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U.S. Boots Security at Capitol Ahead of Rally; Data on Boosters to be Presented at FDA Meeting today; Italy Require "Green Pass" for All Workers; Paris Feeling Betrays Over Canceled Sub Deal; Images Reveal North Korea Expanding Uranium Enrichment Plant; TSA Ramps Up Security Ahead of Saturday's Right-Wing Rally. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired September 17, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: The fences are up and police are out as the U.S. boosts security in Washington, D.C. ahead of a far-right rally supporting those who stormed the Capitol in January.

Then, research shows a COVID booster shot can turbo charge the production of antibodies so why don't all medical experts agree that now is time for a third dose? The big question being debated by the FDA today.

As the U.S. debates boosters, other countries move forward with vaccine passes. Italy will soon require everyone who has a job to show proof of vaccination or a negative test in order to work.

Live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to all of you watching here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

Right now, it's 4:00 a.m. in Washington and you are looking at a live picture of the U.S. Capitol. So, as you can see, right now it's calm and peaceful, but there are concerns that could soon change. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new warning for potential violence surrounding a far-right wing rally planned for Saturday. It comes eight months after the Capitol was attacked by rioters trying to overturn the presidential election. CNN's Ryan nobles has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've known for some time that law enforcement, Capitol Police, the Department of Homeland Security, they were concerned about what was going to happen here on Capitol Hill on Saturday. We now have learned after reviewing an internal security memo that was reviewed by CNN that they are also concerned that this security threat could extend into Friday, that there could be the folks that are attending the rally may show up on Friday and attempt to cause trouble.

So, that's why the Department of Homeland Security issued this alert to make everybody on guard. And it also probably explains why we saw that fencing up around the Capitol go up so early. It went up late Wednesday night. It was completely in place by Thursday morning. At this point Capitol Police still allowing people to go in front of the Capitol if they would like, but at a moment's notice they have the ability now to shut that area completely off to the public.

And we aren't expecting a big crowd here on Saturday. We should be clear about that. You know, there were tens of thousands of people in Washington, D.C. for the January 6th "Stop the Steal Rally" which was the prelude to the insurrection. The organizers of the "Justice for J6" rally as they're calling it, are only expecting around 700 people. But what law enforcement is concerned about, that it only takes a couple people to cause real trouble especially if some of those people come to this event with weapons. And that is a concern that they have right now despite the fact that organizers have said not to bring any weapons and to remain peaceful.

The Capitol Police has asked for reinforcements. They have the National Guard on standby. They've also asked for the help of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department as well, as law enforcement agencies in northern Virginia and suburban Maryland.

And then of course a new wild card thrown into all of this on Thursday when the former president Donald Trump who won't be at this event on Saturday did put out a statement issuing support for those who have been arrested for their role in the January 6 insurrection. He described the riot that led to the death of many people as nothing more than a protest. He said that those protestors are the victims of a two-tiered justice system. And he once again completed his false claims about the election. And it is this misinformation that has law enforcement concerned. This is what makes protesters angry and they are worried that this could just lead to more tension ahead of what is a day that many are concerned about coming up on Saturday.

Ryan Nobles, CNN, on Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: CNN law enforcement analyst and former secret service agent Jonathan Wackrow says it's crucial that strict security measures are enforced ahead of a potential threat. And he says if it turns out law enforcement was overprepared, well, that's OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN WACKROW, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: We have to take these protective measures because we know that we have an unmitigated threat out there. It may not manifest itself on Saturday, but we have to have that show of force. We have to understand that law enforcement since January 6 is no longer assessing of the likelihood that any group that these types of groups, these far-right groups, will engage in acts of violence. We know that they will. We saw it, there's video of it. So, we have to be prepared for that. And if we're overprepared and nothing happens, that is OK. We have to send a signal that we're going to stand by our law enforcement, our intelligence and you know, protect these critical assets no matter what.

(END VIDEO CLIP) [04:05:00]

BRUNHUBER: Independent scientific vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are meeting in the coming hours to discuss whether Americans need COVID-19 booster shots but the medical experts are divided on the efficacy of a third dose. CNN's Jason Carroll has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An important day in the battle over booster shots. An FDA advisory committee will meet to discuss whether it's now time for some Americans to get that added shot. This as some states have already made plans as they await approval of a third dose rollout next week.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: There is actually a pretty straightforward case to be made for why we should be allowing booster shots at this time especially for older individuals and people who are more medically vulnerable.

CARROLL (voice-over): An estimated a 5.2 million people could be eligible for a booster shot though there is still debate among doctors and public health experts on how effective that shot would be.

DR. CARLOS DEL RIO, EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM: Giving more vaccines to those people already vaccinated is going to do very little to sort of lessen the burden on our hospitals. We've got to get the unvaccinated vaccinated in order to really change the course of the pandemic.

DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: I was one of the biggest skeptics of the docs in the White House about boosters and I've become convinced particularly looking at the Israeli data.

CARROLL (voice-over): That data supports the argument for an additional shot. Several studies being presented in that FDA meeting suggest that boosters would help. Moderna also saying that its vaccine shows waning protection over time and expects more breakthrough cases will start to crop up.

While booster shots could amp up protection for those already vaccinated, the nation's hospital system is overloaded with COVID patients, most of whom are unvaccinated. Nearly 100,000 Americans are hospitalized with the virus. Now for the first time since June, the CDC predicts new daily hospitalizations will decline between now and early October.

In Los Angeles, vaccines will soon be required for indoor bars, night clubs and wineries. Vaccines or a negative test will also be required for large indoor events like concerts.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We have got to break this COVID cycle. These surges that we're experiencing. We are not timid in terms of leaning in and anticipating the changing dynamics. CARROLL (voice-over): In Florida, the opposite mindset, today the

state will begin punishing local governments for requiring their employees to get vaccinated, threatening a $5,000 fine for each violation.

CARROLL: Meanwhile some big businesses are making headway when it comes to vaccination efforts. United Airlines announced that 90 percent of its employees are now vaccinated. It was the first major carrier to require that its employees be vaccinated.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: So, what should we expect to hear after the meeting today? Well, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent and author of the new book "World War C" has more on that. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So, this is an advisory committee to the FDA that's going to look at a lot of the data that's been circulating and try and make some sense of it. As best we can tell, there's going to be sort of four major questions that they are really trying to get at here.

First of all, how much is immunity really waning. There's been some studies coming out of Pfizer saying that immunity may be decreasing in about 6 percent every two months. But again, overall, for severe illness, the vaccines remain very effective according to U.S. data. Really holding steady at about 96 to 97 percent.

Another question, a big one, how severe are the breakthrough infections. When we look at breakthrough infections, it could be people who simply test positive and frankly are surprised that they test positive. They don't have any symptoms, to people who have much more significant symptoms. Hoping that there's more details on exactly how severe the majority of these breakthrough infections are.

How long does the booster affect last? We don't know the answer to that question. Is it something where you're going to get a big surge of protection for a little bit of time and then it's going to wane off as we've seen with other vaccines?

And finally, how much do boosters actually reduce transmission. I think this is an important one. You know, there's a lot of data coming out of Israel, people often point to Israel because Israel is a bit ahead of us in terms of time line. They are more vaccinated about 63 percent of the population is vaccinated. And they've already been doing boosters since August now, so for over a month. But take a look at what has happened to their overall cases. Cases are actually higher now than they have ever been despite that high vaccination rate and even the instigation of boosters.

[04:10:00] So, it really raises the question, are positive cases, are breakthrough cases really going to be the metric that the FDA is going to use to determine whether or not people should receive a booster. We don't know the answer to this. In the past typically we've had a pretty good answer. We had a pretty good idea what the FDA was going to do. Here I think at this point is anybody's guess. So, a very important meeting taking place later today. As soon as we get some details, we'll certainly bring them to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: That was CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reporting there for us.

All right, so here is a look at where things stand globally. Have a look here. You can see the cases. They are down compared to the previous week in much of Africa and Western Europe. China appears to be going in the opposite direction. Spain's health ministry reports 75 percent of the population has now been fully vaccinated, but other European countries are cracking down.

France has suspended around 3,000 health care workers who missed Wednesday's deadline to get their shots. The health minister says the majority are support staff and many now have decided to get vaccinated.

And Italy is imposing some of the toughest COVID-19 regulations in the world. Starting October 15th, all public and private sector workers will have to show prove of vaccination, a negative COVID test or recent recovery from the virus.

So, let's go live to Rome and CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman. So, Ben, one can just imagine the outcry in the U.S. if the government here tried such a sweeping mandate. So, take us through what is behind Italy's decision and how people are reacting.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Italy basically wants to get over this crisis, which has been going on since February of last year. And most people don't seem to object to ever more stringent measures to try to bring the pandemic under control.

Keep in mind, Kim, that more than 130,000 Italians have died from this disease. Last year the economy shrunk by 9 percent. This is a situation that is intolerable for most people and there is a realization among most Italians that to get out of this crisis, most people have to be vaccinated. And if there are those who hesitate to be vaccinated, the penalties should be high. Therefore, now all public sector workers and private sector workers must show that they have either been vaccinated or have been tested negative or have recently recovered from the disease. If they don't comply with these measures, they could be suspended from their jobs and face hefty fines.

Now, one of the members of the government coalition, the so-called Lega or the league, a right-wing party, has objected to some of these members, but -- and has called for protests. But the public response has been weak at best, most people understand that to get out of this situation, hard measures have to be taken. And therefore, there hasn't been much of a protest, much pushback, to these measures.

Which there have been a series of measures introduced over the last few months. For instance, Italy was the first country to require all health care workers to be vaccinated. And then it imposed requirements for the so-called green passes at things like sporting and entertainment venues, museums and galleries and spas and for indoor dining. And most recently, for domestic flights, for train travel, and sea travel as well. There have not been really many protests to these ever-tougher measures -- Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, such a different attitude there in Italy. Very interesting. Thanks so much, Ben Wedeman in Rome.

The U.S. insists its new strategic pact with Australia and the U.K. is meant to ensure stability in the Indo Pacific, but its already cost France $65 billion and Paris is outraged. We'll have more on the French reaction just ahead.

Plus, satellite images appear to show North Korea is working on key uranium enrichment plan. So, we'll look at what this could mean for the nation's nuclear ambitions next. Stay with us.

[04:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Beijing is furious over a new security deal between Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. that will eventually equip Australia's Royal Navy with nuclear powered submarines. On Thursday China's Foreign Ministry slammed the new agreement as destabilizing and said giving Australia sensitive nuclear technology is quote, irresponsible.

And in Europe, Paris is feeling betrayed by the new tri-lateral partnership. That's because it had a multibillion-dollar deal with Australia for a fleet of diesel electric subs. When Australia announced it was terminating that agreement, France's foreign minister called it a, quote, stab in the back. That puts U.S. officials on the defensive as they try to justify the new agreement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Through August we will significantly deepen our cooperation on a range of security and defense priorities. Including by strengthening our joint capabilities and interoperability in a number of key areas, cyber, AI, quantum technologies, additional underseas capabilities. We'll also work to sustain and deepen information and technology sharing between our countries and we'll foster a deeper integration of security and defense-related science, technology, industrial bases and supply chains.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The French embassy in Washington had planned a big event to mark the long military history between the U.S. and France. Well, now it's been canceled. CNN's Cyril Vanier joins us from Paris with the latest. So, Cyril, that diplomatic slap is just one way the French are expressing their displeasure. So, take us through what more they are saying and why this is such a big deal.

[04:20:00]

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well look, Kim, the French are absolutely furious because they have put years of high-level talks and high-level diplomacy into this, up to the highest levels of state. The French President Emmanuel Macron himself being involved in the discussions. The foreign minister, then defense minister when he made the deal with the Australians.

They've had a deal in place for five years. The early parts of the deal have been inked already. They put pen to paper. And this is going to cost the French $65 billion. It's a huge amount of money, especially relative to the size of the French economy. So that's why the French are furious.

And also, they didn't even get the courtesy of a head's up, they say, from either the Australians or the Americans. So, they feel that they've been messed around, they feel that they were here first. They were already drawing up plans for conventional submarines and to provide those to the Australians. And then the Americans changed their foreign policy priorities, decided that aggressive containment of China was their number one priority and that Australia was a key part of that strategy. And France was collateral damage -- Kim.

BRUNHUBER: All right, Cyril Vanier live in Paris, thank you so much.

Satellite images obtained by CNN appear to show construction at a North Korean nuclear complex. Experts say the pictures show an area being built at a key uranium enrichment plant leading to new concerns about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. CNN's Paula Hancocks joins me now live from Seoul. So, a worrying development there, Paula. What more are we learning?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, these were commercial satellite images that were analyzed by the Middlebury Institute. And what they saw was what they believed to be an expense of the Nyongbyon research facility complex. They believe that there is additional floor space being put in. They say something like 1,000 square meters, which could house 1,000 extra centrifuges.

So, what this effectively means we're being told by Jeffrey Lewis, one of the weapons experts there, is that this could mean that the amount of weapons grade uranium that North Korea is able to produce could be increased by 25 percent. So, if this is the case, this would be a very significant development.

Now we also know that U.S. officials according to two sources with knowledge of the situation do understand this situation. They acknowledge that North Korea could well be increasing significantly the amount of weapons grade uranium that it is producing at the Nyongbyon nuclear facility.

Now just at the end of August, we also heard from the IAEA in a report that they believe one of the centrifuges, so one of the reactors was actually being restarted within the very same complex. So, a lot of attention has been placed on this particular complex in recent months.

And also, this comes at the end of a very busy week here on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea fired to ballistic short-range missiles on Wednesday. They also claimed on Monday that over last weekend they had fired long range cruise missiles. And you also had South Korea on Wednesday test firing a submarine launched ballistic missile among other things.

So, it certainly does top off an extremely busy week on the Korean Peninsula where the situation really is becoming more tense and we can see once again North Korea pushing ahead with its nuclear, its missile, its military capabilities regardless of what the rest of the world thinks -- Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, a situation we'll be tracking closely. Paula Hancocks live from Seoul, thank you so much, appreciate it.

Supporters of those who attacked the U.S. Capitol last January will rally in D.C. this weekend. Coming up, we'll have a look at what the TSA is doing to beef up security ahead of the demonstration. Stay with us.

[04:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: U.S. Transportation Security Administration ramps up safety measures ahead of Saturday's right-wing rally, which will see supporters of the January 6th insurrectionists demonstrate in Washington, D.C. The TSA warns travelers to expect more officers and K-9s at airports. CNN's aviation correspondent Pete Muntean has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: The TSA says it is always on high alert but that passengers will see more security officers and K- 9s leading up to Saturday's planned justice for January 6 rally. And what's so interesting is that this matches the agency's position that it took just after the original attack on the Capitol when it stepped up security here at Reagan International Airport and also at Dulles and at BWI.

The TSA says in a statement it recognizes this as a period of high awareness and it will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the D.C. region to address our security posture for the weekend.

Remember, January 6 changed aviation security everywhere. It was then that the federal government adopted a zero-tolerance approach for unruly passengers that really became a problem after the January 6 attack. 4,000 reports of unruly passengers since and TSA administrator David Pekoske says it still remain as big concern. DAVID PEKOSKE, ADMINISTRATOR, TSA: It's a big concern of mine. I know

it's a big concern of every traveler. Nobody wants to be at 30,000 plus feet and have somebody create an inflight disturbance.

MUNTEAN: Airlines are also keeping an eye on this. American Airlines moved its flight crews from downtown D.C. hotels following the attack on the Capitol on January 6. It also suspended alcohol service on flights to and from the D.C. area. American says it is making no changes yet. But it is still monitoring the situation.

Pete Muntean, CNN, Reagan National Airport.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to the reporting in the new book "Peril" from Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, about her conversation just after the January 6 riot with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley. According to a transcript of the call, the authors say they obtained, Milley tried to reassure Pelosi that America's nuclear weapons were secure. Pelosi according to the book was worried the former president might use them on another country to forestall his exit. Here are her comments from London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER: It wasn't a question of cutting out the chain of command, it was a question of what the checks and balances were on that chain of command. So, you know, you're seeing some things I can't attest to confirm or deny some of what is being said because it all came out since I've been here. But it is true that there was very grievous concern not just among House Democrats.