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Joe Biden Signs Voting Rights Order On Bloody Sunday Anniversary; Interview With Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL); WSJ Reports On Fourth Accusation Of Inappropriate Conduct Against Governor Andrew Cuomo; Interview With Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). Aired 3-4p ET

Aired March 07, 2021 - 15:00   ET

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

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(END VIDEOTAPE)

[15:00:18]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with a historic anniversary and a movement to ensure voting rights for all.

Today, on the 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, President Biden signed an Executive Order to promote voter registration. The order comes in the midst of a slew of state proposals that threaten to make voting harder for Americans.

And that battle is getting the attention of NBA superstar, LeBron James, who was launching More Than a Vote today at the all-star game in Atlanta. Georgia is one of 43 states across the country where G.O.P.-led statehouses are pushing 253 bills restricting voter rights.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, NBA PLAYER: Now look what they're trying to do to silence us, using every trick in the book and attacking democracy itself.

Because they saw what we're capable of. And they fear it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: We have Don Riddell covering the LeBron James voting rights

push from Atlanta and Arlette Saenz at the White House where the President just signed those new Executive Orders on voting access.

Arlette, you first.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Fred, President Biden is trying to do what he can through his executive power to expand voting access, and that included signing that Executive Order a bit earlier today.

Now what this order does is it directs the heads of Federal agencies to submit proposals on how their agencies could try to promote voter registration and participation, including in those communities who are often overlooked when it comes to outreach, including the disabled, the military serving overseas, and also the incarcerated.

The President is also directing Federal agencies to modernize the vote.gov website.

Now, this Executive Order is pretty limited in scope. But you have seen President Biden throw his support behind H.R. 1 that is a sweeping voting rights and election package up on Capitol Hill that would expand early and mail-in voting and also expand voting access to former felons.

Now, this bill has passed the House and it is now moving on to the Senate, which Biden is encouraging senators to support, but it is facing an uphill climb there as it would need 60 votes to pass.

Now, this is all coming on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and the President talked about the importance of voting in some remarks earlier today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every eligible voter should be able to vote and have that vote counted. If you have the best ideas, you have nothing to hide. Let the people vote.

On this day of reflection, please, let's stay focused on the work ahead. Let's remember all those who came before us as a bridge to our history, so we don't forget its pain. It is a bridge to our future, so we never lose hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, President Biden did not explicitly mention his predecessor by name, but this all comes after the former President spent months trying to cast doubt on the election process, and also as many Republican state legislators are trying to pass measures to restrict voting access.

So what you see President Biden doing here today is trying to reiterate his commitment to expand voting for people across this country -- Fred. WHITFIELD: Arlette, thank you. And Don, you know, this goes far beyond

Washington, obviously. You know, it was top of the agenda here at the all-star weekend in Atlanta. Athletes have been asked about this, and LeBron James most recently spoke about it.

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely right. You know, they used to say, Fred, that sport and politics shouldn't mix. That notion seems like a distant memory in these hyper-partisan times, and we're seeing athletes in many sports these days speaking up, speaking out in favor of social justice and racial equality.

Think of Naomi Osaka, think of Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One driver, and the NBA is arguably the most progressive sports league in North America.

We have seen for the last couple of years now many basketball players speaking out, getting active, of course, led by LeBron James. We saw what they did last year with the More Than a Vote Campaign, which was all about educating basketball fans to learn about the democratic process, to figure out how to get enrolled and then to actually go and cast their vote.

The players were never telling anybody who to vote for, just to get out and exercise your democratic right, but they now see a new problem and it was referred to with that clip that you showed earlier. Anybody watching the all-star game later this evening will see this 30-second ad which is narrated by LeBron James.

It uses those lines, you know, "Look at what they're trying to do to silence us using every trick in the book, attacking democracy itself. They saw what we're capable of and they fear it."

Not surprisingly, LeBron and others were asked about it during their media round today before the game.

[15:05:29]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES: I think it's just been a great thing that we've been able to do with More Than a Vote continuing to highlight and continuing to educate people on what's going on in a lot of our communities with the voter suppression and things of that nature.

And obviously, you know, making sure that people don't think that the job is done. The work is not completed, it is never completed, even if you have a small victory, it is never completed.

You know, we just wanted people to know that even with the election that happened, and obviously it happened a lot in our favor in November that there's still more job, there's still more work to be done and that is what we are continuing to do now, especially here in the Georgia area, especially here in Atlanta with Stacey Abrams and their group, just continuing to highlight how votes in our black communities are trying to be taken away. So, you know, it's a great thing that we've been able to do, but we

want to continue to that. We want to continue to educate and continue to, you know, enlighten people on what's going on in our community so we can better our community. So that's the most important thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: LeBron James has the full support of the NBA, the Basketball Players Association here in the United States, and also the NAACP in Georgia.

It just so happens that the all-star game is in Atlanta this weekend. These players see Georgia as ground zero in this voter suppression issue.

WHITFIELD: That's right and tip off for the game just hours away now.

All right, Don Riddell, Arlette Saenz, thanks so much to both of you. Appreciate it.

All right, as we mentioned, today is the 56th Anniversary of a day that forever changed U.S. history. Bloody Sunday is remembered for the people who risked their lives in the segregated south to march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, fighting for racial equality and voting rights. The late Representative John Lewis, nearly beaten to death.

The violent images captured on this day, 56 years ago, 1965, led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act, and now all of these years later, those same rights are once again being attacked and undermined.

Joining me right now from Selma, Alabama, Congresswoman Terri Sewell. Good to see you, Congresswoman.

REP. TERRI SEWELL (D-AL): Good to see you, Fredricka. So I can't believe all battles have become new again.

WHITFIELD: Oh, in a very big way. Isn't that something? And you know, this is the first year the late Congressman, you know, John Lewis, the first year of this march since, you know, his passing. He will not be there, you know, to commemorate this.

And I do want to take you back, though to last year, because that was his last walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge while he was battling cancer, and this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEWIS, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: We cannot give up now. We cannot give in. We must keep the faith. Keep our eyes on the prize. We must go out and vote like we never ever voted before.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And a lot of people said they were thinking about him,

hearing his voice as they went to the ballot box, you know, last November.

For you today, particularly where is your heart and your mind?

SEWELL: You know, I am -- I'm a daughter of Selma. I grew up -- this is my hometown, and I have to say that as a lifetime member of the historic Brown Chapel AME Church where the marchers gathered before they crossed that bridge for Bloody Sunday, I grew up every year by having those foot soldiers come back to Selma one last time, one more time, in order to make sure people understood that the sacrifices that were made, and we dedicate themselves, renew themselves to the cause for equality and justice.

And I never thought that I would grow up and one day be Alabama's first black Congresswoman, but more importantly, be able to call my hero, John Lewis colleague. Only in America is that possible.

But old battles have become new again. We see state legislators across this country now trying to roll back all of that voter access, and I think it's unacceptable. I'm thrilled that Biden -- that President Biden issued an Executive Order today to help encourage voter registration.

But we have work to do in Congress. I never thought that my cause would be the cause, the same cause as John Lewis, to get congressional action to put the Voting Rights Act and the full protections back into place that was gutted by this Shelby versus Holder decision.

So you know, it is bittersweet for me. I was there when John gave his last speech. I mean, it was really moving for me to be able to participate.

[15:10:09]

SEWELL: I just want to remind all those congressional -- those congressional members, that time and time again would come on these bipartisan pilgrimages with John Lewis, the best thing we can do is to honor John by passing the John Roberts Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would fully restore the full protections of the VRA.

That's how we pay tribute to John Lewis.

WHITFIELD: And before getting to that point, because I know Congressman Clyburn was hoping that that is something that would be achieved by the fall of this year, but as it pertains to the Executive Order that the President just signed, besides encouraging voter registration, what else are you hoping it will do? Or how is it perhaps a starting point to moor in your view?

SEWELL: You know, I think that President Biden has really put a stake down that he is going to keep his campaign promise to increase access to voter participation in America. He has made a promise that he wants to restore the Voting Rights Act towards full protections. And I look forward to those committee hearings, building that

evidentiary record, showing proof positive of the need for Federal oversight from some of the most egregious state actors and jurisdictions. It is going to be critically important that we get buy- in not just from the Congress, but from leadership, from the executive office, and I do believe that both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will do just that.

WHITFIELD: You know, this is also the NBA's all-star weekend just perhaps, if you caught our segment just a bit earlier, you know, LeBron James, among those leading this campaign in response to the more than 250 state bills across the country trying to legislate making voting harder.

So how impactful and influential do you see this star power giving to this movement of ending voter suppression?

SEWELL: I am so thrilled that basketball players like LeBron James are using their microphone, using their platform to actually promote voting rights and making sure that we have access to the ballot box for all Americans. I'm thrilled.

I think every platform should be used to amplify the voices of these foot soldiers like John Lewis. While they are no longer here, I am renewed by the fact that others are picking up the baton and helping to carry forth that message.

You know, John gave us the roadmap. John and those foot soldiers told us we should never give up and we should never give in and that we have to keep our eyes on the prize, because progress is elusive.

Just because they fought for this 56 years ago, almost 60 years ago, doesn't mean that we must sit on our laurels. We have to know that progress always needs consistent vigilance in order to be maintained.

And so I'm honored to represent Selma, Alabama in the Halls of Congress -- Birmingham, Montgomery -- but I realized that there's a huge responsibility as well, and that is to further the legacy of these foot soldiers, these freedom writers, these people who were drum majors for justice.

It's important that we who stand on their shoulders do something about it. We must advance their cause.

WHITFIELD: Congresswoman Terri Sewell, thank you so much for being with us today. Appreciate it.

SEWELL: Thank you. Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, in this breaking news, embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is responding to the growing calls for him to resign as a fourth woman now coming forward with accusations of inappropriate conduct. His response straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right, we are following this breaking news. A defiant

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vowing he will not resign, this, despite a third female former staffer and fourth woman overall coming forward with new accusations of inappropriate conduct against the embattled Governor.

"The Wall Street Journal" is reporting that Ana Liss, a former Cuomo aide is the latest to make accusations against Governor Cuomo. Her claims follow accusations by Charlotte Bennett and Lindsey Boylan. Those two women previously worked for Cuomo and accused the Governor of sexual harassment.

Another woman, Anna Ruch, also told "The New York Times" Cuomo made an unwanted advance toward her during a wedding reception in New York City back in 2019.

For more on these new accusations, let's bring in Alexandra Field. Alexandra, what more do we know about these allegations and how the Governor is reacting?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are learning new details on these allegations this week, Fred, and hearing from more women, but the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo as always, is putting it bluntly. This afternoon announcing quote, "There's no way I resign."

The State's Attorney General, Letitia Jones has launched an inquiry into the allegations of sexual harassment. The Governor is saying that the Attorney General must be given the time and space to complete her investigation. He went on to say this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): I was elected by the people of the State. I wasn't elected by politicians. I'm not going to resign because of allegations. The premise of resigning because of allegations is actually anti-democratic.

The system is based on due process and the credibility of the allegation. Anybody has the ability to make an allegation in democracy and that's great, but it's in the credibility of the allegation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: This statement comes from the Governor after "The Wall Street Journal" published allegations of inappropriate conduct from Ana Liss, the third former Cuomo staffer to make such accusations against the Governor.

She described inappropriate conduct including the Governor asking her if she had a boyfriend, calling her sweetheart, touching her on her lower back, kissing her hand as she got up from her desk.

She says at first, she considered this kind of behavior to be inappropriate flirtation, then went on to find it patronizing and then inappropriate in any context.

[15:20:14]

FIELD: She told "The Wall Street Journal" that she never filed a formal complaint, but she did request a transfer to another office.

Earlier this week, we heard from Governor Cuomo answering two other allegations. At that time, he said that he apologized for making anyone feel uncomfortable and that that was unintentional. Today, when asked about the latest allegations from Ana Liss, he apologized if he made her feel unwelcome -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Alexandra Field, thank you so much, in New York.

All right, joining me right now, former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, Jennifer Rodgers. Jennifer, so good to see you. So what is your reaction to what Cuomo just said?

JENNIFER RODGERS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, it's interesting, you know, there two sides of this, Fred. There's the political side and the legal side.

So he is fighting the political battle now saying that he won't resign and that he intends to take advantage of his due process. And that's all fine.

The legal folks who will be investigating this don't care about that. They don't care about his apologies or his defiance. They just want to know exactly what happened. And in particular, after allegations by State employees were made, harassment allegations, were the proper procedures followed? Or was there some sort of cover up as Charlotte Bennett and her lawyer allege?

WHITFIELD: And how do you see in this legal fight then, how will it be investigated into the credibility of these allegations? And what kind of information do they look for -- investigators -- to try to corroborate what is being said?

RODGERS: Investigators will speak to all the parties, obviously. They'll speak to the Governor. They will speak to all of these women accusing him and then they'll look to corroborate their story. So they'll be talking to them about not only exactly what happened, but what else did they do?

Did they speak to other people? Did they write it down anywhere? Send e-mails? Text messages? Did they keep a diary? Who did they speak to about it? And what did they say?

And then they'll go around and see if they can talk to those witnesses and corroborate their accounts. And of course, when they talk to the Governor, they'll be asking him for, you know, his recollection, and they'll go from there.

And of course, we may see new accusers come forward. That's been happening even in the last couple of days. So I don't think we're nearly at the end of this. The investigators will have plenty to do.

WHITFIELD: And in this legal fight, based on what you've heard and read about thus far, are you seeing any potential of criminal charges?

RODGERS: I don't see that yet, Fred. So far the most serious allegations are from the first accuser, Lindsey Boylan, of an unwanted kiss.

So unless we see more serious sexual assault allegations, I wouldn't expect this to be in any way a criminal matter.

WHITFIELD: And what do you see the New York Attorney General Letitia James, and her camp looking into?

RODGERS: Well, they are looking into all of this. They are going to hire an outside law firm to do this. Their goal at the end is to provide a comprehensive report of what happened here.

And so then it will be up to, you know, potentially the legislature; if they want to try to start impeachment proceedings, some of these accusers may file civil suits. There will be additional pressure to resign if the facts are worse than we know now.

You know, one thing that's really interesting to me, though, is this notion of whether there was a cover up and I think that if it is borne out that they didn't follow the proper procedures with respect to Miss Bennett, and potentially other accusers, that may end up getting them in the most trouble.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jennifer Rodgers, thanks so much for all that. Appreciate it.

All right, coming up, experts warn that the U.S. is likely at the tipping point of another COVID surge. Why then are so many states lifting mask mandates and restrictions?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Right now, 15 states have no mask mandates in place and two more will join that list soon. Across Idaho this weekend, which never had a statewide mask mandate, people there setting fire to their masks in a show of defiance.

This was outside the Capitol Building in Boise on Saturday. Parents and children joining the Burn the Mask rallies. This week, the state saw its largest increase in new confirmed cases of COVID in nearly a month.

And today, Republican Governors like Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas are defending their decisions to remove mask mandates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON (R-AR): Right now, people can protect themselves. If you go out and people aren't wearing a mask, keep your distance from them. You wear a mask.

If you have a restaurant not following the guidelines, well, go to a restaurant that is following guidelines. People can make good decisions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, cases are dropping in states like Michigan and Ohio, but their Governor say there's no good reason to rush to get rid of masks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. MIKE DEWINE (D-OH): With the vaccine, we're now on the offense. That's the great thing. But in Ohio, we can't give up the defense. We have found that these masks work exceedingly well.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): We're kind of at the 10-yard line, and we're taking another 10 yards ahead. Where are somewhere at the 50 and dropping the mask mandate and that's a dangerous situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: With me now, Paul Vercammen in Los Angeles and Natasha Chen in Atlanta. Paul, let's go to you first. You're at a F.E.M.A. site today where officials are trying to get Californians -- California's, rather, a rollout moving as fast as it can.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And that's exactly right and they are wearing masks here in California. If you look at this F.E.M.A. site, it's an interesting component to a drive by the Governor to get people vaccinated in low income vulnerable neighborhoods and this doesn't cater to people in those neighborhoods.

So far, 1.6 million Californians have been vaccinated from those vulnerable neighborhoods. This F.E.M.A. site had projected that it would vaccinate 6,000 people today -- a day. It has now vaulted up to 7,000 a day; 8,000 on some days. How do they do it? Let's hear from a F.E.M.A. spokeswoman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERONICA VERDE, F.E.M.A. SPOKESWOMAN: Originally, we started at 4,000 on February 16th. That was literally 19 days ago. We're now at 6,000 to 7,000, and at some days, up to 8,000. We're working really closely with the city and County of Los Angeles and their leadership, and also working with Cal OES to get the word out about this vaccine site.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: And about vaccinating those people in vulnerable communities, the Governor will ease restriction through the counties when they hit those benchmarks.

And another part of the effort, at USC, on Tuesday, University of Southern California, the city will open up another vaccine site. An interesting component to all of this is Uber is going to offer free rides or half rate rides to people who can't afford the transportation there.

So a lot of moving parts in Los Angeles right now, as the state looks to reopen up, Fred, on April 1st.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's fascinating. So Natasha, where you are, the NBA All-Star, just you know, hours away from tipoff. So there will be no fans in the arena. However, there is a crackdown of gatherings outside of the game.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in fact, the NBA designed this so that no fans would be around the State Farm Arena. That's why it's really quiet where we are, and roads have been blocked off in this downtown core. That's not so much the case in the rest of the city.

At this point, the NBA has sent roughly 200 cease and desist letters to promoters around town. "The New York Times" reports that some of them have been using the NBA All-Star logo in trying to get people to their events.

Just a couple of days ago, the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver reminded folks that this is not an event where people should come in from out of town because there won't be anything official going on here for them to attend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: I do feel it's important to say to your viewers that there will be nothing that we will be doing in Atlanta, unfortunately, that's open to the public. So I want to discourage people from coming to Atlanta for the all-star festivities.

The players will be only at the hotel and the arena, and there will be no other events other than essentially a made for TV show coming out of the stadium.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHEN: And that hasn't stopped people from showing up though. Let's show you some of the party promotions that we found online on social media.

You know, I've reached out to these venues and these promoters, some of them using the all-star name or logo or celebrity photos to draw people to the events.

And in one case, I called the number listed on one of these promotion ads, asking them, you know, is your event still going on today? Do you have special rules for your guests to keep them safe? And they said no comment.

So we know that there is a lot of activity going on around town even if the NBA itself is not hosting anything for fans -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Natasha and Paul, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

All right, still ahead, the U.S. Senate passed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package and it moves to the House this week. But will it get to the President's desk before the current benefits run out? I'll ask a democratic member of the House, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:37:45]

WHITFIELD: All right this week, Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID Relief Plan returned to the U.S. House after narrowly passing the U.S. Senate, but despite jockeying from Republicans, the bill is only slightly changed from the version House members passed last week.

It includes $1,400.00 checks for most Americans and also gives enhancements to unemployment benefits through September. There's also more money for State and local governments and money set aside to help schools reopen safely.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, one of the key votes needed by Democrats was able to push for a more targeted approach to unemployment benefits. Here's how he put it today on CNN's State of the Union.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): All I did was try to make sure that we were targeting where the help was needed. Right now, we're giving $300.00 to people who are unemployed by no fault of their own. I want that to continue seamlessly.

I think that basically if you look at all the things that we've done in targeting, how we help the families, how we help their children with child tax credits, there was so much more that we were doing. We're giving more help to individuals than ever before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right here with me right now, Congressman Ro Khanna who will vote again on this rescue package this week. Congressman, so good to see you.

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Fredricka, thank you for having me on.

WHITFIELD: All right, so before, you know, I ask you about the bill, do you see it as Manchin did? That, you know, he really just helped it along.

KHANNA: I think the important thing is that this is a very strong bill. It's going to help give people $1,400.00 checks. It is going to increase the child tax credit. That's a very important policy. It's going to put $3,000.00 in the pockets for every child of working class and middle class Americans, it is a big change.

So overall, it's a good bill that I will support.

WHITFIELD: All right, and at the same time, did Manchin also reveal what the road ahead is going to be like for Democrats to work together to, you know, keep a consensus going? KHANNA: But we obviously need to build bridges and to have a consensus

on any policy with the House and the Senate. Now, it's obvious that I fought very hard to have a minimum wage increase. I really think that that was one thing that is missing in this bill.

I'm going to continue to fight very hard to get to a $15.00 wage. But we always need to have outreach and trying to be constructive, because it takes 51 votes in the Senate, and I'm a majority in the House to get anything to President Biden's desk.

[15:40:17]

WHITFIELD: And how do you see the success rate potentially, for trying to get that $15.00 minimum wage increase?

KHANNA: I still believe it has to be in reconciliation. I wish it was in this reconciliation. I hope it will be in a future reconciliation, and that we won't listen to a Parliamentarian ruling that it can't be done that way, because I don't see any other avenue.

I mean, if we can't get one Republican to vote for a bill that's going to help cut child poverty in a third, that's going to get people $1,400.00 checks that's going to help vaccinate this nation, then how are we going to expect then to vote for a $15.00 wage increase or any minimum wage increase?

WHITFIELD: President Biden, you know, has been pushing for bipartisanship, unity, yet there was no Republican, you know, in either the Senate nor the House to vote in favor of this Rescue Plan. How are you going to go about trying to bridge that divide?

KHANNA: Fredricka, here is what's sad about that. I voted for every plan under President Trump for the rescue of the COVID relief. I even agreed with portions of it. I thought some of it was getting too much money to businesses and corporations.

But you know what? I said we can't play games with people's lives. They need checks, they need relief. And I don't understand how you can have Republicans take the same view.

They may not agree with the child tax credit. They may not agree with the funding for public schools, but shouldn't they put the needs of the American public first, just like so many Democrats did when President Trump was in office?

WHITFIELD: And there were some changes, some minor changes made in this House Bill after its initial passage, and then to the Senate yesterday before it was actually voted on.

So why do you suppose even with some of those changes, you still we're unable to get Republicans? I mean, what's behind that reticence to see it through?

KHANNA: I really don't know. I mean, you would think that they would understand the needs of the American public. I don't know if it's that they don't believe that Americans should get $1,400.00 checks. I don't know if it's that they don't believe that people with kids need extra assistance with COVID. I don't know if they don't believe that we need funding for schools to open up the schools.

I guess, I don't understand. They say well, when the number is too big, but what parts do they specifically disagree with? Is it the funding for a child tax credits? Is it the funding to extend unemployment benefits? Is it the $1,400.00 checks? I just think that there's a lack of urgency on their part to understand the suffering out there.

WHITFIELD: All right, Congressman, Ro Khanna, good to see you. Thank you so much.

KHANNA: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, coming up, breaking their silence. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sit down for their first interview together since acquitting their Royal duties, what new perspective they share about the traditionally quiet Palace. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:47:35]

WHITFIELD: All right, millions of viewers around the world are counting down to the blockbuster Oprah Winfrey interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex set to air tonight on CBS.

It's the couple's first interview together since they stepped back from their Royal Family duties, and Meghan says it was liberating for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: So as an adult who lived a really independent life, to then go into this construct that is different than I think what people imagine it to be, it is really liberating to be able to have the right and the privilege in some ways to be able to say yes, I am ready to talk.

OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: And to say it to yourself.

MARKLE: To say it for yourself.

WINFREY: And not to have to consult with anybody at this point.

MARKLE: Exactly. Yes. To be able to just make a choice on your own and just be able to speak for yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Paula Newton looks at the couple's story and their growing rift with the Royal Family.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Fairy tales aren't

supposed to go this way with a Prince and his bride quitting the palace and moving to California.

But Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are writing their own story, one that has shocked some and inspired others.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The monarchy failed in terms of a -- it was an golden opportunity to modernize with this couple and it didn't happen.

NEWTON (voice over): No longer full time working members of the British Royal Family, the couple has been working hard since leaving the U.K. on building their own brand.

First called, Sussex Royal, it was later changed to Archewell named for their first child and includes the couple's charity work and media productions.

Those ventures have reportedly been very lucrative with multiyear deals to create content for Netflix and a series of podcasts for Spotify.

MARKLE (voice over): These elephants are setting out on a thousand mile round trip.

NEWTON (voice over): Meghan also narrated a nature documentary for Disney called "Elephant" and invested in an oat milk latte company, while Harry is collaborating with Oprah Winfrey on an upcoming TV series on mental health.

The couple even paid back the $3 million of public money they used to renovate the home they lived in in the U.K.

In an interview with James Corden, Harry explained that even though the past year has brought many changes, their goals are still the same.

[15:50:09]

PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that, and the two of us enjoy doing that.

NEWTON (voice over): Both continue to champion causes they are passionate about, speaking out on mental health, race, and voting as they did in this ABC broadcast special.

MARKLE: When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard.

NEWTON (voice over): But that has always cut both ways. Photos of them laying a wreath on Remembrance Day were seen as a publicity stunt by some, Meghan received high praise for writing an intimate article about the grief she experienced after suffering a miscarriage.

But the announcement that she and Harry were expecting another baby left some critics asking why the couple who complained about the press was also engaging with them.

PENNY JUNOR, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: They said they were leaving, because they wanted privacy. And it seems in the last year that they've done very little other than seek publicity.

NEWTON (voice over): The upcoming high-profile interview with Oprah is sure to capture the world's attention, whether or not it out-shadows the causes and projects the Sussexes have so far, carefully cultivated, is a chapter yet to be written.

Paula Newton, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And this quick programming note tonight, an all-new episode of Stanley Tucci's "Searching for Italy." He'll take you to Milan, eating and drinking his way through Italy's second biggest city. Here's a sneak peek

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): I'm going to show you how we cook risotto.

STANLEY TUCCI, CNN HOST (text): Here you don't do pasta like in other places?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, because Italy is split in two. The South is very warm, and wheat grows there. The north is rainy and has got marshes, so rice grows there.

The powdered saffron.

TUCCI (voice over): In this wealthy city, humble rice is flavored with a space worth more than gold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know why we use saffron in Milan?

TUCCI: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saffron is an Eastern spice, it's from Iran. However, in 1400 during the Duomo construction they used saffron for the windows and the story goes that one day they were pranked by being fed rice as yellow as the window they made.

TUCCI: So they used the saffron to color the stained glass windows in the Duomo. Those are very expensive windows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Be sure to catch the brand new episode tonight at nine Eastern Time.

Thank you so much, everybody for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:35]

WHITFIELD: All right, at least one more thing. One surprising side effect of the coronavirus vaccine isn't medical at all. It's the fun people are having watching celebrities and world leaders get their shots. Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Most American public figures have been demurely rolling up their sleeves, modestly exposing arms, even as Arnold joked --

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: Put that needle down.

MOOS (voice over): But elsewhere, shirts were going down. For instance, this South African doctor went viral, thanks to his impressive physique. Meet the hunky vaxxers.

Astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson was welcomed into their ranks.

STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS HOST: People are getting the first dose and I didn't know that one possible side effect of the shot was of the gun show.

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, ASTROPHYSICIST: That was just left over from 40 years and 40 pounds ago, when I used to be in shape.

MOOS (voice-over): But Neil showed barely any skin compared to the French Health Minister. Someone joked, he was promoting vaccine uptake as part of "Operation Smolder."

COLBERT: Good PR for the launch of his new fragrance, "Vaccine: the only thing contagious now is passion."

MOOS (voice-over): Then, there was the Croatian Finance Minister, whose photo op in a skintight T-shirt earned him leering eyeball emojis.

And this photo attracted eyeballs as a reporter suggested, "We need to talk about the Greek Prime Minister's vaccine pose."

"Very 'Putin on horseback," commented someone. Not sure if they are needling Putin or the Greek Prime Minister.

There is plenty of fanning and adjusting glasses for a better look. This British Member of Parliament dispensed with his entire shirt.

At least when Dolly Parton got her shot --

DOLLY PARTON, MUSICIAN: That didn't hurt.

MOOS (voice-over): She dressed for the occasion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this peek-a-boo top.

MOOS (voice-over): Dolly just wasn't cut out to roll up sleeves as she crooned new lyrics to her song, "Jolene."

PARTON: "Vaccine, vaccine, 'cause once you're dead, then that's a bit too late."

MOOS (voice-over): But it is not too late for this idea. "OK, we are going to need a vaccine calendar."

Injecting a little beefcake while hoping COVID's days are numbered.

Jeanne Moos, CNN.

PARTON: "Vaccine, vaccine."

MOOS (voice-over): New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, we got a final moment or two to have a little fun.

All right, this programming note. When the Civil War started, Lincoln quickly felt the weight of the war. See his struggles with loss and find out what led to the Emancipation Proclamation when "Lincoln: Divided We Stand" continues tonight at 10 right here on CNN.

All right, thanks again, everyone for joining me this weekend. I am Fredricka Whitfield, the CNN NEWSROOM continues with Ana Cabrera right now.

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