Howdy, folks! It’s Wednesday, June 13, and we’re hours away from the kickoff of the next FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted in Russia this year. The next month will turn much of the world’s attention to Russia, which means this is a good opportunity to shine a light on the country’s social issues. The last time a sporting event did this was the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and back then many in the United States suddenly cared very deeply about LGBT rights in Russia. This year, it’s more of a buffet for haters, with Crimea, Syria, eastern Ukraine, and so much more from which to choose. So what are you going to learn about on today’s episode of the podcast? First, Kevin talks about a recent scandal to hit Facebook where a prominent bank executive shared her controversial hiring tips. Then he reviews the practice of “Slavs-only” hiring and housing policies. He looks at cases of ageism, homophobia, and sexism, and wraps up with a summary of the legal challenges to proving discrimination in Russia. This podcast episode is based on a report by Anna Valtseva published by Meduza. Read it in English here:https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/06/12/slavs-onlyIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider making a pledge at Patreon, where you can send Kevin money for all his grand efforts. Many thanks to the listeners already ponying up.https://www.patreon.com/kevinrothrock

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