The Daily Dive

The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack continues to affect the east coast as some gas stations are running out of fuel and people are waiting in long lines to stock up. With this attack, ransomware has emerged as a large scale threat moving beyond schools and businesses to infrastructure like the pipeline. The group DarkSide is said to be behind the attack, and resembles somewhat of a ransomware business. Robert McMillan, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how these types of cyberattacks are increasingly causing problems.

Next, the FDA has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for adolescents ages 12-15. They could be getting shots later this week, but as the pool of eligible recipients starts to skew younger, many parents may have questions about vaccinating their kids. The dosage is the same as adults and was shown to be 100% effective against symptomatic Covid. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for what to know.

Finally, as the economy continues to rebound after pandemic closures, it is accelerating growth in small and midsize cities and there are a few breakout cities that are at the forefront of the comeback. Greenville, S.C. has a robust automotive industry. Provo, Utah has a growing tech industry with younger residents moving in, and Des Moines, Iowa is a place for finance jobs. Justin Baer, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for the rising stars driving America’s economic recovery.

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The pandemic-era real estate market is crazy and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. This time has been a windfall for sellers entertaining multiple offers above asking price and headaches for buyers, where offering more money is no longer good enough, contingencies are being waived and other concessions are also being made. Aimee Picchi, reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, joins us for the ulta-tight pandemic housing market.

Next, the economy is in comeback mode but businesses can’t find enough people to hire, despite millions of people that are still unemployed. Potential workers are holding back because of fears of getting sick, lack of child care, and some are still making more money with enhanced unemployment benefits than they made in their pre-pandemic jobs. Eric Morath, labor and economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why despite an economy ready to be on fire, some businesses can’t find employees.

Finally, similar to the housing situation, if you are in the market for a used car, good luck. You can expect high prices and fewer options. The average price for a pre-owned vehicle hit a record of over $25,000 in April. A global chip shortage is slowing down new-car inventory, people are holding on to their leases longer, and less inventory at rental car companies are all playing a part in these higher prices. Nora Naughton, auto industry reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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Supply continues to outweigh demand for the coronavirus vaccine as some states are beginning to order fewer doses than what they are supposed to be allotted. The Biden administration has a goal of 70% of adults vaccinated by July 4, but only about 57% of adults have received at least one shot so far. Also in an effort to get people back in the workforce, some states are rolling back enhanced unemployment benefits. Some governors argue that the extra money is keeping people from going back to work. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and the upcoming vote to remove Re. Liz Cheney from her Republican leadership post.

Next, famed TV artist Bob Ross is one of history's most prolific painters racking up almost 30 thousand paintings in his lifetime, but you'd be hard pressed to find one of his original works in the open market. There are a few reasons why you might not find these paintings being sold. First off, Bob Ross Inc. which owns the majority of his work, has them locked away in a warehouse, but they make more money selling paints and painting supplies using his name. Secondly, many of his paintings are already sitting in homes across the country. His paintings can sell for over $10 thousand. Zach Crockett, senior writer at The Hustle, joins us for why it's so hard to find an original Bob Ross painting.

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This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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How many times have you gone to McDonald’s for a nice frozen treat only to be told that the ice cream machine is broken? One couple attempted to get to the bottom of why the Taylor ice cream machines that McDonald’s uses are always breaking and found that there is a secret repair menu that most workers don’t know how to access which forces them to contact the manufacturer for maintenance. This couple eventually created a way to hack the machines, only to have Taylor and McDonald’s stop them. Andy Greenberg, senior writer at Wired, joins us for the fight over hacking McDonald’s ice cream machines.

Next, some 2020 election ballots are still being counted in Arizona. This is coming in the form of an unofficial recount and audit of the 2.1 million votes cast in Maricopa County. The Justice Department has signaled that the recount may violate federal law and the AZ Secretary of State has said that other problems have also been noticed such as ballots left unattended on counting tables. The audit is being run by Florida based contractor Cyber Ninjas who have been employing unorthodox practices such as checking ballots with UV lights. Rosalind Helderman, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for this recount that many Trump allies are keeping a close watch on.

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Facebook’s Oversight Board has ruled that former President Trump will remain banned for now. The board ruled that Facebook was justified in banning Trump, but took issue with the “indefinite” suspension calling it “vague and uncertain.” They gave Facebook six months to decide if the ban is permanent and also to fully explain their decision. Heather Kelly, technology reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for why Trump’s ban continues.

Next, drug makers and labs are already working on the next-generation of Covid vaccines, and they could come in the form of a pill or nasal spray. Two oral formulations and seven nasal spray formulations are currently being worked on and tested. Researchers also hope to eventually work on a universal vaccine to provide protection against all types of coronaviruses. Gregory Zuckerman, special writer at the WSJ, joins us for the next generation of Covid-19 vaccines.

Finally, the tools to treat patients in the medical field have changed and improved over time, but the tools used in psychiatry are still largely the same ones used 100 years ago. But with the rise of big data, the information captured by our smartphones and speech and facial recognition technologies can provide more insights for mental health professionals. Dr. Daniel Barron, author of Reading Our Minds: The Rise of Big Data Psychiatry, joins us for why it’s time to use this data to make psychiatry more precise and effective.

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Liz Cheney, the no. 3 Republican in the House, may have her days numbered as Republican Conference chair. After calling out former President Trump again for statements he made about the 2020 elections, party leadership is saying that they are concerned about her ability to carry out the message in preparation for the midterm elections. Daniel Flatley, congressional reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know about the Republican divide.

Next, the oldest millennials are turning 40 and according to a recent survey, 44% of them already have at least one chronic health condition. And with these conditions the financial effects can also pile up. The top conditions affecting them are migraines, depression, asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. Megan Leonhardt, senior money reporter at CNBC Make it, joins us for how these chronic conditions are affecting older millennials.

Finally, part of the next phase of the vaccine effort is targeting those that are still hesitant or refusing to get their shots. The White House and public health experts are playing close attention to recent focus groups of vaccine skeptics that changed their minds. Some heard info from doctors they trust, others heard stories from long haul survivors whose symptoms improved with the shot. Dan Diamond, national health reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for why some are changing their minds on getting vaccinated.

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Florida has taken another step in moving on from the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning vaccine passports and an executive order invalidating all remaining local emergency orders, saying the state is no longer in a state of emergency. Some mayors were pushing back on the orders while other lawmakers argued they were trying to strike a balance of protecting people and protecting their civil liberties. Mary Ellen Klas, Capitol Bureau Chief at the Miami Herald, joins us for these new orders and how they impact the national conversation.

Next, the FDA has banned the use an electric shock treatment, but there is still one school using it. The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Massachusetts, which deals with some of the difficult developmental and emotional disability cases in the country, uses what’s called a GED device to shocks students to modify their behavior. Disability rights advocates and former residents have spoken out against this practice, but interestingly, some parents of those currently enrolled that have received this treatment support it and say it is the only thing that works. Kevin Monahan, senior producer at the investigative unit at NBC News, joins us for more.

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Joe Biden reached his 100 days in office this past week and we know where Republicans stand on his agenda, but what about the progressive wing of his own party? The news so far is good, they feel heard and are happy with some of his proposals, although the big worry is having a plan to push anything through a divided Congress. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, what to expect from the Rudy Giuliani investigation, and more celebrities running for office.

Next, the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, but we have gotten parts of it under control. Vaccines are being administered and thanks to the work of various countries, we have treatments that can help spare people some of the most severe infections. One such example is the U.K., not so much a pandemic success story, but their Covid-19 trials is. Through their Recovery Trial project, they were able to mobilize a massive clinical trial that tested various treatments and ultimately found a cheap and widely used steroid that became key in treating the virus, saving an estimated 1 million lives worldwide. Dylan Scott, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for more.

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