The Hill Articles: December 8, 2021

US sees ‘urgent’ need to boost Taiwan defenses, official says Oklahoma senator proposes naming three inches of highway after departing football coach Briahna Joy Gray discusses US’s handling of COVID-19 testing Jury in Jussie Smollett trial begins deliberations DOJ urges Supreme Court to reject Harvard affirmative action challenge Australia discovers ‘omicron-like’ variant that is harder to detect Pharma lobby eyes parliamentarian as last resort to nix drug pricing measure Demand for US workers reaches historic high North Carolina court delays primaries amid electoral map dispute Biden to award Medal of Honor to three soldiers who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan: report Pence says he’ll ‘evaluate’ any requests from Jan. 6 panel U.S. Navy seized missiles, petroleum products from Iranian military Australia’s deputy prime minister tests positive for COVID-19 on US trip Senate votes to nix Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses Rapper French Montana talks opioid epidemic, immigration on Capitol Hill House passes bills to pressure China amid Olympic boycott House passes bill to strengthen shipping supply chain Explosion in Mali kills seven UN peacekeepers Michael Strahan’s Blue Origin space trip delayed Biden’s drug overdose strategy pushes treatment for some, prison for others Paris mayor calls for leftists to unite behind one candidate in presidential election Overnight Defense & National Security — Biden: US troops to Ukraine ‘not on the table’ US to send delegation to Vienna for Iran nuclear talks On The Money — McConnell searches for debt deal votes Overnight Health Care: Pfizer booster may be crucial against omicron How ‘dark stores’ are taking over American cities Defending Ukraine: US must offer military support not just economic threats Lawyers for Elizabeth Holmes conclude defense in fraud trial Black couple sues appraiser for valuing home at $500,000 more when ‘whitewashed’ What we can learn from Bob Dole Hillicon Valley — Presented by Connected Commerce Council — Senate grills Instagram chief Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by ExxonMobil — Biden sets government net-zero date of 2050 Harris sets record for most tiebreaking votes in recent history Pediatric COVID vaccination has slowed across the US: analysis Lawmakers focus on bridging broadband divide highlighted amid pandemic Liberals ramp up pressure on Pelosi to discipline Boebert  Car of student missing for more than 45 years discovered with human remains Saudi crown prince visits Qatar for first time since 2017 embargo Ensuring that money intended for health equity is well spent 39 soldiers injured in Iran missile attack to get Purple Hearts: report Instagram chief gets bipartisan grilling over harm to teens Coast Guard pulls body from submerged vehicle above Niagara Falls More than 200 organizations ask Biden to continue student loan pause CDC releases new guidance on HIV prevention Biden says he will make sure Americans aren’t ‘gouged for gas’ Italian boxing champion comes out as queer House passes bill to fight valvular heart disease, honor GOP lawmaker’s late wife Thousands of LA school district students out of compliance with vaccine mandate as deadline looms Equilibrium/Sustainability — Wildlife officials move to feed Florida manatees Meadows suing Pelosi, Jan. 6 committee Cawthorn ‘likely’ violated rules by bringing candidate on House floor Jury deliberating in Josh Duggar child pornography trial How the US impacts Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol Biden nominates Meg Whitman as ambassador to Kenya Tennessee medical board removes virus misinformation policy from website amid GOP pressure GOP working to lock down votes on McConnell debt deal Black, nonbinary talent see representation gains throughout pandemic WHO director-general on omicron: ‘Any complacency now will cost lives’ Canada officially bans LGBTQ+ conversion therapy Manchin says ‘good adjustments’ have been made on Democrats’ methane fee  UK’s Johnson orders tighter restrictions, tells people to work from home as omicron spreads Compete for Lamborghini luxury cars with help from MrBeast Accused spy’s lawyers say plans to leave country were over Trump, not arrest Three reasons why de Blasio’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate won’t last long Czechs move closer to sending troops to Poland-Belarus border amid migrant crisis Greenland is crying — can it be saved from mining and climate change? Tlaib offers tearful rebuke to anti-Muslim comments from Boebert LA school district fires nearly 500 employees who refused to get COVID-19 vaccine Five things to watch for at Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’ Maine governor activates National Guard amid shortage of hospital beds Georgia governor candidate Perdue says he wouldn’t have certified 2020 election results California AG launches probe into Torrance Police Department after racist, homophobic texts revealed How worrisome is Iranian control of Iraq for the US? More than 600 authors, publishers condemn recent book bans in joint statement Is Vice President Harris right about the dangers of headphones and Bluetooth? ​​Former Trump FDA commissioner says yearly COVID-19 boosters may be needed Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act will renew our commitment to support crime victims Biden signs order for federal government to achieve net-zero by 2050 Scott Peterson to get new life sentence after nearly two decades on death row Major utilities agree to stop sharing data with ICE Cybersecurity company says Chinese hackers targeting Southeast Asian nations Plumber awarded $20,000 after finding envelopes of cash, checks at Joel Osteen’s church Fauci: It’s ‘when, not if’ definition of fully vaccinated will change Tiger Woods announces first golf tournament since accident Boris Johnson orders probe after video leaked of staff members joking about COVID-19 protocols Whitmer says Biden vaccine mandate ‘a problem for all of us’ Study names America’s 10 most dangerous beaches California clinics, lawmakers reveal plan to be abortion sanctuary DOJ says Microsoft discriminated against non-US citizens in its hiring process Left and right take aim at Big Tech — and the First Amendment Panel suggests US tinker with oceans to fight climate change SEAL Team 8 commander dies after Virginia training accident Groups offering $43K reward for information on poisoned Oregon wolves Fauci says Santa Claus is ‘good to go’ for Christmas with booster shot Finland’s prime minister apologizes for clubbing after contact with COVID-19 case Austria to end latest lockdown, keep restrictions for unvaccinated Risk assessment in mainstream science Pelosi aiming to pass $2T social spending bill before Christmas Watch live: Biden touts infrastructure bill in Kansas City What early studies say about omicron University of Florida researchers pressured to destroy COVID-19 data, told not to criticize DeSantis: report Canada announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics Union alleges Amazon ads are ‘unlawfully deceiving’ consumers Pelosi says she’ll ‘never forgive’ Trump, ‘lackeys’ over Jan. 6 Roger Stone to plead the Fifth in Jan. 6 investigation Gillibrand slams committee leadership, Pentagon for military justice reform cuts The US must go back to first principles on Russia and Ukraine Manchin quietly discusses Senate rules changes with Republicans Top Dem vows party won’t let expanded child tax credit expire at month’s end Continuing resolutions are undermining Congress’ right (and responsibility) to operate Job openings jumped to more than 11 million in October Hugh Hewitt pleads with Trump to not endorse Greitens in Missouri Police investigating Alabama woman’s claim that FedEx driver stole her service dog The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – Senate takes up Biden’s vaccine mandate This CBD supplement can help stressed-out professionals fall asleep faster & sleep more soundly Wave of 40 earthquakes in 24 hours rocks northwest Watch live: Instagram chief testifies before Senate panel Sick of choosing between the ‘lesser of two evils’? Push for electoral reform Conservative justices appear open to religious claim in Maine school case Rising costs top concern for Americans: poll Inner lives of cats: experts explain what they think about you Jan. 6 committee moving forward with contempt charges against Meadows The things Michael Strahan plans on taking to space Perilous Pennsylvania, Trump’s non-strategy takes another hit Biden: Sending US troops to Ukraine ‘not on the table’ Hillary Clinton shares part of her 2016 victory speech for the first time Massachusetts man released from prison after 27 years following wrongful conviction Afghanistan has become a test for US humanitarianism Serena Williams makes unexpected announcement Better.com CEO says he is ‘deeply sorry’ for sacking 900 staff via Zoom meeting Federal officials to feed starving Florida manatees Mellman: Popularity vs. impact Top Hollywood actress says she was pressured to stay ‘fat’ Kellogg says it will replace striking workers after contract rejection Smokey Robinson predicts Trump will run and lose in 2024 Ocasio-Cortez criticizes Boebert Christmas tree and guns photo Company once owned by Martin Shkreli settling price-gouging allegations for $40M Rights groups urge Lebanon to release US journalist Maryland school board approves regulation to let some schools drop mask mandates New York is freaking out over shortage of cream cheese for their bagels Prison cell thought to be Malcolm X’s has been reinvented as a library for inmates, part of massive new campaign Hispanic voters evenly split between Democrats, GOP: WSJ poll China’s economic clay feet Rising: December 8, 2021 Jennifer Aniston says she’s been called a ‘liberal Vax-hole’ over pro-vaccine stance Jussie Smollett’s final act: How a hate crime hoax became a pitch for jury nullification Japanese billionaire, assistant blast off for 12-day International Space Station visit NBA tops Google’s list of US trending searches in 2021 Pressley offering measure condemning Boebert Here’s the strategy to prevent China from taking Taiwan Gottlieb sees 2022 as COVID-19 ‘transition year,’ despite omicron Watch live: House GOP leaders hold press conference French authorities release man accused of killing Khashoggi, blame mistaken identity Watch live: Pelosi holds weekly press conference Biden needs to add development to his democracy summit’s agenda Facebook expands ban on firms tied to Myanmar military Djokovic on entry list at Australian Open despite COVID-19 protocols UK announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics Most Utah voters say Trump should not run again in 2024: poll India defense chief among at least 13 dead in helicopter crash Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’ needs to be democratized German COVID-19 deaths at highest level since February WHO expecting more hospitalizations with omicron now detected in 57 countries Pope laments ‘stone hearts’ not moved by migrants’ suffering Expect ‘shock and awe’ if Russia invades Ukraine Man in custody after Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters burns in fire: police Pfizer says booster appears to provide strong protection against omicron Ukraine says Biden-Putin call enabled ‘deterrence and de-escalation’ Scholz becomes first new German chancellor in 16 years Pavlich: Biden gets walloped by the courts Budowsky: Pro-choice women can save Democrats in 2022 How Biden can beat the great-power authoritarians in China and Russia The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Uber – Debt limit maneuvers; Biden warns Putin Conservatives prepare new push for constitutional convention Pharmacies slammed with COVID-19 vaccine demand Trump war with GOP seeps into midterms Nunes retirement move seen as sign of power shift in GOP Senate poised to pass resolution to nullify Biden vaccine mandate Seeking tribal sovereignty through solar GOP braces for brutal primary in Georgia governor’s election Lobbying world Best wine gift set 13 cozy gifts to order right now Best Bluetooth-compatible appliances to build a smart kitchen