Experts on Race & the NBA, SmartPhone Privacy, Abortion in the South, Campaign Finance, and Highways
This week we feature experts who can discuss the NBA and the Clippers owner's alleged racist comments, the Supreme Court cases on police searches of cellphones, Mississippi's last abortion clinic fighting to remain open, former Supreme Court Justice Paul Stevens' appearance at the congressional hearing on campaign finance reform, and the money problems of the Highway Trust Fund for road- and bridge-construction projects.
On-Air Sports Contributor (CNN, NBC News, HLN, Entertainment Tonight's The Insider on CBS); Creator, Executive Producer, Former Talk Show Host for Huffington Post
For interviews on NBA & race.
After a weekend of high profile responses, including from President Obama, to the alleged racist comments of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling, how will the NBA respond? We SPOTLIGHT NBA expert Alexis McCombs to discuss race in the NBA. McCombs has written on "The Business of the NBA Finals" & "The Business of the Super Bowl." She is the former creator, producer and host of the talk show "Instant She-Play" on AOL Sports - Huffington Post where three women interviewed top NFL athletes about politics, religion and other hot topics. McCombs been published, covered and quoted by the New York Times, USA Today, ABC.com, Essence.com, Inc. and Black Enterprise magazines.
Partner at a Washington, D.C. law firm; former Chief Privacy Officer of the U.S. Department of Justice
Jenner & Block LLP
For interviews on SmartPhone privacy, police searches of cell phones.
With the Supreme Court prepared to hear two cases this week about whether police need to obtain warrants to search the cellphones of people they have arrested, we FEATURE digital privacy expert and attorney Nancy Libin. Libin's practice focuses on privacy law, cybersecurity, and related technology policy issues. She previously served as the Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer of the U.S. Department of Justice, where her portfolio focused on the intersection of privacy, technology, national security, and law enforcement. She has analyzed privacy issues on CNN’s The Situtation Room, NPR’s All Things Considered, PBS’s Nightly News Report, and other syndicated and local radio programs.
Professor Emerita of sociology, U.C. Davis; Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.California, San Francisco
Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, UCSF
For interviews on access to abortion in the south.
As Mississippi's last abortion clinic fights to remain open, the question arises about what this case means for access to abortion in the South. We FEATURE Carole Joffe, an expert on abortion provision, the history of abortion and contraception, contemporary abortion rights and the anti-abortion movements. She has written widely on reproductive health services and politics for both academic and general audiences, including her book Dispatches from the Abortion Wars: The Costs of Fanaticism to Doctors, Patients and the Rest of Us. She has appeared on NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post among others outlets and publications.
Special Litigation and Policy Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
NAACP legal Defense Fund
For interviews on campaign finance, Supreme Court.
On Wednesday, former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens will appear at the Senate hearing on "dark money" and the effects of the recent Supreme Court decision on campaign finance. We FEATURE campaign finance and Supreme Court expert Brenda Wright. She has led many progressive legal and policy initiatives on campaign finance reform, voting rights, and other democracy and electoral reform issues and is a nationally known expert in these areas. She has argued two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Randall v. Sorrell (campaign finance) and Young v. Fordice (voting rights). She appears frequently in print and broadcast media on these issues, and testifies regularly before Congress, federal agencies and state legislatures.
Executive Director | Infrastructure expert, civil engineer, author
NV5
For interviews on highway infrastructure and the Highway Trust Fund.
With Congress returning this week, a key issue is finding more money for the Highway Trust Fund to keep road- and bridge-construction projects moving forward. We FEATURE Rossana D'Antonio from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to discuss the fallout if projects slow this summer or the fund runs out of money. She is responsible for directing the technical design of all public infrastructure facilities including highway, flood control and bridge structures. With 24 years of broad based experience, she has years navigating the political environment of county government, providing public works infrastructure services with dwindling resources, and addressing communities with varying interests.