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Paul Offit is Interviewed about the Pfizer Vaccine; Numbers on Trump, the GOP and Inflation; New Series on John F. Kennedy Jr. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired August 13, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The code talkers, the Navajos, who became essential to passing messages in the Pacific. The -- you know, they -- they eliminated the Enola Gay, the airplane that dropped the bomb on Pearl -- on Hiroshima because the word gay was in the name. I mean, this is where we're at. And it's -- it's -- it's crazy to me.

Now, you're dealing also with a president who himself has a record of trying to rewrite history. I mean he's a guy who still insists to this day that he won an election that he lost. He's still -- he calls the mob that invaded the Capitol on January 6th the heroes and freedom fighters, even though they vandalized the Capitol, threatened to kill his vice president and others, and injured 140, is it, police officers, and he wants to rewrite that history. I don't want Donald Trump and his political apparatchiks rewriting history. Leave history to the historians.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Brian Stelter raised this. He said, you know, part of the executive order or this -- or the letter that went to the Smithsonian said that they want to -- everything to be historically accurate. And do you want Joe Biden to be deciding what is historically accurate for things in your museums, just as much as you would want Donald Trump to be deciding that? I mean should it be a politically motivated person, a political administration, or a researcher that is, this is their life's work?

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, I want him to be historically accurate. And I want it to give a full picture of American history. But as we get ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country, I want it to also be reflective of American exceptionalism. And so, look, I love the Smithsonian and take my kids there and visit there often. But as we're going into an important year, I think this is an important moment for our country to celebrate what's great about our country. And so, if they end up with extra content in the Smithsonian that are more positive about, you know, what it means to be an American and what our country means for the world, I don't have any problem with that.

BOLDUAN: It's a difference between, I guess, a question of addition or subtraction, right?

AXELROD: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And telling history. History has not been pretty all the time. Just look at, I don't know, yesterday. But adding more context and more, you know, making it a richer picture, I think that sounds great. But that's not what we've seen the administration doing.

AXELROD: Listen, I love this country with all my heart. I'm the son of a refugee. Forever grateful. I am really excited about celebrating the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from a mad king.

But the -- part of what makes American -- America exceptional is that we are willing to openly confront our history, the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's part of -- you know, we -- we saw something like this in the Soviet Union in the 30s and 40s. Stalin, you know, tried to rewrite history and eliminate everything that he found inconvenient to him. You do not want government and politicians making these decisions. Let's celebrate our history, including our willingness to confront this.

I admire the Germans, for example, who are very much about airing what happened during the Holocaust, not because they are running down their country, but because they want to make sure that it never happens again. And I think that's a good philosophy.

BOLDUAN: OK. All right.

AXELROD: But I am looking forward to the Scott Jennings, the Dawson Springs years exhibit in the Smithsonian next year.

JENNINGS: Yes. Yes, there's going to be a hologram of me there.

BOLDUAN: Oh.

JENNINGS: And -- and of you two. It will just be us arguing right at the end.

BOLDUAN: We don't argue. We don't argue. We -- we add to the rich --

AXELROD: We discuss. Isn't that the word you use, we discuss things.

BOLDUAN: We add to the rich picture of our country's -- good to see you guys.

AXELROD: Good to see you.

JENNINGS: All right.

BOLDUAN: So, parents hoping to vaccinate their children against Covid- 19 ahead of the new school year, they could soon be facing a new, new hurdle to do that. What the FDA may soon be doing that could get in the way.

And a man is now facing possible jail time after attempting to ship, wait for it, nearly 900 protected turtles in total worth about $1.5 million by hiding them inside pairs of socks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:38:21]

BOLDUAN: There's a new challenge for parents who want to vaccinate their kids against Covid-19 this fall. The CDC is now telling state and local officials that the FDA may not renew its authorization for Pfizer's Covid vaccine for kids under the age of five. Now, without that authorization, Pfizer's Covid vaccine would no longer be available to any child younger than five. And the other option, Moderna's vaccine, would have to be given off label by a willing pharmacist or physician.

Now, back in May, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the CDC was no longer going to recommend that Covid vaccines be taken for healthy children or pregnant women.

Joining me right now to talk about what this means is Dr. Paul Offit, pediatrician and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

It's good to see you. Thanks for being here.

If the FDA does not renew this authorization of Pfizer's vaccine, what is going to be the effect and impact?

DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: Well, let me make it clear from the beginning, that children who have never been vaccinated or never been naturally infected benefit from a vaccine. If you look at what happened over the past year, thousands of children were hospitalized with Covid. Most were less than four years of age. One in five, or 20 percent, were admitted to the intensive care unit. Virtually none were vaccinated. And 152 children died. So, do healthy children benefit from this vaccine? Of course they do.

But you're right, we have a -- we have a Pfizer vaccine that was recommended or for -- that was available for everybody less than five, healthy or not healthy. We have a Moderna vaccine that is available for everybody less than five, but only those who are in a high-risk medical category.

[08:40:03]

So, if we eliminate the Pfizer vaccine, then you're right, all we have is a vaccine that's licensed for children under five who are in high risk, which doesn't make a lot of sense because you can be admitted to the hospital and die, even if you're a previously healthy child.

So, I think it's going to make it difficult for parents of children who are otherwise healthy to get the vaccine. And I think there may well be a vaccine shortfall because Moderna's going to have to make up for the vaccine that would have normally been provided by Pfizer.

BOLDUAN: I hadn't even thought about that. Has HHS, or any science shown, or CDC or FDA, you pick, have they offered any evidence why they wouldn't continue to authorize the vaccine? Because do you see a reason to make it less available to families who want it? Because this seems to go further, Dr. Offit, than RFK's stated vaccine skepticism that's shown itself in saying they don't want to mandate families get these shots. Pulling authorization is a step further.

OFFIT: Right. We don't know. I mean, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that when he takes over head of HHS, he is going to usher in an era of radical transparency. Well, there's not transparency at all. He often doesn't explain why he's made these decisions. Radical, yes. Transparent, no.

BOLDUAN: If they're pulling authorization for Pfizer's vaccine, what do you think could be next? Do you see this as a slippery slope?

OFFIT: Yes. I think it's already happening. You see RFK Jr. on a one minute video on exay (ph), we, HHS, are not going to recommend this vaccine for pregnant women. What? You know, the pregnancy is a high risk complication for -- or a situation where, if you're pregnant, you're at higher risk for severe Covid.

So, we're the only country in the world now that doesn't have that vaccine recommended for people who are pregnant. And -- and he doesn't explain why. He says he's not going to recommend the vaccine for healthy young children when healthy children can be hospitalized and die. So, he doesn't explain these things. And I do think it's just a gradual erosion in the mRNA vaccines for Covid, and I think what eventually may be all vaccines.

BOLDUAN: I haven't even had the chance to ask you about that real quick. But then pulling funding, pulling current contracts and refusing to get -- get -- put forth any new ones on mRNA research, I mean, how significant is that?

OFFIT: Very significant. I think what people don't realize is the unsung hero of this pandemic, the Covid pandemic was the National Institutes of Health. Why? Because in 2002, 2003, when SARS One raised its head in China and then swept across Asia and Europe, the NIH stepped forward and made an mRNA SARS One vaccine.

Now, the virus never came into this country, so we didn't use it. But we learned a lot about how to make that vaccine. And that's what Barda (ph) is, when he took -- he, RFK Jr., took $500 million away from BARDA, the RDA stands for Research Development Authority. So, now we're losing that research and development. So, we're -- we're going to be well behind the eight ball when it comes to, for example, H5N1 bird flu, should that become a pandemic.

BOLDUAN: Dr. Offit, thank you very much.

Still ahead for us, the latest numbers on inflation show that the president's sweeping tariffs are driving the price of more goods up. How Americans are feeling about the president's handling of one of his core campaign issues, the economy.

And today, Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing in the retrial of his sexual assault conviction.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:47:42]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, new data showing inflation is holding steady, but a broader look shows prices did rise on a wide array of products, showing that President Trump's tariffs are being passed along to consumers.

So, the question is, how do Americans feel about Trump's handling of inflation?

CNN's Harry Enten is joining us now.

Harry, this is really a huge piece of why the president was elected, was to get a handle on cost of living. So, how do Americans feel like he's doing?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Let me just say, this is an abject disaster. Abject disaster for the president of the United States. You mentioned it Jessica. Look, voters on Trump and inflation. He won the 2024 election because he was more entrusted on inflation than Kamala Harris was. Led by a margin of nine points. Look at where his net approval stands today, though, on inflation. My goodness gracious. Into the gutter we go. Underwater we go. He's 25 points underwater. My goodness gracious. That is where the Little Mermaid is, and he is matching the Little Mermaid. That's how far underwater he is on the issue that got him elected. He led by nine points on it last year and now he's 25 points underwater. As I said, this is a complete and total disaster for the president of the United States.

DEAN: So, let's look ahead to 2026, when a lot of Republicans, all the House Republicans, some senators, going to be on the ballot. What is -- how is that shaping up?

ENTEN: Yes, if Republicans in Congress think that they can escape the wrath of the voters when it comes to inflation, I have a bit of a rude awakening for them. Trust which party more on inflation? You go back to the 2022 midterms. Look at this. Republicans led by 13 points on which party was more trust than inflation.

Look at where we are now. Nearly a 15-point shift in the Democrat's direction. It's within the margin of error. But the Democrats up by a point. This just looks totally different from where we were back in 2022, when, of course, Republicans took back the House. That's what Democrats are trying to do this time around, looking much better for them.

The bottom line is, the wrath of the voters feel for Donald Trump on inflation is transferring over to House Republicans. And now Democrats, although it's a small lead, a big difference from where we were back in October of 2022 with Democrats actually in the positive and Republicans in the negative. Very much the reverse of where we were just three years ago.

DEAN: Yes. And so how do voters feel about inflation in terms of where it ranks? What kind of priority it is for them? ENTEN: Right. So, we started off this segment by saying that inflation

was the reason that Donald Trump was elected. It was the most important issue for the voters back last year at this point.

[08:50:01]

And look at where we are today. What is the top issue for you right now?

DEAN: Wow.

ENTEN: It's a runaway. It's inflation. It's 34 percent compared to the economy, which is basically very similar at 16 percent. Medicare and Social Security at 14 percent. But the bottom line is, voters in poll after poll after poll say that Donald Trump has taken his eye off the ball, off the big issue of the day, which is inflation. And that is why Donald Trump is way underwater on this issue. And it's why Democrats have caught up to Republicans on the all important issue of inflation.

I can guarantee you this, Jessica, if these numbers look right now like they do or will look on Election Day 2026, there is no way on God's green earth that Republicans can hold on to the House of Representatives. These numbers, as I said, an abject disaster for Donald Trump and therefore Republicans.

DEAN: I mean, I'm no Harry Enten, but 34 is more than --

ENTEN: That's a big number, more than double 16.

DEAN: More than double 16.

ENTEN: That is a very, very large number.

DEAN: Yes. All right. thank you so much.

ENTEN: Thank you.

DEAN: Up ahead, two armed thieves walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars after robbing a Brinks truck in a matter of seconds.

And one man now faces jail time after being caught smuggling nearly 900 turtles worth close to $1.5 million. Very expensive turtles. Hiding them inside pairs of socks. More on this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:55:18]

BOLDUAN: An amazing honor for one Jersey shore lifeguard. Eighty-two- year-old, 82-year-old Ed Kiziukiewicz was just recognized as the oldest sitting lifeguard in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED KIZIUKIEWICZ, OLDEST SITTING LIFEGUARD: It's not just sitting on a beach looking at the girls. It's looking in -- at the people in the water. And if you're doing your job, you're basically should be a dry lifeguard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: I'm sorry, did you miss that? Just sitting on the beach looking at the girls. That's his secret. What's -- so, what is his secret, though, other than that beautiful attitude? He said he starts every day at eight in the morning with a walk to the water to check the conditions. Then he does some stretching before heading up to the stand. And if you're wondering -- look at him. If you're wondering what he does in the off season, he does not hibernate. In the winter, he's a ski instructor in upstate New York.

Jess.

DEAN: Wow. I need to up my -- up my athleticism.

BOLDUAN: I feel entirely useless right now.

DEAN: I'm inadequate.

This morning, Harvey Weinstein is set to be sentenced in his latest conviction. Back in June he was found guilty in a retrial case of first degree criminal sexual act. He faces up to 25 years in prison. He's already behind bars, likely never to see freedom again, serving a 16 year sentence in another sexual assault case.

This crime left authorities shell-shocked. A Chinese national who lives in New York -- yes, I -- we did it -- has pleaded guilty to smuggling turtles hidden inside pairs of socks by shipping them to Hong Kong, officials say over the past two years the man shipped hundreds of the endangered turtles, along with other reptiles, all worth, get this, around $1.4 million. He now faces up to five years behind bars.

Also new this morning, new surveillance video showing an armored truck robbery in the Philadelphia area. Police say the armed suspects approached the truck driver and ordered her to hand over her firearm. Seconds later, you see the two men running away, one of them carrying the bag, the other pointing an AR-15 style gun toward that driver. The suspects got away with about $700,000.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes. All right, so the new CNN original series "American Prince" explores the story and lasting legacy of John F. Kennedy Jr.. This week's episode focuses on his launch of "George," a first of its kind magazine that mixed pop culture and politics. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not exaggerating. There are probably 2,000 screaming Democratic delegates who thought that Jesus Christ was walking out of that box. And they were grabbing him. They chased us to the car. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Kennedy, I got to ask you about the party

tonight.

JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.: Yes. I hope you'll come.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who's going to be there? I mean just --

KENNEDY: I don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How exciting is this going to be?

KENNEDY: It's going to be very exciting. I'm not sure who's going to be there, but apparently a lot of folks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's the 1996 convention where he throws a rager (ph) of a party. It's the kind of party that people are clamoring to get in on -- on the guest list.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John, a lot (INAUDIBLE) this week about the connection between entertainment and politics. Is that what this party is about?

KENNEDY: Well, we'll see who shows up. But I -- hopefully. Makes for a good party anyway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is that connection?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was just one event that everybody needed to get into, and that was the "George" party. And we held it at the largest venue we could. They had to close it down because they had been so overwhelmed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Joining us right now is CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali.

It's good to see you, Tim.

TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Nice to be here.

BOLDUAN: Talk to me -- you've written extensively about JFK's presidency, legacy -- life and legacy. What do you think it is about -- just in general, we kind of wrap this up into the fascination of the Kennedy family. What makes them so famous, not just in politics, but when it comes to American culture?

NAFTALI: Well, there are two reasons for it. The first reason is that we love dynasties. We overturned a British dynasty. But we love them. Many, many Americans follow the British royal family. And if you think about some of the great political families in our country, Roosevelts, Bushs, Kennedys. So, first of all, we like dynasties.

The second, well, the first prince was JFK. A martyred president. Beautiful family. Striking images, sadly, in 1963. And so, JFK Jr., having inherited the looks and -- and a lot of the charisma of his father was a natural player as a celebrity, let alone as the member of a political dynasty.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

NAFTALI: So, those are the two reasons.

[08:59:57]

BOLDUAN: Did JFK's legacy and assassination, have you found, affect JFK Jr.'s decision to launch this magazine, "George," and also, like, launch him even further into stardom?