Listen: The CDC’s credibility crisis, pandemic PR, and virtual conference malaise

How should governments talk about Covid-19? Can the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rebuild public trust? And when is a steak worth $21 billion?

We discuss all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. First, our colleague Helen Branswell calls in to discuss how how caving to White House pressure has eroded public trust in U.S. health agencies. Then, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, researcher Heidi Tworek joins us to examine how countries around the world have succeeded — and failed — to communicate clearly about the Covid-19 crisis. Finally, we embark on a lightning round, with takes on Gilead Sciences’ latest deal, the perils of virtual meetings, and the value of making political endorsements.

For more on what we cover, here’s the latest on the CDC; here’s Tworek’s research; and here’s STAT’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

We’ll be back next Thursday evening — and every Thursday evening — so be sure to sign up on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you have any feedback for us — topics to cover, guests to invite, vocal tics to cease — you can email [email protected].

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