Washington, D.C. — Uber Technologies, Inc., has teamed up with PayPal and Walgreens to launch an $11 million Vaccine Access Fund, which will provide free rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites in the United States for communities hit hard by COVID-19, as reported by Reuters.

The creation of the fund was announced in a letter to the White House from the CEOs of Uber, PayPal, Walgreens, and the U.S. non-profit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which is managing the Vaccine Access Fund.

Uber’s support of the Vaccine Access Fund comes in addition to their international commitment to give 10 million free or discounted rides to vaccination sites around the world.

In addition to the federal government’s efforts to combat the pandemic, creative initiatives driven by the private sector, like the Vaccine Access Fund, will help bring us one step closer to returning to normalcy. 

To contribute to the Vaccine Access Fund, donations are accepted here via PayPal or via the donate button found directly in the Uber app.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the nation’s food and health watchdog, has elected Robin Caiola as its new Chair of the Board. 

Caiola, a New York-based development consultant and professional photographer, previously served as CSPI’s director of development and as executive director at 20/20 Vision, the nonprofit grassroots environmental and peace organization.

Caiola will replace former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler, who was recently tapped by President Joe Biden to serve as the Chief Science Officer at the White House, where he will lead the nation in the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. 

CSPI’s decades-long efforts to lobby governments and corporations for a healthier food environment ushered in the widespread use of packaged food labels and menu labeling in chain restaurants, as well as a new mandatory line for “added sugars” as of 2021 on the Nutrition Facts label.

Along with CSPI’s president, Dr. Peter Lurie, Cailoa said she is “working to promote equitable access to safe and nutritious food, strengthen nutrition standards for school foods and kids meals, and continue to reduce consumption of sugary beverages.”

Former Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia will serve as CSPI’s Vice Chair.

For more information on CSPI, visit cspinet.org. 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2021

Presidential Inaugural Committee Announces Participants for the “Parade Across America”

Parade to Include Americans and Performances Representing All 56 U.S. States and Territories, A First for Inaugural Parades

 

 

 

University of Delaware and Howard University Drumlines to Perform Live from Washington

Tony Goldwyn to Host with Appearances by Jon Stewart, New Radicals, Andra Day, Dancers, Olympic Athletes, Internet Stars, and More to Help Spotlight American Heroes

Parade to Feature DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic, featuring Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge

WASHINGTON — Today, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced participants in a virtual “Parade Across America” on January 20 at 3:15 PM ET that will feature diverse, dynamic performances in communities in all 56 states and territories, celebrate America’s heroes, and highlight the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country.

Additionally, the PIC announced that the University of Delaware Drumline and the Howard University Drumline — the alma maters of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris — will join the Presidential Escort in Washington. They will escort the President-elect and Vice President-elect from 15th Street to the White House and help kick off the “Parade Across America” with live performances.

“As a nation, we are strengthened by our respect for one another. By lifting up voices from all walks of life, in every corner of our country, we want the first moments of the Biden-Harris Administration to be a celebration of an inclusive, resilient united America,” said PIC CEO and President of Delaware State University, Tony Allen.

Following the Inaugural Ceremonies and a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will receive a Presidential Escort from 15th Street to the White House. In addition to the drumlines, the escort will include representatives of every branch of the military, including the U.S. Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard, and the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and Fife and Drum Corps from the 3rd U.S. Infantry “The Old Guard.”

The parade will be hosted by actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn and feature well-known performers and athletes, including:
Jon Stewart
New Radicals, who will reunite for the first time in 22 years
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic, featuring Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, The Washington Chorus, The Triumph Baptist Church Choir, and everyday Americans
Andra Day, featuring inspirational figure skater Kaitlyn Saunders, also known as The Skate Kid
Olympic athletes, including Nathan Chen, Allyson Felix, and Katie Ledecky
Viral sensation and feel-good skateboarder Nathan Apodaca, also known as DoggFace
The parade will include the United States Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. It will also feature a Dance Across America, led by director and choreographer Kenny Ortega. The segment will include 275 participants in 30 states and two territories. Additionally, the Ryan Martin Foundation, a wheelchair basketball program, will join the parade.

In addition, the parade will feature heroes in communities across the country, including:
Dr. Jason Campbell, the “TikTok Doc,” is a resident in the Department of Anesthesiology in Portland, Oregon. He uses the platform to entertain to lift spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic and connect with young people.
Cathy Cluck is an AP U.S. History teacher at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. To teach her students during virtual learning, Cathy went on a 15 day road trip to virtually teach history from the places where it happened, highlighting our theme of “Across America” by living it.
Mama Mikki Stevens is an 80-year old performer from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who leads a community-service oriented, musical/comedy performance organization Red Hot Mamas. They have performed in two inaugural parades and three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. Since the pandemic hit, they have performed in assisted living and retirement home parking lots – parading around the buildings so all the quarantined residents could see the performance.
Jason Zgonc is a 12-year old trumpeter from Atlanta, Georgia who played all summer during hospital workers’ break times to cheer them up. Jason’s piece ends with him in a virtual duet with Ethan Bensdorf, the New York Philharmonic trumpeter who inspired him to do this.

The parade will also feature performers and speakers in communities across the country:
Colorado: D’Evelyn High School Marching Band
Connecticut: Native American Women’s Veterans Warriors
Delaware: Chinese Cultural Arts Center
Florida: Andrew Jackson High School JR Air Force ROTC
Idaho: Red Hot Mamas
Illinois: South Shore Drill Team
Indiana: Culver Academies
Iowa: Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corps
Louisiana: Youth Empowerment Project (YEP)
Massachusetts: MA Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard
Michigan: Michigan’s Multi-Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard
New Jersey: Teaneck High School Flag Twirlers
New York: FDNY EMS Emerald Pipes & Drums
Nevada: Mariachi Joya – Las Vegas High School
North Carolina: High Country Cloggers
Ohio: Kenton Ridge Marching Cougar Band
Oregon: American Sidesaddle Association
Pennsylvania: Boy Scout Troop 358
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Royalty Winterguard, Centenaria Banda Colegio University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Latin Power Dance & Arts, Banda Macaná de Guayanilla
South Carolina: 81st Readiness Division
Texas: Kilgore College Rangerettes
USVI: Batons, Dancers, Steel Drums, Street Parade
Virginia: Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors [TAPS]
International: Military Children Connected Overseas
The event will be livestreamed at https://BidenInaugural.org/watch starting at 3:15 PM ET on January 20 and on the PIC’s social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. The PIC’s streaming partners, including Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T U-verse (Channel 212/1212 in SD/HD) and DIRECTV (Channel 201), will also carry the program live.

Over the course of five days of programming, “America United” activities will honor inaugural traditions while safely allowing more Americans than ever before to participate from their own homes. These activities include, “United We Serve,” a National Day of Service on January 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a nationwide COVID-19 Memorial to Lives Lost on January 19; and the official Inaugural Ceremonies, a wreath laying on Arlington National Cemetery, and a “Parade Across America,” and a “Celebrating America” primetime program on January 20. The PIC will also install an extensive public art display — a “Field of Flags,” which will cover the National Mall up to 13th Street — to represent the American people who are unable to travel to Washington, DC.

Additional details about these and other inaugural activities will be released in the coming days. For the latest updates on inaugural programming and activities, visit bideninaugural.org.

###

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) 2021 is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and separate entity from the Biden-Harris Transition charged with planning and executing activities surrounding the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
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It was a great gathering of Democrats, Republicans, media and diplomats to celebrate the publication of Bret Baier’s new history book, “Three Days at The Brink” at Cafe Milano. Co- hosts included Amy Baier, Tripp & Amy Donnelly, Ambassador and Mrs. Yousef Al Otaiba, Franco Nuschese, Raul & Jean Marie Fernandez, David & Carrie Marriott, Ande & Mae Grennan, David Tafuri & Anastasia Vakula, Evan & Cindy Jones and Tammy Haddad.

The packed crowd of well-wishers heard co-host Tripp Donnelly share the high level praise for Bret’s work on this book and his previous books elevating important historical times. Mr. Baier shared the news making moments his research revealed on the planning of the future of the world at the Tehran conference with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.

Guests included Wilbur and Hillary Ross, Sen. Roy and Abby Blunt , Norah O’Donnell and Geoff Tracy, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Jonathan Karl, Mike Allen, Norah O’Donnell and Geoff Tracey, Phil Rucker, Brian Stelter, Chris Isham and Jennifer Maguire, Ruth Marcus, Rick Klein, Brian Stelter, Shannon Bream, Carol Melton, Barbie, Robert and Elena Albritton, Capricia Marshall, Dan Meyers, Kevin Latek, Juleanna and Becca Glover,Donald Graham and Amanda Bennett, Ryan Williams, John McCarthy, Anita McBride, Ambassador Elin and Lala Suleymanov, Ambassador and Mrs. Stuart Bernstein.

Guests enjoyed Cafe Milano’s special cocktails and yummy hors d’oeuvres with a packed crowd enjoying a starry sky. To see if Bret Baier is coming to your town and see his other titles click here.

Presidential candidates make their way to the famed Soap Box at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines because Iowans host the first in the nation caucus for the 2020 election. Spanning 445 acres,11 days with a million attendees, the fairgrounds are home to all sorts of rides, games, animals, and this year even a wind turbine blade.

The first Iowa State Fair was held in Fairfield. After years of moving around the state, the fair finally settled into a permanent home in 1878. The candidates appear on the 50-square-foot Soap Box stage, hosted by the Des Moines Register newspaper. Each candidate gets an allotted amount of time to speak and answer questions to convince the fairgoers to vote for them. We arrived very early to set up our camera to capture the candidates and try to get interviews. I learned there is lots of waiting when working in news production. We shot video of Montana Governor Bullock, Vice President Joe Biden, and former congressman John Delaney.

My job was to follow our host Greta Van Susteren, the Gray Television Political Analyst. As she approached Vice President Biden he surprised us by grabbing her hand and having her walk with him as she asked him questions. It was exactly what we wanted and more because it made her look more important walking with him through the crowd. It was a great video. She is the host of a new political show on Gray TV called Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren.

Before we left, we walked down the main street to see a 150-foot wind turbine blade. Greta proceeded to interview the wind association representative and I continued to shoot video while the local TV station cameraman put a microphone on Greta and the guest.

Before we went to the fair we visited a farm. The Kimberleys, Grant and his father, Rick, grow soybeans and corn on their multi-generational family farm and they shared the problems they face. China President Xi visited their farm to see where the soybeans are grown. We began at Kimberley’s farm house and walked through the fields as Greta interviewed both of them. Grant explained how farmers grow and export soybeans. In addition, he informed us of the challenges of weather to crops. With the ongoing trade war with China, the American soybean business is in jeopardy. China does not need American soybeans as much since they are using technology to grow them in places they were not able to grow before. After we finished the interview, Rick showed us a picture of him and President Xi. President Trump visited him as well. Here is the story that was cut to run nationally on Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren.

Tammy Haddad, the CEO of Haddad Media and co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of WHCInsider.com, is launching a new podcast called Cone of Silence. The podcast will serve as an extension of the White House Correspondents Insider channel on Apple Podcasts and AudioBoom.

Cone of Silence was inspired in part by Amanda Katz, one of the top editors at CNN.com, with the idea of sharing how things really work behind the scenes — from presidential campaigns or television comedies, to any of the out-of-sight things going on today in politics, business, entertainment, and technology.  

Haddad’s first guest — who she interviewed this week in LA leading up to the Emmys — is David Mandel, the award-winning executive producer and showrunner of HBO’s Veep. Mandel’s comedy career began at Comedy Central and Saturday Night Live. Mandel went on to produce some of the greatest comedy hits of our time, including Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Veep (since taking over in Season 5).

In the first episode of Cone of Silence, Haddad gets the inside scoop on how the Veep team put together the last season and created the incredibly fitting finale (be warned: spoilers!). 

Haddad and Mandel also discuss what it’s like to work (twice) with the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and what it takes to stay on top of the comedy game. Plus, they share how Veep always seems to be ahead of the news cycle (we’re talking Washington insiders!).

Don’t miss the first episode of Cone of Silence. Available on Apple Podcasts and AudioBoom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gray Television’s Show Debut also Includes Exclusive Interview with former NFL Head Coach Tony Dungy

 

Washington, D.C. – Gray Television’s “Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren” premiere today welcomed Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard and former NFL head coach Tony Dungy. Joining Ms. Van Susteren with reports from the field were Teri Russell from KOLO in Reno, Nevada, and Nick Ochsner from WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

 

Gray’s Chief National Political Analyst, Greta Van Susteren, interviewed Tulsi Gabbard on a number of topics including the current effort by the House Judiciary Committee to vote to define the impeachment investigation of President Trump, the Democratic National Committee (DNC)’s decision to exclude her from the upcoming debate and a variety of other topics. This is the first time Gabbard has commented on the House Judiciary Committee’s effort on impeachment.

 

Watch Greta’s full-length interview with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Full Court Press Overtime.

 

Van Susteren: Congress is coming back this week, and the House Judiciary Committee is planning on voting on an expanded impeachment inquiry. Do you support this?

 

Gabbard: I don’t. I think it’s important for us to think about what’s in the best interest of the country and the American people. Continuing to pursue impeachment is something that I think will only further tear our country apart… We need to defeat Donald Trump, and I think it’s important for our country’s sake and our future that the voters in this country are the ones who do that, and I believe that we will.

 

“Full Court Press” is a Sunday political show broadcast on all of Gray’s 93 markets and syndicated in leading cities including New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles covering 76% of the country. Greta Van Susteren joined Gray Television as an anchor and political analyst in April 2019. 

 

For further information on channel listings and upcoming showtimes, please visit FullCourtGreta.com. Be sure to check out “Full Court Press-Overtime” on Gray’s digital platforms for extended interviews and additional related news content.