The New Yorker Radio Hour

Episode: ICE Comes to a Small Town in Tennessee

Date: April 27, 2018
Host: David Remnick

Overview

This episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour explores the impact of an ICE workplace raid at a meatpacking plant in Bean Station, Tennessee—the largest such raid in a decade—with reporting from staff writer Jonathan Blitzer. The story navigates the effects on immigrant families, their community, and moral reckonings among conservative residents. The episode then transitions to conversations about the #MeToo movement with Pulitzer winner Ronan Farrow and Alexandra Schwartz, before concluding with an interview of Stacey Abrams, candidate for governor of Georgia, on her career and the challenges of expanding voting rights.

Section 1: "ICE Comes to a Small Town in Tennessee"

(00:32–10:23)

Main Theme

Jonathan Blitzer reports on the April 5, 2018 ICE raid in Bean Station, Tennessee, detailing how it shook a small, conservative community and led to soul-searching about immigration, faith, and belonging. The segment is grounded in interviews, especially with David Williams, a local Baptist pastor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Details of the Raid (01:01–02:35):

  • The raid at Southeastern Provision meat plant involved multiple law enforcement agencies due to the owner's massive tax evasion and documented employment of undocumented immigrants.
  • 97 workers—almost all Mexican or Guatemalan—were arrested and taken to Morristown for processing.
  • The event sparked immediate anxiety and gathering of family members near the Armory.

• Community Impact (03:21–04:33):

  • Many children—160, all U.S. citizens—were affected as parents were arrested.
  • A large portion of the Hispanic community in Morristown kept children home from school in fear of further raids.

• Unexpected Acts of Solidarity (04:33–05:49):

  • Hamblin County’s conservative, religious background contrasts with strong community support: locals raised $60,000 for affected families.
  • Some residents began to reconsider their views on immigration, seeing the direct impact on neighbors and friends.

• Faith, Morality, and Immigration (06:11–07:43):

  • Pastor Williams frames response as a Christian duty:

    “Unless you're a Native American Indian, we're all immigrants. And the basic Christian teaching is to love God … and love your neighbor as yourself … Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors and he never got into any details about the status of their citizenship.”
    — David Williams, 06:41

  • He draws on both Old and New Testament references to support compassionate treatment of immigrants, widows, and orphans.

• Diverse Community Reactions (08:05–09:03):

  • Parishioners reacted along a spectrum from calling for deportation (“these illegal immigrants should be rounded up”) to calls for embracing and supporting those affected.

  • Williams on the effect on his congregation:

    “I think, and I hope and I pray that those of us in the middle, we began to rethink this.”
    — David Williams, 08:41

• Shifting Local Views & Ongoing Uncertainty (09:14–10:13):

  • Many recognize these immigrant families as their neighbors, integral to the community’s fabric for decades.
  • The event has created a renewed conversation about who is “part of us” and what compassion and law mean in practice.

Notable Quote

“These families have been here for 10, 15, 20 years ... They're part of the fiber of our community. It's very unnerving to see such a state and federal law enforcement in your community, at your public elementary school, the street that you live on. It was unnerving. It was disturbing.”
— David Williams, 09:14

Section 2: The #MeToo Movement and Reporting on Sex Abuse

(12:03–24:57)

Main Theme

David Remnick hosts a conversation with Ronan Farrow—recent Pulitzer Prize winner—and Alexandra Schwartz about the reporting that brought the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the broader #MeToo movement into public consciousness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Challenges in Reporting & Why Victims Don’t Speak (12:31–14:29):

  • Farrow details the “torturous process” of getting women to go on the record, with fear and trauma being major deterrents.
  • Cites the example of Annabella Sciorra:

    “It was only seven months later ... that she called me and broke down and said, actually, here's what happened.”
    — Ronan Farrow, 14:12

• Barriers to Reporting and Industry Patterns (15:26–16:22):

  • Alexandra Schwartz notes patterns: sometimes complaints are made but not acted upon, and women often must work closely with harassers.

• The Significance of Fame and Public Impact (16:41–17:56):

  • This is the first time famous women came forward as a group; their status made public relate to the issue, deepening the impact.

  • Farrow:

    “Annabella Sciora said, you know, I looked at these other women, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, and I thought, they're so beautiful. They're so poised. They come from great families. It could have never happened to them.”
    — Ronan Farrow, 17:37

• Gendered Reckoning and Changing Perspectives (18:23–19:57):

  • Men are now, often for the first time, reflecting on past behavior and jokes; women are surprised this introspection is happening collectively.

  • Schwartz:

    “The amazement and shock is the idea that men are thinking about this … It cannot just be on women to police this whole situation. It has to be everyone.”
    — Alexandra Schwartz, 19:13

• Reporting’s Limits and The Flood of Accusations (24:00):

  • Farrow addresses concerns over “the court of public opinion vs. the court of law” and the importance of careful journalistic investigation.

Notable Quotes

• “Believe women doesn't just mean automatically believe women, the man's word has no weight. I think it's meant as a corrective to what is often the situation, which is often a sense of not believing women as a default.”
  — Alexandra Schwartz, 21:06

• “We will for a time overcorrect. And I think in a way that's healthy as a redress for how the conversation has been for so long. The pendulum is swinging furiously now, and I do think in the long term it will find equilibrium.”
  — Ronan Farrow, 21:33

Section 3: Interview with Stacey Abrams

(26:06–38:00)

Main Theme

Jeffrey Toobin talks with Stacey Abrams, then Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, about her ambition, experiences in public service, her book Minority Leader, and the fight for voting rights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Ambition & Early Goals (26:47–28:57):

  • Abrams speaks of her ambitious life plans documented in a college spreadsheet—writing novels, becoming mayor, becoming a millionaire.
  • Her drive was shaped by experiences with poverty, activism during the Rodney King riots, and a pivotal disagreement (and resulting job) with Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson.

• Strategy for Democratic Revival in the South (29:22–31:09):

  • Abrams believes demographic changes require intentional outreach and infrastructure—not just waiting for voters to show up.
  • She advocates early and persistent engagement of non-traditional voters.

• Role of Race in Southern Politics (31:09–32:25):

  • Abrams notes she would be the first Black woman governor in U.S. history, and there’s “no clear roadmap” for her run.

  • Addresses the importance—and challenge—of getting people of color into executive positions.

  • “When you haven't seen something happen, it's hard to believe it's possible.”
    — Stacey Abrams, 31:21

• The “Trump Effect” and Need for Enthusiasm (32:25–33:33):

  • Trump’s presidency has raised the stakes and made the consequences of elections more tangible, increasing voter motivation.
  • But Abrams runs for something, not just against Trump.

• Expanding Voting Rights & Fighting Suppression (33:48–35:56):

  • Abrams discusses the New Georgia Project, which registered over 200,000 voters of color despite facing aggressive voter suppression tactics.
  • Her group successfully challenged the illegal purging of nearly 35,000 registrants.

• Big Picture on Polarization (36:38–37:50):

  • Abrams contends that leadership is broader than politics; her experience shows that collaboration across differences is possible and necessary.

Notable Quotes

• “My campaign is not about running against Donald Trump. ... I see Trump ... as creating a Zeitgeist. That allows me to really explain why voting this year matters.”
  — Stacey Abrams, 32:44

• “There has always been an attempt to limit whose voices could be heard in the body politic. ... In the year that we recognize the assassination of Dr. King, ... we are fighting so many entrenched battles on the conversation of voter suppression.”
  — Stacey Abrams, 35:21

• “Leadership is about understanding that there are challenges that you see that need to be addressed. ... One of the ways I [worked with Republicans] was by not diminishing what they believed and why they believed it. That insight is actually a powerful tool that we can use, especially in our politics.”
  — Stacey Abrams, 36:38

Memorable and Insightful Moments

• Pastor David Williams’ moral framing of immigration:
  Reference to scripture as a guide for supporting undocumented neighbors, reframing political debate as a religious and humane imperative.

• Community’s unexpected generosity:
  Conservative residents raising tens of thousands of dollars for affected immigrant families, reflecting complexity in “red state” communities.

• Ronan Farrow on the process of investigative journalism:
  The emotional toll, survivors’ wavering, and the importance of reporting rigor.

• Alexandra Schwartz on the shifting public consciousness:
  The surprise—among women—that men are collectively self-examining their behavior, and the importance of not laying responsibility solely on women.

• Stacey Abrams’ pragmatic optimism:
  Her early ambitions, persistence in the face of political and racial obstacles, and dedication to expanding democracy for marginalized communities.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• ICE Raid in Tennessee: 00:32–10:23
• #MeToo Reporting Discussion: 12:03–24:57
• Stacey Abrams Interview: 26:06–38:00

This episode illustrates the intersection of major national issues—immigration enforcement, sexual harassment, and racial justice—through on-the-ground reporting and in-depth interviews that challenge assumptions and highlight acts of conscience within unexpected communities.