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Fears Of New Surge Grow As Holiday Travel Heats Up; Michigan Hospital Overloaded Ahead Of The Holidays; Schools Beef Up Security After Shooting Threats Trend On TikTok; House Vote To Hold Meadows In Criminal Contempt Of Congress; Closing Arguments Monday In Trial Over Death Of Daunte Wright; Tiger Woods Returns To Competitive Golf This Weekend. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired December 18, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:55]

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hi, everyone. Happy Saturday. Thanks for joining me. I'm Amara Walker, in for Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin this hour with the reality of a surge in COVID cases just as the holidays are approaching. The list of curfews and event cancellations around the world is growing longer.

The Rockettes calling off their Christmas Spectacular, Ireland is starting an 8:00 p.m. curfew tomorrow at bars and restaurants. Rio and Paris canceling New Year's fireworks shows, and health officials are now sounding the warning over the threat of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

In the U.S. COVID hospitalizations are at levels not seen since September, which was at the end of the summer surge. And today, a stunning admission from Vice President Kamala Harris, telling the L.A. Times this, "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."

She goes on to say, "We didn't see Omicron coming. And that is the nature of what this, this awful virus has been, which, as it turns out, has mutations and variants."

CNN's Polo Sandoval is in New York State scene case counts, breaking records. Hi, there, Polo. Tell us more about what officials are doing there to slow the spread.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, you know, just a little while ago -- actually, not too long ago, we did see just a massive line outside of an urgent care clinic here in midtown Manhattan.

You can see that a lot of people here were anxious to secure a spot to be able to come back later for a COVID tests. And it -- there is a bit of a deja vu that comes with that because we saw people taking similar steps just before the Thanksgiving holiday when health authorities were basically recommending folks that if you're going to gather to celebrate the holidays, to at least have that extra peace of mind, and have that negative test result before they actually come together.

And this is happening as health authorities are recommending, obviously for the remainder of the population that hasn't actually been vaccinated to get that shot. And if they did to get boosted, and even then to make sure that they at least take that COVID test before they gather.

And this is coming after just New York State alone experienced one of the largest COVID counts in one day -- in a single day that we've seen thus far. About 21,000 cases confirmed on Thursday there.

So, that's really what's driving a lot of people out to make sure that they are well aware of whether or not they're actually sick before they see the loved ones. And it's also coming as you're hearing from that not only health officials but also state officials alone.

Here, Kathy Hochul, the state -- the governor of the state, basically recommending that people do not take this lightly, this winter surge. And when you hear from the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, he's echoing a very similar message also for the rest of the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: We can't give in. We will win this war with this virus, but we will win it only because and 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 -- what public health mitigations work.

We have just got a hang of that. We can't give up. We're at a war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: So, we don't just keep it in New York. Let's broaden it out a little bit. And some of those indicators that have actually trend -- are trending up nationally, there are two key ones here that have seen at least a 40 percent increase over the last month.

That is, of course, a daily average now running about 120,000. And then also hospitalizations. Those are slightly up and that's what speaking to the other big, big concern here for health facilities across the country of doctors and nurses and other hospital staff that are at a point again, where they are beginning to see that influx of COVID patients.

But look, when it comes down to it here on the streets of New York, we did speak to some folks, they do say there isn't -- there is an essence of gravity that they were experiencing a year ago without the vaccine. And that's why a lot of people aren't necessarily worried. They just want to make sure that they're safe and want to make sure that they know whether or not they've been exposed before they celebrate the holidays. [12:04:58]

WALKER: That's a good point because the difference this year is that we actually have a vaccine to help prevent transmission or severe illness. Polo Sandoval, thank you for your reporting.

Some health experts are calling the current situation a perfect storm for the virus. The Delta variant still wreaking havoc.

WALKER (voice-over): The new Omicron variants spreading fast, and all happening at the worst possible time just a week before Christmas Day, and also during the winter when most people try to stay indoors.

In Michigan, it has COVID hospitalizations hovering around a new peak.

CNN's Jason Carroll went inside one Michigan Hospital to see how they are handling it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISSA MADDOX, COVID UNIT NURSE BEAUMONT HOSPITAL: It's been a lot of worse lately, but we do what we can.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The hours at work for nurses like Lissa Maddox seem never-ending.

MADDOX: I am -- unfortunately, I'm not a super -- a superhero or -- I'm just a nurse.

CARROLL: Maddox is a COVID nurse working on 8 North team. Eighth floor, North Tower at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. She's worked here since she graduated from nursing school only about a year and a half ago.

Lately, the COVID unit here is seeing more and more patients, all while there are fewer nurses to care for them.

MADDOX: There's been days where I've been like I don't know how much longer I can do this. And I'm brand new, you know, but then at the same time, it's very rewarding what we do.

CARROLL: The new wave of COVID-19 is flooding Michigan's healthcare system. Overwhelming doctors and nurses, admissions to hospitals statewide have risen 43 percent over the past month. Currently, there are more than 100 people being treated for COVID-19 at Beaumont hospital. By comparison, in July, hospitalized COVID patients were only in the single digits.

The influx of patients has tax this hospital so much so the Department of Defense dispatched a Joint Task Force Civil Support Unit to help.

LT. COL. THERESA NOWAK, ARMY NURSE CORPS OFFICER: I mean, the pace is very, very fast. The need is constant.

CARROLL: Theresa Nowak is a lieutenant colonel based out of Brooke Army Medical Centre in San Antonio, Texas. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take a breath.

CARROLL: She is part of a mobile team that includes 14 critical care nurses, four doctors, and two respiratory therapists. Now, working at Beaumont.

The team has worked at hospitals in 13 states since August. The situation so critical here, just a few minutes into our interview, staff had to rush in to help a distress patient.

Can you tell us what's happening behind us here?

NOWAK: So, if there is a patient that needs acute care, maybe a change in heart rate, a change in respiratory rates, then, generally, as a care comes that have critical care experience, they come in and help, help with care for that patient.

I've been in for almost 17 years, and if you would have asked me five years ago, would I be embedding in a civilian hospital to help provide care, I would have -- I would have been like, no, you've got to be kidding me.

CARROLL: What is not surprising to the strike team or to hospital staff, people needing critical care are overwhelmingly unvaccinated. Beaumont Health says 443 out of the 583 COVID patients it is caring for state-wide are unvaccinated. The vast majority of those in its ICU and on ventilators, also unvaccinated.

Sara Pristavu is a recovering COVID patient. She says her vaccination status is private. She and her father who also has COVID were admitted on Sunday.

SARA PRISTAVU, COVID-19 PATIENT: I hope he's OK. He's not too far from me here. I'm not allowed to see him because of the quarantining. It's been a roller coaster. Sorry.

It's been -- it's been a roller coaster, but now I feel a lot better.

CARROLL: Pristavu says she needed oxygen when she arrived, but no longer, and she credits those working the COVID unit here, both civilian and military with helping to save her life.

And as for urgent pleas from those in the medical field for more people to get vaccinated, she says this.

CARROLL (on camera): What do you see as the right thing and the wrong thing?

PRISTAVU: I really like to stay neutral.

CARROLL (voice-over): Nurses like Lissa Maddox know, the stress for the 8 North team may just be beginning again.

MADDOX: Will I break in three months? Will I break in a year? Will I break in 10? I can't -- I don't have that answer for you. Right now, I'm battling this with my patients, and I don't see a stop anytime soon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (on camera): The doctors and nurses here expressed how grateful they are to have the military team here at Beaumont hospital in terms of how long they're going to be at Beaumont. We're told that the military team could be here for a month, possibly longer depending upon the need. After that, they will then move on to another hospital where there is more need.

Jason Carroll, CNN Dearborn, Michigan.

[12:10:02]

WALKER: It is incredible what they are going through there in the Midwest. Let's talk more about all of this. Joining us now is Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez. She's a primary care pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Dr., welcome to you. You know, it really seems like a lot of us are experiencing the pandemic, depending on where we live, right? I mean, some states are maybe perhaps experiencing a delay when it comes to the surge. But you're in New York, what's the overall feeling among your colleagues about this current surge and where it might be headed?

DR. EDITH BRACHO-SANCHEZ, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER: Yes. So, right now, in New York City, things are feeling a little bit like deja vu, right? We were the first ones to get hit in 2020 when the pandemic first came to this country.

And we feel right now, like we are, in many ways experiencing a similar surge, where things are playing out in New York, and the rest of the country is watching and seeing what's going to happen in New York City. How is this new variant going to play out? And what precautions do we need to take?

I hope by now that we have learned, that the rest of the country has learned with us and that we prevent the worst of the surge, but time will tell.

WALKER: I'm curious to know what your conversations with parents have been sounding like. I mean, what are they asking you? What are they most concerned about or a lot of them anticipating and anxious about getting their children vaccinated under five?

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: It's very interesting. I think there was a surge of patients and parents who were ready to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine was available for kids over five.

And unfortunately, since we saw that surge of parents that were ready to go, things have slowed down a little bit, and it's been harder to convince those parents that were hesitant. So, we're working really, really hard to reassure them, to give them whatever data they need, whatever questions they need answered, so that they feel ready to vaccinate their kids. I hope they understand the urgency of the current moment. I think more and more everyday parents are seeing the news or watching what's happening, and sort of thinking about things and doing their risk- benefit calculation a little differently.

So, I really hope that those parents who are listening and parents who still have questions, you know, have the opportunity to have those answered and feel confident in vaccinating their kids soon, because when we talk about the unvaccinated, it unfortunately includes many, many kids, though.

WALKER: Yes, absolutely. And you know, as we saw in Jason Carroll's piece, it's the majority that are unvaccinated who we are seeing suffering the brunt of this surge that's happening in this country right now.

I know we talked, Doctor, a lot about you know, the unvaccinated. But let's focus a little bit about -- on those who are fully vaccinated who are also boosted. I mean, because we're seeing this rise in cases and hospitalizations, you know, surges in the Midwest and the Northeast, where you are here in the south, right, as the holiday season is beginning.

So, what is your advice to those who are boosted? Should those who are boosted have to worry about, you know, masking up, or intergroup gatherings.

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: So, I would say, you know, and I'll tell you what I'm doing myself, and what I'm telling my family and my friends to do. It is time right now to use every tool we have.

We are still learning about the Omicron variants, and every little piece of information that is coming in is not good. I think at the beginning of this, you know, talk of Omicron, there was a false sense of reassurance that this might be more mild, maybe I would love to see that. But we just don't have that data yet.

And so, I would say let's use every tool we have, the most important tool is, of course, getting your two doses and then getting your booster. But then also, if you don't have to be indoor at a restaurant if you can skip a holiday gathering, because maybe those people are not your closest group of friends, maybe they're not your family, like, what can we do?

What things can we skip, so that we don't contribute to the spread of Omicron, and we don't bring it home to people who are vulnerable, who may have compromised immune system. Children, we -- you know, we've heard of these people who unfortunately don't have the immunity.

So, what can you do? And what do you have to do and what precautions you know, can you take when you're doing those things that you absolutely want to do and have to do?

WALKER: And as I'm sure you are on top of this, we just learned that Pfizer is going to test a third dose of its vaccine for children I think under -- I think it was between the age group of 2 and 5 years old. Because they realized that it didn't provide the immunity they expected.

Are you disappointed to hear that or are you actually encouraged by that? Because it shows that you know, these are very cautious researchers who want to make sure that these vaccines for our very young are effective and safe.

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: Yes, I'm both -- to tell you the truth, I am disappointed that the data didn't show what we were hoping. We were hoping that this reduced dose was going to be enough to boost the immune system of children between the ages of 2 and 5, unfortunately, it was not.

But at the same time, I'm reassured and I hope parents at home are reassured by the process, because, you know, there's so much transparency here.

[12:15:01]

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: There is, you know, this is the data, this is the dose that we tried, and this is how it worked, and unfortunately, it didn't show what we wanted, so, we're going back, we're trying the third dose that's what's going to happen. They're going to try a booster and see how children respond to that.

So, I -- you know, feel both, disappointment that it's not coming sooner, but also hope that parents are reassured that the system is being transparent and working.

WALKER: Yes, I share those same feelings. I definitely was a little bummed, you know, because my kids are too young to be vaccinated right now. But, you know it does a little reassuring as well as a parent.

Appreciate all that you do and educating all of us with the facts. Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, appreciate your time.

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: Thank you.

WALKER: All right. Still ahead, A vague and non-credible TikTok warning about school violence prompts closures and increase law enforcement presence in schools across the U.S.

And later, a CNN exclusive. January 6th Investigators believe a text pushing a strategy to undermine the 2020 election came from Rick Perry. The details next.

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[12:20:09]

WALKER: The fear of copycats is now the major concern after noncredible threats of violence on TikTok forced several schools nationwide to close down Friday.

CNN's Brian Todd has a story.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Altadena, California, parents, and students on edge over social media traffic on school violence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SADIE CASTRO, 9-YEAR-OLD STUDENT: It felt scary. So, I told my mom that I didn't want to come.

AMANDA MARCISSE, PARENT: It just feels like an evolution of a current problem. To me, it just feels like a virus that's, you know, evolving and growing because I grew up through Columbine and all that. So, this feels like it's getting worse and worse and worse.

TODD: They are responding to a trend on the social media platform, TikTok, first seen Thursday that has since gone viral.

Rumors warning of potential violence at schools across the country on Friday. None of this has been deemed credible. TikTok says it has not found any original specific threats of violence that may have prompted the warnings.

The Department of Homeland Security also says it has no evidence to suggest the claims are credible. Still, school districts from Minnesota to Texas shut schools down on Friday as a result. Other districts were on high alert with extra police officers sent to guard schools, all of it adding to the stress of teachers and administrators.

PATRICIA HOPKINS, SUPERINTENDENT, MAINE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT: Given the state that we are in right now, there is heightened anxiety or concern. We have made sure that our crisis teams are meeting and that we are prepared should the worst happen.

TODD: This photo is from a teacher in Maine who told us the school wanted to make sure teachers had these restraints for their classroom doors if needed.

One school psychologist says actual school shootings sometimes tend to spawn traffic like this on social media.

SCOTT WOITASZEWSKI, DIRECTOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN: We do know that there appears to be a contagion effect in some cases when an act of violence such as the Michigan school shooting a few weeks ago. When something like that happens, there tends to be more threats that follow that.

TODD: On Friday afternoon, TikTok said it had begun removing the warnings from its platform. Saying they were misinformation.

Former police Chief Charles Ramsey says this doesn't just put more stress on schools, but police departments as well.

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: This is the holiday season, shopping season. You already have police officers assigned to many of the shopping locations and so forth. So, this is just not a time to stretch resources further.

TODD: But what also worries Ramsey as well as officials at TikTok and a law enforcement source who spoke to CNN is that this social media narrative even without any credible threat might inspire a lone wolf to carry out a real attack.

RAMSEY: We have a lot of people that are influenced by what they see online. They're -- you know, mentally unbalanced and there's no telling what they might do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (on camera): While some school districts shut down completely, some others that remained open took unique precautions. One large school district near Houston telling students and parents it was enforcing a one day policy to make students leave their backpacks at home. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

WALKER: Yes, it is disturbing to say the least. Brian Todd, thank you for your report.

Now, after the break, CNN is learning members of the January 6th committee believes Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry was the author of a text message sent to Mark Meadows pushing for an aggressive strategy to undermine the 2020 election.

We'll have details in our exclusive reporting next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:28:05]

WALKER: A CNN exclusive reporting reveals new information about a text message sent to Mark Meadows, pushing a strategy to undermine the 2020 presidential election.

According to sources members of the January 6th committee believe, former Texas governor and Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry sent that text. CNN's Whitney While joining us now with the details. Hi there. Whitney tell us more about this text message.

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT (on camera):Well, this text message appeared in a tranche of documents that was handed over to the House Select Committee by Mark Meadows, a group of documents that Mark Meadows will now not testify about, despite again, him handing them over to the select committee.

This is a key document because what it shows is that there was this effort both within Washington and broadly throughout the Republican Party to try to utilize every avenue that they thought was available to try to overturn the results of the election.

So, here is what this text message says. It was read aloud earlier this week by Representative Jamie Raskin, and here is what it says. "Here's an aggressive strategy: Why can't the states have G.A. N.C., Penn, and other Republican-controlled statehouses declare this is B.S. where complex and election not called that night and just send their own electors to vote and have it go to the SCOTUS." This is, again, another key piece of information that the House Select Committee has now not revealed to the public, but it, I guess, highlights really just the wealth of information that they have that shows that there was an effort, again, throughout the Republican Party to try to convince Washington specifically people within Trump's orbit to try to overturn the election.

WALKER: Are we hearing anything from Rick Perry or his people about this? Well, first spokesman Rick Perry is denying that he was the author of that text message but again, our reporting is that the committee believes he was the original author of that text message, Amara.

WALKER: Got it. Whitney Wild, appreciate it.

[12:30:02]

Thank you very much. Let's talk more about this. Kim Wehle is a law professor at the University of Baltimore and a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. Kim, great to see you. Let's start with this a text message. I mean, it was pushing for the White House to ignore the votes that were cast the day after the election.

And that means the votes weren't even legally counted yet. And as you heard a spokesperson for Rick Perry is denying that he was actually author of the text. But I just want to get your reaction to the content in there and if there are any legal implications.

KIM WEHLE, FORMER ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY: Yes, Amara really, Liz Cheney last week from the House floor, sort of gave a shot across the bow connection, particularly with former President Trump, but she named the federal felony that is in play across all of these narratives in these stories. And that is obstruction of an official proceeding, that's illegal.

So if Jim Jordan, if at, you know, whoever was behind the text, if it was Rick Perry, presumably, the Congress and then perhaps the Justice Department and look into it, if it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, that that was an attempt to interfere with the counting of the electoral votes, then they could be facing up to 20 years in prison. Now, you know, this is a novel fact pattern. But I should say one Trump appointee just last week, a judge, held that that statute does apply to an insurrection as in connection with the January 6th carnage on that particular day.

So this is very, very serious stuff, particularly given. We know, Trump's own Attorney General Bill Barr had declared the election valid. So these texts are being sent. Even though the Trump government in multiple levels. Chris Krebs, as well had said publicly, listen, this is one of the safest elections in the history of America. And we still have members of Congress trying to thwart it at the last minute very, very serious stuff.

WALKER: Yes, absolutely to say the least. Let's talk about Mark Meadows. Because it seems like all roads lead to him right, at least when it comes to these communication trails. So and of course, you know, we also heard from Jim Jordan, this week that he had forwarded a text message from the Department of Defense inspector general to Mark Meadows about, you know, claiming that coup basically would be constitutionally supported. What do you make of that?

WEHLE: Well, you know, we're in this bizarre area, time of life where it's gas-lighting right and left. And it happens a lot with the law just because someone can cox ridiculous, absurd legal argument doesn't make it legitimate or valid. That's why we saw 60 attempts through the courts in December to, you know, challenge the electoral results in various states all fail, because as a legal matter, you can claim stuff, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's -- it has any legitimacy. And I think that's the argument here.

Of course, Vice President Pence doesn't have the authority to thwart the will of the voters neither does the United States Congress. But that's what we're talking about here. We're talking about taking an election away from the people taking democracy away from voters and giving it to Republicans that are already in office. And what's so serious about this is that, you know, we have to worry about it moving forward, this isn't just looking backwards. This is still a serious threat to Americans, this could be the next election could be the last one that we ever see that's free and fair if we don't get to the bottom of this.

Mark Meadows, as you indicate, is in the center of all this. It seems to be the clearinghouse for some of these communications. He did say in his book, he was in communication with Donald Trump. Liz Cheney, as I said, identified Donald Trump has potentially a subject of an obstruction of an official proceeding count at some point, the question there will be whether it can be shown that Donald Trump acted quote, corruptly, or as we've seen many times with Donald Trump, they'll say, listen, that was people beneath me. I had nothing to do with it. So Mark Meadows is pivotal, because he will have information about what Donald Trump's state of mind was during all of this.

WALKER: So what's the strategy here, Kim? I mean, why would he voluntarily turn over what was it 6,000 documents that includes text messages and stuff from his e-mail account, including this text message that the House Select Committee believes came from Rick Perry, although he denies it? Why would he do that if he doesn't want to cooperate or at least speak to be deposed by the Committee?

WEHLE: You know, I've thought about this a lot. I mean, from a legal perspective, it actually makes more sense for him to continue to sort of sort of comply or half-heartedly comply or agree to testify just as a certain topics. You know, the fact that he did as you indicate cooperate substantially and then just put, you know, a red line actually exposes him to more criminal liability for contempt than if he kind of half halfheartedly continued to cooperate.

[12:35:13]

So I can only guess that he's getting political pressure from behind the scenes, even though it doesn't appear to be in his interest, because he's in a very different posture, I would say, than Steve Bannon who just refused to do anything, very easy to show, you know, willingly knowingly refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

Whereas Mr. Meadows counsel has complied and may say -- said, we know publicly that he's made an effort to comply, that actually helps him in the criminal case. So we'll have to see if the Justice Department thinks there's enough to prosecute him. But it is really odd. It doesn't seem it's consistent with Mr. Meadows, criminal vested interest for him to just draw the line and Stonewall at this late date.

WALKER: And lastly, do you think it's going to be difficult for the Department of Justice to indict him on contempt compared to Steve Bannon who was indicted but he was not a White House official when the insurrection happened and you have Mark Meadows, who some say could effectively assert executive privilege?

WEHLE: Right. So you know, I'm the executive privilege point, no. I think that for a number of reasons, it's a loser for Mark Meadows. Not he was in the White House, but he has talked about that day and reportedly in his book about his communications with Donald Trump, that's called waiver.

Secondly, he's no -- Donald Trump's no longer President, Joe Biden is President. Joe Biden has not -- hasn't claimed executive privilege, the Supreme Court says there has to be an official claim. And even if arguably, Donald Trump had a say in that, he hasn't even officially claimed executive privilege. And the last piece is, you know, we've never had, courts have never had occasion to look at this.

But in a parallel circumstance, attorney-client privilege, that goes by the wayside if you're talking about crime. So I think even in -- even best case scenario, we didn't have those other problems with executive privilege, just as what happened with President Nixon, when he tried to claim executive privilege with regard to Oval Office tapes, you know, the heart of the beating heart of the White House, the Supreme Court unanimously said no, when it comes to criminal investigation that goes by the wayside.

So I just don't think that's the argument. I think the stronger argument, as I said earlier for Mr. Meadows, is that he did comply. So, you know, we'll have to see how -- what appetite the Justice Department has, for a slightly weaker case than Mr. Bannon. It doesn't mean they don't have a case. And I would have to think that the U.S. Congress would have taken this step if they didn't have a sense that that the Justice Department would -- might be willing to carry the ball across the finish line. This is so serious. There has to be accountability for this.

Or as I said, democracy is in its Twilight in America, which is a tragedy for not just Democrats, but Republicans and independents as well in the United States.

WALKER: It's a scary thought. But it's reality, right? As you were saying, I mean, the threat to our democracy is far from over. In fact, it's continuing and we really have to keep our eye on the ball there. Kim Wehle, appreciate you joining us. Thank you so much.

WEHLE: Thank you.

[12:38:08]

WALKER: All right, still ahead, the emotional testimony of the former police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop near Minneapolis. We'll have her testimony, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Former Minnesota Police Officer Kim Potter cried on the stand during testimony in her own defense yesterday. She faces manslaughter charges after shooting Daunte Wright during a routine traffic stop. CNN's Adrienne Broaddus has the latest from Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM POTTER, DEFENDANT: I'm sorry it happened.

ERIN ELDRIDGE, MINNESOTA ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: You didn't plan to use deadly force that day, did you?

POTTER: No.

ELDRIDGE: Because you knew that deadly force was unreasonable and unwarranted in those circumstances?

POTTER: I don't want to hurt anybody.

ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under cross examination by the prosecution, former Minnesota police officer, Kim Potter, wept.

ELDRIDGE: You stopped doing your job completely. You didn't communicate what happened over the radio, right?

POTTER: No.

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

POTTER: No.

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

POTTER: No.

ELDRIDGE: You didn't check on the other car that had been hit, did you?

POTTER: No.

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

POTTER: I'm sorry it happened. BROADDUS (voice-over): Breaking down on the stand while testifying in her own defense about the day she shot and killed Daunte Wright?

POTTER: We're struggling. We're trying to keep him from driving away. It's just, it just went chaotic. And then I remember yelling, taser, taser, taser, and nothing happened. And then he told me, I shot him.

BROADDUS (voice-over): Back in April, life shifted in seconds.

POTTER: I just shot him.

EARL GRAY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Do you actually remember what you said, I guess is my question not withheld from a video.

POTTER: I don't remember what I said.

[12:45:01]

BROADDUS (voice-over): But in officer's body camera capturing her response.

POTTER: No, just let me kill myself, please.

BROADDUS (voice-over): Potter testifying today she never fired her gun or taser in the field before this incident.

ELDRIDGE: You have drawn your taser and not fired it in your 26-year career.

POTTER: Yes.

BROADDUS (voice-over): The prosecution continuing to challenge.

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

POTTER: No.

ELDRIDGE: Never saw gun.

POTTER: No.

ELDRIDGE: He never threw a punch.

POTTER: No.

BROADDUS (voice-over): The prosecutor also focusing in on her taser training and decades of experience.

ELDRIDGE: These items look different, don't they?

POTTER: Yes.

ELDRIDGE: The taser is yellow, right?

POTTER: Yes.

ELDRIDGE: The firearm is black, correct?

POTTER: Yes.

ELDRIDGE: And you've been trained on taser since 2002, correct?

BROADDUS (voice-over): Potter's defense attorney asking about the aftermath of the shooting. Potter testified she sold her family home and moved out of the state.

GRAY: Have you been in therapy?

POTTER: Yes.

GRAY: You still work as a police officer there?

POTTER: No.

GRAY: Why did you quit?

POTTER: There was so much bad things happening. I didn't want my coworkers and I didn't want anything bad to happen to the city.

BROADDUS (voice-over): Potter is facing first and second degree manslaughter charges. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROADDUS: And after the testimony, Daunte Wright's family released a statement calling the killing quote preventable as they prepare to spend their first Christmas without Daunte. Meanwhile, Potter in agony as she watched that body camera video following the traffic stop. She said she never would have initiated had she been working alone that day.

Potter testified it was a car freshener, a lot like this one and the shape of a tree that led to the initial stop by the rookie officer she was training. Here in Minnesota, it's illegal for a driver to have anything obstruct their view. Closing arguments start Monday. Adrienne Broaddus CNN, Minneapolis.

WALKER: Wow, what a day in court. Adrienne Broaddus, thank you.

And a quick programming note join Dr. Sanjay Gupta for look at how some families with autistic kids are finding hope in cannabis. And how for some hope comes at a great risk. This new CNN special report Weed 6 Marijuana and Autism begins tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.

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[12:52:08]

WALKER: Tiger Woods is back playing competitive golf just 10 months after a devastating car accident. He is playing with his son, Charlie, you see there at the PNC championship this weekend. And Andy Scholes is at the course in Orlando. Hi there Andy. I know a lot of people are excited to see him back. What can we expect from Tiger today? ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Amara, we're going to have to wait and see. I was just over at hole number one watching Tiger tee off. He of course had a big crowd around him, a lot -- all the fans cheering for him, many of them saying, welcome back. It's just incredible that Tiger is here 10 months after that devastating car crash. But he did try to temper expectations for this weekend Tiger saying, still a long ways away from being able to compete in a big time tournament.

He did say, you know, he still has his hands. He still has the feel. It's his endurance right now that's the biggest thing that's keeping him being -- from being able to compete in a big time tournament. That's -- but that's what makes this weekend a perfect opportunity for Tiger to make a comeback. This is a 36-hole scramble. He gets to use a golf cart to get around the course and he gets to play with his 12- year-old son, Charlie, something that he just cherishes.

And Tiger said, yes, he can't hit the ball like he used to. He doesn't hit it as far. And he joked yesterday after the pro-am that they're probably going to have to use some of Charlie's shots off the tee because of that. And Tiger also spoke yesterday about what the future looks like for him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION: I'm just a long way away from playing tournament golf. Yes, this is hit and hop in a cart and, you know, moving about my business just like I would have back home and medalist. You know, playing tournament golf and be able to recover, practice and train and hit balls after round and do all the things I need to do to be at a high level a long way away from that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes, and Tiger and Charlie have so much of the same mannerisms, the way they swing, the way they celebrate after they hit a big shot, Amara. And they birdied hole number one. Team Woods birdied hole number one. We all know that how competitive of a person Tiger Woods is. He tempered expectations but man what a special weekend this would be if they're able to put a low number on the board.

WALKER: Yes, for sure. But you know, honestly, I think a lot of people are also excited to see just the two of them together. And I want to watch now because, you know, if their mannerisms are the same, how adorable is that? Andy, appreciate you joining us. Thanks so much.

And we'll have much more on the next hour of CNN Newsroom. But first in the season of giving, we want to show you how you can help our 2021 Top 10 CNN Heroes continue their important work and have your donations matched dollar for dollar. Here's Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Anderson Cooper. Each of this year's top 10 CNN Heroes proves that one person really can make a difference. And again, this year we're making it easy for you to support their great work. Just go to CNNHeroes.com click Donate beneath any 2021 Top 10 CNN Hero to make a direct contribution to that hero's fundraiser on GoFundMe. You'll receive an e-mail confirming your donation which is tax deductible in the United States.

[12:55:13]

No matter the amount, you can make a big difference in helping our heroes continue their life changing work. Right now through January 3rd, your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to a total of $500,000. CNN is proud to offer you the simple way to support each cause and celebrate all these everyday people changing the world. You can donate from your laptop, your tablet, or your phone just go to CNNHeroes.com. Your donation in any amount will help them help others. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: Such great people who can use our help. And if you know someone great who deserves to be a CNN hero, tell us about them nominations for 2022 are open. And we're waiting to hear from you. Go to CNNHeroes.com to nominate right now.

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