Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson has always aspired to be a federal judge. In fact, the newest appointed associate justice of the United States Supreme Court wrote in her application to Harvard University that she wished “to attend Harvard Law School as I believed it might help me ‘to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.’” She tells stories like these in her new memoir, "Lovely One."Justice Jackson joins host Kai Wright to discuss the bestselling book and more in a live conversation recorded at the U.S. National Archives in Washington D.C. They are accompanied by musical performances from the percussive and vocal group The Women of the Calabash.This episode was made in partnership with the March On Festival, telling stories that move, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, through its We The People National Campaign, elevating the power of democracy for all Americans.Notes from America is a 2024 Signal Awards finalist! Community voting is now open for the show to earn a Listener’s Choice honor for Best Live Podcast Recording, and we would be honored for you to take a minute to cast a vote our way. Click here to vote through October 17, and thank you for listening and supporting Notes from America! Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

In the fourth episode of “Notes on a Native Son,” our guest is the writer and essayist Darryl Pinckney. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books and The Village Voice. Most recently, he's been the recipient of a highly prestigious award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for his contribution to American literature. Host Razia Iqbal meets up with Pinckney in Harlem, where James Baldwin grew up and eventually left in the 1940s. Pinckney lives there in a striking, sprawling house with the English poet James Fenton, and they find the perfect spot to record a conversation: in the library, directly beneath Pinckney’s shelf of Baldwin’s works. They talk about how Baldwin so eloquently documented the emotion of love — how it drives us and why we fear it.Notes from America is a 2024 Signal Awards finalist! Community voting is now open for the show to earn a Listener’s Choice honor for Best Live Podcast Recording, and we would be honored for you to take a minute to cast a vote our way. Click here to vote through October 17, and thank you for listening and supporting Notes from America! Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Najla Said, an actor and activist, shares her unique insights as the daughter of Palestinian intellectual Edward Said, while Judith Sloan, an actor and adjunct professor, discusses their collaborative project 'Imperfect Allies.' They delve into the complexities of navigating emotional trauma amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict and the importance of open dialogue. Through personal narratives and shared experiences, they emphasize empathy, understanding, and the healing power of unity in divided communities, encouraging listeners to engage in difficult conversations.

In the third episode of “Notes on a Native Son,” host Razia Iqbal sits down with the celebrated writer of novels and essays, Siri Hustvedt. When Hustvedt was invited to record a conversation for the podcast about her favorite passage from the work of James Baldwin, the timing in so many ways couldn’t have been worse — it turned out to be the last few weeks of life for her husband, writer Paul Auster. However, a few weeks after his passing, Hustvedt reached out to say that she was ready.She felt that re-reading and talking about Baldwin would somehow be a balm for her grief. Hustvedt describes how Baldwin’s novels “possessed” her as a young reader and discusses his intricate ability to recognize the oppressor within, even as he gave a voice to the oppressed.Notes from America is a 2024 Signal Awards finalist! Community voting is now open for the show to earn a Listener’s Choice honor for Best Live Podcast Recording, and we would be honored for you to take a minute to cast a vote our way. Click here to vote through October 17, and thank you for listening and supporting Notes from America! Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Americans under 30 years old have been through a lot in their young lives. Perhaps living through and witnessing the volatile political moment that was Donald Trump’s presidency, a global pandemic, a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, and growing devastation due to war in the Middle East, has led to their reported lack of trust in several key political and social institutions. And yet, as we hear in this episode, Gen Z is deeply engaged with the issues and ideas that will improve their experiences as young adults who want their personal rights protected, and the ability to have safe communities and economic security. Gen Z voter voices are at the center of this conversation, hosted live by Kai Wright at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. We hear from journalist Rachel Janfaza, who covers the political culture of the Gen Z generation; Askar Mirza, commissioner of Ridgefield, N.J.; and Alexis Williams, who is a coder and a political and social justice content creator. They join Kai for a conversation about how they became engaged themselves and what they know about their peers’ political priorities this election year.Special thanks to the entire staff at NJPAC, especially Donna Walker Kuhne, Kitab Rollins, Megan Barry and Shira Vickar-Fox. Thanks also to the following colleagues at WNYC: Brenda Williams Butts, Kristina Newman-Scott, Ed Haber, George Wellington, Aaron Cohen, Bill O’Neill, Jim Stagnitto, Robin Bilinkoff and Matthew Marando. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Host Razia Iqbal sits down with the celebrated civil rights lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson, a man as dedicated to his chosen profession as James Baldwin was to his.Stevenson is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama, which has not only transformed the conversation about the disproportionate numbers of incarcerated Black Americans, but has also challenged how we think about the criminal justice system and the system’s treatment of children in particular. He's been described by the late South African bishop and civil rights activist Desmond Tutu as “America's Nelson Mandela.” Stevenson also initiated the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, and continues to make us all think about the lived legacy of more than 200 years of slavery in the U.S. By Stevenson’s own admission, Baldwin has had a profound impact on his life, professionally and personally. When asked to choose a single Baldwin quote that inspires him, Stevenson chose three, and an exception was made in the interest of an exceptional conversation. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

More than 36 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Who they will support in November is still very much in play — and this year, the candidates’ approach to seeking that support can’t be copied from playbooks of the past.In this episode, guest host Janae Pierre is joined by Mike Madrid and Chuck Rocha, co-hosts of the Latino Vote podcast, which looks at the voting trends and behavioral patterns among Latino communities in the U.S. from the view of two political strategists from different ends of the political spectrum. Madrid is a GOP consultant, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and author of a new book, “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy.”  Rocha is a Democratic Party consultant and the former senior strategist for Bernie Sanders’ campaign.They talk about whether Harris or Trump is resonating more with Latino voters, how different factions of this voting bloc view the issues, and why stereotypes about Latinos continue to cause candidates to miss opportunities to connect with these communities. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, a celebrated essayist and novelist known for his explorations of race and identity, delves into the profound influence of James Baldwin on his work. He highlights Baldwin's essay "On Being 'White'... And Other Lies," discussing its resonance with contemporary discussions on race. Coates emphasizes the power of personal narrative against systemic violence and the importance of addressing historical injustices. He also reflects on Baldwin's enduring legacy and how his writing continues to shape modern conversations about identity.

Warning: This episode contains profane language and detailed descriptions of sexual assault allegations.More than 20 women say a man who went by Officer “Champagne” sexually assaulted them while they were held at the Rikers Island women's jail. Their allegations span decades and they are now suing the city for more than $500 million. But the Department of Correction says there was no one with that name who worked there during that time.WNYC spoke with several women who say they were assaulted by Champagne, and started to unravel the mystery. Who was Correction Officer Champagne?What the WNYC investigation found led to more questions — including why city officials have done so little to investigate more than 700 recent claims of sexual assault at the troubled jail?.Related links:He was Officer 'Champagne' at Rikers. 24 women accused him of sexual assault in jailRikers guard charged with rape while off duty has a string of accusations from detaineesCREDITSReporter: Jesse EdwardsEditor: Christopher WerthExecutive producer: Ave CarrilloProducer: Jared MarcelleContributors: Jared Marcelle, Samantha MaxTechnical Director: Wayne ShulmisterAudio Mixing: Wayne Shulmister, Liora Noam-KravitzMusic: Jared Paul, Owen KaplanEpisode art: Rhe CivitelloThanks to:  Sean Bowditch, Stephanie Clary, Audrey Cooper, Lauren Cooperman and Ann Givens Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Come November, an estimated 36 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the U.S. presidential election. Across the nation, there are Spanish language radio stations invested in them as an audience — and content on those stations is targeting listeners with disinformation about the candidates, the parties and political issues.In this special episode, host Kai Wright sits down with journalist Paulina Velasco to discuss “Frequency of Deception,” an investigation into the lies, rumors and propaganda that have been peppering Spanish language broadcasts in recent years. Velasco’s reporting includes egregious examples of attempts to manipulate listeners, ideas about who and what is behind these nefarious efforts, and a look at the ongoing push to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation among vulnerable communities.This story is part of Frequency of Deception / Radiofrecuencia de engaños, a six-part series on the spread of dis- and misinformation on Spanish-language radio in the U.S. by Feet in 2 Worlds in partnership with WNYC’s Notes from America, palabra and Puente News Collaborative. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.