In this session, two renowned legal scholars/activists/attorneys and thought-leaders on many cutting-edge zones of contention in the law take stock of the current assault on social progress, women’s freedoms, racial and environmental justice, human rights, and democracy. Are we headed into a plunge towards some sort of “Handmaid’s Tale” and “1984” mash-up dystopian future, or is this the desperate last gasp of the patriarchy? They will share their analyses of this exceedingly challenging historical moment and their strategies to most effectively resist the toxic impulses threatening the very survival of our body politic. We can outlast this dark period of regression and emerge stronger to continue the multi-generational struggles for a far more equitable, compassionate, and just society, one in which women finally achieve full equality, we all have access to healthcare, and a handful of billionaires don’t dominate the political system, but we will need to mobilize all our skill and work together. With: Radhika Rao, Professor of Law at UC College of the Law, San Francisco, a leading expert on constitutional law and  the intersection of law and technology, particularly regarding property rights in the human body, cloning, assisted reproduction, abortion, stem-cell research, and genetic privacy; and Ji Seon Song, Assistant Professor of Law, UC Irvine School of Law, a groundbreaking expert on the intersection of policing and healthcare, the role of medical professionals in law enforcement, the deployment of police in healthcare settings, the criminalization of pregnancy, and juvenile justice reform. Moderated by Lisa Rudman, Director of Development and Partnerships at San Francisco Public Press.