What's Happening

Politics

Congress Set To Certify Trump's Win on a Very Different Jan. 6

What's going on: Today, Congress is expected to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral college win. The ceremonial process comes on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building and delayed President Joe Biden’s certification. Unlike four years ago, today’s event is expected to be peaceful and, as Politico puts it, “jarringly routine.” Well, aside from one twist: Trump’s former opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, will be presiding over the proceedings and transfer of power (imagine her inner monologue during that moment). 

What it means: The Jan. 6 attack led to the largest federal criminal probe in US history, opened a contested criminal case against Trump, and highlighted American democracy’s fragility. A bipartisan Senate report linked seven deaths to the event, during which 140 police officers were injured defending the Capitol and its lawmakers. More than 1,200 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted — with some judges moving many cases forward to trial and sentencing. Yet, accountability remains uncertain. Trump has vowed to pardon those convicted once he takes office, while Democrats say he’s trying to rewrite history by calling Jan. 6 “a day of love.” Meanwhile, some survivors say they feel “betrayed.” In a Washington Post op-ed, Biden said of the day: “We cannot allow the truth to be lost.”

Related: Trump Will Be Sentenced Before He Takes Office, but Jail Seems To Be Off the Table (Axios)

US News

Gridlock's Toll: NYC's Congestion Pricing Rolls Out

What's going on: Congestion pricing has officially come to New York (whether New Jersey likes it or not). Drivers will have to pay a $9 toll to enter Manhattan’s “Congestion Relief Zone” during certain weekday and weekend hours (yes, morning and evening rush hours are included). That means traveling to Times Square, the theater district, and the famed shops of SoHo is about to get pricier. Supporters hope the toll will help beat the bumper-to-bumper traffic, improve air quality, and help fund the city’s buses and subway systems. Many others (especially drivers) aren’t thrilled. They argue it’s yet another expense in an already-pricey city and worry that businesses might pass the added costs on to customers. As one person told The New York Times: “One of these days, they’re going to charge you for walking.” 

What it means: The program is the first of its kind in the US, following in the footsteps of London, Stockholm, and Singapore, where similar tolls exist. It’s expected to generate $15 billion to fund New York transit system repairs and upgrades, including making subway stations more accessible for people with disabilities. A key challenge: It could take months or even years for New Yorkers to see major upgrades in the transit system (where repairs are notoriously slow), let alone noticeable improvements in air quality. But time may not be on the program’s side. President-elect Donald Trump said on social media he’d “TERMINATE” the tolls as one of his first official acts back in office.

Related: What Would Actually Make Public Transit Feel Safer? Experts Weigh In (NYT Gift Link)

Education

Are Girls Falling Behind?

What's going on: The pandemic disrupted education for all students, but new findings reveal that girls may have been hit harder than boys. According to The Wall Street Journal, girls’ test scores in reading, math, and science have dropped significantly since 2019 — some to their lowest point in decades. While boys’ scores have also declined, their losses were much less severe. In fact, boys now outperform girls in math, a subject where they had finally become neck-and-neck. Experts aren’t entirely sure what’s behind the post-pandemic drop in girls’ test scores. Some suggest teachers may have focused more on boys, who are more likely to act out when dealing with challenges, while quieter, struggling girls flew under the radar. Others point to the added caregiving roles many girls took on during the pandemic, such as babysitting siblings or managing household tasks, leaving them with less time and energy for schoolwork.

What it means: While educators have long focused on boys’ struggles with high school graduation and college enrollment, the recent drop in girls’ performance is raising new alarms. It threatens to undo decades of progress in girls’ education, particularly in subjects like math and science. Fewer girls excelling in these areas could shrink the number of women pursuing higher education and entering competitive fields like STEM, despite years of effort to open these doors (there’s a reason the “finance bro” memes exist). The consequences go beyond the classroom, warns an education policy expert: “This not only will hurt girls now — it will change college enrollment, it will change the talent pool that we have.”

Related: Can President-elect Trump Get Rid of the Department of Education? (The Guardian)