
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are struggling to pick up the pieces after Sen. Joe Manchin effectively crushed President Joe Biden’s big domestic policy bill. But they face serious questions whether the $2 trillion initiative can be refashioned to win his crucial vote or the party will be saddled with a devastating defeat.

Pentagon issues rules aimed at stopping rise of extremism
Warning that extremism in the ranks is increasing, Pentagon officials are issuing detailed new rules prohibiting service members from actively engaging in extremist activities.


Biden and Manchin speak after heated clash over Build Back Better Act
The call took place just hours after Manchin dealt a devastating blow to the Build Back Better Act, two sources said.


Jan. 6 committee seeks first interview with House lawmaker
The House committee wants to question GOP Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.


Rep. Scott Perry denies Jan. 6 panel's request for interview
Republican congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania has rebuffed a request for him to sit down for an interview and turn over documents to the committee investigating the Jan. 6 U.S.


What the collapse of Build Back Better would mean for climate change
Manchin said he won't vote for Biden's social safety net and climate bill. If it fails, there is no clear path for the U.S. to meet its climate goals.


Biden’s relationship with ‘Joe-Joe’ Manchin hits the rocks
The relationship between President Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) didn’t just hit the rocks on Sunday. It hit the kind of iceberg that sunk the Titanic.On Monday, even as White House official…


Reeling liberals ready to ditch Manchin as rest of Dems hope for a deal
The left's House leader is prepared to cut the centrist out of social safety net talks. Others in the party are prepared for concessions.


Man who joined Capitol melee gets nearly 4 years in prison
A man who joined a mob in one of the most violent attacks on police during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Monday to nearly four years in prison


Alex Jones of Infowars to invoke right not to testify to U.S. Capitol riot panel
Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and founder of the right-wing website Infowars, said on Monday said he will invoke his right under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and decline to testify before the congressional panel probing the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.


Manchin privately raised concerns that parents would use child tax credit checks on drugs
The expanded child tax credit is a key part of the Build Back Better legislation, which Manchin said Sunday he opposes.


U.S. to use border wall funds to close gaps and clean up Trump-era construction sites
The Biden administration will also use the money to complete roads used by Border Patrol and install drainage designed to prevent flooding.


South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announces legislation blocking critical race theory
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem released legislation aimed at banning the teaching of critical race theory in her state's schools.

Manchin blames White House staff for breakdown in Biden bill talks
U.S. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said on Monday that White House staff did "inexcusable" things that led to his decision to publicly reject President Joe Biden's social and climate policy plan, a move that imperils the legislation.


Trump sues N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James over investigations into his business
James' office said it wanted to depose Trump next month as part of its civil tax fraud probe.


Ghislaine Maxwell jury begins deliberations after closings
The sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is speeding to a conclusion. The jury began deliberations late Monday in Manhattan federal court.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Uses Racial Slur To Tout Diversity Of GOP
The Georgia Republican used the term "yellow people" while refuting accusations her party is racist.

Pelosi announces plans for ‘solemn observance’ on one-year anniversary of Jan. 6 Capitol riot - Washington Examiner
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed plans for events to mark the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. A letter to Democratic colleagues, which was shared with the media on Monday, asked members to report whether they will be in Washington on Jan. 6, as the House will not be in...


White House incivility is what ‘lost’ Joe Manchin
How could the White House not know that getting uncivil with Manchin would be so destructive?


Biden's Build Back Better plan is on ice. Here's what that means for you
No more monthly payments for tens of millions of families. No universal pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds. No health insurance for more than 2 million low-income Americans. No funneling of billions of dollars into clean energy initiatives.


K Street in a holding pattern after Manchin throttles reconciliation bill
In conversations today several lobbyists noted that though the manner of Manchin’s announcement was unexpected, the substance of his comments should not have been surprising to anyone who’s been listening to the senator over the past few months.


Progressive leader calls on Biden to unilaterally act on agenda
Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) on Monday called on President Biden to use executive action to unilaterally enact pieces of Democrats’ Build Back Better agenda, just one day afte…

Biden and Manchin spoke on Sunday night, signaling that BBB might not be dead after all: report
Citing three people familiar with the call, Politico reported that the two spoke on Sunday night after Manchin tanked Biden's landmark legislation.

Alex Jones sues Jan. 6 committee in bid to evade deposition
The committee is scheduled to question the Infowars host on Jan. 10.


These are the four accusers who have testified at Ghislaine Maxwell's trial
Jury deliberations have begun in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the confidante of Jeffrey Epstein.


Kamala Harris on Joe Manchin and Build Back Better: "Let's get the job done"
The vice president told CBS News' Margaret Brennan she doesn't feel betrayed by Manchin's "no" on Biden's social spending plan.

Biden administration to fill in wall gaps and clean up border in three states - Washington Examiner
AUSTIN, Texas — The Biden administration has given border officials the green light to fill in some of the gaps in unfinished Trump-era wall projects, as well as resolving environmental issues and cleaning up remaining construction sites nearly a year after activity was halted.Secretary of...


Manchin hits back at White House pressure on Biden plan
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) hit back at White House staff Monday and warned that Democrats had miscalculated by thinking that they could pressure him into backing President Biden’s spending pl…


Schumer, countering Manchin, vows Senate vote on Biden's social spending package
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, countering Joe Manchin's opposition, vowed a Senate vote on Biden's social spending package to make sure senators are on the record.

Biden disapproval reaches new peaks: Poll - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden's disapproval rating has hit a new high, according to an NPR/PBS News Hour/Marist poll published Monday. Some 55% of respondents said they disapproved of Biden's performance in office, while 41% said they approved. Only 11% of Democrats disapproved of Biden's performance...


Supreme Court receives appeals asking Kavanaugh to block large employer vaccine mandate | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court Monday said it has received several appeals asking Justice Brett Kavanaugh to consider the Biden administration’s requirement that large employers mandate their employees obtain a Covid-19 vaccine or submit to weekly testing.


Harris says ‘stakes are too high’ for Build Back Better to be about Manchin
Vice President Harris on Monday said the stakes are too high for the Build Back Better agenda to just be about Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who announced his opposition to the measure on Sunday.“I t…


Wall Street joins global slump for stocks on omicron jitters
Wall Street joined a worldwide slump for financial markets on Monday amid worries about how badly the omicron variant, inflation and other forces will hit the economy

White House on Biden and Manchin: ‘The door remains open’
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday deflected away from hammering Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) after her fiery statement condemning the West Virginia Democrat following his announcement th…

Georgia governor's race tests power of Trump's false stolen-election claim
Since announcing his candidacy for the Georgia governorship earlier this month, Republican David Perdue has wasted no time in releasing ads that revive former President Donald Trump's false voter fraud claims and filing a lawsuit seeking to inspect absentee ballots from the 2020 presidential...

Biden spoke to Manchin hours after Build Back Better opposition
NBC News’ Monica Alba reports that President Joe Biden spoke to Sen. Joe Manchin hours after the senators public opposition to the Build Back Better plan. The White House said they will work to pass the spending bill despite Manchin’s opposition.

New York attorney general vows Trump investigation will proceed ‘undeterred’
Former president sues Letitia James on grounds of political bias in effort to halt inquiry into his business affairsTrump unnerved as Capitol attack investigation closes in Trump in New York in September for a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Photograph: Mario...

Powerful House Democratic appropriator not seeking reelection
Longtime Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), the powerful chairwoman of an Appropriations subcommittee overseeing immigration issues, will not seek reelection in 2022.“Serving my Constituents in…


Durham tells court members of Clinton 2016 campaign under scrutiny - Washington Examiner
Special counsel John Durham told a federal court that he is scrutinizing members of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign as part of his criminal inquiry into the origins and conduct of the Trump-Russia investigation. Durham’s team asked a judge to “inquire into...

Biden to add 20,000 guest-worker visas amid labor shortages
The Biden administration will add 20,000 new slots to a seasonal, guest-worker program for the winter season, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.Why it matters: The U.S. labor force has struggled against the backdrop of rising demand, mental and physical health issues, and low...

BBB is dead, universal pre-K might not be
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” the West Virginia Democrat said in an interview with Brett Baier on “Fox News Sunday.” “I can’t get there.”


Biden White House welcomes new German shepherd puppy
Three-month-old Commander, a birthday gift to the president, arrived Monday.


Manchin says he still sees himself as a Democrat even after thwarting Build Back Better plan | CNN Politics
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday that he still considers himself a Democrat even after he defied his party by torpedoing a key piece of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.


Jan. 6 committee seeks ‘voluntary cooperation’ from Republican congressman - Washington Examiner
The House committee investigating the Capitol riot is setting its sights on Rep. Scott Perry, requesting the Republican congressman provide information related to the events of Jan. 6. Perry had "an important role" in then-President Donald Trump's deliberations about making former Justice...


Church agency: Captive missionaries made daring escape
Captive missionaries in Haiti found freedom last week by making a daring overnight escape, eluding their kidnappers and walking for miles over difficult, moonlit terrain with an infant and other children in tow, according to the agency they work for.


House Dem blames Biden WH for not holding anyone 'accountable' for multiple crises: 'Started with Afghanistan'
The lawmaker eviscerated Biden in a statement to reporters over the multiple political pit traps the administration has dug itself into.

Coal miners’ union urges Manchin to reconsider opposition to Biden plan
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), which represents West Virginia coal miners, urged Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Monday to revisit his opposition to President Biden’s Build Back Bet…


POLITICO Playbook PM: Manchin whisperer reveals what really went wrong
And Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) won’t run for reelection.

Manchin considered a flight risk to become an independent
If Sen. Joe Manchin bolts the Democratic Party, he'd be more likely to switch to independent — and caucus with the Democrats — than become a Republican, people close to him tell Axios. Driving the news: Manchin’s surprise body blow to President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda set off new...

Bill O’Reilly says Trump will run again
Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly said Monday that former President Trump will again run for office — advising him to do so in part based on his record of developing the COVID-19 vaccine during hi…


No verdict yet in Kim Potter trial for Daunte Wright's death
The jury has concluded its first day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in the manslaughter trial of the white suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright after she says she mistook her gun for her Taser.


Build Back Better demise 'a crushing blow' to child tax credit payments, advocates say
Manchin said Sunday that he would not vote for President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act, which includes a one-year extension to the benefits.


China: Taiwan a ‘wanderer’ that will come home
A top Chinese diplomat called Taiwan a “wanderer” that will eventually come home to China, to which a Taiwanese governing council responded it “absolutely will not accept a path l…

Reality Smacked Democrats in the Face, So Democrats Are Smacking Joe Manchin
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyThe Democrats’ war on one of its own, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, is a metaphor for the Democrats’ war on reality—a predictable paroxysm of a party that has not yet grappled with its role in America or its path forward.Instead of...

AP Exclusive: Polish opposition duo hacked with NSO spyware
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The aggressive cellphone break-ins of a high-profile lawyer representing top Polish opposition figures came in the final weeks of pivotal 2019 parliamentary elections.


Missing LGBTQ+ persons page raises awareness for unsolved cases
“How many other people are out there like that — unidentified — that could have been trans, but you never know it because they can’t speak for themselves anymore?”


Florida Democratic Rep. Murphy won't seek reelection
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy says she will not seek reelection next year. The Florida Democrat is a leader of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition and member of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.


Oil drops 4% as Omicron spread rattles hope for fuel demand
Both global Brent and West Texas Intermediate benchmarks fell to their lowest levels since early December.
AOC urges Biden to use executive authority on student-loan forgiveness, warns 'time is running out' after Manchin tanked the Build Back Better agenda
Biden's agenda suffered a major blow after Manchin said he will not vote for it. AOC said now is the prime time for Biden to use his executive powers.

Schumer hits Manchin for failing to support Build Back Better, maintains Democrats will 'find a way forward'
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Democratic colleagues Monday that this legislative session has led to moments of "deep discontent and frustration" as the Build Back Better Act hangs in limbo, blaming Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., for not coming "to an agreement" with President Biden...

Manchin pitches health reforms into uncertainty
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s declaration Sunday that he can’t support the current Build Back Better bill set off a firestorm of criticism from fellow lawmakers.


6.2 magnitude quake shakes Northern California | CNN
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California rattled a wide swath of the state shortly after noon local time, according to data from the US Geological Survey.


Chile’s president-elect Boric meets with outgoing leader Pinera
Gabriel Boric’s meeting with Sebastian Pinera comes hours after left-wing candidate secured decisive election victory.

Tigrayan forces announce retreat to Ethiopia’s Tigray region
Forces from northern Tigray region announce withdrawal from neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.
Youngkin makes education secretary his first cabinet pick
Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, who made education a centerpiece of his campaign, announced the state's next education secretary Monday, making it his first Cabinet secretary pick. The Republican picked education data consultant Aimee Rogstad Guidera, saying she would help “recharge a...

Fox Business Poll: 7 in 10 say 2021 was a bad year for the country
With rising prices, escalating crime rates, and nearing year three of a global pandemic, 7 in 10 voters think it was another bad year for the country — and over half feel it was bad for them personally.

Police fatally shoot man stabbing ex-wife’s teenage daughter in front of them - Washington Examiner
Police in North Carolina fatally shot a man Saturday who allegedly stabbed his ex-wife's teenage daughter in front of them. When law enforcement arrived at the Charlotte home, they encountered the suspect holding the 13-year-old girl at knifepoint around 7 p.m., authorities said. The victim's...


Thune, Johnson say decisions on reelection bids expected soon
Republican Sens. Ron Johnson (Wis.) and John Thune (S.D.) both say they plan to announce their decisions on whether they will seek reelection soon. “I’ll be making that decision here. I’…


Iran tensions rise; New Year’s seen as potential flashpoint
The growing tension has sparked debate in the Biden administration about how to respond to attacks by Iran and its proxies, current and former U.S. officials said.


Biden national security adviser to travel to Israel, West Bank
National security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel and the West Bank this week, the White House announced on Monday, part of efforts by the U.S. to consult closely with Israel about nucl…


Several Democrats call on FAA, CDC to mandate vaccines, negative tests for air travel
Four Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged federal agencies to require airline passengers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to board domestic flights.In a letter to Centers fo…


Elon Musk says he'll be paying $11bn in tax this year
The Tesla founder and world's richest person has been involved in a public spat over his tax bill.


Biden administration reverses Trump-era rollback of fuel efficiency standards
The new mileage rules are the most ambitious tailpipe pollution standards ever set for passenger cars and light trucks.


Bitcoin has its own 1% who control outsized share of wealth
"Significant skewness in ownership" of bitcoin suggests future wealth will fall "disproportionately to a small set of participants," researchers said.


NASCAR driver Brandon Brown addresses anti-Biden "let's go, Brandon" chants
"I hear them, even if Washington does not," Brown wrote in an op-ed.


Congressman Andy Biggs says Biden admin seeks 'control,' to make unvaccinated into 'an other' in society
Congressman Andy Biggs is accusing the Biden administration of seeking control and using the coronavirus response to ostracize unvaccinated Americans.

3 men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery appear in federal court for pretrial hearing
The federal trial is set to begin Feb. 7, 2022.

988 suicide phone hotline getting $282M to ease July launch
People in crisis and those trying to help them will have a new three-digit phone number, 988, to reach the national suicide prevention network starting in July.


Saudi-led coalition forces target Yemeni airport in air strike
Saudi state media claimed that UN aid workers were warned to leave the airport ahead of the strike.


SEC’s Roisman to step down in January
Securities and Exchange Commissioner Elad Roisman announced Monday he will resign from the stock market regulator at the end of January.Roisman, a Republican who has served on the commission since …


Bidens welcome new puppy and cat; Major to stay with friends
President Joe Biden has introduced a new member of the family. It's a purebred German shepherd puppy named Commander.


U.S. families fear hunger after child-tax credit expires
The phone calls to Yvonka Hall's health nonprofit in northeastern Ohio from families begging for help feeding their children started in March 2020, and slowed down only when an expanded child tax credit came into effect last summer.


Hubble telescope's bigger, more powerful successor to soar
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Hubble Space Telescope’s successor is a time-traveling wonder capable of peering back to within a hair’s breadth of the dawn of the universe.


WATCH: Teenager jumps from McDonald’s drive-thru window to save choking customer - Washington Examiner
A Minnesota teenager working at McDonald's jumped from the drive-thru window when she noticed a customer choking in her car, taking quick action and performing the Heimlich maneuver. Sydney Raley, 15, said she noticed one of her customers "coughing profusely" while pulling up to the drive-thru...


Japanese space tourists safely return to Earth
A Japanese billionaire, his producer and a Russian cosmonaut have safely returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station.


Democrats plot next steps after Manchin knifes Biden's Build Back Better Act
Lawmakers insist they won't give up and say they see hope of salvaging the bill with revisions to win his vote. Manchin's remarks give some clues how.


Outgoing NIH director says Trump and other Republicans pressured him to endorse unproven Covid-19 remedies and to fire Fauci | CNN Politics
The outgoing director of the National Institutes of Health said Sunday that he faced political pressure from then-President Donald Trump and other Republicans to endorse unproven Covid-19 remedies such as hydroxychloroquine and to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of NIH’s National Institute of...


Abrams seeks national voting rights action before 2022 race
Democrat Stacey Abrams is calling on Congress to act on voting rights as she launches a second bid to become Georgia's governor.


Manchin delivers potential fatal blow to Biden's $1.75 trillion spending bill
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is key to President Joe Biden's hopes of passing a $1.75 trillion domestic investment bill, said on Sunday he would not support the package, drawing a sharp rebuke from the White House.

‘Complete carnage’: Hundreds dead in typhoon-hit Philippines
Death toll from Typhoon Rai rises to 375 as emergency workers report ‘complete carnage’ in storm-affected areas.

How 14 policies could survive — or die — after Manchin’s ‘no’
Despite his clear opposition to enacting President Joe Biden’s $1.7T social spending package, the West Virginia senator actually likes a slew of individual policies in the plan, giving Democrats hope for turning some of those ideas into law.


Pelosi eyes vote early next year after Manchin's major blow to Build Back Better
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may have an ambitious New Year's resolution: revive President Biden’s Build Back Better plan that was dealt a major blow on Sunday after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced on "Fox News Sunday" that he is a "no" on the social spending bill.

Biden’s unending dilemma: Dealing with Joe Manchin
President Biden has faced a dilemma through much of this first year of his presidency: He needs Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) vote to do anything in the Senate.That political reality, which spins ou…


Democrats walk on eggshells around Breyer as GOP plans another blockade for any Biden Supreme Court pick | CNN Politics
Senate Republicans are poised to deny President Joe Biden an appointment to the Supreme Court if they take the majority in the 2022 midterm elections.


Kinzinger: Jan. 6 committee may subpoena Trump and members of Congress - Washington Examiner
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republican Jan. 6 committee members, said during an interview on ABC’s This Week that the panel may issue subpoenas for members of Congress and former President Donald Trump. Kinzinger stated that reaching the truth of what happened on Jan. 6 requires the...


Manchin pulls support for Biden's $1.75 trillion social spending plan
"I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just can't. I've tried everything humanly possible," Manchin said.


'Betrayed': House progressives erupt over Manchin Build Back Better opposition
Pramila Jayapal led the progressive charge in denouncing Manchin. He "betrayed his commitment" to Biden, Democrats and the American people, she said.


Republicans sound off on Sen. Manchin's Build Back Better resistance: 'Sane moderate Democrat'
Several prominent Republicans sounded off on the Sunday declaration from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who said there is no way he can support the massive social spending bill known as the Build Back Better Act.

How months of talks between Biden and Manchin over Build Back Better broke down | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden was at home in Delaware Sunday when Sen. Joe Manchin appeared on Fox News to abruptly declare he could not support his sweeping social and climate plan. “I’ve tried everything humanly possible,” the West Virginia Democrat said, appearing remotely. “I can’t get there. This is...


Goldman lowers 2022 growth forecasts after Manchin says no to BBB
Goldman Sachs lowered its GDP forecast for 2022 on Sunday after Sen. Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.) effectively killed President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation.“A failure to pass BBB has negat…


Biden electric vehicle push hits setback in U.S Senate
A bid by the White House to dramatically boost electric vehicle tax credits hit a major roadblock on Sunday when a key Senate Democrat said he would not support a $1.75 trillion domestic investment bill.


Democrats walk on eggshells around Breyer as GOP plans another blockade for any Biden Supreme Court pick | CNN Politics
Senate Republicans are poised to deny President Joe Biden an appointment to the Supreme Court if they take the majority in the 2022 midterm elections.


Dems trip over their own sky-high expectations
Joe Manchin's rejection of the party's social spending bill is just the latest episode in a series of lofty goals it's failed to deliver on.


Amazon silenced criticism of Xi to do business in China: Report
Tech giant scrubbed poor reviews of Xi Jinping’s book following edict from Beijing, news report says.

Analysis: Biden suffers twin blows from Manchin and another Covid winter | CNN Politics
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin dropped the axe on his party’s agenda on Sunday when he said he would not support President Joe Biden’s economic and climate package just as the White House is bracing for another Covid winter that is likely to further sour the nation’s mood heading into a midterm...


Schools need teachers of color. This is how to retain them, educators say.
A high school district in Phoenix boasts a diverse teaching staff. A key to their success? Listening to what teachers of color say they and their students need.


No verdict yet in Kim Potter trial for Daunte Wright's death
The jury has concluded its first day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in the manslaughter trial of the white suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright after she says she mistook her gun for her Taser.


Democrats try to 'build back' after Manchin tanks $2T bill
Democrats are trying to pick up the pieces after West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin effectively crushed President Joe Biden’s big domestic policy bill.


‘Trust was gone’: Former Afghan official recounts his government’s collapse
Hamdullah Mohib described what he perceives to be betrayal.


Dems sour on bid to ditch first-in-the-nation states
Party officials don’t want to project a disunified front with a stormy midterm election season ahead.

Republicans are shamelessly working to subvert democracy. Are Democrats paying attention?
Voting rights activists say the country has not fully awakened to the threat Voting rights activists rallied outside the United Nations during Biden’s global democracy summit in early December. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/AP A dry run. A dress rehearsal. A practice coup. As the first anniversary of...

Tortured to death: Myanmar mass killings revealed
A BBC investigation finds evidence Myanmar's military killed 40 villagers in July, torturing some to death.


Researchers capture footage of rare deep sea fish with translucent head
A 55-second video captured between 2,000 and 2,600 feet beneath the ocean surface contains closeups of the rarely seen barreleye fish’s translucent head and tail and glowing green eyes.


Biden promised competence and order. Chaos and uncertainty are winning.
The president has had successes. But a year in, his time in office has been defined by the disruptions, including on Sunday.


Jury may weigh whether Ghislaine Maxwell avoided knowledge of Epstein's acts, judge says
The jury in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex abuse trial may weigh whether the British socialite "consciously avoided" knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged encounters with teenage girls, the judge in the case said on Saturday.

Germany acknowledges mistakes 5 years after Berlin attack
Five years after a terrorist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Germany’s government had not lived up to its duty to protect its citizens that day

Manchin says he won’t vote for Build Back Better Act | CNN Politics
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he’s a no on the Build Back Better Act, effectively ending negotiations on this version of legislation that would expand the nation’s social safety net.


Peng Shuai tells paper she never wrote of being assaulted
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, despite a November social media post attributed to her that accused a former top Communist Party official of forcing her into sex.


Oxford University blasted for considering hiring based on ‘woke score’ of academics: report
A proposal by the race equality task force at the University of Oxford in England is sparking controversy after claiming it's "important to embed" equality, diversity and inclusion into "all recruitment."

The Congressman Who Doesn’t Use Google
Is it possible to swear off the tech giants and still function in the Capitol? Ken Buck is trying to find out.


Florida was once the perennial swing state. 2022 may prove how red it has become | CNN Politics
Four years ago, Republicans and Democrats in Florida were similarly optimistic about their chances of winning the governor’s mansion and a toss-up race for a US Senate seat during the 2018 midterms. The results of those races – razor-thin victories for Republicans in both contests – devastated...

What to Know About the Civilian Casualty Files
In the years since American boots on the ground gave way to a war of airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, the U.S. military has made a central promise: that precision bombs and drones would kill enemies while minimizing the risks to civilians. Recent investigations by The New York Times...

Defiant in war and isolation, Hamas plays long game in Gaza
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Each month, hundreds of trucks heavy with fuel, cement and other goods cross a plowed no man’s land between Egypt and the Gaza Strip — and Hamas becomes stronger.


Leftist millennial wins election as Chile's next president
A leftist millennial who rose to prominence during anti-government protests has been elected Chile’s next president after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump.


Evergrande: China's efforts to contain its Lehman moment
China is handling the crisis very differently to the way the US dealt with the Lehman collapse.


'Get that money!' Dermatologist says patient care suffered after private equity-backed firm bought practice
A former doctor at a private equity-owned dermatology chain alleges lost biopsies, overbooking and questionable quality control in the company-owned lab.


What's going on with Ghislaine Maxwell's sex abuse trial?
The case for and against Ghislaine Maxwell has been made, and as soon as Monday, her fate will rest squarely in the jury’s hands

Voter turnout plunges in Hong Kong under new election laws
Voter turnout in Hong Kong sank to 30 percent Sunday in the first legislative election since Beijing amended the laws to reduce the number of directly elected lawmakers and vet candidates to ensure that only those loyal to China could run.


Senator Joe Manchin threatens to sink signature Biden bill
Democrat Joe Manchin throws the Build Back Better Act into jeopardy, saying he will not vote for it.


Defectors from North Korea pray for resettlement victims
Eiko Kawasaki was among some 93,000 ethnic Korean residents of Japan who, along with their family members, went to North Korea decades ago under a resettlement program that promised them a “Paradise on Earth” – a place where they could live happily without being discriminated against as Koreans.


Fmr top Afghan adviser did not believe US would exit so quickly, thought 'the last two decades mattered'
Former national security adviser for Afghanistan said he did not realize the U.S. was going to completely withdraw no matter the situation on the ground, while the Taliban was poised to take over.

Pro-Beijing candidates sweep Hong Kong vote as turnout plunges
Voter turnout in Hong Kong sinks to a record low in first poll held under amended electoral laws.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard holds military drill amid tension
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is staging a major military exercise across the country’s south amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program

Former student activist wins Chile’s presidential election
Gabriel Boric, a 35-year-old former student activist, is set to become Chile’s youngest ever president.

Is there a connection between artificial food dye and kids’ behavior?
Parents who remove synthetic colors like Red 40 from their kids’ diets call it transformative, but the FDA has said dyes don't affect most children. California hopes to change that.


Pope Francis condemns domestic abuse as 'almost satanic'
The Pope has often spoken out against domestic violence, but Sunday's remarks are his strongest yet.


23 injured when cable pedestrian bridge collapses in Mexico
Officials in southern Mexico say a pedestrian suspension bridge has collapsed, dumping a group heading to a Christmas party into a ravine and sending 23 people to the hospital

Birth defects in Indonesia’s Lombok linked to gold mining
Experts fear for children’s health amid a gold rush in Indonesia’s Lombok.

Tiger & son's 11 straight birdies fall short of Daly duo
John Daly and his college son won the PNC Championship. Tiger Woods and his 12-year-old son make them work for it.


Schools use therapy-based programs for 'overwhelmed' kids
Schools are turning to educational programs based on cognitive behavior therapy in an effort to help overwhelmed children stay in school and learn.


Seven people including three children were found dead in a Minnesota home | CNN
Police discovered four adults and three children dead in a home in a South Moorhead, Minnesota, home Saturday night.


Japanese space tourists safely return to Earth
A Japanese billionaire, his producer and a Russian cosmonaut have safely returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station


Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of new US COVID cases
Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S.


White House: Biden tests negative after close contact with staffer who contracted Covid
Biden is scheduled to give remarks Tuesday about the administration's plan to fight the pandemic this winter.


Virus fears widen as omicron variant takes hold across US
The nation’s second-largest city has called off its New Year’s Eve celebration, and its smallest state re-imposed an indoor mask mandate.


EXPLAINER: Boosters key to fight omicron, lot still to learn
AP explains how boosters are key to fight omicron variant of the coronavirus, the role of natural immunity, and why omicron spreads so fast


States and businesses ask Supreme Court to block Biden's employer vaccine mandate
The federal mandate is one of three that the Biden administration has tried to impose. The others target health care workers and federal contractors.


Trump met with boos after revealing he received Covid-19 booster | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump was booed by a portion of an audience in Dallas on Sunday when he said he had received a Covid-19 booster shot, according to video of the closed press event that was shared on social media.


White House aide who was in close contact with Biden tests positive for coronavirus
A White House aide spent about 30 minutes in close contact with Biden on Air Force One Friday. The aide tested positive Monday; Biden tested negative.
www.usatoday.com

Moderna: Initial booster data shows good results on omicron
Moderna said Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine should offer protection against the rapidly spreading omicron variant.


Fewer Americans saying coronavirus situation is improving: Gallup
A little less than a third of Americans now say they believe the COVID-19 pandemic is improving, according to a new Gallup poll released on Monday.The survey of 4,034 U.S. adults found that only 31…


NY suburban Dems, Republicans refuse to enforce Gov. Hochul’s mask mandate
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing pushback against her mask mandate from Republican and Democratic county executives who say they will not enforce the order on Long Island, north of the Big Apple and elsewhere in the Empire State.

Psaki doesn't deny White House COVID-19 outbreak
During her daily press briefing Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not deny that there is a COVID-19 outbreak at the White House.

U.S. urges Americans to avoid travel to Spain, Finland over COVID-19 concerns
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department on Monday advised Americans against travel to eight destinations including Spain, Finland, Chad and Lebanon.


Almost 50 Republicans back Navy SEAL lawsuit over vaccine mandate
The group of lawmakers, which includes nine senators and 38 representatives, is led by Sens. Ted Cruz, Jim Inhofe and Roger Marshall.


Where are all the rapid COVID tests? Biden to address shortage in Tuesday speech
President Joe Biden was expected to tackle on Tuesday one of the biggest sources of frustration this holiday season -- the shortage of at-home COVID tests.

Moderna says its booster raised antibody levels against Omicron
A standard 50-microgram boost raised antibody levels about 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels 29 days after the shot was administered.


Maryland Gov. Hogan announces positive Covid test
Sens. Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren have also announced cases in recent days.


Moderna says its COVID booster increases antibody levels against omicron variant
Moderna announced on Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine booster increases antibody levels against the omicron variant within a month of getting the shot.

Trump says he received vaccine booster shot
Former President Donald Trump confirmed he had gotten a booster during a live show with Bill O'Reilly in Dallas on Sunday.


Analysis: The Democratic retirement floodgates just burst open | CNN Politics
Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Monday that she will not seek a fourth term in Congress, the latest in a rapid series of retirements within the Democratic ranks that suggest momentum is moving heavily against the party as it seeks to hold on to its razor-thin majority next November.


WHO urges cancelling some holiday events over Omicron fears
"An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," warns the World Health Organization's head.


Kamala Harris contrasts with Biden, refuses to blame unvaccinated for COVID waves
Vice President Kamala Harris refused to blame the unvaccinated for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a noticeably different stance than has been taken by President Biden.

Omicron already dominant COVID-19 variant in US: CDC
In some parts of the country, it represents over 90% of new cases.

D.C. brings back indoor mask mandate amid surging infections
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's capital is reinstating its indoor mask mandate as the region and country grapple with a fresh surge in COVID-19 infections.


CDC warns travelers away from world’s No. 2 destination | CNN
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added eight destinations to its highest-risk category for travel on Monday, including tourist favorite Spain. Find out the other seven places now on Level 4.


Queen Elizabeth II to skip Christmas trip amid omicron surge
Queen Elizabeth II has decided not to spend Christmas at the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England amid concerns about the fast-spreading omicron variant.


EPL plays on, urging 16% of players unvaccinated get jabbed
Premier League clubs have decided against pausing the season despite 10 fixtures being postponed in the previous week due to widespread coronavirus outbreaks across squads

New U.S. push for vaccines, boosters to stem 'raging' Omicron
U.S. health officials urged Americans on Sunday to get booster shots, wear masks and be careful if they travel over the winter holidays, as the Omicron variant raged across the world and was set to take over as the dominant strain in the United States.

Omicron spreading ‘significantly faster’ than Delta: WHO
WHO chief warns of reinfection from COVID as US officials say Omicron variant now accounts for 73.2 percent of cases.

Moderna says booster produces strong antibody response against omicron variant
The drug company said its currently FDA-approved 50 microgram booster increased neutralizing antibody levels against omicron 37-fold compared to pre-boost levels.


U.S. Senators Warren, Booker test positive for COVID-19
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker said on Sunday they both tested positive for COVID-19 and were experiencing mild symptoms amid a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases.


Covid: Christmas travel will fuel spread of Omicron, US expert warns
The US infectious diseases chief says the Covid-19 variant will spread - even among the vaccinated.


Capitol breakthrough: Three vaccinated Democrats in Congress test positive for COVID-19 - Washington Examiner
A pair of U.S. senators and one House member announced Sunday they tested positive for COVID-19. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, both Democrats, announced their diagnoses on Twitter, followed by Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado. All three said they are fully vaccinated and...


Europe gives US gloomy portrait of what’s to come with omicron
As the omicron variant batters Europe with exponentially skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, public health experts warn that the U.S. could be barreling down the same path and face record waves of infecti…


‘It is embarrassing’: CDC struggles to track Covid cases as Omicron looms
The U.S. was behind other countries in charting the spread of disease in the pandemic’s disastrous early months. It’s still behind as new variants threaten to disrupt the winter.


New Zealand links death to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: ‘it remains safer to be vaccinated’
Health authorities in New Zealand have said they believe a 26-year-old man’s death is connected to a side effect from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.A preliminary postmortem a…


De Blasio says NYC will ramp up testing amid COVID-19 surge and Omicron fears
De Blasio said officials had not made a final decision yet on whether to hold the annual New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, which had required revelers to have a vaccine.


Omicron is more transmissible, but is it really milder?
As cases surge, it would be safer to impose tough restrictions until we understand the behaviour of the new variant.

Outgoing NIH director says 'hundreds of thousands would have died' from COVID if US hadn't listened to him
Outgoing National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins took aim at the makers of the 'The Great Barrington Declaration,' refusing to step down from calling them “'fringe epidemiologists' while arguing 'hundreds of thousands' would have died of COVID-19 if the country followed their...

Analysis: The reality of the pandemic is settling in. So is America’s anxiety | CNN Politics
It’s supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year,” but there’s a lot to make people anxious and afraid as we barrel into the holiday season. News causing anxiety includes spiking Covid-19 cases and a sick joke spread on TikTok about school shootings.


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.


Analsyis: Americans are less willing to take precautions as the coronavirus wears on | CNN Politics
The fight against the coronavirus has entered a new stage… at a time when the public seems to be worn out by the virus and is less likely to want mandatory restrictions or want to take voluntary precautions that could help to stop the spread…


Author of 'Gender Queer,' one of most-banned books in U.S., addresses controversy
“There are people for whom this is vital and for whom this could maybe even be lifesaving,” Maia Kobabe said.


Cory Booker tests positive for COVID
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., announced on Sunday night he has tested positive with a breakthrough case of the coronavirus.

‘Over my dead body’: Palin tells TPUSA conference she won’t get vaccinated - Washington Examiner
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin drove a crowd into a frenzy when she told them she would never get a vaccine. "It'll be over my dead body that I'll have to get a shot," Palin told attendees of Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2021 in Phoenix, AZ. "I will not do that. I won't do it,


Military gives German hospital an edge in fighting COVID
As hospitals across Europe brace themselves for a surge in coronavirus cases because of the new omicron variant, Westerstede Clinical Center is cautiously hopeful it can weather the storm.


Sri Lanka to make COVID vaccine card must to enter public places
Starting January 1, the island nation will require people showing their vaccine certificate for entry to public places.

Focus on COVID-19 treatments, not just vaccinations - Washington Examiner
At this point in our battle against COVID-19, there are two plain truths we must keep at the center of our planning. The first is that the entire healthcare community (science, advocacy, public health, medicine, and bio-pharmaceutical) is exploring and researching effective therapies to manage...


NHL stops cross-border games, shuts down 7th team
The NHL and its players association temporarily clamped down on teams crossing the Canadian border and shut down operations of two more teams.

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