The Hill Articles: January 18, 2022

Track your health and fitness with $60 off this HD Touch Screen Smartwatch Upgrade your at-home workouts with 10% off this foldable 3-in-1 stationary bike 11 former Democratic senators call for ‘meaningful reform to Senate rules’ Gallup: Biden’s first-year approval rating at 49 percent ‘Succession’s’ Brian Cox on Trump: How can US ‘vote for such a f—ing a–hole?’ Florida Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick sworn in as newest House member Airlines suspend US flights in response to 5G deployment Soccer fans who yell homophobic slurs will be banned from games for 5 years: Mexican Soccer Federation DeSantis proposes Florida redistricting map Manchin defends filibuster stance amid primary threats: ‘Bring it on’ Sanho Tree discusses study regarding cannabis providing protection against COVID-19 Watchdog report says mandatory Olympic Games app has ‘devastating’ security flaw FDA-funded study aims to lift restrictions on blood donation for gay, bisexual men American LGBTQ+ Museum selects first executive director Encouraging vaccination among service members is critical to US mission readiness Overnight Defense & National Security — White House raises new alarm over Russia Oklahoma calls on state employees to substitute amid teacher shortage Overnight Energy & Environment — Biden’s wildfire plan Stevie Wonder presses Senate: ‘The filibuster is not working for democracy’ Jan. 6 panel subpoenas phone records associated with Eric Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle: report Downgrading licensing will weaken consumer protections Schumer proposing talking filibuster amid voting rights standoff  Hillicon Valley — 5G delayed again near airports EMILY’s List says it won’t endorse Sinema unless she relents on filibuster Arctic blast expected to bring subzero temperatures to Midwest On The Money — US regulators go after illegal mergers An interview in the metaverse Overnight Health Care — Free testing kit website now live Poland raises cybersecurity terror threat level following attack in Ukraine Los Angeles mayor nominates city’s first female fire chief Sanders open to supporting primary challengers against Manchin and Sinema Priest accused of child abuse dies Colorado legislator pushes tax breaks to combat ‘porch piracy’ Researchers find genetic link to COVID-19-induced loss of smell and taste COVID-19 has derailed progress on malaria — here’s what we need to do to get back on track Equilibrium/Sustainability — Climate change may threaten Winter Olympics Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell Russia sends troops to Belarus for war games European EV sales outpace diesel for first time Rising costs of climate crisis must compel Congress to act Judge releases Puerto Rico from bankruptcy protection Nebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case Aerial photos show the world’s biggest volcanic eruption in the last 30 years Watch: Senators debate voting rights legislation Harris to travel to Honduras for new president’s inauguration GOP Reps. Greene, Clyde accrue nearly $150K in combined mask fines Idaho state lawmaker calls for flags at half-staff in recognition of anti-abortion ‘Day of Tears’ Egyptian president raises monthly minimum wage to around $172 Apple warns antitrust legislation could expose Americans to malware Madame Tussauds unveils new Biden and Harris figures Dilapidated San Francisco home sells for $2M US raises concerns about Russian troop movements to Belarus Florida lawmaker introduces bill to remove three confederate holidays from state law Senate Democrats eye talking filibuster Israeli police used Pegasus spyware on citizens, officials: report Employers expecting average employee raises of 3.4 percent this year: survey Natural disasters can increase academic inequalities: report 1 million COVID-19 cases recorded in California in past week US, Russia have lowest vaccination rates, highest vaccine skepticism among several major nations: poll Putin tests a model for invading Ukraine, outwitting Biden’s diplomats NAACP president presses senators on voting rights: ‘You will decide who defines America’ Grammy Awards rescheduled to April 3 in Las Vegas DC Metro chief announces retirement Trump lawyers to Supreme Court: Jan. 6 committee ‘will not be harmed by delay’ Cleveland Browns player facing public exposure charge in Florida US readying financial sanctions on pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine: report Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt running for president in Colombia Why doubling the Pell Grant should be back on the table Guatemala sends back hundreds of migrants in caravan headed to US New Interpol chief facing torture complaint Biden administration unveils plan for addressing wildfires US sanctions Lebanese tourism company, Hezbollah members for ties to terrorism  World’s oldest man dead at 112, report says Drugmaker says counterfeit versions of its HIV medicines ended up in patients’ hands Michael Phelps calls Lia Thomas controversy ‘complicated’; highlights need for ‘level playing field’ Kansas ending ‘futile’ COVID-19 contact tracing Models predict wave of COVID-19 deaths into March Supreme Court seems wary of Boston’s refusal to allow flying of Christian flag Biden commends wireless giants for delaying 5G rollout near key airports Pfizer says COVID-19 antiviral pill effective against omicron Saudi-led coalition targets Houthi rebels in Yemen after Abu Dhabi attack Two-thirds of Americans support banning lawmakers from trading stocks: poll WHO official says world has ‘chance to end’ worst of COVID-19 this year Trump’s tariffs are not causing post-COVID inflation Climate change poses threat to Winter Olympics: study Former MSNBC anchor says he wanted to leave ‘hyper-partisan’ political news Supreme Court grapples over fate of artwork stolen by Nazis Two House Democrats announce they won’t seek reelection Texas blames supply chain snarls for shortage of voter registration forms Tennis Australia says it regrets Djokovic ‘distraction’ Activists warn Olympians against criticizing China Erdoğan: US pulling support for EastMed gas pipeline due to high costs DiCaprio on climate change: ‘Vote for people that are sane’ Briefing in brief: Free COVID-19 test site in testing phase before launch Wednesday Religious leaders push back against Canada’s conversion therapy ban US national security officials reviewing Alibaba’s cloud business: report White House says Russia could launch attack in Ukraine ‘at any point’ Crypto.com suspends deposits, withdrawals over ‘unauthorized activity’ Hochul raises $21.6 million since launching gubernatorial campaign ‘Warmer’ peace with Israel offers Jordan better economic dividends Israel says test of long-range missile defense system was successful Massive asteroid will pass by Earth today Sununu says he skipped Senate bid to avoid being ‘roadblock’ to Biden for two years AT&T, Verizon to delay 5G rollout near certain airports Florida orange production projected to fall, prices expected to increase Guatemala, with Taiwan’s help, to hire Trump ally for lobbying push Schumer tees up showdown on voting rights, filibuster Laura Coates on ‘Jeopardy!’ hosting gig: ‘I was told no’ How to order free rapid COVID-19 tests Stephen A. Smith opens up about COVID-19 fight; encourages vaccines, masks The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Dems barrel towards voting rights vote with no outcome William Barr’s memoir set for release in early March Chef at American Embassy in Moscow forced out amid US, Russia tensions Rapper Vic Mensa arrested at DC airport on narcotics charges West Virginia sports stars urge Manchin to support voting rights legislation ‘All or nothing’ won’t bolster American democracy: Reform the filibuster and Electoral Count Act Telemundo announces new senior leadership team UK cracking down on ‘misleading’ crypto advertising EU drug regulator says mRNA vaccines safe for expectant mothers, babies Moderna hopes to offer combined flu, COVID-19 booster by 2023 Former Trump officials plotting effort to blunt his impact on elections: report Rex Chapman will join CNN streaming service as host Polish president attending Beijing Olympics despite US diplomatic boycott Prince’s estate worth $156.4M in final valuation Blinken to meet with Russian foreign minister amid tensions over Ukraine FTC, DOJ launch joint inquiry aimed at blocking illegal mergers Louisiana Democrat running for US Senate smokes marijuana in campaign ad You can’t teach what you don’t know BlackRock chief urges CEOs to treat workers well Russia shortens required COVID-19 isolation period GOP lawmakers press administration on US weapons left behind in Afghanistan Warren dodges on whether Sinema, Manchin should be challenged in primaries Ohio state Rep. Emilia Sykes enters House race with map in limbo Lead plaintiff in Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage running for office in Ohio Designer sues Lego over copy of leather jacket worn on ‘Queer Eye’ Scientists say current level of chemical pollutants are dangerously high for humanity and the planet Earth to Hollywood: Make more climate movies Curious about HIIT workouts? Here’s what you need to get started Cracker Barrel ordered to pay $9.4M to man served chemical instead of water Michelle Obama: ‘Treat fear as a challenge’ Jay-Z’s Team Roc presses for federal investigation of Kansas City police Blinken stresses ‘unshakable’ US commitment to Ukraine in call with Russian counterpart Texas hostage-taker was known to British security officials Abu Dhabi requiring booster shots for entrance At least 20 percent of Americans have been infected with COVID-19, data show Vermont’s Republican governor backs all-mail elections Gruyere cheese and Tennessee whiskey: A trade story I tested the Secretlab’s new gaming desk. Here’s what I found FBI, DHS warn faith-based communities will likely remain targets for violence Assistant shares one of the last photos of Betty White Exxon sets ‘net zero’ emissions goal from operations by 2050 Democracy ‘crisis’ is not within the ranks I tried the cult favorite, Tatcha Water Cream. Here’s what I thought Rising: January 18, 2022 Merck supplying UNICEF with 3M courses of COVID-19 pill Flight attendants arrested in Hong Kong for breaking COVID-19 rules California freezes hundreds of thousands of suspicious disability insurance claims Kaiser says thousands in San Francisco area may have received low dose of COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 cases almost 10 times higher in Los Angeles area than one month ago Big Tech critics launch new project Washington and the West must regain the initiative with China and Russia O’Rourke says he raised record $7.2M since launching campaign for Texas governor Supreme Court rejects bid to block mask mandate on airplanes Top Vatican official, aide test positive for COVID-19 Former aide says she felt ‘abandoned’ by Democrats who advanced Garcetti nomination as ambassador to India White House dismisses report of new Build Back Better package Walmart exploring cryptocurrency, filings show California city plans to use lasers to solve growing crow problem De Blasio says he won’t run for New York governor Florida woman attacked by bear while walking dog Watchdog predicted collapse of Afghan air force months before US withdrawal Microsoft buying game publisher Activision Trump cutout among pranks left at Executive Mansion for Youngkin A new Bureau of Prisons director gives administration a chance to live up to promises  Australia reports record COVID-19 deaths Top Democrats call on AT&T and Verizon to delay 5G rollouts near airports Russia removing staff from Kyiv embassy: report DC Council candidate says he is ‘shocked, angry and embarrassed’ after being carjacked Shame on Biden for his Atlanta remarks — but are we surprised? Culling ordered in Hong Kong after thousands of hamsters get COVID-19 China recommends gloves, masks when opening international mail amid probe into Beijing’s first omicron case Blinken to travel to Ukraine amid tensions with Russia Could the coming ‘red wave’ election become a ‘red tsunami’? GOP fundraising platform raked in $559 million in 2021 Aide says UK’s Johnson knew about lockdown party Feehery: DC will become the inverse of West Berlin Trust in democratic governments at record low: survey Texas hostage-taker stayed at homeless shelters before attack: AP Press: A colossal double-fault by Djokovic  Bottom line Democrats would rip up election law under the guise of a COVID emergency The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Voting rights week for Democrats (again) Democrats ponder Plan B strategy to circumvent voting rights filibuster The Memo: Blame game intensifies over nation’s divide Trump-DeSantis tensions ratchet up Biden endures up-and-down first year on labor issues