Weekend Reads 12/5/20

Biden says he will join former presidents and publicly get coronavirus vaccine

“I’d be happy to do that,” Biden said. He went on to refer to the nation's top infectious disease expert, saying, “When Dr. [Anthony] Fauci says we have a vaccine that is safe, that's the moment in which I will stand before the public and say that.”

Emboldened moderates force progress in stalled Covid talks

“I don’t know whether the Senate will pass our bill exactly as we negotiated it, or whether it will be used cafeteria-style with portions picked by [leaders] in putting together the omnibus bill. But it’s pretty clear to me there’s growing support in our caucus and apparently the Democratic Caucus behind our bill,” Romney added in an interview.

Mary’s song reveals her politics of mercy

Mary’s politics of mercy announces the remaking of this world so that women in keffiyehs can play their Disney kazoos and young people in hijabs can dance without men in military gear shouting lies about them. Her prayer for the reign of mercy involves the undoing of White power, the loosening of racism’s grip on this country. Her song calls upon God to expose the deception of the proud, to unseat the arrogant from power—for God to scatter the wealth accumulated by means of racial capitalism.

How Biden’s Treasury secretary pick could shape US climate politics

The secretary of the Treasury doesn’t just oversee the department that prints the nation’s money, pays its bills, and collects its taxes. If confirmed, Yellen, 74, will be a key Biden adviser, guiding the federal budget and shaping tax and spending policies. She will also be in charge of distributing congressional stimulus spending. That means Yellen stands to play a major part in executing Biden’s climate goals.