Financial technology companies fuel PPP fraud; colleges mislead about financial aid; Life Kit's holiday stress advice

Plus, here's how much media coverage you'd get if you went missing.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen You count on this newsletter to keep you well-informed and well-connected. In these unpredictable times, we turn to you and this community as a powerful source of funding.  Public radio is for the public good. If you are in the position to invest in independent, public-service journalism, please make your donation now.   Good morning. Voting ends today in Georgia's runoff election for U.S. Senate between incumbent Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker. Here's what we're following today: 🥇 First up Pool/Getty Images U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger says that his force is "much better prepared" to respond to future threats at the Capitol and that problems that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection have been addressed. The force is receiving a Congressional gold medal today for service during the attack. 🎧 Listen as Manger reflects on that day. During the pandemic, fintechs — a nebulous term broadly defined as businesses that use technology to improve or automate financial services — told Congress they could issue PPP loans to help struggling small businesses faster than traditional banks. But this came at a cost. 🎧 Listen to how these financial tech companies fueled rampant PPP fraud. Thousands of people are reported missing in the United States each year, and coverage of their stories in the press can be crucial to solving their cases. But not everyone gets the same media attention. A tool from the Columbia Journalism Review attempts to shine a light on this inequity by telling you how much coverage you'd get in the news if you went missing. A government report says college financial aid letters are misleading students and need a legal fix. The GAO report found that at best, offer letters can be confusing, and at worst, they are misleading. 🎧 Listen to the disastrous consequences that can have on students, from taking on extra debt to quitting school. Newsletter continues after sponsor message 📷 Picture show Hunter Lacey Photographer Hunter Lacey says she always had at least one close friend in her life who has an array of disabilities, starting with her brother Chase. She became interested in the world of meaningful employment for adults with disabilities, leading her to explore how employment helps them see what they're capable of. 📚 Life advice Photograph by HuntImages/Getty; Collage by NPR The holidays can be a joyous time, but they can also stir up a perfect storm for conflict. Whether your family is guilt-tripping you into spending time with them, someone is hurting your feelings at the dinner table, or your traditions aren't sparking joy anymore, therapist John Kim can help. 🎧 Listen to his advice. It all comes down to you Your financial support is the NPR Network's greatest strength. You keep the facts flowing. You bring more stories to more ears. You make a real difference when you contribute to independent, trustworthy media. Please donate today.    🛑 Before you go Fadi Kheir Carol of the Bells, a classic Christmas song, was brought to the U.S. by the Ukrainian National Chorus in 1922. A century later, in the midst of a war, Ukrainian singers brought the folk song back to Carnegie Hall, the site of its North American debut. Kirstie Alley, star of Cheers and Look Who's Talking, has died at 71. Still haven't gotten your REAL ID? Don't worry, the deadline for enforcement has been pushed to 2025. The Oxford English Dictionary has made "goblin mode" its word of the year, as people embrace their inner goblin during the pandemic. Nike has terminated its contract with Kyrie Irving over his antisemitic social media posts, following an initial suspension. The skeleton and skin of what is believed to be the last Tasmanian tiger, thought to be lost since the 1930s, had been stashed away in a cupboard at a museum in Tasmania, where experts lost track of the bizarre-looking creature.  Novelists like Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood and Stephen King shared discouraging moments in their careers after debut author Chelsea Banning tweeted that only two people came to her book signing. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (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 Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy