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Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) Discusses Biden Compromising on Economic Package, Floats $1.9 Trillion Price Tag; Cadaver Dog On Scene Where Laundrie's Belongings Found; Gunman in Parkland School Shooting Pleads Guilty to Murder; Father Who Lost Daughter in Parkland Massacre on Gunman's Guilty Plea; White House Details Plans to Roll Out Vaccines for Children 5 to 11; FDA to Recommend Boosters for People as Young as 40; Sources: FDA Could Announce Mix-and-Match Boosters Next Week; Clarissa Ward Goes to Corners of World Where Democracy is Dying. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired October 20, 2021 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: What makes you confident that the GREEN Act, those climate provisions you just outlined, will be in the final bill?

Given Joe Manchin's, you know, very public criticism of those climate provisions? And his pushback that he's made very clear would not garner his support if it were included?

REP. MIKE THOMPSON (D-CA): Senator Manchin hasn't said anything at all about the GREEN Act. His issue with other provisions that were in the bill. I feel confident we'll get this bill.

CABRERA: Another area that has been scaled back, paid family leave. It went from 12 weeks to four weeks.

It's worth noting that federal workers, like members of Congress, receive 12 weeks of paid leave. But there's no requirement right now in the private sector or the state or local governments.

In fact, in the year 2021, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't offer a national paid parental leave program.

You can't read the country's names but I'll put it up here on the graphic.

But when you look at this long list, it's just incredible, the visual here of how we stack up. The U.S. is all the way at the bottom with zero weeks. Estonia is at the top with eight weeks of paid parental leave.

Isn't it long past the time of catching up with the rest of the world?

THOMPSON: I think we need to do much more. I'm happy with whatever we get. It's an improvement over what we have now. And it's a statement of our values that we recognize this as important public policy. And if we don't get the number of weeks that we want, that some of us, myself included, are pushing for, to begin the process, to establish a set of weeks, will allow us to grow that in the out years.

CABRERA: Congressman Mike Thompson, thank you so much for being with us.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

CABRERA: I appreciate your time.

THOMPSON: My pleasure. Thank you.

CABRERA: And a reminder, we're going to hear from President Biden himself tomorrow on all of this in an exclusive. Joe Biden is going to take questions from the American people. Anderson Cooper moderates. The CNN presidential town hall with Joe Biden begins tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN.

We continue to follow breaking news out of Florida and this nature reserve where investigators now, we are told, have found articles belonging to Brian Laundrie.

They've called in cadaver dogs and a medical examiner on scene. And more personnel just arrived. We're staying on top of all the twists and turns in this story.

Stay with us. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:37:29]

CABRERA: Welcome back. We are keeping an eye on the Florida natural reserve where we have learned that articles belonging to Brian Laundrie have been discovered today on the trail that he frequented. This is according to the Laundrie family attorney.

We're working to gather more information as authorities are now converging in this area with cadaver dogs, a medical examiner, and a much bigger team to continue their search in Sarasota County, Florida.

More on that when we get more information.

In the meantime, it was the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Today, the gunman, who carried out the massacre at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, pleaded guilty of 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

He also apologized to the victims' families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIKOLAS CRUZ, PARKLAND SHOOTER: I'm very sorry for what I did and I have to live with it every day. If I were to get a second chance, I would do everything in my power to help others. I'm doing this for you. I don't care if you believe me. I love you.

And I don't know you don't believe me.

But I have to live with this every day. It brings me nightmares. And I can't live with myself sometimes. But I try to push through because I know that's what you would want me to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty for the gunman. Jury selection in the penalty phase for the shooter's murder trial will start on January 4th.

Joining us now is Tony Montalto. He's the father of 14-year-old Gina Montalto, who was killed in the Parkland school shooting more than three and a half years ago. He is also president of Stand with Parkland group.

Tony, my heart is heavy for you. You were in that courtroom today. As Gina's dad, I can't even imagine how that felt for you, the kind of strength it must have taken just to get through today's hearing.

What went through your mind when Cruz apologized today?

TONY MONTALTO, DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING & PRESIDENT, STAND WITH PARKLAND: Quite frankly, it's absolutely ridiculous. If he wanted to apologize, he shouldn't have murdered Gina and the other 16 people that day.

We saw a cold and calculating killer admit to murdering my beautiful daughter, Gina, and 16 others. Also, he admitted to attempting to kill another 17 people.

He's clearly a very dangerous man.

CABRERA: Changing his plea to guilty? Do you feel, though, now he's taken responsibility?

[13:40:01]

MONTALTO: No, there's no responsibility. This is all just a little bit of theater. And it allows the defense to be able to focus on attempting to save his life in the penalty phase of the trial.

CABRERA: And it's a jury that will ultimately decide his sentence. We mentioned that's supposed to begin in January.

He said in court today that he believes you and the other victims and family members should decide whether he lives or receives the death penalty. What's your thinking on that today?

MONTALTO: I'll say that, as a society, we should want to see people who commit these heinous acts of mass shootings prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We need to find a way to discourage people from wanting to copy these horrific acts. We need to deprive these mass murderers of the notoriety they seek.

And we also need to always remember the victims for the wonderful and vibrant people that they were.

CABRERA: Yes.

MONTALTO: I think he deserves as much of a chance as he gave my daughter and everyone else on February 14th of 2018.

CABRERA: Let's put the focus on the victims. I want to put up Gina's picture, again, on our screen, as we hold your family and all the others in our hearts today.

What do you want everyone to know about your beautiful daughter? Can you share a favorite memory, a story or something that maybe makes you smile when you think of Gina?

MONTALTO: I'll just say Gina was a fantastic daughter and a wonderful big sister. She had a smile that lit up a room.

She was kindhearted and always looked to help others. She was often the first one to walk across the playground and introduce herself to new kids or new kids in the area.

She also volunteered for many things, at our local church, she volunteered also in a group for kids with differing abilities. She was a Girl Scout.

And again, just a bright light in this world. And the world is truly poorer for her not being here moving forward.

In order to help continue her light shining, we did start the Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Foundation.

And through that, we help others achieve their goals. We give out scholarships. We give out grants to things Gina would have supported.

And it's the best we can do to help keep Gina's light shining and help others.

CABRERA: We like the work you're continuing to do. And we honor Gina and the other victims today.

Tony Montalto, thank you so much for taking the time. Our hearts go out to you and your whole family, and the extended family of the Parkland shooting.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:47:45]

CABRERA: We're back with our breaking news out of Florida and the search for Brian Laundrie following the murder of Gabby Petito. These are aerials of this giant nature reserve where we have learned,

just today, articles belonging to Brian Laundrie were found inside this nature reserve, we're told, near a trail that he had frequented, Brian Laundrie. This is according to the family attorney.

And now multiple first responders have arrived on scene. We're told they brought a mobile unit. They're setting up a tent as well. And we're continuing to gather more information on this developing story.

But it's a very busy news day so I want to bring you up to speed on another story that could impact your family.

Today, the White House revealing its new details of a plan to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for 5-to-11-year-olds just as soon as they're authorized, which could come in the next couple weeks.

Officials say 28 million Pfizer doses are ready for the smallest sleeves so far in this pandemic to roll up. That's enough doses for all kids in this age group.

Here's what else we know. Packaging is being modified for the smaller dose size. And they will be shipped with smaller needles included to over 25,000 pediatrician and doctors' offices.

To ensure convenience, some school districts and children's hospitals will also set up vaccination sites.

Last week, 131,000 COVID cases were reported among children. That's more than 25 percent of the week's total.

Joining us now is Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and author of "Lifeline: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."

Dr. Wen, in just six days, at the FDA meeting, it could give this White House plan the green light. What is your take on the plan? What does it tell you about the preparation going into this and the urgency at this point?

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: I really want to commend the Biden White House for being so proactive. They're not skipping steps. They're clearly saying we need to wait for the FDA and the CDC to weigh in on the science.

But there also shouldn't be a delay when it comes to the operations. It takes time to get the doses literally to state health departments, to get them to pediatricians' offices, which is where many parents are used to going for their kids.

Also, a lot of pharmacies are not used to giving doses or giving vaccines to younger children, so preparing them. And giving parents a plan so they will know where they will go once the vaccines are authorized. That's all really important.

[13:50:09]

So I'm very glad the Biden administration has laid the comprehensive plan.

CABRERA: We're also learning that U.S. health officials are likely to recommend Pfizer and Moderna boosters starting at age 40. So a much younger group than currently authorized.

You've been working in clinic and getting a lot of questions on boosters, I know. Do you agree with this move? Is it time for healthy 40-year-olds to get a boost?

WEN: Yes, I've been saying this for weeks because the data have been very clear coming out of Israel and other places, including the U.S., that immunity to symptomatic disease does wanes over time.

And a six-month mark seems like a reasonable time for people to be getting a vaccine.

At this point, it looks like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are at least a three-dose vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson, at least a two-dose vaccine.

I think ,very soon, everyone is going to be recommended to get that additional dose.

Right now, as a reminder, people over the age of 18, who got a Pfizer vaccine, who are at risk, for example, in high-risk occupational settings or medical condition, can already get a third Pfizer dose.

We're just waiting for the final recommendation for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson as well.

CABRERA: And what about the mix-and-match debate? Is there a combination that you would recommend? What is the most effective protection?

WEN: I don't think we know about what is the most effective. But I really hope the CDC and FDA will allow for a mix-and-match approach for two reasons.

One is convenience and accessibility. If you are doing a mass vaccination drive, you don't want to have three different brands of the vaccine. You want to give people the first vaccine they have access to.

And there really is no reason for people to be switching a vaccine, except out of convenience, if they got Pfizer or Moderna.

On the other hand, for people who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, like me -- I'm one of the 15 million people in this category.

Especially for younger women, there's an association for this rare but serious blood clotting disorder. And getting younger women to get one of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna is really important.

That's what I have chosen to do.

CABRERA: Dr. Leana Wen, thank you so much for sharing all of that and your expertise with us. It's good to have you with us. Thank you.

WEN: Thank you.

CABRERA: And let's take you back to Florida now. And you can see these ariels. There's a strong law enforcement presence on scene in this nature reserve, where, we're told, on a trail that Brian Laundrie had frequented.

Today, investigators have now discovered articles they believe belonged to Brian Laundrie. They've also called in cadaver dogs and a medical examiner to the scene.

We're learning that they discovered these articles from the Laundrie family attorney. And we are in touch with authorities.

Much more on this story straight ahead, live, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:56:15]

CABRERA: We're getting live images right now, some fresh images of the dogs that have been brought in with law enforcement to search the area where there's been a major development in the search for Brian Laundrie.

We're hearing from the Laundrie family attorney that articles belonging to Brian Laundrie were found at this nature reserve this morning off a trail that he frequented.

This is the same nature reserve where authorities have been searching for weeks in the hunt for Brian Laundrie, who remains missing several weeks after the remains of Gabby Petito, his ex-fiancee, were discovered in Wyoming.

So we are continuing to monitor these images and all the latest developments in Florida. And we will bring you new information as soon as we learn any additional info.

OK, let me just do a complete 180 right now. Because this story and this woman deserves attention. What can I say, except what Beyonce said, "We run the world."

One particular woman, in particular, today is again rising "ABOVE AND BEYOND." And I'm lucky to call her a colleague.

CNN's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, travels to some of the most volatile corners of the world telling the stories of everyday people as they grapple with some of the greatest power struggles of our time.

Journalist, author, mom, and now podcast host. Her brand-new podcast, "TUG OF WAR," debuts today.

And Clarissa Ward is joining us now.

Clarissa, we are so excited for you.

Tell us more about your new podcast. What's it all about?

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: First of all, thank you for such a gracious introduction. I'm literally sitting here grinning. Thank you for that.

This podcast is really all about extraordinary acts of courage from ordinary people. That's something that's fascinated and inspired me for years as a journalist.

But we live in a world now where autocracies are on the rise. For the first time now, since 2001, there are autocracies than democracies, which is very troubling.

But it has also given rise to this mushrooming of these grassroots resistance pro-democracy movements.

So we wanted to go around the world looking at these movements. Looking at these ordinary people carrying out these extraordinary acts of courage, and who face, often, a crushing force, and try to understand better where that courage comes from.

Whether it's on the streets of Afghanistan, women protesting for their rights, whether it's in Syria, Russia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, we went to many different places to tell this story of these people, these unsung heroes.

CABRERA: We were also gripped by your latest reporting in Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover. So much concern for women obviously in that country, their education, their livelihoods.

What's the latest?

WARD: It's a pretty bleak picture. Particularly for women, Ana. Particularly for women in city centers who had seen huge improvements in their lives in the last two decades.

Girls above 6th grade in Kabul can't go to school anymore. The Taliban says it's not permanent. But nothing they've done so far has given anyone to believe that.

There's a deep-seated fear. And many across the country are looking at an economic crisis, a security crisis, a political crisis, that things are looking very bleak, indeed -- Ana?

CABRERA: Clarissa War, you always do such important work. And it's amazing that you do it all, especially being a mom of two young kids. I don't know how you do it. I think everybody else has that thought.

WARD: Imperfectly.

(LAUGHTER)

CABRERA: Imperfectly perfect is how I see you.

Thank you so much for being with us.

WARD: Thank you.

[13:59:57]

CABRERA: And wishing you the best of success with this new podcast.

And that's going to do it for us today. Thank you all for joining us at home. We'll be back tomorrow at 1:00 Eastern.

But stay right there because we have much more of this breaking news story straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.