Hey there! It’s Wednesday, and the newsletter is taking a short break until Monday. But feel free to follow me on Twitter if you’re still looking for stuff to read or just want to know what I’m up to. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Lightfoot again downplays COVID-19 risks at bars and restaurants

Mayor Lori Lightfoot today double downed on her support for bars and restaurants by once again suggesting — without providing evidence — that they did not play a role in the recent surge of coronavirus cases.

“We should not be blaming restaurants. That’s not appropriate. That’s not right,” the mayor said.

Suggesting that it is inappropriate to focus on bars and restaurants as potential sources of infections runs counter to scientific evidence. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people infected with the virus were about twice as likely to have visited a restaurant within the two weeks before their diagnosis. [CDC]

Gov. JB Pritzker released contact tracing data earlier this month that showed bars and restaurants were one of the major sources of exposure to the virus in Illinois. And the number of known coronavirus cases in Chicago and throughout Illinois has steadily declined since Pritzker banned indoor service at bars and restaurants late last month. [Chicago Tribune]

Over the last seven days, the state has seen an average of 10,884 cases per day, a 4% decline from the day before. [WBEZ]

Nationally, there has been a lot of attention on small gatherings as a source of the surge. But many public health experts say there is little evidence suggesting these gatherings are a major source of cases since the summer. [NPR]

And this article from The Atlantic looks at the contradictory safety protocols throughout the U.S. and how “confusing policies and tangled messages from some of the country’s most celebrated local leaders are setting people up to die.” [Atlantic]

2. Biden urges Americans to “redouble our efforts and recommit ourselves to the fight” against COVID-19

President-elect Joe Biden today delivered a presidential-style address, urging Americans to remain vigilant and adhere to safety measures as Thanksgiving approaches.

“America’s not going to lose this war. We’ll get our lives back,” Biden said. “Life is going to return to normal. I promise you, this will happen. This will not last forever.”

Biden’s address comes as President Donald Trump has largely remained silent on the nationwide surge in coronavirus cases. [AP]

The New York Times reports Biden could announce his nominee for Health and Human Services secretary as soon as next week.

“The two top contenders are Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, a former surgeon general under President Barack Obama who has advised Mr. Biden on pandemic strategy, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, who has the support of many Hispanic groups and elected officials, according to two people involved in the transition,” reports the Times. [NYT]

Meanwhile, Sally Yates appears to be one of the frontrunners for attorney general. Others under consideration are Sen. Doug Jones, former homeland security secretary Jeh Johnson, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and former White House adviser Lisa Monaco. [Washington Post]

3. U.S. jobless claims continue to climb

Unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row, another troubling sign that comes as some economists warn the nation could suffer a double-dip recession.

The Labor Department today reported that 778,000 workers filed for jobless benefits last week, up from 748,000 the week before.

“With infections continuing to rise at an elevated pace and curbs on business operations widening, layoffs are likely to pick up over the coming weeks,″ Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, told The Associated Press. “Even as job growth is continuing, the labor market remains under stress and far from complete recovery.″ [AP]

4. More Americans are going hungry than at any point during the pandemic

Nearly 26 million adults in the U.S. said they did not have enough food to eat in the past week, according to an analysis from The Washington Post. That comes out to 1 in 8 Americans. In households with children, that number was more than 1 in 6 adults.

“The hardship is incredibly widespread. Large parts of America are saying, ‘I couldn’t afford food for my family,’” said Stacy Dean with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “It’s disappointing this hasn’t broken through.” [Washington Post]

In Chicago, an official with the Lakeview Pantry said demand has skyrocketed during the pandemic, and the pantry has organized its largest Thanksgiving distribution ever to meet the surging need. [WBEZ]

5. Trump pardons Michael Flynn

President Trump said today he has pardoned his former national security adviser, who has twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a Russian diplomat.

Flynn’s pardon is likely to face heat from critics who say the president’s actions interfere with the justice system.Earlier this year, Trump commuted the 40-month prison sentence of longtime friend Roger Stone. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will likely shorten their recommendation for how long people should quarantine. [NPR]
• Employers are considering whether to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory. [NPR]
• A South Side trauma center is closing the racial gap in ambulance run times, a study found. [WBEZ]
• Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona died at 60. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

If you’re looking for something to do this week, WBEZ is airing an audio play about Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne, the first woman elected to the fifth floor of City Hall.

The play, Her Honor Jane Byrne, is a collaboration with Lookingglass Theatre Company, and it will air at 11 a.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Here’s a description of the show:

“Chicago is ‘The City That Works’ — but does it work for everybody? It’s 1981, the city’s simmering pot of neglected problems boils over, and Chicago’s first woman mayor is moving into Cabrini-Green. Is this just a P.R. stunt, or will it bring the City together? For the next three weeks, residents, activists, media, the ‘Machine,’ and the Mayor herself will collide as the City’s raw truths are exposed.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Diane Thornton writes:

“My son wanted to drive home to visit for Thanksgiving. He made plans for a 30 hour drive, bringing his girlfriend as copilot/alternate pilot and a tent if they needed to stop. I am grateful that he’s smart enough to change plans: with the massive increase in COVID-19 here in the Midwest, he decided to cancel those plans and Facetime with us instead.”

Jan Hiley writes:

“I am so grateful to have completed 6 weeks of radiation treatments on Wednesday, preceded by 4 chemotherapy treatments over 2 months for breast cancer and for all of my family, friends and medical staff who have supported me through it all. But most importantly, I am grateful to God who has blessed me with good health and His mother and dear St. Anthony for interceding to Him for me.”

And Anne Koss writes:

“I am thankful that my family has been able to work and learn from home during the pandemic. We are very fortunate for this layer of safety.”

Thanks for all the responses this week. As always, it was a pleasure hearing from you!

Thanks for reading and have a nice night! I’ll see you on Monday. And if you liked what you just read, you can subscribe to the newsletter here and have it delivered to your inbox.