1. A MILLION CASES IN 11 DAYS CROWD US HOSPITALS
[6]
Since November began, more than 1 million Americans have tested positive
for the virus that causes COVID-19. Officials from coast to coast are
pleading with people to wear masks, which the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention now concludes protect the wearer as well as
others from infection. In one of the hardest-hit states, the Mayo Clinic
Health System in northwestern Wisconsin warns that its hospitals are
full [7] as nationwide hospitalizations for COVID-19 have reached
pandemic records — and continue to climb. While the vaccine developed
by Pfizer and BioNTech has been proven effective, and others are also
generating positive results, it will be months before any can stem the
viral tide.
Sources: NYT [8], NPR [9], Fox News [10], CNN [11]
2. BIDEN NAMES EBOLA-FIGHTING CHIEF OF STAFF
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden [12] yesterday appointed longtime
confidant Ron Klain to be his chief of staff. Klain first worked for
Biden in 1989, and brings pandemic credentials, having headed
America’s effort to contain the Ebola virus under President Barack
Obama. Meanwhile, President Trump continued to pressure Republicans to
support his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, like a tweet
showing Los Angeles County election workers collecting a ballot drop box
after Election Day, which did in fact happen, but boxes were locked at
the end of Nov. 3. Trump aides reportedly say there is no plan that
could overturn the results.
Sources: Reuters [13], LA Times [14], Washington Post [15], Fox News
[16]
3. US THREATENS NEW CHINA SANCTIONS OVER HONG KONG
Only “patriots” need apply. That’s the standard set by Beijing for
Hong Kong’s once-autonomous territorial legislature. Yesterday, the
chamber purged four pro-democracy members, prompting 15 like-minded
colleagues to quit. China [17] tightened its grip even more Wednesday
when national legislators approved a new law prohibiting Hong Kong’s
elected officials from opposing China’s control of the territory. In
short, only Beijing-friendly lawmakers are allowed. U.S. National
Security Advisor Robert O’Brien accused China of having “flagrantly
violated” its international commitments and threatened new sanctions,
while Sen. Marco Rubio lamented that Hong Kong democracy was “gasping
for air.”
Sources: AP [18], The Guardian [19], CNN [20]
4. PFIZER CEO’S STOCK SALE RAISES EYEBROWS
It doesn’t look good. Shortly after Pfizer’s share price surged
Monday on news that its coronavirus vaccine was 90 percent effective,
CEO Albert Bourla sold $5.6 million in company shares, amounting to 60
percent of his holdings. And he’s not alone: Execs at Moderna and
Novavax did the same thing after positive news broke about their
vaccines. The companies, and even savvy investors, say it’s not
unusual. Such executives often keep their shares in programs that unload
company stock on predetermined dates or when prices hit certain targets.
Nonetheless, some experts say it could erode confidence in the vaccines,
which most Americans are already skeptical of.
Sources: WSJ (sub) [21], STAT [22]
5. ALSO IMPORTANT …
News is emerging that militants may have killed scores of people [23] in
northern Mozambique over several days last week. Texas has surpassed 1
million coronavirus infections [24], with California close behind. And
Australia has created a special investigative agency to probe reports
that its soldiers committed war crimes [25] in Afghanistan.
Election update: Because Joe Biden leads by a razor-thin margin of
14,000 votes, Georgia’s secretary of state said yesterday that
presidential ballots will be recounted by hand [26], which will “help
build confidence” but is unlikely to change the result.
Listen up: Voting may be the cornerstone of our democracy, but the
reality of how voting works in America is not as fair or clear-cut as we
like to tell ourselves. In a new limited-series podcast, _Turnout_ [27],
award-winning journalist and KCM co-founder Katie Couric explores
America’s voting record with the help of activists, historians,
politicians and luminaries. On this week’s episode, she shares her
hopes for the next administration and the need for open-mindedness as
the transition begins. Listen now [28].
INTRIGUING
[35]
1. ORLANDO UNVEILS ELECTRIC FLYING TAXI STAND
[36]
Commuters, meet the vertiport. It’s a conceptual flying taxi stand
where experimental air taxis will come and go from a planned smart city
near Orlando, Florida. It’s futuristic, and yet was predicted by the
_Jetsons_ TV series in the 1960s. The hub, slated to open in 2025, will
host German five-seater Lilium Jets, designed to go 186 mph and hover in
for a helicopter-like vertical landing anywhere — on battery power.
But the future is a cruel mistress, so we’ll see if the dream of urban
mobility will actually fly.
Sources: Orlando Sentinel [37], Orlando Weekly [38], CNBC [39]
2. ZOOM OVEREXPOSURE PROMPTS ‘NEW YORKER’ WRITER’S OUSTER
While it’s not uncommon for people to grab coffee or check Facebook
while bored with meetings and the camera’s off, _New Yorker_ writer
Jeffrey Toobin crossed a red line. After 27 years with the highbrow
publication, he was fired Wednesday for doing a sex chat and
masturbating last month during a work teleconference, for which his only
defense was that he believed he wasn’t on _that _camera. He’s also
taking leave from doing legal analysis at CNN. The magazine’s parent
company, Condé Nast, assured staff that “we take workplace matters
seriously” — even if one employee didn’t.
Sources: People [40], NYT [41]
3. THE POWERFUL LESSON OF PANDEMIC POVERTY
Considering the financial hardships of COVID-19, it’s understandable
that 78 percent of Americans crave financial advice. And even if it’s
too late to save for the pandemic, parents want their children to be
financially literate, OZY reports [42]. They’re clamoring to join
programs like Detroit’s Financial Garden, which teaches
socioeconomically disadvantaged kids about banking, budgeting and
investing. They’re also using apps like Denver-based Mini Money
Management, which helps parents pay kids for chores and dock them for
misbehavior. Even if they don’t pay the bills, such initiatives may
give parents the comfort of knowing their kids will be ready for the
next crisis.
Source: OZY [43]
4. PANDA FANS BLAST K-POP STARS FOR UNSAFE PETTING
More like pan … duh! In their final reality series episode, members
of K-pop girl group Blackpink visit with Fu Bao, the first giant panda
born in South Korea. While that seems undeniably cute, Chinese fans
became disenchanted with Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo when they saw the
episode’s trailer. The “Kill This Love” singers pet the panda
without gloves, which netizens noted could transmit such contagion as
canine distemper, the virus responsible for killing four giant pandas in
China in 2015. Now the episode’s airing has been put off, and Chinese
animal authorities [44] have admonished the Everland Zoo for breaching
panda protocols.
Sources: The Independent [45], Metro [46]
5. OHIO PITCHERS BIEBER AND BAUER CAPTURE CY YOUNG AWARDS
He’s unbeliebable. Baseball [47] writers unanimously chose Shane
Bieber for the American League’s Cy Young Award yesterday. With a
looping curveball and wipeout sliding pitch, the Cleveland Indians ace
has a winning 8-1 record, allowing an average of only 1.63 runs. Down
Interstate 71 in Cincinnati, Reds hurler Trevor Bauer won the National
League Cy Young, striking out 100 batters with a 1.73 ERA. The winners
were teammates until Bauer was traded to the Reds last year. With Las
Vegas giving both equal odds at the season’s start, Bieber texted
Bauer, saying, “why don’t we go 2-for-2?”
Sources: Bleacher Report [48], ESPN [49]