The Daily Dive

As protests continue throughout the country, many hope that this could be a moment for police reforms, but experts say that it will be a difficult path and the politics of police reform have squashed efforts before because of powerful police unions and legal immunity. But public perception of police bias has started to shift and many recognize a deeper problem. Kimberly Kindy, national investigative reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.

Next, the country continues to make its way back from the shutdowns of the coronavirus pandemic. NYC, the hardest hit area in the U.S., began reopening Monday with construction, agriculture, and manufacturing sites opening including retail stores offering curbside and in-store pickup. Stephanie Yang, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the first day of reopening in NYC.

Finally, when the protests first started and quickly turned violent, the big question was who was high jacking the demonstrations. Many blamed far-right and far-left extremist groups. One such group called the “Boogaloo Boys,” who wear Hawaiian shirts and carry guns, just had some members arrested in Las Vegas for trying to incite violence. Craig Timberg, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more on the “Boogaloo Boys.”

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Amid the protests against police brutality sweeping the country after the death of George Floyd, there have been many calls to defund the police. The concept is to take money away from police department budgets, which can be in the billions in some cities, and move that money to community services. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, just announced that the LAPD budget could be cut by up to $150 million and reinvest that money into communities of color. I’ll tell you more about the growing calls to defund police.

Next, as we continue to reopen the country after the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, one industry that has yet to formalize a plan to get back is the entertainment industry. What we do know, is that whatever the plan is that eventually comes out, it will be expensive to restart production. There will be shorter shooting days and longer shooting schedules, casts and crews will be put in quarantine, breaks for temperature checks and COVID testing, and new personnel dedicated to health and safety. Adam B. Vary, senior entertainment writer at Variety, joins us for the pricey plan to restart production.

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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.

Right now there are over 100 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of testing and when one finally breaks through, it may not be as simple as one shot and you’re done. There is a high likelihood that an eventual vaccine could be a two-dose protocol given a month or two apart, with the first injection priming the immune system and the second strengthening the immune response. Elizabeth Weise, reporter at USA Today, joins us for why you might need two coronavirus shots.

Next, as protests continue around the country, the DEA has been given permission to collect intelligence on people protesting George Floyd’s death according to a memo obtained by BuzzFeed News. The authority was granted only on a two week basis as they look to provide law enforcement with backup in investigating extremist groups and those causing violence. Jason Leopold, senior investigative reporter at BuzzFeed News, joins us for more.

Finally, the latest unemployment data is showing that the number of workers applying for and receiving unemployment benefits still remained historically high, but eased at the end of May. This leads many to hope that the worst of the economic fallout from that pandemic is over. Sarah Chaney, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for some good economic news.

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New charges in the case of George Floyd. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison increased the murder charge for Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder and also charged the other three officers present at the time with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Kim Bellware, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more on these new charges.

Next, there are approximately 1,600 active duty U.S. Army troops waiting for a possible deployment into the streets of Washington D.C. to restore order if protests get out of hand. President Trump would have to enact the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy them, but the plan has been met with opposition by many including Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent at the WSJ, joins us for the plan to activate the military.

Finally, the coronavirus pandemic has reduced public education in the U.S. to a shell of its former self. A Reuters survey of several school districts found that students aren’t having enough facetime with teachers, some districts don’t even take attendance for online classes, and access to classes is also difficult at times. Michael Pell, reporter at Reuters, joins us for how schools have been affected.

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The Minnesota Department of Human Rights will launch an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after filing a civil rights charge because of the death George Floyd. As that plays out, protests continue in Minneapolis and around the country. Lam Thuy Vo, senior reporter at BuzzFeed News, is on the ground with protesters and tells us about the change they want to see.

Next, continued unrest and protests are derailing the plans of some restaurants and businesses to reopen. After being shut down for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses have had to shift their focus to protecting staff and inserting themselves in the moment at hand. Heather Haddon, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Finally, there have been over 40,000 deaths tied to U.S. nursing homes because of COVID-19 according to a USA Today analysis. It is about 40% of nation’s coronavirus death toll. Limited testing, a lack of personal protective equipment, and poor infection control at these facilities has hit this vulnerable population hard. Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative reporter at USA Today, joins us for how there is growing concern of more infection as states reopen.

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The family of George Floyd has released results of an independent autopsy saying that he was asphyxiated when the now-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, put his knee on Floyd’s neck. This info contradicted some aspects of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner report which now released some updates also calling Mr. Floyd’s death a homicide. Paul Walsh, reporter at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, joins us for more on these autopsy report details.

Next, as protests continue throughout the U.S., social media is amplifying tensions and giving us a real-time chronicle of the riots and police responses. Protestors are organizing on social media and police are even using social media to try and track protests and looters. Sebastian Herrera, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for social media is being used during this time of unrest.

Finally, while COVID-19 was initially thought to be a respiratory disease, many of the symptoms have another thing in common, poor blood circulation and blood vessel damage. This is why 40% of deaths from coronavirus are related to cardiovascular complications. Dana Smith, senior writer at Elemental, joins us for how the disease is starting to look like a vascular infection instead of a purely respiratory one.

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Protests around the country are erupting into violence, vandalism, and looting. Protests against police brutality and in support of George Floyd, have been high jacked and are detracting from the original message. Curfews have been set in more cities and the National Guard has been called in to back up police in about 16 states. Steve Gregory, reporter for KFI News in Los Angeles, was at the destructive protests over the weekend in LA and joins us for what he saw and reactions from the business owners who got their businesses ransacked.

Next, while unrest continues across the country, concerns about the coronavirus pandemic still remain. We are still waiting for a treatment or vaccine, but there’s also some uncertainty to immunity for those that have had the disease and recovered. We still don’t know for how long someone might be protected from COVID-19 after they have gotten it. And in your body, it’s not just antibodies that are fighting the virus, B cells and T cells also help fight illnesses after antibodies have disappeared. Katherine Wu, science reporter at Smithsonian Magazine, joins us for why immunity to the coronavirus is so complicated.

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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.