specifically about the substance of that speech and what the administration is promising including half a billion free at home testing kits and more aid to overburdened hospitals and the guidance from the president that the vaccinated should not change their holiday plans. today, the president appeared defensive over the persistent problems in testing. he also told the tens of millions of unvaccinated americans that getting these lifesaving shots was their, quote, patriotic duty. but if there was one them he kept returning to, it was that progress has been made in the fight. >> we should all be concerned about omicron but not panicked. and no, this is not march of 2020. 200 million people are fully vaccinated. we're prepared. we know more. we just have to stay focused. >> a lot to cover tonight, including as i mentioned o you are our discussion with the cdc director but let's start with cnn's athena jones on where we are right now.