The United Nations General Assembly is currently in its 80th session. This hour we look at the status of the organization today, and the challenges it faces.

Plus, historian Thant Myint-U has a new book out about his grandfather, U Thant, who was the UN’s first non-European secretary-general, and a leading ambassador of peace during the Cold War. Myint-U joins us to talk about his grandfather's role in the history of the United Nations and the lessons we can take from his example for the present.

GUESTS:


Thant Myint-U: Author of Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World. He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, a Senior Fellow at UN Foundation, and he formerly served on three UN peacekeeping operations


Eugene Chen: Senior Fellow at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research. He is a former UN official

This episode originally aired on October 31, 2025.

The United Nations General Assembly is currently in its 80th session. This hour we look at the status of the organization today, and the challenges it faces.
Plus, historian Thant Myint-U has a new book out about his grandfather, U Thant, who was the UN&rsquo;s first non-European secretary-general, and a leading ambassador of peace during the Cold War. Myint-U joins us to talk about his grandfather's role in the history of the United Nations and the lessons we can take from his example for the present.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Thant Myint-U: Author of <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324051978">Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World</a>. He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, a Senior Fellow at UN Foundation, and he formerly served on three UN peacekeeping operations
</li>
<li>
Eugene Chen: Senior Fellow at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research. He is a former UN official
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on October 31, 2025.

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!

Disrupted

Pushing for peace: A look at the past and future of the United Nations

Connecticut’s Clean Slate law passed in 2021. The law aims to erase certain convictions from people’s records after a period of time. It was initially scheduled to go into effect in January of 2023, but the program faced delays. This hour, we'll take a look at where things stand with Clean Slate today.

We'll also hear from Joe Soss and Joshua Page. Their recent book is Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice. The book explores how the legal system takes resources from marginalized communities. As part of his research for the book, Professor Page spent more than a year working as a bail bond agent.

GUESTS:


Maysoon Khan: Investigative Reporting Fellow with The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public.


Joshua Page: Fink Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice.


Joe Soss: Inaugural Cowles Chair for the Study of Public Service at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice.

Connecticut&rsquo;s Clean Slate law passed in 2021. The law aims to erase certain convictions from people&rsquo;s records after a period of time. It was initially scheduled to go into effect in January of 2023, but the program faced delays. This hour, we'll take a look at where things stand with Clean Slate today.
We'll also hear from Joe Soss and Joshua Page. Their recent book is <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo249657890.html">Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice</a>. The book explores how the legal system takes resources from marginalized communities. As part of his research for the book, Professor Page spent more than a year working as a bail bond agent.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/maysoon-khan">Maysoon Khan</a>: Investigative Reporting Fellow with The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/page">Joshua Page</a>: Fink Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo249657890.html">Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.hhh.umn.edu/directory/joe-soss">Joe Soss</a>: Inaugural Cowles Chair for the Study of Public Service at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo249657890.html">Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice</a>.
</li>
</ul>

Connecticut’s Clean Slate law and a look at predatory criminal justice practices

According to Amnesty International, 15 countries used the death penalty in 2024. The United States was one of those countries. Capital punishment is illegal in 23 states and isn’t used in some of the states where it is legal. But the United States still executed 25 people in 2024 and nearly twice as many people in 2025.

But amidst all the statistics and lofty arguments for and against, it’s important to remember that capital punishment affects real people. It impacts both the people sentenced to death, and the families who’ve lost loved ones to violence.

This hour, we’re listening back to our episode about what the death penalty means to the human beings impacted by it.

Staff Writer at The Atlantic and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Bruenig, has seen the impact of the death penalty firsthand. She’s also lost a family member to violence. While many journalists cover capital punishment, fewer are applying to attend the executions of people on death row.

In a deeply personal conversation, Khalilah Brown-Dean talks with Bruenig about her coverage of capital punishment. Her recent cover story in The Atlantic is, 'Witness: Inside America's Death Chambers - What Years of witnessing executions taught me about sin, mercy and the possibility of redemption.'

Bruenig describes her own family tragedy, the realities of death by lethal injection, and why her feelings about capital punishment have changed over time. Plus, the pair describe the complex emotions victims’ families grapple with in the aftermath of tragedy.

GUEST:


Elizabeth Bruenig: Staff writer at The Atlantic

This episode originally aired on September 5, 2025. 

According to <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/8976/2025/en/">Amnesty International</a>, 15 countries used the death penalty in 2024. The United States was one of those countries. Capital punishment <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state">is illegal in 23 states and isn&rsquo;t used in some of the states</a> where it is legal. But the United States still <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/2024">executed 25 people</a> in 2024 and <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/2025">nearly twice as many people</a> in 2025.
But amidst all the statistics and lofty arguments for and against, it&rsquo;s important to remember that capital punishment affects real people. It impacts both the people sentenced to death, and the families who&rsquo;ve lost loved ones to violence.
This hour, we&rsquo;re listening back to our episode about what the death penalty means to the human beings impacted by it.
Staff Writer at <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/elizabeth-bruenig/">The Atlantic</a> and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist <a href="https://www.elizabethbruenig.com/">Elizabeth Bruenig</a>, has seen the impact of the death penalty firsthand. She&rsquo;s also lost a family member to violence. While many journalists cover capital punishment, fewer are applying to attend the executions of people on death row.
In a deeply personal conversation, Khalilah Brown-Dean talks with Bruenig about her coverage of capital punishment. Her recent cover story in The Atlantic is, '<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/07/death-row-executions-witness/682891/">Witness: Inside America's Death Chambers - What Years of witnessing executions taught me about sin, mercy and the possibility of redemption</a>.'
Bruenig describes her own family tragedy, the realities of death by lethal injection, and why her feelings about capital punishment have changed over time. Plus, the pair describe the complex emotions victims&rsquo; families grapple with in the aftermath of tragedy.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Elizabeth Bruenig: Staff writer at The Atlantic
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on September 5, 2025.&nbsp;

Elizabeth Bruenig on witnessing executions and opposing capital punishment

Many people remember #MeToo from when it went viral in 2017. And before the hashtag, there was the Me Too movement, started by activist Tarana Burke 20 years ago as a way to support survivors of sexual violence, especially Black women and girls.

This hour, we’re reflecting on what has changed since the height of the Me Too movement. We'll discuss everything from policy to social media.

GUESTS:


Nicole Bedera: Sociologist who studies sexual violence and author of On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence.


Kat Tenbarge: Award-winning independent journalist who covers internet culture, politics and sexual violence and co-founder of Spitfire News.

Many people remember #MeToo from when it went viral in 2017. And before the hashtag, there was the Me Too movement, started by activist Tarana Burke 20 years ago as a way to support survivors of sexual violence, especially Black women and girls.
This hour, we&rsquo;re reflecting on what has changed since the height of the Me Too movement. We'll discuss everything from policy to social media.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nicolebedera.com/">Nicole Bedera</a>: Sociologist who studies sexual violence and author of <a href="https://www.nicolebedera.com/about-1">On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://spitfirenews.com/c/about">Kat Tenbarge</a>: Award-winning independent journalist who covers internet culture, politics and sexual violence and co-founder of <a href="https://spitfirenews.com/">Spitfire News</a>.
</li>
</ul>

Pushing for peace: A look at the past and future of the United Nations

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