A new Washington Post report reveals the president’s calls to Pennsylvania’s house speaker asking for help reversing his loss. In a column for the Atlantic, Zeynep Tufekci breaks down why Trump’s efforts to overturn the presidential election should not be ignored, even though they don’t fit the formal definition of coup.

Politico reports on Lloyd Austin, Biden’s pick to be the first Black defense secretary.

Wired dives into a counterintuitive argument about vaccine distribution: Move social butterflies to the front of the line.

CNN has the story of why some people are saying the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico must be rescued and restored.

According to NPR, medical school applications have risen 18 percent over the last year, in what some admissions officers have named the “Fauci effect.”

The Atlantic reports that hospitals across the U.S. have passed their breaking point. And NPR and Kaiser Health News shed light on what happens at a rural hospital when just one doctor gets COVID-19.

Stat reveals how privileged Americans might cut the line for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Last week, WarnerMedia announced that all of its movies next year will be released on its streaming service, HBO Max, at the same time as in theaters. Bloomberg News explains how the film industry is reacting. And the Atlantic breaks down what this means for the future of movie theaters.

The Wall Street Journal has the story of the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2, which just completed a mission that may provide answers about how life began on Earth.

The Washington Post looks at the threats being directed at election officials across the country. And NPR covers a recent speech by top Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling calling on the president and his allies to stop repeating false claims that undermine the electoral process.

Politico explains President-elect Biden’s plans to combat the resurgent drug epidemic. 

Anne McCloy, a news anchor at CBS-6 Albany in New York, has helped thousands of people get unemployment benefits. The Atlantic has the story.

BuzzFeed News reports that the South Korean legislature passed an amendment exempting K-pop star Jin from military service, just in time for his 28th birthday.

Time answers key questions about President Trump’s pardon powers. 

In an op-ed for the Washington Post, former Maryland representative John Delaney argues that the government should pay individuals $1,500 to get vaccinated. But Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at NYU School of Medicine, tells NBC’s Today Show that paying for vaccinations is a bad idea.

The Marshall Project looks at the long-lasting impact of the term “superpredator” on American criminal policy and politics. 

According to the Washington Post, scented candles have been getting some unusually harsh reviews during the pandemic.

ABC News reports on Attorney General William Barr, who said on Tuesday that the Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread voter fraud. NBC News has a story about an alleged bribery-for-pardon scheme being investigated by the DOJ.

Bloomberg News ranks countries based on the success of each nation’s response to the pandemic.

Lisa Miller writes about how the pandemic is affecting kids’ mental health for the Cut at New York Magazine.

An artificial-intelligence tool has solved a scientific mystery that had eluded researchers for more than 50 years. The Guardian has the story.

Fox News reports on the growing number of American cities offering financial incentives for people to relocate there.

Bloomberg reports that Vice President Pence told U.S. governors a COVID-19 vaccine is just weeks away from distribution. Stat explains how decisions are being made about who will receive a vaccine first.

CNN breaks down the federal relief programs that are set to expire at the end of the year. 

Grist reports that after signing the Great American Outdoors Act, the Trump administration has now changed some of the rules, which critics argue undermines the spirit of the legislation.

Vox points to studies that show a neural link between gratitude and giving.

The L.A. Times breaks down the new coronavirus-related restrictions taking effect today in Los Angeles County. And the L.A. Times reports on local residents’ reactions to the new order.

For the Washington Post, Kent Babb writes about the very different levels of access to COVID-19 testing experienced by health-care workers and athletes.

NPR says false claims of voter fraud by the president and Republican allies could backfire for GOP candidates in the Georgia Senate runoffs.

President-elect Biden and his family will be joined by a cat in the White House next year. The Guardian has the story.

For Vox, Elizabeth Segran talks to people about their dating experiences in the COVID-19 era. And the Washington Post offers some pandemic dating tips.

Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox writes for the Washington Post about the declining divorce rate during the pandemic. And the Wall Street Journal looks at some of the most common reasons couples are experiencing tension right now.

The New Yorker and Bustle hear from couples who adjusted their weddings plans because of the coronavirus.

For the Atlantic, Joe Pinsker talks with Melissa Mazmanian about the unrealistic societal expectations on working parents.

The Washington Post reports on how the pandemic is specifically affecting working moms. And a Wall Street Journal survey found that nearly two-thirds of fathers say they’ve become closer to their kids during this time, which is great for the whole family.

Vox breaks down how the child-care crisis in the United States comes down to economics. The Atlantic explains the limited child-care options for parents who are essential workers. And Time Magazine warns that the pandemic has devastated the U.S. child-care industry and that these losses may be difficult to come back from for years to come.

For NPR, Sesame Workshop’s Rosemarie Truglio offers some advice on parenting during the pandemic.

NBC News has the stories of elderly people who have died from long periods of isolation duringthe coronavirus pandemic. And former surgeon general Vivek Murthy talks with NPR about the negative effects of loneliness and the power of human connection.

Social scientist Kasley Killam writes for Scientific American about a recent study that found that levels of loneliness have mostly remained unchanged during the pandemic, despite increased isolation.

Astronauts tell USA Today their strategies for coping with anxiety and loneliness during long periods of isolation. And Vox spoke with Murthy about his suggestions for addressing feelings of loneliness.