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Separated audiobook

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Separated Audiobook Summary

From the award-winning NBC News and MSNBC correspondent comes a powerful and deeply reported journey to lay bare the full truth behind the defining moral crisis of the Trump years: the systematic separation of thousands of desperate migrant families at the US-Mexico border

In June 2018, Donald Trump’s most notorious decision as president had secretly been in effect for months before most Americans became aware of the astonishing inhumanity being perpetrated by their own government. Jacob Soboroff was among the first journalists to expose this reality after seeing firsthand the living conditions of the children in custody. His influential series of reports ignited public scrutiny that contributed to the president reversing his own policy and earned Soboroff the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Broadcast Journalism and, with his colleagues, the 2019 Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism.

But beyond the headlines, the complete, multilayered story lay untold. How, exactly, had such a humanitarian tragedy–now deemed “torture” by physicians–happened on American soil? Most important, what has been the human experience of those separated children and parents?

Soboroff has spent the past two years reporting the many strands of this complex narrative, developing sources from within the Trump administration who share critical details for the first time. He also traces the dramatic odyssey of one separated family from Guatemala, where their lives were threatened by narcos, to seek asylum at the U.S. border, where they were separated–the son ending up in Texas, and the father thousands of miles away, in the Mojave desert of central California. And he joins the heroes who emerged to challenge the policy, and who worked on the ground to reunite parents with children.

In this essential reckoning, Soboroff weaves together these key voices with his own experience covering this national issue–at the border in Texas, California, and Arizona; with administration officials in Washington, D.C., and inside the disturbing detention facilities. Separated lays out compassionately, yet in the starkest of terms, its human toll, and makes clear what is at stake in the 2020 presidential election.

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Separated Audiobook Narrator

Jacob Soboroff is the narrator of Separated audiobook that was written by Jacob Soboroff

Jacob Soboroff is a correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. For his reporting on the child-separation policy, he received the 2019 Walter Cronkite Award for Individual Achievement by a National Journalist and the 2019 Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism. He has appeared on Today, Morning Joe, The Rachel Maddow Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and numerous other programs. He co-presented (with Katy Tur) the four-part event docuseries American Swamp on MSNBC. He lives in Los Angeles.

About the Author(s) of Separated

Jacob Soboroff is the author of Separated

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Subjects

The publisher of the Separated is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is History, Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX), State & Local, United States

Additional info

The publisher of the Separated is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062992222.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Elyse

July 11, 2020

Audiobook.... read by the author, Jacob SoboroffJacob is an award-winning NBC news and MSNBC correspondent. “In June 2018, Donald Trump‘s most notorious decision as president had secretly been in effect for months before most Americans became aware of the astonishing inhumanity being perpetrated by their own government. Jacob Soboroff was among the first journalists to expose this reality after seeing firsthand the living conditions of the children in custody. His influential series of reports ignited public scrutiny that contributed to the president reversing his own policy and earned Soboroff the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Broadcast Journalism and, with his colleagues, the 2019 Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism”. CAGES....A HELL HOLE.....CAGES..... FILTHY DIRTY CONDITIONS.... .....CAGES!!!! NO ATTORNEYS....NO PHONES...HORRENDOUS FOOD....CAGES!!!Jose Alvizures arrived in Calexico, California, on Friday, 324 days after being separated from his 10 year old son, Ervin.....nearly 11 months apart. Father and son crossed the border to seek asylum after getting death threats from gangs that controlled his town. With separation information not being recorded....(which child belonged to which set of parents) — it was an added nightmare of re-connecting them back together. A HORRIFIC NIGHTMARE! At the border in Texas, Arizona, and California- and inside those filthy disgusting detention facilities- MAKES IT CLEAR of who NOT to vote for in 2020! So.....if you suspect righteous indignation from me - you’re damn right! The US border patrol was holding many children who were too young to take care of themselves, in jail-like border facilities for weeks at a time. They had no contact with any family member. Absolutely sickening!!!Many of the kids were sick. All were scared, confused, traumatized! The conditions were inhuman. Under Trump’s Immigration Policy —The United States government separated around 2000 children from their families in 2018. Jacob went down to the border - lived in grueling conditions. Covering this story was the greatest Human-Rights catastrophe of his lifetime. He exposes the most horrific injustice- “Separated” is well documented - a haunting Trump-driven-government administration failure - a moral travesty! It’s hard to read this and not feel the outrage. Such cruelty! Trump was showing his ‘lower-than-low’ colors before ignoring the seriousness of the coronavirus. There were people who spent their lives dedicated to reuniting families who had been separated by immigration. Jacob was one of them. Bless you Jacob ( and for this book), and all other people who fought to re-unite families back together.This is a devastating story!!!!! NOTE....it’s written by a journalist— so if you choose to read it - don’t expect lyrical prose.

Jessaka

July 14, 2020

Bleeding HeartsUsually, I have an idea of what I am going to say about a book, but this time I am at a loss for words, so I thought that I would just sit here and try to write. I remember when it first came to light that Trump was separating mothers and fathers from their children, and I mentioned it to my Republican friend, not knowing what she would say, but also expecting that because shew as a mother, she would understand my feelings for the children. Instead, she said, “Obama did it, and no one complained then.” I changed the subject, after all I had known her since I was 8 years old. I then began to notice that Republica ns just didn’t care, not even those women who had lost their own children due to deaths at a young age. What happened to some people’s empathy? Did they never have any in the first place? I remember reading in the book “Behave,” that Republican’s bran waves are rule by fear, Democrats by empathy. Is that it, we are wired differently? Partly so, but these Republicans care for their children, they love them. But what a shock it is when you expect a certain kind of response from someone, and they show no feelings. Maybe this is why I am having a hard time writing about this book.The author, a journalist for NBC, spent time at the border, investigating. He has done an excellent job. The first thing I learned is that Obama did not separate children from their parents, not unless their parents were abusive or criminals. Yet, he deported more Hispanics than Bush or Clinton. There is proof of this, but some people don’t believe in proof. In this, Trump has done his job, the same job that Hitler had done when he was in power, make people not believe in the press. And even this is hard for me to imagine when he will lie one minute and then change his view, which still ends up being a lie. Trump denied separating children from their parents. His supporters said that the photos of children in cages were old photos from the Obama era. What more can I say? To have such people in my life, ones that have no empathy, is not easy. I dropped all but the one. I talk to her very little.The author does a great job, and it is well wroth the read even if you have followed the news, because this is more of a behind the scenes. Trump’s daughter and wife were against this practice and told him so. He rolled his eyes. It appears that it was public outcry that changed his mind, when I thought that the corst hads ruled against it, so he quit. So, then the author says that he can change his mind again at any time. Now they wait in Mexico to come over, and they are sometimes raped, robbed, and so on. Some he sent back to Guatemala where they are sure to be killed.

Melanie

July 25, 2020

If you think you know what twisted reasoning and actions led our government to kidnap, imprison, separate parents from children, lie to and cheat asylum-seekers at our southern border - trust me, you don't. After you read this book, both objective and personal (because what human being wouldn't get physically ill, suffer migraines, and long to comfort himself at home with his own wife and little boy), you will know as much as one reporter, backed with reams of evidence and the observations of others, can report.And it's not over, neither the lies nor the actions.Beautifully written, without an extraneous or sentimentalized sentence. Keep going, Mr. Soboroff. We need you.

Kim

October 07, 2020

A work of moral and historical importance, Soboroff details the willful incompetence of the American government, and creates a useful timeline of source material for future historians. Soboroff is laser-focused. For instance, he doesn't address the U. S. military policies which have contributed to the destabilization of many countries in Central America, which have only exacerbated the problem of cartels, weak governmental control, and a flow of refugees. He does briefly address Climate Change as a surprising catalyst for creating refugees, but for nearly the entirety of the book, he focuses on the specific people who either sought a policy of deterrence, via punitive familial separation, or sought to subvert the acceleration of the program. Soboroff names names. And we should all learn them. First, my list of some of those who actively pushed for/justified family separation as a deterrent to migration, without regard to asylum credibility: Scott LloydJohn KellyChad WolfKirstjen NielsenKatie Waldman (now Miller)Matthew AlbenceJeff SessionsChris MeekinsNext, my list of some of those who immediately realized the problems of increasing family separations. There had always been some family separations, but this was a calculated increase, driving towards a zero tolerance policy, even for asylum seekers. Not only was ORR not ready for such a huge influx, but these folks recognized that this would only inflict unnecessary trauma and not act as a deterrence at all:Commander Jonathan WhiteLee GelerntJim DeLaCruzClaire Tricker McNultyJallyn SualogLindsay ToczylowskiDr Colleen KraftAndrew Lorenzen-StraitJudge Dana Sabraw I went into this book, thinking it would make me cry. And I still wince at the idea of "tender aged" detainees, but mostly, I was angry. Very very angry. I'm grateful for journalists who keep us informed and even effect changes with their intense relentless pursuit to uncover covert actions.

Jill

August 27, 2020

A phrase from this book, "The Greatest Human-Rights Catastrophe of My Lifetime," says it all. The author goes into great detail about the history of immigration during the Obama era and into Trump's presidency. His research and visits to the sites where children were detained, some even under the age of five, was eye-opening and frankly, difficult to read. Most difficult was learning that no records were kept and parents were often moved hundreds of miles away from their children. My emotions jumped from anger to sadness to anger while reading this horrendous account of the way in which children were taken from their parents and locked up, all in order to prevent more immigrants from entering the U.S. The families came into the U.S. hoping for a better life, but ended up as prisoners, through no fault of their own. The whole plan was a disaster from start to finish. The story of the reunification between Juan, a Guatemalan father, and his son, Jose, was a high point of the book, but knowing there are still separated families due to a lack of recordkeeping is shameful. The trauma that these families are, and will, experience in the future is horrendous.Separated is an important book that will resonate with all Americans.

James

August 01, 2020

Not just a sad story of tragic family separation but also a deep and detailed look at those responsible. Anyone interested in the layers of federal government and the games that sometimes get played will find this book engaging and enraging. Many of the individuals responsible for this mess continued to serve and continue to fall short. Read this book and learn so much more than what you knew.

Rhonda

July 10, 2020

A must read for every American.As many of us do, I believe the separation of migrant children from their parents is a shame that the United States will never be able to live down. Our souls were darkened by this horrible policy. Jacob Soboroff reported on the separation and his book shows us how it happened. His inclusion of the tale of a father and son caught in the trap brings a reality and heart to his reporting.

Kobie

July 13, 2020

Brilliant reporting. Every single enabler of this criminal administration's cruel border policies should be dragged to The Hague and prosecuted for crimes agains humanity.

Megan

July 21, 2020

Appalling it happened. Appalling that it continues.

Janine

September 10, 2020

Depressing but worthwhile read. The heartlessness of the despicable person in the White House who despises people in general but people of color in particular is excruciating to read. The author writes of his first hand experience watching the Trump administration apply its “zero tolerance” policy at the border charging as criminals desperate people fleeing conditions no one should have to put up with in order to find a better life and for daring to seek asylum have their children wrenched from them as punishment for wanting to seek freedom is beyond perverted. And that people are willing to assist in doing speaks to a wanting sense of basic human decency. The author shows the administration’s soullessness and indifference as he traces the separation in general and then through the story of a father and son who came from Central America, were separated but were fortunate to be reunited - though they face the possibility of deportation in the future. As the author writes on page 250 (e-book) when speaking about an angry border patrol staff person who returned the video of the complimentary documentary he was in as “made for TV” clap track”: “If the drama around separation was ‘made for TV,’ it was created by the Trump Administration itself. Katy Waldman, the HHS spokeswoman, told me on multiple occasions that the policy [family separation] was designed to play so shockingly in the media that it would force Congress to end it by passing harsh immigration laws, such as permitting indefinite detention of migrant families and the immediate deportation of unaccompanied Central American minors in its place.” We learn later that Katy Waldman who comes off as grossly inhumane eventually married Steven Miller, the architect of this policy. The current administration is a sick, sorry and sad bunch of losers whose twisted vision of what this county is and should stand for is so non-Christian, they should take “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance because none of them stand for anything that is preached in the sermon on the mount.

Heather

January 02, 2021

Rounding up from 3.75! The author, Jacob Soboroff, is a respected NBC and MSNBC journalist who has been on this story from the beginning of the family separation crisis that Trump created along our southern border. I felt like, though, that this was more reportage of the reporting than analysis of the policy and the impacts on families beyond the father-son pair Soboroff describes. Still, it will be a valuable document from a shameful era in our national history.

Lynn

August 29, 2020

Jacob Sobroroff, a journalist with MSNBC, spent most of 2017-2018 tracking down what was happening at Mexican border when asylum seekers asked for asylum in the United States. He found out that there was a policy of separating parents and children and putting them into detention centers. Many parents were often prosecuted for crossing the border though it was their right under asylum law. Jacob looks at the policy overall which initially secret and follows a father and son, Juan and Jose in the system. While some families have been released, it is still going on today despite a judge’s order to stop and reunite families.

Melyssa

December 17, 2020

I thought I knew the story of family separations from following news coverage, but it was even worse. The author, an NBC News corespondent, continues to follow this story as even more has been uncovered about what he rightly calls an American tragedy. He talks in this about his journalistic decision making too, which was interesting as he learned how bad the situation really was. It is horrifying, and the impact will be long lasting.

Anne

September 25, 2020

"It's the greatest human rights catastrophe of my lifetime," says the government official who helped to reunite children who were taken from their parents at the border.I have a good understanding of our border policies through the last several administrations. I lived in Yuma, AZ from 1997-2008. I know a number of BP agents and other federal workers who deal with border issues. I know churches who helped refugees through the process. This story is appalling. I was in tears several times at what our country did to these children and their parents (and it sounds like atrocities continue). Anyone who thinks they understand the issues or thinks the policies are similar to past administrations needs to read this one. My only real issue is that the author did not mention that it is lawful to present yourself at the border to claim asylum. You also have to go to the border to do this, you can't start the process from your home. It seems like something this important should have been clear in a book on this subject. Basically, we kept thousands in worse than prison-like circumstances for doing something that is legal. I especially appreciated hearing from the government officials and agents who regretted their involvement in carrying this out. I'm also grateful, once again, to our many career public servants who consistently stood up against these policies and did what they could to correct them.

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