A deep-dive retrospective into the early pandemic era reveals the friction between political optics, digital surveillance, and the controversial enforcement of global lockdown protocols.
The NYPD deployed 1,000 officers to New York City parks to enforce social distancing as the 2020 pandemic response intensified. This retrospective on the early COVID-19 era examines the political fallout from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s haircut controversy and the installation of the Trump Death Clock in Times Square. The analysis highlights the rapid shift from public health education to punitive enforcement measures across major American cities.
Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that 66% of new New York infections occurred among citizens staying at home, challenging the efficacy of universal lockdowns. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci faced allegations of criminal liability regarding his historical role in the HIV/AIDS crisis and the suppression of hydroxychloroquine. The FBI warned that Chinese and Iranian hackers targeted U.S. vaccine research at universities, while the Lincoln Project launched the Mourning in America campaign to criticize federal leadership. In Pennsylvania, Health Secretary Rachel Levine faced scrutiny for moving her mother out of a nursing home while ordering facilities to accept COVID-positive patients.
Satirical moments include a public service announcement urging homebound citizens not to start new podcasts and the use of well-dressed mannequins to fill empty seats at The Inn at Little Washington. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak reflect on the synchronization of local news scripts and the emergence of the Rosa mask-detection robot. The episode features a montage of the media's repetitive mass debate phrasing and Dr. Fauci’s reaction to Brad Pitt’s Emmy-nominated portrayal on Saturday Night Live.
Loading show notes…
Loading clips…
CHAPTER 01 / 93Discussion
No Agenda Episode 1722, COVID-19 Retrospective Introduction
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak introduce episode 1722 of the No Agenda show, a "best of" compilation focused on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They reflect on the political nature of drug treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin during the Trump administration. The hosts discuss the prevalence of unused testing kits and the shift in public discourse since 2020.
00:00 Adam Curry, John C. DeVorah. It's Thursday, December 19, 2024. This is your award-winning Gillan Nation Media Assassination Episode 1722. This is no agenda. And broadcasting live, almost live from the heart of the Texas Hill Country here in FEMA Region number 6. In the morning everybody, I'm Adam Curry. And from Northern Silicon Valley where I'm here avoiding the spike protein. I'm John C. DuBois. It's Crackpot and Buzzkill. In the morning. Yes everybody, welcome to episode 1722, a best of but we're here.
00:39 to get you ready for it as I am traveling to my sister for the holidays. This is something different. Well, not really different, but something that I think is timely, this one. They're all timely. We did a climate change one, kind of an evergreen timely. Yeah, yeah. But this particular one, which a strokey bill put together for us in two parts, takes us all the way back to the very beginning of COVID, actually comes in with, I believe it starts with the testing.
01:17 And man, remember that testing? Yeah, we talked about the spinning it, spin it up. How many of those kits do you still have? How many of those test kits do you still have at the house? Well, these are the kits that came in later. I have probably two or three cases of them. Because they always give them away. They're giving them away free and when you order a batch from the government or from your local pharmacy, they give you five or six of them. Yeah. They're useless, but they're kind of decorative. Well, I mean, just look at now. I mean, Tina and I take ivermectin weekly. Well, you know, it was hydroxychloroquine that was the first
01:54 Obscure drug that came into the conversation. Oh, that's right. I forgot. Don't forget that. Hydroxychloroquine. As soon as Trump mentioned it, it was verboten. Because this was the era, we have to always remember, it's kind of hard to, but it's all I have to remember because it's so long ago, that whatever Trump did, they did the opposite. Yep. So Trump suggests Ivermectin, I'm sorry, he suggests hydroxychloroquine and so it's bad. And then Ivermectin came into the conversation later and it became bad too. Horse paste, what are you doing, you crazy people? So, this particular best of, warning, trigger warning, you could get all mad all over again in listening to it because you just hear how crazy it was and what we lived through. And congratulations if you're listening to this episode because you lived. You lived through it. You probably lived through it with us. So let's get started right now with part one of the best if there's such a thing of COVID.
CHAPTER 02 / 93Discussion
NYPD Mask Enforcement, Social Distancing Penalties in New York
NYPD Chief of Department Terrence Monaghan announced that 1,000 officers would patrol New York City parks and beaches to enforce social distancing and mask-wearing. Officials warned that while the initial focus was on education, non-compliance could lead to citations or arrests. The measure aimed to prevent large gatherings during warm weather at the height of the pandemic.
02:55 CBS 2 has learned that an army of NYPD officers will fan out across the city this weekend to make sure that people are wearing masks and maintaining social distance. CBS 2's Marcia Kramer has this exclusive story. You might say it's no more Mr. Nice Guy. The NYPD will be out in force at parks, beaches and playgrounds this weekend to make sure New Yorkers don't get up close and personal with each other. That everyone observes social distancing. We're past the point of warning. This is a dangerous situation. NYPD Chief of Department Terrence Monaghan telling me that New Yorkers drawn out of their homes by the expected sunny skies and warm temperatures this weekend will see a large police presence. 1,000 cops all five boroughs to keep New Yorkers safe by trying to stop the spread of COVID-19. Barbecues with large gatherings of people together.
03:51 organized sports event, people hanging together trying to drink or something along those lines. We will be breaking these up. We will be actively involved. People who are just walking together, exercising on a blanket with their family, those aren't people we're going to bother. If they don't have a mask, we'll give them masks. Will you really arrest people? If they confront us, if it becomes an incident, yes, we will. If it has to be, yes. I hope it never comes to that, though, Marsha. People should understand just how dangerous a virus this is. We will shut you down. We will cite you and if we need to, we will arrest you and we will take you to jail. Period. There should be nothing unambiguous about that. Don't make us treat you like a criminal. But if you act like a criminal and you violate the law and you refuse to do what is necessary to save lives in the city in the middle of a pandemic, we will take you to jail. Period.
CHAPTER 03 / 93Discussion
Mayor Lori Lightfoot Haircut Controversy, Ritual Masking Symbolism
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot faced public criticism after receiving a professional haircut despite issuing "Stay Home, Save Lives" orders to the public. Lightfoot defended the action by stating she is the public face of the city and takes personal hygiene seriously. The segment transitions into a philosophical analysis of masking as a ritualistic tool for suppressing the ego and facilitating a new identity.
04:53 Mayor Lightfoot facing criticism tonight after getting her hair done. A photo surfaced of the mayor with a hairdresser, but she appeared to ignore social distancing efforts standing right next to them for the picture. When asked about that photo today, this is what the mayor had to say. I'm the public face of this city. I'm on national media and I'm out in the public eye. And you know, I'm a person who I take my personal hygiene very seriously. As I said, I felt like I needed to have a haircut. I'm not able to do that myself and so I got a haircut.
05:30 You want to talk more about that? Part of the criticism came from the fact that the mayor had called on people not to go out and get their hair done in one of her Stay Home Save Lives PSA. Necessary for new members to function properly in the society they are being inducted into are all imbued at this time. Repetition is typical as its use helps hammer the spell home. The wearing of masks may be required. Masking has traditionally played an important role in rituals of this kind, enabling and hastening the suppression of ego to help facilitate a death of the old identity before the identification with and manifestation of a new one. Disguised under a mask and hidden away, the initiate is more easily able to transcend the self,
CHAPTER 04 / 93Discussion
Political Divide on Masking, 2006 Pandemic Planning Origins
A discussion explores the partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans regarding the necessity of wearing masks in public. The segment claims that the concept of total societal lockdowns originated from a 2006 Bush administration provisional plan based on a high school science project. Skepticism is expressed regarding the scientific validity of shutting down the economy to prevent a second wave of infections.
06:22 pushed further toward that invisible line between the physical and spiritual realms. I'm sure you've seen in a number of polls there's a huge difference between Democrats and Republicans over whether or not they think it's necessary to wear a mask in public. Do you have any sense of why that would be? no sense as to why that would be. That's the choice of the American public, it's the choice of the individual as to whether to wear a mask or not. But again, I'd praise the extraordinary work of this administration in distributing those masks and ensuring healthcare providers get them. The idea of shutting everybody down is a new idea that was developed in the 2006 Bush administration
07:00 provisional plan on pandemics based on a high school student's science project. So the idea that this is the way to go, shutting everything down, is not true, it's not scientifically true. It may be superior, but we don't know yet. So it may just be that when we go back to masks and social distancing in the world, there will be no uptick in the cases. So this idea of a second wave may never happen. Now we will have some upticks, some little outbreaks, but the idea will be to isolate and contain those outbreaks. While this lockdown has been going on, I know from communications to me and Gaz and Jamie at DavidEyte.com, I know from all the postings on the internet, not just in Britain, but around the world in America, that while this lockdown has been going on,
CHAPTER 05 / 93Discussion
5G Infrastructure Rollout During Global Lockdowns
Reports indicate that 5G telecommunications towers were rapidly installed in the United Kingdom and globally during COVID-19 lockdowns. Construction continued overnight as the work was classified as essential, despite most other societal activities being halted. Observers noted the contrast between the general economic shutdown and the accelerated deployment of cellular infrastructure.
07:56 5G masks are being rolled out at a very rapid rate. In the same period of this lockdown, something like another 21 towns and cities have been opened in Britain to 5G. 5G is being Rolled out all over the world at a very great rate of knots. This is a time where everything is supposed to be stopped Yeah, and they're still building towers overnight. Yes Because that's considered essential work
CHAPTER 06 / 93Discussion
Dr. Anthony Fauci Criminal Liability Allegations, HIV and COVID-19
Critics argue that Dr. Anthony Fauci should be held criminally responsible for his handling of COVID-19 and his historical role in the HIV/AIDS crisis. The discussion alleges that Fauci suppressed effective therapies like hydroxychloroquine and interferon alpha in favor of fraudulent research and drug trials. Concerns are raised about the lack of natural herd immunity due to lockdowns and the secondary deaths caused by delayed medical care for cancer and heart disease.
08:31 Do you think that Dr. Fauci played a part in COVID-19 then? Do you think that he should be held accountable or responsible or criminally responsible for the corruption with COVID-19 or even tracing back as far as 30 plus years? Oh, absolutely. He should be held criminally responsible all the way back to the spread of HIV AIDS through the country. At the same time, he did the same thing he's doing now in COVID-19, that is prevent the use of therapies like hydroxychloroquine or type one, low dose type one interferon alpha
09:12 or any number of natural things prevent people from doing the appropriate testing. The FDA didn't do the appropriate serology testing that would have shown that in fact we that the virus had been through this country earlier than thought. And we may have actually had in many places a natural herd immunity that isn't occurring with the lockdown and that people are being prevented. from, you know, even if they were exposed, from getting the disease with prophylactic measures. That's preventative measures like hydroxychloroquine. And all the same time, promoting drug use in research and clinical trials, which he's also doing a similar thing to what he did, what he directed to be done in the case of the XMRVs. That's fraudulent studies that show
10:09 you know, that a drug works when it really doesn't work and how they manipulate the study design in order to, you know, to drag it out. So, and then because we're not developing a natural herd immunity, the amount of disease and death that's being caused while people are, while he's promoting measures that not only don't work, but have caused literally the devastation of our economy. And we won't even be able to count the number of deaths from people who couldn't get adequate care for things like cancer and cardiovascular disease, just simple care for things that have nothing to do with COVID-19.
CHAPTER 07 / 93Discussion
Alberta Trace Together App, Contact Tracing Technology
Alberta Health Services launched "Alberta Trace Together," the first contact tracing application in North America, utilizing Bluetooth technology to record encounters between users. If a user tests positive for COVID-19, they can upload encrypted data to notify others to self-isolate. While the app avoids GPS tracking to address privacy concerns, it remains a focal point for debates on digital surveillance.
10:53 As we come on the air tonight, coronavirus infections are still growing in much of the country. Just as we're learning, there is now a more powerful mutant strain of the virus that is even more difficult to treat. There are now more than 20,000 new confirmed cases every day here in the United States. And while cases are declining in the New York City area, the epicenter of the crisis, elsewhere, the rate of infection is rising. Still, 44 states are moving forward with lifting restrictions. And tonight, President Trump is acknowledging those moves to reopen could lead to even more deaths, telling reporters today that Americans should, quote, think of themselves as warriors. COVID-19 remains a threat, but there's a drive to get out, to get back to normal. Well, AHS says
11:38 there's now an app that could help. Providing this information voluntarily is crucial to our work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Alberta Trace Together is the first contact tracing app available in North America. Every time users pass one another, their phones record the encounter using Bluetooth. Encrypted data will be stored on the phone. Now if one of those users tests positive for COVID-19, the user can upload their interactions to AHS and a contact tracer would call the numbers the phone registered telling them to self-isolate. Like bringing a camera into focus, these techniques give us a far clearer picture that help us to inform our actions going forward. Now the app stores only phone numbers, no locations, it doesn't use GPS, but tracking still raises privacy questions. Alberta's Privacy Commissioner says she has been involved and she supports enhanced contact tracing. In a statement she adds, in my view, Alberta Health has chosen a less intrusive approach in deploying this app.
CHAPTER 08 / 93Discussion
Lincoln Project "Mourning in America" Ad, Trump Response
The Lincoln Project released a campaign advertisement titled "Mourning in America," criticizing President Donald Trump's management of the pandemic. Trump responded with a series of late-night tweets attacking the group and specifically targeting George Conway, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. The ad utilized a play on Ronald Reagan's famous 1984 slogan to highlight national economic and health struggles.
12:38 President Trump is lashing out against a new advertisement by a Republican-led group called the Lincoln Project, calling out his mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic. The one-minute ad is titled, Mourning in America. Spin on Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign slogan. There's mourning in America. And under the leadership of Donald Trump, our country is weaker and sicker and poorer. And now, Americans are asking if we have another four years like this. Will there even be an America? That morning, an America ad spelled M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G. In a series of angry tweets posted just after midnight Tuesday morning, Trump attacked the makers of the ad, singling out George Conway, longtime Trump critic, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. Trump tweeted, quote, "'I don't know what Kellyanne did to her deranged loser of a husband, Moonface, but it must have been really bad,' Trump tweeted."
CHAPTER 09 / 93Discussion
New York Home Infection Rates, Mask Efficacy Skepticism
Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that 66% of new COVID-19 cases in New York occurred among people who were staying at home, a statistic that surprised health officials. Dr. Marty McCary discussed the limitations of masks, noting they may block droplets but do not provide perfect protection and can lead to increased face-touching. The data suggested that confined areas like nursing homes and meatpacking plants remained the primary drivers of the outbreak.
13:41 CBS's Mola Lenghi is going to lead us off tonight in New York City. Mola? Well, Nora, while deaths in New York are down significantly from their peak just a few weeks ago, we're still losing more than 200 people a day to this virus. So many that bodies are being stored in makeshift morgues, like those white refrigerator trucks that you see behind me there. And that is why there is so much hope in this experimental new vaccine that could be ready by this fall. Well, we certainly hope so. I want to put up a quote from Governor Cuomo in New York, which sort of had some surprising information in it. He said 66% of the people who were in new cases were at home, which is shocking to us. He said, this is a surprise. Overwhelmingly, the people were at home. We thought maybe they were taking public transportation and we've taken special precautions. But actually, no, these people were literally at home. 66% of the new cases.
14:34 How does that happen? Well, generally speaking, patients report, and this has been well established, better and safer behaviors than reality. So people report that they may be staying at home, but in fact we know 600 people got the infection during pretty harsh sheltering conditions in the New York area. How did that happen? That means they got the infection during the extreme measures. So, we know the drivers of this infection. We know what they are. They're mass gatherings. They're travel. They're people working in confined areas. They're people with direct contact. And we know that 20 percent of those admissions to the hospital were in nursing homes. We're seeing now in meatpacking areas, those that work in confined areas, especially with high-risk individuals. That is one of our major battles, is dealing with the outbreaks in these challenged areas.
15:24 Yeah. All right. We'll talk to you again soon. Dr. Marty McCary, thank you very much. Good to have you here tonight. wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet but it's not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And often there are unintended consequences. People keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face. And can you get some schmutz sort of staying inside there? Of course, of course. But when you think masks you should think of health care providers needing them and people who are ill.
16:13 And a 56-foot billboard called the Trump Death Clock has been unveiled in Times Square here in New York. The billboard was created by the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Eugene Cherecki. So the Trump Death Clock is a billboard that hangs over Times Square. And what it shows is an estimate of the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths that resulted from the president and his team's failed response to the coronavirus outbreak. Thanks to Dr. Fauci and leading epidemiologists, we now know that had the mitigation guidelines been put into effect just one week earlier, on March 9th instead of March 16th, 60% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths would have been prevented. That's an incredible number.
CHAPTER 10 / 93Discussion
Trump Death Clock, Times Square Billboard
Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki installed a 56-foot billboard in Times Square known as the "Trump Death Clock" to estimate lives lost due to delayed federal response. The clock was based on epidemiological estimates suggesting that implementing mitigation guidelines one week earlier would have prevented 60% of U.S. deaths. The installation served as a public symbol demanding accountability for pandemic leadership.
15:24 Yeah. All right. We'll talk to you again soon. Dr. Marty McCary, thank you very much. Good to have you here tonight. wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet but it's not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And often there are unintended consequences. People keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face. And can you get some schmutz sort of staying inside there? Of course, of course. But when you think masks you should think of health care providers needing them and people who are ill.
16:13 And a 56-foot billboard called the Trump Death Clock has been unveiled in Times Square here in New York. The billboard was created by the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Eugene Cherecki. So the Trump Death Clock is a billboard that hangs over Times Square. And what it shows is an estimate of the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths that resulted from the president and his team's failed response to the coronavirus outbreak. Thanks to Dr. Fauci and leading epidemiologists, we now know that had the mitigation guidelines been put into effect just one week earlier, on March 9th instead of March 16th, 60% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths would have been prevented. That's an incredible number.
16:54 And on behalf of all those who needlessly lost their lives to this failed leadership in a pandemic, we need a symbol, a symbol that cries out not only for accountability, but also for more responsible and responsive stewardship going forward. At the time of this broadcast, the Trump death clock stands at 46,485 and growing. This is the New York City Police Department. Non-essential gatherings of any kind have been prohibited by the governor and the mayor. This gathering is unlawful and you are ordered to disperse. If you fail to disperse immediately, you are subject to arrest.
CHAPTER 11 / 93Discussion
Bill Gates on Global Vaccination, Restaurant Mannequins
Bill Gates stated that global normalcy would only return once the entire world population is vaccinated, emphasizing the scale of the challenge for rich and poor nations alike. Meanwhile, high-end restaurants like The Inn at Little Washington began using well-dressed mannequins to fill seats and maintain social distancing requirements. The contrast highlighted the diverse ways society attempted to adapt to the "new normal."
17:36 In my lifetime, this will be the greatest economic hit. But you don't have a choice. People act like you have a choice. People don't feel like going to the stadium when they might get infected. It's not the government who's saying, okay, just ignore this disease. People are deeply affected by seeing these deaths, by knowing they could be part of the transmission chain and old people, their parents, their grandparents could be affected by this. And so you don't get to say, ignore what's going on here. There will be the ability, particularly in rich countries, to open up if things are done well over the next few months.
18:24 But for the world at large, normalcy only returns when we've largely vaccinated the entire global population. And so, you know, although there's a lot of work on testing, a lot of work on drugs that we're involved with, you know, trying to achieve that ambitious goal, which has never been done for the vaccine, that rises to the top of the list. Alright, what have we got here? We've got, oh, look at this. Look closely at this. That's a restaurant that's using mannequins to fill out the half-empty dining room. What's the story behind this one, Ash?
CHAPTER 12 / 93Discussion
The Heroes Act, Stimulus Package and Mail-in Ballots
House Democrats unveiled the $3 trillion "Heroes Act," which included stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and funding for state governments and the U.S. Postal Service. President Trump criticized the package as a "voting package," expressing strong opposition to provisions for expanded mail-in balloting. Trump argued that mail-in voting is subject to corruption and would negatively impact Republican election prospects.
19:03 This is the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia. It's no ordinary restaurant. It's a Michelin three-star restaurant. To get a table here, it is very coveted. So rather than leave them open, the owners of the restaurant said, let's put in the mannequins. Very well dressed, I may add. Three-piece suits, ties, hats, nice dresses for the ladies. Even if the company is a little lifeless. But by the way, the tasting menu is $248. So I hope you get more than fried chicken and fish and chips. I want a mannequin. That's what I want. Yeah. On Capitol Hill, House Democratic leaders have unveiled a massive 1800 page coronavirus relief package worth three trillion dollars. The so-called Heroes Act would fund expanded unemployment benefits through January 2021, send most U.S. adults another one time twelve hundred dollar stimulus check and provide one
20:03 trillion dollars in assistance to hard-hit state, local and tribal governments. It would also expand SNAP food benefits, fund hazard pay for frontline workers, increase funding for COVID-19 testing and provide $25 billion in funding to the U.S. Postal Service. The bill would not expand Medicare to cover millions of newly uninsured Americans, nor does it provide for rent and mortgage relief or recurring cash payments to U.S. households. The bill would expand the paycheck protection program to bail out corporate lobbyist firms. Climate activists say the bill
20:40 also fails to close loopholes for big polluters. Greenpeace USA tweeted, quote, fossil fuel CEOs will be rejoicing that Congress has once again left the door wide open for handouts to struggling mismanaged oil and gas corporations. But you agree that stimulus should move forward? There's been some Republicans who suggested that. I don't know. It depends. It's certainly not the package that I saw today. Basically, if you look at that package, what they want more than anything else is, it's a voting package. They want to be able to make sure that Republicans can't win an election by putting in all sorts of mailing ballots. Now, that's the problem with mail-in ballots. Are they going to dump a whole pile of ballots on your desk just before the election? So the problem with the mail-in ballots, it's subject to tremendous corruption, tremendous corruption, cheating.
CHAPTER 13 / 93Discussion
Chinese Hacking of Vaccine Research, Geopolitical Competition
The FBI and federal cybersecurity agents warned that hackers linked to the Chinese and Iranian governments were targeting U.S. universities and pharmaceutical companies to steal COVID-19 research. Assistant Attorney General John Demers stated that China is desperate to be the first to develop a vaccine for geopolitical prestige. Tensions escalated as President Trump suggested reporters "ask China" about the global death toll during a press briefing.
21:34 And so I'm against it. And if you look at the bill that Nancy Pelosi is putting in, has a lot to do with elections. And we're not going to lose elections because of that. Tonight, the FBI and federal cybersecurity agents are warning that hackers linked to the Chinese government are trying to steal research on coronavirus vaccines and therapies. The FBI says the potential theft could jeopardize the treatment of patients here in the US. Here's CBS Chief Justice and Homeland Security Correspondent Jeff Begay's. While the coronavirus was sweeping across parts of China in January, US officials say Chinese hackers were already focused on the United States, trying to steal research from universities and pharmaceutical companies that were working on a cure. John Demers is the Assistant Attorney General for National Security. The Chinese for years
22:24 have targeted biomedical research and there's nothing more important than COVID-19 research right now in that field. The hacking charges ratcheted up tensions over the virus between the U.S. and China. What should have been stopped at the source, which was China. But it's not just China. Iran is also on the attack. Researchers at the cybersecurity company Recorded Future say the Iranian state targeted an executive at Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of the promising coronavirus treatment drug Remdesivir. The Demers said China is desperate to be first with the vaccine. You call this a holy grail of
23:02 of information that these foreign hackers are going after. There's nothing more important right now than these treatments and perhaps most significantly for China for geopolitical value to be able to say that they were the first to develop a vaccine. Tonight in a statement, Chinese officials said the accusations were without evidence, but US officials say anyone working on a vaccine should be on hyper alert. Margaret. Yeah, go ahead, please. Many times that the US is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing. Yes. Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you? If every day Americans are still losing their lives and we're still seeing more cases every day? Well, they're losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that's a question you should ask China.
CHAPTER 14 / 93Discussion
RNA Vaccine Development, Safety Risks and Indemnification
The development of RNA vaccines by companies like Moderna and CureVac offered a potential path to beating the traditional 18-month timeline for vaccine creation. Experts noted the difficulty of ensuring efficacy in elderly populations and the risks of side effects when deployed at a global scale. Bill Gates mentioned that governments would need to provide risk indemnification before a vaccine could be distributed to the entire world.
23:57 Don't ask me. Ask China that question, okay? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer. Yes, behind you, please. Sir, why are you saying that to me specifically? I'm telling you, I'm not saying it specifically to anybody. I'm saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that. That's not a nasty question. Please go ahead. Okay, uh, anybody else? Please go ahead in the back, please. I have two questions. No, it's okay. But you pointed to me. I have two questions, Mr. President. Next, next, please. You did, you called on me. I did and you didn't respond and now I'm calling on the young lady in the back, please. I just want to let my colleagues finish. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. There's an approach called RNA vaccine that people like Moderna, CureVac and others are using
24:52 that in 2015 we'd identified that as very promising for pandemics and for other applications as well. And so if everything goes perfectly with the RNA approach, we could actually beat the 18 months. We don't want to create unrealistic expectations. The efficacy of vaccines in older people is always a huge challenge. It turns out the flu vaccine isn't that effective in elderly people. Most of the benefit comes from younger people. people spreading it because they're vaccinated and that benefits on a community basis the elderly. Here, we clearly need a vaccine that works in the upper age range because they're most at risk of that and doing that so that you amp it up so it works in older people and yet you don't have side effects. You know, if we have, you know,
25:51 side effects, that's way more than 700,000 people who will suffer from that. Really understanding the safety at gigantic scale across all age ranges, you know, pregnant, male, female, undernourished, existing comorbidities, it's very, very hard. And that actual decision of, okay, let's go and give this vaccine to the entire world, governments will have to be involved because there will be some risk and indemnification needed before that can be decided on.
CHAPTER 15 / 93Discussion
Rachel Levine Nursing Home Controversy, The Color of COVID
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine faced scrutiny for moving her mother out of a nursing home while simultaneously ordering facilities to admit COVID-positive patients. Levine defended the move as a personal family decision made at her mother's request. Concurrently, CNN announced a special program titled "The Color of COVID" to address the pandemic's disproportionate impact on communities of color.
26:29 Taking on coronavirus in hard hit communities of color. Join Don Lemon and Van Jones with Dr. Regina Benjamin and Robert Smith. Plus messages of hope from Mario Lopez, Samuel L. Jackson and more. The Color of COVID, live tomorrow at 10 on CNN. And now onto the frauds. Let's start with Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, who weeks ago ordered nursing homes to admit COVID positive patients. Well, while thousands of residents saw their loved ones and family members die, Levine quietly extracted her own mother out of harm's way, reportedly moving her from a nursing home to a hotel. My mother requested and my sister and I as her children complied to move her to another location during the COVID-19 outbreak. My mother is 95 years old. She is very intelligent and more than competent to make her own decisions.
CHAPTER 16 / 93Discussion
Emergency Use Authorization, White House Mask Policy
The Trump administration discussed using Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to make vaccines available to the American population by January. During a press event, the President explained that masks were optional for his team because they were outdoors and regularly tested. Political analysts noted Trump's instinctive style in attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci, a figure who has served since the Reagan administration and was once praised by George H.W. Bush.
27:22 I'd rather have her mother be health secretary of Pennsylvania, frankly. Do you mean a fully approved vaccine for everyone, the full public or a partially approved vaccine with emergency use? No, we're looking for a full vaccine for everyone that wants to get it. Not everybody's going to want to get it, but we're looking at a full vaccine. Is that a correct statement? Yeah, we'll. So the answer is yes, we're working for a fully approved vaccine but we'll also use the tools we have, for instance emergency use authorization as appropriate. We use all of our regulatory tools to bring vaccine available for the entire American population by January.
28:01 And then, Mr. President, could you just clarify, why are some of you wearing a mask and why are some of you not wearing a mask? We've all been tested. I've been tested. We've all been tested. And we're quite a distance away, and we're outdoor. So I told them, I gave them the option. They could wear it or not. So you can blame it on me, but I gave him the option. We could wear it or not. The president, and he said it again today, we need to move ahead, whether we're ready or not on the, you know, in the direction of opening up. Yes, he did, Judy. And the president proves once again he's not actually strategic or tactical in his political fights that he engages in. He's visceral. He's instinctive.
28:40 He went, you should always, if you're going after somebody politically, go after somebody who's a lot weaker than you are politically or less popular. I mean, Democrats won five consecutive presidential elections running against Herbert Hoover because they're the depression and unpopular as the Republican president. But he picked Anthony Fauci, Dr. Fauci. David mentioned it's been, it'd been there since the Reagan years. But not only that, when in a presidential debate when George H.W. Bush was asked to cite a contemporary American hero. He cited Dr. Anthony Fauci. The program sought to send test kits to the home of people both healthy and sick to try to bring the country to the level of testing officials say is necessary before states can begin safely reopening. The program, which has already gone through thousands of tests, found dozens of cases that had previously been undiagnosed.
29:38 The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network said on its website that the FDA has asked it to pause testing while it receives additional authorizations, but maintained its procedures are safe. Every player, unless they're from the same household, has to bring their own tennis balls so that you don't touch other people's tennis balls with your hands. You can kick their balls, but you can't touch them. I'm going to blush, sorry. Of course, if you're playing with someone in your household, you can touch those tennis balls. To avoid confusion between whose balls are whose, you can use a marker like a sharpie to mark out, to put an X or put someone's initials on them. The P4 lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology has come under scrutiny as a potential source of the virus. According to an NBC report, a hazardous event may have happened at the lab in October last year.
Public health guidelines for tennis suggested players mark their own balls to avoid cross-contamination with others. In intelligence news, reports surfaced regarding a lack of cell phone activity at the Wuhan Institute of Virology's P4 lab in October 2019. The data suggested a possible "hazardous event" or roadblock occurred at the facility months before the official outbreak was recognized.
28:40 He went, you should always, if you're going after somebody politically, go after somebody who's a lot weaker than you are politically or less popular. I mean, Democrats won five consecutive presidential elections running against Herbert Hoover because they're the depression and unpopular as the Republican president. But he picked Anthony Fauci, Dr. Fauci. David mentioned it's been, it'd been there since the Reagan years. But not only that, when in a presidential debate when George H.W. Bush was asked to cite a contemporary American hero. He cited Dr. Anthony Fauci. The program sought to send test kits to the home of people both healthy and sick to try to bring the country to the level of testing officials say is necessary before states can begin safely reopening. The program, which has already gone through thousands of tests, found dozens of cases that had previously been undiagnosed.
29:38 The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network said on its website that the FDA has asked it to pause testing while it receives additional authorizations, but maintained its procedures are safe. Every player, unless they're from the same household, has to bring their own tennis balls so that you don't touch other people's tennis balls with your hands. You can kick their balls, but you can't touch them. I'm going to blush, sorry. Of course, if you're playing with someone in your household, you can touch those tennis balls. To avoid confusion between whose balls are whose, you can use a marker like a sharpie to mark out, to put an X or put someone's initials on them. The P4 lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology has come under scrutiny as a potential source of the virus. According to an NBC report, a hazardous event may have happened at the lab in October last year.
30:38 Three people familiar with the matter told NBC that U.S. intelligence agencies are reviewing an unofficial report on cell phone location data. The report found there was no cell phone activity around the high security part of the P4 lab between October 7th and 24th last year. The report suggests there may have been a hazardous event there sometime between October 6th and 11th that required the lab to be closed during that time. The report talks about images from October 14th to 19th last year showing no outbound traffic from the lab. It suspected a roadblock was set up to prevent cars and people coming and going. This is in contrast to satellite images from August to October 6th which show a lot of activity. The next instance of activity was on October 25th.
CHAPTER 18 / 93Discussion
Virtual Political Conventions, New Jersey Beach Reopenings
Democratic leaders discussed the possibility of a virtual convention in Milwaukee to ensure the safety of delegates and the local community. In New Jersey, Mayor Tony Vaz oversaw the phased reopening of Seaside Heights beaches and boardwalks for Memorial Day weekend. Visitors were permitted to walk and surf but were initially prohibited from sunbathing or swimming to maintain social distancing.
31:27 U.S. Senator Tom Cotton also spoke about the data in an interview with Fox News. Cotton said normally thousands of mobile phones are in use around this area. Wuhan has about the same population density as New York. He adds the sudden drop in cell phone usage is likely an indicator of when the virus first began spreading. He said we could get to the bottom of it a lot faster if the Chinese regime was more transparent. U.S. intelligence officials say the evidence is not enough on its own. They are still investigating. I mean, there's a real possibility of the convention does not happen or it happens in a virtual sense. Is that correct? Well, first of all, our convention has to happen because we are not officially nominating Joe Biden in order to take Donald Trump. So our convention is happening. There is business that has to happen.
32:17 Now, when it comes to what our convention is going to look like, I can guarantee you that our convention will ensure that the safe that is safety first, whether it is our delegates, the people of Milwaukee or all of those involved in a convention. We will make sure that they are safe, whatever that looks like, and that they vote for our nominee. With summer right around the corner, New Jersey announced this week that beaches would be open by Memorial Day weekend with some restrictions. The openings are weeks behind other coastal states like Georgia and Florida, but as one of the state's hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, local officials say they are proceeding cautiously.
32:57 At exactly 10 a.m. yesterday, barriers that had been blocking the boardwalk and beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, were pushed aside. An announcement made it official. These beaches are now officially open. Once again, these beaches are now officially open. It's a sign that things are returning to normal in this quintessential Jersey Shore town, sort of. We're looking to see how we deal with the social distancing. And that's going to be our test today. Tony Voss is the mayor of Seaside Heights. After nearly two months of being closed because of COVID-19, visitors can now walk and ride bikes on the boardwalk, provided they heed the rule of six feet between groups of people.
33:35 On the beach, there's no swimming or sunbathing, but the public can walk, fish and even surf. Mayor Vaas says it's just the first phase of Seaside Heights' reopening. I'm optimistic that this is a good first step. Obviously, I would love to see everything open. I would love to see a swimming and so forth. But we have to recognize that we have to take this in steps. Seaside Heights is one of more than three dozen communities along the Jersey Shore grappling with how best to reopen. In neighboring Seaside Park, beaches are already open to sunbathers, provided beachgoers keep their distance.
CHAPTER 19 / 93Discussion
"Don't Start a Podcast" PSA, Pandemic Satire
A satirical public service announcement urged people stuck at home during the pandemic not to start their own podcasts. The message poked fun at the influx of true crime and pop culture shows produced by amateurs with USB microphones. The segment concluded that the greatest gift one could give humanity during a lockdown is to "shut up" and make pasta from scratch instead.
34:11 These are unprecedented times. We know things are hard right now. You're stuck inside with nothing to do. You might be going out of your mind. Just wanting to do something. Anything. But now, more than ever. More than ever. More than ever. It's time to think about how your choices affect others. So please, please. Please. Don't start a podcast. Just don't do it. Don't do it. You might feel like it's a productive use of your time right now. You've probably already got a USB mic and a spare room ready to go. And your mate Dave's got some interesting opinions. But we're here to tell you... He doesn't. He really doesn't.
34:51 He's a fuckwit. We don't need your true crime exclusive, which is just you reading Wikipedia articles to your housemate. We don't need your minute by minute breakdown of every episode of Parks and Rec. What are you going to do? Send everyone in your contact list a mail chip newsletter? And force them to mark you as spam instead of unsubscribing? Because they're scared to hurt your feelings? We're in the middle of a pandemic! Look, it's It's pretty straightforward. Just don't start a podcast. Make some pasta from scratch like everyone else and just shut up. The greatest gift you can give your fellow human beings right now, right now, right now is to shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck. Do it. Don't start a podcast. Your reaction to the president saying that he is now taking hydroxychloroquine?
CHAPTER 20 / 93Discussion
Hydroxychloroquine Prophylaxis, Trump Medical Controversy
Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Trump for taking hydroxychloroquine, calling it a bad idea given his age and weight. Medical professionals debated the safety of the drug, noting its 40-year history as a malaria treatment and its common off-label use by doctors. While the FDA issued warnings about heart rhythm risks in hospital settings, some physicians continued to prescribe it prophylactically.
35:45 Are you concerned? Well, first let me say how happy I am about your new baby. How lovely. Wyatt, how perfectly named. We all know why that is and congratulations. And as you now are a father, you see how important it is to keep the world safe for the children. As far as the president is concerned, He's our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group. What is morbidly obese, they say. So I think it's not a good idea. Does this make medical sense?
36:32 Yes, listen people have got to separate politics from the practice of medicine. He everything he said was absolutely accurate It has been around for 40 years. It's been prescribed hundreds of millions of times for malaria. I personally have prescribed it hundreds of times for malaria, hundreds of times for rheumatic diseases. I've never seen one adverse side effect. I can't say that of Tylenol. I can't say that of aspirin. Now, every medication has risk. That's just the way it is. But in a otherwise healthy person with maybe a rheumatic condition or to prevent malaria, it's a very safe medication. Do not confuse it with
37:10 Chloroquine that's different than hydroxychloroquine. Okay, so the different medicine so the FDA put out a warning about both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine they said This warning in April that it can cause a dangerous abnormality in heart rhythm and virus patients Laura said about both of them and that only in hospitals should it be used and in clinical trials. This is not being used in a hospital and not being used as a clinical trial. Correct. That's the FDA standard. Doctors are entitled to do anything they want with a medication. They take on a certain degree of liability. They do when they do that different than when something is FDA approved. We use off label medication all the time. Some of our more common prescribing is
37:54 off-label, not FDA approved. Now this is for a not a hospital setting, not a COVID setting. It's being used for prophylaxis. Doctors take it themselves for prophylaxis, they prescribe it for patients for prophylaxis. But the FDA says that there's no evidence that that works. No, they because that study has not been done yet. They're talking about the treatment of COVID. In the treatment of COVID. No, preventatively, there's no study that shows that that works. The president is doing this to prevent, unless he's had coronavirus, and he's lying about it. Doctors can prescribe it prophylactically. I know many doctors are doing it. I know many doctors that are taking it themselves because there's some evidence that it might be prophylactic and it is so safe. So they've
A discussion on the "safety-first" culture examines how individuals subconsciously manage risk and the illusion of safety during a quarantine. In the United Kingdom, officials were questioned on whether they initially pursued a herd immunity strategy by allowing large events like the Cheltenham races to proceed. Experts admitted that modeling a full lockdown was difficult because the high level of public compliance was unexpected.
38:36 feel like rather than do nothing, they'd rather do the chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, not the chloroquine, which does have cardiac side effects. The whole, look, the studies on hydroxychloroquine and the cardiac effects have yet to be washed out. Exploring the unintended consequences of a safety-first culture through the lens of a quarantine was to me a really interesting rumination. Because we can be a safety-first country, but only for very, very, very short periods of time. And then we're reminded that the chief goal of living is not to merely stay alive, at least not for most people. And then this fascinating conversation starts to unfold. So that's a long way of saying that for the last 60 days or so, I've seen a lot
39:25 a lot of conversation right around a couple topics that I love, specifically homeostatic risk, compensatory risk, risk equilibrium, and all the subconscious things we do to maintain our own illusory relationship with the illusion of safety. I mean, did you change your mind on herd immunity? I don't know what you mean by that. Herd immunity is just a thing. Herd immunity or population immunity is what But for a period in March, the government appeared to be pursuing a strategy of mitigating the spread of the virus, allowing Cheltenham races, for example, to go ahead between March the 10th and March the 13th, allowing it to spread naturally to allow the development of some herd immunity. Was that a mistake? I don't know. I'm not quite sure whether that really was the strategy. I think at the time it was difficult to imagine
40:31 I mean, we weren't sure by what levels of compliance with various social distance measures were possible. Was that why you didn't model full lockdown until the middle of March? I think it was very hard. I don't think anybody looked at it. It wasn't just myself. I don't think anybody. We all looked at a range of different measures, some of which were very stringent. But it was You know, it's difficult to say, you know, but it was difficult to imagine just how well in some sense, it's difficult to imagine just how easy a lockdown was. You see what I mean? To families who've suffered losses inside nursing homes, and they're looking for accountability and they'd like to see justice.
CHAPTER 22 / 93Discussion
Nursing Home Accountability, Governor Cuomo Response
Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to families seeking justice for loved ones who died in nursing homes by stating that "nobody" is accountable for deaths caused by a virus. Cuomo emphasized that older and vulnerable populations will inevitably die during a pandemic despite government efforts. He characterized the virus as having a "randomness" that makes it impossible to protect everyone.
41:21 For example, I've recently interviewed a family, three siblings. They've had two nursing home losses within a few weeks of one another on two separate floors in the same facility here in Albany. They felt so much solace when you got up and talked about Matilda's Law. They said, great, we're protected. Like our loved ones are going to be okay because of Matilda's Law. And then their loved ones passed away because they couldn't get the testing. So they're looking for accountability and they feel that they were failed. What's the comment to that? Yeah, the comment is this, and I have those conversations all day long with people who have lost people, right? We lost 139 people yesterday.
42:00 in hospitals. Who is accountable for those 139 deaths? How do we get justice for those families who had 139 deaths? What is justice? Who can we prosecute for those deaths? Nobody. Nobody. Mother Nature, God, where did this virus come from? People are going to die by this virus. That is the truth. Older people, vulnerable people, are going to die from this virus. That is going to happen, despite whatever you do. Because with all our progress as a society, we can't keep everyone alive, despite what everything you do. And older people are more vulnerable. And that is a fact. And that is not going to change. And look, to me, the really difficult conversations for me
CHAPTER 23 / 93Discussion
Strip Club Reopening Protocols, Austin Safety Measures
The Palazzo Gentlemen's Club in Austin prepared to reopen at 25% capacity with strict safety protocols, including barriers around stages and social distancing for private dances. Management highlighted the financial struggles of entertainers who, as independent contractors, had difficulty collecting unemployment. Staff and entertainers were required to wear masks, with some encouraged to find creative designs that matched their outfits.
43:10 are my son was 40 years old, he was not a senior citizen, did not have a comorbidity and got this virus because he was an essential worker and doing the right thing and had an aneurysm. I thought young people were fine and he was doing the right thing as an essential worker. You know, there's a randomness to this virus that is inexplicable. Just everything we possibly can to make sure people have a good time, but it's safe. Kelly Jones is a manager at the Palazzo Gentlemen's Club in South Austin.
43:53 He says their employees along with dancers and entertainers in the industry have had it tough. A lot of people don't know that our entertainers are actually independent contractors much like hairdressers. So they had a lot of issues collecting unemployment. They work on cash tips like a lot of other people in the service industry. So they're struggling as well. A lot of them have families and kids. They're trying to make sure that they have arrangements for childcare, for putting food on the table. Now they'll be back to work Friday, but with a long list of safety protocols in effect, that includes how many people can get into this building, which normally holds close to 300 people. We're going to have to cut that down to comply with the governor's order of 25% capacity. Going to be back to the old days with hand clickers, making sure what our capacity is. We're going to have to have barriers around our stages so that our customers have social distancing from the entertainers.
44:37 As far as private dances go, they're going to have to maintain that six-foot division between them. But of course, they're also a bar and serve food. We're going to have to go to plasticware instead of nice metal knives and forks, paper napkins, placemats, plastic cups. Bartenders and our staff are going to make sure that we follow hand washing policies. Our employees definitely are wearing masks. Including the entertainers. So we're encouraging them to be creative, find something they like that maybe goes with their outfits. And they'll also have employees specifically designated for constantly cleaning the place. And while it won't be a full house inside by any means, they're just glad to get business moving again. Aside from the fact that most believe that this president has botched this crisis from the get-go,
45:17 And this will be known in history, worldwide, as a human catastrophe that he could have prevented. And he's trying to deflect at all times. And Willie and Mike, he's tweeting again all sorts of crazy things. Once again, tweeting conspiracy theories about Joe, falsely accusing him of murder, talking about the death of a young staffer in his congressional office years ago. and calling him dangerous to walk the streets. And I'll just say, I'll take a point of personal privilege here. That's sick. Donald, you're a sick person. You're a sick person. To put this family through this,
CHAPTER 24 / 93Discussion
Joe Scarborough Conspiracy Theory, Twitter Moderation
President Trump faced backlash for tweeting debunked conspiracy theories regarding the 2001 death of an aide in Joe Scarborough's congressional office. Critics called the tweets "sick" and "cruel," urging Twitter to remove the content to protect the grieving family. The incident occurred amidst a broader conflict between the President and the social media platform over fact-checking and moderation.
44:37 As far as private dances go, they're going to have to maintain that six-foot division between them. But of course, they're also a bar and serve food. We're going to have to go to plasticware instead of nice metal knives and forks, paper napkins, placemats, plastic cups. Bartenders and our staff are going to make sure that we follow hand washing policies. Our employees definitely are wearing masks. Including the entertainers. So we're encouraging them to be creative, find something they like that maybe goes with their outfits. And they'll also have employees specifically designated for constantly cleaning the place. And while it won't be a full house inside by any means, they're just glad to get business moving again. Aside from the fact that most believe that this president has botched this crisis from the get-go,
45:17 And this will be known in history, worldwide, as a human catastrophe that he could have prevented. And he's trying to deflect at all times. And Willie and Mike, he's tweeting again all sorts of crazy things. Once again, tweeting conspiracy theories about Joe, falsely accusing him of murder, talking about the death of a young staffer in his congressional office years ago. and calling him dangerous to walk the streets. And I'll just say, I'll take a point of personal privilege here. That's sick. Donald, you're a sick person. You're a sick person. To put this family through this,
45:59 to put her husband through this, to do this just because you're mad at Joe because Joe got you again today, because he speaks the truth and he speaks plainly about your lack of interest and empathy in others and your lack of ability to handle this massive human catastrophe, the fact that you've made it worse and that you make it worse every day and that you won't even wear a mask to protect people from your germs. But the germs you're spreading on Twitter, first of all, Twitter, you shouldn't be allowing this. And you should be taking these tweets down. And you should be ashamed of yourself. You'll be hearing from me on this because this is BS.
46:37 But Donald, you're a sick person. You're really a cruel, sick, disgusting person. And you can keep tweeting about Joe, but you're just hurting other people. And of course, you're hurting yourself. Willie, why don't you take final thoughts? I'm done. A professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland has been arrested over his alleged financial ties to China. This just days after the FBI sounded the alarm on China's attempts to steal coronavirus research. A professor at the University of Arkansas was arrested on similar charges last week. And then in January, Harvard's chemistry chief was charged with failing to disclose that he too was being paid by the Chinese Communist Party. Two weeks ago, Senator Tom Cotton told us that the CCP was trying in many ways to steal medical data from the United States to try and come up with a vaccine for COVID-19 before the United States. After several weeks of being stuck inside
Thousands of people gathered at Bolivar Peninsula for "Go Topless" Jeep weekend as Texas beaches reopened, leading to over 63 arrests. Law enforcement admitted that enforcing social distancing was impossible given the size of the crowds. Meanwhile, a public service announcement contest for mask-wearing received over 600 submissions, with winners being selected by a public vote.
47:32 thousands have flocked here to Bolivar Peninsula to make the most of their time while out. Go topless Jeep weekend. What's better than beach and a few drinks and Jeeps? Man, getting better at that. In full swing at beaches on Bolivar Peninsula. This event comes in a time where beaches across the state are reopening following the coronavirus pandemic. And beach goers like Chelsea Collier are still taking precautions to stay safe. Wash some hands for 20 seconds. and keep them clean with their germ bags. Totally come down, have a good time. You have a good time. There's no issues, but when you start acting silly like the sheriff said on previous interview, we've got a jail that's got a whole lot of empty holes. The Sheriff's Office have made at least 63 arrests so far in connection to Jeep weekend. As for the enforcement of social distancing, they say it's challenging to enforce. I mean, you can't. It's just it's not.
48:33 possible to do that on this beach with the amount of people that we have here. It's just we can't do that. The additional presence of law enforcement has been a welcoming sight for beach goers given the history of this event. May 5th, we announced a wear a mask in public campaign and we asked people to submit videos that and we would pick the winner by vote of the people. and the winner would become a public service announcement. We had over 600 submissions. Isn't that amazing? The competition is still open, and we're going to show you now five of the runner-ups.
CHAPTER 26 / 93Discussion
Kamala Harris "Wuhan Virus" Resolution, Political Correctness
Senator Kamala Harris introduced a resolution to ban the phrase "Wuhan virus," labeling it anti-Asian and xenophobic. Senator Tom Cotton and other critics objected, arguing that naming diseases after their place of origin is standard practice and that the resolution was a distraction from China's role in the pandemic. The debate highlighted the growing tension over language and geopolitical accountability.
49:17 United we stand and divided we fall. We mask up not just to obey the law but to obey the laws of nature. We hope for immunity in our community. We pray for normality in this calamity. We want hope. I mask up not because I fear getting sick, but because I fear getting you sick. I mask up because days, weeks, or months of hot breath and acne bumps is better than knowing my wife will soon have to raise a fatherless son. Mask up. Senator, also I think you know that this whole thing started in Wuhan and you know that many people call this the Wuhan virus or the Chinese virus Kamala Harris has had enough. She has a resolution that's going to work its way through the Senate to ban the phrase Wuhan virus and she calls it anti-Asian. Your feeling on this?
50:10 Well, I object to that resolution, Brian. First off, Wuhan is just a city, it's not even a people. I guess she's going to have to call out Lyme disease for being anti-Connecticut or maybe Legionnaires' disease for being anti-veteran Zika. since Zika is a force in Africa. But this political correctness run amok covers a more serious point. The Democrats want to wave their arms and say that this is racist or xenophobic. And that's because they don't have an answer for China's rise and the threat that China poses to us. Joe Biden, as we said, has been weak on China for 30 years. So they want to have politically correct distractions to distract people from his terrible record on China. We can't let that happen.
CHAPTER 27 / 93Discussion
Mandatory Mask Proposals, Workplace Violence
Calls for mandatory masks in public spaces increased, with proponents comparing the measure to indoor smoking bans. The discussion noted the danger faced by retail workers, citing a security guard in Michigan who was killed after asking a customer to wear a mask. Advocates argued that governors should take the lead on enforcement to protect frontline employees from such confrontations.
50:53 Would requiring masks across the board help? Is that even, is that feasible? Craig, I'm going to say this for the benefit of your family. I know you have young kids from my family and for all Americans. We should make masks mandatory in public. Just like we ban indoor smoking, because you know what? Nobody should, you shouldn't have to breathe somebody else's secondhand smoke. I shouldn't have to breathe exhaled COVID-19 in somebody's breath. Nobody should. And so we should institute mandatory masks in public when you can't guarantee social distancing. That means retail stores. That means public transportation, workplaces. That's absolutely where we should be headed. Makes no sense why we're not already there. We're encouraging it. People are flouting the rules.
51:36 a security guard at a retail outlet in Michigan died trying to encourage a customer to wear a mask. They shot him because they didn't like the way in which it was trying to be enforced, that policy. We need to not put the onus on security guards at local outlets to enforce this policy or to encourage Americans to abide by it. It's all in our best interest that we wear masks. The evidence is overwhelming. We just need governors to do their job. The idea of a bioterrorist attack is kind of the nightmare scenario because they're a pathogen with a high death rate would be picked. Now, the good news is, not trying to depress you, it's tough enough right now. Too late.
CHAPTER 28 / 93Discussion
CNBC On-Air Argument, Pandemic Panic vs. Market Stability
CNBC anchors Joe Kernen and Andrew Ross Sorkin engaged in a heated on-air argument regarding the media's role in reporting on the pandemic. Sorkin accused Kernen of downplaying the crisis to help the President, while Kernen argued he was trying to prevent market panic and help investors keep their heads. The exchange reflected the deep divide in how the economic and health impacts of COVID-19 were framed.
52:17 Most of the work we're going to do to be ready for pandemic two, I call this pandemic one. Most of the work we'll do to be ready for that are also the things we need to do to minimize the threat of bioterrorism. You panicked about the market, panicked about covid, panicked about the ventilators, panicked about the PPE, panicked about ever going out again, panicked. And you never get back to normal if you didn't. What good is that? What good is a Why not help people keep their head? I understand that. 100,000 people died, Joe, and all you did was try to help your friend the president. That's what you did. Every single morning on this show.
52:58 every single morning on this show, you abused your position, Joe. That's totally unfair. You abused and abused your position. I'm trying to help investors keep their cool, keep their heads, and as it turned out, that's what they should have done. That's what they should have done. Do the news. They should have kept their heads. If they had listened to you, Andrew, we're supposed to be at about 8,000. I wasn't arguing to go sell your stocks, Joseph. I was arguing about people's lives. We understand. People's lives. Andrew, it's a global pandemic. Do the news. I'm begging you to do the news, Joseph. It's a global pandemic. I'm begging you. Andy. Greetings. My name is Dr. Tony Fauci and I am here to present some good news at a time of great stress as we struggle to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
CHAPTER 29 / 93Discussion
Webby Person of the Year, Trump NASA Visit
Dr. Anthony Fauci honored teenager Avi Shiffman as the Webby Person of the Year for creating a global COVID-19 tracking website. In other news, President Trump and the First Lady visited NASA's campus for a scheduled launch, with family members observed wearing masks. The visit occurred as the United States reached the milestone of 100,000 lives lost to the virus.
53:52 I'm excited about the opportunity to shine some light on one of the many young people who have stepped up and helped us throughout this difficult time. The 24th annual Webby Awards will honor Avi Shiffman as the 2020 Person of the Year in recognition of his creation of ncov2019.live to track the spread of COVID-19 across the world. As we collectively navigate the severe impact of COVID-19, including the difficult but critical calls for nationwide social distancing, the internet has become the lifeblood of people looking for accurate information about the novel coronavirus and the necessary steps to combat it.
54:36 Since launching the site on December 29th, Shiffman's tracking tool has been an invaluable resource that sounded the alarm on the virus and its spread, notably calling attention to its severity long before it was broadly recognized. At a time when the spread of misinformation can be so detrimental to our efforts, the site has provided over 600 million visitors with accurate real-time data. Schiffman has helped people around the globe understand COVID-19 and the necessity to upgrade current health care systems and the importance of measures to flatten the curve. For having the foresight to track the global spread of COVID-19 and for creating an essential website to provide real-time data about the virus to people everywhere,
55:29 It is my great privilege to honor Avi Shiffman as the 2020 Webby Person of the Year. The president will sign an executive order concerning social media as he escalates his feud with Twitter. Here's Peter Alexander. Ahead of today's scrubbed launch, President Trump touring NASA's campus, striking an uplifting note. It's a great achievement for our country and our country's number one. Members of the president's family traveling with him wearing masks. The first lady earlier seen wearing her mask aboard Marine One. Their visit coming the very day the country marks that tragic milestone, 100,000 lives lost to the coronavirus.
56:07 And today the president hosted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the White House. It was about how do we supercharge the reopening, especially in New York, which has been hardest hit. No drama there, but the president is escalating another battle with Twitter after the company for the first time posted fact-check labels on a pair of the president's tweets about mail-in ballots. President Trump accusing Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election and today threatening to strongly regulate or close them down. A president has no authority to shut down a private company and the First Amendment limits the government's ability to regulate free speech. Meantime, some top Republicans are telling President Trump to knock it off as he again today pushed a debunked conspiracy theory.
CHAPTER 30 / 93Discussion
Twitter Fact-Check Dispute, Amazon Safety PR
President Trump escalated his feud with Twitter after the platform applied fact-check labels to his tweets regarding mail-in ballots. Trump threatened to regulate or close down social media companies, though legal experts noted the First Amendment limits such authority. Simultaneously, a series of news reports featured identical scripts praising Amazon's $800 million investment in employee safety and wages during the pandemic.
55:29 It is my great privilege to honor Avi Shiffman as the 2020 Webby Person of the Year. The president will sign an executive order concerning social media as he escalates his feud with Twitter. Here's Peter Alexander. Ahead of today's scrubbed launch, President Trump touring NASA's campus, striking an uplifting note. It's a great achievement for our country and our country's number one. Members of the president's family traveling with him wearing masks. The first lady earlier seen wearing her mask aboard Marine One. Their visit coming the very day the country marks that tragic milestone, 100,000 lives lost to the coronavirus.
56:07 And today the president hosted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the White House. It was about how do we supercharge the reopening, especially in New York, which has been hardest hit. No drama there, but the president is escalating another battle with Twitter after the company for the first time posted fact-check labels on a pair of the president's tweets about mail-in ballots. President Trump accusing Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election and today threatening to strongly regulate or close them down. A president has no authority to shut down a private company and the First Amendment limits the government's ability to regulate free speech. Meantime, some top Republicans are telling President Trump to knock it off as he again today pushed a debunked conspiracy theory.
56:51 that former Republican Congressman and Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough had something to do with the death of an aide in 2001. Lori Klausutis died after an abnormal heart rhythm caused her to collapse and hit her head in Scarborough's Florida office. Scarborough was in Washington at the time. Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. We're in the middle of a pandemic. He's the commander in chief of his nation, and it's causing great pain to the family of the young woman who died. As for SpaceX, late tonight the president tweeted that he plans to fly back to Florida on Saturday for the next scheduled launch. Lester? Millions of Americans staying at home are relying on Amazon. Millions of Americans staying at home are relying on Amazon. Millions of Americans staying at home are relying on Amazon.
57:35 Amazon has transformed its operations in response to COVID-19 to protect employees and keep packages flowing. Amazon has transformed its operations in response to COVID-19 to protect employees and keep packages flowing. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy while still delivering those packages to your doorstep. The company is keeping employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. The company is keeping its employees safe and healthy. It spent $800 million on increased wages and overtime pay during the pandemic. It has spent $800 million on increased wages and overtime pay during the pandemic. It has spent $800 million on increased wages and overtime pay during the pandemic.
CHAPTER 31 / 93Discussion
Masking as Social Control, Trump Election Conflict
Critics accused President Trump of promoting disinformation by retweeting claims that masks are a form of "social death" and "slavery." The discussion suggested Trump had a conflict of interest, as universal masking made the country look "abnormal" during his re-election campaign. Analysts argued that promoting simple public health measures was being sacrificed for political optics.
58:39 Amazon says it has spent $800 million on increased wages and overtime pay during the pandemic. Every single one of Amazon's workforce of nearly a million people has played a critical role in making these changes happen. I hope that they feel that passion that we have for safety. So they can stay safe and healthy while you do too. Look, the president today, you know, with these with these retweets, one so many viewpoints, he comments, you know, with a columnist saying that this is about social control as opposed to medical reality. Another one equating masks to silence, slavery and social death. Obviously, this is shocking. I mean, and completely false when it comes to so many viewpoints.
59:26 Yeah, the piece that the president retweeted could have been written by a Russian bot. It's essentially disinformation. The irrefutable concept is that universal masking, having the entire country wear a mask in public, would have dramatically reduced the death rate in this country. It's not up for debate. It's just science. But the president has an irreconcilable conflict of interest. And the conflict of interest is this. He's running for president during a pandemic. And some of the things that one would need to do to suppress the pandemic run counter to his election chances.
1:00:06 He needs to make things look like the country is returning to normal and wearing a mask is decidedly abnormal, but it saves lives. So he not only does he not promote universal mask wearing, he then promotes essentially negative comments about it. It's it's maddening. You know, I've lost family members. to COVID. My colleagues at work have lost family members and pretty soon everyone in this country is going to know somebody who has lost somebody to this virus. And to think that the President of the United States would not promote the simple public health measure of wearing masks is insane.
CHAPTER 32 / 93Discussion
Governor Leadership Comparisons, Social Justice vs. Social Distancing
Media coverage contrasted the leadership of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, often praising Cuomo as an "acting president." However, the narrative shifted as massive crowds gathered for George Floyd protests, leading to concerns about "super spreader" events. Officials warned that choosing social justice over social distancing could intensify the spread of the virus.
1:01:03 what he needed to do two weeks ago to protect Florida seniors. It's been a remarkable show of leadership by Governor Cuomo in recent days. He's providing hope. And Governor Ron DeSantis is finally, finally, maybe too little too late, issuing a stay-at-home order. Cuomo has become a kind of acting president. Governor DeSantis should have absolutely acted a lot quicker, not only for the retired people. Cuomo. Everything Trump isn't honest, direct, brave. In the case of Governor DeSantis of Florida, he's going exactly the opposite way from what the experts, the people on the front lines indicate ought to be done. Governor Cuomo has become a national leader and not just the leader of New York. No stay at home order from Governor Ron DeSantis. Why bother?
1:01:45 I'm sure Florida will be fine. He is conveying incredible strength in the face of this pandemic. Act like you give a damn. I've seen you referred to a little bit recently as the love gov and I'm wondering if that's bleeding into your demeanor at all. Massive crowds swarming cities across the country are choosing social justice over social distancing. I could be dead tomorrow if I walk on the streets. But an urgent health warning from officials. There's no question there's a danger this could intensify the spread of the coronavirus just at a point when we're starting to beat it back profoundly. How many super spreaders were in that crowd? How many young people went home and kissed their mother hello or shook hands with their father? But these demonstrators see an America infected with injustice too.
CHAPTER 33 / 93Discussion
Tear Gas and Virus Spread, Russian Discord Claims
Health experts warned that the use of tear gas during protests could increase COVID-19 transmission by causing people to cough and sneeze. In Miami Beach, reopening plans were postponed due to civil unrest. Political commentators suggested that the combination of a pandemic and racial division provided an opportunity for Russian adversaries to sow further discord in the United States.
1:02:31 Are you worried about your safety. Yes, but the answer is that I'm worried about my safety to both of those viruses. Late today, the first comprehensive study on stopping the virus found physical distancing 3 feet or more is most important even more than wearing a mask. And with tear gas flying, the risks even greater. Tear gas makes people cough, sneeze, their eyes water, and when that happens, the respiratory droplets that carry the virus can travel further, meaning they can infect a lot more people. Public health and prosperity now jeopardized. This restaurant owner's reopening was put on hold. I worked for two months every day to reposition ourselves for this to happen. It's disturbing.
1:03:15 In South Florida, businesses were expecting to see Miami Beach reopen today. That's now been postponed because of the protests. There's officials everywhere waiting to see if cases of the virus surge in the next two weeks. I can't tell you how many people have been in touch with me today and tonight and last night. to say some form of the following, which we would have laughed at five years ago. The Russians must be having a good old time looking at television images of the United States. Death toll of 100,000, a pandemic not at all under control,
1:03:51 And now city streets aflame in more cities tonight than we can list. Yeah, I've lost count of the number of times you and I, Brian, have talked about this very concept that the number one goal of the Russian government is not to get a certain person in the White House, but rather to sow discord and chaos. Now, it helps if the person in the White House is unable to calm the nerves of the nation is unable to get peace and calm restored in our cities through his behavior, through trust, through his relationships and his statements. So yes, our adversaries are studying this right now. Some of them are actually pleased that we are more divided than ever.
CHAPTER 34 / 93Discussion
"Karen" Meme Origins, Dairy Farmers Dumping Milk
The "Karen" meme saw a resurgence during the pandemic, often used to describe women who denied the reality of COVID-19. In the agricultural sector, Wisconsin dairy farmers were forced to dump thousands of pounds of milk due to supply chain disruptions. The closure of schools and restaurants created a surplus that retail grocers could not immediately absorb, leading to significant waste.
1:04:34 And I'm very troubled that we could be in for a very long, hot summer if this isn't quashed. April Williams is a professor of communications and media at the University of Michigan, and she says the Karen meme resurged with a vengeance last month. A woman named Karen was denying that COVID-19 was real, became ill, and unfortunately she passed away. And one of the things that I'm seeing is people saying, look, this is peak Karen behavior. It seems so wasteful, but some American dairy farmers are dumping milk, like the 56,000 pounds produced by farm owner Mark Muller in northeast Wisconsin. You put all that labor and work into the milk, and you hate to see it go down the drain when you know that there's people starving in the world and in our country even.
1:05:23 We hate to throw things away. Despite strong demand for milk as consumers stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, dairy cooperatives that oversee marketing and shipping logistics are asking some farmers to dump milk. Supply chain disruptions due to the outbreak are preventing farmers from getting their products to the markets. With schools and restaurants closed, milk processors have to shift to selling to retail grocers instead of wholesalers. That creates logistical and packaging challenges. What's more, trucking companies are scrambling for drivers as some who fear the virus have stopped working. Overseas dairy markets have dried up, and it doesn't help that milk is highly perishable.
CHAPTER 35 / 93Discussion
New York Death Rate Attribution, James Mattis Criticism
Governor Cuomo noted that New York's death rate had dropped to 35, though he questioned how hospitals were attributing causes of death for the gravely ill. Former Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a statement accusing President Trump of being a threat to the Constitution. Meanwhile, health officials expressed confidence that a vaccine would be ready by late 2020 or early 2021.
1:06:05 Some farmers say they will be paid for the milk they dump, but payments for all co-op members will take a hit from lost revenues. Today is a day of good news. We have one of the lowest hospitalization rates since this began. And really good news, we have the lowest death rate. It's down to 35. I've been asking all the experts who will talk to me what is the lowest that number can go. And when it gets this low, it's really a question of how they're, what they're attributing as the cause of death. In other words, you have people who are gravely ill, who are going to die of something. And if they get the COVID virus, they attribute it to the COVID virus. But there is a number
1:07:02 When it gets down this low, it's really a question of what that hospital certifies as a cause of death. So we'd like to see nobody die in the state of New York ever. I can't breathe. Where is the president in a time of national emergency? Hiding. Hiding in a security bunker, watching his shows, afraid, alone. Not a leader. Supposing you brought the light inside the body. Not a president. Just a scared, incompetent. Within a couple of days it's going to be down to close to zero. Embarrassment. You know that. Those who have worked with him know that. The former Defense Secretary James Mattis accusing President Trump of being a threat to the Constitution. Our allies know that. And our enemies know that.
1:08:00 Everyone knows that. It's time for a competent president. Let's elect one. Defending Democracy Together is responsible for the content of this advertising. A vaccine either by the end of this calendar year or in the first few months of 2021. So that's the thing that makes me feel confident that the process is really on track. And that's good news. Again, in the context of never being able to guarantee success, things are clearly going in the right direction. That's very promising, very promising indeed. And once there is a vaccine, how often do you think we would need it? Would it be like getting the flu shot every year? You know, we don't know that right now. We're going to take it one step at a time. The first thing we want to do is to determine if it's safe and if it protects, how long that protection lasts.
1:08:59 We're going to have to obviously observe that and that's the reason why when you make a vaccine, it isn't the end of the game. You have to keep following and see how long the duration of the protection is. We hope it's substantial. But if it isn't, you could always give a boost. So right now, step one, let's just prove that it's safe and effective, and then we'll go on from there. Right? Right. So, okay. So people in the media, a lot of them are not very good at math, and they're very prone to groupthink as they as the cannabis thing taught me. But there's something even worse than that, right? And people call it Trump derangement syndrome. I don't like to call it that because that to me suggests there aren't good reasons to be mad at Trump. I call it orange man bad. Right? Because that puts you in on the joke a little bit, right? That, you know, Donald Trump
CHAPTER 36 / 93Discussion
"Orange Man Bad" Syndrome, Media Death Counts
A discussion on "Orange Man Bad" syndrome explores how the media used daily death counts to embarrass President Trump. Critics argue that while the government's early response was flawed, the media's focus was intentionally designed to counter Trump's blustering style. The segment suggests that the constant negative coverage was a calculated political tactic during an election year.
1:08:00 Everyone knows that. It's time for a competent president. Let's elect one. Defending Democracy Together is responsible for the content of this advertising. A vaccine either by the end of this calendar year or in the first few months of 2021. So that's the thing that makes me feel confident that the process is really on track. And that's good news. Again, in the context of never being able to guarantee success, things are clearly going in the right direction. That's very promising, very promising indeed. And once there is a vaccine, how often do you think we would need it? Would it be like getting the flu shot every year? You know, we don't know that right now. We're going to take it one step at a time. The first thing we want to do is to determine if it's safe and if it protects, how long that protection lasts.
1:08:59 We're going to have to obviously observe that and that's the reason why when you make a vaccine, it isn't the end of the game. You have to keep following and see how long the duration of the protection is. We hope it's substantial. But if it isn't, you could always give a boost. So right now, step one, let's just prove that it's safe and effective, and then we'll go on from there. Right? Right. So, okay. So people in the media, a lot of them are not very good at math, and they're very prone to groupthink as they as the cannabis thing taught me. But there's something even worse than that, right? And people call it Trump derangement syndrome. I don't like to call it that because that to me suggests there aren't good reasons to be mad at Trump. I call it orange man bad. Right? Because that puts you in on the joke a little bit, right? That, you know, Donald Trump
1:09:49 does have lots of issues. But there's Orange Man Band Syndrome going on, and Donald Trump got blamed for this early on. And you know, he didn't, the government didn't prepare, right? He shut the borders, but then the government didn't really prepare in February and early March, and then it panicked. But what people realized in the media, consciously or not, was they could beat him up with this. They could beat him over the head with it, because his normal style is to bluster and to bluff and to mock people. And that does not work. when you have these death counts every day. So they realized they could embarrass him and they have been doing it nonstop ever since. But the flip side of embarrassing him means you have to constantly talk about how terrible this is.
CHAPTER 37 / 93Discussion
Hospital Financial Incentives, CCP Information Warfare
Claims surfaced that hospitals received $29,000 per COVID-19 patient, creating a potential financial incentive for high diagnosis rates. The discussion transitions into the concept of psychological warfare, comparing how different people interpret the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) handling of the virus. It argues that the CCP manipulated data and silenced doctors to mislead the global community about the outbreak's severity.
1:10:33 Now, I mean, that's quite a charge. I mean, what makes you think they really want them to get COVID? Money. I think it's at least $29,000 per patient. And then you have to think you're also charging supplies and more supplies and more supplies. That's just like a bonus money. But the residents aren't getting that, right? I mean, why? Well, that's the thing. And I actually had a, I've went at it with a lot of residents already and they're order followers. You talk about psychological warfare. Psychological warfare isn't just lying to you. It's not just propaganda as we would normally think of it. Psychological warfare is changing the way you interpret information.
1:11:22 so that you and I can be looking at the exact same set of data and we would come to wildly different conclusions on it. So for example, with this virus right now, this pandemic, you're looking at the Chinese regime's handling of the virus. We're both looking at the exact same data. Now, do you interpret it as being a sign, oh, the Chinese regime did all it could in its power. It took very strong measures to ensure that the virus didn't spread and the rest of the world is just being unfair to it. Or do you think the Chinese regime lied to the world? The Chinese regime arrested doctors, disappeared journalists, and these types of things. If you were following only the information the CCP was releasing and some of the organizations that support the CCP, what they were saying, you would view it in line of the CCP's pro-CCP viewpoint.
1:12:11 If you were following all the real data, for example their cover-ups, their lying to the world, their manipulation of data and numbers, you would understand, okay, they were misleading the world, they were very dishonest about it, and no, absolutely, they did not handle it well. the idea that they handled it well, you would only believe that if you believed all of the lies they were telling the world, most of which have been exposed. Alright, well let's get into it! Vina, what has you fired up this week? Well, I've been following this JK Rowling controversy and it all started with a tweet she made. Actually, it started with this headline, creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.
CHAPTER 38 / 93Discussion
J.K. Rowling Transgender Controversy, Daniel Radcliffe Response
Author J.K. Rowling faced backlash for tweets questioning the use of the phrase "people who menstruate" instead of "women." Actor Daniel Radcliffe responded with an essay advocating for transgender lives, expressing hope that fans would not lose their love for the Harry Potter series. The controversy sparked a wider debate about gender identity and the legacy of Rowling's work during Pride Month.
1:12:52 JK took issue with the word people being used. Maybe she was trying to be funny, but she hinted that the publication should have stuck with using the word women. Some fans pointed out that there are lots of those who menstruate who don't identify as women. And then things got a little messy. Lots of tweets back and forth, and at one point, JK fired back with, It's 2020. Releasing these kind of statements online is not a good look. And hasn't she been accused of transphobic stuff in the past? Um, yeah. Last year, she was criticized for supporting a woman who was fired after saying that trans women weren't real women. Sis, read the room. There are so many conversations right now about equality, justice, and racism. Is it any surprise that this story is blowing up right now? Exactly. It's Pride Month, too. And this week, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, reacted with an essay advocating for trans lives.
1:13:51 I thought he addressed the whole thing really well and I liked how he expressed his hopes that people don't lose their love for the books themselves or forget the valuable lessons that they learned from them. I have not read the books, I have not seen the movies, don't come at me. Okay, Maya, get out of here. What? Well, I did watch the movies and seeing Daniel advocate for what he believes in is so inspiring. And also, I loved how he signed his letter as Dan definitely had a big major blow up. Only you would notice such a small detail, Sean. Do we think this will have a long-lasting impact on her career? I think that this will diminish the amount of respect that JK Rowling has acquired over the years, but her writing is just so exceptional and renowned that I don't think the hype's ever gonna die down.
CHAPTER 39 / 93Discussion
Mask Guidance Reversal, PPE Shortage Explanation
Dr. Anthony Fauci explained the shift in mask recommendations, stating that early discouragement was intended to preserve N95 and surgical masks for healthcare workers. Once the supply stabilized and the efficacy of simple cloth coverings was better understood, the guidance changed to favor universal masking. Fauci acknowledged the appearance of a contradiction but maintained that the circumstances had evolved.
1:14:38 What about a month or so, or two or three ago, when people were saying, you don't really need to wear a mask? Well, the reason for that is that we were concerned, the public health community, and many people were saying this, were concerned that it was at a time when personal protective equipment, including the N95 masks and the surgical masks, were in very short supply. And we wanted to make sure that the people, namely the healthcare workers, who were brave enough to put themselves in harm ways to take care of people who you know were infected with the coronavirus and the danger of them getting infected, we did not want them to be without the equipment that they needed. So there was non-enthusiasm about going out and everybody buying a mask or getting a mask.
1:15:27 We were afraid that that would deter away the people who really needed it. Now we have masks. We know that you don't need an N95 if you're a person, ordinary person in the street. We also know that simple cloth coverings that many people have can work as well as a mask in many cases. So right now, unequivocally, the recommendation is when you're out there, particularly if you're in a situation where there's active infection, keep the distance physically, and wear a mask. So although there appeared to be some contradiction of you were saying this then, and why are you saying this now, actually the circumstances have changed. That's the reason why. The gentleman yields back. I want to announce that in accordance with what I said this morning, the attending physician of the House has said that it is imperative for the health and safety of people in this room
CHAPTER 40 / 93Discussion
House Committee Mask Mandate, Parliamentary Inquiry
A House committee meeting became contentious when the chairman announced that members not wearing masks would not be recognized to speak. Representative Tom McClintock raised a parliamentary inquiry, asking for the specific House rule that mandated mask-wearing. The chair cited the Speaker's authority to enforce order and decorum as the basis for the requirement.
1:16:22 that members wear masks. I would greatly prefer that all present simply uphold the decorum of the committee by complying with reasonable safety standards that are recommended by the attending physician and are respectful of all the occupants of this room. I have been greatly lenient today. However, I will tell you now that anyone who is not wearing a mask will not be recognized to speak, period. Who seeks recognition? Mr. Chairman, The Ms. Escobar is next. Mr. Chairman, a point of parliamentary... Ms. Escobar is recognized. Ms. Escobar... Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clinton has tried repeatedly to make his point. Repeatedly. Ms. Escobar has the time. Mr. Chairman... No, no, it's our side. You just had a Democrat speak. It's our turn. Ms. Escobar has the time.
1:17:13 Mr. McClintock has tried now for several minutes to be recognized on a point of order. There is no point of order, but who seeks recognition to speak? Mr. Chairman, I seek recognition for a point of parliamentary inquiry. The gentleman will state his point of parliamentary inquiry. I would like the chairman to cite the House rule requiring members to wear masks in House proceedings. If we had such a vote, I don't recall it. If we have such a vote, I will vote against it, but I will be happy to abide by it if the House so decides. Until then, I would like you to cite me that rule since I obviously used that vote.
CHAPTER 41 / 93Discussion
Trump on Testing Volume, Quantum Mechanics Satire
President Trump described testing as a "double-edged sword," suggesting that high testing volumes lead to more recorded cases and asking his team to "slow the testing down." A satirical commentary compared Trump's logic to quantum mechanics, where the act of measurement makes a property real. The segment poked fun at the idea that not testing would actually reduce the presence of the virus.
1:18:02 The chair's authority to enforce the preservation of order and decorum during committee proceedings derives from the speaker's enforcement authority under clause two of rule one. And with testing, you know, testing is a double edged sword. We've tested now 25 million people. It's probably 20 million people more than anybody else. Germany's done a lot. South Korea's done a lot. They call me, they say, the job you're doing, here's the bad part. When you test, when you do testing to that extent, you're going to find more people. You're going to find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down, please. They test and they test. We got tests. People don't know what's going on. We got tests. We got another one over here. The young man's 10 years old. He's got the sniffles. He'll recover in about 15 minutes. That's a case.
1:19:00 Today I want to talk about a peculiar aspect of quantum measurements that you may have heard of. It's that the measurement does not merely reveal a property that previously existed, but that the act of measuring makes that property real. So, when Donald Trump claims that not testing people for COVID means there will be fewer cases rather than just fewer cases you know about, then that demonstrates his deep knowledge of quantum mechanics.
CHAPTER 42 / 93Discussion
Protest Surge Analysis, White House Mask Choice
A USA Today analysis found no direct link between recent social justice protests and surges in coronavirus cases, noting that spikes were most intense in counties that had previously avoided outbreaks. At the White House, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany stated that wearing a mask is a "personal choice" and that she would not wear one at upcoming rallies, citing regular testing and CDC recommendations.
1:19:39 Surges in cases of coronavirus are not linked to recent protests such as the Black Lives Matter, George Floyd and police protests. Not even more people leaving their homes during the warm weather explains the surge of new coronavirus cases. This is according to findings of USA Today, an analysis of counties nationwide. For now, surges seem to be most intense in counties that had avoided the worst outbreaks earlier this year. The analysis found no single cause seems to explain why some places have seen spikes while others have not. The report cites one health expert as saying the virus is still out there and the strategy for fighting it has not changed. Will any White House officials be at the rally tomorrow? There will be several White House officials at the rally tomorrow. And will those officials, will you be there for example? I will be there.
1:20:29 You and other White House officials be wearing masks at the rally? It's a personal choice. I won't be wearing a mask. I can't speak for my colleagues. And why won't you wear a mask? Is it sort of a personal political statement? Is it because the president would be disappointed in you if you don't wear a mask? It's a personal decision. I'm tested regularly. I feel that it's safe for me not to be wearing a mask. And I'm in compliance with CDC guidelines, which are recommended but not required. This is not a mask. This is confidence. It's for getting out and working anywhere other than home. This is not a mask. This is solidarity. It's for opening the door to a friend and keeping the doors open to your favorite places. This is not a mask. This is a sign of love.
CHAPTER 43 / 93Discussion
Australia COVIDSafe App Failure, UK Tracing Skepticism
Australia's $1.5 million COVIDSafe app reportedly failed to identify new close contacts that hadn't already been found by manual tracers. Low download rates and technical glitches limited the app's effectiveness, with some states reporting zero data gathered from confirmed cases. The UK government expressed similar skepticism, noting that no country had yet deployed a fully functioning track-and-trace application.
1:21:17 It was sold with plenty of promise. That is Australia's ticket. A ticket to freedom. So we can get back to the things we love. But so far, the $1.5 million app has hardly helped. There haven't been new contacts identified through the use of the COVID app. Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania yet to pick up a single close contact from the app who hadn't already been identified by contact tracers. and in Queensland and Western Australia not one confirmed case had downloaded the app. The COVID-19 app is not working as we hoped it would because too few people have downloaded it. Other states say tracing has been easier because cases have been in hotel quarantine but in Victoria the virus is spreading in the community and of the 568 cases confirmed since the app was launched
1:22:10 Just over 30 had downloaded it. It will help protect you, it will help protect your family. The UK government's not convinced that apps are the right tool. No country currently has a functioning track and trace app. I can't speak to Australia's app doesn't notify users, only state governments when someone has been in contact with a patient. And 9 News has been told in some cases the app didn't gather any data at all. The federal government is adamant the app is working, insisting the country's low case numbers is limiting how effective the app could be and says it will be more useful as more restrictions are lifted and more people stand around each other.
CHAPTER 44 / 93Discussion
Chris Hayes on Trump Accountability, Proposed 35-Day Shutdown
MSNBC host Chris Hayes argued that President Trump's failures directly led to the deaths of Americans and would continue to do so. In local news, a mayor proposed a 35-day total shutdown of schools and businesses to "reset" public behavior. The plan aimed to transition the city into a lower-risk phase where masks and social distancing would be strictly maintained until a vaccine became available.
1:22:54 Good evening from New York. I'm Chris Hayes. Right now, right this moment, there are Americans who are alive and who are healthy who will be dead by the fall. And there are Americans who already died who did not have to. All because of the failures of our government and more specifically, the President of the United States. There is no other conclusion you can reach at this point. At this point, there's nothing left to say but that Donald Trump has gotten Americans killed and is going to get even more Americans killed in unfathomable numbers. We've heard of this extensively. The spike in cases is not coming with a spike in deaths, sadly enough. That's the one thing you look at because that's a big worry. Well, this is going to sound counterintuitive to those who are trying to avoid another shutdown because the plan that the mayor is floating
1:23:41 He mentioned it last night on his Facebook Live, actually involves a 35-day shutdown followed by an extended period of lessons learned. You remember the shutdown, the schools, parks and businesses fully closed, and churches were reluctant to meet for fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus. We all stayed home and only traveled to essential businesses for food and supplies. Well, if I understand the mayor under this proposal, we can expect more of the same. But coming out of the shutdown will be different, he hopes, now that we've seen what happens when people let their face masks down and gather shoulder to shoulder in large numbers. We're going to come out after 35 days.
CHAPTER 45 / 93Discussion
Vaccine Efficacy and Herd Immunity, Anti-Science Sentiment
Experts expressed doubt that any COVID-19 vaccine would be 100% effective, comparing it to the measles vaccine's 97% rate. If only a portion of the population accepts a partially effective vaccine, achieving herd immunity remains unlikely. Dr. Anthony Fauci noted an "alarmingly large" percentage of Americans harbor anti-science and anti-vaccine sentiments, complicating the path to ending the pandemic.
1:24:22 Everybody's going to wear their face masks when they're around other people. Everybody's going to social distance. Nobody's going to go out when they're sick. Everybody's going to get tested. We could do that. We could come out, be an orange. and just stay in orange. And if you look at this chart, that also enables us to open up schools in the fall. Yeah, he's talking about our current stage four orange on the city's COVID chart. Everyone is struggling to find a way to get our school kids back in the classroom and the mayor sees this plan as one possibility, but it would have to start pretty soon. And just how long would we be in this extended period of our best behavior? Well, according to the mayor,
1:25:01 until a vaccine is available for everyone, it'll be that long. I doubt seriously that any vaccine will ever be 100% protected. The best we've ever done is measles, which is 97 to 98% effective. If only say 70, 75 percent of Americans are willing to get the vaccine and it's only, say, I think you just said 70, 75 percent effective, is that going to get us to herd immunity? Unlikely. And that's one of the reasons why we have to make sure we engage the community as we're doing now to get community people to help us, for people to understand
1:25:42 that we are doing everything we can to show that it's safe and that it's effective. And it's for the good of them as individuals and in society to take the vaccine. So we have a lot of work to do because, as you well know, We've spoken about this intensively in the past. There is a general anti-science, anti-authority, anti-vaccine feeling among some people in this country, an alarmingly large percentage of people, relatively speaking. These serious child abuse emergency room visits are up 35% during the lockdown. Now let me tell you what that means. This is very important.
CHAPTER 46 / 93Discussion
Lockdown Impact on Child Abuse, School Closure Consequences
Data showed a 35% increase in serious child abuse emergency room visits during lockdowns, attributed to parental stress, unemployment, and alcohol abuse. Critics argued that closing schools removed the primary environment where abuse is detected by outside professionals. The segment characterized school closures as a "heinous misapplication of public policy" that harmed children's nutrition and health screenings.
1:26:20 Somebody who brings in their child to the emergency room, that's not because they smacked them around and gave them a black eye. These are, and I'm saying this with sadness, these emergency room visits are for children who the parents think they might've killed them. They're unresponsive, they have multiple broken bones. These are the most serious 35% increase in child abuse, and that's directly due to the lockdown. And I'll explain why. Because when you lose your job, The correlation of amount of child abuse found in a home is directly correlated for lower socioeconomic group, unemployment, alcohol abuse. This is markedly increasing during the lockdown when we know that almost half of people making $40,000 a year or less lost their jobs, by far more than people like you and I.
1:27:10 And so when these people have children and the schools are closed and there's a tremendous amount of stress in the household, we know that the emergency room visits are going way up. And that's only part A. Part B is that do you know where the number one place that child abuse is noticed by an outside person? The school. You close the schools, you have no visibility on the overwhelming majority of child abuse. So this is creating a really catastrophic, sad, and simply unspoken harm to the children.
1:27:47 You realize, by the way, I didn't mention in that, and this is in the article, that when children go to school, that's the number one place where people with children with vision, with need glasses are detected. Children that need hearing aids. I mean, the schools are so- The kids, the school lunch program. For some kids, it's the best meal they get all day. The nutritional aid. Yes. Exactly. So, you know, when you shut schools, you're really, and there's no risk to the children. Again, there's zero risk to the children. You are directly harming children. I don't understand how people who claim to be so focused on children, teachers, teachers unions, I think it's really outrageous. This will go down as the most heinous misapplication of public policy in modern America.
1:28:35 of we tend to see more deaths in the month of July because of the new healthcare professionals that are entering the residency program. So we've got a lot to do. It comes down to simple. Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, stop, stop, stop. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You're about to make something really important point about masks. But what did you tell me? You just said that in the month of July, you see death rates increase because you've got new
CHAPTER 47 / 93Discussion
July Medical Error Rates, Holiday Surge Concerns
A medical professional noted that death rates and medical errors often increase in July as new residents enter hospital programs. Officials warned against a repeat of the infection surge seen after Memorial Day as the July 4th holiday approached. The public was urged to maintain simple measures like hand washing and physical distancing to avoid hospitalizations during this transition period.
1:27:47 You realize, by the way, I didn't mention in that, and this is in the article, that when children go to school, that's the number one place where people with children with vision, with need glasses are detected. Children that need hearing aids. I mean, the schools are so- The kids, the school lunch program. For some kids, it's the best meal they get all day. The nutritional aid. Yes. Exactly. So, you know, when you shut schools, you're really, and there's no risk to the children. Again, there's zero risk to the children. You are directly harming children. I don't understand how people who claim to be so focused on children, teachers, teachers unions, I think it's really outrageous. This will go down as the most heinous misapplication of public policy in modern America.
1:28:35 of we tend to see more deaths in the month of July because of the new healthcare professionals that are entering the residency program. So we've got a lot to do. It comes down to simple. Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, stop, stop, stop. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You're about to make something really important point about masks. But what did you tell me? You just said that in the month of July, you see death rates increase because you've got new
1:29:16 students or medical professionals coming online? Sure. So yes, July is typically the month where we have people who pay doctors, they graduate medical school and they enter residency. So sometimes we tend to see increased in the rates of medical errors and deaths. That's something that is well known in the medical field. So that just goes to show you we have the burden of this virus with new doctors on board. Of course, they're always being supervised by professional, well-trained doctors. But something to keep in mind is simple measures of protecting yourself so you don't have to enter the hospital.
1:29:54 possible, not only because it's July, but we also have another holiday that we're approaching, 4th of July next week. We don't want to see a remake of increasing the number of cases like we did with Memorial Day. But again, just simple measures of wearing your mask, a facial cloth covering, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and keeping your hands washed and clean until we get a vaccine. That's the only way to eradicate this virus. So it appears that 90% of of the hospital or of the beds that's possibly available for COVID patients is occupied. Well, that's actually not accurate. What it means is, is the current phase hospital is in has a 90% accuracy.
CHAPTER 48 / 93Discussion
Hospital Bed Occupancy Clarification, Whole Foods Mask Policy
South Carolina officials clarified that high hospital occupancy rates were due to reduced staffing of beds rather than a surge in COVID-19 patients, who made up only 6% of the total. In Cambridge, Whole Foods employees were sent home for wearing "Black Lives Matter" masks, which the company claimed violated its dress code policy. The employees argued the masks were about inclusion and equity rather than politics.
1:30:36 occupancy for that particular phase. According to and med hospital, COVID-19 patients only make up about 6% of all current patients and men released this statement at W. I. F. F. News four regarding the numbers saying in part when our census dropped significantly at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we appropriately reduced the number of staff beds we report. The fact that our occupancy is high means we are doing a good job of matching our resources to the level of demand during this crisis. Of course, you just heard McMaster mentioned how we need and want more people to start wearing masks and social distancing here in South Carolina. The people of Anderson County reiterating that same idea. Josh, I'm sure you would like to talk to this lady because she's very pleasant. Well, trying to get ahold of anyone in this office is just ridiculous.
1:31:27 Yes, I have some questions about town. Are people and businesses in Grants Pass supposed to wear masks? Because they're not wearing masks over at the little subway place up north of town. You got a kid drawing your drink and he's giving it because he can't wear a mask. I mean, aren't restaurant workers supposed to wear masks? And why isn't the guy up there at the little pantry up north of town right before you can get on the freeway, why isn't he wearing a mask when he's working while he's coughing? Are masks required at people who work because maybe you better get out and do your goddamn job?
1:32:14 Some employees at a Whole Foods in Cambridge wearing masks with a message, but the store sent them home saying wearing those masks violates the company's policy. We are simply asking to support what they say they support and really support each other. That's really all it is. It's basic. It's simple. Matter. Black Lives Matter. This Cambridge Whole Foods employee puts on a Black Lives Matter mask while making a delivery outside the River Street store. Employees say they've chosen to walk out for not being allowed to wear them. They told us that we are violating dress code and we stated to them that we're allowed to wear brands that are industry affiliated. Wednesday, Savannah Kinzer says seven employees were sent home another 13 Thursday. Whole Foods Market responding saying in part all team members must comply with our long-standing company dress code which prohibits clothing with visible slogans, messages, logos or advertising that are not company related.
CHAPTER 49 / 93Discussion
Flatten the Curve Retrospective, Macy's San Francisco Closure
The hosts reflect on the "two weeks to flatten the curve" slogan, noting how quickly the pandemic response escalated. John C. Dvorak mentions plans to shop at the iconic Macy's in San Francisco's Union Square before it closes permanently. The segment concludes with a call for listener donations to support the show's independent media mission.
1:33:15 The company says employees are offered compliant masks and if they don't want to wear one, they can't work. Kinzer says she's run out of the 85 masks they've given out so far. She says the face covering is not a political statement. We're going to continue this and we hope to just normalize it and we hope that it empowers other people, other stores to do it too because again it's not about politics is simply about inclusion and equity and making sure that everyone feels welcome at Whole Foods. Oh brother, you remember I just forgot about flatten the curve. Flatten the curve everybody let's do it we can do it we can all work together. What is it going to be uh two weeks to flatten the curve what was it?
1:34:00 10 days. I think it was, I think it started off as two weeks. Yeah. Oh man. It's unbelievable. And I remember that Tina and I were in Austin still in the other house and I was glued to the TV and then this flattened the curve came up and it was just so obvious that this was not going to be good. It was not going to be a good thing. It was, it was, it was really bad. It was unbelievable. Okay. You're still with us. We appreciate it. Of course we will be thanking everybody who supported this show and our next show. We'll do that, we'll do a double donation segment on the next show as we usually do. And what are you planning on doing while I am traveling? Well, I'll probably just...
1:34:42 Lounge I don't know I just lounge maybe I'll go shop. I'll not go shopping I go shopping in real stores real you know stores that you walk into they I'll go shopping at the MA there you go Macy's store in San Francisco They're shutting it down, and it's a big giant store and the one on Union Square. They're shutting that one down They're shutting it down for good because Macy's doesn't know what they're doing. That was the only reason for going to Union Square. Well, now there's gonna be no reason to go. So I'm gonna go there and do some shopping if I can see what there is. There's really not much more than perfume there the way I see it. But I'll go shopping. It'll be the last Christmas at Macy's. Do you think they'll turn that into apartments like they're doing in other malls? Like other big stores? It's such a good place for retail but
1:35:29 The place is clearly not building was built for Macy's. It was like a I don't know what they're gonna That's horrible that that was just goes a rat mess. That's right, and now we have the new new mayor who's I thought was kind of a he's Democrat but he's gonna be cracking down, he's gonna Trump-proof San Francisco. Oh boy. To protect the gay community by the way from being deported. That's what he said on television. He's gonna deport the gays? Well that's what they think Trump's gonna do. So I don't know, these people are nuts and so the Macy's, I'll go there and then I'll feel bad about it. Yeah.
1:36:07 So that's what I'm gonna do while you're gone. Well, and I do but I do want to remind people that since this is a donation segment that if they're going to it just thinking about this particular COVID moment remember when that all happened and and how the show helped help the show. Yes. Yes, noagendadonations.com, please. Yes, noagendadonations.com. Everyone's always saying we help them during this and it would be great if you would help us out. Yeah, I just want to remind everybody. Good idea. Now, let's go back to when the cops were just swarming the cities because we had to make sure everyone was wearing a mask. Mask up!
CHAPTER 50 / 93Discussion
PCR Testing Limitations, Genetic Update Theory
A discussion on PCR testing highlights that the presence of viral DNA does not necessarily indicate active disease or infectiousness. The segment suggests that most people exposed to COVID-19 reach homeostasis after a "genetic update" and remain asymptomatic. Critics argue that using PCR as a primary diagnostic tool for determining COVID-19 deaths is flawed due to these biological factors.
1:36:44 Remember that? Mask up, mask up. Oh yeah, it was the worst. Social distancing, stay away, slave, mask up. Back to Strokey Bills. Best, if there is such a thing, of COVID. have been doing these for the past month, which has put you in contact with more people. Have you been tested for coronavirus? And if so, how frequently are you doing that? No, I have not been protected. I have not been tested for the coronavirus for two reasons. One, I've had no symptoms, as my mother would say, knock on wood. And number two, I haven't wanted to take anybody else's place in the process.
1:37:26 But it's not to say that people aren't dying. It is actually to say that people are dying and people are dying related to an exposure to a respiratory virus. There's huge problems with our diagnostic tool here. PCR is the tool that's been used globally to determine if somebody has COVID or not. And PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. It's an amplification technique for finding small amounts of DNA. It is a very big dilemma because the presence of that DNA doesn't mean you're ever going to get sick from that virus. Most of us will have that DNA in our bloodstream for a period of time as we go into our genetic update. As we're taking this virus in, we proliferate the virus to get it into enough cells in the body and then we reach homeostasis where we've taken in enough of that genetic information that we stop making it.
CHAPTER 51 / 93Discussion
Vaccine Phase 3 Trials, Minority Community Outreach
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins discussed the start of Phase 3 vaccine trials, emphasizing the need for diverse enrollment. They highlighted the importance of including older people and minority groups, such as African Americans and Latinos, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus. The officials called on the public to volunteer for these trials to help determine safety and efficacy.
1:38:11 or we make tiny amounts of it. And so that balance with that DNA has nothing to do with whether we're in a developed disease or not. Again, most people exposed to COVID were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. And so the presence of the DNA has nothing to do with whether that person is going to die in the coming months. Well, let's talk about vaccines. The world is abuzz about vaccines as the way in which we might ultimately get past this and have a chance to go back to something approaching normal life where we can all be back together again because this risk won't be so high. Where are we, Tony, with the vaccine efforts that have been moving forward at unprecedented speed? But of course, they are full of scientific challenges. Tell us about that. Yeah, I think the first thing people need to understand that although timetables are given, whenever you're dealing with a vaccine development, there's never a guarantee that your candidate will be both safe and effective. So there's always the big question mark.
1:39:10 However, assuming that there will be one and maybe more safe and effective vaccines, here's where we are with the timeline. There are multiple candidates using different platforms, several of which the United States government and the NIH itself, we are involved in helping to facilitate the development, either directly or indirectly with our sites. If things go the way it looks like they're going, one of these candidates will enter phase three trial for efficacy at the end of July. Other candidates will sequentially come in, another one at the end of August, one in September, and one in October. And it will be important to encourage people to enroll. So people who are watching this right now might want to be
1:39:59 attention in two or three weeks to announcements that there might be a vaccine trial enrollment somewhere in your neighborhood because we will depend on the public to sign up and help us figure this out. Let's be clear, these vaccines have already gone through phase one and phase two trials so we know that they've been safe Significant number of individuals and we know that they seem to be capable of raising antibodies, but we haven't actually done the real testing in the field that is going to be in the so called phase 3 trials. But particularly, Tony, it seems to me because this disease, COVID-19, has hit particular groups really hard. I'm talking about older people, people with chronic disease, African Americans, Latinos. We want to be sure that the vaccine enrollment includes those folks as well. Are there ways based on past experience where we are sure that outreach will work and we will get people to sign up from those groups?
CHAPTER 52 / 93Discussion
HIV Trial Models, Vaccine Protection Duration
Health officials are using the community outreach model developed during HIV trials to engage populations most susceptible to COVID-19. A major remaining question is the duration of vaccine protection, with experts unsure if it will last six months, a year, or longer. Unlike the measles vaccine, COVID-19 immunizations may require periodic boosters to maintain immunity against the spike protein.
1:40:58 Well, thank you, Francis. What Dr. Collins was referring to, leading me into the answer to the question, was that this is something that we've done with all our HIV trials. There is an analogy here. When you're dealing with HIV, there's a disparity of susceptibility, of involvement. Thirteen percent of the American population is African-American and 45 to 50 percent of the new infections. So whenever we do treatment and prevention trials through our networks, we outreach through community representatives and community outreach.
1:41:38 We're going to use that same model to do the same thing for the African American, Latinx and Native American populations. In fact, Francis and I right now are very heavily involved in making sure that the trials are quite well represented. by the individuals who are most susceptible not only to infection because of certain circumstances in their life, but also because of the fact that they are more prone to complications because of underlying comorbidities. It's a major goal of the trial to be properly represented and that's what we're going to make certainly a high priority.
1:42:17 Coming back to the vaccines, I keep getting asked, Tony, okay, so suppose this all looks really good and you have a vaccine that's safe and effective and we start immunizing people. How long will that protection last? When you've got a vaccine, are you going to need to take it again a year later? Will it be like the flu where you have to have a shot every year or will you get a boost or not? What do you think? Well, this is, Francis, a great question. It's the reason why we have to be humble about what we do. We do not know the answer to that. We do not know. I mean, you can assume that you're going to get protection at least to take us through this cycle. When you look at natural infection, it's anywhere between six months to a year.
CHAPTER 53 / 93Discussion
Natural Herd Immunity Studies, Masking Inside the Home
Studies from Sweden and Germany suggest that a significant portion of the population may already have COVID-specific antibodies, indicating natural herd immunity is approaching. In San Antonio, health officials recommended that people consider wearing masks inside their own homes if they live in multi-generational households or have been exposed to large public gatherings. The advice aimed to prevent the spread of the virus to vulnerable family members.
1:43:00 However, with this spike protein that's being presented in the way that we do it with primes and in some cases boost, we're going to assume that there's a degree of protection, but we have to assume that it's going to be finite. It's not going to be like a measles vaccine. So there's going to be follow up in those cases to see if we might need a boost. We may need a boost to continue the protection. But right now, we do not know how long it lasts. Herd immunity is something that we've been supporting. Nature supports that. Herd immunity to COVID-19 is just around the corner, new studies say, suggesting humans are rapidly building natural protections against the virus. That's according to at least two new studies by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University Hospital Tübingen in Germany. The studies find at least 30 percent of humans now have COVID-specific antibodies
1:43:53 which means they've been exposed to weak samples of the virus and effectively equals a natural vaccine. Herd immunity is essentially here, it's coming. Like yesterday when you put up the chart to show where the death levels were from the coronavirus, which is down to zero, I said, well maybe the epidemic is over. We still need people to wear the mask in public, we still need people to keep social distance and isolation. Ryan, the one thing I want to try to get across today is we need to do that when we're in our homes also. As you know, I'm a lifelong San Antonioan, grew up there, worked there for many years, and I know how many multi-generational families that we have. And while we believe the community is doing a great job of following the rules when they're outside of the home, we really need to be thinking about doing the same thing when we're inside the home.
1:44:41 All of us are capable of catching this disease. None of us are immune from this. And the fact that we need to get across this in order to protect ourselves, we need to protect our families and our loved ones. We really need to be thinking about the care that we're providing inside the home right now to make sure that we're not spreading this disease inside the home and then making it come outside the house. So let me get this straight. What you're effectively saying is that people should be wearing masks inside their own homes now? Ryan, I'm saying if you can't socially distance and can't socially isolate or if you've been out in public and exposing yourself and you haven't decontaminated yourself good enough when you get home, if you have someone that has underlying medical conditions at home, we really need to be thinking about that. Now, if you're the same two or three people that are living in the same house and you're really taking care of yourself and you're following all the rules, then you probably don't need to wear a mask in your home.
CHAPTER 54 / 93Discussion
Whole Foods Employee Boycott, Black Lives Matter Masks
Whole Foods employees continued to walk off the job in protest of the company's ban on "Black Lives Matter" face masks. Some loyal shoppers joined the boycott, stating they felt uncomfortable spending money at a company that reprimanded workers for supporting human rights. Employees pointed out that other pins and themed masks were permitted, leading to accusations of a double standard.
1:45:31 But if you've gone out for Memorial Day or Fourth of July or you've gone out to parties or you've gone out to graduation parties, when you've gone out and you've come back in, you can be bringing that back inside. And I think it's no secret we all like to relax when we're at home. But if we're not paying a virus spreads outside or going to keep spreading t and employees boycotting take our masks off or leave without pay. It's going on day 18. Some employees walking off the job daily after being reprimanded by management for wearing Black Lives Matter face masks at work. I think they should let us support any kind of movement that is human rights and that's equal rights until their bottom line is hurt and they see that people care.
1:46:27 I don't think they're going to change. Even the most loyal of shoppers are changing their minds about the company, standing in solidarity with employees. I feel completely uncomfortable giving them any of my dollars. So we've stopped shopping here. A Whole Foods spokesperson told CBS News their dress code policy prohibits visible slogans, messages or logos unrelated to the company, but their employees disagree. We're gay pride pins. We wear red socks masks. We wear Bruins masks. We're encouraged to. And I can't understand why they're not changing this policy because it's so small.
CHAPTER 55 / 93Discussion
Florida Testing Data Errors, 100% Positivity Rates
An investigation revealed significant errors in Florida's daily coronavirus testing reports, with some labs showing 100% positivity rates. Orlando Health confirmed its actual positivity rate was 9.4%, despite the state report showing 98%. The discrepancies raised serious questions about the overall accuracy and integrity of the data being used to drive public health policy in the state.
1:47:10 Even though some of these employees are on the verge of losing their jobs, they vow to continue to walk out and to speak out until changes are made. The Florida Department of Health releasing its daily coronavirus testing report showing a statewide positivity rate of 11%. But Fox 35 quickly noticing some shocking positivity rates. Countless labs reporting 100% positivity. That means every single person tested was positive. We sifted through the reports to find local testing sites with high numbers. Like this CentraCare, 83 people tested and all positive. Check out the Orlando VA, a positivity rate of 76%.
1:47:53 NCF Diagnostics has a location in Alachua, 88% of tests coming back positive and 98% for Orlando Health. How could that be? We investigated these astronomical numbers contacting every location mentioned. Orlando Health the only to respond, confirming errors in the report. Its positivity rate is in fact only 9.4%. Now we just heard back from the Orlando VA. They are looking into the numbers. We haven't heard back from the other two labs or the Florida Health Department of Health. Of course, it makes you wonder if these numbers are wrong. Are other numbers on the report also wrong? We'll stay on top of this story. I have four children. Youngest one is 10 months old. You know, the biggest concern is playing with kids. I don't want them to get sick. And with like a 10 month old,
CHAPTER 56 / 93Discussion
Travel Anxiety and Vaccine Hesitancy, 2020 Election Polling
A parent expressed anxiety about traveling and the potential for asymptomatic spread, stating they would wait to see if a vaccine is effective before getting it. In political news, polling from Arizona, Texas, and Florida showed a competitive race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Biden led in Florida, while the candidates were tied or within the margin of error in the other two states.
1:48:46 She's gonna want to crawl, right? And she's at that age where she'll put everything in her mouth, right? And she's always touching things. And then the other concern is, you know, right now it's hard to trust other people, I think. You have the crowds at the airports, going through security. So you're just exposing yourself. More than that, you have people with this virus that may not show symptoms until you know, you're on the plane and then it's too late if you're, especially if you're going overseas, you can't go anywhere. You're stuck. I'll wait. I'll wait as long as I have to. Even when a vaccine comes available, I'm not going to be the first one to run out and get
1:49:24 you get it, I'd like to make sure that it's going to be effective and it works. I mean if it lasts a year, maybe two years, that's just what we have to do. I mean, you know, I obviously want the kids to get out. I want my wife to go do the things that they want to do. I want to go do things that I want to do. But at this time, it's just what it is. I mean, so we just kind of have to put up with it and make the best out of our time. heavily impacted by the coronavirus. That's Arizona, Texas and Florida. Results show former Vice President Joe Biden will be competitive or better in all three states. Mr. Biden and President Trump are tied 46 to 46 in Arizona.
CHAPTER 57 / 93Discussion
Governor Cuomo Victory Tour, Women Leaders and COVID
Governor Andrew Cuomo faced criticism for a "victory tour" and poster celebrating New York's response to the virus despite having the highest death toll in the country. Critics noted the poster omitted references to the 32,000 dead or the controversial nursing home orders. Separately, research suggested that countries led by women, such as New Zealand and Germany, had more effective pandemic responses.
1:50:13 President Trump is up 46 to 45 in Texas and the former vice president is up by six points 48 to 42 in Florida New York's Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo seems to be on something of a victory tour congratulating the state and himself for defeating the virus, even selling this poster which shows his state getting over the mountain by bringing down the curve during the 111 days of hell as the governor put it. The poster includes references to his daughters and a boyfriend, little inside jokes. There are no illustrations however of the more than 32,000 dead New Yorkers, the highest death toll by far.
1:50:52 of any state. No rendering on that poster of criticism that Governor Cuomo ignored warnings, no depiction of the study that he could have saved thousands of lives had he and Mayor de Blasio acted sooner. No painting there on the poster of his since rescinded order that nursing homes take all infected patients in. Here's what Governor Cuomo had to say yesterday. What we went through and what we did was historic. Because we did tame the beast, we did turn the corner, we did plateau that mountain, and then we came down the other side. And they will be talking about what we did for decades to come. And I'll just end with a little global aside, which is the research that's being done about how much better countries run by women have done during the COVID pandemic.
CHAPTER 58 / 93Discussion
Mask Confrontations in Stores, Infant Infection Reports
Viral videos captured heated confrontations between masked and unmasked shoppers in retail stores, with some individuals threatening to call the police. In Texas, health officials in Nueces County reported that 85 infants under the age of one had tested positive for the virus. The announcement was used to urge residents to strictly follow mask mandates and social distancing guidelines.
1:51:45 from New Zealand to Taiwan to Germany to Finland, et cetera. And maybe it's not a very big sample, but the kind of inclusive leadership that actually followed the evidence and listened to science has proven to be quite effective. You take a picture of me, does that make you feel better? Why don't you get a life, ladies? Dude, I have a life. And it's going around taking pictures of people. Yes, because what you're doing, can you not follow the lines on the floor? Keep your mouth running. The governor, the mayor has asked us all to wear masks and look at you, not wearing a mask. Oh dear. I wear a mask to protect myself. People have made this shit so fucking political, it's unbelievable.
1:52:27 Now you have accosted me in this store. You have accosted me when you came and bought me with the sticks. We've got to wear a mask. And if you're going to keep this up, maybe we'll get the police department in here. Hey mom, what did you call 911 then? Yeah, yeah. Oh God, another one. You people are like monkeys falling out of a tree. No, you're the monkey that hasn't... Hey, I'll tell you what. Y'all can do it in my house, okay? How's that grab you? You know, I think there's one reason why you came for me. Why don't you burn something down? Yeah, why don't you get a paramonument down or something? You must be the one.
1:53:05 Are you burning crosses? Are you burning crosses? No, you're the idiot. You're unbelievable. Good luck with the virus. Good luck with the virus. Your whole family tree is getting cut off at its roots. 85 infants have tested positive for coronavirus in Nueces County, which includes Corpus Christi. The public health director made that announcement this week and urged residents to wear masks and practice social distancing. These babies have not even had their first birthday yet.
CHAPTER 59 / 93Discussion
White House and Dr. Fauci Conflict, Public Messaging
Tensions between the White House and Dr. Anthony Fauci escalated following an op-ed by Peter Navarro that was critical of the scientist. Fauci denied that the President was trying to discredit him, attributing the friction to a shift in focus toward economic reopening. Despite limited public appearances, Fauci maintained that he had the full backing of the administration and continued to emphasize the pandemic's severity.
1:53:48 Please help us to stop the spread of this disease. No other details were provided on the condition of those infants, but Corpus Christi currently has 82 deaths linked to the virus. Chief, so tell us what more do we know about it came to be and also about that White House relationship with Dr. Fauci? What we've seen is an escalating war between the White House and Dr. Fauci. Dr. Fauci has served some five presidents before President Trump, and he's someone who's very restricted, someone who's very restricted. He was someone who also said before this op-ed was written by Peter Navarro that the American public should really trust scientists, including himself. The White House, you had your first conversation with President Trump, we are told, this week in perhaps a month or longer.
1:54:33 You had a meeting with the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows. But just yesterday, he called you irresponsible for a statement you made comparing saying that this pandemic could be worse than the 1918 pandemic. You also have been attacked, as you know, by Peter Navarro, the White House adviser. Are you convinced that the White House is not trying to discredit you, Dr. Fauci? You know, I think you've got to be careful when you say the White House. The White House in general is not trying to. Certainly the president is not. I certainly believe that Mark Meadows is not. What happened with Peter Navarro in that editorial, I can't even comment on that. That just is beyond my comprehension why he did that. But I do not believe that the White House is trying to discredit me. No, I don't. Do you think there are individuals in the White House who are?
1:55:29 Well, I already mentioned one. And Mark Meadows saying you're irresponsible for that comment? Well, what happened there is that that was something that was said in another interview where I went where there could have been a misunderstanding that I was equating them. So when the thing we wanted to do was to correct that, which I did in an interview that I had just like yesterday, I believe. I don't think he was calling me Irresponsible as a person. I think he was referring to his concern that there was going to be some misunderstanding I don't have a problem with that mark and I are on very good terms Let me ask it this way. Dr. Fauci Do you think you have the full backing and support of the White House from the president on down? I do I do
1:56:15 I believe I do. I spoke to the president about that. I believe I do. And why do you think they've been trying to limit your public appearances? Well, I think it's a question of different messages getting out. You know, the real emphasis right now, you know, is on more of trying to get the country opened again and economic messages. I don't think there's going to be that many. Yes, it varies. There are some times when I'm on a lot and there's sometimes when I'm not. Here I am with you. You know, I always like to be on with you. I'm glad they said yes to that. And we appreciate it. And we appreciate it. Do you have a worry, though, Dr. Fauci, that the anti-vaccine movement could interfere with this timetable?
CHAPTER 60 / 93Discussion
The COVID-19 "Infodemic", WHO Misinformation Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined the current crisis as an "infodemic," characterized by an excessive amount of information that makes finding reliable solutions difficult. The WHO provided guidelines for the public to mitigate the spread of rumors, including checking facts, choosing trusted sources, and spending less time online. The initiative aimed to promote science-based information over digital disinformation.
1:56:57 Yes, I do, because we have to admit and realize that there is an anti-vax movement that we've had to struggle with in this country. And I believe the solution to that would be community engagement. and community outreach to get people that are trusted by the community to go out there and explain to them the importance of not only getting engaged in the vaccine trial, but the importance of when the vaccine is shown to be safe and effective to actually take the vaccine because it could be life-saving and it certainly would be the solution to this terrible pandemic. We're not just fighting an epidemic, we're fighting an infodemic.
1:57:42 This famous quote from WHO Director General has been widely shared. So what is an infodemic? An infodemic is an excessive amount of information about a problem, making it difficult to identify a solution. During a health emergency, an infodemic can drown out reliable information and allow rumors to spread more easily, impeding an effective public health response. Why is it happening now? Information can spread faster than a virus. With rapid growth of digital communications and social media platforms, information spreads fast from online to our physical lives. And how does it affect us? Online information can negatively affect our psychology, daily lives, and behaviors, worsening the ongoing crisis at hand. Infodemics make it difficult to recognize accurate and reliable information that tells people what preventative actions they should take.
1:58:31 Some even promote stigma, discrimination, or violence. Therefore, we all play an important role to share trustworthy information and reduce disinformation. Here are simple actions we can do to mitigate the infodemic. 1. Look for facts and evidence. Be critical when receiving information. Question the source for accuracy and evidence. Compare with other sources. 2. Choose carefully. Share, like or forward only content from trusted sources. 3. Be cautious. Do not reshare, forward or like false information you know is not true. 4. Be a good example. Correct or call out people in your social networks when they post something untrue. Refer them to verified content and expert organizations for further information.
CHAPTER 61 / 93Discussion
Operation Warp Speed, Pfizer Vaccine Agreement
The Trump administration reached a historic agreement with Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine immediately upon approval. Part of Operation Warp Speed, the deal included an option for an additional 500 million doses. President Trump praised the FDA and the accelerated development process, which aimed to deliver a vaccine in a fraction of the traditional time.
1:59:15 5. Spend less time online. Only seek the latest information at specific times of the day, once or twice a day if needed. Exercise, listen to music, or read a book. This helps to maintain good physical and mental health. Together let's combat disinformation and misinformation. Turn the infodemic into a positive information experience, one that promotes facts and science. Today, my administration reached a historic agreement with Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of their vaccine immediately following its approval. Hopefully, the approval process will go very quickly. And we think we have a winner there. We also think we have other companies right behind that are doing
2:00:03 doing very well on the vaccines, long ahead of schedule. As part of Operation Warp Speed, this agreement will also ensure that we receive an additional 500 million doses shortly thereafter. This is another crucial step in our effort to develop, manufacture and distribute a vaccine in record-breaking time, really a very small fraction of the time based on previous schedules. I want to thank the FDA. I want to thank everybody involved. It's been an incredible process. So I think the first issue with the trial is that what's significant is that the president and the government agreed to offer solidarity and participate in the trial, which is being led by Oxford University through South Africa's university. The difficulty, of course, is one trying to secure a sufficient number of volunteers for the trial.
CHAPTER 62 / 93Discussion
AstraZeneca Vaccine Transparency, Hospital Triage in Texas
Advocates called for transparency in the contractual agreements between AstraZeneca, Oxford University, and the South African government regarding vaccine trials. In South Texas, Starr County hospitals were forced to create ethics and triage teams to determine which patients could be treated as facilities became overwhelmed. The situation highlighted the dire impact of the virus in hotspots where medical resources were exhausted.
2:00:55 with, as you correctly point out, within a climate where the numbers of people living with COVID are increasing and we also estimate that that is a significant undercount because our testing strategy has been hampered by the lack of available testing kits. So the criteria for testing has changed and in effect it amounts to rationing at the moment. The second issue with the trial, which actually involves quite significantly a pharmaceutical company called AstraZeneca. And the issue around AstraZeneca's relationship with Oxford, the relationship with the South African government, as in the contractual relationship, including Wits University and clinical participants in other parts of the world, in Brazil as well, is unclear. We're calling for transparency in those agreements.
2:01:50 because on the one hand, if we are going to participate in a trial that is trying to ensure equitable access to a vaccine, if it is successful. And I had a nurse at, nurses at Walter Reed Hospital who would bend down and whisper in my ear, I'd go home and get me pillows. They would make sure they'd actually, probably nothing ever taught and you can't do it in the COVID time, but they'd actually breathe in my nostrils to make me move, to get me moving. I understand hospitals are so overwhelmed in one county in Southern Texas so that doctors have to choose who to send home to die. What are you learning?
CHAPTER 63 / 93Discussion
Bill Gates Conspiracy Theories, QAnon and Social Media
Bill Gates addressed "insane" conspiracy theories claiming he is using vaccines to inject tracking devices into people or that he is linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Gates attributed the spread of these falsehoods to a combination of pandemic anxiety and social media polarization. He expressed a desire for internet companies to take a more active role in removing demonstrably false information that has real-world impacts.
2:02:32 Hey Wolf, well this is happening in Starr County down there in South Texas, an area that has been the hotspot within this Texas hotspot. County officials there saying at the county hospital in Starr County that they're going to create essentially ethics and triage teams to go through the patients and determine which patients can be treated there at the hospital and which patients might be too sick to be treated and have to go home and and wait to die, essentially this because the number of COVID patients has exploded there over the course of just the last month. County officials say they didn't have any COVID patients about a month ago. Now they have more than 1400, more than 40 added to the rolls there yesterday.
2:03:14 So a great deal of concern there. Hospitalizations and deaths up. The number of overall new cases is beginning to show signs of plateauing, but there's still disturbing details in this medical data here in Dallas County. The county judge announced that one of the people who died reported died today was a five year old child. The top 10 videos that spread lies about you had almost 5 million views. It's also pointed out that according to Zignal Labs, which is a media analysis company that tracks this, misinformation about you is the most widespread of all coronavirus falsehoods. So there's a conspiracy theory that one of our viewers asked about. I just want to play that sound.
2:03:55 What would you say to the fringe portions of the public like conspiracy theorists that seem to think that you're somehow responsible for the outbreak? There's also a conspiracy theory that you're pushing vaccines because you're going to inject people with a tracking device when they get the vaccine. It's all part of a so-called globalist plot to control the world. QAnon folks, which is actually a group that's been targeting me as well lately, they're claiming falsely that I'm somehow connected with Jeffrey Epstein and global Kabbalists of sex traffickers. It's insane. What do you say to people who believe this stuff? Because I mean, I'm sure you are inundated, I am, by people direct messaging me just insane stuff.
CHAPTER 64 / 93Discussion
The "Mass Debate" Media Montage, Eye Protection
A media montage highlights the repetitive use of the phrase "mass debate" across various news networks regarding mask mandates. Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that for "perfect protection," people should also consider eye protection like goggles or shields to cover all mucosal surfaces. While not a universal recommendation, the advice aimed to provide a more complete barrier against the virus.
2:04:34 It's not at all. I mean, I can tell you I get stuff from people who seem, you know, they have lives, they have families. I don't know if they genuinely believe this and they've just been misled. For me, they claim I was on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane and going to his island with Tom Hanks. Just insane, crazy stuff. Do you think, I know internet companies are looking at this, do you wish that they would play a role in taking stuff down which is demonstrably false? Because I mean it does have real world impact on vaccines or a nut showing up to a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C. with a gun. Yeah, in some cases they are taking things down.
2:05:19 You know it's a bad combination of pandemic and social media and people looking for very simple explanation who's the bad guy here. And a lot of that's been connected to politics more in the US than in other locations. And, you know, of course, vaccines weren't popular with everybody even before this all started. So I'm a big believer in getting the truth out. But it's kind of not as titillating to say, you know, Cooper is innocent. Oh, well, you know, that's not as exciting. You don't forward that to quite as many people as you do
2:06:07 the acquisition. eight billion dollars already allocated for testing even though many states and cities face severe testing shortages. This morning as COVID cases mount across the country the mass debate is intensifying. People are very passionate on both sides of the great mass debate. The partisan mass debate is heating up. Mass debate is growing. The president is trying to have us cover the mass debate. CBS target
2:06:52 and Walgreens are getting in on the mass debate. The mass debate now taking center stage at local restaurants. It's nine minutes after six now and there's new video of a raging mass debate. The mass debate in Georgia is getting ugly. The great mass debate in West Virginia might soon be coming to an end. This mass debate is far from over. How many mass debates have you gotten into? Love to hear it. The mass debate. was taken to a whole other level. Bishop David Zubik tells Pittsburgh's Action News 4 he found himself in the middle of a mass debate. We'll dive deeper into this pet store mass debate. So we're going to begin with this thing we're calling the great mass debate. I think we're going to get to a point where eye protection is recommended.
CHAPTER 65 / 93Discussion
Moderna Vaccine Side Effects, Multi-Dose Logistics
Early data from Moderna's vaccine trials showed that 80% of participants experienced systemic side effects like chills and fevers after the second dose. Experts noted that most leading vaccine candidates would require two doses, creating a massive logistical challenge for manufacturing and public compliance. Ensuring that elderly populations are well-represented in trials was identified as a priority for gathering accurate safety data.
2:07:31 You know, it might, I mean, if you really want perfect protection of your mucosal surfaces, just for your audience, Jen, as you very well know, you have mucosa in the nose, mucosa in the mouth, but you also have mucosa in the eye. And that's one of the things that, you know, theoretically, you should protect all the mucosal surfaces. So if you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it. I mean, It's not universally recommended, but if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can. It's just that it's so easy for people to just make a cloth mask. Moderna vaccines sound concerning. We looked. After the second dose, at least 80% of participants experienced a systemic side effect ranging from severe chills to fevers. So are these vaccines safe? Well, the FDA
2:08:31 not being pressured will look hard at that. The FDA is the gold standard of regulators and their current guidance on this, if they stick with that, is very, very appropriate. And, you know, the side effects were not super severe. That is, it didn't cause permanent health problems for the things that are they, you know, Moderna did have to go with a fairly high dose. And so, you know, to get the antibodies. Some of the other vaccines are going able to go with lower doses to get responses that are pretty high, including the J&J and the Pfizer. And so there's a lot of characteristics of these vaccines. It's great that we have multiple of them that are going out there. And yes, I think- You know the data better than I do.
2:09:28 But the data showed that everybody with a high dose had a side effect. Yeah, but some of that is not dramatic where it's just super painful. But yes, we need to make sure there's not severe side effects. The FDA, I think will do a good job of that despite the pressure. How many doses of the vaccine will we need? Well, none of the vaccines at this point appear like they'll work with a single dose. That was the hope at the very beginning. Maybe one of them, particularly in the second generation, won't surprise us. We hope just two, although in the elderly, sometimes it takes more. And so making sure we have lots of elderly people in the trial will give us that data. The gentleman yields back. I would remind
CHAPTER 66 / 93Discussion
House Committee Clashes, Hurricane Isaias and COVID
Republican members of a House committee clashed with the chair over mask-wearing rules during a hearing. Meanwhile, Florida braced for Hurricane Isaias, forcing the closure of COVID-19 testing sites. In Washington, Congress struggled to reach a deal on extending unemployment aid as the President continued to attack the integrity of mail-in voting and the U.S. Postal Service.
2:10:19 Mr. Jordan, Mr. Biggs, and Mr. Johnson to stop violating the rules of the committee, to stop violating the safety of the members of the committee, to stop holding themselves out as not caring by refusing to wear their masks. Is it permissible to drink a sip of coffee? It is not permissible. We can't drink coffee in the room. I'm getting ready to ask questions now. I'm getting ready to ask questions. And I will. Mr. Gates is regular no no no he's not he went and that's why I took off my mask mr. Chairman I'm gonna go I'm gonna go okay, mr. Jordan is recognized and it wasn't claiming my time in April President Trump irresponsibly suggested that the American people inject themselves with bleach
2:11:07 Was that superb? Yes or no? That's not what I heard. That's exactly what he said. That's what the American people heard. And you know it and you can't defend it. Let's move on to May. Tonight, the startling new prediction from the CDC. America could see 20,000 more deaths in the next three weeks and Florida in the middle of a pandemic now bracing for a hurricane. Florida's governor declaring a state of emergency, shutting down COVID testing sites. The president on the ground there tonight greeting a crowd of supporters without masks. All this as Hurricane Isaias pounds the Caribbean with devastating floods and is now threatening major cities along the East Coast.
2:11:54 Deadline looming. More than 25 million Americans will lose critical unemployment aid at midnight as Congress goes home for the weekend without reaching a deal. Unfounded attacks on mail-in voting. The president continues to undermine the long-standing practice of voting by mail. Growing concerns that the U.S. Postal Service, led by one of President Trump's biggest donors, is slowing mail service. Is that mail is backing up, is getting delayed. Democrats tonight accuse President Trump of undermining democracy.
CHAPTER 67 / 93Discussion
Jim Jordan Questions Dr. Fauci on Protests and Church
Representative Jim Jordan questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci on whether the government should limit social justice protests to prevent the spread of the virus. Jordan pointed out the perceived inconsistency of allowing large protests while restricting church services and businesses. Fauci declined to opine on specific government restrictions, stating only that any large crowd increases the risk of viral transmission.
2:12:30 Bitcoin bust. Tonight, Florida authorities arrest the mastermind behind that Twitter attack of 130 accounts, including President Obama, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Turns out he's 17 years old. And tonight, CBS' Steve Hartman is on the road with a local businessman who's helping send 75 kids to college. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Fauci, do protests increase the spread of the virus? Do protests increase the spread of the virus? I think I can make a general statement. Well, half a million protesters on June 6 alone. I'm just asking that number of people does it increase the spread of the virus? Crowding together, particularly when you're not wearing a mask, contributes to the spread of the virus. Should we limit the protesting? I'm not sure what you mean. How do we say limit the protesting? Should government limit the protesting?
2:13:30 I don't think that's relevant to... Well, you just said if it increases the spread of the virus, I'm just asking should we limit it? Well, I'm not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way. Well, you make all kinds of recommendations. You make comments on dating, on baseball, on everything you can imagine. I'm just asking, you just said that protests increased the spread. I'm just asking, should we try to limit the protests? No, I think I would leave that to people who have more of a position to do that. I can tell you that... Government stopping people from going to church, Dr. Fauci? Yeah. Last week in the Calvary Chapel case, five liberals on the Supreme Court said it was okay for Nevada to limit church services. Governor, I mean, Justice Gorsuch said it best. He said there's no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesar's Palace over Calvary Chapel. I'm just asking, is there a world where the Constitution says you can favor one First Amendment liberty, protesting, over another, practicing your faith?
2:14:24 I'm not favoring anybody over anybody. I'm just making a statement that's a broad statement that avoid crowds of any type no matter where you are because that leads to the acquisition and transmission. And I don't judge one crowd versus another crowd. When you're in a crowd, particularly if you're not wearing a mask, that induces the spread. It's a simple question, doctor. Should we limit the protests? Government is obviously limiting people going to church. And look, I'm not been no there's been no violence that I can see a church I haven't seen people during a church service go out and harm police officers or burn buildings But we know that I mean for 63 days nine weeks. It's been happening in Portland, right? Yeah, well one night in Chicago 49 officers were injured But no limit to no limit to protest but boy you can't go to church on Sunday. I
CHAPTER 68 / 93Discussion
Business Closures vs. Protests, Public Health Inconsistency
The debate over pandemic restrictions intensified as business owners were arrested for reopening while large-scale protests were permitted to continue. Critics argued that public health officials were being inconsistent by not condemning the health risks of protests with the same vigor as other gatherings. Dr. Fauci maintained that his role was to provide general health advice about crowds rather than to judge the legality or morality of specific activities.
2:15:14 I don't know how many times I can answer that. I'm not going to opine on limiting anything. I'm just going to tell you... You've opined on a lot of things, Dr. Fauci. Yeah, but I've never said... This is something that directly impacts the spread of the virus and I'm asking your position on the protests. Yeah, well, I'm not going to opine on limiting anything. I'm telling you what it is, the danger. and you can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are. Government has stopped people from going to work. In fact, just in New Jersey four days ago, Ian Smith, Frank Trombetta were arrested for opening up, for trying to operate their business, their gym. They were arrested. But my bet is if these two individuals own this gym were outside just in front of their gym and all the people who are working out in their gym were outside protesting, they'd been just fine. But because they were in the gym working out, actually running their business, they got arrested. You think that's okay?
2:16:13 You know, I'm not going to point on who gets arrested and who does not. I mean, you get where I'm going. I'm telling you as a public health official. I say crowds. Do you see the inconsistency though, Dr. Fauci? There's no inconsistency, Congressman. What? There's no inconsistency? So you're allowed to protest millions of people on one day in crowds yelling, screaming, but you try to run your business, you get arrested. And if you stood right outside of that same business and protested, you wouldn't get arrested? You don't see any inconsistency there? I don't understand what you're asking me as a public health official to opine on who should get arrested, or not. That's not my position. You could ask me as much as you want, and I'm not going to answer it. You've advocated for certain businesses to be shut down. I'm just asking you on your position on the protest. I mean, I haven't seen one. We've heard a lot about hair salons. I haven't seen one hairstylist who between haircuts goes out and attacks police or set something on fire. But we've seen all kinds of that stuff during protests. And we know the protests actually increase the spread of the virus. You've said that.
2:17:14 I said crowds. I didn't say specifically. I didn't say protests do anything. So the protests don't increase the spread of the virus? I didn't say that. You're putting words in my mouth. No, I want, I would, I just want an answer to the question. Do the protests increase the spread of the virus? I don't have any scientific evidence that anything I can tell you that crowds are known, particularly when you don't have a mask. to increase the acquisition and transmission. No matter what the crowd... So you don't have a position on whether the protests increase the spread of the virus or don't increase the spread of the virus? I'm saying that crowds, wherever the crowds are, can give you an increased probability that there's going to be acquisition and transmission. But do you understand Americans' concern?
CHAPTER 69 / 93Discussion
Anti-Mask Sentiment, Hydroxychloroquine Media Debate
Protesters in the UK argued that mandatory masking constitutes "battery" and expressed skepticism about the virus's lethality. In the US, the debate over hydroxychloroquine continued, with some citing Dilbert creator Scott Adams' defense of the drug. Critics accused media outlets like CNN of potentially causing deaths by discouraging the use of treatments that some doctors believe are effective.
2:17:58 Protesting, particularly according to the Democrats, is just fine. But you can't go to work, you can't go to school, you can't go to church. There's limits placed on all three of those fundamental activities, First Amendment activities, but protesting is just fine. Will you get to meet with them in person, do you think? Will you be able to meet with them face to face? Well, we'll see. You're going to have to wear masks. They will have to wear masks. Will you get tested, do you think, if you have to do that for COVID? I'm not prepared to say much more than that right now. Thank you. You wear the mask so you don't make somebody else sick. I want to ask you- Sick. What's with this guy? Steve, that's our time. Okay. Take off your mask. Take off your mask. Take off your mask. Take off your mask. I don't believe that it's quite as deadly as our government is leading us all to be. I think it's going to be more to do with the vaccine.
2:19:00 and they want everyone to have the vaccine even though you know we don't want it basically so that's why I'm here just giving my support. So we are here exercising our democratic right to assemble. I'm concerned about the way the country's going in terms of mandatory face masks used. Now this is my body okay I used to be a nurse, a mental health nurse and one of the things we learned as mental health nursing students is that it is considered battery to impulsively put something on a person's body without their consent. Covid-19 was called Covid-19 because it's 19 years since the last bloody disaster which was the made up Twin Tower explosions. Covid actually stands for, look I can't remember what it is, I've had half a beer, but
2:19:46 This is all just a reset button. This is to hurry things up. They want to get Trump off his perch. This is the only way they can do it. They've got to stop those elections. They've got to get the Democrats in. They've got to get old sleepy Joe Biden in. What they're looking to do is get the blacks uprising by these Antifa riots. Democrat states are melting down at the moment because their councillors are all brown envelopes, they're all paid off. We know it's corrupt around the whole Western nations, everywhere, the councillors are all paid off, they're all Marxists, all playing the Chinese game because China pays their wages. That's it. I mean, it's like past time for us to have a debate about hydroxychloroquine. Well, we shouldn't be, but let me just say, first of all, there's many millions of doctors in this country. There's five peer reviewed studies that show it not to be true. There's Dr. Burks, there's Dr. Gerard, there's Dr. Fauci. Hang on. Hang on. And to that study, particularly Dr. Fauci said, that study is a flawed study. But I need to do this, Peter, because what you're saying is irresponsible.
CHAPTER 70 / 93Discussion
The "33 Cases" Media Pattern, Local News Synchronization
A montage of local news reports from across the United States shows multiple anchors reporting exactly "33 confirmed cases" of coronavirus in their respective regions. The synchronization of this specific number across different states and dates raised questions among observers about the source and consistency of the data being provided to the media.
2:20:45 Alright, let me say this to you. Okay, and I reach out to all your viewers Scott Adams, you know Scott Adams, right? He's the guy who wrote the Dilbert cartoon. He did a beautiful video, 10-minute video on Twitter and the thesis of the video is that CNN might be killing thousands because of the way they've treated that so I would just ask I'll let I'll let Scott Adams video be my defense on this. Okay, well can I just say something? I find that to be offensive because he's a comic strip writer so for you to say that... Understood. Okay, so I just want to give you because I want to be clear. I just said Dr. Fauci. The person that the President of the United States said in charge of testing. Dr. Brett Giroir. As of today and I say as of today at this hour
2:21:31 We have 33 confirmed positive tests for the virus. Yesterday we had 22 cases, today we have 33 cases, so it's gone up by 11. Those are 11 new cases, 22 goes to 33. As we sort through this here in Arkansas, today we have 33 confirmed positive cases in Arkansas. As of today, we have 33 confirmed cases with Boston residents. We expect those numbers to climb. As of this afternoon, we have 33 Pennsylvanians who have tested positive for COVID-19.
2:22:16 So as of this morning, there were 33 confirmed cases in North Carolina. Lots to get to tonight. I'm Leon Hendricks. We want to start with new information into our newsroom within the past couple of hours. There are now 33 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan. Good evening, everyone. Thanks for joining us for the News at Six. I'm Richard Girod. Corrina Corral has the night off. More cases of the coronavirus were confirmed today in San Luis Obispo County, bringing the total number now to 33. Right now Georgia is reporting a total of 99 cases in 19 counties. That is 33 new cases from just yesterday. Good afternoon, I'm Karen Swenson. More cases and more events affected. Here is the latest coronavirus news. There are now 33 cases in Louisiana.
CHAPTER 71 / 93Discussion
Brad Pitt Emmy Nomination, Dr. Fauci Reaction
Dr. Anthony Fauci reacted to news that actor Brad Pitt was nominated for an Emmy for portraying him on Saturday Night Live. Fauci praised Pitt's talent but expressed hesitancy about appearing on stage at the awards ceremony, fearing it might suggest he was not taking the pandemic seriously. The interaction highlighted Fauci's unusual status as a pop culture figure during the crisis.
2:23:06 As expected, the number of cases of COVID-19 jumps. A total of 33 people in our state have been tested and are confirmed to have the coronavirus. Day four of the shelter at home order brought six new confirmed cases of the coronavirus to San Luis Obispo County, bringing the total number to 33. All troopers will be professional, polite, and will treat everyone with dignity and respect. These latest steps is the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island jumps by 33 overnight. Dr. Fauci, great to see you again. Allison here. Hi, Allison. Hi. I have been listening with rapt attention, but I feel like John didn't get to the really burning question that America has for you, and that is, did you hear that Brad was nominated for an Emmy for playing you? Yes, I did.
2:23:58 What a surreal world we're living in, Allison. I mean, I hope he wins. He's a great actor. I mean, he's one of my favorite actors, so I really do hope he wins. Have you spoken to him since he played you? You know, I have not. I would love to meet him because I've been such a great admirer of him and his talent, but I have not spoken to him. I feel like we can make that happen, Dr. Fauci. I feel like we, you know, you and I have the power to have you meet Brad because I sort of feel like anything you and I suggest, he does. Well, we'll see. We'll see. Thanks, Allison. I'm not done with you, Dr. Fauci. Would you like to go up on stage when he wins? Would you like to be there to help accept the Emmy Award?
2:24:42 You know, Alison, the only reason I have hesitancy about that is that we're in the middle of an outbreak, a really bad pandemic. And I think that if that association with kind of show business thing might be misinterpreted, that it's I'm not serious about what I'm doing. So I'd rather focus on my job and really wish him well that he wins. I was afraid there was going to be a point that I pushed you too far. And I feel that we have just gotten up to that point. But we really appreciate how playful you have been on the lighter note with all of that. And it was just great. I mean, it was just a great moment to watch. You know that obviously Brad Pitt is a fan of yours and all of your information as well. You had all of those claims yesterday. Now you've got new claims today that we just reported.
CHAPTER 72 / 93Discussion
Victoria Quarantine Scandal, Fear-Based Media Programming
A major scandal emerged in Victoria, Australia, involving allegations that security guards in quarantine hotels were engaging in misconduct with guests. Critics called for the resignation of government ministers over the "fiasco." Meanwhile, medical professionals argued that fear-based media coverage has impaired the public's ability to engage in critical thinking, leaving them in a reactive, "reptilian" state of mind.
2:25:31 Guards were taking cash in hand while also claiming job keeper payments and also taking guests out to supermarkets and 7-11s and what have you. I mean, what do you make of all of that? Well, this is a scandal of monumental proportions. I mean, this is a complete fiasco. And not one single minister in Daniel Andrews' government here in Victoria has taken responsibility for this fiasco, whether that be the Police Minister Lisa Neville, the Health Minister Jenny McCarcos, the Jobs Minister Martin Bikula or indeed the Premier Daniel Andrews. I mean, there are allegations that security guards were bonking those in quarantine.
2:26:13 I mean, this is just quite extraordinary. What is the actual recommendation by the FDA or the CDC to doctors? What is it you are being told if your patient tests positive, here is what we're recommending you do. Let's say literally nothing that I know of. It is stay home in isolation for two weeks. and then potentially either get retested again or even that is money. And I think one of the biggest points throughout this is people have become so fear-based because
2:26:51 of the fear-mongering mainstream media that most people are living in their amygdala, this reptilian, you know, fear-based part of our brain. And when you do that, critical thinking is out the window. So people are not, they've lost critical thinking. They're reacting with this, you know, immediate response from programming. So for me, it's look at medicine. It is not black and white. It is called the art of medicine. It's the practice of medicine because we look at all kinds of things to come up with a program. Richard, you with us?
2:27:26 that I have right now is that when the Coronavirus took over President Trump and all his colonies in that White House knew about it and took their money out of the stock market and nobody is Doing anything about it and now that the stock market is back up They put their money back in and nobody has caught that yet. And the other thing is is We need to move this world ahead. We've been here 50 million years, they say. Well, I'm 56 tomorrow, and I don't understand why we're not in the Star Wars, like Star Trek. We can make movies about it, but we can't be there? Why are we not so far ahead? Why are our brains not moving us forward? Why is all this money going to all these people that are way up high?
CHAPTER 73 / 93Discussion
Stock Market Allegations, Star Trek Era Aspirations
A caller expressed frustration over allegations that White House officials engaged in insider trading before the pandemic took over the economy. The discussion shifted to a broader critique of societal progress, with the caller questioning why humanity has not yet reached a "Star Trek" era of technological advancement. The segment touched on themes of national debt and the concentration of wealth among the elite.
2:26:51 of the fear-mongering mainstream media that most people are living in their amygdala, this reptilian, you know, fear-based part of our brain. And when you do that, critical thinking is out the window. So people are not, they've lost critical thinking. They're reacting with this, you know, immediate response from programming. So for me, it's look at medicine. It is not black and white. It is called the art of medicine. It's the practice of medicine because we look at all kinds of things to come up with a program. Richard, you with us?
2:27:26 that I have right now is that when the Coronavirus took over President Trump and all his colonies in that White House knew about it and took their money out of the stock market and nobody is Doing anything about it and now that the stock market is back up They put their money back in and nobody has caught that yet. And the other thing is is We need to move this world ahead. We've been here 50 million years, they say. Well, I'm 56 tomorrow, and I don't understand why we're not in the Star Wars, like Star Trek. We can make movies about it, but we can't be there? Why are we not so far ahead? Why are our brains not moving us forward? Why is all this money going to all these people that are way up high?
2:28:18 and none of it is being put back into our society. Move us ahead. Move us forward. Get out of this debt. Get out of the world. Move us forward. We should be in Star Trek era. And I don't understand why 50 million people for 50 million years can't move us forward. Richard, thanks for the call. You're calling from... I'm all for that ticket, though. Tonight, the new warning from the Postal Service. Your ballot might not get counted. President Trump threatens to hold up funding as the post office tells states it can't handle millions of mail-in votes this November. Will your ballot be delivered in time?
CHAPTER 74 / 93Discussion
Postal Service Warnings, California Case Milestone
The U.S. Postal Service warned states that it might not be able to handle the volume of mail-in ballots in time for the November election. California became the first state to top 600,000 confirmed cases, leading Dr. Fauci to warn against reopening the economy too quickly. Plans for vaccine distribution began to take shape, with the CDC identifying priority groups and storage requirements in major cities.
2:28:58 Stark projection. The CDC says as many as 200,000 people could be killed by the coronavirus before Labor Day. The White House task force warns one state the virus is widespread and expanding. And as Texas closes in on 10,000 deaths, high schools in another hot spot vote to play football this fall. Unmasked. Couldn't the mask you're wearing be worse than no mask at all? The new research and the government guidance on which face coverings work and which ones don't. Conspiracy theory. President Trump questions if Joe Biden's new running mate is eligible to be on the ticket. She is. Why some are calling the false attack on Senator Kamala Harris racist.
2:29:42 The first interview from one of the officers in the George Floyd case. What he told investigators about that neon neck maneuver and his first reaction when he learned Floyd was dead. Out of control blaze, a second major wildfire torches Southern California. Will this weekend's weather make the situation even more dangerous? Too close for comfort. The shocking video as a wild bison violently attacks a tourist. Why experts say the animal isn't to blame. And on the road, or at least the side of it, CBS's Steve Hartman with the World War II vet on a cross-country mission for the second time. This is the CBS Evening News with Nora O'Donnell reporting from the nation's capital. Good evening and thank you for joining us. Nora is off. I'm Margaret Brennan.
2:30:36 Today, California topped 600,000 confirmed cases, the most of any state since the pandemic began. As positivity rates remain above the recommended levels for reopening across much of the country, Dr. Fauci again warned against reopening too quickly. In your understandable zeal to quickly get back to normal and revive the economy, You can do it if you do it in a measured, prudent way. To think that you can ignore the biologic, it's just not going to happen. Looking ahead to a possible vaccine, the CDC has reportedly reached out to four states, including Florida, as well as the city of Philadelphia, to begin drafting plans on how they would store and distribute a vaccine, including who gets priority. Margaret? Well, as the battle against COVID-19 continues, it's also time to get ready for flu season.
2:31:32 And this year there are concerns about a possible twindemic. They're calling it a potential twindemic, the coronavirus pandemic still going strong at the same time flu season is approaching. A new term you could be hearing more this fall, twindemic. And she says the earlier we get our flu shots, the less likely we'll end up in a twindemic. The earlier you get that shot, the sooner you have immunity. This year with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to coincide with flu season, doctors say the concern over a possible twindemic underscores the need for people to get the flu vaccine. Do you know the term twindemic? It's what they're calling a twindemic. So Tom, a twindemic is exactly how it sounds.
CHAPTER 75 / 93Discussion
The "Twindemic" Narrative, Massachusetts Flu Vaccine Mandate
Health officials coined the term "twindemic" to describe the potential overlap of the COVID-19 pandemic and the seasonal flu. In response, Massachusetts mandated flu vaccines for all students from six months of age through college. In Australia, the Prime Minister suggested that "incentive sticks," such as travel and restaurant restrictions, might be used to encourage high rates of COVID-19 vaccination.
2:30:36 Today, California topped 600,000 confirmed cases, the most of any state since the pandemic began. As positivity rates remain above the recommended levels for reopening across much of the country, Dr. Fauci again warned against reopening too quickly. In your understandable zeal to quickly get back to normal and revive the economy, You can do it if you do it in a measured, prudent way. To think that you can ignore the biologic, it's just not going to happen. Looking ahead to a possible vaccine, the CDC has reportedly reached out to four states, including Florida, as well as the city of Philadelphia, to begin drafting plans on how they would store and distribute a vaccine, including who gets priority. Margaret? Well, as the battle against COVID-19 continues, it's also time to get ready for flu season.
2:31:32 And this year there are concerns about a possible twindemic. They're calling it a potential twindemic, the coronavirus pandemic still going strong at the same time flu season is approaching. A new term you could be hearing more this fall, twindemic. And she says the earlier we get our flu shots, the less likely we'll end up in a twindemic. The earlier you get that shot, the sooner you have immunity. This year with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to coincide with flu season, doctors say the concern over a possible twindemic underscores the need for people to get the flu vaccine. Do you know the term twindemic? It's what they're calling a twindemic. So Tom, a twindemic is exactly how it sounds.
2:32:14 I want to ask you more, but is twindemic a new word? Did we just make this up or have we experienced or used the term twindemic in the past? As far as I know, I think it's made up. So it's specially coined for what we're going through. But but it's coined, I think, based on the Latin for where the pandemic comes from. So. The flu shot will be required for all students in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health just announcing this that all children from the age of six months to those enrolled in college must receive an influenza vaccine by December 31st in order to attend school in January. Exemptions apply
2:32:53 to students with medical or religious reasons and those who are homeschooled and higher education students who are completely off campus. State health officials say this new requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illnesses and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be strong, I suspect the majority of Australians will get vaccinated and there will be a strong public view that those who choose not to get vaccinated need to there needs to be some sort of incentive stick, perhaps, through the current programs, including No Jab No Pay, to make that happen. So I think that is a very reasonable interpretation of what the PM had to say today.
CHAPTER 76 / 93Discussion
Victoria Police Drone Surveillance, Structural Racism Claims
Police in Victoria, Australia, announced the use of high-powered drones to monitor beaches and parks for mask-wearing and social distancing compliance. The drones are capable of reading license plates from 500 meters away. Simultaneously, public health discussions emphasized that the pandemic's disproportionate impact on minority communities is a result of structural racism rather than coincidence.
2:33:47 Again, looking at specific things like not being able to go into restaurants, not being able to travel internationally. Police are preparing to launch their aerial arsenal as part of a crackdown on COVID rule breakers. High-powered drones will be used to find people not wearing masks and cars too far from home. Over the next week, Victoria Police will dispatch drones. They'll be keeping a watch on St Kilda and Port Melbourne Beach, making sure skate parks and playgrounds remain empty and for those who head to the park, a mask is a must or at least a must.
2:34:27 face covering. Police have also been using drones to guard the New South Wales border. There's no escaping this high-powered aerial arsenal. It can be flown for seven kilometres, the camera is infrared and it's so clear it can read a vehicle's number plate from 500 metres away. Doesn't really bother me I'm doing the right thing so I've got nothing to hide. And while this virus touches us all we got to be honest It is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, Latino and indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately. And this is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism. How much damage has been done by the kind of conspiracy theories that have grown up, particularly on social media, even frankly about you personally, you know, you caused the pandemic. I mean, it's very ad hominem now. Is that is that sort of, you know, something you could brush aside? Do you think there's real
CHAPTER 77 / 93Discussion
Bill Gates on Conspiracy Theories and Polarized Elections
Bill Gates discussed the "unfortunate" rise of conspiracy theories during the pandemic, noting that they discourage people from wearing masks or seeking vaccines. He observed that the confluence of social media and a polarized U.S. election has elevated these ideas to an unexpected level. Gates expressed surprise at becoming a target of such theories after years of working on infectious diseases in relative obscurity.
2:35:23 damage done by that kind of conspiracy theory? You know, it's hard for me, because I'm so, you know, science oriented, to even, you know, go, Oh, come on, not really, people don't really believe that, you know, that those things are completely untrue. And to the degree they cause people not to wear masks or seek out the vaccine, you know, or to think this is all some big conspiracy. That's unfortunate. And I countries where the leaders have been more clear, have had more compliance on the masks and social distancing. So that's been a benefit to them. I think it'll die down. I mean, a pandemic is a time when it's not totally surprising that people's concern and reaching for over simplistic explanations gets a little bit higher.
2:36:19 And weirdly, it's come at the time of an election in the US that's fairly polarized. So a lot of things, there seems to be some confluence between social media, election, and pandemic that have this at a level that I certainly never expected to be mentioned in any of those things. Because we were pretty obscure doing our work on infectious disease, which is mostly in poor countries. And this has gotten infectious diseases and crazy ideas about them into the rich countries in a way that you never would have predicted. The values of the foundation are about saving lives. We have a great track record of
CHAPTER 78 / 93Discussion
U.S. Pandemic Response Failures, Testing Inequities
Bill Gates critiqued the U.S. pandemic response, citing the CDC's slow initial testing and the failure to integrate commercial labs early enough. He noted that testing results often took too long to be useful and that wealthy individuals were able to access regular testing while low-income communities were underserved. The lack of a coordinated national strategy led to sustained high infection levels throughout the summer.
2:37:00 achieving that, you know, so I'm not somebody who, you know, can complain because I've had, you know, this amazing life and get to do this amazing work. Now let's turn to the US because it's the country, you know, it's the world's biggest economy, it's the preeminent public health country in the world, it's got the world's best epidemiologists. Why is it done so badly? Well, we believe in freedom, individual freedom, we optimize for individual rights. You know, there's some bad luck in this that the CDC's initial test was slow, complicated, didn't work. They didn't let the commercial labs come in. We messed up getting that commercial lab capacity going. We never created a CDC website that would prioritize who is tested so that both we didn't overload the system to avoid taking more than 24 hours to give you results and we were making sure low-income communities and people who really needed the tests
2:38:01 We're getting them as opposed to wealthy people who like to be tested on a regular basis or forced their delivery people or people who work in their house to be tested every week. So we've had a a very uncoordinated testing thing. Even though we have way more PCR machines than any country, and we performed at this point, although that was slow to get going, we performed a lot of tests. But the delayed results and the fact that people's behavior, even if they test positive, doesn't change their behavior as much as other countries to take them out of the infection pool, that's where unfortunately we had a continued high level of infection through the summer. Governments have been using a range of Orwellian mind control tricks during the coronavirus crisis. The slogans, the clapping and the cymbals have been carefully used to enable the authorities to take control of our thinking.
CHAPTER 79 / 93Discussion
Psychological Conditioning and the "Rule of Three"
An analysis of government messaging suggests that slogans like "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" utilize the "rule of three" for psychological conditioning. Critics argue that these repetitive, three-word phrases are designed to bypass critical thinking and implant beliefs in the subconscious. The segment draws parallels to George Orwell's "1984" and the use of Newspeak to control public behavior and thought.
2:39:00 I'm grateful to Dr Colin Barron, a former NHS doctor and eminent hypnotherapist who's the author of the book Practical Hypnotherapy for pointing out to me just how our minds have been taken over and how we've been very successfully and skillfully manipulated into believing the lies we've been fed. Elected governments, aided by specialist behavioural scientists, have been brainwashing millions into accepting the coronavirus propaganda. The rhythm and pattern used in these phrases is not a coincidence. There are usually three words in each phrase, and the phrases run in threes. This isn't a coincidence, it isn't happenchance.
2:39:41 Using phrases of three words presented in groups of three is a technique known as the rule of three in psychological conditioning. That's the reason for the three phrases with which we're all being bombarded. We're being trained and taught at the same time. It's behavioural psychology. Other hypnotherapists have pointed out that if we repeat phrases often enough, then the words and thoughts become implanted in our subconscious minds and then become a belief which motivates our behaviour. And so governments repeat slogans which become beliefs. It's called auto-suggestion along the lines of every day in every way I'm getting better and better. George Orwell who invented Newspeak also understood the importance of the triple three word phrase. In 1984 his futuristic novel which was written in 1948 Orwell invented the slogan war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.
CHAPTER 80 / 93Discussion
"Build Back Better" and the Ministry of Truth
The phrase "Build Back Better" emerged as a central theme for government recovery plans, which some critics compared to Orwellian concepts. The discussion alleges that effective treatments like hydroxychloroquine are being suppressed by a "Ministry of Truth" in the media to maintain control over the pandemic narrative. Despite these efforts, reports of successful treatments continue to leak out from public figures and doctors.
2:40:39 If you want a picture of the future, wrote Orwell, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever. We are taking a moment to recognise that the throne speech we delivered eight months ago had no mention of Covid-19. had no conception of the reality we find ourselves in right now. We need to reset the approach of this government for a recovery, to build back better. And those are big, important decisions and we need to present that to Parliament and gain the confidence of Parliament to move forward on this ambitious plan. Somehow we've let politics overrule science.
2:41:19 And it's an absurd situation. People have compared this to 1984 and the Ministry of Truth and so on that's limiting what people can say on objective facts. It's beyond belief. Here's the thing, I think they know that the treatment works. I think that basically they're afraid to even let it be tried because letting it be tried would show that it works. So the message has to be shut at all costs. Because anything will leak out and in fact it is leaking out and you see across the country people who started to speak up who become almost deathly ill and Have been turned around in three days or sooner even and these are now public figures who are speaking up who've said that the medicine saved their life and It's very difficult to you know close all the leaks in that dike that are being suppressed by by
CHAPTER 81 / 93Discussion
Rosa the Mask-Detection Robot, Retail Enforcement
A company developed "Rosa," a responsive observation security agent robot designed to detect and remind customers to wear face masks. The robot provides a non-confrontational way for businesses to enforce safety measures without putting human employees at risk of verbal or physical altercations. The creator noted that businesses are preparing for the possibility of long-term COVID-19 enforcement.
2:42:12 the media that are trying to do that. We're seeing fights like this go viral. Where businesses find themselves at times in verbal or physical confrontations with customers. Trying to enforce mask requirements often under state or county orders. The horrifying videos, you know, the horrifying they're just, you're just scared. They're not fun. Steve Reinhardt is CEO of robotic assistance devices and he's trying to take the ugliness out of these encounters by deploying a robot. We developed a face mask analytic so
2:42:48 So we can either say, look for people with face masks on, look for people without face masks on. They call the robot Rosa, which means responsive observation security agent. When Rosa recognizes a person about to enter a business without a mask, you hear and see the warning immediately. It is a non-biased, non-confrontational approach to reminding people to wear their face masks. The robot's creator acknowledges someone could choose to ignore the messages. Why are you wearing face masks? But he says businesses are bracing for the possibility they'll have to enforce COVID-19 safety measures for years to come. And they hope to avoid scenes like this. You have a machine tell you to do something? It blows my mind that the level of compliance is just skyrocketing. There's a lot of bad information about therapeutics out there. Debunk some of the myths for us, hydroxychloroquine being one of them.
CHAPTER 82 / 93Discussion
Climate Change and Future Pandemics, Wuhan Sacrifice
Bill Gates linked the rise of pandemics to the disrespect of the natural world and climate change, warning of future zoonotic diseases. He argued that ecological degradation would lead to global instability and mass migration if not addressed through scientific innovation. Gates also thanked the people of Wuhan for their "great sacrifice" during their strict quarantine, which he credited with successfully bringing down case numbers.
2:43:45 You know, this is an age of science, but sometimes it doesn't feel that way. You know, just the idea it's about testing and hydroxychloroquine, you know, the numbers are quite clear. It got confused because the trials were done so poorly, but there's lots of good things coming in the therapeutic area that are really proven to work without the severe side effects. So, you know, a little bit slow, but a lot of good news to come in that domain. And if we don't solve the climate problem, do you believe there will be more pandemics, worse pandemics in the future? Well, that's not the only thing. You'll have incredible instability because your ability to grow food in large parts of the world will
2:44:41 be so diminished that you literally have hundreds of millions of migrants and you won't have a thriving global economy because you will have degraded the ecosystems. And there is no quick fix to that thing, unlike the magic vaccine that's a mere year to two years at most to come up with. To all the people of Wuhan, made a great sacrifice to be in this very strict quarantine. And I'm very glad that it succeeded, but I'm sure that the difficulties were very great. And so we're thankful that you made these sacrifices. Being at ground zero of infectious disease is an incredible challenge and
2:45:38 You've made changes, work was stopped, your living was very different. And now the goal that all of that had, which is getting the cases down to very small numbers and still being super open about, okay, where are those cases? That critical thing is something that people should feel good about and I hope that we can get things even more back to normal in the months ahead as we use testing data to see where do we still need to restrict things and where can we go partially back to normal. So thank you for your sacrifices.
CHAPTER 83 / 93Discussion
Nancy Pelosi Salon "Setup", Authority and Lies
Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed she was "setup" by a San Francisco salon after video surfaced of her inside the business without a mask while it was legally closed. In a broader critique, commentators argued that the public is being told to follow "the science" based solely on the authority of figures like Tony Fauci and Bill Gates. The segment warns that people in authority often lie and will abuse power if it is relinquished to them.
2:46:19 Tonight, the urgent new warning ahead of the Labor Day weekend, the make or break holiday as we head into fall. Dr. Anthony Fauci pleading with people, stay away from those big crowds that have led to COVID surges, packed pool parties, bars, beaches and super spreader events. The first death linked to that massive biker rally in South Dakota and the CDC's new timeline on a vaccine. What they're telling states, On the attack, Joe Biden blaming President Trump for what he calls a national emergency as schools struggle to reopen. The president's pushback today and the new alert about Russia targeting Joe Biden's campaign. Did the Trump administration try to bury it?
2:46:58 Nancy Pelosi firing back after video of her inside a salon shuttered by law because of COVID. The House Speaker now calling it a setup. The new developments as a rival of Vladimir Putin fights for his life. What officials now say was used to poison him. The cyber attack on one of the country's largest school districts, remote learning down for a third day. Whether your kids are at risk. And the chili challenge that swept the nation. How all that that cold cash raised means a major step forward in the fight against ALS. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. I take responsibility for trusting the word of the neighborhood salon that I've been to over the years many times and that when they said what we're able to accommodate people one person at a time
2:47:52 and that we can set up that time. I trusted that. As it turns out, it was a setup. So I take responsibility for falling for a setup. And that's all I'm going to say on that. We're being told this is the science. But it's not. It's an appeal to authority. It's science because Tony Fauci and Bill Gates tell us it's science. We want to see the studies. We want to see the studies on hydroxychloroquine. We want to see the studies on whether the lockdown is killing more people than the coronavirus. We want to see real science and real risk assessments. And we are not going to take the word my father told me when I was a child. People in authority lie. And we all, if we are going to continue to live in a democracy, we need to understand that people in authority lie
CHAPTER 84 / 93Discussion
Mass Vaccination Logistics, Informed Consent and Nuremberg
The upcoming global vaccination program is described as the most complicated in human history, requiring hundreds of millions of people to receive two doses. Critics invoke the Nuremberg Charter, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and the right to refuse unwanted medical interventions. The logistical challenges include doubling the production of vials, needles, and syringes, as well as managing potential side effects across the population.
2:48:55 people in authority will abuse every power that we relinquish to them. And right now we are giving them the power to micromanage every bit of our lives 24 hours a day. They're going to know where we are, they're going to know the money that we spend, they're going to have access to our children, they're going to have the right to compel unwanted medical interventions on us. The Nazis did that in the camps. in World War II. They tested vaccines on gypsies and Jews. And the world was so horrified after the war, we signed the Nuremberg Charter. And we all pledged when we do that, we would never again impose unwanted medical interventions on human beings without informed consent. Do we have enough infrastructure to contact trace the way that we need to?
2:49:54 I think that's why the criteria that you can see the gates that are that the federal government has recommended are. Four weeks ago, Dawn Baker became the first person in the US to get a shot as part of a phase three clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine. And now she's back, not just for a visit. All right, take a nice deep breath. But for another shot, that's right. The coronavirus vaccine will likely be given in two shots a few weeks apart. It's like the boxer going into the ring. You might hit the other guy with one punch and he might go down, but two punches is going to be way more effective. And that's a problem for several reasons. Many Americans aren't very excited about the coronavirus vaccine. According to a recent CNN poll, 40% of Americans say they won't get it.
2:50:44 Second, for those who do take it, it's a logistical challenge to have hundreds of millions of people come in not once, but twice. There's no question that this is going to be the most complicated, largest mass vaccination program in human history. People will have to remember to come in the second time. They might have to take time off work twice and possibly experience unpleasant side effects like fever twice. Government health officials are aware that's a big ask. On the manufacturing end, it's just more complicated to make 660 million doses of a vaccine than 330 million. And it's not just double the vaccine, it's double all the components that go with the vaccine. Two vials with two caps and two stoppers, two syringes with two needles for everybody.
CHAPTER 85 / 93Discussion
Arrest of Pregnant Woman for Facebook Post, Incitement
In a viral video from Australia, police arrested a pregnant woman in her home for "incitement" related to a Facebook post about an upcoming lockdown protest. The woman offered to delete the post, but officers proceeded with the arrest and seized electronic devices under a search warrant. The incident sparked international debate over the extent of police powers and the suppression of dissent during the pandemic.
2:51:33 Doing it twice is going to be daunting. It is going to be absolutely daunting. For Don Baker, rolling up her sleeve a second time was about saving lives. You guys are doing this? Yeah, you can show me your search warrant before you go through my house. Search warrant for what? Now what I will explain to you is if you want to listen, you got your phone going? Yeah I do. Yeah. Right. Now you're under arrest in relation to incitement. Incitement? Yes. Now you're not obliged to say or do anything but anything you say or do may be given in evidence. Excuse me incitement for what? What the? What on earth? Excuse me what what on earth? Just put your phone down. Can you like record this? It might be
2:52:19 I have an ultrasound in an hour because I'm pregnant. I'll take it easy. What's this about? I have an ultrasound in an hour. Let me finish and I'll explain. It's in relation to a Facebook post in relation to a lockdown protest you put on for Saturday. Yeah and I wasn't breaking any laws by doing that. You are actually, you are breaking all that's why I'm arresting you. in relation to my two children. Can't you just say to her, take the post down? Like, come on. I'm happy to delete the post. Yeah, that's fine. But my two kids are here. I have an ultrasound in an hour. Like I'm happy to delete the post. You also have the right to communicate with or to communicate with a legal practitioner. You understand those rights?
2:53:01 Yeah, this is ridiculous. Yeah, this is a bit unfair. Come on, mate. What about she just doesn't do the event? Like, it's not like she's done it. She made a post. So that's an offence. Now, search warrant, you put titles up and we're required to seize any computers, any mobile devices you have. You're not taking my phone. I'm not taking any device. That's my phone. It's nothing to do with her. COVID has taken this year, just since the outbreak, It's taken more than 100 years. Look, here's the lives. It's just it's I mean, think about it. More lives this year than any other year.
CHAPTER 86 / 93Discussion
Youth Suicide Ideation Data, "Idolatry to Lucifer" Claim
A CDC study from June 2020 revealed that 25.5% of Americans aged 18 to 24 had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days. In a separate segment, a caller on a political line used extreme religious rhetoric, labeling President Trump as "Lucifer" and criticizing the evangelical church's support for him. The caller argued that the administration's focus on herd immunity was inherently anti-life.
2:53:42 for the past hundred years. Data points from a very recent study published by the Center for Disease Control in August, in mid-August, that surveyed thousands of Americans at the end of June and asked them a variety of questions designed to gauge trends and developments in physical and mental health. And probably the most striking of the statistics was the one that was produced by the following question, quote, Have you seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days? A question that was asked among people around the United States from June 24th to June 30th of 2020. Of people 18 to 24, people in the 18 to 24 age range, 25.5% or essentially one out of every four Americans in that age group said that yes,
2:54:41 They have seriously considered, not fleetingly or as a fantasy, but seriously considered suicide, not in the past year, but in the past 30 days. All right, we'll hear from Josephine in Livingston, New Jersey on our Biden line. Good morning. It is very, very sad that this country has come to the point, it's you against me, just like the woman you heard from California. My God, do we really live in America? This idolatry to Lucifer, that's how I label Trump, I have to say it. This idolatry to Lucifer. And even the white evangelical church who proclaims themselves pro-life.
CHAPTER 87 / 93Discussion
Victoria Death Toll "666", UT Austin Football Testing
The death toll in Victoria, Australia, reached 666, with officials expressing condolences to the families of the most recent victims. In Texas, the University of Texas at Austin implemented mandatory COVID-19 testing for students attending football games. While students were required to show negative results, health authorities expressed concern that large gatherings could still lead to dozens of new infections in concession lines and restrooms.
2:55:21 They're not pro-life, they're pro-birth. Now they're saying, go die, like this Dr. Atlas that Trump has just hired, who believes in this idea of herd mentality. To get to that herd mentality, two million people have to die. Tony's next on our Trump line from Joppa, Maryland. Go ahead. Coronavirus in Victoria. That is 63 new cases since my update yesterday. I'm sad to have to report that there have now been 666 Victorians who have lost their life because of this global pandemic. That's an increase of five since yesterday's update. Two of these deaths occurred prior to yesterday. These include one female in her 80s, three females in their 90s,
2:56:14 one female in her 100s and we send our sincere sympathies and condolences to each of those five families. This will be a very difficult time for them. Yeah, Tom and Sally, a big concern. Good morning. The university plans to make sure every student that attends Saturday's game is free of COVID-19. They're doing this by making sure that those who are attending as part of the big ticket student game package take a COVID-19 test tomorrow. The test is free but mandatory. Only students who show proof of their negative COVID-19 test results will be given a ticket for Saturday's game. But thousands of alumni will also be attending and Interim Austin Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott worries as many as 50 people could catch the virus at Saturday's game.
2:57:02 Are gathering limits 10 and having 25,000 people in one space is a concern. So ultimately, people have to make a decision whether or not they're going to go to the game. I will be watching on my TV. Dr. Escott says he worries the most about the increased risk of transmission in lines for the bathroom and concession stands. Now keep in mind UT did eliminate tailgating for this season and they also plan to provide over 200 hand sanitizing kiosks as well as enforcing masks for everyone who attends the game.
CHAPTER 88 / 93Discussion
Xinjiang Lockdown Despair, NFL Proximity Chips
Videos from Urumqi, Xinjiang, captured residents screaming from high-rise buildings in despair after 40 days of strict lockdown. In the United States, the NFL began requiring players and staff to wear proximity chips to facilitate contact tracing in the event of a positive test. The league reported only five positive cases out of 64,000 tests administered during the late summer period.
2:57:39 The same tragic story that happened in Wuhan six months ago is now occurring again in the Xinjiang region, as thousands of residents in high-rise buildings shouted and screamed into the night in despair. Xinjiang's capital Urumqi has been under strict lockdown for nearly 40 days after authorities announced a resurgence of the CCP virus on July 16. An Urumqi resident recorded the heartbreaking scene of people living in surrounding buildings screaming together to vent their frustration. It is clearly audible that the videographer himself was sobbing when filming.
2:58:28 An assistant commissioner has unleashed on anti-lockdown protesters. Luke Cornelius described his frustration at having to prepare the force to face another round of demonstrations this weekend. To be honest, I feel a bit like a dog returning to eat his own vomit. I mean, it's just None of us would want to do that and I'm sick of it. Please, please don't leave home to engage in an activity which is going to spread the deadly virus and keep us locked up in home even longer. through the end zone for a touchback and we go to Michelle. Well, Al, from August 12th through September 5th, just over 64,000 COVID tests were administered to NFL players and in that time period there were five positive cases. Now along with testing, everyone from the front office to the locker room is required to wear a Connexon proximity chip from the time they walk into the facility until they walk out again. They're also wearing them tonight, they will in all games, so if someone does test positive, the league will know who they were near
2:59:31 Do you still trust the FDA? I think in the FDA there's a lot of professionals. Historically, just like the CDC was viewed as the best in the world, the FDA had that same reputation as a top-notch regulator. But there's been some cracks with some of the things they've said. At the commissioner level, hopefully the staff isn't pulled in that direction.
3:00:14 What about the CDC? You made reference to the reputational damage that's been done to the CDC. Can you take what the CDC says to the bank any longer? Well, the CDC is largely being written out of the picture because you have people at the White House who aren't epidemiologists. saying what a great job they've done. And so it's no longer a set of experts. The CDC actually did make some mistakes, the way they thought about testing, the way they hadn't figured out to bring the commercial providers in. Now hundreds have gathered here in front of the Washington County Administration building calling for the end of a mask mandate saying they are tired of not living their normal lives.
CHAPTER 89 / 93Discussion
St. George Mask Mandate Protest, School Storming Attempt
Protesters in St. George, Utah, gathered to demand an end to mask mandates, with some calling the virus a "hoax." The situation escalated when a crowd attempted to storm a school building after being asked to move by administrators. Parents argued they should have the right to decide whether their children wear masks, while the school board maintained they were simply following the governor's orders.
2:59:31 Do you still trust the FDA? I think in the FDA there's a lot of professionals. Historically, just like the CDC was viewed as the best in the world, the FDA had that same reputation as a top-notch regulator. But there's been some cracks with some of the things they've said. At the commissioner level, hopefully the staff isn't pulled in that direction.
3:00:14 What about the CDC? You made reference to the reputational damage that's been done to the CDC. Can you take what the CDC says to the bank any longer? Well, the CDC is largely being written out of the picture because you have people at the White House who aren't epidemiologists. saying what a great job they've done. And so it's no longer a set of experts. The CDC actually did make some mistakes, the way they thought about testing, the way they hadn't figured out to bring the commercial providers in. Now hundreds have gathered here in front of the Washington County Administration building calling for the end of a mask mandate saying they are tired of not living their normal lives.
3:01:03 A passionate call for action Friday morning in St. George, several police officers on standby as many locals called concerns about coronavirus spikes overblown. The flu kills more than coronavirus. Others calling the virus a hoax or stating that asymptomatic carriers simply do not exist and they cannot be forced to wear masks anywhere as citizens of the United States. If we want to wear a mask, that's fine. We can take care of ourselves. Some rally attendees say they shouldn't ever wear masks if they have any medical issues or mental health concerns, or if they feel they simply can't breathe. When George Floyd was saying I can't breathe and then he died and now we're wearing a mask.
3:01:47 And we say, I can't breathe, but we're being forced to wear it anyway. But many say that they believe in all cases, masks jeopardize kids' health. Parents are demanding they have the right to decide what to do with their children. I'll tell you another reason I'd hate masks. Most child The school administrators responding that they don't understand why crowds are protesting them based on a mandate given by the governor. They blocked off the front entrance to the school building and we went out to ask them to move and they attempted to storm the school building. The school board is implementing the governor's recent order that face shields alone are not enough and if a parent is adamant that their child cannot wear a mask or a shield, they must fill out a form including a doctor's note so the district can review it. In St. George, Katie Kralis, ABC 4 News.
CHAPTER 90 / 93Discussion
Disrespect of Nature, Climate Change and Grim Futures
A discussion on the origins of COVID-19 suggests that the pandemic was caused by humanity's disrespect for the natural world and animals. Experts warn that the planet is in the midst of a "sixth great extinction" and that the window of time to address climate change is closing. Without a shift to solar, wind, and tide energy, the future for subsequent generations is described as "very dark."
3:02:30 And the tragedy is that this pandemic has been predicted and to some extent it's been caused by us because we've disrespected the natural world, we've disrespected animals, we've created environments which make it much easier for a pathogen to jump from an animal to a human where it may cause a new disease. zoonotic disease as it's called, such as COVID-19. Unfortunately, COVID-19 was incredibly contagious and has raced around the world causing so much havoc, so much suffering, so much economic chaos. At the same time, all the time we have been threatened by a much greater challenge
3:03:14 and that is climate change. And to a great extent, it's the same disrespect of the natural world that has led to this climate crisis. Because this planet has finite natural resources, and we've been plundering them in many places faster than Mother Nature can restore them. We're in the midst of the sixth great extinction We depend on healthy ecosystems and the healthy ecosystem depends on the biodiversity. We need to move into some of these innovations of science like solar, wind and tide energy. Otherwise,
3:03:57 For my grandchildren and theirs, the future is more than grim. It's very dark. We mustn't let that happen. We have a window of time which is closing and we need everybody who cares to get together and find solutions now. 37,000 more people will be alive today. And we're gonna have another influx of cases just between now and January. It's expected that we're gonna have somewhere between, depending on which estimate you take, between 138,000 and 178,000 more deaths. And if people just do what we're doing here, and when you're at a social distance as I am, you can take a mask off, but wear a mask.
CHAPTER 91 / 93Discussion
Cambridge Mandatory Outdoor Masks, National Mall Memorial
Cambridge, Massachusetts, implemented a mandatory mask policy for all outdoor spaces, including wide-open fields and basketball courts. Violators faced a $300 fine as the city cited a slight uptick in cases among returning college students. In Washington D.C., the COVID-19 Memorial Project placed 20,000 flags on the National Mall to honor the 200,000 Americans who had died from the disease.
3:04:37 they estimate that would save about close to 89, 90,000 people. This newly amended order replaces the city's previous provision that allowed people to take off their masks while outside during the summer months. Masks are part of the daily routine in Cambridge. 99% of people around here wear them. Wherever you look it seems everyone is following the rules. It's rare you see someone who's not wearing it. Over the summer, the city allowed people to remove face coverings if they could maintain six feet of distance from others. But that will change on October 2nd. Masks will now be mandatory just about everywhere except your own home. So starting next week when you're crossing a bridge from Boston into Cambridge, you're going to need to mask up. Whether you're riding a bike on a basketball court or simply dancing on the sidewalk.
3:05:27 even if you're in a wide open field all by yourself. The city says it's because of a slight uptick in cases as students return to college. The latest order will also require office workers to wear masks at all times unless they are alone. I think they'll have to wear a mask 24 7 outside. is over the top. Those who don't want to play by the rules could face a $300 fine, but the majority of people we spoke with have no problem playing it safe. I'm pretty much used to it at this point. I've been doing that all summer, so no different for me. I think it's a really easy measure we could take to protect the public. I mean, Like, it's such a simple thing. The easiest thing we can do to protect each other. As far as enforcement goes, the city says this is going to be more about education and less about punishment. The official United States death toll from COVID-19 has passed 200,000, by far the highest in the world. As University of Washington researchers warn, the U.S. is on track to double that death toll by year's end.
3:06:27 In the past 24 hours alone, the U.S. reported nearly a thousand new deaths and over 37,000 new cases, with Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming reporting record levels of infections over the past week. On Tuesday, the COVID-19 Memorial Project placed 20,000 flags across the National Mall, each one symbolizing 10 U.S. residents who have died of the disease since the first recorded U.S. death in February. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke at a memorial for the dead.
CHAPTER 92 / 93Discussion
Second Wave "Tsunami" Warnings, Testing Saturation
Health officials warned that a potential "second wave" of the virus could be far worse than the first, describing it as a "tsunami" type wave. The public was urged to "hunker down" and refocus on flattening the curve through testing and social distancing. A repetitive media montage emphasized the phrase "we are doing a lot of testing" to describe the government's primary strategy for managing the resurgence.
3:07:03 This was preventable. Not all of it, but much of it. Mr. Ford says that we know that the second wave is going to be worse than the first wave. Could you tell me in what way it will be worse? So I think the potential is that it can be worse. Right now we're on the upward slope of the second wave. I think the premier, what he is alluding to is the fact that we know it is the so-called undulating waves that we have seen in some of the modules. How big those are, we have to see. We always see it better after we have some time to look at the test results. If it is that more tsunami type wave, it will be far worse than the first wave as we have seen in other countries.
3:07:42 We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are doing a lot of testing. We are anticipating if it keeps going, we have to assume it could be a lot worse than the first wave, especially if it is the second scenario, that is more of the tsunami one. So far, it doesn't seem to be going that way. We would like to hope we can keep on top of this and hear recommendations from myself and others, medical officers around the province, to ask the public to really focus down now. We really have to hunker down and stay at the task to see if we can flatten this curve like we did the first time.
CHAPTER 93 / 93Discussion
Best of COVID Outro, Holiday Sign-off
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak conclude the COVID-19 retrospective, thanking producer Strokey Bill Walsh for the compilation. Adam mentions his upcoming travels to Italy and Amsterdam, while John plans to visit the closing Macy's in San Francisco. They remind listeners to support the show via donations and sign off with their traditional "mofos" and "ahooy" greetings.
3:08:32 We have seen that effect. I think by refocusing, we can turn this one around so hopefully not the premier's fears, we might be able to flatten it down and it may not be worse but we cannot be presumptive on that basis. BLM baby, remember that? All of a sudden it was okay to go out. Go ahead. Yeah, if you were protesting and burning the place down, yeah, that was okay. Everything else, no, you had to social distance. What a crazy time. That was a crock of crap if ever there was. Isn't it amazing how you kind of just forget that stuff and it's like a vague memory and we just moved on with life and here we are, Trump is president again.
3:09:17 I mean, this is, or it will be president. Let's just hope that all goes well. Yeah, unless the aliens show up and block him. Yeah, or Jamie Raskin, whichever is scarier. Same thing. All right, everybody. You ever look at that guy? He looks like an alien. He does. Thank you very much to Strokey Bill Walsh for producing The Best of COVID. We appreciate you very much, brother. And we look forward to returning on the next episode, which will be 1723, just before we get to Christmas. So, please remember us in the meantime at noagendadonations.com. Currently, I am... probably my sister might have thrown black bags over everybody's head for some surprise birthday party for my brother-in-law.
3:10:09 in Italy, so I hope I return. I have no idea where I am at this moment. But I will soon be coming to you from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on our way back from Italy. Until then, in the morning everybody, I'm Adam Curry. And from Northern Silicon Valley where I'll be shopping at Macy's, I'm John C. Dvorak. We'll be back on the next episode. Please remember us, really, for Christmas. Knowagenthedonations.com. Until then, adios mofos, ahooy, hooy, and such.