Wednesday, September 8, 2021: 1 in 4 New Covid Cases Now In Children

President Biden is set to deliver a major speech on the next phase of pandemic response as the infection rate spikes, with 1 in 4 of the weekly U.S. Covid-19 cases now in children. Hospitalizations among children are approaching 2500 across the country.

Many hospitals are being pushed to the brink with critical ICU staff shortages. Kentucky has called in FEMA Strike Teams, The National Guard and has deployed nursing students all over the State.

A source tells CNN that Senator Joe Manchin has been privately suggesting to his colleagues that $1.5 trillion is the price tag he could accept in the Democrats’ reconciliation bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN earlier today, that she and many others would not vote for the bill unless it is tied together with the Build Back Better Act.

House Democrats are urging Attorney General Garland to use the full power of the DOJ to defend a woman’s constitutional right to choose an abortion, which is now under assault by Texas’ restrictive abortion bill.

The sober new reality in Afghanistan - The U.S. has no choice but to negotiate with the new Taliban caretaker government as a number of Americans still remain in the country. Its members include several Taliban hard liners the state department labels terrorists, including one with a $10 million bounty on his head.

On today’s panel: CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins and National Politics Reporter Eva McKend.

Plus: Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, Craig Whitlock and Rep. Mondaire Jones.

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