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A Shithole Place Called Racism
Podcast

A Shithole Place Called Racism

This week Michele and Igor chat with two CAP colleagues and discuss the history and context behind the United States' racist immigration policies and Donald Trump's discriminatory behavior.

Advancing Racial Equity and Justice, Building an Economy for All, Restoring Social Trust in Democracy, +4 More

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Last week, in an Oval Office meeting to discuss a path forward for Dreamers, President Donald Trump made the now-infamous comment that he’d like fewer immigrants from African nations—what he described as “shithole countries.” Obviously, Michele and Igor have a lot to discuss. They take a deep dive into the long history of Trump’s racist behavior, from discriminating against black Americans who wanted to rent his apartments in the 1970s to launching a presidential campaign where he called Mexicans “rapists.” Michele and Igor are joined by Phil Wolgin, managing director for Immigration Policy at CAP, and Rejane Frederick, associate director for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at CAP. They provide the context behind the nation’s racist immigration policies and explain today’s power structures that perpetuate many of these ideologies.

Learn more about the podcast here.

Michele Jawando is a vice president at the Center for American Progress. Igor Volsky is a vice president at the Center. Sally Tucker is the radio coordinator for Communications at the Center. Rachel Rosen is the senior director of Broadcast Communications at the Center. Philip Wolgin is the managing director of Immigration Policy at the Center. Rejane Frederick is an associate director for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center.

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.

Authors

Michele L. Jawando

Vice President

Center For American Progress

Igor Volsky

Co-Founder, The Mindfulness in Politics Project; Founder of Volsky Ventures

The Mindfulness in Politics Project

Sally Tucker

Broadcast Coordinator

Center For American Progress

(Phil Wolgin)

Philip E. Wolgin

Former Managing Director, Immigration Policy

Center For American Progress

Rejane Frederick

Associate Director, Poverty to Prosperity Program

Center For American Progress

Rachel Rosen

Senior Director, Broadcast Communications

Center For American Progress

Teams

A woman, originally from Bangladesh, holds her 7-month-old daughter as she recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

Immigration Policy

We aim to create a fair, humane, orderly, and workable immigration system to strengthen the United States.

Racial Equity and Justice

We promote systemic reforms to dismantle structural racial injustices, give everyone an equal opportunity to thrive, and ensure society benefits from our nation’s diversity.