Get The Newsletter

The Daily Recount

Out with Queen Elizabeth, in with National Hero Rihanna. Barbados has formally cut ties with the UK to become the world’s newest republic.

Barbados Ditches the Queen and Honors Rihanna

COVID updates, around the world: The U.S. says all adults “should” get a booster shot. South Africa’s early Omicron research suggests “mild” symptoms. And Greece makes shots mandatory for ages 60+ and will issue monthly fines to those who remain unvaccinated.

Health Officials Revise Booster Guidance Over Omicron Concerns

After thousands of crypto investors failed in their quest to buy a copy of the U.S. Constitution, another group of 2,000 crypto fans now has its sights set on a new target: an NBA franchise. The idea so far is not a slam dunk.

Crypto Fans Fail to Buy U.S. Constitution, Now Eye NBA Team

Coming soon to Bessemer, Alabama: a second shot at unionization. A federal labor board believes Amazon interfered in the union election that took place earlier this year and is ordering another vote.

Amazon Ordered to Hold Another Union Election at Alabama Facility

As the Omicron variant spreads and borders close, the world is left to grapple with more questions than answers. But President Biden wants to make one thing clear: The best protection is vaccination.

Borders Close as New COVID-19 Variant Spreads

Consumerism: It’s so last year. 2021 marks the first year that Americans spent less money on Black Friday than the previous year. That said, we still dished out 8.9 *billion* dollars.

Black Friday Spending Decreases for the First Time

The Republican Party has found a prime opportunity to rally its base ahead of the midterms — and it involves playing with people’s literal lives to score political points.

GOP’s Anti-Vax Courtship Continues Ahead of Midterms

Ghislaine Maxwell's highly anticipated trial is officially underway. The British socialite faces six criminal charges for recruiting, grooming, and exploiting girls as young as 14 years old for sexual abuse with longtime companion Jeffrey Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell Sex Trafficking Trial Officially Underway

Guilty verdicts don’t change history, but they can bring justice. After a trial in which the defense team employed racist tropes, a jury has found Ahmaud Arbery’s killers guilty of murder.

Justice For Ahmaud Arbery

Bad day for white supremacy: The “very fine people” behind the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally just got slapped with a hefty liability fine — to the tune of $26 million.

Bad Day For White Supremacists

The mission: defending planet Earth. The method: launching a rocket into an asteroid. In a joint experiment, SpaceX and NASA fired off a Double Asteroid Redirection Test overnight.

NASA & SpaceX Launch Asteroid Deflection Mission

The Department of Defense is launching a new task force to monitor and analyze reports of UFO sightings. Is it finally time to retire the tin foil hats?

Pentagon Creates UFO Task Force

In a ruling that could have major implications for similar cases, a federal jury found that CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens substantially contributed to the opioid crisis in two Ohio counties. The companies could soon be on the hook for billions of dollars.

Trouble For Big Pharma(cies)

President Biden said: Let there be oil. In a rare move, the White House is releasing 50 million barrels from the nation’s petroleum reserves to combat high gas prices ahead of the holiday season.

Biden Taps Oil Reserves to Combat High Gas Prices

Facebook was well aware that its “race-blind” practices came at the expense of Black people. Researchers reportedly showed executives an example of the kind of hate speech on the platform last year — and presented a real post featuring an image of "The Squad." But apparently it wasn’t enough to persuade them to change the system.

Facebook Knows Its “Race-Blind” Practices Hurt Black People

Uber is partnering with a cannabis retailer to offer weed for takeout in Canada. Customers in Ontario can now place an order for pick up from any nearby Tokyo Smoke store on the Uber Eats app.

Uber Eats Partners With Cannabis Retailer in Canada

The Recount Daily Newsletter

Sign up today. Watch.
Stay informed.

Catch up on the most important stories of the day with The Recount Daily Newsletter. Each day we bring you a round-up of what's happening in the corridors of power right now, without wasting your time or insulting your intelligence.

Tryouts for a Vegas strip club were shut down to avoid an Astroworld-like catastrophe after more than 1,000 women and "interested patrons" showed up. An organizer tried to take control by shouting: “Y’all see that s*** happen with Travis Scott ... Y’all not gonna be suing me.”

Vegas Strip Club Shuts Down Tryouts, Referencing Astroworld Crush

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. According to federal data and Johns Hopkins University, the number of virus-related deaths recorded in the U.S. in 2021 has surpassed the toll in 2020. Experts say lower-than-expected immunization rates were a major factor. Over in Europe, tensions between the vaccinated and unvaccinated have reached a boiling point as countries across the continent impose new restrictions.

U.S. COVID-19 Deaths in 2021 Surpass 2020

The former golden girl of Silicon Valley now taking the stand in federal court. After months of listening as the U.S. government mounted a case against her, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes unexpectedly testified in her own criminal trial. Holmes faces 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wire fraud is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years and potential fines.

Elizabeth Holmes Testifies in Theranos Criminal Trial

Coming soon to Apple showrooms near you … the iCar? Apple is hitting the accelerator on its electric car project and is refocusing its efforts. The tech giant is now aiming to create a fully autonomous vehicle. The company is internally aiming to launch its self-driving car as early as 2025.

Apple Hits Accelerator on Electric Car Project

In a video call, tennis star Peng Shuai told the International Olympic Committee she is safe and well. But the former doubles champion’s disappearance and sudden reappearance after accusing a Chinese official of sexual assault is only raising more questions. And the Women's Tennis Association — which is putting its billion-dollar business with China on the line — is far from satisfied.

Missing Chinese Tennis Star’s Reappearance Sparks More Questions

Despite Kevin McCarthy’s best efforts, House Democrats passed the Build Back Better Act. The $1.9 trillion bill provides universal pre-K, child and elder care assistance, extends the child tax credit, tackles prescription drug prices, and makes a historic investment in fighting climate change.

House Passes Build Back Better Despite McCarthy Delay

Kyle Rittenhouse has been acquitted. Rittenhouse faced 5 charges for fatally shooting two men and wounding a third amid protests over the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha last year. The prosecution cannot appeal, and the “not guilty” verdict is final.

Jury Finds Kyle Rittenhouse Not Guilty on All Counts

At least 11 state attorneys general have launched an investigation into Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook. The move comes after “The Facebook Papers” revealed internal research that Instagram may cause mental and emotional harm to teenagers, especially girls.

States Launch Investigation Into Meta Over Instagram