Ep. 63: News Roundup Week of 3/1/21

Senate Democrats narrowly passed (50-49) President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion coronavirus relief package Saturday. The revised measure now returns back to the House — which is expected to take up the measure on Tuesday — for approval before sending it to the White House for President Biden’s signature this week... The U.S. is now vaccinating an average of 2 million people a day, that’s up from 1.3 million in early February. That puts us on track to hit President Biden's goal of 100 million doses a month ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, both Mississippi and Texas' governors lifted all mask distancing restrictions in their states. President Biden responded, saying they’re making "a big mistake." On Thursday, the governor of Alabama said she would extend the state's current mask mandate through April 9, then lift the order. Despite the reversal of mask mandates in Texas and Mississippi, the Kroger grocery chain — which owns supermarket chains Ralphs and Dillons — joined national retail chains Target, Macy’s, and Starbucks in keeping mask requirements in its stores across the US, “until all our frontline grocery associates can receive the Covid-19 vaccine." A recent AP poll found 1 in 3 Americans don’t plan to get the Covid_19 vaccination. That led the Ad Council to launch a $52 Million public service campaign targeting mostly the Hispanic and African-American population. We’ll have more on this story next week. It’s been a big week leading up to Oprah’s coveted interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markel... The Governor of New York now faces five accusers for improper sexual advances.