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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Did Matt Gaetz Seek Preemptive Pardon?; President Biden Touts Infrastructure Plan; Tiger Woods Speeding About 40 MPH Above Limit When He Crashed; Restaurants Face a Nationwide Ketchup Shortage Due to COVID. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired April 07, 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: But you would think you wouldn't need a preemptive pardon if you hadn't done anything wrong.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wouldn't you, yes?

That's exactly what the White House Counsel's Office thought about preemptive pardons in general. And we also know from our reporting that, at the time, the president was worried about how preemptive pardons would look for his family, for example.

So that was a concern. But what seems clear coming out of all of this reporting is that, while Gaetz may have mentioned it, perhaps it never rose to the level of even getting to the president of the United States, because it was dismissed by people inside the White House, who were suspicious of Gaetz, never really liked him, understood that he was using Donald Trump to try and get ahead politically.

So they kind of tossed it aside.

TAPPER: Yes.

And it's not exactly a full-throated defense of Matt Gaetz...

BORGER: No.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: ... who has been one of the president's most rabid supporters.

BORGER: Yes.

TAPPER: Tarini, "The New York Times" also has a new excerpt from the appending book from the former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner, in which he writes, per "The Times" -- quote -- "Trump incited that bloody insurrection for nothing more than selfish reasons perpetuated by the bullshit he'd been shoveling since he lost a fair election the previous November" -- unquote.

Seems like a rather factual, if colorful statement, although it is controversial.

Boehner, according to "The Times," also says that the Republican Party has been taken over by whack jobs.

Do you think this is going to have any effect on the Republicans who still are in office?

TARINI PARTI, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": I mean, I think this is also just an extremely candid view of the Republican Party that we're hearing from the former speaker.

It's unclear how much influence former Speaker Boehner still has on the Republican Party, as he acknowledges on his own. The party has evolved a lot. One thing I thought that was interesting from that excerpt is that not only does he obviously blame former President Trump for the insurrection, but he also talks about the party more broadly.

He says it should have been a wakeup call for the party. And he's not just talking about Ted Cruz, who's -- we know his feelings on Ted Cruz. We have known them for a while. He's talking about the Republican leadership as well and the party more broadly here.

TAPPER: Yes.

Speaking of candor, Gloria, there's some recent comments from the Mississippi -- Mississippi secretary of state, Michael Watson. This is the guy in charge of elections in Mississippi getting some attention.

He talked to WLOX about the idea of automatic voter registration and why he opposes it. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL WATSON (R), MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE: So, think about all these woke college university students now who will automatically be registered to vote, whether they wanted to or not. You have got an uninformed citizen who may not be prepared and ready to vote.

Automatically, it's forced on them. Hey, go make a choice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: So, he doesn't want woke -- quote, unquote -- "uninformed voters," legal, eligible voters to vote.

BORGER: Right.

And if you play that out, it's because he thinks that perhaps they wouldn't vote for him or some like him. And this notion -- what is woke? what is he trying to say there? It's liberal? Is that liberal? Is that people who are not like me?

I mean, he says the quiet part out loud here, which is, no, those are not the people we want to vote. We want the people to vote who are going to vote for us. And so it's quite remarkable, actually, that he just sort of came out and said it.

TAPPER: Yes. And this isn't just some fringe Republican, we should point out. This is the secretary of state of Mississippi. He's in charge of elections in Mississippi.

BORGER: Yes, he is. I mean, this is somebody who's in charge, unless the laws change in Mississippi, and maybe he wouldn't be in charge.

But, yes, he's sort of the Brad Raffensperger, if you will, of Mississippi.

TAPPER: Yes.

BORGER: And that matters.

TAPPER: Yes.

BORGER: It matters how you count votes, and you need to encourage people to vote, not discourage them.

TAPPER: And, Tarini, Democrats and President Biden are not just pushing infrastructure. They're pushing the definition of infrastructure.

Today, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted: "Paid leave is infrastructure. Child care is infrastructure. Caregiving is infrastructure," to which former Republican Congressman Ryan Costello said: "Gillibrand is doing the Republican messaging on infrastructure."

I understand the idea that anything somebody thinks is essential to society is infrastructure. But they're trying to pass an infrastructure bill. What do you make of the politics of all this?

PARTI: Right.

And we saw the president today actually defend this more expansive view of infrastructure in his remarks today. He basically said that the definition has -- of infrastructure has always evolved. He said, it's not only about meeting the current needs, in terms of the more sort of physical traditional definition of infrastructure, but looking beyond that to the future.

[16:35:00]

And the way the Democrats are really messaging on this is bringing up competitiveness. We have heard the president say this repeatedly, bring up China. Today, he framed this bill as sort of a test of democracy, talking about whether the U.S. can pass this in order to keep up with sort of more autocratic countries like China.

BORGER: You know, when infrastructure was -- when you first started talking about infrastructure, you weren't talking about sending broadband to rural communities, because there wasn't any broadband.

Now there is. So the definitions in this world have to evolve as the situation on the ground evolves. And I think that's what the president was trying to say today.

TAPPER: All right, Gloria and Tarini, thanks to both of you. Really appreciate it.

We now know the likely cause of Tiger Woods' horrific car crash and the key piece of evidence police did not collect. What is it? That's next.

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TAPPER: Our politics lead now.

This afternoon, President Biden argued that the idea of infrastructure, the concept of it is evolving, as he faces criticism that his administration is attempting to redefine infrastructure with his massive $2 trillion proposal, which includes job training, funding for child care, home care for the elderly and disabled.

As CNN's Phil Mattingly reports, today, the White House said it sees workers as the infrastructure of America's economy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not a plan to tinker around the edges.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Joe Biden delivering a head-on defense against the growing criticism of his sweeping $2.25 trillion jobs package.

BIDEN: We need to start seeing infrastructures through its effect on the lives of working people in America.

MATTINGLY: As Republicans savage the proposal for going far beyond the bounds of traditional infrastructure, Biden moving explicitly to embrace the idea.

BIDEN: To automatically say that the only thing that's infrastructure is a highway, a bridge or whatever, that's just not rational. It really isn't.

MATTINGLY: And, along the way, making clear he's open to bipartisan talks, but has no intention of scaling back his ambition.

BIDEN: Here's what we won't be open to. We will not be open to doing nothing. Inaction simply is not an option.

MATTINGLY: But the plan is already facing significant blowback, with Republicans already firmly opposed and claiming key elements aren't infrastructure at all.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I'd be open to it, but not what -- not what I think they're peddling. MATTINGLY: On the surface, a semantic debate, but one that plays a crucial policy role, and has laid the battle lines in the fight ahead, with progressives moving quickly to get behind the idea, as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted that -- quote -- "Paid leave is infrastructure. Child care is infrastructure and caregiving is infrastructure."

And former House Republican and potential Pennsylvania Senate candidate Ryan Costello quote tweeting, saying that was the equivalent of GOP messaging on infrastructure, all as Biden prepares to take his first steps on guns.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I expect the president will have more to say tomorrow.

MATTINGLY: Set to unveil executive action, sources say, which could include requiring background checks on handmade self-assembled firearms known as ghost guns.

And he's expected to press lawmakers on Capitol Hill to act in the wake of shootings that killed 18 in Georgia and Colorado last month.

BIDEN: I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take commonsense steps that will save the lives in the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: And, Jake, I was struck today by just how forceful President Biden's defense of his proposal was, just especially given how early it is in what's expected to be a months-long legislative process.

And speaking of White House officials, they made clear it was impassioned for a reason, really making the point that, in Biden's view and the White House view, now is the time to act. And if Republicans are willing to just sit there and throw up roadblocks, they don't necessarily need to work with them at all. They want to work with Republicans here, but they're not willing to wait -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Phil Mattingly at the White House for us, thanks so much.

Coming up next: a surprising new shortage related to COVID that may mean some won't be able to get ketchup with their fries.

Plus, investigators releasing more details about the Tiger Woods car crash. Stick around.

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TAPPER: In our sports lead, new details on the Tiger Woods car crash. Today, the Los Angeles County sheriff said the golf legend was driving somewhere between 84 and 87 miles per hour, about 40 miles per hour over the speed limit when he wrecked his car in February in southern California. Investigators curiously did not seek a warrant for blood tests. They said there was no evidence of impairment or intoxication.

Woods, who suffered serious leg injuries, told investigators he did not drink and was not under any medication. The captain of the Lomita sheriff's station said Woods likely mistook the gas pedal for the brake. The stretch of road where the crash took place is known for speeding and for crashes.

You're looking at the biggest single-day protest on American soil. This was the 2017 Women's March, or, put another way, the, quote, mother of all huddles.

That's at least how Brooke Baldwin, my friend and colleague describe it's in her new book "Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power." The book just went on sale. It's a fantastic read.

We're joined by the woman herself, CNN anchor and author, Brooke Baldwin.

Brooke, why did the Women's March leave -- I mean, you've covered so many incredibly important marches and events.

BROOKE BALDWIN, AUTHOR, "HUDDLE": Yeah.

TAPPER: Why did that leave such an impression on you? What do you remember from that day?

BALDWIN: I will answer your question in a second. But I'm going to do what I told I was going to do.

TAPPER: I told you not.

BALDWIN: I'm going to gosh just for a second because, folks, Jake Tapper, when you found out I was writing a book, you were blowing up my phone. Not only you did when I have COVID, you were texting me every day, which is a lot of Jake Tapper text.

You called me and you said, how can I help you? I've written books, how can I help you. We need men who support women huddling. So thank you so much for having me on your show.

TAPPER: Well, you're my friend.

BALDWIN: How did -- OK, that two days, you remember, we were all in Washington covering, it was like a Saturday where -- there I was in the middle of the Women's March. But the day before, I'm balancing on the flatbed embedded in the Trump motorcade as he was making his way down Constitution to go to the White House for the very first time.

And so I'm standing there, you know, we're all aware of where he said he liked to grab women. And as a woman and as a journalist, let's just say I was troubled.

Cut to this moment I'm backstage at the Women's March surrounded by half a million women, had never been surrounded by so many women in my life.

[16:50:03]

I had noticed on the campaign trail, women showing up in ways in this country that I had just never noticed in my 20-year career. I wanted to dig in and learn about them and dedicate the next chapter of my career to them.

And just lastly I realized, Jake, like, I was standing there reporter hat off thinking would I have had a huddle to show up at this Women's March with? And I didn't. And so, through the course of this book, I have activated my huddle and I want to inspire readers --

TAPPER: So -- yeah, so let's talk about that. I'm an Eagles' fan. So huddle, I think of football.

BALDWIN: Yeah.

TAPPER: How do you define huddle?

BALDWIN: I purposely used a very masculine-laced word because I want to flip it on its head and own it as women. I define a huddle as a place where women can thrive, succeed, get amazing things done. It can be productive or it can be a quiet space for women to bear witness for one another.

TAPPER: You interviewed so many incredible women for this book. What stood out to you from your time with someone like Stacey Abrams, for example?

BALDWIN: Oh, my gosh. Stacey Abrams, who, by the way, made time for me in the thick of everything happening in Georgia for that state in the fall, my home state of Georgia. And she talked to me about how she is an O.G. huddler.

She is someone who since she was a deputy city attorney in Atlanta and had her first taste of power told me the story of making sure these young women, these secretaries who were brilliant in terms of legislative history in Georgia but weren't quite getting paid, she changed that. And also having to learn how to fundraise when it came to flipping Georgia blue for the first time since 1992, she shared the wealth quite literally, and she huddled with other women in the state fighting for that same thing, and also specifically women of color. And, well, look what they did in Georgia.

TAPPER: I just want you to know that Alice, my daughter, who's 13 now, she has a huddle. Her Girl Scout troop is a huddle. They are constantly supporting each other and standing up for each other. It's really lovely to see.

I'm going to bring your book home to her. It might be a little mature for her but --

BALDWIN: There's a whole chapter on girls and girl huddles and all- girl learning environments. Have her, I'd love to have Alice read it. I'd be honored.

TAPPER: OK, awesome. Our thanks to Brooke Baldwin. Buy her book "Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power." It's out now. You can buy it wherever you buy books, or listen to it on Audible. I will also be tweeting a link later today.

From toilet paper to hand sanitizer, and now possibly ketchup? Say it ain't so. The latest pandemic supply shortage impacting all French fry lovers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:57:12]

TAPPER: In our money lead, Americans survive shortages of PPE, of ventilators, of toilet paper, of hand sanitizer, even of baking flour during this pandemic. But now, some restaurants are having trouble keeping ketchup on the table, after the pandemic led to a surge in demand for the individual packets for takeout -- as CNN's Tom Foreman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every day across the country, restaurants are looking for customers in the midst of COVID. And at the Blake Street Tavern in Denver, Chris Fuselier is also looking for ketchup.

CHRIS FUSELIER, OWNER OF BLAKE STREET TAVERN: You know, my chef came up to me one day and said, Chris, I got a problem here. I hate to tell you this but we're out of Heinz. I go, wait a minute, what are you talking about?

FOREMAN: The ketchup shortage began with new health guidelines last year discouraging traditional dining room service and pushing drive- thru delivery takeout and curbside pickup. In response, out went the big bottles and in came those cute little packets perfect for takeout.

Soon, demand was outpacing supply so badly, "The Wall Street Journal" says the seafood chain Long John Silvers spent an extra half million dollars dealing with the shortage. That's a lot of clams.

HEATHER HADDON, RESTAURANT REPORTER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: At some of their restaurants, we talked to got these 5-gallon tubs of ketchup. And they filled little souffle cups with them, they looked at alternate dispensers. And, again, this takes time and money to do.

FOREMAN: Heinz, which makes more ketchup than anybody else, says this month it will launch a 25 percent increase in production, totaling 12 billion ketchup packets a year.

End to end, that's almost enough to go to the moon and back. And that's appropriate since, yeah, astronauts have ketchup in space.

Still, with summer cookouts, camping trips and whatever this is coming around, condiment connoisseurs could be squeezed for a while. Back in Colorado where Major League Baseball's all-star game is on the way, Chris is just hoping he can keep up with the ketchup demand.

FUSELIER: I'm going to order now. No kidding. I got a hundred days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN (on camera): So add ketchup to toilet paper and cleaning supplies, because after all, not long ago we were throwing these around like confetti. Now they're more like gold -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Tom Foreman, thanks so much.

FOREMAN: Before we go today, we want to take the time to wish a very happy birthday to a very special member of THE LEAD family. Elizabeth Pounds is turning 100 years old today, 100. She is the grandmother of our beloved LEAD producer Charlitta Rodrigues. She was born April 7th, 1921, at the time Warren G. Harding was president. Gas was about 20 cents a gallon.

Now, she lives in Haddock, Georgia, the town threw her a birthday parade.

Now, she says her secret to a long life, keep moving, treat people the way you want to be treated. Happy birthday.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @JakeTapper. Tweet the show @TheLeadCNN.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now.

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