October 2, 2020: Understanding Disinformation Campaigns, Congresswoman Deb Haaland on Leading as a Laguna Pueblo Native, Why Flu Shots Are Vital Right Now

This week on Our Body Politic, Farai Chideya talks with Congresswoman Deb Haaland of New Mexico about leading with her Laguna Pueblo heritage. Farai digs into politics and the economy in conversations about income taxes and the role of disinformation in our elections. Our weekly Covid update puts President Trump’s diagnosis in context with other impacted Americans. Our Rise segment looks at one woman uplifting families of police-violence victims, and how exotic dancers in Atlanta are getting out the vote.

CORRECTION: This episode’s COVID update misstated the likelihood of Black and Hispanic patients dying of Covid as 3 and 4 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites. But they are roughly 2.5 times more likely to die than white patients.

Episode Rundown

2:20 Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, talks about being a Congresswoman and how she remained hopeful. 

6:58 Haaland talks about why it’s imperative for those who can vote, to vote. 

8:09 Farai talks to Radhika Balakrishnan about Trump’s income taxes, income inequality, and our tax system. 

10:29 Balakrishnan explains the long-term economic impacts of the pandemic. 

13:00 One listener calls in to tell us their experience about incorrect voting dates in NYC.

14:22 Farai speaks with Mutale Nkonde, UN advisor on Race and AI, about disinformation campaigns that convince voters not to vote, domestically and abroad.

18:15 Disinformation: An art and practice developed in the Cold War, and still used to this day. 

22:54 How to steer clear from disinformation this election.

25:16 Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltahawy talks about Amy Coney Barrett after her piece “If Amy Coney Barrett Was a Muslim”

29:12 Eltahawy talks about protests, revolution, and who the Supreme Court benefits. 

31:39 Errin Haines and Farai grapple with the first Presidential Debate. 

32:48 Erinn and her piece “Toxic Masculinity Takes Center Stage at the First Presidential Debate.” 

36:46 COVID-19: Who has it (POTUS and FLOTUS), and who it is disproportionately affecting.

40:36 Dr. Nikki Jackson talks about the importance of the flu shot. 

42:08 Is it safe to go to the doctors office? Dr. Jackson says yes, go! 

43:08 The Good News section - Beyonce, voting in style, and so much more. 

43:50 A conversation with Shatonna Nelson about police brutality and the communities it impacts. 

46:37 Nelson - “They all know that they need to tell the story,” on how to heal as the family of a victim of police brutality.