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Erin Burnett Outfront

Tonight: NC GOP Voting On Censuring Sen. Burr After Vote To Convict Trump; GOP Divide Deepens After Acquittal; NYT: Rep. Kinzinger's Own Family Shunning Him, Says He's In Cahoots With "The Devil's Army" After Voting To Impeach Trump; CNN Examines Newly Released Evidence In Capitol Riot; Interview With Rep. Ted Lieu (D- CA); McConnell Faces Backlash For Condemning Trump; Biden's First Official Trip Out Of D.C. Is Milwaukee, Includes Town Hall On CNN; Researchers Identify Batch Of Troubling Mutations In U.S. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired February 15, 2021 - 19:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:00:10]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Stay with CNN for an exclusive town hall event with President Biden tomorrow night, 9 pm Eastern live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next, the purge. Republicans trying to oust anyone not in lockstep with Trump. One congressman even disowned by members of his family. Is this a sign the GOP is now truly the party of Trump.

Plus, CNN obtaining new security video of the deadly Capitol Hill riot as one Republican senator is now questioning if it was an armed insurrection, if.

And President Biden hitting the road to sell his COVID relief plan. But some of his supporters are worried he won't be able to deliver on his promises. Let's go OUTFRONT.

And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.

Welcome to a special edition of OUTFRONT. Tonight, Republicans getting revenge on Republicans who voted Trump guilty. In North Carolina, a meeting going on at this moment as I speak to censure Sen. Richard Burr.

This after Burr voted to hold Trump responsible for the insurrection detailing his reasons and his conclusion summarized, quote, "The facts are clear by what he did and by what he did not do, President Trump violated his oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Sen. Bill Cassidy also censured by the GOP in his State of Louisiana for his vote to convict.

Look, this is upsetting because it reflects a dark and deep reality. The party now reflecting the basis of its base. Tonight, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who also voted to impeach Trump in the House, sharing this letter. I'll put it up so you can see the letter. The letter he received from members of his own family. There it is. It's a two-page handwritten letter obtained by The New York Times.

And it reads in part, "Oh my, what a disappointment you are to us and to God. We were once so proud of your accomplishments. Instead, you go against your Christian principles and join the devil's army." They add, "You have embarrassed the Kinzinger family name."

Look, this is upsetting to read. It's a family with a giant rift in it. These are real people. This is a real letter. They really believe these things. They deserve empathy. This is not satire. But instead of asking why people feel this way and working to stop the lies to change that they believe is utter pile of nonsense, the GOP in states across this country and the Republican National Committee itself is feeding the flames of the feelings that cause a letter like this to even be written.

At the same time today, Presidents' Day, the GOP tweeting this image of Trump next to Mount Rushmore. Remember the dream he wants to be there. The caption, "Today we honor the many great presidents that have made America the amazing country that it is."

And look at the crowd of supporters cheering on the man the GOP is honoring tonight, waving Trump signs as he drives by them in West Palm Beach, Florida. This is what we heard from them today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We know you won. Everybody knows you won.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Again, these are real people. This is a real crowd of supporters today and they really believe this great lie. And you may, just like Mitt Romney, Richard Burr, and Susan Collins, and Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski, and Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey and Adam Kinzinger, you may hope that the people who say Adam Kinzinger has joined the devil's army are not actually controlling the Republican Party right now.

You'd like to think it's just a random fringe outlier, but that is not true. Because they are controlling the Republican Party. This is way bigger than just that one letter to Adam Kinzinger. According to a new Quinnipiac poll, three out of four Republicans, three out of four Republicans last I checked that is 75 percent want to see Trump play a big role in the GOP.

So look, Republicans may only be 25 percent of the population, but these are all real people and they really believe this. And while there are profiles in courage across the Republican Party and we've seen many of them in recent days. The most dangerous players right now are those who do not really believe in any of these wild lies as Mitch McConnell calls them. They don't believe in it, but they are willing to peddle the lies even

now. And Exhibit A, yet again, is Lindsey Graham who today says, "Trump plus is the ticket to win in 2022." Who bragged today that he's going golfing with Trump this weekend.

Lindsey Graham who won't stand up to people who believe Democrats are the devil's army. Graham is an enabler. He is a collaborator to Trump's great lie and sure, Graham is a particularly egregious profile in sycophancy and weakness. But right now, Lindsey Graham is just reflecting the majority of the GOP.

And Jessica Dean is OUTFRONT live tonight on Capitol Hill. Jessica, what more are you hearing tonight about what those who oppose Trump on Capitol Hill, who voted guilty are now facing tonight?

[19:05:00]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, of course, Erin, we are waiting to see what happens with Sen. Richard Burr and the GOP in the State of North Carolina. We are expecting them to censure Sen. Burr.

Now, he's not up for reelection, so the voters won't be able to make their voices heard on this in terms of voting for or against him again, but certainly seeing the state party censuring a long-sitting senator for his vote to impeach former President Trump is quite a message. And, of course, those seven Republicans you just named them, Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana, also facing censure from his Republican Party there in Louisiana.

And we've seen a number of GOP committees in the State of Pennsylvania censuring Sen. Pat Toomey since the vote on Saturday. And we've learned that the actual party there in Pennsylvania will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss censuring him as well. So this is playing out in a number of states across the country.

It was interesting, there was a statement from the Utah GOP party late this afternoon, Erin, and they took a bit of a different approach. They really celebrated the diversity of thought. Of course, they have Sen. Mike Lee, who voted to acquit and Sen. Mitt Romney who voted to convict. And they said that there is power in our differences, that was the quote from their release.

So a very different tact there from the state party in Utah. But it is quite the crossroads right now for the Republican Party as it sorts through all of this looking toward 2022 and if it can take back the House and the Senate and you have someone like Sen. Lindsey Graham, who's calling former President Trump the most potent force in the Republican Party.

And then you have someone like Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, again, who voted to convict who says that he believes former President Trump's power will wane. So it is back and forth. It is the push and pull that is going to play out here, as we look ahead to the next two years. And, of course, now that we have President Biden's agenda coming to Capitol Hill, Democrats going to make an urgent push to get things like COVID relief through.

Will it unify the Republican Party behind that message or will they continue to show these fractures about the way forward and what kind of messaging will play in as they move toward 2022, Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Jessica, thank you very much.

So let's go now to longtime Republican donor, Dan Eberhart and our own John Avlon.

So Dan, you've got the North Carolina GOP censuring Sen. Burr, Sen. Sasse, Cassidy censured over the weekend, of course, we've seen it in, what, two dozen states across this country, various censures. Utah, the one example. Look, is this just a reflection, as I said, of the basis of the base that this is just Trump's GOP now?

DAN EBERHART, REPUBLICAN DONOR: Absolutely. I think an example that you haven't mentioned tonight is Josh Mandel in Ohio who's really been mostly relevant during the Trump era announcing a fresh candidacy for the Senate saying he's going to be a pro MAGA candidate when he didn't have to do that, he's looking ahead to 2022. He obviously thinks Trump is going to be relevant when voters go to the polls in November of 2022.

I think Trump has absolutely captured the Republican Party and it looks to me right now like Wile E. Coyote style, the party maybe just willing to follow him over a cliff. The point of the party is to win elections to espouse something, to stand for something but to win elections. And we didn't do that in November.

In fact, during Trump, we started with the House, the Senate, and the White House and we've lost all three. And now the party continues to follow him with these censuring of Liz Cheney, Sen. Cassidy, Sen. Burr, it's amazing to watch really and very unfortunate as a longtime Republican.

BURNETT: Well, it is amazing that they're so successfully peddling this message that winning is coming with this guy, when as you point out, all this guy has done when it comes to politics in America is lose ever since 2016 when he won the White House.

So John, let me show again that handwritten letter that Congressman Kinzinger shared, that he got from family members. And look, I find this letter actually very moving because it shows the personal level of how much people believe this and it's breaking a family apart. It's quite sad.

After saying Kinzinger is going against his Christian principles and has joined the devil's army, the letter goes on to say, "President Trump is not perfect, but neither are you or any of us for that matter. It is not for us to judge or be judged, but he is Christian. It is now most embarrassing," that is underlined three times, "to us that we are related to you."

And Kinzinger his cousin spoke to The New York Times and said quote, "I want Adam to be shunned." What is the say about the future of the party, John?

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It shows that the fault lines are gone well beyond politics, that what we're dealing with is not Christian principles. It's something like a cult. And like all cults and extremist groups in history, one of the things they focus on is hunting down heretics, because it's a way to enforce groupthink. And that's a sign of how deep the rot has got with polarization hyper partisanship.

Look, cowardly politicians can say, look, I need to win the primary. I can't win the primary with a hug and Donald Trump.

[19:10:05]

But at some point, you alienate yourself from not only a majority of Americans, but independent voters who are now 50 percent of the electorate in the most recent Gallup poll. You have 140,000 Republicans who proactively deregistered from the party in the wake of the Capitol Hill attack.

So this capturing by the base is a deep sign of sickness. And if people are punishing folks who tell the truth, we know which way history is going to work.

BURNETT: And Dan, certainly that's the point you have been making here. I mean, in the letter, Kinzinger's cousin say, "Oh, by the way, good luck in your fundraising endeavors. We should demand our money back." So Dan, this is really ultimately going to become a question of money for a lot of people, right?

EBERHART: Yes.

BURNETT: So Adam Kinzinger going to have a hard time raising money now?

EBERHART: Absolutely. Well, I think they're going to have a hard time. But I was going to say in response to what John said, the Republican Party's got a choice right now, do we want to be the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and ascribe to his 11th Amendment, thou shalt not steal of other Republicans and have a big tent party that can win elections like the Democrats just had, obviously, or do we want to be a party like Barry Goldwater, where we're conservative, were pure Trump and shun the others but lose elections, like Barry Goldwater lost in a landslide 1964.

And I'm afraid that we're choosing to lose in a landslide right now. Republicans need to step back and say, hey, look, how do we win elections to get a center right thought in our policies through and is that more important than circling around the wagons, around Trump who lost in 2020? To me, this is a kamikaze mission.

BURNETT: I understand what you're saying. John, the problem is that Quinnipiac poll that I shared, when you say the basis of the base and you have empathy for people who believe things like devil's army on a certain level. This is reflective of much deeper issue. But 75 percent of GOP voters want a big future for Trump, 21 percent

don't and when you're in a GOP primary, it is those voters even though they are - Republicans are 25 percent of the country, those voters matter in the primary. That's how you get to the general, so they matter a lot.

Trump puts out a statement that he's going to be involved, it reads, "I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people." So the problem is, John, he isn't going anywhere. How happy do you think he was today when those people are chanting at him we know you won?

AVLON: Oh, I mean, it's the ultimate narcissist bath.

BURNETT: Yes.

AVLON: And, of course, the problem is it's rooted in fundamental unreality. The problem with the Barry Goldwater v Reagan parallel is that at least Goldwater's folks stood for something. There was an ideology, there was a thought out philosophy. You can say that they were too isolated from the general electorate, they were in that election in particular.

But this isn't about ideas anymore. Let's not kid ourselves. This is a cult of personality that's attracting authoritarian-minded folks and that is incredibly dangerous for our democracy. We need two functioning political parties that try to reach out to the center and to have an interest in governing.

And what we've seen about Donald Trump is they're willing to follow this guy even after he incites an insurrection attacking the Capitol. There is nothing less conservative than a violent mob attacking a Capitol.

BURNETT: And yet, Dan, you got people like Lindsey Graham, still with a megaphone. As I said, a collaborator, a model of sycophancy and weakness and a guy that yet still seems to have power.

EBERHART: Look, his stranglehold on the party seems absolutely clear. Like I said in the Josh Mandel example, like you're saying with Sen. Lindsey Graham, the party has circled the wagons and decided, look, Trump is our guy and we're going to march with him, seems to be right now in February of 2021 that we're going to march into the midterms in 2022 with him firmly in control of the party.

I think this is a dangerous path. I think it should cause longtime Republicans a lot of concern. We need to be a bigger tent party that allows a lot of streams of thought and may the best person win the primaries. Right now, the Republicans are very clearly most afraid of friendly fire in a primary much more than they're afraid of their Democratic opponents in November 2022 and it's very clear and it's very scary.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you both very much.

And next, we have obtained new security video from inside the Capitol during the deadly riot. It shows a stunning level of coordination.

Plus, top Republicans turn on Mitch McConnell after he very clearly and by the way gave the best speech of his life, even though he voted against his own speech. He said Trump provoked the capital attack, but there is one Republican who says McConnell didn't go far enough. He's my guest.

And back to March of last year, that is the warning about testing for coronavirus strains from a former Biden coronavirus adviser.

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[19:18:18]

BURNETT: Tonight, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing plans to create a 9/11 type commission, those are the words, to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol. It comes as we've obtained new security video which reveals actually more details about the coordination, the clear level of coordination that unfolded at the chaos in the Capitol. Tom Foreman is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have bear spray in the crowd. Bear spray in the crowd.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Look closely there they are on the newly released security video, nine men and matching tactical gear moving as a unit inside the capitol.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Capitol has been breached on the east side.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN (voice over): Through CNN review of more than 800 urgent radio calls, astonishing security system videos and terrifying body cam images assembled by the impeachment team, details are emerging that were not all shown in the trial, painting a sharper picture of just how big and coordinated the attack was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to need to get us more help up here. We don't have enough people to hold the line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN (voice over): In this silent security video when one entryway is breached, more than 150 rioters charged through in just a minute and a half, many wearing helmets, paramilitary gear and carrying weapons and flag poles. Some use to strike officers. In other videos you can see police trying to stop the mob with hand-

to-hand combat, only to be driven back by the sheer number of intruders who rapidly seize the corridor. And behind the first wave, other videos show rioters waving up reinforcements who come charging into the fray even as radios crackled through the afternoon with overwhelmed officers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're getting fire extinguishers thrown at us from the top in the upper level of the inaugural deck.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[19:20:03]

FOREMAN (voice over): When Vice President Mike Pence and his family were hustled out, the Secret Service appeared solidly in charge, but as Capitol Police stocked the stairway elsewhere in the building, guns drawn. Another camera shows rioters only feet away, taunting them, making obscene gestures and not backing down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've lost the line. We've lost the line. All MPD pull back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN (on camera): And this is really one of the most clear things that you see in all of these videos as you watch them hour after hour. The fact that these rioters showed no real fear of the police, they push them, they shove them, they struck them at will and showed no intention of backing down. And indeed, Erin, I have to say when you watch it all, you have to think that it was the professionalism and restraint of the police that kept this from being a lot more deadly.

BURNETT: It certainly. Certainly, they would have been justified in taking much more action than they did. They tried to be so restrained. Thank you very much, Tom.

And OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu of California. One of the House impeachment managers, so you've seen a lot of him in recent days. Congressman Lieu, Speaker Pelosi says there's going to be a quote 'outside independent 9/11-type commission' to investigate what led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Let's just be clear, though, you have already laid out the facts in a very damning way to the world and for history, regardless of the vote. Does this add value or does this just drag this out, add a taint of partisanship? I mean, is it worth it?

REP. TED LIEU (D-CA): Thank you, Erin, for your question. I fully support Speaker Pelosi's creation of the 9/11 commission. One of the things we're going to find is that Donald Trump incited an insurrection leading from that are a whole host of questions that we still don't know yet, such as how do we have such a massive breakdown in security, what other things could the Department of Homeland Security, for example, have done to try to prevent this attack and there's just a lot of questions we have to delve into and look at the recommendations as to how do we make our capital even safer. January 6 is a horrific day and we need to investigate all aspects of this.

BURNETT: So that it was and you're saying that you prove Donald Trump incited it. There are some though, there is one Republican senator today, who is actually questioning the entire premise of the whole thing, which is whether there was even an armed insurrection to begin with, that's Sen. Ron Johnson. I don't know if you've heard this, Congressman. Let me play it for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): This didn't seem isn't like an armed insurrection to me. I mean, armed. When you hear of armed, don't you think of firearms? Here's the questions I would've like to ask: How many firearms were confiscated? How many shots were fired? I'm only aware of one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: We just actually saw a video of a group of people in full military gear going through, 65 police officers were injured that day. Eyes gouged, fingers lost, beaten and yet he says this didn't seem like an armed insurrection to him. What do you say to Sen. Johnson?

LIEU: I'm a former prosecutor and it's very clear that arms applies to more than just guns. It applies to fire extinguishers, flagpoles, any sort of object that you can use to beat someone's skull in or bashed them with and that's what they did on January 6th. What we're really watching is the radicalization of the Republican base. They're basically following leaders like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Donald Trump telling people to ignore what they saw with their eyes and heard with their ears.

BURNETT: So during the impeachment trial, you had one of the most memorable lines, Congressman, and it was a quote, "I'm not afraid of Donald Trump running again in four years. I'm afraid he's going to run again and lose, because he can do this again." I just noted a Quinnipiac poll at the top of the show, Congressman Lieu that said 75 percent of Republicans want Trump to continue to play a big role in the GOP.

He sees that. I don't know if you just saw, he had people today in Palm Beach cheering him on as he drove by, saying we all know you won. That's what he heard today from supporters. Do you think he's emboldened now that he got acquitted again?

LIEU: I do not. An overwhelming majority of the House included Donald Trump incited an insurrection as well as an overwhelming majority of the Senate. In any other context, 57 votes and 43 is not close. And recent polling also shows an overwhelming majority of American people, 58 percent believe that Donald Trump incited an insurrection.

It is very hard to run when more than half the country by large margin believes that you incited a violent attack our nation's Capitol.

BURNETT: So you're a prosecutor, as you said, and Mitch McConnell when he gave his speech, which - it was the best of his career. Then, of course, he voted to acquit.

[19:25:00]

But his speech was damning in terms of what he said about Trump. But what he said when he voted to acquit was he noted we have a criminal justice system in this country and Trump has not been held accountable, yet, implying that that was the form in which he felt Trump should be accountable.

However, inciting insurrection is a very steep climb in a criminal courtroom. You're a former prosecutor, as a lawyer, do you think that everyone missed the one chance that they would have to hold him accountable?

LIEU: Let's take a step back and think how remarkable Mitch McConnell statement is. This is a leader of Republicans in the Senate. Basically, he's saying that criminal prosecutors should investigate Donald Trump. Essentially, he's one-step away from saying lock him up and that is a remarkable statement.

Now, we do in fact have a prosecutor investigating Donald Trump's conduct in Georgia. When Rep. Raskin, Cicilline and I were drafting article of impeachment, we thought it was important to include what Donald Trump was trying to do to steal the election in Georgia. And now we have a prosecutor looking into that very fact.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Congressman Lieu, I appreciate your time. Thank you.

LIEU: Thank you.

BURNETT: And next, I'm going to talk to a Republican leader from Pennsylvania who received death threats after defending his state's election. Tonight, his message to the GOP after it chose not to convict Trump saying, he didn't cause anybody to do anything.

Plus, Biden looking to sell his agenda and connect with voters at a CNN town hall. Can he deliver?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was getting kind of skeptical and a little nervous when people say that they want to unite everyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:30:33] BURNETT: New tonight, top Republican senators criticizing Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for his scathing speech about former President Trump after he voted to acquit Trump of inciting the Capitol insurrection.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): He has to realize as our leader what he says reflects on us.

HOST: Right, he's representing the entire caucus.

JOHNSON: I didn't particularly like it.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): He got a load off his chest, obviously. But unfortunately, he put a load on the back of Republicans. I think his speech is an outlier regarding how Republicans feel about all this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: But one Republican who does not feel McConnell actually went far enough is Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt. He tweeted before the vote, quote: Leader McConnell, the former POTUS incited supporters to kill my children and put heads on spikes because we counted votes cast by eligible voters. They named my children and included my home address in threats. Please consider when voting your conscience.

And Al Schmidt is OUTFRONT.

Commissioner, I really appreciate your time.

You know you put that plea out to Senator McConnell. He did not, obviously, take that plea, right? He gave perhaps the best speech of his career. But what stood obviously was his vote and he voted to acquit.

How disappointed are you?

AL SCHMIDT (R), PHILADELPHIA CITY COMMISSIONER: I'm very disappointed and like most Americans, certainly the majority of Americans, I agreed with every word that he said in his statement. It's just at the end, I didn't agree with his -- his vote.

As Senator Cassidy -- and some others have said, you know, his guilt -- the former president's guilt or innocence is really not in question here. It's pretty obvious what he did.

BURNETT: So, you know, it is. But as you saw, you know, that wasn't how the vote went for 43 Republicans.

You put principle over party, because you insisted the election count was fair and free from interference, right, in your state. You said, this is the way it is in Philadelphia. Then Trump attacked you on Twitter. And what he said, Commissioner,

is: A guy named Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia commissioner and so-called Republican, is being used big time by the fake news media to explain how honest things were with respect to the election in Philadelphia. He refuses to look at a mountain of corruption and dishonesty. We Win.

So, that's what he tweets, and then, Al, you get hit by a surge in death threats, very specific death threats to you, your family, your staff gets death threats. Yet 43 Republicans say Trump is not responsible for anything that happened in the Capitol, for anyone that reverted to violence.

What do you say to them?

SCHMIDT: I know it sounds cliche but words -- words are important. And words can cause people to take actions. And in this case, those actions involved, whether it's the attack on the Capitol on the Washington, D.C. or threats to myself or colleagues, here in Pennsylvania or Georgia, or Michigan, Democrats and Republicans who are simply doing their job, which is counting eligible votes cast by voters on or before Election Day.

There have to be consequences to doing those things, to encouraging that sort of behavior. And it's really distressing the way that people just seem to crave, you know, wanting to be lied to in this way. There is no evidence whatsoever that the election was fraudulent.

BURNETT: There's none and it's been through the courts. And it's been checked, it's been recounted, none at all. And obviously Joe Biden won by more than 7 million votes, electoral margin, the same as Trump had in 2016.

So, I want to ask you, though, about Pat Toomey in your state. One of the seven Republicans who did vote to convict the former president is Pat Toomey, right, of course, from Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania state Republican Party has emailed county officials to say it's going to meet to decide this if they're taking any action against Toomey, right?

The context is Burr is about be censured tonight. Cassidy has already been censured. And he really took a stand, Cassidy, right, because he is up for re-election, he's not retiring, he's not rerunning, right? He put his career on the line to do the right thing.

Do you think anything will happen to Toomey from the Republican Party in your state?

SCHMIDT: You know, it's strange to hear Republican organizations complaint about cancel culture and yet they are seeking to censure Republican elected officials who have done nothing more than told the truth.

[19:35:08]

If they would like to censure someone, I would suggest they censure Republican elected officials who are lying to voters. Those lies have consequences. As we have seen around the country, as we have seen in Washington, D.C., as I've seen, you know, outside my house, there are consequences to these lies.

And honestly, I don't know what the solution is to get around all of this. I've been asked, you know, what is the best way to communicate with this? How do you break through this mindset that just seemingly wants to be lied to?

And I've seen it in my own family. I've seen it with my own friends, who will believe that the election was stolen. And I'm saying to them, but if the election was stolen in Philadelphia, I would have been the one stealing it. And they respond, oh, no, not you. Not you. You would never do that.

But still, they want to -- they want to somehow believe it. They crave that -- that belief. And it's really disturbing, because I don't know -- I don't know what to do about it.

BURNETT: I think that's a scary thing, it starts to show, it's upsetting because it is real and you do have empathy for people thinking these things. You want to break through, but no one succeeded in doing it yet. No one has succeeded in doing it yet. And that is what is really frightening as you point out.

I appreciate your time, Commissioner. I thank you. I know it's not easy for you even now to come out and do these things and say these things. So, I thank you.

SCHMIDT: Thank you.

BURNETT: And next, President Biden about to hold his first town hall as president. What do his supporters actually want to hear?

Plus, researchers say they've discovered seven new strains of coronavirus across the United States.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:40:32]

BURNETT: New tonight, President Biden back at the White House. He spent the weekend at Camp David.

And while they are focused on his COVID relief plan for people affected by the pandemic, just one day before he is taking questions from voters, he's doing a town hall with CNN in Wisconsin.

Jeff Zeleny is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROLINE QUINLAN, WISCONSIN VOTER: Yeah, I'm giving it another shot.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Caroline Quinlan didn't vote for Joe Biden but she's pulling for his success. QUINLAN: I think he's just a very nice man. I think he's very good,

one of the last politicians I think can go across the aisle and meet with people. That's something it's a big plus.

ZELENY: When we first met Quinlan in the heat of the campaign last fall she was torn.

QUINLAN: I get it why people don't like Trump. But at the same time, he has done a few things that I thought were important.

ZELENY: But said she ultimately decided Trump would do a better job fixing the economy.

QUINLAN: I voted for Trump.

ZELENY: In the end, Biden won Wisconsin by less than 1 point and the city of Cedarburg by only 19 votes, turning the reliably Republican suburb of Milwaukee blue for the first time in a quarter of century. With most signs of the election long gone, it's a new season and many voters here say a fresh start from the acrimony of the Trump era.

NATASHA LOOS, OWNER, CEDARBURG TOY CO.: Just the tone down of the rhetoric, not having to be glued to the TV or social media to find out the latest is going on has been very refreshing.

You're welcome, hon.

ZELENY: Natasha Loos is a small business owner who supported Biden but sense as era of calm.

So, you can tell there is more civilly now than there was last year?

LOOS: Yes, without a doubt, Jeff. I feel like that has started to come back as it pertains to masks. As a business owner, I come to work everybody wanting to share joy and happiness.

ZELENY: You sell toys.

LOOS: I sell toys. And I was not interested in being a part of any political anything in my store. That's just one thing we don't try to do here.

ZELENY: The headwinds facing the administration on coronavirus come into sharper view at a nearby vaccination center.

PAUL FARROW, WAUKESHA COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Our goal is to provide a thousand vaccines a day seven days a week. The only limitation we currently have is getting vaccine.

ZELENY: Paul Farrow is the Waukesha County executive, who said he received only 900 doses this week instead of 7,000. Farrow voted for Trump but praised Biden's pledge to restore unity.

FARROW: For me, it's compromise. And by that I mean it's working together to come up with a solution.

ZELENY: Yet compromise also comes with complications for Biden.

Angela Lang and her group Black Leaders Organizing for Communities helped push Biden over the finish line as black voters did across the country.

ANGELA LANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES: We elect people knowing that they're not going to perfect. And that means that we have to hold them accountable.

ZELENY: She said she is patiently waiting for Biden to take steps to combat systemic racism, achieve criminal justice reform and broader equity.

LANG: I always get kind of skeptical and a little nervous when people say that they want to unite everyone and bring everyone together. I think sometimes that means watering down progressive policies for the sake of unity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations, Mr. President.

ZELENY: And for Biden, that is the challenge. Trying to be a successful leader in the eyes of Lang, Quinlan and all others who hunger for change.

QUINLAN: He is the president, so it's like let him do his job. And then we can decide in four years if we want him or somebody else.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (on camera): Now, COVID relief, opening schools and fixing the economy, all of these issues are top of mind to voters here, Erin. And President Biden will come face-to-face with voters the first time since taking office.

Now hanging over all this is his ability to win over his detractors, keep his supporters happy all while governing. He is, of course, entering the second month of his presidency trying to get the COVID relief bill passed. He has so many challenges awaiting him, Erin.

BURNETT: All right, Jeff. Thank you very much.

I want to go to Laura Barron-Lopez. She is a national political reporter for "Politico" covering the Biden administration.

And I know you talked to many voters in towns just like the one Jeff was in. I mean, Cedarburg, a 19-vote split. I mean, it shows you how split it is in some many parts of this country, how much is at stake, Laura.

So, one of those voters Jeff talked to, Angela Lang, what she said stood out to me. I always get kind of skeptical and a little nervous when people said they want to unite everyone and bring people together. I think sometimes that means watering down progressive policies for the sake of unity.

How much pressure is Biden facing from the progressive wing of his party right now?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, he is facing a lot of pressure, Erin, particularly inside this COVID relief bill, the big one that Biden is trying to pass as soon as March. There is a provision that would raise the minimum wage $15. Biden's administration supports it.

But there is a lot of concern about whether or not that will survive reconciliation in the Senate. Not just because Republicans don't support it but because there are a number of Senate Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona who don't want that inside the bill, they argue it's not pertinent to a budget bill, one of targeting COVID relief.

And progressives want to see Biden use all of the tools at his disposal to get it done. They don't really want the excuses of disunity in their caucus. They want him lean on those senators to get that done. And they call it a first big test for him.

BURNETT: Right. So, you know, I'm not saying it flies in the face of unity. I know there's lots of ways to look at this. But one of the great problems or challenges that Biden is going to have, right, is that progressives, right, the left-wing of his party wants a certain list of deliverables, right, that people like Sinema and Manchin and other moderates may not want.

And, you know, right now, the bloom is on the rose. But can it stay that way? You can't keep all these people, happy, can you?

BARRON-LOPEZ: Well, that's going to be the tricky part, right when you're in the majority. They now control the House, Senate and White House. And so, a lot of Democrats want to see big things done that they haven't been able -- that they weren't able to accomplish in the Obama years and that, of course, they weren't able to do because any didn't have the majorities during the Trump years.

And so not only do any consider the $15 minimum wage a first big test, pretty soon they're going to be trying to get going on different elements of immigration reform. And the big question there is comprehensive reform, Democrats may want it, but the reality is, is that there aren't the votes there in the Senate if they don't use other procedural tools.

The idea that they can get Senate -- ten Senate Republicans behind massive immigration reform is pretty much not -- not possible. And so they're going to have to look at ways to break those things down to get it through the 50/50 Senate.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Laura, thank you. I'm glad to see you.

BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.

BURNETT: And next, a vaccine expert who worked with Biden team tonight raising a red flag about testing for new strains of coronavirus.

And Dr. Anthony Fauci revealing new details tonight about working in the Trump White House.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:51:25]

BURNETT: Tonight, a return to a year ago, deja vu. That is the warning about testing for new coronavirus variants from a member of Biden's COVID advisory board during the transition.

It comes after researchers say they have discovered seven homegrown mutations of the virus across the United States and, of course, what we know about some of the variants from around the world is they can spread much more quickly and in some cases are always more deadly.

So, Dr. Jonathan Reiner advised the White House medical team under President George W. Bush. Now at GW University Hospital, head of the cardiac lab.

So, Dr. Reiner, Rick Bright is a vaccine expert, worked for the Biden transition team and his tweet is, quote: Very concerned about the variants we know and more so of the ones we don't. We are not the testing, tracking or evaluating these variants. It's February/March 2020 all over again.

Those are some pretty serious thing to say.

How concerned are you about these variants and the fact that the United States right now basically is not even looking for them?

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Hi, Erin.

What we heard tonight that there's going to be a 9/11 Commission to look at the insurrection and I think when the pandemic is finally over, we'll have a 9/11 Commission to look at the myriad of mistakes that have been made over the last 13 months during this pandemic. And one of those mistakes is not having a robust genomic surveillance program to identify these variants as they emerge.

So, it's a cautionary tale. Look, viruses mutate. This virus has been mutating from the beginning. There are dozens of variants that have been identified, maybe more, over the last -- over the last year. What this does show is that we really need to rebuild our genomic surveillance program and identify in real time when these variants emerge. Because the implication is, eventually, there will be a variant that will evade testing and evade our current vaccines. There's no evidence that these variants do that, but that's the concern going forward.

BURNETT: Well, it is the concern. And you could see a variant that could do that, you know, more transmissible, slightly more deadly and evade and, all of a sudden, you have another disaster on your hands, right? And if you don't see it, now we've seen how this happens, it gets out of control before you even know it's there. So, I understand what you're saying.

I want to ask you, in terms of where we are now, though, this pressure to get students and teachers back into the classroom. You actually have an idea and I saw it today, watching you on Twitter, where you vaccinate all teachers within two weeks. K-12, all teachers, you can do it in two weeks but schools wouldn't reopen until April. So, lay out the plan.

REINER: Look, the CDC put forth this plan to open schools but it requires schools to open in places where the level of virus is low in the community and most parts of the country don't have that right now, almost 89 percent of the districts are still in red zones. It requires, you know, big, physical distancing in classrooms, six feet between students and, you know, classroom are cramped.

You know, to basically dot all those I's and cross all those T's ist's going to be impossible to do that. Plus, the reassuring data about the low level of transmission in schools was acquired in a non-variant environment and with the emerging variants, there's no data to reassure teachers.

So, let's treat teachers like first responders. Let's treat them the way they need to be treated and vaccinate them all. And in -- next week, the FDA is going to review the data for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is likely to be approved shortly thereafter.

[19:55:02]

Let's take the first 4 million doses of that vaccine and dedicate it to America's teachers. Let's proactively vaccine them, not just say, oh, you're eligible, as part of the priority group. You know, you're eligible to something that is hard to get. No, let's take the vaccine and vaccinate them the way health care workers were vaccinated. You know, bring them all into school over two weeks and vaccinate every teacher in the country, open schools three weeks later.

BURNETT: All right, Dr. Reiner, thank you very much.

REINER: My pleasure.

BURNETT: And next, President Biden getting ready to take part in his first town hall as president. You'll see it here on CNN.

So, what is it going to be about? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: And on this Presidents' Day, the 46th president, Joe Biden, will get ready for what may be a tough sell, his $1.9 trillion COVID economic plan. Takes to the road tomorrow, heading to Wisconsin, a state he flipped in the recent election by about 20,000 votes.

So, can he convince the American public to get on board and pressure representatives in Washington? He'll be taking questions in Milwaukee and the CNN town hall with Anderson Cooper will be here tomorrow night at 9:00 Eastern.

Anderson starts now.