Today marks 5 years since WHO declared COVID-19 pandemic
March 11, 2020, was the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. When the announcement was first made, there had been over 100,000 cases globally, and more than 4,000 deaths. Now, there’s been more than 770 million cases of the virus’ many strains, having resulted in roughly 7 million deaths. Although it’s since reached endemic status, the ramifications of COVID-19 have led to shifts in people’s lives and workplaces. So today on AirTalk, we’re checking in on the latest COVID-19 news with Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. We also want to hear from you: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your life? Your workplace? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Leader of student protests at Columbia facing deportation after arrest by immigration officials
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University is facing deportation following his arrest by federal immigration agents over the weekend. Mahmoud Khalil, who graduated from the university in December, was arrested Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, saying it was a result of President Donald Trump’s executive orders prohibiting antisemitism. Khalil has not been formally charged with a crime. His lawyer, Amy Greer, said the agents who took him into custody at his university-owned home near Columbia initially claimed to be acting on a State Department order to revoke his student visa. But when Greer informed them that Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card, they said they would revoke that documentation instead. Khalil is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Trump’s promised crackdown on students protesting the war in Gaza. The Trump administration is arguing that international students who participate in Pro-Palestinian protests have forfeited their rights to remain in the country. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, the Trump administration last week pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia because of what it claimed was the Ivy League school’s failure to reign in antisemitism on campus. Today on AirTalk, we talk about the case and other measures taken by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration at U.S. colleges. Joining us are Sarah Brown, senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education and Pratheepan Gulasekaram, professor of law at the University of Colorado Boulder, and director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law.
With files from the Associated Press
A new bill challenging California’s version of ‘stand your ground’ is met with swift backlash
A new California bill is proposing amendments to the language around what makes a homicide justifiable. Currently, the law defines homicide as “the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with or without malice aforethought, as specified.” There is also existing law that defines under which circumstances homicide is justifiable. Democratic Assemblymember Rick Zbur wants to narrow that legal justification, which typically plays out in the context of self-defense. Under his amendments, the law would no longer justify using deadly force outside of a person’s residence when “using force likely to cause death or great bodily injury could have been avoided with complete safety by retreating.” Those who support the bill say that it closes legal loopholes that lead to more violence. Those in opposition say the bill criminalizes people for acting in self-defense. Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss the new bill is Nick Suplina, Senior Vice President for Law & Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins's life and work highlighted in new Hulu documentary
A new Hulu documentary titled Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna digs into the life of Halyna Hutchins, who passed away in October 2021 after being accidentally shot on the set of the film Rust. Using first-hand accounts and archival footage, documentarian Rachel Mason helps viewers understand the environment on the set for Rust and the legal action that was taken following her passing. Mason joins Larry to discuss the documentary.
Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna is now available to stream on Hulu.
