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Feb 5Liked by Austin Kocher

Great job on C SPAN today. You were definitely respectful of the questioner and the callers by not becoming argumentative or defensive. Even responding as a researcher with data and facts, i. e. setting the record straight, it must not always be easy to respond to opinions about immigration and immigrants without sounding dismissive, evasive, both-sidesy, or preachy. Didn't hear any of that today. It would have been tough for me, so I'm glad I wasn't in your shoes! :)

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It's not easy! We are all inclined to response with our own values first, especially when there is so much at stake. I just try to remind myself to start with honoring other people's dignity as a human being first, both migrants and citizens, and let it unfold from there. Some of those questions and comments were not easy to hear, though.

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Too few opportunities like this, for well-informed people to inform þhe public about these issues. So far, the only other solid sources I've heard lately are a long interview of Dara Horn on Derek Thompson's podcast, Plain English, and several interviews of Jonathan Blitzer about his new book, "Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here." Otherwise so much garbage, even on mainstream and/or Progressive media - Fresh Air had a terrible interview the other day with a NYT reporter.

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Correction: the interview on Plain English was with Dara Lind, not Dara Horn.

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This conversation is amazing. The interviewer had one good question after another, had obviously done his homework. Your patience with the callers is admirable. I don't think I could do that.

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