America at a Crossroads

Political commentator, The Atlantic senior editor, and former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum joins award-winning journalist and broadcaster Patt Morrison for a timely conversation on Donald Trump, the 2026 midterm elections, and the future of American democracy. Drawing on his experience in Republican politics and his analysis of the Trump movement, Frum examines the political and cultural...

Democracy advocate and former president of the National Democratic Institute Kenneth Wollack joins award-winning journalist and broadcaster Patt Morrison for a timely discussion on why democracies around the world are experiencing democratic backsliding—and whether that decline can be reversed. Drawing on more than four decades of experience advancing democracy worldwide, Wollack examines the forc...

Political analysts Jessica Taylor and Erin Covey of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join award-winning journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely discussion of the 2026 midterm elections, the battle for control of Congress, and what the outcome could mean for the future of American democracy. Drawing on their extensive reporting and analysis of congressional, Senate, and gubernatorial races...

Editor-in-chief of Israel's leading newspaper Haaretz, Aluf Benn, joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a timely discussion on Israel's political future, the stakes of its upcoming elections, and the challenges facing Israeli democracy. Drawing on decades of reporting and political analysis, Benn examines the forces shaping Israeli politics, the country's leadership and s...

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Stanford political scientist Michael McFaul joins renowned democracy scholar Larry Diamond for a timely conversation on the 2026 midterm elections, America's role in the world, and the growing global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Drawing on decades of experience in diplomacy, foreign policy, and democratic governance, McFaul and Diamond...

What can listening closely to voters tell us about the state of American politics—and where the country may be headed? Sarah Longwell, CEO and Publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group podcast, joins Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Patt Morrison for a conversation about American voters, elections, and the forces shaping the country’s political landscape. Drawing on years of qualitativ...

Philosopher and leading scholar of propaganda and authoritarianism Jason Stanley joins veteran journalist and broadcaster Patt Morrison for a conversation on how propaganda, historical narratives, and attacks on truth shape democratic societies. Drawing on his influential work on political philosophy and books including How Propaganda Works, How Fascism Works, and Erasing History, Stanley examines...

Bloomberg Opinion columnist and political thinker Adrian Wooldridge joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a discussion on whether American government can regain public trust and effectively meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Drawing on decades of reporting on politics, capitalism, and governance, Wooldridge examines the forces driving institutional dysfunction, declining c...

Senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins award-winning journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely analysis of the 2026 midterm elections and what the results could mean for the future of American politics and democracy. Drawing on decades of reporting on presidential campaigns, demographic change, and electoral trends, Brownstein examines the key battlegrounds, shifting voter coalitions, and pol...

Former U.S. Attorney and legal analyst Barbara McQuade joins veteran legal journalist Henry Weinstein for a conversation on government accountability, the rule of law, and the reforms needed to protect American democracy from corruption and abuses of power. Drawing on her experience as a federal prosecutor and the themes of her book The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Govern...

Former Israeli diplomat and foreign policy expert David Siegel joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a timely discussion on Israel's diplomatic future, the evolving role of Europe, and the challenges and opportunities facing the Middle East. Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience in Israel's Foreign Ministry and his leadership of the European Leadership Network (ELNET-US)...

Law professor and leading legal historian Mary Ziegler joins award-winning journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely conversation on reproductive rights, constitutional law, and the future of American democracy. Drawing on her extensive scholarship on the history of abortion law and her book Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction, Ziegler examines how battles over reproductive rights have r...

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 cultivat...

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 voti...

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 n...

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...

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...

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 tea...

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, Tyran...

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,...

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 int...

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 an...

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, polit...