News and Happenings

Andy talks with Nick Clegg, Facebook’s Vice President of Global Affairs, about one of the most important issues out there: Facebook, social media, COVID-19 and misinformation. After President Biden said Facebook is “killing people” with COVID misinformation, Andy and Nick discuss what Facebook says its obligation is with regard to misinformation, what they’re doing to combat it, and whether it’s enough. In this extended cut from July, they also discuss Nick’s transition from politics to tech, the lessons Facebook learned from the 2016 election, and COVID in the UK.

Andy and epidemiologists Farzad Mostashari and Jennifer Nuzzo get together for a special holiday edition of Safe or Not Safe. They’ve got answers to your questions about partially-vaccinated kids, rapid antigen tests, in-person office parties (remember those?), airplane safety, and much more. Whether you are hosting people or will be someone’s guest, this episode should calm your pre-holiday COVID-related nerves.

Andy and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, who is very much pro-vaccine and anti-federal vaccine mandate, merge echo chambers and discuss where conservatives are at this moment with the pandemic. They get into reasons why an estimated 40% of conservative adults aren’t vaccinated, what works and what doesn’t when it comes to persuading unvaccinated people, and have an in-depth exchange about mandates. This is an increasingly rare but badly needed conversation, one that is spirited and civil between people who disagree. Plus, Ryan Panchadsaram joins Andy at the beginning of the show to weigh in on the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Have we reached the so-called “new normal” people keep talking about? And if so, what does that mean for you? Andy reunites with former guest host Dr. Bob Wachter who has started to let his guard down in terms of risk tolerance. They discuss why Bob feels like the time is right for that, how to think about the things that can scare us back into a more vigilant state, and Bob’s thoughts for what COVID looks like long-term. This is a nuanced conversation on a complex topic that will help you navigate this uncertain time. Plus, Andy’s mom joins at the start to offer up some show ideas.

Andy brings clear, simple answers to one of the most intimidating and important questions of our time: is there a plan that can actually solve climate change? John Doerr and his colleague Ryan Panchadsaram join Andy to introduce the most systematic and easy-to-understand plan to solve the climate crisis as the COP26 Climate Change Conference unfolds in Glasgow, Scotland. This episode brings hope to a desperate time.

Andy calls up Kara Swisher, whom Newsweek once called Silicon Valley’s “most powerful tech journalist,” to discuss the myriad issues surrounding companies like Facebook, Twitter, and even Donald Trump’s new social media platform Truth Social. They get into the Facebook Papers, if government regulation is coming, and where she sees Big Tech heading in the near future. Plus, Andy tells a story he’s never told before about interactions with Facebook while he was in the White House.

Andy calls up Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who is in the middle of a nasty battle over vaccine mandates with, most notably, the city’s largest police union. Andy asks Mayor Lightfoot why she thinks the union president is really picking this fight with her, how she plans to get through to city workers who aren’t complying with the mandate, and where the opposing sides go from here.

Andy calls up pediatrician and vaccinologist Dr. Paul Offit, who just voted to recommend that the FDA approve Pfizer’s vaccine for 5-11 year olds. They discuss the vaccine advisory committee’s deliberations, what the data show about side effects like myocarditis, how to think about the decision from a parent’s perspective, and whether or not schools should require that eligible kids be vaccinated against COVID-19. Plus, Andy breaks down what you need to know about COP26, the global climate summit that is now underway in Glasgow.

Andy begins with the big news: a vaccine for kids seems imminent. He breaks down the FDA vaccine advisory committee’s vote recommending authorization of the Pfizer vaccine, and outlines the next steps to get shots for 5-11 year-olds as soon as possible. Then, he calls up Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. They discuss what our response to COVID could mean for future public health crises and how we come back from the entrenched, tribalistic camps we find ourselves in today. Plus, the lessons we should be taking away from the death of General Colin Powell.

Andy calls up Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel for a remarkable behind-the-scenes look at the last two years inside the company. As Moderna’s booster shots start to roll out across the country, Andy and Stéphane discuss the origins of Moderna’s partnership with the government, how he thinks the vaccine will hold up against future variants, and the effort to vaccinate the globe. Plus, Stéphane’s riveting recollections of hearing about COVID-19 for the first time in January 2020, and what else they’re working on right now to help us end the pandemic.