America at a Crossroads

Veteran Democratic strategist and political commentator James Carville joins Madeleine Brand for a wide-ranging discussion on the 2026 midterm elections, the future of the Democratic Party, and the political landscape leading into the 2028 presidential race.

Drawing on decades of campaign experience, Carville shares his candid assessment of key Senate and gubernatorial races, Democratic messaging, voter turnout, coalition-building, and the party's next generation of leaders. He also weighs in on the lessons of the 2024 election, the role of identity politics, and why winning elections remains the Democratic Party's most important objective.

Topics include:
• The 2026 midterm elections and Senate battleground map
• California's governor's race and national political trends
• Democratic messaging and coalition-building
• Potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028
• Lessons from the 2024 election and the Biden-Harris campaign
• Voter turnout, election integrity, and the SAVE Act
• Identity politics, populism, and the future direction of the Democratic Party
• Why concise messaging and coalition politics still win elections

National security columnist and global affairs analyst Josh Rogin joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a discussion of America’s role in an increasingly fragmented world and the strategic challenges posed by China’s growing influence.

Drawing on decades of reporting on foreign policy, national security, and U.S.-China relations, Rogin examines how geopolitical competition, economic interdependence, technological rivalry, and shifting global alliances are reshaping international affairs.

Topics include:
• U.S.-China relations and strategic competition
• Global security and shifting alliances
• Trade, technology, and economic rivalry
• The future of American leadership abroad
• Geopolitical flashpoints and international stability

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.

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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

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