Eliza Orlins has spent over a decade serving the citizens of New York City as a public defender. Now she is taking her fight to the political arena, running for the position of Manhattan DA. Her goal is to fundamentally alter a rigged system that serves the powerful and elite and punishes the poor and disenfranchised. The job has only been held by white men – upon her election she would be the first female to hold the position.
Scott Melker and Eliza Orlins further discuss what it’s like to run for office, competing on Survivor, her plans as district attorney, career prosecutors, lock em’ up culture, defeating the boys club, broken windows policing, the price of a prisoner, accepting cryptocurrency in her campaign, campaign finance reform, getting arrested on an empty subway and more.
