Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, December 2, 2020:

COVID-19: BEGINNING OF THE END

The UK has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, jumping ahead of the U.S. to become the first Western country to give the go-ahead for a shot that could amount to the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the vaccine will be made available to the most vulnerable people early next week. In the U.S., the CDC is expected today to formally recommend that healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff -- some 24 million people in total -- be the first to get vaccinated once approval comes down from the FDA. BBC

BARR DISPUTES POTUS

Attorney General Bill Barr says the Justice Dept. has not uncovered any evidence of widespread voting fraud that would change the results of the election. He is the most prominent Trump ally and member of the administration to dispute the president’s baseless claims that the election was stolen from him. Barr has also revealed that he appointed a special counsel last month to investigate the origins of the Russia probe. AP

PARDON ME

President Trump has reportedly been discussing whether to grant preemptive pardons to his children, Eric, Ivanka and Don Jr., his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. The president is said to be concerned that the Justice Dept. under President-elect Biden could target his three eldest children. Those pardons, if granted, would not extend to the ongoing investigation by the Manhattan DA into the Trump Organization, as that is not a federal matter. Separately, the Justice Dept. is investigating whether an unnamed federal convict offered a bribe to White House officials in exchange for a presidential pardon. According to heavily redacted court documents, nothing tied Trump directly to the alleged scheme and no one has been charged. NY TIMES

CHINA LANDS ON MOON

China has successfully landed a probe on the moon. It's the first mission by any country since the 70's to bring back lunar rocks. The Chang’e 5 had an uneventful trip and will now spend a couple weeks collecting dirt before it lifts off for home later this month. This is China’s third time successfully landing an unmanned probe on the lunar surface. XINHUA

FREE FOOD

MCDONALD’S: The McRib is back, and it’s free if you shave. McDonald’s is making the cult-favorite BBQ sandwich available at all of its locations in the U.S. starting today and will give away 10,000 McRibs to customers who post pics of their clean-shaven or “baby smooth” faces and tag #Shave4McRibSweepstakes. It’s a partnership with No Shave November, the charity that promotes cancer research. CNN

STARBUCKS: Any first responder or frontline healthcare worker can score a free tall brewed coffee, hot or iced, at any Starbucks all this month. The offer extends to all hospital workers, mental health professionals and active-duty military. DELISH

SLACKFORCE DONE

Salesforce.com is buying Slack for $27 billion, the largest acquisition ever for the cloud giant and one of the largest ever for the software industry. Slack is a workplace productivity tool that was popular long before the pandemic but has become essential for many companies in the WFH era. The deal puts Salesforce head-to-head against Microsoft, which has its own similar product called Teams, in yet another software arena. CHEDDAR

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL

It’s not every year that you get a marquee NFL matchup in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. Today’s Steelers-Ravens matchup is still on, despite two more positive COVID tests on the Ravens. Baltimore has had 10 straight days of positive tests as they prepare to take on the undefeated Steelers. Both teams are in Pittsburgh, and kickoff is set for 3:40 pm ET on NBC, followed immediately by the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. ESPN

MOST STREAMED

Spotify has released its year-end “Wrapped” lists for 2020. The year’s most-streamed artist is Bad Bunny, followed by Drake and J Balvin. Billie Eilish is the most-streamed female artist, followed by Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. And The Joe Rogan Experience, which Spotify shelled out $100 million to acquire, is the year’s most-streamed podcast. Rogan becomes exclusive to Spotify this month. BILLBOARD

INTRODUCING ELLIOT PAGE

Elliot Page, the Oscar-nominated star of Juno and Umbrella Academy, has come out as transgender. Page, who acted in films as Ellen Page, writes in a statement posted to their social media: “I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self.” READ IT

LEFTOVERS: ZOMBIE MINK

In a development that could literally only happen this year, Denmark has started the process of digging up and exhuming thousands of dead mink from ditches because they have been rising up out of the ground. Danish officials recently had to cull millions of mink when it was discovered the animals were carrying a mutated strain of COVID-19 that could be passed to humans. But the furry mammals were exterminated using a gas that caused their bloated carcasses to swell and, in some cases, rise from their graves. USA TODAY

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
California Starts Largest U.S. Food Waste Recycling Program
California's new composting law will affect what residents do in their kitchens. As of this week, Californians will have to recycle excess food in an effort to reduce emissions caused by food waste. Cities and counties will turn recycled food into compost or use it as a renewable energy source. California's new law is the largest mandatory residential food waste recycling program in the country. Rachel Wagoner, Director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery called the law 'the biggest change to trash' since recycling started in the 1980s. She joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Sweetgreen Launches Salad Subscription Service 'Sweetpass'
Fast-casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen is rolling out its first salad subscription service called sweetpass as it looks to customers tackling new year weight loss and health goals. Members will receive up to 30 percent off of purchases.
Severe Snowstorm Blankets D.C., Mid-Atlantic Region
Washington DC and the surrounding areas saw a record breaking snow storm Monday as a strong storm system works its way across the eastern U.S. The extreme weather event caused extensive damage in the greater Washington area, leaving thousands in the region without power. Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist, AccuWeather, joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss the fierce storm.
Over 3,000 Flights Canceled on Monday Over Severe Weather, Crew Shortages
Airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights on Monday over severe weather and crew shortages. The cancellations come on one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season, and is a continuation of the industry-wide disruption that started before Christmas. Thomas Pallini, Aviation Reporter for Insider joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss.
End of Child Tax Credit Could Mean Slide Back Into Increasing Child Poverty
Millions of Americans with young children have relied on the child tax credit since the federal government began issuing checks in July 2021. The last round of payments was sent out just before the Christmas holiday — at the same time as the omicron variant surged. Leah Hamilton, associate professor of social work at Appalachian State University, joined Cheddar to discuss what the end to the tax credit means as the U.S. sees the end of many relief programs and its highest number of COVID cases since the start of the pandemic. "It'll become harder for families to meet their basic needs, increasing national childhood poverty rates and the proportion of families who have difficulty putting food on the table, maintaining stable housing, and paying their bills," Hamilton said. She also pointed to research that the credit as a long-term investment in children offsets claims that it contributes to macroeconomic impacts like inflation.
NYT Piece Claims Silicon Valley Investors and Founders Contorted Legal Tax Break to Avoid Taxes on Investment Profits
Several Silicon Valley insiders are being accused of contorting a 1990s-era tax break to avoid taxes on millions of dollars of investment profits. The tax break is known as the qualified small business stock exemption, and it allows early investors in certain companies to avoid half of the taxes on up to $10 million in capital gains. A piece recently published in the New York Times says venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz replicated the tax exemption by giving shares of companies to friends and family, who would otherwise face a 23.8% capital gains bill. The CEO of Roblox is also accused of replicating the tax break for his family members at least 12 times. Although the loophole known as 'stacking' is considered to be legal, the Times piece implies that the exemption has been manipulated for the ultra-wealthy to become more wealthy. Greycroft co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Alan Patricof joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Competitive Stock-Trading Mobile App Zingeroo Raises $8.5 Million
There is a new player in the mobile app stock trading space. Zingeroo recently announced a funding round of $8.5 million. The company says it aims to bring 'friendly competition' to stock trading, by literally breaking trading down into daily and weekly competitions between friends. Zingeroo also says it hopes its new approach can make trading more accessible, educational, and social than ever before. Zingeroo co-founder and CEO Zoe Barry joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for more.
Load More