News and Happenings

The first major bipartisan gun bill in three decades is now law. Much of this is due to the work of Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who helped bring senators from both sides of the aisle together. Senator Murphy joins Andy to talk about what it took to get Republicans on board, what each senator brought to the table and why he hopes this bill will benefit his Republican colleagues. Andy asks about what it’s like working with victim families over and over again, plus a look at how this bill can save lives and what’s next.

988 is now the 911 of mental health emergencies. The three-digit number will connect you to a crisis call center in your area and a trained counselor to talk, text, or chat with. Andy speaks with Wendy Martinez Farmer and Dr. Linda Henderson-Smith from Beacon Health Options about how 988 reimagines the National Sucicide Prevention Hotline to be more accessible and inclusive, and why you don’t have to be suicidal to call. Suicide attempt survivor and crisis counselor Shelby Rowe opens up about her own mental health journey and explains why resources vary community by community.

Reinfections across the country are being driven by an explosion in cases of BA.5, the latest variant of COVID-19. Andy asks Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage whether our vaccines and immune systems have a fighting chance, if infections are more severe than other Omicron offshoots, and what we need to do to safely get through the summer and fall. Will those who have managed to avoid the virus for years finally succumb to this wave? Find out.

Demand for air travel is back in a big way, but judging by the rise in delayed and canceled flights it seems like the airline industry got caught flat footed. What’s up? Andy grills United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on what’s causing all the schedule problems, why he thinks removing the mask mandate was a good decision, and how to cut carbon emissions in the friendly skies.

With fentanyl deaths at a record high, Andy speaks with two experts about rethinking opioids, overdoses, and addiction. Ed Ternan, a father whose son died from fentanyl poisoning after buying a fake Percocet on Snapchat, explains how fake pills and social media are driving an increase in deaths among teenagers and young adults, while RAND researcher Bryce Pardo provides data and solutions.

Democratic up-and-comer Jason Kander was about to announce his presidential campaign when, in 2018, he revealed that he suffered from PTSD and depression and walked away from politics. Though he felt his career and ambitions were over, he gained the opportunity to heal from trauma he experienced during his time serving in the Afghanistan War. In a sensitive and honest interview, Kander opens up about the traumas he and all of us face in different ways, and how to grow past them.

With gas prices soaring over $5 a gallon as Americans hit the road this Fourth of July weekend, Andy asks the question on many of our minds: what tradeoffs are we willing to make for relief at the pump? Columbia Climate School Dean Jason Bordoff and Harvard Kennedy School Professor Meghan O’Sullivan go through how different compromises, from deals with Saudi Arabia to gas tax holidays, would affect our pocketbooks, global relations, and the planet.

As you head out on your summer trips, how often should you and your family test for COVID-19? Andy gets practical advice from epidemiologist and show favorite Dr. Michael Mina along with his eMed colleague Dr. Patrice Harris. Using real life scenarios, they tell you the most informative times to test, explain why some people stay negative while displaying symptoms, and offer an innovative way to test and treat from your home.

In this special breaking-news edition, Andy helps you understand the impact of yesterday’s Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. As health clinics in several states halt abortion procedures due to the decision, Andy gets reaction and action items from Caitlin Cruz, a reporter from Jezebel who covers reproductive rights; Grace Howard, an expert on reproductive law; and Renee Bracey Sherman, a reproductive justice activist protesting outside the Supreme Court. Find out what the ruling means, where to seek help if you or someone you know is worried they could be prosecuted for their actions, and how to support those in need.

A new study out of England found the risk of Long COVID to be lower with the Omicron variant compared to Delta. That’s good news, but there are some caveats. Andy chats with one of the researchers behind the study, Dr. Claire Steves, who breaks down the risk of Long COVID based on age and vaccination status. Benjamin Mazer joins to discuss why the population of Americans experiencing Long COVID remains largely unseen, and why the amount of quality data from the U.K. on Long COVID far surpasses the U.S.