The Daily Dive

Latest Episodes:

WEEKEND EDITION- Inflation Costs You $276 a Month, Plan to Evacuate Americans Out of Ukraine, Mask Regulations Are Going Away Feb 12, 2022

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation Costs You $276 a Month Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

Inflation has crept up to 7.5%, the highest it has been in 40 years. Prices of food, energy and used cars are all up, and in practical terms, the average U.S. household is spending an additional $276 a month. The middle class also continues to be hit harder than other groups. Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ joins us for how much inflation is costing you.

Next, Russia has begun conducting military drills on the Ukraine border worrying Western officials that they are readying for an invasion. In the meantime, President Biden has approved a plan to help Americans flee Ukraine if Russia does invade. Biden has warned Americans in the area to get out because things could go crazy quickly. Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Finally, a New York City couple was arrested Tuesday on charges that they laundered some $4.5 billion that was stolen in a breach of a cryptocurrency exchange. In 2016 almost 120,000 Bitcoin was stolen from crypto exchange Bitfinex. Federal officials wanted to make clear that despite the security of crypto, it is still highly traceable and criminals should beware. Justin Rohrlich, reporter at the Daily Beast, joins us for the largest financial seizure ever by federal officials.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Inflation Is Affecting Your Car Insurance Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

High inflation is now hitting you in another place you might not expect, your car insurance. Many insurers are raising their rates by 6%-8% and in extreme cases are asking for double digit increases. Rates are going up to offset higher costs for car repairs, replacements and rentals. Leslie Scism, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for these increases coming at a time when traffic and accidents have risen from pandemic lows.

Next, a new attitude is beginning to take shape with the pandemic… people are over it and ready to move on. 64% of the U.S. is fully vaccinated and many have natural immunity from prior infection, Democratic governors are beginning to relax pandemic rules, and cases are dropping at a rapid rate. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the shifting attitude toward the pandemic.

Finally, a story about a man who unknowingly left behind almost $230,000 at a Las Vegas slot machine. Robert Taylor hit a jackpot in January, but then the machine malfunctioned. Thinking he didn’t win, he walked away. After the casino fixed the machine, they found he did indeed win the money and then took on the difficult task of tracking him down. Andrea Salcedo, 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.

Mask Mandates for Schools Are Beginning to Go Away Across the Country Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Mask mandates are beginning to fall in states across the country, particularly when it comes to schools. Democratic governors in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon are lifting statewide rules leaving the final say to school districts on how to proceed. Some still want more guidance from the CDC, but the trend is shifting away from the mandates. Laura Meckler, national education writer at The Washington Post, joins us for more.

Next, the Biden administration wants more students to become butchers. It’s an effort to scale up local and regional meat processing to foster competition in the industry. Training workers would help address labor shortages, but some say it could be a difficult sell getting students into an industry with so much manual labor done mostly by immigrants at the moment. Ximena, Bustillo, reporter at Politico, joins us for more on these agricultural programs.

Finally, some states are putting forth proposals that would accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as acceptable tax payments bringing them closer to the mainstream. Proposals in Wyoming and Arizona are in the early stages and could be a benefit for retailers, but there will most likely be some legal hurdles. Ben Schreckinger, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for how states are considering accepting digital currency.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supply Shortage of Pfizer’s COVID Pill Causes Uneven Rollout in U.S. Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

The rollout of the Pfizer’s Covid pills has faced shortages and criticism that state health departments are not prioritizing those at the highest risk of serious illness. The Biden administration has purchased 20 million courses of the treatment but has only been able to release 265,000 courses due to production delays. Benjamin Ryan, contributor to NBC News, joins us for a look inside the U.S. rollout.

Next, Frontier and Spirit Airlines have agreed to a merger worth $6.6 billion that would make them the fifth largest airline in the country. The move will see them keep their ultra-low fare business model and cause some worry for other airlines who have not rebounded with business and international travel customers. Leslie Josephs, airline reporter at CNBC, joins us for this deal that could create 10,000 jobs by 2026.

Finally, full-frontal male nudity is going mainstream in Hollywood. With the rise of streaming platforms that are largely free from ratings rules, more men including some big stars are becoming more comfortable with baring it all. Be warned however, it may not be the real thing as many times prosthetics are used. Ellen Gamerman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what it takes to make a nude scene happen.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia Continues to Ready Troops for Possible Invasion of Ukraine Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

The situation in Ukraine remains tense as Russia has assembled at least 70% of the forces they would need to launch a full scale invasion. Officials worry that there could be a huge amount of casualties and the Ukraine capital could fall quickly. With the Winter Olympics as a backdrop, Russia and China have expressed support for each other. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, criticism of the Covid protocols at the Games and the RNC censuring Rep. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

Next, the condiment business is hyper competitive and one of the major players in the spice game, McCormick, has been making acquisitions to take over the world of hot sauce. They recently bought Frank's Red Hot and Cholula in deals worth millions of dollars each. The pandemic proved to be beneficial for McCormick as many people stayed in and cooked more at home, but they were not immune to supply chain issues that affected the industry. Austin Carr, features writer at Bloomberg BusinessWeek, joins us for the fight for hot sauce supremacy.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WEEKEND EDITION- Scientists Zeroing in on What Might Cause Long COVID and Idaho Cobalt Belt Feb 06, 2022

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WEEKEND EDITION- ISIS Leader Killed, IRS Wants to Scan Your Face, Rise and Fall of Omicron Infections Feb 05, 2022

Show notes

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ISIS Leader Killed in Raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

In a dramatic raid in Syria that President Biden approved, U.S. special operations forces conducted a nighttime mission to take out the Islamic State’s leader. After a shootout between an ISIS lieutenant and U.S. forces, the IS leader detonated what is believed to be an explosive vest killing himself and his own family. Gordon Lubold, WH and national security reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the operation went down.

Next, we are learning more about the mysterious ‘Havana syndrome’ after a panel of experts determined that an external energy source could be behind the symptoms affecting U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers abroad. No device or country has been identified as being behind it, but the experts said the pulsed electromagnetic energy could come from a portable device. Shane Harris, national security reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.

Finally, as the Winter Olympics get under way a lot of focus will be on the venues and snow needed for some 66 medal events that require it. All of the snow for the Games will be completely man-made using special snow guns that use specific air and water ratios to make the perfect snow for each event. Bonnie Berkowitz, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how they make a bulletproof downhill course.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s Behind the Sharp Rise in Omicron Infections and Rapid Decline? Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

What is the science behind the sharp rise in Omicron infections and then the rapid decline? It seems we might have hit a peak here in the U.S. and are already seeing new infections drop in places like the U.K. and South Africa. Umair Irfan, reporter at Vox, joins us for how more immunity could be building up in the population and the variant is running out of new people to infect.

Next, the IRS wants to scan your face. Starting this summer anyone that wants to access their records on the IRS website like tax transcripts, child tax credits or payment plans, they will need to record a video of their face and send it to private contractor ID.me to confirm their identity. Drew Harwell, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.

Finally, many questions still remain about the Jan. 21st accident involving a truck transporting research monkeys that crashed in Pennsylvania. The latest update is that Kenya airways that flew the monkeys to the U.S. will not renew its contract to continue to their transport. There are also still questions about Michele Fallon’s health, the woman who fell ill after contact with them. Michael Levenson, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what we know.

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