The Rise Of 'Mass Radicalization' In GOP; Massive Nor’Easter; Paycheck-To-Paycheck Nation

Plus, why automakers are racing to bring electric pickups to market. by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [Pete Buttigieg, seen in 2019, will be nominated as Joe Biden's transportation secretary, the transition team announced. Buttigieg is a former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Democratic presidential candidate.]( Bebeto Matthews/AP Here's what we're following today. President-elect Joe Biden will name three more people he plans to nominate to Cabinet agencies. [Former presidential rival Pete Buttigieg]( will be tapped to lead the Transportation Department and former Michigan Gov. [Jennifer Granholm]( will be selected to lead the Energy Department. Separately, former EPA chief [Gina McCarthy]( will be named as Biden’s domestic climate coordinator. [Here's a list]( of who has been nominated so far. The National Weather Service says a major winter storm will hit the mid-Atlantic states on Wednesday. Parts of central Pennsylvania could get up to 2 feet of snow. Freezing rain and ice are expected in parts of North Carolina and Virginia. When distributing COVID-19 vaccines, California officials may consider providing them earlier to disenfranchised groups of people, [such as Native Americans and residents of low-income areas](. [The Million MAGA March drew thousands of President Trump's supporters, including members of far-right groups such as the Proud Boys, Patriot Front and others, to Washington, D.C., last month.]( Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images Domestic terrorism analysts are raising concern about the security implications of millions of conservatives buying into baseless right-wing claims. They say [the line between mainstream and fringe is vanishing]( with conspiracy-minded Republicans now marching alongside armed extremists at rallies across the country. The Senate Homeland Security Committee is holding a hearing on Wednesday about election fraud. The hearing comes two days after the Electoral College affirmed President-elect Biden's win in the 2020 presidential race. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listens [Andrew and Robi walk their puppy, Libby. The pandemic undercut both of their careers. Robi has relied on unemployment benefits since May and Andrew leaned into his work at a restaurant.]( Mary Inhea Kang for NPR How does life in America add up when you're living paycheck to paycheck? In the pandemic, a third of Americans struggle to pay usual costs, even some earning over $100,000. But living on the edge financially is nothing new in the U.S. Three households share their budgets. [Click here to listen]( or [read the story](. A new study suggests kids in poor countries benefit hugely from having older sisters — who are more likely than brothers or even mothers — to engage in stimulating play. [Listen to the story here](. [Saturn (center, left) and Jupiter (center, right) share a night sky earlier this year near Vantage, Wash. Already this past summer, the two planets were growing closer in the night sky.]( Ted S. Warren/AP The planets Jupiter and Saturn are getting together again for the holidays — socially distanced, of course. At least, that's how it will look to someone craning their neck. On the winter solstice, the pair of gas giants will appear closer to each other in the night sky than they have in centuries. [Read about it]( or [listen here](. Jay-Z fake-rapping Shakespeare is funny. Jay-Z doesn't think so, though. Deepfakes are becoming a thing in music, mostly for a laugh right now. Some artists are taking legal action, and that could have far-reaching implications. [Listen here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go NPR /Spotify - Every day, millions connect with NPR and NPR member stations across the country for everything from pop culture podcasts to the nightly news. [Now they can play their favorite shows on Spotify](. - Faster, stronger, just plain truckier: Automakers are racing to be the first to bring [an electric pickup]( to market. - A new U.N. report says we've entered the Anthropocene Epoch — the Age of Humans — where [the greatest risk to the survival of humankind]( is ourselves. - Officials in Paris were fined 90,000 euros because they put too many women in senior positions [in 2018](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. 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