DECEMBER 2021 TOP TRENDING NEWS

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Her new album Blue Banisters is her sixth to achieve that chart position. It also breaks her out of a previous three-way tie with Foo Fighters and Coldplay, who have both had five career No. 1 albums on the chart. Blue Banisters is Del Rey’s second album to achieve that top spot this year after her March release Chemtrails Over the Country Club. 

Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19 three days before his first debate against Joe Biden, the former president’s fourth and last chief of staff has revealed in a new book.  Mark Meadows also writes that though he knew each candidate was required “to test negative for the virus within seventy two hours of the start time … Nothing was going to stop [Trump] from going out there.” 

 Taylor Swift achieved something very unusual in the nominations for the 64th annual Grammy Awards: She received an album of the year nod for evermore, an album that received no other nominations. Swift isn’t alone in being nominated in a marquee category after being passed over in a subordinate category. Lil Nas X received an album of the year nod for Montero, which was passed over for a nod for best pop vocal album. He also received a record of the year nod for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” which was passed over for a nod for best pop solo performance. 

 The set launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 839,000 equivalent album units, according to MRC Data, earning the largest week of the year, surpassing Drake's Certified Lover Boy (613,000 in its opening week in September) 

 The wife of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was sentenced to three years in prison on drug trafficking charges. Emma Coronel Aispuro pleaded guilty in June to federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges. ... Guzman ran a drug ring in Mexico that included a massive smuggling operation into the U.S. 

Governor Ron DeSantis Proposes Sweeping Pay Increases for State Law Enforcement Officers, $1,000 Bonuses for First Responders and $5,000 to Support State and Local Level Recruitment Efforts. ORLANDO, Fla. ... Governor DeSantis also announced $5,000 bonuses to recruit and retain both state and local level law enforcement 

Former President Barack Obama’s private foundation announced on Monday that it had been promised $100 million from the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The gift, the largest yet for the Obama Foundation, was one in a series of splashy donations in recent months by Mr. Bezos, one of the world’s richest people. Last week, Mr. Bezos announced $96.2 million in grants to groups working to end family homelessness. 

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, who toyed with the idea of challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker next fall, said Tuesday he will seek a sixth term in Congress.The Republican from Taylorville had said his decision would be based on the congressional district map Democrat Pritzker signed into law last week.  

Adele announces "Weekends with Adele," an exclusive residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. The residency will begin on Jan. 21, 2022, with the global superstar scheduled to perform two shows each weekend through April 16, 2022, according to show representatives. 

Actress Jennifer Lawrence has defended co-star Leonardo DiCaprio's higher pay in upcoming disaster-comedy Don't Look Up, even though they have equal billing. In the December issue of Vanity Fair magazine, she said: "Leo brings in more box office than I do. I'm extremely fortunate and happy with my deal." 

 Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard broke from her party and celebrated fellow Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s loss in the Virginia gubernatorial race this week, calling the outcome a “victory for all Americans.”