America at a Crossroads

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 st...

 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 ar...

 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...

 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

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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...

 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...

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 b...

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 se...

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 respo...

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. foreig...

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 ...

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.

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 o...

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 s...

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 ...

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 Atlan...

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 Naz...