The Takeaway

While many countries have curbed their total number of coronavirus cases, the US has recorded more than four and a half million, and more than 160,000 deaths. Inadequate national leadership has caused one of the easiest and simplest solutions to curbing the spread of the disease, mask wearing, to become the latest front in the culture wars 

The White House has spread not only conflicting messages about the severity of the virus but also conspiracy theories about the science and the solutions to stopping the pandemic. 

With no certainty to the end of the pandemic, many are relying on a vaccine as the only way back to the way things were but even a vaccine comes with its own set of issues. Finding a way to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of a vaccine in addition to convincing Americans that it is safe and effective could be an uphill battle. Communicating transparently is especially important with communities of color who have been disproportionately hurt by the coronavirus.  

Guests:

Umair Irfan, Staff Writer at Vox

Carolyn Johnson, Science Reporter at The Washington Post

Dr. Jesse Goodman, Professor at Georgetown University and the Former Chief Scientist at the Food and Drug Administration

Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Minority Quality Forum

This week, Cori Bush defeated longtime Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay, in the primary for Missouri’s first Congressional District. A safe Democratic seat, Bush is all but guaranteed to win in November when she will become the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri. 

Bush is one of more 100 Black women running for Congress this cycle, a record breaking number, according to an analysis by the Center for American Women and Politics. 

Women of color have also become the focal point of discussions around who Joe Biden will choose as a running mate. With this attention and scrutiny has come criticism and attacks, many from within the Democratic Party itself, which fall along familiar lines of racism and sexism. 

Guests:

Kimberly Peeler-Allen, visiting practitioner at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University

Aimee Allison, is founder and president of She the People

Mental Health Crisis Looms Large As Coronavirus Pandemic Continues

In June, more than 36 percent of U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, an increase of roughly 25 percent from the same time last year. 

Kanye West and How Media Talks About Mental Illness

Recently, Kanye West’s bipolar disorder has been in the news, and some are questioning how the media has been covering it.

"My Lungs Are Still Not the Same": The Long Road to Recovery from COVID-19

The Takeaway hears from former guest David Lat on his experience recovering from COVID-19.

The Revolutionary Roots of Black August

This week marked the start of Black August, the month-long commemoration of Black resistance that dates back to the 1970s. 

California Struggles to Fight Wildfires Admist Pandemic

California is facing its largest wildfire since the deadly 2018 Camp Fire—and this time the pandemic is posing new challenges.

Where the United States Postal Service Stands on Mail-In Ballots Come November

As we move closer to November, we need to keep talking about what it looks like to vote during a pandemic.

Blast Rocks Beirut on Tuesday Amid Mounting Tensions and Economic Turmoil

At least 30 people were killed with thousands injured; hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of injuries.

Why Are So Many Golden Age Rappers Dying Young?

There is a troubling pattern of rappers that came to fame during the late 80s and 90s dying in their 30s and 40s.

Activists See Progress in Fight to Halt Surgeries for Intersex Children

Last week, the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago became the first major hospital in the country to officially halt genital surgeries for intersex children.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

This week, President Trump renewed his commitment to questioning the integrity of our election system and the Senate left town on Thursday without reaching an agreement on a new stimulus bill, leaving millions of unemployed Americans in economic limbo. At the same time, the U.S. surpassed 150,000 deaths caused by the coronavirus as confirmed cases in many states continue to climb.

With less than 100 days until the general election, Jane Coaston, a senior politics reporter at Vox, and Tim Alberta, Chief Political Correspondent for Politico, share how voters are processing this moment and their options for November.

Joni Ernst is a Republican Senator from Iowa whose seat was considered relatively safe until recently. Today, she’s fighting off a challenge from Democrat Theresa Greenfield, an Iowan who like Ernst has farm-girl roots. Ernst describes how campaigning has shifted as a result of COVID-19 and what she thinks of the president's response to the pandemic.

You can listen to Amy's interview with Theresa Greenfield here.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

Check out our local leader series here.

Perhaps, no state better embodies the polarization and partisanship with which we approach election administration than Georgia.

After a messy primary in June with long lines and shuttered polling locations, election officials in the state have been working to improve and restore faith in the process for what is certain to be a contentious election in November. And, in a little over a week, they’ll get another try. On August 11th, more than half of Georgia’s 159 counties will hold runoff elections giving voters and election staff another test run prior to the election. 

Efforts to recruit and train more poll workers are underway and more early voting locations are open in Fulton County, the epicenter of Election Day problems. Situated in metro Atlanta, Fulton County is also the state’s most populous. 45 percent of the population there is African American. It is also heavily Democratic. Hillary Clinton carried the county with almost 70 percent of the vote and 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacy Abrams won it with 72 percent.  

Guests:

Robb Pitts, Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners 

Evan Malbrough, a 2020 graduate of Georgia State University and founder of The Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project

Stephen Fowler, a political reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting