Sunday shows – Spotlight shifts to Senate for Biden spending plan

by The Hill staff - 11/21/21 11:33 AM ET

The U.S. Capitol is seen from Constitution Ave. on Monday, November 15, 2021. — Greg Nash

Multiple guests on the Sunday morning political talk shows discussed President Biden’s social spending plan, which is now headed to the Senate after the House passed the Build Back Better Act.

Anthony Fauci also discussed newly approved COVID-19 boosters for all adults, and gave his outlook for the holidays.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

Top Biden economic adviser optimistic as Build Back Better Act heads to Senate

By JOSEPH CHOI

Brian Deese, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, expressed optimism about the Build Back Better Act’s prospects days after President Biden’s social spending package passed in the House.

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Democratic senator: Others in party ‘need to be open to compromise’ on Biden agenda

By JOSEPH CHOI

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said on Sunday that his fellow Democratic lawmakers need to be open to compromise as the Build Back Better Act heads to the Senate following months of negotiations.

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Gillbrand: ‘Manchin has come a long way on paid leave’

By CAROLINE VAKIL

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) “has come a long way on paid leave” as the Senate gets ready to take up the social spending bill after the Thanksgiving break.

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GOP senator: Democrats can only get funding for ‘giveaway programs’ from the middle class

By CAROLINE VAKIL

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said that Democrats can only get funding for “their giveaway programs,” apparently including provisions in their roughly $2 trillion social spending and climate bill, from the middle class.

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Sununu on Democrats saying spending package is paid for: ‘Nobody buys that’

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Sunday dismissed Democrats’ claims that their massive social spending and climate package is fully paid for, arguing “nobody buys that.”

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Buttigieg dismisses reported rivalry with Harris

By JOSEPH CHOI

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday shot down suggestions of a rivalry between him and Vice President Kamala Harris, insisting that they are too busy focusing on the administration’s goals to feud with each other.

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Fauci hopes COVID-19 boosters increase vaccines’ durability

By CAROLINE VAKIL

President Biden’s chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said on Sunday that he hopes COVID-19 boosters will increase vaccine durability so that “you will not necessarily need it” every six months or year.

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Fauci says fully vaccinated families can ‘absolutely’ enjoy holidays inside without masks

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Anthony Fauci on Sunday said that fully vaccinated family members can “absolutely” enjoy holidays inside together without wearing masks.

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Republican Virginia lt. gov.-elect won’t say if she is vaccinated against COVID-19

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Republican Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears on Sunday would not share her COVID-19 vaccination status following last month when she declined to say if she is vaccinated, contending that asking about such statuses becomes a “slippery slope” because it can lead to requests for other medical information.

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Economist advises Americans to ‘wait it out’ for non-urgent purchases amid supply chain crisis

By CAROLINE VAKIL

“If you don’t need to buy a car right now, wait it out. If you don’t need to buy some of those other things that are goods that people have spent so much on. If you can wait it out a little bit, we’re going to see some discounting on the other side of this, which makes it more of a boom-bust cycle. But it is you know, being able to pace yourself in terms of what you really need,” Diane Swonk said during “This Week” on ABC.

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Christie: Trump needs to stop talking about ‘stolen’ election and focus on future

By JOSEPH CHOI

Former New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie said on Sunday that former President Trump must stop talking about his belief that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” and instead focus on the future if he wants to run again in 2024.

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Sununu sidesteps question on running for president in 2024

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Sunday sidestepped a question on any presidential ambitions in 2024, saying he is focused on his work in the Granite State.

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O’Rourke says he stands by his 2019 ‘we’re gonna take your AR-15, your AK-47’ comment

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

“Look, we are a state that has a long, proud tradition of responsible gun ownership. And most of us here in Texas do not want to see our friends, our family members, our neighbors shot up with these weapons of war. So yes, I still hold this view,” Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke said.

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