Friday, December 18th, 2020
2nd Vaccine’s Final Step, Russia Olympics Ban & Boseman’s Last Bow
All the news you need in around 10 min:
Today’s episode is brought to you by MagicSpoon.com/newsworthy and ButcherBox.com/newsworthy
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want reading the latest happenings...
FDA Panel Recommends Moderna Vaccine
An FDA panel of experts voted unanimously to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine from the drugmaker Moderna. It’s expected that the FDA will authorize it for adults over 18 by the end of the day. Moderna could start shipping the shots this weekend. Even though the Pfizer vaccine was authorized first, this one is exciting because it can be shipped and stored more easily. The FDA found both shots are more than 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms. Both need to be given in two doses, about a month apart.
Read More: WaPo, AP, WSJ
VP Pence Getting Vaccine Today
The Trump administration is rolling out a public education campaign to encourage Americans to get the vaccines. As part of that, Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen Pence, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams will receive their vaccines at the White House this morning. Pence said he didn’t want to cut the line but also wanted to reassure Americans that it’s safe to take. President-elect Joe Biden says he’ll likely get the vaccine next week.
Read More: NBC News, Axios, ABC News
U.S. Sets New COVID-19 Records
The number of new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are still going up in the U.S. More than 3,000 Americans have died from the virus every day for the last few days. That’s three times the daily death toll we were seeing about three months ago. The number of new cases is six times what it was then. As for hospitalizations, the U.S. just hit a record for the 12th day in a row.
Read More: NY Times, Johns Hopkins, COVID Tracking
Southern California has 0% ICU Capacity
Throughout Southern California, all intensive care units are full. That means some patients who would normally be in the ICU are getting moved to other parts of the hospital. Doctors and nurses who don’t usually work with critically sick patients are getting new training too so they can help. Some health experts are pointing to Thanksgiving as the reason we’re seeing such a huge spike now. However, pandemic fatigue and colder weather, forcing people indoors, could also have something to do with it.
Read More: LA Times, AP, NPR
France’s Macron Gets COVID-19
French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. A spokesperson said he has a fever and a cough but has been able to stay home and isolate there. The French president has had several meetings with other top European leaders in recent days, so a lot of them are also going to quarantine as a precaution. Among them are the prime ministers from France, Portugal, and Spain. So far, they have all tested negative.
Read More: WaPo, CNN, Axios, Reuters
Biden Picks Interior Secretary
President-elect Joe Biden made another historic cabinet pick. He chose Congresswoman Deb Haaland to lead the Department of the Interior. If the Senate signs off, she’ll be the country’s first Native American cabinet secretary. The Interior is responsible for maintaining the nation’s public lands and also honoring treaties with Indigenous peoples. The Biden transition team says she was chosen because she’s spent her career “fighting for families, including in tribal nations, rural communities, and communities of color.”
Read More: WaPo, NPR, FOX News, Biden Transition, Haaland Tweet
See the Rest of Biden’s Climate Team: Biden Transition
Russia’s Olympics Ban Upheld
Russia is banned from using its flag and anthem at the next two Olympic Games. This stems from a doping scandal. Last year, the World Anti-Doping Agency learned Russia had been tampering with drug-testing data. Russia was initially threatened with a four-year ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided yesterday to make the ban two years instead. This also affects other global competitions like the FIFA World Cup. Some Russian athletes will still be allowed to compete, but as “neutral” athletes who won’t represent a country.
Read More: USA Today, NY Times, WaPo, AP
‘Grave Risks’ From Cyberattacks
The massive cyberattack that hit several federal agencies ended up being even more widespread than originally thought. Microsoft said it identified 40 companies, government agencies, and think tanks that had data stolen. Politico reports one of them was the National Nuclear Security Administration. That’s the agency in charge of the nation’s nuclear stockpile. Intelligence agencies told Congress this week they think Russian hackers are responsible, but their motives aren’t yet clear.
Read More: NY Times, AP, USA Today, Politico, Bloomberg, CISA
Google’s 3rd Antitrust Lawsuit
Google was hit with its third antitrust lawsuit in two months. Attorneys general in more than 30 states filed the latest one. They accuse Google of illegally arranging search results to push out smaller rivals. It also says Google struck exclusive deals with phone makers like Apple to prioritize Google search over rivals like Bing. One Google executive slammed the lawsuit, saying it looks to “redesign search in ways that could deprive Americans of helpful information.” The company plans to fight all the lawsuits in court.
Read More: AP, NY Times, The Verge
‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ Comes Out
The new movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom hits Netflix today. It was the actor Chadwick Boseman’s last role before he died of cancer in August. The movie is based on an acclaimed play about blues music and race in 1920’s Chicago. Boseman stars alongside actress Viola Davis. It was released in select theaters two weeks ago, but now it’s coming to Netflix. Already, the movie is getting good reviews and it’s considered an awards contender.
Read More: NPR, USA Today, Netflix
‘McCartney III’ Released
This morning, Beatles legend Paul McCartney released the final album in a trilogy, 50 years in the making. McCartney III came out this morning. This comes 40 years after McCartney II came out in 1980 and 50 years after his debut solo album McCartney in 1970. In the new one, the former Beatle plays all the instruments in all 11 tracks. McCartney said he didn’t plan to release an album this year, but since he was stuck at home during the pandemic, it allowed him the time.
Read More: AP, Rolling Stone, Billboard
Feel Good Friday: Friendship Bracelets for Charity
A 7-year-old has raised more than $23,000 for her local children’s hospital. Hayley Orlinsky raised all the money by selling thousands of handmade friendship bracelets for a few dollars each. She was inspired to start the mission at the beginning of the pandemic when she saw healthcare workers were running low on masks and supplies. Now, all the money she’s raised is going toward personal protective equipment.
Read More: NY Times, NPR, Buy a Bracelet Here