Ripped from the Headlines: January 2021: This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for January 16–22, 2021

President Biden has proposed legislation that would replace the word alien with noncitizen in federal immigration law. Currently, the U.S. uses the word alien to refer to "any person not a citizen or national of the United States," but activists have long criticized the term, arguing that it is dehumanizing and degrading. Alien comes from the Latin word alius, meaning "other."

Steven Dillingham, the director of the Census Bureau, resigned in the face of criticism that the 2020 count was rushed, incomplete, and subject to political pressure. The census counts the population and determines everything from Congressional seats to the allotment of federal aid. Census is a Latin word that comes from the verb censere, meaning "to assess or estimate."

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sidelined after receiving a concussion in a game against the Cleveland Browns. He did participate in a light, no-contact practice a few days later, giving fans hope that he would be cleared to play in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Concussion comes from the Latin verb concutere, meaning "to shake violently or knock together."

Because of the January 6th riot, security around the Capitol and in most of central Washington, D.C. was extremely tight in the days leading up to the inauguration. National Guard troops and the Secret Service set up security cordons around most federal buildings and checked identification at the entrances. Cordon means "cord or ribbon" in French, and it was formerly used to describe fortifications and the troops stationed around a fortified perimeter.

The Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who was poisoned by Russian intelligence agents, returned to Russia after recovering in a German hospital. He was taken into custody upon his arrival, with a judge ordering him to be held for 30 days for violating his parole in a 2014 case. The European Court of Human Rights determined that he did not receive a fair trial in that case.

25,000 National Guard troops from all 50 states were deployed to Washington, D.C. to provide security for the inauguration. Photos of some of the soldiers sleeping in the Capitol went viral, and celebrity chef José Andres provided thousands of meals to the troops. Deploy comes from the Latin displicare, which means "to unfold" and is also the root of display.

President Biden signed 17 executive orders on his first day in office. The orders made changes to immigration and pandemic response rules, racial and LGBTQ+ equality, the economy, and government ethics regulations. Additionally, Biden revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, restored vehicle emission standards, and pledged to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change.

A realistic painting of a pig in an Indonesian cave appears to be much older than originally thought. A new study dates the painting at around 45,500 years old, making it the oldest known example of figurative art. The painting was made by grinding red rocks with water to make a paste that was applied with fingers or brushes made from chewed twigs. The new date was established by analyzing calcium formations that contain traces of uranium, which can be precisely dated.

President Biden named Gary Gensler to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Rohit Chopra to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Both positions require Senate confirmation. Democrats applauded these choices for two of the country's top fiscal watchdogs, but Republicans opposed them, saying that too much regulation would stifle economic growth.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization, warned that rich countries hoarding vaccines will make the pandemic last longer and sicken more people. He said that the unequal distribution of vaccines — where the vast majority of them have gone to wealthy countries — is going to make a bad situation worse, and steps need to be taken immediately to increase distribution to poorer populations.

Because of the pandemic, the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took place on a smaller scale than previous ceremonies. Instead of huge crowds, the National Mall was filled with colored flags representing those lost to Covid-19. Inauguration, meaning "a ceremony marking a beginning," comes from the Latin augurare; an augur was a fortuneteller who would read omens and determine the right time to begin a new venture.

Amanda Gorman, America's first youth poet laureate, is the youngest poet ever to read at a presidential inauguration. The 22-year-old recited "The Hill We Climb," which was commissioned for the occasion. The poem created a sensation, dominating social media and making Gorman an instant celebrity. Laureate comes from the Latin laureatus, meaning "crowned with laurel."

This week, the death toll from Covid-19 passed 405,399, the total number of Americans who died fighting in World War II from 1941–45. The mortality rate for the virus is now at over 4,000 deaths a day.

A number of coronavirus mutations have occurred, and some of these strains appear to be more infectious than the original virus. According to doctors, the vaccines currently in use are effective against these new forms. Mutation comes from the Latin mutare, meaning "to change."

The nominees for the 26th annual Critics' Choice Awards were announced. The Crown and Ozark both got six nominations, helping Netflix rack up a total of 26 nominations, while HBO earned 22. The awards show will air on March 7th. Nominee comes from the Latin verb nominare, meaning "to call by name" or "to appoint."

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, writers and speakers around the country honored Dr. King and his legacy. Civil rights leaders said that Dr. King's principle of nonviolent resistance to injustice and inequality continues to be an essential strategy for confronting systemic racism.

A Virgin rocket reached orbit and deployed NASA satellites. Unlike SpaceX or other companies, Virgin rockets launch from a 747 airplane at cruising altitude, which the company says allows for more flexibility and lower fuel costs. This is Virgin's first successful launch mission.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated as a national day of service, where people are called upon to do good deeds for those in need. President Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, spent the day volunteering at Philabundance, a hunger relief organization in Philadelphia, while Vice President Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, worked at a food pantry in Washington, D.C.

An Israeli study shows that the Pfizer vaccine appears to cause sterilizing immunity, meaning that people who have been vaccinated twice cannot carry the virus and make others sick. The second dose is essential, since people who get both shots develop between 6–20 times more antibodies than people who just get one.

Before the inauguration, the FBI vetted all 25,000 of the National Guard troops assigned to protect Washington, D.C. The screening was a response to concerns expressed by defense officials and members of Congress that extremists might have infiltrated the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies. Vet comes from veterinarian, since doctors would examine horses before they were raced or sold.