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W.H.O: AstraZeneca Vaccine Benefits Outweigh Its Risks; Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Is Interviewed About Border Crisis; Biden: Putin "Will Pay A Price" For 2020 Election Interference. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired March 17, 2021 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: The variants maybe about 20 percent more transmissible, the CDC said, citing early research. Some COVID-19 treatments may also be less effective against these strains. Put into context for somebody watching, this as a lay person like me maybe doesn't speak the language. How concerned should they be when they hear, you know, the U.K. variant is in 48 states, these two new variants of concerning California, should that be a worry or does the government on top of it?

DR. KEVIN AULT, MEMBER, CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES: I think we knew weeks ago that U.K. variant was going to become more prominent in the United States. So we talked about that, again, at one of our recent meetings. And I think we also know that the vaccine provides at least in a test tube provides protection. You can take blood samples from people that have been vaccinated, mix it with a virus and test them and you get what we call neutralization.

So we do want to look for vaccine failures for people who've been vaccinated might be infected with the U.K. variant or some of the other variants. There are certainly other things we have besides vaccination, you know, we still have mass, we still have hand washing, we still have social distancing. So, you know, we're -- this kind of research is hard, because we have to find people who, you know, may have gotten infected after they were vaccinated to see what the actual protection is.

But, you know, getting more people vaccinated and sticking to the things that have worked and that we know are working is going to help in this critical phase over the next few months.

KING: We have an international audience this hour. The AstraZeneca vaccine is not approved here yet in the United States. But a number of European countries have suspended its use or delayed the rollout of that vaccine because you have had these reported cases of people getting serious blood clots. The company says it's a small number compared to the millions of doses. And the World Health Organization, its Safety Committee took a quick look at this.

And it just today said at this time, the World Health Organization considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that the vaccinations continue. Dr. Fauci said today he does not believe at least based on any data he has seen that you can blame the vaccine for the blood clots. Should people in countries where AstraZeneca has been the vaccine of choice or at least one of the vaccines of choice, should they feel safe?

AULT: I think they should feel safe based on the data that I've seen. Yes, and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said, you know, we're vaccinating so many people, we're vaccinating 2 million people in the United States every day, and certainly more worldwide. So we're going to see blood clots and other adverse events that are unrelated to the vaccine, and happen just by happenstance.

And so, you know, we talked about this. We talked specifically about blood clots and other related things at the last ACIP meeting. And that's a pretty common occurrence without the vaccination, especially with the people that were vaccinating as far as older people which had been the initial target. So, I haven't seen all the data about AstraZeneca. But what I've seen is that, you know, I would be reassured that you should get that vaccine if it's offered to you.

KING: Dr. Kevin Ault, grateful, Sir, for your time and expertise. Appreciate it.

AULT: Thank you.

KING: Thank you.

Up next for us, the Homeland Security Chief facing tough questions up on Capitol Hill. Democrats face a tough question too, how much of the Biden immigration agenda to try to pass and when and how?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:37:34]

KING: The Homeland Security Secretary up on Capitol Hill today facing tough questions, especially from Republicans about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. You can take a look here at the data. It shows border encounters are up 174 percent from February 2020 to the February we just finished. Well today Secretary Mayorkas says, yes, more migrants are attempting to cross into the United States now more so than in the past 20 years. But he won't call it a crisis and he pushed back on Republicans who want him to use that label.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I will share with you how I define a crisis. A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a nine-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration. That to me is a humanitarian crisis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Joining us now to discuss this important issue, the Democratic Senator from Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. Senator, thank you for your time. We have all lived through this. And one of the reasons almost nothing has been done about border issues in recent years as it quickly devolves into politics like that. The Secretary pushing back against Republicans, they want to blame Biden. Some Democrats want to blame all this on Trump.

Let's try to set that aside if we can. What should in your view the administration do today and tomorrow immediately things it can do before Congress picks up this issue to deal especially with the issue of all these children, unaccompanied children coming to the border?

SEN. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (D-NV): A couple of things. First of all, let me -- first of all great to join you, John. First of all, let me just put this in perspective. I strongly believe we can have secure borders. I know it. I've always worked for secure borders while I'm here in the Senate, but also as the Attorney General of Nevada for eight years working with my colleagues from Mexico, the attorneys general there. We can have secure borders. But we also can have a system in place that is humane, is compassionate, it addresses immigration, it addresses an asylum process that is orderly that keeps the terrorist element out that ensures that violent criminals are not coming across the border, but also looks to how we work with individuals who are fleeing their country and why and understand that.

You've touched on this. It requires us all coming together. I have watched for the last four years with the previous administration literally tore down the asylum process. And that's why you have an administration trying to rebuild it right now, putting a band aid on immigration instead of working together with Congress to address this problem. I'm tired of people playing politics with it. We can do this if we come together. And we really work Congress and this administration to address a broken immigration system. But at the same time, balancing that with making sure that our border has resources that are necessary to secure it.

[12:40:20]

I know it can be done. I've worked in law enforcement. I've been down the border as the senator. I've been to the fusion centers down there. I know what they need. And we've talked about new technology that is available to law enforcement now along the border that helps them secure the border. We've talked about their human resources that are necessary. But and I will tell you as somebody who worked with A.G.s in Mexico addressing human trafficking, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, money laundering, a border wall is not the answer. Tunnels and transnational criminals has the ability actually to build these incredible tunnels that we have to address. That's why the technology is so important for law enforcement at the border.

KING: You say the border wall is not the answer. I get your perspective on that. And with the Cabinet debate. A number of your Republican colleagues, I believe 40 of them just sent this letter saying essentially, that President Biden is doing what Democrats often complained that President Trump was doing, the Congress passed legislation that said you must spend money on this and Congress controls the purse, they say Congress appropriated the money for the border wall, and that the President can't through executive action, stop it, that if he wants to not spend money on the border wall, you'd have to pass legislation.

Democrats had complained about this, whether it was money to Ukraine or other steps President Trump took to ignore legislation spending priorities passed by the Congress. Did these Republicans have a point?

MASTO: Well, here's the point. And I hear so I'm listening to are the people at the border. As a Senator, I spent time down there. Like I said, I've talked to our law enforcement at the border. It's not a border wall. What they're demanding is technology. They're in their budget, just look at their budget for the last four years and after talking with the heads of the CBP and other law enforcement agencies at the border. It is money for technology. It is money for all human resources.

KING: But that my point, Senator, again, forgive me for interrupting.

MASTO: So but, John, here's the thing --

KING: The current law says, the current law says spend it on the border, do you have to pass a new law that says take that money and spend it on security not have the President use this pen? Spend it on technology.

MASTO: But here's what I'm saying, John, and I know you want to get into the politics of this. We've got to take it away. What is actually needed at the border, we should be listening to the people who are on the frontlines there and working together. And that's what this is about. As somebody who's worked in law enforcement for eight years as the attorney general at the state of Nevada working on these issues. Because what happens at the border bleeds into the state of Nevada, it is important that we listen to people on the frontlines.

That's what I've done. I've sat down, looked at their budget, and really listened to what their needs are. And their needs are more reasons for technology, more resources, human resource and capacity. That's what they've been asking for. So why are we listening to them? So and I just have to push back because there is the ability we in this country to actually secure our borders, which are secure now. We can ensure to put more resources behind it and still have a system that works for us for immigration and asylum seekers. We can do both. But it requires Congress and the administration to work together.

KING: Let me actually lastly, Senator. There's a Dick Durbin, you're number two in the leadership says he doesn't see the way to get comprehensive immigration reform through the United States Senate. Should the Senate bring to the floor protecting the DREAMers, just the DREAM Act or perhaps separately, just a pathway to citizenship, should you try incremental steps that might move the ball as opposed to trying to do it all at once and knowing that always get stuck in the quicksand?

MASTO: A couple of things. Of course, we should always try to work in a bipartisan way. And we should talk to our colleagues about what makes sense in moving forward to address our broken immigration system. This DREAMers putting them on a pathway and taking care of them who are literally on the frontlines right now during this pandemic in my state, who have come to this country at a very young age. And this is the only home they've known.

Yes, we should be doing everything we can to make sure we're taking care of our DREAMers and others. But it requires us to have conversations and stop playing politics with it. Look, John, we know that the Senate in 2013 actually came together in an immigration package at a comprehensive one in a bipartisan way. I also know when I was here, when I first got to the United States Senate in 2017. We were able to work in a bipartisan way and a immigration package.

Unfortunately, the Trump in the administration sabotaged it. But we were able to do it. So let's start having these conversations. That's what I'm looking forward to do.

KING: Mark me down as skeptical. You got those conversations heading into the next election year, which you know, all too well is coming up too quickly on colleagues like yourself. But I wish you good luck. If you could get people talking. I agree that might be the best way to get progress. Senator, appreciate your time today.

MASTO: Thank you, John.

KING: Thank you.

[12:44:53]

Coming up for us, the President sends a stern message to Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: A new promise from President Biden to punish Vladimir Putin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He will pay a price. I said I look in your eyes and I don't think you have a soul. And look back me said, we understand each other. Look, most important thing dealing with foreign leaders in my experience and I've dealt with an awful lot of more in my career is just know the other guy.

[12:50:01]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you know Vladimir Putin, you think he's a killer?

BIDEN: I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what price must he pay?

BIDEN: A price he's going to pay well, you'll see shortly.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: That TBD price comes on the heels of a new, unclassified intelligence community report with clear conclusions. It says the Russian President again wanted Donald Trump to win the 2020 election and work to make Joe Biden lose it. Putin authorized in a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating divisions in the United States.

Let's join our -- joining our conversation now our CNN global analyst Susan Glasser. Tough words from the new President, Susan, the question is, what are his options to punish Vladimir Putin?

SUSAN GLASSER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, that's right, John. It's a striking report. Certainly, it's -- there's no language and being unequivocal in saying not only that Russia was engaged in this election interference, but that Vladimir Putin personally was aware of it and directed it according to the language in this report. So you hear Biden talking tough. In general, that's been what we've heard from his administration, a much more stringent line coming out of the President, obviously, than Donald Trump.

However, the options remain limited. You've seen a series of sanctions in recent years ever since Russia took over an illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, which was also the beginning, not coincidentally, of these stepped up operations inside the United States. So the question really is what other tools are available besides endless rounds of sanctions. We haven't heard yet from the Biden administration what new and possibly creative alternatives they're looking at.

KING: Well, he says shortly, so we will stay on watch for that. Also, tough talk this from the Secretary of State Tony Blinken. There's a meeting tomorrow, high level officials, the first high level meeting between the Biden team and China. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is not a strategic dialogue. There's no intent at this point for a series of follow on engagements. Those engagements, if they are to follow really have to be based on the proposition that we're seeing tangible progress and tangible outcomes on the issues of concern to us with China.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: What do you make of that in terms of, is this a stare down? Are they looking for some concessions from China? Is it just talking tough? Or again, what do you do?

GLASSER: Well, look, first of all, you know, the issue of China has become a rare bipartisan agreement in that both Democrats and Republicans are taking a very dim view of China. Now there's no talk as there was in previous beginnings of administration's about, you know, the two superpowers working together.

It's a very interesting moment when Blinken in his confirmation hearing even said, basically, I agree with the Trump administration's tough line on China. However, we may have a different approach. That's where it's interesting. You have both Blinken, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, flying to Asia on their first visit and meeting with our key allies in South Korea and Japan. I think that's where you see a difference with the Trump administration is the messaging here is we are no longer going to be bashing our allies and making nice words to our adversaries as Trump often did.

So I think it's the symbolism of the meeting with the South Koreans and the Japanese in the lead up to this meeting. I also think it's notable that the Chinese officials have agreed to come to Alaska to U.S. soil to have this first meeting with the Secretary of State and the National Security Adviser. The optics there suggests the Chinese understand, you know, that they might -- it might be in their interest to dial down some of this heated rhetoric that's been coming from the U.S. and Democrats and Republicans.

KING: It'd be fascinating to see if that is what indeed happens. I think you're right. Interesting point about the location, day 57, the challenges come right away whether it's Russia, whether it's China or more. Susan Glasser, grateful for the important insights, appreciate it.

[12:54:04]

Coming up for us, did you get a stimulus check yet in the mail, maybe direct deposits? An update from the administration on just how many Americans have received those payments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Topping our Political Radar today. Around 90 million stimulus checks now have been given out to Americans, that according to the Department of Treasury and the IRS. The first batch mostly sent by direct deposit along with around 150,000 paper checks. Those payments will continue over the next few weeks.

And now an update on the filibuster, Progressives want to get rid of it altogether. The President in an ABC interview said he's willing to tweak it. The man you see in your screen there, Joe Manchin, he may have the biggest say in all this and he throws cold water on any big changes. Let's get up to our chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju for the latest on that. Manu?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I just spoke to Joe Manchin and his voice is important because Democrats need support of the entire caucus to make significant changes to the filibuster rule, any changes to the filibuster rule that gives the right of the minority to derail legislation from the majority.

He told me this. He said I'm still at 60. That's where I'm at. I haven't changed. Meaning 60 votes to maintain to sustain a filibuster to break a filibuster to promote proponents who want to gut the filibuster, want to bring that down to 51 votes. He is saying that is absolutely not on the table. He's also rejecting other fundamental changes here that reformers want to make to the institution. But, John, that's going to require Manchin's support and he's just not there yet, John.

[13:00:01]

KING: Just not there yet. Manu Raju, we'll stay on top of it if he budges. Manu, appreciate the live reporting there.

Appreciate your time today. Hope to see you back here this time tomorrow. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.