Sunday shows preview: Officials, experts respond to omicron; Biden administration raises alarms about Russia, China

This week’s Sunday show circuit is expected to be dominated by officials’ and experts’ responses to the continued spread of the omicron variant and the Biden administration’s warnings to Russia and China amid heightened tensions surrounding both countries.

The U.S. has detected the omicron variant in more than twenty states, with scientists still determining how severe the new strain is and how well coronavirus vaccines will combat it.

Infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, who is set to appear on ABC’s “This Week,” has said that the omicron variant appears to be less severe than the delta variant because early cases have so far been reported as relatively mild.

However, he added that “it’s too early to determine the precise severity of the disease.”

Fauci has also encouraged all adults to get booster shots and stated his belief that it is only a matter of time before the additional dose, and not just the initial two-shot regimen, is need for individuals to be considered fully vaccinated.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb predicted this week that 2022 will be a “transition year” for the pandemic despite concerns surrounding omicron. 

Gottlieb said he believes the coronavirus will “go from a pandemic into a more endemic phase,” although it could happen later in the year than he originally thought due to the omicron variant

Gottlieb is set to appear on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is scheduled to appear on both CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday” this week.

On Monday, de Blasio announced a vaccine mandate for the city’s private-sector employees. He called the mandate, which is set to take effect on Dec. 27, a “preemptive strike” meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid holiday gatherings and increasing detection of the omicron variant, which was first reported in New York on Dec. 2.

Along with confronting new developments in the pandemic, the Biden administration is also dealing with mounting tensions involving China and Russia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will be on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” is meeting with other world leaders in the Group of Seven this weekend, with Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine a top concern as reports say Moscow is amassing troops at the border between the two countries.

Earlier this week, President Biden reassured the president of Ukraine of the U.S.’s support for his country’s sovereignty on a call between the two leaders. 

William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, will be on ABC’s “This Week,” and Fiona Hill, former National Security Council senior director for European and Russian affairs, is set to appear on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

During President Biden’s “Summit for Democracy,” the Biden administration on Friday announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities described as carrying out human rights abuses and repression in countries including both Russia and China.

The White House has also recently announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, citing China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinxiang and other human rights abuses.”

Tensions between China and Taiwan have also recently continued to grow as China increases military pressure on the island, which claims its own sovereignty but which China sees as its territory. Blinken last week warned that a move by China to take Taiwan by force would have “terrible consequences.”

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will also make a Sunday show appearance this week, on FOX News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Future.”

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.); Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Govs. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.)., Phil Murphy (D-N.J.); Fiona Hill, former National Security Council senior director for European and Russian affairs; Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner; Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa; Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser of Allianz

CNN’s “State of the Union” — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D); Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

“Fox News Sunday” — de Blasio; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Republican Conference Chairman; Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State; Herschel Walker, Georgia Senate Candidate; Stephen Miller, Founder, America First Legal