The Rule of Law: The Academy Speaks

Season 2 of The Rule of Law: The Academy Speaks kicks off with exclusive conversations with the lawyers who spent decades working to hold Jeffrey Epstein accountable. Host Joe Tucker explores the fight to expose Epstein and his accomplices—and the ongoing pursuit of justice for his victims.
 
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In the final episode of season one, Joe sits down with Charla Aldous from Aldous Law in Dallas, Texas, for a powerful and personal conversation. They discuss her courage in the courtroom, the power of pro bono work, and the life experiences that inspire her to stand up for vulnerable clients—even when the odds are against her. For Charla, helping others isn't optional; it's a duty that comes with holding a law license. This episode is about doing what's right, even when it's hard.

In this episode, Joe speaks with Kalpana Srinivasan about how being the daughter of immigrants shaped her path in the legal profession. She reflects on the role that transparency, opportunity, and trust played in her own progress. Kalpana shares how these values guide her in empowering young lawyers to take on meaningful responsibility early in their careers. Together, they discuss how this approach helps the next generation believe in the profession, embrace its possibilities, and pursue both professional excellence and personal fulfillment.

This week, Joe sits down with Stan Garnett, Co-Founding Partner with Garnett, Powell, Maximon, Barlow & Farbes, to explore a provocative question: Is the U.S. Constitution truly democratic, or does it deepen the divisions in American life?
Stan argues that while the Constitution is foundational, it often fuels partisanship rather than unity and compromise. We examine how its structure influences our political climate and what lessons we can draw from Latin American legal systems that have adopted a different approach. 

This week, Joe sits down with Karen Burgess of Burgess Law in Austin, Texas, to discuss how disinformation is fueling the global Rule of Law crisis. Together, they examine the increasing influence of state actors in driving disinformation campaigns, the rise of deepfakes and AI-generated content, and how social media algorithms are accelerating the dissemination of false narratives that erode trust in courts, elections, and democratic institutions. 

WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content related to child sex trafficking and abuse. Some listeners may find this material distressing.
 
In this week’s episode, Joe speaks with attorney Nadeem Bezar about the legal fight to hold enablers of child sex trafficking accountable. In just over a year, Nadeem’s team secured more than $100 million in arbitration awards and settlements. They explore why language matters, how reframing victims as survivors can empower healing, and what lawyers can do right now by volunteering at expungement clinics to help survivors move forward.
 
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

This week, Joe sits down with immigration attorney and advocate Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. Kate is the owner and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law and a founding board member of VECINA, one of the Academy’s valued partners. Kate brings two decades of frontline experience to the conversation, from representing a detained infant in a prison-issued onesie to challenging today’s attacks on due process. Listen in as Joe and Kate debunk the myths driving anti-immigrant rhetoric and shed light on the real human cost behind the headlines. 

In this week's episode, Joe is joined by Roman Silberfeld from Robins Kaplan LLP for a conversation about the power of partnership in the pursuit of justice. Together, they examine Powers v. McDonough, a landmark case in which Roman and his firm, working with Public Counsel and Inner City Law Center, successfully challenged the Department of Veterans Affairs after years of institutional neglect.
The episode also explores Roman’s leadership within the Academy Foundation and the critical role that collaboration with under-resourced organizations plays in advancing meaningful, systemic change.
For more information on the Academy Foundation, visit IATL.net.

In this week’s episode, Joe sits down with Yale legal scholar, journalist, and bestselling author Emily Bazelon. Together, they dive into the legal turmoil unfolding across the country—from attacks on higher education and healthcare to threats to due process and the evolving role of the Supreme Court. Bazelon offers sharp analysis, historical context, and—perhaps most importantly—reasons for hope for those committed to defending justice.
 
For more insights from Emily, listen and subscribe to her podcast, Political Gabfest.

Academy President Joe Tucker sits down with Randy Smith, Director of the Journalists in Exile Program and Board President of the Alfred Friendly Press Partners.
They discuss why journalism is essential to holding power accountable and protecting democracy — and how Academy Fellows, through their teaching in the Journalists in Exile Program, are helping exiled reporters stand up to oppression and continue telling the truth on a global stage.
Audio for this episode was recorded in studio at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.