Sunday shows - Biden agenda, Trump impeachment trial dominate

President Biden's agenda in his first days in office and the Senate impeachment trial of former President TrumpDonald TrumpJulian Castro knocks Biden administration over refugee policy Overnight Energy & Environment — League of Conservation Voters — Climate summit chief says US needs to 'show progress' on environment Five takeaways from Arizona's audit results MORE dominated the political interview shows Sunday morning. 

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersDon't let partisan politics impede Texas' economic recovery The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Alibaba - Democrats argue price before policy amid scramble Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by the League of Conservation Voters — EPA finalizing rule cutting HFCs MORE (I-Vt.) discussed the possibility of using budget reconciliation to pass parts of Biden's agenda, while two of the president's nominees weighed in on the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Multiple guests also discussed whether a Senate impeachment trial of a former president is constitutional. 

Read The Hill's complete coverage below. 

Sanders: Senate may use budget reconciliation to pass Biden agenda By JOHN BOWDEN   Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the incoming Budget Committee chair, said on Sunday that Senate Democrats would use a tactic known as budget reconciliation to pass parts of President Biden's agenda if Republicans refuse to support Biden's plans. "Now as you know, reconciliation, which is a Senate rule, was used by the Republicans under Trump to pass massive tax breaks for the rich and corporations, it was used as an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and what we're saying is, 'You used for that, that's fine. We are going to use reconciliation...you did it, we're going to do it to protect ordinary people, not the rich and the powerful,' " he said. Read the full story here

HHS nominee: Country is in a COVID-19 'nosedive' By JOHN BOWDEN   "The plane in a nosedive. And we've got to pull it up," Xavier BecerraXavier BecerraBipartisan senators to hold hearing on 'toxic conservatorships' amid Britney Spears controversy Bottom line Overnight Health Care — FDA panel backs boosters for some, but not all MORE told CNN's Dana BashDana BashManchin suggests pausing talks on .5 trillion package until 2022: report House is no easy road for Biden, Democrats on .5T package Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by Climate Power — Manchin: key energy provision of spending package 'makes no sense' MORE. "And you're not going to do that overnight. But we're going to pull it up. We have to pull it up. Failure is not an option." Read the full story here

Getting to herd immunity before next school year 'an ambitious goal,' says surgeon general nominee By JOSEPH CHOI   Vivek MurthyVivek MurthyCDC director partially overrules panel, signs off on boosters CDC panel authorizes COVID-19 vaccine boosters for high-risk people, those over 65 FDA authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot for older and high-risk Americans MORE, President Biden’s nominee for surgeon general, said on Sunday that achieving herd immunity was an “ambitious goal,” while stressing that vaccine distribution should be the main focus. Read the full story here

Birx says she 'always' considered quitting Trump COVID-19 task force By ZACK BUDRYK   “Colleagues of mine that I had known for decades... decades in that one experience, because I was in the White House, decided that I had become this political person, even though they had known me forever,” Deborah BirxDeborah BirxFauci and Birx warned Scott Atlas was 'dangerous' Ex-Biden adviser says Birx told him she hoped election turned out 'a certain way' Tulane adds Hunter Biden as guest speaker on media polarization MORE told CBS host Margaret Brennan. Read the full story here

Birx on COVID deniers inside White House: 'There were people who definitely believed that this was a hoax' By ZACK BUDRYK   Former White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx said in an interview aired Sunday that there were “definitely” people within the White House who believed the virus to be a hoax. Read the full story here

Fauci: 'We have to assume now' that British virus strain can 'cause more damage' By ZACK BUDRYK   Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care — Presented by Indivior — CDC panel approves boosters for some, but not based on jobs Fauci: 'Worst time' for a government shutdown is in middle of pandemic The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Alibaba - Government shutdown fears increase as leaders dig in MORE, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said recent data reported by the British government suggest a new, more virulent strain of the coronavirus is also more deadly, but said U.S. officials needed to examine the numbers themselves. Read the full story here

Romney noncommittal on impeachment vote but says trial is likely constitutional By ZACK BUDRYK   “There’s no question that the article of impeachment that was sent over by the House describes impeachable conduct, but we have not yet heard either from the prosecution or the defense,” said Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyGraham tries to help Trump and McConnell bury the hatchet GOP senator will 'probably' vote for debt limit increase Five questions and answers about the debt ceiling fight MORE (R-Utah), the only Republican to vote to convict Trump in early 2020. “I’ll get a chance to hear from them, and I’ll do my best as a Senate juror to apply justice as well as I can understand it.” Read the full story here

Klobuchar says Senate impeachment trial of former official is constitutional: 'We have precedent' By JOSEPH CHOI   Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley — Presented by Xerox — Officials want action on cyberattacks Senate panel advances antitrust bill that eyes Google, Facebook This week: Democrats face mounting headaches MORE (D-Minn.) on Sunday defended the Senate impeachment trial of former President Trump, saying it is constitutional and dismissing arguments of her Republican colleagues. Read the full story here

Rubio: Trump impeachment trial is 'stupid' By ZACK BUDRYK    Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioThe Memo: Biden's immigration problems reach crescendo in Del Rio Democrats face bleak outlook in Florida The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Dems attempt to tie government funding, Ida relief to debt limit MORE (R-Fla.) said Sunday that he would vote to dismiss the article of impeachment against former President Trump at the earliest opportunity, calling the upcoming Senate trial detrimental to national unity. Read the full story here

GOP senator: Impeachment a 'moot point' after Trump's exit By JOHN BOWDEN   Sen. Mike RoundsMike RoundsSenate advances Biden consumer bureau pick after panel logjam The 19 GOP senators who voted for the T infrastructure bill Senate passes T bipartisan infrastructure bill in major victory for Biden MORE (R-S.D.) told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he believed the Constitution only allowed for current presidents to be impeached by Congress, thereby rendering the discussion about whether Trump had committed an impeachable offense with his incitement of the violent mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 a "moot point." Read the full story here

Durbin: Senate should consider changes to filibuster By JOHN BOWDEN   A senior Democratic senator indicated Sunday that he believed his party should consider scrapping the Senate's filibuster rule if Republicans prove unwilling to compromise on legislation pursued by the Biden administration. Read the full story here