Civil LiberTrees

On January 30, 2026, hundreds gathered in Stanford’s White Plaza in a grassroots protest opposing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's violent deportation tactics in American cities. Chaos in Minneapolis surrounding the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of border patrol agents, has elicited many students, teachers, and working-class communities to rise and resist, with as many as 50,000 going on strike in Minneapolis and thousands more in cities across the nation. Responding to a call from student organizations at the University of Minnesota, Stanford students developed a space of solidarity for communities suffering from state violence and took a stand against the discriminatory actions by the federal government. This episode documents the perspectives of organizers, protestors, and observers on Stanford’s “ICE Out” protests, the state of free speech rights on campus, and the importance of collective organizing.

In this episode of Civil LiberTrees, Catherine discusses the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency with Andrew Eskin, Esq. who has decades of experience in the federal government and teaches Policymaking at Stanford in Washington. This episode reviews President Trump’s recent flurry of executive orders as well as Elon Musk’s role in the new administration. Mr. Eskin provides an insightful perspective on what President Trump has already done, cutting through the noise to discern the ways his presidency may clash with other Washington powers and what changes we can expect in the next few months.

In this episode of Civil LiberTrees, hosts Kaden and Anya sit down with Dr. Paul Burow, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University, to explore the intersections of environmental justice, Indigenous land stewardship, and the ongoing impact of settler colonialism. Dr. Burow delves into his work with tribal nations in California's Eastern Sierra, examining the vital role of collaborative forest management, cultural landscape preservation, and Indigenous-led initiatives in the face of climate change. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the power of community-based research, the need for systemic shifts in environmental policy, and the inspirational resilience of Indigenous communities as they reclaim their land and rights for future generations.

In this episode, we speak with three Stanford alumni—Christine Mrak, James Schoch, and Ira Arlook—who were deeply involved in Vietnam War activism during their time on campus. Their stories offer a fascinating look into the experiences and challenges of protesting the Vietnam War, drawing parallels to modern campus movements. They also share valuable advice for young activists looking to create meaningful change in today’s world.

TW:  This episode contains mentions of death, violence, and disciplinary proceedings at Stanford.

Music:

“Black Heat” by Ross Bugden

“Signal to Noise” by Scott Buckley

“Political BGM” by Rijo Tunes

“Demise of A Nation” by Secession Studios

“Phoenix” by Scott Buckley

“Resolution” by Scott Buckley

In this episode, we discuss free speech and Palestinian history with Zeena Khazendar. Zeena is a refugee health researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine who is Palestinian, and her primary area of focus is refugee mental health in Palestine and Kenya. Zeena shares insight on the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, the resulting public health crises, and the suppression of Palestinian voices.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit [https://www.stanfordaclu.com/podcast].