1 And Then There Were Three: Johnson & Johnson Submits Vaccine For FDA Approval
Johnson & Johnson is officially requesting that the FDA grants emergency use authorization for its coronavirus vaccine. It’s believed the vaccine could be approved by the end of February, or perhaps, early March. If it gets the go-ahead, it would be the third COVID-19 vaccine made available to the American public, following Pfizer and Moderna. As we’ve reported previously, this product is very different than its predecessors. Among other things, it’s a single-dose and it doesn’t need to be kept in extreme cold storage. But also, while it’s reportedly about 66-percent effective in preventing the virus, it’s said to reduce severe disease and hospitalizations by 85%...and prevents hospitalizations and death altogether. But the race isn’t over. There are three other vaccines in the pipeline. Products from AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax. Those are still in the clinical trial stage.
2 House Strips Marjorie Taylor Greene Of Committee Assignments
The House has voted – and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her committee assignments. As we told you yesterday, this came after Republicans refused to do so. As expected, the resolution passed on a party line vote – though 11 Republicans joined Democrats. The final vote tally was 230-199. During the debate preceding the vote, Greene addressed the House and said her past comments do not reflect her current thinking or values. She also said she regrets her past beliefs in conspiracy theories. Greene backed away from previous comments doubting the veracity of mass school shootings. She also said she absolutely believes that 9-11 happened. Greene previously questioned whether terrorist hijackers crashed a passenger jet into the Pentagon on 9-11. Greene accused the news media of twisting her words and condemned the "cancel culture." Greene also accused the media of being just as bad as QAnon by fueling lies and dividing people.
3 Trump Won't Testify In Senate Impeachment Trial
An attorney for Donald Trump says the former President will not testify in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial. This, after the top Impeachment Manager Jamie Raskin sent a letter to the former President and called on Trump to testify about his "conduct on January 6th." Trump lawyer David Schoen called Raskin's letter a public relations stunt. Schoen also reiterated that the trial is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. In response, Raskin says his refusal to testify proves he has no defense and that the refusal "establishes an adverse inference supporting his guilt." Raskin also noted any official charged with inciting violence against the government should welcome the chance to tell his side of the story. The trial is set to begin Tuesday.