The Daily

Secure the Border, Say Republicans. So Why Are They Killing a Plan to Do That?

Feb 1, 2024

Karoun Demirjian, a Congressional correspondent for The New York Times, dives into the recent collapse of a bipartisan deal aimed at enhancing U.S.-Mexico border security. She reveals how Republicans linked Ukraine aid to border negotiations and the subsequent divisions that arose. Demirjian discusses President Biden's surprising shift toward tougher border policies and the impact of Trump's influence on GOP strategies. The tension between humanitarian needs and political maneuvering unfolds as both parties struggle to find common ground in a polarized Congress.

26:41

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Episode guests

Karoun Demirjian

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Quick takeaways

President Biden broke from the Democrats' approach by accepting a Republican demand for increased border security measures in exchange for continuing Ukraine funding.

The bipartisan immigration deal, which aimed to address migration problems at the US-Mexico border, collapsed due to opposition from former President Trump and wavering support from Senate Republicans.

Deep dives

The Genesis of the Deal: Ukraine Aid and Border Security

The bipartisan immigration agreement stemmed from a linkage between military assistance for Ukraine and increased border security measures on the US-Mexico border. The right wing of the Republican Party insisted on border enforcement in exchange for continuing Ukraine funding. President Biden took the surprising step of accepting this demand, marking a significant departure from the Democrats' traditional approach to border security.

Intro

3min

New Alliances in Border and Ukraine Policy

10min

The Deterioration of Bipartisan Immigration Negotiations

2min

Border Security and Political Divisions

5min

Biden's Border Shift: A Political Gamble

4min

Political Maneuvering and a Congressional Hearing on Child Exploitation

4min

For the past few weeks, Democrats and Republicans were closing in on a game-changing deal to secure the U.S.-Mexico border: a bipartisan compromise that’s unheard-of in contemporary Washington.

Karoun Demirjian, who covers Congress for The Times, explains why that deal is now falling apart.

Guest: Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Divided Republicans coalesced behind a bit of legislative extortion: No Ukraine aid without a border crackdown. Then they split over how large a price to demand, imperiling both initiatives.
Republicans and Democrats have agreed to try to reduce the number of migrants granted parole to stay in the United States, but cementing the compromise will take money and persuasion on both sides.

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The Daily

Secure the Border, Say Republicans. So Why Are They Killing a Plan to Do That?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Genesis of the Deal: Ukraine Aid and Border Security

Intense Negotiations and Policy Agreements

The Unraveling of the Deal

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts