Covid-19: WHO chief optimistic disease will be beaten in 2022 https://t.co/gidEJI6tf8

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 31, 2021

UK passes record number of daily Covid cases for third day in rowhttps://t.co/fI5waDFQ8r

— ITV News (@itvnews) December 30, 2021

Suddenly the summary covid data is much more up to date, and we get the first hint of the horror spike in hospital admissions… pic.twitter.com/uiInk5LTeQ

— Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@uk_domain_names) December 31, 2021

If anyone says the UK’s 332 reported Covid deaths today are due to the Omicron surge*, that’s a useful sign that you can ignore anything else they say about Covid, ever.

*They’re not, they’re due to a big reporting backlog over Christmas. No rise in deaths by date of death.

— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) December 30, 2021

THREAD on England & Omicron and what is going on.

My take on it.

TLDR: things are pretty bad and I'm sad & bewildered at lack of govt action and general levels of hopium. 1/18

— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) December 30, 2021

New York City is preparing to revive its annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. The city has said it will limit the number of in-person spectators to 15,000, fewer than the tens of thousands who typically gather, amid surging COVID-19 cases. https://t.co/jYL4jSP3RO

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 31, 2021

New York broke through its largest single-day Covid record yesterday as NYC prepares for its annual New Year's Eve celebration. Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris joins us to discuss how the party will be scaled back this year. https://t.co/BFmoUwxAHE pic.twitter.com/ilEy2GuPoi

— CNBC (@CNBC) December 31, 2021

The fact that Florida has reported a 1,000% increase in Covid cases over the last two weeks and yet there’s still not a single state sponsored testing facility should really be a much bigger story.

— Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) December 30, 2021

Last French Covid Thread of 2021

I spoke last week of a very big Omicron wave about to crash onto France. That wave is upon us. There have been over 200,000 new cases in each of the last two days, bringing the 7-day average to 121,566, up more than 125% in a week. 1/15

— John Lichfield (@john_lichfield) December 31, 2021

Omicron: Third wave looms as India Covid cases spike https://t.co/6LtS6AWnVJ

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 31, 2021

South Africa said a wave of Covid-19 caused by Omicron is in retreat, a promising sign for other countries facing their own bursts of infections https://t.co/sSlxlCjtNW

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 31, 2021

Covid: UK 'better placed' this new year and South Africa says Omicron wave may have peaked https://t.co/Kos4yTLqYG

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 31, 2021

This week, we were able to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalisation for the first time. In short, good news. VE after a booster is close to 90%. The full update from our team is published in this week's technical briefing update:https://t.co/MHSSiPvdqk

1/10

— Freja Kirsebom (@freja_kirsebom) December 31, 2021

Aviation is not in an "incomparably better" position https://t.co/w2F6lsoj38. It's vital the Government recognises this. We’ve coped with rule changes, blows to confidence and have continued vital supply chain work in the fight against COVID. But we're running on empty. 1/2

— BALPA (@BALPApilots) December 31, 2021

Wildfires pushed by high winds in Colorado swept through suburban areas near Denver on Thursday, burning at least 500 homes and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee. Here’s what we know: https://t.co/0DoYbivQpz

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 31, 2021

Airline passenger aboard flight from Denver captures bird’s-eye view of wildfire burning in Boulder County, Colorado.

Gov. Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency. https://t.co/nnhyaX6W4B pic.twitter.com/u05F5URSCG

— ABC News (@ABC) December 31, 2021

"It felt like the apocalypse." Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes in Colorado as fast-moving wildfires turned the sky into an ashy orange. More than 500 homes were burned. Follow for updates: https://t.co/4mlOP6Bn4V

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 31, 2021

Colorado medical staff in the thick of fighting a pandemic surge watch a December wildfire burn their community to the ground…

Here’s how you can help: https://t.co/bcKZHV5Dm5 pic.twitter.com/dc29rXgepg

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 31, 2021

His lawyers may have told him to come out and condemn it…he recently went pro vaccine, no doubt in an effort to try to minimize his potential legal liabilities

— James King (@KingJamies) December 31, 2021

.@AriMelber: Steve Bannon is indicted and awaiting trial for hiding evidence about Jan. 6. Now, one of his accomplices, Peter Navarro, has leaked information detailing the plan to rally Republicans to interfere with certifying President Biden’s win. https://t.co/8BjoxoEVTg

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 31, 2021

#19 – Sarah Palin said it would be “over my dead body” before she got a covid vaccine. pic.twitter.com/4R9xwMAjT0

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 31, 2021

<GAME THEORY>
So Trump kept *re-recording* his video to domestic terrorists on Jan 6.

Bottom line up front? I believe he was waiting to hear if Pence and/or Pelosi was dead – specifically so he could blame Antifa.

A whistleblower gave us a big clue. https://t.co/8BrkMXX5Gt

— Eric Garland (@ericgarland) December 27, 2021

MSNBC legal contributors @BarbMcQuade and @JoyceWhiteVance join @CapehartJ to discuss why the Jan. 6 committee is within the scope of their investigation to make a criminal referral against Donald Trump. https://t.co/dRFaVpQJGi pic.twitter.com/2Dkqdas3gy

— The Last Word (@TheLastWord) December 31, 2021

Brexit checks start tomorrow as firms fear red tape and 'food rotting at ports' – Imposed by the Tories. It didn’t have to be this way https://t.co/ZUj5r5lezE

— Graham Simpson (@grahambsi) December 31, 2021

Brexit promises that have turned to shit: Volume 7, part 463c: pic.twitter.com/vxyl4tIPOo

— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 30, 2021

UK companies face New Year Brexit import controls https://t.co/YWyw6RZ4CT pic.twitter.com/h43RUkDxDs

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

This is stupid, ludicrous, absurd, ridiculous, hubristic, sad, deluded – everything that goes to make up Brexit, which the Spectator preached, defended and now observes like a cult long after every fact and reality shows it be an error of catastrophic proportions https://t.co/4wVeNoSLgN

— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) December 31, 2021

I'm tired of it all. Lies. Scandals. Incompetence. Dodgy contracts. Dogwhistle politics. One rule for them/us. Contorted justifications for Brexit. Contempt for voters. Insincere paeans to NHS, teachers etc. Tuning out today, wishing all Happy New Year, and for change in 2022.

— alexandra hall hall (@alexhallhall) December 31, 2021

2021 ends with soaring Omicron cases
2022 will in part be marked by soaring energy prices and spiralling cost of living expenses

Time we had each other’s backs. Time we elect better leaders.
Time for change

— Philip McGowan (@pipmcgowan) December 31, 2021

UPDATE: Anger at reports Boris Johnson will be cleared by Lord Geidt of breaching the ministerial code over the donation for the Downing St flat refurbishment.

I explain why this should end Johnson’s premiership and should send the country into uproar pic.twitter.com/ARIEI0qTE2

— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) December 31, 2021

Prince Andrew must be hoping establishment crony Lord Geidt is now asked to investigate him https://t.co/Ny94ZKpkI6

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) December 31, 2021

Surely time for Prince Andrew to do another Newsnight interview and clear this whole thing up

— Frankie Boyle (@frankieboyle) December 30, 2021

Prince Andrew asked to prove his inability to sweat by Virginia Giuffre’s lawyers | News | The Times https://t.co/XcEfPRF6dF

— Patricia Devlin (@trishdevlin) December 31, 2021

I wrote a sketch for Spitting Image (not used) in which Andrew used a puppet of himself to touch up women and then blamed and admonished Little Andrew. I think this was based on him really having a puppet of himself. https://t.co/IyTQy2Vegn

— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) December 31, 2021

Dead right. They’d both be in the House of Lords by now

— jurek martin (@martin_jurek) December 31, 2021

incredible to think at the start of this year Trump was still president, the Taliban didn’t control Afghanistan, Prince Philip was still alive and the bum flare guy was not yet world famous

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) December 31, 2021

Daleks. It’s going to be fucking Daleks, isn’t it? https://t.co/CWxGWPTfOS

— Fionnbharr Rodgers (@FionnRodgers) December 31, 2021

The Dogs of 2021 pic.twitter.com/aXNh5jD13H

— WeRateDogs® (@dog_rates) December 30, 2021

Merry Christmas🎄 to all… and to all, ➡️please think of all our healthcare workers on the front lines—for they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders in what is to come.

📍Stay safe. Protect each other & our communities. Or else, may our children forgive us. #Omicron pic.twitter.com/VSnb05y6kn

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 24, 2021

Thousands of flights canceled globally as Omicron mars Christmas weekend https://t.co/stwNbZaQbV pic.twitter.com/gBqcKSPFxf

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 25, 2021

Omicron are you not embarrassed? I could not have given you more opportunities if I tried. Now I have to cook Christmas dinner for my entire family. pic.twitter.com/pRDFYTP0y8

— cate in the kitchen (@catekitchen) December 24, 2021

I'm now wishing I peeled the potatoes last night. Or went to bed earlier. Either of those.

— 💉 alt – DUP (@dup_online) December 25, 2021

Well, I can’t recommend lighthouse cookies. pic.twitter.com/npQbGKvDlq

— Bert Fulks (@BertFulks) December 23, 2021

A shoutout to all the parents out there still trying to make Christmas magic while navigating the Omicron shit show. I see you with your festive sweater and your dead eyes.

— Natalie Stechyson (@NatStechyson) December 20, 2021

Surviving the week before Christmas with Omicron…#Covid #Omicron #Christmas #Australia #Covid19 #Covid19Aus pic.twitter.com/m3yiBh7e4F

— Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) December 20, 2021

For the lads that are isolating over the Xmas #Christmas #Omicron pic.twitter.com/nzeiNmgpp6

— Pintman Appreciation (@PintmanA) December 25, 2021

‘Forgotten’ 😊

— dukkhaboy (@dukkhaboy) December 25, 2021

My mum just waited until the dog had walked out the room to tell me what she'd bought him for Christmas.

— Louise Haigh (@LouHaigh) December 23, 2021

Yeah we know it's a CGI Deep Fake. They won't allow her talk after a few years ago she stated it was our last Christmas and about the world ending. I know many Remember that! 😆

— SᵘⓅ ᑕuZZo (@HoovaGroova) December 24, 2021

To be fair to the Queen, I’d cancel Christmas dinner too, if I thought there was a chance that Prince Andrew would turn up.

— Ed Morrish (@edmorrish) December 16, 2021

In 2015, a former member of the Metropolitan Police’s Royal Protection Command revealed that, while the Queen’s call sign was ‘The Purple One’, and her husband was referred to as ‘Phil the Greek’, Prince Andrew’s name was ‘The C**t.’https://t.co/fZVxt973e2

— Ewart, Labor Dave (@davidbewart) December 23, 2021

overcrowded War on Christmas POW camp pic.twitter.com/kaWNn3e6qj

— christmas anticipator (@JoelNihlean) December 24, 2021

Happy anniversary of the deal negotiated and signed by Boris Johnson that was so excellent it was dismissed within months as forced on us in a hurry and totally unacceptable by Boris Johnson. https://t.co/3WA6FVONmV

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 24, 2021

Boris Johnson invoking the message of Jesus in his Christmas message; the same Boris Johnson who had to be shamed into helping feed vulnerable children

— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) December 24, 2021

+UPDATE+

UK govt quietly expanding freedom of movement mobility schemes for hundreds of thousands of European workers – including 40 000 farming workers to protect the post Brexit British economy.

EU not legally obliged to reciprocate so only EU citizens’ mobility improved.

— Nick🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@nicktolhurst) December 25, 2021

I would love to hear what the French make of this. They being the only producers of 'Champagne'. 🥂🍾

— Julie (@LubyLou64th) December 24, 2021

The final truly unmatchable minute & a half of It’s A Wonderful Life.👇pic.twitter.com/mhlHUKuNgS

— Jerry Christmas 🎄🎅🏽 (@JerryDunleavy) December 25, 2021

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is now 75 years old. But the film remains a timely exploration, @megangarber writes, of individual vulnerability: https://t.co/IejTpv1aZh

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) December 24, 2021

The sleigh has crashed offshore near Latvia.

He’s dead.

— Santa Tracker (@BaileyCarlin) December 24, 2021

NASA's revolutionary new space telescope due for launch from French Guiana https://t.co/DeMi0xjEtB pic.twitter.com/fZ3qStY6Mo

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 25, 2021

The target launch date for #Webb is
👉confirmed for 25 December👈,
as early as possible in the launch window starting 12:20 GMT / 13:20 CET!

Roll-out🛻🚀for the @ariane5 launcher is foreseen for tomorrow 23 Dec, morning local time.

We're going!!!#WebbFliesAriane #JWST pic.twitter.com/xoZK872vQd

— ESA Webb Telescope (@ESA_Webb) December 22, 2021

The James Webb Space Telescope will be humanity’s most powerful instrument for studying the formation of our universe and distant worlds in our galaxy.

But the Webb has trudged through one of the most fraught development timelines of any space program. https://t.co/nQm2NI62xM

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 24, 2021

War is over if we want it. pic.twitter.com/nssuP6lGnG

— Dr. Sarah T. Roberts (@ubiquity75) December 25, 2021

UPDATE: Now Delta Air Lines is canceling 90+ flights tomorrow due to a “combination of issues” including the impact of the Omicron variant. “Delta teams have exhausted all options and resources.”

— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) December 24, 2021

BREAKING: more good news on severity with Omicron, with risk of hospital admission cut by 50-70% compared to Delta, latest UKHSA analysis reveals. Happy Christmas https://t.co/q4vkCsMvMq

— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) December 23, 2021

BREAKING: People with Omicron are significantly less likely to develop severe symptoms, but the effects of the booster vaccine wane after 10 weeks, according to new analysis by the UK Health Security Agency.@SkyNewsThomas has the latest.https://t.co/79W8ZWrJ26 pic.twitter.com/7121iXXvya

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 23, 2021

Three recent studies that show a reduced risk of hospital admission with #Omicron disease. H/T @kallmemeg

45-55% reduced risk: UKhttps://t.co/jqWNHmy5FE

50-80% reduced risk: Scotland https://t.co/6KXzdj5cAY

70-90% reduced risk: RSAhttps://t.co/Z0KMtuPvpa pic.twitter.com/bmIeu0aA3a

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) December 23, 2021

JUST IN: Air travel is HIGHER than pre-pandemic levels. TSA says it screened more people at airports yesterday than on the same day in 2019. 2.08 million vs 1.94 million.

— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) December 23, 2021

Australia's COVID-19 testing facilities were severely stretched amid a record surge in cases and as tens of thousands of domestic travelers thronged the centers to get test results necessary to travel interstate for Christmas https://t.co/RCBh4mTgS7 pic.twitter.com/GnYRST48kd

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 23, 2021

Holiday travellers and even a few foreign tourists were making their way through YYC Calgary International Airport Thursday, making for the busiest single day of travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic roughly 20 months ago. https://t.co/S2uMhKeHSz

— CTV Calgary (@CTVCalgary) December 23, 2021

Today was the busiest day of the festive season at Dublin airport. There's also been an increase in passenger no-shows after changes to travel requirements. For those who did make it home, there were emotional scenes at the arrivals gate | More: https://t.co/VzRg07CakO pic.twitter.com/JhtMUjB274

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 19, 2021

Bad news: The MAbs that your hospital has stocked (likely Regeneron or Lilly) no longer work against Omicron. The one that will work (GSK's Sotrovimab) is in massively short supply. Moreover, lab tests show some loss in GSK's efficacy as well. https://t.co/ttSzlhfHn7.(10/25)

— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) December 22, 2021

One interesting thing about omicron infecting lots of vaxxed people is that it actually shows that, pre-omicron, the vaccines were doing a really good job of protecting vaxxed ppl against infection and transmission, even with Delta.

— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) December 23, 2021

Protect the elderly & immuno-compromised. This variant will be everywhere within days.
Omicron Drives U.S. Virus Cases Past Delta’s Peak https://t.co/bV1jIVXSXw

— Richard Signorelli (@richsignorelli) December 23, 2021

Biden Omicron measures too little, too late for fast-moving virus -experts https://t.co/mwUSuxyGtv pic.twitter.com/3hevx8CpG0

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 23, 2021

In London and New York City #Omicron cases surging and new daily hospitalizations are rising, but so far – thankfully – trending lower than past waves and some of these hospitalizations are undoubtably still related to recent surge in delta infection (delta now rapidly declining) pic.twitter.com/Wn1CdWaAaS

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) December 23, 2021

"Cloth masks are not going to cut it with omicron," https://t.co/SlnS9YgyxJ

— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) December 23, 2021

New York City will scale back the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration as the Omicron variant spreads. About 15,000 people will be admitted, instead of the usual 58,000, and vaccines and masks will be required. https://t.co/LiPlCXijma

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 23, 2021

I contracted Covid-19 three times despite being vaxxed, and it wasn't great! But don't worry, I'm more or less a freak. But a freak with a lot of advice to give based on my extensive covid-having experience. Hope some good (and lols) can come out of this: https://t.co/LVv2F38XdV

— Ema O'Connor (@o_ema) December 23, 2021

‘Omicron: Half of colds will be Covid, warn UK researchers – BBC News’

Or Omicron is a cold https://t.co/IDMkIYCC2a

— John – Reliably Reliable Sources – Cardillo (@johncardillo) December 23, 2021

Good news that those infected with omicron are 50-70% less likely to need hospital care but…

We've had the highest number of infections reported today.

And if double the number of people get infected, the hospitalisation rate remains just as high

— Peter Jukes (@peterjukes) December 23, 2021

‘Britain now has a government unable to govern.’ https://t.co/XLAymuYzqe

— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) December 23, 2021

the room next door – Merry Christmas pic.twitter.com/ZFtCwH0rrQ

— Michael Spicer (@MrMichaelSpicer) December 23, 2021

▪️106,122 new Covid cases today alone
▪️Hospitals cancelling all non-urgent surgery
▪️NHS contemplating field hospitals in car parks

Boris Johnson: pic.twitter.com/YqS6WKbi3T

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 22, 2021

Wales' Mark Drakeford blasts 'paralysed' Boris Johnson over Covid lockdown ditheringhttps://t.co/WGYK2XQTd9 pic.twitter.com/tExw8qoIkn

— Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) December 22, 2021

'He has all the authority of an inept deputy head of a third rate prep school.'

A furious Nick Ferrari says we all know more restrictions are coming in the new year but Boris Johnson doesn't have the balls to bring them in now.@NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/YozkKYrbXR

— LBC (@LBC) December 22, 2021

Column: Boris Johnson – unpopular populist, and the cult of cake that ate the Conservative party https://t.co/EBpbu6wGyo

— Rafael Behr (@rafaelbehr) December 22, 2021

Early this year I was asked to leave Parliament for saying #JohnsonIsALiar.

It's difficult to pick but here’s 12 of his worst lies 😳feel free to add your own.

Johnson would not want you to share this 👀👇🏾https://t.co/74o5MRD9Pf

— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) December 22, 2021

Well, that’s Boris Johnson done. pic.twitter.com/Dd9cY0VBK2

— John Cotter (@John_Cotter) December 22, 2021

Which of the following do you think would make the best Prime Minister? (19-20 Dec)

Keir Starmer: 34% (+1 from 14-15 Dec)
Boris Johnson: 22% (-1)
Don't know: 39% pic.twitter.com/PeIiY0LPUt

— YouGov (@YouGov) December 22, 2021

https://t.co/iJrrrgot0B

— Alex Sowden 😷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@AJS77) December 22, 2021

Thursday's Times: “Omicron is less likely to be serious, say experts” #BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/7FuHsAa3Vz pic.twitter.com/PTUxClqj43

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 22, 2021

Hospital stay risk for Omicron is 40%-45% lower than Delta -UK study https://t.co/0HKU7p5lQi pic.twitter.com/07uzuq0fVe

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 22, 2021

Wave of Omicron appears to be milder, with potentially around a two-thirds reduction in those needing hospital treatment, preliminary studies in UK and South Africa find https://t.co/KAS6XbxN2J

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 22, 2021

Thread summarising all of today’s Omicron severity data:

Story from me, @mroliverbarnes and @rmilneNordic, running through new data from South Africa, Denmark, England & Scotland https://t.co/6axp4zau9G

Top-line: share of Omicron cases requiring hospital is lower than for Delta

— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) December 22, 2021

Shameless plug: in some ways, the mildness or otherwise is a bit of a red herring, in that what matters still is whether or not you end up with 6,000 people needing a critical care bed: which is still up in the air https://t.co/fjZLFJ2lZz

— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) December 22, 2021

Before I get into the rest, I want to re-emphasise that the overall impact of omicron will be determined by growth (exponential) and severity (linear)- even with lower severity, growth in itself will cause serious impact at population level, even if severity is moderately lower.

— Deepti Gurdasani (@dgurdasani1) December 22, 2021

I've worked on infectious disease outbreaks for 30 years. I've NEVER seen anything like the speed of Omicron. It's as infectious as measles spreading in a non-immune population, with a much shorter incubation time therefore much faster doubling time. Hope it's a lot less severe. pic.twitter.com/EtLfa4JKqd

— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) December 21, 2021

NEW—scientists at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research will soon announce that they have developed a vaccine that protects people from COVID-19 and all its variants, even #Omicron, called The ‘Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine’, or SpFN. 🧵https://t.co/C140590sPj

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 22, 2021

The U.S. has authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans can take at home to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. The announcement comes as the U.S. braces for a wave of new infections from the omicron variant.https://t.co/9whaTANKOK

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 22, 2021

The Biden administration has extended a moratorium on student loan payments until May 1 as omicron surge hits the U.S. The moratorium has been in place since early in the pandemic, but was set to expire on Jan. 31. https://t.co/CI9MgJf4T3

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 22, 2021

There are about 20 people crowded inside the front of my local CVS.
“What’s going on?” I ask someone.
“There’s a truck with a shipment of home tests coming soon,” we heard.

— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) December 22, 2021

A million lateral flow packs are being sent out every day in the UK. Incredible!

— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) December 22, 2021

"We will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public and to protect our NHS"

PM Boris Johnson says data will be kept under constant review "hour by hour", as he urges people to "exercise caution" and get vaccinatedhttps://t.co/62xEa6fsuV pic.twitter.com/zbqeYQzoSq

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 20, 2021

PM's advice to the nation, as he finds himself stuck between scientific advice and Tory suspicion: "Please exercise caution as you go about your lives." 🎄

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 20, 2021

Guardian front page, Tuesday 21 December 2021: Covid surges, but cabinet split means no extra curbs – for now pic.twitter.com/TY4MzytoO2

— The Guardian (@guardian) December 20, 2021

depends what you mean by safe pic.twitter.com/zgTamTK0Lk

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) December 20, 2021

"We won't hesitate to take further action" to protect the NHS, says Boris Johnson, as he hesitates to take further action to protect the NHS. pic.twitter.com/hT9YGrfTPM

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) December 20, 2021

Boris Johnson: I can announce we won’t hesitate to take action, but right now we are hesitating to take action.

— Tom McTague (@TomMcTague) December 20, 2021

Hearing that Boris Johnson is considering going back to step 2 restrictions from Dec 27 – so POST Christmas – for a month to help curb infections.

Big caveat is that Govt scientists want him to act now – while some in Cabinet worried about further restrictions even later. pic.twitter.com/exg3SvtiZU

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 20, 2021

Looks like Boris Johnson's approval ratings are now in freefall. pic.twitter.com/1YEpHhMxdT

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) December 20, 2021

If Omicron doesn't cause a big surge in hospitalisations, Boris Johnson will face lots of criticism from his backbenchers for implementing Plan B.
If Omicron does cause a big surge in hospitalisations, he'll now face lots of criticism from the public for dithering.

— David Gauke (@DavidGauke) December 20, 2021

"He seems to have no personal ethics, morals, beliefs, value system. So I will be immensely happy to see the back of him, not just from being prime minister but out of the political arena altogether." @michaelsheen 👏 https://t.co/uYIY6oEABO

— Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) December 20, 2021

The Premier League has decided against postponing a full round of fixtures amid Covid-19 outbreaks at several clubs.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 20, 2021

After much deliberation, the Premier League has bravely decided not to risk irritating any of its broadcast partners. https://t.co/OKbCcwQYqw

— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) December 20, 2021

In South Africa, we’re thankfully seeing a striking decoupling between new Covid cases and ICU admissions and deaths. Whether #Omicron is inherently less virulent, whether this hopeful finding is result of baseline immunity in infected, or a combination of both, is still unclear. pic.twitter.com/xtmCSdpCNc

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) December 19, 2021

WHO urges cancelling some holiday events over Omicron fears https://t.co/a0DcaT4Sw4

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 20, 2021

Omicron infections appear no less severe than Delta; COVID-19 lowers sperm count, motility https://t.co/B2HMQtBBai pic.twitter.com/fTD9DtZ8sR

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2021

Europe gives US gloomy portrait of what's to come with omicron https://t.co/1T3lSphy9i pic.twitter.com/0nnFeXIxUU

— The Hill (@thehill) December 20, 2021

The truth is the truth. https://t.co/uUpRA9L13U

— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) December 20, 2021

"Trump Dismisses COVID-19 Booster Shots As a 'Money-Making Operation'" https://t.co/EIGTCsPzYO

— Doc Gringo 🍀🇮🇪 (@Gatoram15) December 20, 2021

I think I have figured it out: Trump is suddenly promoting the vaccine because he’s worried about whether enough of his voters will still be alive in 2024 to make it to the voting booth! https://t.co/Vu8gNEelRN

— The Civil Liberal (@cfthepodcast) December 20, 2021

Perhaps the best clap back to antivaxxers and antimaskers. pic.twitter.com/jZWDP0p0Yt

— Let's Go Darwin! (@g33kgurli) December 18, 2021

Israel bans travel to US, citing omicron https://t.co/BAHBPAq5Xn pic.twitter.com/0XeWrGRgj0

— The Hill (@thehill) December 20, 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Trump is increasingly agitated by the Jan. 6 committee, sources say, angry at Meadows for cooperating and anxious about criminal exposure as aides invoke the Fifth Amendment. @GuardianUS https://t.co/CZ4to6VKnR

— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) December 20, 2021

Steve Bannon vowed this morning that he will one day soon take over the entire U.S. "election apparatus." https://t.co/tDW2L9i5xM

— Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) December 20, 2021

NEWS: Alex JONES is suing the Jan. 6 committee and has told them he plans to plead the 5th. https://t.co/8vW55vxbRD

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 20, 2021

Rep. Adam Kinzinger said "it’s possible" some of his GOP colleagues in Congress are responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and that the committee investigating the insurrection is not ruling out issuing subpoenas for sitting members of Congress. https://t.co/Jo6OVTEB9r

— ABC News (@ABC) December 20, 2021

After railing against the formation of the Jan. 6 Committee back in May, Sen. McConnell now says the committee’s findings are something the public needs to know. https://t.co/Axl7FkpMIF

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 20, 2021

Scoop: Manchin's private $1.8 trillion offer to Biden included pre-k for 10 years, ACA expansion, & close to WH climate spending #, per sources

But it EXCLUDED the Child Tax Credit – cornerstone of WH child antipoverty effort, per sources

W/ @tylerpager https://t.co/01TTtM3t4g

— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) December 20, 2021

With BBB delayed, Child Tax Credits will expire and student loans will restart within a matter of weeks. Working families could lose thousands of $/mo just as prices are rising.

That alone is reason for @POTUS to act on student loans ASAP – w/ either moratorium or cancellation.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 20, 2021

Sen. Manchin privately raised concerns that parents would use child tax credit checks on drugs, 3 sources familiar with the comments say. https://t.co/7c8fe7eSsY

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 20, 2021

Take the Manchin deal. Then see if you can negotiate the child tax credit separately with Romney, who has a good plan and wants to deal: https://t.co/4tUndXS29U

— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) December 20, 2021

Health Sec Sajid Javid, asked whether there will be more restrictions before Christmas, says: "We're assessing the situation, it's very fast moving, there's a lot we still don't know about omicron, there's gaps in the data."

Which is a way of saying….
#Marr

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 19, 2021

I didn’t get into politics to restrict people’s lives, but the sheer speed and uncertainty of Omicron means it is right to buy some time.

I’ve made the case today for why the British people & government are taking a responsible & proportionate response:https://t.co/4GinUsFATx pic.twitter.com/JSM3b8LWma

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) December 19, 2021

What's the point of a circuit breaker lockdown when Omicron infections double every 2 days?

The moment you lift the lockdown it's going to explode, immediately, so it just seems a bit pointlesshttps://t.co/ousWea5mnl

— Plague Spotting (@PlagueSpotting) December 19, 2021

Sajid Javid doing his best to explain the government’s strategy to defeat Omicron. But forgetting one important point. They’ve lost authority. Public now listening to Whitty alone and deciding among themselves. The govt are failing to lead, the very job they’re elected to do.

— Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) December 19, 2021

"Ruin Christmas and we'll oust you, Tory MPs warn Boris: PM is told an attempt to bring in new festive crackdown could cost him his job"

Grieving relatives will be able to comfort each other with the knowledge Boris Johnson kept his position a bit longer. https://t.co/1pMhbXaqta

— Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@uk_domain_names) December 19, 2021

The Premier League fixtures from December 28-30 could be postponed https://t.co/SwhEdowAHz

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 19, 2021

Plans are already in place for what seems like the inevitablehttps://t.co/nxhFjWfKuU

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 19, 2021

May 2020.

The guidance:
“Social mixing between households limited to 2 people outdoors at least 2 metres apart.
In workplaces, in-person meetings only if absolutely necessary”

Boris Johnson: pic.twitter.com/VZm0t4fE5F

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 19, 2021

Evidence yet @metpoliceuk ? Certainly yet more evidence Johnson LIED to the Commons AGAIN (resignation offence) when he said rules were followed at all times in Downing Street. https://t.co/IjTAEqT8lr

— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) December 19, 2021

BREAKING: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss becomes lead negotiator with EU on Northern Ireland Protocol, following departure of Lord Frost.

Downing St confirms she will take over Brexit brief with immediate effect.

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 19, 2021

On balance my initial take is that it's better to give the Brexit brief to Liz Truss than a swivel eyed ideologue like IDS. A deeply shallow person: her first impulse will be to frame any agreement in terms of a photo opportunity rather than to pursue an ideological obsession.

— Steve Peers (@StevePeers) December 19, 2021

Liz Truss says she is "pleased" to be taking over as the minister responsible for Brexit.

Here she is in 2016 talking about why it would be a disaster. pic.twitter.com/QQgOVBAZQp

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) December 19, 2021

I take note of the appointment of @trussliz as co-chair of the 🇪🇺🇬🇧 Joint Committee and Partnership Council. My team and I will continue to cooperate with the UK in the same constructive spirit on all important tasks ahead, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

— Maroš Šefčovič🇪🇺 (@MarosSefcovic) December 19, 2021

Boris Johnson lied about the Irish Sea border, then spent hundreds of millions to disguise its existence. But that can't go on forever. At any point a PM can push NI economically further away from GB, with political & financial implications. https://t.co/hmOFQuIWcr

— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) December 19, 2021

Is Liz Truss a serious contender to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister? If so 'god' help us!
pic.twitter.com/e29l02iydM

— Steve Jones (@CerdynJones) December 19, 2021

Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious-disease specialist, warned Sunday that the U.S. is likely to see record numbers of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths as the omicron variant spreads rapidly.
https://t.co/VNekKUhk6a

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 19, 2021

The rapidly-spreading omicron variant may soon leave U.S. doctors without two of the standard treatments they’ve used to fight COVID-19. Regeneron and Eli Lilly warn that their antibody drugs are far less potent against omicron. https://t.co/T2Q9Hx69xY

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 19, 2021

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday a decision will be made by Christmas on whether to hold the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square as in previous years before the pandemic.https://t.co/42esUKMyBZ

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) December 19, 2021

In South Africa, we’re thankfully seeing a striking decoupling between new Covid cases and ICU admissions and deaths. Whether #Omicron is inherently less virulent, whether this hopeful finding is result of baseline immunity in infected, or a combination of both, is still unclear. pic.twitter.com/xtmCSdpCNc

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) December 19, 2021

Israel health ministry recommends putting US on "red" travel restrictions list due to COVID surge https://t.co/EMQIQ7ay24 pic.twitter.com/1RqIPNIHl5

— The Hill (@thehill) December 19, 2021

#BREAKING: Manchin says he will not vote for Build Back Better: "This is a no" https://t.co/5zZtFPIbdL pic.twitter.com/Brljs18Siv

— The Hill (@thehill) December 19, 2021

Manchin is Manchin. But what kind of healthy democracy is structured in a way that can allow one man elected by 290,000 voters in one of the least populous states to thwart the agenda of his party and the President who was elected with 81 million votes. We need structural change.

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) December 19, 2021

A lot to process on the Manchin news but, from a substantive standpoint, it's just objectively devastating for the planet. The last best chance at climate change legislation is gone

— Sam Stein (@samstein) December 19, 2021

Don’t forget: this isn’t just about Joe Manchin. It’s about the dark money and billionaires and coal interests behind him, which keep winning at ours and the planet’s expense. Manchin is a living breathing reminder that America is often more oligarchic than it is democratic.

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) December 19, 2021

Smart voters will appreciate that the response to this is not to reject the Democratic Party at the polls, it’s to elect more Democrats so that Manchin is no longer relevant. https://t.co/P7RJhrVuQN

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 19, 2021

OK, so I wrote this before today's Manchin debacle, but the BBB collapse now makes it even more urgent Biden changes his mind on a major student debt cancellation. Here's the Hail Mary passes the foundering party can do to save itself. My new column https://t.co/ZvdQ8cTI8h

— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) December 19, 2021

Jan. 6 committee member Adam Kinzinger says on ABC’s This Week they have more incriminating messages involving the Trump White House: “There are more texts out there that we haven’t released.”

— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) December 19, 2021

Donald Trump's Newly Issued "Statement" Suggests that he Knows & Fears that Justice is Coming for Him. #JusticeMatters https://t.co/RS1DKfvPmW via @YouTube

— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) December 19, 2021

Trump’s latest rant against “DA’s, AG’s and Dem Law Enforcement” strongly suggests he’s just been told the Manhattan DA and NY AG plan to prosecute him — he’s gotten target letters.

The FBI may have come knocking also.

The more they close in on him, the more he’ll lash out.

— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) December 18, 2021

UK Brexit minister Lord Frost has reportedly resigned from the government over its "political direction" https://t.co/gAlgcMWyUG

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 18, 2021

Lord Frost has resigned because he knows his Brexit deal is disintegrating in deep crisis and he wants to get out before the whole fiasco and disaster of Brexit is pinned on him personally as Johnson’s factotum and lackey

— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) December 18, 2021

Brexit minister , Lord Frost, resigns… the Brexit Secretary , David Davis, resigned..the day after the referendum UKIP leader, N Farage, resigned…they all run a mile rather then face the practical consequence of their delusional fantasies.

— steve richards (@steverichards14) December 18, 2021

Bollocks to all the Lord Frost resignation ‘reasons’. He’s going because he crowed, threatened, struck stances and FAILED.

— David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) December 18, 2021

The deal I negotiated is shite. The promises I made were hollow. My threats were empty, my promises were illusory, my vision delusional, and I created a disaster that will damage my nation for a generation.

But I'm quitting because of *masks*.
https://t.co/7gEwwn9bN5

— Russ Jones (@RussInCheshire) December 18, 2021

Senior EU official: “Good riddance”

No love lost

— Mujtaba (Mij) Rahman (@Mij_Europe) December 18, 2021

Of course the letter doesn't mention Northern Ireland once. All the sound and fury and destabilisation Frost was responsible for, and it never really mattered.

I do wish @duponline would stop demeaning us all by indulging the idea that Brexiteer Tories care about this place. https://t.co/r1vLW7l4gk

— Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) December 18, 2021

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson says Frost’s departure would be a bad sign for Boris Johnson’s commitment to removing the Irish Sea borderhttps://t.co/fdBqQn8qBi via @IrishTimes

— Simon Carswell (@SiCarswell) December 18, 2021

My favourite Brexiters are currently the ones who think that the best way to recover from a self-inflicted punch in the face is to punch yourself again, but harder. https://t.co/JabvKCUCk9

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 18, 2021

JUST IN 🚨 Thousands gather at Downing Street over Covid anti-lockdown protest pic.twitter.com/P4ALFWf13h

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 18, 2021

Good to see that the thing that moves some people to action against me isn't the blatant corruption, the outlawing of protest, suppression of voting or privatisation of the NHS, but not being able to cough in someone else's face. #londonprotest pic.twitter.com/UA3a20ysDN

— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 18, 2021

Classic.

"I don't want my kids to wake up in some sort of utopia" pic.twitter.com/fxOv9d3iCI

— Trumpton (@Trump_ton) December 18, 2021

A few thousand people on the streets of London today in a protest against vaccines while 150,000 ghosts walk silently among them, powerless to protest against being dead.

— paul bassett davies (@thewritertype) December 18, 2021

This alone is just extraordinary. Over 100 Tory MPs in the group… pic.twitter.com/eykOUjWG7W

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) December 18, 2021

#Number10 in ‘state of panic’ over further Allegra Stratton videos which #MoS says refer to his mistresses and love-children. https://t.co/f82EPoR2sY

— Graham Lovelace (@glovelace) December 18, 2021

Liz Truss is going to be Prime Minister isn't she? pic.twitter.com/XLleQrqFV1

— Planet Belfast 💙 Get vaccinated 😷 🇪🇺 (@Planet_Belfast) December 18, 2021

Breaking News: The Netherlands ordered a full lockdown until mid-January in Europe's strongest reaction to the Omicron variant so far. https://t.co/uSsO32fS50

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 18, 2021

New York hit a record of new coronavirus cases as the omicron variant fueled a wave of infections and pushed Broadway theaters and the Rockettes to cancel holiday shows https://t.co/45Izmy5QQ8

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 18, 2021

The coronavirus testing capacity in the U.S. is facing enormous new pressure, with holiday travelers waiting in long lines to be tested, overworked laboratories struggling to keep up and rapid at-home diagnostics flying off pharmacy shelves. https://t.co/23JHHJ9nTt

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 18, 2021

I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and this statement is going to haunt the Biden administration. The sarcasm was stupid, uncalled for, and watching these long C 19 testing lines, making Omicron worse. https://t.co/3LuUAWfR0e

— ProfB (@AntheaButler) December 18, 2021

Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping of “Saturday Night Live” and the show will have limited cast and crew.

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) December 18, 2021

The omicron wave is like a hurricane hitting land. It will be bad. We need to prepare ourselves to limit the damage. Vaccines (especially boosters), testing, masks, ventilation. The storm will pass. I desperately hope as many people as possible will be safe when it does.

— Dan Rather (@DanRather) December 18, 2021

deranged pic.twitter.com/zOjOVTyoGx

— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) December 17, 2021

Prime Minister Boris Johnson learned that his Conservative Party lost a district seat it held for over a century. Twelve hours later, Britain reported more than 90,000 new cases of Covid-19 fueled by the Omicron variant. https://t.co/vinQZedS7U

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 17, 2021

Boris Johnson has been put on notice by his own side https://t.co/vksZoBr8va

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 17, 2021

A lot of Tories seem shocked that Boris Johnson turned out to be Boris Johnson. There were quite a few clues.

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 17, 2021

Boris Johnson promises to “fix” his government but says it’s not his top priority

Full interview – hear the PM accuse me of “breaking the golden rule” – answers on a postcard…. pic.twitter.com/pHOpfLRNl5

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) December 17, 2021

What did Simon Case know about No 10 parties?

What should he have known – after he is the senior official?

When did he know?

When should he have known?

Should he resign or be sacked?

Is there any accountability any more? https://t.co/OvXJtQqfbb

— Tom London (@TomLondon6) December 17, 2021

Wish we’d stop pledging short durations on these things when we’ve never kept to them on any previous ones. (Also *god* I cannot face this yet again.) https://t.co/QHyjAsyJJa

— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) December 18, 2021

🤓Amid all the rows over Tory sleaze, Christmas parties and the Govt's handling of Covid, I think the cost of living crisis is the biggest danger for Boris Johnson in the coming months. https://t.co/R9J9py5Fyo

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 17, 2021

88,376
Jacinda Arden saw covid as a threat to life and limb. Boris Johnson & Co. saw it as a business opportunity.

— Malcolm Mair (@Fruich) December 16, 2021

I know a lot of people aren't ready to hear this yet – and I know there's still a massive majority of those people in Parliament and the media – but electing a Prime Minister on the back of the idea that Brexit was in any way a good idea was *always* going to lead to all of this.

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 17, 2021

Thoughts with everyone in the London Ambulance Service, who tonight are down by almost 100 ambulances because nearly 400 staff are off sick with Covid.

Thoughts most of all with sick patients.

I'm appalled @BorisJohnson isn't taking decisive action. https://t.co/aPOAPI8Z77

— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) December 17, 2021

THREAD: on omicron, UK cases, London & what to do next…

Last post-briefing tweet thread of the year! 1/18

— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) December 17, 2021

⚠️BREAKING—Imperial College study finds #Omicron could be **just as severe** as the Delta strain, according to early findings from researchers at Imperial College London.

➡️All those who said “it’s mild” need to think about how many they have endangered.https://t.co/RI1U4rmlGr pic.twitter.com/RbKdXl0RUr

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 17, 2021

Dutch health experts advise a full lockdown to slow Omicron -media https://t.co/zWDz540o1Q pic.twitter.com/QSKALav7zu

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2021

COVID LATEST: https://t.co/hGqWWIyReX

– New York state reports over 21,000 cases in single day, setting new pandemic record
– Several weekend NFL games pushed back
– Southwest CEO tests positive after Senate hearing
– National Guard to help Ohio with strained hospitals

— ABC News (@ABC) December 17, 2021

Omicron presents a tremendous challenge: do you go out and risk getting covid or stay on the internet and risk hearing people talk about NFTs

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) December 16, 2021

BREAKING: Federal appeals court reinstates Biden administration's business vaccine and testing mandate https://t.co/E6bQw43ec5

— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) December 18, 2021

NEW: Biden admin. to push for "test-to-stay" policy to keep kids in school as many districts scramble to avoid omicron surge.https://t.co/NKKRkhqIRW pic.twitter.com/ckH0lO0DvT

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 17, 2021

Biden warned that unvaccinated Americans face “a winter of severe illness and death” amid a surge of Covid cases and the spread of omicron https://t.co/94MfFCDnzc pic.twitter.com/DgQsiY7CmS

— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) December 17, 2021

"There is something deeply broken in this country"

Quite the quote here from a Biden administration official in this story on the looming omicron threat by @tylerpager & @ddiamond https://t.co/Mw1VeX4sOC pic.twitter.com/WpcBbS4B7L

— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) December 17, 2021

Biden Administration #COVID19 spokespeople, like @IanSams & @benwakana46, have been shouting at us to get vaccinated and boosted, in response to #omicron. Here's the problem: CDC still requires a 6 month wait after 2nd mRNA vax dose before you're eligible for a booster. pic.twitter.com/xBnLrWIHhI

— Matthew Cortland, JD (@mattbc) December 17, 2021

It is extremely unclear what the Biden admin's plan is for dealing with the Omicron surge, other than a bunch of scary-sounding warnings about staying safe as social programs expire and student loan payments restart. Is there a comprehensive plan? I'd sure like to know what it is https://t.co/kUer8P3MIc

— Sarah Lazare (@sarahlazare) December 17, 2021

The collapse of Build Back Better once again exposes the dangers of Democrats clinging to their "West Wing" fantasies that rationality, decency, and messaging matter. As Republicans understand, the only thing that really matters is power. https://t.co/gHNDGlUMZh

— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) December 17, 2021

You can disagree. You can fight for your ideas. But when we have zero support from Republicans, two Democrats cannot torpedo a bill supported overwhelmingly by the American people. I do not respect that kind of arrogance. pic.twitter.com/gj9q3NYnUI

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 17, 2021

Everyone keeps saying over and over that "Manchin is the 50th vote" but so is every other Democrat. Dem leaders still made lots of errors that increased his leverage! For instance, they kept giving him huge concessions without getting anything in return. https://t.co/c3FY0r4mZk pic.twitter.com/JJHIu8VbHR

— Will Stancil (@whstancil) December 18, 2021

at this point the amount of nothing the democrats are doing is sort of impressive. at all the jobs i hated, i would at least pretend to have excel open on my computer when someone walked by

— mattie (@Lubchansky) December 16, 2021

The more I think about this year, the failure of the Senate to hold a real impeachment trial (a failure of the Democrats), and the failure of the Senate to convict (a failure of the Republicans), were key. The failure to hold Trump to account led to a cascade of unaccountability.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) December 18, 2021

Oh.

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 17, 2021

Chair of the 1922 committee today pic.twitter.com/6P8WlCsl5m

— Derek Bond (@derekbond) December 17, 2021

.@skynewsSam: Well, what a terrible night, minister.

Chairman of the Conservative Party: Booster, booster, booster, booster.

Rinse and repeat.#NorthShropshire

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) December 17, 2021

It’s really not. Brexit in 2016 was a promise full of dreams. For a rural area in 2021 it’s turning into a nightmare with seasonal worker shortages, abattoir issues, truck driver shortages, export markets dropping, farm payment system change/disappointment.

Overpromised/lied to

— Andy Day (@Andyphilipday) December 17, 2021

I think Mr Gale has miscounted how many 'strikes' there have been already.

Failing to listen to, and understand, the public mood is key to why Conservatives lost North Shropshire.

It sounds like Mr Gale is still not listening and understanding.

— LDH Marketing (@LDHMarketing) December 17, 2021

61.5% voted centre left in a previously rock solid Tory stronghold. @CompassOffice have always said there’s a progressive majority in this country waiting to be mobilised – Not just to win an election but to transform our politics. Let this be a beginning. pic.twitter.com/BS9RhgNFMq

— Graham Simpson (@grahambsi) December 17, 2021

Oh, go on then. You can have this one, just this once. 😉

— Tim O'Connor (@timoconnorbl) December 17, 2021

Sense from those on the ground is that it’ll be close, one source from one of the campaigns saying it was neck and neck between Lib Dems and Cons earlier in the day.

My own sense from last week was that non-Conservative vote might not coalesce enough but we’ll see https://t.co/AcF24Ow3pX

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) December 16, 2021

Remember this is a VERY leave seat, an older seat, historically Tory by reflex and in every way. There’s no way anyone else should really have a look in, even in terrible circumstances. That’s not to say we might not see an upset but that’s the context (whichever way it goes)

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) December 16, 2021

Five hours until polls close for the North Shropshire by-election.

Are the Conservatives heading for defeat? Here's what we've been hearing on the ground:https://t.co/cfVETp8yNx pic.twitter.com/DRZ2N4wNuT

— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 16, 2021

Get those emails in!

1922 Committee leader says he will accept EMAILS of no confidence in the PM over Christmas meaning https://t.co/Kvk5cw806X

— Matt Toomer (@realMattToomer) December 16, 2021

Boris Johnson had an extraordinary ability to project himself as both a toff and an honorary member of the proletariat, writes @fotoole, but his supporters are beginning to see what he actually is: a middle-class opportunist on the make, putting on airs. https://t.co/kxwerxqoz3 pic.twitter.com/NutN48l0PB

— The New York Review of Books (@nybooks) December 16, 2021

**NEW** Boris Johnson joined staff for a party in Downing Street amid the first lockdown in May last year, sources claim, raising questions about a possible culture of flouting Covid rules over many months.https://t.co/paoYyUftXk

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) December 16, 2021

Downing Street is denying reports that Boris Johnson attended a "party" in No 10 during spring last year. That development came after we recorded our latest video on the various party allegations, but we do cover more details on the quiz, the 18th Dec and Shaun Bailey's apology. pic.twitter.com/MeLHvLTO0f

— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) December 16, 2021

👑Boris Johnson still says Brits don't have to cancel their Christmas parties… as the Queen axes hers 👑https://t.co/XqSaUsSh64

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 16, 2021

COVID-19: Most cases now 'like severe cold' – and Omicron appears to produce 'fairly mild' illness, expert says https://t.co/iBcJDNyrSw

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 16, 2021

Talked to @jonsnowC4 tonight about covid numbers. Made the point that given lags from infection to reporting, maybe 3 doublings of infections already baked in.

This means we have to get off this track – now. We can prevent infections next week & must cut contacts for 1 week. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/QgZ39xwy2u

— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) December 16, 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak to return from US trip early over Covid concerns https://t.co/T23FpseS48

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 16, 2021

Restaurants & bars are *already* closing in response to the omicron wave, and the ones remaining open are bleeding out from cancellations. Where's the financial support from government? Just because there isn't a lockdown doesn't mean that hospitality is actually being protected.

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) December 16, 2021

France will restrict arrivals from Britain because of fast-spreading cases of the omicron variant, putting limits on reasons for traveling and requiring 48-hour isolation upon arrival. The new measures are expected to take effect over the weekend. https://t.co/gdCl4XUSGk

— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) December 16, 2021

Rather ironic that after months of the U.K. demanding that France control its borders to stop people coming over here France is now controlling its borders to stop us going there. #Omicron

— Brendan May (@bmay) December 16, 2021

The UK is also prepared to take a staged approach to working through Protocol issues with the initial focus on the most pressing practical issues.

— JPCampbellBiz – Open a window, keep your distance (@JP_Biz) December 17, 2021

Biden on the Covid situation: "For the unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death." pic.twitter.com/xJHnYkNtMq

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 16, 2021

The #Omicron variant is surging in the US exponentially… CDC data shows that New York / New Jersey region is now over 10% Omicron of all #COVID19 cases. The rest of US is not far behind—likely dominant by Christmas 🎄 — please be careful during holidays.

Figure by @DrWilliamKu. pic.twitter.com/O5jterp49v

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 16, 2021

It's like 2020 again in NYC with Covid numbers shooting way, way up. Lots of new cases, among vaccinated people. But no corresponding spike in hospitalizations or deaths. It creates this new unease. https://t.co/PuBaXlzFYG

— Michael Wilson (@MWilsonNYT) December 16, 2021

‘The Media Variant’ Hits New York City

“I began to tick off the last few days of media partying in my head and wondered if my migraine was more than the usual mid-week hangover.” https://t.co/kfkaxq3Rbx

— Damian Radcliffe (@damianradcliffe) December 16, 2021

🚨Well, I wrote about Omicron–what we know & what it means.

I feel the core problem is unchanged: The variant poses a much greater threat at the societal level than the individual one, making it the kind of problem the US has consistently flubbed. 1/ https://t.co/IRZqSbvC69

— Ed Yong (@edyong209) December 16, 2021

Fauci: Omicron likely dominant in US in "few weeks," warns hospitals could be "overwhelmed" https://t.co/NLPefCkNzB pic.twitter.com/PFQgo2N536

— The Hill (@thehill) December 16, 2021

Oh, #Florida! Resident of The Villages crashes her golf cart after the #Christmas parade, shouts at EMTs "I'm not vaccinated!" and “Get me DeSantis!” (PS: Her name's Karen.) https://t.co/jbA2DmcQy8

— Craig Pittman (@craigtimes) December 16, 2021

Not a great day for Dem leadership

— BBB stalled
— immigration again knocked out of BBB
— no movement on voting rights

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 16, 2021

read about it here first: https://t.co/7UQb8og87C

— Andy Duehren (@aduehren) December 16, 2021

There are two & only two Democrats opposed to reforming the filibuster: Sinema & Manchin. These two alone are preventing the only reform that might head off one-party autocracy in the US. https://t.co/1R4mooaCVg

— David Roberts (@drvolts) December 16, 2021

"Mark Meadows is in the middle of everything… What you see is this duality. One face saying we're going to do the reasonable thing, and another working with the president's allies to stoke his very worst impulses" – @ktbenner w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/CWRZPmf20H

— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 16, 2021

NEW — Jan. 6 committee tells 'Coup PowerPoint' author: Hi! We'd love to see all your documents about this and have you come sit for a deposition under oath.https://t.co/wAYoJPG9fj

— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) December 17, 2021

And, the worst part is, NOBODY CARES!
This breathtaking, unbelievable corruption and bastardization of our political system is just shrugged off. The same public and media that lost its shit over Clinton's sex life and Hillary's emails is just… not caring about any of this.

— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) December 16, 2021

NEW POD: At the last-minute, the Senate tries to pass voting rights legislation while new details emerge about the insurrection, @ASlavitt joins to talk about the Omicron wave, and @danpfeiffer and @jonfavs discuss the media’s role in defending democracy. https://t.co/QxKfUiVeZB pic.twitter.com/4T8Neqfokd

— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) December 16, 2021

A Delaware judge has denied Fox News' motion to dismission the lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems relating to the network's coverage of alleged election fraud in the 2020 election. https://t.co/YfYryJ3nTP

— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) December 16, 2021

Today would be a good day for Stephen Breyer to announce his retirement. https://t.co/4uvNdv8nsF

— Miranda Yaver, PhD (@mirandayaver) December 16, 2021

Boris Johnson says Christmas parties can go ahead – despite what Chris Whitty said about prioritising social interactions – but people should "think carefully".

"We're not cancelling events, we're not closing hospitality, we're not cancelling parties or people's ability to mix".

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 15, 2021

When you wake up the morning after a massive session, and are trying to piece together what happened last night: pic.twitter.com/DkzLavPweZ

— Hannah Al-Othman (@HannahAlOthman) December 15, 2021

This country would be in far better place if Chris Whitty were legally mandated to stand next to Boris Johnson at all times, to explain why everything he’s just said is complete bollocks.

— Tom Peck (@tompeck) December 15, 2021

imagine in March 2020 being told the Johnson-Whitty Covid press conferences would still be going on December 2021 and beyond

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) December 15, 2021

This went really well last time. #ToryShambles #Omicron pic.twitter.com/8fc4gtfLlD

— Brendan May (@bmay) December 15, 2021

New @IndependentSage statement:
Omicron is doubling so fast that sheer numbers will v likely outweigh any advantage of reduced severity (if it exists). To prevent NHS being overwhelmed in a few weeks & for a safer Xmas we need to act now. Not next week, not after Xmas, now. 1/2

— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) December 15, 2021

Drowning in omicron news? My takeaway: highly transmissible, can re-infect those who’ve had covid or vaccinated but likely less severe illness. High attack rates at parties/dinners. Best to reduce close contacts heading into Xmas, avoid crowds & wear masks in shops/transport.

— Prof. Devi Sridhar 🌈 (@devisridhar) December 14, 2021

Prof Chris Whitty suggests idea that South African data shows omicron is milder is wrong.

"There's a danger that people have over-interpreted this, think it's not going to be a problem… I want to be clear, this is going to be a problem."

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 15, 2021

There is carnage on the way – caused by Johnson https://t.co/QD2IFeEnMR

— Sara-endipidy🇪🇺 #FBPE (@sara_endipidy) December 15, 2021

Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis.
It’s not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene.
Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well. pic.twitter.com/YAVfJXsviQ

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 14, 2021

'This is just the beginning of an extraordinary acceleration'.

Dr David Nabarro from the @WHO issues a strong warning about the Omicron variant, saying it's "vital" we reduce its spread as it's likely to get "extremely serious in the next two weeks".https://t.co/DpWeuOGHDR pic.twitter.com/hKRhElLHNY

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 15, 2021

Probably the most bizarre thing from PMQs was watching Boris Johnson say that it was “not true” that he needed Labour votes to get his Covid measures through last night.

Again – just bizarre to deny the basic maths of what would’ve happened if Labour had opposed.

— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 15, 2021

Boris Johnson can't tell us to cut down on socialising to tackle Covid because he didn't.
Boris Johnson can't impose meaningful restrictions to tackle Covid because his MPs won't back him.
Boris Johnson can't tackle Covid. And we're going to pay the price.

— Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) December 15, 2021

NEW: Senior Tories are braced to lose the North Shropshire by-election tomorrow.

“We are going to lose” says one.

Liberal Democrats concur “we think we can do it” but much rests on whether soft Conservative voters flip yellow or decide to stay at home.https://t.co/qVBpK71Y8h

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) December 15, 2021

For one hundred years North Shropshire has been a Tory safe seat.

This week, every Tory voter we spoke to said they wouldn't vote Conservative again while Boris Johnson remains in charge. pic.twitter.com/nbTiYyzsIJ

— Byline TV (@BylineTV) December 15, 2021

Lib Dems North Shropshire internal polling:
CON: 40%
LDEM: 39%
LAB: 12%
REF: 4%
GRN: 4%
DO NOT VOTE Labour or Green.
There is only one party to vote for.

VOTE LIB-DEM

A vote for Conservative, Labour or Green is a vote for Owen Paterson.

— Virgosam (@virgosam70) December 14, 2021

Byelection loss would be ‘absolute disaster’ for PM, say Tory MPs – A Lib Dem victory would be a political earthquake even greater than their Chesham and Amersham victory in June, and would cap a disastrous week for Johnson. https://t.co/hKCUcd9s1i

— Graham Simpson (@grahambsi) December 15, 2021

Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds https://t.co/ruZDnUjopL

— The Independent (@Independent) December 16, 2021

Part 4 of the story of Christmas parties & quizes in Westminster last year. This time: a picture, a resignation, staff awards and accusations of ‘partisan trivia’. Produced by Briony Sowden. https://t.co/9h4d7fUWKn pic.twitter.com/iJ0j9Dvnmi

— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) December 15, 2021

The Tories disliked this banner so much they sent the Police to confiscate it… so please don't share it with anyone 👍 https://t.co/5p4VR1ZkNv

— Lloyd Hardy (@LloydHardy) December 15, 2021

🚨"Who exactly does the @MetPoliceUK work for ma'am? Our citizens, or Boris Johnson?" 🚨

(Location: New Scotland Yard. Sound on) pic.twitter.com/IB65bu3qz0

— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) December 15, 2021

NEW: Jan. 6 committee members are increasingly pondering an explosive question: Did Donald Trump's actions — or lack thereof — as a mob stormed the Capitol amount to criminal obstruction of Congress?

w/ @nicholaswu12https://t.co/nJwwiNN4AF

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 15, 2021

"Liz Cheney went straight to the heart of the matter, it was I think a little bit surprising… She simply signaled that she expects that the Jan. 6 committee will send a criminal referral on the former president to the Justice Dept." – @JoyceWhiteVance w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/kUUKC7pZXj

— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 15, 2021

"Donald Trump may be on the hook for criminal liability. It wasn't an accident that Liz Cheney laid out the elements of the offense of essentially not acting to save the Congress while we're performing the electoral college count," Rep. Eric Swalwell sayshttps://t.co/an1ZvRdy8u pic.twitter.com/bAGR6NMZhF

— New Day (@NewDay) December 15, 2021

A key take away from the Jan 6 Comm’s work – they aren’t treating that day as a stand-alone event. They view it as the culmination of Trump’s efforts to steal the election, including coercion in GA & the plan to replace DOJ leadership with someone who’d further the big lie.

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 15, 2021

On @CNN yesterday, I said the story isn’t everyone BEGGING Trump to do something during the insurrection. The story is that Trump did NOTHING TO STOP the insurrection. And the reason Trump did nothing to stop the insurrection is because he WANTED the insurrection to happen.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 15, 2021

Sounds like someone used up their 30 day prescription of Xanax long before the 30 days were up. And now somebody is in straight up panic attack mode and cannot get a refill.

— Emerson🌹👩🏽‍❤️‍👨🏽😷💉🌊🇺🇲🏴‍☠️ (@EmersonRRose1) December 15, 2021

After 11 months it may no longer be politically correct to say this on the right, but Trump’s lies about election fraud were the principle cause of the capitol riot. The texts show that everyone knew it that very day. https://t.co/SOghKZmLHg

— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 15, 2021

New: Dominion and Smartmatic want to see Rupert Murdoch's emails.

This is all about showing "actual malice" — proving that Fox either knew it was amplifying bogus claims, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The latest from me and @hcoster:https://t.co/jADak6WeKO

— Jan Wolfe (@JanNWolfe) December 15, 2021

.@SpeakerPelosi: "I'm still hopeful that [Build Back Better] will pass. I'm not going to have a postmortem on something that hasn't died. I think that we will have legislation and it will pass. I hope the sooner the better." https://t.co/yJzOQNnUzs pic.twitter.com/iUP3AsXkDy

— The Hill (@thehill) December 15, 2021

This generation of Dem leaders simply won't walk off the stage. When he was Pelosi's (current) age, Tip O'Neill had been retired for seven years. https://t.co/ng9xAZJGF5

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2021

No, they most certainly should not. https://t.co/UkX3QRI957

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) December 16, 2021

pic.twitter.com/5UpMmTrBHP

— Euge (@fewgene) December 15, 2021

>>> https://t.co/qng6km4aHF

— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) December 16, 2021