Senate Shake-Up, Brazil Eliminated, and Falling in Love

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Good morning. It\'s Saturday, Dec. 10, and in this weekend edition, we\'re covering a senator\'s decision to leave the Democratic Party, another World Cup stunner, and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

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One Big Headline

Senate Shake-Up

Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) announced yesterday she is switching her party affiliation to independent. Sinema, who has positioned herself as moderate in the chamber along with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), is the first senator to leave her party since 2009. See other senators who switched parties during their service here.

Sinema\'s announcement (see here, via Twitter) comes days after Democrats secured 51 seats in the 100-member Senate. In explaining her decision, Sinema said she "never really fit into a box of any political party" and that she will neither caucus with Republicans nor change the way she has voted. Sinema is expected to keep her Democratic committee assignments. She joins Sens. Angus King (ME) and Bernie Sanders (VT), who are both independents but generally caucus with Democrats.

While the first-term senator has broken with the Democratic party over certain issues, including the Build Back Better stimulus package, she has supported major Democratic bills 97% of the time, including the $1.9T American Rescue Plan. See her voting record here.

Political analysts say America\'s two-party political system makes it difficult for independents to win elections. Sinema has not said whether she will run for reelection in 2024, though she would have faced a challenge from Rep. Ruben Gallego (D, AZ-7).

Quick Hits

Croatia knocks Brazil out of the World Cup in penalty shootout.

Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, lost 4-2 on penalties to Croatia after Brazil\'s Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior scored a goal in extra time, followed by a goal from Croatia\'s Bruno Petković. Croatia now advances to the semifinals, its third time in history, and will face Argentina Tuesday. See latest standings here.

Ex-Minneapolis cop sentenced for role in 2020 killing of George Floyd.

A judge sentenced J. Alexander Kueng to 42 months in prison Friday as part of a guilty plea deal in a state trial. Kueng, 29, previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in second-degree manslaughter in October.

UK, Italy, and Japan to jointly develop next-generation fighter jet.

The three countries plan to deploy the newest combat aircraft by 2035. Observers say the deal will allow Japan to have greater support in countering tense relations with China and allow Britain to have a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle to step down at year\'s end.

Dohle\'s resignation comes weeks after a federal judge blocked America’s largest book publisher from acquiring rival Simon & Schuster for $2B, finding the merger would harm competition in the US market.

Taylor Swift to make feature directorial debut with original script.

The singer-songwriter has struck a deal with Searchlight Pictures, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios. The 11-time Grammy winner is the only solo artist to have won two best direction awards at the MTV VMAs for her work on "All Too Well: The Short Film" and "The Man."

In partnership with SmartAsset

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Humankind

Van Gogh, a former bait dog in a dogfighting ring, paints artwork for charity. (More)

New Hampshire family touched by random act of kindness pays it forward with 25 Days of Christmas Kindness project. (More)

Debut author\'s lonely book signing spurs support from Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, and more. (More)

Texas sushi chef learns American Sign Language to communicate with deaf diners. (More)

An interview with Ahren Belisle, a standup comedian who has cerebral palsy. (More)

Caring for grandchildren and volunteering can reduce loneliness in people over the age of 50, study finds. (More)

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Humankind(ness)

Today, we\'re sharing a story from reader Bob P. in Georgetown, Texas.

"While shopping at Dollar Tree recently I overheard another customer\'s conversation with a cashier. Every year he saves up his loose tip change as a server at Cotton Patch Cafe. As Christmas nears he collects it all in then goes to Dollar Tree and buys as many small stuffed toys as his savings will allow. This year he bought about $300 worth of stuffed toys. The restaurant he works at donates an empty refrigerated cooler to keep the toys in at the restaurant. As families come in and eat at his assigned tables he surprises the children with a \'cold\' stuffed toy and tells them it came directly from the North Pole and Santa Claus. The joyful faces and excited reaction of the kids and even the parents are priceless."

What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here.

Etcetera

Bookkeeping

> Boeing rolls out 1,574th (and final) 747 plane after over 50 years of production.
> Reports to poison centers for child and teen marijuana use increased by 245% from 2000 to 2020, study finds.

Browse

> This year\'s best Northern Lights photographs.

> Where the world\'s most wanted pirate hid in the 1600s.

> ... and hurricane erosion reveals a shipwreck in Florida.

> The world\'s first upcycled skyscraper.

Listen

> What is the most average sized thing, if you take into account everything in the universe?

Watch

> The village that paints thousands of replicas of world-famous paintings.

> Relax and observe beautiful coral reef fish in 4K.

> The science of falling in love.

Long Read

> Nature\'s underappreciated cleaners: the animals who devour the dead.

> What fingerprints tell us about Jerusalem\'s ancient artisans.

> Brazil, the 1970 World Cup, and the mythology of a "beautiful game."

Best of the Week: The top toy from the year you were born.

Historybook: Encyclopædia Britannica first published (1768); Poet Emily Dickinson born (1830); Inventor Alfred Nobel, founder of Nobel Prizes, dies (1896); Spanish-American War ends (1898); Comedian Richard Pryor dies (2005); Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet dies (2006).

"Forever is composed of nows."

- Emily Dickinson

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Senate Shake-Up, Brazil Eliminated, and Falling in Love