The 46th: Biden’s First Catastrophes

Matter of Opinion

New York Times Opinion

Society & Culture, Ross Douthat, News, New York Times, Journalism

4.2 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 December 2020

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the second episode of our pre-inauguration series, “The 46th,” Michelle and Aaron debate two countrywide crises that President-elect Joe Biden will inherit from Donald Trump: the coronavirus, and the economic chaos it’s causing. Jeneen Interlandi, the Times editorial board’s health, science and education writer, joins the podcast to discuss what Biden must do around mask mandates, vaccine deployment and public health messaging. Then, Binyamin Appelbaum, the editorial board’s economics writer, joins the debate around stimulus checks, and whether unthinkable human suffering can push Congress to action (spoiler: don’t count on it). And Binya offers recommendations for books — other than his own, of course — for people who want to understand how macroeconomics shapes their own lives, and not be bored doing it. For background reading on this episode, visit nytimes.com/theargument.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Michelle Goldberg.
0:01.7	I'm Aaron Reddica, and this is the argument.
0:07.0	Welcome to episode two in our transitional series about, well, the transition.
0:13.6	We're calling it the 46th, as in the 46th president.
0:17.8	We're asking a simple question that is anything but easy to answer.
0:22.5	What you'd show Biden do once he gets into the White House, and how should he go about
0:26.4	doing it?
0:35.6	Today we're tackling two of the problems Biden administration will have to confront
0:39.6	on day one, the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis.
0:44.7	I say two problems, but they're connected at the root.
0:48.5	Benny Applebaum will join us after the break to talk about the pitiless state of our economy.
0:52.7	But first, we welcome Jeanine Internlandi, the editorial board's health and science expert.
0:57.4	Hi, Jeanine.
0:58.4	Hi, thanks for having me.
0:59.8	Obviously, there's a lot to talk about, but let's start with Biden's COVID task force.
1:04.4	Are you happy with the people that are on it?
1:06.3	Do you feel like, I mean, this is a bit of a strange question coming after the Trump administration,
1:09.6	but do you feel like it's too scientific?
1:11.8	If we're talking about getting people to respond properly to the virus, is the group that's
1:15.1	on the panel enough?
1:16.9	Or are other types of people needed and do they need a different approach?
1:20.5	Yeah, so I think both things.
	...

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