Politics
The C.D.C. director says she ‘really would encourage’ second boosters for older people and many with chronic conditions.
Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, stated Tuesday that her company “actually would encourage people who find themselves over 50 who’ve underlying medical situations and people over the age of 65” to get a second booster shot.
Her remarks at a White Home briefing have been her clearest assertion thus far on who ought to get what for most individuals quantities to a fourth shot in opposition to the coronavirus.
Final week, the Meals and Drug Administration licensed a second booster of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna’s vaccines for everybody over 50 and plenty of immunocomprised folks, 4 months after the primary booster. On the time, Dr. Walensky stated that the choice was “particularly necessary” for these over 65, in addition to for these over 50 with power well being issues, reminiscent of diabetes or weight problems. Nonetheless, earlier than Tuesday’s briefing, some well being specialists stated they have been uncertain whether or not to suggest the second booster for these teams.
“I believe there may be confusion,” stated Dr. Jose Romero, Arkansas’s well being secretary who chairs the C.D.C.’s outdoors skilled advisory committee on vaccine coverage. He stated leaders of another state well being departments had voiced the identical response.
“It’s been a little bit of a problem for our communications division to work out the infographic on find out how to clarify” who ought to get the second booster and with what vaccine, Dr. Romero added.
The choice to supply a second booster continues to generate controversy, with some immunologists and vaccine specialists arguing that the federal authorities lacked sufficient information to justify the transfer, a minimum of for these between 50 and 65. A few of that criticism will seemingly be aired on Wednesday at a public assembly of the F.D.A.’s outdoors advisory committee of specialists the place the broader U.S. booster technique is ready to be mentioned.
Greater than 33 million folks aged 65 or older have already had their first booster and qualify for the second booster, together with thousands and thousands extra aged 50 or older.
Federal regulators initially leaned towards giving everybody 60 or 65 and older the choice of a second booster, based mostly closely on information from Israel, which has been providing the extra shot to these 60 and older since early January. They determined to incorporate folks as younger as 50, they stated final week, as a result of about one-third of Individuals between 50 and 65 have severe well being issues.
Dr. Peter Marks, who’s in control of vaccine regulation for the F.D.A., has stated that attempting to restrict eligibility to sure folks with power situations would have been too complicated.
In an interview on the podcast “Within the Bubble” this week, he stated, “Sadly, medical comorbidities are sometimes within the eye of the beholder.” Some folks with such situations don’t understand it, he stated, whereas others might declare to endure from them after they truly don’t.
Federal regulators stated folks may decide between the 2 manufacturers of mRNA vaccines for his or her second booster no matter their first booster’s model. Requested on the podcast whether or not folks ought to select a unique booster than their earlier pictures, Dr. Marks stated that whereas there was “a little bit bit of information” that switching vaccines might present higher safety, “in all probability the extra necessary factor is simply to get boosted with no matter vaccine you will get.”
Dr. Nirav D. Shah, head of Maine’s state well being company and president of the Affiliation of State and Territorial Well being officers, stated regulators have been proper to make age the one standards this time. When the federal authorities rolled out the primary booster pictures within the fall, he stated, the C.D.C.’s eligibility standards, with age and well being situations each as components, baffled many individuals.
He stated he tried to additional simplify the C.D.C.’s steerage on second boosters final week for Maine residents. “I attempted to treatment a few of the confusion with readability on our half,” he stated.
The day after the C.D.C. up to date its tips, he stated, “I simply went on Twitter and stated, ‘ what, if you happen to’re eligible, it is best to simply do it.’”
In Maine, the uptake has been brisk. “Our vaccination numbers shot up over the past couple days,” Dr. Shah stated.
Not in Arkansas. “This can be a trickle, a trickle,” Dr. Romero stated.
Politics
Dem leader condemns Thanksgiving bomb threats against liberal lawmakers after Team Trump targeted
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned several threats, mostly focused on lawmakers from Connecticut, targeting members of his caucus, just days after numerous threats were made against President-elect Trump’s cabinet selections.
Jeffries, D-N.Y., confirmed in a statement Friday that several Democrats were targeted with threats ranging from pipe bombs in their mailboxes to “swatting” — or filing a false police report on another person’s behalf that often results in a SWAT team being dispatched.
All of the threatening messages were signed “MAGA,” Jeffries said, adding law enforcement found no ordnance at any of the targeted lawmakers’ homes.
“America is a democracy. Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said.
TOP DEM: ‘UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION’ IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
“House Democrats will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats. We have been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for all Members and their families moving forward.”
After Jeffries spoke out, Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from neighboring Rhode Island, announced on Friday afternoon that his home had been targeted, as well. Magaziner said Providence police responded quickly and no one was harmed.
Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., had his home targeted by a bomb threat. A spokesperson said it appeared to be part of a “coordinated effort.”
Five other Democrats from the Constitution State received similar threats, including Reps. Joe Courtney, John Larson, Rosa DeLauro, Jahana Hayes and James Himes.
CT DEM SAYS IT’S CLEAR HUNTER BIDEN BROKE THE LAW
“There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility,” said Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee who replaced Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Prior to that spate of threats, Trump’s U.N. ambassador-designate Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said she was traveling home to her North Country district for Thanksgiving when she was informed of a threat against her home.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. — Trump’s initial choice for attorney general — also received a threat.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y. — Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency — said his home was subjected to a “pro-Palestinian-themed” pipe bomb threat. Zeldin is Jewish.
Former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., whom the president-elect tapped for Labor secretary, said her Oregon home was targeted, as was that of former San Diego Chargers cornerback Scott Turner, whom Trump named to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Trump nominees including Cantor-Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, America First Policy Institute President Brooke Rollins and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth also received threats.
In a statement, the FBI said it is aware of “numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners.”
“We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” it said.
Fox News’ Kevin Ward contributed to this report.
Politics
Capitol rioter's defamation suit against Fox News is dismissed
A Delaware court judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News filed by a Jan. 6 rioter who said the network falsely identified him as an FBI informant.
U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer L. Hall granted Fox News’ motion to dismiss the suit filed last year by Ray Epps.
Now based in Utah, Epps alleged his life was upended after former Fox host Tucker Carlson repeatedly described him as a federal agent who helped instigate the attack on the Capitol, which was an attempt to stop the certification of the election of Joe Biden.
Carlson described Epps as a principal in a false flag operation in which the government incited the Jan. 6 riot, an unfounded conspiracy theory. He made the false comments about Epps on his program over a period of nearly two years and in a series called “Patriot Purge” that streamed on Fox Nation in 2022.
In her remarks from the bench, Hall said Carlson did not act with malicious intent.
Fox News welcomed the judge’s decision, which is the third consecutive defamation case to be decided in favor of the network after the record $787-million settlement it paid to Dominion Voting Systems in April 2024.
Dominion said its business was damaged by false claims Fox News presented regarding voting fraud in the 2020 election. Fox News chose to settle the case rather than have its executives and on-air talent take the witness stand in a trial.
A separate defamation suit filed by Nina Jankowicz, the former head of the federal Disinformation Governance Board, was dismissed in July. Another case brought by Tony Bobulinski, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, was thrown out on Tuesday.
“Fox News is pleased with these back-to-back decisions from federal courts preserving the press freedoms of the First Amendment,” the network said in a statement.
Epps was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor charge for his role in the riot.
Epps testified under oath to the House committee investigating the attack that he had no involvement with the FBI, which has also stated publicly that he had no association with the bureau.
The lawsuit claimed Epps and his wife received threatening voice mails, emails and text messages because of Carlson‘s comments. Epps told the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes” that the lies ruined his Arizona-based business and led to death threats.
Carlson’s prime-time program was pulled from the Fox News lineup on April 24, 2023, the day after Epps appeared on “60 Minutes.”
Politics
Political betting markets still have plenty of action despite end of election season
The end of the election season does not mean the end of political betting, with many platforms allowing users to place wagers on everything from the 2028 election to who will be confirmed to President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
“Some people will be amazed by this, but people are already betting on 2026 and 2028,” Maxim Lott, the founder of ElectionBettingOdds.com, told Fox News Digital. “There’s been about a quarter million dollars bet already.”
The comments come after the 2024 election produced plenty of betting action, with users across multiple platforms wagering over $2 billion on the outcome of the latest race.
WHAT ARE ELECTION BETTING ODDS? EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY TRUMP IS CURRENT FAVORITE
While mega sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, gives gamblers plenty to wager on after the election, those looking for something political to bet on will still have plenty of options.
One of the most popular topics is who will be the nominees for both major parties in 2028, with ElectionBettingOdds.com showing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President-elect JD Vance being the current leaders for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.
Other names with a significant amount of attention for betters include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the Democratic nomination, while Vance is trailed by names like entrepreneur and future head of the new Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump Jr. on the Republican side.
“The big Democratic governors are favored to be the next nominee,” Lott said, noting that Vance currently holds a sizable lead over other options on the GOP side.
TRUMP OPENS UP LARGEST BETTING LEAD SINCE DAYS AFTER BIDEN’S DROPOUT
Vance is also the current betting leader on who will win the 2028 presidential election, ElectionBettingOdds.com shows, followed by Newson and Shapiro as the next two likely options.
However, Lott warned it is still too early to tell what the future holds, noting that the markets will start to provide more clarity as more information becomes known over the next few years.
“As the future becomes clearer… as we get closer to 2026, 2028, these odds will change,” Lott said. “So if the Trump administration is doing really well, the economy is booming, inflation is not out of control, wars are ending, Vance’s odds will certainly go up.”
Bettors also are not limited to wagering on elections, with platforms such as Polymarket allowing users to place bets on Trump’s picks to serve in his Cabinet and whether they will be confirmed. Bettors can also place wagers on questions such as if they believe the war in Ukraine will end in Trump’s first 90 days or if there will be a cease-fire in Gaza in 2024.
According to Lott, taking a look at the current betting odds for many scenarios can help inform you about what is going on in the world, even if you do not place bets yourself.
“People often ask… is there any value to this… it’s just gambling. It’s silly,” Lott said. “But actually it’s very useful… if you want to know what’s going to happen in 2028 or if the Trump administration is going to be a success, you could read 100 news articles on it. Some will misinform you. Or, you can just go to the prediction markets and see… is Vance a 20% chance of becoming the next Republican nominee or is he a 90% chance? That tells you a lot.”
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