Recounts are underway in Florida’s Senate and governor’s races following last week’s midterm elections. To discuss, we FEATURE Stephanie Porta. In 2010, Porta co-founded Organize Now & Florida Institute for Reform and Empowerment to work on the needs of Florida's low and moderate income communities and is currently executive director for both. For more than a decade, Ms. Porta has worked on successful campaigns for candidates and issues‹ including environmental justice, community safety, community development, health care, public education and more. Media includes: Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Politico.

A federal judge has ordered more time for votes to be counted in the Georgia election. To discuss, we FEATURE Beth S. Schapiro, PhD. Schapiro is president of The Schapiro Group, a data-driven strategic consulting firm serving private sector, public sector, nonprofit, and political clients throughout the United States. She began her career as a teacher in the Atlanta Public Schools and later served as a Senior Planner in the Georgia Office of Planning and Budget. Media includes: CNN, FOX, The New York Times.

President Trump is preparing to remove Kirstjen Nielsen as the Homeland Security secretary. To discuss, we FEATURE Juliette Kayyem. Kayyem is on the faculty at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Previously, she served for President Obama as Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. She has spent over 15 years in senior positions in state and federal government, including as Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s homeland security advisor and a legal advisor to US Attorney General Janet Reno. Media includes: CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, NPR.

Police officers in Chicago have fatally shot Jemel Roberson, a Black security guard who was doing his job by holding down a shooting suspect at a bar. To discuss, we FEATURE Charlene Carruthers. Carruthers is a Black, queer feminist community organizer and writer with over 10 years of experience in racial justice, feminist and youth leadership development movement work. She currently serves as the national director of the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), an activist member-led organization of Black 18-35 year olds dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. Media includes: NPR, MSNBC, BBC World News.

After a year of searching for a location for its second headquarters, Amazon has announced that Amazon HQ2 will be split between New York City and Northern Virginia. To discuss concerns over how this may change infrastructure and labor markets within those cities, we FEATURE Connie Razza. Razza is Co-Director of Policy & Research at Demos. Previously, she directed Center for Popular Democracy’s broad-ranging research efforts pertaining to immigrant and civil rights, economic and community justice, and good government. In addition to researching on CPD-driven projects, the Strategic Research department also helps partner organizations meet their research needs. Media includes: The New York Times, The Guardian, MSNBC.

Recently released FBI data shows reports of a 17% rise in hate crimes since last year. To discuss, we FEATURE Nadia Aziz. Aziz serves as Program Manager of the Stop Hate Project with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where she works to ensure individuals and organizations targeted by hate have the resources they need to confront hate in their communities. Nadia is a graduate of Clemson University and Charlotte School of Law. She writes and speaks on issues relating to the representation of minorities in politics, hate crimes, and the securitization of communities of color. Media includes: The Hill, Huffington Post, The Ed Schultz Show.

CNN is suing the Trump administration for barring journalist Jim Acosta from the White House. Last week, the White House released a video of Acosta that was sped up to look like Acosta attacked White House staff, which was used as reasoning for Acosta's removal. To discuss, we FEATURE Cheryl A. Leanza. Leanza is the President of her consulting firm, A Learned Hand, LLC.  In this capacity she serves as policy advisor to the United Church of Christ’s historic media advocacy arm and as the Co-Chair of the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights Media & Telecommunications Task Force. Media includes: CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR.

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated last month in Saudi Arabia and there is a audio recording from the killers that links the killing to the Saudi Crown Prince. To discuss, we FEATURE Frances Z. Brown. Brown is a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where she researches stabilization, development, state-building, and governance in conflict-affected states. Brown arrived at Carnegie in September 2017 from the White House National Security Council (NSC) staff, where she served for eighteen months under both the Obama and Trump administrations. Media includes: The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Al Jazeera.

The U.S. has declined to sign an international declaration that would protect civilians from cyberattacks and electronic election meddling. 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,  Germano has counseled clients on matters of cybersecurity governance and risk management, internal investigations, and criminal as well as civil defense. Media includes: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post.

Facebook and Google have announced changes to their harassment policy. This is following a walkout that included 20,000 Google employees demanding an end to forced arbitration within the company's sexual harassment policy. To discuss, we FEATURE Linda A. Seabrook. Seabrook is General Counsel at Futures Without Violence where she leads a number of programs aimed at reducing violence against women and children. She began her legal career as an Assistant Solicitor in Charleston, SC, where she was the lead prosecutor for intimate partner offenses and enjoyed a 100% conviction rate at trial. Due to her impressive trial record, Ms. Seabrook was recruited to join Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, a national top-tier labor and employment law firm where she focused on employment discrimination and sexual harassment cases, and occupational safety and health law. Media includes: USA Today, NPR. 

After months of negotiations, the UK and the EU have reached a draft agreement for the UK to withdraw from the EU. To discuss, we FEATURE Valerie Rouxel-Laxton. Rouxel-Laxton is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Business and Economics Program. She is also a Consultant on economics and development impact at the IFC (International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group). Before taking on her role at the Atlantic Council, Rouxel-Laxton was Head of Economics and Finance for the EU delegation in the U.S. and prior to that she was Head of Sector, Countries of the G20, for the European Commission. Extensive media experience.