1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg Sound On. 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: If people think the country is on the wrong track 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: and are upset, it's usually really bad news to the party. 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: In Pogy. The Democrats had a very difficult challenge on 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: their hands when it comes to the mid term Bloomberg 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: Sound On, Politics, Policy, and first back from DC's Top Names. 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: If I pick, there's a lot of pack up demand 8 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: for electing a woman. Hand I two could be the 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: year of the world, and I see this demand that 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: he yes today is the baseline for the future. Could 11 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: means our economy is a roaring back Bloomberg Sound On 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The Whitehouse says it 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: has saved Christmas as supply chain issues haven't disrupted your 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: Christmas gifts quite as much as expected. But they've still 15 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: got a lot of challenges ahead on the economy, on 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: their legislative agenda, with the tax and spending bill upheld 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: in the Senate, and with the omicron variant of the coronavirus. 18 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Fitzpatrick co hosting today with my Bloomberg Government 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: colleague Emily Wilkins. We've got some great guests. We're going 20 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: to talk to Congressman Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma from Oklahoma, 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: who has a key position funding the Department of Health 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: and Human Services. We're also going to talk to Dr 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: Eric Topel, professor of molecular medicine at the Script Research Institute, 24 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: on what the Biden administration should be doing in addition 25 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: to all their recent announcement announcements. Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie 26 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: she and Zano and Rick Davis are with us, as 27 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: well as our key all star panel, and I'm Jack 28 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick co hosting today with Emily Wilkins, while Joe is out. 29 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: Very excited to get started at the top of the 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: hour with Congressman Tom Cole. He's a Republican from Oklahoma. 31 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: He is the top Republican on the House Appropriation Subcommittee 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: that covers labor, Health and Human Services, and education, a 33 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: lot of major funding priorities, as well as the top 34 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Republican on the Rules Committee. Congressman, very glad to have 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: you with us. I want to start with oh Macron, 36 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: especially because of the recent announcements by the White House 37 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: about trying to ramp up vaccine capacity, testing capacity, hospital capacity, 38 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: and yet we didn't see anything sent to Congress. Do 39 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: you do you think that the legislative branch is going 40 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: to have to act to provide more resources to respond 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: to the increase in case count And could that actually 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: be something that would happen in a bipartisan way. My 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: guess is yes. Actually had a discussion several weeks ago 44 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: before man became quite so big on the landscape with uh, 45 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Sarah, 46 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: my old friend, former colleague, and he intimated at that 47 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: time that he thought we probably would need to do 48 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: something early in the new year on coronavirus. I think 49 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: if you actually look at what's happening, that's probably uh uh, 50 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: you know, spot on if an thing. Uh, this has 51 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: come on us a little bit faster than he could 52 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: have anticipated at the time. So yeah, I think so, 53 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: And it ought to be bipartisan, other than the American 54 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: Rescue Plan earlier this year, where the Democrats chose to 55 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 1: do a partisan approach. You always remind people we did 56 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: multiple bills in two thousand and twenty, all of which 57 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: we're bipartisan, amounting to over four trillion dollars. So this 58 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: is an area that we have worked on together. It 59 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: was only the Democratic decision to sort of go it 60 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: alone early this year that changed that pattern. My hope 61 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: would be on something like this, we could find common 62 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: ground and move forward. Well, Congressman, you say that the 63 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: ability to find common ground, but they know that their 64 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: concerns even within the Democratic caucus for moving another large 65 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: spending bill. And we certainly heard those concerns from Republicans 66 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: last year when Democrats moved their legislation. What exactly our 67 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: lawmaker is going to be able to come together and 68 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: do to address O. Macron? Well, you know, I don't 69 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: want to get ahead of myself. Would be up to 70 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: the administration to present its proposal and the Republicans to respond. 71 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: The things I can see are areas where hospitals are 72 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: being uh, you know, overstretched. For instance. We we know 73 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: that O. Macron uh doesn't isn't quite as serious, uh 74 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: in terms of infections per person, Your individual risk isn't 75 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: as high to go to the hospital, but it infects 76 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: so many more that the sheer numbers may well be 77 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: the same as we've seen in other surges, even though 78 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: the variants not quite as virulent personally. But again, it's 79 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: it transmits itself so much more easily you could end 80 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 1: up with the same number of cases. I think looking 81 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: at that, I think that the administration certainly got behind 82 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: on testing and cutscen area where they probably dropped the ball. 83 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: They felt a little more secure than we were in retrospect, 84 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: and they're scrambling now to make up. But regardless, look, 85 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna look at these things s siously now again. 86 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: They might be able to repurpose some of the money 87 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: they have. I can tell you we have states out 88 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: there that are sitting on piles of money that have 89 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: not been spent. We sent out way too much money 90 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: earlier this year in the American Rescue Plan. That's something 91 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: that I would recommend the administration look at as to 92 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: whether some of that money can either be repurposed and 93 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: reclaimed or what hasn't gone out the door yet redirected. So, Congressmen, 94 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: if there were to be a supplemental or potentially this 95 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: could just be folded into a broader bill. I have 96 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: my eye on the February eighteenth deadline to fund the government. 97 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: Do you think that is a legislative vehicle for potentially 98 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: more funds related to as you said, hospital capacity in 99 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: that kind of thing I do, uh, you know, and that, 100 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: but that presumes that we get to a deal by February. 101 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: One of my big concerns is while we have had 102 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: now to continuing resolutions or extensions of funding at last 103 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: year's level, the reality is there haven't been very much 104 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: in the way of serious negotiation. And I'm gonna point 105 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: fingers at anybody, but I think, uh, forget the individuals. 106 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: I think part of this has been the democratic preoccupation 107 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 1: would build back better. They sort of put everything else 108 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: on hold. And I always remind people there's actually more 109 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: money at stake and more issues at stake in the 110 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: normal appropriations process than there isn't something like build build 111 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: back Better or into these other special spending bills. And 112 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 1: that's the day to day business of government. That's what 113 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: we ought to be focusing on. And finally, it has 114 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: to be done in a bipartisan way. We can't do 115 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: reconciliation for the normal expenditures of government. So we've both 116 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: wasted a lot of time by not negotiating in good 117 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: faith or seriously on that, and frankly, I think by 118 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: poisoning the well a little bit by this sort of 119 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: democratic going alone attitude that we've seen in the opening 120 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: year the Biden administration. Well, it seems they may kill 121 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: more time focus sing on that as they have gotten 122 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: backed up with Senator Mansion's opposition. If that stretches into 123 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: the new year, and who knows when they can resolve 124 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: those issues. What do you think the chances are that 125 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: there's no government funding deal and we see a full 126 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: year stopgap measure. I think the longer it goes, the 127 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: more likely that is to happen. Unfortunately, I think that's 128 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: a tragedy. By the way. Uh, it's a it will 129 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: be a political victory for the Republicans. It will be 130 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: a second year of Donald Trump's last negotiated budget. UH. 131 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: And there are a lot of my colleagues that would 132 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: welcome that. And then politically it's fine. But if you 133 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: believe we need additional funding in the defense area, which 134 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: we certainly do given what China and the Russians are doing, 135 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: and to maintain the pace of what have been laid 136 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: out by Secretary Maddis to remodernize and re build the military, 137 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: then you've got to have a deal. And frankly, UH, 138 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: there's some lessons learned in terms of public health UH, 139 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: and so honestly very good proposals the president's original budget. Uh, 140 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: you know, for things like additional money for n I, 141 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: a traditional money for Center for Disease Control, additional money 142 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: for something called r p H, or a sort of 143 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: high risk, high reward long shot. Uh, you know, biomedical 144 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: research efforts to bring immediate results in a variety of 145 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: various Those are all very good proposals by the President. Frankly, 146 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: I was a little bit disappointed the Democrats in the 147 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: House didn't simply adopt the President's proposal, actually paired it 148 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: back because they had other spending priorities. And I would 149 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: tell you that's been one of the disappointments of the year. 150 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: I think public health has not gotten the emphasis it 151 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: should have gotten from Congress. Actually, if I may actually 152 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: want to ask per public health, I did want to 153 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: ask you very quickly on vaccines. We saw polly last 154 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: month from the Kaiser Family Foundation that showed for every 155 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: one Democrat who was unvaccinated, there were three Republicans who 156 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: are unvaccinated. Does your party need to do a better 157 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 1: job about talking about that? The entire country needs to 158 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: do a better job. But it it wasn't helpful when the 159 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: President the Vice President when they were running for their 160 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: respective positions that they wouldn't trust the vaccinations as long 161 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: as Trump was in office. I was actually heartened yesterday 162 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: to see the President actually give the former administration a 163 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: little bit of credit for a change. Look what happened 164 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: to warp speed is a national triumph of historic proportions. Uh, 165 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: and we all ought to be pushing it. But look, 166 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: I think this has been partisanized too much. And uh, 167 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: I think Democrats to some degree of enjoyed doing it. 168 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: Some of my Republican colleagues have as well. The science 169 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: here is pretty simple. There's seven times less likely to 170 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: get coronavirus if you're vaccinated. There thirty five times less 171 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: likely to go to the hospital, and you're forty times 172 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: less likely to die. So the case for vaccination is overwhelming. Uh, 173 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: and we ought to be making it every place we can. 174 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: But but I do think if you try and force 175 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: it down people's throats after it's already been partisanized, then 176 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: it becomes, you know, that much more contentious and difficult 177 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: to win the argument. The argument becomes about government forcing 178 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: you as opposed to the efficacy of the vaccine itself, 179 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: which is I think without question that you know been 180 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: proven to be a marvelous, marvelous tool. Well, Congressman, I 181 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: also wanted to ask you a little bit. You were 182 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: the former chairman for the Republican campaign's arm and so 183 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: I know that you know you you have a head 184 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: for mid terms and how things tend to shake out there. 185 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: When we saw Glenn Young can win the Virginia governor's race, 186 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: he did so by keeping former President Trump at arm's length. 187 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: Is that something that Republicans running in swing districts in 188 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: two need to emulate. Look, it really depends on where 189 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: you're at and how you position yourself over time. There's 190 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: unquestionably places where the President is a tremendous asset. Uh, 191 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: you know, and uh, he's demonstrated that. Actually most of 192 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: the polling now shows him beating President Biden if if 193 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: there were a rematch. So I think, you know, you 194 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: let individual campaigns make that that decision, But he's an 195 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: important factor on the trail. The reality is the wind 196 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: is at our back this year and not in our 197 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: face as it was in two thousand and twenty. Uh, 198 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: We're on offense, they're on defense. They're in total control. 199 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: It's hard to escape responsibility when you have that. So 200 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: it's gonna be an awfully good year. History would tell 201 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: you that, the polling tells you that. Frankly, just looking 202 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: at Canada recruitment and funding, which are very good measurements 203 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: of what enthusiasm is and of retirements, it looks to 204 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: be a really outstanding year for Republicans. And fact, I'd 205 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: be surprised if Republicans are not in the majority. Uh, 206 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: you know, in the second two years of the bandustry. Well, 207 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: we'll have to leave it there, Thank you so much. 208 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: Congressman Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma. Coming up, we're gonna 209 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: talk to Dr Eric Total, who knows all about the virus. 210 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Fitzpatrick with Emily Wilkins. This is Bloomber. You're 211 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg You sound on with Joe Matthew on 212 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. This is Emily Willkins here with my Bloomberg 213 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: government colleague, Jack Pick, Jack Fitzpatrick. We are counting down 214 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: the days to Christmas. And while we were warned earlier 215 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: this year that supply chain bottlenecks and shipping backlogs could 216 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: mean fewer presents under the tree. White House Press Secretary 217 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: Jen Psaki had some big news at the press briefing today. 218 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: We've saved Christmas and that is because President Biden recognized 219 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: this challenge early, acted as an honest broker to bring 220 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 1: key stakeholders together and focused on addressing practical problems across 221 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: the global supply chain. That's right, you heard it here first, 222 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: they save Christmas. But seriously, the White House says that 223 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: that they have taken steps to the to address the 224 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: supply chain backlogs, and that they are those steps are working. 225 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: That there are still cargo ships waiting off the boards 226 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but there aren't as 227 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: many as they were previously, and that people are actually 228 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: you know, that we are getting their Christmas gifts. President 229 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: Biden met today with some CEOs from the companies, including 230 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: FedEx and Gap, and widely had some some an optimistic outlook. 231 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: But to bring a dose of reality, we're going to 232 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: welcome our excellent panel with Bloomberg Politics contributors Genie she 233 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: and Zano and Rick Davis and Jennie. I'll just start 234 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: with you. I know there was a lot of handwringing 235 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: about how the supply chain would impact this holiday season, 236 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: but is it really fair to call this a win 237 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: right now. Emily, that may be my favorite clip that 238 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: you've played in a long time. I love that one. Um. 239 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: Joe Biden and the administration did say of Christmas, they're 240 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: taking a bit of a victory lap there. Um. You know, listen, 241 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: I think that they do have a reason to be 242 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: upbeat about this. You know, a few weeks ago we 243 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: might have thought things would look a lot worse today 244 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: than they seem to. So they are feeling positive on this. 245 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: But of course there are strong you know, sort of 246 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: wins ahead, if you will, and not the least of 247 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: which are the numbers when it comes to oh Macron, 248 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: I'm just looking at numbers in my own state of 249 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: New York, where we are breaking the single day record 250 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: for cases by thirty percent over the previous mark. That's 251 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: the fifth time in a week, So you know, there 252 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: are strong winds ahead because of course, what got us 253 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: into this mess with the supply chain to begin with 254 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: was the pandemic, and we're certainly not out of that yet. 255 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: But they do have reason to be optimistic, and you know, 256 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: they're celebrating a bit, and they've just got to be 257 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: careful not to oversell it. I think, Rick, what do 258 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: you think about the timeline especially, you know, to what 259 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: extent does a new variant increase the odds that the 260 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: global supply chain issues will just get stuck and none 261 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: of this is entirely solvable in the near future. Yeah, 262 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: I must call ba humbug on the White House saving Christmas. Um, 263 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: And I don't want to be the grinch in this crowd, 264 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: but um, you know we it's more than just the 265 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: current supply chain problems related to COVID right, And obviously 266 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: anything like the a macron variant slowing things down, you know, 267 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: just exacerbates the ultimate problem. But the real problem is 268 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: the lack of investment we've made over time and infrastructure 269 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: in our ports. China has the ten largest ports in 270 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: the world. They get it. Their economy is dependent upon UH, 271 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: their ability to move the supply chain admitted a priority. 272 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: We now have an infrastructure bill that gives us an 273 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: opportunity to do exactly the same thing for our ports 274 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: systems and our infrastructure that China has been doing for 275 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: the last twenty five years. That's the real play, not 276 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: what's gonna be affected by Christmas. And I hope all 277 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: the little kiddies get there, get their presence. Um. You know, 278 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: sand has got some work to do, but um, but 279 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: the country has some work to do and getting its 280 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: supply chain back up and running, and that's investment in 281 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: the infrastructure of our countries. Well, Rick, I am interested here. 282 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: I mean, you mentioned the infrastructure bill, you mentioned the 283 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: US catching up to other countries. How long is that 284 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: going to take though, because we all know that, you know, 285 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: simply Joe Biden's signing a villa into law does not 286 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: bring immediate changes overnight. Oh, you're exactly right, Emily, it's 287 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: a it's a long haul, right. I mean, in many 288 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: of these projects you know, have been on the planning 289 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: boards for a long time but have lacked funding. And 290 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: so now that they're potentially could be some money in 291 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: the pipeline, Uh, some of those projects can start to happen. 292 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: It's not like we don't know what the problem is. 293 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: We've just not been invested in it. So yeah, sure, 294 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: I think it's you know, five to ten years. But 295 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: but you know, in an effort where you're trying to 296 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: be competitive around the world, you've got to make those 297 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: investments and they're not short term. We've missed the opportunity 298 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: in the past. I mean, we've been talking about infrastructure 299 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: for a decade and not a thing had been done 300 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: up until this year. So maybe the greatest advance that 301 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: the Biden administration can take credit for at the end 302 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: of it years and years later is going to be 303 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: the fact that they got this bipartisan infrastructure bill done. 304 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: And ten years from now may be the best time 305 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: to really take that victory. Lab I don't think I 306 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: can accuse Rick of being a grinch just because those 307 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: were actually good points. I was thinking about it. But Jennie, 308 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: what on a more positive note, what has worked, at 309 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: least in the short term. That that is a good 310 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: point by Rick on the broader infrastructure issues, But was 311 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: for example, getting the Port of Los Angeles to switch 312 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: to seven operations? Were there any little minor victories that 313 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: actually worked. Yes, there was, And I'm going to accuse 314 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: Rick of being a grinch. I think he just said 315 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: we have to wait ten whole years to enjoy our 316 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: Christmas Rick Davis um. But I do think that the administration, 317 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: working with the private sector, and we saw that today, 318 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: has taken steps to do what it can. You know, 319 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: we all know that the abilities. What the administration could 320 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: do is a bit limited on this, but they've done 321 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: at least taken steps to do what they can do, 322 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: and I think we're gonna see more positive things ahead. 323 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: But Rick is absolutely right. He's singing Joe Biden's tune, 324 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: let's move forward on infrastructure. That's why the administration has 325 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: been saying this. So the grinch wreck there should be 326 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: working for the administration and making this case. And you know, Jack, 327 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: President Biden had another meeting today with various advisors from CEOs. 328 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 1: We've seen him do this before, We've seen him go 329 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: to the ports. We've mentioned before that obviously this supply 330 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: chain issue is a global one. It's not fully in 331 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: his control, but seems like this is something the White 332 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: House is definitely messaging more on. Yeah, they had to 333 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: rely on nudging private sector actors. They couldn't solve this 334 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: with a bill or an executive order all at once, 335 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: but they did try to make a show of trying well. 336 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: Coming up next, we'll be talking about the omicron variant 337 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: with Dr Eric Topel. I'm Emily Wilkins here with Jack Fitzpatrick. 338 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:52,959 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Broadcasting live from our nation's capital Bloomberg 339 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: to New York, Bloomberg eleven Frio to Boston, Bloomberg one 340 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: oh six one entrance, Let's go Bloomberg nine sixty to 341 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: the country. Serious XM Channel one nine and around the 342 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: globe of Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg Radio dot Com. 343 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matt Hugh. Is 344 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: it enough when the President says the federal government is 345 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: going to supply half a billion take home tests to 346 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: Americans around the country? Is it enough to say that 347 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: we can spend time with our family because two hundred 348 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: million of us are vaccinated. Coming up, we're gonna talk 349 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: to Dr Eric Topel, Professor of molecular Medicine at the 350 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,959 Speaker 1: Scripts Research Institute. He wrote a piece on what Biden 351 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 1: should have done yesterday. Very excited to talk to him. 352 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Fitzpatrick, co hosting with Emily Wilkins today. Joining 353 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: us now is Dr Eric Topel, Professor of molecular medicine 354 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: at the Script's Research Institute. He wrote a piece on 355 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: what President Biden should have said in his announcement on 356 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: the response to the omicron variant and rising cases of 357 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: the coronavirus. Dr Turple thank you so much for joining us. 358 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: There a lot of bullet points in what you wrote. 359 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: People absolutely should read it on your sub stack. I 360 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: want to cover as much of the substance as possible 361 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: while we have you. But in particular you say that 362 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: five million take home tests is not enough. We should 363 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: be talking about billions. Would you care to expand on that? Is? 364 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: Is it possible? And why? And how long do we 365 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: need to be supplying how many of these take home 366 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: tests around the country? Right? Well, good to be with you, 367 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 1: Jack and Emily. The half half a billion tests won't 368 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: get us very far, especially with Amicron coming through, and 369 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: we're not going to see these tests until sometime next month. 370 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: But unless the this pandemic really quiets down, we need 371 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: frequent tests at every household. And we've got three hundred 372 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: thirty millions of people in the US, so we need 373 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: several billion to get this right. And we're about a 374 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: year behind from when these tests were validated. And I 375 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: should also point out that they're used in many other countries, validated, 376 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: freely available. We're just way behind and getting this going. 377 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,479 Speaker 1: You're Dr Touble. I just wanted to dig in on 378 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: that a little bit more. I mean Why why are 379 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,919 Speaker 1: we behind? Is this the Biden administration not being condizant 380 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: enough of how the needs for testing would change as 381 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: we got closer to the holidays, or is it is 382 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: there some other uh individual or organization here who kind 383 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: of dropped the ball on this one. Well, I wouldn't 384 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 1: put it on the Biden administration per se, but you know, 385 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: certainly the FDA has been involved, and it's only approved 386 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: a limited number of rapid tests for home use, and 387 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: that's very different than Europe, where there's more than seventy tests. 388 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: We have a handful, but also we have very few. 389 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: You can't get them, uh. And this is and they're 390 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 1: still very expensive. When it was announced several weeks ago 391 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 1: that the price would come down that was from like 392 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: twelve dollars to eight dollars per test. Well, you can't 393 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: do those frequently and you can't even get done, so, 394 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: you know, part of it is the responsibility that we 395 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: don't have enough companies and competition. We haven't scale production. 396 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: It hasn't been a priority. You know, it just hasn't 397 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: gotten the type of uh emphasis that it should have. 398 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: And this goes back to May. There already were fifty 399 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: companies in may that we're in the queue, I mean 400 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: a year and a half later, right, So, Dr Turpel One. 401 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: One other thing that really popped out to me on 402 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: your list of suggestions was your number three, no airplane 403 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: passengers who are not fully vaccinated or having medical documentation 404 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: for why that is not the case, such as is 405 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: the policy in Canada and other countries. Uh that that 406 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: sounds like something that would get some political pushback potentially, 407 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: But can you can can you make the case for 408 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 1: us on no airplane passengers who are not fully vaccinated? Right? Well, 409 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: this is, of course, as I'm mentioned in the post, 410 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: the policy in Canada as well as many other countries, 411 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: you can't board a plane unless you're fully vaccinated, and 412 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: if you aren't, you need to have a medical excuse. Uh. 413 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: So it's the safety of everyone on the plane, you know, 414 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: many hours. Uh, this is where it's already been documented 415 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: that infections can be transmitted. Uh. This is the minimum 416 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: we can do to assure safety for everyone who's traveling. 417 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: And obviously right now in the holidays with Amicron circulating, 418 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: this takes it to a whole another level. Yeah, someone 419 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: who's going to be planning on boarding a plane a 420 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: little bit later this week. UM, definitely some some food 421 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: for thought there as you not just giving on the plane, 422 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: but some of these airports are so packed these days, 423 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: uh dr turble. We also reported this morning that the 424 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: Biden administration is going to expect four million courses of 425 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen treatments. That's going to include the COVID pills. 426 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: That's going to include various UH drugs that doctors can 427 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: give to patients who come to them and already have COVID. 428 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 1: I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about how, 429 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: if at all, this might change the course of the pandemic. Well, 430 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: the pill axlvid that got green light today by FDA 431 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: is the most exciting thing that's happened in the pandemic 432 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:34,239 Speaker 1: since vaccines. It's extraordinary because it doesn't rely on our 433 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: immune system, which omicron has particularly challenged. UH. It's highly effective. 434 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: So the blister path taken over five days not only 435 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,679 Speaker 1: brings down the viral load in your upper airway so 436 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: you would be transmitting much less by more than tenfold 437 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: pretty quickly, but it reduces hospitalizations and deaths by almost 438 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: So we've needed a simple way to get at this 439 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: virus and all the viruses, not just you know alpha 440 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: or delta, but including omicron. We have it now. The 441 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: problem we have is insufficient supply. That was also on 442 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: my list. This should have been a Defense Production Act 443 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: or some similar strategy so we don't rely on just 444 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 1: one company to make the pills. This is a very simple, 445 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 1: small molecule to produce at scale, and all we have 446 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: to do is let other companies lose. So the President 447 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: said yesterday, if you're vaccinated, it's okay for you to 448 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 1: gather indoors for the holidays with your family. Do you 449 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: agree with that or disagree? Well, that's a rosy picture. 450 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: If your triple vaccinated, or if you're less than four 451 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 1: months from two vaccines, and you have a rapid test 452 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: just before gathering, and you have a place of gathering 453 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 1: where you have windows, open doors that are ventilation, air filtration, 454 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: CEO to monitor. I mean, you can make it really safe, 455 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: but most people aren't going to do that. But certainly 456 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: with with high levels of vaccination and rapid test that 457 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 1: are negative for each person, that would be a strong 458 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: way to assure safety. Thank you so much, Dr Eric Tuple. 459 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: Really really great insights from someone who knows the details 460 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: of how the response to these kinds of variants works work. 461 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: I'm I'm really interested, especially in his comments on million 462 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: is not nearly enough. He believes this is going to 463 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: be long enough so that we need billions coming up. 464 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: We're gonna go back to the panel. Jeanie she in 465 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: Zano and Rick Davis uh walk us through the response. 466 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Fitzpatrick here with my Bloomberg government colleague, Emily Wilkins. 467 00:26:48,680 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. You're listening to bloom Burg. You sound 468 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: on with Joe Matthew on bloom Bird Radio. All right, 469 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: tell me if this one sounds familiar. At a briefing 470 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: of the White House COVID response toing this afternoon, CDC 471 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: Director Rochelle Willinski explained that people should wear masks regardless 472 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: of their vaccination status in public indoor settings or transmissions 473 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: are high, and I would encourage people to take an 474 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: at home COVID nineteen test ahead of time to help 475 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: protect you and your family and friends who may be 476 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: at greater risk of COVID nineteen or severe outcomes. The 477 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 1: constant testing the wearing masks inside. Jack, I thought that 478 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: we were past this point in the pandemic. Nope, clearly not. 479 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: And I think there's a little bit of political wear 480 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: and tear, as you you heard from the President yesterday saying, look, 481 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: there are vaccinated people. It is possible to see your family. 482 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: Sometimes you hear a little bit of a different tone 483 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 1: from the President compared to somebody like Dr Lenski. It's 484 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: not indirect conflict, but it makes it a little difficult 485 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: to play up the political upside sometimes when this just 486 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: drags on and on. Yeah, and for President Biden to 487 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: really try to claim that there is indeed a win here. Especially. 488 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,439 Speaker 1: I know that this isn't an issue everywhere in the country, 489 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: but I know in d C, in New York and 490 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: Baltimore people are scrambling to get COVID tests and they 491 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: just aren't there. It's very difficult. I spent my Saturday 492 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: afternoon going to four different cvs is to see how 493 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: many I could get. They limited how many you could buy. 494 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: You could only get four. I could only find one 495 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: with any and there were groups of people at each 496 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: one asking if they had any take home tests. Three 497 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: said no, they had none. Oh, this is a depressing conversation. 498 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: Maybe we can find some Christmas cheer with our Bloomberg 499 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,239 Speaker 1: Politics contributors Jean Chanzano and Rick Davis um Rick, I 500 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: just kind of want to want to get your thoughts 501 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: here at this point as we face the holiday season. 502 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel like we try and tie everything 503 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: back to Biden and his approval ratings and how may 504 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: a kins are feeling. But what really is the mood 505 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 1: as everyone is considering the new omicron variant against what 506 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: the travel that they planned to do in the next 507 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: several weeks. Well, you know, I can speak to the 508 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: people I talked to and and and there's a lot 509 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: of concern, right, I mean this we're hitting some level 510 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: of intense increase in omicron spreading all throughout the country 511 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: right at the time of the holidays, and you know, 512 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: to to to coin the song I'll be home for Christmas. 513 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: I'm not getting on an airplane. I mean, you know, 514 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 1: it's the kind of thing where there's enough fear out 515 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: there that this thing is transmissible even to those people 516 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,959 Speaker 1: like us who have gotten both our shots and our 517 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: in our booster, that it'll keep it'll keep people from 518 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: from wanting to venture out. And of course there are 519 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: those who don't care, right and they've they've been the 520 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 1: ones who have really added to the numbers of increase 521 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: in omicron because they refused to get shots, they refused 522 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: to get a booster. Uh. And they're the ones uh 523 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: uh that that I think don't have the fear of travel. 524 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 1: And that's how this thing spread so quickly. Well, one 525 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: little maybe bit of of positive news or or a 526 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: look ahead to what could be positive news. I want 527 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: to throw it back to what Congressman Cole said at 528 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: the beginning of the hour again. Tom Cole is the 529 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: top Republican on the Committee for Funding Health and Human Services, 530 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: and I thought it was pretty notable that he said 531 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 1: we could see a supplemental spending bill early next year 532 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: potentially that could potentially have bipartisan support backing up what 533 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: the President has talked about for for pushing back against 534 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: a macron. Uh what what, Jennie, What do you think 535 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: the legislative outlook is on this? Obviously there their partisanship 536 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:43,719 Speaker 1: has been an issue on so many things. Is it 537 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: possible to have a bipartisan legislative push to respond to 538 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: this as much as necessary? I thought that was so 539 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: fascinating about your interview with Representative Cole, because that's you know, 540 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: one of the first times at least I've heard and 541 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: I was taking notes here from a Republican saying that 542 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: they could imagine in the new year not to mention 543 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: a midterm election year supporting in a bipartisan way supplemental spending. 544 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: And he's specifically mentioned to address issues that the President 545 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 1: talked about yesterday, if I got this down correctly, testing 546 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: for instance, hospital capacity, and he said his inclination was to, 547 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: you know, wait and see what the White House put 548 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: forward and what they sort of said that they needed, 549 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 1: and there may be support for that. So I think 550 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: that's a very good sign. Of course, we're going to 551 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: have to wait and see if that spirit keeps up. 552 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: And I think that, you know, part of that is 553 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: going to depend on what we hear early in January, 554 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: not only about the oh macron and about the pandemic 555 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: and those numbers, but also about the economic numbers and inflation, 556 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 1: whether there is still sort of a you know, sort 557 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 1: of an inclination to go that way. One other thing 558 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: I noted he talked also about repurposing, reclaiming, and redirecting 559 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: money not spent from the American Rescue Plan, and I 560 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: think that's something that we need to, you know, really 561 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 1: talk a lot about more. Yeah, Rick, I want to 562 00:31:57,760 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: get your thoughts on this as well. I mean, you're 563 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: the one who's worked with Republicans, understands the mindset of 564 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 1: the party. Really. I just remember back in March when 565 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: they were passing this next level of funding offer to 566 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: address COVID nineteen. The refrain that you heard from Republicans 567 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: is we've pumped so much money into the economy already, 568 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 1: we can't do this again. I mean, do you think 569 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: that there really is an appetite to do something on man? 570 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: I think if I think if it is important to 571 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 1: uh have those resources to fight uh COVID, whether it's 572 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: O Macron or the next version of O Macron. Uh, Yeah, 573 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: Republicans will do it. They've done it historically three times 574 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: in a row, and they want to they want to 575 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 1: stamp this thing out that Republicans in the Senate, in 576 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 1: the House, like Tom Cole uh do not want uh 577 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: this public health problem problem to affect our economy and 578 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 1: our security. And so they're on board with that that 579 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 1: the problem is we're acting too little, too late. I mean, 580 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: Joe Biden President, I'd say it's just went in Front 581 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: of America yesterday and said, oh, I'm going to tackle 582 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 1: this thing hard. And we just heard from Dr r 583 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 1: Toepel who said it wasn't hard enough. There were like 584 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: a whole list of things that we should have been 585 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: doing that we're not doing today. And and and and 586 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: oh mcron will probably peak by the time Congress even 587 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: reconvenes at the end of January. So who are we 588 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: kidding here? I mean, like, the the need for these 589 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:18,719 Speaker 1: tests are today, the need for the shots are today. 590 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: Um uh, you know. And and so I'm afraid we're 591 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: in for kind of a tough holiday season of a 592 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: pandemic that's run run out of control. Rick, what do 593 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:31,719 Speaker 1: you think about Dr Toepel's suggestion that in the US 594 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 1: we should not let people on airplanes unless they're fully 595 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: vaccinated or have a medical exemption. That struck me. You know, 596 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: other countries have done it, but it struck me as 597 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,719 Speaker 1: something that would probably get a lot of pushback from Republicans, 598 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: almost in line with the you know, vaccine mandates have 599 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: have become a huge talking point on the campaign trail. 600 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 1: How would that play in the US? Is there the 601 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: political willpower for that? You know? I think it's dangerous, 602 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: right because, as you pointed out, I mean, uh, claiming 603 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 1: victory or claiming success against this pandemic has been pretty 604 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: elusive long term. And and and yet what I thought 605 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: was really impressive about Dr Toepel's recommendations is they just 606 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 1: make enormous amount of sense. Why would you let somebody 607 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: get on an airplane who is not vaccinated? Other countries 608 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: have figured that out, They've done it. It's not punishing people, 609 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: it's science. It's the reason these things, uh, these viruses 610 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 1: are spreading, is because people are spreading them on places 611 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 1: like um, uh like airplanes and so uh. If if 612 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 1: indeed we know, and we know by the science that 613 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: people who are unvaccinated are the problem, then don't let 614 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: unvaccinated people take advantage of these services. And I think 615 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,760 Speaker 1: certainly the people who will actually cheer are the airline 616 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 1: executives who are required to let these folks get on 617 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: the airplanes and they can't stop them, and they need 618 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:53,799 Speaker 1: government oversight to be able to help them do that. Yeah, 619 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 1: it's interesting. We've spent so much time in the last 620 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 1: couple of days, and I think rightly so talking about 621 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 1: tasks tests, talking about masking talk. But really, at the 622 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: end of the day, we've heard from experts that it's 623 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,839 Speaker 1: going to finally wind up with the people who are vaccinated, 624 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:13,400 Speaker 1: and right now only the US has been fully vaccinated. Genie, 625 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 1: I'm wondering what you think now needs to be done. 626 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 1: I mean, there have been incentives. There were all those lotteries, 627 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,319 Speaker 1: the giveaways, there was the stick, there was the you know, 628 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 1: people being banned from bars and restaurants and all the 629 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: other type of thing, losing their jobs. How do you 630 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: get through to the Americans who haven't been vaccinated yet. Well, 631 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 1: I think President Biden um It took a stab at 632 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: that yesterday when he talked about in praised the prior administration, 633 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: the prior president, something he hasn't done and something that 634 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 1: Representative Cole talked about in your interview with him. I 635 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 1: think that's a small step in the right direction. You know, 636 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: on your point about these incentives. Here in New York City, 637 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: we have the mayor giving a hundred dollars out now 638 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 1: if you go and get your third booster shot. But 639 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: I think one thing we have to keep in mind 640 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: in this whole conversation is good science does make good politics. 641 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 1: Whether you're Republican, or Democrat. You need this pandemic to 642 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,319 Speaker 1: be behind you, and that requires following the science. So 643 00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: if it's something like moving from talking about being vaccinated 644 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,880 Speaker 1: from two shots to three, unless you're with the J 645 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,439 Speaker 1: and J, we need to do that, and I think 646 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,919 Speaker 1: that's where the President has to be, and that's quite 647 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 1: frankly where Republicans have to be as well. Otherwise our 648 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: ability to put this behind us and address all the 649 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 1: other issues we have from inflation to the debt and 650 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 1: everything else is going to be elusive. So I think 651 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: that's something that we're really going to have to sort 652 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,920 Speaker 1: of grapple with in this country. Not to mention the 653 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: fact that in our country, liberties are not absolute. You 654 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: don't have a right to fly if you endanger other people. 655 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 1: That's just the reality. Well, when I look at the 656 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:52,880 Speaker 1: list of things the White House wants to do to 657 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:57,400 Speaker 1: expand capacity on testing, hospitals and vaccine, it struck me 658 00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: that vaccine capacity hasn't seemed to be the issue. It's 659 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: vaccine willingness. Rick, Is there actually that much, very briefly 660 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,640 Speaker 1: that the government needs to do on vaccine capacity? Yeah? 661 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,319 Speaker 1: I think people can get a shot if they want it, 662 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: and it's free, and so that's that part has actually worked. 663 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 1: I think that where's the big public affairs campaign by 664 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 1: the government that you turn on the TV and you 665 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 1: cannot not see a commercial about why it's important to 666 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 1: get vaccinated. We run all these crazy commercials during the 667 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: election season. People get sick to death of them and 668 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:28,120 Speaker 1: they go vote. Well, why aren't we employing exactly the 669 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: same strategy to get people vaccinated. That's a really great question, Rick, 670 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,440 Speaker 1: and we're going to have to leave it there. Uh, 671 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 1: thank you again to our Bloomberg panel, Jinny Schanzano and 672 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:41,839 Speaker 1: Rick Davis, as well as Congressman Tom Cole and Dr 673 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 1: Eric Topel. Joe Matthew is still going to be off tomorrow, 674 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:50,440 Speaker 1: so Jack and I will be back. Uh, this is Bloomberg.