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U.S. Vaccination Rate Drops 10 Percent in one Week; Rep Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), a Physician, Discusses His Fight against Vaccine Hesitancy, Helping Reluctant People Get on Board & Sen. Ron Johnson Downplaying COVID Vaccine; Race to Find Missing Submarine Before It Runs Out of Oxygen; GOP Crafts Waive of Anti-Protest Bills Across Country; Las Vegas Prepares to Fully Reopen by June 1. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired April 23, 2021 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:13]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: In the fight against the coronavirus, more than half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

But some Republicans have consistently told pollsters they won't be joining them.

Scientists believe that 70 to 85 percent of the population must be fully vaccinated to reach herd immunity and return to pre-pandemic life as we knew it. As of today, we're only a fraction of the way there.

My next guest is a Republican Congressman and a doctor who has actually administered COVID shots to help reluctant people get onboard. Congressman Brad Wenstrup is here with me.

Thanks for being here, Congress.

REP. BRAD WENSTRUP (R-OH): My pleasure, Victor. Thank you for having me.

BLACKWELL: Let's start with the numbers and the important question of why. Let's put up the Monmouth poll.

When asked if people plan to get vaccinated, 43 percent of Republican respondents say they will likely never get vaccinated, compared to 22 percent of Independents, 5 percent of Democrats.

The basic question, why are so many Republicans reluctant or refusing vaccines?

WENSTRUP: That's a good question. That's one of the things we engaged in.

I was on an event with Frank Luntz, who you may be familiar with. He had people on the call that were Trump supporters but were hesitant to take the vaccine.

And it was interesting because, as we sat and I was talking as a doctor, as opposed to a member of Congress, we explained how Operation Warp Speed worked, how we weren't cutting corners.

We were cutting down some of the bureaucracy. And actually, more people took part in these trials that are normally in trials before something is approved. And just to explain some of the science.

And one of the takeaways that we got from the people said, you know, I'm more inclined now.

Most people said they were more inclined now after they listened to doctors and also listened to -- Chris Christie was on the call. He got very sick from COVID. They understood the risk of COVID.

At the end, they said, I'm more inclined now. We just want to be more educated more not indoctrinated.

As you know politics has unfortunately played a big part in this. As a doctor, I wish it was not.

There's been things about the virus that we thought were going to happen --

BLACKWELL: Congressman --

WENSTRUP: -- that didn't happen.

Yes, go ahead.

BLACKWELL: I watched that focus group. You know, you had some people who went from 80 percent to -- against it to maybe half and half.

WENSTRUP: Yes.

BLACKWELL: And some people said, I was a zero and I'm still a zero.

But Democrats trust their doctors, too. I mean, they also talked about the spouses. Independents talk to spouses.

There's something unique in the numbers, consistently, that Republicans are more reluctant. So have you gotten into what that element is?

WENSTRUP: Not exactly. But I do go back to the idea of talking to your doctor. That's what we want people to do. Talk to your doctor, get the information.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WENSTRUP: There's a lot of people that don't trust government. I've always made this case.

But it's interesting of like who you trust. I'll give you an example. You said I've been out giving shots. I've done it with the National Guard and in uniform and I've done it just on my own. I have both urban and rural.

We had folks from a retirement community where we went on the bus, got their history, did the paperwork and gave them the vaccine.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WENSTRUP: I go in uniform. The lady sees my name and said, can I get a selfie with you. And I said sure.

Then I gave her the shot and she said, I probably don't agree with you on one thing politically but I'm very grateful for your service and you here giving me this shot today.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WENSTRUP: So that mindset is different for a lot of people. It's a trust factor I think that weighs with a lot of people.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you this, because in the question of leadership and trying to convince people, as you are, to get vaccinated, Republican Senator of Wisconsin, Ron Johnson was on a radio show today and talked about the vaccine.

And this is what he said: "The science tells us that vaccines are 95 percent effective. So if you have a vaccine, quite honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or not?

I mean what is it to you? You got a vaccine. Scientists tell you it's very, very effective. Why is there this big push to make sure everybody gets the vaccine?"

He asks that rhetorically. I'm going to ask it directly. What's it to you that your neighbor gets vaccinated?

WENSTRUP: Well, public health. I mean, that's the important thing as -- is what's going on in America. And don't we all want to get back to being open?

You know, I don't want to force people into taking a vaccine. But I want them to have all the tools they need to understand why it's important.

And --

(CROSSTALK)

[14:35:02]

BLACKWELL: What's the impact of statements like that from members of Congress when you're trying to get people vaccinated and Ron Johnson is saying, essentially, get your vaccine and mind your business?

WENSTRUP: Well, you know, again, I think it all comes back to educating people on the importance of public health.

I served on our board -- BLACKWELL: Educating your colleagues?

WENSTRUP: What's that?

BLACKWELL: Educating your colleagues?

WENSTRUP: Well, that's what we are trying to do as a doctor caucus is educating everyone on the importance of this from a public health standpoint. And, you know, it's across the board.

You know, anecdotally, as I've been out and about, I can't tell if anyone is Republican or Democrat.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WENSTRUP: I'm not going to ask in in situation where I'm there as a medical provider, right?

BLACKWELL: Congressman --

(CROSSTALK)

WENSTRUP: So the whole part is interesting and, obviously, of concern.

BLACKWELL: But they're also consistent. They're also consistent in showing the shy percentage of Republicans reluctant to get it.

Listen, I've got to get to one more thing --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: -- before we go. You are the co-chair --

WENSTRUP: OK.

BLACKWELL: -- of the GOP doctors caucus, 18 doctors. You signed this letter, sent it to the speaker of the House to lift the COVID restrictions in the House. Most of them. You didn't say all of them.

The letter demands, quote, "In era of higher hygiene pretense must end."

Why is now the time to lift restrictions when the public health experts in this administration and in Congress are saying that this is not the time?

WENSTRUP: Well, some of them are saying that it is the time. The CDC has said, if you are vaccinated, you can gather together in these types of groups, keep your distance.

But, you know, it's --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: No. No, Congressman, that's not what the CDC says. The CDC says that unvaccinated people -- vaccinated people, rather, can be with other vaccinated people without masks without distancing.

WENSTRUP: Right.

BLACKWELL: But also that if there are unvaccinated people from multiple households, that you should still distance, wear masks, and take precautions.

You don't have --

WENSTRUP: But, Victor --

BLACKWELL: -- all vaccinated people in the chamber or their staffs, right?

WENSTRUP: Right. And so, Victor, that's -- you hit the nail on the head.

You know, I look at the Congress as a body. And the decision was made to prioritize members of Congress to get the vaccine. Quite frankly, there was some people you know -- as a doctor and soldier, I needed to get it.

But there were a lot of people that took the approach like, look I'm not as vulnerable. I want the vaccine going to somebody elderly or with comorbidities and I want to wait. I understand that. I think that's honorable.

But we were given the opportunity to get the vaccine. And what we don't know is how many people actually have and have not. And --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: If you don't know, then why is now the time to lift the restrictions?

WENSTRUP: Well, because we should know that.

BLACKWELL: But you don't.

WENSTRUP: And we should be able to know.

I know that. That's the point.

BLACKWELL: But shouldn't you know that before you ask, if you can now get together in small offices and stop the social distancing? It seems it's the wrong order.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: The caucus sent a letter to the speaker of the House saying lift restrictions. And you don't know how many people are vaccinated.

WENSTRUP: I appreciate that.

But if you look at the intent of the letter, one of the things that we asked was, what are things that we can , as physicians, to aid you in this process so that we can get back to being a more functional body.

And that's what we asked. It was a very respectful letter.

And we were asking, because we got the opportunity to be vaccinated, and some of the restrictions for vaccinated people have been lifted, should we be taking a look?

It's not demanding anything, per se. It's asking, what more can we do to try and get us back to be a more functional body?

Because I think you -- you will find on both sides of the aisle all agree, the more that we can interact with each other in person, the better off we are and the more wick function cohesively as we have in the past.

BLACKWELL: Right.

WENSTRUP: That was the intent of the letter.

So you're right when you say we don't know. And I would like to know.

(CROSSTALK)

WENSTRUP: Now there are HIPAA rules and people don't have to say whether they've been vaccinated or not.

BLACKWELL: Certainly is.

WENSTRUP: And we put guidelines in, if you've not been vaccinated what precautions you should be taking as a member of Congress.

BLACKWELL: All right.

WENSTRUP: And if you've been vaccinated, what liberties you can have.

It was a very common-sense think.

BLACKWELL: OK.

WENSTRUP: It wasn't snarky or partisan.

BLACKWELL: We will see what the response is.

Congressman Brad Wenstrup, thank you for your time, sir.

WENSTRUP: You bet. Thank you. You have a good day.

BLACKWELL: You, too.

CAMEROTA: Those were great questions for him. He obviously has his work cut out for him --

BLACKWELL: Yes.

CAMEROTA: in getting more people onboard.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

CAMEROTA: But as he says, he is trying.

BLACKWELL: And starting with some of his colleagues. Listen, he is going out, administering some of the vaccines, trying to convince people back home in Ohio.

But as we heard from Ron Johnson, he may have some people to convince across the hall.

CAMEROTA: Indeed.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

[14:39:55]

CAMEROTA: OK, meanwhile, still ahead, the race against time searching for this missing submarine. Oxygen is about to run out onboard. But there may be a glimmer of hope. We have an update.

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CAMEROTA: The U.S. is joining the desperate search for a missing Indonesia submarine. Time is running out for the 53 crew members onboard. The sub has only hours left of oxygen.

But in a ray of hope, an unidentified object with, quote, "strong magnetic resonance" has been spotted at the search site.

For the latest let's get to Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, what's happening in this hour?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, rescuers have said there has been a location of some type of metal object deep under the ocean off the coast of Bali in Indonesia.

They are hopeful. They are beginning to home in on the submarine location. But it's an awful lot of work remains to be done.

Military maritime forces from a number of nations in region out there have come to try and offer their assistance, including the Australians and the Malaysians. And now the U.S. also weighing in.

[14:45:08]

Earlier today, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin talked to the Indonesian defense minister.

And now a U.S. Navy P-8, which is essentially a submarine hunting aircraft, it looks for submarines under the ocean trying to escape detection in wartime. A P-8 is on the way there.

We are told today, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, three C-17 Air Force transport aircraft will be loaded up with additional watercraft and search equipment. Look, the clock is running. Everyone knows that. These U.S. assets

will be in place if, sadly, this effort to rescue those aboard the submarine were to become a recovery mission in the hours ahead.

Either way, all of these international maritime forces trying to bring 53 souls home to their families.

BLACKWELL: And just enough oxygen to last until Saturday.

Barbara Starr, thanks so much.

Coming up, new laws in several states protect drivers who hit protesters. Why?

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[14:50:45]

BLACKWELL: A woman in Iowa has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges for intentionally driving her car into two children.

She admits she did it because she thought one was Mexican and she thought the other was a member of the ISIS, of the Islamic State. A 12-year-old boy was one of those kids.

Nicole Franklin entered the pleas this week and she admitted she tried to kill the two children because of their races in separate attacks in 2019. Both children were injured but survived.

CAMEROTA: This guilty plea comes as the GOP lawmakers in Iowa and Oklahoma have passed bills granting immunity to drivers whose vehicles strike and injure protesters in public streets.

BLACKWELL: For more on that, let's bring in our Brynn Gingras.

Brynn, first, tell us about these laws targeting protesters in states across the country.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there's a wide scope of this anti-protester legislation we're seeing.

Much is being introduced in states by Republican lawmakers and in response to the protests that have swept this country following the death of George Floyd. Of course, we have seen some of those protests become violent.

Let's take a closer look in Florida where Governor Ron DeSantis, he just signed legislation. He himself called it the strongest anti- rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country.

This new law is going to boost the penalties for protesters who assault or burglarize a law enforcement officer during a riot.

There's harsher penalties for people caught damaging or defacing historical monuments in that state as well. Also, you remember we heard all those calls for defund the police in

protests? Now also in Florida, a municipality needs state approval before cutting a police department's budget.

Going to a different state, the ink is dry on a different piece of legislation in Oklahoma and Iowa as well.

The new law there grants immunity to drivers who unintentionally injure or kill protesters while trying to flee from a demonstration.

And more in Oklahoma, there's also now stricter penalties for those who obstruct a public street during the course of a protest.

Now, those are just a few states that have passed this kind of legislation.

But there are more than 30 other states where lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills with similar objectives, according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, which is actually tracking this kind of legislation nationwide.

If you look at Minnesota, a bill there could deny student loans to someone if they violate protest laws.

In Indiana, someone wouldn't be able to work in state or local government if they are convicted.

You guys can imagine the resistance to these kinds of proposals.

The fear is that if you put the rules on the books like this, it infringes on people's First Amendment rights.

But also critics argue it's going to further perpetuate what most peaceful protests are speaking out against, and that's the misuse of these kind of rules by people in power disproportionately against communities of color -- Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh, Brynn. Some of that sounds completely insane. Immunity for drivers who kill protesters.

GINGRAS: That's right.

CAMEROTA: But, of course, you know, in court, they would say it was unintentional.

Look, we'll see what happens. But that sounds like it's opening the door for other issues.

Thank you very much for all of your reporting.

[14:54:07]

OK, so just ahead, from packed blackjack tables to winning slot machines, Las Vegas is back, baby. We'll show you what's changed since the pandemic.

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BLACKWELL: The lights are back on in Sin City as the Vegas Strip welcomes back tourists.

CAMEROTA: CNN's Lucy Kafanov talked to some residents who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and cannot wait to get back to work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

(CHEERING)

(MUSIC)

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In Sin City --

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KAFANOV: -- entertainment and excitement --

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(SHOUTING)

KAFANOV: -- are back.

(APPLAUSE)

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KAFANOV: Last March, the coronavirus pandemic turned one of the busiest places on earth into a ghost town. Las Vegas casinos were ordered to shut their doors, costing thousands of jobs and billions in lost revenue.

But a year after the iconic strip went dark, the glittering lights and sounds are once again dazzling visitors.

Many tourists feeling safer in rolling the dice. Blackjack tables, packed. Slot machines, paying out.

GEORGE MARKANTONIS, PRESIDENT & CEO, THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS: People want to do business face-to-face.

KAFANOV: The president of The Venetian Las Vegas says daily bookings are exceeding pre-COVID levels.

After a year on the rocks, the economic tide seems to be turning.

KAFANOV (on camera): Tourists are coming back on the weekends. But what's the missing piece?

MARKANTONIS: The missing piece are the business travelers for the conventions and the Expo Center.

KAFANOV (voice over): Conventions bring in big bucks and weekday bookings, contributing more than $11 billion in 2019 alone.

KAFANOV: Wow. It is huge.

STEVE HILL, PRESIDENT & CEO, LAS VEGAS CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY: Well, it's 30 acres under roof.

KAFANOV (voice over): The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority gave us a tour of its newly expanded convention center, which will host America's first large-scale post-pandemic event in June.

CEO Steve Hill says dozens more are on the books.

KAFANOV: So conventions are critical for Vegas to come back?

HILL: They really are. And without that, we can make it, but we can't thrive.

KAFANOV (voice over): The new player in town, Virgin, took a gamble, opening a property last month during the pandemic. It's the Vegas you know with a safer twist.

[15:00:04]

KAFANOV: This is just one of the many COVID-19 safety measures casinos are putting into place, betting big on a Las Vegas comeback.

(END VIDEOTAPE)