1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to WIKA F Daily with 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody. Recording from the Brooklyn Bunker, Folks, 3 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: I am recording this before the State of the Union. 4 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: And you know, at the time of this recording, there 5 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: are two Democrats who are going to offer rebuttals to 6 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: the President's State of the Union. What's funny about that 7 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: is that usually people from your own party don't offer rebuttals, 8 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: but we have a member of the Progressive Caucus, a 9 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: member of the Congressional Black Caucus offering their rebuttals to 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: what Biden is going to say. And here's the thing, Um, 11 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: I will give fuller and more detail if you're if 12 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: you follow me on Twitter and all of those things, 13 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: you will have seen that. But here's what I will 14 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: say about the State of the Union. I was racking 15 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: my brain because always, you know, the day of the 16 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: State of the Union, everyone offers their hot takes, myself included. 17 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: People tweet out them. They'll say the state of the 18 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: Union is and then allow their followers in the comments 19 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: to fill in the blank. And here's what I tweeted. 20 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: Instead not offering, you know, to hear necessarily from other 21 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: folks about their thoughts because I'm grappling with my own. 22 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: I mean, the point, you know, if we if we 23 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 1: want to be real friends, the point of the State 24 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: of the Union is to offer a kind of report 25 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: card for the American people from that president, to say, 26 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: these are the things that we have done, these are 27 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: the things that we are working on. And I got 28 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, the State of the Union 29 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: is not fuck be strong. And I really wish that 30 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: we had a president who had the courage to stand 31 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: up and tell the fucking truth. And I think that 32 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: what gets me really pissed off about politics in general 33 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: these days. And you know, let's just be real. Politicians 34 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: are notorious for the lies that they tell, for the 35 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: hope that they spread, and then you know the concrete 36 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: policies that they do not offer, because once they get 37 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 1: into the job, then they tell you that the job 38 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: is just too hard for them to get things done 39 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: that they told you on the campaign trail that they 40 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: were going to do. Not all politicians are like that, 41 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: but a lot of them are. And so here's what 42 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: we know to be true. We know that the Biden 43 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: Harris administration took over and essentially are playing janitors right 44 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: to the absolute fucking cesspool mess that Donald Trump left behind. 45 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: But here's the other thing that we know to be true. 46 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: They decided really not to hold the past administration accountable 47 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: for the fucking cesspool mess that they left. Joe Biden 48 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: had the opportunity right to choose a US Attorney general 49 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: right that had actual teeth, that had an actual spine, 50 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: that was going to do what needed to be done, 51 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: because that was the conviction, not only just to restore 52 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: our thoughts in institutions right and in systems and our 53 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: faith in them, but to show the American people that 54 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: when you do wrong by us, regardless of if you 55 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: are a regular normal citizen walking on the street or 56 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: the president of the fucking United States, that you're going 57 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: to be held accountable for that. So they failed in 58 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 1: that regard. Right, then they come in and they tell us, yes, 59 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: we are going to get vaccines, and yes they did 60 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: roll that out, but they rolled it out and they 61 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 1: did a shit job doing it, which is difficult to do. 62 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: So let me give you my two be sure difficult 63 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 1: to do when you had the former president politicize right 64 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: every aspect of a global health pandemic. So I'm not 65 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: saying that it was an easy lift, but what I'm 66 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: saying is that you can't shoot yourself in the foot. 67 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: You're already starting the race behind. And somehow Democrats always 68 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: manage to when they get the baton, to throw it 69 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: fucking behind them, right, Like that's what they are doing. 70 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: And so what I tweeted in my thoughts about the 71 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: state of the Union, this is what I said. I said, 72 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: the state of the Union is over four hundred voter suppression, 73 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: voter suppression bills. I don't say gay bill in Florida, 74 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: anti transgender bills in Texas and nineteen other states, vigilante 75 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: anti abortion laws in Texas. Thousands still dying each day 76 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: of COVID and unrelenting racism and anti blackness. I mean, folks, 77 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: when you think about just the last couple of months 78 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: in terms of headlines, like we are in March, right, 79 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: So I'm saying, couple of months, Let go to fucking January. January, 80 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: we recognized the one year anniversary of the direction, and 81 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: yet we still have active members of Congress who we 82 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: know participated in that insurrection, whether by giving floor plans, 83 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: giving money, giving access, and they're still there. This President 84 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: has said really nothing, really tough talk on oh insurrection 85 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: and what it means to be a patriot, but then 86 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: gets up at the prayer breakfast and refers to Mitch 87 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: McConnell as his good friend, right, who is an honorable man. 88 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: So every time that Joe Biden gets a little bit 89 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: gets a little bit of gully into him, he fucking 90 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: takes ten steps backwards. So I don't know how he's 91 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: going to stand up before the American people and tell 92 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: us that all is okay. The fucking dow Jones fell 93 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: off another motherfucking cliff, right, as we are headed into 94 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: day seven of Putin's war in the Ukraine, and to 95 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,119 Speaker 1: boot on top of all that, we are seeing all 96 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: of the terrible coverage of people losing their homes and fleeing. 97 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: What are we seeing on top of that anti fucking blackness? 98 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: So not only not only do you get to black 99 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: person in the Ukraine, whether you are a black American 100 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: student right or from an African nation, but what we 101 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: are getting reports of, right are people being told all 102 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: blacks off the bus, all blacks to the back of 103 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: the line. So I ask you, what is this administration 104 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: saying to their fellow members of the EU that this 105 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: is something that we will not tolerate. That let's not 106 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: make matters fucking worse, right, that the people that are 107 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: fleeing are deserving of safety just as well as their 108 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: white counterparts that are fleeing along fucking side them. Like, 109 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: why is it that regardless of where black people in 110 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: this diaspora are, they're always told to get to the 111 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: back of the bus or better yet, get the fuck off. 112 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: You know, it is really difficult for me to go 113 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: along with the get along right now, which is the 114 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: constant refrain that we need to just unite as Democrats 115 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: behind our president. And here's the thing, folks, I'm united 116 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: behind people, right, not a person, but people who recognize 117 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: how fucked up this country is and is going to 118 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: actually call it out. And I don't know who that is, 119 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: but it's not Joe Biden, right. Joe Biden, if folks remember, 120 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: was not my first, second, third, or fourth choice for president. 121 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: He was my fifth. I swallowed that pill because I 122 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: figured that we needed a stabilizing figure. But when Joe 123 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: Biden came in, I honestly thought that the worst was 124 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: behind us. And that was me being naive, right, all 125 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: of us being naive, thinking that the only work that 126 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: we had to do was to get rid of Donald 127 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: Trump and then we could begin the slow progression back 128 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: to normal, because the assumption that I made was that 129 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: our democracy was going to be reinforced by serious guardrails, 130 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: right like a new voting rights bill, right like fortifying 131 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: Roe v. Wade, which, by the way, on Monday, Joe 132 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: fucking Mansion voted against us even having debate on it, 133 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: and was the sole Democrat decide with Republicans. So people 134 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: keep saying like, oh, we need Joe Mansion. Tell me 135 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: what for, because I've never seen more of a Republican 136 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: than that man. You're voting against women having the ability 137 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: to get the reproductive healthcare services that they need, knowing 138 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: good goddamn well that Republicans set in the Supreme Court 139 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: by June will strip it away, and you don't even 140 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: want to have fucking debate on that. And instead of 141 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: this president opening the doors to the White House to 142 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: try and beg and plead with Cinema and with fucking Mansion, 143 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: maybe you should have used your platform, your time, your 144 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: air time, to be calling these motherfuckers out. There are 145 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: times in our political lives where you have to call 146 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: people out and then decide who you are actually calling in. 147 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: Joe Mansion is not the one to call in. Joe 148 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: Mansion and Kirsten Cinema's records are bullshit, right when you 149 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: hold them against the rest of the Democratic Party. But 150 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: of course what we have is that instead of calling 151 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: out the white people who are obstructionists to our progress, 152 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: what this Democratic Party is doing already eight months ahead 153 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: of midtime at midterms is calling out the progressives who 154 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: have been carrying the water for Biden's agenda. This is 155 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: why you have rashided to live giving a response tonight. Now, again, 156 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: this is being recorded before, so I don't know what 157 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 1: she's going to say, but my assumption, my assumption is 158 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: that she's going to talk about how the progressive in 159 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: the House had been doing the most, passing the most bills, 160 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: only for them to go to the Senate and to die, 161 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: only for the senators like Joe Mansion and Kursten Cinema 162 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: to be negotiating on our fucking backs. Right, So I 163 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: hope that one of them tells the fucking truth tonight 164 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: in terms of what is happening in America, Like you know, 165 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: Here's here's a little anecdotal thing. Right. The reality, right, 166 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: it is this, we have an entire party that bet 167 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: everything on following the science right and saying that we're 168 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: going to follow the science with COVID, whatever the doctors say, 169 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 1: whatever the scientists say, We're going to do that. And 170 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: then as the calendar year changed, right, so did everybody's 171 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: fucking tune. My mother right, who sat by right, watched 172 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: every press conference, didn't take our eyes off at MSNBC 173 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: says I'm no longer listening to the CDC or the president, right, Like, 174 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna mind my own damn business and wear my 175 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: mask and wash my hands and do what I need 176 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: to do to keep myself safe. Later in the show, today, 177 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: I will speak with doctor Cameron Webb, who is returning 178 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: guests to woke f and is a senior White House 179 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: policy adviser for COVID equity, and I will ask him, so, 180 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: what do you say to the people that for the 181 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: past thirteen months of this administration, but the past two 182 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: plus years have been doing the quote unquote right thing, 183 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: and now the CDC is telling them take your masks off, right, 184 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: Like we don't need to show vaccination cards, everything is down. 185 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: All is well, so you will listen to what doctor 186 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: Cameron Webb says. Coming up next, our friend, doctor Jonathan Metzel, 187 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: is going to be testifying today in front of the 188 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: committee in the House to talk about the mental health 189 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: issues that we are not addressing as it pertains to 190 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: the collective trauma that we have experienced over the past 191 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: two years. How suicides are through the roof, not just 192 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: for teens, but for everyone across the board, and what 193 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: are we doing about that? Folks. You know, the state 194 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 1: of our union, as I said, is not strong. Our 195 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: union is actually hobbling on. You know, I don't even 196 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: know if it was a stool, it'd be a three 197 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: legged stool, right, It is hobbling. We are hollowed out, 198 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: and there is no signs of anyone recognizing how important, 199 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: how urgent this time is. If Joe Biden stands before 200 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: the American people and says all is well and wants 201 00:12:55,600 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: to talk to me about the economy, I'm gonna fucking scream. 202 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna fucking scream instead of talking about the fascist 203 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: war that Republicans are waging in our classrooms right in 204 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: our courts, and talking about that don't give me rose 205 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: colored glasses when when I take them off, all I 206 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: see is a nightmare. The American people deserve the truth 207 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 1: after all that we've been through. We deserve the truth, 208 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: and we deserve a leader that has enough faith in 209 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: us to not bullshit us. And I'm just wondering who 210 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: that is going to be. Coming up next, dear friends, 211 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: my conversation with our friend and in house doctor, doctor 212 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: Jonathan Metzel and doctor Cameron Webb. Folks, I am very 213 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: happy to bring it to you today, our friend, doctor 214 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: Jonathan Metzel in house, a doctor who is standing outside 215 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: of an airport. That's how dedicated he is to woke 216 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: a f because he's on his way to Washington, DC 217 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: to testify before Congress. M Jonathan, thank you so much 218 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: for making the time before you get on air, before 219 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: you get in the air, tell us about the testimony 220 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: that you're going to give tomorrow and why it's so important. Well, 221 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: thank you. It's of course I would never miss. This 222 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: is our weekly therapy, so I would never miss this conversation. 223 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: I've seen outside the Nashville airport. There's a gentleman next 224 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: to me smoking a really nice looking stogie. He's saying hi, 225 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: everybody there he is so so everything is everything is great. 226 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: It's nice here, but but so so we're having a 227 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: big hearing tomorrow for the Houseways and Means Committee, which 228 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: will be today for when this broadcastings, and the theme 229 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: is they're doing a two part series on mental health 230 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: and mental illness in America during the pandemic, and the 231 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: theme tomorrow is addiction, suicide, and depression and how those 232 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: have been going up really over the past three years, 233 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: not surprisingly. And so my testimony really will be about 234 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: you know, I'm a psychiatrist, right, so they want to 235 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: know what to do about it. But I mean, the 236 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: message I'm going to say is that we should just 237 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: step back and think about wide mental illness is important 238 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: in this moment anyway, which is not just about oh, 239 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: here's a circumscribed group of people who have mental illness 240 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: and there's them and there's us, which is maybe what 241 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: we used to think. But that the pandemic and that 242 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: you know, reckoning with racism we've had and so many 243 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: of the other moments of our people we've had I 244 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: have made us really realized that we're all vulnerable as 245 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: a species in a way that we're all, we're all 246 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: a little bit or a lot mentally old right now, 247 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: and so addressing the crisis of mental illness is really 248 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: a way of thinking about how we can repair our 249 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: country right now, and that in addition to individual treatments, 250 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: we really need to be thinking like what structural ways 251 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: can we come together to heal during I mean, oh 252 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: my god, a moment, it's even more stressful. I mean 253 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: every week they just turned up the volume on us. 254 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: And so, I mean last week was nothing compared to 255 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: even today. And so I think the hearing will be 256 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: what can we do to heal? And what is mental 257 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: health at a time like this? You know, one of 258 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: the things that we've been talking about, and I've been 259 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: so grateful for you, and I don't I think that 260 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: it has been missing from the mainstream media discourse is 261 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: about mental health, that those people who were already had 262 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: mental health issues, that how they had been exacerbated during 263 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: this time, how depression and anxiety and all of these 264 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: things had been exacerbated. But then for those people, and 265 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: I'm myself included, who have you know, not have not 266 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: been medicated, but have been in therapy for five years. 267 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: My own therapist has told me that you know that 268 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: her numbers in terms of her clients that she's seeing 269 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: has risen over this time. What do you think is 270 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: the thing that we are missing as a collective. And 271 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: I like the fact that you said that us versus them, like, oh, 272 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: it's these people over there that have a problem as 273 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: opposed to something that is rising nationwide. Well, that's a 274 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: great question. That's really at the heart of all of this, 275 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: I think. I mean, first of all, we should recognize 276 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: that the pandemic and everything that's happened over the past 277 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: couple of years have been a stress accelerator on par 278 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: with nothing we've really ever seen. I mean, social isolation, despair, anxiety, 279 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: fear of death, addiction, all these things, you know, they 280 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 1: all I mean, if you look at psychiatric textbooks from 281 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: before the pandemic, people will say, you know, don't spend 282 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: time by yourself, and fear of you know, fear of 283 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: immortality is a link to anxiety and PTSD like and 284 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 1: in a way every you can just go through the 285 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: checklist of every stressor for every psychiatric illness and they're 286 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: just floating in the air. And so I think part 287 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 1: of the issue is for me, we haven't had a 288 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: national reckoning, which is what it meant to what it's 289 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: meant to go through a pandemic as a country. I mean, 290 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: we all gone through something really really deep and really stressful, 291 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: and instead of having some kind of conversation about trying 292 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: to understand other people's experience, everybody feels like they've gone 293 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: through it alone or with their tribe. And so part 294 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: of what I'm advocating for is actually having a national 295 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: referendum on what mental health means at a time like this, 296 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: because we really haven't had that. And if you think 297 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: about it, I mean, we haven't had any kind of 298 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: we haven't had any kind of town hall at least, 299 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: you know, not even with the you know, with the present, 300 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: but we haven't had a town hall, let's say, with 301 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, a bunch of doctors like yourself, to talk 302 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: about the complexities of this moment, to talk about how 303 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: even you know, the anxiety that many of us feel 304 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: with the new regulations that are just being rolled out, 305 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: particularly in New York, right where you and I have been, 306 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: and they are saying, oh, well, we don't need vaccination cards, 307 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: we don't need masks, we don't need this, and we 308 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: don't need that and I don't think that we're talking 309 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: about the effects of what it was a to adapt 310 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: to the measures that were put in place to supposedly, 311 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: you know, uplift the safety of the public, but then 312 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: now being removed or how we flip flop back and forth. 313 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: And the stress is that that's how that has occurred 314 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: there and so much of that is internalized. Also, I 315 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: think that's part of the point that everybody feels this uncertainty, anger, 316 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: um and and we kind of internalize it and then 317 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 1: we lash out or something. Just the intensity of our 318 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: emotions are so are so isolating, and there's there's so 319 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: um you know, there's it's so psychological, but there's no 320 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: there's no way of talking about it. It's not just 321 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: feeling anger, feeling despair and then and then either internalizing 322 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: through addiction or despair or externalizing um by by anger 323 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: or lashing out. I'm because the nice man on, the 324 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: nice man on one of the one of the things 325 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: Jonathan two that has been coming up. And I don't 326 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: if this is again something that you've talked about, um, 327 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: you know, with your students in different spaces and places 328 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: that they're going to be in. But work is changing 329 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: right the way that your bosses and deal with mental health. 330 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: There are a lot more people and I don't know 331 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: if that's by virtue of you know, gen Z and millennials, 332 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 1: but really transforming how work views mental health. People need 333 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: are asking for mental health days and not being met 334 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: with you know, what is that or what you know? 335 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: Why do you need it? Or what have you like 336 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: it's being given? So can you talk a little bit 337 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: about how those shifts are happening that you may also 338 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: have noticed as it pertains to work and mental health. Well, 339 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: you know me, I'm a structuralist, right, So the main 340 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: point I'm going to make when I speak at Congress 341 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: tomorrow is that we have to create structures that accommodate 342 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: the kinds of anxiety that we're experience right now, and 343 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: also build bridges between people so that people feel like 344 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: they're in this together. And so, um, you know what 345 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: I was saying is, in addition to individual treatment, we 346 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,679 Speaker 1: need to make therapy more accessible, we need to make 347 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: addiction treatment more accessible, and we need more money for 348 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 1: crisis hotlines and see US hot hotlines. All those things 349 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: are true, but at the same time, we also have 350 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: to think about what kind of structures. Can we build 351 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,479 Speaker 1: work structures, health structures that can make people feel like 352 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: they're part of a team and not going out and 353 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: a loan which I think has been such an important 354 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 1: and really devastating aspect here, which is not just the 355 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: mental health crisis, but how it's tied to a crisis 356 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: of isolation and so um, you know the Also I 357 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: can tweet out because it'll the public record tomorrow my 358 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: written testimony, but I but I basically show I basically 359 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:53,479 Speaker 1: show how um we've you know, we have the I mean, 360 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: like I'll give you one example, the Affordable Care Act. 361 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: When people got health insurance in their neighborhoods, it didn't 362 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: just affect their own access to healthcare, they also felt 363 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: much more connected to civic engagement to their neighbors. That 364 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: had all of these effects of people feeling like they 365 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 1: were they were had a safety net that connected them 366 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: to other people and healthcare. Health in terrances is one 367 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: example of the kinds of the different kinds of social 368 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: infrastructure we can build that again not only accommodate mental 369 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 1: home illness symptoms, but also think about, you know, think 370 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: about how how people are, how people are connected and 371 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: can feel supported Yeah, I think that that's right, and 372 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: I think that it's important. I mean, I'm grateful for 373 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: the fact that this hearing is even happening, right, that 374 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: these numbers are not being overlooked. We've we've talked about 375 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 1: them on here, you know, with teens and the and 376 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: the anxiety and the stresses and attempted suicides being at 377 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: an all time high. You know, we've talked about and 378 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: have seen, you know, on headlines and in the news 379 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: that like a lot has changed, right, And I think 380 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: that there is this to go back to normal, but 381 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: not but recognizing that, you know, wouldn't you say, Jonathan, 382 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: that we are all living through collective trauma and so 383 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: how do you go back to quote unquote normal when 384 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: this traumas has been a part of our lives for 385 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: the last three years. Yeah, I mean, and it's and 386 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: the trauma is leading. I mean, just think about I 387 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: you know, I think about how different you are, I 388 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 1: am than we were three years ago. Just the thought 389 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 1: that we could catch an airborne pathogen and get really sick, 390 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: or that somebody close to us could do it. I mean, 391 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 1: you're living and I just keep thinking, like like the 392 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: early studies of post traumatic stress disorder. For example, they 393 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: would study airline fighter pilots in Vietnam and the idea 394 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: was basically, if you if you thought you were going 395 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,239 Speaker 1: to die by flying sorties for ten hours, you had 396 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: a ten percent chance of gating PTSC, and if you 397 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: flew forty hours, you had a forty percent chance of 398 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: getting PTSC. And so basically the assumption was if you 399 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 1: ever thought your mortality is at risk, that that was 400 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: a hyper stress event that would lead to a sense 401 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: of I think, and then think about during the pandemic, 402 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 1: like every time you walk outside and open your mouth 403 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: you could catch a deadly illness or something like going 404 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: to the grocery store. Any yeah, yeah, yeah, And so 405 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: we're living with a kind of collective trauma, collective hyper vigilance, 406 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: a collective just fight or flight response that is really 407 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: almost unparalleled. Really it's certainly in our lifetimes in a 408 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: particular way. And then you put on top of it 409 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: all the political issues that are happening, you know, war 410 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,200 Speaker 1: and tribalization and polarization, and so I just think it's 411 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: a moment. I mean, I it's funny. I would never 412 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: think I would be the person who would say this 413 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: three years ago. But it's a moment to really think 414 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: what structures do we have to build to promote collective healing. 415 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: What is some of the pushback that you're prepared for. 416 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I know that you're you know, it's not 417 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: not supposed to be a combative hearing, but I'm certain 418 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: that there will be you know, people members probably honestly 419 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 1: of both part at this point, that are just like, well, 420 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, COVID is done, and we're rolling out all 421 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 1: of these things, and you know, people just need to 422 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: get over it. What will be your response to the 423 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: kind of get over it, let's move on, you know, 424 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: things will go back to normal mentality. I mean, I 425 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: study guns, right, so I'm getting ready for some pushback, 426 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: right And you know, if you can't ask me about 427 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: suicide without me talking about my research on guns and suicide. 428 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: You know, the biggest risk factor for a gun suicide 429 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 1: to our number one overwhelming to spare social crisis anxiety, 430 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: which we're feeling, and having a gun in a home. 431 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: And so we know that millions of guns have been 432 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: sold over the course of the pandemic into homes that 433 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: didn't have guns before. And so what we're doing is 434 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: we're adding, we're adding a vector, we're adding a pathogen. 435 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: And so really, even as we say we support the second, 436 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: what's our plan for promoting safety when there are all 437 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: these guns in these homes that that become risk factors 438 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: for harming yourself or partner violence, things like that. So 439 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: we've kind of spread the vector without really spreading a 440 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: safety plan, and so that I mean, if we're talking 441 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: to talk about suicide, it's kind of like, what's our 442 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 1: plan for what's our plan for gun suicide? Because I 443 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: don't think more guns stop more gun suicide. More guns 444 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 1: are risk factor for more guns suicide. So I'm sure 445 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,959 Speaker 1: I'll get some pushback from that from from that, you know, 446 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: people on the committee on actually on both sides, who 447 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: are strong support of gun rights. But I think, you know, 448 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: if we're thinking about mental health, the point is not 449 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: to penalize everybody. That's to balance, um, you know, individual 450 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: rights with with with public safety, and so I don't 451 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 1: think we have to be done about it. So I 452 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: think certainly guns will be one issue. Um And then 453 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: of course building communal infrastructure just takes resources, right, you know, 454 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: building healthcare networks. So I guess the question is the 455 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 1: tension about infrastructure is really one about resources and should 456 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: we you know, should we fund the government to do that? 457 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: Should we fund industry? Honestly, I don't care. I just 458 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: think we need more industry. I think we need more 459 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: infrastructure right now that it supports people because you know, 460 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: another thing we have even talked about is wealth and balance. Right, 461 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: many people made out really well during the pandemic, and 462 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 1: many people are fell into into the seed of despair, 463 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: and so you know, again, I just think these are 464 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: these are hard issues and they tie into real, real 465 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: political heart potatoes right now. And the last question for you, 466 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: because I know that you have to run, um, you know, 467 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: what are your hopes for how this how this hearing 468 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: it lands right, and what are your hopes for the 469 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: conversations that it will um continue following this initial hearing. Well, 470 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: I'll send the links so we can tweet it out tomorrow. 471 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 1: It's going to be I think on c SPAN, but 472 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: I'll send you I'll send all the information. But I 473 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: very I feel very encouraged by the fact that we're 474 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: having this hearing at all. This is the second in 475 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: a series of hearings about about mental health and the 476 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,159 Speaker 1: pandemic and I hope we just amplify these messages and 477 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: really start thinking not just about what how can we 478 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: treat mental almost but what structures do we need in 479 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: place to promote to promote promote public health, but mental health. 480 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: I think, I think mental health is really something we 481 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: really need to focus on, and hopefully it's something I mean, look, 482 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: what's happening over the past two weeks, like people people 483 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: work together who we never imagine good work together before 484 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: in the face of common cause, and hopefully mental health 485 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 1: it becomes another one of those issues. I hope that 486 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,959 Speaker 1: it does. Jonathan, and I you know, I'm so excited 487 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: one that you are one of the people that are 488 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: that are speaking before the committee. But I'm you know, 489 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 1: I'm really hopeful that by having these conversations that once 490 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 1: again we normalize mental health in a way, particularly during 491 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: these heightened times of trauma. I mean, we didn't even 492 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: get to touch on what is happening in the Ukraine, 493 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: what is happening, you know, in in Ethiopia, what's happening 494 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 1: in these places, and just by virtue of watching it 495 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: from here, how it is affecting all of us. So 496 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: I hope that we will continue that conversation next week, 497 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: dear friend, So good luck um and you know, and 498 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: we will share the link when you send it along 499 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: with this episode. We appreciate you. THANKI all right, folks, 500 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: I am very happy to welcome back to wok F 501 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: doctor Cameron Webb, who is Senior White House Policy Advisor 502 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: for COVID equity for the Biden administration. Doctor Cameron, you 503 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: don't join us. What will air tomorrow a couple of 504 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: hours before the President's State of the Union. What can 505 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: you tell us about what President Biden is going to 506 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: offer with regard to where we are with COVID. We 507 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 1: are experiencing a lot of guideline changes that came out 508 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: by the CDC, a lot of vaccination and mass changes 509 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: that we are seeing m state by state in my 510 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: state of New York, which led the way in terms 511 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: of how we were going to use mitigation efforts. So 512 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: what can you tell us about where we are right now? Well, 513 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think the President, you know, tonight, in 514 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: the State of the Union, he's going to speak to 515 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: the arc of this pandemic over the last thirteen months, 516 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 1: over the course of the Biden Harris administration thus far 517 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: and in the tremendous progress that we've made and acknowledging that, 518 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: but also acknowledging the tools that we've built up to 519 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: fight this pandemic. We have more tools than ever before, 520 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: from the masks, the high quality masks that are available, 521 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 1: to testing home testing that you can do within thirty minutes, 522 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 1: to the therapeutics you have with you, the monoclone antibodies 523 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 1: in the the oral intelvirals that are critical to keeping 524 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: people out of the hospital, keeping folks from dying, and 525 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: then finally now two fully FDA approved vaccines that are 526 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: highly effective, highly safe, and have been saving well over 527 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: a million lives. At this point in time, I think 528 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: thinking about all the tools that we have and how 529 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: we are applying those in this moment. And so the 530 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: President's going to speak to that, He's going to talk 531 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: about how even with all of that, we can't get complacent. 532 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:58,719 Speaker 1: We can't, you know, think about these tools or think 533 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: about the fact that cases and hospitalizations and depths are 534 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: coming down from this omicroncert over the last couple of 535 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: months and say the job's done. The job's not done. 536 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: And what's critical is people continue to use and leverage 537 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: those tools as appropriate in their community. To keep making progress, 538 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: and if you see that things are moving in the 539 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: wrong direction, make sure that we're ready to use those 540 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: tools again because we've learned how to apply them, We've 541 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: learned how to get the greatest benefit out of them, 542 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: and that's how we're going to save lives. I think 543 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: the President is going to speak to where we are 544 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: and also where we're heading. So let me ask you 545 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: this because I am one of those people that have 546 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: a lot of anxiety. I have a lot of anxiety 547 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: every time that we have guidelines that come out that 548 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: shift things, that tell us, now, you know, we don't 549 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,719 Speaker 1: need to wear masks indoors, and we're going to have 550 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: children start not to mask at schools. What do you 551 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: say to people who, for this entire pandemic, not just 552 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: during the course of the Biden Harris administration, but the 553 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 1: entire pandemic, that have been doing the quote unquote right thing, 554 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 1: that have been following all the guidelines and now have 555 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: a deep sense of anxiety and concern about the mitigation 556 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: efforts being rolled back. Well, you know a couple of things. 557 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: I go back to an old phrase in the black 558 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 1: community that when white America gets a cold, black America 559 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: gets pneumonia. I think about the disproportionate impact this pandemic 560 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: has had since the very beginning. So when you talk 561 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,959 Speaker 1: about that anxiety or those concerns, that that's shared across 562 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: the community because of how disproportionately Black Americans have been 563 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: hit by this pandemic. You know, just today in Virginia, 564 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: the mask requirement was rolled back in schools, and my 565 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,720 Speaker 1: ten year old daughter could not sleep last night because 566 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 1: she was worried about going to school today and kids 567 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: not wearing masks. That's despite having two parents who are 568 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: physicians who've explained this science, who've explained to her how 569 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: her continuing to wear her K and ninety five mask 570 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: is going to help really keep her safe. But she's worried, 571 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 1: And I think that that comes from from a place. 572 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: It comes from having family members who've had COVID, It 573 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: comes from from having parents who are on the front 574 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: line lines and worrying about what this pandemic, with this 575 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 1: disease has done. So the first thing I tell you 576 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: is that just because public health, local, state, or federal 577 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: entity tells you to take off your mask, where you 578 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: can take off your mask, doesn't mean you have to. 579 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: And for me, personally, I'll continue to wear masks in 580 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: public spaces as long as I continue to see cases 581 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: and hospitalizations in my community to create that cause for concern, 582 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: and I look to public health officials to give me 583 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: a sense of what those levels of concern are. But 584 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: at the same time, I'm always going to use an 585 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: abundance of caution because what's at stake is my kids 586 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 1: and their safety and their well being. It's my parents 587 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: and their well being. I want to do everything I 588 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 1: can to stay safe, so I give that encouragement just 589 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: to say, if you take additional mitigation measures to stay safe, 590 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: that's okay. And I think that a lot of people 591 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: are going to continue to do that. I think the 592 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: CDC guidance does nothing to discourage people from doing that. 593 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: But I think that we have to keep in mind 594 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: there's a countervailing opinion. There are a lot of people 595 00:33:56,520 --> 00:34:00,040 Speaker 1: who say, I am so overmask I want nothing to 596 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: do with masks. Unfortunately, it's because of how it's been politicized. Right, 597 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: Masks in and of themselves are a political statement, but 598 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,840 Speaker 1: they've become that. I think that just making sure that 599 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 1: people recognize this is a moment of less transmission, lower hospitalizations, 600 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 1: fewer deaths. If there were a moment in the last 601 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: several months where you can feel a little bit more 602 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 1: confident that there's a largely immunized population and lower transmission, 603 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: this might be a reasonable moment to take a break 604 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:29,239 Speaker 1: from masks. But keep in mind there are people with disabilities, 605 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: keep in mind their immuno compromise folks. Keep in mind 606 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: there are folks who are anxious or worried or have 607 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 1: a higher level of concern because of what they've seen 608 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 1: in their family and their community, and many of us 609 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: are going to continue to wear masks. We can both coexist, 610 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 1: but again, we all have to be pulling in the 611 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,400 Speaker 1: same direction. If the dynamics change, can I get I 612 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 1: want to ask a question too with regard to the 613 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: patterns that we have seen. Right, so, initially we saw alpha, 614 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 1: the alpha variant of COVID. Then what was it? I 615 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 1: would say, what eight months to a year, we then 616 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: saw delta and then quickly Amicron followed that, what is 617 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: the thought process of where we are with the patterns 618 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:13,480 Speaker 1: that we've seen, with there being new variants that come 619 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 1: within six to eight months of each other, and taking 620 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,880 Speaker 1: these measures. Now, yeah, you know, I think that we're 621 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: not at a point where you can say we get 622 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: new variants every six months. Right. What we know is 623 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 1: that there are dozens hundreds of different variants that are 624 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: created by this virus every time it replicates. Where there's replication, 625 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 1: there's the opportunity for mistakes in that replication that can 626 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 1: create new variants if it creates a survival advantage for 627 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,359 Speaker 1: the virus. The thing to keep in mind is there 628 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,479 Speaker 1: was a lot of transmission around the world in folks 629 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,879 Speaker 1: who haven't been immunized against COVID nineteen. There are more 630 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: folks who are vaccinating, more folks who are immunized, more 631 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,720 Speaker 1: folks who had natural immunity, and so there's less viral 632 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 1: transmission than there were at certainly their points. So I 633 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:02,879 Speaker 1: don't want to create the expectation you're going to see 634 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: new variants every six months, but I do think it's 635 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 1: reasonable to think that there will be more variants in 636 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 1: the future. I think where we are now is that 637 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:13,920 Speaker 1: we've got a little bit of experience with dealing with variants. 638 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: We've got a little bit of experience of saying here's 639 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 1: how you surge resources to different communities. So we don't 640 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 1: see spikes like we've seen in the past. In the past, 641 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:24,600 Speaker 1: we have more tests available than we've ever had before. 642 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,879 Speaker 1: We have the ability to tell folks listen, when things 643 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: are a little safer, we'll tell you can relax some 644 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: of those masks requirements. But when things are more dangerous, 645 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,200 Speaker 1: we're going to tell you put those masks back on. 646 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:37,640 Speaker 1: We want you to trust us and trust the scientific 647 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 1: rigor behind both of those recommendations. So I think that 648 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: you know where we are. Yes, we're going to continue 649 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:45,480 Speaker 1: to see threats, but I think people just need to 650 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: stay really attuned to the messaging coming from public health 651 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 1: leaders and trust that its rooted in science. It's rooted 652 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 1: in the interest of preventing spread, preventing hospitalizations, and preventing deaths. 653 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: And if people buy into that notion, I think that 654 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: it's going to help us as we move forward. Well, 655 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,799 Speaker 1: I know that you're not a psychiatrist, but I did 656 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: want to touch upon the mental health aspects of the 657 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: trauma that people have faced that we have as a collective, 658 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: as a global citizens have faced with regard to COVID. 659 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: We've seen spikes and suicide attempts, spikes and you know, 660 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 1: overdoses with drugs and alcoholism. You know, do you think 661 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,439 Speaker 1: that we are talking enough as a nation, not just 662 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:31,920 Speaker 1: about the physical effects of COVID and long COVID, but 663 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 1: that we're also having a conversations as a country about 664 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:43,320 Speaker 1: the emotional effects and the mental health exhaustion around COVID. Well, 665 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:45,760 Speaker 1: you know, the short answer is no, we're not talking 666 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,359 Speaker 1: enough about it. And you know, I lost a really 667 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:52,320 Speaker 1: close friend the suicide and the first year of the pandemic. 668 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 1: My wife lost a really close friend and colleague to 669 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 1: suicide in the first year of the pandemic. But that 670 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:02,080 Speaker 1: impact wasn't limited to just those early or days. It continues. 671 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:05,360 Speaker 1: The number of children who've lost guardians, lost parents, or 672 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 1: grandparents that reverberates. That has a huge impact on families, 673 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 1: has a huge impact on development, and even beyond that, 674 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:17,239 Speaker 1: the increase in substance abuse that we're seeing. You mentioned suicides. 675 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: We just know there's a huge impact that this has 676 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:22,640 Speaker 1: from a mental health standpoint. The good news is that 677 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:24,640 Speaker 1: I do know that's a huge emphasis within the Biden 678 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:27,919 Speaker 1: Harris administration. I do know that we have an entire 679 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:30,960 Speaker 1: agency within the Department of Health and Human Services called 680 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 1: SAMSA and actually The director is an African American woman, 681 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 1: Miriam Delphin Ritman, who's a PhD from Yale. She's phenomenal leader, 682 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: was leading in Connecticut before then. But she's taking a 683 00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 1: very equity focus lens to the mental health challenges that 684 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:47,920 Speaker 1: we're seeing in the setting of the pandemic. And she 685 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 1: and I have traveled to cities around the country together 686 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: to talk about mental health in this kind of twandemic 687 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:56,960 Speaker 1: of mental health crises, and so I think we have 688 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:59,440 Speaker 1: to continue to have those conversations, continue to lift that up, 689 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 1: continue to normalize it because this has been a collective 690 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,719 Speaker 1: trauma for our communities and it continues to be and 691 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 1: so we just have to have that perspective as we befoward. 692 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,480 Speaker 1: So finally, uh, doctor Webb, what are what are your 693 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:14,760 Speaker 1: what are your hopes as we you know, try to 694 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: live in this new normal? Right the understanding that you know, 695 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 1: while we're telling folks they can ease their mass uh 696 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:23,879 Speaker 1: pull you know, pull them down now that they can 697 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 1: ease their mitigations, but that threats still remain. So what 698 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:29,880 Speaker 1: do what do you what is your message to people 699 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:33,520 Speaker 1: that are are feel off balanced, feel imbalanced by the 700 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 1: messaging that they've received because they still believe that that 701 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 1: threat is ever present and looming, and they're just waiting 702 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:43,920 Speaker 1: for that breaking newsticker to come across. That's right, you know. 703 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: I think my hope is that ultimately, the way that 704 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:51,360 Speaker 1: people trust and engage with the public health experts in 705 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:53,760 Speaker 1: our country, it's a lot like the way they engage 706 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,280 Speaker 1: with the you know, the weather forecasters in their community. 707 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:00,319 Speaker 1: It's the reality that over the course of time, gonna 708 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 1: have some moments that feel like hurricane season. You're gonna 709 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:05,799 Speaker 1: have some moments feel like a snowstorm, You're gonna have 710 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 1: some moments that feel like a really sunny afternoon in July. 711 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: And the recommendations are going to be different at different 712 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:15,279 Speaker 1: points in time based on the prediction, based on the 713 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: evidence that scientist is sharing with you. But you trust 714 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 1: that individual to be an honest broker and tell you 715 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:25,560 Speaker 1: what you're going to have to prepare for, what tools 716 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:28,120 Speaker 1: you're going to have to have to navigate the environment 717 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,600 Speaker 1: that you're going into in July or September or December. 718 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,680 Speaker 1: And I think that's what my hope is, is that 719 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:36,400 Speaker 1: we can use moments like this to say, hey, the 720 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:39,600 Speaker 1: temperature is getting a little bit better. Hey, the storm 721 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:42,520 Speaker 1: is calming down a little bit, and you can change 722 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 1: what you're doing. If we get to that point of trust, 723 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,160 Speaker 1: If we can restore that dynamic of trust, I think 724 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,600 Speaker 1: that we have a chance to move forward really thoughtfully 725 00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:54,080 Speaker 1: together with public health guidance rooted in science being our 726 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: true north. That's really what my hope is, and I 727 00:40:56,480 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 1: hope that just by communicating thoughtfully that that is our goal, 728 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:03,880 Speaker 1: you take a step in that direction. Doctor Cameron Webbitt's 729 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:06,319 Speaker 1: always good to see you. Thank you so much for 730 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: making the time to join Woke f and thank you 731 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:12,759 Speaker 1: for your continued work and effort not only with the 732 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:16,280 Speaker 1: entirety of the Abiden administration, but particularly adding a voice 733 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 1: to the racial inequities that we have seen during the 734 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,920 Speaker 1: course of COVID nineteen. So we appreciate you. Thank you 735 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 1: so much. Thanks for having me. Take care folks, for 736 00:41:29,239 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 1: your moment of woke wellness. You know, today I went 737 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:40,799 Speaker 1: for about a little over a four mile walk. I 738 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,480 Speaker 1: had decided that I was going to go to bed 739 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:47,600 Speaker 1: right when I was tired. I find that we don't 740 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 1: often peel ourselves away from the news from social media, 741 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:56,200 Speaker 1: particularly these days, as things just get grim. You know, 742 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:59,120 Speaker 1: remember when your parents or your caregivers used to set 743 00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:02,040 Speaker 1: a bed time for you and say, all right, lights out, 744 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's seven o'clock, it's eight o'clock, depending 745 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,759 Speaker 1: on what age you are. I think that in order 746 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:11,200 Speaker 1: for us to preserve our mental health get the rest 747 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 1: that we need because we're also physically and emotionally exhausted, 748 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:18,399 Speaker 1: that we need to bring back the bedtime. We need 749 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 1: to put ourselves to bed and start with deciding an 750 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 1: hour before, right, because this is what all of the 751 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:29,279 Speaker 1: reports and science will say, an hour before you are 752 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:32,239 Speaker 1: actually ready to put your head on the pillow, put 753 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 1: your phones on, do not disturb, log out of social 754 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:40,920 Speaker 1: media for the day. Begin to quiet your mind at 755 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:44,160 Speaker 1: least an hour before you are ready to rest, so 756 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:47,239 Speaker 1: that you are beginning to send your body and your 757 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 1: mind signals that the day is done. I have been 758 00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:55,240 Speaker 1: My friends have been joking me, because friends, most days, 759 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: I will be in bed by nine thirty ten o'clock 760 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:01,000 Speaker 1: at night, like I am done. There's no reason for 761 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:04,120 Speaker 1: me to stay up just to binge watch another episode 762 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:07,239 Speaker 1: of blah blah blah, right, like I need. What I 763 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:09,759 Speaker 1: recognize is that I need my strength, and in order 764 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:12,200 Speaker 1: to have my strength and to have my health, I 765 00:43:12,239 --> 00:43:15,359 Speaker 1: need to have rest. And so I've begun my own 766 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:20,359 Speaker 1: process of logging myself out of things and then beginning, 767 00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:24,440 Speaker 1: you know, to have a nighttime ritual. How I'm putting 768 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:27,080 Speaker 1: myself to bed as an adult, and I'm telling you 769 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:31,440 Speaker 1: I am sleeping better, i am waking earlier and feeling 770 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:33,880 Speaker 1: like I can do more. And when I need to 771 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 1: during the day, I rest right because I'm still fortunate 772 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: enough to work from home right and make my schedule 773 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:46,040 Speaker 1: that I can also allow my body to tell me 774 00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:48,480 Speaker 1: what it needs instead of me telling my body what 775 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:53,840 Speaker 1: it needs. So try, friends, a nighttime wine down ritual, 776 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:56,360 Speaker 1: and if you have one, tell us in the comment 777 00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,680 Speaker 1: sections what you do to begin your wine down so 778 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:02,399 Speaker 1: that you can all be a little less jittery when 779 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:06,280 Speaker 1: we awake in the morning. That, friends, was your woke 780 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:13,160 Speaker 1: moment of wellness. Stay well and stay woke as fuck. 781 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, folks, on this Woke Wednesday. 782 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:29,160 Speaker 1: As always, Power to the people and to all the people. Power, 783 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:31,680 Speaker 1: get woke and stay woke as fuck.