The pandemic death toll is literally too big for our brains to handle.

The psychology of Covid death tolls helps explain America's worrying disconnect. [View in browser]( [Image]( December 16, 2020 [A photo illustration shows a pink-tinted image of a brain with oversized coronavirus microbes embedded in it, with a crooked graph line in the background.]( More than 300,000 Americans have died of Covid-19 so far this year. If that number seems too big to really be able to handle, you're not alone — and it's not your fault that it's hard to make sense of that many deaths. The human brain just isn't well-equipped to handle it. Oh, we can visualize big approximate numbers, the way you know that 1,000 apples is a lot of apples. But our brains struggle with large, exact numbers, Hayes Brown explains in his latest essay. That's not ideal in a pandemic when trying to convince people to change their behavior. But there are ways to keep your circuits from shorting out when trying to process the pandemic. Find the full analysis at the top of Wednesday's MSNBC Daily section at [MSNBC.com](. UNDERSTANDING THE NEWS [Alternate text] Top perspectives and analysis from our MSNBC columnists [Alternate text] [A photo of Dr. Jill Biden standing at a microphone, smiling slightly]( Liz Plank [This Dr. Jill Biden debacle is right-wing conservative panic at its worst]( For some reason, Dr. Jill Biden calling herself by her preferred title has been enraging and uncomfortable for some conservatives. [Alternate text] [A photo shows Attorney General Bill Barr standing to the left of an official government seal]( Joyce Vance [Barr's tragic tenure was summed up in one letter]( Attorney General William Barr’s legacy is one of dishonesty and steadfast refusal to understand his duty to serve justice and the people. [Alternate text] [A photo shows a woman in silhouette]( Frank Figliuzzi [Four things to know about how the FBI handles sexual assault in the ranks]( Here are some facts about how the FBI functions, to better understand how the bureau handles sexual misconduct allegations. WATCH NOW [Alternate text] 11th Hour [What we know and don't know about huge Russian hack on U.S. government agencies]( [A photo of a hand holding a Russian nesting doll with side-by-side images of Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump]( The ReidOut [‘There’s now one pro-democracy political party’: Steve Schmidt announces he’s a Democrat]( [A screengrab shows Steve Schmidt inside his home, a lighted Christmas tree behind him]( Rachel Maddow [Barr's replacement has record of protecting Trump and friends, punishing Trump's enemies]( [A photo of Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen]( All In [White House security chief loses leg to severe Covid; GoFundMe details ‘staggering’ medical costs]( [A photo shows a worker in a hazmat suit spraying disinfectant in a room at the White House]( LISTEN NOW [Alternate text] [An illustration shows an iPhone with the latest episode of ''Do No Harm'' on the screen. Next to it is an image of two adults leading a child down a dark hall, and text reading, ''All 6 episodes available now'']( [Do No Harm]( Bonus Episode: Reporting Do No Harm In a special bonus episode, NBC News Investigative Reporter Mike Hixenbaugh shares what he’s learned about the child welfare system – and what happens when that system goes too far. [A photo of demonstrators holding a sign that reads ''Save Mercy Hospital'' has text over it with the episode's name, ''Critical Condition'']( [Into America]( Critical Condition Since 2018, three hospitals in Chicago’s majority Black communities have closed. A fourth is slated to close next year. Trymaine Lee talks to an activist and a patient about what’s at stake for Black Chicagoans. [A quote card shows an illustration of Anne Milgram with a quote reading, ''If a police department says to me, 'We did a great job, there was a homicide, we caught someone,' that's a failure. The great job is to prevent that homicide.'']( [The Oath]( Anne MilgramThis week, Chuck Rosenberg talks with former New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram about her experience as the second-youngest Attorney General in the United States and her work to reform the Camden Police Department. MORE ON MSNBC [Alternate text] Tell us what you think. [Drop us an e-mail.](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily here](. Follow MSNBC [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Check out the MSNBC channel on Apple News Download the NBC News Mobile App and watch MSNBC [Listen live to MSNBC on TuneIn]( [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)