The Daily Dive

As the cruise ship industry shut down and travel restrictions around the world limited which ports the ships could dock at, the first concern was to get passengers off in any way possible. Two months later, 100,000 cruise ship crew members remain trapped at sea near Florida and have been largely forgotten. Taylor Dolven, business reporter at the Miami Herald, joins us for what the crew members crave most, accurate information about when they can go home.

Next, President Trump caused a stir when he announced that his is taking hydroxychloroquine as protection against coronavirus. He said he began taking it right around the time that news broke that two White House staffers had tested positive for COVID-19. While the drug has been around for a long time, there is no proof that it prevents someone from contracting the virus and there are concerns about side effects. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.

Finally, how’s your body holding up while working from home? For a lot of people, it’s taking a toll on their necks and backs. Poor ergonomics and weeks of bad posture has led to backaches, neck pain, and headaches. Aaron Zitner, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for what to do to help your body out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was some good news in the fight against coronavirus on Monday as drug maker Moderna said that its vaccine induced immune responses in healthy volunteers in a clinical study. The volunteers made antibodies that matched or exceeded the levels found in patients who had recovered after contracting the virus. Moderna will now move into Phase 2 trials with more people involved in that study and then Phase 3 they hope to begin in July. Moderna ultimately hopes to have something ready by the fall, but we are still some time away from having a vaccine to be distributed widely. I'll tell you what you need to know.

Next, a criminal investigation is under way after a massive explosion in a downtown Los Angeles warehouse injured 12 firefighters. The business where the fire occurred is called Smoke Tokes and is reported to be a supplier for butane honey oil or hash oil. An explosion erupted as firefighters were trying to put out the flames and led to crews having to escape the roof of the building and walking through a 30-foot wall of fire. Despite burn injuries and breathing in “superheated air,” all the firefighters are expected to survive. Steve Gregory, reporter for KFI News in Los Angeles, joins us for this dramatic fire story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How might we get back to normal? Many experts say it won't happen until we get a vaccine, which is still quite some time away, others say something like herd immunity could also get us back. But it seems that without working in conjunction with a vaccine, herd immunity won't save us either. There are a number of unknown variables that need to be factored in, such as, how long we have immunity for after recovering from COVID-19 and to meet the threshold without a vaccine it could also mean more deaths. Kaleigh Rogers, reporter at FiveThirtyEight.com, joins us for how we get to herd immunity.

Next, some companies are getting rid of  hazard pay for essential workers even as the dangers of working on the front lines persists. As businesses were shutting down, many companies offered bonuses or pay bumps to compensate people for the risk of working at supermarkets and other crowded workplaces, but that is no longer the case. Kroger is walking back a $2 raises to employees, Target and Amazon are following suit later this month. Anders Melin, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for why hero pay is going away.

Finally, 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.

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.

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.

Next, 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.”

Finally, 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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Next, on February 23, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed in Brunswick, Georgia. While out for a jog, he was confronted by Travis and Greg McMichael and Ahmaud was shot twice in the chest with a shotgun. There has been a growing concern that the case has been mishandled by both police and prosecutors. The case is now on its fourth prosecutor and the Georgia Attorney General has asked the Justice Department for an investigation. It took 74 days for an arrest to be made. Trymaine Lee, MSNBC correspondent and host of the Into America Podcast, joins us to talk about Ahmaud Arbery’s case and organizing in the time of coronavirus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Next, 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.

Finally, as states legalize recreational and medical marijuana, community associations and municipalities are having a problem with their pot smoking neighbors and how to deal with the odor. It’s prompting some homeowners associations to ban smoking and companies are having to install elaborate air filtration systems. Beth DeCarbo, real estate columnist at the WSJ, joins us for more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Next, 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.

Finally, 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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most interesting aspects of the coronavirus pandemic is how our everyday lives have changed. One such thing is a move away from a culture of waste. People are re-growing scallions and growing herbs at home, washing and reusing Ziploc bags and more. But while being this frugal in the past was mostly rooted in saving money, this time around it’s a little different. There is a fear of scarcity and also an effort to avoid unnecessary movement. Meredith Haggerty, editor at Vox, joins us for the novel frugality.

Next, coronavirus has upended the U.S. food system. It was always a delicate balance of demand from consumers at grocery stores and restaurants, and the supply chain from famers and food processors, but illnesses, shutdowns, and stay-at-home orders changed everything. Farmers had crops spoil without any buyers, meat processors closed due to outbreaks, distributors lost 60%-90% of their business volume, and food banks who relied on grocery stores and restaurants are struggling as the need has surged. Kevin Rector, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for the chaotic food system.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.