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Despite omicron, Ron DeSantis remains firmly against lockdowns and vaccine mandates

Florida's governor is reacting to the omicron variant much differently than New York's. Messaging around how to respond has varied widely by state, depending on politics and recent COVID burdens.

Despite omicron, Ron DeSantis remains firmly against lockdowns and vaccine mandates

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TV's Dr. Oz enters Pennsylvania's crucial Senate race on the GOP side

Dr. Mehmet Oz, seen here in a December 2019 file photo, joins the Republican field of possible candidates aiming to capture Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat in next year's election. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

TV's Dr. Oz enters Pennsylvania's crucial Senate race on the GOP side

The celebrity surgeon, who has promoted questionable health advice to national television audiences, has thrown his hat into the ring to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate.

World

Barbados has removed the Queen of England as head of state and is now a republic

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Kareem Smith, a journalist with 'Barbados Today,' about the country removing the Queen of England as its head of state and what that means for Barbadians moving forward.

Barbados has removed the Queen of England as head of state and is now a republic

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Asia

A stronger China tests America's 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan

Rather than clarify its political intentions, the U.S. has stayed vague about Taiwan for four decades to maintain peace. But there are signs of a shift toward more clarity these days.

A stronger China tests America's 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan

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Senate effort to reform military justice system, now under threat, faces final hurdle

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., (right), speaks to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, following an April 29 news conference on the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images hide caption

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Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Senate effort to reform military justice system, now under threat, faces final hurdle

As Congress works to pass the annual defense policy bill, lawmakers work to ensure efforts to reform the military justice system remain.

Ex-Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows will appear before the Jan. 6 panel

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the U.S. Capitol in February. Meadows has agreed to provide documents and appear for a deposition before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images hide caption

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Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Ex-Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows will appear before the Jan. 6 panel

The House committee investigating the Capitol attack had threatened Meadows with a criminal contempt referral because he had previously refused to cooperate.

Ex-Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows will appear before the Jan. 6 panel

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1 in 3 people working at Australia's parliament are sexually harassed, a report finds

Members of the Australian Parliament are sworn in on the first day of Federal Government in Canberra in 2008. An Australian government-commissioned report released on Tuesday, Nov. 30, revealed the alarming extent of sexual harassment among those working for some of its highest legislative and elected offices. Mark Graham/AP hide caption

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Mark Graham/AP

World

1 in 3 people working at Australia's parliament are sexually harassed, a report finds

A new report details the stunning culture of sexual harassment and bullying in Australia's parliamentary offices. It comes after another wave of #MeToo protests rocked the country in March.

Business

Biden discusses holiday supply chain issues with business CEOs

NPR's Noel King talks with Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz about supply chain problems and Monday's White House meeting that President Biden had with top retail executives.

Biden discusses holiday supply chain issues with business CEOs

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There's a GOP push in Wisconsin to take over the state's election system

Some Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin want to take away a bipartisan elections agency's control over voting and give it to the Republican-controlled Legislature. The Wisconsin state Capitol in Madison is shown in 2017. Scott Bauer/AP hide caption

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Scott Bauer/AP

There's a GOP push in Wisconsin to take over the state's election system

Wisconsin Public Radio

Some GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin want to strip the state's bipartisan elections agency of its power and give it to the Republican-controlled Legislature. The idea is backed by GOP Sen. Ron Johnson.

There's a GOP push in Wisconsin to take over the state's election system

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Latin America

Hondurans are hopeful and skeptical as votes for president are counted

Hondurans went to the polls Sunday to elect a new president, but many people in the impoverished country hold little hope that democracy will solve their problems.

Hondurans are hopeful and skeptical as votes for president are counted

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Law

Former governor who signed Mississippi abortion law weighs in on Supreme Court fight

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Phil Bryant, the former governor of Mississippi who signed a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks. The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments over the law.

Former governor who signed Mississippi abortion law weighs in on Supreme Court fight

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Elections

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers want the state legislature to take over federal elections

Wisconsin Public Radio

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin is pushing state lawmakers to consider stripping the bipartisan state elections agency of its control over federal elections.

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers want the state legislature to take over federal elections

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The Bidens unveil their first White House Christmas decorations

A Christmas tree stands in the Red Room during a press preview of White House holiday decorations on Nov. 29. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The Bidens unveil their first White House Christmas decorations

With some holiday spirit and over 100 volunteers, the White House has been decorated in the theme of "gifts from the heart." The theme honors front-line workers, first responders and the military.

Merriam-Webster's 2021 word of the year is, of course, 'vaccine'

A person prepares to administer a Pfizer COVID vaccine at a clinic in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2021. Merriam-Webster has chosen "vaccine" as the word of the year, citing a sustained surge in lookups. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

National

Merriam-Webster's 2021 word of the year is, of course, 'vaccine'

The word "vaccine" saw a more than 600% increase in lookups this year over last. In its announcement, Merriam-Webster noted that it's come to represent much more than just medicine.