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COVID Cases Rising Across U.S. with Delta Variant and Highly Contagious Omicron Variant; Biden Administration and Health Experts Continue to Urge Americans to Get Vaccinated against Coronavirus; Former Minnesota Police Officer Kim Potter Takes Stand in Trial over Fatal Shooting of Daunte Wright; Negotiations in Senate over Build Back Better Legislation Stalled with Senator Joe Manchin Continuing to Withhold Support; Minnesota Doctors Take Out Full Page Ad Pleading with Public to Get Vaccinated against Coronavirus. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired December 18, 2021 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:03]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Buenos dias. Good morning. It's Saturday, December 18th. I'm Boris Sanchez.

PAULA REID, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Paula Reid in for Christi Paul. You are in the CNN Newsroom.

SANCHEZ: Paula, glad we didn't scare you off after a very early alarm going off this morning.

REID: So true. I'm glad to be back. It's been a lovely morning being here with you.

SANCHEZ: Wonderful.

So we start with the Biden administration redoubling efforts to get America vaccinated as COVID-19 infections rise across parts of the country. While Omicron is expected to become the dominant coronavirus variant in the U.S., experts say it is still the Delta variant that's driving this latest surge.

REID: And COVID-19 cases are up everywhere, but infection rates are rising fastest in parts of the northeast, Midwest, and south. And new this morning, we're learning more about the White House response to the variants. The vice president said in a new interview that the Biden administration didn't see the Delta or Omicron variants coming.

Now, CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright joins us now live. Jasmine, we know viruses mutate. The administration, of course, is trying to show it has a handle on things, but how could they possibly say they didn't see the variants coming?

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, we have to put this all in context, Paula, because this comes after the summertime where there were times where it appeared that the administration had felt like they were playing catch up, trying to respond to the Delta variant as it swept over the country, as cases ticked up and as hospitalizations kicked up. And of course, we know that the president, he really unleashed a new

wintertime COVID plan just a few weeks ago, really trying to encapsulate his administration's response in light of both the Delta variant still taking hold of the country, and also of course with this new very fast spreading variant.

So, these comments from Vice President Harris are all inside of that mix. And now I have to note that it is not exactly clear at this moment whether or not the vice president gave a full-throated answer of what exactly she meant. But let me read you exactly what the quote said that she said in an interview to the "L.A. Times." She said, "We didn't see Delta coming. I think most scientists did not upon whose advice and direction we have relied, didn't see Delta coming. We didn't see Omicron coming, and that's the nature of what this is. This awful virus, which as it turns out, has mutations and variants." So that from the vice president.

One thing that the vice president's office and particularly the White House will have to answer for is exactly what the vice president meant, because this administration has gone through great lengths of trying to project their capability to the American people, that they are prepared to take care of the American people when it comes to protecting them from the virus. And of course, that has meant their full-throated and aggressive approach to trying to get as many Americans to get their boosters and to get those vaccinations. So of course, we will be asking the White House for more clarification on these comments, but again, this is just kind of the evolution of the White House's stance as it comes to responding to the pandemic as we near that almost two-year mark. Paula, Boris?

SANCHEZ: Yes. It's the wording of that answer that could potentially open the White House to attack. Jasmine Wright traveling with the president in Wilmington, Delaware. Thank you.

With Christmas and New Year's Eve approaching, more than 20 million people are expected to fly over the next two weeks. And now there are concerns that all that travel could supercharge the growing number of COVID cases.

REID: CNN's Polo Sandoval joins us now. Polo, what are you seeing out there?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys. It is wet. It is rainy. Yet you see all the New Yorkers behind me. They are willing to stand in line outside of an urgent care clinic. Many of them telling me that they are here to get those COVID tests. They certainly have a reason to. When you look at those metrics, just in New York state alone experiencing one of the highest single day COVID counts that we have experienced so far. And we experienced that just this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SANDOVAL: COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are rising once again in the U.S., prompting disruptions and cancellations as the country enters another pandemic holiday season. One beloved holiday tradition now canceled in New York City. Radio City Music Hall announced Friday its Christmas spectacular shows are canceled for the rest of the season, quote, due to the increasing challenges from the pandemic. New York state reporting that on Thursday it had the highest single day count of new COVID-19 cases with just over 21,000, according to data released on Friday. New York state also revealed that positive COVID-19 cases in the state jumped 154 percent in less than a week. The previous high was on January 14th when there were 19,900 new cases reported.

The Omicron variant has been identified in at least 40 states, in addition to Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to public statements from hospital systems and state officials in their respective states.

[10:05:02]

It is too soon to assume if the Omicron variant will cause milder disease, experts say.

DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: It's clear that Omicron is an extremely contagious variant, that it doubles every two to four days, and you just have to look at the projections of what that means, and yes, we are in for a lot of cases of people getting infected with this virus.

SANDOVAL: Across the country in states like Oregon, officials are warning of severe illness and a surge in hospitalizations now that Omicron has been detected in the state. And in Hawaii, the governor said in a news conference Friday that the state is seeing, quote, an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Vaccines are still the best way to fight COVID-19, officials say.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER: We still have 50 million or more people in this country who have not yet even gone their first vaccination. That is really unacceptable if we want to get through the challenge of a Delta, which is bad enough. We're looking it straight in the face. And then over your shoulder is coming Omicron. That's a very tenuous and difficult situation. So we've got to do the things available to us -- vaccination, boosting, masking when you're in an indoor setting.

SANDOVAL: The Biden administration scored a significant victor, Friday, in its court battles to enforce various federal vaccine mandates, which an appeals court ruling that the government can enforce a vaccine or testing rule for companies with more than 100 employees.

FAUCI: We will win this war with this virus, but we will win it only because we apply the things that we have, the interventions. We are so fortunate that we have a highly effective and safe vaccine. We know what public health mitigations work. We have just got to hang in there. We can't give up.

JEFF ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: We have the tools to do it. But we need the American people to do their part, to protect themselves, their children and their communities.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

SANDOVAL: And just this week, Dr. Francis Collins of the NIH told CNN that it is still too soon to assume that this Omicron variant leads to milder symptoms. More research needs to be done, which is why the big recommendation coming from health officials right now, if you are among the folks who are not vaccinated, get the shot. If you did get the shot, get boosted. If you get boosted before you travel or participate in any holiday gatherings, then get tested. And that's exactly why these people are lining up here, Paula and Boris.

Really, just to give you a sense of what I've heard from some of the folks who are here to get tested, a lot of them telling me that they don't feel that sense of gravity that we had a year ago before the vaccines. But nonetheless, they are being cautious, as you can see behind me.

REID: Polo Sandoval, stay dry up there. Thank you so much for that report

SANCHEZ: Thanks, Polo.

REID: Former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter took the stand yesterday in her trial over the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Closing arguments are set to start Monday.

SANCHEZ: Potter was in law enforcement for 26 years. And she says that she meant to use her taser on Wright, but instead pulled out her gun. CNN's Josh Campbell has a closer look at her emotional testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

KIM POTTER, DEFENDANT: I remember yelling, "taser, taser, taser!" And nothing happened. And then he told me I shot him.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Former officer Kim Potter testifying for the first time, explaining the moment she shot and killed Daunte Wright last April. Potter describes seeing her fellow officers struggling with Wright during the traffic stop.

POTTER: He had a look of fear on his face. It's nothing I had seen before. We were struggling. We were trying to keep him from driving away. It just -- it just went chaotic.

CAMPBELL: Wright, who officers learned had an outstanding warrant for a weapons violation, was initially pulled over for minor offenses, pointed out by a rookie officer.

POTTER: We just discussed a little bit of suspicious activity. He noticed a pine tree, or air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror, and the tags were expired.

CAMPBELL: Potter revealing they would not have pulled Wright over at all if she hadn't been training that officer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And why not?

POTTER: An air freshener to me is just an equipment violation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You did stop the vehicle, right?

POTTER: Yes. Part of field training is that my probationer would make numerous contacts with the public throughout the day.

CAMPBELL: That contact would turn fatal.

POTTER: I shot him! Oh, my God!

CAMPBELL: When she pulled her gun instead of the training.

The prosecutor asked Potter about training on confusing her taser and her gun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You were trained on it, right?

POTTER: Yes, but it was a while back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You were trained in March of this year on that taser, correct?

POTTER: Yes.

CAMPBELL: The state pointing out --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You never saw a weapon on Mr. Wright, did you?

POTTER: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never saw a gun?

POTTER: No.

CAMPBELL: Adding, she did not try to save Wright or check on other officers in the aftermath.

[10:10:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You didn't make sure any officers knew what you had just done, right?

POTTER: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You didn't run down the street and try to save Daunte Wright's life, did you?

POTTER: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You were focused on what you had done because you just killed somebody.

POTTER: I'm sorry about that. I'm so sorry.

CAMPBELL: Prosecutors continuing to push.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You knew that deadly force was unreasonable and unwarranted in those circumstances?

POTTER: I didn't want to hurt anybody.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

CAMPBELL (on camera): And Boris and Paula, the jury has now heard from all of the witnesses who will be testifying in this trial. On Monday they will hear closing arguments where the prosecution will again have an opportunity to make their case. Of course, all along they have said that this very senior officer should have known the difference between her taser and her service weapon. Potter has pleaded not guilty. Her defense has claimed this whole thing was a tragic accident.

The jury will be sequestered beginning Monday as they start their deliberations. Boris, Paula?

REID: Josh, thank you.

Retired Los Angeles police sergeant Cheryl Dorsey joins us now. She's also the author of the new book "The Confidence Chronicles." Cheryl, thank you so much for being with us, and congratulations on the book.

Now, I really want to look very closely at this testimony. What's so unusual about what we're seeing here is seeing a police officer who is so emotional. We saw she was very emotional on the stand, and we also saw the bodycam where she says she was, quote, distraught. What do you think of this defense strategy?

CHERYL DORSEY, RETIRED LOS ANGELES POLICE SERGEANT: Well, I would imagine they felt she had to take the stand and explain in her own words for the jury why she did something to in conceivable. A 26-year veteran who would touch her gun every day, as I did for 20 years wearing that uniform, before you go out in the field and make sure that it's working. And all of a sudden you get in the field, and you don't know the difference between a two-pound Glock and a taser? And we know that officers create audio records, "taser, taser, taser," just before they use force on you, like officers will say stop fighting me, stop kicking me, when none of that is happening.

And so, I find all of what she is saying is disingenuous and intellectually dishonest. She by her own admission said I saw a black man driving a car with an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror, something I wouldn't ordinarily do, but she wanted her probationary officer play with this black man and see what they could come up with, and it ended up in his death. I'm offended.

REID: So, Potter testified that though she had taken her taser out before, she had never deployed it in her 26-year career. As a former law enforcement officer, does that pass the smell test for you? What do you make of that?

It sounds like we just lost her. We will try to get her back shortly. Thank you so much, Cheryl.

Coming up, a CNN exclusive. New details about one of the text messages sent to Mark Meadows about trying to overturn the election. We will tell you who the January 6th committee believes is behind it.

SANCHEZ: Plus, exhausted, overwhelmed, and frustrated, a group of doctors in Minnesota now pleading with people to get vaccinated in a new newspaper ad. Will it work? We'll speak to someone behind the ad when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:17:29]

SANCHEZ: The White House is now pivoting as it comes to grips with the likelihood that many of the president's key agenda items are not going to pass Congress any time soon. President Biden is acknowledging that ongoing talks with Senator Joe Manchin, along with procedural steps, have caused Democrats to miss their self-imposed deadline to pass the Build Back Better spending bill.

REID: CNN's Daniella Diaz is live on Capitol Hill. Daniella, we know this isn't going to happen any time soon. But based on your reporting, when do you think this could make it to the Senate floor?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Paula, Democratic leaders are hoping that in the spring this will be put to a vote in the Senate. But the thing is, it all really hinges on Joe Manchin, the moderate Democratic senator of West Virginia, because he is still a holdout for this legislation.

And remember, they plan to pass this using budget reconciliation, which means they need all 50 Democratic senators to sign on for this bill to pass. And if Joe Manchin does not support it, that's not going to happen. He is still concerned about one provision in the legislation, the child tax credit, which is very popular, and he said he supports. But right now, it is only extended for one more year, and he believes that because Democrats plan to prioritize this and want to extend it again and again, that the price tag should reflect a 10-year extension, which would mean it would drive up the price. Right now, it is priced at $1.75 trillion, and he wants the price tag to 10-year extension of the child tax credit.

But take a listen to what he told our Manu Raju this week about where he stands on these negotiations and why he is not backing down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are pressuring you to change your position on the child tax credit?

SEN. JOE MANCHIN, (D-WV): No one pressures me. I'm from West Virginia.

RAJU: Are you going to change your position on that?

MANCHIN: I've always been for the child tax credit.

RAJU: Yes, but the way it's in the bill, the one-year extension?

MANCHIN: I've always been for the child tax credit, always will be. (END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAZ: So the bottom line here being, Paula and Boris, that Manchin is not backing down. He continues to plan to negotiate -- continue negotiating with Democratic leadership, with President Joe Biden on some sort of legislation that could possibly pass the Senate. Of course, this Build Back Better Act would expand the nation's social safety net and is a major priority for the Biden administration.

SANCHEZ: Knowing Manu, I'm shocked he didn't jump in that car and try to chase Joe Manchin down.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Daniella, how are progressives responding to all of this?

DIAZ: They are really upset, Boris. Actually, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Pramila Jayapal who leads the House progressives, she told our Jack Tapper yesterday, quote, "This is what we feared."

[10:20:00]

She's saying this about the Build Back Better Act, which is a major priority for progressives because their original plan, progressives wanted this bill passed with the bipartisan infrastructure bill, that bill, remember, that passed earlier this year, almost $2 trillion for hard infrastructure, roads, trains, bridges, that sort of thing. She knew that if that bipartisan infrastructure bill passed, moderates would feel less urgent on negotiating for the Build Back Better Act. So that's why they're upset. But they're not backing down. They do plan to continue pushing for these negotiations to continue in the Senate. And it's clear knowing progressives, they're not going to let that go.

REID: Of course not. Daniella Diaz, thank you so much for keeping us up to date on those negotiations.

SANCHEZ: So, some CNN exclusive reporting is revealing new information about text messages pushing a strategy to undermine the 2020 presidential election. According to sources, members of the January 6th committee believe that former Texas governor and former Trump energy secretary Rick Perry, sent very specific text messages to former chief of staff Mark Meadows.

REID: CNN's Whitney Wild joins us with details. All right, Whitney, this is a bombshell revelation about what was already a bombshell revelation. What more can you tell us about this text message?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, this text message was included in a tranche of documents that was handed over by Mark Meadows to the House Select Committee, a text message presumably he did not think was falling under executive privilege, but now one of the many documents that he will not testify about if front of the House Select Committee. So, let's go into exactly the content of this text message. Again,

sources say that the committee believes that it was Texas governor, former energy secretary for former president Donald Trump, Rick Perry, who authored this.

And here's what it says. "Here's an aggressive strategy. Why can't the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Penn, and other R-controlled state houses declare this as B.S. where conflicts and election not called that night and just send their own electors to vote, and have it go to the SCOTUS."

What it shows here is that there were so many people in, really in the Republican Party, even outside Washington who were trying to get Mark Meadows to continue to peddle this election lie and seek to overturn the election. What it really shows is just the volume of effort from Republicans, not just in Washington but outside Washington as well.

SANCHEZ: Whitney, have we heard from Rick Perry about this message? Has he confirmed that he sent it?

WILD: No, he hasn't. A spokesman for Rick Perry denies that he was the author of that text message. However, we have vetted this information very carefully. And again, our understanding is that the committee believes that Rick Perry was the author of the text message.

REID: Whitney Wild, thank you so much for that new reporting.

SANCHEZ: So, we have been talking about COVID this morning. And we want to take you behind closed doors at Minnesota hospitals because doctors have taken out a full-page ad pleading with the public to get vaccinated. Hear what they have to say in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:27:35]

SANCHEZ: As the Omicron variant begins to spread across the country, it is expected to further strain an already battered health care system. So, doctors in Minnesota took the unusual step of pleading in this full-page newspaper ad for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to take other precautions to curb the spread of the pandemic. The ad provides a dire and yet accurate summary of the situation in their state. "We're heartbroken. We're overwhelmed. There's still a high level of transmission and precious little critical care capacity in Minnesota to treat sick patients."

With us to discuss this morning is the president and CEO of Minnesota- based HealthPartners, Andrea Walsh. Andrea, we appreciate you sharing part of your weekend with us. Thanks for joining us. Tell us about the idea for the ad, where it originated, and what you're hoping to achieve.

ANDREA WALSH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, HEALTHPARTNERS: Thank you. It's great to be here today.

The systems across the state of Minnesota have been collaborating since the beginning of the pandemic. And a year ago, as vaccine came out last spring, we thought we would have the pandemic somewhat behind us. And instead, we have seen an incredible Delta surge in Minnesota that's sustained over several weeks. And as systems, we want the public to know that our doctors, our nurses, the care teams providing care to patients across our community are heartbroken and overwhelmed at the fact that we are seeing so much avoidable death and illness, and we need the public to step up.

SANCHEZ: Andrea, tell us what you are hearing from front line workers about their frustration and their strain. As you noted, so much of the death they are encountering is needless. It's people who are simply unvaccinated.

WALSH: Yes, it is really just a tragic situation. Far too often in our hospitals, in our intensive care units, and in our emergency centers, we're seeing people come in with COVID, quickly deteriorate, end up needing care and ventilate -- being put on ventilators, and then just languishing on ventilators. And as best as we try, we are unable to do more and are seeing needless death, death that could be avoided by vaccination.

[10:30:00]

SANCHEZ: I just want to point to some of the stats for our viewers. Earlier this week the number of hospitalizations in Minnesota for the past month was 14 percent higher than it was the previous month. And also, this week on Wednesday, your state passed a grim milestone, more than 10,000 pandemic deaths. I'm wondering what the reaction has been like in your state to this ad.

WALSH: Actually, we have had some very good response to the ad. I would say it falls into two categories. One is for some members of the community. I think they are surprised that our doctors and nurses are heartbroken. I think there's an expectation sometimes by folks that we are used to seeing illness of death. But we are not used to seeing illness and death when we can prevent it, and it's not prevented.

I'd say the other response has been just the reaction that we're all in this together, and the realization that vaccination is important, and that if we don't do something, I think the other realization is that COVID illness and disease is impacting people's ability to access other needed care. So, we're very concerned about incidents of heart attack, strokes, car accidents, the run of the mill, routine things where people end up needing hospital care, and too often now we're in the situation where we are really scrambling to try to get access to hospital beds for people who don't have COVID but have very necessary need for medical care.

SANCHEZ: Yes, because you're having to divert resources to those hospitalized with COVID. And again, they don't have to be. Many of them could avoid hospitalization by simply getting vaccinated. And that's where I want to go, because you recently heard a really heartwarming story about an 11-year-old girl that wanted to get vaccinated. Tell us her story.

WALSH: Yes. It is the thing that gives me hope. So, this past week I heard a story from a grandfather who shared with me that his son was absolutely against getting a vaccination. But his son has an 11-year- old daughter who told him, dad, I need a vaccination. I want to go get a shot, and I want you to come with me. So, he took his daughter get vaccinated, and in the process he got a vaccine as well.

SANCHEZ: Sometimes the most convincing argument is made by the most vulnerable, right, and those that have close ties to our hearts. Andrea Walsh, thank you so much for the time. We appreciate you.

WALSH: Thank you very much.

REID: Well, despite rising COVID cases, holiday travel is expected to roar back to near pre-pandemic records. AAA estimates more than 109 million Americans will drive or fly, which is an almost 34 percent increase from last year. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean has the latest on what to expect.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris, Paula, United Airlines says we have already gone into the busiest period of the holiday travel season. And what's so interest is that it says its passenger loads will be about 20 percent higher than what the airlines saw over the Thanksgiving travel rush where we broke pandemic era air travel records. The TSA projects 20 to 21 million people will pass through security at America's airports between December 23rd and January 3rd. Just look at the numbers from Thursday, 2.06 million people passed through security at America's airports. That's the highest number we have seen since December 5th, a bit of an early start to this holiday travel season.

But the real question here is whether or not the Omicron variant will impact these numbers and maybe cause them to slump off a little bit. Airline executives had said that they have seen a bit of wavering in bookings when the Omicron variant started to make headlines. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says yes, cancellations are up, but not near as bad as when the Delta variant hit this summer. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT KIRBY, UNITED AIRLINES CEO: 2022 is still going to be a recovery year for the industry, because we're not passed -- 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: What's so interesting here, Boris and Paula, is that the CDC is now providing free at-home coronavirus test kits to international air travelers as they arrive in the United States. It's a bit of a limited test, only at a few airports, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Miami. And the CDC says this could be expanded to more airports sometimes soon. The CDC says it's imperative for passengers who are traveling internationally to get tested three to five days after they arrive in the United States. But the bottom line here is that the Transportation Security Administration says you have to be masked. That is a federal requirement until March 18th, 2022. Also, if you're traveling, bring a lot of patience and a lot of flexibility if you are traveling.

[10:35:04]

And if not, book tickets, you may want to consider booking on Christmas Day itself. That's when the numbers are projected to be the lowest, Boris and Paula.

REID: All right, pack your masks and your patience.

All right, with this busy travel season ahead as Americans head to their holiday destinations, let's take a look at the weather. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar has the forecast. Allison, looks a little rough out there, right?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I was going to say, Mother Nature is not exactly making it easy for a lot of travelers out there, regardless of where you live, because we have got a couple of different dynamics here to talk about.

Closer to the Gulf Coast, we're talking stronger severe thunderstorms. In areas of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, it's rain, and a lot of heavy rain. And then on the northern edge of the storm, now we're talking snow, sleet, and even some ice. Not a good combination at all whether it's flying or even on the roadways for a lot of these areas. Snow, we're talking widespread, maybe about two inches, again, especially the closer you get towards interior New England. But once you start going up in elevation, you're also going to start to notice an increase in the snowfall totals. Four, six, even eight inches of snow not out of the question once you start to rise in elevation.

The southern end of that same storm system, we're talking about some very heavy rain. And it's going to be a couple of waves that move through. The first through sliding through the Carolinas and Georgia today. Then later into the evening and into Sunday, that second wave out behind it begins to slide in.

The primary concern for today along the gulf coast is going to be strong to severe thunderstorms. Yes, tornados are a potential factor today. Same with damaging winds and the potential for some large hail, again, especially the closer you get to the Gulf Coast itself.

We're also keeping an eye on the system that's making its way into the west. And this is going to be a series of systems. The first begins to arrive today. And the main focus there is really going to be the pacific northwest, so Washington state, as well as Oregon and Idaho. The second one comes in, it's a little bit farther south. The main target there becomes Oregon and portions of northern California. Then the third system begins to come in as we head into Monday. That one is really going to bring a surge of rainfall pretty much from top to bottom in the state of California, although again, likely not to hit southern Carolina until a little bit later on into the timeline of maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.

But again, when you factor in all of those systems together, it is going to bring a tremendous amount of moisture. So yes, likely causing some delays not only in the air but also the roadways, guys. We're talking several inches of rain and some of the areas of the highest elevations will be measuring snow in feet.

REID: Yikes, Allison. Important for people to check the weather before they head off on their holiday plans. Thank you so much for that report.

SANCHEZ: Still to come, it is a critical software flaw that could expose hundreds of millions of devices to hackers. Now federal agencies are scrambling to fix it. We'll talk to an expert next.

And a quick programming note for you. You can join Dr. Sanjay Gupta for a look at how some families with autistic kids are finding hope in cannabis and see how for some hope comes at great risk. A new CNN special report "Weed 6, Marijuana and Autism," tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:42:42]

SANCHEZ: Cybersecurity experts are raising alarms about a critical flaw in software that could expose hundreds of businesses to hackers. The vulnerability is in a software program known in Log4j. Companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon all run this software. It is popular in apps, on websites, and it could be running on hundreds of millions of devices around the world as we speak.

Let's discuss the risks and challenges with an expert. Joining us this morning is the CEO of cyber security firm Cybereason Lior Div. Lior, thanks for being with us this morning. we appreciate your expertise. So talk to me about Log4j. A lot of institutions scrambling how to patch their systems. What makes this software flaw so dangerous, and what should people be watching out for right now?

LIOR DIV, CEO CYBEREASON: First, very happy to be here with you today. Log4j, it's a very, very wide used software, basically almost in every -- think about it as every website or everything that's running something that is connected to the web. We believe it is more than billions of devices that right now connected to the web running Log4j. This vulnerability basically in simple terms enables hackers to get access to the machine without basically doing anything. So, it is very easy for them to change a few things, and basically they have full control.

So, to give example, if a website is running Log4j right now in that specific version that has the vulnerability, hackers can use it in order to go into that website, and basically to do whatever they want inside this website.

SANCHEZ: Do we know if hackers have taken advantage of that lapse in security yet? Is there any evidence?

DIV: Yes, so basically in the past week that we saw it, what we see, we see hackers weaponizing their capability and starting to use it. Right now, we see an indication of many ransomware groups specifically from Russia starting to leverage it with multiple attempts. And what they're going to do, they're going to, basically the first thing that they're going to do, they're going to try to go into the website, stay there, really understand what is -- what where is the interesting information, and leverage that thing in order to hack.

[10:45:00]

Our assessment right now and belief that they are going to use the right timing that is suitable for them. For example, during Christmas, in order to hack when most of the security team have a skeleton team, they are not ready, they're not focused on protecting.

SANCHEZ: Interesting. So, the White House has sought to fight back against serious ransomware attacks. There were a series of executive orders and other actions. But really the onus for protection against hacks ultimately falls on the private sector in a lot of cases. And that itself brings about a series of challenges. How would you rate the response to these threats from lawmakers versus what we're seeing from private businesses? Is there a commitment to a partnership?

DIV: Yes, so right now we see a rising commitment, basically from the beginning of the year, between the private sector to the public sector. As you said, the responsibility to patch the system, to responsibility to make sure that your website that gives service to people is protected is under basically the private companies. Part of it, we are Cybereason decided to do something about it in order to help all of those businesses out there.

So, we created basically a free vaccine. This is an ability to protect your servers against the Log4j vulnerability free of charge. We wrote the code. We put it out there for everybody to use. And we hope right now that the community of all the white hat hackers, basically the people that their job is to defend companies, will leverage this code. As I said, it is free for charge, and basically it will enable us to be better and better and better protected.

This is one step that we're doing as a private company, but right now as we saw it and we recommended different authorities in the U.S. to protect themselves, they issued this warning to the mass public. And I believe that right now it is starting to gain traction.

SANCHEZ: Yes. The other aspect to this is making sure that there's a deterrent in place for hackers around the world, as you noted, in Russia, so they don't have incentive to go after companies here in the United States or elsewhere, really. Lior Div, we have got to leave the conversation there. Thank you for your time, sir.

DIV: Thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

REID: The community of Edwardsville, Illinois, honored the six victims who died when a tornado struck an Amazon warehouse last weekend. A candlelight vigil was held last night exactly one week after the deadly tornadoes ripped through the area. Another ceremony was held earlier in the state outside the Edwardsville Fire Department headquarters. The mayor says a dogwood tree will be planted in honor of the Amazon employees who died, and a plaque will be placed next to the tree.

Carla Cope, the mother of one of the victims, describes her last conversation with her son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLA COPE, MOTHER OF TORNADO VICTIM: We talked to him about 15 minutes before the storm hit. We called and told him to get to shelter. And he said he had to go tell somebody. And so we said go and then get to shelter. And we said I love you. And that was the last I got to speak to him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

REID: Cope's husband also works at the Amazon warehouse but wasn't there when the tornado hit.

Still ahead, it's a comeback for the ages. Ten months after a devastating car crash, Tiger Woods is stepping back onto the green. We'll tell you about his remarkable return next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:52:52]

SANCHEZ: Ten months after a serious car accident left his career in doubt, Tiger Woods is making his return to golf today.

REID: The 15-time Major champion will partner with his son, Charlie, at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando for this weekend's PNC championship. CNN national correspondent Nadia Romero is in Orlando. Nadia, this is something we weren't sure we would ever see again, but not only is Tiger back on the green, he is there with his son. Even for people who don't like golf, this is some seriously wholesome holiday content.

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is. Paula, Boris, this is such a moment for Tiger Woods, his recovery, he talks about what he has been through the last 11 months trying to get back to this point. For those who have who watched for all of these years, for all of us who watched him for decades now as he skyrocketed into fame from a young golfer to playing at Stanford to being this great aura on the golf course and just this forcefield that brought people from all over the country and all over the world to cheer for him.

And when we all saw his fall from grace. And now that comeback, last time winning a big major was in 2019, winning the Masters. And then of course in February of 2021, that car crash. And when you look at the crash, it's hard to believe that he was able to come out of that alive. At one point, doctors said that they might have to amputate his right leg. Well, that didn't happen, and Tiger has been spending, he says, everyday rehabbing. And it has been more grueling, more grueling than any other injury he has ever had in his career.

Now back to this point, right next to his 12-year-old son, Charlie. And I asked him about that balance, right. How do you balance your love for golf and being a father? And this was his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMERO: Can you talk about trying to find that balance with Charlie, of being his father and his coach on and off the coast?

TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION: Well, I'm his father. I'm not his coach. I'm his father. And so, if he wants to learn about the game of golf, then he'll ask. I'm there as a sounding board. But my job is to be a parent and make sure that his priorities are right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[10:55:00]

ROMERO: So, Tiger says he is his coach in life not in the game of golf. But of course, if you had Tiger Woods as your dad, you'd probably ask him a few questions, right? Tiger and Charlie will be on the course just after 12:00, in their first Pro-Am tournament of the year coming back now after what we saw in that car crash back in February. Boris?

REID: It's adorable. Nadia, thank you so much.

And thank you for watching.

SANCHEZ: And thank you for being with us this morning, Paula. We appreciate it. I hope we didn't scare you off and you will be here to join us for NEW DAY from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.

REID: I absolutely will be there.

SANCHEZ: Great. And don't go anywhere. There's still much more ahead in the next hour of the CNN Newsroom. We hope you have a good day.

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