Scientists are divided over COVID booster shots

A chilling report on Rep. Pramila Jayapal's treatment of her staff, the debate over booster shots, and the best of the Met Gala

THE BIG STORY   Top scientists at the FDA and the WHO are arguing against COVID-19 booster shots In a review published in top medical journal The Lancet, a group of scientists argued that COVID-19 booster shots are not needed in the general population since vaccines still remain highly effective at preventing severe illness and death.    This comes in direct contrast to the Biden administration's controversial booster rollout proposal, recommended eight months after an individual's second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.    The Lancet authors argued that boosters may ultimately be needed if immunity wanes over time, but more research was needed to determine when that will be necessary. For now, they argued, there's a more urgent need to administer existing doses among unvaccinated people worldwide. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, condemned booster shot rollouts in stark terms last month. "We're planning to hand out extra life jackets to people who already have life jackets, while we're leaving other people to drown without a single life jacket," Ryan said. "That's the reality." STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   She's one of Congress's leading progressives — just not in her own office, staffers say (David Waters for BuzzFeed News) House Democrat Pramila Jayapal is one of the highest-profile progressives in DC and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. But former staffers insist that there's a serious disconnect between how she talks about workers' rights and how she treats her own staff.    In interviews with BuzzFeed News, 14 former employees described Jayapal as a boss who berated staff in front of others, demanded grueling hours, and maintained an office culture marked by constantly changing expectations and little tolerance for error.   The office environment "was so toxic and abusive that I felt like the only way I could continue to function both in my professional and personal life was to seek therapy and counseling," one former staffer said.   "I have never worked in a place that has made me so miserable and so not excited for public service as Pramila Jayapal's office," another staffer shared. The staffers' stories also reflect major cultural shifts happening in both DC and across the country. Many members of Washington's professional class feel that tough conditions and low pay are a necessary tradeoff for working in one of the most powerful institutions in the world. But now more than ever, the workforce is less willing to accept undignified working conditions as a necessary evil for having a meaningful career. SNAPSHOTS   A backup singer said she walked in on R. Kelly having sex with Aaliyah when she was a teenager. R. Kelly's trial continues. New testimony paints a picture of a paranoid, controlling man, and corroborates many of the allegations put forth by Kelly's alleged victims.   Capitol Police say they arrested a man with a machete and swastikas on his truck near the DNC headquarters. The arrest comes as the Capitol Hill area is on high alert against threats of far-right violence.   BTS and Coldplay announced they will be collaborating on a single called "My Universe." The song will be in both English and Korean; the lyrics were written by Coldplay and BTS.   TWO AMERICAN CRISES   A man who spent 15 years on death row before he was exonerated died of COVID-19 Damon Thibodeaux was trying to make the most of the time he had lost after being exonerated from death row, where he had spent 15 years of his life in solitary confinement for a crime he didn't commit. Less than 10 years after his exoneration, Thibodeaux died of COVID-19 on Aug. 31, according to the Innocence Project. He was 47.   Thibodeaux was 22 and working as a deckhand on a Mississippi barge in 1996 when he was arrested for the rape and murder of his step-cousin Crystal Champagne.   Years later in 2007, forensic experts found that there was no physical evidence tying Thibodeaux to the murder, and that the victim had not been sexually assaulted. The investigation also found that before his trial, the prosecution's own expert had concluded that Thibodeaux had falsely confessed based on fear of the death penalty. This information was never shared with the defense. After he was freed from a Louisiana prison in 2012, Thibodeaux earned his GED, began rebuilding his relationships with friends and families, drove around the country as a long-haul trucker, and became a vocal advocate against wrongful convictions. He died without receiving any compensation from the state for his wrongful conviction. A claim for compensation was pending at the time of his death. THE MET GALA   Say what you will about the Met Gala — it packed a punch this year Saweetie's "American Girl" dress features the African Heritage flag and Filipino flag. (Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images For The Met Museum/Vogue) Last night was the Met Gala 2021! A screwball night filled with whimsy and controversy from your favorite public figures, the Met Gala never fails to spark fun conversation. Here's a quick roundup of our favorite moments from the night:   Twenty-two celebrities who understood the gosh darn assignment at this year's Met Gala. The theme was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." Needless to say, some people rose to this fashion challenge better than others.   Billie Eilish said "it was time for this" after stunning everybody on the Met Gala red carpet by wearing a Marilyn Monroe–inspired ballgown. "It just was time. It was time for this and I feel like I've grown so much in the last few years and my confidence."   Nicki Minaj tweeted about her cousin's friend's swollen testicles, and people lost it. What does this have to do with the Met Gala, you ask? Well, it starts with her announcement that she's not vaccinated against COVID-19 and ends with a global spotlight on an unnamed person's testicles.   I'm definitely not exaggerating when I say all of these queer celebs delivered on their outfits for this year's Met Gala. These gorgeous looks pay homage to the way that queer fashion has defined American fashion. Today is a chance for something new, Alexa 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Alexa Lee 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? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores). 💌  Did a friend forward you this email? 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