Authors RiShawn Biddle
Last night, I received disturbing news, confirmed to me directly by General Perna of Operation Warp Speed: States will not be receiving increased shipments of vaccines from the national stockpile next week, because there is no federal reserve of doses.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) January 15, 2021
Folks like @JamesSurowiecki spent time blaming states and municipal governments for not doling out the vaccines quickly enough. Yet forgot that the federal government is in charge of vaccine distribution - and didn't buy enough vaccines to start.
BREAKING: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will run out of Covid-19 vaccines by next week due to supply shortages https://t.co/ceeA584zA0 pic.twitter.com/FiNDxYT2qi
— Bloomberg (@business) January 15, 2021
By the way: We knew that the feds, under the Trump regime, would mess this up. It was reported back in December that the Trump regime didn't buy enough of the Pfizer vaccine, even after the pharma offered to supply more.
This is unsurprising, and yet, still tragedy.
So, they announced fake news then? "When HHS Sec. Alex Azar announced this week that the federal government would begin releasing coronavirus vaccine doses held in reserve for second shots, no such reserve existed..." https://t.co/wLZlSsBCPJ
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) January 15, 2021
But none of the blame laid at the feet of states and municipalities is shocking, either. Folks have been blaming school systems for not having the resources to reopen school buildings - and for not being able to reopen in the midst of high community spread.
The Member from New York is correct.
Dear @AOC: I've given you plenty of praise when deserved and criticism when deserved. You participating in this gaslighting is worthy of criticism.
— Charles #GetCovered-ba (@charles_gaba) January 15, 2021
You wanted $2,000. You got $600. Biden is pushing for another $1,400, bringing it to $2,000 total, which is what you asked for. https://t.co/50qQL9arUH
You can argue that AOC shouldn't have taken to media to make her case. But she's a Member of Congress and can use any of the tools at her disposal to do so. In any case, she is correct that what Biden is proposing isn't nearly good enough. Also, Biden only responds to pressure.
It is only B.S. to you because you are more-aligned with Biden and his wing of the Democratic Party than with AOC's wing.
I'm sorry, but bullshit. There's two different arguments here:
— Charles #GetCovered-ba (@charles_gaba) January 15, 2021
1. $2,000 isn't enough
2. Biden "lied" or "went back on his promise"
#1 is debatable. #2 is utter bullshit. $2,000 is what was passed by the House. $600 is what passed the Senate. Adding $1,400 would = $2,000.
The reality is that $2,000 is not enough and when Biden stepped into this, he basically agreed to give $2,000 (even if he 'meant' just another $1,400). Biden should have just did the $2,000 because we all know that another $1,400 isn't enough.
Again, you can argue that the total *should* be more than $2K, but you can't argue that Biden or anyone else lied about what the total from Dems would be. Read the rest of @Yair_Rosenberg's thread. Even BERNIE is praising the plan.
— Charles #GetCovered-ba (@charles_gaba) January 15, 2021
Bernie praised it as a 'very strong first installment'. Which means that he expects more than just another $1,400. But because he has a closer relationship with Biden than AOC does, he's not going to press hard right now. @charles_gaba
President-Elect Biden's COVID rescue plan will begin to provide our people with much-needed support, such as $2,000 direct payments and a $15 minimum wage.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 15, 2021
I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to urgently provide bold relief to working families. pic.twitter.com/i8wS5180bB