The Daily Dive

Latest Episodes:

The Fight Over Masks in Schools Continues and How the World Is Dealing With the Latest Covid Surge Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

The fight between parents, school districts, and governors over mask wearing in schools continues as more students are returning to class. In some states, Republican governors have passed rules that schools cannot mandate masks, but confronted with increasing Covid cases, school superintendents are defying orders and requiring them for kids. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for the mask fight, why the new census numbers are important, and the incoming NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has already said she will run in 2022.

Next, the world is experiencing another major coronavirus surge and every country is dealing with it differently. In those responses we are seeing pockets of people resisting the vaccines, but also a severe lack of access to the shots in poorer countries. Germany and Israel have vaccinated two-thirds of their populations, Great Britain has left it to personal responsibility and is learning to live with the virus, and Indonesia has become a new epicenter dealing with a growing number of deaths. Sammy Westfall, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how the world is handling the latest surge.

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WEEKEND EDITION- Law School Students Going Into Six-Figure Debt and Losing an Aging Pet During the Pandemic Aug 15, 2021

Show notes

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

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WEEKEND EDITION- NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns, Booster Shots for Immunocompromised, Spacesuits Delay NASA Moon Mission Aug 14, 2021

Show notes

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

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FDA Moving Toward Allowing Vaccine Booster Shots for the Immunocompromised Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

The FDA is moving to authorize booster shots for those that are immunocompromised. This would be a shift in the American vaccination strategy as the Delta variant surges across the country and other countries have also approved boosters. Studies have shown that a third vaccine dose can trigger a more robust immune response in those with weaker immune systems. Jon Rockoff, health business editor at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Next, through its Artemis program, NASA was planning to send astronauts to the moon by 2024. According to a new report, that’s not going to happen. Among other challenges, the spacesuits to be used to walk on the moon, won’t be ready until 2025. Even when they are completed, we will only have two flight-ready suits at a cost of over $1 billion. Christian Davenport, space reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the latest NASA delays.

Finally, an increase in requirements for proof of vaccination by schools, employers, and local governments is fueling a black market for fake vaccination cards. You can find fake vaccination certificates on social media or the dark web and can be easy enough to counterfeit yourself, but even digital systems are being fooled. J.D. Tuccille, contributing editor at Reason, joins us for more on fake vaccine cards.

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More Kids Are Showing Up in the Hospital Because of the Delta Variant, but Are Their Cases More Severe? Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

As the Delta variant continues to surge across the U.S., we are hearing more stories of children being hospitalized. Part of it is a numbers game, as cases across the country go up, so will the number of kids infected, but are they getting sicker? For the most part, kids that show up to hospitals have milder symptoms, but there are those that do develop pneumonia and other serious effects from Covid. Emily Anthes, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for kids and the Delta variant.

Next, we have seen an extension on the moratorium on evictions providing some relief to tenants behind on their rent, but the rent-relief program created to help tenants and landlords cover those costs has been slowed down by delays, confusion, and too much paperwork. The program run by the Treasury Department is slated to dole out over $46 billion in payments. To date, they have only sent out about $5 billion. Andrew Ackerman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Finally, one of the most enduring internet pranks and memes has been good ol’ Rickrolling. Someone sends you a link to something that you have a legitimate interest in seeing, you click it, and boom, Rick Astley’s 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” starts playing. Well now, the official video for that song has hit over one billion views on YouTube. Travis Andrews, internet culture writer at the Washington Post, joins us for this internet prank milestone.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo Will Resign, Kathy Hochul to Be First Female Governor of New York Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

After a report indicating he harassed 11 women, an ongoing impeachment probe, and numerous calls for him to step down, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he will resign effective in 14 days. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over and become the first female governor of New York. Phillip Bump, national correspondent at The Washington Post, joins us for the resignation and a look at some of the other corruption in New York state politics.

Next, the Senate finally passed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill with a vote of 69-30. 19 Republicans joined Democrats to push the plan through and it will now move to the House, where progressives say it doesn’t go far enough. The Senate now moves on to debate a $3.5 trillion package that is expected to pass without any Republican support. Tanya Snyder, transportation reporter at Politico, joins us for more.

Finally, children are going back to school and there is still chaos and confusion over masks. We are in the sophomore year of Covid and there is still no consensus on how to keep students and teachers safe. Some school districts across the country are mandating mask wearing and defying state orders to do so. Governors have even threatened to withhold school funding if masks are required. Dan Goldberg, healthcare reporter at Politico joins us for the back to school mess.

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Rising COVID Hospitalizations Causes Scramble for Hospitals Looking for ICU Beds Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

The Delta variant of Covid-19 continues to cause surges in cases and hospitalizations around the country. In Florida, where we are seeing big spikes, hospitals are on the race to find open ICU beds. Coronavirus patients fill about 43% of ICU beds there, but when you combine this number with people going to hospitals for other ailments, it becomes hard to find enough space. In the Orlando area, hospital group AdventHealth has even set up a mission control office to track open beds and reallocate resources where needed. Melanie Evans, hospital reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

Next, one of the main storylines we heard throughout the pandemic were households getting new puppies. Whether it was to combat loneliness or give the kids something to do, pandemic puppies were all the rage. But on the other side of things, many were already dealing with aging pets and through shutdowns and work-from-home set ups, many took the time to say goodbye to beloved pets. Many got a chance to include them more in their new routines and also has to readjust those routines once they were gone. Jorge Ribas, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for another perspective on pandemic pet life.

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Infrastructure Bill Inches Along in the Senate and Two Democratic Governors Fight for Their Political Lives Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

The bipartisan infrastructure bill keeps inching along in the Senate. Full passage there is expected this week, setting up a win for President Biden. We also have two Democratic governors fighting for their political lives. NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing an impeachment and calls to resign after a NY attorney general report found that he harassed 11 women. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a recall vote next month with the polls getting tighter. Ginger Gibson, deputy Wahington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and why the U.S. Postal Service may be slowing down its delivery.

Next, another story of students taking on mountains of debt only to have the high paying jobs they were promised out of reach. Law school, which was once seen as a great path to a well-paying job is the latest to be scrutinized as students often take out six figure federal loans. Recent graduates of the University of Miami School of Law borrowed a median of $163,000 and two years later, half of them were earning $59,000 or less, making it difficult to pay down their loans. Just 15% of recent grads were able to begin repaying their student loans after two years. Andrea Fuller, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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WEEKEND EDITION- Governor Cuomo Accused of Sexual Misconduct, The Weird Sustainable Booze of the Future Aug 08, 2021

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- Eviction Ban Extended, Disney Princesses Are Not Toxic for Children, Seller’s Market and Crazy Demands Aug 07, 2021

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.