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Biden Scores Big Win With $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill; China's Ruling Party Kicks Off Plenary Session; Ortega Faces Intl Criticism For Election Seen As A Sham. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 08, 2021 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:00]

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to "CNN Newsroom" everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company. Coming up here on the program, victims mourned, a criminal investigation underway, and now a lawsuit filed after a deadly concert -- protecting lives -- of climate crisis.

And we begin with new fallout from that musical festival in Houston, Texas that turned deadly. A concertgoer who says he was injured at the event has filed a lawsuit against the rapper, Travis Scott, entertainment company Live Nation, and the concert promoter. It seeks more than $1 million in damages to be determined by a jury. Authorities, meanwhile, have launched a criminal investigation.

(VIDEO PLAYING)

Thousands of fans were pressing towards the stage, and we are now learning that Scott continued to perform for nearly 40 minutes after first injury reports, and for approximately half an hour after authorities had declared the concert a mass casualty event.

Now, outside the venue, a growing memorial to those who were killed or hurt in the crush. Mourners have been laying down flowers, photographs, notes, and candles. CNN's Rosa Flores picks up the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNKNOWN: It was a death trap, basically.

FLORES (voice-over): More witnesses are coming forward to share their experiences at Houston's Astroworld Friday night, where eight people died and hundreds more were injured.

UNKNOWN: I picked some kid up and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, so I checked his pulse and I knew he was dead. And then I checked the people around me. And I just had to leave him there. There was nothing I could do. I had to keep going.

FLORES (voice-over): Another concertgoer saying the mood noticeably shifted in the audience just before internationally acclaimed rapper Travis Scott took the stage.

LESLIE HANS, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL: As the time was winding down, you know, people became more rowdy and more antsy and just more standoffish is the vibe that I got.

FLORES (voice-over): Police also say that a security guard was pricked in the neck with a needle, prompting more questions about what was happening in the crowd.

TROY FINNER, CHIEF, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: He went unconscious. They administered Narcan. He was revived and the medical staff did notice a prick that was similar to a prick that you would get if somebody's trying to inject.

FLORES (voice-over): But Scott maintains he had no idea about the severity of what was happening in the crowd as he continued his set, telling fans in an Instagram video Saturday night that he is devastated by --

(TECHNICAL ISSUES)

TRAVIS SCOTT, RAPPER: -- you know, anything that's going on, you know, I stop the show and, you know, help them get the help they need.

FLORES (voice-over): It isn't first time crowd control issues have come up for Scott who sells out concerts across the globe and is known for his high-energy shows. In this 2019 Netflix documentary, a member of Travis' team tells security guards about the anticipated rowdy fans ahead of one of his shows.

UNKNOWN: The pressure becomes very great up against the barricade. You will see a lot of crowd-surfers in general, but also you see a lot of kids that is just trying to get out and get to safety because they can't breathe because it's so compact. You won't know how bad it could be with our crowd until we turn on.

FLORES (voice-over): In the past, Scott has faced legal trouble for egging on fans at his shows. In 2018, Scott pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Arkansas, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette after police say he encouraged people to rush the stage at one of his shows. Two other misdemeanor charges including inciting a riot were dismissed.

And in 2015, Scott pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct charge after encouraging fans to rush the stage at Chicago's Lollapalooza Festival according to the Chicago Tribune. He was sentenced to a year of court supervision.

In Houston, a criminal investigation is now underway according to police who are urging concertgoers to contact them if they have information to share. The medical examiner's office also seeking help identifying this man, one of the victims in this tragedy. Rosa Flores, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: More concertgoers meanwhile speaking out about what they witnessed and endured during the tragedy.

VANESSA WHITE, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD: Oh, definitely was traumatizing. I have never been in such chaos, like so unorganized and just so many people like slamming into me like there was -- it was just -- it was really hell. It was really hell.

[02:05:03]

SINCLAIR HOYT, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD: You could feel like everybody pushing up behind you like you couldn't move your arms, you couldn't breathe. Like you couldn't see anything. It was like you were seeing the back of like really tall people's heads. It was like when everybody was moving, that was like 15, its like 20 minutes where like we weren't in control of our bodies. And we were like literally moving with like the wave of like the people and like it was very claustrophobic.

JOYA MELVIN, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD: I was -- I got separated from my friends, and I got pushed in the middle, and when, literally, each song was going on I saw like two people and they were literally behind me and everybody was moving out the way with a whistle and they were like it's a dead body, move out of the way, it's a dead body.

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HOLMES: Earlier, Houston's mayor spoke to CNN about the state of the investigation.

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SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF HOUSTON: We want to look at every single detail, looking at the site plans, the security plans. Talking with their producers of this concert, Live Nation. We want to visit with as many witnesses or if people have any information. Please call that information into the Houston Police Department.

We are waiting for the medical examiner's report, but that is a question. We want to know what happened, how it happened, and to make sure that we have all of the details, so such that this will not happen again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, I want to bring in Bob Lefsetz from Los Angeles. He is the music writer for the Lefsetz Letter. Good to have you on, Bob. You have written that this was a matter of when something happened, something like this. That it was an accident waiting to happen. You know the industry. Tell me why you thought that?

BOB LEFSETZ, MUSIC WRITER, LEFSETZ LETTER: Well, it's basically you trying to create an environment where everybody can get up close and you can make as much money as possible. It's called festival seating. This is actually the festival, but they also employ it in arenas and other venues. People push forward at all of these events. I've been squished myself. So, yes, and it has happened before. In Europe, they have great barriers, containing sections of the

audience, whereas this was basically a free-for-all. A document was filed with the city but it obviously wasn't adhered to. In addition, Travis Scott is obviously guilty of inciting crowds. He literally said to rage. So whether he could literally see what was going on or not, he will be responsible as will be the promoter.

HOLMES: So what sorts of -- in your experience, what sorts of planning, and preparation issues normally go into an event like this that perhaps did not go into this one?

LEFSETZ: Well, when you have an event of this type, what you have to do is corral different sections of the audience with barriers. And especially with a volatile, younger audience, this is done certainly in Europe with metal concerts. We don't have really an equivalent, famous festival here. We have Coachella, it's more laid back. Lollapalooza in Chicago, it's more laid back.

But people should have been on guard that this was going to happen. And if you look at all the video -- this was from the very first moment. The people crowded, the gates -- rushed the gate. They should have known what was going on. I mean, they just anticipated everything to be smooth, so when things went bad, they were just not prepared.

HOLMES: And when it comes to Travis Scott shows specifically, are they let's say more boisterous than other shows?

LEFSETZ: All shows are boisterous, but it's the responsibility of the performer to control the crowd. There's a lawsuit against Travis right now at a gig in New York where he literally told people to jump off the balcony, into the crowd and they would catch them. A person was pushed and paralyzed. There's a lawsuit and a court hearing about to start on that.

So, you have to control the audience. Now, I don't want to say that ultimately the audience can -- the stark, and control everything, but they are the ones with the power. It is also well-documented if you cut the electrical power, that always calms the audience. So, all of the statements of oh, we hate, you know, we feel for the people, these people are responsible. The promoter is responsible and Travis Scott is responsible.

HOLMES: And to that point, I mean, these festivals are huge moneymakers, aren't they? Why then can't the promoters pay for more security because that's an issue as well, isn't it?

LEFSETZ: Well, there's two issues here. One, paying for it. Two, getting it. It is the great resignation in the United States and around the world. It is hard to get low level employees to show up.

[02:10:02]

I know we've talked to promoters. They'll book people and they literally won't show up. They're not paying much. It's like $15. You have to know that music promotion is a very low margin business. They make their money, promoters, on these festivals because they pay a flat fee to the act.

But this low margin mentality permeates the entire business. They don't want to spend an extra dollar. This comes straight out of their bottom line.

HOLMES: Yes, but the profits are good for them. I mean, so often, with events like this, Bob, people say, you know, it was a freak event. Everyone moves on. Nothing fundamental changes to prevent a repetition. Do you worry that will happen again this time or do you feel perhaps that there might be changes and what should they be?

LEFSETZ: Okay. There will be changes, but you have to understand we've hit peak festival, two or three years ago. There are always new festivals. Turns out, that not all can sell. So, the established festivals have been doing a good job.

In terms of new festivals, it will be very hard to get permits and they will really crack down on those people. In addition, there will be barriers, but what we see time and again with "The Who" in Cincinnati and at Roskilde in Germany, is people become lax. And then, the same thing happens over again.

Because not only do you have to put the barriers, you have to pay attention to the crowd, these people are low paid, the security people, they are watching the show. If you watch the video of this event, with people crashing the VIP gate, you know, I haven't talked to my friends in the business. They usually have a gauntlet before the gate, so that people will be trapped. They didn't have any of this. And they were caught completely off-guard.

HOLMES: Bob Lefsetz, the man with the vast experience in the music industry, we really appreciate you joining us. Thanks so much.

LEFSETZ: Always great to be on. Thank you.

HOLMES: We'll take a quick break. When we come back, President Biden scored a big win with his bipartisan infrastructure bill. But now he faces an even bigger challenge on Capitol Hill.

Also, the U.S. throwing open its doors for fully vaccinated foreign visitors after more than a year of strict travel bans. We'll have details on the new rule for you after the break.

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[02:15:00]

HOLMES: Welcome back. President Joe Biden is fresh off a major victory in Congress. Lawmakers passing his $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Friday. Now, it came of course after weeks of delays and marathon negotiations on Capitol Hill.

But now the president faces an even heavier lift. Convincing enough lawmakers to pass his larger social spending and climate bill. CNN's Arlette Saenz with more from Washington. ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Biden is

hitting the road this week to promote the newly passed bipartisan infrastructure bill. The president will be traveling to Baltimore on Wednesday where he's expected to talk about the ways that the bill will help improve the nation's ports as well as issues relating to the supply chain.

But while the White House is taking this victory lap when it comes to that infrastructure bill, they also still have a long road ahead on that larger social safety net spending bill that they're hoping to get passed in the coming weeks.

They are waiting for that CBO score which moderates have demanded to see and analyze the pay force for this bill. But the moderates have said that they will vote for the larger package no later than the week of November 15th. So, we will see if they keep their word on that.

Once the bill, if it passes the House, it still needs to move on to the Senate where some senators like Senator Joe Manchin, have already indicated they want to see changes to the bill. One thing Manchin takes issues with, is the inclusion of paid family leave in that larger proposal from the House.

But take a listen to White House chief of staff, Ron Klain, who expressed confidence that the bill will still pass, acknowledging that there will be changes. Take a listen.

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RON KLAIN, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I think this bill will pass the House when it comes back. I'm sure the Senate will make changes. That's the way the legislative process works. But we are going to get a very strong version of this bill, through the House, through the Senate, to the president's desk, and into law.

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SAENZ: Now, as for that bipartisan infrastructure proposal, the president is planning on hosting a signing ceremony here at the White House in short order. He will be inviting both the Republicans and Democrats who worked together to get that bill across the finish line.

But even as they are celebrating that win, the White House still has a long road ahead when it comes to that larger spending bill they're hoping to get past in the next few weeks. Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

HOLMES: The U.S. will reopen its borders in the hours ahead for fully vaccinated international visitors, ending a ban on foreign travelers that lasted many, many months. It's a welcome change for family separated by the pandemic and a sign of hope for the battered travel industry. CNN's Richard Quest reports.

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RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the routes that keep the global economy moving. For more than 18 months, they have been painfully quiet. Back at the start of the COVID pandemic, then President Donald Trump announced that he was banning most travel into the United States.

Few would have predicted that ban would last for most of 2021 as well. Most travelers, some from the United States' closest allies barred from visiting. For loved ones, that means separated by border, months of heartache. And for the airlines, it spelt financial disaster.

SEAN DOYLE, CEO, BRITISH AIRWAYS: We keep outlining the economic impact of staying closed and the human impact. So there's a lot of people haven't been able to visit family in the U.S., they haven't been able to reunite. You know, poor countries have huge amounts of foreign direct investment going both ways and that's going to be impacted by this impasse.

[02:20:03]

QUEST (voice-over): As COVID levels ebbed and flowed and vaccinations began to be rolled out, the U.S. position did not change, much to the frustration of European leaders.

"The travel ban seriously harms vital economic and human ties at a time when they are most needed," tweeted the E.U. ambassador in Washington. And Americans were able to travel overseas with some restrictions like vaccination, testings, or quarantines. I am a U.K. citizen so, I could fly from New York to London, on JetBlue's inaugural trip, and it was packed. The return journey, because I am a green card holder, I could travel, not so.

(On camera): Because Brits, even though is fully vaccinated, are not allowed into the United States while this plane, it's about a quarter full.

(Voice-over): All in all, all change on Monday. Vaccinated travelers finally able to visit the land of the free. Separated families, a moment to cherish. And for the global economy, a sign that things may be getting closer to normal. Richard Quest, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Still to come on the program, former U.S. President Barack Obama will take the stage at the COP26 climate summit in the coming hours. What he is expected to say? That's coming up.

Also, the lessons of climate change prepare for extreme weather events. How one country took precautions long ago so lives will be saved when the rivers flooded again?

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[02:25:00]

HOLMES: It is crunch time for critical climate talks in Glasgow as the COP26 summit enters its final week. Negotiators are going to be focusing on how to finance the big pledges made by world leaders last week. Former U.S. President Barack Obama will also be in Glasgow Monday to deliver remarks at the summit.

The speech will focus on progress that's been made since the 2015 Paris Agreement, which the U.S. signed on to under the Obama administration. He is also scheduled to meet with young climate activists while in Glasgow.

Now, one country that is taking action on climate change is the Netherlands. Long before heavy floods ravaged Europe this summer, the Netherlands took drastic action to reshape the land so people could live safely. CNN's Phil Black explains.

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PGHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNTATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Germany's Ahr Valley is striking and serene. Soaring steep slopes covered with vineyard. We see the river flowing gently more like a stream. But everywhere there is evidence of its unpredictable power.

In July, the water here swelled suddenly. Violently swallowing homes and businesses in just a few hours. Extreme rainfall devastated communities throughout this region of Europe, killing more than 200 people.

This video was taken from the top floor of Franziska Schnitzler hotel and restaurant.

FRANZISKA SCHNITZLER, RESIDENT OF DERNAU, GERMANY: Here was the kitchen. The restaurant was there. BLACK: Today, much of that centuries old building is gone. The damage

was so great, it had to be torn down.

SCHNITZLER: A lot of people are selling their houses already. We do live with the climate change and this is the result.

BLACK: Scientists later determined that this rare flooding event was made more likely by climate change.

(On camera): It's gone right through the floor.

SCHNITZLER: Yes. And then in the first floor was something like on my knees.

BLACK: Lea Kreuzberg is in no doubt. That terrifying night, watching the water rise higher than anyone remembers has changed her to this day.

LEA KREUZBERG, RESIDENT OF DERNAU, GERMANY: When it started raining a bit more, the emotions came up again and I started crying and I don't feel so comfortable in these situations.

BLACK: You're scared of the rain?

KREUZBERG: Yes.

BLACK: This community is now grappling with how, where, if to rebuild. How to live by this river, now the risks of climate change are already here.

KREUZBERG: Not just at the Ahr Valley. I think happenings like this will take place on many different cities or countries because of the climate change.

BLACK: The waters of the Ahr Valley flow north through Germany and eventually into the Netherlands. A low lying country with centuries of experience, building dikes and holding back water.

HANS BROUWER, DUTCH MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER MANAGEMENT: We know we are a very vulnerable country. If we wouldn't protect ourselves by dikes, then on a daily basis about half of the country can flood.

BLACK: Hans Brouwer says the Dutch have now also realized dikes alone aren't enough. Huge floods in the mid-90s together with some of the earliest warnings about climate change inspired what was then revolutionary thinking. What if you could just let the rivers flood? Let the water find its own space?

BROUWER: We believe that giving space to the river, which means that you can accommodate more water without the raising level, that then the damage can be controlled much better.

BLACK: The result is called Room for Rivers, a vast long term project, reshaping the land to accommodate the extreme weather that comes with climate change. Dikes have been lowered so land can flood more easily. Some are not permanently open, allowing water to take over, transforming farmland into lakes and marshes.

Homes and businesses have been knocked down with only some rebuilt on huge mounds designed to sit above the worst floods. When the water comes, it takes the rest of the land doesn't it?

BLACK: It takes the rest of the land.

(Voice-over): The project has grown with greater understanding about the changing climate, but it's only possible through great selflessness. People who have given up their land to absorb flooding so riverside towns and cities will be safe.

(On camera): (Inaudible), the water is right there?

ANNEKE VAN LELIEVELD, RESIDENT OF NOORDWAARD, NETHERLANDS: Yes, yes.

BLACK: Anneke van Lelieveld used to live next to a neighbor's farm, that farm is now a lake and flood plan. Embracing the project, watching friends and neighbors leave hasn't been easy.

[02:30:00]

LELIEVELD: It's so complex.

[02:30:00]

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Because you know other people have made compromises.

VAN LELEVELD: Yes, yes and I saw the tears and the crying and yes, it broke my heart, you know. And that makes me emotional because it's - it's a deep impact. But I do it for the future, you know, for the young people.

BLACK: And she believes the Netherlands is setting an important example.

VAN LELEVELD: I'm proud that we have give this area up for all the people, the climate is changing, and we must as community, as people all over the world to do things to make a future for our children.

BLACK: This project shows preparing in advance for climate change is hugely challenging and often painful. But there are lessons in the flooding of the Our valley. Vulnerable communities risk even greater loss and trauma if they wait too long to adapt. Phil Black CNN at Germany's Our River valley.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN HOST: Coming up here on the program, we'll take you to Beijing, where China's Communist Party is set to elevate President Xi Jinping to a new level of supremacy. And later Nicaraguans, head to the polls, even as some say the election is nothing more than a farce. The latest on the vote when we come back.

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HOLMES: Welcome back, China's ruling Communist Party is kicking off a four day plenary session President Xi Jinping expected to tighten his grip on power during the closed door session of the 300 member plus committee, CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief Steven Jiang joins me now to talk about this. Another consolidation of power for the President. What does it mean for him going forward?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Michael, you know the President. his real power actually derives from his top position within the Chinese Communist Party which is why we are watching so closely this conclave only a small group of people, mostly old men.

[02:35:00]

Because of this top down power structure within the one party system, as illustrated by this graphic. Even though this is the world's largest, the ruling party with over 95 million members, what really matters is the Central Committee and that's what's meeting here behind closed doors. And if you go up from there, the numbers get much smaller very quickly culminating in the Politburo Standing Committee with only seven men and that, of course, is the party's and the nation's top decision making body dominated by one man Xi Jinping.

Now, this meeting is taking place as Xi continues to reassert the party's dominance in every aspect of Chinese life, not just in politics and Military and foreign affairs, but also in the economy and even people's private life. And for weeks leading up to this meeting, we've seen state media, really touting his achievements and using extravagant terms we haven't heard in years building this code of personality, leading to this moment.

Now during this meeting, they're expected to pass a so called resolution on party history. This may not sound very exciting to most people. But previously, this had happened only twice in the party's 100 year history. On both occasions that really cemented the undisputed supremacy of the party's leader at a time. First Mao Zedong and then Deng Xiaoping and now only for the third time, Xi Jinping.

So obviously, this is going to allow him to demand even further loyalty from not only the party but the nation of 1.4 billion people as a whole, and really paving the way for him to seek an almost unprecedented third term as the party's Supreme Leader a year from now allowing him to really dominate not just Chinese politics, but the world stage for the foreseeable future, if not for the rest of his life, Michael.

HOLMES: Yes, yes, incredible as Steven. Thank you, Steven Chang there in Beijing for us. Nicaragua's longtime president is defending his country's election amid protests and widespread criticism that Sunday's vote was a sham. But supporters of Daniel Ortega, who is all but guaranteed, a fourth consecutive term flooded to the streets to celebrate.

CNN's Matt Rivers following developments and has more from Mexico City.

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MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, despite large sections of the international community calling these elections nothing more than a farce, presidential elections did go ahead as scheduled on Sunday in Nicaragua featuring current president Danielle Ortega running for a fourth consecutive term.

We have some footage to show you today. That features both Daniel Ortega, the President and his wife and also the country's vice president Rosario Murillo heading out on the streets on Sunday in Nicaragua, but like I said, huge sections of the international community basically calling these results, illegitimate.

It was earlier this month that the US representative to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, actually said that the Nicaraguan election is quote, nothing more than a sham. The Canadian representative on that same body said the event that is taking place on November 7 is a parody of an election. And finally, we heard from the European Union's chief diplomat on November 2, who said that Nicaragua's election, is so 'completely fake,' that it would not be worth sending independent observers.

All of these people are saying this because of what has happened in Nicaragua over the past several months, going all the way back to June, mainly when this targeted crackdown of opposition leaders, would be presidential candidates for the opposition really began in earnest, at least a half dozen likely would be presidential candidates were they allowed to run for the opposition have been arrested since June.

It basically cleared the ballot for Ortega to secure a fourth term. It's something that independent observers who said he did completely on purpose to clear the field of any would be opposition using a vague national security laws justification for these arrests. So despite these elections going ahead on Sunday as scheduled in Nicaragua, many people looking at these results saying they are just 100 percent illegitimate. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Iraq's Prime Minister is vowing to pursue his would be killers after surviving an assassination attempt on Sunday. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi convened an extraordinary Cabinet meeting following the botched hit job at his residence in Baghdad's green zone. So far, there's been no claim of responsibility for the attack, which reportedly involved two drones armed with explosives. Mr. Al-Kadhimi was unhurt but several members of his security detail were.

A top African Union representative has traveled to the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region on Sunday. Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo is seeking a way to resolve the conflict between Ethiopia's central government and an alliance of rebel groups.

[02:40:00]

An AU source telling CNN that the body's Peace and Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the crisis in the coming hours. As diplomats work in Tigray, this was the scene on Sunday in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. 1000s rallying in support of the government.

Protesters also chanting slogans critical of foreign media, including CNN, accusing them of spreading so called fake news about the conflict. According to state broadcasters, it was the largest gathering since a state of emergency was declared on Tuesday. For our international viewers, World Sport coming up next. For those of you watching in the U.S., I'll have more CNN Newsroom after the break.

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[02:45:00]

HOLMES: A trial here in the state of Georgia in the U.S. continues today for three men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery was out for a jog in Brunswick, Georgia last February when he was shot and killed. In her opening statement on Friday, the lead prosecutor argued the defendants followed, cornered and fatally shot Arbery without any evidence he did anything wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA DUNIKOSKI, PROSECUTOR: All three of these defendants did everything they did, based on assumptions. Not on facts, not on evidence on assumptions, and they made decisions in their driveways based on those assumptions that took a young man's life. And that is why we are here. How do you know this was an attack on Mr. Arbery. As Gregory McMichael said it perfectly, Mr. Arbery was trapped like a rat. That's what he told the police, trapped like a rat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meantime, the defense argued their clients Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan Jr. were acting in self defense. They say they were trying to conduct a citizen's arrest, suspecting Arbery burglarized a home in the neighborhood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB RUBIN, ATTORNEY FOR TRAVIS MCMICHAEL: It's tragic that Ahmaud Arbery lost his life. But at that point, Travis McMichael is acting in self defense. He did not want to encounter Ahmaud Arbery physically. He was only trying to stop him for the Police.

FRAND HOHUE, ATTORNEY FOR GREGORY MCMICHAEL: The why it happened is what this case is about. This case turns on intent, belief, knowledge, reasons for those beliefs, whether they were true or not. Were there good reasons to believe them?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And deciding their fate, a nearly all white jury. 11 jurors are white, one black juror. Prosecutors have accused defense attorneys of disproportionately striking black jurors. And the judge actually agreed with that. Now on Capitol Hill, Congress passing U.S. President Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill last week.

That package including investments towards improving the nation's water and energy systems, also roads, bridges, and broadband infrastructure. The president says the bill will also help tackle the climate crisis and emissions will be reduced by building a national network of electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S. Take a listen to what Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told CNN about this massive effort.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER GRANHOLM, U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY: The auto industry itself has said that they want half of their fleet to be electric, new vehicles sold by 2030. This is a transition, that right now we're not there yet. But we want to make sure that one of the reasons that people aren't buying electric vehicles to the extent that they could be is because there aren't charging stations. And so there is a significant amount in the bipartisan infrastructure bill to build out that network.

Right now, charging stations are largely in places where electric vehicles already are. So it's a chicken and egg, we want to fill that out. So rural areas, poor areas have access to the fuel that's necessary. And then in the Build Back Better agenda, there'll be incentives to be able to purchase electric vehicles that will bring the cost down to the same level as gas powered vehicles. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Joining me now is Shalini Vajjhala. She is Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center. Great to have you on. What's in this infrastructure bill for climate issues, and how much real impact could be made.

SHALINI VAJJHALA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN DIEGO REGIONAL POLICY AND INNOVATION CENTER: Thanks for having me, Michael,. There's a lot to like in this infrastructure bill that is very positive for both addressing climate mitigation, which is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and better protecting communities against the impacts of climate change.

And a lot of the investments are in things that folks would recognize as infrastructure. Roads, railways, water systems, power systems, and these are things where a lot of the ways in which the money is spent can be very climate smart.

HOLMES: Well, how can infrastructure changes or investments best help mitigate the U.S. contribution to climate change?

VAJJHALA: Well, I think investments in our infrastructure where - that - that we have high uses of energy through our infrastructure system so what many people don't know is that many of our water systems are some of our biggest energy users in public utilities, right?

[02:50:00]

So it requires a lot of electricity and energy to pump water and treat it. Those kinds of basic upgrades to infrastructure that you might not see every day, but that you rely on can have an enormous impact on our greenhouse gas emissions, the things that cause climate change.

HOLMES: The public, by and large is all for green energy and mitigating climate change impacts, of course, and it is becoming cheaper to have renewables as well. But how big is the challenge, then presented by the powerful, you know, the lobbyists and the self- interested politicians, when it comes to environmental policy, which, despite what the public thinks makes it harder to get things done?

VAJJHALA: I think they are the same barriers that have been in place before this bill. Many of them will remain in place after this bill. What's promising is that the amount of money being made available, can really let us tackle transformational changes on our infrastructure systems. And it's less of a zero sum game, where there's a lot of lobbying to compete for small amounts of money.

And so I for one am, very optimistic about the opportunities and less worried about the barriers at the stage.

HOLMES: And the next bill that the President wants passed, of course, is that massive Build Back Better legislation, it's going to focus even more on climate. But it also faces a lot more opposition, including from Democrat senators, like Joe Manchin, who, of course, is a big fan of the coal industry. How steep of a hill does that Bill face? And how critical are the climate measures in it?

VAJJHALA: Well, the climate measures in that bill are absolutely critical. If you think about the infrastructure bill that just passed as the down payment on our climate future, the Build Back Better a bill is the long term mortgage, at our ability to invest over the long term in shifting completely to something more climate smart for all of our infrastructure systems. You can't get there with just the downpayment.

And what's striking is the opposition is coming from States that have endured tremendous impacts from climate change, and also failures in infrastructure. Flooding in places like West Virginia is something that this bill is intended to solve. And so I think these bills must proceed in tandem. And they really do depend on one another to be the most effective investment and communities that we can have in the U.S.

HOLMES: Yes. Politics gets in the way of a lot of good ideas. I mean, between 2009 and 2019, I was reading the cost of solar and wind power has declined by nearly 90 percent and 70 percent, respectively. While many politicians and lobbyists protect fossil fuel use, do you think it will be basic economics that ultimately has the biggest impact the fact that clean energy is going to quite simply be cheaper?

VAJJHALA: I think that will have a tremendous effect. And the story around solar and wind is incredibly compelling. What I think we're hearing from a lot of folks, when they're talking about infrastructure is a real lack of imagination, right? Investing in broadband can help us build better sensors for flood and fire risk. And those kinds of things aren't being taken into account when we're talking about what is a climate investment and what is not.

And so, I think you're going to see tremendous innovation here and the opportunities are really striking.

HOLMES: We'll see how the real politic plays into it. Shalini Vajjhala, thank you so much, as always.

VAJJHALA: Thank you, Michael.

HOLMES: NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw is slamming Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for misleading fans, telling them - leading them to believe he had been vaccinated.

TERRY BRADSHAW, NFL HALL OF FAME QB: I'd give Aaron Rodgers some advice. It would have been nice if he had just come to the Naval Academy and learned how to be honest.

CROWD: Yes.

BRADSHAW: Learn not to lie because that's what you did. You lied to everyone. We are a divided nation politically, we're divided nation on the COVID-19, whether or not to take the vaccine and unfortunately, we've got players that pretty much think only about themselves and I'm extremely disappointed in the actions of Aaron Rodgers.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Rodgers missed Sunday's game after testing positive for COVID. CNN's Nick Watt with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So the fallout has begun for Aaron Rodgers after his rather controversial interview on Friday and of course testing positive for COVID Wednesday. Having said that, I have been immunized. He tested positive and then came clean that it wasn't a vaccine, he had taken a homeopathic defense against COVID-19.

So Prevea Health, he has been a spokesperson for this Wisconsin based health care system since 2012. They have now parted ways. Prevea Health has a vaccine mandate for its employees and is obviously very pro Vaccine and working hard to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

[02:55:00]

So having a spokesperson who advocates a homeopathic defense wasn't really a good fit anymore. Saturday Night Live also took a little pop at Rogers on Saturday night. Take a listen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our first guest is an American brave enough to stand up and say screw you science. I know Joe Rogan. Please welcome NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Janine, it's great to be here. Remember when I hosted Jeopardy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And straight talk Aaron because I never talked gay. Did you ever lie about being vaccinated?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never lied. I took all my teammates into a huddle got all their faces three inches away from my wet mouth and told them trust me, I'm more or less immunized. Go Team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: Now of course, Rodgers is a mainstay a central plank in the Green Bay Packers season in their attempt to get to the Super Bowl. He could not play Sunday against the Chiefs because of his positive test. Now he can under NFL protocols, be back with the team Saturday. So that's the day before they take on the Seahawks next Sunday. Will that be enough time for him to slot back in? Well, we shall see. Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And if you didn't know the Packers without Rodgers last Sunday's game to the Kansas City Chiefs 13-7. Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @HolmesCNN. My colleague Rosemary Church is up next with more news in just a moment.

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