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CNN: Dozens Of Secret Service Officers Now Quarantined Or Isolating Because Of Coronavirus; Utah's Republican Governor Issues Statewide Mask Mandate; Sen. Harris Makes History As Firsts Woman Elected VP. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired November 13, 2020 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So look, again, they are clearly working around these roadblocks. But the more medical experts you talk to, the more they tell you that they still need access to this data, it is incredibly important. They need to be on the same page as the Trump administration, and know what they're getting into so that they can best respond, particularly as we see now as this virus continues to rage across the country, John.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Kristen Holmes, grateful for that reporting. We'll wish them well as they do their little and around. That's what -- I'm going to stick with that term. Kristen, thank you very much.

We're also learning dozens of Secret Service officers now in quarantine or isolation after becoming infected with coronavirus or coming in close contact with somebody who is infected. CNN's Kaitlan Collins is at the White House with more on this story. Tough numbers when you hear dozens.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, we don't know exactly how many because we're told that the officers don't even know how many. They haven't been given an exact number. They're just doing the math on their own. And what we are told so far by sources is that it is several dozens of these officers who are either self- isolating because they've contracted COVID-19 or their quarantining because they came in contact with someone who did.

And of course, this comes as the White House is saying, or an official familiar is saying, that all these officers are tested as they are on the road, sent on the road, of course, on a regular basis. And they're saying that all precautions are being taken. That's what they told CNN when we reached out earlier about this story. But the White House declined to comment on the matter.

And John, this comes as these agents go on the road not or are these officers go on the road when the President. But also use the officer who go in advance of the President's trip somewhere because they're there, they can be on the ground there for several days ahead of time scoping out where the President is going to be. They're there as the President arrives. And they stay until well, after the President has left. And of course, he ramped up his travel in the recent weeks before the election holding 50 campaign rallies about I believe is what the number was that when we counted and put them all together. And so if you imagine there are 50 rallies in different places all over the U.S. That's a lot of agents and officers that go into that. And officers have to travel with the President.

Now we are told by an official familiar that they still have plenty of officers to continue staffing that this isn't actually affecting their staffing levels. But it does go to show that these are the people tasked with protecting the President. And now of course their own health is put at risk by going and doing their jobs.

KING: Kaitlan Collins at the White House, grateful for that. And we wish all the agents and officers impacted here, we wish them the best of course.

This week Utah changing its coronavirus protections, the Governor Gary Herbert is showing a statewide mask mandate and as he did so debunking anti-masking arguments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GARY HERBERT (R-UT): Masks do not negatively affect our economy. And wearing them is easiest way to slow the spread of the virus. Experts tell us that mask do not cause a shortage of oxygen to your brain or caused disease. We cannot afford to debate this issue any longer. Laws are put in place to protect all of us. That's why we have traffic lights and speed limits and seat belts. And that's why we now have a mask mandate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Joining us now as the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah and the former chief of staff to Governor Herbert, Jason Perry. Mr. Perry, it's good to see you today. You heard the governor there saying its past time to stop debating this. Why is this such a debate in the country? And forgive, you know, it's just a fact, it's largely, this is largely blue versus red Democrat versus Republican argument, why?

JASON PERRY, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO UTAH GOV. GARY HERBERT: Well, you're absolutely right. It's because the rhetoric out of Washington D.C. has forced people to plant a political flag around certain issues. And masks are one of those. Utah was very much like what happened in other parts of the country where it became a symbol. Are you a Republican or a Democrat? That depends on whether you're willing to wear a mask or not. That issue has been raging in the state of Utah, just like other places.

And you heard our governor, at least for him, he said that is over. He decided he's going to try to take the politics out of that. And for the last couple of days, the last week, a lot less has been coming out of Washington D.C. to reinforce that issue. And the less people are trying to make this a political issue more about a public health issue, the better it is for all of us. And that's where our governor got. And he got there very quickly. And he's been pretty stern and pretty upset about it.

KING: You say coming out of Washington D.C., I'm going to help translate that for our viewers coming out of the President of the United States. I get the sensitivity. But so there are 14 states, we can show you a map. Now there are 14 Republican governors who have not instituted a mask mandate. And they give different reasons for that. But most of them give the argument that you're restricting somebody's freedom.

As Governor Herbert said, yes, we tell people, you can't drive too fast. We tell people, you have to stop at red lights. We tell people, you have to wear red light, I mean, you have to wear seatbelt. We tell people lots of things to quote unquote, restrict their freedoms. Do you think now that the election is over, and that you don't have the President of the United States or those around him making this a choice, making this such a choice, do you -- and with the rising case numbers around the country, do you think the dam will break if you will, and that more Republican governors will do this, or has it become in cement, if you will?

PERRY: Well, I think it's already starting. The dam is already broken on a couple of states. We saw this happening in Massachusetts this week, doing it in the state of Utah. And I think that our governor did for a very long time what other Republican governors have tried to do. He tried to do what he called powering down. Leave some of the decisions to the locals. Let our local jurisdictions in the counties take care of some of these issues, leaving it as a personal responsibility and decency. None of that was working here in the state of Utah.

[12:35:13]

And we got to a point, we got to the election, we got to the fact in Utah where we're getting up to 4,000 cases a day. And there's just no way you can keep using a political filter on something mask, for example, those issues gave way to the realities. This became something bigger than politics for our governor. And he's been wanting to get this mask mandate. But I think he's even more free now to do this. And we're going to see more of this going forward. More restrictions of governor and Republicans who have tried to make it so people could just use their individual freedoms, that's given way to the public health concerns in a significant way. And we'll see what kind of impact that has here in the state of Utah.

KING: And what kind of impact are you seeing in terms of resistance. We saw when some Democratic governors did this in their states, Michigan comes to mind. You had protests outside of state capitals. You had in fact, the people who were charged with trying to kidnap the governor of Michigan. One of the reasons was allegedly because of her coronavirus restrictions. Are you seeing any protest backlash against the governor?

PERRY: I'm sad to say that's happening here in the state of Utah as well. It was so interesting what happened in this particular case, the governor put out an emergency order by telephone. Every single person in the state of Utah got an alert saying you need to watch this broadcast 9:30 Monday night because restrictions are going into effect that very next morning on Monday. And the very next day people started protesting outside the governor's own home, not just the governor's mansion, but outside his own home. That issue of the political flag being planted around did not go away overnight. But our Republican governor is not going to have it. He's going to persist.

KING: Jason Perry, appreciate your time and your insights, Sir. Thank you.

PERRY: Thank you.

KING: Coming up for us, a look at the role of Vice President Harris will have once she is in the Biden administration.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:41:17]

KING: Kamala Harris, 68 days for making history. She will be the first woman and the first woman of color to be vice president of the United States. And she will be partner to a president who knows what it is like to be in the number two job. The incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain describes the Harris V.P. role, much as Biden described his eight years with President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON KLAIN, INCOMING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Her views are being heard as they discuss policy matters, as they discuss the range of personnel matters. She is going to be the last person in the room. She's going to be the last voice he hears from before he makes important decisions. It's been impressive to see the range of experiences and perspectives she brings to this.

I don't think it's a surprise to anyone who saw her campaign, who's seen her as a senator, seen her as a attorney general of California. But she has been a very strong voice. She's very strong force as she starts to make these decisions. She's going to be a very influential, very important vice president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Let's discuss with Karen Finney Democratic strategist whose work includes serving as a senior role in Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Karen, good to see you. So I'm fascinated by this question, having covered the White House for 10 years. What is the portfolio for Senator Harris? Joe Biden was, you know, liaison to Capitol Hill for Barack Obama. He did some of the international business. What do you see is the logical best use of Vice President Harris?

KAREN FINNEY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think it's a lot like what Ron Klain said, and what we saw President-elect Biden talk about throughout the campaign, which is a true governing partner, someone who is a confidant, someone who is at the table when those critical decisions are being made. And so I think rather than trying to think of her role as piecemeal, and it may become the case that she has, you know, specific assignments. I would envision her role as being implemented across the administration and across the many priorities that Biden-Harris and the policies that they campaign on. They've got a lot of work to do. And I think it's pretty clear from the way we've seen them already interacting that the President-elect's goal is to have her right there for all these big decisions.

KING: She is confident to which a good -- any good politician needs to be and assertive, which any good politician needs to be. So I have a question about how she becomes the number two. And I want to ask you the context of watching her prosecute the case, if you will, in the debate against Vice President Pence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Susan, I, this is important. And I want to add. Mr. Vice President I'm speaking, I'm speaking. I will not sit here and be lectured by the Vice President on what it means to enforce the laws of our country. I'm the only one on this stage, I was personally prosecuted, everything from child sexual assault to homicide. I'm the only one on the stage was prosecuted the big banks for taking advantage of America's homeowners. I'm the only one on this stage who prosecuted for profit colleges for taking advantage of our veterans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: She is and you see it there. She's an alpha. I say that as a compliment. Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it is hard to become the number two realizing loyalty has to come first. What are your thoughts on that one?

FINNEY: Well, and Kamala Harris recognizes that her job is to have Joe Biden's back, right? That's the job. And so in that debate, I think what we saw was a person who was both having Joe Biden's back but being firm and assertive about herself, her own role, her own record, in a way and frankly, let's talk about it as a woman and a woman of color, a black woman, recognizing, because remember in debate, she did that with a smile and that is part of, you know, as women, how we navigate the world.

[12:45:06]

And so I think she has done it so gracefully in her ability to both have Joe Biden's back, to stand firm, and to be able to make sure that her voice is heard and to, you know, in that instance, not take any guff from outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, that's part of the job. But ultimately, as you know, so well, John, it is, you know, to be the number two, to be the last person in the room, but to be the number two to have your President's back and make sure that their agenda is implemented.

KING: One of the fascinating questions challenges to have looking forward to it. Karen Finney, grateful for your insights today. Thank you very much for your time.

Up next for us, a shift to sports, it's day two, fall edition of the masters and the defending champ, Tiger Woods, in the hunt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:50:31]

KING: The Masters Golf Tournament underway in Augusta, Georgia. And like everything else there is coronavirus disruption not only is this the first November masters, there are no fans allowed on the course this year. CNN's Andy Scholes though is there. Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, John. It's really a shame that fans aren't allowed at this first ever November Masters. Yes, the weather just beautiful here today. It's shaping up to be beautiful for the rest of the weekend. And those thunderstorms we got here yesterday really softened up the course making for some great golf, a record 53 players shooting under par in the first round here at the Masters. I've never seen something like that before.

In the list of players shooting under par includes defending champ Tiger Woods. He had his best first round here at the Masters tying his best score ever in the first round with four under, first time since 2009 that Tiger had a bogey free round in a major. And he said yesterday, you know, this November Masters it definitely has a different feel than the one he won just 19 months ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, 5-TIME MASTERS CHAMPION: No patrons, no rollers, no -- we asked a few the camera guys today where the ball end up could we just didn't know. So that's -- it's very different. A lot of firsts today and, you know, this is kind of the way this entire year has been. And the fact that we're able to compete for Masters this year considering that all that's being going on. It's a great opportunity for all of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And lots of guys going low, crowded leaderboard right now. World number one Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, and Sungjae Im right now, share the lead. All of those guys looking for their first ever Masters title. Tiger Woods, he's off at 2:30 Eastern this afternoon. He's four shots off the lead.

And, you know, John, this is the first ever November Masters so this is the first time ever that the tournament is dealing with it getting dark early on. And since they had to finish round one this morning, round two got started off a little later so they're not going to be able to finish round two today. It's going to go into Saturday morning, much like round one did today. They should be able to catch up tomorrow and be ready for a final round only on Sunday.

KING: Not the first day I've been jealous of Andy Scholes, Andy Scholes at the Masters. Andy, appreciate the live reporting for us. Have fun.

Up next for us, a newly elected member of Congress says get this, she doesn't want to wear a mask.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:57:32]

KING: Newly elected members of Congress are here in Washington for orientation. And one, a Republican from Georgia who received a ton of attention during the campaign because she supports the so called QAnon conspiracy theory is already making waves. Let's get straight to Capitol Hill in CNN's senior congressional correspondent, Manu Raju. Manu, what's up?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Marjorie Taylor Greene, she won her House race for a district in northwest Georgia. She has in the past promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory. She's also had a history of making bigoted and racist comments. She's also apparently a major critic about the wearing of masks. There are requirements in the House that require members on the grounds of the House side of the Capitol to wear masks including staff members, including reporters, they have to wear masks.

But according to Marjorie Taylor Greene, she's not so happy about it. She tweeted this just moments ago, our first session of new member orientation covered COVID in Congress masks, masks, masks. I proudly told my freshman class that masks are oppressive. In Georgia, we work out, shop, go to restaurants, go to work, and school without masks. She says my body my choice, quote, hashtag free your face.

And, John, of course, we had remind viewers that wearing of mask is important to protect not just yourself but also others in case you're asymptomatic, you're carrying the virus. And in a place like the Capitol which has lots of members, particularly on the House side, people crowded, elevators, closed spaces on the floor, committee hearings, that's why there are rules about wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus already a number of members have been infected. That's what caused the Speaker to put rules in requiring masks to be worn.

And the Senate side of the Capitol, there are no rules requiring it. But virtually every member except for one, Rand Paul, doesn't -- all the rest of them do wear a mask. But Marjorie Taylor Greene here, making it very clear that she as an incoming freshman is opposed to these rules. We'll see if she listened to them when she's sworn in, in January, John.

KING: And are the rules enforced, Manu, I know other Republicans have complained about him but a committee hearings you tend to see them, are they enforced?

RAJU: They are supposed to be enforced. They're supposed to be told by the officials, the sergeant at Arms Office to wear masks if they aren't wearing them. Sometimes they're not always enforced. But at the very least the members are supposed to listen to them, John. KING: November trying to make a splash from the get go. It'd be interesting to watch. Manu, I know appreciate the hustle and the new reporting there. And thank you for spending time with us today. I'll see you back here on Monday. Also I hope to see you up early on Sunday morning, 8:00 a.m. for Inside Politics.

[13:00:01]

Brianna Keilar picks up our coverage right now. Have a good day. Stay safe.