Steve's journey through the South! This week on Trail Blazing Justice, we catch up with Steve Wax on the road, as part of our Waxing Confidential series.

Steve shares his recent tour through the South, reflecting on powerful visits to the Legacy Museum, Rosa Parks Museum, and other historical sites. We hear his vivid memories from the 1960s alongside sharp insights into how the past connects to today’s battles over history, education, and justice. It’s a moving, personal journey through a landscape still shaped by resistance, trauma, and resilience.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

What happens when drone surveillance and DNA collection laws quietly expand under the radar? In this episode of Trailblazing Justice, we break down two alarming bills in the Oregon legislature—one that loosens restrictions on warrantless drone use, and another that allows police to collect DNA from people merely arrested, not convicted. With bipartisan support pushing these bills forward, Bobbin and Zach expose the troubling implications for civil rights, transparency, and government overreach.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Is it possible to meaningfully challenge solitary? In this episode, Bobbin, Mark, Julia, and Zach peel back the layers of Oregon’s opaque grievance processes, Supreme Court rulings, and procedural roadblocks that leave those incarcerated with almost no recourse to contest their placement in isolation. Tune in as we trace the history, legal hurdles, and ongoing reform efforts aimed at shining a spotlight on—and ultimately curbing (abolishing!!)—the use of solitary confinement in Oregon.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

What should you do if you are engaged by law enforcement when you are on the street? In this episode of Trail Blazing Justice, co-director of the Oregon Innocence Project Kenneth Kreuscher explains the rules for safely asserting your rights and understanding your risks with these three rules: don't trust, don't talk, don't consent. Whether you're a protester, non-citizen, or just someone who wants to understand how to navigate law enforcement interactions, this conversation breaks it down.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

What if your right to challenge an unjust imprisonment was the last line of defense against authoritarian rule? In this episode, we trace the ancient roots and modern battles over habeas corpus—from medieval England to Guantanamo Bay, to present-day America—uncovering how this vital legal safeguard is under renewed threat. As political leaders hint at suspending it under dubious claims of “invasion” or “insurrection,” this episode raises an urgent warning: democracy may hinge on whether we protect this fundamental right.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

In this episode, we continue our special series on Solitary Confinement by turning our focus to Oregon’s only women’s prison—Coffee Creek—and the often-overlooked realities of solitary confinement behind its walls. Kyle Black shares firsthand accounts of the degrading strip searches, traumatizing isolation, and the human toll of a system designed to punish, not protect. We explore how solitary is used as a catch-all for everything the prison can’t—or won’t—address, and ask: who is truly being kept safe?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide, self-harm, and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If these topics are distressing for you, please take care while listening, and consider skipping this episode if needed. Help is available to anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts. Call 988 to speak to someone today.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Can the press still hold power accountable, or has the media itself become a battleground?

In this episode of Trail Blazing Justice, we explore the evolving role of journalism in the age of Trump.

Alice Lundell, OJRC’s Director of Communication, join us to discuss how the media landscape has changed, the challenges of maintaining truth amid rising disinformation, and why journalism remains essential to justice.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

We dive into the tension between democracy and executive overreach. Steve and Bobbin unpack the significance of a recent landmark court order pushing back against Trump’s assault on law firms, they draw unsettling parallels between what we are currently seeing at the national level and pre-Nazi Germany, and provide an overview of Due Process and Habeas Corpus. Join us as we explore the enduring importance of the rule of law and civil liberties, and its connection to democracy.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.