12021s first week will feature an election protest in congress to a joe biden win thats never been in doubt. More on that ahead. A sobering end to a sad year, 3,740 american deaths, a sing singleday high to close out 2020. More than 125,000 americans in hospital wards, thats another record. A new worry this hour. South african researchers say a new muleation of a virus is spreading and it could potentially impact the effectiveness of the vaccining. While vaccines are being administered, 2. 7 million in the arms is another disappointing number. Operation warp seed promised vaccinations would be quick. Instead, there are new calls today, including from dr. Anthony fauci, for the u. S. To rethink its u. S. Vaccine strategy. We know from the Clinical Trial that the optimal time is to give it on one day, and then for moderna 28 days later, and for pfizer 21 days later. But you can make an argument, and some people are about stretching out the doses by giving a singling dose across the board and hoping youll get the second dose in time to give to individuals. Lets get to kristin holmes. How significant would a sniff by in the current strategy. Reporter it would be an enormous shift. Officials say theyre not quite there yet in taking that on as a serious option. Heres why. We are still light years away from where we need to get on production. Production is a huge issue. As we know eventually we will need to vaccinate 330 Million People. We also know that number is about 14 million vaccines or a little over 12 that have been distributed. Thats just the first dose. The idea that you would take an entire second dose out of the running and just hope hope for it to be ready in time, thats not a risk that many Health Experts im talking to really want to take. While were talking about this number, i want to pull them up for you. You have the 2. 7 number, this is vaccines distributed, a far cry from that 20 million number that we had originally heard about, expected really by 25. Again were looking at over 12 million were expecting to heard from officials who are acknowledges they are far best hind. Now youre seeing still that blame, but also taking some responsibility, acknowledging that they just arent where they need to be. One of the things that dr. Fauci mentioned was the states, how exactly to focus on the states and make sure they had what they had needed to get those shots into arm. Take a listen to what he said this morning. Rather that stepping in and taking over, i think it make be better to work with them. In tandem with them. Well, i talked to multiple state officials across the country who saying this process is very different. When you talk about storing or transporting a vaccine like this that requires this ultracold temperature, somebody that most of these states have never seen, the medical professionals have never dealt with, they need more resources for the storage and also for the training to administration the vaccine, john. Never been done before. Kristin holmes, thank you very much. Happy new year. As the virus runs rampant vaccines and a rollout seems more the current secretary of health admits the government needs to be doing a better job. Fewer than 3 million americans have actually had the shot. Dr. Chris pernell, good to see you again. What do you make of those numbers . Theyre disappointing, if i can be really truthful. They represent we dont have the Mobilization Forces to get the numbers vaccinated. I actually see some movement along the decision journey. What i dont want to have happen is that people approach the decision that they would like to get vaccinated, but we dont have Vaccines Available to vaccinate them. I dont want there to be an additional delay, because on the back side of that, thats just too much. We need to make sure. What are you saying at your hospital in terms of the delivery of the vaccine and the coordination. Look, things are going pretty good for us so far. So far weve been able to get both the pfizer and Moderna Vaccine shipments across new jersey hospitals. Weve been able to get Health Care Workers vaccinated. You saw news of the First Health Care worker being vaccinated a little over three weeks ago in new jersey. We actually see healthcare workers actually demonstrating demand for that vaccine. Weve had a pretty good performance in our state, but im more concerned about whats happening across the nation as a whole. All right. Weve just learned that the new highly contagious South African variant may pose a challenge to the existing vaccine. One of the researchers said the more we study this variant, the more worried we get. How worried are you that the vaccines we have waiting on may not work . Look, john, lets keep this in perspective. What we are finding from this variant in south africa and across multiple variants that have emerged. At times it appears they may be higher in transmissibility. We dont have data to date theyre more lethal. That is comforting for me. The other concern is where the mutations are happening along the virus itself. Are the mutations in sequences of the binding areas of that spike protein where we know the antibody response is most rigorous. What is comforting to know is that the vaccines we have available to date both produce a strong polyclonal it response, what does that mean . That meets neutralizing spike protein, so were not to the point where we say this definitively wont work, but we have to keep watching it, but we have to follow the data closely. Dr. Pernel, thank you very much. Thanks. To politics and the promise of chaos next week. Happy new year. Senator josh hawley said he will put his name behind the objection to the election results. Phil mattingly is here to break it down. Any words of other senators planning to join the hawley escapade. Senator hawley himself said yesterday his office had heard from several offices after he announced he was going to object. I think theres been several senator very coy. Its worth talking about what the Practical Implications are. This will not overturn the election. This will not change the fact that joe biden will be inaugurated as the 46th president on january 20th. What 2 will do is draw out what is usually a fairly pro forma process. When the house goes to count the electors, if its paired with a house member and senator, then the house and the senate have to recess, and then vote. The vote is the issue that some republicans have a big problems with at there point in time. What im being told right now. This actually reflects what Senate Majority leader mcconnell is an objection would force Senate Republicans to either vote with the president , somebody who they have all been loyal to, who commands such brazen love in the Republican Base or vote for reality. That is that joe biden won the election. While that doesnt seem necessarily difficult to a normal person, when youre up for reelection in 2022 or 2024, it becomes more complicated. I think thats where youve heard frustration from the republican side. We just had eight House Republicans from pennsylvania saying theyre going to object as well. Expect the numbers to grow. Obviously the president has gining this up, and republicans in congress tend to responsibility to that. This is about two hours of debate, and then a very difficult vote, a trap of their oat making politically. Phil mattingly, thank you very much, my friend. Happy new year. Moments ago, President Trump walking back into the white house, returning early from maralago, prepare for a new attack on democracy. What to expect ahead. Theres no sign that the bill for 2,000 stimulus checks and senator angus king joins me. New job numbers on the real impact of this pandemic on american families. Rs more than ever, thats why the new myww is our most Holistic Weight Loss Program ever. The app helps you take the foods you have and gives you Creative Ideas for meals. You can choose any workout you want to fit within your time frame. There are a ton of zero point foods that i love. I never feel restricted. The new tools boost my mood and help keep me hydrated. More holistic. More personalized. 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Friends keep telling friends about guaranteed acceptance whole Life Insurance from Colonial PennLife Insurance company. With this coverage, your premium never increases for any reason, and your benefit wont decrease simply because you grow older. Options start at just 9. 95 a month. To find out more, call now. male announcer call now and youll also get this free beneficiary planner and this free prescription savings card. Into President Trump is back in washington, cutting short his holiday and focusing on undercutting the election of president elect joe biden. Stop the insanity screams the message from the front page of the usually trump supporting new york post. In an el toil on wednesday day, quoting here mr. Pence is too much of a patriot to go along, but the scramble tarnishing mr. Trumps legacy and undermines any designs he has to running in 2024. Republicans who humor him will to discuss this, im joined by mark mackinnon, host of the circus on showtime. And good to see you both. Mackinnon, lets kick it off with you. What kind of trap is donald trump setting for republicans with this january 6th stunt . Well, you know, john, i was just thinking, as you were reporting that the president is coming back to the white house. Obviously he can do whatever he can and wants to from wherever, if hes at maralago, but it struck me i was worried about a president being back in the white house and worried about the damage he could do doing his job. So the question is, weve all been asking, what ked he do between now and the 6th, between now and the 20th, is he will break just about anything he can. Thats basically what he ran on, and the interesting thing again, to your point you just made, i get the sense that while donald trump has a lot of equity with his base, but even with his base, john, i think ultimately the whining and the sore loser routine will get old. On the other hand, i think hes going to have a presidency in exile. He knows the best way to get the spotlight is to stay hes running, and hell be jabbing joe biden every day, so the kirk cuss will continue, no question. The circus goes on, but to your point, this is a sign of weakness, not strength. Julian, i want to bring you in for the historical perspective. Even some Trump Supporters are warning that this kind of assault on democracy we have seen and lets not normalize it since the election will tarnish his legacy even in the minds some of supporters. Whats your sense of how history will judge donald trump . Well, i dont know about his supporters, but i dont think it will be favorably looked at years from now, the attacks on the democratic processes, which have been an integral part of his presidency and accelerated since election day are bad for democracy, kind of increasing distrust in our elections, in the presidency is not a good thing, and also this affects our pandemic policy. Right now we are rolling out a vaccine. Its going very slowly, and to have the president and not helping with the transition will also have effects in terms of how we think about him. So i think this wont be something that will be looked at well at all decades from now. I think youre being gentle. Just to stick with you, julian, Andrew Johnson had a tantrum and refused to attend the inauguration of grant. Is there any other example of that . Theres really not. If you take 1860 and the literal breakdown of the republic, this is not what president s can do. They can be angry, tense with the incoming administration, but they either focus for policies that they didnt get done, either through executive orders or through legislation, or they fade away quietly and help with the transition. This destructive moment of instability is not part of our president ial history, and hes just added it to the textbook. Mackinnon, after you worked for kris kristofferson, you worked for george w. Bush and john mccain. That Republican Party that took patriotism, honor and duty seriously, is that m. I. A. For good because of the sway trump has had on the base and the fear its inspired on so many . Its going to be m. I. Acres longer than i thought. Its quite clear hes not going anywhere. Hell be at maralago, but a presidency in exile. Hell say hes running right up until he doesnt in order to maintain a hammerlock on the Republican Party, so the notion of rebuilding the Republican Party will be pushed off. As weve seen, from even whats happening on january 6th among republicans, is nobody will wander from the trump flock very soon. So well have to been waiting a while, im afraid. Thank you both for your perspective. Happy new year. Thank you, john. Happy new year. Senate leader mcconnell said the bill for the 2,000 checks has for way to pass. Well have a senator king if thats true. The nypd has a message about times square dont come here. Were live on new years eve, like no other. 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Thats senator schumer urging senator mcconnell to take up the house bill. Where does the situation stand . Joining us is independence senator angus king of maine. Lets start with ha stimulus. You support the 2,000 checking which mcconnell says has no realistic path to pass the senate. Do you agree, is there 60 votes . Could there be 60 votes for a direct 2,000 payment if it was delineated from the different items . I dont think well ever know. One of the peculiar things is one not can block pretty much anything, and then youre stuck in kind of a procedural hell, where it takes three or four days to, you know, to clear your throat. But the bill the house passed could be brought to the floor if the Republican Caucus refrained from objecting, and Mitch Mcconnell brought it up. It could be passed. It could have money in the pockets of americans within the next several weeks. To say its impossible is to kind of bow to obstructionism that just isnt so. It could be passed. This bill passed the house by two thirds, which is amazing. Bipartisan majority, the president of the United States supports it, and i believe we would get 60 votes in the senate. Senator mcconnell i dont think wants his members to take that vote. Where theyre either having to choose between helping the American People and, you know, whatever else agenda they have. So, yes, it could come up, but i dont think we can put all the blame on Mitch Mcconnell in this case. I think theres two or three members of his caucus who would object to the unanimous agreement that would be necessary to expedicompeten exp. Being held up by Bernie Sanders over the 2,000 direct payments. Trump objected to provisions in the act, like section 230, he wants it linked, confederate bases, but youve been very vocal being the cyberlegislation thats in its place. Can you explain why thats so important . I worked for a year and a half with a Bipartisan Group on making recommendations to strengthen our cyberdefenses in the country. More than two dozens of our recommendations are in this bill. If they were all together in one single bill, stand alone, it in itself would be the most significant piece of cyberlegislation ever passed by the u. S. Congress. Theres an enormously important segment of this bill we really need to get through. This was before we knew about the solar winds hack. That sort of puts an exclamation point on how important this work is. So thats a sort of subpiece of the bill that hasnt gotten a lot of publicity, but this defense act is the most important piece of cyberdefense legislation weve ever had before congress. To your point, it would give more tools to respond to these kinds of attacks. Whats your response to date about the trump administrations lack of discussion, particularly the president , about the suspected russianbacked hack. Th