KUCI: Ask A Leader

This is the continuation of Tony's Smith's interview about Joe Biden's running mate selection. We get down to an even geekier discussion about the process - party platform planks, campaign funds, and more.

Rolling out UCI’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is the founding dean Dr. Jan Hirsch, who talks about building this institution; and the opportunities it offers researchers and students, before during and after the pandemic. In the second segment (minute 32:39), UCI political science professor Tony Smith offers useful insight into the Joe Biden vice-presidential nominee naming sweepstakes as the parlor talk continues to heat up in advance of the announcement anticipated on 8/10/20. The extended portion of this segment is available in a separate podcast on this same day. Music credits: Greg Foat, "Symphonie Pacifique"; Off to the Races, "Carousel"; and Lakecia Benjamin, "Pursuance."

Returning to the show is UCI law professor and election law expert, Rick Hasen, with his most recent book, one meant and written for these times, Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy, published by Yale University Press. In the second segment (minute 33:20) we hear from UCI public health professor Daniel Parker about the tools that the Orange County Health Care Agency and he will use to launch contact tracing for COVID-19.

For the full hour we hear from healthcare activist and retired emergency room physician Dr. Bill Honigman. Dr. Bill has lots of healthcare policy, and many intersections, to get off his chest as we go into political convention season in the middle of a pandemic.

For the full hour we hear from organizers with UCI4COLA, doctoral student Nalya Rodriguez and PhD and law school student Courtney Echols. Cost of Living Adjustments, UC system policing practices, and student housing rental terms are among the many issues on their movement plates. For more details about their bi-weekly donation drive 7/17 at the UCI Montessori parking lot, the 7/27 housing meeting, Strike U, and other events are available at: https://uci4cola.com.

Stephanie Campbell, local maven serving on many grassroots’ boards presents the sustained efforts of the national and local chapters of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. She offers as well, the hefty roster of speakers lined up from now into the fall, at the Orange County chapter. In the second segment (minute 29:08), I speak with UNITE HERE Local 11 organizer Austin Lynch about Anaheim workers’ public health, making the case to city, county, and state leaders to delay the opening of the Happiest Place on Earth.

Scott Bollens continues his reflection on urban planning in the inflection point of the age of COVID and BLM.

This is the continuation of Danielle Watt's interview. She offers comprehensive insight as a STEM administrator at the University of Minnesota and of living in these times with mixed feelings.