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
Absolut Vodka Brings Coachella to the Metaverse
Ann Mukherjee, the chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, joined Cheddar News to talk about Absolut Vodka’s decade-long partnership with the music festival Coachella. Perno Ricard's vodka brand has built the virtual world Absolutland in the Decentraland metaverse for users to explore. "We actually have a vending machine where you can actually purchase the cocktails that will be delivered right to your home," she said. The brand will also be featuring festival headliner Swedish House Mafia.
Here's What to Do if You Miss the Tax Day Deadline
The tax deadline in the U.S. is on April 18 this year, and some filers may still not be able to complete their return by then. Cheddar has partnered with Jackson Hewitt to let you know what you can do should you blow the deadline.
Digitally Native Brands Look to Expand Brick-and-Mortar Locations
Digitally native stores like Allbirds and Everlane are beginning to target the suburbs as they look to expand their physical retail locations. It comes as reports show that a large portion of shoppers prefer to make their purchases in store. A new Deloitte report shows that 55 percent of shoppers who began their product search online, ended up making their purchase in store. Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy at Aptos, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Global Fertilizer Shortage Prompts Farmers To Consider More Sustainable Practices
A fertilizer shortage made worse from the Russia-Ukraine war is reigniting the conversation over sustainable agriculture. With the costs of fertilizer rising, weaning off of synthetic fertilizer may be a good option for farmers trying to keep costs low, while keeping crop margins high. But, Damian Mason, farm owner, agricultural economist and author of "Food Fear," says it's not that simple. Mason joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to explain the challenges of greener practices.
Consumer Debt Surges As Inflation Takes Its Toll
Americans racked up the most monthly consumer debt in over a decade in February. According to a report from the Fed, consumer debt rose by nearly $42 billion, an annual increase of roughly 11%, far outpacing expectations. Rebecca Walser, President of Walser Wealth Management. Rebecca, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to break down this data, and discuss how this could impact the consumer moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys Partner With Crypto Platform Blockchain.com
The Dallas Cowboys have joined forces with cryptocurrency platform Blockchain.com as the NFL loosens restrictions on teams making such deals. The partnership won't open the door for crypto use at AT&T stadium but will provide for some exclusive fan experiences.
Load More