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What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Jerry Falwell Jr. vs. the Coronavirus

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Daily News

4.32.4K Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2020

⏱️ 22 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Politically incorrect since 1971.” That’s the unofficial motto of Liberty University, an evangelical college located in Lynchburg, Virginia headed by Jerry Falwell Jr. The school and its president take pride in bucking conventional wisdom, so when Jerry Falwell Jr. began to downplay concerns over COVID-19, echoing the rhetoric of the White House in early March, students and staff took notice. Ruth Graham says institutions like this one, institutions that take their cues from the president, have been a beat behind when it comes to responding to our current public health crisis. Guest: Ruth Graham, staff writer at Slate. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Dad, I'm hungry!

0:01.6

Right, what do I cook for tea?

0:03.0

Errr, McCain chips. These will be good.

0:05.2

You know they'll come out nice and crispy if you cook them in a rye fryer.

0:08.2

Just say, Alexa, open McCain, and Alexa will help you.

0:12.2

What? You mean if I say Alexa, open McCain, Alexa will open the bag of chips for me?

0:16.4

Not literally open the bag of chips for your dad, but Alexa can tell you how to cook them and give you ideas for tea.

0:21.8

Okay. Alexa, open McCain.

0:24.6

Well done, Dad. Such a tech wizard.

0:26.6

Chip, chip hooray.

0:27.6

Crispy air fryer perfection with McCain.

0:35.6

Looking at press coverage over the last few days, I think it's pretty fair to ask,

0:40.6

what exactly is going on at Liberty University?

0:43.6

Hundreds of colleges and universities have sent students home because of the coronavirus,

0:48.6

but one university is bringing students back to campus during this crisis.

0:53.6

At Liberty University, the dorms and dining halls are open.

0:57.6

Students returning to campus from across the country and rural.

1:00.6

Liberty University is an evangelical school in Lynchburg, Virginia,

1:04.6

run by Jerry Falwell, Jr.

1:06.6

and Slates Ruth Graham, who covers religion for us.

1:09.6

She says that to understand what's happening at Liberty,

1:12.6

you need to know that this college is about more than just faith.

...

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