It’s Tuesday.
Tuesday marks President Joe Biden’s 41st day in office.
For day 41, President Biden will receive his daily briefing, participate in a meeting by phone with Senate Democrats, and deliver remarks on the coronavirus pandemic.
Tuesday morning the Washington Post reported that President Biden is expected to announce this afternoon that pharmaceutical giant Merck will help Johnson & Johnson produce their single-dose vaccine.
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that has not been announced, said they began scouring the country for additional manufacturing capacity after they realized in the first days of the administration that Johnson & Johnson had fallen behind in vaccine production. They soon sought to broker a deal with Merck, one of the world’s largest vaccine makers, which had failed to develop its own coronavirus vaccine.
Under the arrangement, Merck will dedicate two facilities in the United States to Johnson & Johnson’s shots. One will provide “fill-finish” services, the last stage of the production process during which the vaccine substance is placed in vials and packaged for distribution. The other will make the vaccine, and has the potential to vastly increase supply, perhaps even doubling what Johnson & Johnson could make on its own, the officials said.
Washington Post. 03/02/2021.
NBC News, and CNN, both confirmed the news first reported by the Washington Post.
President Biden added four more tweets to Monday‘s two tweets, giving him a total of 6 tweets for Monday.
Two of the four tweets, one sent at 2:58 p.m. D.C., time, the second sent at 9:53 p.m. D.C., time, focused on his meeting with Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The two leaders offered a joint declaration where they both committed to working together to “combat the COVID-19 pandemic, to reinvigorate economic cooperation, and to explore areas of cooperation on climate change. They also reaffirmed the importance of combating corruption and security cooperation.”
Bullet points from the joint-declaration:
Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation on Migration
They agreed to collaborate on a joint effort to address the root causes of regional migration, to improve migration management, and to develop legal pathways for migration. Respectively, they directed the Secretariat of Foreign Relations and the Department of State to engage with the governments of neighboring countries, civil society, and private sectors through policies that promote equitable and sustainable economic development, combat corruption, and improve law enforcement cooperation against transnational criminal smuggling networks.
Bilateral Cooperation for the Response and Recovery from COVID-19
Both Presidents reaffirmed the importance of close collaboration to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas related to economic and health cooperation. They agreed to deepen cooperation on pandemic response, including by enhancing public health capabilities, information sharing, and the development of border policies. Recognizing the strategic importance of the bilateral economic relationship, they reaffirmed their shared commitment to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as a driver for North American prosperity and labor rights in both countries by generating job opportunities, improving worker protections, and preventing forced labor. Both leaders agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience and security. The leaders also agreed to re-start the High Level Economic Dialogue to further these aims.
Bilateral Climate Change Cooperation
The two Presidents highlighted the importance of tackling the climate crisis and agreed to explore areas of cooperation. The leaders acknowledged the benefits of addressing short-lived climate pollutants, as well as the need to promote energy efficiency. They discussed how they can work together to support a successful outcome at this year’s Climate Leaders’ Summit on April 22nd hosted by the United States.
White House.gov. 03/01/2021.
At 7:15 p.m. D.C., time he recognized “Women’s History Month”.
From the Women’s History Month.gov‘s About page:
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.”
In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.
Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
Women’s History Month.gov.
The full Proclamation on Women’s History Month can be found here.
Highlights:
During Women’s History Month, let us honor the accomplished and visionary women who have helped build our country, including those whose contributions have not been adequately recognized and celebrated. And let us pay tribute to the trailblazers from the recent and distant past for daring to envision a future for which no past precedent existed, and for building a Nation of endless possibilities for all of its women and girls.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2021 as Women’s History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I also invite all Americans to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contribution of women to our Nation’s history.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
White House.gov. 03/01/2021.
At 8:15 p.m. D.C., time, he offered a PSA on the coronavirus pandemic.
He isn’t wrong. Please continue to protect yourself, your families, and your communities, by washing your hands, avoid large indoor and outdoor unmasked crowds, and please–please, wear your mask.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. D.C., time.
Live feed: The White House.
White House Press Secretary Jen Paski is likely to be asked about the deal between Merck and Johnson & Johnson, the Biden administration’s announcement that new penalties on Russia in response to the poisoning and jailing of Alexei Navalny as Politico and other news outlets reported this morning, and whether or not, President Biden and Mexico’s President reached a deal on the U.S., providing Mexico with the coronavirus vaccine.
And just cause it’s real stupid, Fox News might ask her what President Biden’s thoughts or feelings are regarding the announcement that 6 out 60 Dr. Seuss books will not be published or sold anymore, because those books “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” according to the organization in charge of the authors works and legacy.
For those interested in the stupid, AP News reported on Tuesday that Dr. Seuss Enterprises, decided to cease the sale and publication of the 6 books after months of discussion. The decision was made last year.
President Biden’s remarks on the coronavirus pandemic are scheduled for 4:15 p.m. D.C., time.
Live Feed: The White House.
This is an Open Thread.
