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White House Orders FDA Chief to Authorize Pfizer's Vaccine Today or Resign; 12 Million Americans to Lose Unemployment Benefits by Christmas if Congress Doesn't Act; Heartbreaking Letters to Santa Reveal COVID Toll on Kids; Biden Cabinet Picks from Obama Administration Trigger Criticism; President-Elect Joe Biden Introduces More Cabinet Picks. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired December 11, 2020 - 14:30   ET

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

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[14:34:02]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Here's the breaking news. CNN has learned that the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has told the FDA commissioner, Stephen Hahn, that he must authorize the country's first coronavirus vaccine by the end of the day or else resign.

That threat comes hours after President Trump tweeted that the FDA is, and I quote, "a big old slow turtle" in its handling of vaccines, and called on Hahn to, quote, "Stop playing games and start saving lives."

Kaitlan Collins is at the White House.

Josh Dawsey is also reporting this out from "The Washington Post."

But, Kaitlin, I want to begin with you because you just heard from the FDA commissioner, Stephen Hahn. What did he say about this?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Notably, he's denying how this conversation is being characterized, Brooke.

He says in a statement, "This is an untrue representation of the phone call with the chief of staff. The FDA was encouraged to continue working expeditiously on Pfizer's EUA request. FDA is committed to issuing this authorization quickly as we noted in our statement this morning."

[14:35:00]

But Brooke, after "The Washington Post" first reported this, we now have multiple people confirming that this is how this phone call went between the chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and the FDA commissioner this morning.

Where basically Meadows told Hahn that if they didn't have an emergency use authorization granted by the end of day today, he needed to be prepared to resign from his job as the FDA commissioner, a job he's only held about a year now.

What "at the end of the day" is in the White House's eyes is not clear if it's 5:30 or later this evening or if they're not going to follow through with you the threat at all.

But it does speak to the level of tension that has been building between the White House and the FDA for the last several weeks now, where there were those two meetings that Mark Meadows had with Stephen Hahn in his office at the White House two days in a row.

Now culminating with this phone call today that speaks to the president's frustration that this emergency use has not been granted yet by the FDA.

BALDWIN: Josh, you broke the story. What did you hear?

JOSH DAWSEY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: What we heard is that the president remains very frustrated, Brooke, that the vaccine has not been expedited as fast as he wanted it.

And Great Britain obviously was first, which riled the president to no end.

The president has been putting on extreme pressure on his closest advisers to get the vaccine out the door and approved.

What we were told was, this morning, Mark Meadows made that call to FDA Commissioner Hahn in conjunction with the president's tweet when he talked to the FDA. And there was desire, a fervent desire, I guess you would say, to have this done today or else.

BALDWIN: So we wait to see what the end of the day means, and what happens with the future of this vaccine and Stephen Hahn.

Kaitlan Collins and Josh Dawsey, for now, thank you both so much for putting that out from the White House.

Any moment now, President-Elect Joe Biden will introduce more of his cabinet picks.

And a government shutdown has been averted. The U.S. Senate passed a stop-gap to keep the government open. But the coronavirus relief bill is still in limbo.

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[14:41:25]

BALDWIN: While Congress bickers over government funding, there's this reality for 12 million Americans. Their unemployment benefits, made necessary by this pandemic, run out just after Christmas.

The grim cut off could put millions out of their homes and leave the with little to nothing to eat.

Let me bring in Vanessa Yurkevich.

Vanessa, you've been covering this story and covering all these people's devastating stories. Tell me what you're -- introduce us to some people now.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS & POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this news that Congress is still stalled on a stimulus deal is really disheartening for so many millions of Americans whose unemployment is ending at the end of this month. Federal protections are expiring December 31st.

Let me introduce you to one woman. She's a mother, unemployed. We visited with her to see how she's getting through this holiday season and beyond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANGELA KEARNEY, FURLOUGHED FROM JOB DUE TO PANDEMIC: I would describe this as the last nice memory that I have.

YURKEVICH (voice-over): Angela Kearney stands in front of her tree at home in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, reminiscing with her aunt and longing for last Christmas.

KEARNEY: This was when I received the new job. I was going to be able to buy a home for my family.

YURKEVICH: The new job was as a paralegal, after she put herself through school in her 40s while recovering from surgery to fix a disability, racking up $63,000 in student loans.

With the new salary of $55,000, she was finally able to provide for her children.

KEARNEY: That is more money that I've ever seen in my life. I promised them we would get a house.

I promised them that they would be normal children and then the pandemic hit. And I can't keep those promises anymore.

It looks like everyone is dancing.

YURKEVICH: Just four months after landing that job, Kearney was furloughed in March. And her weekly unemployment of $300 does little to cover the bills for her and her three children living at home.

KEARNEY: I have to take the bills and throw them up and pick the ones and hope that they total the amount that I have.

YURKEVICH: Her unemployment it slated to run out in January, along with 12 million other Americans. And dozens of programs designed to protect them will, too.

AMY CASTRO BAKER, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: First student loan, you know, payments have been halted. So once that expires, that's a new bill that's going to hit people quickly.

You have local eviction bans that will expire. And then, of course, the expansion of unemployment insurance. As that's going away, we're seeing more people not put back to work.

YURKEVICH: For years, Kearney and her family were on several government assistance programs, including disability and food stamps. Last year, she finally got off them.

KEARNEY: A lot of it was determination on my part to climb this mountain. And we got shoved off the mountain.

YURKEVICH: Which sent them right back on food stamps.

(on camera): How much money do you get on that card?

KEARNEY: We get $400 a month.

YURKEVICH: Does that cover it?

KEARNEY: It has to, right?

YURKEVICH (voice-over): Congress is negotiating a stimulus bill that could drastically shape the next few months for families like the Kearney's.

But significant long-term relief may not arrive until President-Elect Biden is inaugurated in late January.

BAKER: For a lot of families, waiting until after the inauguration is just going to be too late.

YURKEVICH: Christmas will look different for many American families, including the Kearney's.

KEARNEY: What do you think of our lights this year, huh?

YURKEVICH: This year, she's prioritizing paying the electric bill just to keep the lights and Christmas spirit alive.

[14:45:05]

KEARNEY: The bills won't be paid for December because Santa is coming to town.

(MUSIC)

KEARNEY: Santa will be here.

(MUSIC)

YURKEVICH: Vanessa Yurkevich CNN, Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH: Brooke, Angela's story is not unlike many American families who are struggling between paying bills and having to buy their children gifts this holiday season.

One of the things we've heard from many families is that they were just climbing out of debt when this pandemic hit. Now families are starting to rack up credit card bills. They're starting to go into default.

That credit score that is so important to so many Americans makes it so they cannot purchase a home. Angela wanted to purchase a home. She won't be able to.

Brooke, finally, it's important to note that Angela is trying to provide that Christmas spirit next week.

She won't be able to do that in the way she wants to because she's going to be spending time in court fighting those credit companies who are coming for their bills. Brooke, she says she doesn't know where she's going to get the money.

BALDWIN: It is so important to tell these stories.

Thank you for doing that. I just keep thinking of her daughter.

And as we think about kids -- Vanessa, thank you.

With so many families across the country facing these unthinkable hardships, it's no wonder that letters to Santa this year reveal, in heartbreaking detail, how much this pandemic weighs on children.

Since October, more than 10,000 letters addressed to the North Pole have been collected by the Post Office's Operation Santa program.

In normal years, the letters are full of hope and excitement, asking for toys under the tree. This year, these letters reflect the children's pain and uncertainty just as much a side effect of this pandemic as the illness itself.

So let me read a few of these letters to you.

This first is from Alani (ph), aged 9.

She writes: "Dear, Santa, this year has been rough this year because of the coronavirus. I was hoping I could get some Lego sets because my mom said she can't get anything for me for Christmas because she not getting paid as much so she can't afford anything.

She signed the letter, "Always love from Alani (ph), and drew this smiling girl with curling hair standing with Santa. A cheery scene that contradicts the sorrowful tone in her words.

Here's another one. This is from Jonah.

Jonah writes: "Dear, Santa, I don't want anything for Christmas, but I would like to ask you if you can do me a favor. Can you please find a cure for COVID-19 and give it to us to save the world? Thank you."

Jasmine (ph) writes: "Dear, Santa, this year, I would like -- and she's got this list. It's, "End of COVID-19, world peace, climate control, she says. And at the end of her list, she asks for a new xBox.

A 13-year-old Texas girl named Kimberly is not unlike so many kids in asking Santa air pods. But she also pleaded for gifts for her three siblings and her financially strapped parents, a workout machine for her mom, and a waterproof jacket for her stepdad.

She writes: "My parents think I am writing this for my siblings, and I am. But I want to surprise them for everything that they have done this year."

Savannah, a girl from Massachusetts, included a confession and an apology. She says, "P.S., I'm sorry if I've been bad," she wrote. "It's really hard because of COVID-19 and online school. I'm trying to be good. I hope you understand."

[14:48:38]

We do, Savannah. We do.

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[14:53:23]

BALDWIN: We are moments away from President-Elect Joe Biden introducing several more cabinet nominees and top aides.

Most of the candidates you see right here do have ties to the Obama administration, which has triggered some criticism within and outside of the Beltway.

Jeff Zeleny is our CNN -- CNN -- CNN senior -- sorry, I'm still befuddled by the kids' Santa letters -- senior Washington correspondent, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Jeff, tell me more about who he is about it announce. And do any of them face a challenge in getting them confirmed?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, that is the question that will be determined, in part, by which party controls the Senate. Of course, we'll find that out in January if Democrats win those Georgia runoffs.

When you look through the names of these individuals, we're going to see the V.A. secretary here. Such an important job given just the level of veterans and what they are going through in this country.

Tom Vilsack, of course, he'll be the Ag secretary again. He's reprising that role.

Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, she'll be in charge of the Housing and Urban Development.

Katherine Tai, she would be the U.S. trade representative. And Susan Rice. She is the only one in this list who does not face confirmation from the Senate. She will be leading the Domestic Policy Council. It's basically is threading together all of the policy agenda for this president.

But, look, Brooke, yes, there's some criticism from some, saying this looks like an Obama re-do, if you will. But really, with the exception of Tom Vilsack, the Ag secretary, everyone is in different roles.

Katherine Tai, for example, she'll be the first woman of color to be the U.S. trade representative.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Oh, hang on, Jeff. We got him.

ZELENY: -- in charge of enforcing policy.

[14:55:00]

And he's walking into the room right now here, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Sorry, I'm being told -- Is he there or he's almost there?

ZELENY: OK, I guess -- but we'll see in a second.

But just as I was saying --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Keep talking, keep talking.

ZELENY: -- some of these people have new -- sure. Some of these people have new positions. So, yes, it is a familiar set of faces, but some of them are elevated.

She was a deputy before. Now she's the U.S. trade representative, the first woman of color to be in that position.

And Dennis McDonough, for example, yes, he was the president's chief of staff. But now he'll be the V.A. secretary.

And, Brooke, I remember he spent hours and hours and hours visiting Walter Reed and focusing so much on veterans issues when he was serving the White House.

You can see some of them there. We see Susan Rice, Dennis McDonough as well.

I'm told Tom Vilsack will be joining virtually.

You see Congresswoman Marcia Fudge there and Katherine Tai. As I was pointing out, she will be the new U.S. trade representative. And that is such a key position, negotiating, enforcing trade agreements as well. We're also, of course, expecting to see the president-elect and the

vice president-elect. Brooke, she, just a short time ago, was back in Washington voting on this defense bill. You can see her there.

And we're seeing the president-elect right here.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: OK, thank you. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon.

Before I make my announcements today, I want to say a few words about the COVID crisis.

This week marked another tragic milestone in our fight against COVID- 19. More than 3,000 deaths in one single day, the highest single death count during this pandemic.

That's more deaths in a single day than we saw on 9/11 or at Pearl Harbor. This is serious business.

The current director of the CDC said yesterday, we can expect a similar number of deaths or more every single day for the next 60 to 90 days.

We're in the teeth of the crisis right now. This nation needs presidential leadership right now.

Presidential leadership is willing to model the steps we should be taking to save our own lives and lives of our families.

You know, we can wish this away, but we have to face it head on. We have to take it head on.

Using every power available to me as president, we'll have a national coordination strategy that will beat this virus.

As tough as things are now, I firmly believe better days are ahead.

We got some good news yesterday. The FDA committee recommended emergency use authorization for Pfizer's BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

But we're grateful for the scientists not only there but these other great organizations, researchers who developed these vaccines and several others on the way.

And we're just as grateful to the scientists and public experts who evaluated its safety and efficiency free from public influence.

I want to make it clear to the public. You should have confidence in this. There's no political influence. These are first-rate scientists taking their time looking at all of the elements that need to be looked at.

Scientific integrity led us to this point. We know the immense challenges and hard work ahead. Earlier this week, I announced our COVID response team. That will

scale up the manufacturing, distribution and injection of the vaccine.

We set a bold and doable challenge in my first 100 days, 100 million shots in 100 days. Asking the American people to wear a mask for the first 100 days of our administration.

If we get the necessary funding from Congress, we can get most of our schools open in 100 days. But we need the help from the Congress and the funding.

The first 100 days won't cure the COVID-19. But meeting those goals can slow the spread, save lives and get us back to our lives with the people we love the most.

We'll also be getting the right people confirmed during this period of time, and in place to manage this robust aggressive plan to contain the virus, help us build back better than ever, and make sure everyone is included.

Now, today, I'm really pleased to add members to my team that will get the job done.

In addition to the pandemic's grim milestone, the economic crisis has left millions of Americans out of work, without a paycheck, without health insurance, unable to put enough food on the table. Literally, unable to put food on the table.

And I'm not sure they can pay their rent when the new year begins or make their mortgage payments.

[15:00:00]

It's affecting everyone from farmers to students, seniors to veterans, and red states, blue states, small towns and big cities.

That's why the Congress needs to act and act now on the COVID package.