Hey there! It’s Wednesday, and I often think about how 1960s sci-fi really missed the mark with the future we’re now living. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Chicago unveils plan to vaccinate all adults living and working in the city for free in 2021

Mayor Lori Lightfoot today announced plans to offer free coronavirus vaccines, possibly beginning as soon as this month. That’s if federal regulators give emergency approval to vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna within the next two weeks, which is expected.

Dr. Allison Arwady, the head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said the city could receive anywhere between 100,000 to 150,000 doses in December.

The initial supply will go to high risk health-care workers, such as those who treat COVID-19 patients and work in intensive care units. Then, about two weeks after federal approval, vaccines will be offered to residents and workers in 128 long-term care facilities within the city. [WBEZ]

The news comes as deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise in Illinois. State officials today announced another 179 fatalities. That means Illinois is seeing a rolling, seven-day average of 147 deaths per day, up 26% compared to the average two weeks ago. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, federal data released this week shows many hospitals throughout the nation are either at capacity or nearing it. NPR created this tool that allows you to see what the situation is like in the county where you live. [NPR]

The situation is particularly dire for intensive care unit beds that treat critically ill patients. According to The New York Times, more than a third of Americans live in areas where hospitals are short on ICU beds. [NYT]

In Chicago, federal data shows that while smaller hospitals filled up, bigger hospitals had available beds. [WBEZ]

2. Congress has just nine days left to figure out coronavirus relief

And it’s not clear if Republicans and Democrats can reach a deal before Dec. 18, when Congress wants to leave for the year. If not, an estimated 12 million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits the day after Christmas, and some economists warn the U.S. could plunge into another recession.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers today released more details about their $908 billion stimulus proposal. According to an outline, the plan would provide $160 billion for state and local governments, which Democrats want, and liability protections for businesses, which Republicans demand.

The bipartisan proposal also includes a $300-per-week boost to jobless benefits for 16 weeks. But it does not include another round of stimulus payments for Americans.

The White House, meanwhile, has offered a $916 billion proposal that includes $600 stimulus payments for each American, but it does not revive beefed up unemployment benefits. [Politico]

Meanwhile, some lawmakers are considering the return of earmarks as a way to break the gridlock in Congress. [NPR]

3. Iran appears to be moving an important nuclear facility underground

New satellite images analyzed by The New York Times suggests that Iran is rebuilding a key nuclear facility underground, which would add another layer of protection from aerial assaults and other threats.

The construction comes after a mysterious explosion in July destroyed an assembly building for centrifuges, which enrich uranium that can be used for peaceful purposes or, at higher levels, building bombs.

Iran blames Israel and the U.S for the explosion and the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, both considered huge setbacks for the country’s nuclear program. [New York Times]

Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has said he wants to reenter the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently stepped up a campaign that opposes the deal. [Axios]

4. Will the Chicago Police Department seek to fire officers involved in the Red Line shooting?

Police Superintendent David Brown faces a Dec. 29 deadline for deciding whether to begin a process that could ultimately lead to firing two officers involved in the shooting of an unarmed man at the Red Line’s Grand Station, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Feb. 28 shooting was recorded on a witness’ smartphone and quickly shared on social media. It showed Officers Melvina Bogard and Bernard Butler struggling to arrest Ariel Roman. Butler can be heard telling Bogard to shoot Roman. Bogard shot Roman at the base of an escalator, and Bogard opened fire again as Roman ran up the stairs.

The shooting is still under investigation by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. And the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city agency that investigates misconduct claims against officers, sent its findings and recommendations to Brown in September, the Sun-Times reports. Those documents have not been publicly released. [Sun-Times]

5. Hunter Biden is under investigation over a tax matter

Hunter Biden, the son of President-elect Joe Biden, is under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware, according to a statement released by the transition team.

“I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs. I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors,” the statement from Hunter Biden reads. [NPR]

Meanwhile, President-elect Biden will likely have a “skeleton staff” at the White House to minimize the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, reports Axios, citing an unnamed support staffer familiar with the transition process. Many staff members will work remotely or in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Axios also reports that Biden’s inauguration will likely be significantly scaled down compared to previous years, with the incoming president celebrating with close family members and advisers. [Axios]

Biden is considering Pete Buttigieg for a high-profile ambassadorship, possibly in China. [Axios]

And Biden today formally announced retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as his nominee for defense secretary. Austin’s nomination faces some hurdles. 

For one, he will need Congress to grant a waiver from a law aimed at maintaining civilian leadership at the Pentagon. And while Austin is a highly decorated military commander, his views on a host of political issues, like climate change, remain largely unknown. [Politico]

Here’s what else is happening

• Only about a quarter of Republicans accept the outcome of the election, according to a new survey from NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist. [NPR]
• Chicago Public Schools says it has no plans to cut down on screen time during remote learning. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Chicago’s “Dreadhead Cowboy” was ordered to not have any contact with the horses he owns. [WTTW]
• This year’s top Google searches in Chicago and the U.S. were, unsurprisingly, “election results” and “coronavirus.” [Block Club Chicago]

Oh, and one more thing …

One of the things I miss about working in the newsroom is hearing reporters and editors ask what words we can’t say on air and need to bleep out.

I thought about that when I saw the news that Nicolas Cage will explore the history of some swear words in an upcoming docuseries that will stream on Netflix. (Sorry, I can’t say which swear words, but you can find them in the link.)

The History of Swear Words will debut on Jan. 5 with 20-minute episodes featuring celebrity appearances from Joel Kim Booster, Sarah Silverman, Nick Offerman and many more. [Hollywood Reporter]

Tell me something good …

What songs did you listen to this year?

LB writes:

“Like a good queer, I’ve been nonstop listening to Fleetwood Mac even before their whole TikTok resurgence. But at least now everyone gets to revel in their brilliance! I like to dance to a lot of songs off their underrated Mirage album, especially ‘Hold Me.’ The chorus is so subdued, so the verse actually takes the place of a traditional chorus structure. And when I listen on repeat, I forget that I’m stuck in 2020. TAKE ME AWAY!!!!”

And Mary writes:

“I’ve been listening to the Talking Heads’ song ‘Road to Nowhere’ and David Byrne’s American Utopia, because it just feels appropriate.”

What songs did you listen to this year? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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