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Entitled

University of Chicago Podcast Network

Rights matter, but conversations about rights can be polarizing, confusing and frustrating. Lawyers and law professors Claudia Flores and Tom Ginsburg have traveled the world getting into the weeds of global human rights debates. On Entitled, they use that expertise to explore the stories and thorny questions around why rights matter and what’s the matter with rights. Entitled is produced with the support of University of Chicago Law School and Yale Law School, and is part of the award winning University of Chicago Podcast Network.

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#50
Today · 31 min
Electing the Bench: Mexico’s Judicial Overhaul and the Rule of Law with Julio Ríos-Figueroa
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 regio
#49
July 16 · 43 min
Who's Entitled to Passport Privilege with Dimitry Kochenov
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 hu
#48
June 10 · 37 min
The Crisis of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan with Rina Amiri
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 epi
#47
May 29 · 37 min
Are All Afghanistan's Women Potential Refugees? (Re-release)
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.
#46
May 8 · 45 min
Caste Across Borders: Dalit Workers and Immigrant Exploitation
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
#45
April 10 · 39 min
Inside The Fight for Freedom with Myanmar's UN Ambassador
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 uphe
#44
March 13 · 40 min
Human Rights Under Pressure: A Conversation with Kenneth Roth
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
#43
February 17 · 42 min
The Student Movement that Pushed for Change in Bangladesh
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 l
#42
January 8 · 52 min
From Prison to Exile: Leopoldo López and the Fight for Venezuela
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,
#40
Dec 29, 2025 · 46 min
Pakistan’s Supreme Court Under Strain: A Judge Resigns Amid Constitutional Attacks and Rising Authoritarianism
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”.
#41
Nov 25, 2025 · 56 min
Who's Afraid of Gender: Entitled Podcast Live
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 Ba
#39
Oct 28, 2025 · 28 min
Silencing the Special Procedures: Sanctions and the UN Human Rights System
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 authorized sanctions 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 sanct
#37
Sep 18, 2025 · 40 min
Is It Time To Rethink The Binary In Sports?
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 fa
#36
Jul 18, 2025 · 35 min
What If Kings Are Good for Democracy?
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 actually strengthens democracy? Do monarchs serve as symbols of national unity tha
#35
May 15, 2025 · 46 min
Why Mahmoud Khalil's Lawyer Is Losing Faith In The Justice System
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 b
#34
Apr 21, 2025 · 34 min
Are We Witnessing The End of The Postwar Order?, with Former President of the U.N. Dennis Francis
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?
#33
Mar 21, 2025 · 32 min
Trump And Human Rights: Take One
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 lin
#32
Dec 9, 2024 · 46 min
Is Bitcoin Good For Human Rights?
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
#31
Nov 15, 2024 · 39 min
Inside the UN: Unpacking the Role of Human Rights Experts
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 o
#30
Oct 3, 2024 · 49 min
The Future of Justice: What’s Next for Israel/Gaza in International Law?
Since our last episode on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, we wanted to do an update on where international law currently stands in the conflict. This year, the conflict has triggered several legal cases at international courts, including at the International Court of Justice, which has accused Israel of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. In this episode, we speak with Aslı Ü. Bâli, a Professor of Law at Yale University who teaches international law and human rights

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