On June 14th, there will be a military parade in Washington, DC to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army. Donald Trump's critics have organized a nationwide "No Kings" protest on the same day to address "authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy." To discuss, we FEATURE Lee M Pierce. Pierce is assistant professor of rhetorical communication at the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo and an instructor for the Harvard Debate Council. Lee holds a PhD in Speech Communication from the University of Georgia. As a researcher, Pierce specializes in rhetoric, race, and U.S. political culture. Their research has appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Philosophy and Rhetoric, and Women's Studies in Communication, winning several awards from the National Communication Association. Media includes: The Conversation, Hello Giggles, Newsmax, ABC News.

Anti-ICE protests have been spreading across the country as a reaction to mass deportations by the Trump administration. Protests are taking place in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and more. To discuss, we FEATURE Deepa Iyer. Iyer is a South Asian American writer, strategist, lawyer, and racial justice advocate. Currently, Deepa is a senior director at Building Movement Project and director of Solidarity Is, a project that provides trainings, narratives, and resources on building deep and lasting multiracial solidarity. Iyer’s areas of expertise include the post 9/11 America experiences of South Asian, Muslim, Arab and Sikh immigrants, immigration and civil rights policies, and racial equity and solidarity practices. Iyer has worked at various national and local organizations with a focus on immigrant and racial justice. Media includes: The New York Times, USA Today, Huffington Post, NPR.

Last week, the Trump administration rescinded a Biden administration policy informing hospitals and doctors that they can provide emergency abortions to stabilize pregnant women. To discuss, we FEATURE Kristyn Brandi. Brandi is an obstetrician-gynecologist with a fellowship training in Family Planning (contraception and abortion services). Brandi is a former board member and the past board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health, sits on several sub-committees for the Society of Family Planning and is a founding member of Centering Equity, Racial and Cultural Literacy in Family Planning (CERCL-FP). She has published research on contraceptive coercion by doctors to patients seeking abortion. Her master's degree concentration focused on health law, bioethics, and human rights, which she has focused her educational pursuits around abortion policy, contraceptive decision-making, and racial justice within medical education. Media includes: The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Elite Daily Newsweek.

President Trump has announced plans to end FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season, shifting responsibility for disaster relief to the states. To discuss, we FEATURE Chloe Demrovsky. Demrovsky was on the FEMA National Advisory Council before all council members were dismissed in January 2025. She is an experienced executive leader with a distinguished career advising Fortune 100 companies, startups, consortia, and government on all aspects of emergency management. She is also the Founder of Edgewood Insights, an advisory firm at the nexus of risk and resilience. From 2017 to 2024, she served as the president and CEO of Disaster Recovery Institute International, the global leader in operational resilience and business continuity training and credentialing after having served since 2014 as executive director. Media includes: The New York Times, LA Times, Inc., Sky News, USA Today, MSNBC, BBC.

Donald Trump stated that trade deal with China is "done" following a two day meeting in London. To discuss, we FEATURE Ann Lee. Lee is an internationally recognized leading authority on China’s economic relations. Ann is the author of the book What the U.S. Can Learn from China, an award winning international bestseller, and the book Will China’s Economy Collapse? She is a former faculty member at Peking University, New York University, and Pace University where she taught macroeconomics and financial derivatives and was made an honorary professor at Sias University. She also has served on the boards and advisory boards of a number of companies that include Global Trust Group, Astor Jannsen, and Paragon One. Media includes: The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Businessweek, Fortune, Forbes, ABC, CBS, CNN, CNBC.

Last week, Israel detained an aid ship heading to Gaza carrying food and medical supplies. The ship included climate activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan, among others. To discuss, we FEATURE Rebecca Vilkomerson. Vilkomerson is co-founder, with Soheir Asaad, of the Funding Freedom project, which works to build solidarity and support for Palestinian freedom through education, advocacy, communications in philanthropy. She authored Funding Freedom: Philanthropy and the Palestinian Freedom Movement, a report published by Solidaire and book Solidarity is the Political Form of Love: Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing, co-authored with Rabbi Alissa Wise. Before the Funding Freedom Project, Vilkomerson was the executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace from 2009-2019. Media includes: The Los Angeles Times, CNN.com, The Nation, The Hill, Huffington Post.

The New York City mayoral race is underway. To discuss, we FEATURE Christina Greer. Greer is an associate professor of political science and American studies at Fordham University (Lincoln Center Campus). Her primary research and teaching interests are racial and ethnic politics, American urban centers, presidential politics, and campaigns and elections. Her additional research interests also include transportation, mayors and public policy in urban centers. Greer's book Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream (Oxford University Press, 2013 ) investigates the increasingly ethnically diverse Black populations in the US from Africa and the Caribbean and was the recipient of the WEB du Bois Best Book Award in 2014 given by the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. She is the co-host of the New York centered podcast FAQ-NYC and politics editor and podcast host of The Blackest Questions podcast at The Grio. Media includes: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsday, MSNBC.

June is LGBTQ Pride Month. To discuss, we FEATURE Melissa R. Michelson. Michelson is a nationally recognized expert on Latino politics, voter mobilization experiments, and LGBTQ rights. She is the award-winning author of six books, including Transforming Prejudice: Identity, Fear, and Transgender Rights. Michelson is dean of arts & sciences and professor of political science at Menlo College. Her academic work is solidly based in activist scholarship. Whether the focus is on members of the Latino, LGBTQ, or other marginalized groups, she uses her research to motivate greater equality and justice for all. Michelson’s current projects include ongoing research on how best to motivate Latinx citizens to vote and how to reduce prejudice against members of the LGBTQ community and against people living with HIV/AIDS. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today.