Crash Course: Omicron on the march

Plus: Fauci's Sunday morning fireworks none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none Omicron on the march Sunday brought little clarity for those worried about the COVID-19 pandemic's future — even as cases of the new Omicron variant were discovered in both Canada and the U.K. Dr. Anthony Fauci cautioned Americans during [a morning media blitz](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvd2hhdC1oYXBwZW5lZC1vbi1qYW4tNi1zZW5hdG9yLWRyLWZhdWNpLWJsYXN0cy10ZWQtY3J1ei1mb3ItdGhyZWF0ZW5pbmctdG8tcHV0LWhpbS1pbi1qYWlsLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) that its arrival on our shores was "inevitable" — though he added that we should be prepared to do “anything and everything” to fight the virus as we face down another devastating spike. The takeaway? It's going to take roughly two weeks for good data to emerge about the new variant's contagiousness and ability to evade vaccine protection, Fauci said. That leaves just enough time to "prepare for the worst," though "it may not be that we’re going to have to go the route people are saying,” Fauci added during an interview on ABC News. “We’ll make decisions based on the science and evidence as we always do.” Flashback: [Everything we know about the Omicron variant](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjcvZXZlcnl0aGluZy13ZS1rbm93LWFib3V0LXRoZS1vbWljcm9uLTE5LXZhcmlhbnQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) none COVID-19's horrifying long-term side effect It's the stuff of nightmares: You wake up one morning and everything tastes and smells like garbage — a sensation you can't seem to escape, no matter what you do. Yet this is reality for a number of people who have gotten and subsequently recovered from COVID-19. My colleague Nicole Karlis took a look over the weekend at one of the virus' strangest and least understood long-term side effects: [Parosmia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvYS1ob3JyaWZ5aW5nLTE5LXNpZGUtZWZmZWN0LW1ha2VzLXRhc3RlLWFuZC1zbWVsbC1saWtlLWdhcmJhZ2UvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). Luckily, it appears the sensation may only be temporary — but until more is known, it's hard to say anything for certain. "Right now, so little is known about the long-term effects of COVID-19," Dr. Richard Orlandi, an ear, nose, and throat physician and professor in the Department of Surgery at University of Utah Health, told Salon. "All we really know is that the majority of patients do experience a return of their normal senses of taste and smell, but it's unclear if and how many patients will get fully back to normal." [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvYS1ob3JyaWZ5aW5nLTE5LXNpZGUtZWZmZWN0LW1ha2VzLXRhc3RlLWFuZC1zbWVsbC1saWtlLWdhcmJhZ2UvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none - MTG urges followers [to sue doctors, hospitals](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvbXRnLXVyZ2VzLWZvbGxvd2Vycy10by1kb2N0b3JzLWhvc3BpdGFscy1vdmVyLXJlZnVzYWwtdG8taXNzdWUtaXZlcm1lY3Rpbi1wcmVzY3JpcHRpb25zLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) over refusal to issue Ivermectin prescriptions - Would you pay someone to [listen to you vent](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvd291bGQteW91LXBheS1zb21lb25lLXRvLWxpc3Rlbi10by15b3UtdmVudC10aGUtcmlzZS1vZi1wcm9mZXNzaW9uYWwtbGlzdGVuZXJzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)? The rise of "professional listeners" - "Colin in Black & White" writer [on Kaepernick's parents](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvY29saW4taW4tYmxhY2stYW5kLW1pY2hhZWwtc3RhcnJidXJ5LXNhbG9uLXRhbGtzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)and his awakening: "They didn't see him as Black" - In need of a Hanukkah menu? Try [this celebratory and seasonal spread](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjcvYS1jZWxlYnJhdG9yeS1hbmQtc2Vhc29uYWwtaGFudWtrYWgtbWVudS1mZWF0dXJpbmctc3dlZXQtcG90YXRvLWxhdGtlcy1hbmQtYmxvb2Qtb3JhbmdlLXN1Zmdhbml5b3QvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), featuring sweet potato latkes and blood orange sufganiyot - When a president [taught in a segregated school](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvd2hlbi1hLXRhdWdodC1pbi1hLXNlZ3JlZ2F0ZWQtc2Nob29sLS1hbmQtaXQtY2hhbmdlZC1oaXN0b3J5Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) — and it changed history - Religious Trauma Syndrome: How organized religion can [lead to mental health problems](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvcmVsaWdpb3VzLXRyYXVtYS1zeW5kcm9tZS1ob3ctb3JnYW5pemVkLXJlbGlnaW9uLWNhbi1sZWFkLXRvLW1lbnRhbC1oZWFsdGgtcHJvYmxlbXNfcGFydG5lci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYY7RwKRhq1JJ4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Why the writer Nell Beram is [(still) straight edge](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjcvd2h5LWltLXN0aWxsLXN0cmFpZ2h0LWVkZ2UvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Key Jan. 6 organizer to [comply with Capitol riot subpoena](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgva2V5LWphbi02LW9yZ2FuaXplci10by1jb21wbHktd2l0aC1jYXBpdG9sLXJpb3Qtc3VicG9lbmEtaS1kb250LXdhbnQtdG8tZ28tdG8tamFpbF9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~): "I don't want to go to jail" - You don't need an air fryer to make these [salty, sweet coconut chips](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgveW91LWRvbnQtbmVlZC1hbi1haXItZnJ5ZXItdG8tbWFrZS1zYWx0eS1zd2VldC1jb2NvbnV0LWNoaXBzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Beyond brown shame: Refreshing "India Sweets and Spices" [moves past struggles](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvaW5kaWEtc3dlZXRzLWFuZC1zcGljZXMtZ2VldGEtbWFsaWsvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) of hyphenated identity - Proud Boys [terrorize Small Business Saturday shoppers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvcHJvdWQtYm95cy10ZXJyb3JpemUtc21hbGwtYnVzaW5lc3Mtc2F0dXJkYXktc2hvcHBlcnMtb24tbG9uZy1pc2xhbmRfcGFydG5lci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYY7RwKRhq1JJ4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) on Long Island - Noam Chomsky discusses the [path to a livable future](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvbm9hbS1jaG9tc2t5LWRpc2N1c3Nlcy10aGUtcGF0aC10by1hLWxpdmFibGUtZnV0dXJlX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - And, finally, experiment with [these wheat-free flours](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvZXhwZXJpbWVudC13aXRoLXdoZWF0LWZyZWUtZmxvdXJzLWluLWNvb2tpbmctYW5kLWJha2luZ19wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) in cooking and baking Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. none none LeVar Burton's latest lesson is one to inspire us all Need a dose of optimism after a long, strange year? Look no further than the personal journey of LeVar Burton, whose own bumpy game show-centric ride managed to land right side up. Burton was very publicly spurned in his quest to host the iconic "Jeopardy" franchise. But it all turned out okay in the end: he secured a gig to host another show that champions intelligence and breadth of knowledge: [the TV resurrection of "Trivial Pursuit."](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMTYvbGV2YXItYnVydG9uLXRyaXZpYWwtcHVyc3VpdC1ob3N0LWplb3BhcmR5L1cDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) In the words of Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland: Finding inspirational parables about life and truth in our fictions is easy, be they televised or written on the page. Popular culture invites us to draw inspiration from real people, too, although so often the image we're presented is manipulated and edited to fit whatever dream a studio or a label is selling. Burton provided a window into an unvarnished step-to-step tumble through hope and letdown that parked at year's end on a positive score. In its own way he rode the same fast-moving current as the millions of workers who decided life was too short not to try for something better, even if whatever that was had yet to present itself. Burton boldly took his shot, for the win. There's nothing to read into that but inspiration.   [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvbGV2YXItYnVydG9uLWplb3BhcmR5LXRyaXZpYWwtcHVyc3VpdC1qb2JzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo via Tommaso Boddi/WireImage) none - "Falling through the cracks of our threadbare safety net," [The Los Angeles Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGF0aW1lcy5jb20vaG9tZWxlc3MtaG91c2luZy9zdG9yeS8yMDIxLTExLTI4L2NvbHVtbi1vbmUtdG9sbC1vZi1vbmUtbWFucy1tZW50YWwtaWxsbmVzc1cDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Andrew Cuomo’s Downfall Began with a Book Deal," [The New Yorker](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3eW9ya2VyLmNvbS9uZXdzL291ci1sb2NhbC1jb3JyZXNwb25kZW50cy9hbmRyZXctY3VvbW9zLWRvd25mYWxsLWJlZ2FuLXdpdGgtYS1ib29rLWRlYWxXA3NwY0IKYY7RwKRhq1JJ4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "How Beer Ruled the Ancient World," [The Daily Beast](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZGFpbHliZWFzdC5jb20vaG93LWJlZXItcnVsZWQtdGhlLWFuY2llbnQtd29ybGQ_cmVmPWhvbWVXA3NwY0IKYY7RwKRhq1JJ4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Impromptu Sondheim Wakes Fill Piano Bars With Tears and Tunes," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMS8yNy90aGVhdGVyL3N0ZXBoZW4tc29uZGhlaW0tcGlhbm8tYmFycy13YWtlcy5odG1sP3NtaWQ9dHctbnl0bWV0cm8mc210eXA9Y3VyVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Robert Sarver and the NBA's Toughest Test Yet: What will the progressive sports league do about the problematic Suns owner?" [Sports Illustrated](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2kuY29tL25iYS8yMDIxLzExLzI0L3JvYmVydC1zYXJ2ZXItc3Vucy1uYmEtdG91Z2hlc3QtdGVzdC1kYWlseS1jb3ZlclcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) none none Fauci's Sunday morning fireworks When Americans think of the government response to COVID-19 — both good and bad — they inevitably think of Dr. Anthony Fauci. The notoriety has also made him a right-wing boogeyman, with the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases having to fight off a series of pathological attacks from far-right politicians and media figures every time COVID-19 headlines turn sour. That was certainly the case this weekend, as Dr. Fauci began one of his familiar media blitzes to explain the newly discovered Omicron variantto a beleaguered nation. This time, it was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz attacking Fauci, with a jab about how he'd like to see Dr. Fauci prosecuted for some reason or another — a dig that Dr. Fauci didn't take too kindly to. "I have to laugh at that," Fauci said during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" when asked about Cruz' comments. "I should be prosecuted? What happened on Jan. 6, Senator?" "I'm just going to do my job," he added. "And I'm going to be saving lives and they're going to be lying." [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjgvd2hhdC1oYXBwZW5lZC1vbi1qYW4tNi1zZW5hdG9yLWRyLWZhdWNpLWJsYXN0cy10ZWQtY3J1ei1mb3ItdGhyZWF0ZW5pbmctdG8tcHV0LWhpbS1pbi1qYWlsLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo via CBS/Screengrab) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmGO0cCkYatSSeBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2021 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjh0XPP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgphjtHApGGrUkngUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)