It is a humbling experience many been expire but how he turn a happenout into a rapo lend a hand. It is no just graffiti. Sprau paint has become the tall of american protest. Meet the street artists of the social justice movement. Soledad im Soledad Obrien. Welcome to matter of fact. As covid19 batters nation pandemic is exposing a at that time health carr crisis. Rural hops overwhelmed and near capacity fighting it keep their doors open. Before pandemic nearly half of all rural hospitals were praulgt at a lossment 17 have been doctors to close this year and morning 400 others face saul fate. Texas has seen more closures than think or state in recent years. Our correspondent Jessica Gomez traveled to tights tight county in the northeast part of the state and spent the day at a rural hospital struggling to stay afloat. East texas far from the hustle of big city life but now the usual peace and quiet here shattered but a pandemic. As you know we have another surge in covid. Skraurbgs this is the morning huddle at Titus Regional Medical Center we have currently seven r. N. s out with covid and that stretches us thin. They called code 1 and alert were they are moving a covid patient skraurbgs in the i. C. U. 2 yard nurse Megan Barrett preparing for another covid patientment they are worried and scared si always tray it make testimony feel at ease. Only u. C. U. Within an who are is busy and how to experiencing its they are summer in covid cases many she is sort of breath. C. E. O. Terry scoggin trying to keep his hospital you a float. One of my biggest concerns and fares is under my leadership we will not milwaukee it. The hospital which serves five Rural Counties was already struggling financially we covid hit. More than half of the patients are in medicare or medicaid and nearly a third of the population here is uninsured. It means that it is hard it sraouf. As an independent hospital theres to money coming in. There are not many who are uninvestigating in rural hospitals many 10 of staff furloughed or let go early on. In pause of the millions that would be lost in canceled outpatient and elect constructive procedures the federal stimulus help not enough to cover the losses what did you need . Terry scoggin blames himself. I regret wed it make decision. I regret more importantly i didnt have us in a financial position are away could weather the storm. A storm which no end in sight as cases raise once gap they are doing more here with less. Short on the testing they need, quilt, medication and staff. Other texas hospitals that helped early on are now maxed out themselves. The staff are stretched and they are very tired and working a lot of overtime rest to your therapist Lindsay Hutchings devising it home made tent with a shower curtain to protect doctors. It works well but she is, hawed. The last few months have been panel will you, physically, emotionally draining. Draining and many here getting sickment more than 100 hospital employees like Michael Saenz have been unfacted the 35yearold new dad now back at work after being on a ventilator for a week 1 2. Hoping i would get out of it and go back home. Because i had a twomonthold and i need to get back to him. Fighting here for survival, no only for their patients, but for a community depending on testimony. As number three and number four employer in the community an jobs away provide the economy would take a dramatic hit. We will make it because because we have to. Megan barrett making it through another shift. Last week she clocked 67 hours, her toughest createment they are dying alone and it is hard. And you try to be in there with them and they memoranda not though you are in there but you true to be there and who would their hands these people need us, they really need us. Im trying not to cryment it has been hard. In titus county, texas, for matter party im jessica jessica. Next on matter of fact. A steen expert answers our questions. Soledad what are your worries about it vaccine becoming it some degree a political football . Why he says battle over masks could be a war over vaccine. Later, congress put a hold on 30 million Student Loans because of covid19. We will tell you we those payments are coming due. Stressballs gummies have ashwagandha, an herbal stress reliever that helps you turn the stressed life. Into your best life. Stress less and live more. With stressballs. You make my heart sing wild thing i. Think i. You know what i think . I think you owe us 48. 50. Wild thing. If you ride, you get it. Geico motorcycle. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. Instwith vicks sinex saline congnasal mist. If you ride, you get it. Geico motorcycle. For drug free relief that works fast. Vicks sinex. Instantly clear everyday congestion. Soledad thanks for joining us for matter of fact. A dose of good news about possible vaccines for covid19. Modern modern joined pfizer in announcing strong recall result from testing. Both vaccines show over90 effectiveness. And both are on track to seek emergency use authorization from the f. D. A. With trials moving forward at an unprecedented pace there are questions about the diverse did you of test subjects in stpaep trials. Federal data show infection ratesor black and brown people are two to three times higher than wait pares. Dr. James hildreth is one of the leading immunologist and heads the Meharry Medical College in nashville the larges private independent historically black Academic Health service center. Dr. James hildreth, it is nice to have you back. Thank you for being with me. We away spoke lax you said you would be a candidate for the vaccine and part of that was to help recruit more people of color. Has that worked and been the response made a difference . I think it has made a difference but to be honest theres a great deal of apprehension in phaourpt communities in vaccines and medical research generally. That is why it is important for me to be a participant in the trial so i can advocate for something that im doing myself. The approach is to provide enough information to people that they can make their own decision about whether or not this is something insure did. Pfizer reports 42 of participant were from diverse backgrounds an here in the United States 10 of the participants were africanamerican. That is tphnot best but it is certainly a descent representation of minorities in the study. I think that getting Academic Health centers involve and Community Organizations has made a dealershipsment trial you are involved with is Novavax Trial and fast tracked. Can you explain what that means. That means that the f. D. A. Is the some criteria that if they are met it vaccine can get, indicted a for approval and will get an e. U. A. An mental use authorization and that is what is happening. Now some people who are part of the vaccine you a previously process would like us to just to the full approval as opposed to e. U. A. Because the standard are a little more rigorous. But given the urgent succeed where we are i think the e. U. A. Evaluate is appropriate. But people need to understand that doesnt mean that they will be kproeized. It means that system of steps needed for you a previously would be expedited. Soledad how does it work between Drug Companies . How would you describe that relationship as you try to create a vaccine that works . What has happened is an up precedented level of collaboration between the Drug Companies and n. Implement h. So they are all trying to get tv vaccines you a proved but the level of cooperation between the Drug Companies and n. I. H. And some of the private contract and Research Organizations is unprecedented. What are your worse of this vaccine becoming a political football or do you think that when it actually gets to spring, summer, 2021 away might be through some of the more contentious Political Part of it debate . My fervent hope is that the vaccines will not become politicized because this is a Public Health issue, it is not a political issue and the truth is that need for the vaccine content be jeff stated to get back to a sense of normalcy around the globe. People arnold world need vaccine and i think that we need to plan for that and making provisions for it. I hope that it wont be become politicized but watching what has happened with max and other things i worry about that but i pray in wont go case many soledad dr. James hildreth thank you. Thank you for having me again. Come come. Millions of americans dont know where they will get their next meal. Twice a month i walk to the food pantry it pick up grows rust. Will the season of giving last long enough to feed need . It is a very, very thin line between a street artist and social justice protester in the crate. How the streets have become the soledad welcome back to matter of fact. As thanksgiving approaches millions of americans are having difficulty putting food on table. We the pandemic hit 22 million lost their jobs nearly half of them havent come back. The result an immediate need for food and assistance. Demand at the food pwaufrpgs is hitting record levels aparicioly cars lined up for a drivethrough pantry in dallas. Volunteers there distributed 600,000 pounds of fad, arent 40 increase from people that have they have been to today pwaufrg before. Im brett favia and i live in milwaukee. Twice a month i walk a mail to food pantry it pick up gross resist. I work the Hospitality Industry and we covid19 hit they had to close down the hotel and we were all laid off. Part of my job you received tips and that was all lost. So the food pantry helps fill in the gap. The first time to go as a shoper was a time of true humiliation because i have always worked hard and provided for myself and to not be able to do that and actually need a fad hand oout ia humbling experience. Thank you. I started to think he should give back. You should not just take. I approached the director of the food pantry and asked it there was an opportunity to volunteer. What i learned from helping there is theres and ongoing need it feed people in our city and after covid ends and away go back to normal there had still be people who dont have a means to make money to feed their family. And that we should at this point to support our food pan asterisk, volunteer, done food. That is a fulfilling experience when you see the people in need get food they need it feed tv families. Soledad trinity tran is the executive director of urban partners los angeles and runs one of the largest food banks in the country. Soledad what do people not understand about fad up security that you and all your team members really see day in and day out . Why are people going hungry . The simpleance is because they are poor and too poor it buy food. A few pwaeurpg is the symbol of the extreme poverty. What we are doing with each becomes of groceries is aware filling the void that has been left behind in it broken system. And theres if quick policy fix but ultimately it is going to talk a considerable amount social and Economic Justice so we can stabilize peoples livelihood so they dont have to stand in lines for food. That is a tragedy because it is a fundamental human right as it is bake human responsibility for all of us to be able to care for others an unsure no one suffers from this. Watch rest of our interview on Food Insecurity at matteroffact. Tv. In connectifine out why you million others have a payment it make. Soledad this is a heads up if you have a federal student honor. Street art got its start a long taoeuime ago the as long as man has been around. From the cough paintings. What you can learn from markings on a wall. We have the power to harness californias abundant wind and solar energy, but its not available all day long. Use less from 4 to 9 pm and we can protect california for generations to come. Soledad now to a segment we like to call were paying attention even if youre too busy. This is a headsup if you have a federal student loan. We Congress Passed the cares act in april they put a traur hold on payments, interest and collection of Student Loans after one extension this past fall the cares act is set it expire december 31. To be prepared expert have sop advice. If you are unemployed or underemployed look into an income driven away payment plan. Theres a process for this called recertification that can allow you to request reduced payment based on projected 2021 income so you know people who service your loan are required to send you a notice before the payments restart. You will likely see that letter recall in the enthusiastic year unless the federal government takes action soon. Next on matter of fact. We visit the street galleries that paragraph there is art in protest. The medicare enrollment deadline is only days away, and theres so many unanswered questions. Like, do you know if your plan is still the right fit . Having the wrong medicare plan can cost you thousands and thats why i love healthmarkets your insurance marketplace. What if you didnt have to shop for Health Insurance again . Healthmarkets fitscore forever promise is the answer. It continuously scans the market to compare your plan against any new options, year after year, while helping answer all your medicare questions like, does your plan have no copays, no deductibles or 0 premiums . Healthmarkets has the answer. Does your plan offer dental and vision coverage . How about hearing aids, glasses, wellness visits, and even telemedicine at no additional cost . Healthmarkets has the answers. Find the answer from the number one ranked Health Insurance agency in america. Your insurance marketplace, healthmarkets. Call now. Soledad finally a look at the intersection of art and politics. Street art. It is a form artistic expression borne of protest that reflect history in the making. In district of columbia sidewalks and store fronts have become the gallery of social justice movement. Helping preserve it two street artists andy shallal and cory stowers explain the power in their own words. Graffiti has always been used as a communication twice. Spray paint, markers, stickers, you name it. It has000 become the tool of the american protesterment im cory stowers and i have been writing i cant fit 25 years. It is a very, very thunder lane between a street artist and social justice protester. Street art is nothing new. It has been around a long time. It is a way it accept messages to one another. Im andy shallal and im the c. E. O. Of busboys and poets. Anybody go to black lives matter plaza last night the behind me is the peace and justice wall that represents much of civil right struggles that have at that point place here. I think street art in washington has always been very important because of our proximity to into power obviously we get people from all over country to protest on think number of things. We had and incident where one store fronts broken and we decided to fix it by putting plywood until the glass arrived. So it looked like a dan vast and i decided to paint something and that im going it call a that you friends that have store frond r fronts and ask if it is ok and we pay them to do the work and the artists were more than happy to do it because turn isolated and wanted to be out this. Skrarbgs i have seen a lot of virtue signalling here in washington businesses boarding up and asking for artists particularly artists of color to paint messages solidarity on their storefronts. That being said. I have seen so many new artists come out during it pandemic and during the summer awakeningment graffiti art had to mature so we are seeing that tkpra fit Going National galleries in the 1901 has now spilled back on to street and the streets are the gallery. It used to be illegal it paint anything on anything really that is public and sudden sudden will you our mayor commissions somebody to paint black lives matter on the street that otherwise would have gotten you arrested. Other cities picked up on that act and brought it into their own cities. My hope is that with this new administration street art will continue to thrive pause aware all in need of healing and artists are going to be the ones that will take us there. Soledad that is it for this edition of matter of fact. Im Soledad Obrien. We will see you back hear next week. Listen to matter of fact with Soledad Obrien on Apple Podcast and spotify. Coming up on Asian Pacific america its all about nourishing neighbors as we examine the problem of hunger and how the food banks in san francisco, marin, alameda county, and santa clara countys Silicon Valley are helping with the crisis during this pandemic. Hello. Im robert handa your host for our show on nbc bay area and cozitv this is Asian Pacific america. We start off our special program on hunger and food shortages. First of all we talk with kelly