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Near-Death COVID Patient Survives After 100+ Days in Hospital; The Media's Wild Ride During a Rollercoaster 2020; State Department Believes Russian FSB Poisoned Opposition Leader. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired December 23, 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]
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Coming up next, our guest, known as the miracle lady, her recovery and the story of her twin sister who never stopped calling or praying. We have a little surprise for them, too. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: I'm about to tell you the story of one of the sickest patients yet to survive coronavirus. Her story was first told just beautifully by Bill Torpey, of the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution."
Let me set the scene. The siren of the ambulance flashes at the hospital entrance, a blue-lit room, the darkness then for nearly two months after contracting COVID-19.
Those are the last memories of my next guest, Janice Cockfield, before she slipped into coma and subsequently remained in the hospital for more than 100 days.
[14:35:05]
The Delta Airlines customer experience specialist first fell ill in late in March, exhibiting all of the classic symptoms, worsening by the day. And Janice's recovery is astonishing.
Janice is now joining me, along with her twin sister, Janese.
Ladies, welcome to both of you.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
BALDWIN: Your smile is infectious. I'll try to get through this with dry eyes.
It's been a year for all of us. But for you, too.
Janice, first, to you. Did you ever think that after the months fighting COVID in the hospital you would be sitting here, a survivor, live on CNN?
JANICE COCKFIELD, COVID SURVIVOR WHO WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 100-PLUS DAYS: No, but since I was asleep the majority of the time of my fight, it's just really hard to say.
BALDWIN: Janese, you were wide awake and waging the fight emotionally with her. Did you think you would be sitting here and we would get to tell the story?
JANESE COCKFIELD, TWIN SISTER OF COVID PATIENT JANICE COCKFIELD: I definitely didn't. My cousin, at HHC, she was one of the ones that kept saying this is a big story.
I was not interested in a story. I was interested in making sure that I can't do -- if I could do anything to help my sister survive.
I was constantly on the phone calling. I was thinking about, how do we get Janice back home, and that's it.
I didn't even watch the news. Most of the time, I didn't watch the news to see what was going on with other people. I was just concerned about her.
BALDWIN: Yes, ma'am, as you should have been.
Janice, how many days total in the hospital and physical therapy. Do you even know?
JANICE COCKFIELD: I think it was about 115? I was in a coma, on the vent for I think it was 57 days. And then the remainder of the time I was in long-term care, as well as a physical therapy hospital.
BALDWIN: On the vent meaning ventilator.
Janese, to you, you're in Miami as you mentioned.
At one point, Janice was at Emery, at Atlanta, waging this fight against COVID. So, you know, you had to rely on word from the doctors and nurses, because obviously you couldn't physically see her.
How many times did they relay to you, Janese, this is the day you have to say good-bye to Janice?
JANESE COCKFIELD: You know what? Now I'm just talking to really good friends with one of the nurse practitioners, and after reading her comments in the newspaper, I really realized how many times -- now going back through my notes, how many times she was trying to tell me that it was kind of over for Janice.
I wasn't hearing it. I wasn't having it. Because my mind could not wrap around the fact she was not going to be there.
One of the most beautiful things that was told to me is when we were communicating with our family general practitioners, the G.P. doctor. He told me, listen, you're going to hear all kind of negatives things, so hold on to the positive.
So I was holding onto my faith. I was praying. The Lord gave me strength to understand that it was only him that would heal her. I was trusting and having faith that he was.
Every time she said things like, she's not doing well, there's nothing else we can do, my only comment was, her heart is strong, and until she gives up, I'm not going to give up.
So the day she stopped breathing, I will never tell you -- (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Amen.
OK. I'm about to deliver some news to you ladies. I hope this is received well.
So this all happened right around you and your sister's birthday. It is my understanding that you all like to fly to some pretty far-flung places, so I have news for you.
JANESE COCKFIELD: That's right.
BALDWIN: Are you ready for this?
JANESE COCKFIELD: Yes.
JANICE COCKFIELD: Um, yes.
BALDWIN: I was e-mailing with the CEO of Delta today, Janice, your boss. So this is what Ed Bastian wanted me to tell you, and I quote:
"Please let Janice know, while she was in the coma, we, including myself, were following her progress daily, and including her in our prayers. She is a miracle. And we are so proud of her strength in this fight."
"Also, let her know we can't wait to send her and her sister on a first-class trip, on me, anywhere in the world that we fly when she's able to travel. Merry Christmas. Ed."
[14:40:11]
JANICE COCKFIELD: Oh, my god!
JANESE COCKFIELD: I'm trying not to cry.
JANICE COCKFIELD: That is just --
(CROSSTALK)
JANICE COCKFIELD: That's awesome.
JANESE COCKFIELD: Our birthday was definitely -- (CROSSTALK)
JANICE COCKFIELD: We travel for our birthday every year. We didn't get to do anything this year.
So thank you, Ed. Thank you, everyone.
For me, it was -- I just had a village from people from all over the world, who knew me, who didn't know me, that were friends of my family, friends of friends who prayed for me.
This was -- it's so debilitating. And just to know that, when you wake up after a coma after two months you can't move, you can't walk, you can't scratch your head.
To be here having this interview with you now, it just makes me realize every morning when I wake up to say, thank you, God, for another day.
BALDWIN: I am so moved by the two of you.
It's the holidays. There are a lot of people who aren't as fortunate as you to have your sister all right and well and healthy. Just sending blessings, light and health to both of you.
You have to tell me where you end up going around the world when you take up Delta on this incredibly gracious offer. Is that a deal?
JANICE COCKFIELD: We will.
JANESE COCKFIELD: We will.
I would love to say to everyone out there, please, just wear your mask. You don't ever want to have to deal with this in your life. Just wear the mask.
BALDWIN: Thank you, Janice and Janese. Bless you, both. Thank you, ladies. Merry Christmas.
JANICE COCKFIELD: Thank you.
JANESE COCKFIELD: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Bye-bye to you.
Coming up next, we look at the monumental events changing our nation and the way you watched the news in 2020.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:46:40]
BALDWIN: So 2020 definitely a year like no other. A global pandemic, nationwide protests on racial justice issues, plus a dramatic presidential election.
For us journalists, the responsibility of reporting the facts was crucial.
CNN's chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter, takes a look at the media's wild ride in 2020.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": In 2020, every member of the media lived the stories they covered. Some of the biggest stories in generations were also intensely personal.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: I tested positive.
STELTER: From the pandemic to the Black Lives Matter protests, to the Election Day that stretched into election week.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: The celebrations are going on around the country, celebrations that Joe Biden is now president-elect of the United States.
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered.
STELTER: CNN and other networks registered record ratings in 2020. People around the world flocked to trusted sources.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So now you're getting into the battleground states. We put it up again.
STELTER: Showing the value of traditional news brands in a digital age dominated by Google and Facebook.
You know, President Trump's unreality might have been the biggest media story of the year year were it not for the coronavirus.
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One of the things we wanted to see firsthand here in Wuhan was the epicenter of this.
STELTER: CNN's David Culver and his team delivered early warnings were delivered from Wuhan.
CULVER: They said, why did you go to the epicenter. The reality is we need to be on the ground.
STELTER: Then his team quarantined for two weeks. It was a preview of what so many others were about to do.
It all happened so fast.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Tom Hanks announcing that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for coronavirus.
STELTER: There, on March 12th, the on-screen graphic still promoted a CNN primary debate with social distancing suddenly added.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I guess we can say hi, right?
STELTER: Studio audiences were scrapped. Broadway shut down. Movie released postponed. Theme parks closed. Almost everything closed.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Someone on my team believes they may be positive for the coronavirus. And so out of an abundance of caution, we'll be broadcasting tonight from my house.
STELTER: Newspapers and TV networks were suddenly produced remotely, from living rooms and basements.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're back to go on the air in a few minutes around the world on CNN International.
STELTER: Small numbers of essential staffers donned PPE to keep programming on the air.
Some of the journalists covering COVID then contracted it and shared their stories.
CUOMO: This virus came at me. I've never seen anything like it. OK? So, yes, I had a fever, but 102, 103, 103-plus, that wouldn't quit. And it was like somebody was beating me like a pinata.
STELTER: The pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic of misinformation.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO SHOW HOST: The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.
STELTER: Some right-wing hosts claimed that Democrats were hyping a hoax just to hurt Trump.
Trish Regan and FOX Business parted ways after she said this.
TRISH REGAN, FORMER FOX BUSINESS HOST: This is yet another attempt to impeach the president.
[14:50:02]
STELTER: But FOX's biggest stars faced no consequences for mocking public health measures.
LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST, "THE INGRAHAM ANGLE": Any of these blue-state control freaks -- well, all of them -- they need to keep away from our children and away from our businesses.
STELTER: The president took his cues from these shows and downplayed the dangers, even mocking the reporters who wore masks.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're going to have to take that off.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I'll speak a lot louder.
STELTER: And if 2020 proved anything, it's that America is split into two parallel universes of information, one much more tethered to reality than the other.
Trump's war on truth weakened America's response to the pandemic. But testimonials and videos from inside hospitals were undeniable.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: My god, Miguel. What an incredible look inside that hospital. Overwhelmed. They kept on saying, we are overwhelmed.
STELTER: Now, at times, reporters were unfairly targeted for uncovering this truth.
Some were assaulted while covering racial justice protests. And one CNN crew was even arrested live on the air.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, do you mind telling me why I'm under arrest, sir? Why am I under arrest, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED CNN HOST: You are watching our correspondent, Omar Jimenez, being arrested by state police in Minnesota. We're not sure why.
STELTER: National newsrooms recommitted to covering race and justice stories.
And activists told their own stories. For example, showing locals cleaning up after nights of looting and vandalism, showing good outweigh the bad.
So many of us used technology to feel connected during an isolating year.
Some, however, went down dark, virtual rabbit holes, embracing conspiracy theories, like QAnon as virtual cult that cast Democrats as evil child abusers and satanic pedophiles.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST, "TONIGHT WITH DON LEMON": The president refusing to denounce the fringe conspiracy group known as QAnon.
STELTER: Trump's rejection of reality, his denial of the pandemic almost merged at the end of the year, causing anchors and columnists to speak out more forcefully than ever before.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: History is not going to be kind to the people around the president who are enabling any of this. It is, frankly, immoral.
STELTER: Trump's challenger, Joe Biden, was content with letting Trump be the big story, even when they were facing off.
(CROSSTALK)
BIDEN: Will you shut up, man?
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR & DEBATE MODERATOR: Mr. President, can you let him finish, sir?
BIDEN: But he doesn't know how to do that.
TRUMP: Forty-seven years, you've done nothing.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Just say it like it is. That was a shit show.
STELTER: Voters also watched dueling town halls, and Biden surprised everyone by drawing more viewers than Trump.
As the one-term's president's lies escalated, Twitter, for the first time ever, slapped some of his tweets with fact-checks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Twitter now prompting users to get the facts about mail-in ballots because what the president tweeted wasn't true.
STELTER: But some experts said those labels were mild, not going nearly far enough.
Meantime, the scoops kept coming.
ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST; Our breaking news tonight, a bombshell report in the "New York Times" is giving us a look at the tax returns of President Trump.
STELTER: Reporters announced COVID infections in the White House.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's not clear if even the White House would have even told us if reporters had not first reported it, as has been the case with every other person in the West Wing who has tested positive.
STELTER: The mainstream press held Trump accountable while a separate world of sycophants propped him up and lied about the election results..
LOU DOBBS, FOX NEWS HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Many are trying to steal this election from President Trump.
STELTER: Now with the inauguration on the horizon and Trump possibly returning to some TV role, one question looms large: Can American really function as one country while living in two totally different universes of news?
Brian Stelter, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:54:08]
BALDWIN: Coming up next, the U.S. State Department issues its most decisive statement yet on the poisoning of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: The State Department this hour with a new statement alleging the Russian government sanctioned the poisoning of a political dissident with a nerve agent.
The announcement directly ties the Russian FSB to the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader.
And it comes just days after CNN uncovered direct evidence of the Russians security agencies' role in the assassination attempt.
Let's go to Kylie Atwood.
Kylie, why did the State Department choose to issue this statement now?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: It's a good question, Brooke. But it does come just days after our own reporting by Clarissa Ward, which provided direct evidence that the Russian FSB was involved, and detailed some of its involvement in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader, Navalny.
So what we're learning today from the State Department, they're coming out and saying the U.S. does believe that it was the Russian FSB who poisoned Navalny.
This is the most affirmed statement they have made on this topic.
Because in the past, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was a substantial chance that it was Russia who had carried out this poisoning. But they had not gone this far in saying that it was, indeed, Russia.
Now, of course, the follow-up question is: What's the United States going to do about this? We have seen President Trump not directly tie the poisoning of Navalny to Russia.
[15:00:04]
And we have heard from the National Security Council on this topic who have said that whoever carried this out is going to face a cost. But the U.S. has still imposed no cost on Russia for this.
