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Placeholder while article actions load<\/title><rect role=\"presentation\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" clip-path=\"url(#sc-article-actions-skeleton-react-aria-1-diff)\" style=\"fill:url(#sc-article-actions-skeleton-react-aria-1-animated-diff)\"\/><defs><clippath id=\"sc-article-actions-skeleton-react-aria-1-diff\"><rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" rx=\"20\" ry=\"20\" width=\"112\" height=\"40\"\/><rect x=\"128\" y=\"0\" rx=\"20\" ry=\"20\" width=\"68\" height=\"40\"\/><rect x=\"212\" y=\"0\" rx=\"20\" ry=\"20\" width=\"116\" height=\"40\"\/><rect x=\"344\" y=\"0\" rx=\"20\" ry=\"20\" width=\"114\" height=\"40\"\/><\/clippath><lineargradient id=\"sc-article-actions-skeleton-react-aria-1-animated-diff\"><stop offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"#e9e9e9\" stop-opacity=\"1\"><animate attributename=\"offset\" values=\"-2; -2; 1\" keytimes=\"0; 0.25; 1\" dur=\"1.2s\" repeatcount=\"indefinite\"\/><\/stop><stop offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"#f0f0f0\" stop-opacity=\"1\"><animate attributename=\"offset\" values=\"-1; -1; 2\" keytimes=\"0; 0.25; 1\" dur=\"1.2s\" repeatcount=\"indefinite\"\/><\/stop><stop offset=\"100%\" stop-color=\"#e9e9e9\" stop-opacity=\"1\"><animate attributename=\"offset\" values=\"0; 0; 3\" keytimes=\"0; 0.25; 1\" dur=\"1.2s\" repeatcount=\"indefinite\"\/><\/stop><\/lineargradient><\/defs><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"teaser-content grid-center\">\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Hello, good morning. \ud83d\udc40 Clips we\u2019re watching this morning: <strong>Anthony Fauci <\/strong>on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YQaqEDeyNM8\" rel=\"noopener\">PBS \u201cNewsHour\u201d last night<\/a>. \u201cWe are certainly right now in this country out of the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/health\/2022\/04\/27\/pandemic-phase-over-fauci-covid\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_1\" rel=\"noopener\">pandemic phase,\u201d<\/a> he said, since cases, hospitalizations and deaths are at a low level.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Today\u2019s edition: <\/strong>Vice President Harris is taking Paxlovid, the covid-fighting pills, after testing positive for the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/coronavirus\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_3\" class=\"contextual_link\" rel=\"noopener\">coronavirus<\/a>. Fears are mounting inside the White House that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) won\u2019t agree to a deal on a slimmed down economic package. <strong>But first \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h4 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"WOXHVFR2GRGG5HGFAI4LNMR7TI\">\n<p>Expect a bitter battle over menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">The <strong>Food and Drug Administration <\/strong>appears on track to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-commits-evidence-based-actions-aimed-saving-lives-and-preventing-future-generations-smokers\" rel=\"noopener\">hit a deadline<\/a> to propose a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars this week, a controversial move long sought by tobacco opponents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>But don\u2019t expect to see such products off stores\u2019 shelves any time soon.<\/strong> Efforts to regulate tobacco have incited vehement battles in the past \u2014 and will do so again.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">After the agency unveils its plan, FDA officials will sort through what\u2019s sure to be a massive number of public comments. Then, the agency will issue a final rule. And then, the tobacco industry will very likely sue to stop the ban, multiple advocates and tobacco watchers say.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>\u201cIt’s quintessentially American how litigious this area is,\u201d said Clifford Douglas, <\/strong>the director of the <strong>University of Michigan\u2019s Tobacco Research Network. <\/strong>When it comes to the tobacco industry, \u201cany time a measure meaningfully threatens their bottom line, they will challenge it in court.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>The issue all comes down to a carve-out in the Tobacco Control Act.<\/strong> Passed in 2009, the landmark legislation granted FDA the power to regulate tobacco products. The law banned flavored cigarettes, while directing the agency to instead study menthol.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">The FDA and<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMp1103610#:~:text=The%20TPSAC%2C%20on%20which%20we,has%20generated%20controversy%20that%20reflects\" rel=\"noopener\"> its outside experts later<\/a> concluded that banning menthol would improve public health. Other supporters of the measure say the policy is critical to tackling a major health disparity. But the tobacco industry fiercely disagrees, contending there isn\u2019t a scientific basis for regulating menthol and non-menthol cigarettes differently.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">The agency is up against a critical deadline to propose the menthol ban \u2014 regulations which eluded both the Obama and Trump administrations. <strong>Let\u2019s walk through the timeline:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>Last April, the FDA faced a court deadline to respond to a<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthlawcenter.org\/sites\/default\/files\/resources\/tclc-fdacitizenpetition-menthol-2013.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> <\/strong>2013 citizen petition<\/a> seeking a prohibition on menthol cigarettes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>In response, <\/strong>the agency announced its plan to issue proposed rules barring menthol in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors in cigars (that includes menthol).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>The FDA said it would unveil its plan within a year. <\/strong>That was April 29, 2021.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>Late last week, the White House budget office <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reginfo.gov\/public\/do\/eoDetails?rrid=227311\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>finished reviewing<\/strong><\/a><strong> the <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reginfo.gov\/public\/do\/eoDetails?rrid=227361\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>proposed rules.<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>That means the agency is on track to hit the one-year deadline. (The FDA declined to comment on when it would release the rules, but said it\u2019s \u201ccommitted to advancing these policies as quickly as possible.\u201d)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Some civil rights, Black health organizations and consumer groups have pushed hard for the ban, viewing it as a major racial justice issue. They allege the tobacco industry has unfairly targeted the Black community through discounts on menthol products and advertising in stores in Black neighborhoods. Past studies have shown that Black smokers use menthol cigarettes at a much higher rate than White smokers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Last week,<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reginfo.gov\/public\/do\/viewEO12866Meeting?viewRule=true&rin=0910-AI28&meetingId=130273&acronym=0910-HHS\/FDA\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> <\/strong>several officials<\/a> from the <strong>American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) <\/strong>met with White House budget office and FDA staffers. In the meeting, the advocacy group stressed that banning menthol would help reduce health disparities, according to <strong>Katie McMahon, <\/strong>who works on ACS CAN\u2019s policy development team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Also last week \u2026 the NAACP echoed that message<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/naacp.org\/articles\/naacp-writes-letter-urging-fda-ban-menthol-flavored-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigar-products\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> in a letter<\/strong><\/a><strong> sent to top administration officials. <\/strong>The failure to prohibit the sale of menthol products would \u201ccounter the goal and function of the FDA to protect and promote public health for all, including the African-American community,\u201d the civil rights group wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>But others, including some Black leaders, have been wary of such a ban. <\/strong>They\u2019ve argued it singles out Black smokers and puts them at risk of more confrontations with the police. Members of the <strong>Congressional Black Caucus <\/strong>have spoken out against the ban in the past, though<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/health\/2021\/04\/16\/civil-rights-groups-demand-ban-menthol-cigarettes\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_30\" rel=\"noopener\"> opposition has decreased<\/a> over the last few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Civil rights activist the <strong>Rev. Al Sharpton<\/strong> recently urged the administration to establish a commission to study the racial and criminal justice impact a menthol ban would have on Black and other underserved communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>\u201cBefore we could support a ban, <\/strong>we want to know that this is not going to lead to criminalization,\u201d Sharpton told The Health 202. His group, the National Action Network,<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/07\/14\/nyregion\/fur-menthol-bans-lobbyists.html\" rel=\"noopener\"> has received donations<\/a> from tobacco maker Reynolds American in the past, but Sharpton said that contributions don\u2019t influence the organization\u2019s positions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h3 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"NSLZQIU3JZBUJPXWQMTLJRIZGU\">\n<p>White House prescriptions<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h4 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"P6ARW75IZ5BDPOGQR3TXLTL7YM\">\n<p>VP Harris tests positive for the coronavirus<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Vice President Harris <\/strong>has<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/04\/26\/kamala-harris-tests-positive-covid\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_38\" rel=\"noopener\"> tested positive<\/a> for the coronavirus, the White House announced yesterday, making her the highest-ranking Biden administration official to contract the virus, our colleagues <strong>Amy B Wang <\/strong>and <strong>Cleve R. Wootson Jr. <\/strong>report.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>Harris, 57, isn\u2019t exhibiting any symptoms and is fully vaccinated <\/strong>and has received two booster shots against the coronavirus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>She is not considered a \u201cclose contact\u201d to Biden or first lady Jill Biden <\/strong>due to their respective recent travel schedules, <strong>Kirsten Allen<\/strong>, press secretary to Harris, said in a<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2022\/04\/26\/statement-from-press-secretary-to-the-vice-president-kirsten-allen\/\" rel=\"noopener\"> statement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Also on Tuesday \u2026 <\/strong>Sens. <strong>Chris Murphy <\/strong>(D-Conn.) and <strong>Ron Wyden <\/strong>(D-Ore.) announced they too had tested positive for the coronavirus. Both lawmakers are fully vaccinated and reported experiencing mild symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Kirsten Allen, press secretary to the vice president:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<div data-oembed-type=\"twitter\" class=\"\" style=\"min-height:171px\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, after consultation with her physicians, the Vice President was prescribed and has taken Paxlovid.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kirsten Allen (@KirstenAllen46) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KirstenAllen46\/status\/1519101028368588800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"noopener\">April 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.):\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<div data-oembed-type=\"twitter\" class=\"\" style=\"min-height:171px\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">FYI after feeling mild symptoms overnight, I tested positive for COVID this morning. We’ve done the contact tracing and let people know. It’s a bummer, but I’m sure if I wasn’t fully vaccinated I would be feeling a lot worse. So remember to get your booster!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisMurphyCT\/status\/1518981877209706499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"noopener\">April 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<div data-oembed-type=\"twitter\" class=\"\" style=\"min-height:171px\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After routine testing today, I tested positive for COVID-19 and am experiencing minor symptoms. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted to protect themselves and their families. I’ll be continuing my work for Oregonians from my residence in DC until I test negative.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RonWyden\/status\/1518986999251849218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"noopener\">April 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Meanwhile \u2026 <\/strong>White House press secretary <strong>Jen Psaki <\/strong>said during a news conference yesterday that the administration has no plans to update its \u201cstringent\u201d covid-19 policies following Harris\u2019s positive test:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<div data-qa=\"article-video\" class=\"\">\n<div>\n<figure class=\"pt-xs mb-md mr-auto-ns ml-auto-ns hide-for-print
ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter\"><figcaption class=\"mt-xs mr-auto-ns ml-auto-ns left gray-dark font--subhead font-xxxs ml-gutter mr-gutter\" data-qa=\"video-caption\">On April 26 White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated that current coronavirus protocol went \u201cover and above\u201d CDC guidelines. (Video: The Washington Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h4 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"VAJKC2O4KFECLMMKDDUECK3ED4\">\n<p>Democrats are running out of time to secure a deal with Manchin<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">White House officials are confronting a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/us-policy\/2022\/04\/26\/white-house-manchin-biden\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_56\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201creal fear\u201d<\/a> that they may not be able to reach a deal with Sen. <strong>Joe Manchin<\/strong> (D-W.Va.) to pass an economic package before November\u2019s midterm elections, our colleagues <strong>Jeff Stein <\/strong>and <strong>Mike DeBonis <\/strong>report.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>President Biden <\/strong>proposed last spring to spend more than $4 trillion to transform the American economy. Now, White House officials say they\u2019d consider themselves fortunate to secure a deal worth even a quarter of that, largely because of holdups with Manchin \u2014 an essential vote for the president\u2019s agenda in an evenly split chamber.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>In recent weeks<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>administration officials have quietly tried to gauge whether the lawmaker would support a package primarily consisting of legislation that meets Manchin\u2019s calls for clean energy initiatives, prescription drug reform and higher taxes on the rich and corporations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>But the senator hasn\u2019t made it clear whether he would back a final measure <\/strong>with those issues addressed, and he told fellow lawmakers that he\u2019d like to see a bipartisan energy deal in response to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>Manchin also said any Democratic economic legislation <\/strong>moving on Capitol Hill should be focused on curbing rising inflation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Failure to reach a compromise would have profound economic and political consequences. <\/strong>Democrats are<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/04\/25\/biden-democrats-message-midterms\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_28&itid=lk_inline_manual_64\" rel=\"noopener\"> trailing in the polls<\/a> ahead of the midterm elections, and one senior administration official said that if Manchin\u2019s stonewalling runs out the clock on Biden\u2019s legislative agenda, the party will enter November \u201cwithout anything else to offer voters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h4 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"2XWF6E6YPZH6BDZEY3WKYNEHQI\">\n<p>A majority of Americans have been infected with the coronavirus<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Over half the U.S. population <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/health\/2022\/04\/26\/majority-americans-coronavirus-infections\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_68\" rel=\"noopener\">has been infected<\/a> with the coronavirus at least once since the pandemic began, The Post\u2019s <strong>Lena H. Sun,<\/strong> <strong>Dan Keating <\/strong>and <strong>Joel Achenbach <\/strong>report.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Before omicron,<strong> one-third<\/strong> of Americans had been infected with the coronavirus. But by the end of February, that number had skyrocketed to nearly <strong>60 percent<\/strong> \u2014 or about <strong>189 million people, <\/strong>according to newly released <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/71\/wr\/mm7117e3.htm?s_cid=mm7117e3_e&ACSTrackingID[%E2%80%A6].%2071%2C%20April%2026%2C%202022&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM80513\" rel=\"noopener\">data from the<\/a> <strong>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">That\u2019s significantly greater than the figure experts typically cite and more than double the <strong>80 million <\/strong>cases<strong> <\/strong>shown by The Post\u2019s<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/graphics\/2020\/national\/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths\/?itid=sf_coronavirus_sn_coronavirus-us-cases-deaths_1&state=US&itid=lk_inline_manual_72\" rel=\"noopener\"> tracker<\/a>, which is based on confirmed state data.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>CDC officials said the disparity is likely because <\/strong>data from the federal study uses blood tests that screen for antibodies developed in response to a coronavirus infection, not vaccine, and are able to capture asymptomatic cases and others that were never confirmed on coronavirus tests.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Kristie Clarke<\/strong>, the CDC official who authored the report, said by February, \u201cevidence of previous COVID-19 infections substantially increased among every age group.\u201d But the greatest increase was among children and teenagers through age 17 \u2014 <strong>3 in 4<\/strong> of which had been infected by February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h4 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"TFWW3VFXOJF2LNK3UKLIXO27IM\">\n<p>White House addresses Title 42<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">The Biden administration <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2022\/04\/26\/biden-to-comply-with-forthcoming-order-to-keep-title-42-in-place-00027904\" rel=\"noopener\">plans on complying<\/a> with an expected court order from a federal judge that would block phasing out the pandemic-era border restrictions, <strong>Politico <\/strong>reports.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">This comes as administration officials outlined <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-04\/22_0426_dhs-plan-southwest-border-security-preparedness.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">details of their plan<\/a> for managing a surge in illegal border crossings when the pandemic restrictions are gone, such as pledging to boost criminal prosecutions and make aggressive use of fast-track deportations. Some Senate Democrats, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2022\/04\/26\/biden-border-plan-surge-title-42\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_81\" rel=\"noopener\">particularly those in tight races,<\/a> had raised concerns that the administration wasn\u2019t prepared to lift Title 42, The Post\u2019s <strong>Nick Miroff <\/strong>reports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Catch up quick: <\/strong>The administration had previously planned to lift Title 42, a public health order used to expel migrants at the border, by May 23. But on Monday, a federal judge sided with a group of Republican-led states vying to keep the policy in place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><strong>Meanwhile, the lawsuit hasn\u2019t appeared to change the politics of pandemic aid<\/strong>. Senate Minority Leader <strong>Mitch McConnell<\/strong> (R-Ky.) said yesterday that there will need to be a vote soon targeting Title 42, likely to add such a policy to the <strong>$10 billion <\/strong>coronavirus deal. The issue has effectively stalled the swift passage of more aid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<ul class=\"font--article-body font-copy gray-darkest mt-0 mr-lg ml-lg mb-md list\">\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>The Food and Drug Administration will allow NJOY to continue<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/tobacco-products\/ctp-newsroom\/fda-issues-marketing-decisions-njoy-ace-e-cigarette-products\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> legally marketing<\/strong><\/a> four e-cigarette products, deciding their benefits for smokers who switch to the devices<strong> <\/strong>outweigh the risks of underage vaping.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>A top FDA official said that she believed that the agency won\u2019t issue further contracts <\/strong>to consulting firm <strong>McKinsey & Co.<\/strong> pending investigations into the company\u2019s alleged failure to disclose potential conflicts of interests while advising both drugmakers and federal regulators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"pb-xs\"><span><strong>On tap today: <\/strong>The House Committee on Oversight and Reform will release new documents that \u201craise even more questions” about McKinsey’s practices related to opioids, panel Chair <strong>Carolyn Maloney <\/strong>(D-N.Y.) plans to say at a hearing today, according to remarks shared with The Health 202.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why Can\u2019t These Republicans Remember What They Did on January 6th? | The Daily Show\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7Qlu9azUKho?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\"><span style=\"background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);\">Thanks for reading! See y’all tomorrow.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"b bt bc-offblack dn-ns hide-for-print\" subscriptions-section=\"content\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/04\/27\/biden-administration-is-about-propose-menthol-cigarette-ban\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Placeholder while article actions load Hello, good morning. \ud83d\udc40 Clips we\u2019re watching this morning:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31177"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31179,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31177\/revisions\/31179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}