SideBar: Optimism In Action - Conversations with Community Leaders Inspiring Positive Change

Empowering Communities, Restoring Hope, and Delivering Aid with Richard Walden

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:08:52 -0700

Richard Walden is the founder, President, and CEO of Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based international disaster relief and development agency helping communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease, violence, and endemic poverty. Since 1979, Operation USA has worked in 101 countries—delivering over $450 million in aid for relief and development projects around the world.

Freeing ourselves and our democracy from patriarchy with Katherine Grainger

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:39:45 -0700

Katherine Grainger, co-author of the NY gay marriage law, champion of groundbreaking work to enshrine gender protections in state constitutions across the country, and Managing Partner of Civitas Public Affairs Group, joins guest cohost Vanessa Priya Daniel and Mitch Winick. She ignites our imaginations about what true gender equality could look and feel like in our daily lives, and how we achieve it. With 25 years of policy, legal, and advocacy experience, Katherine Grainger is a unique thought leader challenging cultural and system norms towards a freer future.

Local Journalism is in Crisis: We All Should be Paying Attention! with Sarabeth Berman

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:53:36 -0700

Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the nonprofit American Journalism Project, reminds us that local journalism keeps communities informed and holds the powerful accountable. Equally important, it is the key to an informed citizenry and provides the tools to safeguard a healthy democracy.

Advocating for Nature and Environmental Justice with Linda Krop

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:18:15 -0700

Linda Krop, Chief Counsel of the nonprofit Environmental Defense Center has dedicated her career as an environmental advocate to fighting offshore oil and gas development, protecting natural resources, and preserving open space lands. In her role as chief counsel, she leads the organization's efforts to defend nature and advance environmental justice through community advocacy and legal action. EDC has represented more than 100 nonprofit organizations and helped preserve more than 100,000 acres of woodlands and open space for long-term public use and protection from development or industry use.

Women of Color: The MVPs of the Social Justice Movement with Vanessa Daniel

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:32:09 -0800

Vanessa Priya Daniel’s first book, Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning, centers the work of women of color in social justice movements.. She shares the three superpowers of successful WOC leaders that we can all adopt: a 360 vision, boldness, and generosity.

Can Business Strategies Successfully Address Community Challenges - Yes! with Drew Moser

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:37:07 -0800

Drew Moser, CEO of The Lucky Duck Foundation, discusses how applying sound business principles with a bias for action, a focus on strategic collaborations, and the support of private philanthropy, can reduce homelessness and successfully address other community needs.

When a "Losing" Campaign Just Might be a Win for Democracy with Kate Barr

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:20:55 -0800

Kate Compton Barr is a trailblazing advocate for democracy who made waves as the 'Can't Win' candidate for the North Carolina State Senate in 2024. Her candidacy was never about winning. Instead, it was a platform to focus the community's conversation on the un-democratic effect of partisan gerrymandering. Kate's current campaign is equally unique. She is campaigning openly as a progressive running in the Republican primary for North Carolina's US House District 14 on a platform supporting fair maps that support democracy by reflecting the bipartisan demographics of her state.

It Takes an Entire Community to Combat Homelessness with Roxanne Wilson

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 16:13:48 -0800

As Director of Monterey County Homeless Services Program, Roxanne Wilson is a seasoned community leader with over a decade of dedicated service to housing justice and homelessness reduction. She leads the county's efforts to integrate policy, planning, and partnerships across governmental and nonprofit sectors by overseeing strategic initiatives and homeless response systems.

Inspiring Optimism as a Vision for the Future with Bill Burke

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:07:48 -0800

SideBar: Optimism in Action podcast, a collaboration of KAZU 90.3 and Monterey College of Law, welcomes Bill Burke, founder of The Optimism Institute and host of Blue Sky podcast. Burke transitioned to promoting optimism in 2022 after an extensive media and sports career as an executive, writer, and producer. Bill is a lifelong optimist and launched The Optimism Institute with a mission to inspire people with an optimistic, hopeful vision of the world and its future.

Designing the Future of Higher Education with Kathleen deLaski

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 22:12:07 -0800

Kathleen deLaski is at the forefront of designing higher education for the 21st century. She founded Education Design Lab to help colleges begin the journey to reimagine higher education toward the future of work and she manages the deLaski Family Foundation, a 25-year grant maker in education reform. In her book, Who Needs College Anymore: Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter, Kathleen describes a multiple educational pathways through the learners lifecycle to help them find success.

Supporting Seeds of Change through Local Philanthropy with Bradley Zeve

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 20:47:49 -0800

Back in 2000, Bradley Zeve and the Monterey County Weekly decided to leverage its media resources to create a new program to support the local nonprofit community with both editorial coverage and philanthropy. This initial philanthropic endeavor has developed into the community-wide Monterey County Gives! campaign that has raised and donated more than $82 million to approximately 500 local nonprofits in Monterey County. This year's campaign runs through December 31, 2025.

Protecting our Oceans and our Future with Aimee David

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 22:09:26 -0800

The Monterey Bay Aquarium coordinates initiatives in California to establish the nation’s first statewide network of marine protected areas, prohibit the trade of shark fin products, ban plastic grocery bags and defend against expanded offshore oil and gas drilling. Aimee's team advocates for the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture around the world, to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean, and to take action on climate change.

Compassion for Families Facing End-of-Life with Monica Ojcius

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:09:50 -0800

Community Hospice & Health Services provides end-of-life care with compassion and dignity, and is still evolving to add to the continuum of care that people need by investing in programs that support community members in critical and meaningful ways. Monica Ojcius, Director of Strategic Development, discusses serving more than 2,500 patients and families each year providing hospice and palliative care for adults and pediatrics, and outpatient mental health counseling for adults and children.

The Importance of Your Vote! with Bill Monning

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 13:26:28 -0700

Former California Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning reminds us that regardless of your political affiliation, voting provides the opportunity to make sure that your opinions and beliefs are represented at the local, state, and federal levels when decisions about public policy are being made. It is tempting to think that mid-term elections in which there are no major national candidates on the ballot are less important. However, every election provides you with the opportunity to make sure that your voice is heard.

Defending Health Care Equity with Dr. Chad Harris

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:46:05 -0700

Dr. Chad Harris reminds us that defending health care equity is a fundamental community value that is important to all of us. Dr. Harris serves as CEO of Natividad Medical Center, the safety-net hospital for Monterey County. He also serves on the executive committee of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems that advocates for comprehensive, high quality, equitable health care services for all Californians, regardless of insurance status, immigration status, ability to pay, or other circumstance.

Here for Good - The Impact of Philanthropy with Dan Baldwin

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:32:24 -0700

The Community Foundation for Monterey County works with individuals, families, and businesses to make a positive and lasting impact on our community. The Foundation's mission is to create healthy, safe, vibrant communities throughout Monterey County and beyond. It serves as a design studio for philanthropy, creating a bridge for generous people from all backgrounds and financial levels to join together to address critical community needs.

Overcoming Incarceration, Homelessness, Hunger, and Poverty by Creating Skilled Youth Workers with Chris Devers

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 17:33:51 -0700

At Rancho Cielo, students learn in a safe, supportive environment that affirms them as individuals and builds self-esteem and belonging. CEO Chris Devers discusses the mission of Rancho Cielo to enrich the lives of young people and empower them to become accountable, competent, productive, and responsible citizens who will earn a sustainable living wage, become financially independent, and help end the cycle of poverty.

Leading the Fight Against Hunger with Monica White

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:19:07 -0700

Food Share of Ventura County is a leading example of how a community can successfully join together to address food insecurity and hunger. President/CEO Monica White joins SideBar to explain how Food Share of Ventura County distributes nearly 20 million pounds of food, providing over 16 million meals annually through its hunger programs and 175 pantry and program partners to more than 250,000 hungry friends and neighbors with compassion and respect.

Independent, Credible, Research, and Information is More Important Now than Ever with Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:31:39 -0700

We desperately need access to trustworthy, fact-based information about key issues impacting our communities. "SideBar: Optimism in Action" welcomes Tani Cantil-Sakauye, president and CEO of the independent, nonpartisan, Public Policy Institute of California. PPIC has long been recognized as an independent, credible source of information on the most pressing issues facing California. From 2011 to 2022, she served as the 28th Chief Justice of California and led the judiciary as the chair of the Judicial Council—the constitutional policy and rule-making body of the judicial branch—the first person of color and the second woman to do so.

Exploring Voting Behavior and Civic Engagement with Mindy Romero

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:31:52 -0700

Mindy Romero is the founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy that is part of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy based in Sacramento, California. Romero is a political sociologist whose research focuses on political behavior and race/ethnicity. The research and reports of the Center seek to explain patterns of voting and political underrepresentation, particularly among youth and communities of color in California and the U.S.

Protecting Whistleblowers with Louis Clark

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0700

For over 40 years, Louis Clark has led the Government Accountability Project (GAP), an organization dedicated to protecting whistleblowers and ensuring government accountability. During the Trump administration, GAP is overwhelmed with the number of government employees seeking support in disclosing illegal, unethical, and fraudulent conduct. It is also addressing a new form of retaliation against whistleblowers, physical harm, and death threats. Learn more about the organization and its work at https://whistleblower.org.

Women of Color: The MVPs of the Social Justice Movement with Vanessa Daniel

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0700

Vanessa Priya Daniel’s first book, Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning, centers the work of women of color in social justice movements. Daniel discusses her personal journey from community organizer to the founder and Executive Director of Groundswell, a philanthropy organization committed to intersectional organizing. She shares the three superpowers of successful WOC leaders that we can all adopt: a 360 vision, boldness, and generosity.

Making It Easy to Give Back with Anna Chu

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0700

We The Action has a simple premise – lawyers have the power to do good. The organization started in 2017 to help connect lawyer with pro bono causes, from immigration and domestic violence representation to non-profit governance and tax issues, from voting rights to copyright. Anna Chu, the Executive Director, describes how nimble organization started the Federal Workers Defense Network to provide pro bono support for the thousands of federal workers who were fired from their positions in violation of law and without legal process. You can find pro bono opportunities at https://wetheaction.org/lawyers

Protecting and Providing Due Process with Erica Pinheiro

Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:00 -0700

Erica Pinheiro serves as the Executive Director of Al Otro Lado providing holistic legal and humanitarian support to refugees, deportees, and other migrants in the US and Tijuana through a multidisciplinary, client-centered, harm reduction-based practice. The organization provides direct, free, legal services on both sides of the US-Mexico border and beyond through zealous individual representation, medical-legal partnerships, and impact litigation to protect the rights of immigrants and asylum-seekers.

Reclaiming Civility with Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:00:00 -0700

Thirty years ago, Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath founded the Institute for Civility with the goal to promote civility—in government, workplaces, schools—and to catalyze change. They describe their journey, how they define civility, what they have learned about reducing polarization, and why they have hope for the future. https://www.instituteforcivility.org/.

Respecting and Protecting our Seniors with Christine Winge

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0700

Meals on Wheels does more than just provide home delivery of healthy food for Seniors. President Christine Winge reminds us that maintaining human connection is a critical and essential part of physical and mental health as we grow older and risk becoming more isolated.

The Moral Call to Protect Children with Beth Wilbur

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0700

After a long career in the corporate world, Beth Wilbur decided she would serve children as the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Monterey County. She discusses the incredible work that CASA volunteers do to support children in the foster care system and how they change lives through their efforts. She describes her motivation as a moral call to protect children.

Where do You Go When the Taxman Calls? with Lisa Sperow

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0700

Lisa Sperow is the Executive Director of the Cal Poly Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. The clinic provides free representation to low-income taxpayers in disputes with the IRS. Many of the clinic’s clients have nowhere else to seek help when they receive frightening notices from the IRS. It is even more alarming for taxpayers who do not speak English and who are completely unfamiliar with the process and documents necessary to respond to government claims, even if the claims are in error. As Lisa says, “this program helps ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system by educating low-income taxpayers about their rights and responsibilities and by ensuring that their individual rights are protected.”

Empowering Young People to Reach Their Potential with Cathy Sakimura

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0800

Cathy Sakimura has spent her entire professional life empowering young people, first as a youth organizer, then as the Deputy Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and now as Executive Director of Legal Services for Children (LSC) in San Francisco. In this episode, Cathy describes why she has dedicated her life to serving children and families, how she manages the challenges, and what each of us can make a difference in a child’s life, including donating money to LSC because it lost its federal funding that allowed it to serve immigrant children in detention. https://secure.everyaction.com/cVYzZjzhqkC12TIE2v3q7A2

Partnering to Protect Human Rights by Protecting Our Planet with Brad Adams

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0800

Brad Adams and Climate Rights International believe that progress on climate change cannot succeed without protecting human rights – and the fight for human rights cannot succeed without protecting our planet against climate change. Brad and CRI work in partnership with local and international groups, activists, and affected communities to demand justice and accountability from powerful interests.

Pro Bono Passion Perseveres Pre- and Post-Pandemic with Fawaz Bham

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0800

Providing pro bono service to small businesses in Dallas, Texas not only persevered through the pandemic - it expanded. The innovative program developed by attorney Fawaz Bham coordinated more than 40 law firms and community organizations through a transition from in-person to remote clinics to sustain a program that has served over 25,000 clients. Bham's efforts were recognized by the 2024 American Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award for exceptional volunteer public service.

Advocating for Native American Rights, A 50+ Year Journey Still Underway with John Echohawk

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0800

John Echohawk has served as Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) since 1977. Under John's inspired and continuing leadership, NARF has successfully asserted and defended the most important rights of Indians and tribes in hundreds of major cases, and has achieved significant results in such critical areas as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education.

Dream.org Sets the Tone for Optimism in Action with CEO Nisha Anand

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0800

Nisha Anand, the Chief Executive Officer of Dream.org, joins SideBar to discuss how she builds bridges across political divides to find real solutions. Nisha employs the “radical act of finding common ground” with unlikely allies while still staying true to her progressive values. She provides a hopeful message that collaboration can achieve change and overcome polarization and political divides.

New Season and New Format - SideBar: Optimism in Action with Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Seasons one and two of SideBar featured discussions with authors, lawyers, and academics discussing challenges to our individual constitutional and civil rights. Each of our episodes ended with our featured guests providing recommendations on how each of us can contribute to solutions for the common good. Season three of SideBar is going to flip the narrative. We are featuring lawyers, nonprofit leaders, activists, and community members who are already accomplishing extraordinary work that is improving the humanitarian, public policy, and charitable needs of our local, national, and global communities. We hope that you will join us for this season of SideBar as we meet individuals and organizations who prove through their actions that opportunities to influence positive change exist for each of us. We are calling this season of SideBar -- "Optimism in Action”.

Space Law Really is the New Frontier with Chris Hearsey

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0800

SideBar guest Chris Hearsey has spent over ten years working in international space collaborations, space exploration technologies, and other aerospace applications. His work has contributed to advancements in space law, policy, and technology. Chris is known for his visionary approach and commitment to pushing the boundaries of space capabilities, developing sustainable space technologies, and fostering an economic ecosystem conducive to innovation and growth.

A Rejection of Democrats or a Rejection of Democracy?

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Was 2024 a "historic" presidential election? Constitutional historians Lawrence Goldstone and Madiba K. Dennie join Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick to discuss the context, concerns, and questions following the recent re-election of Donald Trump. One of the questions that many of us are asking is whether the recent presidential election was a rejection of Democrats or a broader rejection of Democracy?

The Future of the Legal Profession Impacts Democracy with Ray Brescia

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Since colonial days, the legal profession has been proud of its role in the founding of the republic, the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and the defense of democracy and the rule of law. However, the profession faces an existential crisis on which the American democratic experiment hinges, says law professor Ray Brescia, author of Lawyer Nation: The Past, Present, and Future of the American Legal Profession. If attorney unethical behavior surrounding the 2020 election repeats without disciplinary repercussions in 2024 . . . democracy itself is at risk.

Equal Justice for All is Possible with Robert Tsai

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Stephen Bright made it his life's work to unleash social change by representing unpopular clients--namely those on death row. Remarkably, he succeeded, winning all four cases he argued before the Supreme Court. Robert Tsai chronicles Stephen Bright's decades long fight to ensure equality under the law that is still being challenged at the Supreme Court today.

The Return of Legal Vigilantism with David Noll and Jon Michaels

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0700

David Noll and Jon Michaels, authors of Vigilante Nation, discuss the reemergence of state-supported vigilantism. Noll and Michaels explain the vigilante methods, from anti-abortion bounties to book bans to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. They also provide a path forward, outlining what needs to be done to stop these efforts.

Pardon My Concerns - Should We Put Limits on Presidential Pardons? with Kim Wehle

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Like all discretionary authority, the pardon power is only as virtuous as the person who controls it. Kimberly Wehle, author of the new book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works - and Why demonstrates that it can be a righteous tool to remedy wrongful convictions, but it also can be used to obstruct investigations, benefit political allies, and reward the President’s friends and family. As the author of What You Need to Know about Voting—and Why, Kim also challenges efforts to distort or disrupt the U.S. electoral system for selecting the president and warns that vigilance is necessary, locally and nationally.

Does Our Current Constitution Provide the Protections and Rights We Need? with Dean Erwin Chemerinsky

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Berkeley Law Dean, author of No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States asks the provocative question - is it time to consider drafting a new constitution? Is it absurd to think that a document drafted in the 18th Century can still protect democracy and individual rights in the 21st Century? Join the SideBar discussion about the challenges under the constitution to protect free speech, a democratic electoral system, diversity in higher education, and the status of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Erosion of LGBTQ+ Rights with Roberta Kaplan and Brandon Trice

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0700

In the last several years, there have been a wave of anti-LGBTQ laws passed across the country and ACLU is tracking 547 new bills in the 2024 legislative session. Robbie Kaplan and Brandon Trice describe their success challenging one of those laws, Florida’s “don’t say gay law.” In this wide-ranging conversation, we touch on the rising attacks on the LGBTQ community, the future of marriage equality, and the effect of the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision on the E.Jean Carroll defamation judgement.

Yes! The Constitution Allows Changes to the Supreme Court - and Other Surprises with Lawrence Goldstone

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Award-winning author and historian Lawrence Goldstone explains why what the Constitution does not say - was intentional - so that democracy can evolve. According to Goldstone, author of "Imperfect Union: How Errors of Omission Threaten Constitutional Democracy", changing the Supreme Court, protecting voting rights, defining the Second Amendment, and maintaining the balance of power between state and federal government are intended to be the responsibilities of voters, not the government or the courts.

Judge Shopping For Me, But Not for Thee with Chris Geidner

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Over the past year, the Supreme Court has taken a far more active role in reviewing cases reflecting fringe arguments supported by federal district court judges and appellate circuits. The Western and Northern Districts of Texas have become the destination of choice for "judge-shopping" to receive the benefits of far-right conservative judicial ideology. But when attorneys challenging the ban on gender-affirming care used a similar approach to dismiss a case before a hostile right-wing conservative federal judge, the Alabama district court subjected them to a two-year secret investigation for purported "judge-shopping". Chris Geidner, a noted Supreme Court reporter and author of the newsletter "Law Dork" joins SideBar to discuss how federal "judge-shopping" is allegedly being used to manipulate outcomes and how the current Supreme Court is responding.

The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground with Nisha Anand

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0700

Justice Bent, Not Broken with Elie Honig

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Senior CNN Legal Analyst Elie Honig challenges whether the rule of law is under attack when powerful people square off against judges and juries. As author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It and a former federal and state prosecutor, he served on air as a CNN Senior Legal Analyst throughout the first criminal trial and conviction of a former US President.

Constitutional Equal Rights - the Time is NOW! with Katherine Spillar

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Kathy Spillar, Executive Director of Feminist Majority Foundation and Executive Editor of MS Magazine joins SideBar to discuss why ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is an essential legal tool to guarantee women's rights. Ratification of the ERA would constitutionally prohibit sex discrimination, recognize systemic inequities across different groups of people, and uplift historically marginalized people to achieve true equality and justice.

How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back with Madiba K. Dennie

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Madiba K. Dennie is an attorney, columnist, author, and professor whose work focuses on fostering an equitable multiracial democracy. Dennie is the author of The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back. She currently serves as Deputy Editor and Senior Contributor at the critical legal commentary outlet Balls and Strikes. As counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice, she addressed democracy issues involving the census, the courts, and attempts to disempower communities of color.

Criminalizing Motherhood and Reproductive Health with Dr. Michele Goodwin

Tue, 07 May 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Since the Dobbs Supreme Court case was decided, we have gained a heightened awareness of the criminal laws surrounding pregnancies, including the decision to terminate one. But the criminalization of abortion isn’t a new post-Dobbs phenomenon. Women, especially women of color, have frequently faced punitive state laws regulating reproductive health. Dr. Michele Goodwin, attorney, law professor, and author of Policing the Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood, joins SideBar to discuss her research into the long and continuing history of the government policing and criminalizing women’s reproductive health.

How Women Influenced the Constitution with Mary Sarah Bilder

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Law Professor Mary Sarah Bilder discusses the amazing story of Eliza Harriot, a rare female public lecturer who delivered a University of Pennsylvania program attended by George Washington as he met in Philadelphia with delegates to draft the US Constitution. Harriot’s performance likely inspired the gender-neutral language of the Constitution and her advocacy inspired countless young women to consider a college education and fight back against exclusions based on sex, gender, and race.

We (Who Are Not) the People: Interpreting the Undemocratic Constitution with Milligan and Ross

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Law Professors Joy Milligan and Bertrall Ross discuss how we should interpret a Constitution that was not written for or drafted by “We the People”. The original constitution excluded women and racial minorities. The drafters and the commentators of the period were exclusively white men. Many of the subsequent amendments were adopted under "undemocratic" conditions and interpreted by courts that did not fairly reflect the population then, or now. However, there is evidence that the language and intent of the drafters was to leave "space" for future interpretation. Milligan and Ross join SideBar to promote the proposition that "We the People" will only be protected by the Constitution if the "history and tradition" of ALL the people are considered in Supreme Court interpretations.

Are We Living Up to Our Obligations to Protect Native American Rights and Tribal Sovereignty? with John Echohawk

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Since the mid to late 1980s, an increasingly conservative federal bench has made it more difficult to defend Indian rights under existing treaties and federal law. John Echohawk is an attorney and Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) defending Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals. He joins SideBar to discuss issues such as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education.

Surprise! You Do Not Have the Right to Vote with Rick Hasen

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0800

The federal constitution neither explicitly nor implicitly includes the right to vote. Instead, the framers allowed the States to determine the “Time, Places, and Manner of holding Elections.” Rick Hasen, author of A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy, believes that needs to change. He asserts that a constitutional right to vote can deescalate election litigation and can safeguard democracy from election subversion.

Who Can Hold Judges Accountable? with Aliza Shatzman

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Federal judges have lifetime tenure with little to no oversight. Despite employing thousands of new law school graduates as law clerks, they aren’t subject to anti-discrimination or other workplace laws. How is it possible that federal courts do not have to follow the same federal labor laws they enforce? In this episode, Aliza Shatzman, founder of the Legal Accountability Project, describes the experience that inspired her to create LAP and what needs to change to hold federal judges accountable.

Maintaining Democracy Requires Meaningful Access to Justice with Renee Knake Jefferson

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Access to an ethically based justice system not only protects free and fair elections, but also impacts the rights that affect our everyday lives. In this episode of SideBar, Professor and Author Renee Knake Jefferson calls for lawyers and judges, including the US Supreme Court, to further commit to ethical access to justice.

How Important is the Diversity of Our Appellate Courts in Defining Justice? with Juvaria Khan

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0800

Appellate courts decide what our laws mean and how they affect all aspects of our personal lives: our ability to vote, how we are policed, our religious freedom, the quality of our education, our workplaces, healthcare, immigration protections, and much more. Yet people of color remain greatly underrepresented as both appellate attorneys and judges. Juvaria Khan, founder of The Appellate Project discusses the importance of diversity of lived experience in defining equity and fairness in judicial decision-making.

SideBar 2023 Highlights: Defending Democracy, Challenging the Supreme Court, and Pursuing a Pluralistic Society Free from Bias with Jackie Gardina and...

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0800

SideBar cohosts and law deans Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick look back over the 29 episodes and 25 guests featured in SideBar's incredibly successful first season. If you have been a listener, this episode will highlight key moments from our discussions with expert guests, authors, lawyers, and judges on critical issues facing democracy, the legal system, the Supreme Court, and society. If you haven't been a listener yet, start with this special episode to get a head start on selecting topics and guests to listen to from season one . . . every episode as relevant and important today as when originally discussed with SideBar's expert guests.

If You Think Democracy is Guaranteed, Think Again! with David Pepper

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0800

David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual for Every American, returns to SideBar to sound the alarm that democracy remains under attack. Although there were shocking lowlights in 2023, David reminds us that there are also signs of hope. Our final SideBar episode of Season One is a reminder that we all have a critical role to play in the battle for democracy.

Can We Protect Democracy from AI and Deepfakes? with Drew Liebert and Jonathan Mehta Stein

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0800

Disinformation and deepfakes, accelerated by AI, pose an existential threat to our democracy and elections, and as a country, we are simply not ready says The California Institute for Technology and Democracy (CITED). Drew Liebert and Jonathan Mehta Stein believe that what is needed is an impartial source for policymakers, the press, and the public that will provide expertise related to AI regulation as it applies to campaign communication and election integrity.

How Did the Police Become Untouchable? With Joanna Schwartz

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0800

Before killing George Floyd, Officer Devin Chauvin had at least 18 misconduct complaints lodged against him. Despite this history, Chauvin was elevated to training new officers. How could this happen? UCLA Law Professor Joanna Schwartz, author of Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable, explains how courts have constructed multiple legal barriers to holding police accountable, making it nearly impossible for victims of police misconduct to obtain damages or to seek changes to police department’s practices and policies. In the end, she offers steps to dismantle some of these barriers and improve public safety.

When Religious Ideology and Public Health Collide - We All Lose! with Wendy Parmet

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0800

The COVID pandemic exposed weaknesses in our public health system and exposed the lack of trust in science and government. The change in the Supreme Court’s interpretation of public health law has been equally startling . . . overturning 100+ years of public protection by granting religious ideology priority over science. Northeastern University Law Professor Wendy Parmet also serves as the Faculty Director of the university's Center for Health Policy and Law and is the author of Constitutional Contagion: Covid, the Courts and Public Health.

Are Lies and Liars Protected by the First Amendment? with Jeff Kosseff

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professor Jeff Kosseff, author of "Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation" examines and defends constitutional protection for false speech. "It's the listener and the reader who gets to choose, not the Government!" says Jeff. His warning is that "Once we give away our freedom of speech, we are unlikely to get it back." Jeff is also the author of "The United States of Anonymous: How the First Amendment Shaped Online Speech" and "The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet."

Why Does the US Criminalize Legal Immigration? with Cesar García Hernández

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Nationally recognized immigration law expert, Professor Cesar García Hernández of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law talks about the intersection of criminal and immigration law, including the rights of migrants in the criminal justice system, immigration imprisonment, and race-based immigration policing.

The Best Beloved Thing is Justice! with Lisa Kloppenberg

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professor and Dean Emerita Lisa Kloppenberg, author of The Best Beloved Thing is Justice: The Life of Dorothy Wright Nelson, discusses her mentor, colleague, and friend. Judge Nelson was a true trailblazer for women in the legal profession. She was one of only two women in her class at the UCLA School of Law and one of the first 14 female tenure-track law professors in the United States. She became one of the first women to lead an American law school as Dean of USC Gould School of Law and later became a distinguished jurist on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. An inspiring story shared by a nationally renowned scholar in her own right, Santa Clara University School of Law Professor and Dean Emerita Lisa Kloppenberg.

Has this Supreme Court Lost Its Balance? with NPR Legal Correspondent Nina Totenberg

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Supreme Court Correspondent Nina Totenberg discusses her fifty-year career as a reporter covering some of the most important Supreme Court decisions of our time. As a front-row witness to history, with unique access to Supreme Court Justices and Washington D.C. policymakers, Nina joins SideBar cohosts Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick to discuss the importance of building relationships - with the Court - within the Court - and most importantly, with the public. Along with Susan Stamberg, Cokie Roberts, and Linda Wertheimer, Nina was one of the "Four Mothers of National Public Radio" who laid the foundation of one of the most respected news organizations in America.

Is the Supreme Court Amassing Unconstitutional Power? with Stephen Vladeck

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professor Stephen Vladeck author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic, discusses how the Supreme Court has dramatically expanded the use of the little-known - and poorly understood - "Shadow Docket" to approve unconstitutional voting processes, abortion bans, restrictive immigration policies, and expanded religious liberties. Vladeck is a CNN Supreme Court analyst and cohosts an award-winning national security law podcast.

Why Do We (Still) Fail to Respect Women Under the Constitution? with Julie Suk

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professor Julie Suk, author of After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do About It, discusses the legal and economic framework in the United States that fails to fairly recognize and value women's work. Unfortunately, the U.S. remains a leader in unequal pay, no pay, inadequate support for childcare, healthcare, and social services, and irregular parental leave policies and protections. Professor Julie Suk explains how other countries have enacted constitutional protections and inclusive lawmaking processes that result in more equitable outcomes for women that result in benefits to all members of society. Professor Suk challenges us to consider correcting deficiencies in our federal constitution that would enhance equality, improve the economy, and enrich our democracy.

Has America Abandoned the Promise of a Multi-Racial Democracy? with Dr. Peniel Joseph

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0700

After 200 years of racial and ethnic struggle, including the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Era, and Black Lives Matter, where are we now in the effort to achieve the promise of a multi-racial democracy? Dr. Peniel Joseph helps us to understand this struggle and describes our current political environment in a historical context. He holds a joint professorship at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. He is also the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and the Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Joseph is the author of seven books, most recently The Third Reconstruction: America’s Struggle for Racial Justice in the 21st Century which won the 2023 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.

Was the Constitution Ever Really Color-Blind? with Damon Hewitt

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Damon T. Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, discusses Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina and the Supreme Court’s direction on affirmative action. Hewitt explains what Brown v. Board of Education got wrong, exposes the logical fallacy behind the idea that a diversity rationale should have an endpoint, and offers insights on what higher education institutions should do in response to the Court’s decision.

Police Reform is NOT the Answer, Only Community Reform Will Create Lasting Change, with Dr. Thaddeus Johnson

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Dr. Thaddeus Johnson, former police officer, Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia State University, discusses his research and unique insights on empowering citizens to create safer communities. Public safety requires more than police reform, it requires community reform and in this wide-ranging and motivating conversation, Dr. Johnson details the steps communities can take to reduce crime, increase police accountability, and rebuild trust.

Who is ”Whispering” in the Supreme Court’s Ears? with Hazelton & Hinkle

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professors Morgan Hazelton and Rachael Hinkle have published a fascinating book on one of the mysteries behind Supreme Court decision-making. "Persuading the Supreme Court: The Significance of Briefs in Judicial Decision-Making" combines research of more than 25,000 party and amicus briefs filed between 1984 and 2015 and interviews with former Supreme Court clerks and attorneys to shed light on the use of amicus briefs, one of the more mysterious and consequential features of Supreme Court cases. Both professors have J.D. and Ph.D. degrees and combine unique academic expertise in judicial politics, judicial process, and analytical methods.

Technology-Driven Justice: Can Al and Big Data Revolutionize the Courts? with Nicole Clark

Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Nicole Clark, lawyer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Trellis, discusses how the award-winning technology start-up she founded is democratizing access to the law by making state trial court records more accessible and bringing transparency to the judicial system. Nicole describes her vision, reveals the challenges for women entrepreneurs to obtain venture capital, and predicts how legal technology will transform the legal profession.

Can We Trust this Supreme Court with the Constitution? with Elie Mystal

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 -0700

The indomitable, outspoken, brilliant, and thoughtful Elie Mystal, author, columnist, and commentator, joins cohosts Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick to discuss his book Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution. In this wide-ranging conversation, Elie challenges our thinking about how judges should be selected, the myth of judicial ethics, and the false narrative of "originalism".

Supreme Court Justices Behaving Badly - What Has History Taught Us? with Judge Margaret McKeown

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Judge Margaret McKeown discusses her new book Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas and her research on the Supreme Court Justice's controversial approach to advocacy both on and off the bench. During his 36 years on the bench, Justice Douglas was threatened with impeachment twice, including concerns about private payments received during his long tenure and for a perceived conflict of interest where he refused to recuse himself. Is history repeating itself?

Is Conservative Christian Discrimination Now a Protected Class? with Nomi Stolzenberg

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Law Professor Nomi Stolzenberg discusses the US Supreme Court’s consideration of Conservative Christian ideology as a new protected class under the First Amendment. Seven of the nine members of the Supreme Court are Catholic or raised Catholic. How does this potentially affect the decisions being handed down by the Supreme Court?

Judicial Misconduct - How Should We Respond? with Charles Geyh

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0700

Professor Charles Geyh, an expert in judicial conduct, discusses the ethical obligations of judges and the options available (or not) when judges break the rules - including the U.S. Supreme Court justices. He also weighs the pros and cons of electing vs. appointing judges.

Who’s Writing All These Crazy State Laws? with Joel Rogers

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0800

Professor Joel Rogers describes the rise of American Legislative Council (ALEC), the organization responsible drafting model bills introduced across the country with devastating impacts upon public education, voting rights, and environmental protections, to name a few. He also outlines a strategy for reversing these efforts and provides a message of hope.

Who Do State Legislatures Actually Represent? with Buffy Wicks

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0800

In this SideBar episode, California Assemblymember, Buffy Wicks discusses the power of state legislatures to protect fundamental constitutional rights and the importance of diverse representation.

Book Bans and Democracy - Can they coexist? with Suzanne Nossel

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0800

In this episode of SideBar, Suzanne Nossel, the Chief Executive Officer of PenAmerica, discusses the dangers of book bans and educational gag orders to our core democratic values. She places these laws within a historical context, explains why they matter, and provides a way forward.

Artificial Intelligence (Al) - Who do you trust? with Orly Lobel

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0800

In this episode of SideBar, Orly Lobel, author and Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law discusses both the opportunities and challenges of harnessing the power AI. Her most recent book, The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future (PublicAffairs 2022), was named one of The Economist's Best Books of 2022.

Lady Justice with Dahlia Lithwick (part 2)

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 06:10:00 -0800

Dahlia Lithwick and the Legitimacy of the Supreme Court: In Part II of our wide-ranging conversation with Dahlia Lithwick, we move from discussing the lawyers in her book, Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and the critical role lawyers play in our society.

Lady Justice with Dahlia Lithwick (part 1)

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0800

Dahlia Lithwick, award-winning lawyer, author, commentator, and podcaster reminds us that we all have a role to play in protecting our rights. Her book, "Lady Justice", celebrates the important role that women lawyers have played in pursuing justice and equality. She reminds us that we each need to step up, educate ourselves on the issues, and do the hard work necessary to achieve change. In Lithwick's career, she went from a position of great power and authority reporting on the Supreme Court from the inside . . . to the role of advocate and commentator speaking truth to power from the outside through her keen observations about the U.S. Supreme Court and its ideological agenda.

”Vigilante Federalism’ with David Noll (part 2)

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 08:55:00 -0800

In Part II, we continue our discussion with David Noll, co-author of "Vigilante Federalism", who warns how the spread of private subordination laws thwarts our democratic system and undermines longstanding constitutional rights.

’Vigilante Federalism’ with David Noll (part 1)

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 08:55:00 -0800

David Noll, co-author of "Vigilante Federalism", is a lawyer, columnist, and Rutgers law professor who warns how the spread of private subordination laws thwarts our democratic system and erases longstanding constitutional rights.

Reclaiming Democracy, with David Pepper (part 2)

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 08:58:00 -0800

In Episode 2, Reclaiming Democracy, David Pepper, the author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines, provides a stark wake-up call for the steps he believes are necessary to move from a competitive autocracy back to a democracy. Pepper insists that reclaiming our democracy requires a sustained and persistent effort at the local, state, and federal levels. With a view to the future, he highlights the steps he believes are necessary to defend democracy.

It’s the Statehouses Stupid! with David Pepper (part 1)

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 00:05:00 -0700

It’s the Statehouses. Stupid. So says David Pepper, the author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines. State legislatures, often ignored, play a significant role in deciding our rights, including the right to vote. Join SideBar co-hosts law school deans Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick as they discuss current challenges to the American political system and Constitutional rights with author, lawyer, and politician David Pepper as the podcast’s inaugural guest. {Part 1 of 2}

New Show Launches! with Gardina and Winick

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:40:00 -0700

Is our democracy at risk? How do we balance competing constitutional rights? How do we battle disinformation and still maintain free speech? If these are questions you grapple with, this is the show for you!

Hosts (and law school deans) Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick proudly present ‘SideBar’, a podcast dedicated to discussing rights, self-governance, and the fabric of our society... the law. Tune in twice a month as Jackie and Mitch speak plainly about these complicated topics with amazing guests! And now, onto the teaser :)