Full Contact Tracing
The Trump administration is now saying what everyone else knew all along: it’s up to the states to determine how and when they begin easing out of lockdowns. The CDC is going to hire hundreds of people to ramp up efforts at contact tracing. And the White House is hoping to get 5 million people tested for coronavirus by the end of the month. Around the world, fears around COVID-19 have exacerbated bigotry. We discuss how this is manifesting in China, where the government is suggesting that foreign visitors are the main risk to the health of Chinese citizens. And we're joined by comedian and writer Caroline Goldfarb for headlines: Fashion Nova’s bad text, Keystone XL pipeline hits a setback, and Cory Booker’s quarantine binge-watch.
17 Apr 202022min
Stimulus Check, Please!
Over 80 million Americans should have seen their coronavirus stimulus payments deposited in their bank accounts yesterday. For the rest of us, we'll have to wait for the mail version. Small businesses are seeing their loan program, which has been overloaded and clunky, run out money.Conservative activists gathered in Ohio and Michigan yesterday to protest the pandemic lockdown status in those states. But polls show they are in the minority.And in headlines: universities are dropping standardized testing requirements for fall applicants, retirees discover lost apples, and Reese Witherspoon’s dress company bungles a giveaway.
16 Apr 202013min
Governors Of The World, Unite!
After suggesting that he had “total authority” to determine when states reopen their economies, Trump now says the states can decide. Governors are making their own plans, with California, Oregon, and Washington forming a west coast group that will coordinate together. Countries around the world are at different stages of their fight against coronavirus. Some like India are extending their lockdowns, while others like Austria are beginning to loosen restrictions. And in headlines: Obama endorses Biden, Animal Crossing banned in China, and the British press gets the go-ahead to talk about a lady’s attraction to chandeliers.
15 Apr 202014min
Leftward Joe with Rep. Ilhan Omar
We interview Congresswoman Ilhan Omar about what progressives want from presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and what steps Congress should take next to address the pandemic. Neighboring states are forming coalitions to make plans to lift restrictions. Coronavirus will delay the result of the census by an estimated four months. And in headlines: Amazon to resume normal sales of non-essential items, the Supreme Court plans to argue on the phone, and Yosemite is for the bears.
14 Apr 202020min
Minding The Race Gap
States are trying different approaches to address coronavirus racial disparities, from forming a task force in Louisiana to opening new testing centers in New York City. We speak to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed about what he’s seen in Detroit, and how structural racism leaves minority communities vulnerable.A new investigation in The New York Times says Trump was told about what this pandemic might look like in January and February and that he didn’t heed the warning. And in headlines: OPEC countries reach a deal to cut oil production, Trump hates the postal service, and Dutch tulips against coronavirus.
13 Apr 202015min
Viruses Are Taking Our Jobs
Another 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, meaning that more than 16 million jobs have been lost in the last three weeks. That puts more pressure on Congress to sort out more economic relief. The White House is reportedly going to announce a coronavirus-economic task force to look into when the economy can be re-opened. Then, we're joined by comedian and writer Jamie Loftus for headlines: new jack Bob Dylan tops the Billboard charts for the first time, Biden makes concessions to the left, and Maryland engineers turn breast pumps to ventilators.
10 Apr 202016min
Exit Sandman
Senator Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race, but his ideas may live on. Vice President Joe Biden is now the presumptive democratic presidential nominee. We look at how we got here.Then, we talked to Clare Malone, senior political writer at Five Thirty Eight, about the Defense Production Act - and why the administration may not fully understand it.And in headlines: Nicaragua's missing president, detainees released, and why President Trump thinks now is a good time to mine the moon.
9 Apr 202020min
Relief Reloaded with Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Lawmakers are considering a second relief package to provide assistance to people who were left out of the last bill. Some also want to add a rent moratorium, Medicare and Medicaid expansion, and more. We talk to Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to learn about those efforts.And in headlines: a naval secretary steps down after comments about commander Brett Cozier, the UFC moves its octagon to a private island, and historians uncover one of the earliest uses of the F-bomb.
8 Apr 202015min
