What A Day

In the final two weeks before November 3rd, Trump has been criticizing his own public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci. Meanwhile, Biden and Harris have been defending scientists and their role in public policy.

Federal prosecutors charged six men for some of the biggest, most notorious hacks in recent years, including the 2018 Winter Olympics hack and a 2017 hack on Ukraine. The hackers are all members of the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, which was also linked to election interference in the 2016 election. 

And in headlines: Carlos Mesa poised to win the Bolivian election, Trump will remove Sudan from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, and a 2,000 year old cat carving in Peru.

Show Links:

"The Untold Story of the 2018 Olympics Cyberattack, the Most Deceptive Hack in History" https://www.wired.com/story/untold-story-2018-olympics-destroyer-cyberattack/

In the US, we’re now seeing uncontrolled spread of coronavirus as parts of the country get colder and people prepare to gather for the holidays. On Friday, the CEO of Pfizer said his company won’t apply for emergency vaccine authorization until late November at the earliest, which appears to be the nail in the coffin for any vaccine getting approval by election day. 

After SCOTUS ruled that Trump could shut down the census count last Tuesday, the court agreed on Friday to review Trump’s plan to omit undocumented immigrants for the purposes of determining congressional seats. Civil rights groups are already suing the administration over the latter plan, which would further entrench systemic racism in how marginalized demographic groups are represented. 

And in headlines: Bolivia voted yesterday in an election that could signal the future of socialism in the region, Colorado battles historic wildfires, and a probiotic, problematic yogurt shop in Colorado.

Show Links:

"What the Supreme Court’s rulings mean for the 2020 Census and Trump’s attempt to exclude the undocumented from the count"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/what-the-supreme-courts-rulings-mean-for-the-2020-census-and-trumps-attempt-to-exclude-the-undocumented-from-the-count/2020/10/17/5d299b98-0f71-11eb-8a35-237ef1eb2ef7_story.html

A new study shows eight million people have fallen into poverty since May, when the CARES Act money started running out, but lawmakers in Washington still can’t agree on a second relief bill. We review the current state of negotiations, and how the delay is affecting Americans in need. 

Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped up their confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, with no big surprises except a few frustrating moments where Democratic ranking member Dianne Feinstein went out of her way to signal approval for the process and for Lindsey Graham.

And in headlines: Thailand declares a “state of extreme emergency” after protests, three people who were traveling with Biden and Harris test positive for COVID-19, and the BTS IPO. Plus Crooked's own Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah.

Show Links:

"Inside the Fall of the CDC" https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-fall-of-the-cdc

Amy Coney Barrett appeared for her last day of Senate questioning yesterday and gave more evasive non-responses. Today is the final day of the hearings, and will feature witness testimony on Barrett’s nomination. 

Brian Fallon is the executive director of Demand Justice, a group which pushes for progressive structural reforms and political hardball when it comes to the judiciary. We spoke to him about Barrett’s confirmation and what Democrats need to do differently to fix the courts. 

And in headlines: 5.2 million people in the country won’t be able to vote because of felony convictions, Europe faces a second wave of Covid-19, and a major scandal in the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Plus, Crooked's own Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah Hughes.

Yesterday was day two of Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings, when members of the Senate Judiciary Committee got their first public chance to directly question the nominee. There were a lot of questions, but there weren’t many answers.

Safety concerns led Johnson & Johnson to pause a large clinical trial of its COVID vaccine candidate and Eli Lilly to pause trials of their antibody drug. A new study found a person in Nevada was infected twice with COVID within a period of six weeks, which is the first confirmed case of reinfection in the US. 

And in headlines: the Supreme Court rules to halt the census, Trump vs. Fauci, and a tourist in Peru waits 7 months to visit Machu Picchu.