What A Day

Covid cases continue to decline, though at a much slower rate than in January. That leveling off, plus the continued threat of variants has public health officials warning people to stay vigilant. Meanwhile, Italy goes back into lockdown. 

The Governor Cuomo saga continues to worsen with new reporting that his vaccine czar inappropriately called local officials to secure their support for Cuomo. This comes after a flood of Democratic lawmakers from New York called on the Governor to resign last Friday, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

And in headlines: London police face backlash for breaking up Sarah Everard vigil, FEMA at the border, and Avatar reclaims its place as the highest-grossing film ever. 

Show Links:

Follow What A Day on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

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

President Biden said last night that he wants states to make all US adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1st. In the coming days, he and VP Harris have plans to travel to sell the relief bill to the American people, and the first round of direct payments could be going out as soon as this weekend.

Mississippi just approved the first anti-trans law of 2021, which would require public schools and universities to make athletes compete according to their sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity. The ACLU is campaigning hard against these sorts of laws, and more than 500 NCAA athletes signed a letter this week asking the NCCAA to stop holding championship events in states with these kinds of laws or bills in the works.

And in headlines: New York's state assembly will open an impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo, Derek Chauvin is now facing an additional third degree murder charge, and someone named Beeple makes $69 million selling an NFT JPG.

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

Today marks one year since the World Health Organization officially called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The US vaccination effort offers a glimpse of hope, though, with the total number of fully vaccinated Americans now exceeding the number of reported cases we've had nationwide.

We spoke with Sana Khan, a PhD student at the University of Arizona who is also a vaccination site volunteer, to get a better sense of what things look like on the ground, and what the 1-year mark means to her.

And in headlines: Arkansas outlaws abortion in all cases except when the pregnant person's life is at risk, Russia slows down Twitter domestically, and celebs are living the good unmasked life in Oz.

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

The House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act on Tuesday, a bill that’s been called the biggest expansion of labor rights since the New Deal. Now, the question is whether the filibuster will kill this bill in the Senate… or if the bill will kill the filibuster. We discuss, and hear from Faiz Shakir, founder of More Perfect Union, on what this moment means for the labor movement. 

Today, the House is likely to pass the revised COVID relief bill, the last step before it goes to Biden’s desk. We talk through some provisions in the bill that are getting less attention: money for Native communities, money for Black farmers, and fixes to the Affordable Care Act. 

And in headlines: Myanmar’s military government cracks down on media coverage of protests, Tennessee expands vaccine eligibility to include inmates, and Piers Morgan to defend the Queen on his own time.

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

The CDC said fully vaccinated Americans can safely gather indoors together, and laid out other guidelines for our current stage of the pandemic. The daily rate of vaccination continues to increase, with a record of 2.9 million shots being given last Saturday.

The jury selection process in the trial of Derek Chauvin was delayed yesterday due to a dispute over whether a third degree murder charge can be brought. Finding impartial jurors will also prove to be difficult, considering the high-profile nature of the case.

And in headlines: Biden orders the Department of Education to review changes to Title 9 made under Trump, pervert rat Pepe Le Pew won't appear in Space Jam 2, and Papa John's 20-month anti-racism education.

Show Links:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/03/07/republicans-covid-vaccine/

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

Senate Democrats passed the $1.9 trillion economic relief bill on Saturday, without any support from Republicans. The final bill pared back some elements of the House's version, including a minimum wage hike. Still, it's a massive cash infusion for low and middle income Americans, and could cut child poverty in half by some estimate.

Yesterday was the 56th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," where civil rights activists dared to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama and were met with extreme violence from police. Biden marked the day by signing an executive order aimed at expanding voting access.

And in headlines: lawmakers call for Andrew Cuomo's resignation following additional allegations of sexual harassment, Swiss voters approve burqa ban, and a look at vaccination passports.

Show Links:

https://votesaveamerica.com/forthepeople/

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

Republican governors in West Virginia and Alabama have continued to advise wearing masks, bucking the trend of governors in Mississippi and Texas who want to rush things back to normal. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his state will start sending 40 percent of doses to its most vulnerable neighborhoods.

New data out this week from a Basic Income experiment in Stockton, California show that giving people monthly government stipends increase their quality of life and ability to get a full time job.

And in headlines: Italy blocked a quarter million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from being exported to Australia, a series of major earthquakes and tsunami warnings near New Zealand, and great apes get vaccinated in San Diego.

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

Jury selection begins next week for the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyd’s neck and killed him last summer. We spoke to Jamiles Lartey, staff writer at The Marshall Project, about Chauvin’s history of using excessive force and how that could play into the trial.

And in headlines: the House passes a bill to fight voter suppression and protect democracy, President Biden agrees to narrow the income limits of people eligible to get a COVID relief check, and Amazon changes its new logo to make it look less like Hitler.

Show Links:

“That Could Have Been Me”: The People Derek Chauvin Choked Before George Floyd

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/02/02/that-could-have-been-me-the-people-derek-chauvin-choked-before-george-floyd

Follow Jamiles Lartey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamiles

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

Biden is now saying that we'll have enough vaccine doses for every American by the end of May, instead of July. Meanwhile, states like Texas and Mississippi lifting their mask requirements and relaxing restrictions -- something that public health officials have warned against.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to congress yesterday, defending his agency’s handling of intelligence in advance of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. There’s another big hearing today, with a witness list that includes officials from the FBI, the National Guard, DHS, and more.

And in headlines: 300 girls who were abducted in Nigeria were released, Jackson Mississippi still doesn’t have water, and six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published.

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

The coronavirus relief bill moves to the Senate this week. A group of progressive House Democrats are continuing to push for a minimum wage increase in the bill. Meanwhile, Senator Warren and other Democrats introduced a wealth tax proposal aimed at addressing economic inequality. We talk to Representative Pramila Jayapal about why she's pushing for it now.

Protests in Myanmar are ongoing following the coup last month and the response from the police and military has grown increasingly violent. We review the recent history of the country, and recommend some good resources for digging in deeper. 

And in headlines: President Biden meets virtually with Mexican President Lopez-Obrador, why pharma companies won’t share vaccine blueprints, and former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy is convicted of corruption.

Show Links:

"Is Democracy in Myanmar Dead?"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/opinion/myanmar-protests.html

Follow journalist Aye Min Thant's on the ground reporting

https://twitter.com/the_ayeminthant

"How a Deadly Power Game Undid Myanmar’s Democratic Hopes"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/asia/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi.html

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