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Trump may be Culpable for Insurrection; Protests for End to Anti-Asian Violence; Brazil Plunges into Health Crisis; Loyola Chicago Upsets Illinois. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 22, 2021 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: The second one. The fact that you do have some people who very clearly admit they went there and undertook those actions because they thought the president told them to, that, for me, seals the deal on incitement with at least respect to those folks.

I think -- I've been saying from the beginning that I thought the president could very well be held responsible for inciting a crime of violence. That crime of violence being sedition. The question is, does the Justice Department have the commitment to that prosecution, you know, to bring a tough legal case but also a very politically charged legal case.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Andy, it sounded like what Sherwin was saying last night is that they've charged 400 people, OK. So they believe that 800 people breached the Capitol and made it inside. Four hundred of them have been charged, which, you tell us, but I think is a huge number. And it sounded like he was saying that it's kind of about math. That they're -- they're looking at how many people say, I was here at the behest of the president. He invited us. He told us what we were supposed to do, versus the number of people who say, no, we thought that Trump was too soft to get the job done, so we came to do it.

Is that how they're going to decide whether the president was culpable?

MCCABE: You know, that is exactly how he laid it out last night, but -- but it some ways it doesn't really make sense to me. If you have individual defendants who have said those things that, you know, that would indicate they were incited by the president, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just bring those cases. You're never going to make 400 those cases. You may not even make 100 of those cases. You have to only bring forward those cases in which you have enough, you know, really solid evidence to potentially convict the defendants. But the evidence is there. It's abundant. We all saw it happen. You have people saying, yes, the president send me. So I'm not sure why those cases haven't been brought.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: It sounds like what you're saying is, could they, sure. The question is, do they want to. MCCABE: That's right.

BERMAN: Do they want to put themselves through the legal and what would be political hoop to do it.

MCCABE: That's right.

BERMAN: I mean how -- what would the situation be like?

MCCABE: You have to think that they're considering, John, just the divisiveness of bringing those sort of cases. So to put the crosshairs right on the president in a criminal way, either coming after him to prosecute him for incitement or just citing him as a key element in the prosecution of others, they've got to be concerned that those cases will further divide the way America looks at these events right now and really possibly embolden hard right-leaning folks, hard-right supporters, some of the extremists that we saw, the domestic violent extremists that we saw at the Capitol that day. So I would gather -- I would guess that they are weighing those -- those kind of conflicting outcomes.

CAMEROTA: Andrew McCabe, thank you very much. Great to talk to you.

MCCABE: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: So, coming up, CNN talks with the family of one of the victims of last week's shootings in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our lives are changed forever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's not fair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: We'll bring you more of that brand new interview, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:37:29]

CAMEROTA: That's a Sunday church service outside one of the Atlanta area spas targeted in the deadly rampage last week. People gathered in cities across the country to remember the victims and call for an end to anti-Asian violence.

CNN's Natasha Chen spoke to the family of one of the victims and she joins us now live.

What did they tell you, Natasha?

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, the family of Xiaojie Tan says they're overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. They actually made their own visit to Youngs Asian Massage in Cherokee County, laid flowers at the door, just like many people have done at the spas here in Atlanta as well.

Now, at these locations we're also seeing a lot of signs "stop Asian hate." The family recognizes this moment and where these feelings are coming from, but they're not ready right now to make the racial connection to these killings until police finish their work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: Xiaojie Tan's family says she was living the American dream. After moving to the U.S., Xiaojie, who friends and clients called "Emily," started as a nail technician before working her way up to buy two spas outside of Atlanta. Beloved by her family, customers and neighboring business workers, Tan was killed just two days before her 50th birthday.

JAMI WEBB, MOTHER KILLED IN SPA SHOOTING: We were just planning to get a cake and have a big dinner after work.

CHEN: Her only child, Jami Webb, had plans to meet up with her mom last Sunday, but she overslept. She would never have the opportunity to see her mother again.

J. WEBB: When I thought that I had all this time with her, I mean, just because I missed that Sunday meeting with my mom, I thought we could always meet like any Sunday, any other day, just like before.

CHEN: Instead, two days later, Webb spent six hours in a hospital waiting room as news of a shooting at Young's Asian Massage, her mom's business, dominated the headlines.

J. WEBB: I was just hoping that it was not my mom, it was not my mom.

CHEN: Webb says the extended family is still in China and no one has had the heart to tell Webb's grandmother.

J. WEBB: They were celebrating the birthday and my grandmother was the only one who doesn't know my mom, that she passed away.

CHEN: Tan's ex-husband, Michael Webb, said Tan often worked seven days a week and talked about retiring and traveling the world.

MICHAEL WEBB, EX-WIFE KILLED IN SPA SHOOTING: And she'll never get to enjoy that. She just worked to die.

CHEN: The fact that six of the eight victims were Asian women, the fact that these businesses were owned by Asian people, is hard to ignore.

[06:40:05]

Jami Webb says she understands the Asian-American community's overall anxiety over the rise of anti-Asian assaults, but this family is not ready to connect that with Tuesday's killings right now. M. WEBB: I don't think we're trying to say that -- that there's not

racial bias in this country. There certainly is. We don't know what motivated this at this point. We just know how we feel, and we know what we lost.

CROWD: Stop Asian hate.

CHEN: And in the wake of the tragedy, demonstrators from coast to coast --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm Asian and I'm a woman and if I don't stand up for myself then no one else will.

CHEN: Thousands of people gathering in solidarity with Asian- Americans.

And in Atlanta, a church service outside those businesses with a community hoping for change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: One of the pastors of the Korean churches who were here yesterday told me that this is a moment of awakening for many Asian- Americans, especially in his congregation. He said perhaps traditionally they may have focused on their own survival, but now, he says, there is an eagerness to get involved with social justice issues and stand with other communities of color.

John.

BERMAN: Natasha, thank you so much for this. There are eight families in mourning and it's their stories that really matter the most. We appreciate you doing your reporting.

We have a quick programming note. You can join Anderson Cooper, Amara Walker, Victor Blackwell and Ana Cabrera tonight for a look at this disturbing trend, violent acts against people of color. What are the solutions? "Afraid: Fear in America's Communities of Color" airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. only on CNN.

So hospitals on the brink of collapse. A dangerous variant wreaks havoc across an entire nation. We have a live report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:46:12]

CAMEROTA: This morning, the coronavirus crisis in Brazil is getting worse. ICUs across the country are nearing capacity as highly contagious cases, this variant, surges there.

So CNN's Matt Rivers is live in Rio de Janeiro for us with more.

What's the situation, Matt?

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Alisyn, as you can see, the famed Copa Cabana Beach behind me, empty at the moment, largely because it has been closed by authorities due to these surging numbers of cases and deaths. A tragic situation right now here in Brazil as we've seen over the last 10 days and it is not just the old that are dying.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS (voice over): There's a sense of desperation outside this Rio de Janeiro clinic. She didn't get one, she Silvia Silva Santos walking out. My 77 year old mom can't get a vaccine. One of many that showed up that day waiting for vaccines that don't exist.

This woman says this is a disgrace. People waiting all day and night. Who knows if there will be a vaccine tomorrow.

And Brazil's COVID-19 situation has never been worse. Daily case and death records are the norm, ICUs nationwide are full and health systems are failing.

And despite health officials saying the program has been a success, vaccine deliveries are well behind schedule, months away from making a big impact, experts say. No supply meets no shots today back at the clinic.

RIVERS (on camera): So all of these 70-plus-year-olds behind me have been told there are no more vaccines left in this clinic. The weather app says it feels like it's about 100 degrees outside and yet they're not willing to leave because they're scared that if they do leave and some vaccines show up, they won't be here to get them.

RIVERS (voice over): They wait because they're scared of a disease that prays on the elderly. But in Brazil lately, it's not just the old who are dying.

Maria da Penha da Silva Siqueira says she wasn't just a daughter, she was a friend. She was everything to me. Her daughter, Graciani (ph), was only 28 when she died last year of COVID. Her four-year-old son lives with grandma now. Their family forever missing a member.

She says they called me that morning and said she was dead. Then I went into shock. The virus didn't let us say good-bye.

For the last two months, multiple doctors across Brazil have told us they've seen more young people dying of COVID than before. In Brazil's largest state of Sao Paulo, officials say 60 percent of ICU patients are now between 30 and 50, something Rio de Janeiro Doctor Pedro Archer is seeing too.

He says, we have patients now in their 30s, in their 20s, severe intubated patients. I think the maybe the virus has mutated, become a new strain.

There are new COVID variants here, but experts say there's no proof yet they're more lethal for the young. To explain it, epidemiologists point more to scenes like this, social gatherings. This one, a party from this month ramped up during the new year and carnival holidays. Younger people simply exposed more. In another video given to CNN this weekend, dozens can be seen streaming out of a party broken up by police, and that's just the illegal stuff.

In Rio, bars and restaurants can be open until 9:00, many taking full advantage.

RIVERS (on camera): It is crowded out here and it just doesn't feel like you might expect given that Brazil keeps setting new records for cases and deaths.

RIVERS (voice over): Where it does feel like that is this cemetery in Rio de Janeiro. Both young and old end up here. Today it's a funeral for a 52-year-old COVID victim. There's a lot of services lined up this afternoon, so the family only gets 15 minutes to mourn.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[06:50:09]

RIVERS: Now, to put all this in context, over the last two weeks or so, of all the coronavirus deaths recorded in the world, roughly a quarter of them have come here in Brazil. And it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon. More than half of Brazilian states have ICU capacities -- or occupancy rates, rather, at 90 percent or higher.

Alisyn. John.

CAMEROTA: Matt, thank you very much, and please stay safe.

BERMAN: All right, we have a surprise leader in the CNN March Madness pool.

CAMEROTA: Oh?

BERMAN: We won't tell you who. But here's a hint, gray hair leads to great picks.

CAMEROTA: Is it me?

BERMAN: Also -- you be the judge of that.

Also, the Loyola Chicago fairytale marches on. One hundred and one- year-old Sister Jean leads the Ramblers to the Sweet 16. The "Bleacher Report" is next.

CAMEROTA: Awesome.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:14]

BERMAN: So, Sister Jean back in the Sweet 16. Loyola Chicago still dancing after pulling off a huge upset.

Andy Scholes live in Minneapolis with the "Bleacher Report." And, Andy, you know, Loyola Chicago, a great story. Almost as good as the CNN March Madness pool leader. And as you know, when you're leading in the Sweet 16, that is really the true sign of merit. It's almost as if everything stops right then.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. Long way to go, John. We'll see what -- what happens when the Final Four rolls around. But, hey, you're looking good right now.

And what an incredible weekend we've had here in Indy. Three double- digit seeds have already punched their ticket to the Sweet 16. And the second round's not even over yet. Plus 101-year-old Sister Jean and Loyola are back at it again.

And check out Sister Jean's pre-game prayer from yesterday. She said, we hope to score early and make our opponent nervous. That pretty much happened. Also she said the other teams shooting percentages just mid- prayer. Sister Jean, I'll tell you what, she's unbelievable. And the Ramblers, they were led by Cameron Krutwig. Tough to stop a man with that mustache. Loyola led wire to wire on this one knocking out one seed Illinois, 71-58.

In 2018 the Ramblers shocked the world, making the Final Four as an 11 seed. They're back in the Sweet 16 as an eight seed this time around.

All right, we have this year's Cinderella Story in Oral Roberts. They erased an 11 point deficit to shock the Florida Gators, 81-78. The Golden Eagles becoming just the second number 15 seed in tournament history to advance to the Sweet 16.

And check out the reaction at the watch party back on campus in Tulsa. Lots of masks there, but it gets tough to social distance when you're that excited.

All right, the women's tournament, meanwhile, tipping off in Texas yesterday. Stanford having no problem beating Utah Valley, 87-44 in their opener. Now, over the weekend, their coach, Tara VanDerveer just ripping into the NCAA, saying she felt betrayed over what she called blatant sexism about the amenities provided to the teams at the women's tournament in Texas compared to what the men had here in Indianapolis. After backlash, the NCAA did upgrade the women's workout room in San Antonio and they apologized. And, you know, many are hoping that this is going to be a turning point and we don't see something like this happen again.

And, Alisyn, I did want to ask you this morning, in fact, we can see her, John, how many times has Berman mentioned his bracket? Does he just talk about it constantly? Is that all he does?

CAMEROTA: Well, as you know, he's not mentioning it overtly, but he somehow alludes to it in every single tease. So, we're up to about, I don't know, six, seven, something like that.

BERMAN: There was a period of time yesterday, Andy, when Alisyn Camerota was leading.

CAMEROTA: I heard.

BERMAN: Right? And my question to you was going to be, so, Alisyn, who'd you pick to win the whole tournament? And you would have said?

CAMEROTA: The Orlando Blooms.

BERMAN: Right. Exactly. That's what I mean. So, leading in the -- leading in the office pool yet somehow mysteriously doesn't know a team that's playing.

CAMEROTA: I know how to do it.

No, but I was winning.

BERMAN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: I mean doesn't that tell you something, guys?

BERMAN: I -- it tells me a lot.

CAMEROTA: OK. Yes. I don't know what it says, but it says something.

SCHOLES: Berman, I give you credit, your bracket is impressive. You've got Syracuse and Loyola, you know, going pretty far. So I'll hand it to you, you're doing pretty good this -- thus far.

CAMEROTA: We'll see.

BERMAN: You know, a stopped clock is right twice a day. One of my best friends is a Syracuse grad. I pick them every year to go deep every year. And like I've been right in 2003 and that's it. So I'm due. I'm like 18 years late here to be due again.

Andy Scholes, thank you very much.

CAMEROTA: Thanks, Andy.

BERMAN: Best of luck to all of you.

SCHOLES: All right.

BERMAN: Hope you are participating in the CNN March Madness pool.

NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Health officials worry about Americans getting complacent in the fight against COVID-19.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm concerned that the behavior is getting a little bit more for us to be able to handle it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is crunch time. This is going to be our most difficult period right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Protesters demand justice for the victims. Among them, six Asian women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want people to finally hear us, for us, not only when we're trending.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This awakening moment for Asian-Americans to stand strong, stand up and raise our voice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Law enforcement will go through the work that they need to do, but we all know hate when we see it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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

BERMAN: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

And breaking just a short time ago, a possible new coronavirus vaccine that could be headed to the U.S. market. This would be the fourth.

For the first time, AstraZeneca has reported its results of its large U.S. trial.

[07:00:01]

AstraZeneca says its vaccine is 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic illness and 100 percent effective against severe disease.