diff --git a/newswire.py b/newswire.py
index 0bad590f7..1734a3a05 100644
--- a/newswire.py
+++ b/newswire.py
@@ -154,14 +154,6 @@ def parseFeedDate(pubDate: str) -> str:
             continue
         if ',' not in pubDate and ',' in dateFormat:
             continue
-        if '-' in pubDate and '-' not in dateFormat:
-            continue
-        if '-' not in pubDate and '-' in dateFormat:
-            continue
-        if 'T' in pubDate and 'T' not in dateFormat:
-            continue
-        if 'T' not in pubDate and 'T' in dateFormat:
-            continue
         if 'Z' in pubDate and 'Z' not in dateFormat:
             continue
         if 'Z' not in pubDate and 'Z' in dateFormat:
@@ -267,10 +259,13 @@ def xml2StrToDict(baseDir: str, domain: str, xmlStr: str,
     if '<item>' not in xmlStr:
         return {}
     result = {}
+
+    # is this an rss feed containing hashtag categories?
     if '<title>#categories</title>' in xmlStr:
         xml2StrToHashtagCategories(baseDir, xmlStr,
                                    maxCategoriesFeedItemSizeKb)
         return {}
+
     rssItems = xmlStr.split('<item>')
     postCtr = 0
     maxBytes = maxFeedItemSizeKb * 1024
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 7126ea8a0..3af8473b3 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -2417,6 +2417,11 @@ def testFirstParagraphFromString():
 
 def testParseFeedDate():
     print('testParseFeedDate')
+
+    pubDate = "Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:24:38 -0600"
+    publishedDate = parseFeedDate(pubDate)
+    assert publishedDate == "2020-12-08 12:24:38+00:00"
+
     pubDate = "2020-08-27T16:12:34+00:00"
     publishedDate = parseFeedDate(pubDate)
     assert publishedDate == "2020-08-27 16:12:34+00:00"