Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate in Brazil's upcoming presidential election, has made it past the first round of elections and has sparked protests from Brazil's women's groups. To discuss, we FEATURE Heloisa Pait. Pait teaches sociology at the São Paulo State University Julio de Mesquita Filho, where she investigates the role of new means of communication in democratic life. She has written on the reception of international news, on media use by Brazilian youth, and on the disruptive role of the internet in the Brazilian political environment. With her students, Heloisa investigates how various concepts of memory are aided by media uses, the role of media in shaping the need for secrecy and publicity in international relations and the nature of public protests in Brazilian cities as they relate to media environments. Media includes: The Christian Science Monitor, Istoé, Guerilla Reads.    

Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed onto the U.S. Supreme Court Saturday despite heavy protests. To discuss, we FEATURE Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza, Esq. Buckwalter-Poza brings heightened insights into judicial nominations, politics, and decision-making. Her experience--including two federal appellate clerkships, a U.S. Attorney's Office fellowship, and a stint in the White House Counsel's Office--is unique. Recently named to Politico's Power List, attorney and political strategist Buckwalter-Poza provides commentary for print media, radio, and television on law and politics. Areas of legal expertise include the Supreme Court, the federal judiciary, civil rights law, military law, and Indian law. As a lesbian and a Latina, topics of particular interest include LGBT rights, racial justice, criminal justice reform, women’s rights, voting rights, immigration, and gun control. Media includes: Democracy Journal, CNN, NPR, The Daily Beast, Pacific Standard, The Nation, The Atlantic,Politico, MSNBC.

As Halloween approaches this year, many are urging against culturally appropriative costumes. Native activists, specifically, are campaigning against costume retailers to stop selling "native american" costumes. To discuss, we FEATURE Adrienne Jacqueline Keene. Keene is a Native scholar, writer, and blogger and is passionate about reframing how the world sees contemporary Native cultures. She is the creator and author of Native Appropriations, a blog discussing cultural appropriation and stereotypes of Native peoples in fashion, film, music, and other forms of pop culture. She is currently an Assistant Professor of American and Ethnic Studies at Brown University. Media includes: The New York Times, NPR, CNN, Time, The Washington Post.  

Hurricane Michael already lashing Florida and may go on record as one of the region's worst storms. To discuss, we FEATURE Julie Pullen. Pullen is Director of Product at Jupiter Intelligence, a start-up delivering hyper-local predictions for a changing climate using cloud computing. She is an adjunct research scientist at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and advises the Environmental & Climate Sciences Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory. Dr. Pullen's expertise spans climate, weather and hydroscience with a particular focus on high resolution coastal urban prediction for flooding, heatwaves and other perils. Media includes: Scientific American, Wired, CBS NY, NBC NY. 

Amazon workers recently received a minimum wage increase of $15 and, while a raise would normally be cause for celebration, workers are concerned that they will end up making less per year as Amazon is planning to no longer give monthly bonuses. 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. Media includes: The New Labor Forum, Dissent Magazine, the Journal on Class, Race and Corporate Power, The Finance Times, The Nation, The Chicago Tribune.

Many states have voter registration dates coming up this week-- have you checked whether you're registered to vote yet? To discuss, we FEATURE Maria Teresa Kumar. Kumar is the founding President and CEO of Voto Latino and an Emmy-nominated contributor with MSNBC. Under her leadership, Voto Latino has become a key factor in national elections by directly registering over a quarter million new voters and influencing millions more through viral, celebrity-driven campaigns. Fast Company named her among the most 100 creative minds in business worldwide for her unique use of technology, media and celebrity to make transformative change. Media includes: MSNBC, CNBC, Univision, XM Satellite Radio.

Doctor Who's new season, starring the first woman as the titular Doctor, started this past weekend-- coinciding with the release of BBC America and the Women's Media Center's Superpowering Girls: Female Representation in the Sci/Fi Superhero Genre Report. To discuss, we FEATURE Micky Small. Small is a media and theatre artist completing an MFA in Interdisciplinary Digital Media and Performance at Arizona State University and founder of Femme Powered Productions. Her focus is on female and LGBT representation in superhero, action, and sci fi film, television and media. Small has presented a paper called "No Man's Land: How Wonder Woman Changed The Traditional Female Superhero Narrative" on the 2017 Wonder Woman film at the Far West Pop Culture Association Conference in February 2018 and National Pop Culture Association Conference in March 2018. 

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has recently disappeared and has been missing for over a week. At the same time, Bulgarian journalist Victoria Marinova has recently been found murdered. To discuss, we FEATURE Erin Siegal McIntyre, an investigative journalist and author. Siegal McIntyre is a Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, and was a 2012-2013 Soros Media Justice Fellow reporting on aggravated felony deportations.  She has spoken at various conferences, including the Logan Symposium in Investigative Reporting at UC Berkeley, and is a past board member and Diversity Committee co-chair for the nonprofit Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS). Media includes: The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Latino USA.