Crossing Borders and Crossing Lines: The U.S. Migrant Crisis and the UK's Post Office Scandal

Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics

The episode delves into two major topics: the escalating U.S. migrant crisis under the Biden administration and the UK Post Office Horizon scandal.

1. U.S. Migrant Crisis: The discussion begins with an exploration of the U.S. migrant crisis, noting a significant increase in unauthorized border crossings and the challenges this poses to federal resources and policies. The conversation touches on the varied responses from the government, from expanding deportations to increasing work permit access. Critics from both sides of the political spectrum, Republicans and immigration advocates, are mentioned for their differing views on the administration's approach. The panel also discusses the broader impact of the crisis beyond border areas, particularly in cities like New York, which has seen a substantial influx of migrants. The financial and societal impacts of this influx are explored, along with the political ramifications for the Biden administration.
2. UK Post Office Horizon Scandal: The second part of the podcast shifts focus to the UK Post Office Horizon scandal, a saga involving the wrongful conviction of numerous sub-postmasters due to a faulty software system. The panel discusses the system's introduction, the early warnings that were ignored, and the prolonged struggle for recognition of the issue. The scandal's implications extend to the UK government and Fujitsu, highlighting issues of privatization and lack of oversight. The conversation also covers the media's role in bringing attention to the scandal, the government's response, and broader questions about privatization of public services.
3. 
   

Key Quotes:

1. Michael Donoghue: Discussing the U.S. migrant crisis, Michael states, "It's an unavoidable reality at this point. And I think that's why the tide is finally turned on this problem."
2. Jarett Kobeck: On the need for a paradigm shift in U.S. immigration policy, Jared remarks, "The right wing always has a luxury that the center and the center left and the far left don't necessarily have, which is the default position is always just smash it."
3. Tonye Alltrade: Speaking about the UK Post Office scandal, Tanya notes, "We seem to have a cacophony of toxic and secretive organizations who are in bed with the media, who are also, who then are in bed with the government or politicians."
4. Steve O'Neill: Reflecting on the political fallout of the Post Office scandal, Steve observes, "No one trusts politicians, no one trusts the kind of political sphere in the state, and this is a great example of why."

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.