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Biden Blasts Rollback Of COVID Restrictions As "Neanderthal Thinking"; House Not In Session Amid Warnings About March 4 Conspiracies; Top House Republican: Trump Needs To Tell Militias "To Stand Down"; Alabama Governor Will End Mask Mandate In April; House Passes Bills To Expand Voting Access, Combat Police Misconduct. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired March 04, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

[12:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you so much. And thank you all so much for joining us at this hour. I am Kate Bolduan. John King picks up our coverage right now.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Top of the hour, hello everybody and welcome to Inside Politics. I'm John King in Washington. Thank you for sharing your day with us. Today President Biden's massive and important COVID relief package hits the Senate floor where it will immediately be met by Republican objections and delays.

The margins are tight rope thin. Democrats must keep their entire membership on board to get that bill back to the House and then to the president's desk inexplicable and the Neanderthal. That's how President Biden frames decisions by some Governors to unwind COVID restrictions.

Texas is being most aggressive right now. Its mask mandate is no more. And the top state health officials told the legislature the Governor did not talk to him before declaring Texas 100 percent open first day, another anxious day on Capitol Hill.

The House canceling its Thursday session the y is familiar and it is frightening an intelligence bulletin warning of a violent militia group discussing plans to seize the U.S. Capitol and to remove democratic lawmakers.

A fringe conspiracy pinpoints March 4 today as the real Inauguration Day and it predicts President Trump's return to power. That is of course fantasy, but a potentially dangerous fantasy. A source says the March 4 plotting is mostly online chatter.

But we learned on January 6, what can happen when online chatter leaps into reality. This morning, the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stressing conspiracy talk not the main reason she insists behind scrapping today's schedule but she says it doesn't hurt to be extra cautious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): I don't think anybody should take any encouragement that because some troublemakers might show up as that we changed our whole schedule. No, we just moved in a few hours the threat of - of all the president's men out there we have to - we have to ensure with our security that we are safe enough to do our job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Let's get straight to CNN's Donie O'Sullivan, he is near the Capitol. Donie you spent hours and hours and hours, months and months tracking all of this. So what is the online chatter right now about this alleged March 4 plot?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER: Hey John, a lot of QAnon followers are already moving on. Look many of them were convinced that Biden was not going to be inaugurated. They were hoping and believed that martial law would be declared on the day of the inauguration.

Of course that did not happen. And then many of them quickly moved on to this March 4 date which is of course, today. And they believe that Trump was going to be inaugurated today.

Why? Well because a lot of presidents were inaugurated in the 19th century on March 4 and this is a belief that has been coast to coast. I want you to take a listen to this Trump supporter and QAnon believer who I spoke to in California last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LISA HARTMAN, TRUMP SUPPORTER: It is my hope that President Trump comes back as the 19th president of the United States under the 1776. And that he is inaugurated on March 4 that is my hope for our future.

O'SULLIVAN: Are you going to feel foolish on March 5 when Biden's still president?

HARTMAN: Then Trump has a different plan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'SULLIVAN: And John obviously that's crazy. But what we've seen is these crazy conspiracy theories, they can have meaningful impact they can lead to violence. Obviously we saw today that it has contributed to the heightened security presence here in Washington, DC.

And as crazy as those conspiracy theories are John, it also comes back to the big lie because the big lie that's being perpetrated by president - Former President Trump that the election was in some way stolen. It's that conspiracy that is enabling the rest of the crazy. John?

KING: Without a doubt when you hear that woman say then Trump has another plan. If Biden's inaugurated on the 20th, if it doesn't happen today, then Trump has another plan. That tells you how important it is that he choose his words carefully.

And the people who support him choose their words carefully because they some of them think this is funny. It's not funny. O'SULLIVAN: Absolutely. I mean it's terrifying. Frankly look as you

mentioned, we've traveled the country. Speaking to many conspiracy theorists, there's not a lot that shocks us anymore. But at that same event, I was speaking to people who were praising what is happening in Myanmar, the military coup; they want to see it happen here.

Again they're obsessed with the idea the military is on their side. They want the military to come in and put Trump back in office. It's very - it's a very scary scenario that we're hearing.

KING: Donie grateful for your reporting not just today, but over these past months. You have such a great understanding. I've always appreciated, thank you very much and with me here in studio to share her reporting and her insights, our Chief Political Correspondent, Dana Bash. You have spent years covering Capitol Hill and I know you were just up there this morning.

[12:05:00]

KING: The speaker says this was not just because of the threat. She doesn't want to publicly say she's essentially bowing to the threat, but that's what happened. Those who lived through January 6 just decided we don't have to take a chance let's not.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Look PTS is real. I, as you said I was just up there this morning and talking privately to a lot of the police officers never Monday, elected members, people who are trained to defend and protect who are still very, very traumatized.

Very traumatized because they felt that they were left vulnerable and they weren't given the resources that they needed to really do their jobs well. And look, it is - I am afraid to say it out loud because it's only noon eastern. So far it's quiet.

It is - there is no sign of anything that we see. But it is incredibly fortified. I mean, you saw Donie standing in front of that fence, it continues to run around a very large parameter. And you see you know, national guardsmen after national guardsmen standing in cameo with giant arms not something that we are used to in the United States of America.

KING: And on this day, on this very day, retired Lieutenant General Russell Andre who the speaker asked to look at what happened on January 6. And to come up with a plan for what security improvements need to be made to better protect the capital.

Looking down the road, General Andre, among the recommendations, a quick reaction force on standby full time near the United States Capitol a thousand additional U.S. Capitol police officers many of them for here in Washington, some of them to protect members home in their districts, retractable fencing around the U.S Capitol complex.

We have watched in years I've been here 30 plus years now after Oklahoma City. There were changes after 9/11 there were dramatic changes. Now it looks like there will be even additional changes around.

Again a building, you have to take the security - you have to you must you have no choice, the safety of the capital and the lawmakers is critical. But one of the charms of it is that everyday Americans can come to this city and walk up and see the magic.

BASH: That's right. And right now they are kept very, very far from that because of the makeshift fence, very tall fence. And what you just showed there about the recommendations for the future is what I heard. You know, every single stop that I made to talk to officers just this morning again privately, which is you know, today is one thing.

Obviously there was a lot of chatter, there were law enforcement bulletins. There was a potential threat because of what Tony was reporting on the crazy conspiracy theory about this day. But the question is long term. What happens when the - everybody isn't on heightened alert?

And that is something that is going to have to be addressed and not forgotten as this town sometimes actually often does. You know when there's a crisis, you deal with it. But then as we get further away, you kind of forget about it.

KING: That's why the language of people in leadership positions is. And if you're sworn in as a member of Congress, you're a member; you're in a leadership position matter so much the former president's words matter so much.

Well, let's walk through this Republican divide over this issue. Listen here. This is Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas. You know Democrats might not like his views, progressives might not like his policy positions, but he's irresponsible voice on foreign policy and on security issues. He says the former president owes the country something big.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX): President Trump has a responsibility to tell him to stand down. This threat is credible and it's real. It's a right wing militia group.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: That is Congressman McCaul. However fellow Texan Republican Louie Gohmert asked if he agreed with Trump's lie that the election was stolen. Gohmert said that's what we're going to be determining in the months ahead. I expect to see more evidence coming out.

The former Vice President Mike Pence just yesterday wrote an op-ed piece where he wants to talk about election reforms. He has every right to do so. But in that essay, he promoted again the big lie that there were massive irregularities if people in positions of authority keep saying that, then those people will believe that.

BASH: That's exactly right. You know, the former vice president was playing - with the people who still believe and perpetuate the big lie. I mean, someone like Louie Gohmert he's - he's in it. I mean he's one of those who has consistently stoked the conspiracy theories.

But what Michael McCaul a Republican who has a lot of experience and know how when it comes to Homeland Security said about the former president should be played over and over and taken to him in Mar-a- Lago because it is - it matters.

And again you heard from what Donie played for you from that you know QAnon member saying they take their cues from the former president. All he has to do is come out and say everybody, calm down, this is not what I want. This is not what we want as Americans and the fact that he doesn't do it speaks volumes.

[12:10:00]

KING: President Trump has a responsibility to tell them to stand down.

BASH: Right.

KING: Well chosen economical words from the Congressman. We'll see if the former president listens. Dana Bash appreciate it very much Donie O'Sullivan as well. Up next for us the vaccine rollout is gaining steam so too though our efforts to rollback COVID restrictions and that makes the president mad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: There's open tension right now between the Biden White House and many Governors. Most of them Republican who are deciding this is the moment to roll back COVID restrictions. The president says it is not time especially on the issue of mask mandates.

Let's walk through the numbers behind this big debate first the case timeline. If you look at it right here, there's no question. There is no question cases are significantly down. One month ago 121,191 new infections, yesterday 65,909 so significantly down but follow the line.

A flat line a plateau for the last week 10 days almost two weeks back if you look at. This is what concerns the CDC and other federal public health officials a plateau right there.

[12:15:00]

KING: They say it needs to be shoved down in their view, not the time to lift restrictions. If you look at the positivity and COVID testing, a month ago, it was 8.4 percent, meaning 8.4 percent of national tests came back positive.

Now it's down to below 5 percent just below 5 percent. Again public health experts say get it to five and keep shoving it down. One question at the moment though are enough tests being conducted. You do see those numbers dropping a little bit.

Let's look at the seven day average in terms of vaccines. This right now is a Biden administration success story in more than 2 million vaccines now is the average in the United States. Public health experts say it'd be nice to get it up to 3 million a day. But when the president took office, it was just under 900,000 vaccines a day.

Now it's over 2 million in the seven day average and they promised to ramp it up. This is the way we have looked at this over the past year and you take a look now, green is good. That means you're trending down 20 states fewer new COVID infections now than a week ago.

You see six states though trending up meaning and eight states trending up overall. Two of them Mississippi and Arkansas, the deep red, that means more than 50 percent new COVID infections now 50 percent higher than the data a week ago.

So you see 22 states holding steady that's essentially where the country is in this plateau. Some up a little some down a little. This is the controversy of the moment. Is it time to relax your COVID restriction?

16 states now do not have statewide mask mandates. Most recently the Governor of Texas, the Governor Mississippi lifting Mac's mask mandates there. What are those two states tell you? Texas case counts going up but they lift the mask mandate.

Mississippi case count going up right now lift the mass mandate. Governor Abbott in Texas says I stand by my call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): Exactly when would be the right time? Would it be when everybody gets a vaccine? Will it be when COVID is completely over? Now it seems like the goalpost has been completely moved to lock down and mass requirements forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Again President Biden - Biden calls it Neanderthal thinking for Texas and Mississippi to drop mask mandates at this moment of the crisis. Dr. Anthony Fauci, his top adviser uses more diplomatic language. But listen here, reminding Governors think back a few months.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN: We've been to the scene before months and months ago when we try to open up the country and open up the economy. When certain states did not abide by the guidelines we had rebounds which were very troublesome.

What we don't need right now is another surge. It just is in explicable why you would want to pull back now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: These are state decisions of course. And many states are relaxing COVID restrictions. KING: In West Virginia, for example, bars, restaurants, and stores can now increase their capacity. Social gatherings can include up to 75 people and K through eight students are back in class full time.

[12:15:00]

The West Virginia Governor, Jim Justice, joins me now. Governor, grateful for your time today. As you -- look, this is a national debate. You had the president getting involved. His team saying please go slow governors, say, yes, you can relax some things but be careful. Just moments ago, you're calling -- the Governor of Alabama decided her mask mandate in that state will expire in a month. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. KAY IVEY (R-AL): But let me be abundantly clear. After April the 9, I will not keep the mask order in effect. While I'm convinced that a mask mandate has been the right thing to do, I also respect those who object and believe that this was a step too far in government overreach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: You had an executive order last month, Governor. You're considering additional relaxation of some of the restrictions, but there's still a requirement for face coverings in West Virginia in most places, especially indoors in crowds.

Do you think it's time to drop the mask mandate or do you believe the president is right that we should wait longer?

GOV. JIM JUSTICE (R-WV): Well, John, to be perfectly honest, the one thing that I'm not going to do in West Virginia, I'm not going to let this become a political football. I mean, I really -- I don't want to be critical, but so many people want to just move because it's -- it's the most politically correct thing that they can do.

You know, it becomes almost a macho thing and everything. In West Virginia, we want to -- we want to be cautious, we want to be safe, we want to be respectful of everybody's rights and everything with all that, and we've done the right thing all the way through this thing.

I mean, you know, if you step back and really look, first in the nation to test their nursing homes, first in the nation to get our -- all of our nursing homes vaccinated, first leading the nation in all of the administration of the vaccine. It goes just on and on and on.

But in all of that, John, the one thing we've done, we've always listened to the experts, and we've always let him lead us. And we've been cautious, we've been bold, but we've been cautious in everything. And I'm not going to throw mud at either side and everything, and I'm not going to dance around like a politician because I'm not that.

[12:20:00]

But at the end of the day, we're going to do the smart thing in West Virginia. We're not going to do the things just politically correct. KING: Well now let me ask you on that point, and choose your language, Governor; don't let me put words in your mouth. But you're our Republican Governor, you say you don't want a political football; you don't want to throw mud at each side.

It is -- it might be easier for a fellow Republican Governor to listen to Jim Justice who just went through the West Virginia success story at least -- especially recently, in terms of the vaccine rollout, to say hey, Governor, give it another month, listen to the science.

Sure, let more people go to restaurants, let more people have social gatherings as long as they're safe, but don't drop something like the mask mandate, which the scientists, your state health director, would tell you working right now.

You sounded very much like you're not going to do that in the near future. Is that your plan, keep the mask mandate in place for the foreseeable future?

JUSTICE: Well, to be perfectly honest, John, you know, we have not -- we have not had a discussion, you know, from my medical team in regard to lifting the mask mandate. You know, now I am very hopeful that we can get rid of these crazy masks because, you know, we all know we don't want to wear the mask.

I mean that's just all there is to it. And as we continue to vaccinate more and more and more, we'll get rid of the mask. But I don't know really what the big rush to get rid of the mask is because these masks have saved a lot, a lot of lives.

And even the most, you know, confident person that doesn't want anything to do with the masks is still saying they saved lives. And so at the end of the day, I don't know what the rush -- the rush is. And if we don't watch out, we can make some mistakes.

KING: I appreciate your candor there. Let's talk about the vaccine rollout, and let's put some numbers up on the screen here. Right now, West Virginia by the numbers, 12 percent, just shy of that, of your population has been fully vaccinated. 83 percent of the doses have been administrated, meaning that when you get a shipment, you're getting them off the shelf and into arms.

At one point, you were leading the country. Right now, you rank fifth in doses -- of administrating doses for 100 people in your population. Why? Help us -- I asked you this question a couple of weeks back, but I want to ask you this again, what are you doing that maybe other states can copy to get -- as soon as the -- they come off the plane or they come off the truck, they're in an arm?

JUSTICE: Well, John, first of all, you know, I don't know exactly the numbers that you're using, but in West Virginia, we week after week after week, we have gotten every single dose that we've got in every week, in fact we've gotten more doses out of the vials, in somebody's arm every week, 100 percent. That's all there is to it, and that's what we're going to continue to do. Now with all of that, we basically brought everybody hands on deck. And we brought our National Guard in; we bought our local pharmacies in; the local health clinics and everything. And we identified, immediately, that the -- this terrible killer attacks the old.

And so we just got right after that, and now we've lowered the age to 50, and we've lowered the age on our teachers to 40. And, you know, in our surge personnel (ph). So we're dead after, and every absolute dose that comes into this state, every single week, we're going to get into somebody's arm.

KING: Governor Justice, greatly appreciate your time today, sir. I know you're busy. Thank you.

JUSTICE: No, John, thank you for all you do. Thank you, sir.

KING: Thank you.

Up next for us House Democrats past two top priorities, election and police reforms but what your progressives do now when told their wish list is DOA in the Senate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:25:00]

KING: [12:25:00]

KING: Two top progressive priorities cleared the House last night. H.R. 1 is the Democrat's view of needed election reforms including protecting voting by mail, and trying to change campaign finance and redistricting rules.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act creates a national database for police misconduct. It bans profiling and it makes it easier to sue police for alleged misconduct. Both are top agenda items for House Democrats and both face bleak odds over in the 50-50 Senate.

Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York joins me now. Congressman, grateful for your time today. What is your answer when you hear that? It's the math of Washington. It's a reality. Your fellow New Yorker Chuck Schumer is the Majority Leader in the Senate.

I'm sure he tells you - what he says publicly as he says in private that I don't know if I have the votes. You're in contact with the Biden White House all the time. I'm sure they tell you we support you, but the Senate, what now?

REP. JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-NY): It's completely unacceptable. We organized across this country, in communities of color and communities that have been historically ignored to get Joe Biden elected and to get Kamala Harris elected. We did the work.

Now it's time for the White House to deliver. And we need to use all of our power, all of our resources, all of our organizing both inside and outside of Congress to make sure our colleagues in the Senate do the right thing.

We have to pass H.R. 1, we need to get big money out of politics, and we need to protect the right to vote. Republicans across the country continue to do everything in their power to undermine the vote. They can't win on ideas. They can't win the hearts and minds of the American people.

So their only recourse is to stop the American people from voting. So our colleagues in the Senate, as well as Republicans who are still principled if they still exist in the Senate - needs to come on board and support H.R. 1.

And the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, this is a long time coming. You know this is something that should have been in place since Rodney King since Sean Bell, since Tamir Rice, but because we all watched George Floyd be murdered this past summer, this is why the uprising occurred.

[12:30:00]