TJJS - Ep 30: The AOV (Architect of the Vote) & Should I Stay or Should I Go? Thanksgiving in COVID Times

Wow, has it been a week since the election and what a crazy arsed week it was!  Makes ya want to holla, throw up both your hands!
Well, we are into it now. And all eyes are focused on the state of Georgia with their runoff in the Senate race. I found a great interview with Stacey Abrams from CBS This Morning that I had to share 'cause, Stacey is the true Architect of the vote. Here efforts to register people and get out the vote are legend. See why!

Also, if you're like me, you're trying to decide whether to stay at home for Thanksgiving or travel.  COVID rates are up all over, higher than they ever been.  What you gonna do?  We got some good info for yu from the NBC's Today Show.

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Transcript

Ep 30 AOV Stacey A/COVID Thanksgiving

[00:00:00] JJ: [00:00:00] It's the Jeff Johnson show brought to you by O T e@ofthisearthglobal.com of this earth. global.com clothing connection. Okay.

[00:00:21] Greetings or ask when you say it right here in the South. Hey, y'all. Hey, you know what time it is? It's time for another edition of the Jeff Johnson show a real, genuine, authentic podcast where I get to reconnect with the people and places, the events of my hometown area, Charlotte, North Carolina. All right, everybody let's get this week.

[00:00:42] Show started off. It is a week after the election. Okay. Everybody let's take a deep breath together. Let's take let's breathe. Let's do a breathing exercise and. Out. I know if you're like me. Wow. The emotions that you [00:01:00] must've felt as this has been going on now pretty much all week, and it's still not over folks.

[00:01:05] But it is an interesting exercise in what this experiment of America is all about. And I am very glad to see the incredible amount of people that came out to vote that registered to vote that stood in line to vote that put those mail-in ballots to vote. It is a great thing when you actually see democracy in action and a lot of this.

[00:01:31] In so many circumstances would not have been possible without the efforts of people all over doing great things. And I'm going to focus in on one person, you know, I'm in Atlanta and I have had the pleasure of meeting and being in the room with Stacey Abrams. And I am just amazed at what she has been able to do since her run for her.

[00:01:57] The being the governor in Georgia. And then [00:02:00] getting back and doing everything she could to help people vote. It's as simple as that, all she ever asked was that it was fair. All she ever asked was that each person had the opportunity to vote. No shenanigans, no nonsense. It's all about that. That lady truly is the architect of Georgia turning blue.

[00:02:27] There's no doubt about it. There's an incredible election coming up right now, as you well know, um, in January where we have two Senate seats that are sitting there and it is going to be a very interesting time over these next couple of months, we'll be talking a lot about it on the show, but I wanted to focus in on Stacy and just let you hear.

[00:02:56] A little bit about her from her own mouth. This was from [00:03:00] a, uh, CBS this morning segment, uh, Mark Straussman interviewed her on their new set and I just found it to be very interesting. And I wanted to share it with you because she's a neat person and you're going to be hearing a lot about her. Here's Stacey Abrams States, 

[00:03:20] CBS: [00:03:20] former house minority leader, Stacey Abrams.

[00:03:23] Mark Strassmann is in 

[00:03:24] JJ: [00:03:24] Atlanta where he 

[00:03:25] CBS: [00:03:25] spoke with Abrams about rallying voters. Mark. Good morning to 

[00:03:27] JJ: [00:03:27] you. 

[00:03:30] CBS: [00:03:30] Good morning. We're showing this a muralist Stacey Abrams because it seems timely. This is clearly Stacey Abrams moment in this recent election, a million more Georgians voted than four years ago.

[00:03:41] And voter registration on that scale is clearly a team sport. But the captain of that team is Stacy Abrams. Welcome back to a late show. Stacy Abrams, suddenly it seems everybody. Stephen Colbert included wants to talk to Stacy Abrams. Are you allowing [00:04:00] yourself time to celebrate right now 

[00:04:02] JJ: [00:04:02] or is there too much work to be done?

[00:04:03] I had about 17 minutes on Saturday afternoon. I'm good. Good evening. My fellow Americans, 

[00:04:10] CBS: [00:04:10] much of America met her last year, giving the democratic response to president Trump's state of the union address, but it was last week when Abrams really made her Mark nearly 5 million Georgians voted a record. Joe Biden's poised to win here.

[00:04:26] He should thank Abrams and new Georgia project. They've helped register 800,000 new voters in Georgia, a stunning number, mostly in communities of color. 

[00:04:37] JJ: [00:04:37] We knocked on doors in pockets of communities that had never been touched. And we kept coming back. Is there anyone else in your family who needs to register?

[00:04:45] What about your neighbors? 

[00:04:46] CBS: [00:04:46] Stacey Abrams now 46, graduated from Spelman college and Yale law school. She became a state rep and eventually George's house minority leader, but her passion since she was 17. [00:05:00] Fighting voter suppression barriers to the ballot,  

[00:05:04] JJ: [00:05:04] believe their way to preserve their power is to impede the ability of voters to be heard.

[00:05:08] And typically they target people of color, young people, and they target the 

[00:05:13] CBS: [00:05:13] poor. In 2018 Abrams ran for governor in Georgia. Barack Obama endorsed her Oprah Winfrey campaign for her. But the year before this Republican run States slash nearly 670,000 voters from its roles, nearly 70% of them black.

[00:05:34] Georgia's secretary of state overseeing the purge Republican Brian Kemp, who was Abram's opponent in the governor's race. She lost by 55,000. So you've never considered that race because you believe it was stolen from you. 

[00:05:51] JJ: [00:05:51] No, I believe it was stolen from the voters. I just said it can't happen again. And that has been my mission for the last two years.

[00:05:57] CBS: [00:05:57] After that loss Abrams founded another [00:06:00] group fair fight in this recent election, it worked to blunt voter suppression in 20 States. 

[00:06:06] JJ: [00:06:06] We were in Michigan. We were in Wisconsin. We were in North Carolina. We were in Pennsylvania. Voter suppression happens 

[00:06:13] CBS: [00:06:13] anywhere. Do you think you're helping change the trajectory?

[00:06:17] Of the democratic party. 

[00:06:18] JJ: [00:06:18] We changed not only the trajectory of Georgia. We changed the director, the trajectory of the nation because our combined power shows that progress is not only possible. It is inevitable 

[00:06:29] CBS: [00:06:29] Abrams. Next challenge is the Superbowl of runoffs in January. Georgia we'll elect both.

[00:06:35] That's us senators control of the Senate itself hangs in the balance. 

[00:06:40] JJ: [00:06:40] People will do almost anything when they know success is likely, it is the actual thing that can change the future. And I believe they'll show up showing 

[00:06:50] CBS: [00:06:50] you this mural. One more time at the very top of the building, someone repainted it, you can see the names, Ossoff and Warnock.

[00:06:57] They are the two democratic candidates running for [00:07:00] us Senate. Will our bracing next January as a runoff election, something else to consider here, if you've ever been to Atlanta, you've often seen, uh, murals of Congressman John Lewis, late civil rights icon Abrams told me that his deathbed plea was go vote.

[00:07:17] JJ: [00:07:17] Exactly. I keep, I keep hearing that story. Mark, did Stacy say anything about a possible position in the. Biden administration, because I've heard people say, what is Stacey Abrams, whatever the hell she wants ambassadorship. And she said anything at all about that. Maybe two 

[00:07:33] CBS: [00:07:33] for focus, honestly, Gail at this point is, is this January runoff?

[00:07:37] I mean, they see that as so critical. They, they honestly believe they honestly believe that now that they've proved to people that if you register and you vote, you can make a difference. It'll be much easier to get them to vote. Again. Runoffs typically turn out is not as good as the general election.

[00:07:53] They're really hoping to sustain that. Um, Momentum because they know that Republicans here are really going to bring all possible [00:08:00] weapons to bear on keeping control of the us Senate. But winning both of these us Senate seats, 

[00:08:04] JJ: [00:08:04] I know she's all over that race, but there is a bit of a Republican versus Republican drama.

[00:08:09] Mark. You've got Senator Kelly Loffler and David Perdue who were involved in those runoffs calling for the resignation of George's Republican secretary of state, because they say this election was an embarrassment. Do you think this, this, this movement has any legs, anything to this. 

[00:08:26] CBS: [00:08:26] I mean, they're, they're turning on each other, Gail, because th th they're they're looking for a way to put the president over the top, by all accounts, this recent election record turnout new machines went very, very smoothly.

[00:08:38] There has been zero proof and I mean, zero of widespread irregularities here. I mean, nothing at all. 

[00:08:44] JJ: [00:08:44] It seems to be consistent about what we're hearing nationwide too. Thank you very much, Mark. Strassman always good to see you in Atlanta, Georgia. Wow. That was a great interview. And I'm telling you, she is an intense, but very nice person who is focused, the right [00:09:00] things.

[00:09:00] You're listening to the Jeff Johnson show www get JJ. now.com is where you can listen to this. Share that with your friends. If you don't mind, we'll be back in just a second with me,

[00:09:16] PSA: [00:09:16] help protect your family from flu this season by taking three easy steps. First get yourself and your family, a flu shot it's quick and can protect you all season second, take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs like flu. Cover your cough. Stay home from work or school. If you're sick and wash your hands.

[00:09:35] Often third, there are drugs that can treat flu illness. These work best when started early, learn more at cdc.gov/fight flu.

[00:09:48] JJ: [00:09:48] Welcome back to the Jeff Johnson show a real, genuine, authentic podcast from me to you. And y'all know what's getting ready to happen. Right. Thanks [00:10:00] given. Yup. Yup, yup, yup. Yup. Put the brakes on. Yeah. A lot of you are going, man, am I really going to be having to go because of the coronavirus and all the other things and you know what, that's a good question.

[00:10:13] The rates are shooting through the roof. More people are getting infected. What are we going to do? Are you going to your grandparent's house? Are you going to your friend's house for Thanksgiving this year? Or are you going to keep it at home? Well, I was listening to a segment just the other day, uh, on the today show on NBC the third hour, you know, hour Craig and Chanel.

[00:10:40] They were on there and they had two folks dr. John Torres and Vicki Lynn, who talked a little bit about what you should think about, and if you are hosting what you should do. And I think it's very appropriate to share this information now because people have got to make a decision. Are you going to go [00:11:00] or are you going to stay at home?

[00:11:01] Either way, we want you to be safe. Let's take a listen to that right now, and hopefully you'll make some decisions for yourself. You listening to the Jeff Johnson show Thanksgiving in COVID time. 

[00:11:18] NBC: [00:11:18] Also hanging over the election, the rise in COVID cases, hospitalizations ups 40% nationwide in the last month.

[00:11:25] And the surge is complicating matters for families who want to see each other this holiday season. So scary at 40%. So could a family bubble be the solution? I'm told to think like the NBA bubble for your family, our experts, dr. John Torres and Vicki, when they've lined up and they're ready to answer all of our holiday questions.

[00:11:40] Good morning to you guys. Let's start with NBC senior medical correspondent, dr. John Torres. Good morning to you. Good morning. How are you doing last week? Baylor college came out with this holiday bubble checklist. It's a way for families essentially to prepare for the holiday season. What should people consider ahead of planning these family gatherings for the holidays?

[00:12:01] [00:12:00] And Chanel. The checklist is a great idea because the thing about this holiday is going to be different than ones in the past, because obviously we're in the middle of a pandemic. So start using this checklist. And the main thing is to go ahead and plan ahead. The one thing you want to start planning right now, start looking at the location and not just the location where people are coming from, but actually the location you're going to have the event.

[00:12:19] Is it going to be indoors or outdoors, a private space, a public space. You want to make sure that you have a good location set up already because that's going to determine the number of people you can have there. But also look at state and local guidelines because here in Colorado, you can't have more than 10 people.

[00:12:33] You can't have more than two families together. So make sure you're following those guidelines as well. And then where are guests traveling from? I know Vicki's going to talk about the actual mode of transportation that they can get there, but also are they coming from hotspots? Are they going to have to quarantine when they get back?

[00:12:46] All things they need to think about Chanel, Vicky. What are some of the items that families. Should have on their, their bubble checklist. And what do they do to try to make this as safe as possible? Yeah. Look, if you're hosting the gathering, consider contact list [00:13:00] groceries, um, dr. John Torres is going to talk about whether we should test or not.

[00:13:03] So even if you do test, you don't know what folks are going to be coming to the gathering with, and you want to limit your contact as well. So there's a new option for Amazon prime members. If you want to go to whole foods, you just buy the groceries online. You go to the store, you pick them up a lot of groceries.

[00:13:16] Locally we'll also deliver or allow you to do that curbside pickup. If it's a gathering of two or three, families have a lot of extra supplies on hand masks, hand sanitizer, and the key is really setting expectations, putting in writing in that invitation, what you expect. Do you want everyone to wash their hands with soap and water?

[00:13:31] Right? When they get to the house? That's what our pre-K does. Uh, what about wearing masks? Are we all wearing masks until it's time to eat the keys? You just don't want everyone to feel awkward or not. Know what they're doing. Chanel. We talked about that data out of Chicago, two and three cases of COVID-19 there.

[00:13:45] You know who you got it from? So this is not a time to relax or let down our guard, dr. John, every, the centers for disease control doesn't recommend holiday gatherings for everyone. So who should avoid a holiday gathering? Exactly [00:14:00] what they are. The thing is if you have COVID number one bottom line, do not travel.

[00:14:03] If you're positive for COVID, obviously don't travel, but even if you've been around somebody who had COVID and you have to quarantine, make sure you go through that quarantine, whether you have symptoms or not. And then think about the elderly, those with pre-existing medical conditions, they shouldn't be at these gatherings.

[00:14:17] If they are, they need to be extra protected. And that means more social distancing, more wearing masks. And you usually would, but one thing to think about again is who are you bringing there? How are you bringing them? And how's it going to be sitting down? And one thing that nobody probably wants, but go ahead and nominate somebody as the holiday commissioner, somebody who can oversee all the guidelines and make sure you're following that checklist, I guess would be the difference.

[00:14:40] How is Europe holidays. Good. Uh, so Vic, the CDC has some, some guidelines for when you share a meal, what you do, what are some of the tips for a safe holiday meal? Once you start eating? Yeah. We talked about this over the summer, right? Al of the summer gatherings, 4th of July. You want to designate someone to be the server, just like there's a holiday commissioner.

[00:14:58] You just want a couple people working on the food. [00:15:00] So one person at the Turkey table, one person scooping out the sides. This is not a time for buffets or self-service, that's super important. We're really trying to limit the contact as much. As much as possible. And there is a tendency, especially when you introduce alcohol and you're among friends and family, you want to relax and you want to do things the way you always did.

[00:15:18] This is not the year for that. So the sooner that we can mentally prepare ourselves, that if we're going to get together this holiday, we want to protect each other. We don't want to see people getting sick two weeks from now. We have to take these precautions and mentally prepare that it will be different.

[00:15:31] But we can do things to mitigate the risk. All right, Vicky, when dr. John Torres great advice, I think he would make an excellent, excellent holiday. Cause I think so. Or you can all do what Craig is going to do this Thanksgiving. He's just taking a bottle of bourbon to the basement.

[00:15:48] got the alcohol in it. You're good. Very good information from a good crew of very informative people. 

[00:15:56] JJ: [00:15:56] Well folks, that's it for me today. Jeff Johnson in the [00:16:00] house always saying to each and every one of you that I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen to these Melissa Lewis tones, this loud voice on this thing called the computer, the intranet, and on my podcast.

[00:16:14] I truly, truly appreciate it. We're going to have a lot more stuff coming up in the future. Y'all stay tuned. But most important to stay safe and remember remembered, get out and vote. Take care, everybody have a great Jeff Johnson show brought to you by O T E at, uh, visit  earth global.com of this earth.

[00:16:38] global.com clothing connection O T E.