 THE BIG STORY
The CDC changed its guidance to say a shorter quarantine is OK with a negative COVID-19 test
Fourteen days remains the baseline quarantine recommendation for people exposed to someone diagnosed with the coronavirus, the CDC says. But the shortened time periods — 10 days without symptoms and 7 days with no symptoms and a negative test — are intended to give people more options for returning to work.
That negative test should be from a genetic PCR test, not a rapid test, which is more likely to return a false negative if someone is not tested at the peak of their infection.
👉 Interpol issued a warning that Mafia groups will most likely try to disrupt the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. They also warned about the sale of fraudulent coronavirus vaccines.
“Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives," said Interpol Secretary-General Jürgen Stock.
👉 Congress took a big leap toward a Christmas COVID relief bill, but President Donald Trump still needs to sign on. The bipartisan plan would provide $300-per-week in unemployment benefits and provide billions of dollars in aid, but Trump and Senate Republicans still need to sign on.
It would not include any additional direct payments like the up to $1,200 checks delivered to many American adults this spring, but would include a short-term liability shield for businesses, preventing employees and customers from being able to sue if they contract COVID. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
Twitter's warning labels on Trump's election lies haven't caught up to reality
Trump has refused to accept that he lost the presidential election. Instead, he has spent a lot of time posting increasingly unhinged tweets declaring victory and claiming widespread election fraud despite the fact that there is no truth to any of his claims.
His flagrant lies about the election are undermining democracy and stoking tensions that could turn deadly. Twitter's solution to this: attaching the vague label of "This claim about election fraud is disputed" to his tweets. The company defines “disputed claims” as “statements or assertions in which the accuracy, truthfulness, or credibility of the claim is contested or unknown.” Trump’s claims of voter fraud aren’t “contested” or “unknown.” They’re outright lies.
 One example of Trump tweeting lies about the election. SNAPSHOTS
Airlines in the US can now ban emotional support animals from flights. Only dogs will be considered as legitimate "service animals" on flights, according to a new US rule.
OnlyFans suspended YouTuber Gabi DeMartino's account after she sold a video of herself as a toddler flashing the camera.
A Black man who witnesses say was trying to flag down a patrol car because of a crash ended up being tased by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies in the middle of the street.
FOLLOWING THE MONEY
Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler donated her salary to anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion organizations
Loeffler, who is the wealthiest member of Congress and fighting for her seat against Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff election next month, pledged to donate her $174,000 congressional salary to Georgia charities each quarter.
Over the last two financial quarters, she donated $26,600 to seven anti-abortion pregnancy centers, and $3,800 to Covenant Care Adoptions, which has a strong anti-LGBTQ ethos and bans same-sex couples from using it. YEAR END ROUNDUP TIME!
The tiks that tokked the most
It's December, so that means it's round-up time! It has been a year for all of us, which was great news for companies like TikTok that make products for you to just … bliss out and enjoy some content that doesn't make you think. Or get your locked-down family to make some with you.
 Hunter and Lauren, his duck. Hunter Clay Dance like the internet is watching and wants to smash that like button, Brandon 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 Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here. BuzzFeed, Inc.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
