A nurse practitioner loads a syringe with Covid-19 vaccine in Seattle.
“The US has now recorded more than 25 million coronavirus cases, and experts say it's time to double down on safety measures and speed up vaccine administration to keep the already unfathomable numbers from spiraling further out of control. Still, healthy young Americans may not have access to a vaccine until mid- to late summer. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said a big problem is there’s not enough information about how much vaccine is available. The CDC is also reviewing data that suggests the UK coronavirus variant could, in fact, be more deadly than the original strain. Meanwhile, Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci are speaking out about their time working with the Trump administration on coronavirus efforts. Birx says former President Trump was presented with and used data about the virus that she had never seen. Fauci said Trump surrounded himself with people who said things that ‘didn’t make any scientific sense.’” Read more at CNN
The coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna triggers an immune response that protected against two variants of the virus first detected in Britain and South Africa in laboratory tests, the company said Monday.
But the reassuring news that vaccine-elicited antibodies remained effective against concerning new variants was tempered by an ominous finding. Those antibodies were less efficient at neutralizing the South African variant in a laboratory dish — a sixfold reduction in response foreshadowed by a small, but mounting body of evidence that has trickled out recently showing that the variant may have the potential to elude parts of the immune response.
As a precaution, Moderna announced it will launch two new studies. The company will test adding a third shot of its current vaccine to boost its two-dose regimen. Scientists have already designed an all-new vaccine specific to the South African variant that could be used as a booster to prime the immune system to the new strain, and plan to test it in the coming months. Read more at Washington Post
“President Joe Biden on Monday is expected to reinstate travel restrictions to combat COVID-19 infections, a White House official who was not authorized to speak ahead of the official announcement confirmed to USA TODAY. The restrictions, which were in place for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term. Last week, Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to require international air travelers to quarantine upon U.S. arrival. The order also requires that all U.S.-bound passengers ages 2 and above get negative COVID-19 test results within three days of traveling.” Read more at USA Today
“Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit Monday seeking $1.3 billion from Rudolph W. Giuliani, a lawyer for Trump who played a key role in promoting the falsehood that the 2020 election was rigged.
The 107-page complaint, filed in federal court in the District, cites dozens of statements Giuliani made about Dominion — on Twitter, in appearances on conservative media shows and on his own podcast — to promote the “false preconceived narrative” that the election was stolen from Trump.
That ‘Big Lie’ not only damaged Dominion’s reputation and business but also laid the groundwork for hundreds of people to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the complaint says.
Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dominion’s allegations against Giuliani echo many of the accusations the company leveled earlier this month in a similar defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell. Powell filed four lawsuits alleging that Dominion’s voting machines were rigged, contributing to massive election fraud. All four lawsuits were dismissed by federal judges.
Both Powell and Giuliani repeated the baseless claim that Dominion is a Venezuelan enterprise and that its machines switched thousands of votes from Trump to Biden.” Read more at Washington Post
“The House will send the article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday, officially beginning the trial process. The House swiftly impeached Trump on Jan. 13 for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol the week before. When it comes to trial, senators will vote to decide whether to convict or acquit Trump. The trial is unprecedented in nearly every way possible. No president had been impeached twice and no president has been tried by the Senate after he left office – an issue dividing constitutional scholars over what is legally permissible. The trial will begin the week of Feb. 8.” Read at USA Today
“The Biden administration intends within days to reverse the Pentagon policy former President Donald Trump ordered that limits the service and treatment of transgender troops, according to an official with Biden’s transition team. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal report that the reversal could happen as soon as Monday. Trump announced the ban on service by transgender troops in 2017, a move that caught military officials by surprise. The Trump policy effectively bans transgender people from joining the military and limits their treatment. Major medical and psychological associations say there is no scientific reason for banning transgender troops from serving.” Read more at USA Today
“A detention hearing is set Monday for a Texas man who allegedly participated in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack and posted death threats against Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and a Capitol police officer. Garret Miller faces five criminal charges, including trespassing and making death threats, according to the Department of Justice. Miller tweeted ‘assassinate AOC’ hours after he posted pictures of himself storming the Capitol. He is alleged to have threatened the police officer who shot another rioter who died, saying on Instagram he was going to ‘hug his neck with a nice rope.’ Miller was arrested Wednesday and made his first court appearance Friday.” Read more at USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will go head-to-head in Super Bowl LV on Sunday, February 7.
“The Kansas City Chiefs will be going head-to-head with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
The game is set for February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, meaning the Buccaneers will be the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
The Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 38-24 in the AFC championship Sunday. It'll be the Chiefs' fourth trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history.
‘The best thing about this team is we believe in each other,’ Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. ‘I trust my guys over anybody and we're going to go out there and be who we are.’
As quarterbacks, Mahomes and the Buccaneers' Tom Brady have each won one of the last two Super Bowls, respectively. Mahomes and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year against the San Francisco 49ers. Brady, who was throwing for the New England Patriots at the time, defeated the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
Earlier Sunday, the Bucs beat the Green Bay Packers 31-26 in the NFC championship, earning them their second trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history. The first was in 2003 against the Oakland Raiders.” Read more at CNN
PHOTO: TY WRIGHT/BLOOMBERG NEWS
“Biden takes step toward strengthening domestic manufacturing. The president will today sign an executive order imposing tougher rules on government procurement practices to increase purchases of products made in the U.S., a move toward fulfilling his Buy American campaign pledge.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has confirmed she is running for Arkansas governor.
Sanders, who left the White House in 2019 to return to her home state, announced her bid on Monday, after it was widely reported at the weekend.
‘I’m in,’ she said in a tweet containing an introductory video.
The former White House press secretary is launching her bid less than a week after the end of Trump’s presidency and as the ex-president faces an impeachment trial. But Sanders is running in a solidly red state where Republicans tend to embrace the former president.
The daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders had been widely expected to run for the office after leaving the White House – and Trump publicly encouraged her to make a go. She’s been laying the groundwork for a candidacy, speaking to Republican groups around the state.
Sanders, 38, joins a Republican primary that already includes two statewide elected leaders, lieutenant-governor Tim Griffin and attorney general Leslie Rutledge. The three are running to succeed Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican unable to run next year due to term limits. No Democrats have announced a bid to run for the seat.” Read more at The Guardian
“Luxury chocolatier Godiva is getting out of the brick and mortar business.
The company is closing or selling all 128 of its brick-and-mortar stores in North America, it announced in a statement. It plans to complete the closures and sales by the end of March.
Godiva will keep its stores open across Europe, Middle East and Greater China. The company did not disclose information on how many employees would be let go because of the closures.
Less than two years ago, Godiva was planning a massive expansion by getting into the cafe business. The chocolatier opened its first cafe in the United States in New York City in April 2019 and announced that it planned on opening 10 more cafes in New York and more than 400 across the United States. It was part of a plan to open 2,000 new cafes around the world.” Read more at CNN
“Former President Donald Trump’s campaign paid more than $2.7 million over two years to individuals and firms that organized the Jan. 6 rally that led to rioters storming the U.S. Capitol, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The payments, which span Trump’s re-election campaign, show an ongoing financial relationship between the rally’s organizers and Trump’s political operation. They were all made through Nov. 23, the most recent date covered by Federal Election Commission filings, which is before the rally was publicly announced.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on Sunday that a Trump trial after he has left the presidency is constitutional.” Read more at CNN
“Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who would like to run again for president in 2024, assailed a Trump impeachment trial as ‘stupid’ during an interview on Sunday.” Read more at NBC News. “I think it's counterproductive. We already have a flaming fire in this country, and [impeachment is] taking a bunch of gasoline and pouring it on top of the fire.”
“The UK is adjusting to its new Brexit reality, and the fishing industry is being hit especially hard, with fresh catches reportedly being left to rot as exporters cannot get them to the European Union. Some logistics firms worry that importing and exporting may not even be viable for some businesses unless a different deal is struck with the EU. Shipping has become a problem, too, and businesses have reported piles of returned packages. The UK’s economy has contracted in the first quarter, leading to real concerns about a double-dip recession amid ongoing pandemic challenges.” Read at CNN
“Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Sunday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. López Obrador, 67, tweeted that he has mild symptoms and that he is receiving medical treatment, adding that he is “optimistic.” López Obrador’s announcement came shortly after a report that he will speak today with Russian President Vladimir Putin about procuring doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.” Read more at The Associated Press
“Israel announced on Sunday that it will be shuttering Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, the nation’s lone international airport, in an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19 amid yet another outbreak in the country. The closure on flights in and out of the country is limited to funerals and medical patients and cargo flights.” Read more at The Associated Press.
“The coronavirus crisis and the impact of new coronavirus variants are bad enough in France that predictions are rising for a third lockdown in February.” Read more at Reuters
“According to research out of Great Britain, Japan is unlikely to reach herd immunity status from vaccinations until October — two months after the Summer Olympics are scheduled in Tokyo.” Read more at Reuters
“Brace yourselves for wintry weather: two storm systems will continue their paths through the nation on Monday . They’re set to dump snow and rain on nearly half the country throughout the week and into next week, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy snow is expected to fall in Kansas on Monday, pushing through Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois until Tuesday. That storm, developing in the Rocky Mountains, will later move into parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Another storm, coming through Northern California on Sunday evening and moving southward, is forecast to bring rainfall to other parts of the state. Snow had already started to accumulate in California's mountain ranges on Sunday, even bringing a dusting to beachy Malibu and hail to Long Beach.” Read more at USA Today
A North Atlantic right whale swims off Duxbury beach in Massachusetts last May. Photograph: Boston Globe/Getty Images
“Wildlife officials in Florida have reported an ‘encouraging’ number of sightings of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales off the south-eastern US, including at least 14 new calves, three born to first-time mothers.” Read more at The Guardian
“The 10-month long school closures and the coronavirus pandemic are expected to have a big impact on childhood obesity rates.
Why it matters: About one in five children are obese in the U.S. — an all-time high — with worsening obesity rates across income and racial and ethnic groups, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show.
Children tend to gain weight in the summer when schools are out, studies show, and a letter in medical journal Obesity already estimated an increased obesity rate in children of more than 4% if they remained out of school for five months.
What's happening: School meals are a critical source of calories and nutrition for children across the U.S. Without schools meals, gym classes or commuting, the sedentary virtual learning environment has given children an extended summer, The Counter reports.” Read more at Axios
“The mittens, the pose, the social distancing -- they all helped a photo of Senator Bernie Sanders at the inauguration become an internet sensation. And now the image can be part of your wardrobe.
Sanders' campaign store is selling sweatshirts featuring the photo that inspired countless memes, and all the proceeds are going to Meals on Wheels programs in Sanders' home state of Vermont.” Read more at CNN
Enjoying The Full Belmonte? Share it with a friend. Subscribe below to receive daily email versions.