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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Rep. Cheney Faces Ousting From Leadership with Plea to Party; White House Backs Waiving Patent Protections for COVID Vaccines; More Cities, Businesses Reopening, Incentives for the Vaccinated. Aired 5- 5:30a ET

Aired May 06, 2021 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:44]

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers, in the United States, and all around the world. We have reports, this morning, from Capitol Hill, South Africa, Texas, Los Angeles, India, and Ukraine.

This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, we certainly have it covered only CNN can this morning.

I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, May 6th. It is 5:00 a.m., exactly, in New York.

Liz Cheney is on an island facing near-certain exile from House GOP leadership. The Wyoming congresswoman is making a last-ditch effort. She hopes to save not her job, her leadership role, but her party and much more.

Republicans are rejecting Cheney because, well, she insists the 2020 election was legitimate and she voted to impeach the former president for inciting a deadly mob.

JARRETT: In a new "Washington Post" op-ed, she writes this, quote, there is good reason to believe that Trump's language can provoke violence, again. Trump is seeking to unravel critical elements of our constitutional structure that make democracy work. Confidence, in the results of elections and the rule of law.

The Republican Party is at a turning point, she writes, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution.

ROMANS: She continues: While embracing or ignoring Trump's statements might seem attractive to some, for fundraising and political purposes. That approach will do profound, long-term damage to our party and our country. We, Republicans, need to stand for genuinely conservative principles and steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.

But Cheney's fight is about much more than Trump, or party infighting or mean tweets that, frankly, no one seems to miss. Congressional reporter Daniella Diaz is on Capitol Hill.

What is this fight about? It's for the soul of the Republican Party, sure.

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Christine, I think that Congresswoman Liz Cheney understands that this is bigger than her. This is the -- the point she's trying to make with why she's being so loud and vocal about how she sees this issue.

Look, the big picture here is Cheney is telling the truth about what happened in the 2020 election. She is refusing to spread this big lie, that members of her own party are spreading, that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. And she's blasted her colleagues, in the Senate, for voting to overturn the election results on January 6th. And has been vocal about how she saw January 6th as an insurrection.

All of these things make her different than what's happening in the party, right now, especially, with her -- the other top-two House Republicans, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, who have stood by Trump through all of this.

You know, by refusing to go along with the big lie, Cheney is being cast aside by members of her own party, who want to stick with -- beside Trump on this issue. And she's accepted her fate.

You know, she's told allies, who have told CNN, that she's fully aware that she is going to lose her leadership position, as a result of being vocal about this. But she sees this as bigger than herself because she understands that this could have future consequences on elections, going forward, if Republicans continue to lie about the results of the election, going forward.

So, she sees this as bigger than her, as fighting for the soul of the party. And she is sticking by what she's been saying, time and time again, since Trump has been pushing this big lie, that the election was stolen from him.

ROMANS: Yeah. She makes that great point that, you know, rule of law is sort of bedrock to democracy. But also, you know, law and order, rule of law, for the Republican Party, that is one of her core beliefs. And all of this, you know, the Trump cult of personality, a she calls it. Seems at odds with that, for sure.

All right. Daniella Diaz, so nice to see you this morning, thank you.

Laura?

JARRETT: You know, Christine, it's interesting. We talk about rule of law. We talk about the soul of the Republican Party.

But what if this is just a big-power grab, Christine, you know?

It seems to me, this could be inconvenient for Republicans, for Liz Cheney to keep talking about the lies, because then, you know, it focuses on what actually happened, when instead, they would prefer to be able to wield power. And -- and obviously, change voting rights, all over the country for future elections.

She makes that inconvenient. I think, it's -- it's worth considering.

ROMANS: It's a good point.

JARRETT: Yeah. There is a great op-ed in "The Washington Post" that addresses this very point.

[05:05:02]

I encourage everyone to read it.

All right. Major news this morning on the vaccine front. The Biden administration says it supports waiving patent protection for the shots. That could help other manufacturers speed up production of doses for developing nations but the complexities of distributing the shots could limit the impact of the waiver.

India is one of the world's biggest vaccine manufacturers but the country is facing an escalating COVID crisis right now, leaving the rest of the world to look elsewhere.

Let's go live to Johannesburg, South Africa, and bring in CNN's David McKenzie.

David, good morning to you.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

You know, the big issue here is that that waiver is welcomed here in India -- in India -- I mean, South Africa, very much so because it's seen as a positive move by the Biden administration to allow vaccines to start to be made, without patent. But the issue is, there is a very dangerous lag coming up in the next few months, and it's caused by the crisis in India and vaccine nationalism.

The awful consequence of a COVID-19 tsunami. It's forcing the Indian government to ban all-vaccine exports to COVAX, the global-vaccine alliance, so it can give precious doses to its own people, immediately, impacting at least 90 million COVAX doses. The crisis in India is causing a crisis here. Kenyan and other African nations, where lives depend on COVAX, are running out of vaccines.

And tour guide, Martin Mutisya, is one of the very last Kenyans to get his first AstraZeneca shot.

MARTIN MUTISYA, TOUR GUIDE: I am feeling excited. I think we just have to wait and see what happens.

MCKENZIE: Kenya got around a million doses from COVAX, produced by India's Serum Institute. Kenya's supply dries up in days.

MUTISYA: I am concerned, because there are supposed to be two shots. I am concerned but if it doesn't happen, what is the worst scenario? UHURU KENYATTA, KENYAN PRESIDENT: I want to assure you that nobody

who has taken their first dose is going to miss out on their second dose.

MCKENZIE: Does this worry you? Because, it seems, that it could be a scenario that the second doses don't come in time.

RUDI EGGERS, WHC REPRESENTATIVE, KENYA: Very clearly, it worries me. And very clearly, the second doses will not come in time.

MCKENZIE: A senior humanitarian official, familiar with COVAX's plan, told CNN that the Indian vaccine supply isn't expected to resume, until June at best, or even later. And the millions of AstraZeneca doses, promised by the Biden administration, won't be enough or come soon enough. Neither, will Moderna's vaccine. Up to a half-billion doses will be supplied to low-and-middle-income countries, but not until later this year.

Right now, there isn't equal access. So, what is the impact of that?

DR. WILLIS AKHWALE, CHIEF KENYAN VACCINE TASK FORCE: The impact of that is that maybe we are going to prolong this pandemic much longer than it would have happened, if there was equal access.

MCKENZIE: Researchers at Duke University tracking dose availability say the vaccine freeze could have catastrophic consequences, with some African countries facing, yet, another wave of the virus.

ANDREA TAYLOR, DUKE GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE: They did put a lot of eggs in the Serum Institute basket and that was a strategic error, given that -- what has happened in India was entirely predictable. It should not have caught any of us by surprise.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKENZIE (voice-over): Well, in the next few months, lives are at stake. But after that point, if they manage to scramble together vaccines, Christine and Laura, there is an interesting geopolitical aspect to this.

China and Russia have been pushing their vaccines on to the world as a kind of diplomacy. Researchers I spoke to said, pretty soon, in the U.S., you'll reach a tipping point, where the supply outstrips the demand. And that, they say, gives the Biden administration a very good opportunity to put a large amount of vaccines into the world market. And in the words of the -- the White House at least, try to repair the relationship with the rest of the world -- Christine and Laura.

JARRETT: Yeah. I think that tipping point is almost here.

David McKenzie, thank you so much.

ROMANS: All right. To the economy here, a major change for the gig economy. The Biden administration reversed a Trump-era policy that made it easier for companies to classify their workers as independent contractors, instead of employees who receive benefits. Stocks of Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, all closed lower.

The change fits with the Biden promise of making sure the economy works for everyone. Uber's first-quarter earnings, by the way, show two-thirds of its bookings came from its food-delivery service, Uber Eats, as more people stayed home and ordered in. Uber's overall revenue fell because of money set aside for new-driver benefits in the U.K. Uber classified their U.K. drivers as employees back in March.

JARRETT: Still ahead. What about jail time for sending unsolicited ballots? The battle for voting rights shaping up in Texas today.

Stay with us.

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[05:14:10]

JARRETT: Vaccinations are slowing, now. But the reopening of America is gaining speed.

In New York, Broadway tickets go on sale, today, for shows reopening in September. At Disneyworld and Orlando, temperature checks ending, soon, for staff and guests.

The CDC will allow cruise ship operators to begin simulated voyages with volunteer passengers. All of this, going out on the town, apparently, putting more Americans in the mood. Condom sales in the U.S., surging.

ROMANS: All right. You also see more cities and companies using incentives for people to get vaccinated. DJ Vaughn Tent and Duane Powell confirmed as artists for a concert series in Chicago. Hey, it's a concert series for the fully vaccinated only.

[05:15:02]

The NFL giving tickets away to the 2022 Super Bowl in a contest for vaccinated fans only.

And that's not all. EARLY START has the pandemic covered, from coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE0

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jean Casarez in Manhattan.

You want free baseball? Get a vaccine. To motivate people, baseball fans in the New York City area are going to be able to go to Yankee Stadium or Citi Field. Get a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. And then, you'll get a voucher for a free game.

Starting May 19th, full-capacity seating will be available for those people that are fully vaccinated. Now, if you're not vaccinated, capacity will be at 33 percent. But remember, everybody will still have to wear a mask.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles.

As of today, Los Angeles and San Francisco counties are moving to the least-restrictive tier in the Golden State. This, as both counties have a test-positivity rate over the last-seven days below 1 percent. And this means most indoor operations can resume business.

The state, also, saying that bars that don't serve food can now open up again, and they are also saying that restaurants and family entertainment centers can now be opened at 50 percent capacity. These two counties, together, account for about a quarter of the state's population.

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN REPORTER: I'm Jacqueline Howard in Atlanta.

A new CDC modeling study projects that COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths will, likely, remain low, nationally. And even sharply, decline by July. But that's if vaccination rates remain high, and if people continue following certain COVID-19 preventive measures, like wearing masks and physical distancing.

The CDC warns that, not continuing certain measures could undermine the gains we've seen from vaccinations.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: I'm Amara Walker in DeKalb County, Georgia.

It's getting easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination. CVS is now joining Walgreens to offer same-day appointments and walk-ins, at 8,300 of its locations across the country. Walgreens began offering same-day appointments, at all of its stores on Wednesday, and walk-ins, at some of its locations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Thanks to Amara and the rest of our correspondents for those reports.

Now, to a battle for voting rights in Texas today. New proposed legislation makes it harder to cast a ballot could get a vote in the state house.

CNN's Dianne Gallagher is on the ground in Austin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Laura.

Well, the Lone Star State is now front and center when it comes to the battle for voting rights. Much like we have seen in states from coast to coast, Republicans in the state of Texas have introduced a whole host of bills. That would, in part, add new restrictions to an already-very-restrictive voting process here in the state of Texas.

Now, we're talking about dozens of bills that have been introduced, so far, this session. They would make a lot of different changes in Texas. We're talking about adding criminal penalties for voters and election officials at different parts of the voting process, like, making it a felony to send unsolicited ballot applications.

It would, also, further empower those partisan-poll workers, poll watchers, and it would add mail-in voting requirements, new ones. It's already, very restrictive, here, in Texas. It would, also, target some of the tools that are used by larger counties. Like, 24-hour drive- thru voting. Something, we saw a lot during the pandemic.

Now, businesses in the state of Texas are starting to speak out. A letter that was signed by 50 different businesses and organizations, including some pretty major corporations, like American Airlines, Microsoft, and HP. Asked that there was no sort of proposals that would be passed, that would make it more difficult for eligible voters to cast their ballots.

But, look, Christine, Laura, Republicans in Texas say, okay. But, businesses don't pass the laws in Texas. Lawmakers do.

And they claim they're simply trying to promote uniformity and secure the ballot from fraud in Texas. Though, I will note that, when asked to produce evidence of fraud in the 2020 election here, they have, still, not done so.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Dianne Gallagher, yeah. Lawmakers say they are fixing a problem that actually didn't exist, in the first place.

So it's going to get harder to vote in Texas but carrying a handgun without any kind of license cleared a major hurdle. The Texas Senate fast-tracked HB-1927, a permitless carry bill on a party-line vote, with some changes that need House approval. If passed, an adult 21 or older can carry a handgun without a permit, without training.

Governor Greg Abbott has already said he will sign it into law. One constitutional right with restrictions.

[05:20:00]

Another without any restrictions, Laura.

JARRETT: The same state.

ROMANS: Well, it didn't take long for bad blood to spill over between the Rangers and the Capitals. "The Bleacher Report" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JARRETT: Orioles pitcher John Means threw baseball's third no hitter of the season. But it's unlike any we have seen before.

Andy Scholes has this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Laura.

You know, you can lose a perfect game by walking a batter, hitting a batter, or by an error in the field. But never in the history of baseball we've seen someone lose a perfect game the way John Means did yesterday.

[05:25:06]

The Orioles pitcher striking out Seattle's Sam Haggerty in the third. But it gets by to catch her, allowing Haggerty to reach. No error charged on the play. But it means the perfect game is over.

Means, though, dominant after that. Striking out 12 and completing the no hitter. Gets mobbed by his teammates right there. Means becomes the first Orioles pitcher since Jim Palmer in 1969 to throw a complete- game no hitter.

And he knows his father who died of cancer last year was with him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MEANS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES PITCHER: I looked at my glove, right before I went out there, for the ninth, has his initials on it. And -- and I, you know, I said to myself that, you know, he wouldn't care. I'm having a good time.

The whole -- the accolades and everything like that never mattered to him but it was pretty special and I know he'd be proud.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. The NHL, the Rangers and Capitals game turning into fight night. Right after the puck dropped, the bad blood from these two teams stems back to Monday, when the Caps' Tom Wilson slammed Artemi Panarin to the ice after also punching Panarin's teammate in the back of the head. Panarin was injured in that scuffle.

The NHL didn't suspend Wilson, only fining him $5,000. And the Rangers taking matters into their own hands. They are livid. Right when Wilson got on the ice, they took it out on him, as you can see right there. There were a hundred penalty minutes in the first period, alone, forcing some pretty crowded penalty boxes for both teams.

Now, the Caps were to win the game, 4-2. Pretty cool moment for Washington's T.J. Oshie. He scored a hat trick in his first game since the death of his father, Tim. And he was pretty overcome with emotion as he came off the ice. Breaking down in tears when he sat on the bench. Oshie said later, that he was grateful he got to share that moment with his teammates.

Finally, Cubs and Dodgers last night. Cubs down a run in the tenth. John Peterson, he hit a walk-off home run, flips the bat and everything. Well, it got hung up in that Chicago wind. Mookie Betts catches it for a sacrifice fly. Look at Peterson's face.

The Cubs would go on to win the game in the 11th to sweep the dodgers in the series. But, Christine, one of those examples. Don't count your chickens before they hatch because I'm sure Peterson's teammates gave him a hard time about flipping the bat and everything, thinking he had won the game.

ROMANS: I bet. All right. Andy Scholes, nice to see you. Thank you so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

ROMANS: All right. It's the one thing President Trump and President Biden seem to agree on. So, why is the pandemic eviction moratorium, suddenly, at risk?

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