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The right to privacy in the wake of Dobbs

Opinion

Abortion rights protest

Supporters of abortion rights protest outside the Supreme Court on June 24, 2023.

Sha Hanting/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

In the latest episode of The Afakasi Podcast, host KJ Mauwong delves into a crucial topic: the right to privacy and its implications in the wake of recent developments in the Supreme Court.

Mauwong and his guests talked about Roe v. Wade and the Dobbs decision that reversed it. The discussion revolved around the broader context of personal rights, autonomy and the shadow of the law known as "penumbra." The podcast explores the Supreme Court's role, potential judicial overreach, and the constant evolution of interpretations.


The conversation takes a contemporary turn as the trio delves into the impact of technology on privacy rights, considering the intrusion of companies into personal lives, data collection, and the challenges posed by the democratization of information. The conversation prompts listeners to think about the complexities of privacy, especially in the digital age.

As the dialogue unfolds, the participants touch on historical cases, from Dred Scott to present-day challenges, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to define and protect privacy rights. The discussion evolves into a call for civic engagement, urging listeners to be informed voters, to scrutinize their elected officials, and to actively participate in the democratic process.

In the closing remarks, Mauwong emphasized the importance of education and encouraged listeners to be proactive in shaping their democracy. This episode serves as a reminder that democracy is a living entity, requiring constant care and engagement from its citizens.

Remember to check out The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship, where passionate individuals, especially college and high school students, can learn to launch their podcasts. Apply at democracygroup.org/fellowship. The fellowship is sponsored by the Bridge Alliance, which operates The Fulcrum.

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A close up of American coins.

Congress is considering a bipartisan bill to mint a new $2.50 coin for America’s 250th anniversary, reviving a historic 1926 design and separate from the debated Trump coin.

Getty Images, Taalulla
A close up of American coins.

Congress is considering a bipartisan bill to mint a new $2.50 coin for America’s 250th anniversary, reviving a historic 1926 design and separate from the debated Trump coin.

Getty Images, Taalulla
Trump's Deregulation Lure: A Wage Squeeze for the Global South
person using black laptop computer
Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

Trump's Deregulation Lure: A Wage Squeeze for the Global South

When Colm Kelleher, chairman of UBS, sat down with Scott Bessent in recent months to discuss uprooting the bank's headquarters from Zurich to New York, it was more than corporate maneuvering. It was a signal flare for the financial world under Donald Trump's second term. Bessent promised a regulatory bonfire that could slash compliance costs and open the floodgates for American finance. The reported talks underscore a broader shift: the United States is apparently positioning itself as the unassailable hub of global capital, drawing in institutions like UBS with tax breaks and lighter oversight. Yet this allure comes at a steep price for emerging markets, where wage growth is already fragile. What looks like a boom for American workers masks a quiet trap, one that could deepen the divide between rich nations and the rest.

Bessent's vision, laid out in private conversations and public hints, paints a picture of American exceptionalism reborn. He has warned of a "perfect storm" of inherited inflation and supply disruptions from the Biden years, now to be tamed by aggressive deregulation and targeted tariffs. In one recent interview, he blamed soaring beef prices on a mix of migrant-driven cattle issues and lingering policy failures, framing Trump's agenda as the corrective force. The rhetoric is folksy, but the policy is sharp: roll back rules that hobble banks, lure foreign firms stateside, and shield domestic industries with import duties. UBS's flirtation with relocation fits neatly here. Across the Atlantic, Trump offers relief: no more endless stress tests, faster mergers, and a friendlier tax code. If UBS moves, it could save hundreds of millions annually in regulatory overhead, funneling those gains into higher bonuses for its New York traders.

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​Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025.

The Military’s Diversity Rises out of Recruitment Targets, Not Any ‘Woke’ Goals

For over a hundred years, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – has been a day to celebrate and recognize the sacrifice and service of America’s military veterans.

This Veterans Day, as always, calls for celebration of the service and sacrifice of America’s troops. But it also provides an opportunity for the public to learn at a deeper level about America’s troops and who they are.

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