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Shereen Marisol Meraji (right), executive producer, sitting in "The Stakes Explained" studio in North Gate Hall with Daniela Sandoval '26 (left).

The Stakes Explained

UC Berkeley Journalism has launched a bold new podcast and video series that breaks down the flood of executive orders and policies coming from the Trump Administration. With clarity, curiosity, and a sharp eye on the implications, our graduate students interview top campus scholars and trusted community voices to uncover what’s at stake for our democracy and our future.

In a time of political uncertainty, "The Stakes Explained" — part of a school-wide project called "The Stakes" — helps audiences understand the impact of rapidly changing federal policies. Each podcast and video episode focuses on executive orders and government actions — on issues like immigration, education, and regulatory rollbacks — and presents them as clear, accessible journalism on multiple platforms.

As you try to make sense of this moment, "The Stakes Explained" is your smart, accessible guide through the chaos. Stay tuned. Subscribe. And get ready to understand the world a little better.

Top scholars. Frontline journalists. Community voices.

The Stakes Explained: Shorts

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The Stakes Explained: Video Podcasts

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The Stakes Explained: Podcasts

A series of audio stories aired on KALW and on Berkeley Talks. Find the episodes below.

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Berkeley Talks: Berkeley scholars unpack what’s at stake for U.S. democracy

Hourlong special about "The Stakes Explained" that aired on KALX in July. In it, we hear several interviews with Berkeley scholars featured in the series, including law professor Sarah Song and Travis Bristol, an associate professor in the School of Education. They and other experts break down some of Trump’s executive orders, from those targeting diversity, equity and inclusion in education to others that are reshaping the immigration system and immigration enforcement.

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KALW reaches all nine Bay Area counties and can be heard by 4.4 million people and accessed online.

The Stakes Explained: Education

Erika Zaro ('26) interviews Travis Bristol, a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Education, who researches the role of race and gender in educational settings. They discuss executive orders focused on ending diversity, equity and inclusion.

Meg Tanaka ('25) interviews Eric Greenwald, a Senior Researcher at the Lawrence Hall of Science, whose life’s work involves making science education accessible to all children.

Shereen Marisol Meraji, director of the Audio Program, explains the origins of The Stakes Explained.

The Stakes Explained: Immigration

Shereen Marisol Meraji interviews David Hausman, professor at Berkeley Law and head of the Deportation Data Project

José Velazquez (’26) interviews alum Madeline Bair, award-winning journalist and founder of El Tímpano, a nonprofit local news organization that serves Spanish and Mam speakers.

Daniela Sandoval (’26) interviews Cristina Mora, the author of Making Hispanics: How activists, bureaucrats, and media constructed a new American.

The Stakes Explained: Deregulation

Reporter and Berkeley journalism graduate student, NeEddra James (’26) interviews labor historian Michael Mark Cohen about the executive order titled "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregluation."

The Stakes Explained: Belonging 

Andrés Larios ('26) interviews Sarah Song, professor at UC Berkeley Law who focuses on democratic theory, immigration and citizenship, about President Trump's executive order suspending the refugee admissions program.

NeEddra James ('26) interviews Professor john powell, director of the Othering and Belonging Institute about race, racism, belonging and his new book, The Power of Bridging.

"The Stakes Explained" Production Team

Executive Producer/Editor

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Shereen Marisol Meraji

UC Berkeley Journalism Audio Program Director Shereen Marisol Meraji is a veteran audio producer and journalist who has been telling stories with sound for more than two decades. Shereen helped create NPR’s groundbreaking and critically acclaimed podcast covering race and identity, Code Switch. During her time as co-host and senior producer, Code Switch won numerous awards and Apple Podcasts named Code Switch its first-ever “show of the year.” She was awarded Harvard’s prestigious Nieman fellowship in 2022 before becoming an assistant professor of race in journalism and head of audio at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. When she’s not teaching or reporting, Shereen’s listening to hip-hop, dancing to salsa, or cooking up something delicious.

Video Production Team

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Hallie Applebaum ('25)

Hallie Applebaum recently graduated from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, learning the latest video and audio production skills to cover global stories. She works professionally in English and Spanish and edits audio and video. She has experience leading projects internationally and has experience working with underrepresented communities. Hallie holds a Masters in International Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelors in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis. 

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Alicia Chiang ('25)

Alicia Chiang is a video journalist and documentary filmmaker with a compassionate approach to storytelling. A recent graduate of UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, her work explores the intersections of culture, identity, and climate change. Her thesis film with Nadia Akbar, “City of Smoke”, was recently awarded Best Documentary Short at the LA Indie Short Fest, July 2025.

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Raj Paul Ghusar ('26)

Paul Ghusar is a San Francisco-based journalist pursuing a master’s degree in Journalism at UC Berkeley, specializing in documentary filmmaking. Navigating peculiar times and deciphering complex issues, he uses film, photography, music, podcasting, and storytelling to craft unique informational experiences.

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WanYu Yao ('26)

WanYu Yao is a second-year student at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, specializing in data-driven stories and news explainer videos. She integrates data analysis, visualization and animation to tell engaging stories. Before coming to Berkeley, she earned a double major in Journalism and Political Science from National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Her reporting experience spans print/online news and broadcast journalism (TV and radio), covering topics such as politics, gender, culture and more.

Social Media Producers: Marlena Telvick and Andrea Lamros.