Kai Ryssdal

It was just...

Nobody's getting vaccinated.

Eventually, this is going to hit a turning point, tipping point.

And so I think we look at things like that, Medicare, Medicaid cuts.

You cut people's Medicare and Medicaid, they're not going to have a primary care physician.

When they do get sick, they're going to be really sick, and the only place they're going to go is the ER.

So it's going to put even more strain on the system, which is going to be even harder on the nurses and the doctors.

So it's just about looking at the real-world situations and thinking about how they're going to play out.

I watched your Emmy speech from a year ago when you won Best Drama, and you made a point at the end of that speech of honoring and dedicating it to healthcare workers.

You said, you know, honor them, trust them, protect them, I think is what you said.

Why?

Well, we wouldn't be here without them.

I mean, I wouldn't be here without them.

And, you know, that sort of show is kind of a love letter, I think, to the health care workers for what they do.

A lot of my friends are doctors and nurses, and I just think it's a wonderful profession, and we deserve to give them the credit they deserve.

Did it start that way, though?

Because, I mean, you know, you read about Noah Wiley and him actually going to Pittsburgh and going to medical centers there and people treating him...

I mean, yes, he's a star, but treating him like an actual rock star, you know, and going crazy over him.

Was that the plan?

Did that surprise you?