Natasha Explains It All

Last episode we talked about how to have hope, and this episode is a great example of a reason for hope. In a pair of recent cases called Ely v. Saul and Thorton v. Commissioner of Social Security, the non-profit legal organization Lambda Legal has secured some really important wins: queer people who were previously denied Social Security Survivors' Benefits because they and their partners were not able to get legally married (and therefore be eligible for survivors' benefits upon the death of one spouse) are now eligible! Listen to this episode to learn more. For more, see the FAQ put together by Lambda Legal on these cases.

Things seem heavy and dark. There is a never-ending doom-and-gloom news cycle. And yet. There is reason to be hopeful. Some thoughts on how and why to stay hopeful.

Here is a song I love to listen to when things get heavy and need some help to keep going: The Keep Going Song by The Bengsons

I also mention the news outlet Rewire News and the podcast Boom Lawyered in this episode.

Former Brazilian president Bolsonaro recently spoke at CPAC - the Conservative Political Action Conference. CPAC is held annually in the US as a platform for conservative leaders. Bolsonaro's presence is an example of how Brazil continues to be a relevant testing ground for US-origined, far-right messaging and policy priorities. Let's explore.

***Correction to make: in this episode, I said that Nikki Haley was President Trump's Secretary of State. She was not. She was Trump's ambassador to the United Nations. My apologies.

Welcome to Season Two of Natasha Explains It All! (Yes, each season will consist of 13 episodes, or a Baker's dozen).

In this episode, we continue to explore pretrial supervision and then talk about how prosecutors use pretrial detention to coerce pleas. To learn more about how prosecutors upcharge, read The Trial Penalty.

Tyre Nichols' murder has prompted conversations about internalized racism because the main police officers who killed Tyre are also Black. Let's unpack.

For data on how often police kill, see Mapping Police Violence.

Action Alert: CBP/DHS has resumed family separation at the border. Lawyers for Good Government is organizing a public awareness campaign around it and urging people to call CBP/DHS and object to this change in policy.

Here is what to do:

Call the public comment lines for CBP (Customs & Border Partrol) at 877-CBP-5511 and DHS (Dep't of Homeland Security) at 202-282-8495 and share that you oppose the new "dangerous and impossible policy of forcing all members of a family to secure a separate appointment and to instead KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER." (Language in quotes from Lawyers for Good Government)

You can also urge your Representatives to join Reps. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)'s congressional letter by today at 2PM ET. That means calling your member of Congress and asking them to sign onto the letter. Don't know who your member of Congress is? Call the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your rep.

To read more about what's going on, visit Lawyers For Good Government.

As we continue to explore how criminal courts work, I use this episode to talk about what happens if you're able to post bail: most people will be put on some sort of pretrial supervision, with tons of conditions (like drug testing and electronic monitoring) that they'll likely have to pay for. Can't pay? You're likely to go back to jail. 

This is the first of "action alert" episodes, where I will share a time-sensitive action for all of us to participate in that yes, can make a difference. Today's is to stop the execution of Leonard "Raheem" Taylor, who is scheduled to be executed by the state of Missouri on Feb. 7th, despite his innocence.

Please call Governor Parson at 573-400-0357 or 573-751-3222 today and say the following (script provided by Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty):

"Hello, my name is [name], and I am from [add city] calling today to ask that Governor Parson halt the execution of Leonard Taylor. Leonard Taylor has an innocence claim that needs to be reviewed. Please use your executive clemency powers to issue a stay of execution and call for a Board of Inquiry to review these claims."

For more details, please visit The Innocence Project and Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

#JusticeForRaheem

Hertz filed (at least) hundreds of false police reports against customers falsely accusing them of stealing Hertz's vehicles. This resulted in life-altering changes to innocent people's lives: arrests, jailing, criminal records, losing employment, suffering health problems, etc. Even after getting sued, Hertz has tried to escape responsibility by trying to keep documents sealed that detail their abuse. Corporations don't change until their bottom line is hurt. Let's use our power as consumers to vote with our dollar and #BoycottHertz #truthHertz

For more reading:

‘I  Could’ve Been Dead’: Hundreds of False Stolen Car Reports Put Black  Hertz Customers At Risk, Leading to Arrests at Gunpoint, Lost Wages, a  Miscarriage and Other Traumas - Atlanta Black Star

Hertz will pay $168 million to customers it falsely accused of stealing its cars - NPR

Senators call for investigations into Hertz following CBS News reports of hundreds of customers allegedly being falsely arrested - CBS News

Hertz agrees to pay $168 to settle false arrest claims by hundreds of customers - USA Today

Hertz to pay $168M to settle lawsuits involving false police reports filed against its own customers - 13 WTHR

Some arguments on why we need to get police out of traffic stops:

The Case For Ending All Traffic Stops - Jalopnik

Get Police Out of The Business of Traffic Stops - The Washington Post

In part two, we talk more about money bail and how it's an example of the financial incentives baked into the criminal court system. We also talk about diversion programs.

For more reading on why money bail needs to go:

After Cash Bail: A Framework for Reimagining Pretrial Justice by The Bail Project

Money Bail Might Be the Most Racist, Immoral Part of America’s Criminal Injustice System by Michael Harriot (The Root)

Bail Reform by The Vera Institute