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FDA Says, Johnson & Johnson's Single-Shot Vaccine is Safe and Effective; Tiger Woods Awake, Responsive, and Recovering after Surgery; Top Secret Saudi Docs Show Khashoggi Assassins Used Private Jets Owned by Company Seized by Crown Prince. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired February 24, 2021 - 13:00   ET

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

[13:00:00]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Hello on this Wednesday. I'm Ana Cabrera and I want to welcome our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world.

We begin with a potential game changer in the devastating pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 500,000 Americans. The FDA revealing that Johnson &Johnson's vaccine, which requires just a single dose, is 85 percent effective against severe coronavirus.

Now, even more encouraging perhaps is the data hints that this vaccine may even prevent asymptomatic infection. J&J found after about nine weeks after the vaccine was given, it seemed about 74 percent effective against asymptomatic infection. Meaning it doesn't just keep you from getting sick, but it may keep you from getting sick at all. J&J researchers believe this vaccine may start preventing infection about four weeks after the shot.

Today, the FDA is confirming Johnson & Johnson has met the requirements to become the third U.S. vaccine to receive emergency use authorization. Note, official authorization hasn't happened just yet.

Now, the White House says as soon as that comes through, millions of doses could be released next week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: The governors are carefully planning their efforts and getting ready for the possible new vaccine. If authorized, we are ready to roll out this vaccine without delay.

If an EUA is issued, we anticipate allocating 3 to 4 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Also from the president's COVID team, 25 million free washable face masks will soon be offered to the public.

Let's discuss with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen. She also served as Baltimore's health commissioner. And, Dr. Wen, you are a volunteer in the Johnson & Johnson trial. So I'm sure you are extra paying more attention today. What is your reaction to today's announcement, especially regarding the prevention of asymptomatic infection?

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: It's all really good news, Ana. But the end point that I think really matters is the end point that prevents severe disease, especially severe enough disease that causes hospitalization and death because, ultimately, that's what we care about.

We don't get a vaccine because we are worried about a slight fever and a cough. We worry about the severe disease that's caused, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is very effective at preventing severe disease, also a one-dose vaccine game changer in terms of ease of administration.

It can be stored at refrigerator temperatures, which also is very important. That means that there are community pharmacies and regular doctors' offices that wouldn't have these medical-grade arctic temperature freezers to store other vaccines but can easily store the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

And what you mentioned about too asymptomatic transmission, the data are still -- it's a small data set looking at asymptomatic transmission, but it does give increasing evidence that getting the vaccine prevents you not just from getting sick yourself but probably also reduces your chance of spreading the virus to others too.

CABRERA: And what kind of a game changer would that be? Obviously, we've been advised to continue wearing masks following a vaccine shot in case that transmission was still occurring with people who were asymptomatic after getting the vaccine. So, does that change how we may be able to operate in society?

WEN: I do think that people who are fully vaccinated need to keep on wearing masks and keep on watching themselves in public places. But I think where the guidance could change is what they do in settings, for example, seeing family members. If you're fully vaccinated, I think a lot of people are now eager, for example, to see their grand kids and their kids and other people they haven't seen in a long time.

And if you now know that you're not only protected, but it's also pretty unlikely that you're going to be spreading it to others, I think many people will be so eager to see their loved ones. And this also has huge implications on the economy. People might be going out to restaurants and traveling if they know they're not going to be carriers.

CABRERA: So, how soon would this vaccine be made available if and when it's authorized? And a lot of viewers have also been asking, if they have the choice, which is the best vaccine option? How do you answer that?

WEN: Well, as for when it's going to be available, the hope is as early as maybe even next week, because the independent committee of the FDA is meeting on Friday. They're going to make a recommendation to the FDA. The CDC is then going to be meeting to discuss this further. But this vaccine could be shipped out by at some point next week assuming that everything else passes. As for what vaccine people should take, I have a very specific answer here, which is whatever vaccine is made available to you. There are advantages and disadvantages of all the vaccines. And actually it's hard to compare them side by side because they were tested at different times.

And we still don't know a lot of information. For example, it might be that older people or people with certain medical conditions can respond better to one vaccine versus another. We don't know that yet. But with the pandemic surging, as it is, with the likelihood of someone getting ill from coronavirus, why not just take whatever vaccine is available to you?

[13:05:04]

You can always get some other vaccine at a later point as a booster shot. But get whatever vaccine you have available to you right now.

CABRERA: And all the vaccines available currently have high level of efficacy, according to all of the science. Dr. Leana Wen, it's always great to talk with you. Thank you so much for your information and insights.

New signs today that one of President Biden's cabinet picks may end up being his first failed nomination. The Senate postponed two committee votes today for Neera Tanden, the president's pick for the Office of Management and Budget.

Now, she's been under fire for past partisan comments, specifically tweets, attacking lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. And this delay on Tanden is just part of a critical delay for the president's cabinet. His choices for secretary of interior as well as Health and Human Services go back before Senate panelists today as well. Deb Haaland and Xavier Becerra have been getting heat from Republicans, now, Haaland for her stance on the fossil fuels industry, Becerra on whether he has the right experience for the job.

Also today, the president's choice to lead the CIA, former Ambassador William Burns, is taking senators' questions. So let's turn to our CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent now, Manu Raju.

Manu, I mentioned two committee votes on Neera Tanden's nomination were stopped today. Any word on when they might happen?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not yet. The chairman of the committee, Gary Peters, and one of the committees indicated that they don't know if they will even have the votes yet because they are trying to have discussions with their own members about where they are, and specifically one Democrat, Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Democrat, someone who has not said how she will come down on this nomination. I asked her about it. She declined to comment. Her office is declining to comment. And if she defects, then there's almost certainly no path for Neera Tanden to get the necessary votes to be confirmed.

Now, the White House is indicating that it will still push ahead on Tanden, hoping they could get Sinema's support. But if they do get Sinema's support, then the big question will be if any Republicans would break ranks and defect to save the nomination. One Republican, Lisa MurkowskI of Alaska, has refused to say herself where she might come down because she says she wants to see what the committees what they do first before announcing their position.

Now, the problem for Democrats is because it's a 50/50 Senate, one of their members, Joe Manchin, has announced he will oppose the nomination. So that's why they need at least one Republican to break ranks. But we're seeing a wall of Republican opposition because of her past progressive views and also her past attacks on Twitter leveled against them over the last several years was she was serving at the head of a progressive think tank.

Now, she has apologized for those tweets. Said she regretted a lot of those tweets. But still not enough for Republicans who believe that this will be the first nomination to go down, they believe that those member let's all be in line to reject this nomination. So they say the writing is on the wall, and the question is will the White House agree and decide ultimately to pull the nomination? They're not saying they will yet, but many in this body believe they will.

CABRERA: Okay, Manu Raju, we know you will stay on top of every latest twist and turn. And we'll come back to you if anything happens during this hour.

I do want to dig into a little bit more of what Manu was talking about, an issue with at least two of Biden's nominees are past tweets criticizing Republicans, specifically, many of the lawmakers who get to vote on cabinet confirmations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY): Just a couple of months ago, you tweeted, Republicans don't believe in science. Pretty broad statement that you made there.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Calling Mitch McConnell Moscow Mitch is probably not a very good thing to say.

SEN. JAMES LANKFORD (R-OK): You've called Republicans criminally ignorant, corrupt, and the worst.

SEN. ROB PORTMAN (R-OH): You wrote that Susan Collins is, quote, the worst, and Tom Cotton is a fraud, that vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz.

You called Leader McConnell Moscow Mitch and Voldemort, and on and on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: By the way, the backlash against Neera Tanden is no doubt bipartisan. She's attacked progressives as well as Republicans in the past. But it is interesting how these Republican senators are suddenly monitoring tweets when they claim to have not seen President Trump's over the past five years. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RICK SCOTT (R-FL): I didn't see it. So I'd have to -- I mean, I'm sure that my office will be able to get me a copy of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just saw the tweet and I know nothing of the episode.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it should be surprising in general because he tweets a lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I just read the tweet, but I don't know the reference point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't shock me that they come out often.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not giving a daily commentary on the president's tweets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't read that but I'll go check it out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I learned a long time ago not to comment on tweets.

REPORTER: What do you make of the president's tweet this morning? Does the president need to be more cautious?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: So that last one from Republican Senator John Cornyn. Well, this is Cornyn now when it's a Democratic president pushing a Democratic nominee.

[13:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): My friendly advice to President Biden is to withdraw Neera Tanden's nomination and select someone who, at the very least, has not promoted wild conspiracy theories and openly bashed people on both sides of the aisle that she happens to agree with -- disagree with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: I mean, it's like the last five years didn't even happen.

Cornyn, as you saw on video, often didn't like to weigh in on Donald Trump's rhetoric or the conspiracy theories he was touting. But now he's apparently a champion of morally rebuking them. And if promoting wild conspiracy theories is something he is passionate about eliminating, perhaps he might talk to one of his colleagues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): He describes four different types of people, plain clothes militants, agents provocateurs, fake Trump protesters, and then disciplined uniformed column of attackers. I think these are the people that probably planned this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Total nonsense. At least one Republican is willing to call it out. This is Congressman Adam Kinzinger's tweet responding to Johnson, quote, it's disgraceful for a sitting senator to spread disinformation so blatantly. It's a disservice to the people he serves to continue lying to them like this. It's dangerous and it must stop.

So, will Tiger Woods ever golf again? New insight today into his injuries after that terrifying car wreck we brought to you as breaking news yesterday.

Plus, security officials in charge during the attack on the Capitol pointing fingers and blaming intelligence. We'll show you why that doesn't add up.

And one of Donald Trump's loudest Republican critics says if Trump runs in 2024, he'll win.

This is CNN's special live coverage. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:15:00]

CABRERA: Welcome back. Golf legend Tiger Woods is awake, responsive, and recovering today at a Los Angeles hospital. But we are learning he has extensive injuries. Doctors say they had to insert a rod into his leg to treat open fractures and a combination of screws and pins to stabilize his foot and his ankle after this accident. It may be days or even weeks before investigators know exactly what caused yesterday's rollover crash.

CNN's Dan Simon is on the scene for us. Dan?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Ana. The question remains, how and why did Tiger Woods lose control of his SUV? We know from the sheriff that he was speeding, but just how fast he was going, we don't know. That, of course, is part of the investigation.

Hopefully, through his team, Tiger Woods might be able to offer some recollections in terms of what happened. We know that he is alert and awake in his hospital room.

Being here in person, you can fully understand that if you're traveling at a high rate of speed and you're not familiar with this area or familiar with the curves, that it can be dangerous. We know that it's not uncommon for accidents to occur here. But we know that he was speeding and that he hit the median, and then hit the curb and hit a tree and the car rolled several times.

Tiger Woods was pinned inside that vehicle, unable to get out on his own. An axe was used, a pry bar to get him out of the vehicle, put on a backboard, and then brought to the hospital.

And we know from the sheriff that Tiger Woods was wearing a seatbelt and that it likely saved his life. Ana?

CABRERA: Lucky to be alive, direct quote from the sheriff. Thank you, Dan Simon.

Joining us now is former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann. Thank you so much for being with us to discuss this injury.

We all know that you've been through a similar ordeal yourself. You suffered a very similar injury, fractures to your tibia and fibula. That was back in 1985. What do you think Tiger Woods is going through right now?

JOE THEISMANN, FORMER WORLD CHAMPION QUARTERBACK AND ENTREPRENEUR: well, first of all, Ana, thank you for giving me a chance to spend a little time here.

I just think he's -- knowing Tiger as I've come to know him in the few times we've been together, he's determined to be able to come back from this. Time and time again, he has come back from injury. But I would say, first of all, I'm so thankful he's okay. Our prayers go out to him for a speedy recovery. The injury that he had was very similar to mine and Alex Smith's. It was an open compound fracture. The rod going in is an excellent thing from a stabilization standpoint.

The biggest concern right now is to keep the infection out of the wound. That's what Alex Smith went through. That's where we were different in our recovery process. Alex had a series of operations to go through to deal with infections. Mine was sealed up and basically stayed solid all the way through.

But I'm just so thankful he's alive. I'm thankful he's going to be okay. And there isn't a more determined human being that I know of or have heard about than Tiger Woods. And if anybody is going to come back from this, it will be Tiger Woods.

CABRERA: Tell us, what is the recovery process like? Because you've been there, you've done that. What will he have to endure in the next weeks, months, years, perhaps?

[13:20:00]

THEISMANN: In Tiger's case, it's unique because he's gone through this before from a recovery standpoint. How do I get myself back to doing the things I want to do? Right now, it's the quality of life for him and his family, being able to spend time with his kids and the people he cares about.

The big thing is the mental part of it. Are you going to be able to get through the mental part of it? He has recovered from so many different surgeries. He's been counted out so many different times. For people to say he'll never do something again, he brushes that off.

I think the most important thing for him right now is just to heal and get well. And you hate to say this to an athlete or anybody that has an impatient nature to him, he's got to be able to patient and take the time. Let the doctors and the rehab do what it's supposed to. And the mental part of it, he handle it's better than anybody like I've seen.

CABRERA: How long did it take before you could walk again?

THEISMANN: It wasn't a question of walking. It was being able to function do the things that I need to do. I never came back to the game of football. I never had a chance to go back and play. It took me two years really to be able to get out on the football field and be able to do some of the things in practices when I was in broadcasting. I would throw it at different camps.

Alex Smith is a great barometer. It took him almost two years to the day to be able to get back on the football field.

But, again, the one other thing that is undefeated when it comes to the rehabilitation of anybody, it's age, and that's the thing that Tiger has to look at right now. And that's the thing we have to be conscious of is his age right now and the process that he's going to have to go through. And where will he be at the end of this.

Whether he plays golf again or not is insignificant to me as long as he is okay and able to live his life. He's the greatest golfer we've ever seen. He means so much more to so many more people than just in the world of sports.

We're lucky to have been able to watch Tiger Woods go through his journey in life and be able to see the things that he's accomplished and the hurdles that he's gone over. We should all learn a lesson from what he's been able to do.

CABRERA: No doubt, we will all be rooting for him for a full recovery. Joe Theismann, thank you, I really appreciate your time today. Good to see you.

THEISMANN: You're welcome.

CABRERA: Ahead, why security officials are blaming intelligence failures for the Capitol attack. But that isn't the whole story.

Plus, the Justice Department is having trouble keeping the riot suspects behind bars.

And we have this just in. One day before the U.S. releases the unclassified report into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, CNN is learning new details about the assassin squad. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:25:00]

CABRERA: As soon as tomorrow, the U.S. intelligence community is expected to release its highly anticipated unclassified report containing new details about the 2019 killing of Journalist and Washington Post Columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Now, we having breaking news related to this story today. CNN has just obtained documents labeled top secret that show another clear link between the team of assassins and the crown prince.

CNN's Senior National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt is breaking this story. Alex, what do these top secret documents tell us about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, these documents, which were filed in a Canadian civil lawsuit show yet another clear link between the Saudi crown prince, who is known as MBS, Mohammad Bin Salman, and the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Now, these documents reveal that the two jets that transported the Saudi hit team were operated by a company that the crown prince had taken control of less than a year prior. He had ordered that this aviation company be transferred into the country's investment fund, which MBS controls.

Now, the fact that this fleet of planes belonged to this fund, which MBS is the chairman of, has not been previously reported. And in the words of a former director of the Middle East for the CIA, it's just more potential evidence that MBS was in the know about Khashoggi's killing.

Now, how did these documents come to light? They were filed in a lawsuit against a former top Saudi intelligence official who accuses MBS of trying to kill him as well just days after Khashoggi.

Now, we see in these documents, which include letters from December 2017 that are signed by a Saudi minister and topped with the words top secret, not for circulation and very urgent. This minister writes that MBS is instructing the investment fund to immediately take over this company, which is called Sky Prime Aviation, as well as a number of other companies. And it was so important to MBS, according to this minister, that he writes that the crown prince was to be kept abreast of the progress of the takeover of these companies.

Now, Ana, I spoke with a lawyer for Khashoggi's former fiancee, who calls this revelation extremely important. He says that it shows a direct line to MBS killing Jamal Khashoggi. Now, we asked Saudi officials for a response and they have not yet gotten back to us. Ana?

CABRERA: Just one more piece of the puzzle now coming into focus here, Alex, the intel report that's set to come out tomorrow. What more could we learn?

MARQUARDT: Well, this is an intel report that is actually written into law. This is required of the director of National Intelligence to release this unclassified report about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

[13:30:04]