What A Day

Latest Episodes:

Back To School with Ed Sec Miguel Cardona Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is traveling across the country this week to discuss how schools and community colleges can help students after they lost out on so much due to the pandemic, and to outline applications for the $122 billion in education funding from the American Rescue Plan. We asked Dr. Cardona about that trip, as well as local PPE enforcement, student loans, classroom curriculum, and more.

And in headlines: the arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma sparked protests, updates on Biden’s $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed federal decriminalization of marijuana.

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

The Strike At Warrior Met Coal Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Miners at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, have been striking for nearly four months in protest of drastic cutbacks to wages and benefits. It’s one of the largest work-stoppages in the state’s recent history. We hear from Haeden Wright, a United Mine Workers supporter and a miner’s wife, and Kim Kelly, a labor reporter for The Nation magazine, about the current status of the strike and the rising tide of violence and hostility that strikers face.

And in headlines: Biden condemns Republican voter suppression efforts, Tennessee fires its top vaccine official, and officials announce the greatest rise in inflation since 2008.

Show Notes:

The Nation: "Alabama’s Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives" – https://bit.ly/3kcb5Pj

Twitter: Kim Kelly – https://twitter.com/GrimKim

Twitter: Haeden Wright – https://twitter.com/HaedenWright

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

Walkout, Texas Ranger Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

President Biden’s previous plan to combat crime by tightening the reins on gun sales and empowering the DOJ to target firearm traffickers has got a major update. He suggested states use $350 billion from the COVID relief plan to hire more police officers and strengthen crime prevention programs.

Democratic state representatives from Texas went to Washington D.C. to break quorum and apply more federal pressure to pass voting rights legislation. A great escape like this hasn’t happened since 2003 when Democrats were stopping a redistricting proposal, and it’s unclear how Republicans might retaliate in this current case.

And in headlines: Cubans protest for food and vaccines, England’s Black soccer players face racism, and Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence’s kids are Instagram-official.

Show Notes:

CNN (May 16, 2003): “Fugitive Texas Democrats declare victory” – https://cnn.it/3e8h1EX

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

Biden Vs. Big Business Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

President Biden signed an executive order last week aimed at boosting competition between businesses and discouraging monopolies. The order includes 72 initiatives, which will encourage the FTC to reinstate net neutrality rules, require airlines to disclose hidden fees, allow cheaper medications to be imported from Canada, and more.

The CDC issued guidelines for school districts to reopen this fall, while allowing local officials to tighten or loosen restrictions given factors like regional vaccination rates. There is a bump in cases of coronavirus in the U.S. right now, however, driven by pockets with lower vaccination rates.

And in headlines: turmoil in Haiti following the President's assassination, record-high temperatures in the West, and Sir Richard Branson goes to space.

Show Notes:

Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy – https://bit.ly/3yNCc7c

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

Amount Past Purdue Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reached a deal where 15 states agreed to drop their opposition to the company's bankruptcy plan in exchange for concessions from the Sackler family. The move has paved the way for the company to settle with plaintiffs, who blame Purdue for its role in the country’s opioid crisis, for roughly $4.5 billion.

The world’s known COVID deaths just passed 4 million by one count, and many countries are still seeing rises in cases and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant and vaccine inequity. Meanwhile in the U.S., White House officials said that nearly 100 percent of recent COVID deaths have been among those who are unvaccinated.

And in headlines: Biden announced an end-date for U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, two Haitian Americans are arrested for the assassination of President Moïse, and Michael Avenatti was sentenced for attempting to extort $20 million from Nike.

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

The Texas Bad Law Massacre Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home by a team of mercenaries amid claims by opposition groups that he tried to illegally extend his presidential term by one year. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph is calling for an international investigation, and Biden promised assistance to fight for a safe and secure Haiti in a time of growing gun violence.

Texas State Republicans start a special legislative session on Thursday to discuss 11 conservative agenda items that didn’t pass the last session. These include a bill banning drive-through and 24-hour voting, a bill restricting critical race theory education, a bill preventing transgender students from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, and more.

And in headlines: Darnella Frazier’s uncle is killed in a Minneapolis police car chase, Tokyo will declare a state of COVID emergency, and the ship that blocked the Suez Canal is back in the water.

Show Notes:

NYT: "How the Assassination of Haiti’s President Follows Years of Strife and Gridlock" – https://nyti.ms/3ho8n7t
The Texas Tribune: "Gov. Greg Abbott introduces special legislative session agenda" – https://bit.ly/3xuMwRq

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

Vaccine Hesitation, Under God with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Reflecting upon President Biden’s missed July 4th vaccination goals, we talked to epidemiologist and former Detroit health commissioner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed about the spread of the Delta variant and Republican vaccination hesitancy. We also discussed concerns of a potential resurgence of COVID-19 when a partially-vaccinated America returns to indoor, crowded spaces this fall and winter.

And in headlines: Hurricane Elsa to make landfall on Florida's coast, a new large-scale ransomware attack, and Nikole Hannah-Jones chooses Howard University over UNC-Chapel Hill.

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

Voting Rights And SCOTUS Wrongs Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

The Supreme Court affirmed two provisions of an Arizona law that restricted voting rights, yesterday. One would void ballots from citizens who voted in the wrong precinct, and the other would restrict voters from having their ballots delivered to a polling station by a third party. The justices also overturned a California law requiring charities to disclose the identities of their major donors, citing it as a violation of the First Amendment.

The Manhattan DA’s Office charged the Trump Organization for an alleged 15 year tax evasion scheme involving concealed benefits paid to executive employees. The focus of the prosecution is on the firm’s CFO, Allen Weisselberg, who is expected to take the brunt of the criminal charges instead of Trump himself.

And in headlines: the U.S. gained international support for a global minimum tax, Liz Cheney was nominated to the January 6th Committee, and Britney Spears’ father remains part of her conservatorship.

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

Cosby For Concern Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court set Bill Cosby free on a technicality after he served part of his sentence for three counts of sexual assault. Back in 2005, when he was a local DA and before he was Trump’s defense lawyer, attorney Bruce Castor promised Cosby that nothing he said in a deposition for a civil case would be used against him in a criminal proceeding, and honoring that promise meant Cosby should never have been charged in the first place.

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld died at 88 years old from multiple myeloma. He was responsible for countless war crimes in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, so it’s almost perfect timing that U.S. troops are set to withdraw from Afghanistan this week following his death.

And in headlines: counting chaos in the NYC mayoral race, the U.S. State Department adds a third gender to passports, and Nikole Hannah-Jones finally gets tenure from UNC.

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

Heatwave Back At It Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Intense heat waves in the Pacific Northwest are causing heavy power demands and rolling blackouts. Unprecedented rainfall in the Midwest has caused flooding, which politicians have blamed on a lack of spending on proper infrastructure.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced a bill to establish a House committee that will investigate the January 6 Capitol riot. The committee will have 13 members, but it's not known whether Republicans will want to be part of it.

Plus Cleo Stiller fills in for Gideon. And in headlines: L.A. County advises masking indoors again, rare black hole and neutron star collisions are spotted, and the House votes to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol.

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

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