What A Day

The US has imposed a ban on flights from Brazil because of a dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. This comes after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly dismissed the severity of the pandemic and mocked social distancing efforts... even as the country became a global hotspot for coronavirus. 

A federal judge in Florida has ruled against a state law that required people convicted of felonies to pay off all their court fines and fees before they were eligible to vote. That law was pushed last year by Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis. Judges said it is akin to a poll tax and therefore unconstitutional. 

And in headlines: the FBI is investigating two district attorneys involved in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, Tyler Perry’s ‘Camp Quarantine,’ and an old and oft-slandered gator passes away in Moscow.

China’s leaders are poised to impose a controversial new national security law in Hong Kong. The law would reportedly ban secession, subversion of state power, foreign interference, and terrorism. All that will essentially put Hong Kong more under China’s control and political system.

Facebook has followed Twitter’s lead and will move to allow employees to work more from home, even after the pandemic. Two Ford factories had grand re-openings and grand re-closings this week. Both factories saw employees test positive for COVID-19 after returning to work and had to shut down.

And we’re joined by comedian, writer, and actor Janelle James for headlines: New Zealand’s PM endorses a 4-day work week, Kendall Jenner pays for Fyre Fest post, and Aunt Becky pleads guilty.

The CDC has quietly posted a report with detailed suggestions about how to reopen. We dig into it and how the states might or might not use it.

More than 900 children have been deported since March under a new pandemic border policy. Before, children had the opportunity to speak with a social worker or make a plea for asylum. Now, they can deported within hours of arrival in the US. 

And in headlines: an Ohio county declares racism a public health issue, a QAnon believer scores a Senate nomination in Oregon, and two men are arrested for helping Nissan's ex-CEO escape Japan in a box.

Contact tracing apps have been adopted in countries around the world to track the spread of COVID-19, but they’re not being used as much in the US. American tech companies are working to get these apps up-and-running… despite some privacy concerns. Cybersecurity reporter Patrick Howell O'Neill joins the show to update us on how these apps are working worldwide.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Fed Chair Jerome Powell took questions from the Senate yesterday on how we’ll get out of the current economic crisis. They offered up starkly different opinions on how the US can avoid permanent economic damage. 

And in headlines: major corporations cut ‘hazard pay’ for essential workers, Qatar Airlines takes a pumped-up approach to PPE, and the data scientist who made Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard gets axed for refusing to fudge data.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will testify this morning about the economic crisis and response. We preview the hearing.

A biotech company called Moderna reported preliminary results from a phase one trial of their coronavirus vaccine. So far, the results are positive—but the vaccine still has a lot more testing to go. Plus, California starts its program to give out economic relief to people who are undocumented.

And in headlines: embattled politicians scuffle inside Hong Kong’s legislature, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” hates breath, and South Korean pro soccer team gets cheered on by sex dolls.