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Biden Announces Order For 200 Million More Doses Of Vaccine; Democrats May Use Maneuver To Pass $1.9 Trillion Relief Bill Without GOP; Navalny Supporters Call For Major Protests Across Russia Next Week. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired January 27, 2021 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[05:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And we believe that we'll soon be able to confirm the purchase of an additional 100 billion [million] doses for each of the two FDA-authorized vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna. That's 100 million more doses of Pfizer and 100 million more doses of Moderna. Two hundred million more doses than the federal government had previously secured -- not in hand yet but ordered -- to a nation waiting for action.

Let me be clearest on this point. Help is on the way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Now, those additional doses would bring the total from those companies up to 600 million. That's enough to vaccinate the entire country by the end of the summer or early fall.

Six weeks into the vaccination program, however, half of the available doses have been used but only one percent of the U.S. population has received both of their needed shots.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: In effect, Mr. Biden has taken a big risk here, essentially starting a countdown on a return to some sense of normal even though the infrastructure to actually deliver and administer the vaccines has been spotty.

The need is immediate. Tuesday was one of the deadliest reported days of the pandemic -- 3,990 lives lost -- but new cases and hospitalizations are trending down.

The White House also says states will get a forecast of how much vaccine to expect. That starts with a jump of about 16 percent next week for at least three weeks. Governors across the country are encouraged but cautious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JARED POLIS (D), COLORADO: It's going to take an awfully long time at these levels to end the pandemic. So -- but this is important because we can protect our most vulnerable seniors.

GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON (R), ARKANSAS: A 17 percent increase will allow us to get more vaccinations into the arms of our Kansans. There's no doubt in my mind that we've got a team that can get that done.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D), MICHIGAN: We want more vaccines. What we need the most though is predictability and communication and transparency.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, CUOMO PRIME TIME: Sixteen percent is not enough, fair point?

WHITMER: It's not enough. But you know what, it is welcome information and change in trajectory and I think that's what we're craving the most.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: We've been going week-to-week and you really can't plan and schedule when you don't know what you're going to get next week. You can't do it in any orderly way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Right now, only two vaccines have emergency authorization in the U.S. -- Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines -- but with others in development, 1.2 billion vaccine doses have now been purchased. That's enough to vaccinate the country twice.

A new survey published overnight finds almost half of Americans are eager to get vaccinated now. That's up from just 34 percent just a month ago.

ROMANS: And President Biden is projecting a sense of urgency now to pass his $1.9 trillion rescue package. And now for the first time, there are clear signs Democrats are preparing to get the bill passed alone. Publicly, the Biden administration is looking for Republican support but Democratic House and Senate leaders are laying the groundwork for a budget maneuver as early as next week to get this bill passed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): The work must move forward, preferably with our Republican colleagues, but without them, if we must.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Bills can be passed with a simple majority using a process known as reconciliation. But that also means keeping every single Democrat on board, assuming no Republicans join them.

JARRETT: A key vote in the Senate shows GOP lawmakers are still lined up behind former President Trump, even after he helped inspire a riot that put all of them in mortal danger. The vote comes as the group Just Security compiled video clips posted on right-wing social media sites. The footage shows supporters reacting in real time to then- President Trump's words on January sixth. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, THEN-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to walk down to the Capitol.

(INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Invade the Capitol building.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take the Capitol.

U.S. CAPITOL INSURRECTIONISTS: Take the Capitol. Take the Capitol. Take the Capitol, Take the Capitol right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Remarkable. That video now being considered by impeachment managers to use at trial. Sources tell CNN they are looking for a visceral way to present their case.

But for a moment, the impeachment drama was being overshadowed by a late-night health scare for the senator overseeing the proceedings. CNN's Ryan Nobles has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, Laura and Christine. No doubt there were a lot of people on Capitol Hill a little nervous after we learned that Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont was sent to the hospital after meeting with the attending physician of the Capitol when he wasn't feeling well. The doctor at the Capitol sending him there out of an abundance of caution.

He wasn't there very long. They ran a battery of tests and declared him healthy, and he is now resting comfortably at home. His wife telling his fellow senators that she thinks he's going to be OK -- and she is a nurse.

[05:35:01]

Of course, Leahy's health would be important at any period of time but it's especially important because of his role in the Senate impeachment trial. He is serving as the presiding judge in his role as president pro tem.

And we learned a lot about what senators are thinking about this impeachment trial after Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote on whether or not the impeachment trial is even constitutional. Paul making the argument that because President Trump is already out of office that the impeachment trial was not constitutional.

Now, that point of order was tabled. It did not move forward. Five Republicans even joined Democrats to table the motion. But what it shows us is that there is likely not the will in the

Republican caucus to convict President Trump. It would require 17 Republicans to cross party lines and vote with the Democrats in order to make that happen.

Rand Paul made it clear he thinks it means that President Trump will not be convicted. In fact, he called impeachment dead on arrival after that vote -- Laura and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, Ryan. Thank you so much for that.

President Biden is set to press pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land today. The move allows the new administration time to develop a longer-term plan while giving a nod to the president's campaign pledge to end offshore drilling.

It's also part of a series of ambitious moves on the climate. That includes elevating the climate crisis as a national security issue and rolling back dozens of breaks given to coal, oil, and gas companies in the Trump era.

Much more is planned so keep an eye on Sen. Joe Manchin. The moderate Democrat from West Virginia holds the key to any broader plan in Congress. About 20,000 West Virginians depend on the fossil fuel industry for their livelihoods.

JARRETT: The Biden administration's 100-day pause on deportations put on hold now by a Trump-appointed federal judge. The setback may be temporary but it demonstrates the limits of executive actions.

Tuesday's ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the attorney general of Texas. The complaint cited an agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the state of Texas that was signed in the final days of Trump's presidency.

ROMANS: Tony Blinken sworn in as the next Secretary of State. The longtime Biden associate calling the appointment the honor of his life. He was approved by the Senate in a 78 to 22 vote.

President Biden now has several key members of his national security team in place with the Senate also confirming his new director of National Intelligence and his Defense secretary.

JARRETT: President Biden speaking with Vladimir Putin for the first time since taking office. According to the White House, he confronted the Russian president on issues including a recent cyberattack against the U.S. to the suspected poisoning of a top opposition leader.

Alexey Navalny's recent detention triggered massive protests across Russia forcing Putin to face resistance like he's never seen before.

Fred Pleitgen is live in Moscow this morning. Fred, there is no shortage, of course, of tension between the U.S. and Russia.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

JARRETT: But right now it seems Putin's biggest problems are domestic.

PLEITGEN: Well, they certainly are and it was really interesting to see the readouts, both from the Russian side and from the U.S. side after this call. It certainly seemed as though there's a whole different ballgame now with the Biden administration.

The Biden administration essentially said they're not looking for some sort of reset with Russia. They are going to confront Russia on those key issues of concern for the United States, but also willing to work together on other key issues. And really, achieving some pretty impressive results for this being their first phone call.

The two men decided to extend the New START nuclear treaty. And just minutes after that, Vladimir Putin immediately sent that to the Russian Parliament and the lower house of Russian Parliament has already ratified that. This was an area where the Trump administration did not manage to make any sort of headways in the last days of that administration.

But you're absolutely right, Laura. Vladimir Putin facing big backlash here around the handling of the case of Alexey Navalny. Of course, Navalny was detained the moment that he landed here in Russia, in Moscow. And there were big protests -- and especially the younger people at those protests last weekend. You know, they told us they believe that now is a key time for them to stand up and speak up.

Here's what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny gearing up for more protests after coming out last Saturday demanding his release from prison, confronted by scores of riot cops and a heavy-handed response.

Russia without Putin, some yelled. Clearly noticeable, the many younger people in the crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Generally, I'm happy about how things are going in Russia. And as well, I'm really -- I feel sad for us. I feel sorry for Navalny because he definitely does not deserve it.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Russian state media is trying to portray the protesters as radical, but especially the younger ones also as shallow and naive, brainwashed by content on social media.

But political science student and TikToker Mikhail Petrov says their grievances are real.

MIKHAIL PETROV, STUDENT, TIKTOKER: They don't want to be under Putin's regime anymore because they've been living under this regime their whole life and they want something better.

[05:40:06]

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Alexey Navalny called for the protests after being detained as he returned to Moscow after five months recovering from poisoning by the chemical nerve agent Novichok.

Navalny's group also released an investigation into Vladimir Putin's alleged wealth, calling it quote "Putin's Palace." In a sign that the claims made in the investigation and the nationwide protest are becoming a problem for the Russian leader, Putin, who won't even mention Navalny by name, used an event with handpicked youths to publicly deny and try to mock the allegations.

It's boring girls, Putin said, but the joke might be on Putin himself. Social media already ridiculing his alleged extravagant taste like this rap video taking aim at an Aqua Disco that Navalny's investigation claims is installed inside the palace.

However, the anger many Russians feel over alleged government repression and corruption are very serious, the head of Navalny's organization in Russia tells me.

IVAN ZHDANOV, DIRECTOR, ANTI-CORRUPTION FOUNDATION (Pleitgen translating): At these rallies, people came out to support Alexey Navalny, he says. But there are so many problems and grievances in their minds -- a lot of anger that's been building up.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): And Alexey Navalny's group doesn't plan to stop. They've called for the next major protest across much of Russia for this weekend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And just to give you an idea of how emboldened Alexey Navalny's group feels that it is right now, those next protests that are set to happen next Sunday -- well, those are set to happen -- the main ones here in Moscow right near Russia's intelligence service, the FSB, which is, of course, a service -- intelligence service that Alexey Navalny says poisoned him and why he had to get that treatment in Germany for several months, Laura.

JARRETT: A notable choice there. All right, great reporting, as usual, Fred. Thanks.

ROMANS: All right, 41 minutes past the hour.

It's earnings season. A record quarter for Microsoft in the COVID-era of work-from-home/learn-from-home. Videogames and demand for cloud services launched sales up 17 percent. Sales from cloud computing service Azure jumped 50 percent from the previous quarter. Cloud services, essential tools for businesses with employees working from home.

Surge in demand, too, for videogames. Retailers are having a hard time keeping the new Xbox consoles in stock. And Microsoft had to ask chipmaker AMD for help making more.

Strong sales of the Microsoft Surface laptops as well, as working from home drags on now.

Tech companies have been some of the biggest winners during the pandemic. Apple, Facebook, and Tesla all reporting earnings later today.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:46:48]

ROMANS: All right, add one more health crisis tied to the pandemic and this one affects children. New data from the CDC shows childhood obesity now at an all-time high affecting about one in five children in the U.S.

Experts say youngsters stuck at home doing virtual learning without healthy school meals, recess, or gym classes -- they have been taking in more calories than they are burning. And scientists warn that the kids are likely to carry extra weight into adulthood, putting them at higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other complications.

JARRETT: So many secondary effects of this pandemic.

All right. Ponytails, buzz cuts, earrings, lipstick, and nail polish -- these are all now allowed for women in the U.S. Army. It's part of a push, the Army says, to be more inclusive. An Army spokesman says the news rules allowing buzz cuts -- well, it makes it easier for women to move during combat training and helps them more freely express culture preferences and gender identity.

The changes are expected to be formally announced next month.

ROMANS: Flash flooding and blizzard conditions today for parts of California. That system will work its way east making for a few ugly days across the country.

Here is meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST (on camera): Christine and Laura -- good morning, guys.

We've got a lot of weather to tell you about from the western U.S. towards parts of the southeast where some severe weather is possible and even some light snow showers around portions of the northeast.

But notice the western U.S. Parts of almost every single state here dealing with winter weather alerts, cold weather alerts, high wind alerts. And even blizzard conditions, in large part, thanks to an atmospheric river pattern that's really directing an incredible amount of moisture into this region.

You could see as much as three-plus feet of snowfall across the High Sierra. Six to eight inches of rainfall into portions of northern and central California. That includes the Monterey County area and also into the Santa Cruz Mountains where the most rainfall could be observed.

And, of course, after four million acres of land were consumed here in the wildfire season, the concern here is for mudslides and flash flooding with the burn scars in place.

Now, notice this out over portions of the Midwest on into areas of the southeast. Even a shot of snow showers here into the North Carolina region. The Appalachians could get some snow out of this. St. Louis, some light snow showers into the morning hours.

Speaking of light and scattered snow, you'll find that around parts of northern New England and into the northeast as well.

Look at this. New York City's forecast, a big-time cooling trend. Highs only 23 degrees there come Friday afternoon. When it does warm up, moisture is introduced. Even a shot of showers possibly -- snow showers, that is, by early next week -- guys.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Pedram, thank you for that.

A titan of print journalism announcing his retirement. "Washington Post" executive editor Marty Baron is stepping down. Since 2013, Baron has transformed the "Post" into an international powerhouse. He led the paper to 10 Pulitzer Prizes, all while navigating a tricky business model, political attacks from President Trump, and international crises.

Before the "Post," Baron spent 12 years running "The Boston Globe," where he oversaw that legendary expose of serial sex abuse by priests -- a story that was portrayed in the 2015 film "Spotlight."

Baron's last day will be February 28th.

ROMANS: All right, let's take a look at markets around the world this Wednesday morning. You can see Asian shares closed, narrowly mixed. And Europe has opened lower, leaning down a bit here.

On Wall Street, futures essentially mixed here. Holding pattern is what I would say for stocks here ahead of earnings season and waiting for stimulus.

[05:50:05]

That's what happened yesterday, too. The Dow closed -- barely moved yesterday, down 22 points. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also finished lower after record highs on Monday.

Today, investors wait for the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates. The Fed chief Jerome Powell will likely underscore the need to keep rates low while the economy recovers. Rosalind Brewer will be the next CEO of Walgreens, making her the only black woman currently slated to take charge of a Fortune 500 company. Brewer currently the chief operating officer at Starbucks. Before that, she was the president and CEO of Sam's Club where she was both the first woman and first African-American to lead a Walmart division. Brewer begins in mid-March.

All right, craziest business story out there. An Internet trading mob is driving GameStop shares higher, it appears to spite short sellers.

Look at the stock. It's up more than 680 percent so far this year, a spike led by investors cheerleading the stock on Twitter and a WallStreetBets Reddit chatroom. Those traders have essentially declared war on GameStop short sellers. Those are investors who have placed bets that the stock will fall. The more GameStop climbs, the more money the short sellers lose and the more excited the mob gets.

GameStop is expected to lose money this year and next year. Sales have been slow as fewer gamers go to stores and download games directly to their devices.

And Elon Musk weighs in yesterday, too. So just a fascinating business story out there. No one saw that one coming.

JARRETT: Crazy.

All right, a swing and a miss for the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2021. Andy Scholes has this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Laura.

So for the first time since 2013, the Baseball Writers' Association of America deciding not to select anyone for this year's Hall of Fame class. There were 25 guys on the ballot this time around but when all the votes were counted, no one had the 75 percent is what you needed to get in.

Former pitcher Curt Schilling -- he came the closest. He finished just 16 ballots short of induction. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens receiving about the same support as last year, appearing on 61 percent of the ballots. Schilling, Bonds, and Clemens will be entering their final year of eligibility next winter.

But Schilling says he wants no part of next year's process, posting to Facebook, "I will not participate in the final year of voting. I am requesting to be removed from the ballot. I'll defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player."

Schilling -- he's come under fire for his political views in recent years. The six-time All-Star was fired from ESPN after making anti- Muslim and anti-transgender remarks. Schilling also tweeted his support for the deadly riot at the Capitol on January sixth.

All right, in the meantime, the Atlanta Braves hosting a memorial service for slugger Hank Aaron who passed away on Friday at the age of 86 years old. Commissioner Rob Manfred saying Hammering Hank -- he belonged on baseball's -- or he does belong on baseball's Mount Rushmore.

And then Braves manager Brian Snitker choking back tears as he remembered his friend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN SNITKER, MANAGER, ATLANTA BRAVES: I'll miss the times he used to stop by. He'd come in my office and we'd just sit and talk. I'll miss the friend and the mentor that I had in my life. Hank, your legacy, both on and off the field, will live forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. So, funeral services for Hank Aaron will be held this afternoon in Atlanta.

All right, the Washington football team announcing that they have hired Jennifer King as the league's first full-time African-American female assistant coach. King was coaching -- a coaching intern this past season. She's now going to serve as the assistant running back's coach.

Head coach Ron Rivera praising King's work in a statement, saying "The sky is the limit for King."

All right, finally, just a devastating day for the NBA world as longtime reporter Sekou Smith passed away. Sekou covered the NBA for more than two decades working on NBA T.V. and writing for nba.com since 2009.

Tributes just pouring in from across the league from Commissioner Adam Silver to Chris Paul, to Dwyane Wade.

Turner Sports releasing a statement saying "We are all heartbroken over Sekou's tragic passing. His commitment to journalism and the basketball community was immense and we will miss his warm, engaging personality."

Sekou is survived by his wife Heather and their three children. He was 48 years old.

ROMANS: Young -- too soon.

SCHOLES: It's just devastating, Christine. You know, a lot of our colleagues over there at Turner Sports and NBA T.V., I know they're just heartbroken over this. Sekou, he was a guy that, you know, you came across him and he always had a smile and everyone loved him.

[05:55:07]

ROMANS: Just tough news for everyone, especially in your business, Andy. Thank you so much.

SCHOLES: Yes. ROMANS: And we -- obviously, we wish his family peace and comfort as they move forward from here.

Fifty-five minutes past the hour. Thanks for joining us this Wednesday morning. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Expect these additional 200 million doses to be delivered this summer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fact that there is a plan to ramp up gives me great peace, and we're feeling better about where we are headed.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: If this variant takes off here in North America, I worry that the next six to 14 weeks could be the darkest of the pandemic.