M-S-S-W Media.

This week Professor Christine Blasey

Ford came forward and told the Washington Post that Supreme Court

nominee Brett Kavanaugh attempted to violently rape her when she was 15 years old

and he was 17 years old. She will testify this week

before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The fate of Kavanaugh's nomination

and the balance of power on the Supreme Court hangs in the balance.

How she is treated will also send a message to women across this country, which could have profound implications.

What are the implications of Professor Ford's accusation and how she has been treated by Senate

Republicans?

Let's get on topic. Welcome to On Topic, a weekly in-depth look at a topic that helps us understand the week's news.

My name is Renato Mariati.

I'm a former federal prosecutor, practicing lawyer,

and a CNN legal analyst, and I'm joined by my friend Patty Vasquez, a comedian and WG on radio host who will join us regularly on this podcast.

Renato, I don't think there's been any other issue that I've had so many in-depth conversations about than this topic.

Well, it's a topic that not only has legal and political implications that are obviously

extraordinarily important, but it really, I think, touches on personal experiences that

so many women have had.

You know, whenever I've discussed this topic with women, it always, I I think you know gets connected to personal experiences that

people have had yeah and that's the thing too and for people who haven't really

followed this from the moment this story broke.

Can you tell us, because I don't understand why this didn't come out during the hearings,

...