Today on AirTalk, we check-in with an epidemiologist ahead of the July 4th weekend. Also on the show, we discuss the history of the Confederate flag; learn about Facebook's ban of an extremist anti-government network; and more.
COVID-19 AMA: Business Closures Announced Again For 19 CA Counties As Case Numbers Continue To Rise
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry speaks with Dr. Timothy Brewer, epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA.
Topics today include:
New closures for restaurants, wineries, card rooms & more in 19 counties announced Wednesday
Mental health of physicians and nurses
Coronavirus vaccine candidate from Pfizer, BioNTech produces positive results
Researchers debate infecting people on purpose to test coronavirus vaccines
Experts see little evidence that protests spread coronavirus in the U.S.
With L.A. beaches closed, pools reopen with restrictions
Op-ed: The coronavirus credibility gap (Brewer may be hesitant to criticize a UCLA colleague)
Guest:
Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA; has served on the advisory boards of the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
How Has The Order To Shutter Bars And Restaurants Affected You?
Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered an update on California's response to coronavirus, announcing that he was closing indoor operations in multiple business sectors in watch list counties — including restaurants — as well as all operations of bars.
Effective immediately, California is ordering indoor operations to close in these sectors in counties on its watch list, including Los Angeles County, to reduce the risk of spread. These include restaurants, wineries, movie theaters and more. Read more on LAist.
How has the order affected you? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA; has served on the advisory boards of the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Contextualizing The History And Symbolism Of The Confederate Flag
NASCAR announced it will ban it from being on display at racing events. Mississippi's governor finalized the legislature’s decision to remove the symbol from the state flag. Commanders of the Confederate army founded the Confederate flag as a battle flag, but the symbol has long been used to convey resistance to civil rights.
According to experts, the symbolism of the flag has long been debated and its path through history has not been straightforward. Throughout different eras in time, the flag has been glorified in various ways. Some people argue the flag symbolizes southern pride and heritage. But for many black Americans, it’s a symbol of hatred and white supremacy. These same arguments rage on as protesters across the country topple confederate memorials and statues. Today on AirTalk, we dive into the deep-rooted symbolism of the Confederate flag, how it has changed over time and what it means today. Do you have questions? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Matthew Delmont, professor of history at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, he’s the author of several books and is currently working on another titled “Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad” (under contract with Viking Books, publication anticipated in 2022); he tweets
Daniel Pierce, professor of history at the University of North Carolina Asheville where he focuses on southern and Appalachian history, he’s the author of “Real NASCAR: White Lightning, Red Clay And Big Bill France” (University of North Carolina Press, 2013)
Amid Criticism Of How It Handles Hate Speech, Facebook Bans ‘Boogaloo’ Network
Facebook has banned an extremist anti-government network loosely associated with the broader “boogaloo” movement, a slang term supporters use to refer to a second Civil War or a collapse of civilization.
But the platform didn’t try to name the group, underscoring the difficulty of grappling with an amorphous network linked to a string of domestic terror plots that appears to obfuscate its existence. Among other complications, its internet-savvy members tend to keep their distance from one another, frequently change their symbols and catch phrases and mask their intentions with sarcasm.
The move by Facebook designates this group as a dangerous organization similar to the Islamic State group and white supremacists, both of which are already banned from its service. The social network is not banning all references to “boogaloo” and said it is only removing groups, accounts and pages when they have a “clear connection to violence or a credible threat to public safety.”
We dive into Facebook’s decision and more broadly look at social media’s approach to and regulation of hate speech.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Rachael Levy, reporter covering domestic terrorism for The Wall Street Journal who’s been covering this; she tweets
Ashutosh Bhagwat, professor of law at UC Davis; he specializes in the First Amendment; his recent book is “Our Democratic First Amendment” (June 2020, Cambridge University Press)
The SoCal Impact Of Hong Kong’s New National Security Law
Hong Kong police made the first arrests Wednesday under a new national security law imposed by China’s central government, as thousands of people defied tear gas and pepper pellets to protest against the contentious move on the anniversary of the former British colony's handover to Chinese rule.
The law, imposed following anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year, makes secessionist, subversive, or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s internal affairs. Any person taking part in activities such as shouting slogans or holding up banners and flags calling for the city’s independence is violating the law regardless of whether violence is used. The most serious offenders, such as those deemed to be masterminds behind these activities, could receive a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Lesser offenders could receive jail terms of up to three years, short-term detention or restriction. Wednesday's arrests came as thousands took to the streets on the 23rd anniversary of Britain's handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. For the first time, police banned this year's annual march. Protesters shouted slogans, lambasted police and held up signs condemning the Chinese government and the new security law. The law’s passage Tuesday further blurs the distinction between the legal systems of Hong Kong, which maintained aspects of British law after the 1997 handover, and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system. Critics say the law effectively ends the “one country, two systems” framework under which Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll dig into what this means for Southern Californians with ties to Hong Kong. If you’re a Hong Konger or you have family or friends who live there, we’d like to hear your thoughts on this new law. Join our live conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Zhaoyin Feng, Washington reporter for BBC World Service; she tweets
Gabriel Law, spokesperson for Hong Kong Forum Los Angeles, a non-profit that promotes democratic development in Hong Kong and China and native Hong Konger