The Justice Department under Trump has become an extension of his personal and political whims, not an independent arbiter of law. It serves as an instrument for targeting his perceived enemies while shielding allies from accountability, including by dropping sensitive corruption and white collar investigations. Everybody must remember that where there is no justice, tyranny reigns.
Today’s podcast guest is Jane Olson, a noted humanitarian who has worked many decades as a volunteer promoting international peace and justice and humanitarian work. She has chaired the International Board of Trustees of Human Rights Watch, from 2004 to 2010, and chaired the board of Survivor Corps for 12 years since its founding as Landmine Survivors Network.
In this episode, we discuss the current rise in human rights abuses globally, what roles international organizations have played in combatting human rights abuses, and the importance of educating people about their basic universal human rights, including starting in schools.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Jane Olson has worked many decades as a volunteer promoting international peace and justice and humanitarian work. She chaired the International Board of Trustees of Human Rights Watch, the largest US-based international human rights organization, from 2004 to 2010, having worked on behalf of HRW since 1988. She also chaired the board of Survivor Corps for 12 years since its founding as Landmine Survivors Network. LSN and HRW were among the five organizations to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997for the International Landmine Ban Treaty.
Jane is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science and a board member of both the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, CA. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Pacific Council on International Policy. She served as co-chair of the Women’s Refugee Commission in New York and continues to support the WRC as a commissioner.
Jane has received numerous awards, including the 2010 inaugural Alison Des Forges Award from Human Rights Watch, and the inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt Award from Feminist Majority in 2005. California Senator Barbara Boxer presented the “Women Making History” Award to Jane in 2010. She received Public Counsel’s Community Achievement Award and the Silver Achievement Award from the Los Angeles YWCA.
Trump is cornered on multiple fronts, and the pressure is intensifying. The Iran war has become a grinding stalemate. War driven energy shocks are intensifying inflation. His approval ratings have sunk. Inside the Republican Party, restive lawmakers and donors increasingly doubt his judgment. Taken together, these trends sharply narrow Trump’s political options and suggest that his second term is entering a dangerous, potentially irreversible downward spiral.
In my latest podcast episode, I spoke with former Principal Deputy Director in the Secretary of State`s Office of Global Women`s Issues, Katrina (Kat) Fotovat about the backsliding on women`s rights between the first and second Trump adminstrations. Kat noted the shift in priorities between administrations, and the national security implications of such cuts to women`s issues.
Listen to the full episode via the link in bio; episodes also available on all major podcasting apps
The next episode of my podcast "On the Issues" is this upcoming Tuesday, May 26, at 10:00am EDT with Lulzim Peci, principal founder and Executive Director of the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), and a member of the Board of the Council of Kosovo Ambassadors.
Listeners can register for the live podcast recording on Zoom at the following link: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5217794775890/WN_Rg9-1TgCRC6l_EBoUFg4Lw
Archived episodes will be released the following day, on Wednesdays at noon. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, including Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify, to be sure to always get the latest episodes.
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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: On the Issues with Alon Ben-Meir, featuring Lulzim Peci. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Justice Department under Trump has become an extension of his personal and political whims, not an independent arbiter of law. It serves as an instrument for targeting his perceived enemies while shielding allies from accountability, including by dropping sensitive corruption and white collar investigations. Everybody must remember that where there is no justice, tyranny reigns.
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The United States is facing relentless inflation that is squeezing nearly every household. The rising costs of gasoline, groceries, rent, and basic necessities are hitting the middle class and the poor the hardest. There is little relief in sight; even Trump, who is the culprit behind inflation, has conceded that fuel prices may remain high through the end of the year. This crisis is not accidental. It reflects the consequences of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies—provocative actions that drove up energy prices, reckless fiscal decisions, and tax cuts that favored the wealthy while leaving ordinary Americans behind. This is no longer just a political issue—it is a national emergency. Elections alone are not enough. The public must express sustained, visible outrage and demand accountability, policy change, and immediate economic relief. Enough is enough.
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Democrats must get their act together. Internal divisions—some drifting left, others right—are weakening the party. To succeed, they need a disciplined, centrist core while remaining pragmatic on key issues. Immigration policy should balance enforcement, while healthcare can remain progressive yet fiscally grounded. A winning coalition depends on aligning with where most Democrats and independents actually are: the center. That requires a cohesive national agenda that extends beyond the midterms and builds toward 2028. Priority issues must include economic stability, inflation, job growth, immigration reform, affordable healthcare, energy security, and the protection of democratic institutions. Voters want competence, clarity, and results. A unified message focused on urgent, practical solutions is no longer optional—it is essential.
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100% and I sign your words too. ""Democrats must get their act together. Internal divisions—some drifting left, others right—are weakening the party. To succeed, they need a disciplined, centrist core while remaining pragmatic on key issues. Immigration policy should balance enforcement, while healthcare can remain progressive yet fiscally grounded. A winning coalition depends on aligning with where most Democrats and independents actually are: the center. That requires a cohesive national agenda that extends beyond the midterms and builds toward 2028. Priority issues must include economic stability, inflation, job growth, immigration reform, affordable healthcare, energy security, and the protection of democratic institutions. Voters want competence, clarity, and results. A unified message focused on urgent, practical solutions is no longer optional—it is essential.""
Democrats have ALWAYS had different ideas - not monotheism uber capitalism like the GOP. It's not one way or the other with Dems.
It might help if the focus were on things that help us all, instead of uber-radical social engineering hurting the many to favor the few.
