This election year, voting and ensuring that all votes are counted has become an important issue. To discuss, we FEATURE Maya Contreras. As a lifelong advocate, Contreras’s focus has been on Voting Rights because all paths to policy begin with access to the ballot box. On the road to equity, dominant political narratives that stem from domestic policy inhibit civic participation. Contreras deconstructs these narratives exposing their origins and purpose in order to dismantle their power for her audiences. Media includes: Dame Magazine, PBS.

Sen. Kamala Harris is the first Asian American and African American woman on a major party presidential ticket, making her vice presidential run historic. To discuss, we FEATURE Chandra Childers. Childers is a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Women's Policy Research. She is an expert on social stratification and social and economic inequality by race and sex, Chandra examines issues related to women and girls of color and job quality. Some of Chandra's publications include the Status of Black Women in the United States, Status of Women in the South, and Black and Hispanic Women Lag in Recovering from the Recession. Media includes: Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Refinery29.

Nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. are not in the hospital for COVID-19 amidst a fall surge in cases raising renewed concern over the strain placed on the healthcare system. To discuss, we FEATURE Laura Packard. Packard is a nationally-known health care advocate and stage 4 cancer survivor. She founded a non-profit, Health Care Voices, to organize adults with serious medical conditions. She shared her personal health care story with Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention. Laura also serves as co-chair of Health Care Voter, and runs the pharma accountability campaign for Hero Action Fund, working to make sure any future coronavirus vaccines and COVID-19 treatments are available to all. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, U.S. News & World Report, MSNBC.

North Carolina police used pepper spray on protesters to break up a peaceful march to the polls. To discuss, we FEATURE Connie Razza. Razza is Chief of Campaigns and Policy for the Center for Popular Democracy and oversees CPD’s broad-ranging campaigns for economic justice and a robust, inclusive democracy, as well as the organization's research efforts. Prior to returning to CPD, Connie was Vice President of Policy and Research at Demos, where she directed the work of the policy team and developed a social exclusion framework to understanding the drivers of racism in the US. Media includes: The New York Times, The Guardian.

President Trump has suggested that he will fire Dr. Anthony Fauci after today's election because of his disagreements with the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases about the U.S. COVID-19 response. To discuss, we FEATURE Stephanie Morain. Morain is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy. Her research examines political and ethical issues concerning the scope of government authority in public health and the role of stakeholder opinion in shaping decision-making in public health policy. She has expertise in public opinion towards controversial public health laws including those targeting “lifestyle choices” like obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. Media includes: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, NPR, ABC News.

Many Americans are feeling highly stressed this week. For suggestions on how to cope, we FEATURE Alyssa Petersel. Petersel is Founder and CEO of My Wellbeing, where she and her team take the guesswork out of connecting with the *right* therapist for you in NYC. Through My Wellbeing, Alyssa sends personalized therapist matches to therapy-seekers, curates content about mental health and stress relief, and builds community through innovative and empowering events and partnerships. Media includes: Forbes, Allure, Bustle, HuffPost.