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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Texans Struggle For The Basics, Heat And Water, Amid Deep Freeze; Storm Slows Vaccine Distribution To A Crawl; WHO Expected To Release Coronavirus Origins Report Soon. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired February 19, 2021 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Good Friday morning. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Laura Jarrett. About 31 minutes past the hour here in New York.
Millions across Texas, after a week of freezing temperatures, are doing whatever they can to stay warm and alive.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got down all of the blankets out of the attic that -- like for every extra blanket we had -- and we all piled on the couch and just slept on the couch and depended on body heat, and that's probably what we'll do tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm out of candles, you know, for a little bit of light. We can't charge batteries, you know. We've got flashlights and we can't recharge the batteries.
There's no propane in the area to be found. We drove for an hour the other day looking for propane. There is none in the area.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No water. It's really bad. And I have a 7-year- old and it's like -- it's tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: One family resorted to burning their baby gate there to stay warm; others forced to line up with buckets for water out of a spigot.
About 13 1/2 million Texans have to boil their water now. That's almost half of the state. It includes Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
But if you're electric stove isn't working you can't boil water. If gas lines are frozen you can't boil water. So clean water, it's really hard to come by for millions of people right now. ROMANS: You know, water pressure also dropped after lines froze. Two
of seven hospitals in the Houston Methodist system, they just don't have water. One of them is hauling in water to flush the toilets.
And none of this is stopping an influx of patients. They need dialysis and treatment for carbon monoxide exposure.
And then scenes like this. Burst pipes sending freezing water into homes. These scenes are playing out across Texas.
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SHARON PETERSON, RESIDENT OF KATY, TEXAS: It's been a very long month this week, I guess you could say. Our house is basically destroyed. The plumber actually came this evening and he said there's so many cracked pipes, at this point, that he just thinks the whole house needs to be re-piped.
It's sort of like the hunger/thirst games around here trying to find what you need in a grocery store. It's just -- everything is gone.
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ROMANS: About 200,000 customers are still in the dark. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says remaining outages are tied to downed powerlines and the need to manually reconnect wires.
JARRETT: Blackouts are still underway to conserve what power is available. The problem is this Texas-only grid covers about 90 percent of the state and it's isolated from the rest of the country. So it can't simply import power from elsewhere to make up for the shortages.
Now, President Biden spoke with Gov. Abbott tonight -- or last night, I should say. He promised the federal government's help. It's an early test of leadership for the president. Responses to weather disasters in the past have proven to be a big predictor of success or failure for officials at all levels.
Well, miserable winter weather is still hitting Texas and it's spreading now to the east coast. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is live for us this morning. Derek, what should folks expect this weekend?
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes -- well, what is this, the fourth or fifth snowstorm for New York City this year? You need to expect another round of a fresh layer of snow on the ground if you're located in the Big Apple all the way to Boston, as well as D.C.
You can see the winter weather alerts in place right now from the mid- Atlantic to the southern New England region. Over 60 million Americans impacted by this particular storm.
Heads up, Delmarva Peninsula, this morning. You've got freezing rain accumulating rather quickly there. Otherwise, along the I-95 corridor running north to south, we've got a band of snowfall from D.C. -- or from New York to Boston. Focusing in on the Deep South where the arctic air mass is still in place, we have a couple more mornings -- two more mornings, in fact, where temperatures will drop below freezing.
[05:35:03]
And there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Look at the temperature difference between yesterday's daytime highs compared to today's. Dallas, for instance, will actually be above freezing today. Good news, but we still have that freeze-thaw cycle that can burst pipes and cause our water disruptions as well.
We've got to focus in on these low temperatures. These are important because they're still below freezing this morning and tomorrow morning -- Austin, Dallas to Little Rock, as well as Houston.
But we're headed in the right direction. Temperatures are going to moderate. In fact, things are looking rather pleasant -- I haven't said that word in a while in a weather forecast -- maybe reaching 70 degrees in places like Dallas and Houston by the middle of next week.
We like to see the shades of blue being replaced with yellows and reds, especially after this long duration arctic blast of air.
Laura, back to you.
JARRETT: Yes, pleasant is what we need to hear right now, but it's still going to take a while to recover --
VAN DAM: Right.
JARRETT: -- from everything that folks went through this week.
Derek, thank you.
ROMANS: All right.
Health officials say the entire COVID vaccination system will have to work double-time to make up for ground lost this week. Distribution slowed across the country because the weather held up delivery from hubs in Louisville and Memphis.
The big shipping companies are scrambling. FedEx says it's leaning on its number-two hub in Indianapolis and regional hubs in Oakland and Newark to get vaccine where it's supposed to be.
CNN's Alexandra Field reports.
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ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Christine and Laura, the weather causing cascading problems all across the country when it comes to vaccine distribution, threatening to slow that (INAUDIBLE) progress to get more shots into arms. People having trouble getting to vaccination sites, and vaccination sites unable to administer vaccines. But mostly, it's the shipping delays that we are seeing across the
country that is causing the majority of the problems. Storms around FedEx hubs and UPS hubs in Memphis and Louisville a large part of the problem.
UPS says they had to shut down their hub in Louisville for the first time in their history. It's back up and running. FedEx says they are prioritizing the shipment of vaccines, but that weather is still affecting a large part of their network.
States are feeling the strain. Here in New York City, citing a shortage of vaccine supply, they've had to shut down some sites and delay the opening of other sites. And right here at this site in Brooklyn, they're prioritizing, only giving second doses of the vaccine -- Christine, Laura.
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JARRETT: Alexandra Field, thank you for that.
Well, President Biden is heading to Michigan today to visit Pfizer as Democrats plan an all-out push to get a coronavirus relief bill passed, and soon.
CNN's Daniella Diaz is live on Capitol Hill with us this morning. Daniella, how is the president keeping up momentum on this bill?
DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, Laura.
As you said, President Biden is planning to visit this Michigan plant -- this Pfizer Michigan plant to try to continue promoting his massive $1.9 [billion] COVID-19 package.
House Democrats are taking a major step to pass this package, starting with the House Budget Committee meeting early next week to pass this. Then it will go to the full House chamber for a vote. After that, it will go to the Senate where they're trying to pass this using budget reconciliation, which means it needs a simple majority, or 51 votes to pass.
If every single Democratic senator signs on, Vice President Kamala Harris will likely be the tiebreaking vote for this.
Then, the House and Senate will reconcile the differences of their bill, where it will then go to Vice -- or to President Biden's desk. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was clear she's hoping to see this on Biden's desk by mid-March because she thinks it's important that this get passed before millions of Americans lose their unemployment benefits -- Laura.
JARRETT: All right, Daniella. Thank you so much.
ROMANS: All right.
Vice President Kamala Harris broke the glass ceiling at the White House, but on Main Street, it is a national emergency for women at work.
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KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In one year, the pandemic has put decades of the progress we have collectively made for women workers at risk.
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ROMANS: Women more likely to work in customer-facing part-time jobs slammed by layoffs. Women are down 5.3 million jobs during the pandemic -- the majority of jobs lost. And women are more likely to have childcare and eldercare responsibilities.
Two and a half million women have dropped out of the workforce altogether. The vice president said 2 1/2 million women dropping out is a national emergency that could be addressed in President Biden's American Rescue Plan.
Putting women back to work is crucial for the economy recovery. The consulting giant Accenture is going to start hiring women for jobs in its Midwest division as soon as possible. Those jobs will be in technology, strategy, and consulting. Accenture says it hopes to hire more moms in other divisions of the company.
But you're hearing from consultants -- labor consultants, saying that the economy can't really recover unless you get women fully back into the workforce again. It's a -- it's a real problem both for women and their progress over the last generation and for the economy, Laura.
JARRETT: You know, there was a great magazine cover that I saw. I think it was "New York" magazine that said this is not working. I think that -- you know, that just puts it so well for so many people.
ROMANS: Yes. And a reminder that women are -- have this balance that is not 50-50 of home --
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JARRETT: No.
ROMANS: -- and work.
We'll be right back.
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JARRETT: Any day now, we're expecting a report from the World Health Organization about the origins of coronavirus. But in a preemptive strike, Beijing is pushing its own narrative, trying to sow doubt and deflect blame.
CNN's David Culver is live in Shanghai for us. David, for more than a year, it's been widely accepted that this virus originated in China. But now, there's this new conspiracy theory, if you will. Explain what is going on here. DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura, one of many narratives that's being pushed here by Chinese officials through state media, as well as social media.
And what we were doing is combing through some of the digital data analysis from the past several months. Our team was looking at a trend of what seemed to be a surge in renewing some of the conspiracy theories -- one, in particular, that came out of the Chinese government. And that was that this virus originated in a U.S. Army medical research lab in Maryland.
[05:45:13]
Now, there is no evidence to support that allegation. Nonetheless, it was first circulated in March of last year and then it was pushed in an extreme way on state and social media in January. It just so happened to go out as the WHO field team was here in China beginning their source tracing mission to try to figure out what exactly caused this virus.
Now, the question that's been asked is are people buying this. One U.K.-based organization did a survey of folks from around the world, and people here within China who responded to that survey -- some 30 percent -- do believe that the virus started in the United States.
And we should also point out that anecdotally, the folks that I speak with here, they just have doubts. They simply do not know and they want to see what the science will say about all of this.
The reality is the science is facing a lot of politicized aspects to it. I mean, they are facing a sensitive environment and atmosphere that they're trying to push through as they then release these findings. And we're expecting the initial report to come out in the coming days.
All of that to say though, Laura, as you hear these theories put out there -- one narrative that the virus was even imported on frozen foods, which WHO is looking into as possible -- but it's just muddying the waters and it's causing more confusion and sowing more doubt. And that seems to be the intention.
JARRETT: The battle against misinformation goes on.
David, thank you so much for being there for us.
ROMANS: All right, to South Dakota now where the attorney general is charged with three misdemeanors for striking and killing a man with his car last summer. Jason Ravnsborg avoiding more serious felony charges. He could face up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine on each charge of careless driving, driving out of his lane, and operating a motor vehicle while on the phone.
Questions were raised early on about whether the state's top law enforcement official told the truth when he first reported this incident. JARRETT: Former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole is battling stage-four lung cancer. The former Kansas senator says he will begin treatment on Monday.
In 1997, President Clinton awarded Dole the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2018, Congress awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal.
Dole is 97 years old.
ROMANS: We wish him well, and his family.
New York City's Transit Authority says it's avoiding a doomsday scenario of major service cuts for now. The MTA says it won't have to impose a possible 40 percent cut to subway service it warned of through 2022 thanks to federal funding received in December.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer played a critical role in securing financing for transit agencies last year. He says the MTA can expect at least $6 billion from President Biden's stimulus plan.
JARRETT: A scientific achievement starts with a ferret? Meet Elizabeth Ann, the first clone of a U.S. endangered species. With her signature black feet, she's a genetic copy of an animal that died more than 30 years ago. We're told Elizabeth Ann was born in December and is being raised at a U.S. Fish & Wildlife facility in Colorado.
ROMANS: Wow, that's something.
Let's get a check on CNN Business this Friday morning to end the week. Looking at markets around the world, a mixed performance in Asian shares. They are closed now for the week. And Europe has opened slightly higher.
On Wall Street, checking out futures, also slightly higher -- searching for direction, really, after falling overnight. Stocks closed lower on Thursday. The Dow down 119 points one day after hitting a record high. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also down a little bit.
Markets fell after the Treasury secretary pushed the need for stimulus.
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JANET YELLEN, TREASURY SECRETARY: We're digging out of a deep hole. We think it's very important to have a big package that addresses the pain this has caused.
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ROMANS: That pain more evident in the latest jobless claims report. Another 861,000 Americans filed for the very first time for unemployment benefits last week, but that's not the overall number. On top of that number, about 516,000 people filed for benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Altogether, that's nearly 1.4 million people filing for the very first time for benefits.
The benefits cliff for millions is just one month away unless Congress acts.
All right, breaking business news this hour. The U.K. Supreme Court has ruled Uber drivers are workers, not independent contractors. Uber may be forced to grant additional benefits to drivers, including paid time off and minimum wage. Uber says the decision will only apply to a small number of its drivers.
No practical impact for U.S. drivers, but it's clear there is momentum with the gig economy workers. We'll see how the market reacts as the day goes on, Laura.
JARRETT: Yes, it's a huge issue.
Well, the NBA reverses course, announcing the All-Star game is back on. Andy Scholes has this morning's Bleacher Report. Andy, what happened?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (via Cisco Webex): Well, you know, they changed their minds, I guess. It had been widely reported that this was going to happen -- that the NBA was going to change their mind about holding the annual All-Star game and now it's official.
The game is going to take place in Atlanta on March seventh, but a little bit of a twist. Instead of being held over the weekend, all the events are going to be in one night. No fans in the stands. The skills challenge and three-point contest are going to happen before the game and then the slam-dunk contest is going to be held at halftime.
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Now, LeBron James and other stars have been critical of the league for changing their minds about holding the game. And last night on TNT, Commissioner Adam Silver defended the decision to have the event during the pandemic.
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ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: All-Star is part of our league, no different than the games we play.
And I'd just end by saying it begins and ends with the fans. And as I said, this is -- this is where -- this is an event our fans love to see. They love to see our players come together. But, you know, nothing comes without controversy during the pandemic.
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SCHOLES: Yes. The NBA also revealing the 10 stars for the game. LeBron and Kevin Durant, the top vote-getters in each conference, so they're going to be the ones drafting the teams. That's going to take place March fourth. The game is going to have the same format as last year when they played to a target score in that final period. A pretty awesome game last year in Chicago. One of the best finishes we've ever seen for an All-Star game.
LeBron, in the meantime, passing another career milestone on the court last night becoming only the third player in NBA history to score 35,000 career points. Now, LeBron crossing the barrier with that free throw there in the second quarter against the Nets. The only other players with more points than LeBron now, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
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LEBRON JAMES, FORWARD, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: It's a privilege to do what I love to do and that's play the game of basketball and continue to inspire the youth. And for me to be linked with some of the greats that ever played this game is always an honor.
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SCHOLES: Now, LeBron James finishing with 32 points but it wasn't enough. The Nets beating the Lakers 109-98 for their season-best fifth-straight victory. Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant both not playing in that potential finals preview due to injury.
All right. Finally, the Anaheim Ducks having a bit of fun last night offering a free beer for anyone in attendance. Now, Christine, a great promotion in theory. Only problem there, fans still aren't allowed at Ducks games. So while they had that for all the fans, no one was there to enjoy it.
ROMANS: It's great --
SCHOLES: Maybe they'll bring it back when they do eventually allow fans.
ROMANS: It's great for everybody who gave up drinking in Lent, right? Free beer -- it's your Lent beer that doesn't exist.
All right, thanks.
SCHOLES: Yes.
ROMANS: Nice to see you, Andy.
SCHOLES: All right.
ROMAN: All right.
A huge moment for NASA, nine years and three hundred million miles in the making.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Touchdown confirmed. Perseverance safely on the surface of Mars ready to begin seeking signs of past life.
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ROMANS: The perilous journey of NASA's Perseverance rover, it ended safely. It touched down on Mars -- unbelievable. Within minutes of the landing, the rover was sending its first stunning images of the red planet back to earth.
And now, the science begins. Perseverance will roam the surface searching for signs of ancient life on Mars. So cool.
JARRETT: Very cool, very cool.
Well, with his state in the midst of a historic crisis, Flyin' Ted Cruz took off for Cancun. The move was low-hanging fruit for the late- night hosts.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!": Want to get away from your constituents? Hop aboard the "Ted Cruise."
When your power goes out at home we go out to sea. Leave your troubles behind. Our toilets aren't frozen but our margaritas are. Watch the sun set over the state you abandoned.
TREVOR NOAH, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL'S "THE DAILY SHOW": What were you thinking?
NOAH IMPERSONATING CRUZ: I know my people are freezing and hungry right now, so what they need is a photo of my beach body because if they see me in a Speedo, their eyes will burst into flames and the whole family can warm their hands over those flames.
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JARRETT: It's just -- you know, part of the thing is obviously, you don't want to detract away from the real --
ROMANS: Exactly.
JARRETT: -- suffering that is going on in Texas right now. But it is just so confounding that he would do this, especially someone who has been so harsh against other politicians who have found themselves in the same situation.
ROMANS: It was just so easy. Those jokes just wrote themselves. Ted Cruz handed it to them.
All right, thanks for joining us, everybody. I'm Christine Romans.
JARRETT: Have a good weekend, everyone -- at least try to. I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.
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ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY. It is Friday, February 19th, 6:00 here in New York.
Jim joins me again. Great to have you.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Good to be here.
CAMEROTA: OK. So the crisis in Texas continues this morning. Many do begin to get their power back but they are still in the midst of a massive water crisis. Millions of Texans do not have safe drinking water. Nearly half of the state has been ordered to boil water before drinking it -- some having to go to extreme measures, like boiling snow.
Many dealing with burst pipes and major damage to their homes.
Overnight, this huge fire broke out at a San Antonio apartment building shortly after the water was turned off there.
This water crisis also putting a major strain on hospitals, some having to move critically ill patients to other facilities, and others hauling in water just to flush their toilets.
So last night, President Biden spoke with the Texas governor and prepared for FEMA to start sending these federal supplies and resources to the state.
SCIUTTO: As Texas -- Texans suffer, Sen. Ted Cruz is back in the state.
