One of Democrats’ biggest election promises may hinge on Joe and Joe
DECEMBER 21, 2021 THE BIG STORY
What's going on with the Build Back Better plan — and Sen. Joe Manchin? Sen. Joe Manchin leaves the Senate chamber Dec. 15. Tom Williams / AP Policies like universal prekindergarten, subsidized childcare, Medicaid expansion, child tax credit payments of up to $300 per month for parents, and funds to convert the US electricity grid to green energy may all now be sunk because of apparent hurt feelings between two longtime friends.
On Sunday, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin appeared on Fox News to announce he is opposed to the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, in a devastating blow for Democrats and President Joe Biden's agenda.
Manchin originally cited the cost of the bill and concerns about inflation. But in a radio interview on Monday, he referenced a previous statement released last Thursday by Biden as another possible reason that talks broke down. According to reports about this statement — which said that "Senator Manchin has reiterated his support for Build Back Better funding" — the senator felt singled out by Biden's language.
STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
Frigid temperatures, hours in line, surprise expenses: A look at the preholiday COVID testing mayhem Demand for COVID tests has surged as global coronavirus cases spike, spurred by the easily spread Omicron variant. Over 70,000 new COVID cases were reported in the US on Sunday.
Test providers have run out of supplies or lagged behind public need, driving worried people to pay exorbitant prices for answers or simply walk away. People complained about tests costing $225 and how it's difficult to tell what is or isn't covered by insurance providers; others called out frustrations over "pandemic capitalism," the inherent delineation of who can or can't afford to know whether they're sick.
"Driving to nine pharmacies across the city to ultimately find the last four COVID-19 rapid tests for $50 is not a good public health model," Oregon resident Natalie Johnstone told BuzzFeed News. "I needed access to time off, a car, cash, and a cellphone to get these tests today." SNAPSHOTS An FBI agent in the Michigan kidnapping case has pleaded no contest to assaulting his wife. Former agent Richard Trask's wife told local police in July that following a night out at a swingers party, Trask choked her and bashed her head against a nightstand.
No live SNL audience, Broadway shows canceled, games postponed: An alarming spike in COVID-19 cases is causing closures again. The wave of shutdowns almost mimics the nationwide closing of nonessential businesses and activities back in March 2020, when the country first entered the pandemic.
This photo collection revolutionized the way we look at images. Tucked in a library branch in Manhattan is the Picture Collection — a repository of about 1.5 million images available to the public for browsing and checking out — for free since 1915. KEEPING UP WITH THE...ACTUALLY, JUST KEEPING UP IN GENERAL
The end of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's relationship draws closer David Livingston/Getty Images Kanye West — who changed his name to Ye — has spent the last month or so openly expressing his desire to be reunited with Kim Kardashian, who filed for divorce in February. While onstage at his and Drake's "Free Larry Hoover" concert earlier this month, Kanye sang, "I need you to run right back to me, baby. More specifically, Kimberly."
Meanwhile, Kim said "no counseling or reconciliation effort" will save her marriage to Kanye, days after she filed to be "legally single" in new documents. In a court appeal, Kim goes on to claim that she has been attempting to legally end the marriage since she first filed for divorce back in February this year, but alleges that Kanye has not responded to repeated requests to "terminate" the legal relationship.
WHAT A YEAR
22 of the best news corrections in 2021 Long Boi did not receive an honorary degree, as correction #14 on this list reveals. Danny Lawson / PA Images via Getty Images Personal favorites include: "This article originally claimed that Ben Platt's Dear Evan Hansen haircut was a wig. It is, astoundingly, his own hair" via Vulture, as well as the New York Times accidentally posting an article about fruit found on Mars.
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