Upcoming Events, Week of January 26

Scroll down for some new speakers in the lineup!

ON COMPLICITY AND COURAGE

I’m so excited to begin the new theme for my Substack in the New Year: Understanding what makes people complicit in bad behavior, and learning from the people who take a stand against it. The research I am doing for my book, Uncompromised: Activating Your Moral Compass in an Age of Complicity, shows that people are better able to resist pressure and stand up for their beliefs when they can reflect on their own values and see models of moral courage in action.

To this end, I’ll be writing free posts on these topics each month, in addition to my weekly Round Ups, on the topics of complicity and courage. Each month I’ll have one person — like a psychologist, professor, leadership expert — explain the science and theory behind complicity and courage. And then I will also bring in a real-time moral rebel who can talk about what led them to take a stand — despite the personal and professional risks they faced (and often still face). I hope you will tune in!

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Here’s who I have coming up:

• THIS WEEK! On Courage: , author of the Substack, Wednesday, January 28, 1 p.m. EST. I am SO excited to have Miles on to kick off my roster of moral rebels! As many of you know, Miles has been uncowed even as he has been targeted directly by Trump via executive order. I hope you will tune in to learn more about his journey from working in the White House, to blowing the whistle anonymously, to speaking out despite the risks to himself and his family.

• On Complicity: Professor Timothy Snyder author of On Tyranny and the Thinking about… Substack, Monday, Feb. 2, 12:30 p.m. EST. Honestly this should really be an “On Courage” topic, since Professor Snyder has been sounding the alarm about the importance of moral courage in our moment. But he has deep insight into how and why people “obey in advance” and I am excited to discuss how he sees this happening (or not happening) today in America.

• NEW! On Courage: , Wednesday, February 3, 12 p.m. EST. If there is one person who knows about standing up and speaking out in the current moment, it’s Judge Luttig. I look forward to also getting the Judge’s insights into how we can extricate ourselves from the constitutional crisis we and ourselves in. I always come away from the Judge having learned something new.

And other guests coming (dates/times still TBA):

On Courage: , author of the Substack and Here, Right Matters: An American Story ]

On Complicity: Dr. Alexander Stein, psychologist and expert on ethical decision making

On Courage: author of the  Substack

Zoom links for guest speakers are sent three hours before the event, and the discussions will be recorded and posted for those who cannot make it live.

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This Week’s It’s Complicated Podcast

This week Renato and I were thrilled to be joined by CNN anchor and national security correspondent Jim Sciutto to discuss the fallout from Davos. Renato and I also discussed what’s next on the legal front in Minnesota:

Other Podcasts This Week

This week I was honored to join Marc Elias of Democracy Docket on his podcast, where we discussed the lawlessness of ICE:

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The Freedom Academy Book Club

In the past I have typically done a book selection every quarter, but I am going to get more ambitious for 2026 and try to do one each month — too many interesting books and cool authors! Check out the selections below:

• JANUARY (THIS WEEK!): Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 12-1 p.m. EST. In her book, Christina, a former CIA clandestine services officer, paints a picture of what being a female spy in the agency was really like through interviews with women who served through the decades. I can’t wait to hear what surprised her and what she learned! Zoom link will be sent to paid subscribers three hours before the event and a recording will be posted after for those who cannot make it live.

• FEBRUARY (Thursday, February 26, 2026, 12-1 p.m. EST): Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York’s Explosive ‘80s, and the Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation, by Elliot Williams. Want to know how the trajectories of Al Sharpton, Rudy Giuliani, and Rupert Murdoch intersected forty years ago, shaping our views of race and crime today? Elliot, a former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, will explain it all. I can’t wait to read his book — available for preorder now (to be released next week!).

• MARCH (Date/Time TBA): 38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England, and a Nazi in Patagonia by Philippe Sands. Philippe reached out to me after my appearance on Ezra Klein’s podcast last spring, because I compared the removal of Kilmar Albrego Garcia to Chile in 1973. His gripping account of Pinochet’s indictment for crimes against humanity and extradition to Spain and its thru line from Nuremberg, are important lessons for today. Not to mention that the legal issues surrounding head of state immunity are more pertinent than ever in light of Maduro (and God knows what other leaders the U.S. will rendition in the coming weeks and months).

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Join me and Renato in Alaska!

It’s Complicated is cruisin’! Come join me and Renato as we explore the stunning beauty of Alaska and discuss how we can work together to protect our democracy! It’s a small ship, and there will be lots of opportunities to talk to us both, plus we will have an opening and closing reception and dedicated democracy discussion tables throughout the cruise. Join us both for a happy hour on Thursday, February 12 at 5 p.m. EST to learn more about the trip! RSVP here or you can find out more at this link, and fill out your info here to have an agent call you with more information. Stay tuned for our next happy hour/info session!

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