Good morning. It's Thursday, Dec. 9, and we're covering the efficacy of booster shots against the omicron variant, deliberations in the Jussie Smollett case in Chicago, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
Booster Shots and Omicron
|
Officials from biopharmaceutical giant Pfizer said booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine appear to offer a significant increase in protection against the newly discovered omicron variant. The small study noted a 25-fold rise in neutralizing antibodies in those who've received a booster compared to those who've received just two doses.
The company also noted 80% of the spike proteins recognized by CD8+ T cells—immune system machinery that kills infected cells—are unchanged in the omicron variant. This suggests those with two shots, or a sufficient immune response from acute natural infection, may retain protection against severe disease. See more on T cells and the coronavirus here.
Researchers are still working to understand the variant. It appears to spread at least twice as fast as the delta variant, and may evade immune defenses more effectively. However, early results suggest it may lead to less severe symptoms than previous strains, an anecdotal observation from South African hospitals still under study.
See current US COVID-19 stats here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jury deliberations began yesterday in the high-profile trial of actor Jussie Smollett. The former “Empire” actor is accused of falsely reporting a fake hate crime to the Chicago Police in January 2019. He faces six counts of felony disorderly conduct.
Smollett has claimed he was attacked while walking outside late at night by two men who assaulted him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs while invoking references to then-President Donald Trump. Police identified the attackers as two acquaintances of Smollett's, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who said the actor paid them $3,500 to carry out a false attack. Smollett, 39, denies the claims and alleges the Osundairo brothers have attempted to extort him, demanding $1M apiece to change their story. See a timeline of the case here.
He faces up to three years in jail but would likely face probation and community service if found guilty. Smollett still faces a civil suit from the city of Chicago to recover the cost of the investigation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
An estimated 4.2 million workers voluntarily quit their jobs in the month of October, according to government data released yesterday. The quits rate, the percentage of resignations relative to total employment, stood at 2.8% for the month.
The figure is a slight decrease from a record 4.4 million quits in September, with the total number of workers leaving positions topping 39 million so far in 2021, on pace to set a yearly record. Economists say the departure rate reflects one of the most competitive labor markets in decades—job openings rose to 11 million in October, the second-highest number on record, and average wages rose 4.8% for the 12-month period ending in November.
Referred to as the Great Resignation, experts have cited better opportunities, pandemic burnout, a shift in worker priorities, and more as reasons for the trend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Vuori
|
A NECESSARY WARDROBE CHANGE
|
What do you wear around the house, at the gym, or while running errands? Hate to break it to you, but those old jeans aren't comfortable enough, your joggers aren't as stylish as you think they are, and that one pair of sweatpants has holes everywhere.
You need an upgrade—desperately—and there's no better time to level-up your loungewear as the weather gets chilly. So allow us to introduce you to Vuori Clothing's Ponto Performance Pants. Available in men's and women's sizes, they're the softest sweatpants in the world. But we think calling them "sweatpants" doesn't do them justice. They're made with Vuori's DreamKnit fabric, giving them a light, stretchy, buttery soft feel that you'd associate more with cashmere than the rundown sweatpants you currently use. Better yet, all Vuori pants are designed with a straight-leg modern fit, so you don't have to feel guilty for being so comfortable in public.
Check out Vuori's Ponto Performance Pants or their brand-new Ponto Performance Joggers whenever you can. As a 1440 reader, you can take 20% off your first order—you'll thank us later.
|
Please support our sponsors!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
|
> "Jeopardy!" taps Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings as hosts into 2022; the duo were named temporary hosts after scandal-ridden Mike Richards resigned (More)
> Tiger Woods to play in PNC Championship with his son less than a year after being hospitalized in single-car crash (More)
> Jury in reality show star Josh Duggar's child pornography trial wraps first day of deliberations (More)
|
|
|
|
|
|
> NASA set to launch the first space-based telescope dedicated to measuring the polarization of incoming X-rays; will allow mapping of magnetic fields surrounding neutron stars, black holes, and more (More)
> Weight gain after stopping smoking linked to compounds released by gut bacteria as the microbiome readjusts; effect had been observed regardless of whether former smokers began to consume more food (More)
> Meta (Facebook), Nike, IBM, and others join Data & Trust Alliance, a corporate-backed effort to analyze and address bias in algorithm-based hiring (More) | Biden administration reveals plans to make government carbon neutral by 2050 (More)
|
|
|
|
|
|
> US stock markets up slightly (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq +0.6%) as investors continue to weigh omicron variant economic risk (More)
> Cryptocurrency executives appeared before the House Committee on Financial Services to discuss the industry and potential regulations (More)
> Shares of “meme stock” video game retailer GameStop fall in after-hours trading after losses widened in the third quarter (More)
|
|
|
|
|
|
> Senate to begin consideration of maneuver that would eventually allow the debt ceiling to be raised by a simple majority ahead of mid-December deadline; at least 10 GOP senators must vote to allow the process to proceed (More) | See 1440's primer on how the federal budget works (More)
> Jan. 6 committee to vote on recommending contempt charges against Mark Meadows after the former Trump chief of staff halted cooperation (More) | Meadows sues to have subpoenas nullified (More)
> India's top military leader, 11 other passengers killed in helicopter crash in southern state of Tamil Nadu; crash being investigated as an accident (More)
|
|
|
|
|
|
NYT | Tariq Panja. When French soccer star Kheira Hamraoui was dragged from a car in November and beaten with metal bars, the attack drew parallels to the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding saga. Weeks later, new details have raised more questions than answers. (Read, paywall)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atavist | Annelise Jolley. Roughly 25,000 people have disappeared in Mexico over the past three years, most falling victim to gang and cartel violence. Groups of relatives—wives, mothers, and daughters—have banded together, searching for remains and bonding over shared grief. (Read)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please support our sponsors!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
