Ep. #35: Weekend Grab Bag

We start our grab bag episode, as we do each Friday, with a look at the week in numbers, and the numbers aren't good, especially here in Texas.

After reopening too quickly and without adequate testing, Gov. Greg Abbott is now backtracking: closing bars he once allowed open, but still refusing to make masks mandatory. Over at Living Blue in Texas is a useful timeline of the governor's (non)-response to the pandemic. Don't forget: many Texas cities, like Austin, were handling COVID-19 responsibly until the governor overrode the decisions of local officials.

Meanwhile, millions of Americans may face economic disaster when the enhanced unemployment benefits passed under the CARES Act run out on July 31.

We also give a brief update on the situation in #TX21 with Rep. Roy's chief of staff, who earlier this month went on an unhinged, vulgar rant on social media.

Next, Antoinette gives a 101 on the history of "dog whistles" in American politics. Some resources she recommends: this helpful piece from Ian Olasov at VOX; this story from CNN; and this excerpt from A People's Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter by Tehama Lopez Bunyasi and Candis Watts Smith over at LitHub. (You can find the dog whistle-heavy article Antoinette dissects on today's episode here).

Our weekend recs?

Antoinette just spearheaded a family viewing of Silence of the Lambs. Lucas, meanwhile, devoured Lenox Hill on Netflix, and recommends the new documentary "Bully. Coward. Victim. The Roy Cohn Story," now on HBO. He also offers a mini call-to-action at the end of the episode.

What are you watching, listening to and reading to stay grounded in this unsettling time? Let us know on Instagram or Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or drop us a line at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on Friday, June 26, 2020.