The U.S. and China have reached a trade deal that is expected to end the trade war between the two countries. To discuss, we FEATURE Ann Lee. Lee is an internationally recognized leading authority on China’s economic relations and an adjunct professor of economics and finance at New York University. She is also a former visiting professor at Peking University where she taught macroeconomics and financial derivatives. She consults with policymakers from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. about U.S.-China relations, international finance and trade, and China’s political economy. Media includes: The New York Times,The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Businessweek, Forbes, CBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, NPR.  

The Supreme Court has refused to hear a case from Boise, Idaho, on homelessness, letting stand a ruling that protects homeless people's right to sleep on the sidewalk or in a public park if no shelter is available. To discuss, we FEATURE Susan Vivian Mangold. Mangold became CEO of Juvenile Law Center (jlc.org) in October 2015, returning to the office where she began her legal career working on behalf of youth in the justice and child welfare systems. She is an expert on economic injustice, poverty and child welfare. Media includes: The Washington Post, The New York Times, NBC.  

A Wisconsin judge has ordered the state to remove hundreds of thousands of people from Wisconsin's voter rolls. In Georgia, they are planning a similar purge but are awaiting a ruling from a federal judge. To discuss, we FEATURE Beth S. Schapiro, PhD. Schapiro, who is based in Atlanta, is a nationally recognized expert on campaign strategy and public affairs. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she has developed campaign strategy for successful candidates for all levels of office throughout the Southeast. She is particularly proud of her experience helping to elect several officials who were the first of their race, gender, or sexual orientation to win a particular office. Her areas of expertise include American elections, Southern politics, women in politics, women candidates, voter behavior, and gay candidates. Media includes: USA Today, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Roll Call, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CNN, Fox.

Nine Democratic presidential candidates have sent a letter to the DNC to urge the party to ease the requirements for the upcoming debates in order to foster diversity. Of the seven candidates that qualify, six are white. To discuss, we FEATURE Grace P. Haley. Haley is the Gender and Race Researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics, which runs the site OpenSecrets.org in Washington, DC. She studies the intersections of identity and campaign finance, focusing on how women navigate politics as donors, voters, candidates, and lawmakers. Her research focuses on the trends we are seeing among women donors, the challenges that fundraising presents for underrepresented candidates, the variables that create obstacles for women, especially women of color, to lead successful campaigns, and what happens when winning candidates break the mold. Media includes: The New York Times, NPR, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, Fox News.

Operators of 20% of America's nuclear reactors are currently seeking federal approval to run reactors for an unprecedented 80 years. To discuss, we FEATURE Dr. Leigh Winfrey. Dr. Winfrey is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Pennsylvania State University where she is director of the Magnetic and Electric Field Applied Research and Science Laboratory. Her research group focuses on plasma-material interactions, plasma-fluid interactions, fusion reactor materials, fusion reactor safety, corrosion mitigation, high-level waste management, high velocity projectile launch, micro-thruster design, gas turbine engine flow control, and novel materials synthesis. Media includes: Marketwatch Energy Podcast, MarketScale. 

The National Institutes for Health (NIH) has issued a set of recommendations to crack down on sexual harassment in order to change the culture in biomedical sciences and make it less dominated by white men. To discuss, we FEATURE Veronica Arreola. Arreola is a nationally recognized expert on women in higher education and a women’s rights advocate. As the director of Latin@s Gaining Access to Networks for Advancement in Science, Arreola is charged with the day-to-day management of the team as they strengthen University of Illinois at Chicago's (UIC) capacity to be the best campus it can be to nurture Latinx scientists-in-training. Media includes: Bitch magazine, Ms. Magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, RH Reality Check. 

The Hallmark Channel has reinstated ads for wedding planning service Zola that feature a wedding between two women. Previously, the channel pulled the ads after recieving complaints from conservative groups. To discuss, we FEATURE Kierra Johnson. Johnson is the Deputy Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force. She previously served on the National LGBTQ Task Force’s board of directors and on its National Action Council, and has keynoted at the organization’s annual Creating Change Conference. Media includes: Newsweek, The New York Times, Feministing, Fox News, NPR.

The UN Climate Summit, which went on for two days after its initial deadline, has come to an end with officials failing to come to a deal. 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. She 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. She has published numerous books and articles on the nexus of climate change and development and served as an advisor to the European Commission on Emissions Trading Directive from 1998-2002, later serving as Special Advisor to Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action for 2012-2013. Media includes: Christian Science Monitor, Carbon Brief, Huffington Post.