David Simon, the co-creator of "The Plot Against America," available March 16 on HBO, describes the central questions he is trying to present in the series, including the fear of the others, a disdain for immigrants and what it means to be American.

"The Plot Against America" is based on Philip Roth's novel about a Jewish family living in 1940s New Jersey under an alternative history where Charles Lindbergh becomes president, but Simon says his adaptation also has origins in the 2016 election and today's America. "Whoever's coming in is subject to the same iconic fears, just devoted worries of the Americans already here, which is they're not going to be American enough," Simon said on "Salon Talks." To learn more about "The Plot Against America," and Simon's experiences creating iconic television series, watch "Salon Talks."