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.

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