Omicron is revealing just how bad America's Covid testing plan really is

The omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is now responsible for almost three-fourths of America’s new cases, and President Joe Biden said Wednesday his administration will provide half a billion Covid-19 tests Americans can use at home. [View in browser]( [Image]( December 22, 2021 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [America needs to start testing differently — now]( by Zeeshan Aleem The omicron variant of the coronavirus is now responsible for almost three quarters of America's new cases, and President Joe Biden said Wednesday his administration will provide half a billion at-home Covid tests. This is a meaningful shift in America's Covid testing system, but it has a long way to go to meet the emerging crisis, [Zeeshan Aleem writes](. The government's pivot toward testing needs to also be accompanied by a cultural shift. "We need to normalize more routine testing before travel and major social gatherings," Aleem writes, "and encourage people to err on the side of caution by getting tested if they're experiencing Covid-related symptoms." Read Zeeshan Aleem's [full analysis]( your Wednesday [MSNBC Daily.]( TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [A photo of Biden]( [Hayes Brown]( [Omicron is forcing America to face a frustrating truth]( We have the tools to fight omicron. That's not the problem.[Read More]( [A photo of Kamala Harris ]( [Zeeshan Aleem]( [Sarcastic question, forceful response: Why Kamala Harris wasn't sidestepping this one]( An aide claimed VP Harris couldn't hear a combative question. Harris wouldn't let it slide.Read More]( [A photo of a mom holding her kid]( [Jessica Levinson]( [Manchin's misogynistic, paternalistic opposition to Build Back Better]( Build Back Better is huge for America's women. All it took was one man to pull the plug.Read More]( [A photo of Chuck Grassley ]( [Steve Benen]( [Chuck Grassley makes up rule as GOP eyes new Supreme Court blockade]( Grassley pointed to a 'rule' to justify a blockade against possible SCOTUS nominees from Biden. The 'rule' is made up. Read More]( TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [A photo of Kyle Rittenhouse]( [Deadline White House]( [Gun reform leader: Rittenhouse is the symptom of America's gun culture disease]( [A photo of Trump]( [Zerlina]( [Trump plans Jan. 6 press conference at Mar-a-lago]( [A photo of Adam Schiff]( [All In]( [Schiff mulls potential subpoena for GOP colleague in Jan. 6 probes]( [A photo of Fauci]( [The ReidOut]( [Surgeon general decries Fox News commentator who urged conservatives to 'ambush' Fauci]( LISTEN NOW [Alternate text] Ayman Mohyeldin [explores the story]( of Rosanne Boyland, a woman from his hometown who became a foot soldier in one of the most dangerous movements in America and died at the Capitol on Jan. 6. [Listen to the full series now.]( How do we make sense of this unprecedented moment in world history? Why is this all happening? Chris Hayes asks the big questions that keep him up at night every week [on his podcast](, aptly titled, "[Why Is This Happening?](" Kevin Roose covers NFTs, crypto, AI and social media as a columnist for The New York Times. In 2021, a PNG file of his column sold for over $500,000. He joins to discuss the value proposition of blockchain-based assets, the role of scarcity and speculation in determining value and the future of cryptographic assets in a metaverse focused future. [Listen now.]( [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)