(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A federal appeals court panel on Friday allowed President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for larger private employers to move ahead. The 2-1 decision by a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a decision by a federal judge in a separate court that had paused the mandate nationwide.
Power of one: Manchin is singularly halting Biden's agenda
Despite months of being courted and cajoled, Sen. Joe Manchin is still not a yes on President Joe Biden's big $2 trillion domestic package.
apnews.com
What Manchin wanted, rejected and got in Biden's $2T bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — During a private meeting in July, Sen. Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sat down to negotiate what exactly it would take for Democrats to unlock Manchin's vote to start the process of considering President Joe Biden’s massive social and environmental bill
apnews.com
Democrats leave for the holidays with much unfinished business
Democrats are leaving Washington for the holidays having fallen short on a slew of President Joe Biden's top domestic priorities.
Trump evokes antisemitic tropes, says Jewish Americans ‘don’t like Israel’
Former President Trump evoked antisemitic tropes about Jews in excerpts of an interview released on Friday and claimed that they “either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel.”In…
thehill.com
Toughest sentence yet for any Capitol rioter: over 5 years
A Capitol rioter who attacked police officers working to hold back the angry mob on Jan. 6 has been sentenced to more than five years behind bars, the most so far for anyone sentenced in the insurrection.
apnews.comBiden accuses GOP of 'unrelenting assault' on voting. Can he deliver on voting rights legislation?
Speaking at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, Joe Biden decried a “new sinister combination of voter suppression and election subversion."
McConnell says Jan. 6 committee's findings are 'something the public needs to know'
McConnell’s interest in the investigation is notable given that he had opposed the creation of a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission, calling the idea “slanted and unbalanced.”
www.nbcnews.com
White House says double child tax credit payments possible in February
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday said that the Biden administration is looking into the possibility of making double child tax credit payments in February if the president’s so…
thehill.comBorder Patrol agent says job has become ‘unrecognizable’ in fiery resignation letter - Washington Examiner
EXCLUSIVE — A Border Patrol agent who resigned this week said the mission of the organization has become "unrecognizable" as federal law enforcement have been turned into "handmaids," according to a leaked copy of a letter sent to the chief.The agent of more than a decade, Mustafa Joseph, told...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
It's not just Joe Manchin: Here's what stands in the way of Democrats passing Biden's social-spending bill
Democrats have pushed a Senate vote on the Build Back Better Act into next year, and Sen. Joe Manchin is just one of the hurdles they have to clear.
Ex-hostages doing well, have left Haiti, mission agency says
All the former hostages from a U.S.-based missionary group kidnapped in Haiti have been flown out of the country after a two-month ordeal and are “doing reasonably well.”
apnews.com
Russia sets out tough demands for security pact with NATO
Russia has published draft security demands that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance’s military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.
apnews.com
Here’s one way Trump has reshaped the GOP in his own image after Jan. 6
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden, Dems 'vehemently disagree' with Senate parliamentarian rejecting immigration proposal
White House press secretary Jen Psaki expressed frustration Friday after the Senate parliamentarian rejected the Democrats' immigration reform proposal from their $2 trillion policy package.
Food suppliers blame inflation for price hikes. Lawmakers say they're padding the bill.
Some companies "appear to be passing costs on to consumers" and "taking advantage of inflation to add greater burdens,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.
www.nbcnews.comFood suppliers blame inflation for price hikes. Lawmakers say they're padding the bill.
The levers of government are being primed for an escalating crackdown on excessive food price inflation, which the Biden-Harris Administration and its Congressi
Retired generals urge Pentagon to take steps to avert ‘civil war’ after 2024 election - Washington Examiner
The U.S. military must start making preparations for another "insurrection" after the 2024 election, according to a trio of retired military generals.An op-ed published by the Washington Post on Friday called for action amid growing concern among former senior officials about the "potential for...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Charlamagne Tha God, Harris get into heated exchange after question about who ‘real president’ is
Vice President Harris asserted that Joe Biden is president — not Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — during a tense exchange on Charlamagne Tha God’s Comedy Central show.Charlamagne asked Harris to …
thehill.com
What impeachment taught the 1/6 committee
www.politico.comSearch the assets, investments, outside employment, and debts of congressional lawmakers using Insider's exclusive databases
Insider has compiled and analyzed hundreds of US House and Senate financial disclosures to create a searchable accounting of members of Congress' personal finances.
Rep. Steve Scalise and 15 other Republicans lay out their plan to use controversies over the teaching of race and gender in schools to beat Democrats in 2022
Insider interviews with the No. 2 Republican in the House and others show their plan for retaking Congress will include pitting Democrats, teachers unions, and the Justice Department against parents who want to be involved in their children's education.
January 6 committee postpones deposition for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones | CNN Politics
The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot has postponed its scheduled deposition of noted conspiracy theorist and right-wing internet personality Alex Jones, according to an aide for the panel.
www.cnn.comTrump Bandies About Antisemitic Tropes In Interview With Israeli Reporter
Among his ramblings was the claim that Jewish Americans "don't care about Israel" and Jewish people used to have "absolute power over Congress."
JPMorgan hit with $200 million in fines for letting employees use WhatsApp to evade regulators' reach
Regulators announced Friday that JPMorgan Securities admitted to bookkeeping failures and agreed to pay $200 million to settle the charges.
Meet the Democrats’ last best hope of preserving a House majority
As the U.S. House of Representatives debated a resolution to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress this week, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) issued a warning: Republ…
thehill.com
Jan. 6 committee caught misportraying another text message to Mark Meadows - Washington Examiner
Yet another example of a Jan. 6 committee member misportraying a text message sent to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows emerged on Friday.Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, incorrectly described on Tuesday a message to Meadows describing a strategy to overturn the results of...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Russia demands Ukraine, ex-Soviet nations be barred from NATO
Moscow sets out tough terms in draft security documents submitted to the US and its allies.
Florida man receives stiffest sentence yet for a Capitol riot defendant
A Florida man has received the stiffest criminal sentence of any Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendant so far, getting more than five years in prison.
Trump ally Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment in appearance before Jan. 6 committee
Longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone appeared Friday before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, where he said he pleaded the Fifth to every question.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell told Insider he's already spent $25 million pushing voter-fraud claims and will spend everything he has on the cause
Lindell said he'd invest his entire fortune and "sell everything" if that was "what it takes" to prove the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Manchin's child tax credit stance draws criticism back home
Sen. Joe Manchin’s reluctance to endorse the Biden administration’s expanded child tax credit program is rippling through his home state of West Virginia.
apnews.com
Biden says US must not give hate and racism ‘safe harbor’ in address to HBCU graduates
President Biden on Friday struck an angry and passionate tone when he discussed hate and racism in America, calling on graduates from South Carolina State University to meet the moment and lea…
thehill.com78 members of Congress have violated a law designed to prevent insider trading and stop conflicts-of-interest
Insider has identified numerous members of Congress who have violated the STOCK Act. Congress is now considering banning lawmakers from trading stocks.
Trump says American Jews 'either don't like Israel or don't care about Israel' in new interview
"Evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country," said Donald Trump, who argued President Biden undercut Israel's sway over Congress.
Settlers attack Palestinian villages after West Bank killing
Attacks by Jewish settlers come a day after Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli man in the occupied West Bank.
Biden farm debt relief plan to exclude thousands of minority farmers, data shows
The latest version of the Biden administration’s plan to forgive billions of dollars in farm debt - initially targeted at farmers of color - will exclude thousands of its originally intended recipients because of a change in loan eligibility, according to government data reviewed by Reuters...
"Shopping cart killer" responsible for 4 Virginia slayings — and "other victims" are likely, police say
Police did not say whether the victims were sexually assaulted, but said that the suspect did "unspeakable things with his victims."
www.cbsnews.comEPA releases $1B to clean up toxic waste sites in 24 states
Nearly 50 toxic waste sites around the U.S. will be cleaned up, and ongoing work at dozens of others will get a funding boost, as federal environmental officials announced Friday a $1 billion infusion to the Superfund program. The money comes from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that...
Republicans resist saying 3 simple words: 'Joe Biden won'
Eleven months after the Democrat’s inauguration, Republican lawmakers and candidates across the country are squirming and stumbling rather than acknowledging the fact of Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. In debates and interviews, they offer circular statements or vague...
U.S. blacklists 34 Chinese entities, citing human rights abuses and 'brain-control weaponry'
The U.S. imposed trade restrictions on more than 30 Chinese entities for human rights violations and the alleged development of "brain-control weaponry."
Legal organization files ethics complaint on Trump lawyer Eastman
A legal organization filed an ethics complaint on Thursday seeking to have a lawyer, John Eastman, investigated for advising former President Trump in efforts to overturn the 2020 election res…
thehill.com
Iran nuclear talks to resume ‘soon’ after modest gains in Vienna
Negotiators trying to agree on a joint text that would act as the basis for a potential agreement.
NYC noncitizen voting legislation: Democrats largely ignore measure
New York Democrats have largely ignored the New York City council's recent approval of legislation that would give an estimated 800,000 citizens the right to vote in local elections.
White House says Putin hasn’t made up mind on invading Ukraine
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday that U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Russian President Vladimir Putin still hasn’t made up his mind on whether to invade Ukrai…
thehill.com
Tik Tok removes 'alarmist warnings' after U.S. schools boost security
Social media company Tik Tok said on Friday it was unable to find evidence of actual threats to schools on its platform that caused U.S. administrators and law enforcement authorities to heighten security, warn parents and cancel some classes.
GOP blows off Trump’s bid to oust McConnell
Just two Senate candidates — and no senators — have publicly called for replacing the Republican leader.
UN rights council orders probe into abuses in Ethiopia’s conflict
Ethiopian government says ‘extremely disappointed’, pledges not to cooperate in international investigation.
Poll: Just 1 in 4 Americans want Biden or Trump to run again in 2024
Eager for a change after years of conflict and upheaval, most Americans do not want either Donald Trump or Joe Biden to run for president again in 2024, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. The survey of 1,558 U.S. adults, which was conducted from Dec. 9 to 13, found that just 22...
‘This battle is not over:’ Biden pledges to ‘keep up the fight’ on voting rights as Republicans block legislation | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden on Friday pledged to “keep up the fight” to pass voting rights legislation that remains stalled in Congress due to Republican opposition, as he delivered the commencement address at a historically Black university in South Carolina.
www.cnn.com
Joe Biden collaborates with Jonas Brothers in 'Joe Byron' White House TikTok video
President Joe Biden collaborated with the Jonas Brothers this week and filmed a TikTok video that the brothers and White House both shared on social media.
Ghislaine Maxwell declines to testify as defense rests case
After 12 days of testimony over three weeks, jurors heard from the final witnesses in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial.
apnews.comSenate Confirmed White Nominees More Quickly Than Nominees Of Color This Year
GOP senators have slowed down the confirmation process, and nominees of color have been disproportionately affected.
Trump Admin Sabotaged COVID Efforts to Score Political Points, House Probe Finds
Drew Angerer/GettyA House oversight panel found former President Donald Trump and his administration routinely undermined efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic last year, prolonging a deadly public health disaster in the hopes of winning an election he eventually lost.The conclusion was part...
Kentucky rain turns more tornado survivors out of their homes
Jimmy Galbreath counted his blessings too soon. His home in Mayfield, Kentucky, was battered but not broken last week by a tornado, and the 62-year-old former scrap iron worker planned to keep living there.
Ohio governor mobilizes National Guard to assist health care workers
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) on Friday mobilized more than 1,000 members of the National Guard to assist healthcare workers as COVID-19 cases surge in the state.The majority of the Nati…
thehill.com'We can't give it any oxygen': Biden calls on HBCU graduates to confront hate
In a speech that highlighted the importance of HBCUs amid ongoing attacks on voting rights, civil rights and democracy itself, the president on Friday delivered the keynote address at South Carolina State University’s fall commencement ceremony.
Starbucks waged ‘shock and awe’ campaign on workers, union claims
The union says the US coffee giant is pulling out all the stops to intimate workers with anti-union propaganda.
U.S. Congressman cites football coach deals in questions to schools about tax-exempt status
U.S. Congressman sends letters to presidents of LSU, Southern California demanding answers in wake of mega-contracts with Brian Kelly, Lincoln Riley.
www.usatoday.com
‘A 50-50 Senate sucks’: Dejected Democrats fret over agenda failure amid grim 2022 outlook | CNN Politics
Anger is growing in Democratic ranks over the failure to get President Joe Biden’s sweeping agenda through this year despite unified control of Congress, with their party already bracing for what could be a brutal Election Day in next November’s midterms.
www.cnn.com
Vulnerable House Dems to DCCC: You're jeopardizing our reelection
Multiple at-risk Democrats tell POLITICO that the campaign committee has adopted a midterms strategy that is hurting, not helping, their reelections.
www.politico.com
Postal Service reaches settlement with NAACP over delivery of mail-in ballots
Derrick Johnson, the head of the NAACP, called the agreement an “unprecedented victory for civil rights."
www.nbcnews.com
ACLU livid at Biden as DOJ walks away from payments to migrant families
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused President Biden of "defending the family separation practice" after the Department of Justice walked away from talks to financially compensate migrant families separated at the southern border.
‘Screw you, senators’: Grassley says Garland ignoring order to declassify Trump-Russia documents - Washington Examiner
A top Senate Republican said the Biden Justice Department still hasn’t handed over to Congress any declassified records from the flawed Trump-Russia investigation despite the last-minute declassification push by former President Donald Trump. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking member on the Senate...
www.washingtonexaminer.comRNC Is Said to Agree to Pay Up to $1.6 Million of Trump's Personal Legal Bills
The Republican National Committee has agreed to cover up to $1.6 million of Donald Trump’s personal legal bills, according to a person familiar with the matter, in an unusual arrangement under which the party is paying to defend the former president from ongoing investigations that focus on his...
Ghislaine Maxwell defence rests as she calls case 'unproven'
The defence struggled to produce witnesses on Friday and only nine out of a proposed 35 testified.
www.bbc.com
Closing arguments in Ghislaine Maxwell to start Monday
Jeffrey Epstein's confidante did not take the stand and her defense rested after just two days of testimony.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden commits multiple gaffes in commencement speech, calls VP 'President Harris'
President Biden appeared at the South Carolina State University commencement ceremony Friday to speak to students of the historically Black university, where he committed several verbal gaffes.
Opinion | Why Electric Mail Trucks Are the Way of the Future
Getting greener mail trucks would help combat climate change — and all of the Postal Service’s competitors are doing it.
www.politico.com
Prominent Emirati businessman Majid Al Futtaim dies
Dubai ruler hails Majid Al Futtaim as one of the sheikhdom’s ‘most important merchants’.
The man behind Bidenomics
On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks to the president’s longtime economic adviser about what the administration is doing to fight inflation.
www.politico.com
‘Still a lot of pain’: Dictatorship victims haunt Chile election
Relatives of Pinochet victims raise alarm as dictatorship emerges as key issue in lead-up to Sunday presidential runoff.
Crews say they believe they found 1887 time capsule in Lee statue pedestal
Crews working to remove the pedestal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Va., say they found a time capsule from 1887 buried inside it.As they worked with heav…
thehill.com
McKinsey worked with "Chinese government" despite assurances to Rubio
McKinsey has come under scrutiny over its work for the Pentagon and for Chinese state-owned companies that have supported China's military buildup.
www.nbcnews.comRoger Stone takes 5th, refuses to answer questions from House committee investigating Jan. 6
Roger Stone, a longtime Republican political operative and confidant of Donald Trump, refused to answer questions from Jan. 6 committee.
Police apprehend possible serial killer in Virginia - Washington Examiner
A possible serial killer has been apprehended in Fairfax County, Virginia, after allegedly killing four victims and transporting their bodies in a shopping cart, police said Friday. The suspect, Anthony Robinson, 35, of Washington, D.C., has been charged with at least two murders so far, Fairfax...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
In SC, Biden pledges fight for voting rights, police reform
President Joe Biden has pledged to fight for stalled voting rights and police reform legislation. That's despite not having the votes in the Senate to move either measure closer to becoming law.
apnews.com
Florida man who threw plank, extinguisher at police gets longest Capitol riot sentence
A federal judge sentenced a U.S. Capitol rioter to more than five years in prison on Friday on charges that he threw a wooden plank and a fire extinguisher at police during the Jan. 6 attack on the seat of government.
Biden acknowledges $2T bill stalled, but vows it will pass
President Joe Biden has all but acknowledged negotiations over his sweeping domestic policy package will have to be pushed into the new year.
apnews.com
Trump uses anti-Semitic tropes to again criticize Jewish Americans | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump, in a newly released interview, claimed that Jewish Americans "either don't like Israel or don't care about Israel," while also suggesting that evangelical Christians "love Israel more than the Jews in this country."
Emory University tells fraternity it can't hang Christmas wreath on door: report
Students at Emory University have been told that their Christmas decorations are a violation of school policy.
Democrats hope to make progress on Build Back Better in new year as action stalls for now | CNN Politics
With a number of sticking points still unresolved, Democrats are hoping for a breakthrough that will allow them to pass President Joe Biden’s sweeping social safety net expansion in the new year.
www.cnn.com
Biden pledges fight for voting rights, honors Clyburn in South Carolina
The president addressed December graduates of Clyburn's alma mater — and handed a diploma to the congressman himself.
www.nbcnews.com
Theranos trial: Elizabeth Holmes’s fate will soon rest with jury
Holmes is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in US prison if found guilty.
Sadness, anger for Amazon workers who died during tornado
Families and friends of six workers who died after a tornado tore into an Amazon warehouse expressed sadness and anger as they said final farewells to the victims in a series of vigils Friday.
Agriculture Department to invest $1.5B in school meals as supply chain issues persist
States will receive a majority of the aid as cash payments to purchase domestic, minimally processed foods, said Stacy Dean, USDA's deputy undersecretary.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden nominee dodges Sen. Kennedy 9 times when asked if social justice-inspired crimes should be forgiven
Sen. John Kennedy asked a Biden judicial nominee whether crimes should be forgiven if they are committed in the name of social justice and did not receive a yes or no answer despite asking nine times.
Surviving sister of Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe 'thrilled' by his long-awaited Medal of Honor award
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe's sister remembers the feeling of learning her brother would finally be receiving the Medal of Honor, which she described as like winning the lottery.
A green Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s grid has a unique set of challenges, including a history of management issues.
www.politico.com
Pollster Robert Cahaly on accuracy in political polling - "The Takeout" podcast
On "The Takeout" podcast this week, Cahaly discusses his polling methods with Major Garrett and what was behind his polls' accurate predictions in 2016 and 2021.
www.cbsnews.comAdams vows to bring back solitary confinement
www.politico.com
Outcome reached in Kim Potter trial over Daunte Wright's death
Kim Potter is charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter.
Holmes didn't 'flee a sinking ship,' defense says in closing arguments
Jury deliberations resume Monday in the fraud trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.
www.nbcnews.com
Dems trudge toward 2022 with Biden’s megabill reeling
Senate Democrats are preparing to flee D.C. for the holiday break with their party's agenda concretely in limbo.
www.politico.com
Fox Business Poll: Higher crime rates across the US a large concern for voters
A Fox Business survey finds an overwhelming majority are concerned about crime nationally.
21 Stories That Explain an Insane Year in American Politics
In a recovery year that wasn’t, Politico Magazine’s editors pick the sharpest, most engaging stories we published on the issues America is still wrestling with.
www.politico.com
Inside the battle to regulate one of the country’s deadliest consumer products
Portable generators, which emit carbon monoxide, are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself.
www.nbcnews.com
Doctor brings climate change into the exam room, sparking worldwide debate
Doctors say they’re seeing the human impact of extreme weather coming through the doors of emergency rooms in the U.S. and Canada.
www.nbcnews.com
Bill Clinton hosts MasterClass in leadership based on decades in public service | CNN Politics
Former President Bill Clinton is teaching a MasterClass on “inclusive leadership,” drawing on his long career in politics and eight years in the White House to teach participants how to negotiate, mediate and work with people they don’t agree with.
www.cnn.com
Kim Potter on Daunte Wright death: 'I'm sorry it happened'
The suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright said she's sorry it happened.
apnews.com
Uncertainty follows court's rejection of Purdue opioids deal
A federal judge’s decision to reject a multibillion dollar opioid settlement involving OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is being hailed as a step toward justice by advocates who have long called for greater accountability for the family that owns the company.
apnews.com
Jailed American in Venezuela tells family he's in 'complete shock' after visit from Biden official
“My dad’s spirits were lifted a little bit by the visit, which is great because he had been quite down for a while,” said Carlos Añez, the son of one of the jailed Americans, Jorge Toledo.
www.nbcnews.com
Ex-Olympian accused of illegally securing millions in Covid aid, investing it in Ted Bundy movie
Allison Baver, a former speedskater, allegedly said her entertainment company had $4 million in monthly payroll when it actually had none, court document says.
www.nbcnews.com
A Colorado truck driver was sentenced to 110 years for a deadly crash. Over 3 million people have signed a petition asking for clemency.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was sentenced earlier this week to 110 years in prison for a 2019 crash that left four people dead and several others injured.
www.cbsnews.com
Tornado victims include 7 members of Kentucky family
A week after a deadly tornado outbreak, families of the victims are still processing the terrible toll.
apnews.com
Kamala Harris lets Charlamagne tha God know who the real President is
Vice President Kamala Harris forcefully defended President Joe Biden when recently asked whether he or Sen. Joe Manchin is the president of the United States, as Biden's agenda remains stalled in part because of the West Virginia Democrat.
www.cnn.com
House subpoenas Meadows contact who pushed false fraud claim
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection is subpoenaing James P. “Phil” Waldron, a onetime contact of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows who pushed false claims about fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
apnews.com
Migrant border crossings increased in November after three-month downward trend
Officials along the U.S.-Mexico border stopped unauthorized migrants over 173,000 times.
www.cbsnews.com
White House considered teachers unions' labor disputes before releasing reopening guidance, emails show
The White House considered teachers unions' ongoing labor disputes before releasing school reopening guidance earlier this year.
93 dead across 5 states: The deadly tornado outbreak by the numbers
Here's a closer look at the tornadoes by the numbers.
Anti-5G necklaces found to be radioactive
Conspiracy theories about 5G have fuelled a market for "anti-5G" accessories.
www.bbc.com
Russia continues to amass new troops near Ukraine's border despite Biden urging Putin to de-escalate tensions
Russia has continued to amass new troops near Ukraine's border in recent days, despite President Joe Biden urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate tensions during a virtual meeting last week.
www.cnn.com
McDonald's to pay Black store owner $33.5M to end bias suit
McDonald’s will pay $33.5 million to a former baseball player who owns multiple franchises to end a lawsuit he brought against the company accusing it of racial discrimination
Kim Potter: 'Taser mix-up' ex-officer weeps in manslaughter testimony
Kim Potter testified at her manslaughter trial about the "chaotic" fatal shooting of Daunte Wright.
www.bbc.com
Lawyers give closing arguments in Elizabeth Holmes trial, say she chose 'fraud over business failure'
Elizabeth Holmes "chose fraud over business failure," one attorney said in closing arguments of her trial.
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly tests positive for COVID-19 after appearing at Senate committee hearing
As of Monday, more than 4,000 incidents of unruly passenger behavior related to masks have been reported to the Transportation Security Administration.
www.cbsnews.com
'Squad' member Rep. Pressley claims student debt is 'violence'
Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley claimed student debt is "policy violence" and urged President Biden to cancel Americans' loans.
GirlsDoPorn victims win rights to their videos
More than 400 people can now demand the illegally obtained films be removed from websites.
www.bbc.com
Man who admitted he assaulted officers with a fire extinguisher on January 6 is sentenced to 63 months
Robert Scott Palmer has received the harshest sentence in the Capitol attack investigation so far.
www.cbsnews.com
Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron
Preliminary estimates by researchers suggest the top-up shot should help keep many people out of hospital.
www.bbc.com
New CDC reports find "test to stay" policies can help children stay in school, but barriers exist
Allowing unvaccinated children to remain in school if they test negative for COVID may not be a viable option for every school, the CDC also said.
www.cbsnews.com
Sir Rod Stewart pleads guilty to battery over Florida hotel 'punch'
The singer and his son clashed with a Florida hotel guard who refused them entry to a party.
www.bbc.com
San Francisco mayor declares state of emergency to combat overdose deaths, crime
The emergency declaration will allow the city to cut through red tape that delays the public response to deteriorating conditions in the Tenderloin, officials said.
www.nbcnews.com
Ethiopian civil war divides diaspora in the US
The conflict has deeply divided the Ethiopian community in Washington DC - the largest in the US.
www.bbc.com
Crews may have found 1887 time capsule in Lee statue base
Crews working to remove the pedestal where a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E
Afghanistan to Wisconsin: Refugees dream of home
Some of the 13,000 Afghan refugees living at a US military base in Wisconsin reflect on new lives.
www.bbc.com
A rush to mine lithium in Nevada is pitting climate advocates and environmental groups against each other | CNN Politics
In an ancient and now extinct supervolcano sitting in northern Nevada lies a treasure that its seekers call “white gold.”
www.cnn.comPutin gives Pope birthday call, praises his global role
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Pope Francis to congratulate him on his 85th birthday, praising the pontiff’s efforts to strengthen ties between the Vatican and Russia
Pressure builds on Biden ahead of student loan cliff
President Biden is facing an avalanche of pressure over his administration’s plans to require millions of Americans to resume student loan payments in the coming weeks. In recent days, the Whi…
thehill.com
Surging COVID-19 cases bring a 2020 feel to the end of 2021
U.S. officials intensified calls for unvaccinated Americans to get inoculated in the face of the new omicron variant that contributed to a record number of infections in New York and threatened to wipe out a second holiday season in Europe.
apnews.com
UK study finds ‘no evidence’ of omicron having lower severity than delta - Washington Examiner
The omicron variant of COVID-19 shows no signs of being less severe than the delta variant, according to a new study in the United Kingdom.Researchers with Imperial College London, who analyzed PCR test-confirmed COVID-19 cases in England between Nov. 29 and Dec. 11, said their endeavor found...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
COVID cases in New York state triple, hit new record on Friday
New York state is seeing a surge in new coronavirus infections and officials are implementing restrictions to curb the spread.
Trump White House made 'deliberate efforts' to undermine Covid response, report says
The White House repeatedly overruled public health and testing guidance from the nation’s top infectious disease experts and silenced officials, the report found.
www.nbcnews.com
Pfizer tests extra COVID shot for kids under 5 in setback
Pfizer is testing an extra dose of its COVID-19 vaccine for babies and preschoolers after preliminary research hinted the usual two doses wouldn't be enough.
apnews.com
Analysis: Vaccine mandate divisions aren’t just partisan | CNN Politics
With age comes more support for vaccine mandates, polling shows.
www.cnn.com
Rockettes end season as New York tallies record COVID cases
New York state is reporting its highest single-day total for new COVID-19 cases, with just over 21,000 people testing positive for the virus.
apnews.com
Canada to re-tighten border measures as it braces for Omicron
'We've come this far, now is not the time to give up,' Canada's health minister said Friday.
www.politico.com
Radio City Music Spectacular shuts down amid COVID-19 spike in NYC
“The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” has canceled all of its upcoming performances due to coronavirus cases among the show’s crew.“We regret that we are u…
thehill.com
Supply shortage of new antiviral drug threatens fight against omicron
A new pill from Pfizer to treat COVID-19 has been hailed as a game-changer that can drastically cut down the number of hospitalizations and deaths from the disease. But demand for the treatmen…
thehill.com
Covid testing demand spikes ahead of holidays, with long lines at sites
As case numbers rise and worries about the omicron variant take hold, both at-home and PCR tests may be harder to come by.
www.nbcnews.comFormer Biden COVID-19 adviser warns of ‘viral blizzard’ hitting US - Washington Examiner
A "viral blizzard" threatens to strike the United States, according to a former COVID-19 adviser to President Joe Biden, and it, unfortunately, has nothing to do with snow.Michael Osterholm said on Thursday the omicron variant of COVID-19 will cause a serious strain on the healthcare system, as...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Appeals court lets Biden administration enforce vaccine rules for large employers
The Biden administration scored a significant victory Friday in its court battles to enforce various federal Covid-19 vaccine mandates, with an appeals court ruling that the government can enforce its vaccine-or-testing rule for companies with more than 100 employees.
www.cnn.com
DC reports second consecutive day of record-breaking coronavirus cases
Washington, D.C., on Friday announced its highest number of COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day, reporting 844 cases from the previous day.That exceeds the number of cases that …
thehill.com
Southwest CEO tests positive for COVID-19 after Senate hearing - airline
Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly tested positive for COVID-19 after appearing at a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, the airline confirmed on Friday.
Trump sought to ‘undermine’ COVID-19 response, says panel
The Trump administration deliberately undermined the nation’s coronavirus response for political purposes, including by weakening testing guidance and championing widespread “herd immun…
thehill.com
NFL reschedules 3 games as new wave of Covid sidelines dozens of players
More than 150 players have tested positive, a league reporter said. The NFL blames omicron.
www.nbcnews.com
Pfizer and BioNTech ask FDA to approve their Covid-19 vaccine for kids as young as 12
The companies submitted Phase III clinical trial data to FDA as a supplemental application for their vaccine, which is already approved for adults and children as young as 16.
www.politico.com
Maryland school district temporarily going back to virtual learning amid COVID-19 surge
A Maryland school district announced on Friday that its school system will temporarily be returning to virtual learning amid a surge of COVID-19 cases.
thehill.com
Analysis: Omicron battle brings delicate questions for a weary nation
The ravenously infectious variant expected to become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in the US within weeks threatens to deal another blow to the morale and resolve of a nation already reeling under an assault by its viral Delta cousin.
www.cnn.comOmicron Threatens Red America
Tucker Carlson could do it. So could Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin or Donald Trump himself. One of these conservative figures could go on the air and explain that the omicron variant has placed much of their audience in grave danger. They could remind people that they have been skeptical of...
A poorly matched flu shot could mean a bad flu season on top of a Covid surge
Research suggests that this year's flu shot is not a good match for the main strain of influenza in circulation right now.
www.nbcnews.com
Michigan schools with mask mandates have 'similar' COVID case rates as schools with no mandate
Data released by the state of Michigan this week showed that coronavirus transmission rates among school-age children have reached comparable levels regardless of community mask mandates.
Hewitt pushes back on Ohio GOP Senate candidate’s election fraud claims
Conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt pushed back on Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel’s (R) claims of election fraud during an interview Friday.Mandel claimed on the “The Hugh Hewitt Show” …
thehill.com
Covid-19: Omicron spreading at lightning speed - French PM
Restrictions are tightening across Europe as countries battle a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
www.bbc.com
NHL cancels games for 2 teams for a week amid COVID-19 surge
The decision was made “due to concern with the number of positive cases within the last two days as well as concern for continued COVID spread in the coming days,” the league said in a statement.…
thehill.com
Military begins discharging troops who refuse COVID-19 vaccine
As many as 20,000 unvaccinated forces risk being removed from service for refusing the vaccine.
www.cbsnews.com
Cornell University students say COVID outbreak response not fast enough
Cornell University students say COVID outbreak response not fast enough.
Boeing halts vaccine mandates for US workers
Boeing announced Friday that it will suspend the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. employees.The aircraft manufacturer said in an internal memo that it made the decision after …
thehill.comPOLITICO Playbook PM: Bracing for a ‘viral blizzard’
And Roger Stone pleads the Fifth with the Jan. 6 committee.
www.politico.com
CDC endorses schools' coronavirus 'test-to-stay' policies
U.S. health officials are endorsing “test-to-stay” policies that allow close contacts of students infected with the coronavirus to remain in classrooms if they test negative.
apnews.com
Far-right using COVID-19 theories to grow reach, study shows
New research indicates far-right extremists and white supremacists are gaining followers and influence by co-opting conspiracy theories about COVID-19.
apnews.com
Across services, troops face discipline for refusing vaccine
U.S. officials say all of the military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine, with as many as 20,000 unvaccinated forces at risk of being removed from service.
apnews.comMissouri treasurer cracks down on schools with mask mandates
Missouri's treasurer no longer will help schools refinance bond debt unless they promise not to require face masks
