Stay Tuned with Preet Virtue as Political Strategy (with Cory Booker)
Mar 26, 2026
Cory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey and author of Stand, reflects on virtue, politics, immigration, and public service. He discusses DHS leadership and funding, reimagining immigration with enforcement plus expanded legal pathways, how other nations compete for talent, and virtue as a practical strategy for political renewal.
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Enforce Border While Expanding Legal Immigration
- Democrats must combine strong enforcement of immigration laws with massively expanded legal immigration to restore economic growth and safety.
- Booker notes countries like Canada and Australia are actively recruiting talent while U.S. throttles visas and loses competitive edge in research and talent.
America Lost The Mobility Formula
- America's mid-20th-century mobility came from immigration, corporate investment in workers, and R&D spending, which have since declined.
- Booker contrasts a Xerox-era janitor's upward mobility with modern gig/contracted labor that bids down wages.
Use Virtue As A Winning Political Strategy
- Treat virtue as political strategy: cultivate traits like humility, vulnerability, and vision to win hearts and policy battles.
- Booker frames his book Stand as both instruction and inspiration, urging leaders to use virtue to renew America.
