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Pence: "Trump Is Wrong" To Say Election Could Be Overturned. DOJ Releases New Violent, Profanity-Laced Videos From January 6; Shaun White Says Beijing Olympics Will Be His Last; First U.S. Troops Deployed To Eastern Europe Arrive In Poland; FDA To Meet Feb. 15 To Discuss Pfizer Vaccine For Kids Under 5; Rescuers Race To Save Boy Stuck In Well For Four Days. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired February 05, 2022 - 11:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:00]

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. And thanks for joining me. I'm Amara Walker in for Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with a clearer picture of what took place on January 6th in our nation's Capitol and the growing rift in the Republican Party between those condemning what happened and those who refuse to acknowledge it. In just the last 24 hours former vice president, Mike Pence rebuked Trump's claims that Pence actually had the power to overturn the 2020 election results.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. The presidency belongs to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Now that same day, the Justice Department released new videos from January 6th. Look -- they're violent, vulgar, and the target -- and target the very man you just heard denounce what the Capitol mob was trying to do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So let me find out Pence -- let me find out myself that you treasoned the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee censured Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Congressman Adam Kinzinger for, quote, "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in -- listen to this part -- legitimate political discourse." That was discourse? The moments you are looking at right now -- legitimate political discourse. The RNC later had to clean that up. Now Senator Mitt Romney ripped his party's decision to censure the pair saying, in part, "Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscious who speak truth in the face of vitriol".

And on top of all this, new details about when Trump loyalist, Republican Congressman Jim Jordan spoke to the president on January 6th. Two sources are telling CNN that President Trump spoke on the phone from the White House residence with Jordan for ten minutes on the morning of January 6th.

Let's start with that forceful rebuke by former vice president Mike Pence.

Here's CNN's Paula Reid.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: On Friday, former vice president Mike Pence rebuked former President Trump in the strongest terms yet, saying Trump was wrong about Pence's authority to overturn the election on January 6th.

His remarks come 13 months after the insurrection, which he once again called a dark day in the history of the U.S. Capitol and then called out Trump's big lie.

First, take a listen to exactly what he told the crowd at this conservative event in Florida.

PENCE: I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to overturn the election. President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election.

The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. And frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.

Under the constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election. And Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election when we beat them in 2024.

Look, I understand the disappointment many feel about the last election. I was on the ballot. But whatever the future holds, I know we did our duty that day. If we lose faith in the constitution, we won't just lose elections. We'll lose our country.

REID: And Pence's remarks take on new significance as we learned more about the pressure he was facing on January 6th from Trump and his allies from the House Select Committee's investigation into the attack.

Now two of Pence's top advisers have recently testified before the committee, but it is not clear if Pence will also cooperate with lawmakers. And the split in the GOP evident this week when at the RNC's winter meeting in Salt Lake City, they voted to formally censure Republican lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their involvement in the January 6th investigation.

Cheney tweeted in response, "I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the constitution to embrace Donald Trump."

So not all Republicans of course are embracing Trump over the rule of law, but the GOP clearly at odds with itself.

Paula Reid, CNN -- Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: Paula, thank you for that.

Now to that troubling new video from the Capitol riot where we hear rioters call for Pence and other lawmakers to be dragged through the streets for refusing to overturn the election.

We see protesters attacking police officers with canisters and sprays. And we hear people in the mob calling for officers to physically be pulled out of the Capitol.

[11:04:55]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pull police down. Pull the police down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right. All right, Bro.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pull the police down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: The video is brutal to watch. Let's bring in CNN's Annie Grayer. Annie, what more can you tell us about these new videos that were released by the Justice Department?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: That's right, Amara. These videos are frightening. They are violent. They paint an even clearer picture of the violence that unfolded on January 6th.

These are new videos that the department of justice released last night, that they're using as part of their investigation. And while they are very graphic and we do want to warn viewers before showing you them, we do think it is important that people really see what -- what video captured from that day, especially when the Republican National Committee that you mentioned just a few moments ago framed the -- is still framing the January 6th attack as, quote, "legitimate political discourse".

The videos you are about to see are anything but legitimate political discourse. The first video I want to show you is what one individual was threatening to do to former vice president Mike Pence if he did not certify -- if he did not certify the election, you know. What really puts into picture here is Pence was at the Capitol on January 6th, and this video just shows how much, you know, his own personal safety was at risk that day. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm telling you what. I'm hearing that Pence -- I'm hearing that Pence just caved. Is that true? I'm hearing reports that Pence caved. I'm telling you, if Pence caved, we're going to drag (EXPLETIVE DELETED) through the streets. You (EXPLETIVE DELETED) politicians are going to get (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dragged through the streets because we're not going to have our (EXPLETIVE DELETED) stolen. We're not going to have our election, our country stolen.

If we find out you politicians voted for him, we're going to drag your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) through the street. Because this is the second (EXPLETIVE DELETED) revolution.

So let me find out, Pence, let me find out myself that you treasoned the country. We'll (EXPLETIVE DELETED) drag your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut that (EXPLETIVE DELETED) head off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cut the head off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can do it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You to the right thing or we're going to force you to do the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRAYER: And that's not the only disturbing video that the Department of Justice released yesterday. The next video we're about to show you -- again, we want to warn you before you see because it is extremely violent and disturbing, but it shows the moment where rioters were breaching the Capitol.

You see one individual putting up a cross near the Capitol. You see people cheering, shouting U.S.A., U.S.A. as Capitol police officers are being violently beaten. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on. Let's go.

Heave ho. Heave ho. Heave ho. Heave ho.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My god.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRAYER: And these videos really just capture, Amara, you know, what the Department of Justice is looking into as it is, you know, already arresting hundreds of individuals involved in this riot.

WALKER: Yes. There are no words, just a lot of emotions when you see the vitriol in these voices.

Annie, we're also now learning about a 10-minute call that GOP Congressman Jim Jordan had with the former president on the morning of that riot. You spoke with Jim Jordan. What did he say?

GRAYER: I did. But before I get into what Congressman Jordan said to me yesterday, I want to give some key context. The January 6th committee has in its possession call records that show former president Donald Trump requesting to speak with Jim Jordan on the morning of January 6th and that the two spoke for ten minutes in the morning while Trump was still in the residence of the White House.

This is key because Jordan is a key Trump ally who was trying to help Trump carry out his mission of not certifying the presidential election. And the fact that this call happened before Congress met, before the certification happened just shows how much, you know, the pair were really involved.

Now, Jim Jordan has said himself that he spoke with Trump that day, but he has been very unclear about when he spoke with Trump, how long those conversations were. I talked with Congressman Jordan in the halls of Congress yesterday to try and clarify if he could confirm what the committee has in its possession. Take a listen to this.

[11:09:58]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): As I said, I have a number of calls with -- I talked to the president a couple times a day, but I don't remember the times. I don't remember --

GRAYER: You don't remember if it was the morning, if there was one in the morning before?

JORDAN: I don't recall. But I know I talked to him after we left off the floor, but I don't know the call.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRAYER: So while Jordan is not answering clearly when he spoke to Trump that day, he does provide a new detail that he spoke with Trump off the floor, which is more specific than he's ever been.

But the big picture here is that the committee which is trying to write the definitive narrative about what happened in the lead up and on January 6 is trying to create a time line of events and this call between Trump and Jordan that occurred in the morning of January 6th is a new detail to add to that time line.

WALKER: Yes. That line, "I don't recall", you know, obviously makes you suspicious when you hear that.

All right. Annie Grayer, thank you for your reporting. Appreciate that.

All right. With me now is Harry Litman, he is a former U.S. attorney and a former deputy assistant attorney general. Also with us is Scott Jennings, a CNN political commentator and a former special assistant to President George W. Bush.

Good to see you both. Thank you so much for your time on this Saturday.

HARRY LITMAN, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY: Thanks, Amara.

WALKER: Harry, let me start with you. Look, when you see these videos that have been, you know, released, you know, one by one, it's more than chilling. And to hear the vitriol, the depravity, you know, people chanting cutoff the head. We're going to force you to do what's right.

I just want to get your reaction to what you saw and heard.

Look, it's a total mob of terrorists. There is no doubt about it. But what really is the chilling contrast is that that is what an official party, the party, the RNC would say yesterday is legitimate political discourse.

It is the very picture of illegitimate and if you could call political discourse let's kill the vice president.

So yes, we -- it's even uglier than we have seen before, but the contrast between that and the official line of an American political party is what really is head spinning to me. It is a party that I think has 100 percent lost its way.

WALKER: Scott Jennings, has your party lost its way -- legitimate political discourse?

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. This resolution certainly is out-of-bounds and out of line. You know, we have already seen a lot of videos that showed horrific violence, and people saying things like hang Mike Pence. This, you know, adds more to it.

I'm glad, by the way, CNN is playing the full unedited video because I think it is important for people to see exactly what was being said that day, exactly what the intentions of the rioters were. And it is a mob.

I mean Republicans have spent a lot of time decrying mobs. You know, we don't -- we say we don't like mobs to go to the Capitol to protest, say Brett Kavanaugh. We don't like mobs, you know, protesting the summer of 2020.

And now we have a mob at the Capitol trying to upend the constitutional order and we're referring to it as legitimate. So you can't have it both ways on mobs. You either want mobs or you don't want mobs.

And I come down on the side of being anti-mob and anti-violence in all cases. This phrase legitimate political discourse and having these videos come out at the same time is really, really bad.

I mean, sorry to not be more articulate than that. It's bad. It's wrong and I think the Republicans will regret it.

WALKER: I mean this is the official position of the Republican Party. It is almost like trying to re-write history here, Scott.

JENNINGS: Yes. Look, where you get in trouble in politics is trying to convince people of something that they can see or that they can feel that's not really happening, you know.

Joe Biden right now is trying to convince people that the economy is good. They don't feel that way.

Republicans are trying to convince people they didn't really see what they saw on January the 6th. There is video. We can all watch it in perpetuity forever. There is video. There is testimony. There is -- I mean, it's real. We have evidence that it occurred. We all saw it.

And now you have people trying to convince folks that it just didn't happen, that they were tourists or that this was somehow, you know, blown out of proportion.

So when you are trying to convince people of something that folks can see with their own eyes, you're the crazy person, ok? You are the crazy one and it never really inures to your benefit politically or any other way. So this is a -- this is a bad path. And I deeply regret that the party is doing it right now.

WALKER: Harry, I'm going to get to you in a moment because I do want to talk to you about Jim Jordan and the January 6th committee.

But one more to you Scott, regarding Mike Pence. I mean this is the first time that we heard him be this forceful in calling out President Trump saying, President Trump, you are wrong.

[11:14:55]

WALKER: You know, the notion that any one American could overturn the results of an election is un-American.

But why now? Why is it taking more than a year for him to, you know, offer even a stronger rejection of Trump?

JENNINGS: Well, I think Mike Pence is ramping up his presidential campaign. I mean he is obviously going to run, and he has every right to run. He was sitting vice president of the United States.

He did what he did on January 6th, which was the right thing to do. And so this is his path.

And essentially the argument is I stood loyally by Donald Trump all through the administration, just as most Republican voters did. I supported all of his policy ideas and where we break is on January 6th. And I cannot abide by someone who tried to upend the constitution. If you want me to continue on as leader of the Republican Party, I will give you everything Trump did without the baggage of January 6th. That's his argument. I don't know if it's going to work.

But that's where he is today at the beginning, I think, that was the launch of a presidential campaign argument to say to Republicans we can continue to do it that way on policy, but we cannot continue to do it this way on essentially disregarding the constitution when it becomes inconvenient to us.

WALKER: Yes. Not sure if it is going to work, right especially if the RNC is not exactly in line with what happened, the truth of January 6th.

Harry, now to you. We know that Congressman Jim Jordan spoke with President Trump for ten minutes on the morning of the Capitol riot. And that afternoon he went to the House floor to object to the certification of Biden's electoral college win. Do you think a subpoena will be enough to force Jordan to speak to the committee and reveal what was said on that call?

LITMAN: Short answer is no. And by the way, you're right. Just for the listeners, the records that the committee have just say how long the call was and to who it was. But they don't have any of the content. The people who could give that -- Jim Jordan, Donald Trump. But I think they both can have confidence that there'll be a conspiracy silence. But it's significant.

And he's right that he's been all over the lot and been very squirrely about it with one exemption. He said categorically, I never talked to him in the morning. So this puts the lie to it.

And of course, as you say, that really matters because it is in advance of the whole riot and rally that Trump undertook. So it is a big piece of evidence.

A prosecutor's antenna would be going off like crazy given all the squirreliness from before, but I don't think a subpoena which would work in any other context will work against Jordan unless and until they go to court for it.

WALKER: Harry Litman, Scott Jennings -- we're going to have to leave it there. Thank you so much for the conversation, gentlemen.

LITMAN: Thank you.

JENNINGS: Thank you.

LITMAN: Thanks, Scott.

WALKER: Still ahead, the Winter Olympics are underway along with some exciting wins. We're also learning that one legendary Olympian plans to not return to the games. We're going to go live to China with that.

Plus, as the U.S. marks a somber milestone in the pandemic, there is some encouraging news in the effort to fight the spread. The latest information on vaccinations for kids under five, just ahead.

[11:18:03]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Under a backdrop of swirling global political tensions, boycotts and a pandemic, the Winter Olympic games in Beijing are now fully underway.

The first medals of the games were handed out as officials say they're dealing with at least 45 new COVID cases among Olympic athletes and personnel. We're also getting some big news from a legendary U.S. Olympian.

CNN's Coy Wire is in China for the games. Hey Coy, what's the big news?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Amara, snow boarding legend Shaun White confirming today that these will indeed be his last Olympic games. First Tom Brady, now this.

The 35-year-old is a three-time gold medalist in the half pike. And on Tuesday he will begin his attempt to go back-to-back for a second time. But he says his legacy is already set in stone and it is time for the next generation to take it to the next level. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAUN WHITE, OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDER: I hope that my writing speaks for itself, you know. I'm always trying to push and progress and do the next biggest thing and try to pick up on what trends are happening within the sport and be ahead of that curve.

And you know, everyone is catching up. Incredibly talented riders out there. And I feel like I had a helping hand to inspire them. So, you know, I'm just kind of enjoying every moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. Amara, someone to root for. Team USA freestyle skier Kai Owens, 17 years old. She was actually born here in China but she's never met her biological parents. As a baby, Kai was abandoned, found at a town square. She was adopted at 16 months old by Annie and John Owens, a couple from Colorado. And fueled by their love and support, Kai is shining.

I asked her about her incredible journey that started right here in China.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAI OWENS, FREESTYLE SKIER: I kind of was just left with a note with my birthday, August 16th, 2004. And that's all.

Being adopted from China, China is kind of my heritage. That's where I was born. And to be able to go back to China, it feels so full circle. WIRE: How do you embrace your Chinese roots?

OWENS: It's taken a really long time, but my parents have done just the most incredible job of teaching me, helping me realize that being adopted is -- it's an amazing thing and I found a lot of gratitude in it. And so that's how (INAUDIBLE) accept and cope with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now Amara, Kai told me that she hopes that maybe by competing in these games here in China where she was born, it might open an opportunity for her to finally meet her biological parents. She's scheduled to compete in the moguls (ph) this weekend. We're wishing her the best.

WALKER: We sure are. We're going to be watching her closely. Thanks so much, Coy Wire at the Winter games.

Right now, U.S. troops arriving in eastern Europe as tensions intensify between Russia and Ukraine. We will go live to Moscow ahead.

[11:24:58]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: U.S. troops from Fort Bragg have begun arriving in Poland. They're part of a roughly 3,000 troops President Biden is sending to support NATO allies in Eastern Europe in response to Russia amassing troops on the border with Ukraine.

CNN's Nic Robertson is in Moscow with the latest. Hi there, Nic. So, how is this being taken by the Russians?

[11:29:53]

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. The Russians are seeing the deployment of these troops as an increase in the tensions in the region. In fact, they point to the United States as being responsible for these tensions.

They're saying that, you know, additional forces are exactly what they have been concerned about, that this is more essentially of NATO's eastward expansion, which is exactly what President Putin has been demanding is stopped and even reversed.

When it comes to the reporting from the United States from officials saying that Russians are planning a false flag operation involving actors and blood and very graphic scenes to try to sort of stimulate a situation where Russia has, you know, a right or a position to invade Ukraine, Russian officials are denying that. They're saying it's delusional. The foreign minister called it delusional.

And I think one of the things we have heard from the foreign ministry spokeswoman today is quite striking. On that issue saying that all this focus and attention of the things that are going on in and around Ukraine is distracting from the Olympics in Beijing and that this is creating, in her words, you know, a very disturbing picture.

So the Russian, you know, the Russian -- from the Russian perspective, all of this is trying to undermine them. All of this is trying to sort of put them and their allies like China in a worse light.

But I think perhaps, the thing to look forward to here at the moment is Monday and that's the French president coming for talks with President Putin. No immediate indication that really diplomacy can be progressed but it is the beginning potentially of an opportunity.

WALKER: Yes. And frankly, Nic, there are several geopolitical issues that are distracting from the Olympics right now.

Nic Robertson, appreciate you live for us there in Moscow. Thanks for that. Good to see you.

All right. Let's bring in Gary Locke. He is the former U.S. ambassador to China. He's also a former secretary of commerce and governor of Washington state. Ambassador, a pleasure to have you on. Thanks for joining me.

So there was this pre-Olympics summit between the Russian President Putin and Xi Jinping. And then on Friday they proclaimed this deep strategic partnership to basically work against the U.S.

There was no mention of Ukraine in the joint document, however. Do you think China would support a potential Russian invasion into Ukraine?

GARY LOCKE, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: Well, thanks for having me, Amara. I think it's very clear that China with its statements over the last several weeks has indicated a big reversal of its previous policies of not getting involved in the internal affairs of other countries. It has always rejected expansion or invasion or military incursions into other countries.

And certainly for it to be saying that Russia is right about Ukraine, that Russia has legitimate concerns about Ukraine is quite a deep reversal. So everything that you are seeing between China and Russia right now is cementing of its relationship, really making sure that in many ways Russia does not need some of the trade and supplying of natural gas and minerals to Europe, as well as China and Russia joining forces to be more dependent in case of sanctions against Russia and if China were to try to side with Russia.

WALKER: Yes. Sounds like a marriage of convenience then, right? What does this partnership mean then? I mean should the rest of the world feel threatened by this new alliance? Because they're clearly trying to establish a new world order or at least challenge the U.S.-led international order.

LOCKE: Well, certainly China in the past has said that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important relationship for it. Now it is saying it is an important relationship, not the most crucial relationship.

So China is trying to become a lot more independent, not so reliant on the United States for technology, for goods, for services. They're forming partnerships with other countries around the world and now with Russia.

China and Russia, of course, have huge needs, huge economic needs. It needs to sell its natural resources, natural gas, oil and so forth. And so, now, if they were to invade Ukraine and were to face sanctions and to have some of the sales of their natural resources cutoff, sales that would have normally gone to Europe. They can then shift and sell it to China.

And just as China wants to be less dependent on U.S. technology, they're trying to really build up their own internal capability of chips and high tech medical devices and you name it.

[11:34:54]

LOCKE: Just as America is now saying, hey, based on the trade war and what we saw with the pandemic, we don't want to be so reliant on China. So China now is trying to become more independent, less reliant on the United States, and it is looking for partnerships with Russia.

WALKER: Yes. I mean what a juxtaposition between 2008 and now when they hosted the summer Olympics. And you know, what -- it's a China that has arrived. It wasn't a rising power -- it was a rising power in 2008.

Ambassador, I don't know if you had a chance to watch the opening ceremony. I watched it last night. I mean visually it really was impressive. The technology was really just incredible to see.

But what was really stunning, at least for me because here at CNN we have been following, you know, what's been happening to the Uyghurs. And, you know, this was during the lighting of the Olympic torch.

Then you see the lady there on the left of your screen. She is one of the lighters, Zhao Xinchang (ph). She's part of the Uyghur Muslim minority, I believe. And that is the group that's been persecuted for years.

I mean, tens of thousands reports show that they have been rounded up, taken to detention centers, that the Chinese government repeatedly refused to acknowledge even exists even though we had reporters including Matt Rivers who actually went and found one of these apparent detention centers and obviously was turned away.

And the U.S. calling their treatment genocide and hence one of the many reasons why U.S. diplomats have boycotted the ceremonies. Just curious what you thought about China choosing a Uyghur minority to be among the torch bearers.

LOCKE: Well, these opening ceremonies are always filled with political statements and cultural statements to be broadcast around the world. Every country has done that. We have done that as well with our opening ceremonies.

But obviously, yes, it is an attempt to try to put a good light on what's happening in China, to dismiss it and say hey, there is no problem, there is no issue. Look, we have an athlete from Xinjiang, from the Uyghur minority community, so all is well in China. You in the west are just making things up.

But the world is really wise to this and they know that there are very significant human rights issues, not just with Xinjiang and the Uyghurs but with Tibetans, with the press, the media, nonprofit groups and activists even focusing on women's rights and trying to combat abuse of women.

So the world is watching and the world is very, very concerned which is why you have so many countries that have --

WALKER: Boycotted.

LOCKE: -- boycotted the opening ceremonies.

WALKER: Yes, absolutely. Amidst that pomp and circumstance, you know, beneath it clearly a lot of geopolitical issues going on and tensions.

Gary Locke -- Ambassador Gary Locke, appreciate the conversation. Thanks so much.

LOCKE: My pleasure.

WALKER: Coming up, we've got some exciting news for parents. The COVID vaccine may be available for your littlest kids soon. We'll discuss just ahead.

[11:38:01]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Some big and very welcome news for some parents this week. Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, Pfizer and BioNTech are requesting emergency use of their two-dose vaccine for children ages six months to five years.

Now it comes as the U.S. hit another deeply grim milestone -- 900,000 Americans have now died from the virus, not that far away from a million.

But there are some encouraging signs that the omicron surge may be coming to an end. Cases dropping dramatically over the last week. Some optimism, some hope we all need right now.

Joining us now is Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez. She is a primary care pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Great to see you.

Look, it's no secret parents with children under five are living in limbo, right, as we continue to wait for news on a vaccine for our youngest children. I have two children under five. First off, listen to what U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said yesterday about it on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON-GENERAL: What the FDA did proactively is they asked the company to look at the data. And here's why they did that. Here's what changed between December and now, John.

We had the omicron wave, and that tragically meant that we had millions more children who are infected and many who ended up in the hospital. It turns out that also generated new clinical data in the trial.

The FDA wants to look at that data and to understand does that mean that this vaccine, two does is safe and effective for kids. If it is not, then they're not going to recommend it for children yet. If it is, then they will try to get that vaccine to children as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: So, Doctor, do you expect the FDA to approve this? What is the data currently showing right now?

EDITH BRACHO-SANCHEZ, PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER: Amara, it's great to be with you. I think first we have to be super clear that we have not seen this data. So far the FDA requested that the data be submitted. We in the public have not been able to see it yet. There'd going to be an independent panel of advisers that's going to meet on February 15th and both based on this data but we haven't seen it.

I think the fact that it is being submitted is reassuring. It is encouraging. I share your enthusiasm. I also have a baby who will be six months this March. But we haven't seen it so we have to be super clear that it still has to go through the process and we have yet to see it.

[11:44:56]

WALKER: So you wrote an op-ed this week on CNN.com for parents questioning whether or not to vaccinate their young children, right, once these vaccines are approved.

So as a mother of a five-month-old yourself, what is your advice, especially for those, you know, who are eager but are also concerned?

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: Yes. I think I would say, Amara, first that I wrote this op ed in a moment of candor. I really want to be candid with people and say, you know, I take my job as a pediatrician incredibly seriously.

And I think when parents come to me I try to, of course, look at the data and make a recommendation based on science, on safety, on efficacy.

And now I'm looking at it through yet another lens -- and that's the lens of a mom who has a teeny tiny baby at home. I would say, you know, try to put the anxiety aside. If you can, check out my op ed because I really tried to share the things that are making me feel better about the process right now as a mom, not just a pediatrician, the context of vaccines, the context of the process.

And those are the things that are bringing me comfort as this process goes through and we get the final approval hopefully in the weeks to come.

WALKER: So I remember back in December, Pfizer had announced that the two-dose series for children between the ages of 2 and 5 that the results for the trials were a bit disappointing. And, of course, on top of that you have the hesitation. You see these polls, right? Two- thirds of parents according to the Kaiser Family Foundation not planning on vaccinating their kids just yet. That's obviously going to add to the hesitation, I would imagine.

BRACHO-SANCHEZ: Absolutely. And I think, you know, context here is really, really important. But the disappointing news when it came to the data that we saw in December is that the trial initially, the dose that was given to the small children was not effective. It didn't produce the protection that we were hoping to produce in the small children. But it was safe, Amara.

So we have established safety. What we're currently working on optimizing is efficacy, how well this works. How good the protection is. So that is what we're going to be learning about. And I think there's going to be rolling data -- what's called rolling data, right? An initial badge of data that is submitted to the FDA with more data to come.

So I think hopefully that should make parents feel a little bit better at home that that safety is established already. The efficacy is what we're waiting for.

WALKER: Love that you are a mom and, you know, you come from that point of view as well.

Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, thank you.

DR. BRACHO-SANCHEZ: Thank you.

WALKER: And we'll be right back.

[11:47:29]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: We're following breaking news. A boy who has been trapped in a well in Morocco for four days may finally be on the verge of being rescued.

For more on this, let's bring in Al Goodman. Hey, Al, what's the latest?

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Amara. well, the Moroccan rescue authorities say they are at, quote, a very advanced stage towards rescuing this 5-year-old boy who's been in that well since Tuesday in northern Morocco.

This boy, Rayan, fell in, according to his mother, who went to authorities, heard -- she said that she heard him crying. She alerted authorities. They have now mustered in the last several days a whole fleet of bulldozers. They've been digging down, down, sort of like a ravine. You see they're digging down.

The well is about 100 feet or 30 meters deep, and as of Friday, rescuers said they had dug down about 30 meters. So they say they are getting very close as of Friday. They said that the boy was alive. That still is their hope and everyone's hope.

Obviously, these are very delicate operations. All these kinds of operations when a child is in a deep well, anything can go wrong. But right now, there is cautious optimism and a lot of excitement.

Images from Morocco, this area in a very mountainous part in the Reef Mountains (ph) in the north of Morocco just across the sea from Spain where I am right now, Madrid.

The people are standing, watching, trying to help out. So there's a lot of hopes riding that the boy may be rescued here successfully in the coming hours, Amara.

WALKER: Goodness. Really, really hoping for the best there. A 5-year- old boy who has been at the bottom of that well 100 feet down since Tuesday.

Al Goodman, I'm sure you'll keep us posted, thank you so much.

And speaking of rescues, some incredible ones took place right here in the U.S.

Imagine this happening in Chicago. Fire crews rescuing a man who walked out onto Lake Michigan Friday. The Chicago Fire Department tweeted photos showing first responders bringing the man to shore on a raft. They said the rescue went smoothly and warned the outcome could have been tragic, reminding everyone to avoid ice at all costs. No ice is safe ice.

And in California, a couple looking after a cabin were rescued after being snowed in for two months. The unidentified pair called the Sierra County Sheriff's Office asking to be rescued. The couple said a winter storm in December left them stranded and they were running out of food.

Highway patrol was able to safely airlift the couple after they were located, quite a difficult task, and their small dog from the remote cabin, which was about two hours north of Sacramento.

Wow. You can see how much snow had fallen in that area.

[11:54:52] WALKER: Still ahead, the U.S. deployment of troops to eastern Europe has begun as tensions between Russia and Ukraine intensify. We will have much more on that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:59:44]

WALKER: Hi everyone. Thanks for joining me. I'm Amara Walker in for Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with U.S. troops from Ft. Bragg arriving in Poland. They're part of the roughly 3,000 troops President Biden is sending to support NATO allies in eastern Europe in response to Russia amassing troops on the border with Ukraine.