You Asked, We Skimm’d: Russian Hacking, the New COVID Strain...and Aliens

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.