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i'm michael holmes. you're watching "cnn newsroom."endent chinese journalist who had documented the covid outbreak in wuhan earlier in the pandemic has been sentenced to four years in jail. he had travelled to wuhan in february, just as authorities began reigning in state media from reported on it all. she disappeared in may and was later revealed to be detained by police in shanghai. selena wang is live with the latest on this story. she's not the only one, but a worrying trend. >> she's been charged with, quote, picking quarles and provoking trouble. michael, this is a broad offense that is commonly used to target journalists and human rights activists in china. and her reports have been widely shared on social media during the beginning of the pandemic when she had gone to wuhan, the center of the outbreak in february. they stopped in may and it was later revealed she was detained in shanghai. she's the first journalist we know of to be sentenced on her role in reporting on the pandemic. but we know of a number of journalist who is

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. let's get you straight to our top story, now. the u.s. preparing for the biggest vaccination campaign in its history. everyone is just waiting for the cdc director to give the final, green light to the pfizer/biontech vaccine. now, the vaccines are set to be delivered to 145 facilities, across the country, starting monday. health officials say the vaccine could alter the course of the pandemic, in the u.s., and not a moment too soon, of course. the country, now, passing 16 million cases, after adding 1 million in just four days. and hospitalizations, hitting another record, on saturday. more than 108,000 patients, around the country, in hospitals with coronavirus. cnn chief medical correspondent, sanjay gupta, has more, now, on the vaccine, who should take it, and what the rollout will look like once the cdc director signs off on it. >> well, just remarkable development, scientifically, with this vaccine. we know the vaccine is now authorized, and has now been

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. coming up here on "cnn newsroom," president trump takes a break from the golf course to do some work, signing a much-needed coronavirus relief package. what it means though for millions of americans who are struggling right now. 19 million covid cases in the u.s., the latest million added in less than a week. dr. fauci warns the worst might be still to come. >>> and a real life episode of "48 hours." investigators have pieced together who blew up that rv in nashville on christmas morning. the big question that remains, why? >>> almost a week after calling it a disgrace, president trump has finally signed the sweeping covid relief package and government funding bill that so many americans have been waiting for. but there are strings attached n. a statement, the president said he only approved the bill after getting the u.s. senate to agree to consider increasing the amount of stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, which is what democrats wanted all along, of course. the president has als

i'm michael holmes and this is "cnn newsroom."

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. this is cnn "newsroom." >>> it took only the u.s. the first five days of december to log more than a million new coronavirus cases. the nation has reported more than 14.5 million total cases, now, and the growth rate is climbing. we just saw more than 200,000 new cases, for a fourth day in a row. hospitals are just about at full capacity. more than 100,000 patients with covid-19, in hospitals, for the past four days in the u.s. medical workers, across the country, sick, tired, burning out. not just from the workload, but from the heartbreak. >> i think that, sometimes, when you hear statistics like that, you become numb to what those numbers mean. but -- but for us, you knowin, e people that are taking care of these patients, every single number is somebody we have to look at and say, i'm sorry, there's nothing more i can do for you. and it's just another family we have to call to tell them that their loved ones are going to die. >> heartbreaking. the cdc tweeted out, in all caps, jus

i'm michael holmes. being pushed to the brink as new coronavirus cases soar to record levels. we're hearing pleas and warnings from health experts as the country approaches a crisis state. there were more than 1 million new cases in the first five days of december, and you can see where the numbers stand right now. more than 14.5 million cases, more than 281,000 deaths. >>> people across the country are being pushed to the brink as well by fears of the virus, the economic impact, and the daily struggles and uncertainties. cnn's sara sidner with more. >> reporter: this week, a terrible reality. coronavirus was the single-biggest leading cause of death. >> my business tripled. >> reporter: imperial california, county, 18% unemployment rate. that would normally be great thuse, but this is a funeral home inundated with bodies. >> how much worse can this get? >> we're afraid. when the first wave hit, our hospitals were sending patients out of county to other hospitals. because they were at capacity. that's no

you're watching cnn newsroom, i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. >>> just ahead on the program, one step closer, a key panel recommends authorizing the pfizer biontech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in the u.s. we'll explain what happens next. >>> also. >> probably for the next 60 to 90 days we're going to have more deaths per day than we had in 9/11. >> that dire warning from the head of the centers for disease control. why medical experts say a vaccine won't come fast enough to stave off a grim winter. >>> plus, keeping up the fight. president trump takes his battle to overturn the election results to the country's highest court. welcome, everyone, if all goes well, the first doses of the pfizer biontech covid vaccine could be reaching american communities within days. it is now up to the u.s. food and drug administration whether to accept its own advisory board's recommendation to authorize emergency use. america's top infectious disease doctor says it was the fda's panel decision on thursday that finally got the

thank you. >>> i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company.oom continues with my colleague, who, after a short break, is known to sing christmas carols. happy holidays to everyone celebrating around the world. ♪ after a night like this, crest has you covered. crest, the official toothpaste of santa. follow us @crest to celebrate the 12 days of crest smiles. for the better. whatever question i have i feel like there's an avenue to seek the answer. hit that app and you start a story, you're on an adventure. download a new book within seconds and it's ready to go. there's something for everybody on audible. i like short stories. short stories are easy. they're quick. i like long and like intricate stories, that's really what i love. audible originals. i like biographies. self-help. fantasy. true crime podcasts. i love it so much. i can literally listen to anything. i can do it any time. and any place. and you know, for as long as i like. getting really into a story can totally transform where you are and your mindset. it's really cool. every time

i'm michael holmes. this is "cnn newsroom," appreciate your company.tory this hour, almost a week after calling it a disgrace, president trump has finally signed the sweeping covid relief package and government funding bill that so many americans have been waiting for. but of course there are strings attached. in a statement, the president

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michael holmes, cnn. >>> we want to find out more about the developments in europe.e are joined live from london. what can you tell us about what's happening in europe and particularly in the uk. >> reporter: yeah. good morning. look, we are on the eve of a momentous week in the uk. there's a lot of hope. there are a lot of questions, too, and there's going to be a lot of patience needed. hope for all the obvious reasons laid out in the report. it's the beginning of a mass vaccination campaign. it is the biggest vaccination campaign that the country has ever undertaken according to the prime minister. and the country believes that this is going to be the way to beat the pandemic. so that's the hope. and that's fairly obvious, fairly self-explanatory. however, a lot of questions. because we don't know whether this virus stops transmission. it's a huge deal. you were talking about it with doctors yesterday on your show, and this point bears repeating. if the vaccine protects you from developing severe symptoms, that is great. however, if it does not stop transmission,

i'm michael holmes. >>> thanks for your company, everyone. the need is great, the logistics complex and the coronavirus still raging, as the u.s. prepares to launch a massive vaccine distribution effort once the cdc director gives the final green light. now, the pfizer/biontech vaccines are set to be delivered to 145 sites across the country on monday. the health officials say that they could alter the course of the pandemic in the u.s. and, of course, it is not a moment too soon. the country has passed 16 million cases, adding 1 million in just four days. and hospitalizations hit a record high again on saturday. more than 108,000 americans in hospital around the country with coronavirus. cnn's team has more now on how the largest vags nation program in u.s. history is going to get up and running. >> reporter: we're getting new insight into why the vaccine is not on the move right this moment. pfizer says vaccine shipments will begin leaving here starting on sunday morning. we know this spot is central to the vaccine distribution network. thi

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. coming up, here on cnn "newsroom." major developments on the christmas-day bombing in nashville. investigators focus on a new theory behind the cause of the explosion. >>> with more americans dying from covid-19 this month than any other, president trump let the clock strike midnight on that relief package. and that means millions could now be without unemployment benefits. >>> plus, the rush to build the border wall, before the trump presidency ends. supporters say, vital for security. activists say, an environmental disaster. >>> the economic toll of the coronavirus, of course, has been staggering. well, now, millions of americans have just lost unemployment benefits and may, soon, lose eviction protection. president trump, refusing to sign the $900 billion coronavirus-relief bill. the deadline for doing so passed two hours ago. it also means a possible, government shutdown at midnight, on monday. this is despite the white house giving its blessing to the de

i'm michael holmes and this is cnn "newsroom." our top story, this hour.nessee's main entertainment and tourism districts is one giant crime scene. experts, from multiple agencies, trying to determine who blew up a motor home, early on christmas morning, and

you're watching cnn newsroom, i'm michael holmes. company. >>> just ahead on the program, one step closer, a key panel recommends authorizing the pfizer biontech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in the u.s. we'll explain what happens next. >>> also. >> probably for the next 60 to 90 days we're going to have more deaths per day than we had in 9/11. >> that dire warning from the head of the centers for disease control. why medical experts say a vaccine won't come fast enough to stave

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. coming up, here on cnn "newsroom."istmas-day bombing in nashville. investigators focus on a new theory behind the cause of the explosion. >>> with more americans dying from covid-19 this month than any other, president trump let the clock strike midnight on that relief package. and that means millions could now be without unemployment benefits. >>> plus, the rush

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company.up here on "cnn newsroom," president trump takes a break from the golf course to do some work, signing a much-needed coronavirus relief package. what it means though for millions of americans who are struggling right now. 19 million covid cases in the u.s., the latest million added in less than a week. dr. fauci warns the worst might be still to come. >>> and a real lif

i'm michael holmes.

i'm michael holmes. ahead here on cnn "newsroom," a christmas, unlike any other.time, since 1973, we will be an independent coastal state with full control of our waters. >> the british prime minister wraps up a very clutch christmas deal. finally, scoring a post-brexit agreement with the european union. >>> and then, a little

i'm michael holmes. appreciate your company. let's get you straight to our top story, now. the u.s.accine. now, the vaccines are set to be delivered to 145 facilities,

michael regan to lead the epa. former governor graham holm to lead the department of energy.i want to zero in on representative deb haaland. this is a significant nomination for a few reasons. you mentioned in the intro how biden is breaking new ground with a lot of his nominations and this is one of those picks. haaland would be the first native american to serve in this position. the interior department, of course, oversees not only public lands but also tribal lands so this is a really significant pick for that reason but also, an interesting pick, because it's something that really is getting excitement from across the democratic spectrum. biden is someone who ran for president as more of a moderate. he, of course, has a reputation has someone who has worked across the aisle throughout his career, but many of his cabinet picks have really been exciting democrats across the spectrum, really telling you a lot, fred, about how he's going to govern. >> he's receiving, i mean, first, a very mixed reaction and especially with haaland's nomination. he's received a lot of affirma