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Operation Warp Speed Chief: Moderna Vaccine Trucks Roll Out Tomorrow; Now: Congress Scrambles To Reach COVID-19 Relief Deal; Interview With Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE); Trump Refuses To Condemn Russia In First Comments On Cyber Attack; Pompeo On Massive Hack: We Can Say Pretty Clearly That It Was The Russians That Engaged In This Activity; Trump Hosts Michael Flynn Calls For Martial Law To "Re-Run" The Election. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired December 19, 2020 - 16:00   ET

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

JAMES CLAPPER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: And a part of this National Defense Authorization Act is the establishment of a cyber czar or cyber director in the White House which we need. There used to be a position like that. Last occupant was Tom Bossert to coordinate, not only intergovernmental, but for that matter, a society-wide approach which is what we need now because this isn't an assault just on the government.

[16:00:11]

And I think --

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: An assault.

CLAPPER: -- a new administration would need to wait carefully, though, what counter-retaliation they would invoke and not to do it hastily.

GOLODRYGA: Well, it's an eye-opening attack and we, of course, need to hear more from President Trump.

Former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

CLAPPER: Thanks, Bianna.

(MUSIC)

GOLODRYGA: And top of the hour. I'm Bianna Golodryga, in for Ana Cabrera.

Breaking news this afternoon: the CDC's advisory panel has just voted to recommend Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18 and older. The CDC director is expected to give the final green light at any moment, and then it will be all systems go for a second COVID-19 vaccine.

The Operation Warp Speed chief operating officer says trucks carrying vaccine will begin rolling out tomorrow, heading to relieve frontline health care workers and America's most vulnerable. One group that hasn't been clear to take the vaccine is children. Dr. Anthony Fauci today tells CNN that the U.S. may start clinical trials with children in a matter of weeks with the results available in just a few months.

This hopeful prospect follows worrying news out of the U.K., however, where a new, even more contagious strain of COVID has emerged. It's so serious, in fact, that it's prompting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reverse course and put parts of the country back into lockdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, the potential risk it poses, it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you, we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: This strain does not appear to affect the impact of treatment or vaccines, but England's chief medical officer says urgent work is under way to rule out if the new strain is somehow deadlier.

An urgent work also under way on Capitol Hill. Negotiations over the long-awaited COVID-19 relief package continued late last night into today, but there is still division over at least one key issue.

CNN's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju joins me now.

Manu, are Americans going to get the relief they desperately need now?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's still a big question. There's a debate over the policy. There's a question about whether the process can move quick enough. But there are discussions that are happening in a rapid pace in the United States Senate.

The big issue that's holding things up is this push by Republican Senator Pat Toomey to essentially rein in the Federal Reserve's emergency lending authority that was created in the March rescue package that he and other Republicans are concerned that that proposal -- that lending authority continues into the New Year. They contend it will be a slush fund in their view. They want restricted.

Democrats, however, say this is all part of an effort to constrain the incoming Biden administration, and they are pushing back. So they've been going back and forth on this issue for a couple of days now.

And Pat Toomey just emerged from Chuck Schumer's office, the Senate Democratic leader. They had a meeting right off the Senate floor. I talked to Pat Toomey about two minutes ago before coming on air. He said, I think we can get a deal done.

I said when will that happen? Can that be today? He said, I don't know about the time frame but we'll -- I think we can get a deal done.

I said, are you optimistic, pessimistic? He still -- he wouldn't really give any indication one way or the other. But even if they were to resolve this issue, which has been a major sticking point, there are still questions about how quickly this bill could be drafted, what if, in fact, could go to the House floor by tomorrow afternoon, which is the hope of Democratic and Republican leaders. And if it were to get out of the House, how quickly could it come to the United States Senate and get passed.

There's also this deadline by 11:59 p.m. tomorrow night where they have to extend government funding. The government will shut down. The hope among Republican and Democratic leaders is they can tie the government funding package and as well as $900 billion COVID relief package together, jam it through Congress in a matter of hours. But that's going to require a lot of cooperation and, Bianna, most members -- virtually none of the members have seen the details of either proposal. Both the big spending package and this COVID relief plan.

So there will be -- it's uncertain whether it could move quickly enough to become law. Uncertain what will be in there but talks are intensifying. We'll see if they are able to reach a deal, but their goal is to reach a deal tonight, vote tomorrow. Big question if they'll be able to do that, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Unemployment benefits said to expire for millions of Americans just a day after Christmas as well. So many Americans desperately need this aid.

Manu Raju, you're on top of this for us. Thank you so much.

Well, now, let's get right to CNN's Pete Muntean following this major vote by CDC advisors to recommend Moderna's vaccine for emergency use.

[16:05:03]

Pete is outside of Moderna processing facility in Mississippi.

So, Pete, give us the latest now.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're standing by for the shipments to begin, Bianna. We just learned from Operation Warp Speed that the trucks will leave here starting tomorrow. But the deliveries will not really begin until Monday.

It all begins here. This is a McKesson facility. That's the company in charge of the distribution of the Moderna vaccine. It's a strategic spot. We're close to Memphis, which is close to FedEx headquarters.

And it's FedEx and UPS that will carry the Moderna vaccine to 3,000 locations across the country. Those are places like hospitals and pharmacies.

This initial roll-out much larger than the Pfizer roll-out, about four times the size, 3,000 locations compared to 600 locations initially. This is a major improvement in Operation Warp Speed.

GOLODRYGA: I want to talk about problems that have come up, though, with the Pfizer shipments and an apology as well today from the head of Operation Warp Speed. It's something we don't hear quite often.

MUNTEAN: Yeah, General Gustave Perna says he's learned a lot in the last week of this vaccine distribution and he actually apologized for states getting less vaccine than they initially thought that they would. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. GUSTAVE PERNA, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, OPERATION WARP SPEED: It was my fault. I gave guidance. I am the one that approved the forecast sheets. I am the one that approved the allocations, all right?

There is no problem with the process. There is no problem with the Pfizer vaccine. There is no problem with the Moderna vaccine, all right? It was a planning error, and I am responsible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Now, 6 million Moderna doses will leave here starting Monday. That -- starting tomorrow actually. That, along with the Pfizer doses that are going out early next week, Operation Warp Speed said about 8 million doses are going to all 50 states and all U.S. territories.

The Moderna vaccine does have one advantage over the Pfizer vaccine. It does not need to be stored at super cold temperatures. In fact, it can be stored in a regular freezer. So, that adds some flexibility to this. It can actually be going to more places like rural communities.

So there is an upshot of this vaccine about to be delivered from McKesson's facility here in -- just outside of Memphis.

GOLODRYGA: I love that you're in Olive Branch, the name of that town. I'm sorry it's raining and you're standing in the rain. Get back inside, but I think that that word, and Olive Branch is the town, a lot of symbolism here. We need a lot of olive branches in this country right now. Thank you so much, Pete Muntean.

And with me now is Dr. William Schaffner, professor in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Doctor, welcome.

So what are your thoughts on this communication to states about the number of doses available as we look to another roll-out for a second vaccine. Will states be starting this roll-out already behind where they thought they were going to be?

DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, PROFESSOR, DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: No, no, this is all exciting news, Bianna. Having the Moderna vaccine, in addition to the Pfizer vaccine will, as Pete said, allow the distribution of the vaccine much more widely. It can go out to many more rural areas, smaller hospitals, local county health departments that can start distributing the vaccine while the folks deal with the Pfizer vaccine are vaccinating in large medical centers.

So we'll have two arms, two vaccines going at the same time. And we're ready for the lines to form. We want to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we can. GOLODRYGA: And it needs to happen as quickly as we can, too. We're

seeing more and more record number of Americans infected, a record number of Americans dying as well. So, we could use all the help we need.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the coronavirus vaccine trials might begin in children in January, and that the results would be ready a few months after that. The trials begin.

How important is that? We know, thank God, children aren't affected as significantly as adults are, but we also know that they can spread the virus.

SCHAFFNER: Surely. This was a plan done in sequence. First you test this new vaccine in adults. Then we show it's as effective as it is, and as safe, we can start moving down the age range.

We'll do it in teenagers and then toddlers and then down to even infants perhaps. And that's quite appropriate. We would like to vaccinate as many people as possible. I'm sure that every parent in the country would be delighted to have their children vaccinated so that they won't get sick, they can, it's not as serious as in adults, but occasionally, we do have children who get very sick, and as you said, they are transmitters.

So the more vaccine, the faster we can get this COVID pandemic under some sort of control.

Now we still have to wear our masks. Let's not get over exuberant.

[16:10:02]

We have to stay away from groups. We have to do the social distancing. And we'll have to do that for months.

We can't vaccinate everybody as I'd like to say in a week and a half. This will take time.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah. I've got my mask here, too. And as many doctors have said, just because you're vaccinated doesn't mean you can go back doing things you did prior to the coronavirus and the pandemic.

I want to ask you about that. I'm glad you brought masks up. As we saw the vice president being vaccinated and said and reminded people to wear masks, President Trump literally within a minute or two of that retweeted a tweet questioning the efficacy of masks.

This was the same warning, the vice president and surgeon general were getting vaccinated to show the coronavirus vaccine was safe and effective. He is the president of the United States. What message does that send to the American public?

SCHAFFNER: Let's just focus on -- we medical people, our public health colleagues, Dr. Fauci.

Masks work. They're safe. They're cheap. We can do this to protect ourselves and to protect the people around us.

That's the Christmas spirit.

GOLODRYGA: Well, I love that spirit as well. And I think you are helping millions of Americans every time you say that and remind people of the significance of mask wearing.

And it's not just an issue, obviously, here that we're talking about or the United States. This is a global pandemic.

Let me ask you what's taking place in the U.K. right now, where you got Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposing a strict lockdown in London after scientists there warned about a fast spreading variant of the coronavirus.

How significant -- how worrisome is that variant?

SCHAFFNER: Well, we're -- we've got our eye on that. It appears to spread more readily, but fortunately, at the moment, as your piece before said, there's no evidence yet that it makes you more sick, or that the treatments and the vaccines won't work. So, all the more reason for us to get this vaccine out around the world to curtail the spread of this virus.

GOLODRYGA: Dr. William Schaffner, I love your optimism. I don't want you to think that I'm a downer either. It is incredible what science has been able to do in such a short period of time. Not one, but two vaccines. We've got more coming up as well.

It is science at its best and we thank doctors like you around the world for doing such incredible work. Thank you so much for joining us.

SCHAFFNER: My pleasure.

GOLODRYGA: And coming up -- Congress still at a standstill, kicking the can down the road on COVID stimulus as struggling Americans line up for canned goods. So what are the sticking points?

I'll talk to Democratic Senator Chris Coons coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:16:47]

GOLODRYGA: On Capitol Hill right now, congressional leaders say they are close but still cannot agree on what the new long-awaited COVID-19 relief bill will look like. Unless a deal is reached, there will be no federal jobless benefits starting next year. No help for small businesses hammered by the pandemic, and still no new round of stimulus checks.

Well, at least one U.S. senator is tired of waiting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): It's frustrating as all get out to me that we've 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And that was Democratic Senator Chris Coons earlier today. He joins me now live.

Senator, you know, you were venting the same way I'm sure millions of Americans are when they were watching this latest hold-up right now. It's a final holdup and it centers on Senator Toomey's apparent last- minute effort to cut off the Federal Reserve's ability to restart pandemic relief programs.

Is that the case? Is this the holdup? And do you think it can be resolved?

COONS: That's right, Bianna. I just spoke with Senator Toomey on the floor of the Senate. There was a lot of discussion back and forth.

Senator Schumer of New York who is the minority leader is exchanging proposals with Senator Toomey right now.

It is down to this one last question about a somewhat obscure provision of a 1932 Depression Era law that allows the Federal Reserve under fiscal emergency to issue credit to help with liquidity for the markets.

Senator Toomey wants to make it clear that that power can only be used with specific authorization. Democrats are pushing back and saying that's not our understanding of the law. We need to resolve this.

I am hearing all day from Delawareans that they are deeply frustrated. There are no other issues to resolve in this bill. There will be $600 stimulus checks. There will be additional unemployment insurance. There will be assistance for food banks. There will be additional assistance for those facing eviction if we can get this done.

It is maddening to be here all weekend with just this last issue holding us up, and I am confident that, frankly, we can't go home without doing this. And we have an entire floor full of senators saying, let's resolve this.

The key missing component is presidential leadership to get us through this.

GOLODRYGA: Well, I am hearing even the Fed officials are sort of surprised at this last-minute hold-up and asked for Senator Toomey. I know you said you just spoke with him.

Was there any sense from him that he would be able to negotiate this or walk this back and not demand it, given that he's now getting pressure from both sides about something that is so relatively obscure and, by the way, helped in the first CARES Act back in the spring? COONS: It is going to be difficult to get him to back down without

some language that recognizes his position. He's kept us here for hours waiting for resolution to this point. The one positive I'll say is at least it's really clear exactly what the issue is and what needs to be done to address it.

We have a caucus conference call coming up at 5:00 where we're going to get the latest on how Senator Schumer and Senator Toomey have fared in their attempt to craft a few words that would cover this difference.

[16:20:10]

Bianna, this is part of what makes politics so difficult at times when you've got folks who have strongly held views and any one individual senator can hold us up from getting to a resolution.

GOLODRYGA: Well, so many Americans, as you mention in Delaware, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania desperate for help. I'm sure Senator Toomey is aware of that as well.

CNN actually talked to one woman who was laid off from her job at Disney along with her husband. She told us, Senator, that she has enough money for just one more mortgage payment. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA JOHNSON, LAID OFF FROM DISNEY WORLD: 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 thinking about like one hospital visit would almost like bankrupt you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Does this, Senator, not come across as tone deaf given there's an obscure issue that's holding relief for millions of Americans back when you hear just one of those families talk about the anxiety they have, the stress they're facing because they don't know how they're going to make their next mortgage payment.

COONS: Bianna, there are 6 million Americans who are currently behind on their rent or their mortgage who are facing eviction, the loss of their home or their apartment. I know that there are millions who are suffering because the pandemic is in its worst phase ever. A friend of mine from Delaware buried her husband on Friday who died from COVID.

So I am perfectly clear. I have a hard time understanding how my colleagues are not also perfectly clear. It is long past time for us to get this done. We should have passed a big and bold COVID relief package months ago.

We should not be playing games with this right up against the holidays. I'm not trying to disparage any particular senators' opinion or views. I just think it's time for us to resolve what we can and move forward.

GOLODRYGA: And I was preparing for this interview assuming we would have already had a deal and ask you --

COONS: Me, too.

GOLODRYGA: -- about the details in the deal, because you hear $600 stimulus for Americans. You hear $300 added per week enhancement for federal unemployment benefits. And Americans look back and say, okay, that's something. I know that.

But this is what you've been negotiating over for months, kicking the can down for months for $600? Why didn't Democrats dig their heels in more, demanding more money than that?

COONS: W did, Bianna. That's part of what held this up for eight months. As you know, the House, which is controlled by Democrats, passed a bill that was more than $3 trillion and tried and tried to get it discussed, debated or taken up here in the Senate.

The Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, had their leader say months ago, no more than $500 billion. And most of it to be spent on businesses, on helping small businesses, either stay open or reopen.

Where we are ending up is compromising on $900 billion. But it has been months and months and months that Democrats in the Senate and Democrats in the House have insisted on a multitrillion-dollar relief bill and have found a wall of resistance here in the Senate.

So, why didn't we dig in our heels harder? We did. And the result has been months of more and more suffering just like you shared with the woman who was saying how scared she is. She cannot make it one more month.

We are compromising at a $900 billion level that will provide support for food banks, for eviction relief, for an extension of unemployment, for help for schools and hospitals. And pandemic distri -- excuse me -- vaccine distribution and support for small businesses because Democrats feel we have to get something done.

GOLODRYGA: Would help to have the president involved in this. There may be a time and place to talk about obscure Fed policy details, but this is not the time for that, as millions of Americans are suffering.

COONS: Bianna, I am -- Bianna, I am genuinely struck by what President Trump is doing today. He's not helping us respond to the Russian attack. He is not being a good role model by wearing a mask or getting vaccinated. He is not helping negotiate this deal. He is not even acting as president.

He is, frankly, ceding the role of being president to the president- elect, who will be sworn in a month from tomorrow.

GOLODRYGA: Well, we need every single day to have a president that will help suffering Americans, and that doesn't seem to be happening.

Senator Chris Coons, thank you so much. We appreciate it. Get back and hopefully you can negotiate a deal.

COONS: Thank you, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Well, it's like finding out you've been robbed but that the burglar first lived with you for months. That is how some are describing the massive cyberattack against the U.S. government.

Top officials say all signs point to Russia, so who is President Trump blaming?

[16:25:03]

Here's a hint. You probably don't need one. It's not Vladimir Putin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: Updating you on our breaking news. President Trump finally broke his silence on what's being described as the worst cyberattack in U.S. history, one that breached dozens of federal agencies and companies for months.

And instead of condemnations, what we heard was a president trying to downplay Russia's suspected role.

[16:30:00]

He tweeted: "The cyber hack is far greater in the fake news media than in actual reality. I've been fully briefed and everything is well under control."

"Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens. Discussing the possibility that it may be China. It may."

"There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election, which is now obvious that I won big, making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the United States."

Most every single word of that is false.

And CNN's Jeremy Diamond is at the White House with the latest.

Jeremy, I guess we should become numb to these kinds of tweets but we continue to be surprised.

And we are now reporting that the White House itself was about to put out a statement accusing Russia for the hack, which is probably why Secretary Pompeo said as much until, obviously, contradicted by the president himself.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: White House officials had not only begun to draft a statement yesterday assigning blame to Russia officially for this cyberattack, but they were also preparing to release that statement yesterday until it was suddenly those plans were suddenly scuttled.

Now it seems we have an indication as to why those plans were scrapped, and that seems to be because the president of the United States disagrees with the U.S. government's own conclusions about this cyberattack assigning the blame to Russia.

The president there, you saw him not only deflecting once again, playing defense for Russia as it relates to their responsibility in the cyberattack, suggesting that perhaps China was involved.

But perhaps downplaying the severity of this very serious cyberattack which the FBI, the DNI, and the Office of Cybersecurity, the Department of Homeland Security have all said was a significant breach.

And you heard Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just yesterday. He went even further as relates to Russia's responsibility, further than the president of the United States, and further than the U.S. government had done so.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: There was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems and it now appears systems of private companies and companies and governments across the world as well.

This was a very significant effort. And I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND And now the question is: How can the U.S. government square with the president of the United States, what he's saying versus the entire U.S. government apparatus, which seems to be arriving at this conclusion that Russia was behind this cyberattack?

It leaves U.S. government officials, intelligence officials in a very difficult position. Of course, it's certainly not the first time we've seen this from the president -- Bianna?

GOLODRYGA: Difficult position and embarrassing one, quite frankly, on a global stage.

Jeremy Diamond, thank you.

Joining me now is CNN Presidential Historian, Douglas Brinkley, and CNN Global Affairs Analyst and staff writer for the "New Yorker," Susan Glasser.

Susan, your reaction to this tweet from the president who, I don't have to remind you, just a few years ago, sided with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. And then decided that it would be a great idea to have a joint cyberoperation with Russia.

SUSAN GLASSER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: You know, Bianna, it appears that Donald Trump is ending his presidency as he began it, denying a major Russian attack inside the United States. This time, the interference is so widespread, we're still trying to

even figure out the extent to which different agencies, key agencies of our government have been compromised.

Once again, contradicting his intelligence agencies. This is how Donald Trump began the very beginning of his presidency.

What I find alarming, it comes in the context of a massive kind of denial by the president. He's pulled up in the Oval Office meeting with conspiracy theorists.

He apparently hosted Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser, there who has been openly calling for martial law.

At the same time, he wakes up the next morning and is tweeting, no, Russia had nothing to do with this.

It's a very, very alarming situation when the president of the United States is so disconnected from reality.

And this is an ongoing threat, by the way. The government made clear they have not yet made -- understood the full extent of how U.S. government systems are compromised.

GOLODRYGA: And it may take months to finally get to the full extent of how compromised we really are. Really just sitting ducks here.

And, Doug, I want to ask you about General Michael Flynn now that Susan brought him up.

The one commonality here is this is focusing on the president himself. Not on the fact that there's no deal in Congress that millions of Americans are hungry and don't have jobs and are desperate for money.

That Russia just staged the largest attack on U.S. democracy here, hitting our cyber system as well.

But let's listen to Michael Flynn. Susan said he was right there in the Oval Office with the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: He could order the -- within the swing states, if he wanted to, he could take military capabilities and place them in those states and basically rerun an election in those states.

[16:35:07]

I mean, it's not unprecedented. These people out there talking about martial law like it's something we've never done. Martial law has been instituted 64 -- 64 times.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: So, Doug, Flynn was careful to add that he is not specifically calling for the president to declare martial law. But I mean, if this talk was happening in any other country, how would we describe it?

And what do you make of him meet with the president in the Oval Office just recently now?

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, we know Donald Trump and Michael Flynn have been puppets of Vladimir Putin. They came in that way and they're going out that way.

We have to remember that Flynn is a felon. That he's basically on his knees, you know, at Donald Trump's disposal due to being able to get a pardon.

And at the Kremlin, they're laughing at the United States.

This cyberattack isn't like a little thing. It is an unbelievable effort to undermine the United States.

The fact that as we're talking, Russia went into the systems of commerce and agriculture and the State Department and Homeland Security Cyber Force and Microsoft, on and on.

And Donald Trump is twiddling his thumbs doing nutty tweets about China and allowing the United States to be humiliated and embarrassed in this fashion?

I grew up as an historian thinking the big question was always, who killed John F. Kennedy. And people questioned it.

The big new historical question is: What in the world does Russia have on Donald Trump that he is willing to grovel in front of Putin in such a fashion? Have his secretary of state say it's Russia and then go on and disregard Pompeo?

I feel Mike Pompeo needs to take to a podium, tell the American people what's happening, and resign in protest of Trump's allowing Russia to infiltrate the United States as he's a lame-duck president these last few weeks.

GOLODRYGA: Given his previous actions, we shouldn't hold our breath waiting for Mike Pompeo to do that.

One thing the president has been busy doing is tweeting support for Senate Republicans. Many of them willing to defy the will of the voters, including Senator-Elect Tommy Tuberville of Alabama who had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)

SEN.-ELECT TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-AL): We're going to fight hard.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What are you going to do on January 6th? Madison said you had tricks up your sleeve. TUBERVILLE: You see what's coming. You've been reading about it.

You've been reading about it.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The Democrats --

(CROSSTALK)

TUBERVILLE: We're about to do it in --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: This is how he plans to enter the Senate, defying Mitch McConnell. This is a doomed plot that's going to fail.

Your latest piece in the "New Yorker" is titled "Trump's New Brand Is Loser." His favorite insult for others but kryptonite for himself.

How many times does Donald Trump need to lose this election before he finally accepts reality?

GLASSER: He may or may not ever accept reality. I think we do understand that on January 20th, he will no longer be president, regardless of what state of reality or denial he's in.

The issue, as you pointed out, is what about all these people who have been enabling this? Are they really comfortable hosting Michael Flynn in the Oval Office to talk about martial law, to talk about redoing the election?

The Electoral College has met and has ratified Joe Biden's victory. This is how our Constitution says it's going to work. This is how it works.

Even Mitch McConnell belatedly, six weeks too late, has recognized the outcome of the election.

These folks went along with this. Otherwise, Donald Trump would just be a man shouting on Twitter.

And you know, what is amazing for me --- and Doug can speak to this as an historian -- was that there would be so many people in the United States who would go along with these attacks on the foundations of our democracy.

I do know that when the record of all this is totaled up -- and it's going to be a long time -- what's happened after the election by Donald Trump in attacking the legitimacy of our institutions is certainly going to rank up there with, you know, his most outrageous things he's done in the course of the last four years.

GOLODRYGA: Unfortunately, we've run out of time.

But Doug Brinkley, definitely has job security. A lot to write about in the future about these four years, and not just the president but all of those people enabling his crazy actions.

Susan Glasser, the fire looks cozy as well.

Thank you so much for joining us.

BRINKLEY: Thanks.

GOLODRYGA: Have a great weekend, both of you.

BRINKLEY: You, too.

[16:39:49]

GOLODRYGA: And coming up, President-Elect Biden unveils the team he's counting on to combat climate change. The historic picks among the group coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: President-Elect Joe Biden today pledging action on the climate crisis. Announcing key cabinet nominees and members of his climate team. And the list includes historic picks.

Let's go to CNN's Jeff Zeleny who was at the announcement in Wilmington, Delaware.

Jeff, tell us more about Biden's picks and how he plans to leverage this team to tackle climate issues.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: This is the latest of cabinet picks. We've seen several barrier-breaking picks. Today was no exception to that.

Of course, the nominee for Interior secretary, New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland. She'd be the first Native American to serve as interior secretary, if confirmed by the Senate, but also to serve in a president's cabinet. Certainly, she is one of the historic picks.

But President-Elect Biden talked about how climate change will be at the center of his agenda. He called it an existential threat.

Of course, they want to undo some of the actions of the Trump administration. More than that, they want to put a priority on fighting climate change.

[16:45:02]

But also the energy secretary nominee, a familiar face, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. She talked about clean energy and how it can drive the economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER GRANHOLM, (D), ENERGY SECRETARY NOMINEE: So we can stand on the sidelines and let other countries beat us to these opportunities or we can get in the game.

And I am so ready and honored, coach, that you are putting me on the field with this amazing team to help create those jobs in every pocket of this country and especially in the hardest hit places and for the people who are still waiting on the fair chance that they need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, of course, Michigan's so hard hit during the last economic recession. The automotive industry.

She was governor at the time. That was during the Obama administration. It's one reason she became so close to then Vice President Joe Biden.

She's been at his side for many key moments. She helped him prepare for debates throughout his primary and germ election as well. So she would be a nominee to be the energy secretary. Several other nominees today rounding out the climate team.

He's closer to filling his goal of nearly all of the cabinet by Christmastime. Some big ones still next week. Attorney general chief among them.

GOLODRYGA: We've got our eyes on, watching that.

Jeff Zeleny, thank you for your reporting.

ZELENY: Indeed.

GOLODRYGA: Coming up, they were too young to vote in the presidential election. But they can now vote in Georgia's crucial runoffs. And the candidates, well, they're taking notice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON OSSOFF (D), GEORGIA CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: Victory in Georgia comes down to young people in Georgia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[16:51:11

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GOLODRYGA: In Georgia, where early voting is under way for two crucial Senate runoff races, another battle is brewing between President Trump and the state's Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who has been under constant criticism by the president for not working to overturn the election results in Georgia.

But despite the friction, Governor Kemp attended a White House Christmas party last night. The same day Trump referred to him as a "so-called Republican" in a baseless election fraud tweet.

CNN's Kyung Lah joins us now from Atlanta. Kyung, you have been talking to young voters in Georgia ahead of these

crucial runoff races. How critical is their vote this time around?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The estimates for these particular young voters -- and these are voters who have a birthday after Election Day but before January 5th -- the estimates are thousands to tens of thousands.

It may not sound like a lot of people, but when you are talking about races this close, they could be make or break.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAH (voice-over): It has taken 18 years for Valerie Ponomarev to finally get here.

VALERIE PONOMAREV, 18-YEAR-OLD GEORGIA VOTER: I've been looking forward to this day for so long. I'm just so excited to see what my vote is going to accomplish.

LAH: Ponomarev is just turning 18, one of the thousands of Georgians too young to vote on November 3rd but able to vote for the first time in the January 5th Senate runoffs.

(CHEERING)

Why you hear the two Democratic Senate challengers talk directly to them.

OSSOFF: Victory in Georgia comes down to young people in Georgia.

LAH: And the issues those voters care about.

REV. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D), GEORGIA CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE: When we do something about student debt, we will unleash the power of the American economy.

Let's get out here and do it.

LAH: Grassroots group Georgia STAND-UP says the youngest voters maybe the difference maker, 18 to 24-year-olds made up 12 percentage points of Georgia voters in November, a small group. But Joe Biden won the state by less than one point.

ARIEL SINGLETON, LEAD ORGANIZER, GEORGIA STAND-UP: That vote right there for any candidate is going to be one that makes the difference because, as you see, when they show up, they show out.

LAH: Like Ariyana Gooden, who wanted to vote after a summer of Black Lives Matter activism and now finally can.

ARIYANA GOODEN, 15-YEAR-OLD GEORGIA VOTER: I just want to be part of this group of young people, you know, voting to make a change, make a difference.

LAH: That belief drives Students for Tomorrow. These young activists have backed Democrat Jon Ossoff.

As they brainstormed how to boost youth energy in the runoffs, they say they registered 3,000 new voters who will turn 18 between Election Day and January.

EDWARD AGUILAR, STUDENTS FOR TOMORROW: That is an extremely sought- after group because you're talking voters out of thin air.

LAH: Michael Gusto wanted to vote for the Republicans but --

MICHAEL GUSTO, GEORGIA VOTER: It feels like my entire group, my demographic, are just completely written off.

SEN. KELLY LOEFFLER (R-GA): We will win.

LAH: The Republican senators have been far less specific about targeting young voters. But they may be looking at November exit polls that show 43 percent of 18 to 24-year-old Georgians voted for Donald Trump, 12 percent more than their peers nationwide.

MADISON TATHAM, 18-YEAR-OLD GEORGIA VOTER: A lot of my friends are Republicans. So, it's nice seeing them get all excited about voting.

LAH: At the Save America event in Atlanta, 18 and 19-year-old Republicans say they're not to be overlooked.

(on camera): What is it about Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue that draws you to vote to them, to vote for them?

GAVIN SWAFFORD, 19-YEAR-OLD GEORGIA VOTER: They're constitutional conservatives. I know for a fact that we may be outnumbered, but our will is strong. Our will is strong to come out and vote.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAH: So there's been a little bit of confusion about this on social media so I want to underscore something.

There's a difference between state law and federal law, but in this case, federal law supersedes state law.

[16:55:01]

So these students, Bianna, because many of them are students, are legally allowed to vote -- Bianna?

GOLODRYGA: As you said, it's just a few thousand. But it's so important to see so many young students out there as well. People who may have not voted before, thought about it, now engaging in their civic responsibilities as citizens as well.

Kyung Lah, every vote counts. Thank you so much.

Well, a quick programming note. Say so long, 2020, and hello, 2021, with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen live from Times Square New Year's Eve starting at 8:00 on CNN. And we will be right back.

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