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TSA Expects Today To Be One Of Busiest Travel Days Of Holiday Season; D.A. Asks Court To Reconsider Truck Driver's 110-Year Sentence; New COVID Protocols For College Football Playoff. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired December 23, 2021 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: The TSA expects today to be one of the busiest days yet at airports across the country, rivaling numbers we have not seen since before the pandemic.
CNN's Pete Muntean joins us live from Reagan National Airport, where I'm sure it's busy as well today. You've got some new numbers. What do they tell us?
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim, things are getting busier by the moment here. In fact, we are seeing numbers higher than what we saw back in 2019 before the pandemic. The TSA just screened 2.08 million people at airports across the country just yesterday. Compare that to the same day back in 2019 when 1.94 million people were screened.
The context here though is really important. Where this day falls on the calendar, the same day back in 2019, that was Christmas Day when passenger loads would be a bit lighter, although we have seen a week- long streak of numbers near or above 2 million passengers a day.
You know, the TSA tells us today is going to be one of the busiest days, as you mentioned, also another busy day, January 3rd, when everybody begins coming home all at once. And passengers tell us they are pretty confident even in spite of the omicron variant. Here's what they're telling us.
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TAMBRA HAYNES, TRAVELER AT ATLANTA AIRPORT: You can only do what you can do for yourself, you know? What everybody else is doing, you have no control over, so that's the scary part. But just, you know, want to go have fun and be safe and mask up and, you know, just try to, you know, raise awareness while we're there if you see somebody doing something they shouldn't be doing. But other than that, I feel pretty comfortable.
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MUNTEAN: Here's the big number, Jim. The TSA projects 20 million people in total will fly between today and January 3rd. And Airlines continue to insist that flying is safe because the heavily filtered air on board and the federal transportation-wide mask mandate in place until March 18th, 2022.
And now there's a new partnership between the TSA and the FAA. If you do not follow that rule, you could lose your pre-check status forever. Step out of line on a plane, you're going to wait in line in TSA, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Yes, I'm not going to risk that. I'm not going to risk that. That's like losing a kidney. Pete Muntean, thanks so much.
The Supreme Court will take up cases challenging the Biden administration's vaccine mandates in the New Year. The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in that case, January 7th. White House says it is confident in the legal authority of the mandates for large employers and certain health care workers.
Supreme Court Analyst Joan Biskupic joins me now. Joan, you know this court well. In many cases, it's had a very expansive view of presidential authority, particularly the conservative members. Where do they stand on this?
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JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN SUPREME COURT ANALYST: Good morning, Jim. Yes, this is an uphill battle for the Biden administration. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's new requirement is that for employers of 100 or more employees, you have to either have them vaccinated or have regular testing.
Now, you know, OSHA says that this comes out of its authority over protecting workers against infectious diseases. This is a very measured, reasonable response to this emergency pandemic situation we have. Lower appeals court, the 6th circuit, endorsed it, saying it was tailored to the response right now and falls squarely within OSHA power.
But, Jim, the challengers are making an argument that plays right to where this court has been in the recent past, saying, if this kind of sweeping requirement is going to go in across the country to 84 million workers, it should be the business of Congress, not to a federal agency. The challengers are saying that they're worried about employees quitting rather than getting vaccinated. It's going to be disruptive.
And we saw just in the summer when the justices handled the CDC requirement on eviction moratorium where it ruled against that measure, saying no matter what the situation is, these are measures that agencies shouldn't be doing. It's for Congress to decide. And we'll see on January 7th the tone of the justices' arguments in that regard.
SCIUTTO: We know you'll be following. Joan Biskupic, thanks very much.
BISKUPIC: Thanks, Jim. SCIUTTO: Next, a former truck driver gets 110 years in prison for a deadly accident. Look at those pictures there. But now, a Colorado district attorney is asking the court to reconsider that sentence.
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SCIUTTO: More than 4 million people have now signed a petition to grant clemency for a truck driver who was sentenced to 110 years in prison for his involvement in a deadly crash. According to the arrest affidavit, 26-year-old Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was driving 85 miles per hour in a tractor-trailer when he says his brakes failed. That led to a fiery 28-car pileup that killed four people. He was convicted of vehicular homicide as well as 23 other charges. But now, Colorado district attorney is asking the court to reconsider his sentence.
CNN's Lucy Kafanov is following this for us. I mean, it's interesting for the D.A., right, to recommend a lower sentence here. What do we expect to happen?
LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Jim. The status hearing has been set for Monday. The district attorney filed a second motion to expedite this process so it could be heard by the same judge who presided over the case. Now, this wouldn't overturn the conviction, but the district attorney said in a statement that, quote, it simply allows the court greater flexibility than at the initial sentencing.
And, of course, at issue are these Colorado mandatory minimum sentencing laws that require sentences for each count to be served consecutively rather than concurrently, which is how those 27 counts turned into more than a century in prison for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a sentence is twice as long as some murder convict.
Now, almost immediately, the sentence drew scrutiny, including from the judge himself who Reuters reported said, quote, if I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence. The attorney representing Mederos says the laws need to change. Take a listen.
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LEONARD MARTINEZ, ATTORNEY FOR TRUCK DRIVER'S FAMILY: Our system here at this building has created a situation where a judge, at their own discretion, who doesn't want to issue a sentence, has had to issue that sentence. What we hope to achieve is reforms. That's really what this is all about. We have to reform the system that is creating a situation where we are creating more victims of our justice system. We have to do that now.
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KAFANOV: And there was a small protest this week over the sentence, more than 4.7 million signatures asking Colorado Governor Jared Polis to reduce the sentence or grant celemency. Kim Kardashian got involved tweeting about this, saying the Colorado law should be changed. The governor's office meanwhile telling CNN that it is reviewing Aguilera- Mederos' clemency requests. Jim?
SCIUTTO: We'll see where those reviews go. Lucy Kafanov, thanks very much.
Well, it has been a heck of a year when it comes to sports, from no fans at the Tokyo Olympics to athletes taking a stand for mental health. The top ten sports stories of the year, next.
But, first, here is a look at some of the other events we are watching today.
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SCIUTTO: Well, COVID could have a big impact on the college football playoffs. New protocols say that if any of the four teams can't play because of an outbreak on their team, they'll have to forfeit. The other team will automatically move on. Wow. The fallout from the pandemic just one of the major headlines in the sports world this year.
CNN's Andy Scholes takes a look back at the top ten of 2021.
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ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Number ten in 2021, age proved to be just a number. 50-year-old Phil Mickelson becoming the oldest golfer ever to win a Major, earning his second PGA championship 16 years after his first. This was Phil's sixth major title first since 2013.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very possible this is the last tournament I ever win but there's no reason I or anybody else can't do it at a later age.
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It just takes a little more work.
SCHOLES: Number nine, Tom Brady meanwhile looks like he may never age.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: 43-year-old Tom Brady wins a historic seventh title in his first season with a new team.
SCHOLES: Brady leading the buccaneers to a convincing 31-9 win over the Chiefs. The Bucs the first team ever to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Brady and the team celebrating with a boat parade that saw him completing yet another pass out on the water.
2021 was the year of the Bucks. Milwaukee also claiming their first NBA title since 1971. Giannis Antetokounmpo capping off an incredibly playoffs run, becoming the Finals MVP.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Major League Baseball is moving its all-star game out of Georgia because of the state's new law that critics say suppresses voting.
SCHOLES: In April, Major League Baseball pulled the all-star game from Atlanta. In October, Atlanta hosted the World Series and pulled off one of the most unexpected runs in baseball history, beating the Astros to win their first World Series title in 26 years, the team's unlikely championship coming in the same year that the world Braves Legend Hank Aaron, who passed away at 86 years old.
Number seven --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: NCAA March Madness, the biggest tournament in college basketball for women. This is our weight room. Let me show you all the men's weight room.
SCHOLES: -- the NCAA admitted failing the women in providing facilities for the NCAA tournament last March and vowed to do better. After being canceled in 2020, March Madness was back in 2021, but it wasn't the same with limited fans. The men's tournament taking place solely in Indiana, the women's in Texas.
JON GRUDEN, FORMER HEAD COACH, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: I'm not a racist. I can't tell you how sick I am.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, Jon Gruden stepping down as head coach of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders hours after The New York Times reported on homophobic, misogynistic and racist remarks that he made in emails over a seven-year period.
SCHOLES: The emails discovered during a probe into workplace misconduct within the Washington Football Organization. After resigning, Gruden filing a lawsuit against the NFL accusing the league of selectively leaking his emails to ruin his reputation.
Number five, vaccinations in sports were a polarizing topic.
AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS QUARTERBACK: Yes, I've been immunized.
ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Superstar Quarterback Aaron Rodgers defending his controversial comments where he raised doubts about the COVID vaccine after he tested positive for COVID. He also addressed when he lied and claimed he was immunized.
RODGERS: I misled people about my status, which I take full responsibility.
SCHOLES: Rodgers missed one game for the Packers while battling COVID.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Golf Legend Tiger Woods hospitalized right now after a very serious rollover car crash.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Golf Legend Tiger Woods is in the hospital right now after having to be cut out of his vehicle.
TIGER WOODS, GOLF LEGEND: I'm lucky to be alive but also still have the limb. Those are two crucial things.
SCHOLES: Nearly ten months after the crash, Tiger hosted his golf tournament in the Bahamas and said he continues to make progress in his recovery. And in December, he surprised many by in competing in a tournament with his 12-year-old son, Charlie.
Number three, despite the pandemic and calls to cancel the games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics taking place without spectators in most venues. And it was another historic games for Team USA.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The most decorated U.S. track and field Olympian ever, Allyson Felix secured that title at the Tokyo Summer Games.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: It's a historic moment for USA, Suni Lee wins gold.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Team USA's former Katie Ledecky is basking in the glory of having made Olympic history, like again and again and again.
SCHOLES: Number two, a big theme in 2021 with athletes continuing to campaign for mental health awareness.
REPORTER: Sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you're super good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Okay. I think we're just going to take a quick break. Just -- we'll be back in one moment.
SCHOLES: Naomi Osaka revealing that press conferences give her anxiety and she had dealt with depression since winning her first U.S. Open title in 2018. The four-time Grand Slam winner pulling out of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open to work on her mental health.
And number one --
BERMAN: Major breaking news out of the Olympics. We just learned that Simone Biles has pulled out of the team competition.
SIMONE BILES, SEVEN-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALIST: At the end of the day, we're not just entertainment. We're humans. And there are things going on behind the scenes that we're also try to juggle with as well.
WIRE: The way Biles put a spotlight on mental health showing the world that no matter who you are, even if you're superwoman, it's okay to not feel okay. She's going to go down as one of the greatest Olympians ever for the impact she's had.
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SCHOLES: Biles would return to competition to take the bronze medal on the balance beam.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SCIUTTO: What a year and it went fast, of course.
Thanks so much top all of you for joining us today. We hope you're having a good holiday. I'm Jim Sciutto.
At This Hour with Kate Bolduan will start right after a short break.
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