U.S. Ambassador to Japan nominee Rahm Emanuel (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed more than 30 ambassadors and other Biden administration nominees early Saturday after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to schedule a vote on sanctions on the company behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany.
Trump loyalists are knocking on voters’ doors in the latest quest to find fraud in the 2020 election | CNN Politics
These so-called “citizen canvasses” are the latest twist in the effort by Trump’s supporters to advance claims – pushed by the former President himself – that he lost the 2020 election through voter fraud. The door-to-door activity has raised alarms for some state and local election supervisors...
www.cnn.com
‘Stop the Steal’ organizer testified to House panel about contact with GOP reps in lead-up to Jan. 6
An organizer behind the “Stop the Steal” rally testified to the Jan. 6 House select committee about communications he had with Republican representatives leading up to the rally on Jan. 6…
thehill.com
Russia sends nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over Belarus
Russia has sent a pair of nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol the skies over Belarus and to underline close defense ties between the two allies amid tensions with the West
Republicans eye red wave for governor races
After a big win in blue Virginia and near-upset in bluer New Jersey, Republicans are hoping for a red wave in governor's races for 2022 — looking at potential pickups mainly in Midwestern states.
Texas breaks ground on state-backed border wall in Rio Grande City
Gov. Greg Abbott said the state-backed border wall is nearly identical to the 17 miles of border wall built by former President Donald Trump in Texas.
www.usatoday.com
California pot companies warn of impending industry collapse
Leading California cannabis companies are warning Gov. Gavin Newsom that the state’s legal marijuana industry is on the verge of collapse.
apnews.comWill Trump Ruin a Red Wave in 2022?
THE G.O.P. HAS EXPERIENCED HOPEFUL TIMES BEFORE — ONLY TO HAVE THE MOMENT PASS. Former Senator David Perdue knows how to crash a party. When he announced that he would seek the 2022 Republican nomination for governor in Georgia, challenging the incumbent, Brian Kemp, he did more than enter a...
Report: Investigators believe Rick Perry sent text pushing plan to undermine 2020 election
A CNN report says members of Congress investigating the Capitol attack believe Rick Perry advanced a plan to undermine the 2020 election results.
Map by Map, GOP Chips Away at Black Democrats' Power
More than 30 years ago, Robert Reives Sr. marched into a meeting of his county government in Sanford, North Carolina, with a demand: Create a predominantly Black district in the county, which was 23% Black at the time but had no Black representation, or face a lawsuit under the Voting Rights...
Michael Cohen sues Trump for ‘retaliatory confinement’ to prevent book publication - Washington Examiner
Michael Cohen is suing former President Donald Trump and other administration officials for allegedly making a gag order conditional to serving his prison sentence under house arrest as he was writing a tell-all memoir about his time with Trump. Trump’s former personal lawyer and adviser is...
www.washingtonexaminer.comMSN
www.msn.com
Liberals disappointed after Biden’s first year
Progressives are growing restless over the state of Joe Biden’s presidency, with some upset that his first year in office was not as transformative for Democrats as they had hoped.Despera…
thehill.com
White House not budging on Feb. 1 end to student loans forgiveness
At a meeting with Biden officials Wednesday, advocates tried to "sound the alarm to them about what we believe to be a very serious political mistake that they’re about to be making."
www.politico.com
Could dominant Penn trans swimmer Lia Thomas qualify as an Olympian? - Washington Examiner
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas has attracted national attention for breaking records and renewed a debate about whether transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in women's sports competitions. Thomas, a biological male who identifies as a woman, won a recent 200-yard...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden marks anniversary of 1972 car crash that killed wife
President Joe Biden on Saturday is commemorating the 49th anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and infant daughter.
apnews.com
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.
What we’ve learned from the Meadows documents
It’s been almost one year since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. But this week proved there are still significant pieces of the puzzle the public does not know about the horrific, deadly…
thehill.com
UN talks fail to open negotiations on ‘killer robots’
Manufacturing countries including Russia and the US are opposing negotiations on the use of autonomous weapons.
Ransomware persists even as high-profile attacks have slowed
In the months since President Joe Biden warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin to crack down on ransomware gangs in his country, there hasn’t been a massive attack like the one last May that resulted in gasoline shortages.
apnews.comTrump condemned by Anti-Defamation League chief for antisemitic tropes
Jonathan Greenblatt says that ‘insinuating that Israel or the Jews control Congress or the media is antisemitic’ Donald Trump at a rally in Perry, Georgia, in September. Photograph: Ben Gray/AP The chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League led condemnation of Donald Trump after the former...
Anderson Cooper says Andy Cohen lobbied for Chris Cuomo’s vacated CNN spot - Washington Examiner
CNN host Anderson Cooper says that vultures quickly started circling Chris Cuomo's prime-time slot after the news of his departure broke. Cooper said that he got a call from Andy Cohen, the host of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, asking whether he would have a chance at securing the empty 9...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden admin eyes a potentially stark shift in messaging around ending the pandemic
President Joe Biden's top health officials came to an afternoon briefing at the White House Thursday with a warning -- and a request.
www.cnn.comDemocrats' disconnect with rural America is getting so deep it may jeopardize their razor-thin chances for 2022 and 2024
More erosion of rural support could flip the House to the GOP and bolster a 2024 run by a Republican candidate like Trump who energizes rural voters.
‘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.com
Democrats end year reopening old wounds
Congressional Democrats are ending their first year in a unified Washington with tensions running high — among their own members.The inability to get Build Back Better (BBB) and voting rights legis…
thehill.com
Afghan Air Force pilots trapped in Afghanistan plead for evacuation
Over two dozen U.S. trained former Afghan Air Force pilots are trapped in Afghanistan and pleading for the U.S. to evacuate them.
Senate confirms big slate of Biden ambassadors, adjourns for Christmas break without BBB vote
The Senate confirmed more than 30 ambassadors and other Biden administration nominees early Saturday after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to schedule a vote on sanctions on the company behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany.
People pressure governments worldwide to act on inflation
Spanish truckers have won concessions from the government to help check rising fuel costs and improve work conditions after threatening to stop hauling freight just before Christmas.
apnews.com
‘Let’s get a drink’: Dems confront prospect of a 2022 hurricane
Staring at the possibility of major midterm losses, Democratic leaders are just hoping to limit the damage.
www.politico.com
From Peril to Betrayal: the year in books about Trump and other political animals
2021 provided a glut of memoirs, deep dives and tell-alls about American politics in an age of Covid and attacks on democracy itself. Which were the best – and most alarming?
Ethiopia forces claim recapturing of towns from Tigray rebels
Gov’t says forces have retaken several towns from the TPLF including Kobo and Waldia in the north.
Illinois minors can get abortions without parental notification after Dem governor Pritzker signs repeal
Doctors in Illinois will no longer need to notify the parents of an underage girl 48 hours before her scheduled abortion, after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a repeal of the state's law Friday.
Lawmakers Call on Biden for More Military Help for Ukraine
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesIn 2014, when Russia made a quick lunge for Crimea, Ukraine wasn’t prepared.Ukrainians who had no training were taking up arms, scrambling to beat back Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas soon after. And while the U.S. has provided military assistance to...
Is the international community failing Ethiopia?
UN approves independent investigation into suspected war crimes in Tigray conflict.
Kentucky town’s last missing person, 13-year-old girl, found dead - Washington Examiner
A Kentucky town's last missing person was found dead after tornadoes tore apart the town last week. Searchers found the body of 13-year-old Nyssa Brown, the last missing person in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Thursday in a briar thicket. The recovery of the body came days after a tornado killed...
www.washingtonexaminer.comJan. 6 investigators believe Rick Perry sent Mark Meadows a text outlining 'aggressive strategy' to sabotage the election results, CNN report says
The text suggested that Republican-controlled state legislatures should go against the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election.
Texas starts building Trump-sized border wall - Washington Examiner
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas has broken ground on the construction of a wall along its southern border with Mexico, a deliberately extravagant gesture intended to show a willingness to defend the area against illegal immigrants while Washington remains idle.The go-it-alone effort is meant to deter mass...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Analysis: Boris Johnson was once a political magician. Now his party fears he’s run out of tricks | CNN
Has Boris Johnson lost his touch? That’s the question the United Kingdom was asking itself on Friday morning, after the governing Conservative party lost a parliamentary seat in a by-election that it had held for nearly 200 years.
www.cnn.comFormer RNC head and Montana Gov. Marc Racicot said it's 'inevitable' the US republic will 'be at risk' partially due to social media
Last year, Racicot said he planned to vote for President Biden in the 2020 election because of personal differences with former President Trump.
SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites from California base
A SpaceX rocket has carried 52 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from California. The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base at 4:41 a.m.
apnews.com
Why you shouldn’t expect a Biden shake-up
President Biden is sticking with his White House team despite lagging poll numbers that have contributed to rising Democratic worries about the party’s prospects in next year’s midterm e…
thehill.com
Dozens confirmed to ambassador posts after Ted Cruz refused for months to consider them | CNN Politics
The US Senate overnight confirmed more than three dozen of President Joe Biden’s nominees to ambassador posts, ending a months-long Republican-led blockade on quick consideration of the diplomatic nominations.
www.cnn.com
UK troops will not be deployed to Ukraine to defend against Russia
Britain's defence secretary says this is because Ukraine is not a member of the Nato military alliance.
www.bbc.com
Russian military planes evacuate 200 people from Afghanistan
Russian military transport planes have delivered a shipment of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan and flew back 200 Russians, Afghan students and others
Erdogan seeks to boost ties at Turkey-Africa summit
Heads of state from 16 African nations are in Istanbul at summit aimed at deepening economic, military ties.
How Politics Are Determining What Stove You Use
In a nation that is already deeply split along partisan lines over the pandemic response, racial equity and abortion, add this: gas stoves and furnaces. This week, New York City moved to ban gas hookups in new buildings, joining cities in blue states such as California, Massachusetts and...
Sen. Blumenthal expresses regret for attending Communist awards show
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in interview on Friday that he regretted attending a communist award show last week.
School behind mysterious Ohio football team that played on ESPN is a 'scam,' officials say
Gov. Mike DeWine is asking the attorney general to determine whether the school violated any civil or criminal laws.
www.nbcnews.com
Ghislaine Maxwell: Key moments in the sex trafficking trial
The jury has now delivered a series of convictions - here's what you need to know about the evidence.
www.bbc.com
‘Desperate’ need for water, food in typhoon-hit Philippines
More than 18,000 soldiers, emergency workers join search and rescue efforts as survivors plead for food and water.
Sen. Cruz scores a future vote on Russian pipeline sanctions in deal with Democrats
The months-long blockade on Senate-confirmed ambassadorships came to close Saturday morning after Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz reached a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Jordan: Palestinian refugees struggle amid UNRWA funding cuts
Descendants of Palestinian refugees from Gaza live in Jordan without citizenship or rights, relying on UN agency.
Storms, more possible tornadoes dominate forecast after week of deadly weather
Storms, more possible tornadoes dominate forecast after week of wild weather.
From 6.2 million international visitors to 45. Thanks, 2021 | CNN
Omicron is sweeping through Europe. The United States is preparing for full-throttle winter holiday travel. And Australia and the Caribbean island-nation of St. Kitts and Nevis are relaxing visitor restrictions. Here’s the latest in travel.
www.cnn.com
No live audience, musical guest for final 'SNL' show of 2021 due to Covid-19
There will also be limited cast and crew on set, according to a series of tweets from the show.
www.nbcnews.com
Republicans resist saying 3 simple words: 'Joe Biden won'
They are just three little words, but they have become nearly impossible for many Republicans to say: “Joe Biden won.”
apnews.comMitch McConnell says 'it would be a great idea' for Joe Manchin to switch parties
"We do enjoy a cordial relationship," McConnell said of Manchin, who's recently been a holdout on President Biden's domestic agenda.
DeSantis shares stage with activist who posted QAnon-related conspiracy theories on social media
Eulalia Maria Jimenez stood with DeSantis earlier this week as he touted legislation to combat critical race theory.
www.politico.com
Trump undermined COVID response for political gain in ‘one of worst failures of leadership’: report
Former President Trump crippled the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic for his own political purposes in “one of the worst failures of leadership in American history,” a newly r…
www.nydailynews.com
How do judges act when no one is watching? High-profile Rittenhouse trial raises concern
“If a high-profile case could play out this way, then what are judges doing when no one is watching?” one new volunteer said.
www.nbcnews.com
Proposed Virginia political redistricting maps scale back majority Black districts
Proposed political redistricting maps under consideration by the Virginia Supreme Court would constitute a significant reduction in the number of majority Black districts in the General Assembly.
www.wric.comMcConnell Stops Another Coup Attempt as Trump’s Grip Keeps Slipping
Doug Mills/GettyWhen it comes to pulling off coups in 2021, Donald Trump is 0 for 2. The latest, of course, being his failed effort to depose Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.I recently documented how Trump’s political endorsements don’t matter much in the outside game of GOP primary...
Newly proposed Pennsylvania political maps have (mostly) good news for local Dems
Local Democrats are largely in favor of the new preliminary state political maps unveiled yesterday. Republicans are less enamored of the new lines.
www.wesa.fmU.S. to consider Russia's NATO proposal, but calls some demands "unacceptable"
The Russian government released the draft of a new treaty proposal with NATO that would rule out eastward expansion and all military activity in former Soviet republics, as the threat of another Russian invasion of Ukraine looms over Europe.Driving the news: A senior Biden administration...
Russia envoy: Moscow may up the ante if West ignores demands
A senior Russian diplomat says that Moscow may take unspecified new measures to ensure its security if the U.S. and its allies continue to take provocative action and ignore its demand for guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.
apnews.com
States make headway on criminal justice reform after Congress falls short
To some advocates, many of the issues at hand are better handled by states, not the federal government.
www.nbcnews.com
Special Report: Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm
Amazon.com Inc was marketing a collection of President Xi Jinping's speeches and writings on its Chinese website about two years ago, when Beijing delivered an edict, according to two people familiar with the incident. The American e-commerce giant must stop allowing any customer ratings and...
California Politics: Some communities get lots of redistricting attention
As California's redistricting efforts near their conclusion, a few communities seem to be getting more attention than others in their preferences for where to draw legislative and congressional lines.
www.latimes.com
Judge: Lack of charges for Trump over Jan. 6 is no basis for leniency for others
Florida man who admitted to throwing fire extinguisher and plank at police gets toughest sentence yet in Capitol riot.
www.politico.com
Elizabeth Holmes' fraud case heads to the jury
The jury that will weigh 11 charges of fraud and conspiracy against former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes finally got the case late Friday after a three-month trial that captivated Silicon Valley.
apnews.com
Typhoon leaves 19 dead, many homes roofless in Philippines
A powerful typhoon has left at least 19 people dead in the Philippines, knocked down power and cellphone services in entire provinces and wrought widespread destruction.
apnews.com
DAVID SHRIBMAN: Sheer political will may be Trump's greatest asset
No American presidents of our time — perhaps no American presidents ever, with the possible exceptions of George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt — have affected the environment of their successors
Pakistan to rally Muslim countries to help Afghanistan
Pakistan is rallying Muslim countries to help Afghanistan stave off an economic and humanitarian disaster.
apnews.com
U.S. curbs Chinese drone maker DJI, other firms it accuses of aiding rights abuses
The U.S. government put investment and export restrictions on dozens of Chinese companies on Thursday, including top drone maker DJI, accusing them of complicity in the oppression of China's Uyghur minority or helping the military, further ratcheting up tensions between the world's top two...
Operative pitched secretive political spending plan to FPL exec’s email alias, records reveal
Early in the evening of Nov. 26, 2019, the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, a political consultant working for utility giant Florida Power & Light sent a pair of confidential documents to an email…
www.orlandosentinel.com
EXCLUSIVE Next in China regulatory crackdown: online brokers - sources
Chinese officials are planning to ban online brokerages such as Futu Holdings Ltd and UP Fintech Holding Ltd from offering offshore trading services to mainland clients, the latest development in a broad regulatory crackdown that has roiled a wide range of sectors over the past year.
Trump ally Straka has provided potentially significant information
Prosecutors have asked for a 30-day sentencing delay so that his new evidence "can be properly evaluated."
www.politico.com
Biden admin's Iran nuclear talks 'not going well,' national security adviser says
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan took an ominous tone Friday when speaking about efforts to bring Iran back in line with a 2015 nuclear agreement saying, "It's not going well."
Intel to invest $7.1B in Malaysia chipmaking expansion
Intel is expanding its manufacturing operation in Malaysia as chipmakers work to diversify global supply chains that were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
apnews.com
Senate confirms Rahm Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan
The Senate during a rare middle-of-the-night session confirmed Rahm Emanuel to be President Biden’s ambassador to Japan. Senators voted 48-21 early Saturday morning on Emanuel’…
thehill.com
China securities regulator says making progress on U.S. audit issues
China's securities regulator on Friday said it was in talks with U.S. authorities regarding cooperation over the audit of U.S.-listed Chinese firms and is making some progress.
Have political will, ability to ward off China: India | India News - Times of India
India News: India on Friday told France it has the requisite “political will and capacity” to rebuff any misadventure by China on its land borders, even as visiti
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Hong Kong election defines dramatic changes by Beijing
HONG KONG (AP) — Elections for Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Sunday mark the culmination of Beijing’s campaign to rein in the body that had once kept it from imposing
FERC eyes rule changes to prevent utilities from charging ratepayers for political expenses
The agency’s review of how trade group dues are treated could affect state rate cases, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, which initially petitioned the commission to investigate the issue.
Wildfire that prompted protection for huge General Sherman tree is fully contained
The KNP Complex was two lightning-sparked fires that merged and burned mostly in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
www.nbcnews.com‘Desperate’ need for water, food in typhoon-hit Philippines
More than 18,000 soldiers, emergency workers join search and rescue efforts as survivors plead for food and water.
AOC says it's 'delusional' to think Democrats will get reelected without liberal priorities like student debt
If Democrats think they're going to get reelected, they're "delusional" without progressive priorities like student debt and the child tax credit, set to lapse at the end of the year, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed in a Twitter post Friday.
EU may involve WTO to resolve China-Lithuania trade row, Commission says
The European Union may take the trade row between China and Lithuania to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if it finds evidence that Beijing is violating international trade rules, the bloc's executive Commission said on Friday.
‘Buy now, pay later’ provider lobbies up
Klarna, the Swedish “buy now, pay later” company, has hired its first Washington lobbyists.
www.politico.com
New Survey Shows Effectiveness of TV Political Ads
A TVB study found that TV was the most important influence in voting decisions during the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
www.tvtechnology.com
Japan police search house of man linked to deadly Osaka fire
Japanese police have searched the house of one of the patients at a mental clinic where a fire gutted an entire floor in an eight-story building, killing 24 people trapped inside.
apnews.com
Top Biden adviser claims US ‘safely’ ended diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, ignoring 13 service members killed - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, claimed the United States “safely and effectively” ended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. He did so during a speech Friday defending the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal ending in a Taliban takeover. Omitted in...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
News 9+ Politics: Hassan's position on the filibuster; 2022 predictions
Adam Sexton and John DiStaso break down Sen. Maggie Hassan's filibuster position and review the top political topics of 2021. Plus, get their preview of the political landscape in 2022.
www.wmur.com
North Dakota AG Stenehjem won't seek reelection in 2022
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, a Republican who is the longest-serving attorney general in state history, said Friday he will not seek reelection in 2022.
Ohio Politics Explained podcast: Critical race theory, concealed carry and the 2022 election
We explain why a nonprofit fired its director, whether you still need a permit to carry a concealed weapon and how the races are shaping up for 2022.
www.dispatch.com
Ken Griffin and the dark money of 2022
www.politico.com
Bolsonaro spread disinformation on Brazil’s voting system: Police
Brazilian president had a ‘direct’ role in spreading disinformation about the electoral process, a police report says.
Tomorrow’s news audience: Smaller, but more obsessed
"It’s a whole new era of convergence, one that a growing segment of the American news audience distrusts — but also can’t resist."
www.niemanlab.org
Taiwan referendums fail in major setback for opposition
Taiwan's opposition suffered a major setback on Saturday after voters rejected four referendums it had championed as a show of no confidence in the government.
U.S. recommends approving Google, Meta undersea data cable to Asia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Friday recommended Alphabet's Google and Facebook parent Meta get permission to use an undersea cable system to handle growing internet traffic with Asia. The administration urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant licenses for...
A Pro-Pinochet Presidential Candidate Threatens To Swing Chile To The Far Right
José Antonio Kast has drawn comparisons to both Donald Trump and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro. On Sunday, he could become Chile's next president.
Czech centre-right government takes office amid price rises, COVID wave
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's new centre-right government took office on Friday facing soaring inflation and energy costs, record budget deficits and the dragging COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden: ‘I’ve never seen anything like the unrelenting assault on the right to vote’ – as it happened
US president speaks as Senate Democrats discuss potential changes to filibuster to allow voting rights legislation to advance
New Mexico governor approves 3-district congressional map
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Democratic governor signed legislation Friday to redraw the state's three congressional districts and divide a conservative stronghold into multiple districts over the objections
Political row in Brazil over dystopian film 'Executive Order'
In the Brazil of the near future, the government has found what it calls the answer to righting the wrongs of slavery: send blacks back to Africa.
www.france24.com
Bosnia’s biggest crisis for 26 years fuels anguish and discontent
Milorad Dodik's most recent attempts to weaken Bosnia's state-level institutions in the country have led to the most significant political crisis since the 1992-1995 war. #UncoveringEurope
www.euronews.com
Punjab: Gurnam Singh Charuni to launch political party today | Chandigarh News - Times of India
BKU (Charuni) national president Gurnam Singh Charuni returned to a rousing welcome at his native village in Kurukshetra district on Thursday night, a
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Hits 'keep coming': Hospitals struggle as COVID beds fill
Many hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with burnout among doctors, nurses and other workers.
apnews.com
Biden to give Omicron-focused speech on Tuesday | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden will give an Omicron variant-focused speech on Tuesday as the nation contends with higher case numbers, deaths and hospitalizations from the coronavirus heading into the holidays.
www.cnn.com
OSHA vaccine mandate penalties to start Jan. 10
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration says it will not issue citations tied to its coronavirus vaccination mandate before Jan. 10.
apnews.com
COVID-19 pills could be game-changer, but doctors worry about early access, uptake
Merck and Pfizer are each nearing authorization for their therapeutics.
COVID-19 updates: Elizabeth Warren tests positive
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 806,000 Americans.
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.
www.cnn.com
Biden delays enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine-or-test rules for businesses as courts hear legal challenges
Workers who are not fully vaccinated won’t have to be regularly tested until Feb. 9, more than a month after the original Jan. 4 deadline.
www.usatoday.com
Paul Rudd hosts 'SNL' sans audience, Charli XCX amid omicron
People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2021 Paul Rudd has been inducted into the vaunted Five-Timers Club on “Saturday Night Live,” but the surging omicron variant of the coronavirus meant there was no live audience to see it happen.
apnews.com
Covid-19: More than 10,000 new Omicron cases found in UK
A major incident has been declared in London as another 90,418 daily UK cases are reported.
www.bbc.com
Looming threat of omicron wave triggers early pandemic déjà vu
When the U.S. made COVID-19 vaccines available for all adults in the spring, Americans, including government officials, hailed the development as a turning point in the pandemic. President Bid…
thehill.com
Netherlands 'going into lockdown again' to curb omicron
Nations across Europe are moving to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant.
apnews.com
London declares ‘major incident’ over Omicron spread
Mayor Sadiq Khan declares ‘a major incident’ in UK capital amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
'Tidal wave': Omicron could put U.S. COVID-19 surge into overdrive
Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is confronting another dark winter, with the red-hot Omicron variant threatening to worsen an already dangerous surge of cases.
Major sports and entertainment events canceled, rescheduled due to rising COVID-19 cases
Many major sports and entertainment events have been canceled or rescheduled this week due to rising COVID-19 cases.
EXPLAINER: Who must follow Biden's vaccine mandates?
Millions of health care workers across the U.S. must be vaccinated as a result of a mandate from President Joe Biden's administration that is taking effect.
apnews.com
COVID-19 'raging' in New Jersey as leaders weigh next steps
As COVID-19 is "raging" in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said the latest surge could bring about the return of some restrictions.
Omicron could bring the worst surge of COVID yet in the U.S. — and fast
Scientists are projecting the surge will peak in January. Just how massive it could be depends on how quickly Americans get boosted and change behavior to slow the spread.
www.npr.org
NY governor plans to add booster shot to definition of ‘fully vaccinated’
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced during a press conference on Thursday that she is planning to introduce legislation that includes a booster shot within the definition of being “fully vacci…
thehill.com
For Johnson, a Political Rebuke as Omicron Variant Engulfs Britain (Published 2021)
The prime minister’s Conservative Party lost a seat it had held for more than a century, a loss that could hamper his efforts to address the Omicron variant now sweeping Britain.
‘No evidence’ Omicron milder than Delta, British researchers say
Imperial College London study also finds Omicron may be five times more likely to cause reinfections.
Two positive COVID tests on trip with Secretary of State Antony Blinken were not disclosed
When a journalist tested positive for COVID, the State Department disclosed it to the press. It did not reveal that two flight crew members had also tested positive.
www.cbsnews.com
Deceptive videos used to link athlete deaths to COVID shots
Jake West was a seemingly healthy 17-year-old before he collapsed during football practice and died of sudden cardiac arrest.
apnews.com
Delta and Omicron send COVID cases soaring as holiday travel begins
The CDC warns the highly-contagious Omicron variant is expected to soon become the dominant strain in the U.S.
www.cbsnews.com
New York City employees say they fear working from their offices as Covid-19 cases rise
Covid-19 test positivity has doubled within a three-day period — a speed that New York has not reported during the pandemic.
www.politico.comOver 91% Democrats vaccinated, while only 60% Republicans have taken one shot, data reveals
Of every 100,000 residents, 25 died of Covid in Trump counties in October, compared to the 7.8 in Biden-voting counties Covid-19 pro-vaccine ad seen at the Times Square subway station in New York City. Photograph: MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock New data analysis has revealed that if US Democratic...
A reporter risked her life to show the world Covid in Wuhan. Now she may not survive jail.
Zhang Zhan began an intermittent hunger strike after her arrest in May 2020. Rights groups say she has been force-fed and kept in restraints.
www.nbcnews.com
Kamala Harris ignores the science, saying ‘we didn’t see’ COVID-19 variants coming - Washington Examiner
Vice President Kamala Harris says the Biden administration could not have foreseen the rise of COVID-19 variants, contrary to what health experts have long warned is a possibility.The claim of ignorance, which alluded to the delta and omicron variants, was made during an interview with the Los...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
South Africa to donate 2m COVID jabs to other African nations
Government says the doses, worth approximately $18m, will be distributed to various countries over the next year.
Ukraine reports its first case of Omicron coronavirus variant
Ukraine has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on Saturday.
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.com
Egypt announces its first cases of omicron variant
Egyptian health authorities say they have identified the country’s first cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus.
apnews.com
Columbia study finds omicron variant is vaccine-resistant - Washington Examiner
A new study from Columbia University says the omicron variant of COVID-19 is proving to be "markedly resistant" to vaccines."A striking feature of this variant is the large number of spike mutations 31 that pose a threat to the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies," says...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
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