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The Washington Post spoke with White House insiders about President Trump’s surprise message last night that the spending and pandemic relief bills are not good enough. The Washington Post spoke with White House insiders about President Trump’s surprise message last night that the spending and pandemic relief bills are not good enough. Trump announced a slew of pardons and commutations last night. Politico breaks down who’s on the list.

The Washington Post breaks down the surprising details in the 5,593-page spending bill just passed by Congress.  Jelani Cobb writes for the New Yorker about the roots of vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans. For the Atlantic, Ed Yong breaks down the scientific successes and setbacks of the COVID era.  National Geographic looks at the many forms the Christmas tree has taken at different points in history.

Congress has struck a deal for a new pandemic stimulus package. The Washington Post reports on what is inside. Answers to key questions about COVID-19 vaccines, from Stat and NPR. And CNBC explains the latest news out of the United Kingdom about a new strain of the virus. NBC News highlights the growing homelessness crisis in the United States during the pandemic. Tonight, Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer together in the night sky than at any time since the year 1226. CNN has tips on how to see them as they form a rare “Christmas star.”

NPR reports on the billionaire Sackler family, which owns Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. Members of the family appeared in front of a congressional committee. And Patrick Radden Keefe writes for the New Yorker about how the Sacklers have used their fortune to, so far, avoid criminal culpability for their role in the opioid crisis. As lawmakers near a potential coronavirus relief package, the Washington Post breaks down what might be in a final deal. The Wall Street Journal looks at the hack of the U.S. government. New information shows it is deeper and more sophisticated than initially thought. Popular Science explains what Dippin’ Dots can tell us about the COVID-19 vaccine.

California has made a commitment to distributing coronavirus vaccines equitably. NPR reports that some groups argue this means taking historical injustices into consideration. And the Guardian covers the debate over whether prisoners should be included in early distribution. Politico delivers good news: Some coronavirus vaccine vials hold extra doses that could expand the supply by as much as 40%. ProPublica and the New York Times Magazine take a deep dive into how Russia stands to benefit from a warming planet. The Atlantic is out with a piece about an uptick in Christmas tree purchases that seems to have caught the industry off guard.

Politico reports on why President-elect Biden is campaigning for Democrats in Georgia’s runoff election. And Politico also reveals that President Trump is using the Georgia race to fundraise for his own PAC. The Guardian dives into a recent report that found significant evidence that China may be forcing members of ethnic minority groups, including Uighurs, to pick cotton on a scale far greater than previously thought. The jihadi group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for kidnapping more than 300 schoolboys in Nigeria. The Wall Street Journal has the story. The Wall Street Journal says there are major delays to package deliveries, and warns that with the backlog only set to worsen, it’s past time to finish up online holiday shopping.

The Washington Post reports on how some Republicans have started to acknowledge Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. It also covers Bill Barr’s departure as attorney general. The Wall Street Journal says it could take two to five years for countries in the developing world to vaccinate a large percentage of their populations. Vice reporter Aaron Gordon breaks down America’s public transportation crisis. USA Today puts into perspective the 300,000 American lives lost to COVID-19.

The Washington Post provides us with answers to some common questions about the leading coronavirus vaccines. Today, the 538 members of the Electoral College meet to cast their votes for president of the United States. The Wall Street Journal breaks down how the process works and introduces us to some of this year’s electors. Politico says President Trump’s strategy to undermine the election results is being taken up by other Republicans. The Wall Street Journal reports on Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team moving to drop its controversial nickname.

The Hill reports that many state legislatures are considering changes to election rules — in some cases ones that would make voting less accessible. NBC News looks at the latest federal execution, part of a series of death-penalty moves in the last days of the Trump administration. CNBC reports that China has promised its vaccines to many developing nations, and says some experts argue the goal may be to expand Chinese global influence. CNN highlights letters children have sent to the Postal Service’s Operation Santa program asking for help during a difficult year.

The Washington Post breaks down the science and research behind the leading coronavirus vaccines. Politico Magazine explains how Oklahoma became the state with the largest medical marijuana market in the United States. The Wall Street Journal reports on how the pandemic has slowed video-game production. Hanukkah begins tonight. A historian of American Jewish life writes in the Washington Post about how the holiday came to be an annual celebration at the White House.