Everyone is mad at the CDC

The new mask guidelines, Tulsa Massacre survivors, fashion in the pandemic,

THE BIG STORY   Basically everyone is mad at the CDC for being so confusing about masks   Last week, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated Americans can stop wearing masks in most circumstances. You'd think this would be exciting stuff, right? No — the announcement has governors complaining, scientists unhappy, and people confused.   The CDC's director Rochelle Walensky defended the new guidelines and said the agency was simply "following the science." She said the goal was to clearly declare that vaccines were effective and, in the face of declining vaccination rates, convince more people to get their shots.   But the health communication experts we spoke to said that the way the CDC announced the change went against everything that's known about how to clearly inform the public.   Governors, and even the White House, were given little advance notice to prepare for the change. As a result, store owners, parents of unvaccinated kids, and people with compromised immune systems were left relying on the honesty of strangers to tell who is vaccinated or not. Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   Biden has changed which immigrants ICE targets, but he's still being criticized on both sides   The Trump administration treated every undocumented immigrant as a priority for arrest and removal. Biden has changed that approach — the current administration wants to target certain types of undocumented immigrants, primarily those with past convictions for certain crimes.   This has meant a significant drop in the number of arrests and deportations. In turn, Biden officials have faced criticism from former Department of Homeland Security leaders who believe the ICE's new priorities have not only created a "sanctuary" across the country for undocumented immigrants, but have also dramatically scaled back the work officers signed up to do.   Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent Democrat, has called for more aggressive changes, including further limiting arrests. SNAPSHOTS   Capitol Police officers begged Congress to investigate the insurrection and called out Republicans for downplaying the violence. In a powerful letter, officers criticized Republican leaders' opposition to the creation of a commission to investigate the riots. "It is inconceivable that some of the Members we protect, would downplay the events of January 6th," the letter said.   Three Tulsa Massacre survivors delivered terrifying testimony in Congress. Viola Fletcher is 107 years old. In testimony on Capitol Hill, she recalled in vivid detail the horror of the night of the Tulsa Massacre, which took place 100 years ago. "I still smell smoke and see fire...I hear the screams. I live through the massacre every day," she testified.   Ashley Graham said losing her hair after having her baby was "more traumatic than birth." In a new interview with Parents magazine, the supermodel spoke about postpartum hair loss. Graham said, "I think it was like around four months, my whole hairline fell out." NOT GOING BACK   Jeans and bras are over. We live in a sweatpants world now.   I don't want to say I don't remember how to dress for functions anymore, but I also don't want to understate how much that skill has atrophied over the last year. I've developed new phrases, like "these are my grocery store sweatpants."    To put it simply, pandemic fashion has reordered my closet and everything I know about how I dress. And it's a relief to know I am not alone — recently, we asked people how the pandemic has changed their style, and the feedback we got was illuminating.    "I no longer know how to dress for anything," one woman told us. All the restricting and confining clothes have been put on notice. Sorry, jeans, but we're on a break. Read Estelle Tang's look into pandemic fashion, and how our style has changed.   Favorite quote: "What's the point? No one at Costco is going to appreciate my lewk." Amen.  ONLY YOU CAN LET IT IN  How Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" became a meme, a TikTok trend, and decadeslong classic   Look — you know the song, and you've seen its resurgence thanks to the memes.    There's plenty I could tell you about this excellent piece but nothing will be as effective as staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find; reaching for something in the distance, so close you could almost taste it, release your inhibitions — Feel the rain on your skin —no one else can feel it for you, Elamin 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.     👉 Your support of BuzzFeed's journalism does not constitute a charitable donation, and your contribution is not eligible for a tax-deduction. This is part of an effort to explore a deeper relationship with our most active supporters. 🔔  Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? 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