A historic background check for gun purchases initiative overwhelmingly passed in Washington state, marking a new trend for the nation.  We talk about it with experts — and also look at the growing number of economic security measures—like increasing access to sick days, affordable childcare, and raising the minimum wage—that passed by wide margins in both red and blue states across the nation.  We also get the inside scoop about what the new mix in Congress means for women’s issues.  And, last but not least, we hear about Baby Gate and learn how to navigate workplace maternity/pregnancy issues.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

• Eric P. Liu is the founder and CEO of Citizen University and Civic Collaboratory, which promotes and teaches the art of great citizenship through a portfolio of national programs (www.citizenuniversity.us). His books include the national bestseller The Gardens of Democracy, co-authored with Nick Hanauer, Eric also co-authored The True Patriot with Hanauer, and together the two have created the True Patriot Network to advance the book's ideals of progressive patriotism. 
• Lisa Maatz is the top policy adviser to the American Association of University Women. Maatz works to advance AAUW’s priority issues on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and in coalition with other organizations. She is a sought-after speaker across the nation and in our nation’s capital, and has a large and devoted following on Twitter.
• Dina Bakst is co-founder and co-president of A Better Balance.  Dina features regularly in local and national news coverage of work-family issues. Her 2012 New York Times op-ed, Pregnant & Pushed Out of A Job, inspired the introduction of the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which she helped draft, and contributed to passage of the New York City Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2013.  Dina is a co-author of the recently published Babygate:  What You Really Need to Know About A Pregnancy & Parenting In The American Workplace, a national know-your-rights book covering pregnancy discrimination, family leave, caregiver discrimination, breastfeeding rights, workplace flexibility and more. 
• Melanie Campbell is President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network, has fought for civil, youth and women’s rights for over 20 years. 

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Thank you to radio experts Paul Van Erem, Sarah Howard-Garoutte, Melissa Byrne, Kymone Freeman, Alex Lawson, Peter James Callahan and Jon Sinton.