Fauci cautiously optimistic about Omicron variant severity | First Thing

Fauci says Republican overhyping' claim on Covid is preposterous'. Plus, Trump attacks the media again

Good morning.

Dismissing as preposterous" a Republican senator's claim he is overhyping" Covid-19 as he did HIV and Aids, Dr Anthony Fauci said on Sunday the threat to the US from the Omicron variant remained to be determined - but that signs were encouraging.

What did Fauci say about Johnson? Overhyping Aids? It's killed over 750,000 Americans and 36 million people worldwide. How do you overhype Covid? It's already killed 780,000 Americans and over 5 million people worldwide. So, I don't have any clue of what he's talking about."

How bad is the spread of Omicron? The variant has been detected in 15 US states. Fauci was cautiously optimistic current vaccines might work against it.

What do Americans think about overturning Roe v Wade? According to recent polling, seven in 10 are opposed to overturning the landmark ruling while 59% believe abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances.