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 …

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.”

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

Trump asks Supreme Court to consider Jan. 6 chairman's interview with Washington Post in bid to block records  —  Lawyers for former president Donald Trump told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a Washington Post interview with the chairman of the House select committee investigating …

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.

‘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”

‘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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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” …

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 …

Unvaccinated Marines claim COVID mandate ‘purge’ as all religious exemption bids are denied  —  Marines have claimed in a new report that they are being “crushed” by the Defense Department's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with the military branch declining to approve a single religious exemption application.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' teammates considered boycotting final meet in protest  —  A group of UPenn swimmers were so upset by transgender athlete Lia Thomas' advantages that they mulled boycotting their final home meet - but decided not to for fear they'd be banned from the Ivy League championship, according to a report.