Justice Counts

By: Mark M. Bello
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  • Summary

  • The dictionary describes "justice" as meaning “Just or fair behavior or treatment.”

    That’s our guidepost on “Justice Counts”, where the conversation goes beyond the law to issues that are important – like equal access and fair treatment for everyone.

    Justice Counts is a bi-weekly podcast featuring legal thriller author/justice advocate Mark M. Bello and political activist/author Bob Gatty discussing the important cultural, social justice, and political stories of our time. The podcast features interviews with lawyers, activists, journalists, authors, police officers, and everyday people with concerns about justice.

    Bello is an attorney, civil justice advocate, and award-winning author of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, and is emerging as an important voice in social justice today. He draws upon
    over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series and this podcast.

    A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.

    Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients but captivating novels to his readers. When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews.biz.

    Bob Gatty is a political and human-interest writer who hosts the NotFakeNews blog and website, and the NFN Radio News podcast. He’s co-author of Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump’s Attack on America’s Greatness.

    For many years, Bob has worked as a writer, editor and communications consultant, focusing on government and politics. He began as a home town journalist, then worked for United Press International in its heyday covering state politics in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He got his start at the Black weekly, The Pittsburgh Courier, covering crime and the courts.
    ​
    Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen -- first the late Edwin B. Forsythe (R_NJ) and then James J. Florio (D-NJ), who later became governor. Florio is a regular co-host of the NFN Radio News podcast with Bob.
    ​
    After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then Washington coverage for national business magazines and communications consulting services for trade associations.
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    His passion now is the Not Fake News network, which includes two podcasts, a video channel, and books.
    ​
    Not Fake News includes commentary on timely topics from the perspective of someone who once was a political insider, but is now on the outside looking in. Mark Bello is part of the NFN team of talented writers who contribute to Not FakeNews, which generally trend with "A Little Lean to the Left."
    Copyright Mark M. Bello
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Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • Fatimah Gilliam_ Voting Rights Ruling=Jim Crow 2.0

    Fatimah Gilliam_ Voting Rights Ruling=Jim Crow 2.0
    Jan 12 2024
    We’re living in a time when a former president refuses to acknowledge his re-election defeat, falsely claiming that thousands of votes were cast illegally.

    In the aftermath of that, many states – mostly led by Republicans – are making it harder for people of color to vote on the assumption that they would vote in favor of the Democrats. Even the courts are getting in on the act.

    Justice Counts podcast host Mark Bello and I are delighted to welcome author, lawyer Fatimah Gilliam to discuss all of that. So, stay with us. --Fatimah Gilliam, is an author, lawyer, consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneur whose career combines expertise in the law, diversity, human capital, leadership, stakeholder engagement and negotiations. She holds a law degree from Columbia Law School, a master’s in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College.

    Gilliam is the founder and CEO of The Azara Group, which provides diversity and inclusion, leadership development, negotiation and strategy consulting services to Fortune 500 corporations, senior executives of billion-dollar businesses and industry thought leaders. She is the author of a new book, “Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You.”

    So, Fatimah, thanks for joining us today for the Lean to the Left and Justice Counts podcasts.


    Mark: So, there’s a case in the 8th Circuit in Missouri that might severely limit voter access. I understand it might be headed to the Supreme Court. What’s it all about? Should our listeners be concerned?

    Bob: What’s the make-up of the 8th Circuit panel? In Missouri, it must lean Republican, right?

    Mark: Why do Democrats seem to be for more freedom and access to voting, while Republicans want to restrict access?

    Bob: Are these efforts racist? Are we talking about blatant bigotry here?

    Mark: In general, we have a voting rights act, right? Why isn’t it enough to protect us?

    Bob: You speak about what you call “Jim Crow 2.0.” You say that the strategy will strip freedoms and suppress votes of people of color and younger, urban, elderly, and disabled Americans. What’s the strategy and what can people do about it?

    Mark: In the materials you provided us, you mention Supreme Court cases of Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021). What do these holdings say and how did they skirt around the voting rights act?

    Bob: Do we need a new voting rights act? Will that ever happen if we continue to have divided government?

    Mark: There is a big election coming in 2024. Because of the Dobbs decision, abortion will be on the ballot. People will want to vote. It may be the most important election of our lifetime. Talk to us about the law of voting. Do you consider voting a right or a privilege? If it’s a right, what can people do to assure that they can vote in upcoming elections?

    Bob: Even if state and local governments put barriers in front of lower and middle-income voters, what can they do to assure that they can vote in 2024? Where do they go to find out what they must do to qualify for a voter registration card?

    Mark: Talk to us about “Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You.” Does the book answer some of the questions we’ve been asking today? Is it a blueprint for citizen’s who want to assure that they have the right to vote in 2024?

    Bob: You say that the book provides rare access to what many Black people won’t say to White people, what Black people secretly think and feel about White people’s behaviors and choices. What do Black folks say and feel about White folk’s behaviors and choices?

    Mark: You also argue that self-education without behavioral change is half stepping? What behavioral change is needed and what does appropriate self-education look like?
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    49 mins
  • Phyllis Chesler-Anti-Semitism & the War in Israel

    Phyllis Chesler-Anti-Semitism & the War in Israel
    Nov 27 2023
    Why is it that so many Americans continue to justify, even celebrate, Hamas’ slaughter of Israelis, attending rallies in support of Palestinians and calling Hamas terrorists “freedom fighters?”Today, thriller author Mark M. Bello and I are pleased to present legendary feminist and bestselling author Phyllis Chesler to discuss all of this on the Justice Counts and Lean to the Left podcasts.Chesler is a psychotherapist and Professor Emerita of Psychology at City University of New York. She has authored 20 books including A Politically Incorrect Feminist, The New Antisemitism, An American Bride in Kabul, and the groundbreaking Women & Madness. She has lectured and organized political, legal, religious, and human rights campaigns in the United States, Canada, Europe, Israel, Central Asia, and the Far East.Since 9/11, Dr. Chesler has focused on the rights of women, dissidents, and gays in the Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities; the rights of women in prison; the rise of anti-Semitism/anti-Zionism, the demonization of Israel, the nature of terrorism, forced veiling, forced marriage, polygamy, and tribal psychology.Dr. Chesler has conducted four studies about honor killing that have appeared in Middle East Quarterly. She has submitted affidavits for Muslim and ex-Muslim women who are seeking asylum or citizenship based on their credible belief that their families will honor kill them. In 2021-2022, Dr. Chesler co-led a team which rescued 400 women from Afghanistan. That work continues.Here are some key questions we discussed with her:BOB: You’ve been able to bridge the great divide between the Muslim community and the Jewish community. Why is it that the peaceful Muslim community is incapable of speaking out against Islamic terror? Why, for instance, won’t the Palestinian people welcome Israel as liberators from a terrorist regime?Mark: A foreign invader comes into your country illegally and viciously and inhumanely murders and dismembers an entire community of your citizens, men, women, children, and even infants. Not surprisingly, you wage war against the vicious terrorists at fault. Many citizens and countries around the world, including citizens of the United States, are condemning you and your government instead of the terrorists who are responsible for the atrocities and who use their own people as human shields. Two-part question: 1. Would this be happening to any other modern democracy other than Israel? 2. Is the world’s response appropriate or an example of modern anti-Semitism?Bob: You’ve commented that “Western academics, including feminists, have completely lost their reason and their morality; that they are revealing more openly who they really are and gloating about Israelis who have been raped, burned alive, shot dead, or kidnapped. Or, you say, “they are maintaining a pained and awful silence.” Why is that? Is this causing divisions among key women’s organizations?Mark: Since the holocaust, the cry, especially in the Jewish community has been “Never Again!” Countries have built Holocaust memorials and museums all over the world. It seems, however, that the civilized world has a short memory. Aren’t these “Never Again” crimes? What’s the difference in 2023?Bob: in a blog you published on your website, you write that “Because Israel has dared to fight back, Jews around the world are being “punished” for Israel’s alleged “crimes.” Jews everywhere are being verbally harassed, demonized, threatened, physically attacked and sometimes murdered. Visibly Jewish students no longer feel safe in their classrooms or on the street. “We are all hostages,” you say. Can you please comment further?Mark: In my writing, I often quote the Martin Niemoller poem, “First They Came.You have written that: “If we don’t act, they will come for all of us sooner rather than later. Israel alone cannot be expected to fight the battle for Western civilization.” Please explain what’s at stake.Bob: President Biden’s approval ratings have plummeted since the war began. I don’t quite understand it. The way things are going, the only alternative will be Trump. Which of the two is the better person to manage this crisis and why?Mark: Is the Israeli response to October 7, 2023, any different than America’s response to September 11, 2001? If not, why did the United States receive international support, including military support, while Israel is widely condemned?Bob: On Nov. 14, you published a piece in The Hill stating that “Israel will likely be victorious in its war of self-defense against the Hamas terrorists who perpetrated the Oct. 7 massacre. But the expected victory will not truly resolve the situation.” What will resolve the situation?Mark: 20 years ago, you wrote a book called “The New Anti-Semitism.” Here we are, 20 years later, and it seems to be getting worse. What conditions in 2003 caused you to write the book, and how do those conditions ...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Dr. Emily Bashah-Antisemitism and Addictive Ideologies

    Dr. Emily Bashah-Antisemitism and Addictive Ideologies
    Nov 14 2023
    With violent extremism on the rise in the U.S. and around the world, many of us are tempted to simply write off extremists as beyond help.

    But according to licensed clinical psychologist and extremism expert Dr. Emily Bashah, the lack of understanding around what causes extremism is simply adding fuel to the fire. She is our guest for the second time on the Lean to the Left and Justice Counts podcasts.

    Dr. Bashah was awarded the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Policy Fellowship and served within the American Psychological Association’s Public Interest Government Relations Office in Washington, D.C. She is co-author of the highly-praised book Addictive Ideologies, which we discussed in some detail in our initial episodes, which are still available on both the Lean to the Left and Justice Counts podcasts.

    She frequently serves as an expert witness in civil and criminal court sand has worked on high-profile cases covering issues of domestic terrorism and capital offenses.

    Here are some questions we discussed with Dr Bashah:

    Mark: Do you consider anti-Semitism an “addictive ideology?”

    Bob: What can America do to combat anti=Semitism?

    Mark: Do you consider recent pro-Palestinian protestors on college campuses anti-Semites in search of a cause, or is something else going on?

    Bob: Any other country that experienced a terrorist attack by its next-door neighbor would be encouraged to stamp out terror, yet Israel is portrayed as the aggressor rather than the defender. What are your thoughts about that?

    Mark: We should add Islamaphobia to this discussion. American Muslims are not Hamas nor even Hamas sympathizers. Yet they are subject to abuse as well. Your thoughts?

    Bob: You say that more and more seemingly reasonable individuals are falling into the trap of violent extremism, and are lured in by compelling conspiracy theories and a feeling of control they have when they engage with extremist ideologies. Can you elaborate?

    Mark: You’ve said that by not working to understand extremists, we are actually encouraging extremism to continue. Please explain.

    Bob: What are some common misconceptions about violent extremists?

    Mark: What do you believe are the factors that contribute to a rise in violent extremism around the world?

    Bob: You say that fragility feeds extremism. What do you mean? How do you teach anti-fragility?

    Mark: What are some strategies for raising children in this atmosphere today? How is that crucial to fighting extremism?

    Bob: Why is treating ideological extremism as an addiction important for stopping this violence?

    Mark: Can you offer some tips to help someone who has fallen into the trap of addictive ideologies?

    Bob: Remind our audience about your book, Addictive Ideologies. Can you give us the cliff notes version of the highlights? When can people find it?
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    58 mins

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