Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Monoclonal Antibodies For Trump Friends
USA Today: Monoclonal Antibodies May Have Helped Donald Trump Recover From COVID-19, But Many Others Aren't Getting Them
President Donald Trump, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani all received monoclonal antibodies when they were treated for COVID-19. And despite having risk factors such as age and weight that put them at risk of getting really sick, they recovered quickly, although Christie spent a week in intensive care. They all credit monoclonal antibodies. But only a fraction of those doses have reached the people who could benefit from them, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Monday. (Weintraub, 12/21)
The Hill: CDC Questioned EPA Rule Declining To Impose Tougher Soot Regulations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rationale for freezing air quality regulations was “not scientifically defensible” before the agency finalized the rule earlier this month. The EPA opted to keep Obama-era standards on particulate matter, or soot, in a move critics argued failed to take into account a growing body of evidence showing even low levels of air pollution can be harmful to human health. (Beitsch, 12/21)
In other news related to the Trump administration —
The Washington Post: Young Conservatives Mingled Maskless At Mar-A-Lago And Partied With A Money Cannon
Conservative student group Turning Point USA held two large events in Florida this weekend, including one at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private club, allegedly violating local coronavirus restrictions and disregarding authorities’ pleas to avoid such massive gatherings. Turning Point on Friday night held its annual winter gala at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. The party was attended by hundreds of students, organizers and GOP notables such as South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Mike Lindell, otherwise known as the “MyPillow Guy.” (Villegas and Fahrenthold, 12/21)
KHN: Democrats Are Running Hard On Health Care In Georgia’s Senate Runoffs. Republicans? Not So Much.
Vice President Mike Pence was the clear celebrity draw at a Nov. 20 campaign event for Georgia’s two incumbent U.S. senators, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Both Republicans are fighting to keep their seats against two Democratic challengers in the runoff election set for Jan. 5. People were so eager to see Pence at the rally in Canton, Georgia, that parking spots were scarce and a long line of cars snaked through the parking lot of a community college. Some drivers jumped the curb and parked in the grass. (Whitehead, 12/22)
