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The Lead with Jake Tapper

FDA Committee to Vote on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, Could Be in Arms as Soon as Next Week if Approved; White House Faces Backlash from Dems After Biden Ordered Syria Strikes Without Congressional Approval; Soon: Biden to Speak as Texas Recovers from Power & Water Crisis. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired February 26, 2021 - 16:30   ET

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

[16:30:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: You say that's not the case.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I think it's really challenging to compare apples to apples here. I mean, there's a couple of things. First of all, I think the thing that people care about the most with these vaccines is how likely is it to keep me from getting really sick, hospitalized or dying, and all these vaccines are really good at that. The J&J one, as you know, 85 percent across the board. And that means tested against the existing variants as well.

Even when you include the variants, I want to make this point, when people receive the vaccine, nobody died. Nobody was hospitalized in one month. And, you know, did a great job of protecting against severe illness.

But, Jake, I think there's a nuanced point here as well, which, you know, maybe not that critical, and that is essentially that Moderna and Pfizer, their vaccines were trialed earlier in the pandemic. The virus wasn't as widespread. The variants weren't as widespread. So, in some ways it was being trialed against a less severe disease. J&J was trialed against a more severe disease.

If you trialed the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines at the exact same time and the exact same places as J&J trials, it may have had similar sort of results. Bottom line, they're all good vaccines.

TAPPER: This new IMHE model shows that cases are falling faster than expected. You spoke with the doctor at the head of the modeling team last night. What did you learn? Why?

GUPTA: Well, you know, I think there's a few things. First of all, these models are only as good as the assumptions you put into them. These models have been all over the place. Dr. Murray, as you know, Jake, has said we may not reach herd immunity until 2022 but it's possible we reach herd immunity this summer. I mean, that's a wide range, obviously.

But as far as why the numbers have dropped more precipitously, and you can see them there, we're coming off that surge that we talk about after the holidays and early part of the year. People are probably being more adherent about masks, Dr. Murray thinks, as well. And, Jake, we probably do have a fair amount of immunity that exists in the community.

We talk about the vaccinations, but people who have been exposed to the virus, the numbers that you see on the side of the screen, you may have 25 to 30 percent of the country that has antibodies to some extent. They have some immunity.

Once you start factoring all of these things together that can bring the numbers down quickly. It's not that they won't go back up or could go back up but that's probably why it's coming down so fast.

TAPPER: Yeah, yeah. They might -- as the variants spread, they might go back up, at least for now going in the right direction.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.

Backlash from President Biden's military strike and a good deal of heat is coming from his own party.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:37:08]

TAPPER: In our world lead tonight, in the first official announced military action of his presidency, President Biden ordered airstrikes in Syria in response to rocket attacks by Iranian-backed militias on U.S. forces over the past two weeks. The site was not specifically tied to those rocket attacks. But Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he was confident that the buildings hit were used by the same forces.

The Iran-backed militia says one of its fighters was killed.

While leaders of Congress were briefed before the attack, members of Congress in general were not briefed, leading to bipartisan criticism of Biden today.

CNN's Oren Liebermann joins us now.

Oren, were these strikes proportional to the rocket attacks on U.S. forces over the past two weeks?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's been what the administration and Pentagon has been saying. It was proportional to the rocket attacks. Those rocket attacks over the course of past week and a half, hit near Erbil, north of Baghdad Air Force base and in Baghdad itself. There were some injuries in the Erbil attack, including one U.S. service member, and that's what prompted this response.

The Pentagon said it was in response to both of those rocket attacks and to deter future rocket attacks. Pentagon spokesman saying it was de-escalatory, meaning they weren't looking to pick a fight, or to start a fight or to continue a fight here. And that is why they're saying this argument that this was a proportional response.

TAPPER: You have to love Pentagon double speak de-escalatory attack.

This use of force is obviously controversial. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki back when she was a civilian, she questioned Trump doing a similar operation in 2019. She tweeted at the time: what is the legal authority for strikes? Assad is a brutal dictator but Syria is a sovereign country, unquote.

Psaki said today that there's a big difference in both policy and law between these air strikes and the ones in 2017.

Have Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill seen a big difference?

LIEBERMANN: Well, Psaki's quote from 2017 certainly mirrors the criticism we're seeing from prominent progressive Democrats who said these strikes -- and primarily, the criticism is on two points.

First, there was no congressional authorization for these strikes and second, they're worried that congressmen like Ro Khanna, as well as Congressman Ilhan Omar and Senator Bernie Sanders, that this is perpetuating what they termed the forever wars in the Middle East of America.

The White House, the Pentagon, Jen Psaki, of course, has responded now saying that Biden is the commander in chief and that there was a responsibility and a right to respond to those rocket attacks in self- defense.

TAPPER: We have some breaking -- thank you, Oren. Appreciate it.

We have some breaking news in our politics lead. President Biden speaking in about an hour as he visits storm-battered Texas just moments ago. President Biden met with food bank volunteers after deadly storms left millions in Texas without heat and water.

CNN's Arlette Saenz is travelling with President Biden. She joins us live from Houston.

[16:40:00]

Arlette, this Texas trip plays into a role Biden is familiar with, being a consoler in a time of crisis and grief.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It certainly does, Jake. And this is a role that many presidents have stepped into in the past, but one that really comes quite naturally to President Biden, as he is well known for his empathy that he relays when he meets with families and victims of tragedy.

And we've seen that on display here over the past few hours as he has been on the ground in Houston, after that severe winter storm battered the state last week. Just moments ago, we saw the president touring the Houston food bank with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden. You saw him walking up to volunteers, thanking them for his work, even thanking the young children who were there, trying to pack together food items for this food bank.

Earlier today, he also got that first on-the-ground assessment of what recovery efforts are like in this state. He visited an emergency operations center where local officials shared with him very granular details about the response here, including that 57,000 residents are still having to boil their water, that they've handed out tons of water bottles to Texans across the state. He was also hearing about the number of school districts that had buildings that found broken water pipes after these storms.

Now the president was accompanied on this trip with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and also Senator John Cornyn.

In just a little bit, we will be seeing Biden here just outside the stadium at a federal mask vaccination site as the president is trying to promote vaccinations in the country.

TAPPER: Yeah, I think the other senator, Ted Cruz, is in Florida at the CPAC convention.

Arlette Saenz, thank you so much.

And then, speaking of CPAC, Donald Trump is literally the golden boy at CPAC where it's almost like stepping through the looking glass. We're going to go there on the ground.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:46:08]

TAPPER: In our politics lead, a party for the Trump party.

Today, the conference that takes the temperature on the future of the GOP's activist base featured a golden Trump statue, fiery speeches from Trump lackeys and repetition about the big lie of the election.

Just moments ago, Donald Trump Jr. aptly called it, quote, TPAC. And as Senator Ted Cruz put it --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Donald J. Trump ain't going anywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: CNN's Jim Acosta was on the ground at CPAC today where former President Trump is expected to resurrect his false claims in his headline speech this weekend, his first since leaving office. He filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Look around this year's Conservative Political Action Conference. DONALD TRUMP, JR., SON OF DONALD TRUMP: TPAC, that's what it feels

like, guys.

ACOSTA: And it's clear much of the Republican Party still sees Donald Trump as something of a golden goose that will lead the GOP back to the White House.

TOMMY ZEGAN, TRUMP STATUE DESIGNER: I think he was the greatest president that lived.

ACOSTA: Despite Trump's role in the bloody siege at the capitol on January 6th --

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT: If you don't fight like hell, you're got going to have a country anymore.

ACOSTA: -- CPAC's chief organizer, Matt Schlapp, handed the former president a prime speaking spot, closing out the conference Sunday.

MATT SCHLAPP, CPAC CHAIR: I like the fact that he wants to stay engaged. Now, you can say that he lost the election, but his supporters, 73 million --

ACOSTA: Well, he did lose the election.

SCHLAPP: You can say that he lost the election.

ACOSTA: He did lose the election.

SCHLAPP: Yeah, but (INAUDIBLE)

ACOSTA: But Schlapp says Trump shouldn't be held responsible for the deadly insurrection.

He gave a speech and there was a violent insurrection at the Capitol. How is that not true?

SCHLAPP: You simply don't know what you're talking about.

ACOSTA: After our interview, some CPAC attendees became irate, many of them refusing to believe Trump incited any violence.

Don't you feel Trump is at all responsible?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

ROGER FARINA, TRUMP SUPPORTER: No, not at all.

ACOSTA: Do you still believe Donald Trump won the election?

FARINA: Yes.

ACOSTA: And still believing his big lie that he won the election. A falsehood the former president is expected to repeat this weekend.

SANY DASH, TRUMP SUPPORTER: No. What did he do? I mean, he's out there doing a rally. You have a bunch of nut cases going out there.

ACOSTA: Trump's presence is overshadowing the other presidential wannabes at the conference, like Senator Ted Cruz, who made light of his trip to Cancun while his constituents were freezing to death in Texas.

CRUZ: I've got to say, Orlando is awesome. It's not as nice as Cancun, but it's nice! In the immortal words of William Wallace, freedom!

ACOSTA: This chaotic post-presidency has twisted the GOP into a pretzel, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he could support another Trump campaign --

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): The nominee of the party? Absolutely.

ACOSTA: -- even though he just condemned the former president right after his impeachment trial.

MCCONNELL: President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (on camera): We should note there are sessions at this conference dedicated to advancing Trump's big lie that he won the election. We should also note Senator Josh Hawley was defending his role and his attempts to overturn the election results. He got a standing ovation for that.

There's COVID denialism going on at the CPAC this year, Jake. At one point the organizers urged the audience to put on their masks because they did that. Some in the crowd actually booed those organizers for just trying to practice some COVID safety -- Jake.

TAPPER: I hope you're triple maxing, Jim -- masking rather.

ACOSTA: Absolutely.

TAPPER: Jim Acosta in Orlando, thank you so much.

Our next guest says his illness was a result of the exposure at the same toxic source President Biden says lead believes led to his son Beau's fatal brain cancer.

[16:50:08]

That's coming up. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: To our buried lead now, that's what we call stories that we feel deserved more attention, this one, the Supreme Court could move on this coming Monday. An Army veteran who says his debilitating respiratory illness was caused by a burn pit long used by the military to destroy everything, from old clothes, and electronics to human waste.

[16:55:03]

Over decades, more than 3 million veterans may have been exposed to the toxic fumes that are emitted from these sites, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Now, President Biden has said that he suspects a burn pit led to his son Beau's fatal brain cancer.

I want to bring in Army Reserve veteran, Captain Le Roy Torres. It's his case that the Supreme Court right now is deciding whether or not to take up.

Captain Torres, Le Roy, it's been good to see you. It's been more than 12 years since you served in Iraq near a large burn pit yet you say you're still suffering from the exposure to that burn pit. How so?

CAPTAIN LE ROY TORRES (RET.), U.S. ARMY RESERVE: Hi. Good afternoon, Jake. Thank you for having me on.

It has been very detrimental, been a long battle here in 2018 I was diagnosed with a toxic brain injury. So, it's been one thing after another. Following my lung biopsy in 2010, it's been a battle for specialized health care but we continue to press on.

TAPPER: You say you were forced to resign from your job as a Texas state trooper because of your lung condition, and it's that separation as a state-level employee that's coming before the Supreme Court that they're going to decide and announce on Monday whether they're going to hear the case.

You've been fighting for this issue for years. Could this case be a breakthrough?

TORRES: Absolutely, Jake. Definitely, depending on Monday morning's decision and their response, that it will -- according to the Reserve Organization of America, there will be over 1,000 cases that it will help other veterans, that are citizen warriors that are serving dual roles. It will help their case as well. Their jobs have been compromised or affected by illness or injury in war.

TAPPER: Comedian Jon Stewart, a big advocate for this cause, works with your organization and your wife's organization called Burn Pits 360. I talked a few weeks ago with your wife and with Jon Stewart about this. And he said that money, money is the main reason why the V.A. denies most of the disability claims related to these toxic burn pits.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, COMEDIAN & VETERANS ADVOCATE: The way this country has gone to war, we have always had endless funds to wage war and no funds for the consequences of war, to the war fighter when they come home. And that has to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: That has to change. Stewart, at the time, along with your wife, were promoting a Senate bill to help expand health care options for veterans exposed to these burn pits. Is there any new traction on that issue, now that there's a new Congress and President Biden in office, and he thinks that his son, Beau, got fatal brain cancer because of a burn pit in Iraq.

TORRES: Absolutely. Earlier, I had an opportunity to speak with Jon Stewart for a few minutes briefly, and just assured me that he's still in the fight. And now with President Biden on board and hopefully now that he will support this issue, because it is -- it's been long overdue and it's just crazy how it's affected so many veterans and their families as well.

TAPPER: This country has a long and sad history of turning its back on those who fight for us, who go to war because our leaders on our behalf send people, like you.

Le Roy Torres, we are with you and we will be watching the Supreme Court on Monday. Best of luck and say hi to your wife for us.

TORRES: Will do, Jake. Thank you again. Take care.

TAPPER: Finally, the coronavirus pandemic has robbed us of loved ones and community heroes, and Lee County, Virginia, has recently lost a giant. Richard Garret was a 65-year-old police officer, educator, Little League coach, husband, and grandfather. He served his hometown for 40 years. His son, Keith, tells us that he was the kind of guy that would give you his last dollar.

Garrett was tragically diagnosed with coronavirus on Christmas Day and he lost his fight a month later.

As the Garrett family stood around his final resting place, fellow first responders turned up their radios to hear his final call.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rest easy my friend. 261 Richard Garrett. Thank you for your service. We'll take it from here.

261. Clear from service.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

TAPPER: May his memory be a blessing. Our deepest condolences to his friends and to his family.

This Sunday morning, join CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION". My co-anchor, Dana Bash, will talk to Dr. Anthony Fauci, to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, to Republican senator from Louisiana, Bill Cassidy, to Democratic Senator Chris Coons from Delaware and California Congresswoman Karen Bass. That's at 9:00 a.m. and noon Eastern.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now. I will see you Monday morning.