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Intel Shows Russia is Readying for Invasion; FDA Considers Fourth Dose; Canada Freezing Trucker Bank Accounts; Breaking down Presidents' Day; Michigan's Head Coach Strikes Opposing Coach. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired February 21, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: United States uses, where we want to exploit with our armor, our tanks, and then the infantry are then used appropriately to do some really precise work.

So what you see with this image is, this is an indication of a very large, probably I would say a battalion or maybe a company within a battalion, which means there are other forces that are outside the range of this piece of imagery that are in direct position ready to attack.

Again, what we don't know -- I mean beyond that -- that's intimidating. But what we don't -- that's a capability. What we don't know is whether the rule is -- or the -- or the mission is to go or to continue to hold what we have.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: The towns that we're seeing in these new images are very close to the border. We're talking 21 miles away. How significant is that?

MARKS: Well, it's very significant because the forces that are in place have an effective range so that they could begin military operations, for example, rockets and artillery, as well as armored vehicles, they can begin operations on Russian soil before they get into Ukraine. The effective range of such is they can start right now, and they can achieve objectives on the ground with the positioning not in Ukraine.

And that works to Putin's advantage, right? He can hover over Ukraine. He is in his own territory. He has every right to do what he wants to do in Russia. Irrespective, in his view, irrespective of what the world is saying right now. But clearly, it is incredibly threatening to Ukraine and its independence.

KEILAR: And all of those troop positions to the north, they're all red, right? These aren't permanent troop positions.

MARKS: Right.

KEILAR: Because they're not in Russia. They're in Belarus. As you mentioned, Putin and Lukashenko there serving the troops. We've learned Putin -- we've learned that these exercises that were

slated to end yesterday are now going to continue indefinitely according to Belarus' defense minister. What does that mean?

MARKS: Well, again, if you -- if you try to get into the head of Putin, what he has now is a permanent presence in Belarus. These are Russian forces that are not routinely deployed there. But in his mind, he sees this as analogous to NATO, U.S. forces, other NATO partners positioning their forces in Poland, for example. We have a core headquarters, a U.S. core forward deploy headquarters in Poland. We have exercises routinely in Romania. We have exercises routinely in Hungary. Training exercises.

Putin is conducting operations in Belarus. And he sees this as his right to do. And I would suggest that we may not see permanent bases in Belarus, but you are going to see routine exercises between those -- the Belarusian forces and the Russian forces going forward.

KEILAR: Let's listen to something that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS: Would we see tanks rolling into Kyiv?

LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, you could see that. I mean that's highly likely. You could see that. You could see a significant amount of combat power move very quickly down to take Kyiv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Highly likely. We're talking, the way he describes it, of kind of World War II style images. What did you make of that?

MARKS: Well, again, let's look at the map. Forces are in Belarus. Kyiv here, capital of Ukraine. The travel distance is not significant. hey have a significant amount of forces here. They have a capability to invade Kyiv.

If they wanted to invade Kyiv, they would need -- and then hold Kyiv, and then try to replace Zelensky, my estimate is they would need entirely more forces than what you're seeing up here. I doubt Belarus would send forces across, but they could. That would be significant. But the Russian forces have the capability. And Secretary Austin is absolutely spot-on, the capability exists to do significant damage to Kyiv.

But as we've discussed before, if you want to take Kyiv, you're probably going to end up rubbling a large percentage of Kyiv. And I think what's more likely is something in this area with a potential expansion there because that allows Putin to achieve an objective that the world might look at, as we looked at Crimea eight years ago, which was, OK, it's a big deal, until it wasn't, right?

So, he is increasing his presence already in the Donbas. He could push this further down and the world might say, OK, that's fine. Kyiv still exists. There is no challenge there. But if -- what that allows Putin to do is to convince Zelensky, convince the Ukrainian people, not control them physically, but to convince them that the path forward for them goes through Moscow.

KEILAR: Yes, he does get away with these little bites.

MARKS: He does.

KEILAR: We'll see if he decides to pursue that strategy.

Sir, thanks for being with us.

[06:35:02]

So, could Americans line up for a fourth Covid shot this fall? Number four. We'll have the latest word from the FDA next.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the race to save passengers after a chopper plunges into the surf near a crowded beach. We're going to get a firsthand account of the frantic moments in the water.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, brand-new information on what the FDA might recommend or when they might recommend a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine. Look to the fall.

CNN's Jacqueline Howard joins me now with the latest on this.

Why fall, and when will we know for sure?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Well, John, it depends on two factors. The FDA is looking at one, waning immunity. So, we could see immunity wane by the fall. And then, number two, the emergence of any new variants.

[06:40:00]

Could we see a new variant emerge by this fall? And those are the two factors that the FDA is continually monitoring, taking a close look at to determine if or when we might need this extra boost.

But it was actually FDA official Dr. Peter Marks (ph), who's spoken publicly about this possible fall timeline. The FDA told me this, quote, Dr. Marks has noted publicly that there is still much uncertainty as to how the pandemic may further evolve. He did note that it is possible that a fourth dose might be recommended as we move into fall.

And if that is, in fact, the case, John, the rollout of this extra boost will likely mirror what we saw this past fall when we saw the rollout of the initial boosters. Pharmacies will likely play a big role. It could be a phased rollout with older adults and the most venerable groups first being eligible.

So, that's what we can expect to see possibly. And we can expect to hear more closer to fall. And that's also when we know, John, that the coronavirus does circulate more in the winter and fall months. We have seen somewhat of this seasonal pattern. So that's also reason for this possible timeline. But, for now, the CDC only recommends extra boosters for certain immunocompromised people. And this conversation will continue in the coming months.

John.

BERMAN: Yes, if they do recommend it by the fall, it would end up being not unlike the flu shot. Something you maybe get every year about that time.

HOWARD: Exactly.

BERMAN: It could become a regular thing.

Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much.

KEILAR: So, police in Canada are ramping up tactics to disperse those ongoing protests against vaccine mandates by towing vehicles, using pepper spray, even, and making dozens of arrests over the weekend. Now authorities are freezing truckers' bank accounts in an effort to choke off their funding.

CNN's Paula Newton is live in Ottawa with more.

This seems to be coming to an end.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes, although if you listen to police, they say this isn't over yet. I mean, Brianna, you just saw some of those scenes. Really one of the largest police operations in Canadian history, backed up by one of the most sweeping pieces of legislation in terms of taking over people's civil liberties. It's called the Emergencies Act. It's in place right now. And it basically says that if you are even standing in a public area in that so-called secured zone, just outside the nation's parliament, you can be arrested.

And for those who have resisted, police say that there were nearly 200 arrests. And as you say, they are continuing to do other things that they hope will put pressure on protesters to leave the city.

What does that include, Brianna? Freezing bank accounts. That is again something that is in this sweeping Emergencies Act. And we have heard from protesters themselves, police saying more than 200 personal and commercial bank accounts have been frozen. But we've heard from protesters themselves say, look, I went to the ATM. They froze my bank accounts. I tried to get cash.

But also at issue here, Brianna, is trying to get to some of those crowd funding sources or the cryptocurrency sources of funding that they've gotten. And I know that Prime Minister Trudeau has complained directly at President Biden saying that some of those sources of funding are coming from the United States. Something that they're concerned about. We will see if this Emergencies Act lasts. They're voting on it this evening. Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, a lot of interest in these protests in the United States.

Paula Newton, thanks for the report.

Two teams of detectives say that they have solved the mystery of QAnon. Who they say is behind the conspiracy, Q, coming up.

BERMAN: And Presidents' Day in America, sort of, in some places. The wild debate that will change the way you think about this day forever.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:48:05]

BERMAN: So, today is Presidents' Day. Or is it?

So, it turns out there is an epic disagreement over just what today is.

Joining us to explain, Harry Enten, CNN's senior data reporter.

Before we get to something that actually blew my mind, I did not know this was a thing, I just want to go over where the current president, Joe Biden, is in terms of his approval rating.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Yes, just to sort of -- on this Presidents' Day put the current president's standing into some historical perspective at this point in their presidency.

Joe Biden, since 1978, right at the bottom at 41 percent. Basically in the same place as the last president, Donald Trump, who's at 41 percent. Neither of them like the Bushs, 79 or 72. And if you look back historically, when presidents had below a 60 percent approval rating at this point, the president's party has lost five seats every single time in a midterm since 1937. Democrats, of course, must lose less than five seats to maintain control. So, not exactly looking good for the Democrats at this particular point.

BERMAN: Right. Not where the president's approval rating is.

Now, today is Presidents' Day. But there's actually like a legitimate disagreement over what to call it and how to spell it.

ENTEN: Yes. What is today? I'm not really sure. So is it Presidents Day with the apostrophe before the "s," about 14. Is it presidents --

BERMAN: This is states. Just to be clear.

ENTEN: This is states.

BERMAN: This is the number of states that call it that.

ENTEN: Yes. Yes.

BERMAN: So, 14 -- around 14 states call it President's, apostrophe s, Day.

ENTEN: Fourteen. Around 14 call it President's -- president apostrophe s day. Ten, about 10, call it Presidents, with the apostrophe after the s, Day. Two say, screw that apostrophe, it's just Presidents Day.

Celebrating Washington's birthday in some sort of manner, nine plus the federal government. And I should note, there are plenty of variations on that, including George Washington Day. Or, in the great state of North Dakota, if you look at the state law, it's recognition of the birthday of George Washington.

[06:50:05]

And then, of course, there are six states with some combo of Washington and someone else. Maybe it's Jefferson. Maybe it's Lincoln. Maybe it's Washington and Presidents' Day.

And, of course, there's about nine who have no holiday at all.

BERMAN: The reason you say about, because Illinois, for instance, calls it two different things at once.

ENTEN: If you look at the state treasurer's website, they call it Presidents' Day. If you look at the secretary of state's website, they calls it Washington's birthday. And if you look at the state law they spell it -- Presidents' Day a different way than the state treasurer's website calls it.

BERMAN: To be clear, these three things are different.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: They mean different things. This is a President's Day.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: This would be all Presidents, their day.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: This would be a day about presidents.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: Right. So, they're different things.

ENTEN: They're different things.

BERMAN: And I imagine you could celebrate it different ways depending on how you spell it.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: Now, there are some states that celebrate Washington's birthday in a totally different month. ENTEN: Yes, there are three states, Georgia, Indiana, and New Mexico,

who celebrate either Washington's birthday or Presidents' Day in either December or November.

BERMAN: Can you do that?

ENTEN: Apparently, you can. Why can't you? They just did it. And it's to try and give an extra holiday around either Thanksgiving or Christmas so, you know, you can get extended weekends. And these -- these states decide, what the hay.

BERMAN: To be clear, this is not Washington's birthday?

ENTEN: No, it's not Washington's birthday. Neither is this. Neither is that.

BERMAN: What is?

ENTEN: What is Washington's birthday? His real birthday is February 22nd under the current calendar system we have. It should be noted, that never falls on the third Monday of February. We never actually celebrate Washington's birthday on the right day. None of the states do that. And that is because of the Uniform Monday Act of 1968, which was essentially trying to create this super holiday for traveling and all that jazz, maybe combining with Lincoln's birthday as well.

BERMAN: To be clear -- to be clear, I just want to reiterate this, George Washington's birthday is February 22nd.

ENTEN: Correct.

BERMAN: If his birthday is February 22nd, it means that Washington's birthday is never celebrated on the day he was born.

ENTEN: Never. Never. Correct. But we could do it tomorrow if you want to.

BERMAN: All right. Does anyone care about Presidents' Day?

ENTEN: Yes, this is perhaps my favorite. Does anyone actually care? If forced to choose, more Americans, 35 percent, wanted Presidents' Day eliminated more than any other federal holiday in a 2012 CBS News poll. And the only federal holiday with fewer Google searches than the holiday Google calls Washington's birthday is Columbus Day. And, of course, that's not observed in a majority of states.

BERMAN: As I said, this is mind-blowing to me. I am not done with this subject. We will talk much more about this in the coming days.

ENTEN: Whatever the heck today is.

BERMAN: Thank you very much, Harry. I appreciate it.

ENTEN: Thank you, sir.

BERMAN: So, Joe Biden, who is the current president, agreeing in principle to a summit with Vladimir Putin if -- if certain conditions are met.

KEILAR: And the college coach who says he was protecting himself when he took a swing at another.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Juwan Howard just threw a right hand. And now we've got a scrum. We have a scrum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:57:17]

KEILAR: Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard likely facing punishment for taking a swing at Wisconsin's assistant coach after yesterday's loss.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

So this whole thing started over a timeout.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Brianna. Yes, so the Badgers, they had won the game. And it was in the closing seconds. But they called a time out to avoid a potential 10-second backcourt violation. And that's what upset Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. And as he was walking by in the handshake line, Howard said to Wisconsin Coach Greg Gard, I'll remember that. Gard then grabbed Howard to explain his reasoning for that time out. A tussle insured. Players started getting involved and then Howard smacked the Wisconsin assistant coach in the head. Some punches also thrown by players. It was just a very ugly scene.

And afterwards, Howard did not apologize for what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUWAN HOWARD, MICHIGAN HEAD BASKETBALL COACH: For someone to touch me, I think that was very uncalled for for him to touch me as we were verbalizing to communicate with one another. So, that's what ended up happening. And that's what escalated it.

GREG GARD, WISCONSIN HEAD BASKETBALL COACH: They took a time out and it got us a new 10 seconds and it helped them, you know, get organized to get the ball in and he did not like that when he came through the handshake line. So, I'll leave it at that. And the tape will show the rest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, Michigan athletic director apologized and said there was no excuse for what happened. The Big Ten conference, meanwhile, said it would review the matter for, quote, swift and appropriate disciplinary action. All right, in the NFL over the weekend, Brian Flores has been named

the senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's going to coach under Mike Tomlin, one of only two black head coaches in the NFL. Flores' attorney says that while he's focused on his new position, he will continue his racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, pushing for change in the way coaches are hired.

All right, finally, the NBA honoring the 75 best players of all-time last night at the all-star game in Cleveland. A cool moment backstage. Michael Jordan telling Magic Johnson to go grab some shoes so they could play one on one. Jordan then also sharing a legendary embrace with LeBron out there on the court.

As for the game, the Akron, Ohio, born stars putting on a show. Steph Curry knocking down an all-star game record 16 threes. He scored 50 points. Steph winning the Kobe Bryant MVP Award.

In the final moments, LeBron's team was two points away from the target store and LeBron coming through in the clutch, hitting the game-winner back in his hometown. Team LeBron beats Team Durant now, 163-160.

It was a cool weekend all around for LeBron, Brianna. He told "The Athletic," the door has not closed on him going back to play in Cleveland one day. And he did also say his last season in the NBA, it's going to be played with his son, Bronny, who's likely two years away from potentially being drafted.

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