>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4: >> REGARDING HIS CLINICAL STATUS, THE PATIENT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE PRESIDENT REMAINS HOSPITALIZED WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CORONAVIRUS, BUT HIS DOCTORS SAY HE COULD RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE SOON.

AND "ROADS TO ELECTION 2020," VOTERS WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE OF GIG WORKERS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

NEXT ON "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."

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>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DOCTORS SAID TODAY THAT HE COULD BE DISCHARGED AS SOON AS TOMORROW FROM WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE IS BEING TREATED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON THE PRESIDENT, WEARING A MASK, SUDDENLY TOOK A DRIVE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL TO WAVE TO SUPPORTERS.

SHORTLY BEFORE, MR. TRUMP RELEASED A VIDEO ON TWITTER SAYING HE WAS DOING WELL, AND THAT HE HAD A SURPRISE.

>> I'M NOT TELLING ANYBODY BUT YOU, BUT I'M ABOUT TO MAKE A LITTLE SURPRISE VISIT.

SO, PERHAPS I'LL GET THERE BEFORE YOU GET TO SEE ME, BUT I JUST-- WHEN I LOOK AT THE ENTHUSIASM, AND WE HAVE ENTHUSIASM LIKE PROBABLY NOBODY HAS EVER HAD.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THE JOB WE'RE DOING, WE HAVE MORE ENTHUSIASM THAN MAYBE ANYBODY.

SO, IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING JOURNEY.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COVID.

I LEARNED IT BY REALLY GOING TO SCHOOL, THIS IS THE REAL SCHOOL.

THIS ISN'T THE "LET'S READ THE BOOKS" SCHOOL.

AND I GET IT, AND I UNDERSTAND IT, AND IT'S A VERY INTERESTING THING, AND I'M GOING TO BE LETTING YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

>> Sreenivasan: AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN, DR. SEAN CONLEY SAID THAT MR. TRUMP HAS "CONTINUED TO IMPROVE."

>> AS WITH ANY ILLNESS, THERE ARE FREQUENT UPS AND DOWNS OVER THE COURSE, PARTICULARLY WHEN A PATIENT IS BEING WATCHED SO CLOSELY 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> Sreenivasan: BUT DESPITE THE OPTIMISTIC TIMELINE, THE MEDICAL TEAM SAID THEY ADDED A THIRD MEDICATION-- THE STEROID DEXAMETHASONE-- TO THE PRESIDENT'S TREATMENT.

DEXAMETHASONE IS AN ANTI- INFLAMMATORY DRUG NORMALLY USED TO TREAT A RANGE OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS AS WELL AS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ASTHMA THAT HAS BEEN FOUND TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEATH IN SERIOUSLY ILL COVID PATIENTS BY ABOUT A THIRD.

>> 72 HOURS INTO THE DIAGNOSIS NOW... >> Sreenivasan: YESTERDAY DR. CONLEY AND WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS MADE CONFLICTING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S CONDITION.

TODAY CONLEY ADMITTED THE PRESIDENT DID RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN ON FRIDAY WHEN HE HAD A HIGH FEVER AND OXYGEN LEVELS BELOW 94% AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY.

>> I WAS TRYING TO REFLECT THE UPBEAT ATTITUDE THAT THE TEAM, THE PRESIDENT, IN HIS COURSE OF HIS ILLNESS, HAS HAD.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT STEER THE COURSE OF ILLNESS IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

AND IN DOING SO, YOU KNOW, CAME OFF THAT WE WERE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING, WHICH WASN'T NECESSARILY TRUE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS HE'S DOING REALLY WELL.

>> Sreenivasan: DOCTORS SAID THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED A SECOND DOSE OF REMDESIVIR, A DRUG APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19.

LAST NIGHT MR. TRUMP, WHO WAS NOT WEARING A MASK, SHARED A VIDEO RECORDED AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> I'M STARTING TO FEEL GOOD.

YOU DON'T KNOW OVER THE PERIOD OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I GUESS THAT'S THE REAL TEST, SO WE'LL BE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR MORE ON THE PRESIDENT'S DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, I SPOKE WITH DOCTOR CRAIG SPENCER, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN/COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

>> TODAY'S BRIEFING, THE SUNDAY BRIEFING, CERTAINLY GAVE US MORE INFORMATION THAN, THAN WHAT WE GOT YESTERDAY.

I THINK THEY DID ALLUDE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WEREN'T COMPLETELY FORTHCOMING YESTERDAY.

AND I THINK WHAT THEY SAID WAS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO CONVEY AN UPBEAT ATTITUDE OF THE TEAM, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY WHAT MEDICAL PROVIDERS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REPORT ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PRESIDENT'S ILLNESS.

THIS IS BOTH A HEALTH ISSUE AS WELL AS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC THAT'S TAKEN OVER 200,000 LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO, I THINK WE NEED MORE DETAILS.

>> Sreenivasan: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE DOCTOR MENTIONED THAT THEY SAW IN HIS LUNG SCANS WHAT THEY WOULD EXPECT TO AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS OF CLINICAL CONCERN.

SO, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'D EXPECT WHEN SOMEBODY IS GOING THROUGH COVID?

>> I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THEY DIDN'T SAY "NORMAL."

SO IT MEANS IT'S NOT NORMAL.

WHAT I NORMALLY EXPECT WHEN I DO AN X-RAY OR A CAT SCAN OF SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 IS WHAT WE CALL BILATERAL GROUND GLASS OPACITIES OR INFILTRATES.

BASICALLY, THIS KIND OF LOOKS A HAZINESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LUNG.

IT LOOKS PRETTY CHARACTERISTIC FOR COVID-19.

WE'VE SEEN THIS A LOT, ESPECIALLY SINCE MARCH AND APRIL HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

OTHER THINGS, THOUGH, ARE POSSIBLE-- PNEUMONIAS, OTHER THINGS THAT WE MAY SEE IN CHEST X-RAYS OR CAT-SCANS COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED NORMAL IN AN, A COVID-19 CHEST X-RAY.

>> Sreenivasan: THERE WAS A NEW DRUG ADDED TO THIS, A STEROID DEXAMETHASONE, AND THAT HAS SHOWN AT LEAST SOME TRIALS TO DECREASE THE RATE OF MORTALITY.

GOOD IDEA?

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

I THINK WE NEED MORE, MORE DETAILS.

YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, DEXAMETHASONE, WHICH IS A STEROID MEANT TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION, IS ONE OF THE MEDICATIONS THAT'S BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE THE MOST PROFOUND IMPACT ON DECREASING MORTALITY.

THAT BEING SAID, THE IMPACT WAS PRIMARILY IN PATIENTS WHO WERE BEING MECHANICALLY VENTILATED, SO ON A VENTILATOR, OR RECEIVING SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN.

FOR PATIENTS WHO WERE NOT ON OXYGEN THERE WAS ACTUALLY SOME HINTING THAT IT MAY MAKE THINGS WORSE AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY HELP.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPECULATE WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THE DETAILS, BUT IF YOU WERE MY PATIENT, A 74-YEAR-OLD MAN NOT CURRENTLY ON OXYGEN, I THINK THERE'D BE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS.

I'D NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE I DECIDE TO START THAT.

>> Sreenivasan: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTAL DRUG, BECAUSE HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SHOULD HE HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING THAT'S SHOWING ANY PROMISE OR SHOULD WE BE TAKING THE MOST CONSERVATIVE APPROACH POSSIBLE BECAUSE HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> THIS IS A HUGE ETHICAL QUESTION.

YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE REALLY MANY MAGIC BULLETS FOR THIS TREATMENT AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO RECEIVE THE BEST CUTTING-EDGE CARE.

THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A GOOD INDICATION THAT THINGS LIKE THE REGENERON MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ARE HELPFUL AND THAT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.

OTHERS ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS TREATING THE PRESIDENT AS A GUINEA PIG AND IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I THINK THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AMONGST THE MEDICAL TEAM INVOLVING THE PATIENT AND INVOLVING KIND OF EVERYONE ELSE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF TREATMENT.

AND I PRESUME THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, THE SAME THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TAKING CARE OF A SIMILAR PATIENT IN MY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

>> Sreenivasan: AND TO THOSE FOLKS WHO WATCH THIS AND SAY, LET'S SAY BEST CASE SCENARIO, THE PRESIDENT RECOVERS, IS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND DECIDES TO GO BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T NEED TO WEAR A MASK BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HAD COVID."

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

>> ONE, I STILL THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT, EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, NEEDS TO SET A PRECEDENT AND WEAR A MASK.

IF THIS VIRUS CAN INFECT THE PRESIDENT, IT CAN INFECT ALL OF US.

IT'S NOT DONE WITH THE U.S.

IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO ROLL AROUND IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND, REALLY, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, IN ADDITION TO DISTANCING, WASHING OUR HANDS, YOU KNOW, BEING IN PRETTY WELL-VENTILATED AREAS, IS WEARING A MASK.

NOW, WE DO KNOW THAT FOR MANY PATIENTS THERE IS LIKELY SOME IMMUNITY IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING AN INFECTION WITH COVID-19.

YOU BUILD UP ANTIBODIES.

WE SUSPECT THAT THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TO BE REINFECTED.

HOWEVER, WE'VE SEEN OVER A DOZEN CASES OF VERY WELL-DOCUMENTED REINFECTION IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD COVID.

SO THAT MEANS THAT IMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY NOT 100% FOR 100% OF PEOPLE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO SAY WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE FOR THE PRESIDENT.

I WOULD RECOMMEND TO HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S HAD THIS, TO TAKE THE SAME PRECAUTIONS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL, IS UNLUCKY, POTENTIALLY UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE COVID TWICE.

>> Sreenivasan: IF PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU AND HAVE SEEN YOU BEFORE IT REALLY WAS IN THE WAKE OF NOT JUST EBOLA, BUT WHAT HAPPENED THIS SPRING IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE'VE HEARD DOCTORS IN TEXAS SAY IT.

THIS PAST WEEK IT WAS DOCTORS IN WISCONSIN TALKING ABOUT HOW OVERWHELMED THEIR FACILITIES ARE.

WHEN YOU KEEP SEEING THIS, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> WE GOT HIT ON THE HEAD HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT'S HAPPENED IN FLORIDA AND ARIZONA AND TEXAS.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

JUST AS I SAID IN MARCH, IT REMAINS TRUE IN OCTOBER, IF THIS VIRUS FINDS YOU, IT WILL INFECT YOU AND FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INFECTED THEY WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE OUTCOME.

THEY MAY DIE FROM THIS.

AND MANY OF THEM, UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN IF THEY SURVIVE, CAN HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> Sreenivasan: DR. CRAIG SPENCER, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR UPDATES ON THE HEALTH OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE LATEST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS INCREASED AT RECORD LEVELS IN NINE STATES THIS PAST WEEK.

"REUTERS" ANALYZED DATA SHOWING STATES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST AND WEST WHERE COOLER WEATHER IS SENDING MORE PEOPLE INDOORS HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF NEW INFECTIONS.

KANSAS, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING SET NEW RECORDS LAST WEEK.

YESTERDAY FOUR STATES-- KENTUCKY, MINNESOTA, MONTANA AND WISCONSIN-- SET NEW ONE-DAY RECORDS ACCORDING TO THE REUTERS ANALYSIS.

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY'S CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER SHOWS THE U.S. WITH MORE THAN 20% OF ALL CONFIRMED CASES WORLDWIDE.

AS OF THIS MORNING.

THERE ARE CLOSE TO 35 MILLION INFECTIONS GLOBALLY AND NEARLY 7.4-MILLION OF THOSE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

VIOLENCE BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FORCES CONTINUED TODAY OVER THE SEPARATIST REGION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH.

ETHNIC ARMENIAN OFFICIALS FROM NAGORNO-KARABAKH TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LATEST ROUND OF STRIKES IN GANJA AZERBAIJAN'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

ONE CIVILIAN WAS KILLED AND DOZENS WERE INJURED, ACCORDING TO AZERBAIJAN'S GOVERNMENT.

THE DECADES-LONG DISPUTE BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES IS OVER THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REGION, WHICH IS PART OF AZERBAIJAN BUT IS CONTROLLED BY ETHNIC ARMENIAN FORCES BACKED BY ARMENIA.

BOTH SIDES HAVE ACCUSED THE OTHER OF TARGETING CIVILIANS.

POPE FRANCIS SAYS THAT THE LOSS OF MILLIONS OF JOBS DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC PROVES THAT THE "MAGIC THEORIES" OF MARKET CAPITALISM HAVE FAILED THE WORLD.

AT THE VATICAN TODAY, THE POPE RELEASED A 70-PAGE ENCYCLICAL, THE HIGHEST FORM OF PAPAL TEACHING, TO THE PUBLIC AFTER TRAVELLING TO THE TOWN OF ASSISI YESTERDAY.

IT WAS HIS FIRST TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF ROME SINCE LATE FEBRUARY.

IN HIS VISION FOR A POST-COVID WORLD, FRANCIS CALLED ON WORLD LEADERS TO LISTEN TO POPULAR MOVEMENTS AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS AND TO FORM A NEW TYPE OF POLITICS PROMOTING DIALOGUE AND SOLIDARITY.

THE POPE CRITICIZED THE IDEA THAT ALL SOCIETAL PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED BY MARKET FREEDOMS.

THE WRITTEN TEACHINGS TITLED "BROTHERS ALL" COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING IMMIGRATION, POPULISM, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

>> Sreenivasan: WE'RE CONTINUING OUR SERIES "ROADS TO ELECTION 2020" TODAY WITH A LOOK AT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHERE 21 MILLION BALLOTS-- MORE THAN ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY-- WILL BE MAILED TO REGISTERED VOTERS BY TOMORROW.

ON THAT BALLOT WILL BE A DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF "GIG" WORK.

COMPANIES, LIKE UBER, LYFT AND DOORDASH WANT THEIR RIDESHARE AND DELIVERY DRIVERS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS "INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS."

BUT A NEW STATE LAW CATEGORIZES THEM AS "EMPLOYEES."

IN RESPONSE, UBER, LYFT AND OTHER GIG COMPANIES ARE FUNDING THE MOST EXPENSIVE BALLOT MEASURE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY, AND PUTTING IT TO CALIFORNIA VOTERS TO DECIDE.

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S LAURA FONG HAS THE STORY.

( CARS HONKING ) >> Reporter: APP-BASED DRIVERS HAVE ORGANIZED ACROSS THE STATE FROM LOS ANGELES TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALLING ON THE GIG COMPANIES TO START TREATING THEM AS EMPLOYEES UNDER A NEW STATE LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM PASSED A LAW KNOWN AS A.B.

FIVE THAT NARROWS THE DEFINITION OF AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

IT CODIFIED A CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT CASE AGAINST A SAME-DAY DELIVERY COMPANY CALLED DYNAMEX THAT RULED IN FAVOR OF WORKERS WHO CLAIMED THEY WERE" MISCLASSIFIED AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS."

THE A.B.

FIVE LAW REQUIRES THAT A WORKER MUST MEET THREE FACTORS UNDER THE SO-CALLED "A-B-C TEST" IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: THE PERSON MUST BE FREE FROM THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE COMPANY, PERFORMS WORK THAT IS OUTSIDE THE USUAL COURSE OF THE HIRING ENTITY'S BUSINESS, AND IS ENGAGED IN AN INDEPENDENTLY ESTABLISHED TRADE, OCCUPATION, OR BUSINESS.

UNDER THE A.B.

FIVE LAW, RIDESHARE AND DELIVERY APPS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS TO THEIR DRIVERS, SUCH AS PAID SICK LEAVE, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND OVERTIME.

BUT UBER, LYFT AND OTHER APP- BASED COMPANIES HAVE FOUGHT A.B.

FIVE IN THE COURTS, AND BEFORE THE BILL CAME INTO EFFECT, THEY DRAFTED AN OPPOSITION BALLOT, MEASURE PROP 22, THAT LETS VOTERS DECIDE THE ISSUE THIS NOVEMBER 3.

>> PROP 22 IS THE SOLUTION WE NEED; 22 WOULD ALLOW APP-BASED DRIVERS TO CONTINUE WORKING AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

>> Reporter: PROP 22 OVERRIDES A.B.

FIVE AND CREATES SOME NEW BENEFITS FOR APP-BASED DRIVERS, INCLUDING AN "EARNINGS GUARANTEE TIED TO 120% OF MINIMUM WAGE" AND A "HEALTHCARE SUBSIDY" STARTING AT 15 HOURS A WEEK.

BUT CRITICS OF PROP 22 SAY IT DOESN'T OFFER AS MANY BENEFITS AS EMPLOYEE STATUS, AND THE BENEFITS ONLY COVER THE "ENGAGED TIME" WHEN DRIVERS HAVE PASSENGERS.

>> MY NAME IS DOUG MEAD.

I AM AN APP-BASED DRIVER IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: APP DRIVERS DOUG MEAD AND ELIZABETH CLEWS SUPPORT PROP 22.

THEY SAY THAT THE FLEXIBILITY OF BEING AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ALLOWS THEM TO SET THEIR OWN SCHEDULE.

CLEWS IS A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND IN COLLEGE.

SHE BEGAN WORKING FOR DOORDASH AS A DELIVERY DRIVER THIS YEAR WHEN SHE LOST A WAITRESSING JOB DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SHE SAYS THE SCHEDULE AND PAY IS BETTER THAN WHAT SHE MADE AS A WAITRESS.

>> I LIKE BEING ABLE TO CASH OUT IMMEDIATELY.

I MEAN, I HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST POP UP, YOU KNOW?

THEY NEED DIAPERS.

I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE CASH.

I CAN GO DO TWO DELIVERIES AND I CAN GO BUY DIAPERS.

>> I STARTED PART TIME ORIGINALLY JUST TO KIND OF GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A FEW HOURS A DAY.

>> Reporter: DOUG MEAD DRIVES FOR UBER EATS AND POSTMATES AND HAS A HEART CONDITION.

HE SAYS THE JOB ALLOWS HIM TO TAKE THE BREAKS THAT HE NEEDS.

>> IF I DECIDE AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS THAT I'M A LITTLE TIRED AND I NEED TO JUST TAKE A REST, I CAN JUST SIMPLY TURN THE APPS OFF.

AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, I'M ESSENTIALLY RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS.

AND IF I'M RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS THE RIGHT WAY, THEN I'M ABLE TO PUT ASIDE MONEY FOR HEALTHCARE.

I'M ABLE TO PUT ASIDE TIME FOR SICK LEAVE OR FOR VACATIONS.

>> Reporter: RIDESHARE APPS UBER AND LYFT AND DELIVERY APPS DOORDASH, INSTACART AND POSTMATES HAVE COLLECTIVELY PUT MORE THAN $181 MILLION TOWARDS THE YES ON PROP 22 CAMPAIGN, MAKING IT THE MOST EXPENSIVE BALLOT INITIATIVE IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY.

THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN, MEANWHILE, HAS A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION, PRIMARILY FROM UNION GROUPS.

>> THERE ARE STORIES OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, YET OUR COMPANIES ONCE AGAIN WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

>> Reporter: CHERRI MURPHY AND EDAN ALVA ARE LYFT DRIVERS WHO OPPOSE PROP 22 AND HAVE ORGANIZED ACTIONS WITH WORKER ADVOCACY GROUPS SUCH AS GIG WORKERS RISING.

THIS ONE IS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF UBER C.E.O.

DARA KHOSROWSHAHI.

>> GIG WORKERS RISING IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR FAIR WAGES AND PROTECTIONS, LABOR PROTECTIONS.

>> Reporter: MURPHY BEGAN DRIVING THREE YEARS AGO WHILE SHE WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL TO BECOME A MINISTER.

THE IDEA OF A FLEXIBLE WORK SITUATION WAS ATTRACTIVE TO YOU.

>> SO, IT SEEMED LIKE AN ANSWER, A GODSEND, A JOB WITH A FUTURE THAT ALLOWED YOU TO MAKE MONEY AFTER COMPLETING A SERMON OR PAPER.

THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A REAL RENTAL VEHICLE.

AND OVER THE YEARS, AS THE NUMBER OF BONUSES DECREASE, WHILE THE DEMANDS TO COMPLETE RIDES INCREASED, MAKING MAJOR CUTS TO TAKE-HOME PAY, IT WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN A, A LIVING.

>> Reporter: FOR EDAN ALVA, HE BEGAN DRIVING FOR LYFT PART-TIME SIX YEARS AGO AS A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT HIS INCOME.

BUT THEN HE LOST HIS PRIMARY JOB WITH BENEFITS AND TURNED TO LYFT FULL TIME.

>> THE MOMENT I STARTED DOING LYFT AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME AND DID RIDES ACCORDING TO THEIR SCHEDULE, NOT MINE, THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN.

THEY KEPT CUTTING AND CUTTING AND CUTTING THEIR PAY UNTIL IT DROPPED BELOW MINIMUM WAGE, WHEN YOU DEDUCT EXPENSES.

>> Reporter: ALVA SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH HE GOT SICK WITH THE FLU IN JANUARY, HE COULD BARELY AFFORD TO TAKE DAYS OFF.

AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, HE HAD NO PAID SICK LEAVE.

>> I HAD NO CHOICE.

I HAD TO CONTINUE WORKING.

I WORKED JUST UNTIL I EARNED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY MY RENT AND THEN I PHYSICALLY JUST COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE.

AND I STILL COULDN'T SEE A DOCTOR BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

I, LUCKILY, HAVE THE FRIENDS AND THE FAMILY THAT HELPED ME IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT OVER THE YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK, I'VE MET PLENTY OF DRIVERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT THAT I HAPPEN TO HAVE AND WIND UP HOMELESS OR LIVING IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE OF REGULAR MISHAPS THAT HAPPEN TO THEM.

>> Reporter: IN APRIL, ALVA SAID THE EARNINGS WERE SO LITTLE AND THE HEALTH RISKS WERE SO HIGH TO WORK IN A PANDEMIC, THAT HE DECIDED TO QUIT.

>> DISINFECTING THE CAR AND BUYING DISINFECTANTS FOR THE CAR AND BUYING PROTECTION GEAR FOR MYSELF.

>> Reporter: IN MAY, AFTER UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SKYROCKETED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC RECESSION, CALIFORNIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL XAVIER BECERRA AND CITY ATTORNEYS FROM SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES SUED UBER AND LYFT FOR" MISCLASSIFICATION OF DRIVERS" AND CLAIMED THE COMPANIES HAVE" EXPLOITED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIA WORKERS" FOR YEARS.

A UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY STUDY ESTIMATED THAT UBER AND LYFT "WOULD HAVE PAID $413 MILLION INTO THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND" OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS IF WORKERS WERE TREATED AS EMPLOYEES.

>> I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE MISCLASSIFIED AND HAVING TO STRUGGLE FOR THREE MONTHS TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: CHERRI MURPHY, LIKE OTHER GIG WORKERS, FOUND SHE COULDN'T GET UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BECAUSE LYFT DIDN'T CLASSIFY HER AS AN EMPLOYEE.

SHE SAYS THE FIGHT OVER THIS BALLOT MEASURE IS CRITICAL FOR WORKER PROTECTIONS.

>> IT'S A SMOKE AND MIRROR ATTEMPT TO CONVINCE VOTERS TO BE COMPLICIT WITH STEALING AND CHEATING THEIR WAY OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

AND SO, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO ARE VOTING TO HOLD UBER AND LYFT AND DOORDASH ACCOUNTABLE BY VOTING NO ON PROPOSITION 22.

>> Sreenivasan: REPORTER SAM HARNETT COVERS TECH AND LABOR FOR PUBLIC MEDIA'S KQED.

I SPOKE WITH HIM FOR MORE ON CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 22 AND WHAT IT CAN GET DONE IF IT PASSES.

>> SO, UBER AND LYFT WANT TO CONTINUE CLASSIFYING THE WORKERS AS CONTRACTORS, WHICH MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, OVERTIME, THEY HAVE TO HAVE GUARANTEED MINIMUM WAGE.

SO THEY PUT THIS PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT, WHICH GIVES CALIFORNIA THE ABILITY-- CALIFORNIA VOTERS THE ABILITY TO VOTE ON IT.

AND IF THE BALLOT, IF PROPOSITION 22 PASSES, THESE WORKERS WILL BE LABELED AS CONTRACTORS, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THAT THEN WILL BE FOR 7/8 OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO OVERTURN THE PROPOSITION.

SO IT'S A HUGE BILL.

SO, IF THIS PASSES, UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS ARE GOING TO BE CONTRACTORS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> Sreenivasan: SO, WHAT HAS THE PANDEMIC DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS EIGHT YEAR LONG STRUGGLE TO FIGURE OUT IF SOMEBODY IS AN EMPLOYEE OR A CONTRACTOR?

HERE COMES THIS UNFORESEEN EVENT THAT CHANGES HOW WE LIVE AND WORK AND, MORE IMPORTANT FOR THIS BUSINESS, MOVE ABOUT?

>> RIGHT.

I'D SAY THE PANDEMIC DID TWO REALLY BIG THINGS.

FIRST THING IT DID WAS SUDDENLY YOU HAD ALL THESE UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS THAT DIDN'T HAVE WORK ANYMORE, BUT THEY COULDN'T COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE UBER AND LYFT, BY CLASSIFYING THEIR DRIVERS AS CONTRACTORS, HAVE NOT PAID ONE CENT INTO THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS.

SO SUDDENLY YOU'VE GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS GOING, LIKE, "I CAN'T GET A RIDE.

CAN I GET SOME MONEY?"

AND THE CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT FUND IS LIKE, "WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR YOU."

SO I THINK THAT REALLY MOTIVATED CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS TO MOVE ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE WAS A REAL MONETARY ISSUE.

THE SECOND THING THAT IT DID IS UBER AND LYFT HAVE CONSISTENTLY RELIED ON THEIR CONSUMERS, ON THEIR RIDERS, FOR-- TO BASICALLY PUT PRESSURE ON REGULATORS.

BASICALLY, THEY'VE GONE TO THE, YOU KNOW, RIDERS LOVE UBER AND LYFT BECAUSE IT'S VERY CHEAP, BECAUSE THE COMPANIES DON'T PAY THEIR WORKERS THAT MUCH.

SO THEY RELIED ON CONSUMERS, AND IN THE PAST, THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

IN PLACES WHERE THEY THREATENED TO LEAVE, CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN REALLY UPSET AND POLITICIANS HAVE THEN HELPED UBER AND LYFT GET THE REGULATIONS THAT THEY WANTED.

BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC, SUDDENLY PEOPLE AREN'T RIDING AS MUCH.

SO UBER AND LYFT HAVE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LEVERAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE SIMPLY AREN'T TAKING AS MANY RIDES AND THAT SORT OF OPENED THE DOOR FOR, FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUE THESE COMPANIES AND NOT RISK PUBLIC BACKLASH FROM CONSUMERS AND FOR THIS BASICALLY ISSUE TO COME TO A HEAD.

>> Sreenivasan: WE TALK ABOUT UBER AND LYFT, BUT THIS IS REALLY A BELLWETHER FOR THE ENTIRE GIG ECONOMY.

THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER COMPANIES AS DOOR DASH OR TASK RABBIT OR OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAVE SPRUNG UP WITH THE SAME BUSINESS MODEL.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THERE ARE OTHER STATES WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS ELECTION AND THEN REALLY, THAT THAT IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST THE RIDE SHARING ECONOMY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, YOU KNOW THIS, THE ISSUE THAT IS PLAYING OUT IN CALIFORNIA OVER WHERE-- HOW TO CLASSIFY THESE DRIVERS-- IS PLAYING OUT IN EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY AND ACTUALLY GLOBAL, IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

SO, EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO CALIFORNIA TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

NOW, THE THING IS THAT THE WAY THE PROPOSITION IS WRITTEN IS THAT IT ONLY APPLIES TO PEOPLE WORKING ON PLATFORMS DOING DELIVERY OR TRANSPORTATION.

SO, AGAIN, COMPANIES LIKE UBER LIFT ALSO POSTMATES DOORDASH.

SO IT IS LIMITED IN WHO IT IS TARGETING NOW, BUT IF YOU CREATE THIS PRECEDENT OF HAVING A BASIC THIRD OPTION BETWEEN EMPLOYEE AND CONTRACTOR, THIS KIND OF CONTRACTOR-- AND WE DIDN'T EXPLAIN THIS, BUT THE PROPOSITION WOULD GIVE THEM CONTRACTOR STATUS WITH SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BENEFITS, SLIGHTLY BETTER WAGES, SOME HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS, SOME INSURANCE IF YOU DRIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS.

SO, THE POINT IS, IF YOU CREATE THAT THIRD CATEGORY, THE WORRY IS THAT A BUNCH OF OTHER CORPORATIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK AND BE, LIKE, "HEY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO SAVE MONEY.

LET'S MAYBE CREATE AN APP FOR TRUCKING SERVICE OR A DELIVERY SERVICE, AND THEN WE CAN INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, PAYING THE WORKERS AS EMPLOYEES, WE CAN USE THIS KIND OF CONTRACTOR PLUS MODEL.

AND, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR IN AMERICA, THIS WAS ADDED-- THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR MODEL WAS ADDED AS A CAVEAT FOR VERY SPECIFIC KINDS OF SITUATIONS.

AND THEN YOU SAW CORPORATIONS OVER TIME MOVING MORE OF THEIR WORKFORCE FROM EMPLOYEES, WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BENEFITS OF PROTECTIONS, OVER TO CONTRACTORS, WHICH ARE CHEAPER.

SO, AGAIN, THE WORRY IS YOU MAKE THIS THIRD, KIND OF THIRD WAY, AND COMPANIES ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO EXPLOIT IT.

>> Sreenivasan: SAM HARNETT, KQED, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Sreenivasan: CALIFORNIA HAS ONE QUARTER OF THE NATION'S ELIGIBLE LATINO VOTES, BUT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS THAT WAY.

A PBS SO-CAL DOCUMENTARY, "PROP 187: THE RISE OF THE LATINO VOTE," EXPLAINS HOW AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT BALLOT PROPOSAL MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO MOBILIZED LATINOS TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

FOR MORE VISIT PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.

NEWSHOUR WILL HAVE MORE THIS WEEK ON THE STATE OF THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH AND HOW IT MAY AFFECT THE UPCOMING ELECTION WHICH IS NOW LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."

FOR THE LATEST NEWS UPDATES VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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