AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. We're also joined by our medical expert to continue answering listener questions; talk with listeners on how their place of worship has changed amid the outbreak; and more.
Medical Experts Join To Discuss Latest On The Coronavirus Pandemic. What Are Your Questions?
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States jumped past those of Iran, Germany and Spain this weekend, making the U.S. the nation with the third highest total in the world at the moment. The number of confirmed cases here now stands at 35,241 as of 6:30 a.m. Monday.
The news comes as the number of confirmed cases in Los Angeles County surged to 409, in part a reflection of increased testing. Health officials said that over the last 48 hours there have been 132 new cases. The rising numbers, no question, are in part a reflection of wider testing, which remains limited in the U.S. As the numbers continue to go up, the L.A. County's Department of Public Health has shifted to "a mitigation strategy aimed at slowing disease transmission." It's recommending that providers test people with COVID-19 symptoms only when a positive result would change how a patient is treated or would "inform public health response." Health officials said the median age of those infected is currently 47.These numbers are changing rapidly and experts have warned that confirmed cases are far under the actual total of infected individuals.
Today on AirTalk, we check in with medical experts on the latest updates with COVID-19. Do you have questions? Call: 866-893-5722.
Read the full story from LAist’s Brian Frank here
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Anuradha Seshadri, M.D., internal medicine physician and pediatrician with UCLA Health
How SoCal Communities Handled The First Full Weekend Of ‘Safer At Home’
It’s a thought that likely crossed many minds as folks wrapped up their work week on Friday afternoon -- what in the world am I going to do this weekend?
Some places like the cities of Santa Monica, Malibu and Laguna Beach saw big waves of visitors at their local beaches. It prompted the City of Santa Monica to close all beach parking lots on Saturday and the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority to close all of its parks and trails, including parks owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. City officials across the Southland
Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing. I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis. You could be carrying the virus, have no symptoms, and be responsible for the illness or worse of others.
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) March 22, 2020
on residents to continue heed the ‘stay at home’ warning and social distancing precautions, even if they feel fine or are not in a group that is at high-risk for contracting COVID-19.
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you -- how did you cope with the first full weekend under the ‘safer at home’ order? If you decided to go to the beach or on a hike, what was your rationale for leaving home? Join our live conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Check out LAist.com for more on the latest case numbers in L.A. County and worldwide, what you can and can’t do under the ‘stay at home order’ and more.
Guests:
Terry O’Day, mayor pro tempore of the City of Santa Monica
Bob Whalen, mayor of the City of Laguna Beach
LAUSD Latest: Schools To Be Closed Until At Least May 1
In a presser Monday morning, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that schools will extend their COVID-19 related closures until at least May 1.
That’s at least six weeks of online, stay-at-home learning for LAUSD students.
We take the presser and hear from teachers and parents. Call us at 866-893-5722.
How Houses Of Worship Are Adapting To Being Virtual
What if you could go to religious service without getting out of bed?
That was the reality for many congregants over the weekend, as synagogues, mosques, churches and other houses of worship took their services online, in response to COVID-19.
If you joined a virtual service, tell us about your experience. And if you’re a faith leader, we want to hear about how you navigated presenting without an in-person audience, as well as the technological perks and challenges. Call us at 866-893-5722.
Week In Politics: Economic Rescue Plan Stalls In Senate, White House COVID-19 Response And More
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. Here are the headlines that we’re following this week:
COVID 19:
For several days, Senators were working on a bipartisan economic plan, but now it seems to be stuck in purgatory after a Dem block. What’s currently in the package? And what’s the hold up?
Several Senators are getting heat for selling stock after private briefings on the coronavirus.
During Friday’s presser, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act - what does that mean?
During that same presser, the president referred to COVID-10 as the “chinese virus” and escalated tensions with some members of the press
He also announced further restrictions on border crossings and doubled down on his administration’s protectionist posturing
COVID-19 and the 2020 race:
Some are calling for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to drop. When is the right time?
Who’s the best choice for the Dem candidate’s VP?
Guests:
Jennifer Haberkorn, congressional reporter for the LA Times who is reporting from Washington D.C.; she tweets at
Amanda Renteria, senior advisor for Emerge America, a national organization that works to identify and train Democratic women who want to run for political office; she is the former national political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has been a staffer for Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); she tweets
Scot Zentner, professor of political science at Cal State San Bernardino and co-author of Party and Nation: Immigration and Regime Politics in American History (The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2020)