World News: Three presidents walk into a vaccination center...

USA TODAY: Three presidents walk into a vaccination center...

Thursday, December 3

Former U.S. Presidents, from left, Barack Obama and George W. Bush and Bill Clinton smile during the first round foursomes match of The President's Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course, Sept. 28, 2017, in Jersey City, N.J.

Three presidents walk into a vaccination center...

The United States has reached another grim milestone in its fight against COVID-19. It's Thursday's news.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are ready to vaccinate. The future of movies is rapidly changing. And there's another monolith in town (well, the world).

It's Alex, and it was a pleasure writing Short List this week.

But first, forget "seasons greetings": COVID-themed holiday cards are reflecting the dumpster fire that is 2020: "Well... THAT was CRAZY!"

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

If three former presidents took the vaccine, would you?

A vaccine is coming. And we should all probably take it . In fact, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have committed to get a COVID-19 vaccine to prove the treatment is safe and effective. They may even film themselves getting injected, they announced. This comes as large swaths of the American public have expressed concerns about taking a potential coronavirus vaccine, despite early results from several vaccine trials showing them to be highly effective at stopping COVID-19.

•	Will there be side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine? When can you get it? We answer your vaccine questions.
•	New coronavirus restrictions: Here's what your state is doing to combat rising cases and deaths.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 is getting worse and worse. The United States has passed two more horrific milestones, reaching 3,000 deaths in one day and 100,000 hospitalizations. "The reality is, December and January and February are going to be rough times," said Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Banned from the building

The official serving as President Donald Trump's eyes and ears at the Justice Department has been banned from the building, according to The Associated Press. Heidi Stirrup, an ally of top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, is accused of approaching staffers in the department demanding they give her information about investigations , including election fraud matters. The effort came as Trump continues to level baseless claims that he won the election, and alleges without evidence that massive voting fraud was responsible for his defeat to President-elect Joe Biden.

What everyone's talking about

•	A Human Rights Campaign report finds cities are doing more than states, and the federal government to protect LGBTQ rights.
•	Californians are fleeing as strong winds push fire through canyons, and power was cut for tens of thousands.
•	"Simply unthinkable": A coalition of 90 current and former law enforcement officials call for halt to executions in Trump's final weeks.
•	A volunteer at Carole Baskin's Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary was hospitalized Thursday morning after a tiger "nearly" tore her arm off.
•	Health and Human Services has unveiled an action plan to address "maternal morbidity" and reduce racial disparities.

Trump allies to Georgia Republicans: Don't vote

Allies of Trump's efforts to challenge last month's election urged Republicans in Georgia to stay at home for the Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections , arguing Trump supporters shouldn't take part in another "rigged election." Attorneys Lin Wood and Sidney Powell told Trump loyalists not to vote for either of the two Georgia incumbent Republican senators, Kelly Loeffler or David Perdue. The remarks underscore the delicate politics the two must navigate to turn out a base convinced the presidential election was stolen.

•	In lawsuits alleging election fraud, Trump supporters described what they saw, heard and suspected. Many of their allegations crumbled under scrutiny.

Get your home theater ready

Warner Bros. announced Thursday that it's releasing all of its 2021 movies on HBO Max the same day as theaters . The films will be available to HBO Max subscribers at no extra charge and will stream for one month. After they leave the platform following the 31-day streaming period, the movies will still be available to see in theaters. The studio's 2021 slate includes hotly anticipated sequels and would-be blockbusters such as "Dune," "The Suicide Squad," "Matrix 4," "Space Jam: A New Legacy," "Godzilla vs. Kong," "Mortal Kombat," and "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It."

Real quick

•	The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a Trump lawsuit, two days after he asked the justices to revoke certification of a contest he lost by nearly 21,000 votes.
•	Cris Collinsworth apologizes for comment about being "blown away" by female fans' NFL knowledge.
•	"Sad milestone": Southwest Airlines warns 6,800 workers of first layoffs in its history.
•	US jobless claims remain high at 712,000, the latest sign that the U.S. economy and job market remain under stress from the intensified viral outbreak.
•	A couple was arrested for boarding United Airlines flight to Hawaii after testing positive for COVID-19.

Ending this week how we started it: With random monoliths

A metal monolith appeared in Utah, then disappeared. Another metal monolith appeared in Romania, then disappeared. Now, another one has been spotted — this time in Southern California. While we know that human beings were responsible for the monolith's removal in Utah as a photographer captured four men removing it, the real question is... why do monoliths keep appearing?! And who keeps putting them places?! My bet is still on aliens.

•	Meet the outdoor sportsmen who say they removed the Utah monolith: "If you think we're proud, we're not."

At least three monoliths have been spotted in recent weeks.

Gary Lyons via Storyful

Let's get that money

•	This is America: Why young people of color need to be investing in the stock market.
•	New to investing? Here's an estimate on how long before the stock market makes you a millionaire.
•	Investing apps make it easy for beginners. Here's where you can get started.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.