The Daily Dive

The central question of Trump’s second impeachment trial is: Did he incite rioters to storm the Capitol? To explore that, we can look at the over 200 people that have been arrested and charged so far in the siege. Mostly everyone there was a Trump supporter, some of which said Trump did inspire their actions. Others have been tied to far-right extremist groups, some had ties to law enforcement and the military and some were charged with conspiracy. Tom Dreisbach, investigative correspondent at NPR, joins us for those arrested so far and their stories.

Next, amid some early stumbles and lack of doses hampering the rollout of vaccines, we are seeing hesitancy and skepticism by many health-care workers who are refusing their doses. Many cite the speed at which they were developed and for others it is a trust problem, distrust of the government and even the health care systems they work for. Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician and contributor to The New Yorker, joins us for why so many health care workers are resisting the Covid vaccine.

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The NTSB has concluded its investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and 7 others, and said that it was the decision of the pilot to fly into clouds that caused him to lose his orientation to the ground which led them to flying into the hillside. Ian Duncan, transportation reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what investigators said contributed to the fatal crash.

Next, how much does it cost for treatment of some of the most severe cases of coronavirus? For one woman, it cost over $1.3 million dollars before insurance covered a large portion, leaving her to still owe over $42,000 which she cannot afford. The trouble lies in the fact that despite some insurers waiving certain costs, people may still be on the hook for a percentage which adds up quickly. Maria La Ganga, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more.

Finally, a recent study has shown that the U.K. coronavirus variant is indeed rapidly spreading through the U.S. and supports a CDC forecast that it could be the dominant strain here by late March. The good news is that cases and hospitalizations are going down, but experts are worried that the easing of restrictions by some states might let this more transmissible strain continue to take hold. Joel Achenbach, science reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more on the spread of Covid variants.

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With the current state of the coronavirus pandemic, it seems that the virus is here to stay for the long term. It is easily transmissible, we have new strains, and it will still take time to vaccinate the world. While we may not have the most restrictive measures in place forever, it will eventually be endemic, something we learn to live with and it will also mean big business. Think testing, ventilation for schools and businesses, and masking. Drew Hinshaw, senior reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why covid is here to stay.

Next, the loss of smell and taste that people experience is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. For some, it can come back quickly enough, but then steps in a distortion of those familiar smells. Months later people can have this lingering effect leading them to try anything to get it back. One of the techniques that people are using to re-train their brains is called smell training. Brittny Mejia, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more. 

Finally, as more are being vaccinated every day, people are starting to look forward to the little things again. Grocery shopping without worries, dining out, going to the movies, and seeing friends and family more often. One of the bright spots is that since older Americans are up first to get their vaccines, they are the ones ready to go out and get back to normal. Jem Bartholomew, freelance reporter, joins us for all the little joys people are looking for after getting vaccinated.

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Last week was a tough one for Republicans as they battled for balance within their own party. A fight between more traditional members and the Trump faction. The big questions, what to do with Liz Cheney who voted to impeach Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene who has supported conspiracy theories in the past. This week, it will be all about Trump’s second impeachment trial as Democrats have accused him of inciting insurrection. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, breaks down what to expect.

Next, the pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways including our social lives and friendships, and has possibly erased an entire category of friends we once enjoyed. People that may not be in our inner circle, but acquaintances, friends you see while watching sports, even co-workers you don’t see as much anymore. Amanda Mull staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for why these types of friendships are vital and the deeper appreciation we have for them after the pandemic.

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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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When it comes to women in the workforce during the pandemic, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Since the pandemic began, women have lost $5.4 million jobs, and nearly 2.1 million women have left the workforce entirely. There are many reasons why women have been squeezed out, but one thing is sure, the effects will be long lasting. Angela Garbes, contributor to The Cut and author of “Like a Mother,” joins us for more.

Next, this is what I wanted to hear. A 24-year-old graduate student from MIT got on the GameStop train and turned $500 into over $200,000. He did it like many others, getting advice on the Wallstreetbets subreddit and felt like he was part of something bigger. In the end, family and friends convinced him to sell before the stock dropped. Gregory Zuckerman, special writer at the WSJ, joins us for one person’s wild GameStop ride.

Finally, how has President Biden been adjusting to life in the White House? Joe Biden is an extrovert who like walking about the building and checking in with staffers. Biden also has a much more structured day than his predecessor when it comes to phone calls and briefings. Anita Kumar, White House correspondent and associate editor at Politico, joins us for Biden’s more traditional style.

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Incredible medical story of 22 year-old Joseph DiMeo, who is the world’s first to receive a successful face and double hand transplant. After a car crash left Joseph with 80% of his body burned and 20 surgeries later, his doctors thought he would be a good candidate for the transplants. He is now six months out from his surgery and healing and progressing very well. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for how it all happened.

Next, Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, is stepping down from his post. He will not be leaving the company however, instead he will serve as executive chairman where he’ll continue to work on innovations for Amazon and big decisions about the future of the company. Patrick Thomas, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what this change in position means for Bezos and Amazon.

Finally, California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to take political blows as a recall effort against him takes in more signatures and Republican opponents are emerging to run for governor should the recall qualify to be on the ballot. Former Sand Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has thrown his hat in the ring and so has businessman John Cox. Seema Mehta, political reporter at the LA Times, joins us for who is stepping up as the recall effort gains steam.

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The stakes are high for Amazon. Starting February 8th, workers at their Bessemer, Alabama warehouse will be voting whether to unionize or not. If they vote to do so, it will be the first Amazon warehouse in the U.S. to have union representation. This could have a big impact on the company as other warehouses could also push for the same. In the meantime, Amazon is doing everything they can to discourage workers from voting yes. Jay Greene, reporter at the Washington post, joins us for more.

Next, there is a lot of concern about the coronavirus variants floating around, especially as we are making a hard push to get as many people vaccinated as we can. One of the big questions with all of this is why are these different strains emerging now? One answer to this is time. The virus has always been mutating since the beginning and these variants can be a response to increasing herd immunity, response to treatments, and evolutionary changes due to the time it has been circulating. Brian Resnick, senior science reporter at Vox, joins us for more on the Covid variants.

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The rollercoaster on Wall Street continues this week with trading in silver futures being the new GameStop. Small investors on Reddit are once again coming together to buy silver and boost up its price. But this time, it's a little different, hedge funds are betting in favor of silver and the precious metals game doesn't play out like short sell stocks. Jon Sindreu, Heard on the Street columnist at the WSJ, joins us for why it will be tough to replicate the GameStop craze.

Next, mass vaccination sites will soon be common around the country as states try to boost the number of people that are vaccinated. Pharmacies and pop-up sites will also play important roles, but most people will get their shots at one of these big centers. At this stage in the rollout, most of these sites will be hampered by the lack of available doses and logistical challenges. Elizabeth Weise, national correspondent at USA Today, joins us for more.

Finally, the vaccines are the world's biggest hope for getting the coronavirus pandemic under control, but for those that do get COVID-19, we have come a long way in being able to treat some of the most severe infections. Antibody treatments might be some of the most promising as they help the immune system recognize the virus and fight back. There are also antiviral and steroid drugs that can help keep the virus at bay and immune system in check. Claire Maldarelli, associate editor at Popular Science, joins us for the best Covid treatments available.

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