News and Happenings

Andy continues his conversation with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and today they discuss vaccines for kids under 12, when Pfizer expects to receive full FDA approval, vaccinating the rest of the world, and more. Plus, hear Albert’s recollection of the day he learned that the Pfizer vaccine trials showed 95.6% efficacy. If you missed Part 1, make sure to go back and listen from the beginning.

Andy gets answers to listeners’ most important questions from Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in Part 1 of a two-part interview, including how the Pfizer vaccine is holding up against the Delta variant, if we’ll need booster shots, the data out of Israel showing waning immunity after six months, if Albert is wearing a mask indoors again, and more. Bourla is back next week to talk about kids under 12, full FDA approval, and vaccinating the globe. Plus, Andy reacts to the new CDC recommendation regarding indoor masking for some vaccinated people.

Andy calls up physician, scientist, and author Eric Topol for a can’t-miss, in-depth conversation on the Delta variant. Andy and Eric cover why it’s taking over, what vaccinated people should be thinking, and whether there’s more variants like it to come. They also discuss the latest vaccine data out of Israel and why the FDA hasn’t fully approved the COVID vaccines yet. Plus, a sneak peek at Andy’s interview with Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla.

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.

Andy explores the latest hazard to your health: the misinformation persuading people not to get vaccinated. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared war on misinformation and explains why he put out a rare Surgeon General’s Advisory on the topic. Andy then covers the latest data on how Americans get information and what they believe with Molly Brodie of the Kaiser Family Foundation. And Dr. Lisa is out and about having conversations with people on the street in North Carolina and Virginia.

To begin, Andy has thoughts on CPAC attendees cheering the US not hitting its vaccine goal. Then, David Axelrod, longtime Democratic strategist, joins Andy for a deep dive into the topic of the unvaccinated. They also contemplate how the pandemic will affect the 2022 and 2024 elections and lament the politicization of public health.

Andy’s conversation with famed conservative pollster Frank Luntz about the unvaccinated and the political games of the GOP takes an unpredictable and emotional turn. Whatever your incoming impressions of Luntz, the rawness of the conversation helps us see the dilemma of the unvaccinated in a new light – and gives real tips on how to have difficult conversations. You’ll hear the inside story of what really went down in the White House as Andy and team began the effort to reach the unvaccinated. Dr. Lisa talks to “on the fence” citizens in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and we hear Andy express his anger at the dangerous latest efforts of Marjorie Taylor Greene to thwart public safety using fear.

In perhaps the most essential episode of the series, Andy gets a real sense of where we are now in the scientific response to COVID-19 with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner under President Trump. In this riveting conversation, they cover the science, the politics, and the policies that got us here and will lead us out. They also discuss the importance of their bipartisanship work together and Scott’s forthcoming book, Uncontrolled Spread.

What does the science really, really say about wearing masks indoors if you’re vaccinated? Andy gets answers to your most pressing questions on everyone’s favorite game show, Safe or Not Safe, with top-flight epidemiologists Farzad Mostashari and Caitlin Rivers. Plus, Dr. Lisa goes out into the field to take the pulse of people starting to return back to life.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki joins Andy fresh off a press briefing to talk about rebuilding public trust in the government, working with President Biden, and what it was like becoming a household name overnight. Andy shares his thoughts on the ultimate COVID-19 question: bat or lab? Plus, In the Bubble field correspondent Dr. Lisa visits a federal vaccination site to see what a government in action can do.