Voting in 2020, Sports Without Fans, Hip-hop Ambassador

Why is How We Vote Such an Issue in 2020 Election? (0:31) Guests: Chris Karpowitz, Professor of Political Science, Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, Brigham Young University; Grant Madsen, Professor of History, Brigham Young University A week ago, President Trump quipped that people who vote by mail in November should also go vote in-person on Election Day, just to be sure. That’s illegal. The White House says President Trump was only encouraging people to verify their mailed ballots are counted. Why has the way we vote become such a central part of the 2020 Election story? Does that Fake Crowd Noise Make a Difference for Pros Playing During the Pandemic? (22:19) Guest: Catherine Sabiston, Professor, Research Chair, Physical Activity and Mental Health, University of Toronto If you’re just flipping channels and happen to catch a glimpse of an NBA playoff game right now, you might not notice that the arena is completely empty of fans. The crowd chanting “DEFENSE!” is just a recording. Professional baseball, soccer and hockey leagues are also using canned crowd audio–kind of like the laugh track in old-fashioned TV sitcoms. Why not just skip the charade? Does hearing fans cheer and jeer affect the way athletes play–even if it’s just a recording? How a Single Spray Can Stop a Suicide (38:03) Guest: Gerard Sanacora, Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University Medication to treat depression takes weeks to start working in a patient. That wait time can be agonizing–if not deadly–for a person in crisis. The FDA has just approved a fast-acting emergency treatment for people at high risk of suicide. The drug is a nasal spray that’s been shown to ease depressive symptoms within 24 hours. The First Hip-Hop Ambassador for the US State Department (52:50) Guest: Toni Blackman, Rapper and Writer, First Hip-Hop Ambassador for the US State Department Did you know that the US State Department has an official hip-hop ambassador to the world? The US actually has representatives from all diffe