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Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue To Quarantine Just Days Ahead Of Runoff; U.S. Hits Grim Milestone As Coronavirus Cases Top 20 Million; S.C. Man Spends Two Months In Hospital Battling Virus; Biden Slams OMB For "Indefensible" Lack Of Cooperation. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired January 01, 2021 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

TOM NICHOLS, NATIONAL SECURITY PROFESSOR, NAVAL WAR COLLEGE: And you trace it in a more united way.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN HOST: And you write in The Atlantic about Trump asked for options against nuclear targets in Iran after he lost the election but was persuaded by aids. So, if they stopped him, then what do you think? Couldn't they do the same now?

NICHOLS: They could try but, you know, the President is the President right until noon on January 20th. The President's article two powers are not suddenly limited by losing an election. The President of the United States is the commander in chief right until the last moment in office. That's the way our system is designed. That's why we have this kind of continuity of government and transition planning that we do. So, you know, possible I doubt that there's -- there are very many people, responsible people in this administration who want to start a conflict with Iran at this point.

But on the other hand, the President has fired a lot of people and put a lot of acting secretaries who really don't answer anybody but Donald Trump and who are not Senate confirmed who don't -- aren't going to be there to see this through later. So, you know, whether they're going to try and talk them out of it, who knows?

KOSIK: All right, Tom Nichols, great discussion. Thanks for your time today.

NICHOLS: Thank you. Happy New Year.

KOSIK: Happy New Year.

Coming up, just days before the Georgia runoff, Senator David Perdue is in quarantine after exposure to coronavirus. Plus, early voting by Democrats leave Republicans on edge. What will it mean for the final sprint of the campaign?

But first, from peanut farmer to rocking the White House, see how America's 39th President used his passion for music to win the 1976 election. CNN's film "Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President premieres Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on CNN. Check out the preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY CARTER, 39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the things that have held America together has been the music that we share.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jimmy Carter used music in politics. It would never been done quite that way.

CARTER: I want to introduce to you the Allman Brothers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He enjoyed our music and he became a friend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a kindred spirits of a rare kind. Man, you don't meet every day and it's you're lucky to meet if you ever do.

WILLIE NELSON, SINGER: Jimmy and I basically come from the same spot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went to the White House, we were welcomed in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His love for music makes sense to me because music is the voice of the heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was the music of change and dissidents. There was a risk politically for that and it didn't matter to him.

CARTER: I think music is the best proof that people have one thing in common no matter where they live, no matter what language they speak.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President Sunday at 9:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:37:33]

KOSIK: Republican Senator David Perdue of Georgia announced he is quarantining after being in close contact with someone on his campaign who tested positive for coronavirus. It's taking the Senator off the campaign trail just days ahead of his runoff against Democratic opponent, Jon Ossoff on January 5th. In a statement, the Perdue campaign says, "Both Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today, but following his doctor's recommendations and in accordance with CDC guidelines, they will quarantine."

CNN's Kyung Lah joins me now live from Atlanta. So, Kyung, both Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler, they were set to campaign with President Trump on Monday ahead of their runoff. How is this going to play out now?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the short answer is we simply don't know. There are a lot of questions about the Senator, when he's going to come back, when the contact with this COVID positive person was. So, we just don't have that information right now. The very latest that we're getting from Senator Perdue is the Senator himself.

And here's what he tweeted. He tweeted this last night, several hours after the news became public. He tweeted, "Thanks to everyone who has called, texted and reached out. Bonnie and I are at home, feeling great, and getting ready to ring in the new year, with a whole lot of virtual campaigning. Hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year's Eve".

So, the emphasis there is on virtual campaigning. We are just days away from this election that's going to determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, Alison, and we just don't know if he's going to return to the trail.

KOSIK: Yes. And early voting ended yesterday. So, what are you hearing about that so far, about the turnout and what the numbers mean for Democrats and Republicans heading into Election Day on Tuesday?

LAH: Well, we're just getting this updated number from the Secretary of State's office here in Georgia, and I want you to look at this number. This is extraordinary. When you consider, this is the state of Georgia. These are Senate runoffs. It is crossing 3 million in early voting. Just for a little context, 3.9 million voted early in the state of Georgia during the general election, so 3 million. That is incredible.

And what Democrats see in that number is very good news for their side because Democrats do tend to vote early. There are early data points showing that black voters in the state are outperforming their population.

[12:40:05]

And GOP consultants are telling CNN that they're feeling a little nervous looking at those numbers that puts -- added pressure on them, Alison, to bring out their voters on Election Day. So, a million voters did vote on Election Day in November, Alison. We'll have to see what the turnout is, but certainly, that 3 million number tells us there's a lot of interest. Alison?

KOSIK: Lot of interest for a very high stakes election. Kyung Lah, thanks so much for breaking that down.

It started with a cough then turned into a medically induced coma. Now, one man is sharing his story of survival after battling COVID for months. He will join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:09]

KOSIK: Breaking news, the United States now has over 20 million cases of the coronavirus. The grim milestone further highlights the nation's distinction as the world leader in cases. It took just five days to add 1 million more cases. And this comes as hospitalizations once again have reached new record highs. Just yesterday, the U.S. reported more than 125,000 hospitalizations. That's up 4,000 from just four days ago.

CNN's Nick Valencia joins us live now from a Convention Center in Atlanta that's being converted into a field hospital for COVID patients. Nick, this building was transformed into a field hospital during the height of the spring surge. How is the state of Georgia back in this position?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is actually the third time since the start of the pandemic, Alison, that the Georgia World Congress Center will be used as a makeshift temporary field hospital for the overflow.

You know, we've been mentioning the surging cases across the country. 2020 is in the rearview mirror. But it's really sobering to think that the worst of the pandemic could very well still be in front of us. We're talking about how bad Georgia is, but really nationwide, the last three days of 2020 Johns Hopkins University releasing numbers this morning shows over 10,000 Americans died as a result of the coronavirus just in the last three days.

Back here in Georgia, the numbers are so bad that the Governor Brian Kemp has now decided to use the Georgia World Congress Center as we've been reporting, as a makeshift field hospital and he was really issuing a stern warning to, you know, those here in the state that they need to take more personal responsibility that everyone needs to do their part to keep each other state. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): If the people of Georgia will hunker down for a little bit longer, stay vigilant and do the things we've been talking about, wearing a mask, washing your hands, socially distancing themselves and following the health guidance in our executive orders, we can all have a safe, happy new year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: This facility is expected to be operational until at least the end of January, and we talked to the governor's office this morning, they're starting taking patients today. You know those numbers continuing to surge here and a new phenomenon in Georgia, it's 18 to 29 year olds, according to the Governor, that are spreading the virus right now. Alison?

KOSIK: And of course now comes the worry of another surge in coronavirus cases, post holidays, that the worry is --

VALENCIA: That's right.

KOSIK: -- you know, for the rest of the month. All right, Nick Valencia, thanks very much.

VALENCIA: Yes.

KOSIK: And this next story is about a man who knows all too well what it's like to be in the hospital with coronavirus. Don Gillmer just 43 years old, was hospitalized back in July, after testing positive. It started with a cough, and before long, he was on his way to the hospital where he was later put into a medically induced coma. But what he didn't realize is that hospital would be his home for the next two months.

Joining me now is Don Gillmer and his wife Lacey. Good to see you both smiling, Don. So I've got to ask you, you know, first of all, we're happy that you're OK and out of the hospital. How are you doing, and how was this whole experience for you?

DON GILLMER, RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 AFTER 2 MONTHS IN HOSPITAL AND COMA: We're doing OK. Still doing a lot of physical therapy. I had to relearn to walk and have some nerve damage and things like that I'm dealing with. But finally now getting to a point where starting to feel like myself a little bit. I came home on September 11th. So it's still taking this long just to get to some type of normalcy, unfortunately, but.

KOSIK: And Lacey, I know this has been a long road for you as well because it's been 63 days of him in the hospital and you showed incredible strength at a time when many people may have not been able to, one point was, you know, he was on the ventilator, he was put into this medically induced coma, and then you got a call from doctors, and they told you to come to the hospital. What happened next?

LACEY GILLMER, HUSBAND SPENT 2 MONTHS IN HOSPITAL: Yes. So they just told me they didn't know if he would make it through the night. And that I could come up and (INAUDIBLE) just in case he did it, so I drove to the hospital. And they let me stay for a couple hours. And I just, you know, just was there with him, told him that he was doing great and they were taking care of him.

Everybody there was amazing. So I knew he was in good hands. And just spend some time with him, so.

KOSIK: And Don, what did you think? Did you -- you said, did you hear her talking to you?

D. GILLMER: I did. Anybody that knows Lacey knows that she has this sweet, tiny little voice. And my father was there too and talking to me and holding my hands and rub it on me but I do recall just hearing her voice. And I really think that that turned me around and it gave me strength to keep fighting and to not that -- let that'd be my last night, you know.

[12:50:13]

KOSIK: Yes, I hear that. Lacey, you know, was there ever a point before all of this that you thought this could happen to you and your family?

L. GILLMER: Absolutely not. I mean, we were being very careful in wearing masks and staying home pretty much. When we did have to run out, we would do the mask and this hand sanitizer, and socially distance. So, you know, we never thought that it would happen to us. And we actually didn't really know anybody at that point that it had happened to. So it was very shocking when he was as sick as he was.

KOSIK: Don, were you surprised that you were in the hospital that long? Did you realize what was happening, obviously not when you were in a coma, but when you finally came out of it, what were you thinking?

D. GILLMER: I was very confused. I couldn't see very well, I didn't have my glasses of context. I had a tracheotomy, so I couldn't speak. Communication was very difficult. My ears were stopped out from being on oxygen so long. And the left side of my body was really not moving. So, yes, I didn't really know what was happening.

All I knew is what the nurses and doctors are telling me and just tell me to keep fighting and I was going to recover and it was going to take some time. And then slowly, it got to where I was finally COVID negative and I moved to a step down unit. And Lacey was able to come see me after about 40 days at that point.

I'll never forget staring at my hospital room door. And I could hear a little feet coming down the hallway as fast as they take, just the feeling I've finally seen her, you know, again after that long, so.

KOSIK: Well, we're so glad that you're on the road to recovery. And thanks so much for telling your story to us today. Don, Lacey Gillmer, thank you. And we'll be right back.

D. GILLMER: Thank you.

L. GILLMER: Thank you so much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:56:40]

KOSIK: Nineteen days until Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. And although he's expressing optimism about the road ahead, his transition team continues to call out the Trump administration, saying it's deliberately blocking access in key areas specifically. They accuse the Office of Management and Budget and the Pentagon of withholding critical information, some that could damage national security. President Trump's Defense and Budget officials staunchly deny they're obstructing any progress.

MJ Lee is with the Biden transition in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and she joins me live. So MJ, what are some of the specific complaints that you're hearing from the Biden team?

MJ LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alison, this is just the latest back and forth between the Trump administration and the Biden transition team. Let me just explain to you what's going on. So yesterday, we saw the OMB director writing a letter to the Biden transition team saying, your accusations of obstruction are completely false.

I just want to read a part of that letter that he wrote to the transition team. He said, "As the record shows, OMB has fully participated in appropriate transition efforts. What we have not done and will not do is use current OMB staff to write the Biden Transition Team's legislative policy proposals to dismantle this administration's work. Our system of government has one President and one administration at a time. OMB will not participate in developing policies that will weaken border security, dismantle the President's deregulatory successes, and draft budgets that will bankrupt America".

So boiling that down, he essentially seems to be saying, look, we are being fully cooperative with the transition process. But there are certain things that we are not willing to do, things that I view as trying to dismantle or undo the work of the Trump administration. So, this prompted the Biden transition team to put out a statement of their own. So let me read a little part of that from a Biden transition spokesman.

He wrote, "In this moment of unprecedented crisis, when millions of American families are enduring terrible economic hardship, it is indispensable to hamstring the United States government's ability to prepare a budget and efficiently deliver help to those who need it most, particularly out of out of explicit, declared partisanship.

Now, all of this comes on top of the friction between the DoD and the Biden transition team that we have been reporting on all week, essentially the Biden transition saying we are not getting important national security information from the Trump administration, we are not getting the meetings that we need during this transition process.

Well, I will note that as of last night, the Pentagon saying that there are now some 30 interviews scheduled between the Biden agency review teams and the Trump administration's DoD officials. So, we're going to have to see whether this sort of means that a corner is being turned as far as at least the DOJ is concerned. But I will tell you this really has been a messy transition process. And a lot of back and forth like the coming all week, Alison.

KOSIK: OK. CNN's MJ Lee, thank you.

And it's the top of the hour. Hello, everyone, I'm Alison Kosik. Welcome to a special New Year's Day edition of CNN Newsroom. Only hours into the New Year and the stage is set for a chaotic battle on Capitol Hill, coming in just a matter of days.