The American Fabric: Voting our Values

09/27/24 • 38 min

So far on our miniseries The American Fabric, we’ve learned more about immigrants and why they come to this country. We’ve busted myths and decried disinformation. And we’ve heard immigrants tell their stories in their own words.

Today, on the final episode, we’re talking about why this year’s election is so important. We have the opportunity to choose leaders who understand that immigrants are a cornerstone of this country and want to find humane bipartisan solutions. Leaders who don’t demonize vulnerable people for their own political gain. The outcome in November is crucial.

The federal government hasn’t passed meaningful immigration reform since 1986. On today’s episode, we hear more from Congresswoman Delia Ramirez as well as our own Suburban Women Problem co-host Rep. Jasmine Clark about how Republicans are choosing their own political power over policies that would actually help people.

Balancing America’s national security and humanitarian needs is far from simple, but extremists like Trump and JD Vance aren’t interested in solving problems. They want us to be a nation of hate. Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and all of the incredible leaders on the state and local level want to lead us back to our ideals. We’re a nation of immigrants. A nation of hope and opportunity.

So it’s up to us now. We have to talk to everyone we know and make sure they understand what’s on the line. Let’s make sure that on election day, hope and freedom triumph.

Thanks for listening to The American Fabric.
To learn more about our guests:
Lt. Colonel (retired) Alexander VindmanCongresswoman Delia RamirezDr. Andrea Bonior, psychologist and professor
Dr. Sara Sadhwani, professor of politics and immigration
Dr. Nancy MacLean, political historian and author

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected].
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!

Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA

Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

So it’s up to us now. We have to talk to everyone we know and make sure they understand what’s on the line. Let’s make sure that on election day, hope and freedom triumph.

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected].
You can learn more about us at www.redwine.blue or follow us on social media!

Twitter: @TheSWPpod and @RedWineBlueUSA

Instagram: @RedWineBlueUSA

Facebook: @RedWineBlueUSA

YouTube: @RedWineBlueUSA

Previous Episode

The American Fabric: Truths & Lies

Extremists have always used disinformation and fear-mongering to further their cause. But their rhetoric about immigration has stooped to new lows in recent months.

Some of the lies are so outrageous it might be tempting to laugh. Haitian immigrants, for example, are not eating their neighbors’ pets in Springfield Ohio. And 107% of American jobs have not been taken by “illegal aliens,” as Trump claimed. (107 percent? How would that even work?)

But the misinformation is no laughing matter. It’s having real effects on people around the country. In Springfield, for example, schools have been closing because of bomb threats. Every time the rhetoric goes up, violence goes up with it.

Then there’s misinformation that feels less absurd but is still absolutely incorrect. The idea that immigrants commit more crimes than native-born Americans, for example, is widely believed by many despite every statistic and research study proving the exact opposite. And economists have shown that immigrants aren’t “stealing jobs.” Again, the opposite is true: immigration strengthens our economy and creates jobs for both native-born Americans and immigrants.

On today’s episode of The American Fabric, we’re busting myths and tackling the fear-mongering head on.

Don’t miss our last episode tomorrow!

Learn more about our guests:
Lt. Colonel (retired) Alexander VindmanCongresswoman Delia RamirezDr. Andrea Bonior, psychologist and professor
Dr. Sara Sadhwani, professor of politics and immigration
Sonal Jain, owner of Chamak Dhamak in Akron OH

Next Episode

Okay, But Why Are There So Many New Voting Laws?

In this first episode of our limited series "Okay, But Why?", we're taking a deep dive into voting rights.

We all want free and fair elections where everyone who’s legally able to vote can make their voice heard. But every time the experts study voter fraud, they find almost zero evidence that undocumented immigrants or anyone else is voting illegally. So then... why are there so many new voting laws out there?
Today, we're examining the history of voting rights and taking a closer look at why politicians are trying so hard to keep some Americans from voting.

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected].

Okay, But Why? - The American Fabric: Voting our Values

Transcript

Narrator: Hi, I’m Rachel Vindman. Welcome to the final episode of The American Fabric, a special 3-episode series about immigration in the United States. We’ve already covered who immigrants are, why they come to this country, and corrected the record on some myths and misconceptions.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: extremists are using fear to build their own power. It’s happened countless times in other countries, and it’s happening here too. But unlike many, we have a choi