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Experts Encouraged By Some Early Indicators On New COVID Variant; Travel Bans Increase As Concerns About New Variant Grow; Waukesha Hold Moment Of Silence One Week After Parade Tragedy; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Gifts His Own Truck To Navy Veteran; Security Guard Shot & Killed In Attempted Robbery Of News Crew; FBI Conducts New Search For Remains Of Jimmy Hoffa At Bridge. Aired 1-2 pm ET
Aired November 28, 2021 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[13:00:31]
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hello, thanks for joining me. I'm Paula Reid in Washington in this weekend for Fredricka Whitfield.
As more countries confirmed cases of an alarming new variant of COVID- 19, scientists around the world are rushing to study what makes on the Omicron tick? We still don't know much about the dozens of mutations that make it unique. What we do know is that this map showing where cases are confirmed right now is bound to get a lot more red in the coming days and weeks. Still, experts say there are some encouraging signs to, and it's not time to panic quite yet.
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DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER: Yeah, not right now. The three critical questions right now is, first, is this more virulent? So, to your question, is this making people more ill? There's no indication that it is. And in fact, there's some anecdotal information off of physicians in South Africa, that this could be causing mild illness.
DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: I think there's good reasons to think, it will probably be OK. But we need to know the real answers to that. And that's going to take two or three weeks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID: CNN is covering every angle of this around the world. With me now, David McKenzie in Johannesburg, Nick Valencia at the Atlanta Airport, Polo Sandoval in New York, and Arlette Saenz traveling with the President in Nantucket.
All right, David, let's start with you. You're about to hear from South Africans -- the South African President, while the world is of course scrambling to respond to this variant. What is the view from Johannesburg today? DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, I think the view is a hardening, frustration of these measures that have been put in place, all around the world. I mean, just a short time ago, Morocco decided to stop all travelers coming in, period. And you've had these cases crop up of this new variant in several parts of Europe and a cascade of countries tightening the level of restrictions or stopping travelers from this region coming in all together.
Now, the view just a short time ago from the World Health Organization's Africa Director is that borders should, in fact, remain open. According to the WHO, saying these are punitive measures that might have a very slight impact, they say, in terms of slowing this variant. But really the horses bolted, every scientist and doctor I've spoken to has said that, even with the very quick identification of this variant and transparency of South African scientists, this variant is likely all over the place, and that travel bans might have a very minimum or minimal impact, but a very severe economic impact for this part of the world. Paula?
REID: And Nick, you're at the airport in Atlanta, a major international hub, especially for Delta. Now, they're still flying from South Africa. So, what are you seeing there today?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, this is a crowded airport, crowded as we expected it to be. These crowds are similar to pre-pandemic numbers that we saw in 2019. Of course, this busy travel day comes as we're hearing news of this variant that's emerged, Omicron. We don't know a lot of epidemiological data about this variant. But what we do know so far, I mean, it's downright scary. And we've been asking passengers if they're aware, and we're joined now by one of those passengers. 13-year-old Landrey. Thank you so much for taking the time with us here on CNN. So, what do you think here about the crowds? What -- this is what you expected at the airport today expected?
LANDREY SPEDALE, 8TH GRADER TRAVELING TO NEW ORLEANS: I expected to be a lot more busier than --
VALENCIA: A lot busier, really?
SPEDALE: It is a major travel day from people coming from Thanksgiving and all that.
VALENCIA: Where are you guys going back to? Where were you just visiting?
SPEDALE: We're in North Carolina but we're going back to New Orleans and Louisiana now.
VALENCIA: So, a lot of what we're talking about here in the last 24 hours, this news as I just mentioned, the variant Omicron. You said, you hadn't heard about this just yet.
SPEDALE: Right.
VALENCIA: What you do know about it and just the brief conversation we've had. I mean, does this change your travel plans at all or just change what you guys are going to do going forward as a family?
SPEDALE: No, not at all.
VALENCIA: Why not?
SPEDALE: COVID, when it first started it really never affected our family. Like some of our friends got it but we never got it. We're just kept doing our normal life, it like really never affected us.
VALENCIA: Well, that's good that you didn't get sick, but you knew some people who did and now people, you know, that federal health officials here are talking to health officials and other parts of the country, worried that this could potentially come the United States but for you it's going to be business as usual.
SPEDALE: Yes, sir.
VALENCIA: Yeah. Anything I haven't asked you think it's important to know, impressions of Atlanta here?
SPEDALE: Of Atlanta, same old, same old to me.
VALENCIA: Well, we expect you to say that because you're from New Orleans and there's a rivalry there. Thank you so much, Landrey, I really appreciate you taking the time with CNN.
So other passengers, Paula, that we've spoken to. They're more resonating the same thing. They're aware of the variant, Landrey, young Landrey was not, but others have spoken to, they are, and they said look we've got to get back home today. We know the airport was going to be crowded. We're going to take the precautions that we've been taking throughout the entire pandemic and just hope for the best.
[13:05:09]
This is not quite the numbers that we saw in 2019, even though the crowd seems similar about 400,000 less passengers, this time around, according to the TSA, but it is still two times more than we saw in the same weekend, last year. So, things are slowly getting back to normal here in terms of air travel, Paula.
REID: Slowly getting back to normal. But Polo, you're at the Newark International Airport Regional Hub for United. They're also still flying from South Africa. So, what are you seeing there today?
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Paula. We spent quite some time at Newark Airport this morning. And since I've actually returned, but what we did see is that this, these travel restrictions are expected to kick into place tonight, limiting travel into the U.S. for some certainly catching some off guard. And that even includes some U.S. citizens that are headed into the United States, from South Africa and surrounding regions.
Now, remember, these restrictions expected to get kick into place at midnight. So, we basically heard from some passengers that were stepping off one of those final flights into the U.S. that won't be subjected to those restrictions that will kick into place that will limit that travel for non-U.S. citizens, non-permanent residents and their spouses here. And we did find that it is leading to some complications, including from Kyle Bowker (ph). He's from Hoboken, New Jersey, he made it back to the United States today. But his family all U.S. citizens, they had to stay in South Africa for now, he explains.
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KYLE BOWKER (ph): Luckily, I had a direct flight to Newark from Johannesburg. So, my flight wasn't canceled, but the rest of my family had connections to Dubai and weren't able to make it back. And they couldn't book any flights until Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Now, to be clear, all of Kyle's families are all U.S. citizens, and they can still make it back into United States. But it's more about now having to sort of scramble to try to find space on some of those flights, as we heard just a little while ago. United Airlines and Delta, not announcing any changes to their travel, or at least their routes anytime soon, from South Africa, as we heard from United Airlines before this weekend started that they are going to continue to offer those services, especially to get vital supplies and personnel in another region. Paula.
REID: And Arlette, the President's on vacation this weekend. But he's getting regular briefings. So how is the White House looking at these developments? Of course, they want to prepare the country, but they also don't want to overreact. So how are they threading that needle?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, President Biden has actually just wrapped his vacation here in Nantucket and on his way back to Washington where a briefing about the Omicron variant will be top of mind. The President is expected to meet with Dr. Anthony Fauci and other members of his COVID-19 response team when he returns to the White House in just a few hours to receive the latest updates on this variant. He had been receiving briefings while here in Nantucket, both on Saturday and Friday.
And we're also learning that U.S. health officials are set to speak with South African health officials this afternoon, as everyone around the world is trying to get their arms around, what exactly this variant will mean? There are questions about whether it will be an incredibly severe illness, whether it will cause that or if it may just be more mild?
Of course, officials are saying that this may take a few weeks to have a full understanding of the data related to the variant. But in the meantime, top U.S. health officials are urging Americans to take mitigation measures and also to ensure they're getting their vaccinations and booster shots. Take a listen to Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the NIH speaking toward Dana Bash earlier today.
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COLLINS: Well, it's certainly not good news. We don't know yet how much of an impact this will have. It ought to redouble our efforts to use the tools that we have, which are vaccinations and boosters. And to be sure, we're getting those to the rest of the world too.
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SAENZ: Now, as officials are waiting to learn more about the impact of this variance, those new travel restrictions are set to take effect at midnight tonight, that's banning travel from South Africa and seven other countries in the region.
The question going forward is whether the U.S. might enact other mitigation measures, like what we heard from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing yesterday when he announced some new test steps that they're taking when it comes to testing of travelers and also wearing masks indoors. But this is a very crucial test for the Biden administration as they are confronting this new variant and trying to learn how big of an impact it will have here in the U.S. and around the world.
REID: David, Nick, Polo and Arlette, thank you so much.
Joining me now, Dr. Paul Burton, Chief Medical Officer for the vaccine maker, Moderna. Dr. Burton, thank you so much for joining us. Are you said that the Omicron variant may elude current vaccines? What makes you say that especially so early when it appears that many folks are just still trying to gather evidence, gather information?
[13:10:00]
DR. PAUL BURTON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MODERNA: Yeah, good afternoon, Paula. Thank you for having me.
Look, I think, you know, first of all, just a shout out to the whole COVID community around the world, that's really been able to sequence this variant, and provide amazing information to the world so quickly, it's an amazing feat, the network for genomic surveillance in South Africa, for example.
What they show is that this is a virus now, with at least 50 mutations, many of them spanning the previous variants of concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, at least 30 mutations in the spike protein alone, that we know lead to immune evasion and escape, and also increase replication. So, this, Paula, is what makes it just so concerning to us.
REID: What we hear again and again from health experts over the past 48 hours is that we don't know too much about this variant, but people should get a vaccine or a booster if they've already had their first two shots. But hear you're saying that it's possible even likely that this could elude the vaccine. So how do you reconcile those two statements?
BURTON: Yeah, so look, I think, Paula, you know, we have to go through a couple of weeks yet of uncertainty. There are three questions we really need answers to, how transmissible is this variant? How severe is it? And will the antibodies that are produced in response to the current vaccines effective? And we won't know that last question for a couple of weeks. But what we do know is that the best protection is to get vaccinated if you're on the fence, if you haven't been vaccinated, get vaccinated. And now everybody over 18 in this country is at least eligible for boosting. So, if you're now eligible for boosting, get boosted as well.
By doing that, we at least know that you'll get that first line of critical protection. And then of course, there's additional simpler things you can do hand washing, some social distancing, mask wearing as appropriate. These two together right now until we know exactly what's going on, are going to be critical in our line of defense.
REID: So, if it turns out that this particular variant does not work with the current vaccine, how long would it take to come up with a booster or a new version of the vaccine to protect against a variant like this?
BURTON: Yes. So, Paula, in Moderna, we've been testing variants, specific boosters and vaccines over the summer, one to the Beta variant, one to the Delta. Our platform, we can move very fast. We think within, you know, weeks, to maybe two to three months, we would be able to have an Omicron specific vaccine booster available for testing and then for administration. So, you know, this is going to go at the fastest possible speed. But we have to do careful science now. We don't want to misstep. The academic community around the world needs to generate data that we can all be absolutely certain on if we're going to have to pivot now and make some changes.
REID: It can be frustrating, I think, too many people who think, well, I've had my two shots, I even got my booster and now I might have to get another shot. Is this just something that people may have to come to accept in the coming years as we continue to deal with COVID-19 and its variants?
BURTON: Paula, I would say, you know, for a long time now, we've imagined that COVID is going to become an endemic disease that like flu will need a yearly booster shot. And we've been working on that at Moderna. This is a new wrench that's been thrown into the fight against COVID now. Again, I think we have to see what data comes out in the next couple of weeks. Does this variant, is it neutralized by antibodies that we currently have from available vaccines today? Or do we need more specific variant, boosters, but I would say almost certainly this is an endemic disease that will need regular boosting.
REID: And this current variant is spreading in a part of the world with very low vaccination rates. Shouldn't Moderna and other vaccine manufacturers have done more to sell vaccines at cost to developing parts of the world?
BURTON: Paula, you know, we have been producing our vaccine, the highest rate we can. The contracts that we had required it to go to the U.S. to Europe, U.K., other parts of the world, we are now as well producing 110 million doses that will go through COVAX to African nations. So, we're doing everything we possibly can.
I think it's important to keep in mind as well, but when you look at the number of deaths from COVID per million people, it's about 1500 per million in South Africa, maybe 1000 per million in Botswana. Take the U.K. 2200 million. Here in the U.S. 2400 per million. So, these are areas of high death rate. So, we really are trying to do everything we can to balance whether the burden of diseases, highest death rate that get this vaccine out to as many people who need it.
[13:15:03]
REID: Some health experts have told us that this is more highly transmissible that you could in fact potentially up to 50 people, it seems that more virus would likely lead to more mutations. So, how specifically going forward, will Moderna be addressing this very highly transmissible variant and the likelihood that as it continues to spread, there will be more variants?
BURTON: So, I think, again, Paula, the first line of defense is take careful precautionary measures, get vaccinated, get boosted. That's our primary message that will protect people now. We can quickly pivot, we can make variants specific boosters, we're doing that. We have one in development already for the Omicron booster -- variant if it's needed. So, we can do this fast. We're on it. But we have to take these next few weeks to get the best possible evidence we can. How transmissible is this? We don't know yet. How severe is this? We don't know that question -- the answer to that question either. So, we have to let the scientists around the world take some time and get us some really solid answers to those questions. But we're ready to pivot.
REID: And to people who have been hesitant to get the vaccine, what is your pitch to them to finally get it when it's not exactly clear that it will be effective against this particular variant?
BURTON: So, I think we have to assume that some vaccination even against a very altered (ph) and highly dangerous variant is extremely good to have. Keep in mind as well, there are other variants out there right now. Delta is a predominant variant of COVID. And we know that these vaccines, Moderna vaccine is highly effective against those variants, so get vaccinated. Again, with our vaccine, we've had about 117 million people around the world vaccinated. It's highly effective, it's very safe. The best thing we can all do right now is get vaccinated and get boosted as well when needed.
REID: All right, Dr. Paul Burton, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
Dr. Jayne Morgan, the Executive Director of Piedmont Healthcare's COVID Task Force joins me now. All right, Dr. Morgan, you just heard Dr. Burton's interview. What's your reaction?
DR. JAYNE MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PIEDMONT HEALTHCARE COVID TASK FORCE: Hi, Paula. I mean, I think he is dead on, you know, what's interesting is that we see the World Health Organization has elevated this variant from a variant of interest, which means that it shows specific genetic markers that may be of concern in transmissibility, in severity of disease, in the ability to evade vaccines, then advance that to a variant of concern, which means that there is evidence that there is increased transmissibility, increased severity of disease, increased ability to decrease neutralizing antibodies and an increased ability to perhaps evade some of our medical therapeutics.
So, this is very interesting. And we are all awaiting what is the data that the World Health Organization knows? And what are we going to find out in the coming weeks that justified this advance to a variant of concern. The next elevation will be a variant of high consideration. A variant, I'm sorry, a high consequence and a variant of high consequence absolutely evades all of our medical therapeutics. So, we are now at a variant of concern, which means that there is evidence that this variant has met these metrics, and so it will be interesting to see what this data shows.
REID: So, we're hearing that this virus has 50 mutations. And as Dr. Burton just said, that can be concerning. Why are so many mutations, so concerning, even if what we hear so far, is that the symptoms appear to be on the mild side?
MORGAN: So, the more mutations we have, sometimes we call these clustering of mutations, they can, as they cluster to form this new variant, the variant can take on multiple properties, as we see in this particular variant. It has some properties of Alpha. It has some properties of Beta. It has some properties of Delta. And now it has also created some unique mutations as well to add to that, so we have some of the old and we've added some of the new into that, specifically 10 of these mutations are very specific to the receptor binding domain, that is actually how the virus attaches to the body.
And, in comparison, the Delta variant only had two mutations in this particular area of the virus. So, it's certainly a variant that we are watching. And we want to just keep an eye on it. You know, ultimately, we are a global society. We are all interconnected. We are interdependent. And so, when South Africa sneezes, we see that the world can be affected. And we need to think about this as a global pandemic and that we cannot continue with community immunity, meaning some areas have vaccines, some areas do not have vaccines, even within the United States, as we see people opting out of vaccines and some people opting in, because the unvaccinated populations wherever they are in the world, and for whatever reasons they exist, perform this notice of more mutations and variants developing that can subsequently have the potential to be variants of concern, or at worse variants of high consequence. So, we must begin to continue to push vaccination globally, not only here in the United States, but also globally.
[13:20:44]
REID: And of course, it's not just about convincing people to take the vaccine in some parts of the world, it's also about access to the vaccine. But what do you say to people who are "anti-vaccine," who will look at this and say, look, I didn't get the shot, because clearly, I'm just going to have to keep getting shots? What do you say to people who are using this new variant to further their arguments about why they didn't get a vaccine in the first place?
MORGAN: So, this variant is a wake-up call, no matter how it turns out, is fearing is a wake-up call that we really are running on luck. And when you look at luck, it really is never a part of any scientific algorithm, any clinical consideration. No medical guideline for patient management or scientific integrity includes the integration into the formula of luck. And what we also know about luck is that eventually it runs out. So, this is a wake-up call, no matter what Omicron turns out to be, other variants will continue to develop if we cannot move forward and reach herd immunity globally.
REID: Dr. Jayne Morgan, thank you so much for being with us and sharing that important context.
MORGAN: Thank you, Paula.
REID: Ahead, this hour, a week after the parade tragedy in Wisconsin, a moment of silence today in Waukesha. How the city is honoring the victims. Plus, it's become somewhat of a punchline. Where's Jimmy Hoffa, why a fresh search at a New Jersey landfill may finally bring answers? And later how Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson gave a Navy veteran the surprise of a lifetime. Don't miss this.
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[13:26:42]
REID: It's been one week since a driver killed six people including an eight-year-old child at a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. And today, a planned moment of silence in that city and a warning that outsiders may try to exploit the tragedy for political purposes.
For more in today's developments, let's bring in Natasha Chen. All right, Natasha, we've learned that the city will honor those victims on the one-week anniversary but what are you also learning about this new warning, an attempt to exploit people around this tragedy?
NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, Paula, so the Mayor, Shawn Reilly has asked for a moment of silence as well as people lighting blue lights today at 4:39 p.m. Central Time. That's exactly one week since this SUV ran through the Christmas parade.
Now, the warning we're talking about is a statement from the two senators from Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson. I'll read part of that to you here, it says, "It has come to our attention that outside individuals or groups may attempt to exploit the tragedy that occurred last Sunday in Waukesha for their own political purposes. As the U.S. Senators representing Wisconsin, one from each political party, we are asking anyone considering such action to cease and desist."
Now, we don't know a lot of details about why they are putting out this statement and what's driving this, except that they say they have full confidence in the local official that -- and the local officials should be afforded the respect they deserve, the support they deserve to undertake the responsibilities of this case, our colleagues are reaching out to their offices to get a little more information about what might have prompted this.
Now a bit of an update on the injuries from the people who were hit by that SUV, Children's Hospital Wisconsin says they still have eight kids there that they are treating. Four of them remain in serious condition, two in fair condition, and two in good condition.
One of those children in the ICU is Jesselyn Torres and her mother has been posting on social media about her daughter's situation just incredibly heartbreaking details about how she is trying to heal from a broken pelvis, a skull fracture, as well as lacerations on her lungs.
In an update that she posted about 12 hours ago on Facebook, she said, "My poor child was literally hit by a truck dead on, she has the marks from the vehicles grill across her chest. And was thrown about 20, 30 feet or so. My baby may be strong, but there are times in our lives when we need to just sit back and heal."
So, definitely a very difficult road ahead for that 11-year-old as well as the other people who were injured, dozens and dozens of people injured in addition to the six people as you mentioned, who were killed in this parade, Paula, just an incredibly shocking event that sent ripples through the community. I was there just a few hours after it happened, seeing the frantic looks on people's faces and now, a week later, they're still trying to digest all of this.
REID: Natasha Chen, thank you so much for that report. A reminder of so many people still recovering from that tragedy, including eight children still in the hospital. Thank you so much.
CHEN: Thanks.
REID: And if you're traveling this holiday, you likely already have your ticket but with crowded airports, tents flights and now a new COVID variant, what's a traveler need to do? We'll talk to a travel expert, next.
[13:30:09]
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REID: If you're heading to the airport now, you won't be alone. The TSA says its screened 2.3 million people, Wednesday and expects most to return home today. Longer lines, potential weather relays, unruly passengers overworked flight crews, and then add the Omicron variant into the mix.
I want to bring in Clint Henderson to discuss. He's the Senior News Editor at the Points Guy and he joins me now.
All right, Clint, it's a major travel day. How do you recommend travelers stay safe and more importantly sane around other passengers this weekend?
[13:35:08]
CLINT HENDERSON, SENIOR NEWS EDITOR, THE POINTS GUY: Well, I'll tell you. First of all, we really dodged a bullet this Thanksgiving holiday. There was no major weather events. So, the airlines didn't really get tested to the extremes that might have been possible if there had been a weather problem. So, we lucked out. But now the real test is going to be Christmas.
So, if you're traveling today, you're headed to the airport, pack your patience, that's the first thing we always say at The Points Guy. Remember that airlines, airport workers, everyone is short staffed right now. And so, you might have to wait a little longer than normal. But try to avoid those crowds.
We don't really know what this new variant is going to mean for travel right now. But always be extra cautious if you can, try to avoid clumping by boarding gates, try to avoid long periods of time in crowded gate areas. Find an empty gate area if you can, get a service like clear or TSA PreCheck, where you can zoom through security without clustering with a lot of people. So, there's some things you can do, you know, wear N-95 mask. But the most important thing is to have a backup plan, built a little pad into your travels and hope that we had the same weather luck over Christmas that we did for Thanksgiving.
REID: Way to look on the upside with that weather point. I appreciate. I appreciate you pointing out the positive in this situation. But look, we've seen, how much of a hassle if air travel can be, people are irritable. Now we have this new variant, is it better for some people over the next couple of weeks to just stay home?
HENDERSON: I mean, the problem is people have been staying home for two years, so people are sick of staying home. So, it's always probably the best advice during a pandemic is to tell people to stay home. But let's face it, most people are not going to listen to that advice. So instead, you want to do everything you can to be as safe as possible and you're headed to the airport.
REID: So, just hours after the South African health authorities announced the discovery of this new variant travel, restrictions were of course put into place which meant passengers found themselves or some passengers were stranded without any warning. And this does in some ways, it feels a little bit similar to the early days of coronavirus. So, what should passengers do if they suddenly find themselves stranded in a place that was not their intended destination?
HENDERSON: Well, the good news is, as of right now, Americans are not being restricted. So, if you're an American who's in South Africa, those flights are still operating, there are no restrictions on you as an American to come back home. So, if you're in one of these impacted countries, especially the ones in southern Africa, I would get home sooner rather than later, just in case. But as of right now, you don't have to worry, you will be taken care of, and you can come back to the U.S.
If you are stranded in a country, you want to always have a backup plan. So, you want to always find some kind of lodging or some kind of backup option for you, in case you do end up having to quarantine at a foreign destination. If you are forced into quarantine, a lot of times foreign governments will pay for that lodging. But it's always good to carry extra travel insurance, just so you know you're covered. Keep in mind these COVID insurance policies are restrictive, and they can be expensive. So do your research.
REID: So, Clint, we know it's been a long road to recovery for the travel industry. And we saw travel stocks that really took a hit at the news of this new variant. What do you see going forward over the next few months for the travel industry?
HENDERSON: So, this is exactly what the travel industry did not need. We were just about getting to recovery. In fact, domestically, we're at about 90% of pre pandemic travel. Hopefully, this variant will not be as scary as it's looking right now. And travel can continue to recover. But I will tell you the tourism industry, this is the last thing that they need.
I will say that after the initial COVID scare, remember that all the stock sold off at the travel business. All those companies they ended up recovering. So, don't panic sell, just because of this new variant. We still are at the very early stages. No need to panic just yet. But get vaccinated, get your boosters, all the advice you've been hearing on CNN, the past couple of hours, you know, do what's necessary to protect yourself. But don't panic because panic doesn't help anyone.
REID: Don't panic and pack your patients. Clint, thank you so much.
HENDERSON: Bye-bye.
REID: And it'll be a holiday season to remember for one Navy veteran who got the surprise of a lifetime from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON: Ladies and gentlemen. How you guys doing?
CROWD: Good.
JOHNSON: There's a dude here, I read his story and I was really impressed by his story. I want to highlight him. His name is Oscar Rodriguez. Where are you, Oscar?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of here, bro.
(APPLAUSE)
[13:40:06]
JOHNSON: Oscar, come on down. Good to see you, brother.
OSCAR RODRIGUEZ: Nice to meet you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID: Well, it gets better Oscar, was attending a special screening of The Rocky's new movie read notice when he learned that he'd be getting a one-of-a-kind gift. The Rocks own custom Ford truck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: I want to show you something real quick.
RODRIGUEZ: Yes.
JOHNSON: I got this. I brough this card for you. It's a little thing.
RODRIGUEZ: What the heck. Thank you for your service, brother. Enjoy your new channel -- What the heck is happening. Get out of here, bro.
JOHNSON: You do a lot of good for people, man. You do a lot good for people.
RODRIGUEZ: I thought, this was a show truck, bro.
JOHNSON: It is my truck.
RODRIGUEZ: What do you mean?
JOHNSON: Now, it's your truck. This is my personal truck, it's yours now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID: The actor says, he was moved by Oscar's life story and how he takes care of his family and vulnerable people in his community. We're back in a moment.
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[13:45:43]
REID: A security guard was killed on the job, trying to protect one of our CNN affiliate news crews as they were reporting on a series of smash and grab robberies in Oakland, California. Kevin Nishita was working for local TV station KRON when he was shot and killed as someone tried to steal the camera equipment from the news team.
Now Brian Stelter, host of CNN's Reliable Sources, has been following the story. Brian, thanks so much for joining me. Tell me more about what happened and what's been the reaction from the station to this this tragic incident?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN ANCHOR, RELIABLE SOURCES: Yeah, this is a devastating loss for Oakland in San Francisco for this market. Kevin Nishita had worked as a security guard for multiple local TV stations. He was a retired police officer who then worked for a private security company and allow the TV stations in and around Oakland do send private security out with their news crews. Because there's been this history of armed robbery attempts. That's what happened on Wednesday, midday, a news crew was a cast. And this officer, this security guard was shot and wounded on Wednesday when this news crew was out trying to gather the news.
So, Kevin Nishita is an example of someone who was killed in the line of duty. A former police officer turned security guard, trying to help this news crew gather the news when he was shot, and he died on Saturday. Now, here's what the station is saying in a statement, saying this senseless loss of life is due to yet another violent criminal act in the Bay Area. We hope that offering a reward will help lead to the arrest of those responsible so they can face justice for this terrible tragedy. So, there is a reward, Paula, more than $32,000 is on the table. And police have issued photos and information about potential suspects so far, though no word of any arrests in the killing of the security guard who is trying to protect journalists in harm's way.
You know, Paula, we talk about this in other countries, sometimes we're used to covering dangerous environments for journalists around the world but to hear about in the U.S. is really disturbing.
REID: It is incredibly disturbing. And Brian is also a reminder there are so many people who work behind the scenes to help us technically get on the air editorially. And in this case to keep us safe. Brian Stelter, thank you so much.
STELTER: Thanks.
REID: Where is Jimmy Hoffa, the question has been asked and unanswered ever since the powerful Teamster's boss first disappeared in 1975. Now, the FBI may have broken new ground and the search for Hoffa that's led them to a former landfill in where else, New Jersey, CNN's Miguel Marquez has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIMMY HOFFA, FORMER PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS: This is another propaganda scene of Mr. Robert Kennedy.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jimmy Hoffa, the infamous union boss.
HOFFA: We are successful in getting large band members at Monte Neva Hot Springs.
MARQUEZ: Are we today closer to knowing what happened to him?
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: This is one of the great mysteries of the modern criminal world. This is one of the great mysteries in Mafia history. What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Where is Jimmy Hoffa buried?
MARQUEZ: The latest tantalizing possibility points to a former landfill under a New Jersey bridge, the Pulaski Skyway just outside of Manhattan.
He's disappearance --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Frank. This is Jimmy Hoffa.
MARQUEZ: -- becoming the stuff of legend, depicted in recent films like "The Irishman." The murder portrayed as a setup by mobsters who wanted the tough-as-nails union boss out of the way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get out of here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.
MARQUEZ: And older films like 1992's "Hoffa" that assumes his murder was in the parking lot at the suburban Detroit Restaurant where Hoffa was last seen alive on July 30th, 1975.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Hoffa?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's right.
MARQUEZ: Both scenarios contested.
And just where is his body? For decades, a near national obsession.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A body, officials believe, was disposed of in an industrial waste incinerator.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could this be Jimmy Hoffa's grave? The FBI, once again, digging for answers.
MARQUEZ: That wasn't either were several locations around Detroit, a backyard, a horse farm, a suburban home. Underneath the old New York Giants Stadium was discounted by investigators. The search found another dead end in the Florida Everglades.
Where is Jimmy Hoffa? Now part of American lore.
SETH MEYERS, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS": The FBI reportedly searched the site of a former landfill in New Jersey last month, looking for the body of union leader, Jimmy Hoffa.
[13:50:03]
So far, no Hoffa. Three Jimmy's.
(LAUGHTER)
MEYERS: But no Hoffa.
MARQUEZ: We do know he was last seen outside Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
CHIEF ROBERT SNELL, BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP POLICE: There are confirmations that he was seen outside of the restaurant.
MARQUEZ: Hoffa helped build the Teamsters union into a powerhouse.
HOFFA: I appeal to the chair that, that be taken out of the record, and that nobody cast any aspersions on my loyalty to this country.
MARQUEZ: And spent nearly five years in prison for conspiracy, fraud and jury tampering. His 13 years sentence commuted in 1971 by President Richard Nixon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick's guest tonight, our Jimmy Hoffa, former head of the Teamsters Union.
MARQUEZ: When he got out, he still had celebrity status, and was still trying to control the Union.
HOFFA: The media made me look as though I was probably one of the biggest goons that ever took place in this country, and that I was some kind of an illiterate bum that had muscled his way to the top of this union.
MARQUEZ: The FBI used ground-penetrating radar and conducted a site survey underneath the Pulaski Skyway for two days in October. Results are now being analyzed to see if yet another dig, another search, and 46-year mystery is called for.
HONIG: Knowing the FBI, if they believe they have a reasonable chance to find Jimmy Hoffa, they will dig. The FBI cares about solving this mystery.
MARQUEZ: A decades-old mystery, his family and the country would like solved.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REID: Still ahead, how a great grandmother decided retirement wasn't for her, but cooking was, in order to help those in need. Her incredible story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:56:17]
REID: For many communities, a local restaurant provides a place to celebrate time with family and friends. But the pandemic is putting the future of some of those businesses at risk. But in Ohio, there's a great grandmother who grabbed an apron and pitched in when her favorite neighborhood restaurant needed a hand. CNN's Wolf Blitzer has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BONNIE AUGUST, CULVER'S EMPLOYEE: I'm Bonnie, I'm 81 until the end of this month, and then I'll be 82. I've lived in this area all my life, and it's home to me, and I'm comfortable here.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST (voice-over): One important ritual that makes it home for Bonnie August is eating her favorite meal in her favorite restaurant.
AUGUST: Well, people here are so friendly, and I've known the owner's grandparents, parents and them and they're wonderful, wonderful people.
BLITZER: Bonnie has been coming to the Culver's in Findlay, Ohio with her friends and family since it opened 10 years ago. AUGUST: These are some of my Sunday Lunch Bunch after church that we go out to eat.
BLITZER: Which is why she was devastated to hear Culver's had to go drive through only because there simply weren't enough workers.
AUGUST: I don't like eating in my car. They just got to get open.
BLITZER: There were 10 point 4 million open jobs across the country in September that only 6.5 million workers hired.
AUGUST: All right, you got two-thirds?
BLITZER: Trying to fill in those gaps are retirees like Bonnie, the hidden helpers of the pandemic economy.
AUGUST: My job listing says runner I don't run anymore. I just hurry as fast as I can.
BLITZER: Helping just comes naturally to Bonnie. This is our owner Danielle Doxsey remembers it.
DANIELLE DOXSEY, CULVER'S CO-OWNER: She was walking up and me and my other partner met her at the door and we're kind of like, you know, sorry, our dining rooms close and she's like, no, I'm here to help. I want to get the dining room open.
BLITZER: And Bonnie isn't just showing up. She's a crucial member of the team.
AUGUST: I work five days a week a lot, just walking, getting the orders, taking a bag and walking to the car, and giving it to the people.
You ordered some cheese curd, sir?
Make a little small talk just to see if I can make them smile.
BLITZER: Bonnie used to work nights at this former factory and retired 11 years ago. So, her new job was a shock to her friends and family.
AUGUST: First, they asked me if I was crazy. You're not going to go back to work. And I said, well, I am for a little while. I know that if there's a way I can help, that's what I'm supposed to do.
BLITZER: And while Bonnie certainly isn't looking for any extra attention.
DOXSEY: She does it because she genuinely wants us to do good. And she wants to see us thrive. She is genuinely wanting to help and that's all she cares about.
BLITZER: She says she hopes she can inspire other hidden helpers to give back to the things they love in these tough times.
AUGUST: Give back every -- if you have a chance to give back, give back. We've been given so much, jump in the water. It can be fun.
BLITZER: Wolf Blitzer, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REID: During the 1920s, the Osage people of Oklahoma were some of the richest people in the world. But as Lisa Ling uncovers that wealth made them a target, discover the horrific plot carried out to steal Osage land and money, watch CNN all new, "This is Life with Lisa Ling" tonight at 10 on CNN.
Hello, thanks for joining me. I'm Paul Reid in Washington in this weekend for Fredricka Whitfield. The list of countries reporting cases of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 is growing and so are the concerns over what it could mean for the ongoing pandemic.
