Newsletter Mar 9, 2021

More than 30 million Americans have been inoculated for COVID-19, and now the CDC says those vaccinated can slowly start returning to normal.

3 Things

Vax facts: After practicing social distancing, diligent mask-wearing and obsessive hand-washing for a full year, you finally made it to the front of the line to be vaccinated against COVID-19. So now what?
That's what millions of Americans have been asking since the vaccination efforts have ramped to over 2 million vaccinations each day, and the CDC finally provided some solid answers Monday.
According to the latest information, individuals who have completed their vaccination regime can begin visiting with friends, family and other inoculated individuals with fewer restrictions. That means grandparents who have been unable to hug their children and grandchildren for a year can slowly start to return to life as normal.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky cautioned vaccinated Americans against jumping back into 2019 mode immediately, but offered some encouraging signs of easing restrictions: "Like you, I want to be able to return to everyday activities and engage with our friends, families, and communities, (but) science, and the protection of public health must guide us as we begin to resume these activities. Today's action represents an important first step. It is not our final destination.â€
CHECK OUT THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR THE VACCINATED

Take it to the House: President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan is halfway home after clearing the Senate relatively unscathed. Now the House is set to give its final approval to the bill Wednesday.
The $1.9 trillion stimulus package did undergo some minor trimming in the Senate, including tighter limits on stimulus payments, minor cuts in federal unemployment assistance, and the exclusion of a proposed $15 minimum wage increase. However, Biden has signaled that he is good with signing it if the House will pass it.
â€œDespite the fact that we believe any weakening of the House provisions were bad policy and bad politics, the reality is that the final amendments were relatively minor concessions,â€ one rep said.
Dems do have a small majority in the House, but they also have a small margin of error if some members strongly oppose the changes. However, by all indications, the bill should pass and Americans qualified Americans should have a check by the end of the month.
FIND OUT THE FINAL HURDLES FOR THE RELIEF BILL TO PASS

Blunt force: Republican hopes to recapture control of the Senate in 2022 grew a little bit dimmer with Monday's announcement that Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has decided not run for reelection next year.
Blunt, 71, who has served in the Senate since 2010, is the latest of five senior Republican incumbents to announce their retirement after their current term, including Sens. Richard Shelby (Ala.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Pat Toomey (Penn.) and Richard Burr (N.C.). They all represent the pre-Trump GOP in some key pro-Trump states.
The move only adds fuel to the fire on the infighting within the GOP between the Trump wing and more traditional Republicans led by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The two camps will vie for the heart and soul of the party in primaries leading up to the 2022 election cycle, but can they unify over a common foe -- the Democrats?
SEE HOW BLUNT'S RETIREMENT HAS CANDIDATES LINING UP

Markets

DJIA	31,802.44	0.97%
S&P 500	3,821.35	-0.54%
Nasdaq Composite	12,609.16	-2.41%
Japan: Nikkei 225	28,764.84	0.08%
UK: FTSE 100	6,719.13	1.34%
Crude Oil Futures	65.19	0.22%
Gold Futures	1,677.60	-0.02%
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Euro	1.18	-0.04%
* As of market close

COVID 'holy grail'?

From the "too bad this didn't happen sooner" department, a new experimental drug is showing promise in the fight against COVID-19.

The new pill, known as Molnupiravir, is being developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The drug is still undergoing trials but early reports show a reduction in the virus after five days of treatment. If approved, it would be the first oral antiviral drug to fend off COVID.

While more studies of Molnupiravir are underway, the companies say the pill could provide a viable way to treat those that have symptoms of COVID-19 and be the first oral antiviral drug to combat the virus.

Molnupiravir â€œmay be the holy grail on this because it was just studied in phase two trials and it literally stopped the virus in its tracks," according to FOX News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel, "And there wasnâ€™t any virus found in the patients that were studied.â€

Similar to Tamiflu, Molnupiravir would serve as a five-day regimen that would stop the coronavirus from reproducing and causing additional damage. Assuming trials go according to the time table with no issues, it could be available on the market within the next four to five months.

FIND OUT IF MOLNUPIRAVIR WILL BE APPROVED IN TIME TO HELP

Shaq-onomics

Shaquille O'Neal was virtually unstoppable during his Neismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame career. Now the 7-footer is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in his transition from the court to the financial world.

O'Neal, who made $292 million over the course of his 19-year-career, has parlayed his earnings from basketball and endorsements into a growing empire of investments. O'Neal's net worth now tops the $400 million mark.

While Shaq often credits his LSU college coach Dale Brown for teaching him his way around the basketball court, Shaq has another mentor when it comes to navigating the financial realm - Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"I heard Jeff Bezos say one time [that] he makes his investments based on if it's going to change people's lives," O'Neal said. "Once I started doing that strategy, I think I probably quadrupled what I'm worth."

Now if Shaq could just share a few basketball pointers with Bezos.

CHECK OUT SHAQ'S IMPRESSIVE STATS IN THE STOCK MARKET

Burger Queen?

Burger King UK's attempt to celebrate International Women's Day backfired when its controversial tweet didn't go over well with feminists.

Burger King UK says it was attempting to be ironic when it tweeted out a single message without explanation on Monday -- "Women belong in the kitchen." The throwback phrase from the sexist 1960s struck a nerve with women worldwide, some of whom spoke up to set the company straight.

As it turned out, the ill-executed tweet was actually a set-up for the announcement of Burger King's new scholarship for aspiring female chefs. Most followers didn't make it far enough for the punch line.

â€œIt was our intention to undermine an outdated stereotype about women and reclaim the terminology, in order to highlight a big problem in the restaurant industry â€“ that women occupy only 20 percent of chef positions in UK restaurants today, which we believe is offensive," BK UK said. â€œWe have teamed up with culinary schools to create a scholarship program for our female team members to help them achieve their career aspirations.â€

Have it your way, BK UK, but maybe you should think before you tweet.

FIND OUT HOW BK UK IS DOING DAMAGE CONTROL WITH WOMEN