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Senior Official Says, Biden willing to Pare Down $1.9 Trillion COVID bill, still considers all components essential; DHS Issues Bulletin over Potential for Post-Inauguration Violence; Teachers Fight Return to Classrooms without Proper Safety Measures. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired January 28, 2021 - 10:00   ET

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

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[10:00:00]

POPPY HARLOW, CNN NEWSROOM: Good morning, everyone, top of the hour, I'm Poppy Harlow.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: And I'm Jim Sciutto.

This morning, the race to vaccinate and the push as well to pass a large, perhaps a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill as coronavirus variants that are more contagious threaten to put a greater strain on our health care system. The country is struggling to roll out more vaccine doses and get them into people's arms.

HARLOW: A top administration official says it could be months though until every American who wants a vaccine can get it.

Let's begin at the White House. Our CNN Correspondent John Harwood joins us. Good morning, John.

The president this morning with some -- I mean, there's interesting reporting from there that he is willing to cut back on some of what they're asking for in this relief package. But what does that actually mean, lesser amounts or actually scrapping things like calling for a $15 minimum wage?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think the amount of cutbacks that we can expect in this package is much smaller than we are used to. The Biden administration understands that bipartisan is good, it meets the president's desire for unity, but as he said earlier this week, bipartisan unity does not require votes from Democrats as well as Republicans. Big is the most important thing to the Biden administration. You can understand why.

We've got an economic recovery that is just waiting to blossom once you get control of the pandemic. The economy shrunk 3.5 percent in the year 2020. If we pass this -- if the Biden administration is able to pass a large COVID relief bill, economists tell me that $1.9 trillion package could make two percentage points difference in the size of the U.S. economy in 2021, could get the United States to full employment a full year earlier in 2022 instead of 2023.

So then the question is, can the Biden administration pass a very large bill. They believe they can, either with Republican votes or without through the reconciliation process. They're beginning to get that process underway.

Meantime, the administration continues to take actions through the executive authority of the president to try to incrementally achieve some of its goal. So the president today is reversing the Mexico City policy, which denied funds to international non-profit organizations that evolve abortion services. They're also reopening Obamacare for a three-month period for enrollment, an unusual mid-year enrolment for people who have lost jobs in the pandemic. So Biden is doing what he can with his pen.

In the meantime, but in terms of the negotiation, they are aiming big. There will be modifications to the package but Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said today, we're not splitting this package in two, we're not or cutting it in half and I think that is what you can look over the next couple of weeks.

SCIUTTO: And, of course, the big question is does paring down attract any actual Republican votes because there is not a lot of political incentive right now for compromise. We'll see. John Harwood, thanks very much.

Well, new data from the CDC shows that cases the U.K. coronavirus variant have now been discovered in at least 28 U.S. states. Health officials also keeping a close eye on another strain first detected in South Africa. There are lots of them.

HARLOW: Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is with us again this morning. Good morning to you, Elizabeth. What more do we know on this front?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. The bottom line that we know on this front is that the U.K. variant does not seem to pose a challenge to the vaccine. That is one of the big worries that you have with the variant, will it pose a challenge to the vaccine. However, the South African variant, as well as the one that we just heard the report about in Brazil, those might cause a problem to some extent for the vaccine.

Let's take a look at what the concerns are. So, again, the U.K. variant does not seem to pose a challenge to the vaccine, the South African variant might and Brazilian might. It is unlikely that it's going to -- either the South African or the Brazil one will evade the vaccine entirely. The vaccine will still have some power against it. As a matter of fact, it might have lots and lots of power against it but it could partially evade the vaccine. And that is why Pfizer and Moderna are working on boosters to direct, to sort of address the South African variant.

And I know there is a lot of confusion on this and I will say that some experts have said Moderna and Pfizer are putting out releases, saying, when you read it, you get the impression, oh, it's not -- so it is not a big deal.

[10:05:05]

For the South African variant, this is a real concern that the vaccine will still work, it will still protect you, but it might not protect you as well as it does against other variants. Jim, Poppy?

HARLOW: Elizabeth, thank you for that important update.

Well today, Republican minority leader in the House Kevin McCarthy heading to Florida, he is going to meet with former President Trump. A person familiar with that meeting says McCarthy is trying to get back in the former president's good graces after saying just two weeks ago that Trump, quote, bears responsibility for the deadly attack on the Capitol.

SCIUTTO: Yes, there's a word for it. It is called a flip-flop. He's changed his position.

Let's get to CNN's Lauren Fox at the Capitol. Lauren, the meeting comes amid what is a 180. It is in his public comments, not his private comments, in terms of holding the president responsible here. What does he hope to accomplish in Florida?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that is the biggest question. But this is all coming as the Republican Party is really soul searching for where it moves after former President Trump. Does it continue to support Trump? Is that the way forward? Is that the way that they can win back the House in 2022?

Look, yesterday, McCarthy held a conference call with his Republican members and he instructed them to, quote, cut the crap, essentially wants them not to partake in any of this infighting any more. He's frustrating with the fact that there have been so many arrows sent over to someone like Representative Liz Cheney, the number three House Republican in leadership.

Remember, a couple of thousand miles away in the state of Wyoming today, Matt Gaetz, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is going to be in Wyoming, Liz Cheney's home turf, campaigning against her, essentially.

So that has been McCarthy's focus. He wants to move forward so that he can win back the House, become speaker in 2022. Whether or not Trump is the right path remains to be seen. But, clearly, he thinks that that is the door that is open to him right now.

SCIUTTO: Well, we'll be watching that closely. Listen, it is a real test within the party. There are real disagreements. Lauren Fox, thanks very much.

A Parkland massacre survivor is calling on the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, who we just mentioned, to hold a Republican congresswoman accountable after video surfacesof her confronting him on the street before she was elected, basically denying and questioning his trauma and others' trauma from the shooting at Parkland.

HARLOW: The video shows her following and harassing David Hogg in Washington, spouting conspiracy theories and falsehoods. This was in March of 2019 before she was elected last November. Take a look at this.

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REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Why are you supporting red flag gun laws that attack our Second Amendment rights? And why are you using kids to get -- as a barrier? Do you not know how to defend your stance?

He's got nothing to say. Sad. He has nothing to say because there really isn't anything to say, you guys. He has nothing to say because he's paid to do this. Guess what, I'm a gun owner, I'm an American citizen and I have nothing, but this guy with his George Soros funding and his major liberal funding has got everything. I want to you think about that. That is where we are.

And he's a coward. He can't say one word because he can't defend his stance.

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HARLOW: She just called David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland School massacre, a coward. Okay. Unbelievable.

He was asked about this on New Day this morning when Alisyn interviewed him and what type of action the minority leader should take when it comes to the congresswoman and her views and what she did, here is what he said.

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DAVID HOGG, PARKLAND MASSACRE SURVIVOR: My message to Kevin McCarthy is take all of her committee assignments away. Along with that, also, don't support her when she runs for re-election again and try to get her primary. If you say this is not your party, actually call it out and hold her accountable.

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HARLOW: Our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju is on Capitol Hill. But largely, we haven't heard from McCarthy or many Republicans on this.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And McCarthy has only issued a statement through a spokesperson saying that he is deeply disturbed by some of her social media activity, including liking and responding to the conspiracy theory, the complete lie that someone had posted on social media that the Parkland massacre was a false flag operation. In other words, it was a staged event. Obviously, that is 100 percent not true.

But the social media post that was unearthed, she said she agreed with that and that has caused a lot of backlash, that has also caused people to question the decision to give her that committee assignment on the House Education and Labor Committee.

Now, getting her off of the committee at the moment seems highly unlikely.

[10:10:01]

Typically, what the leadership would do in a situation is if she were to take some actions while she's a member of Congress, perhaps that could be different. We saw that what happened to Steve King, the former Iowa congressman, lost his committee assignments after racist comments that he made back in the last Congress. If she does something, while a sitting member, perhaps that could change the calculus.

But the Republican Party leadership at the moment is not doing anything about her previous actions before she was a member of Congress. A spokesperson of McCarthy said that he would have a conversation with her. We don't know if he had a conversation yet with her.

But, interestingly, guys, on a conference call yesterday, Marjorie Taylor Greene told her colleagues that she would donate $175,000 to the main party committee. She was thanked by party leaders, so it is clear they still view her as part of the team, guys.

SCIUTTO: I mean, Jesus, though, it is a series of conspiracy theories that she has espoused. I mean, she's a 9/11 denier, right? I mean, she's a denier of the Las Vegas shooting, claiming that that was somehow a false flag o get in the way of gun rights.

I mean, the appointment on the Education Committee is just shocking. I think we should identify that. She also had an interesting moment with a reporter from our affiliate, CNN affiliate WRCB. Tell us that. Because in the question here, she hasn't disavowed any of these positions as she sits on a committee that has influence on education in this country.

RAJU: Yes. And she was going to be questioned yesterday by a local reporter down in her district at a town hall event in which she invited the same reporter to come and attend the event. She was told -- the reporter apparently said that -- he was told not to ask a question, but this is a lawmaker who is representing a key district elected by her representative, by her constituents and paid by taxpayers, her salary paid taxpayers. And a reporter tried to ask her a question at her event and was escorted out by deputies. Watch.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The videos and the --

GREENE: I'm sorry, (INAUDIBLE) --

The Constitution declares that our Constitution runs that right, so we're already equal here in this country. That is the beautiful thing about America. We don't have to pass more laws like the 1619 agenda (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: So we'll see what happens tonight, guys, because she has another town hall tonight. She has other events in her district if she actually takes questions about her very controversial activities in the past. Guys?

SCIUTTO: Escorting out a female reporter, just remarkable. Manu Raju, thanks very much.

Well, the U.S. is now on alert. The Department of Homeland Security said that domestic terrorists may be emboldened by the deadly riot on Capitol Hill for more violence.

HARLOW: Also this morning, teachers in Chicago say they are not returning to school until it is safe in their minds. Why they say the district is still not doing enough to protect them.

And would President Biden pare down his COVID relief bill in order to gain bipartisan support? A top economist in the president's administration is going to join us.

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SCIUTTO: For the first time, officials have alerted a terror bulletin for Americans of a threat posed by fellow Americans, specifically citing the potential for a post-inauguration violence from domestic extremists.

With me now is Republican -- Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Senator, thanks so much for taking the time this morning.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Thank you for having me, Jim. Good to be with you.

SCIUTTO: So, through the years, you and I have spoken many times about the threat of international terrorism, Islamist terrorism, ISIS, et cetera. Now, the Intel indicates that domestic extremist groups, right-wing white supremacist groups may be emboldened by the events of January 6th. We now have warnings going out to lawmakers in their home districts, money being given to buy bulletproof vests, worries of attacks on soft targets.

I just wonder, based on your briefings, should Americans prepare for something of a domestic terrorist outbreak here?

BLUMENTHAL: Americans ought to be very, very aware and alarmed about the dangerous threat posed by these racist and extremist violent groups. The greatest threat internally to our national security right now is, in fact, domestic terrorists, the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, the Oath Keepers and the groups that have been spawned by four years of Donald Trump spewing and stoking the kinds of racist and extremist ideology that we've seen, his calling the Charlottesville Nazi swastika carriers good people and that the Proud Boys ought to stand by.

This kind of encouragement now is coming to the fore, and we ought to be prepared. Americans should be prepared and should be grateful that the Biden administration has now called attention to it and is telling the them the truth about it.

SCIUTTO: We just found, this is new to CNN, that a man was arrested with a gun, 20 rounds of ammunition near congressional office buildings on Capitol Hill. And, of course, we saw the violence on January 6th. I just wondered, Trump administration officials deliberately downplayed the threat of domestic extremist, despite the numbers, despite the data showing they're carrying out more attacks than other groups.

[10:20:04]

Did that downplaying make the country less safe?

BLUMENTHAL: The downplaying of that threat certainly made us less safe. The failure to disclose the kind of facts that we see in this bulletin made us more complacent. And I think the reason why I give thumbs up to the Biden administration is that they are, in fact, telling us the truth about this threat and about the need to counter it. Not just in rhetoric, but also in the arrests that hopefully will continue to occur, people who stormed the Capitol, who took lives, maimed Capitol police officers and injured others and it is a real ongoing threat.

SCIUTTO: I want you to ask about impeachment. The GOP has signaled not enough votes to convict. Now, you have some of your Democratic colleagues speaking of an alternative path, including censure as opposed to a Senate trial. Would you oppose that?

BLUMENTHAL: I think there ought to be a trial, Jim. I think the airing of these facts, putting them on the record, is a very, very important benefit of a trial. I'm a former trial lawyer, a prosecutor for four years, United States attorney in Connecticut and 20 years as attorney general. Trials have an enormous impact on public awareness and education, whatever the verdict.

And here, I think, we still have a chance, a good chance possibly that Republican colleagues will relive the horror and terror of that day. I lived through it too, seeing those mobsters and rioters outside of the halls of the Capitol and within the chamber and halls. So, I think that there should be a trial and it could be relatively expeditious, a matter of days, not weeks. And censure resolution may also play a very important role if the trial produces an acquittal.

SCIUTTO: Just very quickly before we go, the president has indicated his openness to trimming the $1.9 trillion stimulus relief bill to get Republican votes. Would you support trimming that? Do you believe you could get Republican votes if they were to do so? BLUMENTHAL: I would support trimming it very narrowly, for example, on the stimulus payments, if it needs to be targeted. But it really cannot be delayed. We have a window of days, not weeks, that we need to act. And it has to be fast and fair but also bold and strong. So trimming it by a very little bit, maybe, but not any massive cuts.

SCIUTTO: Well, we'll see if there is a potential for real compromise. Senator Richard Blumenthal, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you.

HARLOW: The CDC says schools can reopen safely if they take the proper measures. That was the finding of their study this week. Many teachers in big cities are saying no, we're not safe, not yet.

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SCIUTTO: Major school districts in Chicago and New Jersey have now delayed plans to return to in-person learning this week. Why? It is opposition from teachers and teachers unions.

HARLOW: That is right. Teachers' unions across the nation, some of them, are pushing to keep districts closed until they put in more safety measures against COVID.

Our Omar Jimenez has more on the really intense debate over returning to the classroom.

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OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Are you as a teacher prepared to strike if necessary?

LORI TORRES, SPANISH LANGUAGE TEACHER, MONROE ELEMENTARY: I am.

JIMENEZ (voice over): Lori Torres is a Spanish teacher at a Chicago elementary school and in the middle of a battle between what she sees as her livelihood and her life, at Chicago public schools, the nation's third largest school district, is pushing to have kindergarten through 8th grade students return in person to the classroom.

As it stands right now, you don't feel the school district is doing enough?

TORRES: I don't. I think it is okay, but at a time like this, that I take a step back and consider me.

JIMENEZ: But Chicago school district says it has put in place safety strategies, like masking, smaller class sizes, hand-sanitizing stations, air purifiers and daily screening for the thousands of pre-K and special education students who are able to return weeks ago.

JANICE JACKSON, CEO, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: To date, we have not had to close a single school due to outbreaks of COVID-19.

JIMENEZ: That is not enough for Torres and the Chicago teachers union, which this week voted to stay in remote learning, just as the district was getting ready to reopen. The union demanding vaccinations and mass testing for students and staff among other things before teachers step foot back in the classroom, a goal President Biden laid out in his first few days in office.

But the president and his team are walking a political tightrope. On one hand, claiming to support the science of COVID-19, which shows very little risk of transmission at brick and mortar schools, while on the other hand, wanting to support teachers' unions.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Why do you think that the unions in many cases are overruling what the studies show?

RON KLAIN, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I don't think unions are overruling studies. I think you're seeing is that schools that haven't made the investments to keep the students safe.

JIMENEZ: And it is not just Chicago dealing with this issue. This week in Montclair, New Jersey, just outside New York City, a similar fight, plans reopening scrapped when teachers refuse to return.

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