What A Day

The CDC said yesterday that fully vaccinated people should wear masks in indoor public settings in counties where the transmission rate is "substantial" or "high," after new evidence showed that a vaccinated person could transmit the Delta variant of COVID to others. President Biden may also begin requiring federal employees and contractors to be vaccinated or face regular testing. Four U.S. Capitol police officers testified to a House committee about the violence, racial attacks, and fear for their lives they experienced during the January 6th insurrection. The House panel into the riot will likely hold its next hearing before the end of Congress’s August recess. Plus, one of What A Day's new co-hosts Priyanka Aribindi joins us for headlines: airports face jet fuel shortages, Simone Biles pulls out of an Olympic event, and the U.S. government sells a rare album once owned by Martin Shkreli. Show Notes: CDC: COVID-19 County Data Tracker – https://bit.ly/3zLKDjR For a transcript of ...

Federal public health officials are considering updating mask mandates even for vaccinated Americans as we reach another critical point in the pandemic.  But some localities are going above and beyond that with vaccine mandates. New York City, for example, will require all city employees to be vaccinated, and California announced a vaccine requirement for all state employees and health care workers, too. Private businesses like United Airlines and Morgan Stanley have also started to mandate vaccination for employees. Then in cities like L.A., San Francisco, and New York, many bars and live events require customers to show proof of vaccination. And in headlines: Biden formally announces the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, a tobacco company wants to ban cigarettes, and Kanye will stay in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium until his album is finished. Show Notes: NYT: “Where Covid-19 Hospitalizations Are Rising in the U.S.” – https://nyti.ms/3BGSWiS PC Mag: “How to Carry Your Vaccinat...

The U.S. is at another pivotal point in the pandemic, with loosening restrictions and the rapidly spreading Delta variant leading to a concerning rise in cases, and less than half of the population fully vaccinated. We talked to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Johns Hopkins University’s Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, about the current state of the pandemic in the country. And in headlines: Biden plans to sanction Cuban officials for human rights abuses, Mississippi attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade, and NASA researchers map the inside of Mars. Show Notes: Nature: “How the Delta variant achieves its ultrafast spread” – https://go.nature.com/3BHosgO For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers went on strike yesterday across nearly a dozen cities in the U.S. to call for the passage of the PRO Act, which would allow employees to unionize and gain greater wage transparency and better benefits. In other labor news, workers at the Frito-Lay plant in Kansas have entered their third week in a strike against poor working conditions. The #FreeBritney Movement hits Congress as members of the House of Representatives this week proposed the FREE Act, a bipartisan bill that would grant individuals like Britney Spears the right to request for their private guardian or conservator to be replaced. And in headlines: drug manufacturers reach a $26 billion opioid settlement with state AGs, central China faces extreme flooding, and scientists in the United Arab Emirates electrocute clouds to produce rainstorms. Show Notes: LA Times: “Uber and Lyft drivers strike over pay, gig-work conditions” – https://lat.ms/3BuWMf1 New Yorker: “How the Elderly Lose Their...

Wildfires in the western US and parts of Canada, driven by extreme drought conditions and heat waves, are casting hazy skies across the country. We talked to Brian Kahn, the managing editor of Earther and a lecturer at the Columbia Climate School about how climate change is altering our lives. Some counties nationwide are recommending that even vaccinated individuals keep their masks on when in indoor public spaces to fight the spread of the Delta variant of coronavirus. And in headlines: India’s COVID death toll estimated to be over 4 million, the former chair of Trump’s inaugural committee Tom Barrack was arrested for foreign lobbying charges, and Japan loses big on the Olympics. Show Notes: The Guardian: “Deadly flooding hits central China, affecting tens of millions” – https://bit.ly/3xWnAlY Washington Post Op-Ed: “The pandemic has changed course again. The Biden administration urgently needs to do the same” – https://wapo.st/3hV2IpU For a transcript of this episode, please vi...

Today marks six months since President Biden entered the White House. We talked with Crooked Media’s editor-in-chief and the host of "Rubicon," Brian Beutler, about Biden’s progress on the $600 billion infrastructure bill, the $3.5 trillion Democrat-led budget bill, the COVID response, voting rights, climate change, and more. And in headlines: the first sentencing for a Capitol rioter, Canada opens its borders to vaccinated Americans, and Ben and Jerry’s stops commercial activities in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Los Angeles County reimposed mask mandates this weekend for everyone indoors in a public space because the Delta variant is causing cases and hospitalization rates to climb. Last week, the seven-day average of cases in the U.S. went up by almost 70 percent in a single week. The Biden administration kicked off a public war against social media companies last week regarding their inaction on the spread of COVID misinformation, and Facebook responded with a blog post that accused the White House of "finger pointing." And in headlines: extreme floods in Germany have left at least 189 people dead, a federal judge in Texas ruled against DACA, and a new report on the reach of Pegasus spyware. Show Notes: NYT: “The Pandemic Has a New Epicenter: Indonesia” – https://nyti.ms/3ex2yCU The Guardian: “Majority of Covid misinformation came from 12 people, report finds” – https://bit.ly/3ksXl2M For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

At its heart, critical race theory is the idea of explaining how systemic racism has persisted in our country’s policies and laws throughout its history. But CRT has become a passion project for conservatives across the nation, who have used the term vigorously to rile up their base, and moved to ban it from being discussed in public classrooms, state agencies, and more. We spoke with two educators about the impact that the country-wide politicization of CRT is having on them and on their students.  Plus, a special announcement from our beloved host Akilah Hughes. Show Notes: NBC News: "See which states have passed critical race theory bills" – https://nbcnews.to/3A1wrnY Chalkbeat op-ed by Valencia Ann Abbott: ”I am a veteran history teacher. Let me teach history” – https://bit.ly/3dmskt3 For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is traveling across the country this week to discuss how schools and community colleges can help students after they lost out on so much due to the pandemic, and to outline applications for the $122 billion in education funding from the American Rescue Plan. We asked Dr. Cardona about that trip, as well as local PPE enforcement, student loans, classroom curriculum, and more. And in headlines: the arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma sparked protests, updates on Biden’s $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed federal decriminalization of marijuana. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Miners at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, have been striking for nearly four months in protest of drastic cutbacks to wages and benefits. It’s one of the largest work-stoppages in the state’s recent history. We hear from Haeden Wright, a United Mine Workers supporter and a miner’s wife, and Kim Kelly, a labor reporter for The Nation magazine, about the current status of the strike and the rising tide of violence and hostility that strikers face. And in headlines: Biden condemns Republican voter suppression efforts, Tennessee fires its top vaccine official, and officials announce the greatest rise in inflation since 2008. Show Notes: The Nation: "Alabama’s Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives" – https://bit.ly/3kcb5Pj Twitter: Kim Kelly – https://twitter.com/GrimKim Twitter: Haeden Wright – https://twitter.com/HaedenWright For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Biden’s previous plan to combat crime by tightening the reins on gun sales and empowering the DOJ to target firearm traffickers has got a major update. He suggested states use $350 billion from the COVID relief plan to hire more police officers and strengthen crime prevention programs. Democratic state representatives from Texas went to Washington D.C. to break quorum and apply more federal pressure to pass voting rights legislation. A great escape like this hasn’t happened since 2003 when Democrats were stopping a redistricting proposal, and it’s unclear how Republicans might retaliate in this current case. And in headlines: Cubans protest for food and vaccines, England’s Black soccer players face racism, and Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence’s kids are Instagram-official. Show Notes: CNN (May 16, 2003): “Fugitive Texas Democrats declare victory” – https://cnn.it/3e8h1EX For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Biden signed an executive order last week aimed at boosting competition between businesses and discouraging monopolies. The order includes 72 initiatives, which will encourage the FTC to reinstate net neutrality rules, require airlines to disclose hidden fees, allow cheaper medications to be imported from Canada, and more. The CDC issued guidelines for school districts to reopen this fall, while allowing local officials to tighten or loosen restrictions given factors like regional vaccination rates. There is a bump in cases of coronavirus in the U.S. right now, however, driven by pockets with lower vaccination rates. And in headlines: turmoil in Haiti following the President's assassination, record-high temperatures in the West, and Sir Richard Branson goes to space. Show Notes: Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy – https://bit.ly/3yNCc7c For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reached a deal where 15 states agreed to drop their opposition to the company's bankruptcy plan in exchange for concessions from the Sackler family. The move has paved the way for the company to settle with plaintiffs, who blame Purdue for its role in the country’s opioid crisis, for roughly $4.5 billion. The world’s known COVID deaths just passed 4 million by one count, and many countries are still seeing rises in cases and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant and vaccine inequity. Meanwhile in the U.S., White House officials said that nearly 100 percent of recent COVID deaths have been among those who are unvaccinated. And in headlines: Biden announced an end-date for U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, two Haitian Americans are arrested for the assassination of President Moïse, and Michael Avenatti was sentenced for attempting to extort $20 million from Nike. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home by a team of mercenaries amid claims by opposition groups that he tried to illegally extend his presidential term by one year. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph is calling for an international investigation, and Biden promised assistance to fight for a safe and secure Haiti in a time of growing gun violence. Texas State Republicans start a special legislative session on Thursday to discuss 11 conservative agenda items that didn’t pass the last session. These include a bill banning drive-through and 24-hour voting, a bill restricting critical race theory education, a bill preventing transgender students from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, and more. And in headlines: Darnella Frazier’s uncle is killed in a Minneapolis police car chase, Tokyo will declare a state of COVID emergency, and the ship that blocked the Suez Canal is back in the water.  Show Notes: NYT: "How the Assassination of...

Reflecting upon President Biden’s missed July 4th vaccination goals, we talked to epidemiologist and former Detroit health commissioner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed about the spread of the Delta variant and Republican vaccination hesitancy. We also discussed concerns of a potential resurgence of COVID-19 when a partially-vaccinated America returns to indoor, crowded spaces this fall and winter. And in headlines: Hurricane Elsa to make landfall on Florida's coast, a new large-scale ransomware attack, and Nikole Hannah-Jones chooses Howard University over UNC-Chapel Hill. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Supreme Court affirmed two provisions of an Arizona law that restricted voting rights, yesterday. One would void ballots from citizens who voted in the wrong precinct, and the other would restrict voters from having their ballots delivered to a polling station by a third party. The justices also overturned a California law requiring charities to disclose the identities of their major donors, citing it as a violation of the First Amendment. The Manhattan DA’s Office charged the Trump Organization for an alleged 15 year tax evasion scheme involving concealed benefits paid to executive employees. The focus of the prosecution is on the firm’s CFO, Allen Weisselberg, who is expected to take the brunt of the criminal charges instead of Trump himself. And in headlines: the U.S. gained international support for a global minimum tax, Liz Cheney was nominated to the January 6th Committee, and Britney Spears’ father remains part of her conservatorship. For a transcript of this episode, pl...

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court set Bill Cosby free on a technicality after he served part of his sentence for three counts of sexual assault. Back in 2005, when he was a local DA and before he was Trump’s defense lawyer, attorney Bruce Castor promised Cosby that nothing he said in a deposition for a civil case would be used against him in a criminal proceeding, and honoring that promise meant Cosby should never have been charged in the first place.  Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld died at 88 years old from multiple myeloma. He was responsible for countless war crimes in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, so it’s almost perfect timing that U.S. troops are set to withdraw from Afghanistan this week following his death. And in headlines: counting chaos in the NYC mayoral race, the U.S. State Department adds a third gender to passports, and Nikole Hannah-Jones finally gets tenure from UNC. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Intense heat waves in the Pacific Northwest are causing heavy power demands and rolling blackouts. Unprecedented rainfall in the Midwest has caused flooding, which politicians have blamed on a lack of spending on proper infrastructure. Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced a bill to establish a House committee that will investigate the January 6 Capitol riot. The committee will have 13 members, but it's not known whether Republicans will want to be part of it. Plus Cleo Stiller fills in for Gideon. And in headlines: L.A. County advises masking indoors again, rare black hole and neutron star collisions are spotted, and the House votes to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The Delta variant of coronavirus has been detected in 92 countries, leading to lockdowns and the reintroduction of limitations on border crossing. Additionally, researchers in India have identified a variant of the Delta variant they're calling Delta Plus, though it's so far unknown whether it's any more transmissible than the original variant. Mixing and matching the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines may increase immunity, according to early results from a study in the UK. If the CDC approves combining vaccine brands, it could increase access to the vaccine and avoid supply bottlenecks. And in headlines: Ethiopia declares ceasefire in Tigray, airstrikes and rocket attacks between U.S. forces and Iranian-backed militants, and SCOTUS upholds transgender bathroom rights. Show Notes: NIH clinical trial evaluating mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules – https://bit.ly/3jot1FZ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

A 12-story residential building collapsed in Miami last week, resulting in the deaths of at least 9 people, with more than 150 people still missing. An engineering report from 2018 found major structural damage to the building, and it was supposed to undergo repairs this year. There’s a climate change connection, too, with some suggesting that rising temperatures and sea levels might have accelerated the building’s erosion.  Republicans in several states have been trying to audit the results of the November election to prove there was some kind of fraud that led to Trump’s defeat. We talk through some recent L’s state-level Republicans have taken, and the tactics they’re still trying to deploy.  Plus, Liz Plank fills in for Gideon. And in headlines: a historic heat-wave in the Pacific Northwest, Turkish police crack down on a pride march, and a woman with a sign causes a pileup at the Tour de France. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

President Biden announced a new $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that will be primarily funded through heightened IRS efforts to reduce tax evasion by corporations and the wealthy. Human infrastructure spending, which covers things like childcare, education, and clean energy, is missing from the deal and would need to be part of a second bill passed through reconciliation without Republican support. Pride events this weekend in cities like New York, Denver, and Seattle have banned out LGBTQ police officers from participating in marches if they're in uniform. We spoke with Chris Roney, an organizer of the Queer Liberation Movement, about the history of police resistance in the queer community and what's motivating people to ban cops at pride. Plus, we're joined for headlines by special guest Margaret Cho: New York suspends Giuliani’s law license, EU leaders condemn anti-queer Hungarian bill, and chaos at a Redneck Rave. Show Notes: Search and Rescue Underway After Par...

The Supreme Court ruled that President Biden had the authority to remove the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who was appointed by the former Trump administration. Other SCOTUS rulings from yesterday protected a high school cheerleader's free speech on Snapchat, barred a union from organizing workers at their worksites, and banned police from entering homes without a warrant to arrest misdemeanor suspects. The Delta variant now accounts for one-fifth of recent COVID cases in the U.S., predominantly in unvaccinated areas. If the variant persists, it could cause another COVID surge this fall or winter. And in headlines: Nikole Hannah-Jones refuses to join UNC without tenure, Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy publication shuts down, and no tuna DNA found in Subway’s tuna sandwich. Show Notes: Slate: "The Supreme Court’s Latest Union-Busting Decision Goes Far Beyond California Farmworkers" – https://bit.ly/3zRlPIc For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/what...

The vote to open a debate about the For The People Act, which would make it easier to vote, strengthen campaign finance rules, and end partisan gerrymandering, was blocked in the Senate yesterday with all 50 Republicans united against it. With moderate Democrats like Manchin and Sinema refusing to budge on the filibuster, the future of voting rights is uncertain. We spoke with Crooked Media's Political Director Shaniqua McClendon about what might happen next. And in headlines: Biden won’t hit his July 4th vaccine goal, Teamsters start nationwide project to unionize Amazon workers, and L.A. County wants its residents to stop feeding peacocks. Show Notes: Vote Save America: HR1 or We're Fucked – https://votesaveamerica.com/forthepeople/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

New York City holds its mayoral primary, today, one of the highest profile elections since the presidential election and a super visible test of ranked-choice voting. Closing messages in the last days touched on police violence, public safety, economic recovery and more. We spoke with Emma Fitzsimmons, City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Times, about the four leading candidates, and we interviewed voters to get their perspective, too. And in headlines: SCOTUS strikes down NCAA’s restrictions on antitrust violations, the Biden administration won’t be able to deliver 80 million COVID vaccine doses abroad on time, and Steven Spielberg and Netflix bury the hatchet and announce a movie distribution deal. Show Notes: Edith!: The Untold True-ish Story Of America’s Secret First Female President – https://crooked.com/podcast-series/edith/ NYC Voting: Meet the candidates – https://www.voting.nyc/meet-the-candidates/2021-races/ NYC Voting: Get matched with a candidate – https://projects.t...

President Biden had his first one-on-one meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Geneva, yesterday. The leaders discussed recent cyberattacks and the state of human rights in their respective countries ... and allegedly, things stayed basically cordial. Next week, the Senate has a scheduled vote on voting rights legislation, and a memo put out yesterday by Senator Joe Manchin laid out the kind of bill he would be willing to vote for. Manchin said he's in favor of voter ID requirements and other stipulations that progressives oppose, but even for his watered-down version of the bill to pass, it would require the support of 10 Republicans. And in headlines: the Education Department says Title IX prohibits discrimination based sexual orientation and gender identity, lots of rules at next month's Tokyo Olympics, and a litter of gray wolves is born in Colorado for the first time since the 1940s. Show Notes: The Intercept: "Leaked Audio Of Sen. Joe Manchin Call With Billionaire ...

The main electric grid operator in Texas, ERCOT, is dropping the ball on providing services again, this time during extreme heat. It’s asking residents to conserve electricity until Friday to keep up with demand. Approximately 12 gigawatts of generating capacity was offline on Monday, and the electricity demand by residents came dangerously close to exceeding the grid's capacity. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 climbed over 600,000 yesterday, according to the tracker from Johns Hopkins University. Still, there's progress in the country towards the new normal, with California and New York among the states fully reopening on Tuesday. And in headlines: Israel's military launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire, Biden announces a plan to combat domestic terrorism, and a lawsuit resurfaces phony poison milkshake allegations from last summer. Show Notes: NYT: "The Amazon That Customers Don’t See" – https://nyti.ms/35nsYSH For a transcript of this episode, please vis...

President Biden meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow in Geneva for the final stop as part of his overseas trip as President. We spoke with Ben Rhodes, former Deputy National Security Advisor in the Obama administration and a host of "Pod Save the World," to talk about the takeaways from Biden's trip and what to expect for Biden and Putin's meeting. And in headlines: a driver kills a protestor in Minneapolis and injures three others, the Novavax vaccine is over 90 percent effective, and Marjorie Taylor Greene apologizes for Holocaust comparisons. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The G7 summit ended on Sunday, with President Joe Biden and several other world leaders pledging to send one billion COVID vaccines to poorer nations and endorsing the idea of a global minimum tax. Today, Biden is set to meet with NATO leaders before meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.  Yesterday in Israel, the Knesset voted to approve the new coalition government which includes eight different parties of varying politics who unified to oust former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett was sworn in as the new prime minister. He and most of his cabinet worked in Netanyahu’s at various times during his 12 year tenure, indicating that massive changes won’t come quickly.  And in headlines: Darnella Frazier receives an honorary Pulitzer Prize, Nancy Pelosi promises to probe the Trump DOJ, and a ride on Bezos’s rocket sells for $28 million. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

On Saturday, four Republican-led states will pull out of the federal government’s pandemic-related unemployment benefits program early. Congress hasn't moved on the wage issue at all, either, with Senate GOP members this week blocking the Paycheck Fairness Act. An extreme drought is affecting the West, with the entirety of Oregon, California, Utah, and Nevada under drought conditions, along with parts of other states. Unfortunately, things are expected to heat up and dry out from here, with certain places in the Southwest facing temperatures as high as 120 degrees next week. Plus, we’re joined by comedian and actor Maz Jobrani for headlines: National Geographic says there's a new ocean, Starbucks sees shortages of ingredients, and Kim Jong-Un's body transformation. Show Notes: CNET: "Is your state ending unemployment benefits this weekend? Update on $300 bonus checks" – https://cnet.co/2SoasXe Washington Post: "These businesses found a way around the worker shortage: Raising wages ...

President Biden is expected to announce a deal today where the U.S. will buy 500 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID vaccine and send them to 100 countries that are short on shots. This is great, but those doses alone won't help us achieve global vaccine equity. We discuss what else is being done and what more can be done. Biden's attempt to agree on an infrastructure bill with Senate Republicans broke down this week, with Republicans fulfilling their promise of obstructing the President whenever possible. Now, Biden is working with a bipartisan group of senators and is examining the possibility of passing a bill through budget reconciliation. And in headlines: the Keystone XL Pipeline is cancelled, Nicaragua's dictatorial president arrests opposition candidates, and Uber drivers aren't seeing proportional benefits from surging prices. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

A more infectious coronavirus variant called the Delta variant is becoming the dominant strain in the UK, accounting for more than 60 percent of new infections there. We discuss what we know and don't know about the variant, which has yet to take hold in a major way in the U.S. International law enforcement agencies arrested more than 800 people in a sting operation that had criminals sending messages through an app they believed was secure...but was actually created and overseen by the FBI. And in headlines: activists protest a pipeline's construction in Minnesota, U.S. billionaires pay little in federal taxes, and Sir Richard Branson could try to race Jeff Bezos to space. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Several social programs launched during the pandemic are set to expire soon, including an eviction moratorium and enhanced unemployment benefits. Federal student loan payments will be due again starting October 1st, with no movement from the White House yet towards cancellation.  The Supreme Court ruled that immigrants who came to the U.S. for humanitarian reasons can’t apply for a green card if they entered unlawfully. SCOTUS will continue issuing big decisions through the end of the month on issues that include healthcare, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, and more. And in headlines: a deadly train crash in Pakistan, Google pays $270 million for anti-trust violations in France, and the FDA approves a new Alzheimer’s treatment. Show Notes: Washington Post: "The eviction moratorium is about to end. Rent relief hasn’t arrived. These renters decided to take action" - https://wapo.st/3iqTK43 For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The twelve year tenure of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may come to an end as early as this week if the broad coalition of officials that are set to replace him can hold together and form a new government. We spoke with Haggai Matar, the executive director of +972 magazine in Israel about the coalition, which includes representatives from eight ideologically distinct parties.  Last week, U.S. Marshals shot and killed 32-year-old Winston “Boogie” Smith Jr. in Minneapolis while attempting to arrest him. Now, people in the city are calling for more transparency into the shooting and asking that anyone who might have video footage come forward.  And in headlines: a federal judge overturns California’s 30 year ban on assault weapons, Vice President Kamala Harris travels to Central America, and Joe Manchin reiterates his support for the filibuster and opposition to HR1. Show Notes: +972 Magazine's Haggai Matar – https://twitter.com/Ha_Matar For a transcript of this...

President Biden had hoped to have 70 percent of adults in the U.S. vaccinated with at least one shot by Independence Day, and we’re close to hitting that goal. Biden also elaborated on his plan to share 80 million vaccine doses by the end of the month, with the first batch of doses headed for South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa.  This was another banner week in the world of meme stocks, or stocks that have surged in value thanks to attention from retail investors on the Internet. We walk through what went on with AMC, and how the company is responding. Plus, we’re joined by comedian and actress Aparna Nancherla for headlines: Donald Jr. is on Cameo, two kids drive a car to see dolphins, and fifteen elephants are on a mysterious journey in China. Show Notes: NYT: "See How Vaccinations Are Going in Your County and State" – https://nyti.ms/2TK5k0d For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Yesterday, the U.S., Canada, and a number of European countries called for a ceasefire in Ethiopia, where government forces have targeted an ethnic group called Tigrayans with horrific attacks that have been described with elements of a "genocide." Reports have suggested that millions of people have been displaced with an unknown number killed. We spoke with Nima Elbagir, a senior international correspondent at CNN, about the ongoing crisis in the country. And in headlines: opposition leaders agreed to form a coalition to lead Israel, a cargo ship burns and sinks in Sri Lanka, and NASA will send spaceships to Venus. Show Notes: CNN: Nima Elbagir's coverage of Ethiopia – https://www.cnn.com/profiles/nima-elbagir How to help those in Ethiopia: International Rescue Committee – https://www.rescue.org/country/ethiopia The UN Refugee Agency – https://bit.ly/3uIC2eZ Doctors Without Borders – https://bit.ly/3uLaQfJ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

As most of the U.S. prepares to reopen by the end of this month, a World Health Organization official warned, “It would be a monumental error for any country to think the danger has passed.” Peru recently reported that COVID deaths in the country are almost triple than what was previously reported. Plus, the WHO moved to rename variants using letters of the Greek alphabet in part to remove the stigma from countries where they were first identified. Joe Biden became the first president to commemorate the massacre of Black residents in Tulsa’s Greenwood District on its 100th anniversary. He used the event to propose a wide-ranging plan to narrow the racial wealth gap. And in headlines: Canada reckons with its history of residential schools, a ransomware attack holds the world’s beef hostage, and theatre-going roars back with “A Quiet Place Part 2.” For a transcript of this show, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The past year and more were filled with extreme ups and extreme downs, and as we reflect on that time, we’re looking back on some conversations that moved us, informed us, and made us smile. Today’s show includes interviews with 6th grade special education teacher Monice Seward, NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Sana Khan, a student of public health at the University of Arizona. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Congressional Republicans have countered President Biden’s nearly $2 trillion infrastructure proposal with their own plan and a lower price tag: $928 billion. It came as Biden is expected to unveil a $6 trillion budget on Friday, too. We breakdown what’s in the GOP version of the infrastructure bill, and where this puts negotiations. The filibuster is coming into play as Senate Republicans vow to block the creation of a bipartisan commission that would’ve investigated the January 6th Capitol insurrection. And in headlines: three Tacoma, Washington, police officers charged for the killing of 33-year-old Black man Manuel Ellis, Super Smash Bros becomes a high school varsity sport, and Usher announces a sequel to “Confessions.” For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Amazon plans to buy movie studio MGM for $8.45 billion, which would give the tech company a huge library of movies, shows, and franchises including the James Bond series. Some in Congress want to block the sale. The tech company is also the target of a new antitrust suit from the D.C. Attorney General.  The largest Confederate monument in the country is in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and it’s three acres large and carved into the side of a rock face. The park said this week that the monument will be left intact, but more context will be added to represent the South in a way that doesn’t glorify the Confederacy. And in headlines: a gunman killed eight people in San Jose, Howard University names its College of Fine Arts after Chadwick Boseman, and the latest on sea snot. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Moderna said that its vaccine trial for 12-17 year olds resulted in zero cases of symptomatic COVID. Also, we discuss so-called breakthrough cases, which happen when fully vaccinated people get coronavirus: Don't worry, they're wildly rare and a sign of the effectiveness of vaccines. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that would prohibit social media platforms from kicking off political candidates. If you're thinking "How do you enforce that?" or "Is this all to suck up to Trump?" the answers are “yes” and “obviously.” And in headlines: a Russian company tried to pay science influencers to sow vaccine misinformation, Marjorie Taylor Greene's holocaust analogies, and Simone Biles lands a double pike on vault. Show Notes: NYT: "C.D.C. Will Not Investigate Mild Infections in Vaccinated Americans" – https://nyti.ms/2RKG7Sx WSJ: "Intelligence on Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Fuels Debate on Covid-19 Origin" – https://on.wsj.com/3yOKFbk For a transcript of this episode, please visit ...

Today is the 1-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. His friends, family, and the community of Minneapolis will memorialize him with a gathering and a candlelight vigil. Floyd's killing by now-former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin rallied activists to demand that their local police departments reform, be defunded, or be abolished completely. We discussed these efforts with Oluchi Omeoga, a co-creator of Black Visions Collective and organizer in Minneapolis. And in headlines: Myanmar's ousted leader appears in court, EU leaders agree on sanctions against Belarus, and #AdriansKickback becomes a Gen Z mini-purge in Huntington Beach, California. Show Notes: Black Visions Collective – https://twitter.com/BlackVisionsMN For a transcript of this show, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

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.y...

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: Hu...

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. ...

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 t...