Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Pelosi Defends Waters Over Comments; Emotional Toll of Chauvin Trial; J&J Vaccine Halted At Plant; Leading Hospitals Promote Vaccine; U.S. Ambassador to Russia Returns; Putin and Biden Standoff over Navalny; Curry Extends Scoring Streak. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired April 20, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: You know, Maxine Waters may have given the defense grounds for appeal. I can't imagine that that would please her in any way.

NATASHA ALFORD, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, I think a lot of folks' hearts dropped a little bit, you know, when they heard that. Obviously, I'm not a legal expert, but I think that, you know, that judge really wants as much separation as possible, right, to protect the integrity of the entire trial. And so you could see that he was a little bit frustrated by those comments and the circus that has come because of those comments.

But I think that when you look at Nancy Pelosi's response, you know, she's essentially saying that Maxine Waters is expressing her First Amendment right. She's not alone again in that frustration that we're tired of doing this same ritual that, you know, people have a right to hold elected officials accountable for actually taking action on this and not just talking.

And so, yes, I think that, you know, she was well within her rights to encourage people, but maybe the timing and the optics opened her up to an attack that she wasn't anticipating.

BERMAN: So, Natasha, today the Senate Judiciary Committee is going to begin holding hearings on new voting restrictions. You think this is essential. Why?

ALFORD: Yes, I think it's essential because we are watching rights being stripped away. And I think what's scary is that it's happening in plain view, right? There's -- there is not a shame around this. And if you look at statistics for the Brennan Center for Justice, you'll see a difference. You'll see that between February and March there were actually 100 more bills introduced that were meant to restrict voting rights. So that means that there's really not shame around this.

When you look at Georgia, you know, there's just this blatant attack on communities of color who saw victory in November and it's in direct response to that victory. And so it's really undermining what we say we are as a democracy that this is happening. And so the -- us coming together and going on the record about this, I think, is essential in this moment. And pointing out who is not standing up, right? Who is allowing this to happen? I think you have to include that on the record.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: I mean seeing the reality that the election was secure and then looking at all of these measures that are being proposed or passed, it's very clear what is happening because we know that the elections were secure.

I do want to ask you, of course, about the Derek Chauvin trial. You just became a new mom, but you have still been watching because you probably have been awake at all hours. But I know you've been watching very closely and I am wondering what has stood out to you the most.

ALFORD: So -- yes. I mean the Derek Chauvin trial, the death of George Floyd is actually the reason why I'm here. I felt so passionately about speaking about this issue. I gave birth to my son just three weeks ago and I was at the hospital and the trial was on the television. And I couldn't help but think that this is the world that my son will inherit, you know? And as much as having a child is a moment of joy for our family, the older he gets, who will see him as a threat, right? Or even his father, right? Who perceives him as a threat just because he exists in the world?

And so what was powerful about this trial was the moments in which George Floyd was humanized? And it's a shame that in this country we have to even argue that someone is a human when they lose their life. But, you know, the testimony from his brother talking about how he was as a child, how he was as a father, the memories that they had together, this spark of life testimony I think is what will stick with the jury.

And so, you know, the prosecution effectively argued that this wasn't about a heart attack. This wasn't about drugs. This is about what we all saw on camera, which is that Derek Chauvin, he killed George Floyd and he did so with such indifference to his life. And, for me, again, as a mom, I want to see a world in which, you know, I don't have to worry about someone looking at my son, projecting their fear upon him and taking his life with that indifference.

And the outcome of this case is going to send a message to the world about how much we see the humanity in black people and how much we care enough to come together as a country to do something about it.

BERMAN: Again, as the prosecutor said, there's nothing superhuman about George Floyd and restraint (ph), he's a human being. He's a human being.

Thanks so much for coming in. Please go hug Julian (ph) for us. Congratulations.

ALFORD: Thank you. Thank you.

KEILAR: Congratulations. Thank you, Natasha.

Coming up, another setback for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as its coronavirus shot remains on hold.

BERMAN: And just in, hospitals across the country rolling out a big, new initiative to fight vaccine hesitancy. The president of the Cleveland Clinic joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:38:58]

KEILAR: New this morning, the Baltimore plant that accidentally ruined an estimated 15 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses last month is now pausing manufacturing amid an FDA investigation. Dr. Anthony Fauci says the U.S. could restart Johnson & Johnson vaccinations by the end of the week.

And CNN's Kristen Holmes is live in Washington with more on this.

Kristen, what does this mean for the future of the J&J rollout?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brianna.

Well, that's the big question. This is no doubt a huge setback for Johnson & Johnson. They have promised to deliver 100 million doses by the end of May. And this is one of their largest, if not the largest, manufacturer in the U.S. of that vaccine.

So, here's what we know.

The FDA started that investigation last Monday. On Friday, they told the manufacturing plant not only to stop all production but also to quarantine anything they had, meaning not to ready it for distribution or administration. So, again, a big setback here.

Now, this, of course, coming after you said it was revealed that they had ruined as many as 15 million doses as -- at this plant and the Biden administration actually put J&J in charge of this facility.

[06:40:09]

But, clearly, there were still a lot of issues here.

So we're watching this very closely because it is hard to see how they are going to meet these goals without this plant.

John.

BERMAN: All right, Kristen Holmes, thanks very much for being with us. Appreciate it.

So, this morning, a quarter of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated. Nearly 40 percent have received at least one shot. An average of over 3 million doses being administered each day despite the pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But many Americans are still hesitant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JACOB MCMORRIS, LIFE TABERNACLE CHURCH PARISHIONER: I feel like -- and I know it works medically, but when you put something in you to help you stop from getting it, you know, that just -- that just doesn't work for me. I've never liked the idea of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So joining us now is Dr. Tom Mihaljevic. He is the CEO and president of the Cleveland Clinic, which is part of a group of 60 leading U.S. hospitals preparing to roll out a campaign promoting vaccinations across the country.

Doctor, thank you so much for being with us.

Tell us about this campaign from the hospitals and how it will convince guys like we just heard from this that clip there go get the vaccine.

DR. TOM MIHALJEVIC, CEO AND PRESIDENT, CLEVELAND CLINIC: Well, thank you very much for having me. We are very excited about this campaign because it is really an important campaign for public health, for all Americans.

This is a campaign that we started together with our colleagues and friends from Mayo Clinic and 58 other leading hospitals throughout the country have joined us in advocacy to get the vaccine to save lives.

We want to use the voice of the hospitals as trusted partners for every one of our patients to spread the simple message, vaccines are safe, they do save lives and the only way that we're going to get through this pandemic together is if we effectively distribute as many vaccines as we can as quickly as possible.

BERMAN: When your trusted hospital, your trusted doctor tells you the vaccine are safe -- the vaccines are safe and it's OK to do it, people are more likely probably to go ahead and do it.

So, Johnson & Johnson is on pause. Distribution of that vaccine on pause. How has that affected, do you think, the vaccine rollout? Have you seen any difference in numbers?

MIHALJEVIC: Well, we have not seen really a difference in vaccine rollout. It is certainly a setback for that particular vaccine. I believe that we're going to learn more by the end of this week. We're going to probably see J&J rollout -- Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout with some restrictions. But the overall, the vaccines are safe and very effective. The alternative is obviously much worse.

BERMAN: Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, listen, thanks for the work you do each and every day. Thank you also for this effort to get people vaccinated. We appreciate you being with us this morning.

MIHALJEVIC: Well, thank you very much for having me again.

BERMAN: So a tense, diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Russia involving the U.S. ambassador. We're live in Moscow, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:47:11]

BERMAN: The U.S. ambassador to Russia returning home after a tense diplomatic standoff with the Kremlin in which the ambassador reportedly refused to leave the country.

CNN's Sam Kiley live in Moscow.

Sam, he is coming back to the United States, although he apparently did refuse for some time. What's going on here?

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's rather typical exchange in terms of recent Russian traditions, if you like. Following the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats by the United States, the Russians have hit back with the expulsion of ten Americans, plus the designation of eight other people as individuals that would be unwelcome to come to Russia, six in the current administration and two from previous administrations.

And at the same time, but to avoid it being fully escalated, the Russians suggested to the United States that they withdraw John Sullivan for consultations in the United States.

Now, the Americans have not done that. What they are saying, though, is that Mr. Sullivan, who's put out a recent statement this morning saying he hasn't seen his family for a year and the situation with Russia does warrant some consultations face to face in Washington, but that he will be back soon, particularly, as he said, ahead of any proposed meeting between Vladimir Putin and Mr. Biden.

So it's a way of having a diplomatic row (ph) without it being officially designated as a diplomatic row (ph) fatally (ph), John.

BERMAN: Yes, look, in diplomacy, every word, every action means something. So we're watching it very closely.

Sam Kiley, thanks so much for being with us.

KEILAR: This morning, one of Vladimir Putin's top critics, Alexey Navalny, is waking up in a regional hospital for prisoners after his supporters warned that his health is rapidly deteriorating. My next guest is an aide to the Russian opposition leader and she says the place that Navalny has been taken is not a hospital.

Maria Pevchikh is with us now.

Maria, what can you tell us about this facility where Navalny has been transferred to? Has he been seen by doctors, by his own doctors?

MARIA PEVCHIKH, AIDE TO ALEXEY NAVALNY: Well, we have no idea whether he has been seen by anyone. I know for sure that he hasn't been seen by the civilian doctors, the doctors of his choice. And everybody, including Russian prisoners, have a right to do this, well, apart from -- except for him. KEILAR: You say it's not a hospital. Why?

PEVCHIKH: No, it's not really a hospital. It -- I think it only bears the title of a hospital but, in fact, it's a different penal colony in the same region, about an hour and a half away from his old penal colony and it's -- it's a hospital for prisons. So -- for prisoners. So, essentially, it's pretty much just a different prison. But they do have, I don't know, two or three people formally qualified as doctors on site.

[06:50:05]

But, again, there is no -- I don't think that we can talk about any serious equipment there that he requires. I don't think we can -- they can't really do any proper testing. They don't have a lab or anything like that. So it is just a different form of prison pretty much and it's run by the same people. And it is known for running some really inappropriate, well, torturous routines, really. Those people who have been to that so-called hospital have reported that they have been tortured even more compared to the regular penal colonies.

KEILAR: Do you have any update on his condition? Because last we had heard he had a mineral deficiency that actually put him at risk for renal failure as he was continuing a hunger strike in response to getting poor care and already suffering physically.

How is he doing, do you know?

PEVCHIKH: Well, I mean, that's the whole point of it, we don't really know. He is -- he should be allowed to see his lawyers every day but he's not. Well, he is for like 10, 15 minutes, instead of a couple of hours. So we have very, very limited information.

Yesterday, when his lawyer went to see him in this new hospital, he was held outside for most of the day and then he was allowed in for literally 15 minutes. And, I mean, what can you really discuss in those 15 minutes? Not much. We know he's alive. And that's really very good news. And as for today, his lawyers weren't allowed to come in yet. So for today we have zero information. We don't know anything about how he is doing today.

KEILAR: Maria, some have raised concerns that he could die and the Biden administration has said that Russia will face serious consequences if that happens.

PEVCHIKH: Yes.

KEILAR: Do you have faith that the U.S. would make good on that?

PEVCHIKH: Well, to be honest, hearing such statements kind of kills my hope a little bit because, well, it's some strange -- I'm not sure whether you agree -- but there's consequences, they need to happen before he dies and the actions need to take place before he die. You know, who really cares what happens after he dies, right? That's a bit -- I would say that's phrased way too nicely for Vladimir Putin and some urgent actions need to happen right now and we don't need for a person to die and for something to happen.

KEILAR: Maria, thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.

PEVCHIKH: Thank you.

BERMAN: We are on verdict watch in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. When will a jury decide whether the prosecution made its case?

KEILAR: Plus, we will roll the tape on Donald Trump's first on camera interview since leaving the presidency.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:57:18]

BERMAN: The Warriors Steph Curry puts on a show in a win over Philadelphia.

Andy Scholes with more in the "Bleacher Report."

He's pretty good at basketball, it turns out, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, John.

So, you know, Steph Curry's won two MVP awards in his career, but this last month may be the greatest stretch of play in his entire career. He's been just amazing. And last night Curry's on fire, making ten threes in the game, some of them right on his little brother Seth, like that one, who plays for Philly. Steph finishing with 49 points as the Warriors win 107-96.

This is Steph's fifth 40-point game in April, which passes Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games in a month by a player 33 or older. 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said after the game he's never seen anything like the run Curry's on right now.

All right, last year's NFL comeback player of the year Alex Smith announcing his retirement yesterday after 16 seasons. The 36-year- old's retirement follows his incredible return after a gruesome compound leg fracture back in 2018. Smith required 17 surgeries and nearly lost his leg due to an infection. But he started six games last season leading Washington to the playoffs.

All right, finally, a Nationals fan thought he was going to walk away with a souvenir last night. Home run ball hit right to him. Nobody around. But he drops it. And just look at his frustration. Tosses his glove. Throws his hat. You know, getting a home run ball is pretty rare, so he was bummed not to get it.

But check this out, two innings later, another one comes right for him and this time he makes the catch. His reaction is priceless. Just raises his arms in celebration. A sweet redemption right there.

What are the chances? Two home run balls in the same game. Just incredible.

All right, NEW DAY continues right now.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman, alongside Brianna Keilar, on this NEW DAY, day two of jury deliberations in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, with a surprising remark from the judge suggesting the whole case could be overturned.

KEILAR: Clean break. The CDC issues new guidance on the spread of coronavirus.

BERMAN: Plus, two men killed in a fiery crash with nobody behind the wheel. Was Tesla's auto pilot system to blame?

KEILAR: And the band is back playing the greatest hits. We'll roll the tape on Donald Trump's first on camera interview since leaving the White House.

[07:00:02]

BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. It's Tuesday, April 20th. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.