Entitled

For over six decades, the U.S. embargo on Cuba has stood as one of the longest and most comprehensive sanction regimes in modern history. But what are the real-world human, economic, and geopolitical costs of economic coercion?

In this episode of Entitled, we sit down with Dr. Raúl Rodríguez Rodríguez, Director of the Center for Hemisphere and United States Studies at the University of Havana. We explore how decades of policy designed to pressure a government shape the everyday lives of citizens—from fuel restrictions, to inflated costs of basic goods, power blackouts, and lack of clean water—who actually pays the price for sanctions?

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Mexico is navigating one of the most sweeping judicial transformations in modern constitutional history—a controversial reform replacing thousands of career federal and state judges with bench positions decided by direct popular vote. But what does this mean for the rule of law, institutional independence, and the future of checks and balances in Latin America's second-largest economy?

In this episode, we sit down with Julio Ríos-Figueroa, Associate Professor of Law at ITAM and one of the region's leading experts on comparative judicial politics and empirical legal studies. Together, we unpack the mechanics and fallout of this radical shift.

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While citizenship is often celebrated as a cornerstone of democracy and equality, constitutional scholar Dimitry Kochenov argues it functions as something far more troubling: a global caste system.

In this episode, we speak with Kochenov, who is also a professor of legal studies at the Central European University, about how citizenship acts as a tool of exclusion—a "passport apartheid" assigned almost entirely by the luck of where or to whom you were born. We explore the deep tension between human rights and nationality, examining how the abstract machinery of passports erases individual humanity in favor of arbitrary borders. From the illusion of international reciprocity to practical alternatives grounded in individualized assessment, Kochenov challenges us to rethink how we grant dignity, mobility, and rights in a modern world.

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When the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, they didn't just alter the country's political landscape—they systematically dismantled the legal and social reality for all women and girls. Through a continuous rollout of oppressive edicts, women and girls have been banned from universities, barred from working for NGOs, and forbidden from even speaking aloud in public spaces. International legal experts and activists are increasingly calling this reality gender apartheid.

In this episode, we sit down with Rina Amiri, top diplomat and former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights. Having spent decades navigating the complex world of conflict resolution and international peacebuilding at the UN and the State Department, Amiri brings an unparalleled level of insight to one of the most critical human rights crises of our time.

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The collapse of the Afghan government has raised grave concerns for the future of the country, particularly for women. Exit is not a generally available option, but should it be? This week, we wanted to re-release our conversation about the rights of women in Afghanistan as we prepare to release a special conversation with Rina Amiri who was the US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights.

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In this episode of Entitled, we examine how caste discrimination doesn’t end at the borders of India. As Dalit workers migrate to the US in search of better wages, many encounter familiar patterns of exclusion and abuse right here in the United States.

We speak with Qayam Masumi and Roja Singh, members of the Dalit Solidarity Forum, an advocacy organization dedicated to raising awareness about caste discrimination. They are advocating on behalf of Dalit workers who they say were trafficked from India to come to New Jersey to build a new temple connected to BAPS, a major Hindu religious organization with a global presence. Many workers reported extremely long hours and wages as low as about $1.20 per hour, and have suffered from severe health and safety violations.

Resources:

https://www.iswaa.com/

https://dalitsolidarityforumusa.com/justice-for-baps-workers/

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepVVrJLD0_OJn6wxn2HU4PMDocReBh0V8qMTwAFgRbcf2Lcw/viewform

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In this episode of Entitled, we sit down with Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who has served as the Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations since October 2020. Despite the February 2021 military coup, he remains in his position, representing the interests of the democratic government and opposing the military junta at the UN. He has survived threats and has been challenged by the junta, but the UN has continued to recognize him as the representative.

As Myanmar continues to face political upheaval and widespread displacement following the coup, Ambassador Tun offers a firsthand perspective on the country’s ongoing crisis and its implications for the global human rights landscape. We explore the challenges of representing a nation in turmoil, the role of international institutions in responding to democratic backsliding, and what accountability can—and should—look like on the world stage.

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On this episode of Entitled, we sit down with Kenneth Roth, the longtime former executive director of Human Rights Watch and one of the world’s most prominent advocates for international human rights. Over nearly three decades leading Human Rights Watch, Roth helped shape the global human rights movement, documenting abuses, pressuring governments, and elevating the role of international law in holding leaders accountable.

In this conversation, he reflects on how the human rights landscape has evolved—from the optimism of the post–Cold War era to today’s more complex environment marked by rising authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, and geopolitical competition. Flores and Ginsburg ask Roth how human rights advocates can remain effective when powerful states challenge international norms and institutions. They discuss the role of documentation and public pressure in exposing abuses, the growing influence of authoritarian governments on the global stage, and the ways civil society can still drive accountability even in hostile political climates.

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On this episode of Entitled, Tom and Claudia talk with human rights advocate Rafia Khondoker about the state of women’s rights and democratic freedoms in Bangladesh. Last week, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a landslide victory in the first national election since the 2024 uprising, approving a referendum on major constitutional reforms—the "July Charter"—seeking to strengthen judiciary independence, safeguard democracy and increase women's participation in politics.

Drawing on her legal training and on-the-ground experience, Khondoker unpacks the gap between constitutional promises and lived realities. She explains how formal legal protections can coexist with systemic barriers—political pressure, social norms, and institutional weaknesses—that limit meaningful access to justice for women and marginalized communities.

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In this episode of Entitled, we speak with Leopoldo López about authoritarianism, resistance, and the future of Venezuela. Recorded before the U.S. intervention, the conversation centers on López’s long opposition to the Maduro regime—through political organizing, imprisonment, exile, and international advocacy.

Following the interview, Tom and Claudia reflect on developments since the conversation was recorded, turning to the U.S. intervention and its implications for sovereignty, legitimacy, and democratic change in Venezuela.

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We speak to Mansoor Ali Shah, who served as the Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan until just last month. Shah is one of two judges who resigned after parliament passed a constitutional amendment that curbed its remit and will no longer allow the Supreme Court to hear constitutional cases. The judges say the reform “stands as a grave assault on the constitution”.

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Why has gender—once a term of analysis and identity—become one of the most explosive political flashpoints of our time? From the halls of the United Nations to state legislatures across the United States, debates over gender and sexuality now shape elections, social movements, and international alliances.

In this live episode of the "Entitled" podcast, hosts Claudia Flores and Tom Ginsburg sit down with Graeme Reid, U.N. Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and senior research fellow at Yale Law School, to explore how gender has become a global battleground. Together, they’ll unpack the forces driving the backlash — from the rise of nationalist and religious movements to the politics of fear and control — and examine why gender has become a defining priority of the Trump administration and its international allies. Join us for a timely, provocative conversation about the past, present, and future of the global gender wars — and what’s really at stake when societies decide who gets to define gender itself.

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This year, the US government has issued sanctions on a number of experts from the UN to the International Criminal Court for speaking out about human rights in Gaza. President Donald Trump authorizedsanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan with the goal of stopping the ICC from undertaking its independent mandate. UN experts strongly condemned the move, calling it “an attack on global rule of law."

In this episode of Entitled, we discuss how sanctions are being used and abused by the Trump administration, and how other UN members are responding to the sanctioning of their colleagues for speaking out.

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When South African runner Caster Semenya dominated international competitions, sports authorities demanded she prove she was “really” a woman. The rules they created—targeting women with intersex traits or naturally higher testosterone—have since reshaped the future of women’s sports.

In this episode of Entitled, we unpack the controversial regulations of World Athletics, the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling, and the wider human rights questions at stake. Are these policies about fairness—or about enforcing outdated ideas of gender?

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What does it mean when people start calling Donald Trump a king? And why are some political theorists — on both the right and left — exploring the possibility of leaving democracy behind? All this debate got co-host Tom Ginsburg thinking about an argument he’s been turning over in his head for years: could constitutional monarchy actually be the best form of government?

Is it possible that constitutional monarchy actuallystrengthensdemocracy? Do monarchs serve as symbols of national unity that modern republics are missing? And is America’s obsession with political dynasties — the Obamas, the Bushes, the Kennedys — actually more monarchical than we’d like to admit?

This wide-ranging conversation takes us from Thailand to the United Kingdom, from the founding ideals of the U.S. Constitution to the rise of populist leaders. Along the way, Tom and Claudia debate whether democracy is still holding strong — or if we’re inching toward something more authoritarian.

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As student protests over Gaza sweep college campuses, one case is testing the limits of free speech and immigration law in America. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student and lawful permanent resident, was arrested by ICE without a warrant and sent to a remote detention center in Louisiana—allegedly for his political advocacy.

In this episode, we sit down with Khalil's lawyer Baher Azmy, who is also the Legal Director of the Center of Constitutional Rights, to unpack the disturbing legal maneuver behind Khalil’s detention: a rarely used immigration clause that gives the Secretary of State near-total discretion to deport individuals deemed a “foreign policy risk.” What does this case reveal about the future of dissent and academic freedom?

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What happens when the country that helped design the international human rights system starts to dismantle it?

In this episode, we speak with the former president of the U.N. General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis, about the growing threats to global cooperation and human rights—from authoritarian drift, to shrinking U.S. commitments, to rising fears inside the U.N. system itself.

Is this the end of the liberal international order? And if so, what comes next?

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What happens when the government turns the law into a weapon? In these first few months of the second Trump administration human rights advocates, legal scholars, and university leaders are warning of a political landscape where funding is slashed, free speech is chilled, and legal institutions are bent to serve those in power. From defunding human rights initiatives to threatening universities and using the justice system for political retribution, many say the future of democracy is on the line.

In this episode, we explore the growing fear—and defiance—among those on the frontlines. Can universities withstand political pressure? Will the rule of law hold against efforts to consolidate power? What does the future of human rights look like in this new environment, and can it adapt, change and survive?

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This week, our co-hosts Professors Tom Ginsburg and Claudia Flores discuss bitcoin, the cryptocurrency soaring in both popularity and value. In the last month, the price of a single bitcoin has risen from around $70,000 to almost $100,000. Its cultural impact is immense, yet confusing and controversial. Those who associate bitcoin with MAGA conservatives and get-rich-quick day traders might be surprised to learn that some see it as a tool to protect human rights.

Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, is optimistic about the revolutionary power of bitcoin to enable resistance and challenge global structures of economic inequality. In this episode, we hear from him on how bitcoin is uniquely positioned to support global human rights efforts.

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United Nations special experts have a crucial role in upholding international human rights law. These independent specialists hold mandates to report and advise on different areas within human rights as special rapporteurs, independent experts, or members of working groups. But how exactly do these appointments work, and what are the responsibilities, capabilities, and on-the-ground impacts of these experts?

In this episode, we hear from our very own co-host, Professor Claudia Flores, member of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls and Professor Fionnuala ni Aolain, former UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism. Professors Flores and ni Aolain describe their work as UN mandate holders and how they address the most pressing issues in their areas of expertise.

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