Daily News
**What A Day**

If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.

Latest Episodes:

Ad AstraZeneca Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

European countries including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain will resume using the AstraZeneca vaccine as early as today or next week. This comes the European Medicines Agency found no increased risk of blood clots among millions of vaccinations. The Biden administration announced plans to do "vaccine diplomacy" by sending millions of AstraZeneca doses to Canada and Mexico.

It's still not clear whether this week's killings in Georgia will officially be designated a hate crime... we explain why that designation is so rare, specifically in instances of anti-Asian violence.

Plus, we're joined by The Daily Show's Roy Wood Jr. for headlines: Putin and Biden transatlantic beef, free sushi for people named Salmon in Taiwan, and Justin Long double-crosses to do ads for PCs.

Show Links:

"Asian-Americans Are Being Attacked. Why Are Hate Crime Charges So Rare?"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/nyregion/asian-hate-crimes.html

"Stop AAPI Hate National Report"

https://secureservercdn.net/104.238.69.231/a1w.90d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/210312-Stop-AAPI-Hate-National-Report-.pdf

Check out Roy Wood Jr.'s new podcast "Roy's Job Fair"

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roys-job-fair/id1557272095

Check out NBA ALL CAPS, the new Youtube series from Crooked's Jason Concepcion

https://www.youtube.com/takelineshow

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

Biden At The Border Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

A White gunman attacked three spas in the Atlanta area on Tuesday killing eight people including six women of Asian descent. The shootings happened in the larger context of increasing violence and racism faced by Asian-Americans.

Yesterday we talked about the surge in migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border. Today, we spoke to Atlantic staff writer Caitlin Dickerson to get a better sense of how we got here, how the Biden administration differs from Trump and Obama, and what’s to come.

And in headlines: the ADL says 2020 marked a huge surge in White supremacist propaganda, the Movement for Black Lives doesn't support the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and Uber to treat drivers as workers in England.

Show Links:

Learning for Justice has put together a toolkit for how to respond to COVID-19 Anti-Asian racism

https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/how-to-respond-to-coronavirus-racism

Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund

https://www.aaldef.org/

Donate to the Asian Pacific Environmental Network

http://apen4ej.org/

If you need support:

Call 1-800-273-TALK

Asian languages: 1-877-990-8585

Text "CONNECT" to 741741

Or visit the Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory

https://www.asianmhc.org/apisaa

Report hate and harassment:

https://www.standagainsthatred.org/report

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

Shots For Tots Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Nearly 10,000 children seeking asylum have arrived to the United States southern border since February, and a lack of shelter space has led many of them to detention centers with substandard conditions. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the number of people arriving at the border this year is expected to reach a 20-year high.

Moderna is beginning to test its COVID vaccine in children ages 6-months to 12-years-old, while other drug companies have started or will start trials in slightly older children. There's some debate about whether 3-feet of distance between students in schools might be sufficient... but the CDC has yet to revise their initial recommendation of 6-feet.

And in headlines: Georgia voters call on companies like Coca-Cola and Home Depot to stand against voter suppression law, believe it or not Russia did interference in the 2020 election, and Utah's state legislature wants to block porn on cell phones.

Show Links:

"How Amazon Crushes Unions"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/16/technology/amazon-unions-virginia.html

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

Vax on Pause Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Italy, Germany, France and several other countries in Europe are halting use of Astrazeneca’s coronavirus vaccine amid concerns over side effects in handful of people. The company is defending the drug while authorities assess the situation further.

Derek Chauvin’s defense lawyers have requested to postpone and relocate his trial following news of a $27 million settlement for the killing of George Floyd.

And in headlines: Protests against sexual violence in Australia, Google’s goes to court over incognito mode, and hundreds of Spring Break-ers arrested in Miami Beach.

Show Links:

"Hints of strategy and new revelations in first week of Derek Chauvin murder trial"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/15/derek-chauvin-trial-strategy/

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

Cuom Alone 2: Lost In New York Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

Covid cases continue to decline, though at a much slower rate than in January. That leveling off, plus the continued threat of variants has public health officials warning people to stay vigilant. Meanwhile, Italy goes back into lockdown.

The Governor Cuomo saga continues to worsen with new reporting that his vaccine czar inappropriately called local officials to secure their support for Cuomo. This comes after a flood of Democratic lawmakers from New York called on the Governor to resign last Friday, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

And in headlines: London police face backlash for breaking up Sarah Everard vigil, FEMA at the border, and Avatar reclaims its place as the highest-grossing film ever.

Show Links:

Follow What A Day on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

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

Respect Trans Existence Or Expect Resistance Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

President Biden said last night that he wants states to make all US adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1st. In the coming days, he and VP Harris have plans to travel to sell the relief bill to the American people, and the first round of direct payments could be going out as soon as this weekend.

Mississippi just approved the first anti-trans law of 2021, which would require public schools and universities to make athletes compete according to their sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity. The ACLU is campaigning hard against these sorts of laws, and more than 500 NCAA athletes signed a letter this week asking the NCCAA to stop holding championship events in states with these kinds of laws or bills in the works.

And in headlines: New York's state assembly will open an impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo, Derek Chauvin is now facing an additional third degree murder charge, and someone named Beeple makes $69 million selling an NFT JPG.

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

Giving Vax And Taking Names Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Today marks one year since the World Health Organization officially called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The US vaccination effort offers a glimpse of hope, though, with the total number of fully vaccinated Americans now exceeding the number of reported cases we've had nationwide.

We spoke with Sana Khan, a PhD student at the University of Arizona who is also a vaccination site volunteer, to get a better sense of what things look like on the ground, and what the 1-year mark means to her.

And in headlines: Arkansas outlaws abortion in all cases except when the pregnant person's life is at risk, Russia slows down Twitter domestically, and celebs are living the good unmasked life in Oz.

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

Fight For Your Right To Organize Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

The House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act on Tuesday, a bill that’s been called the biggest expansion of labor rights since the New Deal. Now, the question is whether the filibuster will kill this bill in the Senate… or if the bill will kill the filibuster. We discuss, and hear from Faiz Shakir, founder of More Perfect Union, on what this moment means for the labor movement.

Today, the House is likely to pass the revised COVID relief bill, the last step before it goes to Biden’s desk. We talk through some provisions in the bill that are getting less attention: money for Native communities, money for Black farmers, and fixes to the Affordable Care Act.

And in headlines: Myanmar’s military government cracks down on media coverage of protests, Tennessee expands vaccine eligibility to include inmates, and Piers Morgan to defend the Queen on his own time.

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

Our House Is A Very Very Very Vaxxed House Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

The CDC said fully vaccinated Americans can safely gather indoors together, and laid out other guidelines for our current stage of the pandemic. The daily rate of vaccination continues to increase, with a record of 2.9 million shots being given last Saturday.

The jury selection process in the trial of Derek Chauvin was delayed yesterday due to a dispute over whether a third degree murder charge can be brought. Finding impartial jurors will also prove to be difficult, considering the high-profile nature of the case.

And in headlines: Biden orders the Department of Education to review changes to Title 9 made under Trump, pervert rat Pepe Le Pew won't appear in Space Jam 2, and Papa John's 20-month anti-racism education.

Show Links:

"Meet the GOP voters who could decide whether the U.S. reaches herd immunity"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/03/07/republicans-covid-vaccine/

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

Coming To The American Rescue Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

Senate Democrats passed the $1.9 trillion economic relief bill on Saturday, without any support from Republicans. The final bill pared back some elements of the House's version, including a minimum wage hike. Still, it's a massive cash infusion for low and middle income Americans, and could cut child poverty in half by some estimate.

Yesterday was the 56th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," where civil rights activists dared to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama and were met with extreme violence from police. Biden marked the day by signing an executive order aimed at expanding voting access.

And in headlines: lawmakers call for Andrew Cuomo's resignation following additional allegations of sexual harassment, Swiss voters approve burqa ban, and a look at vaccination passports.

Show Links:

https://votesaveamerica.com/forthepeople/

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