Reopening America

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Haven’t Had COVID Yet? Maybe Genetics Could Be the Key Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

As the group of people who have not had Covid continues to shrink, many ideas begin to swirl about how they have avoided it for so long. For some it could be a healthy immune system, masking, or just luck, but could genetics also be at play? Katherine Wu, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how scientists are looking into whether some are just naturally resistant to the virus.

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Boise’s Post-Pandemic Housing Cool Down Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

As interest rates are rising, companies are calling workers back to the office, and home prices expected to fall, Zoomtowns that drew in remote workers during the pandemic are showing that the housing market is cooling fast. Boise, Idaho in particular is emblematic of this with its housing market currently overvalued by 69%. Nicole Friedman, U.S. housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know as more houses are sitting on the market longer.

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The Impulse Purchases From the Pandemic People Regret Buying Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Let’s talk about all those pandemic impulse buys you may be regretting. It was a time when everyone had a lot of time on their hands and some extra money, so people bought Peloton bikes, roller skates, bread makers, even new homes or pets, but now that things have returned a little more to normal those things have hit the back burner. Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for pandemic buyer’s remorse.

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Why It’s Harder for Kids to Catch Up in School Post-Pandemic Jul 27, 2022

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The impact of the pandemic on children has been so uneven that in classrooms across the country we are seeing a wider range of student abilities and it could be harder for those lagging behind to catch up. A recent study shows that students in grades three to eight showed a larger spread in achievement levels this year compared to 2019. The gap was 4-8% in reading and 5-10% in math. Erin Einhorn, national education reporter at NBC News Digital, joins us for what to know.

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The Incredible Shrinking Club of Those Who Haven’t Had COVID Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

The exclusive club of people who have not had Covid continues to shrink. However, some experts say that most people have been infected even if you didn’t realize it as some 40% of confirmed cases are asymptomatic. Immunologists are looking into whether exposure to other pathogens or coronaviruses could trigger immune responses before Covid spreads. Julie Wernau, health and medicine reporter at the WSJ, joins us for those that think they have remained Covid-free.

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President Biden Test Positive for Covid-19 as BA.5 Variant Takes Hold of the Country Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

President Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 despite being vaccinated and double boosted and is experiencing mild symptoms. The current wave of infections we are seeing are mostly the BA.5 Omicron subvariant and it could be what the Covid normal looks like. Katherine Wu, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how the endless churn of variants will keep infecting people even if you’re vaccinated or had prior infection.

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Post-pandemic Work Conferences Are the New Vacations for Parents Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

As more companies are resuming normal operations, work conferences are also making a comeback and these professional gatherings are acting as mini vacations for parents who spent the pandemic taking care of their kids while they were out of school. Alina Dizik, contributor to the WSJ, joins us for how parents are escaping their families by going on work trips.

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Omicron Subvariant BA.5 Continues to Evade Immunity and Cause More Infections Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 is proving that the pandemic is still not over. It continues to evade immunity, even from previous omicron infections. The good news is that death rates are down and hospitals aren’t overwhelmed like before, but the virus is spreading fast again and the small fraction of people getting seriously ill can add up. Umair Irfan, senior reporter at Vox, joins us for how virus mutations are keeping Omicron in play.

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Many Americans Say College Might Not Be Worth It as Enrollment Has Not Rebounded From Pandemic Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Americans relationship with college is complicated and according to a new poll many think that it might not be worth the cost and time commitment. Overall, most people believe that the benefits outweigh the costs long-term, and those with bachelor’s degrees usually earn 75% more than they would if they only have a high school diploma. But the pandemic also plays a big part in this as enrollment has been down 1.3 million students since March 2020. Chris Quintana, education reporter at USA Today, for how many still value higher education, but feel it’s too expensive for many.

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Red States Winning the Post-pandemic Economic Recovery Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Driven by mass migrations of both workers and employers, red states have been winning the post-pandemic economic recovery over blue states. Not really a move because of political preferences, workers left for financial and lifestyle reasons such as cheaper housing, less Covid restrictions and lower taxes. Biggest winners are Florida, Texas, and North Carolina while California, New York and Illinois have lost the greatest number of residents. Josh Mitchell, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how red states have had quicker recoveries.

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