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U.S. Surpasses 700,000 COVID Deaths Since Start Of Pandemic; Biden: "Going To Work Like Hell" To Get Economic Agenda Passed; Democrats Search For Way Forward With Biden Agenda In Limbo; New Video Sheds Light On Petito-Laundrie Domestic Dispute; Search Intensifies For Woman Missing In California Desert; Soon Women's March For Reproductive Rights Begins In D.C.; Interview With Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX); TN School District Looks At Banning Some Race-Related Books. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired October 02, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:23]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

We begin this hour with a sobering number. More than 700,000 people have now died of coronavirus in the United States since the start of the pandemic. That's more reported deaths than in any other country in the world.

The U.S. is still averaging just under 1,900 COVID deaths every day. New cases and hospitalizations however are dropping.

One reason for optimism, Merck says its new antiviral drug cuts the risk of hospitalization and death by 50 percent for COVID patients. The company plans to submit a request for emergency use authorization to the FDA as soon as possible. Experts say this is a major development in fighting the pandemic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER: This is the most impactful result that I remember seeing of an orally available drug in the treatment of a respiratory pathogen, perhaps ever. I think getting an oral pill that can inhibit viral replication, that can inhibit this virus is going to be a real game changer.

It's going to be used like we use Tamiflu in the setting of flu. People get vaccinated for flu but some people still develop symptomatic disease. They're at high risk of bad outcomes and Tamiflu provides an alternative to help mitigate the progression of symptoms in those individuals.

This could potentially be used the same way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Dr. Gottlieb and other health officials are stressing though an antiviral pill is not an alternative to getting the vaccine.

CNN's Polo Sandoval joining me now from New York with more on this. So Polo, what more are you learning.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, with over 700,000 deaths reported now, that means that the U.S. continues to unfortunately be number one in terms of COVID deaths. So there certainly is a lot of hopeful optimism about this medication when and if it is approved.

Now, governors across the country, they've also been reporting some good numbers here. Decreases in hospitalizations and new infections as well.

But as we continue to hear from health officials, the best tool in trying to make sure that those numbers don't keep ticking up is getting vaccinated.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL (voice over): As early as next fall, California students will be required to be COVID-19 vaccinated says the state's governor. Gavin Newsom made the announcement Friday saying his state is the first in the nation to add a COVID vaccine to the existing of inoculations required for in person learning.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): I want to get this behind us, get this economy moving again, make sure our kids never have to worry about getting a call saying they can't go to school the next day because one of the kids or staff member were tested positive.

SANDOVAL: The governor expects the new requirements will be phased in by groups, Grade 7 through 12, and K through Grade 6 only after the FDA fully approves the vaccine for that cohort. Parents anxiously waiting to vaccinate children under 12 remain hopeful that that may happen by Halloween.

There's also optimism about what may become the first oral medication to cut the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death by nearly half. Molnupiravir is not a vaccine but an antiviral, designed to fight the virus early after a COVID diagnosis according to experts.

Merck, the pill's manufacturer says it's seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA as soon as possible.

RICHARD BESSER, FORMER CDC ACTING DIRECTOR: I'm very excited about a drug going forward to FDA for consideration. We do need better treatments. We do need oral therapy.

It's not a replacement for vaccination. Prevention is the best way to go. But when people get COVID, we need to be able to provide them with better treatment.

SANDOVAL: With about 77 percent of eligible Americans having had at least one vaccine dose. Health officials remain hopeful. Those who need a second dose will get one. In New York City, the deadline for teachers to comply with the city's vaccination mandate has come and gone. More than 90 percent of the roughly 78,000 teachers in the public school system received a shot according to the city.

Those who didn't, include Stephanie Edmonds who now face being forced on to unpaid leave.

STEPHANIE EDMONDS, NYC TEACHER DEFIED VACCINATION MANDATE: Unless anything changes come Monday, they have decided that I'm a threat to public health. And I think that goes against some of the very basic values of this country.

Of course, we need to balance freedom and safety but I would say this is an overstep.

SANDOVAL: The head of the city's Department of Education tells CNN the few teaches who remain defiant of the mandate can still reconsider.

MEISHA PORTER, CHANCELLOR, NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: We hope and look forward to teachers continuing to get vaccinated over the weekend because if they do, we look forward to welcoming them back into their classrooms. We want them with their students.

SANDOVAL: In addition to considering Pfizer shots for people under 12, an FDA advisory committee plans to take up the issue of Moderna and J&J boosters in the coming weeks. Also on tap, discussions about data on a mix and match booster approach.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:04:59]

SANDOVAL: And this week, four New York City teachers actually petitioned the Supreme Court to try to block New York City's vaccination mandate for teachers. However, Justice Sotomayor just late yesterday actually denied that challenge meaning that that mandate will actually take effect, Fred, come Monday.

WHITFIELD: All right. Polo Sandoval, thank you so much.

All right. Joining me right now to discuss is Dr. Taison Bell, an infectious disease expert. He's also an assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Bell, good to see you again. So let's zoom in on this Merck pill while it's seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA. And you heard Dr. Gottlieb as we played his sound bite earlier, he said it's not an alternative to getting vaccinated but how would it be used?

Is it the case that you test positive and then you take potentially this Merck pill?

DR. TAISON BELL, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT: Yes. Well, thank you for having me on, first of all. And yes, this is an exciting game changer. And I'll be honest, I have not been excited about, you know, therapeutic for COVID-19 in a while. And the reason why is because it's so much easier to distribute. An oral pill does not require an IV. And that means you don't need a facility or a fusion facility. And you don't need extra staff like the monoclonal antibodies.

And there was clear efficacy, 50 percent reduction in hospitalization and death. The monitoring committee actually stopped the trial early because it was so clear of a benefit. So I'm excited to see this data. And I think this will be a great alternative to fight the pandemic.

But as you mentioned, vaccination is still the best way to prevent severe COVID-19.

WHITFIELD: Aren't you concerned though, it's going to be difficult then for those who are reticent about getting vaccinated, they're going to hear about this pill and say ok, well when and if I get COVID-19, I just take the pill and that way I bypass the whole vaccination.

DR. BELL: I mean that concern is always there. But honestly when it comes to delta, delta has used every tool in its tool kit to fight us. And so anything that we can use to combat it we have to use as well.

So 50 percent is not 100 percent. It's not close to 90 percent. The vaccines are still the best way to go. But I still think having therapeutics and the chances that we need them is still good to have.

WHITFIELD: Ok. The U.S. has now surpassed 700,000 deaths from coronavirus. I mean, very sobering numbers. We're now -- we have the worst rate than any other country across the country, so -- across the world. So what is the message that comes across your mind when you think about the number of people who have died in the U.S.

DR. BELL: Well, I mean it's an unbelievably unfathomable number. And you know, sometimes I'm guilty of this, too. Sometimes we get so caught up in the numbers that we forget the individual stories.

So when we get close to these milestones, I start to think about some of the patient that I have had. Like the woman who came into my ICU, who owned a neighborhood restaurant, knew everyone, was the heart of the community and unfortunately got sick with COVID-19, and even in the midst of gasping for air, such a caring individual, that she was asking me how I was doing emotionally with the strain from COVID-19 patients.

She actually dressed up as Santa Claus during Christmas, and this was before the vaccines were available. And if she had had a chance to have been vaccinated, she probably would have dressed up as Mother Claus this December.

The police officer who passed away in our unit a couple of weeks, who left behind two young children and a wife who -- families, pictures of his family were plastered all across the wall. So we literally felt the love when we walked him to his room. And as he took his last few heart beats, we placed the picture on his chest so it could be beside his heart.

He had been planning to get vaccinated but just hadn't gotten around to it. And so this stings more because now this is potentially preventable. And I know that vaccination is a conversation that means so many to so many people.

But from the perspective of health care workers, getting vaccinated or convincing someone to get vaccinated is an act of love. Love for yourself, love for your community, because this virus has taken so much from us and this is our tool to fight back. And we just have to lean into it.

WHITFIELD: Right. And as you underscore 700,000 individuals' lives lost, so many more impacted as a result.

All right, the CDC has now issued an urgent recommendation encouraging pregnant women, and those who have recently given birth to get vaccinated and you sent us a picture of a baby crash cart outside of one of your pregnant patients' room. What has it been like caring for critically-ill pregnant women?

DR. BELL: Well, it's an unbelievably stressful situation because the stakes are so high. I took this picture outside of the room of a pregnant person who had to be intubated, a breathing tube put down their throat because their oxygen levels dropped very low, and even after the tube went in, the oxygen levels still were low.

And that is a dangerous situation for both mother and for baby. And the baby was pre-term but viable, that means everyone is called. The pediatricians, in case we have to resuscitate the baby, and the OB/GYN doctors to deliver the baby.

[11:09:56]

DR. BELL: And you know, I just want to make clear. This is not ok. We have a vaccine that can prevent outcomes like this. Pregnant people have a 70 percent higher chance of death from COVID-19.

And to see images like this, you know, just to have a cart outside the room because we know what could potentially happen, it's stressful. It's potentially traumatic. And because it's avoidable, we really have to get a move on in making sure that pregnant people have the message that these are safe and effective vaccines, and they can prevent potentially serious outcomes and it has benefits for themselves and for babies.

WHITFIELD: And of course, many of the pregnant women who are reluctant to get a vaccine are concerned about their unborn babies. So what's the message to them from your perspective when I hear other medical professionals who also say that the babies, these unborn children once born, stand to gain some of the properties that come from the vaccine that the mother received while pregnant?

DR. BELL: That's a great question, because pregnant women, you know, one of their most top concerns, of course, is the health of the baby. So let's talk about that. Outside of the risk of death to the mother,

which of course, that's the worst outcome but even before that, COVID- 19 is associated with inflammation of the placenta, and that directly links with a higher chance of miscarriage and a higher chance of preterm labor that we have seen.

And in addition, we've seen babies when they're born, their immune systems are not fully developed, right. so they depend on mothers antibodies for protection from viruses and other illnesses.

And so if you're vaccinated for COVID-19, you pass on those protective antibodies to the baby and that extends even after the baby's born. So imagine bringing a baby into the world, you know, scary in a pandemic, but you give him that level of protection.

So this really is a win-win situation.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Taison Bell, always a pleasure to have you. Thank you so much. Be well.

DR. BELL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Coming up, negotiations on Capitol Hill coming to an impasse? Can moderates and progressives come together to pass President Biden's sweeping social agenda?

Plus, more than 600 marches all across the country today in support of women's reproductive rights. The largest one is about to kick off in the nation's capitol.

[11:12:10]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Democrats have hit the pause button on President Biden's agenda. Despite several frantic days of negotiations and deadlines on Capitol Hill, Democrats ended without a vote or a deal on the president's sweeping domestic plans.

But today, the president remains confident the trillion dollar infrastructure bill and his massive economic package will be approved. He's just not sure when.

On Friday, Biden made a rare trek to Capitol Hill to encourage the divided Democrats to find common ground. His visit giving them some breathing room and space to negotiate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-WA): Six minutes, six days, six weeks, we're going to get this done. We need a little time to negotiate. There was a lot of time to negotiate the infrastructure bill. And you know, there were skeptics like me who said I don't think it's going to get done, and I was wrong. I'm happy to be wrong about that.

Now we need a little time to negotiate on this build back better act and I believe we will be able to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. We're following all the developments, Daniella Diaz is on Capitol Hill. Jasmine Wright is with the president in Wilmington, Delaware.

Let's begin with you Daniella on Capitol Hill. Where do things stand?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Fred, this was the biggest test of unity for President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders this week as moderates and progressives are trying to negotiate how they're going to pass both of these bills.

One hand, the bipartisan infrastructure bill that already passed the Senate, by the way, and had Republican support, and just needs to pass the House before it goes to President Joe Biden's desk. That's one of these bills that moderates are really, really pushing for.

Of course, it will have hard infrastructure. It would fix roads, bridges, transportation, funding for all of those things. Lots and lots of jobs in this bill, which is why moderates want it so they can see results in their districts.

And then on the other hand, you have this economic bill, this massive $3.5 trillion tax and spending bill that would expand the nation's social security safety net. Its a huge priority for progressives to pass this bill. And that's why they threatened to withhold their vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless they can get some sort of vote as soon as possible on the economic bill.

Now, the problem here is this all depends on two senators -- the same two senators whipping up time and time again, Senators Joe Manchin, and Kyrsten Sinema, moderate Democrats, one from Arizona, one from West Virginia. The problem here is that they don't want to spend $3.5 trillion to expand the nation's safety net. They want to bring that price tag down.

There's some disagreements between them and progressives on what this top line should be for this bill, and we still don't know where they stand on this.

However, Manchin has said a couple of times that he believes that the top number for this bill should be $1.5 trillion. And look, progressives want a vote in the Senate on this bill before they decide to support the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Take a listen to what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said yesterday to reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): The framework enough, an agreed upon framework.

We need a vote. We need to be real. Are we going to deliver universal pre-k to this country or not? Are we going to expand health care to our seniors and include vision and dental or not? Are we going to invest in housing so that people back home in NYCHA can actually get hot water in winter time or not? That's what we need to know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAZ: Bottom line here is progressives and moderates are continuing their negotiations with Democratic leaders so that they both get what the bills they want, this bipartisan infrastructure bill and this economic bill, Fred.

[11:19:57]

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

Jasmine, before departing the White House this morning, President Biden had a few words that he extended. What did he say?

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well Fred, the president said that these negotiations are ongoing even as he spends the weekend here at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Moments after he's touched down, the White House released a statement saying that both he and officials will continue close engagement with members on the Hill.

And even this weekend and next week that they will even be inviting them back to the White House all to try to get a deal both that $3.5 trillion spending package of the president that expands the social safety net so that they can ultimately vote on both that and the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

And now, President Biden when he was leaving the White House, he was pretty candid with reporters, including our own Arlette Saenz when telling her that yes, there has been frustration on both sides with both the moderates and progressives that they have some of this kind of division trying to get to a deal on these packages.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Everybody's frustrated. It's part of being in government is being frustrated. I'm a realist. I've been -- I was a senator a long time. I know how legislation gets done.

There is no reason why both of these bills couldn't pass independently except that there's not the votes to do it that way. It's a simple proposition. And so I think it makes sense I support both of them, and I think we can get them both done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WRIGHT: But the reality here, Fred, is that there is no deal in sight and when it could come as anybody's guess. The president yesterday on the Hill said that it could take minutes, hours, days or even months but he was still optimistic that something can get done. So next week, in addition to having lawmakers come to the White House, he will go into the country and tell Americans about this plan, trying to rally them behind this plan so that it can put pressure back on lawmakers here in D.C. to come together for a deal on his agenda as it hangs in the balance, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And already early polling has shown that these plans are hugely popular with the public, but now it's still in the hands of those members of Congress. So we'll see how influential the president could be when he hits the road.

Thank you so much -- Jasmine Wright, Daniella Diaz. Appreciate you both.

All right. Coming up, with Democrats trillions of dollars apart, what is the path forward for President Biden's social agenda? I'll ask a progressive member of Congress next.

[11:22:43]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. New questions being raised in the Gabby Petito case. More body cam footage of an August domestic dispute between Petito and fiance Brian Laundrie revealing what she told police about the incident.

CNN's Jean Casarez takes us through the new footage.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): New questions about Brian Laundrie and his interactions with family in the days around the disappearance of Gabby Petito. Brian and his parents visited the Fort De Soto campground the weekend of September 6th, according to their attorney who now tells CNN Brian's sister Cassie was also with them for a day.

Cassie spoke to ABC News in an interview that aired September 17th.

CASSIE LAUNDRIE, SISTER OF BRIAN LAUNDRIE: We haven't been able to talk to him. I wish I could talk to him. I've cooperated every way that I can.

CASAREZ: CNN obtained records showing Laundrie's mother cancelled a camping reservation made for two people on August 31st, the day before Brian returned home without Gabby. Later that week, she made a new reservation for three people.

This as new body cam footage is providing insight into the strained relationship between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie. Officers in Utah caught up with the couple in mid August after a witness called police to report a domestic dispute.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So there's two people that came to us and told us that they saw him hit you. CASAREZ: In the back of the police car, 22-year-old Petito tearfully

claims she is the one who initiated that fight. After a few quick questions about her injuries --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of looks like something like hit you in the face. And then over on your arm, shoulder. Right here? That's new, huh? That's kind of a new mark?

GABBY PETITO: Oh yes, I don't know.

CASAREZ: The officers turned their focus on Petito's actions instead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were you attempting to cause him physical pain or physical impairment? What was the reason behind the slapping and stuff?

PETITO: I was trying to get him to stop telling me to calm down.

CASAREZ: For nearly an hour, police questioned the couple about their relationship separately and determined Laundrie is the victim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So at this point, you're the victim of a domestic assault.

CASAREZ: It is something even Laundrie finds surprising.

BRIAN LAUNDRIE, GABBY PETITO'S FIANCE: I'm not going to pursue anything because she's my fiancee. I love her. It's just a little squabble.

CASAREZ: Ultimately Laundrie is sent to a hotel for the night and the police deem the interaction a mental health crisis.

PETITO: I don't want to be separated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You going to have anxiety.

PETITO: Yes. No, we're a team, please.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:29:58]

WHITFIELD: Jean Casarez, thanks so much for that reporting.

The Gabby Petito case has also led to increased scrutiny on other missing persons cases, including the case of Lauren Cho who went missing from the California desert.

CNN's Natasha Chen is following developments for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Lauren Cho, whom friends call Elle had been staying at an AirBNB desert resort about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles when she vanished in late June.

A 30-year-old New Jersey native, Cho was staying there with friends including her ex-boyfriend. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said these friends reported Cho was quote "Upset" and presumably walked away from the resort leaving behind her personal belongings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We looked everywhere we can from 29 to Barstow.

CHEN: As the sheriff's department and volunteers scoured the area, so did Cho's friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have gone thousands of miles and tirelessly went to gas stations and pasted up flyers in the low desert, the high desert. We went out to San Diego because she said in the week before she disappeared that she just wanted to go to the beach.

CHEN: The sheriff's department said her ex-boyfriend reported her missing about three hours after she disappeared. In a statement, investigators say quote "he indicated she was suffering from mental distress".

LEN GHERARDI, FRIEND OF LAUREN CHO: She worked here at my studio. The plan was I was going to teach her how to pierce so she was my apprentice.

CHEN: Friends at home in New Jersey say she had wanted a fresh start.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The pandemic was wearing on her, and she like had this opportunity to change scenery in her life and go after a dream of cooking and chef work.

CHEN: And baking. Shown here on an Instagram account shared by Cho's sister. Cho's sister told CNN the family doesn't have an official statement right now but described Cho as a dynamic fire cracker of a person who's creative and funny.

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department says it has conducted multiple searches in the last three months. And even with the renewed interest in her case, they haven't gotten new substantiative leads leading friends and loved ones hoping more stories about Cho --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is super caring, very loving, and just a really loyal and good friend.

CHEN: -- may help jog someone's memory of having seen her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: And we just checked with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department yesterday, Fred, about this case. They said as of right now, they do not have any indication of foul play.

Now on the Facebook page that's managed by Cho's family, they have been posting about this constantly and one of the messages reminds people now that there's renewed interest that Elle has a number of identifiable tattoos including a mushroom on her lower leg and ankle, a lamb on her shoulder.

There are potentially a lot of tourists who go to that desert resort area. So they're posting this out there hoping that somebody might notice something. And if anybody has information to please contact the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Another sad missing person's case. Thank you so much, Natasha Chen, appreciate that.

And this quick programming note this Sunday on an all new season of "THIS IS LIFE WITH LISA LING". She explores historical events that changed America but are rarely found in history books.

Catch the season premiere of "THIS IS LIFE WITH LISA LING", Sunday, October 10th at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific only on CNN

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:33:29]

WHITFIELD: A huge gathering happening today in Washington, D.C. Right now, thousands are gathering for a women's march in support of reproductive rights.

The demonstration is in response to a restrictive anti-abortion law in Texas. And it's one of 600 marches happening across the country just two days before the Supreme Court term begins.

With us now from a similar march but in Texas, it's taking place in Houston, in fact, Democratic Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas, who's joining us on the phone. Congresswoman, so glad you could be with us.

So talk to me. You know, Texas, the flash point of this reproductive rights fight now that the state has passed a law banning abortion as early as six weeks into a woman's pregnancy. So what is your message today there.

REP. SYLVIA GARCIA (D-TX): Well Fredricka, first of all, thank you for having me.

And for us, I mean, it goes down to an old saying in Texas, you just don't mess with a Texas woman. It was a Texas woman who went before the Supreme Court to argue Roe v. Wade. Now we're going to work like hell to make sure that we protect Roe v. Wade.

The Congress has acted in the House. It's up to the Senate to pass the bill that will codify Roe v. Wade.

You know, this bill is not only horrific, it is on its face unconstitutional. It is unconscionable. The government has no right to control the freedom for women to make their own decisions, their own decisions about what to do about their health care.

We will put a stop to this. We're just happy to be here to join in with all the other women across the nation.

It's raining here in Houston. I'm drenched but the crowd is strong. We're over 10,000 in front of city hall. Women are saying don't mess with Texas women. Don't mess with women, period.

[11:39:52]

WHITFIELD: Well Congresswoman, let me shift gears, I know you're in a rainy Houston right now. But let me also, you know, get your focus on Capitol Hill right now where this stalemate continues on the Infrastructure and the Build Back Better bills.

And progressives such as yourself have made it clear that you are advocating for, say, universal child care, and early pre-k education, decreasing health care costs for 43 million seniors, dealing with the issues of climate change by investing on green infrastructure.

But are you clear about what moderates want? Are they saying they don't want those things or is it strictly a price tag issue?

GARCIA: Well, I think, you know, the president came to visit us in our conference yesterday, and he was very clear. We need to make sure we know which in the senate plan and reconciliation in their plan for Build Back Better, and to know what their priorities are before we can move on with infrastructure.

So I think that we are all now taking a little pause to continue the negotiations. And I'm confident that the president's vision, not only providing good jobs for everyone through the infrastructure bill but also making sure that people can get those jobs.

You know, you can't tell people here's a job, and not provide the transportation to get to that job or without providing the child care to be able to get to that job. You can't do without providing the good salaries.

So it's all together, you know, it takes two to tango and on this one, I think we need to look at also, we need continue our work with the Senate. And we're already, and we know we're on call as soon as the votes are there that we need to come back. We're going to be ready to go vote, and make sure that the president's agenda and his vision continues to grow our economy and continues to build back better.

WHITFIELD: And I think I heard you mention Republicans and trying to work with them, but what most of us are seeing is that it's among Democrats who are having a difficult time seeing eye to eye.

And I mean, one would think the president would have some advantage working with the Democrats, but it doesn't seem to be the case. He was up on Capitol Hill. It seems as though he's perhaps in a real struggle right now, a real challenge trying to get the party together.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: What -- I mean, how do you explain this? GARCIA: You know -- well, Fredricka, I was very encouraged yesterday.

I mean I think -- I think we've began to see some movement. I have to give you a look at where we were a week ago where there's some movement.

But as the president said, you know, this is not something he hasn't talked about before. He talked about it during the campaign. All of us who were elected to do our jobs, and it really comes down to working for the people.

The people who send us to Washington, we got to make sure that we grow our economy, that it is inclusive for everyone, that no one is left behind. And I think that he'll continue to work, you know, there's no magic to getting it done today or tomorrow.

You know, we will be back and make sure that it gets done. He's continued to work with the Senators that he still needs to talk to and continue to work with the members of the House that may need some nudging.

But I think there's a lot of unity in the room when he visited with us. I think the numbers are probably a little bit different today than they were yesterday.

WHITFIELD: Ok. I'm hearing your optimism. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, thank you so much. Hopefully it stops raining where you are at the march and stay dry and stay well.

GARCIA: Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you for having me. Bye-bye.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. We'll be right back.

[11:43:42]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A battle is being waged in American classrooms. Some parents are fuming over how race and racism are being taught to their children. The furor is getting so heated that one town in Tennessee my soon ban several books about segregation and even Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous march on Washington.

CNN's Evan McMorris Santoro has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Just outside of Nashville, basic American history is up for debate.

ROBIN STEENMAN, CHAIR, MOMS FOR LIBERTY-WILLIAMSON COUNTY CHAPTER: His parents taught him about George Washington and he identifies George Washington as a white man. And then asked if he would be killed back then because he has brown skin.

I mean he's judging George Washington not by any of what he -- about being the founder of our country. MCMORRI-SANTORO: So when do we tell the kid that in fact he may have

been killed back then because of the color of his skin?

STEENMAN: I'm not sure that that's what you teach, that you would have been killed for the color of your skin. That's a narrative, really.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Robin Steenman is trying to change the narrative on race in the Williamson County, Tennessee, public school district. She pulled her child out of public school and now she leads a chapter of Moms For Liberty in this wealthy Republican-leaning suburb.

Nationally, the group is known for loudly protesting school masking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it has traumatized Williamson County kids.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: But Steenman's chapter filed a different kind of complaint with the Tennessee Department of Education this summer.

[11:49:57]

STEENMAN: Because it's historically accurate it's appropriate for 6, 7, 8-year-olds?

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Moms for Liberty is angry about an inclusion curriculum being taught in the County Public Schools. They're mostly concerned about four books being taught in second grade.

One tells a story of school segregation through the eyes of Mexican American students. One is about the march on Washington. And two are about civil rights icon Ruby Bridges.

STEENMAN: I'll show in the teacher manual, it instructs the teacher to point this word out and teach about racial slurs.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Steenman says it's ok for kids to read the book Bridges wrote about her experience as a 6-year-old, but it's not ok for kids to talk about some of the pictures in the book, like Norman Rockwell's famous painting.

STEENMAN: All this curriculum highlights is the mean white people and how she's victimized and it speaks to nothing of the good.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Educators across the country are alarmed by talk like this.

KIM ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: We see some sort of almost manufactured crisis here. There is no crisis in how we teach history in this country.

You would never go into a school in Germany and say, oh, why do you teach about Naziism? You would never ask that question because they do teach about it, because teachers want kids in Germany to understand what that history was.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: The Moms for Liberty complaint says students are being taught lessons that have anti-American, anti-white and anti- Mexican teaching and state law may be on their side.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not be teaching critical race theory in Tennessee.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: In May, the governor signed HB 580 into law. It bans lesson plans that make students quote, "feel discomfort, guilt or anguish because of their race".

Moms for Liberty says the new rules mean "Separate is Never Equal", a picture book about the California schools in the 1940s should be banned because it makes both white and Hispanic kids feel bad.

STEENMAN: The ones where it looks like the Mexican children are behind bars and it says --

MCMORRI-SANTORO: That surprises the book's author.

DUNCAN TONATIUH, AUTHOR, "SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL": The villain here is the (INAUDIBLE) is segregation. And at the end of the book, what I wanted to show is the Mexican American children and the white children being in school together and playing together and interacting with each other.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: These conversations about the past are very relevant, other moms in the community say.

REVIDA RAHMAN, CO-FOUNDER, ONE WILLCO: My son had an incident at his middle school that was where students locked arms and if you were white, they would break the arms to let kids go through. If you were black, they kept their hands together and told you that you needed to go back to Mexico.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They said they were building a wall.

RAHMAN: They were building a wall.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Public school moms Ravida Rahman and Jennifer Cortez, founded the group One Willco after a series of racial incidents rocked the district.

RAHMAN: What's concerning about the law. It's not inclusive of everybody. I don't think it's divisive talking about these uncomfortable topics.

JENNIFER CORTEZ, CO-FOUNDER, ONE WILCO: They're bullying our school board. They're bullying our elected officials.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: The school board told CNN it's reviewing the books cited in the complaint.

(on camera): What would it mean for education if books like "Separate is Never Equal" were pulled off the shelves by these laws that we're seeing spread up across the country?

ANDERSON: Well, I think we're entering toward a pretty scary time if we're talking about politicians banning books. I thought we were long past those days. Educators know how to talk about race with kids in an age appropriate way. These conversations can be had and in a way that is in keeping with our core values as Americans.

MCMORRI-SANTORO: Evan McMorris-Santoro, CNN -- Williamson County, Tennessee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And right now, thousands are gathering across 600 marches for reproductive rights. All of those marches getting under way, right now. We'll go live to the nation's capital.

[11:53:57]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's go to Hawaii right now. The Kilauea Volcano right there continues to erupt and spew lava from several active sources. And all this happened earlier in the week. Lava was spewing five stories in the air and formed a lava-like lake.

Visitors have been flocking to the area to watch the eruptions in person. So far, currently no threat to onlookers or nearby residents.

As frightening as it is, it is a beautiful scene, isn't it?

All right. So could this be one of the best Super Bowl halftime lineups ever? Well, that answer just might be subjective, but no doubt this will be epic. Five of the biggest icons in the hip hop world -- Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, no, I didn't forget about Dre -- there they are. Dr. Dre also on board.

The big show during the big game will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and who knows, maybe a so far undefeated Denver team will be there as well.

[11:59:49]

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll talk about this. Lucky find. A California woman hits the mother load (ph) while searching for diamonds in an Arkansas state park. According to KATV, the woman and her husband had been searching the Crater of Diamonds Park, when yes, they say she spotted this.