'BradCast' 5/4/2021 (Guest: Former Leon County, FL Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho)

Published: May 5, 2021, 1:25 a.m.

b"On today's 'BradCast':\\xa0 California is seeing a stunning drop in COVID infections, hospitalization and deaths \\u2013 just 15 deaths reported on Monday in a state of 40 million people. While the numbers could be due to slow reporting, both the state and L.A. County have one of the lowest test positivity rates in the nation. But across the nation, vaccine administration has fallen off sharply. President Biden announced a new goal for at least 70 percent of US adults to have at least one vaccine dose by July 4, and detailed plans to increase vaccine numbers, including expanding vaccines to 12-15 year olds after expected FDA approval next week. Biden's American Rescue Plan (passed by Democrats with zero Republican votes) includes paid days off for workers to get vaccinated, and has also dramatically lowered monthly premiums for those receiving federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Instead of advancing policies that help average Americans, Republicans are passing new restrictions to keep them from voting. In Florida, despite the state's successful and secure election in 2020, state GOP lawmakers adopted yet another sweeping voter restriction bill targeting new voters, younger voters and, specifically, African American voters \\u2013 by restricting early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, and secure drop-boxes, along with many other new restrictions. Former Leon County (Tallahassee) elections chief ION SANCHO explains the bill's voter suppression measures, and why Republicans are shutting down procedures that increased voter turnout in 2020 and inserting themselves much more directly into the elections process. He also warns that the Florida bill and similar voting restrictions pushed by GOP-controlled state legislatures around the country are eroding non-partisan, professional elections administration, targeting elections officials, and more. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'"