JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news, the United States neared 450,000 deaths from COVID-19,
even as new infections are declining. At the same time, the head of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle
Walensky, said it is safe to reopen schools, if everyone wears a mask and observes social
distancing.
There is increasing data to suggest schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening
does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Also today, the city of San Francisco sued its own school system, to force
a return to in-person learning. We will get back to this, later in the program.
President Biden suggested today that he's open to cutting his COVID stimulus plan below
$1.9 trillion. He spoke virtually to House Democrats and reportedly said that he is -- quote
-- "not married to that number." But he insisted he still wants $1,400 checks for most Americans.
Later, the president called Senate Democrats to the White House, and said again he thinks
he can win over Republican votes.
Two more of President Biden's Cabinet picks have now advanced to the full Senate. The
Senate Commerce Committee backed Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to be commerce secretary
today. And the Energy Committee cleared former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm for energy
secretary.
In Russia, the Kremlin dismissed protests over the jailing of opposition leader Alexei
Navalny. A Moscow court sent him to prison for two-and-a-half years for violating probation.
Demonstrations erupted overnight, and police in riot gear arrested more than 1,400 people.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the protesters and outside criticism.
SERGEI LAVROV, Russian Foreign Minister (through translator): The hysteria we have heard over
the trial process for the Navalny case is, of course, off the scale. Absolutely, it's
concealed from society that laws that regulate demonstrations and protests in the West are
much stricter than in the Russian Federation.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The U.S. is urging Moscow to free Navalny and all of the protesters.
Police in Myanmar have charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with possessing illegally
imported walkie-talkies. She's been detained since Sunday's military coup in the former
Burma. The newly announced charge allows authorities to hold her until at least mid-February.
Back in this country, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered all commanders to talk to their
troops about the dangers of extremism. It's to happen over the next 60 days. The move
follows disclosures that some current and former troops were involved in the assault
on the U.S. Capitol.
The U.S. Justice Department withdrew a discrimination lawsuit against Yale University today. The
Trump administration had accused Yale of illegally favoring others over white and Asian American
applicants. A federal investigation of Yale's practices will continue.
And on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 36 points to close at 30723.
The Nasdaq lost two points, while the S&P 500 added three.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": the U.S. and Russia agree to extend the last remaining
nuclear arms control treaty; policy changes leave the future of former President Trump's
border wall in question; we break down the unconventional trading that has led to chaos
on Wall Street; and much more.