memeorandum: Fauci warns omicron cases ‘likely will go much higher’ (Emily Shapiro/ABC News)

12:30 AM ET, December 27, 2021

Top Items:

Marilyn Berger / New York Times:

Desmond Tutu, Whose Voice Helped Slay Apartheid, Dies at 90 — The archbishop, a powerful force for nonviolence in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. — Desmond M. Tutu, the cleric who used his pulpit and spirited oratory to help bring …

Washington Post:

Michael Fanone deserves the nation's gratitude. That's not what he has gotten. — Michael Fanone, who resigned Dec. 20 from the D.C. police, was a profile in courage twice this year. — First, when he stood his ground against a violent mob of President Donald Trump's supporters on Jan. 6 …

Peter Wehner / The Atlantic:

The Gospel of Donald Trump Jr. — The former president's son told a crowd that the teachings of Jesus have “gotten us nothing.” — About the author: Peter Wehner is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Discussion: Raw Story and Mediaite

Fatma Khaled / Newsweek:

Anti-Vaxx Podcaster Reportedly on Ventilator After Attending QAnon-Friendly Event in Texas — Attorney Lin Wood announced on Friday that podcaster Doug Kuzma, a supporter of former President Donald Trump known for his anti-vaccine stance, is in the hospital due to COVID after attending …

Discussion: HuffPost

Kathleen Parker / Washington Post: Please get the vaccine. And try to understand those who won't.

Trip Gabriel / New York Times:

‘Magic’ Weight-Loss Pills and Covid Cures: Dr. Oz Under the Microscope — The celebrity physician, a candidate in Pennsylvania's Republican primary for Senate, has a long history of dispensing dubious medical advice on his daytime show and on Fox News. — A wealth of evidence now shows …

Discussion: Raw Story, HillReporter.com and Breitbart, more at Mediagazer »

Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:

First They Fought About Masks. Then Over the Soul of the City. — In Enid, Okla., pandemic politics prompted a fundamental question: What does it mean to be an American? Whose version of the country will prevail? — ENID, Okla. — On a hot night in July, the first summer of the pandemic …

wusa9.com:

Capitol rioter asks judge to let him use dating apps while he awaits trial — Thomas Sibick, of Buffalo, New York, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of obstructing Congress on January 6. — WASHINGTON — A New York man asked a federal judge on Christmas to allow him to use dating apps …

Discussion: Raw Story

ABC News:

‘This Week’ Transcript 12-26-21: Dr. Anthony Fauci & Dr. Ashish Jha — A rush transcript of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” airing on Sunday, December 26, 2021, on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.

Discussion: Townhall, HotAir, New York Post, Insider and Politico

Emily Shapiro / ABC News:
Fauci warns omicron cases ‘likely will go much higher’

Discussion: The Guardian, HuffPost, HillReporter.com, The Gateway Pundit, Slate, The Daily Wire, UPI and The Hill

Maxine Bernstein / Oregonian:

Oregon father of four who told President Biden 'Let's Go Brandon' on Christmas Eve call said he meant it in jest — A Central Point father of four who wished President Joe Biden and the first lady a wonderful Christmas and added “Let's go, Brandon,” at the end of a live streamed Santa tracker call told …

Wall Street Journal:

AT&T Slashed Promised Life Insurance for Former Workers—and Time Runs Out at Year-End — The company, which is sparing its executives from the cut, says it brings benefits in line with what other firms offer — When Dean Allison left his job as a property manager at AT&T in 1998 …

Robert Snell / Detroit News:

Defense team in Whitmer kidnap plot case asks judge to toss indictment — The indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be dismissed due to “egregious overreaching” by federal agents and informants, defense lawyers wrote in a coordinated attempt …

Discussion: WDIV-TV, 6abc, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit, The Guardian and Associated Press

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

PG Special Report: With shadowy money, Ukraine oligarch became Cleveland's biggest landlord — For Ukraine oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, the Westin hotel in Cleveland that he owns with partners became the center of the most powerful Republican gathering in the nation during the 2016 convention.

Vincent Ni / The Guardian:

China replaces Xinjiang party boss associated with Uyghur crackdown — It is not known if Chen Quanguo's replacement by Guangdong governor Ma Xingrui signals fresh approach — China has replaced the Communist party official widely associated with a security crackdown targeting ethnic Uyghurs …

Discussion: Reuters, The Daily Caller, UPI and Bloomberg

Stephen Chen / South China Morning Post:

Chinese scientists develop AI ‘prosecutor’ that can press its own charges — Machine is so far able to identify eight common crimes such as fraud, gambling, dangerous driving and ‘picking quarrels’, researchers say Prosecutors in China already use an AI tool to evaluate evidence and assess …

Colby Itkowitz / Washington Post:

House MAGA squad seeks to expand by boosting challengers to fellow Republicans — The defiant far-right acolytes of former president Donald Trump in the House Republican caucus have embarked on a targeted campaign ahead of the midterm elections to expand their ranks — and extend their power — on Capitol Hill.

Discussion: Raw Story