The Year That Was and Wasn’t
We asked some of our favorite journalists, writers, and thinkers: What were the most important events of 2020, and what were the least?
The Morning News
Giving.
TMN will be offline through the holidays, and the newsletter will return on Monday, Jan. 4. Until then, here's our annual round-up of some of the places we like to give money. Advice on how to give to charity if you're not wealthy. The Human
A tote to tote your snowpal.
Pfizer and BioNTech will provide the US with an additional 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine by mid-summer. / The Guardian The Chilean army reports 36 cases of the coronavirus at its research station on the Antarctic Peninsula. / BBC News Why are Americans so numb to the coronavirus death toll?
Tiny stim.
Nine months after the CARES act, Congress has passed a second stimulus bill that’s half the size of its predecessor. / The New York Times In addition to direct payments to Americans and more unemployment benefits, the stimulus extends tax breaks for film and TV production companies and includes funding
The Karen next door.
US lawmakers agree to issue stimulus payments of $600 and distribute a federal unemployment benefit of $300 for 11 weeks. / The New York Times, The Washington Post Moderna’s Covid vaccine begins rolling out. / Reuters The CDC says that adults 75 and older, as well as frontline essential workers, be
Hot Tub Time Vaccine.
The World Health Organization says its Covid-19 vaccine program has secured 2 billion doses. / STAT Moderna’s vaccine becomes the second to receive emergency use authorization. / Reuters The coronavirus vaccines, developed and tested at record speed, are the breakthrough of the year. / Science Magazine Dhruv Khullar: The vaccine will
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Research suggests July was the deadliest month in modern American history for people between the ages 25 and 44. / The New York Times ICU capacity in Southern California has dropped to 0% based on available beds and the ratio of Covid patients. / NBC Southern California “I saw a guy with
A night at the blopera.
Congress closes in on a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal, lacking the Democrats’ aid to states and cities or the Republicans’ liability protections for companies. / The Washington PostMacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, lists the 384 organizations she found to give away more than $4 billion this year. / Medium
The Spiders Near Mars.
Citing Monday's Electoral College votes, Mitch McConnell acknowledged Joe Biden as president-elect. McConnell also urged against disputing the Electoral College tally on Jan. 6, as it would result in Republicans voting against Trump. / CNN, Associated Press Why sowing election doubt helps Republicans post-Trump: It's
Panic! in the pod.
The Food and Drug Administration supports authorizing Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. / NPR Helen Branswell: A guide to who can safely get the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. / STAT Videos of vaccine deliveries are making people burst into tears. / The Washington Post Related: Each day is a