Kaitlan Collins Presses Fauci on Testing. Erin Andrews’ Hypocritical Hug. Candace Owens Triples Down. | Winners & Losers in Today’s Green Room

Sarah RumpfDec 27th, 2021, 1:01 pm
 

THE DAILY NEWSLETTER – MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021

Fauci on New Day with Kaitlin Collins

MEDIA WINNER: Kaitlan Collins

As the Omicron variant spreads, availability of reliable Covid-19 tests has become an increasingly important issue. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins focused on this issue during her interview Monday morning with Dr. Anthony Fauci on New Day, asking him “at what point will we be here in the United States where anyone and everyone can walk into a drugstore and get an at-home test?”

Fauci expressed hope that 500 million Covid tests will be available in early January, and “things are going to change substantially in the first couple of weeks” of the new year.

Collins then asked why America hasn’t already reached that point since the country is in the middle of the holiday season. Fauci conceded that testing had always been “problematic” throughout the pandemic, with concern about the Omicron variant and the holidays further increasing demand.

“Not making any excuses for it, we should’ve had more tests available,” he said, “but hopefully now as we get into the first couple weeks of January, that’ll get much better.”

It was a solid interview about a vitally important topic, and Collins didn’t accept excuses. Watch here, and another segment about vaccine hesitancy here.

Aaron Rodgers, Erin Andrews mocked for hugging

MEDIA LOSER: Erin Andrews

Aaron Rodgers conducted his postgame interview with Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews while keeping a socially distant six-feet of space between them. But as soon as the questions were done, Rodgers and Andrews shared a Christmas Day hug that lit up social media.

Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to a 24-22 win over the Cleveland Browns Saturday night, throwing for three scores to give him 445 career touchdowns and break Brett Favre’s franchise record. Despite the milestone achievement by breaking Favre’s touchdown record, fans were more concerned with the protocol breaking maskless hug between Rodgers and Andrews.

Thanks to his weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, we learned Rodgers had refused the jab because of an allergy and advice he received from polarizing podcast host Joe Rogan.

As far as we know, Rodgers’ vaccination status has not changed since the quarterback tested positive for Covid last month. Fans couldn’t help themselves from highlighting the hypocrisy of staying socially distant on national TV, but hugging after they believed the cameras were off. It just made all the safety protocols look like nothing more than a silly charade.

 

Links We Like:

Why more psychiatrists think mindfulness can help treat ADHD
– Tasha Eichenseher, Vox
Conservatives and Liberals Are Wrong About Each Other
– Victoria Parker, The Atlantic
America’s Divisions May Have Passed the Tipping Point
– J.D. Tuccille, Reason
Dave Barry’s 2021 Year in Review
– Dave Barry, Washington Post

 

Read the full Mediaite Green Room Newsletter here, including Candace Owens tripling-down on her anti-vaccine squabbles. Sign up for your free subscription here.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.