>> BRAUDE: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," TEMPERATURES ARE UP, AND SO ARE COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS, THANKS TO THE NEW BA-5 VARIANT.

DUBBED THE MOST TRANSMISSIBLE YET, WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING TO STAY SAFE?

AND ARE STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS DOING ENOUGH TO HELP KEEP US SAFE?

TWO LOCAL DOCTORS JOIN ME.

PLUS, WHICH AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE RESPONDING TO LIFE AFTER ROE V WADE BY COMING TO THE AID OF THEIR WORKERS, AND WHY.

THE ANSWER, FOR MOST COMPANIES LEADING THE CHARGE ON REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS, MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK.

AND FINALLY, YET ANOTHER ESSENTIAL INFANT CARE ITEM IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR THOSE WHO NEED YOU IT MOST.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> BRAUDE: THERE'S ANOTHER NEW DOMINANT COVID STRAIN IN TOWN, AND ACROSS THE NATION.

IT'S YET ANOTHER SUBVARIANT OF OMICRON, THIS ONE CALLED BA-5.

AND I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT RESEARCHERS SAY THIS STRAIN IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS AND VACCINE-RESISTANT YET, WITH RECENT RE-INFECTIONS ACCOUNTING FOR MUCH OF THE LATEST SURGE.

AND WHILE WE USED TO RELIGIOUSLY RECITE THE DAILY CASE RATES, NOT ANYMORE, BETWEEN THE STATE HAVING JUST SWITCHED TO WEEKLY REPORTING, MANY PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE ON AT-HOME RAPID TESTS, THEN NOT REPORTING THEIR CASE AT ANY OFFICIAL LEVEL, AND THERE ARE PLENTY WHO DON'T BOTHER TESTING AT ALL ANYMORE.

BUT A FEW FACTS YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH: HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ON THE RISE.

EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS WASTE WATER DATA SHOWS CASE LEVELS DON'T SEEM TO BE FALLING AND ARE WAY ABOVE WHERE THEY WERE IN MARCH, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING OF COVID IN MASSACHUSETTS AT A RATE OF AROUND 65 PEOPLE PER WEEK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, CLOSING IN ON 20,000 DEATHS OVERALL.

SO HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE?

HOW MUCH WILL THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE THE PAST?

AND WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS SHOULD WE, AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BE TAKING?

I'M JOINED BY DOCTOR SABRINA ASSOUMOU, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASES ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER; AND DOCTOR PAUL SAX, CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S INFECTIOUS DISEASE DIVISION.

DOCTOR AND DOCTOR GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

AGAIN THANKS FOR BEING MERE.

>> THANK YOU -- HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DR. ASSOUMOU, QUOTE IS, THIS IS THE WORST VERSION OF THE VIRUS WE'VE SEEN.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON TODAY.

>> Braude: SURE.

>> WHEN WE HAVE A NEW SUBVARIANT, THERE ARE THREE QUESTIONS I AM HAVING TO ANSWER, IS IT MORE TRANSMISSIBILTY, IS IT GOING TO CREATE MORE SEVERE DISEASE AND IS IT DS THAT MEANS WE'RE GS GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE BE IN EFFECTED.

DOES IT CAUSE MORE SEVERE DISEASE?

AT THIS POINT, IT IS A LITTLE MIXED, WE NEED MORE DATA TO ANNALS THAT QUESTION.

AND NEXT, DOES IT PROVIDE HIM MOOUNT?

IT DOES, BUT THE GOOD NEWS ASK IF WE GET BOOSTED WE ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR FOR EXAMPLE.

THE CONCERN IS IT IS A SUBVARIANT BUT WE DO HAVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE OUR OUTCOMES.

>> Braude: ALL OF THOSE THREE DR. SAX?

>> I AGREE WITH WHAT SHE MENTIONED AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IT'S NOT THE WORST VIRUS YET, THE WORST VIRUS CLINICALLY IS THE FIRST ONE AND THE REASON THAT ONE WAS IF WORST WAS BECAUSE WE HAD NO IMMUNITY AT ALL.

AND THE DOMINANT EFFECT ON DISEASE SEVERITY IS HOW MUCH PRIOR IMMUNITY DOES THE POPULATION HAVE.

AND OUR POPULATION NOW HAS LOTS OF PRIOR IMMUNITY, BOTH FROM PRIOR INFECTIONS AND FROM VACCINATION.

EVEN THOUGH CASE NUMBERS ARE UP, I WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT THE SAME AS TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE BACK IN 2020, FAR FROM THERE.

>> Braude: LET ME PARSE THIS FOR YOU DR. SAX, I HAD A FRIEND BUT THE FRIEND HAPPENS TO BE ME.

I HAD COVID TWICE.

MY UNDERSTANDING ON MY READING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS IS, BEING BOOSTED TWICE WHICH I AM AND HAVING HAD COVID TWICE WHICH I HAVE, IS NOT A GREAT, NEITHER IS A GREAT PROTECTOR OF ME.

AM I WRONG?

>> WELL, I DO THINK THAT COVID OR SARS COV 2, WILL BE LIKE OTHER COMMUNITY TRANSMITTED CROAFNLSCORONAVIRUS BUT NOT THERE YET.

BY AND LARGE MUCH MILDER THAN AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE DO NOT SEE OUR ICU'S OVERRUN BY COVID CASES.

MOST OF THE TIME COVID CASES HAVE REMAINED MILD.

I PARTICULARLY WORRY ABOUT THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED POPULATION, BUT THEY ARE NOT LEAVING HOG HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE NUMBERS BUT NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS BEFORE.

>> Braude: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

DR. ASSOUMOU, SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED THAT AT LEAST MY INFORMAL ANALYSIS IS VISIT, MOST RESTRICTIONS ARE GONE, MANDATORY MANDATES ARE GONE.

I WENT TO A PERFORMANCE, 10% OF US HAD MASKS ON, MASKS OPTIONAL, TO SAY, AND SUFFOLK COUNTY AND OTHERS HAVE JUST MOVED INTO THAT MIDDLE RAGE.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISAPPEARS OF ALL THESE PUBLIC PROTECTIONS DOCTOR?

>> THIS IS A TIME THAT WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OR THE A FEW YEARS NOW AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HAVING TO UNDERGO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

SO I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND I GET IT.

BUT THE OTHER THING TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT WE HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE AND WE HAVE MORE MEASURES AND WE KNOW THAT A LAYERED APPROACH IS HOW WE GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION, PEOPLE IS NUMBER 1 IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN BOOSTED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE BOOSTED IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE NOT YET BOOSTED.

>> Braude: I KNOW THAT.

>> IT IS TIME TO GET THAT BOOTHS EFERS.

THE-- BOOSTERS, NEW HAVE AN ACTIVITY YOU WANT TO DO, DO IT OUTDOORS IF POSSIBLE.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO USE ALL THE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE HAVE.ABOUT BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE.

WHEN I WAS ON THE WARDS IN SPRING 2020 WHEN WE HAD NOTHING AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING TO US WERE VERY SICK AND DIKE, THIS WAS A VERY DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE TO USE THE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

>> Braude: DR. SAX IT'S HARD TO DISAGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

BUT I DON'T WANT MY LEADERS TO BE TIRED.

IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS, I WANT THEM TO TELL ME THE HARD TRUTH AND TELL ME WHAT THEY THINK I SHOULD DO BASED ON THE SCIENCE.

SHOULD LEADERS BE DOING MORE, OR ARE THEY JUST AFRAID TO CONFRONT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND SAY SORRY YOU GOT TO PUT THE MASK BACK ON?

>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS SUCH AS MASKING IN PUBLIC PLACES, CROWDED PUBLIC PLACES, RECOMMENDED MASKING IN PUBLIC, MASKING ON AIRPLANES AND PLANES ISN'T RECOMMENDED, WHETHER A MANDATE WOULD HELP OR NOT I THINK IS QUESTIONABLE AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE DATA THAT SAYS WE SHOULD PUT MANDATES BACK IN PLACE.

I DO KNOW THAT MANDATES HAVE GONE BACK UP IN SOME REGIONS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I'M NOT SURE WE'RE THERE YET HERE IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA.

SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, STILL, BE CAREFUL.

REALIZE THAT THERE IS A RISK OF CATCHING COVID.

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET TREATED ONE THING I SHOULD MENTION IS THAT WE DO HAVE WIDELY AVAILABLE TREATMENTS FOR COVID-19.

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT TREATMENT I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THAT YOU DO SO.

AND THE TREATMENT IS VERY GOOD AT KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

SO LET'S KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH MORE TREATMENT IF WE CAN.

>> Braude: OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT TASTES LIKE A RUSTY IRON BEAM IT IS VERY EFFECTIVE, I CAN TESTIFY TO THAT.

MASSACHUSETTS IS MOVING FROM DAILY TO WEEKLY REPORTING, IS THAT MAKING YOUR JOBS HARDER?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD -- AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A SUBVARIANT THAT'S -- HAD A WE KNOW IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE AND MORE IMMUNE EVASIVE I WOULD HAVE PERSONALLY LIKED THE HAVE HAD MORE ACCESS TO DATA.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.

WE HAVE WASTE WATER, WE CAN ALSO RELY ON HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS BUT I WOULD HAVE PERSONALLY LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THOSE REPORTS BEING MORE FREQUENT DURING A TIME WHEN THIS CURRENT SUBVARIANT IS INCREASING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Braude: DR. SAX, YOU'RE NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED BUT I UNDERSTAND SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE.

THESE MARKERS FOR LONG COVID WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE ARE ACTUALLY ARE SUFFERING IN, WHAT KIND OF OPTIMISM SHOULD WE FEEL ABOUT THIS?

FANNED THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED, WHAT DOES THAT HELP US DO IN TERMS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREMONT?

>> WELL -- FREMONT?

>> ONE OF THE DIAGNOSES IS THERE IS NO TEST WHETHER THEY DO OR DON'T HAVE IT.

I WOULD SAY THOUGH THAT BASED ON A LOT OF THE CLINICAL COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT WE CAN MAKE A PRETTY CONFIDENT DIAGNOSIS.

WHAT THE RESEARCHERS FOUND IN THIS STUDY WAS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND EVIDENCE OF THE SPIKE PROTEIN IN PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID.

AND WHAT THAT SHOWS IS THAT EITHER THE ACTUAL VIRUS IS STILL PRESENT OR REMNANTS OF THE VIRUS ARE STILL PRESENT AND THEN THAT LEADS TO THE QUESTION OF IS THAT REMNANT OR IS THAT VIRUS CAUSING LONG COVID?

AND IF IT IS, LOOKING AT WAYS TO ERADICATE IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANTLY.

ONE THING I KNOW THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS WOULD ANTIVIRAL THERAPY HELP PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID, SOMETHING I THINK SHOULD BE URGENTLY STUDIED.

>> Braude: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT.

WHEN A PARENT COMES TO YOU AND SAYS I'M NERVOUS THAT SCHOOL IN THE FALL WILL BE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> I AM THAT PARENT!

>> Braude: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOURSELF?

>> YES, NO, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED.

SO THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS, GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED.

THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.

TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND IF LEVELS ARE HIGH, IT IS MAYBE TIME TO MASK IN INDOOR SETTINGS.

AND TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THE SCHOOL CAN DO TO IMPROVE INDOOR VENTILATION.

I'VE DONE THAT WITH MY SCHOOL AND I'M WORKING WITH THEM SO WE CAN IMPROVE ALL THOSE MEASURES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MEASURES AND PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE TO MAKE SURE WE OPEN SCHOOL SAFELY AGAIN AND WE DO KNOW THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING IS CRITICAL AND VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Braude: ALL I CAN SAY DR. ASSOUMOU IS I'M GLAD MY DAUGHTERS ARE GROWN.

DR. ASSOUMOU, DR. SAX THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: WHILE PLENTY OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN MARCHING IN THE STREETS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT DECLARED LAST MONTH THAT ABORTION ACCESS WAS NO LONGER A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN REACTING AS WELL.

IN SOME CASES, AS WITH GIANTS LIKE WALMART AND MCDONALDS, WITH SILENCE THAT HAS SPOKEN VOLUMES.

BUT ACCORDING TO A RECENT EXAMINATION OF MORE THAN 1300 COMPANIES, MORE THAN 100 ARE LEADING ON ABORTION RIGHTS SINCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED, ANNOUNCING POLICIES LIKE PAY FOR EMPLOYEES TO TRAVEL TO STATES WHERE ABORTIONS ARE LEGAL.

I'M JOINED BY THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY, ALL THERE THE YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: JEFFREY SONNENFELD IS ITS PRESIDENT; STEVEN TIAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, AND GEORGIA HIRSTY IS A RESEARCH FELLOW, FOCUSING ON CORPORATE SOCIAL IMPACT.

JEFFREY, STERCH, GOOD TO SEE YOU, GEORGIA, GOOD TO MEET YOU.

YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED A STUDY OF MAJOR AMERICAN CORPORATIONS ON ONE EXTREME THAT HAD TOTALLY PULLED THEIR BUSINESS OUT OF RUSSIA AFTER THEIR INVASION OF UKRAINE, THE OTHER, BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WHAT DID YOU SET OUT TO DO HERE AFTER THE OVERTURNING OF ROE?

>> WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE IS TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHO MOVES FIRST ON THESE ISSUES.

THERE IS A KIND OF A CYNICISM AMONG SOME JOURNALISTS AND SOME YIED LOGS ONIDEALOGUES ON THE RIGHT.

WHEN WERE SPRIZZED THAT IT WAS -- SURPRISED THAT IT WAS BIK TECH, BIK OIL AND FIRMS THAT HAD MOVED FIRST OF THOSE 1300 COMPANIES THAT PULLED OWF OF RUSSIA.

THOSE ARE NOT USUALLY TON LEADING EDGE OF SOCIAL CHANGE ISSUES BUT IT WAS DIFFERENT RESIGNS WHY IT WAS THEY AND NOT FASHION AND FRAGRANCES AND CONSUMER PARTS THE WAY IT USUALLY IS AND IN THIS CASE WE THOUGHT LETS TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S COMMON WITH THE FIRST MOVERS ON THIS FRONT.

BECAUSE WE ASSIMILATE THEM ON GUN SAFETY OR ON CLIMATE CHANGE OR IMMIGRATION REFORM OR VOTING RIGHTS.

IT'S DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO TAKE THE LIED AND THEN OTHER CEOS FOLLOW.

>> Braude: STEVEN, WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA?

WHAT WOULD THE COULD HAVE TO HAVE AGREED TO DO?

>> I THINK I'LL LET GEORGIA JUMP IN ON THIS ONE AS WELL BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR JIM IS FOR COMPANIES THAT HAVE PROVIDED EXTRA LEVEL OF SUPPORT, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES IN W DECISION.

AND THAT SUPPORT CAN TAKE MANY LEVELS.

THE MOST COMMON LEVEL OF SUPPORT IS AGREEING TO PAY FOR TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT STATE.

AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE GEORGIA CAN JUMP IN WITH SOME MORE SPECIFICS THERE AS WELL.

>> Braude: GEORGIA DO YOU WANT TO DO SOME JUMPING?

>> I'LL DO SOME JUMPING YES.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHAT COMPANIES MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT, ISSUED A RELEASE, LET US KNOW THAT KIND OF THE WORLD KNOW THEY ARE TAKING THIS STANCE AND GOING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR THEIR INTLOAS.

>> Braude: GEORGIA STAYING WITH YOU, WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATOR, ACCORDING TO MY READING OF YOUR REPORTS ON THE STUDY, IT WASN'T SOME IDEOLOGICAL BENT.

>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS RATHER THAN THIGHS KIND OF IDEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES IT WAS THE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE A PUBLIC STANCE ON THIS.

>> Braude: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WHAT IT MEANS?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE FOUND THAT TECH COMPANIES MADE UP ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT INITIAL MOVER GROUP AND THAT TECH COMPANIES EMPLOYEES ON AVERAGE ARE FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF OTHER WORKERS.

AND WE KNOW THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE TEND TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

THAT WAS STRATEGIC WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING, WHIT COMES TO REALTERNATION AND WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES WHAT THEY WANT WHICH IS THEIR LEADERS TO TAKE STANCES.

>> Braude: WE HAVE SOME DATA ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE IS A RECENT MORNING CONSULT POLL ABOUT THE GENERATIONAL DIVIDE OF STRONG SUPPORT, QUOTE, STRONG SUPPORT OF COMPANIES SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ABORTION ACCESS.

MILLENNIALS 35%, THAT IS UP TO 41, YOU SEE IT DROPS WITH GENX.

WHAT IS COUNTERINTUITIVE IS THERE WAS NOT A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE, MAYBE IT'S NOT COUNTERINTUITIVE, IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU SAID, THERE WAS NOT A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE FIRST MOVERS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

NOT ALSO DISPROPORTIONATE WOMEN ON BOARDS.

IT GOES AGAINST WHAT JEFFREY MENTIONED EARLIER AROUND COMPANIES, PEOPLE WANTING TO DISMISS SOME OF THESE MOVEMENTS AS BEING WOKE AND IT'S REALLY SPEAKING AS TO WHAT THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT IS AROUND THESE ISSUES.

>> Braude: JEFFREY, GIVE US A LIST OF HIGH PROFILE WINNERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO SO, TELL US WHO THE HIGH PROFILE FIRST MOVERS HAVE BEEN?

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE GO THIRDS OF THE LIST.

SO -- ARE TWO-THIRDS OF THE LIST.

LISTS ABOUT 120 COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN FIRST MOVERS.

IT INCLUDES PABILITY, INTUIT, THE MICROSOFT OF COMPANIES THAT FINANCE, J.P. MORGAN, DELOITTE, KPMG, PRICE WATER HOUSE, P WRMPLETC, BANE, BCG, McKENZIE.

WE DON'T EXPECT THESE COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS ON THE FRONTIER OF SOCIAL CHANGE.

THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT WOULD RATHER JUMP OFF A CLIFF THAN GET INVOLVED IN CONTROVERSY OR SOCIAL ISSUES.

BUT THEY HAVE.

SOME OF THESE CRAP CONSULTING FIRMS ARE INDIVIDUALLY HIRING 60,000 MILLENNIALS A YEAR, AND AS YOUR DATA JUST SHOWED, MORNING CONSULT DATA, WE REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR WOODSTOCKERS,.

>> Braude: UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT TOO YOUNG FOR THAT BUT CONTINUE.

>> WE USED TO RIDE OUR WHITE STALL YONS OF IDEALISM INTO SCHOOLS, THEY TRADED OFF SOME OF THOSE WOODSTOCK VALUES.

THERE IS A BELIEF THAT SOMEHOW THERE IS A VIRTUE THAT WILL BE ROBUST THAT WHERE THIS GENERATION SHOPS, WHERE THEY INVEST AND WHERE THEY GO TO WORK IS VERY MUCH -- >> Braude: I HAVE A NAKED PHOTO OF YOU FROM WOODSTOCK BUT WE CAN DISCUSS THAT LATER.

IF I'M CORRECT AMAZON HAS MADE A STATEMENT, WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR WORKERS WILL PAY FOR THEM TO GO TO OTHER STATES BUT THE CATCH IS THAT MOST OF THEIR WORKERS ARE HOURLY WORKERS WHO WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THEIR BENEVOLENCE, AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES IN TERMINATES OF DIFFERENT DEGREES OF COVERAGE IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT HEALTH PLANS AND DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT ENSURERS ARE WORKING OUT AND WE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF THOSE NUANCES THERE ARE.

AND AS WITH WHAT WE SAW WITH THE BUSINESS RETREAT SOME OF THESE NUANCES DO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO WORK OUT.

BUT WHAT'S SO IMPORTANTLY TO RECOGNIZE IS COMPANIES THEY ARE TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS IN THOSE DIRECTIONS.

AND (INAUDIBLE).

>> Braude: WHAT'S THAT?

>> SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN THERE YET BUT GREAT TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

>> Braude: OKAY, GEORGIA, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BE CONFUSED AGAIN, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THIS 118, 120 ARE HEADQUARTERED IN RED STATES, WHICH LED ME TO A CONCLUSION WHICH YOU MAY DISABUSE ME OF, THEY ARE PROMISING TO PAY FOR THEIR WORKERS TO GO TO OTHER STATES BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO.

WHAT CONCLUSION SHOULD ONE DRAW IF ANY FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO FEW THAT ARE HEADQUARTERED IN RED OR LIKELY ANTIABORTION STATES?

>> YES, YOU KNOW THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND OBVIOUSLY WE NOTICED THAT AS WELL.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME, IS THAT LOOKING AT KIND OF THE LEGISLATURES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THESE RED STATES AND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR THOSE COMPANIES, A LOT OF THE COMPANIES IN OTHER INSTANCES HAVE MADE PUBLIC STANCES.

SO AGAIN IT COMES BACK TO SOME OF THESE STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE COMPANIES IN RED STATES ARE TAKING.

AND SOME OF THEM MAYBE DO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ARE JUST NOT COMING OUT PUBLICLY ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT IS MORE OF THE EDGE THAT WE KIND MUCH GO TO RATHER THAN SAYING COMPANIES IN BLUE STATES ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO TAKE.

A LOT MUCH THESE COMPANIES ALSO HAD PLANS IN PLACE BEFORE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE AND ARE REESTABLISHING LETTING US KNOW THOSE THINGS EXIST.

>> I'D LIKE TO JUMP IN ON THAT ONE.

>> Braude: YES, PLEASE.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH GEORGIA.

THERE ARE SOME OUTLIERS FOR EXAMPLE IN TEXAS.

YOU COULD SEE DEL AND AMERICAN AIRLINES HAVE RAISED EYEBROWS BECAUSE OF THEIR COURAGE TO TAKE THOSE POSITIONS ON THIS MATTER, MUCH THE WAY COCA-COLA AND DELTA AIRLINES ON VOTING RIGHTS TOOK AN EARLY MOVE AND THEY'RE BASED OF COURSE IN GEORGIA.

IS THAT THEY'RE GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN IS NOT EASY, THOSE CEOS IN THOSE BOARDS DESERVE SOME EXTRA RECOGNITION.

IN THE BLUE STATES THOUGH AS GEORGIA SAYS, THERE ARE GOVERNORS LIKE GOVERNOR LA MONT HERE IN CONNECTICUT THAT ARE WAVING AROUND A MAJOR CAMPAIGN TRYING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES INTO A PLACE WHERE WOMEN'S HEALTH IS CELEBRATED, CHILDCARE AND MANY KINDS OF SOCIAL ISSUES ARE SEEN AS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK.

YOU ONLY SEE THESE SURVEYS THAT TALK ABOUT BEST STATES FOR EMPLOYERS TO LOCATE THEIR BUSINESS.

SOMEBODY SHOULD BE DOING A SURVEY WHICH ARE THE BEST STATES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK IN, THE BEST PLACES FOR EMPLOYEES.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW JENNIFER STAYING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, BROADER THAN JUST -- JEFFREY, STAYING WITH YOU, LIKE ILLINOIS'S DEMOCRAT PRITZKER, WHO ARE ACTIVELILY ENCOURAGING COMPANIES IN STATES THAT DOESN'T PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR WOMEN, CAN YOU SEE COMPANIES MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THAT CRITERION?

>> IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THAT.

IN ALL CANDOR I CHAIR SOMETHING CALLED ADVANCED CT WHICH IS THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, I CO-CHAIR IT.

WE JUST HAD A MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH THREE VERY LARGE CORPORATE RELOCATION SERVICES WHICH I'VE OFTEN BEEN CRITICAL OF BECAUSE I OFTEN FELT THAT THEY HAVE ANNAL INCENTIVE JUST TO KEEP COMPANIES MOVING AND IT IS OFTEN FROM BLUE TO RED STATES.

THEY ARE TELLING US THESE THREE THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF BACKLASH FROM EMPLOYEE GROUPS THAT ARE FEEDING BACK TO THEIR EMPLOYERS, THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO THOSE RED STATES BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES, ANTI-SCIENCE, ANTI-EDUCATION AND IF THEY ARE ANTI-FREE CHOICE TAKING RIGHTS AWAY FROM PEOPLE.

SO YEAH I THINK ABSOLUTELY IT'S BECOMING A CRITICAL DIMENSION RIGHT NOW IN THESE CORPORATE RELOCATIONS.

>> Braude: GEORGIA, STEVEN, JEFFREY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANKS FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: IF YOU WANT TO SEE ALL THE 118 OR MAYBE 120 COMPANIES THAT STEPPED UP ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT, WE'VE LINKED TO THE FULL LIST ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS SHOW SEGMENT.

YOU CAN FIND THAT AT YOUTUBE.COM/GBHNEWS.

NEXT UP, EVEN BEFORE INFLATION RATES STARTED SKYROCKETING, THERE WAS A MAIN PARENTING STAPLE GETTING INCREASINGLY HARD TO COME BY, PARTICULARLY FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES: DIAPERS.

AND AS ALEXI COHAN FOUND OUT, THESE DAYS, KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND FOR DIAPERS IS HARDER THAN EVER FOR FAMILIES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

>> REPORTER: ANGELICA DELGADO USES UPWARDS OF 40 DIAPERS A WEEK CARING FOR ONE-MONTH-OLD JAYDEN, TWO-YEAR-OLD ANGEL AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD ANGELINA.

IT COSTS AROUND $100 A WEEK TO KEEP HER SHELVES STOCKED AT HOME, AND IT'S NOT EASY.

>> I'M A SINGLE MOM OF THREE.

I TAKE CARE OF THEM.

I ONLY WORK TWO DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK SO I PROVIDE MORE.

>> REPORTER: ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL DIAPER BANK, ONE IN THREE AMERICAN FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH DIAPER NEEDS.

C.E.O.

JOANNE GOLDBLUM SAYS BEING UNABLE TO FIND DIAPERS CAN HURT A PARENT'S CHANCE TO WORK.

>> MOST CHILDCARE CENTERS REQUIRE PARENTS TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DISPOSABLE DIAPERS EVERY DAY.

AND SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE DIAPERS, YOU CAN'T USE CHILDCARE.

AND IF YOU CAN'T USE CHILDCARE, YOU CAN'T GO TO WORK.

>> GOING TO THE STORE IS A LOT OF WORK TOO WITH THREE KIDS.

FINDING DIAPERS AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE IT AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE STORE.

IF NOT, I'LL JUST HAVE TO GET A DIFFERENT SIZE.

>> REPORTER: BUT THOSE DIFFERENT SIZES ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAK, AND NEED TO BE CHANGED MORE OFTEN, WHICH IS YET MORE MONEY AND OFTEN MEANS MAKING SACRIFICES ELSEWHERE.

>> DIAPERS FOR SURE SOME SECOND TO ALL OF MY BILLS.

IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH HELP.

>> DELGADO GETS ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER AREAS.

>> I CAN GO SWRX SOMEWHERE FOR THE HOSPITAL THE >> REPORTER: DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE CENTER GOT FUNDING FROM THE BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT TWO LARGE PACKAGES OF DIAPERS TO ABOUT 300 FAMILIES TWICE A MONTH.

SINCE THAT FUNDING DRIED UP, THEY'VE TURNED TO NONPROFIT CRADLES TO CRAYONS FOR THEIR SUPPLY.

BUT WITH THAT, THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO OFFER DIAPERS TWICE A YEAR, TO AROUND 600 FAMILIES.

>> WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE SEE IS JUST OVERWHELMING DEMAND.

>> REPORTER: CRADLES TO CRAYONS FOUNDER AND CEO LYNN MARGHERIO SAID IN THE ORGANIZATION'S 20 YEARS, THE DEMAND HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER-UP 300% OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND SHE DOESN'T EXPECT IT TO SLOW DOWN ANYTIME SOON.

>> IT WAS BAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW WITH INFLATION AT RECORD LEVELS, WE CAN'T KEEP UP.

THERE'S JUST A LACK OF PREDICTABILITY.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

>> REPORTER: AND THE RECENT LOSS OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS MAKING A BAD SITUATION EVEN WORSE.

>> WE'RE FINDING THAT THAT DEMAND FROM THE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY IS JUST REVERBERATING UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO US.

AND WE JUST NEED MORE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS WHAT IS A GRAVE PROBLEM.

>> REPORTER: A GRAVE PROBLEM THAT IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL FOR MANY PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS THESE DAYS.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE PARENTS WHO JUST WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR KIDS, AND THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.

BUT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

AND THE BURDEN IS JUST AWFUL.

>> REPORTER: FOR NOW, THERE'S NO RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR LOCAL PARENTS.

ALEXI COHAN, GBH NEWS.

>> BRAUDE: MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE OF 13 STATES THAT EXEMPTS DIAPERS FROM STATE TAX, WHICH OFFERS SOME HELP, BUT A BILL THAT WOULD GO MUCH FURTHER, CREATING A PILOT PROGRAM TO FUND LOCAL DIAPER BANKS, HAS BEEN SITTING WITH THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE SINCE FEBRUARY.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

THE JANUARY 6TH HEARINGS RETURN, WITH A FOCUS ON THE EXTREMIST GROUPS INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK, THEIR POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS TO TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE, AND, IF WE'RE LUCKY, MAYBE A PAT CIPOLLONE CAMEO OR TWO.

WE'LL BRING YOU THE BIGGEST MOMENTS, AND FULL ANALYSIS, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

FOR NOW, THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

♪ ♪ ♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org