After it was discovered that Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló sent messages insulting women, gay people, and Hurricane Maria victims, thousands of protestors went to the streets to call for his resignation. Rosselló has already announced that he will not run for reelection, but has not resigned. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Erica Gonzalez. Gonzalez is the Deputy Director of #Power4PuertoRico, a coalition of organizations, leaders, and advocates from across the nation working together to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria through advocacy, strategic communications, and direct mobilization. She is a lifelong advocate for social justice and Latino issues. Media includes: CNN, NY1, Fox 5's Street Walk.
The Trump administration has expanded its power to deport undocumented immigrants, which will allow them to bypass immigration judges. To discuss, we FEATURE Amanda Baran. Baran is an attorney who engages in policy analysis and advocacy for immigrant and women's rights. She worked at the Department of Homeland Security for almost ten years where she held a number of significant positions including Chief of Public Engagement at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and most recently, Principal Director of Immigration Policy for the Department's Office of Policy. Media includes: The Hill, Los Angeles Times, VoA Noticias, Rewire.News.
Iran has arrested 17 people who they allege to be secret agents from the CIA, were sent there to spy on nuclear sites in the country. To discuss, we FEATURE Trudy Rubin. Rubin is the foreign affairs columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and travels abroad frequently to South Asia and the Middle East. She has special expertise on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, international terrorism, and U.S. foreign policy. She visited Afghanistan and Pakistan twice in 2009; between 2003 and 2008 she made ten trips to Iraq and two to Iran and also wrote from Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, China and South Korea. Media includes: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist of London.
Robert Mueller will be testifying before Congress tomorrow. To discuss, we FEATURE Heidi Li Feldman. Feldman is Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, with a courtesy appointment in the Philosophy Department at Georgetown University. She has written major articles on tort law and on legal ethics. Her scholarly expertise includes the U.S. civil justice system more generally. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, Bloomberg, CBS News.
Protesters have been gathered at Hawaii's Mauna Kea for a week in order to block the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. The land is sacred ground to Native Hawaiians. To discuss, we FEATURE Adrienne Keene. Keene is a Native scholar, writer, and blogger and is passionate about reframing how the world sees contemporary Native cultures. She is currently an Assistant Professor of American and Ethnic Studies at Brown University. Through her writing and activism, Keene questions and problematizes the ways Indigenous peoples are represented, asking for celebrities, large corporations, and designers to consider the ways they incorporate Native elements into their work. Media includes: The New York Times, NPR, CNN, Time, Washington Post.
Israel has begun to demolish Palestinian homes in the West Bank, stating that the homes were built too close to the border. Many of the residents have stated that they were given permits to build there. To discuss, we FEATURE Noura Erakat. Erakat is a human rights attorney and writer. She is currently the Freedman Teaching Fellow at Temple Law School and the US-based Legal Advocacy Consultant for the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Refugee and Residency Rights. Erakat is a frquent commentator on the Palestinian-Israel conflict, US Middle East foreign policy, and international human rights in the Middle East. Media includes: Foreign Policy, Al Jazeerea, the Hill.com, The Interdependent, Huffington Post, MSNBC, Fox.
Marvel has announced Phase 4 of its cinematic universe, which will see Black Widow leading her own solo film as well as Natalie Portman taking on the role of female Thor (in a recent report, WMC found that only 14 percent of sci-fi and superhero films over the last 10 years are led by women). To discuss, we FEATURE Cher Martinetti. Martinetti is the founder and managing editor of SYFY WIRE's FANGRRLS, a female-centric genre vertical on SYFY WIRE launched in 2016, and cohosts & executive produces its flagship podcast Strong Female Characters. She is also a pop-culture and entertainment journalist. She has hosted panels at ATX festival, New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con, & has interviewed celebrities on the live stage for ECCC, C2E2, & NYCC. Media includes: Associated Press, Upworthy, Uproxx.
R. Kelly will remain in jail without bond as he awaits trial for child pornography charges. To discuss, we FEATURE Mallory Littlejohn. Littlejohn joined the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation in 2016. She manages attorneys who specialize in assisting survivors of sexual assault with their legal needs. CAASE’s practice areas include Education, Civil, Criminal, and Employment law. CAASE also represents Trafficking Survivors in vacating their convictions. Media includes: The Chicago Tribune, WBEZ.
Instagram has announced that it will starting hiding like counts from posts, citing that they are "removing pressure" from users. This is following concerns that social media may be contributing to low self-esteem. To discuss, we FEATURE Nancy Mramor Kajuth, PhD. Mramor Kajuth is a Media Expert, Award Winning Author, International Speaker and Psychotherapist in private practice. Her most recent award-winning book, Get Reel: Produce Your Own Life, explores the effects of the media in a media-friendly and entertaining way. Her media specialties include effects of movies, TV and the Internet on our health and relationships, psychology of media events, social networking, pop-culture, and internet addiction. Media includes: Readers Digest, PBS, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox.
For the first time, China has more companies on the Fortune Global 500 than the U.S. To discuss, we FEATURE Maria Pinelli. Pinelli is the Global Vice Chair of Strategic Growth Markets for Ernst & Young. In this role, she is responsible for a practice that is dedicated to serving fast-growth, high-potential companies that are evolving into market leaders. With more than 20 years of experience, Pinelli has in-depth knowledge of the needs and issues of companies experiencing rapid growth. She has an extensive background in providing audit and advisory services to both private and public companies. Pinelli has acquired significant knowledge of the global capital markets, having lead over 20 IPOs in Canada, London, China and the US. Media includes: The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Financial Times, Reuters.
Alicia White
Liz Theran
