PODCAST-19: FiveThirtyEight on the Novel Coronavirus

Latest Episodes:

How To Vote Safely In A Pandemic Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

We talk with FiveThirtyEight's Nathaniel Rakich and Maggie Koerth about how states are trying to make it safe to vote in person this Election Day, and what you should keep in mind as you go to the polls.

Would Biden's COVID-19 Plan Be Able To Control The Pandemic? Oct 16, 2020

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Joe Biden says he can fight the pandemic better than President Trump. But is his plan really that different? And does it address what experts say needs to be improved upon?

The President Took A Rare Combo Of COVID-19 Drugs. Will It Help? Oct 07, 2020

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After testing positive for COVID-19 last week, President Trump was given the three experimental drugs: an antiviral, monoclonal antibodies, and a steroid. On this week's episode of PODCAST-19, we discuss what happens when all three drugs are combined and why the average American can't expect to receive the same treatment.

The Significance Of Trump Testing Positive For COVID-19 Oct 02, 2020

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Today we learned that President Trump tested positive for COVID-19. In this special crossover episode, the crew from the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast sat down with senior science writer and Podcast-19 contributor Maggie Koerth to talk about medical implications for the President, and the impact his diagnosis might have on the election.

The New College Experience Sep 26, 2020

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As schools of all levels struggle to find a new way to educate students, universities, in particular, have had a difficult time navigating classes and campus life. On this week's show, we talk to a student navigating quarantined dorm life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a scientist who helped design a different approach to testing for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Can We Trust A Vaccine That Gets Approved? Sep 19, 2020

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On this week's episode of PODCAST-19, we discuss whether the FDA vaccine approval process can withstand political interference and how the agency can reassure the public that everything is working as it should.

Why A Vaccine Trial Would Press Pause Sep 12, 2020

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We discuss the news that AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine trial has been paused because of a severe side effect for one participant, and how temporarily halting a trial can sometimes mean the process is working as intended.

The U.S. Wants Out Of A Global Effort To Stop A Global Pandemic Sep 04, 2020

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The U.S. doesn't want to participate in a global effort to find and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19. Anna talks with FiveThirtyEight senior science writer Maggie Koerth about what that decision might mean for the country and the world.

What's It Going To Take For Us To Become Immune? Aug 28, 2020

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On this week's episode, we explore what it means that people can get reinfected with COVID-19, and how we can still develop immunity to the disease. We also explore why the approach to masks in the Netherlands is so much more lax than in parts of the U.S., even though Holland has done a better job of suppressing COVID-19.

Russia Approved A COVID Vaccine. Will It Be Available In America? Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

Russia is the first country in the world to approve a vaccine for COVID-19. To do so, they've reportedly sped through multiple steps in the testing process. Judy Twigg, a political scientist from Virginia Commonwealth University, talks about the state of medical research in Russia, and the political implications of this move.

Also, we hear about the people who want to get COVID, for science! And we explore a new vaccine with promising early results.