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America On Alert As COVID Surges Ahead Of Busy Holiday Week; Stop The Steal Leader Gives January 6th Committee Messages From G.O.P. Lawmakers, Trump's Inner Circle; Biden To Give Omicron-Focused Speech On Tuesday; Asia Pacific Countries Face Restrictions Despite High Vaccination Rates; Vague TikTok Warning Of Violence Was Not Credible But Adds Stress On Schools, Teachers And Parents; Tiger Woods Competes For The First Time Since Car Crash. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired December 18, 2021 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:22]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST (voice over): COVID making a comeback a week before Christmas. The World Health Organization says Omicron is spreading faster than delta.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's all picking up again, and it feels similar to the beginning.

BROWN (voice over): Scientists in the U.K. race to confirm what real world data already implies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It kind of evades current vaccines and why we need to kind of give boosters at the moment.

BROWN (voice over): The COVID case surge, the biggest test yet for the Biden administration.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death.

BROWN (voice over): Why the Vice President says the White House didn't see these variants coming.

Meantime, spiking cases forcing Holiday shows to shutter and upending the return of live pro sports.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe we are facing major cancellations.

BROWN (voice over): Tonight, the country's top COVID advisers reminding America that science can and will save us.

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.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We will win this war with this virus.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BROWN: I'm Pamela Brown in Washington. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM on

this Saturday.

And tonight, America on alert as COVID surges ahead of the busy Holiday week. President Biden acknowledging the growing public concerns now planning a speech on Tuesday focusing on the Omicron variant.

With this new COVID surge, Holiday celebrations and everyday life are becoming more disrupted by the day. A short time ago, we learned that "Saturday Night Live" has cancelled its live studio audience for tonight. The Radio City Rockettes have canceled their famous Christmas Spectacular show because of breakthrough infections within the production. Broadway has pulled down the curtain on shows. The NFL and NHL will have postponed games and big name players have tested positive. And several colleges have shifted classes and exams to online.

The ripple effect is circling the globe. Paris has canceled the New Year Champs-Elysses fireworks display as France bans big gatherings on New Year's Eve. Rome and other Italian cities have cancelled New Year's festivities, and Ireland is implementing an 8:00 PM curfew for bars and restaurants.

Here in the U.S., Omicron is expected to become the dominant variant, but as of now, experts say the delta variant is driving this latest surge.

Now both cases and hospitalizations are at levels not seen since September at the end of the summer spike. Dr. Anthony Fauci describes a nation at war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAUCI: We will win this war with this virus. We know what public health mitigations work. We've just got a hang in there, we can't give up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Vice President Kamala Harris is not helping the messaging and maybe adding to public jitters by saying the White House didn't see either variant coming. She told "The Los Angeles Times," quote, "We didn't see delta coming. I think most scientists did not -- upon whose advice and direction we have allied -- didn't see delta coming. 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."

With Christmas and New Year's Eve fast approaching, more than 20 million Americans are expected to fly over the next two weeks. But now there are concerns all that Holiday travel will supercharge the spread.

Let's discuss this and more, Dr. Jonathan Reiner is a CNN medical analyst and Professor of Medicine and Surgery at George Washington University. He was also a medical adviser in the George W. Bush White House.

Nice to see you, Dr. Reiner. There seems to be this growing sense of anxiety among Americans right now with these COVID numbers surging and so little known about the Omicron variant. What should President Biden's message be on Tuesday?

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: If you're not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you're vaccinated and not boosted, get boosted and get some tests for your house and use testing before you meet with other people this Holiday season. Those are the tools we have.

We know that despite this variant having a significant degree of immune evasion, we know that two mRNA shots and a booster are very effective at preventing both infection and even more effective against preventing severe illness, so we have the tools to stem the destructive tide.

[18:05:10]

REINER: We also know that good masks work, and so we have to get everyone pulling in the same direction. The problem right now is that about 30 percent of adults remain unvaccinated.

So if like Tony Fauci says -- as Tony Fauci says we're at war, 30 percent of adults are basically refusing to participate.

BROWN: Okay, so let's break this down by category just to keep it simple for our viewers. If you are triple vaxxed, how protected are you against the Omicron variant with the latest data information that we know?

REINER: Very well protected against serious illness. Most people, if they encounter a breakthrough infection, triple vaxxed will have either minor symptoms or maybe even be asymptomatic. It's not perfect for preventing infection, it is extremely good for preventing severe illness. So, that is the takeaway message for everyone, get boosted.

The problem is that in many American cities, it is difficult to get a booster now. Cities now need to start opening mass booster places. During the dark days of the pandemic last year, the Javits Center was open all night people. New Yorkers could go and get a shot in the middle of the night. We need to do that and we need to do that now.

The retail pharmacies aren't going to be able to boost enough people in time for this explosion of the variant.

BROWN: Okay, so just to continue on with breaking this down. What about if you were double vaxxed, but it's been more than six months, you haven't been boosted? How protected are you against Omicron and delta for that matter?

REINER: Not that well protected. Not that well protected. So much so that I would say that, although six months ago, we would say if you are double vaxxed, you are fully vaccinated. That was the definition of fully vaccinated. This administration and the C.D.C. needs to tell the American people,

the President on Tuesday should tell the American people that if you only have two shots and it's been more than six months, you are no longer fully vaxxed.

In fact, I think the administration should move the window to four months and allow people who are four months out from the second shot to be to be boosted.

BROWN: That was going to be one of my other questions for you, and then if you are unvaxxed, what happens if you get COVID?

REINER: Oh, there is a tsunami coming. This Omicron variant is extraordinarily contagious. It's as contagious as measles and that is about the most contagious virus that we've seen. This may be the most contagious virus that civilization has faced in our lifetimes.

So, why would you go into that kind of battle completely unarmed? Our vaccines will protect you, particularly if you are triple vaxxed. People who are unvaccinated should start the process now. Go ahead and go to your pharmacy and get vaccinated.

BROWN: You talk about this being a tsunami, how this could be the most transmissible virus we have seen in our lifetimes. I want to share a quote with you from "The Washington Post." Iahn Gonsenhauser, the Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer at Ohio State University said quote, "Just about everyone should be prepared to get infected during this wave even if you've been vaccinated."

Do you agree with that? And if so, are we simply wasting energy on certain COVID protocols and restrictions?

REINER: No, I don't think that -- I don't think that's right. I think just about everybody will be exposed to the virus, since it's so ubiquitous now. I do not think that the American public should expect that if you are triple vaxxed, everyone is destined to contract the virus.

Many people will, if you contract the virus, and you are well- vaccinated, you should be fine. But I do not think that we need to just throw our hands up in the air and say, look, we're all going to get it so let's just let it burn through the country.

If we do that, our hospitals will be swamped. If we let this virus go through our communities, our hospitals, which in many parts of the country right now like Minnesota and Michigan are really struggling, not only will they not be able to handle the surge of COVID patients who need to be admitted.

Even if Omicron is less severe than delta, and we don't know for sure that it is. Even if it's less severe than delta, the sheer number of patients that it will still generate for hospitals will overwhelm our hospitals and our hospitals will no longer be able to care for the things we do every day like taking care of heart attacks and taking care of strokes or people with appendicitis.

[18:10:05]

REINER: So we need to protect our healthcare system and that is why every American needs to mask up and vax up right now because our healthcare infrastructure is at stake right now.

BROWN: It's so true. I had a personal experience with a family member not being able to get a hospital bed, even though they desperately needed one for a non-COVID related issue because the ICU was filled up with unvaccinated COVID patients.

But let me just ask you, you're talking about you know, the COVID protocols are still so important, masking and so forth. What about Holiday travel? So many people watching right now are trying to figure out -- they are trying to be their own public health expert, trying to figure out what do I do? Do I still travel? Do I not? What do you advice?

REINER: I think if you're triple vaccinated, and you have some good masks, yes, I think you can travel. Everything becomes a risk benefit analysis now. How desperately do you want to go? How urgent is this trip? Can you go a little bit later in the year?

How well protected are you? Do you have any preexisting illnesses or other medical issues that might increase your risk should you contract a breakthrough infection? I think if you're unvaccinated now and you travel in this country, you are going to get this virus.

I think if you are unvaccinated in this country, and you go to a Holiday party, you're going to get this virus. If you're unvaccinated and you walk into a bar, you're going to get this virus. It's that contagious and it will be that ubiquitous.

Having said that, if you want to have a Holiday get together, there are all kinds of things you can do. If your guests are vaccinated, everyone can test before coming over. If you test in the afternoon before coming over and everyone is negative, yes, then I think you can relax and have a very, very pleasant evening. But just sort of hoping for the best isn't going to do it this year.

BROWN: All right. I do want to ask you because at the top of our segment, you talked about what President Biden should address in his speech on Tuesday, and one of the things you said was to emphasize testing, getting an at-home test. But the bottom line is, the reality is, many Americans are facing these long lines to get tested. It has become a scavenger hunt to find the in-home tests at drugstores. This is despite the administration saying for months that tests would be readily available.

Here is Anthony Fauci.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAUCI: I've been saying that we need to flood the system with testing.

If we have to flood the system with tests so that anybody and everybody can readily have a test available when they want it. We are going in that direction rapidly. Hopefully, we'll get there soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So I'll just mention that we have, as an administration official will come on this weekend in hopes of also asking about this issue. Obviously, we haven't had any success with that.

Why is the U.S. so far behind other countries in testing? And what role does that play in this pandemic right now?

REINER: Oh, it's -- if you want to think how do we get -- how do we keep our kids in school? We keep our kids in school by testing them. You know, the administration, the C.D.C. just unveiled this, Test to Stay program, which basically means if a child in your kid's class comes down with COVID, everyone doesn't have to quarantine, everyone can test and as you test negative, you stay in class.

The same method would apply to offices and businesses. If someone in your warehouse tests positive, everyone doesn't have to stay home. Everyone should be testing, we should be using rapid tests. This is a massive failing by this administration.

Two weeks ago, Jen Psaki was asked at a press conference about getting more test to the public, and she very dismissively suggested in a really sarcastic tone. Oh, do you think we should just mail these tests out to everyone? Yes, that's exactly what I think you should do. I think you should mail these tests out to everyone.

The Trump administration missed an opportunity to mail masks out to everyone. This administration should be mailing tests out to everyone. They should be available at Post Offices and Civic Centers and City Halls. You should be able to pick them up on your way home from work.

In Great Britain, you can walk into a pharmacy and get eight free tests. This notion that people are going to submit the receipts for their $24.00 test to their insurance company is fanciful. Imagine what would happen to vaccination in this country if people had to pay for it upfront and then bill their insurance companies? That wouldn't work.

Same thing for testing. So we need to get our act together. We need to you know, mobilize, manufacture, produce hundreds of millions of these tests and make them ubiquitous. That's how you're going to keep businesses open. That's how you're going to keep Broadway open. That's how you're going to keep your kids in school.

This administration is very late to it -- very, very late to it.

BROWN: And it was interesting after Psaki's comments, it's interesting to note that there are several states in the U.S. that actually are mailing these tests out to their residents.

All right, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, thank you so much.

[18:15:09]

BROWN: There is still so much to learn about this Omicron variant, but thanks for helping us understand it a little bit more.

REINER: Thank you, Pam.

BROWN: And when we come back, the entertainment industry is not immune to COVID either as Holiday shows shutter and "SNL" scraps tonight's live audience.

Also ahead, three retired Generals writing in "The Washington Post" that the military needs to be preparing now for a possible coup in 2024.

And Tiger Woods competing for the first time since his leg was crushed in a car crash.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: New developments tonight in the January 6 investigation. The man who organized the Stop the Steal rally that proceeded the Capitol riot has given the House Select Committee thousands of text messages and communications.

[18:20:06]

BROWN: According to court documents, the information includes communication with Members of Congress, and Donald Trump's inner circle leading up to the riot.

Olivia Troye was an advisor to then Vice President Mike Pence. She is now Director of the Republican Accountability Project. Hi, Olivia. So what does this mean for the investigation?

OLIVIA TROYE, DIRECTOR, REPUBLICAN ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT: I think Alex Jones realizes you know that the truth is coming, and all of this stuff is going to surface. So I think that he is cooperating and giving these documents, I think it's a good thing.

I think it is helpful to get this continuing truth out there. But unfortunately, I think that the audience that really needs to hear it is probably not going to hear it because you have people who are elected Republicans who are continuing to cover this up, and you have other people in echo chambers on other networks that don't acknowledge the truth, who continue to push false narratives about what really happened that day.

So I think, you know, I think it is going to be important for what Alex Jones has, since he was a key player that day on what led to this horrific development at the U.S. Capitol.

BROWN: Right. And you said the people that need to hear it probably are going to want to hear it, but it is worth noting that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has stood by Donald Trump, for the most part, pretty much all along is now voicing support for the January 6th investigation saying the public needs to know what was behind that horrendous event. We should know that Senator McConnell voted against an independent

9/11-style commission. But what do you think about his latest comments?

TROYE: Well, I think he knows the truth and the reality of what happened that day. I wish he would have come forward much earlier. I mean, he gave this impassioned speech that night of January 6 after everything had happened, and then backed away from it and backed down from it, and decided to fall back in line with Trump.

And so I think, you know, it's unfortunate that Mitch McConnell won't take a stand against what's happening. I mean, he is a leader in the Republican Party and he continues to enable these types of efforts that continue to push the big lie and the lies of the stolen election and all of these election integrity claims that are happening across other states where, you know, I mean, it's a multi-layer approach here.

You're seeing sham audits continue. Right?

And so where does Mitch McConnell draw the line then? So while I'm glad that he is acknowledging the work of the Committee, and he is acknowledging that the truth does need to see the light of day, he has enabled damaging narratives for the past year. Where was he then?

BROWN: And it is really stunning to see just the scope of the efforts behind the scenes to overturn the election, disenfranchise millions of voters.

CNN has exclusive reporting that reveals that new information about a text message sent to then, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, pushing an aggressive strategy to undermine the 2020 presidential election. Sources say members of the January 6th Committee believe that text came from Rick Perry, of course, the former Texas governor, who was serving as Trump's Energy Secretary. A spokesman says Perry denies sending that text. But what is your reaction to that?

TROYE: Well, first of all, it's in writing, right? It is a text that you can't really kind of suddenly make that up. But I think that's horrifying. That shows the level of the extent of this sort of operation here on the Republican side of the house. And look, I say this as a lifelong Republican who supported the party for many years.

And so I think this is very concerning. It's a concerning trend going forward. I'm concerned about what this means for future elections, that all of these people are part of this moment of undermining our democracy and our elections and undermining public confidence, like you said, and I think, you know, I think it's going to continue.

We're seeing it play out at the State level with some of these voting laws that they are passing, and the groundwork that they are laying across the system.

BROWN: And as we know that undermining of the election led to the video that we're seeing here on your screen, the coup -- the coup attempt, we should say, January 6th insurrection, and in a sobering development, three retired Generals authored an op-ed in "The Washington Post" where they say they are growing more and more worried at the potential for political violence in the U.S. military writing, quote, "As we approach the first anniversary of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, we -- all of U.S. former senior military officials -- are increasingly concerned about the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, and the potential for lethal chaos inside our military, which would put all Americans at severe risk."

"In short: We are chilled to our bones at the thought of a coup succeeding next time."

[18:25:01]

BROWN: Olivia, these are strong words. What does it mean that three former Generals have gone public like this? And do you think they're right?

TROYE: I think they're absolutely correct. Look, the military is representative of Americans, right? They represent all different populations and backgrounds. And I think unfortunately, you know, they are susceptible to the misinformation and disinformation that is constantly being pushed their way.

And so there is a lot of talk, I will tell you, Pamela, in National Security circles and from former National Security officials. We are increasingly concerned about the trends that we are seeing across the country about what's happening here, about the potential for violence.

We've seen that We've seen it on January 6th, and we're concerned about what's going to continue going forward in terms of the attacks that are being done on election officials. And just you know, what is happening here across the board.

And so reading that op-ed is terrifying. And you're correct, it is sobering, because it is the truth and it is something that really Americans really need to understand the gravity of the situation of what's happening here in our country.

BROWN: Yes, this isn't just you know, the media hyping it up. This is -- you have three former U.S. Generals that are coming out and saying that they are chilled to the bones worried about violence happening after the 2024 presidential election.

It is eye opening and it is something that we are going to continue to cover here on this show and beyond.

Olivia Troye, thank you so much.

Well, the COVID surge has President Biden planning a major speech about the pandemic. A live report from the White House is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:31:07]

BROWN: President Biden now set to address the Omicron variant in a major speech on Tuesday. The fact this will happen four days before Christmas is just another reminder that we may be in a much different place than he suggested back on July 4th.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, we're closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus. That's not to say the battle against COVID-19 is over. We've got a lot more work to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: That wasn't a mission accomplished declaration, but it couldn't be hard to believe that the U.S. is closer than ever to any independence from COVID as Delta rages and Omicron starts to make its way through the country. While testy line surge, the administration is dealing with America's anxiety about this new variant.

Everything from confusion about holiday travel to office reopenings being pushed back and holiday parties canceled to the lingering supply chain issues.

And just yesterday, the CDC Director pointed to new evidence that schools can stay open, even if someone gets infected. A program that encourages testing anyone exposed instead of just quarantining and sending kids home. Yet one of the nation's largest school districts just outside Washington, D.C. announced Friday it's going back to virtual learning until, at least, January because of a 'stark' rise in cases throughout the school system.

And Vice President Kamala Harris is getting attention this weekend for comments she made about Omicron in a new interview. CNN Joe Johns is at the White House. And Joe, the administration is already trying to explain her comments walk us through them.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what, there was a little bit of that inside one of the tweets that came out from the White House Press Secretary today. We got the message that the United States will be prepared for any additional cases coming up this winter.

But look, the Vice President's statements in that wide ranging interview with the Los Angeles Times just published seem to go against the message that the White House has been trying to put out, at least, since the summer. And essentially what she did was admit that the United States was not prepared for these variants. I'll just read this, her words.

"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 awful virus has been, which as it turns out, has mutations and variants."

So an official today going back to what you said at the top, Pam, indicated that the administration didn't know in general, that there could be variations. There could be variants. There could be mutations. However, not specific to these variants, also saying that there have been a lot of countermeasures certainly put out there, including masking, including encouraging people to get vaccinated and that's all part of the administration's knowledge about what to expect from COVID. Back to you, Pamela.

BROWN: Yes. That's interesting. That's how the administration official explained it because no one could predict any specific variant. It's just being prepared for the fact that a mutation a variant will emerge. And we're seeing that not only with Delta now, with Omicron. Thank you so much, Joe Johns from the White House for us tonight.

Well, the COVID surge is also forcing strong measures across the world. Beginning tomorrow, the Netherlands will go into lockdown again. Paris is canceling its New Year's Eve fireworks display as part of the nationwide ban on large gatherings. And London's Mayor declares an emergency. Let's begin in the U.K. with CNN Scott McLean.

[18:35:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Scott McLean in London where the U.K. just reported the highest number of cases in a single day for the third day running. It was also a record setting day Thursday for vaccinations in a single day. More than half the adult population in the U.K. has now had the booster shot.

Omicron is now the dominant strain in Scotland where researchers at a high containment lab found that it infects cells much more slowly than previous variants, but they stressed that what happens in the lab does not always translate into the real world. A new, not yet peer reviewed British study, found that there is no evidence that Omicron causes less severe disease though the authors say the data is still very limited.

Either way, the concern is that the sheer volume of infections is bound to cause hospitalizations to rise even with a less severe strain.

AL GOODMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Al Goodman in Madrid. As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across Europe, it's finding fertile ground in France, Germany and here in Spain. They're among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of the total number of their coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University tracking.

So in recent days in France and Germany, they each have notched up about 50,000 new cases daily. And in Spain, it's been about 17,000 cases daily. The new restrictions by France on British tourists went into effect this Saturday.

Britain has its own big problems with Omicron. So British travelers going to France will need a compelling reason to be allowed in and they would need to show a negative COVID test within 24 hours of departure.

And in Ireland. There'll be an 8 pm curfew for bars and restaurants starting Sunday.

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Selina Wang in Tokyo. COVID-19 cases are hitting new records in Australia's New South Wales, driven by super spreader events at large venues, including a Taylor Swift listening party held in Sydney last Friday and the spread made worse by the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, South Korea is reporting record numbers of COVID-19 patients in critical condition. Health officials there say that the medical system is at risk of reaching its limit. New restrictions will only allow for people in private gatherings in the Greater Seoul area.

And to New Zealand, it's becoming one of the most vaccinated countries in the world with 90 percent of its eligible population fully vaccinated. The country is set to start a phased reopening of its borders in January after being shut for nearly two years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Well, parents and students this week forced to deal with baseless threats of school violence. It was a giant social media hoax shutting down classes and creating high anxiety. I'll talk to a parent who is also working to stop gun violence, the President of the Brady Campaign, Kris Brown joins me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:42:22]

BROWN: While the nation deals with real threats to our safety, schools across the country were forced to deal with baseless warnings of violence Friday. They were spread largely on the social media app TikTok. School districts from Minnesota to Texas even shut down classes after a wave of videos.

Some mentioning schools by name suggested students avoid going in yesterday. The Department of Homeland Security says there was no evidence the claims were credible, but some law enforcement agencies sent officers to schools that remained open. And TikTok said in a statement, "We've exhaustively searched for content that promotes violence at schools, but have still found nothing. What we find our videos discussing this rumor and warning others just stay safe."

Well, the scare only adds to the stress schools, teachers, parents are feeling as we head into year three of COVID. And with the Michigan school shooting still fresh on families' minds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA NARCISSE, MOTHER OF STUDENT: It just feels like an evolution of a current problem to me. It just feels like a virus that's evolving and growing because I grew up through Columbine and all that. So it just feels like it's getting worse and worse and worse, sorry. It's like snowballing, so this is an eventuality basically.

SADIE CASTRO, NINE-YEAR-OLD STUDENT: It felt scary, so I told my mom that I didn't want to come. But my mom told me to calm down and I did come to school because I was getting off early.

HILDA BIRCHETT, GRANDPARENT OF STUDENT: My daughter, she was pretty worried. She called me this morning telling me about it and we just went into prayer about it, and we talked to our grandkids, and she talked to her kids about it. So it is very disturbing that they would allow something like that to take place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Kris Brown has two teenage daughters and is navigating the same fears and anxiety as millions of American parents. She is also President of the Brady Campaign, which has worked on gun violence prevention efforts for decades. Thank you so much for coming on tonight.

So your organization has long fought for stricter gun laws. And as an expert, as a mom, what do you make of this scare and also just the reaction across the country to this?

KRIS BROWN, PRESIDENT, THE BRADY CAMPAIGN: Well, Pam, listening to the commentary of Americans that you just played. It's both heartbreaking and exactly how I feel. One of the folks that you talked to describe this as an evolution of a disease and that's indeed exactly what it is. We lost in 2020, the CDC just gave us the data, more Americans to gun violence than any other year on record.

[18:45:04]

We're all feeling that. We all see it. The horrific school shooting that just occurred recently was very triggering for all of us who are living through pretty consistent lockdown drills and a reality that most of our kids feel often afraid about the threat of gun violence at their schools.

That's why this TikTok message took off. No other industrialized country would have a message like that take off. It does in America, because we have failed to solve this problem at its root and failed to understand the trauma that we're inflicting on our children who live with an omnipresent sense that the next school shooting will happen. It's just a matter of when.

BROWN: That is just so disturbing. What are you telling your daughters after yesterday? Again, fortunately, nothing happened. But it still, as you point out, it can be retraumatizing for young people who have already got - they're going through this pandemic, we're almost at the start of year three. You had the Michigan school shooting that happened recently. I mean, it's just so much for these young people, and for their teachers, and for the administrators at schools.

K BROWN: It is so much for these young people on top of COVID, on top of all of the stress of our life today. A lot of my thinking about this is informed by public health professionals, people like Nancy Kislin, who wrote a book about the impact of lockdown drills on our kids.

And I think a big role that parents have to play is open communication with their children talking to them, that any fears that they have and pushing their school districts if they are doing things like lockdown drills to ensure that they're calling them drills. We're traumatizing kids, each and every time this happens.

And I'm not saying that we shouldn't be doing lockdown drills, but we need to be communicating openly about what that really means. And understanding the impact on mental health of our children. At this point in time, we have a real problem when we think about guns in this country. Obviously, I say that as the head of Brady.

And one of the real outcomes of this that I hope gains momentum is ending family fire in this country. We have 5.4 million children who live in homes with loaded and unsecured guns. Family fire happens every single day. And 76 percent of school shooters get their gun from a home where it's not safely stored.

So we need to focus on the solutions that need to happen. Parents need to secure their guns and homes. And I think the Department of Education needs to take much bolder steps in educating parents all across this country about the need for safe storage. And I joined 99 members of the House of Representatives and about a dozen senators that sent a letter on Friday asking the Department of Education to do just that. I think that's critical.

BROWN: Kris Brown, thank you for joining us to talk about this important issue.

K BROWN: Thank you, Pam.

BROWN: You you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Up next, Tiger Woods back on the golf course, 10 months after that major car accident. And this time, he's teaming up with his son for a special tournament. We'll be right back.

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[18:53:11]

BROWN: Well, this morning, volunteers gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for the annual wreath lane. More than 250,000 wreaths will be laid at headstones in Arlington. Similar ceremonies are being held at more than 3,000 cemeteries in all 50 States and abroad. Some lawmakers joined the volunteers to honor the fallen servicemen and women, including Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin. Wreaths across America as a 30 year tradition and expects to ship 2.5 wreaths this year.

Meantime, less than 10 months after he was so badly hurt in a car crash, Tiger Woods returned to competitive action this afternoon at the PNC Championship in Orlando. And he's not alone though, his son, Charlie, is partnering up with him. CNN's Nadia Romero is in Orlando at the tournament, Nadia.

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Pamela, it is so hard to believe when you look at the pictures of that car crash less than a year ago and then think that Tiger Woods is back out this weekend playing golf again. He says this has been such a difficult year for him that recovery after his leg injury. And after everything he's been through, over all of these years, his fall from grace, the car crash to now be back out he says is a great moment to be there with his 12- year-old son Charlie.

And so I asked him about his relationship with his son, the similarities that we've been seeing between the two of them and what he wants people to know about his son's play. Take a listen.

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TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: I didn't have speed like that at that age. I was probably a little bit taller than Charlie's at that same age. I looked like a 1-iron. The way we move, the way we push off or, sorry, the way he pushes off, or how I used to push off, very similar. But that's what is neat about this event.

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[18:55:06]

ROMERO: So you can't help but see Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, their movements, that iconic fist pump. Charlie does it all. But Tiger just said there that he has his own game.

So when will Tiger Woods come back to full competitive play? He says it won't likely be anytime soon. He'll probably return part time and, of course, there are a few records that he's still like to break. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Nadia, thanks so much.

And up next in the CNN NEWSROOM, COVID causing dramatic last minute changes to the SNL lineup tonight. The details on that when we come back.

And a quick programming note for you. Join Dr. Sanjay Gupta for a look at how some parents of kids with autism are finding hope in cannabis and how that hope can come with great risk. This new CNN SPECIAL REPORT Weed 6, Marijuana and Autism begins tomorrow night at 8.

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