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FDA Intends to Put Most Serious Warning on COVID Vaccines; Trump Administration Guts Department of Education's Civil Rights Office; National Guard Members Detail Slumping Moral Amid DC Mission. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired December 12, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: And now to new CNN reporting. According to our sources, the FDA is working on a plan to put its most serious warnings on a COVID-19 vaccine. The so-called black box warning is prominently displayed on medication labeling to alert healthcare providers and patients about high risks like death or disabling reactions that should be weighed against the benefits of a drug.

Joining us now to discuss is Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a CNN medical analyst and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University. Doctor, thank you so much for being with us. How does a black box warning impact access to COVID vaccines?

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, I think in this case it's intended to create doubt about the safety of the vaccine. Black box warnings are used by the FDA to call attention to a significant concern, either about a side effect or safety related to the use of vaccines in certain subsets of patients.

[14:35:00]

An example would be certain antibiotics, the fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin is a member of that class in certain patients can increase the risk of tendon rupture.

Antidepressants can increase the risk in some patients of suicide and those kinds of warnings are contained in black boxes. So if the FDA includes a black box warning about the safety of COVID vaccines, and I'm going to guess they're going to make this statement relative to relatively young men and risk of myocarditis.

Then what they're doing is they're going to sow doubt in the safety of the vaccine. And this is part of basically a pattern of nibbling public confidence in vaccines today.

SANCHEZ: Talk to us about the risk of myocarditis or heart inflammation as a side effect of mRNA vaccines. Is it a prevalent one?

REINER: No, it's not that prevalent. First of all, the virus itself can cause and does cause a myocarditis and sometimes very severe or even fatal myocarditis. It's thought that the overall incidence of vaccine induced, so myocarditis after a dose of vaccine, typically a second dose, is somewhere on the order of 20 to 30 per million doses of vaccine.

So not zero, but very low. In the highest group -- the highest risk group is probably young men aged 18 to 30, where the risk might be as high as 60 cases of myocarditis per thousand doses of the vaccine. But just to give you a sense for how prevalent myocarditis is after, you know, a full on COVID infection, that risk is more like 2,700 cases per million infections.

So much more prevalent from the virus itself. And the myocarditis is much more severe and harder to recover from from the virus itself.

SANCHEZ: Do you think that this warning specifically might deter parents from getting the vaccine to their kids?

REINER: Sure. So this is the government, right, alerting the public to danger of a vaccine. And look, I think if you trust in your pediatrician, excuse me, and you should trust in your pediatrician, that's who you should go to for, you know -- excuse me -- information about this.

But for the casual, you know, parent who maybe hasn't done a lot of research on this subject and they're going to see in the news that there's now a black box warning against giving young people the COVID vaccine, that's very damaging. Vaccine uptake in this population is already low. And this comes basically, ironically, the same week that the CDC itself published a report from last influenza and COVID season that showed that COVID vaccination dramatically reduced the risk of ER visits for kids who were vaccinated.

Reduced it by 76 percent for kids between the age of six months and four years. So the CDC publishing data this week to show that vaccines work in kids.

SANCHEZ: Dr. Jonathan Reiner, we appreciate the expertise as always. Thanks so much for joining us.

REINER: My pleasure.

SANCHEZ: Up next, President Trump further pushing the limits of presidential pardons, this time attempting to pardon an official convicted of election interference, despite the charges against her being brought at the state, not federal level. Will this work? We'll discuss.

[14:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: CNN has learned that a little known civil rights office in the Department of Education has been gutted by the Trump administration. The office helps deal with complaints of discrimination against students on the basis of race, sex, age and disability. But sources tell us nearly 80 percent of the staff has been cut, leading to a ballooning backlog of cases.

Sunlen Serfaty has this new reporting. And Sunil, you've spoken to many people in the office and learned that many of the cases aren't going anywhere.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Backlogs are typical for this office. Office for Civil Rights, referred to as OCR.

It's very typical administration to administration. But it has grown significantly under the Trump administration because they have devastated the workforce at this office. A source at OCR tells me as of this week, about 24,000 complaints are in the office not being taken up.

That's compared to the same stretch of time during the Biden administration when 16,500 cases were pending. And for every case, of course, this is a student that's waiting for help. This office deals with discrimination on the basis of disability, sex, race, gender.

So these are students that are facing hardships in schools and not getting the help they need. So they're going to this office, which is really seen as a last resort for many of them. I spoke with one mother who she says that her daughter is autistic and part of her IEP is to be removed from the classroom before a fire drill goes off.

The first week of school, she received a panic text from her 12-year- old saying that that was not accommodated. The mom now goes once a month to the school to take her out before because the school is not accommodating her disability.

[14:45:00]

So it's small but significant for many of these students and their families because students want to be in the classroom, want to be learning. And sources within this department tell me that there are many of these cases, as those numbers indicate, that are just not being taken up.

A longtime lawyer in the office telling me, quote, "It's a black hole. There's no staffing. There's no rhyme or reason to what they're doing, and there's not a mission to actually effectuate the civil rights laws."

And typically, the OCR, it was originally set up to be efficient, a place that families could go to avoid costly litigation for schools as well as for families. But right now, for the moment, a lot of families aren't getting the help that they need.

SANCHEZ: What are the remaining staffers being told to focus on?

SERFATY: Well, it's so interesting because staffers have told me that they have really sensed a policy shift within the Trump administration. And that is something that the Department of Education and OCR has not really backed away from. I asked about this policy shift.

People telling me that they're focusing more things on anti-Semitism. We've certainly seen a track record of the Trump administration using this office to go after that. And this is their response. They say quote, "The Trump administration is reorienting OCR to what it is meant to be, a law enforcement agency, not a social justice advocacy arm of the federal government."

And many employees tell me that not only are they sensing that priority shift, but that priority shift is drawing resources away from what is 80 percent of their caseload. And that's protecting and helping students with disabilities.

SANCHEZ: Wow. Sunlen Serfaty thanks so much for the update there.

Now, to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour, King Charles sharing more details about his cancer recovery. In a televised message airing later today, the British monarch is set to stress the importance of cancer screening programs and early detection. His message is part of the UK's cancer awareness campaign. The King, of course, was diagnosed in February of last year.

The kind of cancer hasn't been revealed, but it was detected after he underwent a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Also, President Trump has granted a full federal pardon to former Republican Colorado clerk Tina Peters, even though it won't free her from prison. Peters was found guilty last year on state charges of participating in a scheme to breach voting systems, hoping to prove Trump's false claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Peters is now serving a nine year sentence. Trump's pardon has no bearing on her state conviction nor incarceration. The administration supported Peters' lawsuit to be set free or transferred into federal custody.

A judge rejected that request, stating that she must challenge her conviction in state court.

And in a new interview, actor Timothee Chalamet doesn't deny rumors that he moonlights as a mysterious British rapper, SD Kid. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your fans have lost their minds and they are saying that you are SD.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that true?

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET: I got no comment on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, come on.

CHALAMET: No, I mean, again no comment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got the same eyes.

CHALAMET: I've got two words on that. All will be revealed in due time. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: I think our executive producer, Michelle, has a crush on Timothee Chalamet, and that's why this story is getting aired. Social media has been flooded with evidence that Chalamet and SD Kid are the same person since the rapper released his debut album last summer. The rapper does speak with a distinctively Liverpool accent.

But then again, we're talking about a two time Oscar nominated actor. So the mystery lives on.

Turning now to Washington, D.C., some National Guard troops deployed there are describing low morale and how many of them are reeling from last month's deadly shooting. CNN's Haley Britzky is here. And Haley, some service members say the mission is taking a major toll on them. What are they sharing?

HALEY BRITZKY, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: That's right. So as one source reminded me, you know, a lot of the men and women on this mission are junior service members. They're junior leaders.

For a lot of them, this is the first time they're kind of experiencing this kind of tragedy like we saw with with the killing of Specialist Sara Beckstrom. And so sources were telling us, you know, some have found renewed sense of purpose in this mission as it's been continuing on. They feel that after this tragedy, that they see a clear purpose for why they're in the city.

Others are, of course, questioning even more how much this is worth it. Standing around at transit centers, at Union Station, at the Metro and kind of wondering what the purpose of all of this is. And of course, the families of the service members who are here who are just reading the news, seeing the news and are worried always about their loved ones and kind of what they're experiencing.

SANCHEZ: I also read in the reporting that it's not just the shooting that is hurting morale. It's also the potential length of their stay.

BRITZKY: That's right, Boris. I mean, from the beginning of this mission, we've seen frustration that there's not really a clear timeline for how long service members will be here. And there's conversation now about what that will look like.

We have orders going out until February. At this point, there's a lot of expectation that will continue even further.

[14:50:00]

Some officials sit telling us that they're kind of comparing it to the New York National Guard's mission, Empire Shield, which has been going on since right after 9-11. And so saying that that could be a potential option here. So there's really not a lot of clarity on how long this is going to go. Certainly, there's expectation it will continue longer.

But people are getting frustrated. Some service members feel that they, you know, are standing around. They don't have a clear sense of purpose. They don't really know what they're doing here.

And so there's always kind of that balance of understanding why they're here and the purpose for that and carrying that mission out.

SANCHEZ: Haley Britzky, thanks so much for the reporting.

Up next, the White House is accusing Democrats of cherry-picking after they released new photos from the estate of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

We have details straight ahead.

[14:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: It is one of the most meaningful rivalries in all of sports, Army vs. Navy. Tomorrow, the teams from West Point and the Naval Academy go head-to-head on the gridiron.

CNN's Coy Wire is live in Baltimore at the site of the game. Coy, this means a lot for both teams.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, no doubt about it, Boris. Since 1890, the pageantry, the tradition of the Army-Navy game unmatched in American sports. A special game played by special individuals.

They're dedicated to their studies. They're willing to sacrifice for all of us. They're the type of athletes we need to celebrate more.

It's going to be the only FBS game played tomorrow. Millions of people watching. President Donald Trump, one of the 10 sitting U.S. presidents who've attended, expected to be there for a fifth time as president. We asked the coaches what that means to them. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAKE HORVATH, NAVY CO-CAPTAIN/QUARTERBACK: The president of the United States cares about this game and cares what we're doing out in the field. It's really cool to be able to share that experience and to have someone so powerful be at the game.

JEFF MONKEN, ARMY FOOTBALL HEAD COACH: This is America's game, and I think it's a representation of this entire nation and the fight and the toughness that represent our armed forces. And I'm sure that President Trump recognizes that as well, and that's why he's going to be here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now, Boris, one of the things that makes this rivalry so special, another one of the things, is the character of the young men playing in it. Let me tell you about Larry Pickett Jr., sophomore safety for Army. Earlier this year, he saw a car smashed on the side of the road, downed power lines all around him, and fire. He jumps in, pulls out the unconscious driver. The driver later said he went from being burnt alive to walking away with barely a scratch. That's a miracle, and he said that's because of Larry.

We asked Coach Monken about Larry and his selfless service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MONKEN: Larry's a representation of our entire Corps of Cadets and the pledge of commitment they make to serve our nation. It's what all of our men and women do. Where most people run from danger, they run toward it.

Just the courage and the bravery to do that, I think speaks volumes for Larry, for his parents, for his dad who was there with him, side by side, and rushed into danger with him. When people are in need, we ought to be there for them. That's what God put us on this earth to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Awesome stuff, Boris. Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear football helmets.

Larry said that he hopes this shows that if you see someone who needs help or is struggling, no matter what it is, don't be afraid to step in and do something. Back to you, man.

SANCHEZ: A powerful message. Coy, real quick, who you got?

WIRE: Oh, I'm going to go with -- I can't do it. I got an army on one side of my family. I got navy on the other. I will hear it all Christmas time long. I can't do it, man.

SANCHEZ: Staying neutral. I can't do it, man. Wow, wow, shocking.

Coy Wire, thank you so much for that. Look forward to the game.

WIRE: You got it.

SANCHEZ: So today's episode of Variety's "ACTORS ON ACTORS" is a family affair. Alexander Skarsgard sitting down with his famous father, Stellan. He shares what it was like growing up in show business and why he once tried to walk away from it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDER SKARSGARD, ACTOR: I did not walk away from that production thinking, this is what I do for the rest of my life. I remember craft services was great. You got free Cinnabons, which was exciting.

But that was it. I didn't want to be an actor.

STELLAN SKARSGARD, ACTOR: No, but, I mean, it's about the same time you told me that why can't you have a normal job and work with data and drive Saab like everybody else does. A. SKARSGARD: Yes.

S. SKARSGARD: So you were --

A. SKARSGARD: And wear a suit, god damn it, instead of your weird hippie sarongs or nothing.

S. SKARSGARD: Yes.

A. SKARSGARD: My dream was to just kind of, for my family to be normal and fit in and be like everyone else's family. And like you said, for you to have a briefcase, that would have been fantastic.

S. SKARSGARD: You went into the military, became like a Swedish Navy SEAL. I mean, you were really one of the tough guys. But did you do that in opposition to me to sort of provoke me in a way?

Or was it just a challenge by a child?

A. SKARSGARD: I don't think it was an act of rebellion. I don't know. I was kind of lost and I was like, I don't know what I wanted to do.

And I read about this unit and I thought, like, this sounds pretty cool. And I don't know what I want to do, so maybe why not spend a year and a half doing this. So I'd ask kind of a challenge in a way, mentally and physically.

But then looking back on it, maybe it was a bit of a bit of (BLEEP).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Wanting to fit in the ...

END