All Things Considered for December 16, 2020 Hear the All Things Considered program for December 16, 2020

All Things Considered

Subscribe to Best of NPR Newsletter

'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

A "Stay Home" sign is taped to a driver's vehicle as she passes Christmas lights during a car caravan of nurses calling for people to remain home amid a coronavirus surge last month in El Paso, Texas. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Mario Tama/Getty Images

National

'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

With a spike in COVID-19 cases colliding with cold weather and the holidays, many Americans are facing difficult decisions about whether and how to socialize.

Politics

Congressional Leaders Say They Are Nearing Agreement On Coronavirus Relief Package

by Kelsey Snell

Congressional Leaders Say They Are Nearing Agreement On Coronavirus Relief Package

Listen · 3:38 3:38

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261086/947261087" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Medical Treatments

Johns Hopkins Medicine Is Trying To Help COVID-19 Patients With Long-Term Symptoms

by Allison Aubrey

Johns Hopkins Medicine Is Trying To Help COVID-19 Patients With Long-Term Symptoms

Listen · 5:31 5:31

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261093/947261094" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

U.S. Retail Spending Declined The Most Since Historic Plunge In April

Shoppers walk through Macy's in New York on Black Friday last month. Retail sales declined 1.1% in November, according to the Commerce Department. Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

U.S. Retail Spending Declined The Most Since Historic Plunge In April

by Alina Selyukh

U.S. Retail Spending Declined The Most Since Historic Plunge In April

Listen · 2:00 2:00

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/946783072/947261199" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:08 0:08

♫

MMXX - I Diplo

Listen · 0:28 0:28

♫

Clueless The Marias

Movie Interviews

'Assassins' Explores What Happened In Killing Of Kim Jong Un's Half Brother

Listen · 7:54 7:54

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261100/947261101" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:21 0:21

♫

Capture the Flag Broken Social Scene

♫

Golden Age Beck

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Golden Age
Album: Sea Change
Artist: Beck

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Economy

Fed Issues Economic Assessment And Forecast For 2021

by Scott Horsley

Fed Issues Economic Assessment And Forecast For 2021

Listen · 3:52 3:52

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261107/947261108" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

toggle caption

Mario Tama/Getty Images

National

'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

by Sarah McCammon

'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

Listen · 3:45 3:45

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947143343/947261205" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:08 0:08

♫

Capable Recondite

National

Federal Program Helps Homeowners With Rising Flood Insurance Rates

by Sam Turken

Federal Program Helps Homeowners With Rising Flood Insurance Rates

Listen · 3:43 3:43

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261114/947261115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

♫

Álom Bella Boo

♫

Sugar & Whitebread Glass Candy

World

What Scots Call Their Snowplows

Listen · 2:24 2:24

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261121/947261122" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

In 'Funny Boy,' A Young Sri Lankan Gay Man Comes Of Age As Ethnic Tensions Explode

Arush Nand plays the young Arjie at his make-believe wedding in Funny Boy. ARRAY hide caption

toggle caption

ARRAY

Arts & Life

In 'Funny Boy,' A Young Sri Lankan Gay Man Comes Of Age As Ethnic Tensions Explode

by Bilal Qureshi

In 'Funny Boy,' A Young Sri Lankan Gay Man Comes Of Age As Ethnic Tensions Explode

Listen · 5:32 5:32

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/946334919/947261211" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:05 0:05

♫

This song was part of the previous piece We are unable to provide a listing

Listen · 0:53 0:53

♫

Your Girl Blue States

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Your Girl
Album: Nothing Changes Under The Sun
Artist: Blue States

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Health

Residents In Florida Retirement Community Among 1st To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

by Greg Allen

Residents In Florida Retirement Community Among 1st To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Listen · 4:54 4:54

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261128/947261129" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Economy

Local Governments Across America Say They're Desperate For Federal Help

by Jim Zarroli

Local Governments Across America Say They're Desperate For Federal Help

Listen · 3:49 3:49

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261135/947261139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Movies

Difficulties Of Movie Production During The Pandemic

by Andrew Limbong

Difficulties Of Movie Production During The Pandemic

Listen · 2:35 2:35

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261145/947261148" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 1:54 1:54

♫

Green Hill Zone Jon Batiste

Education

What It's Like To Apply To College In The Pandemic

by Ryan Delaney

What It's Like To Apply To College In The Pandemic

Listen · 3:29 3:29

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261154/947261155" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sports

MLB Announces It Will Recognize Negro Leagues As Major League

Listen · 4:45 4:45

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261161/947261162" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

♫

Baseball Theme Vince Guaraldi

Listen · 0:28 0:28

♫

Sunday Sun Beck

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Sunday Sun
Album: Sea Change
Artist: Beck

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Health

Thanksgiving's Impact On Pandemic Unclear

by Rob Stein

Thanksgiving's Impact On Pandemic Unclear

Listen · 3:42 3:42

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261168/947261169" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

National

Advocates Call For Changes In Prisons To Reduce Inmates' Exposure To Coronavirus

by Nomin Ujiyediin

Advocates Call For Changes In Prisons To Reduce Inmates' Exposure To Coronavirus

Listen · 3:40 3:40

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261175/947261176" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:07 0:07

♫

Girl (Piano Version) SYML

Law

Supreme Court To Hear Case Over NCAA's Limits On Compensation For Student Athletes

by Nina Totenberg

Supreme Court To Hear Case Over NCAA's Limits On Compensation For Student Athletes

Listen · 3:33 3:33

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261182/947261186" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:27 0:27

♫

You The Dining Rooms

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: You
Album: Tre
Artist: The Dining Rooms

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

iTunes

Listen · 1:58 1:58

♫

Pink & Blue (Instrumental) Tycho

Health

Oxygen-Detecting Devices Give Misleading Readings In People With Dark Skin

by Richard Harris

Oxygen-Detecting Devices Give Misleading Readings In People With Dark Skin

Listen · 2:49 2:49

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/947261192/947261193" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

In New Orleans, Music Education Programs Cautiously Fall Back In Step

Students rehearse outdoors at The Roots of Music. The education nonprofit has kept its marching band going throughout the pandemic and resumed in-person rehearsal over the summer. Phoebe Jones hide caption

toggle caption

Phoebe Jones

Music News

In New Orleans, Music Education Programs Cautiously Fall Back In Step

by Aubri Juhasz

In New Orleans, Music Education Programs Cautiously Fall Back In Step

Listen · 4:58 4:58

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/946679228/947261217" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:10 0:10

♫

This song was part of the previous piece We are unable to provide a listing

♫

Maid of the Mist Diet Cig

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Maid of the Mist
Album: Swear I'm Good At This
Artist: Diet Cig

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

All Things Considered

Browse archive or search npr.org