COVID cases are rising. Republicans have noticed

The vast majority of serious cases are among the unvaccinated, and officials are speaking out [View this email online]( [NPR]( [Rep. Steve Scalise and the GOP Doctors Caucus]( Alex Wong/Getty Images The big picture: COVID concerns Coronavirus cases [are rising again]( in the U.S., but the increases are larger in places with higher percentages of unvaccinated people. And that broadly means conservative areas. As [we’ve reported]( there’s a huge political divide in vaccination rates, with the most vaccinated states leaning Democratic and the least vaccinated leaning Republican. That’s started to put conservative elected officials in a bind. Some still refuse to urge their constituents to get inoculated. Former President Donald Trump got vaccinated, but in private before leaving the White House. He’s told people, not very forcefully, that they should get the shot, too, but then he went on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show last month and said for no good reason that "[very young people]( shouldn’t get vaccinated. Others have become more emphatic or changed their tune. With coronavirus cases increasing in his state, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., publicized the vaccination he got this week and [urged others to follow](. (Louisiana is now [one of the states seeing an uptick]( in their vaccination rates this week.) And Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey [said this]( “It’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks.” But Republican base voters -- and conservative news consumers -- continue to be the least likely to say in surveys that they will get the COVID-19 vaccine. Many conservatives may see political -- and monetary -- risk in urging people to get the shot. Case in point: Hannity appeared to be [promoting]( the efficacy of the vaccines on air, saying he believed in the science of them. But he then [backtracked]( saying he is “not urging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.” In cable news, if you lose audience, you lose your lifeblood -- advertising. It’s clear that if more Americans don’t get vaccinated -- and quickly -- the latest, dangerous strain is likely to continue to surge, and largely in red areas. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [VP Harris with Texas delegation]( Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images ICYMI: Top stories Jan. 6 committee: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi [rejected the nominations of GOP Reps. Jim Banks and Jim Jordan]( to the committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, citing "statements and actions" made by the pair. Both voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Texas Democrats in D.C.: Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers left Texas in an effort to block Republicans from passing controversial legislation to restrict voting. [They're still in Washington more than a week later]( pushing federal lawmakers to act on a bill to protect voting rights while dealing with an outbreak of breakthrough coronavirus cases among themselves. Infrastructure week continues: Senate Republicans [blocked the first test vote]( on President Biden's roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. But the bipartisan group negotiating the bill continues work on the legislative text, and another vote could come as soon as next week. Trump inaugural chair arrested: Thomas Barrack, a friend of former President Donald Trump's who chaired Trump's inauguration committee, [was arrested Tuesday on federal charges]( that he acted as an agent of a foreign government. Prosecutors said Barrack used his close ties to the Trump White House to advance the interests of the United Arab Emirates. COVID latest: As new cases of the coronavirus increase around the country, [public health experts are calling on]( the CDC and other officials to reinstate mask mandates in an effort to stop the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the virus. There have also been recent reports of fully vaccinated people testing positive for the coronavirus in what are known as [breakthrough cases — here’s what you need to know](. Supreme Court on federal agencies: Twice this June, the Supreme Court ruled that the president could exert more control over regulatory agencies. That could [rein in the independence of many agencies]( that Congress intended to be nonpartisan, including the Federal Reserve and the FCC. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer --------------------------------------------------------------- [Ben Shapiro]( Jason Kempin/Getty Images Going deeper Outrage as a business model: Conservative podcast host and author Ben Shapiro is dominating Facebook. An NPR analysis found that the site he founded, The Daily Wire, received more likes, shares and comments on Facebook than any other news publisher by a wide margin. [Here’s what that says about the platform and how content circulates online](. The politics of rising crime: Violent crime is on the rise in urban areas across the country while the national debate over police funding — sparked by high-profile killings of Black people by police — continues. Republicans think that could help them in key swing districts that could decide control of the U.S. House next year. [Here’s why](. Cleveland’s getting crowded: There's a tension in the Democratic primary race for Ohio's 11th Congressional District. On the one hand, it feels like a local race, where candidates have long histories in the community and personal connections to voters. On the other hand, it is also a microcosm of the national Democratic Party, with its conflicts between liberal and moderate, outsider and establishment. [Here’s why it’s drawing national attention](. — Dana Farrington, NPR Politics digital editor --------------------------------------------------------------- [Olympics opening ceremony]( Lintao Zhang/Getty Images The shot: Olympics open The Olympic cauldron has been lit and the games are now in full swing in Tokyo, even as the cloud of the pandemic hangs over the competition. The athletes’ excitement was inescapable as world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Jill Biden, looked on. Tennis star Naomi Osaka, who competes for Japan, was the final carrier of the Olympic flame. — Dana Farrington, NPR Politics digital editor [See the highlights]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Saturday%20Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]