The hard COVID winter ahead

Hospitalizations break records, Republicans undermine Biden's win, the clash in Arizona

THE BIG STORY More Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19 than ever before   The US has been breaking COVID-19 records at a disquieting pace — just recently, the country hit 10 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. The numbers keep rising in a third wave of the pandemic that began in September. You can add one more worrying record: The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 surpassed 60,000 on Tuesday, breaking all previous records. Several states and cities say that their ICUs are operating at full capacity. It's important to note here that it's only November. Experts such as Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are warning that a "hard winter" is ahead for the US.  An expert told us that overloaded hospitals are a cause for concern because of what they predict: "We have just seen everywhere that when cases overwhelm public health systems, overwhelm hospitals, that deaths are going to rise." Quick zip around the country: 👉 In North Dakota, hospitals reached their patient limit. State health officials changed a rule to allow infected healthcare workers who don't have symptoms to continue working. 👉 In Des Moines, they're "caring for the most inpatient COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic." 👉 In Tulsa, Oklahoma, health officials said there were no more ICU beds available in the city. Nurse Daniel Corral works with a COVID-19 patient at the El Paso LTAC Hospital, Nov. 6. Mark Lambie / Reuters STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   Here's how Republicans are undermining Biden's election win During a press conference on Tuesday, high-ranking Senate Republicans irresponsibly and baselessly cast doubt on the election results and did not acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden as the rightful winner. A few days after Biden was declared the victor, the Republican Party is closing ranks and rallying behind President Donald Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud and refusal to accept defeat. Here's everything the Republicans are doing to undermine Biden's win. On top of all of this, we spoke to 11 members of the Electoral College in swing states — including two Republicans — and they are not buying the GOP's attempts to cast doubt on the results.  SNAPSHOTS   Democratic Senate candidates outraised Republicans across the country. Then Republicans won. Democrats officially lost another Senate race on Tuesday in North Carolina, leaving their path to controlling the Senate incredibly slim despite a huge financial advantage. Trump's legal team was asked about a witness who reportedly recanted his election fraud story. Then there was a lot of silence. The witness, a USPS worker, reportedly signed an affidavit that his claims of election fraud were untrue. Apple's new MacBooks run faster Apple chips and cost the same as the old ones. Apple finally put chips it designed itself into the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini. Here's why this milestone is important. Ellen DeGeneres addressed staffers after digital employees were laid off amid the WarnerMedia restructuring. At least 17 people who worked for Ellen Digital Ventures, a digital extension of The Ellen DeGeneres Show responsible for Ellentube and other original video content, have been laid off.  TENSION IN THE AIR   The clash in Maricopa County In Phoenix, Arizona, things got tense. On the street corner in front of Maricopa County's elections office Saturday afternoon, Trump supporters — some sporting red hats and some carrying guns — clashed with a group of young Latinos out to celebrate Biden's victory. The intense, and at times vitriolic, shouting back and forth tells a bigger story. It captures the messy, exhausting, and often hostile reality of a country that has spent the past four years mired in mistrust and bigotry.  And while many are breathing a sigh of relief over what they see as America lurching itself out of a dark era, the discord that defined the Trump presidency is not so easily left behind. Brianna Sacks she filed an incredible report from Phoenix — of the confrontations, the hostility, and the moments of connection. One particularly resonant scene: "Several Trump supporters escorted a younger Biden supporter to her car after she asked, in fear for her safety."  Armed Trump supporters during competing protests in Phoenix. Brianna Sacks / BuzzFeed News LOVELY TRIBUTES FOR 400, ALEX   Former Jeopardy! Contestants are sharing memories of their time on the game show and Alex Trebek   On Sunday, Jeopardy!'s long time host Alex Trebek died. He was 80 years old. Tributes have been rolling in steadily, but I wanted to draw your attention to the heartfelt notes coming from past contestants on the legendary gameshow. Here's one: Ken Jennings, who in 2004 won 74 consecutive games of Jeopardy and earned more than $2.5 million, wrote, "Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy! family—which, in a way, included millions of us." Pause to celebrate how resolute you've been in coping with this year, Elamin P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (Monthly memberships are available worldwide). 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.   🔔  Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores). 💌  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox! 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