When he wasn’t busy taming electricity and being a Founding Father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was encouraging inoculations to combat the smallpox pandemic of the 18th century. Franklin bitterly regretted not inoculating his 4-year-old son, Francis, who died from smallpox when an outbreak hit Philadelphia in 1736. Andy talks to filmmaker Ken Burns, whose new PBS documentary on the founding father comes out April 4, about Franklin’s role during the smallpox pandemic, how he balanced his libertarian views with scientific and public health reasoning, and whether Franklin would support a COVID-19 vaccine mandate if alive today.

 

Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt. 

 

Follow Ken Burns @KenBurns on Twitter.

 

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. 

 

Support the show by checking out our sponsors!

 
Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ 
Throughout the pandemic, CVS Health has been there, bringing quality, affordable health care closer to home—so it’s never out of reach for anyone. Because at CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com.

 

Check out these resources from today’s episode: 

 
Watch Ken Burns' four-hour documentary, “Benjamin Franklin,” which premieres on PBS April 4-5: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/benjamin-franklin/
Watch this extended scene on inoculation that did not make it into the final film: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/unum/playlist/innovation#benjamin-franklin-inoculation
Order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the USPS: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response,” here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 

 

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

 

For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.

When he wasn&rsquo;t busy taming electricity and being a Founding Father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was encouraging inoculations to combat the smallpox pandemic of the 18th century. Franklin bitterly regretted not inoculating his 4-year-old son, Francis, who died from smallpox when an outbreak hit Philadelphia in 1736. Andy talks to filmmaker Ken Burns, whose new PBS documentary on the founding father comes out April 4, about Franklin&rsquo;s role during the smallpox pandemic, how he balanced his libertarian views with scientific and public health reasoning, and whether Franklin would support a COVID-19 vaccine mandate if alive today.
&nbsp;
Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Follow Ken Burns @KenBurns on Twitter.
&nbsp;
Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at <a href="http://bit.ly/lemonadapremium">bit.ly/lemonadapremium</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Support the show by checking out our sponsors!
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/">https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Throughout the pandemic, CVS Health has been there, bringing quality, affordable health care closer to home&mdash;so it&rsquo;s never out of reach for anyone. Because at CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at <a href="http://cvshealth.com/">cvshealth.com</a>.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Check out these resources from today&rsquo;s episode:&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Watch Ken Burns' four-hour documentary, &ldquo;Benjamin Franklin,&rdquo; which premieres on PBS April 4-5: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/benjamin-franklin/">https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/benjamin-franklin/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Watch this extended scene on inoculation that did not make it into the final film: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/unum/playlist/innovation#benjamin-franklin-inoculation">https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/unum/playlist/innovation#benjamin-franklin-inoculation</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the USPS: <a href="https://special.usps.com/testkits">https://special.usps.com/testkits</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Order Andy&rsquo;s book, &ldquo;Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response,&rdquo; here: <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165">https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble/">lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble</a>.

In the Bubble is the go to place to learn more about the most important news events on YOUR mind. We take the time that’s needed to go beyond the headlines with A list guests from Andy's bubble. From Tina Fay to Tony Fauci. From the next vaccine to the next election issue. To an occasional dad joke. It’s Actual Facts from Actual Experts, every Wednesday from Lemonada Media.

In the Bubble is the go to place to learn more about the most important news events on YOUR mind. We take the time that’s needed to go beyond the headlines with A list guests from Andy's bubble. From Tina Fay to Tony Fauci. From the next vaccine to the next election issue. To an occasional dad joke. It’s Actual Facts from Actual Experts, every Wednesday from Lemonada Media.

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