Podcast appearances and mentions of John McCain

Meghan McCain joins to discuss elections. Is Arizona bracing for a giant blue wave, and what does she think of the candidates running this November?

The number of illegal aliens in the United States dropped by about 15 percent, to 13.5 million, during the first year and half of the Trump administration, according to a study by the Center for Immigration Studies.But why do we trust that number? Could it be 30 million? Why not 100 million?In this episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, host Mark Krikorian interviews two Center experts, Research Director Steven Camarota and Resident Scholar Jason Richwine, who explain what the Center's population estimates are, how they are arrived at, their limitations, and why much higher estimates cannot be correct.The two guests also discuss a second recent report finding a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries in the years since 9/11, many of which are either hostile to the U.S. or struggle with powerful terrorist movements.In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian cites a recent Washington Post article discussing the escalation of third-country deportations to explain why this policy is needed for the integrity of the U.S. immigration system in the long run.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestsSteven Camarota is the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies.Jason Richwine is a Resident Scholar at the Center for Immigration Studies.LinksCensus Bureau Survey Shows Total Foreign-Born Down 2.9 MillionIllegal Immigrant Population Was About 13.5 Million in July 2026Since 9/11, the Number of Immigrants from the Muslim World Has Grown by 1.8 MillionHow Trump turned a refugee bureau into a $410 million deportation operationIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Is President Trump's news network ban another distraction from the situation in Iran? Meghan McCain shares what she thinks.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos to share her memories of the late former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl.

What the hell is happening with U.S. defense technology? Chris Brose, the President and Chief Strategy Officer of defense tech firm Anduril joins us to talk about how private defense companies are innovating and revolutionizing American national security, America's lousy defense acquisition habits, and what we can learn from Ukraine and the war with Iran. The traditional US defense industrial base is slowly cranking out exquisite and outdated weapons. If things don't change, we risk losing a war to China. We discuss the crucial shift towards technological advancement, what the Pentagon and Congress must do, and what this means long term for the safety and security of the American people.Chris Brose is President and Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril Industries, a venture-backed defense technology company. He is the author of The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare (2020) and formerly senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 2014-2018, he was the staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee supporting then Chairman John McCain. From 2009-2014, Mr. Brose served as senior policy advisor to Senator John McCain, and from 2008-2009, he was senior editor of Foreign Policy. From 2005-2008, he served as policy advisor and chief speechwriter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and began his career in government as a speechwriter for Secretary of State Colin Powell, from 2004-2005.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

Mike Lawler has been the Congressman for New York's 17th District for the past two terms, building his reputation around being active, accessible, and present for his constituents while holding a closely divided district. His office has handled thousands of constituent cases, and he has been recognized for working across party lines. He is now seeking a third term.In this episode, we had the honor of sitting down with Congressman Lawler to discuss his policies, putting constituents ahead of party politics, moments when that meant disagreeing with President Trump, and why he believes being accessible to the press and public is part of the job.We also go back to the beginning — his childhood, what shaped him, his early work in politics, including John McCain's presidential campaign, and the journey that eventually brought him to Congress.ShmueliCast hotline: 718-970-8884.SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE!

The Trump administration's proposed changes to the residence criteria for the 2030 Census have brought new attention to a question examined by the Center for Immigration Studies two years ago: How does immigration affect political representation even when immigrants do not vote?In response, the Center is rebroadcasting Parsing Immigration Policy Episode 178, “Immigration Shifts Political Power,” originally released in October 2024. The episode features Steven Camarota, Director of Research, discussing two studies released by the Center examining how immigration affects the distribution of political power.Under the current system, House seats and Electoral College votes are apportioned among the states based on total population. The Census Bureau's proposed residence criteria for the 2030 Census would exclude illegal immigrants and long-term temporary visitors from the Census count, which is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives.The two CIS studies examined:House seats and Electoral College votes: “Tilting the Balance” estimated that immigration affected the distribution of 17 House seats in the 2020 Census, with a net gain of 14 seats for Democratic-leaning states.Representation within congressional districts: “How Non-Citizens Impact Political Representation and the Partisan Makeup of the U.S. House” examined how differences in non-citizen populations affect the distribution of representation among districts.“Because of the way reapportionment and redistricting work, immigration, including illegal immigration, redistributes political power in Washington,” said Camarota, the lead author of both studies. “This redistribution is directly proportional to the scale of legal and illegal immigration and exists independent of whether or how immigrants themselves vote.”HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestSteven Camarota is the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies.LinksProposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic QuestionsEstimating the impact of legal and illegal immigration on apportionment and political influence in the U.S. House and Electoral CollegeHow Non-Citizens Impact Political Representation and the Partisan Makeup of the U.S. House of RepresentativesHow Many Non-Citizens Would Have to Vote to Affect the 2024 Presidential Election?Tilting the BalanceIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

A giant in the political world so big he was appointed by Governor Ducey after the death of John McCain. We got a chance to talk to Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain about the loss of former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl. 

Longtime guest and great friend of the show John Desser joins Chris from the Beltway to remember their mutual friend and mentor, former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, who passed away today at the age of 84. Kyl represented Arizona in Congress for nearly three decades and was widely known for his work ethic, command of policy, and commitment to the state. John reflects on his years working for both Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl and remembers Kyl as the consummate workhorse — a senator determined to know what was happening throughout his office, from major policy debates to the constituent services affecting individual Arizonans. John and Chris also look back on their work with Senator Kyl and his staff during the long campaign to reform and nearly repeal the federal estate tax — the “Death Tax.” They remember meeting after meeting with Kyl and his team, strategizing about how to move the issue through Congress and, particularly, through a reluctant United States Senate. Beyond the policy and politics, they remember the man: a devoted family man, a tireless advocate for Arizona, a serious legislator respected across the aisle, and a mentor deeply loved by many of the people who worked for and alongside him. For Chris, that relationship was especially personal. Long before the titles and the career, he was a young man fresh out of college trying to find his way in Washington. Jon Kyl took the time to offer guidance, open doors, and provide the kind of mentorship that can shape a life. Today, Chris and John remember Senator Jon Kyl — his service, his example, and the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind. Subscribe for weekly conversations on Faith, Freedom & Free Enterprise with Sean Noble and Chris Clements. Light Beer Dark Money Website: lightbeerdarkmoney.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightBeerDarkMoney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightbeerdarkmoney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbdmpodcast?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-beer-dark-money/ Blog: https://lightbeerdarkmoney.com/hypocrisy-and-the-aoc-oh-sandy/ #PrattPodcasting

Is President Trump trying to lose the midterms? Meghan McCain joins the show to share her opinion, and what she thought of the Republican National Midterm Convention.

Mark McKinnon is a political advisor, reform advocate, columnist, and television producer. He was the creator and co-host of Showtime's Emmy-nominated hit documentary series "The Circus”. He's worked for many causes, companies, and candidates, including President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, late Governor Ann Richards, and Bono. He was the chief media advisor for five winning presidential primary and general election campaigns. Dedicated to bipartisanship, McKinnon helped start No Labels. He's been a regular columnist for The Daily Beast, The London Daily Telegraph, and Vanity Fair, and was a consultant to the HBO show “The Newsroom” and Netflix's “House of Cards.” Mark and I reflect back on 9/11 on this 25th anniversary, and the impact the horrific attacks have had on America since. We also discuss Trump's disastrous MAGA convention and his $5000 bribe; Paxton v Talarico and Texas politics overall; the midterms and whether Democrats will take the House and Senate; George W. Bush's 'silence'; and more. But first, Andy and The Back Room crew share their own 9/11 remembrances and thoughts on 'TrumpCon', and dish up the week's winners and losers. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Twenty-five years after 9/11, is the United States better prepared to prevent another terrorist attack?This week's podcast is an edited rebroadcast of the Center's panel held to examine that question, discussing the role immigration and border security played in the attacks, the major policy changes that followed, and the national-security challenges that remain.Former U.S. Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions introduced the panel and offered brief remarks. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest at the time of the attacks, Sessions was deeply involved in congressional oversight of immigration and national security in the years following 9/11.The panel at examined how the attacks reshaped U.S. immigration policy, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, changes to visa screening and information sharing, and increased attention to border security. The panel also revisited the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission: What was implemented? What was left undone? In addition, a European security expert discussed how 9/11 affected policy there as well.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestsGeneral Jeff Sessions, Former U.S. Senator and Attorney General.Andrew R. Arthur, CIS Fellow in Law and Policy, who served as immigration oversight counsel to House Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner beginning in July 2001 and worked on major post-9/11 immigration and national-security legislation.George Fishman, CIS Senior Legal Fellow, who served for two decades as Republican Chief Counsel of the House Judiciary Committee's immigration subcommittee and worked on major post-9/11 immigration and national-security legislation.Jessica M. Vaughan, CIS Director of Policy Studies, who was at CIS on 9/11 and specializes in immigration screening, visa programs, immigration enforcement, and public safety.Viktor Marsai, CIS Fellow, Director, Migration Research Institute in Budapest, and professor of security studies at Ludovika University of Public Service.LinksPress Release and VideoStreams: YouTube, Facebook, XC-Span CoverageIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Trump is trying to break vote-by-mail before the 2026 midterms — and it isn't about stopping Democrats from voting.Study after study shows mail ballots don't favor either party, and the professionals around Trump know it. So what are the executive order, the USPS rule, the DOJ voter-file lawsuits, and the DHS "citizenship lists" actually for? The answer isn't November 3. It's January 3.Matt Robison is joined by Cliff Schecter of Blue Amp Media — Biden 2020 ad writer, author of the book on John McCain — for the full picture of what's coming, and what actually stops it.In this episode:- The "rogue clerk" scenario: what they may try on January 3, 2027, and why it's a sequel to the Mike Pence pressure campaign- Why the only real defense is margin — "too big to rig"- An anti-Trump Republican consultant's theory that Trump is trying to LOSE- What Hunter Biden told Cliff about his last name, Jake Tapper, and a UFC challenge to Tapper and Don Jr.- Cliff's read on what Jamie Raskin thinks of Jim Jordan and James Comer- The Farm Belt collapse, Hallie Shoffner in Arkansas, and why GOP spending tells you more than polls- One in five Trump 2024 voters now say they'd like to see him impeached (UMass Amherst)- The one thing Democrats must do in the next 53 daysCHAPTERS00:00 The stretch run starts now01:20 Every move Trump has made against voting, in one list03:30 "He's not going to not lie"07:40 Why blocking mail ballots won't actually stop Democrats08:50 The rogue clerk scenario: January 3, 202710:00 What 2000 and the Willard Hotel tell us11:30 Too big to rig: why Democrats need 233+ seats13:00 Pre-buttals, and getting ahead of the California count14:10 Protecting election workers: Blue Amp, Defiance.org, and the role of DAs17:10 Netanyahu is running the same playbook18:40 A Republican consultant's theory: Trump is trying to lose21:00 The Farm Belt collapse and where Republicans are spending money22:40 "A doctor sued 700 patients. Now he's a senator."26:00 Hunter Biden on his last name, Jake Tapper, and a UFC challenge28:10 Hunter Biden on Kamala Harris31:20 Jamie Raskin on Jim Jordan and James Comer32:20 Stevie Van Zandt's headbands35:20 The one thing Democrats must do in the next 53 days40:00 The crypto bill that explains everything44:00 Full circle: what a coup actually needs47:00 The Impact Guide48:50 Where Cliff disagrees with James Carville50:00 The Trump voters who are already gone--------------------THE IMPACT GUIDEEverything I've learned from working in Congress, managing campaigns, and covering politics for decades — turned into a straight answer to the question I get most: does any of this actually work? Where your money and your time make a difference, and where they don't.→ https://worthknowing.substack.comSUBSCRIBEWorth Knowing with Matt Robison — deep-dive analysis of races, polling, and how politics actually works: https://worthknowing.substack.comBlue Amp Media with Cliff Schecter: https://www.blueamp.coABOUTMatt Robison is a former three-time congressional chief of staff and campaign manager who writes Worth Knowing and runs Midterm HQ, a weekly read on the 2026 midterms. Cliff Schecter is a political communications consultant who wrote ads for the Biden 2020 campaign and publishes Blue Amp Media.#2026Midterms #MailInVoting #ElectionProtection #CliffSchecter #Politics

Episode Description: What can a 20-cent Houston hotel room, Buddy Holly's tragic death, Bigfoot sightings, UFO conventions, and modern politics possibly have in common? On this entertaining and wide-ranging episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, the answer is simple: a great story. Kent kicks things off with a fascinating Texas historical tale about Houston's infamous Gulf Hotel fire of 1943 and the unforgettable saying of the day: "Bring Your Own Bug Spray." The story paints a vivid picture of a bargain hotel where rooms rented for mere pennies, but at a devastating cost. The conversation then turns to Texas music legend Buddy Holly, with Kent sharing where he was when he first heard the shocking news of Holly's fatal plane crash. Along the way, he reveals the connection between Buddy Holly and the Beatles, and wonders what might have been if the West Texas rock pioneer had lived longer. Listeners will also enjoy hilarious memories from Kent's school days, including a classmate who jumped out a second-story window, not once but twice, for a five-dollar bet. It is classic Kent Hance storytelling at its best, blending humor, history, and life lessons in a way only he can. The episode dives into the start of football season, the changing landscape of college athletics, NIL money, veteran players with unprecedented eligibility, and the impact of court rulings on the future of the NCAA. From there, the conversation takes some unexpected turns with stories about bizarre criminals, unusual court cases, naked food delivery drivers, stolen truckloads of beer, Bigfoot sightings, and Kent's memorable experience speaking at a UFO convention on behalf of John McCain. Politics remains a major theme as Kent shares insights on election turnout, campaign strategy, media relations, mail-in ballots, and why rural voters often have an outsized impact on elections. He also reflects on lessons learned from decades in public office, including one of the episode's best lines: "You've got to have a thick skin and a quick sense of humor." Other memorable moments include: Kent recalling a voter who shouted at his opponent, "It'd have to be old friends, you haven't been down here in twenty years!" The wisdom that politicians must "bury the dead and move on" when an issue has run its course. A hilarious story about receiving calls urging him to support legislation that actually carried his own name. Whether discussing Texas history, national politics, football, famous musicians, campaign trails, or the strange side of human behavior, Kent proves once again why he's known as The Best Storyteller in Texas. Subscribe now, leave a review, and share this episode with friends and family who appreciate great stories, sharp wit, and uniquely Texas perspectives.

In this episode of Mormon News Roundup, I take a step away from the usual discussions about LDS history and apologetics to examine one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics: Donald Trump.For decades, Latter-day Saints have generally leaned Republican. Yet Donald Trump has always occupied a unique place within Mormon culture. Why did so many faithful members feel conflicted about supporting him? Why was he such an outlier compared to previous Republican nominees like John McCain or Mitt Romney?In this video I discuss:• Why Donald Trump has historically struggled to win overwhelming support among Latter-day Saints.• My own political journey and why I've voted for candidates from both major parties.• Trump's relationship with Church leadership and his 2017 visit to Welfare Square.• Why character and personal conduct still matter in evaluating political leaders.• The reactions of Mormon and ex-Mormon influencers to Donald Trump.• Why I believe we should apply the same critical thinking to politicians that we apply to religious leaders.This isn't an endorsement of any political party or candidate. My goal is simply to explain my perspective and encourage thoughtful, consistent skepticism—whether we're discussing church leaders, media personalities, or presidents.If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about Mormonism, history, culture, and current events, I'd appreciate it if you'd subscribe and join the discussion.What do you think? Has Donald Trump's relationship with Mormonism been misunderstood, or do you think it reflects larger changes taking place within American politics?Please keep the comments respectful. Reasonable people can disagree.#Mormon #LDS #DonaldTrump #Politics #MittRomney #MormonNewsRoundup #ExMormon #ChurchofJesusChrist #CurrentEvents #PoliticalCommentaryPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Episode 3361 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Shoot down of John McCain over Hanoi.. The featured story is titled: The Shootdown of John McCain over Hanoi. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club … Continue reading → The post Episode 3361 – The Shoot down of John McCain over Hanoi first appeared on Vietnam Veteran News.

Italy is increasingly pushing back against Europe's approach to illegal immigration, including a growing dispute with Germany over who should take responsibility for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean. On this week's episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, Italian journalist Francesca Ronchin offers an Italian perspective on the migration pressures facing Europe and the growing frustration with uncontrolled flows.Ronchin, a journalist with RAI-Radiotelevisione Italiana, Italy's national public broadcaster, focuses on immigration in Europe. She explains the Italian government view that when German NGOs rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, Germany should take responsibility for them, rather than bringing them to Italy and subsequently asking Italy to take them back.Among the topics discussed:Italy and Germany: The dispute over Mediterranean rescues, asylum responsibility, and whether NGO rescue operations create an incentive for additional migration.Ceuta and weaponized migration: The large-scale arrival in Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta at the end of July, including the role of social media and traffickers and the view that Morocco used migration as a political tool.Immigration and Italy's demographics: Whether immigration can solve Italy's exceptionally low birth rate and what large-scale immigration means for wages, employment, taxes, and the welfare state.Integration and assimilation: The challenges of absorbing large numbers of newcomers and the difficulty of discussing assimilation openly in Italy.The migration route from Africa to Europe: Ronchin's documentary, La Grande Bugia – Eritrea Andata e Ritorno (The Great Lie – Eritrea There and Back), which examines migration from northeastern Africa and questions surrounding claims of Eritrean nationality and asylum. An English-language version is forthcoming.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestFrancesca Ronchin is a journalist with RAI-Radiotelevisione Italiana.LinksFrancesca Ronchin's X Account“La Grande Bugia – Eritrea Andata e Ritorno” (“The Great Lie – Eritrea There and Back”)Francesca Ronchin's author page at LaVeritaIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Meghan McCain joined Bruce & Gaydos to discuss how President Trump's decisions over the past two years of his second term could positively or negatively impact other Republicans on the ballots and their chances with voters in November.

The connection between immigration and housing costs is the subject of this week's episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' Parsing Immigration Policy podcast. Jason Richwine, a resident scholar at the Center, discusses his forthcoming study, scheduled for publication this fall in the peer-reviewed journal Cityscape.The large majority of academic studies find a positive relationship between immigration and housing prices, with relatively little debate over the basic nexus. Richwine's research updates the evidence using 2014 and 2023 data and examines the effects of increased immigration on rents across nearly 1,700 public-use microdata areas (PUMAs).Among the findings:A 1 percentage-point increase in the foreign-born share is associated with approximately a 1.5 percent increase in rents paid by natives, when direct and spillover effects are included.Immigration in one area also raises rents in surrounding areas, creating a ripple effect beyond the community experiencing the initial increase.Housing construction cannot necessarily respond quickly enough to accommodate large, sudden increases in population, while restrictions on new construction and opposition to higher-density housing further constrain supply.Richwine also discusses research linking higher housing costs to lower fertility and increases in the sheltered homeless population, arguing that the difficulty of rapidly expanding housing supply is another reason to favor "lower and slower" immigration.In the episode's commentary, CIS Executive Director Mark Krikorian discusses a NYT article reporting a private meeting between Jared Kushner and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries about potential areas of immigration policy agreement. Krikorian considers what the administration can do to reassure immigration restriction supporters that it will not compromise on its agenda, including more aggressive workplace enforcement and further measures to tighten legal immigration.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJason Richwine is a Resident Scholar at the Center for Immigration StudiesLinksAbstract: “Immigration and Rent: PUMA-Based Spatial Analysis”Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

On Aug. 27, 2008, Barack Obama made history at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, becoming the first Black presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party. He accepted the nomination the following night and went on to become the nation's first Black president. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How does a man go from calling Donald Trump a kook and a jackass to becoming his closest ally in the Senate?What do you give up to keep a seat at the table, and what do you actually get for it?And when the obituaries settle on calling you a pilot fish, has anything you did survived you?Lindsey Graham flew home from Kyiv on a Friday and was dead by Saturday evening, aged 71 — Peter Frankopan and Afua Hirsch on a career built almost entirely on proximity to other people's power.He was orphaned in his early twenties and raised his younger sister. He was the first in his family to go to university, served in the Air Force, and reached the Senate in 2002 by taking Strom Thurmond's seat. For a decade he was the Republican who legislated with Democrats: the Gang of Eight immigration bill, one third of the three amigos alongside John McCain and Joe Lieberman. Then he called Trump a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot and said the party would be destroyed and would deserve it. Then McCain died. A year to the day before January 6th, the Republican strategist Steve Schmidt gave Rolling Stone the line that has followed Graham ever since: he is a pilot fish, the small fish that swims beside the shark and takes on its colouring. Peter and Afua on whether that is the whole story, and on what a seat at the table is worth.Join Legacy Plus for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more.legacy.supportingcast.fm[0:00] A flight home from Kyiv, a cardiac arrest on Capitol Hill, and a death nobody saw coming[6:14] A restaurant, a pool hall, two funerals, and a younger sister to raise[9:13] The three amigos, and the decade Graham spent legislating with Democrats[11:42] A kook, a jackass, and a party that would be destroyed and would deserve it[12:46] "McCain died" — the two-word answer to how everything changed[17:24] The pilot fish, the shark, and what a seat at the table actually costsStay connected with Legacy:Instagram: @originallegacypodcastTikTok: @legacy_productionsExplore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas:Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.comJoin Legacy+ for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more.legacy.supportingcast.fmStay connected with Legacy:Instagram: @originallegacypodcastTikTok: @legacy_productionsExplore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas: Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following news of Dolly Parton’s passing, Meghan McCain shares her experience with the iconic performer and reflects on her legacy.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos to discuss the new Supreme Court ruling concerning mail-in voting and the newly announced tariffs against Canada.

Americans visiting beaches, neighborhood pools, summer camps, and resorts this summer are likely to encounter foreign workers filling jobs as lifeguards, ice-cream scoopers, housekeepers, counselors, and restaurant workers. Many may not realize that these workers are in the United States on J-1 exchange visas—a program the State Department promotes as an instrument of cultural exchange and public diplomacy.A new episode of the Center for Immigration Studies podcast Parsing Immigration Policy examines the findings of the recently published CIS report, Exchange Visa Programs Operate Mainly For Cheap Labor, Not Cultural Exchange, with Jessica Vaughan, the Center's director of policy studies.The report finds that the J-1 program has evolved into a major temporary foreign-worker program:About 75 percent of the 275,000 J-1 visas issued in 2025 went to workers, while only about 25 percent went to more traditional exchange programs.Summer Work Travel alone accounted for 105,000 visas, making it the largest J-1 category. Another 32,000 went to foreign camp counselors.The State Department has approved more than 1,500 third-party organizations to administer J-1 programs, effectively outsourcing much of the program's oversight to organizations that can benefit financially from placing foreign workers with U.S. employers.J-1 summer exchange workers are supposed to head home soon, but thousands will ignore the rules and overstay, joining the illegal population. The J-1 category has one of the highest overstay rates among U.S. entry categories, according to DHS overstay data.The episode also examines potential reforms, including stronger penalties for sponsors, greater scrutiny of countries with high overstay rates, the termination of the subcategories that have no meaningful public diplomacy value, and transferring work-based J-1 programs to the Department of Labor for appropriate labor-market oversight.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration StudiesLinksExchange Visa Programs Operate Mainly For Cheap Labor, Not Cultural ExchangeJ-1 Visas: Cheap Labor as Cultural ExchangeIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Jeff was joined by D.C. based Republican political consultant and pollster Ed Goeas. They discuss why he is in Alaska, what got him interested in politics when he was younger, how he was able to work with President Ronald Reagan, how he got into the polling and consulting business, his time working on big campaigns including John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, his thoughts about Sarah Palin, some of the work he has done abroad, why the number of primary voters has been decreasing over the years, and where he sees the Republican Party going after Donald Trump. 

Meghan McCain joined Bruce & Gaydos and shared her thoughts on the concerning reports on the state of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. They also discussed the upcoming Midterm Election.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode we take you tot he Senate floor when Senator Bob Packwood announces, finally, that he will resign from the Senate. Then we will hear the speeches given on that day from his collegues all of whom had held him in high regard before the scandal that took him down roared over Washington. We will hear from Mark Hatfield, his fellow Senator from Oregon, then Majority Leader Bob Dole, and Senator's John McCain, Alan Simpson, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Chafee, Diane Feinstein (who gave a brief but extraordinary speech) , and Arlen Spector. It was a day of high drama in the United States Senate.  Questions or comments at  , Randalrgw1@aol.com ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision addressing birthright citizenship has renewed debate over one of the most consequential questions in immigration policy for any nation: Who should be entitled to citizenship?To examine the current state of citizenship policy, especially as it relates to immigration, the International Network for Immigration Research (INIR) held a panel discussion featuring policy experts from the United States, France, Israel, and Hungary, hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies. The panel explored how different democracies define citizenship, the historical development of their laws, and the policy choices that shape them today.While the United States has long interpreted the 14th Amendment to confer citizenship broadly on nearly all children born on U.S. soil, many countries have adopted different approaches. Some place greater emphasis on parental citizenship, while others have modified their laws over time; France, for example, revised its citizenship laws in the 1990s to move away from automatic citizenship at birth.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestsPawel Styrna is the Director of International Relations at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, Washington, D.C.Nicolas Pouvreau-Monti is the Executive Director of the Immigration and Demography Observatory (OID), Paris.Yonatan Jakubowicz is the Executive Director of the Israeli Immigration Policy Center, Jerusalem.Viktor Marsai is the Executive Director of the Migration Research Institute, Budapest.LinksPress ReleaseVideoTranscriptLive StreamIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Join John Crossman on "The Crossman Conversation" as he sits down with former Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy for a captivating conversation that spans her extraordinary life and career. From her deeply moving story as a Vietnamese refugee and her impactful visit to the Hanoi Hilton with Senator John McCain, to her insights on bridging political divides, this episode is a masterclass in principled leadership. Stephanie shares how education transformed her life and why she's passionately committed to workforce training and affordable housing in Orange County, Florida. Discover her unique approach to public service, driven by deep passion and a relentless focus on mission over party lines. Young professionals and seasoned leaders alike will gain practical takeaways on discipline, community impact, and the courage to challenge the status quo, all delivered with Stephanie's authentic, results-oriented perspective.

The surge of more than 60,000 migrants into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta has reignited debate over border security, immigration policy, and the growing use of migration as a geopolitical weapon. In the latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, Fellow in Law and Policy Andrew Arthur, filling in for host Mark Krikorian, welcomes European immigration expert Juan Soto to examine the causes of the crisis and the lessons it holds for the United States.Soto argues that the July 30 mass crossing was more than a spontaneous migration event. Instead, he contends it was a coordinated effort intended to send a political message to Spain, given Morocco's continued claims to sovereignty over Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands. He explains how recent Spanish government policies, including a broad legalization program for illegal immigrants, a citizenship expansion law, and a Spanish Supreme Court ruling limiting the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea, contributed to the crisis.Arthur and Soto also examine the broader geopolitical context of the surge, the muted and often critical response from the European Union and the United States, and how Spain's recent foreign policy positions may have shaped international reactions to the crisis.The episode concludes with Soto's recommendations for responding to instances where migration is used as a geopolitical weapon. He argues that governments must "fix the facts" by accurately describing coordinated mass crossings as hybrid attacks rather than ordinary immigration crises and establish clear consequences in advance—from diplomatic measures to economic sanctions—to deter foreign actors' use of migration to advance political and strategic objectives.HostAndrew Arthur is a Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJuan Soto is a European immigration expert and co-founder and CEO of Fortius Consulting.LinksJuan Soto's X AccountJuan Soto's Author Page at the Hungarian ConservativeJuan Soto's INIR Article: Battlefield, CeutaIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Meghan McCain joined Bruce & Gaydos and explained why she believes all politicians running for office should have to debate their opponents.

Another mind bending podcast. Just prior to going on the air, I happened upon a quote from John McCain's daughter that I thought was silly, hostile - misplaced anger. But as sometimes happens in my world, my reaction included feeling as if John McCain wanted to respond to my reaction - and I actually said "I don't want to talk about this." Which is pretty funny.  (And perhaps happens more than we know with folks stopping by?)   But Luana brought him in - Jennifer mentioned his named, literally minutes after I had this conversation (albeit a brief one.)  I couldn't make it up if I tried. He brought #AmeliaEarhart with him. For fans of the podcast they know she's a frequent visitor - and the book SHE WAS NEVER LOST: The Amelia Earhart Saga is filled with data, research and conversations we've had since I first met Jennifer (12 years ago.) Her story hasn't changed. The research hasn't changed.  Read the book, don't read the book - it's not an argument. Amelia's plane was found on June 18, 1944.  See this podcast (or search for "Electra" "Hacking the Afterlife" for some clips).  https://youtu.be/Idh35NFrZwc?si=9MKG2obiVuP0IIdY Then it gets interesting. My old boss, Oscar winning writer Robert Towne shows up with his dog Hira talking about the #ChristopherNolan film #TheOdyssey - I have seen it twice, I do recommend it, and we've heard before that our loved ones on the flipside can watch a movie alongside of us - (and their tickets are free!) So Robert talks about HIS FAVORITE SCENE IN THE MOVIE which Jennifer Shaffer has not seen. Let me say it again. Jennifer gives a review of The Odyssey from Robert Towne, Oscar winning writer of Chinatown, for a film SHE HAS NEVER SEEN and she talks specifically about the scene with the dog, and the scene when the son recognizes his father. For those who've seen the movie - they know what this refers to. For those who've read the book - they know what this refers to. For those who haven't seen the movie - when they see this scene they will know what Robert is referring to. Everyone is available. Life goes on. They're not gone; they're just not here. Something to wake up to the facts of. Happy to share the footage, data, research that shows consciousness continues, that we can access them, as demonstrated in my 14 books, including FLIPSIDE, ARCHITECTURE OF THE AFTERLIFE, DIVINE COUNCILS IN THE AFTERLIFE, the lates AI AND THE FLIPSIDE... and the documentaries on Amazon Prime or Gaia FLIPSIDE, TALKING TO BILL PAXTON and HACKING THE AFTERLIFE. Enjoy another mind bending podcast. Please subscribe, like, share!!!  (Not with Christopher Nolan, he doesn't own a smart phone.) But his pals do.

This week's episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' “Parsing Immigration Policy” podcast features Nicolas Pouvreau-Monti, co-founder and executive director of the French immigration think tank L'Observatoire de l'Immigration et de la Démographie (OID), discussing how record immigration, failed assimilation, and growing public frustration have made immigration the dominant political issue in France ahead of next year's presidential election.The discussion examines immigration's demographic, economic, and cultural impacts on France, as well as the emergence of OID as one of the country's leading sources of non-partisan immigration research at a time when immigration has become the central issue in French politics.Founded just three years ago by six co-founders concerned about France's migration crisis, OID was established to fill what Monti describes as a void in public debate by providing reliable data, research, and analysis on immigration.Among the topics discussed:France's foreign-born population has reached a historic high, with immigration increasingly originating from outside Europe.Why most French citizens support lower immigration levels, yet government policy has largely failed to respond.The economic effects of large-scale immigration, including workforce participation, welfare spending, and pressure on public services.France's retreat from assimilation and the challenges of integrating immigrants from culturally distinct regions.Why immigration is expected to be the defining issue in France's 2027 presidential election.Monti is the author of the award-winning book Immigration, Mythes et Réalités, which challenges common claims about immigration using demographic and economic data. OID is a member of the International Network for Immigration Research (INIR), joining the Center for Immigration Studies and other partner organizations in the United States, Israel, and Hungary.In his commentary, Krikorian, the Center's executive director, introduces new CIS Fellow Mahvash Siddiqui, a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Siddiqui's first analyses for the Center examine industrialized fraud in the H-1B visa program, based on her experience as a consular officer, and a recent federal court decision striking down the Trump administration's $100,000 entry fee for H-1B visa holders .HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestNicolas Pouvreau-Monti is the co-founder and executive director of the French immigration think tank L'Observatoire de l'Immigration et de la Démographie (OID).LinksL'Observatoire de l'Immigration et de la DémographieImmigration, Mythes et RéalitésMahvash SiddiquiIntro Voices in the opening montage:Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Meghan McCain joined Bruce & Gaydos to discuss the state of Arizona politics ahead of the Midterm Election and the latest on the war with Iran.

Today's revolutionary movement to subvert America's integral values has been 50 years in the making, and President Trump is the first true counter-revolutionary challenging the Left's narrative.   Unlike the Bushes, John McCain, or Mitt Romney, Trump is signing legislation and implementing policies to end the revolution, from classrooms to the military to the border.   “He's the first authentic counter-revolutionary since Andrew Jackson,” says Hanson.   Who would've thought America first policies could solve most of the country's problems? Visit http://www.JoinADF.com/HANSON or text HANSON to 83848 and for a limited time your first gift to ADF will be DOUBLED by a special matching grant—while funds last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's revolutionary movement to subvert America's integral values has been 50 years in the making, and President Trump is the first true counter-revolutionary challenging the Left's narrative. Unlike the Bushes, John McCain, or Mitt Romney, Trump is signing legislation and implementing policies to end the revolution, from classrooms to the military to the border. “He's […]

This week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy is a rebroadcast of a recent installment of the Center's Immigration Newsmaker series featuring the White House Border Czar Tom Homan.In the interview hosted by Center Executive Director Mark Krikorian, Homan discusses the recent pause in traffic stops, the administration's enforcement priorities, recent record-setting ICE arrests, sanctuary jurisdictions, and the future of mass deportations.A highlight of the conversation is Homan's proposal to dramatically expand I-9 inspections by creating a centralized operation staffed by contractors to conduct large-scale audits. Rather than relying exclusively on armed Homeland Security Investigations agents to review employment records, Homan argues that contractors could identify criminal and administrative violations and refer those cases to investigators — freeing agents to focus on criminal investigations and enforcement operations.In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian discusses a regulatory change that will end the Department of Homeland Security's “duration of status” policy for F, J, and I nonimmigrant classifications.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestTom Homan is the White House Border Czar.LinksImmigration Newsmaker Press ReleaseImmigration Newsmaker Videommigration Newsmaker TranscriptImmigration Newsmaker SeriesDHS Ends ‘Duration of Status' for Students, Exchange Visitors, and Foreign MediaIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

President Donald Trump blew up the temporary ceasefire after the U.S. launched a series of airstrikes against Iran over the weekend. The two nations have continued to exchange strikes throughout the week, with Iran targeting U.S. allies in the Middle East, as Congress debates further entangling the United States military with Israel — a proposal that would give Israel enormous leverage over U.S. defense policy.“This is a formula for a forever war,” national security reporter Spencer Ackerman tells The Intercept Briefing. A major champion of such forever wars was Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passed away over the weekend. “Lindsey Graham never met a war he didn't like, never met a war he didn't want to send other people's children to wage,” says Ackerman, who writes the Substack Forever Wars. “The white whale for Lindsey Graham and many others in the bridge between neoconservatism and MAGA was Iran — assaulting Iran not only at home, but rolling back its regional challenge to U.S. and Israeli power in the Middle East.”“Whatever else MAGA says about wars,” says Ackerman, “what it wants is domination. It wants domination not only at home, but abroad. That's where Graham recognized — that instead of being someone like John McCain, who sought to occasionally butt against, fight against Donald Trump — that Graham could help maneuver Trump into being a vehicle for their shared project. And he did that with really tremendous success.”“You are seeing a more rent-seeking U.S. empire than ever before as a defining characteristic … of the Trump-era empire,” says Ackerman, on the administration's thirst to turn countries in its orbit, like Venezuela, into “vassal that pay tribute.” “This is the sort of thing that an empire in decline does. Rather than figuring out new strategies to growth, it redistributes wealth from its own people to its driving oligarchic sectors.”Ackerman has reported from Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay, and many U.S. bases. He currently writes for Zeteo and Forever Wars, where you can sign up for his newsletter. Politics reporter Akela Lacy also drops in to discuss how the turmoil at home and abroad is impacting the midterms. After Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner dropped out of the race, Lacy says, “Maine Democrats are in a situation where they're all trying to become the nominee that the party picks to replace Platner on the ballot to go against Collins in November. Many of those candidates have now come out and called to abolish ICE outright after the shooting in Maine.”Keep our investigations free and fearless at theintercept.com/join. Full transcript: https://interc.pt/4wMaTbq Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigration courts are frequently in the headlines, with stories about massive backlogs, judicial turnover, and widely varying asylum approval rates. But how does the immigration court system actually work, and why has it become one of the biggest bottlenecks in immigration enforcement?In the latest episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, Fellow in Law and Policy Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge, provides a comprehensive tutorial on the immigration court system, explaining its history, structure, and the challenges it faces.Arthur discusses:Why immigration judges are Department of Justice attorneys—not life-tenured Article III judges—and how the immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals are organized.How removal proceedings work and why a final removal order is required before most aliens in the interior can be deported.How the surge in immigration cases during the Biden administration drove the court backlog to historic levels.Why the Biden-driven backlog is beginning to decline as the border and ports become more secure and immigration court case completions reach record levels.Whether hiring more immigration judges alone can solve the problem.Why asylum grant rates differ among judges and courts, and what those statistics do—and do not—show.Pending Supreme Court cases that could reshape immigration detention and court procedures.In closing, Mark Krikorian acknowledges the contributions to immigration policy of two recently deceased: Senator Lindsey Graham and Norm Matloff, professor at the University of California, Davis.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestAndrew Arthur is the Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.LinksSen. Lindsey Graham's Unique Immigration LegacyDOJ: Immigration Court Asylum Grants PlummetFederal Judge Vacates Biden Administration ‘Quiet Amnesty' RuleDOJ Tweets About Decline in Immigration Court Backlog — but Where Are the Stats? Norm Matloff's Publications for CISIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Michael Jaco breaks down the explosive developments surrounding reports of Lindsey Graham's death and asks whether powerful political forces may have ultimately turned against him. Was Lindsey Graham assassinated by the Deep State? Michael examines Graham's long political career, his close relationship with John McCain, connections to Ukraine, Washington power structures, and why he believes those who serve the system can eventually become expendable. Drawing from his own 35 years of experience in the Navy SEAL Teams and CIA security operations, Michael shares what he witnessed behind the scenes, how compromised intelligence networks operate, and why he believes the real enemy America faces is often hidden within its own institutions. Meanwhile, the conflict with Iran is escalating. After attacks on a U.S. base and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Michael discusses the military response, the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, and what could happen next as tensions continue to rise. Deep State operations. Lindsey Graham. John McCain. Ukraine. Russia. Iran. CIA networks. War in the Middle East. The world is changing fast—and Michael Jaco is breaking down what he believes is happening behind the headlines.

The Citizen McCain family comes together to remember Senator Lindsey Graham after his sudden passing. In an emotional opening, Meghan McCain reflects on knowing Lindsey Graham since childhood, his decades-long friendship with Senator John McCain and Senator Joe Lieberman, and why his death feels like the end of an era in American politics. Former Congressman Trey Gowdy shares deeply personal stories about Graham's humor, loyalty, military service, and extraordinary life, while Democratic strategist Kevin Walling reflects on Graham's bipartisan relationships, his influence in the Senate, and the lasting impact he leaves behind. Together, they discuss the legacy of a senator who built friendships across party lines and never lost his love for public service. This episode is less about politics and more about friendship, service, and remembering a complicated man who meant different things to different people, but left an undeniable mark on Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hawk builds his assessment around three moments he calls flashes of moral clarity: Graham's early 2016 warning that nominating Donald Trump would destroy the Republican Party, his Senate floor speech denouncing Trump after the January 6th insurrection, and his past defense of Joe Biden as a fundamentally good and decent man. In each case, Hawk argues, Graham soon reversed course and returned as one of Trump's most loyal foot soldiers. The throughline, in Hawk's telling, is a man who had a moral core and principles but proved willing to jettison them entirely for power. He contends Graham will be remembered not for those brief principled moments but for his complete supplication to Donald Trump, and he closes on the recent death of Mitch McConnell as another marker of an era ending. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

This week Duncan MacKenzie and Ryan Peter Miller sit down with artist and educator Rafael Salas for a wide-ranging conversation about rural Wisconsin, magical realism, county fairs, country music, identity, and the contested landscapes of contemporary America. Salas discusses growing up in rural Wisconsin, returning to the Midwest after years in New York, and how his paintings inhabit a space between celebration and unease. The conversation moves from the influence of Wisconsin Death Trip to the political symbolism of county fairs, mixed-race identity, landscape painting traditions, and the challenge of making meaningful contemporary art from outside major art centers. Name Drops and links:  Rafael Salas – https://www.rafaelsalas.com/ Door County Contemporary - https://www.doorcountycontemporary.com/ Ripon College – https://www.ripon.edu/ Museum of Wisconsin Art – https://wisconsinart.org/ Newcity – https://www.newcity.com/ Michael Lesy (Wisconsin Death Trip) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lesy Wisconsin Death Trip – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Death_Trip Charles Van Schaick – https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/record/image/W0128W2 Mark Tansey – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tansey Grant Wood – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Wood Cormac McCarthy – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthy Caspar David Friedrich – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspar_David_Friedrich Johnny Cash – https://www.johnnycash.com/ Dolly Parton – https://dollyparton.com/ Willie Nelson – https://willienelson.com/ Hank Williams – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams Woody Guthrie – https://www.woodyguthrie.org/ Neil Young – https://neilyoungarchives.com/ Marquette University – https://www.marquette.edu/ John McCain – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain Sarah Palin – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin Barack Obama – https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/  

George Black, guest author, explains that the mid-1990s marked a turning point as Bill Clinton moved toward diplomatic normalization with Vietnam in 1995, supported by key veteran senators like John McCain and John Kerry. This political cover was essential to overcome fierce opposition in Congress. During this time, Chuck Searcy returned to Vietnam and co-founded Project RENEW to address the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which continued to maim civilians. Searcy's approach was collaborative, working closely with Vietnamese officials like Hoang Nam to find local solutions rather than imposing American ones. While UXO removal was relatively straightforward, addressing the Agent Orange legacy remained controversial, and many American officials were initially reluctant to engage with it. Charles Bailey of the Ford Foundation became a key figure in this effort after witnessing barren, defoliated landscapes in the central highlands and asking the Vietnamese what they needed. He shifted focus toward aid for the disabled and landscape restoration. The work of early Vietnamese scientists, such as Dr. Ton That Tung, was also critical, though they had long been unfairly dismissed as propagandists. The Long Reckoning (6)

Frank Shorter landing on the cover of the July 5, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated was perfectly timed — the Montreal Olympics were just weeks away and Shorter was heading back to defend the gold medal he had won in Munich four years earlier in one of the most memorable moments in American track and field history. He had crossed the finish line in Munich in 1972 to a roar from a crowd that had spent the week living through the horror of the Munich massacre — and it was a roar he almost never heard, thanks to an imposter who entered the stadium ahead of him and tried to steal the race and steal his glory. His victory had done something unexpected — it ignited a running boom in America that was still going strong four years later. Now, with Montreal on the horizon, Shorter was the face of American distance running, the defending champion, and the man the entire track world was watching, making him the perfect cover subject for a magazine that understood better than anyone what was at stake when the greatest runners in the world lined up to race 26.2 miles through the streets of a Canadian summer. He won gold in '72 and silver in '76 — but that silver comes with an asterisk that history has since validated. Shorter always believed something was wrong with the man who beat him, Waldemar Cierpinski of East Germany, who had improved his marathon time by five full minutes in a single year — what Shorter called a "leapfrogger." Years later, after the Berlin Wall came down, documents surfaced showing two members of the East German Stasi corresponding about who was procuring and taking performance enhancing drugs, confirming what Shorter had suspected all along. It didn't give him back the gold medal. But it gave him something else entirely. It gave him a mission. Shorter got the attention of President Bill Clinton and Senator John McCain, enlisted the support of U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey, and helped found the United States Anti-Doping Agency — an organization he has been fighting for and through for over fifty years. The man who won Munich and was robbed in Montreal became the most important voice in the war for clean sport, and that fight has defined as much of his life as any finish line he ever crossed. And in a conversation that goes well beyond the track, Frank also shares what it meant to take the experience of being a child abuse victim and turn it into a lifetime of child abuse awareness advocacy — because it turns out the most important race Frank Shorter ever ran had nothing to do with a stopwatch. This is the kind of conversation Past Our Prime was built for. For the second time, the great Frank Shorter joins us on the podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mea Culpa welcomes Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a veteran public affairs and political commentator with more than 20 years of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies needing high-level counsel in strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. As founder of the Lincoln Project, Galen has led the groups vision and created some of its most memorable attacks against Donald Trump. He is now focused on ridding the nation of Trump and attempting to purge the GOP of its love affair with MAGA ideology. He joins us today to discuss the changing of the media guard as Rupert Murdoch rides off into the right-wing sunset. So, let's go now to that conversation.

Mea Culpa welcomes back Reed Galen. Co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a veteran public affairs and political commentator with more than 20 years of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel in the fields of strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. As founder of the Lincoln Project, Galen has lead the group's vision and created some of its most memorable attacks against Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and others. He is now focused on not only ridding the nation of Trump but attempting to purge the GOP of its love affair with MAGA ideology. We had the opportunity to speak to him in the midst of these historic indictments. 

There are some situations where panic is not an option. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Senator Mark Kelly about what his years as a Navy pilot, test pilot, and NASA astronaut taught him about fear, focus, humility, and staying calm under pressure. They discuss the lessons of spaceflight, the danger of ego in high-stakes moments, Marcus Aurelius' “view from above,” and what real leadership requires in today's world.Senator Mark Kelly is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. Before entering public service, he served as a U.S. Navy combat pilot, test pilot, and captain. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996 and flew four space shuttle missions: STS-108, STS-121, STS-124, and STS-134, commanding the final two. Over the course of his NASA career, he spent more than 54 days in space. After his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot in an assassination attempt in 2011, Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA later that year. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 in the special election for the seat once held by Senator John McCain, and was reelected to a full term in 2022.

Mea Culpa welcomes Reed Galen co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. A veteran public affairs and political commentator with more than 20 years of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel in the fields of strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. As founder of the Lincoln Project, Galen has led the group's vision and created some of its most memorable attacks against Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and others. He is now focused on not only ridding the nation of Trump. But punishing those willful collaborators who think they can sit in the middle rather than use this indictment to finally rid the party of this disease.