Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, November 25, 2020:
THANKSGIVING EVE
Today is typically the busiest travel day of the year in the U.S., and while fewer people are on the move than in a normal year, airports, bus and train stations, highways, gas stations, and rest stops will still be more crowded than many of us have been used to. If you’re traveling, remember: about half of the states have quarantines and restrictions in place and there are likely to be checkpoints at some major crossings. Tonight is also typically the biggest drinking night of the year, and some states are trying to nip that in the bud. Pennsylvania will stop alcohol sales after 5 p.m. in all restaurants and bars today only. Maryland is increasing enforcement of occupancy rules at drinking establishments. In NYC, the annual tradition of watching the Macy’s balloons get inflated has been scrapped and tomorrow’s parade will be a scaled-down event without the customary crowds. NBC NEWS
'VACCINE FOR THE WORLD'
When AstraZeneca said this week that its coronavirus vaccine appears to be as much as 90 percent effective, the drugmaker noted that the result came about by accident. Researchers miscalculated and gave the initial dose to volunteers at half strength. When they realized the error, they gave each patient a full-strength booster shot a month later. That particular combination appears to be extremely effective. If the AstraZeneca vaccine is approved, it has a number of advantages over the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna: it’s much easier to make and to store and it’s significantly cheaper. Experts believe this could be the vaccine most likely to end the pandemic in the developing world. REUTERS
DOW 30,000
The stock market rallied to new highs, with the Dow closing above 30,000 for the first time after the presidential transition officially began and it became clear that the election was settled. Investors are relieved about President-elect Biden’s choice for Treasury secretary, and there’s a sense on Wall St. that a Biden administration will prioritize a new stimulus bill. The continued promising results from vaccine trials are helping optimism, too. CHEDDAR
SCOTLAND ENDS 'PERIOD POVERTY'
Scotland has become the first country in the world to make sanitary products like tampons free for everyone. The Scottish Parliament gave unanimous approval to a bill that’s been in the works for several years, which creates a universal legal right to free period products. The legislation was supported across the political spectrum and is considered a landmark policy that supporters hope will be adopted elsewhere, especially in places where there is still stigma attached to menstruation. SCOTSMAN
MUSK SECOND-RICHEST PERSON
2020 has been a rough year for just about everyone, but not Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO saw his net worth rise by $100 billion this year, mostly due to the huge run in Tesla stock, where the vast majority of his wealth is held. Musk is now richer -- at least on paper -- than all but one other living human: Jeff Bezos. BLOOMBERG
AMAZON BLACK FRIDAY
Amazon’s Black Friday deals have been dropping all week, and they’re big (how about a smart TV for $80? Or $100 off a pair of wireless Bose headphones?). Here’s some of the best deals on the site: SEE THE LIST
Ed. note: Consider doing your holiday shopping at small businesses this year, in-store and online. They are really hurting. Find small businesses near you here.
SPOTTED...
… Corn the turkey, receiving the official pardon from President Trump, in one of America’s most bizarre rituals. Corn was chosen in an online poll to be pardoned over his friend Cob (though they'll both be spared). Here’s the strange story behind the annual White House turkey pardon: NPRCob was then executed on the south lawn of the White House.
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, DaBaby, and Roddy Rich lead the 2021 Grammy nominations. Notably, two of the year’s most commercially successful stars were snubbed by the Recording Academy. The country singer Luke Combs and The Weeknd, who had two of the biggest albums of the year, received a combined zero nods. It’s unclear how the Jan. 31 broadcast will look, but we do know who is hosting: Trevor Noah of The Daily Show. LIST OF NOMS
CHAPPELLE TAKEN OFF NETFLIX
If you’re planning to binge on old Chappelle Show episodes this long weekend, you won’t be able to do it on Netflix. The streamer has taken down Dave Chappelle’s iconic series after Chappelle asked them to. The comedian has been publicly complaining that ViacomCBS had licensed the entire run of the show to Netflix without paying him a dime. Chappelle’s Show is still available on the Comedy Central and CBS All Access platforms. VULTURE
LEFTOVERS: GIVING THANKS
There’s a lot to give thanks for this year -- perhaps most of all, the countless healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic since it started. Healthcare workers like Iris Meda, a 70-year-old retired nurse from Texas who came out of retirement in March in order to train nursing students who might be needed in the hospitals. Meda caught Covid-19 in the course of her training sessions and passed away on Nov. 14. She is one of 836 healthcare workers who have died from the coronavirus, according to the CDC. READ HER STORY
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