Cultural Pulse1

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A Message From Cultural Pulse

Hello Cultural Pulsers!

On behalf of Keidra Chaney and Tracy Van Slyke, thanks for being part of the Cultural Pulse community for the past two years.

We've been very pleased to bring you the latest news, insights and resources from the nexus of pop culture and social change and help you and your organizations to engage in experiments and projects that can advance our collective vision for a just and equitable world.

In recent weeks, we’ve partnered with ReThink Media to present a webinar, “MAKING ONLINE ADVOCACY POP!” [View the webinar] that encapsulates much of our learnings, and recommendations on how social change organizations incorporate entertainment and mass media into their digital communications and organizing.  (This recording does not require a password.)

We’ve also presented highlights and learning around working with online fandoms at Netroots Nation this past month on the panel “A WHOLE NEW WOOOORLD: ORGANIZING IN POP CULTURE COMMUNITIES”

[Watch a video of the panel]:

We’ve been thrilled to work with so many of you over the past few years. We started the Cultural Pulse as a grand experiment to identify the tools and learnings that social change organizations needed in order to to understand, reach and connect to millions of people through the stories and experiences that are shaping their beliefs and behaviors. Through this evolving form of pop culture organizing, we believe that must meet people where they are at -- the music, movies, shows, hot moments-- in order create the world we all believe in. And so through hundreds of  blog posts detailing the latest in pop storylines and newsworthy moments and recommendations on how to engage with those stories and fan communities; dozens of group and one-on-one calls strategy calls; the creation of multiple resources including tools and webinars; and production of twitter chats bringing together fan influencers and movement leaders around hot pop and political topics, we’ve had the pleasure of working, deepening and co-learning around this critical strategy with the best social change organizations in the country (that’s you!). We have seen this field -- led by many of you -- grow stronger, savvier and more creative.  

As of August 31, we are putting the Cultural Pulse newsletter, blog, and Facebook group on hiatus, as the Cultural Pulse team designates a new home of producers. You can reach Tracy Van Slyke as part of The Pop Culture Collaborative at [email protected] and Keidra Chaney via The Learned Fangirl blog at [email protected]

In the meantime, we hope you'll continue to look to the CulturalPulse.org archive for content and resources as you navigate through the world of pop culture and politics.

You can also look out for future editions of #PopPoliticsChat on Twitter and potential Cultural Pulse webinars in the future. (We’ll keep you posted via e-mail as they happen)

Thanks again for your support of the Cultural Pulse project and we hope you’ll continue your great work!

Best,

The Cultural Pulse Team

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Fall TV Preview for Pop Organizers

Summer’s winding down and it’s time to start planning strategies and campaigns for fall television shows. The usual Cultural Pulse subjects - This is Us, Superstore, etc. – are back, while some new additions –  such as The Mayor and Star Trek Discovery – are shows to keep on your radar. 

Returning Shows

Tuesday, Sept 26

8 p.m. This Is Us, NBC

Topics: Family, Caregiving, Race, LGBT

Hashtag: #ThisIsUs

  Thursday, Sept 28

8 p.m. Superstore, NBC

Topics: Labor, Equal Pay

Hashtag: #Superstore

  Tuesday, October 3

8:30 p.m. black-ish, ABC

Topics: Race, Family

Hashtag: #blackishABC

  Thursday, October 5

8:30 p.m. Scandal, ABC

Topics: Politics, Race

Hashtags: #scandal #scandalABC

Friday, October 13

8 p.m. Jane the Virgin, the CW

Topics: Family, Immigration, LGBT

Hashtags: #JaneTheVirgin #JTV

New Shows of Note

Star Trek: Discovery, September 24 on CBS/CBS All Access

The first Star Trek series since 2005 features an impressively diverse main cast. Episodes one and two will debut on the CBS broadcast network, then move to online-only CBS All Access

@startrekdiscoverysource

Hashtag: #startrekdiscovery

Will & Grace

NBC

Premieres: Thursday, Sep. 28 at 9:00 PM

Eleven years after going off the air, the groundbreaking LGBT show airs for 12 episodes

@willandgrace

Hashtag: #willandgrace

The Mayor

ABC

Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM

Exec produced by Hamilton/black-ish star Daveed Diggs. An outspoken rapper runs for office as a publicity stunt and surprises everyone by actually getting elected.

Hashtag: #TheMayor

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Pop Politics Headlines ICYMI: Responses to Charlottesville

N.K. Jemisin’s #AntiFascistSFF and Gail Simone’s #ComicsHateNazis Are the Inspiration You Need on This Monstrous Day (The Mary Sue)

Author N.K. Jemisin, who just took home the Hugo Award for Best Novel for the second year in a row, should have spent today celebrating her accomplishment. Instead, she woke up to this. “Mentions full of congratulations… and Nazis,” she tweeted. “…It’s frankly hard to enjoy my success when racism, anti-Semitism, & the obvious corruption of the Charlottesville PD are on display.”

And so she started up the hashtag #AntiFascistSFF to counteract this feeling.

Jimmy Fallon wells up as he delivers powerful attack on Trump after Charlottesville (Mashable)

“What happened over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, was just disgusting. I was watching the news like everyone else, and you’re seeing Nazi flags and torches and white supremacists, and I was sick to my stomach," he said, tears welling in his eyes. 

Fallon, who last September was accused of normalising candidate Trump on The Tonight Show, said his kids, who "don't know what hate is," need people to look up to. Not only parents and teachers, but also "leaders who appeal to the best in us."

"The fact that it took the president two days to come out and clearly denounce racists and white supremacists is shameful," he charged. He then paid tribute to Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old who was killed in Charlottesville "standing up for what's right."

"We all need to stand against what is wrong, acknowledge that racism exists, and stand up for all that is right, and civil, and kind," Fallon continued, still fighting back tears.

Wilco release new single, “All Lives, You Say?”, benefitting the Southern Poverty Law Center: Stream (Consequence of Sound)

Art can be a powerful ally in times of strife. After the violent demonstration by white supremacists and neo-nazis in Charlottesville this past weekend, many concerned citizens have been protesting, donating, and looking for other ways to combat bigotry. Well, here’s another one to add to your slate. Wilco has just released a new benefit single, “All Lives, You Say?”, and all proceeds will benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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Pop Politics Headlines: Mr Robot, Ryan Murphy, Black Girls Rock

Mr. Robot’s season 3 trailer is here, after a prolonged internet game (The Verge)

In [the trailer], a voice (maybe Leonard Cohen’s? I don’t know) recites the lyrics of the Leonard Cohen song “Democracy.” Not much happens, there are just a lot of chilling shots of Malek’s character touching his mouth, Carly Chaikin crying, and Grace Gummer holding a gun. We also get a glimpse of B.D. Wong, who was upgraded to series regular this season. It’s been clear for a while that his character, Whiterose, and the hacker group the Dark Army will be central to this season’s conflicts. In classic Mr. Robot fashion, this trailer wasn’t so much revealed as it was found. At 1PM EST, the official Mr. Robot Twitter account started tweeting lines from the Leonard Cohen song “Democracy,” for reasons that are now somewhat clear. (Still not really, though.) Mr. Robot returns to USA on October 11th

Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative Sees More Women, People of Color Behind the Camera (The Wrap)

“American Horror Story” showrunner Ryan Murphy‘s initiative to get more women and other minority groups behind the camera has seen some progress. According to FX, less than one year after launching, Murphy’s Half Foundation initiative has hired significantly more women and people of color at Ryan Murphy Television. Ryan Murphy Television has hired 60 percent more women directors, for example, while 94 percent met of the directors met were women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Rep. Maxine Waters to be honored at BET’s Black Girls Rock (AP News)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters has been added to the list of honorees at BET’s 2017 Black Girls Rock Awards. BET said the congresswoman will earn the Social Humanitarian Award for “being a fearless and outspoken advocate for under-served population.” The event, hosted by Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, takes place Saturday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Videos of Waters have gone viral on social media, including her insisting that she was “reclaiming my time” at a recent congressional hearing.

Cultural Pulse at Netroots Nation

If you’re attending Netroots Nation this week, check out Cultural Pulse's Keidra Chaney and Elana Levin on the panel "A Whole New Woooorld: Organizing In Pop Culture Communities" at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 12th.

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Pop Politics Headlines: #BlackWomensEqualPayDay, #NoConfederate, #Marvel

Why No One Mentions Black Women When They Talk About The Pay Gap In Hollywood (Refinery 29)

As you can see, even the Black women who have been bestowed opportunities in acting aren’t making as much as their white counterparts. I wanted to do a deeper dive on this unfortunate phenomenon. I had hoped to get direct quotes from at least a couple of Black women in the industry on how this has affected them personally. But pretty early on I ran into a problem.

I encountered a barrier of silence that felt heavy, even from the other side of my laptop screen. I get it, talking about money is weird. It’s still not considered “polite” conversation in every circle. And when being asked about your own salary in comparison to a colleague’s, it could be conceived as downright rude. But there is also much more at stake for women of color.

Taraji P. Henson offered some insight into this in her memoir Around the Way Girl where she described being paid in the low six figures (and was forced to pay for her own hotel costs) for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, while Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt received payouts in the millions. She said that she didn’t put up a fight because she knew that “there are way more talented black actresses than there are intelligent, meaningful roles for them, and we’re consistently charged with diving for the crumbs of the scraps, lest we starve.” She added, “I knew the stakes: no matter how talented, no matter how many accolades my prior work had received, if I pushed for more money, I’d be replaced and no one would so much as a blink.”

Not only are Black women in Hollywood viewed as replaceable, but there doesn’t seem to be a strong investment in defending them with the same tenacity that was there when people rallied around Rossum and Arquette. When actresses like Mo’nique are blackballed for not being polite and gracious enough to producers and executives; when the press is largely silent about Jessica Williams being talked down to by Selma Hayek for when speaking up about her unique experience as a Black woman; or when ant Black actress is reluctant to speak up about how Black women are treated in the industry, is telling.

A Marvel Comics Editor Is Being Harassed Because She Posted a Selfie With Her Coworkers (The Mary Sue)

We already know that trolls react monstrously when women explicitly advocate for diversity. Chelsea Cain, the writer of Mockingbird, had to quit Twitter after daring to write this innocuous, now-deleted tweet: “Please buy Mockingbird #8 this Wed. Send a message to @marvel that there’s room in comics for super hero stories about grown-up women.” Zainab Akhtar was driven to shut down her Eisner-winning comics criticism site, Comics & Cola, because of racist, sexist, and Islamophobic attacks. Anita Sarkeesian received bomb threats for exploring sexism in video games. Leslie Jones was hounded by racists on Twitter and hacked because she dared to play a black woman Ghostbuster.

When this sort of harassment happens, the devils’ advocates come out of the woodwork, saying that the harassers are reacting to changes to their favorite characters, or legitimately critiquing the woman’s politics, or simply voicing their opinions, too. This is always an obvious attempt to provide a more palatable excuse for rampant misogyny and/or racism. But the harassment around Antos’ selfie makes it even more damningly obvious what the real motivation is. It’s harassment for existing. For daring to smile and enjoy making comics as a woman. It’s harassment that’s fueled by sheer rage at seeing a bunch of women who are editing comics and having fun at their job.

Game of Thrones: '#NoConfederate' Twitter campaign launched during show, HBO responds (The Independent)

Sunday night Twitter in the US has recently been the reserve of Daenerys and Jon Snow However, HBO's most recent episode was aired amidst the launch of a massive campaign on the social media platform to protest Confederate, the recently announced next project from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, alongside writers Nichelle Tramble Spellman and Malcom Spellman.

April Reign, who also initiated the famous #OscarsSoWhite campaign back in 2015, was one of the organisers behind the protest; as supporters were asked to tweet #NoConfederate to HBO during its East and West Coast broadcasts of Game of Thrones.

Conederate sets itself in an alternate future leading up to a third American Civil War, where the Southern states have successfully seceded from the Union, kept slavery legal and evolved into a modern institution.

The hashtag became a worldwide trending topic during the East Coast broadcast. HBO released a response to the protest: "We have great respect for the dialogue and concern being expressed around Confederate. We have faith that Nichelle, Dan, David, and Malcom will approach the subject with care and sensitivity."

Cultural Pulse is taking a summer vacation!

The Cultural Pulse newsletter will be on hiatus from August 1 -11. In the meantime, stay tuned for information about future Cultural Pulse plans, and if you're attending Netroots Nation in a couple of weeks, check out Cultural Pulse on the panel

 "A Whole New Woooorld: Organizing In Pop Culture Communities" at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 12th.

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Pop Politics Headlines: Confederate, Rod Stewart, Colbert, The Bold Type

HBO boss defends Game of Thrones creators' slavery drama (EW)

HBO president Casey Bloys admitted to reporters on Wednesday that the network botched the announcement of its controversial new slavery-focused TV series, Confederate. During Wednesday’s Television Critics Association’s press tour in Pasadena, California, Bloys addressed the backlash over the drama series, which hails from Game of Thrones bosses David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, saying the rollout of the news was “misguided,” but that he hopes viewers “will judge the actual material as opposed to what it could be.” Confederate imagines the events leading to a Third American Civil War. The series will take place in an alternate timeline, where the southern states have successfully seceded from the Union, giving rise to a nation in which slavery remains legal and has evolved into a modern institution, according to HBO. The story follows a broad swath of characters on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Demilitarized Zone — freedom fighters, slave hunters, politicians, abolitionists, journalists, the executives of a slave-holding conglomerate, and the families of people in their thrall. The backlash to the project was swift, with some detractors accusing HBO of making a show that sounds like a white supremacist fantasy. Some critics also took issue with Benioff and Weiss tackling the subject as white men. The project does have two notable writer-producers of color in Nichelle Tramble Spellman (Justified) and Malcolm Spellman (Empire).  “File this under hindsight is 20/20,” Bloys told reporters Wednesday. “If I could do it over again, HBO’s mistake — not the producers’ — was the idea that we would be able to announce an idea that is so sensitive that requires such care and thought on the part of the producers in a press release was misguided on our part. [We] had the benefit of sitting with these four producers, we heard why they wanted to do the show, what they were excited about, and why it was important to them, so we had that context, but I completely understand that somebody reading the press release would not have that at all. If I had to do it over again, I would’ve rolled it out with the producers on the record so people understood where they were coming from.”

Rod Stewart pays travel costs for kids with disabilities to come to DC to protest Medicaid cuts (The Hill)

Angela Lorio, the organizer of the Trach Mommas, an advocacy group that supports families with children with disabilities, said the check from the musician was “the biggest check of her life” and that she was grateful to Stewart for paying for the trip. Singer Rod Stewart stepped in to pay five-figure travel costs for a group of children with disabilities who traveled to Washington to protest the GOP healthcare bill that would cut Medicaid, CNN reported Wednesday. Stewart said he acted after seeing news coverage about the children, who didn’t have the $30,000 it would take for them to travel from Baton Rouge, La., to Washington. "Some of you may know that I live in America and pay my taxes here," the British singer said. "I'm neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but I am a father."

Stephen Colbert Brings Down The House With A 2-Word Response To Trump (Huff Post)

Colbert read aloud Trump’s Twitter statement about banning transgender people from serving in the military. And when he was done, he responded with two words that sparked wild cheers from the audience. 

8 Queer Muslim Women on the Power of The Bold Type (The Cut)

While men from Muslim backgrounds like Kumail Nanjiani, Aziz Ansari and Hasan Minhaj are gaining ground onscreen (although we still have a long ways to go), Muslim women are largely excluded from the picture; when they do appear onscreen, they’re often portrayed, as Aditi Natasha Kini puts it in Jezebel, “as caricatures, stereotypes, inconsequential, and/or the butts of a joke.” Adena is none of these things. In the first episode, Kat asks her why she chooses to wear a hijab (“Isn’t it contradictory?”), and Adena explains that, “It does not oppress [her] but liberates [her] from society’s expectations of what a woman should look like.” For the women I spoke to, many of whom also wear a hijab, hearing Adena confidently own her feminist identity, her Muslim identity, and her lesbian identity simultaneously — even if her reasoning doesn’t quite exactly match their own — offered a powerful model of how one might successfully and proudly balance these seemingly contradictory parts of their identity, something that many of them grapple with on a daily basis.

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Pop Politics Headlines: San Diego Comic-con, The Bold Type, Disney

Rep. John Lewis Leads March for Civil Rights Through Comic-Con

Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) was at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday discussing his award-winning graphic novel, March, which resulted in a real march for civil rights awareness. After Lewis’ panel ended, he led a group of over 1,000 people through the San Diego Convention Center, with some shouting “No justice, no peace” as they marched past cosplayers and attendees. According to the Associated Press, Lewis made sure to stop and shake hands with people who recognized him as he passed. “Thank you for all that you’ve done,” one man told Rep. Lewis, tears in his eyes.

How Trump and Journalism Changed Freeform’s New Series ‘The Bold Type’

“The Bold Type,” a series set in the world of a high-fashion women’s magazine, debuts [...] but the series wasn’t always supposed to be home at the young-skewing cable network. In fact, when the show was first put into development, not only was it at NBC, but the project didn’t even revolve around three young women working their way up in the glossy publishing world. Instead, the original iteration of the series was planned to center around a male newspaper reporter named Alex who only began working at Scarlet, the fictional women’s magazine in “The Bold Type,” because he couldn’t find work elsewhere. In “The Bold Type,” the Alex character still exists, but the crux of the series is the relationship between three young up-and-comers — played by Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, and Meghann Fahy — and their magazine editor boss (“Transparent’s” Melora Hardin), who is inspired by “Cosmopolitan” editor Joanna Coles, an executive producer on the show. The vast changes in the development process completely changed the plot of the series, but one other factor posed even more changes for the series: President Donald Trump. “It’s interesting because when we did the pilot for NBC, the state of journalism was so different. Journalists have had this resurgence just really that happened to coincide when we started developing it for Freeform,” show creator Sarah Watson tells Variety, alluding to President Trump’s frequent attacks on the media. “We’re trying to be real to the experience of what it means to be a journalist right now and what it means to be a journalist working at a women’s magazine because they really have become front and center, and gained respect in a way that these magazines haven’t before,” Watson says, sharing that the stories the journalist characters will delve into include everything from being tested for the breast cancer gene to meeting with a congresswoman.

Cinderella is homeless, Ariel ‘can’t afford to live on land’: Disney under fire for pay

A woman dressed as the Little Mermaid walked past a sign that read: “Ariel can’t afford to live on land!” A young girl stared at bright-pink posters proclaiming “Disneyland pays poverty wages” and “No home for Cinderella in Anaheim”. During a day of protest on Friday, tourists and Disney fans in the streets surrounding Disneyland were confronted with activists condemning working conditions at the Los Angeles-area resort. The place that prides itself on being “the happiest place on earth” is, in their view, anything but for employees struggling with homelessness and low pay. “Disney, we feel, is a contributor to the homeless problem here 

[populse]

San Diego Comic-Con 2017: Info for Pop Organizers

It’s that time of year again: San Diego Comic Con is back, and for the rest of the week Twitter will be abuzz with discussion about comics (of course!), the geekiest fall TV and the year’s next superhero/sci-fi film releases and casting news. There’s also valuable panels and discussions about diversity and inclusion issues in pop culture and fan communities.

What pop organizers can do

It’s worth it for pop organizers to keep track of online discussion and comment when appropriate with a Tweet or relevant .gif, celebrating a casting announcement (ala Doctor Who) or a trending quote or comment.

Check out the following Twitter feeds and websites over the weekend (or stream selected panels in real time via Twitter and geek website IGN) and on Monday. Identify and follow the the topics/fans/influencers who are reporting from the event:

https://twitter.com/Comic_Con (Official Twitter)https://twitter.com/SD_Comic_Con (Unofficial Twitter)comic-con.org (Official Website)http://sdccblog.com/  (Unofficial Blog)https://www.instagram.com/comic_con/ Official Instagramhttp://sdcctips.tumblr.com/ (Fan Tumblr )#SDCC2017 #SDCC (Hashtag)

Read last year’s San Diego Comic Con Primer for Pop Organizers for more background on SDCC

Read Cultural Pulse’s five top posts on generating pop-fueled conversation via social media

Panels to Watch For:

THURSDAY, JULY 20TH

Code Switch: Diversity Behind the Scenes (10AM PT)

Official description: Jimmy Diggs (writer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager) and Gigi Edgley (Chiana on Farscape) lead a diverse panel of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming industry leaders as they share their perspectives from behind the scenes of your favorite franchises. African American, veteran, LGBTQ, and female creatives discuss diversity of background and thought. Learn how obstacles overcome, stereotypes broken, and glass ceilings shattered have fueled creative magic

Be Your Own Superhero: Intersectional Feminism in Comics (12PM PT)

Official description: Representation matters, both on and behind the page. Sam Maggs (Wonder Women, Star Trek: Waypoint), Susana Polo (Polygon), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Robbie Thompson (Supernatural, Silk), Christina "Steenz" Stewart (Lion Forge Comics), Cait Brennan (Debutante), and Rose Knight (Women Write About Comics) chat about the strides made in representation of race, gender, and sexuality in comics-and how everyone can do better.

It Gets Geekier: Why Queer Representation Matters (7:30PM)

Official description: Joshua Yehl (IGN Comics) brings It Gets Geekier back to discuss the importance of including LGBT+ characters in comic books, TV shows, and movies. Host Bryan Pittard (Flame On! Podcast) will lead the talk including Sina Grace (Iceman), Kris Anka (All-New X-Men), Megan Townsend (GLAAD), Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super), and others.

FRIDAY, JULY 21ST

Steven Universe (11AM PT)

Official description: Show creator Rebecca Sugar with cast members Zach Callison (Steven), Deedee Magno-Hall (Pearl), Michaela Dietz (Amethyst), Estelle (Garnet) and A.J. Michalka (Stevonnie) for an hour of announcements, and a Q&A with fans. The controversy of the Steven Universe art book (mentioned here) may be addressed as well.

The Female Voices of Film Twitter (1:30 PM PT)

Official description: Times reporter Jen Yamato is among the journalists assembled to discuss the importance of female voices in movies, movies coverage and social media.

Marvel's The Defenders (5:15PM PT)

A first look at MCU’s “realistic”  superheroes - Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist in their joint series.

SATURDAY, JULY 22ND

Spotlight on Roxane Gay (10:30 PT)

Official description: New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay (Black Panther: World of Wakanda, Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, Hunger) comes to Comic-Con as a special guest! Roxane will discuss her skyrocketing career and literary stardom and will field some questions from the audience during a Q&A session.

Star Trek Discovery (2:30PM  PT)

Deets from the cast and crew of the upcoming show.

Women Rocking Hollywood: Female Directors Changing the Faces of Film and Television  (1 PM PT)

Official description: “Queen Sugar” and “Jessica Jones” (Season 2) made headlines when the shows announced they had hired only women directors. “Wonder Woman” is now the highest grossing live-action film to have been directed by a woman. This panel of female directors will address the importance of representation behind the camera. Kirsten Schaffer (exec director, Women in Film: LA), Tina Mabry (writer/producer/director: Queen of the South, director: Dear White People), Rosemary Rodriguez (writer/director: Silver Skies, director: Jessica Jones, The Walking Dead), Victoria Mahoney (director: Queen Sugar, Gypsy, American Crime), Aurora Guerrero (writer/director: Mosquita y Mari, director: Queen Sugar), Angela Robinson (writer/director: Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, True Blood), and Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director: Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights), the first woman of color hired to helm a superhero film for the upcoming Silver & Black.

Marvel Studios (5:30PM PT)

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will share more clips and spoilers from the  Marvel Cinematic Universe. But let’s face it, we only just care about Black Panther.

Women and Writers of Color Breaking Barriers (4 PM PT)

Official description:An eclectic panel of UCLA Extension instructors currently working in the entertainment industry discuss how they got where they are, what issues they continue to face, and what it will take before there is real change. Speakers include Laurence Walsh-Hodson (NCIS, The Dresden Files), Nancy Nigrosh (former agent of Kathryn Bigelow), Steve Harper (American Crime, Covert Affairs), Melinda Hill (Kickin' It, Adventure Time), Deborah Dean Davis (It Takes Two, Daddy Boot Camp), Cynthia Hsiung (Young Hercules, The Real World), Eunetta T. Boone (One on One, The Hughleys), Cynthia Riddle (Puppy Love, The Brittany Murphy Story) and moderator Kim Adelman (independent film producer).

“Broad City” (7 PM PT)

“Broad City’s” Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer.

SUNDAY, JULY 23RD

Doctor Who (2PM PT)

The panel is a sendoff for former showrunner Steven Moffatt and 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi. But the new glass-ceiling busting new Doctor Jodie Whittaker, or the new showrunner, Chris Chibnall could make surprise appearances.

Super Asian America (3 PM  PT)

Official description: Panelists discuss the state of Asians in pop culture, from Hollywood’s habit of adapting (and whitewashing) Asian stories to the success of shows such as “Master of None” and “Into the Badlands.”

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: Doctor Who, Kid Rock, Steven Universe

Doctor Who Is A Woman: Jodie Whittaker Announced As 13th Time Lord In BBC Series (NPR)

Whittaker, 35, will succeed Peter Capaldi, 59, who's leaving the show and the role he took over in 2013.

For the past several years, Whittaker has portrayed Beth Latimer on the series Broadchurch. She's also appeared in the series Black Mirror, and in films such as 2011's Attack the Block. She'll make her first appearance as the Time Lord when the show transitions to a new season this Christmas.

On Doctor Who, Whittaker will be reunited with the show's new head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, the Broadchurch creator who has also written episodes of Doctor Who.

"I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice," Chibnall said. "Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way."

Senate Dems on Kid Rock run: We can't afford to treat this as a joke (CNN)

Musician Kid Rock is insisting his tweet about running for the Senate is no joke, and at least two high-profile Senate Democrats are taking him at his word.

"I know a lot of people are thinking: this is some sort of joke, right?" Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote in an email to supporters obtained by CNN and first reported by the Boston Herald.

"Well, maybe this is all a joke — but we all thought Donald Trump was joking when he rode down the escalator at Trump Tower and announced his campaign, too," she said.

"And sure, maybe this is just a marketing gimmick for a new album or tour — but we all thought Donald Trump was just promoting his reality TV show, too," she added.

Rebecca Sugar Apologises For Steven Universe Racism Controversy (Bleeding Cool)

Rebecca Sugar, the creator of popular cartoon Steven Universe, has issued an apology in light of online controversy sparked by the recently released Steven Universe: Art & Origins artbook.

For those unaware, the controversy sparked off when a character concept sketch for an unused Gem character that didn’t make it into the show was included. The character, named Concrete, was deemed to be racially insensitive for a number reasons.

Many felt that the character looked plainly inspired by minstrel aesthetic, or like the many offensive variations that came from this racist art-style (I live in Wales, UK, and grew up at a time when Robertson’s used to use these characters to advertise jam, so it was everywhere). Others also noted the character description beside the art note, saying that the character ‘Can’t read :(‘.

As mentioned earlier, Sugar has come back to apologise for the artwork’s inclusion within the artbook.

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EMMY NOMINATIONS 2017: WHAT POP CULTURE ORGANIZERS NEED TO KNOW

The Emmy Awards, hosted by Stephen Colbert, will broadcast from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. PT. on CBS.

It’s a good year for politically minded shows, with multiple nominations for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Veep and Orange is the New Black.

There are, of course, nominees with storylines and characters that intersect with issues of family, race/class and LGBT issues, including This is Us, Transparent, and Atlanta.

What you’ll find here:

List of Issue Relevant Nominees

Suggestions for Action

Issue Relevant Nominees:

Drama Series

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)

#reproductiverights #women

“House of Cards” (Netflix)

#politics #democracy

 “This Is Us” (NBC)

#family #caregiving

Comedy Series

 “Atlanta” (FX)

#race

 “Black-ish” (ABC)

#race #politics #family

 “Master of None” (Netflix)

#race #lgbt

 “Veep” (HBO)

#politics #democracy

 Drama Actress

 Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

#reproductiverights #women

 Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)

#politics #democracy

 Drama Actor

Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)

#family #caregiving

 Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”)

#politics #democracy

 Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)

#family #caregiving

 Comedy Actor

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)

#race #politics #family

 Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”)

#race #lgbt

 Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)

#race

 Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”)

#LGBT

 Comedy Actress

Tracee Ellis-Ross (“black-ish”)

#race #family

 Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”)

#family

 Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)

#family

 Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”)

#politics

 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”)

#politics #democracy

 Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)

#family #caregiving

 Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

#reproductiverights #women

 Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

#reproductiverights #women

 Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”)

#race #prisons

 Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”)

#family #caregiving

 Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)

#politics

 Tony Hale (“Veep”)

#politics

 Matt Walsh (“Veep”)

#politics

 Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)

Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live”)

Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”)

#politics

 Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)

#politics

 Judith Light (“Transparent”)

#lgbt #family

 Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent”)

#lgbt #family

 Variety Talk Series

“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (TBS)

#politics

 “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC)

#politics

 “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)

#politics

 “Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)

#politics

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

#politics

 Television Movie

“The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks”

#race #healthcare

Suggestions for Action:

You can use this opportunity to congratulate nominees via social media:

Ex: We’re thrilled to see [SHOW] represent [ISSUE]] at the #Emmys. Did your fave shows get a nom this year?

Or you can wait for the Sept. 17th  show and congratulate notable winners in real time:

Congrats to [ACTOR] of [SHOW] for your #Emmy nomination, and thanks for speaking out on [ISSUE]!

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: Spider - man, Summer TV, Equal Pay

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ swings forward toward an inclusive cinematic universe (LA Times)

As Hollywood executives and filmmakers open up their casting processes to answer the calls for greater inclusiveness onscreen, Revolori notes it’s crucial that actors of color not merely be brought in to fulfill a token diversity slot on an audition sheet, but be given actual consideration to play roles outside of traditional lines.

“I don’t want to have it any different,” said Revolori. “I want to be treated as equals — not as a special item that we need to add.”

Finn credits Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical “Hamilton” for paving the way for new perspectives on casting by selecting performers of color to play Alexander Hamilton, George Washington and other — Caucasian — founding fathers.

“I do think it opened the door … [both] the casting of that show and the audience embracing it,” said Finn, who also casts from the television and theater worlds and says she’s constantly going through an ever-stacked pile of DVDs on the lookout for new talent.

Hollywood Needs To Stop Stealing Trans Stories (The Establishment)

Trans roles going to cis actors has been happening as long as trans roles have been available, but the tipping point of trans visibility in media came in 2013, thanks to the launch of Orange is the New Black and its role in making Laverne Cox a household name. Also released in 2013: Dallas Buyers Club.

Dallas Buyers Club is a heavily-fictionalized retelling of Rob Woodroof’s illegal AIDS medication smuggling operation. Among those fictionalized elements is Rayon, a trans woman who does not exist in Woodroof’s story. Unchained from the pesky limitations of translating a real-life person, the writers were free to create any kind of trans character they wanted. What we got, then, was a trans woman who was obsessed with beauty, depressed, addicted to drugs, had AIDS, and was a sex worker. In trans character bingo, this is called a full house.

Did they at least try to find a trans actress to take on the role, which may have offered some authenticity to this clichéd character? When asked this very question on CBC’s radio show Q, director Jean-Marc Vallee answered: “Never. [Are] there any transgender actors? I’m not aiming for the real thing. I’m aiming for an experienced actor who wants to portray the thing.”

Wonder women: how this summer's TV passes the Bechdel test (The Guardian)

Television is rediscovering the power of the female ensemble, and this time, it’s spreading its wings. Though TV history is dappled with groups of women, from the Golden Girls to Pretty Little Liars, many shows – particularly those box set must-sees that tend to fall under the prestige banner – struggle to pass the Bechdel test. Famously, the Bechdel test is usually applied to movies and runs a film against the following criteria: a) it has to have at least two women in it, b) who talk to each other, about c) something other than a man. A shocking number of productions fail it. Even Sex and the City centered its characters on their love lives, for the most part, and it’s kindest to quickly pass over its forgettable imitator, Lipstick Jungle.

Emma Stone Says Her Male Costars Have Taken Pay Cuts to Make Things ‘Right and Fair’ (US)

“In my career so far, I’ve needed my male costars to take a pay cut so that I may have parity with them,” she told Out magazine in an interview, which was published on July 6. “And that’s something they do for me because they feel it’s what’s right and fair. That’s something that’s also not discussed, necessarily — that our getting equal pay is going to require people to selflessly say, ‘That’s what’s fair.’ If my male costar, who has a higher quote than me but believes we are equal, takes a pay cut so that I can match him, that changes my quote in the future and changes my life. And this is Billie Jean’s feminism, and I love it — she is equality, man: equality, equality, equality.”

While Stone doesn’t name names of which of her male cast mates have took a pay cut, the actress expresses her gratitude for those who have.

“It’s not about, ‘Women are this and men are that.’ It is, ‘We are all the same, we are all equal, we all deserve the same respect and the same rights.’” she explained. “And that’s really what I’ve been so grateful for with male costars — when I’ve been in a similar-size role in films, and it’s been multiple people who have been really incredible and said, ‘That’s what I want to do. That’s what’s fair and what’s right.’”

But more TV shows are appearing that pass the Bechdel test and then some. How astonishingly refreshing it is to come across more than one show at a time in which friendship is the core from which other storylines radiate, rather than sex and romance. That’s not to say that these shows lack love, just that from Orange Is the New Black to The Handmaid’s Tale to The Good Fight, there’s simply far more to them.

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: GLOW, Hawaii Five-0, Wonder Woman

Planned Parenthood praises GLOW for 'authentic depiction of abortion' (EW) Planned Parenthood is applauding Netflix’s GLOW for a story line where Alison Brie’s character, Ruth, decides to get a safe and legal abortion. In the eighth episode, “Maybe It’s All the Disco,” Ruth visits a Planned Parenthood for an abortion after learning she is pregnant. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America provided guidance to GLOW’s creators to ensure the moment was portrayed accurately, and on Wednesday, Planned Parenthood released a statement praising the show for its “authentic depiction of abortion.”

“Planned Parenthood applauds the new Netflix series GLOW, which includes an episode about one woman’s decision to have a safe, legal abortion,” the statement read. “While the show takes place three decades ago, the story line remains relevant today, as politicians continue to attack women’s health and chip away at access to abortion in America.”

Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park's departure from "Hawaii Five-0" shines a light on CBS' diversity issue (Variety) Season 8 of “Hawaii Five-0” will return to the special task force in the Aloha State — a state where 57.4% of residents claim some Asian heritage, according to the U.S. Census — without all of its Asian regular characters. Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, who have been integral parts of the cast since the show’s inception in 2010, will be leaving the series after contract negotiations reached an impasse. The issue, as was obliquely referenced in a Facebook post from Kim on Wednesday, was pay parity with white stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan.

The actors’ departure highlights an ongoing problem for CBS: Despite being America’s most-watched TV outlet for 14 of the past 15 years, the network cannot claim to be fully representative of the audience it serves. Last August, then-CBS Entertainment chief Glenn Geller publicly acknowledged that the network needed to address the lack of diversity in its programming, both in front of and behind the camera. “We need to do better, and we know it,” he said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. At the time, all six of CBS’ new fall shows for the 2016-17 season were toplined by white men, and the network had no showrunners of color.  

In an indication of taking the issue seriously, the network launched a diversity casting initiative a few months later, and this fall has a new drama, “SWAT,” that both stars and is co-run by African-Americans. To be sure, these are baby steps — the network still has no female leads in its new shows, and only a smattering of female executive producers — but an effort has at least been attempted.

“Danger and Eggs” Is The Queer Cartoon We’ve Been Waiting For (NewNowNext) The queerest show on television premiered on Amazon over the weekend, but it wasn’t the new season of Transparent—it was a kid’s cartoon: Danger & Eggs follows the adventures of D.D. Danger (SNL’s Aidy Bryant) and her best friend—a giant, talking egg named Phillip (Eric Knobel)—as they create games for each other in Chickenpaw Park.

Danger & Eggs was created by trans writer-producer Shadi Petosky, who has worked on Yo Gabba Gabba! and created video games for Cartoon Network. Petosky says she wanted the show be as inclusive as possible without reverting to clichés.

How Disfigured Villains Like "Wonder Woman's" Dr. Poison Perpetuate Stigma (Teen Vogue) There's no doubting Wonder Woman's importance for representation of women both in front and behind the camera, especially considering that it smashed records at the box office. But along with the good, there's some aspects of the film that could have been better. Wonder Woman has already been criticized for its lack of representation for women of color, and with the character of Dr.Poison the film also handles disability representation equally poorly. Dr. Poison falls into the easy trope that suggests disability — and in this case, specifically facial disfigurement — means that a character is evil. We never find out Dr. Poison’s backstory and whether her facial scarring caused her to become a villain or happened after she already was one, but the message is the same: We should be afraid of people whose faces and bodies are different from our own.

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: Art and Activism/Jay-Z/American Koko

Why artists become activists: It’s not only the election (Washington Post)

The art-activism relationship has notably heated up since President Trump’s election was met with demonstrations and an ongoing “resist” position. Yet for artists like Smith, the imperative has been rising for years to blur or erase any barrier between personal conviction and professional creativity.

Directors, dancers and musicians have been motivated by such issues as Black Lives Matter, Occupy and the 2008 financial collapse to speak personally and to shape their creations. The most direct activists believe that the times call for art that’s as explicitly connected as possible: “I’m just not interested in doing ‘Julius Caesar’ as a way of talking about contemporary problems anymore,” says Michael Dove, artistic director of Forum Theatre. (Dove said this before the fracas over the Public Theater’s Trump-as-Caesar staging in Central Park.)

Incidental activists, on the other hand, like Washington National Opera artistic director Francesca Zambello or choreographer Kyle Abraham, contend that the connections are hard-wired as part of art’s traditional role. “It’s how Aristophanes talked to society,” says Zambello, whose recent selections have included “Champion” (about a gay boxer) and the capital punishment opera “Dead Man Walking.” And sometimes political readings are inescapable, given the social moment.

Gloria Carter, Jay-Z’s Mom, Comes Out As Lesbian In New Duet On Rapper’s ‘4:44’ Album (HuffPost)

The song, “Smile,” features both Jay-Z and his mother discussing her sexuality. It is the first time that either of them has publicly addressed her sexual identity. “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian / Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian,” Jay-Z raps in the song, which contains a sample of Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s In Need Of Love Today.”

“Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate / Society shame and the pain was too much to take,” he adds before asserting, “Cried tears of joy when you fell in love / Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her.”

A 'Race Detective' Investigates Racism in 'American Koko' (Colorlines)

Viola Davis ("Fences") and Julius Tennon's ("Custody") JuVee Productions celebrated Juneteenth yesterday (June 19) with the release of the second season of detective web comedy, "American Koko," through ABC Digital. 

Deadline reported yesterday that Davis and Tennon chose to premiere the six-episode season on Juneteenth—an annual commemoration of the emancipation of formerly enslaved African Americans—because of its relevance to contemporary racism. "Race has always been a issue in our country," Tennon told Deadline. "Now, in our current political climate, a show like 'American Koko,' which is about helping people navigate sticky racial situation[s], creates a conversation around race in an insight, funny and interesting way."

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: The Bachelorette, The X-Files, Supernatural

The Vexing Racial Politics of This Season's Bachelorette (The New Yorker)

Social segregation, however, is a convention that remains alive and well, both in the country at large and in the world of staged reality. Each of the past thirty-three Bachelors and Bachelorettes has been white, and each has dismissed the few contestants of color to choose a white partner in the end. So the announcement, in February, that Rachel Lindsay, a black woman, had been chosen as the newest Bachelorette marked a grossly belated kind of progress. Lindsay, the fan favorite from last season’s “The Bachelor,” is a plucky and practical attorney from Dallas with an irresistible gap-toothed smile. Earlier this year, she was tactful when asked about the politics of her new post, telling People, “My journey of love isn’t any different just because my skin color is.” But “The Bachelor” has always, in its way, provided a referendum on racial desirability; the first black Bachelorette is just the first participant expected to acknowledge it.

The X- Files Writer's Room Is Officially A Boy's Club (Bust)

The X-Files has been confirmed for the 11th season that’ll be out in 2018, and they're already running into problems. Unfortunately, Chris Carter, X-Files creator, has filled the writer’s room entirely with men. That means that the fate of the iconic Dana Scully is in the hands of a bunch of male writers. On top of them all being men, a few of the writers seem a bit under-qualified. Chris Carter, Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan and James Wong, veteran writers of the show, will be joined by three new writers — two of whom were writers' assistants for the show, and another who was a personal assistant to Carter. Though they all have connections to the show, it’s undeniable that Carter could've easily found much more qualified female writers to bring in.

Misha Collins explains how Medicaid may have saved his life (Mic/Twitter Moments)

'Supernatural' star Misha Collins is speaking out against cuts to Medicaid in the Senate GOP's health care bill — especially in the way it affects children.

[populse]

Weekend Pop Headlines: Colbert, Chance The Rapper, Wonder Woman

Colbert joked about a 2020 presidential run on Russian TV

Colbert saved his big announcement for later, though, remarking, “I’m here in Russia …I am here to announce that I am considering a run for president in 2020, and I thought it would be better to cut out the middle man and just tell the Russians myself. If anyone would like to work on my campaign in an unofficial capacity, please, just come let me know.” This isn’t the first time Colbert has poked at the mechanisms of political power; in 2008, during his time on The Colbert Report, he launched a similar run at the top, and started his own semi-fictitious Super PAC in 2011, ahead of the 2012 campaign.

Michelle Obama Makes Surprise BET Awards Cameo Honoring Chance The Rapper

“Barack and I are so sorry that we can’t be there tonight in person,” said Michelle Obama tonight to a surprised and roaring BET Awards via pre-tape video for Chance The Rapper. The Grammy winner was being honored with the Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic efforts in his and the former First Lady’s hometown of Chicago. “But please know we are there with you in spirit and we are so incredibly proud of you Chance.” Chance himself asserted of his efforts towards for the Windy City school system and other charities despite his young age of 24. In a passionate and self admitted improvised speech, the  Chicag South Sider also called out the justice system for imprisoning marijuana sellers before “you all make it legal” and the lack of a conviction in what was implied to be the cases of the killings of Samuel DuBose, Sylville Smith and Philando Castile by police officers.

What the U.S. Can Learn from Wonder Woman

Although the Wonder Woman film checks the box on requisite action and stunts, it is ultimately a story with a deeper message about humanity, the good and evil that dwells in each of us and about what choices we make when faced with great suffering in this world. This film is a reflection on modern warfare and the tragedies of displacement, scarcity and mass killing that it produces. The movie is set in World War I, but it could just as easily be 2017.The Wonder Woman film shows the agonizing reality of children and families who have been forced from their homes by war, but rarely have a safer place to go. In 2017, we are facing the largest global refugee crisis in history. According to the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR), more than 65 million people worldwide have been forced from their homes globally. The staggering numbers of refugees today—more than half of whom are under the age of 18—surpasses the numbers in the aftermath of World War II.

[populse]

Pop Politics Headlines: Wonder Woman, Sleater-Kinney/R.E.M, Queen Sugar

The outrage over Gal Gadot’s $300,000 paycheck for Wonder Woman, explained (Vox)

To be clear, the gender pay gap in Hollywood is real — the Sony email hack of 2014 revealed that Jennifer Lawrence was actually paid less than her male co-stars in American Hustle even though she was arguably the biggest star of the movie. But Gadot’s contract is actually the norm for debut superhero movies: Little-known or unknown actors don’t make that much money when starring in their first superhero films. Deadline, a well-sourced trade publication like Variety, reported in 2010 that Chris Evans was paid around $300,000 to star in Captain America: The First Avenger. And the Hollywood Reporter points out that Chris Hemsworth made $150,000 initially for appearing in Thor. These salary numbers feel like drops in the bucket compared with what superhero movies usually rake in at the box office — Captain America: The First Avenger made $370 million worldwide and Thor made $449 million worldwide. Wonder Woman has already surpassed $570 million worldwide. But they also don’t include or consider things like a box office bonus, whether an actor has contractual obligations to appear in future movies, and whatever kind of deals are made for additional compensation that is dependent on the movie’s success. What Evans and his fellow Marvel stars — most notably Robert Downey Jr. — have done in the wake of their respective successes is renegotiate their contracts. Downey famously parlayed the initial $500,000 he made for Iron Man into $50 million for his appearance in 2012’s first Avengers film. And Gadot will have the same opportunity as she negotiates potential future Wonder Woman films. According to Vanity Fair, she hasn’t signed on for the inevitable Wonder Woman sequel. Because Wonder Woman is a smashing box office success, Gadot now has an advantage in negotiating a bigger payday for herself.

Sleater-Kinney, R.E.M. Supergroup Unveil Debut Album, Talk Anti-Trump Shows (Rolling Stone)

Peter Buck knew he wanted to be in a band with Corin Tucker from the first time he saw Sleater-Kinney play to an empty room in 1997. "It was the day that Princess Diana died," the former R.E.M. guitarist says. "I remember thinking, 'Where did these people come from?' It was a totally unique take on what punk rock was." Twenty years later, Buck and Tucker made it official with their new supergroup, Filthy Friends. [...]Tucker, who writes the lyrics, was eminently inspired by the political landscape on this record. "No Forgotten Son," for example, was a response to Trayvon Martin's murder, something even Buck didn't realize. The tragedy affected Tucker deeply, she explains, because Martin was so close to her own son's age. Supporting the Black Lives Matter movement will be a cornerstone of Filthy Friends' support. As will raising funds and awareness for embattled topics under the Trump administration such as climate change. "I'm inspired by all of the states who have committed to the Paris Climate Agreement on their own," Tucker says. "We need to keep moving on this issue despite the actions of the Trump administration." Political consciousness was always intrinsic to Tucker and Buck's artistry with either R.E.M. or Sleater-Kinney. Filthy Friends will continue that trajectory, Tucker says. "I think we need to keep moving forward on climate change issues in this country regardless of the administration's opinion." This weekend, Filthy Friends will play a bespoke music festival in Norway to raise awareness about challenges facing the Arctic Circle. Last year, they contributed singles to the anti-Trump 30 Days, 30 Songs compilation.

Leaning into Friction: ‘Queen Sugar’ Season 2 Unpacks Race and Culture (NBC)

New Orleans was more than a backdrop for season one of OWN’s Queen Sugar; the city illustrated the cultural divide that simultaneously haunted and fortified the Bordelon family. In the past month, the nation has seen protests ignite as four century-old Confederate statues were taken down around New Orleans, stirring up conversations about how America should move on from its divided past and inspiring the show’s actors to a new level of authenticity in their portrayals. “It’s a trip to drive around New Orleans, especially before those statues came down and to see protests and Confederate flags — just such an expression in some ways of just unconscious bias and denial of that,” said Dawn-Lyen Gardner, who plays “Charley” on the series.

Missed #PopPoliticsChat? Check out Twitter Moments!

If you missed #PopPoliticsChat last Wednesday, you can catch up via @Elana_Brooklyn's Twitter Moments

here!

[populse]

#PopPoliticsChat tonight! / June 30th Webinar: Making Online Advocacy Pop!

Tonight’s the night! #PopPoliticsChat

Join us to discuss Wonder Woman and organizing for #PopPoliticsChat on Twitter. TONIGHT at 9 pm ET.

How are fans using the movie to organize for women’s empowerment and can the movie be an entry point for better representation moving forward?

Can Wonder Woman live up to her potential and can organizers use the box office hit to promote an agenda of social change?

It’s sure to be a lively discussion so please come check it out! To prep, read an article from #PopPoliticsChat host Elana Levin on how non-profits can use Wonder Woman for advocacy.

Hold The Date: June 30th Webinar: Making Online Advocacy Pop!

Cultural Pulse and ReThink Media present “Making Online Advocacy Pop!” a webinar focused on how organizers can develop a more pop culture-friendly voice and tone for their online communications, and how to utilize audience listening skills and tools to engage pop communities online. If you’d like a refresher on some of the case studies and tactics mentioned in the Cultural Pulse newsletter in the past, you’ll want to check this out. 

Making Online Advocacy Pop! (Free) Friday June 30th, 2:00 pm ET

Register here.