Cheap, Mediocre Testing

David, John and Josie Duffy Rice discuss the Biden-Harris ticket, stimulus gridlock, and rapid, ubiquitous coronavirus testing-- with guest Dr. Michael Mina. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Monica Potts for The New York Times: "In the Land of Self Defeat"  Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: "Tara Reade Is Making It Harder to Hide Joe Biden" This Week in Virology, “Episode 640: Test Often, Fast Turnaround, with Michael Mina” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Denise Lu for the New York Times: “The True Coronavirus Toll in the U.S. Has Already Surpassed 200,000”; Jamie Gangel and Elizabeth Stuart for CNN: “Details, Title and Cover Revealed for Bob Woodward's Upcoming Book on Trump” Josie: Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman; WorthRises.org, dismantling the prison industry and ending the exploitation of those it targets David: Carla Marinucci for Politico: “San Francisco Becomes First County in the Nation to Offer Free Calls to Jail Inmates” Listener Tim Anderson @TimAnderson_r2: Mark Johanson for the BBC: “How a Long-Forgotte Word Rallied a Nation” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Josie, David, and John talk about what they would do with their time if the world was free from the pandemic for one day. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices