I cannot replicate the numbers for year 2020 from drop 4842. The number as presented covers the first 9 months of the year (1 Jan - 26 Sep). 2020 data pulled from the source Q gave and I get a very different number.
The data is available at the link cited (https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Weekly-Counts-of-Deaths-by-State-and-Select-Causes/muzy-jte6). See Table Preview section and click View Data. Filter for Year 2020 (MMWR Year), then click the Export option to download the data.
Tallying the 2020 values for all states (E2:E2060) get you 2,346,777. For the US values (E2061:E2099), you get 2,326,448. Both are significantly different than the 2,130,000 number Q has.
Calc'ing the same way Q did using the United States jurisdiction values from the data gives you the following (using 2,326,448 / 9 = 258,500 for monthly avg).
2,326,448 + (258,500 x 3) [Oct, Nov, Dec] = 3,101,948
This shows excess death of 300k - 400k over previous years. That definitely doesn't line up with the implied message.
Is Q wrong? Did the underlying data change? Did Q cite wrong? Or am I wrong?
What the hell?