With rising Covid-19 numbers across the world, spikes threaten the new norms of relaxed vaccination-induced bliss. This episode features the song “https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Normcore (Aside)” by https://normcore.bandcamp.com/ (Normcore), available under a Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (Attribution 4.0 International) license. Links to this weeks stories : 00:10 AstaZeneca International Doses US to begin stockpiling doses of AtraZeneca vaccine The vaccines are not approved for US use Importantly, AstraZeneca vaccine already approved in India, the latest country to have a massive outbreak Intended to be sent worldwide amid clamoring for help US previously called into question amidst refusal to share patent for vaccines in circulation 06:39 Gavin Newsom Recall election is now all-but-guaranteed, as enough signatures have been gathered to force the vote 1,495,709 signature push the tally over the threshold according to Secretary of State Shirley Weber Intervention through the court system may block the elections initiative, but is unlikely at this time Polls show the majority of Californians oppose the effort, and this bodes well for Newsom’s effort to stay in place. 60/40 in favor of Newsom The effort going through does show the weakness of a prominent national democrat, which could potentially open up new issues for democrats on a national scale 12:24 India Outbreak Relaxed atmosphere regarding COVID-19 General disregard for Covid-19 rules and regulations Dense population 350,000 cases as a new daily record Oxygen shortage and mass cremations 2-3 weeks from the peak Slow response from the government fueled a harsher climb in cases Support this podcast