AirTalk

As more people get a COVID-19 vaccine, the more it feels like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The good news: the vaccines are working! So that means things can slowly start to reopen and return to normal. While that’s definitely exciting news, why are so many of us feeling anxious? 

A recent survey from the American Psychological Association found that nearly half of adults are concerned about returning to normal interactions. Experts say it’s only natural to feel some sort of social anxiety after spending a year in isolation. And health anxieties, which we’ve likely all had over the last year, only make the anxiety worse. The main thing to know is that, just like you weren’t the only one locked away in quarantine, you’re not the only one feeling anxious. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear how you’re feeling? Have you ventured out only to feel uncomfortable or anxious? What was your experience? How did you react? How are you coping? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 to share your thoughts and join the conversation. 

Guest:

Diana Concannon, PsyD, dean of the California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University in California; she is a forensic psychologist who’s worked in crisis response for over a decade; her research interests include disaster mental health and risk assessment

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

Today’s topics include: 

Biden likely to move up vaccine eligibility for all Americans

Riverside, Calif. expands vaccine eligibility to 16 and up 

Are variants stalling progress in the U.S.?

Reasons Calif. contact tracing didn’t go as planned

Are people venturing out too soon? 

Are social interactions now causing anxiety?

Guest: 

Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena

Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we analyze Biden's infrastructure plan; talk about what's going on in the airline industry; and more.

For many live music lovers and frequent concert-goers, there’s always that one performance that was better than all the others. Maybe it was the first time you finally saw your all-time favorite artist up close and personal in a packed venue, or maybe it was a more intimate performance with a smaller audience and venue. For Larry Mantle, it was a night at a Chicago cocktail lounge called The Green Mill featuring jazz organist Tony Monaco and his group. Larry said “I've seen Miles [Davis], Ella [Fitzgerald], Dizzy [Gillespie], Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Freddie Hubbard, etc. It was a night with a lesser-known organist from Ohio that provided my  ‘Elton John levitating-like’ experience.’”

What is the greatest live musical performance you’ve ever seen? You know, the one that gave you the Elton John levitating-like experience? Call and share your story at 866-893-5722.

As more Americans receive a COVID-19 vaccination, people are growing even more tempted to travel. Airlines certainly hope that’s as some add various domestic routes in an effort to reach folks who are ready to climb aboard this summer.

According to CNBC, United Airlines has added dozens of nonstop flights from the midwest to coastal areas. The company also announced its planning to hire hundreds of pilots next month as it expects to recover from the devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic over the last year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control released new guidance on Friday for traveling which says fully vaccinated folks can travel at low risk to themselves. The highly anticipated guidance came with mixed messages from the head of the CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who says traveling still isn’t advised as cases are rising in parts of the country. Today on AirTalk, we check in on the airline industry as it tries to bounce back. We also want to hear from you! How do you feel about returning to the sky? Do you feel safe? Not yet? Are you purchasing tickets for the near future? Tell us your thoughts by calling 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Leslie Josephs, reporter covering the airline industry for CNBC; she tweets @lesliejosephs

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

Sunday marked days of celebration for followers of multiple faiths as Christians across Southern California and the world observed Easter and Jews celebrated the end of the Passover holiday. And for members of the Muslim faith, the start of Ramadan is just around the corner on April 12th. Despite more and more people being vaccinated, these religious holidays, all of which are rooted in gathering together with family, friends and fellow worshippers, still happened in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while there is likely less apprehension about gathering to celebrate the holidays this year, Easter, Passover and Ramadan celebrations in 2021 may still look a little different than before the pandemic.

Today on AirTalk, we’d like to hear from members of our listening audience who celebrated Easter or Passover this weekend, or who will be celebrating Ramadan starting next week. How did you celebrate, or how are you planning your celebration this year? Join our live conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722.

Infrastructure was a road to nowhere for former presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama. But Joe Biden believes he can use it to drive America to the future after a dozen years of false starts. The trip is unlikely to be smooth.

Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure package, released Wednesday, would go well beyond the usual commitments to roads and bridges to touch almost every part of the country. It’s a down payment on combating climate change, a chance to take on racial inequities, an expansion of broadband, an investment in manufacturing and a reorienting of corporate taxes to pay for everything. To succeed where his predecessors stalled, Biden will have to navigate a conflicting set of political forces with winners and losers all around.

The president resisted calls by business groups to pay for his plan with higher gas taxes and tolls, since the costs would be borne by working Americans and Biden had promised no tax hikes on anyone making less than $400,000. That’s according to an administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Yet the decision to keep that particular promise likely dooms any chance of wider bipartisan unity.

Biden’s proposal would gut the core of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts — an affront to many Republican lawmakers, who would also prefer that infrastructure stay in a narrow lane. The corporate tax rate would jump to 28% from 21% under Biden’s plan, and a global minimum tax would be charged to prevent companies from avoiding taxes.

Even before Biden delivered his opening speech on the plan, Republicans had latched on to Reagan-era labeling, dismissing the package as tax-and-spend liberalism. That’s an attack designed to erode public support as different components of the package get divvied up among congressional committees and begin their journey through Congress.

We sit down with two economists to dissect the plan and its potential impacts. 

With files from the Associated Press.

Guests:

Michael Mandel, chief economic strategist at the Progressive Policy Institute, a center-left think tank in Washington D.C.; senior fellow at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; he tweets @MichaelMandel

Chris Edwards, economist and director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian leaning think tank in Washington D.C.; he is also editor of DownsizingGovernment.org, a Cato project that focuses on federal spending; he tweets @CatoEdwards

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with UC Berkeley’s Dr. Arthur Reingold.

Topics today include:

Michigan, New York and New England seem to be facing a fourth wave. Might it hit California?

Indoor events can resume in California (with limitations) mid-April

The effects of in-person Easter celebrations 

Can employers or universities force staff and students to get vaccinated?

New CDC travel guidance

Some airlines resisting responsibility for vaccine passport

A new formulation of COVID vaccine that can be produced in chicken eggs enters clinical trials

After mistake at Baltimore, Maryland plant ruined J&J vaccines, the Biden administration will put J&J in charge 

Guest: 

Arthur Reingold, M.D., professor of epidemiology and Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health

Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we talk about California's dry weather; talk with KPCC film critics about this weekend's movie releases; and more.

As he basked in the glow of a win over Michigan, UCLA coach Mick Cronin was asked whether he thought he had the kind of team in his second season in Westwood to make a Final Four run.

Cronin thought for a moment about five-star prospect Daishen Nix, who reneged on his commitment to the Bruins for the G League. Then he thought about the season-ending knee injury to Chris Smith, his top returning player, and backup forward Jalen Hill’s departure midway through the season for personal reasons. With those three? Maybe. Without them? “Hell no,” Cronin said.

Yet here they are. One of college basketball’s traditional powers, relegated to underdog status throughout the tournament, marching through heavyweights (Michigan State), upstarts (Abilene Christian and BYU), the flavor of the day (Alabama) and the team everyone had pegged as a championship contender since January (Michigan).Two of the wins in overtime. Two more white-knucklers. Only one in which the Bruins were given a chance.

Next up is the overall No. 1 seed Gonzaga on Saturday night in the program’s 19th trip to the national semifinals.

Today on AirTalk, we’re previewing UCLA’s game against Gonzaga tomorrow. Thoughts? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

GUEST:

Ben Bolch, UCLA beat writer at the Los Angeles Times; he tweets @latbbolch