December 2, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Many Americans will carefully weigh the risks when deciding whether to gather together or travel for the holidays amid a global pandemic. Maria Konnikova, poker player and author of "The Biggest Bluff," shares her humble opinion on how to balance luck and skill.

In our news wrap Wednesday, several opposition activists in Hong Kong were sentenced for organizing demonstrations, President Trump sparked congressional opposition with a threat to veto a sweeping defense policy bill, and Afghanistan's government and the Taliban have a breakthrough on peace talks.

Britain’s approval Wednesday of Pfizer's COVID vaccine dialed up the anticipation, pressures and questions about vaccines in the U.S. and how the distribution will be handled. William Brangham spoke with Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific officer for the federal government's vaccine program, to learn more about the implementation of a vaccine.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Wednesday that the bipartisan COVID relief bill just unveiled should be the starting point for negotiations going forward. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is one of the lawmakers responsible for that bipartisan bill. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Lawmakers are under pressure to reach another economic relief deal as COVID-19 cases and deaths spike across the country. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is the second-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S Senate. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss a new bipartisan proposal and why Democrats have changed their stance on a relief bill.