In this episode, we explore the harms of the Trump Administration’s “unleashing” of law enforcement and what that means for immigration enforcement and policing. As ICE raids and deportations increase, local police departments are being pressured to take on immigration enforcement duties. The lines between public safety and federal immigration policy are blurred, and entire communities are living in fear. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is rolling back key oversight mechanisms, like consent...
May 29, 2025•53 min•Season 8Ep. 4
April 1 was the commemoration of Census Day, but the numbers that shape our country are under attack. From erasing critical datasets on government websites to revoking the census practice of counting noncitizens, the Trump Administration’s actions threaten democracy and economic stability. These changes to how we count people will impact everyday lives. Undercounts can mean federal funding losses for schools, hospitals, and other community resources; they can create congressional districts that ...
Apr 29, 2025•53 min•Season 8Ep. 3
On the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we explore the deep connection between education and voting rights—two pillars of democracy that have long been intertwined. For decades, education determined one’s access to the polls, as literacy tests and other barriers were used to disenfranchise Black voters. Today, attacks on curriculum, book bans, and misinformation continue to shape political participation, particularly for young and marginalized communities. And education itself is on the ballot...
Apr 01, 2025•52 min•Season 8Ep. 2
In this episode we will tackle how to respond to the new administration’s early attacks on civil rights. With a wave of executive actions already rolling back key protections—harming immigrants, undermining the federal workforce, and dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—we will break down what this means for communities across the country and, more importantly, how we fight back. We will explore the role of grassroots mobilization as the first line of resistance, discuss h...
Feb 27, 2025•56 min•Season 8Ep. 1
When season seven started in January of 2024, we set out to explore the progress and challenges in building a more equitable society. Anchored by milestone anniversaries -- Brown v. Board of Education (70th), Freedom Summer (60th), and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (60th) -- we discussed judicial diversity, justice reform, education, and voting rights, among other issues. Reflecting on these themes months later, we see glimmers of progress but are reminded that the work of building an America as ...
Dec 17, 2024•47 min•Season 7Ep. 13
In this episode, we dive into the post-election political and policy landscape, analyzing how recent election outcomes will impact the future of civil rights in America. Our guest experts will discuss anticipated agendas from the White House and 119th Congress. They will unpack the major policy shifts, exploring potential executive and legislative actions that may impact voting rights, reproductive rights, criminal legal reform, and other civil rights. Guests will consider the potential for new ...
Nov 20, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 12
In this episode, we sit down with Khalid Pitts, Executive Vice Preside of Campaigns and Programs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to discuss the "And Still I Vote" campaign. Just days out from presidential election, Pod for the Cause continues the conversation about protecting and preserving the right to vote. We discuss the origin story of "And Still I Vote", which is an effort to show up for our communities, claim our power, and realize the full promise of our democracy....
Oct 29, 2024•14 min•Season 7Ep. 11
With the historic and high stakes 2024 presidential election upon us, Americans must be vigilant in protecting their right to vote. Modern day voter suppression takes on various forms. It can look like voter roll purges, which often disenfranchise people of color and other marginalized groups. It can be the dangerous spread of misinformation and disinformation, which aims to confuse or deter voters from participating. This episode explores how these tactics have been used in recent elections and...
Oct 11, 2024•43 min•Season 7Ep. 10
This episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reflecting on its profound impact in dismantling legalized segregation, securing voting rights, and expanding protections against discrimination. It explores the victories it represented for marginalized communities and how it catalyzed further reforms in education, housing, and employment. As we celebrate this anniversary, however, we also dive into the ongoing challenges to civil rights. We examine new threats to a...
Sep 26, 2024•45 min•Season 7Ep. 9
In this episode commemorating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, we delve into the pivotal 1964 campaign that aimed to register African American voters in Mississippi and the Deep South and challenge systemic racial barriers. We will explore the courageous efforts of activists, the profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing struggle for voting rights in America. Through conversation with advocates and activists, as well as historians and academics, we will reflect on the ...
Jul 26, 2024•42 min•Season 7Ep. 8
June has been designated a month of awareness for several civil rights causes and constituencies. From LGBTQ Pride and Stonewall to Caribbean American Heritage and Juneteenth, the month reminds us of our ongoing efforts to achieve an America as good as its ideals. And as June is also designated Black Music Appreciation Month, we know that whatever the civil rights fight, music has been the soundtrack and a catalyst for change. Gospel’s freedom songs like "We Shall Overcome" gave voice to the str...
Jun 07, 2024•39 min•Season 7Ep. 7
In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, this podcast episode delves into the sobering reality that, sixty years later, American schools remain starkly separate and profoundly unequal. Despite the Supreme Court's historic declaration against racial segregation in 1954, data reveals a troubling trend: over half of the nation’s students find themselves in racially concentrated districts, where segregation persists, and educational...
May 07, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 6
For our courts to work for all of us, our judges should reflect and represent the diversity of our society. Federal courts have been slow to include judges of color, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and judges from varied legal backgrounds, including those with civil rights experience. However, recent judicial appointments are changing that. Newly confirmed judges have broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings by desegregating courts that have never had a judge of color or a jud...
Mar 05, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 5
February is Black History Month and an opportunity to consider the state of the Movement for Black Lives. Last year, we observed the 10-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, which compelled three Black women to turn a Black Lives Matter hashtag into a social movement. And this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, which renewed demands for police accountability and reform across the country. In the decade since, we have come to “sa...
Feb 16, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Thanks to technological advances, there are increased connections and efficiencies around how we learn, work, and play. However, technology, like every other aspect of our society, can perpetuate harms and inequities if we are not intentional around its development and implementation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the perfect example of technology that could benefit humankind but is causing great harm through discrimination and disinformati...
Feb 01, 2024•40 min•Season 7Ep. 3
As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January, we are provided with an opportunity to discuss the state of Dr. King’s dream at this moment. Over the years, Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has been weaponized to push for a colorblind society; and this year will be no exception. In fact, given the recent dismantling of affirmative action in higher education by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the constant legal and legislative attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusi...
Jan 17, 2024•44 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 7! On today’s episode, our host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, discusses the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin with President Clayola Brown, head of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, International Vice President of Workers United-SEIU, and Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnership and Racial Justice at the AFL-CIO; Dr. David Johns, the executive director of the National Black J...
Dec 13, 2023•37 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder with Carolyn Shields, President of the Shelby County Branch of the NAACP, and Deuel Ross, Deputy Director of Litigation at NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This episode was recorded before the Court rendered its decision in Merrill v. Milligan.
Jun 20, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Join Kanya Bennett as she discusses Juneteenth and reparations with Jeff Robinson of The Who We are Project, Kavon Ward of Where is My Land, and Keenan Keller of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Jun 16, 2023•48 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Join Kanya Bennett and cohost Jheanelle Wilkins, director of state and local government affairs at the Leadership Conference, as they discuss recent attacks on Black political power with District of Columbia Councilmember Robert White, Melissa Wasser of the ACLU-DC, Dr. Sekou Franklin of Middle Tennessee State University, and Patrice Willoughby of the NAACP.
Jun 09, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she continues the conversation around book bans and curriculum censorship with Maggie Tokuda-Hall.
May 30, 2023•28 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses book bans and curriculum censorship with Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead and Khalil Gibran Muhammad.
May 30, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses police violence and reform with Chelsea Glass and Josh Adams of DeCarcerate Memphis and Krissy Roth, Senior Policy Associate at The NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
May 08, 2023•40 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Join our host, Kanya Bennett, as she discusses the role of sports in the civil rights movement with Domonique Foxworth — former NFL defensive back, senior writer for Andscape, and host of The Domonique Foxworth Show, an ESPN podcast.
Apr 26, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Joe Miller, President and CEO of The Washington Center for Technology Policy Inclusion (WashingTECH), and Dave Toomey, Voting Rights and Technology Fellow at The Leadership Conference to discuss the dangers of disinformation on social media and how we can advance the civil and human rights agenda online.
Nov 23, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Paige Fernandez, the National Organizing Manager at the Center for Popular Democracy, and Tanya Clay House, Executive Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy at the Hip Hop Caucus to discuss what advocacy and accountability look like to keep advancing civil rights, post-election.
Nov 09, 2022•44 min•Season 6Ep. 5
On today's episode of Pod For the Cause, our host, Kanya Bennett, is joined by Star Wingate-Bey, a 2016 graduate of the University of North Carolina and a student intervenor who helped defend UNC's admissions policy in the affirmative action case involving the universtiy and Genize Bonadies Torres, Associate Director for the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to discuss affirmative action and the related cases before the Supreme Court - Studen...
Oct 26, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 4
On today’s episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett discusses the intersectionality of abortion rights and voting and its impact on Black women with Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda.
Oct 12, 2022•38 min•Season 6Ep. 3
On today’s episode of Pod for the Cause our host, Kanya Bennett will discuss the importance of our courts with Kadida Kenner, chief executive officer of the New Pennsylvania Project and co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, and Kim Tignor, executive director for the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice and cofounder of #SheWillRise.
Sep 28, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Welcome back to Pod for the Cause Season 6! On today’s episode our new host, Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund, will discuss voting and civic engagement with Cece Huddleston, voting rights field coordinator for the Prepared to Vote and Voting Rights Defender projects at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with D...
Sep 14, 2022•46 min•Season 6Ep. 1
