Hosts Shereen Marisol Meraji and Matthew Beat give a glimpse into the ACLU’s new podcast covering some of the most influential court cases in history.

Hosts Shereen Marisol Meraji and Matthew Beat give a glimpse into the ACLU’s new podcast covering some of the most influential court cases in history.

As a journalist and educator, Shereen Marisol Meraji spends a lot of time thinking about how to help people understand complicated things — without the jargon. The same applies when talking about constitutional law. “Legalese” is another language altogether, but it shouldn’t deter people from understanding the court’s decisions throughout history.

About a thousand miles away from her is Matthew Beat, a former history teacher who spends much of his time on YouTube. He’s the creator behind several viral videos that explain some of the world’s most complex issues. Together, Meraji and Beat form the duo that lend their voice to “Let the Record Show,” the ACLU’s newest podcast.

What Happens When the President Defies a Judge?

“When the ACLU came to me with this idea, I loved it immediately. I thought, ‘Oh, this could be really fun,’” Meraji said. “We can tell these incredible stories and make constitutional law feel accessible, not like you’re sitting in a law school classroom, but like you’re hanging out with two of your favorite nerdy friends.”

In a country where threats to civil liberties have begun to feel increasingly overwhelming, "Let the Record Show" invites listeners to take a beat and look back.

"Let the Record Show" is a new, irreverent American history podcast that looks back on the people and places behind defining legal moments for rights and freedoms in the United States. On every episode, our hosts explore a major court case from U.S. history. Cases that shape how we live our lives today. And it’s more than just the case and its outcome — it’s about the people and places beyond the courtroom, and the moments that came to define our country’s complex system of laws.

“Matt and I come at these stories from different places, which is part of what makes it fun. He’s a history teacher, and I’m a journalist,” Meraji said. “Matt is really good at taking us back in time and helping us understand the world these cases came from. And I’m often asking: What part of this story got left out of the mainstream historical record — and why? And how does this history help us understand the news today?"

Expect to experience much more than stuffy old case law. Listeners will hear about the people, places and narratives behind the cases; the captivating, bizarre and nail-biting moments in American history; and the ACLU's long track record of going toe to toe with the government.

At the core of our show are the hosts, Meraji and Beat: two sharp and witty history nerds who inject bold humor, intrigue, and compelling commentary along the way. On "Let the Record Show," Meraji and Beat will be joined by ACLU spokespeople, legal advocates, experts from partner organizations, and other surprise guests all weighing in on American civics.

"We joke, we get angry, we get sad, we get inspired. That’s good because that means the fire is burning," Beat said. "Shereen is just so darn easy to get along with. She’s wise and passionate, and I learn so much from her. She even pretends to laugh at my bad jokes!"

Shereen Marisol Meraji

Credit: LaQuann Dawson

Shereen Marisol Meraji is an associate professor and the head of the audio journalism concentration at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. She is an award-winning audio journalist known for her expertise in race and identity reporting, and a leader in shaping inclusive practices in public media and journalism education.

Meraji is best known as the co-founder, senior producer, and former co-host of NPR’s "Code Switch," a groundbreaking podcast that explores race and identity in the United States. During her tenure, "Code Switch" became a national touchstone, used by educators, scholars, and media institutions to inform and deepen conversations about systemic racism. In 2020, Apple Podcasts named Code Switch its first-ever Show of the Year.

At UC Berkeley, Meraji brings over two decades of field experience into the classroom, designing curriculum that merges technical training in audio storytelling with critical insights into how race, representation, and power shape the news. She launched the J-school’s first-ever foundational reporting course in audio. Meraji’s current research and creative work continue to focus on racial and gender equity.

Meraji wants listeners to know that rights can feel permanent once we have them, but “Let the Record Show” shows how much the constitutional protections we take for granted were not inevitable.

“You look back and think, ‘Well, of course women should be allowed to serve on juries,’ or ‘Of course undocumented children should be able to attend public school,’” Meraji said. “But then you actually go back and look at these cases and realize: No. People fought over this. And, things could have gone very differently.”

Matthew Beat, Known As Mr. Beat

Credit: LaQuann Dawson

Beat is a multifaceted creator from Kansas: a YouTuber, video producer, educator, and musician. With experience teaching a range of middle school and high school subjects, Beat has expanded his classroom to global audience through YouTube. His channel has 1.4 million subscribers and more than 370 million views. He was also named the Dole Institute of Politics Spring Fellow in 2025.

"I love the American judicial system and am fascinated by its history. I love teaching people about how our country’s legal system works, especially to an audience that often is bewildered by it," Beat said.

While his specialty is American history, Matt is also passionate about geography, economics, and politics. Beat hopes that readers don't feel daunted by the cases discussed in the podcast. He said each episode breaks down the case without oversimplifying the subject.

"I’m most excited about the Engel v. Vitale episode," Beat said. "This Engel episode clears up why the mixing of religion and government is so problematic."

A Look Into Our First Episode

For our series premiere, "Let the Record Show" will cover J.G.G. v. Trump, an ongoing emergency lawsuit we filed in federal court to halt removals under the Alien Enemies Act. This case now focuses in part on accountability — specifically, whether Trump officials will face consequences for openly defying a federal judge. The episodes will help make sense of our system of checks and balances.

"The most powerful episode has to be J.G.G. V. Trump since so much about our civil liberties are at stake by how this decision turns out," Beat said. "I think it’s the most relevant decision to most Americans because it can potentially affect all Americans."

You can listen to “Let the Record Show” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out the video version here.

• Press Release

  Oct 2026

  

  Civil Liberties

  ACLU and ACLU of North Carolina Launch Over $3.5 Million Campaign to Educate North Carolina Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections

  RALEIGH, N.C. – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. today announced the launch of a joint campaign that will spend over $3.5 million to educate and engage North Carolina voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “For years, voters in North Carolina have watched as extreme politicians try over and over again to strip us of our rights – from our right to bodily autonomy to our right to fair representation,” said Liz Barber, ACLU of North Carolina director of policy and advocacy. “The ACLU is committed to ensuring that North Carolinians understand how state officials – like state supreme court justices and state legislators – can protect our rights, and where candidates for office this cycle stand on these important issues.” The organizations are spending $3.5 million on a series of statewide advertisements on social and digital media platforms and direct-to-voter mailers during the final weeks of the state Supreme Court race and key state legislative races. The advertisements will focus on educating voters about where candidates stand on key issues, including abortion rights and voting rights. This is the organizations’ largest electoral spend in North Carolina to date and will reach over 2.3 million voters. The spending is part of a multi-cycle strategy in North Carolina from the ACLU. In 2024, the ACLU of North Carolina and ACLU spent $750,000 on direct mail, digital ads, and grassroots outreach educating voters about issues at stake in the state Supreme Court and state legislative elections. The North Carolina Supreme Court is responsible for interpreting the state constitution and state laws. As the state’s highest court, it has the final say on many questions involving civil rights and civil liberties, and the North Carolina Constitution can provide broader protections than the U.S. Constitution. In 2022, for example, the court held that the North Carolina Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment can provide protections beyond those guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment. The ACLU of North Carolina, and ACLU are nonpartisan and do not support or oppose candidates for elected office. The organizations do, however, educate the voters about the issues at stake in elections and candidates’ positions and records on civil rights and civil liberties.

  Affiliate: North Carolina

  Aclu And Aclu Of North Carolina Launch Over $3.5 Million Campaign To Educate North Carolina Voters Ahead Of Midterm Elections. Explore Press Release.

• California

  Oct 2026

  

  Civil Liberties

  +2 Issues

  Salles, et al. v. National Institutes of Health, et al.

  Salles, et al. v. National Institutes of Health, et al. is a class action lawsuit challenging the censorship and termination of federally funded research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While ongoing litigation in APHA v. NIH successfully resulted in the reinstatement of hundreds of grants, NIH’s current policies continue to target viewpoints it opposes, threatening research because the government dislikes what it thinks the researchers believe or are likely to say, and continue to violate governing statutes and regulations. This is stymieing critical public health research, particularly related to climate change, the starkest health disparities including those faced by communities of color and LGBTQ+ populations, and other areas.

  Status: Ongoing

  Salles, Et Al. V. National Institutes Of Health, Et Al.. Explore Case.

• Press Release

  Oct 2026

  

  Civil Liberties

  ACLU Announces the Arnie Miller Fund for the Next Generation

  NEW YORK — The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that, through a generous $1 million anonymous gift, it has established the Arnie Miller Fund for the Next Generation to invest in emerging civil rights and civil liberties leaders. The Fund will support paid ACLU internships for law school and undergraduate students named "Arnie Miller Interns” and enrich programming for ACLU's highly competitive 18-month Pauli Murray Fellowship at the ACLU. The Fund aims to honor the late Arnold J. “Arnie” Miller’s fierce commitment to mentorship, to cultivating a diverse pipeline of talented future leaders, including women, people of color, and underrepresented communities, and to uplifting the next generation of aspiring young leaders in public interest roles. “Arnie Miller spent his life lifting people up, because he understood that people and community are our best assets. We’re proud to be able to turn this generous gift into a long-term program to train and develop young people who are passionate about civil rights and civil liberties,” said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. “We continue to honor Arnie’s memory by investing in the people who will carry this work forward.” Arnie Miller grew up in the Bronx and served as an Army Lieutenant in post-war Korea before entering politics amid the antiwar movement of the 1960s and 70s. He served in the Carter administration as Director of the Presidential Personnel Office, helping bring more women and people of color into senior federal roles than any prior administration, and later founded Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm serving mission-driven nonprofits and foundations. “Arnie believed deeply that young people with courage and determination could make a difference in our world. Throughout his life, he found enormous joy in helping others find their path and opening doors that might otherwise have remained closed. I know he would be deeply moved to see this fund carrying that spirit forward, giving the next generation the opportunity to serve, to lead, and to make our communities better. There is no more meaningful way to honor his memory,” said Deb DeLee, Arnie's longtime partner. The Arnie Miller Fund for the Next Generation will help the ACLU foster the exceptional talent of early-career professionals and welcomes additional gifts from those inspired by Arnie's legacy, ensuring the ACLU can continue to create opportunities for early-career professionals to enhance their skills, grow as leaders, and build careers dedicated to justice, equality, and freedom. Learn more about the Arnie Miller Fund for the Next Generation at https://www.aclu.org/arnie-miller-fund and the Pauli Murray Fellowship at https://www.aclu.org/pauli-murray-fellowship.

  Aclu Announces The Arnie Miller Fund For The Next Generation. Explore Press Release.