(CNN) America has never been closer to the end of this pandemic, which has inflicted the most universally experienced crisis and assault on national morale since World War II. The difference this summer is that tens of millions of Americans -- 131 million, to be exact -- are fully vaccinated. Will a new President -- who made a vow to bring America back -- garner a political reward for keeping his promise? Recent mass shootings and urban crime waves offer a reminder that many of the challenges that faced the country before the pandemic remain intractable. Maybe that outpouring augurs better days rather than the rash of super-spreader infections it might have meant a year ago.

Source: CNN May 25, 2021 03:56 UTC