What A Day

The U.S. is at another pivotal point in the pandemic, with loosening restrictions and the rapidly spreading Delta variant leading to a concerning rise in cases, and less than half of the population fully vaccinated. We talked to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Johns Hopkins University’s Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, about the current state of the pandemic in the country.

And in headlines: Biden plans to sanction Cuban officials for human rights abuses, Mississippi attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade, and NASA researchers map the inside of Mars.

Show Notes:

Nature: “How the Delta variant achieves its ultrafast spread” – https://go.nature.com/3BHosgO

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

Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers went on strike yesterday across nearly a dozen cities in the U.S. to call for the passage of the PRO Act, which would allow employees to unionize and gain greater wage transparency and better benefits. In other labor news, workers at the Frito-Lay plant in Kansas have entered their third week in a strike against poor working conditions.

The #FreeBritney Movement hits Congress as members of the House of Representatives this week proposed the FREE Act, a bipartisan bill that would grant individuals like Britney Spears the right to request for their private guardian or conservator to be replaced.

And in headlines: drug manufacturers reach a $26 billion opioid settlement with state AGs, central China faces extreme flooding, and scientists in the United Arab Emirates electrocute clouds to produce rainstorms.

Show Notes:

LA Times: “Uber and Lyft drivers strike over pay, gig-work conditions” – https://lat.ms/3BuWMf1

New Yorker: “How the Elderly Lose Their Rights” – https://bit.ly/2Us9vOZ

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

Wildfires in the western US and parts of Canada, driven by extreme drought conditions and heat waves, are casting hazy skies across the country. We talked to Brian Kahn, the managing editor of Earther and a lecturer at the Columbia Climate School about how climate change is altering our lives.

Some counties nationwide are recommending that even vaccinated individuals keep their masks on when in indoor public spaces to fight the spread of the Delta variant of coronavirus.

And in headlines: India’s COVID death toll estimated to be over 4 million, the former chair of Trump’s inaugural committee Tom Barrack was arrested for foreign lobbying charges, and Japan loses big on the Olympics.

Show Notes:

The Guardian: “Deadly flooding hits central China, affecting tens of millions” – https://bit.ly/3xWnAlY

Washington Post Op-Ed: “The pandemic has changed course again. The Biden administration urgently needs to do the same” – https://wapo.st/3hV2IpU

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

Today marks six months since President Biden entered the White House. We talked with Crooked Media’s editor-in-chief and the host of "Rubicon," Brian Beutler, about Biden’s progress on the $600 billion infrastructure bill, the $3.5 trillion Democrat-led budget bill, the COVID response, voting rights, climate change, and more.

And in headlines: the first sentencing for a Capitol rioter, Canada opens its borders to vaccinated Americans, and Ben and Jerry’s stops commercial activities in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

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

Los Angeles County reimposed mask mandates this weekend for everyone indoors in a public space because the Delta variant is causing cases and hospitalization rates to climb. Last week, the seven-day average of cases in the U.S. went up by almost 70 percent in a single week.

The Biden administration kicked off a public war against social media companies last week regarding their inaction on the spread of COVID misinformation, and Facebook responded with a blog post that accused the White House of "finger pointing."

And in headlines: extreme floods in Germany have left at least 189 people dead, a federal judge in Texas ruled against DACA, and a new report on the reach of Pegasus spyware.

Show Notes:

NYT: “The Pandemic Has a New Epicenter: Indonesia” – https://nyti.ms/3ex2yCU

The Guardian: “Majority of Covid misinformation came from 12 people, report finds” – https://bit.ly/3ksXl2M

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

At its heart, critical race theory is the idea of explaining how systemic racism has persisted in our country’s policies and laws throughout its history. But CRT has become a passion project for conservatives across the nation, who have used the term vigorously to rile up their base, and moved to ban it from being discussed in public classrooms, state agencies, and more. We spoke with two educators about the impact that the country-wide politicization of CRT is having on them and on their students. 

Plus, a special announcement from our beloved host Akilah Hughes.

Show Notes:

NBC News: "See which states have passed critical race theory bills" – https://nbcnews.to/3A1wrnY

Chalkbeat op-ed by Valencia Ann Abbott: ”I am a veteran history teacher. Let me teach history” – https://bit.ly/3dmskt3

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

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is traveling across the country this week to discuss how schools and community colleges can help students after they lost out on so much due to the pandemic, and to outline applications for the $122 billion in education funding from the American Rescue Plan. We asked Dr. Cardona about that trip, as well as local PPE enforcement, student loans, classroom curriculum, and more.

And in headlines: the arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma sparked protests, updates on Biden’s $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed federal decriminalization of marijuana.

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

Miners at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, have been striking for nearly four months in protest of drastic cutbacks to wages and benefits. It’s one of the largest work-stoppages in the state’s recent history. We hear from Haeden Wright, a United Mine Workers supporter and a miner’s wife, and Kim Kelly, a labor reporter for The Nation magazine, about the current status of the strike and the rising tide of violence and hostility that strikers face.

And in headlines: Biden condemns Republican voter suppression efforts, Tennessee fires its top vaccine official, and officials announce the greatest rise in inflation since 2008.

Show Notes:

The Nation: "Alabama’s Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives" – https://bit.ly/3kcb5Pj

Twitter: Kim Kelly – https://twitter.com/GrimKim

Twitter: Haeden Wright – https://twitter.com/HaedenWright

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

President Biden’s previous plan to combat crime by tightening the reins on gun sales and empowering the DOJ to target firearm traffickers has got a major update. He suggested states use $350 billion from the COVID relief plan to hire more police officers and strengthen crime prevention programs.

Democratic state representatives from Texas went to Washington D.C. to break quorum and apply more federal pressure to pass voting rights legislation. A great escape like this hasn’t happened since 2003 when Democrats were stopping a redistricting proposal, and it’s unclear how Republicans might retaliate in this current case.

And in headlines: Cubans protest for food and vaccines, England’s Black soccer players face racism, and Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence’s kids are Instagram-official.

Show Notes:

CNN (May 16, 2003): “Fugitive Texas Democrats declare victory” – https://cnn.it/3e8h1EX

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

President Biden signed an executive order last week aimed at boosting competition between businesses and discouraging monopolies. The order includes 72 initiatives, which will encourage the FTC to reinstate net neutrality rules, require airlines to disclose hidden fees, allow cheaper medications to be imported from Canada, and more.

The CDC issued guidelines for school districts to reopen this fall, while allowing local officials to tighten or loosen restrictions given factors like regional vaccination rates. There is a bump in cases of coronavirus in the U.S. right now, however, driven by pockets with lower vaccination rates.

And in headlines: turmoil in Haiti following the President's assassination, record-high temperatures in the West, and Sir Richard Branson goes to space.

Show Notes:

Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy – https://bit.ly/3yNCc7c

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