Super Bowl 2023 ultimate guide: Prediction, date, performers and ...

The NFL is bringing its championship game back to metro Phoenix in 2023 and we now know who will be playing in Super Bowl 57.

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, giving them a spot in the NFL title game for the third time in four years.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game, giving them their first berth in the Super Bowl since 2018.

Here's everything we know about Super Bowl LVII, including the date and time, location, ticket prices, musical performers and NFL teams' odds.

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Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

What time is Super Bowl 2023?

Super Bowl 2023 will begin at 4:30 p.m. MST (3:30 p.m. Pacific, 6:30 p.m. Eastern) on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

Where is Super Bowl 2023?

The Super Bowl is headed to Arizona in 2023, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles facing off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

The stadium is about 17 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix.

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Super Bowl 2023 ticket prices

On Location has official Super Bowl tickets that are guaranteed by the NFL, which are included as part of packages options like open bars, tailgate food and pregame parties.

The least expensive ticket packages start at $4,972.50. Other, price-upon-request luxury ticket packages are available through the site.

Tickets are also available via resale sites such as Vivid Seats and Seat Geek.

The least expensive tickets on Vivid Seats were recently going for $4,707 in the upper level, before fees. The most expensive on the site were recently listed for almost $35,000.

Seat Geek recently had tickets for sale for as low as $5,011 without fees and as high as $38,284.

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Who is doing the Super Bowl 2023 halftime show?

Rihanna will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. In its press release, the NFL called her an "international icon, entrepreneur and philanthropist."

The singer previously turned down the NFL's offer in 2019 in support of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his role in social justice protests.

Wild thoughts:Fans speculate what Rihanna will do during the halftime show

Who else is performing at Super Bowl 2023?

Country superstar Chris Stapleton will sing the national anthem. Troy Kotsur, the Mesa actor who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Coda" last year, will perform the national anthem in American Sign Language.

Twelve-time Grammy winner Babyface will sing “America the Beautiful" accompanied by Colin Denny — a member of the Navajo Nation — who will sign.

Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph — who currently stars on "Abbott Elementary" — will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing," the Black national anthem. She will be joined by Justina Miles, who will sign the song and later do the ASL rendition of the halftime show.

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Why does the Super Bowl use Roman numerals?

Super Bowl LVII, colloquially, is Super Bowl 57.

According to the Super Bowl XL notes, quotes and anecdotes guide from 2006, "The Roman numerals were adopted to clarify any confusion that may occur because the NFL Championship Game — the Super Bowl — is played in the year following a chronologically recorded season."

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Super Bowl 2023 predictions, picks

The Philadelphia Eagles have yet to be tested in the postseason with dominating wins over the New York Giants (38-7) in the divisional round and the San Francisco 49ers (31-7) in the NFC Championship Game, but they went against Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson in those games.

The Kansas City Chiefs, and their quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are on a whole different level.

The Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (27-20) in the divisional round and the Cincinnati Bengals (23-20) in the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes may not be 100%, coming off a high ankle sprain, but he's an experienced quarterback who knows what it takes to win.

Still, the Eagles lost just one game with Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback this season, a 32-21 setback against the Washington Commanders in Week 10.

The odds have the Eagles as a slight favorite over the Chiefs in what could be a very close Super Bowl 2023 in Arizona and we don't see a reason to disagree with them.

Philadelphia will win a thriller over Kansas City at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Prediction: Eagles 27, Chiefs 24

Super Bowl 57 prediction:Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs game to be a thriller

Who wins Super Bowl 57?:Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles picks, predictions

Super Bowl 2023 odds

Who is favored to win the Super Bowl right now?

Tipico Sportsbook has the Philadelphia Eagles as a 1.5-point favorite over the Kansas City Chiefs right now.

The Eagles are -130 on the moneyline and the Chiefs are +110. The over/under is set at 49.5 points.

More:Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles odds: Super Bowl 57 point spread, moneyline

Who won the Super Bowl last year?

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles last season, 23-20.

The Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs to make the game as the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

The Rams, the No. 4 seed in the NFC, beat the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers to make the game, which was played at their home stadium.

It was the second straight year a team won the Super Bowl at their home stadium.

The Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in 2021, 31-9, at their home stadium, Raymond James Stadium.

No other NFL teams have ever played in a Super Bowl at their home stadium.

When was the last Super Bowl played in Arizona?

Arizona has hosted three previous Super Bowls.

On Jan. 28, 1996, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium, 27-17.

On Feb. 3, 2008, the Cardinals' Stadium in Glendale (then called University of Phoenix Stadium) hosted the game for the first time, a 17-14 win for the New York Giants over the New England Patriots.

The game returned Arizona for its second game at the Cardinals stadium in 2015, a 28-24 Patriots win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The 2023 Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 12, 2023, will be the fourth in Arizona and the third at the Cardinals' stadium, which is now State Farm Stadium.

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How to watch Super Bowl 2023 on TV

The 2023 Super Bowl is scheduled to air on Fox (Channel 10 in Phoenix) in English and on Fox Deportes in Spanish.

It is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. MST.

Fox's No. 1 NFL announcing team of Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Greg Olsen (analyst) are scheduled to call the game.

More:NFC Championship disaster proves the best team going to Super Bowl 57 are these broadcasters

It will be the duo's first time calling a Super Bowl.

Burkhardt was previously the No. 2 announcer for the network, but became No. 1 when Joe Buck went to ESPN for Monday Night Football.

Buck had called six Super Bowls for Fox.

More:Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game schedule, TV, announcers for Super Bowl 57

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Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Rihanna Super Bowl Halftime Show 2023: Everything we know so far

The NFL tried to book Rihanna for the Super Bowl in 2019.

At the time, she declined in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco quarterback who filed a grievance with the NFL, believing he'd been blacklisted for kneeling during the national anthem to protest inequality and police brutality.

Kaepernick has since withdrawn his grievance and the multi-platinum superstar has agreed to headline the Super Bowl LVII halftime show at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 12.

In an NFL press release announcing Rihanna's appearance on the world's biggest stage, former duet partner Jay-Z was quoted calling the singer "a generational talent."

He also called her "a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn" and "a person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever."

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Rihanna followed the announcement by dropping a single from the soundtrack to "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," a gorgeous ballad titled "Lift Me Up."

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Is this the start of a Rihanna comeback?

The single peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100, her highest entry on that chart since 2016, when she and Drake hit No. 1 with "Work" (a song she's all but guaranteed to dust off at the Super Bowl, with or without him).

"Work" was featured on her latest full-length studio release, 2016's "Anti," which also included the Top 10 hits "Needed Me" and "Love on the Brain."

Since then, she's turned up on collaborations with Future, DJ Khaled, Kendrick Lamar, N.E.R.D. and PartyNextDoor.

She's been busy with her line of Fenty Beauty cosmetics and Savage X Fenty lingerie line. And she also gave birth to her first child in May 2022.

Dropping "Lift Me Up" after announcing a Super Bowl halftime performance feels like a sign thatshe's ready to reclaim the musical spotlight — perhaps in advance of a tour?

She hasn't toured since 2016 when the Anti World Tour hit what was then called Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

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Can we expect a new Rihanna album now?

As to whether this could mean the singer is about to hit us with the long-awaited follow-up to "Anti," she was quick to shut that speculation down in a recent chat with the Associated Press.

“That’s not true," she said. "Super Bowl is one thing. New music is another thing. Do you hear that, fans?”

The singer then added, “The second that I announced this, I said, ‘Oh, my God, they’re going to think my album is coming. I need to get to work.'"

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How long is Rihanna's halftime show?

Halftime shows tend to last from 12 to 14 minutes at the Super Bowl.

Is Rihanna bringing special guests?

In a recent interview with E, the star addressed the prospect of revisiting a few of the collabs she's dropped along the way.

"Twelve minutes?" she said. "You could actually do that by yourself, but it's one of those things where you can decorate it however you want. So whether I choose to do it for myself or whether I choose to bring some of my peers on, it's..."

The singer paused then added, "I don't know what I'm gonna do yet. It's gonna be great either way."

Having said that, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and entertainment firm partnered with the NFL in 2019 to select entertainers to work with the league, including for the Super Bowl's halftime.

Seems like he would want to bethere, standing under her umbrella.

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Do I have to see that Pepsi logo?

For the first time since 2013, the Super Bowl will not be sponsored by Pepsi.

Apple Music has stepped in, freeing up artists in relationships with Coke, like Taylor Swift, for instance, to perform.

When is Super Bowl 2023?

Super Bowl LVII will begin at 4:30 p.m. MST (3:30 p.m. Pacific, 6:30 p.m. Eastern) on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

Where is Super Bowl 2023?

The Super Bowl is headed to Arizona in 2023, with two NFL teams facing off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

The stadium is located about 17 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix.

Super Bowl 2023 ticket prices

On Location has official Super Bowl tickets that are guaranteed by the NFL, which are included as part of packages options like open bars, tailgate food and pre-game parties.

The most inexpensive ticket packages start at $4,972.50. Premium packages start at $7,225 per person. Other, price-upon-request luxury ticket packages are available through the site.

Tickets are also currently available via resale sites such as Vivid Seats and Seat Geek.

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When has the Super Bowl played Arizona?

Arizona has hosted three previous Super Bowls.

On Jan. 28, 1996, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium, 27-17. But what concerns us here, of course, is the halftime show, which was headlined by Diana Ross.

On Feb. 3, 2008, the Cardinals' Stadium in Glendale (then called University of Phoenix Stadium) hosted the game for the first time, a 17-14 win for the New York Giants over the New England Patriots. The halftime show was headlined by the late Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The game returned to what was still called University of Phoenix Stadium in 2015, a 28-24 Patriots win over the Seattle Seahawks, with Katy Perry doing all she could to steal the spotlight back from Left Shark. It was the most-viewed halftime show in broadcast history.

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How to watch Super Bowl 2023 on TV

The 2023 Super Bowl is scheduled to air on Fox in English and on Fox Deportes in Spanish, beginning at 4:30 p.m. MST.

Don't miss out! The best and biggest concerts coming to metro Phoenix in November

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Super Bowl LVII: Rihanna to perform at 2023 Halftime Show | CNN

CNN —

Must be NFL on the brain: Pop icon and entrepreneur Rihanna will perform at next year’s Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, the NFL announced Sunday.

The news comes after both Rihanna and the NFL tweeted a picture of the musician’s hand holding a football Sunday afternoon, sparking speculation that she would be the halftime performer.

In the NFL’s statement, Jay-Z, whose entertainment agency Roc Nation is one of several executive producers on the halftime show, called Rihanna a “generational talent.”

“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn,” Jay-Z said in the statement. “A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”

Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has built a business empire in addition to her successful music career. In 2021, Forbes announced that she had become a billionaire and the world’s wealthiest female musician, thanks to her Fenty Beauty makeup line and Savage x Fenty lingerie line.

The singer joins a cadre of musical icons – including Prince, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez – who have taken the stage for the halftime show. Last year’s performance, featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, earned five Emmy nominations and won three Emmys.

The 57th Super Bowl will take place on February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It will be the first with Apple Music as a partner on the Halftime Show, according to the NFL’s announcement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage,” said Seth Dudowsky, the NFL’s head of music, in the statement. “Rihanna is a once in a generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career.”

Zoe Sottile Matt Foster
Zoe Sottile
Matt Foster

NFC Championship disaster proves the best team going to Super ...

“Two weeks, we’ll see you in Phoenix,” Terry Bradshaw said on the "NFL on Fox" after handing the NFC Championship trophy to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Glendale, Terry. Super Bowl 57 will be played in Glendale. But close enough.

The NFC Championship itself, by the way, was terrible, a blowout 31-7 win for the Eagles over the San Francisco 49ers that was over as soon as Arizona-born Brock Purdy, the 49ers underdog hero of a quarterback, was knocked out of the contest.

Purdy came back when his backup was injured, but couldn’t throw the ball, dooming his team and viewer interest.

It was just a terrible game. Which actually bodes well for the Super Bowl. Why? Because if Fox’s No. 1 broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen can make this absolute dog of a game watchable and listenable, imagine what they can do with a competitive game. I mean, no matter what happens, the Super Bowl can’t be worse than this.

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

It’s like when Garp decides to buy the house a plane hits in “The World According to Garp.” After this mess, the Super Bowl is disaster proof.

We hope.

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What time is Super Bowl 2023?

The Super Bowl will be played Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m. Arizona time at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Sorry, Terry. The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs.

That game, the AFC Championship, was better. Not just better, but absolutely fantastic.

The Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in a thriller. The game was played in a freezing Kansas City; the NFC Championship in a soggy Philadelphia.

That is not going to be the case in Arizona, with the Chamber of Commerce winter weather and — perhaps more importantly — State Farm Stadium’s retractable roof.

It’s an interesting matchup on the field.

Who's where?:Where is Joe Buck? Al Michaels? Here's where to find NFL announcers this football season

Fox broadcast team Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen have 'risen to the occasion all year'

It’s also interesting in terms of the broadcast. The AFC Championship was everything the NFC Championship was not — exciting, competitive, well-played. That makes Burkhardt and Olsen's call of the NFC game all the more impressive.

Burkhardt and Olsen have never called a Super Bowl before. They took over as the No. 1 team on Fox Sports when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman followed the money to “Monday Night Football.” They started the year as a somewhat generic duo, but they have gotten better and better, Olsen in particular, who has to be considered one of best, if not the best, analysts in the NFL.

“I think these guys have risen to the occasion all year,” Richie Zyontz, who will produce the Super Bowl, said.

He’s not just promoting his own team. Truly, the Eagles-49ers game was the worst conference championship game in a long time. But Burkhardt and Olsen made it worth sticking around for. They didn’t pretend San Francisco’s miserable quarterback situation was anything but that. It was refreshing. I’ll acknowledge that when they took over as the lead team, I thought the Super Bowl broadcast would suffer. Who are these guys again?

They’re maybe the best team going, that’s who.

Of course if the Super Bowl were even worse than the NFC Championship huge audiences would tune in for it — which means huge audiences tuning in and seeing Arizona, whether during pregame shows or cuts to the watch party at the Super Bowl Experience or the bumpers before and after commercials. And if it’s a football game, people watch.

I wrote so many times that 75 of the top 100 highest-rated shows on TV in 2021 were football games I could have had the statistic tattooed on the inside of my eyelids. But surely that couldn’t last. And it didn’t.

In 2022 the number jumped to 82.

It’s just nuts. And of course the Super Bowl is the highest rated of them all. In 2022 the game averaged 101.1 million viewers on NBC and Telemundo. Throw in Peacock, NBC Sports Digital, Yahoo Sports and NFL Digital platforms and the number jumps to 112 million.

Imagine that many people or more tuning in to see Arizona.

Can’t wait.

Super show:John Madden showed him the ropes. This Arizona man makes the Super Bowl more than a 'show'

Super Bowl 57

4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 on Fox.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk.

The unluckiest sports teams and other Super Bowl musings | CNN

CNN —

The Cincinnati Bengals’ incredible ride to a potential Super Bowl title faces one last test against the Los Angeles Rams. The Bengals were not expected to be in the Super Bowl this year and are underdogs in the game, but it’s not just the Rams they are facing. They’re up against history.

The Bengals are part of a group of major professional franchises that have never won the big one. If they win on Sunday, they’ll be ending one of the longest streaks of not winning their league’s title. Amazingly though, there are a number of teams with even less probable streaks.

To put some numbers on it, consider that the Bengals have been a major league football team since 1968. That’s 53 years the Bengals have padded up and never won a Super Bowl.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy with helmets from the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Ryan Kang via AP

Based purely on random chance – a calculation we’ll be doing a lot of in this article – there was about only a 15% chance the Bengals would never have won a Super Bowl.

To be clear, there is a higher likelihood that at least one team wouldn’t have won a Super Bowl since 1968, but for it to be specifically the Bengals, it’s about 15%. You can read more about these calculations in this article from FiveThirtyEight’s Neil Paine.

There are other teams in the NFL with even worse luck.

The Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills (much to my chagrin), Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans have operated consistently since the first Super Bowl in the 1966-1967 season – and none of them have ever won a Super Bowl. The chance of that happening for the given franchise is a little less than 15%.

My Bills managed to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls and lost all of them. They’re the only team to go to four Super Bowls in a row and certainly the only one to lose all of them. Such a fate happening to a team is less than 1%.

In terms of length of time for winning the Big One, the Cardinals and Lions manage to top all of these teams. The Cardinals have existed in the NFL since the beginning of the league in 1920. Before the Super Bowl, an NFL Champion was crowned. The Cardinals won just one of those titles: in 1947, thanks in part to a great punt return by Hall of Famer Charley Trippi.

The chance the Cardinals haven’t won a title since that point is only about 3%.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates. Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The Lions have suffered a similar fate. They won an NFL title in 1957 – a little more recently than the Cardinals. But unlike the Cardinals, they haven’t even won the NFC championship since that point.

By random chance alone, 99 times out of 100, the Lions should have won an NFL or NFC championship. Worse for arguably the league’s unluckiest fan base, the Lions haven’t really been competitive. They haven’t even appeared in an NFC title game in 30 years. This year, they won three games – tied for the worst in football. At least, the Cardinals made the playoffs this season.

Of course, we’re limiting ourselves a little bit by examining only football.

Major League Baseball is the oldest sport of the big three – MLB, NBA and NFL – in the US. It had three streaks of teams going over 85 years without winning a World Series: the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox. All managed to break the slide this century, however.

The current streak for ineptitude in baseball belongs to the Cleveland Guardians. They haven’t won a World Series since 1948 – an over 70-year-old streak.

They have come close two times in recent years – in 1997 and 2016 – though they couldn’t get over the top. By random chance, there was a better than 95% chance the Guardians would have won at least one World Series during that timespan.

Amed Rosario of the then named Cleveland Indians takes off his hat as he walks off the field in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers. Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners have a perhaps lesser known streak, though one that is equally nutty. They have been members of the American League since 1977. They haven’t won an American League pennant once during that time. For any team, that should happen less than 5% of the time.

More – or less, depending on your point of view – impressive is that the Mariners haven’t even made the playoffs in the last 20 years. This is the longest streak in all three major league sports we’re talking about here, not just baseball. There was less than a 1% chance that would happen to the Mariners by random chance alone!

But even the Mariners can’t top arguably the least talked about streak of horrible luck in the three major sports.

The Sacramento Kings haven’t won an NBA championship in 70 years. More than that, they haven’t even appeared in a championship game since they won it as the Rochester Royals in 1951. This is six years longer than the streak put together by the Lions of the NFL for not appearing in the championship game.

A close up shot of the Sacramento Kings logo. Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

What’s incredible about what the Kings have managed to do is that they have done so in a league that hasn’t historically had a lot of teams. For a good chunk of the Kings’ streak, they had to beat out less than 10 teams to make it to the NBA Finals.

More than 99 times out of 100, the Kings should have made it to the NBA Finals at least once by random chance. Arguably the closest they came was in 2002, when they lost Game 6 and Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in somewhat contentious fashion. The Kings lost Game 7 in overtime.

And it’s not like there has been any sign in recent years that the Kings have gotten better. They haven’t been to the NBA Playoffs in 15 seasons, which is by far the longest current streak.

Sacramento looks well on its way to year 16 without making it. If that happens, it’ll be the longest streak any NBA team has ever gone without making the playoffs.

Given over half the NBA teams make the playoffs every season, this is truly on another level. Put another way, even if the Joe Burrow and the Bengals don’t win on Sunday, they can at least say they aren’t the Kings.

A San Francisco 49ers fan watches his team play against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIV. Philip Pacheco/Getty Images

Other Super Bowl musings

Of course, some people will not be watching Sunday’s game because they’re interested in football. So for all of those out there whose main interest in the game is not the actual sport of football, here are five things you should know – or might be fascinated to hear:

Bring chicken wings to your party

If you’re wondering what the No. 1 treat is for people when watching the Super Bowl, it’s chicken wings at 33%. Next is pizza at 19%, according to a 2020 SSRS poll. Burgers (13%) and dips (16%) – that you might use in chips and salsa – are the only other foods to hit double digits. What’s interesting about this is that pizza typically scores as the top food choice outside of football, but I guess people just prefer something different with their pigskin.

A lot of people will watch the game

I don’t think most of us realize how many people are going to tune into this game. We’ve already had north of 50 million watch the AFC and NFC Championship games at their peak . Last year, more than 90 million watched the Super Bowl , so 100 million viewers is very reachable. If we hit 100 million viewers, it will be three times as large as the audience for any non-NFL program in 2021.

A lot of people watch the Super Bowl for the commercials

One of my favorite questions about the Super Bowl was a 2020 SSRS poll asking why people watched it. Nearly three-fifths (58%) said it was for the game. Another 24% said it was mainly for the commercials, and 13% admitted it was for the halftime show. Given that at least 90 million people watch the Super Bowl, we’re talking about more than 30 million people who are watching the game for a reason mainly other than play on the field.

The postgame show is… more sports and will likely be well watched

If you don’t know who to root for, choose the Bengals to fit in

Super Bowl 2023: Where to buy NFL apparel to support Eagles, Chiefs

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

After a fierce round of conference championship games last night, the teams for Super Bowl 57 have been confirmed. The Super Bowl isn’t for about two weeks, giving you plenty of time to get apparel for the whole family (including the dog) to support your favorite team. Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Super Bowl and how you can show off your team spirit on game day.

Make smart choices without hours of googling. Subscribe to The Checklist newsletter for expert product advice and recommendations.

Who is playing in the Super Bowl 2023?

The competing teams for Super Bowl 57 are the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers and the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals in their respective matches last night. The Eagles and Chiefs have most recently won Super Bowl 52 (2017) and Super Bowl 54 (2020), respectively.

►Related: Mahomes, Hurts set for historic Super Bowl matchup

When is the Super Bowl 2023?

The Super Bowl will be held Sunday, February 12, with kickoff set for 6:30 PM EST. This means you'll have plenty of time to prep for your game day watch party.

Where is the Super Bowl 2023?

The Super Bowl will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with the Philadelphia Eagles serving as the home team.

Who is performing at the Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show?

Rihanna is set to perform at Super Bowl 57's halftime show. The "Umbrella" singer and Fenty Beauty owner has released a limited-edition Game Day Essentials collection ahead of her halftime appearance.

Where to buy NFL apparel

Whether you're rooting for the Chiefs or the Eagles, there are many shops that sell official team apparel for the whole family. From shirts to hats to outfits for your pooch or baby, these stores have everything you need to show off your team spirit on game day.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles picks for Super Bowl 57

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles play on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Arizona.

Which team will win the game?

Check out these NFL playoffs picks and predictions for the game, which can be seen at 4:30 p.m. MST on Fox.

The Eagles are a 2.5-point favorite in the game.

More:Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game schedule, TV, announcers for Super Bowl 57

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

Bookies.com: Take the Eagles to cover vs. Chiefs

Bill Speros writes: "The Eagles dominated the 49ers in the NFC title game 31-7 and were never tested. Mahomes makes everyone around him better. But the Chiefs head to Glendale banged up, while the Eagles are fully healthy. Philly's offensive line should be able to give Jalen Hurts the time he needs. But don't expect a shootout here. The total is higher than either one of these teams has hit the entire postseason. Philly has the edge. We'd take them on betting sites if this is the matchup."

Draft Kings: Go with the Eagles on the moneyline vs. Chiefs

It writes: "Patrick Mahomes was still clearly banged up in this game, using up all his energy to get one last run that set the Chiefs up for the winning field goal. He will look different in two weeks, of course, but if his scrambling is limited, the Eagles’ defensive line is going to be all over him. Philadelphia’s defense looked completely dominant in their win over the 49ers, and they put up 31 points against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Our early straight-up pick is the Eagles’ ML."

More:Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles odds: Super Bowl 57 point spread, moneyline

ATS.IO: Bet the Chiefs vs. Eagles in Super Bowl 57

Jay Sanin writes: "Are we sure Jalen Hurts is as good as he’s been anointed to be? He has thrown for 275 yards combined in the Eagles’ two playoff wins, and did very little when those games were not yet decided. Against an elite QB counterpart this week, he will need to do more, and will not."

Sports Betting Dime: Eagles 25.9, Chiefs 23.3

The site's formula predicts that the Eagles will win Super Bowl 57 against the Chiefs.

More:Super Bowl 57 prediction: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs game to be a thriller

Fansided: Chiefs will beat Eagles in Super Bowl 57

Peter Dewey writes: "Mahomes’ ankle looked fine in the AFC title game, and the Chiefs defense was able to get to Joe Burrow repeatedly in that matchup. If the team can do the same to Hurts, I like Kansas City’s chances with the best player on the field on its side. Chiefs win this one outright, and Mahomes starts to enter the G.O.A.T. conversation in the process."

ESPN: Chiefs have a 50% chance to win Super Bowl 57

The site also gives the Eagles a 50% shot at winning the game.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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NFL playoff schedule for road to Super Bowl 57: What to know on ...

For the 18th consecutive season, the NFL will not crown a repeat Super Bowl champion. Sure, there's still a mathematical chance the injury-riddled defending champion Los Angeles Rams (3-8, last in NFC West) could make the playoffs, but it's an extremely small one.

In fact, since the New England Patriots won back-to-back titles following the 2003 and 2004 seasons, only three teams have won multiple times. The Pats alternated victories in Super Bowls 49, 51 and 53; the Pittsburgh Steelers prevailed in Super Bowl 40 and 43; and the New York Giants came out on top in Super Bowls 42 and 46.

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NFL CLINCHING SCENARIOS:Which teams can lock up postseason spot in Week 14?

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 13:Despite being idle Sunday, Bills reclaim AFC's No. 1 seed

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

Who's next? Let's chart the path 14 fortunate franchises will need to navigate to end up playing for the title in Super Bowl 57 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12, 2023.

How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

A total of 14 teams qualify for the postseason – the four division winners, plus three wild card teams in each conference.

NFL playoffs format

The wild card matchups are: No. 7 seed at No. 2 seed, No. 6 at No. 3, No. 5 at No. 4.

The teams with the best overall records in each conference (No. 1 seeds) receive a bye in the wild card round and will host the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.

The winners within each respective conference will face each other in the conference championships with those winners battling in the Super Bowl.

What is the NFL playoff schedule?

The playoffs for the 2022 NFL regular season kick off Jan. 14-16, 2023, with three days of wild-card games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The divisional round takes place the following weekend, followed by the conference championship games. The Super Bowl will be played two weeks after the conference title games.

WILD CARD ROUND

Saturday, Jan. 14

4:30 p.m. ET

8:15 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 15

1 p.m ET

4:30 p.m. ET

8:15 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 16

8 p.m ET (ESPN)

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, Jan. 21

AFC Game 1

NFC Game 1

Sunday, Jan. 22

AFC Game 2

NFC Game 2

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHP

Sunday, Jan. 29

AFC, 3:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

NFC, 6:40 p.m. ET (Fox)

SUPER BOWL 57

Sunday, Feb. 12

AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

When is Super Bowl 57?

Super Bowl LVII will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Phoenix area has hosted a Super Bowl three times before – Super Bowl 30 (Jan. 28, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe) and twice at the venue in Glendale formerly known as University of Phoenix Stadium, Super Bowl 42 (Feb. 3, 2008) and 49 (Feb. 1, 2015).

The last time the game was played in Glendale, the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in a game best remembered for Malcolm Butler's game-saving interception in the final seconds (... and Katy Perry's halftime performance with the infamous "Left Shark.")

Super Bowl 2023: Date, time, channel, details for Super Bowl 57

The biggest night in football is quickly approaching. Soon, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 57.

The early odds have the Eagles (-2.5) as the favorites, but the Chiefs are riding high after a last-second victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Super Bowl:

When is the Super Bowl 57?

Super Bowl 57 is on Sunday, February 12.

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

What time is the Super Bowl 57?

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. EST, 4:30 p.m. MST (local time).

Greatest players in Super Bowl history:The 57 best players to play in the Super Bowl

History made at Super Bowl 57:Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts are first Black QBs to face off in Super Bowl

Where is Super Bowl 57?

This year's Super Bowl will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Who is playing in Super Bowl 57?

Super Bowl 57 is a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs knocked out Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Sunday while the Eagles sprinted past the San Francisco 49ers 31-7.

The odds for Super Bowl 57 have opened with the Eagles as the early 2.5-point favorites over the Chiefs.

What channel is the Super Bowl 57 on?

Super Bowl LVII will be broadcast on FOX.

Who has the most Super Bowl rings? NFL championships broken down by player, coach, team.

NFL news, delivered:Sign up to receive the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox

Latest odds:NFL odds, spreads, totals, betting lines and futures

Who is performing at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show?

Rihanna will headline this year's Super Bowl halftime show sponsored by Apple Music.

This will be the first halftime show sponsored by Apple Music; previous shows since 2013 were sponsored by Pepsi (which also first sponsored the 2007 show).

'It's on': Rihanna to headline 2023 Super Bowl halftime show

Dig deeper into Super Bowl 57

Road to the Super Bowl: How the NFL playoff bracket looks after ...

USA TODAY Sports

The NFL postseason has produced its Super Bowl matchup.

The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12. The game features Chiefs head coach Andy Reid going up against the team he coached for 14 seasons.

The Chiefs' last appearance in the big game came in Super Bowl LV when they lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, it's been five years since the Eagles stunned Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

Here's how the NFL playoff bracket looks following conference championship weekend.

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Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

Super Bowl 57 will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET.


President Biden announces an end to COVID-19 emergency ...

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is winding down the treatment of COVID-19 as an emergency, restructuring how the federal government will respond to the pandemic that is entering its fourth year.

The administration plans to end both the national emergency and the public health emergency on May 11. The announcement came in a message to Congress about measures House Republicans are considering this week to end those emergency declarations immediately.

The administration wants to wait until May to end the emergencies because Republicans' "abrupt end" would create "wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system," the White House said.

Tens of millions of Americans could be at risk of losing their health insurance, and others could lose access to telehealth services. States could lose billions of dollars in extra funding they've been receiving, Hospitals and nursing homes that have relied on flexibilities wouldn't have time to retrain staff and establish new billing procedures, according to the White House.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said there's no need to wait until May because "the vast majority of Americans have returned to work and resumed their lives months ago."

Live updates:House GOP to probe Biden's family; Tyre Nichols' parents to attend State of the Union

Coming up:House Speaker McCarthy to meet President Biden on Wednesday to discuss debt ceiling, spending cuts

COVID-19 was on track to be the third-leading cause of death in 2022 for the third year in a row, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health research organization.

But the public panic over the pandemic subsided after the introduction of vaccines and treatments.

In September, Biden said the pandemic was "over," though he said COVID-19 was still a problem.

A national emergency was first declared by President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020.

The Biden administration had said it would give states 60-day notice before ending the emergency. States have been receiving extra Medicaid funding during the emergency in exchange for keeping patients continuously enrolled in the jointly funded health care program for low-income residents. As a result, Medicaid enrollment increased 30% and fewer Americans have been uninsured.

In a massive spending bill passed in December, Democrats and Republicans agreed to allow states to kick people off Medicaid beginning in May. When the public health emergency ends, people without insurance will have to pay for vaccines, tests and treatment on their own. Those with private insurance could have some out-of-pocket costs.

COVID-19 vaccines are also expected to become more expensive as the government stops buying them.

About 7 in 10 Americans have received an initial COVID vaccination, but fewer than 20% of adults have received the latest booster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Contributing: The Associated Press

In case you missed it:Congress takes over National Prayer Breakfast over concerns it became too divisive

Poll:Americans equally concerned with Biden, Trump classified documents despite differences

Biden on '60 Minutes': 'The pandemic is over' | CNN Politics

CNN —

President Joe Biden said he believes the Covid-19 pandemic is “over” in an appearance on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” but acknowledged the US still has a “problem” with the virus that has killed more than 1 million Americans.

“The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid. We’re still doing a lot of work on it. It’s – but the pandemic is over,” Biden said.

The US government still designates Covid-19 a Public Health Emergency and the World Health Organization says it remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. But the President’s comments follow other hopeful comments from global health leaders.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a news briefing last week that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic was “in sight,” and that the world has never been in a better position to end the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Last week, the number of weekly reported deaths from Covid-19 was the lowest since March 2020,” Ghebreyesus said. “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We’re not there yet, but the end is in sight.”

Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adjusted its Covid-19 guidance to urge the nation away from measures such as quarantines and social distancing and instead focus on reducing severe disease from Covid-19. But the agency says some people, including those who are older, immunocompromised, have certain disabilities or underlying health conditions, are at higher risk for serious illness, and may need to take more precautions.

There were about 65,000 new Covid-19 cases reported each day over the past two weeks, data from Johns Hopkins University shows, and reported cases are dropping in almost every state. Across the United States, about 400 people are dying every day from Covid-19. Although official case counts are far from representative of true levels of transmission, forecasts published by the CDC say that new hospitalizations and deaths will hold steady for the next month.

For people hospitalized for Covid-19, the risk of dying fell to the lowest it’s ever been during the Omicron wave, according to a study published last week by the CDC. The researchers suggest that there were several contributing factors to the improved mortality risk: high levels of immunity, both from vaccination and previous infection, advances in treatments and properties of the Omicron subvariants that made them less likely to cause disease.

Biden on 2024

The President told “60 Minutes” in the interview aired Sunday he had not made a “firm decision” on whether he would run for reelection in 2024 but said he intended to run.

“Look, my intention, as I said to begin with, is that I would run again. But it’s just an intention. But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen,” Biden said.

The President said: “I’m a great respecter of fate. And so, what I’m doing is I’m doing my job. I’m gonna do that job. And within the time frame that makes sense after this next election cycle here, going into next year, make a judgment on what to do.”

The President and top administration officials have maintained the President intends to run again in 2024, but Biden told ABC in December that it would depend on whether he was in good health.

‘I don’t want to get myself in the middle’

Biden told CBS he had not been briefed on the contents of the documents that were removed from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence by the FBI in August, and said he did not want to interfere with any potential actions by the Department of Justice.

“I have not asked for the specifics of those documents because I don’t want to get myself in the middle of whether or not the Justice Department should move or not move on certain actions they could take. I – I agreed I would not tell them what to do and not, in fact, engage in telling them how to prosecute or not,” Biden said.

The Justice Department removed 11 sets of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago while executing a search warrant for possible violations of the Espionage Act and other crimes, according to unsealed court documents.

Asked what his reaction was when he saw the photograph taken by the FBI that showed an array of documents found on Trump’s property, Biden said: “How that could possibly happen? How one – anyone could be that irresponsible?”

“And I thought what data was in there that may compromise sources and methods? By that I mean names of people who helped or, et cetera. And it just, totally irresponsible,” Biden said.

Biden said no one has briefed him on whether important national security secrets were revealed by the storage of those documents at the former President’s residence.

“I have not personally spoken to anyone on that – in that regard. I’m sure my administration is aware of all of that, and so is the National Security Council. But I have not,” Biden said.

The President also told CBS that US military personnel would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. The President was asked whether “US forces, US men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion,” a prospect US officials privately fear is becoming more likely.

“Yes,” Biden responded.

It’s not the first time Biden has gone beyond the US approach of “strategic ambiguity” when it comes to Taiwan. During a visit to Tokyo in May, Biden said the US would intervene militarily if China attempts to take Taiwan by force.

The White House has consistently said after Biden’s comments that US policy hadn’t changed, and “60 Minutes” reported receiving a similar response to Biden’s answers in their interview.

Under the “One China” policy, the US acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the self-governing island of 23 million. Biden repeated his commitment to those policies in the “60 Minutes” interview.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Kate Sullivan Jamie Gumbrecht Allie Malloy Kevin Liptak

Fauci says he plans to retire by end of Biden's current term | CNN ...

CNN —

Dr. Anthony Fauci plans to retire by the end of President Joe Biden’s current term in office, the government’s top infectious disease expert told CNN on Monday.

Fauci, who serves as Biden’s chief medical adviser and has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades, said he does not currently have a specific retirement date in mind nor has he started the process of retiring.

“I have said that for a long time,” Fauci said of his plans to leave government before the end of Biden’s current term, which ends in January 2025.

“By the time we get to the end of Biden’s first term, I will very likely (retire),” Fauci said.

Politico published an interview with Fauci on Monday in which Fauci said he did not expect to remain in government until coronavirus is eradicated, because he said, “I think we’re going to be living with this” for years to come.

Fauci told CNN’s “At This Hour” later Monday that though his recent comments on retirement were interpreted as announcing a retirement plan, he just meant “that it is extremely unlikely – in fact, for sure – that I am not going to be here beyond January 2025.”

Fauci said that he feels like he’s established a good system at NIAID to facilitate a smooth transition at the agency and wants to pursue other career opportunities once he eventually leaves.

“Everybody in a position of any influence in my institute, I handpick. So it’s something that I’ve been working on now for four decades. So we have a good system in place,” Fauci told CNN’s Kate Bolduan. “Obviously, you can’t go on forever. I do want to do other things in my career, even though I’m at a rather advanced age. I have the energy and the passion to continue to want to pursue other aspects of my professional career and I’m going to do that some time. I’m not exactly sure when, but I don’t see myself being in this job to the point where I can’t do anything else after that.”

At 81, Fauci has served more than five decades under seven presidents, advising every American president since Ronald Reagan.

In his time as director of the NIAID, Fauci has helped lead the federal public health response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, Ebola, the Zika virus and anthrax scares. But he was thrust into the national spotlight at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, emerging as a key voice in public health during the Trump administration.

Fauci and then-President Donald Trump publicly disagreed on how to approach the pandemic, what the correct message was for the American people and how to balance reopening with preventing further contagion. Through it all, Trump insisted he respected Fauci but disagreed with his approach. But at their relationship’s low point, Trump suggested he was considering firing the doctor. Attacks from Trump’s allies led to enhanced security for Fauci.

In 2020, Fauci told CNN’s Sanjay Gupta he had to get security protection after his family received death threats and harassment.

Fauci told “At This Hour” on Monday that political pressures did not play into his decision to eventually leave his role.

“It has nothing to do with pressures, nothing to do with all of the other nonsense that you hear about, all the barbs, the slings and the arrows. That has no influence on me,” he said.

Fauci said last November that he only expected to leave his role when the Covid-19 outbreak was “in the rearview mirror.”

“I’m the director of the institute that has now been very important in the basic research in leading to the drugs that will now have an important impact in the treatment of Covid-19. That’s what I do,” Fauci told CBS’ “Sunday Morning.” “So, I’m going to keep doing that until this Covid-19 outbreak is in the rearview mirror, regardless of what anybody says about me, or wants to lie and create crazy fabrications because of political motivations.”

This story has been updated with additional developments on Monday.

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Jeremy Diamond
Maegan Vazquez

Covid-19 public health emergency extended in the US | CNN

CNN —

The Biden administration on Friday extended the Covid-19 public health emergency for another three months.

US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra officially renewed the declaration, extending it through October 13, 2022.

The emergency declaration has been in place since January 2020, and the latest renewal comes as the Omicron offshoot BA.5, the most contagious variant yet, continues to stake its claim in the US. Daily case rates, though vastly undercounted, are the highest they’ve been in months, as are Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Data published this week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half of the country’s population lives in a county with a “high Covid-19 Community Level,” where the health care system is at risk of becoming overburdened and universal indoor masking is recommended.

“The Public Health Emergency declaration continues to provide us with tools and authorities needed to respond to the highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariants that are currently circulating around the country,” a Biden administration official told CNN. “The PHE provides essential capabilities and flexibilities to hospitals to better care for patients, particularly if we were to see a significant increase in hospitalizations in the coming weeks.”

Indeed, ensemble forecasts from the CDC published this week do predict that hospitalizations in the US will rise over the next month. It’s the first time in weeks that the forecasts have predicted an increase in hospitalizations, instead of a stable outlook.

“Without the PHE in place, we would be limited in our ability to provide broad and equitable access to lifesaving treatments through our Test to Treat initiative, for example, which relies on flexibility for telehealth and operations,” the official said. “Not renewing the PHE would leave us with fewer tools to respond and mean more Americans would get severely ill and end up in the hospital.”

The public health emergency declaration allows many Americans to obtain free Covid-19 testing, therapeutic treatment and vaccines. Once it ends, people could face out-of-pocket costs depending on whether they are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. But vaccinations would generally continue to be free for those covered by Medicare and private insurance, while state Medicaid programs would determine whether to continue covering vaccinations for their enrollees.

Also, Medicare has relaxed the rules governing telehealth so that many more beneficiaries can access such services during the declaration. Telehealth services are no longer limited just to those living in rural areas, and enrollees can conduct visits at home, rather than having to travel to a health care facility, and they receive a wider array of services via telehealth. These flexibilities will end for most beneficiaries after the emergency expires.

And states are not involuntarily disenrolling residents from Medicaid during the declaration, in exchange for receiving more generous federal matching funds. As many as 14 million people could lose Medicaid coverage after the emergency ends, according to separate projections by Kaiser and the Urban Institute.

Plus, many low-income families are receiving enhanced food stamp benefits thanks to the declaration, though some states have ended their own public health emergencies and stopped the beefed-up allotments.

A separate emergency declaration allows for the emergency use authorization of testing, treatments and vaccines. Its end date will be determined by the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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Its end date will be determined by HHS, and the agency has committed to provide at least 60-day notice before any change

Monkeypox: Biden administration declares the outbreak a public ...

CNN —

The Biden administration on Thursday declared monkeypox a public health emergency, with cases on the rise across the US.

The announcement came during a briefing with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The administration has been criticized at times for its handling of the outbreak, and some have called on the government to declare a national emergency without delay.

Since the first US monkeypox case was identified in mid-May, more than 6,600 probable or confirmed cases have been detected in the United States. Cases have been identified in every state except Montana and Wyoming.

The declaration follows the World Health Organization announcement last month that monkeypox is a public health emergency of international concern. WHO defines a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, as “an extraordinary event” that constitutes a “public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease” and “to potentially require a coordinated international response.”

Some cities and states, including New York City, San Francisco, California, Illinois and New York, have already declared monkeypox an emergency, allowing them to free up funding and resources for their responses to the outbreak.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden named Robert Fenton as the White House’s national monkeypox response coordinator. Fenton – a regional Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator who oversees Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada – will coordinate the federal government’s response to the outbreak. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, serves as the deputy coordinator.

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The Biden administration has been heavily criticized by some public health experts for not moving faster to address the crisis.

One of the criticisms of the administration’s response, as CNN reported earlier Thursday, was that HHS waited more than three weeks after the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the US to order bulk stocks of the monkeypox vaccine, which the government owns and stores in Denmark, be bottled and sent to the US for distribution. The delay was in part out of concern that once those vaccines were taken out of bulk storage, they would lose years of shelf life.

Monkeypox can infect anyone, but the majority of cases in the US outbreak have been among men who have sex with men, including gay and bisexual men and people who identify as transgender. Close contact with an infected individual is required for the spread of the monkeypox virus, experts say.

The CDC initially announced vaccines for monkeypox were being released from the Strategic National Stockpile and offered to the “high-risk” contacts of monkeypox patients, as well as the health care workers treating them. Federal health officials have since expanded vaccination efforts to focus on the broader community of men who have sex with men, the demographic that makes up most US monkeypox cases.

In addition to providing vaccines, the CDC has said since June it has made a concerted effort to do extensive education and outreach to the LGBTQ community.

Possible change to how vaccine is administered

Health officials are considering changing the way monkeypox vaccine doses are administered because the country is “at a critical inflection point” with the virus’ spread, US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told reporters on Thursday.

“In recent days, it’s become clear to all of us that given the continued spread of the virus, we’re at a critical inflection point, dictating the need for additional solutions to address the rise in infection rates,” Califf said. “The goal has always been to vaccinate as many people as possible.”

The commissioner said officials are considering allowing health care providers to be able to use a dose-sharing method where one vial of Jynneos vaccine – previously used as one dose – will be used to administer up to five separate doses.

This approach would change the way Jynneos is administered, Califf said. Instead of the vaccine being administered in the fat layer under the skin, it will be delivered underneath the skin layer.

“There are some advantages to intradermal administration including an improved immune response to the vaccine,” Califf said. “It’s important to note that overall safety and efficacy profile will not be sacrificed for this approach. Please know, we’ve been exploring all scientifically feasible options and we believe this could be a promising approach.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

Biden's comments about pandemic widen public health split over ...

CNN —

Even as the US prepares for a potential winter surge of Covid-19, President Biden roamed the cavernous halls of the Detroit Auto Show for an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and, gesturing to the mostly maskless attendees, told the nation, “the pandemic is over.”

“We still have a problem with Covid. We’re still doing a lot of work on it,” he told correspondent Scott Pelley.

“But the pandemic is over,” he repeated.

The timing of the President’s remarks was striking: just two weeks after his administration launched a campaign to urge Americans to get booster shots against the latest Covid-19 strains at the same time as they get their annual flu shot. Health officials have also recently renewed their efforts to convince Congress to spend another $22.4 billion on Covid mitigation efforts.

Biden’s declaration has created another split-screen moment in efforts to bring Covid-19 to heel. Some public health experts worry that political motives are driving the President’s desire to declare the pandemic over, rather than protection of the public’s health. Others say the president is right and the acute phase of the pandemic is over, even as the country continues to deal with a high burden of disease.

More than 400 Americans are still dying each day from Covid-19 on average, a number that hasn’t changed much in about three months, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. As of the week of Sept. 9, Covid-19 was the second leading cause of death in the US, according to estimates from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

“In a week, that’s Twin Towers, right? It’s a 9/11, week after week after week,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health.

Excess deaths and Covid mortality are still higher in the US, per capita, than in other wealthy nations. And we’ve had a significant dip in life expectancy, he says.

“By any appreciable epidemiologic data points, the pandemic is not over,” Gonsalves said.

One problem that contributes to the confusion is that the definition of a pandemic is squishy. In the simplest terms, a pandemic is an epidemic that occurs around the world and affects a large number of people. It’s not up to a single person or organization to declare an official start or end to one.

“I think it’s sort of a term of art,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “There’s no criteria or some checklist that you make.”

The World Health Organization recognizes a global health threat as something different: a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC. The US also recognizes a public health emergency.

Covid-19 is still considered to be a public health emergency both domestically and around the world.

An administration official told CNN on Monday that Biden’s comments do not mark a change in policy toward the administration’s handling of the coronavirus and that there are no plans to lift the public health emergency, which has been in place since January 2020 and now runs at least through October 13.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has promised to give a 60-day notice to states before ending the emergency declaration, something it has not yet done.

Still, Gonsalves says he was dismayed by the President’s assertion that the pandemic is over, especially going into the fall and winter.

“We are we are terribly under-boosted and under-vaccinated in this country,” he said. “What kind of message does it send to say ‘the pandemic is over’ when you want anyone to get shots into arms, both primary series and boosters? And you want to probably get some money out of Congress to do it?”

Biden’s comments align with a recent Axios/Ipsos poll showing that most American feel there is little risk in returning to their pre-Covid lives. The poll found that the share of people who say they have resumed their normal activities is at the highest point since the start of the pandemic, at 46%.

“I know the President is taking a lot of criticism. I actually agree with him on this,” Adalja said.

“To me, it’s about having the tools to shift infections to the mild side and not seeing any concern about hospital capacity, and we have not seen hospital capacity concerns in the United States for some time,” he said.

Adalja says people who are slamming the President are misunderstanding what it means to be in a pandemic.

“Just because the President says this is not a pandemic doesn’t mean that everything just halts,” he said. “And it doesn’t mean that everything has to be directly done by congressional funding.”

The administration has said it intends to stop buying vaccines, tests and treatments, shifting those things to the commercial market.

What many public health experts fear, though, is that when the President says the pandemic is over, people hear that Covid-19 is over, and that’s just not the case, said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

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Osterholm fears that that message just undermines efforts to get people vaccinated and boosted, promote access to testing and treatment and, yes, get them to wear masks in areas where Covid-19 transmission is high.

“Why would people now want to go get their booster shot if the pandemic is over?” he asked.

Osterholm says that in his estimation, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still too high to say the pandemic is over. We also don’t know what variants of the virus could emerge or how our immunity will hold up against them.

“I don’t think people really understand what the implications are for this virus,” Osterholm said. “All of us want the pandemic to be over, but you can’t make it go away by just making a policy decision.”

Biden administration will stop buying Covid-19 vaccines, treatments ...

CNN —

The Biden administration has been planning for how to get past the crisis phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and will stop buying vaccines, treatments and tests as early as this fall, White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said on Tuesday.

“One of the things we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about in the last many months – and we’re going to continue this work, and you’ll hear more from the administration on this – is getting us out of that acute emergency phase where the US government is buying the vaccines, buying the treatments, buying the diagnostic tests,” Jha said at an event sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

“My hope is that in 2023, you’re going to see the commercialization of almost all of these products. Some of that is actually going to begin this fall, in the days and weeks ahead. You’re going to see commercialization of some of these things,” he said.

Availability of those products would transition to the regular health-care system, Jha said, so if you need a vaccine or an antiviral treatment, you’d get it from your doctor or from a hospital.

Updated boosters available next month

In the spring, the Biden administration asked Congress for $10 billion to fund continued pandemic response efforts, but a deal to pass the funding stalled.

Jha said the funding stalemate forced officials to repurpose money from other efforts, like building up supplies of tests and protective equipment for the strategic national stockpile.

Officials plan to use that money to buy updated vaccine booster shots that protect against the BA.4 and BA.5 coronavirus subvariants, which Jha said would be ready in early to mid-September.

“I would like to get to a point where every adult in America who wants a vaccine can get one. I’m hopeful we will be there. We’re not quite there yet in terms of how many vaccine doses we’ve been able to buy,” he said.

Jha said the transition to commercialization is complicated. It involves regulatory issues, market dynamic issues and equity issues, but the administration is working carefully and thoughtfully to get it right.

“Right now, everybody can walk into a CVS and get a vaccine. I want to make sure that when we make this transition, we don’t end up at a point where nobody can get a vaccine because we didn’t get the transition right,” he said.

Jha said some of the commercialization would start in the fall, but most would be visible in 2023.

He said it would be important for the government to continue to make investments in the development of the next generation of vaccines and in pandemic preparedness.

“But this business of day-to-day running of a pandemic, that needs to transition, and we’re working very hard to make sure that transition is in a very orderly and transparent way so everybody sees it coming,” he said.

A bad flu season expected

Jha urged all Americans to get the new boosters once they become available.

He stressed that the fall and winter could be tough in the United States if the flu makes a comeback, as is expected.

“These are substantial upgrades in our vaccines in terms of their ability to prevent infection to prevent transmission,” he said. “Those vaccines are coming very, very soon. And so it’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter, get the new shot. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there. And again, based on everything we’ve seen so far, all the data suggests it should be highly effective against the new variants.”

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The US has seen little to no flu transmission for the past two years largely because of Covid-19 mitigation measures like masking.

“I expect the fall and winter to look much more like the fall and winter of 2019, with a lot less mitigation,” Jha said.

“Under normal non-pandemic times, flu really stretches our health-care system,” he said. “Throwing Covid on top of that, our health-care system is going to get into serious trouble unless we are very proactive about preventing it, if we do nothing and just sort of hope for the best.”

Here's what's in the $1.7 trillion federal omnibus spending law | CNN ...

Editor’s Note: This story originally ran December 20. It has been updated to reflect the current status of the legislation.

CNN —

President Joe Biden signed into law a $1.7 trillion yearlong federal government spending package on Thursday, after the House and Senate passed it last week.

The legislation includes $772.5 billion for nondefense discretionary programs and $858 billion in defense funding. That represents an increase in spending in both areas for fiscal year 2023.

The sweeping package includes roughly $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and NATO allies, an overhaul of the electoral vote-counting law, protections for pregnant workers, an enhancement to retirement savings rules and a TikTok ban on federal devices.

It also provides a boost in spending for disaster aid, college access, child care, mental health and food assistance, more support for the military and veterans and additional funds for the US Capitol Police. And the legislation contains several major Medicaid provisions, particularly one that could disenroll up to 19 million people from the nation’s health insurance program for low-income Americans.

However, the law, which runs more than 4,000 pages, left out several measures that some lawmakers had fought to include. An expansion of the child tax credit, as well as multiple other corporate and individual tax breaks, did not make it into the final bill. Neither did legislation to allow cannabis companies to bank their cash reserves – known as the Safe Banking Act – or a bill to help Afghan evacuees in the US gain lawful permanent residency. And the spending package did not include a White House request for roughly $10 billion in additional funding for Covid-19 response.

The spending law, which will keep the government operating through September, the end of the fiscal year, is the product of lengthy negotiations between top congressional Democrats and Republicans.

Congress originally passed a continuing resolution on September 30 to temporarily fund the government in fiscal year 2023, which began October 1.

Here’s what’s in the law:

More aid for Ukraine: The spending law provides roughly $45 billion to help support Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s attack.

About $9 billion of the funding will go to Ukraine’s military to pay for a variety of things including training, weapons, logistics support and salaries. Nearly $12 billion will be used to replenish US stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine through presidential drawdown authority.

Also, the law provides $13 billion for economic support to the Ukrainian government. Other funds address humanitarian and infrastructure needs, as well as support European Command operations.

Emergency disaster assistance: The law provides more than $38 billion in emergency funding to help Americans in the west and southeast affected by recent natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. It will aid farmers, provide economic development assistance for communities, repair and reconstruct federal facilities and direct money to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund, among other initiatives.

Overhaul of the electoral vote-counting law: A provision in the legislation aims at making it harder to overturn a certified presidential election, the first legislative response to the US Capitol insurrection and then-President Donald Trump’s campaign to stay in power despite his loss in 2020.

The changes overhaul the 1887 Electoral Count Act, which Trump tried to use to overturn the 2020 election.

The legislation clarifies the vice president’s role while overseeing the certification of the electoral result to be completely ceremonial. It also creates a set of stipulations designed to make it harder for there to be any confusion over the accurate slate of electors from each state.

Funding for January 6 attack prosecutions: The law provides $2.6 billion for US Attorneys, which includes funding efforts “to further support prosecutions related to the January 6 attack on the Capitol and domestic terrorism cases,” according to a fact sheet from the House Appropriations Committee.

The package also gives $11.3 billion to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including for efforts to investigate extremist violence and domestic terrorism.

The funding measures are part of nearly $39 billion for the Justice Department.

Retirement savings enhancements: The law contains new retirement rules that could make it easier for Americans to accumulate retirement savings – and less costly to withdraw them. Among other things, the provisions will allow penalty-free withdrawals for some emergency expenses, let employers offer matching retirement contributions for a worker’s student loan payments and increase how much older workers may save in employer retirement plans.

TikTok ban from federal devices: The legislation bans TikTok, the Chinese-owned short-form video app, from federal government devices.

Some lawmakers have raised bipartisan concerns that China’s national security laws could force TikTok – or its parent, ByteDance – to hand over the personal data of its US users. Recently, a wave of states led by Republican governors have introduced state-level restrictions on the use of TikTok on government-owned devices.

Protections for pregnant workers: The law provides pregnant workers with workplace accommodations – such as additional bathroom breaks, stools or relief from heavy lifting duties – needed for healthy pregnancies. It will prevent them from being forced to take leave or losing their jobs, as well as bar employers from denying employment opportunities to women based on their need for reasonable accommodations due to childbirth or related medical conditions. Also, another provision in the package guarantees workplace accommodations – particularly time to pump – for more nursing workers.

Changes to Medicaid and other health care programs: The law phases out the requirement that prevented states from disenrolling Medicaid recipients as long as the national public health emergency was in effect in exchange for an enhanced federal match. This continuous coverage measure was enacted as part of a Covid-19 relief package passed in March 2020 and has led to a record 90 million Medicaid enrollees, many of whom may no longer meet the income requirements to qualify.

Under the law, states will be able to start evaluating Medicaid enrollees’ eligibility and terminating their coverage as of April 1. The redetermination process will take place over at least 12 months. Also, the enhanced federal Medicaid funding will phase down through December 31, 2023, though the states will have to meet certain conditions during that period.

Up to 19 million people could lose their Medicaid benefits, according to estimates, though many would be eligible for other coverage.

Also, under a provision in the law, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, will offer 12 months of continuous coverage for children. This will allow the 40 million children on Medicaid and CHIP to have uninterrupted access to health care throughout the year.

In addition, the law makes permanent the option for states to offer 12 months of postpartum coverage for low-income mothers through Medicaid, rather than just 60 days. More than two dozen states, plus the District of Columbia, have implemented the measure, which was available on a temporary basis through the American Rescue Plan, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Another seven states are planning to implement the option.

Plus, the package provides more money for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The funds are intended to speed the development of new therapies, diagnostics and preventive measures, beef up public health activities and strengthen the nation’s biosecurity by accelerating development of medical countermeasures for pandemic threats and fortifying stockpiles and supply chains for drugs, masks and other supplies.

Increased support for the military and veterans: The package funds a 4.6% pay raise for troops and a 22.4% increase in support for Veteran Administration medical care, which provides health services for 7.3 million veterans.

It includes nearly $53 billion to address higher inflation and $2.7 billion – a 25% increase – to support critical services and housing assistance for veterans and their families.

The law also allocates $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides additional funding to implement the landmark PACT Act that expands eligibility for health care services and benefits to veterans with conditions related to toxic exposure during their service.

Beefing up nutrition assistance: The legislation establishes a permanent nationwide Summer EBT program, starting in the summer of 2024, according to Share Our Strength, an anti-hunger advocacy group. It will provide families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals with a $40 grocery benefit per child per month, indexed to inflation.

It also changes the rules governing summer meals programs in rural areas. Children will be able to take home or receive delivery of up to 10 days’ worth of meals, rather than have to consume the food at a specific site and time.

The law also helps families who have had their food stamp benefits stolen since October 1 through what’s known as “SNAP skimming.” It provides them with retroactive federal reimbursement of the funds, which criminals steal by attaching devices to point-of-sale machines or PIN pads to get card numbers and other information from electronic benefits transfer cards.

Higher maximum Pell grant awards: The law increases the maximum Pell grant award by $500 to $7,395 for the coming school year. This marks the largest boost since the 2009-2010 school year. About 7 million students, many from lower-income families, receive Pell grants every year to help them afford college.

Help to pay utility bills: The package provides $5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Combined with the $1 billion contained in the earlier continuing resolution, this is the largest regular appropriation for the program, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Home heating and cooling costs – and the applications for federal aid in paying the bills – have soared this year.

Additional funding for the US Capitol Police: The law provides an additional $132 million for the Capitol Police for a total of nearly $735 million. It will allow the department to hire up to 137 sworn officers and 123 support and civilian personnel, bringing the force to a projected level of 2,126 sworn officers and 567 civilians.

It also gives $2 million to provide off-campus security for lawmakers in response to evolving and growing threats.

More money for child care: The legislation provides $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a 30% increase in funding. The grant gives financial assistance to low-income families to afford child care.

Also, Head Start will receive nearly $12 billion, an 8.6% boost. The program helps young children from low-income families prepare for school.

More resources for children’s mental health and for substance abuse: The law provides more funds to increase access to mental health services for children and schools. It also will invest more money to address the opioid epidemic and substance use disorder.

Investments in homelessness prevention and affordable housing: The legislation provides $3.6 billion for homeless assistance grants, a 13% increase. It will serve more than 1 million people experiencing homelessness.

The package also funnels nearly $6.4 billion to the Community Development Block Grant formula program and related local economic and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate income areas and people, an increase of almost $1.6 billion.

Plus, it provides $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will lead to the construction of nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units and maintain the record investment from the last fiscal year.

More support for the environment: The package provides an additional $576 million for the Environmental Protection Agency, bringing its funding up to $10.1 billion. It increases support for enforcement and compliance, as well as clean air, water and toxic chemical programs, after years of flat funding.

It also boosts funding for the National Park Service by 6.4%, restoring 500 of the 3,000 staff positions lost over the past decade. This is intended to help the agency handle substantial increases in visitation.

Plus, the legislation provides an additional 14% in funding for wildland firefighting.

What’s not in the law

Enhanced child tax credit: A coalition of Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocates pushed hard to extend at least one provision of the enhanced child tax credit, which was in effect last year thanks to the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Their priority was to make the credit more refundable so more of the lowest-income families can qualify. Nearly 19 million kids won’t receive the full $2,000 benefit this year because their parents earn too little, according to a Tax Policy Center estimate.

New cannabis banking rules: Lawmakers considered including a provision in the spending bill that would make it easier for licensed cannabis businesses to accept credit cards – but it was left out of the legislation. Known as the Safe Banking Act, which previously passed the House, the provision would prohibit federal regulators from taking punitive measures against banks for providing services to legitimate cannabis businesses.

Even though 47 states have legalized some form of marijuana, cannabis remains illegal on the federal level. That means financial institutions providing banking services to cannabis businesses are subject to criminal prosecution – leaving many legal growers and sellers locked out of the banking system.

Covid-19 response: Lawmakers did not include a White House request for an additional $10 billion in funding for Covid-19, which would have been aimed at continued access to and development of vaccines and therapeutics, among other things. Earlier in the year, the Biden administration unsuccessfully pushed for $22.5 billion in extra funds.

FBI headquarters: There was also no final resolution on where the new FBI headquarters will be located, a major point of contention as lawmakers from Maryland – namely House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer – pushed to bring the law enforcement agency into their state. In a deal worked through by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the General Services Administration would be required to conduct “separate and detailed consultations” with Maryland and Virginia representatives about potential sites in each of the states, according to a Senate Democratic aide.

Afghan Adjustment Act: Also not included in the spending bill was the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would have helped Afghan allies who run the risk of deportation from the US. It would have given those evacuees a pathway to lawful permanent residency before their temporary status, known as humanitarian parole, expires in 2023. Many congressional Republicans raised concerns about vetting and other issues, but the legislation’s supporters, including former US military leaders, argued those worries have been addressed.

Legislation to extend and expand Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans who worked with the US during the war there and want to come to America is included in the spending bill.

Tami Luhby Katie Lobosco
Tami Luhby
Katie Lobosco

Lawsuit may block Biden's power play on cancelling student loan debt

Plenty of people aren’t thrilled with President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation bonanza, a group that likely includes the majority of Americans who don't have a college degree or who have dutifully paid off their loans.

Yet, unlike other recent challenges to the Biden administration’s executive overreach during the pandemic, it was not clear who had legal standing to sue over the president’s unilateral action.

Until now.

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday with the intent of putting a stop to the loan cancellation plan. In addition, the group has filed for a temporary restraining order. It's the first legal challenge to the administration's executive action.

Loan forgiveness hurts some taxpayers

While most taxpayers don’t have standing to sue the government if they’re displeased with policies or spending, the Pacific Legal Foundation identified a group of taxpayers who will be unfairly hurt by loan forgiveness. Plus, the firm believes that Biden's executive order is a huge “unlawful” overreach that will cost taxpayers hundreds of billions.

“The whole idea that an administrative agency can just say we are going to enact this kind of what they call transformational policy without any oversight whatsoever is ludicrous,” Caleb Kruckenberg, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, told me.

After much wavering and delays, Biden in late August announced his plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt per person, affecting more than 40 million Americans. He also decided to extend a repayment pause until the end of the year – conveniently ending after the midterm elections.

The administration’s justification for such unprecedented action is the HEROES Act, which allows for the modification of loans during war or a national emergency. Thanks to Biden, we’re still in national and public health emergencies over COVID-19.

More from Ingrid Jacques:Teachers unions may love Biden’s attack on charter schools, but parents won't be happy

The plaintiff in the case is Frank Garrison, a public interest attorney (who is now employed by PLF). Garrison lives in Indiana, one of at least six states that tax this kind of debt cancellation as income. He’s already part of the congressionally approved Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and would have had his debt forgiven after 10 years of payments – without any additional tax burden. He’s already six years into payments, and those payments are capped based on his income.

Since he’s a Pell Grant recipient, Garrison is eligible for $20,000 in loan forgiveness. Taking that amount off his principal, however, changes nothing for him except for giving him an immediate tax bill of more than $1,000, Kruckenberg said.

So the “forgiveness” will actually cost Garrison money and the action will be automatic – as soon as October – because of his participation in the public service program.

More:Biden's student loan forgiveness is costly for taxpayers and bad for higher education

“Congress did not authorize the executive branch to unilaterally cancel student debt,” Kruckenberg said in a statement. “It’s flagrantly illegal for the executive branch to create a $500 billion program by press release, and without statutory authority or even the basic notice and comment procedure for new regulations.”

Hundreds of thousands of other borrowers will find themselves in similar situations. Other impacted states include Wisconsin, North Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota, California and Arkansas.

Estimated cost to taxpayers skyrockets

This week, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the “forgiveness” for up to $20,000 of debt per borrower at $420 billion over three decades – much higher than was initially predicted. And those costs balloon even more when factoring in the Biden administration’s income-driven repayment policy.

More:If pandemic is truly 'over,' Biden should follow through and end national 'emergency'

“This is why the Framers designed the Constitution as they did,” the Pacific Legal Foundation states in a press release. “The separation of powers ensures that no department of government can make unilateral decisions, and that laws come from the body that represents the people: Congress. Even when Congress does the wrong thing, the lawmaking process ensures that the people’s voices are heard. Ramming expensive and divisive programs down the throats of Americans through executive fiat is never a good idea.”

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

A record 35 million-plus Americans have Obamacare coverage ...

CNN —

More Americans than ever before have health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which is helping send the nation’s uninsured rate to near record lows, the Biden administration announced Friday.

Fueled by Covid-19 relief measures and renewed federal investment, enrollment in Obamacare plans, Medicaid expansion and Basic Health Plan policies has soared to an estimated 35.8 million as of early 2022, up from 27.1 million in 2020, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

This includes an estimated 13.6 million people enrolled in policies purchased on the Obamacare exchanges and more than 21 million people in Medicaid expansion coverage, including 16.8 million who were not eligible prior to the landmark health reform law.

Meanwhile, the uninsured rate fell to 8.8% in the fourth quarter of last year, down from 10.3% in the same period of 2020, according to new federal National Health Interview Survey data. That represents about 4.9 million people obtaining coverage.

“With a record-breaking total of over 35 million people who now have health coverage, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, America’s uninsured rate is nearing an all-time low,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

However, these gains could start melting away as early as this summer if the nation’s public health emergency is not renewed again. That will allow states to resume disenrolling Medicaid beneficiaries who no longer qualify for coverage, a practice that was halted during the pandemic.

Also, the enhanced federal subsidies for Obamacare policies, which have drawn more Americans to the exchanges, are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.

Growing interest

Even before President Joe Biden took office in 2021, more Americans were signing up for Affordable Care Act coverage as the Covid-19 pandemic put an increased emphasis on access to health care.

Biden then launched a six-month special enrollment period early last year, which allowed people to take advantage of the more generous federal subsidies created by the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Some 2.8 million people enrolled in Obamacare plans during the period.

The administration also extended the open enrollment period for 2022 coverage by a month and poured funding into marketing, outreach and assistance in picking policies. A record 14.5 million people selected plans, though not all ended up actually enrolling.

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched a special enrollment period for lower-income Americans, most of whom can select plans with no premiums.

In addition, Medicaid enrollment has swelled over the past two years in large part because states have not been allowed to remove anyone involuntarily from coverage during the pandemic in exchange for a more generous federal Medicaid match, under a coronavirus relief package Congress passed in 2020.

Gains at risk

The historic increase in Affordable Care Act and Medicaid coverage may be short lived, however.

Unless Congress acts, the enhanced subsidies will not be available for 2023 policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. The Democrats’ plan to extend the provision as part of their Build Back Better spending package was thwarted last year when Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he would not support it.

Also, up to 14.4 million people could lose Medicaid coverage if the public health emergency expires after the second quarter of this year, according to the Urban Institute.

The public health emergency currently runs through mid-July. The Biden administration has said it will give states 60 days’ notice of the emergency’s end so they can ramp up their preparations to review residents’ Medicaid eligibility.