Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
E.U. Demands Transparency From Vaccine Manufacturers; Senators To Be Sworn In For Unprecedented Second Trial; Moscow Court To Hear Appeal Over Alexei Navalny's Detention; American Women Lost 140,000 Jobs In December 2020; "Flaming Lips" Front Man Wayne Coyne Speaks With CNN; Violent Clashes In New Delhi On India's Republic Day. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 26, 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]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher in for my colleague Becky Anderson. First I want to start in
Europe where there are questions, warnings and now threats.
The European Union is making it clear that the vaccine manufacturers are not doing enough to help the block fight the Coronavirus, and now it's
threatening to curb exports on the vaccine outside of the member states.
A top European Union health officials accusing AstraZeneca of providing insufficient explanations the delays in supplying its COVID-19 vaccines,
she says the EU wants to know how many doses the company has produced and who they've been sold to so far. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STELLA KYRIAKIDES, EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH: We want clarity on transactions and full transparency concerning the export of the vaccines
from the EU. In the future, all companies producing vaccines against COVID- 19 in the EU will have to provide early notification whenever they want to export vaccines to third countries.
Humanitarian deliveries are of course not affected by this. The European Union will take any action required to protect its citizens and rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Our Cyril Vanier joins us live now from Paris with more on this. So Cyril what have vaccine manufacturer like Pfizer, like AstraZeneca said
about some of the logistical issues and challenges when it comes to vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. Look, it is two different stories depending on whether you are considering the Pfizer case or the
AstraZeneca's case. In Pfizer case, what they said was that due to the demand and the amount doses that they have to produce they've got to scale
up their production that is their main production site in Belgium.
And essentially they had to take two weeks during which they reduced their amount of production so that they could scale up the factory and thereafter
meet their commitments. So we are just at the end of that period, and this is why EU countries believe that Pfizer is soon going to essentially catch
up the time that was lost with the delivery delays earlier this month.
AstraZeneca, different story, we don't really know in detail why they have announced a few days ago that they would have significant delays in rolling
out the vaccine. They have only explained to the head of the EU's executive branch Ursula Von Der Leyen that this has to do with a problem in their
European supply chain.
But look, the European Commissioner has said there is a lack of clarity, this is insufficient, and we want to know from AstraZeneca how many doses
we will get and when we will get them? And for the moment, the EU does not have those answers, Zain, and that is why they are furious at AstraZeneca.
Because after all, they have put a lot of money on the table for this, listen to Ursula Von Der Leyen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: Europe invested billions to help develop the world's first COVID-19 vaccines to create a
truly global common good and now the companies must deliver. They must honor their obligations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: So the EU feels that it has been hard done by that it has been cheated out of a certain number of doses or at least that the timing that
was agreed upon in the contract, because a part of that contract Zain was that EU is going to put a lot of the money on the table to help AstraZeneca
with the research and then help them scale up their production facility even as they are carrying out the research.
In other words, they were supposed to be building up their factories and their supply chains months ago before the vaccine was approved. Side note,
vaccine has not been approved yet in Europe that should come on Friday according to most expectations.
And the EU wanted the production facilities to be ready by then so that they could hit the ground running and just remember Zain, look, this
vaccine is critical for the EU vaccination program. For the moment they are making do with Moderna and with Pfizer that is good, but those vaccines are
harder to roll out, because they have got to be kept at very low temperatures.
The AstraZeneca vaccine on the other hand can be kept in a simple fridge and that is why the 27 member states of the EU were so keen to get their
hands on it.
ASHER: And just beyond that though obviously it is much easier to roll out the AstraZeneca compared to Pfizer's. You mentioned beyond that when you
think about just how quickly the virus is spreading - parts of Europe when you think about the death toll, the burden on hospitals, what is at stake
for the Eu in all of this?
VANIER: Yes. Well, what is at stake is winning the race against the virus. Now a few weeks ago, a number of European countries felt that they had the
formula that was the case in France, they felt they had the right kind of restrictions in place that they could keep the number of infections level
and wait for the vaccine roll out to just take its course.
[11:05:00]
VANIER: And it's going to roll out over a matter of months, right? Well, now of course the virus is spreading a lot faster on account of this new
variant first identified in the U. K. Here in France they say that it now accounts for up to 9 percent of positive COVID tests in some parts of the
country.
In Spain it's at least 5 percent and all the numbers we're getting from various European countries are at about that level or higher. A health
official in Portugal told us about 20 to 30 percent of positive COVID test there are from this new variant.
So the new variant is just re-shuffling all the cards and it is making it even more urgent for those countries to be able to roll out their vaccine
programs. And that's why they want the AstraZeneca as soon as they can get it and that is why Zain in a word they are furious.
ASHER: All right, Cyril Vanier live for us there. Thank you so much. The U. K. is trying to crack down on the spread of COVID variant. The British
government is mulling whether to put incoming travelers from certain countries into quarantine, hotels.
The travel sector as you can imagine is very worried saying that tougher rules could be catastrophic to the aviation industry and some of vocation
bookings putting thousands of jobs in Britain at risk. Anna Stewart joining us live now from Heathrow Airport.
Anna, it is important to mention that you know this plan is still being hammered out but I think what people need to know is that if this plan does
go ahead depending on which country you're based in you will actually end up having to pay for these hotels yourself.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. This is a cost that will be put on to the traveler. Now we believe there are a few options on the table but they
also will require travelers arriving into the U.K. to go to a hotel to quarantine and forced quarantine and as I said yet they will have to pay
for that.
The office is on the table there Zain, the first one would just require passengers to do that coming from very high risk countries where variants
of Coronavirus is spreading quickly so as South Africa, Brazil and Portugal.
So not a water type policy and then the second option that - has been discussed is really a blanket quarantine all arrivals into the U. K.
needing to go into a hotel quarantine. However, there will be some exceptions as expected the - would have to have an exception thousands of
lorry drivers travel across the U.K. border every single day transporting goods.
And this is why this policy which has been introduced successfully in Australia and New Zealand would be very hard to implement here. Not least
when you consider the volume of travelers that do arrive in the U. K. every single day between 8,000 and 10,000 a day currently when you look Australia
and New Zealand that it's just in the hundreds.
Logistically this could be huge talents because the U.K. introduced this for those high-risk countries initially but will they could expand that in
the months to come, Zain.
ASHER: List of all the travel sector because you know I think a lot of air lines and various factors within the aviation industry were thinking that
2021 you know it means new vaccines are available hopefully there will be brighter days ahead.
But this particular policy, this idea that people who come to the U.K. will have to stay in a hotel that they pay for themselves. I mean, this really
is catastrophic for them as they've said.
STEWART: It is catastrophic and it's not just - I mean if it's just the high risk countries that definitely have to go into a quarantine hotel
that's bad enough because the risk for travelers that this could be extended in the months to come the risk of tightened restrictions and that
will prevent many travelers from deciding to go on holiday to travel to or from the U. K. imagine having to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks having
to pay for it.
And this is on top of added costs already there have been recently introduced passengers arriving into the U.K. have to take a test before
they get there 72 hours before. So this really is catastrophic for an industry that was hoping that once the first part of the - but once the
second wave of Coronavirus ease, they could see some social recovery.
But I can tell you haven't arrived London, Heathrow Airport just few hours ago it really is a ghost town, Zain.
ASHER: Anna Stewart, live for us. Thank you so much. Brazil's Amazonas state is now on lockdown in an effort to fight the surging second wave of
the Coronavirus. Hospitals are running out of beds and oxygen and medical staff are frantically working 36 hours shifts. People are dying at such a
rapid pace symmetries are forced to stack the dead on top of each other. CNN's Matt Rivers reports on Brazil's spiraling crisis.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're here in Manaus, Brazil a city of roughly 2 million people in the middle of the Amazon rain forests in a
place where the health system has all but collapsed in the face of a second Coronavirus wave currently hitting in this city.
Officials say that in recent days in January, they had buried in this city 5 even 6 times the amount of people that they would normally expect in
times outside of the pandemic an increase that they are treating to COVID- 19.
[11:10:00]
RIVERS: As a result officials have put in place a seven-day lockdown that started on Monday which means scenes like the one behind me. This street
normally would be the very crowded and now it is obviously less so. And this comes at a particularly fraught time for the country.
Overall, in recent days Brazil has seen some of the highest daily death counts from the Coronavirus since this pandemic began. Matt Rivers, CNN in
Manaus, Brazil.
ASHER: Let's turn now to Washington where just hours from now all 100 U. S. Senators will be sworn in as jurors in the unprecedented second impeachment
trial of Former President Donald Trump. That's the centerpiece of a very busy day with more hearings for President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees in a
newly organized Senate.
Democrats finally assumed full control of the chamber after they reached a power sharing agreement with Republicans late Monday. Impeachment trial
officially triggered when House Impeachment Managers made the somber walk through the Capitol to the Senate with a single charge of incitement of
insurrection.
You see them here walking through same hall ways by the way were ransacked and defiled by pro-Trump mobs just a few weeks ago on January 6th, in riots
that left one police officer dead and four others died as well. Try to sell the stock about two weeks from now giving Trump time to assemble his legal
team.
It's just the fourth impeachment trial in U. S. history and the second against Donald Trump. President Biden told our Kaitlan Collins the trial
has to happen even though he doesn't think that the chance of conviction and even though it could actually impact his legislative agenda. Lauren Fox
has more on this unprecedented second impeachment trial and the pushback from Republicans.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LAUREN FOX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A historic March through the halls of the U. S. Capitol. Nearly three weeks after a deadly insurrection
took place within its walls. Nine House Impeachment Managers delivering a single article of impeachment to the Senate Monday night formally beginning
the second impeachment trial against Former President Donald Trump.
REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): Donald John Trump President of the United States is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.
FOX (voice over): 10 House Republicans joined House Democrats last week to charge Trump with incitement of insurrection saying he encouraged a violent
mob to storm the U. S. Capitol January 6th in an effort to overturn the election results.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore.
FOX (voice over): The House also pointing to Trump's phone call with Georgia Secretary of State earlier this month, asking him to find votes to
reverse Trump's loss.
RASKIN: In all this President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government.
FOX (voice over): Senators will be sworn in as jurors later today and a trial will begin the week of February 8th the timeline allowing Trump's
team to prepare and space to confirm President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees.
PETE BUTTIGIEG, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY NOMINEE: It's not going to be easy to manage all these things at once but it's absolutely imperative.
FOX (voice over): Biden telling CNN he's doubtful there are enough Republicans willing to convict Trump. But he also believes the impeachment
trial has to happen, despite the effect it could have on advancing his agenda.
MADELEINE DEAN, U.S. HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER: I believe we will put forward a very strong case that of course is already in the public view of
what took place here.
FOX (voice over): Even with the bipartisan passing of the article in the House many Republicans oppose the trial against Trump.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): It seems very much counterproductive if you're the Vice President Biden just say we're going to take the precious few first
days of a new administration and we're going to squander it on this impeachment trial.
FOX (voice over): The trial moving forward as the Justice Department's internal watchdog launched an investigation looking into whether any DOJ
officials participated in attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election?
The probe after news reports indicated Trump may have attempted to use the DOJ to challenge the election results in a plan that sources say included
ousting Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen.
SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): Anyone that is trying to approach this - any kind of open mindedness it seems like the evidence keeps mounting.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ASHER: That was Lauren Fox reporting there. My next guest tweeted this recently commenting about the events on January 6th and a huge political
divide in the country. There is a difference between being right and being wrong. There is the difference between facts and fiction. This is not a
subjective statement if we completely lose the difference we all lost as a country and civilization.
[11:15:00]
CNN Political Commentator Joe Lockhart joins us live now. He's a Former White House Press Secretary whose written opinion pieces to CNN
highlighting what he calls Trump's big lie. Joe, thank you so much for being with us.
So clearly this country is extremely divided and yes you are right. In this country right now the truth is very subjective. The truth has been
weaponized politically. What is at stake? Given that environment, what is at stake for Senate Republicans who decide to go ahead and impeach the
Former President?
JOE LOCKHART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Well, this is a politically fraught process I think for all sides. You know, I think as Lauren Fox
pointed under piece President Biden would rather be doing other things but he understands that.
But I think it's this whole idea that truth was under attack during the Trump Administration that makes the trial in the Senate a must thing to do.
And it will put people on the record not only holding the president accountable but holding the Republican Senators who have enabled him.
And have helped spread the big lie that somehow Trump won the election and it was stolen which has a very corrosive effect on our democracy. And you
can see you know many authoritarian countries take a similar approach to elections.
So we'll go through this process. I don't think it will take very long but it is critically important that we put down our marker that evidence facts
and the truth still matter in our public discourse.
ASHER: What are the consequences of allowing former president to get away with something like this?
LOCKHART: Well, I think it's why the - Nancy Pelosi and the House voted on the articles of impeachment and sent them to the Senate. There has to be a
process where you say everyone has to go on the record of saying are you guilty or are you innocent?
You know I think this will be a political trial. I don't think that the president won't be held accountable even if he's acquitted in the Senate
because I think the Department of Justice will take a long hard look at what happened? What led up to January 6th and who's responsible?
And at the center of that is the president. He was the author of the big lie. He was the purveyor of the big lie. And he was the one who incited the
January 6th insurrection. So I don't think an acquittal in the Senate will be a political act.
I think they'll be more steps in the process though because I think ultimately even that the president isn't prosecuted for it that public has
a right to know. The public has a need to know how this all happened? How was financed and who's responsible?
ASHER: And since you worked for Bill Clinton a lot of people have tried to draw comparisons with impeachment trial of Former President Bill Clinton
but when you think about what both of these former presidents have been accused of?
One IE Donald Trump has been accused of trying to overturn an election result actually inciting a mob on Capitol Hill. It's unthinkable 20 years
ago, I mean just walk us through what you think are the parallels between the two if any?
LOCKHART: Well, I mean they're really not except for the constitution really has only one mechanism for disappointing and potentially removing
the president. You know the President Clinton's act was a personal act, was not a threat to democracy.
Certainly, was a series of behaviors that he regretted and apologized for? But these were not high crimes and misdemeanors. What Trump did was
actually attack our democracy that is a fundamental difference. He tried to overturn a free and fair election that's something we just haven't seen in
the United States and our democracy and it is much more serious.
Now, I would note for all of the Republicans who say oh, we shouldn't be doing this that the special prosecutor in Bill Clinton's case had a grand
jury open even after the new president was elected. And you know near the end - in the last days of the presidency reached a settlement.
So he was still open to prosecution as he was leaving office for what was you know a private act. So none of these talking points really have meaning
they're just Republicans trying to avoid having to take a very difficult vote for them because Trump voters are still Trump voters and without them
Republicans can't get elected.
ASHER: So, the two trials obviously as you say extremely different. One is high crimes and misdemeanors but I think also what's really different about
now compared to 20 years ago is just the level of partisanship? You know when I introduced you I brought up a quote from you on Twitter just talking
about how subjective the truth has become?
[11:20:00]
ASHER: And I'm just curious whether or not it was similar at all back then? It looks as though, OK, unfortunately it looks as though we lost his live
shot because they were having some technical difficulties. Will try to get him back if not hopefully he'll join us again to explain his perspective.
Some tough talk for the Kremlin from Biden Administration after witnessing scenes like this on the streets of Russia, take a listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No need to be afraid they're scared of their own people says this opposition campaigner before she's all the way.
ASHER: More protests expected in support of jailed Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny we'll take you live to Moscow. Plus--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't really have anywhere to go with me not having the income to pay during the pandemic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: We'll hear from Americans are struggling amid the economic devastation of this pandemic and what President Biden has to do about it,
that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: The Kremlin is facing U.S. criticism over jailing its toughest critic Alexey Navalny and thousands of his supporters. The Biden White
House and the U.S. State Department are calling on Moscow to let them walk free.
After Russia's crackdown in weekend protests just days after Navalny was taken into custody, keep in mind that Russian opposition leader is a
galvanizing force even from a detention cell. Another round of demonstrations are planned for this Sunday. A political observer say
massive protests and White House criticism are challenges that the Russian President hasn't had to deal with in quite a while.
And now, Navalny's lawyer says Moscow court will hear an appeal Thursday over his detention. Well, on the ground now in Russian Capital with CNN's
Matthew Chance. As more people Matthew are protesting in support of Navalny how much worse have crackdowns gotten there in Moscow?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's see what the reaction is of the security forces as we see more of these
protests moving ahead already. As you just mentioned the Russian opposition have said that they have organized or organizing and calling for a new
protest to be held next Sunday on the 31st of January across the country.
And so, we are expecting to see a sort of broad turnout there as well. There's been word from the Kremlin as well about their response. They're
saying basically that they will not talk to people who protest illegally and violently.
So a pretty uncompromising message coming from the Kremlin at a time remember just a few days after the weekend when tens of thousands of people
came out on to the streets in cities and towns across Russia, and what many observers of this country believe may be a pivotal moment in Russian
politics.
[11:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHANCE (voice over): This is how Putin's Russia has suddenly changed, across this vast country supporters of a jailed opposition leader have come
out in that tens of thousands some clashing with police losing all fear.
Even as protests organizes were quickly detached, there is no need to be afraid they're scared of their own people says this opposition campaigner
before she's all way. Nationwide riot police detained more than 3,500 others. This is what has jolted so many Russians into action not just the
horrific nerve agent poisoning of Alexey Navalny in Siberia last year.
But also the arrest of the Kremlin critic when recovered he flew back to Moscow earlier this month to brave farewell to his wife at the airport
seems to have struck a chord. As does his latest anti-corruption expose detailing an extravagant palace in southern Russia alleged to have been
built for Vladimir Putin foxing the Russian President to publicly deny.
I haven't seen the whole film Putin admitted to these university students but nothing of what is listed there is my property has ever belonged to me
or my close relatives he said. Still more than 87 million people have now viewed the investigation online, a sign of how broad the appeal of Alexey
Navalny and his anti-corruption campaigning has become.
And that's a terrifying challenge to the Kremlin now frantically casting these protests as a western plot. Opposition activist say this protested -
in the U. S. flag was planted to reinforce the idea of a conspiracy before they objected it.
Russian officials accused the U. S. Embassy in Moscow of actively encouraging the protests by listing the locations nationwide the U.S.
citizens to evolve.
MARIA ZAKHAROVA, SPOKESWOMAN, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: Even use such a term as marginal Kremlin before the protest started. So on Friday was that
an instruction? Was that a motivation? Who knows but--
CHANCE (on camera): But was it a warning because the Embassy put that statement act to warn America citizens not to go?
ZAKHAROVA: No, no. No, because those who organized that protest never mentioned the march on Kremlin.
CHANCE (voice over): It seems like a desperate attempt to distract from the very real crisis now unfolding on Russia's streets.
CHANCE (on camera): Well Zain, that unfolding is continues as well because it's going to be an appeal in the Russian courts on Thursday to try and get
Alexey Navalny out of jail as early as possible. But if that fails and in fact even if it succeeds on Sunday at the weekend those nationwide protests
that have again been called up by the Navalny backing opposition in this country, Zain.
ASHER: Matthew Chance live for us there in Moscow, thank you so much. Unlike his predecessor President Joe Biden is not only addressing the
situation in Russia he's also referring to Alexey Navalny by name even as he seeks an extension of the start nuclear weapons agreement with Moscow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I find that we can both operate in mutual self-interest of our countries as a new start agreement
and make it clear to Russia that we are - we are very concerned about their behavior whether it's Navalny, whether it's the solar winds or whether as
reports of bounties on the heads of Americans in Afghanistan.
I have asked the agencies in question to do a thorough - a thorough read for me on every one of those issues to update me precisely where they are?
And I will not hesitate to raise those issues with the Russians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: As you probably recall the massive solo in cyber hack slammed the U. S. and was blamed on Moscow. Mr. Biden was also referring to reports that
Russians allegedly offered bounties to Taliban fighters to kill Americans in Afghanistan.
Coming up millions of Americans are still facing unemployment hunger and evictions while the $1.9 trillion relief proposal hangs in the balance,
we'll take you there next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ASHER: Next hour Janet Yellen will be sworn in as the American Treasury Secretary and she along with the rest of the Biden Administration is
inheriting an economy on life support. President Biden promised that turning around the economy would be a big part of his presidency but his
$1.9 trillion relief package is still being negotiated by Congress and unemployment claims a backup with millions of Americans hungry and facing
eviction.
CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich joins us live now. She's here in New York with us. So Vanessa this virus has been called the great equalizer because it
affects people of a variety of social economic backgrounds, black, white, rich and poor you name it. However, this virus is extremely unequal in
terms of how it affects people financially? Walk us through that.
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. And when you talk about an economy on life support you're talking about millions of Americans who are
in economic pain. You know the Biden Administration is trying to plug some of these big economic holes but there are still cracks in the system that
many Americans are falling through and that is much harder to fix.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YURKEVICH (voice over): Michelle Bennett and her children are living in fear. Her landlord is trying to evict them after she lost her job and can't
pay rent.
MICHELLE BENNETT, FACING EVICTION: I don't really have anywhere to go with me not having the income to pay during the pandemic because I don't want to
be homeless.
YURKEVICH (voice over): The election crisis is just one of the economic disasters facing the Biden Administration including historic job loss and a
growing hunger crisis. Last week President Biden signed an executive order extending a ban on evictions through March.
But that doesn't help Bennett whose lawyer says her landlord is using a loophole that's becoming more common during the pandemic. Biden's $1.9
trillion stimulus plan proposes about 30 billion in additional rental assistance. For months Bennett's tried applying so she can stay in her home
with no luck.
BENNETT: When you call it's like no money you know or call back next month you know maybe they'll be money then. And then you call back at next month
is still oh, we out of money right?
YURKEVICH (voice over): Gabbie Riley is also out of a job, weekly unemployment claims are back covering around a million. And last month the
economy shed jobs for the first time since April every single one of those 140,000 jobs lost was held by a woman. Riley is one of them.
GABBIE RILEY, LAID OFF IN DECEMBER: It's maddening it's frustrating it's defeating.
[11:35:00]
YURKEVICH (voice over): Riley worked in sales at the Loews Hotel in Minneapolis. Leisure and hospitality lost more jobs than any other U. S.
industry last year. Riley a single mom is worried her career is over.
RILEY: We have a long way to go yet before our economic society is really feeling and appreciating what females have to contribute to society?
MELODY SAMUELS, EXECUTIVE DIRETOR, THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER: What is a food pantry without food?
YURKEVICH (voice over): As COVID-19 cases continue to rise food banks across the country are running out of critical government funding. The
Campaign Against Hunger in Brooklyn, New York says their money is nearly gone.
SAMUELS: It's frightening. I don't know what I'm going to do because I still have food to buy.
YURKEVICH (voice over): President Biden signed an executive order to address hunger directing the Department of Agriculture to give families
more money to replace school lunches and increase food stamps for about 12 million Americans.
But some on the brink will still fall through the cracks and food banks need federal funding to feed them.
SAMUELS: I need assurance from all our policy makers that listen. You started we need to finish this thing. We started helping families. We can't
leave them in thin air.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YURKEVICH: Another element to this economic recovery is addressing economic racial inequities. This is something that we've seen before the pandemic
but the pandemic has only made it worse. You have small business owners of color who are losing their businesses at greater rates than white
Americans.
Minorities are unemployed at higher percentages than white Americans and Zain, we know that the Biden Administration has dedicated much of their
time to looking at both race and the economy but the key here is looking at those two things together in order to help close this gap, Zain.
ASHER: Vanessa Yurkevich live for us there, thank you so much. And more now on our top story the Senate is just hours away from swearing in the jurors
for the second impeachment trial against Donald Trump. His fate now lies in the hands of 50 Republican Senators; at least 17 of them would need to join
all 50 Democrats to convict the former president. This all comes at a time when the Republican Party is increasingly at war with itself.
Well, some members are jumping ship leaving the party all together citing Trump's role in inciting Capitol riots, others remained firmly in Trump's
corner. Last week the Oregon Republican Party released a statement calling the ten Republican votes to impeach Trump of the trail and the State of
Arizona is censoring three of the state's most prominent Republicans as well. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Keep Arizona red and to make America great again.
KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Donald Trump may have lost the 2020 election. But he has not lost the Arizona
Republican Party.
BARBARA WYLLIE, MEMBER, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY: However Trump rolls is how the Republican Party's going to roll.
LAH (voice over): This is the first gathering of the Arizona Republican Party this weekend since Trump's defeats. In just four years of Trump's
Maga messaging voters in this once reliably Republican state voted to elect two Democratic Senators and a Democratic President. But here numbers punish
their own for not being Trump enough.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good afternoon everyone.
LAH (voice over): The AZ GOP centrist Republican Governor Doug Ducey, Cindy McCain the widow of the late Senator John McCain and Former Senator Jeff
Flake. Ducey's perceived Republican offense was enforcing emergency help orders as COVID cases spiked, McCain for not backing Trump.
LAH (on camera): Did you vote for John McCain?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I voted for John McCain.
LAH (voice over): That was then said these lifelong Arizona Republicans this is today.
LAH (on camera): Are you concerned about the censure of Cindy McCain?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I'm sorry I voted for John McCain. So we're here to increase the Republican Party by making it a mega party.
C.J. DIEGEL, FORMER REGISTERED REPUBLICAN: When I finally had to say no. I don't want to be associated with the Arizona Republican Party.
LAH (voice over): That's it, says C.J. Diegel.
DIEGEL: That was a good show.
LAH (voice over): The registered Republican married father of two hoped that after this. His party would move away from Donald Trump, they didn't.
DIEGEL: When you go down that path and that's how you gain your notoriety when you abandon decency. It's hard to go back on.
LAH (voice over): Diegel changed his party registration among the more than 9,000 Republicans who the Secretary of State says changed their affiliation
since the insurrection at the Capitol.
DIEGEL: We've got a bankrupt party here in the state and it needs to be rebuilt.
LAH (voice over): And we made away from the images of Arizona's arrested at the Capitol to winning statewide elections says State Senator T. J. Shope.
[11:40:00]
T.J. SHOPE, ARIZONA SENATE REPUBLICAN: I mean, obviously, I wear a different hat than the guy in the horns but you know it's. It is definitely
time for a reset.
LAH (on camera): Is what the AZ GOP doing turning the page?
SHOPE: Absolutely not. Absolutely not it's - I have no idea what they're doing?
LAH (voice over): But the state party seems intent to stay on the path forged by Trump led by far-right Chairwoman Kelli Ward.
KELLI WARD, CHAIRWOMAN: We have to stop the steel.
LAH (voice over): Who played an audio message from Trump at the State Party Meeting?
TRUMP: I give my complete and total endorsement to Kelli Ward. Thank you very much.
LAH (voice over): And was re-elected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAH: As far as the censures the Governor's office here in Arizona called a quote of no consequence. Cindy McCain said that she would wear her censure
as a badge of honor and Jeff Flake tweeted a picture of himself Cindy McCain and Arizona's Governor at Joe Biden's inauguration with the caption
"Good Company" Kyung Lah, CNN Scottsdale, Arizona.
ASHER: All right, still to come here on "Connect the World" finding ways to be socially distant has brought out some serious creativity and I guess
weirdness. We'll speak with the front man of "The Flaming Lips" Wayne Coyne. We'll ask him how he dreamed up this bubble safe performance
concert.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Whoever said concerts can't be socially distanced has not seen these space odysseys. The flaming lips have gotten COVID creative excuse me over
the past year the American Band performed Monday in their home town of Oklahoma City with every fan and band member tucked safely inside of these
magnificent looking plastic space bubbles.
This idea was dreamed into existence by "The Flaming Lips" front man who joins us live now Wayne Coyne there you see him there. So first of all -
how on earth did you come up with this idea?
WAYNE COYNE, LEAD VOCALIST, THE FLAMING LIPS: Well, I did not really think of it all at one time. I have been using, and I call it the space bubble,
and I have been using the space bubble, you know, as part of like the things that we do during our concerts.
I started to do it way back in 2004 at the big American outdoor festival Coachella. And you know, I have not done it every night since then, but I
have done it most nights since then, and it is just one of these moments in the show that everybody really loves, because they get to - they carry me
around and all of that during the show.
[11:45:00]
COYNE: So, you know, when the pandemic started, which none of us would have thought would still be going on almost a year later. I made - not funny but
like a little observational cartoon where I do a thing where it said you know in "The Flaming Lips" concert in 2019.
I'm sure the band and the audience and I would have been the only one in one of these space bubbles and then right next to it I said "The Flaming
Lips" concert in 2020. And I was in a space bubble and of course all the band was in the audience was too. And we all thought oh, this is funny and
absurd.
And now here we are. So it was more like you know it was something that obviously we've messed with. But it's been a long kind of evolution from it
being a little bit of an absurd commentary to making it real and making an actual concert.
And you know back then I don't think we could have considered how you can actually do it and make it safe and all that sort of stuff. So yes, no, I
didn't dream it all up immediately but little by little thought will do this and do that yes.
ASHER: Yes, and then also there's like this - I think a lot of people need to know that there are practical considerations, right? So if people want
to go to the bathroom they can hold up a sign saying I need to use the restroom. I understand that if people get too hot which is actually a
realistic possibility, they can alert those in charge as to that as well.
What more could you tell us about all the different things that you thought of especially when it comes to oxygen levels in there? I think that I read
that really people can breathe in there without running out of oxygen for about an hour is that right?
COYNE: Right. I mean these are all questions that I would ask immediately. If I wasn't involved in I'd be like yes, well, wait a minute you know. Yes,
I mean the idea that you get in there and that you would run out of air I can understand why people would think that but it's just not true.
I mean these space bubbles are filled up with air using a really powerful you know American leaf blower and so it's a lot of air that goes in there.
And it's packed in there quite tight. And I think two or three people could be in there for probably 4 or 5 hours really before it got dangerous or
anything.
So you're really only in there with one single blow up you know for maybe 25/30 minutes and then if you need we would just refresh that. And that's
you know there's a lot of bubbles in there but very few of them are being refreshed at the same time.
So there may be a bubble in the last row. There may be a bubble in the second row. So when people know this isn't like we're just pushing this air
out into the thing. So there's you know you get refreshed and so that cools it down and it makes it you know gives you more of the fresh air and the
using the bathroom.
I mean, I don't make a light of it because it is you know you do worry about it. But we've found that people don't really use the bathroom as much
as they think they're going to. You know, I think it like when you get on an airplane you do always worry like if you're sitting at the window seat,
like am I going to be able to get up and crawl around?
And it seems like the times I worry about the most I really don't even get up once. You know, so I think we address that just so we know look we
thought of that.
ASHER: And then there is a sound issue right? So is the sound as good as if I was listening to you normally?
COYNE: No.
ASHER: OK. That's honest. OK.
COYNE: Well I mean. You know when I would get in the space bubble at the concerts when it was only myself you know I would be ready for this
suddenly. You know it's on a on a scientific level you know that the high frequencies get blocked out and the low frequencies come in.
So it can be quite confusing. So we devised this little FM battery operated speaker that hangs around your neck and we broadcast this FM signal from
the stage exactly what we're playing on stage right to the speaker and the speaker is already turned up and dialed in and you don't do anything except
it just hangs there and works.
And I think a lot of people that are doing it you know we've only done a couple of shows. So it's not tons and tons of people. But most people
didn't even know that it was working because it works so well that you just think I can hear really well.
But if it didn't work you would really notice so this is kind of blurry and not very clear. So you know luckily we had done FM broadcast to headphones
even back in 1999. So we've been doing this type of thing figuring out how it can work in one of the - what doesn't work about it you know for a long
time?
ASHER: So a year ago when the pandemic first started, I guess is less than a year now here in the United States.
[11:50:00]
ASHER: You know we did a story on concerts and live music and I think at that point everyone thought that the future of live music was going to be
virtual events. You know they turn out to be actually quite profitable for the artists themselves. But could this - could at least for the next year
until most the population is vaccinated could this actually be the future of live music do you think?
COYNE: Well, I mean I think it could be the future of live music maybe if you're "The Flaming Lips" and "The Flaming Lips" fan you know.
ASHER: OK.
COYNE: I don't think very many venues are very many other artists would want to do it to tell you the truth. I mean this isn't something that we
ever thought that we would do. I think it's just something that we've been prompted at step by step to say let's try this.
I guess from my own experience I just sort of feel like people are putting on concerts anyway concerts that I wouldn't feel comfortable going to. I
went to a few weddings over the previous summer is that all thought in the beginning we're going to be outside. It's going to be safe. We're all going
to wear masks and all that.
And eventually you know the music would get loud and people would start to drink and everybody again we're just kind of be in everybody's face. And I
had to leave both of them just for fear that this is just being too casual.
ASHER: Yes, that makes little sense. But Wayne, I'm so sorry to interrupt. We do have to leave it there. I am running out of time unfortunately but a
great concepts and congratulations on just being so creative. Thank you for joining us.
COYNE: Well, thank you for having.
ASHER: Of course. Farm protests erupted into violence in India today and next why thousands of farmers broke the police barricades into New Delhi?
And why they chose this day to it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right, breaking news that's in CNN, that U. K. has just passed 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. The U.K. just passing 100,000 deaths from
COVID-19 that's according to new government health data and we expect Prime Minister Boris Johnson to address this very sad milestone in a few minutes
when he holds a press conference at Downing Street. We'll of course bring that conference to you live as and when it happens.
Long simmering tensions boiled over today in India when thousands of farmers crashed through police barricades in charge through New Delhi. They
broke away from huge convoys of hundreds of thousands of practice that posted on the capital to protest controversial agricultural laws.
Renegade farmers clashed with police who used tear gas and flash bangs to try and drive them back. Several injuries were reported. Reuter's reports
one farmer died when his tractor overturned. This breaching of New Delhi happened on Republic Day which celebrates the enactment of India's
constitution entree gained independence from Britain. Vedika Sud is in New Delhi with more.
VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of blood scenes in the part of India's capital New Delhi. Where opposed to be a massive but peaceful rally in
tractors and - by tens of thousands of farmer in New Delhi protesting agricultural reforms soon turned violent.
The protestors were granted permission by police but tensions escalated after they diverted from agreed on routes while entering Delhi breaching
barricades which led to clashes with police.
[11:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Delhi police is responsible. We wanted to March peacefully but they used tear gas damaged our tractors and used batons.
SUD (voice over): Batons and tear gas were used by outnumbered security forces to control widespread protests. Thousands then moved towards India's
historic Red Fort converging at the gates, clambering moves in an unprecedented move a flag was hoisted alongside India's national flag. It
is from this iconic monument Indian Prime Ministers have been delivering this speech on Independence Day.
As a show of strength farmer unions wanted to coincide their rally with India's 72nd Republic Day parade. But as tanks paraded before the Indian
Prime Minister, tractors driven by protesters ran across the capital almost crashing police personal standing in their way.
SHALINI SINGH, JOINT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NANGLOI: Some of our policemen were injured such incidents should not take place during peaceful protests.
SUD (voice over): After multiple rounds of talks the Indian government offered suspending the contentious reforms for a year and a half which was
rejected by famer unions. Today's violence reduces their bargaining power.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What has happened has happened but now there should be no violence or anything that will defame the farmers' movement. The
respect, the dignity of farmers is in your hands.
SUD (voice over): What is earlier described as largely peaceful protests by hundreds of thousands of farmers who have been braving the intense cold at
Delhi's borders for the last two months is now being criticized for descending into cures. Vedika Sud, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: That's it from me Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching "Connect the World". My colleague Richard Quest is going to be up here on
CNN after a quick break.
We are expecting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to speak about his nation's COVID-19 response. Of course as we just mentioned the U.K. has
reached that really grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from the Coronavirus. Again, Boris Johnson will be speaking shortly. That's it from me, stay
safe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: Good day to you. I am Richard Quest in New York.
END
