America at a Crossroads

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 ca...

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 th...

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 an...

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 ...

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 ...

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 alre...

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-bu...

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, te...

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 individ...

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...

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 experien...

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
• Whet...

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 mea...

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 exam...

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?

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 stab...

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 consequen...

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 in...