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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Two U.K. Health Workers Suffer Allergic Reaction to Pfizer Vaccine; U.S. Averaging 2,000 COVID-19 Deaths Every Day; Interview With Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI); Biden Announces Defense Secretary Nominee. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired December 09, 2020 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper.

And we begin with breaking news in our 2020 lead.

Moments ago, president-elect Joe Biden officially introduced another high-profile Cabinet pick, his choice for secretary of defense, retired Army General and former CENTCOM Commander Lloyd Austin.

Biden praised Austin as the definition of duty, honor country, and a trailblazer, as only the sixth African-American to reach the rank of four-star general in the Army.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: He's loved by the men and women of the armed forces, feared by our adversaries, known and respected by our allies, and he shares my deeply held belief in the values of America's alliances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Austin's potentially historic confirmation would face some early challenges on Capitol Hill, as some lawmakers are raising concerns that Austin has not been retired from active duty long enough to honor the tradition and the law mandating civilian control of the military.

And, indeed, his confirmation would require a waiver from that law. President-elect Biden is also gearing up for a handful of other major announcements in the coming days, including two more Cabinet secretaries, Tom Vilsack, the same man who served as agriculture secretary under President Obama for eight years, and Marcia Fudge, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio, whom he will nominate to be secretary of housing and urban development, as CNN learns the search for the next attorney general is down to three leading contenders. CNN's Arlette Saenz joins us. She covers the Biden transition for us. And she's in Wilmington, Delaware.

Arlette, the president-elect spent most of his speech today basically defending the choice of Austin and the unique qualifications that, in Mr. Biden's view, Austin would bring to the job.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: That's right, Jake.

And president-elect Biden talked about his personal relationship with Lloyd Austin, having worked with him while he was vice president. And he also addressed this issue of a waiver head on, asking Congress to authorize a waiver for his choice for defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, to serve.

Now, these types of waivers are so rare. And some Democrats up on Capitol Hill have already expressed reservations about granting another one of these waivers after they just did so four years ago with President Trump's first pick to lad the Pentagon, Jim Mattis.

And take a listen to Biden's ask he made today of Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: There's a good reason for this law that I fully understand and respect. I would not be asking for this exception if I had not -- if I did not believe this moment in our history didn't call for it.

He is the person we need at this moment, in my view. And given the urgent threat and challenges of our nation's forces, he should be confirmed swiftly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: And just a short while ago, one of Biden's top allies on Capitol Hill, Congressman Jim Clyburn, called on Congress to authorize this waiver for Austin.

And, of course, Austin's nomination, if he is confirmed is historic, as he would be the first African-American to lead the Pentagon. And I'm told Austin will begin meeting with lawmakers early next week as his confirmation process kick off.

TAPPER: Arlette, president-elect Biden is expected to make at least two other Cabinet announcements this week. And he's also, we're told, narrowing his search for his attorney general. Walk us through these decisions.

SAENZ: Well, the attorney general job is one of those major jobs still outstanding in Biden's Cabinet. And CNN has learned of a few of the leading contenders for that position.

Take a look at these possible choices, one of them being outgoing Alabama Senator Doug Jones. He is someone who Biden has known for decades and has a very close working relationship. There is also former Attorney General Sally Yates as one of the leading contenders, along with the federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland.

You will remember him because President Obama nominated Garland for the Supreme Court, but Republicans did not allow that to go through. Now, the timing on his naming of an attorney general is still a bit unclear, but it is on the horizon.

But, later this week, we are expecting the president-elect to nominate two other Cabinet members, that being former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who he's asking to reprise his role as agriculture secretary, after Vilsack served in that job for all eight years during the Obama White House.

And then Biden is also expected to nominate Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She would add more diversity to Biden's ranks, as he has faced more pressure to diversify his Cabinet.

TAPPER: All right, Arlette Saenz in Wilmington, Delaware, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

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The incoming Biden/Harris administration will need to lobby members of their own party over their pick to run the Pentagon. And while confirmations go through the Senate only, not the House, confirming General Austin as secretary of defense will require a special law to be passed to provide a waiver, since he has served in active duty within the last seven years.

And among those who need convincing to vote for that waiver, our next guest, Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin from Michigan. She joins us live.

Congresswoman, thanks for joining us.

You shared on Twitter that you have deep respect for Lloyd Austin, but that his appointment -- quote -- "Choosing another recently retired general to serve in a role designed for a civilian just feels off" -- unquote.

So you will vote against a waiver?

REP. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): Well, I am leaving it open. I mean, I need to hear from General Austin and from the Biden administration what they're going to do to ensure that his recently retired status is going to -- isn't going to keep him from really taking the advice and counsel of the civilian part of the Pentagon.

And we have seen over the past four years the real atrophying of the civilian role at the Pentagon. Obviously, I used to be at the Pentagon, so I hear about it constantly. And I need to know that General Austin is going to support bringing that robust role back.

And that's just harder, given that he's coming from a uniformed background. Now, he's fantastic. He's amazing. And I worked with him directly over many, many years. But it's not about him specifically. It's the principle. And principles are there because, frankly, our founding fathers put them in place. And the law has been in place since 1947.

So, I need to hear from him and from the Biden administration what they're going to do to ensure that civilian role.

TAPPER: Did you hear anything in today's announcement that quelled your reservations? President-elect Biden saying that this is the right man for the job, and it's an extraordinary time, and he's the one I need to do this. Vice president-elect Harris saying the same thing.

SLOTKIN: Yes, I mean, I don't think there's any disagreement that Lloyd Austin is a fantastic military leader.

I think what I felt good about was hearing from General Austin himself and talking about the importance of the civilian role. I mean, he verbalized that. So, that was a good start. I just hope that he comes. I'm a member of the House Armed Services Committee. We all vote on the waiver.

And my hope is that he's open to making commitments to ensure that strong, robust civilian role.

TAPPER: A source tells CNN that president-elect Biden and General Austin have known each other for a long time and there's a comfort level between them.

That does seem to be a theme with a lot of these Biden administration picks. And I'm wondering if you're concerned at all that Biden is overlooking candidates who could be potential great Cabinet officials, Cabinet secretaries, but don't know him as well, because they, for example, are younger, they didn't serve in the Obama administration.

Is it possible that this comfort level is too important?

SLOTKIN: I don't know. I think that all presidents choose a Cabinet that they feel comfortable with. I think that that's the privy -- that's the responsibility of any president is to nominate people that he feels comfortable with.

They also should be qualified. And I think you can look at all the officials that have been nominated so far. I mean, these are qualified people. And so I don't -- I don't have a concern about that.

I think the important thing is that President Biden have an atmosphere where he supports people pushing back and coming up with alternative views. And, as long as he creates that atmosphere, I have no doubt that he will do that. Then it should be fine to have people he's known for a long time and that he's comfortable with.

TAPPER: Let's talk about the bipartisan proposal, $908 billion for a COVID relief package.

I know -- I'm sure you have a lot of constituents who desperately need help, because the economy is still struggling so much as the pandemic continues to get worse. When you hear from constituents, what do they tell you is the most

critical thing they need from Congress right now?

SLOTKIN: I think, for a lot of people, it's extension of unemployment. They don't have their jobs right now. And so they want to make sure they can still survive, and unemployment is going to run out.

For our small businesses, they want to have access not just to loans, but to some potential loan forgiveness, so they can make it through the winter. We know our -- we need money for the vaccine and to get that distributed.

So, it's a range of things. Food security -- I mean, look at some of the lines for our food banks. I mean, I think people need to acknowledge that is a modern-day bread line, right? That's the kind of thing you see when you look back in the 1920s. And 40 percent of those people have never been to a food bank in their entire life.

So, I think we cannot go home for Christmas without some sort of a deal. And I wish that everybody felt the same sense of urgency. I don't know how they're avoiding it. I'm being bombarded in my offices in phone calls, texts, just when I go grocery shopping.

People want to know that we can still get something done for the country. We just can't go home without that.

TAPPER: We could be a mere days away from a COVID-19 vaccine.

And, this morning, Michigan's top point woman for the vaccine rollout, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, told CNN that her goal for 2021 is to vaccinate 70 percent of Michigan's adult population.

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Is that enough?

SLOTKIN: Well, listen, I mean, I think we're going to have to see about the distribution plans and make sure we can get our hands on all the vaccine that we want.

We'd like to have more. We know that there's skepticism about the vaccine, and I think people's confidence will grow when they see people they know and people they respect getting the vaccine.

I'd like it to be north of that. But she -- our health officials in Michigan are extremely conscientious. And so I always trust a doctor's advice over mine.

TAPPER: Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, thank you so much for your time. Congratulations on your reelection.

SLOTKIN: Thank you.

TAPPER: We could be just hours away from emergency approval for a COVID vaccine in the U.S., as 2,000 deaths a day becomes a sad and regular occurrence in the U.S.

And there's a new warning now about one of the COVID vaccines, after two health care workers suffered an allergic reaction.

Stay with us.

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TAPPER: In the health lead today, good news, bad news.

We're just one day away from the big FDA meeting that will determine whether the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine gets emergency use authorization here in the U.S.

And, frankly, that decision can't come fast enough, because, on average, the U.S. is losing more than 2,000 lives every day, 2,000. Compare that to a month ago. The average was less than 1,000 deaths a day, which seemed like an unbelievable number back then.

As CNN's Erica Hill reports for us now, top government health officials say, once authorized, there are specific plans to distribute the vaccine, but many state leaders are raising questions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cold weather, COVID fatigue, and a vicious virus that just won't quit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be a rough couple months.

HILL: The U.S. now averaging 206,000 new cases a day. That's up nearly 70 percent in just four weeks, daily reported deaths even more alarming, skyrocketing, 123 percent in that same period.

MORGAN FITZSIMMONS, TRAVELING COVID NURSE: I mean, you got to think that everyone is a loved one.

HILL: Hospitals struggling.

DR. MARK GHALY, CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Statewide, I don't believe we have ever seen as many hospital admissions increased, so like we did just in the past 24 hours,

HILL: Massachusetts further limiting outdoor gatherings and indoor capacity.

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER (R-MA): The days of most people doing most of the right things are probably not enough.

HILL: Doing the right thing meeting more resistance. An Idaho Health Board meeting to discuss new COVID restrictions abruptly shut down after just 12 minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My 12-year-old son is home by himself right now, and there are protesters banging outside the door, OK? I'm going to go home.

HILL: New questions about Pfizer's vaccine, which was just given the OK in Canada, after two health care workers in the U.K. had an allergic reaction.

ALEX AZAR, U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: FDA is going to not cut any corners. They're looking at the data. They're looking under the hood at everything.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Allergic reaction is not a reason not to go forward with the vaccine. But it does mean that further study is important.

HILL: The FDA could authorize Pfizer's vaccine as soon as tomorrow. Shipping could begin hours later.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will be in long-term care facilities within one to two days, tops.

HILL: Holy Name Medical Center in Northern New Jersey is also ready. Those on the front lines are first in line.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're looking at potentially getting close to at least a quarter of the staff in that first go-round.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: So, when could that first go-round happen? Of course, that's the big question, Jake.

They say they're ready to go whenever that call comes. It will, of course, happen after -- if and after that emergency use authorization is granted. So, they say they're guessing. Probably, next week could be that first shipment. They're anticipating just about 1,000 doses in the first shipment.

There's a lot of excitement, a lot of buzz, but also a lot of questions. So, there's a town hall, a virtual town hall, for the staff tomorrow to answer any questions they have. The vaccine rollout will be staggered. Of course, they don't want to do all the nurses in one department at once, for example.

But those on the initial list will be back soon about 150 to 160 people, ideally, a day. Those include not just the doctors and the nurses, but any staff that are working in those critical areas. So, this involves housekeeping. This involves the folks who are coming in and out of those rooms potentially dealing with patients, anybody has that front-facing interaction, as I was told, with a patient.

TAPPER: All right, Erica Hill, great reporting. Thank you so much.

A new warning today out of the U.K., just one day after they started vaccinating citizens there. People with a history of significant allergic reactions, a history of significant allergic reactions, are being told not to take the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, after two health care workers in Britain suffered a serious adverse reaction. CNN's Phil Black is in London.

And, Phil, this is a concerning development. What are you learning about these two cases?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jake, so out of the thousands of people who've been vaccinated here so far, all of them either people over 80 or front-line medical staff, these two health workers have experienced this adverse reaction, as it's described.

These are people with a history of allergic reactions, as you say, so much so, they are people who carry around doses of adrenaline with them just in case. We don't know the specific symptoms that they suffered, but we are told they have been treated and they are fine.

But, as a precaution, the U.K. regulator says it is now putting this advice in place, so that people who fit the same profile who have experienced severe allergic reactions because of food, medicine or vaccines, they shouldn't take the vaccine at this time.

It is now being investigated by the regulator. The companies behind the vaccine are helping with that investigation. Pfizer points out that, in its phase three clinical trial, among the 44,000 people to take part, there had been no reported concerns, no reported serious health concerns.

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But we know from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that, within that trial group, well, no one with that history of serious allergic reactions was allowed to take part.

So, the U.K. regulator has to get to the bottom of all this now, but it's important to note that, while that's happening, apart from this very specific targeted advice to a relatively small number of people, the U.K. rollout of its mass vaccination program continues, with all the benefits that come from that. And it continues to be a source of joy and hope for many people in this country -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Phil, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Some are seeing it as a move out of the Joe McCarthy playbook, Republican lawmakers asked to sign a loyalty list to President Trump of sorts, as he yet again tries to get rid of the will of millions of American voters.

Stay with us.

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TAPPER: In our politics today: A clearly angry and frustrated President Trump is lashing out on Twitter, per use, calling on the courts to overturn the election results and declare him the winner. But, as the president continues to deny reality, members of his own

administration are meeting with the Biden transition team to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins is at the White House.

And, Kaitlan, the president can tweet whatever deluded conspiracy theory he wants, but even some of his closest advisers are now accepting the reality that Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and I think this is the first Cabinet secretary to actually admit that he has met with the Biden transition team.

It's not clear if others have and they're just not saying as much, but the health and human services secretary, Alex Azar, said this morning on CNN that he has actually met with members of the Biden transition team. He did not say that he had met with Biden's HHS secretary pick yet. He talked about Senate confirmation hearings for waiting to do something like that.

But it was clear that they understand that one of the most important things that's happening right now, the rollout of this vaccine and the distribution plan that's going to happen, is important to them. And so that's why Azar said he met with their transition team already. He said he wants it to be a smooth transition.

But, Jake, you have got to think about, just a few days ago, he was referring to Joe Biden is the vice president. When he was corrected by Chris Wallace, he's the president-elect, he didn't say anything. But what he is saying now is very different than yesterday, when the president was defending not inviting any members of the Biden team to that vaccine summit, saying, we don't know which administration is going to be the next one, even though, of course, we do.

And so, it would appear -- it appears, does the HHS secretary.

TAPPER: And, Kaitlan, the president's ride-or-die brigades in Congress continue to support him.

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana, he's now asking all House Republicans to join him in this amicus brief backing President Trump's efforts launched by the attorney general of Texas which would essentially overturn the election results in four states that Biden won.

Now, we should point out we have discussed this lawsuit on the show before, and it's not taken seriously by any credible legal experts on the left or the right. What more can you tell us about this push?

COLLINS: Yes, Michigan's attorney general, I think, said it's a frivolous lawsuit, basically a waste of taxpayers' money.

But we do know Mike Johnson said he personally spoke with the president this morning, and that the president asked him to reach out to Republicans to sign on to join that brief. Basically, it would amount more to a show of force than any kind of legal effort that's actually going to be successful.

Many people do view it as a long shot. But it shows you that, as the president is continuing to fight the results of this election and living in this world of an alternate reality where he thinks he actually won the election, he is tightening his grip on the GOP, and they are falling in line and getting behind the president, even when it's a lawsuit like this that is seen as legally dubious by many parties, many election law experts who are looking at this.

So, while the president is undermining democracy, he is having people help him in this effort.

TAPPER: Yes, George Conway, who the president once considered for the position of solicitor general in his administration, was on the show yesterday, and he said that that lawsuit is full of lie after lie after lie. It's just not a credible lawsuit. It's full of nonsense and conspiracy theories.

Kaitlan, thanks so much.

Let's discuss.

Nia-Malika, one White House Republican told me today that he was put off by Congressman Johnson's e-mail. He said: "Are we the party of list-making now?" because Johnson said he was going to provide a list of those House Republicans who are going to join this amicus brief, provide that to President Trump.

What do you think? Is this move ultimately going to divide Republicans? Or are they all pretty much going to get on board?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: I think we know, from what we have seen with Republicans so far, they're going to get on board with this president.

There is no evidence to suggest that there are Republicans who want to cross this president, even though he has lost this election. They know he wants to remain in power out of office, and they're going to do everything they can to show this president loyalty.

They're going to do that because they know, if they don't, this president will tweet something, maybe he will back a primary challenger against them. So, no, I'm don't think there's going to be any division.

The choice that Republicans have had to make is either be fully on board with Donald Trump or essentially leave the party, leave Congress.