Return to Transcripts main page
Don Lemon Tonight
U.S. Carries Out New Airstrike in Syria; Senate Can't Vote on $15 Minimum Wage; CNN Presses More Than Two Dozen House, Senate Republicans on Trump's Election Lies; Mitch McConnell Supporting Trump in 2024; CNN Interviews Proud Boys Leader, Enrique Tarrio; Mother Loses Three Children and Their Grandmother in House Fire During Texas Winter Storm; Biden Announces Three Nominees to U.S. Postal Service Board. Aired 11p-12a ET
Aired February 25, 2021 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[23:00:00]
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: It was his recommendation but it was Biden that gave the final authorization earlier today for a strike, an air strike along the Iraq-Syria border in Syria, Eastern Syria that is the target was Iranian backed Shia militias that were operating there, and this comes after a series of rocket strikes targeting different areas with U.S. and coalition forces in Irbil, in Ballad air force base just north of Baghdad and in the green zone in Baghdad itself.
It was Austin who said that the sites that were targeted here were used by the same Iranian backed Shia militias that he believes, and he has confident launch those rocket attacks against U.S. forces. U.S. defense officials says that up to a handful of militants were killed in these strikes. They're waiting to find out more information and battle damage assessment, but here is what Secretary Austin had to say a little earlier this evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're confident that that target was being used for the same Shia militia that conducted the strikes. We allowed and encouraged the Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence and that was very helpful to us in refining the target.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says this strike was done in conjunction and coordination with allies in the region, Don?
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Another question for you, Oren, what does this tell you about President Biden's larger military strategy when it comes to the Middle East?
LIEBERMANN: Well, we know the big question for the U.S. administration and for the Biden administration and U.S. allies in the region is Iran and how to handle Iran. It's not just a question of what to do diplomatically, militarily with Iran's nuclear program. It goes beyond that. Iran's ballistic missiles, Iran's actions in the region. The focus and the key focus here is Iran.
Certainly, there are other questions when it comes to the Middle East. What the Biden administration will do when it comes to Yemen, when it comes to Syria. But the overarching umbrella here is Iran, and that's where the focus will be. And that's why this is so sensitive. It wasn't a large-scale massive strike. It looks like it was a relatively small calculated strike, one meant to make sure that Iran and it's proxies in the region know there's a cost for future rocket attacks against U.S. forces but also in response to these previous forces.
Crucially it was not meant to escalate the situation. That was not the goal of the Biden administration. That's what John Kirby said, the Pentagon spokesman. And that gives you the idea that the true approach here, the primary approach will be one of diplomacy first, military second.
LEMON: Let's get to the ground. Arwa Damon is in Baghdad for us. Arwa, this is the first known military strike under President Biden. What will the reaction be there?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a couple of things to take into consideration, Don. There are potentially plenty of targets that the U.S. could have chosen to strike inside Iraq itself. The fact that they decided to take out a location that is in Syria albeit long the border, where the Iraq does indicate a certain level of awareness as to how tenuous the situation within Iraq itself actually is at this moment.
Remember, the key battlefield when it comes to this ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran is here in Iraq. But it also comes with grave repercussions for this country itself. We all remember what happened with the fallout that took place after the U.S. killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani just over a year ago, and now we still have these calls within Iraq, within some of those politicians who are close to these Iranian backed Shia militias and others who want to see all U.S. forces leave.
It's highly unlikely that we will hear anything more than a tepid response from the Iraqi government if even that. And it's also worth noting, Don, though that if we talk about the broader Iraqi population, they are beyond fed up with seeing their country being used as a proxy battlefield. They are beyond fed up with the fact that, you know, Iran has been meddling within their affairs for quite some time right now.
And so, you do have this slight rise in anti-Iranian sentiment among the population. But if we're talking about trying to actually reign in these Iranian backed militias, what we saw taking place overnight is very much something of a return back to the way that business was being conducted between the U.S. and Iran, specifically when it comes to Iraq to the pre-killing of Qassem Soleimani era.
And by that I mean this Iranian-back militias would carry out these various rocket attacks mostly against the green zone, most of them landing within the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy located there, and then the U.S. would then respond by taking out, you know, any number of targets that were within Iraq or within Syria.
What is going to be happening next? That is going to be a key and crucial point when it comes to defining not only how this battle between the U.S. and Iran unfolds but also how it unfolds specifically within Iraq.
[23:05:10]
LEMON: Arwa Damon in Baghdad, Oren Liebermann at the Pentagon here in the United States. Thank you both. I appreciate your reporting.
Now the breaking news on the COVID relief bill to tell you about President Joe Biden won't be getting the $15 minimum wage hike that he wanted. What kind of impact would that have on tomorrows vote? CNN political commentators, Amanda Carpenter and Ana Navarro are here to discuss. Good evening to both of you.
Amanda, we're told the president is disappointed about the minimum wage hike, but without it, is it an even harder no vote for Republicans on a very popular bill, most Americans want this bill. They need the help.
AMANDA CARPENTER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, you know, I'm not sure why the Democrats took so much time complicating the debate with the minimum wage hike. I mean frankly --obvious that this wasn't going to be included in budget reconciliation, because Senate watchers will be able to tell you that to pass things with 50 votes it has to do with taxes and spending.
Trying to pass a mandate to all 50 states to raise the minimum wage doesn't apply to taxes and spending. And so I think, though Democrats wasted a lot of time on this. They should have gone with a skinny (inaudible) bill to give checks to people, deliver help for schools and provide help for businesses. And so, you know, Republicans can feel like they can sit on the sidelines and then it gets passed either way and the Democrats just wasted a couple of weeks doing it.
LEMON: Ana, our Manu Raju talked to more than two dozen Republican lawmakers who are still refusing to admit that the election was not rigged. Has the GOP become the party of lies? Where are the ideas from the party?
ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't know. I really wish I could hear some ideas. I think the ideas are in a small minority right now represented by people like Adam Kinzinger, like Liz Cheney, like Mitt Romney. People who are willing to stand on traditional Republican principles and convictions.
Everybody else, I guess, is going to CPAC to kiss the ring of an impeached president who has image incited an insurrection and they think that's fine. I think this has been a really embarrassing day for the Republican Party. Between hearing Mitch McConnell say that even though he has said in public on the floor of the Senate that Donald Trump incited this insurrection that cost people's lives on January 6th, he would still definitely (inaudible)
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Ana, let's listen to him and then you finish your statement. Let's listen to what he said and then we'll finish. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: If the president was the Party's nominee, would you support him?
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): The nominee of the Party? Absolutely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Go ahead, Ana.
NAVARRO: I can't. I mean, I can't I don't even know what to say about that. It was less than two weeks ago he was saying on the floor of the Senate -- look, I didn't vote to acquit the president because I think he's innocent. I think he had absolutely everything to do with inciting the insurrection, but I think that you should go after him in criminal courts. If that's, you know, what's open.
And then -- you know, so you're basically saying, OK, so I think this guy has done things that are so bad that he could be pursued in criminal court, but if he's still the Republican nominee I will absolutely support him. You cannot compromise your conscious to that level. Sitting on a fence has got to hurt, OK? Have you ever tried actually sitting on a fence? It is not comfortable. It hurts your body parts if you still have any.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: That was vivid. So, listen, Amanda, Marco Rubio is questioning why Liz Cheney says that Trump shouldn't have a role in the Party going forward. And when asked about Trump pushing election lies this weekend, Rubio said that he can say whatever he wants to say. So, liars get a free pass. People who vote their conscious like Cheney get punished.
CARPENTER: I mean, here's the thing -- you're asking, where is the Republican Party when it comes to ideas. Rational sane people are just basically fighting for facts, like, was the election stolen or not? No, Joe Biden won fair and square. Like there's just a level setting, we're not even to ideas yet. We were just trying to get people to live in reality. And you know, I really like what Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are doing. It gives me some hope, because they seem willing to build a new coalition, but it's going to be really hard.
LEMON: OK. Let me ask you this, Amanda. Because everyone is saying, listen, they're doing the right thing. Don't get me wrong. But how many people can you name, Republicans, who are -- I'm not talking about Republicans who are not in office. Republicans who are out there who are frustrated. But the people who are actual lawmakers in Washington. When you say that gives you hope, there are a lot of lawmakers who voted not to impeach the president after an insurrection was incited. So, I don't know, how do two people give you hope? Seriously.
[23:10:08]
CARPENTER: OK, so, listen. When I look at CPAC this weekend, I see a lost cause crowd. And I see Donald Trump is going to freeze the Republican field for as long as he wants, right. Because people in the Trump lane, so to speak will not oppose it. They are not going to do anything until he says OK, I'm not going to run. Which is he'll never going to do, that can provide some opportunity? I'm not saying it's going to be easy. I'm not saying it's going to be easy.
And then saying it's going to be likely for an anti-Trump Republican or Trump skeptical Republican, but there is opportunity there to start laying groundwork because there has to be a new coalition to be built. And I see people like Adam Kinzinger looking at it and trying -- you know, I just get frustrated when people are like, oh, it can't be done because Trump controls everything. Well, you know what? Let's make the argument. Let's try something. It will take years --
LEMON: That's fair.
CARPENTER: But if you don't try, it ain't going to work.
LEMON: That's fair. I ask you. How do you see hope in two people? Ana, I got 10 seconds. Sorry.
NAVARRO: I'll tell you why --
LEMON: Are you optimistic?
NAVARRO: The reason we see hope in two people is because Amanda and I have been at this for four years and we have been the only two people. All of a sudden, we're doubled.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All right, four people!
NAVARRO: (Inaudible) a few four castaways right now than what there was for four years now that Donald Trump (inaudible). It feels like we could actually like huddle and keep each other warm if it got really cold right now.
LEMON: And cha-cha. Don't forget cha-cha. Four people and a cha-cha.
NAVARRO: Cha-cha's been anti-Trump from day one.
LEMON: Thank you both I appreciate it.
NAVARRO: Brown girl from Miami who only speaks Spanish.
LEMON: Thank you. We're talking about Anna's dog, by the way.
Alright. So, 10,000 rioters stormed the Capitol grounds on January 6. The Capital police warning today the danger is not over yet. The Proud Boys were part of that mob. Now their leader talks to CNN in this first interview with a major U.S. network since the attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ENRIQUE TARRIO, CHAIRMAN PROUD BOYS: I think right now is a time to -- go ahead and -- overthrow the government by becoming the new government and running for office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:15:00]
LEMON: The acting Capitol police chief telling lawmakers that extremist groups want to blow up the Capitol when President Biden addresses Congress during his State of the Union Address. The warning coming during a hearing about the security failures over the January 6th insurrection. Among the groups involved on that day, the extremist Proud Boys. Several members have been arrested on conspiracy charges. The leader of the Proud Boys speaking with CNN in his first interview with a major American network since the attack. He spoke with CNN's Sarah Sidner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TARRIO: I'm not going to cry about a group of people that don't give a crap about their constituents. I'm not going to sympathize with them.
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The leader of the Proud Boys is talking about the members of Congress who feared for their lives on January 6th.
UNKNOWN: Everybody stay down.
SIDNER: As a mob attacked the Capitol.
TARRIO: They shouldn't have breached the Capitol with violence.
SIDNER: He says that now. But the day after the violent breach, Enrique Tarrio posted this -- a picture on social media of members of Congress trying to hide as the attackers began their siege.
You write, when the people fear the government there is tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty. Doesn't that show that you are celebrating terrorizing people?
TARRIO: I was celebrating, and I'll tell you, I'll celebrate the moment that the government does fear the people. At that point -- again, I didn't have all the information that came in, why they were carrying or anything like that.
SIDNER: Do you wish that you didn't do that? Now that you know.
TARRIO: No, I don't. I'll -- another thing is I'll never regret something that I said. SIDNER: They are doing the job that the people put them there to do
and if they don't like it they can vote them out. They are still Americans. They are still human beings who felt that their lives were in danger. How can you not feel any sympathy for any empathy towards someone like that?
TARRIO: I'm not going to worry about people that their only worry in life is to be re-elected.
UNKNOWN: We got a whole boat load of Proud Boys walking through here.
SIDNER: Tarrio was not there on January 6. He was arrested in D.C. two days before for burning a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from a church and having empty weapon magazines that are illegal in D.C.
UNKNOWN: We're walking with the Proud Boys to the state Capitol.
SIDNER: But a group of Proud Boys was there. The far-right group is known across the country for brawling with members of Antifa, a left- wing anti-fascist movement. They are also known for throwing their support behind Donald Trump, whose words to them in September presidential debate exploded their popularity.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.
TARRIO: I think we've doubled in numbers since the debate.
SIDNER: Tarrio has close ties with one of Trump's longest serving adviser and friend Roger Stone. Stone was in D.C. on January 6th as people rallied against the election results that showed Trump lost. Stone did not march to the Capitol and was not charged with a crime.
Instead Stone was seen with members of extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who have now become a central focus of law enforcement in the Capitol attack investigation. Tarrio had such a close relationship with Roger Stone, he revealed this.
Do you have access to Roger Stone's phone?
TARRIO: A couple of times when I went to go see him, you know, I'd help him with like the social media posts and things like that.
SIDNER: Tarrio's access to that phone landed him in front a federal grand jury, a detailed not revealed until now.
At the time, Stone was facing seven charges in the Russia probe including lying to Congress and witness tampering. Trump pardoned him after he was convicted on all seven charges.
[23:20:08]
During his trial, Stone was accused of threatening the judge in a case with a social media post, an image of a judge and what appeared to be a target behind her head. TARRIO: I actually testify in the front of the grand jury, but, no,
there was no -- that picture was brought up on a Google search, right? So, you used to be able to search -- not now, obviously, because --
SIDNER: Back up. Back up. You just said what you said. Did you just say you were on a grand jury panel? You did.
TARRIO: I did.
SIDNER: It's too late to take it back now.
TARRIO: Well, yeah, I mean, that's the story -- it's not a secret. That's the story that came out that -- you know, they wanted to see if -- who has it that posted that at that point. The actual crosshairs isn't really a crosshairs. It's a logo of the organization that wrote the article. So it was just like a graphic. And then that was posted. I have no idea who actually posted it, but I know that I have nothing to do with it.
SIDNER: Stone is one of the architects of the stop the steal rallying cry, but Tarrio does not buy into the lie that the election was stolen. He says he just wants more transparency.
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump?
TARRIO: No, I don't. I don't believe that the election was stolen.
SIDNER: And yet, he encouraged his Proud Boys to show up on January 6th in record numbers.
UNKNOWN: There's all the Proud Boys guys.
SIDNER: A group of them did show up. Here they are marching together towards the Capitol. At least eight Proud Boys Tarrio knows have been charged in the Capitol siege. This is one of them, using a police officer's shield to bust out a window in the Capitol, allowing people to flood in.
TARRIO: I condemn the actions. I don't think that he should have done that. I think it was completely wrong. But the other seven individuals were trespassing. I think that they got caught up with the entire crowd and they made a poor decision to go in there.
SIDNER: Members of the Proud Boys didn't appear to just be getting caught up in this. Some of them were leading this attack. You had people removing barriers who are Proud Boys. You had someone threatening an officer, breaking the Capitol window. They weren't just following in this insurrection. It appears that some of them were leading the charge.
TARRIO: No, those three accusations -- I do want to touch on those. The breaking of the window we've already hit. The threatening --
SIDNER: You think that's wrong.
TARRIO: Yeah, definitely. Unequivocally I think that's wrong. But the threatening of police officers, I didn't see that.
SIDNER: The feds have. They have video of William Chrestman yelling, you shoot, and I'll take your (BEEP) out.
TARRIO: As of right now, I can't tell you about Chrestman, because I can't locate who he's affiliated with. Like, if he's even a Proud Boy.
SIDNER: Chrestman's defense attorney said he was just following Trump's orders that day. But Tarrio says some of his Proud Boys who did reached the Capitol are unfairly being charged with conspiracy.
Did the Proud Boys have a plan to go into the Capitol?
TARRIO: -- into the Capitol? Absolutely not.
SIDNER: Tarrio puts some of the blame for what happen on January 6 on police for being unprepared to thwart the mob.
UNKNOWN: Oh, (BEEP), we're tearing it down.
SIDNER: And he claims some of the Proud Boys simply walked in to record history.
TARRIO: There's nobody that told them that stopped them from going in. You feel like it's something that's wrong, that you shouldn't do.
SIDNER: But are you blaming the police for telling people not to break the law?
TARRIO: No, I'm not blaming the cops at all.
SIDNER: So, what are you saying?
TARRIO: No, I can blame the police officers and the Feds for their inability to respond to this. So, was it a mistake to even go into the Capitol?
SIDNER: Was it?
TARRIO: Yes.
SIDNER: Do you condemn those people? Can you say that right now?
TARRIO: OK. I can't say that. Because I think condemn is a very strong word. And I think it's a little bit too strong.
SIDNER: He thinks the FBI is trying to make an example of the Proud Boys. But Tarrio, also has a history with the FBI after being sentenced to federal prison for fraud in 2012.
Were you an informant for the FBI?
TARRIO: I was -- to put it simply, I was put in a very tough situation where the federal government had wanted me to testify against my brothers. SIDNER: He said he refused and instead his defense attorney said
Tarrio cooperated with the FBI and other law enforcement on many cases. One involving prescription drug. Another, a marijuana raid, an illegal gambling bust and more, but Tarrio would only admit to cooperating on one case.
[23:25:00]
TARRIO: The only thing that I actually gave them was the human trafficking ring, and again, I'm not going to apologize for it.
SIDNER: What is next for the Proud Boys and the country, Tarrio has already made a plan.
TARRIO: I think right now is the time to go ahead and overthrow the government by becoming the new government and running for office.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Sarah Sidner joins me now. That is my question, Sarah. So, he's actually considering running himself? Was that a serious comment?
SIDNER: Absolutely dead serious. He is definitely consider running. He says that he may even step down as the chairman of the Proud Boys in order to do that. And not only that, but in order to support others who are of like minds to also help them run for office as well.
Now, there is a twist to this of course. He might have a little bit of public relations problem in his campaign because Canada has recently designated the Proud Boys a terrorist organization, and that could cause him some problems with some of his constituents but he says he believes he can win like so many other politicians.
LEMON: Is it great reporting, but this is how I characterize your reporting. A study in contrast. He said this and then you would say but, this is what actually happened.
(LAUGHTER)
SIDNER: Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of give and take. And you know this from doing interviews yourself, Don. You have to challenge people. And you know, a lot of people talk about, you know, why give this person a platform? Because he's an American citizen. He breathes the same air we do, and he is not going away and nor are the Proud Boys at the moment. They are still very much at play here and we expect to see, you know, more things from them going forward. The group is still around and may be around for a while, Don.
LEMON: Good stuff, Sarah. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
A story of unimaginable grief in Texas. A woman losing her three children and her mother to a house fire while trying to stay warm during the power outages. Jackie Wen shares the legacy of her beautiful family. You don't want to miss this, make sure you stay tune. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: President Joe Biden planning to travel to Houston, Texas tomorrow to survey the damage from recent winter storms with Republican Governor Greg Abbott. The freezing weather is causing multiple crisis leaving millions of Texans without power or clean water. Biden previewed his trip today while addressing the National Governors Association virtually.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Governor Abbott, I don't want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to coming down tomorrow to Houston to be with you. And I want you and the residents to know that we're here to provide the federal assistance you need to support your state, your local and tribal response efforts. And it's clear that even when the immediate crisis passes, there's going to be more work to be done to help constituents recover.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: But meanwhile, Americans in the Lone Star are still suffering badly. And tonight, I need to share the story of one of those Texans with you. Her name is Jackie Nguyen. And last week, the unthinkable happened to her.
Jackie's mother and three children were killed in a fire at Jackie's home in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land. Jackie had been home with her mother and kids after her mother's power went out. When Jackie's power also went out just a few hours later, the family lit a fire in the fireplace and they played board games and card games together, going to bed early after tiring themselves out.
Jackie tells CNN that she tucked her kids into bed and really, the next thing I know, this is a quote from her, "I'm in a hospital," she says.
And Jackie Nguyen joins me now. Jackie, I'm so, so, so sorry for every -- this is really the unthinkable -- of what happened to you. Thank you for joining us.
JACKIE PHAM NGUYEN, LOST THREE CHILDREN AND MOTHER TO FIRE DURING TEXAS OUTAGE: Thank you for having me, Don. Thank you for letting me share my kids with the world.
LEMON: Yeah. It's normal to ask people how they're doing, but I don't think that's needed to ask in this situation, because I know it's -- I can see that you're dealing with it, but it's just -- I can't -- I can't even imagine what you're -- what's going on.
That Monday, you all woke up and it was snowing. It looked magical outside. So, you and the kids went outside to play in the snow. Tell me about that morning, please. NGUYEN: Yeah. I mean, my son Edison, he's an early riser, so he kind of got to benefit from the fresh snow first, him and my dog Atlas (ph), were out there. Shortly after, his sister joined, and everybody was just so excited. And as you said, you know, it was magical. We -- I knew all this was kind of going on around us in Houston, but it was -- we didn't feel like at all we were in the middle of, you know, some -- something going on in the city.
It was unexpectedly really cold and frigid, so we enjoyed the snow for just a few minutes at a time. At one point, my oldest, Olivia and I were just talking about our next ski trip because that's something she really enjoys doing. And, you know, as you said, yeah, around 5:00, the lights went out.
[23:35:00]
NGUYEN: And we pulled out some games and a deck of playing cards. And that didn't faze us too much because it was something, we did a lot as a family. You know, despite me asking everybody to conserve their batteries in their devices, Olivia begged me to join a Zoom call with her camp friends that night. I'm really glad in hindsight that I let her have that call with them.
LEMON: Mm-hmm. Later that day, your mom came over to your home because the power had gone out in her house, but then when your power went out, you lit the fireplace to stay warm. What do you remember about that night?
NGUYEN: Yeah. Around 5:00, that's when the power went out. We lit up the fireplace, which isn't something, you know -- I use that fireplace, so it wasn't something weird or foreign or anything like that. We stayed warm because we were kind of all huddled around each other and layered up and had a fire going.
And everybody kind of got tired at around 9:30, 10:00. And just like every other day, Don, I tucked my kids into bed and gave my mom a kiss that night and headed down to my room. Next thing I know, I woke up in the hospital without my kids and waited several hours later only to find out that I had lost everything.
LEMON: You don't remember anything, right, except for waking up in the hospital?
NGUYEN: No. I mean, bits and pieces in my head, but I don't -- I really don't remember anything. People say that that's harder, the kind of smoke inhalation that I had taken in.
LEMON: Maybe the body's way of coping with the trauma, because again, I mean -- ugh. Who is helping you deal with this now, Jackie? Do you have a support system?
NGUYEN: I do. You know, thank god, I've got my brother who lives in the woodlands. I'm actually in his home office right now. I've got family that's flown in, my sister from New York and another sister from California. And then, you know, brothers from all over the country coming in to help me. Yeah, just a handful of really good longtime friends that have been like aunts and uncles to my kids and they have been so helpful. And that's how I have been able to, you know, free up some time to talk to folks like you.
LEMON: Mm-hmm. I heard so much about your kids from producers and reading about them. They all had such big personalities. Your youngest is Colette, right, and you called her Coco, five.
NGUYEN: That's right.
LEMON: And then you had a son, Edison. Edison loved art. Edison is eight years old. And you said -- the quote says he was a sweet boy, he's an artist. And then you have Olivia, your eldest, who was 11 years old. Said she had a sarcastic sense of humor and she loves skiing. Tell me about your special children.
NGUYEN: My darling Olivia, my first born -- I'll tell you about the time she first started talking, she would say, love-love instead of I love you. And then love-love just kind of stuck and that's what our family says to each other for the past 12 years. And Olivia considered that kind of her claim to fame among her siblings. And she loved to claim the fact that she's the one that made me a mom.
As far as personalities go, you know, she's -- she was meek but just so, so strong. There's so much depth to her and that's what kind of lends itself to the sarcasm and what not. But, you know, she just really loved and cared for people in such a deep way.
In November, she spent weeks curating a Spotify play list for her brother, Edison, for his birthday as a gift to him. And it was so good, Don. She noticed that I had -- I was listening to it so much that she made me one for my birthday, which we all just celebrated together just a few weeks ago.
[23:40:06]
LEMON: I can see where she got the strength from because I'm sure people are watching and I am just in awe of your strength that you're actually sitting here. And then you said Edison, you called him sweet boy. He was an artist. He was extremely interested in modern art and architecture, and he had been recently going running with his mom. He loved to swim and ride his bike. Class of 2021, we just saw the picture there.
NGUYEN: Yeah. I had Edison shortly after my father passed away about nine years ago. And that loss was devastating for me, and my son filled that gaping hole in my heart. That was especially, especially true for my mom. He was the obvious favorite in my mom's eyes and the girls knew it.
LEMON: Mm-hmm.
NGUYEN: He was a lot like my dad in many ways, so I think that gave my mom a great feel of comfort, feeling like my dad was still with us.
LEMON: Yeah, and then Coco was -- she was never afraid, totally unapologetic. Not imitated. She loved Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes and wanted to be a head cheerleader and class president.
NGUYEN: Yeah, she wanted to do it all.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: I mean, she -- I can't -- words can't capture, like, how big her personality was.
LEMON: Yeah.
NGUYEN: People just were drawn in by her personality and her energy, you know. She started at the school my two older ones are at six years after Olivia started and months in, people were referring to Olivia as Coco's sister.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: She can wear a red dress. I'll tell you that as I look at the pictures. She looks great in that red dress. Your mother, Lee (ph), immigrated from Vietnam with your father. She arrived in this country with nothing. She sacrificed everything for her grandchildren. You said that Lee (ph) and grandmas like her are unsung heroes that bridge the gap for working moms. I mean, amen. Tell me more about your amazing mom.
NGUYEN: Yeah. I mean, she did afternoon pickup for me and did the grocery shopping. And those things -- I mean, they sound menial and mundane, but as a single working mom, that is huge. And those are the things that allowed me honestly to pursue a career. And more importantly, it made the most of my evenings with the kids.
I got to be involved in their school and activities like girl scouts. You know, I really wanted my girls to see that women can do it all and I wanted my son to see -- to be the kind of man that, like, steps up. And so my -- yeah, like I said, my mom really kind of bridged that gap for me to be able to do that and for my kids to be able to see that.
LEMON: Yeah. Well, Jackie, thank you. Listen, I know the pain of loss, but not like yours. I can't -- there's no comparison. I saw my mom when she lost her child, and I am told that there's no greater loss for a parent.
So, everyone who's watching this in the world, we're keeping you in our -- our arms are wrapped around you. We're keeping you in our thoughts and in our prayers. Hang tight with your support system. You take care of yourself.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: I am so grateful that you came on this program to honor your kids and your mom. Be well. I can't say it enough. Thank you.
NGUYEN: Thank you. LEMON: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: President Biden announcing three nominees to fill most of the vacant seats on the United States Postal Service Board of Governors. The move coming after a Trump era postmaster, General Louis DeJoy, was slammed for changes that slowed delivery before the 2020 election and the holidays.
Here's Kristen Holmes.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Embattled Trump era postmaster General Louis DeJoy says he's not going anywhere.
UNKNOWN: How much longer are you planning to stay?
LOUIS DEJOY, UNITED STATES POSTMASTER GENERAL: Long time. Get used to me.
HOLMES (voice-over): Despite outcries over delivery delays and a forthcoming plan that could make them worse, the brash postal leader says he's not to blame, that he is trying to fix the failing agency.
DEJOY: The status quo is acceptable to no one.
HOLMES (voice-over): While President Joe Biden doesn't have the power to fire DeJoy, he can replace the board that does, a move Democrats have called for.
This week, Biden is taking the first step, nominating three people to vacant seats on the postal service's board of governors for filling a promise to diversify the entirely white male Trump-appointed board. Thursday, the White House making it clear, it's time for change.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Most Americans would agree that the postal service needs leadership that can and will do a better job. He believes the leadership can do better and we're eager to have the board of governors in place.
[23:50:00]
HOLMES (voice-over): The nominees come as DeJoy is readying to release a new 10-year plan next month that could affect first-class mail.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL): You don't dispute that you are considering as part of your 10-year plan the elimination of the two- day delivery first-class mail standard. Are you?
DEJOY: We are evaluating all service standards. HOLMES (voice-over): At a contentious hearing, DeJoy not revealing any details.
DEJOY: Well, it's unfortunate that that's where you get your information because it's going to take more than that to fix the postal service.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, sir, the Washington Post sourced it from the U.S. --
(CROSSTALK)
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Let me turn your attention to another issue, sir.
HOLMES (voice-over): The postmaster general first came under fire for changes made to the postal service that slowed down delivery before the election as millions were casting their ballots by U.S. mail, and then again when lots of packages and mail didn't make it home for the holidays.
The election still fresh, Republicans accusing Democrats of only blaming DeJoy in order to score political points, prompting a sharp response.
REP. GERRY CONNOLLY (D-VA): I didn't vote to overturn an election. And I will not be lectured by people who did about partisanship.
HOLMES (voice-over): Now it's up to the postal board, including if confirmed, the new members to rise above partisanship and come up with solutions, starting with what they want to do about Louis DeJoy.
DEJOY: I'm here until I can see the tangibly produced results we intended to. I believe the board is committed to that.
UNKNOWN: That is not determined by you, it's determined by the board.
DEJOY: Well, it could be determined by me. I could resign, right? I could get tired of it. I have other things I can do.
HOLMES (voice-over): Kristen Holmes, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: Kristen Holmes, thank you. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So I want you to know about something that I have been working on for a while, and that is my new book. It's a pre-order now. "This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism" is coming out in just a few weeks anywhere books are sold. Go find it and pre-order it. Check it out. I hope you do. And thanks for watching, everyone. Our coverage continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
