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| THE BIG STORY
It can be hard to grapple with the reality that thousands have fallen prey to the QAnon mass delusion, based on the fiction that a Satan-worshipping cabal of child sex traffickers controlled the world and the only person standing in their way was former president Donald Trump. Where do you even start?
But for those with loved ones who believe in QAnon, it’s not such a distant reality. Our reporter Albert Samaha wrote a poignant, loving, and devastating piece about how QAnon infiltrated his mother’s life, and his struggles to navigate this phase of their relationship.
Samaha writes, “The irony gnawed at me: My entire vocation as an investigative reporter was predicated on being able to reveal truths, and yet I could not even rustle up the evidence to convince my own mother that our 45th president was not, in fact, the hero she believed him to be.”
It’s easier to write off QAnon believers, and relegate them to a separate reality. Samaha writes honestly about when that is not an option. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
We obtained an email and government statistics that show that government officials opened a new emergency intake center for unaccompanied immigrant children, with the goal of helping to ease overcrowded conditions in border custody.
The emergency intake center will be a way to cut down on the overcrowding at Border Patrol stations and facilities, where more than 4,200 children were in custody as of this weekend.
Government officials say the existing facilities were not designed for minors, and the new center aims to place children in a setting more designed to their needs.
Meanwhile, attorneys who visited a Border Patrol tent facility in Texas for unaccompanied immigrant minors who recently crossed the border said some of the children were held for as many as eight days in crowded areas without showers or the ability to call their families. SNAPSHOTS
Minneapolis will pay George Floyd’s family $27 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to approve the settlement on Friday, five days into jury selection in the ongoing criminal trial for the officer accused of killing Floyd.
Democrats and Republicans alike are talking about breaking down big tech monopolies. Progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans are preparing to flex the federal government's anti-monopoly powers. Senators seem in agreement that tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon have become too powerful.
Andrew Cuomo is refusing to resign as more women have accused him of sexual harassment. The New York governor questioned the motives of the women accusing him of harassment in a conference call Friday.
Chris Harrison will not host the new season of The Bachelorette. As fallout continues over Harrison’s comments about a current contestant's alleged racist past, Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment said the longtime host of the franchise will not return for the next season.
Big night for Megan Thee Stallion at the Grammy Awards last night. The rapper took home three Grammys, including Best New Artist. Here are all the winners from the show. Taylor Swift set a new record, becoming the first woman to win Album of the Year three times. Beyoncé broke the record for most Grammys won by a female artist — 28! —and looked shocked to learn that she made history. Recording Academy / CBS "BASICALLY MISLEADING THE PUBLIC"
A large PR firm pledged to fight climate change. Then it took millions from a fossil fuels trade group. Edelman is one of the largest public relations firms in the world. The firm made headlines when it pledged never to work with climate deniers, and proudly touts its work on environmental justice campaigns with brands like Tazo Tea.
But according to newly released tax filings, Edelman accepted $4 million in 2019 from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major US oil trade organization that even Shell and BP had recently dumped for its aggressive opposition to popular climate solutions.
On its website, Edelman proudly declares it worked with cleantech companies “long before climate change became a buzzword.”
But in recent years, Edelman has faced a backlash, both publicly and internally, over its willingness to take on high-profile campaigns for clients that are big polluters. In the past, high-level execs have quit, citing the issue.
CELLO REJUVENATION
Yo-Yo Ma performed at a vaccine clinic after getting his COVID-19 shot
You can see daylight emerging with nearly every bit of vaccine news. As more and more people get vaccinated, it’s starting to feel like there’s a place for hope in the fight against COVID-19.
World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma received his second shot of the vaccine on Saturday, and brought his instrument along to the vaccine clinic. Joyously, he turned his time in the observation area into an impromptu concert.
Ma, who lives in Massachusetts part time, treated healthcare workers and fellow vaccine recipients to a cello performance. He played the prelude to Bach's Cello Suite No. 1, receiving applause and cheers from the socially distanced group of people who had also just received shots. Meet yourself where you are today, Elamin P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (Monthly memberships are available worldwide). 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here. Show privacy notice and cookie policy.
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