What A Day

The California recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom wraps up today. Newsom campaigned with President Biden, yesterday, and if he is booted from the Governor’s mansion, polls show he is most likely to be replaced with conservative talk show host Larry Elder. KQED’s political correspondent Marisa Lagos joins us to get a status report on where things stand.

And in headlines: one million Afghan children are at risk of starvation and death, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken testified before Congress about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the first trial associated with the Varsity Blues scandal kicked off.

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

This past weekend marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and beyond the typical yearly commemoration, the FBI released a newly declassified document detailing contacts that two hijackers had with Saudi associates in the U.S. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Spencer Ackerman, joins us to discuss the history of 9/11, the war on terror, and the latest developments in Afghanistan.

And in headlines: Iran reached an agreement with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, people who are not fully vaccinated are eleven times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, and Democratic lawmakers still can’t agree on a price tag for their spending plan.

Show Notes:

NYT: “In U.S. Drone Strike, Evidence Suggests No ISIS Bomb” – https://nyti.ms/3E97iK1

Forever Wars Substack – https://foreverwars.substack.com/

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

Tomorrow marks 20 years since 9/11. The terrorist attack caused a ripple effect that has influenced many parts of American history and culture, but it also fueled a rise in Islamophobia. We hear from Shahana Hanif how two decades of anti-Muslim bias has hurt and transformed the lives of American Muslims. When the attack happened, Hanif was a 10-year-old growing up in Brooklyn. Today, she lives in Brooklyn and is running for New York City Council, where she is likely to become the first Muslim woman ever to serve.

And in headlines: the Justice Department sues Texas over its anti-abortion law, Biden mandates vaccines for all federal government employees and contractors, and Facebook and Ray-Ban team up to make high-tech glasses.

Show Notes:

AP: “Two Decades After 9/11, Muslim Americans Still Fighting Bias” – https://bit.ly/3hjRdHI

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

Yesterday marked the beginning of the federal criminal trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the blood-testing startup Theranos. She and her former boyfriend Sunny Balwani were charged with about a dozen counts that include wire fraud for lying to investors as well as patients about what Theranos technology could actually do. 

The weekly pediatric coronavirus cases in the U.S. surpassed 250,000 this week for the first time since the pandemic began. The uptick in young people testing positive comes during Back to School week for many, and that is NOT a good sign.

And in headlines: the Biden administration announced its plan to expand the use of solar energy, LAPD officers have been instructed to record the social media information of any civilian they stop, and Starbucks is reportedly trying to stop a unionization effort.

Show Notes:

Wall Street Journal: “Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes’s Trial: Prosecutors Must Show Intent” – https://on.wsj.com/3toFZqh

Politico: “Get vaccinated or else: Colleges roll out new punishments for holdouts” – https://politi.co/3toVvSY

See Steve from Blue’s Clues’s heart-felt message for the show’s 25th anniversary – https://bit.ly/3l4pjjX

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

A law that effectively banned abortions in Texas after the sixth week of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest took effect last Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block it. We spoke to Leah Litman, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan and cohost of the podcast “Strict Scrutiny,” to get a better understanding of how the law was designed.

Also in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed a voting restriction bill, yesterday, that bans 24-hour voting and drive-through voting, institutes onerous vote-by-mail ID mandates, and more.

And in headlines: the Taliban announced the formation of its interim government in Afghanistan, President Biden visited New Jersey and New York to survey the damage caused by Ida, federal unemployment benefits expired, former Trump advisor Jason Miller was briefly detained in Brazil, and Jamie Spears filed a petition to end Britney Spears’ conservatorship after 13 years.

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

The FAA had to investigate more than 600 incidents involving unruly passengers in the first half of 2021, which is already double the number from the previous two years combined. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, joins us to discuss how flight attendants, as front-line workers, are dealing with these people.

And in headlines: over one million people still don’t have power in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida, Texas Republicans passed their restrictive voting bill, the U.S. Forest Service closed every national forest in California because of wildfires, and video game streamer go dark today for #ADayOffTwitch.

Show Notes:

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

After 20 years, the U.S. has pulled out the last of its troops from Afghanistan. We spoke with Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, who was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force that led to U.S. troops being in Afghanistan, to discuss the latest developments.

And in headlines: officials are still assessing the damage of Hurricane Ida, a new Texas law bans abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, the Dept. of Education is investigating five states with bans on mask mandates in schools, and two Michigan parents were ordered to pay nearly $45,000 after throwing away their son's massive pornography collection.

Show Notes:

WSJ: “U.S. Investigates Kabul Airstrike; 10 Afghan Civilians Died, Relatives Say” – https://on.wsj.com/3kF1mzr

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

A U.S. military drone blew up a vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday that was filled with explosives and was believed to be a threat to the international airport. This came after a suicide bombing outside of the airport last Thursday killed at least 170 civilians and 13 American military members, and ISIS-K claimed responsibility. 

This past year has been defined by unionizing and organizing efforts across many industries, and the pandemic put a spotlight on worker conditions. Mary Kay Henry, the international president of the Service Employees International Union, joins us to discuss the current state of the American labor movement with Labor Day just ahead. 

And in headlines: Hurricane Ida made landfall yesterday, U.S. military aircrafts began bringing aid into southern Haiti, a Virginia school board was ordered to pay $1.3 million in a transgender student's suit, and controversy surrounds the debut of Kanye West’s new album.

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

California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing a recall election, which could result in getting replaced by a right-wing candidate even if he defeats them by a landslide in vote totals. We spoke with Dan Pfeiffer, a co-host of Pod Save America, about the state of the election, and what voters in California need to know. 

The fallout from the shameful last act of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has extended to Time’s Up, the organization founded by some of Hollywood’s most powerful women with the aim of supporting victims of sexual harassment and assault. Now, former members of Time’s Up and some sexual abuse victims are criticizing the org, saying that it has strayed away from its mission and failed the women they were supposed to help.

And in headlines: two House members take a secret trip to Kabul, OnlyFans reverses its stance on sexually explicit content, and Tony Hawk wants us to buy his blood.

Show Notes:

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

The first U.S. troops started leaving Afghanistan, yesterday, as President Biden decided not to extend the timeline for U.S. withdrawal past the original August 31st deadline. The Taliban said yesterday that they would no longer allow Afghans to evacuate, which is a major departure from their previous position.

Full vaccine approval for children younger than 12 might not come until the end of the year, according to some experts, but emergency use authorization could happen faster. We discuss what's holding up the process, plus the timeline for FDA approval of non-Pfizer vaccines.

And in headlines: the House passes the infrastructure bill and spending bill, violent beach cows in Corsica, and Lil Nas X's new job at Taco Bell.

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