Just Solutions

The Supreme Court is considering two cases that will have reaching implications for voting rights. Merrill v. Milligan, out of Alabama centers on accusations of racial gerrymandering by the state in an effort to dilute the Black vote. Gerrymandering is also an issue in the case Moore v. Harper, out of North Carolina. At stake is the so-called independent state legislature theory. Plaintiffs in the case say North Carolina has used this theory to dodge a state court ruling that struck down gerrymandered voting maps. Our guest today is Sailor Jones, the Associate Director of Common Cause in North Carolina, one of the groups involved in Moore v. Harper.

The Supreme Court is considering two cases that will have reaching implications for voting rights. Merrill v. Milligan, out of Alabama centers on accusations of racial gerrymandering by the state in an effort to dilute the Black vote. Gerrymandering is also an issue in the case Moore v. Harper, out of North Carolina. At stake is the so-called independent state legislature theory. Plaintiffs in the case say North Carolina has used this theory to dodge a state court ruling that struck down gerrymandered voting maps. Our guest today is Sailor Jones, the Associate Director of Common Cause in North Carolina, one of the groups involved in Moore v. Harper.

The Supreme Court is considering a case that could upend the EPA's ability to protect our water from toxic pollution. This is part of a wave of efforts to undermine environmental regulations in the court. The decision in the case will have far-reaching consequences for the Clean Water Act. Our guest today is Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President for Programs at Earthjustice, which has filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the case Sackett v. the Environmental Protection Agency. Their clients are 18 Native American tribes who want water protection. Sankar says we need judges who recognize the value of our federal environmental laws, the importance of sound science, and the proper role of the judiciary. 

The Supreme Court is considering a case that could upend the EPA's ability to protect our water from toxic pollution. This is part of a wave of efforts to undermine environmental regulations in the court. The decision in the case will have far-reaching consequences for the Clean Water Act. Our guest today is Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President for Programs at Earthjustice, which has filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the case Sackett v. the Environmental Protection Agency. Their clients are 18 Native American tribes who want water protection. Sankar says we need judges who recognize the value of our federal environmental laws, the importance of sound science, and the proper role of the judiciary. 

Childhood poverty is on the decline. New research shows that it  fell by 59 percent from 1993 to 2019. Despite this historic progress, disparities remain. Black and Latino children are about three times as likely as white children to be poor. Analysis from the non-partisan group Child Trends says the social safety net and a combination of economic factors were largely responsible for the decline. So what policies need to be put in place to maintain this progress? Our guest today is Dr. Renee Ryberg, a research scientist with Child Trends who says our work to end child poverty is far from over.

The water crisis in Jackson Mississippi, left a predominately Black city of hundred and fifty thousand people, without access to clean water. Now Mississippi's Republican Governor says privatizing the city's water system is on the table. The situation in Jackson has shone a spotlight on what many are calling a legacy of environmental racism. Our guest today Arielle King, a lawyer, and environmental justice advocate, says the history of racial segregation in this country has contributed profoundly to the environmental injustices we see now.

With the midterm elections approaching and ongoing efforts to suppress the vote, voting rights groups around the country are working hard to make sure all eligible voters can cast a ballot. Some of the voter suppression laws include expanded voter ID requirements. Thirty-four states have some form of ID requirement at the polls. Seven states have strict photo ID laws. That means voters must present a government-issued photo ID in order to cast a regular ballot. But millions of Americans don't have this form of ID which can be costly to obtain. These are more often than not, voters of color. The group Spread the Vote is helping people in these states obtain the IDs they need to cast a ballot. Our guest today is founder and executive director of Spread the Vote Kat Calvin.

Dr. Arun Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and is a longtime peace activist and author. We discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Dr. Gandhi and get his thoughts on this crisis as well as the global peace movement. Additionally, we will share his clear understanding of how we can all be the change we … Continued

Ongoing events like extreme heat and floods resulting from climate change are disproportionately impacting poor communities and communities of color. And with temperatures continuing to rise these disparities will increase. So how can urban planners mitigate these inequalities and what can be done to help already marginalized communities in the face of the climate crisis? Our guest today is Vivek Shandas, a professor of geography at Portland State University who co-authored a study that shows a direct connection between racist urban housing policies like red-lining, and extreme heat.

Antoni Fernandez, also known as “Amar” is a Brazilian human rights Activist with thirty years experience with recognized socio/environmental projects of forest and river preservation in the Amazon/Atlantic Rainforests in Brazil and Central America.  Foreign Mission Liaison for Land Resource acquisition and management, and Latin America Chair member of the UN Human Rights Council. Currently establishing … Continued

We discuss the movement around rank choice voting to the US election system. Currently Alaska and Maine and about 50 municipalities around the country use rank choice voting in elections. Our guest is Nathan Lockwood, Executive Director of Rank the Vote, a national advocacy group that seeks to educate people about rank choice voting. This episode was recorded at Netroots Nation 2022 in Pittsburgh.

How have race and class shaped our cities and our schools? That's the question being asked by the award-winning podcast School Colors.  Now in its second season, the acclaimed documentary series looks at the issues of race, class and power and how they play out in public schools in New York. Our guest today is … Continued

The recent Supreme Court overturning of Roe V Wade and the numerous abortion bans that have come in its wake have left many wondering whats next for reproductive rights. President of the National Organization for Women Christian Nunes says the fight must turn to the local, state and regional levels, with support for abortion rights candidates and ramping up pressure on state legislatures to act. NOW has launched a virtual, campaign training program to teach participants how to run for office.

Several states have passed laws that forbid discrimination based on hair texture and hair styles. This discrimination particularly impacts Black people, especially Black women and girls in schools and workplaces which ban hair styles such as locs, braids and twists. A new documentary Back to Natural looks at the way that race, identity and hair are all related. The film was directed by our guest New York City based Clinical Psychologist Gillian Scott-Ward, who was inspired by the work she was doing in her clinical practice and her own drive to go natural.

The Big Lie about election fraud in 2020 continues to permeate and threatens to undermine our entire democracy. The reality is election experts say that mail-in voting is safe. Our guests today are Amber McReynolds, former Denver Elections Director and former chief executive of the National Vote at Home Institute. She has just been sworn in as the only female Governor of the Postal Service.  Also joining us is Jesse Grace, one of the filmmakers behind a new documentary Democracy vs. the Big Lie: The Truth about Mail-In Voting. The film looks at how Colorado has led the way in secure voting by mail and how former President Donald Trump attacked that system before and after the 2020 election.

Marginalized communities have been fighting for decades to have their stories told accurately and fairly by the media. While digital and social media platforms can offer opportunities for communities to take control of the narrative, they're also spaces of misinformation and big tech control. Groups like Media Justice are fighting for communities to have access to media to tell their own stories with the understanding that media narratives can shape public policy. They're campaigning for open and affordable internet, and are raising awareness of the surveillance of Black activists on social media. Our guest today is Eteng Ettah, the Narrative Director at MediaJustice. 

The Poor People's Campaign is holding a moral march on Washington and to the polls on June 18, calling on elected officials to make real policies to fully address poverty and low wealth from the bottom up. The event on June 18 is the culmination of months of organizing and rallies in communities around the country. Angela Montalvo, an organizer with the Poor People's Campaign in Nebraska is a disabled army veteran. She's one of the more than 32,000 veterans in Nebraska with incomes less than $35,000 a year. Angela says we must fight poverty and not the poor.

The Supreme Court looks poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and many states around the country are already passing what are effectively bans on abortion. In communities where clinics remain open, volunteer escorts shepherd patients safely to clinics to receive care in the face of harassment from protestors. Author Lauren Rankin writes about these everyday … Continued

The country is reeling from yet another school shooting and gun reform advocates are once again calling on Congress to take meaningful action to stop the epidemic of gun violence. A majority of Americans favor some type of gun safety regulation; however, a minority of Congress continues to block meaningful legislation.  Tom Mauser, whose son … Continued

The World Bank says global energy prices will soar over 50% this year. Low-income households are hit the hardest as they spend three times more of their income on energy costs than non-low-income households. One movement that is working to tackle this energy burden and the climate crisis is energy democracy – taking energy generation … Continued

What's the future for democracy in Florida?  Gov. Ron DeSantis is rarely out of the national news. From signing bills that restrict discussions on gender, sexual orientation, and race in public schools, to efforts to restrict abortion access. Now a new congressional map, which was proposed by DeSantis himself will dilute the power of Black voters in the state.  Our guest today is Dwight Bullard, former state senator and senior advisor to Florida Rising, one of the groups that have filed a lawsuit challenging Florida's new congressional map. So what's happening in Florida, and why should the rest of the country be paying attention? 

Earth Day 2022 comes at a time of dire warnings for the future of our planet. The latest UN Climate report warns that carbon emissions need to shrink by 43% by the end of this decade or we risk being hit by "unprecedented heatwaves, terrifying storms, and widespread water shortages".  But world leaders have failed to take the action needed. Earthday.org is mobilizing people and businesses in actions around the world, and they're calling for real racial, economic, and environmental justice. Our guest today is Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network.

The US criminal justice system is rife with inequality but there is one area that critics say is particularly bad, that is the misdemeanor system. An estimated 13 million misdemeanors are filed each year in the US. People arrested for minor crimes often lack lawyers, have their cases processed in mere minutes, and are punished long before they are convicted for crimes as lowly as jaywalking. This system traps the innocent and punishes the poor.  Our guest Alexandra Natapoff, has written about this in her book Punishment without Crime”. The book serves as the inspiration for a new documentary from Brave New Films, Racially Charged. 

A wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation is sweeping across the country. From Florida's don't say gay bill which bans "classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity" in early grades to numerous states attempting to outlaw gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Human Rights Campaign are tracking more than 200 anti-LGBTQ+ equality bills around the country and they say the number keeps growing. Our guest today is Cathryn Oakley, HRC's State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel.  She focuses on passing non-discrimination laws at the state and local levels and combating anti-LGBTQ legislation in state legislatures.

Ukraine's leading climate scientist has said the human-induced climate crisis and the war against Ukraine have direct connections and the same roots: our dependence on fossil fuels. This of course is not the only conflict with connections to energy resources. Our guest today  Michael  Klare has examined this connection for many years. He is professor emeritus of peace and world-security studies at Hampshire College, defense correspondent for the Nation magazine,  and author of numerous books including All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon's Perspective on Climate Change, and Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum.

In 2015 the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite went viral in response to the lack of diversity in the nominations and prompted industry wide discussions on the issue.  But it's not just on screen where a lack of diversity is problematic, behind the scenes there are still significant inequities. Daisy González is a content specialist with Free the Work, and Pamala Buzick Kim is the Executive Director of the nonprofit that is focused on equitable representation behind the lens.

Access to abortion is declining in an increasing number of states. The Texas Supreme Court has now effectively shut down a federal challenge to the state's ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. It's the most restrictive abortion law in the country and other states are following suit. Florida's legislature passed a bill that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and in Kentucky, the state House has voted to pass new restrictions that could effectively shut down clinics in the state. Our guest today is Amanda Allen, Senior Counsel and Director with the Lawyering Project, one of the organizations that has been challenging the Texas abortion ban in the courts.

This week on Just Solutions, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, how is the media covering the war? The hypocrisy of coverage of this war compared to other wars is being laid bare. In contrast to the coverage of civilian casualties in Ukraine, there has been scant coverage of civilian death when it was the U.S. military launching the invasions.  So how can the mainstream media do a better job in covering conflicts and giving much-needed context? Our guest today is author and media critic Jeff Cohen, founding director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College, founder of the media watch group FAIR. His recent article in Common Dreams examines how major American media outlets oppose military aggression… unless the United States is doing it.

President Joe Biden has nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. The historic announcement means judge Brown Jackson could be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court. Civil rights groups have welcomed the nomination. Our guest today is Holli Holliday, president of Sisters Lead Sisters Vote, an advocacy group that has pushed for a Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Holli Holliday says that representation on the court matters. “Justices have ruled on every aspect of our lives. Decisions have legalized school segregation and later school integration; same-sex marriage; and woman's reproductive right to an abortion.” 

The Black Agenda, Bold Solutions for a Broken System is a new collection of essays written by Black scholars addressing a variety of issues from the climate crisis, education, healthcare, the criminal justice system and more. The book is edited by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, co-founder of the Sadie Collective, a non-profit that addresses the underrepresentation of Black women in economics and finance. In the introduction to the book Anna writes the Black Agenda is a love letter to Black experts whose work often goes unnoticed, especially in areas of public discourse that disproportionately impact Black life.  

The battle over voting rights continues across the country with many states grappling with redistricting that disenfranchises voters of color. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Alabama can reinstate a Congressional map that a lower court found to dilute the strength of Black voters. Gerrymandering is also an issue in North Carolina where the state's supreme court ruled that partisan Republican efforts to redraw congressional and state legislative maps were unconstitutional. Our guest today is Dr. Aimy Steele, founder and executive director of the New North Carolina Project, a non-partisan group that is working to make sure communities of color are not left out of the political process and have their votes count.

The non-profit Zinn Education Project has released a new report that shows that the teaching of Reconstruction in schools is inadequate or non-existent in 90 percent of states. Reconstruction is one of the most significant times in the history of this country. It offered incredible possibilities for economic equity and progress for multiracial democracy, but that promise was crushed by white supremacists. Our guest today is Jesse Hagopian, a high school teacher in Seattle and co-editor of the books Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice, and Teaching for Black Lives. He says “ignorance about Reconstruction upholds white supremacy.”.

Congress has failed to pass federal voting rights legislation which would have strengthened access to the ballot for all Americans. Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to push the Big Lie of a stolen election and numerous state legislatures are passing laws that undermine the right to vote. So what can be done, particularly with the mid term elections looming later this year? The Brennan Center for Justice is one of the national organizations working hard to defend voting rights. Sean Morales-Doyle is the Center's Acting Director of Voting Rights & Elections. He joins us today to discuss what's next for voting rights.

After the MLK holiday, activists gathered in Washington DC calling for the passage of federal voting rights legislation. Among them are students who have been on a hunger strike in support of the Freedom to Vote Act. They are part of a nationwide #hungerstrikefordemocracy. Todays guests are from Un-PAC, a nonpartisan youth-led organization that is working to get The Freedom to Vote Act passed. Brandon Ortega, a student at Arizona State University who has participated in the national hunger strike, and Adrien Horton, an Un-PAC organizer. We spoke with them while they were in Washington DC as part of the actions calling for the passage of the John Lewis Act. We spoke just before all 50 Republican senators used the filibuster to end debate on the bill, stopping it from advancing. All 50 Republicans and two Democrats, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, subsequently voted to preserve the filibuster.