Ginni Thomas, gas prices, and Governor Doug Ducey: 5 news podcast episodes from this week’s headlines

This week, we heard updates from the Ukraine-Russia war. In COVID-19 news, the BA.2 Omicron subvariant is dominant, and the FDA has authorized a fourth shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. President Biden spoke about skyrocketing gas prices and could explain two possible solutions later this week.

We learned about the newly-revealed text messages from Ginni Thomas and her husband, Justice Clarence Thomas, in regards to the January 6th insurrection. Also, the U.S. qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

CNN 5 Things

According to Britain’s intelligence chief, Russia’s troop morale is low. Shelling continues in Ukraine’s northeast, and some troops refuse to follow orders. President Joe Biden will make a statement regarding high gas prices and could provide two solutions to bring down the cost. Last year, Florida’s Champlain Towers collapsed, and a judge recently approved a settlement for victims and families. Also, the U.S. believes North Korea might start an underground nuclear test. In sports news, learn how the U.S. qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

Up First

In this episode of NPR’s “Up First,” hear about citizens fleeing the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The FDA has authorized a fourth shot of the COVID-19 vaccine for some people, and we learn who is eligible. In business news, Johnson & Johnson used bankruptcy to delay lawsuits for asbestos-contaminated baby powder.

Consider This

Virginia “Ginni” Thomas is married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. As a right-wing activist, she supported attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as recently proven by a series of text messages handed over to the congressional committee for the January 6th insurrection cases. These text messages create an ethically dicey territory as a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas’ January 6th case hearings.

Today, Explained

March 30th’s episode of Vox’s “Today, Explained,” shares that the U.S.’s southern border is closed to asylum seekers due to COVID-19, unless you are Ukrainian. This episode is hosted Sean Rameswaram, and he interviewed a border reporter on what he has witnessed in recent weeks.

What A Day

Crooked Media’s “What A Day” shared COVID-19 news on the BA.2 Omicron subvariant. Infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist, Dr. Céline Gounder, joined this episode to discuss this COVID-19 strain. Also, the Biden administration is reportedly ending Title 42 in May, suspending the legal asylum process. Other headlines from this episode include Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey signing a bill that outlaws abortion after 15 weeks. Republican Senator Susan Collins plans to vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.