CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines

For years, America's largest Muslim civil rights organization has fought for justice in the courts of law and the halls of power. But the fight doesn't stop there. The court of public opinion matters just much. CAIR on Air is a brand-new weekly podcast that gives the American public an inside look at the pursuits and struggles of the American Muslim community, behind the headlines and beyond the courtroom. Hosted by civil rights attorney and CAIR Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell and a rotating line-up of co-hosts, CAIR on Air is a space for direct, unfiltered conversation with supporters, partners, and anyone in the broader American public curious about key issues impacting the Muslim community and the nation. From free speech and religious liberty to anti-Muslim hate and U.S. foreign policy, no topic is off the table. Guests include attorneys, anti-war activists, elected officials, journalists, and everyday Americans of all faiths committed to justice. Join us every week to go beyond the courtroom and behind the headlines.

CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 22 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines, a education show with 22 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #21

  Why Is Islamophobia Rising in America? The Real Reason w/ Dr. Hatem Bazian

  Sep 16, 202640 minS1

  Dr. Hatem Bazian is a teaching professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leading scholar and expert on Islamophobia. His work examines anti-Muslim hate, political scapegoating, racism, and the forces shaping how Muslims are represented in American society and politics. In today’s episode, Dr. Hatem joins me to discuss the growing rise of anti-Muslim hate in the United States and why Islamophobic rhetoric appears to intensify during election cycles. We dive into the political and social forces behind Islamophobia, including the role of elections, media narratives, political organizations, and the ongoing war in Gaza. Dr. Hatem also explains how the fear of Muslims is used to shift public attention away from economic and foreign policy issues. We also explore the growing presence of American Muslims and whether directly confronting Islamophobia is the most effective strategy for candidates. Dr. Hatem also reveals how candidates can prevent opponents from turning Islamophobia into the central issue of a campaign. Dr. Hatem also talks about the changing attitudes among some conservatives toward Muslims, the political impact of the Epstein files, and how Islamophobia may be used when individual candidates succeed or fail. Join us today as we discuss the rise of Islamophobia in America, the politics behind anti-Muslim hate, Gaza and U.S. foreign policy, Muslim political power, and what Muslims can do to build a stronger future.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #20

  25 Years After 9/11: Why Is Anti-Muslim Hate Still Rising? W/ Saher Selod

  Sep 9, 202631 minS1

  Dr. Saher Selod, is a sociologist and researcher whose work focuses on Islamophobia, racialization, surveillance, and the experiences of Muslim Americans. She is the author of Forever Suspect: Radicalized Surveillance of Muslim Americans in the War on Terror and coauthor of A Global Racial Enemy: Muslims and 21st Century Racism. In today’s episode, Saher joins me to discuss the current state of anti-Muslim hate in America and the striking contradiction between increasing Islamophobia and the growing political and social visibility of American Muslims. Saher shares her perspective on how anti-Muslim rhetoric has evolved since 9/11, explaining how policies created during the War on Terror became institutionalized over the past 25 years. She also explains the role of political campaigns in portraying Muslims as a perceived threat and how Donald Trump made anti-Muslim rhetoric more overt. The conversation also explores surveillance, airport profiling, the USA PATRIOT Act, and the broad and sometimes ambiguous definition of “material support for terrorism.” We also discuss how these policies can affect Muslim nonprofits, charities, student organizations, and people who simply criticize U.S. foreign policy. Saher explains why these issues should concern all Americans, not only Muslims, and how policies created around counterterrorism can eventually affect other communities. Join us today as we dive into the rise of anti-Muslim hate, the legacy of 9/11, surveillance and counterterrorism policies, political rhetoric, October 7 and its impact on Muslim Americans, Muslim student experiences, and what can be done to protect both public safety and civil rights.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #19

  From 5 People To A Movement: Organizing For Palestine In Alabama

  Aug 26, 202635 minS1

  Hamza Abu-Hamdeh and Noor Al Dein are members and co-founders of the Young Palestinians of Birmingham (YPB), a grassroots organization dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and organizing communities in support of Palestinian self-determination. In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, Hamza and Noor Al Dein join me to discuss their backgrounds, what inspired them to become involved in Palestine advocacy, and how YPB began in Birmingham. We talk about what grassroots Palestine advocacy looks like in Birmingham, how they reach people who have never learned about Palestine before, and the coalitions they’ve built across ethnic, religious, and neighborhood lines. We explore the institutional pushback they have experienced, challenges involving the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and how they pushed through these obstacles. Hamza and Noor Al Dein explain the balance between protests and educational events and how they’ve had to adapt their strategy as community energy shifts. Our conversation also covers the future of Palestine advocacy in the United States, the growing importance of Palestine in political campaigns, and YPB’s work with the No Apartheid campaign. Join us today as we explore grassroots Palestine advocacy in Birmingham, the role of social media versus face-to-face advocacy, the shifting political landscape around Palestine, and advice for young people who want to get involved in the movement.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines

  The Truth About How Israel Targets Journalists in Gaza w/ Robert Greenwald

  Aug 19, 202640 min

  Robert Greenwald is an American filmmaker and the founder of Brave New Films, a nonprofit film and advocacy organization focused on social justice, education, and civic participation. He has produced numerous investigative documentaries, including Outfoxed, Uncovered: The War on Iraq, Iraq for Sale, and Rethinking Afghanistan. In today's episode, Robert joins me to discuss his latest documentary, "Gaza, Journalists Under Fire," and what led him to tell the stories of Palestinian journalists reporting from Gaza. We dive into the making of the film and the difficulties faced in the process of finding and humanizing the stories. Robert also shares what led him toward social justice filmmaking and the founding of Brave New Films. Robert also reveals the deliberate policy behind Israel's targeting of journalists, the use of AI and drone technology in the killings, and the personal and financial backlash he and Brave New Films faced for making the film. Our discussion goes into legacy media's failure to cover Palestinian deaths, the troubling parallels to U.S. drone strike policy abroad, and the growing worldwide movement of civil disobedience against the genocide. Robert also shares his hopes for the future of the anti-genocide movement and what it will take to shift U.S. policy. Join us today as we dive into the making of "Gaza, Journalists Under Fire," Israel's war on the press, media bias and censorship, the power of storytelling in activism, and much more.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #17

  The Journey From Environmental Activist to Muslim Revert with Opening My Heart

  Jul 29, 202624 minS1

  Hillary, known online as ‘Opening My Heart 24’, is an activist, writer, and social media influencer who reverted to Islam in 2024. She has since become a vocal advocate for Palestinian human rights and works to educate the American public about Islam while also sharing reflections on the metaphysics of the faith. In today's episode, Hillary joins me to discuss her journey from environmental activism to Islam. She shares her background and what moved her to pick up the Quran for the first time. We dive into what it meant for Hillary to take her time with her reversion, the online Shahada that welcomed her into the faith, and the gradual, heart-centered way she grew into the practice of Salah rather than treating it as a rigid checklist. Hillary also opens up about the reactions she has received, both from within the Muslim community and from her liberal friends, and how those conversations became opportunities to challenge misconceptions about Islam and Muslim women. We also talk about the power of social media in shaping public understanding of Gaza, her decision to leave TikTok after its acquisition, and why she believes teaching people the history of Palestine is the most effective way to open closed minds. Join us today as we dive into faith, activism, and the ongoing fight for Palestinian human rights, and hear Hillary's hopes for how American public opinion and policy may shift in the years ahead.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.