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New Day Saturday

Trump Ally Steve Bannon Indicted for Contempt of Congress; Biden Pushes Infrastructure Plan as Solution to Rising Prices; Source: FDA will Likely Make Booster Decision Without Outside Advisory Committee's Input; Kyle Rittenhouse Agrees to Inclusion of Lesser Charge if Judge Allows it; Eric Adams Elected As New York City's Second Black Mayor; Maine Woman Provides Life-Saving Support to Seals. Aired 6-7a ET

Aired November 13, 2021 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:00:17]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Buenos dias. Good morning. And welcome to your "NEW DAY."

I'm Boris Sanchez.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I'm Amara Walker in for Christi Paul.

The Justice Department indicts Steve Bannon after he defies a subpoena from Congress. What it means for the former Trump advisor and for other members of Trump's inner circle.

SANCHEZ: Plus, surging prices everywhere. Historic inflation. President Biden trying to reassure Americans that he has a plan to help.

WALKER: And a new winter warning. Some states are now seeing a rise in COVID cases despite weeks of progress. Why health experts are warning of potential surges heading into the holidays.

SANCHEZ: And Kyle Rittenhouse one step closer to a verdict. Now, the governor of Wisconsin is bracing for the outcome with hundreds of National Guardsmen on standby.

It is Saturday, November 13th. Thank you so much for waking up with us. Good morning, Amara. Great to have you this weekend.

WALKER: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

SANCHEZ: Of course. We begin with the serious legal problems facing Trump ally, Steve Bannon. A federal grand jury has now indicted the former White House chief strategist for criminal contempt of Congress. Bannon getting hit with two counts. One for refusing to appear for a deposition and another for refusing to handover documents to Congress.

WALKER: And the committee investigating the January 6th insurrection says the Bannon indictment should send a message to other potential witnesses. Ignore subpoenas at your own peril. The panel wants to know about Bannon's role before and during the riots at the Capitol. During his podcast, the day before the insurrection, he offered a preview of things to come. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: All hell is going to break loose tomorrow. Just understand this, all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.

It is not going to happen like you think it's going to happen. OK? It's going to be quite extraordinarily different. And all I can say is strap in. The war room, a posey, you have made this happen. And tomorrow, it's game day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: And you will bet that investigators on the January 6th committee have questions about what he knew before January 6th. We're covering the story from all angles, from the White House to Capitol Hill and obviously examining the legal and political implications of the Bannon indictment.

WALKER: Yeah. Let's begin with CNN's Zachary Cohen, part of the team that broke the story.

Good morning to you, Zach. I mean, could you start with the indictment and the charges against Bannon? And how we got to this point?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: That's right, Amara. So, really, this got real for Steve Bannon yesterday. He -- if convicted, he could face jail time. Now, as you mentioned, he has been charged with two counts of contempt of Congress.

One, for refusing to appear for a deposition despite being subpoenaed by the committee investigating January 6th. And another count for refusing to produce documents, that committee demanded that he handover.

Now, each carries a potential maximum sentence of a year in jail. Bannon will have to decide if his loyalty to Trump is worth that risk. The committee is pursuing you know information from a host of different witnesses. And as you mentioned earlier, they hope this indictment sends a message to those that maybe don't want to cooperate.

WALKER: Yeah. Let's see what kind of impact it has.

Zachary Cohen, appreciate your reporting. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: So, the two charges for contempt of Congress, how is Congress responding. Let's get straight to CNN congressional reporter Daniella Diaz who is live for us on Capitol Hill.

Daniella, what are you hearing from lawmakers?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Boris, Amara, lawmakers were very quick to respond, especially the lawmakers on this committee yesterday. After the indictment of Steve Bannon, saying that this should send a very strong message to any witnesses who refuse to comply with the committee's investigation of the insurrection on January 6th.

Something to keep in mind on all of this is that Bannon is not the only one who has witness, who has refused to comply with the investigation. Yesterday actually, Mark Meadows, the former chief of staff of former President Donald Trump, he did not show up for a deposition yesterday at 10:00 a.m. As well as he did not turnover key documents that he needed to turnover. So, Bannon is not the only witness who has refused to comply with the committee's investigation.

Now, this is what Chairman Bennie Thompson and vice chair of the committee Liz Cheney, a Republican, said after this indictment in a statement.

They said, "Steve Bannon's indictment should send a clear message to anyone who thinks they can ignore the Select Committee or try to stonewall our investigation: no one is above the law. We will not hesitate to use tools at our disposal to get the information we need."

[06:05:12]

And he was not - they were not the only ones to react. Actually, we had some live reactions on CNN yesterday. Take a listen to what Adam Kinzinger, the other Republican on this committee, told CNN's Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL) (via telephone): But I think it sends a really important message to future you know invited witnesses, future folks that are subpoenaed. You know you cannot ignore Congress. The reality is, you may not like it, you may not like the investigation. You may think nothing wrong was done, but you're not going to be able to avoid it.

This is certainly a good thing, and I hope it sends a chilling message to anybody else that was going to follow through like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAZ: Another thing to keep in mind in all of this, Boris and Amara, is that Republicans in Congress have been slamming this committee. Namely, of course, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying that this investigation is a sham committee investigating the January 6th insurrection because the two appointed Republicans are of course Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. But really, what this does is send a strong message that the investigation, the committee has the backing of the judicial process to of course investigate the committee. It is a - you know it's a House Select Committee. So, that is the bottom line here is that it sends a really strong message to any witnesses who refuse to comply. That there could be real consequences if they don't.

SANCHEZ: A clear signal to people like Mark Meadows who have refused to work with the committee.

Daniella Diaz, from Capitol Hill, thanks so much.

WALKER: So, as we continue to follow this big developing news that Steve Bannon has been indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress.

We will talk more about this with our CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney, Joey Jackson. And former deputy assistant attorney general Harry Litman.

Good morning to you both.

Harry, let's start with you. Is this indictment a game changer?

HARRY LITMAN, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is a game changer. Of course, it's a game changer for Bannon. But as everyone was emphasizing, it's a real game changer for the other witnesses, for the Meadows and the Clarks of the world.

Bannon - Bannon is now done. He's in the criminal justice system. There's nothing he can do. It might take a couple years to work itself out, that's all right. They want to be able to send this chilling message up the spines of any other witnesses who would be thinking about trying to defy them as people have been doing for years.

And now, the calculation has been radically altered and people are sweating on Capitol Hill who yesterday were thinking they could just walk through and not worry about a subpoena from the Congress of the U.S.

WALKER: Yeah. It will be interesting to see how they act, right? Because the committee has issued 35 subpoenas so far. And you know we'll see if this compels them to actually comply if you know -- with these indictments.

LITMAN: Yeah.

WALKER: Joey, now to you. So, Bannon is expected to self-surrender on Monday. And you know what I found surprising is that these charges don't exactly mean that he will be forced to testify or produce these documents, right?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yeah. They do not, right? They are separate and apart from that but having said that, this is significant. Look at the process now, Amara, that we're in, right?

You know that he does no longer have the protection of the president. Remember he was indicted last year and in that indictment, you know, we saw the fact that Trump pardoned him.

And so, these are different circumstances where you don't have a president when you get indicted pardoning you. And we have the Congress, you know really, the Select Committee making this recommendation to the full Congress. The full Congress voting on and the Department of Justice acting upon it. But now, here we are with regard to this that has teeth. We know it is the first time it has been done since 1983, we're almost 40 years, but it's about time. But to the heart of your question, just because you are facing criminal charges, doesn't mean now that you have to turnover and overwise talk. But yet and still, that he doesn't do that, we know that there could be extensive investigations.

The FBI have now, has authorities and powers. The judicial courts, they could subpoena and otherwise require documents. They can execute search warrants, et cetera. So, they can glean and get information with respect to documents although they can't compel them to give testimony.

WALKER: And just a quick follow-up to that, Joey. I mean, Mark Meadows as we're saying was a no-show as well on Friday, right? He was subpoenaed to testify. You're an attorney. What do you think his attorneys are telling him now?

JACKSON: You might want to reconsider. I mean, the bottom line here is that this is a judicial really == what has ended up happening is that finally, they are now supporting and enforcing the subpoenas. It used to be that you would just get a subpoena, and nothing would happen.

[06:10:02]

I mentioned before, Amara, the notion that it has been since the Reagan administration that you've seen and prosecution on this regard. So, I think before, attorneys were saying, they don't enforce it. They have the authority. It is never going to happen. Now, it is going to happen.

So, it's one thing to otherwise not be cooperative with the committee when you go. And when I say not cooperated, there are questions you could say I'm not going to answer. I'm asserting privilege. I have a Fifth Amendment right. But to thumb your nose if the committee exposes you to criminal liabilities. So, your turn is they're going to sit down with you and say, you know what, we might want to reschedule that appearance that you just decided was not that important.

WALKER: And Harry, how do you expect this prosecution to pan out, you know, knowing that these charges being brought are quite rare as is a conviction, right?

LITMAN: Yes. So, it is pretty interesting. His attorney is saying this has to be played out in the courts. That's the claim. And he's now got a judge who is a pretty conservative judge, may well be receptive to arguments he would make about executive privilege.

But look, as Joey says, it's not simply that he didn't produce. You've got to show up. You've got to do a privilege log. You've got to show that you've had diligence. These guys moving forward just blowing it off wholesale. And the indictment specifies the things he didn't do even if he had executive privilege. So, I think there will be a lot of tussles, preliminary motions, et cetera. But I think he's looking at a conviction. And by the way, if he is convicted, the obligation still remains. And he can be subpoenaed again. Now of course, if - if it's 2022, the Republicans are in charge. That -- that's a game changer on the other side.

But once again, the big thing here is for the Mark Meadows, Jeff Clarks and the 150 and more people behind the scenes, you already are saying, you know what, we'll cooperate. Including the Mike Pence team who is - who is now looking like they're talking with the investigators from the committee and may have a lot to say.

WALKER: So, Harry, if there is a conviction, could that happen before the midterms next year in 2022?

LITMAN: Short answer is no. But - and again, Bannon has been made an example of. He is roadkill. He is being used as a way to really strike fear in the hearts of the other witnesses. He is not going to figure in anymore into this investigation. If he has a conviction, it will take longer than that. But that's OK from the standpoint of the committee. They've used him for what they need.

WALKER: Got it.

LITMAN: And conversely, there's no way he can get out of it now. If he said tomorrow, oh, I'm sorry, too late. He's committed a crime. And he's going to be looking at justice for that crime.

WALKER: I have a million more questions for you both. Such a fascinating conversation. But unfortunately, we have to leave it there. Gentlemen, Joey Jackson, Harry Litman, appreciate you waking up very early to do this. Thanks so much.

LITMAN: Thanks, Amara.

Thanks, Joey.

SANCHEZ: The other major news out of Washington this week, President Biden pushing his bipartisan infrastructure plan as a helpful measure against rising prices at the palm pend in stores. The cost of living has risen over 6 percent in the last 12 months. The highest rate in 30 years.

Now, Republicans are blaming the president and his policies for the sticker shock that many Americans are feeling.

CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright is live for us.

Jasmine, inflation has become a political liability for the president. They initially said that it was transitory. That's a position that's getting harder to defend. So, what is the White House doing about it?

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's exactly right, Boris. Look, inflation concerns continue to dog this White House. This weekend, as Americans are paying more for everyday goods and frankly, they're not happy about it. Now, that unhappiness has led to a messaging shift from the White House as you've said. You know, at first, they said it was transitory, they said words like temporary.

Now, you hear everyone from the president, the vice president, officials both publicly and privately, saying that this is a big deal. This is a top priority for the administration. But no matter of that messaging shift, or the measures that they put in place like that courts to try to break up that supply chain log jam.

Officials say that they - that this could continue until the middle of next year. No doubt could be a new kind of pressure for Americans as we head into this holiday season, as they go grocery shopping. And as they ultimately start shopping for presents.

Now, President Biden convened the third cabinet meeting of his presidency on Friday, yesterday. And he really touted that newly passed bipartisan infrastructure package, saying that it could help ease some of these inflation pressures. Take a listen.

[06:15:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And we've gathered my Cabinet this afternoon at a moment of immense hope and possibility, in our view, for the United States.

The American people sent us here to deliver.

And we're going to -- we'll see ease -- and I say, yes, "ease" -- lower inflationary pressures on our economy. And we'll be carrying this out -- what I call the "blue-collar blueprint for America," one that builds the economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and one not from the top down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WRIGHT: Now, we've just heard President Biden talking about the mandate Americans have given him. Well, that is going to extend to his cabinet officials and a would-be infrastructure that really doles out the money for that bill as he says that they have moral obligation to make sure that that money is spent responsibly.

Next week, he said that he will have more on who that infrastructure will be. And of course, we expect him to sign that infrastructure bill finally on Monday. Boris, Amara?

SANCHEZ: Jasmine Wright reporting from the White House. Thanks so much.

WALKER: It is a trial marked with emotional testimony and unusual outbursts. And the case against Kyle Rittenhouse is now in its closing stages. We'll look at what's ahead as jurors get ready to deliberate his faith. SANCHEZ: Plus, with kids getting vaccinated and COVID cases staying flat, what this could all mean for your holidays. A doctor weighing in on that.

And the latest COVID headlines after a quick break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:20:35]

SANCHEZ: On the COVID front, we're learning that when it comes to authorizing Pfizer's booster shot for all adults, the FDA is not likely to ask outside advisors to weigh in. That could speed up the decision-making process and some states have already started to take things into their own hands saying that all adult residents are now eligible for boosters.

This comes as COVID cases and hospitalizations have plateaued across the United States. For numbers in some states are ticking upward.

Doctor Emily Volk is with us this morning to discuss all things COVID. She's the president of the College of American Pathologists.

Dr. Volk, good morning and thank you so much for being with us.

California is the latest state to deviate from the current CDC guidance. They have expanded booster eligibility to residents 18 and older. Do you see that decision potentially creating any problems? And do you expect that federal guidance on boosters might change soon as a result?

DR. EMILY VOLK, PRESIDENT, COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS: Here's what I know and thank you for having me and good morning.

I know that the more people that are vaccinated, the safer these holidays are going to be. So, the big question this year is not whether or not you're going to have turkey or ham. It is going to be whether or not your table is safe and that you have folks at your table that are vaccinated and ready to mingle with their family in a healthy and safe way.

SANCHEZ: So, cases are on the rise in at least 19 states. Help us understand how booster shots could help bring those numbers down and prevent them from going further up.

VOLK: Every - every person who is vaccinated is one less person who is going to die of COVID-19. So, everyone who can get vaccinated, should get vaccinated. The booster shots help our immune systems work even better to protect us from that terrible virus. The more people who can get it, the better.

SANCHEZ: And Doctor, you noted the holiday not that far off. Thanksgiving fewer than two weeks away. Any concerns about a rise and cases of surge after the holiday? And what advice would you give folks that might be concerned about either catching or spreading COVID during gatherings with their families? VOLK: First of all, we are still not out of the woods, right? As sick as everyone is of COVID-19 and hearing about vaccines and testing and so forth. It is still with us. And we still have to take precautions.

The good news is we have some very powerful tools to protect our loved ones from COVID-19. We can use the vaccines. We can make sure that folks who are invited over have that vaccine on board and you know we can keep our families safe using these tools that we have that we really didn't have last year.

SANCHEZ: One of those tools. Testing. The White House announced new investments in testing this week. We know obviously as you've noted, vaccines are essential to getting through the pandemic. But talk to us about the importance of expanding testing.

VOLK: You know testing helps us know who is sick and who could potentially spread this terrible virus. So, you know the best tests are the tests that are the PCR tests that ran in laboratories. Those are the most accurate and reliable.

However, there are home tests that are also available. And if folks are symptomatic or concerned that they've been exposed, that can also be a tool that people can use to see if they have the virus or not. The thing about those home tests is you have to be super careful when you use them. You have to follow those directions to the letter.

SANCHEZ: Easier said than done for some folks.

Dr. Emily Volk, thank you so much for the time. We appreciate having you.

VOLK: Thank you.

WALKER: Murder or self-defense? The Kyle Rittenhouse case will soon go to a jury. And we will have the latest on the trial, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:28:43]

WALKER: The Kyle Rittenhouse homicide trial enters its final phase as both sides prepare to make closing statements on Monday.

Prosecutors and attorneys will each have up to two and a half hours for closing arguments. Then the 18-person jury will be narrowed down to 12 by a drawing of names, according to the judge. And they will have to decide whether Rittenhouse's claims of self-defense were justified.

Now, Wisconsin's governor Tony is already bracing for a verdict in the trial. He has deployed 500 National Guard troops to the Kenosha area to assist law enforcement next week.

CNN's Brian Todd with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A dramatic trial nears its final stages. A trial marked by intense emotional testimony from the accused.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE, DEFENDANT: There were people right there.

TODD (voice-over): A trial where the judge commands seemingly as much attention as the defendant. Admonishing lawyers like he did on Friday during debate over jury instructions.

JUDGE BRUCE SCHROEDER, KENOSHA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: You're asking me to give an instruction. I want to see the best picture.

TODD (voice-over): The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is now slated for closing arguments and jury instructions on Monday. Prosecutors won a small victory when Judge Bruce Schroeder said he'd add an instruction on provocation, allowing prosecutors to argue that Rittenhouse provoked one of the victims who was shot and killed, Joseph Rosenbaum, into chasing him.

[06:30:00]

Prosecutors also asked Judge Schroeder to give the jury instructions for lesser charges in addition to the six original counts, some of them more serious Rittenhouse already faces. The judge explaining to Rittenhouse what that could mean.

SCHROEDER: Having a lesser included offense included your raising the risk of conviction and you're also decreasing the risk that you'll end up with a second trial because the jury is unable to agree.

TODD: Rittenhouse said he understood the ramifications and agreed to the inclusions of lesser charges. The judge indicated he will likely allow some lesser charges, but not allow others. Kyle Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty to six charges including intentional homicide, reckless homicide and attempted intentional homicide for shooting three people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August of last year, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Two of those three people, Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber were killed, one was wounded. Judge Schroeder's behavior has loomed large over the trial.

SCHROEDER: I don't believe you.

TODD: Schroeder has been accused of favoring the defense, he's harshly admonished prosecutors multiple times including once when a prosecutor asked questions the judge had already disallowed.

SCHROEDER: Don't get brazen with me. You know very well that an attorney cannot go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so. So, don't give me that.

AREVA MARTIN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: He seems to be a narcissist, likes a lot of attention, draws attention to himself, engages in these really outlandish outbursts. And a lot of attention has been focused on him. His demeanor, his conduct, when in a trial of this nature, this is a serious murder trial. We shouldn't be talking after the fact about the judge.

TODD (on camera): Kyle Rittenhouse's defense attorney have filed a motion for a mistrial with prejudice, citing what they call prosecutorial overreach. Jude Schroeder is taking that under advisement, so we should know about that by Monday. Our legal analyst Areva Martin says she believes it's not likely the judge would declare a mistrial at this point. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Thanks to Brian for that report. For thousands of LGBTQ people in the 1950s, the Lavender scare was a government initiative that cost jobs and ruined lives. This week, Lisa Ling speaks to those who lived through it, an all new episode of "THIS IS LIFE" tomorrow at 10:00 p.m. right here on CNN. When it comes to New York City's new mayor, there is no shortage of personality and a touch of controversy.

Up next, Mayor-elect Eric Adams shows us where his passion for politics began and why he plans to do things his way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:35:00]

SANCHEZ: From retired police captain to mayor-elect, Eric Adams will soon take the helm of the nation's largest city.

WALKER: But as CNN's Gloria Borger reports, he plans to get things done in his own way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): For Eric Adams, it's been a long and deliberate trek from his childhood home in blue-collar, Queens to Gracie Manson.

ERIC ADAMS, MAYOR-ELECT OF NEW YORK CITY: Right here was Miss Brown. I used to run her papers and her errands.

BORGER: Not anymore. How long have you wanted to be mayor? Is this the job you always dreamed of?

ADAMS: Not always dreamed of, but it happened 24 years ago.

BORGER: When a mentor gave him advice about climbing the political ladder, he took it.

ADAMS: He said if you want to be mayor, there are four things that you need to do.

BORGER: So, he got a Master's Degree and joined the police department, became a state senator, then Brooklyn Borough president.

ADAMS: So, I'm on queue with exactly what I'm supposed to do. I'm a mayor.

(CHEERS)

BORGER: What exactly happens next is anyone's guess.

ADAMS: I'm evolving as a man, evolving as a dad, I'm going to evolve if I'm the mayor of the city of New York.

BORGER: Or guided by a personal anthem -- Frank Sinatra's "My Way".

ADAMS: It is just Eric Adams all the way, you know, I'm sure you knew that I've bit off more than I can chew, you know that.

BORGER: And you played a lot?

ADAMS: All the time, every day. Whenever --

BORGER: Every day?

ADAMS: Whenever I'm feeling as though, I hit an obstacle, I throw in on my way.

BORGER: His way has always been unconventional.

ADAMS: This is not a fashion trend.

BORGER: Taking on saggy pants in 2010 or teaching parents where to search for their kids drugs.

ADAMS: This could be just a baby doll, but also, it could be a place where you can secretly or hide drugs.

BORGER: Adams has never shied away from the spotlight.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I remember working on a story in Brooklyn, he was a state senator at the time, and in the trunk of his car was a podium so that he could hold a press conference any time at any place that looks somewhat official.

BORGER: The Eric Adams story begins here at Precinct 103 in Jamaica, Queens. In 1975, he says he and his brother were arrested for criminal trespass into the home of a go-go dancer.

ADAMS: They took us downstairs to the lower level and they kicked us repeatedly in our groin.

[06:40:00]

BORGER: The incident stayed with him and Adams later joined the police department on a mission to reform it.

ADAMS: Questions must be answered --

BORGER: Focusing on racial discrimination. At age 61, Adam's belief in the power of his own life story --

ADAMS: You know, I am you --

BORGER: Became his campaign's main message.

ADAMS: I wanted to be felt. I wanted to tell New Yorkers different parts of my life. What it was like to be arrested, what it was like to live on the verge of homelessness.

The people you represent was me. So, I wanted to really show them that their fears are my fears. And their worries are my worries.

BORGER: But how does this personal history, no matter how compelling translate into governing?

(on camera): People are worried about crime in the streets. They're worried that Real Estates are out of control, there's not enough low- income housing in the city, you name it. So, what's your plan of action?

ADAMS: Foundation is safety. We could talk about all the other pieces, but we have to be safe. If we're not safe, tourism is not going to return. No businesses are going to stay if their employees can't ride out subway systems to get to their offices --

BORGER: So, how do you do that?

ADAMS: Well, you start to make sure you hit reset with the police department. You go to the precincts, talk to my officers and let them know I have their backs. I'm going to be there for you, we've done it, if you don't understand the nobility of public protection, you can't serve in my department.

BORGER (voice-over): He says reform the police. Don't defund them. Reduce homelessness by repurposing empty hotels, re-imagine school lunches that focus on healthy veggies as he did, becoming vegan when diagnosed with severe diabetes five years ago.

(on camera): And you have said you're going to be misunderstood.

ADAMS: Yes.

BORGER: Why?

ADAMS: I'm going to be a broccoli mayor, you're not going to like it when you eat it, but long-term, you're going to see the benefits of it. I'll take your picture.

LOUIS: Only by New York City standards could you possibly call Eric Adams a centrist or a moderate. You might be more accurate to say that he is a realist.

BORGER (voice-over): He seems allergic to the activist left in his own party. Presenting himself as both pro-business and pro-union. Helping the poor without driving out the wealthy.

ADAMS: In this city, we have 8.8 million people, only 65,000 pay 51 percent of our income taxes. If we lose those 65,000 because they feel unsafe or because we don't believe that they're part of our eco- system, you know what happens? We lose funding for our museums. We lose funding for our Broadway. I'm proud to be a resident of Bed-Stuy.

BORGER: Adams himself faced questions about whether he even lived in the city or in New Jersey.

ADAMS: People know I'm a Brooklyn native, I love being in Brooklyn --

BORGER: And over the years, he's been dogged by ethics complaints which he answers with derision.

ADAMS: I like to always say I'm a lion, and lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

BORGER: "The Times" did an investigation that said that your fundraising efforts pushed the boundaries of campaign finance and ethics laws.

ADAMS: They have their opinion, and I have my opinion, and I'm going to let people know how I feel all the time. No silent suffering from me.

BORGER: Adams glides easily between New York's bureaus, the wealth of the nearby Hamptons and the night life in the city that never sleeps, to the joy of photographers and his opponents.

CURTIS SLIWA, TALK SHOW HOST: Eric Adams is with the elites, in the suites, the TikTok girls, trying to sort of live up to the Kardashians at club zero bond. Come on, Eric, come back. Come back to the streets and the subways.

ADAMS: I am the American dream.

BORGER: Back on the streets where he grew up, as he thinks about running the city, he also thinks of his mom who worried about him as he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia.

ADAMS: Just always said, you know, I just prayed for you, and all of my children, you know, I just prayed the hardest for you.

BORGER: She died earlier this year leaving behind her well-worn and annotated Bible.

ADAMS: It almost became anchor because there were days we had nothing but prayer. So, this is the Bible that I'm going to place my hands on when I'm sworn in.

BORGER: Gloria Borger, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: It's quite a large Bible, actually. Thanks to Gloria Borger for that. Well, there is more ahead on NEW DAY, but first, the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2021 have been announced, and one of them will be named the CNN Hero of the year by you. Yes, our viewers, and this week's spotlight is on a woman dedicated to providing life-saving support and medical care for marine wildlife.

[06:45:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNDA DOUGHTY, FOUNDER, MARINE MAMMALS OF MAINE: Releasing a seal is really bittersweet. And as much as I'm excited to see that animal be released, it's also hard in the sense of seeing that animal now gone. Just know that you're going back to the ocean. So, any seal that we rescue, the ultimate goal is for that animal to be released back into the ocean.

I feel this intense responsibility to help these animals, and really, this is what I was put on this earth to do.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: And to learn more, go to cnnheroes.com. We'll be right back.

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[06:50:00]

WALKER: NFL star Cameron Jordan is not only a team captain for the Saints, he's also a leader off the field working to build stronger relationships between police and citizens in New Orleans.

SANCHEZ: Yes, Coy Wire, spoke to him recently and he tells us why Jordan is this week's difference maker. Good morning Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Boris and Amara. Inspire change, the NFL social justice initiative showcases collaborative efforts by league and players to create positive change within their communities. When New Orleans Saints six-time pro-Bowler Cameron Jordan is not only an iron man on the field, 11 seasons with not a single game missed, nearly 100 sacks to his name, he's even more impressive as a man off the field on a mission working to improve police-community relations.

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CAMERON JORDAN, DEFENSIVE END, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: You can inspire change, and I feel like inspire change through Crescent City Corps has that kind of potential. They're trying to have a positive impact on those surrounded community, and It's like redefining the view, the perception of policing entity in this community. Like it feels like it's bringing them closer together. And from my civilian perspective, I'm like I understand you guys have your protocols and you hear what they go through, the trauma they are sort of going through in their heads, it makes you realize that they're humans as well.

But at the same time, there's a policing entity, and when there are policing communities like, how do you not remember that these are humans as well. If everybody just remembers that the simple thing is that we all are human, we all have a family that we're trying to get to, and if everybody could keep that in mind and treat each other as an extension of a family, it will be that much easier. I've gone through all the feelings, the highs, the lows of every situation that you think of, and from, I understand the Jones(ph) to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery.

I've also been lucky enough to have positive interactions with police officers. Being the -- you know, my grandfather was a DPS, highway patrol man in Phoenix, one of my godmothers is a chief of police in Phoenix, and at the same time, I have the negatives as well. I feel like this class is helping a little bit about -- a little -- not only just me, but the community that's surrounding it. I just feel like whatever we're doing, this is my right step forward and hopefully it will be a right step for the community in the long-term.

WIRE: Cam, where does that passion come from?

JORDAN: New Orleans has been there for me for 11 years, it's just so easy to go out to the community and try and give back. I mean, when I feel like, you know, your cup is running over, where else can you put it? You have to put this energy, you have to put your time, you have to put your efforts anywhere you can, you know, hopefully again, then in the long run, this will actually inspire others to be a part of this. Whether it'd be officers, whether it'd be, you know, civilians who want to see this. There's so much potential for us to create an actual culture change.

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WIRE: Now, this week, a four-part docuseries was released chronicling Cam's efforts with police officers and citizens working to build a safer, more respectful community. He's one of the brightest, most passionate players in the league, exactly the type of difference maker we need to hear more about. As a former Falcon player to highlight a rival Saints player, as a former Stanford grad to highlight a Cal Berkley rival, you know, he's got to be quite the special guy, and he is.

WALKER: You can hear and see the passion in his voice. Beautiful story, Coy, thank you so much.

SANCHEZ: Thanks, Coy.

WALKER: Well, it is still technically Autumn, but it's feeling more like Winter in parts of the U.S. So, look at where folks could see up to 5 inches of snow next.

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[06:55:00]

SANCHEZ: The first significant snowstorm of the season that brought heavy snow to the upper Midwest is now shifting east.

WALKER: And it's bringing rain and snow to the northeast as well as freeze alerts to much of the southeast. Meteorologist Tyler Mauldin is live at the CNN Weather Center. So, Tyler, what is it looking like out there? TYLER MAULDIN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: All of this way too soon. If you're

not a fan of the Winter weather, just kind of earmuffs over the next minute and a half or so, because we have a series of Winter weather makers pushing across the country. Area of low pressure, number one which caused a blizzard in the Midwest earlier this week is now pushing over the northeast behind it, some very chilly air coming into the southeast.

Then we have a clipper system moving into the northern plains, the Midwest and eventually the Great Lakes, and then behind that, another system pushing into the Pacific Northwest. Let me work you through all of this. We have roughly 13 million people down here across the southeast under freeze alerts. But it's not here just across the state of Georgia and Alabama and Tennessee and Mississippi. It's all the way over into Oklahoma and it's all the way up the Carolinas too, on to the Virginias. It is quite chilly out there.

In fact, this is the first freeze of the season for many across the southeast. We're going to see a roller coaster of temperatures over the next several days. Temperatures will go down. They'll go back up and then they'll go right back down towards the end of the week. Case- in-point, New York City, your average high is 55 degrees, and you can see that roller coaster ride over the next seven days. With that, with that roller coaster ride comes those Winter weather systems, and we are seeing that one pushing across the northeast right now.

There's currently some snow and rainfall ongoing there, and that's going to continue over the next 48 hours. And in total, we could see roughly 5 inches or more in some areas of the northeast.