Best Center for the Study of Social Policy Podcasts (2025)

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Military Lawyers as Temporary Immigration Judges? 32:51

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4h ago32:51

32:51

This week’s Parsing Immigration Policy podcast examines the Trump administration’s initiative to temporarily detail military lawyers -- Judge Advocates General (JAGs) -- to serve as temporary immigration judges, with the first group beginning training this week. Host Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, is joine…

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A Social Contract for the Planetary Commons—A Conversation with James Quilligan 1:20:30

2d ago1:20:30

1:20:30

By Hagen Schulz-Forberg

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The New Order of Planetary Governance - A Conversation with Nils Gilman 1:21:00

2d ago1:21:00

1:21:00

By Hagen Schulz-Forberg, James Quilligan

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97 - In Loving Memory of Mark Saunders 51:35

5d ago51:35

51:35

We dedicate this episode to the extraordinary urban filmmaker and tireless social-justice advocate, Mark Saunders, who passed away recently at the age of 68. Mark’s powerful contributions to documentary filmmaking, particularly through Despite TV, gave voice to the marginalized and illuminated urgent political and social issues across the globe. Hi…

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Colin Camerer: Econ's Neurovisionary 45:58

6d ago45:58

45:58

An absorbing conversation featuring Colin Camerer (CASBS fellow, 1997-98), among the world's most accomplished scholars in both behavioral economics and neuroeconomics, with economist Stephanie Wang (2024-25). Camerer discusses his groundbreaking work on the neuroeconomics of self-control and habit formation; offers insights on generating ideas for…

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Katie Lam, UK Shadow Minister, on Immigration 41:25

6d ago41:25

41:25

This week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features Katie Lam, Conservative Member of Parliament for Weald of Kent and a Shadow Home Office Minister, who brings a British perspective on the pressing issue of immigration. Since 1974, the UK’s immigration system has been marked by broken promises to the voters and rising numbers – despite repe…

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Inside the Classroom: Why Civics Teaching Feels Risky—and How to Fix It 33:42

7d ago33:42

33:42

A quiet chill has crept into civics classrooms: teachers are pulling back from timely, contested topics because they fear blowback. We sit down with Liam Julian, vice president of programs and public policy at the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, to unpack what that looks like on the ground, why vague standards and thin distric…

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Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks 56:27

14d ago56:27

56:27

The latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features the audio of a recent sit-down between Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Michael Banks, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. During an in-depth discussion, Chief Banks touched on the current state of border security, including apprehension numbers, maritime illegal immigration, n…

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Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with USCIS Director Joseph Edlow 54:05

23d ago54:05

54:05

The latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features the audio of a recent sit-down between Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Joseph Edlow, the newly confirmed Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In a wide-ranging discussion, Edlow laid out his priorities for the agency — from strengthening fraud dete…

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96 - Digital Cities and Democracy 1:15:42

21d ago1:15:42

1:15:42

In this episode Ross Beveridge, co-founder of our Podcast, and guests discuss the topic of digital cities and democracy. Digitalisation is transforming cities, urbanization and urban life – but how is it changing urban politics? What issues of justice and democracy are at stake in the advance of digital technologies? What are the power implications…

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The Godfather of Modern Law: James Bradley Thayer's Hidden Influence 32:46

21d ago32:46

32:46

Dr. Porwancher takes us on a fascinating journey through the hidden influence of James Bradley Thayer, a Harvard Law professor whose mentorship shaped America's legal giants like Louis Brandeis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Felix Frankfurter. What makes this exploration particularly special is its creation – a collaborative book co-authored with form…

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier 30:36

30d ago30:36

30:36

Florida has become a national leader in immigration enforcement, and this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features an in-depth conversation with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on the state’s high-profile role. Attorney General Uthmeier discusses Florida’s measures to enforce immigration law, protect public safety, and collabor…

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Arizona America 250: Celebrating Our Nation's Semi-Quincentennial 34:11

1M ago34:11

34:11

How does a state like Arizona – not even in existence when the Declaration of Independence was signed – celebrate America's 250th birthday? Secretary of State Adrian Fontes joins us to share the ambitious and creative plans underway for America 250 AZ, a multi-year celebration culminating in 2026. Far from being just another patriotic party, this s…

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Stricter Vetting: USCIS Raises Bar for Immigration Benefits 29:41

1M ago29:41

29:41

The latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features Elizabeth Jacobs, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, discussing USCIS’s updated guidance on discretion in immigration benefits. Key Points: Beyond “Not a Criminal”: New USCIS policy updates require officers to engage in a more holistic analysis o…

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Forcing Environmental Analysis of Policies That Increase Immigration 42:44

1M ago42:44

42:44

A new episode of the Center for Immigration Studies podcast features Director of Litigation Julie Axelrod discussing the current status of the Center’s landmark National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lawsuit, a new CIS case filed in Texas, and the recent “Alligator Alcatraz” litigation. Axelrod explains how the Trump administration is handling th…

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Beyond Left and Right: Rediscovering Common Ground Through Media Literacy 58:48

1M ago58:48

58:48

Alice Sheehan from AllSides joins us to discuss media literacy and the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in our fragmented media landscape. AllSides provides balanced news by showing how left, center, and right-leaning sources cover the same stories, helping readers recognize patterns in media bias while developing critical thinking …

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Former Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens on Border Security Challenges, Past and Future 39:59

2M ago39:59

39:59

This week’s episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with recently retired Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, who served for 30 years and led the agency during the worst border crisis in history. Owens speaks with the Center’s Executive Director Mark Krikorian about the evolution of the Border Patrol over…

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95 - The Urban Crisis at Night: Engaging the Polycrisis after Dark 31:37

2M ago31:37

31:37

Urban Polycrisis Series To what extent does the current polycrisis intensify in urban settings during nighttime hours? Night lives are already characterized by precarity, urban inequalities, deeply seeded health and wellbeing concerns and a life 'in the shadows'. In this Polycrisis series episode, Michele Acuto, Andreina Seijas and Alessio Koliouli…

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From INS to ICE: How Immigration Enforcement Has Changed 34:37

2M ago34:37

34:37

In the latest episode of the Center for Immigration Studies podcast, Executive Director Mark Krikorian speaks with Scott Mechkowski, retired Deputy Field Office Director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York. With experience at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its predecessor agency, the Immigration and Naturali…

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How Junior Achievement is Revolutionizing Career Readiness and Critical Thinking 26:41

2M ago26:41

26:41

Junior Achievement of Arizona provides free, standards-aligned curriculum to help students develop skills in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Their programs are designed to make the lives of educators easier by offering flexible implementation options and bringing business professionals into classrooms to provide real-wor…

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From Georgia to Utah: Immigration Is Reshaping States 40:01

2M ago40:01

40:01

The Center for Immigration Studies has released a new podcast examining the findings of a recent report, The Foreign-Born Population at the State and Regional Level, 1850 to 2025. The report shows that the foreign-born population – defined as anyone not a U.S. citizen at birth – has reached record levels at the state and regional levels. While the …

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CIS 2025 Congressional Testimony Highlights 43:38

2M ago43:38

43:38

The Center for Immigration Studies is proud to release the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, featuring the opening statements from our 2025 congressional testimony. Since January, CIS experts have testified seven times before the U.S. House and Senate, appearing before committees on Homeland Security, Oversight, and Judiciary. These ope…

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The Man in the Arena: Teddy Roosevelt's Complex Relationship with American Jews 35:15

2M ago35:15

35:15

Discover the untold story of Theodore Roosevelt's complex relationship with Jewish Americans in this fascinating exploration of presidential leadership, identity politics, and American pluralism. At a time when America's Jewish population nearly doubled through immigration from Eastern Europe, Roosevelt navigated competing pressures with characteri…

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The Role of Immigration Detention 38:12

3M ago38:12

38:12

The latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, the Center for Immigration Studies' podcast, delves into the role of immigration detention in U.S. enforcement efforts. Hosted by Mark Krikorian, the discussion features insights from Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge and the Center’s Fellow in Law and Policy, who stresses that detention is …

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Grand Master of the Sociology of Immigration & Assimilation 54:52

3M ago54:52

54:52

For decades, Alejandro Portes (CASBS fellow 1980-81) has been among our most distinguished scholars elucidating the causes and consequences of immigration and assimilation. René D. Flores (CASBS fellow 2023-24) engages Portes in a conversation spanning large swaths of Portes's formidable intellectual biography, including his personal journey from C…

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94 - Urban Racial Politics in Cartagena, Colombia 1:03:22

3M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

Urban Polycrisis Series This episode will be conducted in Spanish, in line with the podcast's aim to de-center urban knowledge production by showcasing distinctive urban perspectives, and linguistic viewpoints. We are thrilled to introduce you to the second episode of our series on Urban Polycrisis!Join us for an episode in Spanish exploring the co…

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A Civil Exchange on a Polarizing Issue 38:25

3M ago38:25

38:25

In the latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, host and the Center’s executive director Mark Krikorian sits down with Gaby Pacheco, an Ecuador-born “Dreamer” and President and CEO of TheDream.US. Krikorian, a long-time critic of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Pacheco, now an American citizen, discuss the histor…

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The First Penitentiary: Eastern State's Legacy and Modern Impact 43:50

3M ago43:50

43:50

What can America's first prison teach us about criminal justice today? Journey inside the imposing stone walls of Eastern State Penitentiary with President and CEO Kerry Sautner as she unveils the fascinating and troubling history of this revolutionary institution. Built in 1829 as a castle-like structure visible from all directions, Eastern State …

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Visa Integrity: The Next Frontier in Immigration Enforcement 35:38

3M ago35:38

35:38

In this week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Jessica Vaughan, the Center's Director of Policy Studies, expands on her recent testimony before the U.S. House immigration subcommittee on “Restoring Integrity and Security to the Visa Process”. Under the Biden administration, the number of visa applications and issuances increased significantl…

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93 - Normative Insurgency: Responses to the Urban Polycrisis from the Global South 1:46:55

3M ago1:46:55

1:46:55

Polycrisis Series This new Polycrisis series will explore the complex set of protracted, interconnected, and mutually reinforcing crises that disproportionately affect urban centers and urban populations, ranging from housing, democracy, transit, infrastructure, inequality, conflict, the environment, to health.What relevance do discussions of the “…

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Marriage Fraud: The Hidden Gateway to U.S. Entry 34:27

3M ago34:27

34:27

This week’s episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast explores a topic rarely covered in the media: marriage fraud. Guest host Marguerite Telford, the Center’s Director of Communications, sits down with Richard Lee, a former USCIS Immigration Officer and author, to discuss how sham marriages are orchestrated to gain a green card—and eventua…

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Can the Military Enforce Immigration Law? 34:51

4M ago34:51

34:51

This week’s episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast delves into the Insurrection Act, its historical uses, and whether it could legally authorize the use of the military to assist in the arrest and removal of illegal aliens. The Insurrection Act allows presidents to deploy federal troops not only in cases of insurrection but also when fed…

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92 - Radically Legal Politics and Housing Expropriation in Berlin 44:46

4M ago44:46

44:46

Deutsche Wohnen & Co. Enteignen This episode is a talk by Joanna Kusiak at the Think&Drink Colloquium of Georg-Simmel-Centre for Urban Studies at Humboldt University Berlin. It gives insights into her new book Radically Legal: Berlin Constitutes the Future (2024). Right in the middle of the German constitution, a group of ordinary citizens discover…

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A Conversation with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach 39:49

4M ago39:49

39:49

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, joins Parsing Immigration Policy for a wide-ranging discussion of immigration enforcement, voter integrity, and state-federal cooperation. A key national voice on immigration issues, Kobach shares with host Mark Krikorian insights into the practical and l…

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Civics in a Year Trailer 2:51

4M ago2:51

2:51

New Podcast from the Center for American Civics! Dive into the heart of American democracy with Civics in a Year, an innovative podcast that transforms complex civic concepts into engaging 10-minute episodes anyone can understand. We've crafted this series for the curious minds who want to grasp how our government functions without wading through d…

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The 287(g) Program: A Force Multiplier for Immigration Enforcement 41:42

4M ago41:42

41:42

The Center for Immigration Studies releases a new podcast episode focusing on the 287(g) program, an ICE initiative that empowers and trains local law enforcement to help identify and detain illegal aliens involved in criminal activity. The Center’s director of policy studies Jessica Vaughan joins host Mark Krikorian to explain how the program work…

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91 - The Suburban Frontier 59:00

4M ago59:00

59:00

Middle-Class Construction in Dar es Salaam African cities are under construction. Beyond the urban redevelopment schemes and large-scale infrastructure projects reconfiguring central city skylines, urban residents are putting their resources into finding land and building homes on city edges. The Suburban Frontier examines how self-built housing on…

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Foreign Student Admissions: How Does It Work and What Are the Challenges? 37:56

4M ago37:56

37:56

With foreign student visas at Harvard and elsewhere in the news, today's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features Andrew Arthur, the Center for Immigration Studies fellow in law and policy, providing a crash course on the subject. He explains the foreign student admissions process, the responsibilities of schools certified to enroll foreign s…

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The Social Security Number: Key to Verifying Eligibility for Voting, Employment 37:35

4M ago37:35

37:35

In this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Senior Legal Fellow George Fishman explains that verifying Social Security numbers could be the solution to two issues: States’ need for tools to help identify those eligible to vote in the United States and DHS’s need for tools to uncover employers who are knowingly employing illegal aliens. Vo…

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90 - Looking Back at Eight Years of Municipalist Government in Barcelona 1:24:51

5M ago1:24:51

1:24:51

The movement-party Barcelona en Comú In this episode, we reflect on the rise, evolution, and legacy of Barcelona en Comú, the emblematic movement-party that governed the city of Barcelona from 2015 to 2023. Joined by long-time activist and former political advisor Elia Gran, as well as researchers Silke van Dyk and Luzie Gerstenhöfer (University of…

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Todd Bensman: The Exit Interview 44:45

5M ago44:45

44:45

In this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Todd Bensman, the Center’s Texas-based Senior National Security Fellow, discusses his experiences at the Center as he prepares to depart for a new role working with Border Czar Tom Homan. Bensman and host Mark Krikorian reflect on his nearly seven-year tenure at the Center, focusing on his first…

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Building Young Citizens: The Crucial Role of Civic Education in Elementary School 41:13

5M ago41:13

41:13

Democracy begins in kindergarten. While most people think civic education starts in high school government class, our panel of passionate elementary educators reveals how young children are already practicing citizenship daily through classroom voting, community service, and learning about their responsibilities to one another. These elementary tea…

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Restoring VOICE: Supporting Victims of Illegal-Alien Crime 36:39

5M ago36:39

36:39

This week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy focuses on the re-opening of ICE’s Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. Originally established by the Trump administration in 2017 to provide critical support to victims and families affected by crimes linked to illegal immigration, the VOICE office was shut down by the Biden admi…

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Beyond Multiple Choice: Engaging Every Student in Civic Learning 34:16

5M ago34:16

34:16

Imagine a civics classroom where every student—regardless of ability, background, or learning style—can fully engage with the democratic principles that shape our society. Three exceptional educators from a civic literacy cohort share their revolutionary approaches to differentiating civic education, transforming traditional multiple-choice instruc…

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89 - Book Presentation: Turkish Muslim Women in Berlin 31:41

5M ago31:41

31:41

Navigating Boundaries in the City Kulkul presents her ethnographic work with Turkish Muslim women in Berlin as evidence that community is not an entity but is produced by instrumentalizing specific forms of identification and boundary-making.In examining the role of community in the case of her participants, Kulkul finds that religion and culture a…

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Are Sanctuary Jurisdictions a Credit Risk? 31:24

5M ago31:24

31:24

In this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, guest host Jessica Vaughan, the Center’s director of policy studies, discusses the intersection of immigration policy and municipal finance with Ed Grebeck, a veteran credit market risk expert. About one-third of all municipal bonds issued in 2024 and outstanding through 2024 are from sanctuary …

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Strategies for Building Civil Discussion Skills: Conversations with Justin Glodowski 37:39

5M ago37:39

37:39

What does it truly look like to empower students as citizens? Justin Glodowski, a 14-year veteran teacher from Wisconsin, reveals practical strategies that transform students from passive learners into active civic participants. Justin's approach begins with a foundational belief: if we want students to become engaged citizens, we must first teach …

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Reviving Your Teaching Passion with Nancie Lindblom 45:38

5M ago45:38

45:38

Nancie Lindblom shares how meaningful professional development can transform teachers from classroom managers to content experts to civic education leaders. • PD needs evolve from classroom management focus in early years to content expertise in later years • Immersive experiences like visiting historical sites with expert historians create deeper …

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The Fertility of Immigrants and Natives in the United States 37:29

5M ago37:29

37:29

This week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features a discussion of a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies, which reveals that both immigrant and U.S.-born women are having fewer children than they did 15 years ago. Based on data from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, the report find…

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Can AI Take Common Sense from a Baby? 37:17

5M ago37:17

37:17

Generative AI tools built on large language models are increasingly "intelligent" yet lack a baby's common sense – the ability to non-verbally generalize to novel situations without additional training. What can developmental science contribute to AI? Tech journalist and former CASBS fellow John Markoff chats with 2023-24 CASBS fellow David Moore, …

Center For The Study Of Social Policy Podcasts