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Moderna Vaccine Shipments Could Begin As Soon As Monday; California Facing One Of The Country's Worst Spikes; Talks Drag Into Weekend As Lawmakers Debate And Deal Fine Print; Dr. Sanjay Gupta On Getting Vaccinated; Biden Set To Introduce Environment Team Today; Hack Of U.S. Government And Companies One Of The Biggest Ever. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired December 19, 2020 - 11:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:24]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredericka Whitfield. And that was a great hour with our friends at "Sesame Street".

But now we have to move on to more grown up news. So parents, it's your time right now to move the little ones into another room in three, two, one.

All right. We have this breaking news.

Operation Warp Speed chief just announced distribution of Moderna's vaccine and that it has already begun. A CDC subcommittee is meeting this hour to discuss the Moderna vaccine and then it's up to the director as just happened to give the final ok.

And all expectations are starting Monday the U.S. will be the first country in the world administering now two vaccines. Earlier in the week it was BioNTech and Pfizer that was administered to front line workers.

This is an extraordinary accomplishment. And with that hope remains this persistent problem, the U.S. is in desperate need of extra help. A key model now projects 572,000 Americans could die by April.

The upward trajectory of cases, deaths and hospitalizations is so consistently awful fear that people are becoming desensitized to the word "record". But that's what we have -- record highs every week by every metric.

So right now on a Saturday, Congress is also working to try to and a COVID relief bill across the finish line. Leaders say they have been close for a while now but sticking points remain. And no vote is likely scheduled until after the weekend.

So Pete Muntean is joining us now from Olive Branch (ph), Mississippi. So Pete already the containers are ready to go for the distribution of what is now a second vaccine to be made available. Tell me what's happening there.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, we are standing by for those shipments to begin. We're talking about the Moderna vaccine although this is a McKesson facility -- 300,000 square feet. What's so interesting here is that this is a strategic spot. We are just down the road from Memphis, only about 20 minutes drive to the airport where FedEx is headquartered. It is FedEx and UPS that will be carrying these packages.

Operation Warp Speed just wrapped up that briefing. It says the shipments will begin tomorrow. Trucks will be leaving here tomorrow but the deliveries will happen on Monday, shots into arms on Monday.

It's a much larger distribution than the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer went out to about 600 individual locations. This is going out to 3,000 individual locations.

Listen to what Operation Warp Speed had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. GUSTAVE F. PERNA, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, OPERATION WARP SPEED: We are prepared. So what does the playbook look like? Distribution of Moderna vaccine has already begun. Moderna has moved vaccine from their fill-finish manufacturing sites to McKesson who will serve as the central distributor.

At McKesson distribution centers, boxes are being packed and loaded today. Trucks will begin rolling out tomorrow from FedEx and UPS delivering vaccines and kits to the American people across the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Talk about a much larger rollout, Fredricka, this is also including six million doses. And this spot is about to be a very bustling production facility. Not only is the vaccine going out but also all of the things needed to physically administer the vaccine. Things like syringes and alcohol swabs. It is a massive movement and it all begins right here in Mississippi.

WHITFIELD: And then, Pete, what do we know about the locations in which it's being distributed?

MUNTEAN: Well, the good news here is that the Moderna vaccine does not need to be stored at a temperature as low as the Pfizer vaccine. It needed to be negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Moderna vaccine roughly freezer temperatures. That adds a lot of flexibility.

This means that the vaccine can go to much more rural areas that do not need deep freezers or continual replenishments of dry ice. So it's a good thing.

WHITFIELD: Lots of good things about that. Thank you so much, Pete Muntean. We'll check back with you.

[11:04:44]

WHITFIELD: Meantime, California is seeing one of the worst spikes in the country right now. It recorded at least 300 deaths each of the last two days.

Paul Vercammen is in Los Angeles for us. So Paul, what is happening? And is it the case that there are just too many hospitals that say we have no more room?

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is the case. In fact, Fred, these hospitals are talking to each other so in the smaller hospital here in Tarzana, they're saying to another hospital we could take your ER patients right now or do you have more room in your ICU? Capacity filling up.

You pointed to those awful numbers. Here in Los Angeles County alone the latest numbers are 16,500 new coronavirus cases and you have got 5.1 of those people -- 5,100 of those people in the hospital. It is just a tremendous burden.

We're seeing cases where hospitals are lined up outside emergency rooms waiting to drop off patients. And if you are the director of the ICU, we talked to him here, it is just overwhelming.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. THOMAS YADEGAR, DIRECTOR OF ICU, PROVIDENCE CEDARS SINAI TARZANA MEDICAL CENTER: It's difficult. It's difficult, it's draining, you know? At the end of the night when you're alone that's probably when it hits you. And maybe at the end of this pandemic when this is all over, the real psychosocial impact of this pandemic especially on the health care workers will come out.

But right now I don't have that luxury because I know that in the next hour, the next few hours, my pager's going to go off and all hell is going to break loose. So at this point all we are trying to do is save as many souls and heal as many lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: And in California alone 3,500 people in intensive care units with COVID-19. Back to you now, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you so much, Paul Vercammen in Los Angeles.

All right. Joining me right now Dr. Gigi El Bayoumi, professor of medicine at George Washington University. Dr. El Bayoumi, always good to see you.

Let's begin with the hope in the vaccines. Can you talk about how extraordinary this is to have not just one but two vaccines authorized for emergency use less than a year into this pandemic? DR. GIGI EL BAYOUMI, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, GEORGE WASHINGTON

UNIVERSITY: I think that that's the silver lining in this whole crisis which shows you that when, we as human beings nationally and internationally decide that we are going to work together across sectors, across all kinds of different research facilities, scientists, physicians, public health personnel that we can get something done and come up with a vaccine.

It seems like it came up quickly but the reality is that the research in this particular field has been going on for this kind of mRNA vaccine for at least a decade or more but yes at the right time we will celebrate it.

We are just so anxious to get it out into people's arms. I think we will have a big celebration when things get back into control because it really is an unbelievable accomplishment.

WHITFIELD: Yes. So really it feels like it was and it was to a degree fast tracked in this last and final stage in this last, you know, nine months or so.

So now this paves the way for more people to become vaccinated particularly on the front lines. How soon could we begin to see the real effects of particularly people on the front lines getting vaccinated first before everyone else gets a shot?

DR. EL BAYOUMI: So I just want to add one thing to what you said in terms of quickly this last phase. No step in safety was skipped because I think people have to feel confident in the actual vaccine and that they're getting something that was vetted with all the steps.

So in terms of when that will be, that's a very good question. For example, I don't work in the hospital. I have but I'm not right now. I'm working on an outpatient setting. And I'm a physician.

I will get my first shot of the two-parter until end of January, early February. So we won't know about the rollout because obviously there are logistics and so forth. I would predict that the sort of very high risk public will be getting something in February and then the general public probably end of March, early Aprils.

In terms of the effects, you know, it is estimated that 60 percent to 70 percent of the population would have to be vaccinated so that the people who are not vaccinated would be protected.

But I think we'll probably see the effects maybe in a six-month time frame but this is an area where obviously we just have to see what happens.

WHITFIELD: And those who are eligible for the vaccine, well that varies, too. Not just based on availability but what the human trials, you know, allotted for. Anyone 16 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine.

[11:09:48] WHITFIELD: And now we've learned from Dr. Fauci that clinical trials involving children could start in January. This could be vital to families feeling comfortable, schools feeling comfortable about being up and running 100 percent.

How do you see the measure of progress being made as it pertains to opening up for younger people? Because the risks are different for young people versus adults.

DR. EL BAYOUMI: Well, I mean I think that obviously with children, it is one thing to give an 85-year-old a vaccine where even, God forbid, if there were long-term consequences they will, you know, not have to worry about them. But with a child, you know, that's very different.

Having said that, though, vaccines are very safe. We have children vaccinated all the time. I think that having trials for children is very important. Not just for the kids themselves because we have been relatively lucky.

I mean yes, there are horrific cases in which children die or suffer some kind of disability as a result of the COVID but by and large the numbers are thankfully not that large.

But asymptomatic spread from children and from younger people is an issue so the more that we can get everybody vaccinated in the country and the world, the better for everybody.

WHITFIELD: Disproportionately younger people may be asymptomatic, so more difficult to see and detect whether they have been exposed.

Dr. El Bayoumi, thank you so much. All the best to you. Appreciate it.

DR. EL BAYOUMI: Thank you. Same to you.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Still ahead, coronavirus relief hits another roadblock as time to get relief for Americans begins to run out. You're looking live at a rare Saturday session in the U.S. Senate. So what is the hold-up? I'll ask a Democratic lawmaker next.

Plus, some Republicans voicing skepticism about the vaccines. We have the facts.

And CNN is in the room where it happens. Dr. Sanjay Gupta right there getting the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine right there on camera. His report coming up.

[11:12:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to work toward a deal on a $900 billion aid package this weekend.

You are looking live inside the senate chamber as lawmakers hash out the fine print. Late last night Congress approved a last-minute 48- hour stop gap spending bill avoiding a government shutdown for now.

But lawmakers remain divided over the details for a COVID economic relief package. It's expected to include money for vaccine distribution and schools as well as federal jobless benefits and small business loans. Discussions are also under way for a possible new round of $600 stimulus checks.

So for the very latest, let's bring in Suzanne Malveaux on Capitol Hill. Suzanne, good to see you. Where do things stand right now?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, too, Fred.

Well, if you take a look at the Senate floor, what you'll be seeing is Senators are voting on particular judges and nominations. What you are not going to see is really kind of the behind the scenes discussions were taking place among leadership on both the House and the Senate side to see if they can make any kind of headway in negotiations over the COVID relief bill.

Now, what we saw last night, Fred, was very indicative of what is going to play out perhaps today and tomorrow. Senator Bernie Sanders objecting initially and then withdrawing his objection for this extension, this government funding extension because he says the $600 checks, stimulus checks, are just not enough to really help these struggling families.

That needs to be boosted up to $1,200. He says that is going to be a critical issue for him to sign off on any kind of COVID relief package.

The other thing that is happening as well, frustrating on both sides here as both try to make it into a political game, if you will. The Federal Reserve and its ability to loan out emergency funds.

Republicans are saying that needs to be limited. That was not meant to exist in a long-term fashion. Democrats are saying hold off. This really ties the hands of the next administration, the Biden administration, to adequately deal with the crisis. It takes away a tool. Those are the kinds of things that people are talking about.

In the meantime, you have this original group of senators and lawmakers who are just very frustrated. Bipartisan group came up with the plan. Don't understand why there is such a hold-up to have an extension and now be up against another deadline.

Senator Chris Coons, I had a chance to talk to just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR CHRIS COONS (D-DE): It's frustrating as all get out to me that we have been at the final point now for days. It's unclear to me exactly what the last final issues are that are holding us up this weekend.

I expect a final vote in the Senate on Tuesday but it's entirely possible we are here up until Christmas eve given the history on this particular impasse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So Fred, they will have to at least pass the bill to fund the government, the $1.4 trillion spending package and then perhaps punt when it comes to this COVID relief once again in the days ahead, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much on Capitol Hill.

With me now is Congresswoman Donna Shalala from Florida and a former secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton.

Congresswoman, good to see you.

REP. DONNA SHALALA (D-FL): Thank you very much, Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: So millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. Are you confident you and your colleagues on Capitol Hill can pass a package before that deadline?

SHALALA: You know, we're all frustrated. Sorry, my dog --

WHITFIELD: And so is he or she -- your pooch.

SHALALA: Yes. The pooch named Fauci. We're all frustrated. More importantly we're angry. Hold on a minute. Hey.

[11:19:46]

WHITFIELD: Hey, this happens. Other things have happened just like these in these days of pandemic wherein television and live cameras being brought to home have really made for some very colorful and interesting television moments, this being one of them.

But again live pictures right now of the U.S. Senate as they work on fine tuning. And there is the pooch Fauci.

Ok. So now we see him. We know he has a voice. So Congresswoman Shalala, you know, Americans are frustrated that here we are in the midst of this pandemic, people are struggling. And there seems to still be a lot of angst and going back and forth on Capitol Hill as to how small businesses might get some relief. How households might get some relief.

So how confident are you that something is going to happen in the form of a package?

SHALALA: Something is going to happen. There's no question, Fredricka. We have the package put together. If it was actually put on the floor there are enough Democrats and Republicans that would pass it.

There's a hold-up in the Senate over an issue that would tie the hands of the new secretary of the treasury. Janet Yellen is respected by everyone. There's no reason to take a tool out of her tool box for dealing with the economy with loans for businesses.

So I just -- I'm more than frustrated. I'm angry. This is reckless. We need to get this money out to people in our communities. It is really a short-term fix until spring. But it's absolutely critical.

People are hurting all over the country. In my district which has tourism at its center, people are really hurting.

WHITFIELD: Indeed. I mean what do you say to Americans who are saying, wait a minute, you know, the end of the year right before the holidays just days away from the holiday, the end of the session -- why did it have to take waiting this long, you know, to try and offer some relief, you know, that would impact so many households, so many businesses, so many people?

You know, so many Americans have lost confidence in the way the system works and the way Congress works.

SHALALA: You know, we did this months ago. We passed a major bill months ago -- $2 trillion and then $1 trillion. So that there's no reason why we can't get this done now.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

SHALALA: And my dog feels the same way.

WHITFIELD: I see. Yes. He's quite vocal on this matter.

So what brings you hope particularly as now a second vaccine has gotten approval for emergency use distribution, packaging? It's happening this weekend. You know, the first shot in the arm with the second vaccine happens on Monday.

Is that the most hope that people can count on right now? The promise of a vaccine. Or do you see in the near term that people will be able to count on some money in the form of relief, as well?

SHALALA: We are going to deliver this relief but more importantly this season ought to bring people together and have them understand that they still have to wear masks, that we still have to practice social distancing.

It is so important while the vaccine is rolling out and listen -- there should be no vaccine in any warehouse anyplace in this country. There's no excuse for not getting everything out immediately and getting it into the most important people, the people that work in our hospitals.

I also think that we need to get it to teachers. If we are going to start school reliably and safely every teacher in the country, elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers have to get vaccinated. That's the key to reopening the economy, to get the kids back in school.

WHITFIELD: Senator McConnell, House Speaker Pelosi got their vaccinations yesterday, as did the vice president, Vice President Pence. But at least one Republican congressman says he will not get the vaccine because he doesn't trust that it is safe. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEN BUCK (R-CO): I'm an American. I have the freedom to decide if I'm going to take a vaccine or not and in this case I'm not going to take the vaccine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could I ask you why?

REP. BUCK: Yes. Because I'm more concerned about the safety of the vaccine than I am the side effects of the disease. I'm a healthy person and I think most Americans are healthy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Congressman Ken Buck there. What does that do to, I guess, the ray of hope that so many are counting on with these vaccines?

[11:24:54]

SHALALA: You know, it is a lack of leadership. We need every leader in this country to be consistent that this vaccine is safe.

There is no question about its safety. We've heard it from the scientists. We have now heard it from the vice president of the United States and the second lady. I think that it's important that leaders transmit a consistent message. That's been part of our problem. The communications have to be consistent.

And this vaccine is safe. And all of us ought to support both the reliability, the safety. And he may not want to get it but everybody else has to get it to protect him. Everybody else has to wear a mask and practice social distancing to protect him.

And frankly that's not what leaders should do. He should be out there leading with the rest of us.

WHITFIELD: So it sounds like without hesitation you will get your vaccine. Do you have any idea when, where you are in line in which to get it?

SHALALA: Well, actually, members of Congress are going to get it in the next week or so. So I expect to get it soon. I don't want to take a vaccine away from people in my district so if it's available to members of Congress I'll get it here because it will not replace someone in my district.

WHITFIELD: Ok. Congresswoman Donna Shalala -- there's got to be a back story as to why your pooch and how your pooch got the name Fauci.

SHALALA: Just a rescue dog during COVID.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well, see that's perfect. I'm sure Dr. Fauci would really appreciate that, too.

All right. Well, thank you so much for being with us and thanks to Pooch Fauci for making his voice heard, too.

And there he is. Thank you so much.

All right. Still ahead, very serious matter here but very encouraging, right? Dr. Sanjay Gupta dispels the skepticism around the coronavirus vaccine and gets a shot himself right there on camera. Why he says he did not hesitate at all.

And I'll speak live with a volunteer who participated in the Moderna vaccine trials. We'll talk about the benefits, the potential side effects.

We've been talking with him all along in this past year and now his thoughts on approval of this vaccine by Moderna for emergency use.

[11:27:26]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: As a second vaccine gets ready for a rollout health care workers around the country have been lining up since Monday to get their shots. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta joined the ranks this week receiving the Pfizer vaccine and then sharing his experience.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It was quite an extraordinary moment, I have to tell you, to get that vaccine and a real collision of my world.

As a health care worker, they're vaccinating people at the hospital where I work and when my turn came I did not hesitate. But also as a journalist, you know, who's been covering the story of COVID for so long, I had really seen the beginnings of this vaccine development.

I had followed the clinical trials, interviewed people like FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn, looked at the results of those trials and then made an educated decision for myself.

I could tell you I was very comfortable with the idea of getting this vaccine. I didn't hesitate because I know that it is safe and effective based on the data that I have looked.

But I was surprised to learn, for example, that there's still significant hesitancy even among health care workers at my own hospital.

Take a look there. You know, about a third, a third, a third. A third of people say that they would go ahead and get the vaccine. A third say they would not get the vaccine roughly. And a third said they need more information.

It is part of the reason again, we decided to do this on camera and try and provide some of that information. Along with me was the dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, an obstetrician herself, a surgeon. And I asked her specifically about what made her comfortable getting this vaccine.

DR. VALERIE MONTGOMERY RICE, DEAN, MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: There are black scientists in the room where decisions are being made so we clearly are not going to go against ourselves, right, because we understand how critical this is for black America and Latinx America who has been disproportionately impacted by the virus.

I would not actually recommend anything if I did not believe it was safe.

DR. GUPTA: As you heard, Dr. Rice talked about how there's been representation through all these various aspects of the vaccine development and the trials.

I wanted to give you a few numbers to sort of put in the back of your mind as well.

When you look at the representation within these trials for the Pfizer trial and the Moderna trial, you can see just how many trial participants were black or African-Americans.

Now there's going to continue to be a fair amount of vaccine hesitancy, this we know, although it is improving. There are fewer people who are hesitant now as compared to September and even more so as compared to the summer.

But unless enough people get vaccinated we are not going to reach that herd immunity that you have heard so much about. It is part of the reason I did it. I've got to tell you, I feel fine. And I'm looking forward to getting my second shot about three weeks from now.

Hope this helps. Hope it provides a little bit more information that people definitely want and need right now. And as we get more details about these trials and what's happening with these vaccines we'll certainly bring it to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:35:01]

WHITFIELD: Thanks, Sanjay. I'm sure it will help because you are very influential.

All right. As the U.S. enters our darkest days yet of the coronavirus pandemic, more help is finally on the way. Advisers to the FDA recommending that second vaccine, this one from Moderna.

On Friday, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization meaning the vaccine could be used as early as next week. It's yet another step in finally putting this pandemic at least helping to control it to some degree and putting it behind us.

But one that did not come without months of tireless work from doctors, scientists, volunteers who put their own health at risk to test the vaccine before everyone else would be eligible to get it. So joining me right now, one of those volunteers for the Moderna vaccine trials, Neal Browning. Neal, you and I have spoken a lot in the last months about why you volunteered, what your experience has been.

And then now there is this approval for emergency use of the very vaccine in which you volunteered. So what does that news feel like to you now that you have been through what you have been through?

NEAL BROWNING, VOLUNTEER FOR MODERNA VACCINE TRIALS: Honestly it feels like we can finally see the finish line in this long marathon we've been on. It is great news. We now have two vaccines out there and there are many more being developed.

And just because of supply issues, the way that this is manufactured we are going to try and, you know, get as many out there as we can I'm sure. And it's going to take multiple vaccines to try and inoculate everyone in the world in a short matter of time.

WHITFIELD: So express to me what this personal gratification is like for you to get through this juncture of this approval after volunteering yourself, your body, your family, everybody to come to this day, this moment.

BROWNING: It's just amazing. I mean honestly to think that just -- three days ago was nine months to the day that I got the first dose of this and now we are already getting this out. It's going to be trucked around this week and hopefully put in the arms of those who need it most on the front line and vulnerable.

I just never thought that things would happen this fast. I never thought that things would go this badly in this country and I didn't really understand the depth of what I was doing at the time but I'm really glad and if I had to do it all over again I definitely would.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. So you really didn't understand the gravity but then there was something about it, you know, and this moment that we're all in that made you say yes to volunteering. What was that thing? What was the inspiration?

BROWNING: Well, not being in the medical field myself but being very empathetic to the tragedies we're seeing around the world as many countries' hospital systems were being overwhelmed and the numbers kept climbing, I felt like I need to step up and do whatever I can.

So when I got the opportunity to participate in this trial I threw my name in the hat.

WHITFIELD: So reflect if you could about all the phases, the mostly self-administered injections, right? Express to me, what was your experience? What were the potential what were the side effects if any and mentally what were you going through?

BROWNING: Mentally, I'll start off with first, it was ok right up until the point when you walk into the clinic and then you realize this is real. This is going to be something nobody's ever had in the human body before. And I'm going to be putting myself out there and I sure hope this goes well.

Obviously the results are better than we could have ever imagined with the mid-90s efficacy rate but honestly no steps were skipped. This was done very well. We were all treated very kindly. We were all given as much opportunity to ask questions and all of our answers were given in clear, nonclinical terms.

They took really good care of us and they just basically staggered the same steps they would normally go through spread across a year or two so that they're happening in parallel rather than just happening of one after the other.

WHITFIELD: Did you ever have any side effects?

BROWNING: My only side effect at getting a quarter of what the vaccine dose currently being administered is, was a mildly sore arm the next morning when I woke up which went away within 10 or 15 minutes.

WHITFIELD: Well Neal Browning, can I say congratulations? Because you know, here we as a world, you know, are at this juncture where there's approval, at least in the United States, to move forward. Perhaps the first shot in the arm comes on Monday and I say congratulations, right, because, you know, you took it for the team so to speak.

[11:39:50]

WHITFIELD: You know, you were among those who volunteered yourself and put a lot on the line to see if it would work for a great number of people and you could potentially be making a huge impact.

BROWNING: Yes. I agree. All the people who are involved really are taking part in this congratulations. It is definitely not just me.

WHITFIELD: Neal browning, thank you so much. And thank you for being with us and filling us in on your experience along the way.

BROWNING: My pleasure.

WHITFIELD: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: After making some very big promises on the environment during his campaign, President-Elect Joe Biden is set to introduce his climate team today in Wilmington, Delaware.

Biden already announced former Senator John Kerry as his environment chief but today we'll see the rest of the team including former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.

CNN's Rebecca Buck is at the White House for us now.

So, Rebecca, President-Elect Biden seems to be positioning his team to move quickly on some of the biggest issues.

[11:45:01]

REBECCA BUCK, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: That's right, Fred.

And obviously the speed at which Biden and his team will be able to actually move forward on some of these big issues like climate will of course be contingent on what happens in the Senate with the confirmation process when it comes to these nominees. And we still don't know whether the Senate will be controlled by Republicans or Democrats. That of course, hinges on these ongoing Senate runoff races in Georgia.

But you can see that Biden is not waiting for the outcome in those races to make his decision on these big cabinet nominations. And so sticking really to his core beliefs and moving ahead as if he is going to get these nominees confirmed.

So regardless of the timing once he actually takes office he's sending a strong message about what his priorities ae going to be as president and how he is going to address some of these major issues that he made big promises on as a candidate for president.

So today as you mentioned we are going to be hearing from Biden and his picks for his climate and energy positions in his administration.

I want to focus in on one in particular, Congresswoman Deb Haaland of New Mexico. She is a pick that's really getting a lot of buzz, very exciting for many Democrats across the spectrum ideologically in the party.

And she is an interesting pick for a couple of reasons and really illustrates what we have seen from President-Elect Biden so far. She's the first native American who would serve in this role if she's confirmed so a really ground breaking pick. She's also someone who's getting a lot of excitement from across the ideological spectrum.

These are things we have seen consistently from Biden in his cabinet picks so far. So it really tells us where he is going to be going as president with these picks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Rebecca Buck in Washington. Doesn't look or sound like you're in front of the White House but it's not far away. Ok.

Thank you Rebecca.

All right. We'll have live coverage of President-Elect Biden's announcement later on today starting at around 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.

All right. Still ahead, President Trump says everything is under control after Russia launches a major cyber attack against key U.S. government agencies but that's not how Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sees it.

[11:47:09]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right. Wondering about the president's -- what's been the president's silence on the largest hacking of U.S. agencies by Russia now? Well, now the president is breaking his silence, so to speak, tweeting this, that he has been fully briefed on the massive cyberattack and that everything is under control. He also accuses the media for blaming Russia when anything happens.

But that's a totally different story than what the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is saying. He believes Russia is behind the attack against key department of U.S. government agencies. The attack also targeted some of America's biggest companies.

CNN is learning that the attack was carried out over months, but the scope of the cyberespionage campaign only became clear recently.

Here's CNN's Alex Marquardt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are getting new information about what was known and when. And it was several months ago that American officials who monitor for threats to critical infrastructure, when they first noticed suspicious activity. That's according to three sources speaking to CNN.

That suspicious activity we now know was linked to what we're now reporting as one of the largest hacking operations in history. But at the time, those officials weren't able to tie what they were seeing to the software, which we know the hackers used to get inside.

The activity that they saw was classified and did not provide conclusive evidence that the networks had been compromised. But it still worried top cybersecurity officials that there were potential vulnerabilities in the systems.

Then, fast forward to ten days ago, the top cybersecurity firm FireEye revealed that it had been hacked. That was then followed several days later by the U.S. government admitting it, too, had been targeted in what we now know is the biggest breach the U.S. government has ever seen.

We're learning more every day about what these hackers who are believed to be connected to the Russian intelligence services, what they had access to. But given the sophistication, there is still so much that needs to be learned. What data was accessed? What was done with it?

18,000 customers use this software that the hackers rode into these networks on from a company called SolarWinds. All of those clients, including many in the U.S. government, they all need to do a forensic analysis.

That could take months or longer. We may never know the full extent of what these hackers did. The U.S. cyber agency known as CISA has also said in a statement that there were other methods used to get in. And techniques that have not yet been discovered. The scale and sophistication of this operation that has been going on since March cannot be overstated.

Alex Marquardt, CNN -- Washington.

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WHITFIELD: So much more straight ahead in the newsroom.

But first, here's this week's "Mission Ahead".

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RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United States has a recycling problem. Since China stopped buying millions of tons of American recycling in 2018, the U.S. has struggled to come up with a long-term solution. The EPA says one of the biggest challenges is contamination.

The recycling process can break down, if trash gets mixed in with recyclable material.

JASON GATES, CEO, COMPOLOGY: If the material is contaminated and we're not able to reuse it we have to send that material to a landfill.

[11:54:55]

CRANE: To help combat the problem, Compology installs cameras in its clients dumpsters and uses artificial intelligence to detect contamination in real time. If it does, the client gets an alert to remove it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We take pictures, three to five times a day. We track the fullness, the type of material going inside it and when that container is serviced.

CRANE: The company's clients include Nordstrom, Capital One, Starbucks, ADT and McDonald's.

GATES: Our restaurant managers receive a notification any time we have an instance of a violation.

CRANE: The cameras also detect how much waste goes in a trash or recycling bin. That helps ensure dump trucks only empty them when full, which in turn saves clients money on pickups.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our initial brush, we've seen a 31 percent reduction in our waste spending.

CRANE: Fewer pick-ups also mean dump trucks spend less time driving and that results in lower carbon emissions.

GATES: Across the Las Vegas Valley, we've been able to reduce our carbon footprint by over 8,000 truck miles travel, in that process, reducing CO2 emissions by 32 metric tons.

CRANE: Compology says it has 162,000 cameras snapping photos in dumpsters across the country. But it is still a small dent in the recycling industry's problems.

Experts agree, better consumer education is critical.

GATES: It's really important to be able to understand what's going on inside your dumpster in order to improve your behaviors around recycling and reducing the amount of waste going to landfills.

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[11:56:21]

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