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.
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Who We Fight For: The Journey to Trans Liberation
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.
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Skrmetti, Obergefell, and the Path Forward for LGBTQIA+ Rights with Chase Strangio
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.
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Know Your Education Rights with ReNika Moore
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.
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We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia Wang
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.
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