Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, December 15, 2020:

COVID-19: ‘V’ DAY IN USA

Frontline healthcare workers across the U.S. are now in the process of receiving the first dose of Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, almost exactly a year after the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan, China. The mass vaccination campaign began as the U.S. crossed 300,000 deaths from the virus. Dr. Fauci said in an interview on MSNBC that Americans without underlying conditions should start to be able to get vaccinated by late March or early April. He predicted herd immunity will be reached in the U.S. by the early summer. NBC NEWS

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

The Electoral College officially confirmed Joe Biden as president-elect in a smooth and decisive vote, with no electors defecting. The final tally was 306 electoral votes for Biden and 232 for President Trump -- the exact same margin that Trump won with in 2016. In an address to the nation following the vote, President-elect Biden said “it’s time to turn the page” on the election, praised the state and local officials who defended the system from attempts to subvert it, and pledged again to be “a president for all Americans.” POLITICO

BARR OUT

Attorney General William Barr will leave the Trump administration early after falling out with the president in recent weeks. Barr is resigning as of Dec. 23 “to spend the holidays with his family,” according to a tweet from President Trump. The decision to resign was said to be Barr’s, coming after he acknowledged that the Justice Dept. found no widespread voter fraud in the election in spite of the president’s claims. Deputy AG Jeff Rosen will run the DOJ for the final month of the Trump presidency. AP

FLEXIBLE WORK WEEK

Google has told its employees that they should prepare for offices to reopen next September, a few months later than planned. Once that happens, the company will start testing a flexible workweek in which staffers are expected to be in the office for at least three days, and can work remotely the other two days. That sort of hybrid model is gaining traction as companies try to figure out what their WFH policies should be post-vaccination, and an endorsement from Google could go a long way in getting more big employers on board with a flexible policy. NY TIMES

SHIPPING DEADLINES

The next couple weeks may be among the most critical ever for the shipping and delivery industry. Already dealing with sustained high demand due to the pandemic, companies like UPS and FedEx are handling what’s expected to be a record number of holiday deliveries, plus the first vaccine shipments. A major winter storm this week will add even more pressure. If you still have shopping to do, here are the shipping deadlines for the big-box retailers and the cutoffs if you’re shipping your gifts out yourself. Bottom line: get it done now. THE VERGE

CALI EXODUS

Larry Ellison, the billionaire founder of Oracle, says he is moving to Hawaii, following his company’s decision to move its HQ from Silicon Valley to Austin, Tex. Ellison is the latest in a string of high-profile (aka rich) Californians who are leaving the state. Elon Musk and Joe Rogan have both recently decamped for the Lone Star State, which notably does not have an income tax. And it’s not just the wealthy. Both San Francisco and NYC have lost residents this year while cities like Austin, Phoenix and Nashville have gained people. As for Ellison, he shouldn’t have a hard time finding new digs: he owns an entire Hawaiian island. RECODE

GAME OF THE YEAR

Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to a win over the Cleveland Browns in Monday Night Football in what’s already being called the most exciting game of this weird NFL season. Jackson, the league’s reigning MVP, dominated in the first half before leaving the field to be treated for cramps in the third quarter. But with his backup QB injured, Jackson returned to lead the Ravens to 13 points in the final two minutes of the game for a 47-42 win over the Browns: HIGHLIGHTS

MARIAH #1

It’s that time of the year again. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is the top song in the U.S. The 1994 holiday favorite leads the Billboard Hot 100, the second consecutive year the hit single has topped that chart. The song is also number 1 in the UK for the first time. Carey has spent 83 weeks in the top spot, the most of any artist in Billboard’s history.  EW

SPOTTED, NATURE EDITION…

… the sun -- or absence thereof -- during the only total solar eclipse of the year. The “path of totality” was visible from a small strip of Argentina and Chile, just enough for some great pics to make it to social media: SEE THEM

… Italy’s Mt. Etna, the most active volcano in Europe, erupting with a 300-foot-high explosion of lava and ash over Sicily (no one was hurt): WATCH

LEFTOVERS: DISAPPEARING PORN

PornHub, the eighth-most popular website in the U.S., is removing all unverified content from its platform -- an unprecedented move that includes millions of videos -- after Discovery, Visa and Mastercard dropped the site in the wake of a New York Times op-ed that raised concerns PornHub was profiting off sex trafficking and child pornography. The adult site has seen its traffic skyrocket during the pandemic. CHEDDAR

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
W. Kamau Bell on Key Takeaway From 'We Need to Talk About Cosby' Docuseries
After premiering at the 2022 Sundance Festival, Showtime is slated to drop the four-part docuseries "We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby" this Sunday. Director W. Kamau Bell joined Cheddar to discuss the sensitive project and about coming to grips with the reality of who Bill Cosby is following the numerous allegations of sexual assault. Bell said the biggest takeaway from the project is that survivors are not only looking for the 84-year-old comedian to be held accountable, they also want to prevent future assaults. "Maybe the key thing to learn is how do we create a society that is more supportive and accepting particularly women in this case who are survivors of sexual assault," Bell said.
What To Know About 2022 Tax Season
Tax season is now underway, and it's going to be a bit different than in years past. For starters, the deadline is April 18, instead of the typical April 15th, and many Americans will need to account for advance child tax credit payments, the return of the recovery rebate credit, and a special break for charitable contributions, among other things. Brent Weiss, Co-Founder and certified financial planner at Facet Wealth, tells us what we need to know about filing our taxes this year, and when we can expect to receive our returns.
College Enrollment Down Nearly 7% Since The Pandemic
College enrollment has been on a steady decline for years, and the pandemic hasn't helped. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 6.6% — more than 1 million students — drop in undergraduate enrollment, according to a recent report. Douglas Belkin, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joined Cheddar to discuss the long-term implications of students sitting out of college, and what institutions can do about it.
As Midterm Elections Loom, Biden's Approval Rating Continues Decline
As the midterm election looms, things aren't looking too promising for President Joe Biden. One year into his term as president, Biden is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president, threatening his party's control of the House in 2022. Brian Bennett, Senior White House Correspondent for TIME, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The Biden Administration: One Year Down, Three to Go
A full one year into his term as President of The United States, President Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday, facing questions on everything from inflation to chip shortages and covid-19. As Biden enters his second year in office, he is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president. Kate Davidson, Reporter, POLITICO joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
New San Diego Law Funnels Grocery Waste To Food Banks
San Diego has just implemented a new law that could set the stage for how the country deals with food waste. This new law hopes to make a dent in that. Businesses and groceries stores out in San Diego will need to put a plan in place to *donate edible food rather than toss it straight to the trash. Food Rescue Manager at Feeding San Diego, Kate Garret
Bronx Twin Parks Apartment Fire Leaves 17 People Dead
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Clari Raises $225 Million to Deliver Predictable Revenue for Every Business
Revenue operations platform Clari recently raised $225 million in a Series F financing round led by Blackstone, bringing the company's valuation to more than $2.6 billion. Calri says more than 450 companies from around the world use its A.I.-powered platform to make their revenue operations more connected, efficient, and predictable. Clari CEO Andy Byrne joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Load More