past week really elevate that and make that a central focus as they really understand that there are so many pockets of this country, of skeptical americans who are not necessarily going to be convinced by the white house, but they may be convinced if they have more factual information, if they re hearing that the people that they trust in their local communities are also pushing this vaccine and ultimately these conservative republicans could also help in that messaging. i worry these misguided beliefs about the vaccine are too entrenched. maybe it s too little too late. it s very important the republicans are starting to come around, but it s certainly a worry. brianna, the evidence suggests that you re right. i mean, the pace of progress on vaccinations has slowed and really hit a wall. and you know, we ll see whether how incrementally they can inch up to that 70% level that they wanted beyond 70% where we get herd immunity.
extension indicates casting a shadow of uncertainty over health insurance for millions of customers and consumers. it involves federal funds insurers used to lower deductibles and copayments for people with modest incomes. purchasing individual policies under obamacare. about $7 billion are at stake here. critics say dragging out the case could drive premiums higher next year. the u.s. supreme court has struck down to congressional districts in north carolina saying race played too big a part in their creation. the court said the g.o.p.-controlled state legislator put too many africans americans in the districts, weakening the black influence elsewhere. those districts have been redrawn and the new map was in effect during last year s elections. a good start to the markets. dow jumped 90. s&p 500 up 12. nasdaq gained 50. now more on the story we told you about last friday.
same opportunities their parents had when they went through life. that s why we are looking at changing we want to make sure that generation, and 70% of the population, the majority of the population, is not subject to the volatilities of oil prices we are not dependent on oil revenues going forward. bret: for skeptical americans who sit here and maybe look at the kingdom and there may be scared of the past. what do you say to them? they say they are worried about the arms deal, they are worried about the possibility that it s not all coming together and they are worried about human rights. i say to them if you look at the number of saudi s who, just the u.s. alone, not talking about any other country, the number of saudis who are living,
oldest, if not the oldest, ally and partner of the united states. it s been an eight or nine decade relationship. the fact that he chose us signifies the importance of saudi arabia in this part of the world but also to the united states. bret: is this visit a game-changer for u.s.-saudi relations, for u.s. relations with the gulf nation s? having selected saudi arabia as his first destination, everything that was discussed over the last two days, everything that was announced over the last two days is truly a game-changer. bret: a lot of americans may not have seen the full translation of the king s speech but he was forward leaning. fighting extremism and terrorism. i m wondering if you knowledge there is skepticism at home in