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Today: Biden Visits Border For The First Time In His Presidency; Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin Sends Thanks In Social Media Posts; Bills Preparing To Take Field In First Game After Hamlin's Collapse; 8K-Plus NY Nurses Set To Strike Monday If Contract Deals Are Not Reached; Suspect In Police Shooting Taken Into Custody, Shot By Officers; Soon: Wreath Laying To Commemorate 100 Years Since Racist Massacre; Ukraine Denies Russia's Claims It Killed Hundreds Of Soldiers. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired January 08, 2023 - 11:00   ET

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

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[11:00:30]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All right, happening right now, President Biden is on his way to the southern border ahead of the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City.

Moments ago, the President boarded Air Force One and departed from Joint Base Andrews for El Paso, Texas, where he will eventually assess the situation along the border for himself. And this will be Biden's first visit to the border during his presidency.

His administration is under fire from Republicans and some Democrats over the migrant crisis along the southern border. El Paso, Texas has seen a record level of migrants and asylum seekers arriving in recent weeks hoping a Trump era law blocking border crossings would be lifted.

CNN's Arlette Saenz is at the White House for us. So Arlette, this trip comes just days after Biden unveiled a new immigration plan. What more can you tell us about the President's visit and his goals?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, President Biden will spend roughly three hours in El Paso, Texas, a city that has really been at the center of the immigration debate for years now. And it is there where officials say President Biden will get a first- hand look of border enforcement operations, as he tours the bridge of America's port of entry with customs and border protection officials, as well as lawmakers from several border districts down in Texas.

Additionally, while the President is on the ground there, he will also visit a migrant services center which has been critical to supporting the migrants who have come to the United States over the course of the past few years. But as the President is making his first trip down to the U.S.-Mexico border, it's also important to take a step back to talk about the political conundrum that the President has been facing when it comes to border issues on multiple fronts. First, the President has faced plenty of political heat from Republicans and some Democrats who have been frustrated with his lack of ability to address the record number, record level of border crossings that have occurred in the US. The President has argued that the way to fix these border issues is through comprehensive immigration reform.

And he's placing the onus on Republicans to try to work towards that. But at the same time, the President is unveiling some migration proposals that are putting him at odds with his own party with allies within his party and also running counter to some of the very campaign promises the President has made.

Most recently, the president on Thursday, announced that new policy which expands a humanitarian parole program, but it also expedites the removal of migrants who are trying to come to the United States outside of the legal process. He would be doing so under that controversial Title 42 policy that was put in place during the Trump administration.

Several allies, groups as well as Democrats have been quite critical of the President and the administration for unveiling this policy. And as the President heads down to the border today, it certainly is putting this political liability of the border issue in the spotlight in the White House trying to show that they are trying to do something to address an issue that has really become very intractable.

WHITFIELD: All right, Arlette Saenz at the White House, thank you so much.

All right, let's talk more about the President's visit. With me now to talk about this, right along the southern border is Isabel Salcido. She is a city council member in El Paso, Texas. And Isabel, you're joining us on the phone. I know you'll be meeting with the President later on. What is your hope in that meeting with the President? What do you expect to tell him? What do you want him to see in your city?

ISABEL SALCIDO, EL PASO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: Good morning, Fredricka. And thank you so much for having me. I do want to say that it's a great honor that to have been invited by the President in his first historic visit here at the border community.

But a couple of things that I do want to make sure that he understands firsthand is what our challenges are sharing our community, what our needs are, what we're hearing right now. And so that's going to definitely be my focus, as I get to meet with the President of the United States.

WHITFIELD: So, describe the challenges that you want to share with him.

SALCIDO: You know, one of the biggest challenges that we're seeing here, of course, is the fact that of, you know, the influx of the migrants, but the processes that are not in place, and the municipalities being tasked and been able to roll out the best practices to be the most careful and caring to the migrants. WHITFIELD: And we're looking at images showing a lot of people standing, sitting, laying on the streets. If you could describe for us how you see this problem growing in your city.

[11:05:15]

SALCIDO: So right now, of course, we've seen the patterns kind of stop in and then they're not increasing. But we know that when Title 42 is going to be lifted, it's going to be back to that. And so, we right now are still seeing them. They're having, you know, we're having to aid them, there's shelter, food, and so there's going to be many challenges in regards to it. The more influx that we get, the more challenges we're going to face of infrastructure, and being able to process them and treat them the most humane way possible.

WHITFIELD: Just minutes ago, you said you want to convey to the President the challenges and the needs now, describe, if you will, the needs that you think this President can bring.

SALCIDO: To the need -- I mean, the needs of -- the situation continues to be very fluid, and now -- and the needs change daily. So what I do definitely want to see the President in this visit is they better understand what is going on here so that he can continue to insist members of Congress to keep pushing for a long overdue comprehensive immigration reform.

I just want them to really be able to understand that these communities like mine are very -- are being tasked, it is very burdensome. And in order for us to be able to expedite in the best way possible, we want to rise to the occasion. We do need a grant funding. We need funding so that we can be able to address this, the minute it hits.

WHITFIELD: So what's your understanding of the President's new border enforcement plan that is calling for allowing up to 30,000 migrants a month into the U.S. from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and while also expelling up to 30,000 migrants a month who circumvent U.S. laws?

SALCIDO: He has been speaking to a lot of NGOs in our community, and they've been expressing their concerns that they have. And so, in regards that they don't feel it's the best, you know, policy but with that is I'm going to be able to convey to him what I'm hearing in my community, so that he can better be able to address the policies that he has coming out for municipalities like ours, the border. And so I'm going to do my best to convey that message to them, of what we are dealing with here in El Paso.

WHITFIELD: Is it your feeling that the President's visit will expedite remedies? There have been so many calls for him to come to the border. Well, now here it is happening today. What are the solutions that you see coming from the President's visit today, more immediate solutions?

SALCIDO: I hoping -- I can't really speak for the person of the United, but I am hoping that can really hearing the concerns that we have here with in regards to processing, in regards to sheltering, that he really takes that in consideration moving on forward on how he's going to insist Congress to push forward.

But I just want to also just think, I know that you are aware that six bipartisan senators will be here also on Monday. So I think that this visit of the President has already pushed forward another movement, another -- a group of people wanting to work towards a solution. And we all know we need to work together in order to get something done.

And so I'm hoping really for possibly a McCain-Kennedy immigration bill that comes out of it. Make sure that we get more border security. We update the antiquated visa system, and that we really create a legal pathway for all the migrants that currently are here and that are contributing to our communities, but also the ones that are going to be coming as well.

WHITFIELD: El Paso City Council Member, Isabel Salcido, thanks so much for taking the time with us as you prepare for your visit within minutes or hours from now, your personal visit with the President of the United States. Thank you so much.

SALCIDO: Thank you so much, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, the other big story bringing high anticipation, the Buffalo Bills, getting some encouraging news as they get ready to take the field today for the first time since safety Damar Hamlin's terrifying injury. Hamlin posting messages this weekend on his Instagram page and looking really happy there, thanking everyone for their love and prayers.

He's now breathing on his own just days after he suffered an on-field cardiac arrest. And across the NFL, an outpouring of love and support for Hamlin. You see it in so many different ways. Teams and fans paying tribute as he makes a remarkable recovery there. Patrick Mahomes wearing a shirt for him and other players as well on the field.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At this time, the Raiders ask everyone to join us in a moment of have support and love for Jamar, and cheer for him and his family as they continue their fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:10:12]

WHITFIELD: Even ESPN right there who broadcast last night the Jaguar- Titans game paying tribute. Just look at the mic flags. They're flipping their mic flags from the network's iconic E symbol to Hamlin's number three. Pretty inventive there. Now all eyes turned to Buffalo as the team prepares to strap on the pads once again.

CNN's Coy Wire is live outside the Bills stadium. So oh my gosh, it must be electric in that city, Coy?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, that's a good word for it. It's going to be an emotional roller coaster all day long from the tears and fears that started the week to the outpouring of love and support. It is game day, Fred. Drumroll please. This place is incredible.

We have -- everywhere you look you see the love and support for Damar Hamlin. It's a celebration. I've seen never-seen fans more excited for a football game than I have for this. Not only is this a huge divisional rivalry, the New England Patriots. It is now what head coach John McDermott calls a celebration of life.

We're walking around seeing the fans who are making custom signs to show their love and support for Damar Hamlin. There was one particularly elaborate sign, and I asked the adults, oh, who made this and he said, a bunch of kindergarteners made this side for Damar Hamlin. I talked to some of the fans about the emotional journey this week has been. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was speechless. It was heartbreaking. And to see it happen in real time and see the team react and the players react, I couldn't even imagine what was going through their heads.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody just got together and prayed. Everybody was just one and came together with positive thoughts and prayers. So it's -- I think it's brought everybody together. Like I said, no matter what team you're with, we love each other.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we do. We came together as a whole.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that's what matters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be like emotional for all the players. But I think all the fans are going to be riled up for everything especially because how bad that was. All the whole NFL just came together and I think everyone in that stadium is going to be exploding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: The displays going to be rocking, Fred. The players and the fans are going to be cheering and playing for Damar. That pregame tributes that we saw in the two games yesterday, they're going to be more elaborate --

WHITFIELD: Yes, so nice.

WIRE: -- here I'm told in Buffalo, extended tribute to the medical workers and the trainers who saved Damar Hamlin's life. It is going to be one of the most powerful scenes we have ever seen in sports --

WHITFIELD: Nice.

WIRE: -- when a kickoff happens just a bit from now, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh, so well deserved -- oh, I mean, I think just love is emanating from that jersey and everyone is feeling it. And I love how all the teams have come together. I mean, really the nation, the NFL, all of it. It's great. Go Hamlin.

All right, Coy Wire. Go Coy. Thank you so much. We'll check back with you.

All right, coming up. Gridlock between a major New York hospital and a nurse's union and some of the most vulnerable patients are caught right in the middle. Infants in the ICU are being transferred ahead of a looming strike. Details on that straight ahead.

Plus, more than a half million people in California are without power as relentless storms push across the state today. We'll bring you the forecast straight ahead.

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[11:17:44]

WHITFIELD: Nearly 9,000 nurses at several New York hospitals are prepared to walk off the job tomorrow if tentative contract agreements are not reached, including at Manhattan's Mount Sinai Hospital. Officials there say they are preparing for a potential strike by moving infants out of intensive care units, diverting ambulances and postponing elective surgeries.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino is following the story for. So Gloria, I mean, it seems the most vulnerable patients are being caught up in this negotiation gridlock. So where do things stand?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred, the most vulnerable, the littlest patients and IQ babies in neonatal intensive care units, those infants whose families are trying to get them home. We can tell you now that we know seven of those infants were transferred to partner hospitals last night and six more are expected to be transferred today.

Now, as you said, thousands of nurses, both at the Mount Fury and the Mount Sinai campuses could be striking as early as 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, if they do not reach a deal by tonight. Now let's get into a little bit of the demands that the nurses are making, because they've made the argument that they have been working under stressful conditions for several years now, including the pandemic.

They want better wages, better health benefits, and they're also extremely concerned about the patient to nurse ratio. They want better staffing. They say that they're stretched out extremely thin, and that ultimately that is a disservice to the patients.

Now as these negotiations have been ongoing between the hospitals and the nurses' union, the hospitals have been forced to put several measures into place in the event of a strike and that includes everything from diverting ambulances to other area hospitals, they have canceled or postponed elective surgeries and they are also bringing in traveling nurses in an effort to prepare for the potential strike.

Now I should mention that the union has reached a tentative deals with other hospitals and we've reached out to Montefiore today to get a statement and ask them where things stand right now. This is what they said to us.

[11:20:05]

They said, "The New York State Nurses Association inconsistent bargaining, unwillingness to accept this offer, and insistence on moving forward with the strike has left us no choice but to take significant actions to care for our patients." That's the hospital making a reference to the fact they've been able to settle deals with other hospitals with the exception of these three that remain without a deal so far.

So it's really coming down to the wire here. The next couple of hours are going to be crucial to determine whether or not they can reach a deal. And if by tomorrow morning, the hospital system will be under duress, given that nurses will be striking, and so many of these vulnerable patients, their families, and doctors trying to provide services at the hospital. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right. Gloria Pazmino, thanks so much for the update.

All right, the man named as a suspect in the shooting of a Scottsdale Arizona police detective is now in custody. Phoenix police say officers shot 37-year-old Kenneth Hearn after he allegedly pulled out a gun as police tried to arrest him last night. Authorities say Hearn was taken to the hospital and is in extremely critical condition.

Hearn is accused of firing on a detective who was serving a warrant on Friday. Police say the detective is recovering well, and they hope he will be released from the hospital soon.

All right, in just a few hours, Rosewood, Florida will mark 100 years since a massacre decimated an entire black community. I'll talk with the grandson of a survivor next.

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[11:26:10]

WHITFIELD: In just a few hours, a solemn ceremony begins to remember a horrific racist attack that took place 100 years ago. Rosewood, Florida was a thriving black community burned to the ground a century ago. Historian say a white woman in a neighboring town accused a black man of assaulting her. For seven days, the black residents of Rosewood were terrorized, victimized, many fled, at least eight people were killed.

Joining us now is CNN Senior Writer on Race and Equality Nicquel Terry Ellis. Nicquel, so good to see you. I mean, what is going to happen today to help people remember and mark, I mean, this is a horrible, grim reminder 100 years ago. But to celebrate the lives of people who lived in Rosewood and to recognize what happened this horrible page of history.

NICQUEL TERRY ELLIS, CNN SENIOR WRITER, RACE AND EQUALITY: Yes, thank you for having me, Fredricka. So there's going to be a special wreath laying ceremony in Rosewood, Florida today where the actual massacre took place. The families of those who were impacted by the massacre are going to be there to honor their loved ones, honor those lives that were lost and honor the survivors of such such a horrific, you know, deadly attack that happened to this community. And so they're going to all come together and recognize it.

And I think it's important because for so long, the Rosewood massacre was not talked about.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ELLIS: It was just sort of this event that happened and everyone just kind of moved on with their lives while people were left to just sort of have these horrific memories of what happened there and just sort of move on. It was just -- it wasn't good. And it also hasn't been taught in our classrooms either. So it just hasn't been good at all.

WHITFIELD: I was going to say, look, I went to public schools in the Maryland area. Never was this page in history ever taught. I learned about it after, you know, graduating from high school. And I know a lot of people are still learning, but for the first time now.

You actually talked to a number of descendants, right? What are their thoughts and feelings about how this day is being recognized? And that there has been this absence of teaching about Rosewood, Florida for so many years.

ELLIS: You know, it's actually been heartbreaking to talk to these descendants and kind of hear their stories and just hear about all that was lost within their families, the properties that were lost, the homes that were lost, the land that was lost, the whole town was just burned down. And these people were forced to escape to other communities and rebuild their lives.

Families were separated and divided. If there's just been like this generational trauma, then it's also been passed down, through, you know, the folks that have had to endure this. I spoke with one distinctive, her name is Raghan Pickett. And she talked about the emotion that she's feeling just from learning about what happened to her great, great uncle who survived it. Listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAGHAN PICKET, ROSEWOOD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: It was pretty sad to understand and to know what happened to your family, to see that your family had everything that they want -- new or owned, burned to the ground and having to relocate to new areas. And also, also give me a sense of resiliency, because this is not something that was talked about much in my family, they sort of just relocated to new areas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And that's powerful, you know, that it happened, but that story was even held close, you know, wasn't shared with the next generation. And there's something to them. We've seen that in other occurrences of history to where a lot of times the survivors of horrible things feel like they're almost protecting the next generation by not sharing because it was just so traumatic. Did she say anything about you know why a lot of her family members descendants, perhaps never talked about it?

ELLIS: I think because it was so traumatic. I think these people saw a lot of horrific and traumatic things.

[11:30:04]

A lot of the survivors were children, teenagers when this happened. So they've had to kind of, you know, grow up and go through life with these memories. And I think some were even afraid of retaliation. They were fearful of, you know, the white mob that came and destroyed their talent coming back and coming after them even after they relocated.

So I think that's kind of been the feeling. And so, it just wasn't -- just hasn't been talked about, you know, in this family. But that's why I think that the 100-year anniversary, and the celebration that's happening in Rosewood, this week, is just so important.

WHITFIELD: How has the state of Florida perhaps, you know, tried to right the wrongs of the past in the form of reparations?

ELLIS: Yes. So in 1994, the state of Florida actually passed a law. And the law offers a scholarship in the form of reparations for people who want to go to school in state and they are a descendant of someone who either survived or died in the Rosewood massacre.

So what's helped hundreds and hundreds of people to be able to go to college in Florida was tuition paid, which is, you know, a big deal.

WHITFIELD: That's a really big deal.

ELLIS: That's important, you know, in the black community, given that student debt is such a huge issue in terms of generational wealth, gaining generational wealth.

WHITFIELD: Sure, it is significant. Nicquel Terry Ellis, thanks so much. Good to see you. Appreciate it.

ELLIS: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Thanks for bringing Raghan story as well.

ELLIS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate it.

All right, let's talk more about this. Joining us right now, the grandson of a Rosewood massacre survivor, who is now a law professor at the University of Florida, Jonathan Barry-Blocker. Professor, so good to see you. So, I mean, 100 years, I wonder what you can add to Raghan story that Nicquel just brought us in terms of being a descendant of a survivor of Rosewood? What were the story shared with you growing up? Or perhaps the lack of stories that, you know, those stories just didn't exist or wasn't passed on -- weren't passed on to you?

JONATHAN BARRY-BLOCKER, GRANDSON OF ROSEWOOD MASSACRE SURVIVOR: Yes, thanks for having me. Unlike Raghan's family, my family did not share the story of what happened. So when the Rosewood movie came out, and I was about 13, my dad sat me down. And advice, people may ask questions, you may hear about this, your grandfather was involved. But he's not going to answer questions. So he's not going to talk about it.

And that was it. And it wasn't until I was in college at Morehouse, and I watched the movie, that I had a better understanding of what transpired. So, I believe my grandfather, and his family kept it quiet, out of protection for themselves and their families and not to maybe burden us. But now I'm taking the opportunity to learn more.

WHITFIELD: And so, how did you process that as a young college student?

BARRY-BLOCKER: I was angry, very angry. I did not leave my dorm room or the campus for that entire weekend after watching the movie.

WHITFIELD: And then now, all these many years, so you are a professor, you know, perhaps there is an instinct, unlike ever before, where you want to share this with students, their lessons you want to teach them, you know, some of it from your family's experience. What are those?

BARRY-BLOCKER: You're right, you're spot on. I teach trial skills. And I teach social justice here at the law school. And in both courses, I make sure students understand that different communities and different types of Americans are treated differently in the courts, their claims are considered differently. And so, I stressed that point, especially in the trial skills course.

In the social justice course, I help them understand that it's not just voting rights. It's not just police violence, there's all kinds of ills that are intersecting, and happening to various community. So I focus a lot on. In fact, my students will probably tell you, I have a lot of historical, legal historical information, I make them read and process and analyze. Because that, as you have pointed out, what happened to my family informs how I teach and how I go about my advocacy.

WHITFIELD: What kind of feedback then do you get? Or even, you know, do you see a kind of the wheels in motion in some of the students when you have these discussions with them? What do you think is happening?

BARRY-BLOCKER: Definitely. Minds being blown and they're having to process. Some of my students come from conservative backgrounds, and they've shared in the reflections with me, that has made them reevaluate how they engaged or have engaged at every level of their life or with their community, with their friends, with their schools. And it's also led some of them to share harms that their families have suffered.

Even the non-black or I guess you would say white families have suffered over the years. So, they get it, they appreciate it. And they come back and tell me that.

WHITFIELD: The issue of reparations, you know, and Nicquel and I were just talking about, you know, 1994, Florida, doing what it did, and and in those reparations, making sure that descendants of Rosewood would have the opportunity to go to college, you know, would be able to have money for tuition. Is that a start, is that enough, what are your thoughts on that?

[11:35:11]

BARRY-BLOCKER: That's a big question.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BARRY-BLOCKER: I think it is a noteworthy start. I think education is a great pathway to improving your family as well as your own outcomes. However, it's not enough. And I think we also need to recognize when -- even the things we do have, if you read the legislative history of those reparations, that they were hard fought for, and they were begrudgingly given in some respects.

And others, I think it's just not enough. So we need to be creative of what we think about this, how to repair the harms to impacted families, not just for Rosewood, but for Ocoee, and for all the other massacres, and riots and violence done during Reconstruction in Jim Crow.

WHITFIELD: You know, and I wonder what your thoughts are to me who, you are professor, you know, you learn of it, it took a while, but you learned of it through your family, and then you are now imparting incredible knowledge. I was someone, you know, who grew up in public schools in Maryland area, never heard anything about.

And it's not an indictment of, you know, where I grew up, and where I went to school and all the great, you know, teachers who taught me, but I didn't learn anything about it. It was only after, you know, high school, that I would learn about it. And so many people to this day are just hearing about it for the first time.

You know, so I wonder what your thoughts are about these very important powerful pages of history, that are just people, are just now being enlightened of so much of it. And what that says about where we are, how much further we have to go, what kind of work we need to do.

BARRY-BLOCKER: It's very concerning. So many of the living witnesses to those eras are dying or have died. So we're losing access to important information, important perspectives. I, too, grew up in public schools in Central Florida, never learned about Rosewood, never learned about Ocoee, never learned about Tulsa.

So I would love for that information to be taught, in fact, then we can teach reconstruction. And we see how critical that is in light of January 6. But I also think it's important upon parents and family members to take this opportunity to self-instruct, to give their children the books that touch on these topics, to broach it at family reunions, to take them to landmarks and places and have these conversations and you can have it at age appropriate levels.

I grew up in with my dad's 1970s Black Power books and black history books surrounding us. So there was always an interest there in the background. But I would encourage families now. Even if the government or the state, in your area won't do it as they should, I encourage families to go ahead and teach that information just like I'll be doing for my girls.

WHITFIELD: All right, Professor teaching in the classroom and on the airwaves and every day. Professor Jonathan Barry-Blocker, thank you so much. Great to see you.

BARRY-BLOCKER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

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[11:42:08]

WHITFIELD: All right after a chaotic week, the House is preparing to roll up its sleeves now that Republicans have control. So with Kevin McCarthy elected House Speaker, what comes next? First, they must pass a new set of House rules as every new Congress does. And this tops their priority list once they reconvene tomorrow, as it formalizes some of the many concessions McCarthy agreed to in his quest for Speaker.

Among them, allowing a single member to bring a vote to the floor to try to oust the speaker. Also establishing a special committee to investigate the Department of Justice and FBI, a key target for House Republicans.

And earlier this morning my colleague Jake Tapper asked Congressman Chip Roy, who was a key holdout if he would vote to oust McCarthy as speaker if he failed to carry out promises that he made on the debt ceiling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHIP ROY (R), TEXAS: I'm not going to play the what if games on how we're going to use the tools of the House to make sure that we enforce the terms of the agreement, but we will use the tools of the House to enforce the terms of the agreement.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Will you negotiate with Democrats in the Senate because as you know --

ROY: Sure.

TAPPER: -- this isn't just about you negotiating with Kevin McCarthy. ROY: Yes.

TAPPER: Kevin McCarthy's much more conservative --

ROY: Sure.

TAPPER: -- however much you think he is actually a conservative compared to the people who run the Senate, which are the Democrats or White House, which is Joe Biden, right?

ROY: Well, remember that in 2011, Obama was in the White House, and we got Cut, Cap, and Balance, because we took it to the American people. The American people were tired of the status quo, we took the message to them, and we force change. Our point is, let's fight now to end the status quo. Let's get in the rooms now.

Republicans should send good appropriations bills over to the House, make Chuck Schumer reject them. Let's send a good appropriations bill, funding our men and women in uniform who use so great -- and I'm grateful that you support them so much. Let's go send them a good bill. Let's go send a good homeland security bill.

Let's go send legislation. If Chuck Schumer doesn't want to pass those, then it's on him.

TAPPER: Yes.

ROY: Let's come back to the table and let's talk about it. But let's do our part to balance the budget, do our job and put everything on the table for everybody to sit down and do the work in American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Other items on the agenda including tackling inflation, border security and launching possible impeachment proceedings.

All right, coming up. This morning, Ukraine is denying Russian claims that they killed more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers in a retaliation attack. We're live in Kyiv next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:49:01]

WHITFIELD: A Ukrainian military spokesman is denying Russia's claims that it killed a large number of Ukrainian troops. Russia claims an attack on the troops in Kramatorsk with in retaliation for the killing of its soldiers in a Russian occupied area of Ukraine. CNN Scott McLean is in key. So what do we know about these claims?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka. Yes, so Kramatorsk is not on the front lines, but it is close enough that it's a frequent target for Russian bombs. So what we know is that our team, Ben Wedeman and his team just after 11:00 last night, literally minutes after that unilateral Russian ceasefire expired, heard seven explosions in or around the city.

These were Russian missile strikes that as you say the Russians claimed were in retaliation for that devastating strike on a Russian barracks in Makiivka just after midnight on New Year's Eve that the Russians, by the way, blame the troops themselves for using their cell phones even they acknowledged that in that case 89 were killed but the number may be even higher than that.

[11:50:04]

In this case, the Russians claimed that 600 Ukrainian troops were killed. The problem with that statement is that we haven't found a shred of evidence to suggest that it is actually true. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry called it nonsense and of course, our team on the ground as well went to try to figure out if there was any truth to it as well and simply could not find any. There was no unusual activity.

Overnight, there was no blaring ambulances, there was no backed up morgues, there was nothing at all to suggest that there was some kind of mass casualty event or that there are that there had been a large number of Ukrainian troops there. What they did find is the video that you're seeing there, which is some very large craters in the street, one of them was right in front of a high school where they found the windows blown out but again, no bodies, no blood, nothing to indicate that there had been anywhere near this many people killed, let alone anyone at all. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Scott. And then we're also learning about a prisoner exchange earlier today. What more on that?

MCLEAN: Yes, so both sides have acknowledged that this prisoner exchange took place. 50 Russians were traded in exchange for 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war. And the Ukrainian say that some of the troops that they got back were some of the defenders of Mariupol. That city that was captured early on in the war, and some were from the Chernobyl power plant as well that the Russians captured early on in the war.

Also, we have new video from both sides, from the Russian troops coming home and then the Ukrainians as well. In some of the video that the Ukrainians released, you can see troops on the bus singing the national anthem. One soldier in a separate video also asks whether the town of Izium in the Kharkiv region was liberated from the Russians.

That town was liberated in September, which goes to show you just how little information, how little access to information these troops actually had. In more than 10 months of war also, Fredricka, this is the 36 prisoners' swap. According to the Ukrainian, some or more than 1,600 Ukrainian troops have come home through these prisoner exchanges.

WHITFIELD: And it's still hard to believe that we're coming up on the one-year marker of when this invasion began there in Ukraine. Thank you so much, Scott McLean in Kyiv. Appreciate it.

All right, today the first international flight to China since the country's reopening has arrived in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. China Southern Airlines says the flight which departed from Toronto landed just after midnight, local time, and the flight was delayed for around two and a half hours for public safety reasons, though, it's not clear whether this was because of COVID 19 restrictions in China.

China dropped quarantine requirements for international arrivals rather beginning Sunday in a major step toward reopening its borders that had been closed to the rest of the world for nearly three years now.

After days of relentless rain and flooding, residents of California are bracing for another round of severe weather. We'll have the latest forecast next.

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[11:57:24]

WHITFIELD: Recovery efforts continue in Colorado for missing snowmobile are believed to be buried after an avalanche. That event already claimed the life of one person, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office. Emergency crews responded to reports of an avalanche yesterday near the town of Winter Park.

First responders were able to recover a 58-year-old male from northern Colorado who was pronounced dead at the scene. Weather and safety concerns previously forced responders to pause search efforts.

And California is bracing for more heavy rain in the coming days that could trigger widespread flooding across much of the state. And right now, more than 15 million Californians are under flood watches as a massive storm bears down. High winds and rain moved in overnight, leaving nearly 500,000 customers without power.

CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar is tracking the storm for us. So Allison, this is big.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is and really Monday is the day that everybody really needs to be focused on. We take a look at where it's raining right now, we're finally starting to see at least a little bit of an end to places like Sacramento, San Francisco down towards Monterey. And we're going to get at least a few hours of a break before the next round moves in.

So again, it's not going to be a very long period of time. In fact, for some of these areas as early as tonight, that next round begins to set in with some additional rain and snow. You've got more than 15 million people here in this green color showing you where they are under flood watches because of how much rain and snow is expected with this next round of showers moving in.

Here you can see that next round starting to make its way in as early as this evening across northern and central portions of California. That wave pushes in and then again, by the time we get to Tuesday and Wednesday of the upcoming week, an additional wave of moisture is set to push into these exact same areas. Because of the prolonged nature and basically having one storm after another with not much of a break in between, you're looking at multiple days of what we're talking about the potential for excessive rainfall. This red area you see here having a moderate risk for excessive rainfall and the potential for flooding over the next few days.

Widespread, you're looking at 4 to 6 inches of rain, especially along the coastal regions. When we talk about snow, it's going to be measured in feet. Most of these areas 1 to 3 feet of snow but some of these areas could exceed 5 feet total. You're talking about a tremendous amount of snow.

It's why you've got these winter storm warnings, watches and advisories set in place, but also some wind products too, Fred, and that's important too because it takes that snow and blows it around causing that visibility to be basically at zero for pro-longed periods of time.

WHITFIELD: All right, be careful everybody. All right, Allison Chinchar, thanks so much.

And this quick programming note, "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace" returns for a new season of conversation with newsmakers, luminaries and Hollywood legends, guided by one other best interviewers in the business Hugh Jackman and James Cameron join Chris for the season premiere tonight at 7:00 right here on CNN.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield in Atlanta. I'll see you back here 02:00 Eastern time. Coming up right now on CNN Jake Tapper talks to Congressman Chip Roy of Texas, who was a key negotiator when it came to getting Kevin McCarthy elected as House Speaker.