Head of CIA nominee Gina Haspel's confirmation hearing is tomorrow. While President Trump has endorsed her, there are currently concerns about her involvement in harsh interrogation techniques that many have likened to torture. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Felice Gaer. Felice is Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Human Rights. She is also vice chair and an independent expert member of the UN Committee against Torture, which monitors compliance of 163 states with the Convention against Torture. Gaer is the first American to serve on this body. She was formerly a Commissioner and chair of the Bipartisan federal US Commission on International Religious Freedom, nominated by Congressional Democrats and later, President Obama. Gaer edited the only in depth volume on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Media includes: Good Morning America, CBS Morning, The New York Times, The Washington Post.
Today President Trump will announce whether or not to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. To discuss, we FEATURE Isabelle Williams. Isabelle joined the Nuclear Threat Initiative in 2007 and serves as Senior Adviser to the Global Nuclear Policy Program. As part of this work she helps coordinate the international strategy of the program, managing the work of NTI’s global partners who conduct various activities in their countries and regions to promote reducing reliance on nuclear weapons, preventing their use and their spread, and ultimately ending them as a threat to the world. She has also co-authored reports on NATO nuclear policy and UK nuclear policy and helps manage the Nuclear Security Project, an initiative led by former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn in their effort to galvanize global action to reduce urgent nuclear dangers and work towards a vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. Media includes: Politico, European Leadership Network, NTI Blog.
New York Attorney General Eric Scheiderman has resigned after allegations from four women that say he physically abused them. To discuss, we FEATURE Elizabeth L. Jeglic. Elizabeth is a Professor of Psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. She is an internationally reknowned expert on sexual violence prevention, child abuse prevention, sexual offenders and sex offender legislation as well as suicide and suicide prevention. She has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters on sexual violence prevention and topics related to suicide prevention. Dr. Jeglic is the co-editor of the book Sexual Violence: Evidence Based Policy and Prevention (Springer, 2016) and co-author of the upcoming book: Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse: What you Need to Know to Keep your Kids Safe (Skyhorse Publishing, 2017). Media includes: The New York Times, Fox News, The Guardian, AP Newswire.
Three sexual harassment lawsuits have been filed against former "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose as reported by Amy Brittain of The Washington Post and Outlook contributing writer Irin Carmon. To discuss, we FEATURE Karla M. Altmayer. As the co-founder and co-director of Healing to Action, Karla advances a multidisciplinary, community-driven model to transform individuals, neighborhoods, and broader communities, to break the silence of gender-based violence. Karla also co-founded the Coalition Against Workplace Sexual Violence (CAWSV), a collaboration among sexual assault advocates, attorneys, and labor organizers in Chicago, and co-authored its popular education curriculum and legal guide. Funded by the Department of Justice, Karla co-authored and edited a curriculum to train anti-violence advocates across the country on working at the intersection of labor organizing and anti-violence. Media includes: Univision, La Raza, Chicagoist, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, CBS Local Chicago, WBEZ.
The volcano named Kilauea erupted on Hawaii's Big Island last Thursday and is continuing to burn homes. Many are being told to evacuate due to dangerous gasses that are coming out of fissures in the ground. 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 reduce the financial risk of disasters. In addition to producing peer-reviewed research, Mochizuki works directly with policymakers in developing countries to help them better analyze and understand disaster risk reduction investment. Media includes: PLOS Current Disasters, Risk Analysis, Renewable Energy.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly threatened to subpoena President Trump and his lawyer if they refused to testify. To discuss, we FEATURE Danielle Brian. Since 1993, Danielle has been the Executive Director of the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). She frequently testifies before Congress and regularly meets with Members of Congress and officials at the White House and federal agencies to discuss how to achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government. Ms. Brian was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve on the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Federal Advisory Committee in 2012. In 2013, she was elected chair of the civil society organizations on the Federal Advisory Committee. In 2015, Ms. Brian was elected to the Board of the D.C. Open Government Coalition. Ms. Brian serves on the board of Taxpayers for Common Sense, and is the chair of the Steering Committee for OpenTheGovernment.org. Media includes: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA TODAY, NPR.
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to commemorate, we FEATURE Karin Wang. Karin is Vice-President of Programs & Communications for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, the nation’s largest legal organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. For 20 years, Wang has advocated for civil rights and immigrant rights, covering issues such as race discrimination and defamation, language rights, immigration and immigrant integration, and LGBT equality. Prior to her current role, she directed Advancing Justice-LA’s immigrant rights project and she also launched the Los Angeles civil rights field office of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Media includes: CGTN America, Los Angeles Times, New Republic, Women's eNews, Huffington Post.
It is Teacher Appreciation Week and we FEATURE Erika Soto Lamb. Erika is the National Director of Strategic Communications for Democrats for Education Reform. Between 2012 and December 2017 she was the Chief Communications Officer for Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than three million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Media includes: The Washington Post, The New York Times, MSNBC, NBC News.
Last Saturday was National Day of Awareness for Missing, Murdered Native Women. To discuss, we FEATURE Charon Asetoyer. Charon, a Native American women's health activist, who holds a Masters of International Administration and Management. She is the CEO and Founder of the Native American Community Board (1985) and the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center (1988) on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The Resource Center addresses issues of reproductive justice, violence against women, and environmental justice. In addition to the Resource Center the organization has a shelter for women fleeing from sexual assault and domestic violence. Media includes: Jezebel, ColorLines, CNN, The New York Times.
A report by the National Abortion Federation has found that anti-abortion protests at clinics are on the rise. Trespassing has increased from 247 in 2016 to 823 in 2017 and that acts of obstruction has nearly tripled. To discuss, we FEATURE Shivana Jorawar. Shivana is a lawyer and policy advocate and, currently serves as the State Legislative Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights where she manages their defensive state advocacy initiatives. She identifies and analyzes harmful restrictions, implements strategies to fight back, and delivers advocacy support to the Center’s clients and state partners. Prior to joining the Center, she was the Federal Policy Director for the National Abortion Federation where she developed and executed federal policy strategy to further NAF’s priorities and position as a leading voice in the reproductive rights movement. Media includes: Associated Press, RHReality Check, The Nation, ColorLines, The Hill.
Liz Theran
