On The Issues With Michele Goodwin: Recent Episodes
Dr. Michele Goodwin
On The Issues With Michele Goodwin at Ms. magazine is a show where we report, rebel, and tell it like it is. On this show, we center your concerns about rebuilding our nation and advancing the promise of equality. Join Michele Goodwin as she and guests tackle the most compelling issues of our times.
As the Supreme Court opens a new term this week, we take a step back to ask: What did the last term tell us about this Court? About its values, its power, and its vision for American democracy?
Because make no mistake: Every decision, every ruling, every case the Court chooses to hear—or not to hear—signals something about who we are becoming as a nation.
In this Ms. Studios special, we bring you our 2024-2025 Supreme Court Review: a conversation recorded at Georgetown Law this summer, moderated by myself and featuring some of the sharpest legal minds in the country: Erwin Chemerinsky, Sherrilyn Ifill, Jamelle Bouie, Moira Donegan, Chris Geidner, and Mark Joseph Stern.
Together, we reflect on the major rulings, the missed opportunities, and the throughlines that defined the Court in 2024 and 2025—from the reshaping of executive power to the quiet dismantling of long-standing civil rights protections.
This episode is a recording of a panel that took place at Georgetown Law School on July 2, 2025.
Joining us to discuss these issues are our very important guests:
- Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law
- Professor Sherrilyn A. Ifill, 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy Founding Director and Vernon Jordan Distinguished Professor in Civil Rights, Howard University School of Law
- Jamelle Antoine Bouie, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times
- Moira Donegan, Opinion Columnist, The Guardian US
- Chris Geidner, Former Legal Editor, Buzzfeed, Publisher; Editor Law Dork
- Mark Joseph Stern, Senior Writer, Slate Magazine
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This last Supreme Court term was harrowing—from momentous merits decisions about the First Amendment, parental rights, trans rights and more, to the stream of shocking “shadow docket” decisions and its enabling of many of the Trump administration’s executive actions. What does the 2025-2026 term have in store for our nation? What do we think will advance through the Court? What do we think will come up, when it comes to the shadow docket? And perhaps most importantly, how will the Court choose to mediate the Trump administration’s continued onslaught of executive actions?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Steve Vladeck: Steve Vladeck is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center, and a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts; the Supreme Court; national security law; and military justice. Vladeck is CNN’s Supreme Court analyst and editor and author of “One First,” a popular weekly newsletter about the Supreme Court. He is 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.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, at a time where unprecedented news stories break every day, we’re re-elevating the Jeffrey Epstein files. As victims continue to come forward, and new evidence continues to emerge, the questions and demands for justice grow louder. What can we learn from the information that has been released? What will it take for the full files to be released? And how will Trump respond?
Joining us to discuss these issues is a very special guest:
George Conway: George Conway is the President of The Society for the Rule of Law, an organization of conservative and libertarian lawyers devoted to the protection of constitutional government in the United States. He is also the co-host of The Bulwark's popular podcast, George Conway Explain It All, with Sarah Longwell.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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As families prepare to send their kids back to school this year, some parents must face a new worry: will their children make it home safely, or will they be there to greet them, at the end of the day?
Trump’s immigration crackdown is taking a toll on families across America, particularly under new guidance that allows ICE to arrest people in places where they were formerly prohibited from doing so—like schools, healthcare facilities, and places of worship. How will this impact students and families across the nation—and what can we do to fight back?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Kevin R. Johnson: Kevin R. Johnson is the former dean and a Professor of Law at UC Davis. He is also Professor of Chicana/o Studies and Director of the Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies at UC Davis. He has published extensively on immigration law and civil rights. He is the author of How Did You Get to Be Mexican? A White/Brown Man's Search for Identity (1999) and Immigration Law and the US-Mexico Border (2011). Johnson blogs regularly on immigration law and policy developments at ImmigrationProf, and is quoted regularly by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other local, state, national and international news outlets.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, host Michele Goodwin speaks directly to students, young scholars, and the next generation of leaders, and of course, the people who love them. As she remarks, they are coming of age in a world that is complicated, challenging, and often unfair. This talk is about standing up when it's easier to look away, holding your ground when the crowd moves in a different direction, and acting with empathy and accountability in a world that often forgets what those values actually mean.
This episode is a rebroadcast of a keynote Michele Goodwin delivered at the Law and Society Association's graduate student Early Career Workshop in 2025.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Trump has been in office for 200 days. In those 200 days, important institutions core to democracy have been dismantled. The rule of law has been challenged in countless ways—increasingly violent ICE raids and disappearances, dismantling of important agencies, canceling of funding for public broadcasts, significant rollbacks of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, draconian cuts to healthcare and social services, executive orders singling out queer and trans people, and much more.
But we’ve also seen a coordinated effort to resist him, with millions across the country taking to the streets again and again to protest on behalf of the rights of their neighbors, their families, and themselves. Attorneys and advocates are also stepping up, demanding courts to defend our rights. Two hundred days in, what have we learned—and what’s the playbook for the next four years?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Skye Perryman: Skye L. Perryman is President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. She previously served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Not even a year into the second Trump administration, it’s clear that people are struggling for hope. But there’s hope to be found in so many places, including in the wisdom of the women who took on Trump—and won.
E. Jean Carroll and her lawyer Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan made headlines in 2023 and 2024 for winning a significant legal battle against Trump, with a jury finding him guilty of sexual abuse and defamation, and awarding Carroll $5 and then later an $83.3 million verdict. What can we learn from E. Jean Carroll’s case to fuel our fight forward?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are our very special guests,
E. Jean Carroll: E. Jean Carroll is an American journalist and author. In 2023, she won a legal battle against Donald Trump after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Her latest book, Not My Type: One Woman Against a President, was released in June of 2025.
Roberta Kaplan: Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan is a renowned civil litigator and trial lawyer. On behalf of her client, E. Jean Carroll, she became the only lawyer to have taken the deposition of President Donald J. Trump twice, and to have obtained two separate unanimous jury verdicts against him of $5 and later $83.3 million. She is the author of the book Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Everyone’s been asking: what’s up with men these days? From high rates of gun violence and domestic violence, to the “manosphere,” Andrew Tate, and the "male loneliness epidemic," it’s clear that (white) men are hurting. But why is this happening—and what can be done to change things?
Joining me to discuss these important issues are our special guests:
Jackson Katz: Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is a regular Ms. contributor and creator of the 2024 film The Man Card: 50 Years of Gender, Power, and the American Presidency. He is also a member of the Young Men Research Initiative working group and founder of Men for Democracy. Katz’s new book, Every Man: Why Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue, was published Feb. 20, 2025 by Penguin Random House U.K.
Gary Barker: Gary Barker, PhD is the CEO and co-founder of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, a major contributor to international activism on male allyship in gender equality. He was the first Executive Director of Instituto Promundo in Brazil and led its pioneering work on healthy masculinities. He is co-founder of MenCare, a global campaign in more than 50 countries to promote men’s involvement as caregivers, and co-founder of MenEngage, a global alliance of more than 700 NGOs. He co-created the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), the largest survey of men’s attitudes and behaviors related to violence, fatherhood, and gender equality. He leads Equimundo’s State of the World’s Fathers reports, which has become a major advocacy platform for the global care economy. He advises the UN, the World Bank, national governments, international foundations and corporations on strategies to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality.
Cody Thompson: Cody Thompson is a program coordinator with the Center on Addiction and Public Policy (CAPP) and the Center for Community Health Innovation (CCHI) at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. Thompson is committed to contributing to and supporting work that serves people, especially communities disproportionately affected by chronic diseases, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, and mental disorders. Prior to joining the O’Neill Institute, Thompson interned for Faces and Voices of Recovery, supporting their advocacy team and planning for National Recovery Month.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
(Get Ms.’s Special Report on Men—guest edited by Jackson Katz—for just $5!)
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This is a preview of the first episode of Looking Back, Moving Forward, the latest podcast from Ms. Studios. The full first episode is out now—subscribe to Looking Back, Moving Forward wherever you get your podcasts, or head to MsMagazine.com to learn more!
What would a truly representative democracy look like — and why don’t we have one?
Looking Back, Moving Forward launches with a focus on women’s growing political power and how feminists can, and must, shape the future of government, policy, and lawmaking.
Our democracy is under attack, and a more representative democracy is the answer. This week, Carmen explores how we can strengthen our democracy by lifting up women and other marginalized groups in politics, and why representation in politics and power matters so much. Featuring Celinda Lake, Aimee Allison, Angel Charley, Julie C. Suk, Cynthia Richie Terrell, and Jennifer M. Piscopo.
Since its founding, Ms. has named the difference women can make as voters and in the halls of political power — and demanded a more representative democracy. This episode traces the history of women’s fight for political representation and participation, including how Ms. has shifted the electoral and political landscape — and showcases how much work is left for a fully equitable democracy to take shape in the US.
Looking Back, Moving Forward is produced by Ms. Studios. Executive producers are Michele Goodwin and Kathy Spillar. Supervising Producer, Writer, and Host is Carmen Rios. Episode producers are Roxy Szal and Oliver Haug. Every episode is edited by Natalie Hadland. Art and design are by Brandi Phipps.
Stay in touch with Ms. at msmagazine.com and on Facebook @msmagazine, Instagram and Threads @ms_magazine, and @msmagazine.comon BlueSky.
Stay in touch with Carmen at carmenfuckingrios.com and @carmenriosss on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and Threads.
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A new podcast from Ms. Studios, hosted by feminist superstar and Ms. consulting editor Carmen Rios, will trace the intertwined history of Ms. magazine and the feminist movement it has given voice to for over 50 years — and explore where the fight for gender equality must go next.
By examining the legacy of America’s longest-running feminist magazine, Looking Back, Moving Forward explores how we got to where we are now — and how our shared histories illuminate the path forward, toward an intersectional feminist future.
Subscribe to Looking Back, Moving Forward today wherever you get podcasts so you won’t miss a second of the conversations and revelations to come! The first episode launches on the Fourth of July.
Looking Back, Moving Forward is produced by Ms. Studios. Executive producers are Michele Goodwin and Kathy Spillar. Supervising Producer, Writer, and Host is Carmen Rios. Episode producers are Roxy Szal and Oliver Haug. Every episode is edited by Natalie Hadland. Art and design are by Brandi Phipps.
Stay in touch with Ms. at msmagazine.com and on Facebook and Twitter @msmagazine, Instagram and Threads @ms_magazine, and @msmagazine.com on BlueSky.
Stay in touch with Carmen at carmenfuckingrios.com and @carmenriosss on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and Threads.
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Welcome to “The Magazine,” our mini-pod, which gives a peek into Ms. magazine’s forthcoming and current issues. In this episode, take a glimpse inside our Summer 2025 issue, which includes a special report on the state of American manhood—from the "bro-casts" and the silence around men's mental health, to the clinicians and scholars challenging toxic masculinity with a feminist lens. Get the magazine delivered right to your mailbox!
Joining us to discuss is our very special guest:
- Kathy Spillar is the executive director and a founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, a national organization working for women’s equality, empowerment and non-violence, and the publisher of Ms. since 2001. She has been a driving force in executing the organizations’ diverse programs securing women’s rights both domestically and globally since its inception in 1987. She is also the executive editor of Ms. where she oversees editorial content and the Ms. in the Classroom program, and editor and contributor to 50 Years of Ms: The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine that Ignited a Revolution.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this emergency episode, we're ringing the alarm bells: We just learned that in the state of Georgia, a woman named Adriana Smith who was declared brain-dead in February, is being forcibly kept on a ventilator due to the state’s strict abortion ban, against her family's wishes. It's been over 90 days. Her mother, April Newkirk has said, “It’s torture for me."
Dr. Michele Goodwin breaks down Adriana Smith's case, and the cases of other women who, like Smith, have been disrespected and desecrated in death thanks to abortion bans and pregnancy exclusion laws.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Over the past few years, many of us have noticed some (bad) vibes coming from the Supreme Court: sketchy decisions on a number of fronts, from presidential immunity to abortion, agency authority, and more. Today, we take a look at those vibes with one of our favorite guests: Professor Leah Litman, who is the author of the new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Professor Litman joins us to talk about the Court’s “Ken-surrection,” what another Trump term means for the Court, and her fabulous new book.
Joining us is our very special guest:
Leah Litman: Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches and writes on constitutional law, federal post-conviction review and federal sentencing. She is the co-founder of “Women Also Know Law”—a searchable database of women and nonbinary people who have academic appointments in law—and is one of the co-hosts and creators of the popular Strict Scrutiny podcast, which focuses on the Supreme Court.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Despite persistent obstacles—from intergenerational pay inequity and earning just 63.7 cents for every dollar made by a white guy for the same work, to constant surveillance and doubt—Black women consistently excel in their chosen fields and rise to leadership positions. In this episode, we’re joined by powerful Black women in leadership to discuss the glass ceilings, glass cliffs, pink ghettos, and other obstacles they’ve faced—and the strategies they’ve used to triumph against the odds.
Joining me to discuss these crucial issues are our very special guests:
Verna Williams: Verna Williams is the CEO of Equal Justice Works. In her role as CEO, Verna has continued to advance the mission of Equal Justice Works to create opportunities for leaders to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. Verna previously served as the dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and founded and co-directed the Judge Nathaniel Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice at the University of Cincinnati. She was also the vice president and director of educational opportunities at the National Women’s Law Center, where she focused on gender disparity in education.
Lynell Cadray: Lynell Cadray is University Ombuds and Senior Adviser to the President at Emory University. Since arriving at Emory in 1994, Cadray has served in numerous roles, including vice provost of equity and inclusion; associate dean of enrollment and student services and chief diversity officer at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing; and dean of admission and financial aid and chief diversity officer at Emory University School of Law.
Dr. Rachel Westerfield: Dr. Rachel Westerfield is the Director of Solution Design at Slack. Dr. Westerfield’s Professional Services team is responsible for driving digital growth and large-scale, enterprise-wide transformation for Slack’s most complex and strategic customers across industries on a global scale. Before joining Slack in 2019, she was a Strategy and Business Process Transformation leader at Accenture and a Management Consultant in Organizational Leadership and Development at Nestle Purina.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Welcome to The Magazine, our mini-pod, which gives a peek into Ms. magazine's forthcoming and current issues. In this episode, take a glimpse inside our Spring 2025 issue—which delves into the story behind anti-abortion extremists’ successful attempt to shut down a Beverly Hills clinic. Get the Spring issue here!
Featuring:
- Kathy Spillar is the Executive Director and a founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, a national organization working for women’s equality, empowerment and non-violence. She has been a driving force in executing the organizations’ diverse programs securing women’s rights both domestically and globally since its inception in 1987. She is also the Executive Editor of Ms. where she oversees editorial content and the Ms. in the Classroom program, and the editor and contributor to 50 Years of Ms: The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine that Ignited a Revolution.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This week, we’re joined by Yamani Hernandez, the chief executive officer of the Groundswell Fund, to discuss the importance of grassroots organizing and reproductive justice in this moment. Ms. has joined forces with Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund to create a special Gender & Democracy site dedicated to the work of Groundswell partners to highlight their efforts to champion inclusive democracy. You’ll hear their reflections and learn about the accomplishments of grassroots and local leaders, women of color, Indigenous women, and trans and gender-expansive people whose organizing and work is supported by Groundswell.
Joining us to discuss these issues is our very special guest:
Yamani Hernandez is the chief executive officer of the Groundswell Fund. She has been working in the nonprofit space since she was 16 years old and doing that at the neighborhood level, city level, national and international levels. This has led her to the Groundwell Fund, which has funded nearly 200 million dollars for grassroots, organizing for reproductive and gender justice led by women and gender expansive people of color.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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As we reckon with an administration hostile to equal rights, feminists will continue to fight. To help keep hope, we must remember and celebrate recent wins.
One of those wins is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect on June 27, 2023. This is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination and ensures workplace accommodations related to pregnancy for workers. But is the PWFA safe, or will it be threatened by the Trump Administration’s crusade against reproductive rights and justice?
Joining us to discuss the history and significance of the PWFA is our very special guest,
Dina Bakst: Dina Bakst is the co-founder and former co-president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit legal advocacy organization that uses the power of the law to advance justice for workers. Bakst was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for the Economy for A Better Balance’s successful work advancing work-family justice in 2021, and the first-ever Visionary Women Award for Women’s Economic Empowerment in 2022. In 2020, she was named one of “16 People and Groups Fighting For a More Equal America” by Time Magazine. Prior to co-founding A Better Balance, Dina was an attorney with the NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund (now Legal Momentum) where she pursued litigation and policy advocacy on a wide range of women’s rights issues.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, Dr. Michele Goodwin reflects on Trump v. United States. As Americans adjust to the myriad executive orders, firings of government employees, the gutting of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), plane crashes, threats to dismantle the Department of Education, and so much more under the Trump Administration, what can be learned about the Supreme Court's case granting Donald Trump absolute immunity? Who will be the check on the Trump administration?
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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As part of our Black History Month Rewind at Ms. Studios, we’re revisiting some of our favorite past episodes. In our final Rewind, we're revisiting an episode we recorded in 2021, celebrating Juneteenth with Fritz and Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters.
In this joyous episode, host Michele Goodwin is joined by music icon Anita Pointer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B group the Pointer Sisters and her brother Fritz Pointer, acclaimed professor and historian and former music manager. They celebrate Juneteenth and unpack their award-winning memoir, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story.
Fritz and Anita Pointer discuss coming of age in the civil rights movement; emphasize the importance of tenacity and learning the hard way; and break down what it was like for their family to finally break through and land award after award—all by doing it their own way. As an added bonus, expect to be serenaded by Anita Pointer!
Joining us for this episode are two very special guests:
- Anita Pointer, founding member of the legendary music group the Pointer Sisters. Anita and her sisters found fame in 1973, when the Anita-led “Yes We Can Can” became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #11. Their breakthrough resulted in multiple hits and Grammy Awards, including for Best Performance by a Duo or Group and even Best Country Duo or Group. In 1974, Anita’s writing talents helped the group make music history with “Fairytale,” which became a hit on the country music charts—leading the Pointer Sisters to become the first Black female group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Their hit-making magic kept audiences singing and dancing through the 1980s and ’90s and became part of the 2008 Obama campaign playlist. In 1994, Anita and her sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Anita continues to write, record and perform, maintaining an international touring schedule as a member of the Pointer Sisters.
- Professor Fritz Pointer is one of the older brothers of June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth—also known as the Pointer Sisters. His latest book, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story, is a memoir of their life co-authored with his sister, Anita Pointer. No one else knows the family, community, political or social history out of which the Pointer Sisters came as thoroughly and deeply as he does. He managed the group prior to becoming a professor specializing in African and African American history. Pointer has 30 years of experience teaching composition, African and African American humanities, and history in higher education. He has authored two books and several scholarly articles in his area of African literature.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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As part of our Black History Month Rewind at Ms. Studios, we’re revisiting some of our favorite past episodes. Today, we're revisiting an episode exploring racism and police brutality, featuring a cast of all-star guests.
In this episode, we confront the question at the center of Derek Chauvin’s trial: Who killed George Floyd? Our guests unpack that question as an issue central to police and societal violence. Examining who killed George Floyd means taking stock of legacies of racism in the Twin Cities, including redlining, school segregation, policies that undermine equality, and disparate rates of policing and mass incarceration.
As attention has turned to the horrors of the old South, has racism of the new North been overlooked? And at what cost to Black lives? Have liberal allies made a difference or exacerbated harms in the Twin Cities?
We also explore the trauma associated with George Floyd’s death and other officer-involved killings. Experts on our show explain how racism produce physical and psychological health harms.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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As part of our Black History Month Rewind at Ms. Studios, we're revisiting some of our favorite past episodes. First up, we're taking a look of voting rights and voter suppression, revisiting an episode recorded ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
At the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, voting activist and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer described the violent injustice she and others had endured while living under the South’s Jim Crow rules and fighting for the right to vote: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
Over 50 years later, ahead of the 2020 election, we see record early voting across the country. Even so, serious efforts aimed at voter suppression persist, including curbing access to mail-in voting and shutting down polling locations.
So, what are the biggest threats to voting rights today? How is voter suppression showing up in the 2020 election? What can we do to ensure that our elections remain free and fair?
Joining us to discuss these issues are some very special guests:
Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Clarke leads one of the nation’s most important national civil rights organizations in the pursuit of equal justice for all. She is the author of Barack Obama and African American Empowerment: The Rise of Black America’s New Leadership.
Judge Glenda Hatchett, who served as senior attorney at Delta Airlines before becoming the chief presiding judge of Fulton County Georgia Juvenile Court in Atlanta. Her law firm, the Hatchett Firm, represented Philando Castille’s estate in the wake of his tragic death. She presides over the two-time Emmy-nominated courtroom series, Judge Hatchett, now in its 16th season. Most recently, she has returned to TV in her new television court series, The Verdict with Judge Hatchett.
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center—and the first Black woman to hold that title. She is an active participant on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly, and an organizer with Concerned Citizens for Justice. She has served on the National Council of the Student Environmental Action Coalition.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Welcome to The Magazine, our mini-pod, which gives a peek into Ms. magazine's forthcoming and current issues. In this episode, listeners hear about the Spring 2025 issue—which delves into the feminist resistance to the second Trump administration—as it hits newsstands.
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We begin 2025 on 'On the Issues' with special guest Dr. Anthony Fauci. In this episode we discuss some of the most important issues currently confronting the health of our nation and the world—from vaccine skepticism, COVID denialism, and health misinformation and disinformation to the rising tide of violence aimed at medical providers. Dr. Fauci joins us to express his hope for the future, offer insights on the pushback against vaccines, and speak candidly about how his life changed after being in the public spotlight at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the toll it took on him and his family.
Joining us to discuss these issues is our very special guest:
Dr. Anthony Fauci: Dr. Anthony Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) from 1984-2022. He also served as Chief Medical Advisor to the President in the Biden administration from 2020-2022. He is currently a Distinguished University Professor in the School of Medicine at Georgetown University, where he also holds an additional appointment in the university’s McCourt School of Public Policy. He is also the author of On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we continue to assess and reckon with the 2024 election results. How did abortion rights prevail, while anti-abortion lawmakers were elected in the very same states? What will a Trump administration mean for women's rights, federal courts, agencies and throughout government? Are there any safeguards left as a check or restraint on abuse of office? And, what silver linings can we find among the election results?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are our very special guests,
Moira Donegan: Moira Donegan is a feminist writer and opinion columnist with the Guardian U.S., as well as a writer in residence for the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University.
Fatima Goss Graves: Fatima Goss Graves is president of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, and a co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Election administration continues to be one of the most compelling, challenging, and increasingly dangerous jobs at the federal, state, and local levels. A recent survey by the Brennan Center revealed that over a third of election officials have experienced threats, harassment, or abuse just for doing their jobs.
In the face of these fundamental challenges to our democracy and an environment that has increasingly been characterized by political polarization, how can we protect our elections and support our election officials?
To discuss these important issues, we’re joined by three special guests:
Natalie Adona: Natalia Adona is the county clerk, recorder-elect, and the former assistant clerk-recorder and registrar of voters for Nevada County, California.
Tonya Wichman: Tonya Wichman is the Director of the Defiance County Board of Elections, in Defiance, Ohio, and a certified elections and registration administrator.
Gabriella Cázares-Kelly: Gabriella Cázares-Kelly is the county recorder in Pima County, Arizona, where she made history in 2020 as the first Native American to be elected to a countywide seat.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This week, we’re continuing our coverage of the lead-up to November’s elections by looking at an institution that has become increasingly contentious over the past four years: the U.S. Supreme Court. The specter of the Court has loomed over these elections like never before—from former President Trump repeatedly taking credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and thanking the Justices he appointed for doing so, to the next president’s role in reshaping the Court. What role is the Court playing in this election cycle and how will this election cycle influence the next four years of Supreme Court rulings?
Helping us to sort through these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Skye Perryman: Skye L. Perryman is President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. She previously served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, the role that women are playing in this election is clearer than ever. Now under two weeks out from election day, we’re aware that so much is at stake for the entire nation, and for women in particular.
This week, as we continue our coverage of the lead-up to the November elections, we’re exploring the role of women and gender in this election. What are we seeing in terms of the gender gap? How will abortion policies impact the outcome of the presidential election? And how are media narratives addressing all of these issues, and influencing voters?
Joining us to discuss these pressing issues is our very special guest:
Fatima Goss Graves. Fatima Goss Graves is president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, president of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, and a co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This week, we’re bringing back a very good friend of ‘On the Issues’ to talk about a topic that will profoundly influence the outcome of this fall’s elections: voter suppression. As voters head to the polls, officials and activists on the ground in states like Georgia are sounding the alarm about rules and voting restrictions that could significantly impact peoples’ ability to vote. What are the biggest threats to voting rights today? How will voter suppression impact the outcome of the 2024 November elections, from down-ballot races to the presidential contest—and how can we fight back against it, before election day gets here?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we dive into a topic that’s more relevant than ever this election season: masculinity. White men are mobilizing to support Kamala Harris and we unpack why. Polls are showing a growing gender gap, this election season—with women favoring Harris, while men favor Trump—but is the polling accurate? If so, what can we learn from this? How have the election’s gender politics changed, in the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris running for president? How does Trump continue to influence American masculinities years after leaving political office—and how will masculinity influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Jackson Katz: Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is a regular Ms. contributor and creator of the 2020 documentary The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics from Nixon to Trump, which was just rereleased in a newly revised and updated version. He is also a member of the Young Men Research Initiative working group and founder of Men for Democracy.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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On this week’s episode, we’re thinking about the return to school and Congress with Michigan Rep. Hilary Scholten. As we return to both, many things are top of mind: issues like gun safety, policies that benefit mothers and families, and much more are all things that matter at home, in schools, and in Congress. These are also major issues this election season. How can we ensure that our children and families aren’t just safe—but can thrive?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest,
Rep. Hilary Scholten: Congresswoman Hillary J. Scholten serves Michigan’s Third Congressional District. She began her career as a social worker, working with people affected by issues of housing and homelessness, and she is the first woman and mother ever to represent Michigan’s Third District in Congress.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Every year on On the Issues, we bring you a Supreme Court term in review with a live studio audience. This year, for the first time we’re bringing you one from Washington, DC—we’re going to discuss the most important rulings of the 2023-2024 term, unpacking issues from abortion rights to presidential immunity—while we prepare for what’s coming next as the Supreme Court begins its new term this week.
Joining us to discuss the term are some very special guests:
Mark Joseph Stern: Mark Joseph Stern is a senior writer at Slate.
Moira Donegan: Moira Donegan is a U.S. columnist at The Guardian.
Jamelle Bouie: Jamelle Bouie is an opinion columnist at The New York Times.
Madiba Dennie: Madiba Dennie is deputy editor and senior contributor of Balls and Strikes.
Chris Geidner: Chris Geidner is the founder of the Law Dork Substack and an MSNBC columnist.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we unpack the chaos of the Trump years. Breaking news took on new meaning during Donald Trump’s term in the White House—one that was quite different from prior presidential administrations. A ban on Muslims from entering the United States, known as the “Muslim Ban” quickly went into effect after his inauguration. The world saw the United States lock children in cages at the border and defend its policy to deny those children soap and toothpaste. The Trump years set in motion the end of Roe v. Wade, the dismantling of agency authority, the elimination of important environmental protections, and chaos regarding the pandemic. There was also the rise in domestic terrorist groups—white nationalist supremist groups grew 55% during his term. After the now convicted former president's defeat in the 2020 presidential election, the “Stop The Steal” campaign took off—leading to more than sixty lawsuits challenging election results and the January 6th insurrection. Notably, he appointed more federal judges than any other president save George Washington--including three to the United States Supreme Court.
To unpack the Trump era, the civil and criminal lawsuits, and much more, Dr. Michele Goodwin is joined by very special guests--Webby Award winning #SistersInLaw podcasters Jill Wine Banks and Kimberly Atkins Storh.
-Jill Wine-Banks served as one of the Watergate prosecutors, and is the author of The Watergate Girl. She was first female General Counsel in the U.S. Army and first female Executive Director of the American Bar Association. She is also an MSNBC legal analyst.
-Kimberly Atkins Storh is a Senior Opinion Writer at The Boston Globe and a regular contributor to MSNBC. She served as the first Washington, DC-based news correspondent for WBUR and as the Boston Herald's Washington bureau chief.
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In this episode, we continue our series: The Trump Indictments. On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a New York jury. In this episode we unpack the criminal charges that Donald Trump engaged in illegal business, electoral, and campaign activities. This week, we’re rejoined by Moira Donegan to discuss why the New York trial was about more than about “hush money" and how the case marks the first time a former president has stood trial for criminal prosecution and been convicted .
Joining us to discuss this is our very special guest:
Moira Donegan. Moira Donegan is a feminist writer and current opinion columnist with the Guardian U.S., as well as a current writer in residence for the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University.
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In this episode, taped in front of a live audience at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C., a panel of health and legal experts unpack what's happening around the world—from Gaza, to Afghanistan and beyond. How can governments and NGOs best act to preserve health, enforce legal norms, and protect humanity in times of conflict, and what can we learn from the doctors and human rights advocates who have been on the ground in these situations?
Joining me to discuss these issues is a panel of very special guests:
Lawrence Gostin: Larry Gostin is co-director of the O'Neill institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown, and the director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center on National and Global Health.
Dr. Houssam al-Nahhas: Houssam al-Nahhas is a Middle East and North Africa researcher at Physicians for Human Rights, leading the organization's work on documenting attacks on healthcare, and a Syrian physician.
Dr. Sima Samar: Sima Samar is a doctor, activist and human right defender. She is currently a visiting scholar with Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Karen Joy Greenberg: Karen Greenberg is the Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School.
Saman Zia-Zarifi: Sam Zarifi is the Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we're joined by the indomitable Lizz Winstead with a live studio in Washington, D.C. She bares all as we talk about the new documentary featuring her and Abortion Access Front (AAF), No One Asked You. From her childhood to her own abortion story, she tells it all, including what led her to found AAF.
In a time when the news is increasingly dire—especially with regard to reproductive health care—do comedians have a role in sharing the news? Winstead, who forever changed the way people get their news when she co-created The Daily Show, knows better than anyone that the answer to this question is a resounding yes.
Joining me to discuss these vital topics is a very special guest:
Lizz Winstead is the co-creator and head writer of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, as well as the founder and chief creative officer of Abortion Access Front.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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The fight to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution is more urgent than ever. The Equal Rights Amendment could prove pivotal in securing not just the promise of equal protections in the eyes of the law, but by providing crucial protections when it comes to reproductive rights in the wake of Roe’s overturn.
Nobody knows this better than Susan Frietsche—who recently secured an incredible victory for women in the state of Pennsylvania in terms of then power of the Equal Rights Amendment as it relates to reproductive freedom. In this episode, we delve into how Susan’s work sets an important precedent for protecting women’s rights—and how it relates to the fight to secure the federal ERA in the Constitution.
This episode is a part of the latest installment of Ms. Magazine’s Women and Democracy platform, "The ERA Is Essential to Democracy."
Joining us to discuss these crucial topics is a very special guest:
Susan Frietsche is the co-executive director of the Women’s Law Project, for which she founded the Western Pennsylvania office in 2002. She provides direct representation for the 17 freestanding abortion facilities in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Women’s Law Project she was the Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania ACLU.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This week, we’re continuing our series, “The Trump Indictments,” which unpacks the litigation and criminal charges levied at former president Donald Trump. In this episode, Dr. Goodwin brings us up to speed on the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the former President on the Colorado ballot. Professor Anthony Michael Kreis also returns to discuss what’s been happening in Washington, D.C. and what comes next in at least one of Trump’s trials.
Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is our very special returning guest:
Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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This week, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. In this episode, Dr. Goodwin is joined by Professor Anthony Michael Kreis as they discuss the status of the Georgia criminal prosecution against Trump and the allegations facing Fulton County DA Fani Willis.
Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is our very special returning guest:
Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis. Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this special episode, Dr. Goodwin is on the road, broadcasting from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She's joined by Dutch physician and reproductive rights activist and pioneer, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, founder of Women on Waves—an organization that took to the seas to provide women abortions and reproductive healthcare. They unpack victories and the horrors—including Dr. Gomperts' boat being seized, chained, and crew being held by gunpoint. They also unpack what comes next for abortion, including self-managed abortion and telehealth.
Joining us for this episode is very special guest:
Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. Dr. Gomperts is a Dutch physician and an activist for reproductive health, rights, and justice. She is the founder of Women on Waves, a Dutch organization that brings reproductive health services, and particularly non-surgical abortion services and education, to women in countries with restrictive abortion laws.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Report after report has shown that sexual harassment and assault are pervasive throughout the U.S. armed forces: at least 15.7 percent of military personnel and veterans reported military sexual trauma, a number that is likely smaller than the actual total due to shame and fear around reporting. What’s more, perpetrators are rarely if ever held accountable: according to a recent ProPublica investigation, more than half of the 900 soldiers who were allowed to leave the Army in the past decade rather than go to trial were accused of violent crimes.
But in the face of a culture that silences and disenfranchises women and survivors, some women are speaking out—and demanding change. One of them is our very special guest,
Melissa McCafferty: Melissa McCafferty is a former Lieutenant with the United States Coast Guard, where she served for 12 years. After being sexually assaulted while in the Coast Guard Academy, she has since become an advocate for military sexual assault victims, including testifying in front of Congress earlier this year. She recently received her JD from Georgetown University Law Center, and serves as a Young Lawyer Representative at the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In this episode, we continue our Collateral Damage series—where we’re thinking about women during wartime, and the unique price they pay. As various wars and conflicts continue to mount around the world, from Ukraine to Gaza, to Sudan and beyond, we’re wondering: where are the women at the negotiating table? The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected countries continues to mount, reaching 614 million people in 2022—a 50-percent increase from 2017. What do governments and NGOs need to do to make sure that women’s needs do not fall through the cracks?
Joining us for this episode is a very special guest:
Dr. Yael Braudo-Bahat: Dr. Yael Braudo-Bahat is the co-director of Women Wage Peace, an Israel-based organization with the goal of empowering women from diverse communities to build trust across divides, leading in turn to a unified demand for diplomatic negotiation, with full representation of women, to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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This episode marks the first in a new On the Issues series: “Collateral Damage.” In these episodes, we probe where news typically falls off, and its neglect of the impact of war on women. The crises of sexual violence they face, which is a deliberate tactic in war. We examine maternal and reproductive health, the role of women in peacekeeping, and so much more.
In this episode, we start with health and why it's sacred and must be protected even in war, delving into issues of bioethics and health care during conflict. In times of war, who protects the patients, the mothers, the babies? Are there bridges too far that shouldn't be crossed, even in war?
Joining us to discuss these crucial matters is a very special guest:
Larry Gostin: Professor Larry Gostin co-directs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and is a university professor and the Founding O’Neill Chair in Global Health Law at Georgetown University. He is also the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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People are mobilizing for labor rights—with major strikes taking place across industries from entertainment to healthcare and more. In this episode, we’re talking about why it’s important to fight for women workers—looking at the past, examining the present, and putting a focus on the future. We examine what's at stake, including childcare, equal pay, and more.
Joining us to discuss these important issues is a very special guest:
Rep. Rosa DeLauro has represented Connecticut's 3rd congressional district since 1991. She previously served as the first Executive Director of EMILY's List, Executive Director of Countdown ’87, the national campaign that successfully stopped U.S. military aid to the Nicaraguan Contras; and as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges that have been levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. But these indictments don’t just include former president Donald Trump—they also include co-conspirators. Who are they—and what do their cases mean for the case against Trump as a whole?
Joining us to discuss these issues is our very special returning guest—who’s had a front-row seat to the entire controversy:
Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis: Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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Fifty years ago, hip-hop emerged from a party in the rec room of a Bronx building—and a new sound was born--one with roots in African music, but with its own vibe and messaging. Since its first iterations, women have played significant roles in the creation and evolution of hip-hop: as rappers, DJs, producers, breakdancers, graffiti artists, scholars, journalists and more. Women have been key innovators and rebels in hip-hop, creating new sounds, pushing back against marginalization, and speaking up when others try to push them down.
Michele Goodwin and her two guests break down the past, present and future of hip-hop, and the crucial role of women in this timeline. Michele is joined by:
- Drew Dixon: a producer, writer, activist, entrepreneur and former A&R executive, who spearheaded the recording of iconic songs like “American Boy” (Estelle f. Kanye West), “My Love Is Your Love” (Whitney Houston), “Maria Maria” (Carlos Santana), “I’ll Be There For You” (Method Man f. Mary J. Blige) and many more. In January of 2020, Dixon appeared as the main subject of On the Record, a documentary released in May of 2020 on HBO Max that documents Dixon’s decision to come forward in the #MeToo movement as a survivor of sexual harassment and assault in the music industry. Dixon is also featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary, Ladies First, and is set to appear on a special plenary on women and hip-hop at this year’s annual National Women’s Studies Association Conference, co-sponsored by Ms. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, Dixon lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her two teenagers.
- Janell Hobson: a contributing editor at Ms., Hobson spearheaded iconic the Ms. series "Turning 50: Looking Back at the Women in Hip-Hop" and "Tubman 200” in honor of what would have been Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday. Hobson is a professor of women's, gender and sexuality studies at the University at Albany and the author of When God Lost Her Tongue: Historical Consciousness and the Black Feminist Imagination.
(This episode is part of “Turning 50,” which recognizes the women who shaped hip-hop through articles in print and online, a public syllabus highlighting women and hip-hop, Spotify playlists, and digital conversations with “hip-hop feminists” in music, journalism and academics.)
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On this week’s episode, we’re continuing our series unpacking the litigation and criminal charges that have been levied at former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. Earlier this month, Trump was indicted once again—this time, on 13 charges related to his role in interfering with the 2020 election results in Georgia. The case marks the former president’s fourth indictment, and over 90 charges of criminal activity. He turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday, August 23.
Prior to the release of the Georgia indictments, we spoke with professor Anthony Michael Kreis about why the case matters—and what it means for the rest of the cases currently being leveled against the former president.
Joining us to discuss this important issue is a very special guest:
Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis: Anthony Michael Kreis is a professor of law and political science with Georgia State University. His research examines the relationship between social change and the law, focusing on the relationship between American political history and the development of law over time.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In this episode, we continue our series: The Trump Indictments, unpacking the civil and criminal charges alleging that the former president Donald Trump engaged in illegal activities. In early June 2023, for the second time in two months, Trump was indicted—this time on 37 felony counts for allegedly mishandling sensitive, classified government materials and obstruction of justice. What does this most recent indictment mean for Trump, the 2024 elections, and the future of American democracy as a whole?
Joining us to discuss this important issue is our very special, returning guest:
Leah Litman. Leah Litman is a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches and writes on constitutional law, federal post-conviction review, and federal sentencing. She is the co-founder of Women Also Know Law—a searchable database of women and non-binary people who have academic appointments in law—and is one of the co-hosts and creators of the popular “Strict Scrutiny” podcast, which focuses on the Supreme Court.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In this episode, we’re celebrating and recognizing Juneteenth. However, in 2023, Juneteenth marks the continued struggle toward racial justice and constitutional equality. From voter suppression to book bans that target Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ authors—this Juneteenth offers much to think about.
In the face of these bans, and as we celebrate Juneteenth, it's more important than ever to remember our American history—because these bans aren’t just attacks on critical race theory or women’s studies. They’re attacks on democracy and the First Amendment itself.
Joining us for this episode is a very special guest:
Ann Beard Grundy. She is a civil rights activist and the daughter of Reverend Beard, born while her father was the pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama which was bombed on Sunday, September 15 1963 in a white supremacist attack that took the lives of four girls: Edie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carol Robertson and Denise McNair.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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On today’s episode, we’re unpacking something that’s become increasingly—and distressingly—mainstream in the wake of the Trump presidency: political violence. This kind of violence overwhelmingly impacts women, particularly women of color. There was an unprecedented spike of threats of political violence in 2020–according to the Brennan Center, one third of poll workers surveyed said that they felt unsafe and 79 percent wanted government-provided security. This troubling trend has continued, from the January 6 attack, to the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and so much more. Ideas that were once fringe have made their way into the mainstream.
In the face of these very real and dangerous threats, how can we support women and minority candidates—not just through their candidacies, but throughout their tenures in office and beyond?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is a very special guest:
Rep. Leslie Herod. Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 and received the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She is the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly. She serves on the House Appropriations Committee and chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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This week, we’re launching a special new series following the litigation and criminal charges that have been levied at the former president Donald Trump: The Trump Indictments. Last week, a New York jury ruled that columnist E. Jean Carroll was sexually assaulted and defamed by the former president, and awarded her five million dollars in damages.
This case is also far from the only litigation faced by the former president—Trump is also the subject of several ongoing investigations, including one case dealing with his 2016 hush-money scheme for which he was indicted last month, a federal investigation into his role in the January 6 insurrection, and more. This week, we dive into the Carroll verdict, and its implications for the larger case against former president Trump.
Joining us to kick off our series on The Trump Indictments is a very special guest:
Moira Donegan. Moira Doneganis a feminist writer and current opinion columnist with the Guardian U.S.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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Society's systematic patterns of inequality targeting women demonstrate something far more harmful than just discrimination or the patriarchy at work. Instead, the myriad ways in which women's personhood, civil liberties, bodily autonomy, and political participation are suppressed suggests misogyny at work. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Julie Suk, featuring a discussion of her urgent, new book, After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What To Do About It. Dr. Suk shares why turning a lens on misogyny helps us to better understand the social, political, and legal challenges of these times.
Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is a very special guest:
Doctor Julie Suk. Dr. Sukis a Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, whose work focuses on researching equality at the intersections of law, history, sociology, and politics in the United States and globally. She is also the author of the recently published book After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do About It, which delves into the systemic misogyny that’s embedded in the law and what we need to do in order to transcend it; as well as her previous book, We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.
Today, we’re diving into Rule #5, “Our government represents us.” During the 2022 midterm elections, women voters across the U.S. made their voices heard, demanding access to safe reproductive healthcare. And yet, state legislatures—which purport to represent the people—continue to attack reproductive rights, proposing increasingly restrictive bans on abortion, with collateral consequences for reproductive healthcare more generally. In the face of these challenges, how can we work towards a government that truly represents us—and protects us?
Joining us to discuss these crucial issues is a very special guest:
Rep. Katie Porter. Rep. Porter is a politician, lawyer, and law professor who currently represents the 47th Congressional District in Orange County, California, serving in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. Rep. Porter is widely known for steadfast dedication to keeping our economy strong, stable and globally competitive by mitigating corporate greed, boosting competition and investing in family friendly policies while inviting and encouraging individuals to join congressional conversations.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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Looking back on Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.
Today, we’re diving into Rule #4, “Our families are supported.” The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many of the existing gaps in our care infrastructure, uncovering the millions of Americans who tragically fall through the cracks. In this moment, we’re faced with a number off questions—how can we ensure that our systems that are set up to help and support people? Specifically, how can we make sure they address the pressing needs of families, women who engage in caregiving, and individuals that come from communities where they are struggling to survive, let alone thrive?
Joining us to unpack these issues is a very special guest:
Dr. Aisha Nyandoro. Dr. Nyandoro is the CEO of Springboard to Opportunities, and director of Magnolia Mother’s Trust, a guaranteed income program which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. Dr. Nyandoro has more than a decade of experience developing, implementing and evaluating programs that are aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with limited resources, and has worked with various organizations and in various capacities as an academic evaluator, philanthropist, and nonprofit executive.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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This Women’s History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.
Today, we’re diving into Rule #2, “Our bodies are respected.” In the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, it seems like our rights to our very own bodies are increasingly under attack. In South Carolina, lawmakers are calling for the execution of women who would have abortions. In Texas, five women are suing the state, individuals who wanted to carry pregnancies to term but their lives became at risk and their doctors were unable to help them fearing criminal punishments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. In one of their cases, the woman was not helped in managing her miscarriage until she was septic and near death.
Given these various challenges and attacks on reproductive freedom, are our bodies respected? And how can we fight to obtain that respect, in this uniquely dangerous moment?
Joining us for this episode is a very special guest:
Loretta Ross. Loretta Ross is an activist, educator, author and co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, as well as the co-creator of the theory of reproductive justice. Ross has traveled the world at the invitation of leaders and activists to speak about reproductive justice, and in 2022 she was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship “genius grant." She is currently an Associate Professor for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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This Women's History Month, we’re wondering: What will it take to achieve a society that prioritizes—and achieves—true equality? Our answers to those questions are the Majority Rules: a series of rules, created by Supermajority, intended to guide us to our ultimate goal of gender equality.
Today, we’re diving into Rule #1, "Our lives are safe.” Our country continues to deny safety to women, and especially women of color. From physical to mental and emotional harm, women are consistently the target of violence, causing many to fear for their safety. So, we're asking: how can we create a better world, a world where all are safe?
Joining us to answer this vital question is a very special guest:
Shannon Watts. Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the nation. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook mass shooting, Shannon, a former stay-at-home mom as she describes herself, started a Facebook group fighting for the establishment of public safety measures that protect people from gun violence. From there Shannon founded Moms Demand Action, an organization that now has a chapter in every U.S. state, and 10 million supporters.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we're thinking about the many ways in which girls and women in the U.S. are denied, passed over, and even cheated of opportunities they have earned. We note that it happens at school, college, graduate school, the work environment, and even in government. Being denied can be humiliating, embarrassing, and stressful. But, women can and do fight back—often by overachieving. How do we move ahead in light of social, political and other forces that hold women, girls, and those of other marginalized backgrounds back?
Joining us to discuss these issues is a very special guest who tells her own story about being denied.
Professor Tracey Meares is the Walton Hale Hamilton professor and a founding director of the Justice collaboratory at Yale Law School, and a former professor at the University of Chicago Law School. She is a nationally recognized expert on policing in urban communities.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In the wake of a year that’s been plagued with book bans, book burnings, and right-wing censorship of all kinds, we’re wondering: why is our American history being banned? Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent attempts to ban an Advanced Placement course in African American studies have us thinking about American fragility, and the drastic consequences of this censorship. Not to mention, what does this mean for our constitutional rights—matters like free speech, and the First Amendment? When the government infringes on our fundamental constitutional rights, how can we fight back?
Joining me to discuss these important issues, is a very special guest (one who himself has been blacklisted!):
Professor Roderick Ferguson is the William Robertson Coe Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University, where he is also a professor of American Studies. He is the award-winning author of One-Dimensional Queer; We Demand: The University and Student Protests; The Reorder of Things: The University and Its Pedagogies of Minority Difference; and Aberrations in Black: Toward a Queer of Color Critique.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we remember and celebrate the life of Anita Pointer, founder of The Pointer Sisters. Anita died of cancer on Saturday, Jan. 1, at home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 74.
Her writing and singing talents helped propel the group to stardom. But Anita was also a writer, producer, business mogul and feminist activist—a proud supporter of women’s rights and committed to advancing racial justice and civil rights. Throughout her career, she blazed a trail for women artists, particularly Black women artists, on stage and behind the scenes. Anita Pointer changed the game both on and off the stage through her involvement in the civil rights and Black Power movements in the Bay Area in the ’60s.
In honor of her passing and support of her family, we’re re-releasing this special episode with Anita and her brother Fritz Pointer, acclaimed professor and historian and former music manager, which we taped last summer. The two joined us to celebrate Juneteenth and unpack their award-winning memoir, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story. In it, the Pointer siblings discuss coming of age during the civil rights movement; emphasize the importance of tenacity and learning the hard way; and break down what it was like for their family to finally break through and land award after award—all by doing it their own way. As an added bonus, expect to be serenaded by Anita Pointer!
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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On today’s show, we’re talking about the Janes. Before Roe v. Wade, if you were in need of an abortion in Chicago, there was a number you could call, run by young women who called themselves Jane. They’d provide abortions to women who had nowhere else to turn. It was started by Heather Booth when she was 19 years old. We're joined by Booth, to discuss the history of the Jane Collective and the connections between our pre-Roe past and post-Roe future. Where do we go from here?
Joining us to discuss these vital issues is our special guest:
Heather Booth: Heather Booth is a feminist organizer and political strategist. She started the JANE collective in Chicago in the 1960s when she was just 19, to help provide abortions prior to Roe v. Wade. Since then she has gone on to become a political strategist for progressive issue and electoral campaigns, working with the DNC, NAACP, and more.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Iran is currently experiencing its largest civil rights movement since the 1979 revolution. This uprising, sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini—who died after being detained by the Iranian morality police for being improperly veiled—is proving to be a critical turning point for Iranian women. Since the protests began in September, at least 16,000 have been detained, and hundreds have been killed—including at least 380 protestors and at least 58 children, some as young as eight.
Helping us to unpack these important issues are two very special guests:
Dr. Yalda Hamidi is Assistant Professor of Gender and Women's Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She identifies as a feminist pedagogue, mentor, and storyteller. Yalda's research provides a more comprehensive picture of transnational feminism for diasporic communities and explores intersectional identities and feminisms in Iranian women's writing in the diaspora and inside Iran.
Dr. Parmis Khatibi is a leading expert on mental health and wellness services. She is a clinical specialist at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center as well as a Clinical Adjunct Professor for the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy and USC School of Pharmacy. She provides mental health and clinical care to the most vulnerable community members suffering from addiction. She is engaged in solving some of the most pressing issues of our global economy and has served as Chairwoman for the World Affairs Council of Orange County, California.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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On today’s show, we’re tackling issues women face in online spaces — from privacy to misogyny to censorship of women who use their voices to speak out, and more. We’re taking on the tech platforms and we’re talking about how women are fighting back.
To help us unpack these crucial topics, we’re joined by two special guests:
Danielle Citron: Professor Citron is the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Schenk distinguished professor in law at the University of Virginia law school, where she writes and teaches about privacy, free expression, and civil rights. She is also the author of the recently released book The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity, and Love in the Digital Age.
Jackie Rotman: Jackie Rotman is the founder and CEO of the Center for Intimacy Justice (CIJ), a nonprofit organization focused on creating equity in people’s intimate lives. The CIJ is currently working to change policies, attack platforms to allow health ads to be more gender equitable, and allow more ads directed at women and people with vulvas.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode of On The Issues, lawyer and writer Dahlia Lithwick returns to our show for an intimate conversation with Dr. Michele Goodwin about the Supreme Court, her career, and new book, Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America. They dive deep about the women saving America and why Lithwick says she "quit the Court" after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Helping us to sort out questions about women saving democracy and to set the record straight is our very special guest,
Dahlia Lithwick: Dahlia Lithwick is a lawyer, writer and journalist. She writes about the courts and law for Slate, and hosts the popular podcast “Amicus.” Her new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, out September 2022, tackles the story of the women lawyers at the heart of our nation’s ongoing battle to save democracy.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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On today’s show, we’re delving into the lives and work of the women coming together to save our democracy. Election administration has become one of the most challenging jobs in the U.S. government. One in three election officials reports feeling unsafe because of their job. Americans are doubting the legitimacy of our elections, despite the fact that experts described the 2020 election as the “most secure” in American history.
In the face of these fundamental challenges to our democracy—and in an environment increasingly characterized by political polarization—how can we protect our elections, and support our elections officials?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are our very special guests:
Natalie Adona: Natalie Adona is the county clerk-recorder elect and former assistant clerk-recorder/registrar of voters for Nevada County, Calif. She previously worked as the senior research and learning associate for the elections program at Democracy Fund, where she co-authored the reports "Understanding the Voter Experience” and “Stewards of Democracy.”
Tonya Wichman: Tonya Wichman is the director of the Defiance County Board of Elections in Defiance, Ohio, and a certified elections and registration administrator.
Kathy Holland: Kathy Holland was the director of the Alamance County Board of Elections for over 31 years until she retired in 2021. She served in eight presidential elections, and was the president of the North Carolina Association of Directors of Elections.
This special episode of On the Issues with Michele Goodwin is presented in conjunction with Ms. Magazine’s “Women Saving Democracy” platform, produced in collaboration with the Brennan Center for Justice and RepresentWomen. Explore the whole project—featuring reported pieces, firsthand accounts from election officials, video events with women political leaders, and more—here.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In this episode, we consider the American landscape as children go back to school. As mass shootings devastate communities across the country, parents are packing bulletproof protection in their children’s backpacks and sending them to school with lessons on how to survive a mass shooting. Jackson Katz joins Dr. Michele Goodwin to discuss the complicated issues at the heart of this crisis including questions related to masculinity, why mass shootings are overwhelmingly committed by men, and the implications in light of the rise in white supremacy in the United States.
Joining us to discuss these vital issues is our special guest:
Jackson Katz is a scholar and activist working on issues of gender, race and violence. He is co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), as well as the author of two acclaimed books and creator of the award-winning Tough Guise educational documentary series.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In this episode, we are live with the National Women’s History Museum for an incredibly important episode addressing reproductive health rights and justice from a historical point of view. In the wake of the overturn of Roe, we've seen horrific cases: a 10-year-old girl fleeing the state of Ohio to get to Indiana in order to terminate a pregnancy after rape; a Wisconsin woman bleeding for more than 10 days with an incomplete miscarriage before doctors could provide her the standard medical treatment; and so much more. The political situation that’s led to these cases becoming commonplace has deep roots in America’s history of slavery, reproductive restrictions, and controlling women’s bodies. So, how did we get here?
We're unpacking the historical events that led us to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, and examining how the Supreme Court failed in its analysis and recounting of America’s history around reproductive health, rights, and justice.
Joining us for this special event are:
Professor Mary Ziegler is a professor of law at the UC Davis School of Law, as well as one of the world’s leading historians of the U.S. abortion debate. Ziegler is also the author of Abortion and the Law in America: A Legal History, as well as the recently released Dollars for Life: The Antiabortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment.
Professor Sarah Dubow is a professor of history at Williams College and author of the award-winning book, Ourselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America.
Professor Deborah White is the board of governors professor of History and professor of Women and Gender Studies at Rutgers University. She’s also the author of Ar'n't I a Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South.Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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After a Supreme Court term unlike any other in nearly a century, confidence in what was once a revered body has sunk to a historic low. Only 25 percent of Americans report having confidence in the United States Supreme Court.
In this episode we are joined by a sold-out, live studio audience at the Irvine Barclay Theatre to capture the 2022 Supreme Court Term in Review. Our host, Dr. Michele Goodwin, along with leading national experts, explore critical rulings from this term, including: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned 49-year-old federal abortion protections established in Roe v. Wade; New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which struck down a 111-year-old state protection requiring gun owners to show “proper cause” for concealed carry licenses; West Virginia v. EPA, which ruled the agency has no executive jurisdiction to regulate certain greenhouse gas emissions; and more.
Joining Dr. Goodwin were special guests:
• Aziza Ahmed, professor of law, Boston University School of Law
• Erwin Chemerinsky, dean, Berkeley Law
• Mary Anne Franks, professor of law and Michael R. Klein distinguished scholar chair, University of Miami School of Law; author, The Cult of the Constitution
• Regina Mahone, The Nation
• Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine
• Mary Ziegler, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law
and a special guest appearance by H. Adam Harris.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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The unspeakable has finally come to pass: The Supreme Court has ruled, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson, to overturn Roe v. Wade and roll back abortion rights across the U.S. For the first time, the Court has taken away a fundamental right that so many depend on.
This unprecedented assault on bodily autonomy will unleash significant harms across the country — particularly for those most marginalized, including poor women and girls, women of color, LGBTQ people and disabled people. It also raises fundamental questions when it comes to the dismantling of privacy protections — the opinion calls into question other fundamental rights decided by the court including the right to birth control, same sex marriage, and more.
How can this decision be justified in light of glaring rates of maternal mortality and mortality? How can we move forward and secure the rights of those most impacted by this devastating ruling? And how can we center those most vulnerable among us, and ensure they’re included in the promise of our constitution?
In this episode, "On The Issues" host Dr. Michele Goodwin speaks directly to our audience, unpacking the Dobbs decision and what comes next.
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In this episode, we’re recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX — the historic federal legislation that transformed the landscape of gender equality in public education. We’re also honoring the legacy of its chief proponent: Patsy Takemoto Mink, who defied all odds in many ways as the first woman of color in Congress.
Joining Dr. Goodwin for this episode is a very special guest:
Professor Gwendolyn Mink. Wendy Mink is the daughter of Patsy Takemoto Mink, and the co-author of Fierce and Fearless: Patsy Takemoto Mink, First Woman of Color in Congress.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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In May, we learned in a leaked draft opinion obtained by Politico that the Supreme Court is expected to reverse itself on Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and a legacy of abortion jurisprudence upholding reproductive freedom— profoundly dismantling abortion rights in the U.S. If Roe and Casey are overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, grave consequences are in store for our democracy and the rule of law.
On today’s show, released in conjunction with our Beyond Roe: The Fight for Our Future project, we’re proud to share a special discussion: an in-depth exploration on why abortion is essential to the health of our democracy and society — and why democracy is essential to abortion, particularly given the alarming rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the U.S. Recorded before a live studio audience at NPR’s WNYC Studios in New York City, our slate of experts came together in person on April 20 at an event co-hosted with the Brennan Center for Justice and NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Network.
Experts dug deep on questions such as: How should we consider parallel affronts to participation and representation—the wave of state voting restrictions and gerrymandering? Can we look to state courts to provide new avenues in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling? What are the legal and societal impacts of criminalizing pregnancy and abortion on vulnerable communities, including among individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ people seeking reproductive healthcare, indigent Americans, and communities of color?
Joining Dr. Goodwin in front of a live studio audience at WNYC :
• Melissa Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes professor of law at NYU Law; faculty director at the Birnbaum Women’s Law Network; and member of the Brennan Center Board of Directors
• Lourdes Rivera, senior vice president of U.S. programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights
• Monica Raye Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.
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The future of abortion care is here: A safe, legal abortion in the comfort of your own home—accessed via mail and telehealth, delivered right to your door.
So, what do you need to know about abortion pills? How do they work? How long has medication abortion been available? Is it safe? (The answer’s yes!) Is it legal? (Yes!) Is it effective? (Extremely.)
Joining Michele Goodwin for this episode is an expert on the subject:
Dr. Julie Amaon,a family medicine doctor working for Just the Pill, a nonprofit telemedicine abortion provider based in the Twin Cities and serving people in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as people coming from surrounding states.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com**.
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In this episode, we’re turning back to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearings, and the messaging we saw play out. Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, what were Republican senators signaling? What's ahead for the First Amendment? Criminal Justice? LGBTQ equality? Are senators signaling the desire to do away with fundamental constitutional protections and why? What issues should we be concerned about? Joining us for this timely discussion is a very special guest:
Jill Wine-Banks: Jill Wine-Banks is an MSNBC legal analyst. She began her career as the first woman to serve as an organized crime prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. After just over four years, her trial capabilities and win record led her to be selected as one of the three assistant Watergate special prosecutors, where she, again, was the only woman.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com**.
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In this episode, "On the Issues" continues its Road to Confirmation series, unpacking Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including her seeming walk through fire. We examine the hearings, including Judge Jackson's judicial temperament, judicial and legal experience, as well as conduct of the Senate Judiciary Committee. How did a process meant to be rigorous, but respectful and fair turn into days of badgering, bullying, and a litmus test on religion? We also probe what happens next.
Joining us for this timely discussion are very special guests.
Syovata Edari is a criminal defense attorney, former state and federal public defender, and international award-winning chocolatier. Ms. Edari is recognized as a leading voice and advocate in the U.S. criminal justice system, both in the public and private sectors.
Danielle Holley-Walker is the Dean and a professor of law of Howard Law School, and a former clerk for Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart on the 5th Circuit. Her research focuses on the governance of public schools, and diversity in the legal profession.
Zinelle October is the executive vice president of the American Constitution Society, the country’s foremost progressive legal organization.
Steve Vladeck is a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law, and military justice and the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law. Vladeck has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. He is also the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com**.
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President Biden has announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the nominee to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the United States Supreme Court. Who is she? What’s her background? And why is she one of the most qualified and prepared nominees that this process has seen in nearly a century? In this episode, we unpack Judge Jackson’s qualifications and examine what’s next in the process.
This episode is the second installment of our Road to Confirmation series. “On the Issues” will be taking you through each step of the confirmation process as it happens in real time, with commentary and analysis from experts.
Helping us to answer these questions and more is a very special guest.
- Danielle Holley-Walker is the dean and a professor of law of Howard Law School, and a former clerk for Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart on the 5th Circuit. Her research focuses on the governance of public schools, and diversity in the legal profession.
In this episode we also hear from an "On the Issues" regular guest
- Steve Vladeck is a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law, and military justice and the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law. Vladeck has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. He is also the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com**.
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In this episode, we kick off our Road to Confirmation series. “On the Issues” will be following the nomination and confirmation process of President Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Road to Confirmation series will take you through each step of the confirmation process as it happens in real time, with commentary and analysis from experts.
We launch the series with this robust discussion about what Justice Breyer’s retirement means for the Supreme Court. And, we dig deep on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman on the Supreme Court. Who are the most likely candidates? What credentials and experience would they bring to the role? What distinguishes the speculated short-list candidates from each other? If confirmed would a Biden nominee have power to influence the Supreme Court?
Joining us to tackle these questions and more are very special guests:
- Zinelle October, executive vice president of the American Constitution Society, the country’s foremost progressive legal organization.
- Franita Tolson, vice dean for faculty and academic affairs, and professor of law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She is a nationally recognized expert in election law, and has testified before congress on voting rights issues, and has written for or appeared as a commentator for outlets including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and more.
- Steve Vladeck. a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law and military justice and the Charles Alan Wright chair in federal courts at the University of Texas School of Law. Vladeck has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. He is also the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast.
- Danielle Holley-Walker, dean and a professor of law of Howard Law School, and a former clerk for Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her research focuses on the governance of public schools, and diversity in the legal profession.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com**.
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In this episode, we’re delving into the fight for a $15 minimum wage. Even before COVID, Americans in all 50 states were facing severe economic struggles, making it difficult to afford rent, mortgage, childcare and basic needs. The pandemic has made economic disparity exponentially worse. Admittedly, then, it may be hard to understand why discussion of minimum wage is controversial at all. So why is a livable minimum wage so important to feminists and labor organizers everywhere? And how can a living wage boost the U.S. economy?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest:
- Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents over 2 million members throughout the United States and Canada. She is the first woman to lead the union, and was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people of the year in 2020. She’s also helped spearhead the Fight for $15 movement, which is advocating for a livable wage for workers internationally in hundreds of cities.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.**
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Saturday, Jan. 22, 2021, marks the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. But it may very well be its last. In a few short months we face the likelihood the Supreme Court will overturn Roe. Already, 2021 was the worst year for abortion rights in almost half a century. And in Texas, abortion has already been virtually outlawed.
In 1972, Ms. ran a bold petition in which well-known U.S. women declared they had undergone abortions—despite laws rendering the procedure illegal. We know it is time again. (To add your name to the petition for safe, legal and accessible abortion and birth control, go to MsMagazine.com)
In this episode, we discuss the relaunch of the iconic “We Have Had Abortions” petition, the history of the evolution of abortion access in the U.S. and the future of abortion rights in a possible post-Roe world.
Joining us for this episode is a friend to Ms. and a signatory to the petition:
- Amy Brenneman, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and producer best known for her extensive television work in shows like NYPD Blue, Frasier, Private Practice, The Leftovers, and Judging Amy, which she co-created and starred in. She has also starred in various films, including Heat (1995), Fear (1996), Daylight (1996), Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000), Nine Lives (2005) and The Jane Austen Book Club (2007). She is the founding member of the Cornerstone Theater Company which specializes in site-specific original theater productions centered on the themes of social justice. She is a longtime advocate for various social justice causes and organizations including: The Feminist Majority Foundation, NARAL and The Brady Center for Gun Control.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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In this episode, we’re bidding farewell to 2021 and hello to 2022 with our annual year in review episode! It’s been just over a year since armed insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win. In the year since, what have we learned about the attack, and what it says about the current state of American democracy? It’s also been a year of public health crises, political crises, and more—and we’re going to be breaking it all down.
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are very special guests:
- Joan Biskupic, lawyer and journalist. Currently, she serves as a Supreme Court analyst with CNN. Biskupic has covered the Supreme Court for 25 years and is the author of several books on the judiciary and justices of the Supreme Court, including The Chief: The Life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts. She’s previously worked for Reuters, the Washington Post and USA Today.
- Senator Russ Feingold is the president of the American Constitution Society. He served in the U.S. Senate as an elected member from Wisconsin from 1993 to 2011. Prior to that, he served as a state senator. Feingold is also the author of While America Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call for the Post-9/11 Era, and contributes regularly to various publications, appearing frequently on MSNBC and CNN.
- Dahlia Lithwick, lawyer, writer and journalist. She is a contributing editor at Newsweek and a senior editor at Slate. Lithwick hosts the popular podcast “Amicus.”
- Dr. George Woods, MD, president of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health. Woods also teaches on the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley Law School. His practice focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive impairments secondary to neuropsychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injury, ethnopsychopharmacology and workplace safety. In addition to his clinical practice, Woods consults around the world with legal teams dealing with complex criminal and civil litigation.
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In this episode, we are on the ground after the oral arguments in one of the most important Supreme Court cases of a generation. On December 1, the Supreme Court held oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—a case that some believe could overturn Roe v. Wade. The case involves a Mississippi abortion provision, banning most abortions after 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
So, what’s at stake in Dobbs—both in terms of abortion rights, and in terms of the Supreme Court’s legitimacy?
Joining me to address these issues and more are a group of special guests:
Hillary Schneller: Hillary Schneller is a senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and is co-lead counsel (along with Julie Rikelman) in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which the Supreme Court heard earlier this month.
Brigitte Amiri: Brigitte Amiri is deputy director of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project and expert in reproductive rights law.
Aziza Ahmed: Aziza Ahmed is a professor of law at the University of California, Irvine. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Feminism’s Medicine: Law, Science, and Social Movements in the AIDS Response, to be published by Cambridge University Press.
Renee Bracey Sherman: Renee Bracey Sherman is an activist, writer and reproductive justice activist, focusing on the visibility and representation of people who have abortions in media and pop culture. She is the founder and executive director of We Testify, an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions.
Shannon Brewer: Shannon Brewer is the clinic director at Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi. She has worked at the clinic for 20 years.
Special thanks to the contributing journalist Anoa Changa for interview work on this episode.
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In this episode, we’re talking about a uniquely American form of terrorism — violence at the abortion clinic. Our episode comes as Americans grapple with the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse on five counts in the wake of his killing two protestors and injuring a third last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Meanwhile in Georgia, the fate of three men caught on camera killing Ahmaud Arbery has yet to be decided. Many are concerned about whether there is a two-tiered system of justice in the United States.
We turn to the often overlooked violence at abortion clinics. As the December oral arguments date for Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case fast approaches, all eyes are on the Supreme Court. But we’re wondering — what’s happening at the on the ground, at clinics that provide abortions and reproductive health services where persistent, even daily violence against patients and providers goes overlooked and under-addressed?
Joining us to sort out these important matters are three special guests.
- Diane Derzis is a reproductive rights activist and the owner of Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the clinic at the center of the case that will be heard at SCOTUS in December, and the only remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi. She is also the owner of several other clinics in the south.
- Dr. Monica McLemore is a professor of nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, where she is also the co-director of the Abortion Care Training Incubator for Outstanding Nurse Scholars. Her research at the intersection of nursing and public health and policy delves into abortion, birth, human sexuality and more from a reproductive justice lens.
- Frances Kissling is an activist in the fields of religion, reproduction, and women's rights. She is currently the President of the Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy, and was President of Catholics for Choice from 1982 until 2007. She is a visiting professor at the Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas at UNAM, Mexico City.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we take our program to the community: We are on the ground with the American Constitution Society (ACS) for a show with Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. Along with host Michele Goodwin, Herod and Ford discuss being Black in public office: namely, how they deal with the challenges and demands while staying true to themselves.
(This program is the final in a four-part series elevating Black lives in the wake of the tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.)
Joining us are very special guests:
- Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, Nevada’s 34th attorney general, who took office on January 7, 2019, making him the first African American to hold statewide constitutional office in Nevada. A former state senator, Ford previously served as both the majority leader and minority leader in the Nevada Legislature. He started his career of public service as a public school math teacher, shaping hundreds of lives.
- Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly, while receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She serves as the chair of the House Finance Committee, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Committee on Legal Services. Herod also chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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It’s been just over a year since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. We reckon with recent revelations and ask the important questions: How did her death shape the current fight around abortion rights and other issues? Should she have retired? And what comes next at the Supreme Court?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is special guest:
- Irin Carmon, senior correspondent at New York Magazine and the co-author of Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this episode, we discuss the dark money underwriting anti-abortion laws like Texas's near-total abortion ban, S.B. 8, which bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest AND places a bounty on those who aid or abet people who want to terminate their pregnancies.
But people are fighting back. The Abortion Ban Accountability project—led by Corporate Accountability Action—is calling out corporations who fund legislators who stand against abortion rights and LGBTQ rights. While the #OffTheBANWagon campaign aims to put pressure on several companies, one is singled out in particular: AT&T. The company has spent almost $700k financing the campaigns of the primary sponsors of S.B. 8 in Texas—all while claiming “one of the company’s core values is gender equity and the empowerment of women.”
We’re diving right in with a very special guest:
- Cecile Richards, an activist, reproductive rights advocate and former president of Planned Parenthood. She is also the co-founder of the women’s political action group Supermajority, and co-chair of American Bridge PAC. Most recently, she helped launch the #OffTheBANWagon project, which aims to hold the corporations that bankroll extreme anti-abortion state legislators accountable. Richards is the author of the memoir Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead and the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.
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In August, the United Nations General Assembly moved to create a Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. There was pushback. Yet, on an international level, the demand for a reckoning with anti-Blackness reverberates around the world. Advocates know learning about the African Diaspora, histories of anti-Blackness and the need for reparations is more important than ever.
Consider this: The British government paid the equivalent of 17 billion pounds (in today’s currency) to compensate slave owners for the lost capital associated with abolition. These reparations debts by the British government to slaveowners and their descendants were paid off in 2015.
How does this hidden history fit into contemporary discourse about global slavery, Black Lives Matter, civil rights and more?
We’re diving right in with a very special guest:
- Dr. Amara Enyia, a public policy expert and strategist. She is also the managing director of Diaspora Rising, a transnational advocacy organization working on issues of concern to the Global Black Diaspora around the world.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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Today’s show is all about reproductive health, rights and justice. We are unpacking the Texas abortion law, S.B. 8, talking about the Supreme Court, and what the legacies of legislative interference with reproductive decision-making and autonomy mean for women, people who can become pregnant, and for U.S. democracy.
We’re diving right in with a very special guest and pioneer in the reproductive justice movement and thought leader on reproductive health and rights:
Professor Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body, Shattered Bonds and the forthcoming page-turner, Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World. She is the George A. Weiss University professor of law and sociology, the Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander professor of civil rights, as well as a professor of Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as the director of the Program on Race, Science and Society.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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It’s 20 years after 9/11—what have we learned? In May, when U.S. and international troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan, feminists and Afghanistan experts warned of the brutal impact that would likely be felt by women and minorities with the return of the Taliban and in the vacuum of leadership. They were right.
The Taliban have announced their provisional government, which does not include a single woman. What does this mean for national security? The safety of women and girls? What are the geo-political dynamics yet to be sorted?
Helping us sort out these questions and set the record straight are special guests:
- Karen Joy Greenberg, expert on national security, terrorism and civil liberties and the director of the Center on National Security. Her latest book is Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump. Greenberg's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, The National Interest and Mother Jones, among others.
- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, award-winning author and adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the author of The Daughters of Kobani and Ashley's War, and writes regularly on Afghanistan’s politics and economy, entrepreneurship in fragile states, the fight to end child marriage, and issues affecting women and girls for publications including the New York Times, Financial Times, Fast Company, Christian Science Monitor and CNN.com.
- Renee Montagne, NPR correspondent and host. From 2004 to 2016, Montagne co-hosted NPR's "Morning Edition," the most widely heard radio news program in the United States. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Montagne has made 10 extended reporting trips to Afghanistan, where she has traveled to every major city, from Kabul to Kandahar. She has profiled Afghanistan's presidents and power brokers, while also focusing on the stories of Afghans at the heart of their complex country: schoolgirls, farmers, mullahs, poll workers, midwives and warlords.
- Gaisu Yari, a human rights defender from Afghanistan and survivor of child marriage who holds a master’s degree in human rights from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in Middle Eastern and gender studies from the University of Virginia. Yari is a writer and active speaker on women’s issues in Afghanistan and worked with the government of Afghanistan as a commissioner to the Civil Service Commission of Afghanistan, as well as with national and international organizations. The focus of her expertise is in human rights and gender justice. She has extensive knowledge and professional experience working in both the U.S. and Afghanistan.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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The recent rise in documented anti-Asian violence—which saw grandmothers being punched on the streets, and a major shooting in Atlanta—has raised questions about the current status of Asian American identity and safety in the U.S.
How does “Asian” fit into the American racial taxonomy, which has for so long relied on a dichotomy of Black and white?
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are very special guests:
· Nobuko Miyamoto, actor, activist, singer and third-generation Japanese American whose work has blended art and activism since the 1960s. She’s also the founder of Great Leap, a performing arts organization that promotes Asian American artistic works. She recently published a memoir, titled Not Yo' Butterfly: My Long Song of Relocation, Race, Love, and Revolution.
· Dr. Claire Kim, professor of political science and Asian American studies at the University of California, Irvine. She has written two books—Bitter Fruit: The Politics of Black-Korean Conflict and Dangerous Crossings: Race, Species, and Nature in a Multicultural Age—and is currently working on a third book, Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World.
· Yang Huang, award-winning novelist and short story writer. She grew up in China’s Jiangsu province and participated in the 1989 student uprisings before coming to the U.S. to study computer science. She’s written two novels—My Good Son and Living Treasures—and a collection of linked short stories, My Old Faithful.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have been rife with controversy—from rulings targeting Black athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, to COVID protests taking place just outside the stadium, to transphobia directed at the first openly trans athletes to ever compete on this highest international stage. And what about protecting mental health and threats against Simone Biles?
Is the Olympics an uneven playing field?
Helping us to unpack this and more is a very special guest:
Ria Tabacco Mar, director of the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she oversees women’s rights litigation. She was previously a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Project, where she helped argue the landmark civil rights case of Aimee Stephens which culminated in last year’s Bostock v. Clayton County ruling that expanded federal employment protections to LGBTQ+ people.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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Republican lawmakers in Texas seem obsessed with passing extreme voter suppression legislation, banning critical race theory and outlawing abortion outright. In protest, Texas House Democrats have fled the state en masse and are making national news while camped out in the U.S. capital. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest legislators when they return from Washington, D.C., and vowed to call special session after special session until the elections bill passes. On Saturday, July 31, thousands of people descended upon the Texas Capitol with signs demanding lawmakers “Protect Voting Rights," “End the Filibuster” and “Say No to Jim Crow."
So … what the heck is happening in Texas?! If you haven’t been following along, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered in this week’s edition of “On the Issues,” 15 Minutes of Feminism. (Okay, 17 minutes!)
Helping us to sort out what the heck is happening in Texas is:
- Texas state Representative Donna Howard, one of the Democrats that fled the state. She represents Texas’s own district 48, based in Austin. She’s an Austin native, has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2006, and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and State Affairs Committee, as well as the chair of the Women’s Health Caucus.
- Roxy Szal, Ms. magazine’s digital editor and a co-producer for “On the Issues." She’s been reporting on the ground from Texas and can weigh in status of democracy in the Lone Star State.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com **for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In this exciting episode, we’re having the sex talk you wish you got from your parents.
Do you remember Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret? Well, today it’s me, host Michele Goodwin, asking the questions and inviting you to join us as we talk about sex, periods, non-binary healthcare, maternal health—and what don’t we know or ignore about our own bodies.
Today we ask: What do you wish you learned from your parents, in school, or even now? And when it comes to reproductive and sexual health as policy issues, what’s on the docket and on the ballot in 2021? Whose rights are at stake?
Very special guests tackle these questions and more:
- Kelly Davis, a maternal health policy expert and vice president for global birth equity and innovation at the National Birth Equity Collaborative, an organization devoted to Black maternal and infant health. She is a public health professional and has worked in the past with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to launch programs for maternal health, HIV prevention, food access and more.
- Dr. Fatu Forna,a maternal health consultant, obstetrician-gynecologist and epidemiologist. She has worked with the World Health Organization as their lead for reproductive and maternal health in Sierra Leone, and with the CDC as a medical epidemiologist. She is also the founder of the Mama-Pikin Foundation, which works to fight Sierra Leone’s high maternal mortality rates.
- Mary Emily O’Hara,an LGBTQ media and policy expert and rapid response manager at GLAAD. They are also an award-winning journalist specializing in LGBTQ+ issues, and have written for Teen Vogue, Vice, Rolling Stone, The Advocate, Al Jazeera and more.
- Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, an advocate for menstrual equity and the founder of Period Equity, a legal organization devoted to achieving menstrual equity through advocacy and policy change. She is also a lawyer with expertise in nonprofit leadership and development, and is currently a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. In addition to being a regular contributor to Ms., her writing has been published in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Time magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and more. She is also the author of the book Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity.
Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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In our second '15 Minutes of Feminism’ episode, the Badass Women of Podcasting take on the Supreme Court. As the court goes into recess, we’re recapping the highs and lows of the past year. What was at stake? What did feminists win — and whose rights remain at risk? We update you on the state of the court, cases feminists should be keeping their eyes on going forward, and more.
Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special returning guest:
• Leah Litman, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches and writes on constitutional law, federal post-conviction review, and federal sentencing. She is the co-founder of Women Also Know Law—a searchable database of women and non-binary people who have academic appointments in law—and is one of the co-hosts and creators of the popular "Strict Scrutiny" podcast, which focuses on the Supreme Court.
Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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What does independence mean for the rest of us? Women have long asked this question—as have groups that have felt or experienced being shut out, excluded, colonized or enslaved.
On July 5, 1852—a time in which the U.S. reaped benefit from the enslavement of kidnapped and trafficked Black people from the shores of Africa—Frederick Douglass put it this way: “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”
That was long ago, before the Emancipation Proclamation, Civil War and ratification of the 13th Amendment. However, the question—what does it mean to be free, equal and a citizen?—remains a vital point of discussion not only in the United States, but around the world. We dive into freedom, the 4th of July, and what it means to be represented in this episode.
What does liberty mean to and for you, your family, your communities? To answer that, we are talking to folks making a difference at the local level:
- Colorado state Rep. Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly, after receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She serves as the chair of the House Finance Committee, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and chair of the Committee on Legal Services. Herod also chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and the Arts Caucus. Since her election in 2016, Herod has sent 68 bills to the governor’s desk, marshaling through numerous pieces of legislation addressing criminal justice reform, mental health and substance abuse, renewable energy, youth homelessness, and civil rights protections.
- Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott serves in the Kentucky legislature, representing House District 41. In 2016, Scott defeated a 34-year incumbent to become the first Black woman in nearly 20 years to serve in the state legislature. She serves on critical committees, including Education; Local Government; Elections; Constitutional Amendments; and others. Before becoming a state rep, she served as an English immersion teacher in China, as well as an adjunct faculty member at both Bellarmine University and Jefferson Community and Technical College.
- Heather Lende, a former elected local official and member of the Haines, Alaska Borough Assembly, was one of the thousands of women inspired to take a more active role in politics during the Trump presidency. Lende is also New York Times bestselling author; a contributor to NPR, the New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler, among other newspapers and magazines; and a former contributing editor at Woman’s Day. A columnist for the Alaska Dispatch News, she is the obituary writer for the Chilkat Valley News in Haines and the recipient of the Suzan Nightingale McKay Best Columnist Award from the Alaska Press Club. Recently, Lende was named the Alaska State Writer Laureate for 2021-2023. Her most recent book, Of Bears and Ballots, was released in paperback in May 2021.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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In this joyous episode, host Michele Goodwin is joined by music icon Anita Pointer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B group the Pointer Sisters and her brother Fritz Pointer, acclaimed professor and historian and former music manager. They celebrate Juneteenth and unpack their award-winning memoir, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story.
Fritz and Anita Pointer discuss coming of age in the civil rights movement; emphasize the importance of tenacity and learning the hard way; and break down what it was like for their family to finally break through and land award after award—all by doing it their own way. As an added bonus, expect to be serenaded by Anita Pointer!
- Anita Pointer, founding member of the legendary music group the Pointer Sisters. Anita and her sisters found fame in 1973, when the Anita-led "Yes We Can Can" became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #11. Their breakthrough resulted in multiple hits and Grammy Awards, including for Best Performance by a Duo or Group and even Best Country Duo or Group. In 1974, Anita's writing talents helped the group make music history with "Fairytale," which became a hit on the country music charts—leading the Pointer Sisters to become the first Black female group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Their hit-making magic kept audiences singing and dancing through the 1980s and '90s and became part of the 2008 Obama campaign playlist. In 1994, Anita and her sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Anita continues to write, record and perform, maintaining an international touring schedule as a member of the Pointer Sisters.
- Professor Fritz Pointer is one of the older brothers of June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth—also known as the Pointer Sisters. His latest book, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story, is a memoir of their life co-authored with his sister, Anita Pointer. No one else knows the family, community, political or social history out of which the Pointer Sisters came as thoroughly and deeply as he does. He managed the group prior to becoming a professor specializing in African and African American history. Pointer has 30 years of experience teaching composition, African and African American humanities, and history in higher education. He has authored two books and several scholarly articles in his area of African literature.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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All eyes are on Washington D.C., with commissions to study the January 6 insurrection, expansion of the Supreme Court, and coronavirus origins. But that means much can be overlooked at home. Do you know the names of your local school board members? What about the folks on your city council? It’s time to dive into local leadership and why it matters.
Helping us to address these questions and more are our very special guests: the badass women running the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors—the largest local government in the nation—making history with the first all-women board in its more than 150-year history.
- Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly serves the residents of the 5th District. Barger was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016, where she served as chair of the board and was reelected for her second term in 2020. She continues to advocate for services and programs to improve the quality of life for foster children, seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and those with mental illness.
- Supervisor Janice Hahn proudly represents the interests of the 4th District. Hahn began her career as a teacher, and went on to serve on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission and the City Council representing the 15th District. After serving in local government, Hahn was elected to Congress, first representing California’s old 36th District and then the 44th District after redistricting.
- Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was first elected to represent Los Angeles County’s 3rd District on November 4, 2014 and was reelected to her second term on November 6, 2018. She has led the way and worked on a great many initiatives and motions to improve people’s lives and reform systems in the county. Before her service on the board, Kuehl served eight years in the California State Senate and six years in the California State Assembly. She was the first woman in California history to be named speaker pro tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California legislature.
- Supervisor Holly Mitchell was elected to serve the 2nd District of Los Angeles County on November 3, 2020. Previously, Supervisor Mitchell represented the 54th District as an assemblymember in California state legislature and later served as state senator for the 30th District. She held the distinction of being the first African American to serve as chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.
- Supervisor Hilda Solis was sworn in as Los Angeles County supervisor for the 1st District of Los Angeles County on December 1, 2014 and re-elected to a new four-year term in 2018. Solis’s priorities include combatting homelessness and building affordable housing, expanding County services to all residents, environmental justice, good-paying jobs, health care access, criminal justice reform, improving parks and open space, and ensuring arts equity for all. Solis served as secretary of labor under President Barack Obama, becoming the first Latina to serve in the U.S. Cabinet.
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This week, we’re giving listeners a new way to listen to Dr. Michele Goodwin’s reporting, rebelling and truth-telling: 15 Minutes of Feminism, where we give a serious take on an important issue featuring a single guest (okay, fine—maybe two from time to time.) In these jam-packed, bite-sized episodes, you can expect voices from the center of the story—people you should know, those who roll up their sleeves and change the world. These are guests who have things to do, places to be, and something important to say. (Next week, we’ll be back with our regular programming!)
In this inaugural episode, we center Breonna Taylor: We say her name, revisit her story and reflect on what comes next.
This week, we get right to business with our guest—an extraordinary activist, social commentator and professor of criminal justice:
- Dr. Cherie Dawson-Edwards,an expert on criminal justice; associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion; and professor of criminal justice at the University of Louisville. She is a national board member for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and serves on the executive committee of the ACLU of Kentucky.
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"Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women.”
—Professor Jessica Calarco
In this episode, we're focusing on moms, child care, single parenting and teen parenting. We know that women have been hit hard by COVID—causing many to dub the economic downturn a “she-cession.” And as it stands, current U.S. laws and policies are woefully inadequate—leaving mothers, particularly mothers living with low incomes, behind. Luckily, women-led organizations are helping moms by filling in the gaps.
How are moms making it through the pandemic? And, how do single moms fit in, especially teenage moms? What should parents generally, and mothers in particular, be demanding of lawmakers and the Biden administration? What are the best ways for the U.S. to 'build back better' after pandemic?
We also hear from some of our listeners who are giving shoutouts to the mothers–and stand-in moms—in their lives!
Joining us for this very special Mother’s Day episode are special guests:
- Representative Katie Porter represents the 45th congressional district in Orange County, Calif. She is a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee, and chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. As a single working mom, Rep. Porter knows firsthand about the challenges that families face. She’s introduced bipartisan legislation that would more than double the amount families can set aside pre-tax to help pay for pre-school, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult day care.
- Nicole Lynn Lewis,founder of Generation Hope, which works with teen parents to apply to, enter and stay in college. She is a former teen mother herself, who put herself through the College of William & Mary with her three-month old daughter in tow. Lewis has been featured on major news outlets including Good Morning America, CNN, NBC Nightly News and The Washington Post. Nicole also serves as an Ascend national advisor with the Aspen Institute and a nationally known author and speaker. Her newest book, Pregnant Girl, was released on May 4, 2021 by Beacon Press.
- Dr. Aisha Nyandoro, CEO of Springboard To Opportunities and director of Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. Nyandoro has more than a decade of experience developing, implementing and evaluating programs aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with limited resources. She has worked in various capacities—as an academic, evaluator, philanthropist and nonprofit executive. Prior to serving with Springboard, Aisha served as a program officer with the Foundation for the Mid-South.
- Tamara Ware, a caregiver and the mother of three beautiful girls. Ware was in Springboard To Opportunities’ second cohort of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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On March 31, the Biden administration released the American Jobs Plan, which establishes broad goals for achieving a cleaner and more equitable future, including significant investments in green jobs like caregiving and clean energy infrastructure. On April 22—Earth Day—Biden further raised the stakes, committing the U.S. to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Even still, there are legislators at local, state and federal levels that continue to deny climate change as real.
Meanwhile, in Flint, Michigan, after a five-year water crisis, reports say the water is now clean—but many locals still refuse to drink it to this day, due to a loss of trust.
How do global warming and other environmental concerns affect the lives of listeners in coastal areas, or those who live near waste sites, or in areas where environmental concerns are hidden? What does environmental and climate justice look like?
Now that the U.S. has reentered the Paris Climate Agreement, what next steps must be taken to address climate change and environmental injustice here at home? What can we expect from the Biden-Harris administration?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Nourbese Flint, a program manager with Black Women for Wellness, where she directs environmental and reproductive health work, organizes community advocacy and works on policy. In addition, Nourbese serves as the head of civic engagement with Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy, is founding member of Trust Black Women, and an active member of the Women’s Intercultural Network.
- Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International. She is co-director of the Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegations, was the visionary behind the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit, and co-founded the International Women’s Earth and Climate Initiative, the precursor initiative of WECAN International. She is the author of the award-winning book, Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.
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In this episode, we confront the question at the center of Derek Chauvin’s trial: Who killed George Floyd? Our guests unpack that question as an issue central to police and societal violence. Examining who killed George Floyd means taking stock of legacies of racism in the Twin Cities, including redlining, school segregation, policies that undermine equality, and disparate rates of policing and mass incarceration.
As attention has turned to the horrors of the old South, has racism of the new North been overlooked? And at what cost to Black lives? Have liberal allies made a difference or exacerbated harms in the Twin Cities?
We also explore the trauma associated with George Floyd’s death and other officer-involved killings. Experts on our show explain how racism produce physical and psychological health harms.
Helping us to sort out these questions and how we should think about these issues and more are very special guests:
- Judge Pamela Alexander, a Fourth Judicial District judge for Hennepin County, Minnesota. She began her legal career as a criminal defense attorney with the Legal Rights Center and then moved to the Hennepin County attorney’s office as a prosecutor in the criminal division. Since 1983, she has been a Hennepin County district court judge where she presided over the juvenile division and served as assistant chief judge for the court as a whole.
- Dr. Patricia Jones Blessman, a licensed clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience as a clinician and administrator of mental health programs. Jones Blessman is the founder and former president of the Institute for Psychodiagnostic Interventions and Services—one of only a few minority-owned, private sector psychological service corporations nationwide.
- Tasha R. Green Cruzat, executive director of Voices for Illinois Children, an independent child advocacy group that champions strong public policies and investments for all Illinois children and their families. A U.S. Navy veteran, she brings more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors of education, business and government. Prior to joining Voices, Cruzat first served as deputy chief of staff then chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
- Dr. Roderick A. Ferguson, professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Yale University. An interdisciplinary scholar, his work traverses such fields as American studies, gender studies, queer studies, cultural studies, African American Studies, sociology, literature and education. Most recently, he is the author of One-Dimensional Queer (Polity, 2019). He is currently working on two monographs—In View of the Tradition: Art and Black Radicalism and The Bookshop of Black Queer Diaspora. Ferguson is the 2020 recipient of the Kessler Award from the Center for LGBTQ Studies.
- T. Mychael Rambo, a regional Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer. He also an accomplished residency artist and professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota.
- Dr. George Woods, a practicing physician, specializing in neuropsychiatry. His private practice focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, acquired neurocognitive disorders, cognitive impairments secondary to neuropsychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injury, ethnopsychopharmacology and workplace safety. In addition to his clinical practice, Woods consults with legal teams dealing with complex criminal and civil litigation.
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It's tax season! It’s time to talk race, taxation and D.C. statehood. The U.S. tax system raises serious questions about equity and inclusion and—according to our guests—taxation is at the root of many social and economic injustices.
So, who does the U.S. tax code benefit? Who does it leave behind? How does racism manifest in the U.S. tax system? What role does D.C. statehood play in all of this? What roles can we expect the Biden administration to play in the fight for D.C. statehood and the larger fight for racial and economic justice?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are special guests:
- Dorothy A. Brown, an Asa Griggs Candler professor of law at Emory University School of Law and an advocate for economic and social justice. Most recently, she is the author of The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans—and How We Can Fix It (Crown, March 2021). She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg, and has written numerous opinion pieces addressing current events in the New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN Opinion, Washington Post, Forbes, National Law Journal and Bloomberg View, to name a few.
- Maura Quint, co-founder and executive director of Tax March, an organization that fights for an economy that works for everyone. She can be found talking taxes in publications such as the Hill, Ms. and Vox and can be heard on programs such as Pitchfork Economics and Stand Up with Pete Dominick. Quint also writes comedy and contributes to the Onion, The New Yorker, McSweeneys and other humor publications. She lives in Pennsylvania with her children and various part-time dogs.
- Demi Stratmon, lead organizer with 51 for 51, a grassroots coalition to make D.C. the 51st state with 51 votes in the Senate. She works to combine the power of young advocates and national organizations to fight for representation for over 700,000 Washingtonians. In 2019, Demi traveled the country to make D.C. statehood a national issue, earning endorsements of 51 for 51's mission from leaders including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Demi Stratmon is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College, majoring in government and minoring in Middle Eastern studies.
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Brooke Baldwin is a renowned CNN anchor and author of a new book, HUDDLE: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power, out this month. Huddle examines the phenomenon of "huddling,” or what happens when women lean on one another—in the arts, activism, politics, Hollywood and everyday friendships—to lift up each other and to provide empowerment, support, inspiration and the creativity and courage to enact change and solve problems.
Brooke Baldwin is a veteran journalist and Peabody Award finalist who has served as an anchor on CNN and in its newsroom for more than a decade. She played a major role in anchoring coverage of the Obama and Trump administrations and has also reported on stories from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She has covered gun violence, including the tragedies in Sandy Hook and too many others. As the creator and host of CNN’s digital series American Woman, she has dedicated the latest chapter of her career to shining a light on trailblazing women in politics and culture. She is the author of HUDDLE: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power—her first book.
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Gender-based and sexual violence are pervasive symptoms of a larger violence issue in this country. This reality is exemplified by recent reports that some insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on January 6 have histories of violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Of course, we also remain in mourning for the lives lost to gun violence in America—most recently the horrific killings of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, and 10 people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.
What do these events convey about the U.S. and our culture of sexual violence? What connections can we make from gender-based violence and sexual violence to a broader culture of violence in the U.S.? How does gender-based violence intersect with race and racism? What can we do to begin to disrupt this culture?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Carmen Vasilio Balentine has spent 25 years working in the public sector to empower youth and to help them tell their stories. He is the founder of CVB Wellness, which promotes wellness, equity and healing in underserved communities. Most recently, he served as major gifts officer at American Foundation for AIDS Research.
- Dr. Terrion Williamson, associate professor of African American and African studies with appointments in gender, women and sexuality studies and American studies at the University of Minnesota, as well as a Ms. contributor. Her research has tracked the serial killings of Black women. Her current book project, which builds upon work started in the last chapter of her first book, Scandalize My Name: Black Feminist Practice and the Making of Black Social Life, is a victim-centered study of the more than 60 cases throughout the U.S. in which Black women have been the sole or primary targets of serial killers since the 1970s.
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The 2020 election revealed the deep fractures in U.S. democracy and its electoral system. Many were already there, but this past election truly pushed our voting system to its limits.
“Many of the familiar procedures for translating the people’s will into the choice of a president depend on norms of behavior, not laws,” guest Rick Hasen put it—evident from the significant efforts undertaken to undermine and interfere with the results of the election.
Part of this dysfunction played out in the Senate, where the institution itself protects arcane rules and undemocratic processes. Is the Senate truly representative? Is the electoral system fair? Is it time to eliminate the electoral college? What other electoral reforms should we be considering? What does contemporary voter suppression look like?
One of the important Senate rules at issue today is the filibuster, which has been weaponized at various times to defeat important legislation. What purpose does the filibuster serve? Is it a barrier to real progress?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Rick Hasen, chancellor’s professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine and a nationally recognized expert in election law and campaign finance regulation. He is co-author of leading casebooks in election law and remedies, and served in 2020 as a CNN election law analyst. He has authored over 100 articles on election law issues, published in numerous journals including the Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law Review and Supreme Court Review.
- Barbara R. Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition. She also served as the executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law from 1989 until 2015. Arnwine is internationally renowned for contributions on critical justice issues, including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the 2006 reauthorization of provisions of the Voting Rights Act. She also serves as co-chair and facilitator of the National Commission for Voter Justice, the Millennial Votes Matters Convenings and the Voting Rights Alliance. She is the radio host of Igniting Change and is a regular presence in the national media.
- Cynthia Richie Terrell, founder and executive director of RepresentWomen (formerly Representation2020), a regular Ms. contributor and an outspoken advocate for rules and systems reforms to advance women’s representation and leadership in the United States. Terrell has been published in numerous print journals; appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal; and has participated in numerous radio shows and panel discussions on the topics of electoral reform and structural strategies to elect more women.
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"Women’s rights are human rights," proclaimed then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in September 1995 at the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This groundbreaking speech marked a turning point for feminism and international efforts toward gender equality, articulating women’s rights as a basic fundamental concept of civil rights, human rights and dignity. During the conference, 189 countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action for women’s equality.
In this show we consider the impact of the U.N. agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Where has there been progress? What are the setbacks? What comes next in the global agenda on women’s rights?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more is our very special guest:
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of U.N. Women. Sworn into office on August 19, 2013, Mlambo-Ngcuka brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position, having devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social justice. Mlambo-Ngcuka has worked in government and civil society, as well as within the private sector, and was actively involved in the struggle to end apartheid in her home country of South Africa.
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As women continue to be hit by job loss, increased home responsibilities, family caretaking, unaccounted for invisible labor, homelessness and domestic violence, it’s clear the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed underlying institutional and infrastructural inequalities in our society.
It’s time to check in on and reimagine the international status of women and girls. What would a feminist foreign policy agenda look like in the United States? How does it look globally? How does it take into account vulnerable women and girls? What hope exists for ending inequality based on race, sex and gender? What differences do women and girls make as social, political and economic motivators for change?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, an international studies fellow at New America, and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the host of "Vital Interests Podcast," the editor-in-chief of three online publications, and has written and edited numerous books including Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the L.A. Times, the Nation, the Atlantic and many other major news outlets.
- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of the New York Times bestsellers Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield (2015)—currently being developed into a major motion picture at Universal—and The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (2011). Her newest book, The Daughters of Kobani, was published in February 2021. Lemmon serves as an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, along with private sector leadership roles in emerging technology and national security.
- Pardis Mahdavi, dean of social sciences and director of the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University (ASU) and former acting dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. She has published five single-authored books and one edited volume in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
- Lyric Thompson, senior director of policy and advocacy at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and frequent Ms. contributor. She is an adjunct professor at the George Washington University, where she teaches a graduate level course on women’s rights advocacy. Thompson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations Advisory Committee on Advancing Gender Equality in Foreign Affairs and a member of the Civil Society Strategic Planning and Leadership Group for the Global Forum for Gender Equality.
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In this special bonus episode, we remember our friend and advocate for women in prison, Sue Ellen Allen, who died this week on February 24, 2021. In the latter part of her life, she became an internationally renowned advocate for incarcerated women and girls. She championed banning the box, promoting reentry, and protecting the integrity and dignity of people tethered to the criminal justice system. She was a reformer. She spoke with tremendous grace and power about being formerly incarcerated.
Take a listen as we revisit Sue Ellen Allen’s final interview—a wide-ranging and intimate conversation with her long-time friend, Michele Goodwin.
Rest in power, Sue Ellen.
Sue Ellen Allen is the founder and executive director of Reinventing Reentry. A University of Texas grad, educator, community leader, former inmate at Arizona State Prison and current activist, she found her purpose from serving time in prison. She is the author of The Slumber Party from Hell, a memoir about prison life, and the recipient of the Dawson Prize in Memoir in the 2009 Prison Writing Contest for PEN American Center.
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On January 16, 2021, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dustin Higgs became the 13th and final person executed by the Trump administration—just days before Inauguration Day for President Joe Biden, the first sitting president to openly oppose the death penalty.
President Trump’s spate of executions began six months before Biden's inauguration, with six executions occurring in the period after he lost the election. Overall, the former president oversaw “the most consecutive civilian executions by the federal government or any state in the 244-year history of the United States” and “ended a 17-year bipartisan federal moratorium” on executions, according to this week’s guest Stephen Rohde.
What purpose does the death penalty serve? How have race and racism marked the implementation of the death penalty? Is there ever a humane way to kill another person? With public support for the death penalty waning in the U.S. and across the world, how can the U.S. continue to justify it, both federally and in individual states?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more is a very special guest: Stephen Rohde, a constitutional scholar, lecturer, writer, political activist and retired civil rights lawyer who serves on the board of Death Penalty Focus. Rohde has represented two inmates on California’s death row. He is a founder and chair of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, past president of the ACLU of Southern California, and past chair of Bend the Arc: a Jewish Partnership for Justice. Rohde is the author of two books and has written for Ms., the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Truthout and American Prospect and is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Review of Books.
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Women make up the fastest growing incarcerated population in the U.S—yet, politicians and the media frequently frame incarceration as an issue that affects only boys and men. Why is so little attention paid to women and mass incarceration? What does the failure to include women in the analysis on mass incarceration mean for communities, families and the women themselves? What are the unique challenges women and girls face behind bars and after they are released?
Helping us sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Sue Ellen Allen, founder and executive director of Reinventing Reentry. A University of Texas grad, educator, community leader, former inmate at Arizona State Prison and current activist, she found her purpose from serving time in prison. She is the author of The Slumber Party from Hell, a memoir about prison life, and the recipient of the Dawson Prize in Memoir in the 2009 Prison Writing Contest for PEN American Center.
- Piper Kerman, author of the memoir Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison. The book has been adapted by Jenji Kohan into an Emmy Award-winning original series for Netflix, which ran for seven seasons. Piper collaborates with nonprofits, philanthropies and other organizations working in the public interest and serves on the board of directors of the Women’s Prison Association and the advisory boards of the PEN America Writing For Justice Fellowship, InsideOUT Writers, Healing Broken Circles and JustLeadershipUSA.
- Kamilah Newton, a writer for Yahoo Lifestyle and associate producer for MAKERS. Her background is in advocacy, activism and social justice reform. She has been featured on CNN, Career Contessa, Miss Grass and Hello Beautiful among other publications. Most recently, she participated in a virtual reality piece directed by Al Jazeera called Still Here, which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
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Friday, January 22 marked the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming a constitutional right to abortion. Yet, decades later, reproductive health care access remains illusory for many women and people of birthing capacity.
Is the constitutional right to abortion a reality today? If so, for whom? How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted women’s health and exacerbated existing disparities? What can we expect from the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration? What is the status of reproductive health, rights and justice—48 years after Roe?
Helping us to sort out these questions and and more are special guests:
- Carrie Baker, a frequent Ms. contributor, lawyer, professor and director of the program for the study of women and gender at Smith College. Dr. Baker was a co-founder and former co-director of the Five College Certificate in Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice, a certificate available to undergraduate students at Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- Joia Crear-Perry, founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative. Dr. Crear-Perry is a thought leader around racism as a root cause of health inequities, as well as a speaker, trainer, advocate, policy expert and fighter for justice. Recently, Dr. Crear-Perry addressed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urge a human rights framework to improve maternal mortality.
- Julia Kaye, a staff attorney with the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project, Kaye leads the ACLU’s litigation challenging the FDA’s unjustified restrictions on medication abortion, as well as the project’s advocacy efforts to remove outdated laws banning nurse practitioners and other qualified clinicians from providing abortion care.
- Leah Litman, assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches and writes on constitutional law, federal post-conviction review and federal sentencing. She is co-founder of Women Also Know Law and is one of the co-hosts and creators of Strict Scrutiny, a podcast about the U.S. Supreme Court.
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On today’s show, we planned to introduce listeners to the new feminists in Congress—and we do. But, in the period since our team at Ms. curated the design and content of this episode, another shoe has dropped in American politics: the insurrection.
We examine what the Jan. 6 riot and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol signify for our nation, including what we can learn from it. Why did it happen? Will the president be impeached? And what does this atmosphere mean for the new feminists in Congress?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Rep-Elect Carolyn Bourdeaux: Carolyn Bourdeaux is a representative-elect of the U.S. House, representing Georgia's 7th Congressional District. She is an associate professor of public management and policy at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, as well as the director of the Center for State and Local Finance. From 2007-2010, Rep-Elect Bourdeaux was on leave from the university to serve as director of Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office.
- Rep-Elect Teresa Leger Fernandez: Teresa Leger Fernandez is a representative-elect of the U.S. House, representing New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District. She was counsel and strategist at Leger Law & Strategy and worked for 30 years as counsel for tribes and their business entities, as well as with community leaders on affordable housing, Hispanic civil rights and community development. From 2013 to 2016, Rep-Elect Leger Fernandez was appointed by President Obama to serve as vice chair of the Council on Historic Preservation in the Obama administration.
- Rep-Elect Marie Newman: Marie Newman is a representative-elect of the U.S. House, representing Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District. After founding her own anti-bullying non-profit, she founded a national non-profit program called “Team Up To Stop Bullying” with her partner, Sears, to address the problem—ultimately expanding it to a coalition of 70 anti-bullying groups working nationwide. Rep-Elect Newman become a partner in one of the largest ad agencies in the U.S. before leaving to start her own successful consulting business, Marie Newman & Associates.
- Jennifer Steinhauer: Jennifer Steinhauer has been a New York Times journalist for more than 30 years, covering Congress, the West Coast, politics, business and health care. She has worked on the Metro, Business and National desk, and served as City Hall bureau chief and Los Angeles bureau chief before moving to Washington in 2010. She is the author of a novel, two cookbooks, and her most recent book, The Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress—the story of the women of the 116th Congress who changed Congress and Washington.
**Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.
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This year has been defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, a reckoning on racism and policing in America, the 2020 election, and the ongoing fight for justice.
What does the 2020 election and the Biden/Harris win mean for our democracy? How important is the outcome of the Georgia runoff for the incoming administration? Where are we on immigration? How are we to undo the damage to our federal courts and address the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court? How do we reckon with the racial unrest that exists in our country—especially when it comes to police violence? What hope lies ahead in the realm of reproductive health, rights and justice?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Russ Feingold, president of the American Constitution Society, and a former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, as well as a state senator. The author of While America Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call for the Post-9/11 Era, Feingold contributes regularly to various publications, and appears frequently on MSNBC and CNN.
- Deirdre Fishel,a producer/director whose films have premiered in 35 countries worldwide. She just finished “Women in Blue,” a feature documentary that follows women officers of the Minneapolis Police Department and explores the intersection of gender, power and violence in American policing, which will broadcast on PBS’s Independent Lens Series on Feb 8, 2021.
- Stephen Vladeck, a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law, and military justice and the A. Dalton Cross Professor in Law at the University of Texas School of Law. Vladeck has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. He is also the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast.
- Andrea Young, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. Young is the former vice president for external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, as well as the former vice president of the National Black Child Development Institute.
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Government leaders worldwide met the election of President-Elect Joe Biden with a collective sigh of relief. But while many celebrate Biden’s win, many still wonder if the possibility of another presidency that devalues global treaties and relationships related to protecting global health, the environment, and stemming nuclear proliferation is in America’s future.
How is the U.S. viewed abroad? What are the opportunities and challenges ahead for the next administration? Where are the biggest tensions in U.S. foreign relationships and diplomacy? Does the U.S. have an international legitimacy problem? The world has witnessed amazing leadership from women in other nations, especially during COVID — so what can the U.S. learn from that?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are special guests:
- Penelope Andrews is the president of the Law and Society Association and a professor of law at New York Law School, where she co-directs their Racial Justice Project. Andrews is a trainer for the Judicial Institute for Africa, and has served as an acting judge of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, as well as being an arbitrator in hearings on racial discrimination in South Africa. From 2016 to 2018, she served as the first Black dean of the University of Cape Town faculty of law and, from 2012 to 2015, she served as the first female dean of Albany Law School.
- David Kaye, former United Nations special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the independent board chair of the Global Network Initiative. He is the author of Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet and a professor of law at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
- Gregory Shaffer, chancellor’s professor of law at UCI, and director of the UCI Center on Globalization, Law and Society. He is former vice president of the American Society of International Law and a member of the board of editors of the American Journal of International Law, the Journal of International Economic Law, and Transnational Environmental Law. Shaffer is among the world’s leading scholars on international economic law and the World Trade Organization. His forthcoming book is called Emerging Powers and the World Trading System.
- Lyric Thompson, senior director of policy and advocacy at the International Center for Research on Women. Thompson leads the institution’s formulation of evidence-based policy recommendations and oversees her organization’s advocacy efforts with the U.S. government and internationally. Thompson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations Advisory Committee on Advancing Gender Equality in Foreign Affairs and a member of the Civil Society Strategic Planning and Leadership Group for the Global Forum for Gender Equality.
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COVID-19 has had an undeniable negative impact on the economy—an impact felt most deeply by women, especially women of color. Women are being pushed out of their jobs and there are significant barriers to pursuing new ones—from an imbalance in the division of household responsibilities, to stagnancy and job loss in women-dominated industries like retail, dining and the government sector.
What should be at the top of the economic agenda for the Biden-Harris administration? How should women fend for themselves in a COVID economy? What are the keys to negotiating for what women deserve?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Sandra Finley, president and CEO of the League of Black Women, a national organization that provides strategic leadership research to communicate the collective voices of Black Women with attention toward sustaining joyful living in families, communities and workplaces. Finley is also president of Praxis Leadership Institute and has lectured nationwide for Fortune 100 companies.
- Dr. Patricia Jones-Blessman, a licensed clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience as a clinician and administrator of mental health programs. Dr. Jones was the founder and president for the Institute for Psychodiagnostic Interventions and Services—one of only a few minority-owned, private sector psychological service corporations nationwide.
- Jennifer “JJ” Justice, an entertainment and live-experience executive known for her expertise in building artists’ careers and business portfolios by marrying art with commerce. The former attorney for Jay-Z, in 2019, JJ founded The Justice Dept, a management, strategy and legal firm that works with female entrepreneurs, executives, talent, brands and creatives to build and maximize their value focusing in the areas of tech, consumer product, finance, media, entertainment and fashion.
- Rachel Payne, managing director and head of innovation and technology at FullCycle and a technology executive, entrepreneur, investor, inventor and philanthropist. She is the CEO of FEM Inc. and a former executive at Google, as well as a startup mentor for Techstars and the University of California Berkeley Blockchain Xcelerator.
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On Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was elected the 46th president of the United States. Vice President-Elect Kamala Devi Harris made history becoming the first woman, the first Black person, and the first South Asian person to ever hold the office. This news resulted in widespread celebrations throughout the country and all across the world. Additionally, a significant number of down-ballot victories also mark historic milestones in U.S. politics—including countless firsts for people of color, LGBTQ+ candidates and women.
But while there is cause for celebration, there is more work to be done and more questions to be asked. Was the election free and fair across the nation? What did we learn from this election? Where and how did democracy flourish? What does the 2020 election mean for our democracy, our courts, and our state and federal agencies?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more is a very special guest: Vanita Gupta.
Gupta is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She is an experienced leader and litigator who has devoted her career to civil rights work. From 2014 to 2017, she served as acting assistant attorney general and head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Under her leadership, the division engaged in critical work in a number of areas, including advancing constitutional policing and criminal justice reform; prosecuting hate crimes and human trafficking; promoting disability rights; protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals; ensuring voting rights for all; and combating discrimination in education, housing, employment, lending and religious exercise.
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Dr. Goodwin and her guests answer some of your pressing election questions—and have a bit of fun. Let them keep you company (and keep you calm!) while you wait for results.
Joining host Michele Goodwin to keep you company, and to reflect on what this election means for our nation, are very special guests:
- Sandra Bernhard is a performer, actor, singer and author. She is currently starring as Nurse Judy in the Emmy nominated and Peabody Award winning show POSE on FX Networks. She is also the host of “Sandyland," a daily radio show on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy channel 102, for which she won a Gracie Award.
- Russ Feingold is the president of the American Constitution Society. He served as a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, as well as a state senator. He is the author of While America Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call for the Post-9/11 Era, contributes regularly to various publications, and appears frequently on MSNBC and CNN.
- Lizz Winstead is the co-creator and former head writer of "The Daily Show" and Air America Radio co-founder. She now dedicates her life not only to important comedic commentary, but also forging new ground as the founder of the Abortion Access Front, a NYC-based reproductive rights organization that she launched in 2015, which uses humor and outrage to expose anti-choice hypocrisy and to mobilize people across all 50 states.
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At the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, voting activist and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer described the violent injustice she and others had endured while living under the South's Jim Crow rules and fighting for the right to vote: "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
Over 50 years later, ahead of the 2020 election, we see record early voting across the country. Even so, serious efforts aimed at voter suppression persist, including curbing access to mail-in voting and shutting down polling locations.
So, what are the biggest threats to voting rights today? How is voter suppression showing up in the 2020 election? What can we do to ensure that our elections remain free and fair?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Clarke leads one of the nation’s most important national civil rights organizations in the pursuit of equal justice for all. She is the author of Barack Obama and African American Empowerment: The Rise of Black America’s New Leadership.
- Judge Glenda Hatchett, who served as senior attorney at Delta Airlines before becoming the chief presiding judge of Fulton County Georgia Juvenile Court in Atlanta. Her law firm, the Hatchett Firm, represented Philando Castille’s estate in the wake of his tragic death. She presides over the two-time Emmy-nominated courtroom series, Judge Hatchett, now in its 16th season. Most recently, she has returned to TV in her new television court series, The Verdict with Judge Hatchett.
- Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center—and the first Black woman to hold that title. She is an active participant on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly, and an organizer with Concerned Citizens for Justice. She has served on the National Council of the Student Environmental Action Coalition.
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Recently, Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, lashed out at the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which guaranteed marriage equality, calling it ruinous for religious liberty. In response, the New Yorker posed a sobering question: “Does Clarence Thomas now speak for the majority of the Supreme Court on LGBTQ Rights?"
The use of religious liberty to discriminate against LGBTQ people is nothing new. And marriage is not the only issue on the line. Among other things, the Trump administration has worked to discriminate against gay parents in foster care and adoption, take away vital healthcare under the ACA, and prevent transgender people from serving in the military.
The attacks are not limited to the federal government either: This year alone, there have been clear, coordinated efforts at the state level to legalize discrimination against people based on their LGBTQ identity.
What is the current legal landscape for LGBTQ rights and justice? What is the significance of the impending election for the rights of the LGBTQ community? What's at stake?
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:
- Jessica Clarke, professor of law, FedEx research professor and co-director of the George Barrett Social Justice Program at Vanderbilt University Law School. She studies constitutional and statutory guarantees of non-discrimination based on traits such as race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and disability.
- T. Mychael Rambo, a regional Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer. He also an accomplished residency artist and professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota.
- Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project and a nationally recognized expert on transgender rights. Strangio's work includes impact litigation, as well as legislative and administrative advocacy, on behalf of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV across the United States. Chase was counsel in the case of Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman whose historic lawsuit resulted in the landmark Supreme Court decision that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ workers.
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On January 15, 2020, Virginia became the critical 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA—a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that reads: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Virginia’s ratification raised important questions about the viability of an amendment that had been stymied for decades.
What does the promise of the ERA hold in the continued battle for equality and freedom? What roles have women of color played to secure the ERA? In the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, what is the modern platform for women’s equality?
Helping us to sort out these questions (and more) are very special guests:
- Jennifer Carroll Foy, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates who is running for governor in the state of Virginia. She joined the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017 where she led Virginia’s effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, passed legislation to combat Virginia’s teacher shortage, and voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians. She established the Virginia for Everyone PAC to help elect women, people of color and millennials to the Virginia General Assembly and was one of the first African American women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute.
- Ellie Smeal, the co-founder and president of the Feminist Majority and the Feminist Majority Foundation and former president of the National Organization for Women. She has led efforts for the economic, political and social equality and empowerment of women worldwide for over three decades.
- Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. She leads the Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative, and chairs the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, the Military Economic Development Council and the Illinois River Coordinating Council. Previously, she represented the 5th District in the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Julie Suk,a Florence Rogatz visiting professor of law at Yale Law School and professor of sociology, political science and liberal studies at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). She most recently published, "We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment" and is a frequent commentator in the media on legal issues affecting women.
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President Trump has appointed and confirmed a near record number of judges to the federal bench in four years. In fact, nearly one-third of all active federal judges on the U.S. appeals courts have been appointed by Trump. On the federal courts of appeal, the president has not appointed one African American and only one Latino judge.
These issues are magnified by Trump’s recent nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—a nomination made 38 days before the Election Day, during a time in which some voters across the country are already in the process of voting. The passing of Justice Ginsburg and the promise of confirmation hearing, even during COVID and while the president is under medical surveillance, has now caused an uproar.
How did we get here? And what can we do to bring balance back to the U.S. judicial system?
Helping us to sort out these questions are very special guests:
- Nan Aron, the founder and president of Alliance for Justice, the foremost progressive organization providing research and resources on federal judicial nominees. She is the author of Liberty and Justice for All: Public Interest Law in the 1980s and Beyond.
- Joan Biskupic, a full-time CNN legal analyst who has covered the Supreme Court for 25 years and is the author of several books on the judiciary. Before joining CNN in 2017, she was an editor-in-charge for legal affairs at Reuters, and the Supreme Court correspondent for the Washington Post and USA Today. She most recently published a biography of Chief Justice John Roberts (The Chief: The Life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts, spring 2019).
- Rick Perlstein, the author of the recent release Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980. He is a contributing writer at The Nation, former chief national correspondent for the Village Voice, and a former online columnist for the New Republic and Rolling Stone. His journalism and essays have appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times, and many other publications.
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On today’s show, we focus on the question: Can the president suspend the elections? The short answer: No. But while the law is clear, President Trump’s efforts to delay the elections, sow distrust in our democratic processes, and wreak havoc on the U.S. electoral process are already well underway.
On July 30, President Trump tweeted mail-in voting will make this year’s elections “the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history.” (In reality, mail-in voter fraud averages 0.0025 percent.) This, just months after he and others dismissed as ridiculous Democratic presidential nominee Joseph Biden’s warnings in April that Trump might “try to kick back the election somehow” or “come up with some rationale why it can’t be held.”
The president’s tweets and public comments raise serious questions about the integrity of the upcoming elections. For example, what are the ramifications of Trump suggestions that we suspend the election? Will access to mail-in ballots (or lack thereof) impact voter turnout? Can Trump invoke martial law if he loses the election? What are the possible threats to our democracy come November?
Helping us to sort out these questions are special guests:
- Karen J. Greenberg, the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, specializing in the intersection between national security policy, the rule of law and human rights. She is the host of "Vital Interests Podcast," the editor-in-chief of three online publications and has written and edited numerous books including: "Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State.”
- Prof. Rick Hasen, chancellor’s professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine and a nationally recognized expert in election law and campaign finance regulation. He is a CNN election 2020 analyst and co-author of leading casebooks in election law. He has authored over 100 articles on election law issues, published in numerous journals including the Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law Review and Supreme Court Review.
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. Congresswoman Sherrill serves as freshman whip for the New Democrat Coalition and sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. She is the chairwoman of the Environment Subcommittee for the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
- Prof. Stephen Vladeck, the A. Dalton Cross professor in law at the University of Texas School of Law and a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law and military justice. He is also the co-host of the popular and award-winning “National Security Law Podcast.” He is a CNN Supreme Court analyst and a co-author of Aspen Publishers’ leading national security law and counterterrorism law casebooks.
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On today’s show, we focus on going back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The beginning of the 2020 school year is nothing like before. The word “difficult” is an understatement—and it’s difficult for all: for teachers, for students, for parents, (especially mothers) and for our colleges and universities too. Meanwhile, economic strains on families are sky-high as many families face eviction, and affordable child care is out of reach.
Helping us to sort out questions related to schooling during pandemic and how we should think about these issues and more:
- Randi Weingarten is the president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO; and creator of AFT Innovation Fund, a groundbreaking initiative to support sustainable, innovative and collaborative education reform projects developed by members and their local unions.
- Rep. Katherine Clark represents the Fifth District of Massachusetts; her career in public service is driven by her commitment to helping children and families succeed; in Congress, she brings her experience as a former state senator, state representative and general counsel for the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, and policy chief for the state attorney general.
- Fatima Goss Graves is the CEO of the National Women’s Law Center; co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund; author of many articles and reports, including We Must Deal with K-12 Sexual Assault, and Unlocking Opportunity for African American Girls: A Call to Action for Educational Equity.
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From a frozen asylum system, huge camps on the Mexico border and family separation policies, to the worsening lack of healthcare and the aftereffects of COVID-19, Latinx communities are at a disadvantage both inside and outside U.S. borders. In this episode, we focus on events over the last few years greatly impacting Latinx communities: socially, economically and politically—as Trump administration immigration policies have resulted in child separation,huge camps on the Southern border, stalled immigration and much more.
Meanwhile, those held in detention centers face an added layer of challenges—ranging from lost children, to an increased risk of COVID infections. Are detainees seeking self-deportation to avoid contracting COVID? And what about sexual abuse? Despite numerous lawsuits and thousands of complaints filed against detention facilities staff, this staggering pattern of sexual abuse seems to continue in immigration detention centers.
Guests:
- Kevin Johnson, dean and Mabie-Apallas professor of public interest law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law. He is also the author of "How Did You Get to Be Mexican" and "Opening the Floodgates: Why America Needs to Rethink its Borders and Immigration Laws.”
- Domingo Garcia, attorney and national president of The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
- Mary Giovagnoli, senior counsel for legal strategy for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the former executive director of Refugee Council USA. She served as deputy assistant secretary for immigration policy in the Department of Homeland Security from January 2016 to January 2018.
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Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action to protect immigrant families.
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Tune in on September 8, 2020 for an important episode on immigration in the United States.
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In this episode, in the midst of the centennial anniversary of women's securing the right to vote, we focus on the 19th Amendment. The perpetual struggle for U.S. voting rights has been fraught with conflict, and the fight for women’s suffrage was no exception. Even after the 19th Amendment was passed, women of color were denied the opportunity to vote: Black women were kept from voting through insidious practices like poll taxes and long wait times (some which still exist today); Indigenous women, many of whom inspired the initial Euro-American push for women’s rights and suffrage, were not considered citizens; and Asian women could not naturalize for citizenship. In fact, until the mid-1950s, laws enacted by Congress—including the Page Act—made it very difficult for Asian women who immigrated to the U.S. to become citizens.
Because voting rights are central to our democracy, we devote this episode to the 19th Amendment, its history and the road ahead.
Helping us to understand the power and the promise of the vote and what this means for women’s empowerment are two very special guests:
- Sally Roesch Wagner is a writer, historian and director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center. She was awarded one of the first doctorates in the country for work in women’s studies (UC Santa Cruz). She is author of "The Women's Suffrage Movement”; "Sisters in Spirit: Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Influence on Early American Feminists"; and "We Want Equal Rights: How Suffragists Were Influenced by Native American Women.”
- Melanie Campbell is the executive director and CEO for the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation and a nationally recognized expert in civic engagement, election reform and coalition building. She is a convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Intergenerational Public Policy Network.
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In this episode, we focus on why #WeHaveHerBack. You heard it recently in the wake of Sen. Kamala Harris’s selection as the vice presidential candidate for the Democratic ticket. #WeHaveHerBack is as a powerful challenge to newsrooms to avoid sexism in media representation. Tina Tchen, president and CEO of Time’s Up Now, joins host Dr. Michele Goodwin to talk the importance of having Harris’s back—and other women candidates’ backs, too.
Today’s episode also focuses on women’s political leadership, starting with the urgent need to repeal the Helms Amendment. Dr. Goodwin is joined by two pathbreaking members of Congress—Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Barbara Lee—to discuss why women’s leadership has been central to forging political representation, equality and fighting for reproductive health, rights and justice—at home and abroad. Their leadership helps to put in context why the #WeHaveHerBack campaign is so important, and why women’s leadership matters.
This week, on the issues:
• Representative Barbara Lee represents California’s 13th district, which serves Oakland and the East Bay. She is the highest-ranking Black woman in Congress. She is also a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, serves as co-chair of the majority leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, co-chair of the Pro Choice Caucus, and is former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus.
• Representative Jan Schakowsky represents Illinois's 9th congressional district, which includes Chicago's North Side. She is the House senior chief deputy whip, chair of the Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus Providers and Clinics Task Force.
• Tina Tchen is president and CEO of Time’s Up Now. She is the former assistant to President Barack Obama and served as chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. She was also the executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.
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On this episode of On the Issues with Michele Goodwin, we review the 2019-2020 Supreme Court term. Since 1790, of the 113 individuals who have served on the Supreme Court, only four have been women. Similarly, in over 230 years, only three justices have been persons of color—two of whom presently serve on the Court. Under Trump, the vast majority of judges confirmed to the nation’s federal courts are white men. Thus, in over two hundred years, very little has changed in terms of the Court’s composition.
Where do women fit in? How can the Court evolve in recognizing the rights of women and marginalized groups when it doesn't reflect the actual makeup of the U.S.?
On this episode, we review the 2019-2020 Supreme Court term—which has been a roller coaster, leaving many to wonder about the Court’s commitment to equality, inclusion and nondiscrimination—despite decisions that appeared to be wins for vulnerable communities. For example, despite a win in June Medical on abortion rights, the Trump administration has gutted reproductive health policies put in place during the Nixon administration—such as Title X, which provides reproductive healthcare for the poorest Americans. As well, many concerned about racial equality view the Court as slipping in its regard for equal opportunity and the protection of due process for people of color.
Joining Dr. Michele Goodwin as we try to understand these issues are:
- Brigitte Amiri, deputy director at the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.
- Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and Jesse H. Choper distinguished professor of law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law
- Leah Litman, assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast.
- Franita Tolson, vice dean for faculty and academic affairs, and professor of law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
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On this special episode, we focus on toxic masculinity in the U.S., including online misogyny, and how it translates into real-world violence—highlighted most recently in the horrific murder of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, and the shooting of her husband Mark Anderl. The person assumed responsible for those tragedies is Roy Den Hollander, a self-proclaimed “men’s rights” activist—part of a growing movement of men who describe themselves as frustrated by women. Some members of this movement are also known as “incels.”
We also turn to the everyday harassment women experience—even in Congress, like in the case of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was accosted by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). Representative Yoho called her “disgusting,” “a “f***ing bitch,” and at first denied it. Rep. Yoho claimed his “passion” got the better of him and offered what many would describe as a rambling floor speech in which his daughters and wife were centered. However, he did not apologize. For some women, this looked like typical workplace misogyny they endure all the time.
What lessons can be drawn from these incidents and others? Has toxic masculinity gone too far?
Joining me to talk about incels, the ways in which racism intersect with misogyny in the U.S. and on the internet and the antifeminist movement are three special guests.
• Jill Filipovic is a columnist for CNN, a contributor to the New York Times, a lawyer and the author of the forthcoming "OK BOOMER, LET'S TALK: How My Generation Got Left Behind,” as well as "The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness."
• Saida Grundy, PhD., is an assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University. Her research explores the intersection of race with masculinity, rape culture and campus sexual assault. Professor Grundy is author of the forthcoming book "Manhood Within the Margins: Promise, Peril and Paradox at the Historically Black College for Men."
• Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed educator, author and scholar-activist on issues of gender, race and violence. Through his books, documentaries, public speaking and articles, Katz has tackled issues of masculinity, racism and violence.
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On today’s show, we focus on June Medical v. Russo and the future of abortion rights—a case where the Supreme Court struck down a challenge to abortion rights in Louisiana, a state in which reproductive health care access is already fraught. The law would have required all doctors performing abortions to obtain hospital admitting privileges. Even though this case has put such challenges to rest, lawmakers in Louisiana have effectively undercut women’s access to reproductive healthcare, causing clinic closures and more. As our guests make clear, Roe is not enough.
However, it’s not just abortion rights or pregnancy at stake, with regard to women’s health. Reproductive justice matters, and bringing that lens into these conversations is urgent. The rise in criminalization of pregnant women for failing to comport to the state’s standards for behavior during pregnancy is alarming. Women have been threatened with arrest for refusing C-sections, falling down steps and attempting suicide during pregnancy. Where does this end? What should we be concerned about? What’s the future of Americans being able to exercise control their own reproductive futures, given the aggressive attacks at the state and federal levels? We close considering how organizations, doctors, lawyers and activists are fighting back.
Joining us for this episode are:
-Yamani Hernandez, executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds.
-Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
-Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., the main plaintiff in June Medical v. Russo.
-Mary Ziegler, a Stearns Weaver Miller professor at Florida State University College of Law specializing in the legal history of reproduction, the family, sexuality and the Constitution
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On today’s show, we focus on rebuilding America from the ground up. What will it take? What issues should we be concerned about, which are not making the news? For example, despite what appear to be recent triumphs at the Supreme Court with regard to LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights and DACA, many argue those victories are thin and fragile. Beyond that, as we know, underlying challenges persist, including pay inequality between men and women; Americans living beneath the poverty line without a living wage; lack of access to affordable health care; and a warming planet. Most painfully, our democracy is at stake—clearly evidenced by voter suppression.
Helping us sort out how we rebuild America and should think about these issues (and more) are two very special guests: Congresswoman Katie Porter and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun.
Congresswoman Porter represents California’s 45th Congressional district, which includes Orange County. An expert in business and consumer law, she is also a law professor (on leave) at the University of California, Irvine.
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun was the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate, where she served from 1993-1999. During the 20th century, she was one of only two African Americans to serve in the Senate. Subsequently, she was appointed and confirmed as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.
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On Today’s inaugural show, we focus on policing in America, examining race, sex, and violence. We specifically take up women and policing, elevating the stories and experiences of women. It is a perspective often absent from mainstream conversation. Even in recent weeks as the nation has erupted in protests related to the tragic murder of George Floyd, some might argue that the killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical technician in Louisville, Kentucky was an afterthought, even though her death too was no less inhumane, violent, and preventable.
Deirdre Fishel, Independent Film Maker, Women In Blue (2020)
Laura Goodman Retired Deputy Chief of Police (Minnesota) and former Ombudsman for Crime Victims for the State of Minnesota
Anne Li Kringen, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Department of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven, Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee
L. Song Richardson, Criminal law expert and Dean, University California, Irvine School of Law
It will be an episode you will not want to miss!
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TEASER: Why are women being left out of the conversations regarding policing in America? Why are they sidelined as the victims of police violence, including Breonna Taylor? In law enforcement, why are women not recruited and retained? How has this influenced policing and violence in America? Let's fill in the story. Tune in and join us for our first episode, airing Tuesday, June 30, 2020. We will be joined by:
Deirdre Fishel, Independent Film Maker, Women In Blue (2020)
Laura Goodman Retired Deputy Chief of Police (Minnesota) and former Ombudsman for Crime Victims for the State of Minnesota
Anne Li Kringen, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Department of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven, Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee
L. Song Richardson, Criminal law expert and Dean, University California, Irvine School of Law
It will be an episode you will not want to miss!
Support the show (http://msmagazine.com)
On The Issues With Michele Goodwin at Ms. magazine isa show where we report, rebel, and tell it like it is. On this show, we center your concerns about rebuilding our nation and advancing the promise of equality. Join Michele Goodwin as she and guests tackle the most compelling issues of our times.
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