Heard Tell w/ Andrew Donaldson for 17FEB22

Heard Tell 17FEB22: DNA Databases, PJ O’Rourke, Revisiting “Biden Crack Pipe” coverage w/guest Andrew Egger

Heard Tell for Wednesday, February 17th, 2022 is turning down the noise and getting to the information we need about a disturbing story out of San Francisco about policing using DNA collected from victims of rape and sexual assault as a database to prosecute/investigate other crimes with. Our friend Em Carpenter has a write up at Ordinary Times with the details for us to discuss. Writer PJ O’Rourke passed away, and frequent guest to Heard Tell Michael Siegel does some great writing to explain the impact and legacy of a great writer. Also, we return to a story we covered last week, and the caterwauling over a harm reduction grant that turned into accusations that the Biden Administration was spending $30m to give away free crack pipes. Andrew Egger of The Dispatch investigated not only the original story but the media reaction to it, the reaction to the reaction, the Biden Administration’s mix messaging reacting to the reaction, and how the underlying policy discussion of the issue is once again lost as we talk about the viral story instead. Plus, with mask mandates going away and most of the country either open or re-opening, lots of folks are wondering why so many important government agencies like social security are still either closed to the public or greatly…