Despite what the Republican talking points say, the latest debt ceiling crisis ended in another victory for President Joe Biden. Washington Post opinion writer Jennifer Rubin tells Andy why she believes that Biden might be having one of the most effective presidencies of all time, even outpacing Obama. Andy asks if Speaker Kevin McCarthy reigned in the far right and if centrism is making a comeback. Plus, Rubin explains why Ron DeSantis makes a lousy candidate for the GOP in 2024. Keep up with A...
Jun 07, 2023•49 min
Ron DeSantis’s disastrous campaign launch on Twitter Spaces drew public attention back to the ongoing collapse of Twitter since Elon Musk bought it. Users are fleeing, and Noam Bardin is hoping they will flock to his new platform, Post.news. Bardin, also the founder of traffic app Waze, joins Andy to discuss why we need a vibrant news and social media platform to ward off authoritarianism and how he plans to make a more civil social media platform. Bardin also shares his unique take on AI and wh...
May 31, 2023•45 min
Republicans in Congress are playing chicken once again with the nation’s debt ceiling. Are Republicans really ready to test what happens if both sides can’t come to an agreement, or is this just political theatre? Andy talks to New York Times Congressional Correspondent Catie Edmondson, and Michael Feroli, Chief U.S. Economist at J.P. Morgan. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow @CatieEdmondson on Twitter. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bo...
May 24, 2023•53 min
Why didn’t the long-expected surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border materialize following the end of the Title 42 policy? That’s why Andy wanted to find out this week. So he called up Michael D. Shear, White House Reporter for the New York Times. Andy and Michael discuss the end of Title 42, what the Biden Administration’s new border policy looks like, why neither the right nor left are happy and what it will mean for the 2024 election cycle. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter and Post @AS...
May 17, 2023•45 min
As BuzzFeed News shuts down this week, former editor-in-chief Ben Smith joins Andy to reflect on BuzzFeed’s successes and pitfalls and the end of the first digital era of news. Smith explains how they used metrics and analytics to change journalism, what he learned from his fateful meeting with Steve Bannon, and why the platforms are still bigger than the personalities -- even Tucker Carlson. They also chat about the future of journalism and how it will be funded in a post-click world. Keep up w...
May 10, 2023•50 min
New guidelines from the CDC have people wondering: Just who should get a second COVID booster? In the Bubble favorite Dr. Eric Topol returns to break down who should get boosted, who should get a second booster, and who can wait a bit. They also discuss Eric’s thoughts on where we are in the fight against COVID and what the next frontier of vaccines will look like. Plus, Andy and Eric reflect on Dr. Ashish Jha’s time as the head of the COVID White House task force and look back at what he was ab...
May 03, 2023•41 min
In the Bubble is the go to place to learn more about the most important news events on YOUR mind. We take the time that’s needed to go beyond the headlines with A list guests from Andy's bubble. From Tina Fay to Tony Fauci. From the next vaccine to the next election issue. To an occasional dad joke. It’s Actual Facts from Actual Experts, every Wednesday from Lemonada Media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 01, 2023•2 min
A tidal wave of federal money is set to flow into communities across the country as programs like the American Rescue Plan Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act disperse funding. Andy speaks with Marguerite Casey Foundation president Dr. Carmen Rojas about how to make sure that money goes into the right hands. They also discuss the brightsides of COVID, how to make the government work for us, and why liberal movements must include poor white people. Kee...
Apr 28, 2023•48 min
Tucker Carlson’s ousting from Fox News shocked the masses on Monday. Andy processes the news with writer and business entrepreneur Scott Galloway, who offers his thoughts on the breakup and predicts whether we’ll see Carlson make a run for president. They also commiserate over their shared addiction to Twitter, reflect on why we should embrace AI, and discuss how to foster more empathetic men. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Scott Galloway on Twitter @profgalloway . Join...
Apr 26, 2023•52 min
Dr. David Fajgenbaum nearly died five times from Castleman Disease before deciding to find a cure for the rare disorder himself. As the clock was ticking, he discovered that the inexpensive kidney transplant drug sirolimus could save his life. Nine healthy years later, Andy speaks with David about how that experience motivated him to save more lives by finding new uses for existing medicines. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow David Fajgenbaum on Twitter @DavidFajgenbaum . ...
Apr 24, 2023•40 min
The seven states that rely on the Colorado River for the bulk of their water supply can’t agree on how to share the depleting resource. It’s a scary, interesting, and messy lesson on how to live amid climate change-induced scarcities. Andy speaks with reporter Luke Runyon, who covers the Colorado River for southwestern NPR stations, about the roots of the current crisis and the dramatic decision our country must make around how to live with less water. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASla...
Apr 21, 2023•43 min
All eyes are on the Supreme Court this week, as the temporary stay in the Texas mifepristone case expires. Andy speaks with Fatima Goss Graves from the National Women’s Law Center about the confusing rulings and what she expects the justices to do. Former FDA Commissioner Josh Sharfstein also joins to explain the dangerous precedent this case could set for FDA-approved drugs and drug development. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Fatima Goss Graves and Joshua Sharfstein on...
Apr 19, 2023•37 min
A bombshell report from ProPublica found that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been receiving undisclosed gifts from a conservative billionaire for decades, including luxury vacations and yacht outings. Is this an ethical crisis? Andy poses that question to Michael Waldman, the president of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and a former adviser to President Clinton and Biden. Michael explains why our judicial system is spinning out of control and how an ethics code and...
Apr 17, 2023•34 min
The Dobbs decision may be in the rearview mirror, but the abortion issue remains front and center. In fact, it’s becoming a winning platform for Democrats, as seen in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Andy calls up New York Times politics reporter Reid Epstein and Capital Times reporter Jessie Opoien to discuss that race as a bellwether heading into the 2024 election season, and how Republicans are responding. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Reid Epstein and J...
Apr 14, 2023•39 min
Why are conservative politicians launching a coordinated attack on transgender people right now? They’re implementing a power strategy used time and time again on countless marginalized groups in societies around the world, from Jews in Nazi Germany to gay people in 1990s America. Andy speaks with writer Shon Faye and reporter Jo Yurcaba about why it’s happening, how it impacts all of us, and what to do about it. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Jo Yurcaba on Twitter @JoY...
Apr 12, 2023•44 min
Mark Cuban has invested in more than a thousand companies, but only one has his name on it: Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs. Started in 2022, his business aims to disrupt the health care industry by selling prescription drugs at transparent low prices. Mark talks to Andy about why the price of medication gets so distorted and how to fix it, plus he offers his thoughts on Trump’s indictment, ChatGPT, and how wokeism can make you rich. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Mark Cuban...
Apr 10, 2023•52 min
In the latest iteration of voter suppression, members of the Republican Party are trying to prevent college students from voting by getting rid of polling places on campuses and disallowing college IDs as valid forms of identification. They say it’s in the name of voter fraud and public safety, but could it also be due to the fact that young voters are casting their ballots for Democrats in record numbers? Andy speaks with NextGen America director Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez and Harvard’s director...
Apr 07, 2023•43 min
What’s truly behind the proposed bill in Congress to ban the TikTok app? Andy thinks it may have more to do with U.S.-China competition than national security or our children’s mental health. He explores that opinion with investigative journalist Julia Angwin and Cornell’s Tech Policy Institute director Sarah Kreps, who lay out the concerns raised about TikTok and explain why banning it won’t keep us safe. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Julia Angwin and Sarah Kreps on T...
Apr 05, 2023•32 min
Former President Donald Trump is expected to surrender for his arraignment in New York tomorrow. What is Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case, how will it impact Trump’s presidential primary campaign, and is this just the beginning of his legal woes? Andy speaks with law professor Jessica Levinson and Washington Post reporter Aaron Blake about what we know, what we hope to find out this week, and how the American people are reacting. Keep up with Andy on Post and Twitter @ASlavitt . Fo...
Apr 03, 2023•43 min
The question of where COVID came from has been clouded by politics since the beginning. New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg separates the facts from political persuasion by discussing the latest evidence behind the two leading origin theories, how the investigation became so partisan, and whether the anticipated declassification of government intelligence could lead to an answer. Then, Andy and Sheryl reflect on the most important stories about the pandemic over the last three years. Oh,...
Mar 31, 2023•41 min
The White House is ending the public health emergency and disbanding its COVID response team. Andy calls up outgoing coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha to find out what this means for the American people. Jha explains why the band is breaking up, predicts what might happen if a dangerous new variant wreaks havoc again, and promises free vaccines for the uninsured moving forward. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow Ashish Jha on Twitter @AshishKJha46 . Joining Lemonada Premium is a g...
Mar 29, 2023•32 min
To honor the third anniversary of In the Bubble, Andy calls up his friend and former NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci to reflect on the pandemic and the indelible mark it left on his career. Fauci shares his advice on how often to get boosted, offers his opinion on COVID’s origin, and compares the HIV/AIDS activists challenging public health officials in the 1980s to those protesting him today. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our...
Mar 27, 2023•50 min
Many of us were on edge this week awaiting the possible criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. Trump himself called for protests ahead of his expected indictment, awakening the possibility of more political violence resembling the Jan 6 uprising. Andy speaks with Atlantic reporter Adrienne LaFrance about her cover story, “The New Anarchy,” which digs into this new era of domestic terror and what to do about it. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow Adrienne La...
Mar 24, 2023•35 min
If poverty is a problem the U.S. knows how to fix, why do 40 million Americans live below the poverty line? Because a lot of us benefit from poor people, says Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond, who explains to Andy why we do more to subsidize affluence than alleviate poverty. Matthew shares examples of real solutions you can advocate for in your community (and what to say the next time a neighbor complains about their taxes). Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow M...
Mar 22, 2023•40 min
In a historic United Nations treaty, countries around the world agreed to protect ocean biodiversity by conserving 30 percent of the earth’s open oceans by 2030. Andy speaks with UN senior adviser Susan Ruffo about why the High Seas Treaty is so important, the oft-forgotten role the ocean plays in combating climate change, and how your life is intrinsically connected to the sea regardless of how far you live from the shore. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow Susan Ruffo on ...
Mar 20, 2023•31 min
Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse triggered the second-largest bank run in U.S. history. Who banked at SVB, how did it collapse, why did the federal government step in, and are more bank failures coming? Andy invites economists Justin Wolfers and Mark Zandi, along with WSJ reporter Ben Eisen, into the bubble to debate what this story brings to light about America’s banking system, our nation’s financial stability, and how safe your money is. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow ...
Mar 17, 2023•51 min
Medications approved for people with diabetes and obesity have recently gotten a lot of media attention as a potential easy way to shed pounds. What are the physical and societal risks of using drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro off label for weight loss, or for using these drugs as a quick weight-loss fix? Andy speaks with STAT reporter Elaine Chen and obesity medicine physician Ania Jastreboff about this new generation of drugs, who stands to benefit from them, and what to watch out for. Keep up ...
Mar 15, 2023•37 min
Half of people who can do their jobs remotely are now working in a hybrid arrangement. That means they're working from home some days and a physical office on others. Andy speaks with NYT reporter Emma Goldberg and labor researcher Anu Madgavkar about why hybrid work is the future, what incentives employers are creating to entice workers back into the office, and whether COVID safety in the workplace has improved. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow Emma Goldberg and Anu Mad...
Mar 13, 2023•45 min
Droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events are forcing Americans to move. In his new book, “The Great Displacement: Climate Change And The Next American Migration,” Jake Bittle follows the people leaving their communities to find out what final straw forced them out, where they went, and what it means for our country. Andy speaks with Jake about how the US should prepare for more climate refugees as the problem gets worse. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Follow Jak...
Mar 10, 2023•38 min
More than 6 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, meaning it touches almost all our lives. That number could double by 2050, unless a cure is found. How far away are we? Andy speaks with Dr. Paul Aisen and Dr. Rudolph Tanzi about the genetic factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s, promising blood tests that can detect the disease long before symptoms begin, and a treatment that could be approved by the FDA as soon as July. Keep up with Andy on Twitter and Post @ASlavitt . Joining Lemonada Pre...
Mar 08, 2023•43 min
