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Interview With Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH); Booster Shots Now Available For The Elderly, People At High Risk; Consumers Once Again Facing Shopping Shortages; Dem Infighting Threatens To Topple Biden's Sweeping Social Legislation; Brian Laundrie Search Intensifies After Federal Arrest Warrant; Outreach Group Trying To Stem Surge Of Shootings In Portland. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired September 25, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

[11:59:52]

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

All right, we begin this hour with some encouraging news on the coronavirus pandemic. The rate of cases is slowing, new infections are at the lowest rate the nation has seen since August 10th.

The U.S. is averaging more than 122,000 new coronavirus infections a day. That's down more than 16 percent from last week. Well, despite that positive trend, experts say the coronavirus may be here to stay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER COMMISSIONER, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION: I think this Delta wave may be the last major wave of infection, assuming nothing unexpected happens.

This becomes a more persistent endemic risk. So, you continue to have coronavirus spread, but not the same rates we're seeing right now. And it settles into a pattern more of a seasonal pattern and basically becomes the second flu.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Alison Kosik joining me now from New York with more on this. Alison, what are you learning?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Hi, Fredricka. Pfizer's COVID-19 booster shots are now available for millions of Americans after CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky split with her agency's vaccine advisors by recommending a third dose for people who are considered high risk based on where they work.

But even she admits the country can't boost its way out of the pandemic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's hard to acknowledge I'm over 65, but I'll be getting my booster shot.

KOSIK (voice-over): President Joe Biden, along with millions of other Americans is now eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

BIDEN: Like your first and second shot, the booster shot is free and easily accessible. Booster shots will be available in 80,000 locations, including over 40,000 pharmacies nationwide.

KOSIK: The booster shots are now green-lit by the FDA and CDC for Americans 65 and over, people 18 and up with certain underlying health conditions, and adults at increased risk of COVID because of their workplaces or institutional settings.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, CDC: In a pandemic, we most often take steps with the intention to do the greatest good, even in an uncertain environment, and that is what I'm doing with these recommendations.

KOSIK: But, getting more initial shots in arms remains a high priority for the administration.

WALENSKY: I want to be clear, we will not boost our way out of this pandemic.

KOSIK: A dramatic scene played out in real-time on Friday during a taping of "The View".

BRIAN TETA, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, THE VIEW: I need the two of you to step off for a second.

JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, THE VIEW, ABC: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

TETA: OK. And we're going to bring it back later.

BEHAR: Ana and Sunny have to leave.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

KOSIK: Two hosts of the show tested positive for COVID just ahead of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. But later in the day, two sources said that both women subsequently tested negative on follow-up rapid and PCR tests. Harris had not interacted with them, a White House official said.

According to new data from the CDC, on Friday, 75 percent of the eligible population in the U.S. has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 32 states and D.C. have now fully vaccinated more than half of their residents.

But in Alabama, a different story. The state health officer said yesterday that reports that the state has had the highest death rate in the country recently need to be verified but they certainly make sense. He said over 100 people died there every single day last week. DR. SCOTT HARRIS, OFFICER, ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: You know these aren't numbers or stats, these are -- these are our friends and our family and our loved ones. These are Alabamians who are dying of COVID.

We continue to say, you know, at least 90 percent of these deaths are completely preventable with vaccination.

KOSIK: Meanwhile, here in New York State on Monday, a vaccine mandate for all healthcare workers will go into effect.

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): I believe it's critically important for our health care workers to be as healthy as they can before they attend to the health of others.

KOSIK: That same day, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is also requiring all school staff to provide proof of receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

BILL DE BLASIO, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: We're going to work with anyone who needs to get vaccinated between now and the deadline. If they don't get vaccinated, consciously make the choice not to get vaccinated, they will be suspended without pay.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK (on camera): Now, two major unions representing teachers, principals, and school supervisors in New York City, they're calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to delay the vaccine mandate deadline which is on Monday at midnight. But with 10,000 New York City school teachers yet to show proof of one dose of the vaccine, there are major concerns from the unions over how Tuesday morning will go and whether schools will be safe and properly staffed. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Alison Kosik, thank you so much. And a lot of parents are on the edge of their seats.

All right, joining me right now to discuss is Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease expert and health director for the city of St. Louis.

Dr. Davis, always good to see you. So, let's talk about this new data from the CDC showing that people under 50 are among the least vaccinated. I mean, the numbers hovering between the 40 and 60 percent tile ranges.

Seems so, how can the Biden administration and members of the medical community better target these people who are mostly under the age of 49 to get the message to fully vaccinate?

[12:05:07]

DR. MATI HLATSHWAYO DAVIS, HEALTH DIRECTOR, CITY OF SAINT LOUIS: I think innovation here is key, Fredricka. We need to empower our primary care physicians, to be able to have these difficult conversations with this younger demographic. But also to underscore the fact that while mild illness may be more predominant within this age group, that we are seeing what we refer to as long COVID symptoms, the symptoms that persist for weeks, months, and in some places still continuously, after contracting COVID. We do not know what the long-term effects of those will be. And that is not something we can take lightly.

Not just that, to also underscore the fact that we do not want folks to have asymptomatic transmission to their loved ones who may be at higher risk. This is absolutely a critical message.

WHITFIELD: Right, and congratulations on your new job as a St. Louis health director. So, what have you observed, while in this post?

HLATSHWAYO DAVIS: Listen, you know, as you know, Fredricka, from the last time we spoke, Missouri has been in the thick of things, and we were one of the highest states as far as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

What we are seeing now thankfully, is the seven-day average is showing a decline in COVID positive hospitalizations just this week, but our ICU are still full and deaths have remained the same.

So for me, the charge remains the same, which is to get the message across that the vaccine is the best available tool in our toolbox. But the vaccine alone isn't going to get us there. What I'm also trying to address in St. Louis is access especially in black and brown communities that have been consistently the lowest vaccinated and where misinformation, disinformation, and a lack of trust is high. People do not trust our systems, and rightfully so.

And so, that is something I need to address. I've already reached across the aisle to county leadership to ensure that we have regional meetings on a monthly basis to both align our goals and to share resources, something that I think will help us get there.

WHITFIELD: And now on the issue of the booster shot, the CDC has diverged from a recommendation from the agency's independent group of vaccine advisors to allow vaccine boosters for people who are at increased risk of COVID because of where they work. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALENSKY: I want to be very clear that I did not overrule an advisory committee. This wasn't -- I listened to all of the proceedings of the FDA advisory committee, and intently listened to this exceptional group of scientists that publicly and very transparently deliberated for hours over some of these very difficult questions and where the science was.

This was a scientific close call, and I think you can tell by the duration of the meeting, and the -- and the discussions that this was a scientific close call. In that situation, it was my call to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Are you on board with this?

HLATSHWAYO DAVIS: So, I -- it's difficult. So, let me say this. I will say that I understand where the decision came from. If you're operating in a vacuum, if we're pretending the U.S. has its own island, and we're going by just the priorities for this country, this decision makes a lot of sense.

I'm a health care worker, I know the risk that I carry by doing this job every single day. And so, I respect the data that underscore this, and by which this decision was made.

WHITFIELD: But --

HLATSHWAYO DAVIS: My concern, Fredricka is that we are still in a global pandemic. We're less than three percent of Africans are fully vaccinated compared to over 60 percent in North America.

Even here in the U.S., black and brown communities are still woefully left behind in vaccinations.

And so, what I would like to see is the same passion, the same dedication, and the same clear messaging, as to what we are doing around global and local vaccine equity. That is addressed --

(CROSSTALK)

WITFIELD: But it -- during the U.N. -- you heard then, president during the U.N. session that a commitment of doses is being made to other countries from the U.S. stockpile. Are you saying that is not enough?

HLATSHWAYO DAVIS: As largest that donation isn't as much as I am absolutely grateful for that commitment. It is a one-time commitment and not nearly enough. We need to see more around what is happening with manufacturing hubs that will empower countries around the globe to be able to make their own vaccines, and for continued support as well.

It's a both an approach Fredricka, not just a one-time deal.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis. And congratulations because I understand you're also spending your sixth wedding anniversary with us today. So, is that true?

HLATSHWAYO DAVIS: Fredricka, thank you. Yes, I'll get off and give the husband of my time, but I do appreciate that. Thank you.

[12:10:00]

WHITFIELD: Oh, congratulations. Happy anniversary. Good to see you.

All right, still ahead. Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, all may be hard to find again amid a critical supply shortage. We'll explain why. Plus, deep divisions in the Democratic Party are threatening to derail President Biden's domestic agenda, all, while a potential government shutdown looms.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, let's go down memory lane and repeat it all over again. Remember, at the beginning of the pandemic, when you couldn't find toilet paper, cleaning supplies. Well, guess what? It's all going to happen again.

Costco says it is going to have to put limits on how much toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies that all of us buy. A breakdowns in the supply chain are making it harder to get store's shelves restocked.

[12:15:04]

WHITFIELD: And that's not all. Computer chip shortages have slowed down production for everything. From cars to appliances. Even Nike says it can't supply enough shoes to fill demand right now. And some experts think that shortages could last well into next year.

Jennifer Smith is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who covers supply chain issues. Jennifer, so good to see you. All right, so, help us explain when these companies say supply chain issues, what does that mean?

JENNIFER SMITH, REPORTER, WALL STREET JOURNAL: Hi. So, the supply chain is the whole process of making and selling commercial goods. So, that's the raw materials that go into a product, you know, production factories, and then getting it to where it will eventually be sold.

There's a lot of transport links in that, and then, distribution. Maybe it goes to retail shelves, maybe it goes to a factory, you know widget to help them make more widgets, or maybe it comes to your home in an e-commerce parcel.

WHITFIELD: So, why are there shortages on everything from the materials to the manpower? How is it that that's all in sync and dwindling supply?

SMITH: Well as you -- as you recall back to the early days of the pandemic when the COVID first hit on a global scale, we got these crazy demand shocks, sort of as if you'd have a hurricane. But if you had a hurricane everywhere.

And so, everyone was freaking out, and they're trying to buy toilet paper, and they're trying to buy bread. And you know, that was happening domestically. Fast forward to where we are now, with significant consumer demand in the U.S. is really -- it's strong, and people are trying to meet that demand. But the pandemic is still here and it is still affecting the ability to produce the goods, and it's also having an impact on the labor needed to move and distribute them.

Plus, there's reverberations, there's a lot of port congestion. So, that's throwing the whole ocean shipping ecosystem that so much of global trade relies on. That's sort of in upheaval, and there's a lot of slowdowns there. So, it's all sort of converging.

Whether it's a factory shut down because of COVID that means another (INAUDIBLE) you know, a retailer can't get clothes, or if that's affecting the chip supply that goes into everything from trucks to trucks, and cars, and computers, and all the home electronics that people loaded up on in the early days of the pandemic.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Yes.

SMITH: So, you've got endless supply shocks and production problems and transport issues.

WHITFIELD: And you made mention of the ports. I mean, this week, we saw stunning pictures of more than 70 container ships waiting up the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. 40 percent of container goods in the U.S. come through these ports.

So, what's it going to take to break the congestion?

SMITH: That's an excellent question, and that's a subject of hot debate. So, right now, that port complex which is the busiest U.S. gateway for imports, they are talking about ways to try and unclog the congestion.

The Port of Long Beach is moving to do some trial for 24 operations, not all the time, but for a couple of days a week. The Port of Los Angeles which is right next door is hoping to make sure that the hours that it is operating that, that time is being used as efficiently as possible. That you're getting truck drivers and to pick up the boxes, haul them away, make room for more so they can speed it up.

But undergirding a lot of these problems is labor is a big piece. You need labor -- you need people to unload the goods off the ships, you need drivers and trucks to take it away, you need labor at warehouses to receive the goods so they can take it in and store it. And the truckers can turn around and move those empty containers out. And eventually, get the containers back to Asia so more goods can come.

WHITFIELD: Right, but if you have a dearth of all those things, then, hence, that's why you've got the backup, you've got all these containers just sitting there, it can't be offloaded.

So, what if anything can the Biden administration do to help tackle some of this?

SMITH: Well, my understanding is that they're -- you know, asking the busiest U.S. ports to do everything they can to sort of speed up the flow of goods. And how much of that is in their power or not, you know, remains to be seen.

So, already you know Long Beach and Los Angeles are trying to do what they can and we'll see -- we'll see if that works. Again, there's a whole -- the rest of the supply chain once you actually get off the docks though what happens, do you have enough trucks to move the stuff away?

Is there enough space in the warehouses near the ports? Are people there -- you know, are you able to get stuff on trains and move it into the middle of the country, which it -- the way that good -- a good amount of goods get from ports into Chicago and then throughout the rest of the country.

You know, you need all those pieces in play to make things open up and start running again.

[12:20:01]

WHITFIELD: All right, Jennifer Smith, Wall Street Journal. So, glad you could be with us. Thank you so much.

SMITH: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, coming up, President Biden's top legislative priorities are in limbo threatened by a divide within his own party.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A divide among Democrats on Capitol Hill is threatening to derail President Biden's domestic agenda. CNN has just learned from sources that the House Democratic conference will hold a critical caucus meeting on Monday.

And this comes as Speaker -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighs options on a path forward on Biden's massive spending legislation and the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

[12:25:03]

WHITFIELD: Pelosi has promised to vote on the infrastructure deal on Monday, but progressives are threatening to vote no on that bill if a big budget isn't also presented.

CNN Sunlen Serfaty joins us now from Capitol Hill, where Democrats are a meeting right now. So, what more do you know about what moderates want, what progressives want, and whether everything is in the air as a result?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Everything certainly is still up in the air, Fred. There is no progress, no agreement yet, which is why lawmakers are continuing to negotiate and work on breaking this logjam throughout this weekend.

Now, issue is still this intense stalemate that we've seen among House Democrats, where you have moderates who are demanding Pelosi hold firm and hold a vote on that infrastructure bill, that bipartisan infrastructure bill on Monday.

But progressives are pushing back against that. They want to tank that infrastructure bill, say they will vote against it unless there first is an agreement on that broader economic, social spending bill. And at this point there they are very, very far from agreeing towards any of the contours of that bill.

Now, Speaker Pelosi has said that next week, she intends to hold a vote on both of these bills. But House progressions are saying, look, that does not help anything to move to a vote on Monday on infrastructure.

In fact, they believe it makes the tension within their party worse. Just check out this rhetoric among Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Speaker Pelosi, will the votes still happen for sure on Monday on the infrastructure bill?

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): The bill will come up on Monday.

REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-WA): -- vote is going to happen because I don't think the Speaker is going to bring a bill to the floor that's going to fail. And we still have -- and actually, the number is growing, but we have at least 50 people who are not going to vote for that bill.

So, I think what we need is to take the temperature down a little bit to have the negotiations continue. The vote is going to drive up tensions, not dragged down tensions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: Now, today, appear on Capitol Hill at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, they'll be a very rare Saturday session of the Budget Committee. They will begin working on marking up that broader economic package. That is largely symbolic in nature is basically intended to show that they are moving and progressing on that budget bill to a peace.

Some progressive, now key moment though it will, of course, come on Monday evening, when the Democratic caucus will get together in person up here on Capitol Hill, Fred, certainly trying to take the temperature of members and potentially plot that path forward. But that path forward right now is still very unclear.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much on Capitol Hill.

All right, joining me right now is Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio. Congressman, so good to see you. You are on the --

(CROSSTALK)

REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH): (INAUDIBLE), Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Great. You are on the Appropriations Committee. Do you expect to vote on this infrastructure bill Monday?

RYAN: You know, I'm not sure. I think that's the conversation that's happening now. I think what we do know is that what we're talking about here is increasing our ability as a country to outcompete China. They are coming after us in so many different ways. And the investments we're talking about infrastructure, early childhood education, community college, you know, that's all about out-competing China.

In the other thing is we're trying to put money in people's pockets here. Extending the child tax cut to fit for families, which has been huge for millions and millions of families. It's expensive to raise kids, early childhood education, preschool, that those kinds of things mean money in the pocket for people, child care, family and medical leave, the Medicare expansion for vision, dental, and hearing. That's all money in people's pockets.

So, we've got to keep perspective as to what we're trying to do here and that's outcompete China, put money in people's pockets. And at the end of the day, I think we're going to come to an agreement on how big this needs to be, and how we're going to pay for it, and in a few months, the American people are going to feel the benefits of it. In China, in the long term, will feel the negative aspects of these investments.

WHITFIELD: So, when you put it like that, it sounds like that would be appealing to everybody. But you know, here you have, you know, Democrats in the majority, and the party is split, and could potentially jeopardize the president's agenda and all of those things that you just laid out.

So, with this fissure between moderates, you know, and centrists, and progressives. I mean, Republicans don't seem to be your only opponent. You got opposition within your own party.

RYAN: Well, the Republicans have no interest in doing what's in the best interest of the country. I think they've proven that January 6th, then on and on. They're not interested in governing at all. They never have been in my career.

[12:29:57]

And so, it's time for us to find some common ground so that we can get to some higher ground. And I think that's the conversation that's happening within the Democratic Caucus. We control the House and the Senate, the White House. Where is that common ground? Where are these initiatives for the common good? You know, I find these initiatives, hugely beneficial to businesses. I mean, to put more money in people's pockets, that they can go out and put into the economy, boost these restaurants, boost these other businesses that need help.

I mean, that's going to be huge for businesses, for them to have consumers with a tax cut and more money in their pockets. So it benefits them, too. So let's do what's for the common good, find some common ground and get some higher ground, and then we can start rebuilding the country.

But right now the Republicans aren't being, you know, honest brokers. They're trying to deep fix this thing because they know that the American people are going to benefit from this. And they know it's a big step out competing China. And so they're not going to be for, we do find that common ground.

WHITFIELD: -- isn't that worried that it's Democrats who -- Democrats in this kind of fissure and infighting is what will defeat the measure as opposed to being able to place the blame on Republicans, I mean, progressives are threatening to vote against this infrastructure bill. And so if that's the case, what is the danger in delaying that vote that was scheduled for Monday, before you can get everybody together?

RYAN: Well, I think you know, it's the old saying, there's two things you never want to watch being made that sausage and laws. So this is never a pretty process, it never has been, you can go back and look at, you know, passing Social Security or Medicare, or any of the big initiatives that we had in the country over the history of this country, never easy, you know, equal rights issues and all the rest. So this is not going to be easy. And these are the conversations that the leadership is having.

We've got some great leaders not only, you know, in the House in the Senate, but you know, the budget committee leader John Yarmuth, been around for a long time. Richie Neal, chair of the Ways and Means Committee been around for a long time, understands how to get these deals done.

We're going to get it done, I feel very, very confident that, you know, the blow by blows are always pretty, but we will have a big infrastructure package and we will have a big investments into cutting workers in on the deal and putting money in their pockets.

And this is a huge step again, to outcompete China and that's what the Democrats are focused on, Fredricka, like they get the big picture. You know, we were -- a lot of us were around in 2010, when we didn't do enough to heal the economy quick enough.

WHITFIELD: OK.

RYAN: And everybody knows that. And everybody was around for that, so that we're not going to make that mistake again. So, you got the blow by blow is happening now. So we're going to get this deal done. And we're going to shift the conversation in America to how do we start playing offence, outcompete China, putting working people first with this tax cut for workers and money in their pocket, at the end of the day, the people are going to know we're doing it.

WHITFIELD: All right, you remain optimistic.

RYAN: -- even though there are Republicans on the sideline. I feel very optimistic.

WHITFIELD: All right, so let me ask you about COVID and about your optimism there. I mean, you are recovering from a breakthrough case, after you were vaccinated. So how are you feeling? I mean, you sound good, you look good. But how are you feeling? And what are your concerns and worries about the growing number of breakthrough cases?

RYAN: Yes. I, you know, I feel blessed, I'm tired. But I feel blessed that I'm not, you know, sicker obviously been have to the hospital and the ICU and, you know, the respiratory issues and all of that. So other than, you know, being really tired, I'm OK. And I feel thankful for that. I am worried about the healthcare workers.

I mean, having tested several times negative and then eventually positive past and not feeling well over the past week or two. I've been interfacing with the healthcare system, I just want people to know how much sacrifices being made on the front lines and our hospitals and our nursing homes. And out of respect for them, you know, get your shots, be responsible.

I mean, these people are literally working day and night, and they're fried. And because they care about other people, and it's time for the people in the country to care about them and be responsible for each other and care about each other because they're making huge sacrifices, the doctors, the nurses, nursing homes, as I said. I mean, it's just amazing. So I'm worried about them. And I think we all should be.

And so, you know, I hear the word freedom thrown around a lot. But with freedom comes responsibility, and we have to be responsible citizens here. And that's what my concerns are, I'll get better and I'll be fine. But I'm worried about the health care system. You know, now we're rationing care, right? I mean, it was everyone's --

WHITFIELD: Yes. It's a dangerous place we're in.

RYAN: Yes, yes. So people who are sick, you got to have a stroke, have a heart attack, getting a car accident, the weight and the local Youngstown Hospital, Fredricka, is 15 to 20 hours to get into the emergency room.

[12:35:08]

WHITFIELD: Right.

RYAN: Fifteen to 20 hours so.

WHITFIELD: It's horrible and a lot of that can be cut back, if only more people would get vaccinated. That's what we're hearing from our scientists and our medical community.

RYAN: Yes. We're seeing about 80 to 90 percent of the people in those hospitals are unvaccinated, clogging up the system, forcing the rationing of care.

WHITFIELD: Well, Congressman Tim Ryan, we're glad you could be with us and glad that you were on the mend.

RYAN: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All the best to you. And we'll be right back.

RYAN: Thanks, Fredricka.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:40:08]

WHITFIELD: All right welcome back. A new information on the path of Brian Laundrie who was last seen, or the last person rather seen with Gabby Petito. A driver who gave Laundrie a ride in Wyoming tell CNN that she picked up Laundrie as a hitchhiker on August 29th in the early evening. This driver gave Laundrie a ride to the same camping area where Gabby Petito's body remains were later found. CNN's Nadia Romero joining us now from Venice, Florida, Nadia bring us up to date.

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well that story that you just told, Fredricka, about that second person now saying that they picked up Brian Laundrie hitchhiking, gives a second person to that same story so we heard someone else talk about picking up Brian Laundrie around that same area where they found the body of Gabby Petito. So now you have two people that are putting him where her body was found that's really important as we try to piece together a timeline.

Now that's happening out in Wyoming here in Florida. We're outside of a nature preserve where Brian Laundrie's family says he was supposed to come here last week. On Tuesday, and they haven't seen or heard from him since that's what his parents tell us.

And we're going to take this shot now overhead look of the search efforts that are happening today and throughout this weekend. Now police say that they're going to be out looking for Brian over this 25,000 acres that makes up this preserve and take a listen to what one commander from the North Port Police Department said about those search efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COMMANDER JOE FUSSELL, NORTH PORT POLICE: There are many, many more resources we're deploying in here other than the search efforts that we're seeing here today. We have investigative means. We have other technology. Agencies are issuing search warrants for data. We're not wasting our time out here we are doing our due diligence to find Brian, an area that intelligence had led us that he could possibly be in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMERO: And so you heard the commander. They're saying we're not wasting our time here. Well, there's been a lot of chatter, especially in social media for people who believe that Brian Laundrie's family may be steering investigators in the wrong direction, but they are going to exhaust all of these different resources and options until they're able to track down exactly where he is.

Now, tomorrow in Long Island, there will be a service for Gabby Petito. Remember, that's where her family lives, and people will gather there to remember and celebrate her life. But there are still so many unanswered questions, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Indeed. Nadia Romero, thank you so much in Venice, Florida. Still ahead, a dramatic rise in gun violence, this year is on pace to be the worst in decades, more on that straight ahead. And a quick programming note, join your favorite CNN anchors for a special night as they spotlight everyday people changing the world for the better. Champions for change airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Join your favorite CNN anchors for a special night.

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Immigrants enrich our country and they're proving it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sharing stories of change makers.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is one of the most devastating and yet preventable issues of our day.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: He helps the defenseless learn to defend themselves.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: Theater teaches courage, confidence, trust.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: She saw a need, and every day she sets out to fulfill that need.

WHITFIELD: He is using scuba diving for better environment.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: She is a trail-blazing black woman.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: Preserving the ocean for children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Empowering women for financial independence.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: No one should drown because they don't know how to swim. Very, very good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Small steps can lead to a big impact.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: We are hope can help kids in school and beyond.

WHITFIELD: He is a champion.

CABRERA: She's a champion.

BLACKWELL: For change.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Change.

KEILAR: Change.

GUPTA: Change.

[12:44:01] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Champions for Change, tonight at 8:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, 2021 is on pace to be the worst year for gun violence in decades. It is up almost 10 percent over last year, which already had very high levels. The City of Portland, Oregon has seen more than double the number of shooting incidents this year than last year. CNN's Ryan young has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROY MOORE, POIC CO-DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH: We're entering the hottest area for shootings. Everybody knows this uptake so now everybody has their head on the swivel. I deal with people who were athletes last year but this year their shooters.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Roy Moore and his community outreach team are on call 24/7 trying to prevent Portland's next shooting through mentoring and job training.

MOORE: We're affected by the pandemic disproportionately and our communities are hurting. You know our kids are dying our men are dying.

YOUNG (voice-over): Moore, a 41-year-old former gang member says he was shot in the leg during a drive by shooting in 2005. Many members of the outreach team with Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center minority led nonprofit organization, know gang violence firsthand. They lived it and now they are trying their best to prevent teenagers from falling into the same trap.

ROSALEE ANDERSON, POIC LIFE COACH: Anthony LaRay (ph) lost his life out here.

YOUNG (voice-over): Like Rosalee Anderson who was convicted of felony drug trafficking for heroin, but since her release has worked to give others the support she says she just didn't have.

[12:50:05]

(on camera): How do you reach out and try to get them to hear what you guys are talking about.

ANDERSON: I tell them my story. I tell them what I've been through so they understand, I've already done that been there and the reason I'm trying to help them.

LIONEL IRVING, POIC LIFE COACH: Aside and kill somebody, you know, one of my poorest choices.

YOUNG (voice-over): And Lionel Irving, who identifies as a gang veteran, and served years in federal prison for manslaughter.

(on camera): What's making you so mad about what you're seeing take place in the city right now? IRVING: We know how to stop it in the front end, right? Because we know in the third grade which way a kid can go, it's a stat. But we're not attacking third graders that's having problems, that having traumas, who wait until they get 16.

YOUNG (voice-over): This year, the city is on pace to shatter the number of homicides they've had in a single year. There have been over 750 shooting so far, injuring over 250 people, more than double the number of shooting incidents they had at the same time last year.

(on camera): What do you think is behind the gun violence that we're seeing?

CHIEF CHUCK LOVELL, PORTLAND POLICE BUREAU: I think gangs do play a part in it. I think we see a bunch of social media type beefs, that kind of erupt and shootings. I don't know if I could pinpoint it to one thing. Some people say it's the pandemic.

YOUNG (voice-over): Lovell says he's had more than 100 of his officers retire or quit in the last year on a force of just over 800, now that amount of turnover is hard.

LOVELL: We have a very small amount of officers for the population.

YOUNG (voice-over): During most nights he says he has fewer than 40 officers patrolling the streets, which he says is not enough resources. During one recent weekend, he says his department had over 1,200 calls for help.

(on camera): Can you change it if you're at the shortage that you're sort of stuck in right now?

LOVELL: It makes it difficult to investigate crimes that we want to investigate. We had a full time traffic unit, we had a full time narcotics unit, we had a full time K9 unit. All three of those were folded back into patrol.

YOUNG (voice-over): City leaders are also betting that pumping money into community based groups like the POIC part of the Office of Violence Prevention will help take some of the burden off the police force.

MAYOR TED WHEELER (D), PORTLAND, OREGON: We have clearly a gun violence problem in our community. We have a homicide problem in our community. And the community should expect that we will have adequate resources, that's the tools, the training, and the personnel.

YOUNG (voice-over): Back on the street, the outreach team meets up with a community member they are hoping to help with their services.

IRVING: Have you experienced any gun violence?

AJ JENKINS, PORTLAND PRESIDENT: He got shot my hand right here actually.

YOUNG: When police officer talk to you do they even come to you with that openness that he came to you with?

JENKINS: They don't. They try to tell you what you need to do and this and that and like you feel me everybody tell you what you need to do. What is the difference in actually hearing?

YOUNG: When you see all these people getting hit? What does that make you think?

JENKINS: It really like, I ain't no value to life no more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Ryan Young, thank you so much for bringing us that report.

All right, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has filed an appeal in the State of Minnesota. He was convicted of second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter for his role in the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Chauvin is currently sentenced to 22.5 in prison after kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. And according to the court filing Chauvin plans to appeal 14 issues with his case claiming the court quote, abused its discretion.

A half century of armed conflict has left many people in Colombia without basic services and today's CNN Hero was delivering water power and sanitation to those who need it most.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The families that we are working with are living in extreme poverty. These areas are so remote that there is no even roads to get there. The communities use candles, gasoline lamps, they weren't spending a lot of money and the placement of the lamps were negatively affecting their health. Our mission is to provide access to basic services. Biggest dream for the people that I'm working with, that they wake up not just to survive, but they can take small steps to fulfill their dreams.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[12:54:31]

WHITFIELD: And for more information, visit CNNHeroes.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me on Fredricka Whitfield. We begin this hour with a major divide among Democrats on Capitol Hill at a stalemate that's threatening to derail President Biden's domestic agenda.

[12:59:47]

CNN has just learned from sources that the House Democratic conference will hold a critical caucus meeting on Monday. And this comes as Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighs options on a path forward on Biden's massive spending legislation and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Pelosi has promised a vote on the infrastructure deal on Monday but progressives are threatening to vote no on that bill.