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Economist Podcasts

Checks and Balance: Corona corralled?

Economist Podcasts

The Economist

News & Politics, News

4.4 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 24 April 2020

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

"We can corral the coronavirus," Gov. Greg Abbott said, announcing his plan to reopen the Texas economy. Floridians have returned to the beaches and other Southern states are starting to relax restrictions on restaurants, gyms and hair salons. But public support for maintaining the lockdown remains strong. Can America reopen while keeping covid-19 at bay?


In this episode we hear how Wisconsinites view the lockdown and a Bronx medic tells us what it’s like on the frontline. We also find out where ending social distancing might be most risky.


John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, hosts with Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief, and Washington correspondent Jon Fasman.


Read The Economist’s full coverage of the coronavirus.


For access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe: www.economist.com/pod2020.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

In a crisis that's mostly invisible, it's one of the most striking images so far. A medic in

0:06.5

bright green scrubs stands on a crosswalk in Denver. He's standing in the way of a huge white

0:13.5

pickup. A protester and a stars and stripes shirt leans out the window waving a placard.

0:20.0

It says, Land of the Free. The photo suggests America is as divided on ending the lockdown

0:26.1

as on anything. But is it really? With 192 days to go, this is Chex and Balance.

0:38.3

I'm John Prado, the economist's US editor, and this is a podcast about the 2020 elections.

0:44.4

Each week we take one big theme shaping American politics and explore it in depth.

0:50.1

Today, can America open up and keep COVID at bay?

0:59.9

The governor of Texas says he can corral the coronavirus. Floridians have returned to the beaches.

1:07.1

Southern states that have avoided the worst of the pandemic, are relaxing restrictions on restaurants,

1:12.6

gyms and hair sounds. President Trump is encouraging the reopening. But public support

1:19.6

maintaining restrictions remains strong. In this episode, we'll hear what people think of relaxing

1:25.4

the lockdown in small town Wisconsin and hear from a medic on the front line in the Bronx.

1:31.3

We'll also find out where ending social distancing might be most risky.

1:36.0

As ever, I'm joined by John and Charlotte. John, last week, your recommendation for ice cream over

1:53.3

pasta took America by storm. Have you got any more lockdown tips for the nation?

1:59.1

Oh, man. You know, there's nothing more cliche than a quarantine baker, but I have just bought

2:04.1

some rye flour that I'm nurturing my sourdough starter with and I'm very excited to see the results.

2:09.2

That sounds good. Tell us about how it goes. Charlotte, how about you?

2:12.3

I'm well, just like any sensible professional I spend most of the day hiding from my children,

2:17.7

but generally doing fine. Well, you've escaped them for the next half hour. So let's make the most

2:22.8

of it. Adam Roberts is also joining us from Chicago. Hi, Adam. Hey, John. You've been out doing some

...

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