As the Taliban continues its takeover of Afghanistan, many Afghan women are worried about their futures under the Taliban's version of sharia law. To discuss, we FEATURE Lina AbiRafeh. AbiRafeh is Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women at the Lebanese American University, established in 1973 as the first women’s institute in the Arab region – and one of the first globally. The Institute advances women’s rights and gender equality at the intersection of academia and activism. She is an accomplished feminist leader with over 20 years’ international experience in women’s rights and gender equality – particularly focused on ending violence against women in humanitarian emergencies. Abirafeh has worked in senior positions in complex crises such as Afghanistan, Mali, Central African Republic, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, etc. Media includes: Al Jazeera, France 24, The Conversation, CNN.

The Biden administration is permanently increasing food stamp benefits to reflect updated nutrition standards. To discuss, we FEATURE Tracy Fox. Fox is the President of Food, Nutrition, & Policy Consultants, LLC and a nutritionist at USDA. She has over 25 years of experience working at the federal, state and local/community levels as well as with non-profits and for-profits in the private sector, with extensive experience in nutrition policy, the legislative and regulatory process and advocacy. Areas of specialty include child nutrition, school health, nutrition education, early care and education, food labeling and marketing, federal, state and local nutrition policy, advocacy and government relations. Media includes: Nutrition Week, The Packer, CBS, Fox News.

The Texas Supreme Court blocks local mask mandates, following Governor Abbott's executive order to ban mask mandates. To discuss, we FEATURE Myiesha Taylor. Taylor is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Keller, Texas. Her work experience includes serving as Associate Medical Director of Hubert Humphrey Comprehensive Healthcare Center (Los Angeles), Kaiser Permanente as Associate Partner, California Emergency Physicians Group as Partner and the University of Texas Southwestern (Parkland Memorial Hospital and Children's Hospital Dallas). Media includes: Associated Press, Ebony, Essence, MSNBC, NPR.

Airbnb will be updating its policy to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment cases in a move to stand with survivors. To discuss, we FEATURE Lisa Brauner. Brauner is a lawyer whose practice focuses on the area of employment law, specifically advising and representing employers in workplace law-related matters. She counsels and advises employers in many aspects of the employment relationship, including avoidance of litigation, wage/hour compliance, preventing unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, reductions-in-force, lawful hiring and terminations, disability, pregnancy and religious reasonable accommodation issues, as well as compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations. Extensive media experience.

With an upcoming update, Apple will be implementing a new tool that will scan phones for signs of child sex abuse. While the tool is intended to prevent child sex abuse, cybersecurity experts are concerned about online privacy and government surveillance. To discuss, we FEATURE Lisa A. Hayes. Hayes is Vice President, Strategy & General Counsel at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), working to champion individual rights and liberties in the digital age. She leads CDT’s litigation practice, helping to inform courts about issues where technological advances are outpacing the law. Her recent work includes efforts to limit government surveillance, advance consumer privacy, protect free expression online, and preserve net neutrality. Media includes: The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, NPR, Fox News.

Heavy rain is hampering rescue efforts in Haiti after Saturday’s earthquake killed more than 1,400 people and left many homes collapsed. To discuss, we FEATURE Vanessa Leon. Leon is the Chief Executive Officer of Pinchina, an international urban planning firm she established in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. As a Haitian-American urban planner, her primary interests are in strengthening the physical, social, and economic wellbeing of vulnerable communities in Haiti, New York City and wherever else they may be. Media includes: The Root, Planning Magazine, BBC.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called an early election. To discuss, we FEATURE Heidi Tworek. Tworek is Associate Professor of History and Public Policy at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Tworek is committed to bringing a historical sensibility to policy discussions. She has testified before several Canadian and international parliamentary committees on hate speech, democracy, and the digital economy. She was a member of the steering committee of the Transatlantic High-Level Working Group on Online Content Moderation and Freedom of Expression and has also studied online harassment of political candidates during elections. Media includes: The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Columbia Journalism Review, CBC News.