The Rational Middle
180 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsIn these divided times, a number of important challenges are facing our nation. One of the largest is immigration reform. Histrionics have ruled the day and started a firestorm of debate on the issue. Rational Middle is working to change that by providing a holistic view through conversations with thought leaders, legislators, business owners, and citizens which can help us find common ground in the larger debate surrounding comprehensive reform.
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Episodes
An Immigrant's Perspective on Coming to America with Xiao Wang
May 19, 2021 15:46 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBXiao Wang is an immigrant and Co-Founder and CEO of Boundless Immigration, a team made up of immigrants and experts who assist those who are seeking green cards and citizenship in finding resources and information to make their journey less daunting.
How Immigration Affects the Soul of America (and its GDP) with Justin Gest
May 05, 2021 14:31 - 34 minutes - 46.7 MBOn this week's episode is Justin Gest, author and Associate Professor of Policy and Government, George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government. Justin and a team of demographers and economists have released a study on GDP growth scenarios based on immigration policy. We also discuss one of the principle approaches to addressing immigration hesitancy of Americans and how advocates can better explain the opportunities to those who oppose immigration based on personal economic ...
Announcing The Rational Middle Immigration Summit for Solutions
April 28, 2021 15:17 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBJoin three hosts from The Rational Middle — Chris Lyon, Gregory Kallenberg, and Loren Steffy — as they announce an event aimed at finding actionable solutions to the challenges of border security and access to American citizenship. Learn more about the summit at rationalmiddle.com/summit
Shifting Perspective on Immigration Reform with Joy Olson
April 21, 2021 15:14 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBJoy Olson, the former Executive Director of The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) talks with host Loren Steffy about the current challenges at the border and how the public perception on the benefits and purpose of immigration can be shifted.
Children at Risk at the Border with Dr. Bob Sanborn and Yael Ross
April 14, 2021 14:27 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBDr. Bob Sanborn and Yael Ross return to The Rational Middle podcast to discuss the seasonal influx of unaccompanied minors coming across the U.S.-Mexico border and how the dismantling of the system by Trump has exacerbated the challenge.
Justice for Farmworkers and Immigrants with Bruce Goldstein
April 07, 2021 16:25 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBJoin us for a conversation with Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice. He is an attorney with 40 years of experience practicing labor and civil rights law. We discuss agriculture, global markets, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
Highlighting the Players in Immigration Reform with Rick Taft
March 31, 2021 15:38 - 27 minutes - 38 MBHost Loren Steffy interviews Rick Taft, the founder and president of Ideaspace Project, a website aimed at helping those interested in immigration reform track the most prominent voices and exploring ideas for how to impact change.
Tracking Trump's Immigration Policies with Lucas Guttentag
March 24, 2021 14:49 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBLucas Guttentag — a professor of the practice of law at Stanford law school, senior research scholar at Yale Law school, distinguished immigration litigator, and former Obama administration official — shares the story of the Immigration Policy Tracking Project which catalogued over 1,000 Trump immigration policy changes in order to make undoing them easier for the Biden administration.
Author Ernesto Cisneros on His Book "Efrén Divided"
March 17, 2021 15:19 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBThis week, newly-minted Rational Middle host Melissa Brannan chats with award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros about his book Efrén Divided, the story of a Mexican-American boy whose mother is deported during an ICE raid.
Immigration Reform Now at Bat in Congress
March 10, 2021 15:59 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBHosts Chris Lyon, Gregory Kallenberg, and Loren Steffy talk about next steps on immigration. Will Congress take a piecemeal approach or swing for the fences on comprehensive reform now that the American Rescue Plan is assured passage in Congress.
The Status of Asylum in America with Dree Collopy
March 03, 2021 16:56 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBDree Collopy, partner of Benach Collopy LLP and author of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's (AILA) Asylum Primer, gives us an update on where asylum stands in the United States as Biden concludes his first month in office.
"I'm Out" Texas Republican Jacob Monty Leaves the Party
February 24, 2021 16:18 - 26 minutes - 36.4 MBJacob Monty, Trump 2016 campaign advisor and Managing Partner of the labor and employment law firm Monty & Ramirez LLP, has left the Republican party as it departs from the big tent strategy and becomes the party of Donald Trump.
Reaching Consensus on Immigration with Laura Collins
February 17, 2021 15:50 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBLaura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative shares her insights on the current status of immigration reform in Congress and with the American people. She explores why she thinks Congressional gridlock exists and how we can break the stasis and create meaningful change to the American immigration system.
How Immigration Will Impact Houston's Economy with Steven Scarborough
February 10, 2021 12:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBSteven Scarborough, Strategic Initiatives Manager at the Center for Houston's Future, shares an update to the Center's report on how immigration will shape the region's impact over the next several decades.
Three New Immigration Executive Orders with Tony Payan
February 03, 2021 16:45 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBTony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, weighs in on Biden's latest round of executive orders which seek to assess the damage done by Trump's anti-immigration policies and lay the groundwork for rebuilding a broken immigration system.
Post-Inauguration Special
January 27, 2021 18:03 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBJoin hosts Chris Lyon, Gregory Kallenberg, and Loren Steffy for a round table discussion of everything from the Biden/Harris inauguration, executive orders, and the administration's comprehensive immigration reform proposal.
Hope for the Undocumented in 2021 with Sanaa Abrar
January 20, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 41.1 MBThis week, we speak with Sanaa Abrar, Advocacy Director for United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the United States. She discusses the hopes that many immigrants in America have regarding a new administration and Congress. These two branches of government may soon have the opportunity to help Dreamers and the 11 million undocumented come out of the shadows and get right with the law so that they can be more fully productive members of society.
The New Year Brings a New Fight for Immigration with Jorge Lima
January 13, 2021 16:36 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBWe kick off 2021 with a renewed discussion about Congress, common sense, and the issues that divide us. With the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden just one week away, Jorge Lima of Americans for Prosperity discusses what changes the new year brings to the challenge of immigration, economy, coronavirus, and civility with our fellow Americans following the insurrection at the Capitol.
Goodbye 2020: A Year-End Rational Middle Roundup
December 23, 2020 12:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBJoin hosts Gregory Kallenberg, Chris Lyon, and Loren Steffy for a recap of the year with The Rational Middle, the state of division in the United States, the election, the pandemic, and where we're going in 2021.
The State of the Republican and Democratic Parties with Scott Braddock
December 16, 2020 12:00 - 29 minutes - 41 MBNow that the electoral college has voted, we talk with political analyst Scott Braddock about what can both parties learn from their experiences from the 2020 election, and how can those lessons be leveraged going forward.
The Latino Vote and a Path to Bipartisanship on Immigration with Linda Chavez
December 09, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBLinda Chavez, senior fellow at the National Immigration Forum and author of "Out of the Barrio: Toward a New Politics of Hispanic Assimilation" discusses the continued shift of the Latino vote that stumped Democrats during the 2020 election as well as a potential path to bipartisan action on immigration reform in Congress.
Trump's Final Assault on Immigration with David Bier
December 02, 2020 14:41 - 30 minutes - 42.5 MBDonald Trump may have lost re-election, but that's not stopping him from using his final weeks to further restrict legal immigration and make it harder on President Elect Joe Biden and a new Congress to change to a broken immigration system. We discuss this and other issues facing the new administration with David Bier, Immigration Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute.
Renewing Bipartisanship on Immigration Policy with Theresa Cardinal Brown
November 25, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBTheresa Cardinal Brown, director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center examines the process of repairing damage to the immigration system and the hope for a renewal of bipartisanship in Congress and among Americans.
A New Dawn for Immigration Advocates with Stan Marek
November 18, 2020 17:14 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBNow that President Elect Joe Biden is hammering out his cabinet and agenda, Stan Marek, business owner and Rational Middle benefactor lays out his hopes on immigration reform leadership from the new administration.
Post-Election Roundup with The Rational Middle
November 11, 2020 16:45 - 26 minutes - 36 MBJoin co-hosts Gregory Kallenberg, Chris Lyon, and Loren Steffy as they discuss the outcome of the election and the precarious path forward for a Biden transition team and eventual administration. They also discuss the divide in our country that persists post-election and explore the prioritization of the administrative and legislative agendas for both the President Elect and Congress.
Election Day Special with Tony Payan
November 03, 2020 12:00 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBJoin host Gregory Kallenberg and guest Tony Payan of the Mexico Center at Rice University's James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy as they discuss the legislative and administrative ramifications immigration policy for a Trump re-election or a Biden election.
From Migrant to Job Creator: The Story of Rodrigo Mondragon and Ki' Mexico (Part 2)
October 28, 2020 17:04 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBIn the second episode of this two-part series, host Chris Lyon continues the conversation with immigrant and employer Rodrigo Mondragon of Shreveport, Louisiana about his experience coming to the United States and finding his path to the American Dream.
From Migrant to Job Creator: The Story of Rodrigo Mondragon and Ki' Mexico (Part 1)
October 21, 2020 15:32 - 24 minutes - 34 MBRodrigo Mondragon and his family came to the United States in the new millennium seeking a better life. He was reluctant to leave his home in Mexico, but what transpired in America would bring the two worlds together in unexpected ways, resulting in one of the most celebrated Mexican restaurants in the South.
Benjamin F. Jones and the Relationship Between Immigrants and Jobs
October 14, 2020 15:12 - 24 minutes - 33 MBBenjamin F. Jones, Faculty Director at Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (KIEI), speaks with host Loren Steffy about his new study on the relationship between immigration and the job market.
How to Create an Office of New Americans in Your Community with Jeremy Robbins
October 07, 2020 15:10 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBJeremy Robbins, executive director of New American Economy (NAE), joins host Loren Steffy to explore how communities can create a more welcoming community through services and infrastructure like Offices of New Americans — and why doing so will help struggling communities grow again.
50th Episode Special with Hosts Gregory Kallenberg, Chris Lyon, and Loren Steffy
September 30, 2020 18:29 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBJoin the hosts for a 2020 roundup during the 50th episode. We look back at the first 50 episodes of The Rational Middle Podcast, kicking off season 2 of The Rational Middle Documentary Series, the pandemic, the election, and immigration's intersectionality.
Exploring "Deconstructed", a New Book on Immigration and the Construction Industry
September 23, 2020 16:06 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBLoren C. Steffy, an author and the executive producer of The Rational Middle of Immigration documentary series, speaks with host Chris Lyon about the release of his new book "Deconstructed: An Insider's View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades" which intertwines construction industry leader Stan Marek’s family history, the timeline of the Marek family of companies, and the history of immigration.
The ABCs of Trump's Asylum Policies with Dr. Ruth Ellen Wasem
September 16, 2020 15:42 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBDr. Ruth Ellen Wasem has just completed a major study of Trump's asylum policies. In her findings, she breaks down the kinds of actions his administration takes into three distinct categories which help provide historical and global geopolitical context for America's changing immigration system.
Using Data to Help Immigrant Children with Dr. Robert Sanborn
September 09, 2020 17:10 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBChildren are the future of our country and our world. How we welcome immigrant children and children of immigrant parents will define the course our nation takes. Dr. Robert Sanborn, President and CEO of Children at Risk, a research and advocacy organization, talks about their data-driven approach to changing policy in Texas.
Announcing Season 2 of the Rational Middle of Immigration Documentary Series
September 03, 2020 16:00 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBThis morning we are announcing the premiere episode of season 2 of our documentary video series on immigration in association with Children at Risk, an organization which serves as a catalyst for change to improve the quality of life for children through strategic research, public policy analysis, education, collaboration, and advocacy.
Cultivating Welcoming Communities with Dr. Linda Lopez
September 02, 2020 19:47 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBDr. Linda Lopez, former Chief of the Office of Immigrant Affairs in Los Angeles under Mayor Eric Garcetti. She talks about her experience in cultivating a more welcoming community through creation of services which extended economic and social opportunities to new Americans, and how those concepts could translate to cities across America.
Carlos Aguilar's DACA Journey from Mexico to American Film Critic
August 26, 2020 12:41 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBIt is often easy to forget how integrated into American society undocumented immigrants are, but Carlos Aguilar's journey is proof positive that they can have a positive economic and cultural impact on the United States, despite the challenges they face.
The Risk of Removing Immigrant Students with Dr. Michael E. Webber
August 19, 2020 15:11 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBAs the administration continues to push hard against immigration, esteemed professor Dr. Michael E. Webber of the University of Texas at Austin recounts his experience with immigrants in academia and why he believes that continuing to welcome immigrant students, researchers, and professors is key to American prosperity.
Calculating the Costs of the Undocumented with Randy Capps
August 12, 2020 17:58 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBRandy Capps is Director of Research for U.S. Programs at the Migration Policy Institute and he sits down with us to discuss the varying perspectives on costs of the undocumented population in America and what those differing perspectives might bring to finding a solution that works for everyone.
Bringing Opportunity to America Through Immigration with Ben Johnson
August 05, 2020 15:37 - 29 minutes - 40.2 MBBen Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) talks with Rational Middle's Gregory Kallenberg about the opportunity that immigration brings to our country and how that aligns with core values across the American experience.
The Impact of the Border Wall on Mental Health and Otherism with Dr. Luz Garcini
July 29, 2020 16:22 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBToday we talk about the wall on the southern border of the United States — its efficacy and impact — with Dr. Luz Maria Garcini, a scholar at the Center for the United States and Mexico and an Assistant Professor at the Center for Research to Advance Community Health.
The Misclassification of Workers with Former Union Leader Mark Erlich
July 22, 2020 16:40 - 33 minutes - 77 MBMark Erlich, former union leader for the New England Regional Council of Carpenters and now a Wertheim Fellow of Research on Misclassification and the Underground Economy at the Harvard Law School, discusses the challenges and impacts of misclassification of workers and the influence of this practice on immigrant laborers, the undocumented, and American-born workers.
The Undocumented, COVID-19, and the Battle for Healthcare with Ken Janda
July 15, 2020 15:37 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBKen Janda, Adjunct Professor in Healthcare Management at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, discusses the challenges that we face as a country regarding uninsured Americans, the undocumented, COVID-19, and the cost of healthcare.
The Struggle for Legal Status in America with Victoria DeFrancesco Soto
July 08, 2020 15:35 - 36 minutes - 84.6 MBVictoria DeFrancesco Soto, assistant dean for civic engagement and a lecturer at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, shares the history of the undocumented and their struggle to forge avenues to legal status in America — including DACA recipients find themselves today and what they might expect in the future.
Iliana Perez on the Future of Dreamers After the Supreme Court Decision
July 01, 2020 11:16 - 30 minutes - 68.9 MBIliana Perez, Director of Research & Entrepreneurship at Immigrants Rising, shares her thoughts on the DACA Supreme Court decision, her personal story as a Dreamer, and how that has driven her work in providing resources to immigrants — from legal assistance, work opportunities, small business investment, and access to mental healthcare — regardless of status.
Tom Jawetz on Bringing Change to Congress and in Communities
June 24, 2020 15:38 - 36 minutes - 50.7 MBTom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy at Center for American Progress, speaks on his experience with getting legislation across the finish line and what it takes to build bipartisan bills in Congress as well as how to bring about change at the state and local level.
DACA Decision with Charles Foster, Immigration Attorney
June 18, 2020 16:35 - 19 minutes - 45.1 MBThis special edition of the Rational Middle podcast was recorded this morning as the decision on DACA was handed down by the Supreme Court. Charles Foster is Chairman at Foster, LLP, one of the larger immigration law firms in the country. He is the past national president AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), and senior immigration policy advisor to George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He discusses the challenge DACA faced in the courts and reacts in real time to the decision to strik...
Steven Scarborough on Immigrants Fighting Coronavirus
June 17, 2020 14:47 - 24 minutes - 56.6 MBSteven Scarborough, Strategic Initiatives Manager at Center for Houston’s Future, discusses the latest research on the impact on immigrants working on all levels of healthcare to fight against the coronavirus.
Tony Payan & Pamela Lizette Cruz on Identifying and Taxing the Undocumented
June 10, 2020 14:45 - 31 minutes - 72 MBTony Payan & Pamela Lizette Cruz of the James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University discuss ways to solve the challenges associated with the undocumented population through the concepts of identification and taxation which must form the basis of any pathway to legal status.
Pat Kiley on the History of Immigrants and the Construction Industry
June 03, 2020 17:27 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBPat Kiley, a founding principal of Kiley Advisors LLC, a consulting firm that advises CEO’s and Senior Executives on matters of Leadership and Strategy, talks with host Loren Steffy about the history of immigration and the construction industry and the need for comprehensive reform.