Category: Analysis
Farmworkers are now deemed essential. But are they protected?
“They’re going to continue working because they don’t feel that they have a choice. You know, bear with it, work through it,” Elenes said. “It’s really distressing because these workers are the backbone of this country…
Why your local store keeps running out of flour, toilet paper and prescription drugs
by Nada R. Sanders, Northeastern University Retailers are frequently running out of everything from flour and fresh meat to toilet paper and pharmaceuticals as supply chains hammered by the coronavirus struggle to keep up with stockpiling…
The value of collective experience
New Orleans A couple of random comments have gotten me thinking a bit about the post-coronavirus world. One thing that stuck with me was a young man’s take on hoarding in New York City that was…
Beyond sanitizing and social distancing – a healthy circadian rhythm may keep you sane and increase resilience to fight COVID-19
by, Satchin Panda, University of California San Diego Social distancing and washing hands have become the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, but there is another powerfully protective resource immediately available to all: your circadian rhythm….
Doctors are making life-and-death choices over coronavirus patients – it could have long-term consequences for them
by Neil Shortland, University of Massachusetts Lowell As the coronavirus spreads and demand for medical gear far outstrips the supplies, doctors in the U.S. may have to choose who among their patients lives and who dies….
It’s hardly shocking the Navy fired a commander for warning of coronavirus threat. It’s part of a pattern.
In dismissing the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy once again punished the messenger, a frontline leader brave enough to tell the unvarnished truth to superiors about a threat to his sailors. by T….
Failures show Trump Is clear and present danger to the United States
Seven “pro-contagion activities” by Trump increased the coronavirus death toll in the United States. by Ralph Nader Trump ridiculed, then minimized, then delayed the federal government’s response to the coronavirus for weeks. Then finally he wrapped…
Bob Dylan brings links between JFK assassination and coronavirus into stark relief
Then – as now – Americans found themselves transfixed by the news. International Center of Photography by Aniko Bodroghkozy, University of Virginia Over the past few weeks, the coronavirus has turned the country’s cultural spigot off,…
NLRB moves to make unionizing more difficult while COVID-19 ravages workers
‘Nearly Impossible for Workers’ “The Trump NLRB takes this moment to publish a rule that will make it harder both for workers to unionize and to keep unions they have. Shameful does not even begin to…
When does recycling your plastic make sense? The answer isn’t so simple
By Orion Donovan-Smith “Plastic Wars,” which examines the crisis in plastic waste, airs on PBS nationwide on March 31, 2020, and online with additional stories online and on-air in the coming weeks. The program is…
These groups are among the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic
by Chen Reis, University of Denver and Lynn Lawry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences March 31 How is the COVID-19 crisis impacting the most vulnerable among us? Tens of millions of Americans fit that…
Workers virus rights for big companies
Pearl River The stimulus bill overs some expanded rights for workers at companies with under 500 workers. What do you do if your employer has over 500 workers and is refusing to do the right things…
The deadly polio epidemic and why it matters for coronavirus
by Carl Kurlander, University of Pittsburgh Wednesday March 25 The fear and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic may feel new to many of us. But it is strangely familiar to those who lived through…
The Senate corporate bailout package is a ‘robbery in progress,’ warn critics
“It’s not a bailout for the coronavirus. It’s a bailout for twelve years of corporate irresponsibility.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer As details of the Senate’s coronavirus stimulus plan slowly trickled in Wednesday, progressive critics characterized…
Job guarantees, basic income can save us from COVID-19 depression
A universal basic income and a job guarantee are critical ways to help us weather the economic storm of the coronavirus pandemic. (Shutterstock) by D.T. Cochrane, York University, Canada COVID-19 is both a public health crisis…
Why defeating coronavirus in one country isn’t enough…
…there needs to be a coordinated global strategy The UN Security Council has yet to hold a meeting on coronavirus. The World in HDR/Shutterstock.com by Nader Habibi, (Henry J. Leir Professor of Practice in Economics of…
Students could be undercounted in the census as colleges close – here’s why that matters
by Dudley L. Poston, Jr., Texas A&M University At college dormitories and student apartments across the U.S., census forms will be piling up – but many run the risk of not being filled in. The spread…
DOJ using coronavirus crisis to push for expansive emergency powers
by Eoin Higgins, staff writer The Department of Justice is using the coronavirus outbreak to ask Congress for sweeping emergency powers including suspending habeas corpus during an emergency, a power grab that was denounced by civil…
We are entering a recession – but what did we learn from the last one?
By Ken-Hou Lin, University of Texas at Austin and Megan Neely, Stanford University As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, it is abundantly clear that the global economy is entering a recession – the…
What is a deprecesscion?
By Wade Rathke Pearl River Brothers and sisters, it’s bad. Furthermore, it’s getting worse! Piled on to that, it will get much, much worse, before there’s even a hint of it getting better. A recession…
No, President Trump, the coronavirus is nothing like H1N1 swine flu either
The president has been comparing his administration’s handling of COVID-19 to the way President Barack Obama’s team dealt with the H1N1 outbreak. He is wrong. by Charles Ornstein March 19, 11:10 a.m. EDT As the coronavirus…
On the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic: A doctor’s view
The virus is exposing inadequacies in health systems all over the world, especially the U.S.’s abysmal health infrastructure. Health workers on the ground continue to provide care during the pandemic despite the severe lack of resources…
How many Americans are really infected with the coronavirus?
Health care reporter Caroline Chen dug into the projections to learn what to make of them. Forecasts are fuzzy, but the takeaway is clear: Stay home. by Caroline Chen March 18, 5 a.m. EDT There’s a…
New polling shows widespread US public support for paid sick leave, Medicare for all to fight coronavirus
“Humane policies are popular policies.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer CommonDreams Strong majorities of U.S. voters across the political spectrum support an array of progressive policy proposals that would provide immediate relief to those affected by the…
