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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Biden Moves Full Steam Ahead On COVID Relief; Biden-Netanyahu Relationship Faces New Test; Prince Harry And Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex, Expecting Second Child. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired February 15, 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: He's making a big push for his $1.9 trillion COVID relief package and some of his other top priorities as well.

Let's go live to the White House right now and bring in CNN's Jasmine Wright. Good morning.

You know, take us inside the White House. Early in any administration, there's a flurry of activity, but Biden had a delayed transition. Then the mob stormed the Capitol, forcing impeachment. And the Senate trial and coronavirus means fewer people are actually working in the White House. Are they keeping pace with where they want to be, Jasmine?

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Look, President Biden is looking on this President's Day, his first in office, to push ahead, turn the page, and push forward with his coronavirus relief bill. That is that $1.9 trillion relief bill that he has proposed as his way to start this assault on this coronavirus pandemic.

Now, as the impeachment trial went on last week, we saw it make substantial movement. In the House, it moved along going through these different committees, going through getting marked up, turning that proposal into legislative text.

But again, it's not exactly sure whether or not this is going to get bipartisan support. We know that Democrats want to fast-track it and we know that there is that possibility there for them to use that rarely used budget process to do that and to go it alone. But again, if they do go it alone they're going to have to stay together and stay united because they cannot pass this COVID relief bill losing any Democrat if they go it alone because of their slim majority.

So that is what this White House is going to be looking for in this next week, really pushing forward on that COVID relief bill, Christine.

ROMANS: And beyond -- and beyond that, Jasmine, there's also common- sense gun reforms. Also, taking about infrastructure -- laying the groundwork for infrastructure. Beyond COVID, what else -- what else are they working on? WRIGHT: I mean, the president's -- the president's going to be doing a lot in this last week -- excuse me, in this next week, right? He is going to be pushing for that $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.

But also on Friday, he's going to be meeting with the G7 summit, his first summit, and really fulfilling that promise that we heard from him on the campaign trail to restore relations with his allies. In that summit on Friday, we expect him to talk about how to tackle the coronavirus pandemic globally, alongside allies. That makes a big departure from President Trump.

Of course, Biden is going to be looking for that first legislative victory in that coronavirus relief bill because up until this point he has really governed by executive order. He's issued nearly 50 so far.

So again, we're going to see President Biden look to change that governing from just executive order, now to legislative. It is a time to get bills passed. And already, he's spoken about that infrastructure bill --

ROMANS: Yes.

WRIGHT: -- that he wants to pass, having folks come into the Oval Office to talk about it.

Yesterday, we -- yesterday, he issued a statement on urging Congress to pass gun reform on that Parkland anniversary.

So we're going to continue to see him push towards making legislative moves in a way that he just spoke about on the campaign trail that he wouldn't want to do via executive order. So that is something that we can keep our eye out for.

But again, there's going to be practical things --

ROMANS: Yes.

WRIGHT: -- those day-to-day issues. Biden will be going to Milwaukee to do a CNN town hall on Tuesday. That's his first domestic trip. On Thursday, he'll be looking at a vaccine distribution -- excuse me, vaccine manufacturing plant in Michigan.

So the day-to-day -- the Biden White House still continues. But again, he's going to be looking to fulfilling some of those big campaign promises as well as getting his first legislative victory with that --

ROMANS: Yes.

WRIGHT: -- $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.

ROMANS: Yes, and there's a lot in there. One point nine trillion is a lot of money.

All right, thank you so much, Jasmine. Nice to see you this morning -- Laura.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: OK, it's time for three questions in three minutes. Let's bring in CNN's senior political analyst, John Avlon.

ROMANS: Hi, John.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, guys.

JARRETT: John, while the Senate was knee-deep in impeachment, the House was moving on key parts of the president's relief bill.

Right now, this plan includes more than $125 billion to expand health insurance subsidies. More child tax credits, a huge issue Christine and I have been talking about. Childcare assistance so that parents can actually go back to work and do their job. A bigger tax credit to low-income adults. And on top of all of that, stimulus checks.

So while Republicans apparently are trying to figure out the future of their party, President Biden is actually really trying to fight income inequality.

AVLON: That's right, and that's why this $1.9 trillion bill is being pushed so hard by the administration. It is signature. It is -- it is COVID relief to deal with the immediate crisis but it's much better than that.

It's about dealing with long-term priorities that this president wants to deal with, including income inequality being at the heart of it. So that's why whether it's reconciliation or anything else, this COVID relief bill is about much more --

[05:35:00]

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: -- than COVID.

ROMANS: Yes. Yes, the child -- you know, the child poverty part of this I think is potentially legacy-building --

AVLON: Sure.

ROMANS: -- if he can get this through. I mean, you're talking about making sure the IRS gives money to families every month, not just through the tax code --

JARRETT: Right.

ROMANS: -- but give money right there, every month, to families to help them feed children. And that is something that is really critical here. And some Democrats would like to see that become permanent --

AVLON: Sure.

ROMANS: -- not just in one year.

Let's talk about the Senate here -- let Donald Trump off the hook. But, Trump could face a jury of his peers next. And let's show you --

AVLON: Yes.

ROMANS: -- the list of criminal and civil cases where Trump could face legal trouble. There is it. It is long. His call to the Georgia secretary of state -- that is under investigation at the moment.

What should he be most concerned about here, John Avlon?

AVLON: I mean, it's a bewildering array of legal problems he's facing, all self-inflicted now that the protections of the presidency have been removed.

Look, on the -- on the political front, the Georgia case is serious because he's on tape. It's not really a tough call. We've all seen what that -- what that -- he was trying to do.

ROMANS: Sure.

AVLON: But the New York district attorney and the New York attorney generals had the longest runway here, looking at his financial improprieties -- alleged -- and they extend beyond his taxes. So I would say that the New York -- the New York D.A. and the New York A.G. have got the leading -- the tip of the spear of the problems he's going to face, focusing on his financials.

Remember, he struggled so hard to avoid getting his taxes released. Why? What does it show? They know.

JARRETT: So as he's battling all these other legal issues, Sen. Cassidy says that President Trump's -- former President Trump's force is waning. But, Sen. Graham says he's the most important force for the party and essentially, the Republicans can't do 2022 without Trump. Who's right?

AVLON: (Laughing) I mean, you know -- look, I'm going to put my money on Cassidy in the eyes of history. What Lindsey Graham --

JARRETT: Is that wishful thinking or do you think that's right?

AVLON: Well, no. Look, I think ultimately, the people who are siding up to the strongmen and the conspiracy theorists are going to be the losing end of history. Now, if you want to shorten the runway to 2022, what Lindsey Graham's afraid of is that Donald Trump isn't pulling his weight. That the enthusiasm will be reduced behind the --

JARRETT: Right.

AVLON: -- Republican's base.

But if you care about the future of the party you want to do the right thing. Why? Because that's always the smart thing politically, ultimately.

The fact that Cassidy got censured by his -- by his state party -- one of many who stand up for Trump -- that's ultimately going to be a badge of honor. But there's a fundamental problem and you're not going to dig yourself

out of this hole if you keep digging. That's what Lindsey Graham's advising.

JARRETT: Well, I think the fact that only seven Republicans agreed to convict him says a lot.

AVLON: The most bipartisan impeachment in history, though.

ROMANS: Yes, yes. And a majority of U.S. senators --

JARRETT: I hear you. I --

ROMANS: A majority of U.S. senators wanted him convicted.

JARRETT: I hear -- I hear all of that but he's still facing zero consequences --

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: -- for what happened, and that mob.

AVLON: So far.

JARRETT: So far. You sound like Sen. McConnell.

All right --

AVLON: There's a pony in there somewhere.

JARRETT: Thanks, John -- appreciate it. Nice to see you.

AVLON: Thanks, guys.

JARRETT: All right.

President Biden has made a lot of phone calls to top allies and even some adversaries, but a month into his term, one leader he hasn't spoken to yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sam Kiley is live for us in Jerusalem. Sam, this isn't just optics, this is a critical security partner for the United States. Why haven't the two spoken yet?

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think you put your finger on one of the questions that is questionable. Is Israel more important to the United States or vice versa? The answer is very clearly, certainly from the Israeli point of view, that the United States matters a great deal to them.

It does matter to the optics for Benjamin Netanyahu, who has got elections coming up on March the 23rd. He's struggling to put together a coalition partnership that is now including homophobic and racist parties, avowedly so, to come under the umbrella of the Likud-led coalition going forward that he's hoping to win with that. In previous campaigns, he's played the Trump card frequently. Now he seems to be unable to do that because the Biden administration -- and this is a point that Benjamin Netanyahu made about a week ago -- is prioritizing rebuilding multinational, multilateral coalitions. Rebuilding poor relations with much more important European allies. And, in Netanyahu's words, will get to the Middle East soon.

And that is a view that's been echoed by the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the national security office, and the White House, all of whom have been in touch with their counterparts in Israel.

But it does smart for Benjamin Netanyahu because he enjoyed a red line -- a hotline straight into the Oval Office under Trump, and that is clearly something that he's not going to be enjoying in the future, and certainly not enjoying in the present. In the past, of course, these two leading politicians knew each other very well.

[05:40:00]

JARRETT: Yes, it's so interesting. And, of course, Israeli elections are coming up. Netanyahu fending off corruption charges. Just a lot of there.

Always great to get your analysis, Sam Kiley. Thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, tax season is here. Here's what you need to know about filing your taxes during this pandemic year. Tax day is just two months away now.

A big question, do you have to pay taxes on your stimulus checks? No. That money is tax-free.

But you could be in for a surprise if you received jobless benefits. It is treated as taxable income by the IRS and most states. There are exemptions in 15 states, including California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, so check. You will have to pay taxes on those jobless benefits.

Last year, the deadline to file was pushed back, remember, because of the pandemic. If you're not ready this year in time, you can file for a six-month extension, meaning your federal income taxes won't be due until October 15th. The deadline to file for that extension is April 15th.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:45:05]

JARRETT: Despite concerns about a new coronavirus variant, South Africa is reopening borders with all of its neighbors.

CNN's David McKenzie is live for us in Johannesburg this morning. David, all signs point to this variant already spreading north, so why open the borders now?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Laura, I think it's a calculated risk because most scientists believe that here in South Africa they are certainly at the end or towards the end of a very dramatic second wave driven by the variant of COVID-19 discovered here.

So one of the reasons to open, I think, is the severe economic impact it has to cut off South Africa from its immediate neighbors. But also, they say they will institute testing for anyone moving back and forth. Of course, the risk is, Laura, that if you open up, it gives the opportunity for the variant or other variants to spread both to and from South Africa.

But it really is a sense that the cat's out of the bag. We were in Malawi recently where it was confirmed that his variant had really spiked infections there. And already in eight states, at least, in the U.S. the so-called South African variant has been found.

But there is good news. The infections -- confirmed infections have gone down. Deaths, as well as the all-important positivity rate here in South Africa have gone down. The big risk now though because this variant is potentially problematic for at least one major vaccine, is that there will be another wave, and another wave, and another wave.

Just later this week they have got an approval to roll out the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for health workers in a so-called implementation study. That will be critical to understand whether this variant can be stopped by this vaccine. And the answers to that question aren't just important to here in South Africa, Laura, but obviously, have global implications.

JARRETT: Yes. Certainly, a good thing that deaths are down but I hope this doesn't roll back any progress that has been made.

All right, David, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, to New Zealand now, which has been a global example for containing the coronavirus. New Zealand announcing a three-day lockdown for the city of Auckland after the first new cases since January.

CNN's Will Ripley is live in Hong Kong covering this story for us. And a local family tested positive and the whole city is going on lockdown. Tell us about it.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the reason why New Zealand health authorities are concerned Christine is because they tested positive for the more contagious U.K. variant of the virus and nobody in this family has traveled recently.

So they're, right now, in the process of very intensive contact tracing to figure out if the virus is out there in the community or if the mother in this family, who works at a company that provides laundry services and catering services for dozens of airlines, may have somehow picked up the virus at work even though she didn't have face-to-face contact with anybody who was coming in from outside of the country.

Now, some people might say to lock down New Zealand's largest city and impact that many people for just three confirmed cases so far might be overkill. But in New Zealand, the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says this is a formula that has worked. That has kept their country of just around five million people in remarkably good shape throughout this pandemic.

If you look at the numbers in New Zealand of confirmed cases and deaths versus, say, the United States, they have just over 2,300 cases for the entire pandemic and 25 deaths. And they say the reason for that is that they take these kinds of measures early on when numbers are small, get the case numbers under control -- contained -- and then life goes on as normal.

So right now, New Zealand's prime minister saying that this is a 72- hour lockdown, asking people to be patient.

Meanwhile, a travel bubble with New Zealand and Australia has also been suspended for at least 72 hours. They tried to arrange something where people can fly back and forth without that mandatory 14-day quarantine. Those plans are on hold right now as New Zealand tries to investigate this small cluster, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Will Ripley for us. Thanks, Will.

JARRETT: All right.

Back here in the U.S. this morning, a suspect is charged with murder in connection with four subway stabbings in New York City this weekend that left two people dead. Police say the suspect is a 21-year-old man with a criminal record who was living in a Brooklyn homeless shelter. The four victims were homeless and the attacks appear to be unprovoked. Transit officials have requested an extra 1,000 NYPD officers to patrol subways and buses.

ROMANS: All right, let's take a look at markets around the world to start the short trading week. Markets in China and Hong Kong, you can see gains in Asia. Those marts are closed now. And, Europe has opened up higher here, more than one percent for London stocks.

Stocks are closed on Wall Street today to honor President's Day. Last week, all three major averages hit record highs as investors shrugged out impeachment and focused on any signs of stimulus here. President Biden is expected to continue his outreach for a stimulus package this week.

An urgent plea to President Biden for funding for semiconductor manufacturing in his plans for economic recovery. The global chip shortage is causing major issues for the auto industry. If you can't get the chips, you can't make the cars.

[05:50:04]

General Motors and Ford have temporarily shut down some of their plants because they can't get the chips. Ford has been forced to cut production of the F-150, its biggest moneymaker.

The shortage adds urgency to the conversation about the need to increase chip manufacturing in the United States.

JARRETT: All right, some royal baby news for you. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting their second child.

CNN's Max Foster is live in London with all of the details. Max, it was just a few months ago that Meghan revealed in that powerful op-ed that devastating loss. Now, baby number two is on the way. Tell us everything.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So the last baby news we heard, frankly, was news of the miscarriage, which the Duchess revealed in November. It happened over the summer.

And she used that as a, really, rallying call for people who have suffered in a similar way to start talking about it. It's a taboo subject. She wanted people to start asking people if they're OK and she broadened that out to the wider sort of mental health issues, really, in relation to the pandemic.

So, a huge moment for the family on any occasion, but particularly one that suffered in this way.

The photograph, I'm told, was taken remotely by a friend who is a photographer, on a tablet. An extraordinary photo.

Bringing much joy, of course, to baby Archie. He's now going to have a younger sibling.

Archie, currently -- there's an interesting constitutional question, would you believe, that comes out of this. Archie is a U.K. citizen. He is seventh in line to the throne. This new baby will be eighth in line to the throne. And if it is born in the U.S., will be a U.S. citizen. So potentially, we could have here for the very first time, someone who could go on to become head of state, not just in the U.K. but also in the U.S. at the same time. So some constitutional historians looking at this photo as well today.

JARRETT: Well, the photo is just gorgeous and obviously, so happy for them. Thanks so much, Max.

ROMANS: All right, to sports here in the U.S. A fiery wreck on the last lap leads to a dramatic finish at the Daytona 500.

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

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

It was a long day for all of the drivers and the 30,000 fans there at the Daytona 500. The race didn't end until just after midnight after having a nearly six-hour rain delay.

And we had some drama in the final lap. Brad Keselowski trying to pass his teammate Joey Logano. They bumped. It leads to a fiery crash. Journeyman (ph) driver Michael McDowell able to storm through the

chaos and take the checkered flag. McDowell had never won a race going zero for 357 in his NASCAR career. He started the Daytona 500 as a 100 to one underdog, and he seemed in disbelief in victory lane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, WINNER, 2021 DAYTONA 500: I'm so thankful. Such a great way to get a first victory at Daytona 500. Are you kidding me?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, nearly half of the field was wiped out in this 16-car wreck early on in the race. It came less than five minutes before the race stopped due to lightning.

Bubba Wallace, meanwhile, making his debut as the driver for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's team. Wallace meeting Jordan for the first time this weekend. And, Wallace making history in the race, becoming the first black driver to lead at the Daytona 500. He finished 17th after being involved in that last-lap crash.

And check this out. Driver Chase Briscoe -- he got hungry during that extended rain delay. So he drove to a nearby Panda Express still in his fire suit. His wife tweeted out that pic from the drive-thru.

All right, unseeded American Jessica Pegula advancing to the Australian Open quarter-finals after beating number-five seed Elina Svitolina in three sets. The 26-year-old, the daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, are the owners of the NFL Buffalo Bills and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

Next up for Pegula is the All-American matchup with number 22, Jennifer Brady.

Twenty-three-time Grand Slam champ Serena Williams advanced to the quarters on set.

All right. Finally, Wizards star Russell Westbrook proving everyone can have an off day. He lines up to take this free throw against the Celtics. Watch this -- throws up an airball. And his face is pretty priceless. He kind of just stares at the rim for a little while, like did that really just happen?

The Wizards would still go on to win that game 104 to 91. But funny there, you know. It could to everybody.

JARRETT: His face is priceless.

ROMANS: That is me, Andy.

SCHOLES: He just stares at it.

ROMANS: Most Mondays, that is me right there. It's Monday.

SCHOLES: Right there. ROMANS: What happened? What just happened?

All right, Andy. Nice to see you. Thank you.

SCHOLES: All right.

JARRETT: Thanks, Andy.

ROMANS: All right, thanks for joining us on this Presidents' Day. I'm Christine Romans.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:59:30]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): There's a lot of other investigations going on about this man. He is done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He still has a lot that he's going to have to deal with -- all of these legal woes.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Donald Trump is the most vibrant member of the Republican Party. The Trump movement is alive and well.

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): I hope Republicans in the Senate and the House will get on board, and I am absolutely confident they're going to be able to get something through both the Senate and the House.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New coronavirus mutations have just been identified in the U.S. and they appear to make the virus more transmissible.

ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: Now is the time to not let off our guard. Now is the time to double down.