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Cheney, Romney Under Fire Within Own Party for Speaking Out; Virginia Voters React to Biden's $4T Economic Pitch; Parents Remove Child from School that Bars Vaccinated Teachers; Funeral Today for Black Man Killed by Police as Protests Grow. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired May 03, 2021 - 06:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman in New York, alongside Brianna Keilar in Washington. On this NEW DAY, Liz Cheney at risk, Mitt Romney booed. The MAGA takeover of the Republican Party clear now, more than ever.

[05:59:50]

Plus, President Biden hits the road, trying to sell his $4 trillion agenda. So how are voters reacting to the price tag? We ask them.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: A private school in Miami is banning teachers from getting the vaccine, citing anti-vax conspiracies. We will speak live with a parent who has pulled their kid.

And new warnings from America's top general and Hillary Clinton about Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

BERMAN: Good morning to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. It is Monday, May 3, and this isn't your grandfather's Republican Party. Heck, it isn't your father's Republican Party, unless you're Tiffany Trump.

The utter takeover by Donald Trump is very nearly complete, and it seems that the chief requirement for membership is 100 percent buy into the election lie. Anything short of that, and you could be out.

This morning a senior House Republican tells CNN that Congresswoman Liz Cheney could be in, quote, "very big trouble" and stands to lose her leadership role. She could be ousted, we're told, by the end of the month.

She voted to impeach Trump and criticized senators who pushed the election lie. She also committed the apparently unforgivable sin of greeting the president in the House chamber last week. And now House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy might be hanging her out to dry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Cheney still a good fit for your leadership team, do you believe?

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): That's a question for the conference. (END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Then there is Mitt Romney, the former GOP presidential nominee, the Utah senator, narrowly avoiding a censure vote this weekend, receiving this hometown greeting from members of his own party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): You know me as a person who -- who says what he thinks. And I don't hide the fact that I wasn't a fan of our last president's character issues, and I'm also no fan --

(CROWD BOOING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Earlier this year, former President Trump labeled Romney and other Republicans who voted to impeach or convict him grandstanders, and Republicans in name only. And those labels stuck.

Joining us now to discuss in CNN political analyst and "New York Times" Washington correspondent Maggie Haberman.

Maggie, good morning to you. You know, what does this say about the state of the Republican Party and the future of it, that they're completely banishing people like a Cheney or a Romney?

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So Brianna, I think it's too soon to say exactly how this plays out, but I do think that we are seeing the same situation that we have seen, really, for five years now taking place.

We saw it at the very beginning of this phase with the "Access Hollywood" tape back in October of 2016, where the activist base of the Republican Party is very aligned with Donald Trump and some of the elected leaders, some of the leadership in Washington is not and finds themselves at odds with their base.

And so then you have people like Kevin McCarthy who are trying to straddle both of those lines. Donald Trump retains a huge grip on his party four months, five months out of office. I don't expect that to change, as he has put himself front and center. And so you are going to see people trying to sort of marry two versions of, on the one hand, trying to step -- step away from the January 6 mess and also trying to still hug Donald Trump. It's going to be very hard to do both.

BERMAN: The question is, is Kevin McCarthy really still trying to straddle this, because his statements about Liz Cheney, the No. 3 in the House, were almost biblical. Like, three times he denied her. He basically said, it's up to the conference to decide, Maggie.

And there's some CNN reporting from elsewhere where you now have Republicans saying she may not last in the leadership position for the entire month. What do you think? HABERMAN: Look. I think that this was sort of inevitable here is

heading this way, because Liz Cheney did not, you know, modify her comments about Donald Trump.

And to your point, it requires absolute fealty to him in order to survive right now. This is not just about Liz Cheney versus Donald Trump. This is increasingly a schism between McCarthy, other members of leadership, and Liz Cheney.

There are some reports that some House members, Republican members, are starting to get asked about Cheney in their districts, which I just think has become, you know, the excuse for trying to get rid of her.

But, look, she is a problem that leadership, particularly in the House, which they would like to retake a Republican majority next year. Kevin McCarthy wants to be speaker. We've known that for a while. I think they see her as an -- as an obstacle to that. But it is remarkable that you can have somebody who is ousted, essentially, because they take a position at odds with a former president.

KEILAR: Chris Christie, who got COVID, Maggie, from Trump's White House -- he was actually hospitalized -- was asked to grade the Trump presidency, and this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Overall, how do you grade Trump as president?

CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR: Oh, listen, overall, I give the president an "A." You know, but the fact of the matter is that there were some things that happened, specifically at the end of the presidency, that I think had some things that clouded his accomplishments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[06:05:10]

KEILAR: That's an understatement, even when you go back to Christy's own comments, Maggie.

HABERMAN: I think that what he's referring to when he says the "A" -- and I can't -- obviously, can't speak with him -- but my guess is that he's talking about the policies, which he has generally said some. He then has said the behavior is problematic. I do think that that is another example of how Republicans who are trying to remain within their party and remain active are trying to walk a line between, you know, criticizing Donald Trump and not criticizing Donald Trump.

I think he was pretty clear that Donald Trump gave him COVID and how -- or at least that he got it at the White House and how he felt about that at the time.

But I do think, again, you've seen Donald Trump's makeover of this party so completely and thoroughly on the question of policy, that I think you're going to hear that kind of answer from most Republicans going forward.

BERMAN: Do you think people will buy it from Christie? If Christie is trying to, you know, suck up or engender good will to the Trump wing of the party, will they buy that from a guy who said, Oh, yes, the guy absolutely competed [SIC] -- committed impeachable offenses?

HABERMAN: I think that it remains to be seen what any of this Republican base is going to want and including whether Donald Trump himself decides to run. He has said he's going make a decision -- Trump has -- after 2022.

But look I, a long time ago, gave up trying to predict what the base of either -- either party is going to find acceptable.

BERMAN: So Maggie, you know, we're talking about Trump within the Republican race. The Democrats have a rough weekend. I mean, they were shut out of this Texas congressional election. The top two finishers will be in a runoff of both Republicans.

There are retirements among prominent Democratic House members -- Cheri Bustos, and there are others who may be -- you know, Charlie Crist in Florida. We don't know what he's going to do, but he could be not running for reelection in the House. That's what happens to parties who end up in trouble in the midterms, is you get retirements, is you see things like this. Is the writing on the wall here?

HABERMAN: I think it's certainly a trouble spot for Democrats, John. And the trouble spot in the first place was that they have a relatively narrow majority. And usually, as you say, the energy is with the party out of power heading into the midterms.

I think in the case of the Texas special, I do think it is often too easy to overread the results of one special election. And I think in this case, Democrats decided -- nationally decided they weren't going to get involved. There were not really big-name endorsements in that race. And I think it's because, as you know, there are going to be retirements. Redistricting is going to lead to a lot of recarving of these districts. And so I think that they decided not to put their energy there.

I do think you're going to see both Republicans and Democrats have to choose their spots fairly selectively in ways they might not have had to, if there was not such a slim majority at stake here and if it was not redistricting here.

BERMAN: Maggie Haberman, great to see you. Thanks for coming in.

HABERMAN: Thanks, guys.

KEILAR: A few hours from now, President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden will head to Yorktown, Virginia, for the first leg of a tour to promote his economic agenda. Voters will get a hard sell on the nearly $4 trillion infrastructure plan, jobs, and families, plans that he laid out in his address to Congress. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is with us now. Sunlen, what is Biden going to

say to Americans to try to get them onboard here?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting, Brianna. Because the White House has been arguing that they're -- they believe that there's bipartisan support across the nation for their agenda, and they're hoping that they will -- this will help overcome the opposition they are facing in Congress with Republicans.

So we spent a few days where the president will travel today, in Yorktown, Virginia, talking to dozens of voters to see if that is reflected on the ground.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Think of what it will mean for opportunity, if we can connect Milwaukee to Green Bay to Madison, Scranton and Allentown to New York. It's going to provide jobs and will also accommodate jobs.

SERFATY (voice-over): As President Biden hits the road to sell his expansive and expensive agenda --

BIDEN: America's on the move again.

SERFATY: -- the rubber may really meet the road in places like Yorktown. A peaceful historic town in southeast Virginia, where excitement for Biden's proposals comes with concerns about the trillion-dollar price tag.

RICK CALVERT, INDEPENDENT VOTER: It's big. I mean, I can't see why anybody wouldn't be worried about that. And I -- I don't want to pay more taxes any more than anybody else.

SERFATY: Ahead of Monday's visit to the area by the president and first lady, CNN spoke with dozens of voters -- Democrats, Republicans, and independents -- about Biden's plans to reshape the economy.

ERNESTINE BROWN, YORKTOWN RESIDENT: I would hope that, you know, he means that he sticks by what he says. We're going to try to build from the ground up and then the middle out and not worry about this top- down approach.

SERFATY: Many said they approved of Biden's vision.

BIDEN: America's moving, moving forward, but we can't stop now.

SERFATY: And highlighted specific pieces they liked, like Danielle, who praised Biden's proposal for universal preschool as part of the roughly $1.8 trillion American Families Plan.

DANIELLE, DEMOCRATIC VOTER: I'm a single parent, and so all the bills is on me.

SERFATY: She cited her own personal experience with her 4-year-old son, who is already benefitting from a free preschool program. DANIELLA: And I remember stressing over how I was going to be able to

afford getting him in a quality preschool, because the -- the prices of these preschool programs are ridiculous, and I do feel strongly that each child deserves to have education.

SERFATY: But others objected to Biden's far-reaching agenda.

DONNA ELLIOTT, REPUBLICAN VOTER: We paid for our children to go to college. My husband saved for our children to go to college. Now the money that he has saved, they're going to increase taxes on the top 1 percent.

SERFATY: Republican voter Donna Elliott likes the traditional infrastructure parts of the president's plans.

BIDEN: Creates jobs to update our transportation infrastructure.

SERFATY: But says the administration's approach goes too far to include other priorities.

BIDEN: When you take the word "infrastructure" and you stretch the definition of it now, I'm like whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought infrastructure was roads, tunnels, highways, trains, buses.

SERFATY: It is that kind of skepticism that will test Biden's argument that bipartisan support in the country will overcome GOP opposition to his plans in Congress.

Yet, here in Yorktown, part of a district that went for Biden by five points in 2020 after narrowly backing Donald Trump four years earlier, there are signs Biden's approach may have broader appeal.

LEWIS JONES, INDEPENDENT VOTER: I voted for Joe Biden, and it's the first time in a long, long time I voted Democratic.

SERFATY: Like from Lewis Jones, who says he's traditionally voted for Republicans.

JONES: The little guy is going to be given a leg up. And if that money is actually used to lift the little guy up and shrink the divide.

SERFATY: While others like Gene Sutton would like Biden to slow down.

GENE SUTTON, INDEPENDENT VOTER: We can't do everything at once. Maybe pick and choose some program that, again, both parties can agree on and go with that and not try to do too much at one time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: And that's what we heard from so many voters, that there are many individual items in the president's agenda that appeal to them, but not a top-line cost, that massive price tag. The president and first lady will be speaking today at a community college, and of course, they will be focusing on that part his agenda that pays for two years of community college. KEILAR: I love the reporting, love hearing what people are thinking. And not too bad. It was a beautiful day that you got to speak with people in Yorktown. Sunlen, thank you so much.

BERMAN: So a Miami private school barring teachers who get vaccinated. We'll speak with a parent who just pulled her child. That's next.

KEILAR: Plus, an Oregon lawmaker who opened the doors to protestors at the state capitol is now facing charges.

And Senator Ted Cruz threatening, quote, "woke CEOs" in what ethics expert calls one of the most openly corrupt things any senator has said.

This is NEW DAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:17:17]

BERMAN: So some parents are outraged after a private school in Miami told employees that if they get the COVID-19 vaccine, they won't be allowed to return next year.

Teachers and staff who have already taken the vaccine were told in a letter to continue reporting to school but stay separated from students.

The letter cited unsupported assertions about COVID-19 vaccines that contradict a large body of evidence on the vaccine's safety and the efficacy from the FDA, the CDC, the NIH, the WHO. All four agencies, backed by extensive research, have confirmed the vaccines are the best method of defense against COVID-19 and the contagious variants that can cause severe illness and death.

Some parents have said they're fine with the policy, but joining me now is Iris Acosta-Zobel. She pulled her daughter out of Centner Academy on Friday and says the school's anti-vax policy is dangerous.

Iris, thank you so much for being with us. You decided to pull your daughter out with just 30 days left in the school year. Why?

IRIS ACOSTA-ZOBEL, PARENT WHO REMOVED CHILD FROM CENTNER ACADEMY: Thank you, John, for having me. Good morning.

Yes, I mean, we don't -- we as parents don't feel our children, it's in a safe environment. And our circumstances allowed for us -- We have finished our contract, and the new school for our child was able to take her, starting immediately. So there was a lot --

BERMAN: You say not a safe environment. What do you mean not a safe environment?

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Well, it's a stressful environment. It's an environment where teachers are in no way able to have a normal day and teach that way. It's an environment that does not stand for our values as a family. It hasn't for the last year. And this is not conducive to learning. It's not what an educational environment should be for elementary schoolchildren.

BERMAN: When did you figure out that the school was going against the science, against the CDC guidelines?

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Well, this has been -- this has been an evolution through the school year. This has been a series of events that have started even last summer of last year into September when the new year started. And they have been evolving and increasing as the year went by.

And we really realized this back in October, and when December came about, we had a meeting with the school, but the school refused to have a conversation with us about returning our money. And -- and we decided -- we made a decision that we had to stay for a little longer. That has -- that has -- sort that has brought us to now.

[06:20:10]

BERMAN: You said your daughter would come home from school, and she was confused about COVID safety protocols. Tell us about that.

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Yes, that is correct. I mean, we -- we entrust our children to educational institutions that are going to be institutions that are like in values and beliefs. And if I have to explain to my child every afternoon why do the school behave in such a way, and we don't and we preach a different thing to our child than what they are teaching them, we have an issue.

If I -- if I am pro using masks and using vaccines, and I have to explain to my child the school not standing for that, it's -- it's just not good for our children.

BERMAN: Yes. You know, you say you're pro-vaccine and pro-mask. This school isn't just vaccine hesitant. They're basically saying that people who take the vaccines are dangerous, that you have to be concerned about people who have taken the vaccine. When you heard that, what was your reaction?

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Well, I think -- imagine my reaction. I mean, there is -- there is a pattern of denying what they stand for. There have been a pattern of misinformation and misguiding that has been confusing the school community, the parents. And -- and that's not correct, because we're all entitled to our choice when it comes to health. And we are -- and we have the right for those choices to be respected.

I respect her thoughts. She has to respect the parents who -- who have different thoughts and actually pay for the service and for the education of our children.

BERMAN: Were you afraid of retaliation for speaking out?

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Yes, I was. I'm speaking now, because I'm off the contract, and our child is out of that school. There are many parents that -- there are many parents that fear that, and their children are still there. And as a parent, I understand that, you know, parents being careful.

I'm going to say there is -- yes, there is -- I speak on my behalf. There was fear of harassment within the school grounds, because we have taught our child to wear the mask and -- and to follow guidelines. And what is being taught in that institution inside those walls, I don't know.

So I'm able to speak freely to you now, because she's not in that environment, but it is the concern of many parents who are still there.

BERMAN: Iris, we appreciate you joining us. You know, we wish you the best. We want you and your daughter to be safe. And best of luck for the remainder of this school year and going forward. Thank you.

ACOSTA-ZOBEL: Thank you. Thanks to you.

BERMAN: We want to make clear we did reach out to Centner Academy for comment last night. But we did not hear back.

They did provide us with a statement last week that reads, in part, quote, "The health and safety of our students has and remains our No. 1 priority at Centner Academy. Our responses and actions have consistently been out of an abundance of caution and thoughtful decision-making when risks to our children are presented. We are not 100 percent sure the COVID injections are safe and there are too many unknown variables for us to feel comfortable at this current time."

You know, Brianna, as I was saying, there's vaccine hesitancy, and then there's the notion that somehow you are a threat to others if you are vaccinated, which is where this school seemed to be headed, which is just outrageous.

KEILAR: I mean, this is -- it's just flat-out disinformation, and it's so unfortunate, because you're seeing it put students and potential teachers at risk. And I also thought it was so interesting that mom was talking about how now she felt free to speak because she's not under the contract, right? This seems to govern speech or behavior that has to do with the school, but that there's a lot of other parents who feel the same way as she does.

BERMAN: Yes, the concern, I think, was that her daughter would be bullied inside the school, if she's still there. Bullied for believing in science, bullied for wearing a mask, bullied for feeling that vaccines are safe and willing to get -- the way to get through this pandemic.

KEILAR: Yes. And sad. Now she's off to another school. I'm sure that's tough, you know, moving on. Great interview, John.

Today the family of Andrew Brown, who was shot and killed by police in North Carolina, will say their final good-byes. What they are demanding on the day of his funeral.

BERMAN: Plus, some chilling new warnings about America's withdrawal from Afghanistan from allies of President Biden. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:29:05]

KEILAR: Today at noon, Andrew Brown Jr. will be laid to rest just over a week after his shooting death at the hands of law enforcement officers. Brown's family led a protest Sunday calling for justice and pushing for the release of body camera videos of his death.

CNN's Natasha Chen is live for us from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with more -- Natasha.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, at the Fountain of Life Church today, Reverend Al Sharpton is expected to give the eulogy. Now, this comes a day after there was a public viewing for Andrew Brown Jr.'s body, where people like the city mayor paid respects.

That happened at the same time as a march through the city. Protesters have been doing these peaceful marches almost every day since Brown was killed on April 21.

Afterward, I caught up with a cousin and an aunt of Brown, who talked to me about laying him to rest in this moment, while at this point only two of the Brown family members have actually seen the 20 seconds of body camera footage available to them, and even that was redacted with blurred faces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JADINE HAMPTON, ANDREW BROWN JR.'S COUSIN: I think we're grieving, but we're doing what we have to do.