Border patrol officials released tear gas on Central American migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, some of whom were women and children. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Claire R. Thomas, PhD. Professor Thomas is an attorney, advocate, and adjunct professor. Her interests and expertise include: U.S. immigration law, asylum and refugee law, unaccompanied children, immigrant access to public benefits, and empowerment for women and girls facing poverty and gender-based violence. Professor Thomas directs the Asylum Clinic at New York Law School, in which she teaches law students how to represent immigrants seeking asylum and other humanitarian immigration protections in the United States. Media includes: The New York Times, The Bangkok Post,The New Stateman, The Queens Daily Eagle.
On Friday, the federal government released the National Climate Assessment, a report full of policy recommendations that greatly contradicts many policies introduced by the current government. To discuss, we FEATURE Farhana Yamin. An internationally recognized environmental lawyer, climate change and development policy expert, Yamin has advised leaders and countries for 20 years. COP 21 in Paris was her 18th UN climate summit. She is founder of Track 0, an independent not-for-profit organization serving as a hub to support all those working to get GHG emissions on track to zero by mid-century. In addition, Yamin is an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, a visiting Professor at University College London and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Climate Change at the World Economic Forum. Media includes: Christian Science Monitor, Carbon Brief, Huffington Post.
In breach of his plea deal, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been accused of lying to federal investigators; and former Trump campaign aide George Papadoupoulos has gone to prison for 14 days having been found guilty of lying to federal investigators in Robert Mueller's Russian interference probe. To discuss both cases, we FEATURE Dana L. Gold, Esq. Gold is an attorney and currently serves as the Director of Education with the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization. In addition to having represented and/or worked with dozens of whistleblowers over the past 25 years, Dana is also a former Network Fellow with Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and the co-founder and former Director of the Center on Corporations, Law & Society at Seattle University School of Law. Media includes: WNYC's On the Media, KUOW, NowThis Politics.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have risen following Russia's seizing of Ukrainian naval vessels. To discuss, we FEATURE Toby Gati. Gati is President of TTG Global LLC. Formerly Senior International Advisor at the global law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Toby Trister Gati focused on political, economic and trade developments in Russia, Eurasia, and Central and Eastern Europe. As special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia, Ukraine and the Eurasian States at the National Security Council in the White House in 1993, Gati helped develop and implement U.S. policy towards Russia during the first Clinton administration. Media includes: CNN, PBS, NPR, The Washington Times.
World leaders will be meeting later this week in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the G20 Summit. To discuss, we FEATURE Dr. Radhika Balakrishnan. Dr. Balakrishnan, executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership, and Professor, Women's and Gender Studies at Rutgers University, has a Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University. She is the co-editor with Diane Elson of Economic Policy and Human Rights: Holding Governments to Account (Zed Books, 2011). She is the author ofWhy MES with Human Rights: Integrating Macro Economic Strategies with Human Rights (Marymount Manhattan College, 2005). Media includes: Pacific Radio, Huffington Post, Law and Disorder Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio.
December 1st is World AIDS Day. To discuss, we FEATURE Phronie Jackson, PhD. Dr. Jackson is a social change agent, mentor, and Founder of Ward 5 health coalition in Washington, DC. Dr. Jackson received her Doctorate in Public Health degree from Walden University in November 2016. Her research interest includes addressing chronic disease prevention through a health equity lens. She applies lessons learned from over 20 years of public health experience to develop, implement, and evaluate public, community, population, and worksite health and wellness programs and trainings. Media includes: NBC 4, WHUR FM Radio, WOL AM 1450.
A shooting in an Alabama mall has resulted in the death of Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. by police officers who mistook Bradford for the shooting suspect. 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. Debbie 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. 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, Fox 5 News.
A lawsuit that accuses Apple Inc of breaking antitrust laws by monopolizing the market on apps by only allowing apps to be bought through the Apple Store has been brought to the Supreme Court. 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. Ms. Kaounis is a member of the Firm’s Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Media and Entertainment, and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. Kaounis has successfully represented clients in a broad range of litigation matters, including trade secret misappropriation cases, antitrust and unfair competition matters, business tort cases, and contractual disputes in a number of areas, including the high-tech and entertainment industries. Extensive media experience.
A federal judge in Michigan has ruled that Congress' law that outlawed female genital mutilation was unconstitutional citing that the law should not be federal but for states to decide separately. To discuss, we FEATURE Luisa Cabal. Cabal is the Chief Human Rights and Law at UNAIDS. Previously, Cabal was at the Center For Reproductive Rights as a legal adviser and leds the Center's legal and advocacy efforts in the United States and across the globe. Ms. Cabal has pioneered the Center's international litigation and advocacy efforts, overseeing the international litigation strategy that has yielded groundbreaking results at the United Nations, regional, and national-level courts and human rights bodies. Media includes: BBC World News, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle.
General Motors plans to close down several of its plants, which will lead to 15 percent of its staff being laid off. To discuss, we FEATURE Erica Smiley. Smiley oversees the organizing department at Jobs With Justice, which includes local and national campaign work and a team dedicated to developing innovative strategies to expand collective bargaining power. She is originally from Greensboro, N.C, and in the past has organized with community groups such as Progressive Maryland, the Tenants and Workers Support Committee (now Tenants and Workers United) in Virginia, and SEIU Local 500 in Baltimore. Media includes: The Finance Times, The Nation Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Dissent Magazine.
Dr. Julie Thomas Achettu, EdD
Dr. Rebecca J Clendenen, PhD
Dr Carla Ionescu, PhD
Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis, Ph.D.
Dr. Melody J Glenn, MD, MFA