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Biden Promises Putin Will "Pay A Price" For Election Interference; Joe Biden Tells Would-Be Migrants, "Don't Come" To United States; Joe Biden: Americans Making $400,000 Plus Will See A "Small To Significant" Tax Increase; CDC Warns Of "Variants Of Concern" In California; Dr. Anthony Fauci: Younger Children Likely Eligible For Vaccines By Early 2022. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired March 17, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

[12:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Hello to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I am John King in Washington. Thank you for sharing a very busy news day with us. There is horror and heartbreak in Georgia today. White gunman kills eight people in a string of shootings at massage parlors including six Asian Americans.

These murders come as hate crimes against Asian Americans spike across the United States. But the authorities working the case in Georgia say the shooter confessed and that the shooter insists race was not his motivation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF RODNEY BRYANT, ATLANTA POLICE: Even though we've made an arrest, there's still a lot more work to be done. We're just not there as of yet.

SHERIFF FRANK REYNOLDS, CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIA: During our interviews, we asked that specific question and that did not appear to be the motive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: More on that tragedy in just a few moments. But we began with a sweeping and news making new interview by President Biden. His message to vaccine has an Americans "Be a patriot" and protect other people of the New York governor.

The president says he should go and perhaps be prosecuted if an investigation confirms claims by women who say Andrew Cuomo harass them. The president also says he won't let Senate procedure stand in the way of his agenda.

But he proposes changing the filibuster not ditching it. In the ABC interview, Biden says meeting a May 1st deadline to pull American troops out of Afghanistan will be tough. And listen, stern words for Vladimir Putin. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: He will pay a price I said look through your eyes. And I don't think you have a soul and look back I said we understand each other. Look, most important thing dealing with foreign leaders. And my experience and I've dealt with an awful lot of more my career is just know the other guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you know Vladimir Putin, you think he's a killer?

BIDEN: I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what price must he pay?

BIDEN: Price he's going to pay, well, you'll see shortly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The surge of migrants on the southern border was another topic of that interview, the president said his message to migrants is don't come now, "while we're in a process of getting set up".

This morning the president's homeland security secretary adding context to the president's message and getting combative at times with Republicans who say this is a Biden border crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I'm not spending any time on the language that we use. I am spending time on operational response to the situation at the border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: With us to share their reporting and their insights CNN's Abby Phillip and Toluse Olorunnipa of The Washington Post. Secretary Mayorkas is pushing back there. He says he's not going to get dragged into the - whether you want to call it a crisis or call it a controversy. He also insists in his words, the border is not open, the Republicans disagree.

TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA, NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Now this is really becoming a crisis in terms of the politics for Joe Biden and for his administration, in part because they would much rather be talking about their $1.9 trillion relief plan than about the border.

Republicans obviously want to be talking about the more - legitimate issue on the border with you knows, thousands of migrants coming across and the facilities that they're being housed in being overwhelmed.

So Biden has sent FEMA down there, he's sent envoys from his own administration to try to get a handle of the problem at the border. But Republicans are going to continue to hammer his administration until that situation is under control.

And we saw that on Capitol Hill with the DHS Secretary essentially being pilloried by these Republicans essentially for not necessarily calling this a crisis, not saying that you know the border should be closed. Or that President, former President Donald Trump's policy should be put back in place.

Because as we know a number of the policies from the former administration are eliminated as soon as Biden was sworn in and Republicans are drawing the connection between those changes and what we're seeing at the border today.

So it is a political crisis for the Biden Administration in part because of the focus that is drawing away from the COVID relief plan. And the fact that they want to spend this week talking about what they've delivered for the American people talking about this $1.9 trillion plan, which is hit a number of bank accounts across the country already.

But this is a major political distraction for them, in addition to the humanitarian crisis that's happening at the border.

KING: It is and it's a reminder, presidents don't get to pick the timing of issues they cross their desk. So Abby Phillip, the president's words matter here. And as Toluse says, a Republican says you issued an executive order saying I'm stopping the border wall construction. You have said repeatedly, you're going to be more humanitarian, kinder, gentler than Donald Trump when it comes to immigration.

The president last night saying his message is not to come and that anyone who thinks it is should think again, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Here's the deal. We're sending back people to - first of all, the idea that Joe Biden said, come because I heard the other day that they're coming because you know, I'm a nice guy and I want to return to--

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're saying this?

BIDEN: Yes. Well, here's the deal. They're not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have to say quite clearly don't come.

[12:05:00]

BIDEN: Yes, I can say quite clearly don't come. And when we're in the process of getting set up, don't leave your town or city or community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: He says he's trying to send a clear message. But also you hear from inside the immigrant community. When he says, while we're in a process of getting set up, set up for what? He doesn't say, unless you have a legitimate asylum claim or you know, don't come. He doesn't say you know, we're going to enforce border security, he does not use those words.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, this is the challenge for Democrats, obviously they want to have a humane process. That is perhaps more humane and even perhaps more open than the Trump administration, which largely shut down asylum claims.

But at the same time, that is a message that is being used to drive a surge toward the border which in and of itself is a humanitarian crisis, both the process of migrants making their way from Central America to the border.

And then what happens when the border becomes overwhelmed and there's no place to House them and process them. But what you're hearing I think in Biden is the uncertainty about what they will ultimately end up doing, what will the asylum process look like in a Biden administration?

Will it be Housed almost entirely in Central American countries with even some Democrats want to prevent people from coming all the way up to the southern border? Or will it be expanded in some way to allow more people with more claims to claim asylum?

And what does that do to the actual numbers; some of these issues don't seem to be settled yet. And in the meantime, they're just trying to get their handle on the sheer numbers. But they haven't articulated very clearly what their policy on immigration by and large is actually going to be long term.

KING: And so they try to do things with the executive powers they have deal with the issue of the day crisis of the day, call it what you will. Toluse, the bigger question is, can you get legislation passed, whether it's on immigration, whether it's on climate, whether it's on any number of issues, the filibuster always comes up.

The House can pass it, and then it sits in the Senate because on most things, you need 60 votes. The president did make a little bit of news in this interview. The question is, did he do enough here and saying he's open to changing the filibuster to satisfy progressives? Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I don't think you have to eliminate the filibuster. You have to do it, what it used to be when I first got to the Senate and back in the old days, when you used to be around there. And that is that a filibuster, you had to stand up and command the floor.

And you had to keep talking alone. You couldn't call for you know; no one could say any quorum call. Once you stopped talking, you lost that and someone could move in and say, I moved the question of, so you got to work for the filibuster.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you're for that reform, you're for bringing back the talking filibuster?

BIDEN: I am. That's what it was supposed to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: That's what it was supposed to be, he says. Progressive say that's just not enough that you need to ditch it, you need to get rid of it. Will that be enough to satisfy the clamor in his party to get more done?

OLORUNNIPA: I doubt it. I think for now, it may signal that he is moving on the filibuster. But I think for a number of these progressives and a number of people within the party, they are starting to realize that after Joe Biden passed and signed the 1.9 - $1.9 trillion Coronavirus relief plan, it's going to be very difficult for him to pass the other parts of his agenda.

That was the big test of bipartisanship. If you can't get a single Republican vote to give money to people in the middle of a pandemic in the middle of an economic crisis. How are you going to get 10 Senators from the other party to cross the aisle and vote for things like immigration reform or climate policy or tax increases?

So they are starting to realize that something's going to have to happen with the filibuster if Joe Biden is going to be able to pass his very ambitious agenda and Joe Biden starting to realize that again as well.

I mean, the president has said that he in the past, he has said that he does not want to change the filibuster. But now he's starting to realize that if he wants to pass his very ambitious agenda, he's going to need some help from some of these moderate Democrats who right now are not in favor of eliminating the filibuster.

But need to make some sort of decision over the coming month, if they're going to try to push some of these new policies that that the president wants. So I think progressives are realizing that Biden is starting to move. They've heard from Senator Manchin in West Virginia that he also is starting to be open to some changes or reforms to the filibuster.

So it seems like that seems to be where things are moving that at least there is movement on that issue, but it's not clear that that will be enough to actually get anything done.

KING: And you mentioned the possibility of tax increases. Joe Biden campaigned on tax hikes on the rich to help pay for things that could come in the infrastructure package. That one will be dealt with - America and the world could be clearly watching through the reconciliation process.

So you only need 51 votes most likely. But listen here, Abby Phillip is this you hear the president saying look, Republicans are going to say I'm raising taxes on everybody. No, I'm not.

[12:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: Anybody making more than $400,000 will see a small to a significant tax increase. If you make less than $400,000, you won't see one single penny and additional federal tax.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you going to get a Republican vote for a tax increase?

BIDEN: I may not get it. But I'll get the Democratic votes for tax increase.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: He's confident he'll get the Democratic votes for a tax increase. It's a tough one, even if Bill Clinton sold this back in the 90s, raise taxes on the rich cut taxes on the middle class sold that successfully. Next year is an election year; he's got to keep better - double count those Democratic votes.

PHILLIP: Yes, for sure. And the messaging really matters on something like this. Republicans have been actually somewhat successful in messaging this idea that corporate tax cuts are the best thing for the economy. That has been their message pretty consistently for you know, frankly decades now.

And Democrats haven't actually been able to counter that. So will they be able to do it? And will they be able to keep people like Joe Manchin in line. Manchin is such an interesting character in all of this because even though he represents one of the poorest states, it's about signaling bipartisanship to his constituents that really matters. And if he starts to feel like this is not something that has any prayer of getting bipartisan votes.

Biden could find himself in a position where he can't count on every single Democrat anymore for something even like tax hikes on wealthy people and tax hikes on corporations which by the way, some people even in corporate America now are saying, actually now might be the time to roll some of that back that may have been over torque in the direction of you know, corporate profits and we don't necessarily need that in the economy right.

KING: That's a great point. And the president did list enough allies out there in the business community, rich CEOs to say please, please do this to me and see them credit most will - watch. Abby Philip, Toluse Olorunnipa grateful for the reporting and the insights.

Up next for us investigators say it's too early to know the motive behind the horrific shootings that killed eight people in Georgia and as we go to break the Vice President Kamala Harris sharing her thoughts on this horrible tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We grieve for the loss. Our prayers are extended to the families of those who have been killed. We're not yet clear about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[12:15:00]

KING: Front page here today the Atlanta journal constitution capturing the whore eight people shot dead at three massage parlors. Georgia officials say the suspect in those shootings across metro Atlanta has admitted now to targeting victims at three different massage parlors.

They say he may have been a frequent customer at these businesses. And while six of the eight people killed are of Asian descent, official say the suspect told them these shootings were not racially motivated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REYNOLDS: It may be targets of opportunity. Again we are - we believe that he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out.

CAPT. JAY BAKER, CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: It sounds to me like these - these locations he sees them as an outlet for him that something's that he shouldn't be doing. And that - issue with porn and that he was attempting to take out that temptation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Our CNN National Correspondent Natasha Chen joins us now live from Atlanta with the latest. Natasha - say horrible, horrible case.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes John, we just came from that press conference. So where there were multiple agencies working together because the three massage parlors are located in two different counties, one in Cherokee County, one right behind us here.

And the third right in front of us where someone is actually right now bringing some flowers to lay at the front door. So this is really affecting members of the community just watching this happen.

I want to mention that at that press conference, the Cherokee County sheriff's office released some new information about the people who were shot at that location. They released some names, here they are. There were four people killed and one person injured there. They ranged from age 30 to 54.

You see one man's name there. And overall across the three massage parlors of the eight people killed, seven of them were women and as you mentioned six of them of Asian descent. Now the officers who spoke at the press conference told us that they interviewed the suspect along with the FBI.

And that during the interview, they learned a little bit in what he told them. He took responsibility for the shootings. It is too early for a clear for motive. However like you said, he told them it was not racially motivated and that in fact, it may actually have to do with a sexual addiction they said.

What we do know about this suspect? 21 years old Robert Aaron long from Woodstock, Georgia and that he may have frequented these locations. Authorities say that he saw the spas as an outlet for his temptation and wanted to target them because of that.

And that when they caught him he was actually on his way to Florida to perhaps carry out more similar attacks. And the reason that didn't happen is because his family contacted law enforcement and the police were able to track him down.

So the family has been very cooperative and that has been key in stopping him in his path. I also asked law enforcement at that press conference whether other similar businesses have any reason to feel that there's still a threat. They said right now they believe that this person acted alone, John.

KING: Natasha Chen grateful to have the live reporting on the ground for us. Keep in touch as we get new developments in this horrible tragedy. Natasha, thank you. Up next for us new CDC warnings about COVID variants first found in California.

And as we go to break, the former President Donald Trump gives qualified thumbs up to getting the COVID vaccine.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, 45TH U.S. PRESIDENT: I would I would recommend it. And I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me frankly. But you know again we have our freedoms and we have to live by that and I agree with that also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:25:00]

KING: Latest on the COVID fight now including Coronavirus cases in 14 states starting to go up. And in some of those states not by a little, let's look at the state by state trends. 14 states as we noted going up. That means more new COVID infections now than a week ago in that state, that a 14 states going up.

You see Michigan in the deep red that means 50 percent more new infections this week compared to last week. 24 states holding steady, that's the base. Only 12 states trending down fewer 12 states fewer new infections this week.

So as the fight continues here, just the case timeline as you look it out. This is what the CDC Director; other members of the Biden COVID team are worried about this plateau. You see essentially a flat line since the late in February across here. 53,579 new infections yesterday, they want to shove this baseline way down, down much further. They say that's the big fight vaccinations versus variants. That's not low enough for them right now. Three states we're keeping an eye on because of recent developments, Texas dropped its mask mandate on March 10.

You see cases down a little bit more or less a plateau. Watch this one. As we head into April, it takes a few weeks after some major mitigation efforts are dropped to see we'll see. Can Texas manage this? Or will it be a spike? That's a question.

Mississippi also dropped its mass mandate back on March 3, you see pretty much a flat line some ups and downs of recent days the case is down again. Let's watch this as we head through the end of March and into April to see if Mississippi manages its case count with fewer mandates in place.

In Florida right now celebrating many state officials are the arrival of many spring breakers. You see Florida pretty much a flat line down a little bit from where it was at the beginning of the month right there. Let's watch this again.

As you head through the month it takes a few weeks, as we learned through last spring through the summer. And then the winter surge takes a couple weeks sometimes for things to move. We'll watch that. The race is vaccinations against the variants.

The UK variant now essentially 48 states plus DC it is coast to coast and that's the one with the biggest spread more than 4600 reported cases. 142 reported cases of the South African variant in 24 states, the Brazil variant in 12 states right now.

And again as I noted, this is the race. Can you get more Americans vaccinated before the variants spread? 12 percent of Americans are now fully vaccinated. That number has been sneaking up over the past week or so. 22 percent have been at least partially vaccinated.

And again that's one way to look at it. Here's another way 2.4 million is the current average of vaccinations a day the Biden Administration trying to ramp that up as they not only try to increase supply, but also the personnel the logistics out in the states to administer those shots in arms.

As you know, the president said this week by May 1. He wants all states to offer vaccinations to all adults. Some states moving out ahead that you see a half dozen states here that have moved things up, some doing it in March, some waiting in April.

The District of Columbia says it will meet the president's deadline to offer them vaccinations to all adults as of May 1. Then there's another question parents have. When do my kids get vaccinated whether they're in high school, middle school, maybe younger? Dr. Anthony Fauci today outlining what he thinks will be the schedule for that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: For high school students, it looks like they will be available to get vaccinated in the beginning of the fall very likely for the full term. With regard to children we're doing an aid vs. an age de escalation study in elementary school children from 12 to nine, nine to six, six to two and two months, six months to two years.

We anticipate we'll have enough data to be able to vaccinate these younger children by the first quarter of 2022.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Let's get straight to Dr. Kevin Ault. He's a Professor and Division Director at University of Kansas Medical Center, also importantly, a member of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Doctor, thank you for your time today.

When you hit - let's start with that, a concern obviously to many parents, as we always - we talk about back to school issues. Is that timeline for vaccinating children? Does that sound about right to you? Does the administration need to kick that up? Or is it dependent on the studies first?

DR. KEVIN AULT, MEMBER, CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES: It's dependent on the studies. We had talked about that at our advisory committee meeting. I believe in January, we've had several emergency meetings lately and we talked about the strategy for pediatric vaccination. It was pretty much what Dr. Fauci just said.

You know, we start with adolescents especially older adolescents, then we de escalate, as I believe he just said down to lower age group. And that's a pretty standard way to do pediatric trials. Of course you want safety and efficacy and dosing data from those trials before you brought now into a broader population of schoolchildren.

KING: And so, I describe this as a race of vaccination versus variants. Please correct me if that's not the right way to say it. But public health officials say you know, if fewer people are susceptible to disease, the variants don't have places to go, if you will.

The CDC today reporting about a new California variant that two Coronavirus strains first detected in California are now officially 'variants of concern'. The variants may be about 20 percent more transmissible the CDC said citing early research.

Some COVID -19 treatments may also be less effective against these strains. I put it into context for somebody watching this as a lay person like me maybe doesn't speak the language. How concerned should they be when they hear you know, the UK variant is in 48 states, these two new variants of concern in California.

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