Miscellaneous
The Real Debate Podcast introduces a new panelist tonight, Jim Crotty, a political independent, author, columnist, and currently Director of Communications for a Member of Congress; along with our usual hosts, Greg Abbott, Jerad Finck, and Jeff Grell. Today was a grim day for the COVID19 crisis, with overall U.S. deaths approaching 50,000. Greg asks the panel how they come down on the “Re-open or Not,” debate, in light of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to relax restrictions beginning next week; followed by a discussion of problems with the federal relief bills. Jim gives some context about how and why those bills were drafted. The panel next talks about what the crisis will look like a year from now. Greg suggests a 9/11-style national commission to investigate the virus and our response; Jerad worries that it will provoke violent extremists and domestic terrorism; Jeff hopes it will cause Americans to rethink their partisan bickering; and Jim argues it will cause a profound re-evaluation of U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains, and the outsourcing of critical manufacturing.