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Obama and Biden Reunite to Highlight Affordable Care Act Progress; CDC to Undergo Sweeping Review; Fauci Blasts Congress' Bipartisan COVID Bill as Not Nearly Enough; Tiger Woods: I Feel Like I Am Going to Play at the Masters. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired April 05, 2022 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Former President Obama was back at the White House today for the first time since leaving office. And he joined President Biden to celebrate 12 years of the Affordable Care Act. President Obama said passing this health care reform was a high point of his time as president and described how far he worked to get it across the finish line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To get the bill passed, we had to make compromises. We didn't get everything we wanted. That wasn't the reason not to do it. If you can get millions of people health coverage and better protection. It is, to quote a famous American, a pretty big deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: They had some funny lines here. I mean, they had some moments.
CAMEROTA: They were having some fun also, it seems like.
BLACKWELL: Yes. Joining us now is CNN senior political commentator and former senior Obama advisor, David Axelrod. He is also the host of "The Axe Files" podcast. David, to see them together, the turnaround from 2010 to 2022 from the shellacking of that midterm, talking about this in a midterm year, I mean, what did you think as you watch the event at the White House today?
DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well look, having worked on that issue when I was in the White House and knowing how fraught it was politically in 2010, it's extraordinary now. You know now that it's become a reality and its helped millions of people how much of a political asset it's become. And of course, that's why the president invited President Obama back today. Because he wants to underscore not just his role as Vice President in the original passage but all the things, he's done to strengthen it during his year and a half as president. So, yes, I mean it's an incredible turn around.
But you know, as President Obama has said, it was a -- back then it was a very heavy political lift. Because the payoff wasn't going to be felt for years after it passed and it made the 2010 election more difficult.
CAMEROTA: Yes, and in fact the talked about the political price that he almost paid. Let's just play that for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Thank you. Vice President Biden, Vice President --
And that was a joke. That was all set up. My President, Joe Biden, I intended to get health care passed even if it cost me reelection, which for a while it looked like it might.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Oh, sure, now we can laugh about it. But I mean, you know, I'm sure that it was still so --
AXELROD: That's no joke.
CAMEROTA: No joke. But here -- I want to show you this, David. Because here is where the polling was April 2010 versus where it is today. So, back then, 46 percent of Americans favored the Affordable Care Act. Today it's 55 percent. Back then 40 percent of Americans opposed the Affordable Care Act.
[15:35:00]
Today it's 42 percent. It's higher. And back then 14 percent didn't know what it was, that number is down to 2. But 12 years in, I have to imagine you felt that there would be a more favorable view of it.
AXELROD: Well, you know, Alisyn, everything is now fit through the filter of our very polarized politics. And the Affordable Care Act became part of that. You know, Republican Party tried to repeal it 70 times under President Trump and it's become sort of an article of faith in that party that the Affordable Care Act was a misbegotten scheme of sorts. And so, no, I'm not surprised by these numbers. The 55 is what matters. I will tell you that was April of 2010 -- is that what you said?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
AXELROD: By the summer it was probably lower because it became such a political football in that campaign. But I will say, I was there. President Obama, you know, jokes about the political perils then. He told us very frankly then because I was his political advisor. You know, this could be really costly. And he said, look, I'm willing to lose the presidency over this. He said we're not here to look at our approval rating and admire it for eight years. We're here to do something and if it cost me the presidency, it will cost me the presidency.
Now it also helped cost of good people their seats in Congress and that was very painful. But the fact that a solid majority of Americans approve it. Now more importantly that millions of Americans have benefitted including people whose lives have been saved by it, is gratifying.
BLACKWELL: I wonder though what is the message to the Democratic Party. Because -- and David, you tell me if I'm reading too much into this. But I heard from President Obama, lines like we didn't get everything we wanted. We had to make compromising discussing the starter house. After watching the maturations of the Build Back Better legislation that didn't go anywhere, was he speaking to Democrats today about future legislation?
AXELROD: 100 percent, Victor. You're not reading too much into it. His message was very, very clear. Which is that progress doesn't come all at once. He talked about the inadequacies of Social Security when it passed. The inadequacies of Medicare and how little by little they were strengthened over time. In the same will be true of the Affordable Care Act. And Biden has done some things to strengthen it.
There is this sense of immediate gratification that, you know, you need to get everything you want at once. That's not the way government works. That's not the way politics works. And his message is be practical. Be ambitious but be practical. And understand you're not going to get everything you want but get as much as you can. And you know, in the next couple of months Biden's going to go back at try to get elements of that Build Back Better bill passed. And I think part of this was to remind Democrats to be practical.
CAMEROTA: David Axelrod, great to talk to you. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
AXELROD: Always good to see you guys, thank you.
BLACKWELL: Thank you.
AXELROD: Thanks.
CAMEROTA: Two years after the start of the COVID pandemic, the CDC is starting a sweeping review of the agency. And Dr. Fauci explains why he thinks that's necessary, next.
[15:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: So, there will be a sweeping evaluation of the CDC. This is going to be a review of the agency structure and systems and processes.
CAMEROTA: The president's chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says he thinks this is necessary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Often the CDC is working on data that's old data. And when you're dealing with a rapidly moving outbreak, you need to stay ahead of the data. So, often they need to make suggestions or guidelines based on what might be happening. You know, sort of like skating to where the puck is going to be as opposed to where the puck is. You have to do that. And sometimes you don't hit it right. So, I think it's a very good idea what Dr. Walensky is doing, is to really take an in-depth look at the CDC and see if you can get to point where they can get data efficiently in realtime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Let's bring in Chris Wallace. He's the host of CNN+ "WHO'S TALKING TO CHRIS WALLACE." And he joins us with more of that. That Fauci interview you only see on CNN+. Chris, first, it's great to see you here on our show.
BLACKWELL: Welcome, Chris.
CHRIS WALLACE, CNN+ HOST, WHO'S TALKING TO CHRIS WALLACE: Well, I'm delighted to be with you guys and delighted to talk about this interview we did earlier today with Tony Fauci -- who knew he was going to give a hockey metaphor. But you know, he and a lot of people in the administration and a lot of people around the country have complained about the CDC giving guidance that -- in Fauci's wars -- has sometimes been confusing.
And what is basically saying, is part of the problem is that COVID and the virus has evolved and changed so much over these last two years and that our understanding of it has changed so much over these last two years but we need the most current data from which to give government guidance to people about what they should be doing or not doing.
And what he's saying is that the data that has been coming in, you know, as we know, yes, it's a national pandemic, it's an international pandemic, but what's going on in the northeast may be very different from what's going on in the southwest. And he's saying they need the most current data so they can give information to people about how they should proceed with masks or boosters or social distancing or whatever.
BLACKWELL: So, Dr. Fauci talked about congress's bipartisan COVID-19 bill. And he apparently is not happy about it. What's his concern?
[15:45:00]
WALLACE: Well, his concern is that it's not big enough and in one particular area. So, take a look at this exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: The bipartisan group of senators just came up with a bill, a compromise, $10 billion more COVID relief. And there's money in there for tests. There's money and therefore treatments. There is zero, nada, nothing for global vaccines. So, how big a problem is that?
FAUCI: Big. I'm really disappointed in that. Because what you said is absolutely correct. When you're dealing with a global pandemic you have to have a global response. It's folly to think with a global pandemic you can have a regional response. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE (on camera): So, what the administration originally wanted was $22 billion. Another trench of money for COVID relief. And as part of the $22 billion, they wanted 5 billion for global vaccination. Money that would go around the world to get more people vaccinated. The deal that -- it died in the House. It's now in the Senate. They have a $10 billion deal. But as you heard zero for global vaccinations.
And one of the points that Fauci is making is that he says as the pandemic exists right now in the U.S., with Omicron, even with the BA- 2 subvariant we're in pretty good shape. He said the thing that could really set us back dramatically is if you get more spread of the disease around the world and a new variant that's completely different than what we've had with Delta and Omicron, and he says when you don't get more of world vaccinated, the chances for a completely new variant dramatically increases.
BLACKWELL: A fascinating conversation. Looking forward to watching that. Chris Wallace, good to have you.
WALLACE: Thank you, guys.
BLACKWELL: All right, be sure to check out "WHO'S TALKING TO CHRIS WALLACE," tonight at 6:00 Eastern on CNN+. Really, you can watch it anytime you want. It's on tonight.
CAMEROTA: That's the beauty of CNN+.
Tiger Woods says he plans to play at the Masters this weekend. And he says he thinks he can win. This is obviously huge news.
BLACKWELL: It is.
CAMEROTA: Tremendous comeback. A live report from Augusta is next.
[15:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: Tiger Woods says he wants to play and win at the Masters this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, PLANS TO PLAY IN THE MASTERS: Well, as of right now, I feel like I am going to play. As of right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: This would be a remarkable return for Tiger. You remember, he was severely injured in that car crash a little more than a year ago. CNN's Dianne Gallagher is with us now from Augusta. Dianne, did Tiger say what will be the deciding factor if he'll play in two days in the Masters? DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Victor, you
heard that little bit of little wiggle room in his statement declaring that he was planning to play. There is nobody who is questioning the competitive spirit of a man who has 15 majors under his belt. Instead, it's his body. So, expect a lot of analysis, not just of his game but of his gait in the coming days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think you can win the masters this week?
WOODS: I do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What have you seen in your preparation that leads to you believe that?
WOODS: Well, I can hit it just fine. And I don't have any qualms about what I can do physically from a golf standpoint. It's now walking is the hard part. I feel like if I can still compete at the highest level, I'm going to. If I feel like I can still win, I'm going to play. If I feel like I can't, you won't see me out here. I don't show up to an event unless I think I can win it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GALLAGHER: Now of course, Tiger was in that February 2021 horrific car crash and absolutely devastated his right leg and foot. In February of this year, he said that he was a little frustrated by the progress of his recovery. But today he said recovery feels good. Still, it's simply about the walking. We have 72 holes. If he makes it until Sunday. And so, that amount of walking on this treacherous course already could put additional pressure on his foot. Especially with the amount of rain that we've already received, the saturated ground makes it even harder for something. Again though, he says he's not worried about his game, Victor, Alisyn. Anyone who has seen him practice said he's hitting bombs and putting and looks like old Tiger when it comes to golf.
CAMEROTA: Just incredible. OK, Dianne Gallagher, thank you very much.
BLACKWELL: Ukraine's president told the United Nations today about new claims that Russian troops brutally killed civilians. The latest is just ahead.
[15:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: And now for a fox news alert.
CAMEROTA: No, you didn't.
BLACKWELL: Yes, I did. You have the right channel. Several people have reported being attacked by an actual fox on Capitol Hill. One of the alleged perps, oh, has been captured here. CAMEROTA: The U.S. Capitol Police have warned there are possibly
several fox dens on the Capitol grounds. And he announced to congressional staffers, advises them to be on the alert lookout for aggressive foxes.
BLACKWELL: And you see them in the video someone there trying to catch a fox here. I wish we could -- all the people on Capitol Hill who are watching this, post the puns they're coming up with on Capitol Hill.
CAMEROTA: I wonder if they're only attacking Democrats.
BLACKWELL: Oh, yes, well that's the thing.
CAMEROTA: Also, for those of you who follow Instagram, you know why we're trying to get Joe Johns on this story right away.
BLACKWELL: Yes, yes.
What was it? A raccoon at the White House?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
BLACKWELL: Google that video. It's worth the time.
CAMEROTA: You're welcome.
BLACKWELL: All right, "THE LEAD" from Jake Tapper live from Ukraine starts right now.
END
