Democracy Now! Audio

LaCa Kordia, a Palestinian activist who spent a year in ICE custody, recounts arrest, detention conditions, and medical treatment. Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s elected secretary of state, explains mail-in voting, election administration, and resisting federal data demands. David Cole, constitutional law professor, analyzes Justice Department shifts, civil rights rollbacks, and legal limits on war powers.

Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist detained over a year in an ICE facility, speaks from firsthand experience of occupation and detention. She recounts life under checkpoints and echoes between Israeli prisons and U.S. jails. Listens to stories of medical neglect, community support, legal setbacks, and the risks activists face while planning continued resistance.

Behrouz Ghamari Tabrizi, scholar of modern Iran and former Princeton Near Eastern Studies chair, offers analysis of Iran's politics and society. Spencer Ackerman, Pulitzer-winning national security journalist, maps military moves and regional strategy. They discuss U.S. military buildup, risks of seizing Iranian islands, Iran’s decentralized defenses, shifts in oil and sanctions, and consequences for civilians and political prisoners.

Ali Vales, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group and seasoned Middle East analyst. He discusses how the Iran war unraveled from initial U.S. assumptions into a prolonged conflict. He critiques regime-change claims, examines troop movements and Strait of Hormuz risks, and outlines what a realistic off-ramp should look like.

Katrina Manson, award-winning journalist and author of Project Maven, who researches the Pentagon's use of AI in warfare. She traces Project Maven’s origins, companies involved, protests and Palantir’s role. Short takes cover AI accuracy limits, battlefield learning in Ukraine, and questions about accountability for strikes that harmed civilians.

One month into the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, we speak with the Iranian American sociologist Ali Kadivar, who says the leadership in Tehran is consolidating its power and adopting more hard-line positions amid the conflict. He also warns that Trump’s threatened strikes on Iranian electricity and desalination infrastructure would constitute war crimes and likely push oil above $200 a barrel, risking global recession, while any seizure of Kharg Island would expose U.S. troops without producing a decisive result. “These are all war crimes — and this is an American president threatening war crimes over and over publicly,” says Kadivar.

Leila Yunus, Beirut-based investigative journalist reporting on Lebanon and regional impacts of Israeli strikes. Nardine Kiswani, Palestinian-American organizer and co-founder of Within Our Lifetime active in pro-Palestinian protests. They discuss the killing of journalists and medics in southern Lebanon, patterns of strikes and double-tap tactics, and a plotted attack targeting Kiswani and threats to organizers.

Jeremy Scahill, investigative reporter on U.S. foreign policy, discusses alleged Iran talks, troop options, and market maneuvers. Leah Greenberg, organizer and Indivisible co-leader, describes nationwide No Kings protests, strategy in St. Paul, and outreach to rural voters. They cover war risks, political organizing, and high-stakes messaging in rapid, candid conversations.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, outlines a report alleging systematic torture and calls for international accountability. Ryan Schwenk, former ICE lawyer turned whistleblower, recounts curtailed training, secret orders, and why he resigned. Adam Hania, SOAS Middle East expert, explains Khark Island’s oil role, Gulf economic shifts, and how disruptions in Hormuz ripple through global food and fertilizer markets.

Wes Bryant, retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant who exposed civilian harm issues at the Pentagon. Delia Ramirez, U.S. Congressmember from Illinois and lead sponsor of the Born in the USA Act advocating immigrant rights. They discuss civilian casualties and the dismantling of protection efforts. They also tackle ICE at airports, TSA data sharing, birthright citizenship, and concerns about DHS leadership and election integrity.