Congress is looking to pass a tax plan and budget this week to avoid a government shutdown. To discuss, we FEATURE Connie Razza. Connie is Co-Director of Policy & Research at Demos. Previously, she directed Center for Popular Democracy’s broad-ranging research efforts pertaining to immigrant and civil rights, economic and community justice, and good government. In addition to researching on CPD-driven projects, the Strategic Research department also helps partner organizations meet their research needs. Media includes: The New York Times, The Guardian, Thom Hartmann, Melissa Harris Perry.

"Fake news" has been a term that has been thrown around frequently this past year. To discuss, we FEATURE Alicia Shepard. Alicia is a visiting media ethics professor at the University of Arkansas.  Previously, she worked for USAID in Afghanistan as a press liaison after having spent a year reporting and training Afghan reporters. She taught media ethics at University of Nevada at Las Vegas, before which she was NPR ombudsman from 2007 to 2011. For nearly a decade, she wrote for American Journalism Review on such things as ethics, the newspaper industry and how journalism works - or doesn't. Media includes: Washingtonian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune.

As the Russian interference investigation continues, tensions have risen between President Trump and special counsel Robert Mueller. To discuss, we FEATURE Elizabeth Hempowicz. Elizabeth is POGO’s Policy Counsel. She oversees POGO’s legislative reform work, with a focus on whistleblower protections and government accountability. Liz develops and advances public policies to combat corruption and to promote openness and accountability in government. She strategizes on the best way to translate POGO report findings into legislative reforms. She has participated in efforts to improve lobbying and congressional ethics rules, whistleblower protections, the Freedom of Information Act, and other open government initiatives. Media includes: NPR, Washington Examiner, Salon, Politico, Daily Caller.

Puerto Rico has recently ordered a review and recount of deaths caused by Hurricane Maria following evidence that the death toll may have been undercounted. To discuss, we FEATURE Junko Mochizuki. Junko is a natural disaster risk expert at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. Her research focuses on the linkages between risk management, economic growth, and changing risks from climate extremes in connection with socioeconomic change.  Her particular interest lies in the interface between policy and scientific knowledge, investigating how governments and researchers can work together to redcuce the financial risk of disasters. Media includes: The Research Blog of IIASA, International Journal of Disaster Risk Analysis, Renewable Energy.

In the wake of the #MeToo campaign, businesses and organizations are now faced with coming up with strategies to prevent workplace sexual harassment. To discuss, we FEATURE Esta Soler. One of the world’s foremost experts on violence against women and children, Esta Soler is a pioneer who founded the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) 26 years ago and made it one of the world’s leading violence prevention agencies. With offices in San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C., and partners around the world, the FVPF develops innovative strategies to prevent domestic, dating and sexual violence, stalking and child abuse. Media includes: San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post.