What A Day

Biden is now saying that we'll have enough vaccine doses for every American by the end of May, instead of July. Meanwhile, states like Texas and Mississippi lifting their mask requirements and relaxing restrictions -- something that public health officials have warned against. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to congress yesterday, defending his agency’s handling of intelligence in advance of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. There’s another big hearing today, with a witness list that includes officials from the FBI, the National Guard, DHS, and more. And in headlines: 300 girls who were abducted in Nigeria were released, Jackson Mississippi still doesn’t have water, and six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The coronavirus relief bill moves to the Senate this week. A group of progressive House Democrats are continuing to push for a minimum wage increase in the bill. Meanwhile, Senator Warren and other Democrats introduced a wealth tax proposal aimed at addressing economic inequality. We talk to Representative Pramila Jayapal about why she's pushing for it now. Protests in Myanmar are ongoing following the coup last month and the response from the police and military has grown increasingly violent. We review the recent history of the country, and recommend some good resources for digging in deeper.  And in headlines: President Biden meets virtually with Mexican President Lopez-Obrador, why pharma companies won’t share vaccine blueprints, and former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy is convicted of corruption. Show Links: "Is Democracy in Myanmar Dead?" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/opinion/myanmar-protests.html Follow journalist Aye Min Thant's on the ground reporting https://twitter.c...

The US vaccination campaign is accelerating, with the country hitting over 2 million doses a day last Friday and Saturday. Following a plunge in new cases over the last few weeks, health experts are expressing some concern that progress may be plateauing. This week the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could determine the future of the Voting Rights Act. It comes as Republicans around the country introducing a flurry of bills to make voting harder. Democrats are pushing back, and on a federal level, they’re set to pass the For The People Act or HR1, which would end partisan gerrymandering, allow for automatic voter registration, and more.  And in headlines: Biden faces bipartisan backlash following airstrikes in Syria, Cuomo responds to a new allegation of sexual harassment, and Bella and Gigi Hadid’s dad does real estate hijinks in LA. Show Links: "The For the People Act Is Popular, Pass It Right Away" https://crooked.com/articles/for-the-people-act/ For a transcript of this ep...

The House is expected to pass its COVID relief bill as soon as today, but there's still a question of what happens when the bill gets to the Senate. Yesterday the Senate parliamentarian said the minimum wage increase couldn’t pass via the budget process. We explain the ruling, the reaction and where things could go from here.  With Black History Month almost over, we spoke to Black history educators from across the country about what it means to them in 2021 and who they are celebrating this year.  And in headlines, we're joined by special guest Nicole Byer: Lady Gaga's friend shot and dogs stolen, a man implicates himself at the Capitol riots by texting his ex, and Trump's tax records are in the hands of Manhattan prosecutors. Show Links: "2020 and the Recognition of HBCU Power" https://crooked.com/articles/2020-hbcu/ "The Overlooked Role of Black Greek Organizations" https://crooked.com/articles/black-greek-organizations-harris/ Journalist Farai Chideya on building a media that...

The FDA put out analyses yesterday showing that Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine is highly effective, setting the stage for its approval as early as this weekend. The CDC put out new guidelines for safely reopening schools earlier this month, and it comes as the Biden administration has said they are working to get a majority of K-8 schools open in their first 100 days. We spoke to Washington Post education reporter Moriah Balingit about the new guidelines, the COVID risk in schools, and what it all means for teachers and parents. And in headlines: Ghana became the first country to get free COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX, an update on Tiger Woods condition following his car crash, and California beats a legal challenge to its net neutrality law. Show Links: Read more from Moriah Balingit in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/moriah-balingit/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Former Capitol security officials appeared before the Senate yesterday, citing communications failures for their inadequate response to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The Senate also confirmed two more members of Biden’s cabinet: Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador and Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary.  Facebook has now un-banned news on its platform in Australia, after blocking it there in protest of a proposed law that would have required Facebook to pay the outlets that give the platform its content. Now, Australia has backed off, and will only require Facebook to negotiate with media partners.  And in headlines: the police officers who killed Daniel Prude will not face criminal charges, the Biden administration opened its first facility to house migrant children in Texas, and McDonald’s releases its new crispy chicken sandwich. Subscribe to What A Day on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/wh...

The Supreme Court threw out the final Trump lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 election, and also paved the way for Trump’s taxes to be disclosed to a New York Grand Jury. The US is behind other countries in our ability to sequence and track COVID variants, but the White House announced they would devote $200 million to expanding those efforts and there’s even more in the upcoming economic relief package. In the UK, prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping to slowly ease out of lockdown, with a plan to reopen schools on in two weeks. And in headlines: officers in Colorado didn’t have a legal basis for frisking and restraining Elijah McClain, Virginia will become the first Southern state to end the death penalty, and a new podcast from Obama and Springsteen. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The US is approaching 500,000 deaths from Covid-19. But there is good news, too: New studies suggest that the vaccines might prevent transmission, and Biden’s goal of administering 100 million COVID vaccine shots in 100 days seems very much within reach.  The extreme weather in Texas is improving, with power back on. Now, the focus is shifting to ensuring people have food and safe water. Some Texans have also discovered that the state’s unregulated, market-driven energy system has led to them being stuck with soaring electricity bills following last weeks energy scarcity. We explain. And in headlines: organizers in Myanmar call for a general strike to protest military takeover, Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing, and the family of Malcom X brings forward new evidence in government assassination plot. Show Links: "Texas Blackouts Point to Coast-to-Coast Crises Waiting to Happen" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/climate/united-states-infrastructure-storms.html?action=click&modul...

Black Americans still frequently have to break barriers to become elected, appointed, or hired to do a thing. We spoke to people who have become the 'firsts’ to hold their position this past year, how they feel about it being celebrated, and the pressures that come with their new roles. Congress held its first hearing on last month’s GameStop insanity, with CEOs of trading platforms and hedge funds testifying, along with one of r/WallStreetBet’s most notable figures. Congressional Dems also put out a new immigration relief bill which includes an eight-year pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. And in headlines: Planned Parenthood sues to block anti-abortion law in South Carolina, Walmart announces raises for nearly half a million workers, and the Perseverance rover lands on Mars. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

Over two million Texans are still without power, and there’s a new storm on the way that’s expected to prolong the icy conditions. Oregon, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia are among the other states dealing with fallout from the extreme weather. New York’s AG Letitia James sued Amazon this week, alleging that some of its warehouses failed to keep workers safe during the pandemic. We also spoke to an Amazon employee that works in the company's Bessemer, Alabama fulfillment center about the unionization effort there, and what the company is doing to suppress it. And in headlines: Facebook blocks all news in Australia, LA’s board of education defunds school police, and millions of counterfeit N95 masks have been seized in the past few weeks. Show Links: "How you can help Texas winter storm victims" https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/us/texas-winter-storm-how-to-help-iyw-trnd/index.html "How to help and get help in Texas as the winter storm causes power outages" https://www.texastribune.or...

President Biden was in Wisconsin yesterday on his first official trip since taking office making the pitch for his $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. The House is preparing to vote on the bill by the end of next week, and after that, it heads to the Senate, where we could see a fight over whether to include the $15 minimum wage increase. Extreme winter weather has debilitated Texas’s weather grid, creating a dangerous situation that left over 3 million people without power last night and has led to multiple deaths. We explain what's behind the weather and the electricity issues. And in headlines: the NAACP files a lawsuit against Trump and Giuliani for their connection to the Capitol Hill riot, George Conway says the Lincoln Project should be investigated, and Oprah will interview Harry and Meghan. Show Links: Pod Save America apple.co/podsaveamerica   https://spoti.fi/podsaveamerica   For a transcript of this episode, please visit: crooked.com/whataday

Donald Trump’s second annual impeachment trial is over, after a vote of 57 to 43 led to his acquittal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday that an independent commission will be established to investigate the insurrection. Yesterday, the WHO granted emergency use authorization for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will kick off a UN-backed program to get vaccines to developing countries. In the US, average new daily coronavirus infections fell under 100,000 for the first time since November. And in headlines: freezing temperatures lead to power outages for millions, activists undergo hunger strike in Chicago, and blowback after New York’s Health Department undercounts COVID deaths in nursing homes.

President Biden announced yesterday that the US will have enough doses to vaccinate all Americans by the end of July. We talk to Dr. Anthony Fauci about the vaccines on the way, what they’ll mean as we start to face new variants, and mask guidance in the meantime. And in headlines: House managers wrapped up their final arguments in Trump’s second impeachment trial, queer and trans Americans will be protected under the Fair Housing Act, and Jeep pulls Bruce Springsteen’s ad after reports of his November DUI. Show Links: Youtube.com/crookedmedia Instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The House Impeachment managers began to make their case against Trump yesterday, showing graphic and never-before-seen video footage that illustrated the scale and severity of the attack on the Capitol. We talk about our key takeaways from the day. The CDC updated its information on masks, saying that double masking can greatly reduce Covid transmission. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced its plan to organize new mass vaccination sites that are meant to serve communities of color. And in headlines: the White House imposes sanctions on the military regime in Myanmar, Britney Spears’s conservatorship case will return to courts, and the NBA finalizes its position on singing the national anthem. Show Links: "Improve How Your Mask Protects You" https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The second impeachment trial began yesterday, with Senators voting 56 to 44 to uphold the trial as constitutional and move forward. House managers presented video of the siege on the Capitol paired with Trump’s inflammatory speech to rally-goers beforehand, while Trump’s lawyers tried and failed to frame Trump’s impeachment after leaving office as a “slippery slope.” A team from the World Health Organization has been in China investigating the origins of the coronavirus and they released preliminary findings yesterday. One prominent conspiracy theory they ruled out was the idea that the virus emanated from a Chinese lab, and they also said the virus had been circulating in Wuhan before its discovery at a seafood market. And in headlines: hate crimes committed against Asian-Americans in the US is skyrocketing, the CEO of Riot Games faces a lawsuit for gender discrimination and misconduct, and the world’s first 3D printed T-bone steak. Show Links: "WATCH: Rep. Raskin presents graphic ...

Trump’s Senate impeachment trial begins today. Trump’s team continues to argue that the trial itself is unconstitutional… that’s what they’ll be debating with House managers today. Many of the country’s largest retail and grocery chains have suspended “hero pay” to essential workers, despite having a profitable 2020. Now cities and counties are trying to increase wages with local ordinances, but the businesses are fighting back. And in headlines: rescuers in India are working to find people after a Himalayan glacier disaster, inmates in a St. Louis prison call for better protections against COVID, and Facebook to remove vaccine misinfo. Show Links: "Local COVID-19 hazard pay mandates are doing what Congress and most corporations aren’t for essential workers" https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2021/01/27/local-covid-19-hazard-pay-mandates-are-doing-what-congress-and-most-corporations-arent-for-essential-workers/amp/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/...

Coronavirus cases in the US are in decline from last month, and the daily speed of vaccinations has picked up. But concerns over variants continue. A new study supports the idea that the new, more contagious strain first discovered in the UK could become the dominant strain the US by March. Democrats are working to include expanded child tax credits in the Covid relief bill. The inclusion of a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour is in question, with Biden saying he’s not sure the rules of the Senate will allow it. And in headlines: Haiti faces a constitutional crisis surrounding its president’s term, SCOTUS rules that California can resume indoor church service, and Amazon uses AI to monitor its delivery drivers. For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday.

The House voted to strip Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments for spreading conspiracy theories and endorsing violence against Democrats on social media.  President Biden announced that the United States will end its support of Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen. A war that has helped create what the UN calls the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. We spoke to California Representative Ro Khanna about the decision, what led to it, and what it means for progressives and activists who want their voices heard on issues of US foreign policy. And in headlines: McKinsey to pay states nearly $600 million for its role in the opioid crisis, another voting tech company sues conspiracy-mongering Trump allies, and Trump won’t testify in his Senate impeachment trial.

Amazon faces its first unionization vote in the country in seven years next week in Bessemer, Alabama, and if the workers decide to unionize, it could spark waves of action across the country. We interviewed Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee, who led a walkout last March at a warehouse in Staten Island and was subsequently fired. He told us about his experience, his thoughts on the union push in Alabama, and what's next for essential workers. And in headlines: Andrew Cuomo signs a bill to repeal the “walking while trans” ban in New York, Canada designates the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization, and country music’s Morgan Wallen gets dropped after using the n-word. Show Links: "Amazon to face first U.S. unionization vote in seven years next month" https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/15/amazon-union-alabama-vote/ The Congress Of Essential Workers https://tcoew.org/ Follow Christian Smalls on Twitter https://twitter.com/Shut_downAmazon

Trump’s second impeachment trial starts next week in the Senate, and yesterday we got a preview of the arguments both sides will be making. We go through the details of legal filings from the House Managers, and the response from Trump's team. Democrats in the Senate voted yesterday to get the budget reconciliation process started, which they could use to pass coronavirus relief. Meanwhile, Biden signed three executive orders focused on immigration, including one to reunite families that were separated by Trump's immigration policies. And in headlines: Russia’s COVID vaccine is highly safe and effective, Wikipedia rolls out new code of conduct, and Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon’s CEO.

The daily pace of vaccinations is picking up, with some states working faster than others. We talk about states that have given the most shots per capita, and what’s led them to succeed relative to the country at-large. Following the 2020 election, Republicans at the state level are doing all they can to pass laws to suppress the vote, particularly vote-by-mail. It’s also a redistricting year. We explain. And in headlines: police in Rochester pepper sprayed a Black 9-year-old girl while she was handcuffed, Facebook and Apple feud over data privacy, and Robinhood got 2.4 billion in funding yesterday. Show Links: Subscribe to Hysteria! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hysteria/id1399025196 "After Record Turnout, Republicans Are Trying to Make It Harder to Vote" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/us/republicans-voting-georgia-arizona.html

A group of Republican Senators are sending Biden a counter-proposal on Covid relief. They want to slash the bill by over a trillion dollars, and limit the size and scope of stimulus checks. They’re framing it as a bipartisan solution, but Democrats are reportedly planning to move forward with their own plan using budget reconciliation. The average number of new cases in the US has dropped off significantly since peaking three weeks ago, but January was still an awful month in the pandemic, and the presence of new variants has the potential to disrupt progress. Johnson & Johnson released data for their one-shot vaccine candidate last Friday. We explain what to make of it. And in headlines: several members of Myanmar’s ruling party were detained in a possible military coup, Hong Kong residents can now apply to become permanent British citizens, and Trump hires two new attorneys for his Senate impeachment trial.

The COVID strain first discovered in South Africa was found in the United States for the first time in the state of South Carolina. This strain is more contagious, and there’s some concern that it might be slightly more vaccine resistant than the strains we’ve been dealing with thus far. Robinhood and similar trading platforms restricted purchases of Gamestop stock and other companies targeted by Redditors yesterday, and the values of those stocks dropped off dramatically. We talk through the steps that brought us to this point, how lawmakers are reacting, and what's next. And in headlines: nationwide protests in Poland as the government enacts a near-total abortion ban, Austin votes to use police money to fund supportive housing, and GM will stop making gas and diesel powered cars by 2035. Show Links: "Robinhood’s Customers Are Hedge Funds Like Citadel, Its Users Are the Product" https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjpnz5/robinhoods-customers-are-hedge-funds-like-citadel-its-users-are-...

At the Biden team's first public health briefing, officials noted that the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations in the US is on a downward trend, and they also emphasized the importance of genomic sequencing for detecting coronavirus variants. Over 10 million people are still out of work due to the pandemic, and recent data suggest that the economy isn't getting any better. We spoke to people who have lost their jobs about what they are going through right now, months and months into the crisis. And in headlines: a Seattle Seahawks player arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, Biden signs executive orders directed at climate change, and another banner day for stonks.

Impeachment is moving forward in the Senate despite a Republican effort to dismiss it yesterday, but a conviction next month doesn't seem likely. Meanwhile, Senate leaders finally came to an agreement on Monday on how the 50-50 chamber would run, with the filibuster intact. For many of President Biden’s larger goals, he will need Congress to cooperate. We spoke to Crooked Media’s Editor in Chief and host of Rubicon, Brian Beutler, about the new Congress and Biden’s first 100 days in office. And in headlines: Biden signs four executive orders targeted at fighting racial inequality, farmers continue to protest in India, and Putin and Biden get on the phone. Show Links: Subscribe to Rubicon: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rubicon-the-first-hundred-days-of-the-biden-presidency/id1485109198

Pfizer and Moderna say their vaccines may be less effective against a new coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom somewhat inexplicably lifted statewide stay-at-home orders… that decision received quick backlash given the dire state of the pandemic, especially in Southern California. Ice loss around the globe is accelerating at a record pace according to a new study, and is line with the worst case climate change scenarios that scientists projected. We discuss Biden’s early efforts to counteract climate change, including plans to limit new drilling on federal land, and more. And in headlines: Biden lifts Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the military, Amazon warehouse workers will vote on whether they want to unionize, and Rudy Giuliani faces a $1.3 billion lawsuit for Dominion defamation.

The House is expected to send the article of impeachment to the Senate today, with the trial set to begin the week of February 8th. There’s a distinct lack of harmony right now in the GOP, with House members who voted to impeach Trump facing backlash from local party officials, and national Republican leaders trying to hold things together.  The US surpassed 25 million COVID cases this weekend, with some researchers saying the latest surge may have peaked… but where it has leveled off is a disaster. We talk through the state of vaccinations nationally, plus what we need to know about coronavirus variants.  And in headlines: Chicago Teachers Union votes to defy an order to return to in-person teaching, anti-Putin protests in Russia, and Miami Heat to use dogs to test for COVID. Show Links: "Black, Deaf And Extremely Online" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/black-american-sign-language-tiktok.html "Vaccines Alone Will Not Halt The Raging U.S. Pandemic, Modelling Shows" https://ww...

Biden released a 200-page national plan yesterday to centralize the COVID response effort, along with a flurry of executive orders and directives targeted at the health crisis. Plus, a more candid Dr. Fauci did his first press briefing under the new administration. The vaccine goal for the Biden administration is 100 million shots in the first 100 days. We spoke with Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health about that plan, whether it’s fast enough, the threat of new variants, and more. And we’re joined by actor and comedian Alice Wetterlund for headlines: rumors of a forbidden romance between a 30 Rock Star and a MyPillow guy, new rooster laws in France, and Instacart fires all its unionized employees. Show Links: Listen to Rubicon Season 2: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/rubicon/ Follow Alice Wetterlund: https://twitter.com/alicewetterlund

Yesterday was inauguration day, which saw President Biden give his first speech as president on themes of unity, the division in our country, and a need to get back to telling the truth. Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first woman ever to be Vice President, and the first Black woman and Indian-American woman as well. Biden signed a total of 17 orders, proclamations, and memoranda on his first day in office, including directives to rejoin the World Health Organization, halt construction of Trump’s border wall, and more. And in headlines: Trump administration officials were hit with sanctions by China, Trump issues clemency to 143 people on his last day in office, and Trump’s kids to retain their security details for 6 months longer.

Trump leaves office today after four years of hellish incompetence. We reflect on the challenges President Biden and Vice-President Harris will inherit as they takeover. The Senate trial for Trump’s impeachment still looms, as do Cabinet confirmations. Plus, Biden plans to send Congress a major immigration bill today, which is expected to include a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants living in the US without legal status.  And in headlines: the SAT’s will no longer have optional essays or subject tests, corporations pause donations to GOP lawmakers who voted not to certify the election, and North Carolina Senator Richard Burr won’t be charged with insider trading.

Over the weekend, Biden’s team announced the president-elect’s agenda for the first ten days of his term, plus a dozen or so executive actions Biden intends to sign on Inauguration Day. We discuss. Tomorrow's inauguration will have a massive security presence, with tens of thousands of National Guard troops headed to DC. Across the country, authorities continue to arrest people who participated in the January 6th attack, and states remain on high alert for any violent demonstrations. And in headlines: misinformation down on social media following Trump’s ban, Samsung’s chief is headed to prison again, and a pandemic-defining relationship comes to an end as Affleck and de Armas break up.

Biden unveiled his proposal for a $1.9 trillion COVID rescue package yesterday, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks, an increase in federal unemployment benefits, plus $160 billion for a national vaccine program. New York attorney general is suing Mayor Bill De Blasio and the NYPD for excessive force against protestors this summer. This marks the first time in history that the state AG has sued the NYPD. And in headlines: US Capitol Police are being investigated for failing to keep a pro-Trump mob from storming Congress, Jared and Ivanka can’t share their toilets, and Disneyland suspends its annual pass program.

The House voted to impeach Donald Trump for the second time yesterday, making him the first president to be impeached twice. Soon-to-be minority leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate won’t take up the impeachment until after Biden takes office, and whether Republicans will convict him remains unknown. There were over 4,400 deaths from COVID-19 in the US on Tuesday, and hospitalizations are still exceeding 130,000. Experts are cautioning that the new, more transmissible variant of the virus first found in the UK could begin to become the dominant strain in the US in a couple months. And in headlines: the Census Bureau has stopped all work on a Trump policy, SCOTUS upholds a rule making it more difficult to get the abortion pill, and a star-studded lineup is announced for the Biden-Harris inauguration.

The House is planning to vote on impeachment today. Democrats and some number of Republicans are expected to support it, like Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney. The FBI and DOJ held the first press conference since the attack on the Capitol yesterday. Their investigation will likely be a months long process that could lead to hundreds of charges. The Trump administration will move to release all available doses of COVID vaccines instead of reserving some for booster shots. As of Monday, about 9 million people are estimated to have received at least one dose. And in headlines: Michigan’s former governor and several state officials will be charged for their roles in the Flint water crisis, Congress set to start fining reps for not wearing masks, and “baby sharks” the size of adult humans.

The business community is responding to the siege on the Capitol by suspending contributions to lawmakers who didn’t vote to certify the election results, or in some cases, suspending political donations altogether. Security concerns continue to arise following the events of last week, including armed protests that the FBI says are being planned in all 50 state capitals between now and the inauguration. We talk about the effort to ramp up security around the country. And in headlines: Rudy Giuliani’s license to practice law is at risk, the State Department re-designates Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick won’t accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump. Show Links: "More corporations suspend donations to Republicans who objected to Electoral College vote" https://popular.info/p/update-more-corporations-suspend

This week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will try to pass a resolution to get Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, and if he doesn’t, the House plans to begin the process of impeaching Trump for a second time. We spoke to Representative Mondaire Jones of New York, who experienced the violent siege on his fourth day on the job, and was one of the first to call for impeachment. The FBI reportedly arrested two men yesterday who were pictured in the Senate chamber last week with zip ties and military-type clothing. Others, like the man who wore a fur headdress during the attack on the Capitol, have been arrested as well. And in headlines: Amazon Web Services to stop hosting Parler, Biden plans to release all the available vaccine doses at once, and Hilaria Baldwin loses her first sponsor following Spanish-gate.

After Trump incited an attack on the nation’s Capitol, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi want Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the President, and a second impeachment of Trump by Democrats is also on the table. Resignations abound in Trump-world right now. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned yesterday, along with others responsible for security at the Capitol building. Plus, writer and comedian Grace Parra joins us for headlines: Elon Musk becomes the richest man on Earth, no booze on American Airlines flights from DC, and the legend of Denmark’s John Dillerman.

Violent mobs broke into the nation’s Capitol yesterday in a failed coup attempt, which was incited and encouraged by President Trump and many other Republican politicians who continue to reject the results of the election. By evening, lawmakers resumed their effort to certify the election. The two Georgia Senate runoff races were called for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock. Organizers like Stacey Abrams worked tirelessly in Georgia to stop gerrymandering, disenfranchisement, and oppression in the state… their efforts continue to pay off. And in headlines: two detectives responsible for Breonna Taylor’s death fired in Louisville, police in Hong Kong raid the homes of pro-democracy figures, and Trump slams gig workers on his way out.

Votes are coming in from the Georgia runoff elections, with the results generally looking positive for Democrats… but we’re still waiting on the final calls. Congress meets today to certify Joe Biden’s presidential victory, with about a dozen Republican senators and more House Republicans set to object and add hours of needless debate. Yesterday, the Surgeon General said that the CDC guidelines for the order of vaccinations should not be used to allow doses to sit in freezers. This runs counter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been doing in his state. And in headlines: the police officer who shot Jacob Blake won’t face criminal charges, Trump’s EPA fights war on birds, and Amazon is disrupting shirts.

Today's Senate runoffs in Georgia will determine control of Congress, the future of economic relief, and the country’s response to existential threats like climate change. We spoke to Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey about the Georgia races, what Biden can do on his own on climate, and how to deal with Republicans who want to erase the will of voters. And in headlines: the UK says Assange can’t be extradited to the US, hundreds of Google workers unionize, and Florida counties use EventBrite for vaccine scheduling. Show Links: If you are in Georgia and need more information on how to vote, please go to votesaveamerica.com/georgia If you run into any issues voting or witness voter suppression or intimidation, call the voter protection hotline: 1-833-DEM-VOTE — 1-833-336-8683

In a leaked phone call from this weekend, Trump used every line he could to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to overturn the state's election results. About a dozen GOP senators say they’re going to raise objections during the congressional vote to certify the presidential election this week, in a show of election theater that will lead nowhere. A more-contagious coronavirus variant first discovered in the UK has been identified in California, Florida, and Colorado. Despite predictions from the federal government that 20 million Americans would receive their first vaccine dose by the end of December, the current number is about 4.2 million… we discuss why that is. And in headlines: India approves two COVID vaccines, Pelosi reelected as Speaker, and Bitcoin does huge numbers on its 12th anniversary.

The future of our democracy hinges on the outcome of two Senate races in Georgia, a state that shocked the nation by flipping for the first time in nearly three decades. In this multi-part podcast, visit the frontlines with two of Atlanta’s own - journalists Rembert Browne and Jewel Wicker as they detail the struggles and triumphs that led to this moment, and hear from the organizers, strategists, and voters hoping to change the South forever.  Our new podcast, “Gaining Ground: The New Georgia” is a co-production of Tenderfoot TV and Crooked Media. Subscribe and listen to the first 2 episodes now, wherever you listen to podcasts: gaininggroundpodcast.com

Congressional leaders are putting together the final pieces of an emerging deal on COVID relief, but the negotiations could continue into the weekend. We spoke to Congressman Ro Khanna about the relief bill, the Biden transition and what gives him hope for next year. This year saw the largest-ever racial justice uprisings since the 1960s, following the racist killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other Black Americans. We looked back at some of the conversations we’ve had with activists, journalists, and elected officials about the movement and what it means to them.  For our final round of headlines, we focused on the issue of policing: the botched raid of Anjanette Young’s apartment in Chicago and the city’s attempt to keep it quiet, new studies that show giving police military gear doesn’t lower crime rates, and Tamika Palmer’s open letter to Joe Biden about her daughter, Breonna Taylor. Show Announcement: What A Day will be off for the rest of the yea...

Congressional leaders think they could pass a roughly $900 billion stimulus bill by the end of the week, which might include direct payments, but won't include money for states and localities. A deal can’t come soon enough: eight million Americans have been pushed into poverty since this summer, while jobless claims (and COVID cases) are rising. The Supreme Court announced it will hear a case on compensation of athletes in the NCAA. Players think the NCAA’s cap on student athlete compensation violates antitrust laws… not to mention, college sports bring in billions in revenue each year on the backs of majority Black athletes. And in headlines: Bezos’s ex Mackenzie Scott gave away $6 billion in 2020, Jackass guys got broke off on day two of filming, and at long last Trump gets new shower-head rules on the books.

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was announced as Biden’s nominee for transportation secretary yesterday, and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm is expected to be picked to lead the Energy Department. We discuss those picks, plus other recent Biden nominees, like Marcia Fudge, Tom Vilsack, and Denis McDonough.  The Dolly Parton-backed Moderna vaccine has been reviewed by the FDA and found to have an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent. Zooming out, a New York Times report said it may take until 2024 for less affluent countries to fully immunize their population, since rich countries have bought up all the supply.  And in headlines: Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for kidnapping 300 boys in Nigeria last Friday, European countries announce antitrust proposals for tech companies, and Prince Harry and Meghan are podcasters now.

The first coronavirus vaccines were administered in the US yesterday, and public education efforts also got underway with the HHS and CDC emphasizing the safety of the drug.  Congress has one week left to agree on a relief bill before they go on recess. The latest proposal splits provisions into two parts, one that everyone can agree on, and one that contains more controversial elements. We explain, plus get into why Senator Bernie Sanders says he’ll vote against the bills.  And in headlines: Bill Barr out as AG, PornHub deletes around 10 million videos after NYT op-ed, and powerful women rise up to defend Dr. Jill Biden against a WSJ hater.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized by the FDA on Friday evening, and the first shipments went out on Sunday. Most state governments intend to follow CDC recommendations and give the first few batches to health care workers and nursing home residents and staff… members of the Trump White House might also get it early. Today is the official electoral college vote, after which Biden and Harris will officially become the President-elect and Vice President-elect. Some Republicans may try to raise final objections when Congress counts the electoral votes in January, but… the end is near. And in headlines: A judge orders the jail population in Orange County, California to be cut in half, pro-Trump protestors demonstrate and commit violence in D.C., and Russian hackers infiltrate the Treasury and Commerce Department.

The FDA’s advisory panel voted to approve emergency authorization of the Pfizer-BionNTech coronavirus vaccine. Once it’s authorized, which could be any day now, an initial shipment of about 6.4 million doses is expected to be sent across the country.  The state of the pandemic in the United States is extremely dire, with this week bringing a new record in single day fatalities, and a record number of people hospitalized across the country. One of the main sources of reliable data throughout the pandemic has been the Covid Tracking Project. We spoke to Alexis Madrigal, one of its co-founders, about the current numbers, how we measure where we’re at, and where we go from here. Plus, we’re joined by writer and comedian Tien Tran for headlines: Amazon’s new invasive fitness tracker, MPD defunds the police, and a DMT study in England. Show Links: https://covidtracking.com/ https://www.theatlantic.com/author/alexis-madrigal/  Listen to Tien Tran on Hysteria and find her on Instagram: http...

Facebook is facing two major antitrust lawsuits, one from the Federal Trade Commission and one from nearly every state in the country. The suits argue that Facebook has turned itself into a social media monopoly by purchasing or unfairly stifling its rivals. As a solution, the FTC is calling for the company to break off WhatsApp and Instagram. An FDA panel is meeting today to vote on whether to approve Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, Canada has now approved it, and the UK is now recommending that people prone to severe allergic reactions hold off on getting it. And in headlines: another Trump EPA win for polluters, DoorDash has a banger IPO, and there’s more stuff than life now on Earth.

As vaccinations kick off in the UK, the approval process is moving forward here in the US as well. The FDA now says Pfizer’s vaccine offers protection within just 10 days of getting the first dose, though efficacy goes up even further after a second one. Authorization is still pending. The US had planned to rely heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, having made a deal to buy 300 million doses… but new data indicate the drug isn’t as effective as some of the other options being reviewed.  On his first day, the new district attorney of Los Angeles George Gascón announced a suite of policy reforms that will change how law enforcement is done in the city. Gascón is part of a larger wave of newly-elected progressive DA’s, from places like Austin, Orlando, and New Orleans. And in headlines: the Army fires or suspends 14 officials at Fort Hood, police raid the home of COVID data scientist Rebekah Jones, and Christopher Nolan is not happy with Warner Bros. Show Links: "Blunders Eroded U.S. C...