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Lawsuit Filed Against Travis Scott, Live Nations and Promoter; House Sends Infrastructure Bill to Biden to Sign; Division Among Democrats Exposed During Bill Negotiations; Negotiators Prepare for Final Week of COP26 Talks; U.S. Now Open to Fully Vaccinated Foreign Visitors. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired November 08, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM --

A criminal investigation is underway and now a lawsuit after a deadly crowd surge at a Houston music festival. We'll have the latest details on the ground.

With the stroke of a pen, President Biden will sign into law his infrastructure plan, but the heavy lifting of passing his largest social spending bill is right around the corner.

Plus, in the coming hours the U.S. will open its borders to vaccinated international travelers. We're live at London's Gatwick Airport.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: And we begin with new fallout from the music festival in Houston, Texas, that turned deadly. A concert goer who says he was injured at the event has filed a lawsuit against 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.

Thousands of fans were pressing towards the stage and we're now learning that Scott continued to perform for nearly 40 minutes after the first reports of injuries. After approximately half an hour after authorities declared the concert a mass casualty event. Outside the venue a growing memorial to those who were killed and hurt in the crush. Mourners have been laying down flowers, photos, notes and candles. CNN's Rosa Flores has more details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a death trap, basically.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (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. BILLY NASSER, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD: I picked some kid up and his eyes went to the back of his head. So, I checked his pulse, 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: I mean, 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.

CHIEF TROY FINNER, HOUSTON POLICE: 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 is 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 what happened.

TRAVIS SCOTT, RAPPER: At any time, I can make out, you know, anything that's going on, you know, I'd stop the show and, you know, help them get the help they need.

FLORES (voice-over): It isn't the 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.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The pressure becomes very great up against the barricade. You will see a lot of crowd surfers in general but also, you'll see a lot of kids that are 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 the crowd until we turn on.

FLORES (voice-over): But 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 a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge after encouraging fans to rush the stage at Chicago's Lalapalooza Festival, according to the "Chicago Tribune." He was sentenced to a year of court supervision.

[04:05:00] 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)

CHURCH: And I do want to show you a chaotic scene just a few hours before that deadly crush. It happened when people started to enter the park. A mob of mostly young people shoved and crashed their way through the entrances destroying the metal detectors and barricades and overwhelming the few security officers posted there. This local news reporter saw it all happen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MYCAH HATFIELD KTRK REPORTER: We were heading in through the VIP security area and we saw the crowds running across the pedestrian bridge from the NRG stadium parking lot to the other side of Kerby. The security guards who were checking our bags knew what was coming and pulled all of us to the side. Seconds later you see what happened. Hundreds of people rushed through the checkpoint trampling one another. They tore down the metal detectors. They were falling and stomping on each other. It was chaos. A few people were handcuffed. One telling the security officer that he just really wanted to be inside of this festival so bad which led me to believe many people did not have tickets. Tickets to AstroWorld sold out within an hour of going on sale several months ago and that was before people even knew what the lineup was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And that report from our affiliate KTRK.

Well, President Joe Biden is fresh off a major victory in Congress. Lawmakers passed his $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Friday. It includes investments to the nation's water and energy systems, roads, bridges and broadband infrastructure. Passage of the bill came 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 social spending bill. CNN's Arlette Saenz has more now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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 port as well as issues relating to the supply chain. But while the White House is taking this victory lap when it comes to the 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 the CBO score which moderates have demanded to see and analyze the pay-fors for this bill. But those moderates have said 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 needs to move onto the Senate. Where some Senators like Senator Joe Manchin have already indicated they want to see changes to the bill. One thing Manchin takes issue 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 still will pass acknowledging that there will be changes. Take a listen.

RON KLAIN, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I think this bill will pass the House when the House 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.

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 the larger spending bill they're hoping to get passed in the next few weeks.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Although passage of the infrastructure bill is a win for President Joe Biden's agenda, it also exposed deep divisions among Democratic lawmakers. And I asked political analyst Michael Genovese whether that will harm Democrats moving forward. Here's what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL GENOVESE, POLITICAL ANALYST: There's an old saying, winning solves everything. But does it? And does it last? You can't paper over some of the deep fault lines in the Democratic Party, Between the moderates on the one hand and the progressives. They were openly fighting and there's the threat of open warfare. They came together and the question is can Biden get the two sides to pull their oars in the same direction. That's the bigger battle he has been working with or against the Republicans.

Now on the big spending bill that he just got passed, he did get a few Republican votes. He'll have a tougher time in the next go around with the social spending.

[04:10:00]

But you know, public fights within a party, within a family, they can be ugly and the Democrats have a history of when them, you know, trying to be a governing party they tend to form into a circular firing squad. Biden's job is to get them to pull their oars in the same direction. A Herculean feet if he does it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Michael Genovese talking to me earlier.

Well, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is heading to France this week hoping to mend America's strained relationship with its oldest ally. Harris will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. The trip comes after France temporarily recalled its ambassador to protest the U.S. and British submarine deal with Australia. That deal ended France's agreement to build diesel powered submarine for Australia.

Well, it's crunch time for critical climate talks in Glasgow as the COP26 summit enters the final week. Former U.S. President Barack Obama will be delivering remarks in the coming hours. He's expected to focus on the progress since the 2015 Paris agreement which the U.S. signed on to under the Obama administration.

CNN's Phil Black joins us now live from Glasgow. Good to see you, Phil. So, a day of solutions ahead and former U.S. President Barack Obama will be speaking. What all can we expect to come out of this day and of course this final week.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, Barack Obama's appearance here is a powerful reminder to all the countries of just what they signed up to when they cheered and clapped the creation of the Paris Agreement back in 2015 which is limiting global temperature warming to an average 1.5 degrees. It is also a powerful reminder of how desperately short they are falling in terms of living up to that intention, to that promise.

The final week will be after a short stock taking period, a desperate sprint to the deadline to try and close the many wide gaps that exist across a range of issues. But emissions cuts and the shortages there remains the core issue. How to get them on a credible path to achieving what the science says is necessary. To reflecting the time frame, the very limited time frame the science points to as well.

Crucially there are still a number of countries that are not acting quickly in the short term because a number of countries have come in to this conference promising to hit net carbon zero by the middle of the century. Very few countries presenting detailed credible plans for just how they're going to achieve that. So, countries such as Brazil, Australia, China, Mexico, these are countries that have essentially indicated they're not going to change their behavior very much before 2030. Persuading them to do so will b become a core focus of this final stretch.

Realistically they are not going to overhaul their positions so, therefore, what this conference will set about achieving and perhaps will ultimately be judged in terms of success or failure will be whether or not it can revise a mechanism or process whereby countries will come together at shorter intervals to review the commitments that they are making. Under the Paris Agreement they do it every five years. This is the first such review. There is a broad agreement that says things are simply too urgent. Time is too short. We can't wait another five years for the countries to come together again and have another go at this. It needs to happen much sooner.

So, there is a push to perhaps make it happen every two years maybe, even every year. The hope is with that urgency, that frequency there can become a greater sense of momentum, that ambition can be ramped up and that goal, that dream of achieving a 1.5 average limit on temperature increase, that that can still somehow be achievable -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, Phil Black in Glasgow, Scotland, many thanks.

And earlier I spoke with Mark Maslin, professor of earth science at University College London. As the climate summit enters its final week, I asked him what's been achieved so far.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK MASLIN, PROFESSOR OF EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON: First thing is we've had three big announcements in the first week, which has been really intelligent. The first one is the one to end deforestation completely by 2030 signed by most of the major nations of the world.

We've had two big coal announcements, one on stopping funding of new coal and also countries pledging to actually phase out coal, which is really good. And then also the big one which was the 30 percent reduction in methane emissions which is a very powerful greenhouse gas by 2030.

[04:15:00]

And the interesting thing is you can put all of those together and the countries actually deliver on things they promised, we can already keep temperature to 1.8 and 1.9 degrees above pre-industrial times.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And that was Professor Mark Maslin joining me just a short time ago.

And join us with the first ever call to Earth Day, Wednesday, November 10th. CNN is partnering with schools, individuals and organizations around the world to raise awareness of environmental issues. It will be a day of action, dedicated conservation, environmentalism and sustainability. Follow us online and on TV and follow #calltoearth on social media.

And coming up, more people in the U.S. are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. But the new federal vaccine mandate has run into legal trouble.

Plus, a day that many people have wanted to see for a very long time. The U.S. is now open to fully vaccinated foreign travelers. A look at the new rules just ahead.

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[04:20:00]

CHURCH: President Biden is touting a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus now that 28 million children are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old.

And another hopeful milestone, antiviral pills could be on the way. Pfizer says its new experimental pill could reduce the risk of death or hospitalization by 89 percent. Merck is also testing its own pill which could reduce the risk by about 50 percent.

Meantime, the Biden administration's plan to ensure more people get vaccinated has hit a snag. A federal court has temporarily blocked the vaccine requirement for large employers, certain healthcare workers and federal contractors. Republican-led states and private businesses filed the lawsuit arguing the mandate is unconstitutional. Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson says the court's reasoning for the block lacks standing. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA LEVINSON, PROFESSOR, LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL: The reasoning I think amounted to about four paragraphs here and they basically said we have grave concerns about the statutory and constitutional authority. That's not the reasoning you need to use in order to issue a stay. We've known for centuries what type of reasoning or at least for decades what type of reasoning you need. You need to show the people challenging the law saying we need the stay are going to face irreparable harm. You need to show that they're likely to succeed on the merits of the case. You need to show that the people who are defending against the stay, what type of harm will they face and you need to look at the public interest.

The court didn't engage in any of those inquiries. This is a decision that I hate to say is it was made by three judges appointed by Republicans. They said we have concerns and they issued a stay and we did not go through the proper legal process or analysis here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: That was law Professor Jessica Levinson speaking to me earlier.

NFL hall-of-famer Terry Bradshaw is slamming Aaron Rodgers and dishing out some advice for him. Don't lie. The Steelers legend is calling out the Green Bay Packers quarterback for misleading fans into believing he was vaccinated. Rodgers, who has tested positive for COVID, and missed Sunday's game said back in August that he was immunized. Bradshaw spoke out on a pre-game show from the U.S. Naval Academy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

CROWD: Yes.

BRADSHAW: Learned not to lie because that's what you did, Aaron. You lied to everyone. We are a divided nation politically. We are divided nation on the COVID-19 whether 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)

CHURCH: A powerful message there and the Packers definitely missed Rodgers Sunday. They struggled to score and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 13-7.

Well, the U.S. is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated international travelers ending a ban on foreign visitors that lasted months. The changes went into effect along the U.S. land borders overnight. The new rules also impact international travelers arriving at U.S. airports. CNN's Priscilla Alvarez has a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN REPORTER: The United States is reopening its borders to non-essential travel after more than 19 months of restrictions. Travelers crossing for non-essential purposes will now have to show proof of vaccination via digital or paper. As far as what vaccines the United States is accepting, they say they will admit FDA or W.H.O. authorized or approved vaccines. Children under 18 however will be exempt from those vaccination requirements and COVID-19 tests will not be required. A difference from air travel passengers who will have to show a negative COVID test.

U.S. customs and border protection is anticipating large travel volumes and longer wait times as this kicks into gear. But the overall consensus among border mayors is that this is a positive development as they look to boost their economy after the toll of the coronavirus pandemic on their communities.

Priscilla Alvarez, CNN at the U.S./Mexico border.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And for more we want to bring in Salma Abdelaziz who joins us from London's Gatwick Airport. Great to see you, Salma. So, vaccinated U.K. and European citizens now able to travel to the U.S. What numbers are we talking about here? And how's this going to work exactly, considering cases are going back up in your part of the world right now?

[04:25:00]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Rosemary. Massively welcome news after an almost 20-month ban. Now non-American, vaccinated travelers coming from the EU and U.K. can travel to the United States. This is a policy that went into place under President Trump. Again, European officials have been seeking reciprocity from the United States. This is something that officials have been pushing for. Remember the U.K. allowed American travelers back in from July. The EU recommended Americans could come back from June. So finally, you're seeing that back and forth in the relationship between the European region and the United States.

For those passengers traveling, they will have to show that proof of vaccination. Any W.H.O. approved, World Health Organization approved vaccines will be accepted. They will also have to show a negative COVID test taken within three days before their departure. But again, this means that families can finally be reunited. Friends can be reunited. Businesses can resume, a big boost for the economy.

Airliners warning again of huge, huge waiting times and an influx in passengers. Delta saying please be patient with us. There could be long delays at airports. Virgin Atlantic predicting six times as many foreign passengers to the United States. United Airlines seeing a 50 percent surge potentially again in travel but this does come at a sensitive time, Rosemary.

We are seeing a surge in coronavirus cases across the European region. Germany recording its highest infection rates yet. The World Health Organization just last week warning the European region could be the epicenter of the COVID pandemic this winter. Up to half a million deaths potentially due to the virus this winter. So very concerning time. But what you're seeing here is officials moving towards normalizing living with this virus, which means showing that proof of vaccination, taking the test, having these precautions in place but accepting that the virus is still very much out there -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Salma Abdelaziz joining us live from London at Gatwick Airport. We appreciate it.

Well, there's much more to come on CNN. Including reaction to that botched assassination attempt on Iraq's prime minister involving drones.

Plus, thousands rallied to support Ethiopia's government as rebels threatened the capital.

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