THE DAILY NEWSLETTER - MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
Kaitlan Collins

As the Omicron variant spreads, availability of reliable Covid-19 tests has become an increasingly important issue. CNN's Kaitlan Collins focused on this issue during her interview Monday morning with Dr. Anthony Fauci on New Day, asking him “at what point will we be here in the United States where anyone and everyone can walk into a drugstore and get an at-home test?”

Fauci expressed hope that 500 million Covid tests will be available in early January, and “things are going to change substantially in the first couple of weeks” of the new year.

Collins then asked why America hasn’t already reached that point since the country is in the middle of the holiday season. Fauci conceded that testing had always been "problematic" throughout the pandemic, with concern about the Omicron variant and the holidays further increasing demand.

"Not making any excuses for it, we should’ve had more tests available," he said, "but hopefully now as we get into the first couple weeks of January, that’ll get much better."

It was a solid interview about a vitally important topic, and Collins didn't accept excuses. Watch here, and another segment about vaccine hesitancy here.

MEDIA LOSER:
Erin Andrews

Aaron Rodgers conducted his postgame interview with Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews while keeping a socially distant six-feet of space between them. But as soon as the questions were done, Rodgers and Andrews shared a Christmas Day hug that lit up social media.

Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to a 24-22 win over the Cleveland Browns Saturday night, throwing for three scores to give him 445 career touchdowns and break Brett Favre’s franchise record. Despite the milestone achievement by breaking Favre’s touchdown record, fans were more concerned with the protocol breaking maskless hug between Rodgers and Andrews.

Thanks to his weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, we learned Rodgers had refused the jab because of an allergy and advice he received from polarizing podcast host Joe Rogan.

As far as we know, Rodgers’ vaccination status has not changed since the quarterback tested positive for Covid last month. Fans couldn’t help themselves from highlighting the hypocrisy of staying socially distant on national TV, but hugging after they believed the cameras were off. It just made all the safety protocols look like nothing more than a silly charade.

The A-Block

Candace Owens triples down

Candace Owens is tripling down on her anti-vaccine stance and instructing people to take a fake medical supplement as the conservative firebrand deals with the fallout from her interview with former President Donald Trump.

The interview made waves in the past week as political observers watched Trump push back on Owens’ talking points by telling her that fewer people are dying by getting inoculated for Covid. Owens has responded by pushing back on her interview’s media coverage, saying she’ll never get vaccinated, and having an online slugfest with Meghan McCain.

On Thursday, Owens sent out an Instagram video where she took more shots at McCain before turning to Trump and claiming that his pro-vaccine comments are because he’s too “old” to be Internet-savvy enough to look up alternative information.

She then touted a quack remedy that has been heavily scrutinized by health officials for making unproven claims about its benefits -- not to mention bizarre side effects like potentially turning your skin permanently bluish-gray.
In other news...

The View Struggling to Find Meghan McCain's Successor: Report

‘This is the Greatest Christmas Gift!’ Schwarzenegger Visits 25 Tiny Homes He Bought For Homeless Veterans in LA

CBS' Jan Crawford Slams Decision to Impose 'Crushing' Covid Shutdowns on Students: 'They Will be Paying' for 'the Rest of Their Lives'

Britney Spears' Backup Dancer Says Her Brother Controlled Her on Tour: 'Abuses Started Way Before' Conservatorship
 

Must See Clip

'Just a little brotherly disagreement'

The Dallas Cowboys obliterated their division rival the Washington Football Team Sunday night 56-14 and caused frustrations to reach a boiling point on the sideline. 

After Dallas jumped out to a 28-7 lead in the second quarter, two members of WFT’s defense appeared to be fed up with allowing the Cowboys’ offense to score at will. Two Washington defensive linemen, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, nearly brawled on the sideline as the game quickly slipped out of reach. 

NBC cameras caught Payne and Allen sitting on the bench next to each other, engaged in what appeared to be a heated discussion.

That heated discussion soon got a bit physical, and their teammates had to separate the two sparring linemen.

After the game, Payne characterized it as "just a little brotherly disagreement." Watch the incident here and decide for yourself

Links We Like

Why more psychiatrists think mindfulness can help treat ADHD
- Tasha Eichenseher, Vox
Conservatives and Liberals Are Wrong About Each Other
- Victoria Parker, The Atlantic
America's Divisions May Have Passed the Tipping Point
- J.D. Tuccille, Reason
Dave Barry’s 2021 Year in Review
- Dave Barry, Washington Post
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