EPISODE 1: Pangolin Panic and Why the West Said "No" to Masks
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Hello!
Time to Say Goodbye is a podcast\\u2014with your hosts, Jay Caspian Kang, Tammy Kim, and Andy Liu. We launched this thing because, like you, we\\u2019ve been sheltering in place and wanted an outlet for our thoughts on the coronavirus, Asia, geopolitics, and Asian Americans.
A short introduction to your hosts:
Jay Caspian Kang is a writer-at-large for the New York Times Magazine and the author of the upcoming book The Loneliest Americans.
E. Tammy Kim is a magazine reporter, a contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, and a retired lawyer. She co-edited the book Punk Ethnography.
Andrew Liu is a historian of modern China. He wrote a book called\\xa0Tea War,\\xa0about the history of capitalism in Asia. He remains a huge Supersonics fan.\\xa0
Today\\u2019s show is about travel and opulence.
We trace the Pangolin market and its wealthy consumers. We then tell you about the city of Wuhan and how its place in the economy all but ensured a global spread of Covid-19. Included in the discussion: supply chains, business travel, car-parts manufacturing, and tourism.
We move on to masks and South Korea. Tammy tells us about her recent article in the New York Times, on the government\\u2019s efforts to prevent price-gouging and distribute masks through local pharmacies. We talk about why Westerners weren\\u2019t initially keen to adopt the mask, then rapidly changed their mind over the past few weeks, at least in the United States.
Last, we explore Andrew Yang\\u2019s infamous op-ed in the Washington Post\\u2014and the backlash.
Show notes:
2:41 \\u2013 Korean quarantine for international travelers. A description of what it\\u2019s like here.
6:15 \\u2013 How coronavirus spread, the politics of the \\u201cwet market,\\u201d and pangolins. Andy\\u2019s article about China and mundane forms of global transmission, plus a follow-up opinion piece here.
45:00 \\u2013 Why did Americans resist wearing masks? Tammy\\u2019s article, with lessons from South Korea, and her interview with a lead Korean doctor here.
1:12 \\u2013 Obligatory conversation about Andrew Yang\\u2019s op-ed.
This is a public episode. If you\\u2019d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodbye.substack.com/subscribe'