Reopening America

Latest Episodes:

Is America Ready for Live Music Again? The First Test Could Be Friday May 12, 2020

Show notes

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-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Coronavirus Disrupted the U.S. Food System May 11, 2020

Show notes

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. Kevin Rector, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for the chaotic food system.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coronavirus Creates Need for Novel Frugality May 11, 2020

Show notes

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 for the novel frugality.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers Say There's a More Contagious Strain of Coronavirus, but Other Experts Are Skeptical May 08, 2020

Show notes

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 COVID-19. Sarah Kaplan, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Models Show More Coronavirus Related Deaths on the Way as States Reopen May 07, 2020

Show notes

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 ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universities to Create Contact Tracing Mobile App for Students May 07, 2020

Show notes

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/listener for privacy information.

Training the Contact Tracing Workforce May 06, 2020

Show notes

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 more.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coronavirus Shutdowns Mean Less Cars on the Road and More Speeding May 06, 2020

Show notes

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.

Vital Blood Samples Needed for Antibody Tests Are Being Sold at a Premium May 05, 2020

Show notes

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 profiteering and the steps in obtaining the blood is very complex. Jane Bradley, investigative reporter for the NY Times, joins us for the lucrative trade in human blood samples.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida Avoided the Worst of Coronavirus and Are Reopening. Here's How They Got Here May 05, 2020

Show notes

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 in place, residents had already begun to hunker down and limit movements. Still with a larger population of people over 65, fears of a second wave of infections persist. Arian Campo- Flores, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Florida made it this far.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected