What A Day

More cases of the omicron variant have been identified in the U.S., and the Biden administration announced a new plan to make at-home rapid tests covered by private health insurance, launch family vaccination clinics, extend the federal mask mandate on public transportation, and more.Mexico agreed to allow the U.S. to restart the controversial “Remain in Mexico” asylum policy that was put into place by President Trump. The policy requires asylum seekers at the Southern border to stay in Mexico as they wait for immigration hearings. And in headlines: MLB owners and players failed to reach a deal on a new work agreement, former Ohio Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade was charged with murder for the shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., and Congress approved a short-term spending bill to fund the government until mid-February.Show Notes:New York Times: “Why Didn’t the U.S. Detect Omicron Cases Sooner?” – https://nyti.ms/3Igjjj6Washington Post: “Biden pledges to fight new variant ‘with science and speed,' as omicron cases multiply and winter outlook worsens” – https://wapo.st/3rLKXibFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Supreme Court heard a case yesterday that could ultimately reverse the constitutional right to an abortion. And it looks like the justices were leaning towards upholding a Mississippi law that bars abortion after 15 weeks.The first confirmed case of the omicron variant has been identified in the U.S. President Biden urged people to not panic and encouraged more vaccinations and boosters. U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh joins us to discuss how the variant could impact the supply chain and what the administration is doing to loosen bottlenecks.And in headlines: a 15-year-old boy was charged with murder and terrorism in Tuesday's school shooting in Michigan, Stacey Abrams announced that she will run for Georgia governor in 2022, and El Salvador will pay damages to a woman who died in prison while serving time for an abortion conviction.For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, the Supreme Court hears what is likely the most consequential reproductive health case in decades. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will decide whether or not Mississippi can prohibit abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. And the worst case scenario is that the high court uses the case to completely overturn Roe v. Wade. We lay out what listeners should watch for.Dutch health officials reported that the Omicron variant was actually in Europe prior to South African scientists discovering it and alerting the World Health Organization. This adds a new wrinkle to the question of where it originated from unanswered.And in headlines: A school shooting in Michigan left 3 students dead, Dr. Oz announced that he’s running for Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican, and CNN suspended Chris Cuomo from the network indefinitely.Show Notes:New York Times: “How 2 Flights to Europe May Have Spurred Spread of New Variant” – https://nyti.ms/2ZKZijeFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the last 24 hours, world leaders and health officials had more to say about the Omicron variant, even as we wait for more scientific information to come out. The World Health Organization said in part that Omicron poses a “very high” global risk, and multiple countries have imposed controversial travel restrictions. President Biden made his first remarks about Omicron yesterday and emphasized that people should get fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.And in headlines: Jack Dorsey stepped down as Twitter’s CEO, leftist presidential candidate Xiomara Castro took the electoral lead in Honduras, and new evidence showed Chris Cuomo used his connections to gather info for his brother Andrew Cuomo’s defense team.For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scientists in South Africa announced on Thursday that they detected a new variant of the coronavirus: Omicron. Cases caused by the variant have been identified in almost a dozen countries, but not yet in the U.S. Epidemiologist and host of “America Dissected” Dr. Abdul El-Sayed gives us a better sense of what we know and the much bigger amount of things we don’t. And in headlines: Ghislaine Maxwell’s federal trial starts today, legendary Black fashion designer Virgil Abloh died after battling cancer, and South Korea announced plans to build its own metaverse.Show Notes:Washington Post: “Officials: Variants ‘haunt’ world with vaccine imbalance between rich and poor nations” – https://wapo.st/3lgDGTpPolitico: “Omicron raises concerns about global vaccine equity and hesitancy” – https://politi.co/3lhIDLrFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thanksgiving is almost here in the U.S., where COVID cases are up by more than 20 percent compared to last month. Dr. Ashish Jha, the Dean of Brown’s School of Public Health, helps us understand how we should compare these stats to last year, and what we can expect as we head into the holiday season.And in headlines: Kevin Strickland was exonerated after 43 years in prison, a jury holds three pharmacy chains liable for contributing to the opioid crisis, and a Trump-presidency themed bar opened in Manhattan.Show Notes:Brown University’s Dr. Ashish Jha – https://bit.ly/3lpdWV1For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Attorneys presented closing arguments in the trial of the three Georgia men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery, yesterday. Now, we wait for the jury to decide whether they’ll be convicted.On Sunday night, a man plowed his vehicle into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. At least five people died and several others were injured in the incident. Police are charging the suspect with five counts of intentional homicide.And in headlines: A Florida judge dismissed all charges against The Groveland Four, President Biden renominated Jerome Powell to lead the Federal Reserve for a second term, and the U.S. was deemed a “backsliding democracy” for the first time ever.Show Notes:City of Waukesha: https://twitter.com/CityofWaukeshaFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After four days of deliberation, a Wisconsin jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts on Friday. As a defendant, Rittenhouse had a strong case under the law, but over the weekend, people expressed their discontent with the verdict. We discuss the result in the broader context of the criminal justice system and its bearing on issues of race in America.And in headlines: protesters took to the streets in several European cities against COVID restrictions, Sudan’s Prime Minister was reinstated after being arrested during a military coup, and more childless adults in the U.S. say they are unlikely to ever have kids.For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

House Democrats are on the verge of passing President Biden's Build Back Better bill, and once they do, it will head to the Senate. The $1.9 trillion social spending bill is a key part of Biden’s agenda.Both that legislation and the recently passed infrastructure bill have provisions to address climate change. And all this week, EPA administrator Michael Regan has been touring the country to get a first-hand look at polluted communities fighting for environmental justice. Regan joins us to discuss how those bills could lead to better investments in these communities, climate change, and more. And in headlines: Julius Jones’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison, more than 400 Iraqis flew home after weeks of life-threatening conditions at the Belarus-Poland border, and two Iranian nationals were indicted for interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.Show Notes:EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan to Embark on “Journey to Justice” Tour – https://bit.ly/3nsRBHsThe Guardian: “Residents of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley hopeful for action after EPA head’s visit” – https://bit.ly/3CzHqVEFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week is Trans Awareness Week, leading up to the Trans Day of Remembrance on Saturday. This year is particularly important because 2021 is the deadliest year on record for trans and nonbinary people in the U.S., according to the Human Rights Campaign. Kate Sosin, the LGBTQ+ Reporter for the non-profit news organization, The 19th, joins us to discuss the rights and safety of trans people in America, among other trans news.And in headlines: tensions at the border between Belarus and Poland temporarily eased, two men found guilty of assassinating Malcolm X in 1965 are expected to be exonerated today, and President Biden unveiled a plan to drastically increase the country’s investment in coronavirus vaccines.Show Notes:Kate Sosin at The 19th News – https://19thnews.org/author/kate-sosin/GLITS – https://www.glitsinc.org/Marsha P. Johnson Institute – https://marshap.orgTransLatin@ Coalition – https://www.translatinacoalition.orgFor a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.