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Hurricane Ian Was One of the Most Complex to Forecast, We’ll Tell You Why It Caught So Many off Guard Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

As we deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, meteorologists, emergency managers, and others are asking what they could have done better to effectively communicate with the public. This time computer models were at odds with each other until about 36 hours before the storm hit, and graphics used such as the “cone of uncertainty” are often misunderstood. Andrew Freedman, climate and energy reporter at Axios, joins us for why Ian was one of the most complex hurricanes to forecast.

Next, despite GDP shrinking and fears of a recession looming, many companies are still in hiring mode. They continue to struggle with staffing shortages that were built up during the pandemic. There is also still a lot of turnover in many industries that can wreak havoc on efficiency as new hires need to be trained. Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.

Finally, the tech giant Google continues to have a hard time innovating and bringing new successful ventures to fruition. The latest casualty for Google is Stadia, their cloud-based gaming service. It was shut down three years in after failing to attract new players and developers. Scott Rosenberg, managing tech editor at Axios, joins us for how Google keeps messing up opportunities to cash in on new technology.

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Hurricane Ian Death Toll Rises as Residents Shift Into Rescue Damage Assessment Mode Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Residents in Florida and other areas affected by Hurricane Ian are now in rescue, recovery, and damage assessment mode. As of Monday, the death toll was over 100 and many still needed their power restored. For some, a sense of panic has set in for fears that there might not be enough food, water, and gas to go around. Michelle Kaufman, reporter at the Miami Herald, joins us for what’s next as people try to rebuild and President Biden makes his way there on Wednesday.

Next, Elon Musk and Tesla unveiled the prototype of their humanoid AI robot named Optimus. When completed, the robot should be able to handle difficult chores, lift heavy objects, and have some conversational capabilities. The robot should have a price point below $20,000. Meghan Bobrowsky, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Tesla wants to be known as more than just a car company.

Finally, as marijuana has been legalized in more states, the taboo around consuming cannabis products has largely faded, but one area where it has not is parents who smoke. Some parents say that using cannabis helps them relax and be more present to connect with their kids but feel they will be judged if they speak openly about it. Ellen McCarthy, feature writer at The Washington Post, joins us for the parents who get stoned.

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Struggling to Retain and Recruit New Officers, Police Departments Are Offering Big Bonuses Oct 03, 2022

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Police departments across the country are struggling with recruiting new officers and retaining their current force as we are seeing a rise in violent crime and a line of work that has lost its popularity. To attract more recruits, departments are adjusting standards to fill vacancies which has already led to some problems and boosting up signing bonuses. In Redding, California, the signing bonus was $40,000, more than half an entire year’s starting salary. Zusha Elinson, national reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how law enforcement agencies are trying to attract new cops.

Next, Uber has a courier service called Uber Connect, where you can have a package picked up at one location and delivered to another. Drivers don’t know what’s inside the package, but some suspect they may be being used to transport drugs and other prohibited items. Drivers can cancel deliveries, but some feel compelled to go through with suspicious deliveries for safety concerns since customers often have your first name, photo, license plate, and vehicle description. David Ingram, tech reporter at NBC News, spoke to Uber Connect drivers who were worried about being used as drug mules.

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WEEKEND EDITION- Homeowners Listing for Rent Rather Than Selling, Low Flow Showers, Look To TikTok for Holiday Toys Oct 02, 2022

Show notes

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

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WEEKEND EDITION- Hurricane Ian, NASA DART Mission, Robots Making French Fries Oct 01, 2022

Show notes

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

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Some Residents Choose to Stay Put During Hurricane Ian Despite Evacuation Orders Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Hurricane Ian tore through the Southwest Florida coast and caused catastrophic flooding, destroyed infrastructure, and left millions without power. In all of this, one of the biggest curiosities are those that decide to hunker down and weather the storm despite evacuation orders. Some stay because they are defiant, others for fear of returning to nothing, and some just don’t have the money to leave. Jared Leone, contributor to the Washington Post, joins us for why some choose to stay put.

Next, whether you in the path of a hurricane or other extreme weather event, it’s important to be prepared for natural disasters. Two key things to be prepared with is a way to communicate and a way to maintain power. You can download emergency preparedness apps to help keep you informed, and don’t forget you can always call 911 even without a phone plan. A generator or some type of backup power is also a must. Marc Saltzman, contributor to USA Today, joins us for what tech can keep you prepared.

Finally, you might be “quiet quitting,” coasting by and feeling like you’re getting away with it, but you might also be getting “quiet fired” and it could lead to you actually getting fired. It’s hard to tell because your boss could be respecting your boundaries, but they could also be overlooking you on new projects or stop inviting you to meetings to minimize your significance. Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about being “quiet fired.”

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Late-Stage Clinical Trial Show New Alzheimer’s Drug Slows Down Cognitive Decline Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

We got some very good news from a late-stage clinical trial for a drug that slowed down the progression of Alzheimer’s. Biogen and Eisai’s drug slowed down the cognitive decline in participants by 27% compared to those that received placebos. The drug does not restore mental capacity or totally stop it, but works by clearing out the buildup of amyloid, a toxic protein that affects the brain. Robert Langreth, science and health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.

Next, the big space news from Monday was NASA’s successful DART mission, the first planetary defense test. For this test NASA flew an unmanned spacecraft right into a asteroid to test if the impact could disrupt its orbit. It will still take some weeks for more complete data, but for now, it worked and made for some very compelling video as it made impact. Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for more.

Finally, when Covid-19 vaccines were first rolled out, many women were complaining about a strange side effect. They said it was messing with their menstrual cycles. Turns out, it was true. In a study of nearly 20,000 people and with data from a popular period-tracking app, researchers found out that on average vaccinated women experienced a one-day delay in getting their periods, but it was only temporary. Amanda Morris, disability reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what the research says.

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Another Election, Another Influence Campaign. Meta Shuts Down Operations From China and Russia Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it has taken down the first targeted campaign by the Chinese to interfere with U.S. elections. The campaign was limited and not very sophisticated, but it does signal a change from more broadly criticizing American foreign policy to getting involved in domestic politics. Steven Lee Myers, correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for how leading up to the midterm elections we are seeing another influence campaign.

Next, amid droughts, water shortages and increased efforts to conserve water, low-flow showers are getting more attention. As more states pass laws restricting showerhead flow, bath companies are working hard to highlight the technology in their fixtures that make it feel like you are getting more with less water. For example, adding air to water droplets can make a big improvement. James Tarmy, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.

Finally, the holiday shopping season will quickly be upon us and the places where kids are going to discover the toys they want are YouTube and TikTok. The season’s hot toys are closely tied to apps, video games, and influencers and advertising for these products is shifting from TV to social media. Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for where to find out which are the top holiday toys.

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Here’s Where a Robot Is Manning the Fryer to Bring You Fries Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

In an effort to fight current labor shortages and as robotic technology gets better, you’ll soon start seeing robots manning the fry station at some fast food restaurants. Miso Robotics has been developing Flippy the robot, initially to flip hamburgers, but the greatest need for restaurants is working the fryer where most backups and accidents happen. Laura Reiley, business of food reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for where this robot is already working to make you fries.

Next, there are currently over 70 companies in Britain undergoing an experiment with a 4-day work week. So far, they are about halfway through the six-month experiment, and many of the companies say it is going well. In some cases, productivity is up, the employees themselves are enjoying it, and customers to these companies aren’t noticing much difference. Jenny Gross, reporter at the NY Times based in London, joins us for what to know.

Finally, as remote work continues and employers try to navigate the changing work landscape, many are opting to install so-called “bossware“ on their employees devices. Some say this help to increase accountability, others say it erodes trust. Emily Peck, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for how managers are fighting “productivity paranoia.”

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Six Weeks Out From Midterm Elections, Voter Still Divided on Who Should Control Congress Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

The midterm elections are six weeks away and new polls show that voters are divided over who should control Congress. For now, Republicans hold a firm lead on the economy, crime, and inflation. Democrats hold leads on the issues of abortion and climate change. Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for how voters are feeling and the Republican governor that everyone wants stumping for them.

Next, inflation continues to hammer away at the country and another stressor coming to older Americans and those with aging parents, the rising cost of senior living homes. Long-term care providers have had to deal with higher costs of food, utilities, insurance, wages, and managing Covid-19, and those costs are being passed on to seniors and their families catching them off-guard. Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.

Finally, another factor that could be keeping the housing supply limited for some time to come is that homeowners are reluctant to sell their homes now that mortgage rates are much higher. To sell your house and then buy into another loan with a rate nearly double what many have been locked into, doesn’t make sense. Instead, many are choosing to list their homes for rent. Nicole Friedman, U.S. housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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