Biden's troubling poll numbers; the harm in active shooter drills; how to make work from home bearable

Plus, Biden hosts more than 100 countries in a democracy summit. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen First up Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Here's what we're following today: A new poll reveals that President Biden has a 42% approval rating. Americans [aren't happy with the direction the country]( is taking and don't feel inflation is being addressed properly. The results could be trouble for Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. More than 100 of the world's major democracies are gathering over the next two days at a summit in solidarity against authoritarianism. Biden's ambitious event will be virtual due to the pandemic, making it [unlikely to have the energy and impact]( it was meant to. Good news and bad news: preliminary studies show that current vaccines are much less effective against preventing infections of the omicron variant than other variants. But they still offer [protection against severe disease]( and hospitalization, and a booster does increase protection. Instagram's Adam Mosseri defended the app in front of a Senate subcommittee yesterday as he was grilled about the app's protection for children and teens. Senators [didn't hold back their disdain]( accusing Instagram of using its young users as "cash cows." The Supreme Court's conservative supermajority is weighing a case that could have implications for [the separation of church and state in schools](. At the heart of the case is whether Maine's refusal to fund religious schools is unconstitutional. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen Scott Olson/Getty Images Most states in the U.S. require schools to implement drills to prepare students for active shooter situations. But the way these drills are being done can be drastically different depending on the school, and some of these simulations can actually be harmful to students' mental health. Listen to [Dr. David Schonfeld break down the research,]( or [read the story.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go Alfred A. Knopf - Work from home: you either love it or hate it. For those who fall firmly in the "hate" camp, [we've got tips]( to make work from home less painful. - Weekends in the United Arab Emirates just got longer. The country is implementing [a 4.5-day workweek]( with weekends to consist of Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. - Local D.C. officials passed a bill to name part of the street in front of the Saudi embassy after Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post reporter [killed in Istanbul]( after visiting the Saudi consulate. - Beloved jazz pianist Barry Harris has died at 91. He was one of[the leading musicians to emerge from Detroit's modern jazz explosion]( in the 1940s and '50s. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]