newsweek--2020-12-21--Marianne Williamson: America's Crisis of Adulthood | Opinion

One of my favorite stories from American history involves Dwight Eisenhower before the D-Day invasion .
Meteorology being not nearly as sophisticated as it is now , the general received daily reports providing only a rough read on whether the following day 's weather conditions would allow for the landing of Allied forces on the beach at Normandy .
Though they had tricked the Germans into thinking the invasion would be in Calais , the Allies knew it was only a matter of time before the enemy figured out the deception .
Commander Rommel , then in Germany for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back quickly to take command of German forces in France .
The invasion having been planned for months , it was time now for the Allies to act quickly .
One thing they had no control over , however , was the weather .
On the day of June 5 , 1944 , sitting at a conference table with the rest of his commanders , Eisenhower heard the meteorological report he had been waiting for : conditions would be adequate to proceed the next day .
On June 6th , at 6:30 AM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allied forces to begin the landing , yet still dark and cloudy enough to provide an element of surprise as they approached the beach .
Having heard the meteorologist 's report , Eisenhower at first said nothing .
Eyewitnesses reported not a sound in the room as they awaited the general 's response .
Finally , after a silence that lasted a full two minutes , Eisenhower said , `` Okay .
Let 's go . ''
It 's hard to appreciate the burden that Eisenhower carried on his heart that day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in military history , as Operation Overlord combined the forces of more than 156,000 U.S. , British and Canadian troops .
Even under the best conditions , with the greatest success he could possibly hope for , Eisenhower knew he would be sending more men to die than had ever lost their lives in a single military operation .
The men ( and women ) who fought in WW2—my father included—have often been referred to as `` the greatest generation . ''
They became that way because they went through a terrible initiation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a level of courageous maturity unmatched in the experience of most generations before them .
A Depression , then a great war , made America—and Americans—grow up very quickly .
The generations of Americans that came after them ?
Not so much .
We 've had our problems , our tragedies—even our wars—to be sure , but not since WW2 has a whole generation of us been challenged to get real mature , real courageous and real intelligent , real quick ... until this moment .
Terrorism in the Middle East ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form of dangerously increasing numbers of hate groups here at home .
Deadly pandemic ?
You bet , and worse by far in the United States than anywhere else .
Economic trouble ?
You bet , and millions with hunger so severe that food banks are overwhelmed .
From an economy that , even before the pandemic , truly worked well for only a small minority of Americans ; to an environmental crisis threatening to create global food shortages , economic breakdowns and hundreds of millions of refugees if we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next decade ; to the newly reported news that that the Russians have been hacking our cyber networks for the last eight months—it 's obvious , if we 're honest with ourselves , that we 're wandering dangerously close to fall-of-Rome territory now ... unless we become very serious , very smart adults , and right away .
The question is , do we have what it takes ?
For the last 40 years we 've been a nation filled with men who too often acted like little boys , women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens who acted as if someone else was watching over such issues as nuclear stockpiles—thinking that , surely , all we had to do was concern ourselves with ourselves !
Nothing called us to care about anything much larger than ourselves , and too few of us really wanted to .
Americans became more and more distracted by ultimately unimportant things , less and less interested in truly meaningful things—and unaware of the dangers that both portended .
Now , it 's as though a nation that was drunk on nothingness has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its face .
All of a sudden , life-and death-issues like a pandemic that can kill anyone pushed the Kardashians out of the center of our cultural landscape .
Hell , even the Kardashians have gotten serious !
America 's day of reckoning seems to have come at last , and as wonderful as it is that responsible adults are taking the reins in Washington , that alone will not be enough to stave off all the disasters we 've allowed to fester for too long .
There are too many stress factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and too many dangerous points of no return for any intelligent person to think we 're not in trouble now .
My father—like so many of our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers—spoke of how , the day after Pearl Harbor , young men all over America rushed to sign up for the war effort .
They knew what had happened , and they knew what had to be done .
There was no question but that they were prepared to do it .
And us ?
Are we ready to exchange our prolonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult generation , released at last from our obsessive attachments to things that do n't ultimately matter ?
Are we ready to rise to the occasion of a moment so serious that our democracy , our ecosystem , indeed our entire civilization could collapse under the weight of years and years of our selfish misuse ?
Actually , I think we are .
I do n't know anyone who is n't seriously nervous now , hungry for the wisdom and strength to become whoever it is we need to be , so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , in the final analysis , was good and decent enough to show up for our country in its hour of need .
None of us know for sure exactly what that will mean , or what it will look like .
We do n't know what next year will bring , for our country or for ourselves .
We do n't know what we will be called to do , but there 's a feeling that we will be called .
It 's not a war we need to fight this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to give birth to .
For the sake of future generations—as the greatest generation did so courageously for us—may enough of us show up for the collaborative effort .
And like Eisenhower , who displayed the most masterful maturity at one of our most perilous moments , may enough of us in our own hearts say , `` Okay .
Let 's go . ''
President Franklin Roosevelt had two announcements prepared that day : one for if the invasion succeeded , and one for if it failed .
The Allies ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was needed at that time , and it 's exactly what is needed now .
Marianne Williamson is a Newsweek columnist , best-selling author , political activist and spiritual thought leader .
She is founder of Project Angel Food and co-founder of the Peace Alliance , and was the first candidate in the 2020 presidential primary to make reparations a pillar of her campaign .
She is the author of 13 books , among them Healing the Soul of America and A Politics of Love .
The views expressed in this article @ @ @ @ @ @

One of my favorite stories from American history involves Dwight Eisenhower before the D-Day invasion.
Meteorology being not nearly as sophisticated as it is now, the general received daily reports providing only a rough read on whether the following day's weather conditions would allow for the landing of Allied forces on the beach at Normandy. Though they had tricked the Germans into thinking the invasion would be in Calais, the Allies knew it was only a matter of time before the enemy figured out the deception. Commander Rommel, then in Germany for his wife's birthday, would surely come back quickly to take command of German forces in France. The invasion having been planned for months, it was time now for the Allies to act quickly.
One thing they had no control over, however, was the weather.
On the day of June 5, 1944, sitting at a conference table with the rest of his commanders, Eisenhower heard the meteorological report he had been waiting for: conditions would be adequate to proceed the next day. On June 6th, at 6:30 AM, it would be light enough for Allied forces to begin the landing, yet still dark and cloudy enough to provide an element of surprise as they approached the beach.
Having heard the meteorologist's report, Eisenhower at first said nothing. Eyewitnesses reported not a sound in the room as they awaited the general's response. Finally, after a silence that lasted a full two minutes, Eisenhower said, "Okay. Let's go."
It's hard to appreciate the burden that Eisenhower carried on his heart that day. He was commanding the largest amphibian landing in military history, as Operation Overlord combined the forces of more than 156,000 U.S., British and Canadian troops. Even under the best conditions, with the greatest success he could possibly hope for, Eisenhower knew he would be sending more men to die than had ever lost their lives in a single military operation.
The men (and women) who fought in WW2—my father included—have often been referred to as "the greatest generation." They became that way because they went through a terrible initiation: a World War that demanded of them a level of courageous maturity unmatched in the experience of most generations before them. A Depression, then a great war, made America—and Americans—grow up very quickly.
The generations of Americans that came after them? Not so much. We've had our problems, our tragedies—even our wars—to be sure, but not since WW2 has a whole generation of us been challenged to get real mature, real courageous and real intelligent, real quick... until this moment.
The German ambassador to France Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut takes part in the international ceremony marking D-Day commemorations for the 76th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy on Omaha Beach in Vierville-sur-Mer, northwestern France, on June 6, 2020. Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP/Getty
Terrorism in the Middle East? You bet, plus domestic terrorism in the form of dangerously increasing numbers of hate groups here at home. Deadly pandemic? You bet, and worse by far in the United States than anywhere else. Economic trouble? You bet, and millions with hunger so severe that food banks are overwhelmed. From an economy that, even before the pandemic, truly worked well for only a small minority of Americans; to an environmental crisis threatening to create global food shortages, economic breakdowns and hundreds of millions of refugees if we don't achieve serious reversal of climate conditions within the next decade; to the newly reported news that that the Russians have been hacking our cyber networks for the last eight months—it's obvious, if we're honest with ourselves, that we're wandering dangerously close to fall-of-Rome territory now...unless we become very serious, very smart adults, and right away.
The question is, do we have what it takes? For the last 40 years we've been a nation filled with men who too often acted like little boys, women who too often acted like little girls and citizens who acted as if someone else was watching over such issues as nuclear stockpiles—thinking that, surely, all we had to do was concern ourselves with ourselves! Nothing called us to care about anything much larger than ourselves, and too few of us really wanted to. Americans became more and more distracted by ultimately unimportant things, less and less interested in truly meaningful things—and unaware of the dangers that both portended.
Now, it's as though a nation that was drunk on nothingness has had an ocean of cold water thrown in its face. All of a sudden, life-and death-issues like a pandemic that can kill anyone pushed the Kardashians out of the center of our cultural landscape. Hell, even the Kardashians have gotten serious! America's day of reckoning seems to have come at last, and as wonderful as it is that responsible adults are taking the reins in Washington, that alone will not be enough to stave off all the disasters we've allowed to fester for too long. There are too many stress factors, too many instances of mass suffering and too many dangerous points of no return for any intelligent person to think we're not in trouble now.
My father—like so many of our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers—spoke of how, the day after Pearl Harbor, young men all over America rushed to sign up for the war effort. They knew what had happened, and they knew what had to be done. There was no question but that they were prepared to do it.
And us? Are we ready to exchange our prolonged adolescence for the mantle of a mature adult generation, released at last from our obsessive attachments to things that don't ultimately matter? Are we ready to rise to the occasion of a moment so serious that our democracy, our ecosystem, indeed our entire civilization could collapse under the weight of years and years of our selfish misuse?
Actually, I think we are. I don't know anyone who isn't seriously nervous now, hungry for the wisdom and strength to become whoever it is we need to be, so that we too will respond as a generation that, in the final analysis, was good and decent enough to show up for our country in its hour of need.
None of us know for sure exactly what that will mean, or what it will look like. We don't know what next year will bring, for our country or for ourselves. We don't know what we will be called to do, but there's a feeling that we will be called. It's not a war we need to fight this time, but a new world we need to give birth to.
For the sake of future generations—as the greatest generation did so courageously for us—may enough of us show up for the collaborative effort. And like Eisenhower, who displayed the most masterful maturity at one of our most perilous moments, may enough of us in our own hearts say, "Okay. Let's go."
President Franklin Roosevelt had two announcements prepared that day: one for if the invasion succeeded, and one for if it failed. The Allies' combination of realism and determination was exactly what was needed at that time, and it's exactly what is needed now.
Marianne Williamson is a Newsweek columnist, best-selling author, political activist and spiritual thought leader. She is founder of Project Angel Food and co-founder of the Peace Alliance, and was the first candidate in the 2020 presidential primary to make reparations a pillar of her campaign. She is the author of 13 books, among them Healing the Soul of America and A Politics of Love.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own.


newsweek--2020-12-21--The 25 Most-Watched TV Shows on Netflix in 2020

Netflix introduced a new feature in February 2020 , top 10 charts that revealed the most-watched shows in every country each day .
This means that for the first time we have an idea who is actually watching what on the streaming service .
Among shows that unsurprisingly were some of the most-watched of the year , such as Emily in Paris , The Crown and The Last Dance , there were some surprises .
In a hard year , many found themselves returning to nostalgia , with Friends and classic telenovellas among the things they were watching .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Every TV network 's attempt to get a Game of Thrones of their own has led to many shows that have looked to history for tales of swords and sex .
Netflix 's Barbarians is German attempt to do this , bringing to the world 's attention a period of history little known outside of western Europe .
Away provided one of Netflix 's great mysteries this year : despite strong viewing figures across the world , the show was canceled after just one season , meaning we will never get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astronauts ' adventures on Mars .
Love is Blind saw Netflix dipping its toe into the world of trash reality TV , but Too Hot to Handle saw them dive right in .
The premise is simple—couples are trapped together then lose prize money if any romantic contact takes place—and the results are quite something .
Though its title makes it sound like a bad fake movie from a Quentin Tarantino film , Warrior Nun is very real and has a whole host of fans who are loving its mix of YA drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an end in 2020 , which meant that all of its 250 episodes were available to stream online in some countries .
People wasted no time in watching the adventures of their favorite comedy family as they found themselves trying to escape their real one .
Prison dramas have been an integral part of the Netflix catalog ever since Orange is the New Black was among the shows that launched the streaming service .
The latest hit was Spanish serial Locked Up ( Vis a vis ) , which people around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
19 .
It 's Okay to Not Be Okay Though it did not make much of a dent in the U.S. Netflix charts , the South Korean romantic drama was a worldwide smash in a year in which this , Parasite and BTS presented a genuine three-tier Korean cultural invasion of the world .
Telenovelas seem to run contrary to Netflix 's own tendency to give its shows short bingeable seasons , but plenty of fans were willing to stick through all of the 50+ episodes of the Telemundo drama 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though the show actually first aired on YouTube in 2018 , 2020 was the year that the Karate Kid spin-off found a devoted global fanbase after it got added to Netflix .
And with Season 3 one of the first Netflix releases of 2021 , that fanbase is only set to grow .
Netflix has long loved a teen drama , and 2020 has seen the streamer try to get a Game of Thrones-like hit for themselves with a release of a batch of fantasy shows .
Those two trends combined in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 13 Reasons Why star Katherine Langford .
The Haunting of Hill House terrified Netflix viewers across the world in 2018 , but the follow-up took a different tack , surprising fans everywhere by being at its heart a surprisingly tender queer love story .
In the year that Bong Joon-ho received a number of Oscars for Parasite , one of his ideas took on a life of its own .
TNT 's adaptation of his movie Snowpiercer , which has already been renewed for Season 2 , may be a spin-off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell thanks to its gripping murder mystery .
Netflix is very into the Pablo Escobar business ( no , not that business ) , with a number of documentaries about the notorious drug king-pin airing alongside its drama Narcos .
The most popular of these this year , however , was a Telemundo doc that first aired in 2012 .
ESPN 's Michael Jordan was the perfect documentary for a year in which many people retreated into nostalgia as contemporary life got bleak , offering fans a new take on a beloved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telenovela ever created , Yo soy Betty la fea has spun off 20 different international versions ( including the U.S. 's Ugly Betty ) .
The original , however , is still bringing in audiences over 20 years later .
Though its parallel timelines and multiple dimensions make it one of Netflix 's most complicated shows , the sci-fi drama has plenty of fans around the world who are willing to work their way through its many mysteries .
Superproducer Ryan Murphy has proven to be a perfect fit for Netflix , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for streaming , even if critics hated his prequel to One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest .
Season 4 of The Crown was the season that everyone was waiting for , with Diana finally joining the cast of royals and Gillian Anderson joining the cast of the show .
Though some ( included government officials ) have questioned how true to life the episodes are , they certainly had enough drama to hook Netflix viewers .
Friends may have left Netflix in the U.S. in January , but the comedy was still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids who got through lockdown by re-binging the nostalgic favorite while waiting for the long-anticipated Friends HBO Max reunion .
With so many of us locked at home and frustrated this year , Dark Desire ( Oscuro Deseo ) was one of many pieces of Netflix content that got viewers hot under the cover with its soapy plots and `` can they really show that '' sex scenes .
The most successful non-English language series on Netflix , Money Heist ( La casa de papel ) released Part 4 in April , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger than ever as the team have to face off an infiltrator , perform major surgery—and work their way through the world 's supply of red jumpsuits .
After the first season was one of the breakout hits of 2019 , The Umbrella Academy Season 2 upped the ante by sending everyone back in time before setting up one hell of a cliffhanger for the upcoming Season 3 .
The Lucifer drought finally came to an end in 2020 , with the first part of the demon drama dropping after 15 months away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not disappoint , with the show giving fans two different Lucifers and all the gratuitous male nudity they could hope for .
Though it is not clear whether people were watching Emily in Paris because they were actually enjoying it , or whether they were watching it because it became a hate-watch sensation , one thing is clear : a lot of people were watching it .
Though only released in October , the Anya Taylor-Joy-starring chess limited series has rarely been out of the top 10 since , beating The Crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being perhaps the year 's most-anticipated TV show .

Netflix introduced a new feature in February 2020, top 10 charts that revealed the most-watched shows in every country each day. This means that for the first time we have an idea who is actually watching what on the streaming service.
Among shows that unsurprisingly were some of the most-watched of the year, such as Emily in Paris, The Crown and The Last Dance, there were some surprises. In a hard year, many found themselves returning to nostalgia, with Friends and classic telenovellas among the things they were watching.
The 25 most-watched TV shows on Netflix in 2020
25. Barbarians
Still from 'Barbarians' on Netflix. Netflix
Every TV network's attempt to get a Game of Thrones of their own has led to many shows that have looked to history for tales of swords and sex. Netflix's Barbarians is German attempt to do this, bringing to the world's attention a period of history little known outside of western Europe.
24. Away
(L-R) Ato Essandoh, Ray Panthaki and Vivian Wu appear in 'Away.' Courtesy of Netflix
Away provided one of Netflix's great mysteries this year: despite strong viewing figures across the world, the show was canceled after just one season, meaning we will never get to see Hillary Swank and her band of astronauts' adventures on Mars.
23. Too Hot to Handle
Francesca and Harry on 'Too Hot To Handle.' Netflix
Love is Blind saw Netflix dipping its toe into the world of trash reality TV, but Too Hot to Handle saw them dive right in. The premise is simple—couples are trapped together then lose prize money if any romantic contact takes place—and the results are quite something.
22. Warrior Nun
Alba Baptista in Netflix's 'Warrior Nun' Netflix
Though its title makes it sound like a bad fake movie from a Quentin Tarantino film, Warrior Nun is very real and has a whole host of fans who are loving its mix of YA drama and religious fantasy.
21. Modern Family
The 'Modern Family' series finale saw the Dunphy-Pritchetts say goodbye ABC
Modern Family came to an end in 2020, which meant that all of its 250 episodes were available to stream online in some countries. People wasted no time in watching the adventures of their favorite comedy family as they found themselves trying to escape their real one.
20. Locked Up
Prison dramas have been an integral part of the Netflix catalog ever since Orange is the New Black was among the shows that launched the streaming service. The latest hit was Spanish serial Locked Up (Vis a vis), which people around the world devoured as they found themselves locked up.
19. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Though it did not make much of a dent in the U.S. Netflix charts, the South Korean romantic drama was a worldwide smash in a year in which this, Parasite and BTS presented a genuine three-tier Korean cultural invasion of the world.
18. 100 Dias Para Enamorarnos
Telenovelas seem to run contrary to Netflix's own tendency to give its shows short bingeable seasons, but plenty of fans were willing to stick through all of the 50+ episodes of the Telemundo drama's escandalo when it dropped on the streamer.
17. Cobra Kai
Ralph Macchio and William Zabke in 'The Karate Kid' sequel 'Cobra Kai' Netflix
Though the show actually first aired on YouTube in 2018, 2020 was the year that the Karate Kid spin-off found a devoted global fanbase after it got added to Netflix. And with Season 3 one of the first Netflix releases of 2021, that fanbase is only set to grow.
16. Cursed
Katherine Langford as Nimue in 'Cursed' on Netflix Netflix
Netflix has long loved a teen drama, and 2020 has seen the streamer try to get a Game of Thrones-like hit for themselves with a release of a batch of fantasy shows. Those two trends combined in Cursed, its Arthurian legend drama led by 13 Reasons Why star Katherine Langford.
15. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Victoria Pedretti appears in 'The Haunting of Bly Manor.' EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX
The Haunting of Hill House terrified Netflix viewers across the world in 2018, but the follow-up took a different tack, surprising fans everywhere by being at its heart a surprisingly tender queer love story.
14. Snowpiercer
Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly in the TV version of 'Snowpiercer' TNT
In the year that Bong Joon-ho received a number of Oscars for Parasite, one of his ideas took on a life of its own. TNT's adaptation of his movie Snowpiercer, which has already been renewed for Season 2, may be a spin-off, but it quickly found its own story to tell thanks to its gripping murder mystery.
13. Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord
Netflix is very into the Pablo Escobar business (no, not that business), with a number of documentaries about the notorious drug king-pin airing alongside its drama Narcos. The most popular of these this year, however, was a Telemundo doc that first aired in 2012.
12. The Last Dance
Michael Jordan being interviewed for 'The Last Dance.' ESPN Films/Netflix/Mandalay Sports Media/NBA Entertainment
ESPN's Michael Jordan was the perfect documentary for a year in which many people retreated into nostalgia as contemporary life got bleak, offering fans a new take on a beloved basketball era.
11. Yo soy Betty la fea
Perhaps the most popular telenovela ever created, Yo soy Betty la fea has spun off 20 different international versions (including the U.S.'s Ugly Betty). The original, however, is still bringing in audiences over 20 years later.
10. Dark
Still from 'Dark' Season 3. Netflix
Though its parallel timelines and multiple dimensions make it one of Netflix's most complicated shows, the sci-fi drama has plenty of fans around the world who are willing to work their way through its many mysteries.
9. Ratched
Sarah Paulson and Cynthia Nixon in 'Ratched' Netflix
Superproducer Ryan Murphy has proven to be a perfect fit for Netflix, with his splashy, visually stunning shows perfect for streaming, even if critics hated his prequel to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
8. The Crown
Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Crown' season 4. Courtesy of Ollie Upton/Netflix
Season 4 of The Crown was the season that everyone was waiting for, with Diana finally joining the cast of royals and Gillian Anderson joining the cast of the show. Though some (included government officials) have questioned how true to life the episodes are, they certainly had enough drama to hook Netflix viewers.
7. Friends
Still from Friends episode "The One with All the Thanksgivings" NBC
Friends may have left Netflix in the U.S. in January, but the comedy was still available in many countries full of '90s kids who got through lockdown by re-binging the nostalgic favorite while waiting for the long-anticipated Friends HBO Max reunion.
6. Dark Desire
Still from Netflix's 'Dark Desire'. Netflix
With so many of us locked at home and frustrated this year, Dark Desire (Oscuro Deseo) was one of many pieces of Netflix content that got viewers hot under the cover with its soapy plots and "can they really show that" sex scenes.
5. Money Heist
Still from 'Money Heist'. Netflix
The most successful non-English language series on Netflix, Money Heist (La casa de papel) released Part 4 in April, with the cult of the Spanish series getting bigger than ever as the team have to face off an infiltrator, perform major surgery—and work their way through the world's supply of red jumpsuits.
4. The Umbrella Academy
'The Umbrella Academy' (L to R): Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, Elliot Page as Vanya Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves, David Casteneda as Diego Hargreeves, and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves in the second season of the Netflix series. Courtesy of Netflix
After the first season was one of the breakout hits of 2019, The Umbrella Academy Season 2 upped the ante by sending everyone back in time before setting up one hell of a cliffhanger for the upcoming Season 3.
3. Lucifer
Tom Ellis in 'Lucifer.' JOHN P. FLEENOR//Netflix
The Lucifer drought finally came to an end in 2020, with the first part of the demon drama dropping after 15 months away. And when it arrived, it did not disappoint, with the show giving fans two different Lucifers and all the gratuitous male nudity they could hope for.
2. Emily in Paris
Lily Collins in 'Emily in Paris.' Netflix
Though it is not clear whether people were watching Emily in Paris because they were actually enjoying it, or whether they were watching it because it became a hate-watch sensation, one thing is clear: a lot of people were watching it.
1. The Queen's Gambit
Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in 'The Queens Gambit.' Courtesy of Netflix
Though only released in October, the Anya Taylor-Joy-starring chess limited series has rarely been out of the top 10 since, beating The Crown in many country's charts despite that being perhaps the year's most-anticipated TV show.


newsweek--2020-12-21--Russia Denies 'Baseless' SolarWinds Claims as Trump Administration Divided on Hack

The Kremlin has officially denied that Russia was behind the SolarWinds cyberattack that penetrated multiple U.S. federal agencies and could yet prove to be the worst ever hack in American history .
Unnamed intelligence officials were quick to blame Russia for the operation when news of it broke earlier this month and the government scrambled to establish just how badly compromised sensitive agencies had been .
President Donald Trump 's administration has been slow to apportion blame , but officials appear largely united in their belief that it was Russian backed hackers who have been snooping on internal agency communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as March .
Trump , however , has refused to blame Moscow , instead suggesting China may have been behind the attack .
With just weeks of his presidency remaining , another Russia crisis has exposed deep divisions between the president and his intelligence and foreign affairs teams .
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said unequivocally on Monday that Moscow was not involved in the SolarWinds hack , telling Russia 's state-run Tass news agency : `` Russia is not involved in such attacks , namely this one .
We state this officially and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any accusations of Russia 's involvement are absolutely baseless , they are more likely to be a continuation of blind Russophobia that is resorted to in case of any incident . ''
Russian officials habitually accuse their rivals of Russophobia to dodge criticism of the foreign meddling and military deployments that have left Moscow under broad international sanctions .
In a pair of tweets Saturday , Trump played down the severity of the SolarWinds attack and shifted focus from Russia to China .
The president has repeatedly tried to avoid any hint of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledging such influence would undermine his presidency given the Kremlin 's efforts to denigrate Trump 's opponents .
Trump has also repeatedly accused China of meddling in U.S. politics and claimed that his opponents , including President-elect Joe Biden , are being supported by Beijing .
`` The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality .
I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control , '' Trump wrote Saturday , breaking with briefings from anonymous intelligence officials and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Russia , Russia , Russia is the priority chant when anything happens because Lamestream is , for mostly financial reasons , petrified of discussing the possibility that it may be China ( it may ! )
, '' the president added .
`` There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election , which is now obvious that I won big , making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the USA , '' Trump wrote , tying the attack in with his baseless conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election through fraud .
Trump tagged Pompeo in the tweet .
Pompeo has traditionally been one of Trump 's closest allies and has toed the line throughout his presidency .
After the election , Pompeo even assured journalists that there would be a `` smooth transition to a second Trump administration '' despite the incumbent 's clear defeat .
Pompeo told CNN Friday : `` I think it 's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity . ''
American intelligence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the source of the hack .
The FBI , CISA , and Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a joint statement Wednesday acknowledging that there had been a `` significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign . ''
But anonymous officials have been clear that Russia is the target of the ongoing investigation , which is broadening as more and more agencies are found to have been compromised .
An unnamed U.S. official familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that the White House was prepared to release a statement Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in the attack , but were told to stand down at the last moment .
`` This is looking like it 's the worst hacking case in the history of America , '' the official said .
Initial reports by Reuters cited multiple officials who accused Russian backed hackers of involvement .
The hackers are believed to have accessed federal systems by hiding malicious code inside SolarWinds software updates .
The company told Newsweek that the breach is thought to have occurred between March and June 2020 , with attackers gaining access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitoring products .
A spokesperson would not confirm whether clients including the Pentagon , NSA , and White House were also breached , citing the ongoing federal investigation .

The Kremlin has officially denied that Russia was behind the SolarWinds cyberattack that penetrated multiple U.S. federal agencies and could yet prove to be the worst ever hack in American history.
Unnamed intelligence officials were quick to blame Russia for the operation when news of it broke earlier this month and the government scrambled to establish just how badly compromised sensitive agencies had been.
President Donald Trump's administration has been slow to apportion blame, but officials appear largely united in their belief that it was Russian backed hackers who have been snooping on internal agency communications for months, perhaps as far back as March.
Trump, however, has refused to blame Moscow, instead suggesting China may have been behind the attack. With just weeks of his presidency remaining, another Russia crisis has exposed deep divisions between the president and his intelligence and foreign affairs teams.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said unequivocally on Monday that Moscow was not involved in the SolarWinds hack, telling Russia's state-run Tass news agency: "Russia is not involved in such attacks, namely this one. We state this officially and firmly."
Peskov added that "any accusations of Russia's involvement are absolutely baseless, they are more likely to be a continuation of blind Russophobia that is resorted to in case of any incident."
Russian officials habitually accuse their rivals of Russophobia to dodge criticism of the foreign meddling and military deployments that have left Moscow under broad international sanctions.
In a pair of tweets Saturday, Trump played down the severity of the SolarWinds attack and shifted focus from Russia to China.
The president has repeatedly tried to avoid any hint of Russian meddling in U.S. politics, fearing acknowledging such influence would undermine his presidency given the Kremlin's efforts to denigrate Trump's opponents.
Trump has also repeatedly accused China of meddling in U.S. politics and claimed that his opponents, including President-elect Joe Biden, are being supported by Beijing.
"The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control," Trump wrote Saturday, breaking with briefings from anonymous intelligence officials and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that underscored the severity of the breach.
"Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens because Lamestream is, for mostly financial reasons, petrified of discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!)," the president added.
"There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election, which is now obvious that I won big, making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the USA," Trump wrote, tying the attack in with his baseless conspiracy theories claiming that Biden won last month's election through fraud.
Trump tagged Pompeo in the tweet. Pompeo has traditionally been one of Trump's closest allies and has toed the line throughout his presidency.
After the election, Pompeo even assured journalists that there would be a "smooth transition to a second Trump administration" despite the incumbent's clear defeat.
Pompeo told CNN Friday: "I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."
American intelligence and law enforcement agencies have publicly been quiet on the source of the hack. The FBI, CISA, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a joint statement Wednesday acknowledging that there had been a "significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign."
But anonymous officials have been clear that Russia is the target of the ongoing investigation, which is broadening as more and more agencies are found to have been compromised.
An unnamed U.S. official familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that the White House was prepared to release a statement Friday pinning Russia as "the main actor" in the attack, but were told to stand down at the last moment.
"This is looking like it's the worst hacking case in the history of America," the official said.
Initial reports by Reuters cited multiple officials who accused Russian backed hackers of involvement. The hackers are believed to have accessed federal systems by hiding malicious code inside SolarWinds software updates.
The company told Newsweek that the breach is thought to have occurred between March and June 2020, with attackers gaining access via updates to the company's Orion monitoring products.
A spokesperson would not confirm whether clients including the Pentagon, NSA, and White House were also breached, citing the ongoing federal investigation.


newsweek--2020-12-21--Who Will Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Next? U.S. Experts Have Cast Their Votes

The COVID-19 vaccine should next be given to those aged 75 and over and frontline essential workers , according to the latest recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
The panel voted 13 to 1 on Sunday to recommend 30 million frontline essential workers , which includes first responders and teachers , as well as food and agriculture , manufacturing , U.S .
Postal Service , public transit and grocery store workers , be prioritized for vaccination .
The latest recommendation would make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for the vaccine in the next round of inoculations .
The panel recommended around 200 million others , including non-frontline workers such as those who work in the media , finance , energy and information technology ( IT ) and communication industries as well as those aged from 65 to 74 and those aged from 16 to 64 with high-risk conditions , should receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the following round .
On Sunday , the ACIP also published its detailed interim recommendation for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) , which received Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA ) by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) on December 18 .
`` Use of all COVID-19 vaccines authorized under an EUA , including the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine , should be implemented in conjunction with ACIP 's interim recommendations for allocating initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines , '' the panel said Sunday .
Earlier this month , the ACIP recommended : `` Both 1 ) health care personnel and 2 ) residents of long-term care facilities be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccination program .
`` Demand is expected to exceed supply during the first months of the national COVID-19 vaccination program . ''
`` Early protection of health care personnel is critical to preserve capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 or other illnesses , '' the ACIP said in guidelines published on December 3 .
Exactly when individuals will get vaccinated depends on the state 's COVID-19 vaccination plan , which every state submitted to the CDC back in late October .
State governments ' decisions on how to allocate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guided by the ACIP 's recommendations .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar previously projected Americans could begin getting inoculated various pharmacy and grocery chains , such as Walmart and CVS , from `` late February , into March . ''
Dr. Moncef Slaoui , the chief adviser of Operation Warp Speed , said young and healthy members of the public should be last in line .
As of Sunday , 2,838,225 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed , while 556,208 doses have been administered .
Vaccine supplies continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be ramped up in coming months , with enough doses to inoculate 100 million Americans expected to be delivered by the end of February , according to officials for Operation Warp Speed .
The first 2.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have been delivered to every state and territory , the Department of Defense confirmed in a statement Saturday .
Army Gen. Gus Perna , the chief operating officer of the country 's vaccine distribution effort , said Saturday : `` This week in total , between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7.9 million doses of vaccine and we are ready for that distribution . ''
An additional two million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine , as well as 5.9 million doses of the Moderna/NIAID vaccine , are expected to be distributed this week .
Over half of America 's 21 million health care workers and three million nursing home residents will still need to be vaccinated even after the distributions are completed this week .
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 76.8 million people , including over 17.8 million in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China .
More than 1.6 million people have died worldwide and over 43.3 million have recovered as of Monday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The graphic below , provided by Statista , shows the percentage of adults in the U.S. who would get a COVID-19 vaccine .
The graphic below , provided by Statista , shows the countries with the highest COVID-19 death tolls .

The COVID-19 vaccine should next be given to those aged 75 and over and frontline essential workers, according to the latest recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The panel voted 13 to 1 on Sunday to recommend 30 million frontline essential workers, which includes first responders and teachers, as well as food and agriculture, manufacturing, U.S. Postal Service, public transit and grocery store workers, be prioritized for vaccination. The latest recommendation would make a total of around 51 million people eligible for the vaccine in the next round of inoculations.
The panel recommended around 200 million others, including non-frontline workers such as those who work in the media, finance, energy and information technology (IT) and communication industries as well as those aged from 65 to 74 and those aged from 16 to 64 with high-risk conditions, should receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the following round.
On Sunday, the ACIP also published its detailed interim recommendation for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 18.
"Use of all COVID-19 vaccines authorized under an EUA, including the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, should be implemented in conjunction with ACIP's interim recommendations for allocating initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines," the panel said Sunday.
Earlier this month, the ACIP recommended: "Both 1) health care personnel and 2) residents of long-term care facilities be offered COVID-19 vaccine in the initial phase of the vaccination program.
"Demand is expected to exceed supply during the first months of the national COVID-19 vaccination program."
"Early protection of health care personnel is critical to preserve capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 or other illnesses," the ACIP said in guidelines published on December 3.
Exactly when individuals will get vaccinated depends on the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan, which every state submitted to the CDC back in late October.
State governments' decisions on how to allocate the vaccines in their respective states will be guided by the ACIP's recommendations.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar previously projected Americans could begin getting inoculated various pharmacy and grocery chains, such as Walmart and CVS, from "late February, into March."
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief adviser of Operation Warp Speed, said young and healthy members of the public should be last in line.
As of Sunday, 2,838,225 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed, while 556,208 doses have been administered.
Vaccine supplies continue to be limited but production is expected to be ramped up in coming months, with enough doses to inoculate 100 million Americans expected to be delivered by the end of February, according to officials for Operation Warp Speed.
The first 2.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have been delivered to every state and territory, the Department of Defense confirmed in a statement Saturday.
Army Gen. Gus Perna, the chief operating officer of the country's vaccine distribution effort, said Saturday: "This week in total, between Pfizer and Moderna, we have allocated 7.9 million doses of vaccine and we are ready for that distribution."
An additional two million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, as well as 5.9 million doses of the Moderna/NIAID vaccine, are expected to be distributed this week. Over half of America's 21 million health care workers and three million nursing home residents will still need to be vaccinated even after the distributions are completed this week.
COVID-19 vaccines being prepared for use at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center on December 16 in Portland, Oregon. Frontline essential workers and those aged over 75 are expected to be prioritized for the next round of vaccinations. Nathan Howard/Getty Images
The wider picture
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 76.8 million people, including over 17.8 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.
More than 1.6 million people have died worldwide and over 43.3 million have recovered as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the percentage of adults in the U.S. who would get a COVID-19 vaccine.
STATISTA
The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the countries with the highest COVID-19 death tolls.


newsweek--2020-12-21--Doctor Takes Refuge, Pleads for COVID Vaccines After Six Deaths in 12 Hours, 'Please Hurry'

A critical care doctor has made an impassioned plea from a hospital stairwell , calling on his medical center to `` please hurry '' and vaccinate his staff after six patients died in less than 12 hours .
Douglas Allen Arenberg , a pulmonary diseases specialist with Michigan Medicine , described the wait as `` demoralizing '' as many states begin to roll out doses of the COVID-19 vaccine .
`` I do n't have my COVID shot yet .
So I am posting this picture of the stairwell where I retreated yesterday after the 6th death in less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside a snap of the stairwell on Saturday .
`` Just needed a place to gather myself and try to rally my team of residents , nurses , RTs & Pulm/Critical care fellows . ''
The Ann Arbor-based doctor urged Michigan Medicine to `` please hurry and get the ICU staff , residents , and attendings vaccinated . ''
The health provider received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on December 14 , according to a hospital statement .
`` I can not fathom anything more demoralizing than seeing all these photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait .
The stairwells are getting pretty full , '' Dr Arenberg added .
Fellow doctors , nurses and medics from around the country rallied around the doctor in support .
`` You 're not alone , '' one California nurse replied .
`` I cried in the printer room after admitting 10 covids when we have no ICU beds , patients holding in the ER , closing the ER , nurses with 9 patients each .
Pulmonologist with 60 .
7 nurses out with covid .
And 1 intubated . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I cried earlier today , when I had to tell a father that his wife and unborn baby had died due to covid , '' another doctor added .
One Chicago physician said she received the jab on Sunday but was still waiting for her team to be vaccinated as well .
`` The process is terrible , '' Michelle Prickett said .
`` Hard to be joyful when you know not everyone at the bedside has been given their protective shield .
Be well , care for your team and know you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia doctor Danny Theodore also described the process as demoralizing .
`` I just finished another night shift in the COVID-19 ICU and I am waiting to get my vaccine next week , he said .
`` I continue to see major health systems vaccinate those that have never cared for Covid-19 patients before the Covid-19 icu staff .
Absolutely Demoralizing . ''
Others expressed their anger over the prioritization of a handful of politicians who received the jab last week .
`` Doug deserves the vaccine more than Marco Rubio and Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the frontlines , '' one man wrote .
Michigan Medicine , the academic medical center of the University of Michigan , received an initial shipment of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer Inc./BioNTech vaccine on Monday , December 14 .
The health provider said it vaccinated about 40 employees on Tuesday December 15 and would `` ramp up '' the volume of testing this week , depending on supply .
`` It will take time to get to everyone who wants a vaccine , '' Marschall S. Runge , CEO of Michigan Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan said in a statement .
`` While distribution continues , it 's vital for all of us to continue to social distance and wear masks when going out in public . ''
The academic medical center includes approximately 28,000 employees and initial supply is limited , so a phased approach will be used for priority groups based on state and federal guidelines .
Sandra Lindsay , a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens , was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive an approved COVID-19 vaccine on Monday December 14 .
Vice president Mike Pence received the COVID vaccine live on TV alongside second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Friday , December 18 .
He told a press conference that he `` did n't feel a thing '' while getting the shot at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House .
The U.S. is now preparing itself for its largest ever vaccination campaign after the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the coronavirus task force , has sought to allay fears that the vaccine was created too quickly , and said the speed was a reflection of extraordinary scientific advances , and did not compromise safety or scientific integrity .
`` By the time we get to several months into this year we will have enough people protected that we can start thinking seriously about the return to normality .
And that 's up to all of us to step forward and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week .

A critical care doctor has made an impassioned plea from a hospital stairwell, calling on his medical center to "please hurry" and vaccinate his staff after six patients died in less than 12 hours.
Douglas Allen Arenberg, a pulmonary diseases specialist with Michigan Medicine, described the wait as "demoralizing" as many states begin to roll out doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I don't have my COVID shot yet. So I am posting this picture of the stairwell where I retreated yesterday after the 6th death in less than 12 hours," Dr. Arenberg tweeted alongside a snap of the stairwell on Saturday. "Just needed a place to gather myself and try to rally my team of residents, nurses, RTs & Pulm/Critical care fellows."
The Ann Arbor-based doctor urged Michigan Medicine to "please hurry and get the ICU staff, residents, and attendings vaccinated."
The health provider received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on December 14, according to a hospital statement.
I don’t have my COVID shot yet. So I am posting this picture of the stairwell where I retreated yesterday after the 6th death in less than 12 hours. Just needed a place to gather myself and try to rally my team of residents, nurses, RTs & Pulm/Critical care fellow... pic.twitter.com/dUhYWMGV0w — Doug (@LungDocDoug) December 19, 2020
"I cannot fathom anything more demoralizing than seeing all these photos of our colleagues getting immunized while we wait. The stairwells are getting pretty full," Dr Arenberg added.
Fellow doctors, nurses and medics from around the country rallied around the doctor in support.
"You're not alone," one California nurse replied. "I cried in the printer room after admitting 10 covids when we have no ICU beds, patients holding in the ER, closing the ER, nurses with 9 patients each. Pulmonologist with 60. 7 nurses out with covid. And 1 intubated."
"Those look a lot like the stairwells I cried earlier today, when I had to tell a father that his wife and unborn baby had died due to covid," another doctor added.
One Chicago physician said she received the jab on Sunday but was still waiting for her team to be vaccinated as well. "The process is terrible," Michelle Prickett said. "Hard to be joyful when you know not everyone at the bedside has been given their protective shield. Be well, care for your team and know you're not alone in this."
Virginia doctor Danny Theodore also described the process as demoralizing. "I just finished another night shift in the COVID-19 ICU and I am waiting to get my vaccine next week, he said. "I continue to see major health systems vaccinate those that have never cared for Covid-19 patients before the Covid-19 icu staff. Absolutely Demoralizing."
Others expressed their anger over the prioritization of a handful of politicians who received the jab last week.
"Doug deserves the vaccine more than Marco Rubio and Mike Pence. And tens of thousands others on the frontlines," one man wrote.
Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, received an initial shipment of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer Inc./BioNTech vaccine on Monday, December 14.
The health provider said it vaccinated about 40 employees on Tuesday December 15 and would "ramp up" the volume of testing this week, depending on supply.
"It will take time to get to everyone who wants a vaccine," Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, dean of the U-M Medical School and executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan said in a statement. "While distribution continues, it's vital for all of us to continue to social distance and wear masks when going out in public."
The academic medical center includes approximately 28,000 employees and initial supply is limited, so a phased approach will be used for priority groups based on state and federal guidelines.
The U.S. is now preparing itself for its largest ever vaccination campaign, although many remain cautious. STATISTA
Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, was one of the first in the country to receive an approved COVID-19 vaccine on Monday December 14.
Vice president Mike Pence received the COVID vaccine live on TV alongside second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Friday, December 18.
He told a press conference that he "didn't feel a thing" while getting the shot at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House.
The U.S. is now preparing itself for its largest ever vaccination campaign after the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the coronavirus task force, has sought to allay fears that the vaccine was created too quickly, and said the speed was a reflection of extraordinary scientific advances, and did not compromise safety or scientific integrity.
"By the time we get to several months into this year we will have enough people protected that we can start thinking seriously about the return to normality. And that's up to all of us to step forward and get vaccinated," he told reporters last week.
Newsweek has contacted Michigan Medicine for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-21--Martin Shkreli Is 'Not a Psychopath,' Journalist Defends Relationship With 'Pharma Bro'

Every so often an article or story comes along that just breaks the internet—today that story is about a woman who left her husband to be with one of the most hated men in the world , Martin Shkreli .
He became despised after hiking the price of AIDS drug Daraprim nearly 5,000 percent in August 2015 .
Christie Smythe , who upended her life to be with Shkreli , has defended him to the world , declaring that the so-called Pharma Bro is `` not a psychopath . ''
Former Bloomberg journalist Smythe , 38 , opened up about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a piece for Elle magazine that was published Sunday night and immediately caused a huge stir online .
Following the publication of the story , Smythe took to Twitter to defend the man whom she called her `` life partner . ''
`` I realize it 's hard for many people to accept that 1 .
Martin is not a psychopath , and 2. a woman can choose to do something with her life ( which does not affect you ) that you in no way approve of , '' Smythe tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the piece , Smythe recounts how she `` fell down the rabbit hole '' after meeting Shkreli , upending her idyllic Brooklyn life and divorcing her husband .
She described her growing involvement with Shkreli as `` incremental decisions , where you 're , like , slowly boiling yourself to death in the bathtub . ''
Even admitting : `` Maybe I was being charmed by a master manipulator . ''
Most bizarrely , the story comes with a twist with Smythe revealing that Shkreli is no longer speaking to her from prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for scamming investors in hedge funds he operated .
A cold statement provided to the magazine from Shkreli simply read : `` Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors , '' with no grand gestures of romance or love .
A Twitter user asked Smythe to tell her followers about the most romantic thing Shkreli ever did for her , to which she replied : `` He ca n't really do much from prison .
He once declared he would buy me a goat farm ( because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not actually need an entire farm , though .
I 'd rather the money be spent on some needy cause . ''
In a later tweet she wrote of her devotion to Shkreli : `` It was n't an easy decision .
I became aware that good people were afraid to stick up for him .
They cared about him , but were afraid of what would happen , the tweet storm , etc .
I decided I was n't afraid , and he needed someone to stick their neck out @ @

Every so often an article or story comes along that just breaks the internet—today that story is about a woman who left her husband to be with one of the most hated men in the world, Martin Shkreli.
He became despised after hiking the price of AIDS drug Daraprim nearly 5,000 percent in August 2015. Christie Smythe, who upended her life to be with Shkreli, has defended him to the world, declaring that the so-called Pharma Bro is "not a psychopath."
Former Bloomberg journalist Smythe, 38, opened up about her relationship with the convicted fraudster in a piece for Elle magazine that was published Sunday night and immediately caused a huge stir online.
Following the publication of the story, Smythe took to Twitter to defend the man whom she called her "life partner."
"I realize it's hard for many people to accept that 1. Martin is not a psychopath, and 2. a woman can choose to do something with her life (which does not affect you) that you in no way approve of," Smythe tweeted. "But that's OK."
I realize it's hard for many people to accept that 1. Martin is not a psychopath, and 2. a woman can choose to do something with her life (which does not affect you) that you in no way approve of. But that's OK. — Christie Smythe (@ChristieSmythe) December 21, 2020
In the piece, Smythe recounts how she "fell down the rabbit hole" after meeting Shkreli, upending her idyllic Brooklyn life and divorcing her husband.
She described her growing involvement with Shkreli as "incremental decisions, where you're, like, slowly boiling yourself to death in the bathtub." Even admitting: "Maybe I was being charmed by a master manipulator."
Most bizarrely, the story comes with a twist with Smythe revealing that Shkreli is no longer speaking to her from prison where he is serving a seven-year sentence for scamming investors in hedge funds he operated.
A cold statement provided to the magazine from Shkreli simply read: "Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors," with no grand gestures of romance or love.
Martin Shkreli departs the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, August 3, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
A Twitter user asked Smythe to tell her followers about the most romantic thing Shkreli ever did for her, to which she replied: "He can't really do much from prison. He once declared he would buy me a goat farm (because he knows I like goats). I do not actually need an entire farm, though. I'd rather the money be spent on some needy cause."
In a later tweet she wrote of her devotion to Shkreli: "It wasn't an easy decision. I became aware that good people were afraid to stick up for him. They cared about him, but were afraid of what would happen, the tweet storm, etc. I decided I wasn't afraid, and he needed someone to stick their neck out."


newsweek--2020-12-21--The Supreme Court Opened the Door for Religious Charter Schools | Opinion

As the Biden administration prepares to take office in January , discussions over whom Joe Biden will choose to succeed Betsy DeVos as education secretary have been contentious .
But one thing 's clear : whomever he selects— '' a public educator , '' we 're assured—is likely to clash with the previous administration 's enthusiasm for school choice .
Luckily , in some cases , it wo n't matter .
The June outcome of the Supreme Court case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue paved the pathway for an expansion of parental choice on the state level , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools .
And since Espinoza is a decision interpreting the federal constitution , delivered by the highest court of the land , this pathway will remain open , even if Biden 's frontrunners for education secretary have already voiced antipathy for it .
In Espinoza , the Supreme Court concluded that any states subsidizing private education—whether through tax credits , vouchers or other means— can not withhold such funding from certain schools merely because they are religious .
As Chief Justice Roberts put it , writing for the majority , `` A state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once a state decides to do so , it can not disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious . ''
The decision raised obvious questions , which are worth exploring in anticipation of hostility from the incoming administration .
Namely , as Justice Breyer articulated in his dissent : `` What about charter schools ? ''
Traditionally , state and federal laws have strictly prohibited religious charter schools .
Would Espinoza render those laws unconstitutional ?
The answer to this question is complicated .
As I explain in a new report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the intersection of the First Amendment 's two religion clauses .
The first is the Free Exercise Clause—rearticulated just last month in the Supreme Court 's decision rejecting New York 's COVID-related restrictions on religious worship .
It demands neutrality toward private religious entities , including schools .
The second is the Establishment Clause , which requires government entities , including schools , to be secular .
Nearly two decades ago , the Supreme Court held , in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris , that the Establishment Clause does not preclude faith-based schools from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Espinoza went a step further .
It held that the Free Exercise Clause precludes the government from prohibiting their participation .
Neither case , however , overturned the longstanding rule that the Establishment Clause requires government schools ( what we call public schools ) to be secular .
So , for First Amendment purposes , should charter schools be treated as private schools , which can be religious , or as public schools , which can not ?
On the one hand , they are ubiquitously designated as `` public '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while U.S. `` public schools '' historically have been both operated and controlled by government entities ( school districts ) , neither is the case with charter schools .
They are privately operated schools that are exempt from many regulations governing district public schools .
As a result , several federal courts have held that charter schools are not `` state actors , '' which is a technical way of saying that they are private schools for federal constitutional purposes .
These courts reasoned—correctly , in my view—that charter schools exercise sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not attributable to the government .
And , if charter schools are private schools for federal constitutional purposes , then the Constitution 's demand of religious neutrality requires states authorizing them to allow religious charter schools .
In other words , as the Justice Department 's Office of Legal Counsel correctly concluded in a recent opinion letter , laws prohibiting the public funding of charter schools affiliated with religious organizations violate the Free Exercise Clause .
Just before the election , DeVos put Espinoza to work .
Responding to the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government would no longer enforce laws precluding charter schools that are `` affiliated with a sectarian school or organization '' from receiving federal funds .
Indeed , DeVos 's admirable statement arguably could have gone even farther .
Espinoza requires the government not only to permit charter schools to be affiliated with religious organizations , but also to permit them to be actually religious—that is , to allow charter schools to teach religion as the truth , just as faith-based private schools participating in parental choice programs are allowed to do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considering for education secretary , it 's fair to assume whomever he chooses wo n't share DeVos 's zeal for religious freedom and school choice .
Luckily , he or she wo n't have to .
In the wake of Espinoza , efforts to permit religious charter schools—either by litigation , legislation or administration—will materialize in the coming months .
And those efforts ought to succeed .
Supporters of faith-based schools have long argued that barring religious schools from accessing public education funds is unjust and unconstitutional .
With respect to private-school-choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day .
Properly understood , the Constitution 's demand for neutrality toward religion ought to be extended to charter school law as well .
Nicole Stelle Garnett , John P. Murphy Foundation professor of law at University of Notre Dame and adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute , is author of the recent report , Religious Charter Schools : Legally Permissible ?
Constitutionally Required ?
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

As the Biden administration prepares to take office in January, discussions over whom Joe Biden will choose to succeed Betsy DeVos as education secretary have been contentious. But one thing's clear: whomever he selects—"a public educator," we're assured—is likely to clash with the previous administration's enthusiasm for school choice.
Luckily, in some cases, it won't matter. The June outcome of the Supreme Court case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue paved the pathway for an expansion of parental choice on the state level, including opening up the possibility of religious charter schools. And since Espinoza is a decision interpreting the federal constitution, delivered by the highest court of the land, this pathway will remain open, even if Biden's frontrunners for education secretary have already voiced antipathy for it.
In Espinoza, the Supreme Court concluded that any states subsidizing private education—whether through tax credits, vouchers or other means—cannot withhold such funding from certain schools merely because they are religious. As Chief Justice Roberts put it, writing for the majority, "A state need not subsidize private education. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious."
The decision raised obvious questions, which are worth exploring in anticipation of hostility from the incoming administration. Namely, as Justice Breyer articulated in his dissent: "What about charter schools?" Traditionally, state and federal laws have strictly prohibited religious charter schools. Would Espinoza render those laws unconstitutional?
The answer to this question is complicated. As I explain in a new report for the Manhattan Institute, it turns on the intersection of the First Amendment's two religion clauses. The first is the Free Exercise Clause—rearticulated just last month in the Supreme Court's decision rejecting New York's COVID-related restrictions on religious worship. It demands neutrality toward private religious entities, including schools. The second is the Establishment Clause, which requires government entities, including schools, to be secular.
Nearly two decades ago, the Supreme Court held, in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, that the Establishment Clause does not preclude faith-based schools from participating in publicly funded private-school choice programs. Espinoza went a step further. It held that the Free Exercise Clause precludes the government from prohibiting their participation. Neither case, however, overturned the longstanding rule that the Establishment Clause requires government schools (what we call public schools) to be secular.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, D.C. on December 7, 2020. On December 10, the Supreme Court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows individuals to seek money damages from individual federal employees. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
So, for First Amendment purposes, should charter schools be treated as private schools, which can be religious, or as public schools, which cannot? On the one hand, they are ubiquitously designated as "public" in charter school laws. On the other, while U.S. "public schools" historically have been both operated and controlled by government entities (school districts), neither is the case with charter schools. They are privately operated schools that are exempt from many regulations governing district public schools.
As a result, several federal courts have held that charter schools are not "state actors," which is a technical way of saying that they are private schools for federal constitutional purposes. These courts reasoned—correctly, in my view—that charter schools exercise sufficient autonomy from government control that their actions are not attributable to the government. And, if charter schools are private schools for federal constitutional purposes, then the Constitution's demand of religious neutrality requires states authorizing them to allow religious charter schools.
In other words, as the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel correctly concluded in a recent opinion letter, laws prohibiting the public funding of charter schools affiliated with religious organizations violate the Free Exercise Clause.
Just before the election, DeVos put Espinoza to work. Responding to the Justice Department's letter, she announced that the federal government would no longer enforce laws precluding charter schools that are "affiliated with a sectarian school or organization" from receiving federal funds. Indeed, DeVos's admirable statement arguably could have gone even farther. Espinoza requires the government not only to permit charter schools to be affiliated with religious organizations, but also to permit them to be actually religious—that is, to allow charter schools to teach religion as the truth, just as faith-based private schools participating in parental choice programs are allowed to do.
Given the rhetoric from the frontrunners Biden is considering for education secretary, it's fair to assume whomever he chooses won't share DeVos's zeal for religious freedom and school choice. Luckily, he or she won't have to. In the wake of Espinoza, efforts to permit religious charter schools—either by litigation, legislation or administration—will materialize in the coming months. And those efforts ought to succeed.
Supporters of faith-based schools have long argued that barring religious schools from accessing public education funds is unjust and unconstitutional. With respect to private-school-choice programs, this argument has—at long last—carried the day. Properly understood, the Constitution's demand for neutrality toward religion ought to be extended to charter school law as well.
Nicole Stelle Garnett, John P. Murphy Foundation professor of law at University of Notre Dame and adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is author of the recent report, Religious Charter Schools: Legally Permissible? Constitutionally Required?
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-21--Pro-Trump Televangelist Kenneth Copeland Says Devil Is Trying To Steal Election, Kill Babies

Televangelist and ardent Donald Trump supporter Kenneth Copeland has claimed the devil is trying to steal the election so he can `` kill babies and destroy the nation 's youth . ''
Speaking live on Victory Channel on Sunday , the multimillionaire televangelist made an impassioned speech about the U.S. presidential election and the huge cyber attack on businesses and government agencies .
Copeland said the devil `` came to steal , to kill and to destroy '' and `` the wisdom of God has been functioning in Donald John Trump . ''
A clip of the election rant has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter , and video of the full speech has been viewed another 18,000 times on Facebook and YouTube .
It comes after the 538 members of the Electoral College met to cast their ballots for president and vice president , formalizing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ' victory .
Trump has refused to concede and continues to make unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud .
He has repeatedly said Democrats are trying to `` steal the election '' after losing to Biden in the November poll .
Meanwhile , Copeland continued to pedal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday , saying that the devil has come to thwart a Trump victory .
The televangelist said : `` The wisdom of God has been functioning in Donald John Trump and that 's the reason they want him out of there so bad because the swamp is being drained and they are being found out .
That 's what has them so frightened . ''
He continued to say the devil 's work towards this began on `` the day that George Washington said we will be your people and you will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` That is when the devil found out he better get busy .
He knew it that day that this is going to happen right now because he knows the beginning from the end and we win . ''
He added : `` The spirit of the devil and there are certain people who follow him all the time .
He came to steal , to kill and to destroy .
`` He came to steal this election so he can continue to kill babies and destroy the youth of this nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done .
And neither do those that follow him for their destruction is in their mouths , in their hearts and in their mouths . ''
'Our hackers are better than their hackers' Before his claims about the election , Copeland began his speech by addressing the recent cyber attack on government agencies and American businesses .
News of the cyber attack broke last Sunday , after hackers who were allegedly Russian gained access to SolarWinds ' software as far back as March .
The hackers managed to install malware in an update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was then downloaded by thousands of clients—compromising top federal agencies as well as hundreds of private companies .
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) under the Department of Homeland Security warned on Thursday that the cyberattack poses a `` grave risk '' to the U.S. government .
Copeland responded to the attack by saying : `` Our hackers are better than their hackers .
We 've got the best hackers in the world .
`` They are only telling you the dangerous side .
I can tell you who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can tell you who is in danger and it 's Russia .
I can tell you who is in danger and it 's Cuba .
Glory to God . ''
He later rounded off his speech by saying : `` Our god is the supreme hacker .
He can read their code , '' in reference to the devil and his followers .
The comments are the lasted from Copeland to make headlines after a clip in which he laughs manically at media reports that Biden won the election went viral .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Copeland , a supporter of President Donald Trump , is seen telling an audience in the clip before bursting into laughter .
`` The media said Joe Biden 's president ! ''
Copeland continues , before repeatedly saying `` haha '' for at least 30 seconds and prompting the audience to applaud and stand up .
The clip , posted on Twitter by Right Wing Watch on November 8 , quickly racked up millions of views .
This week , the televangelist faced a severe backlash after posting a tweet in which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and celebrate Hanukkah .
In the since-deleted tweet , Copeland inaccurately explained the process of lighting the traditional candles for the Festival of Lights .
He wrote : `` On the first night of Hanukah , the eighth candle on the menorah is lit .
This is the servant candle and it 's used to light the other candles .
As witnesses , we are the servant candle .
It 's through us the message of Jesus is multiplied .
Let your light so shine among men . ''
But as Chabad.org points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hanukkah is actually the shamash , which is the elevated candle on a menorah , which is used to light the others .
Chabad also explains that the left-most candle is lit first ( although candles are added from right to left , which may explain Copeland 's confusion ) .

Televangelist and ardent Donald Trump supporter Kenneth Copeland has claimed the devil is trying to steal the election so he can "kill babies and destroy the nation's youth."
Speaking live on Victory Channel on Sunday, the multimillionaire televangelist made an impassioned speech about the U.S. presidential election and the huge cyber attack on businesses and government agencies.
Copeland said the devil "came to steal, to kill and to destroy" and "the wisdom of God has been functioning in Donald John Trump."
A clip of the election rant has been viewed more than 36,000 times on Twitter, and video of the full speech has been viewed another 18,000 times on Facebook and YouTube.
It comes after the 538 members of the Electoral College met to cast their ballots for president and vice president, formalizing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory.
It is the week before Christmas and televangelist Kenneth Copeland's Eagle Mountain International Church dedicated the entire sermon during its morning service to ranting about the election. pic.twitter.com/j8JsEK8mRe — Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) December 20, 2020
Trump has refused to concede and continues to make unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. He has repeatedly said Democrats are trying to "steal the election" after losing to Biden in the November poll.
Meanwhile, Copeland continued to pedal stolen election claims during a live show on Sunday, saying that the devil has come to thwart a Trump victory.
The televangelist said: "The wisdom of God has been functioning in Donald John Trump and that's the reason they want him out of there so bad because the swamp is being drained and they are being found out. That's what has them so frightened."
He continued to say the devil's work towards this began on "the day that George Washington said we will be your people and you will be our God."
Copeland said: "That is when the devil found out he better get busy. He knew it that day that this is going to happen right now because he knows the beginning from the end and we win."
He added: "The spirit of the devil and there are certain people who follow him all the time. He came to steal, to kill and to destroy.
"He came to steal this election so he can continue to kill babies and destroy the youth of this nation. But he can't get it done. And neither do those that follow him for their destruction is in their mouths, in their hearts and in their mouths."
'Our hackers are better than their hackers'
Before his claims about the election, Copeland began his speech by addressing the recent cyber attack on government agencies and American businesses.
News of the cyber attack broke last Sunday, after hackers who were allegedly Russian gained access to SolarWinds' software as far back as March. The hackers managed to install malware in an update of the company's Orion software which was then downloaded by thousands of clients—compromising top federal agencies as well as hundreds of private companies.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the Department of Homeland Security warned on Thursday that the cyberattack poses a "grave risk" to the U.S. government.
Copeland responded to the attack by saying: "Our hackers are better than their hackers. We've got the best hackers in the world.
"They are only telling you the dangerous side. I can tell you who is in danger and it's China. I can tell you who is in danger and it's Russia. I can tell you who is in danger and it's Cuba. Glory to God."
He later rounded off his speech by saying: "Our god is the supreme hacker. He can read their code," in reference to the devil and his followers.
Copeland's manic laugh goes viral
The comments are the lasted from Copeland to make headlines after a clip in which he laughs manically at media reports that Biden won the election went viral.
"The media said what?" Copeland, a supporter of President Donald Trump, is seen telling an audience in the clip before bursting into laughter.
"The media said Joe Biden's president!" Copeland continues, before repeatedly saying "haha" for at least 30 seconds and prompting the audience to applaud and stand up.
The clip, posted on Twitter by Right Wing Watch on November 8, quickly racked up millions of views.
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland laughs at the media for declaring that Joe Biden has won the election and will become president. pic.twitter.com/ARHqmsEbo7 — Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) November 8, 2020
This week, the televangelist faced a severe backlash after posting a tweet in which he incorrectly explained how to light a menorah and celebrate Hanukkah.
In the since-deleted tweet, Copeland inaccurately explained the process of lighting the traditional candles for the Festival of Lights.
He wrote: "On the first night of Hanukah, the eighth candle on the menorah is lit. This is the servant candle and it's used to light the other candles. As witnesses, we are the servant candle. It's through us the message of Jesus is multiplied. Let your light so shine among men."
But as Chabad.org points out, the first candle lit for Hanukkah is actually the shamash, which is the elevated candle on a menorah, which is used to light the others. Chabad also explains that the left-most candle is lit first (although candles are added from right to left, which may explain Copeland's confusion).


newsweek--2020-12-21--Tom Brady Sets New NFL Record With Another 17-Point Comeback Against Falcons

Tom Brady wrote another chapter of NFL history on Sunday by leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a crucial comeback against the Atlanta Falcons .
The six-time Super Bowl champion completed 31 of his 45 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns as the Bucs erased a 17-point deficit at halftime to win 31-27 in Atlanta and keep their bid for a wildcard berth alive .
The win against the Falcons was the fourth time in Brady 's career between regular season and playoff games he has led his team victory after trailing by at least 17 points at halftime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Super Bowl era , as per NFL Research .
`` Great poise by everybody , '' Brady said after the game .
`` Everybody hung in there .
We got off to a tough start , but we found a way to win . ''
The Falcons knew all too well the feeling of being on the wrong side of a Brady-inspired comeback , as up until Sunday the veteran quarterback had last erased a 17-point deficit after two quarters when he led the New England Patriots to triumph in Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led 21-3 at halftime and 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter .
Brady engineered the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history , hitting James White for a five-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 28-9 at the end of the third period , before leading the Patriots to score 25 unanswered points over the fourth quarter and overtime .
Brady 's other two comebacks when trailing by at least 17 points at halftime came in Week 15 of the 2011 season—when the Patriots overcame a 17-0 deficit to defeat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2013 season—when New England defeated the Broncos 34-31 in Denver after trailing 24-0 at halftime .
On Sunday , the stakes were nowhere near as high as in Super Bowl LI the Bucs trailed by a smaller gap than the Patriots faced against the Broncos in 2013 and against the Falcons in 2017 , but Brady 's role in the comeback was just as crucial .
The 43-year-old led the Bucs to score with the first possession in the second half as Leonard Fournette rushed over for a one-yard touchdown run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead when Matt Ryan hit Hayden Hurst for a seven-yard touchdown .
Brady then connected with Chris Godwin for a four-yard touchdown pass , before leading the Bucs down the field again as Fournette scored his second touchdown of the day following another one-yard run .
Atlanta retook the lead halfway through the final quarter after Ryan Succop had hit a 27-yard field goal to tie the score at 24 , before Brady hit Antonio Brown for a 48-yard touchdown at the end of a four-play , 78-yard drive to give the Bucs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game , Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians paid tribute to Brady .
`` He 's just a winner , '' he said .
`` He knows how to do it . ''
With the win in Atlanta , the Bucs improved to 9-5 and closed the gap to the New Orleans Saints after the NFC South leaders slipped to 10-4 after losing at home to the Kansas City Chiefs .
Tampa Bay is currently sixth in the NFC standings .
FiveThirtyEight gives it a 99 percent chance of securing a playoff berth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With games against the Detroit Lions and the Falcons still to come , the Bucs have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the NFL and could overtake the Los Angeles Rams in the race for the first wildcard spot in the NFC .
The Rams are also 9-5 after a surprise loss at home to the New York Jets on Sunday and have the fourth-hardest remaining schedule , with games against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals .

Tom Brady wrote another chapter of NFL history on Sunday by leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a crucial comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.
The six-time Super Bowl champion completed 31 of his 45 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns as the Bucs erased a 17-point deficit at halftime to win 31-27 in Atlanta and keep their bid for a wildcard berth alive.
The win against the Falcons was the fourth time in Brady's career between regular season and playoff games he has led his team victory after trailing by at least 17 points at halftime, the most of any NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl era, as per NFL Research.
"Great poise by everybody," Brady said after the game. "Everybody hung in there. We got off to a tough start, but we found a way to win."
The Falcons knew all too well the feeling of being on the wrong side of a Brady-inspired comeback, as up until Sunday the veteran quarterback had last erased a 17-point deficit after two quarters when he led the New England Patriots to triumph in Super Bowl LI. Then, Atlanta had led 21-3 at halftime and 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter.
Brady engineered the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, hitting James White for a five-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 28-9 at the end of the third period, before leading the Patriots to score 25 unanswered points over the fourth quarter and overtime.
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty
Brady's other two comebacks when trailing by at least 17 points at halftime came in Week 15 of the 2011 season—when the Patriots overcame a 17-0 deficit to defeat the Dolphins 27-24 in Miami—and in Week 11 of the 2013 season—when New England defeated the Broncos 34-31 in Denver after trailing 24-0 at halftime.
On Sunday, the stakes were nowhere near as high as in Super Bowl LI the Bucs trailed by a smaller gap than the Patriots faced against the Broncos in 2013 and against the Falcons in 2017, but Brady's role in the comeback was just as crucial.
The 43-year-old led the Bucs to score with the first possession in the second half as Leonard Fournette rushed over for a one-yard touchdown run, before the Falcons restored their 17-point lead when Matt Ryan hit Hayden Hurst for a seven-yard touchdown.
Brady then connected with Chris Godwin for a four-yard touchdown pass, before leading the Bucs down the field again as Fournette scored his second touchdown of the day following another one-yard run.
Atlanta retook the lead halfway through the final quarter after Ryan Succop had hit a 27-yard field goal to tie the score at 24, before Brady hit Antonio Brown for a 48-yard touchdown at the end of a four-play, 78-yard drive to give the Bucs a 31-27 lead.
Speaking after the game, Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians paid tribute to Brady.
"He's just a winner," he said. "He knows how to do it."
With the win in Atlanta, the Bucs improved to 9-5 and closed the gap to the New Orleans Saints after the NFC South leaders slipped to 10-4 after losing at home to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tampa Bay is currently sixth in the NFC standings. FiveThirtyEight gives it a 99 percent chance of securing a playoff berth for the first time since 2007. With games against the Detroit Lions and the Falcons still to come, the Bucs have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the NFL and could overtake the Los Angeles Rams in the race for the first wildcard spot in the NFC.
The Rams are also 9-5 after a surprise loss at home to the New York Jets on Sunday and have the fourth-hardest remaining schedule, with games against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.