Voting Rights and Empowerment
CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND’S RECLAIM OUR VOTE CAMPAIGN
Ongoing voter suppression and voter list purging have been disenfranchising millions of eligible voters — especially voters of color. Reclaim Our Vote works in those voter suppression states. Our volunteers inform and mobilize voters of color to make sure they are registered and they know how to get a ballot and vote. It is a nonpartisan campaign of the nonprofit 501(c)3 Center for Common Ground.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
The League of Women Voters of the United States encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS
Postcards to Voters are friendly, handwritten reminders from volunteers to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast.
ROCK THE VOTE
In 1990, music executives founded Rock the Vote in response to the censorship of hip-hop and rap artists. Our first partnership, with MTV, promoted the message that “Censorship is Un-American” and activated millions of young people across the country to exercise their rights and represent their interests. For thirty years, we have continuously adapted to the changing landscapes of media, technology and culture to breakthrough and empower each new generation.
VOTE.ORG
Vote.org uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy.
WHEN WE ALL VOTE
When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.
Immigration and Asylum
ACLU
For nearly one hundred years, ACLU lawyers have been at the center of one history-making court case after another, participating in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization. With attorneys nationwide, we handle thousands of cases each year on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.
Bet Tzedek
Bet Tzedek attorneys and advocates help people of all communities and generations secure life’s necessities. Wherever people are in crisis, Bet Tzedek’s core services and rapid response programs provide stability and hope.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
CHIRLA is a California leader with the national impact made of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA’s mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants.
HIAS
HIAS works around the world to protect refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of who they are, including ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. For more than 130 years, HIAS has been helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.
Public Counsel
Public Counsel is the largest pro bono law firm in the nation. We work with major law firms and corporations to change people’s futures. A staff of 71 attorneys and 50 support staff – including five social workers – along with over 5,000 volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals assists over 30,000 children, youth, families, and community organizations every year.
Equality - Fighting Hate and Discrimination
ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE
ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is a global leader in exposing extremism and delivering anti-bias education, and is a leading organization in training law enforcement. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.
BEND THE ARC
Bend the Arc is a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews all across the country. For years, we’ve worked to build a more just society. Now we’re rising up in solidarity with everyone threatened by the Trump agenda to fight for the soul of our nation.
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
INTEGRITY FIRST FOR AMERICA
Integrity First for America (IFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to holding those accountable who threaten longstanding principles of our democracy—including our country’s commitment to civil rights and equal justice.
NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
Freedom of the Press
ACLU
For nearly one hundred years, ACLU lawyers have been at the center of one history-making court case after another, participating in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization. With attorneys nationwide, we handle thousands of cases each year on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.
REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.
Resources
Defending our values through knowledge and action.
January 27, 2021
Dear Friends,
If you were not able to join us to listen to Jacob Soboroff and Madeleine Brand in conversation about families separated at the border and about US immigration policy, the program was recorded and can be found by tomorrow morning at this link.
Next Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST join us as we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a columnist at The Washington Post in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand on the topic: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
DHS ISSUES WARNING OF EXTREMISM THREATS
In anticipation of our February 24th program on extremism (details below), here are two important articles on the subject of violent domestic extremism:
1. This article in today’s NY Times, reports on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) warning that the US will face increased threats from “violent domestic extremists” who were “emboldened by the assault on the Capitol”. The warning noted that the threats could be targeting elected officials as well as government facilities. The DHS warning notice is in effect from today, the date of issuance of the warning, until April 21, and states, in summary, “Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.”
Dear Friends,
If you were not able to join us to listen to Jacob Soboroff and Madeleine Brand in conversation about families separated at the border and about US immigration policy, the program was recorded and can be found by tomorrow morning at this link.
Next Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST join us as we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a columnist at The Washington Post in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand on the topic: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
DHS ISSUES WARNING OF EXTREMISM THREATS
In anticipation of our February 24th program on extremism (details below), here are two important articles on the subject of violent domestic extremism:
1. This article in today’s NY Times, reports on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) warning that the US will face increased threats from “violent domestic extremists” who were “emboldened by the assault on the Capitol”. The warning noted that the threats could be targeting elected officials as well as government facilities. The DHS warning notice is in effect from today, the date of issuance of the warning, until April 21, and states, in summary, “Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.”
2. In this article in this weeks New Yorker, David Rohde writes about Biden’s Vital but Fraught Battle Against Domestic Terrorism. Political extremism, white supremacy and domestic pluralism are clearly critical issues to the Biden Administration. He already ordered the DHS and intelligence agencies to assess the threat and propose a strategy. There is substantial evidence of increased on-line communication and coordination (often international) amongst disgruntled extremists. Some contend that a major challenge in fighting against domestic extremism is that our previous approaches are out-dated. “American politics, laws, and technology firms have failed to recognize the power of instant communication in the digital age. ..[T]he Trump era has shown that online disinformation can contribute to radicalization, and confronting that challenge is a core part of countering extremism.” Rohde concludes by asking whether the prevailing political response to this problem will it be the more labor-intensive effort to enact reforms that protect free speech but set guardrails for the digital age, or rather, will it be the more authoritarian embrace of the trafficking in disinformation and conspiracy theories for short-term political gain?
AN IMPORTANT READ
PRE-FASCISM, AUTHORITARIANISM AND THE GOP:
In this article, The GOP’s ‘Pre-Fascist’ DNA, published in yesterday’s in The Bulwark, the writer, Richard North Patterson notes that the word “‘fascist’ too often precedes anti-historical histrionics. But the term is useful in deconstructing the devolution of Republicanism into the minoritarian-authoritarian saboteur of pluralist democracy.” He then analyzes the predicates of “nascent fascism” and reviews Trump’s support in that light. Patterson looks at (1)Trump’s exploitation of sense of victimization amongst whites, evoking a sense of loss of America’s strength; (2) the GOP’s persistent undermining of certain (disfavored groups’) voting rights in the name of protecting the US democracy; (3) the GOP base’s loathing of supposedly degenerate liberalism and its apparent desire for authoritarian leadership to restore their chosen hierarchy; and (4) the attack on fact, truth and reality–castigating the media as enemy of the people–“Like the avatars of fascism, Republicans increasingly trumpet mendacious propaganda—including about voter fraud.”. Patterson concludes “It is far too little to say that the GOP has lost its way. Quite deliberately, it has become American democracy’s most dangerous enemy.”
NEW PROGRAM ADDED ON EXTREMISM
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST noted political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, will be in conversation withLarry Mantle on the topic: “Is the Future ‘Grand’ for the Grand Old Party?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R, Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, in conversation with Warren Olney on the topic: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 24 at 5 pm PST we welcome Roberta Kaplan, the attorney pursuing the Nazis who perpetrated the violence in Charlottesville and Joanna Mendelson from the ADL’s Center on Extremism in conversation with Patt Morrisonon the topic: From Charlottesville to the Capitol Insurrection: extremism–how worried should we be? (Register here)
Two Interesting Community Events
1. Presented by UCLA Law School
2. Presented by The Huntington Library
The Rise of the Latino Vote: A history
Professor Benjamin Francis-Fallon, author of The Rise of the Latino Vote: A History, will discusses how Latina/o leaders in the U.S. first came to see themselves as belonging to one political community, exploring their attempts to establish mutual bonds and pass legislation and analyzing how both major political parties attempted to co-opt this emerging constituency and reshape it in their own image. Event is via Zoom on February 3 at 4 p.m. (PST). To register go to this link: https://tickets.huntington.org/events/3398949e-4a9d-6026-1de5-4a7140cf4ee1
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
1. Presented by UCLA Law School
| The Second Impeachment of Donald Trump: A Discussion Friday, January 29 at 12:00 PM PST |
| On February 8, the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump is scheduled to begin in the Senate. Join us for a conversation with a distinguished panel of experts who will consider the unprecedented nature of this trial, and all the questions it raises including whether an impeachment trial of a former president is permissible, the implications of the impeachment and potential conviction of a former elected official, and the impact of the trial on a deeply divided country. This is one conversation you will not want to miss! Register Here |
The Rise of the Latino Vote: A history
Professor Benjamin Francis-Fallon, author of The Rise of the Latino Vote: A History, will discusses how Latina/o leaders in the U.S. first came to see themselves as belonging to one political community, exploring their attempts to establish mutual bonds and pass legislation and analyzing how both major political parties attempted to co-opt this emerging constituency and reshape it in their own image. Event is via Zoom on February 3 at 4 p.m. (PST). To register go to this link: https://tickets.huntington.org/events/3398949e-4a9d-6026-1de5-4a7140cf4ee1
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 26, 2021
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
Here is the zoom link for tomorrow’s (Wednesday) 5 pm PST program featuring best-selling author and journalist,
Jacob Soboroff, in a conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand .
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944851741
The topic is immigration policy and most especially about the on-going crisis of separated families caused by the prior administration’s border policies.
Jacob Soboroff, in a conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand .
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944851741
The topic is immigration policy and most especially about the on-going crisis of separated families caused by the prior administration’s border policies.
Jacob Soboroff’s best selling book Separated: Inside an American Tragedy is the author’s account of what he witnessed as a journalist at the border when the Trump administration began implementing its “Zero Tolerance” policy; he saw how children were ripped from the arms of their mothers and placed in cages, a practice which pediatricians and physicians have now called “torture”. Soboroff’s reporting on this humanitarian tragedy as it was unfolding on American soil, not only contributed to a change in policy, but also earned Soboroff the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Broadcast Journalism and, with his colleagues, the 2019 Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism.(Register here)
Re-Send: IMMIGRATION TRAUMA OF SEPARATION OF FAMILIES CONTINUES
This story published last week by the Associated Press focuses on a report issued last week by the inspector general for the Justice Department in which it is concluded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) proceeded to enforce the 2018 “zero tolerance” border policy knowing full well that children would be separated from their parents and that families would be torn apart and traumatized, perhaps leaving permanent injury. The report also concludes that the leadership of the DOJ “failed to prepare to implement the policy or manage the fallout, which resulted in more than 3,000 family separations during ‘zero tolerance’ and caused lasting emotional damage to children who were taken from their parents at the border.”
In this Opinion Essay published in January 22’s Washington Post, George Conway III, Contributing Washington Post columnist, attorney and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, describes the many criminal acts which Conway contends were committed by Trump as President; Conway then analyzes the pros and cons of pursuing those actions. He contrasts those scholars and historians who oppose investigating and pursuing a former president, with those who feel, as Conway himself does, that accountability is paramount. Conway writes: “Trump’s post-election conduct makes it impossible for the Justice Department to look away. If prosecutors don’t investigate and, if warranted, charge, this former president, then we might as well say that all presidents are completely immune from criminal consequences for their conduct…We might as well say, flat-out, that presidents are above the law…Trump has managed to avoid serious legal repercussions — not just during his four years as president, but throughout his life. Trump’s presidency has ended. So, too, must his ability to dodge the consequences.”
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST we welcome noted neoconservative political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, who will speak on: “Is the Future “Grand” for the Grand Old Party?”
(Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R: Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, who will speak on: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 20, 2021
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
For those who missed last night’s program with election lawyers GInsberg and Hasen in a remarkable conversation with NPR’s national election editor, Pam Fessler, you can watch it at this link.
Next Wednesday, January 27 at 5 pm PST best-selling author, Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
IMMIGRATION TRAUMA OF SEPARATION OF FAMILIES CONTINUES
This story published this week by the Associated Press focuses on a report just issued by the inspector general for the Justice Department in which it is concluded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) proceeded to enforce the 2018 “zero tolerance” border policy knowing full well that children would be separated from their parents and that families would be torn apart and traumatized, perhaps leaving permanent injury. The report also concludes that the leadership of the DOJ “failed to prepare to implement the policy or manage the fallout, which resulted in more than 3,000 family separations during ‘zero tolerance’ and caused lasting emotional damage to children who were taken from their parents at the border.”
THE AGE OF MOBOCRACY
In this op-ed column in yesterday’s NY Times, Bret Stephens refers to today’s times as the “Age of Mobocracy”. He writes: “The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington”. Referring to Trump, Hawley and Cruz as “men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory”, Stephens suggests that Biden’s greatest challenge is to “exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trump’s chief contribution to American politics” .
THE IMPEACHMENT CASE IS A SLAM DUNK
In yesterdays The Bulwark, Philip Rotner’s excellent column about the impeachment case against Trump claims the case to be “clear and compelling”. Rotner presents the single ground for impeachment, to wit: incitement of insurrection, and analyzes the legal strength of the claim; he analyzes the likely defenses which would be raised by Trump’s counsel, looking at both substantive as well as “process” or “procedural” defenses. In the end, Rotner concludes there are no valid or winnable defenses to the claim, and suggests that the politics of some senators to win or maintain support of Trump’s base is pointless. In Rotner’s concluding words, “There is nothing to be gained by trying to assuage the feelings of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, and other MAGA crazies. It’s time to hold bad actors accountable, not to appease them. It is time to let the truth have its day.”.
In this op-ed column in yesterday’s NY Times, Bret Stephens refers to today’s times as the “Age of Mobocracy”. He writes: “The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington”. Referring to Trump, Hawley and Cruz as “men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory”, Stephens suggests that Biden’s greatest challenge is to “exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trump’s chief contribution to American politics” .
THE IMPEACHMENT CASE IS A SLAM DUNK
In yesterdays The Bulwark, Philip Rotner’s excellent column about the impeachment case against Trump claims the case to be “clear and compelling”. Rotner presents the single ground for impeachment, to wit: incitement of insurrection, and analyzes the legal strength of the claim; he analyzes the likely defenses which would be raised by Trump’s counsel, looking at both substantive as well as “process” or “procedural” defenses. In the end, Rotner concludes there are no valid or winnable defenses to the claim, and suggests that the politics of some senators to win or maintain support of Trump’s base is pointless. In Rotner’s concluding words, “There is nothing to be gained by trying to assuage the feelings of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, and other MAGA crazies. It’s time to hold bad actors accountable, not to appease them. It is time to let the truth have its day.”.
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST we welcome noted neoconservative political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, who will speak on: “Is the Future “Grand” for the Grand Old Party?”
(Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R: Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, who will speak on: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 19, 2021
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
Here is the ZOOM link for tomorrow’s, TODAY’s, program at 5 pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84003788682
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84003788682
Today, on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, there is no better topic to discuss than the vulnerability of our electoral system. And, there are not two more qualified speakers to lead that discussion. We are pleased to welcome two renowned election law attorneys who will help us understand what must be done to ensure the protection of the primary ingredient of our democracy–namely, the integrity of our electoral systems. Benjamin Ginsberg and Rick Hasen are both speakers and frequent commentators on various media, including CNN and MSNBC. Benjamin Ginsberg has spent most of his career representing Republican candidates, causes, and the Republican party; he was amongst those who were highly critical of President Trump’s contention that the election was stolen by Biden. Ginsberg has been a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, and at Harvard University. Rick Hasen is an American legal scholar and expert in legislation, election law and campaign finance. He is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He is the author of 4 critically acclaimed books, the most recent of which, Election Meltdown: DIrty Tricks, Distrust and the Threat to American Democracy, was published in February 2020. The program will be moderated by NPR’s outstanding national election editor, Pam Fessler. (Register here) (See Hasen and GInsberg articles below)
In this op-ed column in yesterday’s NY Times, Bret Stephens refers to today’s times as the “Age of Mobocracy”. He writes: “The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington”. Referring to Trump, Hawley and Cruz as “men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory”, Stephens suggests that Biden’s greatest challenge is to “exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trump’s chief contribution to American politics” .
RE-SENDING IN ANTICIPATION OF TUESDAY’S PROGRAM WITH HASEN AND GINSBERG:
In this article in The Atlantic, Rick Hasen identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems
In this op-ed column in yesterday’s NY Times, Bret Stephens refers to today’s times as the “Age of Mobocracy”. He writes: “The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington”. Referring to Trump, Hawley and Cruz as “men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory”, Stephens suggests that Biden’s greatest challenge is to “exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trump’s chief contribution to American politics” .
In yesterdays The Bulwark, Philip Rotner’s excellent column about the impeachment case against Trump claims the case to be “clear and compelling”. Rotner presents the single ground for impeachment, to wit: incitement of insurrection, and analyzes the legal strength of the claim; he analyzes the likely defenses which would be raised by Trump’s counsel, looking at both substantive as well as “process” or “procedural” defenses. In the end, Rotner concludes there are no valid or winnable defenses to the claim, and suggests that the politics of some senators to win or maintain support of Trump’s base is pointless. In Rotner’s concluding words, “There is nothing to be gained by trying to assuage the feelings of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, and other MAGA crazies. It’s time to hold bad actors accountable, not to appease them. It is time to let the truth have its day.”.
RE-SENDING IN ANTICIPATION OF TUESDAY’S PROGRAM WITH HASEN AND GINSBERG:
In this article in The Atlantic, Rick Hasen identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On January 27 at 5 pm PST best-selling author, Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST we welcome noted neoconservative political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, who will speak on: “Is the Future “Grand” for the Grand Old Party?”
(Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R: Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, who will speak on: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST we welcome noted neoconservative political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, who will speak on: “Is the Future “Grand” for the Grand Old Party?”
(Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R: Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, who will speak on: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 18, 2021
MLK Day
Dear Friends,
MLK Day
Dear Friends,
Here is the ZOOM link for tomorrow’s, TUESDAY’s, program at 5 pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84003788682
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84003788682
Tomorrow, January 19 (Note: Program is Tuesday not Wednesday this week!) at 5 pm PST, on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, there is no better topic to discuss than the vulnerability of our electoral system. And, there are not two more qualified speakers to lead that discussion. We are pleased to welcome two renowned election law attorneys who will help us understand what must be done to ensure the protection of the primary ingredient of our democracy–namely, the integrity of our electoral systems. Benjamin Ginsberg and Rick Hasen are both speakers and frequent commentators on various media, including CNN and MSNBC. Benjamin Ginsberg has spent most of his career representing Republican candidates, causes, and the Republican party; he was amongst those who were highly critical of President Trump’s contention that the election was stolen by Biden. Ginsberg has been a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, and at Harvard University. Rick Hasen is an American legal scholar and expert in legislation, election law and campaign finance. He is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He is the author of 4 critically acclaimed books, the most recent of which, Election Meltdown: DIrty Tricks, Distrust and the Threat to American Democracy, was published in February 2020. The program will be moderated by NPR’s outstanding national election editor, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
RE-SENDING IN ANTICIPATION OF TUESDAY’S PROGRAM WITH HASEN AND GINSBERG:
In this article in The Atlantic, Rick Hasen identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems
ARTICLE OF IMPORTANCE
This essay entitled, The American Abyss , written by TImothy Snyder, Professor at Yale and historian of fascism and political atrocity, appeared in the NY Times Magazine last week. It is so compelling that we decided to include it for a second time in case you missed it. Snyder analyzes the Trump base, some of which Snyder describes as “gamers” and some of which as “breakers”. The gamers are described as those Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump’s lies to “game the system” so as to “maintain power, taking full advantage of constitutional obscurities, gerrymandering and dark money to win elections with a minority of motivated voters. They have no interest in the collapse of the peculiar form of representation that allows their minority party disproportionate control of government.” The breakers, according to Snyder, are best exemplified by Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who knowingly sought to break the system and have power without democracy. Snyder distinguishes between gamers and breakers, inasmuch as breakers went so far as to give flesh to Trump’s lies, taking a concrete step last Wednesday to overthrow the government. Eight Senators and more than 120 congressmembers voted for what Snyder called “post-truth”, which he equates to “pre-fascism”. His conclusion is chilling and sets for the challenge to be met in the next 4 years: “America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. The racism structured into every aspect of the coup attempt is a call to heed our own history. Serious attention to the past helps us to see risks but also suggests future possibility. We cannot be a democratic republic if we tell lies about race, big or small. Democracy is not about minimizing the vote nor ignoring it, neither a matter of gaming nor of breaking a system, but of accepting the equality of others, heeding their voices and counting their votes.”
RE-SENDING IN ANTICIPATION OF TUESDAY’S PROGRAM WITH HASEN AND GINSBERG:
In this article in The Atlantic, Rick Hasen identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems
ARTICLE OF IMPORTANCE
This essay entitled, The American Abyss , written by TImothy Snyder, Professor at Yale and historian of fascism and political atrocity, appeared in the NY Times Magazine last week. It is so compelling that we decided to include it for a second time in case you missed it. Snyder analyzes the Trump base, some of which Snyder describes as “gamers” and some of which as “breakers”. The gamers are described as those Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump’s lies to “game the system” so as to “maintain power, taking full advantage of constitutional obscurities, gerrymandering and dark money to win elections with a minority of motivated voters. They have no interest in the collapse of the peculiar form of representation that allows their minority party disproportionate control of government.” The breakers, according to Snyder, are best exemplified by Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who knowingly sought to break the system and have power without democracy. Snyder distinguishes between gamers and breakers, inasmuch as breakers went so far as to give flesh to Trump’s lies, taking a concrete step last Wednesday to overthrow the government. Eight Senators and more than 120 congressmembers voted for what Snyder called “post-truth”, which he equates to “pre-fascism”. His conclusion is chilling and sets for the challenge to be met in the next 4 years: “America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. The racism structured into every aspect of the coup attempt is a call to heed our own history. Serious attention to the past helps us to see risks but also suggests future possibility. We cannot be a democratic republic if we tell lies about race, big or small. Democracy is not about minimizing the vote nor ignoring it, neither a matter of gaming nor of breaking a system, but of accepting the equality of others, heeding their voices and counting their votes.”
HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING MONDAY @ 4 PM PST
JUDJ is a proud co-sponsor of what is sure to be an outstanding program honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King produced by Sinai Temple (West Los Angeles). (See full flyer below). The spirit and content of the program is sure to be a worthy tribute to the remarkable legacy of this prophetic man. You can find a full listing of participating artists and speakers on Sinai Temple’s homepage. To participate, register here, and you will receive a reminder email on Monday prior to the program. Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4 pm PST at: streaming.sinaitemple.org
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On January 27 at 5 pm PST best-selling author, Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm PST we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST we welcome noted neoconservative political analyst and frequent commentator on several networks, William Kristol, who will speak on: “Is the Future “Grand” for the Grand Old Party?”
(Register here)
On Wednesday, February 17 at 5 pm PST we welcome former Senator (R: Maine) and former Secretary of Defense under President Clinton, William Cohen, who will speak on: “A Republican Discusses the Future: Foreign & Domestic Policy in a Hyper-partisan World.” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 13, 2021
Dear Friend,
As far as COVID-19 vaccine distribution, today’s program with Dr. Ferrer addressed many questions; in the event that you were unable to attend the program today with Dr. Ferrer, you will be able to watch it, starting tomorrow morning, at this link.
The website for the LA County Department of Public Health for the most up to date COVID 19 vaccination information in LA County is publichealth.lacounty.gov At this website you can sign up to receive the updates about COVID 19 vaccination in LA County.
Dear Friend,
As far as COVID-19 vaccine distribution, today’s program with Dr. Ferrer addressed many questions; in the event that you were unable to attend the program today with Dr. Ferrer, you will be able to watch it, starting tomorrow morning, at this link.
The website for the LA County Department of Public Health for the most up to date COVID 19 vaccination information in LA County is publichealth.lacounty.gov At this website you can sign up to receive the updates about COVID 19 vaccination in LA County.
Next TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys who are the very best people to discuss the the vulnerabilities of our US electoral systems and what must be done to ensure the protection of the primary ingredient of our democracy–namely, the integrity of our electoral systems. Benjamin Ginsberg and Rick Hasen are both speakers and frequent commentators on the subject on various media, including CNN and MSNBC. Benjamin Ginsberg has spent most of his career representing Republican candidates, causes, and the Republican party; he was amongst those who were highly critical of President Trump’s contention that the election was stolen by Biden. Ginsberg has been a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, and at Harvard University. Rick Hasen is an American legal scholar and expert in legislation, election law and campaign finance. He is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He is the author of 4 critically acclaimed books, the most recent of which, Election Meltdown: DIrty Tricks, Distrust and the Threat to American Democracy was published in February 2020. The program will be moderated by NPR’s national election editor, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
ARTICLES BY HASEN AND GINSBERG ABOUT ELECTORAL SYSTEM:
In this article in week’s The Atlantic, Rick Hasen’s wrote this article entitled, “We Can’t Let Our Elections Be This Vulnerable Again” in which he identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems.
ARTICLE OF IMPORT by David Frum about Impeachment #2:
ARTICLES BY HASEN AND GINSBERG ABOUT ELECTORAL SYSTEM:
In this article in week’s The Atlantic, Rick Hasen’s wrote this article entitled, “We Can’t Let Our Elections Be This Vulnerable Again” in which he identifies the flaws and weakness of our electoral system and suggests what needs to be addressed to eliminate the political gamesmanship which resulted in the disastrous aftermath of Biden’s victory. Hasen writes: “To remove the potential for this sort of gamesmanship in certifying and counting each state’s votes for president, the country needs to adopt a number of measures in the next few years to eliminate the power of individuals to interfere with election results. This can be done without opening up larger constitutional issues, such as whether to keep or do away with the Electoral College. Americans shouldn’t have to know the inner workings of the canvassing board of Wayne County, Michigan—or depend on representatives and senators to accurately count votes as states have reported them to Congress—to figure out who will be president.”
This op-ed written by Benjamin Ginsberg and published in the Washington Post last month speaks to the cracks in the foundations of the state certification of electors systems. Ginsberg notes that “Some shoring-up is clearly needed before the next election cycle begins. A good place to start might be with the appointment of a bipartisan commission that would propose election reforms to Congress and the states.: He then proposes a number of steps that could be taken to further shore up our electoral systems.
ARTICLE OF IMPORT by David Frum about Impeachment #2:
In this week’s The Atlantic, David Frum looks at the events of January 6, 2021 through the lens of what he calls “The Conservative Cult of Victimhood“. “The central concept in modern conservatism is victimhood. Responsibility, accountability—those are standards they apply to others, never to themselves. Even as they confront their stark record of complicity and culpability, they cannot absorb it.” Frum then writes about the the need for accountability as he writes in his conclusion: “There is no redemption without repentance. There is no repentance without accountability. There is no accountability without consequences. (emphasis added) Republican support for the impeachment and removal of President Trump, and his disqualification from ever again holding office, is the first step toward the renewal and recovery of the party that will otherwise bear the mark of Trump even after he departs office.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING PROGRAM
JUDJ is a co-sponsor of the “If Not Now, When? a Multicultural, Interfaith Tribute to Martin Luther King” presented by Sinai Temple (Los Angeles). It will take place on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4 pm PST at: streaming.sinaitemple.org See full flyer below
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
MARTIN LUTHER KING PROGRAM
JUDJ is a co-sponsor of the “If Not Now, When? a Multicultural, Interfaith Tribute to Martin Luther King” presented by Sinai Temple (Los Angeles). It will take place on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4 pm PST at: streaming.sinaitemple.org See full flyer below
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On January 27 at 5 pm best-selling author, Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 13, 2021
Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
Here is the ZOOM link for today’s program @ 5 pm (PST) with
Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Larry Mantle.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122231093
.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Larry Mantle.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122231093
.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer is CEO of LA County Public Health and a national figure in the fight against Covid 19 and the distribution of the vaccine. Dr. Ferrer is exactly the person we want to hear from in terms of the status and timing of vaccination delivery. In these days of record breaking Covid 19 deaths, Dr. Ferrer will help us understand the current trends and the likely events over the next several months. Dr. Ferrer will be in conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. Join us today at 5 PST. Register Here
resending: COVID-RELATED ARTICLES OF NOTE:
1. WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED FIRST? In Isaac Chotiner’s Q&A column in yesterday’s New Yorker, he interviews Dr. Barry Bloom, immunologist and professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Bloom is also a member of the Massachusetts governor’s Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The interview covers how the virus has affected different populations, how best to balance the needs of older Americans and frontline workers, and whether health officials have done a good job of communicating with the public.
2. Last month, the New Yorker’s David Remnick interviewed Harvard’s Dr. Atul Gawande. You can read the interview here. Dr. Gawande is the multi-talented and highly accomplished author of the Times #1 best-selling book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. In the interview Gawande discussed the distribution of the vaccine and shared his thoughts about the prospects for eradicating the virus.
ARTICLE OF IMPORT by David Frum about Impeachment #2:
In this week’s The Atlantic, David Frum looks at the events of January 6, 2021 through the lens of what he calls “The Conservative Cult of Victimhood“. “The central concept in modern conservatism is victimhood. Responsibility, accountability—those are standards they apply to others, never to themselves. Even as they confront their stark record of complicity and culpability, they cannot absorb it.” Frum then writes about the the need for accountability as he writes in his conclusion: “There is no redemption without repentance. There is no repentance without accountability. There is no accountability without consequences. (emphasis added) Republican support for the impeachment and removal of President Trump, and his disqualification from ever again holding office, is the first step toward the renewal and recovery of the party that will otherwise bear the mark of Trump even after he departs office.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING PROGRAM
JUDJ is a co-sponsor of the “If Not Now, When? a Multicultural, Interfaith Tribute to Martin Luther King” presented by Sinai Temple (Los Angeles). It will take place on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4 pm PST at: streaming.sinaitemple.org See full flyer below
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
1. WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED FIRST? In Isaac Chotiner’s Q&A column in yesterday’s New Yorker, he interviews Dr. Barry Bloom, immunologist and professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Bloom is also a member of the Massachusetts governor’s Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The interview covers how the virus has affected different populations, how best to balance the needs of older Americans and frontline workers, and whether health officials have done a good job of communicating with the public.
2. Last month, the New Yorker’s David Remnick interviewed Harvard’s Dr. Atul Gawande. You can read the interview here. Dr. Gawande is the multi-talented and highly accomplished author of the Times #1 best-selling book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. In the interview Gawande discussed the distribution of the vaccine and shared his thoughts about the prospects for eradicating the virus.
ARTICLE OF IMPORT by David Frum about Impeachment #2:
In this week’s The Atlantic, David Frum looks at the events of January 6, 2021 through the lens of what he calls “The Conservative Cult of Victimhood“. “The central concept in modern conservatism is victimhood. Responsibility, accountability—those are standards they apply to others, never to themselves. Even as they confront their stark record of complicity and culpability, they cannot absorb it.” Frum then writes about the the need for accountability as he writes in his conclusion: “There is no redemption without repentance. There is no repentance without accountability. There is no accountability without consequences. (emphasis added) Republican support for the impeachment and removal of President Trump, and his disqualification from ever again holding office, is the first step toward the renewal and recovery of the party that will otherwise bear the mark of Trump even after he departs office.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING PROGRAM
JUDJ is a co-sponsor of the “If Not Now, When? a Multicultural, Interfaith Tribute to Martin Luther King” presented by Sinai Temple (Los Angeles). It will take place on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4 pm PST at: streaming.sinaitemple.org See full flyer below
Upcoming JUDJ/CAI American at a Crossroads Programs
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’sRick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?” Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s national election editor, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm best-selling author, Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 12, 2021
Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
Here is the ZOOM link for tomorrow’s program @ 5 pm (PST) with
Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Larry Mantle.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122231093
Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Larry Mantle.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122231093
Dr. Barbara Ferrer is CEO of LA County Public Health and a national figure in the fight against Covid 19 and the distribution of the vaccine. Dr. Ferrer is exactly the person we want to hear from in terms of the status and timing of vaccination delivery. In these days of record breaking Covid 19 deaths, Dr. Ferrer will help us understand the current trends and the likely events over the next several months. Dr. Ferrer will be in conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. Join us Wednesday at 5 PST. Register Here
ARTICLES OF NOTE
1. WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED FIRST? In Isaac Chotiner’s Q&A column in yesterday’s New Yorker, he interviews Dr. Barry Bloom, immunologist and professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Bloom is also a member of the Massachusetts governor’s Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The interview covers how the virus has affected different populations, how best to balance the needs of older Americans and frontline workers, and whether health officials have done a good job of communicating with the public.
2. Last month, the New Yorker’s David Remnick interviewed Harvard’s Dr. Atul Gawande, the multi-talented and highly accomplished author of the Times #1 best-selling book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. In the interview Gawande discussed the distribution of the vaccine and shared his thoughts about the prospects for eradicating the virus. You can read the interview here.
3. This op-ed in yesterday’s NY Times is entitled “The Roots of Josh Hawley’s Rage”; in brief, the author contends that those roots lie in Hawley’s passionate embrace of “religious nationalism”. The op-ed’s author, Katherine Stewart, writes: “Mr. Hawley’s idea of freedom is the freedom to conform to what he and his preferred religious authorities know to be right. Mr. Hawley is not shy about making the point explicit. In a 2017 speech to the American Renewal Project, he declared — paraphrasing the Dutch Reformed theologian and onetime prime minister Abraham Kuyper — “There is not one square inch of all creation over which Jesus Christ is not Lord.” Mr. Kuyper is perhaps best known for his claim that Christianity has sole legitimate authority over all aspects of human life.”
American Jewish Committee PROGRAM TODAY
American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles welcomes your attendance later today (Tuesday January 12) at 4 pm PST to this program: Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program features Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
1. WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED FIRST? In Isaac Chotiner’s Q&A column in yesterday’s New Yorker, he interviews Dr. Barry Bloom, immunologist and professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Bloom is also a member of the Massachusetts governor’s Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The interview covers how the virus has affected different populations, how best to balance the needs of older Americans and frontline workers, and whether health officials have done a good job of communicating with the public.
2. Last month, the New Yorker’s David Remnick interviewed Harvard’s Dr. Atul Gawande, the multi-talented and highly accomplished author of the Times #1 best-selling book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. In the interview Gawande discussed the distribution of the vaccine and shared his thoughts about the prospects for eradicating the virus. You can read the interview here.
3. This op-ed in yesterday’s NY Times is entitled “The Roots of Josh Hawley’s Rage”; in brief, the author contends that those roots lie in Hawley’s passionate embrace of “religious nationalism”. The op-ed’s author, Katherine Stewart, writes: “Mr. Hawley’s idea of freedom is the freedom to conform to what he and his preferred religious authorities know to be right. Mr. Hawley is not shy about making the point explicit. In a 2017 speech to the American Renewal Project, he declared — paraphrasing the Dutch Reformed theologian and onetime prime minister Abraham Kuyper — “There is not one square inch of all creation over which Jesus Christ is not Lord.” Mr. Kuyper is perhaps best known for his claim that Christianity has sole legitimate authority over all aspects of human life.”
American Jewish Committee PROGRAM TODAY
American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles welcomes your attendance later today (Tuesday January 12) at 4 pm PST to this program: Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program features Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’sRick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?”
What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? This year we dodged a bullet in terms of efforts made to steal the election; but we came dangerously close to a serious constitutional crisis. Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s election specialist, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 10, 2021
Dear Friend,
If you were not amongst the almost 5,000 people who “attended” the stellar program this evening with Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, you can still view the program! Beginning tomorrow morning, the recording will be at this link. Our guests, moderated by Warren Olney, gave outstanding and enlightening perspectives on the remarkable events of last week and gave thoughts about what we might be looking at over the next few days, weeks and months.
This coming Wednesday we will hear from Dr. Barbara Ferrer, who is CEO of LA County Public Health and a national figure in the fight against Covid 19 and the distribution of the vaccine. Dr. Ferrer is exactly the person we want to hear from in terms of the status and timing of vaccination delivery. In these days of record breaking Covid 19 deaths, Dr. Ferrer will help us understand the current trends and the likely events over the next several months. Dr. Ferrer will be in conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. Join us Wednesday at 5 PST. Register Here
Dear Friend,
If you were not amongst the almost 5,000 people who “attended” the stellar program this evening with Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, you can still view the program! Beginning tomorrow morning, the recording will be at this link. Our guests, moderated by Warren Olney, gave outstanding and enlightening perspectives on the remarkable events of last week and gave thoughts about what we might be looking at over the next few days, weeks and months.
This coming Wednesday we will hear from Dr. Barbara Ferrer, who is CEO of LA County Public Health and a national figure in the fight against Covid 19 and the distribution of the vaccine. Dr. Ferrer is exactly the person we want to hear from in terms of the status and timing of vaccination delivery. In these days of record breaking Covid 19 deaths, Dr. Ferrer will help us understand the current trends and the likely events over the next several months. Dr. Ferrer will be in conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. Join us Wednesday at 5 PST. Register Here
Statement by former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger
Regarding the events of this past Wednesday, former Republican Governor Schwarzenegger issued this chilling statement in which he condemns the Trumpian mob and contextualizes what occurred against the backdrop of his youth in Austria.
Regarding the events of this past Wednesday, former Republican Governor Schwarzenegger issued this chilling statement in which he condemns the Trumpian mob and contextualizes what occurred against the backdrop of his youth in Austria.
ARTICLES OF NOTE:
1. In yesterday’s NY Times, this article by Peter Baker, entitled For Trump and the Nation, a Final Test of Accountability, was posted. Baker reports on the different Congressional perspectives on the impending second impeachment, and looks at what it all might mean both for Trump and for the new Administration.
2. In this morning’s NY Times, this extraordinary essay by historian and Professor at Yale University, Timothy Snyder, analyzes the Trump base, some of which Snyder describes as “gamers” and some of which as “breakers”. The gamers are described as those Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump’s lies to “game the system” so as to “maintain power, taking full advantage of constitutional obscurities, gerrymandering and dark money to win elections with a minority of motivated voters. They have no interest in the collapse of the peculiar form of representation that allows their minority party disproportionate control of government.” The breakers, according to Snyder, are best exemplified by Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who knowingly sought to break the system and have power without democracy. Snyder distinguishes between gamers and breakers, inasmuch as breakers went so far as to give flesh to Trump’s lies, taking a concrete step last Wednesday to overthrow the government. Eight Senators and more than 120 congressmembers voted for what Snyder called “post-truth”, which he equates to “pre-fascism”. His conclusion is chilling and sets for the challenge to be met in the next 4 years: “America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. The racism structured into every aspect of the coup attempt is a call to heed our own history. Serious attention to the past helps us to see risks but also suggests future possibility. We cannot be a democratic republic if we tell lies about race, big or small. Democracy is not about minimizing the vote nor ignoring it, neither a matter of gaming nor of breaking a system, but of accepting the equality of others, heeding their voices and counting their votes.”
3. The title of Bret Stephen’s op-ed column in last Thursday’s NY Times says it all: Impeach and Convict. Right Now: Trump is too dangerous to leave in office for even another minute.
4. David Remnick’s Comment column in yesterday’s New Yorker discusses Trump’s history of bigotry and provocation and questions those Republicans who are, only now, jumping off the Trump bandwagon. Remnick writes: “How surprising can Trump’s recent provocation be when for years he has served as an inspiration to bigots everywhere, to damaged souls plotting to mail pipe bombs to journalists and to kidnap the governor of Michigan? This dawning of conscience [of Republicans now distancing themselves from Trump] is as bewitching as it is belated.”
A PROGRAM ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY
We are pleased to inform you of this program presented by our newest America at a Crossroads co-sponsor, American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles on TuesdayJanuary 12 at 4 pm PST entitled:. Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program will feature Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
1. In yesterday’s NY Times, this article by Peter Baker, entitled For Trump and the Nation, a Final Test of Accountability, was posted. Baker reports on the different Congressional perspectives on the impending second impeachment, and looks at what it all might mean both for Trump and for the new Administration.
2. In this morning’s NY Times, this extraordinary essay by historian and Professor at Yale University, Timothy Snyder, analyzes the Trump base, some of which Snyder describes as “gamers” and some of which as “breakers”. The gamers are described as those Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump’s lies to “game the system” so as to “maintain power, taking full advantage of constitutional obscurities, gerrymandering and dark money to win elections with a minority of motivated voters. They have no interest in the collapse of the peculiar form of representation that allows their minority party disproportionate control of government.” The breakers, according to Snyder, are best exemplified by Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who knowingly sought to break the system and have power without democracy. Snyder distinguishes between gamers and breakers, inasmuch as breakers went so far as to give flesh to Trump’s lies, taking a concrete step last Wednesday to overthrow the government. Eight Senators and more than 120 congressmembers voted for what Snyder called “post-truth”, which he equates to “pre-fascism”. His conclusion is chilling and sets for the challenge to be met in the next 4 years: “America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. The racism structured into every aspect of the coup attempt is a call to heed our own history. Serious attention to the past helps us to see risks but also suggests future possibility. We cannot be a democratic republic if we tell lies about race, big or small. Democracy is not about minimizing the vote nor ignoring it, neither a matter of gaming nor of breaking a system, but of accepting the equality of others, heeding their voices and counting their votes.”
3. The title of Bret Stephen’s op-ed column in last Thursday’s NY Times says it all: Impeach and Convict. Right Now: Trump is too dangerous to leave in office for even another minute.
4. David Remnick’s Comment column in yesterday’s New Yorker discusses Trump’s history of bigotry and provocation and questions those Republicans who are, only now, jumping off the Trump bandwagon. Remnick writes: “How surprising can Trump’s recent provocation be when for years he has served as an inspiration to bigots everywhere, to damaged souls plotting to mail pipe bombs to journalists and to kidnap the governor of Michigan? This dawning of conscience [of Republicans now distancing themselves from Trump] is as bewitching as it is belated.”
A PROGRAM ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY
We are pleased to inform you of this program presented by our newest America at a Crossroads co-sponsor, American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles on TuesdayJanuary 12 at 4 pm PST entitled:. Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program will feature Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
This coming Wednesday, January 13 at 5 pm, we welcome Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, who directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Ferrer is a nationally-known public health leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a philanthropic strategist, public health director, educational leader, researcher, and community advocate. She will help us understand the COVID19 vaccination distribution plan across the country and in particular, in large American cities. The program will be moderated by Larry Mantle. (Register here)
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’s Rick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?”
What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? This year we dodged a bullet in terms of efforts made to steal the election; but we came dangerously close to a serious constitutional crisis. Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s election specialist, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 10, 2021
Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
Here is the zoom link for the Glasser-Baker program today @ 5 pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
NEW ARTICLES OF NOTE:
1. In yesterday’s NY Times, this article by Peter Baker, entitled For Trump and the Nation, a Final Test of Accountability, was posted. Baker reports on the different Congressional perspectives on the impending second impeachment, and looks at what it all might mean both for Trump and for the new Administration.
2. In this morning’s NY Times, this extraordinary essay by historian and Professor at Yale University, Timothy Snyder, analyzes the Trump base, some of which Snyder describes as “gamers” and some of which as “breakers”. The gamers are described as those Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump’s lies to “game the system” so as to “maintain power, taking full advantage of constitutional obscurities, gerrymandering and dark money to win elections with a minority of motivated voters. They have no interest in the collapse of the peculiar form of representation that allows their minority party disproportionate control of government.” The breakers, according to Snyder, are best exemplified by Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz who knowingly sought to break the system and have power without democracy. Snyder distinguishes between gamers and breakers, inasmuch as breakers went so far as to give flesh to Trump’s lies, taking a concrete step last Wednesday to overthrow the government. Eight Senators and more than 120 congressmembers voted for what Snyder called “post-truth”, which he equates to “pre-fascism”. His conclusion is chilling and sets for the challenge to be met in the next 4 years: “America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. The racism structured into every aspect of the coup attempt is a call to heed our own history. Serious attention to the past helps us to see risks but also suggests future possibility. We cannot be a democratic republic if we tell lies about race, big or small. Democracy is not about minimizing the vote nor ignoring it, neither a matter of gaming nor of breaking a system, but of accepting the equality of others, heeding their voices and counting their votes.”
3. The title of Bret Stephen’s op-ed column in last Thursday’s NY Times says it all: Impeach and Convict. Right Now: Trump is too dangerous to leave in office for even another minute.
4. David Remnick’s Comment column in yesterday’s New Yorker discusses Trump’s history of bigotry and provocation and questions those Republicans who are, only now, jumping off the Trump bandwagon. Remnick writes: “How surprising can Trump’s recent provocation be when for years he has served as an inspiration to bigots everywhere, to damaged souls plotting to mail pipe bombs to journalists and to kidnap the governor of Michigan? This dawning of conscience [of Republicans now distancing themselves from Trump] is as bewitching as it is belated.”
A PROGRAM ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY
We are pleased to inform you of this program presented by our newest America at a Crossroads co-sponsor, American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles on TuesdayJanuary 12 at 4 pm PST entitled:. Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program will feature Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
This coming Wednesday, January 13 at 5 pm, we welcome Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, who directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Ferrer is a nationally-known public health leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a philanthropic strategist, public health director, educational leader, researcher, and community advocate. She will help us understand the COVID19 vaccination distribution plan across the country and in particular, in large American cities. The program will be moderated by Larry Mantle. (Register here)
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’s Rick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?”
What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? This year we dodged a bullet in terms of efforts made to steal the election; but we came dangerously close to a serious constitutional crisis. Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s election specialist, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 8, 2021
Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
Here is the zoom link for the Glasser-Baker program Sunday at 5 pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
This has surely been a week like no other; between the Georgia Senate elections, the storming of the Capitol, and the subsequent calls for Trump’s impeachment or removal, you will want to join us this Sunday at 5 pm PST to hear from these two outstanding, expert, highly experienced journalists in conversation with veteran broadcast journalist Warren Olney.
ARTICLES OF NOTE:
1. In case you missed it (ICYMI): In preparation for Sunday’s program, here are the links to the articles published earlier this week by Susan Glasser for the New Yorker and Peter Baker for the NY Times. Peter Baker wrote this column entitled: A Mob and the Breach of Democracy: The Violent End of the Trump Era and Susan Glasser wrotethis article entitled: Trump’s Reckoning—and America’s
2. Just minutes ago, the New York Times published this article by Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman entitled, The White House slips deeper into crisis in the final days of the Trump presidency.
3. Here is yesterday’s opinion column by David Brooks in which he challenges Congress in the wake of Wednesday’s “rampage”, to right our sacred ship. “Leadership matters. Character matters.” writes Brooks. “The thousands of people who work in the Capitol complex were chased from their chambers or barricaded in their offices by the furies that are ravaging this nation. The shock of this atrocity is bound to have a sobering effect… We look to you, our 535 representatives, to simply do the people’s business, to cut deals so people can stock their pantries and school their kids, and so that a 14-year-old, or a 59-year-old, can enter your building with eyes of wonder, awe and devotion.”
A PROGRAM ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY
We are pleased to inform you of this program presented by our newest America at a Crossroads co-sponsor, American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles on TuesdayJanuary 12 at 4 pm PST entitled:. Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program will feature Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
ARTICLES OF NOTE:
1. In case you missed it (ICYMI): In preparation for Sunday’s program, here are the links to the articles published earlier this week by Susan Glasser for the New Yorker and Peter Baker for the NY Times. Peter Baker wrote this column entitled: A Mob and the Breach of Democracy: The Violent End of the Trump Era and Susan Glasser wrotethis article entitled: Trump’s Reckoning—and America’s
2. Just minutes ago, the New York Times published this article by Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman entitled, The White House slips deeper into crisis in the final days of the Trump presidency.
3. Here is yesterday’s opinion column by David Brooks in which he challenges Congress in the wake of Wednesday’s “rampage”, to right our sacred ship. “Leadership matters. Character matters.” writes Brooks. “The thousands of people who work in the Capitol complex were chased from their chambers or barricaded in their offices by the furies that are ravaging this nation. The shock of this atrocity is bound to have a sobering effect… We look to you, our 535 representatives, to simply do the people’s business, to cut deals so people can stock their pantries and school their kids, and so that a 14-year-old, or a 59-year-old, can enter your building with eyes of wonder, awe and devotion.”
A PROGRAM ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY
We are pleased to inform you of this program presented by our newest America at a Crossroads co-sponsor, American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles on TuesdayJanuary 12 at 4 pm PST entitled:. Voting Rights and Election Integrity: Lessons from 2020. The program will feature Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, in conversation with Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and AJC’s 2018 Learned Hand Award recipient. To register, click here.
Upcoming American at a Crossroads Programs
This coming Wednesday, January 13 at 5 pm, we welcome Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, who directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Ferrer is a nationally-known public health leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a philanthropic strategist, public health director, educational leader, researcher, and community advocate. She will help us understand the COVID19 vaccination distribution plan across the country and in particular, in large American cities. The program will be moderated by Larry Mantle. (Register here)
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’s Rick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?”
What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? This year we dodged a bullet in terms of efforts made to steal the election; but we came dangerously close to a serious constitutional crisis. Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s election specialist, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On January 27 at 5 pm Jacob Soboroff, the NBC and MSNBC journalist who first broke the story on family separations, will join us to talk about immigration reform and the continuing problem of families that have been separated at the border. “Separated–Inside an American Tragedy”. He will be in conversation with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand, one of our frequent moderators. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.
January 6, 2021
Dear Friend:
Dear Friend:
Here is the zoom link for the Glasser-Baker program today at 5 pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83312158140
In light of today’s events in DC and yesterday’s election results, we anticipate today’s program with special feelings. Peter Baker and Susan Glasser are the experts from whom we want to hear as to what is happening in DC today and how a 50/50 split in the Senate means and what control of the Senate, House and White House portends for the Biden Administration’s agenda and for our country.
In this article published in yesterday’s NY Times, Peter Baker, analyzed the chaos surrounding the Congressional certification of the presidential election of 1876 and contrasted that certification to today’s certification of President Biden’s election. Baker points out that whereas In 1876 there were competing electoral slates sent by 3 states, in the current presidential election, every state certified their results. “In 1876, unlike today, three swing states in the South still occupied by Union troops — Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida — sent competing slates of electors to Washington for Congress to consider. No state has done that this time and every state has certified its results, resulting in a decisive victory for Mr. Biden with 306 electoral votes to 232 for Mr. Trump.”
Here is the latest Lincoln Project ad which attacks President Trump as a traitor for the call he made this past weekend to Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger.
Upcoming Programs
Here is the latest Lincoln Project ad which attacks President Trump as a traitor for the call he made this past weekend to Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger.
Upcoming Programs
Today January 6, 2021 at 5 pm we host the outstanding duo: Susan Glasser of the New Yorker and Peter Baker of the New York Times, on the topic: “Can Washington Work Again: On Trump, BIden, and What Comes Next?” The conversation will be moderated by Warren Olney. (Register here).
On January 13 at 5 pm we welcome Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, who directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Ferrer is a nationally-known public health leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a philanthropic strategist, public health director, educational leader, researcher, and community advocate. She will help us understand the COVID19 vaccination distribution plan across the country and in particular, in large American cities. The program will be moderated by Larry Mantle. (Register here)
On January 13 at 5 pm we welcome Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, who directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Ferrer is a nationally-known public health leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a philanthropic strategist, public health director, educational leader, researcher, and community advocate. She will help us understand the COVID19 vaccination distribution plan across the country and in particular, in large American cities. The program will be moderated by Larry Mantle. (Register here)
On TUESDAY, January 19 at 5 pm, for Inauguration Eve, we welcome two renowned election law attorneys, Benjamin Ginsberg and UC Irvine School of Law’s Rick Hasen to discuss “What has to Change to Protect our Vulnerable Electoral System?”
What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? This year we dodged a bullet in terms of efforts made to steal the election; but we came dangerously close to a serious constitutional crisis. Both speakers are frequent commentators on the subject on CNN and MSNBC. The program will be moderated by NPR’s election specialist, Pam Fessler. (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
On Wednesday, February 3 at 5 pm we welcome Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Washington Post who will speak on: “Can Humpty Dumpty Be Put Back Together—American Foreign Policy After Trump?” (Register here)
Thank you for your donations! It is never too late to help offset the costs of our programming. America at a Crossroads is a joint venture of Jews United for Democracy & Justice (JUDJ) and Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI). All funds are shared by JUDJ and CAI to produce this series. Donations can be made here: JUDJ website or here: CAI website.
JUDJ ( EIN 82-0742397) is a fiscally sponsored project of Jewish Center for Justice (EIN: 81-4397882) which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California public benefit corporation.
PAST PROGRAMS:
You can access recordings of all of our past events here.