In the News
In the News
COVID-19 IS NOW SPIKING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY Are you sad? Tom isn't as sad as you'd expect! Find out why.
Oklahoma Is Seeing 100% Positive Test Rate For COVID-19 Following Trump’s Tulsa Rally
From The Washington Post: In wake of Trump’s Tulsa rally, his campaign is still contending with the fallout
From Today: Arizona man, 30, who got COVID-19 at crowded bar: 'I thought I was invincible'
From The Washington Post: ‘We just need some more optimism’: Rand Paul’s crusade against Anthony Fauci takes a curious turn
From ABC News: Alabama students throwing 'COVID parties' to see who gets infected
What's your position on the spread of COVID-19? Write Tom and tell him: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
AUNT JEMIMA TO VANISH; UNCLE BEN SOON TO FOLLOW The death of George Floyd will now result in the death of longtime fictional product spokesperson Aunt Jemima and, soon possibly, Uncle Ben of "converted rice" fame as well. So many of us are justifiably sad about the deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks, but will the demise of Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and Sambo's Restaurants make any difference?
From The New York Times: Uncle Ben, Board Chairman
Fictional character Aunt Jemima in her prime
Uncle Ben upon his "promotion" to "CEO of Uncle Ben's" in 2006
Are you happy to see Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben hit the road? Tell Tom now: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
TOM'S CONFLICTED FEELINGS ABOUT COVID-19 VICTIMS Tom's in his fourth month of sheltering-in-place as Donald Trump's "reopening of America" begins. As cases spike all over America, Tom deals with his conflicted feelings about the situation. Is it so wrong to be happy about the way things are going for some?
- Arkansas (cases up 113 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, current hospitalizations up from 64 on May 10 to 181 on June 10)
- Florida (cases up 87 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, the state does not report current hospitalizations)
- North Carolina (cases up 62 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, current hospitalizations up from 442 on May 10 to 780 on June 10)
- South Carolina (cases up 93 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, the state does not routinely report current hospitalizations but there was a reported recent spike)
- Texas (cases up 53 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, current hospitalizations up from 1,626 on May 10 to 2,153 on June 10)
- Utah (cases up 126 percent in two weeks, positive test rate increasing, current hospitalizations up from 93 on May 10 to 130 on June 10)
The White House, as usual, is in denial about what's going on.
CDC predicts 130,000 US coronavirus deaths by July 4, with more new cases as states reopen
Trump Supporters Must Waive Right to Sue Over Virus to Attend Rally
How New York’s Coronavirus Response Made the Pandemic Worse
Houston on ‘Precipice of Disaster’ With Virus Cases Spreading
As businesses reopen, beware of COVID-19 surcharges
Texas Shatters Record For New Coronavirus Cases
Alabama COVID-19 Hospitalizations Hit Record High
Alarming rise in virus cases as states roll back lockdowns
Current number of US COVID-19 cases and deaths
YOU THINK THIS IS BAD? The civil unrest we saw across the country on the night of May 30th was heartbreaking. After that, in comes the National Guard! Is that the end of it, or is it only the beginning?
This time of social unrest makes it a great time to look back at this Nipsey Hussle track from 2016.
Agree or disagree? Tell us NOW: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
WHY HERD IMMUNITY WON'T SAVE YOU FROM COVID-19 Were you out at a crowded beach or public pool? Is it because people said you would be protected by something called "herd immunity"? Tom's got some bad news for you.
Here's the piece in The Washington Post that got Tom all revved up: ‘An international example of bad judgment’: Local officials stunned by raucous Memorial Day festivities
WebMD has what Tom considers to be the best piece explaining herd immunity.
Scientists Say New, Lower CDC Estimates For Severity Of COVID-19 Are Optimistic
CDC's Approach To Collecting Testing Data May Muddy The Picture Of Current Infections
Without A Vaccine, Herd Immunity Won’t Save Us
Is Herd Immunity Our Best Weapon Against COVID-19?
What the Proponents of ‘Natural’ Herd Immunity Don’t Say
Agree or disagree? Let Tom know: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
"I WANNA GO TO THE BEACH!" That's what all the Trumptards and the guys with the AR-15s and the Confederate flags are whining about. Tom has a compromise that could solve this dispute immediately and permanently!
What do you think? Let Tom have it: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
THE LIES WE'RE BEING TOLD EVERY DAY ABOUT COVID-19 You've got it all figured out. A couple of weeks or maybe a month of social distancing, then, "play ball!" Back to things as usual. The usual suspects are lying to you again. Remember how Tom accurately called the effects of this crisis? He says, "you ain't seen nothin' yet!"
Agree or disagree? Let Tom hear it: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
SHOULD PEOPLE WITH TWO HOMES STAY IN THE CITY? All over the country, people who can afford it are ditching urban quarantines for second homes as well as Airbnbs or VRBOs in less-infected small town America. The small towns are clapping back, saying that their small-town hospitals and emergency services can't handle the rush of urban escapees.
Should Tom and others like him retreat to their cities until COVID-19 subsides?
Here's the story from The Washington Post that got Tom going.
What do you think? Tell Tom: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
WHILE LIFE AS WE KNOW IT HAS BEEN COLLAPSING AROUND US, four US Senators, who were privately briefed in advance of the severity of the coronavirus epidemic, apparently used the information to sell millions of dollars of stocks before the stock markets began to crash! Illegal? Insider trading? Listen and you be the judge!
Here is the scoop from Tom's guest, journalist Robert Faturechi of Propublica.
NPR obtained a secret tape of Senator Richard Burr on February 27th, 2020 cluing in big contributors about what was coming while Donald Trump and his supporters were calling the then-coming pandemic "a hoax". Burr later sold off his stocks in 33 separate transactions before the stock markets actually crashed.
Here's even more from TheHill.com: Four senators sold stocks before coronavirus threat crashed market.
Propublica is doing amazing reporting now that so many newspapers and radio stations have given up on actual journalism. Tom supports Propublica and donates as well. If you want more journalism like this, here's how to support this nonprofit organization and this great work.
NPR is also so valuable at this time when we need true facts and information the most. Here's how to support NPR.
How do you feel about the crooks in Washington cashing in on this national emergency? Tell Tom right away: tom@blowmeuptom.com.
CORONAVIRUS: HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON? What have we learned so far? How are US authorities handling this worldwide crisis? Are we really prepared for what might really happen? Many who miss Tom's live show have been asking for his takes, and here they are.
Tom mentioned this book during this episode.
Tom wants to know your takes on coronavirus: tom@blowmeuptom.com.