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HBCUS Cancel Classes Due to Threats; Blinken and Lavrov to Speak Today; Evacuations as Fertilizer Plant Fire Rages; Brady Announces Retirement. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired February 01, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:32:06]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: For a second day in a row, several historically black colleges and universities across the U.S. have been forced to cancel or postpone classes because of bomb threats.

CNN's senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns is following all of this.

And, Joe, what more did we learn about these really disturbing threats?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, even more today than yesterday. Another morning of multiple bomb threats to historically black colleges and universities.

Our last count, there was something like more like a dozen schools that got bomb threats today. Most of these taking place in the eastern United States, disrupting classes, prompting lockdowns and shelter in place orders as the authorities continue to try to track down whoever is responsible.

No explosive devices have been found, according to the authorities. But the emergency response, as well as the campus disruption, this creates the issue.

Now, the calls apparently started very early this morning. For example, this morning's bomb threat to Howard University right here in Washington, D.C., came around 2:55 a.m. Eastern Time. It was the second threat to Howard in 24 hours. But because it came so early in the morning, a spokesman told CNN they were able to fully investigate and clear the campus for normal operations. But for some other of these schools in Maryland, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia and Louisiana and some other states, the bomb threats did disrupt campus activities, we're told.

Today's the third time in a month that it's happened and it's attracting the attention of the highest levels. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, yesterday, said the president is aware, the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are looking at it. And the House intelligence committee has requested a briefing.

Back to you guys.

SCIUTTO: Well, they're certainly taking them seriously by closing down or postponing classes.

Joe Johns, thanks so much. We're going to stay on top of this story.

Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are expected to speak again as Russia continues to add troops in and around the Ukrainian border. This as Russia says there's been a, quote, mix-up in its written response to the U.S. on de- escalating tensions.

Yes, Bianna, we reported, and others reported yesterday, they'd sent their written responses, but now the Kremlin spokesman saying this morning, well, that may not be our final answer.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, and mix-up is not the word you want to hear when tensions are already as high as they are in this crisis.

SCIUTTO: No.

GOLODRYGA: CNN national security correspondent Kylie Atwood is at the State Department with more.

So, Kylie, what is the State Department saying about this so-called mix-up? What, in fact, did they hear from the Kremlin yesterday?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, nothing yet this morning from the State Department since the Kremlin has said that there was, you know, this mix-up.

But the way that the State Department characterized what they received from Russia yesterday was a written follow-up. They didn't go much further. They didn't say that it was substantive. They didn't say that they were taking it seriously. They really didn't characterize it, which is noteworthy because it demonstrates that there probably wasn't a whole lot in there.

[09:35:05]

But we are waiting this morning for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to speak with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and we will see if they can push the ball forward on diplomacy at all. Because Russia did initially give some readouts of this initial written response that the U.S. gave to Russia last week saying that it didn't address their central concerns, which is the eastward expansion of NATO, the expansion of NATO generally speaking. And I think we have a map to show you just the presence that NATO has

along the eastern flank of Europe there. An that is what Russia is concerned about. That is their central concern.

Now, the State Department said, listen, we're not going to respond to what Russia's initially saying to our written response yet because what matters is what President Putin says. And we may get some sense of what the Kremlin is actually thinking this morning because President Putin has a press conference, his first in over a month, with the prime minister of Hungary this morning. So we will watch to see if he says anything that changes the diplomatic path, that pushes it forward, that pushes it backward.

But, right now, there really isn't a whole lot of movement on the diplomacy front. You saw yesterday those fireworks between the U.S. side and the Russian side at the United Nations. They were standing off against each one or -- each -- one another, pointing fingers at one another. The United States saying that Russia has created this dangerous, this urgent situation along the Russia/Ukraine border.

And we should note that the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations also gave some new information, saying that Russia plans to expand its troop presence in Belarus to more than 30,000 troops over the next few weeks.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

ATWOOD: So that is something that we will continue to watch for as they try and push diplomacy forward.

Guys.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

SCIUTTO: We should also note, all those countries that you -- you identified there in eastern Europe, they're members of NATO. They all asked to be members of NATO, right? That's the process. They weren't forced to be. They asked to be. So, Russia, in effect, is asking to overrule those countries in joining the NATO alliance.

Kylie Atwood, it's good to have you at the State Department.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, this Putin/Orban presser is running about an hour and a half late. We will let you know if we do hear anything from Vladimir Putin.

Still ahead, a massive fire at a fertilizer plant in North Carolina has been burning for hours now. Some 6,000 people are being urged to evacuate. We're live coming up next.

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[09:42:12]

SCIUTTO: Well, right now, a huge fire still raging at a fertilizer plant in North Carolina, that's key, after officials determined overnight that the fire was just too dangerous to keep fighting.

Bianna, it's all about what's contained inside that plant.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, just take a look at these images. They're horrifying.

Firefighters battled the flames for about two hours before they were pulled because the fire had spread to a railcar containing oxygen-rich chemicals that could explode at any moment.

CNN's Dianne Gallagher joins us now.

Dianne, what more are you learning about this fire and the cause?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bianna, Jim, it's a pretty frightening situation that's still unfolding in Winston-Salem. Firefighters and emergency personnel since last night have been going around to about 2,500 homes, about 6,000 people within a one-mile radius of this fertilizer plant to evacuate them because of the risk of a potential explosion. And that's because that fertilizer plant contains ammonium nitrate.

They left the scene, the firefighters themselves, after determining that it had jumped to that railcar containing the ammonium nitrate, saying it was simply just too dangerous to be on scene. They began going door to door throughout the night, trying to get people out. That includes at a student housing unit there at Wake Forest University. The university has canceled classes and opened up shelter in other parts of this campus for those students, as well as employees who may live in that one-mile radius.

Look, they're concerned about a lot of things here, not just the explosion, but also air quality for people who live in the Winston- Salem area, beyond that one-mile radius. They have asked people to stay inside if they can, to limit their movements in the area as they continue to battle this fire.

Around 220 people who are incarcerated at the Forsythe Correctional Facility had to be moved to another prison overnight because of safety concerns due to this fire.

Look, the firefighters have said that they are continuing to use drones to see when they can get back on scene and can battle the fire in person. They are using a fire hydrant connected to a fire truck to continue putting water into the fire as a method of fighting this fire while they don't have to have staff on scene. But they say the drones have detected a few small explosions there on -- at the plant and that they just want to make sure that they can keep everybody as safe as possible.

You know, Jim, Bianna, to give you an idea of perspective here, the fire chief said to -- an idea of what they're dealing with is, if you remember back in 2013, there was a fertilizer plant fire in west Texas. It killed about 15 people. It leveled more than 150 homes and injured dozens and dozens of people.

This particular plant has between two to three times the amount of ammonium nitrate they believe within that plant, which, again, has fallen itself.

[09:45:03]

So they're trying to be as careful as they possibly can be, because if there were a large explosion, they fear that it could be catastrophic. We're talking about a 24 to 48-hour evacuation for the people there. And they say that's the best estimate that they can give at this point.

SCIUTTO: Yes, the views from the air are just remarkable to see.

Dianne Gallagher, thanks so much.

All right, we have some breaking news in. And this is in the category of sports.

After all the questions this weekend, Bianna, Tom Brady has now cleared the air and says he is indeed retiring from the NFL. Remarkable. Only seven Super Bowls to his name.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. At the age of 44. Look, as someone who is so focused on tailored announcements, right, and precision, this probably didn't go the way he had hoped it would.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: And it was reported over the weekend. He sort of walked it back, said he hadn't decided yet.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: But it seems to be official now. The GOAT, right, is leaving the sport of football and pursuing new endeavors. Let's see.

SCIUTTO: And, by the way, you know, if it wasn't for a last-minute field goal, right, last week, I mean he'd still be in, possibly, the race for the Super Bowl right now. So, it's not like he went out with a thump. He remained competitive, Tom Brady did, right up to the end.

But, again, as you said, Bianna, the first reports came over the weekend on Saturday, and then we heard from Tom Brady's father saying, wait a second, and then we heard even from the team, the Tampa Bay Bucs saying, well, he hasn't informed us. But here we are on Tuesday and Tom Brady there clearing the air.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

SCIUTTO: I mean a remarkable career.

You know, remember the history here, right. Here's a guy who was drafted in the sixth round of the draft back in the early 2000s, the 199th pick. I believe he was the seventh quarterback chosen that year. Boy, those six teams that drafted ahead regretted that choice because he did OK during his career.

GOLODRYGA: Listen, if you go back and watch his first play, as I did over the weekend, and you see his shaky hands, the announcer saying this is a young kid, a rookie, you know, this is his first chance, not the way he's wanted to come out on the field.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: And it's laughable because you see where he is today and the records, right, in terms of all-time greatest quarterback in the game. He had said that he had wanted to play until the age of 45. Had he won this game two weeks ago, had he gone to the Super Bowl this year, perhaps he would have given it that extra year.

SCIUTTO: Maybe.

GOLODRYGA: But, you know what, he's coming out on top. And he's, again, 44. I will say this over and over again, is still very young.

SCIUTTO: Oh, yes.

GOLODRYGA: And I'm curious to see what he has planned next for him. And, listen, the contributions that he's going to continue to make, I would imagine, to the sport off the field.

SCIUTTO: No question. I mean, it's a big question, will he -- you know, he can write his own ticket, as they say.

And think about his impact beyond the football field, right? I mean here is a guy whose diet has inspired many people to look for, how does he do it, right? How does he still look and play the way he does all these years later? Tremendous impact across the board.

So, it will be -- it will be interesting to say the least to watch what he chooses as his second -- his second professional act here. And God knows there are lots of different paths he could choose.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, listen, I think, you know, this is news to a lot of people who are finally getting the answers that they had been waiting for, whether or not he was going to leave.

We're going to continue to follow this story.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: And bring you much more after the break.

Once again, the breaking news just now, NFL's Tom Brady, possibly the best player in the sport's history, announcing that he will retire at the age of 44.

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[09:53:21]

SCIUTTO: The breaking news, it's official, Tom Brady is calling it quits, retiring from football. He issued this statement via an Instagram. It starts, I've always believed the sport of football is an all-in proposition. He goes on to say, this is difficult for me to write, but here it goes, I'm not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. Remarkable words to hear.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, it is, after an incredible career.

CNN's Andy Scholes and Carolyn Manno join us by phone now.

Andy, we had heard the rumors over the weekend. A bit puzzling because, as we said earlier, everything with him is timed to precision. He walked back those rumors saying that he hadn't made up his mind yet. But was there any really doubt -- was there really any doubt after their loss last weekend?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Bianna, you know -- yes, you know, Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington, two o the mot plugged in, you know, reporters that ESPN has, when they said it, you had a feeling that more than likely they weren't going to be wrong about this. That they had some strong sources. And, you know, it's kind of surprising that Brady ended up making the decision, you know, so quickly and waited not a long period of time before making this announcement, especially since on his podcast just last night he said he was going through the process and was still thinking about it.

But, you know, you kind of had the sense that this could be coming. You know, the way he was talking when the season ended, he kind of -- he used the word satisfied when he talked about it, his season with the Bucs and the way it ended. You know, that's a word you rarely hear Tom Brady say, that he was satisfied. He was always talking about the next Super Bowl ring, the next championship, the journey.

And like he said in his post, it's the competitive commitment and that's what he said.

[09:55:02]

He -- at 44 years old, he feels like this is finally the time where he doesn't want to spend all summer, all off-season away from his family training those long hours. And he said it was going to be a family decision, and I'm sure that Gisele, his wife Gisele and his kids are going to be happy to have him as a full-time dad now.

SCIUTTO: Andy, he reserved his final words in his Instagram statement for his family. He says, lastly to my wife, Gisele, my children, Jack, Benny and Vivi, you are my inspiration. Our family is my greatest achievement.

Do we know if and what role his family played in this decision?

SCHOLES: Well, he said right after the loss with the Rams, it was going to be a family decision. He said, you know, Gisele, it pained her to see him at his age taking those hits still every single Sunday. And so, you know, I'm sure, you know, that was a big part of it. You know, not -- you know, he walked away still at the top of his game. He led the NFL in passing yards this season. He led the NFL in touchdowns this -- passing touchdowns this season.

SCIUTTO: Wow. SCHOLES: He didn't lose his step. You know, they say father time is undefeated. If anyone got one up on father time, it was Tom Brady at 44 years old. He still walks away at the top of his game.

And, you know, that's it, because what if he did play another season and, you know, God forbid, had a really serious injury, that would have been a really tough way for Tom Brady to go out. In the end, he goes out losing in a game where he led an pic comeback when they were down 27-3 and it's something, you know, he can walk away with his head held high for sure.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, I would take it one step further, Andy. He's somebody who's actually aged backwards in my opinion. At the age of 44, to be in the incredible shape, with the endurance and the skill set that he has managed to carry forward and improve upon every year.

Carolyn, talk about what impact this has on the NFL and the league itself. I mean we watched some record breaking numbers in terms of viewerships in the games two weeks ago. A lot of interest, obviously, ahead of the Super Bowl here. But what does the absence of perhaps the most recognizable name in the sport mean to the league?

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Yes, you know, it's certainly an unprecedented career that he's had and the void is going to be enormous. I think, you know, there's no better example of what happened when news of this officially broke on Saturday. I mean it made it way quite literally around the world in the span of about 15 minutes. I mean his -- his legacy on the football field is of the greatest of all time. And it's beyond that. I mean he is the biggest star that the sport has ever had.

So, you know, as it relates to Tampa, they, obviously, have a huge void to fill. I thought it was interesting and Andy -- everything Andy's saying is spot on. You know, he didn't mention the Patriots at all in his closing remarks. I think he's probably tried to put that chapter behind him. I'm sure, you know, I don't know how Patriots fans will feel about that considering that's such a significant part of what his legacy will be on the field happened in New England. But he's -- he's the biggest star in the game. And, you know, even as we see these young stars come up, Joe Burrow, the next generation's potentially of great quarterbacks, you can take nothing away from everything that Tom Brady's accomplished and, you know, he's left an indelible mark.

SCIUTTO: Andy, when we speak about what is his next act, the fact is he already has a number of acts, in addition to his heroics on the field. He's got TB12, it's a nutrition company. I mentioned earlier how people have followed his diet. That's a business for him. He's got a movie production company, 199 Productions, which is named after his draft pick, 199th, if you could believe it, back those 20 years ago.

Is that the expectation here, he focuses on the business? Are we going to see him in movies, more movies? He's had some cameos. He hasn't starred in anything yet.

SCHOLES: Well, I think that was a big part of it, Jim, because, as Brady said, he gave 100 percent to the game of football. But you kind of saw in the last few years, he started having some TV shows. He's big into his Brady brand now. He has an NFT collection that he like -- that he pumps for other athletes. And so once his -- you know, those things started to take attention away from football, I think that's kind of what made this decision a little bit easier for him because he knew he would have something to go into once his football career ends.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, Carolyn, you talked about New England and that reference being absent from his post. I noticed that as well.

But speak to what his career decision overall and spending the majority of his career, where many thought his career would end, right, in New England and taking that risk to go to Tampa Bay, what that means for his longer term legacy. Some of the decisions that he would make that would impact his career and leave this indelible mark.

MANNO: Yes, sure. I mean he has rarely put a foot out of place, I'll say that. On his way out the door in New England, I mean the way that he carried himself through his departure there and, obviously, his relationship with Bill Belichick and the way that that deteriorated somewhat I think spoke to not only the quality of the player that we see and what he was, of course, able to do in Tampa, but just, you know, the kind of person and player that he is.

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