Why haven't we gotten a handle on the pandemic? We ask Robert Blendon, he's an emeritus professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard's Chan School of Public Health.

We'll hear from Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. She told us about the increased need and what her organization is doing to ease the burden, one that can heighten at the holidays.

Plus, grab your popcorn because we're taking a trip to the movies with writer and film critic Ty Burr. We discuss his favorites of what's come out this year and what he's excited for next.

Plus, we get a temperature check on how the movie industry is adjusting to the pandemic, and how movie-goers are reacting.

Boston-based online fantasy sports and sports betting company Draft Kings has been spending a lot of money on advertising lately, with some analysts wondering if the company is making bad bets. We talk about that with Boston Globe reporter Aaron Pressman. Then, we Check the Score for a preview of tonight's Patriots game with Radio Boston's Chris Citorik.

Plus, the Senate narrowly voted to move forward the nomination of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins for U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.

Plus, we hear what marijuana business owners think about community impact fees, and how one local synagogue is celebrating Hanukkah this year.

We speak with WBUR Business Reporter Yasmin Amer and Jim Rooney, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

HVV, Cape Ann's first recreational marijuana dispensary is suing the city of Gloucester over its host community agreement and fees charged in them. This is the second such lawsuit brought by a pot business, and some say more push back on these fees and host community agreements is coming.

We were so hopeful that this year, this holiday season, things would be different. Or, maybe, that they wouldn't be -- that we'd be back to normal. But we continue to live in the exception as the pandemic appears to be entering a new phase. So, where do we find light in the darkness this year?