Manchin says he ‘cannot vote’ for Democrats' $2 trillion spending package  —  The West Virginia Democrat says ‘This is a no,’ potentially spelling doom for major part of Biden agenda.  —  Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) on Sunday said that he could not support Democrats' roughly $2 trillion bill …

Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies at 52 after Covid-19 battle  —  SEATTLE — Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen, a staunch conservative, has died at age 52.  —  Ericksen's death Friday came weeks after he said he had tested positive for the coronavirus while in El Salvador …

CNN Closes Offices as Covid-19 Cases Rise  —  President Jeff Zucker cited a surge of cases at the network in a memo on the decision  —  CNN is closing its offices to nonessential employees, network President Jeff Zucker told employees in a memo Saturday, as Covid-19 cases rise at the network and nationwide.

Most of the World's Vaccines Likely Won't Prevent Infection From Omicron  —  They do seem to offer significant protection against severe illness, but the consequences of rapidly spreading infection worry many public health experts.  —  A growing body of preliminary research suggests …

NYC School Administrators Feel Pressure As COVID Outbreaks Grow Among Students and Staff  —  Mayor Bill de Blasio emphasized that he does not plan to shutter the public school system before winter recess - despite an increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the city and within classrooms.

‘Stop the Steal’ leader hands over communications with GOP lawmakers to January 6 committee  —  ‘Stop the Steal’ organizer says GOP lawmakers helped him  —  (CNN)"Stop the Steal" leader Ali Alexander has handed over to the House Select Committee investigating January 6 thousands of text messages …

Pretending Problems Don't Exist Won't Make Them Disappear  —  This fall, Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the peculiar vigilante group known as the Guardian Angels, ran for mayor of New York City as a Republican.  Sliwa was less threatening than liberals made him out to be …

Gauteng's Omicron Wave Is Already Peaking.  Why?  —  In Gauteng, South Africa's Omicron epicenter, the wave seems to be cresting.  In other parts of the country, too, the terrifyingly fast rise of the new variant appears already to be slowing and even receding.

Tortilla Coast on Capitol Hill Closing For Good  —  Tortilla Coast, the Tex-Mex institution, is closing for good after three decades on Capitol Hill, owner (through his restaurant group) Geoff Tracy confirmed to me today.  The last day the spot will be open to the public is tomorrow, Saturday …

New York's Surge in Virus Cases Shows No Signs of Slowing Down  —  Two U.S. Air Force aircrew members supporting Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken's international travel last week tested positive for the coronavirus, the Air Force confirmed on Saturday.  —  Mr. Blinken cut short his trip …

Congress Ends ‘Horrible Year’ With Divisions as Bitter as Ever  —  Democrats' achievements were overshadowed by legislative setbacks, fallout from the Jan. 6 attack and a sense that Congress was not rising to meet a perilous moment in history.  —  WASHINGTON — A congressional year that began …

Ghislaine Maxwell Defense Aims to Discredit Witnesses Paid by Epstein Victims Fund  —  Women who testified that Maxwell enabled their sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein said they received $1.5 million to $5 million from fund  —  Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell are highlighting a fund …

WHO: Omicron cases doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in places with local spread  —  The Omicron variant has been detected in 89 countries and has a “substantial growth advantage” over the Delta variant, the World Health Organization announced.  —  State of play: COVID-19 cases detected …