Seattle takes center stage this summer as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, one of the largest global sporting events ever held in the Pacific Northwest. While most fans are focused on the excitement on the field, an equally important effort is taking place behind the scenes: ensuring that the World Cup is conducted in a way that respects and protects human rights.

On this episode, we're joined by UW Law professor Anita Ramasastry, one of the world's leading experts on the intersection of business and human rights. She has served as an advisor to the United Nations Human Rights Council and currently serves as an independent human rights advisor to FIFA's Human Rights subcommittee.

Professor Ramasastry played a key role in developing Seattle's Human Rights Action Plan for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which identifies and addresses potential human rights risks associated with a major global sporting event — from labor protections and discrimination to public safety and the treatment of vulnerable communities.

In our conversation, we discuss why human rights have become an essential part of hosting the World Cup, what lessons FIFA and host cities learned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and how Seattle identified its own unique challenges and opportunities. We also talk about the broader legacy of this work and the role UW alumni, students, faculty and staff have played in helping shape this groundbreaking effort.

Should parents face criminal charges for the violent acts of their children?

On this episode of the Discovery podcast, we feature a thought-provoking conversation with assistant professor of law Shirin Bakhshay from UCLA Law. Centering on the landmark People v. Crumbley case, Bakhshay explains why the convictions of the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley represent a major — and potentially dangerous — expansion of criminal liability.

Bakhshay unpacks the legal theory behind involuntary manslaughter charges against parents and why she believes the prosecution misunderstood both criminal law doctrine and modern parenting realities. Drawing on her psychology expertise, she also explores why parents are often poorly positioned to predict adolescent violence, especially amid rising youth mental health struggles, social isolation and widespread access to guns.

Bakhshay also advocates for prevention-focused responses rooted in schools, mental health resources and community support rather than punitive prosecution after tragedy strikes.

Imagine that you are living in your car. One day, it's stolen for a joyride, abandoned and eventually towed away. You get a court order for the return of your car, but then discover that your very home, your 1991 Camry, has been sold for $175. Later, you find out that the towing company has the car back in their possession and holds it hostage for over a year, accruing $21,684 in storage fees.

Amanda Ogle didn't have to imagine it because this happened to her in 2017. To help navigate the bureaucratic nightmare, she enlisted the help of Kevin Eggers, J.D. '17, who had just graduated from UW Law and was providing legal aid through the Northwest Consumer Law Center. Ogle's case was Eggers' very first out of law school.

After a Seattle Times reporter wrote about the situation, Ogle was contacted by screenwriters who wanted to make her story into a movie. "Tow" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and opened in theaters nationwide on March 20, 2026. Directed by Stephanie Laing, it stars Rose Byrne and features an ensemble cast including Octavia Spencer, Demi Lovato, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Debose and Corbin Bernsen.

In this episode of Discovery, we talk with Eggers and Ogle about the towing dispute and their experiences with the real-life case turning into a movie.