James Comey will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday in a closed hearing and will be questioned about the 2016 presidential election. This follows Michael Cohen's guilty plea last week, in which he admitted to lying to Congress about his ties to Russia. To discuss, we FEATURE Elizabeth Hempowicz. Hempowicz is Project On Government Oversight's (POGO) 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 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.

President Trump and Chinese president Xi Jingping met on Saturday to discuss trade relations between the U.S. and China. To discuss the outcome of their discussion, we FEATURE Ann Lee. Lee is an internationally recognized leading authority on China’s economic relations and an adjunct professor of economics and finance at New York University. She is also a former visiting professor at Peking University where she taught macroeconomics and financial derivatives. She consults with policymakers from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. about U.S.-China relations, international finance and trade, and China’s political economy. Media includes: MSNBC, Bloomberg, ABC, CBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, NPR, CCTV, BBC.

World leaders are meeting in Poland for the next two weeks for an international conference to talk about climate change and how to support communities that would be most affected by it. To discuss, we FEATURE Dr. Achala Abeysinghe. Dr. Abeysinghe is a Principal Researcher and Team Leader of Climate Law, Policy and Governance Programme at International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London. Dr. Abeysinghe also works as the legal advisor to the Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group- a group of 48 countries, in the UN climate change negotiations. Media includes: The Conversation, Inside Climate News, Dhaka Tribune. 

The deadline to enroll for healthcare with the Affordable Care Act is coming up, but enrollment has seen a decline this year following a Republican tax bill that repealed the tax penalty for not having health insurance. To discuss, we FEATURE Renata Schiavo, PhD, MA. Dr. Schiavo is a public health, global health, healthcare, social innovation, and health communication specialist with more than 20 years of experience in a variety of settings, including the United States and several countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. She is Founding President of Health Equity Initiative, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to building and sustaining a global community that engages across sectors and disciplines to advance health equity. Media includes:The Nation's Health, Bloomberg, The Signal.  

A recent report found that 14% of Americans were earning the same amount of money as they did a year ago despite cost of living rising each year. To discuss, we FEATURE Sarita Gupta. Gupta  is the co-executive director of Jobs With Justice. She is a nationally recognized expert on the economic and political issues affecting working people across all industries, particularly low-wage workers. Under Sarita’s direction, Jobs With Justice is leading the fight for workers’ rights and an economy that benefits everyone by anchoring strategic campaigns and shaping the public discourse to build power for working people. Media includes: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Politico, The Hill, MSNBC.

Nexstar Media Group is in talks to purchase Tribune Media and, if the purchase were finalized, that would make Nextar the largest regional television-station operator in the U.S. To discuss, we FEATURE Kathleen K. Starkoff. Starkoff is the President and CEO of Orange Star Consulting. She is a sought-after consultant and a trusted advisor to senior leadership on complex matters of information technology. She facilitates innovative strategy and informs good decision-making, with the experience and insight of a change master. Starkoff's specialities include mergers and acquisitions. Media includes: Voice America, Risk & Compliance Magazine.

The Grammy Awards nominations will be announced this Friday. To discuss, we FEATURE Aly Palmer. Palmer is a singer/songwriter/artist/activist best known for her ongoing work with the award-winning vocal trio, BETTY. For over three decades, she has toured internationally and recorded with BETTY, whose music has been featured on dozens of musical collaborations, films, ads and television series. Palmer created the feminist musical revue, CHIX, which served as the closing finale set of the last eleven Michigan Womyn's Music Festivals. Media includes: Nightline, MTV, NPR.