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.

Inside the campaign to undermine Georgia's election  —  Editor's note  —  Between the Nov. 3 presidential election and Jan. 6, Georgia was at the center of the biggest election dispute of modern American history.  AJC reporters worked day and night for months to capture the election results …

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 …

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.

I Thought I Knew Harry Reid.  I Was Wrong.  —  The first time I called Harry Reid's office, I was trying to provoke him.  It was the spring of 2008, and I was working as a banking reporter for a trade publication unhelpfully called SNL Financial and headquartered, just as unhelpfully …

Dem Florida gov. candidate Nikki Fried calls out DeSantis's lack of visibility as Omicron surges  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to be missing in action as Omicron sweeps across his state.  Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, who is seeking …

BBC faces backlash after Dershowitz analyzes Maxwell case, despite accusation from alleged Epstein victim  —  The BBC says it is investigating how Alan Dershowitz was allowed on its airwaves to talk about the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell without mentioning that the constitutional lawyer …

Man who uttered 'Let's go Brandon' during Biden call-in event mulls running for office  —  An Oregon man who invoked a coded vulgar insult of President Biden during a Christmas Eve call-in event with the president and first lady is considering running for office and says he would welcome former president Donald Trump's blessing.

2021 Men of the Year: Michael Avenatti's Prison Guards  —  In almost every instance, kicking a man when he's down is total bitch move.  Unless the down man is Michael Avenatti, in which case kicking is the only honorable course of action.  —  According to a Politico profile of the convicted felon …

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” …

Ted Cruz mistakes ‘Western Australia’ for ‘Washington State’ in botched attack on ‘power-drunk’ Dems  —  Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz apparently confused “Western Australia” with “Washington State” in an attempted attack on Democrats over COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday night.

Marine discharges over COVID-19 vaccine mandate continue to rise to 206  —  The U.S. Marines continue to purge its ranks of those who refuse to get the coronavirus vaccine.  —  Active-duty Marines had until Nov. 14 to get vaccianted or apply for an exemption, while anyone who didn't comply would face being discharged.

Strong Labor Market in 2021 Faces Down Omicron Threat  —  Jobless claims are expected to hold near half-century low, pointing to still-solid job outlook  —  U.S. employers added a record number of jobs in 2021, a gauge of layoffs fell to a half-century low and available positions surged …

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.

They were so careful, for so long.  They got covid anyway.  —  'I'd just ruined everybody's Christmas, including my own family's'  —  Fareha Ahmed had been cautious since the beginning of the pandemic.  She had eaten in restaurants only three times.  She and her husband were vaccinated and boosted …

Denver gunman's novels named real-life victims, described similar attacks  —  Lyndon McLeod's family say they were estranged for years  —  The man who authorities believe killed five people in a shooting spree across the Denver metro Monday wrote about killing two of the victims in a series …

China warns US will pay ‘unbearable price’ for backing Taiwan  —  China's foreign minister has warned the US will pay an “unbearable price” for its support of Taiwan.  —  In an interview with state media Thursday, Wang Yi accused Washington of “encouraging ‘Taiwan independence’ forces” …

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” …