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Voting Rights Push; Threats Close Schools; Omicron Rising. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired December 17, 2021 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:01]

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: When you cry every time you're asked any significant question of substance, I think it gets old with the jury.

And, again, I think it shows a sort of lack of control, a lack of precision. Also, again, that discrepancy that the prosecution exposed in her testimony, I think can lead the jury to -- they are now entitled to conclude she was untruthful in key aspects of her testimony .That could be really damaging.

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: We will continue to watch.

Defense has just rested in the trial of former police officer Kim Potter. So, obviously, we will continue to follow those developments. Elie, Alexis, really great to have you both with us today. Thank you.

Top of the hour here in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Erica Hill, in for Victor Blackwell and Alisyn Camerota today.

A top health expert is warning the United States is about to face a -- quote -- "viral blizzard." That warning comes as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the country. It has now been identified in at least 40 states, in addition to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

President Biden's chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying earlier today now is the time to get boosted, because, without that additional shot, you likely won't have enough protection. In addition to the Omicron variant,we know Delta is still the dominant strain in this country.

From what we know, it may also be more severe than Omicron. It is filling up hospitals, the majority of those folks hospitalized for COVID-19 unvaccinated. A reminder, it's the pandemic of the unvaccinated.

The U.S. averaging right now nearly 1,300 COVID-related deaths being reported each day. In New York City, you see lines like this around the block.This is for COVID testing. Those lines aren't just happening here in the city either, plenty of other places around the country.

Let's take you, though, to the streets of New York City.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is outside one of those testing sites. I have to say, I have driven by lines like this for the last couple of

days. They have really been doubling, Shimon.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they have, and people standing for hours, right?

It kind of reminds us of when we were out on the streets in the beginning of this, and through the months and really the year of this pandemic, and now to see lines are happening because of the numbers, the increase in the number of positive cases.

And, also, people back in the offices, back out living their lives are now being exposed yet again to people who are testing positive. So all of this concern is now bringing people to places like this, where they're waiting, standing in line for hours to get tested.

So let's look at some of those numbers. When you look at the numbers here in New York City, it's alarming for the city officials. They're saying that, in just the last few days, in just three days, they saw a doubling of numbers. They went from 3.9 percent to now over 7 percent. And then, of course, the concern over the unvaccinated, how many of them are starting to test positive?

That, of course, is one of the big concerns when it relates to hospitalizations, where we're seeing a steady increase, but not enough of a concern yet, where city officials or state officials need to take aggressive action. But it is the unvaccinated, of course, that they're worried about.

And, of course, people all across the city are very concerned, because what's starting to happen is restaurants are starting to shut down because employees are starting to test positive. And so the restaurant owners don't have the employees, don't have the staff to keep these restaurants open.

And then, of course, Broadway, the Broadway shows are being hit by some of these positive cases, as cast members are starting to test positive and they're shutting down as well.

HILL: Shimon Prokupecz, appreciate it. It does feel a lot like the beginning. You are right. Thank you.

Well, Christmas one week from tomorrow, the holiday travel rush already under way.

CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean is at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Things really picking up. I wonder how concerned folks are as they head to the airport today, Pete.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, we will see how this pans out, Erica.

The TSA says they're anticipating 20 to 21 million people passing through security at America's airports starting on the 23rd and lasting until January 3. In fact, United Airlines predicts that today through next Thursday will be its busiest period and that its air passenger traffic loads will be about 20 percent higher than what we saw during Thanksgiving, which set pandemic era air travel records.

The number just yesterday, 2.06 million people passed through security at America's airports. That's the highest number we have seen since December 5, really a sign that this holiday travel rush is kicking off a little bit early here. But we will see how the rise in infections really impacts these numbers.

Airlines say they have seen a bit of wavering in ticket bookings since the Omicron variant started to make headlines. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says cancellations have gone up a little bit, but not near as much as when the Delta variant first appeared last summer. Here's what he said.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT KIRBY, CEO, UNITED AIRLINES: 2022 is still going to be a recovery year for the industry, because we're not past -- COVID isn't over yet. COVID is never going to be over. But it's still in the probably pandemic phase, instead of the endemic phase.

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MUNTEAN: What's so interesting here, Erica, is that the CDC is now giving out free at-home coronavirus test kits to international travelers as they arrive into the United States, just a select few airports right now, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis.

It says it could expand this program sometime soon to more airports. The CDC says it is crucial for those who are traveling internationally and coming into the U.S. to get tested three to five days after arriving in the country.

But the bottom line here from the TSA, wear a mask, bring a lot of patience, and a lot of flexibility. Might want to consider traveling on Christmas Day itself if you have not booked a ticket already. That's when passenger loads are expected to be the lowest -- Erica.

HILL: Yes, we will be watching.

Meantime, I do just want to get your take on some breaking news that we're seeing. The CEO of Southwest Airlines, we're learning, has tested positive for COVID, of course, just days after he was testifying at that Senate hearing along with other airline executives. They were in there. What more do we know about this?

MUNTEAN: I was there too, Erica.

And what's so interesting about this is that these executives testified maskless for about three hours to the Senate Oversight Committee hearing on airlines and the $50 billion they received from the federal government. We just learned about Southwest CEO Gary Kelly's positive test. We have also learned that United CEO Scott Kirby has tested negative. American's CEO is getting tested later on. And an executive vice president from Delta Air Lines has also tested negative.

But this is really, really interesting that this has happened after Southwest CEO Gary Kelly made some comments about how masks, he believes, weren't all that effective, when you consider the clean air on board an airplane, although we have been talking to scientists about this since the start of the pandemic.

They think it's part of a layered approach. And this is also a federal mandate that will last until March 18, 2022.

HILL: Yes, there was a lot of pushback on those comments and I know a little bit of a correction that went out too, but can't help tying the two now.

All right, Pete Muntean, appreciate the update. Thank you.

You may have heard about this viral TikTok trend warning of nationwide violence at schools today. It sparked a number of school closures, a lot of e-mails, I know we got one from our superintendent, increased law enforcement presence, and frankly, concern, a lot of concern.

U.S. officials dismissing the vague threats as non-credible. But the concerns remain, a number of families even keeping their kids home today.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is here.

So, in terms of the threat, so they have said that this is vague, it's non-credible. Understandably concerning, though, if it's calling for this nationwide day of violence in schools. Do we know anything more about the origins, who's responsible for it?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's concerning, especially if you're a parent too, Erica, right?

So TikTok, for its part, saying that they have basically looked all over their platform at this point. Yes, they have found indication of these rumors that were circulating across the country that in some cases even led to school closures, and we will get to that in just a second.

But they still haven't been able to actually pinpoint where this started or how it started and really who would potentially be behind it.

Let's get to TikTok's response, if we could, at least what they said earlier this morning in reaction to obviously calls for them to do even more.

TikTok writing that they have extensively and exhaustively searched for content that promotes violence at schools today, but they have still found nothing. The platform goes on to write -- or at least representative for the platform going out to write: "What we found our videos discussing this rumor and warning others to stay safe."

In a separate tweet, the platform tweeting: "Local authorities, the FBI, DHS all confirmed there's no credible threat. So we're working to remove alarmist warnings that violate our misinformation policy."

TikTok going on to write: "If we did find promotion of violence on our platform," then they would remove and report it to law enforcement because there is a real-world impact here, Erica. We mentioned some schools, including Miami-Dade, for example. They really did increase the presence of law enforcement personnel on campuses.

And then at the same time, they're also calling on platforms like TikTok to actually police themselves and try to track down these kinds of statements and rumors, really, that again, are not credible at this point.

HILL: Right.

SANDOVAL: But even the most non-credible of rumor not only leads to tremendous stress, obviously, for students who are just trying to wrap up their fall semester, for parents as well, and law enforcement certainly stretched thin as they try to find out how this started.

HILL: Right. Yes, and for the school staff, it is a lot.

SANDOVAL: Yes.

HILL: I have to say it was an alarming e-mail when I got it last night from our superintendent. Comforting that it's vague and non- credible, but it does make you wonder.

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: Polo, appreciate the reporting. Thank you.

Also with us is Amy Klinger. She's founder and director of programs for the Educator's School Safety Network.

It's good to have you with us today.

When we sit back for a minute and we look at, as Polo pointed out, it's not clear where this came from, vague, non-credible. Still, from students, to parents, to staff, and educators, and law enforcement, this had a lot of people concerned.

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Is there a way to better police this in your experience?

AMY KLINGER, EDUCATOR'S SCHOOL SAFETY NETWORK: Well, I think there's a lot of problems associated with this.

One of those is that it kind of forces us to take our eyes off the ball. So we're looking for this big nationwide sort of very vague threat. And it removes us from looking at what's happening right in front of us with the kids right in front of us in our schools.

So, clearly, that's an issue. But I think one of the larger concerns is really for schools to be able to work proactively to be able to get kids to disclose what they know, to be able to report what they have seen, and also to have a handle on those relationships with kids within their own building.

Social media is always a component that makes these threats even more -- it exacerbates them, makes them more widespread. So we really need to be -- schools need to be looking locally, and they need to be working on being proactive to be able to respond to these threats.

HILL: Which I understand.

I wonder too, though, about the added responsibilities on staff, on educators, right? We are now asking our teachers to do a whole lot more than educate.

KLINGER: Absolutely.

HILL: And so does that need to be parsed out a little bit more?

Yes, report the warning signs, yes, let someone know when there's a problem, but are there other factors at play here? Is it -- would it be helpful to maybe take away phones during the day? I know that's hard. My high schooler needs it during the day for work, for assignments. But are we learning that maybe that's not as effective?

KLINGER: No, I think what's really much more effective is to continue to build those collaborations between parents and staff and students, so that we can disclose and make sure that we're coordinating our response.

But I think, really, a lot of the answer is more training for staff that is not revolving around trying to go find social media threats, but, rather, training to be able to identify individuals of concern, training to be able to respond to events, all events, not just active shooter events, because the real danger for our students is what's happening in terms of suicide, violent behavior, drug overdoses.

All the things that are happening are much more statistically likely. And we take our eyes off the ball when we get down the rabbit hole of looking into social media, as much as that is a big factor that needs to be part of that overall response.

HILL: It's interesting, because kids today are faced with so much more, right? And they have -- kids now have grown up with knowledge of not just mass shootings, but mass shootings that can happen at schools, and they see it.

How much does that -- how much do you think that has impacted what they deal with on a daily basis in terms of -- it's hard enough being a kid, right?

KLINGER: Oh, yes. HILL: But when you're dealing with all of these other factors around you, you're dealing with a pandemic, you're trying to make things work, all of that compounds itself.

KLINGER: Yes. Right.

And that's one of the things that really concerns me is, we have been studying violent threats and incidents since 2013. And we see them increasing every single year. Then we had this little bit of a pause with the pandemic, where schools were largely online.

And now we're coming back from that. And we're surprised that there's additional threats and incidents of violence, but yet kids have been through the stress of a pandemic, social isolation, all the disruptions and things that have happened to them. And we're bringing them back.

And, of course, we're going to see this escalation. But the question is, what are we going to be doing about it? We can't always just be in reaction mode, we have to really start focusing on the things that are really the most dangerous and the most impactful for our kids, and really start working on those things, because even the threats have a cost in terms of what they do to disrupt kids, to provide -- to be more stress and more trauma.

So threats themselves are a problem.

HILL: They absolutely are. And, unfortunately, I would imagine they can inspire other threats, right, when kids see this.

KLINGER: Absolutely.

HILL: I'm wondering if you have -- pulling back, there are a lot of parents who probably got these e-mails or got a robo-call from their district and were concerned, but maybe weren't sure how to have that discussion.

As you point out, we need to look more at the causes of these things. How much do parents, do schools need to be having these conversations with kids about what can happen, how to spot it, how to report it, and how to feel safe?

KLINGER: Absolutely.

And I think those important conversations really need to take place between parents and kids and school and the school. But I think it's really important to put it in an appropriate context. The statistical likelihood of a kid dying in a school shooting event, as horrific as that is, is pretty low.

The statistical likelihood of a kid dying of COVID is statistically pretty low. But in between those two extremes, there's a lot of other things that aren't being discussed and talked about, in terms of suicidal ideations, drug addiction, medical emergencies, non-custodial parent, violent fights, all those things.

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Those conversations all center around, if you need help, reach out. If you see something that is concerning, tell somebody. Disclose. So those relationships will help to keep kids safe across that whole continuum of things that we worry about.

HILL: It is so important to have someone they feel -- a kid feels comfortable speaking with me.

Amy Klinger, great to have you with us this afternoon. Thank you.

KLINGER: Thank you.

HILL: Still ahead: Dr. Anthony Fauci warning there's virtually no protection from Omicron without a booster? He's going to join me live just ahead. We will talk more about that and the spread of this variant just ahead.

Plus, members of Dr. Martin Luther King's family now calling for a halt on celebrations on Martin Luther King Day if Congress doesn't take action on voting rights. So what would that mean and will it work in terms of getting some movement in Washington?

We will ask Martin Luther King Jr. -- Martin Luther King III next.

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HILL: As moderate Senator Joe Manchin stalls Democrats' hopes of passing the president's Build Back Better plan by Christmas, the president is shifting his focus to two voting rights bills.

Senate Republicans have blocked both Democratic-sponsored bills from advancing, leading progressive Democrats and activists who demand that the Senate changed the filibuster rule.

At a commencement speech at South Carolina State University, President Biden called out Republicans for stalling that voting rights legislation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've supported Democrats fighting for a voting rights bill since day one of our administration, making sure that we have unanimous support among Democrats in the Senate, which we do.

But each and every time it gets to be brought up, that other team blocks the ability even to start to discuss it -- that other team, what used to be called the Republican Party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: The family of Martin Luther King Jr. is now putting pressure on President Biden and lawmakers to act on federal voting rights bills, calling for no celebration the MLK holiday this year, January 17, without passage of this legislation.

Martin Luther King III, his wife, Arndrea Waters King, joining me now.

It's good to have both of you with us.

I heard your sister say that this is not a plan not to celebrate, but it's a change in how to celebrate those accomplishments that your father made and how much more there is to do.

Can you explain what you would like to see if there is no legislation that has passed on January 17 this year?

MARTIN LUTHER KING III, PRESIDENT & CEO, REALIZING THE DREAM: Well, number one, what we are talking about is engagement, engagement by people calling their senators, people standing on bridges, saying to the administration and Congress, you have done a great job with infrastructure. Now it is time to do something for the voters of America to make sure that no one's voice is not heard.

Because we have seen since January 33 bills passed in 19 states. And so we need action, and we need action right now.

HILL: Senator Manchin and Sinema have been pretty clear about where they stand on the filibuster for voting rights, Senator Sinema saying earlier this week she was concerned, right, that if they got rid of the filibuster for voting rights, that then, if Republicans took control, they could come back and change things, right, and use it in their own defense.

How does that sit with you?

ARNDREA WATERS KING, PRESIDENT, DRUM MAJOR INSTITUTE: Well, first of all, I think it is very important to remember that the filibuster -- last year, we saw a lot of relics of white supremacy coming down, and both in this nation and across the world.

The filibuster is the most powerful relic of white supremacy that is still being used. It was something that stopped anti-lynching legislation. It stopped civil rights legislation. It was used to block voting rights. And this year alone, it's been used twice to block voting rights.

So I think it's quite clear that this procedural is -- this procedural, it really needs to be eliminated totally and completely.

HILL: If that doesn't change -- I asked Senator Mazie Hirono yesterday about this. If nothing gets done, what is your next course of action? Here's what she told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): I am relying on the courts at this point. There are all kinds of legal challenges to the Georgia law, the Texas law being mounted by groups out there that have to use their time and resources. And we also have an attorney general now who's not just going to be a

shill for the president, but who is also fighting some of the gerrymandering and other kinds of bills.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Is relying on the courts going to be effective?

M. KING: Well, I think you have to use every -- everything in your arsenal.

So the courts is one, one step. But, again, the people must continue to be heard. I believe that, when you look at -- I will go back to 1964. My dad talked to President Johnson after signing the Civil Rights Act, and President Johnson said, Dr. King, I'd like to help you on the Voting Rights Act, but we just -- I don't have the currency.

My father said, we must precipitate a nonviolent crisis. Therein came Selma. And Selma and all the demonstrations that took place created the opportunity for a voting rights bill to occur.

[15:25:07]

So, my point is, when the people are heard from the representatives, I think the representatives may even modify, could, I say, modify.

But we have to continue to say, this is what we want; 63 percent of Americans want voting rights protected.

A. KING: And what we have to say to both the administration and to Congress, we have seen them come together. And we have seen what happens when the full power of the administration is behind an idea.

And what we're saying is that we have stood -- you have stood for the bridges. Now it's time to stand for the people, which is why we will be at several bridges starting January 15 and ending January 17, saying that we really cannot in good faith celebrate the King holiday when there is no voting rights protections.

HILL: And calling on others to follow that lead.

Real quickly, before I let you both go, in terms of the president's involvement here, we just heard his words from earlier today. Do you think he's engaging enough on this? Has he been engaging with you?

M. KING: Well, I think the president has certainly -- this is -- when we took and announced this a few days ago, since we have announced it, we have seen the Senate announce that there's a little bit of a shift to focus on voting rights. And the president has announced that.

So let's say that we're moving in the right direction. But there still is a lot of work that has to be done. We have got to see these bills passed.

HILL: Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, good to have both of you with us. We will continue to follow the developments. Thank you.

M. KING: Thank you.

A. KING: Thank you.

HILL: Just ahead, Dr. Anthony Fauci joins us.

What do you need to know today about the Omicron variant, about the dominant Delta variant, as we're heading into the busy holiday season?

He's going to tell us next.

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