The topic of reproductive healthcare and access to abortion has emerged as a pivotal point in the weeks and months leading up to the 2024 presidential election in the U.S. In this week's episode of then & now, our guest interviewer Professor Elizabeth O’Brien speaks with Professor Cassia Roth, a historian of Society, Environment, and Health Equity at the University of California, Riverside. Roth’s recent book, A Miscarriage of Justice, explores the intersection of reproductive health and legal policy in early 20th-century Brazil. Drawing from her research, Roth highlights parallels between Brazil and the U.S., noting how both countries are undergoing complex shifts in reproductive rights shaped by political and religious landscapes. While some areas of Latin America have seen significant progress toward decriminalizing abortion in recent decades, other countries in the region have imposed increasingly restrictive reproductive policies, underscoring the diversity of legal landscapes across Latin America. The conversation stresses the importance of understanding historical context, such as the role of military regimes and social inequalities, in shaping current reproductive policies. Roth calls for inclusive policies that address the needs of marginalized communities while navigating the ongoing back-and-forth nature of reproductive legislation. 

Elizabeth O’Brien is an Assistant Professor in the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History, specializing in the history of reproductive health in Mexico. Professor O’Brien is also a member of the cross-field group in the History of Gender and Sexuality. Professor O’Brien's 2023 book on colonialism and reproductive healthcare in Mexico, Surgery and Salvation, received the 2024 Best Book Award from the Nineteenth-Century Section of the Latin American Studies Association. 

Cassia Roth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity at UC Riverside. Professor Roth is a leading expert in women’s reproductive health in Brazil and her acclaimed book, A Miscarriage of Justice, was published by Stanford University Press in 2020. Professor Roth is currently working on a project entitled Birthing Abolition: Enslaved Women’s Reproduction and the Gradual End of Slavery in 19th-century Brazil. 

 Welcome back to then & now!  To kick off our 5th season, we are joined by Professor Amir Alexander, a historian of mathematics in UCLA’s Luskin Department of History.  His latest book, Liberty’s Grid, examines how Founding Father Thomas Jefferson transformed early America into a mathematical landscape. Jefferson’s vision of an empty, gridded space was intended to create a framework for people to act freely. Alexander delves into the paradox: though this grid symbolized American ideals of freedom, it also reinforced hierarchies and constraints. Natural obstacles such as bodies of water or geological features, as well as Native Americans who had lived on the land for centuries, were perceived as obstacles in Jefferson's quest to overlay order on an unordered natural world. Over time, opponents of the Jeffersonian grid developed alternative visions of how to organize the American landscape, but we still see remnants of this system in the rigid grids of middle America and in cities such as New York City, particularly Manhatten. We reflect on how this story and the perception of ordering nature is relevant to us today.


Amir Alexander is an adjunct professor in the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History. Professor Alexander's work illuminates the deep interconnections between mathematics and its social, cultural, and political setting, and highlights the intertwined relationship between critical mathematical developments and broader historical trends that motivated these developments and gave them meaning and purpose. Professor Alexander has written multiple books on this topic, and his 2014 book, Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World, was selected as a finalist for the Phi Beta Kappa Science Award in 2015.

In this week's episode of then & now we explore a landmark moment in Mexican politics: the election of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo as the country's first female president at the beginning of June 2024. Environmental scientist Sheinbaum secured a decisive victory, succeeding the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Joining us is Leila Miller, a seasoned former correspondent for the LA Times based in Mexico City. We delve into the legacies of López Obrador and the contrasting political trajectories of the two female candidates in the recent election, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez. Miller provides an in-depth analysis of their distinct backgrounds and political ideologies, highlighting López Obrador's pivotal role in Sheinbaum’s success and how his influence may shape her presidency.

Finally, we examine the broader implications of Sheinbaum's victory for Mexico's relationship with the United States and its potential impact on international politics.

Leila Miller is a freelance journalist based in Mexico City.

2023 marked the hottest year recorded in human history, with predictions indicating a worsening global trend. In early June 2024, southern California experienced an extreme heat dome, with temperatures rising into the triple digits. Currently, heat alerts affect over 16 million people across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. This escalating situation is not confined to the United States nor limited to the present; it is a manifestation of the intensifying impacts of climate change. Regions previously unacquainted with extreme heat are struggling to adapt, while areas accustomed to high temperatures are becoming increasingly uninhabitable.

Heat is not merely a climate issue; it disproportionately affects individuals based on geographic location, race, and socioeconomic status, among other factors. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bharat Venkat, Associate Professor at the Institute for Society & Genetics, the Department of History, and the Department of Anthropology at UCLA, to delve into the concept of thermal inequality. We explore how Dr. Venkat developed an interest in this subject and examine the origins of thermal inequality. Our discussion addresses the populations most impacted by heat inequality, focusing on the Los Angeles area. We also touch upon critical topics such as urban design, socioeconomic disparities, and their intersection with heat. Finally, we contemplate the future of thermal inequality and potential solutions to mitigate its effects.

Dr. Bharat Jayram Venkat is an Associate Professor at UCLA with joint appointments in the Institute for Society & Genetics, the Department of History, and the Department of Anthropology. His research spans science, medicine, climate, race, and design. His notable works include his award-winning book At the Limits of Cure and his current project on thermal inequality, Swelter: A History of Our Bodies in a Warming World.

Recent campus protests have focused new attention on university investment policies.  The call for greater transparency and divestment from Israel has led to questions about the growth and composition of large university endowments, including that of the University of California (UC). 

How did the UC system achieve its robust financial position? One answer lies in its deep-rooted connection to land. The Federal Morrill Act of 1862 provided land grants to public universities to establish campuses, a foundational act that has led some to label these state institutions, including the UC, as a "land grab" institution.

In this week’s episode of then & now, we delve into this complex history with insights from UCLA researchers and Ph.D. students Samuel Feldblum, John Schmidt, and Abbie Cohen. They discuss their newly released report, "Selling Sunset and Land at the University of California," published by the Luskin Center for History and Policy. The episode explores the UC's significant investment in Blackstone, a real estate trust that generates profits by raising rents and housing prices—outcomes that have a direct impact on many UC students and faculty.

The conversation prompts an examination of the UC system's funding history, its investment strategies, and the ethical implications of its financial decisions. Can the UC system align its investments more closely with the public interest, potentially providing affordable housing for its students? This episode encourages listeners to reflect on the balance between financial strategy and social responsibility within the realm of higher education.

In this episode of then & now, we present the recording of an event held at UCLA on May 13, 2024. This event, sponsored by the UCLA History Department, featured a conversation between UCLA Professors David Myers and James Gelvin about the history and context of the Israel-Hamas war and the situation in Gaza.

The brutal attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, shocked the world. In the 7 months since that event, the Israeli military has bombarded Gaza, killing upwards of 35,000 Palestinians and injuring some 80,000 more in what is said to be an attempt to eradicate Hamas and retrieve the hostages remaining in Hamas’s hands. In recent weeks, the war has received renewed attention in the United States due to clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups on college campuses, confrontations that have sometimes been exacerbated by extreme police responses. 

Professor Myers and Gelvin explore questions about why Hamas perpetrated their horrific attack on Israeli citizens on October 7th, why Benjamin Netanyahu has responded with months of bombardments, and where the United States features in this equation. What led to this months-long war, and what does the future hold for Palestinians and Israelis?

Professor David Myers is a Distinguished Professor and Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History at UCLA. He has published multiple books on Jewish intellectual and cultural history, and has written several op-eds calling for an end to the war in Gaza and return of the Israeli hostages.  Professor James Gelvin is a Professor of Modern Middle East History here at UCLA. He has published extensively on the social and cultural history of the modern Middle East, and his book titled “Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War” has been revised and updated several times, most recently in 2021. 

As the war in Gaza rages on, discussions surrounding free speech and the right to protest have surged across the United States, particularly on college campuses. When a pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University was raided by police, leading to dozens of arrests in late April 2024, university students around the country set up their own protests and encampments, urging for an end to the war and divestment of university funding from Israel.

Join us on this week's episode of then & now podcast as we delve into the history and evolution of academic free speech with UCLA History Professor Michael Meranze. Professor Meranze explores the changing landscape of free speech on campus, the evolving role of faculty in fostering open discourse, and the profound impact of social media on freedom of expression, and considers how the events of October 7th, 2023, have reshaped higher education in the United States. 

Professor Michael Meranze is a professor of History at UCLA, where he specializes in United States intellectual and legal history with an emphasis on early America. He published Laboratories of Virtue, an examination of the birth of the penitentiary in the context of the contradictions of the American Revolution and early Liberalism, and is currently working on two long-term projects: one, an analysis of sensibility and violence in the Revolutionary Atlantic and the other an attempt to rethink the history and meaning of the American death penalty from the eighteenth-century to the present.

Gun violence has become deeply ingrained in the historical fabric of the United States, intertwined with the principles outlined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants individuals the right to keep and bear arms. This amendment is frequently invoked in debates surrounding the implementation of stricter gun control measures.

In this week's episode, then & now presents a compelling discussion hosted by the Department of History at UCLA under the Why History Matters series, focusing on the historical trajectory of America's relationship with firearms. Panelists Brian DeLay, Adam Winkler, and Jennifer Wagman provide nuanced insights into various facets of gun culture in America.

The conversation delves into the evolution of gun legislation, tracing its origins back to the founding era and drawing parallels with contemporary times. The discussion also addresses the challenges of interpreting laws formulated in a different historical context and their application in the present day, alongside the often overlooked public health implications of gun violence.

Moreover, the episode examines the repercussions of lenient gun laws in the United States on neighboring nations, as well as the country's role as a major arms exporter. Each speaker brings their unique expertise, providing a comprehensive overview of this complex and multifaceted issue.

In the wake of the events of October 7th in Israel and the swift reaction by the Israeli government against Hamas, student protests have erupted on campuses around the United States, igniting fervent discussions about free speech, the First Amendment, and safe spaces. This week on then & now, we are joined by David Cole, the National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and the George Mitchell Professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Dr. Cole offers profound insights into the history of government intervention in matters concerning freedom of speech, shedding light on its implications for academia.

Dr. Cole also discusses the crucial role of freedom of speech in academic settings, where ideas should be freely exchanged and challenged. He casts a critical eye on cancel culture, a phenomenon in which dissenting views are swiftly silenced; by contrast, he emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of tolerance and open dialogue. Finally, we discuss Title IX practices,  providing clarity on what constitutes a Title IX violation and navigating the complexities of distinguishing between protected speech and harassment, particularly in the context of university campuses.


Dr. David Cole is the National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and the George Mitchell Professor at Georgetown University Law Center. In his role as National Legal Director, he manages more than 200 ACLU staff attorneys and support staff in the National office, oversees the ACLU’s U.S. Supreme Court docket, and provides leadership to 400 more legal staff who work in ACLU affiliate offices in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Dr. Cole has received two honorary degrees and many awards for his civil liberties and human rights work, including the inaugural Norman Dorsen Presidential Prize from the ACLU, awarded to an academic for lifetime commitment to civil liberties.

As the U.S. primary elections unfold, the issue of border security, particularly along the US-Mexico border, has taken center stage. Concerns about the number of people crossing the U.S. southern border illegally have prompted extreme and sometimes fatal measures by U.S. officials to curb the flow of migrants. How effective are these measures at slowing illegal immigration, and what is the cost for those trying to enter the U.S.? In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jason de León, professor of Anthropology and Chicano Studies at UCLA and the director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, to discuss the effects of various immigration policies.

Dr. de  León sheds light on the methods that have been employed since at least the 1990s to deter border crossing, such as the Prevention through Deterrence policy, highlighting the conditions faced by those who cross the border and the potentially fatal outcomes. Challenging the perception of migration as a localized issue, Dr. de  León argues that migration is a multifaceted phenomenon with global implications. He advocates for humane policies that address the root causes of migration, such as poverty and political turmoil, rather than relying on border enforcement policies that actively and often purposely cause harm and even death.

Dr. de  León is the Executive Director of the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP),  professor of Anthropology and Chicano Studies at UCLA, and the Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Dr de León earned his bachelor’s at UCLA and his PhD at Penn State University. He was named a MacArthur Foundation fellow in 2017. His first book “The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail,” was published in 2015 by the University of California Press, and his second book, “Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling,” was published by Viking Press in March 2024.