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Don Lemon Tonight
Buckingham Palace Responds To Bombshell Interview; No Comment From Prince Charles Over Family Issues; Senator Graham Calls The COVID Relief Bill A Reparation; COVID Relief Bill On Its Finishing Touches; Racism An Issue That Further Divides People; Sen. Raphael Warnock (D- GA) Is Interviewed About What The COVID Relief Bill Means For His Constituents In Georgia. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired March 09, 2021 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Thank you for watching. It is now time for the big show, "CNN TONIGHT" with the big star with the knack for knowing, D. Lemon.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: The palace responded.
CUOMO: Here's what I don't get. The palace does not dispute the facts.
LEMON: No.
CUOMO: The strongest line in the denial was, while recollections may vary.
LEMON: May vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Chris.
CUOMO: If that's what they're saying, why are people here specifically on the right of the political spectrum bashing her believability?
LEMON: Because it's the same reason they like to talk about Dr. Seuss. I don't know. You know, so Dr. Seuss' family will say, we want to take the books offline because it doesn't represent. They'll go, we're going to buy them because we're going to lean into the racism.
The palace will say, well, look, recollections vary and these allegations and the questions about racism are very serious. We're going to look into them. And the right goes, there is no racism. We're going to lean into it.
All of a sudden, you have the right who is always anti-royal family pretty much. Now they're supporting the royal family and they have become the press release, so to speak, for -- for Buckingham Palace? It's good for the monarchy. It's quite interesting, isn't it? It always has to be for some reason lately the opposition party. I wonder why especially when it comes to issues of race. Very interesting.
(CROSSTALK) CUOMO: Right now, they're straight-up, they're straight up opposition.
LEMON: They are.
CUOMO: And what's going on with these laws across the states almost invariably being put forward by Republican administrations at the state level --
LEMON: It's Jim Crow. It's voter suppression.
CUOMO: Well, if they get what they -- I mean, just look at the bills. You don't have to believe us. There is 250 of them out there. Look at the one that they're dealing with right now in Georgia. It is going to be a 50-year pushback in terms of making it easy for people to get to the polls.
And I think it's as simple as why when Trump was in the seat it was about making fun of me for being Italian and all that stuff. With you, it was always had to be the dumbest man on television. Why? It plays to others, Black, ethnic. You know?
This is what they do, and they're doing it now in grotesque fashion with Meghan Markle. It has to be that. Because there is no other reason. There is no other reason for people here on the political right to give a damn about what Meghan Markle says in a royal mess.
LEMON: Well, they seem to think that if you are a member of the royal family or if you are rich or if you have any sort of platform in life that you cannot be discriminated against, which makes no sense because they're always talking about they're being discriminated against because they're being canceled. Well, guess what happened today? Piers Morgan canceled himself so he can no longer I was cancelled. He walked off the set.
CUOMO: He definitely walked off.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: He is the one --
CUOMO: He walked back on. Do you think he quit? Do you think they pushed him out?
LEMON: I think he canceled himself by his behavior. Listen, you can have -- listen, the laws are a bit different over there than they are here. You have a freedom of speech here, the first amendment that you don't necessarily have over there. But in both places, you can say what you want to say pretty much but you have to face the consequences of that. So, it doesn't mean that someone is taking your speech away.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Well, he had people coming after them. But I remember, you know, I don't -- I'm not a student of what happens over there certainly in the media culture, but I remember people going after him before and that OFCOM, you know, the government agency that oversees this fairness kind of doctrine.
LEMON: That's what happened this time.
CUOMO: They sided with him.
LEMON: They had 41,000 complaints this time that they're looking. They opened an investigation. But that doesn't mean that they are going to side against him.
CUOMO: Right. Right. But I don't know that they even control the outlet. It's not like he's on the BBC.
LEMON: Right.
CUOMO: Look, I think it's really fascinating that this person of color has shaken up the royal family in the way no white person ever had.
LEMON: Two people of color. Don't forget about Oprah. Oprah and Meghan Markle.
CUOMO: You don't even have people here on the right going after Oprah. Nobody goes after Oprah in their right mind. You know there's going to be animus involve. You can't have good reason to go after her.
LEMON: Well, no. There are people who go after her, and they go after her, as I said last night, they will go after her because they want to be relevant. They no longer have relevance. They no longer have a platform. So, what do you do? You go after the person who the biggest platform, who has the biggest voice. And that is someone like Oprah. That is someone like a Meghan Markle.
And again, it is just -- it's confounding to me. I can't believe that people think that just because you have some degree of privilege that you cannot face discrimination or racism. Rich women --
(CROSSTALK)
[22:05:07]
CUOMO: I think that's an elitism play. Now they're anti-elite.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: The Republican Party whoever have ever thought it.
LEMON: Ask any, ask a wealthy woman or someone, a woman who has a position of business if you can face any sort of issue.
CUOMO: Of course.
LEMON: They'll tell you, yes, I can.
CUOMO: Of course.
LEMON: Me having a position doesn't mean that I can't face.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Of course.
LEMON: So, same thing happened to race.
CUOMO: There is no immunity. And that whole stuff about look at how expensive their house is and stuff, they're just playing to these same divisive lines unless it comes to their tax policy and then they're all about helping people who live in those houses.
But I just -- I'm so blown away by the shamelessness and the obvious nature of it. Nobody can give me an alternative good reason for people on the right to be yapping about Meghan Markle the way they are --
LEMON: Well --
CUOMO: -- if it's not about her color.
LEMON: Let me just take a page.
CUOMO: Is it about truth?
LEMON: No.
CUOMO: After four years of empowering --
LEMON: No.
CUOMO: -- the most mendacious man in the history of --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It's about her color. It's about her color. That's it. It's about her color. Listen, so stop playing around. We know it's about her color. So I'm just going to take a page from the queen and I'm talking about the Republican Party, the whole family, American family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for the Republican Party. That's it.
CUOMO: You're happy with yourself. You burn a lot of calories coming up with that?
LEMON: That is pretty good. See you later.
CUOMO: D. Lemon, I love you.
LEMON: I love you too.
This is CNN TONIGHT. I am Don Lemon.
So here is the truth. Here's what's happening here in America that's very important. In just hours, President Joe Biden's game changing COVID relief bill is expected to pass, a bill that could define his presidency with the biggest effort to tackle American poverty in years. And while we're on the verge of this seismic shift in this country, in
the U.K. the royal family is grappling with the explosive fall-out from Meghan Markle and Harry's interview with Oprah and how they and we talk about race. We're going to dig little bit more deeper, really deep into that, all of it tonight.
But I want to talk to you about the turmoil in the royal family. OK? The queen pout putting out a statement today saying that they didn't know the full extent of what Meghan and Harry were going through, saying the issue of race is concerning, quote, "concerning," saying some recollections "may vary." Again, that's another quote. But they will be addressed by the family privately.
Now, it's interesting that they always do a lot of interviews when they want to shape the narrative, but this particular issue they want to deal with it privately. What I didn't hear there, though, is a denial of anything that they said in that explosive interview. It will be addressed by the family privately.
That's the thing, though. Because you must shine a light on racism. You have to talk about it out loud. I wrote about that in my book. The book is "This is The Fire." What I say to my friends about racism. And listen, though, those conversations, they can be hard. But we have to -- I think we have to stop categorizing those conversations as hard.
Because actually, quite frankly, once you do it, it can be really easy. You just need -- you just need the tools and the language and the will to do it and you'll be fine. Not so hard. But we've got to come to terms with how we talk about that, talk about it and think about race. OK? So, we can't keep sweeping all this stuff under the rug. And while the queen says that recollections may vary, Meghan and Harry were clear about their recollections.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TV HOST: There's a conversation with you --
MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: With Harry.
WINFREY: -- about how dark your baby is going to be?
MARKLE: Potentially and what that would mean or look like.
WINFREY: Did you leave the country because of racism?
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: There was a lot -- it was a large part of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Prince Charles, the heir to the throne and Harry's father had nothing to say today about his son and daughter-in-law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: Sir, can I ask what did you think of the interview? UNKNOWN: Thank you, everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Well, that's, like I said, you've got to come to terms with how we talk about race or it will blow up in our faces like this moment. It's from British TV. It was this morning when Piers Morgan stormed right off the show then quit over criticism and thousands of complaints about his attacks on Meghan Markle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX BERESFORD, CO-HOST, ITN NEWS: I understand that you don't like Meghan Markle. You have made it so clear a number of times on this program. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don't think she has, but yet you continue to trash her.
PIERS MORGAN, CO-ANCHOR, ITN NEWS: OK. I'm done with this.
BERESFORD: No, no, no.
MORGAN: Sorry.
BERESFORD: Do you know what, that's pretty drastic --
MORGAN: You can talk to Meghan. I'll see you later.
BERESFORD: I'm being --
MORGAN: Sorry. Can't do this.
BERESFORD: This is absolutely diabolical behavior.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[22:09:58]
LEMON: Wow. Well, British tabloids calling the royal blow-up over racism a crisis. But racism has been right out there in the open from the moment the world learned about Harry and Meghan's relationship. The British tabloids put it all in black and white. From straight out of Compton to gangster royalty to exotic DNA.
The royal family can't claim that they didn't know. We all knew they had the opportunity to take care of her. The world knew that she was having trouble. Remember her emotional response -- OK remember this? Because I just want -- the statement says we had no idea. This was Meghan's emotional response when a journalist asked her, are you OK?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARKLE: Thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I'm OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): And then she went on to explain a bit.
If they had listened, if they had taken care of her then, maybe things would have been different. Meanwhile, seems like the story should have a trigger warning for the right in this country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE KIRK, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, TURNING POINT USA: I don't think anyone said it. I think she's making it up like Jussie Smollett. I think somebody said something completely different in a different category and she's using it now to go make people feel sorry for her. We know that Meghan Markle is a tradition destroying leftist.
KATIE PAVLICH, CONTRIBUTOR, FOX NEWS: The drama continuing as a result of someone publicly spewing the -- the inside story for money about a family that she voluntarily married into.
TUCKER CARLSON, HOST, FOX NEWS: What she's really saying is that despite her enormous wealth and fame, despite the fact she never has to cook her own dinner or drive her own car ever again as long as she lives, despite the fact that every time she heads to the gym, the journey is treated like the moon landing by an army of reporters, despite the fact that she's literally a princess, sorry, duchess, she is, and this is the headline here, she's actually an oppressed victim.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Funny how they are interested in it. So much. They know so much about a Black person, a Black woman's plight and her journey and her issues. Experts all of them. And talking about privilege, those people, one in particular, for real? You know who you are. Red meat for their audience.
They want you to believe there is no such thing as racism, if you are royal, if you are privileged, if you have money. There is no such thing as racism, it just takes it away, like it removes all of that. It's like an eraser. It is like white-out. It's like white-out.
Boy. They just can't accept what we have all seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears. Like I said, racism is racism whether you live in a palace or a shack. And while they are blocking their ears to those tough conversations that we need to have about race, right, those tough conversations are not so tough as I said.
Republicans across the country are trying to silence voters of color. Georgia advancing a sweeping bill that will repeal no absentee voting which was used by more than a million people to vote in November. Georgia's Democratic Party tweeting Republicans are fighting for a democracy where rich Georgians on vacation in their out-of-state second homes can easily get an absentee ballot, but minimum wage hourly workers who can't afford to take a day off have to jump through hoops to vote.
And while the GOP is betting on voter suppression, the biggest proponent of the big lie of a voter fraud, you know who, requested a mail-in ballot for a local election in Palm Beach. Speaking of privilege. The right always likes to say, the former
president was treated so unfairly. It is a form of discrimination, right? Yet, he claims to be a billionaire, so his billions don't preclude him from being discriminated against? They don't insulate him, does it? Just wondering if the same rules apply for the rich, former president but they don't apply for the rich, Black duchess.
I said it before the hypocrisy is off the charts. And what about Lindsey Graham? Calling $5 million in aid to Black farmers in the COVID bill, he's calling that aid reparations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[22:15:05]
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Let me give you an example of something that really bothers me. In this bill, if you are a farmer, your loan will be forgiven up to 120 percent of your loan, not 100 percent but 120 percent of your loan if you are socially disadvantage, if you are African-American, some other minority. But if you are white person, if you are a white woman, no forgiveness as reparations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Lindsey, I got a book for you. It's got a lot of history about this country and the disparities if you want to learn something. It is called "This is The Fire." It's my book or pick up a history book because that's not reparations.
If Lindsey Graham wants to have a real conversation about reparations, then I say great. But that is not it, Lindsey. But that GOP hypocrisy is front and center as it looks like not one single Republican, not one would vote for the COVID bill that would lift millions of Americans out of poverty, including some of their own voters who are struggling to pay the rent, to put food on the table, to take care of their kids.
They just refuse to reach across the aisle. Even when it would benefit their own voters. Even so. Full outrage over Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss and Meghan Markle. Guess what? That full outrage won't pay the bills. Your constituents know it, too.
President Biden on the verge of passing the bill that could define his presidency and lift millions of Americans out of poverty, while Republicans, well, just say no.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): In a party of the American rescue plan versus the party of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ted Cruz and Dr. Seuss is not really a fair fight. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So good.
[22:20:00]
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LEMON (on camera): President Biden's landmark COVID relief bill on track to pass in the House after a final vote tomorrow morning. It will then go to Biden's desk to be signed into law. The nearly $2 trillion package will expand benefits in ways that haven't been seen for decades. But Biden's first major legislative win is likely to come without any Republican backing even though the majority of Republicans support the plan.
Joining me now is Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Senator, thank you for much. I appreciate it. It's the first time that you've been on. Congratulations on your win. You guys have your work cut out for you, so let's talk some policy, OK?
So, Biden's COVID relief bill is huge, sir. You campaigned and won in part on the promise to deliver this aid. What will it mean for the people of Georgia?
SEN. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D-GA): Thank you so much, Don. It's great to be here with you.
We passed historic legislation through the Senate on Saturday as we promised during my campaign. It will provide direct checks, direct relief to people who have been living on the edge for months. I'm proud of the expanded income tax credit that will literally cut child poverty in this country in half. And billions of dollars to make sure that we'd get this vaccine distributed efficiently and safely so that we can reopen our economy, reopen our schools.
I wonder what you think, because this bill has zero Republican support so far, likely to stay that way. Have you had any discussions with your GOP colleagues about why they are voting no, no, no, on this?
WARNOCK: Well, I have been here a few short weeks and I'm building relationships with my colleagues. Certainly, I've been talking to folks and trying to figure out, you know, what is the resistance on the other side of the aisle? I think that the problem is that people are focused on the politics rather than the people they were sent here to serve.
LEMON: Let's talk about voting laws, new ones trying to be passed all around the country including in Georgia. Ground zero for the GOP effort to make it harder to vote, senator. The Georgia's Senate passing a bill that would reveal no excuse absentee voting. Another bill would limit weekend voting. Is there any doubt who this hurts the most in your mind?
WARNOCK: Listen, we had two historic elections in the state of Georgia with record voter turnout that placed Georgia in the Biden column, sent the first African-American senator from Georgia to this capitol. I'm proud to serve alongside Jon Ossoff, the first Jewish senator from Georgia. And some politicians didn't like the outcome.
They don't like the choice that Georgians made. And so, instead of adjusting their message, they're trying to cherry pick the electorate. It cannot stand. We got to do everything we can to preserve voting rights.
LEMON: You are a pastor. You're working with John Lewis in organizing Souls to the Polls events. All this voter suppression has said to feel really deeply personal and hurtful to you, I would imagine.
WARNOCK: It does. You know, some of the proud moments of my life are when I -- the moments I spent with John Lewis. He and I on more than one occasion led the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church and Souls to the Polls, he got on that bus with us. And to walk with this icon who literally laid his life on the line on the bridge in Salma.
And here we are 56 years after bloody Sunday. And you have politicians in Georgia who in their craven lust for power are willing to take us more than half a century back. And, so, we've got to do everything we can here in the United States Senate and the capitol to preserve voting rights, which is why I'm proud that my first bill that I have cosponsored is Senate bill one, the For the People Act.
[22:24:59]
It will expand access to voting at a time when they're trying to restrict voting. Make voting a federal holiday, make sure that we require vote by mail when states like Georgia -- the politicians at least are trying to get rid of it. And we have to stand up for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Voting rights is preservative of all other rights. This is not just one issue alongside other issues. We cannot allow politicians to take our democracy, to take our vote, to take our voice. And I'm going to do everything in my power in the name of John Lewis and for the sake of the future of my own children to make sure that we preserve and expand voting rights in the state of Georgia and in this country.
LEMON: So, let's talk more about policy here because the Senate is going to be looking to add a sweeping bill that expands voting rights H.R.-1, right? Unlikely to pass without eliminating the filibuster. If that does happen and state Republicans essentially, they're going to, you know, get away with voter suppression, are they?
WARNOCK: Voting rights is preservative of all rights. And I think that this issue is so urgent that all options have to be on the table. This is not just an issue, alongside other issues. It goes to the very heart of who we say we are as an American people. If the people don't have a voice in our own democracy, then what in the heck are we talking about?
LEMON: Right.
WARNOCK: And so, for me, all options have to be on the table, where this issue was concerned.
LEMON: Senator Warnock, I appreciate your time. Thank you so much, sir.
WARNOCK: Great to be with you.
LEMON: You as well.
The queen is responding and she is denying nothing. We're live in Windsor next.
[22:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON (on camera): It took a day and a half but Buckingham Palace finally releasing a statement today responding to Harry and Meghan's allegations of racism and neglect in their bombshell interview with Oprah.
Here is the statement, it's coming directly from Queen Elizabeth. It says the whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised particularly that of race are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.
We're bringing in our royal correspondent now, Mr. Max Foster. He is outside Windsor Castle tonight. Good evening to you or an early morning, I should say there in Windsor. Thank you so much, Max, for joining us.
When you are on last night you told me that you had gotten wind of another statement that had been given to the queen but she had rejected it. Today this. What do you make of what she is saying in this statement, the one that did come out today?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, you are right no point out that it came directly from the queen. This is normally the statement come from the palace. But this, you know, it said on behalf of her majesty the queen. She's in Windsor Castle behind me. And this is word from the top basically.
So, a once and for all statement from the palace, they said there wouldn't be any more after this on this matter. So, when they talk about being saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan, they're saying they weren't aware of how bad it was.
So, take the mental health issues that Meghan has been talking about. The duchess of Sussex. They say they weren't aware of how bad it was. You know, that's in contradiction really to what the couple was saying, saying that they were constantly warning the palace and all the people around them of their concerns about race and about mental health and it wasn't responded to. Therefore, they weren't supported, which is why they ended up in California.
Also, talking about the race issue. They say it's concerning. They're taking it seriously, so they are going to investigate that. They've taken it seriously. They've listened to what Meghan in particular has had to say. But they are also that while some recollections may vary, you know, attach to that.
So, what they're saying is whoever Harry spoke to about this -- about the color of his son's skin, you know, extraordinary conversation, the other person in the room just doesn't agree with Harry's interpretation. Then we hear about how it should be addressed privately. And I spoke to a source afterward who said this is a family matter. It should be done privately.
And I think that's a message again to the couple. Stop, you know, talking about family business on TV. Let's try and sort this out between us. And you know, I spoke to the Sussex office. They didn't have further comment to make. That might suggest, you know, they're listening to the queen. They respect the queen.
It might suggest that maybe, you know, they have opened those lines of communication again which would be good news because I think, you know, I don't know what your interpretation is, Don, but I think Meghan wants to change things. You know, she want -- doesn't want the monarchy to be a white institution which she think is racist.
LEMON: Well, you know what, max, you cannot escape really the similarities when it comes to Harry's mother Diana and now Meghan speaking about how isolated they were. Listen to this and then we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: Do you really believe that a campaign was being waged against you?
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES: Yes, I did. Absolutely. Yes.
UNKNOWN: Why?
DIANA: I was separated by the Prince of Wales. I was a problem. Full stop. Never happened before. What do we do with her?
MARKLE: It was during that part of my pregnancy especially that I started to understand what our continued reality was going to look like.
WINFREY: What kind of protection did you want that you feel you didn't receive?
MARKLE: I mean, they would go on the record and negate the mostly ridiculous story for anyone, right? I'm talking about things that are super artificial and inconsequential. But the narrative about, you know, making Kate cry, I think was the beginning of a real character assassination, and they knew it wasn't true. And I thought if they're not going to kill things like that, then what are we going to do?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[22:35:09]
LEMON (on camera): Max, that has got to resonate inside the family. FOSTER: Yes, it has. You know, I think it resonates with a lot of
people, actually. You know, a lot of people thought Diana was crazy back in the day for this idea that she thought there was a plot against her. But I think Meghan has, you know, reminded people that it can happen again so there hasn't been a huge amount of progress according to some people, but also reinforcing Diana's experience as well.
So, I think it's been really powerful to compare those two interviews. And it's the same issue, two women seen as a threat, you know, strong women who weren't supported by the palace and, you know, there was a plot against them. Harry points out that it was arguably worse for Meghan or the situation is worse because she also got race turn in combined with the presence of social media. So, a stark contrast there but so many similarities.
LEMON: Not to give you a short trip, before we leave, I've got to ask you about this. I think it's important that Prince Phillip has been experiencing some serious health issues and now there is a massive family crisis going on with the younger generation. You've covered the royals for a very long time. How would you put this into context for us, Max?
FOSTER: Well, what happened to context is a lot of people don't realize, you know, they see Prince Phillip behind the queen all the time in public, he supports her as head of state but behind the scenes he is in charge. So, the estate here he runs. You know, he's a hands- on estate manager. He's also head of the family. He decides which kids go to which schools. You know, he's very hands on.
And when there has been crisis, he's the one that led thing through. He's not here for this. So, you wonder whether or not the statement would have come out sooner if he was more involved and the queen had someone to have counsel with. So, I think he is missed here. And you know, it's another stress, isn't it, wondering when he's going to come back to the castle. He's still not back here. He's been in the hospital for weeks, Don.
LEMON: Yes. Yes. And well, Max, you'll be covering it. Max, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Get some sleep, if you can.
Listen, I just want to tell our viewers, we mentioned at the top that Prince Charles was out and about today, was asked about the interview. Did not respond to it. He kept walking.
So, they've got a new target. The same conservatives who talk up the founding fathers are now defending the royal family. And I wonder why. We'll talk about it. That's next.
[22:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON (on camera): Harry -- Harry and Meghan's allegations of racism and neglect within the royal family triggering a firestorm in the ranks of conservatives and the right wing. Well, they're turning most of their anger on Meghan.
So, let's discuss with senior political analyst, Kirsten Powers, and Sophia Nelson, the author of "The Woman Code."
Thank you both. Good to see you. Sophia, the author of "The Woman Code," I'm going to start with you. I want you to listen to some of the reactions that we're hearing to Prince Harry and the Meghan Markle story from the Fox News crowd. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK ANCHOR: It's hard to feel sorry as they're sitting there in this California mansion and, you know, she knew what she was getting into and suddenly, you know, she just is saying that she wasn't getting the support she needed and all of this stuff, comparing herself to Diana. I don't know. Victims?
UNKNOWN: What we're all hearing is, I was hearing cry me a river.
UNKNOWN: Right.
UNKNOWN: She was a princess living in a castle and she didn't want a part of that.
(CROSSTALK)
UNKNOWN: Everybody has got --
UNKNOWN: When we, you know, when people can't even pay their bills.
JOE CONCHA, CONTRIBUTOR, FOX NEWS: I have a seven-year-old daughter. And I'm hoping I can mold her to be everything that Meghan Markle is not. In other words, she is entitled, Markle is. She is a chronic complainer, Markle is. She plays the race card from the bottom of the deck it appears as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): Whoa, buddy! Why is the right glammed into the story and use it to attack Meghan Markle as if you cannot be discriminated against if you are a person of privilege?
SOPHIA NELSON, COLUMNIST, USA TODAY: So, Don, a few things. First of all, I think we have all learned to ignore the folks on that network because they've got their own very serious diversity issues. So, I don't think they should be talking about race, privilege, entitlement. We could do a lot of segments on that.
But I think to the bigger issue, Don, this is classic culture wars. I was a Republican for a long time, as you know. This is redux. This is open up the old play book because we don't want to talk about COVID relief. We don't want to talk about vaccines. We don't want to talk about the economy. So, let's talk about Dr. Seuss and let's talk about Meghan Markle being privileged and whining and complaining.
This is catnip for their base, Don. The base loves this. Don't forget, our last president, I don't say his name, our last president said that it was child abuse to teach children about the 1619 Project. The undertone of that is we need to get rid of these racial diversity programs, white people are under attacking this country, they're out to get you. It's the liberals. It's the Blacks. It's Meghan Markle. And that's what this is all about.
LEMON: It is so hard for them. So, Kirsten, listen. As you said, first, it was Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head and now it's this. Why is the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle story to triggering? Because you see the right claims to stick it to the elites, right? And in this case, it seems to be siding with the British monarchy.
KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Right.
LEMON: What?
POWERS: Yes, what happened to the tea party, right? It's like this country, by the way as we all know, was founded in opposition to the people -- to the monarchy which they are now the biggest defenders of and they're so worried about the queen and Prince Phillip and all these other things.
[22:45:00]
Look, I think that Sophia is absolutely right, this is catnip to the base. But there is a lot of personal animosity I think that we're seeing. So, I think it goes beyond the fact that Republicans benefit from it politically.
I think that they are very offended by the idea that Meghan Markle, a Black woman who is not grateful, she's supposed to be grateful, Don.
NELSON: Wait.
POWERS: And she is like -- and they -- they all but use the word uppity in the clip that we just listened to, right? And so how dare she complain. She should just sit there and be quiet and be thankful that these people let her in their family.
And then they have constructed this whole ridiculous narrative that somehow money or privilege can protect you from racism which we've talked about. It is utter -- I'm not going to say the word, but it is not true. That's not how things work. It does not protect you. No amount of privilege will protect you --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I'll give you --
POWERS: -- from racism.
LEMON: I'll give you some letters. B.S., does that qualify?
POWERS: Yes.
LEMON: OK. OK. I just want -- just checking. Kirsten, I've got to ask you, though, because there is -- by the way, I have a t-shirt that says uppity and you should see the looks I get when I wear it. I've been called it so much over the last couple of years I may as well wear the t-shirt.
But Kirsten, listen, the British TV host Piers Morgan storming off. You know Piers, he used to work here, right, storming off. As a matter of fact, the same team that I have now, it was his team when he was here. So, Piers stormed off the set after he was confronted over his attacks on Meghan Markle. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERESFORD: I understand that you don't like Meghan Markle. You made it so clear a number of times on this program. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don't think she has. But yet you continue to trash her.
MORGAN: OK. I'm done with this.
BERESFORD: No, no, no.
MORGAN: Sorry.
BERESFORD: Do you know what, that's pretty drastic --
MORGAN: You can talk to Meghan. I'll see you later.
BERESFORD: I'm being --
MORGAN: Sorry. Can't do this.
BERESFORD: This is absolutely diabolical behavior.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So, he's now leaving the show. He's under investigation by the U.K.'s media regulator after questioning Meghan Markle's veracity. Is this a personal grudge? How do you see it?
POWERS: Yes. Well, the way I see it is, and I think there are probably a lot of women who can relate to it is this is a man. There is multiple videos of him talking about a man that he can't get over the fact that he knew Meghan Markle a little bit and then she ghosted him and didn't want to be friends with him anymore. And since then he has -- the diabolical is really the perfect word that was used to describe his behavior.
He has engaged in harassment and abuse of her. It's not just criticizing. It has been diabolical harassment and abuse because she dared to make a decision to not be friends with him. I would say it's a point in her favor that she's very discerning, obviously, and that he -- that what he's doing is completely abusive.
And I guess he left on his own. I don't know. But if he had stayed there, I tweeted this today, he should have been disciplined a long time ago. This is not OK. You are not -- you are not allowed. I would not be allowed to do this. I would not be allowed to come on CNN and just wage a war against somebody because I was mad at them because they didn't return my phone call.
LEMON: Yes.
POWERS: It's so sexist.
LEMON: Sophia.
POWERS: It's just --
NELSON: Yes.
POWERS: It's mind-blowing.
LEMON: Sophia, Diane Abbott is the first Black woman elected to U.K.'s parliament told CNN last year that there is something about Black women that people in the U.K. find particularly triggering, saying that it's a combination of racism and misogyny. is there a --
(CROSSTALK)
NELSON: It's just the U.K.
LEMON: Go on.
NELSON: It is not just the U.K. where they find it triggering. It is right here in the United States of America. Everything. So, yes. Go ahead. Finish your question.
LEMON: That was it. I was just saying, what's the element here, talk about the misogyny involved. The racism and misogyny the combination.
NELSON: Yes. I mean, as the Black woman on this panel, look, I mean, Meghan is biracial. Yes. And I wrote about this in my USA Today piece. I mean, I've got nieces that are biracial and we constantly have that conversation about but you are really Black. And I think that as Black women, we have that double two for every day of our lives. Is it race or gender or is it both?
And that's what Meghan has been dealing with -- and so white women, and by the way, Kirsten, you hit it out of the park, white women, we need you to be allies in this. Some of the things and the comments from people like Megyn Kelly, Don, and others are disgusting. They think because they as white women don't experience this that somehow it doesn't exist.
Well, I have news for you. We have a different experience than you every day as Black women in this country, in the U.K., Africa, Asia, anywhere we go, we are triggering, like you say, Don, for some reason. Maybe it is too much strength, too much intelligence, too much power. I'm not sure what it is, but it does seem to be a common thread. I agree.
LEMON: Sophia, can I just ask you something? I know we have to go.
NELSON: Sure, sure.
[22:50:00]
LEMON: So, as a Black woman, do you find it necessary to go on social media or on the TV show and comment on every issue that involves the white community?
NELSON: Absolutely not. I don't even understand that question, but no.
LEMON: Well, I'm just wondering why as some as white women they feel that they have to get on social media and criticize everything that has to do with Black people or Black issues. Why is that?
NELSON: It goes become to my earlier point, Don, that this is we. Look, the U.K. is the birthplace of America, and so it's not surprising that the 1,200-year-old monarchy has got race issue and so do we, is it?
LEMON: Yes.
NELSON: Come on, do the math.
LEMON: Yes. Yes.
NELSON: Great to see you, by the way.
LEMON: Thank you both.
NELSON: Happy birthday.
LEMON: Thank you.
NELSON: Congrats on the book.
LEMON: Thank you. I appreciate --
POWERS: It's your birthday?
LEMON: No, my birthday was like a week ago but I celebrate it all --
(CROSSTALK)
POWERS: I missed your birthday though. Happy birthday.
LEMON: -- you know, forever.
LEMON: Thank you. So nearly 10 percent of Americans are --
NELSON: Thanks. Forever.
LEMON: Ba-bye. Nearly 10 percent of Americans are vaccinated. A fourth vaccine could be approved soon. And take this. All this progress coming exactly one year to the day CNN first said we're in a pandemic.
[22:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON (on camera): So, take this. It has been one year since CNN first called the coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: When we look at these numbers now and look at what's happening around the world, it's important, I think, to call this a pandemic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): So that same day, March 9, 2020, then-President Donald Trump downplayed the virus. He tried to play up what was a very low death and case count. Well a year later, more than 527,000 Americans -- let me say that again, more than 527,000 Americans are dead. Former President Trump said it would disappear. When it didn't, he proposed unproven treatments like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just a powerful light. And I think you said that hasn't been checked but you are going to check it.
And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body in which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you're going to test that too? It sounds interesting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll get the right folks who could.
TRUMP: Right. And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): I can't -- can you believe that that happened? That happened. Wow. It's so weird to look back on that. We survived it, but a lot of people didn't. Now the light is at the end of the tunnel right now. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is getting brighter.
There are three vaccines already approved. The fourth from Novavax is on the its way. About 10 percent of the country is vaccinated. Tomorrow the House will take the final vote on a $1.9 trillion COVID relief, everyone. The White House says it's one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in American history.
So, why do no GOP lawmakers support that very bill? We're going to talk about it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
