85-90% of viral transmission happens in those first fife days which is why we really want people to stay home during that period of time and then mask for the rest of the time. howard: okay, sure. and on the today show and cnn, walensky dodged the questions. so from what you re saying, it sounds like this decision had just as much to do with business as it did the science. why should americans trust the cdc? my job right now is to take all of the science and the information that we have and to deliver guidance and recommendations to the american people. howard: the jig was up when anthony fauci admitted on msnbc that there was a strong economic motivation behind the move. that might have a negative impact on our ability to maintain the structure of society, of all the essential workers that you would need if you keep them all out for a period of ten days. howard: look, there should be a media debate over these strategies. but whether it s mandates or masks, remember w
nancy pelosi reiterated, they ll vote when they have the votes. it does not seem she has them, with progressives still waiting from the green light from key senators like joe manchin and kyrsten sinema. i m hallie jackson in washington, along with our nbc news team, monica is posted at the white house. ali vitali is on the hill. and mon, let me start with you. we are hearing from jen psaki, we know the small group of reports that travels with the president is getting ready to leave the white house, they re going to head down pennsylvania avenue. a president showing up might mean the end might be near. this is it. this is also a big time lowering of expectations. jen saki say if there was a deal, you guys would know about it. that s not what this meeting is about. our sources say that s not where the negotiations are stand right now, and the white house is saying these things always happen at the end, they come down to the wire. just think about everything that president bid
social infrastructure bill. this week, the president and his top aides have been deeply involved around the clock in talks with the hill. here s what press secretary january psaki had to say about the state of those negotiations today. we ll work on finding that for you. the washington post laying out the stakes for the democratic party writes this, quote, the consequences for inaction remain great. democrats believe they seized control of the white house and congress in the 2020 election in part by championing biden s campaign pledge to build back better through sizable new investments in the country s inner workings. a failure to deliver could damage their standing in the eyes of voters ahead of the midterm elections in 2022. the gridlock, though, in congress comes at a perilous moment for the biden presidency, flagging approval ratings revealing a real serious need to turn the momentum back in his direction. new york times writes this. president biden s approval rati