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New Day Sunday

World Leaders Strike COP26 Deal With Coal Compromise; Families Take Search For Missing Loved Ones Into Their Own Hands; Storms Head To The Northeast With Falling Temperatures And Snow. Aired 6a-7a ET

Aired November 14, 2021 - 06:00   ET

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


[06:00:21]

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to your NEW DAY. I'm Amara Walker in for Christi Paul.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Amara. I'm Boris Sanchez.

President Biden set to take a victory lap tomorrow when he signs his infrastructure bill into law, but with Congress heading back to Capitol Hill can they push the rest of his agenda through?

WALKER: And sidelined again, on the day she was supposed to resume her public duties, Queen Elizabeth forced to pull out of today's appearance. What we're hearing from the palace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HOSKINS, ANKENY, IOWA RESIDENT: We can't go too far out of our means to make ends meet. But, you know, you still got to eat, you still got to live.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: No doubt, you've felt some sticker shock lately. The cost of everything is going up. What you can expect to pay even more for heading into the holidays.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm his dad and he's my son. I've lost all sense of reality. At that moment I said, "You know what? They're not going to look for my son. I'm going to do it myself."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Why some families say they are forced to take matters into their own hands to find their missing loved ones.

SANCHEZ: Buenos dias. It's Sunday, November 14th. Thank you so much for waking up with us. Good morning, Amara. We match. Look at us.

WALKER: Oh my gosh. I didn't even realize that.

SANCHEZ: Totally unplanned. Look at that.

WALKER: People won't believe that. But I wasn't messaging you this morning to ask what you were wearing, right?

SANCHEZ: That's right.

WALKER: I promise I didn't do that. Looking good.

SANCHEZ: Great. All right. So after months of negotiations, debate and delays, President Biden is getting ready to sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law tomorrow.

WALKER: Yes. The White House says the signing ceremony will include members of Congress as well as governors and mayors from both parties. The president will highlight how the $1.2 trillion bill will benefit middle-class Americans while repairing and improving the country's infrastructure.

SANCHEZ: The other major piece of the Biden agenda, the Build Back Better plan, hinges on West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. Democrats are said to be back up on the Hill tomorrow trying to come up with a version of the social spending and climate bill that Manchin will actually support.

WALKER: CNN congressional reporter Daniella Diaz joining us now from Capitol Hill. Good morning, Daniella. If you will, please update us on where things stand with the president's Build Back Better plan.

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Amara, Boris, now that Congress has passed this bipartisan infrastructure bill the House passed it last week and we know that President Joe Biden is planning to sign it tomorrow. All eyes now turn to pressing issues that still need to go through Congress for this administration, of course, including this massive economic bill that is still up in the air with some moderate Democrats. They have not been able to figure out how to get them to sign on to this, namely, of course, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

He has not offered his assurances for his bill which is a major reason why this bill has not had a vote in Congress. He has raised concerns for this multitrillion dollar bill, including the price tag. He's unsure of what the price tag should be. He's also very concerned with inflation. He has said that again and again. And he thinks he has research that proves that this bill could add to the nation's inflation problems at least short term.

He has also pushed back on provisions to reduce methane emissions. That is what -- is included in this bill has a huge climate provision, funding components, the largest price tag of this bill. It's about $500 billion. He's also opposed to a Medicare expansion. And he has also demanded tax provisions in the House -- excuse me. He has opposed tax provisions in the House version of this bill.

Meanwhile, another group of House moderate Democrats have said they won't vote for this bill until there's a final CBO score, Congressional Budget Office score, that will state how much this bill will cost. And not only is that an issue, and they want to have a bill in the -- a vote in the House next week, by the week of November 15th. They also have to address government funding and the debt ceiling, both which the deadline is for in early December.

So there are a lot of pressing issues that Democratic leaders have to address, as well as just Congress in general as they come back for session after this recess week tomorrow. Boris and Amara.

WALKER: Yes. A lot to get to in a short span of time. Appreciate you breaking that down for us, Daniella Diaz. Quite complex, but you did a great job. Thanks so much.

Well, passage of his infrastructure plan is a major win for President Biden, but with inflation at a 30-year high and Americans experiencing sticker shock at the pump and at the store, selling the plan may be a heavy lift.

[06:05:12]

SANCHEZ: CNN's Jasmine Wright is live at the White House. Let's head over there now. Jasmine, break down the White House's strategy when it comes to inflation for us.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, that's right, Boris. Look, tomorrow is President Biden's big day. He will sign that first part of his two-pronged economic agenda, one of the biggest investments in public works that this country has seen in a long time and he will have -- and he has invited both Democrats and Republicans. We know that he waited, as Daniella said, to sign the bill so lawmakers could come to the White House.

But as you said, the conversation is now dominated by inflation concerns, high gas prices, high everyday goods, the supply chain logjam. And so the president's strategy really is hoping that signing this bill tomorrow in a big affair is going to show the country that the Democrats can produce really a product for Americans, and officials hope that this bill really helps those economic problems. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED BERNSTEIN, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS: The infrastructure plan will ease inflationary pressures but that's not all we're looking at. We're trying to help one of the fundamental causes here which is supply chain snarls. This is a multitier approach, near term, medium term, long term to fight against these price pressures.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WRIGHT: But despite that approach and we just heard the official talking about, the fact of the matter is that the effects of this bill won't be felt quickly. As officials say that these higher prices could go into well into the next year if not the end of the year.

Now, one thing that we haven't heard from the president yet is who he will name as infrastructure czar really to dole out the money in this really large package. He has said multiple times that it is the responsibility of both him and the cabinet members and the administration at whole to make sure that this money is spent responsibly. So until -- and he says that an announcement on that will come next week.

But also next week, after we see him sign that bill, we can expect him to kind of take his message on the road, selling what is in it. He will hit New Hampshire and Detroit and also we can expect him to have that virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Boris, Amara.

WALKER: Yes. We'll see how he sells that package. Thanks so much, Jasmine Wright.

SANCHEZ: It will be a big day in D.C. tomorrow, and not just because of the Biden agenda, but not far from the White House, Steve Bannon, a former top aide to President Trump, is expected to turn himself in. The former White House chief strategist is charged with contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena to testify before the January 6th committee and refusing to turn over documents to Congress. The committee wants to know about Bannon's role before and during the riot at the Capitol.

The House panel has now issued more than 40 subpoenas to former aides and advisors to Trump and committee leaders are hoping that Bannon's indictment will encourage some of those aides and advisors to cooperate with them. Let's discuss everything on the board today with CNN political analyst Margaret Talev. She joins us now. She's, of course, the managing editor at Axios.

Margaret, always great to chat with you. Let's start with the Biden agenda. Democrats targeting this week for a vote on Biden's social spending bill. No final score yet from the Congressional Budget Office, something that moderates have said that they needed. Senator Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, neither of them still completely on board. If you're betting this week, does Build Back Better get a vote before next week?

MARGARET TALEV, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think it's tough just in the House in terms of final passage. I think there's no indications whatsoever that this could get worked out in the Senate, and that's really where all this is going. And if you're a House moderate you're looking at the results in Virginia. Was that last week or the week before? Anyway, you're looking at the results in Virginia, the close call in New Jersey, and saying, if I'm going to support this I need to make sure that I'm explaining to my constituents why.

And then you're looking at those inflation numbers and seeing that as an additional messaging challenge. So even once that House vote happens, it doesn't give you any like bearing of what the Senate version of that bill will look like. That's always been true. And now there are these sorts of additional hurdles.

SANCHEZ: Margaret, I want to pivot to the January 6th committee. Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah, who has spoken with the committee, was describing to CNN last night exactly what they were looking for from her. I want you to listen to this sound bite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALYSSA FARAH, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: This is going to be a very comprehensive and deliberative process. They've already talked to over 150 witnesses. And while I don't want to speak for the committee, what I found is I think they're looking for two main things. They want to put together the definitive narrative on the big lie, how people contributed to it, how people perpetuated it, who by the way knew it wasn't true.

[06:10:06]

And then there's going to be the criminal justice side of things. Of was there wrong doing, was there tampering within the Department of Justice or with state governments to overturn or push to overturn results. That's something they're all looking into.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Now, Margaret, despite this Bannon indictment, even if he's convicted, legal experts have said that it's possible the committee never gets the evidence, the documents, that they are seeking, so how effective can they be? Can they accomplish their goals without that kind of evidence or key testimony?

TALEV: You know, I think they can certainly put together a very definitive timeline of what happened. And I think the committee, both the Republicans and the Democrats on that committee, have made a decision that they need to go forward with that and not be dissuaded by the question about whether they can kind of compel the testimony they're looking for.

What's interesting about Alyssa Farah is like we've been talking about what implication is the indictment against Bannon going to have on other witnesses who might be called? And I think Alyssa Farah is a good example of the category of people who may already be inclined to be cooperative when they're asked questions from this panel and those considerations, and why is that?

I mean it's true that she was a spokesperson for the Trump administration, for the White House, for Trump, but it's also true that she was a spokesperson for Mike Pence. We've seen that the former vice president's aides and assistants and affiliates are much more open to cooperating and much more open to kind of calling out the lie, the notion that we know that Joe Biden won this election, not Donald Trump, that nothing was stolen from anybody.

Farah also is different because she is, obviously, interested in being kind of part of institutions, whether it's corporations or kind of polite society, right? She's had this comeback tour where she's been writing an editorial or giving speeches with the former Obama press official to talk about the need to heal the partisan divide.

There are many inside Trump world who the committee is interested in who are not in that camp and don't see that same interest in showing that they agree that Congress has a right to have a committee and subpoena people and that people should be responsive. So, I think, there are really two different sorts of responses, Farah's response and openness to talking and cooperating and explaining this process is really different than certainly what we're seeing from Steve Bannon and what we've seen from Mark Meadows so far.

SANCHEZ: Right. Margaret, one last pivot. President Biden is set to meet virtually tomorrow with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Competition with China is a critical part of the Biden agenda, not just in terms of human rights with the Uyghurs but also in terms of the future of Taiwan and whether the United States intervenes if China were to move in to that island. From your perspective, what does President Biden have to do to make that meeting a success?

TALEV: I mean, the expectations for the summit, Boris, are pretty low. It's virtual. It's not even in person. These leaders haven't met. Biden has been president since January now. And they're really not on even footing.

I mean, Biden is under so much domestic pressure at home. He's being eroded by these tensions by inflation. President Xi just got empowered and extended by his party leadership in China. And so I think the expectations for the U.S. are pretty low here. They're obviously going to talk about things like China as well as things like climate change, but the expectations that Biden's going to be able to move Xi in any direction are very, very measured.

The goal here is to reduce tensions and I think Biden is going to have to balance the need to make the U.S. position clear, without ratcheting up tensions. And he has already struggled to do this on Taiwan. Biden has basically gotten in front of where the messaging was earlier, was what is the U.S. going to do, you know, if. And so I think he does not want to use this to provoke Xi or to ratchet up the tensions. And yet he needs to make clear that the U.S. position is protective of Taiwan. It's a difficult needle to thread.

SANCHEZ: So many different topics we just hit. Margaret Talev, we appreciate you walking through with all of us on that.

TALEV: Thanks very much.

WALKER: And this just in to CNN, Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth will not be making a public appearance at the Remembrance Day service that is taking place this hour after straining her back. The event was expected to be the first time the British monarch was seen in public after doctors advised her to rest after spending a night in the hospital last month. CNN's Max Foster is live from England. Max, what else do we know? How concerning is this?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is concerning to the extent that we were all looking forward to seeing her after this time out to the public eye.

[06:15:03]

And there's a huge amount of attention that about an hour before she was due to appear we were told in a statement from Buckingham Palace that she would be unable to attend because she has sprained her back. But speaking to royal sources since then and they are telling us that -- this is unrelated to the reason she was off work effectively in recent week. So disconnected from, you know, why she wasn't appearing in public previously. And we weren't even given a reason why she wasn't appearing in public previously. But a certain level of concern there.

But the queen according to the source is deeply disappointed to miss this engagement which she considers one of the most significant engagements of the year, Amara. And I think that's worth pointing out because the queen has only ever missed this occasion six times in the past and that was either because she was traveling or because she was pregnant. So, this is a big thing for her not to appear at this event, one of those events that she always appears at in her diary. But we're not being led to believe that there is anything to be particularly concerned about, particularly as there's two different issues here in terms of her public appearances.

WALKER: Yes. We know how personal and important this event is to her as someone who served in World War II and we'll talk more about that with our royal historian and commentator in the next hour. Max Foster, great to see you. Thanks so much.

Five bucks, five bucks, what? For a gallon of gas? It's happening in parts of the country. Where we are seeing record gas prices and how much -- how much more we're all paying for everything heading into the holidays.

SANCHEZ: Plus, after extending the COP26 climate summit, countries are finally able to handle out an agreement to tackle the climate crisis. We'll tell you what's in it and why some are criticizing this agreement for not going far enough. That story up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:21:03]

WALKER: America's largest state by population now has the highest gas prices in the country. According to AAA the Golden State hit an average price of $4.67 a gallon, yes, almost 5 bucks a gallon on Saturday, tying it to its highest recorded average price that was set back in October of 2012 and making it more than a dollar higher than the national average which dipped to $3.41. Ouch.

SANCHEZ: Yes. From groceries to gasoline, Americans are paying more for everyday needs. U.S. inflation is now at a 30-year high and it's happening at a time when many Americans are already struggling because of the pandemic.

WALKER: And one place that's been especially hit hard is the Heartland. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich has more from Iowa.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There's a chill in the air in Iowa. Winter is coming.

HOSKINS: It's coming. So we flipped the fireplace on and get a little heat that way instead of turning the furnace up.

YURKEVICH: That's because heating bills for many Iowans could nearly double this winter, a warning from the state's largest power provider, MidAmerican Energy.

HOSKINS: We're all hardworking, middle-class folks. So, you know, we can't go too far out of our means to make ends meet. But, you know, you still got to eat, you still got to live.

YURKEVICH: On Wednesday, the U.S. once again woke up to sticker shock. Gas, cars, energy and food, just some consumer goods that rose 0.9 percent together on average in October and are up 6.2 percent this past year, the biggest 12-month increase since 1990.

HOSKINS: Bacon is pretty high. I've kind of seen it on the news a little bit, but yet it has jumped up a few dollars so --

YURKEVICH (on camera): Did that stop you from buying anything today?

HOSKINS: I thought I would buy it and put it in the freezer to be totally honestly with you.

YURKEVICH (voice-over): The Lentzes were out shopping early for their Thanksgiving dinner.

(on camera): Did you notice that prices were a little bit higher?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Quite a bit -- quite a bit higher.

YURKEVICH: And soon the couple will escape the Iowa cold and their high energy bill for Arizona. But it will still cost them.

GARY LENTZ, ANKENY, IOWA RESIDENT: We have a motor home. It costs a lot to go to Arizona but we're going anyway.

YURKEVICH: Gas in the state is nearly $3.20 a gallon, up more than a dollar in the last year. Ben Thompson is trying to avoid the pain at the pump.

BEN THOMPSON, DES MOINES, IOWA RESIDENT: I price shop some. That's how I'm out here. You know, the Casey's that I was at was about $0.44 more expensive per gallon than this one.

YURKEVICH: He says his 16 gallon tank costs him $10.00 more on average.

(on camera): So what did you tap out today?

THOMPSON: $46.87 and I wasn't out of gas.

YURKEVICH: At Dewey Ford car dealership in Ankeny, a lot that typically holds 900 cars, has just 61. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cannot keep hybrid vehicles on my lot. They want to be able to have that so they're not going to the gas pumps to have to go through that.

YURKEVICH: Customers may save on gas by going electric but the prices of cars are higher than ever. Used cars jumped 2.5 percent last month with new cars up 1.4 percent. A fallout from labor shortages, a supply chain crunch and consumer demand all meeting the road.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Customers are really struggling at this point. When you go back to the last few years, nobody has ever paid full price for cars.

YURKEVICH: Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Ankeny, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: The deal is done but not everyone is thrilled with the COP26 climate agreement. We're going to go live to Glasgow, Scotland, next.

SANCHEZ: But first a quick programming note for you, tonight's new episode of "THIS IS LIFE WITH LISA LING" takes a look at the history of gay persecution in America. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA LING, CNN HOST: So, Beth and Walt, I'd like to introduce you to someone.

[06:25:03]

This is Congressman Ritchie Torres.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Ritchie. Nice to meet you.

REP. RITCHIE TORRES (D-NY): It's a pleasure to meet you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you live in a better time than my dad did, right?

TORRES: I know a better world than your father knew. You know, I'm part of a long history and many people had to suffer deeply and senselessly. And I'm just

grateful that I can be who I am. I can be a member of Congress because of the sacrifices that were made by people like your father.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think my dad would be extremely surprised and proud of what's going on right now.

TORRES: We've made progress, but we also have a distance to travel. The mission is far from accomplished. We have to tell the story of the LGBTQ community. People like Frank Kameny and Walter Jenkins should be household names.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Appreciate you saying so.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: An emotional all new episode of "THIS IS LIFE WITH LISA LING" tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

[06:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Nearly 200 nations have finally reached the COP26 climate agreement in Glasgow, Scotland. It comes after marathon talks amid intense negotiations after the summit ended.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, so intense that the talks went into overtime as deep divisions remained on key issues like unprecedented language on fossil fuels and how much money developed countries should contribute to adapt to the climate crisis. CNN's Phil Black with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALOK SHARMA, PRESIDENT, COP26: Adopt the decision entitled Glasgow Climate Pact, it is so decided.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They got there in the end, applause but no real joy. The end result and intensely negotiated agreement that at best achieves incremental progress and ultimately falls short for everyone.

But at a climate conference, that counts as a win. The final draft inspired passionate support from some wealthy countries.

FRANS TIMMERMANS, EU CLIMATE POLICY CHIEF: This is good. This is a powerful statement. I please implore you, please embrace this text so that we can bring hope to the hearts of our children and grandchildren.

BLACK: Vulnerable small island nations were more grudging, but they backed it because it clearly describes the importance of keeping average warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and it recognizes the critical need to cut emissions dramatically this decade.

AMINATH SHAUNA, ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTER, MALDIVES: I would like to remind us all that we have 98 months to half global emissions. The difference between 1.5.and two degrees is a death sentence for us.

BLACK: This cop also made history for the first time including text that calls for countries to move on from coal. But there was a dramatic last moment twist. India and others teamed up to insist on weakening that section by changing one keyword. Phase-out became --

BHUPENDER YADAV, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE MINISTER, INDIA: Escalating effort to face down unabated coal power.

BLACK: It caused deep disappointment.

TINA STEGE, CLIMATE ENVOY FOR THE MARSHALL ISLANDS: This commitment on coal had been a bright spot in this package. It was one of the things we were hoping to carry out of here and back home with pride. And it hurts deeply to see that bright spot dim.

BLACK: The conference President couldn't hide his emotions.

SHARMA: I apologize for the way this process has unfolded. And I'm deeply sorry. I also understand the deep disappointment. But I think as you have noted, it's also vital that we protect this package.

BLACK: Outside the room, activists and experts predicted real change is coming after Glasgow.

Phasing down versus phasing out, what does that mean in practice?

JENNIFER MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL: Well, I actually don't think that the change of that word change the signal -- changes that signal. The signal is that coal is on its way out.

NICK MABEY, E3G CLIMATE THINK TANK: The big change here was people finally got the scale of the challenge and the urgency and we finally got a plan that meets that, and that was great. But it's now, let's roll up our sleeves time.

BLACK: Scientists say the world needs transformational change. This conference just succeeded in keeping the process alive. That's not enough to ensure hope survives too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACK: It's extraordinary to think that never before after almost 30 years of these conferences have they ended with specific formal language talking about the need to move on from coal. The positive take is that this agreement reflects the urgency of the best recent scientific advice. It expresses clearly just what's at stake. And crucially, it provides a path forward, an opportunity for countries to come back next year with more ambition, particularly in the short term.

So, it now falls to those countries to do what they have repeatedly failed to do to step up quickly and start acting in line with that scientific advice before it's too late. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Undoubtedly an achievement but still, as you outlined, Phil, so much left to be done. Phil Black from Glasgow, thank you so much.

WALKER: Yes. I think a lot of people seeing Phil's piece will feel it difficult to hold on to hope especially with that last-minute change from India on coal. A really fascinating piece. Thank you so much, Phil. Phil Black.

[06:35:03]

All right, just ahead, missing in America, the families of missing Black Americans say they're not getting the help that they deserve. CNN follows two families and their search for answers. That is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALKER: Following the worldwide attention paid to the case of Gabby

Petito, a young white woman who went missing, some Black and Brown families across America have been frustrated with the cases of their missing loved ones have been handled.

[06:40:06]

SANCHEZ: CNN's Sara Sidner talked to some folks who say they're taking matters into their own hands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the break of dawn, in the middle of the Arizona desert, a crowd of strangers meet for one purpose.

DAVID ROBINSON, FATHER OF A MISSING PERSON: You guys come out here to help me out. I really appreciate that from the bottom my heart.

SIDNER: To help another stranger, a father desperately searching for his 24-year-old son Daniel Robinson.

ROBINSON: Since he was a child, he'd like to challenge everything.

SIDNER; He was born with a challenge.

ROBINSON: And I want to introduce him to prosthetics because he's born with one hand. We quickly learned that that's something that Daniel you don't want. He let nothing stop him. He decided to be a geologist once he got into freshman year in college. He excelled that. You know, he graduated with honors.

SIDNER: Daniel's first job is checking the viability of water wells in the Arizona desert.

ROBINSON: He love this area, of course, because of the rough -- if you're a geologist, this is the best place to be.

SIDNER: But the terrain became a hellscape for his dad when Daniel went missing back in June from his job site.

And what number search is this?

ROBINSON: This search number 14.

SIDNER: Navigating the dangers in the desert, the Army veteran knows firsthand time is of the essence.

ROBINSON: When I called the police department, they told me that I had to wait an actually three hours because they had 12 hours, I guess, report time before you can say a person is missing. Then I call them back and put in the missing person report. I got very worried. That's when I got that as the Buckeye Police Department to go out and search the area, they also told me that they were going to send a vehicle out there, a helicopter out to search form. I was relieved. A lady called back an hour later sand said, no, it wasn't -- it was a no go. I'm his dad and he's my son. I've lost all sense of reality at that

moment and say, you know what, of they're not going to look for my son, I'm glad to do it myself.

SIDNER: Before he arrived, police did decide to search on foot and with helicopters.

This is the last place your son was missing?

ROBINSON: The last place.

SIDNER: What do you think happened, David?

ROBINSON: I think a lot happened here. I'm very suspicious.

SIDNER: But he doesn't know what. A month in, there's a break in the case, and police call Robinson.

ROBINSON: I got afraid actually that there's going to be some bad news. He said no, we just found his vehicle.

LARRY HALL, CHIEF, BUCKEYE, ARIZONA POLICE DEPARTMENT: Some ranchers found it. And then, at that point, we conduct our investigation and additional searches.

SIDNER: What was the condition of the car? If it had rolled over, it sounds like it was pretty bad.

HALL: Yes, the car was on its side. The sunroof was kicked out at that point, so he might have exited through the sunroof.

SIDNER: His wrecked car in a ravine, both airbags deployed. Daniel's cell phone, clothes he was wearing that day, and a case of water all found at the crash site, but not Daniel.

People don't just disappear into thin air.

HALL: True.

SIDNER: Does that sort of feel like what's happened here?

HALL: Yes. Yes, it's very, very challenging case.

SIDNER: No matter how much the family asked for this to be a criminal investigation, can you make that happen?

HALL: We can't make up evidence. Absolutely suspicious circumstances related to the case.

SIDNER: Frustrated and heartbroken, Robinson hired a private investigator.

Where are we going?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Down here is where the vehicle was recovered from.

SIDNER: Is that the glass from the car?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SIDNER: When you look at this accident, what are the discrepancies that you noticed right away?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe it was in more than one collision.

SIDNER: What is the data from the blackbox of the car tell you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That there was 11 additional miles on the vehicle since the airbags came out.

SIDNER: What does that tell you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That tells me it was crashed somewhere else.

SIDNER: That sounds suspicious? What explains that?

HALL: Well, we had the national expert that came in and provide us his findings. And then they ended up speaking to an expert at Jeep. An expert says yes, sometimes that happens and it's not unusual.

SIDNER: But the data also shows someone tried to start the car 46 times after the crash.

HALL: That's something we can't explain.

SIDNER: It begs the question again, the family is saying, it's criminal. It's got to be that he's in danger. Do something.

HALL: Right. Right. No, I agree. It's -- and -- but we need information. We need evidence.

SIDNER: He's got a lot of theories. His words I think were, "I don't think they cared." What do you say to that?

HALL: It can be further from the truth.

SIDNER: Losing hope, Robinson began pleading for media coverage.

ROBINSON: It literally took three months.

SIDNER: While Robinson searched for his son, the country became riveted by media coverage of another missing persons case, the case of Gabby Petito.

ROBINSON: In my situation, people think we love our children less or something or they're less important.

SIDNER: In 2020, more than 543,000 missing persons records were filed. More than 480,000 were cleared and 40 percent of the missing are people of color.

[06:45:01] DERRICA WILSON, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, BLACK AND MISSING FOUNDATION: there are a lot of Gabby Petito's and Natalee Holloway's in the Black and Brown community.

SIDNER: That's why former police officer Derrica Wilson co-founded Black and Missing Inc and says too often their cases go untold. Eventually, local stations did stories and citizens began helping search.

Did you know Daniel?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I just wanted to help.

SIDNER: You're just helping out a stranger on a Saturday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SIDNER: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what, if -- I can't imagine what that man is going through.

SIDNER: As the search for Daniel goes into its fifth month, another family is in the midst of a terrible mystery for a fifth year. The family of Nicki and Arianna Fitts.

CONTESSA FITTS, AUNT OF ARIANNA FITZ: Arianna is a very energetic, very happy.

SIDNER: 2-year-old Arianna went missing under the most suspicious of circumstances in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016. Her mother Nicki Fitts was found in a shallow grave in San Francisco's McLaren Park, but Arianna was gone.

FITTS: One, it breaks my heart that Arianna is not with her mom. And Arianna is not with my -- with her family. But it also breaks my heart even more is that I know that Nicki wants nothing more than Arianna to be with us, to be home.

SIDNER: Tessa Fitts says she is convinced her niece Arianna was taken by people close to Arianna's mother. San Francisco police searched for weeks. They had some leads but no arrests. A digitally altered photo was made of what she made look like now.

FITTS: And she's eight now. I don't want to see this in a picture. I want to see her face in person.

SIDNER: Should Arianna Fitts be a household name like (INAUDIBLE) Ramsey?

WILSON: Absolutely. Why is her case any different from Caylee Anthony? I can tell you the color of their skin is the only difference.

SIDNER: For five desperate years, the family has continued searching using flyers, social media, and Black and Missing Inc.

Do you think it has anything to do with color?

FITTS: I tried to put myself in the mindset of the race issue with your media coverage. All I want is for there to be the media coverage for her. I think she deserves that.

SIDNER: The Fitts and the Robinsons want only one thing, with hugging their missing children once again.

Do you think that Arianna is still alive?

FITTS: I do believe that Arianna is still alive. And it would mean everything to me to know where she is and to find her. I wait for that day every single day. I believe that day will come.

SIDNER: How long will you search?

ROBINSON: Until I find my son. I have to. I mean, he's my responsibility.

SIDNER: Sara Sidner, CNN, Buckeye, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Incredible reporting from Sara Sidner.

More than 25 million people are waking up to frigid temperatures this morning. Allison Chinchar is in with a look at where we're seeing the deep freeze and the roller coaster temperatures for us in the week ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:50:00]

WALKER: It's a chilly morning across much of the Eastern US including here in Atlanta. I didn't bring a coat with me. And I was freezing when I was walking to CNN. The cold air is spreading. That's for sure.

SANCHEZ: Yeah. And that's not all. We've got snow and flooding on the map as well. Let's get to CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar. She's tracking it all for us. Allison, what are you seeing?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So, we're keeping an eye on the system that's making its way from the Midwest across the Great Lakes and eventually will push into areas of the Northeast, all in just the next 24 hours. So, a lot going on is we've got a couple of different systems to talk about.

Here's a look at the live radar. You can see some of those snow bands moving through areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, portions of Ohio, Indiana and even Illinois on the southern edge of that moving through St. Louis. It's just rain temperatures there, just warm enough. I wouldn't necessarily call them warm per se but just warm enough that it's in the form of rain.

You've got winter weather advisories out for several states here in the Midwest, about one to three inches of snow expected with this next system. Again, here you can see that first round of the system moving through, followed by another system that will be sliding through a little clipper. Now, that's going to be very fast-moving, not really produced a lot of snow just because of how fast it's moving in.

Down to the south, incredibly cold temperatures. You've got freeze warnings and frost advisories as far south as Florida. That's how far this cold air stretches. Looking at high temperatures, they're not much better, but it's short-lived. So, Amara and Boris, take a look at this. St. Louis going from a high of only 48 today, back into the 70s by Tuesday.

WALKER: All right, something to look forward to. Allison Chinchar, thanks.

SANCHEZ: She also got the burgundy memo.

WALKER: You know, I just noticed that. What's going on here? It's like ESP.

SANCHEZ: Great minds. Great minds.

SANCHEZ: Absolutely. Thanks, Allison. And the next hour of NEW DAY, the latest on the news that Queen Elizabeth is not attending today's Remembrance Day ceremonies. We'll have a live report from England.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:00]

SANCHEZ: The top ten CNN Heroes of 2021 have been announced and one of them will be named the CNN Hero of the Year by you. Today, we're highlighting a man who spent ten years behind bars and is now helping others find jobs once they get out of prison.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HECTOR GUADALUPE, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE SECOND U FOUNDATION: After surviving prison, you come home thinking you're able to start over. You want to be part of society, but there's just so many layers of discrimination, boxes you have to get through just to get an opportunity.

Society thinks, oh, you should just go get a job. And it's not that easy. Once you have a record, nothing is set up for them to win.

And up, one, two, right, back under.

At the Second U Foundation, we give formerly incarcerated men and women national certifications in job placements in boutique gyms and corporate health clubs throughout New York City.

You have to be thinking outside the box. You can't give someone a mop and say this is your future, take minimum wage and deal with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go. You got it. GUADALUPE: When you provide people with livable wages, they're able to

be productive members of society.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that belly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

GUADALUPE: And that's why we are a Second U. We want to give you your second chance at life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Go to cnnheros.com right now to vote for your favorite hero.