What A Day

As vaccinations kick off in the UK, the approval process is moving forward here in the US as well. The FDA now says Pfizer’s vaccine offers protection within just 10 days of getting the first dose, though efficacy goes up even further after a second one. Authorization is still pending. The US had planned to rely heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, having made a deal to buy 300 million doses… but new data indicate the drug isn’t as effective as some of the other options being reviewed. On his first day, the new district attorney of Los Angeles George Gascón announced a suite of policy reforms that will change how law enforcement is done in the city. Gascón is part of a larger wave of newly-elected progressive DA’s, from places like Austin, Orlando, and New Orleans.And in headlines: the Army fires or suspends 14 officials at Fort Hood, police raid the home of COVID data scientist Rebekah Jones, and Christopher Nolan is not happy with Warner Bros.Show Links:"Blunders Eroded U.S. Confidence in Early Vaccine Front-Runner"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/business/covid-vaccine-oxford-astrazeneca.html"AstraZeneca vaccine details published in Lancet, but data suggests need for more trials"https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/astrazeneca-lancet-covid-vaccine-oxford/2020/12/08/482ca0f0-34b5-11eb-9699-00d311f13d2d_story.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bipartisan relief bill that had some momentum last week hit a snag after two senators said they won’t support the proposal. We explain. Plus, an update on coronavirus restrictions in New York.The Trump administration has five executions planned between now and January 20th, including that of Brandon Bernard, whose sentence many are fighting to commute. Biden is against the death penalty and said he will work to end it as president. And in headlines: police shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson in Ohio, the Trump admin passed on extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and one weird trick pandas use to stay warm.Show Links:https://www.helpsavebrandon.com/"Brandon Bernard Awaits Execution Amid Calls for Clemency"https://theintercept.com/2020/12/05/federal-executions-brandon-bernard/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Biden has reportedly selected California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who led the defense of the Affordable Care Act in the Supreme Court last month, to lead the department of Health and Human Services. We discuss the pick.California Governor Gavin Newsom’s new lockdown order takes effect today in large parts of the state, and will be in effect for at least the next three weeks but possibly longer. The UK will begin its initial batch of COVID-19 vaccinations this week, using the drug from Pfizer. Russia began vaccinating thousands in Moscow with their Sputnik V vaccine this past weekend, and there’s reporting that China is gearing up for a rollout of vaccines, too. And in headlines: judge orders DACA restored, hundreds of thousands of farmers strike in India, and Trump doesn’t nail the messaging in Georgia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There’s about a month left to go until the two Senate runoffs in Georgia, with Republican Senators Loeffler and Perdue walking the line of campaigning as a check on Biden while also not admitting that he will be the President. Meanwhile, Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are focusing largely on the pandemic and the multi-million dollar stock trades both their Republican opponents made in its early weeks.We spoke to Nse Ufot, the CEO of the New Georgia Project, which registered almost half a million people in Georgia leading up to the November election. She told us about what matters to voters in Georgia, how she thinks Trump’s attacks on the integrity of the election is affecting the race, and more.And in headlines: Bangladesh moves Rohingya families to a settlement on a remote island, Facebook to remove false COVID-19 vaccine info, and mayors are behaving badly.Show Links:votesaveamerica.com/georgianewgeorgiaproject.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The UK became the first country to authorize Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine yesterday, with vaccinations expected to begin next week. In the US, the CDC voted to give health care workers and residents of long term facilities access to the vaccine first, if and when it's approved.CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield predicted that the US could see close to 450,000 deaths from COVID-19 by next February, but that could be mitigated by following public health protocols. The CDC also put out a new holiday travel advisory and new guidelines on quarantining before and after a trip.And in headlines: PPP loans for small businesses went to big businesses, no more emotional-support dogs on flights, and the White House defends its right to have Christmas parties. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Attorney General Bill Barr said what is obvious to everyone, that the Justice Department hasn’t found any election of widespread voter fraud that would change the result of the election. As Trump winds down his presidency, he’s reportedly looking into pre-emptive pardons for Ivanka, Eric, Don Jr., Jared Kushner, and his face-melting lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A bipartisan group of senators pitched a compromise relief bill yesterday, which would extend some federal unemployment assistance and fund state and local governments, but would stop short of offering direct payments. An estimated 12 million Americans will lose COVID-relief benefits the day after Christmas if Congress can’t come to a deal. And in headlines: Uber buys Postmates, LA nearly shuts down COVID-testing site for gender-swapped reboot of “She’s All That,” and the story of the loneliest elephant in the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Biden officially announced several top members of his economic team, including his picks to lead the Treasury, White House Council of Economic Advisers, and the Office of Management and Budget. We talk about the picks and what it says about Biden's economic priorities.Moderna submitted its vaccine for FDA authorization yesterday, following Pfizer’s submission a couple weeks ago. The CDC is holding an emergency meeting today to hammer out some guidelines for states on who should get their COVID shots first. And in headlines: SCOTUS hears arguments on Trump’s plan to keep undocumented immigrants out of the census count, a London lab uses AI to predict the shapes of proteins, and Spiderman is able to have in-person school in Atlanta. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City is opening up elementary schools next week after city officials faced heavy criticism for appearing to prioritize economic activities like restaurant dining over the well-being of children. Across the country, public school closures have led to a spike in private school matriculation, since private institutions have a better chance of staying open. Trump still hasn’t conceded yet, but he has ramped up predictable lame-duck behavior like pushing through a battery of new rules and policy changes. Some policies might not pass legal muster or will be easy for the Biden administration to reverse, but others will have a lasting impact. And in headlines: Biden announces the first all-female senior White House communications team, Iran’s foremost nuclear scientist assassinated, and the Utah monolith is gone in a cloud of dirt.Show Links:"Trump Races to Weaken Environmental and Worker Protections, and Implement Other Last-Minute Policies, Before Jan. 20"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-races-to-weaken-environmental-and-worker-protections-and-implement-other-last-minute-policies-before-jan-20 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michigan and Wayne County have repeatedly been targeted in Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results. In particular, he and his supporters have singled out Detroit, a heavily Democratic, majority-Black city. We talk to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib about that effort. Plus, we get her take on what’s next for House Democrats and what she’d like to see from the Biden administration. And in headlines: what happens when the Pope likes posts, no more politics in Animal Crossing, and Rudy Giuliani melts. Plus, we’re joined by writer and comedian Demi Adejuyigbe.Show Links:Find Demi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/electrolemon  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yesterday brought more bad news about the current state of the pandemic, even as we got more good news about ending it in the future. The entire public school system in New York City, the largest in the country, is going fully remote as cases rise in the city. Meanwhile, the FDA gave emergency use authorization to the first at-home COVID test, and Pfizer said their vaccine is 95% effective, according to new data.Trump’s attempts to overturn the election are ongoing, but they’re ongoing poorly. We discuss the state of play in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania — where Trump’s team is targeting Black and Democratic counties. Plus, the latest on the recount in Georgia.And in headlines: the Trump administration can no longer deport children who cross the southern border, Boeing’s 737 Max airplanes are once again approved to fly, and Apple cuts fees on small app developers but critics say it’s not enough. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.