The two leading vaccine candidates are using technology that has never been approved in a commercial vaccine before. They both use messenger RNA to direct human cells to manufacture the spike protein found on the coronavirus. While this technology has been in development for two decades, the latest vaccines prove the science is sound and could change the way future vaccines are made. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for how these mRNA vaccines work and why they do so well.




Next, Hollywood and the entertainment industry has been grappling with a series of mass layoffs. The pandemic has accelerated a shift in the business needs of major studios and networks. As the focus of the industry turns to streaming and subscription based platforms, companies need different expertise from their executives rather than traditional programming and marketing knowledge. Cynthia Littleton, co-editor in chief at Variety, joins us for how the entertainment industry continues to redefine itself for a streaming future.




Finally, while the pandemic continues to be the most urgent health need in the country, there are many that are still struggling with addiction. There is an addiction treatment method called contingency management that has been shown to work, but so far has been underused. The concept rewards drug users with money and prizes for staying abstinent, and therein lie most of the objections to using this method. Abby Goodnough, national health correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for more.

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