Health Care

Hospitals Getting Ready, DC’s COVID Peak in July? Absurd Social Distancing

April 3, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Hospitals Getting Ready, DC’s COVID Peak in July? Absurd Social Distancing” on Spreaker.

Hey, we made it to Friday! Join Jim and Greg as they applaud cities and states for gearing up for the worst of coronavirus before it hits. They also cringe as Washington, D.C., officials claim the COVID-19 peak may not come there until late June or early July. And they call for a common sense review as sheriff’s officials in southern California arrest a man for defying state orders by paddle boarding in the ocean by himself.

The Economy: How Bad Will It Get & How Do We Turn It Around?

April 2, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “The Economy: How Bad Will It Get & How Do We Turn It Around?” on Spreaker.

On Thursday, the Department of Labor reported more than 6.6 million people filed new jobless claims over the past week. Combined with the nearly 3.3 million from last week, more than 10 million people since our economy largely shut down due to the coronavirus.

With the nation effectively on pause at least through April, what will the economic toll be over the next few weeks and how quickly can those losses be reversed once we’re past the crisis?

Brian Wesbury is chief economist at First Trust Advisors and is a former chief economist for the Joint Economic of Congress. He explains where he thinks our economy is headed, how strong the relief bill from Congress is and what the big economic lessons ought to be from this crisis.

Props to the Patriots, 6.6 Million More Out of Work, Clueless Kemp

April 2, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Props to the Patriots, 6.6 Million More Out of Work, Clueless Kemp” on Spreaker.

The coronavirus crisis has gotten to the point where Jim Geraghty is saying nice things about the New England Patriots and owner Robert Kraft after Kraft dispatched the team plane to China to pick up 1.2 million N95 masks. Jim and Greg also tackle the brutal loss of 6.6 million more jobs in the past week and wonder how soon we’ll have no choice but to reopen various sectors or regions of our economy. And they throw their hands up as Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp says he only realized this week that COVID-19 could be spread by people before they start feeling sick.

What Price Should China Pay?

April 1, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “What Price Should China Pay?” on Spreaker.

Time and time again, China lied about the severity of the coronavirus, how it started, and how many people died there. Now, by all accounts, the communist rulers are lying about there being no new cases.

Is there any question China is lying? What does it gain from these deceptions when the lies are so obvious? What does the poor Chinese response to the virus tell us abut the regime in general? And what should be the immediate and long-term U.S. responses for China needlessly endangering so many lives around the world?

We get answers from Gordon G. Chang, a China expert and author of “The Coming Collapse of China.”

Health Insurers Step up, Two-Years to Beat COVID, Treating Taiwan Badly

April 1, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Health Insurers Step up, Two-Years to Beat COVID, Treating Taiwan Badly” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they cheer multiple health insurers easing up on deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance over coronavirus. They also wince as the head of the Centers for Disease Control says it will take two years to fully defeat COVID-19. And they fume as the World Health Organization and others pretend Taiwan doesn’t exist in order to appease China and, in the process, ignores one the most successful coronavirus mitigation efforts in the world.

Optimism in New York, Private Sector to the Rescue, Pelosi’s Pandering

March 31, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Optimism in New York, Private Sector to the Rescue, Pelosi’s Pandering” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg for two good martinis and some craziness. They welcome evidence that the spread of COVID-19 may be slowing in New York. They also salute private industries shifting their focus in big ways to meet the demand for ventilators, masks, and more. And they roll their eyes as Nancy Pelosi begins eyeing the next big spending bill.

Game-Changing Good News, April in Quarantine, Dictatorial Democrats

March 30, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Game-Changing Good News, April in Quarantine, Dictatorial Democrats” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they cheer much quicker COVID-19 tests, new treatments, and progress on a vaccine. They also discuss the likely impact of America shutting down for at least another month. And they shake their heads at the tactics of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo.

Hopeful Signs, Massie’s Miscalculation, Who Believes China?

March 27, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Hopeful Signs, Massie’s Miscalculation, Who Believes China?” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they welcome reassuring news from Dr. Birx about the COVID-19 threat. They also agree there’s a ton of wasteful spending in the relief bill but aren’t sure if forcing members back to D.C. was a great move by Rep. Thomas Massie. And they slam media outlets for believing the U.S. really has more COVID-19 cases than China and wonder whether China is hiding a second spike of the virus.

This episode is sponsored by Acre Gold. Go to getacregold.com/martini. Acre is giving away a gold bar for the month of March. Tweet why you should win and mention @get_acre for a chance to win the free gold.

The Wasteful Spending Inside the Coronavirus Relief Bill

March 26, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “The Wasteful Spending Inside the Coronavirus Relief Bill” on Spreaker.

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package Wednesday night and the House is expected to follow suit as soon as Friday. But in addition to the critical relief for families and businesses is a lot of spending that hardly seems relevant to the crisis at hand.

For example, the legislation allots $250 million for the IRS, $350 for migration and refugee assistance, $75 million for NPR and PBS, $25 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and many others.

So how did this happen and what was happening behind the scenes even as the Senate floor debate was under way? How does House Speaker Nancy Pelosi justify these spending demands from the GOP-led Senate? And how should a fiscally conservative member approach a bill like this when other provisions need to be approved immediately?

We discuss these and other questions with Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of OpentheBooks.com.

Unemployment Skyrockets, U.S Indicts Maduro, COVID-19 Terrorism Threat

March 26, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Unemployment Skyrockets, U.S Indicts Maduro, COVID-19 Terrorism Threat” on Spreaker.

Jim and Greg shudder as 3.28 million Americans lost their jobs last week. They also recoil at an alleged plot to bomb a hospital full of COVID-19 patients. But they cheer the U.S. lowering the boom on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro.