Rights This Way

President Trump is waging war on free speech and academic freedom. And too often, colleges and universities have waved the white flag. Over and over, places of higher education have given in to the Trump administration’s outrageous demands and allowed the federal government to have an unprecedented say in what gets taught and what people can say on college campuses. New York City’s Columbia University is at the center of Trump’s attempts to destroy America’s colleges.Few have had a better seat to watch this assault on our cherished freedoms than Professor Katherine Franke. Franke is a former tenured law professor at Columbia who was put under investigation by the university in 2024 in the midst of the school’s crackdown on pro-Palestine speech. Then in January, she entered into an agreement with Columbia to leave the school after 25 years as a distinguished professor.Few people have spoken out with more passion, clarity, and insight about the ongoing siege on academic freedom. On this episode, we speak with Professor Franke about her experience at Columbia, the climate of censorship, fear, and repression at Columbia and schools across the country, and efforts to fight back against Trump’s attacks.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to rights this way. It will help more people find this podcast.Guest: Katherine Franke https://www.instagram.com/profkfranke/Resources:Follow Professor Katherine Franke: https://www.instagram.com/profkfranke/Inside Columbia’s Crackdown on Pro-Palestine Free Speech: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/inside-columbias-crackdown-on-pro-palestinian-free-speechMahmoud Khalil in His Own Words: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/mahmoud-khalil-in-his-own-wordsWhat are the Stakes of Mahmoud Khalil’s Case: https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/what-are-the-stakes-of-mahmoud-khalils-caseNYCLU Letter: Columbia Should Not Capitulate to Trump: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/letter-columbia-should-not-capitulate-to-trumpFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

A legion of far-right activists is determined to purge school libraries of books they don't like. A huge percentage of the books they want to get rid of are about race or racism, feature people of color, or include LGBTQ characters. This is a nationwide movement, and New York is not immune. Several New York school districts are facing calls to ban books.On this episode, we talk to New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron. One of Kalynn’s books, “Cinderella is Dead”, has been targeted by several book ban campaigns. She talks with us about why she wrote the story and why she thinks it’s important for students of all backgrounds to have a diverse set of books to choose from.Then we chat with an NYCLU expert about book bans in New York and legislation that’s on Gov. Hochul’s desk that would help combat them.Guests:Kalynn Bayron, New York Times and Indie bestselling authorEmma Hulse, Education Counsel, NYCLUResources:Check out Kalynn’s books: https://bookshop.org/shop/bloomsburyusaTell Gov. Hochul to sign Freedom to Read: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/fight-freedom-readMore from Emma: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/ny-schools-are-banning-books-heres-what-you-can-do-about-itMore on Freedom to Read: https://www.nyclu.org/uploads/2024/05/Freedom-to-Read-Act-Legislative-Support-Memo-2526_04.14.25.pdfFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

In its recent decision in the case, United States v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical care does not violate the Constitution and can remain in effect. The decision is a devastating loss for trans rights and risks emboldening other states to advance similar bans.The decision comes as the Trump administration and its allies in hostile state governments have made clear they aim to exclude transgender people from public life and eliminate access to abortion across the country.On this episode, we talk with Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer who argued against the Tennessee law in the Skrmetti case. He’ll explain the flawed logic behind the conservative majority’s decision, what it means and what its nationwide implications are.Then we chat with two NYCLU experts who will explain what the decision means for New Yorkers and what Gov. Hochul can do to shore up access to gender-affirming and abortion care in our state.Please download, rate, review and subscribe to rights this way. It will help more people find this podcast.Guests:Chase Strangio, Co-Director of the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV ProjectAllie Bohm, NYCLU senior policy counselJenna Lauter, NYCLU policy counselResources:Tell Gov. Hochul to sign the bills we discuss on this episode:https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-gender-affirming-careACLU response to Skrmetti decision:https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-lambda-legal-respond-to-supreme-court-ruling-in-u-s-v-skrmettiNYCLU response:https://www.nyclu.org/press-release/nyclu-on-supreme-court-ruling-upholding-tennessees-ban-on-gender-affirming-careFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

On this episode, we hear from Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud is a lawful permanent resident who was kidnapped by the Trump administration and held in detention because of his advocacy for Palestinian Rights.After more than 100 days in detention, Mahmoud is finally where he belongs: at home with his family in New York City. In this episode – which is a collaboration between Rights This Way and the ACLU’s podcast, At Liberty – At Liberty host W. Kamau Bell speaks with Mahmoud about his newly reacquired freedom, fatherhood, his wife Noor and what he wants everyone to remember from his experience taking on the Trump administration.The NYCLU and ACLU are part of the legal team representing Mahmoud against Trump's unprecedented assault on his free speech.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.The NYCLU and ACLU are part of Mahmoud’s legal team that includes the ACLU of New Jersey, the ACLU of Louisiana, Dratel & Lewis, the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, Van Der Hout LLP, and Washington Square Legal Services.Resources:https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/what-are-the-stakes-of-mahmoud-khalils-casehttps://www.nyclu.org/commentary/after-more-than-100-days-mahmoud-khalil-is-finally-homehttps://www.aclu.org/podcast/one-on-one-with-mahmoud-khalilFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

We might not realize it, but we are swimming in a sea of what this episode’s guest calls Copaganda. The way media outlets decide what stories to cover, which experts to quote, and even what supposedly objective words to use in news stories, profoundly impact how we view the world we live in.In his book, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News, our guest Alec Karakatsanis breaks down what Copaganda is, why media outlets and powerful figures deploy it, and how it shapes our understanding of crime rates, what types of crimes matter, and what the solutions are for achieving public safety.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.Resources:Copaganda: https://thenewpress.org/books/copaganda/Follow Alec’s organization Civil Rights Coprs: https://civilrightscorps.org/Commentary: Hero-worship of Police is Failing Us https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/hero-worship-police-failing-usPodcast: Why Can’t We Stop Backtracking on Bail Reform? https://www.nyclu.org/podcast/s2-ep-1-why-cant-we-stop-backtracking-on-bail-reformFor more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

Some of us might think that the fight for trans people’s right to play sports is new. But a recent book, “The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports” delves into the history of this debate that has lasted the better part of a century at least.Now the Trump administration is threatening states with funding cuts and other sanctions if they allow trans people to play sports on teams that align with their gender identity. It’s just one element of Trump’s full-scale war on trans people’s existence. But as we’ll hear, these types of campaigns have a deep-rooted history with ties to the Nazis.In an interview that we recorded before Trump took office, we talk with the book’s author, Michael Waters about this history and what it tells us about our current efforts to secure trans people’s rights in athletics and beyond.Please download, rate, review, and subscribe to Rights This Way. It will help more people find this podcast.Resources:The Other Olympians: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374609818/theotherolympians/NYCLU Roller Rebels case: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/stand-trans-athletes-nassau-countyTrump’s attack on trans athletes: https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/inside-trumps-full-force-approach-to-ban-trans-athletes-and-dei-in-schools/2025/04For more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcastsFollow NYCLU on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.