Sunday shows preview: 2024 hopefuls gather at CPAC; House passes coronavirus relief; vaccine effort continues

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) the House’s passage of a coronavirus relief bill, and continuing vaccination efforts are expected to dominate this week’s Sunday talk shows.

CPAC kicked off on Thursday in Orlando, Fla., and included an array of speeches from 2024 hopefuls who wish to project their vision to the party’s faithful. Among the attendees were GOP Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and Tom Cotton (Ark.), who are all seen as top potential 2024 contenders.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), one of former President Trump’s staunchest supporters, also sought to cast himself as a possible 2024 contender. During opening remarks on Friday, the governor sought to rally the GOP against the “failed Republican establishment.”

Also in attendance was South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who will appear on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) who will appear on “Fox News Sunday.” 

Trump is also scheduled to speak at the conference on Sunday afternoon, marking his first major address since leaving the White House in January.

The House voted 219-222 to pass Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package early Saturday morning. But despite the bill’s passage Saturday, progressive Democrats suffered a disappointing blow follow their push for a minimum wage hike. 

The Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday night that raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour went against the upper chamber’s rules on budget reconciliation, which Democrats are relying on to pass the bill. The move eradicated any hope the provision would remain in the legislation once it reaches the Senate.

However, following the parliamentarian’s decision, House Democrats left the provision in the bill they later passed, arguing that it was up to the upper chamber’s lawmakers to take it out.

Once the Senate votes on an amended version, it goes back to the House for passage again before landing on Biden’s desk.

Throughout the bill’s genesis, both Biden and his White House press secretary Jen Psaki have stated that getting coronavirus relief to the American people is a top priority for the president. 

Psaki will make an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday” this weekend. 

Amid the struggle in Washington to pass coronavirus relief, the U.S. continues to forge ahead with its COVID-19 vaccination effort. The Biden administration has been working to administer 100 million vaccine doses within his first 100 days in office, and on Thursday he marked the 50 millionth shot administered.

On Friday, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted to recommend the agency grant an emergency-use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine, likely leading to a quick approval.

The addition of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine will make three vaccines authorized for use, in addition to the ones from Pfizer and Moderna which require a two-shot regimen.

However, Anthony Fauci, who is slated to appear on  ABC’s “This Week”, NBC’s “Meet The Press” CBS’s “Face The Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Union” said in an interview on the “Today” show Thursday that Americans should take the brand of vaccine mosts readily available to them. 

Below are the full list of guest scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Fauci; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

CBS’s “Face the Nation” — Fauci; Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel; Govs. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., and Kristi Noem, R-S.D.; Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Fauci; Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Chris Coons, D-Del; Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif.; White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

“Fox News Sunday” — Psaki; Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mark Warner, D-Va.

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Ranking Member, House Intel Committee; Chad Wolf, Former DHS Acting Secretary; Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Minority Leader; Peter Navarro, Former White House Trade Adviser