Today on AirTalk, we update you on the latest COVID-19 updates and answer your questions. Also on the show, we discuss the U.S. senate runoff races going on in Georgia; break down new California employment laws; and more.
COVID-19 AMA: California’s Slower-Than-Expected Vaccine Rollout, LA County Hospital Shortages And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Today’s topics include:
Governor Newsom says CA’s vaccine rollout has been too slow
U.K. imposes new lockdown amid surge in cases
L.A. County hospitals are short on equipment and staff, so they’re triaging their capacities
One NorCal hospital had to give 600 shots in a short amount of time after its freezer stopped working
1 in 5 L.A. residents being tested come up positive
What’s the likelihood of testing positive for COVID after receiving the vaccine?
Directive to ambulances to not bring people to hospitals who have little to no chance of survival
We reached out to the California Department of Public Health and California Health and Human Services, but they were unable to accommodate an interview. Officials provided this statement from CHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly:
“California has vaccinated more people than any other state in the country, and has done it with a focus on health equity and serving vulnerable and high risk populations. We are working with county public health authorities to determine how the state can support accelerated vaccination administration. We have also further clarified guidelines that expand the availability of vaccines to a larger range of health care workers.”
Guests:
Kathleen Ronayne, Sacramento correspondent for the Associated Press who’s been following the latest in vaccine distribution; she tweets
Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
CA Bill Calls For Nixing Mandatory Minimum Sentences For Certain Drug Offenses
New legislation proposed by California Sen. Scott Wiener calls for ending mandatory prison sentences for nonviolent drug crimes, a move legal experts say largely aligns with the state’s objectives over the last couple decades.
Senate Bill 73 aims to help address incarceration rates and the criminalization of addiction. According to the San Francisco Examiner, judges currently lack discretion when a person is convicted of a second drug offense, even possession. The bill offers judges more discretion and the ability to sentence offenders to probation. Officials say the move aligns with California’s Proposition 36, which requires people convicted of possession and other substance related offenses, receive probation and treatment rather than jail time. Voters approved the measure in 2000. But some question whether the sale or transport of substances should be considered “nonviolent.” Today on AirTalk, we walk through the bill and its potential consequences. Do you have thoughts or questions? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Mason Marks, M.D., assistant professor of law at Gonzaga University, where he focuses on health law and drug policy law, and fellow at the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School; he tweets
Eric Siddall, vice president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys, the collective bargaining agent representing nearly 1,000 Deputy District Attorneys who work for the County of Los Angeles; he tweets
Today’s US Senate Runoff Elections In Georgia Will Determine Control Of The Senate -- Here’s What To Watch For
Campaigns and outside groups are making a final push to turn out election-weary Georgians whose votes will determine control of the U.S. Senate, from a crush of text messages and television ads to dueling visits from President-elect Joe Biden and outgoing President Donald Trump.
More than 2.5 million people—about half the turnout of last month’s presidential election—had already cast their ballots early, in person or by absentee ballot, by Wednesday morning.
With margins in the Jan. 5 runoffs expected to be tight, the campaigns for Republican U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are all focused on mobilizing voters.
That means everything from individual voter contacts urging early voting, which ends Thursday, to last-minute campaign stops from national headliners trying to boost Election Day turnout. The Democrats’ campaigns announced that Biden would campaign Monday, Jan. 4 in Atlanta with Ossoff and Warnock. Trump already had announced plans to rally Monday evening, just hours before polls open, with the Republican senators in the north Georgia town of Dalton. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, meanwhile, will come to Savannah on Sunday.
Runoff elections historically draw a much lower turnout than general elections, and in Georgia they have favored Republican candidates in the last decade or so. But in his unique election—with nation attention, money pouring in and control of the Senate at stake—the normal rules don’t seem to apply.
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about the election and the lead-up to it from Georgia Public Broadcasting journalist Sarah Rose. What do you want to know about this special election? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Sarah Rose, journalist for Georgia Public Broadcasting and author of the Battleground Ballot Box Blog; they tweet at
Many Of California’s New Laws In 2021 Deal With Employment -- Here’s What They Mean For You
While 2020 has brought a lot of uncertainty in the workplace, California's sweeping new laws will aim to shed clearer light on how employers can conduct business in a pandemic-stricken world.
Measures in direct response to COVID-19 include an expansion of workers compensation to include COVID-related illnesses and a mandate that would require employers to provide written notice of coronavirus exposure to all employees and subcontractors.
A new law unrelated to the pandemic include a measure to require employers to report and break down their pay data based on race, ethnicity and sex. We talk with an employment attorney to help us have a deeper understanding of the state's new employment legislations and what they mean for millions of Californians.
Do you have any questions about the new laws? Are you an employer or employee wondering how these new unemployment laws will affect your place of work? Join the discussion by calling (866) 893-5722.
Guest:
Angela Reddock Wright, an employment attorney, investigator and mediator. She is Managing Attorney of Los Angeles-based Reddock Law Group
Zoom Room For Two: How Has The Pandemic Changed The Way You Date?
Lockdown orders may have put a pause on many aspects of life, but dating, love and the pursuit of romantic connection are still a priority for many - even if it’s now in the virtual space.
Unsurprisingly, dating app usage has gone up during the pandemic. According to a new piece in the Atlantic, the rise of virtual dating has meant that some folks are more intentional about who they date and are having more meaningful conversations with their prospective partners.
We’ll talk about how the pandemic has changed the course of dating. Plus, we want to hear from you - if you’ve been dating during the pandemic, how has it differed from your dating days prior? Are you more open or more selective when it comes to meeting people online? Are you taking dating into the real world and if so, are you doing it safely? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Sara Konrath, social psychologist who studies empathy and author of the Atlantic piece “What The Pandemic Has Done For Dating”; scientific adviser at OkCupid; visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame, Institute for Advanced Study and associate Professor at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University