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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Tornado Touches Down Near Birmingham, Alabama; Colorado Massacre Suspect Makes First Court Appearance in Wheelchair; Biden Sets New Goal of 200 Million Vaccines in First 100 Days. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired March 25, 2021 - 16:30   ET

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

[16:30:06]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And, David, Biden -- he presents himself, he sold himself to the American people as the bipartisan guy who can solve problems, he can reach across the aisle.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he hasn't spoken to Biden since inauguration.

Is Biden really working towards the goal of what he set himself up to be if he hasn't even talked to Mitch McConnell?

DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, it's interesting. He has -- as he pointed out, he has had Republicans down to the White House on many occasions here to talk about different elements of different issues, and he's looking for at least some areas where he can work with them.

I don't know -- I thought it was interesting, his answer on McConnell, because, you know, McConnell said he's -- he was quoted to the president that McConnell said, you know, he's captive of the far left or whatever McConnell said and he just smiled and said, well, that's what I'd expect Mitch to say.

TAPPER: Yeah, let's actually, let's run that -- we have that clip right here. Let me just run that clip. This is what he said when he told McConnell he had moved so far to the left.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know Mitch well. Mitch knows me well. I would expect Mitch to say exactly what he said. Unless Mitch says the last thing I did is last piece of legislation is so far left, then he ought to take a look at his party. Over 50 percent of them must be over that edge as well, because they support what I did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Biden really making a difference there, David, between Republican voters, according to polls --

AXELROD: Yes.

TAPPER: -- and Republican lawmakers.

AXELROD: And he explicitly said I may not have a united, you know, with Republicans in the Congress, but I've certainly united the country, meaning that there's -- and he said polling shows they support my initiatives.

And I would say on this issue of the filibuster on some of these thorny issues we mentioned earlier, he needs 60 votes and he -- or doing away with the filibuster. He still has his budget reconciliation tool. He's going to roll out a $3 trillion package next week that includes a significant infrastructure investments. He could do that once again through the reconciliation process.

Now, you know, he'd have to get Manchin on board for that as well. But, you know, that is the one tool that is left to him. And I think at the end of the day, Biden believes that he will be judged on the basis of the economic progress that he delivers to the country.

TAPPER: And, Maggie, one of the things that struck me about that moment is Biden is told about somebody basically insulting him and, unlike the previous president, he doesn't take the bait. He's got the, you know, the old godfather -- you know, it's business. It's not personal attitude.

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: That's exactly right. Look, there were a lot -- I would put it slightly differently.

I agree that I think there were any number of contrasts with how the previous president handled press conferences from the stylistic to the substantive. But I would say that one thing that that, as you both noted, that this White House and president has done, they've tried to draw a distinction between sort of the Washington insider's game and what people across the country are talking about.

If there were something that I think did not work at this press conference, it's that there was not a single coronavirus question. There were not more questions about gun control. These are issues that people are talking about across the country. And I think that the White House, I think for their own long game wisely, has had a view on is what is taking place out of the D.C. bubble, and that is what Biden is doing.

He is not trying to get -- in addition to the fact that it's just not his nature to turn this into a deeply personal thing, he is keeping his eye on what he wants to accomplish and getting into a tit-for-tat which is not worth it for him.

TAPPER: Yeah. David Axelrod, Maggie Haberman, great to see both of you. Thanks so much for being here.

AXELROD: Good to see you, Jake.

TAPPER: We're following breaking news right now in the South. A tornado touching down near Birmingham, Alabama. The new images coming in, and the severe risk in the hours ahead. That's next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:58:30]

TAPPER: Breaking news in our national lead, damage reports coming in, and what was already expected to be a severe weather day that will last into the night. An apparent tornado touched down near Birmingham, Alabama.

CNN meteorologist Tom Sater is at the CNN weather center for us.

Tom, what areas of the states need to be on guard right now.

TOM SATER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, Jake, it's pretty much like it was just eight days. Here is our outlook, and if you notice the color of pink, that's a level 5 out of 5. It doesn't get higher than that.

Storm Prediction Center calls this a high risk. It may happen once or twice a year. We didn't have any last year. This is now the second time for a high risk in just eight days. Eight days ago, it was a little bit to the southwest. But the same communities, same towns are getting hit by tornadoes. They did eight days ago, and we had 65 of them.

And there were injuries that time. We're already seeing significant damage. This tornado watch, which was in effect until 8:00 p.m. central daylight time, that's 9p Eastern Daylight Time, includes now north Georgia. It's what we call a PDS.

They do not issue these lightly. They come with extreme warnings, and not just tornado warnings. What you see here, some of these are what you call tornado emergencies, most dire of warning, which means a large tornado is on the ground, and damage and the life threatening elements are imminent.

Notice all of them. We're getting jump around a few of these because they're getting at nearly highly populated regions. See where Charlotte is off to the western suburbs. That's going to move them in the northern suburbs, not as strong as some of these you see in between areas of Greenville and Columbia. Well, we head westward. We've got a new one, another one that was near Meridian, Mississippi.

[16:40:02]

That's moving in. Of course, you see in that northeasterly component to it, moving again as you see in the Green County area.

But the one that's been the monster is this storm system here. This is moving into Polk, Floyd counties in north Georgia near Rome. This has been on the ground, Jake, for over 120 miles and has dropped now seven tornado reports and with that, significant damage, especially east and southeast of Birmingham.

TAPPER: And, Tom --

SATER: It's going to continue into the night.

TAPPER: Tom, we're hearing some first reports about injuries right now. Keep us posted when those come in.

Meteorologist Tom Sater, thanks so much.

Continuing in our national lead, the suspect in the Colorado grocery store massacre was wheeled into the courtroom because of his injuries and restrained for his first court appearance today. The judge read the suspect his rights and said he would stay behind bars without bail. Prosecutors said it could be up to a year before this case goes to trial.

And as CNN's Lucy Kafanov reports for us now, his defense team already wants to delay a preliminary hearing so they can fully assess their client's mental health.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The chilling moment as the suspected gunman is wheeled into the room.

JUDGE: Sir, do you understand those rights as I've explained them to you this morning? I need you to answer out loud.

AHMAD ALISSA, SUSPECTED GUNMAN: Yes.

KAFANOV: That's the only time 21-year-old Ahmad Aliwi Alissa spoke, charged with ten first-degree murder counts, and one count of attempted murder in Monday's attack in Boulder.

He appeared in court with three public defenders.

KATHRYN HEROLD, LEAD ATTORNEY, COLORADO PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE: Our position is that we cannot do anything until we're able to fully assess Mr. Alissa's mental illness.

KAFANOV: The accused gunman sitting there, showing no emotion during the six-minute hearing.

MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, BOULDER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The first step of what will be a lengthy process for us to secure justice for the victims, their loved ones and this community.

KAFANOV: The judge ruled that Alissa will remain in jail without bond as investigators and his defense team prepare for the case. He has yet to enter a plea.

MAYOR SAM WEAVER, BOULDER, COLORADO: We heard from the suspect's family that he may have had mental health challenges. From our standpoint right now, we're focused on the victims and the families.

KAFANOV: Those victims honored last night at this solemn vigil. Among those grieving, Christina Maes, here to remember her fallen co-worker, Rikki Olds.

CHRISTINA MAES, KING SOOPERS SUPERVISOR: She always had a smile on her face. She was always so energetic. She was just a loving person that you could even ask for.

KAFANOV: Another friend of Rikki's, Logan Smith, watched as the gunman shot and killed the 25-year-old.

LOGAN SMITH, SHOOTING SURVIVOR: I wanted to run over to her, but I knew that there was a shooter inside and I couldn't.

KAFANOV: He says the gunman stood a few feet from where he hid.

SMITH: One of the scariest things about it all was the silence until police arrived and yelled at him to get down.

KAFANOV: We're also learning today that handcuffs used to restrain the gunman after he was released from the hospital belonged to slain Officer Eric Talley.

Boulder Police tweeting: It was our distinct honor to use Officer Talley's handcuffs to formally process him into the jail.

Hundreds lining the streets yesterday to bid this hero a farewell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAFANOV: And, Jake, that added charge of attempted first degree murder, we learned today that that comes from an alleged attack on Boulder Police Officer Richard Steidell. He was one of the one first to respond and, unfortunately, discovered the body of Officer Talley.

We are expecting additional charges to be filed in the weeks ahead. It is going to be a lengthy process. But if convicted, the gunman does face life behind bars without parole -- Jake.

TAPPER: Lucy Kafanov, thank you so much.

Coming up next, results of the new study about the COVID vaccines' effect on pregnant women that moms to be will want to hear.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:48:03]

TAPPER: In our health lead, President Biden announced his new goal today, 200 million vaccines in arms within his first 100 days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know it's ambitious, twice our original goal. But no other country in the world has even come close. Not even close to what we're doing. I believe we can do it. (END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: As CNN's Erica Hill reports even though the White House is on track to hit that new goal and vaccinations are ramping up, we're also seeing cases rising again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fourteen percent of U.S. population now fully vaccinated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was very easy, much easier and much more efficient than I anticipated.

HILL: Among those 65 and older, it's nearly 44 percent.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: We know that people who are over the age of 65, their mortality rates have come down dramatically from 16 to 100,000 in January, to 1 in 100,000 now. So, we know and we're getting that early evidence that this vaccine is working.

HILL: New research published today shows both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are incredibly effective in pregnant and lactating women and their newborns. Pfizer just started testing the vaccine in 5 to 10 year olds.

AstraZeneca, which hasn't applied for emergency use authorization in the U.S., revising its efficacy data to 76 percent against symptomatic disease after a press release earlier this week citing 79 percent efficacy sparked criticism.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Seventy-six percent efficacy is also really good. Why didn't AstraZeneca say that from the start? Now, it raises questions about, are they cherry-picking their data and try to make it look better than it is?

HILL: Florida, one of the latest states to expand eligibility.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R), FLORIDA: All adults in the state, age 18 and older will be eligible for the vaccine beginning Monday, April 5th.

HILL: More than half of all states will make it available to anyone 16 and older by the end of next month.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH & POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: States right now are being held accountable to how many doses they put in people's arms, not whose arms those doses go into.

[16:50:07]

If we miss these high-risk people, we're going to have a real challenge on our hands.

HILL: The challenge today? Average new cases still ticking up. And while deaths are dropping -- WALENSKY: We're still seeing about 1,000 deaths a day, way too many.

HILL: Miami Beach bringing its 8:00 p.m. curfew back tonight, in an effort to curb spring break crowds, as New York City eyes a reopening for Broadway.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK: I feel very good about September. We just need to do the work now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL (on camera): One other thing that's coming this fall, Jake, mandatory vaccinations for all Rutgers University students. The school making that announcement today in a statement. The president said this will be for all student enrolled for the fall 2021 semester. There will be exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Interestingly, they're not required right now for faculty and staff. The president of the faculty did urge faculty and staff to get immunized as soon as they can.

The school also noting that New Jersey has approved that the school can administer vaccines on campus once they are available to them. They don't have those yet. But they said don't wait. Get that vaccine now -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Erica Hill, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Joining us to discuss, CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Sanjay, Biden aiming for 200 million shots in arms by his first hundred days. He's on track to hit this. Should he be even more ambitious?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I think that, you know, the faster, the better. I mean, this is -- this is a race. I think that's a pretty good metaphor for this.

And he should surpass that even if things stay as they are right now. He should surpass that 200 million in 100 days. So, I think, you know, there's all these things coming online in terms of how they're trying to reach people. Hopefully, they will surpass it.

But as we've talked about, Jake, they want to underpromise and overdeliver. They admitted so much.

TAPPER: Two hundred million shots in arms, assuming that most of those are two shots, that's about 100 million Americans and that's not even a third, though, of the American people.

So, I mean, I don't want to discount what's going on, but, I mean, we're told we need to get like 75, 80 percent in order to achieve herd immunity, right?

GUPTA: Yeah, that's right. I mean, some of that -- some of that immunity may come also in the form of people who have been previously infected and that's a little bit of a hard number to really assess, because we're still not doing enough testing. But some have suggested it's around 25 percent of the country, roughly. So, add that in there as well. It's still going to take a while, to your point, mid, late summer before we get there. But there is some of that existing immunity. It will help accelerate that timetable.

TAPPER: And more than half the states are opening vaccine availability to every adult by the end of April. On the flip side of this, some officials are expressing a concern about depleting the supply too quickly.

GUPTA: Yeah, I've read that as well. I think it's -- you know, it's a little bit uneven. There's places where I think the supply will outstrip demand sooner than other places. It varies a bit community by community.

I don't think -- you know, when we look at this and look at the specific supply available at that point, you know, there should be enough, frankly, at the end of May for 300 million Americans to get vaccinated, which is more than the number of adults. I think the supply, hopefully, won't be an issue at that point.

I think the issue will be something that Michael Osterholm just raised, which is will there still be priority vulnerable people who get left behind as a result of that? Really got to make sure at that point that you open eligibility, that the most vulnerable, the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions have already had access to this and gotten it.

TAPPER: You just mentioned what I've been talking about actually earlier with Dr. Reiner, which is this need to actually aggressively get out there and reach people who either don't have access to Internet or are expressing vaccine hesitation, people on Native American reservations, people in inner cities, rural areas. Biden announced they're going to spend almost $10 billion to expand access to the vaccines in the hardest-hit areas and increase vaccine confidence.

Is there any evidence that the efforts the Biden administration has already made into this, is there any evidence anything is working?

GUPTA: Yeah, I think so. You know, we were looking at this specifically and if you look specifically at the -- some of the federal distribution centers for vaccines, about 60 percent of those have now gone to black and brown Americans. In the retail pharmacy programs, 45 percent of outreach is now going into zip codes that have been considered hard to access in the past.

So, it seems to help -- one quick thing I'll tell you, Jake, they want to do a partnership with dialysis clinics, 550,000 people who are receiving dialysis under federal entitlements.

[16:55:01]

That's a great way to reach really vulnerable populations. TAPPER: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.

We're going to be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Before we go today, we want to take the time to remember just one of the more 545,000 lives lost to COVID in the United States.

Today, we remember Steven Adams (ph), 43 years old. He worked as a detention aide with the Broward County sheriff's office in South Florida. His colleagues called him an "unsung hero" and a team player, coaching youth football.

Adams prided himself on being honest and straightforward. And that made a deep impression on those who knew him.

To his family and friends, our deepest condolences. May his memory be a blessing.

Our coverage continues on CNN right now.