The Trump Organization has been found guilty long-running criminal of tax fraud that included providing off-the-book benefits to executives. To discuss, we FEATURE Lori Cox Han. Han is Professor of Political Science, Doy B. Henley Chair of American Presidential Studies, and director of the Presidential Studies program at Chapman University. Her research and teaching expertise include the presidency, women and politics, media and politics, and political leadership. She is the author of numerous books, including Presidents and the American Presidency, 3^rd ed.;The Presidency; Advising Nixon: The White House Memos of Patrick J. Buchanan; Women, Power, and Politics: The Fight for Gender Equality in the United States; In It to Win: Electing Madam President; and A Presidency Upstaged: The Public Leadership of George H. W. Bush. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, NPR.

COVID cases have risen following the Thanksgiving holiday. To discuss, we FEATURE Céline Gounder. Gounder is a Senior Fellow and Editor-at-Large for Public Health for Kaiser Health News at the Kaiser Family Foundation. She’s also the host and producer of American Diagnosis — a conversation about some of the biggest public health challenges across the United States, with insights on topics from teen mental health to opioids and gun violence highlighting the voices of experts and people on the ground working for the health of their communities — and Epidemic, a podcast about infectious disease epidemics and pandemics. Season 1 of Epidemic covered the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and Season 2 will go back in time to cover smallpox eradication in South Asia. Media includes: The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, CBS, NBC, MSNBC.

Sexual abuse lawsuits are expected to spike following the passage of the New York Adult Survivors Act. The new law will allow adult survivors of sexual assault the chance to bring cases to the court even after the statute of limitations has passed. To discuss, we FEATURE Marissa Hoechstetter. Hoechstetter, who was instrumental in getting the New York Adult Survivors Act passed, writes and speaks about sexually abusive doctors, enabling institutions, and corrupt politicians. She has been fighting for change since her own reports of assault by an OB/GYN received totally inadequate responses from the medical system and law enforcement. Marissa spearheaded a successful campaign in the New York City Council to allow patients to remove the names of abusive doctors from birth certificates, and her advocacy has led four bills to be introduced in the New York state legislature with the goals of curbing doctor sex abuse and holding enablers accountable. She has given testimony on medical abuse to lawmakers and medical boards, and she founded Reform the Sex Crimes Unit, a campaign for increased transparency and accountability within the Manhattan DA’s Sex Crimes Unit. Media includes: The New York Times, Buzzfeed News, Politico, USA Today, Ms. Magazine, Bustle, CBS.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on a case involving a Christian web developer who wants the right to deny services to people planning same-sex marriages. To discuss, we FEATURE Emily Greytak. Greytak is the ACLU’s Director of Research. She leads the ACLU’s policy research work – partnering with national staff, affiliates, and outside partners to develop, execute, and disseminate rigorous research that drives their policy and advocacy agenda. Greytak has been an applied researcher for two decades, working with a variety of organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, Family Justice, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Prior to joining the ACLU in 2019, she served as Research Director at GLSEN, the leading organization focused on LGBTQ issues in education. Media includes: The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Mother Jones, Mashable, CNN.

The Supreme Court is looking at a case that would give state legislators absolute control over election rules. To discuss, we FEATURE Lisa Danetz. Danetz has worked in the voting rights, money in politics, and democracy fields as a policy expert, advocate, and lawyer for 20 years. Her work has focused on increasing election- and campaign-based political participation in society through public policy research, litigation, executive and legislative advocacy, and public education, and she has developed a particular expertise on voter registration through government agencies. As a consultant, her most recent work has been with Democracy Fund. She is also the former legal director of Demos, a New York-based public policy center, and worked at National Voting Rights Institute. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg.

Georgia residents are voting today in the Georgia Senate runoff election, with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock going against Republican candidate Herschel Walker. To discuss, we FEATURE Venkayla Haynes. Haynes is the Deputy Communications Director for Black Voters Matter Fund, an organization dedicated to expanding Black voter engagement and increasing progressive power that played a pivotal role in increasing record-breaking Black voter turnout for the 2020 Presidential Election and the 2021 Georgia Special Election. She is responsible for developing, implementing and managing all online communications for the organization. She has grown the organization's digital program extensively. Through her work she has provided digital support and training not only for Black Voters Matter, but for over 100+ partners in rural Black communities. Media includes: Forbes, Essence, The Nation, La Femme Collective, Teen Vogue, NBC, NPR.

The Department of Homeland Security has warned of a "heightened threat environment" for LGBTQ, Jewish and minority groups. To discuss, we FEATURE Tara Maller. Maller is a risk manager, public & social sectors, at McKinsey & Company. She previously served as Spokesperson and Senior Policy Advisor for the Counter Extremism Project (CEP). CEP is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, international policy organization formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideology. She has also worked in the private sector at a NY-based media startup, BrightWire Inc., where she served as Managing Director of Operations and Managing Editor. The company provided curated & custom international economic and political content to corporate clients. She has also done work in the private sector as a security consultant focused on terrorism threat assessments. Media includes: Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News.

A rail workers' strike was averted after President Biden signed legislation that would impose a labor agreement between rail workers and companies. To discuss, we FEATURE Erica Smiley. Smiley is the executive director of Jobs With Justice. A long-time organizer and movement leader, Smiley has been spearheading strategic organizing and policy interventions for Jobs With Justice for nearly 15 years. Prior to taking up her current position with the organization, Smiley served as organizing director for Jobs With Justice developing campaigns that resulted in transformative changes to how working people organize and are civically engaged at their workplaces and in their communities. During her tenure at Jobs With Justice, Smiley has served in numerous leadership capacities including as campaigns director and as senior field organizer for the southern region. Media includes: Chicago Tribune, Bill Moyers, The Washington Free Beacon, Reuters, MSNBC.

December 9th is Genocide Prevention Day. To discuss, we FEATURE Eugenie Mukeshimana. Eugenie is the founder and executive director of the Genocide Survivors Support Network. She was a young adult and eight months pregnant when the genocide broke in Rwanda in 1994. She is a frequent panelist and lecturer on genocide-related issues such as justice and forgiveness, gender-based violence, memorialization and preservation of history, trauma and grief management, education and advocacy. Bearing her first child during the genocide, Eugenie understands the impact of the genocide on mothers and widows who did the unimaginable to save their children. Consequently, she can also relate to the challenges they faced and continue to struggle with after the genocide, and the impact of their personal experiences on family members they care for. Media includes: Voice of America, Huffington Post, NBC, ABC.