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
Rebuilding Our Roads
It’s no secret that America’s infrastructure is aging. The average American bridge is 43 years old. 49% of our streets and highways are in poor condition. That’s why rebuilding our roads is near the top of President Biden’s to-do list. But repaving is just surface level, some suggest we need to rethink the structures themselves.
Roads Abroad
We all know drivers in the UK drive on the left side of the road, but what if I told you that’s just where the differences begin. Europe and the United States have evolved to each have a unique set of rules of the road.
How TikTok's Reach Is Being Leveraged to Raise Funds for Animal Shelters
TikTok isn't just for remixing the best trending sounds. The social media platform is having a positive impact on animal shelters and helping pets find forever homes, according to Katie Grissum, the communications and design coordinator for the non-profit animal shelter charity KC Pet Project. Grissum joined Cheddar to break down just how TikTok is being used to raise money and draw more eyes to animals in need of adoption.
Oscar-Winner Alex Gibney Exposes ‘The Great Crime’ of the CIA’s Post-9/11 Torture Program
The upcoming HBO documentary, "The Forever Prisoner," zeros in on the Saudi-born Palestinian, and the failures of the CIA torture program. The documentary includes first-hand accounts, classified documents, never-before-seen images, interrogation notes, and testimony that you will have to see to believe. JD sat down with the mastermind behind the lens, director, and narrator of ' The Forever Prisoner,' Alex Gibney to discuss.
How Retailers and Cargo Carriers Can Make Real Change
The current supply chain crisis could last well into 2023. Some see this as an opportunity here for retailers to be early adopters of zero-emission technology. The 'Shady Routes' report highlights the relationship between retail companies and their cargo carriers, and how both can make real change from a public health and climate perspective. Angeline Robertson, senior researcher, Stand.Earth Research Group and Dawny'all Heydari, campaign lead, at Ship it Zero join Cheddar News.
Next Week on the Street: Earnings, Mosseri Testifies, Blue Origin Launch
Earnings season continues in the week of December 6 - 10, and that's only the start of a slate of events on the calendar that may move markets. We will also see executives from the crypto world and Instagram Head Adam Mosseri testify before members of Congress, and Square's name change to Block officially goes into effect.
Some U.S. Restaurants Are Pausing Online Delivery Orders During Peak Hours
Many restaurants across the country have lately turned off delivery and online orders during peak hours, as eateries are still struggling with labor shortages and as many are also seeing more customers return for in-person dining. Wall Street Journal reporter Heather Haddon joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The Rise of Smart Tech and Voice Games; Warming Your Home Through Interior Design
On this episode of Your Future Home, Carmine Satabella, Interior Designer & Television Host, joins to break down how to get the most out of your winter decor this year and basic kitchen fundamentals that go a long way; Max Child, CEO and co-founder of Volley, discusses the rise of voice games and how tech is continuing to change smart homes; Cheddar breaks down everything you need to know about how to start flipping homes.
Load More