. His articles have
been published in a variety of international newspapers, including the
NY Times, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs and Newsweek. He is a
highly respected journalist and an astute observer and analyst of the
war in Gaza, of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and the broader politics
of the Middle East.
Benn will be in conversation with award winning NPR broadcast
journalist Madeleine Brand.
This program features the dynamic duo of two renowned journalists
who have covered national politics, elections and presidencies for
decades. They will be discussing their observations and analysis of
the 2024 Elections in conversation with Madeleine Brand of NPR’s
affiliate KCRW.
Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New York
Times and a political analyst for MSNBC Baker has covered five
presidencies: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald J.
Trump and now Joe Biden. There are few reporters who are more
conversant than Peter Baker with presidencies and presidential politics
Susan Glasser has served as the top editor of several Washington
publications, including Politico, where she founded the award-
winning Politico Magazine, and Foreign Policy, which won three National
Magazine Awards, among other honors, during her tenure as editor in
chief. Previously, she worked at the Washington Post as editor for national
news and oversaw coverage of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, served as
a reporter covering the intersection of money and politics, spent four years
as the Post’s Moscow co-bureau chief, and covered the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. She edited Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, early in her
career.
The featured speakers for this program, Dana Stroul and Michael Singh,
both previously advised American presidents and secretaries of state on
the Middle East. They are now on the faculty of The Washington Institute
(TWI), for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel American think tank based in
Washington, D.C., focused on the foreign policy of the United States in the
Near East.
Dana Stroul served under President Biden as Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense for the Middle East, the pentagon’s top civilian official with
responsibility for the region. Currently, Stroul is Director of Research and
Senior Fellow of TWI.
Michael Singh was Senior Director for Middle East Affairs in the President
George W. Bush White House; prior to that position Singh was a director on
the National security Council staff and served as special assistant to
Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. Currently, sing is
a Managing Director and Senior Fellow at TWI.
Stroul and Singh will discuss the current war in Gaza and the broader
question of Israel-Palestinian relations and prospects for peace. They will
be in conversation with award winning broadcast journalist Warren Olney.
Sarah Longwell, a Republican political strategist, is the founder and
producer of The Bulwark, a conservative anti-Trump news and opinion
website launched in 2018. Together with Bill Kristol and Charlie Sykes,
Sarah has consistently presented outstanding podcasts, programming and
articles for Republican never-Trumpers, a movement which Longwell
helped to form and continues to lead. Longwell is the founder of
Republican Voters Against Trump, which spent millions of dollars to defeat
then-President Donald Trump in 2020. She also heads Republicans for the
Rule of Law which advocated for the impeachment and removal of Trump
in 2019. Sarah Longwell, and The Bulwark continue to pursue their
mission of warning of the dangers to our democracy posed by MAGA and
Trump.
Simon Rosenberg is a highly regarded Democratic political strategist and
commentator with more than 3 decades of experience in national politics
and television news. He has built a new home for his political analysis,
commentary, and live political discussions at Hopium Chronicles, an
engaging new project on the Substack media platform. In 2022 Rosenberg
was the single political analyst who refuted the notion that the 2022 election
would result in a “red wave”…and he got it right.
Simon and Sarah were guests on America at a Crossroads in December,
2023 looking ahead to the 2024 elections. Now that the 2024 elections are
upon us, we have asked them to return to take A Close(r)Look at the
2024 Elections. It will be fun, exciting and informative. Moderated by
LAists’ Larry Mantle
Gidi Grinstein has spent most of his career promoting Israeli-Palestinian
and regional peace in the Middle East. In his recent book (In)Sights:
Peacemaking in the Oslo Process thirty Years and Counting, Grinstein
illuminates systemic issues relating to the failed efforts to arrive at a two-
state solution. Ambassador Dennis Ross, a frequent guest on America at a
Crossroads, and longtime US Special Middle East Coordinator, described
(in)Sights as the single best book on understanding the issues …
illuminating new dimensions” and said it was an “essential [read] for future
US peace intervention.”
Since October 7, America at a Crossroads has invited a variety of veteran
diplomats, journalists, and scholars to provide occasional briefings about
the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the hostages, the Gaza War,
and on US engagement and diplomacy in the region.
On September 16, Gidi Grinstein, a foremost expert on Israeli-Palestinian
relations, the Oslo Process and the Permanent Status Agreement, will be
joining America at a Crossroads to provide our 17 th Israel in Crisis a briefing
since the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Grinstein will discuss the status and progress of hostage and cease fire
negotiations and his views on what the future holds in terms of Israeli
Palestinian relations.
Since October 7, America at a Crossroads has invited a variety of veteran
diplomats, journalists, and scholars to provide occasional briefings about
the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the hostages, the Gaza War,
and on US engagement and diplomacy in the region.
On September 12, expert Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller, a senior
fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a
commentator on the subject for CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg will be
joining America at a Crossroads to provide our 16 th Israel in Crisis a briefing
since the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Miller spent 24 years working with and often leading the Middle East team
at the US Department of State. He has advised both Democratic and
Republican presidents and secretaries of state and has participated in
American efforts to broker agreements between Israel, Jordan, Syria and
the Palestinians.
Miller will discuss the status and progress of hostage and cease fire
negotiations.
The severe uptick in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents on college
campuses since the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel has been widely
documented. In late 2023, Stanford University’s President appointed our
America at a Crossroads guests, Larry Diamond, a senior fellow both at
Stanford’s Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for
International Studies and Professor Jeffrey Kosseff, to co-chair a
Committee to study antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. The
Committee conducted more than 50 different listening sessions and as
many individual interviews; hundreds of undergraduates, graduate
students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents participated. The Committee
issued a Report that they found widespread and pernicious antisemitism as
well as a failure on the part of the University to respond to complaints. This
program reviews the findings contained in the Stanford Report and the
speakers discuss similar findings on other campuses. A key element of the
Committee’s work was to make recommendations as to what must be done
to address this serious and growing problem.
Congressman Adam Schiff with Larry Mantle [Conversation continues with Zev Yaroslavsky and Larry Mantle at 38:00]
Janet Napolitano with Patt Morrison | How safe are we? A frank assessment of the condition of our homeland security.
Heather Cox Richardson is a Professor of History at Boston College. She has written many award-winning books about American history, American politics, and the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. In her most recent book, Democracy Awakening, Cox Richardson offers an analysis of how America, historically seen as a “beacon of democracy” is now on the brink of autocracy—and what we can do about it. Cox Richardson’s daily newsletter, Letters from an American, is published on substack.
Washington Post political commentator Jennifer Rubin offers thoughts on the 2024 election.
Ruth Ben Ghiat with Larry Diamond | Strongmen and Autocrats Today: Proliferating or Declining?
David Leonhardt with Warren Olney | Ours Was a Shining Future - What Happened to the American Dream?
Adam Nagourney with Patt Morrison | The NY Times & the transformation of journalism in the digital age
Sarah Longwell with Warren Olney | Trump & the GOP: Where Will He Lead Them & Who Will Follow?
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman with Larry Mantle | A Military Maven Analyzes the War in Ukraine
Erwin Chemerinsky with Henry Weinstein | Our Constitution, Our Supreme Court, Our American Future
Amb. Michael McFaul with Larry Diamond | Momentous events in Russia and Ukraine: What do they mean?
NY Times Magazine, Boston Globe, Forward, and Tablet writer Mark Oppenheimer discusses the state of religion and religious organizations in America today.
Robert Shrum (D) & Mike Murphy (R), two of the most respected political analysts in the US Assess Where We Are Heading in 2024
Zev Yaroslavsky with Larry Mantle | Zev's Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power
Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, responsible for covering President Trump, the fourth president he has covered. He covered President Obama for The Times and Bill Clinton and George W. Bush for The Washington Post.
Washington Post’s Max Boot will have just returned from Ukraine and will assess the war & US policy towards Russia & Ukraine, especially GOP views.
Former (acting) US Solicitor General and legal scholar to analyze the state of US law and democracy, including recent election-related cases.
Rays of hope in a grim time. Where are the bright spots in our American democracy and where must we focus to repair our country and move our democratic values forward?
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer with Larry Mantle
Chaotic Times: A Battleground State Governor's View
*Interview edited for clarity
Former Chair Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen talks about the Russia-Ukraine War, its impact on Europe and on US military and foreign policy.
Pulitzer prize winning historian, journalist and author, Anne Applebaum of The Atlantic is the foremost expert on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Award-winning filmmaker and political analyst Chris Whipple reveals the results of his deep dive into President Biden’s first two years.
Sarah Longwell, Republican political strategist & publisher of The Bulwark & Michael Steele, former Chair, Republican National Committee, discuss GOP
Prolific Washington Post political analyst Jennifer Rubin, who was America at a Crossroads’ first speaker three years ago, will look at America then and now.
David Frum with Patt Morrison | Tainted Politics, Extremism and Apologists: Is Cowardice Contagious?
Robin Wright, renowned scholar, author, journalist & foremost authority on Iran, analyzes the current Iran rebellion & threats posed by Iran.
Ambassador Michael McFaul with Larry Mantle | A Russia Expert's Analysis: Putin's Future and the World
Ambassador Dennis Ross discusses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's return to power and the new coalition with Warren Olney.
China Expert Minxin Pei and Global Democracy Expert Larry Diamond discuss Autocracies and Resistance with Larry Mantle.
Political commentator and acclaimed New York Times columnist David Brooks joins Patt Morrison to analyze U.S. political and social culture in these uncertain times.
Jim Rutenberg (The New York Times) discusses the results of his recent in-depth investigation of connections and dealings between Trump and Putin with Patt Morrison.
William Kristol and Ron Brownstein with Larry Mantle: America's politics at Year's End – Our Changing Political Landscape
Juliette Kayyam, former Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary, discusses threats to America from domestic and foreign sources.
Richard Haass, a veteran diplomat and Council on Foreign Relations president, analyzes the state of the world and the position of the United States in it.
Live from the Skirball Cultural Center, pundits analyze the 2022 midterm election results in California and Los Angeles races.
Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein with Rabbi Sharon Brous - Lessons from Their Holocaust Documentary
Michel Moore and William Bratton with Patt Morrison - Crime in America - Myth V. Reality: Two Leading Experts Shed Light
Ruth Ben Ghiat and Larry Diamond: Strongmen - How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall
Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard, speaks with journalist and UC Irvine media law professor Henry Weinstein about present threats to our democracy and our Constitution.
American activist and former head of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards discusses the current state of abortion rights with Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Times' journalist Patt Morrison.
Former US Solicitor General Neal Katyal and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carol Leonnig of the Washington Post in conversation with Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times.
Ambassador Norman Eisen with Larry Mantle: From Ukraine to January 6 to Top Secret Documents - A Democracy Expert Analyzes Our Worl
David Gergen with Warren Olney - Advisor to Four Presidents Discusses How Great Leaders Are Made
Extremism, Bigotry, & Hate in America Today: Have They Gone Mainstream?
Guest: Kathleen Belew, scholar of racism and white-power.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) serves as Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. This week he discusses the January 6 hearings and the threat domestric extremism poses to our democracy with Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison.
Ambassador Dennis Ross with Warren Olney - The Diplomatic Ripple Effects of the Russo/Ukraine War
Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist, Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University Stern School of Business, and author. In this dialogue with Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom in Los Angeles, Haidt discusses the political and cultural divides in American society.
Browder, a financier and shareholder rights activist, took on large Russian companies and was targeted with a Putin-backed retaliatory campaign. In this fascinating discussion with podcaster Warren Olney, Browder tells the tale of his dalliance with Russian oligarchy and corruption.
New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks speaks with KPCC's Larry Mantle about the relevatory January 6 hearings, what they mean for Trump and his allies, and Putin's ongoing war against Ukraine. To support the America at a Crossroads podcast and the two nonprofit organizatoins that make them possible, please visit www.JewsUnitedforDemocracy.org and www.cai-la.org.
Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times, offers his thoughts on Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine, as well as the breaking news coming out of this week's January 6 hearings. KCRW's Madeleine Brand moderates.
Legal scholar Rick Hasen and political reporter Greg Bluestein break down the results of the 2022 primaries up to this point, with an eye towards voter suppression tactics and legislation in key states. Moderated by LA Times columnist Patt Morrison.
Bob Shrum, Director of the USC Center for the Political Future and CNN senior political anaylist Ron Brownstein breakdown the 2022 midterm elections and what they could mean for the future of American democracy.
David Leonhardt with Larry Mantle: Is It Still "The Economy, Stupid" or Have Times Changed?
KPCC's Larry Mantle interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times columnist David Leonhardt on a wide range of topics regarding the current political climate in the US and abroad.
The Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin speaks with KCRW's Madeleine Brand on myriad topics affecting our political climate: from abortion to January 6th to Ukraine – a pundit's view.
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks with KCRW's Warren Olney about the recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, the Supreme Court's impending overturning of Roe v. Wade, Putin's war on Ukraine, and the upcoming midterm elections.
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Bret Stephens discusses the many challenges facing American democracy including attacks from an ever-radicalizing MAGA right, the Supreme Court's problematic shift to partisan battleground, and how social media has affected the political landscape in the United States.
Fmr Chair, Jt. Chiefs of Staff Adm. (ret) Mike Mullen speaks with KCRW’s Warren Olney to analyze the global military and geopolitical state of affairs in the new world order.
Former US Solicitor General Neal Katyal and The Washington Post’s Carol Leonnig analyze cases across the US against former President Trump in a discussion moderated by KCRW's Madeleine Brand.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman discusses Russia's War on Ukraine, Putin's motives, and how the world order has fundamentally changed with his acts of aggression. In this insightful interview, Vindman relates how the current situation is intrinsically linked with the events leading to Trump's first impeachment in 2020.
Judy Woodruff (PBS NewsHour, NBC, CBS) and Martin Baron (Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Times, Los Angeles Times) with Geoffrey Cowan (Dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism). In this fascinating discussion, the best in the business discuss growing distrust of the media that is being sown by misinformation and disinformation on social media and by disingenuous political forces. In their combined many decades of experience, Woodruff, Baron, and Cowan have covered world events with objectivity and humility, asking the right questions and seeking anwsers. Hear them address the problems (and benefits) of social media and potential solutions to restoring faith in the press.
Kathryn Stoner (Deputy Director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University) and Minxin Pei (Chinese-American political scientist and expert on governance in China, U.S.-Asia relations) spoke with Stanford University's Larry Diamond about China and Russia's alliance of autocracies, particularly through the lens of Russia's war on Ukraine and each nation's state-run media.
The Washington Post's E.J. Dionne, author of Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country, and Miles Rapoport, former Secretary of the State of Connecticut, spoke with KPCC's Larry Mantle about the state of American democracy and what universal voting in the United States might look like.
Rick Hasen, author of "Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics," speaks with To the Point's Warren Olney about the insidious injection of disinformation into American media, how it has degraded the political spectrum, and how vigilance can save American democracy.
Congressman Schiff is an American lawyer, author, and politician who has represented California's 28th congressional district since 2013. Schiff chairs the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He previously served on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. In this discussion with Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times, the Congressman addresses Russia's war on Ukraine, the United States' response, the January 6 investigation and committee, the fight to save American democracy, and much more.
Introductions by Zev Yaroslavsky and former Congressman Mel Levine.
Polish-American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Anne Applebaum (The Atlantic, The Washington Post) and Russian-American author, consultant, editorialist, lecturer, and military historian Max Boot (The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal) discuss the crisis in Ukraine; the further isolation of Vladimir Putin; President Joe Biden's and NATO's response; China's potential reaction to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe; and the rise of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a heroic leader on the world stage.
Ben Ginsberg and Bob Bauer with Pam Fessler: Safeguarding Free And Fair Elections – Two Election Lawyers (R & D) Discuss
The Atlantic's Barton Gellman (Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist formerly of The Washington Post) speaks with KCRW's Madeleine Brand (host of "Press Play") about Russia's current aggression in Ukraine, Preisdent Biden's and NATO's response, and Trump's plans for a repeat of the January 6 attack on American democracy.
2022 Political Scene: What Lies Ahead? Bill Kristol and The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein break down the 2022 political picture.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr and AAU President Barbara R. Snyder discuss the challenges of leading a college campus community during the COVID pandemic and divisive political times. Moderated by KCRW's Warren Olney.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt speaks frankly with KCRW's Madeleine Brand to break down the Whoopi Goldberg controversy, the banning of Art Spiegelman's "Maus," the alarming rise of anti-semitism in the United States, and how the ADL uses education and prevention to stem the tide of hate in America.
One Year Later: Our Capitol, Our Country, Our Democracy – Where Are We?
Panelists:
Carol Leonnig: Washington Post journalist and MSNBC contributor
Joanna Mendelson: Associate Director, Center on Extremism (Anti-Defamation League)
Imran Ahmed: Founding CEO, Center for Countering Digital Hate
Moderator: Larry Mantle, KPCC
Defeating Nazis in Court: Inside the Charlottesville Trial
Roberta Kaplan and Karen Dunn, Attornies, Integrity First for America
Amy Spitalnick, Executive Director of Integrity First for America
Moderator: Henry Weinstein, Professor, UC Irvine School of Law