Morning Wire XX
[0] Vaccine and mask mandates dominate the national discussion as COVID cases climb.
[1] The Biden administration signals a push for renewed mask mandates and a potential need for vaccine boosters.
[2] Do you think masks should be brought back for vaccinated Americans?
[3] You know, Jake, this is under active consideration.
[4] What's the latest for the administration's COVID response?
[5] And how will it affect Americans' lives?
[6] I'm John Bickley with Georgia Howell.
[7] It's Monday, July 26th, and this is Morning Wire.
[8] Protests erupt in Australia in response to another round of lockdowns after an uptick in COVID cases.
[9] Dozens have been arrested and hundreds fined as people take to the streets.
[10] How is the government responding, and what does it mean for free speech down under?
[11] And the NFL's new vaccine rules are met with pushback from some players and coaches.
[12] What are the new policies and how are teams handling them?
[13] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[14] Stay tuned.
[15] We have the news you need to know.
[16] This show is sponsored by WyoTech.
[17] America is built on the trades.
[18] Like the nation's truck drivers, WioTech never let COVID stop hands -on learning.
[19] WioTech is one of the nation's leading automotive and diesel training schools and is paving the way in keeping the front lines of America running.
[20] WioTech is shaping young men and women and veterans to build careers and businesses in the trades.
[21] Visit yotech .edu to subscribe and donate to future technicians that keep America.
[22] because industries and you moving.
[23] Yotech .edu.
[24] As the Delta variant spreads across the country, new research shows a dip in vaccine effectiveness over time.
[25] Here to discuss how the Biden administration and CDC officials are responding is Daily Wire Managing Editor Cabot Phillips.
[26] So Cabot, booster shots.
[27] Is this something experts we're expecting all along?
[28] Well, typically vaccine antibodies do begin to wane as time goes by, but this does seem a bit of a shift in messaging from the White House.
[29] A few weeks ago, the Biden administration said there wasn't enough evidence to indicate boosters were needed, but throughout the past week, the CDC has signaled that they will likely be necessary in the near future.
[30] That shift is the direct result of new research showing that some vaccines, especially the Pfizer shot, may not be as effective after six months.
[31] So the vaccine appears to become less effective over time.
[32] How much of a dip are we talking about?
[33] We're still not totally sure, but from an ongoing global study, vaccine effectiveness appears to drop from 95 to 84 % after four to six months.
[34] And other studies have found that it's even more dramatic, as low as 39 % effectiveness after the six -month mark.
[35] Well, that's a big gap.
[36] Yeah, and it's enough to have experts worried, including Dr. Anthony Fauci.
[37] He said the news has people, quote, raising their eyebrows a bit.
[38] And keep in mind, about half of vaccinated Americans got that Pfizer shot.
[39] So there are millions of people who could be impacted by this, especially those in vulnerable populations, mainly the elderly.
[40] Right.
[41] So if the boosters are needed, how would they be rolled out?
[42] The Bind administration has reassured the public that they have more than enough shots on hand.
[43] So everyone who needs one would be able to get one.
[44] The problem is, even though booster shots appear to be needed, the government is yet to approve any for use.
[45] So they're not available to the public right now, and they might not be until the fall.
[46] One main issue here is that the FDA has yet to fully approve any vaccine.
[47] They're currently operating under an emergency protocol.
[48] So if they did approve one, doctors would be able to issue booster shots on their own, but that's currently not allowed under federal law.
[49] This all comes with the spread of the Delta variant.
[50] How are officials reacting to the new cases?
[51] Yeah, COVID cases are rising in all 50 states, and as you mentioned, experts blame the Delta variant.
[52] In response, some cities, including L .A. and St. Louis, are reinstating mask mandates, while others have reversed course on their own reopening plans.
[53] And it's worth noting Jerome Adams, who was the CDC director under Trump, recently called for states with low vaccination rates to return to their early mask mandate protocols.
[54] You mentioned Dr. Fauci.
[55] What's he saying about all this?
[56] He blamed the spread on those who've chosen not to get vaccinated, saying he's, quote, very frustrated by this unnecessary predicament.
[57] He gave an interview to CNN on Sunday morning and said new mask mandates are being, quote, actively considered, even for those who've been vaccinated.
[58] Do you think masks should be brought back for vaccinated Americans?
[59] You know, Jake, this is under active consideration.
[60] So now it's a waiting game to see how the CDC will respond.
[61] Dr. Fauci has signaled he'd like to see local governments take matters into their own hands without federal intervention.
[62] But that still remains a possibility.
[63] Cabot, thanks for the update.
[64] Absolutely, John.
[65] Daily Wire Managing Editor Cabot Phillips.
[66] Next, Australians take to the streets to protest renewed lockdowns.
[67] Inflation is destroying the dollar.
[68] Birch Gold Group can help protect your IRA or 401k with a precious metals IRA.
[69] Text wire to 98989898 to claim a free info kit on physical gold and silver.
[70] There's zero obligation.
[71] Text the word wire to 9898989898 to protect your savings today.
[72] Reacting to the spread of the Delta variant, Australian authorities are reaffirons are Imposing lockdowns.
[73] Thousands of Australians have taken to the street in protest, with police cracking down on what the protesters are calling freedom rallies, raising questions about both COVID -19 containment strategies and civil liberties.
[74] Here to explain what's going on is Daily Wires Ian Howarth.
[75] Good morning, Georgia.
[76] Good morning.
[77] So what's going on in Australia right now?
[78] Well, over half the country is under strict lockdowns, with politicians justifying the move by pointing to the spread of the Delta variant and an uptick in COVID cases.
[79] uptick in cases, what are the numbers looking like?
[80] Well, the lockdowns were in response to a few hundred cases, 141 in New South Wales on Sunday, for example.
[81] Cases or deaths?
[82] Cases in a country of 25 million people.
[83] Sydney has been locked down, as have other state capitals like Darwin, Perth and Brisbane, with over half of Australia now living under these sorts of restrictions.
[84] And this is after living freely during most of the pandemic compared to other countries, at least since Australia's first national lockdown at the start of 2020.
[85] So after a year of relative freedom, how are Australians reacting to being locked down again?
[86] Well, much like the lockdowns here, there are people on both sides of the debate, but thousands of Australians marched in cities like Sydney against the lockdown measures, with police cracking down on the protests.
[87] More than 500 people have been fined in Sydney and at least 50 people charged with various criminal offences.
[88] Police in Sydney are even going through social media and CCTV footage in a asking the public for help identifying protesters.
[89] They've received over 5 ,000 reports so far.
[90] As in citizens reporting on citizens?
[91] Essentially, yes.
[92] Politicians were also quick to reject the protests with the leader of New South Wales, the state which contained Sydney, saying that participants should be ashamed.
[93] Millions and millions of people across our state are doing the right thing, and it just broke my heart that people had such a disregard for their fellow citizens.
[94] Australia's Prime Minister made a similar argument, calling the protesters selfish and self -defeating.
[95] He also said there is such a thing as free speech, at least for those not in lockdown.
[96] As for other parts of the country that aren't in lockdown, well, there is such a thing as free speech, and I'm not about to be imposing those sorts of restrictions on people's free speech.
[97] So you can protest lockdown as long as you're not in lockdown.
[98] Basically, yes.
[99] We should remember that Australia is one example of a country that while generally promoting free speech as a pre -speech, principle doesn't have constitutional protections like the First Amendment which explicitly protect freedom of speech.
[100] Right.
[101] Early on, we were told that Australia's COVID strategy was really successful.
[102] Did anything change?
[103] Well, in this case, it's important to understand Australia's strategy to understand the latest protests themselves.
[104] So while COVID -19 was ravaging parts of the world, like Italy, for example, Australia focused on keeping case numbers to a minimum.
[105] They moved to close their borders to the rest of the world, which resulted in just over 900 COVID -19.
[106] 19 related deaths and around 32 ,000 total cases since the start of the pandemic.
[107] And combined with enforcing mandatory quarantine and using contact tracing systems, they achieve good results compared to other countries in terms of cases and death counts.
[108] So Australian authorities will be trying to do the same here.
[109] Okay.
[110] A new factor which has changed the landscape, though, is Australia's slow vaccine rollout.
[111] Since vaccination started in late February, two months after the US, by the way, only around 11 % of Australians have been fully vaccinated, and this is compared to 50 % in the U .S. So authorities in Australia probably feel they have to allow on lockdowns, all while other countries with far higher vaccination rates decide to open up, and this will only fuel anger even more.
[112] Yeah, I mean, especially given the impact on civil liberties.
[113] Yep.
[114] Thanks for joining us today, Ian.
[115] My pleasure.
[116] Daily Wires, Ian Howarth.
[117] With training camps around the league getting underway, the NFL is making news, with their new COVID vaccination policy.
[118] The league has been pushing for players and staff to all receive the vaccine, establishing rules for unvaccinated players that are much more restrictive than those for fully vaccinated players and staff.
[119] On Thursday, the NFL sent out a memo to teams regarding the league's policy for in -season outbreaks that impact scheduled games.
[120] Here to tell us more as Daily Wire's sports reporter Joe Morgan.
[121] Hey, Joe.
[122] John?
[123] So what's going on here with the NFL's vaccine policy?
[124] Well, the NFL has been incentivizing players to receive the vaccine for some time now.
[125] In June, they updated their protocols for training camp and the 2021 preseason.
[126] For vaccinated players, almost all restrictions have been lifted, including the mask requirement and daily COVID testing.
[127] However, for unvaccinated players, life will be much different.
[128] COVID testing will be required every day.
[129] Masks have to be worn at team facilities and while traveling, which are just a few of the rules they will have to adhere to.
[130] On Thursday, the NFL did go a step further, sending a memo to teams regarding in -season COVID outbreaks.
[131] According to Tom Pellisero of the NFL Network, if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18 -week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will forfeit and be credited with the loss for playoff seating.
[132] Forfeit?
[133] Wow, that's clearly a big deal.
[134] How did players react?
[135] The memo set off a firestorm on social media.
[136] The highest paid wide receiver in the NFL, DeAndre Hopkins, said in a tweet that his decision to not receive the vaccine could potentially hurt his team, making him question his future in football.
[137] Super Bowl champion and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fornett sent a tweet stating, Vaccine, I can't do it, before quickly deleting the message.
[138] So there's some pushback from players, but to be clear, vaccines are not mandatory.
[139] Correct.
[140] They are not mandatory for players.
[141] Okay.
[142] However, the messaging from the NFL is clear.
[143] If you are not vaccinated, you are putting your team's future at risk, and the season will not exactly be comfortable for you.
[144] Okay, so not a mandate, but a major pressure campaign.
[145] Right.
[146] What about coaches?
[147] Do the same rules apply?
[148] They do not.
[149] For Tier 1 staff, which includes coaches, front office execs, equipment managers, and scouts, the vaccine is required in order to have contact with players.
[150] The NFL released a memo saying that a valid religious or medical reason must be provided for not receiving the vaccine.
[151] If a Tier 1 employee does not receive the vaccine and does not have an exemption, They will not be allowed to be on the field in meeting rooms or have direct contact with players.
[152] It's worth noting that the rules are pretty complex, but basically if you don't have the vaccine, there are a lot of barriers to regular activities.
[153] So it gets a little complicated here, but without an exemption, the league considers valid, coaches can't really participate.
[154] Exactly.
[155] Are any coaches actually refusing the vaccine?
[156] Well, on Friday, ESPN reported that Minnesota Vikings' assistant coach Rick Denison was out of a job after choosing to know.
[157] not get the vaccine.
[158] However, ESPN may have jumped the gun a bit, as the Vikings put out a statement saying they continue to hold discussions with Denison and that he does not have an exemption to the vaccination requirements of those protocols.
[159] Denison may still be able to work with the team in some capacity.
[160] Meanwhile, Patriot's co -offensive line coach, Cole Popovich, is reported to no longer be with the team in a decision related to the vaccine.
[161] Definitely a major development here.
[162] We'll be watching to see if there's more fallout and how other industries handle this.
[163] Yeah, we will.
[164] Thanks, Joe.
[165] Sure thing.
[166] Daily Wire sports reporter Joe Morgan.
[167] Those are the top stories this morning, but there's more in the news to keep an eye on.
[168] Other big developments that we're tracking this week.
[169] At least 125 people have been confirmed dead as a result of massive flooding over the weekend in Western India.
[170] About 100 miles south of Mumbai, landslides have flattened dozens of homes, killing 42 people and trapping an estimated 40 additional people in mud.
[171] According to experts, the region is experiencing the heaviest rainfall in four decades.
[172] Hennon Province, China is likewise seeing drastic flooding, receiving the equivalent of one year of rainfall in just 72 hours, starting on Tuesday.
[173] 58 people have been confirmed dead in China, with more than 1 million displaced.
[174] And, after a shaky start on the first day of the Tokyo Olympics, the U .S. gained momentum over the weekend.
[175] The U .S. women's gymnastics team easily qualified for Tuesday's team.
[176] finals, though they were edged out by Russia in the qualifying round.
[177] After losing their opener against Sweden, the U .S. women's soccer team defeated New Zealand on Saturday 6 -1.
[178] The team will play Australia on Tuesday.
[179] And the U .S. swim team won six medals Sunday, including a gold.
[180] It's the most medals won by the U .S. swim team on the first day of Olympic finals ever.
[181] If you liked this episode and are interested in hearing more, subscribe to Morning Wire on Apple podcast, Spotify, or wherever you're listening, and give us a five -star review.
[182] That's all the time we've got this morning.
[183] Thanks for waking up with us.
[184] We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.
[185] Get the Morning Wire newsletter delivered straight to your inbox when you join at DailyWire .com slash subscribe.
[186] Use code MorningWire to try a reader's past membership and get your first month for only 99 cents.