Trump and Biden answered questions at two separate town halls, while Amy Coney Barrett answered questions at her SCOTUS hearings. COVID cases rise in the US--and Europe--as the holidays near, causing France in particular to declare a state of emergency. Protests in Thailand grow unruly, and the UN welcomes some new countries.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.