Reopening America

Latest Episodes:

Time to Reopen: The Fight Could Be Messy for Governors Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

The road to re-opening the economy will be a messy fight that the governors of each state will have to handle. We are already seeing protests and lawsuits over stay-at-home orders and people wanting to get back to work. And while the administration has issued guidelines for states to open back up, all the details and final say is left up to the governors. Another source of conflict could be states moving faster than the willingness of cities in re-opening. Brett Samuels, White House reporter at The Hill, joins us for the fight over coronavirus restrictions.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers Looking to Secure Coronavirus Tests for Workers Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

To get back to work, companies are trying to secure tests for their workers. Amazon, for example, is looking for ways to test employees regular including building its own testing lab. But there is a big discussion of the best way to proceed. Will employers need more diagnostic tests or would it be better for antibody tests? Then there are also questions about costs, supply, and concerns about employee privacy. Sarah Krouse, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for how employers want to ramp up their own testing capabilities.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early CDC Stumbles Delayed Rollout of Widespread U.S. Testing for Coronavirus Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

A look at the initial stumbles by the CDC in making testing kits. The roll out of testing kits was initially delayed because of faulty CDC test kits with contaminated components. The worse part of it is, that the component that was contaminated was not critical to detecting the virus. It took more than a month for the CDC to get back on track and prevented the U.S. from ramping up at the beginning of the outbreak here. David Willman, investigative reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Are COVID-19 Deaths Counted? Depends on the State Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

As we continue to track and monitor the spread of COVID-19 cases across the country one important metric is the total death count. But depending on which state we are getting numbers from, these deaths can be tallied in very different ways. Some states only count the death if there is a confirmed laboratory test, others count probable cases of coronavirus. Some, like Dr. Deborah Birx say a death should count to the total tally if someone has COVID-19 regardless of the cause of death, others wouldn’t count it if someone for example died by a heart attack. All of these inconsistencies amount to what could be an undercount in official numbers. Emma Brown, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for which deaths count toward the COVID-19 death toll.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coronavirus Has Disrupted the Power of Touch. How Will We Reconnect After This? Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

Coronavirus and social distancing has disrupted the power of touch. While we maintain distance, things like the handshake may be dying, you can’t hug a friend or loved one, and some feel like they may be in touch isolation. So what does this mean for how we connect with each other when this is all over? It may take some time to get things back to normal and feel comfortable with the way we touch and want to be touched. In the mean time, experts agree you should give your skin whatever it needs to make it feel its best. Tim Teeman, senior editor at the Daily Beast, joins us for a conversation about the power of touch… its importance and how it might comeback.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vice TV Takes a Look at Italy's Fight Against COVID-19 Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

We taking a look inside Italy’s fight against COVID-19. Isobel Yeung, senior correspondent at Vice News was embedded in the Lombardy region of Italy, a global hotspot for the coronavirus. While she was there she reported from the Papa Giovanni Hospital and spoke to doctors in the ER and ICU about their experiences treating patients, she spoke with local residents about how their lives have changed and if they feel things are getting any better. Isobel also went to a local funeral to observe how social distancing has affected the whole thing. It is an emotional and informative look into how the pandemic has changed Italy and you can see it all on Vice TV. Isobel joins us for more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Department Cables Warned of Safety Issues at Wuhan Virus Lab Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

There is still so much yet to be learned about the novel coronavirus causing the pandemic we are currently in. One such thing we still don’t fully understand is the origin of the virus itself. State Department cables dating back to 2015 warned of safety issues at a Wuhan lab studying bat coronaviruses and potential human transmission. So while it seems that the coronavirus was probably not engineered in a lab, could it have somehow escaped from that lab. Josh Rogin, columnist from the Washington Post who obtained these State Department cables, joins us for what we know.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deal to Buy Stockpile of Millions of Protective Masks Exposed as a Scam Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

Throughout this pandemic, there are those ready to take advantage of others with fake cures, scams and price gouging. One huge scam that came to light recently involved a union group in CA that was supposed to buy 39 million masks, the only problem… the masks never existed and the union was duped by a supposed broker in Australia and supplier in Kuwait. Adam Elmahrek, investigative reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For States Wanting to Reopen Their Economies, Test-And-Trace Programs May Be the Key Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

As the country gets ready to re-open the economy, states are already preparing test-and-trace programs that will help in the effort. Massachusetts, Utah, and North Dakota are among those working on a comprehensive strategy that includes increased testing and contact tracing that will monitor those that are infected and their close contacts. Emma Court, health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how technology will play a major role.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Unemployment Claims May Be Held up Due to Decades Old Coding Language That No One Knows Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

As 17 million Americans file claims for unemployment, many are having problems completing the process online. For some states, the problem is rooted in crashing websites due to a decades old coding language known as COBOL that almost no one knows. There aren’t many programmers that are fluent in this language as most systems have modernized. Makena Kelly, policy reporter at The Verge, joins us for why some unemployment checks are being held up.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.