Dissidents and Dictators

Casey and Elisha reunite after the holiday break, and Elisha brings with her catastrophic news: a mouse in her house. In the actually important segment, Elisha talks with Sebastien Lai, son of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial in Hong Kong under Beijing's national security law for “colluding with foreign forces"—aka, speaking out for freedom and democracy and against the Chinese Communist Party. We also learn how a Hong Kong businessman became a French Knight. To learn more about Jimmy Lai: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/dec/25/trials-of-jimmy-lai/8:56 https://youtu.be/sf-qyxEIuHI?si=i5JcEqxSPT8GwxXU

Dec. 18 marks the anniversary of the death of dissident, playwright, and first democratically elected president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. Elisha and Casey discuss his life and legacy, the role he played in Elisha's formative years, and the prize the Human Rights Foundation created in his honor. In lighter topics of discussion, Casey and Elisha talk about the office holiday party, Casey's impeccable—read joyfully terrible—rendition of Prince's "Purple Rain," and somehow the 90s sitcom "Home Improvement." To learn more about the Havel Prize for creative dissent: https://hrf.org/havel-prize/ To learn more about the 2023 Havel Prize laureates: https://hrf.org/announcing-the-2023-havel-prize-laureates/ To read David Remnick's article in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/02/17/exit-havel To read Vaclav Havel's "The Power of the Powerless": https://hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/the-power-of-the-powerless-vaclav-havel-2011-12-23

Casey and Elisha talk about the latest news out of Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro threatens to unleash an invasion on neighboring Guyana. They then turn to a spectacular espionage case out of Cuba, and what it says about dictatorships' infiltration efforts. They also talk about the UAE rolling out the red carpet for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Plus, naming Christmas trees after celebrities. Vote for HRF's Anthem Award nominated video about our Wear Your Values program: https://hrf.org/vote-for-hrfs-wear-your-values-program-in-the-anthem-awards/

Monday, December 4, 2023 marked 250 days in prison for Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Evan Gershkovich on trumped-up espionage charges. Casey and Elisha discuss his case and what Evan's friends, family, and colleagues are doing to not forget him as he remains a political prisoner. Also up for conversation: Casey's article on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' entanglement with Turkey and kleptocracy, as well as Louis Vuitton's first-ever Hong Kong-based fashion show and what that does for its image. Show notes: To read about Evan Gershkovich in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/world/evan-gershkovich-detained-for-250-days-is-still-bringing-his-friends-together-68894f4e To listen to Nicaraguan democracy advocate Felix Maradiaga speak at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUnDCR5mgLg To read Casey's article in The New Republic about Eric Adams's Entanglements with Turkey: https://newrepublic.com/article/176657/eric-adams-turkey-influence-peddling To read Claudia Bennet's article in the Washington Times about fashion, democracy, and Louis Vuitton: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/30/fashion-over-democracy-louis-vuittons-show-hong-ko/ To learn more about Human Rights Foundation's Wear Your Values Program: https://hrf.org/programs/wear-your-values/ To add Human Rights Foundation's Uyghur Forced Labor Chrome Attachment to your browser: https://hrf.org/hrf-launches-new-tool-to-raise-awareness-about-brands-linked-to-uyghur-forced-labor/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1MCrBhAoEiwAC2d64TT2SW0fkRs5i6SiqWj7cxtHOd87Pe2hvvovo0cjPMqJMd4WTiRePxoCdaQQAvD_BwE

Discussion on celebrities performing in authoritarian regimes, shedding light on ethical implications. Explore Uyghur genocide in China, democratic responses needed. Personal stories mixed with heavy topics like Kendrick Lamar news.

Casey and Elisha discuss HRF's recent pro-democracy conference in Taipei and the role the island plays in the struggle against tyranny in Beijing and around the world. They also discuss the legacies and brutality of Russian colonialism from Alaska to Ukraine. To learn about the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan: https://oslofreedomforum.com/events/oslo-freedom-forum-taiwan-2023/ To read Casey's Politico article: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/27/russia-colonization-alaska-ukraine-00123352

Casey Michel, head of Combating Kleptocracy, and Elisha Maldonado, director of communications, welcome you to the Human Rights Foundation's revamped podcast, Dissidents and Dictators. The two co-hosts discuss the Foundation's vision, which focuses solely on authoritarian regimes, and why they traded newsrooms for the human rights mission field.

In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Philippa Thomas, a former BBC correspondent, and Dalia Hatuqa, an independent journalist specializing in Palestine and Israeli affairs, discuss the life, legacy, and story of the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Shireen’s life prematurely ended when she was killed by Israeli soldiers in May 2022 while reporting in Palestine. Hatuqa and Thomas seek to continue Abu Akleh's legacy by advocating for freedom of the press and an end to global violence and repression of journalists.

Toribia Lero Quispe is a Bolivian assemblywoman and opposition leader affected by the 2019 electoral fraud committed by strongman Evo Morales. Quispe routinely faces violence, intimidation, and widespread judicial persecution. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, she sheds light on Bolivia’s democratic movement, protecting ordinary citizens against tyranny. Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish.

Sanaa Seif is a British-Egyptian filmmaker, producer, and political activist leading a global campaign for her imprisoned brother, Alaa Abd el-Fattah. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Seif shares her family's story and speaks on the unjust imprisonment of those who speak against the Egyptian government. She calls on the international community to #FreeAlaa.