>> they walk right up to the line and they just step -- >> ken. >> good morning, welcome to "morning joe," hi willie. >> what happened? >> he teased me on facebook, do my ken thing. >> how are you holding up this morning? >> he's not good. what am i supposed to do? the yankees won and they lose one. >> we are talking about the national championship game last night. georgia finally beat alabama. head coach has been resistant and saban won 27 titles. the end of the third quarter and fourth quarter was all the action. >> really was. alabama. another reason why you could not be too upset if you are an alabama fan. they're not supposed to be there. this was at the end of the game. one of these moments people wake up and look at scores and it looks like it's much a bigger game and bigger blow-out than the game's show. defense of battle in the first half. second half, alabama was up. 18 -- alabama was up. are you going to show all the bad highlights? >> this is what happens when you lose. >> and on the side me picking my nose, too? >> what's wrong with you guys? i am doing my best to get through. what are you doing? what are you doing? >> oh, wow. >> okay, so i am not doing as well right now. take this off. >> so as i was saying -- it was a great game first half defensive of game. alabama's fourth quarter goes up, 18-13. you really think they're going to hold on. georgia climbs back. alabama again they should not have been there. they almost lost four or five or six games this year. this may have been saban's best job as a coach. their two top draft picks, wide receivers both went down. you saw that. a lot of great catches that alabama made through the years, they were dropping yesterday not because the kids were not good or steering up. they had two all americans both went out. >> jamieson william, great receiver and down with a knee injury for first half. that's brutal for bryce young and the tie. when mika was watching and how does anybody make a catch like that. so anyway, congratulations to georgia. as you get older, you start looking at these kids because they're kids and you start thinking about what life as they're going to learn through this. georgia's quarterback, what's his name? >> preston stenson iv. >> it's a great quarterback's name. >> be nice. >> but, after the sec game where alabama flattens georgia and flattens this young quarterback. he was eviscerated by georgia fans which shows stupidity of a lot of fans, they'll attack a young kid, just crush him. they were attacking this poor kid non-stop and saying he's worthless. he's a star last night. it's a great lesson for him and for anybody in sports. it's a great lesson anywhere that just a couple of weeks after he was being -- by his own fans, he takes us into the championship since the 1980. >> that's the lesson in life. you keep going. i am not a great fan of the sport but i am a great fan of people overcoming adversity, that's a good thing and lesson. all of us have to learn as kids and some of us never learned. >> herschel walker and now his name will be legend. he was great. kirby marx were so great. they lost in a tight game. they deserved it. they had one of the best defenses ever in college football and they showed it last night. >> they deserved the win, jonathan. kirby needed the win. georgia fans needed to win. they're one heartbreak after another against alabama. last night they finally had their moments. >> are you saying 40 years right now he may be a republican candidate for the senate? i am just trying to get in this. >> could be. >> certainly what a run for georgia sports and the braves winning the world series and you have the bulldogs taking the national title. afterwards i sat with bryce young during the game, young played okay. it was not his best last night. this one game does not define him. he had a great season. he's more than that. and there is this expectation he's back playing for another year in alabama. it's a great one for georgia. alabama was a large monkey on their back and they got rid of it. >> bryce young is just, some kids are worried about. you don't worry about bryce young. if he's winning a heisman or whatever, he's got great parents. they taught him to keep everything in perspective. bryce young is going to be fine. it's a football game. it's what we always say when alabama loses. >> it's just a game. throwing the ball around. what are you getting so excited about? congratulations to the georgia bulldogs. first game ever win, too. i was born in the suburbs in atlanta. >> what a great, great place to go. >> great town and great football. >> incredible town and i still -- i always liked them and except when they play alabama. >> watch rem and watch herschel walker. is herschel still running? >> walking or running. >> he does not get out a lot. >> mika. >> okay, we would love you to break down along david ignatius. a couple of things, reverend al is with us, he's got a new book with us. "the righteous trouble," and today president biden travels to georgia. we'll stay in georgia to deliver what's being built as a major speech on voting rights. biden is expected to push for a senate filibuster change to pass voting rights. he only endorsed reinstating the talking filibuster, white house released this portion of the president's speech, listen carefully. the next few days when these bills come to a vote will mark a turning point in this nation. will we choose democracy over autocracy, justice or injustice. i know where i stand. i will not yield, i will not flinch. i will defend your right to vote for our democracy. where will the institution of the united states' senate stands and also worth noting, stacey abrams, the current democratic candidate for governor in the state will not be in attendance today citing a schedule conflict. she did tweet support for the event so a big day in georgia on many levels, joe. >> well, you know, i just -- such a big day. stacey abrams has as scheduling event. her car is getting a tune up, it's hard. >> you don't know. >> and half the mechanics are home. >> okay -- >> she has to get the car done. >> she's getting her tires rotated. >> how in the world can she be at two places in one? this is bad. this is one of these donald trump comes into town and everybody leaves. >> we are not passing judgment. >> i remember the new york times said they quoted in '94 when we were running had one democrat saying air force one comes to our district. i thought that's a really extreme. this person we are talking about the event. stacey abrams. this is an event custom made for stacey abrams. >> i don't know if it's that. >> what is it? >> i would say the elements is there for one to speculate. i do know some of the activist groups on the ground have said they're boycotting this not to happen. some are frustrated that it took joe biden this long to come out and strongly deal with the filibuster question and joe, you and i and mika had this conversation on the show that i have been pushing. i came in late last night from los angeles from doing a funeral but i am going. i think the important of getting this filibuster, getting it achieved is more important than our frustration. i think joe biden was doing a lot behind the scenes trying to push and get this done so i think it's important that those of us want to be should be there. i think those ones can't stand to be there should be respected for doing that too. it did take a long time for us to get here. >> joe, in terms of the last election, stacey abrams, i think she's credited for turning out the vote on so many levels and let's just reserve judgment. you should talk, sometimes you don't show up in events. >> well -- the president here, you do show up. >> just stop. >> oh, i see what's happening here. what's happening to my team? my team loses and everybody picks on me. no, my analysis though worldly and weary while giving it, it's not about stacey abrams. i am not criticizing stacey abrams here. i am making a comment about the political standing of joe biden as seen from a woman who's running for governor as georgia and wants to win that election. politicians show up with presidents when they have 52% of approval ratings. politicians don't show up with presidents when their approval ratings may be in the 30s in the state. >> or there is another reason. >> or she's getting her tires rotated and right now in the middle of covid is hard. >> i would say this about whatever. this is politics 101. i find it fascinating and it speaks less to stacey abrams that really does than it does what she perceives joe biden's political standing to be in the state of georgia right now that she's not showing up in an event that was custom-made for her. as mika said she's the one champion of voting right and she's the one had joe biden wins the state of georgia. she's on the forefront of everything we are talking about today all the more reason you would think she would be there unless she thought it didn't help her campaign running for governor of georgia. >> she's the democratic favor to be the nominee for governor and the state of georgia which is by one not that long ago. senator warnock had a tough fight, you would expect him to be there. the president's white house aide is going to preview what he's going say. he's going to endorse voting rights. this has been about rhetoric and not action. his hands are tied. it's not just manchin and sinema. others have expressed privately some reluctant for a full change for a filibuster of what republicans can do with it. what's the president supposed to do? as john says it's also john tester and chris kuehn and other people expressing for blowing up the filibuster for year of what others under the republican party may do. what's the expectation of this president? he's been talking about voting rights and he's got chuck schumer to move back. what more can the president do? >> i think the quicc becomes whether or not the president could have done this fairly whether it should have been done ahead of build back better bill. that's the question that a lot of us and i am talking about a lot of us tried to do that. they calculated another calendar and they went forward. here we are. let's be clear and fair to joe biden. lyndon johnson who signed the voting rights act in '65 was not one championed in the beginning. martin luther king jr. had to push. we can't do '65 civil rights act. biden is not an outlier here in terms of taking the time to get here. there are those who have to make a moral calculus what is good for the enfranchise of people being denied that's why some of us are saying late or on time we need to be there and get it done so the people have democracy saved and the right to vote. those of us making sure everyone can vote without impediments in november. >> of course, we are commenting and i am talking about stacey abrams not being there because it's a fascinating snapshot where joe biden is as we move into 2022 as far as standing goes with somebody like stacey abrams. but again, i am sure that's temporary. the bigger issue is the fact that is joe manchin is not going to move to change to filibuster. right now a broad outline of the bipartisan bill that manchin and collins and other republicans and democrats are working on that they believe checks all the boxes for the john lewis' voting rights act and they believe takes care of the a adequated -- they are optimistic. i am not sure if i am quite optimistic but i do know there are a few people that are growing tired of all this and understand one way or the other they're going to pass the voting rights legislation even if they have to run over republicans. >> joe, we can't read stacey abrams' mind of what's going on today. it's clear that president biden had increasing trouble. he had trouble on voting rights where people think he's not aggressive enough and as reverend al says he should have moved earlier and aggressively. people are still furious that build back better bill is stalled. it's just a moment where joe biden's difficulty with his own party being able to show his people he's got the number and to keep it passed. it's becoming his big problem. >> stacey abrams' absence is a visible symbol that the president's party is not as strong enough. >> this is about president biden. it's extraordinary. the president and vice president is going to georgia to talk about voting right and the most prominent democrat in the state decided not to attend. >> just to help you guys, i hope you are not being triggered. scarborough is attacking stacey abrams. >> you are so triggered. >> i am actually -- what are you doing with an old 1974 typewriter. use a laptop. i am not attacking stacey abrams. this is about joe biden's standing right now. we'll see what happens. i am sure it will all work out in the end. >> we'll all be consumed by fire and as locus comes down and picking the flesh off of our skin before the meteor hits the earth. i think it will all work out in the end. >> so what you are saying is often we don't see eye to eye on these issues. okay. we'll be talking to david ignatius a little later on. still ahead on "morning joe," severe staffing short tajs are causing hospitals to ask nurses and doctors infected with coronavirus to return to work. the latest on the struggle to keep hospital staff as covid cases surged and as the house select committee investigating january 6th ramps up its probe. the efforts to hold donald trump accountable hinge on one potential witness, former vice president mike pence. we'll dig on new reporting on that. also, find a good alabama play for joe. right now. put him in a good move. >> what? >> oh my god. not again. he could go out. >> oh! >> congratulations to georgia! >> oh! >> congratulations to georgia! ♪ i see trees of green ♪ ♪ red roses too ♪ ♪ i see them bloom ♪ ♪ for me and you ♪ ♪ and i think to myself ♪ ♪ what a wonderful world ♪ a rich life is about more than just money. that's why at vanguard, you're more than just an investor, you're an owner so you can build a future for those you love. vanguard. become an owner. throughout history vanguard. i've observed markets shaped by the intentional and unforeseeable. for investors who can navigate this landscape, leveraging gold, a strategic and sustainable asset... the path is gilded with the potential for rich returns. mount everest, the tallest mountain on the face of the earth. keep dreaming. [music: “you can get it if you really want” by jimmy cliff] why do people who live with generalized myasthenia gravis want a new treatment option? because we want to be able to get up and get ready for work. because the animals need to be cared for, and we like taking care of them. because we want to go out to dinner with our friends. because, in family photos, we want to be able to smile. a new fda-approved treatment for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis could help them do more of the daily activities they care about. to learn more, go to now4gmg.com and talk to your neurologist. i am going to stop right now. >> yeah, you are. >> it's about joe biden. >> yes, it is. >> i know. i am going to go around the table here. >> hey, so bob saget. >> yeah, it's really interesting and you can tell how old people were. i was just out of school and young lawyer and kids and we are watching bob saget and we watch "full house." city, everybody had videos that they love. how old were you? >> it would have been. we were a big fan. that was so ahead of its time and it was phenomenon. >> did you see that clip where somebody got hit in crotch. >> what about you willie? >> that was right in my will's house. >> "full house" and "fuller house," entirely my kids love that show and all the guys. bob saget was on "america's funniest videos." his stand up was edgy and raunchy. you can tell from moments from the reaction and response of the people who worked with him, just the out pouring love and respect. at the end of the day that he was a great guy. he was decent and he was always there for us. >> that's the reason why we'll have a segment on this in an hour or two. this is one of the reasons i want to bring it up, rev, it was so telling yesterday usually somebody passes away. joe was a professional and he loved the news and he was dedicated and -- yesterday it made me so good and not knowing bob saget but john stamos saying i lost my best friend and heartbroken. everybody saying the same thing about him. you go through the emotions and mourning the loss of bob. man, they talk about losing somebody that they love and obviously loved them and cared deeply. i thought that says more about his life than any clips that we can show. here is john stamos. >> i am broken, i am gutted and i am incomplete and utter shock. i love you buddy. john stamos, just beautiful. he's a beautiful guy. >> i was in los angeles and i talked to people that genuinely were mourning that was striking to me. i have been in hollywood and l.a. many years and people would pass and you would hear well, they're gone and you hear the under current stories that you don't see them put on twitter and it will come out. everyone i talked to yesterday and i was there for other reasons genuinely really liked this guy and they felt he was a decent guy. i met him a couple of times. one of the comedians i knew said the fact that he could do stand-up and be so edgy and do "full house," how enormous talented he was. he was a d.c. guy and not a pretentious guy. solid reasons to respect what he did. >> mika, i know your family and your father would have you after dinner translate polish into greek. did you ever watch "full house." >> i actually did. i know bob saget very well and reading all the outpouring of love for the man, i think you are right, he really touched people. for the record, there is been no sign of drugs or foul play in his death and an autopsy is being performed and the results is not available for weeks. bob saget passed away at the age of 65. >> coming up, a republican senator telling truth about the 2020 election. we'll show you the new back and forth fight between the president and the senator. we are learning new details of the deadly fire that broke out in the bronx apartment building. firefighters are pointing to single act that could have saved lives, closing a door, "morning joe" is coming right back. door door joe" is coming right back. ♪ who would've thought 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the new mobile service designed for your small business. introducing comcast business mobile. you get the most reliable network with nationwide 5g included. and you can get unlimited data for just $30 per line per month when you get four lines or mix and match data options. available now for comcast business internet customers with no line-activation fees or term contract required. see if you can save by switching today. comcast business. powering possibilities. welcome back to "morning joe" a live look at the white house. russian officials say they have no intentions to invade ukraine. the comment came during the meeting in geneva yesterday with the u.s. delegation in an effort to deescalate the tension between russia and ukraine, describing the talks difficult and long. the russian deputy foreign minister said there is no reason to fearsome kind of escalator scenario. the u.s. lead negotiaor said, we'll not allow anyone to slam closed nato's open-door policy which is always been central. jake sullivan said washington believers the tlets of invasion is very real. i dono -- i don't know how if anyone can agree there is no reason to escalate when the troops at the border is about 100,000 of them. >> the big debate is winning the troops there for leverage. that's the hope. yesterday it seems to be the russian's signals. i am not suggesting that we believe russia and what they're saying at the same time it certainly is not putin's interest to go into ukraine and start a european version of afghanistan and have held rain down from the united states and other nato allies. this is a country that's sanctioned time and time again. i understand what his grand plans are and schemes. i just wonder, david, is this just massive geopolitical game of semantics? you talk to policymakers and the united states, they don't have any plans to expand nato in the ukraine? because they know it would be an inflammatory move. where does it leave us? >> well, putin claims he is not invading ukraine are close to worthless given he still got 100,000 troops on the border. you look at this crisis going back the last few months, putin managed to reposition russia so the issue of russia's security, invaded at the highest level and a series of discussions when he showed them the department secretary of state, russian counter part that the talks will continue. they're all focused on russia. the one thing that i would say for certain is putin with his role putting troops on the border and threatening invasion has managed to take russia's demand up a level in terms of international debate. like i don't think it's irrational for putin to invade ukraine especially at a time he got problems in the east of kazakhstan and problems internally with his own population. you know what -- leaders do irrational thing. they threaten to take steps and if their demands are not met, they move across border. everyone in the white house afraid of that. >> we are talking about a new -- hitler, declaring war against the united states, earl harbor whether it's an act of suicide. leaders do irrational things. can you give our viewers a quick history? he does lay out very clearly the mindset of russians. does everybody understand this? they lost 27 million people during world war ii. they then saw over 40 years the soviet empire collapse and all the territory that they gained after world war ii that they saw as a buffer against another war that would have them losing 27 million was also taken away and now the country they considered to be an enemy talking about expanding nato in the ukraine. we often derive russians for having foreign policy driven by paranoia. i suspect we may have been a little paranoid as well. >> that demand from russia is not unreasonable. that's what russia is demanding here. to make us secure, we insist on guarantees about it is future of another country and they're threatening to invade that other country. i know as well as you do the terrible cause that russia suffered in world war ii most obviously and the millions lost. russia has been saying for 30 years it was worried about nato's expansion falling on the cold war. the soviet union collapsed and russia face a period of enormous confusion and nato was strong and confident and russia was weak and nato kept on pushing forward. i think what we should worry for any reasonable person is putin's attempt to take this demand, one you should listen to and impose it by force with an army of 100,000 troops on the border. you don't invade and get away with it. that's not the way it works now. >> no, they can't get away with it. if they were to invade the ukraine, the biden administration would have to have a swift and devastating response if they did that. let me go back and ask you regarding russia, though, do you know of policymakers, serious policymakers that believe it would be the united states best interest to expand nato to ukraine or most of the policymakers you talk to say -- well, we can keep it out there and we certainly don't want russia to take that opportunity away from us. now doing something like that would be overly provacative. >> you are right. there is no plan to bring ukraine in to nato, this is really about the procedures of nato, we don't want to be dictated on who gets to join and who does not. there is no plans for any earlier or maybe ever admission of ukraine and nato, that's understood for many years. i think the russians are pushing for guarantees here. you don't rule out in the formal legal binding of who gets to join and who does not. i was reminded of this. i was reading a book, father of mika wrote back in 2008. i was the moderator in this book. the ukrainians are the only ones who should decide their future and not their -- the russians. brzezinski had no hesitation saying what sullivan is saying and the attempt to dictate nato by force is not going to fail. i must say there are a lot of criticisms you can make about biden's foreign policy but on this one he did a good job of organizing the european allies around the u.s. position. we'll see it the rest of the week as the russians meet with nato on wednesday and meet with the broader european group on thursday. we'll stay tune but biden held his alliance together so far in resisting the russia's event. >> david, they're seeing mixed signals and 100,000 troops on the border but now they thought 125 or 150, fewer men expected and helicopter has arrived which could be a sign considering it. is there another off-ramp that could be offered to de-escalate here? >> there is talks of number of off ramps and ways that you can finesse on limitations and troops and exercises and ways which nato forces are deployed and a way for russia to say our security is better protected and nato listened to us and russian demands have been taken seriously by the world. that's what they want. the fear is russia will seek to destabilize ukraine. people have been arrested in kiev, at the capitol. i worry of a scenario of great internal deception inside ukraine and russia seeks to exploit that and moves a little further but does not invade all the way in the capitol and says okay, deal with it. that's a situation that would make it messier. >> speaking of messy, our import and export business, money top move the stuff through. >> i was impressed that lemire just casually dropping in -- >> we do it all in the 5:00 a.m. i am up all night studying. all seriously because it's harder with troops if it's muddy and that's why. >> you guys learned the hard way. >> it didn't go well, mika. >> okay, i get it, you are giving me a headache. >> coming up, dramatic body camera footage shows los angeles police officers pulling a pilot out of a crashed plane seconds before it's hit by a train. if you have not seen that video and the story behind it. we have it for you ahead on "morning joe." >> do you have any alabama footage? >> no. alabama footage? footage? >> no. ♪ i think to 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joint pain and treats the multiple symptoms like joint swelling and tenderness, back pain, helps clear skin and helps stop further joint damage. don't use if you're 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 you've had a vaccine or plan to. tell your doctor if your crohn's disease symptoms develop or worsen. serious allergic reactions may occur. it's good to be moving on. watch me. move, look, and feel better. ask your rheumatologist about cosentyx. welcome back to "morning joe." nbc news scotty swharts has the story. >> reporter: the odds of what you just saw may be too incredible to believe if it was not captured by several vantage point. a pilot stuck in the cockpit. >> reporter: lapd showing the true heroism four seconds before impact. >> the metro communal plane on obliterating this plane. >> this can't be happening. i looked down the tracks and i see this train with three huge white lights coming right at us. >> reporter: the pilot is recovering in the hospital. the officers who saved him call him lucky is an under statement especially you see how close they were. >> reporter: this is your police station and you got the plane landed here. >> this guy is a very lucky man. not only it was right by the police station, i think he cheated death twice in ten minutes, he needs to go by a lottery ticket. >> reporter: those officers changing his fate. >> i have chills. four seconds. four seconds and they got him out. >> if you crash land, not crash land on train tracks. >> that's crazy. >> this guy is -- talk about fortunate. right by the police station. >> that's real life heroism. >> those guys heard the signal and train's coming. there were jet fuels all over the place and they knew the risk with seconds to spare and saved his life. >> one officer yelling go, go! and it's two seconds later. >> that's the real deal. coming up. pfizer says a new vaccine targeting omicron could be ready by march. could we need it? we dive back to president biden's important speech on voting rights today in georgia and the activist who won't be there. "morning joe" is coming right back. there. 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find out what your case could be worth. we will help get you the best result possible. ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪ that may be the tip of the iceberg as dr. scott explains. >> hang in there because things are ten times worse than you think. >> i am hearing defense of the scientists and doctors. we'll speak to dr. gottlieb in just a moment. welcome back to "morning joe," reverend al sharpton and david ignatius is still with was. we have mike barnicle . good to have you on board with us, good morning. the number of americans hospitalized with covid-19 has now surpassed anything we have previously seen. according to data from the u.s. department of health and human services as of sunday, there were more than 172,000 patients hospitalized with the virus nationwide surpassing the reach of january 14th of last year. the surge in cases is causing a serious of shortage of hospital staff, some hospitals are so desperate to keep nurses on the job, they're allowing them to work even with covid. >> we have hundreds of doctors and nurses that have covid and there many hospitals are overwhelmed. >> doctors and nurses testing positive symptom free can continue working. >> other hospitals are keeping beds open because they don't haves staff to handle the patient load. that move is a last resort to ensure the proper care for current patients. let's bring informer fda commissioner, dr. scott gottlieb, he's the member of the board director at pfizer. his recent book "uncontrolled spread," dr. gottlieb, i want to ask about some of the recent developments with pfizer and a vaccine for omicron but let's start with hospital workers with mild covid symptoms, omicron symptoms or asymptomatic . what do you make of that or is that a new normal across the board? >> i don't think it's a new normal, not just for the workers but also bringing someone infected back into the healthcare. what we are seeing across the country with surging cases hospitalizations. it's a staffing issue. that's going to get more acute as the epidemic rolls into the midwest. and now they're going to see omicron waves put on top of that. the good news is the link to stay drops dramatically. that's reflective of what's happening across the country. they're getting patients out quickly and turning over beds but the residual issue is the staffing issue. >> let's talk generally about omicron, new york city mid county looks a bit like ghost town that's obviously changed a lot of the past week or two. many people believe the next two or three weeks things are going back to normal. talk to us where we are with omicron and a lot of vaccines and in the tool box, this is a virus we are learning to live with, is it not? >> that's right. it's becoming more flu-like in terms of the individual impact of the omicron itself. it's not flu-like because of the devastation of the spread and the number of people getting in infected putting a great burden in society. you are seeing cases peaked, the tool box is much different. you are seeing a shift in policies away from government imposed measures to control spreads, more towards in position put on individuals, trying to require individuals to take collective actions and trying to keep the community safe. you see less rules around masks around vaccine requirements and they thinks like that. >> as you said dr. gottlieb, looks like this omicron has peaked already in the east coast and we'll peak in mid january. just to take your point a step further, what are you making thg new frame a lot of health experts are putting around covid at this point which is not something it's going to be defeated, it's something that's managed and to say going forward, if you are sick, stay home from work or school. work with it, test, get back when you can. we can't shutdown our entire society every time a new variant comes down the pipe. >> in the setting of a major wave of a virus like this, we are seeing policymakers start to do that. as we get pass this wave, this does become more of an endemic virus. we come back in the fall after this wave of infection is enough immunity, we don't see continuous spread of velocity and no new variant comes along. we have to deal with it in the fall and we may have to deal with the new variant. it does settling into a more seasonal pattern. more towards requirements put on individuals and assumptions of responsibility. you need to make sure people have the tools they need to take collective action. do they have access to testing and vaccines and therapeutics. we don't have widespread access to those things. that's what we need to put policy focus and making sure we come back in the fall, people have access to orally drugs and drugs for high risk people and reboosting people coming into the fall. we need to make sure we have the tools people need to mitigate the risk. >> dr. gottlieb, for parents with children ages of birth to five years of age, what tools can they expect in terms of vaccines? >> well, vaccines hopefully by a second quarter as you know trials have been extended and pfizer is looking at a three dose regiment in children ages 6 months to a year, hopefully vaccines will be available. all the other things we do is still proven, try to keep children in social pods in schools and good hands hygiene. parents need to work collectively to make sure they are taking steps to protect those environments. schools are not imposing on testing. parents need to work with each other making sure they don't send children to school with sniffles. we need to be vigilant to try to protect not just ourselves but also families and community settings. >> dr. gottlieb, one of the concerns i have of what i am hearing now is you stated that we are moving from government to individual deciding what to do. what happens all of the efforts of faith leaders and others that have been pushing this when you have requirements made by governments like city of new york saying private companies should have evidence of you been vaccinated otherwise you have to lay people off. that's not relaxing. are we encouraging an uptick in people testing positive and we end up having to go back to efforts that collapsed prematurely? >> look, i think it's a fair point, the shift is unmistakable and it's happening across the political spectrum. it's going to put more on community leaders to try to put more burden in individuals and ask more of the community to try to control tl spread. >> dr. gottlieb, this is david ignatius, i want to go back to the point you were discussing which is the effects on staffs and hospitals in the sense that hospitals crashing out and staffs are overwhelmed. talk about where that problem is heading and how our healthcare system is going to recover from what's happening now? >> it's going to be difficult for healthcare system. you are hearing more and more about retirements within the healthcare system. people are getting burnt out. the difficulty we are having now and the devastating wave in new york to the brink of collapse, we are able to shift personnel around the country, right now we can't do that. every part of the country is requiring extreme level of healthcare staffing. you can't take healthcare workers in the southwest and move them into the northeast because there is epidemic spread within the southwest right now. you were not able to move around that mobile force of healthcare workers that we have in this country and others. that's what we are facing right now, that's why you are seeing healthcare system getting pressed. i am worried states like wallace wallace -- wisconsin and michigan. they largely come out of their delta wave. there were not a lot of covid hospitalizations, when you look at the south and southeast and west, they're better prepared for this than states in the north. and the northeast was experiencing a big delta wave. if you look at the data coming out france right now, a lot of their hospitalizations are still delta. we are seeing the widespread of omicron. a lot of people ending up in the hospital still have delta infection. i suspect that's also true in the northeast. one hospital 30% were delta infections. >> all right, former fda scott gottlieb. thank you very much. schools is going to be back in session in chicago starting tomorrow. the teachers union and board of education chicago have agreed to end their debate, their work action that had classes cancelled the last four days. yes, kids need to be in school. >> they need to be in school and rev, i got to say, eric adams he's faced with a hellish scenario with the fire and stuff start there and a few other things. he showed a brand of leadership that we don't regularly see in that. he was very assertive coming in. sort of like and i am not just talking about are kids going to go in school and sort of reminding you with reagan with the air traffic controller whether they see it on the left or right, they love seeing people get out there and being assertive saying you are not listening to me. i have said this before. sounds like me talking to my kids. what will do you see in these eyes that make you think i am going to change my mind, he shows that assertiveness and he's gotten off a great start. >> he's a strong kind of person. people tend to like and support and follow strong leadership even when they are wrong. people like to see people that are strong. and that believe in what they are doing. and what he's done and dealing with of what would have been a problem that -- and snow removal. he's been firm and assertive and that's what people want to see around the country. that's what we want to see. >> willie, though he ran as an ex-cop. a guy that's going to clean new york city up. he's got a da basically said you can go in and rob a liquor store with a gun if nobody is there. hey, we are okay with it. this is a craziness that has had such a negative impact on the west coast cities. it's not going to work here. i can't believe that anybody that's lived in new york city more than a day would say what this new da is saying. it's crazy. >> no one is watching what's happening in san francisco and saying bring that to my city. that's what what this new da has done. the new chief of police knocking down some serious crimes and misdemeanors and letting people walk away with a ticket effectively. he didn't signal a lot of it during the campaign. most of the focus was on the mayor's race. was this the guy in the district attorney bragged about these policies? >> he was on "policy nation" on sunday night. he clarified saying i am not saying some of the things are being said but he wants to relax a lot of the lower level kind of offenses because he says it's backlogging the courts and we can't get criminals in the court. we need to have jail and not held up with people that have done things less offensive. he feels a lot have been distorted and he's trying to clarify. i don't think anyone including brant want to live in a city where you have people getting out of jail free card and do what you want to do. that's dangerous which is why we try to give him a platform to clarify what he was say. . he did say it on his platform. >> it's going to be a problem for eric adams if he's got a da like that. >> the mayor ran on a 24-year police officer, we got to talk to judges about giving them discretion and these bailed reform laws and going down the line. there will be real attention between the mayor and the da between this stuff. >> we are all for criminal reform. this idea though, it has been such an extreme move. i don't want to say left because there are not a lot of liberal in the city that want a safe city. a lot of these da's have been alike in the past couple of years. west coast and east coast talking about, if they'll reform me, let's make sure our laws are color blind and let's make sure kids in bronxville are treated the same way when kids get in trouble in the bronx. >> there are bad people out there on our streets who want to hurt families, who want to rob stores and who want to trash communities all over america. this whole idea that oh we are going to pass sweeping reforms when crime is a 50-year low because we feel like we can do that. you no what that hurts the most? >> the truly disadvantage. and not da in philadelphia who wants a pat in the back, owe, you are so enlighten. let's go to a cocktail party. well, people in inner city of philadelphia getting shot and killed. >> you can take this city right here, manhattan, five bureaus and look at it and find out the specific groups of people who like to see the police in their neighborhoods. it's not the upper reside. it's parts of the bronx and queens and places like that where people live paycheck to paycheck and a lot of working poor. they want to see cops because they need the safety more than people in the upper east side or on columbus circle. >> bail reform is one issue. it's a legitimate issue. the idea that they're going to define more and more district attorney are going to try to define what they call non-violent crimes. non-violent crimes is pretty violent if it happens to you. if five people come in shop shift lifting is a fine. >> that's smash and grab. >> rev, there is a reason why eric adams won brooklyn. he won brooklyn and the bronx and he won staten island and he lost donny deutsche's neighborhood. >> you have to deal with the world as it is and you have to protect your children and protect your small business from people who are going to come in and take whatever they want and walk off because it's absolutely no fear of prosecution. >> a lot of that goes back to leadership. people like eric adams, want to see police reform and gun violence handled and i am going to be unequivocal and non-apologetic about it. you can't be double minded and you can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. i think with brant what he's saying being put out there, what i clearly think has to be a firm stance. we are not only the disproportionate of victims of police in conduct. we need be just as firm and just as vocal and unequivocal about that and not be apologetic about it. >> mika, we file this two things could be true. if you are tough on crime, you are not for police reform. you can do two things at the same time. you can support good cops and you can let them know you got their back and you are going to give them what they need to get the jobs done in the community . you are not going to second guess every single thing they do and you can reform. you can do it the way a lot of people. rev, you guys talk all the time. you get the sense of that he was trying to move the department the way you wanted to be moved. there was justice for the criminals and justice for the few bad cops. >> and the thing that brandon and i fought on a lot of issues. the thing that i respected where we can get along on the things that we didn't agree. they say what they think i want to hear rather than what i want to get done. that's how you build a society that comes together. you don't need to be on everybody's side. i don't need to have you like me but i need to have you serve me. >> all right. still ahead on "morning joe," the latest on the apartment building fire in the bronx. what authorities say may have contributed to the loss of 17 lives. djokovic is back to work on his australian title defense. >> coughing at the children in front. >> the government of australian holds australians to one standard and holds this punk to another. is that how it works? good luck going to the next lockdown. >> where does his visa status standsless than a week away. >> i would send him off. >> also, you heard the expression the heart of a lion but what about a heart of a pig? >> i use it around my house all the time. >> that's what one man got in a first of its kind transplant. >> you are watching "morning joe." watching "morning joe. we'll be right back. we'll be right back. as a dj, i know all about customization. that's why i love liberty mutual. they customize my car insurance, so i only pay for what i need. how about a throwback? ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty ♪ only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty ♪ it's 7:26 at the white house. former president trump is lashing out. trump's claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. here is what senaor rounds said. >> while there were some irregularities, there were none of the irregularities which have risen to the point where they would have changed the vote outcome in a single state. the election was fair as fair as we have seen. we simply did not win the election as republicans for the presidency. >> in a statement, trump doubled down and accusing the senator being a rhino. is he crazy or stupid. the only reason he did this is because he got my endorsement and now he thinks he has time. those are the only ones, the weak who'll break away even though his election will never come five years. i will never endorse this jerk again. >>. >> i think as republicans, we owe it to the truth and i think integrity matters. and so in my opinion if we want to keep confidence our supporters and our voters, we have to be honest with them. >> republican mit romney defended rounds on twitter. mike rounds speaks truth knowing that the public dependant on it. >> adam kinzinger calling the formal president a snow flake. >> certainly senator rounds is not a rhino. he won twice. he trust the people of his state over donald trump. >> this is a continued trend from republicans. we are getting more and more comfortable coming out, this is mike rounds, the senator has gone through terrible year and a few months with the passing of his wonderful wife and he's got work to worry about than what a guy in mar-a-lago says on twitter about him and calling him out a jerk. >> what he says or 93% of the women majority. we are seeing more and more like people like senator rounds understands that donald trump is doing this because it's the only way he maintains whole in the republican party. this is just a ploy to keep him loyal. if he admits the truth then he's the loser and the band moves on. the parade moves on past him. >> but more and more republicans i think are starting to understand and they got to be honest with their voters and looking at the next election instead of lying about the next one. >> i am hearing more republicans saying privately in conversations we have to find more distance between our party and souls of donald trump. what his party does. donald trump seems to be like a hinder rous in some of these races. >> things are going very well for the republican party right now if you just look at the issues and if you look at the numbers there over the past month or two, there is a larger spread of who do you trust the economy more. the biggest spread in the history and in the nbc's polls and a lot of other issues that matters the most that voters will be voting in 2022. donald trump is nothing but a drag on these candidates as they get into the general election. all you have to do is look at 2020 where republicans exceeded all expectations anywhere except at the top of the ticket, the way donald trump would lose in a state like wisconsin. >> if you take the back and forth between mike rounds and -- donald trump further entrenches himself on this island of ego mania. >> the population in that area is going to grow. >> mike rounds is not a candidate where boy, he really stepped out and hit the president. >> there are many more republicans who feel like this. this guy is an an chor, he's going to drop us down. >> this is not bruins, bviously senator rounds is taking it on, one more senator speaking the basic truth. again, as david said as we all know every republicans you speak to off the record says we have to get beyond donald trump. if we want to win in 2024, we have to move beyond donald trump. a lot of people are saying let's try the status and let's try anybody else. let's get past the negativity of donald trump. we don't have to be mild and conspiracy theories and lose the atlanta suburbs and lose the detroit slushes all because of one man. >> hard to do in politics. moving to tennis now, novak djokovic got back to work. he's making up time after spending four days confined. >> after winning a legal battle against the cancellation of his visa. he still faces the prospect of deportation because he's not vaccinated against covid-1919. he's listed as number one. his visa was the topic of discussion earlier in the day. the australian tournament is set to begin next month. >> let's be very clear here, willie. >> if this where are the waco opening? >> they have been in austria. that would be one thing. this would not be hypocrisy for the government here but this is a bad look. >> well, that was the original outrage which he was going to breeze through and the public said, wait a minute, we have been in locked down and nobody can come in and see us. >> we are not going let this happen. >> they put him in a detention hotel and his visa is pulled. >> they are going on a second review on us. >> they'll review the pizza one more time. well, he's not going to let lockdowns. >> why different rules for him than me? we'll see what happens. >> when we started back in '47. came back from the war and had a couple of crazy kids. we were just kind of knocking around the city streets. we walk in here, oh, you like a radio show. i always said i wanted to do stories. >> finance, politics -- >> one day there would be, we would be using pig hearts in human being. >> talk about playing the long game. >> your day has arrived. >> mika has the story. >> we have been waiting for this, what is today? >> a medical breakthrough. >> mika, tell us, i had a dream martin luther king has a dream. >> this is a little bit better. >> his was a little. >> this was mine, i understand it's not significant but this is my day. let me ask it. >> david, i am sorry. >> a medical breakthrough, the first ever pig to human heart transplant. this is fascinating >> surgeons at the maryland medical center in baltimore placed a genetically mott fied pig's heart in a 67 years old man. >> the man had a long list of, so far, the heart works, they are taking it day by day. >> that's amazing. >> that's remarkable. >> david ignatious, would you do that if you had to make the choice? >> i think that situation would not be a choice really. i am worried you lost your place in the q for the next, i think you really hurt your chances here. one of my biggest problems is this is what i am looking for since 1957. where do i go from this? >> it's foreign policies. operations was a success. >> watch out. >> don't put me in the shot. >> oh okay. not a word from mike barnicle , please. >> coming up -- >> as you referenced this, there is a long waiting list for transplants and hearts and people who died on that list. >> if this is a possibility, this is a massive break through in medical. >> you talk about right now, what's the possibility for others and it's my own fault for setting it up in an amazing way. >> i need some dinner riepgt noi. >> think about the possibility, there are so many people that don't get matches and if we are moving into places where organs from animals can be used and i am sure that's the direction we are moving into. >> i have no idea what i am talking about but i am excited about it because i am getting older. >> maybe when i need something. the sheep walks through the yard and i got a new litter. >> all right -- >> these are wonderful times we are living in. >> i am waiting for the gates to open and here comes the ship. sorry, mika. >> and not only getting a new liver? >> joe. god get him off the set. go back to bed. >> coming up -- >> please let me finish. you can't create a show as good as succession. this will get your attention without some intention stuff happening behind the scenes. one example, the high obtain approach of actor jeremy strong whose methods and drive had been the subject of recent attention and criticism. our next guest says extreme devotion is not a bad thing at all. does that hold true outside of hollywood? we'll talk about this straight ahead on "morning joe." >> a fascinaing article. fascii. with age comes more... get more with neutrogena® retinol pro plus. a powerful .05% retinol that's also gentle on skin. for wrinkles results in one week. neutrogena®. for people with skin. ♪3, 4♪ ♪ for wrinkles results in one week. ♪hey♪ ♪ ♪are you ready for me♪ ♪are you ready♪ ♪are you ready♪ >> vo: my car is my after-work decompression zone. ♪ music ♪ >> vo: so when my windshield broke... i found the experts at safelite autoglass. they have exclusive technology and service i can trust. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ some of my best memories growing up, were cooking with mom. she always said, “food is love.” so when 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okay? i would just ask that you take care of me. okay so -- if dad didn't need me right now. i don't exactly know what i would be for. >> i really can't. >> but, thank you. >> fresh off of "succession," fans are anxious to see more of jeremy's character. as the character on screen, many who have work as strong says he's just as intense as expectations. a recent profile of new yorker looked to get to strong's technique. one section reads in part, i began to wander if i have been interviewing actor kendall roy or jeremy strong. >> in 2014, jeremy plays robert downey jr. he ask for personalized crops that were not in a script including a family photo album. it was like swapping him away. >> joining us now elizabeth seiere. she was ed contador and chief. she has a new piece in the new york times titles. "in at the dense with jeremy strong,". >> thank you for coming on the show this morning. elizabeth. this is definitely in intense character. i can't imagine any other way in which you have to get into character unless you brought that intensity into the process. >> the thing that struck me about it, the profile though, strong has been this entire life. she was at yale and you have college classmates making the extreme level and learning his craft and what's essential ly an estate. >> people are looking down from him from being in this rare fight space. nobody is going to do his job for him. if he was going to succeed, he had to be in tenths. nobody criticized lewis or christian bells when he throws himself famously into rolls and they're extraordinary ak stores. as your article points out there is in snobbish class distinction here with germany and they looked down on him for quote, "driving too much." >> there was a specific line that really stuck out for me. he said something like i have never seen anyone pursue anything with that koind of career. the word career stoot oud to me. >> what are we french now? >> i understood in the french culture and i have great respect for the culture but one french immigrant to another after another says they look down on you for working too hard. that's why i came to america. this is sort of who we are, right? >> the thing we don't talk about it is class resentment runs both ways. >> the upper classes but very often when people try to transcends ordinary care social economic class, you find other classes. i think that's part of the dynamic that was strong that went to yahle. >> now he's apparently successful. >> i was a working class kid, i remember it. >> brian cox here on the program with us, i don't think anybody could accuse him of being an elitist, but he was quoted in "the new yorker" piece saying about jeremy, "it's the cost to himself that just worries me. i just feel he has to be kind esh to himself and, therefore, has to be a bit kinder to everybody else." it made me wonder if part of the problem for criticisms made of him, for lack of a better phrase, vicious "new yorker" piece, do you think it was the result people just felt he couldn't be approached because he was so distant in his role? >> i think he was under a lot of pressure. when you -- when he went to yale, coming from a family that was -- it was not a foregone conclusion he would have gone to yale. when you're in that situation, there's a lot of pressure to perform not just for yourself but sometimes for your family, entire generation. and i think that was really formative for him. i think it probably shaped who he is and how he works and how he interacts with the world. he feels that if he fails, that's catastrophic in a way that people with more resources might not feel the same way. >> hi, elizabeth, it's jonathan lemire. some of the co-workers, brian were so vicious, it led to speculation he was going to be written off the show. there was a cycle that kendall would be killed, that he died in the pool there, in part because how can he still be working with these actors who think so little of him or find him so difficult? how will he do that since he's coming back next season? >> i think he has to adapt. that's something anyone who's accomplished what he has under the circumstances he had, your career is involved. i don't think it's a foregone conclusion that you come from a working class background and you end up in these spaces, you automatically behave like a jerk. as much as that might be happening, he has to learn to work with people better. i think he probably is learning that lesson right now. he's a brilliant actor. i think he'll probably be fine. >> elizabeth, this is david ignatius, just a quick question, what is jeremy strong's father like? >> i actually don't know. he was referenced in "the new yorker" article that he works in a juvenile detention facility and there really wasn't much else said about him. >> you wonder because watching him against brian cox, it's such an extraordinary matchup. you wonder about the actual father and son relationship behind that. >> yeah, really. >> the narrative is important. brian talks about character as his driver. he grew up in a working class background and built this empire. so i think it's probably easy for strong to tap into the tension between on generation of children and "succession" who grew up with wealth and privilege and prior generations that didn't. he's got a lot of i think personal material he uses there. >> elizabeth spiers, thank you so much. her guest essay for "the new york times" has been titled "the defense of jeremy strong and all of the strivers with no chill." thank you for coming on. and still ahead president biden heads china for support of two bills. but organizers say talking about change is not enough. they want a plan from the president. we'll get a live report from atlanta at the top of the hour. "morning joe" is coming right back. of the hour "morning joe" is coming right back >> vo: my car is my after-work decompression zone. ♪ music ♪ >> vo: so when my windshield broke... i found the experts at safelite autoglass. they have exclusive technology and rvice i can trust. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ need your prescription refilled? capsule pharmacy can fill and hand deliver your medications - the same day - for free. go to capsule.com to get started. we handle your insurance, coordinate with your doctor, and text you when your medication is ready. all you have to do is schedule delivery. we bring your medication directly from our pharmacy, straight to your doorstep. get your prescriptions filled and delivered today - for free. go to capsule.com and get started in 15 seconds. inner voice (sneaker shop owner): i'm surprising my team with a preview of the latest sneaker drop. because i can answer any question about any shoe. but i'm stumped when it comes to payroll. intuit quickbooks helps you easily run payroll in less than 5 minutes... ...so you can stay... one step ahead. ♪ ♪ ♪ "how bizarre" by omc ♪ no annual fee on any discover card. ♪ ♪ 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 doesn't... 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. ♪ i want my daughter riley to know about her ancestors and how important it is to know who you are and to know where you came from. we're discovering together... it's been an amazing gift. what appears to be a ballistic missile. the south korean military says the test shows the rogue nation has developed a hypersonic missile. it flew for nearly 450 miles at 10 times the speed of sound. the u.s. military says the test does not pose any immediate threat to america or south korea. around the same time as the suspected missile test, the federal aviation administration ordered a full grounding at all west coast airports. the stoppage lasted around seven minutes, according to local reports. nbc news has not confirmed the grounded flights was in response to the missile test. we've reached out to the faa and our awaiting comment. and coming up -- the high stakes talks between u.s. and russian officials and with no sign of progress amid growing tensions over ukraine, richard haass joins us with his take on the standoff. plus, martin luther king iii will join the conversation ahead of the president's trip to georgia for a speech on voting rights. we're back in two minutes. n votg rights we're back in two minutes. it's the top of the hour. s. >> look at that, willie. >> live look at new york city. >> what are we looking at down here, willie? >> you and i are in the boiler room shoveling coal so mika can stay warm in the penthouse. >> i'm actually in washington. >> we will have to retire that one. >> i like that one though. >> that must be good since i haven't actually been to the south of france until you took me there. that was nice of you, thank you. >> historic trip. we went there, and you know what she said, "i don't really like it." >> it reminded me -- >> she said she would rather be in maine. okay, that's cheaper, let's get in our dodge dart and go there next time. i wish you told me that before i sold the house so i could afford the tickets. >> kick it down. >> we'll sell the van so we could record an album, so i had to sell my house to take her. yeah, i like maine better. >> it just reminded me of. it was nice, it was nice. it is tuesday, january 11th, reverend al sharpton -- >> i'm a boy from mississippi. i don't understand things. i'm with an uptown girl here. i'm a mississippi guy with a woman whose father ran foreign policy. i'm out of my league! >> you try. >> i tried! >> not good enough. >> which one of us drives the truck? >> i don't know. is this a trick question? >> not you. >> i get me an old grand wagonier. a wood one, baby. >> i love those things. >> we had an old one, my mom had one, and i totaled it in high school. she was devastated. for a second she checked on me to make sure i survived and then the car. >> can i ask you something, was there anybody else in the car with you when you struck the tree? >> yes, there were. >> did anybody check -- >> there was a group in the car. i was 15. >> everybody was okay? >> everybody was okay. just slipped on some leaves in high school. >> oh, of course. >> when they came out with the new one, i was so excited but they didn't put the wood paneling on the side of the truck. >> i'm not a car guy. there are a lot of people who are car guys, i don't get it. do you want a new one? no, no, i want one that breaks down every day. >> it looks good in the repair shop. >> exactly. joining the discussion here at the top of the hour, at four past the top of the hour, we have the president on the council on foreign relations, richard haass. >> richard, are you a car guy? >> no. >> are you a car guy? >> they get me there to here. >> ignatius, are you a car guy? >> he's not here, joe. he left. he got in a car and left. >> david, if you're listening, call in, call in to the studio and tell us if you're a car guy. is anybody here a car guy? >> it's expensive to be a car guy. i would like to be. some guys have airplane hangars for cars. jay leno, jerry seinfeld. >> can i ask, how many cars can you drive at one time? >> take a different one out every day. it's like collecting art. you get this rare vehicle. but expensive habit we don't have the luxury of participating in. baseball cards. baseball cards. >> i get that. >> if you're just joining us, joe was up late watching alabama lose so he's a little punchy this morning. >> run the tape! >> we don't have any good plays by alabama. there were none! so we show you only georgia. >> the fourth quarter -- >> you all were up watching? >> sure! >> we were, yeah. >> richard? >> i watched the whole game. >> it's what we do. >> good game. >> great, your analysis should be really sharp this morning. in a moment, we'll get to president biden's trip to georgia. >> wow, mika! >> good morning, mika, it's good to see you too. >> good to see you. >> why don't we do this. why don't we go to the next -- >> i'm so tired. >> welcome back. >> i act like it's just a game, but it's life. football is life. guide me, mika. >> we're going to get to president biden's trip to georgia with voting rights in sharp focus but, first, as u.s. and russia holds a series of meetings to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in ukraine, there is skepticism in the eastern european country. ukrainian soldiers started digging defensive positions yesterday saying they have little confidence in diplomacy. nbc news chief foreign correspondent richard engel reports. >> reporter: you can see how confident ukrainians are in diplomacy with russia with every scrape and swing of their shovels. troops are digging new defensive trenches in the frozen ground close to russian forces. ukrainian troops are preparing for the worst because they worry that russia is not negotiating in good faith and is just going through the motions of diplomacy so it can say it gave peace a chance, and invade anyway. in geneva, russian diplomats met for eight hours. no breakthroughs. the russian diplomat insisted he has no plans to invade. he added a warning. >> after every mistake and miscalculation with respect to what should be done, the security of countries to the west of russia suffers. >> reporter: russia has more than 100,000 troops positioned near ukraine's borders. it is demanding ukraine never be allowed to join nato and nato shrink back to what it was in 1997, dismantling much of the alliance's presences across much much europe and baltic. it is such a command they're worried vladimir putin is building a pretext to invade ukraine. on the ground, soldiers told us they will stand their ground as long as they can. he said, we all want to return to our families but this is our land and we will defend it. be vladimir putin, they say, are not bluffing and they expect a trick. >> we're not pulling back boundaries and at the same time we're not moving into ukraine as far as nato. it seems we're all playing semantics games, give us a guarantee and we're not going to give you a guarantee on something we're not going to do anyway. that's what's so ridiculous about this. >> we're not going to formalize it but we're not going to do it. the real question is, what is this about? it's silly to say there was a breakthrough yesterday, you don't have breakthroughs on day one. >> you don't have russians saying we're not going into ukraine. as brought up by willie, they're at 100,000, supposed to be 150,000 at this point. not massive breakthroughs but at the same time it could have gone much worse yesterday. >> could have. i think the administration's done a very good job at signaling what would be the direct and indirect costs economically, militarily, strategically, of russia acting. they're creating an exit ramp if the russians want to take it. i think this is being well handled. at some point putin will have to decide, what does he want? >> putin is extraordinarily effective at trolling the united states, trolling the west. he did it, of course, in the 2016 campaign. he was on our front page of world newspapers over the next four years. he's once again seized the national spotlight. not bad for a country with about $2 trillion gdp. their gdp that's 1/10th of what the united states and european union is together. but it's one thing to troll the west for headlines, and it's quite another to go into ukraine and set yourself up for, willie, a european version of afghanistan. >> exactly. one thing to conquer the country, another to hold it. hold it would be extraordinarily expensive. plus, if they're really worried about nato's reach in places like the baltics or poland, there's no better way to guarantee russia increases the forces on the periphery than go into ukraine. >> if they go into ukraine, it's a nightmare at home because suddenly you have massive troop movement into poland, massive troop movement into other nato countries that's getting closer and closer to the old soviet union. >> and finland is talking about possibly wanting nato if russian goes into ukraine. putin wants to redraw the security map of europe, he better be careful. he could face the worse strategic environment if russia ever faced if he goes ahead with this. >> and he certainly understands that, doesn't he? >> yes. so my hunch is this might more likely -- less than a pretest invasion than probe. he likes that. he will see what he can get for it. diplomatically, it's a way to explore the europeans, you have a new german government, what better to learn about the new german government about what they do on sanctions or the nord stream 2 pipeline. >> same thing for joe biden. joe biden's been on the stage for a long time. he saw what happened in afghanistan. so push the new president, see what you're going to get from the new president. like you said, push the new leadership from germany, see what you're going to get from the new leadership in germany. test them out, push them. i'm not saying -- i'm not saying this is a good thing. i'm just saying for vladimir putin this is actually a calculated move. makes sense for him to be doing this in his interests. >> but, again, going over the line, going towards kiev, suddenly everything melts down. >> it's quite possible putin is making it up as he goes along. we tend to attribute to him and other adversaries a great strategic vision. quite possibly he's making it up, he's calculating, he's seeing the potential cost of doing certain things. my own view is he might have originally been leaning towards going in. my guess is he isn't anymore. i think the costs he would have to pay became too large. i think he will look for something less. >> richard, let's read from your latest piece titled "a world of mounting disarray." you write, my book was published five years ago this month. the world is a messier place than it was five years ago and most trends are heading in the wrong direction. the covid-19 pandemic exposed the inadequacies of international health machinery. climate change advanced. cyberspace remains akin to the wild west, with no sheriff able to set boundaries and acceptable behavior, nuclear war continues. vladimir putin, seemingly ensconced for power for the foreseeable future, set on stopping or reversing nato's research using military force, energy supplies and cyberattacks to destabilize countries and governments he views as adversarial. there's one other critical factor, the united states is in greater disarray internally than it was five years ago. political polarization is at all-time highs and political violence emerged as a serious threat. the peaceful transfer of political power following elections can no longer be taken for granted. that's the variable five years ago that wasn't necessarily there. president trump was coming into office but we didn't have the attempted overthrowing of the election. we didn't have the continuing questioning of the peaceful transfer of power in this country and some of the disarray you write about. >> that might well be the biggest national security threat we face. there's a long list of everything else. rise in china, climate change continues to advance, covid. north korea just tested missiles again. iran is close to nuclear weapons. it's a long list. but for the last 75 years the united states has taken the lead in marshaling the world's response and we've done a very good job. we may have overreached sometimes in places like you iraq but by and large the last 75 years have been an enormously powerful run of history. democracy gaining for the most part. now we're seeing backsliding. the biggest error is a divided, distracted united states. the question is, can we come back? if we don't come back, the world is not going to come back and if the world doesn't come back, we can't i sullate ourselves from it. that's the dangerous dynamic of it now. let's move to politics at home. president biden and vice president harris head to georgia today to make the case for voting rights. joining us live from atlanta, nbc news correspondent blayne alexander. blayne? >> mika, good morning to you. in so many ways georgia really is the perfect backdrop for this voting rights push. ook, atlanta is known as the civil rights cradle and john lewis, longtime congressman is from this area. the president today is also returning to the very state that handed democrats the majority in the senate and now he's facing criticism from some in his own party. this morning, president biden is taking his voting rights push, a central piece of his agenda, to georgia, making an urgent appeal to protect the rights he says are under attack, vowing i will not yield, i will not flinch in protecting votes rights, according to an excerpt obtained by nbc news. >> in state after state, new laws are being written not to protect the vote, but to deny it. >> reporter: on the line, a pair of federal voting bills that democrats say will protect access to the ballot, providing universal access to mainland voting, making election day a federal holiday and requiring federal approval for election changes at the state and local level. georgia is ground zero for the fight over voting rights. >> they attacked and cheated on our elections. >> reporter: repeatedly under attack by former president trump, who falsely claimed the election was stolen, focusing on mail-in ballots after a reliable victory in the once red state. soon after the republican legislature passed a law limiting absentee voting saying it made voting more secure. the democrats slammed it as voter suppression, while similar laws passed in at least 19 other states. now in washington efforts to secure federal voting rights are hitting a wall. democrats are considering changing a senate rule known as the filibuster so they can pass laws without republicans who are unanimously opposed. >> democrats are trying to use their fake hysteria to justify breaking senate rules. >> reporter: but in georgia patience is thin among the very organizers who helped the president win. did you feel this was an empty gesture? >> we feel like the president, and those accompanying the president, are coming down here for a photo-op. >> now, mika, in his speech today the president is expected to say he supports changing that filibuster rule and senate majority leader chuck schumer has promised a vote on that by next monday. of course, that's martin luther king day. mika? >> nbc's blayne alexander, thank you very much. joining us now, martin luther king iii, chairman of the board of the drum major institute and global rights later. and was founded by dr. king and nonprofit community action group carries on his legacy by convening leaders and organizations to identify common sense solutions to the most pressing problems like this one. also with us, president of a drum major institute, arndrea king. good to have you both with us. arndrea, i would like to start with you and ask what you're hoping to hear from the president today and if there is maybe some understanding of the frustration that some are feeling about action needed. >> good morning, thank you very much for having us with you. to be honest, it was a difficult decision on our behalf on attending today's speech. we certainly understand the frustration of our local partners here in georgia. it's been a long year of a lot of things not being done, and we stand and we share that frustration, and in fact, we have been in communication. we talked to cliff offright. we understand their position and situation and they expressed they understand our position in coming to the table and expressing these frustrations directly to the president. >> arndrea, al sharpton. we've worked together throughout this year and certainly the frustration major that they are expression is what we have. we put 50,000 in the streets, drum major, institute action network, we have actions going this weekend. i think that one of the things, martin, you and i talked about on the phone yesterday when i was on the west coast, there were always different strategies in the civil rights movement. your father had a different strategy than roy wilkins. they all came together to achieve something. and i think that's what we are facing today. so we're not against those who are not going. i want to go because you all are going. but we want to see this done and it should have been the priority, and as i said all along, it should have been the vocal advocacy of the white house all along. i think all of us agree on that, martin. >> absolutely, rev. the fact of the matter is since january 6th, 19 states have passed 34 laws that are making it harder to vote in a country that purports to be a democracy. i don't even understand how anybody would be against expanding and protecting the right to vote and preserving democracy. it's a very sad position or point where we are right now. and absolutely, i think that a lot of this should have already been done. here we are approaching the king holiday, and it's amazing that when we talk about voting rights, which dad and john lewis and amelia boinken and so many others worked on over 50 years ago, here we are now trying to regain voting rights. the fact is as arndrea reminded me, our daughter in 2008 had more voting rights when she was born, she's now 13 years old, then she has now. that is unconscionable and must change and must change now. >> arndrea, the fact of the matter is we're looking at this from a moral kind of lens which the civil rights movement is about and which we continue but it doesn't even make political spence, arndrea, because i don't see how the president's party can maintain the slight edge it has in terms of the majority of the house and the tie in the senate, with a tiebreaker by a democratic vice president, they can't even win unless they preserve the right to vote? why all of this laryngitis? i hope, i will be sitting there hearing what he has to say, but it doesn't even make political sense we're in this position. >> i agree, rev. we talked about this several times we have been organizing and working together particularly on this campaign for this over a year. in 2020 we've asked people to come out and vote, we mobilized and people came out and voted in unlike numbers we've ever seen before. here we are in 2022 and black and brown voters actually we're being silenced yet again. the fact that we are still fighting for the same federal voting rights protections that were a cornerstone of the civil rights movement of martin luther king jr. and so many others. >> yes, martin, joe biden has said -- joe biden understands he's president because of black americans who got out and voted. first in the primary in south korea and across the deep south, then in atlanta, detroit, all across milwaukee county. the president understands this. what's your message to him today, what can he do short of hitting the tides at joe manchin and kyrsten sinema and get them out of the way and pass voting rights? >> we saw exactly what he could do when it came to infrastructure. he was able to get the infrastructure bill done because he put the full weight of the white house behind getting that done. and what we are saying to the president is we need to see and hear today how you're going to get these bills passed. the failure as senator schumer says is not an option. so we want him to use his full weight. we know that the white house, when it really wants something done, they have a lot of influence they can use. and that's what we expect to hear and see. >> and let me be clear when we're saying we, we have a campaign that was launched last month and we have over 150 national partners that are standing with us on this initiative, particularly with activations over the weekend where we're saying you stood for the bridges now we want to see that same power standing for voting rights. there are 150 national partners, and in fact five of the national labor unions have signed on as partners. so this is a strong and broad coalition that are coming together at this critical time to stand for our democracy. >> arndrea waters king and martin luther king iii, thank you all for being with us today. we so greatly appreciate it. always good seeing you. so, rev, these are obviously critical times, especially on voting rights. we've talked about this a good bit. also said earlier today that joe manchin and some republicans are sitting down talking, trying to figure out how to get this done. and so we will be following that. but you understand what a critical time it is better than anybody. and you're getting the message out and you're releasing a new book today. can you tell us about it? >> i wanted to write a book about a lot of people that never got the limelight, did not become household names, that made real contributions. most people don't know the name claude day colvin. she was a young woman arrested for not giving her seat up in front of the bus in montgomery, alabama, before rosa parks. they say we're not going to rally around here, she's too dark and had a child and not married. i want to tell her story. most people don't know the story of paulie mary, who wrote things that they used in the supreme court brown versus board of education. they didn't want to involve here because she was a woman in the 1950s doing this, and she was lgbtq. i writ her story. amelia boykin, who really was on the ground, i write her story. i talk about troublemakers, people who did what john lewis talked about, good trouble, and did it for righteous reasons. they did it not -- knowing, rather, they would never be on the evening news or front page of "the new york times," they did it because they felt it was right. had they not done it, we would not be sitting here with a black woman vice president today and wouldn't have had a black president. so everybody ought to read about people that really made a difference. it's in the book stores today. >> it is a great book. it's in the book stores today. willie, just expanding out on that last conversation, there's problems with build back better, which obviously joe biden con the get done. i think there's a problem with voting rights here unless joe manchin and kyrsten sinema and some of the republicans he's talking to figure out a way to put together a package that takes care of a lot of the voting rights concerns. >> you don't know how many times joe manchin and kyrsten sinema can say i'm not changing senate rules. the president will make that signal down here today, what he wants to see and progressives wants to see but it takes the votes to get it. as you know, rev, there are a quiet group working behind the scenes, some republicans, other democrats, trying to get to 60 votes but it's not going to be the way it stands now the legislation that's in front of us. >> whatever way we get there, and i have been in some of those conversations. i will be there today. we will be talking to the president and whatever we need to get there, we need to get there. voting rights should be something that losing is not an option so you can call it whatever you want to call it. >> yeah. >> i don't care if you call it carve out or reform, we need to protect the people's right to vote. >> reverend, thank you very much, richard haass, thank you as well. we've got the masters coming up. make sure you put on your hat, you're "morning joe's" golf correspondent because he told me i had to make you "morning joe's" golf correspondent. we need you back to talk about the giants, what they need to do in the off-season. >> busy off-season coming up. started yesterday. started yesterday, mika. >> okay, can i just say you all look so exhausted. still ahead on "morning joe" -- >> oh, really. yeah, sure. still ahead on "morning joe" -- >> keep them coming -- >> some at-risk americans could be eligible for another early dose this week. and the potential for another variant-specific vaccine later this year. you're watching "morning joe." we'll be right back. g "morning " g "morning " we'll be right back. isn't that right limu? limu? limu? sorry, one sec. doug blows several different whistles. doug blows several difft whistles. [a vulture squawks.] there he is. only pay for what you need. ♪liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty♪ narrator: on a faraway beach, the generation called "our greatest" saved the world from tyranny. in an office we know as "oval," a new-generation president faced down an imminent threat of nuclear war. on a bridge in selma, alabama, the preacher of his time marched us straight to passing voting rights for every american. at a gate in west berlin, a late-generation american president demanded an enemy superpower tear down a wall and liberate a continent. american generations answering the call of their time with american ideals. freedom. liberty. justice. for today's generation of leaders, the call has come again to protect our freedom to vote, to fortify our democracy by passing the freedom to vote act and the john lewis voting rights act because america - john lewis: we are not going back, we are going forward. why choose proven quality sleep from sleep number? because my sleep number 360 smart bed is temperature balancing so i stay cool. john lewis: we are not going back, and senses my movement and effortlessly adjusts to help keep me comfortable. the sleep number 360 smart bed is on sale now. only from sleep number. biden: this is the challenge of our collective lifetime. and every day we delay, the cost of inaction increases. we have the ability to invest in ourselves and build an equitable, clean energy future, and in the process, create millions of good-paying jobs and opportunities around the world. there's no more time to hang back or sit on the fence or argue amongst ourselves. so let this be the moment that we answer history's call. new year, new start. and now comcast business is making it easy to get going with the ready. set. save. sale. get started with fast and reliable internet and voice for $64.99 a month with a 2-year price guarantee. it's easy... with flexible installation and backing from an expert team, 24/7. and for even more value, ask how to get up to a $500 prepaid card. get a great deal for your business with the ready. set. save. sale today. comcast business. powering possibilities. welcome back. there is lots to cover this morning on the coronavirus, from the sheer number of infections to a potential fourth shot of the vaccine for those at highest risk. nbc news national correspondent miguel almaguer has the latest. >> reporter: this morning's the nation's top covid vaccine providers are working on a fourth shot. the ceos for moderna and pfizer say a second booster, this one aimed at omicron, could be rolled out in the last few months. >> these vaccines will be ready in march. i don't know if we will need it. i don't know how it will be used, but it will be ready. >> reporter: with our nation already averaging nearly 700,000 new infections every day, most of those hospitalized are unvaccinated and with covid deaths rising in places where omicron first hit, doctors fear a rise in fatalities similar to last year may soon be coming. now officials in sonoma county, california, are advising residents to stay home for the next 30 days, moving quickly to ban large gatherings here in wine country that would impact weddings and conferences with limited exceptions. meanwhile, child hospitalizations are up 133%. cassandra castillo's 6-month-old son is one of almost 4.5 million kids who tested positive for the virus. he's been taken to the hospital three times. >> my biggest concern is him being able to breathe. he sounds like he's struggling to breathe, and it's terrible to hear that. >> reporter: amid a push to get kids back into the classroom, students in chicago will return to campus wednesday after teachers reached a new agreement with the district over safety concerns. in los angeles after a rush to get more than half a million students tested, the nation's second largest district is back today, just as covid cases here surge to record levels. >> i have mixed emotions about it really. >> reporter: this just the latest reopening as the nation tries to ride out a tidal wave of infections. >> that was nbc news national correspondent miguel almaguer reporting. coming up -- an update on that devastating apartment fire in the bronx. new details on how the smoke traveled so quickly. that story is next on "morning joe." o quickly. that story is next on "morning that story is next on "morning joe. that's also gentle on skin. for wrinkles results in one week. neutrogena®. for people with skin. ♪ ♪making your way in the world today♪ ♪takes everything you've got♪ ♪ ♪taking a break from all your worries ♪ ♪sure would help a lot ♪ ♪wouldn't you like to get away? 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>> we prepare to see how fire and smoke rises at a fire. >> reporter: this shows you how quickly the flames spread. >> fire will begin to consume the building and if doors are not closed will exit the hallway with smoke and affect the rest of the building. >> reporter: this is key, with the door to that room wide open, the flames inspect tense fayed, shooting towards the opened doorway. but watch what happens when the doors are shut, big difference. the flames are contained inside the room. how come having the door closed makes such a difference? >> if the door is closed, the rest of the building will maintain habitable. >> reporter: should you say or evacuate? if it's in your room, exit. stay low and go. not the stairs or elevator. >> stay low because smoke rises. >> reporter: but if it's not near you, grab a wet towel and grab the grab the door to stop smoke. if you're not close to the source of flames, you may be safer waiting for the police department. >> we had fires where the contents of the fire's apartment were completely incinerated but if you went to the adjoining apartment on either side, it didn't even look like there was a fire in the building. >> reporter: know the building you're in. keep the doors closed in case of fire. and remember, sometimes it's best to stay put. tips to help you get out alive. >> that was nbc news correspondent vicky nguyen reporting. coming up -- just a few months ago it was bob saget mourning the loss of friend and fellow comedian norm macdonald. now it's saget who is gone too soon. what we're learning about his sudden passing next on "morning joe." s sudden passing next on "morning joe. us, a new kitchen became part of our financial plan. ♪ i want to make the most of every meal we have together. ♪ at northwestern mutual, our version of financial planning helps you live your dreams today. find a northwestern mutual advisor at nm.com in many ways bob saget lived his life in the public eye, from leading roles on tv to the bright spotlight of stand-up comedy. but now we're learning much more about the private side of the late comedian, who died suddenly over the weekend. nbc's joe fryer reports. >> reporter: bob saget left behind a rich and varied body o >> you girls are the greatest. >> reporter: those who knew him say the kindness he showed on screen was no act. jimmy kimmel emotionally paid tribute the other night. >> a word that came up a lot was the sweetest and bob was the sweetest. he was the sweetest man. >> reporter: saget was found dead sunday inside an orlando hotel room. according to the police incident report, his family could not get ahold of him so hotel security went to check on him and found saget on the bed with no pulse. >> we have an unresponsive guest in a room. >> reporter: authorities say they found no signs of foul play or drug use. the medical examiner has performed an autopsy to determine how the 65-year-old died but the results are months away. saget's widow says, "bob was my absolute everything. i'm so completely shattered and in disbelief." john stamos posted a new statement on behalf of the "full house" cast. "35 years ago we came together as a tv family but we became a real family, and now we grieve as a family." stamos comforted saget's widow kelly on monday. and andrea posted this clip of bob during the sequel "fuller house." >> i'm so proud to be able to raise these girls and know them my girls. >> reporter: saget was on a standup comedy tour when he died and just hours earlier posted on instagram, i guess i'm finding my new voice and loving every moment of it. in one of his last interviews he explained why he loved comedy so much. >> you either make people laugh and it might not be your cup of tea but you're doing something great for people. laughing -- that's why i'm doing it. >> that was nbc's joe fryer reporting. and coming up, a meeting of the minds decades in the making, a big announcement concerning my new initiative that's bringing together women leaders of different generations from all over the world. "morning joe" is back in a moment. 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(burke) seventeen-car garage you got there? ♪we are farmers♪ ♪bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum♪ live look at new york city this morning. we have a big announcement concerning the forbes and know your value 50 over 50 list, which recognizes the women who have achieved success well after the age of 50. women are shattering age and gender norms all over the world, so last fall we announced a new frontier, the global expansion of 50 over 50 and here now to tell us about the list, 50 over 50 asia 2022 is editor of forbes women maggie mcgrath and "morning joe" reporter daniella bravo. i want to point out like our u.s. list, this list celebrates women achieving success and doing amazing things well over 90. the runway is very long. we're looking at women, maggie, who primarily live or work in asia, meaning more than 50% of their time, and their customer base or revenue is centered in the region. so let's start with 58-year-old falguni nair. >> she did not start her life as an entrepreneur. she spent two decades as an investment banker helping other entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and take their own companies public. in 2012 she decided to take $2 million of her own money and start nika, an online fashion, beauty and retail company, she vowed she wouldn't take it public until it became profitable, so in fiscal 2021 the company achieved profitability, she took it public in india to a $13 billion valuation and the transaction made her india's richest self-made female billionaire and she is 58 years old. >> and, maria ressa, a veteran journalist, nobel peace prize laureate. tell us about her. she's also. >> also 58. an investigative journalist but she also founded rappler, an online multimedia site, it has 40 million unique readers every month in the philippines. she has come under fire in the philippine government for her sharp coverage of president due tert. she faces allegations of cyber liable. for her work in defending press freedom she is a staunch advocate. the more she's been threatened the more resolute she becomes. she believes in using truth to hold power accountable. >> she is amazing. daniella, let's talk about samantha due, 57 years old. >> samantha is a founder, chair and ceo of xy labs a shanghai based biopharmaceutical firm. it was founded in 2014 and has already been taken public twice under her lead. basically she's made it possible through zai labs for wider access to treatment, autoimmune diseases and other conditions, they also helped development and research new therapies in these areas. their market cap is $5.3 billion. >> and then yayou kusama who is, yes, active and just killing it at 92. >> she's in her 90s, she is a world renowned artist, best known for her work in the infinity paintings and polka dot installations. she grew up in japan to parents who actually discouraged her from becoming an artist. she rebelled, moved to new york city in her mid 20s, had no connections and tried to make herself a name in the art scene. this was in the '60s and '70s which was heavily male dominated but she was able to keep up with the best of them, influencing artist greats like andy warhol. eventually she moves back from japan and starts her career from scratch. she admitted herself into a mental health institution, she had struggled with mental health her entire life. >> wow. >> but was able to do that in order to keep up doing what she loved, which was her art. and it wasn't until her 80s when her work went viral. now her work sells for millions of dollars around the world and she is the highest selling living female artist accounting for 25% of auction sales made by women. >> amazing. maggie, before we go, we have another list before our big event in march, which i will be talking about. we are doing 50/50 europe and that's coming up next, right? >> yes, next week we will be unveiling the 50 over 50 -- actually, it's emea, we have expanded it to really be global. we are looking at europe, the middle east, africa. i don't want to give away too much, but we have some fabulous female founders, we have venture capitalists, we have leaders who were elected at and above 50, 60, 70. so i'm excited for everyone to see this list. >> i will second that. i was at the last meeting. these women are incredible. so stay tuned for the 50/50 europe and beyond list. this march, though, we have something really special coming, we're bringing together generations of women for a global event in abu dhabi to mark international women's day 2022. the forbes 30/50 summit will link the 30 under 30 and 50 over 50 lists. later this week on "morning joe" we will have new details on that, maybe about some speakers and events that we have there, and you can hear more about the issues at the forefront of this movement on my new limited series podcast mika straight up. you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. by the way, if you are interested in going to abu dhabi or sending some key members of your team to the 30/50 summit you can find out more information about that at forbes.com. maggie and daniella, thank you both very much. we will see you next week. and that does it for us this morning. stephanie ruhle picks up the coverage right now. ♪♪ hi there, i'm stephanie ruhle live at msnbc headquarters here in new york city. it's tuesday, january 11th. it is a busy, busy news day, so let's get smarter. just one hour from now two of the biden administration's top doctors will be on capitol hill. their testimony coming one day after the united states saw the highest number of new cases yet, more than 1.3 million in a single day. hospitalizations also hitting a new high, passing the peak from last winter. biden's top medical adviser, dr. anthony fauci, and cdc director dr. rochelle walensky will no doubt be grilled on the administration's inconsistent messaging and failure to get out in front of this variant, which has only added to confusion, misinformation and