Experts on the Ukraine, Congressional Retirements, Mobile World Congress, Army Shrinkage, and Oscars
This week’s experts were chosen in response to the upheaval in the Ukraine, the retirement of Rep John Dingell and other long-serving members of Congress, Zuckerberg's announcement of plans for WhatsApp at the Mobile World Congress, the Pentagon proposal to shrink the Army, and the upcoming Oscars.
Global Democracy Advisor, Reset.tech, Elections and campaign expert
For interviews on Ukraine, government change.
With the government situation still in flux in the Ukraine, we SPOTLIGHT Ukraine and democracy expert Kristina Wilfore. As Director of the Ukraine office of the National Democratic Institute from 2009 to 2013, Kristina oversaw a robust program aimed at training political parties, overseeing elections, and building coalitions of activists to defend freedom of assembly and other democratic freedoms. She launched a multi-faceted women’s program for the first time in NDI’s history in the country. In 2011 she was awarded expat of the year by the Kyiv Post for her work to defend democracy in Ukraine.
For interviews on Rep John Dingell, congressional retirements.
After weeks of congressional retirement announcements, including that of Rep John Dingell, the longest serving member of Congress, we FEATURE Amanda Terkel, Senior Political Reporter and Politics Managing Editor at the Huffington Post. Previously, she served as Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and the Managing Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org, the award-winning top political blog. Amanda has also served as the Center’s Special Assistant for Strategic Planning and has experience on various national and state-level political campaigns and in government offices.
For interviews on WhatsApp, Mobile World Congress.
As Zuckerberg outlines his plans for WhatsApp at the Mobile World Conference, we FEATURE media technologist Deanna Zandt to discuss the future of mobile technology. Zandt is contributor to Forbes.com via her ForbesWoman “Prospect: Tech” blog, and a social media advice contributor NPR’s flagship news program, “All Things Considered.” She uses her background in linguistics, advertising, telecommunications and finance to complement her technical expertise.
School of International Service at American University
For interviews on army shrinkage.
With the Pentagon proposing to cut the size of the army to its smallest size since before World War II, we FEATURE military reform expert Nora Bensahel. Dr. Bensahel is Deputy Director of Studies and a Senior Fellow at The Center for a New American Security. She recently co-authored Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity, and Sustainable Pre-eminence: Reforming the U.S. Military at a Time of Strategic Change.
The 2014 Academy Awards are just days away! We FEATURE actress and pop-culture expert Maysoon Zayid to prep us for the show. Maysoon is an actress, professional standup comedian, and writer. Currently a writer at The Daily Beast, she was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has performed in top New York clubs, and has toured extensively at home and abroad.
Areas of Expertise: Activism and advocacy, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Health, Public health, Reproductive health, Women, Women's issues, Women's leadership
Areas of Expertise: Human rights, Immigration, Intersectionality, Labor and Employment, Politics, Race and ethnicity, Women and Politics, Work-life balance