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Nancy Pelosi: We Learned Today Trump Had No Plan For Vaccine Distribution; Nancy Pelosi: "We Are Ready" For Trump's Impeachment Trial; Biden Presidency Ushers In Monumental Reset For United States; Joe Biden Vows To Repair International Alliances; Joe Biden Facing New Challenges In The Middle East; McGregor Faces Fighter & Philanthropist Poirier. Aired 11- 11:45a ET

Aired January 21, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Trump Administration, the Biden Administration not only allow but encourage General to come and present his views which is

happening right now in the Armed Services Committee.

So again, a very happy time, we are - I'm very proud of our members. Before I came here, I was in a session that was made available for members and

staff about the trauma of what happened on January 6th, talked about physical trauma, psychological trauma, vicarious trauma and the rest.

When the press came saw my office and arrests and asked about things that were stolen, glass that was broken, just violation of the property there, I

really said that's important, I respect the speaker's office and the - of history that is there, but I'm more concerned about the damage that they

did to our staff, to our colleagues and the congress, to the custodial staff in the Capitol of the United States.

That is damage. That is damage that must be addressed. The resilience that we want to convey we tried to do that night by coming right back opening up

the session of congress, proceeding with the business at hand. The counting of the Electoral College votes to ascertain that Joe Biden and Kamala

Harris were President and Vice President of the United States.

But that was one aspect of resilience. So many members felt their lives threatened. The uncertainty of it all contributed to the trauma. This is

something that everyone in the country should take a measure of how they reacted to this. But let us all pray for the resilience that our country is

famous for and that our people need to have as we go forward.

And that - one other part of that is that we will be in another few days, when I'll be talking with the managers as to when the Senate will be ready

for the trial of the then President of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the House - on the Capitol of the United

States, on our democracy to undermine the will of the people.

Very clear has been on this path for a while, but just that day he roused the troops, he urged them on to fight like hell, he sent them on their way

to the Capitol. He called upon lawlessness. He showed a path to the Capitol and the lawlessness took place.

A direct connection in one day over and above all of the other statements he had made before. So in any event, I'm not going to be telling you when

it is going, but we had to wait for the Senate to be in session. They've now informed us they're ready to receive.

The question is other questions about how a trial will proceed, but we are ready. With that, I'm pleased to take any questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. You were talking about security here at the Capitol. And are you concerned about this. Do you have any another or

were you briefed in any capacity about, do you have any evidence or were you briefed in any capacity about the allegations of reconnaissance tours

that some have talked about, and if there's no proof to that, from some of your members have said that some of the Republican members who were alleged

to have given these have denied that they did it?

PELOSI: All of those things, as you indicate, you have to have evidence of what has happened. There is no question that there were members in this

body who gave aid and comfort to those with the idea that they were embracing a lie.

A lie perpetrated by the President of the United States that the election did not have legitimacy. These people believed it. They believed the

president. The President of the United States, his words have weight. They weigh a ton, in fact.

So that's one thing. In terms of what you suggest, everything has to be based on evidence and that remains to be seen. In that regard, I'm very

pleased that we will have an after-action review that will review many aspects of what happened.

If people did aid and abet, there will be more than just comments from their colleagues here. There will be prosecution if they aided and abetted

an insurrection which people died.

[11:05:00]

PELOSI: But, again, as Chad as you rightfully ask, that is something that you have to collect the evidence for as you proceed, "A." B, I'm very

excited because you asked about security here that General Russel Honore has agreed to take a big view of this security here.

We will have an after-action review. There will be a commission. All of that but immediately, actually before the weekend, he agreed to take a look

at the security infrastructure. There were interagency relationships, the fact that he is so familiar with the Capitol regional security aspects of

it.

We feel - we believe that we are in very good hands with his taking a look that he has and inviting experts in the field to give their views as well.

So that's where we are. Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Two things, if you can put any finer point on the timing for the articles of impeachment--

PELOSI: It'll be soon as I said you'll be the first to know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. And also, you mentioned Leader Schumer became the Senate Majority Leader.

PELOSI: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have worked a long time with both Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell. What is your advice for Leader Schumer now that he is

in the majority as we confront Leader McConnell who let us know yesterday he still sees, you know, even though Democrats have a sweep of government

now with the House, Senate and White House, Leader McConnell still sees an important role for Republicans in the--

PELOSI: So, you're asking what advice I would give to Leader Schumer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes Ma'am.

PELOSI: You know him. I wouldn't think of giving him any advice on how to deal with the Senate. Not at all nor does he give me advice on how to run

the House.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And in dealing with Leader McConnell?

PELOSI: Again, that's a dynamic that is very different from the House. I would say, though, for both of us, we have responsibilities to find

bipartisanship where we can to find our common ground where we can. We have that, not only a goal but a responsibility.

When we can't, we must stand our grand. That's Thomas Jefferson standing the ground like that, but it is, if we're talking about what the country

needs, the country needs to crush the virus. It hasn't happened yet. The country needs to end an economic crisis that we are in.

We need to do more to do that. And one way to do both is to help our heroes, our health care workers, our police and fire, our first responders,

our sanitation transportation, food workers, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers.

They are on the front line risking their lives to save lives in some cases and on the verge of losing their jobs. So it's about a case that we make

for what the country needs that hopefully we can have a bipartisan agreement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mentioned unity, a message of unity yesterday. Are you at all concerned about moving forward, that an impeachment trial could

undercut that message and alienate Republican supporters of the president?

PELOSI: No. I'm not worried about that. The fact is the President of the United States committed an act of incitement of insurrection. I don't think

it's very unifying to say, oh, let's just forget it and move on. That's not how you unify. Joe Biden said it beautifully. We're going to unite.

And let's remember that we must - we must bring this - and look, that's our responsibility to uphold the integrity of the congress of the United

States. That's our responsibility to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. And that is what we will do.

And just because he's now gone, thank God that we - you don't say to a president, do whatever you want in the last months of your administration.

You're going to get a get out of jail card free because people think we should make nice, nice and forget that people died here on January 6th.

That the attempt to undermine our election, to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our constitution, no.

[11:10:00]

PELOSI: I don't see that at all. I think that would be harmful to unity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Speaker Pelosi--

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Speaker, a year ago in the context of the last impeachment trial, you said that you cannot have a trial without documents

and witnesses.

PELOSI: That's right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm wondering what kind of trial you'd like to see your impeachment managers put forward, and is that part of what you're waiting

for, some kind of guidance from the Senate about how they'll conduct themselves before you send that article over?

PELOSI: Well, let me just say this. We were talking about two different things. We're talking about a phone call which the president had as one

part of it that people could say, I need evidence. This year, the whole world bore witness to the president's incitement, to the execution of his

call to action and the violence that was used.

So, I - believe it or not - don't take part in the deliberations of delivering - making the - preparing for the trial. That's up to the

managers. But I do see a big difference between something that we all witnessed versus what information you might need to substantiate an article

of impeachment based on large part on a call that the president made and described this perfect.

It was perfectly unconstitutional. This is different, but, again, it's up to them to decide how we go forward, when we go forward? It will be soon. I

don't think it will be long. But we must do it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Speaker Pelosi, what's the status of HR1 right now?

PELOSI: HR1 is - the status of HR1 is that it is an exalted position. It is a priority for us. The Senate has S6 is I think what theirs S6. This is

very important, and I thank you for asking about it because this is really central to the integrity of our government to reduce the role of big, dark,

special interest money in politics.

To give more leverage to small donors and grassroots activists. To implement what John Lewis put forth in ending voter suppression that is

what January 6th was about as well, voter suppression. And the list goes on. We have pulled out HR4 which was part of HR1. The Voting Rights Act but

that's very much a part of the spirit of that.

The reason we are doing them separately is HR6 needs to have, and we have provided it, with hearings all over the country. Marsha Fudge, now soon to

be Madam Secretary, Terry Sewell, John Lewis, bless his heart when he was here, all were part of establishing that record for HR4, the Voting Rights

Act for now.

So, we're optimistic. We're going to pass both of them, and it will give confidence to the American people that their voice is as important as

anyone's. That big money, which suffocates the air waves are no longer going to be the order of the day.

And I thank John Sarbanes for his tremendous leadership over long period of time. John Larsen was doing it earlier now John Sarbanes both of them. And

what's important about it is that it gives people the hope that yes, we can have clean air and clean water and address climate crisis because big, dark

money will not dominate the policy.

Yes, we can have gun violence prevention because big, dark special interest gun lobbyist money will not dominate the process. We in the Democratic

Party have advanced these. They haven't stopped as you know on the other side, but we hope now that the more the public knows, the better we will be

in terms of policy.

And I just conclude by saying something you've heard me say again and again. Public sentiment is everything. With it you can accomplish almost

everything without it, practically nothing. Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln and now those we have the bully pulpit and the president can

explain to public more clearly.

[11:15:00]

PELOSI: Plus, a president has a bigger audience that the public will know what is at stake, how they can weigh in? And it won't be a question of

oppressing or they're bickering. No, we have a very major difference of opinion as to what - how we honor the constitution?

We hope that we can find common ground on it because it's very important. And again, I'll further close, wasn't it beautiful when President Biden

quoted what Lincoln - President Lincoln said when he signed the emancipation proclamation on New Year's Day 1865?

It's in his soul. It's in his being. And Biden, of course said, what he is setting out to do is again in his soul and in his very being. Thank you all

very much. What a difference a day makes. Thank you.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Nancy Pelosi holding her weekly news conference there. Reiterating what we learned from CNN sources today that the Trump

Administration had no plan for vaccine distribution.

The priority for the president and congress, above all else, is now to help the American people weather this Coronavirus pandemic and get vaccines

distributed. Speaker Pelosi also again blaming Former President Trump for inciting the insurrection on Capitol Hill two weeks ago saying congress is

attempting to work out the timing of an impeachment trial. No date given as of yet. We're going to take a really quick break back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Joe Biden just hours after being inaugurated turned Washington around on a dime, or at least he'll have hoped to have done that. He signed

a slew of executive orders on Wednesday, but, of course, many, many challenges lie ahead. That's evident in his agenda for his first full day

in office.

That is, today, of course, most of it will be spent on getting his Coronavirus response plan in place. One insider tells CNN they are

basically starting from scratch. The latest "Time" magazine cover illustrates what Mr. Biden is up against, a deadly pandemic, divisive

rhetoric, climate change and rebuilding America standing abroad.

Despite that, the new tone of optimism seems to have returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and for those who think change in Washington moves at a

glacial pace run by the old white establishment, well, they need only look to the nation's first Female Black South Asian Vice President.

Let's bring in CNN's Van Jones. He's live out of New York for you today pleasure having you on, sir. You called yesterday's inauguration a medicine

for the nation. Joe Biden is change, Van. Everything about him, his tone is different.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: That is one of our colleagues described it today is the easy part. Just describe the challenges he faces, sir.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, you have disinformation campaign that was led by the former president that is convinced about 30

million Americans that the new president isn't even the president.

So that's not a great starting point when you're trying to solve some of the toughest problems the country has ever faced from an economic collapse

to a public health disaster to social unrest on both sides left and right. But Joe Biden is uniquely positioned and uniquely gifted and uniquely

blessed to be able to have a shot at pulling this off.

You've got - two things don't go well together. He's got to reward his base, which is mostly - largely, disproportionately African American. His

base is hurting. African Americans are in an economic free-fall, hit first and worst by the COVID virus and by the economic consequences of the

lockdowns.

There's got to be help rushed to his base. Now that's fair. Trump was supported by the evangelicals. He got them the judges that they wanted a

lot of conservative judges because of him trying to repay his base. So that's normal politics but he's got to do that at the same time bringing

African Americans up that he's got to calm a bunch of white voters down and bring them in.

And that's very hard to do because most things you do to help black folks you piss those off on the right who were mostly white. But Joe Biden I

think has the ability as he has shown throughout his career to appeal in both directions.

And he wants unity and he care as much about that white working-class family in Appalachia as he does that black working class family in the hood

or that Native American family on a reservation, et cetera. So, he has a good shot. He does have congress barely on his side but it's going to be -

he's going to have to achieve Lincoln or FDR levels of political genius to pull this off.

ANDERSON: Wow! That's quite something to hear you describe it that way. How long will the American public give him?

JONES: Oh, I don't know. Probably until about 3:00. As you know, we're a restless country. We're not known for our patience as Americans those of

you oversee from Americans. You know we're not that good at the patience side.

But, look, I do think that the public knows that this pandemic in particular has been a challenge for every world leader, every governor, and

every mayor. I think he'll have a runway on that for a few months to sort out this vaccine backlog, but the other stuff, it's hard to know. It does

feel like yesterday was a massive sigh of relief.

Literally just seeing a normal press conference where a person, a human being showed up and someone asked her a question and she answered it. Just

that created a sigh of relief among journalists and among people who care about truth and transparency.

So right now, they are getting massive credit for doing prekindergarten levels of competence and more than that. They can get away with a lot less

and still be appreciated by a lot of people. It all just comes down to whether or not enough people on the right want the country to work. Do they

want to win the food fight or end the food fight?

ANDERSON: Brilliantly described. Truth, the order of day as far as Joe Biden is concerned along with unity two words that he used last night. They

will be back at the top of the agenda as it were. I was and so many others were struck by this moment at the ceremony.

The young Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman reciting words which were so impactful. I just want our viewers to have a listen to this part of what

she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA GORMAN, NATIONAL YOUTH LAUREATE: When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry a sea

we must wade. We've braved the belly of the beast. We've learned that quiet isn't always peace and the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always

justice.

[11:25:00]

GORMAN: And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it, somehow, we do it. Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken but simply

unfinished.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Van, what struck you most about Amanda Gorman's performance?

JONES: Its beauty, its eloquence, its elegance, its genius and its power. She was emerging as a high priestess for a nation that needs one. That was

spiritual medicine. And what I'll tell you is if you were stunned by her poise, by her presence, you should not be. She is not alone.

We have millions of young people of color in this country, African American, Latino, Latina, Native American and others who are just waiting

for their opportunity to speak to this nation. They have wisdom. We have a lot of data in this society. We don't have a lot of wisdom but no pressure.

No diamonds. The communities have been under pressure have created a level of insight and understanding and resilience and resolve. And we're wasting

genius in this country. I was so excited for the world to see the genius of this new generation of young people, including young people of color in

this country just waiting to take the stage.

ANDERSON: Yes. And so many young people of color have been at the heart of so many of these campaigns that got Joe Biden elected. We are looking

forward this hour, and you've been helping us enormously in that.

I'm going to spend just the last minute or so taking a look backwards because I want to get your response to Peter Nicholas' writing in "The

Atlantic" today. Quote, this is what he says. It's very hard to think of this scenario under which someone might imagine some wonderful thing that

Donald Trump did that will outshine that he did literally the worst thing that an American President could ever do. Do you agree?

JONES: Look, that's probably true just because, over time, even the people who are defending him may feel less passionately about it in five years or

in ten years. Is somebody going to say, well, space force started under Donald Trump and, therefore, we forgive a bloody insurrection that he led

against our nation's Capitol?

Are you going to say, well, the stock market was really good? Are you going to say, well, taxes got cut for the rich which helped the economy kind of

until the pandemic which he didn't - which destroyed the economy?

It's just very difficult when you combine the failure and the anemia on the side of the pandemic and then the vigor and trying to undermine the will of

the people and overturn a democratic election.

When you're anemic on the part you should be doing, protecting the Americans, and then aggressive on the part you shouldn't be doing, which is

overrunning American democracy, it's hard to forgive that.

ANDERSON: Van Jones, it is always a pleasure, sir. You know that. Thank you for joining us. And it's been a long 24 hours for you. It's been a long

four years for you. So, appreciate the time that you spent with us. Come back. Thank you.

Joe Biden has already gained something of a cheering squad from certainly many world leaders. We'll share some thoughts from Middle East governments

as the new U.S. President begins to navigate everything from human rights to oil supplies to the now scrapped Iran Nuclear Deal that and more after

this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world is watching, watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders. America

has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's

challenges but today's and tomorrow's challenges and we'll lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that will be music to the ears of many leaders around the world who are hoping for a calmer working relationship with the new

American President. Let's take a look at some of the reaction here, for example in the Middle East. We are, of course, broadcasting to you from our

Middle East Broadcasting Hub here in Abu Dhabi.

Iran celebrating the departure of Donald Trump and calling on President Biden to return to the nuclear deal and lift sanctions. Here in the UAE,

leaders offered congratulations and hope for continued growth in relations. Israeli leaders shared congratulations and reminded Mr. Biden that they see

Iran as their number one challenge.

Plenty the Biden Administration to reconfigure in the U.S./Middle East policy but my next guest says maybe not everything in foreign affairs

magazine. Here's what diplomat James Jeffrey says for example about Iran. At present, many regional allies want continued U.S. pressure on Iran's

economy and regional adventurism more than an immediate return to the deal.

Biden will need to balance those priorities carefully. James Jeffries with us now from Washington and it's an absolute pleasure to have you on here,

sir given your experience as Ambassador in Iraq and in Turkey.

You've had a significant handle on the Syria file and the ISIS file, of course, for the Trump Administration. Donald Trump overturning decades of

Middle East policies, but he did build a regional, "Peace Plan" with Israel at its center.

Joe Biden's team promises to restore ties with the Palestinians, come up with a new policy for containing Iran and unilateral deals. I just wonder,

you say not everything is likely to change. So how do you read what Joe Biden and Anthony Blinken have in store for their Middle East policy?

JAMES JEFFREY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ & TURKEY: Thank you, Becky. It's good to be on today. I'm optimistic. I've worked closely with now

President Biden and all of his top foreign affairs team. They are very experienced. They work well together. They understand the region.

I think that they'll certainly bring a different tone, a calmer tone, and the daily professional execution of foreign policy will be far more

professional than what we saw in a somewhat bizarre way that President Trump went about things.

[11:35:00]

JEFFREY: But the basic fundaments of foreign policy in the Middle East during the Trump era, which was to focus on the big threats, Iran first,

Russia to some degree, Islamic terrorist groups in the third position and to work with and through the partners in the region rather than try to

intervene in their internal affairs, try to make them better or more democratic.

He focused on putting them together in this coalition that has allowed us to challenge or to contest Iran's march in places like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon

and Yemen. That's what the Biden Administration will be coming into. They will be I think careful about blowing that all up simply to pursue

something that doesn't look like Trump's policy.

ANDERSON: Yes, no, that's absolutely fascinating because things have changed. If you live and work in this region and I report in this region

every single day and we talk to our sources behind the scenes and these will be people that you've been talking to over the years as well. Things

have moved on.

Joe Biden is not inheriting a Middle East that he left as it were so far as foreign policy is concerned when he left the position as vice president.

This is a man who has spent years on the foreign policy - the Foreign Affairs Committee, of course.

So, Joe Biden has probably forgotten more about sort of U.S. foreign policy than the most of us will ever know. I am interested that you suggest that

this region's allies will want to see a willingness to work together with this new administration, particularly when it comes to Iran and any re-

entry on the JCPOA.

What would you say to those allies here, Abu Dhabi, in Saudi, around the region, Jordan, Cairo? What's your message as it were, from what you

understand to be the thinking behind the scenes with Biden?

JEFFREY: First of all, I believe and certainly hope that they will listen to other regional allies that are the Arab states, Turkey and Israel before

they leap into something new with Iran. It is quite likely that the administration will try to get back into the nuclear agreement, the JCPOA

with Iran, but that's a wasting asset because it only has five more years of total constraint on Iran's enrichment and thus capability to get a

nuclear weapon, then it starts receding.

And secondly, that would require lifting the sanctions. The sanctions have been a major tool to contain Iran by putting it under tremendous economic

pressure, which is both an incentive to behave better, but also it has limited their ability on the ground in places that I've seen them interact

in Syria.

So, the countries in the region are going to want to know how the Biden Administration will continue to contain and contest Iran in the region if

it goes back into the JCPOA. It's a good question.

ANDERSON: Avril Haines, Nominee for Director of National Intelligence, plans to declassify the CIA report into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Some

will say that's sending a signal to Mohammad Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who was once, or was one of Donald Trump's closest allies.

And as we understand that Antony Blinken plans to review Trump's designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization so

some quick-fire policy reversals coming down the pipeline here. What's the message?

JEFFREY: It depends on how far forward it goes? People understand that any new administration is going to try to set a different tone. Releasing the

report on the Khashoggi murder in and of itself is a good thing. Lifting the largely symbolic designation of the Houthis as terrorists is not going

to do a whole lot of damage either.

But again, they are going to try to see what the signal is and in which direction this administration is going? If this administration's focus will

be to criticize our very vulnerable to legitimate criticism allies Turkey, Saudi Arabia, another Gulf states, Egypt, to some degree, vis-a-vis the

Palestinians, even Israel we're going to have a very rocky road ahead.

We need these countries to build up a unified position against Iran but also not on the horizon, or on the ground against the Russians in Syria,

Libya and elsewhere.

[11:40:00]

ANDERSON: Ambassador Jeffrey, thank you for your time. I've got to take a break and pay for the show, of course, but your analysis is extremely

important to us. I'll have you back. Thank you, sir.

JEFFREY: Thank you, Becky.

ANDERSON: We will be back folks in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, being quarantined for two weeks in a hotel can get a little boring, right? Just ask the dozens of Australian Open tennis players who

are now doing just that. Some of the players do have company from these little guys. Don Riddell joining us with a preview of "World Sport" and

these images that we've just seen cannot be helping the mood of the players, sir, mice.

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Not at all. Yes, I mean look, I guess some of these players can't complain of being lonely anymore. This is nature's way

of helping them out. Yulia Putintseva is one of the players that posted a video. She said she reported the problem. They moved her to a different

room, and she said more mice in that room.

And not just one mouse, mice. It's a problem. They're being told not to feed them, but I think that's kind of stating the obvious. These players

just cannot wait to get out of their rooms and start hitting tennis balls on the court.

ANDERSON: Yes, I'm sure you've got more on all of that coming up. Coming up, I'm going to leave our viewers. That's "World Sport." after the break

I'm going to leave our viewers with some sights and sounds from the inauguration. Don's up after the break. From us, it's a very good evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END