Millions of jobless Americans are collecting an extra $600 each week for unemployment. That helped keep some people on their feet and economists say the increased spending helped prop up a declining economy. Now, those extra checks are set to expire at the end of the month. Soledad O’Brien speaks with economist Heidi Shierholz about what could happen if lawmakers don’t extend the benefits.
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at what it means to be an American. We follow a naturalized immigrant judge as she swears in new citizens in Milwaukee. Then, Special Contributor Joie takes us inside a controversial vaccine shortcut known as “Human Challenge Trials.” Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez shows us a Detroit boxing gym has become an unlikely source of community support during the pandemic. And, a conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor about the state of civics.
This week, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes you to the center of the country’s first confrontation with COVID-19. We reveal some of the first moments leaders in Seattle, Washington began grappling with a new and deadly coronavirus, never before seen in the United States. In our documentary-style episode, we will introduce you to a family struggling on the streets during the pandemic; a daughter fighting to get care for her father while he is quarantined inside a nursing home; and local caregivers working to protect the most vulnerable in the community.
Detroit is still working to put the pieces back together after thousands lost their jobs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Many families are being forced to make hard decisions about where to cut costs while still doing what is best for their children. Correspondent Jessica Gomez reports from the Motor City where a local boxing gym is doing what they can to help.
Milwaukee Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph often presides over naturalization ceremonies as immigrants become our nation’s newest Americans. As a native Haitian, now naturalized citizen, it’s a journey she’s intimately familiar with. She explains why, to her, being an American means being hopeful about what the United States can be.
This week on Matter of Fact, challenging the future of policing in America. Soledad talks to former Camden, NJ Police Chief Scott Thomson about how they rebuilt their police force after disbanding the department. Then, she speaks with Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby about redefining public safety. Plus, a mother seeks sanctuary in a Maryland church for more than 500 days, sheltering from deportment. And, how Seattle tackled its homelessness crisis in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
This week, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien takes you to the center of the country’s first confrontation with COVID-19. We reveal some of the first moments leaders in Seattle, Washington began grappling with a new and deadly coronavirus, never before seen in the United States. In our documentary-style episode, we will introduce you to a family struggling on the streets during the pandemic; a daughter fighting to get care for her father while he is quarantined inside a nursing home; and local caregivers working to protect the most vulnerable in the community.
As the world continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Seattle is also fighting another public health battle: homelessness. Washington State’s largest city is home to more than 10,000 people without housing. As the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak loomed, the city raced to find shelter for that vulnerable population. Soledad O’Brien looks at the response that could serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country – if it can last.
Kathy Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space over 36 years ago. Then, in a dive coordinated by EYOS Expeditions, she became the first woman to reach Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the ocean. We take a deep dive into her career as she sets a record no one has ever achieved before.