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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Biden Team Planning Vaccine Distribution Plan; Democrats Introduce Article of Impeachment Against Trump. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired January 11, 2021 - 16:30   ET

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

[16:33:30]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: We're back now with the effort under way to make President Trump the first president to be impeached twice.

Let's discuss, bring in Jackie Kucinich and Nia-Malika Henderson.

Jackie, I will start with you.

Republican Senator Roy Blunt says of the insurrection that President Trump -- quote -- "touched the hot stove" and is unlikely to touch it again.

I'm kind of at a loss that any Republican senator or just random Republican walking down the street would suggest that President Trump has learned his lesson from touching the hot stove. What do you think?

JACKIE KUCINICH, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, he doesn't feel pain like normal people that have that consequence of getting burned. Apparently, he permanently wears asbestos mittens.

I don't know. But anyone who's been paying attention in the last four years knows that, because the president is almost never held accountable, he just blows through any consequences there are. The election is the first time that, really, he's had something happened that cannot change.

Even though he's tried, he's pushed the boundaries of trying to change it on every level he possibly could, that did not change, which is perhaps why January 6 happened. It was the last thing he could try in order to stay in power.

But, no, I don't think the hot stove is really something that applies to Trump.

TAPPER: Nia-Malika, I asked Republican Senator Pat Toomey yesterday on "STATE OF THE UNION" whether Republicans should have done more earlier in his administration to rein in the president. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Do you regret not doing more to stop somebody you're now calling a demagogue, who's pretty obviously been a demagogue for his entire political career? [16:35:06]

SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R-PA): Yes, Jake, I don't think there's any doubt at all -- there's none in my mind -- that the president's behavior after the election was wildly different than his behavior before.

What we witnessed this week is orders of magnitude more egregious than anything we have ever seen from Donald Trump before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: What do you think, Nia-Malika?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Listen, there is going to be an attempt to rewrite history.

We see Pat Toomey doing that there, suggesting there were sort of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, when we know Donald Trump was Mr. Hyde for much of his political career.

What we saw on Wednesday was the worst of it, but it was certainly building for many, many months, as Donald Trump brainwashed his supporters, suggesting that there was somehow some sort of fraud involved in him losing the election.

People like Pat Toomey and other Republicans didn't really stand in the president's way or stand up to the president as he was spreading all of those lies across the country about this election. And so we saw what happened.

And, listen, nobody, I don't think, was surprised by what happened on Wednesday. It was the culmination of this culture that Donald Trump has stoked among his supporters, who he has thoroughly brainwashed.

And Wednesday sort of was the final act of showing their loyalty to this president. And the president saying to those followers that he loved them, he essentially loved what they did.

TAPPER: Let's hope it's the final act.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: But the fear is that it's not going to be the final act.

Go ahead, Jackie.

HENDERSON: Right.

KUCINICH: No, I was just going to say, not only did they not stand in the way. A lot of them enabled him, knowing full well that the election -- there was no election fraud, and -- but would still keep allowing the president to say these lies without calling him out, because they were afraid for their reelection, perhaps.

But they are a culpable in a lot of ways for how the president has been able to get away with what he has for so long. HENDERSON: That's right.

TAPPER: Not just allowing him to do it. They also -- they also spewed the same lines.

HENDERSON: Yes.

TAPPER: And, Congresswoman Cori Bush, a freshman Democrat from Missouri, she just introduced a resolution to expel members of Congress based on the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies lawmakers who have -- quote -- "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

Her argument is the people who voted for and certainly led the charge to overturn the electoral vote, that they should be expelled. What do you make of that name, Nia-Malika?

HENDERSON: Listen, I think Democrats and people who know -- and, Jake, you have pointed this out -- this isn't the final act.

This could be the beginning, I think, of something even more horrible that comes to this country, because there is this domestic terrorism that's going on, fueled by white nationalists.

And I think people who are really saying that people need to face consequences for their complicity in this, there is real worry that, if there aren't any real consequences, this is going to get out of control, we will see it again.

Certainly, you talk to law enforcement officials, for years, this has been a real fear that white supremacy and white nationalist violence would be visited on this country in ways that we hadn't seen before. And we saw part of that, I think, happen on Wednesday with some of those folks in the crowd, by no means not all of them, but certainly some of them with white nationalist ties, and certainly open to radicalization to become white nationalists, as the president tells them that almost their birthright and their country has been stolen by folks in cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia and Milwaukee and Detroit.

And we know who the president is talking about. There is this real fear and anxiety among those people about this multiracial democracy, and that is really what they were trying to overturn on Wednesday.

TAPPER: Jackie, we see a lot of Republicans who quite literally have blood on their hands saying -- or I guess it's not literal -- that figuratively have blood on their hands saying now's the time for unity.

And I just wonder, what do you think would actually be a way forward for the Kevin McCarthys of the world, the Steve Scalises of the world, the Josh Hawleys and Ted Cruzes of the world? What would you like to see them do in order for us to actually be able to get over this?

KUCINICH: It's really unclear, Jake. I mean, that is above my pay grade. But what it does seem like they're

going to try to do is just try to move past this and not take any kind of accountability, which will leave a lot of people unsatisfied.

TAPPER: Not just Democrats, but Republicans too. There are a number of Republicans who are absolutely disgusted with McCarthy and Scalise and the rest.

KUCINICH: Yes. Exactly.

TAPPER: Nia-Malika Henderson, Jackie Kucinich, thanks to both of you, as always.

President-elect Joe Biden getting round two of the vaccine, as there's new concern about his plan to give the entire vaccine effort a shot in the arm.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:43:55]

TAPPER: In politics: President-elect Joe Biden says he's not afraid to take his presidential oath of office outdoors, even after what happened at the Capitol last week, a domestic terrorist attack.

He made that comment after getting the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this afternoon. Hundreds of millions of Americans, of course, are still wondering when it will be their turn.

CNN's Arlette Saenz joins me now live from Wilmington, Delaware.

Arlette, there is reporting that president-elect Biden has expressed displeasure vocally with his team regarding the vaccine distribution plan. Tell us more.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Jake, president-elect Biden today, after he received that second dose of the vaccine, expressed confidence in his coronavirus team, saying that they will be able to administer 100 million vaccine shots in the first 100 days.

Now, this comes after a report that the president-elect had been frustrated with the progress that his team had made so far. But the president-elect today made it clear that getting these vaccinations to Americans is a top priority, doing that in a fast manner.

But many details of how this will actually be executed still remain in flux.

[16:45:02]

Now, Biden has said that on Thursday, he will be laying out more of his vaccination plans, as well as importantly how much it's going to cost. He will be going to Congress over the next few weeks, trying to get some funding, as they are trying to get those vaccinations out to the American public.

TAPPER: All right. Arlette Saenz on the banks of the Christina River in Wilmington, Delaware, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

The head of one of the largest school districts in the country says schools are the safest place from COVID. Is that true for parents, kids and teachers? We'll look into that next in our new series on education in the time of COVID.

And COVID patients on hallways, the gift shop, an chapel, conference room. CNN goes inside one hospital serving a minority community ravaged by the virus.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:50:24]

TAPPER: In our health lead, January is on track to be the worst month of this entire pandemic for the United States. For the first time ever, the United States is averaging more than 3,000 deaths every single day. Nearly 23,000 deaths reported last week alone. And for the 40th day in a row, more than 100,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with coronavirus.

CNN's Sara Sidner goes inside one Los Angeles hospital struggling to treat this surge of patients as ICU beds across the city are full.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SINGING)

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mariachi music slices through the silence. The melody is meant to soothe the family's sorrow. The cruelness of COVID-19 on display. This is a funeral in a parking lot.

JULIANA JIMENEZ SESMA, MOTHER & STEPFATHER PASSED AWAY FROM COVID-19: My mother was a very strong woman, and she fought to the very last breath.

SIDNER: Juliana Jimenez Sesma says these are the last words they exchanged.

SESMA: I told her, mom, do not be afraid, for the Lord is with us. I love and may god bless you. Keep strong for me, mom. And all she answered me was, yes, mija. Yes, mija, with that voice -- with fear.

SIDNER: Sesma lived with and cared for her mom who had a lung condition. Her step dad had asthma and diabetes. Her brother lives right next door with his young family.

How many people ended up getting it? Everyone --

SESMA: All of us. SIDNER: Her stepfather and then mother ended up here, Martin Luther

King Jr. Community Hospital. They fought to live like those filling all the ICU beds now, but they died within 11 days of each other. Dr. Jason Prasso treated both of Sesma's parents.

DR. JASON PRASSO, PULMONARY & CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN, MLK JR. COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: I just want her to know that we here tried our hardest, and, you know, we're really sorry that things went the way that they did.

SIDNER: The terrible scenario was not unusual, as COVID ensnares those who live in multigenerational families and are part of the essential workforce.

PRASSO: We have had the misfortune of seeing this disease run through families and all too frequently take multiple members of a single family.

SIDNER: The state of the art hospital is an oasis of care in the health care desert of south Los Angeles. It is no wonder the heavily black and Latino neighborhood is suffering disproportionately. The inequities in health care invites death.

DR. ELAINE BATCHLOR, CEO, MLK JR. COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: Diabetes is three times more prevalent here than in the rest of California. Diabetes mortality is 72 percent higher. The life expectancy is ten years shorter here than in the rest of the state. And all of that is related to this being an under-resourced and underserved community.

SIDNER: That was before coronavirus arrived.

PRASSO: We're running like well over 100 percent capacity.

SIDNER: The 131-bed facility is suddenly treating more than 200 patients, 60 percent of them are COVID patients. They've made space everywhere, tents outside, inside hallways, the prayer room, a former gift shop -- the battle to save a life physically and mentally exhausting.

But on this day, a surprise reminder of why they fight.

ELAINE STEVENS, COVID-19 SURVIVOR: I'm here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness. You look amazing!

STEVENS: I'm back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, let me see, let me see, you got dancing moves. Oh, yeah!

(LAUGHTER)

SIDNER: Seventy-four-year-old Elaine Stevens returns to thank her doctor and nurses. She spent more than 40 days in this ICU before walking out alive.

STEVENS: I made it. A lot of days, I didn't want to make it. But I did it.

SIDNER: As she celebrated a second chance at life, the ceremony for death was still playing out in the parking lot for the Sesma family.

SESMA: Don't let this be you. If you truly love your loved ones, don't let this be you. Continue to, you know, take all the cautions. Take all extra precautions, exaggerate if you have to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER (on camera): Her mother, Maria Guadalupe Sesma, has been buried now. She's going to cremate her stepfather, Alberto Reyes Gonzalez.

Listening to this family, if you listen to nothing else, listen to what they say. Don't be them. Don't have to go through this with your own family. They are suffering today. I spoke with Juliana.

And she said she was having a panic attack. She just doesn't know how she's going to go further with all her responsibilities and have to again see another funeral to now bury her stepfather -- Jake.

TAPPER: Thank you for the reporting, Sara. That was very moving.

Educating our children in the age of COVID has been challenging, and in some cases, disastrous. With the virus continuing to surge, there remains no clear guidance on how to get schools back open for every kid.

Today, we're starting a new series to take a deeper look at this issue. The first installment examines the essential debate, are in- person schools safe?

CNN's Bianna Golodryga reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALBERTO CARVALHO, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: The trick is actually having a good plan.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST (voice-over): Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is an outlier among his peers.

CARVALHO: The schoolhouse is the safest place.

GOLODRYGA: He oversees the nation's fourth largest school district and the largest to fully reopen in the fall.

CARVALHO: There is no substitute. Regardless of how great the technology may be, you cannot Zoom effectively into a full understanding, a full level of engagement for students.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Recognizing greatness.

GOLODRYGA: Carvalho sees schools as a safe harbor for children. The reason is simple enough.

CARVALHO: The cases in schools are lower than the positivity rate in the community at large.

Ladies, good morning.

GOLODRYGA: As Carvalho walked us through one of the district's elementary schools, he explained how, despite Miami-Dade seeing nearly a quarter of the state's total coronavirus cases, the trend has been different within schools.

CARVALHO: We see a greater adherence to protocols in schools, because it is a controlled, safe environment, than we see the same protocols being follow in the community in general, whether we're talking about in bars, in restaurants, at the beach, or social gatherings.

GOLODRYGA: And Miami-Dade is not alone. New York City recently re- opened its public elementary schools for some in-person learning, despite an increasing citywide positivity rate. Independent analysis suggests that schools can safely re-open if proper mitigation strategies are followed, an issue even politically opposed governors share some similarities about.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: If the schools are safer, then my opinion is leave the schools open.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R), FLORIDA: Closing schools due to coronavirus is probably the biggest public health blunder in modern American history.

GOLODRYGA: Still, many school districts are slow to re-open in-person learning. Los Angeles, the nation's second largest, remains fully online due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, as does San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

President-elect Biden says re-opening schools will be a top priority during his first 100 days in office.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school.

GOLODRYGA: With Miami-Dade schools already open, superintendent Carvalho has his own priority in sight.

CARVALHO: I believe if our teachers are essential professionals, indispensable to our society, to our economy, then we ought to prioritize their status in terms of access to the vaccine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA (on camera): And, Jake, as far as other school districts, a big milestone in the city of Chicago. The third largest school district in the country today readmitted 6,000 pre-K and special needs students to in-person learning. This is just a small step, reminder how large this city really is.

But there was a lot of pushback ahead of this. This was their first time in school in March. But the pushback came from concerned teachers, saying that there wasn't enough safety measures and precautions put into place. Jake, we think about schools as a safe haven, where children eat, where they learn. You think about the tragedies going on in this country. Typically, that's where a classroom -- students can talk about these things. It's much harder to talk about what happened last Wednesday via Zoom.

TAPPER: All right. Bianna Golodryga, in the first installment we have of our series about education in the time of COVID, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

One lawmaker is blaming this scene captured on video for her COVID diagnose. It shows at least six House Republicans refusing to wear masks, even after offered by a colleague while sheltering in place during the capital riots. The top doctor sent a memo to lawmakers and their staffs this week warning about the potential spread of coronavirus in the enclosed room.

And now, Democratic Congresswoman Donny Watts Coleman of New Jersey, a 75-year-old cancer survivor, is on her way to the hospital after becoming the first lawmaker who hid in that room to test positive for the virus. The congresswoman says she feels okay but she will be getting an antibiotic treatment at her doctor's recommendation. She places direct blame for catching the virus on her Republican colleagues who refused to follow health protocols, incredibly selfish.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @JakeTapper. You can tweet the show, @TheLeadCNN.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now.

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