COVID Turns 1; Scary-Real Deepfakes; The History Of N95 Masks

Plus, the story of how Rick Steves built a $100 million brand.

by Dylan Scott A Year Of COVID Courtesy of Rachel Fishback The pandemic, as seen through your camera roll: Thousands of people sent us their last “normal” photo of 2020, along with the pictures they took in the months that followed. Our short film documents a collective year of pandemic life: the confusion, sorrow, resilience and unexpected moments of joy. “Now, a year out from it, I’m in awe of the human spirit,” Hannah Smith told us.  Nine health care workers around the world, from Kashmir to Mexico, reflect on what’s surprised them most about the pandemic — and how they’ve found ways to escape the stresses of their job. NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly chatted with Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci about their low points in the past year — and about when life might seem a little more normal.    Stories You May Have Missed Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images It’s been a year since Breonna Taylor was killed. None of the officers who fired their weapons — a total of 32 shots — face criminal charges directly over her killing. Advocates say they will continue fighting until justice is served. Remote workers are moving — and asking questions later. The liberty of remote work has led some people to move hundreds of miles from their offices, gambling that they won’t have to return to their cubicles when it’s safe. "It felt like I was jumping off of a ledge without a parachute," one 34-year-old said. So what will happen when offices reopen? Scary-real deepfakes have arrived. A series of forged videos that appear to show Tom Cruise performing magic tricks and cracking jokes have proliferated on TikTok, raising fears about the rapid sophistication of the technology — and its dangerous potential. A new $300 monthly child benefit could lift families on the edge. The $1.9 trillion stimulus package includes the benefit — the first of its kind in the U.S. One analysis found the benefit, combined with other federal aid, could cut child poverty by half. Three mothers describe how it may help them. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Watch This NPR A Birkenstock-clad Robin Pecknold performed four songs off the Fleet Foxes’ 2020 album, Shore — which pays tribute to great musical artists lost too soon — in a perfectly unadorned Tiny Desk set. Podcasts Of The Week Hulton Archive/Getty Images Long before the N95 became one of the most coveteditems during the pandemic, the trailblazing Malaysian doctor Lien Teh Wu designed a simple mask that helped save 20th-century Manchuria from pneumonic plague. From bird beaks to wrapping paper to bras, we follow the curious history of one of the most important defenses in our fight against COVID-19. (Throughline) Chef and food columnist Sohla El-Waylly got candid with NPR’s Sam Sanders about Bon Appétit’s racial reckoning, cultural appropriation in the food industry and opening up her mind with shrooms. (It’s Been A Minute With Sam Sanders) Sharks: an unexpected ecological hero. Scientist Melissa Christina Marquez explains just how important the creatures are to keeping oceans healthy — including their role in mitigating climate change. (Short Wave) Rick Steves built his no-frills take on traveling into a powerful, $100 million brand. But he never planned on making it big. NPR’s Guy Raz talks to Steves about how he went from backpacking through Europe on $2 a day to creating a travel business trusted by millions. (How I Built This)   Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy