Las Notis is a daily news column that gets you up to speed on the political, media + other goings-on in the United States, Latin America, and the diaspora—all in one quick digest.
Here’s your glimpse at what’s going on today:
-
- On Tuesday (Dec. 29), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked consideration of a bill passed by the House that would have delivered $2,000 stimulus payments to most Americans, something that Trump had said he wanted and that kept him from signing the pandemic relief bill earlier last week. [WaPo]
- Vice president-elect Kamala Harris received the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday (Dec. 29), following president-elect Joe Biden receiving his on Dec. 21. Harris was given a dose manufactured by Moderna, the most recently approved version of the vaccine, at United Medical Center in Southeast D.C. [Politico]
- Some mixed-status households will be eligible for coronavirus relief through the bill approved a few days ago, offering help to citizens and permanent residents who filed a joint tax return with an undocumented status. These families will receive a check of $600. [Vox]
- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced on Monday (Dec. 28) that he is not opposed to private companies buying coronavirus vaccines to distribute to patients who want to pay for the shots, but noted there is not enough supply. “We are not opposed to commercializing the vaccine, to companies importing it and selling it to those who can pay,” he said. “The catch is the supply of vaccines in the world markets, because there still isn’t enough production.” [AP]
- Since opening airports in November, Cuba has seen an uptick in coronavirus cases. As a result, the country announced on Monday (Dec. 28) that it has decided to allow fewer flights from the United States and several other countries on Jan. 1 to mitigate the spread. [Reuters]
- Two weeks after a bust of Breonna Taylor went up in the city of Oakland, it was found smashed. The sculptor who made it, Leo Carson, called the destruction an act of “racist aggression” and has said he will rebuild the memorial piece out of bronze. [BBC]