>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": THE DOS AND DON'TS OF PANDEMIC MESSAGING, FEATURING AN EMOTIONAL PLEA FROM THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF THE C.D.C.

AND ADMISSIONS OF GUILT FROM SOME OF THE DOCTORS WHO ADVISED DONALD TRUMP, INCLUDING DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHO SAYS THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, ON HER WATCH, IS TO BLAME FOR HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF UNNECESSARY COVID DEATHS.

HARVARD HEALTH POLICY RESEARCHER DR. THOMAS TSAI JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, BIDEN SAYS HE'S PASSED GUN REFORM BEFORE AND HE CAN DO IT AGAIN NOW.

BUT CAN HE?

I'LL DISCUSS WITH STOP HANDGUN VIOLENCE CO-FOUNDER, JOHN ROSENTHAL.

AND FINALLY, TRACY CHANG, CHEF AND OWNER OF THE CAMBRIDGE RESTAURANT PAGU, ON MOBILIZING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THAT OTHER PANDEMIC: ASIAN-AMERICAN RACISM.

♪♪♪♪♪ JKD ROUGHLY 1 IN SIX PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

THE CDC RELEASED TODAY PROMISING DATA THAT SUGGESTS THE MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES ARE "VERY EFFECTIVE" AT PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID INFECTION, NOT JUST SYMPTOMATIC INFECTION.

BUT NOT ALL THE NEWS IS GOOD.

MOST OF THE COUNTRY STILL HASN'T GOTTEN THEIR SHOTS AND NEW COVID CASES ARE NOW UP SEVEN PERCENT NATIONWIDE, WHICH HAS C.D.C.

DIRECTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY CONCERNED WE MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF A FOURTH SURGE.

AND IN A COVID BRIEFING TODAY, SHE MADE THIS EMOTIONAL PLEA TO THE COUNTRY: >> WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT C.D.C., ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, I MADE A PROMISE TO YOU.

I WOULD TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVEN IF IT WAS NOT THE NEWS WE WANTED TO HEAR.

NOW IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN I HAVE TO SHARE THE TRUTH AND I HAVE TO HOPE AND TRUST YOU WILL LISTEN, I'M GOING TO PAUSE HERE.

I'M GOING TO LOSE THE SCRIPT AND I'M GOING TO REFLECT ON THE RECURRING FEELING I HAVE OF IMPENDING DOOM.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M SCARED.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE AS A PHYSICIAN TO STAND IN THAT PATIENT ROOM, GOWNED, GLOVED, MASKED, SHIELDED, AND TO BE THE LAST PERSON TO TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVED ONE BECAUSE THEIR LOVED ONE COULDN'T BE THERE.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PULL UP TO YOUR HOSPITAL EVERY DAY AND SEE THE EXTRA MORGUE SITTING OUTSIDE.

SO I'M SPEAKING TODAY, NOT NECESSARILY AS YOUR C.D.C.

DIRECTOR, NOT ONLY AS YOUR C.D.C.

DIRECTOR, BUT AS A WIFE, AS A MOTHER, AS A DAUGHTER, TO ASK YOU TO JUST PLEASE HOLD ON A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

I SO BADLY WANT TO BE DONE.

I KNOW YOU ALL SO BADLY WANT TO BE DONE.

WE ARE JUST ALMOST THERE, BUT NOT QUITE YET.

>> Braude: IT'S RAW HONESTY THAT RINGS ESPECIALLY TRUE AFTER AN ADMINISTRATION THAT DISTORTED THE TRUTH RELENTLESSLY, A TOP DOWN POLICY WE GOT AN EVEN CLOSER LOOK AT LAST NIGHT, THROUGH A CNN DOCUMENTARY: "COVID WAR: PANDEMIC DOCTORS SPEAK OUT."

THE FILM FEATURES INTERVIEWS FROM SEVERAL TOP OFFICIALS FROM TRUMP'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE TEAM, INCLUDING TASK FORCE COORDINATOR DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHO SAID THE WHITE HOUSE IS TO BLAME FOR MOST OF THE MORE THAN 540,000 TOTAL COVID DEATHS IN THE U.S. >> I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE AN EXCUSE.

THERE WERE ABOUT 100,000 DEATHS THAT CAME FROM THAT ORIGINAL SURGE.

ALL OF THE REST OF THEM, IN MY MIND, COULD HAVE BEEN MITIGATED OR DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IF WE TOOK THE LESSONS WE HAD LEARNED FROM THAT MOMENT.

THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME EVERY DAY.

>> Braude: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT BOTHERS THE 400,000-PLUS FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES DIDN'T NEED TO DIE FROM THE VIRUS.

AND TRUMP'S CORONAVIRUS TESTING CZAR, ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR, MADE CLEAR IN HIS INTERVIEW FOR THE FILM, THE ADMINISTRATION'S MESSAGING WAS MORE THAN JUST MISLEADING, TELLING CNN: "WHEN WE SAID THERE WERE MILLIONS OF TESTS, THERE WEREN'T."

IN SHORT, THEY LIED.

I'M JOINED BY DR. THOMAS TSAI, A SURGEON AND HEALTH POLICY RESEARCHER AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL AND HARVARD'S CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

HE'S ALSO A FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF HEALTH POLICY IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

DR. TSAI, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> JIM, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Braude: DO YOU SHARE DR. WALENSKY'S SENSE OF URGENCY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE AT THIS CRITICAL JOURNING COMUR IN THE BRANDZ WE CAN SEE THE SHORE BUT WE'VE BEEN COULDN'TCONTENTTO JUST TREAD WATER.

MEANING CONTINUING WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE AROUND MASKING, MAINTAINING COMMON SENSE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES AROUND PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND REALLY INCREASING VACCINATION THROUGHOUT POP WE CAN CONTROL WHERE WE END ONE THIS PANDEMIC AND MY WORRY IS WE'RE LOSING STEAM IN THE RESOLVE TO REALLY GET CONTROL OF THIS ONCE GREN.

>> Braude: IS IT BECAUSE WE INDIVIDUALLY ARE REPLASMING OUR OWN STANDARDS AND BECAUSE SOME STATES ARE DROPPING MASK MANNED AND OPENING UP MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY SHOULD, IS THAT THE CAUSE FOR RISE?

>> I THINK IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF BOTH A RELAXATION OF VIGILANCE BOTH ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL IN THE CONTEXT OF POLICIES OF REFER OPENING WINS AGAIN.

WE'VE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF REOAPG TOO SOON, LAST YEAR AROUND MEMORIAL DAY, WE HAVE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SUMMER LAST YEAR, AND WHEN WE REOPEN TOO SOON WE ENDING UP JUST YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF TAKING TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK, WE END UP TAKING ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK, IN THE SAME AREA IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> Braude: I MENTIONED THE GOOD NEWS FROM THE CDC TODAY WAS A STUDY LOOKING AT SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES.

90% AFTER TWO DOSES, OBVIOUSLY VERY GOOD, BUT 80% WHICH IS QUITE HIGH AFTER ONE DOSE.

IT SEEMS TO ME IT NEEDS THIS NOTION THAT I KNOW HAS TAKEN ARE CONTROL IN SOME PLACES LIKE I BELIEVE IS ISRAEL AND THE U.K. THAT IT IS FAR BETTER TO GET ONE DOSE IN THE AMORTIZATION OF MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN TWO DOSES IN THE ARMS OF FEWER PEOPLE.

WHICH SIDE DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO?

>> I THINK THE TRUTH IS ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE.

WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE SUPPLY COMMITTED TO BE ABLE TO VACCINATE ALL AMERICAN ADULTS BY MID TO ENDS OF MAY.

SO WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS GET AS MANY FIRST SHOTS IN AS MANY ARMS AS POSSIBLE AND THEN USE REMAINING VACCINES TO ENSURE THE SECOND ROUNDS OF VACCINATION.

IT'S NOT ONE SHOT OR TWO SHOTS, IT'S TWO SHOTS FOR AS MANY AS WE GOES POSSIBLY CAN.

>> Braude: CAN WE GO FROM KINDERGARTENERS EVENTS TO A BIT OF HISTORY?

I MENTION SOME OF THESE DOCTORS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH TRUMP QUOTE RESPONSE WERE WITH DR. SANJAY GUPTA LAST NIGHT, DEBRA BIRX, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE, WE READ STUDIES THAT SAID HAD THE POLITIC DOWN HAPPENED TWO WEEKS EARLIER, 80% OF THE DEATHS DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

I WATCHED THE TWITTER POST YESTERDAY, WHITE HOUSE DOCTOR TO DICK CHENEY, NOW A MEDICAL PROFESSOR.

DR. BIRX PORTRAYS HERSELF ON THE AN E-AS AN ILL FATED PASSENGERS ON THE IF BOAT.

SHE WAS IN FACT IS TMTION MTION IS.

>> THERE WAS ESSENTIALLY A TAKE OVER OF A SCIENTIFIC E-SCIENTIFIC PROCESS BY POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND IN SOME WAYS THEY WERE ALL OPERATING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

THAT SAID, THEY WERE THE LEADERS OF THE THE TASK FORCE, THE LEADERS OF THE AGENCIES.

AND I THINK WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES AND THERE WERE CLEARLY MISTAKES THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND BUILD ROBUST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, ARE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT CAN BE, REMAIN INDEPENDENT OF POLITICAL DECISIONS AND MANEUVERING.

SO THE SCIENCE NEEDS TO BE SCIENTIFIC AND OBJECTIVE, THE POLICIES THAT FLOW FROM THEM WILL NEED TO BE INFORMED BY POLITICALLY CONSIDERATIONS.

BUT WHEYS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR IS THE TWO HAVE COMPLETELY COMBINED WITH EACH OTHER RESULTING IN A TRAGIC EXCESS LOSS OF LIFE.

>> Braude: DR. TSAI IF I MAY I HAVE NO BACKGROUND IN AREAS THAT YOU AND DR. BIRX AND OTHERS DO.

BUT I'M NOT QUITE READY TO MOVE AHEAD AFTER THOSE COMMENTS LAST NIGHT.

DR. BIRX DIDN'T JUST SIT SILENT DURING THE BLEACH EPISODE.

SHE WENT OUTS OF HER WAY TO DEFEND THE PRESIDENT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE KNEW HE WAS WRONG.

HERE'S A COMMENT FOR EXAMPLE SHE MADE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR TO THE CHRISTIAN BRAICTING NETWORK.

HERE SHE IS.

>> HE'S BEEN SO ATTENTIVE TO THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE AND THE DETAILS AND THE DATA.

AND I THINK HIS, HIS ABILITY TO ANALYZE AND INTEGRATE DATA-- THAT COMES OUT OF HIS LONG HISTORY IN BUSINESS-- HAS REALLY BEEN A REAL BENEFIT DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MEDICAL ISSUES.

BECAUSE, IN THE END, DATA IS DATA, AND HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GRANULARITY.

>> Braude: OINCREDIBLY ENOUGH SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP DESPITE WHAT SHE SAID LAST NIGHT.

THE ADMIRAL CAN GIROIR, WHO IS NOT AN ADMIRAL, MENTIONS IF TESTING, THE FACT THAT THEY LIED, THERE WAS TESTING FOR EVERYBODY, THERE WAS NOT.

DR. REDFIELD TALKED ABOUT SECRETARY AZAR TRYING TO GET HIM TO COOK THE BOOKS ON MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RATES.

IS THERE NO ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THESE PEOPLE?

WHAT HAPPENED TO DO NO HARM?

IT SEEMS TO ME THEY DID HARM ON STEROIDS.

>> I THINK DEFINITELY JIM WE DO NEED A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT'S MAPPED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THERE NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE PROCESSES THAT INFORMED THESE DECISIONS OR CLEARLY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HARM THAT WAS CAUSED OVER THE LAST YEAR FOR DR. BIRX ADMISSION OF IN EXCESS OF 400,000 DEATHS.

THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE OF INDIVIDUALS TAKING OVER THE STRUCTURES THAT GUIDE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION MAKING.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS CREATE ROBUST SYSTEMS WHERE WE CAN HAVE INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR POLICIES TO BE MADE.

THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS IN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FEDERAL RESERVE IS LED BY NONPARTISAN LEADERS THAT ARE MORE IMMUNE FROM THE POLITICAL WINDS FROM EITHER THE WHITE HOUSE OR FROM CONGRESS.

AND I THINK WHAT WE DO NEED IS A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION AND AFTER ACTION ANALYSIS OF WHAT WENT WRONG SO WE CAN BE MORE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC PND AND THAT REALLY MEANS PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS WHICH JUST DID NOT LAP OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> DR. FAUCI IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT INDEPENDENCE.

DR. TSAI AS ALWAYS I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU JIM.

>> Jon: NEXT UP, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S AS ELUSIVE AS IT IS UBIQUITOUS: HOW TO DEAL WITH THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AFTER VIRTUALLY EVERY MASS SHOOTING, LIKE THE ONE AT A BOULDER, COLORADO GROCERY STORE LAST WEEK THAT KILLED TEN PEOPLE, AND THE ONE AT THREE ATLANTA-AREA SPAS THAT LEFT EIGHT DEAD THE WEEK BEFORE, WE RESURRECT THE DEBATE ON GUN CONTROL.

AND EVERY TIME, DESPITE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM VOTERS FOR MEASURES TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS, EVEN AMONG REPUBLICANS, THE REFORMS GO NOWHERE IN CONGRESS.

BUT EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE HOUSE PASSED TWO BILLS THAT WOULD CLOSE LOOPHOLES FOR PURCHASES MADE ONLINE AND AT GUN SHOWS, AND LENGTHEN THE TIME WINDOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO CONDUCT THE CHECKS, WITH SOME G.O.P.

SUPPORT.

AND YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT, CITING HIS EFFORTS TO HELP PASS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IN 1994, WHICH LATER EXPIRED.

>> I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT'S EVER GOT IT PASSED, MAN.

EVERYONE KEEPS WONDERING WHETHER I CARE ABOUT DEALING WITH RATIONAL GUN CONTROL.

THE ONLY GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION EVER PASSED IS MINE.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Braude: BUT IS IT?

I'M JOINED BY JOHN ROSENTHAL, CO-FOUNDER OF STOP HANDGUN VIOLENCE.

JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

JBTD YOU>> Braude: YOU KNOW JOHN EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU SINCE SANDY HOOK, AM I ABOUT UPONABOUTTO BE WRONG?

>> I THINK NEVER IS A VERY LONG TIME.

BETWEEN THE TIME THOSE 20 BABIES WERE KILLED AT SANDY HOOK, BY AN AR-15, THEIR FAMILIES HAD TO IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR CLOTHING, IN THE HUNDREDS I THOUGHT MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THEN LAS VEGAS HAPPENED.

558 PEOPLE SHOT, 60 DEAD, AND CONGRESS DID NOTHING.

AND, THIS YEAR ALONE, JUST IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS, THERE HAVE BEEN 117 MASS SHOOTINGS.

OF FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE.

130 KILLED.

464 WOUNDED.

AND IN THE LAST WEEK SINCE BOULDER, 15 MORE MASS SHOOTINGS.

I'M GLAD THE PRESIDENT'S TALKING ABOUT IT.

I HOPE THE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATED INTO SUBMISSION FOR DECADES, ARE NOW GOING TO ACT AND REPUBLICANS THOSE SPINELESS REPUBLICANS WHO FRANKLY KOWTOWEASY TO THE GUN LOBBY WANT TO INCREASE MASS SHOOTINGS IN ORDER TO L INCREASE SALES OF MASS THE -- WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, SHAME ON THEM.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT OUR POSITION.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHOLE LOT MORE DEAD PEOPLE IN ORDER TO GET THERE.

>> Braude: WE KNOW GUN CHECKS, 90% SUPPORT THEM MORE OR LESS.

ASSAULT WEAPONS LIKE HAVE BEEN USED IN SO MANY OF THESE MASS KILLINGS AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES, SPEAKING OF THOSE REPUBLICANS, I WON'T USE YOUR ADJECTIVE, THAT'S FOR YOU.

HERE IS PART OF THE REASON WHY REPUBLICANS WON'T DO IT.

COURTESY OF LINDSAY GRAHAM ON FOX NEWS SUNDAY.

I WANT TO GET YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM.

HERE HE IS.

>> I OWN AN AR-15.

IF THERE'S A NATURAL DISASTER IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE THE COPS CAN'T PROTECT MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY HOUSE WILL BE THE LAST ONE THAT THE GANG WILL COME TO, BECAUSE I CAN DEFEND MYSELF.

>> Braude: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SENATOR GRAIX JOHN ROSENTHAL?

>> WELL, LOOK I'M A GUN OWNER.

I OWN A SHOTGUN.

THE CHANCES FOR ME HOGGED HITTING A TARGET, THAN IT IS AR 15 THAT HE RARELY SHOOTS.

IT'S A WEAPON OF WAR.

I WOULD SAY THAT YOU DON'T NEED AN AR 15 TO HUNT IN FACT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HUNT WITH ANG AR-15.

IN FACT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE GIVEN 13 TO 17 ROUNDS IN THEIR SERVICE WEAPONS.

YET WHEN YOU HUNT DEER YOU'RE LIMITED TO FIVE ROUNDS AND YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE DUCK AND DEER POPULATIONS.

WE DON'T NEED AN ARMS RACE TO DO IT.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT HAS LOWER GUN DEATH RATES THAN EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT HAS PLASM GUN LAWS LIKE LINDSAY GRAHAM'S STATES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

JBTD YOU KNOW JOHN, IF -- >> Braude: YOU KNOW JOHN IF CONGRESS CONTINUES TO BE AS SPINELESS AND I'M TOTALLY WITH YOU AT A AS IT HAS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, JOE BIDEN HAS TALKED ABOUT EXECUTIVE ACTION, WEAPONS BROUGHT IN FRO OVERSEAS AND BANNING POTENTIALLY BANNING I GUESS 3D CONSTRUCTED WEAPONS.

IN YOUR ESTIMATION DOES A PRESIDENT HAVE BROADER POWERS TO ACT ON THE GUN FRONT THAN HE'S PROPOSING?

>> I DOUBT IT.

IF HE HAD THEM, HE WOULD.

HE WAS OBAMA'S POINT-PERSON ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

>> Braude: I HE KNOW HE WAS.

>> WOULD I SAY IN THE ABSENCE OF ARE DEMOCRATS FINDING THEIR SPINE AND STANDING UP TO POTENTIAL CHALLENGES, IN THE COURTS, WOULD I SAY THAT MASSACHUSETTS, URBAN MASSACHUSETTS IS THE MODEL FOR THE NATION.

WE ARE AN URBAN STATE.

WE HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE GUN LAWS.

WE HAVE THE FIRST OF THE NATION CONSUMER PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR THE FIREARM INDUSTRY THAT CAN'T BE SUED FOR MAKING PRODUCTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO KILL A LOT OF PEOPLE QUICKLY.

AND, IF WE REPLICATED OUR MASSACHUSETTS GUN LAWS WHICH BY THE WAY HAVE RESULTED IN A 40% LOWER RATE OF GUN DEATHS IN THE YEARS SINCE WE PASSED THESE LAWS, IF WE WERE TO REPLICATE THESE LAWS, TWE,000 DEATHS COULD BE SAVED OYEAR IF EVERY OTHER STATE HAD THE SAME LAWS AND THE SAME LOW GUN DEATH RATE.

AT THE SAME TIME UNTIL CONGRESS INDEPENDENCE FOO ITS BACKBONE, STATES CAN DO SOMETHING.

MASSACHUSETTS HAS DONE A LOT GUT IT CAN BE DOING MORE.

HERE IS SOMETHING TOTALLY TWISTED.

WE ARE A MODEL FOR THE NATION FOR REDUCING GUN INJURIES AND DEATHS YET MASSACHUSETTS GUN MANUFACTURERS MAKE AND MARKET MORE FIREARMS THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE MAKES.

AND SMITH AND WESSON PER SE ALONE MADE THE AR-15 USED AT PARK LEFT-HAND.

MADE THE AR-15 THAT WAS USED BY THE JOKER IN AURORA, COLORADO, CAN'T EVEN BE SOLD HERE BECAUSE OF OUR EFFECTIVE BAN.

>> Braude: 30 SECONDS.

HAS THAT BEEN PROPOSED ON BEACON HILL?

>> WE ARE WORKING TO PROPOSE IT AS WE SPEAK.

>> Braude: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU JIM.

>> Braude: AI MIDST ALL THE PAIN AND HEARTBREAK THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED, WE'VE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE STEP UP IN BIG WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

THAT INCLUDES THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, WHERE PEOPLE LIKE MY NEXT GUEST HAVE BEEN WORKING TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR OWN RESTAURANTS AFLOAT.

TRACY CHANG IS THE JAMES BEARD AWARD-NOMINATED CHEF AND OWNER OF PAGU IN CAMBRIDGE.

IN THE PAST YEAR SHE'S HELPED START TWO NON-PROFITS: OFF THEIR PLATE, WHICH EMPLOYS OUT OF WORK COOKS TO MAKE MEALS FOR FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS-- FIRST, IN BOSTON AND NOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY; AND PROJECT RESTORE US, WHICH DELIVERS GROCERIES TO PEOPLE IN NEED AND PAYS RESTAURANT WORKERS TO PACK THE BOXES.

TRACY JOINS ME NOW.

TRACY IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANKS FOR HOSTING US TODAY JIM.

>> Braude: SO LET'S START WITH OFF THEIR PLATE.

FROM WHAT I READ I THINK IN THE GLOBE THE OTHER DAY IT STARTED ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, WITH 90 MEALS BEING DELIVERED TO THE BRIGHAM.

BRING US TO TODAY.

WHAT IS IT ACCOMPLISHED IN THAT YEAR?

>> YEAH, IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE MODEL AND REPLICATE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WITH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DIFFERENT CHEFS.

BUT ACROSS NINE CITIES NATIONWIDE.

AND OVER, I THINK WE'RE OVER $7 MILLION IN FUNDING NOW.

AND SERVING NOT ONLY FRONT LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS NOW BUT ALSO COMMUNITIES IN NEED, COMMUNITY CENTERS AS WELL.

>> Braude: AND JOSE ANDRES IS NOW INVOLVED AM I NOT RIGHT?

THE GREAT WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN LEADER?

>> YES, WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH JOSE EARLY ON.

HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE AND HIS CEO AS WELL, NATE OF WORLD CENTRAL KIP.

I'M PRETTY SURE WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF DOING THOSE 90 MEALS TO BRIGHAM, I SAID, HEY HOW DO YOU GUYS DO IT, OMAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT AND WHAT IS YOUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.

THEY ACTUALLY SENT US IN THAT FIRST WEEK A BOX FULL OF PPE AND A LOT OF THONGS THAT THINGS THAT BROUGHT UP THE CHAIR IN ABOUT BOSTON.

>> Braude: THIS IDEA, THE GENESIS OF THIS WAS FROM A MEDICAL STUDENT OF HARVARD WHO IS A CUSTOMER OF YOURS.

AND GOING TO GREAT BEGINNINGS, AND PROJECTS RESTORE US, THIS WAS YOU AND A FRIEND SPLITTING A BAG OF FLOWER OR SOME SUCH THING THAT LET TO THAT EFFORT?

>> YES, A FRIEND OF A FRIEND SAID CAN YOU BUY FLOUR?

I SAID YES, WE'RE A RESTAURANT, WE CAN STILL GET FLOUR, YEAST, SUGAR.

SHE SAID I'LL TAKE 50 POUNDS, I'LL COME ON MY BIKE.

>> Braude: WHERE IS THAT TODAY, LOOM YEAR LATER?

>> YEAH, THE REST IS HISTORY.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR DOZENS OF GRANTS AND WE HAVE SERVED GOSH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES -- OVER A DOZEN COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE HERE WHO KNOW WHO THEIR FAMILIES IN NEED ARE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAILOR GROCERIES FOR THEM.

HAVE RESTAURANTS PREPACKAGE THESE GROCERIES AND SENT OUTS OVER 300,000 POUNDS OF FOOD.

TO REALLY THESE FOLKS WHO CAN'T EVEN GET IN LINE FOR FOOD BARNTION.

>> Braude: IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

SO YOU HAVE A YOUNG FAMILY, RELATIVELY YOUNG RESTAURANT, I IMAGINE THOSE ARE FAIRLY TIME CONSUMING ENDEAVORS.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS OUR CIVIC DUTY TO DO IT.

IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, WHO'S GOING TO DO IT?

I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE TO ASK YOU OR TO TELL TO YOU DO IT BUT TO JUST NOTICE THAT THE NEED IS THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

WHETHER IT'S IN CAMBRIDGE OR CHELSEA OR REVERE, AND I GOT FIRST KIND OF FIRSTHAND KIND OF GLIMPSE OF AT THAT.

BECAUSE I HAVE HI RESTAURANT IN CAMBRIDGE BUT I ALSO HAVE MY EMPLOYEES WHO WE'VE BEEN CAR POOLING TO WORK IN CHELSEA, REVERE, DORCHESTER.

SO I SAW IMMEDIATELY HOW THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE IMPACTED AND HARDER HIT THAN CAMBRIDGE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, LET'S GO FROM TWO NONPROFITS TO WHAT I'M GUESSING IS AN UNINTENTIONAL NONPROFIT AT LEAST FOR THE LAST YEAR YOUR RESTAURANT.

HOW HAVE YOU SURVIVED ON THAT FRONT THROUGH THESE 12 MONTHS?

>> YES, I THINK IT'S SOME PEOPLE SAY IS IT A CURSE OR A BLESSING THAT YOUR RESTAURANTS IS YOUNG AND SAY YOUR RESTAURANTS CAN'T SURVIVE ON ONE REVENUE STREAM ALONE, RIGHTS?

LIKE SOME PEOPLE DID GREAT DURING TAKEOUT.

WE ARE NOT THAT KIND OF RESTAURANT OR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE SILVER LINING IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CREATIVE AND STARTING A GROCERY STORE AND STARTING A SUBSCRIPTION MODEL.

AND DRIVING TO THE SUBURBS TO DELIVER THREE-ORDERED FOOD.

AND THE NONPROFIT WORKS HAVE ALSO BEEN TWO OTHER BRANCHES OF REVENUE STREAMS.

>> Braude: SO THAT'S ONE PANDEMIC.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PANDEMIC FOR A SECOND HERE, RACISM DIRECTED AT ASIAN-AMERICANS.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO ONE SINGLE ASIAN-AMERICAN EITHER ON TELEVISION OR IN THE REAL WORLD, WHO HAS SAID TO ME, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW TO ME.

I'M GUESSING YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST TRACY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS IS DOWN, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I AM CHINESE, CHINESE-AMERICAN.

AND THIS IS IMPACT ED MY BUSINESS.

-- IMPACTED MY BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED RACISM, SINCE MY GRANDMOTHER HAD A RESTAURANT IN THE '80s.

AND SHE WAS TARGETED.

SHE AND MY GRANDFATHER WERE FOLLOWED HOME AND THEY WERE TARGETED IN THEIR HOMES MULTIPLE TIMES AND THESE ARE YOU KNOW, SUBURBS THAT WE THINK ARE WELL OFF NOW, LIKE PLEVMENT AND WINCHESTER WHERE -- LIKE LEXINGTON AND 1 CHEVMENT WHERE THOUGH USED TO LIVE.

NOT THAT THESE ARE LESS SCARY PLACES BUT IT'S KNOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE PLACE BUT THE HATE THAT CAN EXIST WITHIN SOME PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY OR WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD.

AGAIN UNFORTUNATELY -- >> Braude: I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

>> NO, UNFORTUNATELY, IT YOU KNOW, THE TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN ATLANTA ARE JUST A REMINDER.

AND NOT, YOU KNOW, NEWS TO US.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

ARE YOU -- WELL I DON'T KNOW YOU, I KNOW OF YOU.

ARE YOU A HOPEFUL PERSON?

WE GO FROM A PRESIDENT WHO DID ABSOLUTELY ALL HE COULD TO FAN THE FLAMES OF RACISM TO A PRESIDENT WHO IN MY OPINION IN THE MOST TENDER OF WAYS HAS SHOWN EMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF THIS KINDS OF BEHAVIOR.

ARE YOU A PERSON OF HOPE?

>> YEAH.

I DO THINK WE ARE MAKING MOVEMENTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, EVEN JUST LEADERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN APPOINTED IN THE RECENT FEW MONTHS, RIGHT, IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CANNEDPRESIDENT BIDEN'S CAN'TDATECY, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF MOMENTUM THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT HOPE, TO FORWARD THAT HOPE.

YES, I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF OUR NONPROFIT WORK AS WELL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS MORE FUNDING AND MORE CAPITOL IN THE RECENT PAST FEW MONTHS AND THAT'S DUE TO LEGISLATION AND CHANGES IN LEGISLATION.

SO I HOPE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Braude: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FAB PLUS WORK AND YOUR TERRIFIC RESTAURANT.

I WISH YOU LUCK AND BY THE WAY, I ATE AT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S RESTAURANT MANY A TIME AT FRESH POND, I HAVE FOND MEMORIES.

THANK YOU TRACY TALK TO YOU SOON.

>> THANK YOU JIM, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>> Braude: AND AGAIN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER TWO NON-PROFITS, PROJECT RESTORE US AND OFF THEIR PLATE, VISIT THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND FINALLY TONIGHT, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SENDING IN DURING THESE PANDEMIC TIMES.

KAREN SENT US THIS SWEET PICTURE OF "GRANDPA BOB AND GA-GA CARA" REUNITING WITH THEIR GRANDSONS CAM AND JORDAN-- AFTER THEY WERE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

SHE ASKED, "QUESTION: WHO'S HAVING MORE FUN?"

HARD TO SAY, KAREN!

ROBERTA SHOWED US HER EASTER EGG DECORATED TREE AND HER POODLE, GARMIN.

AND FINALLY, MARTHA SAYS SPRING HAS ARRIVED WITH THIS WITCH HAZEL PLANT IN BLOOM.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING THOSE IN.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, USE THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS KEN BURNS AND LYNN NOVICK JOIN ME ON THEIR NEW SIX-PART PBS SERIES ABOUT THE TURBULENT LIFE OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST AND MOST NOTORIOUS WRITERS: ERNEST HEMINGWAY.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org