Good Wednesday morning! Happy hump day!

My take: Looking ahead to the 2022 and 2024 elections, expect that the political climate will be no better than it was in 2020. The Democrats will try and tie the Republican Party to Trumpism. The Republicans will in turn talk about runaway spending, unsafe cities and an international relations climate driven by China and Russia. They also will focus on Joe Biden’s verbal delivery and mental health. The Republicans and Democrats will have one similarity. Both parties will have significant infighting. Trump will drive the narrative in the GOP. His mantra will be retribution in large part. He will not care if the result is GOP loss as it was in the Georgia Senate races that threw the control of the Senate into the Democrat’s hands. In 2022, retirements in the House and the Senate will put the control of both chambers in question. While the margin is now razor thin in the Senate, control will remain tight and all pundits believe the Democrats have a stronger chance to remain in control. On the other hand, the House of Representatives may well flip to GOP control. If the Biden Administration continues to fumble on a multitude of crises, then the Senate may well flip back to the Republicans. Also look for increased interference from foreign players while domestically little progress has been made on creating safer elections. All told, nothing much will change. If the country continues the way it has been, voters will look for change and once again try and throw the bums out. Luckily there is not another Thanksgiving (to fight with family) before the next critical election and the holiday season this year arrives a week before the start of the 2022 campaign season. Enjoy the quiet while you can…

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What is wrong with us? American citizen pleads for help as Afghan family remains stuck in UAE: ‘I’m losing my job, car’ Bilal Ahmad says about struggle to get wife, child out of UAE.
In history 80 years ago: 80 years after Pearl Harbor, here's how the attack changed history: Certain of inevitable war with the U.S., Japan launched a preemptive strike that shocked Americans and prompted the nation to enter World War II.
Important to you: Amazon Web Services outage brings some delivery operations to a standstill: Amazon’s cloud computing unit on Tuesday was hit with an outage that took down some websites and services: A notice on AWS’ status page confirmed it was experiencing issues in the “US-East-1 Region.” The outage brought down popular services like Disney+ and Coinbase, along with critical internal tools at Amazon like its Flex and AtoZ apps used by warehouse and delivery workers.
The latest sign of President Biden’s inflation politics problem comes from Main Street: Small business confidence is back near an all-time low, according to the CNBC|Momentive Small Business Survey for Q4 2021. The small business demographic skews conservative and Republican respondent views of a Democratic president and economy are expected to be low, but independents are the primary reason for the decline, with support for President Biden slipping among these key swing voters. Concerns about inflation and the supply chain continue to rise among America’s small businesses, with strong economic data including consumer demand and GDP being outweighed by prices.
State Department outlines new testing requirements for air travelers to the U.S.
U.S. COVID-19 cases approach 50 Million: The U.S. has reported nearly 50 million coronavirus cases during the pandemic, reaching another grim milestone as the Omicron variant spreads across the country and world.
The variant has now been detected in 19 states, with more cases emerging just 5 days after the first report of Omicron in the U.S. was announced in California, according to The Washington Post.
First study of omicron shows Pfizer vaccine may be less effective: The omicron variant of the coronavirus partially evades antibody immunity from two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to initial data from South Africa published Tuesday. The small study of 12 patients conducted by the Africa Health Research Institute found there was about a 40-fold reduction in vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies compared to the ancestral strain of the virus.
Six of the 12 people were previously infected with COVID-19 during South Africa’s first wave.
U.S. court temporarily halts Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors nationwide: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia told the Biden administration to halt enforcement “in all covered contracts in any state or territory of the United States of America.” The court said President Joe Biden likely exceeded his authority under the Procurement Act when he issued the mandate. The requirements cover millions of workers across the U.S. economy.
Biden told Putin that 'things we did not do in 2014, we are prepared to do now' if Russia escalates in Ukraine, top adviser says: The White House says President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that the United States is prepared to launch strong economic measures should Russia invade Ukraine -- signaling that these new measures would pack a bigger punch than the sanctions issued in 2014 that failed to stop Russia from occupying Crimea.
U.S. has 'understanding' with Germany to shut Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine -Congressional aide.
Congress hatches novel plan to lift debt ceiling with only Democratic votes: The approach includes a multi-step process that would resolve the debt limit standoff and avoid automatic cuts to Medicare. McConnell secures GOP support for new debt strategy: Senate leaders seem to have found a path forward to avoid a debt cliff without Republican votes.
Biden Administration: 5 million kids under 12 vaccinated against COVID-19.
Biden bank regulator pick Saule Omarova withdraws after Senate fight over her background: President Joe Biden’s nominee for comptroller of the currency, Saule Omarova, has withdrawn her name from Senate consideration for the post. Omarova’s withdrawal came after concerns from Republican senators about her writings as a legal scholar, as well as her background of being raised in the former Soviet Union. Biden condemned what he called the “inappropriate personal attacks” on Omarova, “that were far beyond the pale.”
Chris Cuomo book cancelled by publisher HarperCollins after CNN host’s firing: The publisher HarperCollins canceled plans to publish a book by Chris Cuomo, who was fired over the weekend by CNN following controversy over his role advising his brother, disgraced ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
HarperCollins originally planned to publish Chris Cuomo’s book, titled “Deep Denial,” in fall 2022. News of the cancellation came a day Cuomo said he was ending his SiriusXM show. The Wall Street Journal reported that CNN President Jeff Zucker had told the news network employees that CNN will not pay Cuomo severance.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo mess: Behind Jeff Zucker’s difficult decisions:
The network now finds itself having to effectively rebuild its primetime lineup, and decide whether it wants to lean into the more opinionated news-analysis or emulate its daytime programming.
Attorney says Meadows won’t cooperate with Jan. 6 panel: In an abrupt reversal, an attorney for former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said his client will not cooperate with a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, citing a breakdown in negotiations with the panel.
Attorney George Terwilliger said in a letter Tuesday that a deposition would be “untenable” because the Jan. 6 panel “has no intention of respecting boundaries” concerning questions that former President Donald Trump has claimed are off-limits because of executive privilege. Terwilliger also said that he learned over the weekend that the committee had issued a subpoena to a third-party communications provider that he said would include “intensely personal” information.
Top Pence aide cooperating with January 6 committee: Marc Short, the former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, is cooperating with the January 6 committee, a significant development that will give investigators insight from one of the highest-ranking Trump officials, according to three sources with knowledge of the committee's activities. Short remains one of Pence's closest advisers and is a firsthand witness to many critical events the committee is examining, including what happened to Pence at the Capitol on January 6 and how former President Donald Trump pressured the former vice president not to certify the presidential election that day.
Elon Musk on Biden's infrastructure plan: 'just can this whole bill': “Honestly, I would just can this whole bill. Don’t pass it. That’s my recommendation.”
Psaki dodges question about Hunter Biden's sale of Chinese assets: Psaki pointed the reporter toward attorneys for the president’s son.
California state, federal politicians silent after AOC doubts existence of smash-and-grab robberies: Republicans have spoken out about Ocasio-Cortez's comments downplaying smash-and-grab crimes while Democrats in California remain silent.
New York City expected to give some voting rights to noncitizens: Noncitizens would be able to vote in local elections, but not for president, members of Congress or in the state elections.
Saudi man linked to Jamal Khashoggi's murder detained at Paris airport, reports say: A Saudi man accused of being a member of the hit squad that murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been detained in Paris while boarding a flight to Riyadh, French media reported Tuesday. A 33-year-old man was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport before his flight at 9:30 a.m. local time, and was traveling under a real passport, a spokesperson for the French National Police told CNN. He was placed in judicial detention, the spokesperson added. The suspect was identified as Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi, radio station RTL reported, citing French police and judicial sources. French police would not confirm the man's identity to CNN.
Jussie Smollett got totally nailed in his cross-examination: Dan Webb, a lawyer’s lawyer who nailed corrupt judges and cops when he served as the U.S. attorney for the district including Chicago and who prosecuted Ronald Reagan’s national security adviser and deposed the president as special counsel in the Iran-Contra affair, shifted the focus back to the incident at hand. This after Smollett had previously shared intimate details about his relationship with one of the Osundairo brothers, who have testified that the actor paid them $3,500 in 2019 to stage a fake hate crime against him.
Biden's Supreme Court commission steers clear of controversial issues in draft report: The Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court is to vote Tuesday on its final report and recommendations, but the panel steers clear of taking a position on many of the most controversial suggestions for changing the court.
Still, the report states pretty unequivocally that Congress does have the power to enlarge the court, but it takes no position on doing so. On term limits, it seems to suggest that a constitutional amendment is likely necessary, and it points to the practical difficulties of implementing term limits at the same time that there are sitting justices with life terms on the court.
These moms overcame homelessness. But the fight for a better life is far from over: There are more homeless families in the United States than in any other industrialized country. The main cause is the lack of affordable housing.
Nearly 172,000 families experienced homelessness in 2020, making up about 30% of the homeless population. Many of those families comprise single women with young children who have no choice but to seek family homelessness services: emergency shelters, transitional housing or permanent housing placements.
The dramatic irony of Biden's foreign-policy picks: The president veers progressive on his domestic nominees but embraces the establishment for global affairs. The latter cast is the one facing a Senate GOP blockade for unrelated reasons.
Avoiding prosecution, Michael Steinhardt to return $70 million in looted antiquities: Hedge fund founder and Jewish philanthropist accepts deal that will see him barred for life from owning antiquities after investigators found he bought over 1,000 stolen objects.
Myanmar’s to jail: Monday’s conviction is first in a dozen cases Myanmar’s military has brought against Aung San Suu Kyi since February coup.
Hong Kong issues a threat to the WSJ: ‘We reserve the right to take necessary action,’ writes the regime, flagging an editorial for ‘incitement.’
‘Face with tears of joy’ is once again the most-used emoji 25: The world’s favorite emoji isn’t going anywhere.
'I am not a traitor': Reality Winner gives first televised interview since being convicted of espionage.
Missing UNH student found dead: ‘Not the Outcome We Had All Hoped for'
Vincenzo Lirosi, 22, was reported missing at 3 a.m. Saturday. His body was found around 1:20 p.m. Sunday in Durham, New Hampshire, police said.
Israel struck weapons shipment meant for Iranian militias in Syria's Latakia, War monitor says: Syria said Israeli planes attacked the Latakia port, with no casualties reported, in what a source said was the first time Israel had attacked the facility on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
China moon rover will investigate cube-shaped 'mystery' object on lunar far side: Is that a boulder? Or something else?
NASA names 2021 astronaut candidates as it plans for moon missions: NASA announced 10 astronaut candidates on Monday, selecting a group from more than 12,000 applications. The group, which includes four women, will train in hopes of being named to NASA's first human missions to the moon in more than 50 years. The would-be astronauts reflect a broad stretch of America, from Alaska to Puerto Rico.
NASA astronauts make tacos onboard the ISS with green chile harvested in space: NASA astronauts on the ISS indulged in a taco feast after harvesting their first crop of chile peppers. ‘after the harvest, we got to taste red and green chile,’ tweeted NASA astronaut meghan mcarthur. ‘then we filled out surveys (got to have the data!) finally, I made my best space tacos yer: fajita beef, rehydrated tomatoes and artichokes, and HATCH CHILE.’
the peppers are part of NASA’s plant habitat-04 — one of the most challenging station plant experiments to date. the experiment began in summer this year, when astronauts cultivated chile peppers aboard the ISS for the first time. following four months of growing, the peppers were ready to be harvested: some were eaten and others were sent back to earth for analysis.
Meet Leonard, the brightest Comet of the year: The celestial object will reach peak visibility in the northern hemisphere on December 12 and should be visible until the end of the month.
The pandemic forced an experiment in delivering intensive mental health care from home. Will the approach stick?
Study casts doubt on idea that marijuana improves sleep: cientists say using marijuana could harm sleeping habits, according to a new study published Monday. The study, published in the journal BMJ, showed that adults who used marijuana at least 20 times in the last month were 64 percent more likely to sleep less than six hours per night and 76 percent more likely to sleep over nine hours per night. It included 21,729 adults between the ages of 20 and 59, and its data, which was gathered by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, is considered representative of over 146 million Americans.
Next Avenue list of 2021's influencers in aging: Meet this year's thought leaders, activists, entrepreneurs and experts changing how we think about aging.
Elizabeth Warren blasts Hertz for $2 billion stock buyback while jacking up rental car prices: Hertz has gone from bankruptcy court to buybacks in the span of five months. And Senator Elizabeth Warren is not happy about it.
The Massachusetts Democrat wrote Hertz (HTZ) a letter Monday calling the company out for rewarding shareholders with up to $2 billion in stock buybacks despite skyrocketing rental car prices. Warren questioned why Hertz is plowing money into buybacks instead of investing in new inventory that could ease the supply-demand imbalance. "This decision, and other actions taken before and after Hertz's bankruptcy process," Warren wrote in a letter obtained exclusively by CNN, "reveals that the company is happy to reward executives, company insiders, and big shareholders while stiffing consumers with record- high rental car costs and ignoring the recent history that nearly wiped out the company."
Instagram unveils new teen safety tools ahead of Senate hearing:Instagram is rolling out a new set of safety features aimed at its youngest users and their parents, a day before the photo-sharing app's head testifies to Congress about the platform's potential risks to kids and teens. They include tools to help users manage how much time they spend on the app, place limits on both unwanted interactions with adults and exposure to sensitive content, and offer optional parental oversight of children's accounts.
Instagram pushes drug content to teens: Research group alleges the company does so despite promises to crack down.
900 Better.com employees learn their jobs are being eliminated in a Zoom call: “If you’re on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off,” CEO Vishal Garg said. “Your employment here is terminated effective immediately.”
‘NOT IN MY BACK SEAT’ – BLOOD BATTERIES; THE REAL COST OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES – The Michael Savage Show – Tuesday December 6, 2021.
Microsoft Office prices going up 20% for some business clients unless they move from monthly to annual subscriptions: Microsoft is telling partners that customers will soon be charged 20% more for Office subscriptions if they prefer to keep paying by the month. By pushing more users to annual subscriptions, Microsoft can potentially have better visibility into its revenue and reduce concerns about customer churn. Some partners are pushing back, taking to Reddit to complain and signing a petition at Change.org.
Toyota to build $1.3B battery plant near Greensboro, NC: Toyota says it plans to build a $1.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant near Greensboro, North Carolina, that will employ at least 1,750 people.
Patek Philippe brings back the ‘holy grail’ of watches for 170 lucky buyers: Patek Philippe announced Monday it is making 170 special versions of its most popular watch, Nautilus Ref. 5711, as part of a partnership with Tiffany & Co.
The launch is likely to set off a buying frenzy among wealthy watch collectors.
The watch was created to honor the 170-year partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and Tiffany, as well as Tiffany’s new ownership under French luxury giant LVMH.
‘It’s a jungle out there’: Florida police pull 5-foot snake from man’s new couch.
Generate your own AI powered art.
Man charged with murder of philanthropist, attempted Mmurder: Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a man was charged today with killing Jacqueline Avant and trying to kill her security guard during a robbery. “Mrs. Avant was a treasured member of our community. Her generosity and good will touched so many lives,” District Attorney Gascón said. “My office is working closely with the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills police departments in the investigation and prosecution of this case. We must continue to work together to hold accountable the people who commit violent crimes against our community.” Aariel Maynor (dob 2/1/92) of Los Angeles is charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and felon with a firearm as well as two counts of residential burglary with person present.
‘Cheugy,’ ‘omicron’ among 2021′s most mispronounced words: “Cheugy” is apparently a lot to chew on. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce have something in common — broadcasters butcher their names. And virtually everyone is having trouble with “omicron.” All four made it onto this year’s list of most mispronounced words as compiled by the U.S. Captioning Company, which captions and subtitles real-time events on TV and in courtrooms. The list released Tuesday identifies the words that proved most challenging for newsreaders and people on television to pronounce this year.
The 100 best songs of 2021: The tracks that defined an unsettling year, featuring Japanese Breakfast, Olivia Rodrigo, Caroline Polachek, Megan Thee Stallion, and more.
Gisele Bündchen saves sea turtle trapped in fishing net on the beach: But the rescue was still upsetting for the model who is a longtime animal activist. She is also a part of U.N.’s “Wild for Life” campaign, as reported by Yahoo.
“There are so many other animals that unfortunately end up dying on nets like this,” she told her 18.2 million followers. “Today I was reminded that we must become more aware of our ways as a species and help protect all animals, it’s our choice.”
Apple, Adam McKay, Jennifer Lawrence team on Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘Bad Blood’: Apple Original Films will back “Bad Blood,” a feature film from “The Big Short” writer and director Adam McKay that will star Jennifer Lawrence as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. The project, which reunites McKay with his “Don’t Look Up” leading lady, has been in the works for some time.
McKay will write, direct and produce the film, with Lawrence portraying Holmes’ spectacular rise and fall, one that began with the promise of revolutionizing the health care system and ended with the collapse of her company and a trial for fraud.
Chris Noth defends Sarah Jessica Parker amid fallout with Kim Cattrall: 'I feel very protective of her'.
The Matrix Resurrections’ trailer promises plenty of Kung Fu: The nearly three-minute preview gives audiences a more in-depth look at the upcoming sequel.
‘The Beatles: Get Back’ glosses over the band’s acrimonious end.
Fact-checking commissioner Rob Manfred's open letter to baseball fans:
In announcing the owner lockout, the commissioner indulged in lots of misinformation.
Mets set to interview 4 for manager: Brad Ausmus, Joe Espada, Matt Quatraro and Buck Showalter are all expected to receive interviews for the Mets' open managerial job, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. The club did not confirm the news.
Have a great Wednesday!

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Pearl Harbor attack at 80; POTUS warns Putin…