Return to Transcripts main page

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Biden Announces "Historic Economic Framework" Before Europe Trip; Source: Text Of Bill Does Not Change Anything Yet For Progressives; House Oversight Committee To Subpoena Oil Companies For Key Documents; Sources: 1/6 Committee Members Losing Patience With Meadows; Poll: Only 27 Percent Of Parent Will Vaccinate Their 5 To 11 Year Olds As Soon As Shot Is Available; Poll: 66 Percent Worried About Vaccine Causing Future Fertility Problems In Kids, But CDC Says There Is No Evidence It Does. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired October 28, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: How does the White House explain the calculus made in this speech?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jake, a framework is certainly not a deal. And lawmakers have made that clear ever since the President visited House Democrats this morning. First thing they wanted to see a text, then saying they wanted to make sure they had the assurances of, of course, those two critical moderate senators who have been at the center of these negotiations, Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema.

And so, the President was projecting competence before he left the White House today, talking about the negotiating that they've been doing on this, which he, of course, noted had gone on for hours and hours over months and months and saying that this is an agreement where no one is getting everything they want, but essentially making the argument that everyone is getting something.

But of course, what the President announced in this framework that we saw from the White House is far from complete, Jake, because there are several parts of it that were not in the White House's framework, things that Democrats have still said they'd like to have in there. And so, of course, the question of how that ultimately ended up when it comes to not only the size and the scope of the plan, but also how it's going to be paid for are things that still have to actually be hammered out. And progressives have made clear their feelings on that until it actually is hammered out.

And so, that's really what we were seeing from the White House was the President making clear that he wanted to put some kind of momentum behind this because it was his last chance to do so before he left the U.S. for several days to come here to meet with world leaders. And so I think that was the driving force behind the President's remarks earlier.

TAPPER: And Manu, we had Congresswoman Cori Bush, one of the progressives from Missouri, she was on the show saying that the text is not enough. The framework is not enough. They -- she still doesn't know that Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin are committed to voting for the Build Back Better Act, and there seems to be a real lack of trust there.

Do you think there's going to be a vote on the infrastructure bill? And what are you hearing from progressives?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's unclear if the votes going to happen tonight. I do know that Democratic leaders are pushing hard to have a vote as soon as tonight.

Nancy Pelosi made clear, I asked her today, well, why not delay this vote for some time to give the progressives what they want, which is they want the larger bill to move forward alongside that infrastructure bill haven't passed the House. And they also want commitments from Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema that they will support this at the end of the day.

But Pelosi said that she wants to move ahead. She said it doesn't make sense to delay this further, in part, because of a deadline dealing with surface transportation funding. But nevertheless, she is pushing.

Does she have the votes? That's another question because the progressives are saying that the release of the bill tax simply is not enough.

One of the key progressive voices, Pramila Jayapal, she just met with Sinema behind closed doors. After that meeting, she said what she said going into the meeting, she would vote no tonight on that bill, because she wants these two bills to move in tandem. Other progressive Democrats told me they want at least some public sign of support from Manchin and Sinema or that they would back this larger bill, even if it does not have a vote in the House at the same time.

But just moments ago, Jake, I caught up with Joe Manchin, I asked him, why not support this bill, the liberals say they want your support publicly. And he said, if they can't take the word of the President, the United States and the Speaker, we are in trouble. He said, we are going to work in good faith.

But notably Jake, he would not say if he backs this bill. He did indicate to me he's open to that or potentially supportive of that $1.75 trillion price tag, which is higher than he wanted, but still no signs of support leading to questions about the Biden agenda.

TAPPER: And Kaitlan, President Biden came into office touting America is back on the world stage. He has his first meetings in Italy tomorrow, where you are, then the climate conference in Scotland next week. How does he explain having a Democratic House, Senate, White House and yet he can't close this deal?

COLLINS: That's going to be a big question for the President. And his aides have tried to tamp down, you know, the expectations surrounding that saying that these are other world leaders, they get domestic politics. They understand what the President is dealing with. But it's bigger than just the climate provisions I think in this bill, it's turned into something bigger. Because earlier this week, that's what the White House was saying is that he wanted to have this deal in his hands so when he does go to the climate summit he can say, hey, look, this is how the United States is leading on these provisions and we expect other nations to follow suit.

But now what you're hearing from Democratic leaders is it has turned into more of a confidence and governing aspect. Like what you were saying where the President at the last summit where he saw a lot of these world leaders about four or five months ago, the G7, he was saying America is back, this is proving that democracy works, and this is how we govern. And of course, now that there has been a lot of chaos surrounding his own agenda, that is something that the White House is focusing on. And even House Speaker Pelosi saying that the President needed a vote of confidence from Congress.

TAPPER: All right, Manu Raju on Capitol Hill, Kaitlan Collins in Rome, ahead of President Biden's arrival, thanks to both of you.

Let's discuss with my august panel.

Jamal, let me start with you. It looks like this infrastructure vote is not going to happen because we know Speaker Pelosi tends to not bring items to the floor of the House that she knows cannot win, doesn't have the votes. And I don't think this has the votes. Was this all a miscalculation? Biden giving this speech? The historic framework trying to get some momentum, and it kind of like fizzles out?

[17:05:13]

JAMAL SIMMONS, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Well, the ball is moving, you know, down the court or down the field here.

TAPPER: OK.

SIMMONS: So we are seeing some momentum, some movements and momentum.

Listen, I heard your interview with Cori Bush when I was in the car on the way over here. And I saw earlier the passion that she feels is real because the voters in her district, she has politics, too, and the voters in her district it's not academic for them, some of the ideas that are in these bills. So they're very invested.

I just don't understand why Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema can't say it's a deal at the moment. There actually is no agreement, right? The President keeps saying he hasn't -- they have an agreement. He does not have an agreement with Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema that anybody can discern. They should say that so that we can move this process.

TAPPER: Well, they won't. And listen to what Cori Bush, the congresswoman from Missouri, said about why a framework, why the text is not good enough for her in her caucus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CORI BUSH (D-MO): Our trust has to be in two senators that have not, in my opinion, been in good faith actors up until this point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Now, the White House disagrees, the White House will defend Sinema and Manchin. And they say that they've been very clear and very honest in their dealings with them. But there's -- this is just a remarkable about -- a remarkable amount of distrust within one party's caucus.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, POLITICO: And it goes back also to just a month ago, when there was again, the failed attempt to bring the infrastructure bill to the floor which sow distrust among -- for moderates towards progressives, because they were upset then that progressives wouldn't vote for it. But you're right, Jake, that the White House is trusting that Manchin and Sinema are going to come along on this framework and that they can get them to yes.

You know, Biden said to the caucus that he believes there will be 50 votes for what they've outlined in the Senate. But so many progressives I talked to say they want to hear the words explicitly from Manchin in Sinema. They want to hear them say, yes, we support this. And so far --

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: It's just remarkable.

SIMMONS: It's not unreasonable. It's not unreasonable.

BORGER: But it's just remarkable that there is so little trust that when Manchin comes out and says to Manu, yes, OK, yes, I like this. Or Sinema, you know, meets with folks or meets at the White House, that there's so little trust inside the Democratic Party on this. It is remarkable.

So, here's what they've done. They may have a transformational piece of legislation, pieces of legislation. But what are they been talking about the price tag? Way too high?

TAPPER: What keeps getting cut from it?

BORGER: And now what's not in the bill.

TAPPER: Yes.

BORGER: Not what's in the bill.

TAPPER: What do you what do you make of all this, Charlie Dent, former Republican congressman from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? How does this all look to you?

CHARLIE DENT, (R) FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: Oh, I've been here before. I will tell you, yesterday, we didn't know how much this is going to cost, how they're going to pay for it, or what's in it. Now we have some idea.

TAPPER: Yes, 1.75 -- DENT: One point seven five trillion.

TAPPER: -- trillion.

DENT: But I -- and look, the progressives have been holding the infrastructure bill hostage. We'll find out tonight whether they'll shoot it. They have -- they are behaving very much like the Freedom Caucus did, taking hostages all the time and making threats that they handed to him. And now it looks like they're going to make good on it.

But I think the Democrats have completely misread their mandate from the election. This is not a mandate to go big. This is a mandate for stability, normalcy, incrementalism.

And as Joe Biden said, a few weeks ago, if you want to pass a big liberal agenda, you need to elect more liberals. They don't have new deal or a great society. Majority is here.

SIMMONS: I was going to say, I think there are two mandates. One mandate was to bring the country back together, let's have reasonable governing where facts matter and not criminality, right? That was one mandate.

The other mandate was for people who needed to turn out in these big elections in Atlanta and in Northern Virginia, and in some of these places in -- or down in Hampton Roads, those areas.

If you want African American voters, Democratic young voters to turnout vote, they need to see that the process is working on their behalf.

So there are two mandates, and maybe those mandates are in conflict. But I think if for somebody like Raphael Warnock in Georgia, or if Terry McAuliffe was trying to get turnout at the last minute.

TAPPER: Yes.

SIMMONS: Those politicians need big turnout from Democratic voters (ph).

BORGER: But have they seen a process this working? I mean that's, you know, that's the question. All they've seen for months is Democrats fighting each other.

SIMMONS: Who's problem is that?

TAPPER: Laura take a look.

SIMMONS: Sinema and --

TAPPER: So, Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, who's on board by the way I think for the -- with the bipartisan infrastructure bill, right? He dressed up as Ted Lasso for Halloween. And this is him.

I don't know how many of you watched Ted Lasso, but this is him going to serve biscuits to the boss which happens in the show. Except here, he has the boss played by Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema in a fine bit of trolling. He seems to be enjoying the fact that Kyrsten Sinema, with whom he's allied on infrastructure, is the boss. It's very mischievous of Senator Romney.

BARRON-LOPEZ: It is. He is, as you said, accurately trolling Democrats because there are so many Democrats that do feel as though Manchin and Sinema are pulling the strings and controlling a lot of what is happening. And progressives have argued that they are a huge chunk of the caucus --

[17:10:02]

TAPPER: Which they are.

BARRON-LOPEZ: -- in the House, which they are.

TAPPER: They've never been more powerful.

BARRON-LOPEZ: Right. And yet they feel as though they've compromised it a lot to get -- they've gone all the way down from 3.5 trillion to potentially this 1.75 trillion. And so they're not necessarily happy.

But I do want to mention, like, what the White House is arguing right now to the Hill, which is that Fudge just met -- HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge just met with CBC members.

TAPPER: Congressional Black Caucus members, yes.

BARRON-LOPEZ: With the Congressional Black Caucus. And their argument was, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Pretty much she's saying, you know, now it isn't the time to demand everything in the Build Back Better Bill.

She even said, look, there's all these other priorities that we wanted to get across. And she argued that we may be -- the Democrats maybe made them too large, whether it was H.R. 1, the elections reform bill --

TAPPER: Yes.

BARRON-LOPEZ: -- or other bills. And that they just need to come on board now and support all of them.

TAPPER: So, Congressman, let me ask you, we heard President Biden's message to Democrats today as the House and Senate majorities and the rest of my presidency will be determined by what happens over the next week. Is that an overstatement?

DENT: I think it's a little bit of an overstatement. But frankly, they could have had this infrastructure bill done in August. They would have had 80 Republican votes, but they cave, the progressives, they throw the moderates under the bus.

They had an agreement. They voted on the agreement that they would vote for the budget resolution, and then the infrastructure bill by September 27. TAPPER: Do you think they could have gotten it passed even without the Progressive Caucus?

DENT: Well, they would have had -- they probably would have had 80 votes.

TAPPER: Eighty Republican House votes?

DENT: Eighty Republican votes, House Republican votes in August on that infrastructure bill. But because they tie these two things together, and they carried on the way they did for the past two months, they've just seen Republican support erode.

And I don't have any Democrat progressives would have voted to tank it. I don't know.

BORGER: They might have. I mean, that's the issue. They really.

DENT: But you know what, they'll bring the bill up and let people suffer the consequences of their own actions. I used to tell that the Boehner (ph) and Ryan all the time, the Freedom Caucus is going to take it down. Well, let alone, shutting down the Homeland Security Department.

TAPPER: Yes.

DENT: Why not?

TAPPER: Do you think -- it looks like from the cheap seats where I am, the Democrats are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

SIMMONS: It looks very tough politically. I mean, I think if I was running a campaign right now, Democratic, in a state -- in a big state, I would be very concerned that things weren't getting done.

I don't -- I come from this traditional politics that something's better than nothing. It's 70 percent of what you want. It's better than the 100 percent of nothing, right? So they should be taking that and running with it.

The problem is that you can't have all the trust on one side. And I think -- and what they tried to do, the moderates tried to run this like old school politics.

TAPPER: Yes.

SIMMONS: And say like, let's do it and then the progressives will join. The progressive said, not so fast.

TAPPER: Yes, the progressive flexing their muscles.

BARRON-LOPEZ: They are. They're trying to say that for once they have the numbers to actually show that they aren't going to just go along if they aren't going to get what they want, because they feel as though all these promises were made and prescription drug negotiation is out, paid family medical leave is out right now. And so, they're trying to see if there's a way to get those funds.

TAPPER: Joe Manchin said, what a bunch of progressive Senate seats, and you don't have to deal with me.

BORGER: But if Biden is right, and this is kind of an existential moment --

TAPPER: Yes.

BORGER: -- for his administration, you have to give a little.

TAPPER: Yes.

Thanks for all being here. Appreciate it.

Coming up, one congressional committee may now pursue subpoenas for major oil companies. That's breaking news, and that's next.

Plus a new report revealing the reasons why some parents are reluctant to get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:17:42]

TAPPER: Breaking news in our politics lead. Just moments ago the House Oversight Committee announced its plans to subpoena the heads of big oil companies Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron, and Shell asking for, quote, "key documents they have refused to produce regarding the committee's investigation into the fossil fuel industry's climate disinformation campaign," unquote.

This is the first time executives from those companies testified together under oath in front of Congress where Democrats attempted to hold their feet to the fire demanding answers for their outsized impact on climate change and the decades of lying their companies have engaged in wounding the planet for profit. While Republicans slammed President Biden's handling of soaring gas prices.

Joining us now is Rene Marsh.

Rene, what else did the chairwoman have to say?

RENE MARSH, CNN GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jake, this all came -- this news came at the very end of the hearing as they were wrapping up. And in a word, according to the chairwoman, Democratic Chairwoman Maloney, the industry has just been stonewalling. The committee has been asking for these internal documents, communications with these outside trade groups, as well as paper trail for their funding for certain activities. And they said they haven't received it.

Take a listen to the chairwoman just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D-NY), CHAIRWOMAN, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Unfortunately, none of the six entities have produced a substantial portion of the key documents the committee requested. Instead, they produced reams of other documents, many of which were publicly available.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARSH: Well, this is significant in the sense that this is the first time that these major companies are being held accountable in this manner, being subpoenaed for these sort of internal documents surrounding this particular issue of climate change, their role in climate change, and this allegation from lawmakers that they are engaged in a misinformation campaign.

TAPPER: You are at the hearing today, how did the oil executives respond? It's pretty clear that they have been engaged in this. Did they admit it? Did they apologize?

MARSH: There were some key moments. One key moment was that the Shell CEO, while she did admit that climate change was a challenge in her words, she refused to say that it was an existential threat.

All of the companies acknowledged climate change. They all said that they support issues curbing emissions. And they all denied taking part in the misinformation campaigns.

[17:20:08]

However, there came a point when Representative Khanna asked them if they all would commit to stop funding groups like the American Petroleum Institute, which is the most powerful lobby for the industry, would they stopped supporting groups like that who are deliberately lobbying to undercut the sort of green policies that the companies say that they support.

TAPPER: Right.

MARSH: And no one committed to that. So it was an interesting moment. And it was on full display at that point that they were saying one thing, but they were not willing to commit to stop financially supporting groups that were undercutting these green measures, these policies. And also, in some instances, spreading this disinformation.

TAPPER: All right, Rene Marsh, thank you so much.

In our politics lead now, multiple sources tell CNN that the other committee, that we're going to talk about right now, the committee investigating the deadly insurrection, is eyeing an aggressive step to get Trump's former chief of staff at the White House, Mark Meadows, to talk.

Joining us now is CNN's Senior Legal Affairs Correspondent Paula Reid.

And Paula, could Mark Meadows, President Trump's last White House chief of staff, could he be joining Steve Bannon in getting charged with contempt of Congress?

PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It's possible, Jake. We've learned that members are growing increasingly frustrated, and some are considering taking more aggressive action to force Meadows to play ball.

Now, it's been over a month since he was originally subpoenaed, and the committee has said he was engaging, negotiating possible terms of possible cooperation. But at least one source familiar with these negotiation says at this point, it's clear that Meadows has no intention of actually providing documents or testimony. So some committee members are considering taking additional steps. And one thing they could do is set another subpoena date for him, which would force him to either comply or potentially be referred for criminal content like Steve Bannon.

But there's a risk here, Jake, because unlike Steve Bannon, as a former chief of staff, Meadows likely has greater executive privilege protections. Now, would the Biden White House uphold those for him? It's unclear.

So far, President Biden has declined to assert executive privilege over Bannon and other Trump White House records. The White House counsel has repeatedly said they believe the insurrection was extraordinary and that the President has concluded it is not in the best interest of the United States to uphold privilege. But when it comes to Meadows, we're told the White House is taking everything on a case by case basis.

TAPPER: Paula, we just learned that former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark who allegedly conspired with Trump to try to get rid of the acting Attorney General overthrow the election, et cetera, we just learned Jeffrey Clark will not testify tomorrow as scheduled. What happened?

REID: That's right. He recently parted ways with his attorney Robert Driscoll.

Now look, Jake, he may have difficulty finding a new lawyer. In our reporting, speaking with dozens of lawyers around this investigation, it has been difficult for witnesses to find attorneys willing to take them on. And when it comes to Clark, he is a highly desirable witness for the committee, but that is because he helped the former president in the weeks after the November election, push these unfounded claims of voter fraud. And he really became one of former President Trump's most useful assets inside the Justice Department. And lawmakers want to talk to him about what the President was doing at that time and who else was helping him, but it's unclear how long it'll take him to get a new attorney and if and when he'll be back before the committee.

TAPPER: All right, Paul Reid, thank you so much.

One school district has switched to finger foods because there are not enough utensils. Just one of the many shortages affecting how we eat. We'll show you, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:28:22]

TAPPER: In our national lead, it wasn't that long ago that one could find vital food and supplies on the shelves pretty much anytime you went to a store in the United States. But now, those shelves might be empty, or if you do find what you're after the price tag might make it out of reach.

We keep hearing about supply chain shortages and about promises to fix things. But in the meantime, as CNN's Gabe Cohen discovered, these shortages already are having serious ripple effects, and people are hurting.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From a wide angle, IT's just one of the countless endpoints of the U.S. supply chain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

COHEN: But this food delivery is a lifeline for Beth Greenlee.

BETH GREENLEE, MANNA FOOD RECIPIENT: God only knows how thankful I am for the meals.

COHEN (voice-over): She has stage four endometrial cancer and little income.

GREENLEE: I almost want to cry, because it was truly manna from above.

COHEN (voice-over): She's referring to Manna, a nonprofit that cooks and delivers free meals to more than 1200 of the sickest people in Philadelphia. Now they have a problem. The price of their ingredients is skyrocketing up 40 percent.

SUE DAUGHERTY, CEO, MANNA: That's a lot to our bottom line. What could happen is that starting December we may have to say no to clients. So we'll literally have to turn clients away.

COHEN (voice-over): The issue is the snarled supply chain. Experts say there's plenty of food out there, but with cargo ships backed up, manufacturers are missing materials. And a shortage of labor and truckers is making it harder and more expensive to package food products and get them where they need to go.

Food banks are feeling the effects with donations down across the country. At El Paso wins (ph) fighting hunger, demand has quadrupled since the pandemic started. And now, truckloads of food just aren't showing up to their desert community.

SUSAN GOODELL, CEO, EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK: So we are struggling every day to find adequate supply. And I've never seen anything like this.

COHEN (voice-over): A September survey found 23 percent of Americans experience food challenges in the past year, with 37 percent receiving food assistance from nonprofits or the government.

At the mission house in South Philadelphia, Annette Glover is concerned about Thanksgiving.

ANNETTE GLOVER, DIRECTOR, MISSION HOUSE FOOD BANK: Their biggest fear is that we have enough food to feed the people.

COHEN (voice-over): She seen the price of Turkey spike and donation stall.

GLOVER: If they'll happen to come in, I will use my money to buy them turkeys and have a good Christmas, Thanksgiving and a Christmas.

COHEN (voice-over): Supply problems have hit schools too, with food deliveries delayed or canceled constantly.

In June, the grocery vendor for Philadelphia public schools abandoned them, citing a worker shortage. Their orders have been unpredictable all year.

AMY VIRUS, MANAGER OF FOOD SERVICES, PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT: We have a five week lead time but then we'll find out two days before that it's not coming in.

COHEN (voice-over): It's a different item every week. Right now they're running out of traits. They're making daily menu changes. Even with their food staff, down more than 20 percent.

(on camera): How much of a scramble has this been for your staff?

VIRUS: It has been constant. We really are trying in every way to make sure that we're providing that reimbursable meal. I will say that we're not shorting any of the food.

COHEN (voice-over): They're not alone. Cincinnati Public Schools are down close to 20 food items each week. Schools in Denver can't find enough milk. And Dallas schools are adding more finger foods because they can't get enough utensils. In Prince George's County, Maryland, the district canceled take home suppers.

(on camera): How has it affected your family?

OSCAR RIVERA, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PARENT (through translator): we can no longer say we're going out to have fun because we need to buy food first.

COHEN (voice-over): Oscar Rivera has two sons in the district. His family is now spending more on groceries and turning to food banks to put dinner on the table.

RIVERA (through translator): Food is the most important thing there can be in a home. Toys don't matter, going out doesn't matter, but food does matter.

(END VIDEO TAPE) COHEN: So the USDA has offered some financial assistance for schools. And yet school food budgets in a lot of cases are just going up right now. It's just a high stakes example of the supply chain issues that are hitting Americans across the country from home goods to prices for necessities.

And for those who are helping families that are food insecure, and certainly for the families themselves, they are worried, Jake, about the months ahead.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Dave Cohen, welcome to CNN. It's great to have you.

COHEN: Thank you. Excited to be here.

TAPPER: That is important piece.

Vaccine for young kids is on the horizon. So, is it smart to drop mask mandates? We'll discuss with a doctor, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:36:51]

TAPPER: In our health lead, it appears the United States is finally heading in the right direction on at least one issue, COVID cases, COVID hospitalizations, COVID deaths all on the decline. And now more 28 million and more children may soon be able to get vaccinated.

As CNN's Nick Watt reports, however, there is a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. It says parents are not exactly lining up their children for shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nationwide, new COVID-19 cases are down 60 percent from that early September peak. Hospitalizations down just over 50 percent.

Starting tomorrow in New Orleans, masks no longer required in most places.

For the 40 percent of Americans say their lives are basically back to pre-pandemic normal. But not everyone's happy. New York City firefighters protesting the 5:00 p.m. Friday deadline for them to get at least one vaccine shot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm an American, and it's a freedom of choice. Everybody should have a freedom of choice.

WATT (voice-over): Parents in Portland, Oregon, refusing to mask up to debate a vaccine mandate for kids 12 plus.

XANDER LEVINE, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: I haven't talked to a single student who doesn't want a mandate. So, it's exciting to see that students want it. It's a little discouraging that parents don't want it.

WATT (voice-over): Pfizer vaccine shots for kids five to 11 could come as soon as Wednesday. But two thirds of parents polled are concerned about the vaccine impacting their child's future fertility.

DR. JONATHAN REINER, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE &SURGERY, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: There is nothing in the data to suggest that. And there's nothing in the data to suggest that that happens with adults either. This is Facebook medicine. There's also no biologically plausible mechanism through which that would occur.

WATT (voice-over): Only about a quarter of parents say they'll get their kids vaccinated right away.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN: When people start seeing that the vaccinations are being distributed, and they're being administered, and things are going well, people gain more confidence. So I think that number is going to increase.

WATT (voice-over): Finally a jumbled cliches reminder that the mercury is dropping and we are not yet out of the woods. Take it away, governor of New Hampshire.

GOV. CHRIS SUNUNU (R-NH): We are going to start resuming our weekly COVID update because unfortunately as we had predicted months and months ago, that fall surge, that winter surge that we talked about really exactly as we had predicted, unfortunately is upon us.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WATT: Now, a lot of noise in New York as that mandate for city employees to be vaccinated approaches tomorrow, today, the governor of New York State said vaccine mandate for all public school kids is also, quote, "on the table." She says she wants to empower schools and parents to first do the right thing.

But if case counts amongst kids climb, if hospitalizations claim, she says, I will have no choice but to mandate that kids get the shots. Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Nick Watt, thank you so much.

Joining us now, Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

Dr. Jha, I first want to get your reaction to that Kaiser poll. Twenty-seven percent of parents say they will get their kids shots right away, 33 percent say they're going to wait and see, 30 percent are hard no, 5 percent say they would do it if required.

[17:40:15]

We're talking about 28 million children who will be eligible to get vaccinated, kids five to 11. What happens if not enough of them get vaccinated?

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Yes. It's a good afternoon, Jake. Thanks for having me back.

A couple of things. First of all, I hope that 27 percent number rises substantially as parents begin to talk to pediatricians. What we're seeing is, pediatricians are vaccinating their own children, are planning to. And the American Academy of Pediatrics is very clear on this that kids should get vaccinated. So I do think that number will rise.

Obviously, if a substantial number of kids end up not being vaccinated, it makes things like schools less safe. But I'm hoping that we can avoid that situation and really get America's kids vaccinated and protected from this disease.

TAPPER: One of the reasons parents are giving is they are concerned about the effect on their child's future fertility, 66 percent say they're concerned about that. This is already been debunked, but two thirds of parents are citing this. What is that about you think?

JHA: Yes, this comes up, by the way with every new vaccine. We saw this with the HPV vaccine. We've seen this as a classic tactic of misinformation. Because of course, any issues run in fertility creates anxiety, there's no easy way to verify that that's not happening.

It has been debunked. There's no scientific basis for it. It comes up with every new vaccine. It'll probably come up with future vaccines.

And people have to try to ignore it. But it's very difficult when that keeps showing up over and over again.

TAPPER: There are some school districts that have already said that once children can get vaccinated, they're going to get rid of their mask mandates. I know you think it's too early for that. But at what point do you think schools should be able to drop mask mandates?

JHA: Yes, look, look, we have to be able to talk about that. We've got to get to a point where kids can be unmasked. And the way I've thought about this is we should use two things. We should use a combination of what proportion of kids are vaccinated and what community transmission looks like.

In places with big outbreaks and low vaccination rates, no, it would be unsafe. But in places and communities, and some of them may be getting there soon when vaccination numbers are high and infection numbers are low, taking off the mask in school makes a lot of sense.

TAPPER: All right, Dr. Ashish Jha, thank you so much.

John Kerry tells world leaders, quit the crap, let's get serious. Will the international climate talks avert a global catastrophe? Or is it too late? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:46:58]

TAPPER: In our Earth Matters series, something we have not seen in years, world leaders including President Biden gathering to discuss what to do about the climate crisis and how to cope with the problems that it is already causing.

CNN's Phil Black takes a look at the agenda for the upcoming climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are just some of the biblical events the world has seen and experienced in 2021, extreme floods, fires, droughts, and record temperatures across the U.S. and around the world. Proof, scientists say, we're already living in a climate crisis.

TODD STERN, FORMER U.S. CLIMATE NEGOTIATOR: It's here. I mean, it's a paradox. People see that, people feel that.

BLACK (voice-over): Todd Stern led U.S. climate negotiations through the Obama administration and helped forge 2015 Paris Agreement.

That breakthrough document includes a critical promise, all countries will work to keep the global average temperature increase within 1.5 and two degrees Celsius.

STERN: We've got a hell of a long way to go.

BLACK (on camera): Because the reality is at the moment, when nowhere near to being on track to keep things below two, little on 1.5.

STERN: We're not near being on track, but we're getting better.

BLACK (voice-over): Better ultimately isn't good enough. At the Glasgow climate conference, each country will be judged on whether it's cutting emissions sufficiently to ensure that crucial 1.5 degree target is still achievable. The scientific consensus says the goal is now slipping beyond reach, and the consequences will be disastrous.

BOB WARD, CLIMATE RESEARCHER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Without action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, we could see temperatures go well beyond three degrees of warming by the end of the century. Something that the Earth has not explained for 3 million years long before humans were on the planet. It would be a very, very different world.

BLACK (voice-over): U.S. leadership, through example, is vital at Glasgow to boost other countries ambitions. The Biden administration's plan is bold. How of U.S. emissions by 2030 hit net zero carbon by 2050.

WARD: That's fantastic, but it needs to demonstrate that they can deliver that. And the lack of agreement at federal level, and indeed in many states to the outside world looks like that will be a major challenge.

BLACK (voice-over): Success also depends on big new commitments from China. The world's biggest polluter is responsible for more than a quarter of global emissions. China's long term goal is becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

STERN: So, it's quite important that China move much more than they have. Again, there's that long term goal is pretty good, but between now and 2030, they haven't pledged really anything.

BLACK (voice-over): The urgent challenge for China and many developing countries is to stop burning coal for electricity while still rapidly growing their economies and lifting populations out of poverty.

[17:50:02]

The issue is going to be a key focus in Glasgow, along with finance from rich countries to help poorer countries make the change. But even before the conference opens, it's clear there are tensions over some countries unwillingness to offer detailed, ambitious commitments.

JOHN KERRY, U.S. CLIMATE ENVOY: We're behind. And we have to stop the BS that is being thrown at us by a number of countries that have not been willing to sign up to what Great Britain has signed up to, we've signed up to Japan, Canada, the E.U., that is to keep 1.5 degrees alive.

BLACK (voice-over): It's expected Glasgow will deliver progress. But will it be enough?

As frequent extreme events demonstrate the growing dangers of failure, scientists to sure there's now very little time left to prevent climate change on a devastating scale.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

BLACK: Jake, China today formally submitted its plan for cutting greenhouse gases. That plan is a modest improvement, slightly better than its old position, but critics say it is woefully inadequate. It is a missed opportunity.

China's President will not be traveling to Glasgow next week.

The mood going into these talks is gloomy. Expectations are low.

The host, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been openly talking about their potential for failure.

There is so much at stake, and yet it seems at the moment based on the country's formal submissions, the numbers they had presented, there is very little chance for success. Jake.

TAPPER: Our grandkids are never going to forgive us.

Phil Black, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Moving to our world lead, a David and Goliath story where Goliath comes back for revenge. An environmental lawyer who want to historic $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron oil company in the '90s is now heading to federal prison. Steven Donziger accused Chevron of dumping oil in the Amazon rainforest. For years Chevron has been going after Donziger accusing him have concocting evidence. It's a complicated story.

CNN's Jessica Schneider is here to try to help make sense of it.

Jessica, what is the extent of Chevron's legal retaliation here?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Jake, this long legal saga began when Chevron was ordered to pay $9.5 billion dollars by a court in Ecuador in 2011. After that, the oil giant set its sights on the lawyer who originally brought the case against them, Steve Donziger.

Donziger's lawyer tells me that Chevron's legal team has buried Donziger in litigation over the past decade, filing a lawsuit against him for fraud in the Ecuador case, which Chevron did win. And then in a separate but related case, Donziger was ordered to hand over his electronic devices like a cell phone and computer to the court. Donziger refused, citing attorney client privilege.

And when federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York refused to charge him with criminal contempt, Donziger's lawyer tells me that a federal judge stepped in to appoint a private law firm to prosecute the case. The law firm was Seward & Kissel, which has represented many oil companies over the years including Chevron. They did not respond to my request for comment.

Eventually, Donziger was found guilty of contempt in 2019, and he has been under house arrest while his appeal moves forward. But on Tuesday, the appeals court denied Donziger's request to stay out on bail and he was ordered to report to federal prison while his appeal plays out.

Donziger tweeted a photo saying goodbye to his son yesterday. And several members of Congress have actually come to his defense. They're asking President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland to step into the case. So far, the Justice Department has not commented on this case.

Donziger's lawyers, they will be before the Second Circuit appeals court November 30, arguing that the appointment of that law firm to prosecute him was unlawful, and that will be Donziger's next chance at getting released from prison after what he says has been a long fight to silence him and other activists working against the oil industry.

Now, Chevron has not responded to my request for comment. And actually Donziger's lawyer tells me they still have not paid that $9.5 billion judgment against them. And that's something that Donziger had been working on trying to enforce at the same time that Chevron was burying him with legal fights. Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Jessica Schneider, thanks so much.

Mark Zuckerberg, looking at all of Facebook's problems and thinking, you know what will fix this, a new name. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:59:02]

TAPPER: In our tech lead, an age old response to bad press. Hey, don't worry about it, just change your name.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today that Facebook will now be known as Meta. This about Facebook comes as the tech giant faces book, a tidal wave of bad press and backlash over the release of hundreds of internal documents. Documents that suggest Facebook new its platforms are being used to spread misinformation and incite violence, including the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

Zuckerberg says Facebook is making the change because of its ambition to be known for more than just social media. And because of its growing focus on virtual reality technologies.

Critics have compared Facebook's move to other high profile company name changes following hideous scandals such as private military company Blackwater, rebranding itself as Z, or cigarette maker Philip Morris becoming Altria. Didn't really change much after all.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the TikTok @jaketapper. You can tweet the show @theleadcnn.

If you ever miss an episode of the show, you know you can do? You can listen to The Lead wherever you get your podcast.

Our coverage continues now with, one, Mr. Wolf Blitzer. He is not next door, he's live from Rome.