Podcast
Rights This Way
Hosted by NYCLU · EN
Rights This Way is a podcast from the New York Civil Liberties Union (the ACLU of New York State) focused on the civil rights and liberties issues that impact New Yorkers most. Through interviews and lively conversations with experts inside and outside the NYCLU, we discuss the legal and policy implications of some of the most important issues facing our state.
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13episodes
Episodes
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Trans Athletes, Trump, and the Right to Play Sports
May 8, 202500:33:19Tap to summarizeSome 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What are the Stakes of Mahmoud Khalil’s Case?
Apr 17, 202500:39:12Tap to summarizeThe Trump administration has made clear that if you dare to disagree with the president, you will be punished. That was the message when ICE agents illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate student at Columbia University, in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian human rights. He was separated from his wife, an American citizen, who is nine months pregnant, and shipped from New York to New Jersey and then to Louisiana. Mr. Khalil has never been accused, charged, or convicted of any crime. He was ripped from his home, detained and threatened with deportation in retaliation for his political beliefs. His case represents a clear attempt by Trump to silence dissent, chill speech, take over our universities, and attack our freedom. And he is not alone. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked hundreds of visas of students and visitors for similar reasons. On this episode, we’ll talk about the details and the stakes of Mr. Khalil’s case – in which the NYCLU is co-counsel. Then in a separate segment, we’ll get into the paper-thin legal theory the Trump administration is wielding to justify detaining and trying to deport Mr. Khalil.Mr. Khalil’s legal team includes the New York Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU, the ACLU of New Jersey, the City University of New York’s CLEAR clinic, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Alina Das of Washington Square Legal Services, Van Der Hout LLP and Amy Greer of Dratel + Lewis. Image credit: Gaby Díaz-Vendrell / Columbia Daily Spectator Guests:Donna Lieberman: NYCLU Executive DirectorBobby Hodgson: NYCLU Assistant Legal DirectorAlina Das: professor, immigrant rights attorney, and co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law. Co-counsel on Mr. Khalil’s civil rights case. Resources:More on Mr. Khalil’s case: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/mahmoud-khalils-case-is-a-canary-in-a-coal-minehttps://www.nyclu.org/commentary/mahmoud-khalil-is-just-the-first-victim-of-trumps-unconstitutional-crackdownMore on the NY for All Act: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/new-york-all-actTell Gov. Hochul to sign the New York Health Information Privacy Act: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-gov-hochul-safeguard-abortion-accessFor 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 Twitter and Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We Know How to Solve the Mental Health Crisis. Will We Actually Do it?
Mar 27, 202501:09:32Tap to summarizeIt happens like clockwork. A person suffering from serious mental health problems is accused of a heinous and tragic crime committed against a stranger. Then the calls come from law enforcement, politicians, and right-wing tabloids to lock more people up. Rinse and repeat. This all happens despite the fact that people living with mental health challenges are 11 times more likely to be the victims of crime and violence than to commit an act of violence.It is undeniably true that the status quo for how we address issues like homelessness and serious mental health challenges is untenable. But the response must not be to simply lock more people away. That doesn’t make us safer, and it doesn’t solve the root problems that lead to these devastating events.Everyone deserves to have safe and stable housing, and we should all be able to get the health care we need when we need it. But for this to happen, we need meaningful, comprehensive, and paradigm-shifting new investments in affordable housing and our mental health care system.If we don’t see these types of commitments from our state leaders soon, we are headed for incredibly dark days, especially with President Trump in office who promised to disappear homeless people into ill-defined “tent cities.”On this episode, we talk about why our current approach to dealing with homelessness and serious mental health issues doesn’t work and what needs to be done to truly fix these problems with Harvey Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery and Beth Haroules, NYCLU Senior Staff Attorney.Resources:Follow The Alliance for Rights and Recovery: https://rightsandrecovery.org/The Status Quo on Homelessness and Mental Health Care is Untenable: https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/the-status-quo-on-homelessness-and-mental-health-care-is-untenableNYCLU Kings County case: https://www.nyclu.org/court-cases/mental-hygiene-legal-services-v-nyc-hhc-challenging-squalid-conditions-abuse-brooklyns-kingsThe Dangers of Kendra’s Law: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/policy/one-pagers/dangers-kendras-lawDaniel’s Law: https://www.danielslawny.org/Links to definitions of key terms mentioned in the podcast:Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team (INSET) program: https://greatermentalhealth.org/inset/Safe Option Support Teams: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2023/sos/index.htmlClubhouses: https://clubhouse-intl.org/what-we-do/what-clubhouses-do/Crisis Respite Centers: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/crisis-emergency-services-respite-centers.page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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