Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we discuss the controversy surrounding the invention of Flamin' Hot Cheetos; check in on the reopening of theme parks; and more.
COVID-19: Several Counties Weigh In On State’s Mask Lift Date, OC Moves Into Yellow Tier And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.
Today’s topics include:
Some counties are frustrated, confused with CA’s delay on lifting masking rules
CA weighs dropping mask, distancing rules for fully vaccinated workers
Orange County moves into the yellow tier
“Very disturbing” racial disparities remain in vaccination trends
Why many Latino men haven’t been vaccinated yet
EU moves to allow in fully vaccinated visitors
India sets global record for daily COVID-19 deaths
Trained dogs may be able to sniff out the coronavirus in humans
Can vaccine passports help enforce the CDC’s mask guidance?
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
How A New Article On The Disputed Origin Story Of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Kicked Up A Controversy Of Its Own
After the Los Angeles Times released an investigation disputing Richard Montañez’s longtime claim as the creator of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the piece ignited a controversy around culinary ownership, race and how the histories of people of color should be told.
Richard Montañez’s famous story begins when he was a janitor at Frito-Lay’s Rancho Cucamonga plant, where he conceived of an idea for a chile-coated Cheeto. He called the chief executive at the time and pitched the idea, resulting in the extremely popular Flamin’ Hot Cheetos line and vaulting him into such stratospheres of success that a feature film of his life is currently in development.
But reporter Sam Dean’s LA Times article, which is based off of the claims made by several Frito-Lay executives, claims that Montañez did not actually invent Flamin’ Hots. Many readers, however, were not convinced by the story. Some felt that the LA Times’ reporting tactics were too sensational and not nuanced enough, particularly in regards to Montañez’s significance as a prominent Latino success story in a white corporate industry.
Today on AirTalk, we speak to Gustavo Arellano about his new piece in response to the criticism of the LA Times. But we want to hear from you— how do you think the story should be told? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times columnist covering Southern California; his recent column is “What the anger over Flamin’ Hot Cheetos origin story is really about”; he tweets
Should Venues And Workplaces Require Proof Of Covid Vaccination?
According to a poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, the majority of Californians think entertainment venues should be able to require proof that patrons are either COVID negative or fully vaccinated. The poll also found that most Californians support some workplaces placing similar requirements on their employees.
The poll results also found a partisan split in the idea of vaccination requirements. For example, 82 percent of Democrats approved proof of immunity or a negative COVID test at entertainment venues, while 66 percent of Republicans disapproved. We dive into the results of the poll and discuss the bioethics of so-called “vaccine passports,” both in the U.S. and internationally.
Guests:
Michele Goodwin, chancellor’s professor of law and director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy at the University of California, Irvine and author of multiple books, her latest is “Policing The Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood” (Cambridge, February 2020) she tweets
Arthur Caplan, professor of Medical Ethics at New York University School of Medicine where he is also director of the division of medical ethics; he tweets
Screams, Splashes And Lines For Rides Return: A Look At Theme Park Reopening Across Southern California
Among the more challenging aspects of reopening society as it gets a better handle on the coronavirus pandemic have been dealing with events and attractions that feature large crowds of people packed in close quarters, like theme parks.
A number of our local attractions, including Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, LEGOLAND California Resort and others reopened last month, and others like Raging Waters in Los Angeles are set to finally reopen their gates to visitors in the coming days.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll hear from representatives with local theme parks and attractions about how the reopening process has been going and we’ll take calls from listeners who have visited a theme park or work at one to hear about their experience. Join the conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Mike Roe, reporter covering arts, entertainment and theme park attractions for LAist; he tweets
Al Garcia, director of marketing and sales for Raging Waters Los Angeles in San Dimas
Triple Play: Lakers Face Warriors For 7th Seed And the State Of The Dodgers & Angels
A star-studded affair between two of SoCal's most star-studded basketball teams, the Los Angeles Lakers face off against the Golden State Warriors for a spot in the NBA Playoffs, with the winner of tonight’s matchup officially becoming the 7th seed in the western conference.
This year, the NBA has implemented a new system for how the two lowest seeds for the playoffs will be chosen, with each conferences’ 7-10th seeds duking it out for the final two positions. As it stands, the Lakers hold the 7th best record in the West and the Warriors hold the 8th, with the loser of today’s game still having the opportunity to clinch the 8th seed against the winner of the 9/10 matchup.
In the MLB, two other teams in California are making headlines, with the Dodgers continuing its pursuit to become repeat champions while dealing similar injury issues that their purple and gold brethren have dealt with at Staples Center. Meanwhile, the Angels are finding themselves struggling to reach a .500 winning record, this while recently losing their star Mike Trout.
Today on AirTalk, we preview tonight’s 7 p.m. PT postseason matchup between the Lakers and Warriors, while also looking at the state of the Dodgers and Angels.
Guests:
Nick Roman, host of KPCC’s “All Things Considered”; he tweets
A. Martinez, host of KPCC’s “Take Two”; he tweets