>> BRAUDE: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF BILL IS NOW LAW AND $1,400 STIMULUS CHECKS ARE SET TO GO OUT IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS JOINS ME ON THIS HISTORY-MAKING DAY, WHETHER BIPARTISANSHIP WITH THE G.O.P.

IS R.I.P.

AND WHETHER DEMOCRATS CAN GO IT ALONE.

THEN, LATER, THE ANXIETY OF EASING BACK INTO A POST-PANDEMIC LIFE, EVEN FULLY VACCINATED.

A DOCTOR JOINS ME ON THE LINGERING QUESTIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTING MANY OF US AND TIPS FOR REENTRY.

PLUS, ESPN'S HOWARD BRYANT ON THE VACCINE HESITANCY AMONG SOME OF THE NBA'S BIGGEST STARS AND LEBRON JAMES' DECISION NOT TO SHARE WHETHER HE'S GETTING THE SHOT.

AND FINALLY, WHY I'M JOINING WITH SENATOR ED MARKEY ON A QUEST FOR THE WHITE WHALE OF PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

>> BRAUDE: AFTER WEEKS OF HOLD-OUTS, SETBACKS AND PARTISAN ACTION, TODAY, JOE BIDEN SIGNED HIS $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF BILL INTO LAW.

>> THIS HISTORIC LEGISLATION IS ABOUT REBUILDING THE BACKBONE OF THIS COUNTRY AND GIVING PEOPLE IN THIS NATION, WORKING PEOPLE, MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS, PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE COUNTRY, A FIGHTING CHANCE.

>> BRAUDE: THE BILL CLEARED ITS FINAL HURDLE IN CONGRESS YESTERDAY WITHOUT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE IN EITHER CHAMBER AND RELYING ON A SENATE RULE THAT LETS LAWMAKERS BLOCK THE FILIBUSTER ON CERTAIN SPENDING BILLS.

BUT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR OTHER MAJOR INITIATIVES DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING TO PUSH THROUGH, WHICH IS WHY A GROWING NUMBER ARE PUSHING TO ABOLISH THE FILIBUSTER ALTOGETHER INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, WHO JOINS ME NOW.

CONGRESSMAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JIM.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Braude: PLEASURE.

HOW DID THIS GO FROM A BIG COVID RELIEF BILL TO BUN TO HAVE THE BIGGEST ANTIPOVERTY INITIATIVES IN DECADES.

>> THIS BILL PRESENTS PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS.

THIS IS ABOUT ENDING THE PEMPTION.

IT'S GOING TO GET SHOTS IN THE ARMS, KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, AMERICANS BACK TO WORK, AND IT'S NOT JUST A RESCUE MAN, IT'S A RECOVERY PLAN.

IT'S GOING TO PUT $1,400 INTO PEOPLES' POCKETS AND LAUNCH A ROARING JOB AND INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF IT BEING BIG AND RECOVERY, RICHIE NEIL, PRETTY POWERFUL GUY, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, SAID TO US ON THE RADIO THE OTHER DAY THAT THAT UP TO $300 CHECK THAT A FAMILY WITH A KID CAN GET SHOULD BE PERMANENT.

ED MARKEY SAID THE $1,400 STIMULUS CHECK SHOULD BECOME A RECURRING MONTHLY UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME LIKE KIND OF THING.

FIRST, DO YOU SUPPORT THOSE TWO NOTIONS AND, TWO, WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT, IS IT REAL TO THINK EITHER OF THOSE THINGS COULD HAPPEN.

>> FIRST, LET'S PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ACHIEVED WITH THIS BILL.

THIS BILL PUTS MONEY INTO WORKING FAMILIES' POCKETS, THIS BILL GIVES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE MONEY THEY NEED TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS BILL GIVES SCHOOLS THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO CREATE BROPPER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR KIDS.

THIS BILL REPRESENTS NOT JUST RESCUING PEOPLE IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS BUT ALSO GIVING THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO LAUNCH INTO THE ROARING '20s.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS ONE TO HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND SHOULD REMAIN PERMANENT.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PROPOSAL?

ED MARKEY SAID TO US THE OTHER DAY I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO REACH THAT $2,000 A MONTH THING THAT WE, BERNIE SANDERS AND HE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR BUT IT SHOULD HAPPEN.

DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD HAPPEN?

>> MY FOCUS IS ON CREATING JOBS FOR MY CONSTITUENTS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, CREATING JOBS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCH A CRUCIAL RESOURCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND WHICH WILL NOT JUST BE THE SOW FOR THIS CRISIS BUT A PLATFORM FOR NEW JOBS IN BIOMANUFACTURING AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND OFFSHORE WIND, CRITICAL ELEMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AS WE TRY TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.

I'M FOCUSED ON JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

>> Braude: SO DOES THAT MEAN YOU DON'T LOOK FAVORABLY ON A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PROPOSAL?

>> IT MEANS THAT I'M LOOKING AT JOBS, EDUCATION, OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE.

I AM NOT AN IDEOLOGICALLY RIGID ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I WANT TO DO WHAT I THINK CREATES THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF MY DISTRICT.

RIGHT NOW, THEY NEED DIRECT SURVIVAL CHECKS OF $1,400, AND THEY NEED ACCESS TO JOBS AND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION GOING FORWARD.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS IS A MAJOR HISTORICAL MOMENT, ALMOST F.D.R.-LIKE, AS I SAID, NO G.O.P.

IT SEEMS TO ME, AS I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION, CONGRESSMAN, THAT WITH A FILIBUSTER IN PLACE, AT LEAST AS OF THIS MOMENT, NOT ENOUGH DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO GET RID OF IT, AND A BUNCH OF DEMOCRATS SAYING IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER FUTURE HUGE INITIATIVES LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY HAVE TO BE PAID FOR WHICH MEANS TAXES, THIS AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING MAY ALSO BE THE END OF THE LINE OF BOLD INITIATIVES BECOMING LAW COMING FROM THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE.

THAT'S LIKELY OR AT LEAST POSSIBLE, IS IT NOT?

>> I DON'T TAKE QUITE AS DPLOOMY A VIEW ON IT.

I THINK THAT WE DO NEED AN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE GOING FORWARD.

HOWEVER, THE AMERICAN RESCUE MAN CONTAINS IN IT SUMS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE SUFFICIENT FOR US TO DO SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THIS IS NOT JUST A RESCUE PLAN.

IT REALLY IS A RESCUE AND RECOVERY PLAN.

THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AS WELL AS A PLAN TO GET US OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Braude: YOU'RE NOT AS GLOOMY AS I AM.

LET ME EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR MY DPLOOM.

YOU GUYS IN THE HOUSE TODAY VOTED FOR A FAIRLY MODEST BACKGROUND CHECK BILL, IT'S SUPPORTED BY A MERE 84% OF THE PUBLIC, AS YOU KNOW.

SEVENTY-SEVEN% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT ITS, YET OF THE 2 211 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, ONLY 8 VOTED FOR IT.

IF ONLY 8 REPUBLICANS CAN VOTE FOR A BILL THAT HAS 84% SUPPORT AND 77% SUPPORT IN THEIR OWN PARTY, WHY IS SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAT I KNOW IT'S AT THE CENTER OF YOUR AGENDA LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL OF GOING ANYWHERE UNLESS THE FILIBUSTER IS ELIMINATED?

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER.

THE FILIBUSTER IS NOT SOME SANG ROUGH SARCHGHT CONSTITUTIONAL STAR.

IT'S AN OBSCURE PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVER TO HAVE THE 19th SEN INDUSTRY THAT BECAME A MAIN STAY MOSTLY TO PREVENT CIVIL RIGHTS FROM PADSING AND THEN OBSTRUCT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S AGENDA.

WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH THE FILIBUSTER SO WE CAN PASS THE EXACT COMMON SENSE POLICY YOU REFERRED TO WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT -- WHY DON'T WE HAVE A NATIONAL GREEN FINANCING MECHANISM TO CREATE JOBS BY RETROFITTING OUR HOUSING STOCK TO MAKE IT MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT?

IT PAYS ITSELF BACK IN TERMS OF ENERGY SAVINGS OVER THE LONG TERM AND ALSO GETTING TO CARBON NEW TRAILS WITH OUR HOUSING STOCK, POPULAR LEGISLATION THAT COULD PROBABLY NOT PASS UNDER A FILIBUSTER MECHANISM.

>> Braude: AS YOU KNOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY AT HOME DOES, THE FILIBUSTER COULD BE ELIMINATED WITHOUT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE IN THE SENATE IF THE 50 DEMOCRATS STUCK TOGETHER AS ONE, THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BEFORE WE LEAVE, TALK ABOUT GETTING RID OF, FOR A SECOND, I WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE PIECE OF A DISGUSTING AD BY LAUREN BOEBERT, ONE OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE, IT'S CALLED TEAR DOWN THE WALL, MEANING AROUND THE THE CAPITOL, AND IT WANTS THE LAST FEW SECONDS, AND PEOPLE AT HOME SHOULD LISTEN TO THE LAST SOUND THAT YOU WILL HEAR.

>> WELCOME TO FORT PELOSI, WHERE DEMOCRATS DECRY WALLS FROM THEIR OWN HEAVILY GUARDED RAZOR WIRE WALL.

MADAM SPEAKER, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL.

( GUN SHOT AND CLICKS ) >> Braude: MADAM SPEAKER TEAR DOWN THIS WALL, THEN A GUNSHOT.

WHY IS THIS WOMAN NOT EXPELLED FROM CONGRESS?

>> SHE'S AN EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO PRIZE PERFORMANCE AND DEMAGOGUE RIOVER ACTUAL GOVERNANCE, AND WE CANNOT LET THE LAUREN BOEBERTS OF CONGRESS DRIVE THE AGENDA OR THE CONVERSATION.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ENDING THIS PANDEMIC, ON BUILDING BACK A STRONG ECONOMY.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET MYSELF BE DISTRACTED BY HER ANTICS BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT WHAT'S GOING TO HELP MY CONSTITUENTS NOW.

I'M GOING TO REPRESENT THE VALUES OF MY DISTRICT BY NOT FORGING POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP BY THOSE SAYING PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS NOT ELECTED IN A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO FOCUS MY BAND WITHON PEOPLE WHO ARE CLEARLY IN CONGRESS FOR THE WRONG REASONS.

>> Braude: I WISH I HAD THE SAME FOCUS AS YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Braude: IT'S BEEN WEEK AFTER WEEK OF GRIM COVID ANNIVERSARIES, FROM THE FIRST U.S. DEATH TO THE FIRST EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS, AND TODAY MARKS EXACTLY ONE YEAR SINCE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

BACK THEN, WE WERE JUST STARTING TO TRANSITION INTO LOCKDOWNS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE.

NOW, WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO TRANSITION BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD IN VARYING DEGREES.

BUT FOR MANY, THOSE SAME FEELINGS OF UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY REMAIN.

EVEN FOR THE FULLY VACCINATED, WHO JUST GOT UPDATED GUIDANCE FROM THE C.D.C., THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO AND WHEN.

AS MY NEXT GUEST WROTE IN A NEW "WASHINGTON POST" OP-ED: "MONTH AFTER MONTH, WE HAVE BEEN YEARNING TO BE DONE WITH ENFORCED DISTANCING, SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LIFE IN A MORE VIRTUAL REALITY.

NOW THAT THE MOMENT HAS ARRIVED, AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND MILLIONS MORE WILL SOON ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR IT, THE PROSPECT IS ODDLY DISCONCERTING."

I'M JOINED BY D.C.

PHYSICIAN AND BLOOMBERG NEW VOICES FELLOW, DR LUCY MCBRIDE.

DR. McBRIDE.

IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: YOU WROTE, YOUR BRAIN WAS BUZZING WITH ANXIETY AND AM AMBIVALENCE.

SO IS MINE.

WHY?

>> HERE'S THE THING -- WE HAVE BEEN WHAT I WOULD CALL A COLLECTIVE TRAUMA FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS, OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN UPENDED, OUR ROUTINES HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED, OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL, WE HAVEN'T AN ABLE TO WORK, WORSHIP, LOVE, PLAY AND EXIST AS WE NORMALLY DO, AND, SO, WHILE IT IS WONDERFUL TO THINK ABOUT REENTRY AND WHILE THE VACCINES ARE THE SURE PATH TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE, IT'S NATURAL TO HAVE FEELINGS OF AMBIVALENCE AND ANXIETY UPON ANOTHER TRANSITION.

IT'S A BIT OF EMOTIONAL WHIPLASH.

>> Braude: BUT WHY, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, WHICH SADLY IS A FAR SMALLER NUMBER THAN IT SHOULD BE IN THIS COUNTRY -- I'M AMONG THEM, BY THE WAY -- WHY ISN'T REASON ENOUGH?

WHY WOULD I READ THE C.D.C.

GUIDELINES FROM TWO DAYS AGO AND LISTEN TO WHAT DR. FAUCI SAYS?

WHY ISN'T THAT ENOUGH TO COAX ME OUT OF MY RELUCTANCE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT FOR A YEAR NOW IN MY COVID 19 NEWSLETTER IS THAT WE ARE MORE THAN JUST RATIONALE THOUGHTS AND WE HAVE MORE THAN JUST RATIONALE THOUGHTS.

WE HAVE EMOTIONAL LIVES THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF OUR RATIONALE THOUGHTS.

IN FACT, THE PANDEMIC HAS LAID BARE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND ASSESSING OUR DAILY THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND MAYOR BEHAVIOR.

SO EVEN MY MOST EDUCATED FAC TOYED PATIENCE THAT I'M TRYING TO CULTIVATE AND GENERATE FACTS OUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS, THEY KNOW THE FACTS, YET THEY ARE TRAINED AND WE HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO BE AFRAID OF THIS VIRUS.

IT'S A HARD ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THE FACTS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ANOTHER ANGLE ON THIS THAT WAS COMPELLING TO ME TODAY, A PIECE IN THE "BOSTON GLOBE" BY A GUY NAMED ANDY ROSEN, HE SAID ONE OF THE REASON ABOUT THE HESITANCY ABOUT REENTRY IS THAT IT'S NOT REALLY EVER GOING TO BE FORMALLY OVER.

WE ALL WANT A FIRM END POINT TO A LOT OF THINGS TO ALLOW US TO SORT OF PERMIT OURSELVES TO MOVE FORWARD, AND WHILE IT MAY BE "OVER" IN INDIVIDUAL CASES LIKE YOURS, YOU'RE TWO SHOTS IN, I'M ONE SHOT IN, IT'S NOT COLLECTIVELY OVER.

THAT WAS A COMPELLING POINT TO ME.

IS IT TO YOU?

>> IT IS, IN A SENSE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ON-OFF SWITCH.

FUTURE YES IS NOT GOING TO BLOW A WHISTLE AND SAY READY, SET, GO.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN ON-RAMP.

THE VACCINE IS DISTRIBUTED AND PUT INTO MORE ARMS, WE WILL SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M TELLING MY PATIENTS EVERY DAY -- RISK IS EVERYWHERE.

RISK HAS ALWAYS BEEN EVERYWHERE, AND WHETHER YOU KNEW IT OR NOT, YOU WERE MAKING SMALL RISK ASSESSMENTS EVERY DAY WHEN YOU LEFT YOUR HOUSE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FLU SEASON FOR EXAMPLE, WE DIDN'T CLOSE SCHOOLS, MASK UP AND SHUT DOWN OUR COMMUNITIES.

MAYBE WE SHOULD AND DO MORE RISK MITIGATION, I THINK WE SHOULD NEXT GLUE SEASON, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN WE HAVE THREE VACCINES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THAT BASICALLY TAKE DEATH AND SEVER AT THIS OFF THE TABLE, WE CAN EXPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY DARN NORMAL ONCE WE ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO HAD -- WHEN I READ A PIECE LIKE YOURS, I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS AT THE END THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE US HANGING AND NOT GIVE US TIPS FOR GETTING OUT OF WHATEVER MESS THAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING.

YOU SATISFIED ME.

YOU DID HAVE TIPS FOR REENTRY.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU THROUGH PEOPLE CAN DO WHO ARE ON THIS EDGE THAT A LOT OF US ARE ON.

>> SURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE TREAT PATIENTS -- AND I TALK TO MYSELF IN THIS VERY SAME WAY, THAT KNOW THAT IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT CHANGE.

SO NAMING IT IS CRUCIAL.

NAME THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TRAUMA.

NAME THAT THIS IS A TRANSITION AND IS NATURALLY HARD.

NORMALIZE IT BEHIND YOURSELF.

IF YOU HAVE HAD SOCIAL ANXIETY THAT'S QUIETED DURING THE PANDEMIC AS YOU SIT ON THE COUCH INSTEAD OF SOCIALIZING, GO OUT WITH A FRIEND OR TWO THE FIRST TIMER AND ASK FOR HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, NORMALIZE IT, NAME IT, NAVIGATE IT, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FEELING.

THAT IS OUR JOB, NOT JUST TO HELP PEOPLE WITH CHOLESTEROL, WEIGHT AND BLOOD PRESSURE, BUT HOW THEY FEEL IN GENERAL -- EXERCISE, GETTING IN NATURE, EATING HEALTHY, PRIORITIZING SLEEP -- THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE RECOMMEND TO PATIENT BUT, ALSO, I TRY TO RECOMMEND TO MYSELF TO GET THROUGH THE DAY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, THERE'S A PERMANENT IMPRINT OF MY BODY ON MY COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE ADDITIONAL THING YOU HAD ON YOUR LIST, I'M CALLING THEM TIPS, WAS PAY ATTENTIONO THE FACTS, AND IT SORT OF RELATES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO ABOUT YOUR INTELLECT AND EMOTION.

BUT WHAT MAKES IT HARDER HERE, I THINK, IS EVEN IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PUT EMOTION ASIDE, YOU HAVE A C.D.C.

SET OF GUIDELINES MONDAY SAYING NOTHING ABOUT IT'S OKAY TO TRAVEL, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE YOUR KINDS OF DEGREES WHO DEEPLY RESPECT PEOPLE HIKE ROSHEL WALENSKY AT THE C.D.C.

WHO SAY THEY DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD FEEL FREE TO TRAVEL IF YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED.

SO SEEMS LIKE IT'S INCUMBENT ON YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TO GET YOUR MESSAGING AS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND LASER-LIKE FOCUSED AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO HELP US EASE MERGE.

I'M RIGHT, YES?

>> YOU'RE 100% RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M WRITING A COVID NEWS LETTER FOR A YEAR AND WHY I'M HERE NOW.

FACTS AND SCIENCE ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.

SCIENCE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.

IT'S SCIENCE.

THAT'S WHY I'M A DOCTOR.

IT'S NOT INFORMED BY POLITICS OR EMOTION.

THE MESSAGING AROUND IT, THOUGH, CAN BE DRIVEN BY POLITICS AND OPINION, OF COURSE.

AND, SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN GENERATING A LOT OF ANXIETY IN PATIENTS AND MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE WHEN I SAY THIS, IS THE MYRIAD OF INPUTS MEDIAWISE AND ALL THE FIRE HYDRANT OF INFORMATION AND DIFFERENCES IN OPINION ABOUT THE SCIENCE AND THE FACTS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I RECOMMEND TO PATIENTS TO QUELL ANXIETY AND TO QUESTION ET HERE IS TO FIND EXPERTS THAT YOU TRUST, FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE FACTS AND FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE AND WHO ARE UNBIASED.

YOU'RE SAFE THAT WAY.

THEN YOU CAN TURN OFF YOUR PHONE AND GO TO SLEEP AND, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE BETTER.

>> Braude: ON THAT NOTE, I'M SUBSCRIBING TO YOUR NEWSLETTER TONIGHT.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

>> Braude: MY PLEASURE.

YOU CAN FIND HERB NEWSLETTER AT LUCYMcBRIDE.com.

AS MORE PEOPLE GET THEIR SHOTS, HESITANCY TOWARD COVID VACCINES HAS BEEN FALLING.

BUT AS OF JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THREE IN TEN PEOPLE WERE STILL SAYING THEY PROBABLY OR DEFINITELY WON'T GET VACCINATED, AND AMONG BLACK AMERICANS THAT NUMBER IS NEARLY 40%.

A NEW CAMPAIGN OUT TODAY FROM THE AD COUNCIL IS HOPING TO CHANGE THAT, SHOWING ALL LIVING U.S. PRESIDENTS GETTING THEIR SHOTS.

WELL, ALL EXCEPT ONE.

I BET YOU CAN GUESS WHO.

>> THIS VACCINE MEANS HOPE.

>> ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND DO YOUR PART.

>> THIS IS OUR SHOT.

>> NOW, IT'S UP TO YOU!

>> BRAUDE: SOME HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES TO USE THEIR PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE THE VACCINE, TOO, SUCH AS PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.

BUT THAT'S BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE, WITH REPORTS OF SEVERAL TOP N.B.A.

PLAYERS NOT WANTING TO TAKE PART IN LEAGUE-SPONSORED P.S.AS ON THE ISSUE.

AND THEN, WHEN A REPORTER DIRECTLY ASKED LEBRON JAMES THIS WEEK WHETHER HE'LL BE GETTING VACCINTED, HERE'S HOW HE RESPONDED: >> PRETTY MUCH GOING TO KEEP THAT TO A PRIVATE THING.

THINGS LIKE THAT, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

SO, I'LL KEEP IT THAT WAY.

>> BRAUDE: I'M JOINED BY SENIOR ESPN WRITER AND NPR SPORTS COMMENTATOR HOWARD BRYANT, ALSO A FORMER REPORTER FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST" AND "BOSTON HERALD," AND THE AUTHOR OF "FULL DISSIDENCE: NOTES FROM AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD."

HOWARD, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> HOW ARE YOU, JIM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Braude: HERE'S THE CONCLUSION I DREW FROM LeBRON'S DECISION, WHEN YOU'RE THAT MUCH OF AN ACTIVIST AND YOU BELIEVE SO MUCH IN YOUR SOCIAL JUSTICE CAUSE OBLIGATIONS, THE ONLY REASON HE'S NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE HE'S NOT GETTING VACCINATED AND DOESN'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM GETTING VACCINATED.

IS THAT NOT REASONABLE?

>> I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY REASONABLE CONCLUSION.

IT'S NOT A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ASK.

IT REALLY IS IN A LOT OF WAYS A YES OR NO QUESTION.

BUT I THINK -- I TOOK TWO THINGS FROM THIS WHEN I WAS FOLLOWING THIS, JIM, AND I THINK THE FIRST THING I TOOK FROM IT WAS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, JIM, TO NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES OR FAMOUS PEOPLE AT ALL.

WE DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO LeBRON JAMES, WE DON'T NEED AN OPINION FROM HIM ON EVERYTHING.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HEAR WHAT HIS VOICE IS OR WHAT HIS TAKE IS ON THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW WHO ARE TELLING US THAT THEY DO SUPPORT VACCINATIONS.

SO IF LEBRON JAMES ISN'T FOR IT, SO BE IT, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY -- I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THEY'RE JUST PEOPLE.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I TOOK FROM IT AS WELL WAS THE IDEA, TOO, THAT THIS IS A REAL ISSUE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I REMEMBER JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO TALKING TO HENRY AARON AFTER HE GOT THE VACCINE AND THEN HE PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WHEN I SPOKE WITH IF AARON FAMILY, THEY WERE SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD TO DO ACTIVELY, AND THE FOLKS OVER AT EMERY HOSPITAL, THAT THEY HAD TO DO, ACTIVELY, WAS TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS VIRUS VACCINE DID NOT KILL HENRY AARON, THAT THEY WERE -- THAT THE TREPIDATION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY BASED ON HISTORY AND DISTRUST OF MEDICINE AND THE WHOLE THING AND WHERE WE FIT IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THAT THESE FEARS ARE REAL, AND THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD TO -- THEY HAD TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT BEFORE IT BECAME A NEWS CYCLE THAT THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE KILLED HANK AARON, AND IT DIDN'T.

>> Braude: BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I THINK HE HAS AN OBLIGATION.

LET ME QUOTE YOU TO YOU, IF I MAY, AND I HOPE I GET IT RIGHT, IN YOUR GREAT LOOK, "THE HERITAGE," YOU TALK ABOUT HOW AMONG BLACK WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE MOST POWERFUL ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OTHERS ARE BLACK LEADERS WHO PLAY HIGH-PROFILE SPORTS, THEY'RE ROLE MODELS.

>> YES.

>> Braude: AND I THINK YOU WENT SO FAR TO SAY, I BELIEVE YOU DID, THAT, AS A RESULT, THEY HAVE A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

LEBRON JAMES WON THE HIGHEST PROFILE INFLUENCERS IN THE WORLD, AND, SO, WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE YOU CAN FOLLOW, HE'S SOMEBODY WHO MILLIONS DO FOLLOW, NO?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU CAN CONCLUDE THAT LEBRON JAMES DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT COMPLETELY OUTRIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE WHAT LEBRON JAMES HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

FOR ME, I DON'T VIEW HIM AS SOMEBODY I NEED TO HEAR FROM.

BUT ALONG THOSE LINES, ABSOLUTELY, YOU CAN SAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, I NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN THIS, I NEED YOU TO REALLY BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, YOU WERE THE ONE LAST YEAR WHO WAS ACTIVELY OUT THERE TELLING PEOPLE TO VOTE, YOU WERE THE ONE OUT THERE WITH YOUR MORE THAN AN ATHLETE CAMPAIGN, SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT FRONT ON THESE ISSUES, THERE'S NO BIGGER ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY NOW THAN THE PANDEMIC AND YOU NEED TO CLARIFY YOUR POSITION ON THIS, 100% THAT'S A LEGITIMATE WAY TO GO WITH HIM.

>> Braude: IF I CAN, THIS WILL PROBABLY BUTTRESS YOUR NOTION OF OTHER PEOPLE, DR. THIA JAMES WAS HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, VICE PRESIDENT OF BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, SHE ADMITTED SHE HAD BEEN VACCINE HESITANT AND OVERCAME IT.

I SAID DID YOU OVERCOME IT BY THINKING YOUR WAY THROUGH IT OR YOU FELT AS A ROLE MODEL YOU HAD TO DECIDE TO DO IT?

HER ANSWER WAS, IT WAS BOTH.

THEN SHE WENT ON LIKE THIS -- >> THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO-- FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE FASTEST WAY TO GET BACK TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO THRIVE WAS GOING TO BE THE VACCINE AND THE FACT THAT I COULD ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THAT BY TAKING THE VACCINE.

>> Braude: IT'S A REALLY REALLY POWERFUL KIND OF MESSAGE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, HEY, JIM, I WAS VACCINE HESITANT -- I HAVEN'T HAD A VACCINE YET BECAUSE I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ONE, BUT GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

YOU HAD A PRESIDENT THAT WAS -- THAT REALLY DID TRY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS WASN'T REAL, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAD THE ENTIRE MOBILIZATION OF THIS, IT FELT RUSHED, IT FELT HURRIED, IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ENOUGH SCIENCE NECESSARILY BEHIND IT.

I WAS INCREDIBLY SKEPTICAL OF IT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE SPEED OF IT ALL.

LAST YEAR YOU HAD PEOPLE SAYING YOU SHOULD BE INJECTING BLEACH INTO YOUR VEINS, SO IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE PEOPLE WOULD BE HESITANT ABOUT THIS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I WAS GETTING MY FLU SHOT AND THE NURSE WHO WAS ADMINISTERING IT SAID I'M NOT GETTING ONE OF THOSE, I SAID BUT YOU'RE GIVING ME ONE RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT, TO YOUR POSITION, THAT IF YOU'RE LEBRON JAMES AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO WALK THE WALK AND INSERT YOURSELF IN THESE GIGANTIC ISSUES, YOU CAN'T JUST PUNT AND GO, YEAH, THAT'S A PERSONAL DECISION.

YOU'VE GOT TO STEP UP IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS STUFF, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

>> Braude: WE'RE ENDING ON THE SAME POINT, HOWARD BRYANT, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

GOOD SEEING YOU.

STAY SAFE.

>> Braude: WITH THE VACCINATION PROCESS UNDER WAY, CORONAVIRUS CASE RATES LOWER FOR NOW, AND SPRINGTIME TEMPERATURES ON THE RISE, IT'S FINALLY FEELING LIKE WE'RE NEARING THAT PROVERBIAL LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

AND IN A FEW DAYS, WE'LL ACTUALLY GET TO SEE SOME OF IT!

AS MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THIS SUNDAY WE'LL BE SPRINGING FORWARD AN HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING.

AS ALWAYS, THAT'S "SAVING," NO "S." AND IF YOU'D FORGOTTEN, YOU'RE WELCOME FOR THE REMINDER TO CHANGE THAT MICROWAVE CLOCK.

TODAY, THE SUN SET AT 5:46 P.M.

BUT NEXT WEEK?

IT WILL SET AT 6:54 P.M. THAT'S A WHOLE 68 MINUTES LATER.

AND BY MARCH 23, THE SUN WILL SET AT 7:00 P.M.!

7:00 P.M.!

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU SICK OF HEARING ME TALK ABOUT THIS, I ADMIT IT: I'M OBSESSED.

BUT THE PUSH TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING PERMANENT IS A CAUSE WORTH OBSESSING OVER!

I'VE EVALUATED THE PROS AND CONS WITH YOU ALL BEFORE, BUT, FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE, LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A STRAIN ON EVERYONE'S MENTAL HEALTH.

ACCORDING TO AN AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION SURVEY FROM OCTOBER, 62% OF AMERICANS FEEL MORE ANXIOUS THAN THEY DID THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

BUT THAT INCOMING EXTRA HOUR OF LIGHT WILL HELP LIFT A LOT OF SPIRITS AND GIVE US TIME FOR AN EVENING WALK, TO ENJOY THE OUTSIDE AS NATURE INTENDED.

IT WILL ALSO OFFER A LITTLE MORE BALANCE TO THE WORK-FROM-HOME, ONLINE-LEARNING, AND ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE SCHEDULES THAT HAVE US ALL RUNNING RAGGED.

PLUS, IT'LL GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME TO SAFELY RUN ERRANDS AFTER WORK, SOMETHING STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES COULD CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM RIGHT NOW.

OF COURSE, WE'D ALSO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL INJURIES, HEART ATTACKS AND CAR ACCIDENTS THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN COME IN GREATER NUMBERS BOTH WHEN WE FALL BACK AND SPRING FORWARD, AS THE ARTIFICIAL CLOCK CHANGES MESS WITH OUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS.

AND FINALLY, ACCORDING TO A JULY SURVEY FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE, A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE IDEA!

SO, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, FIFTEEN STATES HAVE PASSED BILLS OR RESOLUTIONS TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING PERMANENT AND AT LEAST TWO DOZEN ARE CONSIDERING IT, INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS.

THREE YEARS AGO, BEACON HILL CREATED A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF YEAR-ROUND DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE GROUP VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF IT, AND YET THE BILL HAS GONE NOWHERE.

WHAT A SURPRISE!

ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT'S CONGRESS THAT HAS THE FINAL SAY, BUT THERE IS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS MARCO RUBIO AND RICK SCOTT FILED A BILL LAST FALL TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING PERMANENT, AND OUR OWN SENATOR ED MARKEY, WHO'S CHAMPIONED THE ISSUE ALMOST AS LONG AS I HAVE--OKAY, MAYBE A LITTLE LONGER-- VOWED ON "BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO" THE OTHER DAY HE'LL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR MORE SUNLIGHT: >> THE GOAL WOULD BE YEAR ROUND DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, WE AT A MINIMUM NEED A COUPLE MORE WEEKS IN MARCH AND A COUPLE OR MORE WEEKS IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

AND SO, THAT'S MY MISSION, THAT'S MY GOAL.

I'M LIKE MOBY DICK.

I'M CAPTAIN AHAB.

I'M AFTER THIS WHALE, AND I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS.

>> BRAUDE: WHAT CAN I SAY BUT CALL ME AHAB, TOO, SENATOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

EMAIL, TWEET US, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR "BEAT THE PRESS."

EMILY ROONEY AND HER PANEL WILL WEIGH IN ON ALL THE PRAISE OPRAH HAS BEEN GETTING OVER HER HARRY AND MEGHAN INTERVIEW.

PLUS, MEDIA OUTLETS UNDER FIRE FOR CALLING IT THE "GEORGE FLOYD MURDER TRIAL."

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

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