The Year in Sound

[0] We are back live on New Year's Eve.

[1] 2020 is almost over.

[2] I'm definitely getting a really good feeling about new and improved 2021.

[3] This has been one of the toughest years we ever faces a nation.

[4] And the pandemic, the economic crisis, calls for racial justice, historic and punishing wildfires and storms.

[5] So this season of reflection carries a much deeper meaning that it usually does.

[6] And here we go.

[7] We look forward the start of a new year, fresh with hope and possibilities for better days to come.

[8] To say this past year was full of challenges is putting it mildly.

[9] Good riddance to 2020.

[10] It was the worst year ever.

[11] We're all wishing for a better 2021.

[12] 2020 is going to be better, and help is on its way.

[13] We finally have a vaccine.

[14] We finally have some good news.

[15] Get the vaccine and move forward to a 2021 where we don't have to wear masks and we can all be safe and start to return to a normal life.

[16] Schools, theaters, sports events, restaurants.

[17] We will be there by the early fall.

[18] I just want to find 780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won the state.

[19] And flipping the state is a great testament to our country.

[20] With just a little over two weeks left in Donald Trump's presidency, the bombshells just keep dropping.

[21] You should want to have an accurate election, and you're a Republican.

[22] We believe what we do have an accurate election.

[23] No, I know you don't.

[24] No, no, you know.

[25] President Trump in a phone call pushing the Georgia's Secretary of State to find votes in order to overturn his verified loss in the November election.

[26] Congress convenes Wednesday to certify the electoral vote, normally a formality.

[27] But President Trump's unsubstantiated claims of fraud leave some Republicans under pressure to question the results.

[28] Good morning, everybody.

[29] It is Wednesday, January the 6th.

[30] President Trump is getting ready to speak with his supporters outside the White House.

[31] Hundreds of protesters have been on the streets of the Capitol ahead of today's Congressional Electoral College count.

[32] Ladies and gentlemen, President Donald J. Trump.

[33] We have hundreds of thousands of people here, and I just want them to be recognized by the fake news media.

[34] Turn your cameras, please, and show what's really happening out here, because these people are not going to take it any longer.

[35] They're not going to take it any longer.

[36] We're going to walk down to the Capitol and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.

[37] And we're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them.

[38] We're watching live scenes out of Washington, D .C., very dramatic scenes.

[39] Those are pictures of a group of Trump supporters outside Capitol Hill trying to get in.

[40] They broke the glass in the United States Capitol, and now they are climbing through the window.

[41] This happened a moment to go.

[42] And it will stay in in recess until the call of the chair.

[43] We'll pause.

[44] Protesters are in the cold end.

[45] Thank you.

[46] We're now hearing from reporters who are locked inside the Senate chamber that the protesters have breached the Senate chamber itself.

[47] A person has been shot and has now died.

[48] The violence left five people dead.

[49] We love you.

[50] You're very special.

[51] You've seen what happens.

[52] You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil.

[53] I know how you feel.

[54] But go home and go home at peace.

[55] Madam Speaker, the Vice President and the United States Senate.

[56] The votes for President of the United States are as follows.

[57] Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the state of Delaware, has received 306 votes.

[58] The announcement of the state of the vote by the president of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the person's elected president and vice president of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January, 2021.

[59] The chair declares the joint session dissolved.

[60] Of course we've hardly mentioned, the fact the Democrats have taken control of the Senate, thanks to two extraordinary wins in Georgia.

[61] Democrats will now control the Senate with Vice President -elect Kamala Harris casting tie -breaking votes.

[62] We've just witnessed a truly solemn moment in American history.

[63] The House of Representatives has reached the threshold for making Donald J. Trump the only president of the United States to be impeached for a second time.

[64] The House has impeached President Trump.

[65] the charge, incitement of insurrection.

[66] This morning, President Trump's social media has been silenced.

[67] Twitter, making the unprecedented move to ban him permanently, following similar bans by Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Twitch.

[68] America now has a new administration in the White House, and tonight our commander -in -chief is calling for unity as he begins his term on 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue.

[69] This is America's day.

[70] This is Democracy's Day, a day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages.

[71] America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

[72] That I will well and faithfully discharge.

[73] That I will well and faithfully discharge.

[74] The duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

[75] The duties of the office.

[76] Kamala Harris's name now etched in history.

[77] Becoming the first female, first black American, and first South Asian Americans sworn in his vice president.

[78] The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it, if only were brave enough to be in.

[79] Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy.

[80] On this historic week in Washington, one of the biggest stories was Bernie Sanders Mittens.

[81] And here we go, Bernie Sanders Mittens.

[82] By now, you've probably seen this picture of Senator Bernie Sanders.

[83] We've all seen the memes.

[84] Bundled up Bernie, the most notable meme of the 21st year of the 21st century.

[85] You know, in Vermont, we know something about the cold.

[86] And we're not so concerned about good fashion.

[87] We want to keep warm.

[88] So breaking news tonight on the deepening crisis.

[89] in Texas.

[90] Millions of residents are without power after a winter storm crippled the state's power facilities.

[91] We currently are on 24 hours with no power or water.

[92] Move to Texas, they said.

[93] It's so hot, they said.

[94] Yeah, yeah, what about all there?

[95] Frozen water pipes bursting, destroying homes, some causing ceilings to collapse.

[96] Guys, so this is my house.

[97] I don't know what it to do.

[98] Everything's bloody.

[99] Finally, there's some good news on the COVID front.

[100] Even though new cases are still at an appallingly high level, in the past seven days, new cases were reported at their lowest rate since early November.

[101] Well, hey, it's me. I'm finally going to get my vaccine.

[102] I'm so excited.

[103] Between Moderna and Pfizer, the U .S. has been able to distribute more than 90 million vaccine doses coast to coast.

[104] I'm officially vaccinated.

[105] I'm so excited.

[106] It was almost surreal.

[107] Like I kept shaking because I was so excited.

[108] Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine.

[109] I'm begging of you, please don't hesitate.

[110] This girl is on Pfizer.

[111] I would imagine, and in fact I'm fairly certain that as we get into and towards the end of April, that will be what I would call open season, namely virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated.

[112] More people will get vaccinated.

[113] it, the faster we're going to overcome this virus and get back to our loved ones, get our economy back on track, and we start to move back to normal.

[114] President Biden celebrates the first major legislative victory of his presidency, the passage of the COVID relief bill.

[115] It spends nearly $2 trillion on jobless benefits, vaccines, school reopenings, and $1 ,400 checks to most families, among many other things.

[116] Joe Biden has been very focused on his COVID relief plan, and now he's preparing an infrastructure, climate plan called Build Back Better Package, calls for roughly $3 trillion worth of new spending.

[117] Today, he took a series of steps aimed at delivering on that promise, but he's getting some blowback.

[118] The White House now has to rely on a narrowly divided House and a 50 -50 Senate to deliver.

[119] And that means a single member, like Democrat Joe Manchin, could derail the Biden agenda.

[120] For almost a year, George Floyd's death under the knee of a police officer has reverberated around the world, but a more basic question has always remained.

[121] Would justice be done?

[122] State of Minnesota, County of Hennepin v. Derek Michael Chauvin, defendant.

[123] We, the jury, in the above entitled matter, has to count one unintentional second -degree murder while committing a felony, find the defendant guilty.

[124] So there you have it.

[125] Derek Chauvin, guilty on all three counts, second -degree unintentional murder.

[126] Three counts.

[127] You saw the former police officer there, Derek Chauvin, handcuffed.

[128] He's going back into jail.

[129] It's been a long journey, but it seems like this is a never -ending cycle.

[130] Ten miles away from him.

[131] Dante Wright, he should still be here.

[132] We have to march.

[133] We will have to do this for life.

[134] Educators across the country are rethinking how we address race and its impact on all areas of society in the classroom.

[135] Critical race theory.

[136] Critical race theory is the new Republican boogeyman and a catch -off phrase for people who are lashing out against anti -racist education.

[137] Why is active grooming of our students allowed to take place under your watch?

[138] You're teaching children to hate others because of their skin color.

[139] This isn't anything new.

[140] This isn't critical race theory.

[141] This is diversity inclusion.

[142] We should make sure every child feels included.

[143] I don't know how or why this would be debated.

[144] We'll be right back.

[145] This morning, a major turning point, with COVID cases in the U .S. dropping to levels not seen in nearly a year.

[146] And over the weekend, normalcy?

[147] Thousands of concert boys taking their first chance to see live music in more than a year.

[148] Disneyland is open again this weekend.

[149] Fans lined up the gates for the first full capacity game in what seems like forever.

[150] Color -clad crowds are back for this year's Kentucky Derby.

[151] No social distancing, no mask required, no restrictions on capacity.

[152] Are you endorsing Hot Vax Summer?

[153] Yes.

[154] The Hot Vax Summer.

[155] Hot Vax Summer.

[156] A hot Vax summer.

[157] That's what they're calling it, ladies and Jets.

[158] I can't make this up.

[159] We're going to have a hot Vax summer.

[160] Those of us who are faxed, you know, of course, one of the issues is it's only, I think, 30 % of the population in the U .S. is vaccinated, but I think it seems the U .S. has hit a wall when it comes to getting more people vaccinated.

[161] There's a new poll out.

[162] 45 % of unvaccinated Americans are holding the line saying they definitely will not get the shot.

[163] You know, unfortunately, I think we are looking to some sort of version of two Americas and unvaccinated, at risk America, and a vaccinated America that, relatively speaking, is quite protected against infection, including by the Delta variant, which has a great capability of spreading from person to person.

[164] Right now, a dangerous and unprecedented heat wave is baking the Pacific Northwest.

[165] Nearly 20 million people are under an excessive heat warning.

[166] When you hear people talk about how hot it is in Pacific Northwest right now, they ain't lying, dude.

[167] It's hottest balls.

[168] Look at the numbers.

[169] 114 today in Portland.

[170] 107 in Seattle.

[171] Those will break the records for the hottest it's ever been in either of those cities ever.

[172] The extreme heat fueling dozens of large fires as well.

[173] Wildfire season in full force way too early.

[174] It was scary.

[175] It was like one of those apocalyptic movies you see with fire and wind and people going everywhere.

[176] So far, more than 2 .7 and million acres have burned this year, outpacing this time in 2020, their worst year ever recorded by nearly a million acres.

[177] Flames are tearing through the Greek island of Evia as temperatures hit nearly 113 degrees.

[178] Germany is witnessing once in a lifetime floods, the worst floods in a thousand years.

[179] The signs are all there.

[180] And today, the UN said it is already too late to stop some of the devastating impacts of climate change.

[181] Okay, if it seems like just about everything is more expensive these days, you are not imagining it.

[182] It really is.

[183] And that dreaded eyeword is starting to get some traction.

[184] Consumer prices jumped to 5 % over the past year.

[185] That's the highest inflation rate in the U .S. since 2008.

[186] Stemming from a surge in demand and shortage of labor and goods.

[187] Millions of American workers are staying away from the service jobs that actually make America run.

[188] It's helped wanted everywhere.

[189] The number of industries struggling to find workers right now is expanding, frustrating everyone from retail consumers to travelers who had hoped for more of a normal summer.

[190] The country of Haiti is under a state of emergency tonight after President Jovna Mouise was assassinated early this morning.

[191] The brazen attack unfolded overnight at the private residents of Haitian President Jovanel Mouise.

[192] I said, what is the world can happen again to Haiti?

[193] And then I just found out that Haiti was hit again by a mega earthquake.

[194] They have no hope.

[195] It's like they can't catch a break.

[196] At least 227 people are confirmed dead following this morning's magnitude 7 .2 earthquake.

[197] The powerful quake, the biggest to hit Haiti since the one that devastated the island back in 2010.

[198] U .S. defense officials say the last remaining American and NATO troops have left the Bagram military airbase.

[199] in Afghanistan and handed it over to Afghan forces.

[200] Is the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?

[201] No, it is not.

[202] Why?

[203] Because you have the Afghan troops, have 300 ,000 well equipped as well as equipped as any army in the world and an Air Force against something like 75 ,000 Taliban.

[204] It is not inevitable.

[205] With international forces largely gone, the Islamist group is taking more territory from a demoralized Afghan military.

[206] But more than a hundred districts are now in the Taliban's control.

[207] Two major cities just collapsed.

[208] And it's so devastating to see that my country is just falling on her knees.

[209] And no one is just taking any action and just like the whole world just watching us help.

[210] Taliban forces entered the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul today, the culmination of a rapid advance and retaking of control, almost exactly two decades after they were ousted from power.

[211] The embassy shuttered, the flag coming down, thousands of Afghans now scrambling to get out.

[212] The Kabul airport packed earlier today.

[213] There have been chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as desperate Afghans tried to flee the country by hanging on to departing aircraft after the Taliban's final takeover.

[214] a handful tragically clinging on even after takeoff before falling to their deaths.

[215] Devastating reports emerging now from Kabul.

[216] This is what everybody feared.

[217] A suicide attack at Abbey Gate, where the race to evacuate U .S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan is entering its final days.

[218] I'm here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan in the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens.

[219] Third country nationals and vulnerable Afghans.

[220] The last C -17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 30th this afternoon at 3 .29 p .m. East Coast time.

[221] The situation here is very quiet now and you can hear the parents of the military cars taken by the Taliban and there are rumors.

[222] on social media that they are going to settle down first and they will start to do their brutalities.

[223] Rovi Wade was decided January 23rd, 1973.

[224] Through all the subsequent decisions, one thing has been clear, a state cannot ban abortion.

[225] But as of September 1st, 2021, Texas has banned abortion in the state and the Supreme Court has done nothing about it.

[226] Now it bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, the law's opponents say that's before many women even know that they're pregnant.

[227] Goodness gracious, like, I have to go home and figure out what I'm going to do in the next month.

[228] And like, the next month is in a couple of weeks.

[229] Like, what am I going to do, you know?

[230] Like, what am I going to do?

[231] Now that the Texas law is in effect that it is likely other conservative states will move to implement similar abortion restrictions.

[232] This as the Supreme Court is set to rule on the constitutionality of another abortion law in Mississippi in the upcoming term, that term begins in October.

[233] There is no planet B. Our hopes and dreams drown in their empty words and promises.

[234] The United Nations Climate Change Conference has opened in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP 26.

[235] The summit brings world leaders together to negotiate a way to avoid catastrophic climate change.

[236] Deep divisions remained on key issues like unprecedented language on fossil fuels and how much money developed countries should contribute to adapt to the climate crisis.

[237] I would like to remind us all that we have 98 months to half global emissions.

[238] The difference between 1 .5 and 2 degrees is a death sentence.

[239] Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.

[240] It is Tuesday, November 2nd, and Americans are heading to the polls on this election day.

[241] And this morning, all eyes are on two critical races for government.

[242] governor.

[243] In Virginia, also in New Jersey, polls opening one hour ago in both states, and in the next 24 hours, we could get a preview of what next year's midterms will look like and beyond.

[244] NBC News has just called the New Jersey governor's race for Democrat Phil Murphy.

[245] Thank you for putting your trust in our team.

[246] All righty, Virginia, we won this thing.

[247] ABC News projecting Republican Glenn Yonkin has won.

[248] So when I looked at the results, especially in Virginia yesterday, I'm not so sure that it's that the Republicans won as much as that the Democrats lost.

[249] It was a disappointing night for Democrats.

[250] Of course, they lost in Virginia, and it was incredibly close in New Jersey.

[251] Those are two states that President Biden won by double digits.

[252] One of the big issues for this governor's race has been just issues surrounding school.

[253] What's going on here?

[254] Republicans out of power are seizing on schools as the place to stir up racial tension and culture wars.

[255] What you saw in Glenn Yonkin is going to be for sure the playbook that Republicans are going to try to emulate.

[256] So basically, this conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good.

[257] Britney Spears has been faced with a decade -long nightmare.

[258] The whole thing shocked me that she had been forced to take lithium, that she was forced to keep it in an IUD, wasn't able to get married or have kids.

[259] I just want my life back, and it's been 13 years, and it's enough.

[260] Official, the conservatorship of Britney Spears has been terminated.

[261] What's next for Brittany is up to one person.

[262] Brittany.

[263] I'm just grateful, honestly, for each day and being able to be independent and, like, a woman, and it makes a huge difference.

[264] Good day.

[265] We're coming on the air with breaking news.

[266] A verdict has been reached in the trial of...

[267] Kyle Rittenhouse.

[268] The 18 -year -old is facing charges for killing two people and injuring another during a protest last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

[269] All right, members of the jury, have you elected a four person?

[270] We, the jury, find the defendant, Kyle H. Rittenhouse, not guilty.

[271] As to the second count of the information, Richard McGinnis...

[272] This case is over.

[273] Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty on all five counts he faced in the shooting deaths of two men.

[274] All right, let's switch you guys a little bit and talk about the Amad Arbery trial.

[275] In the Superior Court of Glen County, State of Georgia, the State of Georgia versus Travis McMichael, count one, malice murder.

[276] We, the jury, find the defendant Travis McMichael guilty.

[277] Twelve jurors found that all three defendants, were guilty of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a black jogger, who they chased in two pickup trucks and then shot dead.

[278] Even though Rittenhouse claimed he fired in self -defense, and the three defendants in Georgia made the same claim, the jury takeaway in each case was far different.

[279] Well, the signature piece of President Biden's legislative agenda, the sweeping $2 trillion spending bill, is now on life support.

[280] I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation.

[281] I just can't.

[282] This is a no. A live look at Capitol Hill.

[283] This morning, Senator Joe Manchin says he is against President Biden's signature legislation known as the build -back better bill.

[284] So what now?

[285] What happens next?

[286] Just this morning, the Senate Majority Leader announced that the Senate will still vote on this bill when they get back to Washington in early January, vowing to put every member on the record on the Senate floor.

[287] And he said, not just on television.

[288] Day 331 of the Biden administration.

[289] And with just nine days until Christmas, we are back waiting in long lines for COVID tests.

[290] The nation now facing an alarming new surge in cases just as we head into year three.

[291] I'm going to say that again, year three of this pandemic.

[292] Omicron now officially here in the U .S. We are in for a world of trouble, I'm afraid, in the next month or two.

[293] The U .S. is now averaging about 121 ,000 new COVID cases each day.

[294] You're dealing with a very transmissible virus.

[295] We're looking over our shoulder at Omicron, and we have Delta staring us right in the face.

[296] A lot of people are saying that it feels like March 2020 all over again.

[297] But people, please, have some optimism.

[298] Things are much better now than they were back then.

[299] I think 2022 is going to be a much better year than people are expecting.

[300] Hopefully he will get better in 2022.

[301] I hope it gets better in 2022.

[302] Happy New Year, let's hope 2020 is a better year for all of us.

[303] Thanks so much for joining.

[304] We'll be right back.

[305] Today's episode was produced by Claire Tennis Sketter and Sydney Harper, with help from Eric Kruppke.

[306] It was edited by Larissa Anderson and Lisa Chow, contains original music by Marion Lazzano and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Chris Wood.

[307] Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Lansberg of Wonderly.

[308] Beginning next week, the Daily will be returning to our favorite episodes of the year, listening back and hearing what's changed since they first ran.

[309] I'm Michael Babaro.

[310] See you on Monday after the holiday.