In this week's ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio give us an impeachment trial update highlighting the arguments made by President Trump's defense team. They also discuss the tragic death of Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday along with eight others, including his daughter, Gianna. They discuss the complexities of his life from being an important figure for communities of color to issues like his 2003 sexual assault case and his 2012 controversial comments on Trayvon Martin's murder. To wrap this week, they follow up on the latest reporting by our sister podcast Latino USA on the "American Dirt" controversy after the novel sparked a backlash by fellow writers and readers worldwide. ITT Staff Picks: - Juan Diego Ramirez in Latino Rebels: "How Kobe Bryant Is Part of My American Immigrant Story"  - Via Slate: It's not 'too soon' to talk about the Kobe Bryant rape case - Dear Oprah Winfrey: 137 Writers Ask You to Reconsider American Dirt, from LitHub  

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