As It Happens

As It Happens: Friday Edition

Friday, May 29, 2020

Transcript

Part One

George Floyd Death Charges
After days of protests on the streets of Minneapolis, the police officer who kneeled on George Floyd's neck has been charged. Our guest is one of the people who took to the streets to demand Justice for George. He'll tell us whether this arrest changes much.

Larry Kramer Obituary
They were the best of frenemies ... Larry Kramer called Dr. Anthony Fauci a murderer and a liar during the AIDS crisis. Dr. Fauci tells us about his surprising friendship with the playwright and activist who died this week. 

Strongman
And from our archives....when "As It Happens" spoke with Walter Cornelius in 1974, he was about to be catapulted 300 metres across a river. The world's strongest man was cheerfully uncertain about where or how he was going to land.

Part Two

New Brunswick COVID Doctor
A doctor in New Brunswick didn't follow the rules when he came back from an out-of-province trip. Now he's responsible for spreading COVID to at least 6 people. 

Laughing Kookaburra    
During lockdown in Townsville, Australia, Farvardin Daliri built a 4-and-a-half metre tall kookaburra. And just like the real-life birds, you might hear it, before you see it.

Part Three

Frontline Workers Bonus
Ontario is compensating health care workers with a temporary pay bump for the work they're doing during the pandemic. But it doesn't apply to ALL frontline health professions. We'll hear from an occupational therapist in Toronto who is working with patients recovering from COVID-19 who says being left off the list makes her feel like her work is invisible. 

Iditarod Winner
Since winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March, Norwegian participant Thomas Waerner, has been stuck in Alaska due to travel restrictions. We'll hear about how he's spent the last several weeks, and his new plans to finally get home. 

Blue Jeans Mile         
We talk to an elite runner who's gearing up for a big event tomorrow … an attempt at the world's fastest mile in Levis. 


As It Happens was produced this week by:

Jeanne Armstrong
Tayo Bero
Katie Geleff 
Sheena Goodyear 
Chris Harbord
Sarah Jackson
Morgan Passi
Kevin Robertson
Chloe Shantz-Hilkes
and Kate Swoger.  

Our technicians this week were Reynold Gonsalves and Annmarie Karugonjo. The show director this week is Susan McReynolds.
The writer is Lisa Bryn Rundle. Austin Webb is our senior producer this week.And the Executive Producer of As It Happens is Robin Smythe

We'd also like to thank some other people who helped us out this week: 

Mary-Catherine McIntosh in Halifax
Susan McKenzie and Brennan Neal in Montreal
Thomas Cobbett Labonte in Quebec City
Paul MacInnis in Ottawa
Kirsten Fenn, Nicole Ireland, Adam Jacobson, Alexandra Kazia, Varad Mehta, Eric Van, Luke Williams and Brandie Weikle -- all in Toronto 
Suzanne Dufresne in Winnipeg
Jennifer Keene in Calgary
Anne Penman in Vancouver.

As It Happens will be back again on Monday. Good night, and good weekend.