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The FDA on Saturday authorized emergency use of a rapid and inexpensive saliva test that could increase testing capacity. It’s quick, less expensive, and doesn't need the chemical reagents that are in short supply. It's also less sensitive than PCR tests. But public health experts believe the tradeoff will save lives. We talk about that and more Covid-related news.  

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from their appointed rounds," remains the motto of the United States Postal Service, despite changes by  the new Postmaster General to slow down mail delivery, remove sorting machines, and make it more difficult for voters to receive and return mail-in ballots on time. 

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democratic principles. The postal service led our first communications revolution by forging transportation networks that spread national and international news - even to those living in the most remote areas - to encourage an informed citizenry. Isn't it worth protecting?

GUESTS: 
Vincent Racaniello is a professor of Microbiology & Immunology in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He’s the host of the podcast, “This Week in Virology.” (@profvrr)
Margaret Sullivan is the media columnist at the Washington Post and the author of Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy. (@sulliview)

The FDA on Saturday authorized emergency use of a rapid and inexpensive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/15/fda-clears-saliva-test-for-covid-19-opening-door-to-wider-testing/">saliva test</a>&nbsp;that could increase testing capacity.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s quick, less expensive, and doesn't need the chemical reagents that are in short supply. It's also less sensitive than PCR tests. But public health experts believe the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-640/">tradeoff&nbsp;</a>will save lives. We talk about that and more Covid-related news.&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from their appointed rounds," remains&nbsp;<a href="https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/mission-motto.pdf">the motto&nbsp;</a>of the United States Postal Service, despite changes by&nbsp; the new Postmaster General to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/trumps-attacks-on-the-postal-service-deserve-sustained-red-alert-coverage-from-the-media/2020/08/14/6eac0e50-de2f-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html">slow down mail delivery</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/n7wk9z/the-post-office-is-deactivating-mail-sorting-machines-ahead-of-the-election?utm_source=nextdraft&amp;utm_medium=email">remove sorting machines</a>, and&nbsp;make it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/usps-states-delayed-mail-in-ballots/2020/08/14/64bf3c3c-dcc7-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html">more difficult&nbsp;</a>for voters to receive and return mail-in ballots on time.&nbsp;
Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democratic principles. The postal service led our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/neither-snow-nor-rain-nor-heat">first communications revolution</a>&nbsp;by forging transportation networks that spread national and international news - even to those living in the most remote areas - to encourage an informed citizenry. Isn't it worth protecting?
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Vincent Racaniello&nbsp;is a professor of Microbiology &amp; Immunology in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He&rsquo;s the host of the podcast, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/">This Week in Virology</a>.&rdquo; (<a href="https://twitter.com/profvrr?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@profvrr</a>)</li>
<li>Margaret Sullivan&nbsp;is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/margaret-sullivan/">media columnist</a>&nbsp;at the Washington Post and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://globalreports.columbia.edu/books/ghosting-the-news/">Ghosting the News:</a>&nbsp;Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy. (<a href="https://twitter.com/Sulliview?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@sulliview</a>)</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

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