Reset Critical

While most of the developed world has abolished the death penalty, the U.S. federal government is pushing harder for executions than it has in years. Niaz, who led the NAACP's successful campaign to abolish the death penalty in Maryland in 2013, makes the full case for abolition: it doesn't deter crime, it costs more than life imprisonment, it's applied in a racially discriminatory way, and it has...

Wildfires burned across multiple continents this summer, yet some people still deny that climate change is real. We quickly dispel that denial, then confront the harder truth: we can't undo the damage, but we can still stop the worst of it. We revisit a genuine environmental success story, the world's actual fix for the ozone hole, and ask the obvious question: if we did that, why can't we do it f...

This summer, the State Department published a report accusing Cuba of cultivating "left-wing terrorism" in the U.S. and naming people our host, Niaz Kasravi, knows personally, including colleagues who've spent decades on criminal justice reform and racial equity work. In this episode, she breaks down exactly what the report claims, explains why reframing advocacy as terrorism should alarm you rega...

A 34-year-old democratic socialist became the mayor of America's biggest city. So what actually is democratic socialism, and why does the word alone scare so many people? Niaz breaks down capitalism, socialism, and communism in plain terms, explains what democratic socialists actually want (spoiler: it's not the Soviet Union), and traces the fear itself back to Cold War propaganda and the McCarthy...

Everyone's asking if the election will be "stolen." Niaz argues that's the wrong question; the real story is legal, structural, and has been building for years: gerrymandering and mail-ballot restrictions rigging outcomes before a single vote is cast. In minutes, Niaz breaks down what's actually happening on both fronts, including a Supreme Court fight over mail-in voting, and gives you concrete s...

A viral photo. A war that's killed a head of state. A regime that has oppressed its own people for almost five decades. Niaz refuses to pick a side and argues that this refusal is the point. This episode breaks down what's really happened in the war on Iran this year, argues that opposing the war and condemning the regime aren't contradictory positions, and explains why she believes both the U.S./...

A letter published in The Guardian in late August sparked a firestorm and forced an uncomfortable question on people on every side of the Iran debate. Niaz breaks down the controversy, then turns her sharpest critique on her own side: the progressive left. Is it possible to oppose an illegal war on Iran and refuse to stay silent about the Iranian regime's brutality toward its own people? Niaz argu...

What if love isn’t just something we feel—but the truth of who we are? In this episode, Cynthia Marks explores the idea that beneath trauma, conditioning, and societal pressure, every human being is rooted in love. Through deeply personal stories and powerful reflections, she challenges the systems and beliefs that disconnect us from that truth. From the role of women in shaping future generations...

In this episode of Reset Critical, Niaz sits down with Marcie Gilbert and Marcos L. Vann of Calibrate, a Los Angeles nonprofit that helps young people and communities heal through a powerful practice called Connections. They explain how creating safe, structured spaces for people to speak from the heart and listen without interruption can build resilience, strengthen communication, and foster genu...

In this episode of Reset Critical, Niaz sits down with scholar and filmmaker Rudy Mondragón to explore boxing as far more than sport. They discuss how boxing has long been a site of political struggle, self-expression, and resistance — especially for people from marginalized communities. Rudy explains how ring entrances can function as powerful acts of identity, solidarity, and advocacy, from Indi...

Can policy wins and “reforms” actually make us safer, or do they just shrink our demands until nothing meaningful changes? In this episode of Reset Critical with Niaz Kasravi, featuring guest Lex Steppling, a seasoned organizer with the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) and a founding member of the All People's Health Collective, Lex and Niaz discuss how today’s political climate feels...

What happens to truth, solidarity, and our humanity when war, trauma, and ideology collide? In this episode of Reset Critical, Niaz is joined by Dr. Annahita Mahdavi West and Dr. Cornel West to discuss the war in Iran, the intense trauma of living under bombardment and repression, and how diaspora PTSD and divisions fuel anger, infighting, and political labels. They explore the idea of a just war,...

In this episode of Reset Critical, host Niaz sits down with U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari to discuss some of the most urgent political and moral issues facing the country. They talk about the current state of ICE, immigration raids, detention conditions, and the growing public backlash against aggressive enforcement policies. Congresswoman Ansari also shares her views on the fight for...

In this compelling episode of Reset Critical, host Niaz Kasravi takes a deep dive into the harrowing world of wrongful convictions. Joining her is Walter Katz, the Director of Policy at the Innocence Project, for a conversation that deconstructs the flaws inherent in the U.S. criminal justice system. Katz shares vital insights into the history of the Innocence Project and their landmark work exone...

Iran, the Diaspora's Responsibility, and Reclaiming Civil Discourse  What happens when conversations about a country you love become polarized, weaponized, and destructive? In this solo episode of Reset Critical, host Niaz Kasravi steps away from debate and returns to key principles: compassion, dignity, responsibility, and democracy. This is not commentary theater. This is a reset.  Topics covere...

In this thought-provoking episode of Reset Critical, host Niaz Kasravi is joined by Dr. Melina Abdullah, professor and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Black Lives Matter Grassroots, and Ise Lyfe, a social enterprise executive, professor, artist, and activist. The discussion delves deep into the state of racial justice advocacy, the impact of recent socio-political developments, an...

Join Niaz Kasravi on Reset Critical as she explores the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) with Nadia Davari, an accomplished attorney specializing in the intersection of entertainment, media, and technology. They discuss the benefits and risks of AI, from its role in daily tasks to its potential to replace jobs and pose ethical challenges. The conversation covers legal concerns such as...

In this episode of Reset Critical, host Niaz Kasravi is joined by Patrice Sulton, a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, to discuss urgent issues in criminal justice and racial equity. With extensive experience in criminal justice advocacy and research, Niaz leads an in-depth exploration of reforms, setbacks, and the future of these critical areas. Patrice, founder of DC Justice Lab and the n...

Immigration judge and former DHS chief counsel Ashley Tabaddor joins Reset Critical for a candid, deeply informed look at immigration in America—what’s actually legal, what’s political theater, and what’s being done in our name. She explains how asylum truly functions, why “undocumented” is not a crime at the border, and how COVID-era policies like Title 42 skewed the numbers we think we understan...

In the premiere of Reset Critical, we sit down with artist and activist Azam Ali to explore issues of courage, conscience, and the cost of silence. Azam shares how a lifetime of global advocacy informs her insistence on upholding principles rather than performative “bridge-building” when fundamental rights are at stake. We delve into free speech, dissent, and the uneasy double standards that emerg...