10/26/20 - Mailed passport renewal to TX facility with standard processing time (quoted 10-12 weeks), used 2-Day Priority Mail envelope.
10/30/20 - Envelope delivered in TX (delivery likely delayed due to volume of election mail at the same time).
11/02/20 - Check cashed by State Department.
11/03/20 - Application status updated to "In Process" on State Department website.
12/21/20 - Called State Department 1-800 number to get my passport faster. I was on hold for 55 minutes before reaching a representative, who took down my credit card info to expedite my application. I provided a travel date of 01/20/21.
12/29/30 - Credit card charged $77.13 to expedite ($60 expedite fee and $17.13 for 1-2 day shipping).
12/31/30 - Received an email from the State Department that my application was approved.
01/04/21 - Passport picked up by USPS in Tucson, AZ. Mailed via Priority Mail Express.
01/05/21 - Delivered to me in CA!