Just a few months ago, it seemed like the U.S. was on a path to put COVID-19 behind us.

We've gone from pain and stagnation of a long dark winter to an economy on the move

growing faster than it has in nearly 40 years.

From anemic job creation, and the months before I took office, to the fastest job creation

in the first three months of any administration in American history, and rising wages.

But since then, the Delta variant has caused spikes in cases across the country.

And that reality means the White House is now facing myriad challenges.

The Biden administration has celebrated the chance for vaccinated people to remove their

masks.

They've championed the vaccine uptake rates, and they've touted the rapid economic recovery.

But a record level of consumers are seeing the job market as improving.

So the, in fact, the share of consumers that say that jobs are plentiful and the economy

is now at a 21-year high.

So again, consistent with a strong recovery labor market here.

We saw both the congressional...

But now, the Delta variant is threatening to put each of those things in jeopardy.

And the White House is debating how to respond to meet the challenges ahead.

Will they change their approach to masking?

But steps can they take to combat vaccine disinformation and get more of a country vaccinated,

and is the economy at risk of another meltdown?

This is Ken, he do that, a podcast that explores the powers and limitations of American government

in a time of deep division.

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