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Texts Reveal Trump-Fox Loop; Stephen Boyken is Interviewed about the Tornadoes in Mayfield; Audrey Wendt is Interviewed about Working During Covid. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 14, 2021 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Out loud, Fox News ignoring the whole thing, offering up this ironic, instant classic of a banner at the bottom of the screen, taking about lawlessness. Because, of course, what's being revealed is just how lawless the Trump Republican Party really is.

Beyond these texts, over the past few days, we've learned even more about how this attempt to disrupt, dislay (ph) and overturn the election was being quarterbacked out of the White House. And the 9,000 pages of documents that Mark Meadows handed over to the committee before belatedly claiming executive privilege, we can see in their own words how close America came to having democracy dismantled.

Less than a week after the election, there's an email showing efforts to pressure state legislators to appoint pro-Trump electors over the Biden electors chosen by the voters. And we've gotten some insight into Meadows' efforts to press federal agencies to investigate frankly insane election conspiracy theories involving foreign nations from Italy to China and claims of remote hacking with satellites and even thermostats. We've seen other step-by-step sedition memos from Trump lawyers, and reports about an unhinged power point full of conspiracy theories whose author says he met with Meadows in the White House.

Not only that, the chief of staff was communicating with members of Congress, trying to overturn the election, while also assuring at least one person that the National Guard would protect pro-Trump people on January 6th.

This is the opposite of law and order. It's the most sickening example of putting partisanship over patriotism in our history. They were actively trying to overturn democracy just to stay in power. And the fact that so many of these aperachets (ph) were willingly duped by the cult-like big lie speaks to how pervasive it had become on right wing talk TV.

In those desperate texts, maybe Fox hosts realized that they'd helped create the conditions that led to the Capitol attack. And now, they're responsible for perpetuating the big lie, which has allowed the leader of an attempted coup to aim for the presidency again. It's all evidence of how profiting off polarization can be deadly for our democracy.

And that's your "Reality Check."

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Appreciate it, as always. John Avlon, thank you.

A desperate rescue effort at the Kentucky candle factory that took a direct hit from a tornado. We're joined by the factory's chaplain who helped pull survivors from the rubble, next.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And should the definition of fully vaccinated go from two shots to three? What the CDC director just said about the evolving science.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:36:30]

BERMAN: This morning, search and rescue efforts continue after the deadly tornadoes that tore across the south and Midwest. The hardest hit state, Kentucky, where at least 74 people are confirmed dead, 109 still missing. One family there has revealed their two-month-old daughter died from injuries sustained from the storm.

President Biden is set to travel to Kentucky tomorrow and visit the town of Mayfield. That's where a candle factory with more than 100 people inside collapsed into this pile of rubble. Miraculously, it now seems, only eight people died. Still, eight is a terrible tragedy. And the scene there that night was something that people will never forget.

Joining me now is Stephen Boyken, lead pastor for His House Ministries in Mayfield. He's also a chaplain at the candle factory and was one of the first people to arrive after the tornado there hit.

Pastor, thank you for being with us.

Know that we're thinking about you and your community this morning.

You normally -- you communicate with the day side people there mostly, but you were called in special that night because they knew there was a need, correct?

STEPHEN BOYKEN, LEAD PASTOR, HIS HOUSE MINISTRIES: Yes, sir. Correct. Yes, sir, that's correct.

Thank you, John, for letting us just talk today. And it's so kind of you to say about us being in everyone's thoughts and prayers. It's been a -- it's been a unique couple of days with the amount of tragedy and disaster just being here for a community that's hurting. And just so thankful that you all are covering this because as many people is hurting, we also see this hope of people coming together in this season.

The night of the candle factory, the tornado when it hit there and it came through our community, there were just so many heroes that showed up. Some had on uniforms and others did not. But we -- when we arrived, it was -- it was certainly a moment I'll never forget. The rain came down and just -- we walked up. We saw people in all directions.

The first person I saw was actually sitting on the ground and he had taken a piece of galvanized pipe and used it as a splint for his leg. And certainly just as sure as that happened, we moved on and went to the candle factory with some friends that had called. There were another chaplain there as well. And just what we saw was just -- just breathtaking and not in a good way.

But at the same time, as much as there was tragedy, there was also people that were sacrificially giving, taking and serving. And we climbed amongst the rubble. And, you know, we -- we came up on several people that were still trapped. One person in particular I saw, she was stuck underneath a wall and she just asked, can you hold my hand. And, sure enough I was able just to get down there, as other people were working to remove debris, and hold her hand and ask if I could pray with her. And several -- several minutes long we had to take and just continue to help her stay awake and stay with us. And, you know, it was a moment when we just felt like the peace of God touched her. And as people continue to work all around us, there were so many heroes and I'm so thankful for all of those people.

I stepped off for a moment, and as I went down, I felt like maybe there was some other people. I had some guys from our church that had come out as well and had taken and they were helping on another line where people were -- really in was an assembly line, just trying to get people out. And some of my guys actually took and they did pull some people out that are no longer with us.

And I walked up on one lady and we just -- we just prayed together for some folks because it was a tragic moment. A lot of people were weeping and -- but at the same time, just as sure as there was just this grief that was coming upon us, there was just this courageous moment where people just worked together.

[08:40:13]

I'm thankful for our local first responders, but those that came from outside of our community to help out likewise. So that -- we got there about 9:30. We left about 3:30 in the morning, 4:00 a.m. We got home. Just such a -- such a significant night to start with. But that was just one place that was affected in our community by this devastation.

After that happened, we decided at our church that we were going to be generous and help our community. And so we have set up a distribution center and we have some incredible partners. Local people came. Within four hours we had hot meals. Just this community pulled together. It was incredible. People working together to help out.

And so we're just -- now we're working to make a difference. We've got some big partners, Mercy Chefs and Convoy of Hope that are here on the ground helping out right now. And we're just -- we're grateful for that.

BERMAN: The generosity is on every corner. It's on every block.

BOYKEN: Sure. Absolutely. BERMAN: Everywhere you go you see people giving themselves to help.

BOYKEN: Yes.

BERMAN: And as we're talking to you, I hear the chainsaws in the background, too. Those people are heroes as well.

BOYKEN: Yes, sir. Absolutely. That's true.

BERMAN: The rebuilding is happening, you know, before your very eyes. And I'm just struck by the fact that you were there, right at the beginning, helping to rebuild at that moment, that night.

BOYKEN: Yes. Absolutely.

BERMAN: You know, in that pile of rubble.

BOYKEN: Yes.

BERMAN: You were already rebuilding, not just structures, but spirits.

BOYKEN: Absolutely.

You know, and that's the thing, this is right before Christmas. It's devastating. And I think a lot of times we forget the reason for Christmas. I think we think about the idea of stuff, but a lot of people have lost everything. But they still have their loved ones. And it really makes you think about what matters in times like this. And you want to hold those dear to you close. The family that you love. And also I think it's so important that we have examined our values, what's important to us in this season? Is it -- is it stuff or is there something that we're doing with our lives that leaves a legacy of value for others?

And so I think about the Christmas story. And what I find is hope. And what I see in our community is hope, that people are coming together, working together, serving each other. Listen, I -- in our church there's been so much collaboration with different people from other churches, and from other communities. We see diversity. I feel like that's what heaven looks like, it's a diverse place. And so to know that people are coming together. I mean we've gone through a pandemic and people are just devastated by that. We've gone from delta to omicron and just fear and now, in a time like this, we can look at the story of tragedy, where we can look at that hope that there is still hope for us here.

BERMAN: You just made me smile because you made me think that, as awful as things can look on the ground now in Mayfield and different places, in a way it may be what heaven looks like with people coming together and working together to rebuild. It's a different way of imagining it, but it's its own type of perfection that you're part of right now in Mayfield.

Pastor, thank you for being with us.

BOYKEN: Sure. BERMAN: Thank you for what you're doing.

BOYKEN: Absolutely.

BERMAN: Let us know, please, how we can help.

BOYKEN: For sure.

BERMAN: And take care of yourself as well, because that is important.

BOYKEN: That's very kind. Thank you so much.

BERMAN: Oh, I'm sorry, it is just so inspiring there and there are so many people like him. And everywhere you go, the people are coming together.

And, you know, it can -- the enormity of it is hard to grasp, and you're inclined to think, well, where do I possibly begin, but they're not waiting to figure out where to begin, they're just beginning. They're just doing it. And that's what you see there.

COLLINS: And even the small moments where he said they're working to help get that one woman out of the rubble, and all she wanted was just for someone to hold her hand because you are literally at your lowest point. It's such a terrifying moment.

I grew up in the south. We had tornadoes a lot. We had a lot of scares too. And so sometimes you get so used to the warnings, and the chances that you don't get fully prepared for when it actually happens.

BERMAN: Hard to be prepared for something like this.

COLLINS: Yes.

BERMAN: So hospitalizations in Michigan at a higher point than at any time in the pandemic. We're joined by an ER nurse whose heart-breaking message is going viral this morning.

COLLINS: Plus, brand-new reporting on private discussions between Joe Manchin and President Biden. Are they close to striking a deal on his Build Back Better bill that he wants passed by the end of the year?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:48:46]

COLLINS: Michigan is now seeing the highest number of Covid hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic. That has prompted one ER nurse on the front lines to reveal in detail what it's like to treat the unvaccinated. Writing, quote, I help you take off your coat and feel the cold still clinging to it. My heart sinks because I know that this is probably the last night you will feel the outside air on your skin. Your family member knows this too. I can tell by the look in her eyes. An indescribable, profound sadness. I want to tell her to soak up every single moment that you have left together, say every word that you wish you had ever said, and do it quickly. Time is running out.

The nurse who wrote that post is Audrey Wendt, and she joins me now.

Audrey, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

How long, I wonder, had you been thinking about posting this before you eventually hit publish?

AUDREY WENDT, ER NURSE: It has been a few months. It was a long -- it felt like a long time coming. A lot of emotions have been building up. A lot of sadness I was seeing in my wonderful co-workers, working really hard. I could see it in all of our eyes. We were pretty burned down.

COLLINS: And it's kind of a range of emotions, you say, from being so sad, but also being angry kind of at this situation.

[08:50:06]

WENDT: Yes. Yes. I think that is something new that is happening to healthcare workers is that we've never felt this before. We love our community so much. And then to feel like you have this like earth- shattering secret, and that a lot of people aren't listening and then -- and then we see them in our ER, in our hospitals and we feel so bad for them. And to watch them die, and wish you could help them, that's -- it -- it takes a toll.

COLLINS: Of course. And I know this isn't just when you go to work. It's personal for you too on another level because you lost someone in your life recently to Covid-19 who wasn't vaccinated. And was this someone that you had encouraged to get the vaccine, and what can you really tell us about this?

WENDT: Yes, my beloved Uncle John. Yes, he was -- he died yesterday. And he was a really great person. Our last conversation we had, one of the last ones, we were playing cards, and I was telling him that what I'm seeing in my ER right now is so horrible and tragic. And to believe me and to get vaccine. And he was thinking about it, but two weeks later he had contact with someone who was also not vaccinated and he got sick and he did die yesterday.

COLLINS: And he had been thinking --

WENDT: And we loved him so much.

COLLINS: Thinking about getting vaccinated.

What was -- what can you tell us? What was he like?

WENDT: Uncle John, he was happy go lucky guy. One of the best. So fun. My kids loved him. He loved fishing. He was a really good person. No health problems. He was -- he really took care of himself. And he thought that he might not need it because he never got sick. That's what he said. And he didn't ever get sick, except for this time. And, yes, it was hard. COLLINS: I know -- I've heard that from a lot of people too who say

that they don't think that they need it. They've been healthy all their lives. And then, of course, this is a disease and a virus that a lot of people don't know much about. And did he tell you that he wished he had gotten it at any point?

WENDT: One of our final conversations that we had over Zoom, because we couldn't be with him, was he said, Audrey, I don't -- I don't think I can do this again. The nurse here is telling me that -- that I won't be able to survive the next time. So I'm definitely going to get it when I get out of here and get done with this. And I told him, yes, you know, we'll do that. But we didn't know. I had a bad feeling because I had seen it in so many of my patients.

COLLINS: I'm so sorry that one of those final conversations that you had, had to be on Zoom because of something like this. And I know that even though you had encouraged him and he hadn't gotten vaccinated, that doesn't make it any less painful for you or for anyone else who has experienced this.

WENDT: Right. Right.

Yes. Yes. And I just -- I think that -- I really want our community to know that I'm just like a regular person, just a regular nurse. And what I'm seeing is something I've never seen before. And my co-workers are working hard. We've never seen anything like this before.

But, as a nation, we can come together. We persevere when we need to. And your healthcare community, we are carrying you on our backs. And regardless of your choices, your lifestyle, your beliefs, we will continue to carry you. And we beg for people to get vaccinated and to get the booster. But if you choose to not, we still will carry you. And our legs are growing tired. And we beg for your help. But we still will carry you. And we rise -- we always rise. Our healthcare community has shown it in history. And we step up and we will continue to step up until this race is over. Until this horrible journey, this horrible nightmare is over.

COLLINS: Well, Audrey, I want to tell you, you're not just a regular nurse. We are very grateful for your work and you are clearly tireless and I know that this has been really challenging. So, thank you. And thank you to your co-workers who have continued to go to work and to treat people and to just do your jobs during this very, very painful pandemic.

WENDT: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

COLLINS: Thanks, Audrey.

And here's what else to do watch today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ON SCREEN TEXT: 12:00 p.m. ET, House reconvenes.

1:00 p.m. ET, White House briefing. 6:15 p.m. ET, Biden speaks at holiday party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:55:11]

COLLINS: Just in, we have breaking news on the pandemic, including the promising results of the Pfizer Covid pill and the South African study on the omicron variant.

BERMAN: And, what did the White House know before, during, after the attack on the Capitol? The January 6th committee revealing they may be getting closer to some answers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: It's time now for "The Good Stuff."

[09:00:01]

North Carolina nurse Mia Commedo is providing diapers and other baby supplies for women struggling to make ends meet.