Steve Inskeep

Senate leadership rules out sending standalone $2,000 checks to U.S. workers. Arizona grapples with second highest COVID-19 rate in the nation. And, the Census Bureau will miss year-end deadline.

A highly contagious COVID-19 strain makes its way to the U.S. Argentina's upper house of Congress votes to legalize abortion. And, with two days left in 2020, Senate rushes to finish end-of-year list.

Christopher Krebs, the former top cybersecurity official in the U.S., talked with NPR about how the hack happened and how the U.S. should respond.

An advisory panel will give the FDA its opinion on Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. The Federal Reserve projects stronger economic growth next year. Plus, Google is again facing antitrust charges.

Dr. Joseph Varon of Houston's United Memorial Medical Center senses distrust for a vaccine among some hospital staff. "They all think it's meant to harm specific sectors of the population," he says.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally acknowledges Joe Biden's victory. FDA OKs first at-home COVID-19 test without needing a prescription. Afghan civilians worry about U.S. troop drawdown.

President-elect Biden is looking to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's transition to the presidency for inspiration as he and his team prepare to tackle a nation in the middle of numerous crises.

Electoral College votes to affirm Biden's election victory. Attorney General Barr is leaving the Justice Department. Plus, more shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine will be arriving across the U.S.

President-elect Biden is looking to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1933 transition to the presidency for inspiration, as he and his team prepare to tackle a nation in the midst of numerous crises.

Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, has been one of the folks on the front lines over the last 10 months caring for COVID-19 patients, putting herself at risk.

As the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, U.S. deaths from the virus near 300,000. The Electoral College will officially casts ballots for president. Plus, Russian hackers infiltrate U.S. agencies.

One challenge facing John Kerry in his new role as climate envoy to President-elect Joe Biden will be to convince other governments the U.S. will abide by its commitments.

Top Democrats back off demands for a larger COVID-19 relief bill. Sources tell NPR that President Trump is considering a run in 2024. Plus, new reports say climate change is making people sick.

The United Kingdom has become the first country to approve a thoroughly tested COVID-19 vaccine. A British regulatory agency approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday.

U.K. approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. The Justice Department finds no evidence of widespread election fraud. California experiences sharp increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The U.K. has formally approved Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, becoming the first Western country to approve its use for the general public.

European leaders react to President-elect Biden's national security team. Deaths from COVID-19 rise in Tennessee. Court documents reveal the role the Sackler family played in the opioid epidemic.

President Trump insists he will never concede the election. President-elect Joe Biden picks Janet Yellen to be first female treasury secretary. Plus, an update on the coronavirus situation in Brazil.

President-elect Biden has reportedly choosen his secretary of state. President Trump has still not conceded the election. Plus, the U.S. recorded a million new COVID-19 cases in just six days.

Nurses are taking to social media, describing grim hospital scenes and imploring Americans to stay safe as hospitals reach capacity limits. "We're seeing the worst of the worst," says one nurse.