News and Happenings

Has inflation peaked? What will the economy look like next year? Are we heading into a recession? What will happen to unemployment and home prices? Andy has a lot of questions, and economist Justin Wolfers has educated predictions. They discuss how COVID continues to impact the supply chain, why unemployment numbers are so low right now, whether or not we’re in a wage price spiral, and some good news around the corner in 2023.

The public health emergency declared when COVID-19 hit the U.S. in early 2020 is expected to end this coming spring. What does that mean for the vaccines and testing that Americans have been receiving for free, not to mention their access to broader health insurance coverage? Andy explores this question with physician and Medicaid expert Meera Mani, who explains why 15 million people could be at risk of losing care. Prem Shah, the chief pharmacy officer at CVS Health, then reminds Andy of the expanded role pharmacies played during the pandemic and how that could go away, too. The end of the public health emergency may be a bigger deal than you think.

Many crypto platforms entice new investors by saying you should buy into the industry even if you don’t understand it, or else risk getting left behind. Andy has some issues with that. He speaks to reporter Laura Shin, who’s been covering the crypto industry since 2015, about his major qualms with digital currencies, from carbon emissions and marketing deception to its unregulated nature. Laura explains, and on many occasions attempts to defend, what’s going on in the crypto market and how it can be used to solve some real world problems.

Antisemitism is infiltrating mainstream politics and pop culture in new and pernicious ways. Fresh off a meeting at the White House about the rise of antisemitism, George Selim from the Anti-Defamation League describes to Andy how the words from a politician, rapper or comedian can help spark the hate crimes his organization tracks. Rabbi Steve Leder from the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles explains why antisemitism is not only normalized but an acceptable “ism” in many communities, and how to combat it in everyday life.

Despite some uptick in cases and hospitalizations, COVID is disrupting life less this winter compared to winters past. Why, and what does that mean as we enter 2023? Andy speaks with epidemiologist and ITB favorite Katelyn Jetelina, who offers an hypothesis for why new mutations are not wreaking havoc like Omicron did last year. She also breaks down the added dangers of flu and RSV and predicts the worldwide implications if China relaxes its zero COVID policies.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof spent more than a week in Ukraine touring towns recently abandoned by Russian forces and speaking with Ukrainians consumed with grief and trauma. He saw torture chambers, interviewed women who were beaten and raped by Russian soldiers, and learned of Ukrainian kids trafficked to Russia to be put up for adoption. Nick tells Andy that these crimes against humanity should remind us of the stakes as the war continues, and offers ways to help this holiday season.

The widespread protests against the Chinese government are the most extensive since Tiananmen Square in 1989. The demonstrations are against both the severe zero-COVID policies and Xi Jinping’s rule. But the consequences of protesting in China are harsh. Andy speaks with two China experts, Xiao Qiang at the University of California Berkeley and Michael Beckley at Tufts University, about whether COVID rules will loosen, why these protests could mark the start of an even more authoritarian era, and what a coming crackdown on the Chinese people might look like.

With the next round of COVID-19 funding stalled in Congress, Americans face a future where vaccines and tests will no longer be free for everyone. Andy speaks with CVS Health’s Executive Vice President Tom Moriarty, who says cutting off funding for basic preventative measures along with new advances like a nasal vaccine is a bad decision both for public health and national security. Tom gives us an update on who’s getting the updated booster, along with the flu shot, and predicts how much sickness we’ll see this winter.

The five people killed in Colorado Springs this month join 18,000 other Americans who died of gun homicides this year. Stephanie Wittels Wachs sits in for Andy to process the news with Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Shannon shares her experience hearing about the shooting as the mother of a nonbinary young adult living in Colorado, and takes stock of what her organization has accomplished since forming in the wake of Sandy Hook. Amid the heartache, this conversation is full of optimism and a sense of joy that grassroots activism is squashing the NRA’s influence and turning the tide on gun safety in America.

On this holiday weekend, we celebrate a favorite episode from earlier this year. Oscar winner and best-selling author Matthew McConaughey comes in the bubble to talk about the big lessons: what unites us, what he has learned about being a dad, what values really matter, and what we owe our kids. McConaughey tells Andy about the moments of decisive action that have shaped his life, which he explores in his book, “Greenlights,” and practices through his charitable work, including his just keep livin Foundation.