America at a Crossroads

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

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Larry Mantle, host of NPR’s AirTalk, to examine the shifting global landscape and the challenges facing American leadership in an era of renewed power politics.

Drawing on decades of experience in national security and government, Panetta discusses how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international relations—from Ukraine and China to Venezuela and Greenland—and what these developments mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and global stability.

The discussion explores key questions including:

• How is the global balance of power changing?
• What challenges does the United States face in responding to rising geopolitical tensions?
• What lessons from past administrations can guide today’s foreign policy decisions?

With insight from one of the nation’s most experienced national security leaders, this conversation provides perspective on the strategic realities shaping today’s international environment.

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson join journalist Patt Morrison to examine how the American founding era continues to shape today’s political and cultural debates.

Drawing on their extensive work exploring the Revolutionary period, Burns and Atkinson discuss the ideas, conflicts, and leadership that defined America’s birth—and how those same tensions echo in the nation’s present moment.

The discussion explores questions including:

• What lessons does the American Revolution offer for today’s challenges?
• How did the founding generation navigate division and uncertainty?
• What historical perspective can help illuminate the crossroads America faces today?

Burns reflects on themes from his documentary The American Revolution, while Atkinson discusses insights from his bestselling Revolution Trilogy, including The Fate of the Day.

Speakers

Ken Burns – Documentary filmmaker known for landmark series including The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The Vietnam War, and The American Revolution.

Rick Atkinson – Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Long Gray Line, The British Are Coming, The Guns at Last Light, and The Fate of the Day.

Patt Morrison – Journalist, author, and longtime Los Angeles Times columnist and broadcaster.

Event Details
America at a Crossroads
March 4, 2026
Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice

Max Boot with Larry Diamond

What Is the Endgame? U.S. Policy and the Future of Venezuela and Beyond

Recorded Wednesday, February 25, 2026

In this episode of America at a Crossroads, Max Boot and Larry Diamond examine the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela and its broader implications for democracy, authoritarianism, and global stability.

The conversation explores:
• The current state of Venezuela’s political and economic crisis
• The effectiveness of U.S. sanctions and diplomatic strategy
• Democratic backsliding worldwide
• The future of American leadership in supporting democratic movements
• Strategic lessons for U.S. policy beyond Latin America

Max Boot is a Russian-American author, historian, and foreign policy commentator. He is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post. His most recent book, Reagan: His Life and Legend, was released in 2024.

Larry Diamond is a leading scholar of democracy studies and a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

Subscribe for future episodes of America at a Crossroads and join the conversation on the critical issues shaping democracy at home and abroad.

 Collapsing Norms: Can American Democracy Survive This Stress Test?

Recorded February 18, 2026

In this recorded conversation from America at a Crossroads, journalist Susan B. Glasser joins Madeleine Brand to examine the current state of American democracy and the pressures facing its institutions. Drawing on Glasser’s reporting and editorial leadership across major national publications, the discussion explores how political norms are evolving and what this moment means for the country’s future.

Part of the America at a Crossroads webinar series, a project of Jews United for Democracy and Justice. Subscribe for more conversations on politics, media, and democracy. 

 On February 11, 2026, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Carol Leonnig joined veteran broadcaster Warren Olney for a timely conversation on her latest book:

Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America’s Justice Department 

Leonnig, a five-time Pulitzer Prize winner and longtime investigative reporter for The Washington Post, examines how political pressure, institutional fear, and shifting norms reshaped the U.S. Department of Justice. Drawing on deep reporting inside presidential administrations and federal law enforcement agencies, she explores what happens when independence erodes within one of the country’s most powerful institutions.

Warren Olney, longtime host of KCRW’s nationally syndicated program To the Point, brings decades of journalistic experience to this in-depth discussion about accountability, democracy, and the rule of law.

This conversation is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, designed to foster thoughtful dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the country today. 

 CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins journalist and author Patt Morrison for a timely conversation on the 2026 midterm elections. Together, they examine the political forces shaping the cycle ahead, the balance of power in Washington, and what the outcomes could mean for democracy, governance, and the country’s future.

📅 Wednesday, February 4, 2026

⏰ 5:00 PM Pacific

🎙️ America at a Crossroads

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Getting Beyond the Border: How Immigration Became a Political Crisis 

Immigration has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics—but how did we get here?

In this episode of America at a Crossroads, Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist Patt Morrison for a wide-ranging conversation about immigration, power, and political narrative in the United States. 

Blitzer draws on years of reporting and his award-winning book, Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, to examine how immigration policy became untethered from reality—and why border politics now dominate national debate. Together, Blitzer and Morrison explore the human consequences behind the headlines and what meaningful reform would require.

This conversation is part of America at a Crossroads, a virtual series presented by the Community Conversations Series and founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice. Recorded: January 21, 2026 ⸻ Subscribe for future conversations on democracy, justice, and the defining issues of our time.