The CBN News Daily Rundown - Audio Podcast

Coronavirus cases and deaths are trending downward for two weeks straight and it appears the worst of the Delta variant may be over. Not only that, Pfizer is requesting that the Food and Drug Administration give emergency approval for a COVID vaccine for children 5-11 years old. Is this the beginning of the end of the pandemic? CBN News Medical Reporter Lorie Johnson joins the Rundown to talk about where we are in the fight against COVID as well as why medical experts think the upcoming flu season could be worse than normal.

Also, it's been a deadly week in Afghanistan, with at least 100 people hurt or killed following the bombing of a Shiite mosque on Friday. This as religious minorities go underground in order to avoid deadly retaliation by the Taliban. Correspondent Brody Carter joins us to talk about a hearing held this week by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom on the state of religious minorities in that country.

It's the first of its kind – an oral drug that could help treat symptoms from COVID-19. Health experts have been calling for a convenient pill that COVID-19 patients could take at the onset of symptoms. The pharmaceutical company “Merck” answered that call and developed a new oral drug called “Molnupiravir.” The U.S government has already approved one antiviral drug called remdesivir to treat COVID-19, but it is primarily taken intravenously. If authorized by the FDA, Molnupiravir would become the first oral medicine to fight Covid-19, and you might be able to pick it up at your local pharmacy with a prescription by the end of the year. CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell talked to an Israeli disease expert and professor about the drug's progress, and he's on today's podcast to discuss.

This week, the future of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda hung in the balance as lawmakers grappled with a bipartisan infrastructure bill, a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, the prospect of raising the debt ceiling, and avoiding a government shutdown. Late nights were the norm as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi aimed to find a compromise between moderate and progressive Democrats over the size and cost of reconciliation, with the White House rolling up their sleeves to try and strike a deal. Capitol Hill correspondent Abigail Robertson joins the podcast to talk about what happened this week and what still lies ahead.

Also, new data from the FBI shows a large jump in homicides last year as Americans were forced indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although some are also pointing the finger at efforts to defund police departments across the country. This as proposed legislation in Congress to tackle police reform has fallen by the wayside. Correspondent Brody Carter joins to break down the numbers and provide some context on the troubling data.

A plane filled with over 28 U.S. citizens, 83 green card holders and six Afghan nationals with special U.S. Immigration Visas - all escaping the Taliban - has been denied landing permissions in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security. This the latest bump in private efforts to evacuate trapped Americans from Afghanistan. This story and more on today's CBN News Daily Rundown.

Former President Donald Trump said he feels good and hates what's happening to our country – a nod to his expected run for President in 2024. CBN Chief Political Analyst David Brody brought up the subject in an exclusive interview on Friday, but with a twist. He asked the former President, what would make him decide to NOT run in 2024?

Tune in to today's CBN News Daily Rundown to hear Trump's answer to this question, his thoughts on the border crisis, election audit results, and more.

Earlier this month, President Biden issued a far-reaching executive order. It mandates the COVID vaccine for all federal employees and all healthcare workers in federally funded facilities. It also requires employers of companies with 100 or more workers to either receive the vaccine or undergo mandatory testing. All told, as many as 100 million Americans are affected. Some, however, believe they should qualify for a religious exemption. Senior national affairs correspondent Heather Sells has been following this developing story. She's on today's CBN News Daily Rundown.

Disturbing scenes are unfolding across Australia leading many to question their status as a free country. Mothers are being arrested with their children, pastors are being put in solitary confinement for holding worship services, apps are being developed to track citizens. How far will it go and will America follow the same path? This story and more on today's CBN News Daily Rundown.

The Biden Administration promised to take care of migrants by stopping construction of the border wall and eliminating limits on the number of migrants allowed in, but now we're seeing the results of these actions. The Southwest border has been flooded in recent months with unauthorized crossings in numbers not seen for more than two decades. In August alone, more than 200,000 people crossed the southern border, stretching border agents thin and creating dangerous encampments. The Del Rio bridge is the most recent example of the crisis at the border with more than 9,000 migrants packed in under the International Bridge, awaiting entrance. CBN News Senior Reporter Dale Hurd is on The Daily Rundown today to talk about how the Biden Administration's plans are shaking out.

"We'll see you in court," that's the message from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to the Biden Administration. In an exclusive interview, Noem talked to CBN Chief Political Analyst David Brody about the vaccine mandate and her state's response to it. They also discussed the new Texas abortion law, the spiritual state of America, and of course, former President Donald Trump. Brody has the details of their conversation on today's CBN News Daily Rundown.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley has been accused of treason by several prominent politicians and figures after Bob Woodward's bombshell in a new book claimed Milley told Chinese officials that America wasn't going to attack them, adding that if they did, he would call them first. Dan Andros and Tré Goins-Phillips have the details on this story and more on today's CBN News Daily Rundown.