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Build Back Better Plan Stalls After Manchin Withdraws Support Over Inflation; Injuries Reported in 20-Car Pileup in Nevada; Snowfall in West, Record High Temperatures in South; At Least 18 Dead, Nearly 20K Displaced in Bahia, Brazil; Windsor Castle Intruder Detained Under Mental Health Act; Echoes of Trump in French Presidential Campaign. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired December 27, 2021 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster. If you are just joining us, let me bring you up to date with some of the other stories we're following for you this hour.
Officials in South Korea have authorized Pfizer's COVID pill for emergency use, which treats patients who have already tested positive for the virus. It comes as the country battles a new wave of the coronavirus.
Thousands of flights are canceled over the weekend by major U.S. airlines as the Omicron surge that impacts airline staff and crews. Nearly 1,500 flights were canceled on Sunday alone. Delta and United Airlines say the Omicron variant has had a direct impact on their operations.
U.S. President Joe Biden won't be ringing in the New Year with that Build Back Better victory after West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin slammed the door on it. Now Democrats are considering a new approach. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christmas came and went and President Biden still doesn't have that key piece of his domestic policy agenda secured. That's the Build Back Better Act which the president had hoped to pass in time for Christmas. But instead that has been pushed back to early 2022 after Senator Joe Manchin last week said that he could not support that bill in its current form.
Now we know that those conversations, though, have resumed between the White House and Senator Manchin's office. President Biden saying just days ago that he believes that he can still get large chunks of that bill pushed through Congress. How exactly though appears unclear. Senator Ben Cardin, one of those members of the Democratic caucus of the Senate weighing in on how it might get done. Listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are Democrats open to scaling it back even more or passing various pieces as stand-alones may be attracting Senator Manchin or even some GOP on some of these issues? SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): Well, that's a strategy decision that's being
negotiated. We are open to a way to reach the finish line. We want to make it as comprehensive as possible because the needs are just there.
DIAMOND: Getting that bill done in smaller bills though will be challenging given that Democrats need to use that reconciliation vehicle if they want to pass anything without any Republican support. Ultimately though, one thing is clear and that is that different factions of the Democratic Party want to move forward and try to find a way to get large chunks of this bill passed. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the head of the progressive caucus writing in an opinion piece in "The Washington Post" on Sunday that she wants to continue working towards getting this bill done. And getting something as close to that framework that Democrats have previously agreed to as possible.
Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, has said that Democrats in the Senate will indeed vote on the Build Back Better Act in early 2022. He has not though officially set a date for that.
Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is promising to keep fighting for Mr. Biden's Build Back Better Act. She had this to say about the key holdout, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[04:35:00]
KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think the stakes are too high for this to be in any way about any specific individual. We have to -- you know, one of the things --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a 50-50 Senate.
HARRIS: It is. I'm the tiebreaker. In fact, the president and I joke. And when I leave one of our meetings to go break a tie, he says, well, that's going to be a winning vote. Whenever I vote we win. It's a joke we have.
But the stakes are so high and we can't afford in this moment in time when we have an opportunity to do something so substantial in terms of public policy in America to literally help families. I refuse to get caught up in the what might be personal politics when the people who are waking up at 3:00 in the morning worried about how they could get by could care less about the politics of D.C. They want us to fix things.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, the child care tax credit has already expired. How do you come up with that?
HARRIS: We have to extend it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you do that without Senator Manchin?
HARRIS: You don't give up. That's how we do it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Harris also says the administration isn't going to give up on the other key issues either including voting rights.
Now oil prices are down after airlines canceled thousands of flights in the U.S. over the holidays because of staffing shortages. Experts say oil markets remain cautious about the man. OPEC is set to meet in January or on the 4th of January, back to discuss the production increase in February. Global markets looking pretty mixed as you can see. Here's a look at the U.S. futures along with the markets in Europe and Asia. So, Dow futures down but only fractionally.
U.S. shoppers did not hold back this holiday season it seems. A new Mastercard spending pulse report shows retail sales jumped 8.5 percent this season from November 1st to December 24th over last year. In the store sales just up over 8 percent, online sales jumped 11 percent this season. A Mastercard official said shoppers wanted to get their gifts early because of concerns over supply chain and labor issues.
Now whiteout conditions led to a 20-car pileup in Nevada with three people taken to hospital. Take a look at the scene. Unbelievable. The wintry weather mix on Sunday morning made it a nightmare for drivers. Officials say conditions were extreme with 50-mile-per-hour winds. Experts say more snow is expected in the area as well, which is the complete opposite of the record hot temperatures the other side of the country. Pedram Javaheri has more on that.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Max. Yes, big weather story around the U.S. the incredible disparity about what is happening around the Western U.S. Big time cold air in place, wintry weather in place while the Eastern U.S. basks in well above average temperatures. And I'm here to tell you this still continues for another week across portions of the U.S. Mainly around the southern tier of the U.S. where nearly 200 more records could be set. That is max high temperatures and also, warm low temperatures that could be expected over this region over the next five or so days.
But when you look at these numbers, we're talking about running some 20 degrees above average in Atlanta, with the 50s in the norm, the 70s into the forecast and where the 80s are being seen. Most places the 60s should be expected in late December. That's Houston, that's New Orleans temps comfortably getting into the 80s. Again, well above seasonal averages.
To the north, though, there is a disturbance on approach and that will push through later on today. A secondary one back behind it, brings with it some wintry weather generally across portions of the Midwest. But really not a significant weather maker around this region.
Yes, some weather advisories are in place but generally speaking for lighter amounts of snow or ice accumulating and certainly some snow maybe about an inch or so. And you'll notice some of the ice secretion it some areas certainly could get up to about maybe a 1/4 of an inch to a half an inch. So, disruptions could be expected. Especially if you're travel plans take you around the region here as folks returning back to work across the Northeastern United States.
Around the Western U.S. it is an entirely different story. One to two inches is a far cry because significant amounts of snow have come down across the Pacific Northwest and significant amounts of rain have come down into Southern California. Los Angeles, that's to see one of the wetter times of the year, about 2.5 inches typically falls. But almost 5 inches has comes down. That is about 200 percent of its December averages in Southern California. An area that had not seen rainfall for months getting soaked yet again into early this week.
Notice all of this here in the pink and the purples, those are indicative of significant mountain snow accumulations as well. And winter weather alerts for parts of at least 15 states to show for it as well, Max. So, certainly a stark contrast to what's happening in the Eastern U.S. Send it back to you.
[04:40:00]
FOSTER: Pedram, at least 18 people are dead and thousands left homeless as heavy floods hit parts of Brazil. As Stefano Pozzebon reports, on the crisis there from neighboring Colombia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON. JOURNALIST: Torrential rains and floods led to more than a dozen deaths and hundreds of injured in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia over the weekend. Bahia is one of Brazil's poorer states and the entire northeastern region had been suffering from a drought in the year so far. But a state's Governor Rui Costa said to reporters that tens of cities have been impacted by the catastrophic damage caused by the floods.
RUI COSTA, GOVERNOR OF BAHIA, BRAZIL (through translator): This is a massive tragedy. I can't remember seeing anything like this in Bahia's recent history given the amount of cities and houses involved. It's truly terrifying. There are so many houses and streets that are completely underwater.
POZZEBON: The state's civil protection agency said that at least 16,000 people have been left homeless and thousands more displaced from the floods. The local meteorological service is forecasting even more rain through Monday and Tuesday, potentially inflicting even more damage on the population already impacted by the disaster.
For CNN, this is Stephano Pozzebon, Bogota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Still ahead, a Christmas morning security scare for the British royal family. What we're learning about the armed intruder arrested at Windsor Castle.
And the campaign rhetoric of one French presidential candidate sounds like it was directly lifted from the U.S. script in 2016.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.
ERIC ZEMMOUR, FRENCH RIGHT WING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): They're thieves, assassins, rapists. That's all they are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Mental health issues may be behind the security scare at Windsor Castle in the U.K. For more we're joined by CNN's Selma Abdelaziz in London.
[04:45:00]
This was a targeted attack as far as we understand.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Yes. Some shocking news, Max. So, what we know is that within moments that this suspect entered the grounds of Windsor Castle security processes were triggered. He was captured on closed-circuit television and security officers were aware. Kings Valley and Metropolitan police were called at about 8:30 in the morning Christmas time. They arrived at the scene, detained that individual, that suspect. Again, now we understand while he made it on the grounds of Windsor Castle, he was unable to trespass on to any of the actual buildings there on the grounds.
What do we know of the man? We know he's a 19-year-old from South Hampton. He was apparently carrying a weapon with him. Now it was a crossbow, not a firearm -- a crossbow. And we do understand that mental health issues did have a role to play. That's why the authorities say that this 19-year-old man underwent a health assessment and is now in the custody of the authorities as they find out next stages both in his criminal process and mental health support that he may or may not need.
And it comes at a time of course when the Queen was celebrating Christmas at home with her family in Windsor Castle. Now this year, she canceled her traditional plans to travel to her estate in Norfolk and staying behind at Windsor Castle out of an abundance of caution as the Omicron variant, of course, caused record-breaking cases across the country. And is from there from the White Crown room in Windsor Castle that she gave her traditional Christmas message and was of course very poignant this year because this was her first year without her late husband Prince Philip. Take a listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN ELIZABETH: Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year especially I understand why, but for me in the months since the death of my beloved Phillip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work. From around the country, the Commonwealth and the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now there's a lot of symbolism there, Max, as there always is with the Queen. She's wearing the broach that she wore during her honeymoon in 1947. That photograph you see framed, that's from their wedding anniversary in 2007, her diamond wedding anniversary. But I think the larger message here after such a tough year, Max, for everyone to hear directly from the Queen who is herself having to make sacrifices on Christmas day at a time when everyone is just hoping to hear that message of hope but also that message of sympathy and understanding for those who have lost loved ones during this pandemic -- Max.
FOSTER: Selma, thank you.
Now the French political landscape is unsettled with a presidential election about four months away. A television personality is really drawing the battle lines with a populist zero immigration agenda. That playbook sounds familiar. It's no accident. CNN's Cyril Vanier reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The political force shaking up France's presidential campaign. Anti-immigration delivering his first official speech as a candidate. Eric Zemmour, anti- immigration, anti-Islam ideologue, delivering his first official speech as a candidate.
ZEMMOUR (through translator): Obviously I'm not a racist. You're not a racist. All you want is to defend your country, our homeland, the heritage of our ancestors.
VANIER: He promised zero immigration and singled out French Muslims. This is the reaction we've been getting.
VANIER (voice-over): Moments later his campaign marred by violence. This is how Zemmour's supporters responded to an anti-racism protest. Convicted twice, found guilty of inciting racial and religious hatred and fined. Zemmour has also drawn comparisons to another fire breathing populist.
TRUMP: They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.
ZEMMOUR (through translator): They're thieves, assassins, rapists, that's all they are.
TRUMP: They can try to steal the election from us.
ZEMMOUR (through translator): Don't let them steal the election from you.
VANIER (voice-over): Zemmour and Trump, the parallels however imprecise are hard to miss. Political outsiders to capitalized on their TV fame to launch an unlikely presidential bid. Their promise --
TRUMP: We will make America great again.
VANIER (voice-over): Bring the country back to an imagined former glory.
ZEMMOUR (through translator): The France of Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle says Zemmour in his campaign announcement.
VANIER (voice-over): He draws inspiration from Donald Trump, explains his biographer. He loved the Trump never back down. Whenever he was asked, he would just response build the wall. That's exactly how Zemmour wants to run, he says. So, Zemmour, the French Trump?
[04:50:00]
Almost. The former TV personality, still a long-shot candidate, is one part Trump, one part Tucker Carlson.
TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS: How precisely is diversity or strength? He's not from this country in that sense.
VANIER (voice-over): Zemmour, the now ex-opinion journalist is a facsimile of the Fox News star. Same debating styles, same cable news platform, same enviable ratings and the same obsession with culture wars.
ZEMMOUR (through translator): We must choose names from the calendar. The names of Christian saints.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is (INAUDIBLE).
ZEMMOUR (through translator): Oh, your mother was wrong.
VANIER (voice-over): And like Carlson, Zemmour never had interest in running for office until he did.
Cyril Vanier, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Still on CNN -- still ahead on CNN, the Dallas Cowboys didn't need to win Sunday night to punch their ticket to the playoffs, but they didn't hold back. They're route against Washington and more NFL action just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:55:00]
FOSTER: Dallas Cowboys crushed the Washington football team on Sunday. Dallas had already clinched their division title before the game started. But they didn't hold back. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on five straight possessions in the first half. Going on to win 56-14.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears stunned the Seattle Seahawks. The Bears were down in the fourth quarter but with one minute left in the game quarterback Nick Foles connected with Jimmy Graham for a touchdown and then successfully completed a two-point conversion. And with that come from behind victory Chicago knocked Seattle out of playoff contention.
And the Atlanta Falcons managed to hold on to beat the Detroit Lions 20-16. Detroit was playing without their regular starting quarterback. He was out with COVID. Atlantis quarterback Matt Ryan threw a touchdown in the second half to take the lead. And defensive interception in the final minutes secured the goal for the win.
Everyone's friendly neighborhood Spiderman meanwhile is now a billionaire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're struggling to have everything you want, while the world has to make you choose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Spidey's latest outing, "Spiderman, No Way Home" has grossed $1 billion at the global box office. Tom Holland stars as Peter Parker who's tasked with saving the multiverse from super villains spending the count just nearly 20-year film history. "No Way Home" is the first film to reach the billion-dollar mark since 2019 "Star Wars, The Rise Of Skywalker." And it's the second largest domestic opening of all time. Way to go, Spidey.
Thank you for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. "EARLY START" with Laura and Paula up next.
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