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.

Federal Judges Order Release of Jeffrey Epstein Civil Settlement at Issue in Lawsuit Against Prince Andrew  —  Federal judges ordered the unsealing of a 2009 settlement agreement that Prince Andrew has claimed insulates him from a civil lawsuit accusing him of having sexually abused a 17-year-old girl.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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” …

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 …

The relentless 2021 news cycle in one chart  —  Between a siege on the Capitol building, a Texas snowstorm, Brood X cicadas, the Olympics and a stuck container ship in the Suez Canal — not to mention endless COVID variants — it's been a busy year.  —  Why it matters: In the inaugural Axios …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …