At Liberty is a podcast that explores the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties questions of our time. New episodes air biweekly on Fridays.
episodes
July 5, 2025
The ABCs of Free Speech with Emerson Sykes
It’s because of the First Amendment that we have a right to protest abuses of power, advocate for our neighbors, and defend our privacy. But what does the U.S. Constitution actually say about freedom of speech? This week, the ACLU’s Emerson Sykes joins Kamau to break down this fundamental right....
The ABCs of Free Speech with Emerson Sykes It’s because of the First Amendment that we have a right to protest abuses of power, advocate for our neighbors, and defend our privacy. But what does the U.S. Constitution actually say about freedom of...
May 9, 2025
We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia Wang
We talk a lot on At Liberty about knowing our rights, but since Donald Trump returned to office, where do those rights stand? This week, the ACLU’s National Legal Director Cecillia Wang joins Kamau to make sense of Trump’s first 100 days, from the more than 140 executive orders he...
We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia Wang May 9, 2025
We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia Wang
We’re Still Ready: Trump’s First 100 Days with Cecillia WangWe talk a lot on At Liberty about knowing our rights, but since Donald Trump returned to office, where do those rights stand? This week, the ACLU’s National Legal Director Cecillia Wang joins Kamau to...
April 25, 2025
Know Your Digital Privacy Rights with Esha Bhandari and Daniel Kahn Gillmor
End-to-end encryption. Burner phones. Biometric authentication. Our technology is more advanced than ever, but what does that mean for our digital footprints—and how our data is tracked, whether we’re crossing a US border or at home? This week, we’re exploring our right to digital privacy and how protecting our data...
Know Your Digital Privacy Rights with Esha Bhandari and Daniel Kahn Gillmor April 25, 2025
Know Your Digital Privacy Rights with Esha Bhandari and Daniel Kahn Gillmor
Know Your Digital Privacy Rights with Esha Bhandari and Daniel Kahn GillmorEnd-to-end encryption. Burner phones. Biometric authentication. Our technology is more advanced than ever, but what does that mean for our digital footprints—and how our data is tracked, whether we’re crossing a US border or at...
March 28, 2025
Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy
Mahmoud Khalil is a recent Columbia University graduate, activist, soon-to-be father, and U.S. green card holder. On March 8, he was unlawfully detained because of his speech in defense of Palestinian human rights. On this week’s episode of At Liberty, host W. Kamau Bell is joined by two members of...
Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy March 28, 2025
Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy
Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher AzmyMahmoud Khalil is a recent Columbia University graduate, activist, soon-to-be father, and U.S. green card holder. On March 8, he was unlawfully detained because of his speech in defense of Palestinian human rights. On this...
October 15, 2024
At Liberty Live with W. Kamau Bell: Detroit’s Activist Roots - Engaging Communities in the Fight for Justice
You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. If you're a longtime supporter of the ACLU, you'll know Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our...
At Liberty Live with W. Kamau Bell: Detroit’s Activist Roots - Engaging Communities in the Fight for Justice October 15, 2024
At Liberty Live with W. Kamau Bell: Detroit’s Activist Roots - Engaging Communities in the Fight for Justice
At Liberty Live with W. Kamau Bell: Detroit’s Activist Roots - Engaging Communities in the Fight for JusticeYou may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, from his Substack Who’s With Me, or from his commercials for the ACLU. If you're a longtime supporter of the...
July 8, 2024
The Supreme Court Ruled, What Now?
Another Supreme Court term has come to a close. This year, the court delivered major decisions on reproductive freedom, voting rights, free speech, this women's rights, gun rights, and presidential immunity, among other decisions. The ACLU was involved in cases throughout the term, and as far as wins and losses,...
The Supreme Court Ruled, What Now? Another Supreme Court term has come to a close. This year, the court delivered major decisions on reproductive freedom, voting rights, free speech, this women's rights, gun rights, and presidential immunity, among other decisions. The...
May 23, 2024
Jason Reynolds Is Creating a Literary Archive for the Next Generation
On this episode, "At Liberty" producer Vanessa Handy speaks with young adult and middle-grade literature author, Jason Reynolds. Though he writes for young audiences, Jason doesn't shy away from serious themes or challenges, with many of his books dealing with death, mourning, racism, police brutality, and gun violence. Jason writes...
Jason Reynolds Is Creating a Literary Archive for the Next Generation May 23, 2024
Jason Reynolds Is Creating a Literary Archive for the Next Generation
Jason Reynolds Is Creating a Literary Archive for the Next GenerationOn this episode, "At Liberty" producer Vanessa Handy speaks with young adult and middle-grade literature author, Jason Reynolds. Though he writes for young audiences, Jason doesn't shy away from serious themes or challenges, with many...
May 8, 2024
Special Edition: What We're Seeing at Campus Anti-War Protests
On April 17, students at Columbia University set up an encampment to show support for Palestinians and demand the university divest from its business related to or within Israel as a means of anti-war protest. In the weeks since its inception, the protest movement has spread, with encampments set up...
Special Edition: What We're Seeing at Campus Anti-War Protests May 8, 2024
Special Edition: What We're Seeing at Campus Anti-War Protests
Special Edition: What We're Seeing at Campus Anti-War ProtestsOn April 17, students at Columbia University set up an encampment to show support for Palestinians and demand the university divest from its business related to or within Israel as a means of anti-war protest....
May 2, 2024
Answering Your Student Speech Questions
With the rise of anti-war protests and encampments taking place on college campuses across the country, we are sharing an episode from a couple of years ago that addresses some questions related to free speech in an education setting. In this episode, our resident free speech expert Ben Wizner answers...
Answering Your Student Speech Questions With the rise of anti-war protests and encampments taking place on college campuses across the country, we are sharing an episode from a couple of years ago that addresses some questions related to free speech...
December 14, 2023
2023 in Review: The Latest on the Stories That Made Our Year
2023 is coming to a close, and we have weathered so much this year. At the ACLU, we continue to fight for civil rights and civil liberties across the country. We’re prying open every opportunity for abortion access and reproductive health care following the overturn of Roe, blocking trans health...
2023 in Review: The Latest on the Stories That Made Our Year December 14, 2023
2023 in Review: The Latest on the Stories That Made Our Year
2023 in Review: The Latest on the Stories That Made Our Year2023 is coming to a close, and we have weathered so much this year. At the ACLU, we continue to fight for civil rights and civil liberties across the country. We’re prying open every opportunity...