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Unvaccinated Health Care Workers Face Key Deadline in 24 States; U.S Issues Stark Warning, Russia Could Invade Ukraine This Week; Houston's Mattress Mack Loses Record $9.5 Million in Super Bowl Bet. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 14, 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]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN NEWSROOM: The royal family has announced that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has tested positive for coronavirus. She is now self-isolating. Sources tell CNN the duchess is fully vaccinated and boosted. Now, the news comes just four days after her husband, Prince Charles, also tested positive for the virus.

Certain unvaccinated health care workers in 24 states, in the meantime, must get their first shot today in order to meet the only federal vaccine mandate currently in place. The rule covers workers at health care facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Supreme Court upheld the mandate last month.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz joins me now. So, Shimon, what more are we learning about this today?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. So, this affects some 10 million health workers all across the country, really, when you think about it, but this is focused on specific states that, by today, have to meet this mandate, otherwise they could potentially lose funding, Medicare and Medicaid funding.

So, this Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia and Idaho, all these states now that their workers will have to be vaccinated. This is the phase one. This is the first part of the vaccine. They need to get at least one vaccine by today. And this affects doctors and nurses, of course, and all sorts of health workers working at various facilities all across the country.

This is in one of those mandates that the administration was able to keep in place in part because the courts ruled that because these facilities are getting funded, federal funding, that they then have to, they have to require that their workers be vaccinated. So, that's supposed to be today. Today's the first phase. And we'll see how it goes from here, whether or not workers could potentially face any kind of penalty, if they're not vaccinated, such as lose their jobs.

There's also some things that they can do to sort of -- there are exceptions, right, exemptions, I should say, such as the fact if there are religious or other issues. The other concern, obviously, also if hospitals and medical facilities are short on staffing, they may be able to get some exemptions for all of that as well.

GOLODRYGA: As you said, this does impact millions of health care workers. Shimon Prokupecz, thank you.

Well, the FDA's independent panel of advisers was set to meet tomorrow to consider authorizing Pfizer's COVID vaccine for children under five, but that meeting has now been postponed as experts wait for more data which pushes back the timeline when little kids could get shots.

CNN's Jacqueline Howard joins me now. So, Jacqueline, this is a bittersweet headline for parents there with children under the age of five, that sort of the last group in the country that has yet to be vaccinated. I know parents have been eager about it. They also want a safe vaccine. How much longer will parents have to wait?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Well, it looks like we might have to wait just a couple of months longer. The reason why this postponement was not for additional safety data, the vaccine does seem to be safe, but it's for additional data on efficacy.

So, what happened was Pfizer originally submitted a request to have its child-sized vaccine authorized for children younger than five, that request was for a two-dose vaccine series. And in the meantime, the company has continued an ongoing study on three doses. Well, that three-dose study, the data appeared to be coming in very quickly, and because of that, the FDA decided, you know what, let's hold our vaccine advisory committee meeting on this, let's wait to review the data until the three-dose study data are in. So, that way, the agency can review a complete full set of data on three doses instead of just two doses.

Here's how former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb described this just yesterday on Face the Nation. He's also a Pfizer board member. Have a listen.

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DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER: Given the fact that is changing, that's evolving, new data is accruing, it's hard for the FDA to give us advises, a fixed snapshot of what the absolute efficacy of this clinical trial of the data set.

[10:35:09]

And so if they wait a little longer, if they administer the third dose in that clinical trial, they're not only going to have perhaps a better measure of effectiveness from this trial, but they'll also have a settled data set. They'll have a firm picture of what level of effectiveness the vaccine is delivering.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD: And that wait, we might have to wait until April. Pfizer says it could have data on its three-dose vaccine series in early April.

GOLODRYGA: Just a couple of months away. As you said, it's all about the efficacy of the vaccine and not the safety. Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much.

And still ahead, a former White House adviser who navigated Russia's last invasion of Ukraine warns that the U.S. cannot underestimate Vladimir Putin again. We'll speak with her live up next.

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: This morning, CNN has learned that the latest U.S. intelligence indicates that Russia is still adding forces around Ukraine in preparation for a possible military action as soon as this week, this according to a senior U.S. official briefed on the intelligence. The U.S. military believes that the Russian military attack would begin with a massive air and missile campaign on key Ukrainian military infrastructure, including airfields, air defense and warning systems.

Joining me now to discuss the threat, Evelyn Farkas, she's former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia. Evelyn, it's good to have you on this morning.

EVELYN FARKAS, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RUSSIA, UKRAINE, EURASIA: Thanks, Jim.

SCIUTTO: When you look at that build-up and the U.S. intelligence, not just on the number of forces there but the plan, which includes, among other things, to encircle the capital, Kyiv, within 48 hours, attack at multiple points across the border, when you look at that intelligence and then you hear today the Russian president on Russian television speaking to his foreign minister saying, that, well, diplomacy isn't exhausted, what is happening? Is that a real chance for diplomacy or is it more misdirection?

FARKAS: I mean, I think obviously, to be perfectly honest, I don't really know. Clearly, Vladimir Putin still has his options open. They may be having a heated argument, heated debate internally in his small circle. Because I can imagine even though his military generals are saying they're ready to go, they don't really want to see this blood bath. So, there may be some discussion there. The other thing is it may just be intended to confuse all us and keep us off balance, Jim.

SCIUTTO: You wrote a sharp piece in The New York Times about history here. And when we speak about Ukraine, we have to say, for instance, this would be reinvading Ukraine. They already invaded in 2014. They annexed. They still occupied territory here. So, this would be a second more comprehensive invasion. And they have claimed, as you note in the piece, territory in Georgia and elsewhere.

I'm going to quote, you said that each time the United States did just enough to respond through sanctions and diplomacy aimed at containing the immediate transgression but we failed to keep global pressure on the source of each crisis, Mr. Putin's aggressive, illegal foreign policy.

Has U.S., has NATO, have U.S. allies and Ukraine done enough this time to deter another invasion?

FARKAS: Right. Well, obviously, the jury is out on whether we've done enough. But the point that I'm trying to make in that piece there is whether we deter him or not. That is to say, whether Vladimir Putin makes another military attack on Ukraine of any size, shape or form. We need to actually treat Russia like the international pariah that it is, because it's threatening our world order.

I mean, this is really -- you see what the stock markets are doing and the Europeans are now trying to have an emergency meeting perhaps on this because of the economic implications. This is really a threat to our well-being, and so Russia needs to be handled the way we handle Iran, North Korea and other rogue states.

SCIUTTO: Do you see any positive progress in the response to this threat to Ukraine compared to 2014? You have in the Biden administration many veterans of the Obama administration at the time when that first invasion took place. And, by the way, that territory is still occupied by Russia. Do you see the U.S., do you see NATO allies having learned anything these past few years in the response so far?

FARKAS: Yes, Jim. I mean, I'm sitting here nodding. I have seen a lot of progress and I am very happy with the approach they're taking in the Biden administration. They have a proactive deterrence that they've organized. It took them a little bit of time to get their bearings on this, but it's proactive, it's transatlantic, not only are they moving forces to defend NATO territory and every day, to this very day, helping Ukraine, but they've also been getting out ahead of Russia's disinformation campaign by declassifying intelligence and sharing it not only with allies and partners but, really, the world and the media included.

SCIUTTO: That's an important point I was going to ask you about.

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Russia, famous, of course, for the information warfare aspect of any of its military campaigns, as well as things like the attack on the U.S. election in 2016, but you do have the U.S. playing its own game of information warfare, in effect, making so many things public, in effect, saying, we know what you're doing and here's how. Does that work? How does that work, to some degree?

FARKAS: I think it works tremendously. And this is a really great example of how all of my former colleagues have learned and, really, the transatlantic community has learned. In 2014, I remember sitting in the White House situation room and we wanted to share intelligence with allies and partners who are not NATO members even. And so we ended up having general (INAUDIBLE), had to go and buy imagery, satellite imagery off of the commercial market to share with countries that weren't cleared for the intelligence we had.

So, it's very important because you want to have a solid, solid understanding of what the Russians are doing and then a solid firm front against Russia and, again, not just among the U.S. and Canada and our European allies, but, frankly, around the world. It's really important. Russia is a nation country. It's very important to stand up to Russia firmly and you to get the information --

SCIUTTO: And, of course --

FARKAS: Yes, go ahead.

SCIUTTO: No, I was just going to say, and, of course, the relationship not just with the NATO allies but with Ukraine, not a NATO ally but to keep on the same page on this.

Evelyn Farkas, we appreciate you sharing your own experience, having dealt with Russia before.

FARKAS: Thanks, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Back to you, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: And another high stakes meeting between Vladimir Putin and the chancellor of Germany tomorrow as well. We will be covering that.

And still ahead, he may have lost nearly $10 million, that's right, $10 million, on a Super Bowl bet last night but still made history. We will speak with the iconic Texas salesman known as Mattress Mack. That's up next.

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GOLODRYGA: The Los Angeles Rams are the new Super Bowl champions after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 last night. Rams Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp was named the game's most valuable player after catching the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes left on the clock. And the team's head coach, Sean McVay, is now the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl.

Well, last night's Super Bowl was one of the most bet on events of the year. According to the American Gambling Association, an estimated $7.6 billion were wagered on the big game. That's up 78 percent from last year. And one Houston businessman bet and lost an astounding $9.5 million on the Super Bowl, breaking the record for the largest wager in a single legal sport bet ever and he's joining me on the phone now.

Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale, the owner of Gallery Furniture in Houston. Listen, I have to say, we were a bit worried about whether or not you would join us this morning, not knowing the mood you would wake up in, Mattress Mack. I am a fellow Houstonian, I grew up with you, watching your ads on television. This one surprised even me. How are you feeling?

JIM MATTRESS MACK MCINGVALE, OWNER, GALLERY FURNITURE: Bianna, I feel great. A setback is just a set-up for a comeback and you live to play another day. So, I got up this morning, I put on big boy britches, I'm back here taking care of customers, selling furniture, having a great time. GOLODRYGA: Okay. So, listen, everything was looking good for you up until the last two minutes. You were up by four points. How are you feeling about Aaron Donald this morning?

MCINGVALE (voice over): He's a great player. It was a great game. It went the other way. It could have certainly gone the way of the Bengals but that's what happened and we'll live with the result. The only thing that disappoints me was we were going to we get back about $19 million to our customers that bought furniture from over the last two weeks, and weren't able to do that. And that's what I was really crushed about as far as me losing the football bet.

I spent game with the guys at Camp Hope, which is Veterans with PTSD, about 80 of them, and I saw their bravery and their valiance, and it puts everything into perspective. I'm just sorry (INAUDIBLE) win the money back.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And, listen, that's what I and other Houstonians love about you, is that you continue to give back to the city and the area. That promotion you were talking about was giving people who had spent over $3,000 on furniture with you that money back if, in fact, your team, the Bengals, had won. That did not happen.

But listen, this wasn't a one-time thing for you. You have lost over $15 million in just the past five weeks in the NFL and college football betting. Do you think somebody in your life or perhaps you yourself are waking up today saying maybe we should give this betting thing a second thought?

MCINGVALE (voice over): Well, since our customer traffic tripled, it's probably a good marketing idea. And yesterday, we had so many deliveries, we couldn't deliver any more furniture, we sold a million dollars worth of furniture and people picked it up with the pickup trucks, it was absolutely unheard of. So, the customers love it and as long as the customers love it, we're fine.

GOLODRYGA: Business keeps humming. Let me ask you, final question, the Texans are going to go all the way next year. They got a new coach.

MCINGVALE (voice over): If the Bengals can do it, the Texans can do it. I love Lovie Smith. He is a great choice for our new coach. And this could be the Texans' year next year. The Bengals came from way back and the Texans can too.

GOLODRYGA: Jim McIngvale, great to have you on.

[10:55:00]

Unfortunately, you did not win this time but you're a winner in so many people's books there in Texas and in Houston. Thank you for joining us. You're in great spirits.

MCINGVALE (voice over): Thanks, Bianna. Tough times never last, tough people do.

GOLODRYGA: Have a great day. See you later.

Well, we'll continue to follow the breaking news story in Ukraine for you. Jim is there and bringing us the developments firsthand, Jim.

SCIUTTO: And they're changing by the day. We're watching very closely both the U.S. intel view but also continues efforts of diplomacy here and abroad. We'll stay on the story.

GOLODRYGA: Thank you so much for watching us today, I'm Bianna Golodryga.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto.

"AT THIS HOUR" with Kate Bolduan starts right after a quick break.

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