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Don Lemon Tonight

Senate Dems Break Stalemate with Manchin Over Jobless Benefits; President Biden Supports the Compromise Agreement Reached by Democrats Over COVID Relief Bill; Rep. McCarthy Posts Video Reading Dr. Seuss; Tucker Carlson Says Insurrectionist Seem Gentle; Report Details Trump Allies Social Media Posts Promoting the Big Lie; Lebron James's New Ad On Black Voting Rights. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired March 05, 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]

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: OK. So, we are not taking a break. Alright. So, we are going to keep going here. Sorry about that. So, let's move here. Senate Democrats moving ahead tonight, as you saw late tonight trying to get the COVID relief bill passed after breaking the day-long stalemate with one of their own, Democrat Joe Manchin over the extension of unemployment benefits.

Also, tonight, good news in the battle against COVID-19. The U.S. could reach herd immunity by late summer. That's because of the uptick in vaccine shots to about 2 million per day, and the authorization of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

So, I want to bring in now CNN's Congressional correspondent, Ryan Nobles, live on Capitol Hill. I'm glad you're there, Ryan, because I thought I was going to break and now your helping me out by talking about what's going on. We just saw the -- two leaders, the minority and the majority leader in the Senate there speaking. What's going on?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was an 11 hour and 50-minute process, Don. I want to make sure that I got the exact timing correct here. This started this morning when the Senate was set to take up a process known as vote-a-rama, which is how you get a bill passed through reconciliation which allows the bill to be pass with only 51 votes.

We expected there to be a flurry of amendments that would go on into the early morning hours that would be part of this process before the bill was actually pass. And everything was stalled this morning. 11 hours and 50 minutes ago, because there was a problem with the provision as it relates to unemployment insurance.

And what this crystallizes is the power that West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has over this process. He did not like the compromise that Democrats and President Biden had on unemployment insurance which would could reduce the payment from what the House had originally proposed to only $300 a month but extend it until the end of September.

He thought that that was too long, and he was also concerned about the tax benefit associated with it. And he was actually considering supporting a Republican alternative that would have capped the unemployment benefits through July at only $300 and would also now provide any tax benefits. So that led to basically a standoff between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that wasn't resolved until 8:00 tonight.

And then they finally agreed that this process would allow for the unemployment insurance benefits to go to the beginning of September. They would still have that tax credit, but it would be capped at $150,000 of income, and then it took them another three or four hours to finalize all the details there before they could then finally begin this voterrama process.

So, we don't know how much longer this could go. It could theoretically go for, you know, countless hours as these amendments are proposed because there is no cap on that before the bill ultimately gets passed. But Don, long story short is, the Democrats now have the vote. They will ultimately pass this package. It's now just a question of how long it's going to take.

LEMON: Ryan Nobles, saving the day on Capitol Hill. Ryan, we will continue to check back with you and see how much progress they make. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.

I want to bring in now CNN's White House correspondent, John Harwood and CNN political analyst, Kirsten Powers. OK, hell to both of you. So, you are up to date on what's going on. So, let's talk about this. John, this a hard way to get this bill over the finish line, it's going to happen but what do you think the White House reaction is, do you know?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think the White House is very pleased. Look, when you have a 50/50 Senate, as Ryan was just indicating any member who has got a problem with a particular provision can hold it up. But if you step back and look at the big picture, the big picture is remarkable Democratic unity, all 50 are going to end up supporting this package, and it's an enormous package.

Joe Manchin made some changes in it, but the changes were very minor. They hardly affect the shape of the bill at all. What you got is $1.9 trillion. Very large checks to millions and millions of American Households. Anybody singles under 75,000, couples under 150,000. Big benefits for people with children, child tax credit.

You have a lot of money for vaccinations. You've got an increase in the tax credit. There is a whole lot for liberal Democrats to like. And they have managed to keep the conservative and moderate Democrats on board and that's a pretty significant feed early in the Biden administration.

LEMON: I'm trying to read Kirsten (inaudible), but I can't. So, Kirsten, what do you thinking of this whole process? You said you are very (inaudible) right now, I don't know what's going on.

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Actually, I was thinking, wow this is so nice to have a conversation about something substantive. (CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I know, right?

POWERS: Right? I'm just like whoa, am I dreaming. So, and we actually have been doing that quite a bit.

[23:05:03]

LEMON: Well, let me ask you this, because this goes right along to where you're saying, because we are dealing with this deadly pandemic. Millions of Americans are out of work. And this is what the Republican leader in the House is doing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): That same I am, that same I am. I do not like that same I am. Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, same I am. I do not like green eggs and ham.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK, so, there, it's either a big lie of culture wars. I mean, is this what the GOP is about now? Go, Kirsten.

POWERS: It is what the GOP is about now, and I just want to echo what John said I think the White House is and Democrats are very happy and should be very happy, because, I think this is a huge achievement very early in Joe Biden's term. In terms of the Republicans, I say this every time we talk about them, but it really is true. They are not a serious governing party and you just showed the contrast.

You just went right to them with the silliness over Dr. Seuss where they are complaining that Dr. Seuss has been canceled when the estate of Dr. Seuss decided to not publish six books, right. I mean, I don't even know how many books there are of Dr. Seuss, but there are a lot of books.

LEMON: And then they are buying the books. I think they are on the bestsellers, so they are actually helping the people who in their words cancelled -- its mind boggling, but go on, Kirsten.

POWERS: Yes. But it's also -- but the thing about it is that, the serious part of it, I think, is that the reason that some of this -- the estate decided to pull some of these books, because they had imagery in them that were considered racist by their own opinion. The people of the estate. What are you proud to be a person who is fighting for racist energy in children's books?

I mean this is what they are spending their time on, rather than recognizing that these books were written a long time ago. There are images on them that it shouldn't have been there, they are just going remove them. This is what civilized societies do. This is what decent people do. This is how decent people treat each other, and yet this is what they spend their time on.

LEMON: I think maybe you just answered the whole thing. Maybe it's not -- there's no decency there.

POWERS: That is how I feel about it. I mean, I feel like so much of the cancel culture stuff always comes down to just treating other people with consideration, respect and decency.

LEMON: Yes. John?

(CROSSTALK)

When you look at this, I mean, when you have to drag, you know, John, Dr. Seuss and Neanderthal thinking into it. They are trying to find every single way that they can not to work with this president. Correct?

HARWOOD: Look, Republicans had said early in the Biden administration as they did early in the Obama administration, on a philosophy of near total resistance to everything Biden's trying to do. Mitch McConnell who was just expressing frustration that this bill is going to pass and you know, they took a while to figure out their unemployment insurance provision, maybe he had hopes that Joe Manchin was going to take the bill down, and it's not going to happen.

Mitch McConnell said last week, when he was getting question about Trump, where you should focus on is how united we are in opposition to what the Biden administration is doing. That's the approach they are taking. It's not about trying to govern with Joe Biden and his administration.

Obviously both parties are partisan, but the difference is that as Kirsten just indicated. Democrats are much more serious about governing than Republicans are. So now they are in power, they got to program, they are pushing it thru. Republicans, the offer they made on COVID relief was not anywhere close to what Biden could work with. And now they are going it alone and Republicans are trying to take whatever they can out of the Democrats' hide while they do it, but it's not a whole lot.

LEMON: Hey, listen, I have to move on. But I just want to play this. I'm not going to respond to it. It just makes a point of what you just said, Kirsten, about being on the side of -- you know, the bigots and all of that. Can we just play the Tucker Carlson thing about, what he said about the insurrection who storm the Capitol and then we will move on? Yes, and QAnon supporters here. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TUCKER CARLSON, FOX HOST: You ever notice how all like the scary internet conspiracy theorists, radical QAnon people and you actually see them on camera or jail cells as a lot of them are now are. Maybe they are kind of confused. Maybe they got the wrong ideas, but they all come in gentle people and they are all kind of waving American flags. They like the country.

[23:10:02]

They are not torching Wendy's. They are not looting retail stores. They're not shooting cops. No, that's not them. It's the other people doing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And there you go. I didn't even think we need to comment. It's just asinine.

POWERS: It speaks for itself.

LEMON: Yes, it does. Thank you both. I appreciate it.

Now I want to turn to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's nearly 2,000-page report, documenting social media from GOP lawmakers who voted to overturn the election. Republican Congressman Gosar, Paul Arizona is all over the story. Tom Foreman has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Before the roaring mob, smashed windows and brutal assaults on January 6. There was Congressman Paul Gosar. Patriots, the time is now, hold the line. Sedition and treason for stealing votes is appropriate.

(CROWD CHANTING) Stop the steal.

FOREMAN: The Arizona Republican was a cheerleader for the false claims of election fraud in the weeks steaming towards the riot.

REP. PAUL GOSAR (R-AZ): Donald Trump's return to being president.

Today is the day American patriot's start taking down names and kicking ass.

FOREMAN: Gosar, along with a couple other congress members had been named key players by a top organizer of the protest.

UNKNOWN: We are the four guys who came up with a January 6th event.

FOREMAN: No Congress members had confirmed those allegations. Although Gosar certainly promoted the rally. In late December, tweeting about the count of electoral votes for the clear winner, Joe Biden. I'll be in D.C., we will fight back against the leftist, and just hours before the attack, Biden should concede. I want his concession on my desk tomorrow morning. Don't make me come over there. Even as the rioters closed in, Gosar was speaking out for Trump's lost campaign.

GOSAR: I voted for myself and 60 of my colleagues to object to the counting of the electorate ballots from Arizona.

FOREMAN: Since then, Gosar has been criticized for attending a conference organized by white nationalists. He told CNN, he just wanted to know what they were talking about.

GOSAR: I want to tell you. I denounce when we talked about white racism. That is not appropriate.

FOREMAN: And on the day of the riot, Gosar did take to Twitter saying let's not get carried away. I don't want anyone hurt. But on the Trump friendly side Parler, along with an image of the Capitol being sacked, he wrote simply, Americans are upset.

None of this proves Gosar directly encourage the violence that sent lawmakers running. But it does draw attention to him precisely at the time that the FBI is poking around asking who inside the Capitol might have help the approaching mob outside, Don.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Alright. Tom, thank you very much for that. Voting rights are under attack across the country, and NBA star LeBron James is taking aim at states trying to push the new Jim Crow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, NBA STAR: Now look what they're trying to do to silence us. Using every trick in the book, and attacking democracy itself. If they saw what we're capable of, and they fear it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:15:00]

LEMON: NBA star LeBron James is taking aim at states for trying to make it harder to vote. Here is part of his new ad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES: Look what we did. Look what we made happen. What our voices made possible. And now look what they're trying to do to silence us. Using every trick in the book. And attacking democracy itself. Because they saw what we're capable of, and they fear it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So there are more than 250 bills, 250 in 43 states designed to limit voting rights. No surprise these restrictions disproportionately impact people of color.

So, joining me now is Dr. Cornel West, processer of public policy at Harvard University, and Michael Higginbotham, he is the author of the book, Ghost of Jim Crow, ending racism and post racial America. Good to have both of you on this evening. I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

So, Michael, let's start with you, you heard LeBron. They saw what we're capable of -- they saw what we are capable of and they fear it. That's a quote from him, the black vote was a powerful force in the 2020 election. And unless the GOP can push it down, they lose. That's the bottom-line. Are we witnessing the new Jim Crow here?

MICHAEL HIGGINBOTHAM, PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE: I think we are, and in fact you know, this filibuster that we have been talking about is the most egregious example of the Ghost of Jim Crow, of the new Jim Crow. And it's a real problem. It's a relic of our Jim Crow past. And it's been used in a very racially discriminatory way, racial depressive way and it needs to go, and we need to see that. And if we don't see it go, we may have the same problem which that it was used to stop (inaudible) anti (inaudible) legislation. We may see it use to stop the George Floyd legislation, the John Lewis legislation and HR1 legislation.

LEMON: Well, let's bring in the professor now who actually teaches this stuff, right. Because Republicans, professor, would have everyone believe that the filibuster is a sacred Senate tradition. But it's actually not. It's really, as Mr. Higginbotham point out, another relic of Jim Crow. Talk to us about how it is used or how was used mostly by segregationist in the south?

[23:20:03]

CORNEL WEST, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY HARVARD UNIVERISTY: Well, we know 1957, we had a gangster name (inaudible) and who spoke for 24 hours straight. Only took one moment to do number one and there he go (inaudible) came in and help that out. So did he came back and continue to talk.

That's just the tip of the iceberg that my dear brother Higginbotham is talking about. You know, Higginbotham comes from a family of intellectual and spiritual nobility a Leon Higginbotham, and my colleague Evelyn Brooks-Higginbotham, the juxtaposition between that kind of nobility, that kind of courage versus the (inaudible) of Jim Crow. Keep in mind now, the new Jim Crow was Madison incarceration. This is the new noob Jim Crow.

LEMON: Right. Michelle Alexander, wrote about it, yes.

WEST: And the old Jim Crow -- so that the legacy of white supremacy goes on and on, and that is why we have got to fight, that's why we got to stand with the Higginbotham and others.

LEMON: I love that you are so passionate. You have to get up in the camera. And then you're like, I'm done. You got -- and you back off.

WEST: Talk about black dignity and black freedom and human dignity. You got to get fired up. This is the fire, brother? I know a brother who wrote a book called This is the fire.

LEMON: That's right there. And the tradition of who?

WEST: (Inaudible). Gave you some love.

LEMON: There you go. Thank you very much. Thank you.

So, Michael, the distinguished professor invoked your name. So, let's discuss here. The filibuster at this point, allows the minority to rule by forcing the majority party to have 60 votes to pass legislation. Given what we know about the history, why hasn't it been eliminated already? Because it disenfranchises the majority? And it doesn't seem very democratic, small d, democratic. HIGGINBOTHAM: It is a very democratic and it should have been

eliminated and it hasn't been. And it's played, you know, the filibuster is basically a legislative delay tactics, sort of like the -- you know, the four corners drill in basketball, and it can be used in a positive way. But as you mentioned, the history of it in our country, the Senate filibuster has been, it has been used to racially oppress.

1846, that prevented the antislavery provision in a treaty. 1922, it prevented the anti-lynching legislation. 1957, as Dr. West mentioned, it prevented the desegregation legislation of schools. So, it's part of our history but it needs to be eliminated now. Because if we don't eliminate it, we are going to have the same kind of white supremacist legislators in the minority preventing a majority of legislation from getting passed. Legislation that is 60 percent of people wants.

LEMON: Listen, and some legislation up to 70 close to 80 percent of the people want, especially when it comes to COVID relief. Both of you professors. Listen, Processer West, President Obama spoke about the filibuster and voting rights. This is during John Lewis's eulogy. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You want to honor John. Let's honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for.

(APPLAUSE)

And if all this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the God-given rights of every American, then that's what we should do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So it seems like the Democrats are going to have to choose which is more important to them. The filibuster or the John Lewis voting rights act. Is that right, professor?

WEST: Absolutely. Dear brother Barack Obama, he is right about that. He is right in the number of times, and I am with him 100 percent on that. But the larger issue is, white supremacy has always been the major Trump card against democracy. It's the major impediment. It's the major obstacle.

And so when we talk doing what the filibuster is because it's facilitated white supremacy, it's a matter of ensuring that the anti- racist sensibility policies are promoted in order to preserve something even grander which is the possibility of a (inaudible) democratic (inaudible) in which everyday people (inaudible) and enable. So in that sense, you can't separate the white supremacy and democracy and we know some folk would rather give up on democracy for white supremacy.

LEMON: Thank you both, I appreciate it. Hey, processer, can you -- I want to promote my new book here, because we have conversations like this. Can you just tell our viewers why it's so important -- my book is called This is a fire. To write something in the tradition of James Baldwin and as an ode and a tribute to James Baldwin as I did. Can you just give us a word?

[23:25:05]

WEST: Because James Baldwin was an exemplar of a love of warrior, a freedom fighter and a wounded healer who was (inaudible) and with a smile was willing to tell the truth about America with love and also with the courage to go against the grain. That's is the great legacy. This is the fire, the fire next time and we got a fire in our movement just like the burning bush, brother. We can't get consumed by the flames because we keep fighting, we keep coming and the Higginbothams and other are part of that tradition. And I'm serious about that. Leon was my brother.

LEMON: Thank you. Oh, my gosh, thank you very much. I appreciate that, and I'm sure he does -- I have to run. Yes you do. Thank you. And it's called -- This is the fire -- because of James Baldwin book, The Fire Next Time, preorder now anywhere. It will help, with all these conversations that we are discussing right now. Especially when it comes to issues of race. So, go check it out.

Next, and thanks to my guests. Next, more proof coming out today masks lower coronavirus cases and deaths, so why are so many states getting rid of their mandates?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CHIEF INFECTIOUS DISEASES DIVISION, MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL: We have seen this movie before. When prevention measures like mask mandates are rolled back, cases go up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The White House doing some damage control today after the mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, turned down more than 6,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN, DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Moderna and Pfizer are the best, and I am going to do everything I can to make sure that residents of the city of Detroit get the best.

ANDY SLAVITT, SENIOR ADVISER, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM: We have been in constant dialogue with Mayor Duggan who said, in fact, that was not what he said.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. So here are the facts. Facts first. All three approved vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe cases of coronavirus. Duggan reversing course in a statement today, emphasizing he has full faith in the vaccine and that Detroit will be opening a site offering the Johnson & Johnson option.

Joining me now to discuss is CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner. He is the director of the Cardiac Catheterization Program at George Washington University Hospital, and we love having him on as often as we can.

Doctor, thank you. It's easy to get confused about, you know, what the data means on the different vaccines. Officials need to -- to make sure that this misunderstanding of the Johnson & Johnson doesn't keep people from getting it because they're all effective and you should get whatever one is offered and -- and get it as soon as they -- you're offered it.

JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST, DIRECTOR OF CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION PROGRAM AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: Right. The only statistic that I want the public to remember, the only number to keep in their head is 100. Each of these vaccines in clinical trials has been shown to be 100 percent effective at preventing you from dying from this virus and from being hospitalized, basically.

LEMON: Hmm.

REINER: Each of these vaccines has that kind of power. Get whatever vaccine is available to you. The comments of the mayor of Detroit are really unfortunate and really uninformed. There's a lot of vaccine hesitancy in this country and there is a tremendous amount of vaccine hesitancy in communities of color.

You know, Detroit, in particular, you know, a city which has a very large African American population, needs advocates for vaccinations, not people casting doubt on safety or efficacy.

LEMON: Yeah.

REINER: About half of the African American community in this country says they will not get the vaccine. So, we can't have this kind of ill-informed -- really poor promotion --

LEMON: Yeah.

REINER: -- really terrific addition to our (INAUDIBLE).

LEMON: Yeah. And you're right about that. And I see some high-profile people saying this in the African-American communities, casting doubt on the vaccine and that it shouldn't happen. Just don't say anything, right? Just let people decide for themselves. And if you don't want to get the vaccine, that is your business.

But as the experts have been saying, it is completely safe and people should be encouraging, all people, especially African-Americans who have had such a history when it comes to vaccine and doubt about, you know, medical treatments and what have you. Medical experimentation, I should say. They should be encouraging people to get the vaccine.

But Dr. Reiner, tonight, there is a new CNN analysis finding. At the pace that the U.S. is going, vaccines could get -- get us to herd immunity by late summer. I mean, that is amazing. What does that mean for when we get back to normal, when we start to get back to normal? Will it happen only when herd immunity is reached or is it possible before then?

REINER: Yeah. You know, I want you to start thinking about normalcy, not as a, you know, a binary event, not a light switch. You know, we have been in the dark. Now, we are going to turn the light on, and we're back to normal. You know, think of it more like we are turning up a light on a dimmer switch. It's been really dark and now it is going to get progressively more light.

So, as more people become vaccinated and have the confidence that they are really protected from getting very sick or dying from this virus, they will be able to do more.

[23:34:55]

REINER: So there was a really good op-ed in The Washington Post last week where two Hopkins professors suggested that even in cities that still have, let's say caps on 25 percent occupancy for restaurants, you know, why not have one or two nights a week where if you can provide proof of vaccination, you can fill the restaurant with fully vaccinated people, a restaurant full of vaccinated people.

And I think we can start to see that, you know, more and more. Opening up to society as more and more people become -- become vaccinated. So, it's going to become progressively brighter. It's like -- it's like dawn. It's just not all the sudden bright sunshine. We are going to see that over the next several months. I'm sure of it.

I'm less worried about the variants than I am about the governors who are too quick to act and are removing mask mandates --

LEMON: Yeah.

REINER: -- and restrictions too quickly.

LEMON: Yeah. Doctor, I have to run. Thank you so much. Good to see you.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: -- night call with Dr. Reiner. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. We'll see you soon.

A top TV host is hiring a race educator after his defense of racist behavior forced him off TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [23:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK, so, "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison is now apologizing for his actions. But is it enough? He said he made a mistake in defending the past social media posts of leading contestant Rachael -- Rachael Kirkconnell -- Kirkconnell. And he has expressed remorse for the way he defended her in an interview on "Extra" with Rachel Lindsay, who is the first Black bachelorette.

Here is what Harrison told Michael Strahan in "Good Morning, America."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS HARRISON, FORMER "BACHELOR" HOST: I am an imperfect man. I made a mistake, and I own that. I believe that mistake doesn't reflect who I am or what I stand for. I am committed to the progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise.

I am saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay. And I didn't speak from my heart, and that is to say I stand against all forms of racism. And I am deeply sorry. I'm sorry to Rachel Lindsay, and I'm sorry to the Black community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Harrison stepped aside following the controversy but says that he is planning to return as host, also saying that he is now working with a race educator.

A lot to talk about with Jemele Hill, staff writer for The Atlantic, and CNN political analyst Natasha Alford, vice president of Digital Content and senior correspondent for TheGrio. Hello to both of you. Thank you.

Listen, I don't often talk about something that will happen on the "Bachelor" but this -- this show has such cultural significance. So many people watch it. It is the first "Bachelor," and then you have the first Black bachelorette who is actually part of the story here.

So, Natasha, you first. What do you think about Chris Harrison saying that he is working closely with a race educator and strategist as well as people like Dr. Michael Eric Dyson being educated on race? It shouldn't be something that you do when you're in hot water, right?

NATASHA ALFORD, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Right, and I think that's the issue. Look, I have a deep respect for Dr. Dyson. I think if anybody can break down the nuances of race in America, he would be the one.

But the thing is we are not asking perfect people, right? The bar is so low. We're literally saying just don't glorify slavery. You know, don't host plantation-themed bulls.

And it's really shocking that in 2021, someone with such a huge platform, who is on a show that says that they are promoting diversity and they're thinking intentionally about diversity, could make such statements.

And to be so hostile towards Rachel Lindsay in the interview, if you watch it, there is dismissiveness, there is gaslighting, and there is an energy that reflects that he actually did speak from the heart.

He was saying exactly what he thought about this not really being a big deal and very defensive of this particular candidate who is a white woman and portraying her as a victim while he is literally talking to a woman of color who faced racism on "The Bachelorette."

LEMON: Yeah.

ALFORD: So, you know, the apology is very, you know, perfectly stated. It looks like it had passed through someone's PR office. But the question is why does the reflection come after, especially when you have such a huge platform?

LEMON: Yeah. Jemele, I see you shaking your head. But before I get to your response, I just -- this is Michael Strahan, what he said after this interview, and then we'll talk. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL STRAHAN, AMERICAN TELEVISION PERSONALITY: His apology is his apology, but it felt like I got nothing more than a surface response on any of this, and obviously, he is a man who wants to clearly stay on the show, but only time will tell if there is any meaning behind his words.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A surface response. Do you get the sense that Chris is sincere in educating himself? Go, Jemele.

JEMELE HILL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, "THE ATLANTIC": Look, that conversation he had with Rachel Lindsay is a perfect encapsulation of why Black people are so frustrated, and we have literally run out of, you know what, is that we are tired of having to be both the educator and also the sober (ph) and also the victim. So you have Rachel Lindsay trying to speak from her experience.

[23:44:59]

HILL: Chris Harrison very confidently, proudly, and arrogantly shooting down her experience and saying dismissive things like woke culture because he didn't want to be checked.

And now that all of this has come down on him, suddenly he wants to get reflective. Much like we have been discussing right now is like, can you get to that point beforehand? Can you just accept what these experiences mean for us and just leave it at that? We don't need a call and response. We just need you to listen. And that was really it.

And now, my fear is that he is going through this education. I don't know what that means. And maybe in some respects, probably coming out of it, maybe a little more resentful because he had to step away from a very popular franchise and now has to go through this education which I don't even know what that means. It is like, do you really need an entire history of 400 years of slavery (INAUDIBLE) know that slavery was bad?

And the fact that he had the nerve to stay, that in 2018 or 2019, nobody was thinking about this, is like, where have you been? So, I don't know. I guess it just kind of is what it is, but it is very frustrating for Black people who constantly have to beg white people to listen, and then when everything blows up in their faces, then we got to solve that too and hand hold them do things they frankly should know better about.

LEMON: Yeah. Yeah. Well, ah. Natasha -- and listen, I always say to both of you, if you don't have -- you need to get a friend who doesn't look like you. And if you -- in 2021, if you are not -- if you are a white person and you are not -- if you don't have friends who are Black or if you don't socialize with Black people, if you don't know any Black people outside of work, then you're doing it wrong, because you should know about these issues now.

The world, America, your life. That's the education. You don't have to have a race coach or a race educator in order to educate you about it. Just go and be a human being. Am I wrong?

ALFORD: No, you're right. And I think the reaction to Rachel Lindsay, the fact that she is getting threats, that this is a woman who sat there and patiently listened to this man and try to explain to him some very basic things about racism 101 and diversity 101, people bullied her offline, right?

So, isn't that something that there are more people who are coming behind him? And that's the thing about --

LEMON: Yeah.

ALFORD: -- whenever people complain about cancel culture. Oftentimes, the people who "get cancelled," you know, they get more support. They get GoFundMe. They get people who stand behind them and tell them that it's OK to be ignorant --

LEMON: And buy more books and more people buying the product. I've got to run. Thank you both. It is good to see both of you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

ALFORD: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: All right. About three million students are missing from schools by late last year. CNN takes -- excuse me, talks to the people trying to keep kids from getting left behind. That's next.

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[23:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: The COVID pandemic dealing a severe blow to students who are falling through the cracks, dropping out, disappearing, especially low-income students. Now, there are desperate attempts to get them back in school.

Evan McMorris-Santoro shows us what is happening in New Orleans.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are following Audie Cerrato. He tracks down students who don't show up for school.

AUDIE CERRATO, CLASSROOM COUNSELOR (voice-over): Did she go to school today?

UNKNOWN (voice-over): That's me.

CERRATO (voice-over): Oh, that's you?

(On camera): I just like to show my I.D., my badge, just how in the open, just to give them a little bit of comfort that I am from a school and not from, you know, New Orleans Police Department.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Nobody home.

No one at home. Ah, yeah. So, try to move on.

(Voice-over): I just feel like throughout the city, it is just like, you know, it just feels like kids are getting lost.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the lives of just about every American student. And for students from underserved communities, the impact has been even worse.

Experts are still gathering national data on just how bad things are. But there is anecdotal evidence all over the country of economically disadvantaged students and students of color getting left behind and sometimes dropping out of the system altogether.

JUSTIN ROSS-HILLARD, CO-PRINCIPAL, THE NET: CENTRAL CITY: First class for Miss Valerie --

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): Research shows that students who lack high-speed internet access, who are experiencing homelessness or live in foster care are at higher risk. A study from October found an estimated three million marginalized students like that were missing from U.S. public schools by late 2020.

ROSS-HILLARD: Good morning. Glad to have you back. Yo, what's up man?

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): This is the first day of in-person education at The NET: Central City High School in New Orleans. Classrooms closed down after the second surge of the pandemic in December. ROSS-HILLARD: This is Mr. Justin. I am calling to find out why you aren't in school. Classes started back in person, and you are not here.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): The NET is designed to help students who haven't found success in traditional school. And on the first day back, out of 118 students on the school, only 51 came back to school. Educators told us citywide enrolment and attendances are down.

ROSS-HILLARD (voice-over): I think across the whole city of New Orleans, we are seeing students having more and more challenges.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): Kenya didn't finish some of her online classes the first time after school went virtual, but still on track to graduate.

[23:55:02]

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: She understands why other students are struggling to keep up.

KENYA, STUDENT: People are losing their jobs. Parents are losing their jobs. I am calling them my sisters and best friends. I'm like, well, you got to get on school. They're like, well, I have to go to work. I need money right now.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): Anthony struggled with unreliable internet access. He spent almost five months out of school before returning in January.

ANTHONY, STUDENT: I don't know if I'm really up to going to college. I might not, but I know I'm going to try to graduate high school.

ROSS-HILLARD: What we know statistically, students who missed a semester, their likelihood of dropping out or not returning to school does increase every semester that they are unsuccessful. But we're going to continue to chase after you.

I miss you. You need to come back to school. You can still finish and get your diploma.

Every day that we're consistent and we show up, more kids are going to come.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO (voice-over): Evan McMorris-Santoro, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LEMON: Evan, thank you so much. And make sure you check out more of our digital streaming show, "Go There." It's on cnn.com/gothere. New episodes drop every single week.

Thank you, everyone, for watching. Our coverage continues.

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