What A Day

Latest Episodes:

UBI Feel It Coming Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

Republican governors in West Virginia and Alabama have continued to advise wearing masks, bucking the trend of governors in Mississippi and Texas who want to rush things back to normal. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his state will start sending 40 percent of doses to its most vulnerable neighborhoods.

New data out this week from a Basic Income experiment in Stockton, California show that giving people monthly government stipends increase their quality of life and ability to get a full time job.

And in headlines: Italy blocked a quarter million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from being exported to Australia, a series of major earthquakes and tsunami warnings near New Zealand, and great apes get vaccinated in San Diego.

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

The Trial Of Derek Chauvin Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

Jury selection begins next week for the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyd’s neck and killed him last summer. We spoke to Jamiles Lartey, staff writer at The Marshall Project, about Chauvin’s history of using excessive force and how that could play into the trial.

And in headlines: the House passes a bill to fight voter suppression and protect democracy, President Biden agrees to narrow the income limits of people eligible to get a COVID relief check, and Amazon changes its new logo to make it look less like Hitler.

Show Links:

“That Could Have Been Me”: The People Derek Chauvin Choked Before George Floyd

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/02/02/that-could-have-been-me-the-people-derek-chauvin-choked-before-george-floyd

Follow Jamiles Lartey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamiles

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

It's Gonna Be May Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Biden is now saying that we'll have enough vaccine doses for every American by the end of May, instead of July. Meanwhile, states like Texas and Mississippi lifting their mask requirements and relaxing restrictions -- something that public health officials have warned against.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to congress yesterday, defending his agency’s handling of intelligence in advance of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. There’s another big hearing today, with a witness list that includes officials from the FBI, the National Guard, DHS, and more.

And in headlines: 300 girls who were abducted in Nigeria were released, Jackson Mississippi still doesn’t have water, and six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published.

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

Read My Lips: More Billionaire Taxes Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

The coronavirus relief bill moves to the Senate this week. A group of progressive House Democrats are continuing to push for a minimum wage increase in the bill. Meanwhile, Senator Warren and other Democrats introduced a wealth tax proposal aimed at addressing economic inequality. We talk to Representative Pramila Jayapal about why she's pushing for it now.

Protests in Myanmar are ongoing following the coup last month and the response from the police and military has grown increasingly violent. We review the recent history of the country, and recommend some good resources for digging in deeper.

And in headlines: President Biden meets virtually with Mexican President Lopez-Obrador, why pharma companies won’t share vaccine blueprints, and former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy is convicted of corruption.

Show Links:

"Is Democracy in Myanmar Dead?"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/opinion/myanmar-protests.html

Follow journalist Aye Min Thant's on the ground reporting

https://twitter.com/the_ayeminthant

"How a Deadly Power Game Undid Myanmar’s Democratic Hopes"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/asia/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi.html

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

GO—And I Cannot Suppress This Enough—P Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

The US vaccination campaign is accelerating, with the country hitting over 2 million doses a day last Friday and Saturday. Following a plunge in new cases over the last few weeks, health experts are expressing some concern that progress may be plateauing.

This week the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could determine the future of the Voting Rights Act. It comes as Republicans around the country introducing a flurry of bills to make voting harder. Democrats are pushing back, and on a federal level, they’re set to pass the For The People Act or HR1, which would end partisan gerrymandering, allow for automatic voter registration, and more.

And in headlines: Biden faces bipartisan backlash following airstrikes in Syria, Cuomo responds to a new allegation of sexual harassment, and Bella and Gigi Hadid’s dad does real estate hijinks in LA.

Show Links:

"The For the People Act Is Popular, Pass It Right Away"

https://crooked.com/articles/for-the-people-act/

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

Minimum Wage, Maximum Rage Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

The House is expected to pass its COVID relief bill as soon as today, but there's still a question of what happens when the bill gets to the Senate. Yesterday the Senate parliamentarian said the minimum wage increase couldn’t pass via the budget process. We explain the ruling, the reaction and where things could go from here.

With Black History Month almost over, we spoke to Black history educators from across the country about what it means to them in 2021 and who they are celebrating this year.

And in headlines, we're joined by special guest Nicole Byer: Lady Gaga's friend shot and dogs stolen, a man implicates himself at the Capitol riots by texting his ex, and Trump's tax records are in the hands of Manhattan prosecutors.

Show Links:

"2020 and the Recognition of HBCU Power"

https://crooked.com/articles/2020-hbcu/

"The Overlooked Role of Black Greek Organizations"

https://crooked.com/articles/black-greek-organizations-harris/

Journalist Farai Chideya on building a media that’s more representative and better connected to all communities (Pod Save America)

https://crooked.com/podcast/party-of-q/

Activist Alicia Garza on organizing for change under Biden (Lovett Or Leave It)

https://crooked.com/podcast/teds-excellent-adventure/

Journalist and host of the Black Diplomats podcast Terrell Jermaine Starr on how domestic activism fits into American foreign policy (Pod Save The World)

https://crooked.com/podcast/the-coup-in-myanmar-explained/

Comedian and commentator Baratunde Thurston on how Black and White America moves forward post Trump (Keep It)

https://crooked.com/podcast/free-against-the-music-with-baratunde-thurston/

OB/GYN and women’s health advocate Dr. Heather Irobunda on racism in medicine and how she’s using Tik Tok to “empower vagina owners"

https://crooked.com/podcast/whats-up-doc-with-dr-heather-irobunda/

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

Vaccinate K-8 Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

The FDA put out analyses yesterday showing that Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine is highly effective, setting the stage for its approval as early as this weekend.

The CDC put out new guidelines for safely reopening schools earlier this month, and it comes as the Biden administration has said they are working to get a majority of K-8 schools open in their first 100 days. We spoke to Washington Post education reporter Moriah Balingit about the new guidelines, the COVID risk in schools, and what it all means for teachers and parents.

And in headlines: Ghana became the first country to get free COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX, an update on Tiger Woods condition following his car crash, and California beats a legal challenge to its net neutrality law.

Show Links:

Read more from Moriah Balingit in the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/moriah-balingit/

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

Capitol Insecurity Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Former Capitol security officials appeared before the Senate yesterday, citing communications failures for their inadequate response to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The Senate also confirmed two more members of Biden’s cabinet: Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador and Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary.

Facebook has now un-banned news on its platform in Australia, after blocking it there in protest of a proposed law that would have required Facebook to pay the outlets that give the platform its content. Now, Australia has backed off, and will only require Facebook to negotiate with media partners.

And in headlines: the police officers who killed Daniel Prude will not face criminal charges, the Biden administration opened its first facility to house migrant children in Texas, and McDonald’s releases its new crispy chicken sandwich.

Subscribe to What A Day on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

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

The Return Of The Tax Returns Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

The Supreme Court threw out the final Trump lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 election, and also paved the way for Trump’s taxes to be disclosed to a New York Grand Jury.

The US is behind other countries in our ability to sequence and track COVID variants, but the White House announced they would devote $200 million to expanding those efforts and there’s even more in the upcoming economic relief package. In the UK, prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping to slowly ease out of lockdown, with a plan to reopen schools on in two weeks.

And in headlines: officers in Colorado didn’t have a legal basis for frisking and restraining Elijah McClain, Virginia will become the first Southern state to end the death penalty, and a new podcast from Obama and Springsteen.

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

Shock Me Like An Electric Bill Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

The US is approaching 500,000 deaths from Covid-19. But there is good news, too: New studies suggest that the vaccines might prevent transmission, and Biden’s goal of administering 100 million COVID vaccine shots in 100 days seems very much within reach.

The extreme weather in Texas is improving, with power back on. Now, the focus is shifting to ensuring people have food and safe water. Some Texans have also discovered that the state’s unregulated, market-driven energy system has led to them being stuck with soaring electricity bills following last weeks energy scarcity. We explain.

And in headlines: organizers in Myanmar call for a general strike to protest military takeover, Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing, and the family of Malcom X brings forward new evidence in government assassination plot.

Show Links:

"Texas Blackouts Point to Coast-to-Coast Crises Waiting to Happen"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/climate/united-states-infrastructure-storms.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Follow Crooked Media on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

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