CORONAVIRUS: LEADERSHIP DURING CRISIS

The citizens of Jackson, Mississippi, are only about 35 percent fully vaccinated, which mirrors the troublingly low number for the entire state. Join Washington Post Live on Tuesday, July 13 at 5:15pm ET, when we host Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. He will discuss efforts to highlight the need for the vaccine, including a recent visit to Jackson from First Lady Jill Biden, and the message he has to younger Mississippians and those in the Black community who are still hesitant to get their shots.

New Jersey has one of the best vaccination rates in the country, with two-thirds of its residents — almost 5 million people — fully vaccinated. Join Washington Post Live on Friday, July 9 at 11:00am ET, when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) explains how his state is handling the pandemic and why he now refers to COVID-19 as a “preventable illness.” We’ll also hear his forecast for an increase in tourism this summer and about his decision on masks in schools when they reopen this fall.

Over 80 percent of her citizens have at least one COVID-19 vaccine, but another lethal threat has emerged. Join Washington Post Live on Thursday, July 8 at 3:30pm ET, when we host Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. She will discuss how the historic drought in the West is impacting her city, as well as Washington state. She’ll explain the measures she’s considering to combat the effects of the driest year in more than a century and why the mask mandate is ending in the Seattle area.

Over 400,000 of Utah’s citizens have tested positive for COVID-19, and a summer spike in new cases is causing concern. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox also has a severe drought on his hands, wreaking havoc on his state with record-breaking, 115-degree days, and farms and ranches not having enough water for either crops or animals. Join Washington Post Live on Thursday, July 8 at 10:00 a.m. to hear Cox explain his strategy to deal with these major challenges facing the Beehive State.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance says fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks indoors or out and physical distancing is no longer necessary. Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will answer questions on the new guidelines and how to determine your risk tolerance. Join Washington Post Live on Thursday, May 20 at 9:30am ET.

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has presided over the nation’s capital during a global pandemic that shut down much of the city, a massive economic downturn, racial unrest and an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Join Washington Post Live on Thursday, May 6 at 11:00am ET, when we talk with Bowser about her plans to reopen the city, the progress being made getting D.C. residents vaccinated and the status of the push for D.C. statehood.

Great progress is being made across the country against the COVID-19 virus, and New Hampshire is no exception. Over 1,200 of their citizens have died, but the trendline is clearly moving in the right direction, as schools are returning to in-person classes, and vaccine eligibility now includes anyone over the age of 40. On Tuesday, April 6 at 9:00am ET, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) joins Washington Post opinions columnist Karen Tumulty to discuss reopening plans for his state, while still urging New Hampshire residents to show patience.

The nation’s governors have been at the center of the country’s response to COVID-19 from reopening plans, to schools, to vaccines. On Thursday, April 1 at 9:00am ET Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) joined Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty to discuss why he decided to ease restrictions in his state, the impact of more federal funding from the newly passed federal coronavirus relief plan and the lessons of leadership one year into the pandemic.

His state is making significant progress against the coronavirus on all fronts. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) recently announced anyone over the age of 40 will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and that the age will drop to 16 by March 29. Washington Post opinions writer Jonathan Capehart will talked with the governor about what he did right, lessons learned and his plans for reopening Ohio.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price describes her city as fiscally conservative, but the economic strains of the pandemic have pushed her to extend small-business support, rental assistance and help with utility bills. In response to the crisis, Price urged Texas’ senators to support Biden’s relief package and has opposed Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to relax mask restrictions. Price joined Washington Post Live to discuss how her city is responding to COVID-19 and the impact of recent winter storms.

Vaccines are proving effective in helping slow COVID-19 in New Mexico, offering the state a low-risk status that could allow bars, restaurants and other businesses to soon reopen. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) joins Washington Post Live to discuss the strategy behind how her state has administered the highest percentage of COVID-19 vaccines in the nation. She’ll also lay out her new vaccine equity program and offer her perspective on what states need from Washington on COVID-19 relief. Join the conversation on Tuesday, March 2 at 2:00pm ET.

Mayors have been at the center of the response to the coronavirus pandemic, from the rollout of vaccines, to the reopening of schools, to the economic recovery. On Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 2:00pm ET, San Francisco Mayor London Breed joins Washington Post opinions writer Jonathan Capehart to discuss how her city is responding to COVID-19, and the recent attacks against Asian Americans in the Bay Area.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is pushing the Republican Party to focus more on “common sense solutions for all Americans.” Hogan recently signed the bipartisan $1.1 billion COVID RELIEF Act to provide direct payments and tax credits for Maryland residents. Hogan has continually called for the federal government to distribute more vaccines, and he plans to reopen Maryland’s schools by March. Jacqueline Alemany, author of the “Power Up” newsletter, interviews Hogan on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 1:00pm ET.

The vaccine rollout has been difficult for many communities across the country. We’ll hear from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on how he has worked to successfully streamline the process in his state after a slow start. He will speak with Washington Post opinions columnist Karen Tumulty about creating a distribution network and eligibility standards, and how he plans to coordinate with the federal government as the nation looks to reopen. Join the conversation on Friday, Feb. 19 at 10:30am ET.

Public schools in Chicago are reopening following a contentious fight with the teachers' union over COVID-19 safety protocols. The city is also easing restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses as coronavirus cases continue to decline. Washington Post Live hosts Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for an in-depth conversation about the city’s reopening plans, vaccine rollout and Lightfoot’s strategy for driving economic recovery. Join the conversation on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 10:00am ET.

The vaccine rollout has been uneven, and often confusing. We’ll hear from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D), on how he is trying to streamline the process, after his state initially struggled in getting enough doses out to those eligible for the vaccine. We’ll also talk with Jake Wood, the co-founder & CEO of Team Rubicon, about the creative ways he’s deploying tens of thousands of military veterans around the country to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Join the conversation on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Anthony S. Fauci, MD, is chief medical adviser on COVID-19 to President Biden, and has served under seven U.S. presidents. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Fauci is leading the White House’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius will talk with Fauci about the latest developments in vaccine research, production and distribution, the mutated coronavirus strains sweeping through Britain and South America, and how to remain vigilant against the spread of the virus. Join Washington Post Live on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

States across America are doing their best to implement their own vaccine distribution plans, with varying degrees of success. We’ll talk with West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R), a state which many are crediting with doing extremely well with their vaccine delivery system. We’ll hear what he’s done right, what advice he’d give his fellow governors and what he wants to see from the federal government now. Join the conversation on Monday, Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET.