Scientists believe a fast-moving COVID-19 mutation is fueling the crippling crisis in India. Neighboring countries are now bracing for the variant’s potential spread. Abhijit Banerjee, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, joins CBSN’s Lana Zak with his analysis. Source

Frontrunners Andrew Yang and Eric Adams found themselves taking the most heat, although Adams got his own digs in. Source

On Thursday, the CDC said fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks or social distance while indoors in most cases. President Biden applauded the decision, saying “it’s a good day for the country.” CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes discusses what prompted the CDC to issue the new guidance. Source

CDC says fully vaccinated people can go maskless in most places; Swim lessons change lives of people with special needs Source

Colonial Pipeline restarts; CDC eases mask rules for vaccinated people; Blinken “deeply concerned” about Israel-Gaza violence Source

After four nights of intense air raids, the Israeli military said Thursday that it is attacking the Gaza Strip. Imtiaz Tyab reports. Source

Thousands of adolescents stood on line for their first shot Thursday, according to CBS News’ Mola Lenghi. Dr. Taison Bell, a critical care and infectious disease physician and the medical ICU director at the University of Virginia, joins CBSN’s Lana Zak to discuss the latest guidance. Source

The officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright is scheduled to appear in court next week. Legal experts are suggesting reducing reliance on police to enforce traffic violations to prevent more deaths like Wright’s. Columbia Law School professor Sarah Seo joined CBSN’s Lana Zak to discuss. Source

Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent the top official on Israeli-Palestinian affairs to the Middle East on Wednesday. It comes as both sides continue to ramp up violent rocket attacks against each other. Both Blinken and President Biden reiterated that Israel does have a right to defend itself. CBS News intelligence and national security reporter Olivia Gazis joined “Red and Blue” to discuss the latest. Source

A growing number of Republican-led states are ending increased unemployment benefits. Sarah Chaney Cambon, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, joins Elaine Quijano on “Red and Blue” to discuss jobs and the state of the U.S. economy. Source