This week, we’re answering your questions about what’s going on in the news right now. Here’s what you wanted to know: 

First up: What’s the deal with this new strain of COVID that’s been found in the UK? 

Then: Why did Russia hack the United States again? And what information did they get? 

Next: What’s in the new stimulus package? 

And: What’s happening to our alcohol consumption during COVID? And how do we know if it’s a problem? 

Also: Why am I seeing headlines about a “galactic federation”? 

Finally: Are robots really coming for our jobs?


PS: You can find the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Website, Rethinking Drinking, here. And here is the NIAAA’s Treatment Navigator. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 


Dr. Amber D’Souza, infectious disease epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Garrett Kenyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Yijing Watkins, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory


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Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 
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