Electors in every state officially sealed Joe Biden’s presidential victory this week, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., congratulated the president-elect on Tuesday.

Biden is now 36 days away from inauguration, waiting to face a public health and economic crisis that is growing by the day.

NPR political correspondent Asma Khalid reports on the economic experts close to Biden’s team who are advising the next president on how he can offer economic relief to Americans without Congress.

And Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., tells NPR why he’s urging Democrats to reject an emerging pandemic relief package if it does not include direct cash payments to individual Americans. Sanders spoke to NPR’s Ailsa Chang.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

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