America at a Crossroads

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.

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 Rubin is 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 Timescolumnist and winner of a Pulitzer, many Golden Mikes and multiple EmmyAwards, will engage January 6 Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn in conversationabout the January 6 insurrection. Dunn has been one of the most prominent andessential voices regarding the truth of what happened in and around the Capitolon 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 MyGround 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, inconversation with award winning veteran NPR-affiliate LAist radio talkshow journalist, Larry Mantle. With less than 4 weeks before electionday, the program will focus on up-to-the-minute current events relatedto Election 2024.Brownstein is a senior political analyst for CNN and a senior editor atThe Atlantic. He is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for hiscoverage of presidential campaigns and the author or editor of sevenbooks. There may be no political pundit with greater insight, depth ofexperience, and knowledge about all aspects of the current electionthan Ron Brownstein. He is conversant with the nuances of polls andthe voting practices of rural as well we urban Americans—from thesmallest American town to the largest American cities. It will be ahighly informative as well as entertaining hour—we promise!

RICK HASEN is one of the country's foremost experts on Americanelection law, campaign finance, voting rights, voter suppression, andtransitions of power. In conversation with the highly awardedbroadcast journalist Warren Olney, Rick will provide his analysis onthe state of the current election with emphasis on efforts at votersuppression, legal cases impacting on voting rights, ballot counting,and challenges to election outcomes. Warren and Rick will discussthe prospects of a repeat of the events of the attack on the Capitol onJanuary 6, 2021.RICK HASEN is a professor of Law at UCLA Law and the Director ofUCLA Law's Safeguarding Democracy Project. He was a foundingeditor of the quarterly Election Law Journal, a peer reviewedpublication on election law. He runs Election Law Blog and is theauthor of 6 critically reviewed books including A Real Right to Vote:How a Constitutional Amendment can Safeguard AmericanDemocracy.Warren Olney was the host and executive producer of the naitonallsyndicated weekday afternoon program “To The Point.” He has beenhonored with nearly 40 awards for his work.

BOB SHRUM AND MICHAEL MURPHY are arguably amongst the mostrespected and experienced political analysts and pundits of our time.Both have extensive experience working on numerous presidentialcampaigns over the past many decades. In conversation with PattMorrison of the LA Times, who has won the Pulitzer, six Emmys and adozen Golden Mike awards, Bob and Mike will share their honest andalways insightful thoughts and predictions about the upcomingelections.Bob, a Democratic consultant, consulted to the George McGovern,Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, to the Gore-Lieberman and Kerry-Edwardscampaigns. He strategized 30 winning Senate campaigns, 8 winninggubernatorial campaigns, and for scores of winning mayoralcampaigns in every major city in America. Currently, Bob is theDirector of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. andLouis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the University ofSouthern California (USC).Mike, a Republican consultant, consulted to John McCain, MittRomney, Jeb Bush, Tommy Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger,Christie Whitman, and many more at all levels of government. Mike, avocal critic of MAGA and Donald Trump, is Co-Director of the USCCenter for the Political Future.

Aside from being America's most prolific, acclaimed, and respecteddocumentary film maker, Ken Burns is an astute observer ofAmerican political life, both past and present. Known for his doggedcommitment to pursuing the truth through locating and uncoveringprimary source documents, Ken Burns has had dramatic influencenot only as the greatest documentarian of the day, but also as aninfluential 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 withKen Burns, the country's greatest filmmaker and popular historian,about the current state of American life, politics and where, throughhis special lens, he sees America headed.

Since 2011, Aluf Benn has been the Editor in Chief of Haaretz, thelongest running newspaper currently in print in Israel. Haaretz,founded in 1918, describes itself as “an independent daily newspaperwith a broadly liberal outlook both on domestic issues and oninternational affairs.” Aluf Benn holds an MBA degree from theKellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and adegree from Tel Aviv University. At Haaretz, Benn has served as aninvestigative reporter and head of the news division. His articles havebeen published in a variety of international newspapers, including theNY Times, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs and Newsweek. He is ahighly respected journalist and an astute observer and analyst of thewar in Gaza, of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and the broader politicsof the Middle East.Benn will be in conversation with award winning NPR broadcastjournalist Madeleine Brand.

This program features the dynamic duo of two renowned journalistswho have covered national politics, elections and presidencies fordecades. They will be discussing their observations and analysis ofthe 2024 Elections in conversation with Madeleine Brand of NPR'saffiliate KCRW.Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New YorkTimes and a political analyst for MSNBC Baker has covered fivepresidencies: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald J.Trump and now Joe Biden. There are few reporters who are moreconversant than Peter Baker with presidencies and presidential politicsSusan Glasser has served as the top editor of several Washingtonpublications, including Politico, where she founded the award-winning Politico Magazine, and Foreign Policy, which won three NationalMagazine Awards, among other honors, during her tenure as editor inchief. Previously, she worked at the Washington Post as editor for nationalnews and oversaw coverage of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, served asa reporter covering the intersection of money and politics, spent four yearsas the Post's Moscow co-bureau chief, and covered the wars in Iraq andAfghanistan. She edited Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, early in hercareer.

The featured speakers for this program, Dana Stroul and Michael Singh,both previously advised American presidents and secretaries of state onthe Middle East. They are now on the faculty of The Washington Institute(TWI), for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel American think tank based inWashington, D.C., focused on the foreign policy of the United States in theNear East.Dana Stroul served under President Biden as Deputy Assistant Secretaryof Defense for the Middle East, the pentagon's top civilian official withresponsibility for the region. Currently, Stroul is Director of Research andSenior Fellow of TWI.Michael Singh was Senior Director for Middle East Affairs in the PresidentGeorge W. Bush White House; prior to that position Singh was a director onthe National security Council staff and served as special assistant toSecretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. Currently, sing isa Managing Director and Senior Fellow at TWI.Stroul and Singh will discuss the current war in Gaza and the broaderquestion of Israel-Palestinian relations and prospects for peace. They willbe in conversation with award winning broadcast journalist Warren Olney.

Sarah Longwell, a Republican political strategist, is the founder andproducer of The Bulwark, a conservative anti-Trump news and opinionwebsite launched in 2018. Together with Bill Kristol and Charlie Sykes,Sarah has consistently presented outstanding podcasts, programming andarticles for Republican never-Trumpers, a movement which Longwellhelped to form and continues to lead. Longwell is the founder ofRepublican Voters Against Trump, which spent millions of dollars to defeatthen-President Donald Trump in 2020. She also heads Republicans for theRule of Law which advocated for the impeachment and removal of Trumpin 2019. Sarah Longwell, and The Bulwark continue to pursue theirmission of warning of the dangers to our democracy posed by MAGA andTrump.Simon Rosenberg is a highly regarded Democratic political strategist andcommentator with more than 3 decades of experience in national politicsand television news. He has built a new home for his political analysis,commentary, and live political discussions at Hopium Chronicles, anengaging new project on the Substack media platform. In 2022 Rosenbergwas the single political analyst who refuted the notion that the 2022 electionwould 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 areupon us, we have asked them to return to take A Close(r)Look at the2024 Elections. It will be fun, exciting and informative. Moderated byLAists' Larry Mantle

Gidi Grinstein has spent most of his career promoting Israeli-Palestinianand regional peace in the Middle East. In his recent book (In)Sights:Peacemaking in the Oslo Process thirty Years and Counting, Grinsteinilluminates systemic issues relating to the failed efforts to arrive at a two-state solution. Ambassador Dennis Ross, a frequent guest on America at aCrossroads, 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 futureUS peace intervention.”Since October 7, America at a Crossroads has invited a variety of veterandiplomats, journalists, and scholars to provide occasional briefings aboutthe 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-Palestinianrelations, the Oslo Process and the Permanent Status Agreement, will bejoining America at a Crossroads to provide our 17 th Israel in Crisis a briefingsince the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.Grinstein will discuss the status and progress of hostage and cease firenegotiations and his views on what the future holds in terms of IsraeliPalestinian relations.

Since October 7, America at a Crossroads has invited a variety of veterandiplomats, journalists, and scholars to provide occasional briefings aboutthe 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 seniorfellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and acommentator on the subject for CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg will bejoining America at a Crossroads to provide our 16 th Israel in Crisis a briefingsince the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.Miller spent 24 years working with and often leading the Middle East teamat the US Department of State. He has advised both Democratic andRepublican presidents and secretaries of state and has participated inAmerican efforts to broker agreements between Israel, Jordan, Syria andthe Palestinians.Miller will discuss the status and progress of hostage and cease firenegotiations.

The severe uptick in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents on collegecampuses since the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel has been widelydocumented. In late 2023, Stanford University's President appointed ourAmerica at a Crossroads guests, Larry Diamond, a senior fellow both atStanford's Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute forInternational Studies and Professor Jeffrey Kosseff, to co-chair aCommittee to study antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. TheCommittee conducted more than 50 different listening sessions and asmany individual interviews; hundreds of undergraduates, graduatestudents, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents participated. The Committeeissued a Report that they found widespread and pernicious antisemitism aswell as a failure on the part of the University to respond to complaints. Thisprogram reviews the findings contained in the Stanford Report and thespeakers discuss similar findings on other campuses. A key element of theCommittee's work was to make recommendations as to what must be doneto address this serious and growing problem.