Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we talk with listeners on how they properly end conversations; review the latest movie releases with our KPCC film critics; and more.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine.

Today’s topics include:

CA launches lotto for vaccinated residents

South Africa prepares for potential virus surge

Vaccinated people won’t need booster shots any time soon, research shows

Experts believe COVID-19 deaths have been undercounted

China’s two Sinopharm vaccines are 73% and 78% effective, study shows

CDC predicts national COVID-19 cases and deaths will fall over next 4 weeks

EU approves Pfizer vaccine for adolescents ages 12-15

Can vaccinated people still spread COVID-19?

Guest:

Shruti Gohil, M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine

For folks who've stayed inside throughout the year, going out and socializing again may feel foreign. 

Health experts agree that the long period of isolation exacerbated by the pandemic can heighten anxiety when returning to pre-COVID normalcy. 

One study released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last March found that conversations typically don't end when either party wants them to. Out of the people surveyed, two-thirds of them preferred it end sooner, co-author Adam Mastoianni told the New York Times.

Today on AirTalk, we ask listeners about how they ended conversations and how the pandemic affected the way they'd normally communicate.

Guest:

A. Martinez, host of KPCC’s “Take Two”; he tweets @amartinezLA

Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 headlines. Also on the show, we round up the biggest news in D.C.; discuss the rise of inflation; and more.

As businesses begin to reopen and workers return back to their workplaces, newly adopted pets are faced with a new struggle: separation anxiety.

During the pandemic, pet adoption has experienced a boom in the United States as new owners looked to find companionship in a stressful time. And that sentiment has largely stayed put.

According to reporting from the New York Times, shelters nationwide have not reported drastic increases in pet returns and abandonment.  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals conducted a survey and found that 23 million Americans adopted pets nationwide and considered not rehoming the pet post-pandemic. 

But faced with new owners being out of sight, how will these pets adjust?

Today on AirTalk, we discuss how owners returning to the workplace can accommodate their furry friends. Want to weigh in? Call us at (866) 893-5722.

Guests: 

Jill Goldman, certified applied animal behaviorist and the owner of Dr. Jill Goldman Animal Behavior Services in Los Angeles

Marcia Mayeda, director of Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control which is the largest animal sheltering organization in the nation, caring for more than 45,000 animals each year in seven animal care centers located throughout Los Angeles County.

Commodity prices have been experiencing a significant rise lately. The Labor Department's most recent consumer-price index report showed an increase of 4.2% from April 2020 to April 2021. 

Economists at the Milken Institute believe the severe price pops to be expected as reopenings remain inconsistent in different areas. According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, investors currently face dwindling solutions to deal with the inflating costs as gold faces near-record prices and U.S. stocks take extended declines. 

Today on AirTalk, we dive into the potential effects inflation would have on consumers and investors.

Guests: 

Delia Fernandez, fee-only certified financial planner and investment advisor with Fernandez Financial Advisory, LLC in Los Alamitos

William Lee, chief economist at the Milken Institute, an economic think tank based in Santa Monica;  he specializes in Asia, trade, the global economy, job creation and more

Today, Senate Republicans offered a $928 billion-infrastructure plan to President Biden as part of the slow-moving negotiations over a plan for the country’s roads, bridges and broadband.

This also comes as Biden plans to announce a massive $6 trillion budget that would push the United States to its highest levels of spending since World War II. And the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by Derek Chauvin highlighted that President Biden’s promised legislation on policing still has been snared in bipartisan negotiations.

Today on AirTalk, we’re getting the latest on politics in DC. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Eli Stokols, DC-based White House reporter for The Los Angeles Times; he tweets @elistokols

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg from UC Davis. 

Today’s topics include:

Immunity to the coronavirus may persist for years, scientists find 

Manitoba, Canada is now the worst COVID-19 hot spot in North America 

Despite California's COVID-19 vaccine process, gaps remain  

First man to get jab William Shakespeare dies of unrelated illness 

CDC director expresses optimism about COVID-19 transmission ahead of Memorial Day weekend 

Six weeks ago some teens under 18 were eligible for the vaccine, what does preliminary data say about its safety?

Guest:

Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital; he tweets @DBlumbergPedsID

In the last year as the pandemic has stretched on airlines and the travel industry saw a noticeable decline in tourism and travel. However with both pandemic and  travel restrictions begin to lessen, travelers are eager to get back into the great wide world. This year, AAA forecast a noticeable 60% increase in cross country traveling, that combine with rising gas prices, airline price wars and a return to general travel congestion it’s shaping up to quite an adventurous holiday weekend. Today on AirTalk, we want to know where you’re traveling this weekend? Are you taking a trip, if so how are you getting there? Are you taking any additional safety precautions while traveling? Tell us your plans by calling 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Marie Montgomery-Nordhues, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA)

Helane Becker, managing director and senior research analyst covering airlines, air freight and aircraft leasing for Cowen, an independent investment and financial services company based in New York

Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 headlines. Also on the show, we discuss Amazon's acquisition of MGM; talk with SoCal women in the craft beer industry about their 'Me Too' moment; and more.