BROADCASTS.com

There\u2019s still a lot we don\u2019t know about the Omicron variant: It could be like Delta and current vaccines will offer robust protection. But there\u2019s also a chance that Omicron could be vaccine resistant, so vaccine makers are readying a booster to protect against the new variant, just in case.\nThat could be the future: a new variant, followed by a new vaccine booster to defend against it, followed by a new variant\u2026 Rinse. Repeat. It\u2019s what we do to fight the annual flu. But it all takes time, and a new coronavirus variant can spread rapidly and kill a lot of people during the process.\nAnd, ahead of President Joe Biden\u2019s highly anticipated video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sources tell NYT\u2019s David Sanger and Eric Schmitt that the president is \u201cexpected to encourage diplomatic de-escalation over the conflict in Ukraine,\u201d and warn Putin that \u201cif he orders the Russian forces poised at the border to invade Ukraine, Western allies may move to cut Russia off from the international financial system and seek direct sanctions on Mr. Putin\u2019s closest associates.\u201d How BIden handles this meeting could mean the difference between a free and independent Ukraine and one overrun by Russian troops. No pressure.\xa0\nRaghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook.Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.