The Full Story

The 2020 election season is in full swing but it’s like no election season we have ever seen.

The art of protest. Whether it’s street graffiti during the Arab Spring, yellow umbrellas of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, murals of George Floyd in the United States or slam poetry; art helps us make sense of events that can overwhelm us.

Cultural institutions, like museums, theaters, galleries, and music clubs, are gathering places for the masses. They are also some of the last venues to open up following the shut down in Connecticut and New York; getting together in large numbers is still not safe. But that doesn’t mean culture has stood still. The Full Story explores how the arts interpret, document and respond to life-changing events.

When people live through extraordinary times, they’re challenged to rethink the social structures and systems that they once accepted as normal. Criminal justice is one system that has been fiercely called into question. The death of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, and COVID-19 have many taking a closer look at how the justice system functions in our country.

How do ethnic communities in our region become targets of xenophobia? Today on The Full Story we consider two examples of how this happens in our region. First, up is WSHU’s series, The Virus of Hate . Reporter Cassandra Basler reports on how attacks against Asians in the US rose as the coronavirus spread. And a new podcast by WSHU’s Charles Lane, EveryTown , documents how a small town in the Hamptons played a role in evicting Latin American immigrants from their homes. Cassandra Bassler, Senior

New York and Connecticut are moving closer to completely reopening their economies. But are household incomes feeling the shift? Federal programs to help laid off workers are about to end. So are the holds placed on evictions for renters and mortgage grace periods granted to homeowners. Meanwhile, emergency food services in our region say they’re busier than ever. A conversation with guests: Andy Condon, director, Office of Research and Information, Connecticut Department of Labor Minerva Perez,

Four months ago Connecticut and New York went into lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus. No one expected it to last this long, but now both states are slowly rolling back restrictions and we’re getting a clearer picture of the economic impact. We'll discuss doing business during COVID, with guests: Ebong Udoma, senior political reporter, WSHU J.D. Allen, assistant news director, WSHU Eric Gjede, vice president, government affairs, Connecticut Business & Industry Assocation Martin

The energized movement for racial justice has challenged our nation to take a closer look at systemic racism. Today we’ll begin an ongoing discussion on the impact systemic racism has in our region and the efforts to end it. We’ll speak with one of the founders of Black Lives Matter in New York and get an historic look at past movements and how they laid the groundwork for the activism we see today. Our guests: Chivona Renee Newsome , co-founder, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York Crystal

Cases of the coronavirus have dropped in Connecticut and New York. But in other states the virus is spreading fast. How are Connecticut and New York keeping the pandemic at bay? Governors are creating multistate coalitions, our transportation systems are cleaner than they’ve ever been and officials are looking ahead to stop a flare-up in the fall. We’ll discuss the fight against COVID-19, with guests: Ebong Udoma, senior political reporter, WSHU Charles Lane, senior reporter for Long Island,

They put in the work. They got the grades. Now it’s time to graduate. But the Class of 2020 will not have the pomp and circumstance of walking up on a stage and grasping their diploma in their hands. They are graduating in the time of COVID-19, Black Lives Matter demonstrations and a volatile economy. How are graduates, their families and schools coming up with remote ways to mark this rite of passage? And, what’s next for them…College? Work? How…and where? Our guests: David Gamberg,