Unemployed Americans Share Their Stories; Answering Coronavirus Questions.
CAMEROTA: The coronavirus pandemic has led to 16 million Americans filing for unemployment in just the last three weeks. Many Americans are now trying to figure out how to keep their families afloat without a paycheck. Joining us now are Joseph and Belinda Norman. They are business owners from Texas who are having trouble finding work. And Nicole Douglas, who lost her job as a front desk manager at a gym in Oregon. Great to see all of you. I really appreciate all of you coming in to tell your personal stories. I know that you all have kids and you're all trying to figure out what's next and where you'll get enough income and everything. So, Nicole, let me just start with you. Your -- you and your husband both lost your jobs. You have two kids, a teenager and a four-year- old. So you're at both ends of the spectrum in terms of stress, I would imagine.</s>NICOLE DOUGLAS, UNEMPLOYED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: And so how has your life changed in the past few weeks?</s>DOUGLAS: How? Well, just a lot of unknowns, which is scary. Just not knowing how long this is going to last and, you know, what's going to happen really.</s>CAMEROTA: And what -- I mean what are you panicking most about? When you let the anxiety kind of wash over you, which I know you've said it does some nights, what is it that you're most worried about?</s>DOUGLAS: Just hoping I can go back to work. I know this is going to take a real big hit on small business and -- which is what I work for -- or I was previously working for was a locally owned small business. So I'm just hoping that -- that it can, you know, hang in there so maybe I can come back to that or -- and get back to normal and get the kids back in a routine. I know school was just canceled through the end of the year, so -- so it's going to be different for a few more months for us.</s>CAMEROTA: Yes. That was a blow to so many of us.</s>DOUGLAS: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: Joseph and Belinda, I want to bring you in because, Joseph, I know a little bit about your story. You are a worker. You have been a worker since you were a kid and your father took you to the -- to work with him on the oil wells. You're a well technician. You started your own business, I think, several years ago. And it was going really well. And then, you know, no pun intended, it all dried up.</s>CAMEROTA: And so now where do you find yourself?</s>J. NORMAN: Alisyn, west Texas, we got hit with a double whammy. You know, we got hit with corona and we got hit with the oil wars. So, you know, us, you know, we decided to pivot. You know, the oil and gas industry isn't the only industry in the world. And, you know, four weeks ago I was a well technician. Last week, I wrote my first hit single "Quarantine Lover." And this week I'm being interviewed by CNN. So, you know, all of this is, is an opportunity to pivot to something different. It's an opportunity to spread joy, love and peace and hope to -- and that's what I'm all -- I'm trying to do. Like, 19 cents out of every single song is going directly to the -- the doctors and the nurses that are on the front lines fighting this</s>CAMEROTA: Well --</s>J. NORMAN: Can't crawl up in a little, you know, ball and cry or put my head in the sand, man. It's time to go. It's time to be proactive and it's time to pivot to something that, you know, that can, you know, meet the challenge.</s>CAMEROTA: Well, listen, you're -- we like your attitude.</s>J. NORMAN: Appreciate it.</s>CAMEROTA: I mean I hope it is infectious for all of us because everybody copes with it differently. And you're clearly a man of action. And you have pivoted to writing songs, which is beautiful.</s>J. NORMAN: Right.</s>CAMEROTA: But, Belinda, you have two little kids and you're pregnant at the moment.</s>BELINDA NORMAN, UNEMPLOYED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: And so has that -- has that added to your anxiety about the future?</s>B. NORMAN: No. I'm actually -- I don't really have any anxiety. You know, we have a very strong faith in God and know he's going to take care of us no matter what. I see the end in sight and know that it will be better than we could ever have imagined. And in regarding my pregnancy, I do under -- I do think, you know, pregnant people are kind of forgotten, but, you know, we are very blessed. I have a midwife. I was going to this -- it would be my second home birth. So it's actually falling right into place. I mean I'm sure a lot of pregnant people wish they could be at home and I've heard just stories of women having to go by themselves to the hospital to do this, and I can't imagine. So I'm sure --</s>CAMEROTA: Yes, that is a scary scenario. You're -- you're so right.</s>B. NORMAN: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: And I just want to bring Nicole back in. Nicole, when you hear -- when you hear the upbeat nature of the Normans, what is it that has most changed for you? Are you -- what's happening with feeding your family and have you gotten a check yet? You know, we've understood that unemployment checks have been deposited in some people's accounts now. So has -- do you know if that's happened yet for you?</s>DOUGLAS: Yes, we -- I just received my first unemployment check last week. So that was good. After three weeks of unemployment kind of being a nightmare, I was glad to finally get it. So --</s>CAMEROTA: Yes, we're glad that you got it. And in terms of -- I know that you've had to get creative with feeding the kids.</s>DOUGLAS: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: You can share any hints for other people?</s>DOUGLAS: You know, we're just -- just trying to, yes, get creative with cooking and try to, you know, keep the budget, be very aware of every dollar right now, because we don't know how long this could last. So we're just trying to be proactive and stay ahead of everything.</s>CAMEROTA: Yes. I mean, look, it's the uncertainty. That -- that's what people are struggling with, the uncertainty of not knowing how long this is going to last.</s>DOUGLAS: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: But, Joseph and Belinda Norman, we -- we direct people to "Quarantine Lover," that they can find.</s>J. NORMAN: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: I'll put it out on my -- on my social media, on Instagram as well. And, Nicole Douglas, thank you so much, everybody, for sharing -- for sharing your personal stories and your positive outlook. We really appreciate it.</s>B. NORMAN: Thank you.</s>CAMEROTA: OK, we have some breaking news -- you too. We have some breaking details right now on concerns about one of the drugs that President Trump has continued to promote to treat coronavirus patients. So Sanjay Gupta is going to join us to talk about this, next.