Why rapid COVID tests are so freaking expensive

Who’s making a buck: rapid test edition. Rapid, at-home COVID tests are pretty much essential if you want to see friends and family this holiday season, and stay safe. 

But they’re freaking expensive and can be hard to find. What the heck happened? 

When ProPublica reporter Eric Umansky went looking for COVID tests recently, he came back empty handed. He and fellow reporter Lydia DePillis investigated, tracing the US’s rapid testing problem all the way back to the FDA and other government agencies. 

Plus, Dr. Celine Gounder talks about why these tests are so important in the first place and how best to deploy them this holiday season — if you can find some. 

Here’s a transcript of the episode. 

Send your stories and questions: https://armandalegshow.com/contact/ or call 724 ARM-N-LEG

And of course we’d love for you to support this show.

UPDATE: We've pushed past the amount the NewsMatch campaign has funds to match(!)

... and we can keep going with your help. And earn a bonus.

If we raise $5,000 to match funds folks have already donated, the Knight Foundation will give us a $1,000 bonus.

Please help us now! Gotta get it done by Dec. 31. Here, go for it. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.