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First Confirmed U.S. Omicron Case Detected in California; Fourth Victim Dead After Shooting at Michigan High School; Lawmakers Have Until Friday 11:59 P.M. ET to Avoid Government Shutdown. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired December 02, 2021 - 10:00   ET

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

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[10:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: A very good Thursday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto.

Today, the Biden administration is set to unveil new plans to fight coronavirus, this as the omicron variant is officially detected in the U.S. for the first time. The first case confirmed in San Francisco, a patient who traveled from South Africa. The person is fully vaccinated, we should note, has only mild symptoms.

Officials in South Africa say they are seeing an increase in reinfections in patients who contract the omicron variant. So far, the data shows, however, that reinfections may be less severe.

Today, President Biden will lay out his administration's next steps in fighting the pandemic this winter. We'll have more details on that plan in just a moment. All in all, President Biden says, and doctors, by the way, get boosted, don't be afraid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: This new variant is a cause for concern but not a cause for panic. We have the best vaccines in the world, the best medicines, the best scientists. We're learning more every single day. And we'll fight this variant with science and speed, not chaos and confusion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: CNN's John Harwood joins me from the White House. John, to be clear, there are no lockdowns here and the administration says very clearly that's not the direction they're headed, but they are taking steps to try to control this. So, what are the headlines?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are trying to convey with increasing urgency the need to accelerate the path out of the pandemic, as Jeff Zients, the COVID coordinator for the administration, puts it. These are steps the administration, Jim, would be taking even if the omicron variant had not emerged, but it only provides a fresh argument for moving ahead on steps to accelerate vaccinations.

They're trying to work with the Medicare program, the AARP, to encourage seniors to get boosted, since a high proportion seniors have already been vaccinated. They're trying to encourage people, especially children who have not been vaccinated, to get vaccinated. They're extending the mask mandates on planes, trains, buses, those sort of federal conveyances. They're directing insurance companies to provide free rapid at-home tests. This is something that's going to be rolled out in January because testing, in addition to vaccination, is part of their strategy.

It's an increasingly aggressive approach for the administration given how important getting out of this pandemic is to everything Joe Biden is trying to do. It's a matter of public health. We've lost almost 800,000 Americans to this pandemic, more in 2021 than we had in 2020. It's true economically because the longer the pandemic goes along, the longer the economic dislocation, resulting inflation, labor market turmoil is going to be extended, and, of course, politically, extremely important to President Biden to try to show the American people that as he promised in 2020 he can lead the United States out of this pandemic.

Very difficult problem, but the administration is trying to put all the ammunition they can toward that target.

SCIUTTO: John Harwood at the White House. Thanks so much.

Some more details now on that first confirmed case of the omicron variant here in the U.S. Let's take a look at the timeline. The individual left South Africa Noevember 21st, arrived in California on the 22nd, this before the travel restrictions were in place. He or she started having symptoms on the 25th, got a positive COVID-19 test result four days later.

The person was fully vaccinated, had not yet received a booster. Officials say that while the individual is self-quarantining, so far experiencing only mild symptoms, which are now improving.

Here to discuss all the details about this, what we know, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay, always good to have you on.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Jim, thank you.

SCIUTTO: So, we have the first case here in the U.S. That was, of course, expected. This is how pandemics work. These things spread. Based on what we know now, particularly from South Africa, Israel, and elsewhere, are we closer to knowing how serious this is or even do we know if it 's going to take over, the delta, as the dominant strain here?

GUPTA: We're basically one week into actually having identified and, you know, starting to think about this. This patient that came over, he was traveling, or she, we don't know, even before this variant had a name, just to give you an idea of how fast things are moving. But in terms of your question, will this become a dominant strain, let me show you a little bit what's happened in South Africa in the past. And I think this might offer some insights into the future.

[10:05:00]

There's been these various waves of infection. Look at the middle of the screen there, Jim, beta. Beta became the dominant strain in South Africa for a period of time. There was concern back then that it would be something that would become dominant around the world. It did not. And I think that's an important data point.

But also on the far right of the screen, Jim, when omicron starts to really become the dominant strain in South Africa, there was not a lot of competition at that point. They were in a quiet period in terms of viral spread, different than here in the United States and many other places around the world where delta is still clearly spreading and is clearly dominant.

So, will it outcompete delta? We don't know. We haven't seen it -- it didn't have to in South Africa, and there have been other examples where strains became dominant but it was not a foregone conclusion that it would become dominant here.

SCIUTTO: Big question, of course, do existing vaccines, will they protect you and me and others from omicron? You had a conversation with the president of Moderna. Tell us what you're hearing from them on this, particularly as it relates to efficacy against infection but also against severe disease.

GUPTA: Well, so far, it's a lot of informed but still speculative musings from people, Jim. I mean, I think the basic gist of it is they have got this variant, it had a lot more mutations they've seen in the past, and they started asking, are these mutations concerning enough to say, hey, look, this will start evade the protections that vaccines offer.

Now, I want to address the specific point you're asking about infection versus illness, but I want you to hear how Stephen Hoge, who is president of Moderna, answered this when I asked him yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. STEPHEN HOGE, PRESIDENT, MODERNA: But if you look at the history of the vaccines, and the Moderna vaccine, for sure, but some others, have actually held up really well.

There is some hope that if we get through the omicron variant, we see good efficacy in the coming weeks and months, that actually the original vaccines that we've all been benefiting from actually will hold up really well and might be all we really need in the long run. Again, we just need data to tell us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: They had a specific -- delta-specific booster, which we did not need. They have created a specific beta booster, which we did not need. And that's sort of what Dr. Hoge is talking about there. They're going to go ahead and go through the motions of creating an omicron- specific booster, but we may not need it.

The erosion efficacy, Jim, really seems to be more around infection even more than illness, as we've seen out in Israel and South Africa. It is largely unvaccinated people who are getting sick. So, it's an indication the vaccine, at least in terms of preventing the thing that we've always talked about, illness, seems to still be doing the job. We'll see though.

SCIUTTO: That's some good news. The one consistent piece of advice we're hearing from doctors across the board is, well, get vaccinated, but also if you're already vaccinated, not boosted, get boosted. Yet here in the U.S., a big percentage of people haven't taken that step.

GUPTA: Yes. You know, it's interesting, Jim. It's about 23 percent have gotten the booster. I want to show you, though, what the sentiment is towards this and how it's changed. This is interesting. So, 23 percent already received but it's really only about 18 percent that say either probably will not or definitely will not. That's 17 percent, 18 percent, that has been the same in terms of the original resistance to vaccines, now the resistance to boosters. It's almost like you have to accept that there's just under 20 percent of people who will always sort of say probably or absolutely not.

The sentiment is increasing, Jim. Those are better numbers than we saw just a couple of weeks ago, probably in part driven by the news around omicron.

SCIUTTO: Yes. And 80 percent probably or definitely, it's not the worst, right, that it says to that number. It's good to see you. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much.

GUPTA: You got it, Jim. Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Well, there's sad news this morning. A fourth student, a teenager, now dead after a suspect fired more than 30 shots in Oxford High School in Michigan. Seven others were injured. Authorities say that suspect, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, displayed concerning behavior more than once that forced his parents to come to school just hours before the attack.

Investigators have also discovered two videos the suspect recorded the night before the shooting discussing killing students.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is live from Oxford, Michigan. And, Shimon, I have to expect that parents there must be up in arms to see that there were warnings before and yet the suspect was still allowed back in that school.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, Jim. And new information, more specific information from the sheriff this morning to CNN, telling CNN that two teachers now, two teachers, there was a teacher on Monday, which is the day before the shooting, saw something weird, and then on Tuesday, also, another teacher, a different teacher, also said that there was something just off, there were behavioral issues, brought the parents in. The sheriff detailing more of that information this morning. Take a listen.

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SHERIFF MICHAEL BOUCHARD, OKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN: On the day prior to the tragedy, a teacher in a classroom, where he was a student, saw and heard something that she felt was disturbing in terms of his behavior.

[10:10:05]

And they had a counseling session about it with school officials. And a phone call was left with the parents. The day of the shooting, a different teacher in a different classroom saw some behavior that they felt was concerning, and they brought the child down to an office, had a meeting with school officials, called in the parents, and, ultimately, it was determined that he could go back in to class.

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PROKUPECZ: And so, Jim, the question now becomes, what did the parents know on that Tuesday, what did they do? But, obviously, the biggest issue right now facing investigators and certainly the prosecutor is whether or not they charge the parents. Keep in mind, it was that Tuesday morning when the teacher saw that there were issues. He already had the weapon on him, the gun that was allegedly used in this incident.

And then the question is how did he get his hands on that weapon? And that is something that prosecutors are investigating, and they indicated yesterday that they are likely to bring charges against the parents.

SCIUTTO: Four students are dead. Shimon Prokupecz, thanks very much.

Still to come this hour, congressional leaders unveiling a plan that could avert a government shutdown. Is it enough? We'll have the votes. I'll be joined live by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Plus, Stacy Abrams getting the second chance at the governor's office in Georgia, setting up a potential rematch with the current Republican governor, Brian Kemp. Former President Trump looming large over the race.

And the Women's Tennis Association has suspended all tournaments in China, this, a show of support for a player who accused a senior Chinese government official of sexual assault. How China is responding, ahead.

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[10:15:00]

SCIUTTO: Congress has a little more than 36 hours to avoid a government shutdown, and some positive news this morning, both the House and Senate taking a step in the right direction, reaching an agreement on what's known as a continuing resolution to fund the government. That's a big step, but there's still a ways to go.

I'm joined now by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She serves on the Judiciary as well as the Homeland Security Committees. Congresswoman, thanks so much for taking the time this morning.

REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX): Good morning. Thank you for having me this morning.

SCIUTTO: So, there appears to be an agreement for a C.R., as it's known, and you even have senior Republicans, Mitch McConnell and others, coming out and advising their Republican colleagues in the Senate not to block this. Do you believe that this is enough? Do you believe this will get through to avoid a shutdown?

LEE: Well, one thing I do understand and believe is that Democrats never stop working to be the adults in the room, to be governing and not fighting as it relates to the American people. We worked into the night until 3:00 A.M. in the morning. I'm on the Budget Committee as well. And, clearly, our effort was to ensure that on December 3rd, which was the last day of the extension of the other C.R. that we had to do, that we would be ready. And we decided it had to be a go.

I'm glad that leadership in the Senate has decided that they, too, have to be adults. You might know that the issue that was being utilized in the middle of determining that we had omicron was vaccine mandates.

So, I do think it will go through. I think we're going to get every vote with Democrats. I hope there are some Republicans and then goes to the Senate and to the president's desk to keep the government open.

SCIUTTO: Other big timeline, of course, we're watching is on the broader budget agenda of the president's and Democrats', and that is Build Back Better. Chuck Schumer, others say they hope, believe there will be a vote and progress before Christmas. Do you believe that's realistic?

LEE: Jim, I think we've made our case on Build Back Better. I think anyone that goes home for two or three days during the holiday season and is the reason that we don't have Build Back Better is going to be holding their head down. We know that a family of four will save $7,400. A single moth will save $15,000. Do you want to be the Grinch of Christmas?

So, I do think we're moving in that direction. We certainly have seen Senator Manchin continue to be in engagement. There are some senators that I'll be meeting with next week just to reinforce some of the real elements that we're seeing.

I'll just leave with this point. We're providing millions of Americans who never had health insurance. We give them health insurance if we pass Build Back Better. We're saving lives. So, I think we can get it done.

SCIUTTO: I want to talk to you about something particular to Texas so far, and that is the Texas law that has basically eliminated abortions in the state for a number of months now. Now, you have the Supreme Court is hearing a broader case where they may overturn Roe v. Wade.

You have seen the future. I mean, you're seeing the potential future now in Texas as this law plays out. Tell us what you're seeing. Tell us what constituents are telling you about what this means to them, to their health, and to the personal decisions they have to make.

LEE: Well, Jim, I was out protesting before the Supreme Court yesterday. I was just an American citizen saying, we trust women and the Supreme Court should do the right thing. Isn't it interesting that Texas now is one of the ugly pictures of hurting women when Roe v. Wade started 50 years ago in Texas?

[10:20:00]

It's a very sad scene. There are women who have means fleeing to Oklahoma. Clinics are not functioning. And poor women are in a devastating condition. They have no health care. They have no one to go to under these circumstances. And a 13-year-old who was a victim of incest has no place to go. A young woman, the victim of rape, has no place to go.

And so I think it is at a crisis level. And I think the most devastating statement of insensitivity was a new justice who said, well, no problem, just leave your baby at the doorsteps. It's a crisis in Texas. It's a sad crisis. And I hope you know that I have introduced with Senator Klobuchar a legislation to make criminal the bounty hunters that is really vested in slavery of over 100 years ago, to be able to stalk a person, stalk a doctor, stalk a provider and get $10,000. We want to make that a criminal act.

But it is a sad state of affairs, and we are trying to hold up those women who are in need.

SCIUTTO: If Roe v. Wade is overturned, and you've heard some justices yesterday in their arguments, in effect, say leave it to Congress, leave it to state legislatures, what would Democrats in Congress do? Would you attempt to move legislation to protect a woman's right to choose? What would the response be?

LEE: Absolutely. We in the House have done our job. We had codified Roe v. Wade. It is clearly now in the Senate, and here's what we need to do. The Senate filibuster rule needs to be stood down. It needs to be rolled off. We obviously have other issues, voting rights, that need to be passed, say, HR-40, which is a commission to study slavery. But, really, it needs to be rolled off, frankly, and we need to pass Roe v. Wade in the Senate and the president will sign it.

You cannot allow the Constitution to be violated. This is a Ninth Amendment right. It's a right to privacy. It's a right to due process under the 14th Amendment and Fifth Amendment. And what is happening in the Supreme Court is a crapshoot, if you will. It means we're throwing the dice. We have a 6-3 court. We see some possibilities, but you know what, I wonder if Justice Kavanaugh is going to adhere to what he said under oath, that he viewed Roe v. Wald as precedent. If he did, then that means the Supreme Court does the right thing. But if they don't, the filibuster needs to go and we need to codify Roe v. Wade in the Senate and get it to the president's desk. We have to save lives.

SCIUTTO: We played Kavanuagh's comments from his confirmation hearing in the last hour. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

LEE: Thank you for having me.

SCIUTTO: Well, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is speaking out this hour after a tense meeting with his Russian counterpart on growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as Russia amasses forces along its border. Is there a path forward?

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SCIUTTO: New this morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there may be an opportunity for President Biden to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, in his words, in the near future. Blinken just met with Russia's foreign minister to discuss Russia's renewed aggression toward Ukraine. The U.S. has warned of serious consequences for any Russian military action there. A senior State Department official says, so far, there is no concrete path forward.

CNN's Matthew Chance is live in Ukraine, Kylie Atwood at the State Department.

Kylie, I wonder, as you have these forces still mounted on the border there, has either side articulated a way forward to avoid military conflict here, something that would satisfy both sides?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The short answer is no, right, Jim? What we heard from the secretary of state coming out of today's meeting is that it was sober, it was direct, it was candid, but that they also exchanged differing perspectives. And I think that that is key here. It demonstrates that the United States and its NATO allies think that Russia is doing one thing, they see what Russia is doing with this military buildup, with this disinformation campaign that they are carrying out in Ukraine, and then you've got Russia claiming a whole other host of things that are going on, talking about NATO building up in the east, something that they have long discussed their concerns over. So, they are sort of twisting the facts on the ground, if you will.

That has created a situation where the secretary of state thought that it was important to see the foreign minister of Russia directly, to express the concerns, to express that there would be very severe consequences if de-escalation doesn't happen. And listen to what he said about how the onus is essentially on Russia to de-escalate the situation here.

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ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's now on Russia to de-escalate the current tensions by reversing the troop buildup, returning forces to normal peace-time positions and refraining from further intimidation and attempts to destabilize Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: And now, when it comes to consequences, the Biden administration is considering, the secretary of state wasn't exactly explicit in what those are, but he said that Russia knows what the host of options here on the table are, and he described them as economic in nature, that they would be high impact, things that the United States has considered but has never actually done in the past, so sort of a veiled threat there to Russia, saying, listen, there are some options on the table that you guys aren't going to like.

[10:30:07]