The Brendan O'Neill Show Christopher Caldwell: The battle to secure the West’s borders
Dec 19, 2025
Christopher Caldwell, a journalist and author known for his insights on migration and Western politics, joins for a provocative discussion. They delve into the erosion of border control in the West and the political implications of anti-woke sentiment. Caldwell analyzes Trump’s impact on immigration policy and public perception, while also discussing the generational challenges faced by millennials and Gen Z. The duo explores Europe's identity crisis amid immigration and the question of sovereignty versus economic labor needs.
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Second Term Dynamism Changed Perceptions
- Christopher Caldwell argues Trump's second term has been unexpectedly effective in staffing and execution compared with his first term.
- He credits decisive action on the border and dynamism that changed many Americans' view of Trump.
Anti‑Woke Sentiment Is Entrenched
- Caldwell says anti-woke sentiment has become a durable political force across generations and now attaches to Trump.
- He notes elite institutions remain woke, but younger cohorts increasingly resist it.
Young Creatives Locked Out By Hiring Trends
- Caldwell recounts a Compact Magazine writer describing young creatives blocked by woke hiring practices in film and academia.
- He cites Brown hiring 45 tenure-track humanities professors and only three white males over ten years as illustrative data.