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Don Lemon Tonight
President Biden Looking To Sign The COVID Relief Package; The Only Black Senator Compares Wokeism To White Supremacy; President Biden Moving Forward On Distributing The Aid; GOP Trying To Suppress Vote In Key States; Meghan Markle Complained To ITV About Piers Morgan's Comments; Racism Issue Cuts Like A Knife. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired March 10, 2021 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00]
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST (on camera): We are living through a complete referendum about what we want to be about. That's what Trump put us into. That's going to be his legacy other than lying.
Thank you for watching this show. "CNN TONIGHT," the big show with the big star, D. Lemon picks up the coverage. And you and I have just aged 50 years, even more than what happened with the last administration.
If we go back to Jim Crow-type laws in this country you can't give food and water to people waiting on line to vote?
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Yes.
CUOMO: You can't vote on Sundays.
CUOMO: Souls to the Polls.
CUOMO: Ten times the amount of minority voters as non-minority on Sundays.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: And that's just the beginning, and that's just in Georgia, a very important state.
LEMON: Well, that's how you know you're not selling the right thing because when you can't win by playing fairly, that you have to shape the rules in a way that will help you win. That will -- that will probably guarantee you'll win. What Republicans are doing now around the country, in Georgia -- in Georgia I think is ground zero, right? But it's not just Georgia. It's happening in a number of states.
CUOMO: Georgia, Arizona, 43 states --
LEMON: Right.
CUOMO: -- 250 laws and counting.
LEMON: Right. If you lost in ruby red states or states that were previously red, that was your fault. That's because you're selling the wrong thing. That's because you're not doing it right. And so, if -- you're right. If we go back to that, it is going back to Jim Crow. This is Jim Crow part two. Jim Crow two.
And what it shows though, I think more than anything, maybe this is the reason that Republicans are so hell bent on talking about Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head, because one hand is doing one thing and the other hand is doing the thing that is going to get them guarantee that they get elected. And that is going to hurt really black and brown voters. But they don't care because that's what's going to get them elected.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Well, and at the same time they're coaxing people along with this momentum of people are out to get you. They're out to destroy you.
LEMON: White grievance. White grievance. That's what it is.
CUOMO: And you know, I have to tell you, this is really frightening things. This is -- this is more important to me -- look, obviously we're in the middle of a pandemic. Obviously, you need relief. This is generational. This is right up there with the judges. If these laws pass and you don't have H.R.-1 which means that you get to decide state by state, you will have systemic disenfranchisement all over this country.
LEMON: All over the country. Yes. But that show --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: And you what, by the way, why I want to fight with Tim Kaine and I'm going to fight this more and more and more -- I don't want to fight too soon because it's like, you kind of blow your ammo --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Chris, you like to fight.
CUOMO: I like to fight. I do the job to fight.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: I fight the good fight. Don't always win but I always win it. Here's the thing. You know when the filibuster was brought in, right? This is Jim Crow.
LEMON: This is Jim Crow.
CUOMO: And you know I'm right.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Right.
CUOMO: They give them a disproportionate voice so they can fight against any kind of progress they don't like.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: And yes, they were southern Democrats. So what?
LEMON: A lot of this -- listen, during reconstruction Black people in this country started to gain some prominence, political office. They were elected to political office --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Amazing what happens when you let people be free and vote.
LEMON: Right.
CUOMO: And know things.
LEMON: And then the white folks who didn't like it said, no, we can't have that. So, they started creating all of these laws, right, the resurgence of the KKK. This is just the true history of this country which, I mean, we have to really, we've got to own up to it. And that's what -- that's what's happens.
So, you're right. And that is what's happening again. People are afraid as you saw with this insurrection, as you saw with the whole fake the election was stolen, people are afraid of the changing demographics of this country, but it's inevitable. It's inevitable. They're fighting a losing battle.
What they're trying to do is -- because America is going to be a minority-majority country. So, what they're trying to do is set themselves up so that even though they are the minority in the future that they will still be able to have power, political power, economic power and so on.
And so, thus the importance of not just waiting for a national election, a presidential election to get involved in politics, to go cast their ballot, you've got to do it in the off years. You have to pay attention to your local legislatures, what they're doing, your local officials, your council people, all of that.
You have to make sure you're engaged locally because it's not just the national level. All those local things affect what happens at the national level. Judges, Supreme Court judges --
CUOMO: Yes.
LEMON: -- municipal judges.
CUOMO: Districting.
LEMON: Districting, all of that.
CUOMO: Yes.
LEMON: And the big thing is what? When they -- when people -- the redrawing of the districts.
CUOMO: Yes, districting.
LEMON: That is the problem.
CUOMO: You know, redistricting it's a big deal. And one of the things that H.R.1 does means that even if you're the party in power you still have to have balance on the people who pick the districts. Of course, they don't like that.
[22:05:06]
But, you know, look, the sell that we have to be careful about because, you know, the right is really crafty and good and they use their media operatives well. They're saying, like even something like this tonight. This is why you can't trust the media. Look at that Lemon and Cuomo.
Look at them saying that's all America is, we're just racist, we're just bad. No, it's an and.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: America can give you great things and not great things.
LEMON: No, but that's what --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: There's racism in the country --
LEMON: But there's --
CUOMO: -- and there's people that are better than racism.
LEMON: There's untruth to what they are saying because that's what they are. I'm not saying by no means are we saying the entire country is racist. We're saying what they're doing is they're empowering the racists, the minority of racists who are in this country and they're using the minority of racists who are in this country to keep them in power.
They're pulling the wool over those people's eyes to keep them in power, therefore disenfranchising the people, the majority of the people in this country who would like us to what? Continue to strive for a more perfect union.
CUOMO: Right.
LEMON: Not perfect union, but a more perfect union, all of us together. But they realize in order for them to hang on to power, what they must do to pedal what they are selling that they have to disenfranchise the majority of good people in this country. Let's be clear about that. I'm glad you corrected that --
(CROSSTALK) CUOMO: Are you looking down your nose at me right now?
LEMON: Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I. Look at me.
CUOMO: Boy.
LEMON: I mean.
CUOMO: I got to go. Listen --
LEMON: Don't forget now -- remember. This wasn't my conversation with you last night. You didn't see the t-shirt I had. Someone sent me a t- shirt.
CUOMO: What did it say?
LEMON: Uppity.
CUOMO: Openly uppity.
LEMON: Openly uppity.
CUOMO: I love you, D. Lemon.
LEMON: I love you too. Let's continue to have these conversations.
CUOMO: Always.
LEMON (on camera): I love you the most of everybody.
This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.
So, this is big. Huge win for President Joe Biden tonight. Huge win -- and stick around because we have Jen Psaki. Jen Psaki's here to answer all of our questions, everything you want to know about this COVID relief bill, his top priority, the COVID relief bill, nearly $2 trillion worth of aid that Americans desperately need right now on its way to his desk for him to sign into law. And he's going to do it on Friday. The bill passing without one single Republican vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This bill represents a historic -- a historic -- victory for the American people. I look forward to signing it later this week. Everything in the American rescue plan addresses a real need, including investments to fund our entire vaccination effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): We are told that the president watched the vote in the Roosevelt room with Vice President Kamala Harris -- picture right there. And look, they're pointing at the screen. They're counting the votes.
As he prepares his first prime time address to the nation tomorrow, marking the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, polls show majority of Americans support the COVID relief bill, including a majority of Republicans who support larger tax credits for families.
Stimulus checks up to $1,400 and funds to get kids in grades K through 12 back in the classroom. Parents, wouldn't out love that? Students, wouldn't you love that? Kids, back in the classroom.
But -- there's always a but -- the GOP doubling down on being obstructionists, the party of no. They're still enthralled to a disgraced, twice-impeached, one-term former president. And today here's what we learned.
We learned more about just how far that twice-impeached, one-term former president -- disgraced president -- how far he's willing to go to hang on to power. We just discussed that. A never-before-heard call the second trying to push a Georgia official to find non-existent fraud to overturn the election, pushing his big lie. The call obtained by the Wall Street Journal.
(BEGIN VOICE CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You know, something happened there. Something bad happened and I hope you're doing that, that (Inaudible) to stop because if you -- you know, I hope you're going back two years as opposed to just checking, you know, one against the other, because that would just be sort of a signature check that didn't mean anything. But if you go back two years and if you can get to Fulton, you're going to find things that are unbelievable, the dishonesty that we've heard from.
(END VOICE CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Listen to that. Can you believe that? Always scheming. Always a scheme. Always a scheme. Can you imagine hearing a call like that from the current administration? Can't imagine it, can you? But that's what we lived through. That's what we survived. And it's amazing what some time and some distance, a perspective it gives you on that type of behavior.
[22:10:05]
Now it seems like, my gosh, wow, who would do something like that? Who would allow something like that? Who would allow something like that? You're going to hear more from that call a little bit later on in this broadcast, so stick around.
While President Joe Biden is about to sign a presidency-defining bill, the GOP, the party of no, trying to distract and deflect with some really shameful statements about race, like this disgusting claim that Black Lives Matter doesn't like families.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. GLENN GROTHMAN (R-WI): I know the strength that Black Lives Matters had in this last election. I know it's a group, that it doesn't like the old-fashioned family. Disturbed that we have another program here in which we're increasing the marriage penalty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Come on. Doesn't like the old-fashioned family. What does that mean when you're -- Black Lives Matter was about police brutality and violence and trying to keep family members and loved ones alive. Sounds like family values to me. What he said is not even coded racism. That's right out -- saying it right out loud. Saying it right out loud.
People show you who they are, huh? He thinks he can just throw it in as an aside about Black Lives Matter, like nothing, the old-fashioned family. What does old fashioned mean? Huh? What does old fashioned mean? What does that mean? Someone ask him that? Insulting millions and millions of Black families. Stacey Plaskett not having it, not any of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEL. STACEY PLASKETT (D), U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: How dare you -- how dare you -- say that Black Lives Matter, Black people do not understand old fashioned families. Despite some of the issues, some of the things that you have put forward that I've heard out of your mouth in the oversight committee, in your own district we have been able to keep our families alive for over 400 years and the assault on our families to not have Black lives or not even have Black families.
How dare you say that we are not interested in families in the Black community? That is outrageous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): It is outrageous. And again, I -- if I have to say this every single night of my life while I'm here, I will. You need to know the history of this country. Do you know how many Black families were separated during slavery? I've had my ancestry done twice. It is so hard to even find -- find records that go back even two generations sometimes because what? The intentional separation of black families. And no records. You know why? They were considered property.
So, it's -- God! It just angers me sometimes that people can be so ignorant. And then there's Tim Scott. Tim Scott is the only Black -- the only -- only -- Black Republican in the Senate telling Fox News -- of course Fox News -- that what he calls woke supremacy is as bad as white supremacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): Woke supremacy is as bad as white supremacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Does he want -- do you want to explain who these woke supremacists are? Because I looked really carefully and I didn't -- hang on before we go with the video. I haven't seen any woke supremacists. I've never saw -- I've never seen a woke supremacist lynching anybody. I never saw a woke supremacist denying anybody access to housing or a job or education or voting rights.
I never saw any woke supremacists enslaving anybody. I never saw any woke supremacists trying to keep people from marrying amongst different races. Come on, Tim Scott!
[22:15:01]
I didn't see any woke supremacists storming the blanking capitol. Where are the woke supremacists attacking police? Where are the woke supremacists hunting people in the halls of capitol and beating them with blue lives matter signs with white supremacist insignia on their shirts and carrying white supremacists' paraphernalia.
Guess who I saw. Guess who police officers were beaten by. Guess who wanted to hang the vice president. White supremacists, Tim Scott! What are you doing? The only Black Republican with a woke supremacist carrying the confederate battle flag in the nation's Capitol, Tim Scott. Tim!
Tim, I have to -- I know you don't want me to yell, but this is out -- this is ridiculous. You are gaslighting people. You are giving people misinformation. What are you doing, brother? What are you doing? What are you doing? You're not helping.
And then there's Lindsey Graham. Of course, Lindsey Graham. Five million dollars -- $5 million in aid to Black farmers in the COVID relief bill. He is calling that reparations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): If you're a farmer, your loan will be forgiven up to 120 percent of your loan -- not 100 percent, but 120 percent of your loan -- if you're socially disadvantaged. If you're African-American, some other minority. But if you're white person, if you're a white woman, no forgiveness as reparations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): This is 2021. Please tell me we're not going to fall for this. Why are we allowing people to do this? And why are people doing this? Lindsey Graham, why are you doing this? It's not helpful to the country. Senior Democratic leader James Clyburn slamming Graham for that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): He ought to be ashamed of himself. He knows the history in this country, and he knows what has happened to Black farmers. Lindsey ought to be ashamed.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: And what do you say to Lindsey Graham or whoever who says that this is a form of reparations?
CLYBURN: Well, I think you ought to go back and maybe go to church, get in touch with his Christianity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Thank you, Congressman Clyburn. Thank you, thank you, thank you. With all of that, there is the growing uproar over Meghan and Harry's revelations in the interview with Oprah, Meghan making a formal complaint today against Piers Morgan who left his morning TV job after repeatedly saying things like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, FORMER CO-HOST, ITV NEWS: I don't believe a word she says, Meghan Markle.
(CROSSTALK)
SUSANNA REID, CO-HOST, ITV NEWS: Well, that's a --
MORGAN: I wouldn't believe it if she read the weather report.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): It seems like a lot of people are more upset that she spoke out than they are about what she said, about her mental health and about racism. So, let's remember exactly what Meghan and Harry said. They said that a member of the royal family expressed concerns about how dark their unborn baby's skin would be. And they said that racism was a part of the reason that they left the U.K.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TV HOST: There was a conversation with you --
(CROSSTALK)
MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: With Harry.
WINFREY: -- about how dark your baby is going to be?
MARKLE: Potentially and what that would mean or look like.
WINFREY: Did you leave the country because of racism?
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: It was a large -- it was a large part of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So, that's their experience, according to them, OK? That's -- that's their experience. That's what they say. And let's remember, even the queen in her statement did not deny what Meghan and Harry said, she didn't deny the existence of racism. How could she? How could she? Think about it.
It was there from the very beginning. It is still there today. I talked to British Tv presenter Trisha Goddard last night, and she told me a lot of people in the U.K. just don't get the idea of systemic racism. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[22:19:59]
TRISHA GODDARD, TV PRESENTER: They don't use the term systemic racism in Britain because it goes over 90 percent of people's heads. In England, racism is someone coming up to you in the street calling you the n-word and punching you to the floor. I have so often -- I've been lectured by white people about what racism is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Lectured by white people about what racism is. That's it in a nutshell. People who deny the existence of systemic racism because they can't accept that they're part of that system. And again, make it clear, not talking about all white people. If you fit into this category, then it's you. If you don't then I'm not talking about you.
People who think it's all about whether you're a liberal or conservative, it's not as if racism is aligned with your politics. It shouldn't be. It can be. But it's not just a matter of right or left. It's inherent bias. It's systemic. That's why we need to talk about it.
And anybody who still thinks that privilege insulates Black people, anybody who refuses to believe the stress of racism or the stress of a pandemic could affect your mental health, listen to the former first lady Michelle Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Depression is understandable in these circumstances during these times. You know, and to think that somehow, we can just continue to rise above all of the shock and the trauma and the upheaval that we have been experiencing without feeling it in that way is just unrealistic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So, let me just say, you know, every night I try to use this platform for good and for honesty. And I don't mean to get so upset. But sometimes it's so enraging when you look at what the people who are supposed to be leading the country, their actions and what they're doing and what they're focusing on and what they choose to say and do.
And I think about all the people I meet every single day who were trying to make this a better country who are struggling, who are trying to get along different races and ethnicities and backgrounds all over, and who are just trying to do their thing every day. And the people at the top are not serving them, or as we say, doing them dirty.
Some talk about woke supremacists. Come on. We don't need catchy words and catchy buzz phrases about woke supremacists versus white supremacists. People need help. People need to come together. People need an America that works. Kids back in school.
They don't need people going on state TV and coming up with little catchy things so they can stay in office and stay in power. Serve the people of this country. Get together some bipartisanship and stop doing the people of this country, the people you're supposed to serve -- stop doing them dirty. Get it right.
There is the massive COVID relief bill. It has passed. Now comes the hard part, making sure that those checks get in American's hands, that the jobless benefits get out, the funds are there for kids to get back in school. I'm going to talk to the press secretary Jen Psaki about what it will take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Tomorrow night I'm going to in prime time address the American people and talk about what we've been through as a nation this past year. But more importantly, I'm going to talk about what comes next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[22:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON (on camera): This is such an important segment I'm about to do right now. I'm so excited. I don't even want to read the introduction but I will because I've got Jen Psaki here. She's the White House spokesperson. We have so much, but just let me -- let me just preface it so I can tell you what we're doing.
President Biden is set to sign the landmark COVID-19 relief bill on Friday. House Democrats are voting to pass the massive $1.9 trillion rescue package this afternoon. And no, not one -- how many Republicans voted? Zip, zero, zero, none, despite broad support from the American public.
Now, the president calling the legislation a historic victory for the American people. He's going to talk it up in primetime tomorrow night in a big address. And then next week the administration launches a messaging blitz.
So, here we are now. The White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Jen, I'm so excited to have you. Thank you very much for being here. This is an important time for our country.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Thank you so much, Don.
LEMON: Thank you so much. Important time. It is a big win. But now the hard part comes, Jen. You have to implement it. That means getting those checks out, getting jobless benefits out, getting school funding to the right -- to the right place, right, and kids back into school. When will Americans start to feel this help?
PSAKI: Well, Americans will start to get checks this month, in March. Our Treasury Department and all of our policy officials are working hard to expedite that and make sure they can get them to as many people as possible. And hopefully we'll have an update soon on how many will get their checks this month.
But you're right. And I was talking to the president about this today and his focus now is on the details, the details, the details. When do people get their checks. When do schools get funding? How do people know if they want -- if they need more unemployment insurance? So that's what our focus is going to be moving forward. This is the really important piece now is the implementation.
LEMON: Right on. So, President Biden is planning to appoint someone to get the job done, a czar, right? Can you give us an idea of who is under consideration?
PSAKI: Not quite yet. This is an important -- an important position for him. You know, he looks at the implementation of the Recovery Act as a model in some ways. He rolled up his sleeves when he was overseeing that. He was calling mayors. He was calling governors.
[22:30:02]
He was spending five or six hours a day focused on that. And he wants to make sure that there's a similar model where somebody can pull all the levers of government to implement it. But we don't have a name yet. Hopefully we will soon. This is -- because this is such an important part of getting the money out and relief out to the American people. Caps 30- channel: 100 date: 03/10/2021
LEMON: All right. CNN -- listen we have some polling. Let's talk about how people are feeling about this, new polling. And it's fascinating because larger tax credit -- credits. There's money for return to the classroom. They're sending stimulus checks, all popular with Republicans. Republicans want that. But you didn't get a single Republican vote. Does that change the amount of time that you're going to spend working with the GOP in the future, Jen?
PSAKI: Well, look, the president's an optimist. He believes -- he was in the Senate for 36 years, and he believes there's still a path forward to work with Republicans. So, the door to the Oval Office is open. He wants to do things like infrastructure, immigration, issues like that that there has historically been support from both sides of the aisle.
But he didn't delay on this one, Don. As you know he was supportive of moving forward with reconciliation, a very Washington term, but in a way that meant that it didn't require more than 50 votes. And that's how we're getting this relief out to the American people as quickly as we can.
So, he's not going to be pulled around. His focus is on delivering. But he still wants to work with Democrats and Republicans. He thinks there's an opportunity to continue to do that.
LEMON: All right. But listen, let's realistically here, how are you going to get Republicans --
PSAKI: Yes.
LEMON: -- on board for any other legislation? I mean, who can you go -- go to work with because even the people who you engage with and met with, they didn't come on board. Zero Republicans, Jen.
PSAKI: You're totally right, Don. And you were talking a little bit earlier in your show about that and we also have seen polling. More than 70 percent of the public supported this package including, as you already noted, the majority of Republicans supported this package.
And this may require a little self-reelection as people go back to their districts and people looking at why didn't you support these checks, whether these direct checks that I'm getting? Why didn't you support, you know, the money that's going to help reopen our schools?
But we need to leave the door open. The American people elected Joe Biden so that -- so that we can work together. And that's what he's committed to doing. So, you know, there are things like infrastructure investment, and immigration, I mentioned. He's had some meetings in the Oval Office about some of those issues. And we're going to see what we can work together on.
LEMON: Let's talk about what's in the bill. OK? There's provisions like expanding the child tax credit and increased subsidies for health insurance. Those expire after a year, Jen. How much of President Biden's sales pitch next week will be about convincing Americans that these social safety net measures should be permanent?
PSAKI: Well, a big part. He wants to make the child tax credit permanent. He's talked about that and certainly he'll look for opportunities to do that and to work, work with members of Congress to get that done. And he certainly wants to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.
But his real focus is on all the specific details and making sure that people understand out in the country how to get access to all of the benefits of this package. So I expect that's going to be really the focus of his travel and the vice president's travel and other members of the administration who will be out there in the country, making sure people know how they get the direct checks, if they're eligible, how they benefit from the child tax credit, what this funding means for their schools.
So, this is -- these next couple of weeks or these trips that he's going to take is really going to focus on this particular package. But I promise you he sees the benefits of the child tax credit and know that's the way that we're going to address the crisis that is the percentage of women, the number of women who have dropped out of the work force. So, he'll look for opportunities to talk about that too. But this will really be about the package that just passed today.
LEMON: Listen, this is important and I know you know as a parent yourself. So, let's hone in on the guaranteed payments to families with children. It's basically a form of universal basic income if you have kids. Do you think people are aware enough of that provision and the difference that it could make? PSAKI: We're not sure everybody knows that they can benefit it, from
it and how. And so, that's really incumbent on us and incumbent on, you know, you're talking about it now. But governors out there, mayors, a lot of people who have megaphones to talk about and make sure people understand how they can benefit.
Because, look, Don, if you're a family of four and you're making $100,000 a year as a family, you'll get $5,600 in direct checks, right, and then you'll also get an additional $3,000 from the child tax credit. That's pretty impactful at a time where 10 million people are out of work and people are still trying to make ends meet. And that's really what this package is for.
Most people won't have to do anything because if they filed their taxes in 2019, then that will be the basis or if they're filing for 2020, that will be the basis. But we want to make sure people understand how they're benefitting and also how this is going to help them get through this really difficult period of time.
[22:35:00]
LEMON: Yes. Two important things and it's going to be tricky for you, the filibuster and then voting rights. And if you don't get one it could affect the other. So, the number one agenda item obviously was COVID relief. Now you need to get the voting rights through. But in order to do that you've got to get past the filibuster.
Stacey Abrams is proposing voting rights legislation that it should be an exception to the 60-vote rule just like judicial and cabinet appointees, Jen, or appointments. So, I know that the president is opposed to eliminating the filibuster entirely, but what about this idea that Stacey Abrams had -- has that it would mean that you don't have to choose between the two? What do you think of that?
PSAKI: Well, look, his preference is not changing the filibuster. I know as we've talked about a bit, he's been very focused on the rescue plan. But he is also focused on voting rights. You know, that is an issue that's close to his heart and he's talked about quite a bit. But he wants to see if we can get enough votes to get it passed and his preference and his hope is that we can do exactly that.
So, he's not going to -- he's not right now going to make changes to the -- or advocate for changes to the filibuster. That's not his preference. He'll always hear ideas of course and has great respect for Stacey Abrams and a lot of the people who had been proposing different changes.
LEMON: Senator Kaine just said that this looming battle that we're talking about now is going to be the biggest battle on the floor of the Senate since the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s. After the big lie, after the insurrection, looking at Republican legislatures in state after state moving bills to really suppress the vote, how can the president not pull up all the stops to prevent that? Because if you don't Democrats may have a tough time winning election going forward and you are won't be able to get any of the agenda done that you want for the country. PSAKI: Yes. Look, first, Don, I mean, we have been watching closely,
he has been watching closely things that have been happening. And I know you've been reporting on and talking about on your show around the country. And Georgia and other states where there continues to be an effort to make it more difficult to vote, to suppress voters, to make it -- you know, to prevent people from exercising their rights as citizens of this country.
And that's of great concern to the president. So, he is -- he signed a couple of executive orders last weekend, he used the power of the presidency to try to address this issue. He supports, of course, the bill that passed the House. And he's going to continue to look for ways to make voting easier and more accessible.
He's the first person to say, Don, that if you have the best ideas, why are you preventing people from voting. So, this will definitely be an issue he focuses on.
LEMON: Yes.
PSAKI: He works with leaders in states and in Congress to try to get some work done on because he's very committed to it personally.
LEMON: I hate to keep harping on this. But what if the Republicans stand in the way? Look at what they're doing coast to coast. They are so far they are just -- they're being obstructionists to this agenda, even to helping people in the middle of a pandemic, Jen, and they're trying to restrict voting rights in the middle of a pandemic.
PSAKI: I -- we are -- we have of course been watching that, are greatly concerned about it. And you know, the president is going to use the power of the bully pulpit. He is going to of course try to work with Republicans. But as you noted, there're also a lot of ways to get work done.
He signed executive orders. He's going to, you know, engage with people in states. He's going to advocate for the bill that passed the House and we're going to keep pushing this boulder up the bill because we know that making voting easier and more accessible to the American people is vital too. It's a right to the citizens of this country and the people he represents.
LEMON: The people of the country deserve to know what the president and what this administration is doing, how you're fighting for them and what legislation is being proposed. So, you are always welcome to come here to speak directly to the American people and to answer the questions as you always do. Jen Psaki, thank you very much.
PSAKI: Thank you, Don. I appreciate it.
LEMON: Thank you.
PSAKI: Great being with you.
LEMON: Thank you. Absolutely. At least one Republican senator is already taking credit for the
relief bill even though not a single one of them voted for it. Stay with us.
[22:40:00]
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LEMON (on camera): President Biden getting no Republican votes for his massive COVID relief package. The GOP tried to pull out all the stops to slow its passage as the bill moved through Congress. That's despite most Americans backing it. A new CNN poll showing 61 percent of the public supports the plan.
Let's discuss now. CNN political commentator Charlie Dent is here. Charlie, thank you so much.
Zero Republicans voted for this bill despite its popularity. Should they be worried that they're on the wrong side of the American people on this one?
CHARLIE DENT, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I wouldn't be overly alarmed if I were them because these big bills, they tend to smell worse over time. And I'm sympathetic to their argument to a certain extent, and that I don't think they're really given sufficient input.
I meant, I dealt with the 2009 stimulus and I remember the day before I was invited to the White House, and they said here's the bill, you know, can you vote for it? And I said, well, can I make some amendments. Can we change anything? No. That's not really being very bipartisan. They bake the cake and then they ask you to eat it.
And I think to a certain extent they really should have -- they really should have tried to do a bipartisan deal here. The Republicans came in at 700 billion, democrats at one point nine trillion. You know, 700 billion of this is not going to be able to be expended until 2022 and beyond.
So, it's not that timely, some of this money. So, there's a lot of good stuff in there, don't get me wrong, a lot of good stuff in there. But at the end of the day, you know, I can see why a lot of Republican members said hey, you know what, we'll vote it against it and we'll let you own this one.
LEMON: You know, you heard Congressman Glenn Grothman today, he says that BLM doesn't like the old-fashioned family. Listen, Charlie, it's an outrageous statement and beyond shocking because it's coming from the House floor.
DENT: Yes. Look, I -- that's an indefensible comment. I mean, I can't -- why would anybody attack another person, their views on the family, BLM or any other organization or any other group. I mean, it's just simply -- I'm just shocked that anybody would say such a thing in a public setting or even a private setting. I mean, I think every -- every -- every person I know in this country cares about their families, everyone. And to suggest that some don't based on race is even more offensive.
LEMON: Charlie, you're in my old city, so say hello to everyone. Our time is short in Philly tonight.
DENT: I shall, Don.
LEMON: Yes. And get a cheese steak for me. Which one, who's your favorite? Do you have one?
DENT: I like Pat's.
LEMON: All right.
DENT I'm a Pat's guy.
LEMON: Not a Geno's guy. All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate it, Charlie. I'll see you soon.
DENT: All right. You bet, Don. Take care.
[22:44:59]
LEMON: Royal silence today but the outrage over Meghan and Harry's allegations getting louder. More next.
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LEMON (on camera): In the wake of the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's claims of racism within the royal family, the queen says that she wants to keep the matter private and in the family.
So, CNN is learning that Meghan made a formal complaint to a British broadcaster relating to Piers Morgan's comments about her mental health.
Let's discuss all of this now. Actress and activist Imarn Ayton is here. I appreciate you joining us. Thanks so much.
Are people in the U.K. just starting to openly acknowledge systemic racism? Is that why Meghan and Harry's claims are so shocking?
[22:49:54]
IMARN AYTON, ACTRESS, ACTIVIST & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER: Yes, that's exactly why. So, for a very long time the litmus test for racism in the U.K. has been one form of racism which is overt racism. As we know calling someone the n-word or exhibiting discriminatory behaviors, very obvious. That's what (Inaudible) litmus test is.
So, in terms of covert racism and institutionalized racism that's just a conversation that we are now just starting to have.
LEMON: Interesting. So, in the queen's statement, Imarn, she said the issues raised by Meghan and Harry over race, she said they are concerning but will be addressed by the family privately. Does the queen owe it to the British people to have these conversations publicly to show where the family stands on racism?
AYTON: It's her job, as far as I'm concerned. She is at the top and she ultimately decides the culture for the U.K. So, if she allows this to go unnoticed, if it's not dealt with, if we are not connected as a society and actually have an open conversation, then quite frankly, it is extremely offensive to hear that comment, in my opinion.
LEMON: The U.K.'s monarchy is based on heredity. A caste system, of a blood line, really, of white people, of the white family. If there isn't a public conversation about race between the public and the royal family, how are systemic issues of race going to be resolved there?
AYTON: I think that there are many issues. I think the first issue is that we have a very poor understanding on all forms of racism. So, like I just, you just focus on (Inaudible). So, it's now time for us to actually start to have that conversation, be open about it.
And I think as much as we need the queen and the monarchy and the metropolitan police to stand up and to own institutionalized racism, to be honest about these types and these various forms of racism, I think ultimately, it comes down to organizations and every institution throughout the U.K.
So, it's not just upon the queen, it's not just reliant upon the metropolitan police. It's this every single institution in the U.K. Every institution has to ensure that they are promoting and creating an anti-racist culture. And that includes addressing institutionalized racism which we have yet to do.
LEMON: And this interview has had ramifications really throughout British society. The question is, is it an inflection point for the British media? We'll talk about that right after the break. Don't go anywhere.
[22:55:00]
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: What was different for me was the race element. Because it wasn't just about her. But it was about what she represents. And therefore, it wasn't just affecting my wife. It was affecting so many other people as well. And that's -- that was the trigger for me to really engage in those conversations with palace -- the senior palace staff and with my family to say, guys, this is not going to end well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So, Prince Harry talking about his own understanding of race and racism changed through his relationship with Meghan.
Back with me now actress and activist Imarn Ayton. So Imarn, Harry had to see the racism close up to believe it. Do you expect to see more realizations like this from white Britons?
AYTON: I hope so because that was a glorious moment. A lot of people don't actually realize that. That was a very pivotal moment in history and ultimately, I hope, hope that shifts us in the direction that we need to be because she's actually talking about these very uncomfortable things. So, I hope so.
LEMON: I want to ask you about -- CNN is reporting that Meghan Markle complained to ITV about Piers Morgan's comments denying her mental health claims. She said that she was concerned that Morgan's comments could impact others and downplay the seriousness of mental health issues. What is it like for women over there to use their power to call it like it is?
AYTON: I think it's very difficult. I think ever since the Black Lives Matter movement, it's been a lot easier to be vocal and express how we feel with Black women, as mixed race women, it's brown men and women but it's been extremely difficult especially because there's been this constant denial, constant rejection to the point where we are very much behind America when it comes to dealing with the very (Inaudible) of racism. It's quite ridiculous.
LEMON: We want to thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us. Be well.
AYTON: Thank you very much. Thank you.
LEMON: Absolutely.
President Biden getting ready to take a victory lap over his coronavirus relief bill and that's not all his administration was able to push through today.
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