What A Day

The state of the pandemic in the US is looking brighter with infection rates dropping to where they were in June of last year, and hospitalization rates declining, too. But vaccination rates vary widely depending on where you look on a map, with New England showing rates above average and the South showing rates below average.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas reportedly held over the weekend, and now the focus has shifted to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Rebuilding after the destruction will inevitably be complicated by Israel's blockade on most construction supplies entering the region.

And in headlines: Belarus intercepts an airplane to arrest a journalist, the AP fires a Jewish journalist for voicing pro-Palestine views, and the Texas legislature approves a law to ban teaching of critical race theory.

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

The NBA playoffs begin tomorrow after a season that's played out during a global pandemic and a mass movement against police brutality. To discuss this season in context, we're joined by the host of Takeline and ALL CAPS NBA, Jason Concepcion.

Israel's security cabinet voted to accept a ceasefire that a Hamas official said would start at 2 a.m. local time on Friday. The full terms of the agreement aren't clear just yet, but this comes after mounting international pressure and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

And in headlines: police body cam footage released in the violent arrest of Ronald Greene in 2019, two scandals for Andrew Cuomo, and Twitter will open its public verification program.

Show Notes:

Al-Jazeera: Live Updates on the Israel-Palestine Conflict – https://bit.ly/3f6RtZX

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

Progressive Representatives in the House led an effort to block a $735 million arms sale to Israel in a demonstration of the shifting political attitudes towards the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. We spoke with Simone Zimmerman of B'Tselem USA and Yousef Munayyer at the Arab Center in Washington D.C. to get their perspectives. Also, Israel and Hamas are moving slowly towards a cease-fire.

We're approaching the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma where a white mob destroyed 1,200 homes in the thriving Black neighborhood of Greenwood, leaving an estimated 10,000 Black people homeless. Congress is considering reparations for victims and their descendants.

And in headlines: Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an extreme ban on abortion, Billy Porter spoke about his HIV-positive diagnosis, and Mitch McConnell won't support a independent investigation of the Capitol insurrection.

Show Notes:

C-SPAN: "Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors Testify" – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3L1e90L9cE

WSJ: "Gaza Doctors Say Hospitals Overwhelmed With Casualties From Israeli Airstrikes" – https://on.wsj.com/3405AtO

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

Airstrikes have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with numerous vital resources damaged or destroyed. We spoke with Inès Abdel Razek, advocacy director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, about the situation on the ground. Also, EU members called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The House passed an anti-Asian hate crimes bill, yesterday, which would speed up review of COVID-19 related hate crimes, help law enforcement to better identify anti-Asian bias, and more. We discuss the rise in anti-AAPI violence that led to the bill, plus the response to it.

And in headlines: the police officers in North Carolina responsible for shooting Andrew Brown Jr. will not face criminal charges, Rudy Giuliani's son will run for governor of NY, and cicadas get high and watch their butts fall off. Plus, Elise Hu from NPR and TED Talks Daily fills in for Akilah Hughes.

Show Notes:

Some organizations where you can make donations to help the people in Gaza:

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

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that directly challenges Roe v. Wade, which deals with a 2018 Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of gestation. This is not a drill: based on the current makeup of the court, there's a real possibility that Roe could get overturned, which would allow 21 states to immediately ban or restrict abortion.

The Israeli military continued to barrage the Gaza Strip, yesterday, with this month's attacks leaving hundreds of Palestinians dead, thousands wounded, and over 38,000 displaced. In Israel, rocket strikes from Hamas have killed at least 10 people. President Biden has reportedly expressed support for a ceasefire.

And in headlines: the U.S. will ship 20 million vaccine doses abroad, Biden releases his taxes, and Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg pleads guilty.

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

Since the Centers for Disease Control announced their new relaxed guidance for mask-wearing for vaccinated people, there have been numerous questions about what was behind the decision, how it will affect mask hesitancy, how businesses will respond, and more. To discuss these questions, we’re joined by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist, physician, and former health commissioner of Detroit.

And in headlines: Israel conducts its deadliest airstrike in Gaza, a California gubernatorial candidate is tight with a bear, and a tiger that was at large in Houston has been found.

Show Notes:

"The Incision" by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed – https://incision.substack.com/archive?sort=new

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

The Center for Disease Control announced revised mask guidelines yesterday, stating that people who are fully vaccinated can safely go maskless and stop social distancing most of the time, even if they are indoors. One hope is that the guidance will cut down on vaccine hesitancy; The Biden administration is effectively telling Americans that you can get vaccinated and do a lot more, or you can keep on wearing a mask and do less.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is in hot water, with NBC announcing this week it cancelled its 2022 broadcast of the Golden Globes as a way of holding the show accountable for its lack of diversity and problematic pay-to-play model. We discuss the history of the HFPA, how it became so powerful, and how it responded to criticism.

And in headlines: the death toll in Gaza rises above 100, doctors in Japan urge the country to cancel the Summer Olympics, and Russia launches a movie space race. Plus, FANTI's Tre'vell Anderson fills in for Akilah Hughes.

Show Notes:

Kaiser Health News: "Latinos Are the Most Eager to Get Vaccinated, Survey Shows — But Face Obstacles" – https://bit.ly/3uLWxZ8

NYT: "They Haven’t Gotten a Covid Vaccine Yet. But They Aren’t ‘Hesitant’ Either." – https://nyti.ms/3eL6qkk

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

Congresswoman Liz Cheney was ousted from the House GOP leadership, yesterday, over a failure to pretend that Donald Trump won the election he lost by more than 7 million votes. In the aftermath of this action from House Republicans, 100 members of the party say they plan to release a letter threatening to form a third political party unless the GOP gets less Trumpy. 

Yesterday afternoon, the operator of the Colonial Pipeline said it was resuming operations after last week’s ransomware attack with the caveat being that it will take a few more days for things to return to normal. During the temporary shutdown, there were reports of something like 10,000 stations in southeastern states that effectively ran out of gas… with much of the shortages driven by panic buying.

And in headlines: more Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, anti-government protests in Colombia, and Ellen DeGeneres announces her show will end next year. Plus, Hysteria’s Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah Hughes.

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

The coronavirus crisis in India continues to escalate, with the World Health Organization warning of a potentially more transmissible variant and the country reporting over 240,000 deaths. To get a better sense of the situation on the ground, we spoke with Niha Masih. She's a Washington Post reporter in New Delhi.

And in headlines: Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip kill over 33 Palestinians, missile launches by Hamas kill two in Israel, and the NRA's bankruptcy filing is thrown out by a federal judge. Plus, Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah Hughes.

Show Notes:

Follow Washington Post reporter Niha Masih's coverage on the pandemic in India – https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/niha-masih/

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

Israel carried out air strikes on the Gaza Strip, last night, leading to the deaths of at least 20 people. This was in response to rockets launched by Hamas at Israel, and it marked the most destructive moment stemming from the ongoing conflict in Jerusalem. We discuss the circumstances that produced these violent clashes, as well as the international response.

President Biden announced yesterday that he will not put an end to the 300 dollar weekly bonus payments that are currently going to unemployed people, despite Republican calls to do so after a disappointing jobs report last week. Biden did say that workers who turn down jobs comparable to the ones they lost due to the pandemic should be cut off from unemployment benefits.

And in headlines: the FDA authorizes a vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds, state AG's oppose Instagram for Kids, and China practices COVID safety on the top of Mount Everest.

Show Notes:

Al Jazeera: "Twenty Palestinians killed in Israeli air raids on Gaza" – https://bit.ly/3f6XS68

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