Midterm elections are in two weeks and early voting has started in many states. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Robin Leeds. As a Clinton appointee, Leeds shaped public policy on fair pay, Title IX, affirmative action, voter protection, reproductive rights, health, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. Leeds coordinated the implementation of the National Voter Registration (Motor Voter) Act in WIC, Food Stamps, and AFDC programs at the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. In presidential election cycles since 1992, she has worked with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights' National Election Protection Program to conduct trainings and manage election day command centers. Leeds served on the Carter-Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform, and provides ongoing strategic counsel to advocates on federal and state election reform initiatives and the women’s vote. She is the founder and managing director of Winning Strategies LLC, a public affairs and political consulting firm based in Washington, DC. Media includes: Chicago Tribune, Politico, The New York Times, France 24.
Harvey Weinstein's second trial for rape and sexual assault is underway in Los Angeles. To discuss, we FEATURE Adrienne Lawrence. As an award-winning on-air legal commentator and workplace inclusivity advocate, Lawrence does more than just talk. The former big law litigator is passionate about connecting with audiences through informative, thought-provoking conversation—particularly on matters impacting marginalized people in the professional world and in legal arenas. Lawrence's broadcast career started in sports at ESPN in 2015, where she spent two years as a legal analyst and anchor. She later made headlines upon revealing that she left the network after reporting sexual harassment at the hands of a senior anchor and suffering retaliation when she was told to “get used to it.” As it concerns workplace equity, Lawrence consults with businesses large and small drawing on more than 10 years of legal experience and an advanced background in the social sciences. As a Vice President for Jennifer Brown Consulting, she conducts illuminating workplace investigations and culture assessments, and she creates custom diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that enhance healthy workplace cultures and produce meaningful change at all levels. Media includes: Business Insider, Harvard Business Review, ESPN, The Washington Post, NPR.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Tou Thao has waived his right to a jury trial, opting for the judge to deliver a verdict on his involvement in the killing of George Floyd. J. Alexander Kueng, a former police officer, has pleaded guilty and will serve three and a half years in prison as part of a plea bargain. To discuss, we FEATURE Jilisa Milton. Milton is an Alabama-based civil rights attorney, policy analyst, social worker, racial justice activist, community organizer, and relational strategist. She became one of the founders of Black Lives Matter Birmingham Chapter, namely as a survivor of police violence. She is a media expert on racial justice, police reform, social policy, intercultural communications, and social movement strategy. During her professional development, Milton has participated in various legal projects such as the remedial process for Floyd v. New York, the groundbreaking Stop and Frisk case brought to action by the Center for Constitutional Rights, and rights on issues related to racial justice and policing. Media includes: Bloomberg Law, Birmingham Times.
Rishi Sunak has been selected by parliamentary Conservative Party members to become the leader of their party and the next prime minister of Britain, following Liz Truss's resignation as Britain’s prime minister. To discuss, we FEATURE Mary Nugent. Nugent taught undergraduate classes in UK Politics, Women & American Politics, and introductory Political Theory at Rutgers University for over three years. She has an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University. Her thesis drew on analysis of three decades of legislative behavior in the UK House of Commons and interviews with Members of Parliament to study changes in male MPs' engagement on women's issues, and the impact that the increased presence of women has on men's behavior. Media includes: Wall Street Journal, Salon, The Guardian, BBC.
Ukrainian activists are claiming that Russia has severed internet and communication services thus making it difficult to verify information. To discuss, we FEATURE Nina Jankowicz. Jankowicz is a Global Fellow at the Kennan Institute where she studies the intersection of democracy and technology in Central and Eastern Europe and a senior advisor at the Centre for Information Resilience. She is the author of How To Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict. Previously, she advised the Ukrainian government on strategic communications under the auspices of a Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellowship. Prior to her Fulbright grant in Ukraine, Jankowicz managed democracy assistance programs to Russia and Belarus at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. She is a frequent commentator on disinformation and Russian and Eastern European affairs. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed News, Foreign Policy, MSNBC, CNN, NPR.
The Trump Organization's trial on tax fraud is underway in New York. To discuss, we FEATURE Judith H. Germano. Germano advises public and privately-held companies on cybersecurity and privacy matters, and represents companies and individuals on complex white-collar criminal and regulatory-compliance issues. As the founding member of GermanoLawLLC, Judith has counseled clients on matters of cybersecurity governance and risk management, internal investigations, and criminal as well as civil defense. Germano previously was Chief of Economic Crimes at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. A federal prosecutor for 11 years, she supervised and prosecuted complex criminal cases of national and international impact, involving cybercrime, securities and other financial fraud, identity theft, corruption and national security. Media includes: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Jersey Star Ledger.
A Russian court has rejected WNBA star Brittney Griner's appeal of a nine-year prison sentence. Griner was arrested earlier this year for entering Russia with vape cartridges. To discuss, we FEATURE Brianne Todd. Todd is an Assistant Professor of Central Asian Studies at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, where her areas of expertise include transnational threats and regional security issues in Central Asia, Russia, and the Caucasus. Before joining the NESA Center in January 2010, she worked at the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, where she analyzed U.S. and foreign defense, intelligence, and homeland security and counter-terrorism policies; and the Eurasian Strategy Project, where she focused on Eurasian political and security issues. Extensive media experience.
U.S. students' math scores have dropped in most states, a sign of the pandemic's impact on students. To discuss, we FEATURE Scyatta A. Wallace. Wallace is an award-winning psychologist, accomplished scientist and social entrepreneur. Her mission is to support leadership development and mental health/wellness among teen girls/young women. Wallace combines her love for empowering youth as CEO/Founder of Janisaw Company, a consulting firm specializing in creating leadership development, socio-emotional learning and healthy lifestyle programs for teen girls/young women. Janisaw Company also provides professional development training for organizations that serve youth. She is an expert advisor for student health and wellness platform CampusWell and contributor to BAUCE magazine. Media includes: Time, U.S. News and World Reports, Essence Magazine, CNN, ABC.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated that he plans to send more migrants up north, which he had done weeks prior when he sent 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard without notice. To discuss, we FEATURE Ysabella Osses. Osses is an immigrant woman born and raised in El Castillo, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the beautiful and unequal country of Chile. She lived through the aftermath of a right-wing dictatorship, which inspired her passion for politics, education, and organizing. She currently lives in the land of the Seminole people (South Florida). Osses is a political scientist, a sociologist, a former teacher, a political education coordinator and organizer. She hosts monthly feminist assemblies, seminars, and workshops pushing towards gender and racial equity in South Florida. Extensive media experience.
November is American Indian Heritage month. To commemorate, we FEATURE Rebecca Nagle. Nagle is an award-winning advocate, writer, and citizen of Cherokee Nation. As the host of the chart-topping podcast “This Land,” Nagle told the story of one Supreme Court case about tribal land in Oklahoma, the small-town murder that started it, and the surprising connection to her own family history. Recently, Nagle received The American Mosaic Journalism Prize, the largest cash prize for journalism in the United States. In 2016, Nagle was named one of the National Center American Indian Enterprise Development’s "Native American 40 Under 40" for her work to support survivors and advocate for policy change to address the crisis of violence against Native women. Her writing about Native representation and tribal sovereignty has been featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, USA Today, Teen Vogue, The Huffington Post, and more.















