Senior democracy scholar and former White House policy advisor Ami Fields-Meyer joins award-winning investigative journalist Julia Angwin in conversation with acclaimed broadcaster Patt Morrison for a timely discussion on courage, dissent, and democratic engagement in an era of growing fear and polarization.

Drawing on their book On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear, Fields-Meyer and Angwin explore how individuals and institutions can respond when democratic norms, public trust, and civic participation are under pressure.

Topics include:
• Courage and dissent in modern democracy
• Free expression and civic engagement
• Media, technology, and public trust
• Political polarization and democratic resilience
• How individuals can act in challenging times

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman joins veteran broadcaster Larry Mantle for a wide-ranging conversation on global instability, geopolitical conflict, technology, climate, and the forces reshaping the modern world.

Drawing from decades of reporting on international affairs and themes explored in The World Is Flat, Friedman examines how globalization, political fragmentation, economic disruption, and environmental pressures are colliding in unprecedented ways.

Topics include:
• Global instability and shifting world order
• U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East
• Technology, AI, and economic disruption
• Climate change and global resilience
• Democracy, polarization, and the future of leadership

Former Homeland Security official and national security expert Juliette Kayyem joins veteran journalist Warren Olney for a timely conversation on security, democratic stability, and the growing challenges facing the United States.

This episode of America at a Crossroads examines domestic instability, political violence, crisis response, and the future of public trust in democratic institutions. Drawing on decades of experience in homeland security, journalism, and public policy, Kayyem and Olney discuss what resilience looks like in an increasingly uncertain era.

This week on America at a Crossroads, presidential historian Tim Naftali joins Madeleine Brand for a timely conversation on democratic resilience, political polarization, and the institutions shaping America’s future.

Topics include:
• Historical parallels to today’s political climate
• The role of the presidency and democratic institutions
• Extremism, accountability, and constitutional limits
• Whether American democracy is built to withstand this moment

Recorded live on May 6, 2026.

#AmericaAtACrossroads #TimNaftali #MadeleineBrand #Democracy #AmericanPolitics #PoliticalExtremism #Constitution #USPolitics #PoliticalHistory #DemocraticInstitutions

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former federal prosecutor Elie Honig joins Larry Mantle (AirTalk, NPR) to break down the evolving legal landscape in the United States.

With deep experience in federal and state prosecution, Honig examines how recent legal battles, shifting precedents, and questions of executive power are reshaping the rule of law—and what it means for the future of American democracy.

The discussion explores key questions including:

• How are legal norms and precedents changing in today’s environment?
• What are the implications of expanding or challenged executive power?
• How should the public interpret major legal developments and rulings?

Offering clear, accessible analysis, Honig provides insight into the forces redefining the American legal system and the potential paths forward.

Speakers

Elie Honig – CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He prosecuted organized crime and public corruption cases and later served as Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. He is the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and Untouchable.

Larry Mantle – Host of AirTalk on NPR-member station KPCC 89.3 FM. Mantle has led one of Southern California’s longest-running public affairs programs since 1985.

Event Details
America at a Crossroads
April 29, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice

America is at a pivotal crossroads.

Join us for a timely and urgent conversation on the state of democracy in the United States. As political divisions deepen and democratic norms face increasing strain, what signals should we be watching? Are we approaching a turning point—or moving further into instability?

Aaron David Miller is an American Middle East analyst, author and negotiator, brings sharp analysis examining the future of US-Israeli relationship.

He is joined by veteran journalist Patt Morrison who has a share of two Pulitzer Prizes as a longtime Los Angeles Times writer and columnist.

Democracy Under Stress: Is the Tide Turning?
Featuring David Frum in conversation with Warren Olney

America is at a pivotal crossroads.

Join us for a timely and urgent conversation on the state of democracy in the United States. As political divisions deepen and democratic norms face increasing strain, what signals should we be watching? Are we approaching a turning point—or moving further into instability?

David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, brings sharp analysis from his latest work examining the enduring appeal of Trumpism and its implications for the future of American democracy.

He is joined by veteran journalist Warren Olney, former host of KCRW’s To the Point, for a probing discussion on political culture, media narratives, and the durability of democratic institutions.

Topics include:
• The persistence of anti-democratic movements
• Cultural vs. policy-driven politics
• Warning signs for democratic erosion
• Whether the political tide may be shifting

⸻

📅 Recorded: April 15, 2026
🎙 Part of the “America at a Crossroads” weekly forum

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, Middle East policy expert Dalia Dassa Kaye joins award-winning journalist Robin Wright to examine the critical decisions facing the United States in its approach to Iran.

At a time of heightened geopolitical tension, this discussion explores the strategic, diplomatic, and security implications of U.S. policy in the region—and what is at stake for global stability.

Drawing on deep expertise in foreign policy and decades of reporting, Kaye and Wright analyze the evolving dynamics between the U.S. and Iran, regional power shifts, and the risks and opportunities shaping America’s next moves.

The discussion explores key questions including:

• What are the current risks and flashpoints in U.S.–Iran relations?
• What policy options are available to the United States?
• How do regional and global actors influence the path forward?

This conversation provides a clear, informed perspective on one of the most consequential foreign policy challenges facing the United States today.

Speakers

Dalia Dassa Kaye – Senior Fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and former Director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy. She is a leading expert on U.S. foreign policy and Middle East affairs.

Robin Wright – Award-winning journalist, author, and foreign affairs analyst specializing in the Middle East and global security. She has reported from more than 140 countries and has written for The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and NPR.

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, political commentator Jennifer Rubin joins journalist Patt Morrison to examine the state of American democracy and the responsibilities of leadership in a time of institutional strain.

Rubin, co-founder of The Contrarian and former longtime columnist for The Washington Post, brings a sharp perspective on the rule of law, political accountability, and the consequences of silence and inaction in the face of democratic erosion.

The discussion explores key questions including:

• What does accountability look like in today’s political environment?
• How have institutions responded to challenges to democratic norms?
• What role do individuals—inside and outside government—play in defending democracy?

Drawing on her work as a commentator and author, Rubin addresses the moral and political stakes facing the country and the choices that will shape its future.

Speakers

Jennifer Rubin – Political commentator and co-founder of The Contrarian. A former conservative and longtime Washington Post columnist, she is widely recognized for her analysis of democracy, the rule of law, and authoritarianism in American politics. She is the author of Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump.

Patt Morrison – Journalist, author, and longtime Los Angeles Times columnist and broadcaster. Morrison has received two Pulitzer Prizes and numerous Emmy and Golden Mike awards.

Event Details
America at a Crossroads
March 18, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice