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More States Planning to End Mask Mandates as COVID Cases Drop; Vernon Jones Ends Bid for Georgia Governor, Endorses Perdue in GOP Primary Against Kemp; Goodell, Civil Rights Leaders Meet Amid Discrimination Lawsuit. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 08, 2022 - 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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[10:30:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: Well, you may have noticed that a growing number of states rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as cases and hospitalizations fall across the country. This week, Delaware, California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oregon all announced plans to end the school or indoor mask mandates, and it's a notable one because it's a bipartisan move now we're seeing, Bianna.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN NEWSROOM: Yes. And it's a decision that comes as a relief for some parents. Our next guest is a mother of four and an internal medicine specialist. In a new piece and Time, she writes, many parts of the U.S. issued mask mandates in 2020 when COVID-19 was new and poorly understood. It was sensible to take maximum precautions in chaotic and frightening situation but two years later, we know much more about the virus and how to stop it.

Joining us now, doctor and mom, Jennifer Knips, welcome to the program. I'm so interested to your hear perspective on this, Dr. Knips, because we had Dr. Paul Offit in the last hour, and we asked him the question, are masks effective for children in schools to prevent or to slow the risk of spread, and he says, yes. So, what evidence are you pointing towards that gives you reason to say now is the time, as a doctor and a mom, that masks aren't necessary in school?

DR. JENNIFER KNIPS, INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN: Good morning. Thank you for having me here today. I'm coming to this as a very concerned parent and also happen to be a physician, and have witnessed firsthand the struggles that my children have gone through with masking as well as children of family and friends. And as I said in the article, two years ago, we didn't know much. Everyone was frightened. Two years into this, we have significant more knowledge about this virus and how it's transmitted and who is the most at risk for severe complications, and it is not our kids. There hasn't been any evidence that has manifested that shows that mask mandates in schools are effective or that schools are sites of super spreader events.

SCIUTTO: Listen, I will grant, and we've been covering this story every day, that there are some doctors and some epidemiologists who look at the data and see benefit, like Dr. Paul Offit. There are others who look at the balance of cost and benefits and say, as you are, that they're not worth it. I guess, as a parent, because I'm a parent as well, a big focus has been, understandably, keeping schools open, right? And I wonder, even if there's some marginal benefits of masking, is it worth it for that greater goal, arguably, of keeping schools open so kids don't have to do remote learning anymore?

KNIPS: Well, as with any medical intervention, you need to weigh the risk versus benefits. And I think what we're not talking about as much is the risk and the detriments of masking children for over six hours a day. Children highly reliant on non-verbal feedback, looking at people's faces, and that's how they develop their social and emotional intelligence skills, as well as cognitive skills.

And there are also occasionally can be physical side effects and there's just these -- we need to think about these risks we are putting our children through every day and need to talk about -- and I don't think we've even really fully realize the damage that we have done to our children with masking these past two years. I think we're probably just going to see the beginning of it. So, I do not think that the risk is worth the benefit.

GOLODRYGA: Can you go into a bit more detail about what that damage looks like and the impact that it's had on children, just, if anything anecdotally from what you've seen in your children and what other parents at your school and your friends have relayed to you?

KNIPS: Yes, absolutely. So, masking can negatively affect learning and have significant social and emotional harms.

[10:35:05]

For example, my first grader has had to learn to read and write without ever seeing the lower half of his teacher's face and he's never known a normal school experience. He's had to go to school with all these mask and protocols in place and has never gotten to see the reactions or the laughs or the smiles on his peers' faces when he tells a funny story. And these are significantly impacted his experience and how they socially develop. And they are missing cues and small social nuances because of covering up of faces.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. Look, I think a lot of parents would agree with you and it's a concern that the doctors have as well and psychologists too. I think the bigger question is just from a practical standpoint, will teachers be taking their masks off, right? As much as parents would like to see that happen to benefit their children, there's a lot of factors in play here. But this is really an important opinion and perspective to share that I know many of our viewers believe as well. Dr. Jennifer Knips, thank you, we appreciate it.

KNIPS: Thank you very much.

GOLODRYGA: Well, a new government report out today is detailing just how bad America's opioid epidemic is getting. The report shows that since 2019, Mexico the dominant source of fentanyl trafficked into the U.S., and that at the height of the pandemic, more than one in ten Americans started or increased their substance use, creating greater demand for fentanyl.

SCIUTTO: That's just so deadly. The commission behind the new report has made several recommendations to reduce opioid trafficking, including increased public awareness of the dangers of opioids, expanded treatment for opioid abuse and bolstering harm reduction interventions. The head of the DEA says that fentanyl showing up in every state in the country and is leading to an increase in overdoses.

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ANNE MILGRAM, DEA ADMINISTRATOR: This problem starting in 2015, every single year, the United States have seen exponential increases in fentanyl, which is the most deadly drug. 64,000 of those 100,000 deaths, the overdose deaths, are attributable to fentanyl. So, the problem has gotten worse. And what we've seen is that there's a number -- there are a number of things that are happening. COVID, of course, is one of them, and I think we can't ignore that.

The other piece is that fentanyl is now in all 50 states. It's lacing every other drug, whether that's methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, every other drug, and it's also being sold in new forms, like fake prescription pills so people think they're buying a Xanax or an Adderall or an Oxycodone and they're getting fentanyl, and they're dying in record rates.

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GOLODRYGA: It's a serious crisis facing the country right now. And you hear the DEA chief's full interview with CNN's Kate Bolduan in the next hour.

SCIUTTO: And coming up, we're going to tell you why House GOP leaders played this video of the New England Patriots at their conference meeting this morning. What message were they trying to send? We're going to be live on Capitol Hill, next.

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[10:40:00]

GOLODRYGA: Republican Candidate Vernon Jones has ended his bid for Georgia governor and is now planning to run for Congress instead.

SCIUTTO: In announcing his decision, Jones threw his support behind former U.S. Senator David Perdue, whom former President Trump has also backed, this against the incumbent governor, Brian Kemp, in the GOP primary.

CNN Capitol Hill Reporter Melanie Zanona joins us now with more. So, Melanie, first of all, interesting, I mean, we know Trump has been trying to clear the field here. Does not like Kemp because did not exceed to his wishes to overturn the election results in Georgia. So, do we know what's behind the decision and which congressional seat he plans to run for?

MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: Yes. Well, as you mentioned, this has been in the making for a few weeks now. Gabby Orr and I reported that Trump met with Vernon Jones and encouraged him to drop out of the governor's race and said, I will endorse you for Congress if you run for a House seat instead. That has intended to close the gap between Kemp and Perdue, because even though Vernon Jones was struggling in the governor's race, he was still eating up votes from Trump's backed candidate, which is Perdue. So, hopefully, in the eyes of Trump, this will help his candidate exceed in that race.

Now, Vernon Jones is running in the tenth congressional district. That is a solid red district. It's currently represented by Jody Hice, who is leaving to run for the secretary of state. But it's a crowded field. There's already been endorsements, including members of the Freedom Caucus has already gotten behind a different candidate in that race. So, now they're going to be at odds with Trump. And I'm told a lot of members are not happy about the idea of Vernon Jones getting in with a Trump endorsement but we'll see whether the Trump backing here really shakes up the race, it's a crowded field, as I mentioned.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. So, understandably now, Republican leaders are scrambling, trying to find some way to deal with the infighting. That's understandable. What's a bit puzzling is the example they're turning to help alleviate some of that infighting, and that' the football team, the New England Patriots. What more are you learning?

ZANONA: That's right. I'm told that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy played a video clip this morning during their conference meeting that showed a Super Bowl game for 20 years ago where the Rams were introduced individually on the field versus the Patriots, who were introduced as a team. And, of course, they went on to win that Super Bowl and many more. Take a listen to a part of that video clip that was played.

[10:45:01]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, choosing to be introduced as a team, here are the American Football Conference champions, the New England Patriots.

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ZANONA: So, I'm told the message there was play like a team, be united in our efforts to win back the majority and the House. And this, of course, comes right after the RNC voted to censure Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney. I'm told that issue did not come up in conference today, but it has been an issue that has been ruling (ph) the Republican Party. Jim, Bianna?

SCIUTTO: And didn't McCarthy take Cheney out of her leadership position or support that, and speaking of unity, just looking back, okay. Melanie Zanona, thanks very much.

Well, Roger Goodell met with civil rights leaders just days after the NFL was accused of racial discrimination when it comes to hiring head coaches. Did he make any promises, any hard commitments? We'll ask. That's coming up.

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[10:50:00]

GOLODRYGA: At the Beijing Winter Games, Team USA's Nathan Chen shattering the world record in the men's figure skating short program. The 22-year-old's near flawless performance earned him an unprecedented 113.97 points. Chen's emotion could be felt from the ice as he punched the air at the end of his program.

SCIUTTO: He's in a good position now but got he's got a way to go. Four years ago, Chen failed to complete any of his jumps in the short program, ultimately finished fifth. Medals not awarded until Thursday after the deciding free skate final. However, thanks to his performance, Chen does have a commanding lead. Boy, Bianna, we need good news for the U.S. Team, from these Olympics, a little bit of a slow start.

GOLODRYGA: So happy to see him perform that last night.

Well, civil rights leaders are calling on the NFL to do more, to hire black and minority coaches for head coaching positions.

SCIUTTO: CNN Sports Anchor Coy Wire here with more. A meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell, the record not great from the view of these groups. Did we see any concrete progress?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: That's the word, that, so far, so good, Jim, good morning to you and Bianna, yesterday's meeting came less than a week after a federal class action lawsuit was filed by former Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores, who's suing the league along with three organizations for alleged racial discrimination.

Among those involved with the discussions were NAACP President Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the National Urban League, Marc Morial, and Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network. They're calling on Goodell to replace the Rooney rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching, general manager and executive jobs.

On New Day this morning, Johnson called the meeting a good start. Listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DERRICK JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAACP: The Rooney rule has been in place for a long time. The management of that as it relates to head coaches, it has not been as effective as people thought it should be or would be. We're looking now up until just a few days ago, only one African-American in the league, African-American cultures are -- can be successful as any other culture but they have to be provided an opportunity. And up until this point, they have not been provided an opportunity.

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COY: And over the weekend, Goodell released a memo to the league that said that the lack of black head coaches in the NFL is, quote, unacceptable.

Meantime, the Houston Texans hiring Lovie Smith to be the team's next head coach. Smith served as the team's defensive coordinator last season. The 63-year-old led the Bears to the Super Bowl appearance and his nine years in Chicago, also served as the Bucs head man for two seasons. Smith is now the second minority to be named head coach in this cycle.

Brian Flores was one of the reported finalists for the Texans job. In a statement, Flores' lawyer said that Flores was happy to see Smith hired but added, quote, it is obvious that the only reason Mr. Flores was not selected was his decision to stand up against racial inequality across the NFL, unquote.

Now, Brian Flores was hoping to land another head coaching job, Jim and Bianna. Now, all vacancies have been filled.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And all of this happening, Coy, with the Super Bowl just five days away.

WIRE: Yes, Super Bowl week long party has already started. Bengals, Rams, meeting, media, on Zoom calls for the traditional opening night. And then later in the day, Jim and Bianna, they have pep rallies with the fans. The Rams did it at a high school outside of L.A. The Bengals, they hosted about 30,000 fans at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Their star quarterback Joe Burrow has done it all this year, hasn't he, on this Super Bowl run. Joe Burr has been his nickname, Joe Cool, even have the nickname Joey Franchise. And he was asked which one he likes best. Listen.

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JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS QUARTERBACK: Oh, man. I don't know. I don't know. I have a lot of them. Just call me Joe. Whatever anybody wants to call me is okay with me.

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WIRE: Super star. Jim, Bianna, it is fascinating to think that four wins last season, that's all they had. Burrow had a torn ACL, here they are, he led them back to a Super Bowl, incredible.

SCIUTTO: Well, Broadway Joe is already taken. Broadway Joe is already taken but that was a few years ago. Sorry, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: No. I said he wants to be called Super Bowl winner. That's what he wants to be called. I'll answer that for him.

SCIUTTO: Coy Wire, good to have you there. Thanks so much. And we'll be right back.

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[10:55:00]

GOLODRYGA: A quick programming note for you. CNN has a new original series focused on the complicated presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Don't miss the premiere of LBJ, Triumph and Tragedy, Sunday February 20th at --