Topic: The Wave

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.

During a congressional inquiry, the President of the Sierra Club is questioned about "the pause"—a period of 18 years with no significant warming according to satellite data. The executive relies on staff for scientific specifics while citing the 97% consensus figure. Meanwhile, news reports cover a record-breaking heat wave in France, with scientists attributing the extreme weather to "wiggles" in a slowing jet stream.

Ontario and Quebec have entered "Red Alert" status, implementing more restrictive measures. The Premier of Ontario used the term "undulating waves" and "tsunami type waves" to describe the current case trends, urging the public to "hunker down" and "flatten the curve" again, despite the lack of a corresponding spike in deaths.

The 1967 "The Wave" social experiment at Cubberley High School is detailed, explaining how a teacher demonstrated the ease with which a democratic society can slip into fascism. The discussion references the book and the ABC Afterschool Special based on the event, as well as Sinclair Lewis's novel "It Can't Happen Here."