Panic over the Virginia “curse” continues

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE BIG STORY

US kids ages 5 to 11 can now get COVID-19 vaccines

BuzzFeed News / Getty Images

In the last week, the FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12. The CDC officially endorsed this recommendation on Tuesday, clearing the last major hurdle for distribution in the US.

According to Jeff Zients, the White House's COVID-19 response coordinator, "Starting the week of Nov. 8, our vaccination program for kids ages 5 to 11 will be running at full strength."

At this time, the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are not federally approved for kids under 18. On Sunday, Moderna announced it would delay filing with the FDA for authorization of its shots for 6- to 11-year-olds. That followed the agency saying it needs more time to review Moderna's safety data regarding myocarditis — a type of heart muscle inflammation — among teens who have received the trial shots.

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Republican Glenn Youngkin won Virginia's governor race in an early warning sign for Democrats

Glenn Youngkin speaks at a campaign rally at the Loudoun County Fairground Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

First-time candidate Republican Glenn Youngkin is projected to defeat former governor Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race. It's a high-profile blow for Democrats in a state where President Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by 10 points last year.

The Virginia race is typically seen as a bellwether for the upcoming midterm elections. The state has been trending toward Democrats, and the last time a Republican won a statewide office was in 2009. Despite this, McAuliffe was unable to break the longstanding Virginia "curse": In the last four decades, only one candidate whose party held the White House has been able to win the governor's mansion in Virginia the following year.

In addition to stumping on behalf of Youngkin on the eve of the election, Trump said in a statement Monday that the candidate has had his "Complete and Total Endorsement for many months!" Immediately after the race was called, he put out a statement taking credit for Youngkin's win, and congratulating him.

SNAPSHOTS

Minneapolis rejected an amendment to overhaul its police department. The election was a test in a Democratic city of whether there was political will to fundamentally change policing following George Floyd's death.

Los Angeles County will pay $2.5 million to four victims' families over allegedly leaked photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash. Settling these cases puts an end to two of the four lawsuits facing LA County after officials allegedly shared unauthorized images of the crash that killed nine people, including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Kyle Rittenhouse is charged with fatally shooting two people in Kenosha. His lawyer said it was self-defense. At the August 2020 Kenosha protests, Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, allegedly shot and killed protesters Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 27. He has pleaded not guilty.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Famous people, they're at it again!

Travis Barker's ex-wife dragged his and Kourtney Kardashian's True Romance Halloween costumes for being "embarrassing" and "poor taste" in leaked DMs. Barker and his former partner Shanna Moakler had a True Romance-themed wedding and named their daughter after one of the characters from the movie.

Kanye West has sparked backlash for inviting Marilyn Manson to his "Sunday Service." This marks the second time that West has appeared to publicly endorse Manson, who has been accused of sexual assault and physical abuse by several women in the past year.

Lily Collins said there will be more diversity in season two of Emily in Paris after the show faced criticism for its "extremely white" cast. Perhaps in an attempt to understand Parisian life better, Collins also revealed that she'd based herself in Paris during the summer for filming, choosing to live in an apartment instead of a hotel.

SCAACHI'S DISPATCH FROM "PETE DAVIDSON'S NEW YORK"

I'm here for the Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian chaos

Left, Pete Davidson during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 11, 2021, in New York City. Right, Kim Kardashian arrives at the afterparty for Saturday Night Live on Oct. 10, 2021. Gilbert Carrasquillo / GC Images, Gotham/GC images

"I don't actually think these two are dating," writes culture critic Scaachi Koul. "I think they're two of the most shrewd attention-getters in modern American culture, which I offer as a profound compliment."

"But just because I don't think they're dating doesn't mean that I don't desperately want the rumors to be true, with every fiber of my being. It's just such a bad idea, this pairing, sure to be a loud, public, ugly disaster. … You want that too, even if you can't admit it. You're not above this, you're not better than this, and you're not too cool to derive pleasure from the most aggressively lawless celebrity pairing since Pete and Ariana."

"The world is too hot for us to survive it much longer. The country can't agree to all just shut up and get a free lifesaving vaccine," says Koul. "Nothing matters; everything is pain. At least Pete Davidson is doing the heavy lifting of bringing us all a little mess, a little stupid drama, a thick little nugget of absurdity."

You're trying your best, and that's enough to be proud of today,

Alexa

📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Alexa Lee and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

👉 Your support of BuzzFeed's journalism does not constitute a charitable donation, and your contribution is not eligible for a tax-deduction. This is part of an effort to explore a deeper relationship with our most active supporters.

🔔 Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores).

💌 Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox!