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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Meets With Zelenskyy In Kyiv; Evacuations Of Civilians Underway In Mariupol From Steel Plant Holdout; Baby Formula Maker Under Investigation By FDA And CDC Amid Shortage; Country Music Star Naomi Judd Dies At 76; Vaccine For Kids Effective Against Hospitalizations. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired May 01, 2022 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:26]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello everyone. Thank you for joining me this Sunday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

All right. We begin this hour with a surprise visit in Ukraine. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leading an unannounced congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She becomes the highest ranking American official to visit the war- torn country, and she made it clear the U.S. will not waver in its support for Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We believe and we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. That we are (INAUDIBLE) to your freedom and that your fight is a fight for everyone. And so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The visit comes as Russia pounds eastern Ukraine with a vicious new offensive. Ukrainian officials report heavy shelling and air strikes are targeting a large swath of the country from Kharkiv to the north to Zaporizhzhia in the south.

President Zelenskyy says an airport runway in Odessa was destroyed in a missile strike Saturday, and he is vowing to rebuild it.

And in the long-besieged city of Mariupol, new hope for civilians. President Zelenskyy confirming that evacuations from that steel plant holdout are now underway.

CNN's Matt Rivers and Scott McLean are both on the ground in Ukraine.

Matt, to you first. You're in Kyiv where the house speaker met with Zelenskyy today. This was a significant moment. Why? MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. No question. I mean

you said it right off the top there. The most senior U.S. official to visit here in Kyiv.

But I think more importantly, it kind of really tops off an entire change in narrative that we've heard from the United States over the past few weeks where they have just significantly ramped up what they are willing to do here to support Ukraine. Not only in the rhetoric, not only in the funding that the U.S. is providing to Ukraine.

But also look at the visits. I mean it was one week ago that we had the secretaries of state and the secretary of defense here from the United States. A few days later President Biden announces that he's requesting $33 billion in additional aid from Congress to send to Ukraine. A mixture of humanitarian aid as well as heavy weaponry.

And then a few days after that here comes this congressional delegation led by the speaker herself. So this is a very significant moment and one that is not lost on President Zelenskyy who very pointedly thanked the United States, calling them the leader in terms of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

And what you heard from Speaker Pelosi was echoing what we heard from the secretary of defense, from President Biden that the United States is in this for the long haul, that they remain committed to helping Ukraine not only just stall the Russian advance but perhaps fully kick the Russians out of an occupied territory in Ukraine and that's a big deal.

And of course, Speaker Pelosi, Fred, is going to have a big role to play moving forward in shepherding a legislative package through of this $33 billion request. She seems to be on board for that.

WHITFIELD: All right. Scott McLean in Lviv. A big announcement in Mariupol where evacuations are now underway. How is that happening?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, this day has been a long time coming. Many people have been trapped under the steel plant for more than two months with dwindling food and water supplies and lately a heavy bombing campaign from the Russians. Remember, that a lot of these people likely have not seen sunlight for the last two months.

So we know that buses from -- buses and also U.N. vehicles have been on standby since yesterday to try to get people out and evacuated from that plant. And we know from Russian state media, quoting the defense ministry, that 80 people were able to evacuate from the plant and were taken east to Russian held territory.

And we have new video of their arrival of what looks to be a tent camp. You can see women, children, and the elderly all there.

Now, it's not clear exactly how this evacuation took place. Or how it was brokered. But we have been told by soldiers inside the plant that the cease fire has been holding since yesterday which is quite surprising considering that on Friday they were reporting that the Russians were actually trying to storm that plant on the ground.

Now the Ukrainians have long been concerned that all of the people evacuated from that plant would end up on Russian-held territory. But it seems that in this case they actually did have a choice.

[14:04:53]

MCLEAN: The Russians say that anyone who wanted to go toward Ukrainian-held territory was handed over to the U.N. and to the Red Cross. And President Zelenskyy also confirmed that 100 people are now in route to Zaporizhzhia.

The Ukrainian deputy prime minister apologized for the radio silence. The real lack of information that we've had over the last 24 hours, but she said she did not want to do anything to jeopardize the success of this operation which, by the way, is still ongoing.

And she specifically singled out the Red Cross and the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres for helping to get this done.

What's still not clear at this stage of the game, Fredricka, if you believe the Russian and the Ukrainian statements, 180 civilians have been taken out of the plant. That still potentially leaves hundreds more. It also leaves, we're told, hundreds of wounded soldiers and we have no clue at this stage what their fate may be.

WHITFIELD: All right. Scott McLean, Matt Rivers -- thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

Let's talk more about all of this with CNN military analyst and Retired U.S. Army Major General Dana Pittard. He is also the co-author of the book "Hunting The Caliphate: America's war on ISIS and the Dawn of the Strike Cell".

General, welcome back. Good to see you.

Let's zero in on the evacuations there at that steel plant as we know it there in Mariupol. How encouraging is this that there are many, just a few handful, who are finding safety, especially after Russia has been boasting of having most control or dominance of Mariupol?

MAJ. GEN. DANA PITTARD (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, good afternoon, Fred. I think it is encouraging. If you'd asked me before this took place whether or not the Russians could be trusted, I would have said that wasn't likely. But the cease fire appears to be holding and some of evacuees are actually getting out.

Obviously, they're going to the east in Russia so who knows what their eventual fate will be, but it's at least encouraging.

What's your worry or concern about the soldiers that our Scott McLean just reported, many of whom might be injured, trying to get as much treatment as they can while still in the steel plant? What's your concern about them? And any confrontation with Russian forces?

PITTARD: The concern is how long can they last? They're completely surrounded. They have fought courageously. They've pinned down so many different Russian forces there in Mariupol. But it's difficult to see how they will get out without surrendering. I know President Zelenskyy is going to try to get them out, but I tend to agree with the commander of the Ukraine forces there. It may take a third country to actually broker for their departure.

WHITFIELD: And we've seen recently this week surrendering in some cases means ultimate death.

Let me ask you about Russian forces and their strategy thus far. They focused their new offensive in eastern Ukraine. We're also seeing new strikes in Odessa. How much territory can Russia actually maintain given the limitations that we've seen among their forces?

PITTARD: Well, the Russians have obviously changed their tactics somewhat. It's at a tactical level and operational level, it's much more coordinated between ground forces, aircraft helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, even missiles, and their mechanized forces and artillery.

And their objectives now appear to be much more limited. More based on their capabilities. So they're continuing to move with some limited success.

One thing that the Ukrainians have to take a look at is how can they counterattack and disrupt that Russian movement? We've just gotten reports that there was a strike on a command and control headquarters for the Russians that was trying to kill the (INAUDIBLE) Russian commander General Gerasimov (ph) who escaped but was wounded but there were others that were killed. So there's things like that, the Ukrainians have to do to disrupt the Russian tempo.

And as far as Odessa -- Odessa certainly is an objective, but with the size of the Russian force, it doesn't appear that they have the ability to hold ground beyond the Donbas region unless they get more forces.

WHITFIELD: All right. Besides supplying arms, arsenal, and now the U.S. or at least the Biden administration proposing another $33 billion, in what way or other ways is the U.S. helping Ukraine arming them with perhaps intelligence?

PITTARD: Well, the U.S. is helping in many ways. Obviously, the U.S. has taken the initiative as far as diplomatically. You know, a recent visit of the secretary of state, secretary of defense and certainly Speaker Pelosi is a big deal from the U.S.

[14:09:58]

PITTARD: And what the U.S. is doing as far as unifying NATO, informationally, the U.S. is taking initiative. Economically the U.S. is taking initiative as far as sanctions against Ukraine (SIC).

As far as militarily, I think it's mixed. One -- the intelligence capability, yes, that is good. Sending arms to Ukraine, yes. They're very complex arms so there's another piece of that which is training the Ukrainians to use those weapons.

But overall the U.S. is kind of outsourcing the fight when the U.S. could be doing more. One thing that we talked about in the past is the ability to set up a humanitarian assistance zone to help protect refugees in western Ukraine. The U.S. could declare a humanitarian assistance zone from Kyiv in the north all the way down to Odessa south and west to the Polish border.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: But it would also mean Russia's cooperation, and we've seen how that has gone thus far.

PITTARD: Well, the humanitarian corridors would be with Russian -- talking to the Russians. But declaring a humanitarian assistance zone would have to be enforced. It would take NATO troops on the ground in Western Ukraine where there are no Russian forces and a no fly zone in Western Ukraine, again, where there's no Russian forces right now.

It would also be able to protect Western Ukraine from all these missile strikes that Russia does from time to time with air defense systems.

But there's more the U.S. can do militarily. And that's taking the strategic initiative militarily.

WHITFIELD: Major General Dana Pittard, good to see you again. Thank you so much.

PITTARD: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead, a COVID vaccine for the youngest kids may be available as soon as next month. We'll discuss with the former U.S. surgeon general straight ahead.

Plus a nationwide shortage of baby formula. The situation has only gotten worse as one popular maker is now under investigation for potential bacterial contamination at one of its plants. Details straight ahead.

[14:11:57]

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WHITFIELD: A popular baby formula maker that is currently under investigation by federal agencies says it may distribute some products on a case by case basis. The FDA and CDC are looking into some of Abbott Nutrition's powdered infant formula products after a whistleblower raised concerns about concealed safety problems at a Michigan production plant. All of this comes as a shortage of the product continues across several states.

CNN's Polo Sandoval has been following this for us and he's joining me right now. So Polo, bring us up to speed on the investigation and how it relates to the shortages. POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So Fred, in the end parents are

facing two key issues that are basically coming together and snowballing into a big issue for parents as they seek nutrition for their infants.

There is, of course, the supply chain woes that we seen out for months that continue, and then also the lingering effects of a February FDA recall on certain types of baby formula.

If you look at this graphic, it will give you an idea of what was recalled in February. They were products that were produced at a Sturgis, Michigan facility at Abbott Nutrition products. These were after reports of at least four infants that had fallen ill earlier this year after drinking the formula that was manufactured at that facility and developed rare and serious bacterial infection.

Sadly, two of those babies died and that certainly increased the urgency here for federal authorities to act. I want you to hear from one physician as he described yesterday here on CNN how this potential contamination of these products could have happened earlier this year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MICHAEL CHANG, PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES SPECIALIST: There was an infection called cronobacter sakazakii. And as a pediatric infectious diseases specialist, any time we hear about that bacterial infection in infants, we really start to think about contaminated infant powder formulas specifically.

Now, liquid formulas, the premixed formulas, these are actually prepared sterilely. Powdered formulas are not. But cronobacter does exist naturally just kind of in our environment.

And so the contamination of formulas can happen both during the manufacturing process as well as once you get it home and you open up the container.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Abbott Nutrition has said for its part that it is currently basically evaluating the FDA findings and also working to take corrective action here.

In terms of what parents across the country are doing, I want you to look at this particularly story from West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It's a nonprofit here that basically helps especially needy families obtain what they need to take care of their children. And they have been receiving since last month, according to a story from our partners at WBZ just over a dozen calls a day of parents desperate to obtain this.

And unfortunately, they have to throw out about 176 Similac cans. After that recall, really this is that onion of a story, right. You peel back the layers and at the base of it, Fred, at the core of it, are those parents that are still months after the recall, struggling to find what they need to keep their children healthy. WHITFIELD: Oh, it's frightening. That's a huge need. All right. Polo

Sandoval, thank you so much.

All right. Still ahead, a look back at the legendary career of country music singer Naomi Judd.

(MUSIC)

[14:19:11]

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WHITFIELD: The world of country music is mourning the loss of one of its legendary voices. Country music Naomi Judd has died at the age of 76. She and her daughter Wynonna dominated the country music charts in the 1980s as the duo The Judds rocketing up the charts with numerous hits, including this one.

(MUSIC)

The Judd family, Wynonna and Ashley, made the announcement about Naomi's death yesterday saying it was due to mental illness.

T.G. Sheppard is a country music singer and song writer who has known the Judds since they broke into the country music business. And Lorianne Crook is a radio and television host best known for her work on the Nashville Network.

So good to see both of you, T.G. and Lorianne but sadly under you know, these circumstances, a difficult time. But wow, we celebrate an icon, right.

[14:25:00]

WHITFIELD: I mean Lorianne, you've known Naomi Judd since the 80s when she first started. Tell me about her.

LORIANNE CROOK, RADIO AND TELEVISION HOST: My goodness sake. Well, you know, Naomi basically -- and Wynonna both basically and individually embody what country music is all about in the first place. And I know it sounds cliche, but it is just the damn truth.

Country music is about life. All of the ups and downs, and living it who you are authentically. And that's what Naomi did. She didn't hide that she came from nothing. She didn't hide that she had difficult relationships. She didn't hide her mental illness.

And through all of this, they made music that uplifts -- to this day, it uplifts all of us. Amazing, amazing legacy.

WHITFIELD: That really is something. I mean the story telling through the music and nine books? I mean, she really revealed herself in so many ways, and you know, with that outreach helped a lot of people.

T.G., you had the chance to introduce the Judds for the first network television appearance. I mean did you know at the time that they were destined for this kind of greatness?

T.G. SHEPPARD, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: I was hosting a show called "Nashville Now". It used to come out of Nashville here on the network. Yes, I did know. The night that I introduced Naomi and Wynonna for the first time to the network audience, the national audience, they were nervous wrecks. I can remember Naomi at the back just pacing and being just a wreck.

Yes, after their performance that night, I knew that I was in the presence of greatness. That they were going to go on to heights that we probably could never imagine, and they did. You know, we not only lost as you just said a great musical treasure in Naomi, but we lost a great author, a song writer. She embodied everything that our business is all about, country music.

WHITFIELD: I mean Lorianne, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, I mean, they will -- they are both together tonight to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This was planned way before the Country Music Hall of Fame and the rest of the world would learn about Naomi's, you know, unexpected passing.

And CNN just confirmed that Wynonna still plans on attending the ceremony. I mean physically Naomi will not be there, but obviously her music, her spirit, her legacy will be filling the room.

I mean, what do you expect it's going to be like tonight for this heartfelt and posthumous for her induction into the hall of fame?

CROOK: You know, seriously I think it is going to embody what their lives and careers were all about, the emotional rollercoaster. I mean think of the grit that Wynonna has to put herself out there publicly and make this appearance so soon.

I lost my husband just a few weeks ago, and I had to make an appearance a couple of days ago, and just nearly lost it. So I -- my heart is with her, and I just know it is going to be tragic. But it's going to be joyous on so many levels.

WHITFIELD: And so sorry for your loss as well. Yes, you -- you are -- you know very closely what it's going to be like for Wynonna.

I mean T.G., let me ask you too. It was just a couple weeks that we saw the two, this duo, the Judds on stage during the Country Music Awards. And when you saw them, what were you thinking about a, I mean, they looked magnificent. They sounded fantastic, but what were you thinking about, you know, seeing them after for very a long time we hadn't seen them performing in front of everyone together?

SHEPPARD: I was excited to see them return to the stage again. It was like they picked up where they left off when they quit touring. I was excited that they were getting ready to start their tour again, their arena tour. I was excited to see them both on TV, and Naomi sang so great and looked so beautiful, of course, we've always loved Wynonna's voice.

But to see them back was just a really exciting thing for me. It was part of what's been missing in country music the last few years. A lot of the artists of their era has gone to the wayside, but to see them return gave all of us artists hope in our era of music that we all can come back. And it was just exciting to see them on stage again.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And I think that's what makes it all the more shocking, too, of her passing, Naomi Judd. I mean our hearts go out to the Judd family and of course, the entire music community. Everyone is mourning the loss.

[14:30:01]

T.G. Sheppard, Lorianne Crook, thank you so much for helping to paint an even broader picture of just how special Naomi Judd is to so many. Thank you.

SHEPPARD: Thank you. She was so special, and may be gone but never forgotten.

WHITFIELD: Exceptional. Thank you so much.

Straight ahead, the former U.S. surgeon general will be telling us how a chance meeting with an Uber driver caused him to double down on his message about mask wearing.

But, first, a quick programming note. Stanley Tucci is back. New episodes, new food, and new discoveries, of course. "STANLEY TUCCI: SEARCHING FOR ITALY". The new season premiers tonight at 9:00 p.m., right here on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STANLEY TUCCI, CNN HOST, "SEARCHING FOR ITALY": There's nowhere on Earth quite like Italy. Every mouthful here is an eruption.

Oh, it's so good.

Cheers.

A city in the sea. Let's go.

If you want to know the best to eat, ask a gondolier.

I'll try it.

And note for any vegetarians watching, Umbrians eat a lot of meat.

I surrender to the pork.

Look at that. Oh, gorgeous.

That's a revelation.

There are more Italians here than in Bologna or Pisa. And whatever you've heard, the food here is incredible.

I don't even want to talk anymore. I just want to eat it. ANNOUNCER: A new season of "STANLEY TUCCI: SEARCHING FOR ITALY"

premieres tonight at 9:00 on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:36:24]

WHITFIELD: The wait for a COVID vaccine for young kids may soon be over. Moderna is asking the FDA for emergency use authorization for the vaccine for children under six. The company says its data which came mostly from the omicron wave showed the vaccine safely protected children from COVID.

The company's chief medical officer explains why the top line number may seem low.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PAUL BURTON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MODERNA: 50 percent, I know is often lower than we are used to seeing with our vaccine, but it's because the study was conducted during a time of omicron.

When we look at the UK data that was released just last week, when we look at symptomatic disease, exactly there we see vaccine effectiveness of about 50 percent. But when we look at vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization, that number is 89 to 95 percent. That's why I think we can be reassured and confident in this result.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's bring in Dr. Jerome Adams. He is the former U.S. surgeon general.

Good to see you. My first time talking to you on the air. So, welcome. Thanks for being with us.

DR. JEROME ADAMS, FORMER U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: Great to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Wonderful.

So, are you confident in the results that we're seeing from the Moderna vaccine that it is effective for kids?

ADAMS: Well, incredibly important we let the FDA process play its way out. But what I've heard so far is very promising. We've heard that the results show us that -- from an effectiveness point of view, it's as effective as two doses of a vaccine in adults, when we also know that actually the safety profile so far is even better than for 5 to 11-year-olds.

So, I hope the FDA reviews this as a promised with all speed. I hope they're transparent. That's the big issue here. They need to communicate why they're taking their time and being thoughtful and considerate about this.

It is younger kids. The risk/benefit ratio is different, but they need to communicate that to people. I hope we'll get this to parents as quickly as possible, because we're moving into this new stage where we're saying everyone has to take care of themselves. But not everyone has the tools.

WHITFIELD: Right. That's true. Tools are very important.

Let's talk about last night. I mean, that was the White House correspondent's dinner. More than 2,000 people showed up for the event. And you actually wrote an op-ed about last month's gridiron dinner which turned out to be a super spreader event. There were cabinet members testing positive for COVID.

So, one would think that lessons were learned from that, but -- and perhaps there were lessons, because there was a lot of testing that took place. There were certain protocols in place in order to attend the dinner last night.

So, do you feel like people are learning lessons from superspreader events?

ADAMS: We are, but not nearly fast enough, Fredricka.

So, for instance, I said in my op-ed if you're going to gather, you need to make sure you have rapid testing. They did it for this event. That was important.

But there are stories that they turned down offers to improve the ventilation. Ventilation is a very important way we can make the large gatherings much safer. And they also didn't think about the workers, the staff who were there. It's important to take them into consideration, too.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, it's early, and let's hope that everyone did, including the employees, workers, that everyone had a really safe evening and fun, too.

All right. I also want to ask you about a recent Uber ride that you took and how the driver's own experience with his health story and mask wearing really resonated with you.

[14:40:01]

Tell us more about that, and the picture there it looks like you took that at the Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Tell me more.

ADAMS: Well, this Mr. Melvin, me and Mr. Melvin. And he gave me a ride from a meeting I was at in Atlanta to the airport. He had a surgical mask on that didn't look like it was a very new one. And I asked him about it.

I said -- he recognized me, and I asked him about his mask, and he told me he was a double lung transplant recipient. He said he appreciated me fighting for mask-wearing and vaccinations. I said, well, do you have an N95 mask? He said, no, I don't have one, can't afford it. I don't know where to get them.

So, I gave him one of mine that I carry around to protect him. But the point I want people to understand is people like Mr. Melvin don't always have the same resources to be able to access those tools that we talk about.

So we need to be considerate in public settings of people who have children under five. People who are immuno-compromised or may not have the masks, the testing, the treatment access, the ventilation and the ability to get vaccinated and boosted that we do.

It's really important to emphasize, this is a good thing. We've got more tools than we've ever had before, but we need to make sure we have equitable access to those tools in order for people to safely take care of themselves and make up their minds about how to protect themselves.

WHITFIELD: Right. It continues to be important to be mindful of others. I mean, we're still in it, even though it looks different than last year at this time.

All right. Well, since we have you, I want to cover the map here. I want to ask you about comments made by the current med of the FDA Friday, where he said, I believe misinformation is the leading cause of death. It's beyond my imagination that we could have a free vaccine that reduces your risk of death by 90 percent, and yet, a substantial portion of our population will not take it.

Is that a massive barrier that you find is troublesome as it pertains to public health?

ADAMS: The FDA commissioner is spot on. Misinformation and politicizing has hurt our ability to respond to this pandemic. And we need to make sure we're doing targeted outreach.

We know the reasons that conservatives, for instance, may be hesitant to get vaccinated are different than the reasons African Americans or Hispanics are hesitant to get vaccinated.

So, I'm confident, because I see it every day, that people will get vaccinated, will get boosted if someone they trust is providing them accurate information. Right now, we don't have that trust.

One of my favorite quotes is people need to know that you care before they care that you know. This politicization has created an environment where it's far too easy to think the government doesn't care about me, you don't care about me. When we create those connections, more people will come over to the side of the getting vaccinated and boosted. I see it every day.

WHITFIELD: The oral antiviral drug, Paxlovid, I mean, it's viable to people who tested positive for COVID. Vice President Kamala Harris is among those who have taken it after testing positive. It is available to patients out there, but you need to get a prescription, right, from your doctor. So, are you hopeful that its availability and effectiveness will be far reaching? ADAMS: Well, this is another example of that lack of equity that we

continue to talk about. There are people like the vice president who can easily get this medication. But I hear story after story in my personal life and in my professional life of individuals who are far higher risk than the vice president based on age, based on comorbidities who can't get Paxlovid, who have been turned down from Paxlovid.

So, if we're going to create this narrative that people need to take care of themselves and the tools are out there, it's incumbent upon the White House, it's incumbent upon all of us to make sure everyone has those tools and until they do, that they're willing to sacrifice a little bit on our part to protect people who can't protect themselves. That's what it comes down to compassion. If we have compassion, we'll get through this more quickly, more safely with fewer lives lost.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. And how is the family? You'd been public about how frustrating it was, even for you as a surgeon general. You were not able to visit your mom in the hospital during the pandemic when she was hospitalized unrelated to COVID, but how is everything doing?

ADAMS: Family is doing well. Many people know that my wife actually was treated for cancer. She's doing well, but we're scared. We're worried that she's going to be exposed and not be able to get the treatment that she needs.

She and I actually both contemplated whether or not we should get a booster, and we've been told we don't meet the criteria for a booster, so we used antibody testing to actually help us understand whether or not we had antibodies, but those are tools that I have as a doctor, as a physician, that other people don't have.

[14:45:02]

My own brother suffers from substance abuse disorder, and I've talked about this on CNN before. Struggles to get access to treatment.

There are many barriers for people who want to help themselves, but don't have the equitable tools. And that's what I'm fighting for at Purdue University, as the director of health equity, making sure people have the tools to make healthy choices so we all can be our healthiest selves.

So, I thank you for asking about my wife and family. That's what we all ultimately care about is taking care of our families.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. Well, I think it's very much appreciated that you have shared so much of what you personally and your family has also been through just as many of us have endured as well.

Dr. Jerome Adams, good to see you. Thank you so much. I hope you come back.

ADAMS: Any time. And thank you so much. Remember, get your boosters out there, people. Get your vaccines. Get your boosters. Talk to someone you trust, because that's how we get through this. WHITFIELD: Great advice. Thank you so much.

All right. Coming up, master sommelier and renowned chef Carlton McCoy, get used to the name. He joins me for an inside look at the CNN original series "NOMAD WITH CARLTON MCCOY".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:5:41]

WHITFIELD: Carlton McCoy is a classically trained chef and expert traveler who has found himself at home everywhere from his grandmother's kitchen to the top restaurants in the world and a variety of places in between. And now in the all new CNN original series, "NOMAD WITH CARLTON MCCOY", Carlton takes us on a global exploration of food, music, art and culture to discover the universal threads that connect all of us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLTON MCCOY, CNN HOST, NOMAD (voice-over): I was first introduced to the art world exploring museums here in Paris. The one thing that became apparent was the distinct lack of brown and brown perspectives. I'm heading back to Saint-Denis to meet two people who are in the cutting edge of Paris art scene looking to change that.

MARIANE IBRAHIM, GROUNDBREAKING GALLERIST: In France, you're exposed to the art, but you're exposed to the domination of the culture of others. What you are seeing are works of them by them about people like us.

MCCOY: Mariane Ibrahim is an art world powerhouse. She has a beautiful gallery in Chicago and she's opened a brand new one in Paris. Mariane has an incredible roster of talented artists from African and its Diaspora, including her friend, Raphael Barontini.

RAPHAEL BARONTINI, REFRAMING THE CLASSICS: This picture was taken in a kind of exhausted (ph) plan of Western people who are colonizing Africa.

IBRAHIM: As a Black person, or as a mix, as a Brown, thinking to make art requires a lot of audacity and a lot of confidence, because what you are motivated to is what you see that looks like you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Ola, la, la. Let's go.

Hey, joining us right now is the host of "NOMAD", Carlton McCoy.

Carlton, so good to see you. Look, I'm learning a lot about you. You grew up in southeast, Washington, D.C. We'll have to talk later. You might knew my husband. He grew up there, too.

MCCOY: I did. WHITFIELD: And you also learned how to cook from your grandmother right out of high school. You got a scholarship to the culinary institute of America. You're the second African American to earn the prestigious title of master sommelier. I just love saying the word. Tell us how all of did this prepared you to take us on this journey with you?

MCCOY: First off, if you've got a husband from southeast D.C., chances are I do know him. It's a very small place.

WHITFIELD: I know. I'll hook y'all up.

MCCOY: Yeah, the -- most of the journey coming from southeast to where I am now and obviously dealing with the complicated race politics of being a mixed race citizen in the U.S., you know, it does prepare you to have a sort of unique perspective on the world, the concept of national identity and just how to relate to people.

And I think being able to sort of live in the gray and adapt and in most environments, to sort of I guess create a culture of respect for people's cultures, and trying to see the world through their eyes, and the way I moved around the world. Yeah, I've been training my whole life for this.

WHITFIELD: That's wonderful. It sounds complex, too. I mean, there's serious planning going on here, but you've made it so palatable for everyone. What have you kept in mind along the way to allow everyone to enjoy this experience with you?

MCCOY: Well, for me it was a very authentic experience. I committed myself, and the whole time it was that I was going to forget the cameras were there and have the same conversation I would have if they weren't there. I was raised to value humans as one of the greatest assets in the world.

And for me, I felt blessed to be able to travel in the world and to meet the exceptional people and honor for their time to tell their story and to give me an idea of what makes the world they live in special, and for me, I try to do the best I could to step out of the way and allowed them to express that to the world.

WHITFIELD: Well, I can't wait. I'm looking forward to being along, one of the many viewers along for the ride on your journey.

Carlton McCoy, "NOMAD", and we'll talk later. I'll hook you up with my husband, you all can talk shop in Southeast.

[14:55:01]

MCCOY: I love that.

WHITFIELD: All right. Look forward to it, thanks so much.

MCCOY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Be sure to tune in to an all new CNN original series "NOMAD WITH CARLTON MCCOY". That's premiering tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, only CNN.

All right. Right now, a memorial service honoring former Vice President Walter Mondale underway. President Biden will speak moments from now. We'll bring that to you live as it happens.

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