There are some rules! No more than two versions of the same song can grace the list. And no more than two songs by any artist can appear (although an exception has been made for The King of Rock and Roll).

More on Christmas: With rain on its way Thursday, is a Western Washington White Christmas possible this year?

The songs on Spike and Darby’s Perfect Christmas Mix have been debated and hard-won. You do have to be a little discerning on the naughty or nice list, after all.

From our family to yours!

They’ll discuss the impossible online waitlists for vaccines, and if we’re ready to reopen schools. And, over the past year of this crisis, what story or moment has stuck with Dave and Aaron the most?

This will be the final formal episode of the COVID-19: Seattle podcast. To keep up with us elsewhere, you can:

• Sign up for our newsletter, which goes out once a week. We’ll continue to collect local pandemic news for you in one easy place.
• Subscribe to Dave’s podcast, , for in-depth interviews with experts and local leaders.

Exactly a year later, he joins ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo on the “COVID-19: Seattle” podcast to reflect on those earliest days of the pandemic, and make predictions for the year ahead.

Should Washington teachers be allowed to cut the vaccine line?

MyNorthwest Covid updates

And, Whatcom County is seeing a surge of cases. They expect January to triple what they saw in December, which was already the county’s worst month ever. Dave and Aaron issue a timely reminder: Don’t forget about “stranger bias.”

Plus, reporter Aaron Granillo joins with more information about your place in line for a vaccine, and the statewide app that should be online next week.

And we tracked it all right here, day by day.

What were people in Washington thinking and feeling during the very first statewide lockdown? Did the predictions of doctors and researchers in the early days come true?

Reporter Aaron Granillo is joined by ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Mike Lewis as they listen back to the earliest episodes of this podcast and discuss the milestone moments in the pandemic from 2020.

And, the next federal relief bill has inched just a little bit closer to passing. This version includes a second stimulus check.

Finally, this was a big week for health care workers as Pfizer’s vaccine was distributed to hospitals and clinics across the United States. How concerned should we be about the allergic reactions some people have had?

How are our hospitals and health care providers holding up here in Washington? Aaron explains our hospital capacity, and who will be at the front of the line for vaccination.

And, Governor Inslee’s restrictions on restaurants, gyms, and theaters — now extended through January — have put many business owners and their employees in an impossible position. Dave Ross walks us through the politics in the other Washington, as Republicans and Democrats argue over liability and bailing out local governments.

They’ll take a look at the latest coronavirus stats as a third surge in cases meets with the holiday season. How are we doing on hospital capacity, and what is the current survival rate from the virus?

Mike also owns a local bar, and discusses how the new statewide restrictions on indoor dining and alcohol service are impacting his business and employees. In an impossible situation, what kind of state and federal relief can we expect?

And finally, Washington state just launched an exposure notification app this week. Plenty of people have opted in so far, and we’ll tell you how you can either download or turn on the feature on your own phone.

You can hear more from Mike Lewis on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Nights, weekdays from 7-10 PM or on-demand as a podcast.

Then, reporter Aaron Granillo joins Dave Ross to debrief the interview and look ahead at how we can possibly dig our way out of the dire financial straits this virus has left so many families and businesses in.

And Dr. Stephen Anderson from MultiCare Auburn Medical Center has been working on the front lines in the emergency department throughout the pandemic. He joins us to explain just how serious the third wave of the virus is for Washington state, and the conversation convinces both Dave and Aaron to change their Thanksgiving plans.

If you’d like to get involved in a vaccine trial, you can find more information .

Join the conversation and submit your own ideas for show conversations in our new .

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dave Ross interviews virologist , a former Harvard researcher with a focus on public health, about how we can banish the pandemic for good … even without a vaccine.

Then, reporter Aaron Granillo joins to talk about what the exit polls suggest American voters prioritized this election: the economy, or the pandemic?

Governor Inslee did issue some restrictions earlier this week, but only for college campuses. With 35 outbreaks statewide, the message to students is: stop socializing.

And, local health officials released an early version of their plan for distributing a vaccine throughout the state. But have they factored in our trust issues?

Is there something you want this podcast to report on? Or a story of your own you want to share? You can now talk to the show directly by joining our new .

Dr. Ali Mokdad from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which tries to predict when coronavirus cases will rise and why, joins ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dave Ross to discuss what to expect as we head into colder weather and plan more indoor gatherings.

Dr. Mokdad also offers his best prediction for when this will all be over: In other words, when we can expect a vaccine. Two major vaccine trials paused this week after a small number of negative reactions, and reporter Aaron Granillo will explain why that’s actually good news.

And, of course, we take a look at the campaign trail. Two Biden campaign staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. And President Trump resumed his rallies, triumphing his defeat of the disease.

Join the conversation in

Plus, we’ll give you a rundown of all this week’s coronavirus news you can use. A coronavirus outbreak strikes the University of Washington’s Greek Row, there are some new rules at Seattle parks, and the CDC has updated what you need to know about how the virus can spread.

Free coronavirus testing sites are open every day across Seattle. You can find the locations and reserve a spot .

Or, purchase an at-home coronavirus test, newly available in Washington, right .

Join the conversation in our podcast’s brand-new .

With just 30 days until the election, what does this mean for the health of his campaign — and the health of the country?

First up: COVID is accelerating job losses at Boeing, and the company decided this week to shutter its 787 Dreamliner production line in Everett.

The first presidential debate confused and dismayed many of those who tuned in. Dave Ross parses through the mayhem and pulls out a better idea of each candidate’s plan to handling this ongoing pandemic.

And, select school districts in Washington are welcoming back some of their youngest students for in-person classes. What do parents think about that? Join the conversation in our podcast’s .

Speaking of our pandemic response, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the head of the CDC testified before Congress on Wednesday about the seemingly ever-changing CDC guidelines. Senator Patty Murray wants a task force to investigate.

And, the very earliest infection rate data is back from schools that reopened for in-person classes.

Join the conversation in our

And how safe will it be?

Join the conversation on our podcast’s .

How much of a difference would an earlier lockdown or mask mandate have made? And should Woodward have broken this story back in March, when lives still could have been saved?

In other news: A “worship protest” on Labor Day outside a shuttered drew ire from the surrounding community and sharp comparisons between large prayer gatherings and large protests against police brutality. Dave Ross offers a defense of targeted park closures.