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Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) is Interviewed about Coronavirus, Vaccines, Relief Bill, Donald Trump, Hospitalization Hit Record 100,000 Plus as U.S. Sees Deadliest Day of Pandemic; Romney: Russia and China are Laughing at U.S. Over Trump's False Claims; Biden: I Will Ask All Americans To Wear A Mask For First 100 Days; Source: "Diplomatic But Tense" Meeting Between Biden Team, Hispanic Caucus Over Cabinet Spots; High-Ranking Officials Ignoring Their Own COVID Advice. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired December 03, 2020 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: You can find me on Twitter @PAMELABROWNCNN or just tweet the show @THELEADCNN. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We're following breaking news. The United States now in the grips of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Only moments ago, the number of confirmed cases here in the United States top 14 million. COVID killed more than 2,800 Americans yesterday alone, and hospitalizations are at a record high more than 100,000 people leading to an increasingly critical shortage of ICU beds at hospitals all across the country.
But President Trump is completely detached from the country's suffering. Sources now telling CNN there have been multiple meetings about presidential pardons since the election.
And as Mr. Trump remains obsessed on overturning it, he won't say the he has confidence in the Attorney General of the United States, William Barr, who has publicly broken with the President's false claims of election fraud. The President questioning whether the Attorney General even knows how to do his job.
A source tells CNN the two men had what's described as a contentious meeting at the White House this week. I'll talk about all of that and a lot more in just a moment with Republican senator Mitt Romney. There you see him. He's standing by live.
We'll also have a CNN exclusive coming up by President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are giving their first joint interview since winning the White House to CNN as Jake Tapper. We're going to hear what they have to say about the President's efforts to overturn the election, the rapidly worsening COVID pandemic and a whole lot more.
But first, let's get to the breaking pandemic news. It is simply awful what's going on in the United States right now. CNN's Nick Watt is in Los Angeles with the very latest.
Nick, the numbers are deadly and alarming.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. And we just heard from the governor of California who says within the next day or two, much of this state will be back under stay at home orders. Why? Officials are worried that hospitals are just going to be overwhelmed. So, from now on, if the ICU capacity in a region drops below 15 percent, boom, a stay at home order is put in place.
You know, Wolf, a lot of this feels like the spring. But when you look at the numbers, it's worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-CA), LOS ANGELES: It's time to hunker down. It's time to cancel everything. And if it isn't essential, don't do it.
WATT (voice-over): Coronavirus, spread in Los Angeles is official say terrifying. Only about 100 ICU beds left in a county of 10 million, could all be filled by Christmas.
DR. JORGE RODRIGUEZ, INTERNAL MEDICINE AND VIRAL SPECIALIST: I think that California just like everybody else, let their guard down.
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, MEMBER, BIDEN CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE: We need to do something now. I'd rather do it now and try to avoid the cases of the future than wait to try to put this in place when the house is so on fire. That in fact our -- we have crossed that case cliff and hospitals basically are literally overrun. That's what we're up against.
WATT: Nationwide, Wednesday was by many metrics the worst day of this pandemic. More than 200,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Wednesday almost a record, last Friday was higher.
More than 100,000 COVID patients currently in the hospital. That is a record and Feds aren't the only issue.
MARVIN O'QUINN, PRESIDENT AND COO, COMMONSPIRIT HEALTH: The real issue for us is will we be able to get the nursing staff and the physician staff to take care of these patients.
WATT: Two thousand eight hundred four COVID deaths reported Wednesday, also a new high passing April's peak.
DR. LEANA WEN, FORMER BALTIMORE HEALTH COMMISSIONER: We're soon going to surpass 3000 deaths a day we may even surpass 4000 deaths a day.
WATT: The CDC now forecasts as many as another 55,000 Americans could die from now, through Christmas.
WEN: I can't quite believe that there are still governors that refuse mastering mandates when that's something so simple. That will save 10s of thousands of lives. WATT: The Nation now readying for that vaccine rollout, as soon as the FDA gives the green light.
DR. TROY BRENNAN, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, CVS HEALTH: Our plan is be ready to go as early as December 15.
WATT: Here's what a vaccine kit looks like gloves, et cetera, in case there's a shortage and a card. So you know, when you need your second dose.
Three former President say they'll get vaccinated on camera to show it's safe. But why is the U.S. behind Britain which already authorized the Pfizer vaccine.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We have the gold standard of a regulatory approach with the FDA. The U.K. did not do it as carefully, they got a couple of days ahead. I don't think that makes much difference. We'll be there. We'll be there very soon.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
[17:05:04]
WATT: And this just end. The director of the CDC has signed off on the recommendations from that advisory panel over who should get the vaccine. First, it will be medical personnel and residents of long term care facilities. Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. With the very latest Nick Watt reporting from L.A. Thank you very much.
Also breaking right now CNN has learned there have been multiple meetings over at the White House since the election to discuss presidential pardons. The meetings include a list of potential pardon cases to be considered an idea who else should be included in that list.
Today over the White House. President Trump wouldn't say whether he still has confidence in the Attorney General William Barr. A source tells CNN the two had a contentious meeting this week after Barr told The Associated Press his justice department found no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the election outcome.
Here's what the President said today. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you still have confidence in Bill Barr?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Asked me that in a number of weeks from now. Well, he hasn't done anything. So, he hasn't looked. When he looks, he'll see the kind of evidence that right now you're seeing.
They haven't looked very hard, which is a disappointment, to be honest with you, because it's massive fraud.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: What he didn't say is that the Attorney General said, not only the Justice Department but the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI looked very carefully, they found no evidence of widespread fraud.
Let's discuss all this and a lot more with a Republican Senator, former presidential nominee Mitt Romney of Utah.
Senator, thank you so much for joining us. I know you got a lot going on up on the Hill right now. We have a lot to discuss.
Yesterday on the coronavirus, it was the single deadliest day of the pandemic. More than 2,800 Americans were reported dead just yesterday alone. More than 100,000 people are hospitalized all across the country. The CDC director says the next three months will be in his words, the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.
So here's the question, Senator, where is the President's leadership? He's obsessed with everything else not with this.
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): Well, this hasn't been the focus of his rhetoric, apparently. And I think it's a great human tragedy, without question.
The extraordinary loss of life is heartbreaking. And in some respects, unnecessary. Not in all respects, but we've relaxed our standards as individuals, some states haven't had mask mandates. And from Washington, we have not had a constant, consistent plan and plea for people to wear masks, to social distance to take all the measures that would reduce the spread of this disease.
It's unfortunate that this became a political issue. It's not political. This is public health. And unfortunately, we have not made that message clear enough to the American people and people are dying because of it.
BLITZER: Yes, the country's never been in worse shape since this pandemic erupted in January and February, early March. But there are still, as you well know, Senator, Republican governors are resisting basic health and safety measures, as you just described them. Your State of Utah only enacted a mask mandate last month after hospitals became overwhelmed.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida says people in Florida, he actually says this, are happier without safety measures. Is this type of attitude costing thousands and thousands of American lives?
ROMNEY: Well, no question that unless you take this very seriously and communicate that this is not a political matter. This is not a matter of liberty. This is a matter of safety and public health. And we have people who are very, very sick, many people in the hospital, we have people who have died and are dying, it's unacceptable. We needed to have a far, clearer message from the very beginning that this was serious, that we should take every step we possibly could in order to constrain these viruses spread. And we haven't done that. And we're suffering the consequences even today.
BLITZER: Yes. The President United States has been missing in action when it comes to this. And it's simply awful.
As you know, Senator, vaccines are coming and we're all very optimistic. They're coming very soon, but states all around the country they need money to distribute these vaccines, 712,000 Americans filed for first time unemployment benefits just last week alone and millions are set to lose benefits right after Christmas. Bottom line, are you going to get a COVID relief bill done for the American people anytime soon?
ROMNEY: Yes, I'm quite confident that there will be a COVID relief measure. I don't know exactly what it's going to look like. We proposed this, you know, on a bipartisan basis, a very realistic plan. As you recall on your show, Nancy Pelosi was saying she wanted 2 trillion, if she couldn't get through trillion, she didn't want anything.
And fortunately, a number of Democrats, Mark Warner, Joe Manchin, Jeanne Shaheen have worked together with Republicans. We've come up with a $908 billion compromise, which I think is going to happen either by itself or perhaps parts of it are going to be incorporated in an omnibus bill that'll be worked out by Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and of course, Leader McConnell.
[17:10:18]
BLITZER: Well, you think he's going to support it, the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he was earlier speaking about half a trillion, $500 billion. He thought 900 billion was too much.
ROMNEY: Well, we'll see what he incorporates in the final proposal that worked out with he and the other members of leadership. But we have a $908 billion bill, whether it becomes 800 or 700, or what the final number is, I think, is uncertain. But I do believe that key provisions, which is extending unemployment insurance, extending support for small businesses, these vaccine distribution funds, these elements are going to be included. I'm absolutely convinced. And that's going to get to the American people before the end of the year.
BLITZER: Does it have money for states and cities?
ROMNEY: Well, in our plan, the $908 billion plan we do, we have $160 billion that goes to states, cities, counties, other entities. And I think that should be part of the final plan. But in order for that to be in the final plan, there has to be liability protection as well.
And we're still negotiating the fine points on liability protection as well as that state and local money. If we can get that done. I think there's a good prospect that it'll be in the final bill. If we can't, why it'll be a bill, it doesn't include all the elements that we're currently negotiating.
BLITZER: Are you and your Senate colleagues, Senator Romney ready to stay here in Washington until legislation is passed? Because as you know, people are suffering all over the country there. You see these long horrendous lines. People can't even put food on the table and feed their kids?
ROMNEY: Absolutely. I think the members of that group that had been coming together and negotiate in this package have said, look, we're going to stay here, right through the end of the year, we're not going to go home until this is done. And a significant portion of our legislation relates to food security, both getting help to farmers and ranchers, but also getting help to food banks, as well as the SNAP program, food stamp program, that's important for this package as well as the other measures I mentioned.
BLITZER: So you're upbeat that maybe in the coming days you can pass $908 billion, is that what you're saying?
ROMNEY: Well, I believe you're either going to see the entire package, the $908 billion package. Or you'll see leadership meeting Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and so forth, they'll come together and take pieces of that in the final bill that gets done probably attached to an omnibus bill. But one way or the other, you're going to see unemployment insurance, help for small businesses, vaccine distribution, these elements are going to be included, I believe, before the end of the year.
BLITZER: This is so important. It's been nearly a month, as you know, Senator, since the presidential election was called but today President Trump said he probably has enough votes to win every, this is his words, battleground state.
As you know, nationally in the popular vote, he's lost by almost 7 million votes right now. How much damage is President Trump doing to our country, to our standing around the world by refusing to concede and alleging widespread fraud going on all over the country?
ROMNEY: Well, the attorney general has said there's no there, there. The courts have all looked at the evidence and said there's no evidence there.
Now, of course, there going to be circumstances where one or two or a handful or maybe even 100, ballots were incorrectly sent in or counted. And those things get adjusted and get fixed. But the idea of widespread fraud is simply not been shown to us. And if that evidence does exist, please show it to us. But at this stage, we don't see it.
And so for the president or anyone else to go out and allege widespread fraud and say the election is rigged and the election was stolen, that obviously strikes at the very foundation of democracy here and around the world for that matter. People watch America, if we can't have a free and fair election, how can they have it in other nations of the world?
BLITZER: Yes. ROMNEY: So, this is critical for the whole cause of democracy. Russia and China have to be just laughing, going -- smiling from ear to ear. This is critical for the preservation of the very democracy and freedom that's important for our country and for others.
BLITZER: Yes. Well said, because they are laughing. The adversaries of the United States, they're laughing at this -- what the President United States is doing now to our reputation around the world by claiming widespread fraud in this presidential election.
Another thing that is so disturbing, Senator, I'm sure you agree with me is the President's false claims that they're leading to death threats to Democratic and Republican election workers at every level around the country. And Trump campaign lawyer said former election security official Chris Krebs, a Republican, should be shot. This is so dangerous.
Could the President's words, what he's doing right now every single day, especially on Twitter, lead to more violence against these decent, hardworking patriotic Americans?
ROMNEY: I certainly hope not. And I mean, it makes me very, very frightened for those people and my heart goes out to them. They're courageous. They've stood up for what they believe is absolutely right.
[17:15:10]
You have the Attorney General of the United States, likewise, saying that there's no evidence of the kind of widespread fraud that the President is talking about. But when he attacks election officials, I think he puts them at risk. I think that's very unfortunate.
But look, the President has every right to pursue every legal avenue, to go to courts as he feels he can make his case. But if he doesn't have evidence that can convince a court, and if he doesn't have evidence that can convince the American people have widespread voter fraud, then making these accusations is only damaging the cause of freedom and putting people's lives at risk.
BLITZER: I know you got to run, Senator, one final question. Since the election, have you had a chance to speak with the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden?
ROMNEY: Not since the election, no. And actually, it's been quite a long time since I spoke with Joe Biden. He was kind enough to come speak at a conference of mine in Utah a couple of years ago. He was charming, as always, and I look forward to working with him.
BLITZER: And you've accepted the fact that he will be the next President of United States at noon on January 20 Inauguration Day?
ROMNEY: Yes.
BLITZER: Senator Mitt Romney, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck with this economic stimulus legislation. The American people are counting on you guys to get the job done. You failed, all of you, Democrats and Republicans before the election and that was a pity. But let's hope it can be done right now. Appreciate it very much.
ROMNEY: Thanks.
BLITZER: Coming up to CNN exclusive, we're going to hear excerpts from the first joint interview by President-elect Biden and Vice President- elect Kamala Harris talking to our own Jake Tapper. And Jake is standing by live, let's get some clips for you as soon as we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:21:02]
BLITZER: We have breaking news coming into the situation right now. CNN's, Jake Tapper is joining us from Delaware where he just wrapped up a lengthy joint interview with the President-elect Joe Biden and the Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Jake, thanks so much for joining us. So, what are the headlines?
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Well, there are a lot of headlines in the full interview with the -- both the President-elect and the Vice President- elect will air this evening at 9 p.m. Eastern, Wolf.
One of the interesting things we learned came when I was talking to the two leaders about the vaccine and whether or not it was important for the President-elect to get a vaccine even before Inauguration Day. And that's when he disclosed that he had just gotten off the phone with his first conversation as President-elect with Dr. Anthony Fauci, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Do you plan to get vaccinated before Inauguration Day? And will you do it in public the way that Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton have suggested they're willing?
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd be happy to do that.
When Dr. Fauci says, we have a vaccine that is safe, that's the moment in which I will stand before the public and see that look, part of what has to happen, Jake, can you know as well as I do, people have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work.
Already, the numbers are really staggering low, and the matters would have president and vice president do. And so I think that my three predecessors have set the model as to what should be done, saying once it's declared to be safe, and then I think Barack said, once Fauci says it's (INAUDIBLE), that's my measure, then obviously, we take it. It's important to communicate to the American people it's safe, it's safe to do this.
TAPPER: Speaking of Fauci, have you spoken with him yet? If so, have you asked him to stay on?
BIDEN: Yes and yes.
TAPPER: Yes and yes. Tell me about the conversation. Did he said what more needs to be done from his point of view?
BIDEN: Well, look, my chief of staff has worked with him in the last crisis. He's been talking to him all the time, Ron Klain. I talked to him today, we spoke today at 3:00. My COVID team met with him.
I asked him to stay on and the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents. And I asked him to be a chief medical advisor for me as well and be part of the COVID team. And so, what has to be done is, we have to make it clear to the American people that the vaccine is safe when it occurred, when that is determined. And number two, you have to make sure as he points out, you don't have to close down the economy, like a lot of folks are talking about now, if in fact, you have clear guidance, and you're able to say to businesses, OK, for example, bars and restaurants are going to close we're going to provide you the wherewithal to not lose your business like we -- like to the house and past, and we're going to be able to reopen, we're going to be able to reopen in time. And not to close down for long periods of time.
We talked about masking. It is important that we, in fact, the President and the Vice President, we set, you know, the pattern by wearing masks. But beyond that, for the federal government has authority I'm going to issue a standing order that in federal buildings, you have to be masked. And in transportation, interstate transportation, you must be masked, in airplanes and buses, et cetera.
And so, it's a matter of -- and I think my inclination, Jake, is on the first day I'm inaugurated to say I'm going to ask the public for 100 days to mask, just 100 days to mask, not forever 100 days. And I think we'll see a significant reduction, if we occur that everything that occurs with vaccinations and masking to drive down the numbers considerably.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: So Wolf, you heard there are a lot of news, not only did he speak with Dr. Anthony Fauci and not only did he ask him to stay on and his position as the nation's top infectious disease doctor, but he also wants him to be medical advisor to him.
[17:25:02]
And he also is going to be calling for the nation to wear masks for 100 days. That's one of the things he's going to be saying on Inauguration Day, Wolf. It was a wide-ranging interview. We discussed a lot of issues ranging from China to ethics concerns to President Trump. But that's some of the news.
BLITZER: I know there's other headlines coming out of the interview, and we're all looking forward to see the whole interview. But I understand you asked him if he wants President Trump to attend the inauguration on January 20.
TAPPER: He -- I did. And one of the things he said was that he thought it would be important for the nation, it didn't have to do with his feelings, per se, but that he thought in the idea of peaceful transfer of power, it would be important for the United States and also for how the United States is perceived around the world. Of course, whether or not that happens, is another matter.
BLITZER: You also spoke about the role of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is going to be playing when she when she becomes vice president, what did he say?
TAPPER: Well, it was a joint conversation really, between the two of them. And basically, she said that she would be the first person and the last person in the room.
I asked her about her portfolio, was there anything in particular that she wanted to do? And actually, then President-elect Biden jumped into the conversation and said, that basically, Vice President-elect Harris, she would be doing what Joe Biden did when he was vice president, which was not have a portfolio, per se, the way that Vice President Al Gore talked about and focused on the environment, for example, but more that Harris would be there when there was an important job that needed to be done, and the President couldn't give his full attention to it. So for instance, the way that then Vice President Biden talked about and focused on the Recovery Act, the stimulus bill after the Great Recession of 2008, and that Harris would be serving in that role there for him whenever he needs her to take on a big important job, but not necessarily focusing on one issue or another, Wolf.
BLITZER: That is so, so encouraging, Jake. I know we're going to have more excerpts coming up in the next hour, and I know the full interview is going to air later tonight 9 p.m. Eastern. This is the first joint interview between the President-elect, the vice President- elect since the election.
Jake, thanks so much for doing this. Thanks so much for joining us. We really, really are grateful. Appreciate it.
I want to get some more in all today's --
TAPPER: Thanks for having me in THE SITUATION ROOM.
BLITZER: Of course, you're always welcome here.
I want to get some more analysis on what's going on right now. We got CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger is with us. Our CNN Political Correspondent MJ Lee, our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and former CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden.
Sanjay, let me get your thoughts, first of all on what we heard from the President-elect that he's going to call for everyone in the United States, basically, to wear a mask the first hundred days after he takes office. And that potentially could save, I think you agree, a lot of lives. DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, we've certainly seen the modeling around this for some time and, you know, 100 days, three months, would make a difference if you look at all those models, even, you know, a couple of months would make a difference. So a 100 days, you're likely to see impact on the overall transmission of virus in this country.
He also talked about the fact as you heard there from that conversation, the idea that we know where the majority of virus transmission occurs in society, 80 percent of the transmission is occurring in about 10 percent to 20 percent of places and President- elect mentioned the some of them restaurants, bars, cafes, places like that, and to be able to either close or at least limit occupancy in some of those places, especially where the virus is spreading, you know, out of control.
So, these are the same things we've been talking about for some time. But he's obviously echoing what the scientists have been telling him.
BLITZER: I was encouraged, Dr. Frieden, when he said that he has asked Dr. Fauci to continue doing exactly what he's been doing, but also become more of a medical assistant to the President-elect to make sure that he is deeply involved in all of these related issues. And once Dr. Fauci says it's safe and effective to get a vaccine, the President-elect Biden says he'll be first in line. What did you think?
DR. TOM FRIEDEN, FORMER CDDC DIRECTOR: Yes, you know, Tony has played this role for president after president and it's reassuring that he'll be playing that role again.
Wolf, what we're hearing about the vaccine is really encouraging. The efficacy rates are very high, but it's still ways away. And although there are very ambitious plans to get a lot of it out fast, it's not going to come soon enough.
And what concerns me most is that we're just getting hardened to the number of deaths. We're so tired of this virus, that thousand -- 2000 deaths a day it becomes just a statistic, not the real tragedy it is. And that's why I think the idea of 100 days hang on, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
[17:30:00]
And when we do get through this and we will if the vaccine works as well as we think it will, then we want everyone who can be to be with us and not to have passed away.
BLITZER: Yes, it was really, really important. You know, Gloria, we heard from the President-elect a very different line when it comes to wearing masks, then what we've heard over these many months from the current President of the United States, a very, very different kind of statement.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: A hugely different kind of statement, Wolf. I mean, this is a President who says, and he can mandate this, for example, that in federal buildings, you have to wear a mask. He's going to wear a mask. He wants everyone to wear a mask. He's not just calling it patriotic. He is saying we need to do this to save lives.
If you use that and the doctors, of course, know much more about this than I do, if people are messed up, if some people start getting the virus, if we know where most of the disease is, if we do more testing, and we do more tracing, we can start to get this under control. And Joe Biden has said this many times, he said it to me, he said publicly, that you can't get the economy started again, until you get COVID under control. And this is exactly what he is talking about.
And so, it is comforting to know that Tony Fauci will be there. We know he's worked with him for decades. We know the new White House Chief of Staff, Ron Klain has worked with Tony Fauci on Ebola, for example. So, there's a pre-existing relationship there. So they can be honest with each other and they can work together. And you can try and remove the politics from this and just try and get people well.
BLITZER: It is so encouraging, MJ, that the President-elect wants Dr. Fauci to continue to be a top adviser when it comes to this issue and other medical related issues. He's putting together by a pretty impressive team right now to deal with this coronavirus pandemic. Clearly, the number one threat facing this country right now and you've got some names of top people who are going to be asked to lead this effort.
MJ LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. I mean, we reported earlier today that Jeff Zients is going to be chosen to be Biden's COVID-19 coordinator. This is somebody who has worn a lot of different hats under the Obama administration. People might remember him probably best as the person who was brought in to fix the healthcare.gov website when the ACA rollout was very badly botched initially by the administration.
And I think it is just worth emphasizing over and over again, just what a daunting task the Biden administration is about to have, once it comes time for the vaccine distribution. There is, first, the logistical challenge of making sure that you are coordinating with everyone across the country, the medical communities, all the different states to make sure that everything sort of unfold smoothly and millions of people are able to eventually get vaccinated. But then there's also the public trust piece of this. And I thought that was really important and noteworthy that we heard Biden addressing this directly.
Just keep in mind that the President-elect so far has had a real balancing act, right? Because we have heard so much misinformation when it comes to COVID-19 from the President and his allies, Biden has had a pretty tricky task in front of him of making sure that he is getting out there and correcting information that is simply wrong coming out of the Trump administration. But at the same time reminding people that there are scientists, there are experts, there are people who actually know what they're doing, people like Anthony Fauci, who, as you just said, it is probably comforting, as Gloria said, for a lot of people to know that he is going to be staying on board or has at least been asked to that the work that these people are doing is incredibly important and backed by science.
So, as the President-elect looks forward to this gigantic task of vaccine distribution, he clearly wants to make sure that people understand that once the time comes to get vaccinated, they can trust that this is something that will be good for them that that will protect them and will eventually help the country turn the corner on this virus.
BLITZER: You know, and Sanjay, the fact that Dr. Fauci is going to stay and it's very reassuring to all of us, there's no doubt about that. But also, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former Surgeon General during the Obama administration, he's going to have a leadership role in this new incoming administration as well. He's been a frequent guest here in THE SITUATION ROOM. You know, Dr. Vivek Murthy well. It's very reassuring that he will be a leader in this effort as well, isn't it?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no doubt. And I can tell you, I just spoke to Dr. Fauci a little bit ago and as -- in addition to his meeting with the President-elect, there was what's called an agency review team, an ART meeting, part of a transition sort of meeting.
[17:35:06]
And Dr. Fauci told me for about an hour, he talked to many members of the incoming Coronavirus Task Force, including Jeffrey Zients, who was at that meeting. Vivek Murthy, who you're talking about, Wolf, David Kessler, a former FDA Commissioner. There was lots of people who were involved, many who've been on, you know, on your program over this last year as part of, you know, as guests who are now members of the taskforce.
So those meetings are ongoing now. They talked about vaccine distribution, they talked about the state of the pandemic, they talked about the -- some of the same things that Jake talked to the President-elect about, the role of masking, the role of particular institutions like restaurants and bars. Do you close them? Do you limit occupancy? So, it sounds like they've already had some detailed meetings making these plans, Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, it's really, really reassuring. Dr. Frieden, yes, vaccines are coming, they're going to be safe and effective. And we'll probably start seeing the vaccines here in the United States in the next week or two or three. But I want your words to the American public, don't get overly optimistic, because it's going to take a long time before we can pull the mask off and start life as normal once again, isn't that right?
FRIEDEN: It's great that vaccines are coming. It's a remarkable accomplishment, scientific, focused and substantial government spending, and the good fortune that our immune systems work well against this virus, either against with a vaccine or with infection. But it will be many months before enough people are vaccinated to get back to normal or a new normal. And in that time, we have to lose as few of our friends and relatives and neighbors as possible. And that means doubling down on protection protocols, not just masking up, but reducing indoor risky space, exposures, bars and restaurants, social gatherings, other places where there's a lot of spread.
Right now, Wolf, there's an enormous amount of spread in this country. We are at the highest levels we've ever been. And there's a little bit of a disconnect because people are so tired of it, that they don't want to think about it in some, but most people are being careful wearing masks, reducing context. We have to keep it up. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we want to all get there together.
BLITZER: Yes, that is so, so important.
All right, everybody standby, we're going to continue our analysis and all the late breaking developments. We're also going to have more of Jake Tapper's exclusive interview with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, that's coming up as well as -- that's coming up in the next hour in the full interview. Once again, later tonight, the whole hour 9:00 p.m. Eastern, the Biden-Harris First Joint Interview with Jake, that will air later tonight.
Also, the President-elect is being pressured right now to include more diversity in his incoming Cabinet. I'll speak with the head of the NAACP when we come back.
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[17:42:53]
BLITZER: As President-elect Joe Biden bills his team for the new administration, he's coming under some increasing pressure to include more diversity in his Cabinet. A source tells CNN there's been a diplomatic but rather tense meeting between President-elect Biden's team and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, for example.
Let's discuss this and more with the President and CEO of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson. Derrick, thanks so much for joining us. I know you've raised some concerns that the President-elect hasn't necessarily prioritized meetings with civil rights groups like yours. You say if that was a priority, it would have happened already. Are you hearing any explanation from the Biden transition on what's going on?
DERRICK JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, NAACP: Well, we got to be meeting with the President-elect on next week. We knew we would be -- have a meeting. But if you announced the former Senator Kerry as head of your environmental efforts, that shows that there's a priority to address environmental concerns. If you go silent on issues dealing with civil rights, that also sends the message that your statement of priority has not been matched with your actions of priority.
Particularly when there have been several meetings over the last couple of weeks with labor members, with business communities, with environmental justice groups, those meetings are necessary. And we're just stating that civil rights is as critical at this moment as any other issue that's on the table.
BLITZER: What day next week will you be meeting, you and your colleagues, from the civil rights groups meeting with the President- elect and I assume the Vice President-elect. JOHNSON: Well, we -- it's early in the week, Monday or Tuesday, we are looking forward to the opportunity. And let's be clear, this is not contentious. President-elect Biden is a member of NAACP. He's been a strong supporter, but we're very focused on our agenda. And our agenda is making sure civil rights is spread all across this administration. It is not about one appointment. It's not about the diversity of appointments. It's the policy priorities and making sure there's not a blind spot when it comes to civil rights when any policy is on the table of being considered.
BLITZER: So what will be your basic message to the President-elect the Vice President-elect when you guys meet? I assume it will be virtually, but maybe in person, I don't know, but what will be your bottom-line message?
[17:45:05]
JOHNSON: Well, for me, I want to understand how will civil rights issues be prioritized with this administration. So I'm going to listen for that. And then if there is opportunity to get input, I'm going to talk about the significance of the many departments that impact African Americans. And to make sure that those issues that have -- that we're good at by, the current administration are put back in place.
For example, in the Department of Education, they all been gutted and ignored of civil rights complaints. When you look at the Department of Justice, we need an aggressive department to address the domestic terrorism that we are -- that we see for white supremacy groups. We can go department by department of economic harm that's been caused as a result of this pandemic. How we will roll out -- how this administration will roll out their response to the pandemic so those who are on the frontline and it's a disparate number of African Americans who are being impacted are cared for. Those are the types of things that we are concerned about as civil rights leaders in this country.
BLITZER: Is there a specific Attorney General you're looking for that you're recommending?
JOHNSON: Well, I don't want to go to individuals because I respect the power of the President to elect cabinet members. But I'm very clear whoever is selected black, white, male or female, they must walk into the door, they want to understand civil rights is top of mind. Now, I can say I'm a big supporter of Marcia Fudge for Secretary of Ag, I'm very clear about that.
I can say it would be an offence to put someone like Rahm Emanuel in any department considering he had a police cover up during his term. So, there are some certain nuances, but for the NAACP, we want to make sure that civil rights is front and center for this administration from day one to the end of this term.
BLITZER: We'd love to have you back after your meeting with the President-elect next Monday or Tuesday. Derrick, thanks so much for joining us. JOHNSON: Thank you for the opportunity.
BLITZER: Coming up, we'll have more from Jake's exclusive joint interview with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, that's coming up. Also, cases of "Do as I say not as I do", prominent state and local officials get caught ignoring their own advice about coronavirus safety precautions. We'll be right back.
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[17:51:48]
BLITZER: Despite the awful coronavirus numbers and the repeated warnings from medical experts, some high-ranking officials are ignoring their own advice for keeping safe. CNN's Brian Todd is keeping track of who's been caught. Brian, tell us more.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Almost too many to keep track of, Wolf. The state and local leaders, some of whom have a very high profile during this pandemic have made a series of moves that medical experts say are not only hypocritical, but outright dangerous.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): It was a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. In a video posted on Facebook, Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin, Texas begged residents to take precautions.
MAYOR STEVE ADLER (D-TX), AUSTIN: -- we need to, you know, stay home if you can. Do everything you can to try to keep the numbers down. This is not the time to relax.
TODD (voice-over): But Adler posted that video while he was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a trip that according to the Austin American- Statesman newspaper, Adler took with seven other people on a private jet following his daughter's wedding. Now, Adler says, while he followed safety guidelines, he regrets that trip.
ADLER: Now, I fear that the travel that I did, which took place during a safer period followed the car -- color coded rules could lead to some taking riskier behavior now.
TODD (voice-over): But Adler is not alone. Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom among the local leaders who have recently urged state residents to be extra vigilant, stay at home, make sacrifices went to an upscale restaurant in Napa Valley called the French Laundry. Photos obtained by KTTV showed Newsom sitting with several others at an outdoor table. None of them wearing masks. Newsom calls it a mistake.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): The spirit of what I'm preaching all the time was contradicted and I got to own that. And so, I want to apologize to you because I need to preach, and practice not just preach.
TODD (voice-over): The day after Newsom was there, San Francisco Mayor London Breed went to a birthday party at the same restaurant with seven others at her table. CNN affiliate KGO reported that a statement from Breed's office said she didn't violate COVID protocols for that location. But at the time, gatherings like that were discouraged by state guidelines.
ERIC DEZENHALL, CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXPERT: There are two things Americans hate, and that is hypocrisy and a sense of superiority. And so, when you have leaders telling you one thing but doing another, there's a lot of outrage.
TODD (voice-over): The pattern is almost dizzying. After voting to close outdoor dining recently, L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was seen eating at a restaurant just before the order took effect. Kuehl's office says she felt bad for the struggling restaurant industry but won't dine out again until the county allows it. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo ignored state restrictions during Thanksgiving when he went to a family gathering with his elderly parents that included people from five different households. Before that, Liccardo had tweeted, quote, cancel the big gatherings this year. Liccardo has since apologized.
DR. PETER HOTEZ, DEAN, NATIONAL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: All we have left are local leaders. And so, we really need our local city county leaders to step up and merely provide an example. And when they don't do that, it just makes things all the more dangerous for most Americans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[17:55:07]
TODD: The common thread among all the leaders we've mentioned here, they're all Democrats from the same party that has relentlessly hammered President Trump for his lack of leadership during this crisis. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany jumped on that during a briefing this week calling out those Democratic leaders for not following their own edicts, for doing things that their own citizens are discouraged from doing. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, Brian, thank you. Brian Todd reporting.
There's breaking news coming up, the U.S. now tops 14 million confirmed coronavirus cases, adding a million in just six days following the single deadliest day of the pandemic.
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BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world, I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news. The coronavirus pandemic worsening at an alarming rate right now. The U.S. has just surpassed 14 million confirmed cases one day after seeing a record 2,804 single day deaths here in the U.S. Many hospitals across the country right now.
