Return to Transcripts main page

EARLY START

Eight Killed In Shootings At Three Atlanta Spas, Suspect In Custody; President Biden Supports Changing Senate Filibuster Rules; Top European Drug Regulator Vouches For AstraZeneca. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired March 17, 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]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody. It's 30 minutes past the hour on this Wednesday morning.

We have big breaking news from overnight. Police now have a suspect in custody after eight people were shot dead at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. Authorities have not offered a motive yet but at least six of these victims were Asian, according to the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" and that raises fears this could have been a hate crime, as these shootings come against the backdrop, of course, of a wider increase in violence against Asian-Americans nationwide.

We have a reporter there. CNN's Ryan Young is live this morning in Atlanta. Ryan, bring us up to speed about what authorities are saying about this. I know there is a suspect in custody.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. Look, they've been working on this case throughout the evening here. We were here last night as investigators were still combing the street looking for shell casings and talking to people who were in the area of the shooting.

Look, this is a very busy road here in Atlanta and that's one of the places where the shooting happened, at the Gold Spa across the street there. That's where at least three of the victims were shot and killed. There was another victim that was across the street.

Now, this all started in Cherokee County -- the shootings starting around 5:30. That's how police got that good video that they had of not only the suspect but the car they were looking for. That car, which sped away, which was eventually was found two hours away from Atlanta -- that's when the Georgia State Patrol was able to perform what's called a pit maneuver to knock that suspect off the road.

Now, we are told -- now, he's a 21-year-old man from Woodstock they were able to capture -- Robert Aaron Long of Woodstock -- last night. All of law enforcement in the metro Atlanta area was looking for the suspect, especially after those images were put out.

But this has been tough, especially for people who know this community well. They could not believe these shootings happened. In fact, take a listen to this one witness. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just heard numerous gunshots coming from across the street. I won't say any names but they are really nice girls. They just do great massages. They do great massages over here. So it's just unfortunate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously not in the right state of mind and definitely no heart. I mean, I don't know how you would go in there or what kind of motive would drive you to do such a thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Christine, I can't understate this enough, this is a busy street here in Atlanta. This was shut down for several hours. There were people who were very upset that the area around here was closed last night. People wondering what exactly happened.

Now, of course, we're not sure what time that suspect will have his first court appearance. We do know there will be a news conference today with several agencies throughout the Atlanta area. There's hope that maybe they've been able to have a chance to talk to that suspect to kind of figure out what his motive was.

I can tell you AAPI, the nation's leading group fighting anti-Asian hate and discrimination, called the deaths "an unspeakable tragedy" and that "this latest attack will only exacerbate the fear and pain that the Asian-American community continues to endure."

You can obviously understand people want to know exactly what his motive is, but the signs point to something very disgusting and that's something the detectives made clear that they were working to try to figure out exactly what happened.

Luckily, the suspect is now under arrest and hopefully, we'll have more information a little later this morning.

ROMANS: Just awful, just awful.

All right, Ryan Young. Thank you so much for that. Bring us more details when you get them.

YOUNG: Thank you.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right, to the latest now on the pandemic. Health experts pleading -- begging with Americans for continued vigilance, though trends across the country are mostly positive. Right now, 14 states in pockets across the country seeing an increase in cases since last week, but it's too early to tell if that's a real trend.

ROMANS: Deaths and hospitalizations are trending lower as vaccinations ramp up. And new vaccine research has a lot of people asking if kids could be vaccinated before school begins in September so parents can go back to work and businesses can reopen.

CNN has the pandemic, as we do every day, covered from coast-to-coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN REPORTER (on camera): I'm Jacqueline Howard in Atlanta.

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trial in children is officially underway. The phase 2-3 trial is being conducted here in the U.S. and Canada and the study will enroll about 6,750 children ages six months to 11 years old. The biotech company says the first children already have been vaccinated in the study.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Alexandra Field in New York.

More states are working to make more people eligible for vaccines. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announcing that starting on Friday, anyone age 40 and older will qualify for a vaccine. And he's announcing an even more ambitious goal for the end of the month, saying that starting on March 29th, anyone over the age of 16 will qualify for a vaccine.

This, as President Joe Biden has called on all states to make all adults eligible for vaccination by May first.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Randi Kaye in Palm Beach County, Florida.

[05:35:00]

Here, the South Florida Fairgrounds has been turned into a mass vaccination site. They are hoping to vaccinate about 500 people here today. They're expecting a big crowd because the governor has lowered the vaccination eligibility age to 60 and above.

This is one of more than 1,000 vaccination sites around the state. Already, the state of Florida has fully vaccinated more than 2.3 million people. The governor looking to even ramp those numbers up.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Stephanie Elam at The Waffle in Hollywood.

Here in Los Angeles County, restaurants are now allowed to have patrons inside with capacity up to 25 percent. That's the same limit for museums, as well as for movie theaters. As for gyms and dance studios and yoga studios, their limit for indoor capacity is at 10 percent.

But this, as we're seeing the test positivity rate of the last seven days for California and also for Los Angeles County is below two percent. So a sense of returning to normal a bit here in what was the hardest hit county in the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Thanks to our correspondents for those reports. So, President Biden's ambitious agenda faced a strong Republican opposition in Congress. Even with Democrats in control, the filibuster remains a roadblock. Remember, the filibuster means you need 60 votes to end debate and to get most things passed.

Now, President Biden embracing a change to the filibuster rule but he's not talking about getting rid of it.

CNN's Daniella Diaz is live on Capitol Hill with more. Daniella, a lot of progressives talk about ending the filibuster. What does the president say?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: That's right, Laura.

Well, the president had an interview with ABC News that aired yesterday -- some clips have aired -- and he said he is open to bringing back the talking filibuster, which would require a senator to hold the floor if he wants to or she wants to block legislation without taking a break.

Here's what he had to say in the interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think you have to eliminate the filibuster. You have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days when you used to be around there.

And that is that a filibuster -- you had to stand up and command the floor and you had to keep talking on. You couldn't call for, you know -- no one could say quorum call. Once you stopped talking you lost that and someone could move in and say I move the question of.

So you've got to work for the filibuster.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS ANCHOR, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA," "THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS": So you're for that reform? You're for bringing back the talking filibuster?

BIDEN: I am. That's what it was supposed to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAZ: So as you heard there he's for bringing back the talking filibuster. But he was not asked specifically about this 60-vote threshold that's needed in the Senate to be able to pass legislation -- break -- to break the filibuster. He was not specifically asked about that, which is a major issue in the Senate right now with Democrats.

And some Democrats want to see this gone. They want a simple majority to be able to approve legislation. But some Democrats, such as the usual suspects -- Virginia -- or West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema -- do not want to get rid of this rule that is required to be able to pass legislation, which means they need 60 senators to support legislation.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a warning. He said that it would be a completely scorched Senate earth if they remove this 60-vote threshold needed to pass legislation.

So this is a major issue in the Senate, which is why Joe Biden was asked about this issue. It continues to be, depending on how the Senate decides to handle this -- Laura.

JARRETT: Right. Daniella, thanks so much for your reporting, as usual.

ROMANS: All right.

The business world is abuzz with talk the White House laying the groundwork to raise corporate taxes. Remember, President Trump's signature legislative achievement was slashing corporate taxes from 35 percent to 21 percent. That fueled a wave of corporate buybacks and really pushed corporate profits through the roof.

Now, the Biden team is looking to help fund the next phase of its economic agenda by raising some revenue.

Now, corporate America says boosting the 21 percent tax rate would derail the recovery. They don't want to see a 25 or 28 percent tax rate.

But, Rick Rieder of BlackRock -- that's the world's largest asset manager -- he told my colleague Matt Egan yes, the economy can handle rolling back some of those Trump tax cuts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK RIEDER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF GLOBAL FIXED INCOME, BLACKROCK: Listen, do I think the economy can operate with higher than 21 percent, I think so. I think -- in fact, I think the benefit to companies at 21 percent is too high relative to their ability to buy back stock, et cetera. But I do think that could move a bit higher.

I do think income redistribution is a big deal for economy and I do think there's significant things that can be done around income redistribution.

So I think all of that is coming and I think the economy will do quite well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Rieder added that more tax revenue would be helpful just as Washington takes on trillions in debt to fight the pandemic.

And, Laura, it's interesting. I covered extensively those tax cuts in 2017.

JARRETT: Yes. ROMANS: They passed much like this rescue plan did here for the Democrats with --

JARRETT: (INAUDIBLE).

[05:40:00]

ROMANS: -- largely GOP support.

And at the time, companies were saying 35 percent income -- tax rate is just way too high. They wanted 25 percent. President Trump gave them 21 percent. In some cases, they got more money than they knew what to do with.

So now you're talking about nudging that rate up -- not back to 35, but taking back some of those Trump tax cuts. We'll see if it works.

JARRETT: Hard to take -- hard to take it away though once you have it, right --

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: -- as we always say.

All right. Free money and a popular relief bill still not good enough for some Republicans. Twenty-one GOP attorneys general want the Biden administration to clarify how to use a $350 billion pot of money set aside to help cash-strapped cities, counties, and states avoid layoffs.

Now, as part of the law, states are not allowed to use the money to pay for local tax cuts. But the Republican attorneys general say that would interfere with states' rights and are threatening now to take legal action.

ROMANS: All right.

President Biden making his strongest comments so far about his longtime friend and political ally, Andrew Cuomo. Two days ago, the president said he wanted to wait for results of an investigation into sexual harassment before he would comment on whether the New York governor should resign.

But now --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANOPOLOUS: If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?

BIDEN: Yes. I think he'd probably end up being prosecuted, too.

STEPHANOPOLOUS: But you would -- how about right now? You said you want the investigation to continue. You saw Chuck Schumer -- Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand -- the majority of the congressional delegation don't think he can be an effective governor right now. Can he serve effectively?

BIDEN: Well, that's a judgment for them to make about their state whether he can be effective.

Here's my position and it's been my position since I wrote the Violence Against Women Act. A woman should be presumed to telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward, number one. But there should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: The New York Attorney General's office met with Lindsey Boylan, Cuomo's first accuser, more than -- for more than three hours over the weekend. Another accuser, Charlotte Bennett, spoke with investigators on Monday.

Cuomo denies inappropriately touching any of these women and claims he never meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:46:28]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PETER OPENSHAW, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON: They haven't been asked to address the minor issue of what this is going to do to vaccine confidence or vaccine rollout, or whether it might cause thousands of people to die from COVID. And I think on the wider question, I think this abundance of caution is actually very dangerous, indeed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: That warning there coming from an adviser to the U.K. government. The AstraZeneca vaccine is now on hold across much of Europe because about 40 people out of 17 million people who got the shot experienced blood clots. The vaccine delay for millions in Europe comes as the company expects to request emergency use authorization for here in the U.S.

CNN's Melissa Bell joins us live from Rome in one of the Italian regions on lockdown once again. Melissa, good morning. Europe's top drug regulator now vouching for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Tell us more.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Laura. Officially, we await to hear the European Medicines Agency verdict tomorrow. Now until now, it's been fairly consistent in its messaging, saying that people should continue with the rollout and the European countries should not be worried about it.

But it's launched this investigation. It's been having a look at those cases that you mentioned. There's more than 40 cases of people who did go on to develop blood clots -- to look at the nature of the symptoms since what some European countries have said is that there have been this unusual symptom in some of those who sadly lost their lives.

So the European Medicines Agency looking into this and hoping to fix this question once and for all. Because as you suggest, this is about much more than the rollout of the vaccines here in Europe. It's about confidence worldwide.

Now, we had a hint from Emer Cooke, who is the chief executive of the European Medicines Agency, yesterday. This is what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMER COOKE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY: We are looking at adverse events associated with all vaccines. At the moment, we have looked at the background rates for all the vaccines currently in circulation and it looks like there are similar numbers coming in across the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: Now, if tomorrow, the European Medicines Agency comes out with a verdict that, in fact, the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, that there is no causation -- causality between those blood clots and the vaccine itself, it will then urge European countries to get back to rolling it out. Already, countries like France and Italy have said that they'll do so immediately. Others may take slightly longer.

At the moment, Laura, it is eight million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that are sitting on European shelves even as, of course, these vaccine campaigns are going incredibly. So as you mentioned a moment ago, COVID-19 figures rising dramatically as a result of that third wave.

JARRETT: All right. We wait for that official announcement as so many are desperate to see what is going to happen and depending on this vaccine.

Melissa, thank you so much.

ROMANS: All right, let me take you now briefly to Seoul, South Korea where moments ago, Secretary of State Tony Blinken meeting with South Korea's foreign minister. This is days ahead of a meeting with his Chinese counterparts in Alaska.

Blinken just mentioned those attacks in Atlanta we've been reporting to you that left eight dead, including six people of Asian descent. He says he's horrified by this kind of violence, which he says has no place in America or anywhere.

We'll continue to follow this trip for you and bring you any breaking details.

JARRETT: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam restoring voting rights to more than 69,000 people as soon as they complete their prison terms. Now, this moves means that Virginians who have been released from prison but still remain on probation or parole are now eligible to vote.

[05:50:00]

Republican-controlled legislatures across the country are moving to clamp down on ballot access.

ROMANS: A remarkable rescue by Idaho State Police. A couple and their two dogs saved after their pickup truck plunged off a bridge and was dangling nose-down over the side. Police say safety chains kept it from falling into a gorge. Emergency crews were able to rappel down, attach a harness, and carry everyone to safety.

JARRETT: Talk about hanging on by a thread. Look at that.

All right. Uber will reclassify drivers in the U.K. as workers rather than independent contractors. The move means 70,000 drivers will receive benefits, including a minimum wage, vacation pay, and access to a pension plan.

Britain's Supreme Court ruled last month that Uber drivers are entitled to greater protections. But British labor rules offer a middle ground between freelancers and full-time employees that simply doesn't exist in other countries, so it's not clear if Uber will follow suit in the U.S.

ROMANS: All right, let's take a look at business markets around the world. Asian shares have closed for the day very narrowly mixed. I would call that barely moved. European shares have also opened with the same kind of tone. And on Wall Street, U.S. stock index futures this hour also hardly moving.

You know, stocks closed mixed Tuesday, ending a record streak for the S&P 500 and the Dow. Wall Street's attention today is on the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. Investors fear an overheating economy could boost inflation. That's been the fear of the past couple of weeks even as you're setting record highs in stocks.

But, Fed chair Jerome Powell will likely note an improving economic outlook thanks to the vaccine rollout and stimulus. And we expect he will downplay those concerns over inflation and with good reason. He is focused on jobs.

The U.S. economy is still down 9 1/2 million jobs since February 2020. That puts pressure on the central bank to keep the stimulus coming.

JARRETT: Americans, though, shopped less in February. It highlights how vital all of the stimulus is to consumer spending. The Commerce Department said retail sales fell three percent last month, probably due to bad weather and waning stimulus benefits. Remember, there was a $600 check in December.

But experts expect Americans to spend more in the near future thanks to the new relief package, which includes stimulus checks and more jobless aid. Spending accounts for about two-thirds of American economic growth.

JARRETT: All but one of the March Madness teams have arrived in Indiana for the NCAA Tournament, and so has COVID-19.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey, Andy.

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

So the NCAA says that five positive cases were identified out of the more than 2,300 tests that they have completed, so far, ahead of March Madness. But that doesn't mean it was players or coaches testing positive. Every person in a team's travel party right now is being tested daily, as are NCAA officials that are working the tournament.

Virginia is the lone team from the field out of 68 that is yet to arrive in Indianapolis. They had to pull out of the ACC Tournament due to COVID and are expected to arrive in Indy on Friday.

One of the positive tests was in the Georgia Tech program. The school said the unidentified individual is asymptomatic and has been isolated.

Now, Georgia Tech will take on Loyola Chicago in the first round on Friday and the Ramblers are going to have a very special guest in attendance. One hundred one-year-old team chaplain Sister Jean got the green light from the NCAA yesterday to be at the game. She became a folk hero during Loyola's improbable run to a Final Four back in 2018.

And, Sister Jean, she's fully vaccinated now but she hasn't been to a game this season due to COVID-19 protocols.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SISTER JEAN DELORES SCHMIDT, TEAM CHAPLAIN, LOYOLA RAMBLERS: One of the things that they were worried about that I was going to go down on the court. And I said well, if I'm not supposed to go on the court, I'm not going to go on the court, and I'm not going to cause any disturbance.

I'm so happy I'm going. I just -- I just waited for the day that they would say yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Love Sister Jean.

And be sure to compete with us here at CNN. Go to cnn.com/brackets. The schedule a little different this year. You don't have to have it filled out until the first round gets started on Friday morning.

All right. Tiger Woods is out of the hospital and back home in Florida to continue his recovery from that devastating car crash three weeks ago. Tiger tweeting that he is so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that he has received over the past few weeks. Tiger had been in the hospital in California since the crash, February 23rd.

Finally, LeBron James can now add part-owner of the Boston Red Sox to his impressive resume. LeBron confirming after the Lakers win last night that he and his business partner, Maverick Carter, will be the first black me to be part of the Fenway Sports ownership group.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, FORWARD, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: I think it's pretty damn cool. You know, it gives up -- it gives me and people that look like me hope and inspiration that they can be in a position like that as well. That it can be done. It gives my kids at my I Promise School more and more inspiration as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:55:10]

SCHOLES: So LeBron part-owner of the Red Sox now, Laura. And he says his ultimate goal is to one day be an NBA owner.

JARRETT: Very, very cool.

All right, Andy. Thanks so much -- appreciate it.

SCHOLES: All right.

ROMANS: I've just got to say, Laura, it's so awesome. You know, she -- a generation of women who went to college at Mundelein first --

JARRETT: Yes.

ROMANS: -- and Loyola and Chicago -- for them, she is an inspiration. She is an educator, an administrator. And love Sister Jean, so that's really something.

JARRETT: So glad to see her vaccinated.

ROMANS: I know.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eight people are dead and one suspect is in custody after shootings at three metro-area massage parlors. Four of the victims are of Korean ethnicity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just heard numerous gunshots coming from across the street.