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Airlines Prepare for Transporting Vaccine and Financial Problems; Frontline Workers First to get Vaccine; Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is Interviewed about Stimulus Talks; Army-Navy Game Moved to West Point. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired December 11, 2020 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

SCOTT KIRBY, CEO, UNITED AIRLINES: They can quickly and easily find out whether they need a test, a vaccination, because it's going to be an evolving set of requirements as we move forward. So we're trying to prepare for that flexibility.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. Interesting. So it could reach a point where myself, my family, folks watching, they would have to show a negative test to board a flight?

KIRBY: It's certainly possible. Well, that's true in some locations today.

SCIUTTO: Already.

KIRBY: So, if you're going to Hawaii, for example, you have to either have a negative test or quarantine for 14 days. So if you want to take your family on vacation, effectively you need to get a negative test.

And what we're trying to do is make that easy for customers. So, at San Francisco, for example, you can get a test there, know that you're OK to get into Hawaii.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

OK, let's talk stimulus funding because, of course, the airlines, just devastated by this. You, other airlines, have had to furlough thousands of employees. Talks appear to be failing again here in Washington just down the street from me here. What damage would another stimulus failure do to United Airlines and the airline industry?

KIRBY: It will -- look, this is really critical for aviation, but it's broader than aviation. We have this barbell economy right now where there's some businesses, if you're selling online, if you're in home repair, that are doing gangbusters. And then another segment of the economy, travel, entertainment, leisure, tourism that are in the worst depression -- you know, worse than a depression.

SCIUTTO: Yes. KIRBY: Devastating impacts. And we need support for those parts of the economy.

And what's encouraging is, we have broad bipartisan, bicameral support on Capitol Hill for aviation. I just hope that they can find a way, not just for aviation. It is important for aviation, but for the country. There's a huge portion of the country that is hurting and needs support. And do what you did back in March, which is come together in a bipartisan way to address, you know, this incredible crisis.

SCIUTTO: If they don't and the signs don't look good, at least at this moment, will United have to furlough more employees?

KIRBY: Well, what we've done as United is, we've done enough -- we -- we feel pretty confident to get through. We do see the light at the end of the tunnel because of the great news on vaccines.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

KIRBY: And so I don't think that there will be more furloughs coming forward.

But what happens is, all this critical infrastructure in the United States, for airlines and for others, degrades. And when the vaccines are out and when it's time to start the recovery, it's going to take longer for airlines and for others to support that recovery.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

KIRBY: And the recovery won't be as robust if we don't keep all the employees here. That's part of the reason why this is so critical to the longer-term future.

SCIUTTO: OK, I want to talk about the 737 Max. This week Boeing delivered 737 Max to United, the first delivery of the plane since its grounding in March 2019 after two deadly crashes.

Why should passengers feel confident now this plane is safe?

KIRBY: Well, look, this -- everything that has happened with Boeing, with the FAA, with regulators around the world, with airlines, is -- it makes this an incredibly safe aircraft to fly.

That said, we're also, at United, going to do extensive training for our pilots in simulators that go above and beyond even the FAA requirements because -- before we bring the aircraft back into service. And, importantly, we're going to make sure we never surprise a customer. We're going to be crystal clear if you're looking a flight that's on a Max, that you're on a Max. And we -- we're committing, when this begins, that we'll never swap an airplane and have you at -- you know, show up on a Max unless you're comfortable.

I'm comfortable. My family's comfortable. It is safe. But we recognize it may take some time for all consumers to get comfortable with flying on the Max. SCIUTTO: OK, let's talk about green innovation. United has now

committed to being zero emissions by 2050. I mean it's a -- it's an ambitious goal, no question. And I wonder -- because you see businesses, for instance, automakers now pulling out of the Trump administration's attempt to remove emissions requirements, et cetera. I just wonder, is that the reality for businesses going forward, that the future in effect is green regardless of the wrangling here in Washington? Is that United's assessment here?

KIRBY: So, look, our view is, we announced something that's 100 percent green, which is different than most -- what all other companies have announced. And in particular what we're doing is we're getting to that zero level without using traditional carbon offsets.

But this is not just an imperative for companies. Look, we're all global citizens. This is something that, as global citizens, we simply have to do if you just have a basic understanding of the science. If we don't do something to arrest the increasing global temperatures, we risk catastrophic and irreversible damage. And it's time. The longer we wait, the harder it is, the more expensive it is to solve the problem and it's time to get moving.

SCIUTTO: Scott Kirby, we wish you and the employees of United Airlines the best of luck as you get through all this.

KIRBY: Thanks for having me this morning.

SCIUTTO: All right, well, even as the U.S. steps closer to rolling out a vaccine, hospitalizations, sadly, across the country reaching record highs.

[09:35:06]

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Right, and a vaccine is not going to stop that for a while.

Our Adrienne Broaddus joins us at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center where staff will not only be treating COVID patients but will soon be distributing the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine if authorized.

Good morning, Adrienne.

How many doses are they expecting to receive and when?

ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Poppy.

Initially Rush University Medical Center will receive 2,000 doses. And, look around, they've already transformed this hallway into an employee vaccine center. Just look behind me. This is the vaccine preparation area. Over in the corner you'll see a silver refrigerator. That is where they will keep the vaccine that is ready to be administered. And along this hallway you'll see ten different vaccine stations. This is where those front-line employees who have been treating COVID-19 patients will get the first shot in the arm.

When will they receive the vaccine? That is the big question because, keep in mind, we are still waiting for FDA approval.

But I spoke with a respiratory therapist who works here at Rush. He is the first face many people see when they are taken off of the ventilator. Those ventilators we've heard so much about. And that therapist said, seeing this vaccine bay behind me was a welcome sight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRADY SCOTT, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: I just feel like the -- it's a -- it's a beginning of the end of this -- of this crazy pandemic and it's a -- it's a cool -- it's -- it's nice. It's nice to see it, frankly. It's -- it feels like a moment, like returning -- we're going to turn the curve and we're going to get back to normal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROADDUS: Again, we're still waiting for that final approval and so many hoping the vaccine will be the need -- or what is needed to -- in this painful chapter of the coronavirus. But that respiratory therapist also stressed, we must continue practicing the three w's, wearing your mask, watch your distance and wash your hands.

Poppy and Jim.

HARLOW: Three w's to live by for sure.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HARLOW: Adrienne, thank you very much for the reporting.

Well, in the middle of this health crisis, there is still this economic crisis. Lawmakers continue to face off over stimulus. Millions of Americans face a financial cliff. Will Congress finally come together and act, next?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:41:47]

HARLOW: Welcome back.

It is a make or break moment for millions of Americans desperate for help. Will Congress come together and act and reach a stimulus deal or collapse in a monumental failure? Remarkably, this Congress could end how it started in a government shutdown. The Senate has until midnight to pass a one-week stopgap bill passed by the House earlier this week.

Joining me now is Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. She also serves as senior whip and co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Congresswoman, I am so glad you're here because you've often been a voice of reason saying we've both got to give. You are not going anywhere, not leaving Washington until a deal is done. Does it get done by the end of next week? REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): We have no choice. I mean I have been very

clear. I called myself Debbie downer again, whatever the subject is, that we have a responsibility to stay until we get this done. And, you know, this isn't about us anymore. This isn't a contest -- well, it never should have been about that. But we have people at home that are desperate.

So many programs are expiring. People are worried about their rent, their mortgage. You've -- you're hearing people tell stores of people stealing food, baby diapers. I had a father call me yesterday and say, I had to tell my daughter Santa Claus couldn't come this year. Now, I took care of that. Santa Claus will come for that father. But people shouldn't be living like this. Our job is to get this done. And I am not leaving until we get it done.

HARLOW: So why are more of your fellow members of Congress in both chambers not doing their job? And, by the way, if you say this is our job and Congress has failed to do that job for four plus months, what about people who say, well, then why should we re-elect you guys?

DINGELL: Well, first of all, I think politics, unfortunately, got into this, we got into electoral politics on a good day I don't always have the kindest thoughts about the United States Senate, which would rather not act too many times. But the Senate's got to come to the table. We've got to come together in a bipartisan way. I've always said that. Compromise isn't a dirty word.

I also remind people of the famous words that, you know, people with weak stomachs shouldn't watch sausage or laws being made. And while I'm very angry, I'm very frustrated, I just have to believe at the end we will get something here. I've seen this happen many times. And it cannot be. We should -- people are desperate, but the hammer we have should not be threatening to close the government down in the middle of a pandemic. That's unacceptable, too.

HARLOW: Right. Right. At the end of October, the White House and Secretary Mnuchin came to Pelosi, it was a half hour phone call, with a $1.8 trillion deal. And I understand it didn't have everything in it that she wanted. I understand the liability protection concerns there. And I also understand the question of whether McConnell would have had the votes in the Senate for it. But that is what Mnuchin and the White House came with. And now you guys are looking at a deal half that size. Was that a tactical error on the speaker's part?

DINGELL: You know, this is what I'm going to say. The fact of the matter is, everybody knows that this is a down payment.

[09:45:02]

Joe Biden has made it very, very clear that when he becomes president, he -- his number one priority will be a national COVID plan. We need to be spending more money. We need to do something for state and local governments.

I don't get why everybody's -- well, it's not everybody, it's a few, unfortunately, in the United States Senate, a few can block, say, state and local -- we can't give assistance. Do they understand who that is? Do they understand that those are the firefighters, the paramedics, the teachers of our children? Do they understand that public transportation is about to shut down? This isn't happening in only blue states or blue cities, it's happening across the country.

We have to do something. And it should have happened before the election. It hasn't. I'm not going to finger point back, but I'm going to look at all of us and say, can you really go home and not do something?

HARLOW: So you're making a point of what some Republicans in the Senate don't want to see, and that is state and local aid.

DINGELL: Correct.

HARLOW: Some of them believe that it's baling out governments that have been, in their view, irresponsible with their budgets. I'm going to set that to the side for the moment and ask you about your Democratic colleague in the Senate, Bernie Sanders. He's saying unequivocally no deal without $1,200 stimulus checks and $500 per child. Is that a deal breaker for you or what would you say to him to get something now?

DINGELL: We're still in hypothetical. We're still in discussions. We need to get a stimulus check to people. But as Joe Biden has been very articulate about he has told Chuck Schumer this, he has told Nancy Pelosi this, we cannot wait until January 20th. Let's get a partial down payment. I don't -- I'm not going to negotiate on this show, Poppy, with you, but we've got to get something. They need to all be in the room.

HARLOW: Yes.

DINGELL: And I do believe a stimulus check needs to be part of that. I would prefer what Bernie Sanders is talking about, but let's see where we end up.

HARLOW: OK. OK. Let me ask you a final question, switching gears here.

You -- you said something really important to my -- my colleague Wolf Blitzer a few days after the election, you said we need to understand why so many people did vote for President Trump. So given that, I want your reaction to what Joe Biden said on a phone call earlier this week with civil rights leaders.

Let's play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT FOR THE UNITED STATES: They've already labeled us as being defund the police. Anything we put forward in terms of the organizational structure to change policing, which I promise you will occur, promise you, just think to yourself and give me advice whether we should do that before January 5th, because that's how they beat the living hell out of us across the country, saying that we're talking about defunding the police. We're not. We're talking about holding them accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Is he right, Congresswoman?

DINGELL: He's absolutely right. And I've said that all year. I participated probably in more Black Lives Matter rallies and vigils highlighting the issue of racial injustice and the way some things are handled. But I also have gone to all my blue lives matter events in my district. I work with these local law enforcement. We -- unfortunately, one from my hometown committed suicide last week.

I work in a lot of domestic violence cases, Poppy. Those police -- those are the worst case that they answer to. We do need to hold them accountable. We saw in Wisconsin that -- how a black man and a white man were treated differently, but we also need to recognize that law enforcement does play a critical role in many of our communities. And it's not an either/or. We need to have uncomfortable conversations. That's what leadership is, facing the truth but also thanking people who deserve to be thanked.

HARLOW: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, we appreciate you very, very much on an important morning. I hope you guys get a deal.

Thank you for your time.

DINGELL: Thank you. Thank you, Poppy.

HARLOW: We'll be -- we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:53:25]

HARLOW: Like so much about 2020, the annual rivalry between Army/Navy will have a different look this year.

SCIUTTO: Yes. For the first time since World War II, actually, America's game will take place on campus at West Point.

Coy Wire is already there.

You know, Coy, I've been to that game. My dad was a Navy guy. It is full of energy. How's it going to be at West Point?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It is. There are going to be cadets and mid shipmen at the game, about 8,000, so we'll still have some great energy come game time. You know, this is -- the game has been played since 1890. And the first one was played right here at West Point. Traditionally in Philadelphia, a neutral site. But this season, due to the pandemic, playing here for the first time since 1943.

And, Jim and Poppy, as you know, this game features future leaders of our nation like Navy's Cameron Kinley, he's not just a team captain for Navy, he's also a political science major who was named president of his graduating class at the Naval Academy. We asked him what it means to be chosen to lead both off and on the field.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAMERON KINLEY, NAVY FOOTBALL CAPTAIN: It's a tremendous honor to be one of the three captains for our Navy football team. I mean just going back and looking at everybody who's had the opportunities to be captains here in the past, I mean to be able to be a part of that legacy is -- it's an honor. And to garner that respect from my teammates, I don't take that lightly that they placed me in this position.

KEN NIUMATALOLO, NAVY HEAD COACH: It's the leader that he was not only on our football team as a captain, but a leader in the academy just shows, you know, the character of the young man.

KINLEY: To be class president for the class of 2021 here is -- I mean it's one of my biggest accomplishments to date.

[09:55:02]

You know, I always say, if your dreams don't scare you, then you're not dreaming big enough. And the biggest thing is just the ability for me to be involved in the academy outside of just football and to be able to give back to my classmates in this way and to help them create special memories here.

NIUMATALOLO: He's been a great leader for our team during this pandemic, during social unrest, during everything this year. We needed a strong leader like Cameron and he's been an amazing leader.

KINLEY: It doesn't matter how much I accomplish, if I'm not inspiring or influencing the lives of others. And my parents have always said that to be thankful for what you have but also think about the people who aren't in the position that you're in, specifically on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, who roll (ph) around, you know, going to feed the homeless, giving gifts to those who might not be able to have a Christmas gift that year, like that -- that's what it's all about, creating the opportunities for those who are less fortunate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Kinley carries three daily planners to stay organized, one for sports, one for academics and one for his duties as class president. He says he wants to be president of the United States one day. Jim, Poppy, President Trump is planning to attend the game again. He's the 10th sitting president to have attended the Army/Navy game. It's tomorrow at 03:00 p.m. Eastern.

HARLOW: Wow, what a story. What a guy.

Thank you, Coy, very much.

Now to that key FDA advisory panel and their recommendation for Pfizer's vaccine. What is next before you can get it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)