The Daily Dive

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Axios-Ipsos Poll: Half of Americans Hate Idea of Cell Phone Based Contact Tracing May 13, 2020

Show notes

According to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll, in a best case scenario, only half of Americans would be willing to participate in a voluntary contact tracing program. Widely seen as one of the key elements to reopen the country, a distrust of the government and big tech companies, drives this sentiment to not release sensitive personal data. Margaret Talev, politics and White House editor at Axios, joins us for how people feel about getting back to normal.

Next, doctors are learning more about how COVID-19 affects a person’s body, and they are finding that it is more than just a respiratory disease. It can damage the kidneys, heart, brain, and blood vessels. Doctors are also reassessing how to treat it. Blood thinners are being used to treat blot clots and genetics could also play a role in how it affects you. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for all the ways that the coronavirus attacks the body.

Finally, as states legalize recreational and medical marijuana, community associations and municipalities are having a problem with their pot smoking neighbors and how to deal with the odor. It’s prompting some homeowners associations to ban smoking and companies are having to install elaborate air filtration systems. Beth DeCarbo, real estate columnist at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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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.

Next, GOP lawmakers are ramping up their attacks on state lockdowns and arguing for a quicker reopening of the country. Frustrations are growing with lawmakers who are trying to balance public health and letting the economy get worse, but some are even joining protests saying that stay at home orders are an overreach. Melanie Zanona, congressional reporter at Politico, joins us for the fight against lockdowns.

Finally, the first wave of coronavirus litigation has been filed. Hundreds of lawsuits are starting to come out in state and federal courts. Airlines, cruise lines, fitness chains, and the entertainment industry are all facing lawsuits as well as actions by states and senior living facilities. Shayna Jacobs, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what these virus lawsuits are all about.

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Coronavirus Creates a Need for Frugality and the New Chaotic Food System 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.

Next, 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.

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WEEKEND EDITION- Florida Is Avoiding the Worst of Coronavirus and How an Ex-Green Beret Leads Failed Attempt to Oust Venezuelan President May 10, 2020

Show notes

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

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WEEKEND EDITION- Updated Models Show There Will Be More Coronavirus Deaths as States Reopen, Blood Samples Are Being Sold for High Prices, Murder Hornets Are on Their Way May 09, 2020

Show notes

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

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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.

Next, a crazy story about how an ex-Green Beret led a failed attempt to oust Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. The original plan was to have some 300 armed volunteers sneak into Venezuela, raid military bases, and capture Maduro. That plan never happened and it seemed like everything went wrong. Jordan Goudreau, owner of Silvercorp USA, reportedly hatched the plan with Venezuelan opposition officials. There is still much to be known, but there is no indication that any U.S. officials sponsored Goudreau’s actions. Karen DeYoung, senior national security correspondent at the Washington Post, joins us for how this whole plot fell apart.

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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.

Next, 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.

Finally, since coronavirus has shut everything down and no playbook for running a completely digital political campaign, candidates have had to operate a little more like influencers and hope to go viral. Zoom and Instagram Live streams are now for policy discussions. Twitter and Facebook are the new rally stages to build a following. Makena Kelly, policy reporter at the Verge, joins us for how campaigns have had to adapt.

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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.

Next, 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.

Finally, murder hornets are a thing, but they’re most likely not coming for you. The Asian giant hornet looks fearsome and can grow to nearly two inches with a stinger a quarter of an inch long. But while these hornets can pack a venomous punch, they mostly target honeybees and have only been spotted in Washington State last December. Sara Kiley Watson, editorial assistant at Popular Science, joins us for what to know about murder hornets.

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Blood Samples Sold at a Premium and How Florida Avoided the Worst of Coronavirus 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.

Next, 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.

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Food Supply Disruptions and Nursing Home Industry Pushes for Immunity During Coronavirus May 04, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus pandemic had disrupted the food supply chain in a way that has forced both farmers and some food processors to get creative in salvaging some food and still make some sales. As restaurants shut down, farmers and suppliers were left with an oversupply of food specifically grown for diners and not for grocery stores. Some processors were selling chicken and cheese in parking lots and some suppliers were hiring laid off restaurant workers to divide large batches of food into smaller portions made for one shopper. Julie Wernau, reporter for the WSJ, joins us for more.

Next, the nursing home industry is pushing for immunity from lawsuits during the COIVD-19 outbreak. Nursing homes care for some of the most vulnerable and at-risk people during the outbreak and we have also seen nearly 12,000 deaths at these long term care facilities. So far at least six states have granted immunity from coronavirus lawsuits and six others have given immunity to health care providers which could include nursing homes. The fear is that immunity will increase neglect and abuse in some of these facilities because now they are not liable. Laura Strickler, investigative reporter at NBC News, joins us for nursing home immunity during coronavirus.

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