This Week on WURD: AI warnings, Birth Center Week, signs of human trafficking

Dr. Elena McDonald and Dr. Delana Wardlaw, board-certified physicians known as the Twin Sister Docs, joined Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD to discuss Pennsylvania’s worsening measles outbreak. They stressed that unvaccinated people with underlying conditions face heightened risks of severe complications as the state’s outbreak approaches 700 cases and has now been linked to four deaths.

Ben Hovland, senior fellow for democracy policy at the Center for American Progress and former U.S. Election Assistance Commission commissioner, joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to discuss protecting voting rights ahead of the 2026 midterms. Amid new allegations of questionable federal voter-list matching, Hovland urged voters to check their registration early and avoid waiting until Election Day.

Dr. Tony Watlington, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, joined Wake Up With WURD to discuss the district’s plan to close 17 schools and modernize 169. Watlington said Philadelphia’s schools are operating at just 65% capacity and defended the transition process as the district begins working with families and communities affected by the closures.

Leseliey Welch, co-founder of Birth Center Equity and Birth Detroit, joined the Midday Break Room with guest host Candace Johnson during National Birth Center Week. Welch argued that survival should not be the standard for Black maternal care, pointing to midwives, birth centers and community-based support as tools for confronting persistent inequities in pregnancy and childbirth.

Greg DeShields, president of SKAL Philadelphia, joined Midday Break Room to discuss human trafficking and the hospitality industry’s role in identifying potential victims. With a new law requiring trafficking-awareness training for certain hotel and lodging workers, DeShields emphasized signs including controlling companions, unexplained injuries and guests signaling for help.

Stephanie Humphrey, host of Life and Tech with TechLifeSteph, joined Wake Up With WURD to discuss mounting concerns over artificial intelligence and data centers. Humphrey warned that communities can bear higher utility costs, water demand, pollution, and noise as Philadelphia activists push for a data-center moratorium and Pennsylvania tightens development rules.