if they are in the rearview mirror. ♪ >> book tv, every sunday, on c-span2. it features leading authors discussing their latest nonfiction books. at 2 p.m., we will feature the annapolis books festival with jamie raskin and his book unthinkable. trauma, truth, and the trials of american democracy. generalist susan page and her book, madam speaker. nancy pelosi and the lessons of power. at 10 p.m. eastern, the atlanta journal-constitution political reporter talks about his books list on georgia turning purple during the 2020 presidential election. the significance in the future in state and natural -- national elections. then they are joined by

washington post reporter eugene scott. book tv, every sunday on c-span2. you can find the full schedule on your program guide or watch online anytime at book tv.org. >> presidents recorded conversations well in office. here many of those conversations on c-span's new podcast, presidential recordings. >> season one focuses on the presidency of lyndon johnson. you'll hear about the 1964 civil rights act, the 96 d4 presidential campaign, the gulf of tonkin incident, the march on soma, and vietnam. not everyone knew they were being recorded at >> certainly, johnson's secretaries knew. they were tasked with transcribing many of those conversations. in fact, they were the ones who made sure the conversations were taped as johnson would signal to them through an open door between his office and there's.

>> you will hear some blunt talk. >> yes sir. >> on a number of people that were assigned to kennedy when he died, and the number assigned to me now, and if mine include his, i want to leave right quick. i promise you, i will not go anywhere. i will stay right behind these black gates. >> presidential recordings -- find on c-span now, the mobile app, or wherever you get your podcast. >> in jeffrey frank's recent book titled the trials of harry s truman, he reports that his low point as time as president, he was only 60% popular. 70 years later, harry truman was ranked sixth most a proactive -- effective on a c-span survey. jeffrey frank, whose career

includes the washington post and new yorker magazine, has written the first book about the truman presidency in nearly 30 years. the subtitle reflects the theme of the biography, the externally presidency of an ordinary man. 1945 to 1953. >> author jeffrey frank on this episode of book notes plus. it is available on the c-span now apple or wherever you get your podcast. >> washington journal continues. host: we are joined by anand parekh. he served as the deputy secretary under george w. bush and the obama administration. i want to talk about the state of this pandemic. most americans think covid is no longer a crisis. guest: i would describe the

state of the pandemic with cautious optimism. on one hand, we are seeing hospitalizations and deaths at the lowest level since last summer. that is very good news. on the other hand, we are seeing hyper transmissible variance, subvariants of a very growth the country. what we are looking for is, will those cases translate into hospitalizations? we've seen an uptick in the over 70 population, but we have been well below immunity as well as omicron. that is the central question, and of course, we continue to be worried about other variance, that may escape vaccines. we still have suboptimal rates of vaccination throughout the world, including the united states. copter sauce -- cautious optimism is a bit of a myth. we need to stick to the fundamentals. make sure we are up-to-date with

our vaccinations, make sure you test liberally, make sure you mask appropriately, make sure if you get ill, you know where to get treatment. i think that is really the cost is optimism in the state of the pandemic perspective that i have. host: we are still in a pandemic? that word has some criteria that goes along with it. guest: that's right. we are still in a pandemic. we have not crossed that point, and there are not detailed metrics for pandemic to endemic. worldwide, global health and the u.s., across the world, we still have suboptimal vaccination rates. we have to help the rest of the world. we are doing a lot better than we were a year ago, two years ago, but we still have remain vigilant. vaccine testing and treatment. a lot more tools, but we have to stick with it. host: what is the take away from the omicron variant? guest: it is very transmissible,

now we are getting variance of that. we are seeing increased cases, we which we underestimated, because a lot of people are testing a home and not reporting. the question is whether those cases translate into hospitalizations, into debts. we will know more in the next couple of weeks, and that is why we are being optimistic, but being cautious is the right approach. host: it's too soon to decide to not wear masks on airplanes. guest: i think it's the idea of let's see how the next couple of weeks ago, and let's make sure it is not like the omicron search. i don't think it will be. i do think that if that mandate changes, a lot of people will still wear masks. i will still wear a mask, and i think it will still be very helpful. i don't think it will have a demonstrable negative impact on

for pandemic curve. that said, i think it is appropriate with the administration appeal from earlier this week. for the reason that the cdc has granted by congress the authority to prevent the spread of masking. it is one way of interpretation by the court. whether it is now or later, that authority needs to be preserved. i think it needs to be clarified, so i think the up real is prudent. host: recently, from court.com, it was said that at this point the pandemic, we need more mandates and guidance for americans with high risk israel is. this includes boosters, especially for the nearly 15 million seniors and americans who have yet to receive even their first booster shot. this will provide an offramp for testing requirements as well as the transportation mass

mandates. this widespread dissemination of covid.gov, of a convenient one-stop shop for testing and vaccination. what do you think? fewer mandates, more direct guidance. guest: i think there's a difference between mandates and recommendations, strong recommendations, but people would follow those, and i think in terms of mandates, we are at a point in the pandemic where there is cost us -- cautious optimism. we should probably preserve mandates for when there is significant surgery outbreak, and we want to maintain that trust partnership for the american partnership it is absolutely critical. if we can not necessarily have mandates, but strong, clear recommendations, particularly for those at high risk for severe illness, i am particularly worried about the elderly. there is a lot of discussion about second boosters.

15 million seniors have not even seen the first booster. they are at more risk if there is a third -- a search. the same thing with masking and ensuring those who are elderly and compromise, they have the tool to make test before they engage in a particular activity, knowing they get access and treatment. clear guidance, like that. it will be very helpful and could be a nice offramp to become a mandate that we have seen. host: we invite our viewers to call him. we have divided the lines regionally. we had a viewer earlier, we were discussing the mass mandates. they said, why not treat it like how the government treated cigarettes. they made them put a warning on the back of the cigarettes, and so with the masks you have signed in the subways in the

airports, they say not wearing one could be hazardous to your health. more people will put it on if it is a -- something that they can think about doing. rather than being told they have to do it. guest: that is to my point. cigarette smoking is a great example of that. it is evidence-based in terms of promotion and smoking cessation and not smoking in particular areas. i think that we need to continue empowering the american public with the information they need to make a prudent decision. i think a lot of people would probably still wear masks, and again, focusing on those who are at high risk for severe illness makes a lot of sense. as long as we are not entering into a new omicron search with this new subvariant, i think that is a prudent idea. host: what was behind the

decision by the government not to give children under five years old vaccines? guest: at this point, the fda is still waiting for both moderna, pfizer, and others to submit emergency use authorization applications, and to present the data to the fda, and they have not done that. they will bring an advisory committee, they would make a determination, the cc would look at that. we are talking about that, but the process is not formally started. we are waiting for the data. host: why has that started? guest: manufacturers are collecting data and try to determine the right dose. if there should be at one shot, to shut, three shots. it is taking longer than expected, and you have to let that happen. we have a four-year-old who is turning five, and couple of weeks, he is waiting for this for quite a long time, but we really need to wait for the science and evidence.

host: avett is going from brooksville florida. caller: hello. benjamin franklin said that the last refuge of scoundrel is patriotism. but i have two demurrer on that. the first refuge is the schedule print there was a time in this country were people were willing to throw themselves into a hail of bullets to keep from being seen, but now to get them to wear a mask is too much for certain people. ironically, these are the same people who usually rate -- wave a flag in your face. winding about the so-called liberal stacking in the federal courts, and just a few days ago, one of trumps judges at the ada -- that the ada said he wasn't qualified to be a judge, and he was not -- he decided he was qualified to be a public health

expert. how far over a cliff this country has gone since trump was installed in office to run amok for four years. host: i'm going to leave it there. the wall street journal reported and you allude to this earlier that the judge made a decision on saying that they concluded that they exceeded the authority granted to it under decades of federal public health law, and they violated rules and procedures. it is not a decision about health. guest: i think many health experts would disagree with that. there are always exceptions in the process, but it seems like the job is hung up on sanitation and if mask of any relation to sanitation. they protect us from microbes. they've always been used in a medical setting. masking is one way to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.

the case is very strong. interpretation is very narrow. the cdc has had this authority for 80 years. i think that is why the immense ration was right to appeal this decision. host: melissa, in las vegas. caller: hello. i have a question. i've been wearing the light blue three layer mask that we've worn for years. with air filters, for and gardening. they help with allergies. but it says on the box, not for medical use. for outdoor activities, health care. it is not for medical use, so how did it all become medical mandate? i don't think it should be mandated because it is not for medical use. host: ok.

guest: i think here, specifically, the type of mask you're referring to, what is really important right now is we focus on high-quality masks -- kn95 -- the cross face mask with the high transmissible variants is not as good. this is an issue. in the guidance and science of how the pandemic is gone, and how transmissible these variants are, you really want high-quality masks, and i think if you have any question with the cdc, there is important information. the personal physician can also be advised with kn95, surgical masks, those are higher-quality masks. host: cabin in michigan. good morning. -- kevin in michigan. good morning. caller: i would like to challenge the american people that this is never going away. it will be here forever.

it is up or repertory -- up her respiratory -- up or -- up or -- upper respiratory virus. it is no way does ever going away. you people who wear your mask, you can work to your death because it is not going away, and nor will ever go away. host: to his point, kevin. guest: with the perspective that covid is here to stay, we will likely not be eliminating covid. that being said, i think it is in all of our obligations to reduce the morbidity and mortality from this pandemic. one million americans have died. 6 million people around the world at a minimum have died. i think that brings me to another important point. with that response ability here, with congress. both sides of the aisle, in the

sense that as we offramp or we try to offramp, as we try to come into the new normal, that necessitates the american public to have access to all of these great tools. that means treatments, tests, and there is a lot we need to do their in terms of vaccines, stop on vaccines, new generations vaccines, in terms of treatment, suckling treatment terms attesting, domestic made vectoring capacity, helping other countries around the world , including our surveillance. a lot of americans are uninsured , and all of those things require decisions resources and investments by congress. one of the things that concerns me is that it has been eight weeks, and both parties in congress have not reached an agreement in ensuring resources to the american people so they can be empowered to keep themselves healthy. it is been about eight weeks

since the misprision came in with a $35 billion in formal request for $22.5 billion. both sides agreed to a $15 billion package. house democrats said no because they were pleased with where it was coming from. romney and schumer came up with a $10 million package. republicans said title 42, which we can talk about, which is a public health authority. it was being used as an immigration tool. they left a reset, there is been no progress in ensuring that those investments are made to protect the american public. when congress comes back, it is a high priority for them. they really support the american public in this new normal. host: this is a piece for bipartisan organization. positioning for the next pandemic. is what you are talking about

part of this paper west marked a research that you've done? will this bill help in what you are advocating for here? guest: that paper focused on as we are still in this pandemic, we have to think ahead, we have to learn the lessons from this pandemic, and asked the question, what can we do better, what do we need better print we focus on better intergovernmental coordination and national leadership re-working with states, better data, and we really have the data issue in real time. public health data in this country breed getting the data we need to make the decisions, and asked sustainable funding. congress right now is actually not thinking about the next pandemic flick were focused on, but just getting through where we are right now. go to the pandemic, getting out of the pandemic phase and getting to a new normal. not dominating our lives. the off-road -- offramp for

mandates, we all want that. but really, it is both parties coming together in saying, we need resources to ensure the american public and access vaccines and tests and treatments. we'd make sure we have surveillance, so there's a new variant, we can stop it. we need to make sure that we think about those who are disadvantaged and uninsured. that takes resources or investments. in the grand scheme of things, millions of dollars versus trillions of dollars, that the pandemic is cost our economy. it should be an easy decision for congress, and they would be saving lives and help us offramp. it is critical. there is more that we need later in the year as well. this is a high priority for congress. host: mark in maine? caller: hello.

good morning. i just had a question on for the doctor. we haven't found the origin of this virus, have we? not like the other viruses. if we haven't, that is important to find out. to handle this, that would help us with the variance coming up now and supply the origin of where began? the other thing i had was, about the mass, i heard this man: but everyone complaining about the masks. you have covid here, and it is stuck with us now, but let's think of it preventively, because we have immuno compromised people out there, and even young people. we need to think about wearing a mask to protect them and not ourselves. guest: that's a good point, and

one of the reasons why i still wear a mask. not only to protect daily members, but think about others because you are right. there are some people who are ineligible for a vaccination, and to make other people comfortable. if i were flying today, i would still wear a mask. i do think one of the things that we are all realizing particularly in when you face some thing like this, you realize that not only the rights you have, but the responsibility you have to others. that is an important point is, has been underscored throughout the pandemic. there is a lot of research that is going into that, and some experts believe there is an anonymous source from another animal, so i think there will continue research there, and part of it, we are going to have to monitor this, and is viruses

go from species to species, understanding why that is purring and detect that before becomes a pandemic virus. it will be very important. host: las cruces, new mexico. caller: good morning. host: good morning. caller: one of the comments that was made around determination was that she never heard earl -- oral arguments on this case. she made her decision through grievances that were presented. it seems to me, it were going to have a national policy, that national policy deserves oral argument. the other point i would like to make is today is is the doctor's podcast that he presents every thursday. if people are interested in really keeping up with this disease, i suggest you plug into that podcast.

thank you very much. host: what about the role individuals have to take care of themselves to present -- prevent them social getting very ill, within their control, getting ill from the virus? guest: this one-stop shop, covid.gov, we have all been waiting for that for a long time, and all americans should really access that because it is a one-stop shop to protect yourself and your family. that is where you go to get free masks in free tests. that is where you go if you get sick. where you can get treatment, that is where you go to get a vaccine. we have been looking for that user-friendly source, but i think it's things like this that help the public, and empower them. make them feel that they are not alone in this. that we now have these tools that we didn't have a year ago. that we didn't have a few years ago, where we are at a different

point, so raising awareness, educational campaigns, letting americans know where to go for the help they need, particularly those with severe illness. the amino compromise. that we are careful with them. all of these are really what we need to be focused on. a lot of focus right now on mandates mandates are important at different times. right now, the focus really needs to be on empowering, partnering educating the american public so that the tools we have are used so the maximum purpose. host: we saw higher numbers in the united states than other countries. what does that say for the health of americans versus other citizens and other countries? guest: that is a terrific question because we have to ask ourselves -- 4% of the world's population, and yet we've accounted for 15 to 20% of the

world's death toll? how can that happen with a country ranked number one in pandemic preparedness? there are a lot of things in our response we did not get right. national leadership in unity and fragmentation and polarization and things went wrong on testing and masking. we have an optimal vaccination rate. but the underlying sub strain of the american public -- we are not as healthy as we need to be. that is really important for her life expectancy in this country. we are not as healthy as many of our peer countries around the world. a recent study in the journal circulation showed that two thirds of covid-19 hospitalizations contribute to one important tradition per type blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes. all of these come from preventable risk factors.

physical activity, obesity, cigarette smoking. becoming a healthier country, it is not in itself important, but it makes us more resilient. that is also one of the big themes and messages of learning in the pandemic. we need to become healthier, and we also have a lot of disparities based on race and income. recent geography. so, partnering with the public, ensuring that their policies and systems and environmental changes make the healthy choice, the easy choice for the public, is really important. it is important to determine we have a healthy population that can withstand a virus like this in an emergency like this. host: even outside of a pandemic, those conditions you listed are drivers of our health care. guest: the number one leading cause of death in united states as cardiovascular disease, then cancer, then show -- stroke.

much of that drives the $4 billion in our health care system, and unfortunately, we only spend about two to 3% of our $4 trillion on prevention. primary care, and public health, and so we don't really spend our resources as a country on health. on the very thing that would reduce mortality and morbidity, and reduce preventable health care costs, as well as the things that would help us withstand an emergency. host: new york. caller: good morning. thank you for taking this call. a question for the doctor -- recently, i watched an interview of a general -- gentlemen named gatsby. he was during the obama administration. he was pushing for a fourth booster this fall. the byline of the story indicated that he is on the board of pfizer, a

pharmaceutical. i'm going to ask the doctor, is he concerned about a connection between these so-called leaders in our community and their connections to motivation? is there a connection there? guest: i don't think so. at least from what i've heard him say, it's always been transparent about potential conflicts of interest there. i do think that there is a recommendation by the cdc, you are for or older, and you are away from your third shot or booster, you may receive a second booster or a fourth shot. we don't have any evidence from the night stays, real-world extremes, we are relying on israel. but it suggest that those who are over the age of 65, those over the age of 50 with cobe morbid conditions, adding that

fourth shot can raise levels and prevent potentially, hospitalizations and severe outcomes. there is increasing data there, and i think that will accrue over time. i will say, i will just make a point again. i am probably more concerned about those americans who have not even gotten their first booster or americans who have not been vaccinated with their primary series. we cannot leave those americans behind. they will be at the highest risk in the event there is any kind of resurgence. host: do you serve on any medical boards? guest: no i don't. thank you for asking. host: nguyen, portland oregon. caller: i had a question in a comment for the doctor. we are past the time we should be having mandates. while things were unknown in the beginning, and it was a good

idea, we are long past that. we have varying information on how different masks are, the mindedness of the particles, and while they are good for containing larger things that leave our bodies, they are not so good at the micro things. the second question would be to the doctor. i think it was last week on c-span, you had a doctor on who is talking about receiving shot. covid. how the new pfizer and moderna, the mrna, were developed how that could inhibit your immune system. i wondered if you could speak to that. again, that is more of the many types of information we are receiving. some of it for and some of it against. while i had a johnson & johnson

shot, i'm not sure that i will want another one, and i am going to be 69 years old and i'm in good health with but i know that it probably has prevented people with or health in different situations that they are dealing with. with the hospital, or with observation. i am not against it, but i'm just not for being forced for everyone past time when it should be. that was a comment and question. i will take the answer off the air. guest: let receive i can get a hold of that. the first, mandates. i think it is, times you know, we often sort of pick a side. are you for mandates or not for them? this is that. i think the issue is it should be not for mandates or against an eighth -- mandates play an

important role during the pandemic. it is a question of when you utilize that particular tool, and if there are alternatives. they can get you where you want. as a partner with the public and have their trust, i think it is really important that we not fall into camps. i think in terms of masks, there are high-quality masks. they can filter small particles, and i think that is really what i would recommend if you are in an indoor public setting or public transportation in high risk for severe illness. that is what i would recommend, particularly in community covid levels. those masks are effective. one way masking can be effective. if everyone is masking, but not all masks are created equal. the third 1 -- i didn't quite

hear it, but it sounded like there was an expert last week who said mrna vaccines may inhibit the immune system in some way. i'm not aware specifically of that science. we now have hundreds and hundreds of millions of americans and people worldwide who have taken this mrna vaccine , and it's a safe vaccine and effective vaccine. the boosters recommended are mrna vaccines that are made of the recommended cell. if you have a pfizer satori moderna suck -- a pfizer shot or a -- a pfizer shot or a moderna shot. you should get a booster. that is a recommendation right now. there is a lot of eyes on the state of the vaccine, but i think it is underscoring how important these vaccines have been. i will mention, one million americans, unfortunate, have died over the last two years from covid-19. there is a sin study that shows

that if we didn't have these vaccines, the death toll would've been 3 million americans, so over 2 million americans'lives have been saved according to this one model because of these vaccines which are mostly rna vaccines. there is technology that we need to continue to look at and research and follow, but so far, it has been shown to be safe. host: what about if you recently had covid? when should you calculate to get a booster? guest: that is a question that most physician experts are saying that you wait 90 days. if you've gotten infected or booster itself, and getting another booster right on top of that will not help you. so, at least waiting a few months before you get that next -- nobody should want to go out there and get covid. that is actually not what you should do.

but if you do get covid, it is almost as if your body is providing you a temporary boost, so you don't necessarily -- you shouldn't go out and automatically get another rooster. host: let's say, the cdc says if you get the j&j shot, and you got a booster, then recently, they said you should consider getting another booster, but if you got covid, are you up to speed? are you up-to-date on what you need for vaccines? guest: unfortunate, you have contracted covid, and you should possibly still get that vaccine. but you should just wait a while to make sure there is a gap there. caller: council bluffs, iowa. good morning, rick. caller: good morning. why is it more safer to be at a lakers basketball game that at the airport or on an airplane? why can anybody complain about

all these illegals that are spreading disease all over the country? i saw man without a mask on. they were coming off airplanes. what about the guards that face that protection? host: we will take those questions. you mentioned title 42 before. guest: title 42 was invoked two years ago. it is essentially an authority that the cdc has public health authority, where they can expel noncitizens if there is a threat of those noncitizens crossing the border and bringing in a communicable disease. the rationale has always been how shaky this is from a public health perspective. it is very debatable, certainly now where we are in the pandemic. there's not a lot of public health rationale for it. but from the beginning, it was most likely less of a public health old -- tool, and more of an immigration tool. i think now, the question is,

d.c. is put forward a plan that on may 23, title 42 would be rescinded. they say that from public health perspectives, there are enough tools for screening a vaccination. that being said, there is a concern that there will be a surge at the border, and that is what congress is struggling with right now. my recommendation for congress, this is really credit, finding funding. they need to disentangle the funding with this title 42 issue. they need to deal with that separately. certainly, title 42 could be tied to a more robust strategy. the initiation congress need to think about that, but they need to be disentangled from the covid supplemental issue. host: james is in connecticut, watching there. good morning. caller: thank you very much.

hello to you as well is the dr. britt i would like to make a quick statement which relates first of all to the idea that when you build a house on an unstable foundation, it is very difficult to ever have a quality house. in this regard, i want to talk about the covid policy. it began as sars covid. why do you think that now, has come out with so much information about the origins of the virus, by which i would say, the wuhan, sars, that research lab in china. so many members of our established medical experts were severely compromised by the relationship with china. with the alliance in the lab over six years, and even doing videos on youtube, talking about human logs -- lungs and back together. we had dr. fauci who is lying,

and now his own email has shown he was lying, and in the february meeting, nine virologists around the world claimed that he had come from a lab. we have the fact that moderna itself patented a sequence of dna in a research facility that was found with protein just recently when they ran artificial intelligence. my question to you as a doctor is, per medical policy, if we apologize the american people and told him that this virus, which has been replicating and changing at an unnatural rate, what is the result of an unnatural creation in a lab? from that, there would be greater confidence again in our medical policy. by the way, i've had the virus and i am triple vaccinate, so i am fully in favor of the vaccines is the best possible weapon we have, but you have to understand what i mean about having unstable ground. i don't trust 99% of the medical

experts that come on tv because so many of them, including the magazines, etc., --. host: i'm going to have the doctor respond and get this mother calls. guest: i will say that we always want and need more research into the origins of pandemics, including this one. there are lessons learned there. i have not done the research myself, but i do know that the vast geordie of experts believe that the origin of this particular virus did not come from a lab. that doesn't mean that you shouldn't continue to understand evolutionary patterns, other practices including laboratory safety other research, but the vast majority of experts that i have talked to, based on research and evidence that they have seen, they are saying that

this came from an animal source. i would say that is a very important question, but that is not really the most important question of the day today. that is how we get out of this pandemic so we can all get through it. not only for the united states, but for the rest of the world. that is really where the majority of our time and energy and focus needs to be. how do we move from pandemic to end,. how do we move from pandemic state to a new normal west mark what are the things we need to do, including congress coming including both sides of the aisle. how do we get out of this pandemic? host: bernie is our next call, louisville, kentucky. caller: hi. i will be very brief. [indiscernible]

maybe a five-minute explanation on the current situation. she is all of my medical records and she knows i am vaccinated. [indiscernible] for the next boost. six-month boosters, and about to get a second. she also mentioned that if you get covid, you are infected, and they are available. i can't member the name of it. i appreciate that she was doing this for me, and i am [indiscernible] professional. guest: i think you have a great physician there, and she is absolutely right. there are 2000 locations, and you can go to covid.gov. there is a testament -- testing and treatment located there. they prescribe these antiviral medications where you are

eligible, and you are high-risk, and you are early in the course, and if you take this regiment, and reduces the chance of hospitalization by 90%. it is very effective. but as we were talking, it was the importance of congress. we brought the united states a certain amount of regiments of this antiviral trust. but without additional resources, we will not have it for the american public. this is exactly what the public need to know. how do i stay safe if i get sick? where do i go? i think that is why having the resourced and investments, this is one way those oral antiviral pills, this is what we need to empower the american public. host: south bend, indiana. caller: yes. i want to say, [indiscernible] i went to compare him, and

congratulations for coming on and speaking like he did. in my world and my community, we went to -- i called in about the all of the kids were running to my house and i was like, wait a minute. i want to say to him is, i agree with you. ok. this is what my community did to get rid of this stuff. easter, you know, snow, whatever what was coming in. guess what the kids do? the parents got them some little buckets from famy