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Connect the World
Filippo Grandi: Refugees Need Reassurance Before They Will Return Home; U.N. High Commissioner For Refugees On CNN; Awaiting U.S. Decisions On Vaccine Approval And Distribution; Internal Chinese Documents Showed More Coronavirus Cases Than Were Publicly Revealed; Soon: Biden To Formally Introduce Economic Team; Irish Family Shares Video Diary Of Life Under Lockdown. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired December 01, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Our top story this hour from political instability to
the impacts of COVID-19, these are things we connect time and again on this program.
But rarely do we get to see the impact of them on some of the most vulnerable people on the planet is felt. We're talking about refugees. We
begin this hour near the borders of Ethiopia, Sudan and Eretria where the United Nations is calling for urgent access. Food has run out for nearly
100,000 people according to the UN.
They are refugees from Eritrea who have been sheltering in camps in the Tigray region to escape persecution in their own country. Now war has cut
the region off from the world for nearly a month. And despite the Ethiopian government's claims of victory over a rebel movement, there are still
reports of fighting which is in turn causing further displacement.
Well, America's top diplomat Mike Pompeo spoke to Ethiopian Prime Minister reiterating "United States' grave concerns regarding ongoing hostilities
and the risks that conflict poses". Well, the UNHCR's High Commissioner for refugees has just returned from Sudan where he met people who fled across
the border. He says they do want to return home, but only if their lives will not be at risk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FILIPPO GRANDI, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Refugees are fleeing from conflict, they are afraid of violence, they're afraid also to an
extent of inter-communal violence. And I have asked many of them what your wish, most of them are, if not all of them, want to go back, but only if
peace prevails and their security is assured?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Filippo Grandi joining us now from Geneva and we appreciate your time sir. Just tell our viewers what you saw on your trip to Sudan?
GRANDI: First of all, the incredible generosity of a country, Sudan, many challenges difficult political transition economical challenges keeping its
borders open. They already have a million refugees from previous other crisis and they still do it big example to the world in times when this
doesn't always happen.
And then I saw a population, as you reported before, just a few seconds ago, that definitely is keen to go back. Many of them don't even want to be
moved away from the border which by the way we need to do for security reasons because they say we want to return as soon as possible.
Possible means really feeling secure from any types of violent, retaliation and so forth. So they just don't want to see the end of hostilities, which
is good, naturally, but they also want to be sure that nothing will be done to target them, either to inter-communal violence or in other ways.
We heard reassuring messages from the Prime Minister of Ethiopia from the federal authorities, and let's hope that this will be the progression so
that these people can go back.
ANDERSON: Sir what did you learn about what is going on, on the ground across the border, reporting what is going on is extremely difficult -
there is a media blackout? I know it has been extremely difficult for humanitarian agencies as well to get a really good stare about the current
situation so what is that as you understand?
GRANDI: No, you said it. It is very difficult. It's not only a media blackout, but communication blackout. Even for the people who find
themselves now in Sudan, there are about 46,000 that have arrived so far. Many of them are separated from their families. I have never seen so many
separations why because they cannot communicate with each other?
And all the more so for organizations like ours that are present in Tigray, have worked there for a long time.
[11:05:00]
GRANDI: We need that access, that ability for us to go to the population that we care for, that we work with. We need that to be restored by the
federal government as soon as possible so that we can have a better idea what the needs are and act on them.
This is particularly true in the case of my organization UNHCR. For those that are displaced, but also for almost 100,000 Eritrean refugees who have
been hosted very generously by Ethiopia for decades, and to whom we need to restore access to give them food and other support that they depend on for
their survival.
ANDERSON: Filippo where are those more than 40,000 who have fled this current fighting from? How many Ethiopians? How many Tigrayans and what are
they telling you and your colleagues about what they are fleeing from?
GRANDI: There is a mix, but the vast majority are Tigrayans and because they come from majority Tigrayan areas which were the theater of the
conflict in the past few weeks. They are afraid of war. This is a very natural reaction of any civilian population. They are afraid also of this
violence to be targeted, to be singled out. That's what they mostly say.
You know, most of them fled very suddenly. You can easily see this as opposed to a planned exodus. They came with nothing, they left many
relatives behind and they're separated. They left at a time when its harvest season and most of them are farmers. Harvest is their key
livelihood. And the fact that they chose to leave at this time may be missing out on their main source of revenue is an indication of how afraid
they were.
So I think that it is really very important that work now steps up in their areas of origin so that we can help create conditions for people to return
and help the Ethiopian government create those conditions. We're willing to do that.
ANDERSON: We have seen images over the past three weeks and we have been reporting on those images that we have been able to get hold of. Much of
that footage of course is coming from humanitarian agencies in Sudan, images of people fleeing in significant numbers.
Those numbers have dwindled over the past few days and humanitarian agencies telling CNN over the weekend those Ethiopian authorities have been
blocking access for people to flee. What do you know about that? Is that something that you can stand up?
GRANDI: I have asked these questions to many of the refugees I have spoken to. This is my personal view formed through those conversations. I don't
think there has been a sealing off a deliberate blockage, but it's very difficult to move to a war area.
Many of them said to me that as the war progressed, as the conflict progressed, there were more and more checkpoints and therefore it was
difficult to move around for civilians. I think this is more the nature of those obstacles if you wish.
Of course, we always advocate to everybody that if people are in need of safety, they run to save their lives, no obstacle should be put in their
way, but we understand the complexity of military action and how this can impact civilians.
You said the numbers have been dwindling, surely they have gone down, but I was there for three or four days. The numbers are still 500, 800 per day,
quite a considerable outflow. Remember also, most of these people come from the western part of Tigray - and other towns near the Sudanese border.
Military action has moved more east wards towards the Mekelle the capital which is very far from the Sudanese border. This may also account for some
of the declining figures.
ANDERSON: And of course, one person fleeing is one person too many, of course. Do you know how many people have died in this fighting so far? Is
it clear?
GRANDI: No, absolutely not. There has been so many reports about violence, killings in the respect of the Eritreans we heard that there were killings
targeted at refugees, deportations of refugees to Eritrea. All of these are reports that are not confirmed and really I think seems there are very
serious reports I think we should reserve our judgment until the time when there would be, as I hope, reviews and investigations of these issues.
[11:10:00]
GRANDI: This is why it is so important that access is restored for humanitarian agencies, so that we can contribute to help those in need and
hopefully to diminish tensions. Let me repeat again, I am particularly worried about Eritrean refugees.
If they get caught up in this conflict situation for them, it will be extremely grave and serious. Ethiopia has always fulfilled very well its
responsibility in respect of these refugees. Ethiopia has an exemplary track record of dealing with refugees and we hope that they will continue
to uphold that.
ANDERSON: You make a very good point sir. And U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeting yesterday and I quote. I spoke with the Ethiopian Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed today and urged a complete end to the fighting in Tigray. I start a dialogue and free safe unhindered humanitarian access. It
is he said, essential to resolve the ongoing conflict and keep Ethiopia on the path to democracy.
A statement I am sure that you applaud, sir. He also urged the government to get on with things. I know you have spoken to the government as well, to
provide humanitarian assistance to refugees. Are you satisfied with the response that you have got at this point? Is that going to happen, sir?
GRANDI: I hope so. We have got indications that the government wants to restore our operations in Tigray, not only ours, by the way of all
humanitarian organizations. That communications will be restored and that will make it possible for the situation to improve.
Although of course in the end this is a complex situation of tension that needs to be addressed politically, not just militarily. So we have to also
hope that that track we continue. May I say, Becky, if you allow me one second, we spoke understandably about the situation in Tigray.
Let's not forget there are also 50,000 refugees in Sudan as well. We mentioned that of course. When I was there I launched an appeal on behalf
of the whole humanitarian community for about $150 million that we need to help Sudan to respond to that emergency in the next six months. And I would
like this opportunity to remind our partners our donors that those resources are urgently needed.
ANDERSON: And you have commended the Sudanese government on your trip for taking in these refugees and you tweeted a photo of yourself with the Prime
Minister saying that you have assured him of UNHCR's support in responding to the ongoing refugee influx from Ethiopia.
And you've just suggested what it is that you need. What that means practically. Are you at this stage, given what the world is going through,
given where there are so many needs? You know that I speak to agency heads on a regular basis on this show.
I'm perfectly happy to say that we provide a platform to ensure that messages like your own are heard by the world. Are you comforted about the
needs at this point? I guess you know, about the response. Are you confident you will get anything like what you need at this point?
GRANDI: I hope so. I have just come out - I am just coming here to this interview from a meeting with the Ambassadors of key donor countries here
in Geneva in which I briefed them about my visit and I got already very good response.
I think everybody cares for Sudan at a difficult time of political transition. But at a positive time of political transition and everybody
wants to be ensure that Sudan which is very vulnerable to these shocks doesn't suffer further and that its progress towards stability, democracy,
development, is not hampered by additional crisis.
But you are right Becky. This is in a context of growing humanitarian crisis all over the world. Just this morning we in the UN have launched the
so-called global humanitarian overview which is prospects for humanitarian works for next year. We are asking for $35 billion for 34 operations this
is not just UNHCR this humanitarian community.
[11:15:00]
GRANDI: But if conflicts are not resolved where they should be, in the Security Council, in the institutions dedicated to that, unfortunately, the
price to pay will continue to rise.
ANDERSON: And your point about Sudan and it being a country in transition that needs the world support is a point that is so well made. On a point
that you just raised, for our viewers sake, that was a pretty stark number that the UN has just released.
A record 235 million people will need humanitarian assistant on prediction next year. That is a 40 percent increase from last year. I know that you
will agree with me when we report that is almost entirely from COVID.
So the number may sound enormous when you put a dollar and cents number against it sir but this is the number on the screen that people can see
here, 235 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Filippo Grandi we also congratulate you on your role at the agency. I know it continues. You have been re-elected. So again, congratulations on that.
I know how hard you work. I also know that you have suffered from COVID yourself this year. So great to see you back in good form and doing the
work that is so, so needed. Thank you, sir.
GRANDI: Thank you, Becky. Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Just ahead on "Connect the World", we have talked about the race to create a Coronavirus vaccine. Next, the equally daunting challenge of
getting it to the people and places needed. Also ahead--
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every night we cry to each other. If we are not crying, we are trying to make a way; we're trying to find a way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Two Texas parents decide to quit working in order to keep their daughter safe from Coronavirus. The financial ruin brought on by this
pandemic is laid bare ahead. Plus--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the season to be jolly but also the season to be--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Few places do Christmas quite like Europe. But leaders in England in Germany and elsewhere are asking people to keep this year's festivities
at home.
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ANDERSON: Now that a Coronavirus vaccine is in sight, plans are being made for the massive efforts to get it from the lab to the person who need it,
that's you and me. Two vaccines are headed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval and could be ready within weeks.
President Donald Trump is being asking questions about why the FDA hasn't already been approved a vaccine that's on the agenda the White House today.
Well, a CDC Advisory Committee also meets today to decide who will get vaccinated first and final plans from the states on vaccine distribution
are due by the end of this week.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, some U.S. states are concerned about not having enough supplies to administer a vaccine, but public health officials there says
states have a more timely concern. Even though a vaccine is coming it won't get here in time to help prevent a long, deadly winter.
As Dr. Anthony Fauci puts it, we are not in a good place he says in America. More than 96,000 people are hospitalized as we speak in the United
States. Our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is now with us with some more insight on all of this.
We are taking a look what is going on through the prism of the states. This is clearly a program that covers the world. We have been also reporting on
these vaccines seeking approval from Europe for example and elsewhere. But let's stick to what is going on in the states for the purpose of this
discussion Sanjay. CDC Advisory Committee will vote on the first group to get vaccinated. Who is likely to be in this group and what is the timeline
for the distribution if you will?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well this is going to be a very important discussion and that's not clear-cut Becky in terms
of who exactly will be first in line to get this? And these are going to be recommendations that are made by this advisory committee and then the 50
states will basically take those recommendations and create a plan within their own states.
Those plans are due this week. But let show you basically the way to think about this are that health care workers are probably going to be at the
front of the line. In part because hospital systems many of them are strained. If you get a lot of health care workers who are out because of
COVID they would obviously strain more.
So that sort of what - you know targeting that decision. But not all health care personnel are the same. I work in the hospital but I am a
neurosurgeon. Doctors, nurses and staff who are taking care of COVID patients they're really going to be the ones who are at the front of the
line.
But then you know this phase one be Becky here in the United States you know well over 200 million people are either considered essential, high
risk or vulnerable because of their age and they're going to be the ones that are next in line. That's a lot of doses of vaccine that are going to
be necessary just to cover those groups. This is sort of a plan that we are expecting over I think over the next few weeks, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. And Operation Warp Speed official said yesterday that and I quote here, 100 percent of Americans that want the vaccine will
have had the vaccine by June. What do you make of that statement?
GUPTA: Well, you know, it's an interesting statement and it was carefully worded. We know roughly how much vaccine is going to be available when. So
you just saw who is going to get it and how many people that you know sort of entails?
But we also know that for example at the end of the year there may be some 40 million doses available between the two vaccines from Moderna and
Pfizer, and the numbers go up over January, February and March.
You can see that you know you can get to close to 150 million doses or so. But you know the thing about this - and I spoke to the Head of Operation
Warp Speed last night, Becky - when you typically think about these types of medications or vaccine rollouts. You typically have a huge stock supply.
It is already stocked, you know you're ready and it can help even out any sort of surge demands. That is not the case here because there are
obviously such a demand for the vaccine right away the things as soon as they're being produced, manufactured and distributed, they are being
utilized.
The problem is that you could have bad batches of vaccines. They have to go through all of these quality checks and things like that. If you have a bad
batch, it may make it hard to actually keep up with those numbers.
The second thing in his statement is that of everybody who wants it. In the United States right now it's roughly 60 percent of adults who say that they
would actually take the vaccine. I did the math on this and that would mean that you would need some 300 million doses by June which looks like we
could get there. But what if demand goes up or what if supplies goes down? There are a lot of moving variables here still, Becky.
ANDERSON: Moderna designing its vaccine in just two days as I understand. What do you say to people who are concerned by how fast this process has
moved?
GUPTA: It is fast for sure. I talked to those scientists early on. I think there are a couple of things. One is that it is superfast. For Pfizer it
was 243 days from the time that they designed the vaccine to the time they requested authorization. Eight months, eight years would be considered
speedy so this is all very fast.
But as far as the actual design of the vaccine, I think Becky you almost have to think of this differently. Instead of thinking about a biologic
that you are creating in a lab, a new medicine in a lab. This is almost more like a computer code.
[11:25:00]
GUPTA: I'm simplifying a bit but essentially, they took the sequence of this virus and they said OK, we want to focus on this particular part of
that sequence and we are going to pull that out and create that code and that code is for a portion of the virus.
They give that to people and then those people's body start making that portion of the virus over and other again and then the body reacts to it so
it is like its own vaccine making machine each individual body is. It is a totally new way of looking at medicine. Certainly totally a new way of
looking at vaccines and I can understand the concern.
But look, no one knew for sure it was going to work until the data came back over these past few weeks. If the data holds up, it is impressive.
They are waiting for two months of safety data to give people at least a greater sense of confidence that is going to be both effective and safe.
ANDERSON: Scott Atlas, who is I think it's fair to say there is a controversial Coronavirus Adviser for Donald Trump is stepping down.
Sanjay, you had looked into his views that have been widely denounced by public health experts. What does it mean now that he has left the
administration?
GUPTA: I think it means that we hopefully are going to start following basic science again. The thing that sort of struck me so much about this
Becky is that he was obviously had the president's ear, but pretty much everything he advocated defied science and basically was just sort of
pandering to what the president wanted to hear.
You know that's just being very blunt and very honest about it. One of the big topics that kept coming up over and over again was this idea of herd
immunity which in his description just let the infection run free and see what happens.
It is a terrible strategy. When you ask him about it he would say I am not advocating for that at all, but then if you listen to his comments as -
that's what you listen you realize that that's in fact what he was saying all along, advocating this terrible strategy. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SCOTT ATLAS, THEN-WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS ADVISER: We should be fine with letting them get infected, generating immunity on their own and the
more immunity in the community, the better we can eradicate the threat of the virus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: So Becky, what you just heard there is the description of heard immunity, again a strategy that has been widely denounced by every
scientist really in the world. And frankly as you well know Becky, in this country, because the president - he had the president's ear, more than a
quarter million people have died.
That did not need to happen in this country. You know again it's hard to say that out loud. So many of these deaths were preventable but it's
unfortunately, because of people like Scott Atlas who were advocating for this sort of strategy, as you just heard, even though they say they
weren't.
ANDERSON: I have got about 90 seconds left. So very briefly a recent study as I understand it suggested that the Coronavirus could have been
circulating in the U.S. as early as mid-December. And couple that with Nick Paton Walsh's exclusive reporting this hour on leaked documents from inside
China that revealed misstep and chaos in that country's early response to the Coronavirus. It does suggest that there is more to this than we
originally thought we knew. What more do we know on this U.S. study?
GUPTA: Yes, Nick's reporting is phenomenal on this. I mean, it's what we've learned you know the first patient was officially diagnosed January 21st. I
think we all knew even at that time we didn't just happen to catch the very first patient.
What I think Nick's reporting and what we know now, is that there clearly was a community sort of spread of this virus in China earlier than maybe we
had been told and that people travel. People traveled with this very contagious virus much earlier than we realized. Becky, an outbreak anywhere
in the world is an outbreak everywhere in the world. I think that is what this reminds us that of and it is likely that this infection was in the
United States much earlier than anybody ever realized.
ANDERSON: Yes, and until everybody in the world gets a vaccine, we are as strong as our weakest point, right?
GUPTA: That's right.
ANDERSON: I mean that's the sort of extent of this. Sanjay, it's always a pleasure. Sanjay will remind us that the science tells us to wear a mask,
the - of course is a vaccine but we must wear masks and continue to be vigilant and socially distance.
Thank you, Sanjay, it is always a pleasure. Well, the U.S. President- Elect's transition to the White House is moving full steam ahead. Just ahead I'm going to speak with a Former Ohio Governor John Kasich about Joe
Biden's latest cabinet picks and what they will mean for America going forward?
[11:30:00]
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ANDERSON: All right. Well, as we continue to report on the global anguish of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have got exclusive reporting this hour on
leaked documents from China. As we get to that we want to remind you how we got to where we are today with just a month left in 2020.
You see the global numbers right here sobering and startling. More than 63 million cases reported nearly a million and a half deaths the numbers
growing even as vaccines do move tantalizingly close to approval. Yet for most of us seemingly a long way off before we actually get what could be
that life saving shot in the arm.
Now we have exclusive CNN reporting on leaked documents from China that revealing important information on the missteps and chaos of China's early
response to the novel Coronavirus as it spread in Wuhan this video from the city back in February and across Hubei Province where the pandemic is
thought to have begun. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh going to look at those leaked documents and has this exclusive report.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An unprecedented leak of internal Chinese document to CNN reveals for the first what China knew in the
opening weeks of the COPVID-19 pandemic but did not tell the world. A whistleblower who said they worked inside the Chinese health care system
shared documents with CNN online which showed a chaotic lack of response from the start.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
YANZHONG HUANG, SENIOR FELLOW FOR GLOBAL HEALTH, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: This lack of transparency sort of also contributed to the
crises.
DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, PROFESSOR, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: Seeing the information in black and white was very revealing and
instructive.
WALSH (voice over): CNN has verified them with half a dozen experts a European security official and using complex digital forensic analysis
looking at this source code. The documents provide a number of key revelations about the province of Hubei home to the epicenter city of
Wuhan.
Firstly some of the death tolls were off. The worst day in these reports says February 17th where they say 196 people who have confirmed cases died,
but that day they only announced 93. China was also circulating internally bigger more detailed totals for new cases in Hubei.
For one day in February recording internally nearly 6,000 new cases some diagnosed by tests others clinically by doctors and some suspected because
of symptoms and contact but all pretty serious.
[11:35:00]
Yet publicly that day China reported nationwide about 2500 new confirmed cases. The rest were downplayed in an ongoing tally of suspected cases that
meant patients that doctors to diagnose is being seriously ill sounded like they were in doubt but it later improve the criteria.
DALI YANG, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: If China had been more transparent and also more aggressive in responding clearly
that would have had an impact on how much the virus spreading in Wuhan in Hubei in China and perhaps to the rest of the world as well.
WALSH (voice over): Strikingly the documents reveal one possible reason behind the discrepancy in the numbers. Report from early March says it took
a staggering 23 days on average from when someone showed COVID-19 symptoms to when they go to confirm diagnosis. That's three weeks to officially
catch each case.
HUANG: As the information seems to be very surprising to me because normally it would take you know just a couple of days.
DR. SCHAFFNER: You're making policy today based on information that already is three weeks old.
WALSH (voice over): Perhaps the most remarkable revelation concerns early December the moments when COVID-19 first emerged in China. Startlingly
these documents reveal there was an enormous spike in influenza cases in Hubei. Right when studies have shown the very first known patients were
infected with COVID-19 20 times the number of flu cases compared to the same week the year before.
Experts said it could have flooded the hospital system with patients sick from flu like symptoms making it harder to spot the first cases of COVID-
19. The documents don't link the outbreak to Coronavirus origins directly but they show flu patients were regularly screened and many did not have a
known flu virus strain. Leaving open the possibility they were sick with COVID-19.
HUANG: The spike in Wuhan was very unusual like compared to previous year. So you know that would raise a red flag.
DR. SCHAFFNER: It was very; very sizeable it's clear that the Chinese virologist can make precise diagnoses of influenza. But in retrospect you
have to wonder was there some COVID in there masquerading as influenza.
WALSH (voice over): The documents also showed the flu outbreak was biggest that first week in December not in Wuhan but into other cities nearby in
Hubei all valuable information in the hunt for where the disease came from?
Chinese officials have said the outbreak began here - seafood market in Wuhan in mid December and despite western accusations that it has limited
its cooperation with the W. H. O. investigation into the virus's origins China has insisted it has been as transparent as possible over the
Coronavirus. For some time now in order to shift the blame she said some U. S. politicians have constantly used the pandemic and other issues as a
pretext to smear and demonize China and some lines and misinformation about China.
This will of course seriously mislead citizens of the United States and some other western countries understanding of the truth of China's fight
against the epidemic. China's foreign ministry and health officials in Beijing and Wuhan have not responded to our requests for comment.
This disease has killed nearly 1.5 million people about a fifth of known deaths in America. These documents a rare clear and open window into what
China knew all along trying to appear in control. While a local outbreak turned into a global pandemic. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, World Health Organization says its search for the origin of the novel Coronavirus will start in Wuhan and it's Director-General has a
message to all countries don't politicize the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: W.H.O's position is very, very clear. We need to know the origin of this
virus because it can help us to prevent future outbreaks. And we're doing everything to make sure that we know the origin. So one thing we would like
to advise is that please let's not politicize this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, he also denies that the WHO is being pressured by China an accusation that we've repeatedly heard from the outgoing U.S. President
Donald Trump. We are taking a very short break you're watching "Connect the World" I'm Becky Anderson; do stay with us we'll be back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Well, CNN is learning what the first 100 days of a Biden Presidency is set to look like. The U.S. President-Elect and his transition
team are planning an all-out push to pass an ambitious new stimulus bill once he enters the White House.
Next hour Joe Biden is set to formally introduce his economic team to the nation. The team includes Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen, as his nominee for
Treasury Secretary and if confirmed she will be the first woman to take on that role. But there is a glaring vacancy, in Biden's recent round of
cabinet picks the crucial role of Defense Secretary.
Right now there are three candidates up for the job, the delay already opening the contenders up to intense scrutiny. Well, CNN's Senior
Commentator and Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a regular it feels on the show. Once again we're absolutely delighted to have you on sir. What do you
make of Joe Biden's cabinet picks so far?
JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR COMMENTATOR: Well, I think they have been pretty good. You don't hear too much squawking. I mean, there is a little bit of
you know people are saying, Republicans are saying right you know this is not America First and all of that. I think that's nonsense.
But the one that seems to be drawing the most amount of fire is the nominee for the Office of Budget and Management. It's like nobody likes this lady
on either side. The progressives don't like her. The conservatives don't like her.
I don't really know enough about her, but in that job of OMB Director you have to be in a position of where you can cooperate, negotiate and
compromise. It doesn't mean compromise away your principles, but she is catching a lot of fire from Republicans who say that she was over the top
critical of them and Donald Trump and then she is being criticized by the progressives. It's interesting and we will see if that pick actually moves
forward. It might and may not it will not I don't know at this point.
ANDERSON: Yes, good luck with anybody who is nominated to take that role in what is a highly partisan America at this point. Look, the first 100 days
is symbolic isn't it for any president? FDR in 1933 sort of set this up. It was I think he passed 13 laws at the time. It was important as far as
symbolism is concerned.
It's an important period. The president-elect not unfamiliar with what is the daunting task of taking on the responsibility of an economy that many
say is on the brink. He did it back in 2008 as Vice President to Barack Obama.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: America needs a stimulus deal. Months of haggling across the divide which frankly is flattered no one neither Republican nor Democrat in
about 90 minutes we'll hear from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and just have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN MNUCHIN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: This afternoon we're going to talk about where we are on the appropriations issue of keeping a government
running that is the first priority and I'm sure will also be mentioning few of other issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, he'll be speaking to Nancy Pelosi as I'm told in 90 minutes. There are two weeks left on the legislative calendar sir. Is there any
likelihood that these two will break the ice at this point?
KASICH: I couldn't predict it. I hate to not give you good answer Becky but you know it might be that Nancy Pelosi and the Republicans are going to
want to wait to see the result of the Georgia election but frankly we need to do something soon.
And this might be an opportunity for Joe Biden to weigh in at this point because you need help for those who are unemployed the checks are beginning
to run out. He also you know have to do some things to help small businesses and probably to deal with the problem of rents where people you
know could lose their homes in massive numbers.
You would hope that they could figure this out and perhaps Biden could help. You have a big gap between what the Senate Republicans want and what
the House Democrats want. And the question for Pelosi is does she want to do this now or she has a more significant majority or does she want to wait
till later?
And of course, there's one other overriding issue and that happens to be like the people you know what the right thing to do is? And this is going
to have to be a compromise there's no question about it. Both sides are going to have to give. This will be a challenge for Joe Biden frankly if
they don't get this done and perhaps he should be in the middle of helping them to reach an agreement now.
The other thing that Joe Biden will face is the roll out of the vaccine. And I read an article briefly this morning about Governor saying well how
are we going to decide who we're going to give it to that's going to be a hard decision?
I think for Joe Biden be able to demonstrate real wisdom in terms of direction for the states and getting this done and looking you know super
confident. If he can do that and help resolve the COVID not to COVID situation but the package the stimulus package those two things will go a
long way towards creating a very favorable impression.
The other thing Becky that we were talking about his cabinet picks they're going to have to have demonstrated great transparency because some of these
people who have been nominated have come from you know a lobby firm.
They're going to have to be forthcoming in terms of all the things that they've done because what you don't want to have is the Biden people get
caught in the question of transparency that's an easy thing for Republicans to talk about.
Well, you're not being transparent. So these are all the things that that he faces and if he can pass these tests he can then move on to another a
secondary but no less important set of priorities.
ANDERSON: Yes, and one of those I know I want to talk about the foreign file because that's really important to our international viewers not least
the Iran file which is--
KASICH: Yes.
ANDERSON: --in this region where we are here in the UAE but you're absolutely right and I thank you for pointing out that there are 12 million
plus, plus people in desperate need in America at this point. And as I say haggling and finger pointing and politicizing this stimulus bill is simply
not good enough by American law makers.
On either side of the divide and you're right - you're absolutely right to point that out. But before we talk about the foreign file, President Trump
and Vice President Pence will visit Georgia this weekend despite the Governor's extension of the public health emergency COVID restrictions in
the state both expected to hold large events.
Now obviously Georgia is a state in play with these Senate runs on January 5th. What do you make of what Trump and Pence are opting?
KASICH: Well, they want to get Republican turn out. They want to juice up the Republican turn out. And you know I think a lot of Republicans are
going to realize by the time we get there that the Senate you know the control of the Senate is at stake.
And so what I've talked to a lot of Republicans who you know they were Trump all along but yes they kind of say OK well Joe Biden is the president
and the and the Democrat - and if Joe Biden is the president but the Republicans control the Senate I'm OK with that.
I've had some of them say that. So I think it is important and if I were to kind of give you a sense of this I think at least one of those two
Republicans will prevail and maybe two of them because I'm not sure that the Democrats will have the turn out that they had in the presidential
campaign.
[11:50:00]
KASICH: Yet to be determined probably going to be relatively close, but I would have to give the odds to the Republicans to hold on to those Senate
seats and hold on to the Senate majority which then creates an interesting situation.
And that is how does Joe Biden deal with anything, whether it's climate issue, the Paris Accord, can he pass anything through congress or foreign
policy? You know there is a lot discussion now but these are way to return to the deal with Iran. It is all very interesting things and critical
things that carry heavy weight.
ANDERSON: Governor, I am going to pick your brain on that because you were on the U.S. Arms Services Committee for 18 years while in congress. So this
is not an unfamiliar file for you.
KASICH: Right.
ANDERSON: It is a story that we have been covering here on "Connect the World" in the past what 72 hours or so, let's give it a little bit more
than that the assassination of this Iranian nuclear scientist Friday. It does seem like Joe Biden's job come January the 20th is getting harder and
harder by the day. What do you make of the assassination and where do you think on Joe Biden's list of priorities Iran and that deal plus-plus will
stand at this point?
KASICH: I think the Middle East is always going to matter. When I look at Iran, I mean my personal view was it was not a great deal because it had
limited opportunity for inspections and also didn't include the ability of Iran to develop more missiles and also to fund a lot of these extremist
groups that are very great disrupters inside the Middle East.
Now when I was of the view that it is better to delay the ability of Iran to develop a nuclear weapon than to just walk away now the problem gets to
be with Joe Biden, since the Iranians have moved forward in terms much enriching.
The question is, is Iran willing to get rid of that enriched uranium? Are they willing to see some of the activities throughout with their various
groups that they support, radical groups that they support and can they restrain their missile development.
I think, that is a question not just for the United States, but for our allies as well. How do we proceed from here? The assassination clearly is
muddled everything. I think we just have to see how events unfold? But what Biden has to be thinking about and his negotiators need to be talking to
Iranians about as soon as he is able to is what can we do, what can pass?
Is there an ability to get back on track with this? We need to talk to our allies on this? And where do the Saudis come down? Because the Saudis want
then a time of peace so they can straighten at their economy as do the Iranians.
So the question is, is it in the interest of both of those countries to be able to take a pause, to be able to get some sort of settling down of the
situation? And of course that involves our discussions with the Israelis which all be very, very sensitive.
ANDERSON: With that, we are going to leave it there. It's always a pleasure. Your insight and analysis is extremely important John Kasich the
Governor with us.
KASICH: Thank you Becky, always a pleasure.
ANDERSON: Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Well, easing out of a tough lockdown designed to save lives amid the festive season in Ireland. As you can see from today's "Irish Times"
the nation is emerging from a second round of restrictions although their health experts are still urging caution.
Well, if you are a regular viewer of this show, you will remember that we spoke to an Irish family ahead of this latest lockdown. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLINE MARTIN, PREVIEWS FAMILY LIFE PRE-LOCKDOWN: It is going to be very strange with the shops closed, and I feel it is really hard on the shop
owners and retailers and the hairdressers, the - everything is closed but you know I think it is a moment it needs must we really need to try and
flatten the curve again. We did a really good job at the start back in March. So it is just to try and get it back down again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is the Martin family in Dublin. They kept a video diary of life under this latest lockdown. Here is a look at how they got
through it together?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, gentlemen day one of our new lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yep.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have locked really half - kids doing a good job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A typical Sunday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's your COVID lockdown!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would like normality if possible, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are playing lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you working and playing through your lockdown times?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't get out hat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How come my hat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy birthday to you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to change his birthday and we had - friend's birthday and then we had - so we've had lots of birthdays on Zoom
and candy, which is nice. Daddy is on his own watching TV most of the time. I don't mind this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They come in for--
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, that is great with Ireland's call.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can give you a round decision if you like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is for - we all working away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you show me? Are you happy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They look lovely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's happy? Are you happy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry. What are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is one thing that I do miss, is going out for a meeting or going for an appointment you know. I can't do that. I miss doing
that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy lockdown!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone to know we can't wait to welcome all of our visitors back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who wants ice cream?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What a family, hey? We wish them and all of you watching, all the very the best wherever you are whether you're in lockdown or coming out of
lockdown, back into lockdown do take care of yourselves. It is a very warm good evening from Abu Dhabi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
