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President Joe Biden acknowledged Wednesday that the country could have been better prepared as widespread shortages of at-home testing kits continue to hinder efforts to combat Covid-19.Asked in a rare one-to-one interview with ABC News’ David Muir if the testing situation was “good enough,” Biden replied that “No, nothing’s been good enough.” (Thompson, 12/22)

President Biden promised Americans he is making 500 million coronavirus tests available free of charge, but help is at least weeks away — if not longer — for anxious Americans facing a surge of new virus cases. Mr. Biden’s administration has not yet signed a contract to buy the tests, and the website to order them will not be up until January. Officials have not said how many tests people will be able to order or how quickly they will be shipped once they begin to be available next month. Manufacturers say they are already producing tests as fast as they can. (Shear and Stolberg, 12/22)

The White House announced Wednesday that it was ramping up purchases of Covid treatments, as federal health officials tried to reassure Americans that it was safe to travel during the holiday season — so long as they are vaccinated and avoid large gatherings. ... Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said the administration would double its existing supply — to more than one million doses — of sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment made by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology that is expected to work for Omicron cases. The drug, aimed at preventing high-risk Covid patients from developing severe disease, has been in very limited supply. (Stolberg, Jewett and Robbins, 12/23)

Since March, the first lady has been the administration’s leading ambassador promoting the vaccine — taking her difficult pitch not only to major cities, but also some of the most conservative and Biden-hostile places in the country. And her appeals have become more and more urgent. (Yuan, 12/22)

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday following separate incidents in which they were had close contact with aides who later tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said. The incidents underscore how troublesome the pandemic is becoming inside the White House. (Superville, 12/23)

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, he said in a statement. Clyburn, D-S.C., said he is asymptomatic. He said that he is fully vaccinated and that he had a booster shot in September. Clyburn was with President Joe Biden on Friday when Biden traveled to South Carolina to speak to graduates of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, Clyburn's alma mater. (Satlin, 12/22)

President Biden on Wednesday said he would run for reelection in 2024 if he’s “in good health,” adding that he was eager to possibly face Donald Trump.The president, confirming his past comment that he would seek four more years in the White House, said during an interview with “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir that he would run again if his health did not deteriorate. Asked whether he would run against Trump if the former president was the Republican nominee, Biden chuckled and said he would. “Why would I not run against Donald Trump as the nominee?” Biden said. “That would increase the prospect of running.” (Kornfield, 12/22)

KHN: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Manchin Blows Up Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ 

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) dashed the hopes of President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats for passage of the giant “Build Back Better” bill before the end of the year, when he announced his opposition to the measure in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” Democrats still hope to salvage at least some pieces of the bill, but the effort will drag into the 2022 midterm election year. (12/22)