White House COVID czar says TSA mask mandate could 'absolutely' be extended again



With the airplane mask mandate set to expire next week, President Joe Biden's new coronavirus czar on Monday raised the possibility that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could once again extend the federal masking requirements for public transportation.

"This is a CDC decision and I think it is absolutely on the table," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told NBC News' Savannah Guthrie on "Today."

Jha said that the CDC is developing a "scientific framework" to guide its decision making and that agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will make a decision on the mask mandate for planes, trains, buses, and other means of public transportation within the week.

"We're going to see that framework come out, I think, in the next few days and based on that, we're going to want to be guided by this decision," Jha said. "Throughout the entire pandemic we've wanted to make decisions based the evidence and science, and that is what I expect we'll do again this week."

.@SavannahGuthrie spoke with White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. @ashishkjha about the rising COVID cases and mask mandates.pic.twitter.com/OZX62EaN3o
— TODAY (@TODAY) 1649676638

The Transportation Security Administration's mask mandate, originally set to expire in May 2021, was extended for the fourth time in March. President Biden enacted the requirements with an executive order in February 2021 to "encourage widespread mask-wearing and physical distancing on public modes of transportation, consistent with CDC guidelines and applicable law."

Congressional Republicans opposed the CDC's decision to extend the masking requirements last month because shortly beforehand the agency released new guidance that recommended that approximately 70% of Americans did not need to wear face masks indoors. Following the CDC's guidance, most states and local governments have loosened masking restrictions, or done away with them entirely, and Republicans and others questioned why the federal restrictions for public transportation remained.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) forced a vote to overturn the masking requirements that passed with bipartisan support from senators but met a veto threat from President Biden.

As the CDC considers what to do with the mask mandate this week and next, several states are reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases because of the BA.2 Omicron subvariant of coronavirus, a new and more contagious strain of the virus that spread in Europe before making its way to the United States. Scientists have observed this latest strain to spread quickly but say that it does not appear to cause deadlier disease than previous strains of the virus.

Jha said that he is "not overly concerned right now" about the possibility of another virus surge like the Delta or Omicron surges. He pointed out that case numbers and hospitalization numbers are among the lowest they've been during the entire pandemic.

“I don’t think this is a moment where we have to be excessively concerned,” Jha said.

NBC gushes over Beijing Olympics as China shoots 'giant middle finger' to US



While NBC covers the Beijing Winter Olympics like the dutiful Communist propaganda machine that they are, China is using the opportunity to present a "giant middle finger to us all," Glenn Beck said on the radio program Friday.

Glenn played an audio clip of NBC's Savannah Guthrie describing the events at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, as a Uyghur chosen by the Chinese Communist Party co-lights the Olympic flame.

"This moment is quite provocative. It's a statement from the Chinese President Xi Jinping to choose an athlete from the Uyghur minority. It's an in-your-face response to the Western nation, including the U.S., who had called this Chinese treatment of that group genocide and diplomatically boycotted these games," Guthrie proclaimed.

WATCH: @SavannahGuthrie calls a reported Uyghur co-lighting the Olympic flame, chosen by Xi Jinping, \u201can in-your-face response to those Western nations, including the U.S., who have called this Chinese treatment of that group genocide and diplomatically boycotted these games.\u201dpic.twitter.com/NBRtIOROJt
— Jackson Richman (@Jackson Richman) 1643988496

"She ... plays into the propaganda of it all," Glenn said of Guthrie. "She couldn't say anything differently ... NBC wouldn't want her to because NBC is owned by NBC Universal, and they want their movies in China because we are no longer Americans at all. We have sold out to China.'" he added.

Glenn went on to note that the "Chinese people are not the enemy. The enemy is the Chinese Communist Party that plays for keeps. And they're playing for the whole world."

Watch the video clip below to hear Glenn explain why he think no American should be watching the blatantly Communist propaganda currently on our TVs.


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Biden hammered for saying 2022 midterms 'could easily be illegitimate.' Even CNN's hosts ripped the president's election remarks.



President Joe Biden is facing swift backlash after he said that the 2022 midterm elections could be "illegitimate."

During President Biden's rare press conference on Wednesday, he was asked if the 2022 midterm elections would be "fairly conducted" and the results "legitimate" if Congress doesn't pass voting rights legislation.

"Well, it all depends on whether or not we’re able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election," Biden responded, referring to more stringent voting rules enacted by Republicans following the 2020 election.

"Well, I think if, in fact — no matter how hard they make it for minorities to vote, I think you’re going to see them willing to stand in line and — and defy the attempt to keep them from being able to vote," Biden said. "I think you’re going to see the people who they’re trying to keep from being able to show up, showing up and making the sacrifice that needs to make in order to change the law back to what it should be."

Later in the press conference, a reporter asked a follow-up question about the legitimacy of the 2022 midterms.

"I just wanted to clarify: A moment ago, you were asked whether or not you believed that we would have free and fair elections in 2022 if some of these state legislatures reformed their voting protocols. You said that it depends," the reporter said, before asking, "Do you — do you think that they would in any way be illegitimate?"

"Oh, yeah, I think it easily could be — be illegitimate," Biden replied. "Imagine — imagine if, in fact, Trump had succeeded in convincing Pence to not count the votes."

The reporter attempted to focus the question back on the 2022 midterm elections.

Biden reacts, "Oh, 2022. I mean, imagine if those attempts to say that the count was not legit."

"I mean, sure, but — I’m not going to say it’s going to be legit," President Biden said of the 2022 midterm elections.

"The increase and the prospect of being illegitimate is in direct proportion to us not being able to get these — these reforms passed," Biden said.

"But I don’t think you’re going to see — you’re not going to see me and I don’t think you’re going to see the Democratic Party give up on coming back and assuming that the attempt fails today," Biden concluded.

Joe Biden is asked by @PhilipWegmann is the 2022 election results could be illegitimate:\n\n"I think it could easily be illegitimate"pic.twitter.com/xSlJWLNdCB
— Greg Price (@Greg Price) 1642631133

Republicans skewered President Biden for making claims that the upcoming November elections could be illegitimate. Many noted that former President Donald Trump was attacked by the media and Democrats for questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) told Fox News: "It's unfortunate. As you know, the Democrats have been highly critical of those Republicans who refused to accept the results of the last election and use the word ‘rigged’ to say that elections weren't fair. They're using the exact same language and casting doubt on elections. It's irresponsible."

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) declared: "I think it was shocking, to be honest with you. Just shocking. To have the president of the United States trying to undermine the results of an election before there's actually an election is a stunning manifestation."

Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.) remarked: "Joe Biden dangerously claiming results of 2022 elections will be illegitimate unless Congress passes his election power grab."

Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel slammed the president: "In the same press conference, Biden continued to baselessly smear election integrity provisions, and then signaled to Putin that a 'minor incursion' into Ukraine is ok. Unreal."

But it wasn't just Republicans who slammed Biden for proclaiming that the 2022 midterm elections could be illegitimate.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) disagreed with Biden: "We might have a difference of opinion. I believe in the Department of Justice doing its job."

As the Daily Wire pointed out, even CNN blasted President Biden for suggesting that the midterm election results could be tainted.

CNN chief national correspondent John King emphasized: "It is striking to hear an American president not named Donald Trump raise questions about the legitimacy and sanctity of our democracy."

CNN anchor Jake Tapper said: "And quite strikingly, the president said that the upcoming midterm elections might not be legitimate if the election reform bills before the Senate are not passed. … President Biden just said, with Donald Trump’s history when it comes to the big lie on the elections, but he refused to say that the election results this midterm — in these midterms in November would be legitimate. He refused it."

CNN anchor Dana Bash slammed Biden: "Well, particularly the first part, Anderson, what he said, was — actually the entire thing, but the first part was probably the most jarring to hear a President of the United States who is not Donald Trump, even suggest ahead of time that an election isn’t legitimate."

On Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki attempted to do some damage control: "Let's be clear: @potus was not casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 election. He was making the opposite point: In 2020, a record number of voters turned out in the face of a pandemic, and election officials made sure they could vote and have those votes counted."

"Today" host Savannah Guthrie pressed Vice President Kamala Harris on Biden suggesting that the 2022 elections could be illegitimate.

"[Biden] openly cast doubt on whether the 2022 midterm elections would be legitimate. He said it all depends, which is astonishing to hear a president question whether our elections will be legitimate. We’ve heard it before, but not from this president," Guthrie said, then asked, "Is he really concerned that we may not have fair and free elections?"

Harris dodged the question and responded, "The president has been consistent on this issue. And the issue at hand, the issue — I was there last night in the chamber of the Senate, and the issue is that there are two bills, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, that have been the solution that has been offered to address the fact that around our country states have put in place laws that are purposely making it more difficult for the American people to vote."

Is President Biden really concerned that we may not have free and fair elections? -@SavannahGuthrie to @VPpic.twitter.com/pQmv6MLVb5
— TODAY (@TODAY) 1642681554

NBC's Savannah Guthrie accused of bias after contentious Trump town hall



NBC's Savannah Guthrie received gushing reviews from leftists and scorn from conservatives after being visibly combative toward President Donald Trump during the network's town hall for the president Thursday night.

The moderator pushed back forcefully against the president's responses, in stark contrast to the tone set by ABC's George Stephanopoulos in his dueling town hall for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Critics accused Guthrie of having a clear agenda against Trump.

What are the details?

Fox News reported that "Viewers who tuned into the Peacock Network expected to hear questions from voters, but similarly to the NBC town hall with Biden, questions for nearly the first 20 minutes of the program came from the moderator." The outlet noted that, "Guthrie spent much of that time grilling Trump on masks and white supremacy," and "that didn't sit well with many."

Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik tweeted, "The @DNC propaganda press, I cannot even fake it. @SavannahGuthrie Look like an unhinged as*, and it's a shame. I thought she was better than that. The good thing for President @realDonaldTrump... Any reasonable viewer could see she was biased, obnoxious and on a mission."

The @DNC propaganda press, I cannot even fake it. @SavannahGuthrie Look like an unhinged as*, and it’s a shame. I t… https://t.co/Mb9JPA94f7
— Bernard B. Kerik (@Bernard B. Kerik)1602815814.0

Air Fleischer, former White House press secretary, wrote, "I just switched to NBC since ABC is in a commercial. Savanah Guthrie has interrupted Trump in these 60 seconds more than Stephanopulos has done to Biden in 40 mins. NBC is an interrogation. ABC is a picnic."

I just switched to NBC since ABC is in a commercial. Savanah Guthrie has interrupted Trump in these 60 seconds more… https://t.co/g7AFp98fMe
— Ari Fleischer (@Ari Fleischer)1602808868.0

The Hill's Joe Concha tweeted during the event, "Trump denounces White Supremacy multiple times. Savannah Guthrie follows by accusing Trump of dodging. This is already an absolute joke. And does the audience get to ask questions?" Concha followed up, "Trump denounces white supremacy a good four times. Guthrie: "It sounds like your dodging."

President Trump's campaign declared victory after it was all over, with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying in a statement, "Even though the commission canceled the in-person debate that could have happened tonight, one occurred anyway, and President Trump soundly defeated NBC's Savannah Guthrie in her role as debate opponent and Joe Biden surrogate."

Anything else?

NBC had received widespread criticism from Democrats and its own employees for even holding the event and giving air time to President Trump, after he refused to participate in the Commission on Presidential Debates' proposed "virtual" match-up between him and Biden.

But, according to The Washington Post, Guthrie's "grilling" of Trump took "the heat off NBC for its town hall."