In the midst of the pandemic, well being officers have develop into the face of native authorities authority. And, in flip, many have develop into targets for the fashion and resentment of among the identical loose-knit militia and white nationalist teams that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January, smashing home windows, bloodying officers and savagely chanting “Dangle Mike Pence.”
Kaiser Well being Information joined forces with the enduring public radio group at This American Life to chronicle this disturbing development by the lens of California’s Santa Cruz County. The county, although extensively considered as liberal and progressive, noticed an escalating succession of threats, capped by the cold-blooded killing of a sheriff’s deputy, which have upended the lives of well being leaders making an attempt to navigate the covid response.
KHN senior correspondent Anna Maria Barry-Jester tells the story of Dr. Gail Newel, Santa Cruz County’s well being officer, and her boss, Mimi Corridor, the county’s well being providers director, who have soldiered on as authentic debate over their covid-related public well being orders has devolved into vitriol and sinister intimidation. Their every day routines now incorporate safety patrols, surveillance cameras and, in some circumstances, private firearms.
They’re public servants who now not really feel secure in public.
That is KHN’s first collaboration with This American Life. It follows related partnerships with the investigative public radio group at Reveal and St. Louis Public Radio.
Take heed to the This American Life audio story, entitled “The Herd,” right here. And skim KHN’s companion digitalstory right here.
About KFF and KHN
KHN (Kaiser Well being Information) is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points. Along with Coverage Evaluation and Polling, KHN is likely one of the three main working packages at KFF (Kaiser Household Basis). KFF is an endowed nonprofit group offering data on well being points to the nation.
About This American Life
This American Life is an award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast hosted by Ira Glass. It’s heard by 2 million listeners every week on over 500 public radio stations within the U.S., with one other 2.8 million individuals downloading every episode as a podcast. The present is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX, Public Radio Alternate.