Lawmakers, parents, think tanks, and conservative pundits have waged a war over how to teach students about systemic racism. As of this recording, 27 state legislatures and 165 national and local organizations have made efforts to restrict education on racism. As a result, school board members have been ousted, and some educators have resigned over the death threats, social media bullying, and harassment they’ve received from those who are adamant that teaching a more inclusive history harms students.

These activists and lawmakers have centered much of their anger on a framework called Critical Race Theory. Though they’ve used it as a catchall for wokeness, political correctness, and leftist indoctrination, the term actually refers to a body of legal scholarship from the 70s and 80s that says racism is not just a result of individual prejudice, but something embedded in the legal system and in government policy. 

Our guest today Kimberlé Crenshaw was among the scholars who developed the theory. She also coined the term “intersectionality,” a framework that takes into account how a person’s identities combine to create unique forms of discrimination or privilege. 

She is a Distinguished Professor of law at Columbia University and at UCLA, co-founder of the African American Policy Forum at Columbia, and host of the podcast “Intersectionality Matters.” 

She joins us to help us understand the true meaning of Critical Race Theory and how it became a political flashpoint in schools and beyond.

Kimberlé Crenshaw on Teaching the Truth about Race in America

Over the coming weeks, kids will be heading back to school – over a million of them to preschool. And while many of these preschoolers will learn about colors, shapes, and the ABC’s, thousands will learn what it’s like to be suspended for the first time. On average 250 preschoolers are suspended each day of the school year. Compared with K through 12 students, preschoolers are suspended at nearly 3 times the frequency of older students. 

Our guest today has spent decades raising awareness about this trend and its effect on a child’s long-term outcomes. Dr. Rosemarie Allen is  an associate professor at the School of Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she teaches students about power, privilege, and the education system. She joins us today to discuss the preschool to prison pipeline, the punitive culture in educational spaces, the mental health care of students, and alternative approaches that teach rather than punish.

How To End the Preschool to Prison Pipeline

May marks Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. To mark the importance of this month and how it intersects our work at the ACLU, we are bringing you this conversation with Malaysian American award-winning writer and audio producer, Stephanie Foo. Stephanie is the author of the new book, What My Bones Know, a memoir about intergenerational trauma and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, or c-PTSD.

In the book, Stephanie details her path of healing from the physical and emotional abuse she endured from both of her parents and explores the kind of trauma that she says had a widespread impact on her immigrant community growing up.

She joins us to discuss how learning her ancestors’ history and the history of her community helped her reconcile her individual struggles.

The Impact of Intergenerational Immigrant Trauma

Across America, 68 percent of incarcerated people with a medical condition go without care in local jails. Put simply, incarcerated people are often denied life sustaining and life-saving health care treatment. To make matters worse, carceral facilities are increasingly used as a response to “treat” those with mental and physical illnesses. But, in reality, they are doing the opposite. After an arrest, those who can’t immediately post bail can spend days on end without medical services. Until they can gather enough money to buy freedom, incarcerated people can suffer from poor health care with dire consequences, including in some cases death. Nothing reveals this experience more than the story of 54-year-old Dexter Barry.

Last year, in November of 2022 Dexter was experiencing a renewed sense of health and stability in his life. This was all thanks to a heart transplant that he received after waiting for an organ for 12 years while battling ongoing heart complications. That month, Barry got into a verbal dispute with his neighbor in Jacksonville, Florida. The incident resulted in a misdemeanor arrest that kept him in jail for two days without anti-rejection medication for his transplant, despite several pleas for it. Three days after he was released from jail, he died from cardiac arrest that was caused by an acute rejection of his heart.

Dexter’s story is reflective of sweeping failures in the carceral system. Unfortunately, his story is one of many. We’re joined by his children Janelle King and Dexter Barry Jr., who are amplifying their dad’s story to get justice and prevent what happened to him from happening to anyone else.

No One Should Die In Custody

“There is no shortage of voices demanding everyone pay attention to the violence trans women suffer. But one frighteningly basic question seems never to be answered: why does it happen? If men are not inherently evil and trans women do not intrinsically invite reprisal—which would make violence unstoppable—then the psychology of that violence had to arise at a certain place and time. The trans panic had to be invented.”

This is the description for historian and gender scholar Dr. Jules Gill-Peterson’s new book, “The Short History of Trans Misogyny,” a work that seeks to answer why trans misogyny is such a ubiquitous reality. Without this understanding, Jules says, we can never move beyond awareness into liberation for trans femme people.

At a time when legislative attacks on trans people are at an all-time high and a pernicious focus on their lives and healthcare dominates public discourse, this question and exploration provides an important path forward. Today, Jules, an associate professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and author of the 2018 book, “Histories of the Transgender Child,” joins us to discuss.

Why Do Trans Women Face so Much Violence?

You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our Artist Ambassador for Racial Justice. We are fortunate to welcome him as our interim host for our At Liberty podcast over the next few months where he will host conversations with leaders, legal experts, artists and storytellers dedicated to the fight for civil rights and civil liberties.

Our first podcast is a conversation taped live earlier this month on a stop of ACLU’s Know Your Rights Bus Tour. On our tour, we hit the road with artists, influencers, advocates and community members to host events in six cities to ensure voters know their rights and have a plan to vote. At our stop in Philly, Bell sat down with Mike Lee, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

Lee is Philly born and raised. He has a long history of championing criminal justice reform and challenging discrimination against marginalized communities in Pennsylvania. He knows a thing or two about Philly, and shared how it informs his legal career. We hope you enjoy!

At Liberty Live with W. Kamau Bell: Know Your Rights Bus Tour Philly

You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, or from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. If you're a long-time ACLU supporter, you'll know Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our Artist Ambassador for Racial Justice. We're excited to have him as our interim host for our At Liberty podcast, where he will host conversations with leaders, legal experts, artists, and storytellers dedicated to the fight for civil rights and civil liberties.

In this episode, Grammy-winning musician and activist Tom Morello joins us to discuss the intersection of music and social justice. Known for his work with the rock band Rage Against the Machine, Morello is also an ACLU Artist Ambassador. On the podcast, he shares his journey from Harvard student to social justice activism, including how he’s advocated for criminal justice reform and labor rights. He also explores the role of artists in social movements and explains why he believes music is a powerful tool for change.

Riffs and Resistance: Tom Morello and W. Kamau Bell

You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, or from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. If you're a long-time ACLU supporter, you'll know Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our artist ambassador for racial justice. We're excited to have him as our interim host for our At Liberty podcast, where he will host conversations with leaders, legal experts, artists, and storytellers dedicated to the fight for civil rights and civil liberties.


In this episode, the ACLU’s newly-appointed National Legal Director Cecillia Wang joins Bell in a special post-election episode. Cecillia oversees more than 200 lawyers and staff in the ACLU National legal department, supports legal staff at 54 affiliates, and directs the ACLU’s work at the Supreme Court. Before her current role, Cecillia was the deputy legal director for the ACLU, where she helped fight the 2017 Muslim Ban, the border wall, the family separation policy, and the 2020 Census citizenship question. Together, they talk about what was learned from the first Trump administration, and how the ACLU will be ready to respond on day one.

https://www.aclu.org/our-47th-president-donald-trump

We Have A Plan: Cecillia Wang and W. Kamau Bell

You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his three-time Emmy Award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, or from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. If you're a long-time ACLU supporter, you'll know Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our Artist Ambassador for Racial Justice. We're excited to have him as our interim host for our At Liberty podcast, where he will host conversations with leaders, legal experts, artists, and storytellers dedicated to the fight for civil rights and civil liberties.
 
In this episode, Kamau discusses how gender-affirming health care can save lives with activist and Emmy-nominated actress Nava Mau and Dr. Susan Lacy, a board-certified gynecologist who has provided the care at her Memphis clinic for decades. They get into how the transgender community accesses this health care, why it’s vital to them, the misconceptions around it, and why — on the heels of a Supreme Court case that could threaten access — we all need to get involved. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, centers on when, where, and how the government can discriminate against transgender people and the health care they receive. Mau and Dr. Lacy, a plaintiff in the case representing herself and her patients, address what’s at stake and what practical next steps we can take to help protect transgender rights from an avalanche of legal and legislative battles. 

The Truth About Gender-Affirming Care with W. Kamau Bell, Nava Mau, and Dr. Susan Lacy

In this episode of At Liberty, W. Kamau Bell makes his debut as the official host, marking an exciting new chapter for the ACLU podcast. Joined by ACLU National Legal Director Cecillia Wang, the first podcast of 2025 dives deep into the pressing challenges facing civil liberties in America today. 
 
In this episode, Cecillia and Kamau discuss the new administration's first days in office, examining the wave of executive orders that threaten fundamental rights - from birthright citizenship to asylum seekers' protections, transgender rights, voting access, and criminal justice reform. Cecillia Wang, who oversees the ACLU's extensive legal operations, provides expert insight into these developments and the organization's strategic response.

We Don’t Get Ready, We Stay Ready with ACLU’s Cecillia Wang and W. Kamau Bell

Restaurants. Churches. Street corners. These are meant to be community spaces—not sites where immigrants and their loved ones live in fear of ICE raids. This week, the ACLU’s Maribel Hernández Rivera and Lee Gelernt join W. Kamau Bell to share the latest on immigrants’ rights in the US, from both an advocacy and legal perspective.


Listen in as they discuss what’s changed since Trump took office, how listeners can protect themselves and their neighbors, and why we’re all in this together—regardless of our immigration status.


Maribel Hernández Rivera is the ACLU’s National Director of Immigrant Community Strategies. And Lee Gelernt is Deputy Director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. You can read more about their work here and here, respectively.


At Liberty is a production of the ACLU, and hosted by W. Kamau Bell.


This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.


At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.

Know Your Immigration Rights with Maribel Hernández Rivera and Lee Gelernt

Seventeen. That’s the number of states suing the US government to end federal protections for disabled individuals. 880 billion. That’s the amount of money that Congress is primed to cut from Medicaid funding. One in four. That’s the number of adults in the US who report having a disability. The math, well—it isn’t adding up.

This week, W. Kamau Bell is joined by advocates Zoe Brennan-Krohn and Nicole Jorwic to discuss the current state of disability rights in the US, how we got here, and what a just, equitable system could look like—both for individuals needing care and their caregivers.

Zoe Brennan-Krohn is Director of the ACLU’s Disability Rights Program and Nicole Jorwic is a disability rights activist and the Chief of Advocacy and Campaigns at Caring Across.

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU, and hosted by W. Kamau Bell.

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.

Know Your Disability Rights with Zoe Brennan-Krohn and Nicole Jorwic

Mahmoud Khalil is a recent Columbia University graduate, activist, soon-to-be father, and U.S. green card holder. On March 8, he was unlawfully detained because of his speech in defense of Palestinian human rights. On this week’s episode of At Liberty, host W. Kamau Bell is joined by two members of Khalil’s legal team—the ACLU’s Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy from Center for Constitutional Rights—to discuss why his case should raise alarm bells for anyone who cares about free speech.

Ben Wizner is director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Baher Azmy is the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU, and hosted by W. Kamau Bell.

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Know Your Protest Rights: Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy

You know that phrase “born on the wrong side of the tracks”? Well, there’s something to it: highways, roads, and sidewalks across America have, for decades now, been racial and economic dividers. And these thoroughfares don’t just reflect inequality—they continue to play an active role in it.

This week, W. Kamau Bell is joined by Deborah N. Archer and Sister Helen Jones for a conversation about transportation infrastructure in the United States, and what a safer, more equitable system could look like.

Deborah N. Archer is President of the ACLU, and a tenured professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law. She’s also the author of the new book Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality. 

Sister Helen Jones is a community organizer and activist in the Watts neighborhood of Southern California.

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU, and hosted by W. Kamau Bell.

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Know Your Right To Transportation Justice with Deborah Archer and Sister Helen Jones

End-to-end encryption. Burner phones. Biometric authentication. Our technology is more advanced than ever, but what does that mean for our digital footprints—and how our data is tracked, whether we’re crossing a US border or at home?  This week, we’re exploring our right to digital privacy and how protecting our data can help protect our freedom of speech and expression. This conversation was made to be leaked.

Esha Bhandari is deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. And Daniel Kahn Gillmor is a Senior Staff Technologist for the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project.

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU, and hosted by W. Kamau Bell.

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. Special thanks to David Boyer and KALW.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Know Your Digital Privacy Rights with Esha Bhandari and Daniel Kahn Gillmor

We talk a lot on At Liberty about knowing our rights, but since Donald Trump returned to office, where do those rights stand? This week, the ACLU’s National Legal Director Cecillia Wang joins Kamau to make sense of Trump’s first 100 days, from the more than 140 executive orders he signed to the more than 100 legal actions the ACLU has filed since January. Plus, listeners share their questions on immigration rights, freedom of speech, and how we can stay prepared for what’s ahead.

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia Wang

It may be graduation season, but here on At Liberty, class is still in session—and this week, we’re exploring students’ right to learn. Since the Trump administration took office, schools across the country have faced book bans, funding cuts, and a rollback in civil rights protections. This week, ReNika Moore—Director of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program—joins W. Kamau Bell to discuss what’s at stake for K-12 and higher education institutions, and why equal access to education must be protected.

Want to make your voice heard? Head to action.aclu.org/send-message/save-department-education

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz and Gwen Schroeder for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Know Your Education Rights with ReNika Moore

June is a time to honor and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s also a month when the Supreme Court has historically made pivotal decisions for LGBTQIA+ rights. This week, Co-Director of the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project Chase Strangio joins W. Kamau Bell to reflect on the 10-year anniversary of marriage equality with Obergefell v. Hodges, how that case bears on the pending U.S. v. Skrmetti decision, and what it looks like to show up for trans youth and their families in this critical moment.


For more information on Skrmetti and actions you can take, head to action.aclu.org. While you’re there, take the pledge to support trans youth and sign the petition to defend trans freedom:

action.aclu.org/petition/defend-trans-freedom
action.aclu.org/petition/take-pledge-support-trans-youth-now

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell.
At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Skrmetti, Obergefell, and the Path Forward for LGBTQIA+ Rights with Chase Strangio

This past weekend, an estimated 5 million folks across the country protested Trump's attack on our rights. And if you asked anyone in the crowd why they showed up—and who they showed up for—they’d likely have an answer. Today, W. Kamau Bell is joined by three activists—Ash Lazarus Orr and Stephen and Hobbes Chukumba—who are showing up for LGBTQIA+ rights. Listen in as they discuss how they’re navigating Trump’s escalating abuses of power, what trans rights have to do with reproductive and racial justice, and how they’re finding joy this Pride month.

A note from the At Liberty team: just after recording this episode, we received a ruling on U.S. v. Skrmetti. You can learn more about the decision, and the latest on Orr v. Trump, at aclu.org:
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/transgender-us-passport-holders-granted-temporary-relief-in-challenge-to-trump-gender-marker-policy

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-lambda-legal-respond-to-supreme-court-ruling-in-u-s-v-skrmetti 

This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell.
At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.


Who We Fight For: The Journey to Trans Liberation

It’s because of the First Amendment that we have a right to protest abuses of power, advocate for our neighbors, and defend our privacy. But what does the U.S. Constitution actually say about freedom of speech? This week, the ACLU’s Emerson Sykes joins Kamau to break down this fundamental right. We cover everything from why free speech issues aren’t always First Amendment issues to why 1A rights don’t mean much if they don’t protect everyone—including people and groups we don’t agree with.

Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.

The ABCs of Free Speech with Emerson Sykes

After 104 days in detention, Mahmoud Khalil is home. And this week, we’re honored to have him join us in studio for his first extended conversation with the ACLU. He and Kamau reflect on Mahmoud’s time in ICE custody, the importance of people power, and how he’s settling back into life in New York — from attending a widely publicized comedy show to spending quiet moments with his family. 

Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Gotham Production Studios in NYC. 

At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. 

One-on-One with Mahmoud Khalil

This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial, a Tennessee case where science and religion squared off in court — and the whole country tuned in. This week, the ACLU’s Daniel Mach joins Kamau to discuss the landmark trial, how it shaped our contemporary understanding of religious freedom in the United States, and what the Constitution actually says about the separation between church and state.  

 One note is that this episode was recorded just before a court ruled that an Arkansas law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools is unconstitutional. This is a victory for religious freedom. It is also a reminder that this freedom is increasingly under threat. To learn more about this case and others like it, visit aclu.org  

Daniel Mach is the director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. 

Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. 

 At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. 

America’s Most Famous Court Trial

Can humor help us make sense of unprecedented threats to our civil liberties? Join us this week for a special episode of At Liberty, recorded live at SeriesFest in Denver, where Kamau and moderator Mo Fry Pasic explore Kamau's signature style of sociopolitical comedy, how something can be funny without being true, and why laughter means we’re paying attention.  

You can hear Mo in conversation with a different comedian each week on their podcast, Worse Than You with Mo Fry Pasic. And you can keep up with SeriesFest year-round at seriesfest.com. 

Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. 

Live from SeriesFest: Our Right to Laughter

This summer, Emmy Award-winning journalist Mario Guevara was covering a protest near Atlanta when local law enforcement arrested him. Then, ICE detained him. For more than 100 days, the agency refused his release, citing his reporting as dangerous. On October 3, after more than 20 years of living in the United States, he was deported to El Salvador. 

This week, the ACLU’s Scarlet Kim, who served on Guevara's legal team, joins Kamau to discuss his case and why it should sound alarm bells for us all. Then, the ACLU’s Jessica Herman Weitz drops in to discuss another Emmy Award winner in the headlines for free speech repression: Jimmy Kimmel. 

You can check out the Kimmel letter here: 

https://www.aclu.org/defend-free-speech-letter-kimmel 

And add your name to an open letter in support of free speech here: 

https://action.aclu.org/petition/defend-free-speech-all-condemn-governments-censorship-jimmy-kimmel  

 At Liberty is a production of the ACLU. For the ACLU, our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell, our executive producer is Jessica Herman Weitz, and our intern is Madhvi Khianra. W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD are executive producers for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is produced and edited by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. This episode was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

The Journalist Who Spent More Than 100 Days in ICE Detention

Frog costumes. The Star Wars theme. Whistlemania. These could be the sights and sounds of Halloween—but this year, they've taken on new meaning. As federal agents and military troops arrive in their cities across the country, communities have used pop culture references, humor, and irreverence as an act of resilience. They’ve also banded together to form school escorts and other protective measures for their neighbors. This week, we’re exploring how residents of three cities have met this moment. We have three ACLU experts joining us. First up, we have Chandra S. Bhatnagar and Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Southern California and Illinois. And around the 46-minute mark, Monica Hopkins of the ACLU of DC joins Kamau to discuss deployments in the nation’s capital.  

Want to get involved? Here are two actions you can take right now:  

action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-congress-no-troops-our-streets   

  action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-congress-stop-masked-agents  

  And if you’re still curious about the deployments, there’s a great explainer on YouTube: “Ask an ACLU Expert: President Trump’s Deployment of Federal Forces to Our Communities” with Hina Shamsi.  

  https://youtu.be/1wQLAqD-KFM?si=LGsW6vlAM_A-1WKo 

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU. For the ACLU, our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell, our executive producer is Jessica Herman Weitz, and our intern is Madhvi Khianra. W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD are executive producers for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is produced and edited by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. This episode was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. 

Deployments At Our Doorstep

We’re living through a moment where late night jokes are next-day news, and each opening monologue feels like a litmus test for our freedom of expression. But is this dynamic anything new? This week, comedian Dean Obeidallah and writer Kliph Nesteroff join Kamau to reflect on the history—and present state—of censorship in comedy, and what makes this moment more than a callback. 

This episode was recorded on Monday, November 10, in the lead-up to the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, which Dean co-founded more than two decades ago. Kliph’s insights are drawn from research that he conducted for his book Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars. 

From The Joke Files: A Comedy and Censorship Roundtable

This week, we’re showing thanks to everyone who's stepping up for our collective civil liberties, with a People Power potluck! And we’ve got a seat at the table for you. Our guest of honor is Maribel Hernández Rivera, the ACLU’s National Director of Immigrant Community Strategies. And we have three volunteers from the ACLU’s grassroots network People Power stopping by. Kathy joins us just around the 20-minute mark from Minnesota, Sophia around 40 minutes in from Colorado, and Terry at the hour mark from Tennessee. Listen in as they speak with Kamau about why and how they're advocating for immigrants’ rights, and what their hopes are for their communities—and yours—this giving season and beyond. 

If you’d like to join Kathy, Sophia, Terry, and other People Power volunteers, now’s the perfect time. You can head to aclu.org/campaigns-initiatives/people-power to learn more. 

And make sure to check out the ACLU's Holiday Conversation Guide, at aclu.org/the-aclus-holiday-conversation-guide. 

At Liberty is a production of the ACLU. For the ACLU, our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell, our executive producer is Jessica Herman Weitz, and our intern is Madhvi Khianra. W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD are executive producers for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is produced and edited by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. This episode was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. 

Where Everybody Knows Your Rights

‘Tis the season ... to stay ready. A busy Supreme Court term is already underway, with trans rights, redistricting, birthright citizenship, and more on the docket. And this week, Cecillia Wang is back to break it down with Kamau. Join us as we reflect on this year's civil liberties work, celebrate our wins, and prepare for the fight ahead. 

On The Docket: A 2026 SCOTUS Briefing

With the midterm elections only a few days away, voting rights advocates have been working furiously to ensure that the result will be the product of a free and fair election where everyone eligible to vote is able to do so. Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, discusses the state of the vote in 2018 and the biggest challenges and opportunities for voting rights this election season.

Dimmy

Voting Rights and the Midterms

Starting with the Muslim ban, the Trump presidency has consistently unleashed a barrage of new policies designed to keep immigrants out of the country. But while these restrictions might seem unprecedented, anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have deep roots in our country. Today’s guest is Daniel Okrent, the award-winning writer of The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics and the Law That Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians and Other European Immigrants Out of America. He discusses the political dynamics behind the anti-immigrant zeal of the early 20th century and the junk science that was used to justify it.

The Anti-Immigration Fervor That Swept America in the Early 20th Century

At Liberty is a weekly podcast from the ACLU that explores the biggest civil rights and civil liberties issues of the day. A production of ACLU, Inc.

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