Red plant redemption.
Omicron now accounts for 73% of all new US Covid cases, and has surpassed delta as the most prominent variant in the country. / Associated Press
So far, the onset of omicron looks different from previous variants; early symptoms resemble the common cold. / KTLA
"After waiting about 35 minutes in line next to 'visibly sick' people, the 22-year-old was told her insurance wouldn't cover her visit." America's Covid testing is going just great. / BuzzFeed News
The White House says, starting in January, free at-home Covid test kits will be sent to any households who request one. / NBC News
The WHO is urging people to cancel their holiday plans to stem omicron's spread; the travel industry says there's no sign Americans are going to do that. / BBC News, the Atlantic
"Perhaps no other plant… wilts quicker, or is more disappointing to those who receive it." A history of poinsettias. / The Hustle
Texas public libraries are seeing a rise in challenges from residents over children and young-adult books that address same-sex relationships, sexuality, and race. / The Texas Tribune
TikTok abruptly changed its algorithm after a WSJ report revealed how users can be sucked into rabbit holes of harmful content. / The Verge
New EPA rules will require new gasoline-powered passenger vehicles to average 55 miles a gallon by 2026—up from today's 38 miles per gallon. / The New York Times
"During the pandemic, many people have rediscovered the aural joys of nature." The year in field recordings and soundscapes. / A Closer Listen
As psychedelic therapy gains acceptance, researchers are devoting more time to finding the right soundtrack for your trip. / The Daily Beast
"In the Witcher games, monsters are never just monsters but manifestations of human trauma." Finding a way through PTSD—through fantasy video games. / The Cut
To improve streaming royalties for musicians, one group proposes direct payments using an existing system for satellite radio payouts. / Dada Drummer Almanach
"It's natural enough in a libertarian world to believe that something that benefits you must automatically be 'right' for the whole world." Brian Eno is trying to keep an open mind on NFTs. / The Crypto Syllabus
On Darren Bader's found-object assemblage: "This kind of art making is exceedingly easy to do, and almost impossible to do very well." / Hyperallergic
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Since 1999, your Headlines are sourced and written by Andrew Womack and Rosecrans Baldwin, and arrive in your inbox, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest Headlines at TMN.