Louisiana, and alabama, cdc data shows that the seven Day Average of daily first doses has more than doubled since the start of july. Thats hopeful. Still, the country is seeing record breaking hospitalizations, including more and more children. Nbcs Kathy Park has the latest. Reporter cities across the country sounding the alarm, as covid cases explode to dangerous levels. Austin activating its emergency alert system, warning residents the situation is dire, just six icu beds available. And for the third time this week, florida broke a record for daily covid cases as doctors say more kids are getting sick. There are more children in the Hospital Today than weve had at any point in the past 18 months. Reporter in just four days more than 3,000 kids in louisiana tested positive for the virus. And due to the ongoing health emergency, Jazz Fest in New Orleans is cancelled for the second year in a row. This weekend, hospitalizations in the u. S. Topped more than 66,000. A grim Milestone Weve crossed twice in just six months. To keep the pandemic under control, indoor Mask Man dates are coming back from baltimore. Baltimores new Case Count has risen 374 . Reporter to durham, north carolina. And in arizona the governor it was an error to sign the Mask Mandate law. Reporter in texas a large crowd of Health Care workers protested outside of Baylor University medical center where theyre requiring staff be vaccinated. As the pandemic presses on, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally does too. Im a realist, if its my turn, its my turn. So im not going to worry about it. Im very concerned, chuck, that were going to see another surge related to that rally. Meanwhile, the battle continues to rage on between parents and schools over masks in the classroom. Nbc News Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard has that part of the story for us. Reporter thousands of students are preparing to go back to school this week while covid runs rampant. It really concerns me. It does. Reporter as parents square off with lawmakers and School Officials with masks. Its parents choice, familys choice, physicians choice. Reporter texas now saying schools will not have to contact trace or inform families of positive cases in the classroom. And in florida, governor Ron Desantis banning from requiring masks. Let the parents make the decision, let the kids breathe. Take yourself back to elementary school, did you want to run around on a playground wearing a mask. Reporter forcing families to make tough decisions. Ill be home schooling this year. He has had multiple open heart surgeries. Reporter the governor threatening to cut funding. I want the School Districts to stand up against the governor and make a stand based on the health and well being of our children. Reporter several parents now filing a lawsuit. To what extent are you arguing that the school has a responsibility to stop a disease from spreading . Let them do that oversight to ensure theyre safe. Reporter at least two School Districts are requiring masks unless a parent ops out. We have to have conversations, rely on the science. Reporter and the kids caught in the middle. If i get covid then everybody else would have it. Then the teachers would have it too. But you like wearing your mask, dont you . Our thanks to Vaughn Hillyard for that report. Former President Trump spoke at a new York State Republican Party last thursday where, according to the new York Post he encouraged guests to get vaccinated saying, quote, i dont want to see anything bad happen to my people. He also spoke positively about the vaccine, this is good, over the weekend in an interview with Fox News, but as usual, also couches that support in the same breaths touting freedom. I have to be a big Vaccine Fan because im The One that got it done so quickly. Done in less than nine months, it was supposed to take five years, they would have never even gotten it done. So im a Big Fan. At the same time im a Big Fan of our freedoms and people have to make that choice for themselves. And i would recommend they get it and get it done and theyre being protected and the vaccines turn out to be a tremendous thing. I also feel strongly there are some people that do not want to do it, and i really believe in somebodys choice, somebodys freedom. And thats the way it is. I really believe in somebodys choice, somebodys freedoms and thats the way it is. And so, we keep hearing tragic stories like this. A former florida right wing radio host, who was a vocal and staunch advocate against the coronavirus vaccines died last wednesday from covid19 complications. Dick feral was known for his over the top opinions and railed against vaccines and dr. Anthony fauci on Social Media. On July 3rd, he wrote on facebook, why take a vax promoted by people who lied to you all along about masks, where the virus came from and the death toll. But according to nbc Affiliate Wptv friends said after contracting the Virus Farrel changed his point of view, too late. Covid took one of my best friends, rest in peace. Hes the reason i took the shot, he told me to get it. He told me this virus is no joke and he wished he had gotten it. Dick farrel was 65 years old. It was a year ago that supporters of Donald Trump said they would rather die than watch the Dow Jones sink. The Lieutenant Governor of texas said that he was a Senior Citizen who was ready to die rather than have americans take moderate precautions to protect themselves from the pandemic that has now killed over 600,000 americans. Other protrump hosts who are unworthy of having their names mentioned on the show also suggested they were ready to die rather than watch the Dow Jones drop a few points. One year later the Stock Market is at record highs despite their eagerness to sacrifice the lives of Senior Citizens. Now the same Death Cult figures are fighting vaccines, local control over School Safety and the right foR Businesses to protect their workers and customers. Fed by disinformation from facebook and crazed politicians, crazed. 70 of americans who tell pollsters will not get the Vaccine Support republicans. And some of the same republican officials are celebrating still right now low Vaccination Rates and threatening to murder Joe Biden or other federal officials who promote vaccinations in states like, say, i dont know, alabama. Millions of americans refusing to get the vaccine despite the fact that 95 of doctors have been vaccinated for covid and twice as many americans are fully vaccinated than voted for Donald Trump. And still we are flooded every day with sad stories of americans who believed the lies fed to them by Death Cults fuelled by facebook until it was too late. And in florida, we have a governor more interested in playing politics than saving lives. The desantis variant, thats why one in four new covid cases are coming out of florida. And why many of their Emergency Rooms are jam packed and the state is weeks away from yet another fullblown medical crisis. Are you kidding me . This is completely preventable. And the governor of florida owns this one. The most tragic part of this story is almost all of these hospitalizations and deaths would have and could have been avoided if misguided americans are not followed the crazed teachings of a growing death consult. And instead, just followed the advice of their family doctor. Its easy and they wont do it. Thats Death Cult material. Lets bring in dr. Peter hotez from Baylor College of medicine and Childrens Hospital Center for vaccine development. Author of the book preventing the next pandemic, Vaccine Diplomacy in a time of antiscience. Doctor, there are a lot of people who are choosing to be a part of this Death Cult, making that choice whether it is that they are fed by disinformation or refuse to talk to their doctor or read a basic News Publication that triple checks their stories and goes to places like the cdc for information, instead just fuels the Conspiracy Theories on facebook and takes pictures of them and sends them to their friends and makes that disinformation go around and around their community until people are just completely poisoned by the trump Death Cult. But to me the victims are children. And there are a growing number of children in hospitals. Could you please talk about how we save children from getting this very dangerous Delta Variant when we have parents that are falling into a Death Cult . This is right, mika. We have less than 50 of young people are vaccinated. And here in the south we have many states now only 20, 25 of the adolescents are vaccinated, states like louisiana, mississippi. And were already seeing lots of young people getting hospitalized. In our texas medical center, the worlds largest medical center, the median age is under 40 in terms of icu and hospitalizations. And that is really troubling. And now for the first time, mika, for the first time ive ever seen this whole pandemic epidemic, were seeing pediatric units get overrun. Weve never seen that before and all of this is happening before School Starts and thats what scares me, because schools are opening this week in many louisiana parishes and a week or so after that here in texas. And if you look at the slope, its a vertical slope going up and up, and kids and adolescents and young adults are already getting sick and hospitalized and schools are going to be an extraordinary accelerant. So few adolescents are vaccinated here in the south. The vast majority are not vaccinated. We heard about the ridiculous struggle around wearing masks. What else do we have to protect them . Thats what im so concerned about right now. Thats what your piece is about, i want to get to that in just a moment, but i have people that i know, friends, neighbors, who will not get this vaccine. And who scream that it is not fda approved. Could you explain when a child goes into a pediatric intensive care unit, as were seeing growing numbers of that, a child with the Delta Variant because i think this may help, they wouldnt want this for their kids, would they, what those kids go through and who can be with the kids when theyre suffering so greatly . Thats right. More often than not theyre going to be hospitalized alone because of containment procedures. I think the key point here, i dont think a lot of the elected officials in our red states, our southern states realize, is that delta is different this is not your fathers covid, your mothers covid. I think the people advising them are going from the same playbook from last year. This is different. Delta is far more transmissible, at least three times more transmissible than the lineage, and as much as chicken pox, one of the most contagious viruses of childhood as we know. So this is going to sweep through populations and thats why thats happening. If your adolescent kid is unvaccinated, you should assume theres a high likelihood that that child is going to get covid. And if we could vaccinate all the adults and adolescents, that has the Collateral Benefit of protecting the little kids. Thats why were not talking about this in vermont and massachusetts because all of the adults and adolescents, practically speaking, are vaccinated and that has huge benefits, halting transmission. Were looking at a humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding in in the south. As schools act as an accelerant you should assume were going to see pediatric Care Units across the south overwhelmed and even a possibility of small Tent Cities of sick adolescents and kids. And i dont want to see that happen. I know nobody duds. We somehow have to get the word out to parents that this delta is something different. And it is the it is picking off young people like weve never seen. And we havent even gotten to the long Covid Discussion around young people and what that means for their longterm Cognitive Health as well. Theres so much were going to learn as this Virus Rages on, which is completely unnecessary at this point. Dr. Peter hotez, thank you. Just to frame what the doctor said, your child will go into the hospital alone, surrounded by people dressed in Bubble Wrap who can barely touch them, sticking and poking them with tubes and your child will suffer alone if your child gets the delta. If you dont get vaccinated your child could get the Delta Variant, and its happening right now. There are more kids than eveR Before in pediatric intensive Care Units in the south. Its happening. Protect your child if you cant protect yourself. If you feel like you for some reason want to be part of the Death Cult and follow disinformation, thats your choice but are you going to do that to your child . Last night a federal judge sided with Norwegian Cruise Lines in a fight with florida granting the request for a preliminary injunction that blocks a State Law from allowing businesses to require proof of vaccination. A judge granted norwegian to require Vaccine Documentation from customers while the case heads to trial. Its scheduled to depart miami on sunday, its the cruise lines first trip from the state since the pandemic halted the cruise industrys operations more than a year ago. Lets bring in white House Reporter for the associated press, Jonathan Lemire. A lot to get to this morning. Floridas governor, desantis, seems to be framing this as the battle between the federal government and personal choice. Personal choice to die, i guess. White house press secretary, jen psaki, responded to that notion with this tweet. 23 of new Covid Hospitalizations in the u. S. Are in florida, and their hospitals are being overwhelmed again. We are doing everything we can to help the people of florida and theyre stepping up by getting vaccinated. We hope governor Ron Desantis joins us in the fight. I guess my first question to you, Jonathan Lemire, is what is his problem . Mika, you certainly outlined, the staggering and horrifying statistics coming out of florida right now. And desantis and biden have, the president , have really engaged in an Escalaing War of words in the last week or so. The president in the last 10 to 14 days has taken an aggressive tone about the pandemic, saying to the unvaccinated youre endangering, yourself, your Loved Ones and our ability to come out of this. But desantis is, of course, refusing. And weve seen them clash on vaccines, the White House and state of Florida Clash on Mask Mandates. We have seen the president himself and those of his top Health Officials really, really critical of how florida is handling this. And the two men have sniped back and forth, we heard desantis criticize biden repeatedly and biden responded with governor who . We heard from the governor of florida over the weekend, in a not subtle way, accusing biden of having lost a step mentally. Desantis is using this as a political framing. We know hes a favorite in 2024 for the republican nomination, particularly if trump doesnt end up running. Hes framing it personal choice versus public safety. And the White House is horrified thats where this is coming, a political point rather than doing measures to keep his citizens safe. And you expect the White House to put pressure on florida but theres a limit to what the federal government can do. Politically what the math is against Ron Desantis and its political and he wants to be seen as the next republican nominee, people are dying in his state, getting covid faster than anyone else in the country, the Math And Map looks bad for desantis. Lets just assume he cares about people. Look at the math and look at the map. His state is burning with Covid Hospitalizations, more than eveR Before. There are children in the hospital. It seems to me that the calculation that hes making, Jonathan Lemire, is going to run out on him at some point one way or another. Its hard to see it being a winning strategy. Theres so many people in the country who decided to make the decision not to take the Vaccine Part of their political identity, like the decision not to wear a mask. We can blame Donald Trump for a lot of that. Weve seen conservatives, some, not all, really seize on that. As much as were seeing in some states, some governors saying we need you to get your vaccine. We heard the governor saying i regret not pushing the masks. And this is going to only get worse before it gets better. Thats the most sobering thing here as a final point, every public Health Official all of Bidens Team are saying we know theres lagging indicators with the virus, these Death Tolls are going to soar in the weeks ahead and get worse beyond that if we dont have extreme measures now. Were moving to afghanistan with the u. S. Mission ending just weeks from now. Taliban forces are seizing control of the countrys cities at an alarming rate. The threat is so serious that the u. S. Embassy is warning americans to get out of the country now. Kelly cobiella has more. Reporter chaos on the streets. The bustling city of 300,000 falling to the taliban. The Police Headquarters shown in this propaganda video, apparently abandoned, a fleet of trucks left behind. Its anotheR Blow to the countrys crumbling Security Forces who lost control of at least three cities since friday. The speed of the taliban advance as u. S. Troops withdraw has shocked the west. The War In Afghanistan has entered a new, deadlier and more destructive phase. U. S. Forces have provided Air Cover to struggling troops but no more. The president made clear after 20 years at war, its important for americans to come home. Reporter thousands have left their homes and now to the north, theres fear that the growing instability can spread. Kelly joins us from kabul. People are watching the news and people are wondering how this could happen so quickly as if the taliban poured in like water. What are the options for the afghan people . Especially women . Reporter the options are slim, mika. In a lot of these places where the taliban is moving in, the first course of action really is to get out of the town before they arrive, weve spoken to People Today who said they left their villages in the north in the early hours of saturday, walked for hours just to reach the relative safety of kabul. We know the Talibans History when it comes to womens rights and the lack of any freedoms regarding women. There is deep, Deep Fear in this country that there will be a repeat, a throwback to that kind of regime if the taliban does takeover. And people are telling us, look, were trying to get out, trying to take advantage of some of these Visa Programs that the u. S. Has put in place, specifically for people who have worked for american ngos oR Been interpreters for the u. S. Military. But there are a couple of problems here. First of all the taliban has taken the border crossings, about seven, so its difficult to get out of the country, its difficult to then apply for a visa if, for example, youre eligible for a Visa Program that requires you to get out of the country. Its extremely expensive to pay smugglers or go the legal route. And the other problem is with the s. I. V. Visas for people who worked for the u. S. Military that takes an incredible amount of time, theres a lot of bureaucracy, and people are worried they dont have the time to wait for approval for that magical email to come through from the embassy saying yes, you are approved you can leave the country. And in the meantime, the taliban continues to appear to fight in the north. Theres fighting reported in two more cities in the north, including a huge city, a city of 500,000. Kelly cobiella In Kabul, afghanistan. Thank you for that report. Well be watching that. Well turn to Capitol Hill, the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is one step closer to a final vote in the senate. The Senate Voted 6829 in favor of ending debate on the bill. According to the rules of the senate, there will be Up To 30 hours of debate before the final votes can be cast. That means the last Senate Vote on the bill is likely to occur tomorrow morning. Lets bring in cofounder of Punch Bowl News john breznihan. We have hurdles to face In The House, i take it, what are they . Speaker pelosi has said that she will not move this bipartisan Infrastructure Bill until the senate also passes a Reconciliation Bill. That means the democrats are going to move, massive, 3. 5 trillion Reconciliation Bill. This is a big chunk of president Joe Bidens americans Jobs Plan and american families plan. Thats going to take a couple months to put together. So Nancy Pelosis Plan is to hold the Infrastructure Bill and wait until the Reconciliation Bill. She needs that to balance her moderates and progressives inside her caucus. John, former President Trump is trying to sabotage the bipartisan effort to pass the Infrastructure Bill. He put out a statement slamming the bill. And he threatened to hold back midterm endorsements for republicans who vote for it. Quote, Joe Bidens Infrastructure Bill will be used against the Republican Party in the midterms, blah, blah, blah. So hes also suggesting that his supporters In The House could stop it from passing. Quote, Kevin Mccarthy and republican House Members seem to be against the bill, if it cant be killed in the senate, maybe it dies In The House. Are these House Members so weak in the knees that theyd be afraid of former President Trump, the man who allowed hundreds of thousands of people to die on his watch . Whats the line . Whats the limit for these trump republicans to finally say you know what im out . Thats a really good question. I think, if theres sufficient support in the senate, republican support and theres clearly going to be as we saw in the procedural vote where they cut off debate last night. There were 18 republicans who voted for that. Senate republicans. If that kind of Support Transfers over to the house and i think youll see a big chunk of that on this bill, on this Infrastructure Bill. I think that it will pass pretty handily. Theres more problems, frankly, from the democrats on progressives than there are with their moderates right now. If the bill is not changed, i think youll pick up some republicans In The House. Theres a group called the problem solvers caucus. 56 members, 28 republicans, 28 democrats. Theyve endorsed this legislation. May not get all 28 of those republicans but you may get half, for instance, 15. I think youll see a chunk of republican support. Its not going to be huge. Kevin mccarthy and the leadership is going to vote against it. Trump will rail against it, but infrastructure is important. Its roads, bridges, highways, Members Of Congress like voting for that stuff and dont like voting against it, especially headed into an election year. It seems like republicans in the senate anyway are ignoring what Donald Trump has to say about this. I want to go back to what you just said a moment ago about the Balancing Act democrats are going to have, putting together the Reconciliation Bill where you have extremes here from the moderates to the progressives, different visions of what they want here. We have progressives who think they can flex their muscles after the Eviction Moratorium last week, who are riding a high, saying youre going to hear from us. President biden is delaying his vacation, coming back to washington to get this across the finish line. But talk about the difficult Journey Democrats are going to have to balance this in the weeks and months ahead. The rest of this month on the house may come back were reporting this morning that the house may come back the week of august 23rd, its not supposed to. To do the Budget Resolution if the senate passes that because they need to move on that. This is going to be a difficult couple months for democrats. Like i said before, they have to balance the moderates and progressives. Progressives are complaining about the senate Infrastructure Bill. They say it doesnt do enough on climate, huge with the ipc report today. It doesnt do enough on their priorities. They want to have a conference, a House And Senate to negotiate. Meanwhile, the senate is going to say were not changing the bill, take it as it is. So pelosi has to balance a lot of stuff. She has this massive Reconciliation Package like i talked about, theres a lot of things in there progressives want, a huge number of issues, child tax credit, community college, stuff on the climate, she can make some Horse Trading there. But she needs to hold both of these together. The big thing you were talking about is, the moderates are getting scared of 2022, they want this Infrastructure Bill, they need some color and think biden can give it to them. All right, john, thank you very much foR Being on this morning. Still ahead on Morning Joe, Senate Majority whip, Dick Durbin calls it frightening. Were learning new details about former President Trumps final days in office and his personal and direct involvement with the Justice Department after the 2020 election. Plus what dr. Anthony fauci is saying about the possibility of coronavirus vaccines getting full Fda Approval in the coming weeks. And the latest on the historic wildfires burning Out Of Control in Northern California right now. Youre watching Morning Joe. Well be right back. Ning joe. Well be right back. All by yourself. You look a little lost. I cant find my hotel. Oh. Oh this is not normal. No. So . Right . Go with us and find millions of flexible options, all in our app. Expedia. It matters who you travel with. If you have this. Consider adding this. An Aarp Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan from unitedhealthcare. Medicare supplement plans help by paying some of what medicare doesnt. And let you see any doctor. Any specialist. Anywhere in the u. S. Who accepts medicare patients. So if you have this. Consider adding this. Call Unitedhealthcare Today for your free decision guide. Vo the Climate Crisis is here. For your free decision guide. Berardelli these temperatures are almost unbelievable even for a meteorologist. Vo and the solution is here too clean energy. Like Wind Turbines and solar panels. Now, congress has to invest in it and the millions of workers ready to install it across the country. Because in america, we dont hide from problems like Climate Change. We take them on. We innovate. We lead. Because if we invest in these workers, and their future at this moment, thats how we build back better. Oh are you using liberty Mutuals Coverage Customizer tool . So you only pay for what you need. Sorry . Limu, youre an animal only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. What the world needs now. Is people. People who see energy a little bit differently. Where a switch to cleaner power means a more resilient grid. With renewables and Gas Power providing energy whenever its needed. Because seeing a more sustainable World Isnt far in the future. Were building it. Now. Ge building a world that works. Guys, as we get older, we all lose testosterone. Force Factors Test X180 works to boost it back. Build muscle, increase energy, fuel desire, and improve performance. Rush to walmart for test x180, the 1 Fastestgrowing Testosterone Brand in america. The Sleep Number 360 smart bed is on sale now. Its the most comfortable, duallyadjustable, footwarming, temperaturebalancing. Proven Quality Night Sleep weve ever made. Save Up To 1,000 on select Sleep Number 360 smart bed and adjustable bases. Plus, no interest until january 2024. Ends monday. What was the most shocking to you . Just how directly personally involved the president was, the pressure he was putting on Jeffrey Rosen, it was real. Very real. And it was very specific. This president is not subtle when he wants something former president is not subtle when he wants something. And i think its a good thing for america that we had a person like rosen in that position, who stood withstood the pressure. That was Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin on Cnn Yesterday talking about what he learned from Jeffrey Rosen about Donald Trumps attempts to subvert the election. The New York Times Reports Former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen told the Justice Department Inspector General and congressional investigators this weekend that one of his deputies tried to help then President Trump subvert the elections. Joining us now the New York Times Reporter And Msnbc national Security Analyst michael schmidt. I know youve been covering this all along. What do we know about What Rosen told Senate Investigators . We dont have yet the transcript or a full accounting of it, but as my colleague Katy Benner reported over the weekend, What Rosen is talking to the committee about is about how the president was basically trying to use, as you were saying, one of these deputies as the Justice Department to put out information to use the Justice Department to say that the election was questionable. To raise these questions about the election. And to help the president in furthering that public relations, you know, campaign, essentially. What was going on is that the president was trying to gin up all of these allegations and trying to substantiate them, and he couldnt do that. And what he wanted to do is use the Justice Department, the powers of it, to say yes, there is a problem with the election and if you know, if certain states want to do something about it that theyre within their right because the Justice Department says this is a bad election. Now these efforts fail, they didnt go anywhere, but it was the most aggressive Effort Weve seen certainly in modern times to try and use the Justice Department to subvert the will of the people. Mike, its Jonathan Lemire. It does seem striking we seem to have almost daily revelations about how the former president tried to use the levers of government to hold onto power and how close he came perhaps to succeeding. What are the next steps. Who else are we going to be hearing from, who else is going to be testifying in the days to weeks to months ahead, what more could we learn about the disturbing days that took place between Election Day and January 6th and January 20th when President Biden did take office . I think one of the biggest questions in that area is are we going to hear from the former Attorney General Bill Barr . Barr was someone who was under a lot of this pressure from trump. He left several weeks early. That allowed rosen to become the acting Attorney General. Barr was sick of trump trying to pressure him but trump was all over him, doing the same things to him that he was doing to rosen. And barr is someone that, you know, many more americans know than folks know Who Rosen was. And even just the simple fact of Barr Cooperaing or talking to investigators on Capitol Hill would be substantial because of his standing in trumps world. Because for much of the time that barr was the Attorney General for trump he was really seen as an enabler and a tool of the president s. And someone that was willing to do the things that he was. In The End, you know, barr was not willing to go that extra length but to hear anything from him under oath would be really, really significant. So, michael, where does this go in terms of accountability . For those who pushed the president s conspiracy concept, lie, that the, you know, election was all unfair and he actually won, and the people who pulled the strings like this for him, are there legal risks for them down the road . Is there accountability . Right now were seeing accountability, for example, for the robots who rioted the capitol for trump, theyre going into court and theyre getting real jail time. But what about in the high levels of the doj . Where does this go in terms of Accountability And Oversight and preventing it from ever happening again . Well, as far as we know, at least as far as i know, this is a congressional investigation thats going on, and theres an Inspector General investigation going on. What we do not know is going on and theres no evidence of, could be going on but we dont know about, is whether there would be any type of criminal investigation. Now either a congressional or Inspector General investigation could spawn something criminal, could lead to that, but as much as, you know, the garland Justice Department has said on this, and not a lot of it, it seems they are content to allow it to play out in those two forums. In congressional Inspector General investigations, the worst that could come out of them is them writing and disclosing details that people dont like. But that is all the power that they really have. There is no power of Search Warrants and to the you know, on Capitol Hill, you can use subpoenas to compel testimony but its not really the same way as it is in a criminal investigation. So these are factfinding missions that will go out and find the facts and give us a fuller picture of what happened in this really incredible, important period of time, but that is a that is all that these investigations would do. Michael schmidt, thank you very much. Coming up a big milestone when it comes to wages in this country and what fridays strong Job Report says about the countrys rebound from the pandemic. Morning joe is back in a moment. Ndemic Morning Joe is back in a moment this is a gamechanger, who dares to be fearless even when heR Bladder leaks. Our softest, smoothest fabric keeping her comfortable, protected, and undeniably sleek. Depend. The only thing stronger than us, is you. People were afraid i was contagious. I felt gross. It was kind of a shock after i started cosentyx. Four years clear. Real people with Psoriasis Look and feel better with cosentyx. Dont use if youre allergic to cosentyx. Before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. An increased risk of infections some serious and the lowered ability to fight them may occur. Tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms, or if youve had a Vaccine Or Plan to. Tell your doctor if your Crohns Disease symptoms develop or worsen. Serious allergic reactions may occur. Learn more at cosentyx. Com. Discover card i just got my Cashback Match is this for real . Yup we match all the cash back new Card Members earn at The End of their first year automatically woo i got my money its hard to contain yourself isnt it . Uh huh well let it go woooo get a dollar for Dollar Match at The End of your first year. Only from discover. Before treating your chronic migraine, 15 or more headache days a month each lasting 4 hours or more, youre not the only one with questions about botox®. Botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine before they even start, with about 10 minutes of treatment once every 3 months. So, ask your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if a sample is available. Effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or Muscle Weakness can be signs of a lifethreatening condition. Side effects may include allergic reactions, Neck And Injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Dont receive botox® if theres a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, Muscle Or Nerve conditions and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious Side Effects. In a survey, 92 of current users said they wish theyd talked to their doctor and started botox® sooner. Plus, right now, you may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. Ask your doctor about botox® today. You may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. Oh, focaccia ah, theres no place like panera. Enjoy the toasty, saucy Chipotle Chicken Avocado melt on freshly baked bread. Panera. Order on the app today. The u. S. Labor markets average pay in restaurants and Grocery Stores is above 15 an hour. This marks the first time it has ever risen the that high now workers are earning a minimum of 15 an hour, up from 60 in 2014. Joining us Treasury Official and Morning Joe economic analyst steve ratner. Youre looking at not just that but fridays strong Jobs Report, how does this all come together . The Jobs Report was strong by any measure. It was a good report. And i think has given a fair amount of impetus to the economy. But lets look first at the two kind of key jobs factors. One is the unemployment rate, which you see the Red Line at the top, you see how it spiked up early in the pandemic and its been coming down, fairly slowly in recent months, but this month from 5. 9 to 5. 4 , thats the little black line on the right and thats good news. The second thing thats important to look at is what percentage of americans are looking for a job or in the Labor Force and actively looking for a job. Thats the bottom blue line, you can see that also has dropped. It was up a little last month, which is good news. Were looking for the two lines to meet the middle black line which is where we were in february 2020. So we have a ways to go obviously. Lets turn to the point you were making and related points about the state of some of the workers closer to the bottom and for that we can look at the Leisure And Hospitality sector, which you can see the overall trend in wages is the bluish line in the middle but then the Turquoise Line shows you what happened to the workers. These are blue collar workers, often people of color, closer to the become of the income scale, but you can see the wages have shot up because of the demand for workers and shortage of workers, businesses have had to pay more. These workers are making 16 more than they were in January Of 2019 and 4 more than they were making in had january of 2021. And as you said, the average worker is now making 16. 50 an hour which is more than the pandemic. I will also say the sector has had robust job growth, roughly 380,000 of the jobs last month in the sector. So this is all good news. We can see how the recovery is lifting people at the bottom and we should all be very happy about that. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind as we look ahead that are worrisome or challenges for us. The first one is that for all of the progress that were making on jobs we still have a Long Way To Go. Thats what the left chart shows. Were 5. 4 million jobs short of where we were before the pandemic and if the economy had grown normally we would be 7. 5 million jobs short. So theres still a lot of jobs missing from the economy that need to come back to declare victory. The second may sound technical but an important point, when the information was taken what you see on the chart is the covid cases and you can see the waves and peaks, but the Gray Vertical Bar is the time in july when the numbers were assembled. This is before the Up Search in the Delta Variant cases before they rose above the 100,000 a day we have now. So the question is, is the up surge in the Delta Variant affecting the jobs. There are realtime data that all suggests that americans have somewhat plateaued in their willingness to reopen as the Delta Virus spikes. So this is the biggest concern at the moment, which is is this trend sustainable in light of the Delta Virus. Otherwise it was a great report and we should all feel very good about where the economy is headed. Steve, you said it, the Job Reports are backwards looking, not necessarily predictive of what were seeing now with the Delta Variant we are seeing significant surges here. And i noted the first chart was listed as strong july Jobs Report even with an Exclamation Point what are the chances well get a strong August Job . And the Reconciliation Bill and Infrastructure Bill in congress right now, what injection will that lead to the economy . Will we need it if things go south because of the variant . You have to evaluate the public Health Side before you can conclude the economic side. Were not public health experts but we can pretend we are, i guess, i think that the economy is still moving forward. I have the sense that people are still trying to get out there, people are tired of lockdowns, want to resume their life. My guess is the moment jobs are growing, being added, admittedly at a slower pace. As far as the two pieces of legislation are concerned, those are going to be important if the Delta Variant proves to be a major economic factor in slowing our economy but also needed certainly needed in order to maintain the pace of this recovery. We need to keep the economy coming back. We need to get unemployment back. It was 3. 5 i think before the virus, so we have a Long Way To Go from 5. 4 , and we need Government Action to do it. Is it too much . Is it going to be well spent . These are questions that hopefully congress will resolve in a positive way but certainly we need more legislation. Lets hope. Steve ratner thank you very much as always. We had some notable passings over the weekend. Legendary hall of Fame Football Coach has passed away at the age of 91. Bobby bowden died Yesterday Morning after announcing on july 21st, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. His Son Terry later confirmed it was pancreatic cancer. Coach bowden earned 377 wins throughout his 40year coaching career. During his 34 seasons with Florida State he led the team to 12 Acc Championships and national titles in 1993 and 1999. Cool and the Gang Cofounder dennis Dt Thomas died at the age of 70. He passed away in his sleep On Saturday. Thomas cofounded the band in the 1960s with its popularity rising in the 70s by blending jazz, R B, funk and pop. The group Won Two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards with more than 20 top ten R B hits, nine top ten pop hits, and 31 Gold And Platinum albums. And Actress Markey Post has died after a nearly four yeaR Battle with cancer. The 70yearold Actress was known for her roles in night court, the fall guy,. Post was pursuing acting, quote, even as a Side Job as she got sicked. She worked on lifetime and an abc series. She is survived by her husband, daughters, and granddaughter. And still ahead, a stark new warning about Climate Change, Theun Secretary General is calling a new report about the earths Temperatures Code red for humanity. Well get a live report on that. Plus a closer look at the impact of vaccine skepticism. Including how its affecting one town in arkansas. And a new study is taking a look at the profound effect the coronavirus has had on some of our most vulnerable. Children. Morning joe is coming right back. Morning joe is coming ri back as youR Business changes, the United States postal service is changing with it. With ecommerce that runs at the speed of now. Next Day And Twoday shipping nationwide, and returns right from the doorstep. Its a whole New World out there. Lets not keep it waiting. Its a whole New World out there. Hey google, turn up the heat. From Prom Dresses to workouts and new adventures you hope the more you give the less theyll miss. But even if your teen was vaccinated against meningitis in the past they may be missing vaccination for Meningitis B. Although uncommon, Up To 1 in 5 survivors of meningitis will have long term consequences. Now as youre thinking about all the vaccines your teen might need make sure you ask your doctor if your teen is missing Meningitis B vaccination. Its just about the top of the hour. A live look at new york city. Very foggy, gray morning in this new york city. Welcome back to Morning Joe. It is monday, august 9th. The aps Jonathan Lemire is still with us. And professor at Princeton University Eddie Glaude Jr. Joins the conversation as well. The fda is working to authorize extra doses of the Covid Vaccine for those with weakened Immune Systems as Cases Surge nationwide. The New York Times reports the quick effort would mean people with impaired Immune Systems, such as cancer patients, would be able to get an extra dose legally as opposed to those trying to obtain an extra shot on their own. Meanwhile, dr. Anthony fauci says he hopes the fda will fully approve coronavirus vaccines by The End of the month. If that happens, he predicts the move will spark a wave of Vaccine Mandates. I hope, i hope, i dont predict, but i hope it will be within the next few weeks. I hope its within the month of august. If thats the case, youre going to see the empowerment of local enterprises giving mandates. That could be colleges, universities, places of business. A whole variety. And i strongly support that. The time has come as weve got to go the extra step to get people vaccinated. But then there are examples like this. Republican congressman Glen Grothman of wisconsin is speaking out against Vaccine Mandates for Health Care workers. The congressman was responding to an announcement from the University Of Wisconsin Health Care system that it will require employees to get the vaccine. He says he has gotten complaints from Health Care workers. I think, particularly as this vaccine is still experimental, i dont like the idea of forcing people to keep their job to do something they are opposed to. I think theres unquestionable, particularly the older people, benefits to the vaccine but im not going to play doctor to everybody tonight. And then watch this, when asked by a reporter if he himself was vaccinated, the congressman gave this answer. Are you vaccinated, congressman . I dont like to get into taking sides on it. Okay. So thats taking sides . One side lives, the other spreads a deadly variant or dies. You dont want to take sides on that . Youre in a Death Cult. The sad reality pushing more people to get vaccinated, especially in the south is watching family and friends become severely ill or even die. The Washington Journal travelled to the town of greenwood, arkansas to highlight how small towns are dealing with residents resistant getting vaccinated. And they spoke to the widow of a well known architect putting off getting the shot. He was 49 years old and incredibly active and yet he caught the virus and died within days of going to the hospital. His wife told the paper, its personal now. Because he knew so many people. Adding, before it was happening somewhere else. Stories like this are happening all over the country. Thanks in large part to vaccine misinformation. But even as people watched their neighbors and even Family Members die, these awful deaths, it sometimes isnt enough. The woman that you see here, who is also a nurse, had both her parents die within days of each other, she said her last interaction with her father was a Voice Mail of him gasping foR Breath at the hospital. And yet she says she still refuses to get vaccinated. This is a nurse. Shes now upset that some have judged her for her parents deaths. Saying we didnt kill them but some people make us feel like its our fault theyre gone. Joining us now Emergency Room Physician in arkansas dr. Lee johnson. Hes also a republican member of the Arkansas House of representatives. Sir, these deaths are preventable. The u. S. Surgeon general saying every death from covid right now is completely preventable. I dont know what convinces people to get the vaccine but perhaps you could explain what you are seeing and also explain what the suffering is like for those who are in the hospital, in the icu, alone without their Family Members suffering from covid. Sure. You know, its a difficult decision for many people. And i think we have to respect that when we discuss our the issue with the people in our community. You know, theyre struggling with this decision. You need to listen to their concerns, take them seriously and not discount them. Most people that i discuss this with, they have a question or two and theyre able to be reassured. We also have to accept the fact there are some people immovable on the front and respect their decision not to take the vaccine. I think the key is to be compassionate when youre approaching this with people and thats what were trying to do here in our community. And how are you compelling people to change their minds . And are you hearing a lot of disinformation that theyre receiving, in terms of their explanations as to why theyre still at this point where they wont get vaccinated . I think theres a lot of people in arkansas who are willing to get vaccinated, but just havent you know, havent for whatever reason, taken the time. Theres a large portion of our unvaccinated population, who just need to hear the message that listen, if youve been waiting or putting this off or, you know, thinking now is not making this a priority, they need to hear that now is the time to take action. This is a disease thats raging through our community right now. The vaccine is absolutely the best protection you can have against the disease. So i think informing those people who have not made it a priority yet, now is the time its important. I think its important to get the message if you are willing to get the vaccine but didnt think it was going to affect you because you were young or healthy, those folks need to hear this is a disease that were seeing now affect young people and healthy people in a serious way. Can you please hone in on that. What exactly is the experience for a young person who has the Delta Variant raging through their system . So, i mean, the experience were seeing in the Emergency Department is not dissimilar to what were seeing in the winter just in a younger population of people. It is skewing younger and we are seeing healthier people come in with covid pneumonia. What you see with those people are, you know, people that are struggling to get theiR Breath, they have low oxygen levels, and are, you know, having clearly a difficult time with the disease and its affect on their lungs. Dr. Johnson, good morning its Jonathan Lemire. Could you walk us through exactly what youre seeing in the hospitals and medical facilities in your community . How overwhelmed are they . Do you have enough beds, ventilators, what you need, and are you seeing, yourself stories like mika just read at the beginning of this, where people who are perhaps in their last breath talking about wishing they had the vaccine, wishing Family Members would get the vaccine . Is that making a difference or are you still seeing people hesitant to do so . As far as our Health Care capacity goes, we are stressed. We are strained right now from the standpoint of struggling to take care of the volume of patients were seeing. We have plenty of ventilators, not having to make difficult choices about resources but from a Capacity Standpoint its a challenge. Mainly because of the nursing shortage. We have bed capacity, Bed Space in arkansas. But staffed beds are difficult. Were stretched thin with our Nursing Staff and you certainly are seeing people come in who have not been vaccinated and are sick but its important for me as i visit with those people, you know, i dont want to make them feel bad in any way about not taking the vaccine. These are sick people, you know, its important that were compassionate with them. But i do think its important as a community for people that have been vaccinated that you have these discussions with members in your family with members and friends of your community. I think the message comes best not from physicians on it, on a Television Program but from the people you know and care about in your town, and in your family. Sir, just before we go, i understand the need for compassion for those who are suffering and no one on this Show Wouldnt disagree with that. This is a terrible time for anybody who gets covid. Thats not what were talking about at all. But i think what we want to know is, especially for those communities that youre talking about, who are exchanging a lot of information that is incorrect about the vaccine or who end up in the Overrun Hospitals that you were talking about with Health Care workers who are completely overrun and exhausted and are still going through this war against the virus, do you think it is important that Family Members beg, ask, inform friends and Family Members about getting the vaccine . Is that something that is important to you and your community . Well, absolutely. I think thats what i was trying to say, i think its most important that the people in your community are The Ones conveying that message, its important that families have these discussions in a meaningful way. I think its important that communities have these discussions in a meaningful way. So its absolutely important that people are having the discussion and visiting about the vaccine and the need for you know, the people willing to get vaccinated to go ahead and take action on that and people that are convincible to try to convince them. All right. Representative lee johnson, thank you very much. Emergency Room Physician and republican member of the Arkansas House of representatives. I want to thank you so much for coming on the show this morning. We appreciate it very much. Florida has set another new Daily Record for coronavirus infections. The cdc reported 23,903 new cases in florida On Friday. The states highest single Day Total since the start of the pandemic. On saturday, the state recorded nearly 14,000 hospitalizations related to covid with more than 2,700 patients in intensive Care Units. Also in florida, One Church is stepping up Vaccination Efforts after six members of its congregation reportedly died of covid19 within ten days. The Impact Church Near Jacksonville held its second vaccination event yesterday. And its first since march. The pastor says of recent deaths, four were under 35 years old, healthy but not vaccinated. The group reportedly included a young mother who just recently celebrated her one year wedding anniversary. Eddie glaude, how do we stop the disinformation . This is this church alone losing six members. And young people. Right. I mean, its mika, its so difficult to break through this Information Ecosystem that is reproducing daily misinformation. I was actually struck by dr. Johnsons response to you in the last segment. And that is that this idea that we need to focus on community and family. And what he was saying in an interesting sort of way, which is really important, but he was also saying that government cannot do this work. So it was in some ways a reflection of a political ideology that we have to figure out how to address because at the heart of this is not only the misinformation, its the ideology that has equated the notion of Freedom And Liberty with this idea of being able to choose not to be vaccinated which has endangered communities and families and the like. So how do you break through . That is difficult when you have political ideology represented by the likes of desantis and others and propaganda leading people to make bad choices. Its almost a reflection of the deep fissures and contradictions that in some ways places our democracy in peril, mika. I got his point about compassion for those dying, who chose not to have the vaccine. I incredible compassion for the Pain And Suffering of the dying and their families. I dont have compassion for those who are spreading disinformation. I dont have compassion for facebook. I dont have compassion for lawmakers who refuse, who refuse to realize that their constituents are dying because they wont push hard for this vaccine and for the cdc standards and that they have some sort of fear of trump in all of this trump, whos gotten the vaccine, these lawmakers who have gotten the vaccine. At this point its just at some point youre responsible for this cult to continue and the people who are dying in it and a lot of Times Cult members are victims. Theyre not bad people. Theyre victims. To people who are pushing, lets just say it, evil. And weve got, at this point, a Death Cult in this country. And the facts are there. The data is there. The people who are getting covid19 are predominantly unvaccinated. It is predominantly in the south. The Delta Variant is ripping through the unvaccinated. This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. And you have people who wont take sides on the vaccine who are congressmen. You have Members Of Congress who actually ask for applause when bragging about alabamas low vaccine rate. Thats sick. Theres no theres no other way to put it. Thats a Death Cult. And they should be held responsible. But at this point what i am hoping is that there can be a push against the disinformation. And that there can be ultimately a push against entities like facebook so that this doesnt happen again. We want to turn to the historic wildfires burning Out Of Control in Northern California. The Dixie Fire is the second largest on record burning for 25 days. We have the report from outside greenville, california. Reporter the Dixie Fire exploding to almost half A Million acres over twice the size of new york city. Driving more than 30,000 people out of their homes, the inferno has destroyed nearly 600 structures, threatening another 13,000. Four firefighters injured during a desperate Fire Fight to cut lines. The flames only 21 contained. Californias governor surveying the remnants of creepville. People are displaced and many will never return. Thats a tragedy. Youre seeing here not just a loss of homes and housing. Youre seeing entire communities wiped off the map. Reporter the Myers Family opened their doors to many fleeing the flames. He comes and hangs out. Reporter sheltering displaced neighbors and offering food and water. Were lucky so faR Because were still here. ReporteR Bob johns is one of the many now homeless. It came through so fast you couldnt do anything but run. Just devastation. Just kill me. Reporter hes grateful for the support. Someone gave you this trailer after you lost yours . Right. ReporteR But rebuilding is going to be tough. At my age i think how am i going to start over again . Reporter what do you feel when you see this happening . This is literally about tradition, sense, place, culture, life sometimes, identity, memories, families. Reporter an uncertain future in another relentless fire season. Parts of europe are also on fire. Greece and turkey are facing uncontrolled fires, forcing thousands to flee over the weekend. At least eight have died in turkeys fires, described as the worst in decades, now burning into its 13th day. In greece, which has suffered a record heat wave, firefighters face dangerous conditions battling over 150 wildfires On Friday alone. This follows the devastating fires in spain last month that burned over 3,000 acres of forest neaR Barcelona. Just this morning, the worlds leading climate scientist delivered a stark warning about the Climate Crisis. According to a highly anticipated report, the earths climate is getting so hot that in about a decade, temperatures will likely exceed the level of warming that World Leaders are trying to prevent. The u. N. Secretary general calls the report a Code Red for humanity. Joining us now, matt bradley. Give us more details from this report. Reporter mika, this report doesnt necessarily say a lot of things that a lot of people didnt already know. Its the authoritativeness of it. It was approved by 195 countries and based on 14,000 other reports. So its really a meta analysis. And its building on that 2013 report which was the report that paved the way for the Paris Climate Accord, you remember that, Barack Obama joined it, President Trump famously withdrew from it. And now what is so menacing about the report is it lays any doubts that anyone had about Climate Change to the side and says that all of this is definitively done by Human Contributions to the atmosphere. It says that so far the earth is there are warmed by 1. 1 degrees centigrade. That means that its a little bit short of the 1. 5 degrees that the Paris Climate Accord was trying to avoid. But it really says within the next probably two decades that the earth will probably warm to exceed that 1. 5 degrees. That 1. 5 degrees is the real important number here. Of course, we keep hearing that bandied about by everybody from Joe Biden, to European Leaders to climate scientists. And the reason why is because its considered at some level the point of no return. Thats one of the reasons why this report is so menacing. It does outline some of the things that simply have been done that wont be reversed. Among them is the melting of the icecaps in the arctic and the south arctic. This is something that simply wont be able to be put back in the bottle. The acidify of the ocean is something difficult to reverse no matter what steps are taken right now. But the report does leave open some possibilities that if emissions are reduced, if this is taken under control, if governments rally the political will and take real action right now before The End of this decade, some of this warming could possibly level off at around that 1. 5 Degrees Celsius and that really could make a change. Guys . So matt, Eddie Glaude has a question for you. Eddie . Good morning, i think the last point is very important. Do you think this report, which is, in fact, a Code Red will motivate nations and particularly the United States to go beyond, in some ways, the goals set by the Paris Accords . Were at Code Red. Do you think this will accelerate efforts to address what seems to be the devastation of the planet . Professor, thats a good question. This report doesnt go into details about what needs to be done. That gets kicked down the road until next year when another hugely authoritative report is going to come out to describe in greater detail what nations need to do and what the effects of Climate Change are doing in the medium and near term. But i dont think this report is going to mean much to a lot of people. I think what means most is the images youre seeing on your screen right now, the massive Forest Fires sweeping through greece, turkey, and the u. S. The flooding that weve seen in china and Central Europe over the past summer. Weve seen soaring temperatures, scorching fields of agriculture, these are the immediate, obvious things that can be caught on Television Cameras like ours that will really change peoples minds not the boring details in these reports. I think a lot of this has to come down to people seeing the damage themselves, feeling it on their skin and demanding action from their leaders. Guys . Nbcs matt bradley. Thank you very much. At the Tail End of a week long taliban offensive as The American and nato forces finalize the pullout from afghanistan. The ap reports this morning insurgents have taken control of another provincial capital in the country. Lets bring in editor for the Washington Post David ignatius. Its good to have you on, david. If you could explain to us first what it means that these cities and towns are being taken over, what is happening to the people . What does this look like on the ground . Mika, this is a rapid collapse of the Governments Authority in this case in five provincial capitals over the last weekend. Since the United States announced that it was planning to pull its Combat Troops out of afghanistan in april, more than half of the 400 districts in afghanistan have seen taliban sweep to leadership and control. What does that mean in the streets . It means Radio Stations are shutdown, any Radio Station that plays music is forbidden to do so. Any womens voices on radio are banned in most of these district capitals. It means people are frightened and fleeing across border to the north, to the south. It means there is a sense of feaR Beginning to be panic in many of these afghan cities. The United States has, for so long, been seen as the backstop of the afghan military that the military simply hasnt been able to push the taliban back. Theyre stretched across this vast country. Im going to read you something, mika, which i think gives a sense of what it feels like In Kabul today. This is a statement issued by the u. S. Embassy kabul. The u. S. Embassy urges u. S. Citizens to leave afghanistan immediately using available commercial options. The Embassys Ability to assist u. S. Citizens in afghanistan is extremely limited, even withIn Kabul. So theres a statement from the embassy On Saturday basically saying save yourself, flee if you can. Thats a sign of what the deterioration of order has looked like in afghanistan this last week. My god. Who fills the void left by our troops . Ultimately, not to disregard the calls from all sides over the past more than a decade to end these forever wars and everyone understands why it felt endless, it was endless, and that people were fed up with losing american troops, treasure, blood, but how does this not come back to u. S. Involvement ultimately . Who fills the void . Thats precisely the problem, mika. You want to leave afghanistan after so many years of frustration, but you want to make sure you dont have to come back. The hope had been that the afghan Security Forces were strong enough to fight on their own. Well see, theres a lot of fighting still left to go. Theres a battle for kabul itself, which is going to be a bloody battle. I think theres a lot of selfquestioning within the administration about whetheR Better plans could have been made to smooth the transition. It was very abrupt, President Biden against advice from many military leaders opted for a quick move without any assurance that the taliban was prepared for peace negotiations. The taliban stepped up their Offense Starting in april they had begun a campaign of assassination of prominent afghan leaders, theyre being hunted down and killed, just recently one was a spokesman. But the taliban had taken advantage of the United States desire to be out and so far the afghan government hasnt the strength to fight back. Its Jonathan Lemire. As you know, Military Intelligence officials alarmed at the absolute rapid pace, far father than expected to see how the taliban is taking territory and there are some administration officials who wondered about where things stand. But i wanted you to touch base on other countries. There was talk about turkey about turkey securing other places in afghanistan. Can you give us a sense whats happening there, what Role Russia might be playing . Other neighbors in the area what they may be doing to oppose or help the taliban . Theres a cynical saying in the financial world, never try to catch a falling knife. And to a lot of countries thats what the situation in afghanistan look like. One thing the u. S. Is faulted for is not having made earlier, better, stronger plans, for example, to keep the kabul airport, the Countrys Lifeline open. Were turning to turkey, almost pleading with them to keep their forces there. The turks will demand a price for that. The russians and chinese for the moment seem happy enough to let the u. S. Suffer, even though the Damage And Security problems are on theiR Border, the chinese have had talks with the taliban but they havent gone very far. The u. S. Has asked pakistan to step up, a key neighboR But so far the Response Hasnt been sufficient. I think in so many ways, while taking mikas point, we understand that all americans want these troops out, the way in which theyre coming out and the damage its going to do to the region is significant and we have to deal with that for quite a while. David ignatius, thank you for coming on this morning. Good to see you. Still ahead on Morning Joe, senators on both sides of the aisle are pushing ahead on a vote with a bipartisan Infrastructure Package this week but what will happen when. And if the legislation heads over to the house, well talk to house democratic caucus, chairman, Congressman Hakeem jeffries about that. Plus the u. S. Comes out on top in the Medal Count at the olympics. But strangely some right wing media were rooting against the United States. Well be right back. The United States. Well be right back. Bad breath. Never settle for 25 . Always go for 100. Bring out the bold™ hey google, turn up the heat. Vo a clean energy future. Its finally within our reach if congress passes the president s build back better plan which creates millions of clean energy jobs. The plan is paid for entirely by making big corporations and the superrich pay their fair share in taxes. Americans making under 400k wont pay a dime. A clean energy future. Its about good paying jobs for us and protecting our planet for them. Congress lets get this done. Like many people with moderate to severe Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease, i was there. Be right back. But my symptoms were keeping me from where i needed to be. So i talked to my doctor and learned humira is the 1 prescribed biologic for people with uc or Crohns Disease. And humira helps people achieve remission that can last, so you can experience few or no symptoms. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections. Serious and sometimes fatal infections, including tuberculosis, and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Be there for you and them. Ask your gastroenterologist about humira. With humira, remission is possible. Its taken a lot to get to this moment. Ask your gastroenterologist about humira. Grew up at midnight the maccabees dreams are on the line. You got this. Refresh. It all, comes down, to this. Obama happy birthday. He turned 60 years old on wednesday. Big day. And you know, they had a huge party, like 500 people planned. And then they had to scale it way back because of covid and it looked too awe ten tashs in tough times. Jeff bezos had to selfpark his own rocket. Bill maher with that joke about former president Barack Obamas birthday party. Annie, what happened here . Because it does seem a bit unbecoming or out of step with what is happening in the country with the Delta Variant. Yes, i think what happened here was a planned party that was months in the making was planned for an august where we thought we would be in a different place with the covid. A few days before The Party, almost a week after Joe Biden gave a speech at the White House really effectively conceding that the virus is getting worse that we all need to take extra precautions again that things are not where we thought we would be, they decided there was a lot of public pressure, a lot of scrutiny of this party that looked out of step, sending the wrong message to americans who were being told to put their masks back on and the Obama Team announced they were significantly scaling back The Party, they didnt offer numbers so it left us wondering what significantly scaled back mean. And On Saturday it still looked like a party with a few hundred people and many celebrities on Marthas Vinyard and the people who got cut were a lot of former administration officials who really credit themselves with building the legacy that allows obama to enjoy the Post Popularity Presidency among the crowd and raw feelings about what looked like a twotier system. But In The End he had the big party, there were mixed feelings about whether that was a good look for democrats, obama himself, and we learned that significantly scaled back did not mean a Dinner Party with 12 close friends and his family. No. In fact, very high level democrats, folks in the White House even were pretty upset about this. Its sending a terrible message that The Party doesnt need right now for sure. But what does scaled back mean . Because what i read there was celebrities and live entertainment. What did they mean by scaled back . I mean, they meant that on Tuesday Night when obama finally okayed the decision that they had to do something to respond to the criticism of The Party, it meant that a lot of former Government Officials got a Call Saying if youre not on the island already, please dont come. And it looks like Beyonce And Jay z and Christy Tigen and John Legend and Bradley Cooper did not get that call. So it was disappointing to a lot of obama supporters i spoke to and to people on the island who thought it was not the moment for this. Two other things, they were concerned the obama people, to be clear, wanted to follow all cdc guidelines, The Party was outdoors. Guests had to have a negative test result. They were conscious of the problem of travel but while i was kind of looking at the Social Media of the celebrities that came in. It was reminded that each celebrity comes with Hair And Makeup team, a lot of people came with them. So it wasnt, you know, one David Axelrod is the same as one Chrissy Teigen in terms of the number of people on the island, hundreds of people descend on the island and i heard mixed things from residents there. Some upset and worried, worried about getting together at all, others who thought as long as theyre following the guidelines and are outside and are tested and vaccinated, this is hype and overblown. So i heard mixed reactions to this carrying on as the Delta Variant surges. Annie carney thank you very much for your reporting. We appreciate it. The 2020 Olympic Games in japan drew to an end yesterday. The Closing Ceremony in tokyo making a triumph in pulling off what at times seemed impossible in the shadow of a global pandemic. The 32nd Summer Games now complete after a Years Delay in the face of unprecedented logistical challenges and domestic opposition. After more than two weeks of olympic competition, the United States, once again, On Top Of The World with 113 total medals, including a leading 39 golds, ahead of china, and the russian olympic committee. But we saw an odd thing happen throughout the games. Some on the far right, seemingly rooting against american athletes. Take a look. Isnt this Exhibit A why olympic ratings are so low, the focus on woke and not the win . Not only why the ratings are low but why Team Usa has done bad. Maybe they should pay more attention to their sport and less attention to their activism. I found myself rooting against not just Megan Rapinoe and her marry band of american hating soccer players. But i took pleasure in the Mens Basketball teams first loss since 2004. Team usa suffering an embarrassing loss to france, the collection of whining, overpaid Social Justice warriors are hard to root for. I find it ironic they are willing to put usa across their chest but in the not so distant past they would kneel for the anthem. Wokeism makes you lose, ruins your mind and ruins you as a person. You become warped, you become dmented. The u. S. Womens Soccer Team is a very good example of whats going on. Earlier this week they unexpectedly lost to sweden, 30. And americans were happy about it. So you know who has the Gold Medal . Russia. Russia. I have to go look at these 411, russian olympians chewing on their Gold Medals smirking at The Americans, im not okay with that. But honestly, thats where were headed. We are raising a generation of weak people like simone biles. Eddie glaude, what was i just watching . What happened there . Just a kind of montage of stupidity, mika. In so many ways these are the same people, the same people who will not express outrage over January 6th. The same people who are standing by and justifying the attempt to sack the capitol. The same people who are quiet as reports pour out about an attempted coUp To overthrow the election. I dont know what patriotism mean for these people what we see, in some ways, is an identification, a hatred of difference, the woke Mens Basketball team, Kevin Durant is an activist now. Rapinoe, whats different about everyone they singled out, theyre different, not like them, not americans. It was a montage of stupidity and hate. But in another sense its hypocrisy at its core, they dont know what patriotism means unless it aligns with what they think it should be. The americans olympic Basketball Team won the Gold Medal and won the Gold Medal game by beating france. The team they lost to early in the tournament but what the game that mattered to win the gold. And we should not lose sight of how challenging these olympics were for all athletes of every country, not having the support system, family and friends not being there, scaling down on coaching staff, testing for the Virus Day after day. This is an olympics we started talking about Mental Health in a different way, a healthy way. But at The End of the day you point to the score borpd board, the u. S. Team ended up with the most Gold Medals and most overall medals, as it usually does, mika. You are correct. And i think you make a correct point, Jonathan Lemire. Thank you very much. Coming up, our next guest has a bold plan for combatting republican attacks on Voting Rights. Morning joe is coming right back. Morning joe is coming ri back from Prom Dresses to workouts and new adventures you hope the more you give the less theyll miss. But even if your teen was vaccinated against meningitis in the past they may be missing vaccination for Meningitis B. Although uncommon, Up To 1 in 5 survivors of meningitis will have long term consequences. Now as youre thinking about all the vaccines your teen might need make sure you ask your doctor if your teen is missing Meningitis B vaccination. [John Legends i can see clearly now] make your reunion happen with vrbo. Your together awaits. As i observe investors balance risk and reward, i see one element securing portfolios, time after time. Gold. Your strategic advantage. When a Truck Hit my car, the Insurance Company Wasnt fair. I dididt T Kn Whahatmy c caswa, so i called the barnes firm. Im rich barnes. Its hard for people to k how much their Accident Case is worth. H barnes. T Ouour Juryry aorneneys hehelpou i was hit by a car get T Tand needed help. Oiblele. T Ouour Juryry aorneneys hehi called the barnes firm. That was the best call i couldve made. Im rich barnes. Its hard for people to know how much their Accident Case is let our Injury Attorneys know he how much their Accident Cget the best result possible. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott called another special Legislation Session On Saturday but democrats blocked it by not showing up. Last month dozens walked out in order to block a bill backed by republicans and the governor. More than 50 of them travelled to d. C. To push congress to act and its where many of them still remain. In a statement the lawmakers say that 26 of them will stay in washington for as long as congress is working and making progress on federal Voting Rights legislation. Longtime Media Executive Tom Rogers has an idea to combat what many see as republican efforts to suppress the vote. He writes about it in his latest column for News Week entitled to make our politics work, Remote Work May work. Tom joins us now, Hes Editor at large at News Week. Explain how we can make our politics work this way. Through remote. Thanks for having me, mika. I made this suggestion on the show going back a couple months. Coming out of an effort to organize ceos to weigh in on the voting Rights Issue, an effort organized by Jeffrey Sonnenfelled of yale. It occurred to me that the political power of ceos as significant as it is, may not be big enough and strong enough to overcome the resistance in congress to getting this done at the federal level and dealing with all these republican state legislative efforts to undermine the Voting Rights. So i suggested, you know, ceos could insent remote workers who are already incent remote workers to work from Swing States going forward, and change the democratic and voting profile. The idea was met from skepticism because no one really knew what kind of numbers that would potentially create. So i worked with the morning consult and they did some terrific field survey work. And they came up with astounding numbers on the workers that would work remotely for those that would continue to do so as move to another state. And this didnt involve getting anyone to do that, but it was people continuing to work remotely and a significant percentage of them wanted to work from Swing States. And what was even more remarkable is that among these remote office workers, when you filtered for likely voters they were over 21 likely to vote democratic. That starts to create a profile of something that could not only change Swing States in terms of overcoming the suppression of votes and new voters and Republicans Cant go in and undermine the votes. You can see the margins are big enough that it is online the ability of republicans to manipulate outcomes like that. This is just letting remote workers, that are already remote, continue to be remote but work from the states they would like to work from. Eddie, your thoughts . What do you think of this idea . It is fascinated. It seems to proceed from a deep seeded pessimism about the motivations of a certain political party. I want to ask tom this, is this a kind of reflection that these cannot be convinced otherwise . What leads you to believe that ceos would hold the view that youre putting forward . What would necessitate this sort of move. A number of ceos came out very, very strongly particularly around the Georgia Legislative Effort and made very clear that the voting Rights Issue is is huge to them and one that should be bipartisan. But it is not bipartisan at all. And were seeing that congress is the only way to get this done. The ceos will enter a hugely political fray. And it is really unclear that even the compromise, that doesnt deal with these issues with ceos being able to reach in and overturn Election Results that is not addressed by the manchin compromise. So to me, it looks like were so stalled in congress, and i believe that ceos consider this to be an existential threat. And so the question is yes, this would take leadership, and not all ceos would favor this, but its really a no cost approach. It reduces Real Estate costs they are working after 16 months to work remotely. But it allows the lifestyle of employees to go forward like this. This is not the best bet. This is a practical solution that would really change the Swing State compositions. A new milestone in the coronavirus pandemic. Half of the u. S. Population is fully vaccinated. Americans who are getting covid shots but expressing support for those that dont want one. Well talk about that mixed messaging when we come back. E c. Oh, son of a poppyseed ah, theres no place like panera. Enjoy the cool, refreshing strawberry poppyseed salad. Panera. Order on the app today. As i observe investors balance risk and reward, i see one element securing portfolios, time after time. Gold. Your strategic advantage. Welcome to allstate. Phone Notification where weve just lowered our Auto Rates. And savings like that will have you jumping for joy. Now, get new lower Auto Rates with allstate. Because better protection costs a whole lot less. Youre in good hands with allstate. Click or call for a lower Auto Rate today. Before treating your chronic migraine, 15 or more headache days a month each lasting 4 hours or more, youre not the only one with questions about botox®. Botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine before they even start, with about 10 minutes of treatment once every 3 months. So, ask your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if a sample is available. Effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or Muscle Weakness can be signs of a lifethreatening condition. Side effects may include allergic reactions, Neck And Injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Dont receive botox® if theres a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, Muscle Or Nerve conditions and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious Side Effects. In a survey, 92 of current users said they wish theyd talked to their doctor and started botox® sooner. Plus, right now, you may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. Ask your doctor about botox® today. Its taken a lot to get to this moment. You may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. Grew up at midnight the maccabees dreams are on the line. You got this. Refresh. It all, comes down, to this. If the icus are full and children will mess out for another year of school and they put in a policy that a local official should be listened to, that is a conservative principal. So you disagree with Governor Desantis . I do. Local officials should have control here. He says he disagrees with Ron De Santis and others blocking Mask Mandates even as covid Cases Surge, well look at where the virus is spreading the most and the toll it is taking on hospitals. Plus how the new rise In Covid is impacting the economy. We saw a very strong Jobs Report On Friday but not everyone is feeling the recovery. Good Morning And Welcome to Morning Joe. Joe is off and we begin with the United States hitting an encouraging milestone amid a surge In Covid indications cases. More than 165 Million americans are now fully vaccinated against the Virus Nap is half of the total u. S. Population. More than 193 Million received at least one dose. Vaccination rates are still low in several states across the south. But cdc data shows that the number of first doses has more than doubled. Still the country is seeing record breaking hospitalizations including more and more children. Cathy park has the latest. Cities across the country sounding the alarm as covid cases explode to dangerous levels. Austin activating the emergency activation system. And for the third time this week, florida broke a record for daily covid cases as doctors say more kids are getting sick. There are more children in the Hospital Today than at any other point in the past 18 months. Just four days more than 3,000 kids tested positive for the virus and a Jazz Fest in New Orleans is being canceled for the second year in a row. To keep the pandemic under control, indoor Mask Mandates are coming back from baltimore baltimores new Case Count has risen 374 . To durham, north carolina. In arkansas an about face from the goran who signed a law in April Banning Mask Mandates. It was an error to sign that law, i admit that. The divide is deepenning over vaccines, too. Protestors protested outside of baylor medical university. Where they required that people will vaccinated. Im a realist. If it is my turn, its my turn, im not going to worry about it. I turned well see another surge related to that rally. The Ba Battle continues to r on over masks in schools. Vaughn hilliard has that part of the story for us. Thousands of students are preparing to go back to school this week while covid runs rampant. Parents choice, families choice, physicians choice. Texas saying schools will not have to contact trace or inform families of positive cases in the childs classrooms. And governor Ron Desantis banning schools from letting them force masks. He has multiple surgeries. He currently has a pacemaker. I want the School Districts to stand up against the governor and make a stand based on the Health And Wellbeing of our children. Several parents filing a lawsuit. Are you saying they have a responsibility to stop a disease from spreading . To let them ensure that. At least two areworking around the governors order. Teachers elsewhere are preparing. I think we have to have conversation and rely on the science. The teachers would have to, too. You like your mask, dont you . Yeah. Former President Trump spoke at a new York State Republican Party where according to the new York Post he encouraged guests to get vaccinated telling the audience saying i dont want to see Anything Ball happen to my people. We dont see him saying this openly every day. He spoke positively over the weekend in an interview with Fox News about the vaccine, but he also said in the same breath touting freedom. I have to be a big Vaccine Fan because i got it done so quickly. It was supposed to take five years. Im a Big Fan. At the same time, im a Big Fan of our freedoms and people have to make that choice for themselves. I would recommend they get it and get it done, and theyre being protected and the vaccines turn out to be a tremendous thing. I also feel that there are some people that dont want to do it and i really believe in someones choice, someones freedom, and thats the way it is. I really believe in someones choice, someones freedoms, and thats the way it is. So we keep hearing tragic stories like this. Dick ferral was known for his over the top opinions and frequently railed against vaccines, and dr. Anthony fauci on Social Media. On July 3rd he said why take a vax by people that was promoted to you about people that lied about masks, where the virus came from, and the death toll, but friends said after contracting the virus he changed his point of view. Too late, though. Covid took one of my best friends, rest in peace dick farrel. He texted me and said get it. He said i wish i had gotten it a friend of farrels wrote on facebook. He was 65 years ago. It was a year ago that supporters of Donald Trump said they would rather die than watch the Dow Jones sink. The Lieutenant Governor of texas said he would rather die than take precautions against the pandemic. Others who are unworthy of having their names mentioned, say they would ready to die rather than watch the Dow Jones drop a few points. The Stock Market is at record highs despite the eagerness to sacrifice the lives of of Senior Citizens. And now theyre fighting vaccines, local control over School Safety, and the right foR Businesses to protect their workers and customers. Fed by disinformation from facebook and praised poll politicians. And some of those same republican officials are celebrating, still, right now, low Vaccination Rates and threatening to murder Joe Biden or other federal official thats promote vaccinations in states like say, i dont know, alabama. Millions of americans refusing to get the vaccine despite the fact that 95 of doctors have been vaccinated for covid and twice as machine americans are fully vaccinated than voted for Donald Trump and still were flooded every day with sad stories of americans that believed the lives fed to them by Death Cults, fuelled by facebook, until it was too late. In florida we have a governor more interested in playing politics than saving lives, the desantis variant. One in four new cases are coming out of florida. Many Emergency Rooms are jam packed and the state is weeks away from another full blown medical crisis. Are you kidding me . This is completely preventable. And the governor of florida owns this one. The most tragic part of this story is almost all of these hospitalizations and deaths would have and could have been avoided if misguided americans had not followed the crazed teachings of a growthing Death Cult and instead followed the advice of their family doctor. Its pretty easy and they wont do. One of the lading infectious disease experts is going to join us next. To join us next. Find your rhythm. Your happy place. Find youR Breaking point. Then break it. Every emergenc gives you a potent blend of nutrients so you can emerge youR Best with emergenc. Ice cream is like whooping cough, its not just for kids. Whooping cough is highly contagious for people of any age. And it can cause violent uncontrollable coughing fits. Ask your Doctor Or Pharmacist about whooping Cough Vaccination because its not just for kids. Weve got you taken care of, sgt. Houston. Thank you. That was fast one call to usaa got her a tow, her claim paid. And even her Grandpas Dog tags back. Get a quote. [sfx psst psst] allergies dont have to be scary. Spraying flonase daily stops youR Body from overreacting to allergens all season long. Psst psst all good hey google, turn up the heat. Wondering what actually goes into your multivitamin . At new chapter, its innovation, organic ingredients, and fermentation. Fermentation . Yes. Formulated to help you body really truly absorb the natural goodness. New chapter. Wellness, well done. Its taken a lot to get to this moment. Grew up at midnight the maccabees dreams are on the line. You got this. Refresh. It all, comes down, to this. Lets bring in dr. Peter ohio tez. He is the author of the book preventing the next pandemic. Vaccine diplomacy in a time of antiscience. There is a lot of people choosing to be part of that Death Cult, making that choice. Whether or not it is that theyre fed misinformation, and instead, it just fuels those experience theories on facebook and takes pictures of them and tends them to their friends and makes that disinformation go around and around their community until people are poisoned by the Trump Death consult to me the victims are children. Could you please talk about how we save children from getting this very dangerous Death Cult . This is absolutely right. We have less than 50 of young people vaccinated here in the south. We have states that are not only 20 or 25 of at least, but were already seeing lots of young people getting hospitalized. The median age is under 40 in in terms of ucu. Now for the firth time, mika, for the first time that i have seen this pandemic we are seeing pediatric intensive Care Units get overrun. We have never seen that before. And its all happening before School Starts and that really scares the heck out of me. Schools are opening this week in many louisiana parishes. If you look at the slope, its a vertical slope. Its going up and up and up. Kids, adolescents, are gets sick. And the vast majority are not vaccinated, we heard about the struggle around areaing masks. What else do we have to protect them . And thats what im so concerned about right now. That is what your piece is about and i want to get to that in just a moment, i have people that i know, friends and neighbors that will not get the Vaccine And Scream that it is not fda i proved. Could you explain when a child goes into the pediatric intensive care unit, could you explain, because i think this may help. They would not want this for their kids, would they . Who can be with those kids when theyre suffering so greatly . Thats right, more often than not they will be hospitalized alone because of containment procedures. And i think the key point here that i dont think a lot of elected officials in our red and southern states realize that delta is different. This is not your mother or fathers covid. This is people advising them going by the same playbook from last year. This is different. Delta is for more transmisable. And as transmissable as Chicken Bot Pmt that is what is happening. And so many kids being unvaccinated, you should assume that child is likely to get covid. If we could vaccinate all of the adults and adolescents that could protect the little kids. Were not talking about vermont and massachusetts because all of the adults and adolescents are vaccinated. It is slowing and halting community transmission. Were looking at a humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding in the south. And the schools acts as if that accelerant will see them. And small sick adolescents. We have to get the word out that this delta is something different and it is picking off young people like we have never seen. And we have not even gotten to the conversation about what it does to their longterm Cognitive Health as well. Thank you, dr. Peter hotez. Morning joe is back in a moment. Orning joe is back in a moment [relaxed summer themed music playing] summer is a state of mind, you can visit anytime. Savor your summer with lincoln. [sfx radio being tuned] welcome to allstate. [band plays] a place where everyone lives life wellprotected. And even when things go a bit wrong, weve got youR Back. Here, things work the way you wish they would. And better protection costs a whole lot less. Youre in good hands with allstate. Click or call for a lower Auto Rate today. Come here ive got big news now, nurtec odt can not only stop a migraine it can prevent a migraine as well. Nurtec is the first and only option proven to treat and prevent migraines with one medication. Onederful. One quick dissolve tablet can start fast and last. Dont take if allergic to nurtec. The most common Side Effects were nausea, stomach pain, and indigestion. With nurtec, i treat migraine my way. Whats your way . Ask your doctor about nurtec to find out from Prom Dresses ask your d to workoutsnurtec and new adventures you hope the more you give the less theyll miss. But even if your teen was vaccinated against meningitis in the past they may be missing vaccination for Meningitis B. Although uncommon, Up To 1 in 5 survivors of meningitis will have long term consequences. Now as youre thinking about all the vaccines your teen might need make sure you ask your doctor if your teen is missing Meningitis B vaccination. With the u. S. Mission in afghanistan ending just weeks from now, Taliban Forces are seizing control. The threat is so serious that the u. S. Embassy is warning americans to get out of the country now. Chaos on the streets. The bustling city of 300,000 falling to the taliban. The propaganda video, unconfirmed, shows abandoned trucks. They lost control of at least three cities since friday. The speed of the taliban advance as u. S. Troops withdrawal has shocked the west. The War In Afghanistan entered a new, deadlier, and more destructive face. They have provided some Air Cover to struggling troops, but no more than that. Thousands of afghans flaed their homes. And nervous neighbors to the north are molding military drills with russia. And kelly joins us now from kabul. Kelly. People are watching this news and probably some are wondering how this could happen so quickly. Its as if the taliban just literally poured in like water. What are the options for the afghan people, especially women . The options are slim in a lot of these places. The first course of action, really, is to get out of the town before they arrive. They spoke to People Today that say they left their villages in the north in the early hours of saturday and walked for hours to reach the relative safety of kabul. We know the Talibans History for womens right and the lack of any freedoms regarding women. There is deep, Deep Fear in this country. There will be a repeat, a throw back to that kind of regime if the taliban does take over, and people are telling us look, were trying to adequate out, were trying to take advantage of some of these Visa Programs that the u. S. Put in place specifically for people who worked for american ngos oR Been interpreters for the u. S. Military, but there is a couple problems here. The taliban took over a lot of border crossings, about seven of them, but it is difficult to get out of the country. Its difficult to apply for a visa. It requires you to get out of the country. Its extremely expensive to pay smugglerings or go the legal route. And even with the siv visas, people that worked for the u. S. Government, the u. S. Military, that takes an incredible amount of time. There is a lot of bureaucracy and people are worried they dont have the time to wait for approval for that magical email to come through from the embassy saying yes, youre approved you can leave the country. In the meantime, the taliban appears to be fighting in the north. Fighting reported in two more cities in the north including in a huge city, a city of 500,000, mika. Kelly, thank you very much. Coming up, the chairman of the house democratic caucus, hakeem jeffreys is standing by. He joins us next. Oins us next payday, payday monday, payday tuesday, payday wednesday, payday thursday, payday friday, payday saturday, payday sunday, Payday Payday, Payday Payday oh are you using liberty Mutuals Coverage Customizer tool . So you only pay for what you need. Sorry . Limu, youre an animal only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Theres an america we build and one we explore. One thats been paved and one thats forever wild. But freedom means you dont have to choose just one adventure. You get both. Introducing the wildly civilized Allnew 3row Jeep grand Cherokee L Retirement income is complicated. As youR Broker, ive solved it. Introducing the wildly civilized thats great, carl. But we need something better. Thats easily adjustable has no penalties or advisory fee. And we can monitor to see that were on track. Like schwab intelligent income. Schwab introducing schwab intelligent income. A simple, modern way to pay yourself from your portfolio. Oh, thats cool. I mean, we dont have that. Schwab. A modern approach to wealth management. When i was young nonononono please please no. I never needed anyone. Front desk. Yes, hello. Im so. Please hold. Those days are done. I got you. All by yourself. Go with us and find millions of flexible options. All in our app. Expedia. It matters who you travel with. The Sleep Number 360 smart bed is on sale now. Its the most comfortable, expedia. Duallyadjustable, footwarming, temperaturebalancing. Proven Quality Night Sleep weve ever made. Save Up To 1,000 on select Sleep Number 360 smart bed and adjustable bases. Plus, no interest until january 2024. Ends monday. Comcast nbcuniversal is investing in entrepreneurs to bring whats next for Sports Technology to athletes, teams, and fans. Thats why we created the sportstech accelerator, to invest in and develop the next generation of technology that will change the way we experience sports. Weve already invested in entrepreneurs like ane swim, who develops products that provide Hair Protection so that everyone can enjoy the freedom of swimming. Like the athletes competing in tokyo, these entrepreneurs have a fierce Work Ethic and drive to achieve to change the game and inspire the team of tomorrow. I think on a personal matter, i think that we need to be working with our employers that are imposing Vaccine Mandates. And you know, all of the vaccine policies. I wanted to bring my leadership together, and we are this week, to revisit and reconsider our policy that we passed in october. The american federation of teachers requires they be vaccinated against covid. A new study shows the alarming effect of the Ban Determineic on public School Enrollment last year. Stanford university, Kindergarten Enrollment fell 10 from 2019 to 2020. That is more than twice as much as the next highest dropoff which was in fifth grad classrooms. According to the times, public schools lost 20 of their kindergarteners. Those losses were greater in the countries. Now to professional athletes and why they wont get the shot or where they wont say he will. Kirk cousins missed several practices because he came in close contact with someone with coronavirus. Im going to be vigilant about avoiding, i thought about it, im going to do whatever it takes. While cousins has refused to gis close his substitute status. But anthony rizzo, who is a cancer survivor, just tested positive for the virus. Back in june when he was with the cubs rizzo said he wanted to see more data before deciding whether or not to get vaccinated. Last month one of the biggest players in the game also tested positive for the virus. When a reporter asked him if he had been vaccinated. And Aaron Judge said he would keep it between him and his doctor. In golf, Bryson Dechambeau would not budge on getting a vaccine. He said i dont need it adding he doesnt want to take the vaccine away from someone who does. And back in may when reporters asked lebron james about his status, he declined to talk about it. Whats going on . The author of this new article about Kirk Cousins, and mike i guess what confuses me is that athletes are very connected with their own personal health. And so i just cant believe that this is a string that is so strong in the sports community. Mika, Kirk Cousins plays a support where so many players leave with theiR Brains scrambled because of head drama. There is no shot for that, but there is a shot for covid and theyre refuting to do it. Every explanation they try to give make its sound like to is. What if someone told Kirk Cousins a year ago that e you could go back to normal you just have to get a shot. We got thrown a live preserver. They keep throwing the life preserveR Back. And this is an opportunity as i see it for sports to take the lead here the way they did with Social Justice. And some of these guys are refusing to do it. It is as dumb of an american Sports Moment as i can remember. At this point it is malpractice on their part, but for these sports stars, they are in a way our leaders, too. Kids look Up To them and its kids getting the Delta Variant. The idea, there is so many explanations, and some of them make you go wait, what . But hindering his ability to reproduce later on. Im sorry, really . This is something that, i know, i heard worse than that, mika. But the point is when you hear an Athlete Refuse to tell you whether or not he or she has been vaccinated, spoiler alert, they have not. I keep hearing about this 85 threshold of vaccines in baseball. Okay, a 25 man team. That means four guys in the starting lineup may not have been vaccinated. This Bone Head Cole beasley saying he is antivax, he is pro choice. If he doesnt want to be vaccinated playing on a team, in a team sport, he should get all of his antivax friends. Lets not talk about the road trip, please. Lets talk about the nfl that surprised many, and drew headlines, if there was a outbreak on the team for unvaccinated players and staff, that team could they would have to be postponed or rescheduled. All of the players involved would lose their salary for that game. That seems like a significant step for them to take. They would say the line about it being a personal choice. But what the nfl has done, do you see a possibility that other sports, major league sports, that they might do the same. Is this a template you may see for people to get the shot. Yeah, jonathan, this to me is the first preemptive strike. This is a commissioner with a real commissioner here. I dont think that players are processing losing their teams games. And the first team that loses one, im hopeful that will get the attention of everybody. I dont know if that is true or not but if that is true, that means what, six guys . If it is one guy, it can start a outbreak. I heard them talking to mika earlier in the show. There is no other side of this. There is no two sides to this the way there was no two sides to charlottesville. You can feel under your feet this country sliding back indoors. And you can see the country gets masked again. This is as dumb of an american moment as i can ever remember. It is good to see you this morning. We often say these athletes, these professional ports athletes, theyre Order Mare people. Could you use this moment as a kind of way of thinking about the broader question around antivaxers in the United States . How can we use what were seeing among these athletes as a window into what youre seeing for the nation at large. Lets talk about it more broadly. What do you see. You saw them the justice league. Should or should not be role models in is a chance for torts to take the lead. Again, there is no two pieds of this. I had some repluck stance, but i stepped back and realized its better for me, my team, and the sport. I would love Kirk Cousins to show up and ayes, i know what my beliefs are. Someone has to show me the testament that says willingably bring harm to yourself and those around you. Thank you foR Being on this morning if is truly stunning. When you look the map of america who is getting it now, who is dieing from it now, it is the unvaccinated. And if it mutates and creates a version of the virus that can affect the vaccinated we will be back at square one thanks to the unvaccinated. I can feel compassion for those suffering and dieing in the popt. I can also feel like to is stupid and selfish not to get the vaccine. Lets go to Governor Cuomo. One of his accusers are speaking out for the first time. Overnight, Governor Cuomos aide resigning. Derosa who has not been charged with any trim, and they are discussing the impeachment proed against cuomo after that explosive Attorney Generals report. They are speaking out for the first time. Then there started to be hugs with kisses on the cheek, and then a hug, and then when he between the kiss me on the cheek he kissed me on the lips. Known as executive Assistant Number one, seen here with her face blurred posing for a selfie with cuomo also alleges he reached under heR Blouse and grabbed heR Breast. They could face misdemeanor charges if they can substantiate her complaint. Well have the victim in for a lengthy time. I think he did not grope her, there was evidence of that provided she could have made that claim. And his legal team casting doubt on the ags findings. It admits evidence and it is am an bush, and they have not shared all of their evidence. To attack this investigation and an attempt to under mine this process takes away the bravery. We will be following that story. Up next Hakeem Jeffries issues a Reality Check for the democratic committee. We are stand by by, next. On Morning Joe. Y by, next on Morning Joe. Ot it when you want it, i got it, i got it, yeah when they want it we got it, yeah we got it, yeah if you have this. Consider adding this. An Aarp Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan from unitedhealthcare. Medicare supplement plans help by paying some of what medicare doesnt. And let you see any doctor. Any specialist. Anywhere in the u. S. Who accepts medicare patients. So if you have this. Consider adding this. Call Unitedhealthcare Today for your free decision guide. Dry eye symptoms driving you crazy . Inflammation might be to blame. Inflammation time for ache and burn over the Counter Eye drops typically work by lubricating your eyes and may provide temporary relief. Inflammation thosell probably pass by me xiidra works differently, targeting inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. Inflammation xiidra . No it can provide lasting relief. Xiidra is the only fdaapproved nonsteroid treatment specifically for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. One drop in each eye, twice a day. Dont use if youre allergic to xiidra. Common Side Effects, include eye irritation, discomfort oR Blurred vision when applied to the eye, and unusual taste sensation. Dont touch Container Tip to your eye or any surface. After using xiidra, wait fifteen minutes before reinserting contacts. Talk to an Eye Doctor about xiidra. Inflammation i prefer you didnt. Xiidra. Not today, dry eye. Before treating your chronic migraine, 15 or more headache days a month each lasting 4 hours or more, youre not the only one with questions about botox®. Botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine before they even start, with about 10 minutes of treatment once every 3 months. So, ask your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if a sample is available. Effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or Muscle Weakness can be signs of a lifethreatening condition. Side effects may include allergic reactions, Neck And Injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Dont receive botox® if theres a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, Muscle Or Nerve conditions and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious Side Effects. In a survey, 92 of current users said they wish theyd talked to their doctor and started botox® sooner. Plus, right now, you may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. Ask your doctor about botox® today. Facing leaks takes strength. You may pay Zero Dollars foR Botox®. So heres to the strong, who trust in our performance and comfortable longlasting protection. Because your strength is supported by ours. Depend. The only thing stronger than us, is you. Welcome back to Morning Joe. It is 50 past the hour. The select committee investigating the January 6th attack of the capitol has hired former republican congressman as a consultant. Riggleman, a former Air Force Intelligence officer was seen dropping by House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Office days before the select committees first hearing. And set up a time that he would serve if asked. Select committee members have told Nbc News that getting properly staffed up is a major priority during the august recess. This is now the third republican involved with that investigation. Now to our next guest. A leading democrat who has some tough words for his own party. Caucus Chair Hakeem jeffries says the extreme left is obsessed with talking trash about mainstream democrats on twitter. Instead of focusing on what he calls the real enemy. Trumpism and the radical right. He says most democratic voters have figured out the most important thing is achieving results but the extreme left hasnt figured that out. And congressman jeffries of new york joins us now. Thank you very much foR Being on. Lets talk about what exactly you are critiquing here in terms of the extreme left. Examples of who and what has been said that concerns you as it pertains to the future of potential success of the democratic party. Morning. Thank you for having me on. I think the most important point is that the democratic party is a big tent. And that big tent includes progressives, like myself, moderates and centrists and common sense democrats and a few more conservative leaning democrats. The more we reflect the diversity in every possible way of The American people, the betteR Because the more likely we are to be successful. And if were successful, like we have been under the presidency of Joe Biden, then we have an opportunity to govern and get big things done. Fastest growing economy in 40 years. Millions of goodpaying jobs created, helping working families, middle class families, lowincome families and everyday americans. Lets keep our eye on the prize, and that is really my only point. Okay. So what are some of the things the extreme left members of The Party are doing that concern you. And explain, if you can, why its not productive in the long run. Well, The One Example Id cite is that a few years ago, it was my understanding that some elements no one withIn The House democratic caucus let me be clear. Ive got great respect for every single member of the house democratic majority from the most progressive to the most centrist and all points in between. Thats what makes us the most authentic representatives of The American people smp have said theres a war coming within the democratic party and were going to lean into it. I think thats unhelpful because the real enemy is trump, trumpism and the radical right. In fact, nothing short of our democracy is at stake. We see a voter suppression epidemic, and i think its going to continue to be important for us to pull together. That doesnt mean we cant have disagreements. But we should be able to agree to disagree without being disagreeable. Eddie glaude, youve got the next question. Good morning, congressman jeffries. Let me just ask this question. So is it is the extreme right those folks who are arguing for 15 minimum rage extreme left, i mean. Are those who are arguing for medicare for all. Is the extreme left those who are arguing for Student Loan Debt cancellation and the lirks people like Bishop Barber and those folks. Because oftentimes this sort of argument, and im going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, doc. These arguments aim to discipline a particular side of The Party. As if they oar to call the progressive side of The Party has to mute its demands for the corporate wing or moderate wing. How do you differentiate this position from those who are making concrete arguments about how to move the country forward . Concrete arguments about how to move the country forward are incredibly important. In fact, eddie, as you know, i support the 15 minimum wage and ive helped to try to lead that charge both in washington and in new york. Ive sponsored medicare for all legislation every single term that i have been in congress. And a variety of otheR Bold progressive ideas. Those are incredibly important. But what i am saying is that the voters have made pretty clear over the last several primaries that theyd like folks who are willing to, at The End of the day, work together with our president to get things done and push back on the rise of the radical right. Again, thats not to say that primaries arent a good thing. They are a beautiful thing. Primaries are incredibly important. Its a contest of ideas. Lets just make sure those contests of ideas stay substantive and not personal. Congressman jefferies, good morning. Its Jonathan Lemire. Earlier this morning when the first wave of allegations about sexual harassment against Governor Cuomo came up, you did not call for his resignation. You did last week in the wake of the Attorney Generals report. Can you tell us, what changed for you . And secondly, if he does not resign, and theres no indication that he will, should he be impeached and removed from office . Well, first of all, back in march, i thought it was important to allow for the Attorney Generals investigation to take Place And Reserve judgment, at least as it related to a strong call for resignation until Attorney General letitia james completed that investigation. It was thorough, comprehensive and decisive and thats why i called for the governor to do the right thing and to stand down in the best interest of the people of the state of new york. And certainly, out of respect for the strong women who came forward to speak truth to power. With respect to the next step, its my understanding that the assembly impeachment investigation, at least in terms of the Judiciary Committee may be speeding to a close. And i would just urge my colleagues in the assembly just to follow the facts, apply the law. Be guided by the new York State constitution and let the chips fall where they may. Certainly, congressman, your voice carries a lot of weight in the state of new york. One quick question for you. Were seeing the senate about to put together this bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Looks like it will get done in the next 24, 48 hours. Tell us what is its future In The House . Are you confident this will get passed . I suspect well move the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and also move the 3. 5 trillion budget Reconciliation Package so we can decisively meet the needs of The American people. The least, the lost and left behind, working families, middle class folks, seniors is the, the young people, the poor and afflicted. Joe biden promised to build back better and that means doing things that are transformational. Hes been leading in that regard with a great partnership led by Speaker Pelosi in the House And Chuck schumer in the senate. Well continue to make substantial progress for The American people. All right, Congressman Hakeem jeffries, thank you very much foR Being on the show with us this morning. I just want to end on this note. It was a fascinating conversation we had earlier with a republican congressman, also an e. R. Doctor, who tried to navigate the line between letting people choose and make choices for themselves as it pertains to the vaccine. And the need for the vaccine because hospitals in his state are overrun because frontline workers are suffering. They are suffering mentally and physically from working through this entire pandemic with no breaks, watching people die. Watching people struggle for air. And now we have this Delta Variant that is exactly for the unvaccinated. Theres not vaccinated people spreading the Delta Variant all over the country. Its the unvaccinated. Is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated. And it now is younger people going into hospitals, getting put on ventilators, gasping for air and some even dying alone. So, it is okay to have compassion for people who are afraid of the vaccine, but i ask you to compassionately share with your family and friends how this need for the vaccine is desperate. And their lives, lives of their children, the lives of The American people and this country moving forward depends on them getting the vaccine. That does it for us this morning. Stephanie ruhle picks up the coverage right now. Hi there. Im stephanie ruhle. It is monday, august 9th. This morning, were following several major stories across the country. More trouble for andrew cuomo. Overnight, the new York Governors top aide officially resigning as he faces mounting pressure to step down over sexual harassm