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FDA Meeting Today to Review Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine; Trial Begins For Al-Shabaab-linked Terrorist as Houston Vigilante Fails to Show; Disney to Lay Off 32,000. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired December 17, 2020 - 10:30   ET

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

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: And if you didn't believe there was a lot of snow there, he's standing in it. That is one big snowstorm.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it really is. It's quite incredible, real-world snow globe that we're walking around in. But of course, you can imagine the challenges that this poses.

I mean, not only are there deep snow totals -- we're talking about Central New York topping 40 inches; here in Boston, we've got almost a foot of snow on the ground -- but you can imagine one of the largest coordinated distribution efforts of a vaccine taking place right now in the United States.

And some of those distribution companies, like FedEx and UPS, have some major challenges now battling 2020's latest hurdle thrown at them. Of course, trying to disperse and distribute this vaccine amongst a Nor'easter. That's the situation that we're in right now.

And I managed to talk to one of the global communications advisers from FedEx, and they told me they've got lots of contingency plans in place for distributing the vaccine from Pfizer, they have created what is called a SenseAware ID tag.

And I looked into this a little bit, and some of the details, it's actually a small little tag that they attach to the packages that contain the vaccines, and they can track with precision and detail from start to finish, all the way to the end product, where the vaccine is, if it has problems along the way and if it didn't make it to its final destination.

And that's not just the vaccines that they are able to track with precision and detail, it's our Christmas presents that are being delivered across the country as well, so FedEx and UPS confirming to me that they don't have any major concerns with this storm. But of course you can imagine the coordination that has to go into it.

SCIUTTO: Lots of precious cargo out there. Derek Van Dam, thanks very much.

Well right now, as we speak, an FDA panel is meeting -- though virtually of course, given everything -- to determine whether the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, a second option, can receive emergency use authorization.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: If it's approved, 20 million doses can be shipped out by the end of the month. Our medical analyst and emergency room physician Dr. Leana Wen joins us.

Good morning, take us into the room. Do you think we'll get approval on the Moderna vaccine quicker than Pfizer, given the mRNA technology is really quite similar?

LEANA WEN, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN: I do, Poppy. I think that we're going to see this external committee of scientists give the green light today, I expect that we're going to see the FDA officially issue their emergency use authorization within hours of that. I don't know if it's going to be today, but I would expect for this week.

And I think many of the conversations have already happened about the mRNA technology. Also, we have seen the public data that the FDA has already released, and the data look extremely promising, that this is a safe and very similar to the Pfizer vaccine, a highly efficacious vaccine.

Now, there are also advantages of the Moderna vaccine when it comes to transportation and storage. It doesn't need to be stored in these Arctic temperatures as the Pfizer vaccine, and I think in general having two vaccines instead of just one will give us many more options, because vaccine production is the limiting factor here.

SCIUTTO: Yes. I mean, listen, our cup runneth over in many ways on this because it's been fast for both of them.

All right, new research has found that July was the deadliest month among young adults due to COVID-19. And of course, you've heard a lot of the misinformation out there that, well, this only affects really, really old people, when in fact it does not. I'm curious, one, how seriously you take that data, what it means, but also will this change the thinking over time on how old you need to be to get the vaccine?

WEN: That's a really interesting point about the vaccine. But I think just to back up for a moment about the data, the data are solid because what the researchers in this case looked at was excess deaths. They compared the deaths this year compared to deaths in previous years among young adults 25 to 44, and they found a high number of excess deaths. You mentioned the highest in July, but also throughout.

And I think one aspect of this that's particularly striking is the disparities because not only are black and Hispanic individuals making up a disproportionate share of the deaths, they actually constitute the majority of the deaths in this 25 to 44 population.

So I think we absolutely need to change our messaging. We should not be saying things like, young people are immune, because clearly they're not. Young people can become severely ill, they can die, they also are primary spreaders to other individuals as well, and I think we all need to change our outlook on this and talk about the impact, not only on deaths but also on long-term consequences that these young individuals may be facing too if they contract coronavirus. SCIUTTO: Yes, yes.

HARLOW: Dr. Wen, you wrote in a recent op-ed and you're tweeting certainly a lot about this new FDA-approved at-home COVID test that not only lets you take the test at home, but that you get the results at home and that's the big differentiator here.

[10:35:01]

My question to you is, though, how accessible is it really going to be to folks? In the past, those have been pretty expensive. Will the masses be able to get them, would you recommend that they be free to people just like regular COVID tests that you wait in line for are?

WEN: Well, I'm a big fan of at-home testing, especially rapid at-home testing, as this new one that was approved -- authorized by the FDA is, that you get the result immediately at home without having to send it in to a lab. And I think this particular test is important too because it does not require a doctor's prescription, so it improves access.

But cost is still an issue. It's still $30, which is a lot. And if we are going to get to the point that everyone can be tested, let's say, twice a week before they go to school or work, we need to bring down the cost a lot. And this is where the Defense Production Act would be so important, and I hope that's something that President-elect Biden will be considering: how do we make that kind of testing accessible.

SCIUTTO: Should have happened a long time ago.

OK, final question, listen, take the good with the bad, right? I mean, vaccine stuff is moving forward, that's great, it's being distributed. But in the midst of the worst period in this pandemic so far -- and it's getting worse. Is any state responding to this responsibly and making a difference? I mean, we are seeing some positive data from the middle part of the country, those infection rates coming down. What's being done right now to hem this in?

WEN: So there are states that have imposed restrictions in, I think, California, Washington state, among others, have imposed restrictions that are commensurate with the moment that we're in, which is -- I mean, it's just unimaginable that we could soon be surpassing more than 4,000 deaths a day. We are living our worst-case scenario, and we still have the Christmas surge that we don't even know how bad that's going to be.

So I think at this point, it's not just policy that's going to make a difference, it's all of our individual actions. So I would urge anyone who is still thinking about traveling over the holidays, please cancel that travel, please do not get together in person indoors unless everybody is getting tested and has quarantined for at least seven days in advance.

SCIUTTO: All right, we hope folks listen. Dr. Leana Wen, always good to have you on, thanks very much.

WEN: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Well, a former Houston police captain is accused of pulling a gun on a man during what investigators say was an attempt to prove voter fraud, sort of a self-appointed vigilante here. He did not show up in court. Wait until you hear why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:41:51]

HARLOW: Well this morning, we are learning more after an alleged operative from the terror group al-Shabaab appeared in a Manhattan federal court remotely just yesterday.

SCIUTTO: Federal prosecutors say that the Kenyan citizen was taking part in a foiled 9/11-style attack plan including researching ways to hijack a commercial jet and how to breach a cockpit door from the outside. Shimon Prokupecz has been following it.

How serious was this plot, how far along?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: I mean, it was pretty far along, Jim. When you think about it, this man who's 30 years old and his name is Cholo Abdi Abdullah -- he was pretty much well under way in learning how to perhaps take on this plot.

Officials, unsealing new information here in New York in an indictment, and they say that he went through flight training since 2016, so this is a plot that was directed by a senior commander of al- Shabaab, which is linked to al-Qaida, that this individual went through flight training, he was pretty much finished up.

He finished up his flight training enough to get a license, a pilot's license, and that he researched ways to hijack commercial planes and that he was in communication with a senior member of al-Shabaab. So they were well under way.

TEXT: 9/11-Style Terror Plot Foiled, Indictment Alleges: Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a Kenyan citizen, began seeking to be trained as pilot in 2016; Tested flaws in airport security at direction of "senior al- Shabaab commander"; Researched ways to hijack commercial plane and how to breach cockpit door

PROKUPECZ: Understandably, this had officials very much concerned. They learned of this plot through intelligence and they were able to detain him in the Philippines. He was in the Philippines plotting this, he was -- they were able to detain him in July of 2019.

Also what officials say is that he was researching possible U.S. targets. He was looking for skyscrapers in the United States that he could potentially target, he was in court here in New York, he pleaded not guilty and he faces a range of terrorism charges.

SCIUTTO: Shimon Prokupecz, thanks so much.

Well, back here at home this morning, a former Houston police captain is accused of running a man off the road, pointing a gun at his head in an attempt to prove voter fraud. Well, he's missed his court appearance.

HARLOW: Yes. This story, you can't make it up, it is scary. His attorney says the reason he wasn't in court is because he has COVID. Ed Lavandera is in Texas for us with an update on this story. Good morning, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Jim and Poppy. Well, this was supposed to be just a run-of-the-mill kind of preliminary court hearing to discuss conditions of Mark Anthony Aguirre's bond conditions. He was released on bond after being arrested on Tuesday.

But his attorney in court says that Aguirre didn't -- was not going to be able to make this hearing because he has COVID and is home, not feeling well. The attorney showed the judge a doctor's note, essentially, so all of that is still here developing this morning.

But this is just a -- the latest twist in this story that has really been shocking, as prosecutors in Harris County in Houston are accusing Mark Anthony Aguirre, the 63-year-old former Houston Police captain, of essentially being involved in this plot of this conspiracy theory to try to prove voter fraud in Harris County.

[10:45:09]

And Aguirre was accused of holding a man at gunpoint down on the ground because he was convinced of this conspiracy theory that the man was involved in this voter fraud and believed to have 750,000 fraudulent ballots in the back of the truck that he was driving at the time.

TEXT: Ex-Houston Police Captain Charged: Mark Aguirre accused of running man off road, then pulling gun on him in attempt to prove voter fraud; Charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (second-degree felony); Posted $30,000 bond Tuesday afternoon

LAVANDERA: Well, it turns out, according to prosecutors, that the man driving that truck was an air conditioning repairman. That man spoke out yesterday, said he feared for his life. At one point he said he described being on the ground and hearing the safety of the gun that Aguirre was holding flip off, and he thought he was going to die -- Jim and Poppy.

HARLOW: Wow, it's an incredible story and very sad, right? Rhetoric meets reality, when there are so many lies swirling. Thank you, Ed, for the update, very much -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well overnight, the U.S. government confirmed a massive, widespread hacking campaign against multiple federal agencies. Several cyber-security experts tell CNN that the operation bears all the hallmarks of a Russian-backed state actor. It is so grand in size -- it's still ongoing, by the way -- that federal officials are still trying to figure out its full scope. Critical government agencies remain compromised. I spoke with Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley, who is on the

Intelligence Committee in the House, last hour, who's been briefed on these attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: We saw these threats coming, and not just from Russia. But again, in 2016, when this happened, President Obama told Putin to cut it out, and they put sanctions in place. That's the kind of thing, that's the kind of bold action that has to take place. I don't expect it under this president; I do expect it under the upcoming administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: I want to be clear, the current president of the United States, the commander in chief, has so far said absolutely nothing about these hacking attacks. He's said a lot of things via Twitter, nothing about this.

HARLOW: Unreal.

All right, well a very, very sad situation for a number of employees this morning, a dire situation for many Disney theme park employees. They've been laid off, they're financially struggling. Now, they face running out of much-needed food assistance. That report is next.

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[10:51:50]

HARLOW: A very grim --

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: Well, as millions -- sorry, you go, Poppy.

HARLOW: That's OK, thanks -- just an update for everyone, a very grim milestone. The U.S. has just surpassed 17 million coronavirus cases -- again, 17 million in this country. That just happened.

SCIUTTO: Yes, 307,000 dead. I mean, the records continue to be set. And of course, a lot of people suffering economically, millions of Americans, businesses, waiting for Congress to come to some sort of agreement to pass another stimulus package. We're getting grim unemployment news this morning.

HARLOW: That's right, the new jobless claims, the numbers we get every week, they're up again. They're at 885,000. Each one of those is a person filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. It's higher than the 800,000 claims that economists had expected.

On top of all of this, thousands of Disney amusement park employees have been hit extremely hard by this pandemic. Disney has more than 100,000 park employees in the U.S. The company says it plans to shed 32,000 of those jobs by the end of March. Our Natasha Chen reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've seen people line up for food donations throughout this pandemic, but what you're seeing here is particularly bad timing: Thousands of theme park workers have been laid off. And as they're losing their paycheck, one critical food donation resource is suddenly disappearing just when they need it most.

AMANDA JOHNSON, LAID OFF FROM DISNEY WORLD: You want to show your favorite ornament?

CHEN (voice-over): Amanda Johnson and her husband made a living creating magic, but their fairy tale ended when they were furloughed from the Walt Disney World Resort. Months later, even after Florida parks reopened, Johnson was laid off, one of 32,000 U.S. Disney employees expected to lose their jobs by March.

JOHNSON: I feel like drowning here, and it's just the worst thing. People come here to have a good time, and we're all suffering.

CHEN (voice-over): One of their three children has autism and epilepsy.

JOHNSON: Thinking about, like, one hospital visit would almost, like, bankrupt you.

CHEN (voice-over): She says she's making food deliveries just to be able to give the kids a Christmas, and soon they'll be hard-pressed to pay the mortgage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you want for Christmas --

CHEN (voice-over): Former employees of Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and others are on both sides of this line receiving donations and volunteering too.

NICK CATURANO, SHOP STEWARD, UNITE HERE 737: We're focused on the members and we started out feeding 200 families and it ballooned into 2,000.

CHEN (voice-over): These artists who used to perform for theme park guests are now entertaining each other. And cheering up is a necessity when these boxes represent less than 10 percent of the food that used to be available, according to the Society of St. Andrew. Farmers they work with had funding from the federal Farm to Families program to get fresh food into boxes and delivered to food banks, but that money ran out sooner than expected.

BARBARA SAYLES, FLORIDA REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW: What keeps me up at night is that child that will go to bed hungry.

CHEN (voice-over): In an area whose lifeblood is tourism, the trickle-down effect on other jobs is apparent as motels are now filled not with out-of-towners, but with the unemployed. Like Jose Cruz, who lost his job at Home Depot.

[10:55:11]

JOSE CRUZ, FORMER SUBCONTRACTOR, HOME DEPOT: The majority of people do work in these theme parks, and if they're not buying appliances and they're not buying things from Home Depot, then I don't have a job to deliver anything to these people.

CHEN (voice-over): Theme parks may be suffering, but the success of Disney streaming service, Disney+, has sent Disney stock to its all- time high. Meanwhile, for park employees?

JOHNSON: That's where my Disney journey ends for now.

CHEN (voice-over): They echo CEO Bob Chapek's optimism around the vaccine, hoping guests and work will one day return like magic. Natasha Chen, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Wow, wow, wow, thinking about all of them, especially right around the holidays.

Thanks to all of you for being here, we'll see you tomorrow. I'm Poppy.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto, NEWSROOM with Kate Bolduan will start right after a short break.

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