Reopening America

As we begin the cautious approach to get back to work at the office, just know that your every move will be watched. At some workplaces, thermal cameras will measure body temperatures of people walking in, at others, apps will trace workers interactions in the office. Workers could also be divided into groups based on perceived health risks. A concern for many is that once these extra measures are put in place, they many never go away, even after fears of the virus subside. Konrad Putzier, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how employers plan on tracking you when you come back.

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A fun conversation with Mike Love of the Beach Boys. While isolated at his home, he wrote a new song called “This Too Shall Pass” to encourage positivity and also raise some money. All proceeds from the song will go to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help food banks feed their local communities. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and co-founder of the Beach Boys, Mike Love, joins us to talk about his new song and live music after coronavirus.

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California was one of the first states to issue stay-at-home orders and it could be one of the last to fully open. There are many signs that coronavirus restrictions could be in place for the long haul. The Cal State University program plans to cancel almost all in-person classes in the fall. In LA County, safer-at-home orders have been extended indefinitely, even as some restrictions have begun to relax. Colleen Shalby, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more.

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Big social media platforms have been pretty quick to stop the spread of misinformation during the pandemic, but last week we saw the first true hit conspiracy video of the coronavirus era. It was called the “Plandemic,” and it got over 8 million views on Facebook and YouTube. The video has since been removed, but not before making a star out of discredited scientist Dr. Judy Mikovits. Casey Newton, Silicon Valley editor at The Verge, joins us for what to know about the “Plandemic.”

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What will the new normal look like for the economy once the country fully opens back up? In some ways, the post COVID-19 economy will look a lot like the one that struggled to recover from the 2008 financial crisis. After an initial rebound, there will be slow growth and high unemployment. Households will save more and spend less as they continue to worry about health and finances and more small businesses could still close their doors. Rich Miller, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for the new normal for the economy.

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Doctors are learning more about how COVID-19 affects a person’s body, and they are finding that it is more than just a respiratory disease. It can damage the kidneys, heart, brain, and blood vessels. Doctors are also reassessing how to treat it. Blood thinners are being used to treat blot clots and genetics could also play a role in how it affects you. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for all the ways that the coronavirus attacks the body.

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According to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll, in a best case scenario, only half of Americans would be willing to participate in a voluntary contact tracing program. Widely seen as one of the key elements to reopen the country, a distrust of the government and big tech companies, drives this sentiment to not release sensitive personal data. Margaret Talev, politics and White House editor at Axios, joins us for how people feel about getting back to normal.

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The first wave of coronavirus litigation has been filed. Hundreds of lawsuits are starting to come out in state and federal courts. Airlines, cruise lines, fitness chains, and the entertainment industry are all facing lawsuits as well as actions by states and senior living facilities. Shayna Jacobs, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what these virus lawsuits are all about.

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GOP lawmakers are ramping up their attacks on state lockdowns and arguing for a quicker reopening of the country. Frustrations are growing with lawmakers who are trying to balance public health and letting the economy get worse, but some are even joining protests saying that stay at home orders are an overreach. Melanie Zanona, congressional reporter at Politico, joins us for the fight against lockdowns.

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Is America ready for live music again? We might have our first test this week. Despite not being in compliance with the state’s stay-at-home orders and rules for public spaces, country-rock singer, Travis McCready, is scheduled to take the stage Friday night at Temple Live in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Concertgoers must wear masks, will be temperature checked, and must social distance inside the venue. Graham Bowley, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.

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