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Trump To Georgia Officials: "Find" Votes To Overturn Results; All Eyes On Georgia's Senate Runoff Elections; U.K. Begins Rollout Of Oxford- AstraZeneca Vaccine. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 04, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:44]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (via telephone): So, look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more
that we have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): Well, it sounds unbelievable but he actually seems to believe it. How Donald Trump is still
trying to steal the U.S. election in his final weeks as president. And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: If you look at the numbers, there's no question that we're going to have to take tougher
measures.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: With parts of England already under top level restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says more is yet to come. Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The scariest part is that we don't know when this is going to end. If this situation continues for a
long time, I do not know how long we can survive for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, how a centuries-old profession faces an uncertain future under the pandemic.
ANDERSON (on camera): I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.
Well, Donald Trump either cannot or will not accept defeat. And with the clock ticking towards the inauguration of Joe Biden, the outgoing president
is going to astonishing lengths to try and turn an election that he lost in his favor.
The latest salvo, the most damning. A weekend phone call where the president tries to cajole, then bully, then seemingly threaten Georgia's
secretary of state to find him -- get him to find votes that Donald Trump simply did not receive.
It is a stunning illustration of the losing president's warped reality happening just days before the U.S. Congress will meet to certify Joe Biden
as the next American president.
Now, the audio of this call, first obtained by the Washington Post has this in part. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP (via telephone): So, look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more that we have because we won the state.
And flipping the state is a great testament to our country because, you know, this just -- it's a testament that they can admit to a mistake or
whatever you want to call it if it was a mistake. I don't know.
A lot of people think it wasn't a mistake. It was much more criminal than that. But it's a big problem in Georgia and it's not a problem that's going
away. I mean, you know, it's not a problem that's going away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, there are no votes to find. Donald Trump lost Georgia fair and square. At one point in what was an hour-long call, the president
floats the idea that the Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and his lawyer Ryan Germany could face their own legal peril if they don't
abide by his wishes by breaking the law themselves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP (via telephone): The ballots are corrupt. And you're going to find that they are -- and which is totally illegal. It's more illegal for you
than it is for them, because you know what they did and you're not reporting it. That's a -- you know, that's a criminal -- that's a criminal
offense. And you know, you can't let that happen. That's a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. That's a big risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: From the moment that he lost Georgia, the president, his allies, and his legal team are focused on debunked conspiracy theories over
improperly handled ballots, faulty signatures, and rigged voting machines, all proven wrong again, and again, and again, through multiple recounts.
And a special audit conducted by Georgia's version of the FBI. But Donald Trump is refusing to let it go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP via telephone): Do you think it's possible that they shredded ballots in Fulton County? Because that's what the rumor is. And also that Dominion
took out machines. That Dominion is really moving fast to get rid of their machinery. Do you know anything about that? Because that's illegal.
[10:05:12]
RYAN GERMANY, ATTORNEY OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: This is Ryan Germany. No, Dominion has not moved any machinery out of Fulton County. We're having --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Well, but, no. But have they move -- have they -- have they moved the inner parts of the machines and replaced them with other parts?
Germany: No.
Trump: Are you sure, Ryan?
Germany: I'm sure. I'm sure, Mr. President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Raffensperger, a Republican and Trump supporter recorded that call with his lawyer present. A source says that he didn't want the
call released unless the president threatened him or misrepresented the facts.
Well, during that call, Raffensperger explained to the president what he said over and over to the people of Georgia and to the country. There was
no widespread voter fraud in his state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP (via telephone): Brad, why did they put the votes in three times? You know, they put him in three times.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, SECRETARY OF STATE, GEORGIA: Mr. President, they did not put that. We, we can -- we did an audit of that and we've proved
conclusively that they were not scanned three times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, one example of the level of concern that this phone call is raising, all 10 living former U.S. defense secretaries released a letter
critical of these ongoing attempts to overturn the election, and warning that any sort of military involvement would be dangerous.
White House correspondent John Harwood has been following this post- election saga from the start. He's with us today at the White House.
John, Georgia's secretary of state spoke out about his call with President Trump. In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, I just want our
viewers to have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAFFENSPERGER: We took the call and we had a conversation. He did most the talking, we did most of the listening, but I did want to make my points
that the data that he has is just plain wrong.
We've -- you know, he had hundreds and hundreds of people he said that we're dead that voted, we found two. That's an example of just he has bad
data.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: John, our viewers are bright enough to decide for themselves what they make of the call, and indeed, the decision by Raffensperger to release
it to the press. To your mind, John, what is the upshot of all of this?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, the kindest thing you can say about the president of the United States if you
listen to that phone call and read the transcript is that he's mentally ill. And that he's not capable of grasping the reality of the situation. He
is repeating all of this nonsense about dead people voting in large numbers, about machines, voting machines being altered, about ballots being
shredded. There's no substantiation for any of that.
The State of Georgia has looked at their results multiple times, done an audit, and none of those things are true. The president lost the State of
Georgia to Joe Biden. He lost the election nationally to Joe Biden.
But if that's -- if the president's not mentally ill, he is maliciously trying to overturn the will of the American people. He is actively
soliciting the very thing he has accused his opponents of doing, which is election fraud. Asking this state official to fiddle with the results of
the election to come up with a specific number of votes, precisely, the number he needs to overcome Joe Biden's lead. To do it on the basis of the
fact that he is a Republican like President Trump, to include as a backdrop to that conversation, an era of menace. Talking about how angry people are.
Talking about how Brad Raffensperger might be guilty of a crime if he doesn't do that.
All of this is very dangerous, that's why you have those former secretaries of defense of both parties speaking out. You know, whether or not what the
president did was a crime, is something that lawyers can talk about, and of course, if not going to be charged as a crime, there only two weeks left in
his presidency, and you know, certainly, gray area.
But, the president clearly was attempting to do something that was wrong, that was contrary to democracy. And the question for the Republican Party,
which still as of this moment controls the Senate, we've got those key elections tomorrow.
The question is, how much is the Republican Party in with the president on this? Or are they going to stand up and denounce it? A few people have, but
most have been pretty quiet, and some are on his team.
[10:09:58]
ANDERSON: Fascinating. John Harwood is at the White House.
Folks, you can read the full transcripts of that call and listen to President Trump on it with the Georgia secretary of state by heading over
to cnn.com. That is on the digital side there.
Well, those allegations of election fraud are among the many tactics Republicans have been using to sway voters in the State of Georgia. As John
pointed out, the state well and truly in play.
Tuesday, the final day Georgians can vote for those two Senate seats that are up for grabs. Voters have been constantly bombarded with T.V. campaign
ads, text messages, and mail pamphlets, trying to win their favor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE OF GEORGIA: Elections as we have learned tragically this year are a matter of life and death.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they're in charge, America will never be the same. Save America.
JANET, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER: And he's stuck on this socialist agenda that would defund the police. That kind of radical talk is a cancer that would
destroy our community.
SEN. KELLY LOEFFLER (R-GA): This is about saving America from socialism.
SEN. DAVID PERDUE (R-GA): If the radicals take total control, we'll never get our country back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Republicans and Democrats have been pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into campaigning. The whole country watching this race
as are many of us around the world.
If Democrats win both seats, it means the party will effectively have a majority in Congress. That would be a very good thing for that incoming
democratic president.
Well, CNN's Gary Tuchman is live in Fulton County where the state capitol Atlanta lies. And Gary, where you are right now? Fulton County is one of
Georgia's big blue counties as it's known that Trump is using for his false fraud allegations.
What's the state of play there just a day before? What are these extremely important elections?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, Becky, here is the state of play. There are 50 states in the United States, but this,
Georgia is the epicenter of American political drama.
Yes, the election is tomorrow, the Senate runoff election. And Georgians will be the ones to decide who controls the United States Senate. The
election is tomorrow, but it's actually the end of election season. It's really Election Day doesn't mean as much anymore in the United States
because most states have early voting, including this one in Georgia.
Early voting began three weeks ago, came to an end on Wednesday. But still, people could take their ballots and come to a place like this, the Buckhead
Library, in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, Georgia. And they deposit their ballots in this official absentee ballot drop box.
What I want to tell you about the early voting and the dropping off of ballots is this. There have been more than 3 million votes cast so far in
this election. Now, we have to put that number into context, so it doesn't mean anything to you. But here's the context of the 3 million.
The record for a runoff Senate election here in the State of Georgia was 12 years ago. 2.1 million people voted. Overall, that early voting for the
entire election. So, already 3 million people have voted, and tomorrow is the actual Election Day.
So, there's intense interest in this race, and part of that reason is because of all the attention being paid by the leaders in Washington. The
president of the United States, the outgoing President Donald Trump will be holding a rally here in the State of Georgia tonight.
It will be in Dalton, which is in the northwestern portion of the state, very Republican area, and he expects to have thousands of people there. He
will also have Kelly Loeffler, one of the Republican Senate candidates. The other one, David Perdue, notably will not be there, and that's because he
says he's in quarantine because it came in contact with a staff member who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden will be here in a couple of hours. Also in the State of Georgia holding a rally here in Atlanta. And the two democratic
candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock will be there with him.
In addition, Mike Pence, the outgoing vice president of the United States will also be here about an hour and a half from now. He'll be holding a
rally south of Atlanta, north of the city of Macon at a megachurch, and they expect lots of people to show up there.
So, all the big guns from Washington are here. Kamala Harris, the incoming vice president of the United States was here yesterday in the southeastern
portion of the state near Savannah, Georgia.
So, everyone's keeping a close eye, the people of Georgia right now have a lot of power.
Becky, back to you.
ANDERSON: Yes, and Gary, those big guns, as it were arriving in the State of Georgia just underscoring just how important this is to both parties.
Concerns, I know by Republican operatives who've spoken to CNN today that the president may treat this rally of his supporters tonight as all about
him and less about those Republican candidates, which will be a concern to those Republicans, correct?
[10:15:01]
TUCHMAN: Yes, and that's an important point, Becky is that there is -- I'm just telling you, I'm sure of this. There's no way to prove this beyond a
shadow of a doubt. But no one has any idea what Donald Trump will be saying today, perhaps, not even Donald Trump.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Gary Tuchman, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir, in the all-important County of Fulton, CNN covering that election.
And I'm going to say, it is an all-important election. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it's not. This is the State of Georgia, it is Tuesday,
tune in to CNN for special coverage, and you would expect that of us, of course, all day Tuesday.
"ELECTION NIGHT IN AMERICA" as it were. It's an election day and it's an important one.
The U.K.'s second approved vaccine going into the arms of British citizens. But first, recipient, a grateful retiree calls it the only way to get back
to normal. What this vaccination means to the region and to the world?
But as hope grows in Britain so does concern in South Africa. A live report about a new virus variant that may or may not be beaten by existing
vaccines. And we could learn very soon just what sort of restrictions the U.K. will face.
Next, we'll talk to the U.K.'s former top scientific advisor who is calling for a new national lockdown as soon as possible.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the U.K. is launching the biggest immunization program in its history. The Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, approved just last
week, started going into the arms of some of the most vulnerable just a few hours ago.
Thousands of current and former National Health Service workers are quickly being trained to give the shots. There is a true urgency to the rollout of
this new vaccine. Cases of COVID-19 are surging in Britain, and there is concern -- huge concern over a new fast spreading variant of the disease.
The U.K.'s health secretary is relieved at the progress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT HANCOCK, BRITISH HEALTH SECRETARY: We've got enough of this vaccine on order to vaccinate the whole population. You know, we've got 100 million
doses on order, add that to the 30 million doses of Pfizer, and that's enough for two doses for the entire population. So, I can now say with
confidence that we can vaccinate everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's the health secretary. Health officials calling this vaccine campaign a pivotal moment in what is this deadly pandemic.
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz's reaction from some COVID weary residents on this long-awaited step forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL FIELD PRODUCER: A moment of national pride. A vaccine created by Britain's very own Oxford University goes into
the arms of those who need it most. The rollout of the inoculation developed alongside AstraZeneca started with 82-year-old Brian Pinker who
can soon safely celebrate his 48th wedding anniversary.
The third recipient was Professor Andrew Pollard, one of the chief scientists behind the revolutionary vaccine.
PROFESSOR ANDREW POLLARD, VACCINE SCIENTIST: I think this is a -- it's a really critical moment. We are at the point of being overwhelmed by this
disease.
ABDELAZIZ: The U.K.'s health secretary calling this a pivotal moment in the nation's bitter battle to defeat COVID-19.
HANCOCK: I'm incredibly proud of the British science that's got us to this place. We've been working for a year to get this vaccine ready.
ABDELAZIZ (on camera): The vaccinations happening behind me here are not the only first. The U.K. will also be the first country to try a delayed
dosing strategy. Patients will get the first injection and wait up to three months for the second one. Health officials here say that initial dose
should protect against significant illness and keep people from ending up in hospital. But it's a controversial plan that's divided the medical
community.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): The policy allows up to twice as many people to get vaccinated. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says tens of millions could be
shielded from the worst of the illness by spring.
JOHNSON: We've got a new variant that is requiring extra special vigilance, and we will do everything we can to keep the virus under control.
ABDELAZIZ: That variant has caused an unprecedented wave of COVID-19 cases. Worse than at any point during this pandemic. It's an ambitious, and some
say, risky approach to vaccinations, but the urgency is necessary.
With this more infectious strain of COVID-19 spreading rapidly through the population, a bold battle plan may be the only way to win.
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine took place at Oxford University's Churchill Hospital. Max Foster is live from the city
where that vaccine was developed.
And a good day for Oxford University. You know, and a day of pride for those who've been involved in Britain. But this good news, of course,
coming at a time of heightened concern about a new variant, whether these vaccines will really work against this new variant, and that of a -- of a
variant in South Africa as well.
Some are talking about the need for a bold battle plan when it comes to rolling out these vaccines. Would you describe the U.K.'s plan at present
as that?
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, they're constantly trying to manage a lot of variables, aren't they? So, they've
got to be able to get the vaccines in the first place, which is what the pharmaceuticals companies are in charge. It often need the NHS, the health
service, to be able to distribute them.
What this new vaccine does is make the whole process a lot easier, because it's easier to store than the Pfizer vaccine, doesn't have to be kept to
those very low temperatures, it's also cheaper. So, by the end of the week, there should be about a thousand vaccination centers around the U.K. able
to just distribute the AstroZeneca vaccine.
When they can't do the Pfizer vaccine, crucially, that allows them to inject people at the top of the priority list, which are the people in care
homes. So, that's why the government is calling this a game changer, a pivotal moment in the crisis, and the pandemic and the response to it.
But as you say, the numbers are escalating at a pretty uncontrollable rate. And that's really taking the headlines today despite the good news on the
vaccine.
ANDERSON: Yes. Let's just have a listen to Boris Johnson on the state of play as it were in the U.K.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSOJN: I'm going to, obviously, ask you to wait and we'll -- we will be producing everything that we think is necessary to keep people from
spreading the virus. If you think about it, we've already got a lot of the country in Tier 4, some of it in Tier 3.
What we've been waiting for is to see the impact of the -- of the Tier 4 measures on the -- on the virus. It's a bit unclear still at the moment.
But I think there's -- you know, if you look at the numbers, there's no question that we're going to have to take tougher measures.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Max, Boris Johnson has just been announced, will speak at 8:00 p.m. tonight, local time. That is midnight here in Abu Dhabi. Should we
expect that the prime minister will announce a full-on lockdown, the likes of which the U.K. hasn't seen, of course, since the beginning of this
pandemic back in -- back in March?
FOSTER: Well, he said that, effectively, it's inevitable that they have to have tighter restrictions. He's addressing the nation, as you say, 8:00
p.m. in the U.K. That's prime time T.V. So, they're going to have to break in to the national broadcast around that time. And he'd only be doing that
if he's announcing something quite significant.
[10:25:01]
FOSTER: Also comes off the back of Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, announcing that it's going to be illegal to leave home without a
very good reason from midnight tonight.
Also, schools in Scotland will be closing until February. So, that's how she reads the data how does Boris Johnson read the data, which is even more
severe for, you know, London, the south east, but also increasingly other parts of England does seem as though he's going to bring in more
restrictions.
What are those restrictions? Very likely that Tier 3 areas will probably be escalated to Tier 4. But what a lot of the experts are saying is Tier 4,
the top level of lockdown isn't enough because the numbers are still going up so sharply above 50,000 new cases a day in the last two days, very
worrying numbers.
So, does that mean that England is going to have to close down schools as well? That will be a major climb down to Boris Johnson. He's insisted that
schools have to stay open, they don't drive infection rates.
So, I think the whole nation will obviously be tuning in tonight. And he'll have something quite significant to say, otherwise, he wouldn't be doing it
at that time, I do think.
ANDERSON: Make way for 2021. We are not out of the woods yet, certainly, if what is going on in the U.K. is a reflection of what is happening
elsewhere.
Thank you, Max.
The COVID variant that has been found in the U.K. that experts say is more contagious is not the only new version of the virus. Another one has been
discovered in South Africa and it is spreading quickly.
Scientists say they still don't know if the current vaccines will work against it. Among the reasons, well, South African variant has 22
mutations. Some of them affect the spike protein on top of the virus, and that is exactly the area that is targeted by the antibodies generated by
these vaccines.
Well, David McKenzie has been following this part of the story for you, and he joins us now from Johannesburg. David.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, that's right, Becky. And just a short time ago, I got off the phone with the lead
researcher here in South Africa of the team that identified this variant, and has put out information pretty quickly about what the potential effects
of it can be.
He reaffirmed to me that there is indication -- strong indications, this is much more contagious as is the U.K. variant you just spoke about. The
worrying sign is that the level of mutation in other key parts of the virus that they are now around the clock at the lab in KwaZulu-Natal
investigating with structural biologists to figure out whether it has any impact on antibody response from those who have been affected by the
original version of the virus that affected South Africa.
And also, of course, crucially whether the vaccines that have emerged are, in fact, effective against this.
Now, a vaccine manufacturers have said they could make adjustment to those vaccines, it could take several weeks to combat this variant if it should
be seen to be ineffective, but that would throw a big spanner in the work.
So far, at least seven countries have confirmed the South African -- so- called, South African variant in their countries. But the scientists I spoke to stress that because of the rapid identification and public
publicity they did on this, they were able to get out information quickly - - more quickly they say than the U.K. to try and halt the spread of this across the world. Already several countries have put in restrictions.
We expect that information potentially as early as this weekend, said the scientists on whether the vaccines will work, and that's an effort, of
course, not just here in South Africa, but across the globe.
Scientists figuring out if this variant will, in fact, be stopped by the incoming virus -- vaccines, excuse me. Becky?
ANDERSON: David McKenzie is in South Africa.
This is what the U.K. health secretary had to say earlier. Matt Hancock, he said this earlier about the South African COVID variant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCK: I'm incredibly worried about the South African variant and that's why we took the action that we did to restrict all flights from South
Africa and movement from South Africa. And, in fact, to insist that anybody who'd been to South Africa self-isolates. And this is a very, very
significant problem.
In fact, I spoke to my South African opposite number over Christmas, and they are -- one of the reasons they know they've got a problem is because
like us, they have an excellent genomic scientific capability to be able to study the details of the -- of the virus. And it is -- it is -- it is even
more of a problem than the U.K. new variant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, next hour I'll speak to Sir. David King, former chief scientific advisor to the British government about the virus, these new
variants, and indeed, his call for a new national lockdown. Do stay with us for that. Taking a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It's a crucial date in the United States as we have been reporting the country reaches a major milestone in its COVID-19 vaccine
rollout. Monday marks 21 days since Pfizer vaccinations began across the country. So those Americans who received their shot on December the 14th
can now get their second dose. The highly anticipated rollout has fallen short of earlier predictions about 4.2 million Americans have been
vaccinated so far.
That is well below the 20 million promise by the end of 2020. Well, that delay comes as the U.S. reports its deadliest month of the pandemic. More
than 77,000 Americans lost their lives to COVID-19 in December. And nationwide coronavirus hospitalizations have now soared to well over
125,000. One the hardest hit states is California. Let's get you to CNN Stephanie Elam who is live for you in Los Angeles. What is the situation
like there, Steph?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not good at all. And when you talk about those numbers, Becky, you know, I keep pointing out that these
numbers are actually people because I think people are getting sort of numb to this idea. And the fact that we had over 45,000 cases announced
yesterday, let's keep in mind that that's after the holiday. And that's also over the weekend. So these numbers are going to be much larger moving
ahead.
And here, how -- is how bad it is. Well, you may have enough facility space, you still need manpower, and that is the issue right now finding
enough nurses and doctors and that is becoming a very real problem here. So much so that what they're doing now they've got the National Guard coming
in to help them wards that are getting inundated by too many bodies. So we have the National Guard coming to help out on that end.
And you also have the Air Force coming here to help. In Los Angeles County we have the Army Corps of Engineers assessing some of the hospitals here
that were having a difficult time getting their oxygen to move through the pipes because so much oxygen was being demanded. Some of the pipes are
freezing, some of the pipes are just older. So, they're working on that and also converting conference rooms, offices into places where they can treat
patients because they just have so many patients in some of these hospitals.
And to put it into perspective, Dr. Barbara Ferrer who's been updating the numbers from the county. She said that while December was the worst of the
pandemic so far January will likely be worse. And she was saying that this is -- you just look at the trends here.
[10:35:04]
ELAM: We are likely going to see hundreds of people dying from the coronavirus every week here because of these numbers. In fact, take a
listen to what the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-LA): We're seeing a person every six seconds contract COVID-19 here in Los Angeles County. The nation's largest county,
10 million people. My message to everybody is this -- is not only going to come for somebody that you love. This is going to possibly come for you.
And so, everything we do is either lifesaving or life taking at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: And I'll just leave you with this idea here in Los Angeles County, Becky. January 6th, 2020, that's when we sort of saw the first COVID
positive test. Then you flash forward to the end of November, 400,000 cases. And then just a month later, at the end of December 400,000 more.
We're over 800,000 here. And that's how quickly that number doubled, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes. It's absolutely remarkable. Stephanie Elam, always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed for your reporting. Well, as we
mentioned earlier, all eyes in the states are focused towards Georgia, if you are interested in or involved in politics, two pivotal senate runoff
elections on Tuesday and the stakes could not be higher. If Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock win their races, the Congressional balance of power will
shift to the Democrats.
But if just one of them loses, Republicans will maintain Senate control and that is so important. When you consider that there is a new incoming U.S.
President on January the 20th who is a Democrat. President Trump is campaigning in Dalton, Georgia. In just a few hours, CNN has learned some
Republicans there they are worried he will make his rally all about himself. Well, my next guest is the leader of a climate activist group
trying to mobilize two Democrats to endorse the Green New Deal.
Shante Wolfe says her group is trying to adjust its messaging for a state like Georgia by "Making sure that we localize the Green New Deal in a way
that resonates with southerners." Well, Shante Wolfe joining me now from Atlanta. And I want to talk about the importance of climate change to you
and why is that you are so involved in this grassroots movement around that issue.
But let's start with you mobilizing support for these two Georgia Democrats who by the way, aren't signed, sealed and delivered on the new Green Deal.
But you've been -- you've been mobilizing support for them. What have you been learning from the voters that you've speak -- been speaking to about
how they feel (INAUDIBLE) the candidates and the importance of this election?
SHANTE WOLFE, ELECTORAL POLITICS DIRECTOR, SUNRISE MOVEMENT: Of course, and thanks for having me. On the doors and on the phones we've heard the simple
message, which is that folks believe that Ossoff and Warnock and also Daniel Blackman who was running for public service commission here in
Georgia are simply a catalyst to the change that we need to see both in D.C. and also here in Georgia.
People are tired of figuring out where their help is going to come from. And the narrative is that people are done with incremental change. And
certainly, as far as my grandmother and other grandmothers of my friends, they're tired art of choosing insulin or healthcare or bills. No one should
be pitted against things that should be common necessities for everyone in the south. But here we are in this showdown tomorrow is going to determine
how easy it will be for us to get the climate mandates that we need and also the healthcare and economic mandates we need in the Senate.
ANDERSON: What you are suggesting is that you believe that real issues are back front and center in people's minds. There have been three million
early votes. So, Republicans will be concerned those early votes will sway towards Democrats. The U.S. President will be at a rally of his own
supporters tonight in his own operatives, in his own party concerned that that rally will be all about him and may actually be harmful for the
Republican candidate standing in this election tomorrow.
Just how important do you genuinely believe Tuesday, January the 5th in Georgia will be in America?
WOLFE: I think it is the most important vote in our generation for young people. I think it's the most important vote for our older folks that are
passing the torch to the younger organizers and activists that have been paving the way or Georgia (INAUDIBLE) on top of that we are in the middle
of a pandemic that has reached humanitarian crisis levels in America in my opinion. So this election signals whether or not the light that jobs in
America will continue to be the light home for us or do we need to create our own path to make sure that we get the necessities we need if the Senate
does not go in our favor.
We know that Trump will be in various areas in Georgia sounding off to his echo chamber. But here at sunrise and the movements that we work with,
we're done talking to echo chambers, we need to talk to the most vulnerable of our populations, so that they understand what's at stake in this
election. And it's more than two Senate candidates. It's our lifestyles, it's our bills, it's job security, it's home security and food security as
well.
Those of -- that are impacted by climate is displacement at the Hurricane Katrina in the many hurricanes we saw this year, people were moving around
in a pandemic. We didn't have a president that supported making sure people were sound and safe at home. We didn't have a Senate Majority Leader like
Mitch McConnell, he does not necessarily understand what it takes for people to live at a thriving wage and it certainly isn't $600.
ANDERSON: Right.
WOLFE: So, if you're tired of that, need to get to the polls. And that's what we're telling people.
ANDERSON: Shante, the former Democratic presidential contender, Andrew Yang, who has been -- who's moved himself into Georgia of late in order to
support the Democratic candidates for the Senate. Reminding us just how important grassroots organizations like your own have been through the
general election. And indeed into this Georgian Senate race. Neither of these candidates, as I suggested earlier on, sort of signed up to the New
Green Deal, as it were.
Many people in American politics say that is the Green Deal is for the progressives, the left wing of the party. How are you localizing that Green
New Deal for southerners as you are quoted as saying?
WOLFE: Yes, yes, yes. That's a good question. And first of all, we welcome anybody in the Georgia that wants to make significant change. So, shout out
to all the folks that are coming from across the country in the middle of a pandemic who throw down for this but how are we localizing the Green New
Deal southerners? We're breaking down the conversation of the Green New Deal to start with climate change and what are the symptoms of climate
change that impact families.
Like I said earlier, that's healthcare. That's economic instability when hurricanes and fires hit. That means that people are displaced and not able
to work as much as they can, localizing it and not necessarily talking about the, you know, the big week issue of climate which are fossil fuels,
and execs that pour pop money into corporations that mean us. Nothing but harm. It is the issue here.
When you ask the common southerner about climate change, they're not going to talk about, you know, some rich white guy in his posh Tesla, they're
going to talk about the fact that most of their neighborhoods are surrounded by toxic factories that emit dangerous waste into their rivers
and into their air. It's impacting us in a way that moves us beyond just saying that climate is just a kitchen table conversation.
And it's actually something that impacts our health and our likelihood. That is what we're centering in our conversations about climate (INAUDIBLE)
if we are in Georgia and the Green New Deal is something that we need to take time and explain people to start at the first step, which is talking
about what are the symptoms of climate? We have all day for that. And so that's what we've been doing here. And we'll continue to do that after the
polls close tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Was -- it's a big day tomorrow. I'm sure you've been working and will continue to work right up until the last minute. It's been a pleasure
having you on. Thank you for taking time out. Fascinating stuff. We will follow the election here on CNN. Of course, as our viewers know, it's all
day. Tuesday. We'll be right back.
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[10:01:01]
ANDERSON: Well, a new year is starting with a big cleanup projects on Bali's famous Kuta Beach. Indonesia's state-run news agency reports 30 tons
of marine debris washed up on the beach. Nearly three quarters of it plastic waste. But one point, a woman dressed as a mermaid appeared then
help with the cleanup effort. The government's environmental office says that the trash wash up happens every year during monsoon season.
To combat the problem, Indonesia has launched a plan to cut plastic waste in the ocean by 70 percent within the next four years. Good on them.
Now, make way for 2021 and for football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo again, the Juventus support now has more goals under his belt than the Brazilian
legend Pele. The exact number, wait for it. 758. He is not the only athlete breaking new ground at the start of this new year. Amanda Davies joining us
with more.
AMANDA DAVIS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It was a record breaking Sunday across the board in sport and the good news like fine wine, Becky. The elder statesman
getting better and better, not only Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 35 but also a record-breaking night for NBA superstar Steph Curry news of both of
them. And a busy day of Premier League football in a couple of minutes.
ANDERSON: All right. Good stuff. That is after the break. World Sports up then we will be back after that. Stay with us.
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