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CNN Speaks with Former Proud Boys Member; U.S. Sets Record for Hospitalizations Amid Fall COVID Surge; CDC Weighs Shortening Coronavirus Quarantine Period; Biden Gives Thanksgiving Address as COVID Rages Across Nation. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired November 25, 2020 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:32:21]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: We have a CNN exclusive. A former Proud Boys member speaking out, detailing why he became disenchanted with the far-right group.

The Proud Boys gaining notoriety in recent months after President Trump urged then to "stand back and stand by" during the first presidential debate.

CNN's Elle Reeve has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

RUSSELL SCHULTZ, FORMER PROUD BOYS MEMBER: They're afraid to say what's on their mind for fear of getting into a fight. But if they have that guy or that group behind them, they're more bold in saying what they think because they think someone has their back.

CROWD: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Antifa.

SCHULTZ: The Proud Boys are the vehicle that attracts those people and accepts them in.

ELLE REEVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russell Schultz spent about a year and a half as a Proud Boy near Portland. He didn't hold a title, but he was at a lot of political protests and had a big presence online.

He says he quit, but the Proud Boys say he was kicked out in May 2019.

Russell's a witness to what it's like inside the far-right group and why some men would want to join it.

SCHULTZ: It was too much like a nationwide criminal gang is where they were heading towards and I didn't want any part of that.

This is for Proud Boys and only Proud Boys. We need more political activists on the right side. More, not less. REEVE: Russell grew up around Portland. He's Jewish and told us he

voted for Obama twice before voting for Trump twice.

SCHULTZ: Donald Trump was bullheaded. He was determined. And he takes a lot of criticism but he keeps fighting on. I like his political policies.

I got involved in doing the activism stuff because of Trump supporters getting attacked and I wanted to stand up to that and say, that's not what we do in America.

REEVE (on camera): But you weren't just a Trump supporter. You got involved with the Proud Boys. How did that happen?

SCHULTZ: We were holding a free-speech rally in Portland and, all of a sudden, the fights are breaking out all over the place.

And here come marching across a field, these guys in black and yellow- striped polos. And, to me, it just looked like something from a "Braveheart" movie or something. It was kind of cool.

And then they asked me to join. And I thought about it for a minute and I was like, yes, OK, it will be fun. I'll wear a goofy little shirt and look like we're a bowling team.

REEVE (voice over): The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 and are known more for street fights than for their vague ideology.

They celebrated when President Trump mentioned them in a presidential debate.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.

But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left.

REEVE (on camera): Do you think the Proud Boys felt encouraged by President Trump, like that he had their back?

SCHULTZ: Yes. Yes. Because everyone -- everybody wants to feel special.

REEVE (voice over): Unlike many far-right groups that emerged around the same time, the Proud Boys don't say they're trying to defend the white race. They say they're defending Western civilization and that, if you think that's code for white people, you're the racist.

[14:35:02]

SCHULTZ: I don't perceive them as racists. There might be some that might be misogynists, but most of that would be their defense of rejection.

But a lot of it, I just -- I see people showing up because they want to have drinking partners and they want to join a gang, so they can go fight Antifa and hurt people that they don't like and feel justified in doing it.

REEVE: Chairman Enrique Tarrio told CNN, currently, there is no criminal activity happening in the Proud Boys.

Russell left the group, but he hasn't left the mind-set. His antipathy towards Antifa still motivates his actions and he still shows up at some rallies.

And while he criticizes the Proud Boys, he defends most of what he did while with the group, including violent threats as either a joke or justified.

SCHULTZ: I'm going to shoot you in your head or your chest.

REEVE: Antifa posts information about far-right activists online, they say, to raise the social cost of being a fascist.

In 2018, Rose City Antifa posted Russell's address and workplace, and reposted his videos where he talked about violence.

SCHULTZ: At the last rally, I nearly ran you over with a car and I don't feel bad about it one bit. You're lucky I didn't kill you.

REEVE (on camera): Rose City Antifa posted this.

SCHULTZ: Oh, I've never seen that one. I'm glad they posted that one.

You are not going to survive. I will survive and take my chances in court.

REEVE: OK, they do seem like violent threats, Russell.

SCHULTZ: They are violent threats. And it's for a good reason, too.

REEVE: Why? What happened? What's the context of this?

SCHULTZ: We were going -- we were -- we were going to have a religious march, a pro-Jesus march. This was around Christmastime.

REEVE: Yes.

SCHULTZ: And Antifa was saying they were going to start throwing urine and feces on us.

And so that was my way of saying, OK, if you do that, that's a threat. I don't know if it was AIDS tainted. And I -- I made the threat so they wouldn't come over. And they didn't come over.

REEVE (voice over): Rose City Antifa told CNN they did not threaten to throw poop at the Jesus march and do not know how to lace poop with HIV.

(CHEERING)

REEVE: At the Million Mega March in Washington, D.C., after Trump lost the election, Proud Boys got into fights with anti-Trump counter protesters. Videos of the violence circulated on social media.

REEVE (on camera): Yes, look at him! He's a big old fat dude hitting a woman.

SCHULTZ: Yes. From behind. She didn't even see it coming.

REEVE: How is that like proud masculinity right there? That's as low as it gets.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

REEVE: It's just crazy to me, though, like we've come to this point.

SCHULTZ: Uh-huh.

REEVE: I mean, but do you feel like you're part of it that brought us to this point with their -- with --

SCHULTZ: That brought us to it?

REEVE: Yes, like your propaganda?

SCHULTZ: Well, I definitely had -- honestly, I -- yes, I had a role in it, you know. I never advocated for the violence to come out of it though.

REEVE: Well -- well, do you see why people make the argument then that like it was never really a joke. That joke is just a cover for what you actually want to do.

SCHULTZ: Oh, I see what you're saying. I don't think it was ever meant to be a street gang. Not at first. It just kind of morphed into that.

You probably wouldn't even know who Proud Boys are if -- if there hadn't been Antifa attacking patriots or Trump supporters at rallies. And maybe that would be better.

Building themselves up, beating up on a punching bag.

REEVE: Do you think after Trump leaves office, the Proud Boys will fade away?

SCHULTZ: No.

REEVE: Why not?

SCHULTZ: Because they found that other part we were talking about where they felt like the big part of a group.

That you've got these guys that normally they'd be at this bar by themselves. They have no friends. They can't talk to a girl because for whatever reason that they just don't have the self-confidence.

Well, they join the group. Now they had that self-confidence. Here, I'm -- I'm with these guys, and they get some attention.

REEVE: Elle Reeve, CNN, Vancouver, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Moments from now, President-Elect Biden will deliver a Thanksgiving message, live, as coronavirus rages across the country.

Plus, new CNN reporting just in about the inauguration and the transition happening right outside the president's White House bedroom window?

And the ICU doctor who simulates a COVID patient's final moments to warn Americans about the risk of Thanksgiving.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: I hoped the last moments of your life don't look like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[14:43:09]

KEILAR: Coronavirus case numbers are out of control and hospitalization stats are tracking right along with them.

More than 88,000 people are currently hospitalized and are being treated for COVID-19. That's the highest number this national has seen since the pandemic began.

It's not just hospitals and emergency rooms that are being pushed to the limit. Primary care clinics are also strained.

I want to bring in Dr. David Peterman, who is the CEO of Idaho's Primary Health Medical Group.

Doctor, thank you so much for being with us, so you can give us a sense of what is happening on the ground.

And we spoke last week on this same thing, what's happening there in Idaho. And you told me your facilities were so overwhelmed, you actually had to close some clinics.

Can you tell us the status of your facilities right now?

DR. DAVID PETERMAN, CEO, PRIMARY HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP: Yes. Thank you very much for having me on, Brianna, and sharing with the listeners the stresses we're under in primary care.

Unfortunately, things have gotten more desperate here in Idaho. Last week, we had about 40 of our staff out daily with coronavirus symptoms or being quarantined from community spread. Now we're up to 50.

We currently have six of our urgent care clinics closed because, one, we don't have all the staff and doctors. And also, we've had to move them different places to test for coronavirus.

Fortunately, the governor has declared a state of emergency. So we have 10 of the National Guard working at our clinics, helping out so that we're able to move people around.

You may recall, last time we spoke, I said, a year ago, we were taking 1,800 phone calls a day. That's our average. Last week, with coronavirus, 3,000. Now we're up to 4,000 calls a day. You can imagine how that stresses our systems.

[14:45:04]

We've been testing approximately 500 patients a day for coronavirus. Now we're close to 700.

If you wanted a test in one of our clinics today, we couldn't do it. We are completely full. And we're even booked out through Friday because the demand is so great.

KEILAR: OK, through Friday. So you're right now looking at two days ahead, beyond two days ahead people can't get tests.

It's interesting you mentioned the National Guard has stepped in to fulfill some of the staffing roles that you need for moving patients, you said.

What do you need from people in Idaho? What do you want them to do? Because you can't handle much more.

PETERMAN: Yes. We have a positivity rate of 30 percent. That means close to one in three people we test are positive.

We have some of the highest positivity rates in the country. I believe we're in the top five.

It's very simple what we need. We need Idahoans to wear their masks, whether indoors or outdoors. It's absolutely essential that they distance.

And most importantly, as we're coming into Thanksgiving, if you're going to be with other people, keep your distance. Gatherings of more than 10 people are where we have found that this virus spreads.

KEILAR: The Trump administration right now is thinking about shortening the recommended quarantine time for coronavirus.

Let's listen to what assistant secretary for health, Admiral Brett Giroir, said yesterday about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: As you know, it's quarantine for 14 days. Half of the people become symptomatic by day five. That's when the virus is present. There's a long tail of very low probability afterwards. So the postulate is -- and the CDC is look at will be driven by data -- if you get a test at day seven or day 10, particularly, can that shorten your quarantine from 14 days to perhaps 10 days?

This is not an announcement that it's safe, but we're looking at that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: What are your thoughts on that?

PETERMAN: I think what we have learned with the coronavirus, the decisions need to be made by scientists, by the physicians and, frankly, not by the politicians.

If there's data that clearly states it is safe to shorten the quarantine time, we'll support that, as will the rest of the physicians.

But there needs to be clear data, clear evidence that it's safe before we make that kind of a change.

KEILAR: You know that millions of people are ignoring CDC guidelines not to travel this Thanksgiving. There are, of course, millions who are heeding the guidelines, but there are a lot who aren't.

I wonder what your fears are, especially as you're really stretched -- I see you're just shaking your head. Tell us what you're worried about coming after Thanksgiving.

PETERMAN: What we talked about before, Brianna. If you can't call our clinic because your son has an earache, or your parents have a problem with that you are medication, we are really, really in trouble because the default is the emergency room.

My concern is, the concerns of other physicians in our community and around the country is, as people travel through the airports and to other family gatherings and intermingle without quarantine, we're very, very concerned of the spread of the coronavirus.

As I said, here in Idaho, our positivity rate is well over 30 percent. That, in itself, creates a situation where the virus is out of control.

And as we get closer and closer to Christmas and the winter months, we're going to see more patients with respiratory viruses, influenza, which will really, really stress our system.

As I said, we're worried about the intensive care units, and we're worried about the hospitals. But the first line of defense is primary care.

And if your doctor, your listeners' doctors, the urgent cares can't see the patients, the default is very worrisome, which would be the emergency rooms.

KEILAR: I know. It's such a good point. Dr. Peterman, it's great to have you on again. I'm sure we'll see you again soon. You have a lot ahead of you.

Thank you for being with us.

PETERMAN: Brianna, thank you. Please wear your masks, be safe during your Thanksgiving festivities.

KEILAR: Yes, very good advice, sir. Thank you.

Any moment, President-Elect Biden will address the nation before Thanksgiving, as the man that he beat continues to undermine the election.

[14:49:49]

Plus, Biden says he would consider adding a Republican to his cabinet. We'll discuss some of those potential picks.

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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- authorized by the Continental Congress took place on December 18, 1777.

It was celebrated by General George Washington and his troops at Gulf Mills on the way to Valley Forge.

And it took place under extremely harsh conditions and deprivation, lacking food, clothing and shelter. They were preparing to ride out a long, hard winter.

Today, you can find a plaque in Gulf Mills marking that moment.

Here's how the plaque reads. It says, "This Thanksgiving, in spite of the suffering, show the reverence and character that was forging the soul of a nation."

[14:55:07]

Forging the soul of a nation.

Faith, courage, sacrifice, service to country, service to each other, and gratitude even in the face of suffering have long been a part of what Thanksgiving means in America.

Now, looking back over our history, you see that it's been in the most difficult circumstances that the soul of our nation has been forged.

And now we find ourselves again facing a long, hard winter. We fought a nearly year-long battle with the virus that has devastated this nation. It's brought us pain and loss and frustration.

And it's cost so many lives, 260,000 Americans and counting. It's divided us, angered us, set us against one another.

I know the country has grown weary of the fight. We need to remember we're at war with s virus, not with one another, not with each other.

This is the moment where we need to steel our spines, redouble our efforts. and recommit ourselves to the fight.

Let's remember, we're all in this together. Sounds trite to say it, but we're all in this together.

For so many of us, it's hard to hear this fight isn't over. We still have months of this battle ahead of us.

For those who have lost a loved one, I know that this time of year can be especially difficult, believe me. I know.

I remember that first Thanksgiving, the empty chair, the silence. It takes your breath away. It's really hard to care. It's hard to give thanks. It's hard to even think of looking forward. It's so hard to hope. I understand.

I'll be thinking and praying for each of every one of you at your Thanksgiving table because we've been there.

This year, we're asking Americans to forego so many of the traditions we've long made this holiday that's been so special.

For our family, for 40-some years, we've had a tradition of traveling over Thanksgiving, a tradition we've kept every year save one, the year our son, Beau, died. But this year, we'll be staying home.

We always had big family gatherings at Thanksgiving, kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and more.

At the Bidens, the days around Thanksgiving have always been a time to remember all we had to be grateful for and a time to begin to think about Christmas and even do the Christmas list.

But this year, because we care so much for each other, we're going to be having a separate Thanksgiving.

For Jill and I, we'll be in our home in Delaware with our daughter and our son-in-law. The rest of the family will be doing the same thing in small groups.

So I know. I know how hard it is to forego family traditions. But it's so very important.

Our country is in the middle of a dramatic spike in cases. We're now averaging 160,000 new cases a day. No one will be surprised if we hit 200,000 cases in a single day.

Many local health systems are at risk of being overwhelmed. That's the plain and simple truth. Nothing made up. It's real.

And I believe you always deserve to hear the truth, hear the truth from your president.

We have to try to slow the growth of this virus. We owe it to the doctors and the nurses and other frontline workers, care workers who have risked their lives. Some lost their lives, put so much on the line in the heroic battle in this virus, against it for so long.

You know, we owe that to our fellow citizens who need access to hospital beds and care to fight this disease. We owe it to one another. It's literally our patriotic duty as Americans.

It means wearing a mask, keeping social distancing, limiting the size of any group we're in.

[15:00:07]

Until we have a vaccine, these are the most effective tools to combat the virus.