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Study Identifies Seven New Coronavirus Variants In The U.S.; CNN Holds First Presidential Town Hall With Joe Biden Tonight; Investigators Focus On "The Oath Keepers" For Their Role In Capitol Attack. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired February 16, 2021 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

JEREMY KAMIL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT (via Cisco Webex): Yes, I do understand that.

But I think an important message to the viewers is that a lot of DNA -- sorry, viral RNA sequencing is happening around the world to keep track of so many different variants, and there's a lot. I mean, our study identified seven but there's a giant family tree of the coronavirus in humans as it spilled into us and our country has really not done enough to keep up-to-date or keep up tabs on what the virus is doing.

I think the bigger message is that we need to be doing a better job and a more even job sequencing the virus so we can -- we can know whether there are changes to be concerned about or not.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that's the big thing and I want -- I'd like you to talk more about that. You discovered seven variants because you went looking for them, basically, and we need to do a better job in the U.S. of going to look for them.

I think it was you who pointed out it's sort of like going into your kitchen and finding a cockroach. There's never just one cockroach. You've gone in now and found a cockroach, which means there's a lot more somewhere, yes?

KAMIL: Yes. And the first author of this study, Emma Hodcroft, had a much better term. She called them -- she named them after birds. But yes, it is like -- it is like turning on the light.

And just like with testing, we didn't know the virus was here back in the spring of last year, about a year ago, because we didn't have tests for it. And there's quite a poignant analogy here with sequencing. We don't know what variants are out there until we sequence and decode the entire genome and that's very, very inexpensive.

The United States has been an absolute leader in innovating the DNA and RNA sequencing space, so there's really no excuse why we don't have a lot more data and why we don't have a lot more current data. The United States is now 35th in the world for sequencing and we only went up from 42 recently. And, you know, we only sequence about three out of every 1,000 genomes.

And what's even worse, it takes about 61 days for people to get from a collective sample to a genome uploaded to the database called (INAUDIBLE), which has played a really critical role in allowing us to see the emergence of these variants that were detected first in Brazil or the U.K. or South Africa.

And, of course, we don't like to name the variants after where they were detected first because that's a 'no good deed goes unpunished' sort of axiom, right? You don't want to punish the people who found the guy breaking into your house, right? So it's important that lots of countries keep up-to-date on their genomic surveillance of this virus in the United States.

BERMAN: Thank you very much for the work that you're doing. Thank you for explaining to us -- the humanities majors out there -- about what you've discovered and why it's important. We appreciate the work. And let's hope you get a chance to more of it because the U.S. needs to do a much better job at what you are doing. Appreciate it.

KAMIL: Thank you for sharing that message with your viewers, and have a great day.

BERMAN: You, too -- Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to take some time to remember some of the more than 486,000 Americans lost to coronavirus.

Sixty-eight-year-old retired healthcare worker Brenda Rena Lewis loved cooking and baking for her church and neighbors. Her daughter says she had a strong soprano voice and belonged to several singing groups. She leaves behind five siblings, four children, 14 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Seventy-three-year-old William Sopp was a firefighter in Colorado Springs for 32 years. He joined at 21 years old and by 27 was one of the youngest captains in the department. One of his daughters followed in his footsteps, spending 27 years on the force.

Ninety-one-year-old Brenda Ballin volunteered as a tour guide for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for 30 years beginning in the 1970s. Besides a deep knowledge of art, family members say she brought a wicked sense of humor that made her tours especially entertaining.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:38:41]

CAMEROTA: President Joe Biden hits the road for his first official trip since taking office. He will take questions from voters in Wisconsin during a CNN Presidential Town Hall. What do they want to hear from the president?

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has been speaking to some of them. He's live for us in Milwaukee with more. So what do they say, Jeff?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Alisyn.

President Biden will be coming to see voters face-to-face for the first time since taking office. And on their minds are economic relief, vaccine supply, schools. Those are central issues to them. But as we talked to voters, something else came up again and again. That's the president's plan to unify the country. That's from voters who supported him and those who didn't.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROLINE QUINLAN, WISCONSIN VOTER: Yes, I'm giving him a shot.

ZELENY (voice-over): Caroline Quinlan didn't vote for Joe Biden but she's pulling for his success.

QUINLAN: I think he's just a very nice man. I think he's very good. One of the last politicians I think can go across the aisle and meet with people, and I think that's something -- it's a big plus.

ZELENY (voice-over): When we first met Quinlan in the heat of the campaign last fall, she was torn --

QUINLAN: I get it why people don't like Trump. But at the same time, he has done a few things that I thought were important.

ZELENY (voice-over): -- but said she ultimately decided Trump would do a better job fixing the economy.

QUINLAN: I voted for Trump.

ZELENY (voice-over): In the end, Biden won Wisconsin by less than one point, and the city of Cedarburg by only 19 votes, turning the reliably Republican suburb of Milwaukee blue for the first time in a quarter-century.

[07:40:09]

With most signs of the election long gone, it's a new season and many voters here say a fresh start from the acrimony of the Trump era.

NATASHA LOOS, OWNER, CEDARBURG TOY COMPANY: Just the tone down of the rhetoric. The not having to be glued to the T.V. or social media to find out what the latest is going on has been very refreshing.

You're welcome, hon.

ZELENY (voice-over): Natasha Loos is a small business owner who supported Biden but senses a new era of calm.

ZELENY (on camera): So you can really tell that there is more civility now --

LOOS: Yes -- ZELENY (on camera): -- then there was last year.

LOOS: -- without a doubt, Jeff. I feel like that has already started to come back, even just as it pertains to masks. As a business owner, I come to work every day wanting to share joy and happiness.

ZELENY (on camera): And you sell toys.

LOOS: Yes, I sell toys and I was not interested in being part of any kind of political anything in my store. That's just one thing we don't try to do here.

ZELENY (voice-over): The headwinds facing the administration on coronavirus come into sharper view at a nearby vaccination center.

PAUL FARROW, WAUKESHA COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Our goal is to provide 1,000 vaccines a day, seven days a week. The only limitation we currently have is getting the vaccine.

ZELENY (voice-over): Paul Farrow is the Waukesha County executive who said he received only 900 doses this week instead of 7,000.

Farrow voted for Trump but praised Biden's pledge to restore unity.

FARROW: For me, it's compromise. And by that, I mean it's working together to come up with a solution.

ZELENY (voice-over): Yet, compromise also comes with complications for Biden.

Angela Lang and her group, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, helped push Biden over the finish line, as black voters did across the country.

ANGELA LANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES: We elect people knowing that they're not going to be perfect and that means that we have to hold them accountable.

ZELENY (voice-over): She said she is patiently waiting for Biden to take steps to combat systemic racism, achieve criminal justice reform, and broader equity.

LANG: I always get kind of skeptical and a little nervous when people say that they want to unite everyone and bring everyone together. I think sometimes that means watering down progressive policies for the sake of unity.

JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE, U.S. SUPREME COURT: Congratulations, Mr. President.

ZELENY (voice-over): And for Biden, that is the challenge -- trying to be a successful leader in the eyes of Lang, Quinlan, and all others who hunger for change.

QUINLAN: He is the president, so it's like let him do his job. And then we can decide in four years if we want him or somebody else. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY: Now, Caroline Quinlan said she does not regret her vote for President Trump last year but she's eager to move beyond that to see what President Biden can do.

Now, John, talking to voters here, you just get a sense of patience that they are waiting to see what the Biden administration will do. But his challenges are also front and center, trying to win over his detractors, his key base supporters, all while trying to govern -- John.

BERMAN: You know, it's really interesting to hear those perspectives and people willing to give the president a chance to get stuff done. Not saying they'll necessarily support him in a few years but want to see what gets done.

Also interesting --

ZELENY: Right.

BERMAN: -- to see you in a toy store.

Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much for being with us this morning.

ZELENY: (Laughing).

BERMAN: Appreciate it.

ZELENY: You bet.

BERMAN: So, President Biden's pandemic stimulus package, according to the polls, is gaining support, but getting a pass may not be so easy.

John Avlon with a reality check -- John.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: To go big or bipartisan -- that seems to be the question confronting President Joe Biden, but it might be a false choice.

Here's what's clear. The clock is ticking on Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, which tries to tackle not just the pandemic but some of the underlying economic inequality and government incompetence that COVID exposed.

This is a dream with a deadline because COVID-related unemployment benefits start expiring on March 14th, almost a year to the day since the nation shut down. The Biden proposal would not just result in $1,400 relief checks for millions of Americans, it would also supercharge the national vaccination program, which is now averaging 1.6 million doses a day.

It would strengthen unemployment aid, expand child tax credits, offers subsidies for health insurance, boost small businesses, help the hungry, secure rental assistance, deliver aid for states and schools, and even raise the minimum age to 15 -- wage to $15.00 an hour. Now, Biden seems willing to negotiate on the details but not at the

expense of going big. So when 10 Republicans came to him with a $618 billion counteroffer, it was seen as a nonstarter. Here's why.

Democrats still feel burned by Obama-era negotiations during the fiscal crisis when they cut the size of the stimulus, added tax cuts, and still got no Republican support, while getting saddled with accusations of a slow recovery. So they're not inclined to replay that particular version of Lucy and the football.

And there's this. The fiscal conservative card doesn't have the credit it used to because Republicans learned to love big stimulus in the Trump years.

Remember, they passed a more than $2 trillion package last spring, which is credited with stopping the economy from cratering, and an additional $900 billion at the end of 2020. That's more than $3 trillion passed under a Republican president and Senate. So, take their claims of Democrats being socialists with a pound of salt.

[07:45:03]

Biden also seems to have public opinion on his side. Get this. A stunning 83 percent of Americans want Congress to pass a new economic relief package. That's according to a recent CBS-YouGov poll. Right now, it's doubtful you could get 83 percent of Americans to agree on apple pie across partisan lines.

So this should be an easy win, right? I mean, especially because key Senate Republicans backed Trump's call for a $2,000 stimulus check in December. But when I tell you those senators included Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, and Marco Rubio, you might want to pump the brakes on any great expectations.

Nonetheless, there are signs of Republican support for Biden's plan just among some governors and mayors rather than members of Congress.

As Fresno's Mayor Dyer said, "It's not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. It's a public health issue. It's an economic issue. And it's a public safety issue."

So while budget reconciliation wasn't the kind of reconciliation Joe Biden promised, it looks like his go-big plan might actually get some bipartisan support, just not in Washington.

And that's your reality check.

BERMAN: Really interesting, and he will face that reality tonight in the CNN town hall. It'll be interesting to see how President Biden, with this new platform, begins to push this over the next few weeks.

AVLON: Game on.

BERMAN: John Avlon, thank you very much.

So, the extremist anti-government group known for recruiting current and former members of the military and law enforcement. New information about the Oath Keepers after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:50:01]

BERMAN: So, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced plans to push to form a 9/11-type commission to investigate the deadly insurrection of the U.S. Capitol. One extremist paramilitary group already under investigation by authorities is the Oath Keepers.

CNN's Sara Sidner taking a deep dive. What have you found, Sara?

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, video evidence and some court documents show that it is clear that there was some serious tactical coordination when it came to attacking the Capitol among some of these extremists groups. And as the days pass, we have noticed more and more members of those groups are being sought by the FBI.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER (voice-over): Members of the extremist antigovernment Oath Keepers --

CAPITAL INSURRECTIONISTS: Treason! Treason!

SIDNER (voice-over): -- were a part of this siege.

CAPITOL INSURRECTIONISTS: Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump!

SIDNER (voice-over): They are seen in combat gear brazenly bragging about breaching the Capitol.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE 1: Overran the Capitol.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE 2: We're in the f-ing Capitol, bro.

SIDNER (voice-over): The extremist paramilitary group is known for recruiting current and former members of the military and law enforcement. It has emerged as one of the groups that is a major focus of federal investigators. The FBI is trying to hunt down the suspects in these photos, some of whom are wearing Oath Keeper gear.

These three alleged Oath Keepers and military veterans, Jessica Watkins, Donovan Crowl, and Thomas Caldwell, were the first to face significant conspiracy charges related to the Capitol attack.

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA), HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER: The leader of a militia group known as the Oath Keepers received messages while he was at the Capitol.

SIDNER (voice-over): The federal claims against the accused Oath Keepers even mentioned during the second impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump.

SWALWELL: The leader was given directions to where representatives were thought to be sheltering and instructions to quote "turn on gas, seal them in."

SIDNER (voice-over): An accused leader of the group that day, Caldwell denies any involvement with the Oath Keepers. His attorney claims the FBI has shown no evidence of him inside the Capitol. In court papers, his lawyer says he worked for the FBI and has held a top security clearance since 1979.

CAPITOL INSURRECTIONISTS: USA! USA!

SIDNER (voice-over): But this is also Caldwell talking about members of Congress on January sixth.

THOMAS CALDWELL, ALLEGED OATH KEEPERS LEADER: Every single (bleep) in there is a traitor. Every single one.

SIDNER (voice-over): A source with inside knowledge of how the Oath Keepers operate told CNN about a dozen members were in federal law enforcement but purposely kept off the group's official membership database.

SIDNER (on camera): Would it be a surprise that someone was in federal law enforcement was a member of the Oath Keepers?

ALEX FRIEDFELD, INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCHER, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Unfortunately, not, right? For years, Oath Keepers have been targeting, you know, military and law enforcement personnel, especially at the federal level, with their messaging recruitments.

SIDNER (voice-over): Federal prosecutors say just days before the attack, Caldwell discussed with another extremist bringing weapons across the Potomac via boat. "We could have our quick response team with the heavy weapons standing by, load them, and ferry them across the river to our waiting arms."

Federal agents say he also sent messages to accused Oath Keepers Crowl and Watkins. In this one to Crowl, he says, "I will probably do pre- strike on the fifth. Maybe can do some night hunting." And then mentions when his Oath Keeper friends from North Carolina will show up.

CAPITOL INSURRECTIONISTS: We want Trump!

SIDNER (voice-over): In video from January sixth, it appears the three may not have been acting alone. Watkins is seen with others marching towards the Capitol. The FBI said she was part of a group of eight to 10 people, all wearing paramilitary gear and Oath Keeper paraphernalia signifying their affiliation with the conspiracy-fueled anti-government group.

Here she is again behind the guy with the eye patch, the leader and founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, in the November Trump rally in D.C. Two months later, Rhodes is seen outside the Capitol during the attack. He has not been charged with any crime.

He was clear on his Oath Keepers mission in D.C. STEWART RHODES, FOUNDER, THE OATH KEEPERS: Our mission there, as we stated on -- in our called action to go to D.C. was what we always do -- protect people, protect venues, protect events. And it's a, you know, do VIP escorts.

SIDNER (voice-over): And some did, appearing to stand guard with Trump adviser Roger Stone. This is Oath Keeper Roberto Minuta of New Jersey, according to several people who know him.

Later that day, Minuta is seen yelling at police outside the Capitol. Soon after, a man wearing the same goggles and clothing is seen breaching the Capitol.

Despite the mounting evidence and a manhunt for some of his Oath Keepers, this is Rhodes 24 days after the siege talking about the current government.

RHODES: There is going to be resistance. The only question is will it be the spark?

SIDNER (voice-over): Rhodes is still spewing the lie that the election was stolen and egging on his followers to act.

RHODES: We've got to declare this regime to be illegitimate. We've got to declare everything that comes out of King Biden's mouth as illegitimate and null and void from inception because he is not a legitimate president.

[07:55:05]

FRIEDFELD: He is continuing to use violent rhetoric and spread conspiracies that frame today's events in a way that necessitates action on the part of his followers.

SIDNER (voice-over): Though Rhodes says it was a mistake for people to actually go inside the Capitol that day --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep pushing.

SIDNER (voice-over): -- even in light of the insurrection, his rhetoric has not changed.

RHODES: They have plans for us that they know we'll rebel against. And they're afraid because there are 365 million of us. We outnumber them vastly, and we're armed -- we're well-armed. So they have a problem and so they're afraid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: Still spewing that rhetoric.

We reached out, by the way, to Robert Minuta. Someone at his business told us that he had no comment.

We also tried to reach Jessica Watkins and Donovan Crowl, who are now charged with conspiracy charges in that Capitol attack. So far, they do not have attorneys and they are currently in jail -- John.

BERMAN: You know, Sara, it was really interesting hearing Infowars people going on with these crazy, dangerous notions.

Are there any of these Oath Keepers who saw what happened on January sixth and have come forward and say you know what, it's wrong -- we don't any part of this anymore?

SIDNER: Yes. You know, in a really strong statement from the Oath Keepers in North Carolina, one of the state coordinators sent a letter to the sheriff and that letter was shared with us.

Basically, they said that they were horrified at what they saw at the Capitol. That they did show up that day -- they were in D.C. to support Donald Trump -- but when they saw the attack on the Capitol they wanted nothing to do with it. And the state coordinator went on to say that the men and women of North Carolina believe that the national leadership of the Oath Keepers could have stopped this and did nothing.

They want nothing more to be -- to do with this group and they don't want to be affiliated anymore. They are going to do their own thing. They said that this was a sad event in our nation's history, John.

BERMAN: Sara Sidner, terrific reporting. I'm so glad that you're digging into this and finding these things out. It's important for people to know what happened and what's still happening --

SIDNER: Yes, yes.

BERMAN: -- in our country with this. Appreciate it.

NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Biden returned to the White House with one item at the top of his list -- getting his COVID relief bill through Congress.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's urgent that we get it. A lot of the current relief will expire in the middle of March.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): The American people want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. It is popular. It is what justice demands.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Here in Texas, residents are experiencing some of the worst winter weather of their lives.

JUDGE LINA HIDALGO, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The next few days are going to be very tough.

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D), KENTUCKY: We did not make it through almost a year of a pandemic to lose people to a snow or an ice storm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

President Joe Biden's first presidential town hall is tonight with CNN. It is live from Milwaukee. The president will get a chance to make his case directly to the American people for his $1.9 trillion relief package that he hopes to pass by next month when existing benefits expire.

President Biden is certain to face questions about vaccinations and their distribution. A bipartisan group of governors wrote a letter to Biden saying that his administration's handling of coordinator of vaccines needs to be better.

How about the reopening of schools? That's also facing scrutiny.

And while Mr. Biden is eager to move forward, it's clear that questions about the Capitol insurrection persist. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing the creation of an independent commission to investigate the deadly siege, similar to the 9/11 commission.

BERMAN: Overnight, Sen. Richard Burr became the latest Republican to be censured by his state party in North Carolina for voting to convict the former president.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger's own family wrote him a scathing letter published by "The New York Times" saying that they're embarrassed to be related to him. And they accused him of being quote "in the devil's army."

CAMEROTA: OK, more on that.

But joining us now, CNN chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny, and CNN political analyst Seung Min Kim. She's a White House reporter at "The Washington Post." Great to see both of you.

Seung Min, what is the White House's plan for tonight? What message does President Biden want to get out to the American public?

SEUNG MIN KIM, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST (via Cisco Webex): First and foremost, they really want to get out just the necessity of getting this $1.9 trillion package passed as soon as possible.

I mean, we have reported previously that we're looking at a roughly early March deadline. We talk a lot about how these extended federal unemployment benefits expire in the middle of March. But the way that these systems work, you can't -- Congress just can't pass a bill on, say, March 14th and expect the programs to continue without any interruption. So they really need to move fast.

They're really trying to drum up public support for the package. And right now, the public will show that it is on their side.