Think for yourself. Subscribe to The Free Press today: https://thefp.pub/3DmLpLi Acclaimed novelist and cultural critic Lionel Shriver joins me today to discuss her provocative new book A Better Life. We talk about why immigration has become one of the most morally charged topics in public life; how good intentions collide with human nature; and why cultural change is treated as a legitimate concern for some groups but as taboo for others. We also explore the differing immigration challenges between America and Europe, the hypocrisy of open-border politics, and why fiction may be better suited than policy debates to expose the hard truths about border enforcement, assimilation, and today’s political orthodoxy. 0:00 Intro 2:24 The Penguin Random House Controversy 4:07 Why Affirmative Action Didn’t Spark Protests 6:26 Are There Conservative Novels Anymore? 9:36 Sensitivity Readers and the Collapse of Artistic Risk 15:21 Introducing A Better Life 17:27 What Happens When a Family Takes in a Migrant? 20:31 Nico as Narrator and Political Balance 23:28 Is Martin Genuine or Manipulative? 28:34 What Immigration Policy Actually Makes Sense? 32:24 Cultural Loss vs Economic Arguments 50:08 Birthright Citizenship and Unintended Consequences 57:08 Crime, Gangs, and What People Really Fear 1:02:33 America vs Europe on Immigration 1:12:58 Assimilation Across Generations 1:20:17 Demographics, Declining Birthrates, and the Long View 1:24:50 Why This Debate Can’t Stay Taboo