Vice Manifest.

The US average of new daily cases is now at its highest point of the entire pandemic. / CNN

After five aides to Vice President Pence test positive for Covid-19, the White House admits it can’t control what’s happening. / CNBC

In Italy, gyms, swimming pools, cinemas, and theatres are closed, but another full lockdown remains off the table. / BBC News

Worth noting: South Korea, a country of 55 million people, has had fewer than 500 deaths from the coronavirus. / Twitter

See also: “Disaster planning for less crazy folk.” / Michal Zalewski

Rather than “drain the swamp,” President Trump has presided over a norm-shattering expansion of private interests in government. / The Washington Post

Regarding Trump’s performance vis-à-vis dictators: “It has also been outrageous, tragic, as many of us see it. Also unworthy: of the office and of America.” / The National Review

How software infuses racism into US health care. / STAT

Single mothers fear falling through holes in the pandemic safety net. / NPR

How do you talk to people you care about who are headed down a conspiratorial rabbit hole? / The New York Times

The problem with the “manifesting” trend: people who trust their gut are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, and tend to believe that all facts are politically biased. / Vox

Your weekly white paper: China wants to leapfrog the world’s developed countries. Its ability to do so hinges on Germany. / FDD

Japan pledges to become carbon neutral by 2050. / Eco-Business

Chile votes overwhelmingly to scrap the country's dictatorship-era Constitution and draw up a new one. / BBC News

As parents try to cut down on screen time, Barbie dolls take off. / The Wall Street Journal

Seeking new ways to make being stuck at home more fun? For home decor, try blobs. / VICE

Recapping the week in TikTok: An influencer hair salon is under attack. Also, “Everyone Is Gay on TikTok.” / Vox, The New York Times

“I have become that which I used to despise: a wholesome activity person.” / GQ

The Super Rooster, presented by Bookshop—aka, the Tournament of the Tournament of Books—enters its final week. / The Morning News


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