President Trump caused a stir when he announced that his is taking hydroxychloroquine as protection against coronavirus. He said he began taking it right around the time that news broke that two White House staffers had tested positive for COVID-19. While the drug has been around for a long time, there is no proof that it prevents someone from contracting the virus and there are concerns about side effects. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more. ...
May 20, 2020•7 min
How’s your body holding up while working from home? For a lot of people, it’s taking a toll on their necks and backs. Poor ergonomics and weeks of bad posture has led to backaches, neck pain, and headaches. Aaron Zitner, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for what to do to help your body out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 20, 2020•6 min
As the cruise ship industry shut down and travel restrictions around the world limited which ports the ships could dock at, the first concern was to get passengers off in any way possible. Two months later, 100,000 cruise ship crew members remain trapped at sea near Florida and have been largely forgotten. Taylor Dolven, business reporter at the Miami Herald, joins us for what the crew members crave most, accurate information about when they can go home. Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
May 20, 2020•7 min
There was some good news in the fight against coronavirus on Monday as drug maker Moderna said that its vaccine induced immune responses in healthy volunteers in a clinical study. The volunteers made antibodies that matched or exceeded the levels found in patients who had recovered after contracting the virus. Moderna will now move into Phase 2 trials with more people involved in that study and then Phase 3 they hope to begin in July. Moderna ultimately hopes to have something ready by the fall,...
May 19, 2020•7 min
How might we get back to normal? Many experts say it won't happen until we get a vaccine, which is still quite some time away, others say something like herd immunity could also get us back. But it seems that without working in conjunction with a vaccine, herd immunity won't save us either. There are a number of unknown variables that need to be factored in, such as, how long we have immunity for after recovering from COVID-19 and to meet the threshold without a vaccine it could also mean more d...
May 18, 2020•9 min
As we begin the cautious approach to get back to work at the office, just know that your every move will be watched. At some workplaces, thermal cameras will measure body temperatures of people walking in, at others, apps will trace workers interactions in the office. Workers could also be divided into groups based on perceived health risks. A concern for many is that once these extra measures are put in place, they many never go away, even after fears of the virus subside. Konrad Putzier, repor...
May 18, 2020•8 min
Some companies are getting rid of hazard pay for essential workers even as the dangers of working on the front lines persists. As businesses were shutting down, many companies offered bonuses or pay bumps to compensate people for the risk of working at supermarkets and other crowded workplaces, but that is no longer the case. Kroger is walking back a $2 raises to employees, Target and Amazon are following suit later this month. Anders Melin, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for why hero pay ...
May 18, 2020•7 min
California was one of the first states to issue stay-at-home orders and it could be one of the last to fully open. There are many signs that coronavirus restrictions could be in place for the long haul. The Cal State University program plans to cancel almost all in-person classes in the fall. In LA County, safer-at-home orders have been extended indefinitely, even as some restrictions have begun to relax. Colleen Shalby, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choic...
May 15, 2020•8 min
A fun conversation with Mike Love of the Beach Boys. While isolated at his home, he wrote a new song called “This Too Shall Pass” to encourage positivity and also raise some money. All proceeds from the song will go to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help food banks feed their local communities. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and co-founder of the Beach Boys, Mike Love, joins us to talk about his new song and live music after coronavirus. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
May 15, 2020•5 min
Big social media platforms have been pretty quick to stop the spread of misinformation during the pandemic, but last week we saw the first true hit conspiracy video of the coronavirus era. It was called the “Plandemic,” and it got over 8 million views on Facebook and YouTube. The video has since been removed, but not before making a star out of discredited scientist Dr. Judy Mikovits. Casey Newton, Silicon Valley editor at The Verge, joins us for what to know about the “Plandemic.” Learn more ab...
May 15, 2020•8 min
What will the new normal look like for the economy once the country fully opens back up? In some ways, the post COVID-19 economy will look a lot like the one that struggled to recover from the 2008 financial crisis. After an initial rebound, there will be slow growth and high unemployment. Households will save more and spend less as they continue to worry about health and finances and more small businesses could still close their doors. Rich Miller, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for the n...
May 14, 2020•7 min
Doctors are learning more about how COVID-19 affects a person’s body, and they are finding that it is more than just a respiratory disease. It can damage the kidneys, heart, brain, and blood vessels. Doctors are also reassessing how to treat it. Blood thinners are being used to treat blot clots and genetics could also play a role in how it affects you. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for all the ways that the coronavirus attacks the body. Learn more...
May 13, 2020•6 min
According to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll, in a best case scenario, only half of Americans would be willing to participate in a voluntary contact tracing program. Widely seen as one of the key elements to reopen the country, a distrust of the government and big tech companies, drives this sentiment to not release sensitive personal data. Margaret Talev, politics and White House editor at Axios, joins us for how people feel about getting back to normal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
May 13, 2020•7 min
The first wave of coronavirus litigation has been filed. Hundreds of lawsuits are starting to come out in state and federal courts. Airlines, cruise lines, fitness chains, and the entertainment industry are all facing lawsuits as well as actions by states and senior living facilities. Shayna Jacobs, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what these virus lawsuits are all about. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
May 12, 2020•7 min
Is America ready for live music again? We might have our first test this week. Despite not being in compliance with the state’s stay-at-home orders and rules for public spaces, country-rock singer, Travis McCready, is scheduled to take the stage Friday night at Temple Live in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Concertgoers must wear masks, will be temperature checked, and must social distance inside the venue. Graham Bowley, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-...
May 12, 2020•8 min
GOP lawmakers are ramping up their attacks on state lockdowns and arguing for a quicker reopening of the country. Frustrations are growing with lawmakers who are trying to balance public health and letting the economy get worse, but some are even joining protests saying that stay at home orders are an overreach. Melanie Zanona, congressional reporter at Politico, joins us for the fight against lockdowns. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/...
May 12, 2020•7 min
Coronavirus has upended the U.S. food system. It was always a delicate balance of demand from consumers at grocery stores and restaurants, and the supply chain from famers and food processors, but illnesses, shutdowns, and stay-at-home orders changed everything. Farmers had crops spoil without any buyers, meat processors closed due to outbreaks, distributors lost 60%-90% of their business volume, and food banks who relied on grocery stores and restaurants are struggling as the need has surged. K...
May 11, 2020•12 min
One of the most interesting aspects of the coronavirus pandemic is how our everyday lives have changed. One such thing is a move away from a culture of waste. People are re-growing scallions and growing herbs at home, washing and reusing Ziploc bags and more. But while being this frugal in the past was mostly rooted in saving money, this time around it’s a little different. There is a fear of scarcity and also an effort to avoid unnecessary movement. Meredith Haggerty, editor at Vox, joins us fo...
May 11, 2020•8 min
You may have seen headlines about a now-dominant strain of the coronavirus spreading that is more contagious than the original. According to researchers, a mutation occurred in the virus as it began spreading in Europe in early February and it rapidly became the dominant form. This news comes from a research paper from scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and has not been peer reviewed. There is some skepticism that any mutations have changed the general contagiousness or lethality of CO...
May 08, 2020•9 min
Researchers at 3 universities have received a federal research grant to create a contact tracing mobile app for students that could track a person’s real-time location and symptoms and would calculate a type of social credit score that determines your COVID-19 risk and also a risk score for locations. Tami Abdollah, senior reporter at Dot LA, joins us for how some universities hope to keep students safe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/...
May 07, 2020•8 min
At least 43 states are beginning to reopen their economies and new modeling is projecting that there could be 134,000 coronavirus related deaths by August. The models coming from the University of Washington took into account rising testing, contact tracing, and rising temperatures, but said that the premature relaxation of social distancing would likely cause more cases of COVID-19 and more deaths. Alice Miranda Ollstein, healthcare reporter at Politico, joins us for more. Learn more about your...
May 07, 2020•7 min
States around the country are beginning to get their army of coronavirus detectives ready to work. In California specifically, the state has teamed up with two universities to train more than 3,000 employees per week to become contact tracers. A robust system of contact tracing will be crucial for states to manage the spread of the virus as they reopen and one estimate says that the country needs 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people. Rachel Becker, reporter at CAL Matters, joins us for mo...
May 06, 2020•8 min
The current lockdown has turned the nation’s highways into speedways. With less cars on the road, people are driving faster than ever, leading to increases of tickets issued for people driving over 100 mph. In some areas, officials are even closing some streets to allow for residents to move more freely. Jim Carlton, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the open roads. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 06, 2020•7 min
Florida has begun to reopen the state for business as they were able to dodge some of the worst of the coronavirus. Despite not issuing early statewide stay-at-home orders, many of the decisions were left to local authorities to shut down. A lesser population density and warmer climate could also have played a role in fewer infections, but one other factor, there was an attitude change in Florida residents themselves. Smartphone data shows that by mid-March, before stay-at-home orders were put i...
May 05, 2020•11 min
As several companies are in the race to create antibody tests to get people back to work and end lockdowns, there is a greater need for the blood of those who have recovered from COVID-19. Other companies are stepping in to solicit blood donations from patients and then selling the blood to labs and test manufacturers at a premium. The more antibodies in the blood, the higher the price... some samples are selling anywhere from $350 to $40,000. Some of the companies involved said they are not pro...
May 05, 2020•11 min
The coronavirus pandemic had disrupted the food supply chain in a way that has forced both farmers and some food processors to get creative in salvaging some food and still make some sales. As restaurants shut down, farmers and suppliers were left with an oversupply of food specifically grown for diners and not for grocery stores. Some processors were selling chicken and cheese in parking lots and some suppliers were hiring laid off restaurant workers to divide large batches of food into smaller...
May 04, 2020•8 min
The nursing home industry is pushing for immunity from lawsuits during the COIVD-19 outbreak. Nursing homes care for some of the most vulnerable and at-risk people during the outbreak and we have also seen nearly 12,000 deaths at these long term care facilities. So far at least six states have granted immunity from coronavirus lawsuits and six others have given immunity to health care providers which could include nursing homes. The fear is that immunity will increase neglect and abuse in some o...
May 04, 2020•12 min
Stress and fear over the pandemic has been taking a toll on intimacy. Some are having less sex, others more, and some have been trying new things with their partners. There might not be a quarantine baby boom like some expected, but experts say you can better connect with your partner by practicing ‘mindful sex.’ Elizabeth Bernstein, columnist for the WSJ, joins us for sex in the time of coronavirus. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/list...
May 01, 2020•8 min
As we learn more about COVID-19 and the way it affects people, doctors are seeing a “second-week crash” in patients who suffer the most severe reactions to the coronavirus. Doctors still don’t know why the fifth through 10th days seem to be so dangerous for some, but they suspect overactive immune responses, blood clotting, or even the impact of ventilators. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter for the Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
May 01, 2020•8 min
Restaurants in Georgia, Tennessee, and Anchorage, Alaska have begun to reopen and all eyes will be on them to see how the rollout goes. In Georgia, the state government has issued 39 guidelines that restaurants must follow including wearing facemasks, screening employees and patrons for signs of illness, and even sign in sheets if the info is needed later for contact tracing. Chloe Sorvino, writer at Forbes, joins us for how some restaurants are beginning to open their doors. Learn more about yo...
Apr 30, 2020•7 min
