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Representation = Taxation
09/15/24 • 45 min
Summary:
In this episode of [F]law School, hosts Troy Brown and Thy Luong speak with Harvard Law student Brandon Martinez about his article, titled “Representation = Taxation,” on U.S. tax policy. In their conversation, Martinez explains how, since the post-World War II era, conservative movements have worked to dismantle progressive tax structures, benefiting the wealthy and making tax avoidance common among the ultra-wealthy. He also highlights how racism has shaped tax policy and how those policies deepened systemic racial inequities. There is some good news. For example, Martinez points to growing grassroots efforts at the state level to challenge these disparities, leading to broader engagement in efforts to reform tax systems to hold corporate power accountable and create a more equitable society.
Guest Bio:
Brandon Martinez is a rising third-year law student interested in economic justice, environmental law, and democracy reform. He studied political economy at Harvard College. He is from Orange County, California, where he has worked in local politics, legal aid work, and civic education.
Editors:
Special thanks to Safowana Islam, Mirei Saneyoshi, and Pragnya Vella for production and editing assistance.
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Summary:
In this episode of [F]law School, hosts Troy Brown and Thy Luong speak with Harvard Law student Brandon Martinez about his article, titled “Representation = Taxation,” on U.S. tax policy. In their conversation, Martinez explains how, since the post-World War II era, conservative movements have worked to dismantle progressive tax structures, benefiting the wealthy and making tax avoidance common among the ultra-wealthy. He also highlights how racism has shaped tax policy and how those policies deepened systemic racial inequities. There is some good news. For example, Martinez points to growing grassroots efforts at the state level to challenge these disparities, leading to broader engagement in efforts to reform tax systems to hold corporate power accountable and create a more equitable society.
Guest Bio:
Brandon Martinez is a rising third-year law student interested in economic justice, environmental law, and democracy reform. He studied political economy at Harvard College. He is from Orange County, California, where he has worked in local politics, legal aid work, and civic education.
Editors:
Special thanks to Safowana Islam, Mirei Saneyoshi, and Pragnya Vella for production and editing assistance.
Visit our homepage for more shownotes.
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
- Podcast Home: Our podcast episodes can be found at flawschool.org
- [F]law Website: Find more articles and content from The [F]law magazine at theflaw.org
- Systemic Justice Project: All [F]law content is a product of the Systemic Justice Project at systemicjustice.org
- Newsletter Sign-Up: Subscribe to receive curated content from The [F]law here.
- Contact Us: Have questions, comments or feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected].
- Listen to [F]law School on Your Favorite Platform:
If you enjoyed this episode of [F]law School, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Class dismissed!
Previous Episode

Suppression by Surveillance
Summary:
As campus protests swept the nation last spring, invasive surveillance technology put protestors and student organizers in precarious positions. Through targeted fear-mongering, tech surveillance companies changed cities’ and university’s perceptions of activism. From racially-biased facial recognition to predatory cell towers, corporations stripped protestors of constitutionally protected speech and manifestations of democracy for profit. In this episode, Jessenia Class joins Sam Perri and Reya Singh to break down protest suppression tactics, corporations’ tactics for dodging accountability, and the importance of storytelling as a pathway to justice.
Guest Bio:
Jessenia Class is a law student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Harvard College. Before law school, Jessenia was a program associate at an organization that engaged in public interest law and philanthropy.
Editors:
Special thanks to Mirei Saneyoshi and Pragnya Vella for production and editing assistance.
Chapter Markers:
- Introduction [0:00]
- Campus Protests in 2024 [3:10]
- Dangers of Surveillance Technology [5:28]
- Misleading Corporate Narratives [8:00]
- Protest Suppression [11:28]
- Holding Corporations Accountable [15:21]
- Ruse of Consent for Protestors [19:33]
- Corporate Power Imbalances [21:18]
- Impact of Storytelling [23:22]
- Perseverance Under Surveillance [25:27]
- Action Steps & Resources [27:38]
[F]law Resources:
- Suppression by Surveillance by Jessenia Class ([F]law Article)
- Corporations are Keeping Cop City Alive by Jessenia Class
- Shots Fired, and Profited On: Inside the Campaign against “ShotSpotter” in Chicago, by Anna Bower
- Nowhere to Hide: A World Without Privacy, by Jessica Grubesic
- Surveillance Advertising, by Amer Mneimneh
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
- Podcast Home: Our podcast episodes can be found at flawschool.org
- [F]law Website: Find more [F]law articles and content at theflaw.org
- Systemic Justice Project: All [F]law content is a product of the Systemic Justice Project at systemicjustice.org
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Next Episode

Not Just a Game
Summary:
In this episode of [F]law School, hosts Jessenia Class and Reya Singh speak with Harvard Law student Pantho Sayed about his article, titled “Not Just a Game,” on the challenges within the video game industry. Sayed focuses on the intense pressure developers face due to the corporatization of game production. An avid gamer and writer, Sayed explains how “crunch,” or extended periods of overwork, has become a systemic issue, as large publishers prioritize profits and deadlines over the well-being of game developers. The conversation explores the disconnect between gamers’ expectations and the realities of game production, as well as how the industry’s power dynamics impact workers’ mental health and game quality. Sayed also discusses potential solutions for both workers and gamers, highlighting the importance of ethical consumption in pressuring the industry to change.
Guest Bio:
Pantho Sayed is a student at Harvard Law School (Class of 2025) interested in government and technology legal work. He is also a graduate of Fordham University. Pantho remains a lifelong video game player, graphic novel enthusiast, and overall geek.
Editors:
Special thanks to Mirei Saneyoshi, Safowana Islam, and Gauri Sood for production and editing assistance.
Visit our homepage for more shownotes.
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
- Podcast Home: Our podcast episodes can be found at flawschool.org
- [F]law Website: Find more articles and content from The [F]law magazine at theflaw.org
- Systemic Justice Project: All [F]law content is a product of the Systemic Justice Project at systemicjustice.org
- Newsletter Sign-Up: Subscribe to receive curated content from The [F]law here.
- Contact Us: Have questions, comments or feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected].
- Listen to [F]law School on Your Favorite Platform:
If you enjoyed this episode of [F]law School, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Class dismissed!
[F]law School - Representation = Taxation
Transcript
Episode Transcript
(This transcript was created by an automated process and contains errors.)
Alan Greenspan: Yes. I found a flaw in the model that I perceived is the critical functioning structure that defines how the world works, so to speak.
Brandon Martinez: I think it speaks to a broader problem in our economy, our society where we trust rich people can dedicate themselves to our problems more effective
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