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A Tragic, Horrific, Hopeful, Historic Week in America; 8 Nuns Die of COVID-19 at Wisconsin Facility Within a Week; Rubio, McEnany Clutch Pearls after Biden Aide Swears, Insults; Kamala Harris Prepares for Role as Biden's Right-Hand Woman. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired December 18, 2020 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:30:00]
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: The biggest headlines, the U.S. had its deadliest day of the pandemic, and each day delivered new record highs in hospitalizations from the coronavirus.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was authorized for emergency use. And it was delivered for the first round of doses to health care workers around the country.
Also, the FDA on the verge of authorizing a second vaccine. This one from Moderna.
The Electoral College again affirmed Joe Biden's election win.
Attorney General Bill Barr announced his departure in a letter praising the president even as the president threatened to fire him.
It was revealed that suspected Russian hackers attacked the U.S. government in one of the most sophisticated and dangerous cyber breeches in recent history. President Trump still has not weighed in.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to an explosive CNN investigation into the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader, claiming that if the Russians wanted to kill Alexei Navalny, they would have finished the job.
COVID stimulus in Congress talks accelerated. It then hit obstacles as Americans continue to suffer.
A nor'easter hit the east coast and raised concerns about the delivery of vaccines.
Sweden admitted its herd immunity strategy was a complete failure. It's the same one championed for months and months by right-wing media in the U.S.
And then Tom Cruise sparked a debate after going off on crew members for violating COVID guidelines.
French President Macron tested positive for coronavirus.
President-Elect Biden made more cabinet announcements. This included Pete Buttigieg as transportation chief, expected to be the first openly gay cabinet secretary in history to be confirmed.
Biden campaigned in Georgia for the first time ahead of a January runoff election for two Senate seats.
Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, finally acknowledged Joe Biden's win, which prompted President Trump to attack him.
Republicans held a hearing on imaginary widespread voter fraud that predictably erupted into chaos and conspiracies.
And a former Houston police captain investigating a baseless voter fraud conspiracy was charged after he ran a man off the road and pointed a gun to his head.
CNN reported on a vast and urgent effort behind the scenes to lobby President Trump for pardons.
Neighbors of Mar-a-Lago in Florida told the president, "Go elsewhere, once he leaves office since the club, upon its opening, agreed with the city that it would forbid residency other than short-term stays.
Finally, the president was virtually silent about all the crises facing the nation, instead, tweeting about television and the election that he says he won, but did not.
What a year this week has been.
And next, we will remember the lives of eight nuns, all living in the same retirement home, who died of COVID within a week of each other. One of their sisters will join me live, in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:36:54]
KEILAR: Tragedy has struck a Wisconsin facility that cares for elderly and ailing nuns.
Eight of the sisters living at Notre Dame of Elm Grove died from complications caused by coronavirus all within one week.
The facility was first established as an orphanage, but it later became a home for elderly and ill sisters.
With me now to talk about this is Sister Debra Sciano, the provincial leader of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province.
Sister Debra, I am so sorry for your loss.
Can you tell us about the women who you have lost and the lives them touched?
SISTER DEBRA SCIANO, PROVINCIAL LEADER, SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME, CENTRAL PACIFIC PROVINCE: Thank you so much, Brianna.
It's been very, very difficult time for each and every one of us. Each of these women, more than just being members of our community, they are sisters and very special to us.
These eight women -- Sister Evelyn Weiser (ph), the first. She was 94 years old. She taught her entire life, taught children, taught the sacraments in school, loved to sing with them. And she herself always had a smile on her face and was willing to bring joy to others.
Sister Alexas Port (ph), she is was 96 years old, a musician her entire time. She actually taught music lessons well into her 80s.
Sister Rose Feesse (ph) an advocate for girls always in her life. A teacher for junior high. And also served -- we have a school here in Milwaukee, Notre Dame school of Milwaukee, which focused on the needs of Hispanic girls and boys at risk. She was very influential in her teaching there.
Cynthia Boreman (ph). Cynthia was a person who could fix and mend anything. She was a teacher, religious ed director, and served in Alaska for five years as well as other community service.
Sister Dorothy McIntyre (ph), 88 years old. She, too, taught. Also was a dental assistant and a ready specialist. She loved to do her arts and crafts and share them with gifts with others.
My Sister Joan Emily Caul (ph). She taught in the classroom for 36 ears and also was a parish secretary.
Mikael Marie Lox (ph), a missionary at heart, an educator for 54 years. Taught in a high school, our high school in Guam for 10 years, Alaska and Kenya for five years.
Finally, Sister Lilian Angred (ph), who was 92, a poet. She taught for 22 years in the classroom and administered to adults in pastoral ministry. And after her retirement, became a strong advocate for peace and justice.
So that's a little bit about each woman. But I'll tell you they were all leaders, all powerhouses of prayers, mentors, and extreme wisdom figures for me and for all of us.
KEILAR: I thank you, Sister Debra, for telling us about them.
That is a huge loss when we hear you describing these women and what they have achieved in their life.
[14:40:01]
How many sisters live in your facility, if you can tell us? And how many have contracted the virus?
SCIANO: We have 88 sisters in residence now. There are still some that have the virus. We're not saying numbers or names, obviously, for privacy reasons, at this time.
But the sisters that are still positive are receiving wonderful care. They're doing well right now. And we're hopeful they will get through this. But, yes, 88. KEILAR: This is a deadly outbreak that you have seen at this home. There's also another one. This follows another home in the nearby town of Greenfield.
How hard has it been trying to combat this virus and protect your sisters, even using the precautions you have been implementing?
SCIANO: It's been difficult. It's been trying on everyone. Our staff has been phenomenal.
You know, of course, they're following all the CDC guidelines and all of the health guidelines that we have needed to do.
But it's been a sacrifice for everyone, just as so many others are experiencing in health care facilities.
Our sisters have not been able to go out as they would or have visitors as they would. They've had to forgo a lot of activities.
Things like -- we have jubilee celebrations every year, where we celebrate the anniversaries of each sister's profession. We had to forgo all of that this last year.
But again, we're in solidarity with so many others that are giving up many, many things.
The sisters, though they have given up a lot, certainly are grieving right now, they want to celebrate the lives of each of these women. And they want to continue to be for and pray with all of those who are suffering, not only in our country but in our world because of this virus.
KEILAR: I'm so sure they do.
We are so sorry this is what your community is going through, Sister Debra. But we are appreciative that you have come on and shared with us.
SCIANO: Well, thank you so much, Brianna.
And thanks to everyone who has been so supportive and prayed for us and shared their stories and experiences with these sisters. It means the world to us. We want to continue to pray for everyone else as well.
Thank you.
KEILAR: Thank you, Sister Debra.
And we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:47:95]
KEILAR: We wrap up the week with one of the more ridiculous political controversies in recent memory.
And a language warning for the segment we are doing here. There's some salty language.
And this controversy centers around the use of the "F" word by President-Elect Joe Biden's incoming deputy chief of staff.
Republicans raised quite the stink this week when Jen O'Malley Dillion spoke to "Glamour" magazine and called Republican lawmakers F'ers, even as she made the case for working with them.
Speaking of criticism that Biden received early in his campaign from liberal Democrats for calling on the country to unite, Dillon told author, Glennon Doyle, who interviewed her for "Glamour," quote:
"In the primary, people would mock him, like you think you can work with Republicans. I'm not saying they're not a bunch of F'ers. Mitch McConnell is terrible. But this sense that you couldn't wish for that, you could wish for this bipartisan ideal, he rejected that."
Now O'Malley Dillon has since apologized for the expletive, which is probably a good idea since her boss will need to work with the people that she called F'ers.
But her comment was met with outrage from Republicans who are rebuffing Biden's calls for unity while trying not to look like an obstinate brick wall.
Senator Marco Rubio was among those offended. He tweeted that "Biden talks about unity and healing, but you want to know what they really think, read how the person who wants to be the next White House deputy chief of staff called Republicans in Congress a bunch of F-ers."
That's the same Marco Rubio who insinuated that Donald Trump -- and this was very publicly -- has a small penis, and not in the context of arguing that they should work together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): You know what they say about men with small hands.
(CHEERING)
RUBIO: You can't trust them. You can't trust them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Then there was White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who called Dillon's comments sick and unleashed a torrent of exclamation points as she said, "It says volumes about her boss who calls for unity while shouting that we are assaulting democracy."
It is worth noting that Kayleigh's colleague, the White House social media director, posted a poop emoji on the president-elect's head this week on social media. But, yes, these folks are outraged that an aide of Joe Biden's swore and called Republicans a PG-13 name, which is an odd stance when you consider the language and behavior that they have excused or ignored from President Trump for years.
The recording of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women and grabbing them by the "P" word that nearly derailed his candidacy in 2016, it didn't stop him from spending his presidency name-calling and cursing prolifically in private and public.
Some of the words that he has enjoyed using: haters, losers, bastards, dummies, stupid, weak, pathetic, slobs, morons crazy, very dumb, sons of bitches, assholes, bullshit, phonies, dope, sleazebag, flunky, psycho.
[14:50:04]
And then this one that should really offend McEnany and Rubio by the standard that they set for this Biden aide, quote, "Every time I speak of the haters and losers, I do so with great love and affection. They cannot help the fact that they were born F'ed up."
Now actually, to give these two credit, they were offended by the president's language and sometimes his existence at one point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCENANY: Donald Trump has shown himself to be a showman. I don't think he's a serious candidate.
The GOP doesn't need to be turning away voters and isolating them. They need to be bringing them into the tent. Donald Trump is the last person who is going to do that.
To me, a racist statement is a racist statement. I don't like what Donald Trump said.
I want to make it clear I don't support what Donald Trump said. I think he said something very inartful, very inappropriate.
RUBIO: I don't care how many states I have to go to. I don't care how long this process will take. I will never allow a con artist to take control of the party of Lincoln or Reagan or the conservative movement.
(CHEERING)
RUBIO: -- the nuclear codes of the United States to an erratic individual.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIO: And the conservative movement spent their career sticking it to working people. If Donald Trump likes to sue people, he should sue whoever did that to
his face.
Donald Trump has been perhaps the most vulgar -- no, I don't mean perhaps -- the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency in terms of how he carried out his candidacy.
This party of Lincoln and Reagan is on the verge of being taken over by a con artist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: But perhaps one of the most hypocritical things about Republican's faux outrage at Biden's campaign manager for cursing over them is that it fits a pattern of holding female Democrats to a standard that they don't hold the president to.
Just look at who else they have excoriated for cursing or using insults. Democratic Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.
The president-elect's pick for budget director, Neera Tanden, whose confirmation is up in the air over, quote, "combative and insulting comments about many members of the Senate," according to Republican Senator John Cornyn.
Who, it's worth noting, ran an ad against his recent opponent, a former helicopter pilot who had been shot down by the Taliban during one of her three deployments to Afghanistan, for cursing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to kick some serious (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You don't (EXPLETIVE DELETED) with Texas women. I don't give a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Are you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) me?
AD NARRATOR: Then there's Senator John Cornyn's way. Treat people with respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Now, the message here from the GOP is clear. Boys will be boys, but women better not drop an F-bomb.
Next, Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, announces he just got his COVID vaccine on a day when we saw a lot of high-profile people sitting down for the shot.
Still the nation is facing worst-cast scenarios when it comes to hospital compacity. We're live from California just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BEAK)
[14:57:26]
KEILAR: Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris announced today she will campaign in Georgia Monday ahead of the two critical Senate runoff races that will determine the balance of power in Washington.
With just 33 days until the inauguration, we're also learning how Harris is preparing for her role as President-Elect Biden's right-hand woman.
CNN's Jasmine Wright is joining us to talk about this.
And, Jasmine, we're learning that Harris isn't looking too far for inspiration. So how is she preparing to assume the vice presidency?
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN VIDEO PRODUCER: That's right, Brianna. The vice president-elect is really learning how to be in a supportive role. It's not something she had to do that in her elected offices as a leader.
Now, she's really becoming number two. And she's telling people close to her that there is no better model to learn that from than Joe Biden and his relationship with Barrack Obama.
She's really doing three things to achieve that. First, they are deepening their relationships. Sources tell me and my colleague, Dan Merica, that they are talking nearly every day to grow that relationship.
She was also deeply involved in the cabinet selection process, interviewing every eventual nominee.
And through that process, she's telling people that, you know, she is really getting to learn about Biden and what he wants from a vice president.
And in that relationship, how she can push in private but really be a partner to him when they come out and when he makes a decision as a united front, as they announce what they were doing.
KEILAR: Can you give us a sense of what Harris' priorities might be as vice president?
WRIGHT: Right. And so the incoming administration's priority across the board is to tackle and eventually control the coronavirus pandemic, and Harris will have a role in that planning.
But President-Elect Joe Biden told Jake Tapper in an interview said that Harris' portfolio will be what he can't do him. Exactly what those things are, are still undecided.
Our sources tell us that Joe Biden hasn't nailed it down. But whatever it is, Joe Biden's success is paramount to Kamala Harris.
So she will do what is really given to her to help the administration.
KEILAR: All right, Jasmine Wright, thank you so much for your great reporting, and to our colleague, Dan Merica, as well for it. We appreciate it.
Our special coverage will continue right now with Brooke Baldwin. [15:00:01]
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Brianna, thank you so much.
Good to be with all of you on this Friday. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
Let's get right to it. A second coronavirus vaccine could begin arriving in hospitals around the country as early as this weekend.
