The Daily Dive

The scandal surrounding Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz continues with more twists and turns. There is currently a DOJ investigation against him and now the House Ethics Committee will also be looking into him. In the meantime, Joel Greenberg, an associate of Gaetz who is the reason why the whole investigation kicked off, and is also facing charges of his own, is rumored to be close to a plea deal which could pose more problems for Gaetz. Former President Trump also surfaced over the weekend to blast Mitch McConnell and many are questioning the role that Vice President Kamala Harris is playing when it comes to immigration. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us to break it all down.

Next, the post pandemic beauty boom is here as people are ready to emerge from the pandemic and be seen in person again. No more hiding behind zoom calls, the demand for beauty services is roaring back and it's not just the regular color and cut, people are signing up for all that they can. Businesses that offer cosmetic injectables and other skin care services are projecting their busiest summer yet and are even considering expanding locations. Amanda Mull, staff writer at the Atlantic, joins us for why America is about to go botox wild.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden on Thursday addressed the issue of gun violence in the country calling it an epidemic and an international embarrassment. He also issued six executive actions geared toward ghost guns, pistols outfitted with stabilizing braces, red flag legislation and more reports on gun trafficking from the ATF. He also called on Congress to enact more permanent legislation. Anita Kumar, White House correspondent and associate editor at Politico, joins us for more.

Next, the Derek Chauvin trial continues as we heard from experts saying that George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen and not drugs or health conditions. We also heard from Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and several other officers that worked with Chauvin testify that his actions were not necessary and out of line with police training. Janelle Griffith, national reporter at NBC News, joins us for what some were describing as the crumbling of the “blue wall of silence.”

Finally, there is a new shortage hitting restaurants because of the pandemic: Ketchup is getting hard to come by. More precisely, ketchup packets have been hit by supply chain problems and the market leader, Kraft Heinz, is having trouble keeping up with demand. In the meantime, restaurants are looking for alternatives and different ways to offer single serve portions. Heather Haddon, restaurants reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the shortage of everyone’s favorite condiment.

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Vaccine passports have become another contentious issue in the country as governors in Texas and Florida have signed orders banning them in their states with the argument that it will reduce individual freedom and harm patient privacy. Still, many private companies are planning to move forward with requiring proof of vaccination before using their services or going to see live sports. Jordan Davidson, staff writer at The Federalist, joins us for more on the fight against vaccine passports.

Next, Florida has been going through an ecological disaster this past week at the Piney Point phosphate plant in Manatee County. A leaking reservoir threatened to break releasing millions of gallons of wastewater into the nearby area. Instead, 165 million gallons were released into Tampa Bay. This wastewater is not radioactive, but is full of nitrogen and phosphorus which could lead to an algal bloom that could kill off fish in the area. Zach Sampson, environment reporter at the Tampa Bay Times, joins us for what the plan is to dispose of the rest of this wastewater and how taxpayers could be on the hook for millions.

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In an effort to help people social distance and businesses to stay afloat, many state and local governments across the country relaxed regulations over cocktails-to-go, telehealth and other medical services, even document notarization and marijuana sales. Now that the country is starting to open back up in earnest, many want to keep these changes permanent because it adds more convenience and access to consumers, while others want to go back to pre-pandemic regulations saying if it wasn’t a necessity before the pandemic, why should it continue? Aaron Zitner, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the fight to abandon regulations eased under Covid.

Next, NFTs or non-fungible tokens are all the rage right now as many are making money selling digital artwork and other digital items, but there is a growing climate controversy surrounding them. These NFTs are partially responsible for millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions that is generated by the cryptocurrencies used to buy and sell them. One of the major players in this is the cryptocurrency Ethereum which is built on a system that is incredibly energy hungry. Justine Calma, science reporter at The Verge, joins us for more.

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Are movie theaters ready for their comeback? Over the holiday weekend “Godzilla vs. Kong” hit it big at the box office posting the best numbers since the pandemic began and sent a signal to the entertainment industry that pent-up demand is there. The good showing happened despite the title also being released for streaming on HBO Max. Erich Schwartzel, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to look out for as we get closer to the summer movie season full of pandemic delayed releases.

Next, retail pharmacies are a huge part of the administration’s plan to get the country vaccinated, but privacy watchdogs are raising red flags and want oversight into how these pharmacies might be using personal information to boost profits. In many cases, to sign up for your vaccine, you may need to hand over phone numbers, emails, and even more personal data as these companies are looking at how to convert people into long-term customers. Mohana Ravindranath, eHealth reporter at Politico joins us for more.

Finally, a heads up on a very lucrative career opportunity filled with sun and sand. In 2019, the latest year we have data for, the top paid lifeguards in Los Angeles earned up to $329,000. Now, these are not pool lifeguards or part-timers hanging at the beach guard towers, but captains and chiefs. Still, some of these salaries can be eye-popping mostly due to overtime. Adam Andrzejewski, senior contributor to Forbes, gives us details on the top paid lifeguards.

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President Biden has detailed his American Jobs Plan. A $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan focused on rebuilding 20,000 miles of roads, expanding access to clean water, broadband, extra care for the elderly and more. While infrastructure usually gets bipartisan support, this will be a tough sell because of the high price tag and how to pay for it, with increased taxes on corporations. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for what’s in the plan.

Next, the pandemic flipped the educational system upside down last year. It changed so much for students, but also made it difficult for teachers. Making worse a trend that was already happening before the pandemic, fewer students are wanting to pursue teaching. Low-pay was already making people think twice, but now, add in the perceived increase in risk. Emma Goldberg, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.

Finally, as the country slowly gets back to normal, people are ready to party again. Bar and restaurant owners are getting prepared for an influx of patrons ready to get wild and the hottest thing to put on your dating profile right now is that vaccination selfie. Lisa Bonos, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the party comeback and a possible roaring 2020s.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.