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The Coronavirus Official Who Quit Jul 29, 2020

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Arizona largely avoided the coronavirus when it first reached the U.S., but after a rapid reopening of the state by Governor Doug Ducey, new cases in the state exploded. Arizona now has well over 165,000 COVID cases and more than three thousand deaths. It was briefly the state with the highest coronavirus death rate in the country. Wendy Smith-Reeve left her role as Director of Arizona’s Division for Emergency Management in late March, accusing Governor Ducey of mismanaging the crisis. She says Arizona’s summer surge could have been avoided.

Guest: Wendy Smith-Reeve, former Director of Arizona’s Division for Emergency Management

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How DHS Got This Way Jul 28, 2020

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The Department of Homeland Security was built to protect the country from terrorists. But its mission was always expansive. After the bizarre detainments in Portland, we’re seeing a reckoning with what this super-agency does.

Guest: Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer for the New Yorker.

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Senate Republicans Are Stuck Jul 27, 2020

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Back in May, when House Democrats were teeing up additional coronavirus relief legislation, the Senate majority made a bet. Republicans waited to see if viral spread would diminish, making additional federal aid unnecessary. Instead, U.S. COVID-19 cases spiked. And economic problems mounted. Now, Senate Republicans are far from a consensus on a relief bill, even as coronavirus-related unemployment benefits run out.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer. Sign up for his excellent newsletter, The Surge.

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TBD | New Orleans Without Music Jul 24, 2020

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More than any other U.S. city, New Orleans banks on its culture. From music to restaurants to parades, the city relies on a steady stream of tourists to support its many artists and institutions. In March, those tourists stopped visiting. And without them, the fragile infrastructure of clubs, venues, and performances is starting to collapse. Can New Orleans survive the coronavirus?

Guests:

Patrick Williams, harmonica player

Jesse Paige, owner of the Blue Nile

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Executive Director of the Ashé Cultural Arts Center

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New Orleans Without Music Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

Guests:

Patrick Williams, harmonica player

Jesse Paige, owner of the Blue Nile

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Executive Director of the Ashé Cultural Arts Center

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will There Ever Be Justice For Breonna Taylor? Jul 23, 2020

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Twenty-six-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by a Louisville Metro Police officer in March. Four months later, and in the wake of mass protests against police brutality, her case is still being investigated. What will justice look like for Breonna Taylor?

Guest: Tessa Duvall, reporter for the Courier-Journal

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Inside the NBA Bubble Jul 22, 2020

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The NBA has announced an ambitious plan to restart the season more than 4 months after it was abruptly halted due to the coronavirus. 22 teams have entered the COVID-free “bubble” at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida — a state with some of the highest cases of coronavirus in the country. As long as players and staff remain in the bubble, they will undergo regular coronavirus tests and face strict campus rules. So what’s life like inside the NBA bubble? And what does this experiment say about who gets access to coronavirus testing and results?

Guest: Ben Golliver covers the NBA for the Washington Post.

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One on One With Dr. Fauci Jul 21, 2020

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID and member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, talks about the surge in cases, reopening schools and the White House’s recent attempts to discredit him.

Guest: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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What Is Going On in Portland? Jul 20, 2020

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This weekend, disturbing video of unmarked federal agents detaining a protestor in Portland circulated on Twitter. Even the state government of Oregon was unable to identify the agents. Now, the state is suing the federal government. Oregon is seeking a restraining order to stop the unlawful detention of its citizens. Why is this happening in Portland?

Guest: Jonathan Levinson, producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting

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TBD | Cities Are Running Out of Money Jul 17, 2020

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After months of coronavirus lockdowns, cities are taking stock of their finances. The situation is bleak. With plummeting sales and property tax revenue, American cities of all sizes may be facing a budget crisis. What happens when local governments have to cut their budgets by double-digit percentages? Will the federal government learn from the Great Recession and intervene?

Guests:

Minh Nguyen, owner of Cafe TH in Houston

Chris Brown, Houston City Controller

Mildred Warner, professor of urban planning at Cornell.

Host: Henry Grabar

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