What A Day

Voting rights have gone back to being the White House’s top priority, but Congress is struggling to pass protections because Senate Democrats must contend with a potential Republican filibuster. 

Today, the Supreme Court will hear two challenges to the White House’s vaccine mandate for private employers and healthcare facilities. The federal rule was supposed to take effect January 4 but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration decided that it would give employers until February 9th to fully enforce these rules.

And in headlines: Former health advisors to President Biden are calling for the U.S. to adopt a new COVID strategy, dozens of protestors were killed and hundreds were injured yesterday in Kazakhstan, and the FBI arrested a man who allegedly impersonated publishers to steal unpublished book manuscripts.

Show Notes:

Washington Post: “Supreme Court is set to review Biden’s vaccine rules for businesses, health-care workers. Here’s what to know.” – https://wapo.st/3HF5M3p

Slate: “The Hidden Agenda Behind the Attack on Vaccine Mandates” – https://bit.ly/3HKSzWW

Wall Street Journal: “Supreme Court to Weigh Vaccine Requirements for the Workplace” – https://on.wsj.com/3n00O9C

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Today marks a year since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol where supporters of former President Donald Trump tried to violently overturn the 2020 election. Among the Congressmembers who saw all of this unfold is New York Rep. Mondaire Jones. He joins us to discuss the work the House committee is doing to investigate that day, what more needs to be done and what the future of our democracy looks like. 

And in headlines: A tragic fire at a Philadelphia row house killed 12 people, Kazakhstan declared a nationwide state of emergency after days of anti-government protests, and Chicago public schools stopped in-person instruction amid a record-breaking surge in coronavirus cases.

Show Notes:

NY Times: “In the Capitol’s Shadow, the Jan. 6 Panel Quietly Ramps Up Its Inquiry” – https://nyti.ms/3qVmaWL

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Omicron variant has absolutely exploded in the US in the last few weeks. On Monday alone, the U.S. reported an astonishing record 1.08 million cases, and the CDC estimates that Omicron is responsible for about 95 percent of known infections through January 1st. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of “America Dissected” joins us again to discuss everything from testing to schools to the CDC’s quarantine recommendations.

And in headlines: Harrowing winter storms made life a nightmare for many travelers on the East Coast, a record number of 4.5 million U.S. workers left their jobs last November, and Canada pledged $31.5 billion towards reforming its First Nations child welfare system.

Show Notes:

CDC: Quarantine and Isolation – https://bit.ly/3t2IvUS

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

2021 is done, and we are excited to tell you all about what you need to know throughout 2022. In our first episode of the year, we talk about the big story our hosts will be keeping an eye on this year. 

Stories include: the ever-evolving pandemic, the upcoming midterm elections, the future of the criminal justice system, and the political landscape of trans rights in America.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The year is coming to a close, so we look back at the stories we thought were the biggest and most memorable of 2021. 

We talk about the historic visibility of trans and nonbinary people, the brouhaha over critical race theory, the divisive anti-vaccine movement, and the effort to unionize workers across the country.

Show Notes:

This is our last What A Day of 2021. We’ll be back with new episodes on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022.

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For a transcript of this episode, visit https://crooked.com/whataday

As we jump head first into the holiday season, COVID-19 news has been overwhelming. Britain logged its highest number of daily COVID cases ever, attributed to a steep rise in confirmed Omicron cases, and organizations in the U.S. are changing their COVID-19 policies. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins us to give us a sense of how we should view this moment. 

And in headlines: The monthly child tax credits are about to expire, a North Carolina man was sentenced to 28 months in prison for threating to harm House Speaker Nancy Pelosi right after last year’s insurrection, and German authorities arrested six people accused of plotting to murder a pro-vaccine politician.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Tens of thousands of military families in O’ahu have been living without clean water for weeks after their water well was contaminated with petroleum. Many people got severely ill and some were even hospitalized for skin rashes, chemical burns, and vomiting. Hawai’i Congressman Kai Kahele joins us to discuss the gravity of the situation and how we got here. 

And in headlines: the Senate voted to raise the debt ceiling, six women sued Tesla for sexual harassment in the workplace, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was ordered to forfeit the earnings from his book.

Show Notes:

PBS: “Navy’s water contamination flub in Hawaii follows 8 years of warning signs” – https://to.pbs.org/3EYiXLU

Hawai’i Sierra Club’s Red Hill Quick Resources and Actions – https://sierraclubhawaii.org/redhill

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

We’ve reached another grim benchmark since the pandemic began almost two years ago. According to the New York Times database, the U.S. has reached 50 million known cases of COVID-19. The country is also on the cusp of passing or has already passed 800,000 deaths, with the last 100,000 happening at a relatively quick pace.

USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee agreed to a $380 million settlement for the victims of Larry Nassar, the former doctor of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. The settlement marks the end of a five-year legal fight, and is one of the largest settlements on record for survivors of sexual assault. 

And in headlines: the death toll continues to climb in Kentucky after tornadoes devastated the state this past weekend, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is now expected to plead guilty on federal civil rights charges in the death of George Floyd, and eight pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were sentenced to prison yesterday.

Show Notes:

NY Times: “As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished” – https://nyti.ms/3dQOymN

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

At least 100 people have died after tornadoes ripped through at least six states on Friday night. Search and rescue efforts continued throughout the weekend in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. 

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that health providers could sue to block a law like Texas’s abortion ban, which allows private citizens to file a lawsuit against anyone who assists those seeking an abortion. But the options on who they can sue are extremely limited.

A group of baristas voted to unionize at a Buffalo-area Starbucks, making it the first company-owned store in the nation to do so. Starbucks employee and union organizer Casey Moore tells us what’s next as workers begin to negotiate a contract.

And in headlines: British scientists released the first real-world study of how Covid vaccines hold up against omicron, beloved Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez passed away, and a New Zealand man was accused of running a vaccination scheme after receiving 10 Covid shots in a single day.

Show Notes:

Huffington Post: “Starbucks Workers Just Unionized. Now The Real Fight Begins” – https://bit.ly/3GxXMQY

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Today is the last day that Congress is scheduled to be in session for 2021. Just yesterday, the Senate voted and paved the way for Democrats to raise the debt limit so the country doesn’t default on its loans. Crooked Media’s Editor in Chief Brian Beutler joins us to catch us up on what our lawmakers have been up to all year.

And in headlines: workers at a Starbucks store in Buffalo, New York, have successfully voted to unionize, farmers in India ended their year-long protest, and the FDA approved Pfizer-BioNTech's booster shot for 16- and 17-year-olds.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday