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Gridlock Break — Government
Gridlock Break

Insightful, nonpartisan and critically important discussions on America’s toughest problems between elected leaders, public health and economic experts.

Copyright: © 2020 No Labels

Latest Episodes:

Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) May 04, 2020

Show notes

Dr. Michael Osterholm is an internationally recognized expert in infectious diseases, and from June 2018 through May 2019, he served as a Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State. He was awarded a regents professorship in Public Health and is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), at the University of Minnesota. He recently authored an article in The Atlantic in which he described the coming coronavirus winter, which he discusses today.

It had originally been thought that COVID-19 was similar to other coronaviruses like SARS or MERS. However, with those previous pandemics, a patient could most easily transmit the disease five or six days after first showing symptoms, thus allowing medical authorities to isolate them before that time. With COVID-19, patients are most infectious in the earliest stages, often before they even begin to show symptoms. While only about 5% of the population has been infected, it’s likely that the spread will continue until roughly 65% are infected to create herd immunity. Dr. Osterholm claims that key to combating another wave in late summer or early fall is a healthcare system that can handle the surge capacity.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

Former FEMA Director, Craig Fugate May 01, 2020

Show notes

Craig Fugate is one of the world’s leading experts in emergency and crisis management, having served as President Obama’s FEMA. During his tenure, he led the agency through more than 500 presidentially declared major disasters and emergencies. He also guided U.S. assistance in international disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and the Fukushima nuclear meltodwn in Japan. Today, he discusses the administration’s crisis management of the COVID-19 pandemic, what has been done, and what should be done going forward.

Craig Fugate explains why Pandemics are a fundamentally different beast than other similar disaster like a hurricane. This virus isn’t just hitting one part of the country. It’s hitting everywhere and that’s why Fugate believes Washington play a strong coordinating role and accelerate the work to roll out a massive national testing program.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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Governor Jared Polis of Colorado shares his perspective as a Governor managing the COVID-19 Crisis Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

Governor Jared Polis of Colorado is an entrepreneur, education leader, and public servant. By the time he had turned 30, he’d launched three successful companies, including ProFlowers, one of the world’s leading online flower retailers. He was elected to Congress in 2008, and was elected Governor in 2018. Today, he discusses the efforts being made by his state to curb the effects of COVID-19, how the crisis management systems already in place have needed to adjust to the current crisis, and how Colorado’s two biggest industries, tourism and energy, have been impacted.

Colorado has emergency command centers in place that have been prepared to battle floods and fires, and Governor Polis discusses the additions to those centers - such as public health officials, epidemiologists, etc - that were brought in to battle the unique needs of the COVID-19 crisis. Part of that adaptation includes the acquisition of PPE and COVID tests to prepare to reopen the state with mass testing. He goes on to lament the lack of transparency and available information from the federal government, and the lack of direction from the administration on the reopening of interstate travel and commerce. As he explains, the ideal path forward is one of maximum productivity while maintaining minimum proximity.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

Dr. Kenneth Davis, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

Trained in psychiatry and pharmacology, Dr. Kenneth Davis became president and CEO of Mount Sinai Health system in 2003. He is in a unique position to speak about the impact of COVID-19 as many of his nurses and doctors are on the front lines of fighting it in New York. Today, he discusses how his team is managing the pressure, the financial pressure this crisis is putting on hospitals, which treatments are showing early promise in patients and where New York and the nation go from here.

Dr. Davis describes a war-like atmosphere in his hospitals, with beds in hallways and healthcare workers of every specialty, from dermatology to ophthalmology, joining COVID teams. With profitable elective treatments and surgeries cancelled or delated, hospitals like Mount Sinai are losing hundreds of millions of dollars, even as its teams are stretched to the limit. Our frontline health care providers are truly doing heroic work but as Dr. Davis explains, they desperately need more help from government.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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Paul Romer and Senator Bill Cassidy Discuss the Importance of Testing in Order to Return to Normalcy Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Economist and policy entrepreneur Paul Romer is a co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics Sciences and University Professor in Economics at NYU. He has spent his career at the intersection of economics, innovation, technology, and urbanization, working to speed up human progress. He discusses, along with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, how rapidly increasing the use of COVID-19 tests – for both current infections and antibodies – could start us on the slow path back to normalcy.

Although COVID-19 testing across the U.S. is increasing it still isn’t meeting demand. That’s why Paul Romer believes we need better incentives to get labs to produce them. Because the only way people will feel comfortable going back to work or to a restaurant is if they believe we have a handle on who has this virus and how to contain outbreaks.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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Glenn Hubbard Discusses Economic Recovery and the Federal Reserve Response to COVID-19 Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Gridlock Break, we hear from Glenn Hubbard, the former dean of Columbia Business School and Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors. He explains why the current Federal Reserve lending program for businesses hurt by coronavirus may be doomed to fail and makes the case for a massive new infrastructure program to help restore demand across our economy.

The Fed’s focus on minimizing loan losses will prevent many solid small and medium sized businesses from getting the help they need. The good news is the Fed still has time to change course and fix the design of the program. Hubbard also shared some ideas about how smart tax and regulatory policy and infrastructure investment from Washington can help restore confidence as our economy reopens.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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James Broughel Discusses State and Federal Regulations Related to COVID-19 Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

James Broughel is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and an adjunct professor of law at the Antonin Scalia Law School. He specializes in state and federal regulatory procedures, cost-benefit analysis, and economic growth. Today, he applies that expertise to the current COVID-19 pandemic, as he challenges the regulations that have been put in place for testing and suggests reforms that could bring effective tests to the public faster.

Dr. Broughel points out a huge problem with federal regulation: While agencies typically do extensive analysis before new regulations are implemented, they rarely do the same for regulations already on the books. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Broughel argues that it is critical that existing regulations continue to be scrutinized to better reflect current needs and to expand the ability of healthcare professionals to innovate and serve patients.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Congressman Tom Reed Discuss the Government's Response to the Coronavirus Crisis Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Gridlock Break, House Problem Solvers Caucus co-chairs Josh Gottheimer and Tom Reed discuss the economic relief measures in the recently passed CARES Act as well as plans for subsequent federal support for businesses and individuals hit by the Coronavirus. They also look ahead for what it will take to reopen the economy and give people the confidence to get back to work.

Although Washington has already delivered a historic federal response to deal with coronavirus’ economic impact, you just heard from Problem Solvers Caucus co-chairs Reed and Gottheimer how much work there is still to be done. Small businesses – which employ half the population – are in particular need of more help and better, faster access to the lending programs that were included in the CARES Act to enable them to retain their workers.

Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.

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Dr. David Katz Discusses a More Measured Response to Coronavirus Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Dr. David Katz has spent much of his career in an attempt to prevent life-threatening aspects of daily life. He is the founding director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Initiative, the founder and president of True Health Initiative, and the founder and CEO of Diet ID. His March 20, 2020 Op-Ed in the New York Times entitled “Is Our Fight Against Coronavirus Worse Than the Disease?” has begun a discussion in the medical field about the scale of the country’s response to COVID-19. He discusses whether it might have been more prudent to protect the section of our population - those over 65 and those who are immunosuppressed - rather than attempting to protect everyone.

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Former US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky Discusses COVID-19's Impact on Global Trade Apr 10, 2020

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