White House reporters ask for virtual press briefings during the latest covid surge  —  With a fierce new variant of the coronavirus on the loose, White House reporters are urging press secretary Jen Psaki to move her daily briefings online — but it's an idea Psaki has been cool to so far.

The Third, and Last, Covid Winter Begins  —  We'll be living for a long time with the virus's ramifications for health, the economy and politics.  —  In New York we feel back where we started.  It's like 2020, with everyone in a mask and canceling gatherings and scrambling to find a test.

Judge Upholds His Block on New York Times Coverage of Project Veritas  —  The New York State judge also ordered The Times to turn over physical copies and destroy any electronic versions of documents a lawyer prepared for the conservative group.  —  A New York trial court judge has upheld …

‘We took the Capitol’: Proud Boy pleads guilty to Jan. 6 conspiracy charges  —  On Wednesday, one of the members of the Proud Boys became the first to admit he was at the Capitol to stop the transfer of power, as part of a cooperation agreement with the government.

Report shows the extent of Republican efforts to sabotage democracy  —  Research identifies at least 262 bills were introduced in 41 states this year with the intent to hijack the election process  —  The Republican assault on free and fair elections instigated by Donald Trump is gathering pace …

Biden calls NORAD and updates children on Santa's progress across the globe  —  Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden made a Christmas Eve call to North American Aerospace Defense Command on Friday at the White House, updating children on Santa's progress across the globe as part of what NORAD Commander …

New January 6 video shows three hours of violent and chaotic assault on police  —  Capitol Police officer: Trump supporters are being lied to  —  (CNN)The Justice Department this week released a three-hour video of a battle between rioters and the police at the US Capitol Building on January 6 …

Jason Miller's ‘Free Speech’ Site Gettr Site Bans Users From Posting Racist Term ‘Groyper’  —  The free speech right-wing alternative battles fury from white nationalists.  —  The free speech-centered, MAGA-inspired Twitter alternative Gettr, led by former Trump advisor Jason Miller …

Airlines cancel hundreds of Christmas Eve flights as Covid hits crews  — More than 500 flights were cancelled in the U.S. on Christmas Eve.  — United and Delta blamed some of the cancellations on rising numbers of Covid infections.  — Airlines ramped up pressure on the CDC this week …

The Worst Political Predictions of 2021  —  What did you get totally wrong about 2021?  Here's my answer: I was sure — sure — that as soon as the Covid vaccines were widely available, all but an infinitesimally small percentage of American adults would line up to take the shot, crush the pandemic and get back to life as normal-ish.

As Hindu Extremists Call for Killing of Muslims, India's Leaders Keep Silent  —  Right-wing Hindu activists at a conference took an oath to harm Muslims if necessary to make “a Hindu-only nation,” the most blatant example of rising anti-Muslim sentiment across India.

Manchin told White House he would support version of tax on billionaires  —  His offer comes as fellow a Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, raises new concerns, illustrating that the party has work to do  —  Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) told the White House last week that he would support …

Fringe factions of MAGA world are imploding after Trump publicly advocated for the COVID-19 jab  — The fringe factions of the right wing erupted in anger after Trump lauded the COVID-19 vaccines.  — Figures from Alex Jones to Ali Alexander swiftly rebuked Trump for his pro-vaccine stance.

Afghans spending their first Christmas in America seek the miracle of kindness  —  At Christmastime, the families arrive disoriented, desperate for a roof of their own over their heads.  Many have children but little money and few possessions ― no furniture, no appliances, sometimes not even IDs.

A new drug to treat covid could create a breeding ground for mutant viruses  —  Merck's molnupiravir is good at one thing — and that's what makes it scary  —  On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration made what may be the most momentous drug-approval decision in its history …