The Impact Of Serial, Food Friday, Pence In Wisconsin

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• Walker And Pence Highlight Conservative Economic Policy In Milwaukee

  Governor Scott Walker joined Republican Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence at a rally in Milwaukee last night, where he highlighted Pence’s conservative economic policy. We talk to an economist about how the Trump campaign’s economic plans appeal to Wisconsin and the rest of the Midwest.

• Beyond Serial: Digging Deeper Into Adnan Syed's Story

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  The story of Adnan Syed, his trial and murder conviction captivated the world in 2014 when the podcast Serial brought it to the nation’s attention. But the podcast may have raised more questions than it answered. A close friend of the Syed family and author of a new book about the case joins us to fill in some of the blanks. She also reacts to the news that a Maryland judge has recently vacated Adnan’s conviction, meaning a re-trial is coming, pending appeal.

• New Book, Podcast Explore Evidence 'Serial' Left Out In Adnan Syed Case

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  Millions of Americans were captivated by the hit podcast “Serial” as the 12-episode series tackled the story of Adnan Syed, his trial and subsequent murder conviction for the death of his former girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. But a close family friend of Syed claims the series didn’t tell the whole story.

  In her new book, “Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial,” attorney Rabia Chaudry presents new evidence she said dismantles the Maryland prosecution’s case against Syed, who she’s known since he was 13 when he became best friends with her younger brother.

  “I’ve watched this family suffer, and Adnan suffer, for 17 years,” Chaudry said. “Even as an attorney, I didn’t practice criminal defense, but still, even as an attorney seeing this case up close and personal has always been a source of a lot of anger at the system for me.”

  Chaudry, who also holds fellowships with United States Institute of Peace and the New America Foundation, said she knows Syed as a kind and well-liked young man who often deescalated conflicts.

  “He just is not a confrontational or violent person, which is why the charges against him are even more preposterous,” Chaudry said. “It is completely divorced from his nature.”

  But more importantly, Chaudry said she can offer evidence beyond anecdotes from Syed’s childhood. While she found the “Serial” investigation to be accurate and compelling, Chaudry feels it glossed over some key facts. These feelings led her to launch her own podcast “Undisclosed” to look at the case through a legal and medical lens.

  Cell phone location tracking technology proved to be a pivotal argument in the case and Chaudry said the prosecution and the “Serial” investigation flat-out got it wrong.

  “As far as we were concerned, they were wrong,” Chaudry said. “They got the technology wrong. So we revisited that. And in fact, that became the basis for why (Syed) was eventually given a new trial very recently.”

  Chaudry also takes a long look at how the state’s key witness, Jay Wilds, a high school classmate of Syed’s, changed his testimony throughout the case, as well as autopsy reports and other medical evidence that “Serial” didn’t look into.

  “And these were really important issues because in a case where there wasn’t a lot of real, tangible evidence, the autopsy report, the medical evidence was very, very important,” Chaudry said.

  Moreover, Chaudry said the state’s case was flawed from the very beginning as Syed emerged as an early suspect simply because he was a Muslim, despite not having a criminal record.

  “The entire theory of the state’s case was he was a Muslim boy who had broken up with Hei, it was like an honor killing. The Muslim honor killing was the theory of their case,” Chaudry said. “So they were heavily bias against him simply because of his religion and ethnicity.”

  In June, the charges against Syed were vacated after a Maryland judge overseeing his appeal granted him a new trial in light of new evidence. However, earlier this month, the state requested the courts put a hold on the appeals process and potential retrial. A ruling on that appeal is expected soon.

  Chaudry said the court could easily deny the state’s appeal, as is often the case, and Syed could see a new trial in six months to a year. She added the state could decide to offer a plea deal or drop the charges altogether if the retrial ruling survives the current appeal.

  “Serial” is from This American Life, a weekly public radio show.

• Food Friday: Cooking With Spices

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  Spices can be daunting for the uninitiated and can be especially novel for children. But chef Floyd Cardoz teaches us the best way to use spices and enhance their flavors for this Food Friday.