The other victims of the pandemic
 Hi friends. This will be my last day at the helm of this newsletter. My pals Scaachi Koul and Brandon Hardin will take over the next couple of weeks, and then a brand new newsletter editor will take over. I've left you a little note below <3. — Elamin THE BIG STORY
The other victims of the pandemic: workers killed in fights over masks
It didn't take long for the pandemic to be politicized. The politicization of the pandemic and the safety measures around it, especially mask-wearing, has led to altercations across the US throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many of them verbal, some of them physical.
In Iowa, a man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after spitting on someone who asked him to wear his mask properly in a store. In Michigan, a man who refused to put a mask on in a convenience store stabbed another customer, and was later shot and killed by a police officer.
The fight over masks put frontline workers in a position where they were expected to become enforcers of safety precautions. They've had the wrath directed squarely at them, often with little to no institutional protections.
We found at least four frontline employees who died in fights over masks. Here are their stories.  Clockwise from top left: Calvin Munerlyn; Martinus Mitchum; Frankye Duckett; and Laquitta Willis. Courtesy the Munerlyn family; Tulane University; via Facebook; via GoFundMe STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
Los Angeles County is bringing back indoor mask requirements as COVID cases surge
COVID-19 cases are on the rise at an alarming rate in Los Angeles County, and so officials are once again requiring people to wear masks indoors.
The county reported 1,315 new cases as of Wednesday — the fifth day in a row with more than 1,000 new coronavirus infections, according to the Associated Press. Adults ages 18 to 29 are seeing the highest and fastest-rising case rates.
The county's health officer said the move was largely driven by unvaccinated people, and that universal masking makes it easier to implement the mandate while offering additional protection to all residents, no matter their vaccine status. SNAPSHOTS
A 19-year-old woman was charged with a hate crime for destroying a pro-police sign and "smirking" at a cop. Lauren Gibson could face a year in jail after she allegedly crumpled up and threw a "Back the Blue" sign in front of a sheriff's deputy in Utah.
Is Instagram's new $1 billion commitment to supporting influencers too little, too late? After years of a laissez-faire approach to the influencers who power its apps, the company is now desperately trying to show influencers it cares about their success.
These Burger King employees left a viral goodbye message after they all quit. The sign at the Nebraska restaurant read, "We all quit. Sorry for the inconvenience," after eight of the 13 staffers left. Short-staffed fast-food joints have become an increasingly frequent sighting on social media, with photos of signs saying locations are closed due to lack of employees.
Hailey Bieber shut down the "beyond false" accusations that Justin Bieber "aggressively yelled" at her in a viral TikTok. Hailey addressed the accusations on Instagram, saying that she had the "best time, surrounded by so much love" in Vegas with Justin. "NO, WE DON'T WANT CRUMBS"
This is what the historic anti-government protests in Cuba look like
Over the last week, historic protests have erupted in Cuba over the lack of access to food and basic medical supplies amid a rise in COVID cases.
The country has suffered from massive inflation and long blackouts as long-standing US sanctions that restrict access to basic goods and financing, and decades of government corruption and mismanagement, have been made worse by a decline in tourism during the pandemic.
The protests are the largest in recent memory, and government forces, which are typically quick to repress demonstrations, initially struggled to retain control.
Intermittent internet shutdowns and harassment and detention of journalists have made it difficult to verify events on the ground. However, photos and videos have emerged showing both uniformed and plainclothes officers beating protesters with batons and appearing to shoot at them.
We collected some striking photos of Cuba's protests for you to see.  Police cars are seen overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in Havana on July 11, 2021. Yamil Lage / AFP via Getty Images PAUSE FOR A MINUTE Chill and slow it down a bit with these weekend longreads
The new Gossip Girl is nostalgic fun, but not much more. "When it premiered in 2007, the original Gossip Girl felt juicy and daring — almost dangerous," writes Shannon Keating. But the new one? "It's confusing, it's contrived, and most of all, it's just kinda boring."
What Winston Marshall's departure from Mumford & Sons reveals about the band's brand. Winston Marshall, the band's banjoist, quit over his endorsement of controversial right-wing pundits. I wrote about why Mumford & Sons has always had an unsettled relationship to traditional masculinity.
35 new and upcoming Sci-Fi thrillers you won't want to put down. In these awesome upcoming science fiction and fantasy releases, you'll be able to take a hike with a robot, visit a city ruled by cannibal nuns, or tour a future where the remnants of humanity live on heaps of floating garbage. FAREWELL FOR NOW
Hi friends,
I hope you'll indulge me in a brief reflection. I took over writing this newsletter in late 2017. I'd never written newsletters before, but I took particular joy in translating the news into a conversational voice, and I was excited about the challenge.
It turned out that writing the news itself was a little beside the point. As I grew to know our community of newsletter subscribers, my life became so much richer. Folks wrote in to share their thoughts about stories that resonated with them, and I got to know what you care about, and the kinds of stories you want more of.
As the newsletter evolved, I started sharing little signoffs. These were born out of a recognition that sometimes the news can be a bit much, and this newsletter is only the start of your day. So I thought: why not offer a closing thought that recognizes that you've still got the whole day ahead of you?
A lot of you responded to those signoffs. Folks started writing in, sharing their favourites. Some of you shared that the signoffs helped you start your day on the good foot. I always loved reading those messages, and treasured your willingness to share how the signoffs made you feel.
After 3.5 years of writing this newsletter every morning, it's time for someone else to have a turn. I've no plans on leaving BuzzFeed, I'm just turning my attention to something else I love, which is culture writing. I've done a few pieces I'm really proud of, and I'm excited to do more of those. From time to time, you'll see those pieces in this very newsletter.
I'm grateful for the time we've had on this newsletter, and for everything this community has given me. Don't be a stranger, please — drop by if you can. Wishing you certainty and security in the knowledge that you are valued, Elamin 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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