Fauci says U.S. stands ready to support international COVID-19 response
January 21, 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci informed the World Health Organization Thursday the United States will remain a member and stands ready to support the international COVID-19 response. Fauci, the nation s top infectious disease expert and President Biden s chief medical adviser, spoke with WHO s executive board on Thursday and praised the organization, which former President Donald Trump heavily criticized over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci said Biden retracted Trump s withdrawal from the WHO, and said the U.S. stands ready to work in partnership and solidarity with the international effort. The U.S. will also join Covax, the initiative seeking equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus celebrated the comments from my brother Tony, adding, This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health.
New jobless claims decline but stay high at 900,000
January 21, 2021
The Labor Department said Thursday another 900,000 Americans filed new jobless claims last week, down 26,000 from the revised level of the previous week. This was a bit better than expected, as economists were anticipating a total of 925,000 claims. Still, the number continues to remain well above the pre-pandemic record, as well as higher than a few weeks ago. But last week, the number of new claims surged by 181,000 in the worst week since August. The latest jobs report showed the U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs in December amid increasing COVID-19 cases, the first monthly jobs loss since April. Thursday s number was reported on the first full day for President Biden, who
Pelosi ready to advance impeachment, McConnell wants delay
January 21, 2021
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Thursday that the House will press forward with impeachment charges against former President Donald Trump. Trump was impeached last week for incitement of insurrection at the Capitol earlier this month. Pelosi said she will advance the articles of impeachment as soon as the Senate is ready to hold the trial. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly wants to delay the trial until February to give Trump s lawyers time to prepare. Pelosi said Thursday she didn t think Trump s departure from office is reason to drop the charges, even if some would suggest a trial could be divisive. I don t think it s very unifying to say, Oh, let s just forget it and move on. That s not how you unify, said Pelosi.