What A Day

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The Taliban Takes Kabul Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

The Taliban seized Afghanistan with a takeover of its capital Kabul this past weekend, leading the country’s President Ashraf Ghani and U.S. personnel to flee. Afghan civilians also attempted to leave the country, which led to chaos at the airport in Kabul. We talked about what led to the swift takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban forces with Laurel Miller, director of the International Crisis Group’s Asia Program. Between 2013 and 2017, Miller was the deputy and then-acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the U.S. State Department.

And Josie Duffy Rice joins as WAD co-host. In headlines: recovery efforts in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude quake, Canadians face a snap election, and a trio of volcanoes erupt in Alaska.

Show Notes:

Twitter: Laurel Miller – https://twitter.com/LaurelMillerICG

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

What's The Census In That? Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

The Taliban has taken over twelve provincial cities in Afghanistan, and U.S. intelligence officials estimate the country's capital Kabul could also fall within a few months. The takeovers have not affected the timeline of withdrawing U.S. troops from the country.

New Census data shows that diversity has grown quickly in the past decade with the greatest gains seen among people identifying as Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial. We spoke with Yurij Rudensky, redistricting counsel in the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, about how these numbers could be used and potential Republican gerrymandering.

And in headlines: the country's biggest teacher's union supports requiring vaccinations, blue hydrogen might not be all that clean, and a mayor in Japan bites an athlete's gold medal.

Show Notes:

Brennan Center for Justice: Redistricting – https://bit.ly/3CLp99p

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Two Bills With One Vote with Representative Pramila Jayapal Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Senators Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema say they might not support a budget bill with a $3.5 trillion price tag, but Democrats in the House won't support the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package unless the larger bill passes, too. We spoke with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal about how House progressives are thinking about these two crucial bills.

America is facing two major heat waves in the Pacific Northwest and in the eastern and central U.S. Abroad, there are wildfires burning in Canada, Russia, Greece, Algeria, Turkey, and Italy, all fueled by extreme heat and dry vegetation, and causing evacuations and mass destruction.

And in headlines: rebel Tigray and Oromo forces announce an alliance against Ethiopia's government, Texas House Democrats may face arrest for their exodus, and NASA's next space suit is delayed.

Show Notes:

NYT: “Hidden Toll of the Northwest Heat Wave: Hundreds of Extra Deaths” – https://nyti.ms/2U8rREe

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

New York State Of Resign Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation yesterday, one week after New York Attorney General Leticia James’ office released a damning report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against the governor by 11 women who worked for him. Cuomo's resignation will take effect on August 24th, at which point Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take over.

The International Panel on Climate Change released a report on Monday presenting clear and unequivocal evidence of the human impact on climate change. We talked to Dr. Kim Cobb, the Director of the Global Change Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology and one of the 200 authors who worked on the report, about the consequences of global warming and what world leaders can do about it.

And in headlines: the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal finally passes in the Senate, Prince Andrew is sued for sexual assault, and hermit crabs are getting horny from plastic pollution.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Dog Days Of Pandemic Summer with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

The U.S. is currently seeing over 100,000 new COVID cases each day on average. It’s the highest number since this February, with hospitalizations and deaths up as well. We spoke to epidemiologist and former Detroit health commissioner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed about the state of the pandemic, and whether we should feel like we're moving backwards. We asked him about the return to in-person classes, what we can learn about the Delta variant from its course in other countries, vaccine verification in public spaces, and more.

And in headlines: fires continue to rage on in Greece, Cuomo's top aide resigns, and the future of billboards in space.

Show Notes:

The Guardian op-ed: “America is flying blind when it comes to the Delta variant” – https://bit.ly/3Cvaj6G

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Long View Of The Midterms Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Next year's midterm elections will dictate the future of voter rights, reproductive rights, climate change, pandemic recovery, and more. They may seem far off, but we can start getting ready for 2022 now. We spoke with Crooked's political director Shaniqua McClendon about the "No Off Years" campaign, which aims to support local organizers on the ground, register more people, and fight misinformation around the polls.

And in headlines: the Dixie Fire continues to burn in Northern California, the Taliban seizes more regional capitals in Afghanistan, and Larry Page gets residency status in New Zealand.

Show Notes:

No Off Years by Vote Save America – https://votesaveamerica.com/nooffyears/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Biden Goes Electric Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

President Biden announced his goal to make new vehicles greener in his administration’s first major use of federal regulatory power to cut carbon emissions. Still, some climate advocacy groups say that Biden's executive order doesn’t go far enough compared to the plans of other countries to achieve zero emissions.

New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo has been given until Friday the 13th to submit evidence in his defense for his impeachment investigation, which began back in March and focused not only on sexual harassment claims but also the handling of data about COVID deaths in nursing homes. We discuss what the impeachment process might look like with Josefa Velasquez, senior reporter at The City.

And in headlines: the Justice Department launches an investigation into Phoenix's police department, wildfires rage in Europe and the U.S., and Ibiza enlists undercover officers to infiltrate illegal dance parties.

Show Notes:

NY Times: “Facing Loss of Supporters, Cuomo Gains Attention From Prosecutors” – https://nyti.ms/3lCKmfs

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

WHO's Calling The Shots Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

The World Health Organization called for a moratorium on booster shots until the end of September, right as a number of countries have started or are planning to start booster campaigns amid concerns about the Delta variant of coronavirus. COVAX, the program supported by WHO to distribute donated vaccines to nations in need, is struggling to deliver on its promise.

Mexico has filed a lawsuit against 11 gun manufacturers and suppliers in the U.S., claiming that they knowingly facilitated sales to drug cartels. Mexican officials estimate financial damages could amount up to $10 billion. Experts believe the lawsuit will send a message to the U.S. to take decisive political action on gun control.

And in headlines: Democrats propose a law taxing major polluters, Rihanna is a billionaire, and former President Obama scales back on his 60th birthday bash.

Show Notes:

NY Times: “Where a Vast Global Vaccination Program Went Wrong” – https://nyti.ms/37kTHjD

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Life Cuomos At You Fast Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

A five month investigation into the conduct of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found evidence of sexual harassment towards 11 current and former employees, and a sexist and hostile workplace. Nancy Pelosi, President Biden, and many more Democrats have called for Cuomo to resign, but so far he has refused.

A National Labor Relations Board officer found that Amazon broke federal labor laws, in part by installing an unmarked USPS mailbox in front of its Bessemer, Alabama, warehouse that created the impression Amazon was conducting the election. If an NLRB official agrees with the findings, that could mean there would be a redo in the vote. We spoke to Stuart Appelbaum, president of the union that's trying to organize the facility, about what comes next.

And in headlines: Capitol police officers receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the CDC announce a new eviction moratorium, and a cat takes the field at Yankee Stadium.

Show Notes:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Find Rental Assistance Programs – https://bit.ly/3xhrIvS

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

An Impending Eviction Crisis Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said that students must be in classrooms this year and that schools should require everyone to mask up, but local districts will ultimately decide on their policies themselves. Some workplaces are moving forward with vaccine and mask mandates, but predominantly among their white-collar employees.

The House failed to pass an extension of the federal eviction moratorium before it ended last weekend, although several states have their own local moratoriums still in place. But millions of Americans could face eviction in the coming months, with an estimated 15 million renters owing a collective $20 billion to landlords in back rent.

And in headlines: the flooding death toll in China rises, Simone Biles makes a comeback, and a MAGA twitter clone has an ISIS problem.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

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