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Sen. Manchin Resisting Pressure to Give Up Bipartisanship; Biden Administration to Share First 25 Million Vaccine Doses Abroad; The Sky-High Cost of Canceling the Tokyo Olympics. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired June 04, 2021 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:19]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): What goes around comes around. So, let's work together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Manchin won't abandon bipartisanship, but is the conservative Democrat naive to expect help from the GOP?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Rioters called for his execution, now the most revealing comments yet from Mike Pence about the Capitol riots.

JARRETT: And cyber terrorism, how a surge of attacks on critical infrastructure is changing the game.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: It's Friday and I'm Christine Romans. It's June 4th, 5:00 a.m. exactly in New York.

A Republican leaders have been totally up front about their objective, stop the Biden agenda. But the most critical swing vote in Biden's own party is not ready to abandon bipartisanship yet.

With pressure building for Democrats to move ahead without Republicans, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin speaks to CNN. He's dismissing calls for a special one-time exception from the Senate filibuster rules that effectively require 60 votes to pass anything including an overhaul on voting rights.

JARRETT: Several key policy issues are in limbo in the 50/50 Senate. That includes the centerpiece of President Biden's agenda, a gigantic infrastructure package. Now, the White House and Republicans are fiercely negotiating but they remain far apart. So everything hinges on Manchin. Democrats can't rush it with him. They can't do it without him.

CNN's Manu Raju spoke with Senator Manchin and reports for us from West Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Laura.

Now, Joe Biden's agenda hangs in the balance as we head into a critical month of legislating. June is going to be packed and some central pieces of the president's domestic agenda will hang in the balance because of the support and lack of support of Republicans and uncertainty about whether he can get his own party in line.

In the middle of all of that, Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat. He has long before a pivotal center because he is a moderate, because he is a conservative Democrat and because he at times breaks from his party and has resisted calls from the left to gut the Senate's filibuster rules which require 60 votes to advance legislation he does not agree with changing it so just 50 votes can advance legislation.

And he also is making it clear that he is not in favor of the idea of moving a massive infrastructure package along straight party lines, even as many in his party are saying it is time for the White House to abandon talks with Republican, move it along party lines with the Democrats, but Manchin will be key to that. And he made clear to me yesterday he is not in favor of saying goodbye to the GOP.

MANCHIN: These take time. You just can't -- I know everyone is in a hurry right now. If anyone understands the process, it's President Joe Biden.

We've got to work together. You know, you can only do so much by yourself and that's what -- we are not designed to work that way. The House is. The Senate was never designed that way.

We're going to make the Senate work the way it was intended to work. We're -- I'm totally committed to that.

RAJU: So you can say you will never produce a 60 vote threshold.

MANCHIN: Actually, we're going to make the place work.

RAJU: You are not taking reducing the 60 vote threshold off the table.

MANCHIN: We're going to make the place work, something I can tell you, and you can't make it work unless the minority has input. You can't disregard a person that's not in the majority.

RAJU: Now, he also made it very clear that he would not agree to change the Senate's filibuster rules to allow voting legislation to pass along straight party lines. That he is actually opposed -- the lone Democrat who opposes the Democrats' broader overhaul of elections and campaign finance laws.

He is working on a narrower bill -- narrow bill aimed to bolster voter rights. He's worked with the Republican on that, Lisa Murkowski, but there is no path to 60 votes to that.

But when I pushed him on that idea, will you agree to the idea of a carve-out, an exemption to voting legislation to pass along party lines, that's what Democrats hope he will do, he said no essentially. He said, look, what happened in 2013 when Democrats did that for presidential nominees and Republicans came back in 2017 and allows Supreme Court nominees under Donald Trump to get confirmed. Three of them got confirmed.

He said what comes around goes around and he is not in favor of going that route. So, what he is saying right now, work with Republicans. But a lot of Republicans are ready -- not ready to go where the White House wants to go, which means that Joe Biden's agenda could very well be stymied among disagreements with Republicans but also within his party -- guys.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Manu Raju in Washington, thank you so much for that.

An important phase in the American job markets, layoffs are slowing and hiring is happening. The big government jobs report in just a few hours, economists predict another 650,000 jobs added back to the economy in May and the unemployment rate down to about 5.9 percent.

[05:05:01]

If that holds, the economy would be down about 7.6 million jobs since February 2020. As the economy roars back, layoffs are slowing. First time jobless claims fell below 400,000 for the first time since March of last year, the trend very clear there, but hiring lately has been choppy. April's jobs growth of 266,000 was wildly below what economists had forecast, another miss on that this time would inflame the debate over what's keeping workers on the sidelines.

Childcare will be a challenge for some parent as offices reopen this summer and return of in-person learning in September that could allow more people could go back to work. Now, several industries are struggling to find workers, people are either retraining for jobs in higher paying sectors or simply not ready to go yet.

And, Laura, it's a real reminder that a lot of the consumer experience in America before COVID was built on an army of workers, low-wage workers working a couple of jobs together full-time. That's going to be hard to lure those people back on the -- without higher pay.

JARRETT: Are those 600,000 some new jobs, are those actual new jobs or people going back to their old jobs?

ROMANS: Adding back -- we think it's going back, adding back. We are still at a big deficit here.

JARRETT: Yeah. OK, that's what I thought.

All right. Former Vice President Mike Pence now speaking out about the riot at the U.S. capitol but still -- still shying away from holding his former boss accountable. At a speech in New Hampshire on Thursday fueling speculation about a possible bid for president in 2024, Pence addressed the elephant in the room.

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MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: As I said that day, January 6 was a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol. You know, President Trump and I have spoken many times since we left office, and I don't know if we'll ever see eye to eye on that day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Perhaps not seeing eye to eye because former president Trump demanded that Pence violate the Constitution and then when Pence refused, Trump sicced an angry mob on him. And now, Trump down plays the violence at the insurrection any chance he gets.

Now, more Capitol Police who came under attack are venting at GOP leaders for rejecting an independent investigation into the attack.

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SGT. AQUILINO GONELL, DEFENDED THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6: If I go to your house and bring a whole bunch of people, tell a whole bunch of people to, hey, let's go to Lemon's house and break everything and threaten your wife, threaten your kids, threaten whatever, whoever is there, and then leave everything damaged, wouldn't you want to know who did this and who coordinate this had? Because that's exactly the same thing that happened in our Capitol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Meanwhile, sources telling CNN Trump remains fixated on the 2020 election. He has made few public appearances since leaving office but plans to address North Carolina's Republican -- state Republican Party convention this weekend.

ROMANS: Federal prosecutors want rioters charged in the January 6 insurrection to pay up. They're asking defendants to foot some of the bill, an estimated $1.5 million worth of damage to the Capitol as part of their plea agreements.

"The Washington Post" reports prosecutors who ask for $2,000 in each felony case and $500 for each misdemeanor case.

More than 400 people have been charged since the January 6th attack. A million and a half dollars in damage.

JARRETT: Amazing.

All right. Still ahead for you, tens of millions of vaccinated people still at risk of coronavirus. They did the right thing but they're still at risk. We're going to tell you what happens and why it matters for you.

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ROMANS: All right. The coronavirus vaccines are a huge success story, but millions of vaccinated Americans may still be at risk. These are people who are taking medications to suppress their immune systems. Some immuno-compromised people have very poor immune responses to the vaccine. They're just not mounting a robust immunity. That includes people who are taking very common drugs for psoriasis, arthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and certain digestive problems.

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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTTUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We need to know what is the best approach to these people who temporarily suspend their immunosuppressive therapy when we vaccinate them or to give them additional boosters. We're not quite sure. But we have to address those problems because there are a substantial number of people in the United States and worldwide who do not have an adequate immune response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Also in that category, organ transplant recipients. Scientists at Johns Hopkins report low immunity numbers for some of those recipients as well.

Now, why is this important? Well, about half the country is still not vaccinated. So you have this big group of vaccinated people and unvaccinated people as the economy is reopening and people are starting to take fewer precautions. It's also a very big deal for everyone else because variants tend to develop in immuno-compromised groups then spread to the rest of us.

JARRETT: And it's really one of the untold stories. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't get the vaccine.

ROMANS: No.

JARRETT: Even if you have one of these diseases but it does show the risk there.

ROMANS: It means you absolutely should get the vaccine and for those people who are sort of waiting on the sidelines to see if it's time for them, get the vaccine.

JARRETT: Go do it.

ROMANS: For those other people, talk to your doctor, talk to your transplant coordinators, find out what you should be doing.

JARRETT: Yeah. All right. Jumping overseas now, the World Health Organization warns the risk of another COVID surge threatens Africa's health facilities. Now, the Biden administration rolling out a plan to share 25 million COVID vaccine doses with the rest of the world.

CNN's David McKenzie is live for us in Johannesburg, South Africa.

David, the goal eventually here is 80 million doses, the first 25 soon headed out the door. Where are they going?

[05:15:01]

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're going all over the place, Laura, and this is hugely significant and a very positive move when it comes to the rest of the world.

Take a look, 7 million doses to Asia, 6 million to South and Central America, 5 million to Africa here on the African continent, some 6 million doses to nation with severe outbreaks.

So the U.S. and the White House countries like India to get immediate help in terms of battling this COVID-19 pandemic which is lasting potentially a lot longer in places like the African continent. As you said, there is a surge across Africa. At least 14 countries could be seeing a major third and sometimes fourth wave.

This move by the Biden administration is certainly welcome. That first will be the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson vaccine. One hiccup is that the U.S. hasn't yet given authorization to the AstraZeneca vaccine. There are a lot of excess doses of that.

I think also what's important is that the White House says they want to use this as a way to pressure other countries, other rich countries that have excess doses for them to also donate it into the COVAX facility, vaccine alliance, also just directly to individual countries.

The Biden administration also saying they're looking to rapidly scale up the manufacturing capacity in the U.S., they say that will bring jobs, but also they say that will mean more doses for the rest of the world to bring this pandemic to an end -- Laura.

JARRETT: All right. David McKenzie live in Johannesburg for us this morning. Thank you.

ROMANS: So, experts warn the people of Japan could pay the price if the Olympics go on as planned. So, why the refusal to cancel? Follow the money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:21:11]

JARRETT: Welcome back.

A global pandemic, a slow vaccine rollout and a strained health care system just some of the arguments for canceling the Tokyo Olympics.

Overnight even a top member of the Japanese Olympic Committee acknowledged growing public sentiment against the games and said the government hasn't done enough to address it. Look at this. COVID infections in Japan actually higher now than when

the games were postponed one year ago. One reason organizers insist on having the Tokyo Games, well, the sky high cost of cancellation.

CNN's Anna Stewart has more now.

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ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After years of preparation, Tokyo 2020 is just weeks away, a year late due to the pandemic, organizers say that the event will cost $15.4 billion. Some estimates suggest it will cost much more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cancel the Tokyo Olympics.

STEWART: Opinion polls in Japan suggest a majority of the public want it canceled.

Japan has already banned overseas spectators, which the Nomura Research Institute estimates will cost the country over $1 billion in lost revenue. Canceling the games, it says, would cost more than $16 billion. But the think tank warns that these costs actually pale in comparison to the economic damage another wave of coronavirus could cause.

The IOC says its priority is to hold games are safe and secure. And, while pressure mounts for Japan to cancel the games, contractually, it can't.

ALEXANDRE MIGUEL MESTRE, SPORTS LAW ATTORNEY, ABREU ADVOGADOS: In practice, the single entity that can cancel games is the IOC, International Olympic Committee, because, according to the Olympic charter, the IOC has an exclusive property of the games.

STEWART: So, this means that, actually, Japan can't unilaterally decide to cancel the Olympic Games?

MESTRE: If Japan, if the organizing committee, if Tokyo, decides to not go on on their obligations under the host city contract, of course, it would not be possible to undertake the games, and in that condition. And in that condition, of courser, the IOC would be entitled to sue those co- parties in the host city contract.

STEWART: The IOC has insurance for games cancellation and abandonment, which could cover part of its operational cost. But what about its partners, the sponsors, and the broadcasters?

PATRICK VAJDA, PRESIDENT, XAW SPORTS: The main one in terms of money is the TV rights. The different contracts now are so complicated. Twenty years ago, it is easy to answer your question. Today, it's almost impossible, because a different TV network bought not only one games, but several. Generally speaking, three online, sometimes four.

We have to take each contract one by one and to analyze what is written in the contract. Sometimes, it is written something about the cancellation, they have to reimburse, they have not. It depends on the contract and it is a pure contractual agreement between two private companies.

STEWART: Billions of dollars, lawsuits, and insurance claims are at stake if the games are canceled. If they go ahead, the IOC risks breaching its own charter, which says it will promote safe sport, and protects athletes, who are already beginning to arrive in Japan.

The ultimate cost could be borne by those at risk from COVID-19 if Tokyo 2020 becomes a super-spreader event.

Anna Stewart, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. A lot of questions still there.

Meantime, here quick programming note, President Obama joins Anderson Cooper for a rare one-on-one about his life post-presidency. An "Anderson Cooper 360" special, Barack Obama on fatherhood, leadership and legacy, Monday 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

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[05:29:29]

ROMANS: All right. Good morning. Good Friday morning. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. It's 29 minutes past the hour here in New York.

The list of things that Democrats want to get done while President Biden is in office is very long, infrastructure, voting rights, stopping gun violence, immigration and in the middle of it all, there's Senator Joe Manchin.

Some Democrats are begging for Manchin to nuke the filibuster but he's having none of it. Manchin spoke to our Manu Raju.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANCHIN: These take time. You just can't -- I know everyone is in a hurry right now. If anyone understands the process, it's President Joe Biden. We've got to work together, you know, you can only do so much by yourself.