DREAM On

Last night was the second night of the DNC, featuring beautiful shots of delegates across our gorgeous country, as well as speeches from AOC, activist Ady Barkan, and Dr. Jill Biden. We talk to Crooked’s own Jon Favreau about speech writing for the first digital DNC. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said yesterday that he would suspend cost-cutting changes at the USPS, but it’s unclear whether the postal service will reverse changes made this year that are leading to delays. House Democrats still plan to vote on legislation that would outlaw changes to the USPS and provide emergency funding. And in headlines: the president of Mali announces his resignation, Uber and Lyft may suspend operations in California, and Trump pardons Susan B. Anthony. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19 Aug 202021min

This year’s socially-distanced DNC began last night, with speeches from former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Bernie Sanders, and more. Joe Biden went into the convention with a 7-9 point national lead against Trump, but the next few months are still full of unknowns. Watch the convention along with us every night this week at crooked.com/conventionUNC Chapel Hill has decided to pivot to online-only instruction after 130 students test positive for Covid-19. Los Angeles' public schools start remote classes today, and are launching a large-scale testing system for students and staff. And in headlines: Lebanon sees a Covid-19 surge after the explosion in Beirut, California experiences one of its worst heat waves on record, and the Trump administration finalizes plans to drill in the Arctic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

18 Aug 202020min

The DNC was set to begin today in Wisconsin, but instead, it’s beginning in Zooms across America. We talked to Wisconsin Democrats Senator Tammy Baldwin and party chair Ben Wikler about the state’s recent electoral history and how Biden can win there this year. The USPS warned that it may not be able to accommodate last minute mail-in ballots. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to call the House back early to counter recent changes at the Postal Service, and is calling for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify next Monday.And in headlines: more people are facing food insecurity, pro-Democracy protests in Thailand, and Apple angers gamers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

17 Aug 202018min

This was the first week since March that the number of new unemployment claims in the US fell below one million. Tens of millions remain jobless and the start of Congress’s August recess means it’s unlikely we’ll see new relief legislation before September. Trump said the quiet part out loud yesterday, admitting that his refusal to provide emergency funding to the postal service would make universal vote-by-mail impossible. We discuss Republican efforts to make voting-by-mail more difficult in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and whether they’re succeeding. And in headlines: a peace deal between Israel and the UAE, Mike Bloomberg to speak at the DNC, and the two bubbles of “Jurassic Park: Dominion.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14 Aug 202013min

The last time we spoke with Monise Seward, a 6th grade special education teacher in Georgia, it was April and schools had just begun to tackle remote learning. It's now the new year, and her class remains completely online. We spoke to her about the challenges of the new normal and her thoughts on in-person classes.Senator Kamala Harris and VP Joe Biden made their first appearance as running mates yesterday. Harris has already begun laying out the case against Trump.And in headlines: anti-government protests in Bolivia, Ilhan Omar wins her primary, and Trump will not let up on showerheads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

13 Aug 202019min

Senator Kamala Harris was announced as Biden’s VP pick yesterday, which will make her the first black woman and first Asian American to be a on major party ticket. We discuss her record on the 2020 campaign trail, as an incisive presence in Senate hearings, and as California’s attorney general. The Big 10 and the Pac 12 college conferences announced yesterday that they will postpone their fall sports seasons due to the pandemic. A group of student athletes have formed an informal union, and say they want to play this season: but only if schools institute universal health and safety standards. And in headlines: Russia approves a Covid-19 vaccine, TSA seizes more guns than ever at security, and gaiters might not be good medical masks. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12 Aug 202019min

Five states hold primaries today, including Minnesota, where Rep. Ilhan Omar is running to keep her seat in Congress. The elections come a week after another progressive, Cori Bush, won a major upset in her race against a longterm incumbent in Missouri. We speak to Bush about her path to politics and check in on Justice Democrats, the political group that backed Bush, Omar, and a handful of other progressive Democrats since 2017. Read our full interview with Cori Bush at crooked.com/articles/cori-bush-democratic-party/Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his resignation yesterday, following mass protests after the chemical explosion in Beirut. Protests continue in the country with demonstrators demanding that other top leaders resign as well. Donate: ImpactLebanon.orgAnd in headlines: protests in Chicago and Belarus, a big loss for Uber and Lyft, and Nikki Haley tries to cancel popcorn.To read more of Gideon's reporting on primary races, check out: https://crooked.com/articles/kentucky-underdog-booker/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11 Aug 202016min

Trump signed a bunch of executive orders and actions over the weekend that he presented as a fix to our economic problems. But the reality is much less transformative. We explain what his actions do (cut unemployment) and what they don't do (protect renters from eviction).ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, is planning to sue the Trump administration over its ban on US companies doing business with the app. The executive order against TikTok also bans US dealings with WeChat, another Chinese-owned app.And in headlines: a massive oil spill in Mauritius, protests in Beirut, and Amazon goes to the mall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

10 Aug 202015min