>> TONIGHT ON A KQED NEWSROOM.

HOW TO HANDLE THE OMICRON WAVE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS AND WHEN IT WILL BE OVER.

THE LATEST FROM STANFORD EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. YVONNE MALTA MODEL.

OUR SPECIALIST TONIGHT IS THE META MADE HEADLINES WHEN HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR OF STOCKTON.

MICHAEL TUBBS TALKS ABOUT IS THE ONE MORE AND WHAT HE IS DOING NOW TO TACKLE POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA.

>>> HOW BAY AREA LAWMAKERS MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE JANUARY 6th RIOTS.

AND LOOK AT HEAD OF THE POLITICAL STORIES BREWING IN THE NEW YEAR.

COMING TO YOU FROM KQED HEADQUARTERS IN SEVEN CISCO.

THIS FRIDAY , JANUARY 7th, 2022.

>>> WELCOME BACK TWO KQED.

CAVIAR.

AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR AND STILL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.

THE CORONAVIRUS.

AT THE OMICRON VARIANT TO BE SPECIFIC.

WHICH AS YOU UNDOUBTEDLY KNOW BY NOW IT IS FAR MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE PREVIOUS DELTA VARIANT.

HOSPITALS ARE RUNNING AND STAFFING SHORTAGES DUE TO SICK EMPLOYEES.

INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE FILLING UP.

INDOOR MASK MANDATES ARE BEING EXTENDED.

CLOTH MASKS ARE NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE.

YOU NEED TO ADD A SURGICAL MASK OR YOU COULD GO WITH ONE OF THESE.

MOST DRUGSTORES ARE SOLD OUT ABOUT HOME RAPID TEST.

PROFESSIONAL PCR TESTING LINES ARE LONG.

HOW BAD WILL THE STORM GET AND WHEN WILL BE OVER?

WE INVITED DR. YVONNE MALDONADO A PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY TO SHARE HER THOUGHTS WITH US.

SHE JOINS US VIA SKYPE.

THINK OF JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DESPITE THE RISING CASES CALIFORNIA LEADERS SEEM DETERMINED TO KEEP SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES OPEN.

INDOOR DINING IS NOT PERMITTED.

IS THIS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION OR SHOULD WE BE SHOWING THINGS DOWN?

>> AT THIS POINT WE HAVE GOING FOR US IN CALIFORNIA IS VERY HIGH VACCINATION RATES.

PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL MASKING IN SOCIAL SETTINGS AND DISTANCING.

IF YOU GO OUTSIDE THE STATE YOU WILL SEE CALIFORNIA IS REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB.

I AM REALLY CONFIDENT IF WE CAN STICK TO THAT WE CAN KEEP SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES OPEN.

>> OMICRON IS SO CONTAGIOUS AND IT IS SPREADING SO FAST.

IT ALMOST FEELS INEVITABLE THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL CATCH IT.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY WILL CATCH IT.

I THINK FOR THE VACCINATED INDIVIDUAL, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEBODY IS ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTING AND IS BOOSTED, THE RISK WILL BE MUCH LOWER.

I THINK WE NEED TO AVOID GETTING INFECTED AT THIS POINT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY IF IT'S INEVITABLE FOR ME JUST GET IT OVER WITH.

BUT REMEMBER, WE ARE SEEING HOSPITALS THAT ARE PACKED.

OUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS AND ADULT HOSPITALS HERE AT STANFORD OR REALLY AT HIGH LEVELS.

NOT JUST WITH COVID-19 BUT WITH OTHER INFECTIONS AND OTHER PROBLEMS.

WE REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE PEOPLE SICK, HOSPITALIZED, AND DYING.

BECAUSE WE CANNOT PREDICT WHO IS GOING TO BE THAT PERSON WHO IS GOING TO HAVE PROGRESSION WE ALL NEED TO BE AS CAREFUL AS POSSIBLE.

>> THE REPORTS SEEM TO INDICATE THIS PARTICULAR SEARCH MAY PEEK AT THE END OF JANUARY OR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TIMELINE?

>> I HAVE GIVEN UP ON MY CRYSTAL BALL.

BUT AS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST I DO LIKE NUMBERS.

ALL OF THE MODELS I'VE SEEN BEVERLY SUGGESTED BECAUSE IT IS SO TRANSMISSIBLE IT WILL RIP THROUGH THE POPULATION VERY QUICKLY.

BUT ALSO IT WILL DROP OFF QUICKLY.

WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES.

IN PARTICULAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SO I DO THINK FEBRUARY IS A GOOD TIME FOR HIM TO THINK ABOUT.

WE SHOULD BE DONE WITH THIS HORRIBLE SURGE I'M HOPING BY EARLY FEBRUARY.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT IT BEING SO HARD TO LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL BECAUSE I FEEL WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

THE SURGICAL AND FOR THE DELTA VARIANT THAT THINGS WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL.

AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO BECOME AN ENDEMIC AND WILL BE SUCH A PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY.

BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU ONE MORE TIME, DO YOU SEE IT BECOMING AN ENDEMIC.

DO YOU SEE IT LIKE THE FLU SO WE GET LIKE IN ANGLE SHOT FOR?

WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT OCCUR?

>> WAS REMEMBER THE 1918 INFLUENZA DID NOT BEND ITSELF OUT FOR THREE YEARS.

THEY DID HAVE VACCINES AND EVERYONE WAS GETTING INFECTED AND UNFORTUNATELY DYING.

EVEN WITH THAT IT TOOK THREE LONG YEARS.

SO WE ARE HEADING INTO HER THIRD YEAR HERE.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE VACCINES THAT DOES LESSEN THE SEVERITY OF THE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE.

THIS OMICRON VARIANT IS INCREDIBLE.

IT IS SO INFECTIOUS.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO SEE SOMETHING NEW THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT.

ON THE OTHER HAND WE DID PREDICT THE PEOPLE DID NOT GET VACCINATED, IT'S NOT JUST THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT WE WOULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VARIANCE.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED BUT WE KNEW IT COULD BE POSSIBLE.

>> THINK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THINK SO MUCH.

>> AT 26 MICHAEL TUBBS BECAME THE YOUNGEST MAYOR OF STOCKTON.

AND THE YOUNGEST OF ANY MAJOR AMERICAN CITY.

HE CHAMPIONED EDUCATION, WORK TO REDUCE VIOLENCE, AND WANTS TO GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM.

DESPITE NATIONAL PRAISE FOR HIS EFFORTS HE LOST HIS BID FOR REELECTION AS MAYOR IN 2020.

HE IS NOW WORKING AS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ON THE TOPIC OF PROPERTY.

WHICH HE EXPERIENCED AS A CHILD.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE TRAILER FROM HBO DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIM.

>> I REMEMBER BEING HUNGRY.

I HAD TO HOLD MY MOM WHEN SHE CRIED.

I REMEMBER HOW HARD IT WAS TO GROW UP.

I THINK THAT QUOTE BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD IS IMPORTANT.

OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE GET SCARED.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING?

>> TUBBS HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HIS LIFE AND WORK TITLED THE DEEPER THE ROOTS.

HE JOINS US NOW VIA SKYPE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED YOU ARE NOT HERE IN STUDIO.

WE WERE HOPING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

BUT WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT RAGING WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE SAFER LIKE THIS.

YOU'RE IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM?

>> BY LIGHTING DOESN'T LOOK AS GREAT AS YOURS BUT THINK IT'S MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING YOUR AMAZING WIFE WITH YOU NEXT TIME.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HER.

AND SHARING ABOUT HER WORK WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

WHAT ABOUT YOU.

IN ONE OF THE TWO DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT YOU YOU ARE SPEAKING AT A GRADUATION CEREMONY.

AND YOU SAY, THEY TRIED TO BURY YOU BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A SEAT.

COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND ABOUT THAT SEED IN THE GROUND THAT WAS MICHAEL TUBBS?

IN THE SOIL THAT YOU GREW UP IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH OLDER I GET BUT IN PARTICULAR MY CHILDHOOD.

I WAS BORN IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

I WAS BORN IN POVERTY.

I WAS BORN WITH THE FATHER INCARCERATED MOTHER WHO HAD ME AS A TEENAGER.

I HAD UNDERFUNDED AND LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS USUALLY BURY PEOPLE AND LEAD TO NEGATIVE OUTCOMES IN THE THINGS PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT.

I REALIZED THROUGH NOT JUST WRITING THE BOOK BUT BEING THE CITY COUNCIL PERSON AND TEACHER, THOSE THINGS PLANTED SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND BLOOM AND TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE HAVE TO GO TO MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE REAL FOR EVERY BUDDY.

>> IN YOUR BOOK YOU TALK ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF THE THREE WOMEN WHO RAISED YOU.

AS YOUR FATHER WAS INCARCERATED.

TELL US ABOUT THEM.

>> I WAS SO LUCKY AND BLESSED TO BE RAISED BY MY MOM, MY AUNT, AND GRANDMOTHER.

THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.

MY MOTHER HAS A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE AND MY GRANDMOTHER AND AUNT HAVE AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE.

THEY REALLY PROVIDED A FOUNDATION OF LOVE AND A SENSE OF SELF-DETERMINATION AND BIRTH.

STRUCTURE AND A DEMAND FOR AND ALSO OUTSTANDING MATTER WHAT, I HAVE THREE FEROCIOUS WOMEN WHO WERE ALWAYS READY TO FIGHT FOR ME.

WHETHER IT WAS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT OR AT SCHOOL.

I THINK THEY INSTILLED IN ME THE VALUES OF SERVICE AND EMPATHY AND KINDNESS AND SPIRITUALITY.

THE DETERMINATION HAS SERVED ME WELL THUS FAR.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU DISCUSS OU EVENTUALLY WENT TO STANFORD.

YOU EARNED TWO DEGREES IN FOUR YEARS.

HE MET A WIFE AND THEN YOU MOVE BACK TO STOCKTON TO RUN FOR FFICE.

I WANT TO WATCH ANOTHER SHORT CLIP FROM THE TRAILER TO ON.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEAM AND THE PEOPLE EDUCATED IN STOCKTON, WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE BACK OUR CITY.

>> FOR MOST PEOPLE NOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS NOW IS THE TIME WHEN THEY GET INVOLVED.

>> AND WE ARE EXCITED TO ELECT THE MAN TO BE THE NEXT -- >> CHANGE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE ONE PERSON IS ELECTED.

ONE PERSON ELECTED IS A CATALYST TO BE BRINGING OTHER PEOPLE A SENSE OF CHANCE.

>> BECAME A CITY COUNCIL NUMBER AND THEN RAN FOR MAYOR.

DURING THAT TIME AS MAYOR YOU LAUNCHED A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM.

IT'S ABOUT 100 PEOPLE RECEIVED $500 WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

TELL US ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THAT PROGRAM.

>> THE OUTCOME, IT FEELS WEIRD LOOKING AT THAT CLIP.

I WAS JUST OUT OF COLLEGE AND HAD NO IDEA.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> SEEING YOURSELF THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE'S EYES.

BECAUSEOF THE TIME YOU JUST KNEW WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WHEN YOU PUSH IT FORWARD.

>> HIM AT THIS CAMPAIGN RALLY THAT I'M HUGGING MY AUNT LIKE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

I THINK THAT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT MY THREE MOTHERS ARE.

TS YOUR QUESTION, IN STOCKTON WE WERE THE FIRST CITY -- AND WHAT WE SAW WAS PEOPLE DIDN'T STOP WORKING.

IN FACT THE CASH ALLOWED PEOPLE TO WORK MORE.

WE SAW THOSE RECEIVED THE GUARANTEED INCOME WERE TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE WHO DIDN'T TO GO FROM PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME WORK IN TWO TIMES LESS LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED.

WE SAW THE HEALTH IMPACT.

THOSE WITH GUARANTEED INCOME HAD STRESS AND ANXIETY LOWERED.

I STARTED AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MARRIAGE -- INCOME.

WE HAVE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOTS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY.

MANY OF WHOM ARE SEEING SIMILAR RESULTS.

BEFORE THERE WAS THE PANDEMIC WERE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK FORWARD.

>> WE ASKED REVIEWERS OF THEIR QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THEM SHARED ON TWITTER THIS QUESTION.

WHY YOU, YOU UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW THE INDIVIDUAL SPENT THE MONEY PRIOR TO THE EXPERIMENT AND WHY DID YOU PAY SUCCESS ON THE STATEMENTS BY THE PARTICIPANTS OF HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT WITHOUT VERIFICATION?

>> THE PREMISE FOR THE SECOND QUESTION IS FALSE.

YOU CAN READ THE PAPER, PHD RESEARCHERS.

WHAT THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD QUALITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA.

THEY TRACKED SPENDING AND GIVE THE MONEY A DEBIT CARDS AND WE SPENT.

E HOW MONEY WAS ACTUALLY BASED ON RESEARCH AND HOW BEHAVIOR WORKS.

INSTEAD OF NEW SPENDING DECISIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD NEW MONEY, IF ANYTHING WAS NEW WOULD IT MEET UNMET NEEDS?

>> YOUR BOOK MAINLY DISCUSSES EVENTS UP TO ENTER YOUR TIME AS MAYOR.

THAT'S A SHORT DISCUSSION AT THE END ABOUT YOUR REELECTION LOSS.

HE LOST TO A REPUBLICAN BY 13 POINTS.

IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A CHRONIC STATE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND PROBABLY DISCUSSION FOR SAMPLE.

THE VARIETY OF -- >> I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE BODY OF WORK IN THE STATE OF THIS NATION IN MANY RESPECTS ANY WORK WE DID, I THINK IT WAS A JOB WELL DONE.

I THINK PROGRESS COMES AT A PRICE.

I SPENT FOUR YEARS BEING AN UNAPOLOGETIC FIGHTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

I WAS EXPLICITLY ANTI-WHITE SUPREMACIST I SPENT FOUR YEARS DELIVERING FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

THAT MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IF YOU WOULD THE PAST SIX MAYOR STOCKTON IS HAD FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN REPUBLICANS.

THERE WAS A REPORTED NBC ABOUT WHEN THE LEADERS OF THE ANTI- VACCINATION MOVEMENT IN THIS NATION AND THE INSURRECTIONIST CALL STOCKTON HOME.

THE MIRACLE IS SOMEONE LIKE ME WAS EVER THE MAYOR AND SOME OF ME WAS EVER THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THAT.

I'M SUPER PROUD OF IT.

IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO LOSE BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOYED.

>> WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD HEARING ABOUT THE NEW PROJECT CALLED EPIC IN POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT WILL HAVE TO BE AN INTERVIEW FOR ANOTHER DAY.

MICHAEL TUBBS FORMER MAYOR STOCKTON AND ARE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNORS NOVELIST AND PARTY.

THEY COULD SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.

>>> WE START THE NEW YEAR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER LORENA GONZALEZ IS RETIRING TO TAKE A BIGGER ROLE IN LABOR ORGANIZING.

CENTRAL VALLEY CONGRESS MEMBER DEVON NUNEZ HAS RESIGNED.

TO BECOME CEO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP.

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS REFLECTED ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY JANUARY 6th INSTRUCTION IN WASHINGTON, DC.

>> THINK OF ALL OF THE STRUGGLES THAT ALL BEEN THROUGH FROM YOUR COMMUNITY IS AND FROM YOUR HISTORY AND HOW YOU MADE IT.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO BRING OTHERS ALONG AND MAKE SURE THIS DEMOCRACY WILL GET OTHERS OPPORTUNITIES.

SO NOBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.

GENERALLY SIXTH SHOULD BE A REMINDER OF ALL OF THIS IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

>> JOINING US NOW IS MARIE'S LAGOS AND POLITICAL REPORTER DR. SOVEREIGN.

PLEASE JOIN US BY SCOTT.

THE COMMERCIAL >> TYPE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON.

DOUG, LET'S START OUT ONE IS AFFECTING THE STATE.

YOU TWEETED OUT SOME OF THE LATEST STATISTICS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA INCLUDING 21% RATE OF POSITIVE TESTS COMPARED TO JUST TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.

SO FAR NO MOVE TO SHUT CALIFORNIA OUT AGAIN.

THE SUPER BOWL LOOKS LIKE IT'S MOVING FORWARD.

ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE LEADERSHIP?

ESTIMATE THEY ARE NOT EVEN CONSIDERING SHOWING HIM THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR AND HIS HEALTH OFFICIALS KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICAL PUSHBACK FROM THAT WHEN THEY DID LAST TIME.

THEY ARE NOT, THEY SAY IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE WERE BEING DISCUSSED TO CLOSE SCHOOLS WITH BUSINESSES AND GO BACK TO LOCKDOWN.

WHETHER THEY ARE NOT BRINGING IT UP THAT'S FOR US TO DECIDE HOW TRUTHFUL THEY ARE BEING.

THEY LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE IN DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAN A YEAR AGO WE HAD A REALLY BAD WINTER SURGE BECAUSE NOW MOST PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED.

THE NEW OMICRON VARIANT IS NOT AS SEVERE.

SO THEY LOOK AT THE RISK REWARD BALANCE AND DECIDE WE WANT TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL WE WANT TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN.

THEY SAY THERE IS NO SHUTDOWN COMING EVEN THOUGH THE MASK MANDATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

>> LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE OF DATA AND PROBABLY ALSO THE POLITICS OF.

THE ECONOMY AND THE ANGLES AND ALSO ALL THE NEWS THAT CAME OUT ABOUT HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN FOR KIDS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BECAUSE OF THOSE SHUTDOWNS >> YOU JUST RECOVERED FROM COVID-19.

TELL US WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND HOW THAT WAS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY MYSELF AND SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS CAME DOWN WITH WHAT FELT LIKE A FLU.

I WAS IN BED FOR TWO DAYS.

IT WASN'T ONE BUT IT WASN'T DEBILITATING.

WE ARE ALL TESTING NEGATIVE NOW.

A FEW THINGS STRUCK ME.

ONE IS CHALLENGING TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND UPHOLD THE ISOLATION GUIDELINES WHEN YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE OR JUST LIVING IN A SITUATION MANY OF US DO IN CALIFORNIA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE WINGS OF A HOME WHERE YOU CAN WALL OFF.

THE DOG'S POINT, THE POSITIVITY RATE IS EYEBROW RAISING BUT IT'S PROBABLY IN UNDERCOUNT BECAUSE WE KNOW TO WHAT PEOPLE LIKE MY FAMILY TESTED AT HOME.

I THINK THIS IS A DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAT WERE WE WERE ESPECIALLY MARCH OF 2020.

I DO THINK, ONE THING WE HEARD THAT WAS INTERESTING FROM THE HEAD OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DR. GALLI, WHILE A LOT OF THE NUMBERS WE REPORT ARE BASED ON PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE HOSPITAL NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF COVID- 19.

I THINK WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO GAUGE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

>> LET'S TURN TO POLITICS AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.

THE GOLDEN STATE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LARRY ELDER.

HE WAS THE REPUBLICAN WHO GOT THE MOST VOTES AGAINST GAVIN NEWSOM AND THE RECALL LAST YEAR.

HE STILL DIDN'T COME AND WERE CLOSE.

HE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK HE IS NOT GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST NEWSOM IN THE FALL.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS REASONING FOR THIS?

>> IT WASN'T A HUGE SURPRISE BUT HE WAS THE BIGGEST NAME WITHOUT MY CHALLENGE GAVIN EWSOM.

THREE AND A HALF-MILLION VOTES.

BY FAR THE MOST OF ANY OF THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES BUT THE RECALL LOST 62 TO 38%.

HE GOT TRANSPARENTLY.

OFFICIALLY HE SAID HE IS STARTING A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

HE IS GOING TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP REPUBLICANS WINS HOUSE AND SENATE RACES.

TO AFFECT LOCAL ELECTIONS RUN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK HE PROBABLY BOOKED AND SOUGHT, I GOT WHAT I WANTED AND RUNNING.

I SUPPOSE HE COULD CATCH LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE AND SOME MIRACLE COULD HAPPEN.

IT'S EXTREMELY UNLIKELY.

HE PROBABLY HIT HIS CEILING.

SO WHY NOT USE HIS ENERGY TO RAISE MONEY AND INCREASE THE CLOUT KEVIN FAULCONER MAY DECIDE TO RUN AGAIN.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHO THE PUBLICANS HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PUT UP STATEWIDE AGAINST GAVIN NEWSOM OR AGAINST ALEX PADILLA.

└> YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE HEARING FROM KEVIN KILEY AS WELL.

THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER NEAR SACRAMENTO.

LET'S TURN TO LORENA GONZALEZ IN THE ASSEMBLY SHE IS MOVING TO LEGISLATURE INTO ACTIVISM.

>> SHE WAS A LONGTIME LABOR LEADER WHO IS RETURNING TO HER ROOTS.

SHE WILL BE TAKING OVER THE HELM OF THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION THE SECOND LARGEST SORT OF UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION AFTER THE NATIONAL.

A BIG JOB FOR HER.

A BIG SORT OF LOSS FOR DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY LABOR FRIENDLY DEMOCRATS IN SACRAMENTO BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN CHAIR OF THE -- COMMITTEE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE SAW HER MORE POWERFUL THAN THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER.

IT SPEAKS TO WE ARE SEEING THIS IN A LOT OF AREAS.

A LOT OF SHUFFLING HAPPENING.

ALSO BECAUSE THE NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES AT THE GLOBAL CHANGES.

KEVIN -- HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CONGRESS SO WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF IRON THOSE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT MOVE.

>> AM ALSO GOING TO PUT A PLUG FOR EVERYONE TO LISTEN TO THE POLITICAL BREAKDOWN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WHICH WAS WITH LORENA GONZALEZ.

MOVING ON, DOUG, YOU SPOKE WITH LOCAL LAWMAKERS, CONGRESSIONAL LAWMAKERS REFLECTED ON JANUARY 6.

IN PARTICULAR YOU TALKED WITH -- CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND HOW PEOPLE HERE LOCALLY, OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO AND WHERE WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD TO?

>> WE HAD A FEW LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON AND I SPOKE WITH -- I WILL NOT PUT A PLUG IN HERE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE -- A PROGRESSIVE ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE TOOK A MUTED VIEW COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT CIVIL WAR AND THINGS WILL GET WORSE.

HE KIND OF BACKED OFF AND SAID, THE STUDY CARRIED AWAY.

HE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURITY IN THE CAPITAL POLICE.

HE DOES NOT THINK WE WILL SEE A REPEAT OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN.

HE DOESN'T THINK IT WILL GET WORSE BUT HE ALSO WARNED WE DO NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN THIS DEEPENING POLARIZATION IN THE COUNTRY IS REALLY UNHEALTHY IN OUR DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE.

WE SAW THAT MORE THAN LAST YEAR THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

HE DOESN'T THINK WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE 1870S.

HE HOPES WERE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> WE HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG LEGISLATIVE ACTION YOU ARE GOING TO SEE COMING OUT THIS YEAR FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WITH RDC AND A PUSH TOWARDS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IN CALIFORNIA.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG FIGHTS OF THE YEAR BUT I THINK WE HAVE A LOT AHEAD.

I MEAN THE GOVERNOR WILL UNVEIL A BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE YEAR ON MONDAY TALKING TO FOLKS IN THE FINANCED STATE GOVERNMENT THEY EXPECT BY MAY WHAT WILL ALREADY BE ROSY PROJECTIONS ON MONDAY WILL GET EVEN ROSIER SO I THINK WE WILL SEE IS A REAL DEBATE OVER HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY LAVISHLY SINGLE-PAYER AND UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IS A WHOLE SEPARATE DEBATE BUT THEN ALSO SCHOOLS.

WE STARTED WITH COVID-19 .

I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE HOW WE FINANCE SCHOOLS WHETHER THOSE SORT OF LONG-STANDING DISTRIBUTE MONEY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WERE THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THINGS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THIS WEEK'S SOMETHING GOOD FOR FUTURES ABSTRACT AERIAL VIEWS SALT PONDS SHOT BY BAY AREA PHOTOGRAPHER BUT BOYS A BAN.

BY BLENDING URBAN AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES SHE HIGHLIGHTS AN UNUSUAL ORGANIC BEAUTY IN THE HEART OF SILICON VALLEY.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK WITH US YOU CAN EMAIL US AT CALE MORRIS KQED.ORG WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MANY OF YOU DID IN RESPONSE TO OUR SPECIAL EPISODE CALIFORNIA'S PLASTIC PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU WROTE, I ENCOURAGE MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

ONES THAT MOTIVATE IN A POSITIVE VEIN.

GIVE YOUR VIEWERS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE I BELIEVE WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE.

PATRICIA JERRY WROTE IT SHOULD BE SHOWN TO EVERY CLASSROOM AND HOME IN THE BAY AREA.

SUSAN WROTE I ALWAYS ENJOY THE SHOW AND WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR GREAT REPORTING.

>> THINKS FOR LETTING US KNOW HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN A BUBBLE LIKE TO VISIT US AT KQED.ORG/NEWSROOM.

YOU CAN FIND US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND YOU CAN REACH ME ON TWITTER AT PRIYA D CLEMENTS.

THAT IS THE END OF OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.