United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said his industry was one of the first to be impacted by COVID-19 — “at the tip of the spear,” as he put it. And United revenue is going to be down 70% in the fourth quarter. But, as bad as it has been, he said we’re beginning to reach “the end of the beginning,” quoting Winston Churchill. On today’s show: a conversation with Kirby about how United has handled the pandemic. Plus, economies that controlled the virus are doing better and a look at the U.S.-China relationship President-elect Joe Biden will inherit.

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