A federal judge has ruled that it is illegal to share and distribute blueprint plans for 3D printed guns. To discuss, we FEATURE Debbie Hines. Hines is a Washington, DC based trial attorney, legal analyst, former Baltimore prosecutor and member of the Supreme Court bar. Hines is an expert in criminal law, high profile criminal cases, gun control and gun laws, police brutality, death penalty, domestic violence and Supreme Court cases. She often addresses legal/political issues at the intersection of gender, race and class.  As a former felony prosecutor, she tried homicides, attempted murders, rapes, burglaries, robberies, narcotics and economic crimes. Presently, she maintains a boutique law practice focused on civil and criminal litigation. Media includes: Al Jazeera, BET, C-SPAN, CBS, CCTV, MSNBC, PBS, Sky News, NPR, The Washington Post.

Facebook has found disinformation pages and profiles that have been sending divisive messages about the upcoming midterm elections. To discuss, we FEATURE Sarah Granger. Granger has more than 25 years of experience working at the intersection of technology, media and government. She is an award-winning digital media innovator and bestselling author of The Digital Mystique: How the Culture of Connectivity Can Empower Your Life – Online and Off. In 2011, Sarah founded the Center for Technology, Media & Society, dedicated to educating, informing and connecting stakeholders around converging topics like transparent e-government, high-tech workplace flexibility, and gender bias online. She is a Fellow at the Truman National Security Project and formerly served as co-chair of their cybersecurity expert group. Media includes: CBS News, Good Morning America, NPR, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, Daily Kos, The Washington Post, PBS,The Hill.

Fires are currently ravaging parts of California and the Carr fire in northern California has been named the seventh most deadly fire in California history. To discuss, we FEATURE Tamara Habib. Habib is an entrepreneur focused on reengineering disaster recovery. She has 12 years of experience in emergency management and disaster response and recovery. Her career has spanned roles that include working as an Emergency Management Technician, responding to local and national disasters with the American Red Cross and consulting major cities on disaster planning and recovery. Through this work, she learned that people and communities impacted by disaster need better resources to recover and, as a result, cofounded Firelily, a crowdfunding startup dedicated to empowering those impacted by disaster to take control of their recovery. Media includes: Forbes, Emergency Management Magazine, Chicago Tribune, NPR. 

President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani has stated that "collusion is not a crime" when commenting on Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interterence of the 2016 election. To discuss, we FEATURE Danielle Brian. Since 1993, Brian 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. Media includes: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA TODAY, NPR.

The 2020 census is facing backlash for a new question that involves asking for citzenship status. To discuss, we FEATURE Pamela Chomba. Chomba, the Northeast Organizing Director for FWD.US, is a Dreamer and activist, born in Lima, Peru. While working in Texas (2014) for a an electoral campaign, she realized she could not fix the electoral process if 11 million undocumented immigrants lived without status, including families with U.S. citizen family members, like her own. Through story-sharing trainings and advocacy, Pamela mobilized support for Dreamers in the Northeast to speak to Congress and demand a legislative process that will also grant her a pathway to citizenship. Media includes: ThinkProgress, Cuny TV, Bustle.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has a announced plans to start a "religious liberty task force" and has been criticized for his speech in regards to it, with many citing that Sessions focused only on Christian freedom. To discuss, we FEATURE Rev. Irene Monroe. Monroe is an ordained minister, motivational speaker and she speaks for a sector of society that is frequently invisible. Monroe stated that her "columns are an interdisciplinary approach drawing on critical race theory, African American, queer and religious studies. As an religion columnist I try to inform the public of the role religion plays in discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Because homophobia is both a hatred of the “other ” and it’s usually acted upon ‘in the name of religion,” by reporting religion in the news I aim to highlight how religious intolerance and fundamentalism not only shatters the goal of American democracy, but also aids in perpetuating other forms of oppression such as racism, sexism, classism and anti-Semitism.” Media includes: The Advocate, The Huffington Post, The Boston Globe. 

A new study by Inclusion Initiative at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism has stated that no progress has been made for women and underrepresented groups in Hollywood. To discuss, we FEATURE Brandale Mills. Mills is currently Assistant Professor at Norfolk State University (Norfolk, VA) in the Mass Communications and Journalism department. In this role, she teaches Film Criticism, Media and Society and Communications research methods. Mills’ research examines trends in the media as it relates to communities of color and Black female representation in the media, specifically examining Black female relationship portrayals in the media. Mills is currently completing her book project under contract with Routledge Press titled Black Women Filmmakers and Black Love on Screen.

Walt Disney Co. shareholders have agreed to purchase 21st Century Fox for $71.3 billion. To discuss, we FEATURE Angelique Kaounis. Kaounis is Of Counsel in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she practices in the Firm’s Litigation Department, with a focus on intellectual property and technology-related issues. Kaounis is a member of the Firm’s Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Media and Entertainment, and Intellectual Property Practice Groups.