Last week, comedian Laurie Kilmartin took to Twitter to talk jokingly about something that wasn’t funny –– her mom was dying. JoAnn Kilmartin, Laurie’s mother, had contracted the coronavirus in her nursing home and was on her deathbed only a few miles from Laurie’s home in southern California. The experience put in striking display her grief and anger, but also her wits and charm.
With the death toll in the United States passing 120,000 people this week, Laurie’s experience is resonating with those who have lost loved ones to the virus.
As lockdown eases, why hasn't there been a spike in infections? We get a first look at the evidence for the much-trumpeted Covid-19 treatment, Dexamethasone. Stephanie Flanders tells us what?s happening to the UK economy. Keir Starmer says child poverty is up; Boris Johnson says it?s down, who's right? Plus which children are getting a solid home-school experience, and who is missing out?
Scientists have known for decades that one of the main causes of the smell of fresh rain is geosmin: a chemical compound produced by soil-dwelling bacteria. But why do the bacteria make it in the first place? It was a bacteria-based mystery... until now! Maddie gets some answers from reporter Emily Vaughn, former Short Wave intern.
An estimated 25,000 cases of COVID-19 are tied to U.S. meatpacking plants, where employees work in close quarters and enclosed spaces. We speak with a Smithfield Foods employee out of South Dakota about what it's been like at her facility.
Dr. Fauci says the US is experiencing a “disturbing surge” of infections after states reopened too quickly. But he’s cautiously optimistic about a vaccine, suggesting that one could be available as soon as the end of this year.
And in headlines: federal prosecutors will testify against Bill Barr, Seattle’s CHAZ to be dismantled, and celebrities continue to say sorry for doing blackface.
Andy calls Governor Gretchen Whitmer to talk about what she’s learned from the pandemic in Michigan and what governors across the nation need to do next. They also talk about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Black community. Then, Andy has the first of many conversations to come on how to vote during the pandemic by talking with Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt.
Follow Governor Whitmer @GovWhitmer on Twitter and @gewhitmer on Instagram.
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Check out these resources from today’s episode:
Find out everything you need to know about voting, including how to vote by mail in your state at www.vote.org or www.rockthevote.org
Three L.A. comedians are quarantined in a podcast studio during a global pandemic. There is literally nothing to be done EXCEPT make content. These are "The Corona Diaries" and this is Episode #45. Our special guests today is comedian Luke Jensen! Follow Luke on all forms of social media @LukeFJensen. Music at the end is "The Time of Day" by The Candy Store Prophets.
Andy Ngo, the editor at large for the Canada-based Post Millennial, who was badly beaten by antifa in June 2019, spent five days undercover in Seattle’s so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), also known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP). It's a self-declared "autonomous” and cop-free zone.
Ngo joins the podcast to discuss what he saw, the recent shooting in CHOP, the claims that the violence has been from "a right-wing attack," and more.
We also cover these stories:
President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order to protect statues from destruction by radical protesters.
Trump said that “autonomous zones” like the one declared in Seattle that has seen shootings and at least one death will not be tolerated in Washington, D.C.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced on Monday that police will slowly return to the city's East Precinct police station. It’s located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill area dubbed CHAZ or CHOP after being taken over by protesters demanding that the police department be defunded.
In 1969, Cleveland’s Black residents boycotted McDonald’s. For weeks, the company’s leadership had been locked in a stalemate with Black activists over who should own and operate the local franchises. It was all part of a bigger movement, whose goal was to build economic power in Black communities through Black-owned businesses. But 50 years later, how are the Black franchisees at McDonald’s faring? Were the golden arches a golden ticket to economic equality?
So, one of our patrons pointed out that The Island is actually Michael Bay's best movie, and that one comment is more of a gear stripper than this entire movie. Enjoy clone explosions and some stuff about Kant!
