Sunday shows – COVID-19 dominates as grim milestone approaches

The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the Sunday morning political talk shows as the U.S. approaches a grim milestone of 500,000 deaths related to the pandemic. 

Anthony Fauci called the number “devastating.” 

Guests also discussed COVID-19 aid and school reopening, among other topics.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below. 

Fauci: 500,000 coronavirus death milestone ‘devastating’ By ZACK BUDRYK    Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said Sunday that despite positive trends in coronavirus infections, it is “devastating” to see the U.S. approaching 500,000 deaths from it. Read the full story here

Republican Arkansas governor: Give control of vaccine distribution to states By JOHN BOWDEN    “Give it to the states, we’ll get it out…it’s easier to coordinate that way,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said Sunday. Read the full story here

Progressive caucus chair: Income thresholds for direct payments should stay at $75,000 By JOHN BOWDEN   The chair of the House Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), is urging Democrats to resist calls to reduce the number of Americans who will receive direct payments under an upcoming COVID-19 relief plan by lowering the income cutoff in the package. Read the full story here

Teachers union president: ‘No perfect solution’ to reopening schools By JOHN BOWDEN   The president of the American Federation of Teachers said Sunday that there is “no perfect solution” for opening schools safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic while pointing to successes that some municipalities have had with efforts to reopen. Read the full story here

Psaki sidesteps questions on Cuomo’s leadership amid nursing home deaths investigation By REMA RAHMAN   White House press secretary Jen Psaki avoided answering questions on Sunday on whether President Biden still believes New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) represents the “gold standard” when it comes to leadership during the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story here

National security adviser: China has not made ‘sufficient original data’ available on virus spread By ZACK BUDRYK   White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Chinese officials have not made “sufficient original data” available on the domestic and international spread of the coronavirus. Read the full story here

Texas GOP congressman: Federal disaster aid will help homeowners with massive utility bills By JOHN BOWDEN    A Texas congressman said Sunday that homeowners in his state who are facing high electric payments and damage to their homes resulting from recent winter weather would be eligible for aid from the federal government. Read the full story here

Scalise avoids blaming Trump for Capitol riot following Mar-a-Lago visit By REMA RAHMAN    House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), who last week visited former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, on Sunday deflected blame away from Trump for the deadly riot at the Capitol. Read the full story here

Former Texas GOP rep: Trump should hold very little or no role in Republican Party By JOHN BOWDEN   Former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) said Sunday that the GOP should have little if anything to do with former President Trump following the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Read the full story here

Bill Gates: Goal of eliminating emissions by 2030 ‘completely unrealistic’ By ZACK BUDRYK    “It’s completely unrealistic to think we could eliminate emissions by 2030,” Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said, adding that “not seeing that this problem is hard will be part of the difficulty of getting engaged in it.” Read the full story here