Covid confusion snarls Biden White House, ‘breakthrough’ organ surgery and Georgia finally wins it all

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 Good morning, NBC News readers.     The raging omicron variant has not only upended most American lives, but the Biden administration's plans, too, prompting some health experts to call for an urgent Covid strategy reset. A "breakthrough surgery" lends hope to the idea that one day animals could provide organs for human transplants. Plus, scientists have unearthed a 32-foot-long prehistoric "sea dragon" in the U.K.    Here's what we're watching this Tuesday morning.     'We have gone backwards': Covid confusion snarls Biden White House The White House's stay-the-course strategy on Covid is increasingly colliding with the realities of a roaring pandemic that is forcing schools and businesses to close.   A half dozen former health policy makers told NBC News the Biden administration needs an urgent reset on its Covid strategy or the White House could rapidly lose credibility with the public.   "Biden was elected president, in large part, based on a message of 'I'm competent, I'm capable, I will tell you the truth and I will get a handle on Covid in a way my predecessor could not and refused to do,' and that continues to be the number-one issue for most people," said Kathleen Sebelius, who served as Health and Human Services secretary in the Obama administration.   But the rapid spread of the omicron variant has created a level of disruption in many Americans' lives not seen since the early days of the pandemic — and upended most of the Biden administration's plans to "shut down the virus." Read our full story here.  Tuesday's Top Stories Surgeons perform first successful transplant of pig heart to human patient David Bennett, 57, is doing well after he received the first successful transplant of a pig heart, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The news offers a potentially new path for those facing the overburdened organ donor system.  READ MORE Georgia snaps 41-year title drought with 33-18 win over Alabama The Bulldogs vanquished their longtime rival to win their first national championship since 1980. READ MORE Coldest air in three years coming to parts of the country   Grab another layer, or two, this morning if you live anywhere from the Upper Midwest to New England. Wind chills are forecast to be as cold as 45 below zero as a chill grips large parts of the country.  READ MORE What activists want to hear — and don't — from Biden's voting rights speech Ahead of President Joe Biden's big speech in Atlanta on Tuesday, some voting rights advocates see a president playing catch-up on a cause they view as make-or-break for American democracy. READ MORE Also in the News Trump seeks dismissal of Jan. 6 lawsuits; judge signals unwillingness to toss case U.K. PM Boris Johnson under fire over 'bring your own booze' lockdown party Robert Durst, real estate heir and convicted murder, dies at 78 U.S. announces fresh $308 million in humanitarian aid for struggling Afghans 16 Ivy League and elite universities sued for alleged financial aid conspiracy No evidence of drugs or foul play in death of Bob Saget, medical examiner says Stroke six days earlier cited as Betty White's cause of death Editor's Pick Artists say NFTs are helping thieves steal their work at a jaw-dropping rate NFTs were hyped as a way to make sure artists get paid for their work. Now, many creators are struggling to stop a wave of piracy. READ MORE One Fun Thing Scientists unearth a 32-foot-long prehistoric 'sea dragon' fossil in Britain What began with routine maintenance at a British nature reserve and reservoir has been hailed as a giant Jurassic "mega-find."   Officials at Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said Monday that they had uncovered the skeleton of an extinct prehistoric reptile predator, known colloquially as a sea dragon — the largest and most complete ever discovered in the U.K.   "It's the most complete and larger than any dinosaur skeleton ever found here, so it's a mega-find for so many reasons," said paleontologist Dean Lomax, who led the excavation.   Read the full story here.  Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Petra Cahill     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy