Why Louisiana's History Matters for Reparations

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Nathan J. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Current Affairs, speaks with Nika Soon-Shiong, founder and Executive Director of the Fund for Guaranteed Income, and Alanah Odoms, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana. They discuss their collaboration on The Cost of Freedom: Truth and Reconciliation Guaranteed Income Program, a pilot exploring reparations through direct cash payments.

Together, they examine how economic justice underpins civil rights, the historical links between slavery and mass incarceration in Louisiana, and how guaranteed income can reshape policy around public safety and justice.

0:00-5:09 The State of Civil Liberties in Louisiana

5:09-8:11 Connecting Universal Basic Income to Civil Liberties

8:11-13:03 Guaranteed Income as Reparations

13:03-19:34 How Guaranteed Income Changes Lives

19:34-23:53 Responding to Critiques of Basic Income

23:52-30:28 ACLU Louisiana’s Current Battles

30:28-34:52 Impact & Policy Recommendations

34:52-39:26 Drop Site News

⚖️ Read The Cost of Freedom Report: https://www.laaclu.org/app/uploads/2025/06/the_cost_of_freedom_truth_reconciliation_guaranteed_income_program_final_report.pdf

⚖️ Fund for Guaranteed Income: https://f4gi.org/

⚖️ ACLU Louisiana: https://www.laaclu.org/

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