Ghislaine Maxwell Awaits Verdict; "The Matrix Resurrections" Rethinks the Red Pill; Grinch Joe Manchin

[What 17 Vanity Fair Editors Are Giving and Hoping to Receive This Holiday Season]( [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair's Cocktail Hour logo image]( A daily digest of things to discuss over drinks December 21, 2021 [Image may contain: Face, Human, Person, Advertisement, Collage, Poster, and Ghislaine Maxwell]( [Ghislaine Maxwell Is Left to Await Her Verdict]( [In closing arguments in her sex-trafficking trial, Maxwell’s defense tried to cement its portrayal of her as a scapegoat for Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. A jury will now begin to deliberate.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [The Matrix Resurrections Rethinks the Red Pill]( [Lana Wachowski seizes back control of the Matrix narrative in her new film.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [Joe Manchin Is the Grinch Who Stole Democrats' Christmas]( [The senator’s unforeseen opposition to Biden’s Build Back Better agenda just gave Democrats two trillion more things to worry about.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis Stand Up for the Women Accusing Chris Noth]( [The three And Just Like That... stars said they “commend” the women for sharing “their painful experiences.”]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [Biden Readies His Omicron Army]( [Increased at-home rapid testing and additional personnel for hospitals are among the steps that the president will announce Tuesday to combat the winter surge.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [From the Archive: “Ermahgerddon: The Untold Story of the Ermahgerd Girl”]( [Meet Maggie Goldenberger, who helplessly watched an internet meme spawn from her awkward adolescent photo. Except maybe the “Gersberms” girl never existed the way we thought she did.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now]( [Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. The most popular stories from Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Architectural Digest and more. STAY INFORMED]( [Vanity Fair Logo](www.vanityfair.com) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe](newsletter=vf) Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.