More than 5,000 children were torn from their parents at the Mexican border during Donald Trump’s presidency, and more than 150 children have yet to be reunited. Atlantic writer Caitlin Dickerson spent 18 months investigating how Trump’s zero tolerance approach became a reality, despite scores of top government officials who felt it was inhumane and logistically fraught. She speaks with Andy about how Congress’ failure to make substantial changes to immigration policy drove this to happen, and could allow it to happen again.

Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt.

Follow Caitlin Dickerson on Twitter @itscaitlinhd.

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Check out these resources from today’s episode: 

• Read Caitlin’s investigation: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/trump-administration-family-separation-policy-immigration/670604/
• Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/
• Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 

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