roadblocks to stop all but essential travel. then, in january, israel's government struck a deal wh pfizer, biontech, enough vaccine for every adult in three months in exchange for valuable data on how well it actually worked. you are in affect a living lab for your own health officials, but also for pfizer. >> i think, yeah, we are a living lab. but i think to the world. not so much to pfizer. i think it's something that the world can learn from. >> reporter: and the world is learning that just as science predicted, it's working. in a study of more than a million peep, half were vaccinated. and they were covid, even the . and real world evidence shows the second shot boosts immunity from solid to spectacular. now, even teens are getting

vaccinated. prime minister netanyahu made his in to a photo op, he is facing re-election this spring and hoping the successful vaccination problem will offset other things. netanyahu is taking flack for paying pfizer a third more per dose than t u.s. paid. but here's the pay-off. just days ago. lockdown was eased. and israel residents are out and about, enjoying freedom. >> i'm free, i can go anywhere, i don't have to stay home. i can see friends and family. i think we can say goodbye to covid-19, eventually. >> reporter: now, israel has taken some criticism for not vaccinating millions of palestinians who live on land it occupies. the palestinians are at least starting to get vaccine from

sources, including israel, and the fact is few of them have had a chance the on get a shot. >> here at cbs news, we are marking black history month today with a look at the congressional black caucus that is celebrating its 50th anniversary. it was to give black americans greater influence. >> it has grown from the original 13 to a record 58 members. while some have endured controversy the caucus has become a powerful voice on capitol the hill pushing legislation and presidents to stand up for human rights here at home and abroad. >> we are here not to discuss transportation but to discuss education. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: in 1971 with just over a dozen african-american lawmakers serving in congress, the congressional black caucus was formed to amplify their voice in an institution that was

not always welcoming. >> even in the house of representatives, black folks voice was not expected and indeed was not wanted. >> reporter: at 90 years old, former new york representative charles rangle is one of the last surviving founders of the group. you came up with the name congressional black caucus. >> just the name, we all had a view of a quality of life. >> reporter: rangl he and the other members met resistance d to meet with them. >> the courtesy should be extended to us. >> it was clear that he did not intend to meet with them, we then said we will not attend the state of the union message. >> reporter: after boycotting nixon's address, they finally got the meeting. putting the cbc on the map and opening the halls of power.

with their core nonpartisan principal, no permanent friends. no permanent enemies, just permanent interest. >> shirley is with me today. >> reporter: california congress woman barbara lee still has shirley chisolm's pearls. she learned first hand from two of the caucus's original members. >> that is how i got involved in politics, it was a remarkable moment for me as a young black woman raising two kids, as a single mom to see how the congressional black caucus and its founders stepped out there and did fight for the african-american community. >> reporter:is mber we rst toft giion to make dr. martin luther king's birthday a onalholiday. caucust push fan againapartheid government earning the caucus a reputation as the conscious of

the congress. >> that was a big moment in the cbc's history. because it began to influence foreign policy and showed how we could be on right side of history. >> reporter: more recently the cbc led the effort to pass police reform through the house. and in honor of george floyd. >> the justice in policing act is a bill for human rights. >> it is an incredible time to be serving in congress, in the midst of a national reckoning of racial injustice. >> reporter: this congress woman said the cbc allows newer members like her to do learn from mentors likely. >> the power and impact of the representation is not just that it plants the seeds of ow s up in our powe havsnap todayecshle brought a different perspective on the issue of hunger as a black woman. >> reporter: ohio congress woman

joyce batey chairs the cbc as it enters the 50th year. do you feel you are waging the same battles from 50 years ago? >> i had think we are certainly waging some of the battles, but i can tell you not 50 years ago, but ten years ago if you would have told me that we would have had a black president of of the united states, i would not have thought that we had made that much progress. and our member, kamala harris, now vice president. so, we have a lot to be proud of. >> reporter: the cbc is launching an aggressive agenda this congress later this month. it will roll out the first phase of its 100 day plan. targeting core issues in the black community like health care, and economic stability and racial justice. >> nicole killion on capitol hill, you are watching the "the cbs overnight news." psst! psst!

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♪hey, hey, how you doing, baby?♪ ♪you look mighty fine.♪ ♪i figured i might come your way,♪ ♪and roll up on you with that golden ticket.♪ ♪ ♪ smell irresistible. new axe. for millions catholics around the world, today is ash wednesday, the start of lent, a time of attonement. bars were closed and parades cancelled to keep large crowds from gathering in the pandemic. that did not stop the city from

celebrating in safe and creative ways. we have from here, you might think that mardi gras is one big party. but for most, mardi gras is a celebration of family, full can which you are and tradition. >> mairdi gras is about familie and people coming together. >> reporter: this is the owner of ke of kearns studio, the creator of the floats. >> it's natural that we came together and figured it out together. that's what we did after katrina. we knew that the people needed it for our souls. >> reporter: instead of parades rolling by people, people rolled by the floats from the safety of their cars. >> i think of the places in the world. that would be happier if they had celebrations and events like

we have and where we all come together as a family. i'm talking everybody in new orleans. rich, poor, black, white, we come together in the city like no other city in the world. >> reporter: the opportunity for revelry, and a touch of pandemic fatigue is bringing you didn't to young and old alike. >> i said mommy, i wish there were parades. >> reporter: and then when you heard they were going to put the floats in the park had how did that make you feel? >> i was like, yeah! >> reporter: the pandemic has left people struggling. >> upsetting the people that work with us that are part of a team that are generations we had to layoff a third of the folks. >> reporter: but he was able to keep se working when a new trend took off. yaerning for a way to feel connect, people began to create house floats or yardy gras. >> you see people decorating

their homes, it shows what we think. we live it and breathe it and we will celebrate it different this year. >> reporter: he added music to this magical creation. >> music displays the spirit of mardi gras i a way that wrdords can't. >> jason morsales is cultural royalty. and son of beloved pianist, elliss marcellus, who died from covid. >> i was glad to see there was a float that honored my father. >> he finds special meaningea c. >> does it inspire you personally to see all this? >> yes. this is an inspiration. and i had think the inspiration is to percent vservere. >> we are going to do a party like no place has seen. >> i will y there

doesn've can s move us all. new orleans.

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the pandemic is keeping people at home taking care of business by phone. a by-product, more time spent on hold. as we found out, on the road. >> if you had issue of any delivery, questioned any bill or service, chances are you have been told to hold. >> just bare with me a moment. >> reporter: because of the pandemic, hold time has expanded. >> this is an on hold expert. he councils companies on hold protocols and he has never felt more needed. >> you can wait on hold for quite a long time. >> reporter: tell me about it. >> reporter: just the other day i was on hold with the phone company so long my kids

choreographed a dance to the music. four hours, plus. and men have grown beards in less time. of course the companies like to remind us, on a loop, that our call is important to them. we must believe them. over the course of a lifetime, the average american spends 43 days waiting for them to pick up the phone. fortunately, some people are making the most of it. >> it's got this cool build and then it drops in to a neat like -- >> reporter: this youtuber rates hold music and this guidances to classic. like xerox. that's the other thing, extended hold times have made cult celebrities out of the most unlikely musicians. i listened to your song for four hours straight. >> that is longer than i had to listen to it making it. >> this is benedict landon, many like the song he wrote, he said

that he would sacrifice fame 54 good old fashion customer service. >> maybe they should hire more people to answer the phone. >> reporter: you would like to be out of a job? >> absolutely. >> reporter: who would disagree, except our on hold expert, who enjoys waiting. >> i get excited. >> reporter: hold on, gets excited. really? let's see how he feels in four hours. steve hartman and family. cbs news. on the road. d tha t overnight dnesday, for some you the news continues, k ck lat for anollow co

it's wednesday, february 17th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." deadly winter weather. texas remains in a deep freeze, and millions still don't have power as a new storm today brings snow and ice. the desperate measures families are taking to stay warm in the brutal cold. presidential town hall. mr. biden takes questions about the pandemic, when he believes the vaccine will be available to everyone. gop divide. tensions heat up after former president trump issues a scathing attack on mitch scathing attack on mitch mcconnell. captioning funded by cbs good morning. good to be with you.