News Information and Media Site: Manchin hints at paths forward for Democratic priorities ... and White House says don't let Covid guard down

From NBC's Ben Kamisar

If it's Sunday, what tools do Democrats have to advance their agenda without GOP support?

Well, if West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has anything to say about it (and, as one of the most moderate members of the slim, Democratic majority, he has a lot of say), the Democrats have some options.

Manchin's an avowed defender of the filibuster, which effectively mandates a 60-vote threshold for legislation in most cases. But during Sunday's interview, Manchin outlined two paths Democrats could use to pass laws without that bipartisan support.

The first is similar to what just happened on Covid relief. After bipartisan negotiations stalled, Senate Democrats used a process called reconciliation, which allows them to pass some budget-related plans with a majority vote.

While Manchin told "Meet the Press" he wouldn't budge in his support for the filibuster, he cracked the door open for Democrats to use reconciliation again for a party-line vote on an issue like voting/election reform.

"There's no need for us to go to reconciliation until the other process has failed. That means the normal process of a committee, a hearing, amendments."

— Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., on "Meet the Press."

But another path comes from Manchin's comments that he is "willing to look at" ideas to make using the filibuster "a little bit more painful" to use.

That sounds a lot like requiring a talking filibuster, a change that wouldn't nuke the procedure entirely, but could limit its use and ultimately lead to smoother sailing for Democratic priorities in the Senate.

It's the kind of language that's giving progressives some hope today that there's a deal to be had in limiting their hated filibuster.

Chuck also spoke with Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who drew his line in the sand about what may be the next big congressional priority: infrastructure.

The Wyoming senator and member of GOP leadership told "Meet the Press" that senators should look to the bipartisan plan that passed through committee during the last Congress, and not to add progressive provisions related to the "Green New Deal" if they want bipartisan support.

Click on the photos below to watch the full interviews with both senators.

When will enough vaccine supply turn into enough vaccinations?

While Biden announced last week that America had secured enough coronavirus vaccine for every adult by the end of May, it's less clear when that supply will make it into the arms of everyone who wants it.

Jeff Zients, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, wouldn't give a direct answer or a target date for that. Instead, he repeatedly touted the administration's vaccine ramp up to argue that it was team Biden who changed the game.

Zients did acknowledge that there's significant and "unacceptable" vaccine inequity, particularly in communities of color that have seen higher death rates from the virus but a smaller share of vaccinations.

And he closed by imploring Americans not to "let our guard down," a message echoed immediately after by Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director for the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

In late January, he told "Meet the Press" that "the hurricane is coming," in reference to the growing instances of virus variants that could lead to a spike in infections.

Now, he's saying we're in the "eye of the hurricane." Vaccinations are ramping up and key metrics like cases and hospitalizations are ramping down, but worrisome variants are becoming more and more common.

"Last time I was on your show four weeks ago, the B117 variants made up about 1-4% of the viruses we were seeing in communities across the country. Today, it's up to 30-40%."

— Dr. Michael Osterholm, director for the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, on "Meet the Press."

Click on the photos below to watch both interviews.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Cuomo accused of pattern of harassment, inappropriate conduct

DATA DOWNLOAD: What does a post-vaccine economy look like?

It's been a year since the coronavirus fundamentally upended life, and the economy.

But while there's light at the end of the tunnel, it's unclear what the post-Covid economy will look like exactly, particularly because of the economic and behavioral shifts that could outlive the virus.

Click on the graphic below for a deeper dive in today's Data Download.

ICYMI: Unauthorized use

Every day brings a new spin on the enduring question in the Republican Party: Is the GOP "civil war" over?

While folks like National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott might think so, NBC News confirmed that former President Donald Trump's lawyers have sent cease-and-desist letters to the Republican National Committee, the NRSC and the National Republican Congressional Committee telling them not to use Trump's name and likeness without his approval.

Trump's been a fundraising gold mine for the GOP, and organizations and campaigns up and down the ballot have supercharged their fundraising network in the president's image.

So this low-profile demand could affect the party's bottom line.

Click here to read more from Monica Alba and Lauren Egan.