What A Day

Latest Episodes:

Pharma Police Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

The DOJ announced an $8.3 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma yesterday for illegally marketing their painkiller Oxycontin. The settlement doesn’t prevent members of the Sackler family, who own Purdue Pharma, from criminal liability and there is still a criminal case pending.

Protests continue in Nigeria against a notorious police unit called SARS, which has been accused of corruption, violence and other forms of abuse. Earlier this week, security forces fired on a crowd of protesters, reportedly killing several people and injuring others.

And in headlines: lawyers unable to find parents of 545 children who were separated under Trump immigration policy, Big Ten mayors ask conference organizers to be COVID-cautious, and another Quick Bites the dust.

Show Links:

Support protesters in Nigeria:

https://feministcoalition2020.com/

"These Twelve Elections Could Curb ICE's Power"

https://theappeal.org/politicalreport/immigration-in-november-2020/

OK Google, What's A Monopoly Oct 21, 2020

Show notes

The Justice Department filed a major lawsuit against Google saying that the company is illegally trying to maintain its search dominance using anti-competitive practices. We look at what's the behind the case and what it could mean for Google.

Trial volunteers in London will be deliberately infected with COVID-19 to aid in vaccine research starting in January, if a plan by researchers gets approval from regulators. In the US, the governors of California and New York are pledging review any FDA-approved vaccine before disseminating it to the public in their states.

And in headlines: a grand juror in the Breonna Taylor case speaks out, Ireland reimposes shutdown, and Phil Collins’ house is occupied by his ex-wife and armed guards.

Show Links:

"Why the US government is suing Google"

https://www.vox.com/recode/21524710/google-antitrust-lawsuit-doj-search-trump-bill-barr

Stuck In The Meddle With GRU Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

In the final two weeks before November 3rd, Trump has been criticizing his own public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci. Meanwhile, Biden and Harris have been defending scientists and their role in public policy.

Federal prosecutors charged six men for some of the biggest, most notorious hacks in recent years, including the 2018 Winter Olympics hack and a 2017 hack on Ukraine. The hackers are all members of the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, which was also linked to election interference in the 2016 election.

And in headlines: Carlos Mesa poised to win the Bolivian election, Trump will remove Sudan from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, and a 2,000 year old cat carving in Peru.

Show Links:

"The Untold Story of the 2018 Olympics Cyberattack, the Most Deceptive Hack in History" https://www.wired.com/story/untold-story-2018-olympics-destroyer-cyberattack/

Con Census Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

In the US, we’re now seeing uncontrolled spread of coronavirus as parts of the country get colder and people prepare to gather for the holidays. On Friday, the CEO of Pfizer said his company won’t apply for emergency vaccine authorization until late November at the earliest, which appears to be the nail in the coffin for any vaccine getting approval by election day.

After SCOTUS ruled that Trump could shut down the census count last Tuesday, the court agreed on Friday to review Trump’s plan to omit undocumented immigrants for the purposes of determining congressional seats. Civil rights groups are already suing the administration over the latter plan, which would further entrench systemic racism in how marginalized demographic groups are represented.

And in headlines: Bolivia voted yesterday in an election that could signal the future of socialism in the region, Colorado battles historic wildfires, and a probiotic, problematic yogurt shop in Colorado.

Show Links:

"What the Supreme Court’s rulings mean for the 2020 Census and Trump’s attempt to exclude the undocumented from the count"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/what-the-supreme-courts-rulings-mean-for-the-2020-census-and-trumps-attempt-to-exclude-the-undocumented-from-the-count/2020/10/17/5d299b98-0f71-11eb-8a35-237ef1eb2ef7_story.html

Everything Is Feinstein Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

A new study shows eight million people have fallen into poverty since May, when the CARES Act money started running out, but lawmakers in Washington still can’t agree on a second relief bill. We review the current state of negotiations, and how the delay is affecting Americans in need.

Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped up their confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, with no big surprises except a few frustrating moments where Democratic ranking member Dianne Feinstein went out of her way to signal approval for the process and for Lindsey Graham.

And in headlines: Thailand declares a “state of extreme emergency” after protests, three people who were traveling with Biden and Harris test positive for COVID-19, and the BTS IPO. Plus Crooked's own Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah.

Show Links:

"Inside the Fall of the CDC" https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-fall-of-the-cdc

Rotten To The Court Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

Amy Coney Barrett appeared for her last day of Senate questioning yesterday and gave more evasive non-responses. Today is the final day of the hearings, and will feature witness testimony on Barrett’s nomination.

Brian Fallon is the executive director of Demand Justice, a group which pushes for progressive structural reforms and political hardball when it comes to the judiciary. We spoke to him about Barrett’s confirmation and what Democrats need to do differently to fix the courts.

And in headlines: 5.2 million people in the country won’t be able to vote because of felony convictions, Europe faces a second wave of Covid-19, and a major scandal in the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Plus, Crooked's own Erin Ryan fills in for Akilah Hughes.

Take On Amy Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

Yesterday was day two of Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings, when members of the Senate Judiciary Committee got their first public chance to directly question the nominee. There were a lot of questions, but there weren’t many answers.

Safety concerns led Johnson & Johnson to pause a large clinical trial of its COVID vaccine candidate and Eli Lilly to pause trials of their antibody drug. A new study found a person in Nevada was infected twice with COVID within a period of six weeks, which is the first confirmed case of reinfection in the US.

And in headlines: the Supreme Court rules to halt the census, Trump vs. Fauci, and a tourist in Peru waits 7 months to visit Machu Picchu.

If U Seek Amy Coney Barrett Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

Senate hearings began yesterday to consider Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Democrats tried to keep the focus on the Affordable Care Act, while Republicans treated the day like they were writing a profile of Barrett for a conservative version of Marie Claire.

With three weeks left until November 3rd, we look at recent polling, what it says about swing voters, and the state of early voting across the country.

And in headlines: the California GOP installs illegal ballot-drop boxes, Facebook announces it will ban Holocaust denial, and the epic battle between Microsoft and Trickbot.

Show Links:

https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/

Vaccine Nation With Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Senate confirmation hearings begin today for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's Supreme Court nominee. The president is scheduled to return to the campaign trail today just over a week after being hospitalized with COVID-19, after his doctor released a memo saying he’s no longer contagious, but providing no other information.

Daily new cases of COVID-19 in the US are creeping above 50,000, which is the highest since August. Our guest host for today—epidemiologist and former Detroit health commissioner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—answers our questions on what’s to come this winter, the long-term effects of COVID-19, and how to fight “vaccine hesitancy."

And in headlines: Nigeria’s government disbands a controversial police unit, Pakistan bans TikTok, and Jaime Harrison’s record-breaking fundraising against Senator Lindsey Graham.

Show Links:

America Dissected, hosted by Abdul El-Sayed https://crooked.com/podcast-series/america-dissected/

The Date Debaters Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

Thirteen men were charged yesterday in connection to an alleged violent plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. This is unsurprising when you consider Trump’s “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” tweets from earlier in the year that encouraged armed protestors to mount anti-government and anti-COVID restriction rallies.

The fate of next week’s debate is in question after an extended back-and-forth between the Trump and Biden campaigns, which concluded with Trump insisting that he should be allowed to debate in person next week, even though he could still be contagious. House speaker Nancy Pelosi will introduce legislation today to create a “Commission on Presidential Capacity” that would evaluate the president’s mental and physical health for office.

And in headlines: Hurricane Delta is set to be 2020’s tenth named hurricane to hit the US, incarcerated inmates can now apply for stimulus checks, and Google’s parent company introduces Waymo. Plus, Crooked's own Tommy Vietor fills in for Gideon.

Show Links:

CARES Act Relief for Incarcerated People (Deadline 10/30/2020)

https://caresactprisoncase.org/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected