US children hospitalized with COVID in near-record numbers
Today's Top Stories:
Generals warn the US military could lead a coup after the 2024 election
Gens. Paul Eaton, Antonio Taguba, and Steven Anderson made their case in a WaPo op-ed. "In short: We are chilled to our bones at the thought of a coup succeeding next time."
Fast-spreading wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, displace tens of thousands in Colorado
Combined with relative humidity below 20% and ongoing drought conditions, extreme 80-100 mph winds were fueling rapid fire spread... in December.
Joe Manchin pulls bombshell holiday stunt
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Unreal.
Biden and Putin exchange warnings during phone call amid rising Ukraine tensions
Thursday’s talks, requested by Putin, were the leaders’ second conversation this month but, the White House said, consisted of both men restating their positions — including Biden warning of severe consequences if Putin decides to invade.
Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for a national divorce between Republican and Democratic states
Reminder: Greene's home state of Georgia once tried to implement a "national divorce" so wealthy White people could keep owning Black people as slaves. It didn't work then, either.
New documents prove Tennessee county disproportionately jails Black children, and it’s getting worse
In an earlier story, ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio chronicled a case in Rutherford County in which 11 Black children were arrested for a crime that does not exist.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis cuts truck driver's sentence from 110 to 10 years for fatal 2019 crash
The "arbitrary and unjust sentence" was a result of Colorado's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, the governor wrote.
WATCH: Democratic star Richard Ojeda shares resolutions for 2022
No Dem Left Behind: The 2022 midterms are just months away. The Army veteran is resolved to fight the GQP and WIN ... are you?
Trump’s legal bills are costing the GOP a fortune: "There is no precedent for this"
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Eric Swalwell asks Twitter to help ID Tucker Carlson fan who wanted him shot
"The lies from Tucker and others are radicalizing people across not just America but the world," Swalwell wrote. "The lies are inspiring people to make threats of violence against lawmakers. Tucker & Co. know this. And that’s why they tell their lies. They want to incite the mob."
Prince Andrew told he will face justice after Ghislaine Maxwell verdict
The Duke of York has been warned that the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell proves that justice will prevail "whether you’re a president or a prince."
Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Kwanzaa "fake religion" created by a "psychopath"
Kwanzaa is a holiday, not a religion. But let's not let facts get in the way of racist broadsides.
Seriously?
Yes. Seriously.
Hope...
Today’s Action: Protect yourself — and others — this New Year’s!
Tomorrow is the start of a new year! But thanks to the omicron variant, lack of mask-wearing and other precautions, and continued vaccine refusal by an alarming number of Americans, it’s easy to feel like we’re still at the beginning of the pandemic with a record surge in COVID cases. While new cases — and certainly hospitalizations and deaths — are dominated by the unvaccinated, breakthrough cases have also continued to rise. Luckily, we have more tools in the fight against COVID than we did at the start.
By making sure you and your family members are masking up in public spaces and getting your boosters, you’re saving lives this holiday season – it’s really that simple.
Here are a few more tips to reduce your chances of catching or spreading the virus:
Mask up. Larger indoor parties are just not safe right now, and even smaller ones require precautions. In a room full of strangers, you can’t be sure who’s vaccinated (let alone who might be sick.) Since you can’t rely simply on symptoms to tell you who may be contagious, staying home with close friends this New Year’s could be your best bet to stay safe. You can take extra precaution by opening windows, masking up, and running an air purifier that has a HEPA filter.
Get tested. Testing demand is certainly higher in certain parts of the country, especially following the holidays, but getting tested before gathering with friends and family is critical in the fight against COVID. Some communities have initiatives like Say Yes! Covid Test that are distributing free home tests in select areas, and packs of two tests go for $25 in stores. Try to plan ahead to find a rapid, PCR, or at-home test before your New Year’s plans. Most importantly, if you’re sick – stay home.
Get boosted. Staying up to date with your COVID shots and making sure your friends and family are getting vaxxed is the best thing you can do to slow the spread. While breakthrough cases are possible, it’s the unvaccinated that are overwhelming our healthcare system.
We may still be in the thick of the pandemic, but we can all take measures to make our first post-vaccine holiday celebrations as safe as they can be!
