What A Day

With more and more Americans becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19, officials have signaled a willingness to revise mask wearing rules again for those who have gotten their shots. Globally, the Biden administration has finally gotten behind the idea of waiving patents on vaccines so that generic versions of the drugs can be produced abroad, especially in places that are experiencing extreme surges in coronavirus cases. To answer the most pressing questions we have about this new phase of the pandemic, we spoke with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist, physician, and former health commissioner of Detroit.

And in headlines: Israel's Supreme Court delays a decision regarding planned evictions of Palestinian families, a piece of a rocket from China lands in the ocean by the Maldives, and the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby may have been doping.

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

Tomorrow, the National Labor Relations Board is set to hold a hearing into the failed unionization vote of workers at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, with the union that sought to represent the workers alleging foul-play. We spoke with Sara Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants, about the hearing, and the state of the labor movement in the U.S. more generally. Nelson has been a lead figure in supporting Amazon workers and unions across the country.

And in headlines: the Biden administration will support waiving patent protections of the COVID-19 vaccines, a judge strikes down the CDC's moratorium on evictions, and a farmer does landscaper's diplomacy on the Franco-Belgian border.

Show Notes:

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

After delivering on his promise of 200 million shots in 100 days, President Biden has set a new vaccine target: that 70 percent of the adult population get at least one shot by July 4. The Biden administration also plans to change the way doses are portioned out to states by allowing states to request or reject doses from a central stockpile according to their need. 

Republican state lawmakers are pushing bills to ban or severely limit the teaching of critical race theory, which is the idea that we should teach American history from a perspective that considers the experiences of people from different races. A lot of this stems from the “1619 Project" by Nikole Hannah-Jones. We discuss the tactics Republican lawmakers are using to keep texts like the “1619 Project” out of schools and what might be motivating their efforts (Hint: it’s racism). 

And in headlines: new climate normals from NOAA show a warming country, a metro overpass collapses and kills dozens in Mexico City, and Trump launches his blog.

Show Notes:

NYT: "U.S. Vaccinations Are Slowing. What’s to Blame?" – https://nyti.ms/3eU8bKH

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

Four mothers who had been separated from their children at the border by the Trump administration will finally be reunited with them this week, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas yesterday. These are the first families to be brought together as a result of a task force President Biden created shortly after taking office, and over the next few weeks, an additional 32 families from across Mexico and Central America are set to be reunited.

Public health experts think it's unlikely we'll ever reach herd immunity in the U.S., at least not anytime in the foreseeable future, because of factors like more contagious virus variants and vaccine hesitancy.

And in headlines: Biden's EPA to cut hydrofluorocarbons, CVS and Walgreens were responsible for the bulk of discarded vaccines, and Bill and Melinda Gates announce their divorce.

Show Notes:

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

The COVID crisis in India is getting worse by most metrics, with Saturday marking another daily record of new cases. In the U.S., Oregon is emerging as a hotspot. On the brighter side of things, the U.S. vaccination campaign remains extremely successful with over 103 million adults now fully vaccinated.

A landmark lawsuit in the decades-long opioid crisis begins today between two communities in West Virginia and the nation's three largest drug distributors. The trial centers around an explosion in opioid prescriptions between 2006 and 2014, and the communities seek $500 million for recovery efforts and resources for those affected.

And in headlines: Israel observed a day of mourning following a deadly stampede, Apple and Epic Games face off in court, and a damning confession letter from a political ally of Matt Gaetz.

Show Notes:

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

The pandemic continues to spiral out of control in India, with the country recently topping 200,000 deaths by the official count. The initial flights carrying relief from the U.S. landed yesterday. Vaccine manufacturing supplies from the U.S. will soon follow.

The Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday that it’s creating standards over the next year to ban menthol in cigarettes and all flavoring in cigars. Flavored tobacco offerings are heavily marketed to Black people, and as a result, 85 percent of all menthol cigarette smokers are Black.

And in headlines: five Lady Gaga dog robbers are arrested, Colorado state legislature okays human composting, and Disaster Girl sells her own meme as an NFT for $500,000.

Show Notes:

NYT: "How to Help India Amid the Covid Crisis" – https://nyti.ms/2Rfo8Tq

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

President Biden gave his first address to Congress last night, themed largely around moving America out of the most difficult stage of the pandemic and approaching a new normal. Part of that has to do with The American Families Plan, a $1.8 trillion program that would pay for two free years of community college, universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, and more. We go over the main takeaways.

Biden timed his speech to come right as he approaches his 100th day in office on Friday, too. To discuss that broader context and what we can learn from Biden's first 100 days, we spoke with Crooked Media's editor-in-chief and host of the podcast Rubicon, Brian Beutler.

And in headlines: Mario Gonzalez died after being pinned by police in California, charges for the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, and the Senate restores Obama-era regulations on methane leaks.

Show Notes:

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

The CDC issued new guidance yesterday that fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks outdoors unless they’re gathering in a large crowd, and they can safely enjoy many indoor activities with masks. Of course, the key phrase here is “fully vaccinated." Until you’re pumping COVID antibodies, the CDC continues to recommend masking up in any situation where you’re around other unvaccinated people.

Apple released its latest iOS on Monday, introducing a new tool called App Tracking Transparency that makes apps ask permission before sharing your browsing history with advertisers. This is more than a random act of kindness from Tim Cook, though. We discuss the benefits it might pass on to Apple's ad business.

And in headlines: autopsy results show that Andrew Brown Jr. was shot in the back of the head by police in North Carolina, Epicurious won't tell you how to cook meat, and a Russian guy is the reluctant star of a Chinese reality show singing contest.

Show Notes:

CDC: "Choosing Safer Activities" – https://bit.ly/3gEJ01k

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

The results of the 2020 Census were released yesterday, and they showed that over the past decade, the U.S. population grew by the slowest pace since the 1930s. The results will change how the 435 seats in Congress are allocated, with a handful of states set to gain or lose a seat. We discuss.

The Supreme Court will be taking up a case that deals with the rights that people have to carry guns outside their homes for self-defense. They'll also take on a case affecting free speech that began when a teen wrote "F School" in a Snapchat message.

And in headlines: the DOJ will investigate the Louisville police department, the Biden administration will give AstraZeneca shots to other countries, and California Governor Gavin Newsom to face a recall election.

Show Notes:

The Brennan Center: "The Redistricting Landscape, 2021–22" – https://bit.ly/3aHoqcP

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! – https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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

The CDC and the FDA have lifted their recommended pause on the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine, and added a warning label about the very, very rare reported cases of blood clots. But overall vaccination rates in the US are slowing down, indicating that while supply is increasing, demand is decreasing.

President Biden lifted the partial ban against the export of the supplies necessary to make vaccines in India, as well as rapid tests, ventilators, and more. The state of the virus there is dire: on Saturday, India reported almost 350,000 new cases, which is a tragic world record.

Plus, we talk through the Oscars. And in headlines: Biden formally recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Disneyland to re-open on Friday, and Elon Musk will host SNL.

Show Notes –

NYT: "Millions Are Skipping Their Second Doses of Covid Vaccines" – https://nyti.ms/3gR8uJ5

Show some love and vote for us as Best News and Politics podcast in the 25th Annual People’s Voice Awards! 

https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2021/podcasts/general-series/news-politics

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