Coronavirus risk calculations get harder as a study suggests rapid tests may be less effective at detecting omicron  —  Fauci draws a line on New Year's Eve parties — no big crowd, and moderate the “hugging and kissing”  —  As the coronavirus spawns a record-breaking wave of infections …

Trump accuses Jan. 6 panel of “seeking evidence of criminal activity”  —  Former President Trump's legal team on Wednesday accused the House committee investigating the Capitol riot of seeking to uncover evidence that would support a criminal referral against him.

Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty of Helping Jeffrey Epstein Abuse Girls  —  Ms. Maxwell vowed to appeal after a jury found her guilty of sex-trafficking and conspiracy on Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Manhattan.  —  Ghislaine Maxwell Is Found Guilty of Aiding in Epstein's Sex Abuse

Harry Reid was no Mitch McConnell.  And that's a good thing.  —  Robert Mann, a professor of mass communication at Louisiana State University and former press secretary for Democratic senators Russell B. Long and John Breaux of Louisiana, is the author of “Backrooms and Bayous: My Life in Louisiana Politics.”

‘Slow-motion insurrection’: How GOP seizes election power  —  In the weeks leading up to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, a handful of Americans — well-known politicians, obscure local bureaucrats — stood up to block then-President Donald Trump's unprecedented attempt …

J&J's booster shot provides strong protection against severe disease from Omicron, a study says.  —  A Johnson & Johnson booster shot provided strong protection against the Omicron variant, greatly reducing the risk of hospitalization, according to a clinical trial in South Africa.

A right-wing radio host said Trump needs an ‘intervention from a friend’ after the former president advocated for the COVID-19 vaccine  — Former President Donald Trump advocated for the COVID-19 vaccine in multiple appearances this month.  — His comments sparked criticism from some factions …

Michigan's New Congressional Maps Undo Years of Gerrymandering  —  A citizen ballot initiative took redistricting out of the hands of partisan legislators.  The result: competitive political districts — and an example of how to push back against hyperpartisanship.

Second CNN producer under ‘criminal investigation’ involving ‘potential juvenile victims’  —  Rick Saleeby resigned earlier this month as a senior producer of ‘The Lead with Jake Tapper’  —  Tucker: There's something very strange going on at CNN  —  A second ex-CNN producer …

‘The Fuse Has Been Blown,’ and the Doomsday Glacier Is Coming for Us All  —  New data suggests a massive collapse of the ice shelf in as little as five years.  “We are dealing with an event that no human has ever witnessed,” says one scientist.  “We have no analog for this”

Let Omicron Spell the End of the Pandemic—and the COVID Shaming  —  The Omicron variant of COVID-19 put many people's holiday plans to rest.  Just when we thought we were done with the pandemic, it roped us back in.  Mercifully, according to the CDC, this variant is milder than all other forms.

DoD Awards $136.7 Million Contract to MilliporeSigma to Establish Domestic Production Capacity of Critical Material Used in COVID-19 Point-of-Care Tests  —  On Dec. 29, 2021, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services …

COVID Cases Fill More City Hospital Beds, Threatening Halt on Elective Surgeries  —  Public hospital system has increasingly little room for new patients, state stats show.  New York City is now above the threshold of 4 new COVID cases per 100,000 residents that can trigger a state shutdown of non-essential surgery to free up space.

Merced man arrested on way to White House with rifle, ‘hit list’ compiled from TikTok  —  A California man was arrested last week in Iowa after telling police he was driving straight to the White House “to kill persons in power” and was found with an assault rifle and body armor, according to federal court records.

L.A.'s Arms Race of the Affluent  —  From Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, the crime-panicked wealthy are banishing bling and buying guns  —  In Beverly Hills, even the purchase of a firearm comes with certain...expectations.  The city's only gun store, Beverly Hills Guns, is a “concierge service” …

Eric Adams Will Name Brooklyn Power Broker as Chief of Staff  —  Frank Carone, a prominent lawyer for the Brooklyn Democratic Party whose business dealings have drawn scrutiny, will serve in a critical role at City Hall.  —  Mayor-elect Eric Adams plans on Thursday to name Frank Carone …

Maori newsreader becomes first person with chin tattoo to anchor news programme  —  Oriini Kaipara said she had broken through a ‘glass ceiling’  —  A New Zealand reporter has made history by becoming the first person to present a prime time news programme with a traditional Māori chin tattoo.

This is the worst economy we never had  —  For months, the GOP-Fox News axis forecast the bluest of Christmases.  —  House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy joined 159 House Republicans in a letter to President Biden saying his policies “will certainly ensure that this Christmas will not be merry” …