Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Simone Biles Returns to Win Bronze in Balance Beam Event; Two More Officers Who Defended Capitol in Riot Die by Suicide; Alabama Sees Big Jump in Vaccination Demand Amid Variant. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired August 03, 2021 - 07:00   ET

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

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Was an embattled, largely unpopular leader.

[07:00:02]

Even still, for his widow, this was an unimaginable ending.

MARTINE MOISE, FIRST LADY OF HAITI: I never thought that the level of hate ever existed in the country.

RIVERS: You never thought this could happen?

MOISE: No.

RIVERS: Because your husband did have a lot of enemies.

MOISE: Yes, he did. But I didn't know that they hated that much to kill him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS (on camera): And the first lady is now publicly calling for the United Nations to open up a special investigative tribunal to investigate the assassination of her husband, basically saying that if foreign investigators don't take the lead, an outsized role in the investigation, she fears justice will never actually be served. Brianna?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN NEW DAY: Matt Rivers, thank you for bringing us that interview. New Day continues right now.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I am Brianna Keilar alongside John Berman, and it is Tuesday, August 3rd.

And we have some good breaking news from Tokyo. Simone Biles fighting through mental health challenges to capture the bronze medal on the balance beam, closing out her roller coaster Olympic experience on a high note.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN NEW DAY: I'm going with she won the bronze, because Biles performance was a kind of victory for her and for the millions of people who suffer from mental health issues. In a moment, we're going to discuss what Biles accomplished this morning with Olympic gold medalist, three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes.

First, though, let's go right to Tokyo bringing Coy Wire who was in the room where it happened. Oh, what a morning, Coy. This was really, really dramatic.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: John, this is -- you're a big Tom Brady fan, and this was like him pulling out in the first half of the game saying he didn't feel well mentally. And he says, you know what, fourth quarter, game on, I've got my mentals right, as Simone Biles called it. And the world was waiting to see what's happened inside that Ariake Gymnastics Arena here in Tokyo.

The atmosphere was electric for the first time at any venue I had seen, Brianna and John, here in Tokyo. The media, though, became the crowd, became the atmosphere. They were standing on their feet, cheering, applauding, encouraging Simone Biles as she walked out into that arena. Our Will Ripley was there and he said he got tears in his eyes because he understood the magnitude of this moment.

It was more than about just Simone Biles. This was about, as you mentioned, mental health, the issue of mental health and the future generations of athletes. And athlete or not, if you're going through struggles, Simone Biles is letting everyone know it's okay to not feel okay and you can remove yourself from any situation that you don't feel comfortable being in in that moment.

And she walked out with fate. This is the ultimate story of finding strength through your struggles, of perseverance, of -- Simone said that she felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders at times, said her mentals weren't right but she took some time, protected her state of mind, and got back out there on a 4-inch beam with the world watching and took a leap of faith, and she nailed it.

The crowd erupted. She told media afterwards, John and Brianna, it's been a very long week, a very long five years. I didn't expect to medal today. I just wanted to go out and do it for me, and that's what I did. It definitely feels more special this bronze than the balance beam bronze at Rio. I will cherish it for a long time.

She won four gold medals back in the Rio Games. She won that one bronze, it was also in the beam, not her strongest event. So, it speaks more about her finding the strength and courage to get back out there on the beam tonight. Bronze medal, 14.00 was her score. But as you mentioned, John, she won that medal before she even found out she had won one. It was the moment she stepped on the beam.

She now has seven Olympic medals overall, Brianna and John. It ties her with the great Shannon Miller for the most by any American gymnast. It's an incredible moment, not just for Simone Biles. She was aware before she competed, she was watching other gymnasts compete, and she would go over and there encourage them, and smile with them. She knew this moment wasn't just about her. I think that speaks volumes about her character. So, it was an inspiring moment. The heart was racing while we were in there, and it was just a wonderful moment that's going to never to be forgotten. It's going to help of future generations of athletes and beyond.

BERMAN: She made America so proud for so many reasons, and not just walking on a balance beam, although walking on a balance beam isn't even the half of it. What she did on the balance beam, I can't even imagine. I pulled a muscle thinking about it. But, Coy Wire, thank you so much for that.

I should note we're going to speak live with Dominique Dawes to put this all in perspective, coming up.

KEILAR: Yes, that will be a great interview.

Also this morning, we are learning that two more police officers have died by suicide after defending the Capitol on January 6th. Officer Kyle Defraytag joined the D.C. Metro Police Department in 2016.

[07:05:00]

We have learned that he died on July 10th. Officer Gunther Hashida joined the department in 2003. He was assigned to the emergency response team with the special operations division. He was found deceased at his home on July 29th.

Officer Michael Fanone honoring Officer Hashida, who he knew well, in a statement overnight, he wrote, Gunther was the most professional police officer that I have ever worked with in my entire career. I have always felt that way. For me, the take away is that so much more needs to be done to normalize the conversation around mental health, not just in our profession. We need to take away the stigma of talking about these issues.

A total at this point of four officers, John, have died by suicide here in the weeks and months since the attack.

BERMAN: And as Fanone mentioned, stigma, remember, just last week, he and three fellow officers gave emotional testimony about their harrowing experience defending the Capitol on January 6th. He was met by ridicule and mocking from right-wing media.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm having a real hard time believing a lot of what I'm hearing because the video doesn't back up nearly all of it. One officer said he thought it was going to be the moment he died. Well, there were no guns at this place.

TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: Watch Fanone cite the psychological trauma he endured as an excuse for ditching our bill of rights.

OFFICER MICHAEL FANONE, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: I have been left with the psychological trauma and the emotional anxiety of having survived such a horrific event. LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST: The award for best use of an exaggeration in a supporting role, the winners, Aquilino Gonell.

And for best performance in an action role, the winner is Michael Fanone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: All right. We're going to talk about how that denialism is affecting the dynamics here. But let's just focus on what we are seeing here, four deaths now by suicide of officers involved in January 6th, with Terrance Gainer, CNN Law Enforcement Analyst and former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, and Paul Rieckhoff, who is an Army veteran and President of Righteous Media. He is also the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Vets of America.

Chief, to you first. This is -- you know, you were on CNN yesterday when we had learned of the third death by suicide, and then it turns out that there was a fourth. I mean, it feels like these numbers are just ticking up, and I wonder how you're reacting to this.

TERRANCE GAINER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: -- suicide or every death is tragic, and I think this, again, weighs on the officers. So, I know the Metropolitan Police Department family support officers are working very hard with our officers, and it's the same up at the United States Capitol. But this additional trauma that happens and happens on the 6th adding on to how tough it's been in the past year for America, in general, but officers in very difficult situations, both police departments, the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington were struck by a lot of -- and sick because of COVID, then the (INAUDIBLE) disorders, then this particular January 6th, this weighs heavily on everybody, and I think each one of the chiefs and officers are concerned. And, Brianna and John, everybody has an obligation to look out and be mindful of everybody else.

KEILAR: I think that's something that everyone needs to take to heart and certainly I hope that officers are being vigilant of each other. I suspect that they are.

You know, Paul, we've talked a lot in the past about mental health when it comes to the military, and we're seeing some parallels here. This was really a battle that these officers were in on January 6th. What are you thinking as you are seeing this news that four officers have died by suicide?

PAUL RIECKHOFF, FOUNDER, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS OF AMERICA: I'm thinking it's time to get serious about mental health in America and to really change the conversation. You know, America's had a Me Too moment and a reckoning. We have had a Black Lives Matter racial injustice reckoning. It's time for mental reckoning.

We have lost four heroes who were in combat, in my view. I've worked with combat veterans for almost 20 years, fighting suicide, dealing with PTSD. What they experienced was traumatic, it was stressful, and then to deal with isolation, and ridicule and a lack of resources. In my view, they are combat veterans, and they are facing many parallels that combat veterans face, and many most of all feeling disconnected, sometimes feeling hopeless, feeling like they're alone. And I want to send a message to them and I hope you all compound that, that they are not alone, there's help out there. And reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

And it's happening at the same time we're talking about Simone Biles. So I think there's an intersection that's very powerful. Both can send a message that mental health support is necessary, resources are inadequate and we need to change the entire national conversation and let people know that reaching out is strength. It's not weakness. You're not alone, and help is out there, but this has to be a full court press across the entire country and, really, around the world in dealing with the mental health challenge.

[07:10:06]

KEILAR: We know suicide, Paul, is very complex, and you can't know what happened to each officer that contributed to this. But you mentioned ridicule, and I wonder do you think that the politicization of this event is something that exacerbates mental health for officers?

RIECKHOFF: In my experience, yes. I mean, you know, imagine a veteran coming home and being ridiculed in the same way after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. You know, there is no silver bullet in dealing with suicide. It's a complex series of factors, but we know that hope is key, and that connection is key.

And these people who are ridiculing survivors of an assault and a really traumatic experience is not just disgusting, it's dangerous. Because not only does it compound the experience they're having, it also discourages other people from coming forward. Think about a young people who maybe is dealing with a trauma sees this kind of ridicule and says, if I come forward, maybe I'm going to get this ridiculed.

So we need to blow up that entire misguided danger as part of this discussion and really focus on support, strength, understanding mental health and continuing to pour resources. And our Capitol Hill cops shouldn't be fighting for resources after this went down. We need to put the pedal down, get them everything they need and really understand that they are heroes. And in many ways, contagion is real, clustering is real, and we need to think about how we talk about it and how we deal with it every single day.

We certainly do. Paul, thank you so much. Terrance thank you for lending your voice here as well.

And I want to let our viewers know, because this is a serious issue we have been talking about, we know this can be triggering for many people. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please know there is help. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255.

BERMAN: This morning, hospitals across the south are sounding the alarm, warning that they're running out of beds as the delta variant spreads. In Alabama, hospitalizations have risen to the highest level in nearly six months. You can see on that graphic right there. The state has the lowest vaccination rate in the country, with just 34.4 percent of the population fully vaccinated, which is well below the national average.

But there are signs that demand for vaccinations there is accelerating, in Alabama and a number of other states across the south.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: Louisiana has seen a 302 percent increase in the average number of newly vaccinated per day, Mississippi, 250 percent, Alabama, 215 percent, and Arkansas, 206 percent.

This increase in vaccination rates in states that have been lagging is a positive trend. Americans are seeing the risk and impact of being unvaccinated and responding with action. And that's what it's going to take to get us out of this pandemic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Let's bring in Vanessa Davis, Registered Nurse and COVID Nurse Supervisor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Injection Clinic. Thank you so much for being with us.

What are you seeing in terms of a change in numbers of people coming in for vaccinations?

VANESSA DAVIS, R.N. COVID NURSE SUPERVISOR, UAB INJECTION CLINICs: Thank you, John, for having me.

Yes, we are seeing over the last couple of weeks about an 80 percent increase in vaccination rates. We're seeing a lot more families coming in instead of the older population that we saw initially being vaccinated. So that's kind of encouraging. Parents are getting a little more concerned with their students going back to school soon, and they are going back to the workforce, whereas they have been in the past working from home over the last year or so.

BERMAN: What are you hearing from people in addition to that they might be concerned now about their children?

DAVIS: Children is the number one thing. With school starting back in two weeks, they're worried about the increased risk of exposure to the variant that's out, the delta variant. And so they're concerned. And then like I said, the parents are going back to the work force, whereas they had been working from home over the last year, and so they're getting increased exposure.

And then we're also hearing a lot of patients come in that are wanting to get back to some sort of normalcy. They're wanting to travel again and be able to go out and feel safe without having to worry about getting sick while they're enjoying life. BERMAN: So, you say about an 80 percent increase. What's that in terms of numbers now?

DAVIS: So, yesterday at UAB, we vaccinated about 200 patients. Probably two weeks ago, we were only doing 80 to 100 a day. It's a significant increase.

BERMAN: That's a big increase. But just for perspective here, back at the height when you were vaccinating the most people you were each day, how many were you doing then?

[07:15:00]

DAVIS: We were doing about 3,000 a day during the height of vaccination.

BERMAN: So, 200 a day is better than it was a few weeks ago, but nowhere near the height of it several months ago. So, there is still room to grow.

Do you hear any stories from people who were saying, you know, I was hesitant, but now, as I'm seeing what's going on with the delta variant, that hesitancy has gone away? Is there any sense of what is moving people beyond barriers?

DAVIS: There does seem to be this tipping point where they are finally a little more scared of the virus than they are the vaccine. And so they're seeking it out. Like I said, they want to get back to some sort of normalcy, but they're also seeing family and friends who are getting sick and hospitalized, and they're getting scared.

BERMAN: Understandably so. Vanessa Davis, we appreciate the work that you're doing. Thank you so much for your daily efforts and thanks for coming on this morning.

DAVIS: Thank you.

BERMAN: Coming up soon on New Day, the director of the National Institutes of Health joins us to answer your coronavirus questions.

Plus, Broward County, Florida, now reversing its mask mandate in schools complying with the governor's efforts. They were afraid of losing their school funding for asking people to mask.

KEILAR: And we have more on the breaking news, Simone Biles winning bronze in her return to the Olympics. We'll have Dominique Dawes live with us to react.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

KEILAR: New this morning, Gymnast Simone Biles taking bronze in the women's balance beam competition. She had a very strong performance, and she stuck her landing. So let's bring in Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast and Three-Time Olympian Dominique Dawes to talk about this. She was the first black American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in gymnastics. She is also the owner and founder of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy, with us from Maryland.

Dominique, I mean, this was amazing to behold, this was an incredible moment. It is a bronze medal, and I don't know if there's been one so important in these games.

DOMINIQUE DAWES, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL GYMNAST, THREE-TIME OLYMPIAN: Yes. I do believe that Simone Biles is probably very satisfied with the end result. Of course, she wanted to get on top of the podium. She is a competitor. But facing her fears, getting that monkey off her back and stepping out and competing again and facing the twisties was something that people were uncertain about. But I'm so pleased with her performance. I'm sure she is as well. And I have been up since 4:00 this morning, and just sitting at the edge of my seat, cheering her on.

KEILAR: Were you afraid? I was afraid watching her. I want to know what you as an Olympic gymnast felt. Were you afraid?

DAWES: No, I wasn't afraid watching her because she wasn't going to put herself in a situation where she was going to possibly injure herself. If she didn't have the confidence and feel that she was secure in doing the routine she and her coach had set out for her to do, she wouldn't be out there on the podium.

So I felt satisfied, and even when she earned the bronze medal, it took me back to my 1996 Olympic Games, when I came back after falling in the all-around to come back for the floor individual finals and I earned a bronze medal. And even to this day, my bronze means so much more because of the journey, and my gold medals as well. And I'm sure she feels the same way.

KEILAR: Yes, that's really interesting perspective. She said after her performance that, physically and mentally, it was not safe for me to do it, meaning the other events, because I could not do the skills without jeopardizing my health and safety. The only reason why I could do beam was because there was no twisting, so thank God for that.

There was no twisting dismount. We should mention this is very much her moving along one axis. But for this moment, what does this mean for mental health and gymnastics, and for mental health in sports in general?

DAWES: Well, what Simone Biles has done, as well as Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps, these top athletes and talking about mental health, and it's creating this national and global dialogue about it. And I think that's very important, and that's where it starts, and many people are going to feel comfortable talking about any mental issues they may have and recognizing that they are human.

But I see it a little different with Simone Biles, because she recognizes that she is a very much trail blazer in helping changing the culture of the sport of gymnastics, which really does contribute to one's mental health in some cases.

And right now, as you mentioned earlier, I'm standing in the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Center in Maryland, and it's a very healthy, compassionate, empowering and encouraging gymnastics environment, something different than what I came from. And I wanted it for my four kids and any young gymnasts that are interested in trying a healthier option in the sport.

KEILAR: Yes. This is perhaps a culture change that she is helping shepherd through. If anyone has been paying attention to USA gymnastics lately, it is much needed, as you basically said there.

Dominique Dawes, thank you so much for joining us.

DAWES: Thank you for having me on. I appreciate it.

BERMAN: Look, you know, I always want to know where I can get a degree in ninja, and it turns out I can go to the Dominique Dawes Ninja Academy.

KEILAR: I know a three-year-old and five-year-old who really want to be ninjas, so maybe just head on up to Maryland.

BERMAN: Right after Hogwarts, I'm going to the Ninja Academy.

KEILAR: Cities and states are putting mask rules back on the table because we're seeing these COVID cases rising.

[07:25:03]

Are vaccinated Americans paying the price for the millions of people who are not vaccinated?

BERMAN: And the two Republican governors digging in against new restrictions. Are they putting politics ahead of public health?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The highly transmissible delta variant, combined with the refusal of many Americans to get vaccinated is driving another wave of coronavirus infections across the country. The CDC is recommending that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in high risk areas but that reversal by the CDC is causing some to ask why are the vaccinated being punished for the actions of the unvaccinated.

Let's talk about this now with Michael Smerconish, our CNN Political Commentator, and the host of CNN's Smerconish.

[07:30:00]

You have been a prominent voice on this, Michael. You really have been, that people who are vaccinated shouldn't be paying the price.