Coronavirus from every angle: scientific, emotional and political
Episode 130, Mar 13, 2020, 10:33 PM
We kick things off with Dr. Drew Pinsky, who is currently co-hosting the nightly Coronavirus Crisis special on FOX 11 with Elex. The show airs nightly at 7:00 PM, and streams for a full-hour on the FOX 11 Facebook page.
Pinsky worked to downplay the fears currently gripping many Americans who are panic-shopping in the face of a global pandemic and the declaration of a national emergency.
Most concerning to Dr. Drew is the frenzied response, the panic that has led to empty shelves and long lines at markets and stores across the country. Pinsky compared the response here to that of Italy, where the entire country is essentially shutdown, saying while "Italy blinked, we're not going to."
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Thursday, during a Congressional hearing, Rep. Katie Porter (D) garnered national attention during her questioning of CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. After failing to receive an adequate answer, Porter pushed Redfield until he agreed to pay for Coronavirus testing, regardless of a patient's insurance.
"The fact it took several minutes and many, many questions in my really holding his feet to the fire to get him there, says something about where this administration is in its lack of preparedness to address the Coronavirus pandemic," Porter said.
Porter said her position doesn't mean every American needs to get tested, but that if anyone is showing symptoms, they should have the opportunity to inquire about testing, unburdened by the cost.
Free Coronavirus testing will be covered as part of HR 6201, the relief plan the Trump administration and Speaker Pelosi announced on Friday night.
In a tweet that encouraged all members of the House to vote "yes" on the bill, President Trump reassured those with Porter's concerns, "This bill will follow my direction for free Coronavirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers."
Beyond free testing, Porter also addressed concerns about potential Coronavirus spread within California's expansive homeless community, the burden on low-income families who will need to deal with school closures, and the economic impact of a societal shutdown.
"The thing that is going to stabilize the economy is certainty... what we're doing is taking these aggressive steps to try to keep people safe, to try to slow the rate of transmission, to try to prevent deaths," Porter said. "By doing that, ultimately we're going to have a healthier workforce, we're going to have fewer people who fall ill, and we're going to get through this a lot quicker."
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Things wrap up with our all-star panel. Elex is joined by Michael Knowles, host of "The Michael Knowles Show" and "The Verdict with Ted Cruz," attorney and radio host Ethan Bearman, and attorney Lisa Bloom, who is calling in via Zoom from her self-quarantine.
"I choose to follow doctors and scientists, not our government, because we know our government has repeatedly lied to us," Bloom said of her decision to self-quarantine. "The most civic-minded thing to do, even if you're healthy, is to stay home."
The panel addressed the ever-changing government response to the crisis. Knowles said the response has been fine, the President has taken it seriously, helping to limit the spread early on by blocking travel from China. Bearman disagreed, saying the President did not take the virus seriously for the first two months, botching the initial steps.
With all the focus on the Coronavirus crisis, it's easy to forget that there is a Presidential primary going on.
Now, with the primary in the rearview mirror, Bearman and Bloom agree that it's time for Sanders to step aside, leaving room for the party to officially coalesce around Vice President Biden.
"This is life and death, not only because of Coronavirus, but because of climate change," said Bloom, who voted for Sanders in 2016 but now considers him a spoiler.
Looking forward the group also discussed how society at large would be impacted by the ongoing crisis.
Bloom and Bearman were hopeful that Americans would adapt and thrive given the challenges that lie ahead, building a new, more intimate, form of community.
Knowles had a different take, saying that "this is going to change us by showing that Donald Trump is actually right about everything."
Knowles pointed to the President's agenda that has long called out the threat of globalization, the threat of America's reliance on the Chinese supply chain, and the threat of open borders.
"Let's just remember that President Trump is the one who looked at the eclipse," Bloom responded. "If you think this crisis is going to make him look good, you have not been paying attention to the things he's been saying."
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The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson is California's only statewide political show, broadcast from FOX 11 Studios in Los Angeles. For airtimes and more information, go to TheIssueIsShow.com.
Pinsky worked to downplay the fears currently gripping many Americans who are panic-shopping in the face of a global pandemic and the declaration of a national emergency.
Most concerning to Dr. Drew is the frenzied response, the panic that has led to empty shelves and long lines at markets and stores across the country. Pinsky compared the response here to that of Italy, where the entire country is essentially shutdown, saying while "Italy blinked, we're not going to."
----------
Thursday, during a Congressional hearing, Rep. Katie Porter (D) garnered national attention during her questioning of CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. After failing to receive an adequate answer, Porter pushed Redfield until he agreed to pay for Coronavirus testing, regardless of a patient's insurance.
"The fact it took several minutes and many, many questions in my really holding his feet to the fire to get him there, says something about where this administration is in its lack of preparedness to address the Coronavirus pandemic," Porter said.
Porter said her position doesn't mean every American needs to get tested, but that if anyone is showing symptoms, they should have the opportunity to inquire about testing, unburdened by the cost.
Free Coronavirus testing will be covered as part of HR 6201, the relief plan the Trump administration and Speaker Pelosi announced on Friday night.
In a tweet that encouraged all members of the House to vote "yes" on the bill, President Trump reassured those with Porter's concerns, "This bill will follow my direction for free Coronavirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers."
Beyond free testing, Porter also addressed concerns about potential Coronavirus spread within California's expansive homeless community, the burden on low-income families who will need to deal with school closures, and the economic impact of a societal shutdown.
"The thing that is going to stabilize the economy is certainty... what we're doing is taking these aggressive steps to try to keep people safe, to try to slow the rate of transmission, to try to prevent deaths," Porter said. "By doing that, ultimately we're going to have a healthier workforce, we're going to have fewer people who fall ill, and we're going to get through this a lot quicker."
----------
Things wrap up with our all-star panel. Elex is joined by Michael Knowles, host of "The Michael Knowles Show" and "The Verdict with Ted Cruz," attorney and radio host Ethan Bearman, and attorney Lisa Bloom, who is calling in via Zoom from her self-quarantine.
"I choose to follow doctors and scientists, not our government, because we know our government has repeatedly lied to us," Bloom said of her decision to self-quarantine. "The most civic-minded thing to do, even if you're healthy, is to stay home."
The panel addressed the ever-changing government response to the crisis. Knowles said the response has been fine, the President has taken it seriously, helping to limit the spread early on by blocking travel from China. Bearman disagreed, saying the President did not take the virus seriously for the first two months, botching the initial steps.
With all the focus on the Coronavirus crisis, it's easy to forget that there is a Presidential primary going on.
Now, with the primary in the rearview mirror, Bearman and Bloom agree that it's time for Sanders to step aside, leaving room for the party to officially coalesce around Vice President Biden.
"This is life and death, not only because of Coronavirus, but because of climate change," said Bloom, who voted for Sanders in 2016 but now considers him a spoiler.
Looking forward the group also discussed how society at large would be impacted by the ongoing crisis.
Bloom and Bearman were hopeful that Americans would adapt and thrive given the challenges that lie ahead, building a new, more intimate, form of community.
Knowles had a different take, saying that "this is going to change us by showing that Donald Trump is actually right about everything."
Knowles pointed to the President's agenda that has long called out the threat of globalization, the threat of America's reliance on the Chinese supply chain, and the threat of open borders.
"Let's just remember that President Trump is the one who looked at the eclipse," Bloom responded. "If you think this crisis is going to make him look good, you have not been paying attention to the things he's been saying."
----------
The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson is California's only statewide political show, broadcast from FOX 11 Studios in Los Angeles. For airtimes and more information, go to TheIssueIsShow.com.