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Supreme Court could Respond at any Moment to Widely Ridiculed Texas Lawsuit to Overturn Election; FDA Authorization of Pfizer Vaccine to Come at Any Time; Biden Introduces more Picks for Key Posts; Colorado Governor on COVID Vaccine Distribution Plans. Aired 5- 6p ET

Aired December 11, 2020 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:28]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

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 are following breaking news.

We are standing by right now for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the widely ridiculed Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election. A lawsuit that's now being supported by 18 state attorneys generals, 126 House Republicans and President Trump.

We are also monitoring the FDA which could decide at any moment now to grant emergency use authorization for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. Once that happens, officials say we could see the first vaccinations here in the United States as soon as Monday.

But the Trump White House is asserting new political pressure into the process. Sources tell CNN that the White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told the head of the FDA he should resign if the vaccine isn't authorized by the end of today.

Meanwhile, the crisis is worsening by the hour. More than 294,000 Americans have now been killed by COVID-19 and the number of cases just topped 15.7 million as hospitalizations hit another record high.

Let's begin this hour over at the White House. Our chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta is joining us.

Jim, President Trump seems to be pinning his hopes on this Texas lawsuit that by almost all accounts has no legal basis.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. And the Supreme Court could rule at any moment on this dubious Texas lawsuit supported by the White House and Republican members of Congress aimed at throwing out millions of votes and overturning the election results.

In the meantime, Trump administration sources are confirming White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows threatened the head of the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the coronavirus vaccine or resign. The FDA's commissioner is disputing that and a source close to the COVID task force over at the White House told me earlier today that kind of threat has been worrying public health officials all along because it could compromise public confidence in the vaccine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's been some journey for all of us.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Stop the presses. President Trump accidentally told the truth, conceding that Joe Biden is about to replace him at the White House, while pleading to the Supreme Court to bail him out in the election. The president tweeted about the incoming Biden administration, but then added: "It is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution, do what everybody knows has to be done. They must show great courage and wisdom."

The White House struggled to explain why Mr. Trump seemed to acknowledge his successor.

BRIAN MORGENSTERN, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I think that was a -- sort of couched in terms of you know if, in fact. But I don't think he was conceding anything in particular. He's still litigating his case in the courts and looks forward to that process playing out.

ACOSTA: The president is pinning his hopes on the widely ridiculed Texas lawsuit aimed at throwing out the election results that has now gained the support of dozens of House Republicans, including the minority leader, Kevin McCarthy.

REP. LOUIE GOHMERT (R-TX): We know what we know, and we know that there was cheating that went on.

(LAUGHTER)

ACOSTA: Even some fellow Republicans are laughing at the election challenges dubbed the Kraken by some on the hard right.

REP. DENVER RIGGLEMAN (R-VA): I think they're clouded right now. And they that -- they know me pretty well. And they know that I would say to their face. And here's -- here's what I want to tell people. COVID is real. The Kraken is not. It's that simple.

ACOSTA: "The Orlando Sentinel" withdrew its endorsement for one House member who signed on to the effort, writing: "We apologize to our readers for endorsing Michael Waltz in the 2020 general election for Congress. We had no idea, no way of knowing at the time that Waltz was not committed to democracy."

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): You cannot at the same time love America and hate democracy.

ACOSTA: The problem for the president, he keeps getting beaten in court, one of the latest losses in Wisconsin. STEPHEN SIMANEK, RESERVE JUDGE: The certification of the results of the 2020 Wisconsin presidential election, after the Dane County and Milwaukee County recounts, is affirmed.

ACOSTA: The president is now trying to take credit for the authorization of the coronavirus vaccine, tweeting to the head of the Food and Drug Administration, "Get the dam vaccines out now," misspelling the word damn.

Sources say White House Chief of Staff Mike Meadows told FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn to green-light the vaccine by the end of the day or resign. But Hahn says that is not true, adding in a statement: "This is an untrue representation of the phone call with the chief of staff. The FDA was encouraged to continue working expeditiously on the emergency use authorization request. FDA is committed to issuing this authorization quickly, as we noted in our statement this morning."

[17:05:09]

The president isn't sounding very festive heading into the holidays, as some of his Twitter posts sound straight out of a personal diary, like when he tweeted: "I just want to stop the world from killing itself."

Still, the president's supporters aren't giving up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jesus is my savior. Trump is my president.

QUESTION: Do you genuinely believe that he...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kicked Joe Biden's ass? Yes, I do. Yes, obviously.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (on camera): Our source close to the White House said It's odd that Meadows would warn the FDA to hurry up and authorize the vaccine when it's about to do that anyway. And it's a sign that Meadows and the president want to jump on the vaccine bandwagon just as the authorization process reaches the finish line.

And on top of all of that drama, earlier in the day the Senate approved a stopgap spending measure aimed at averting a government shutdown. So, thankfully that happened earlier today, Wolf. That bill now goes to the president for his signature. So, we won't have a government shutdown on top of everything else. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Jim Acosta, I want you to stand by. I'm going to get back to you.

A short time ago, President-elect Biden introduced his picks for more top posts in his incoming administration.

Let's go to our political correspondent Arlette Saenz joining us from Wilmington, Delaware. Arlette, some critics say the president-elect is recycling too many people from the Obama administration. Update our viewers on the very latest.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, before he announced his latest round of cabinet picks, President-elect Biden spoke to the gravity of the pandemic and also saw to instill public confidence in the development of that vaccine saying that it's been done so without the influence of politics, even as President Trump is pressuring the FDA to authorize that vaccine today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to teeth the crisis right now. This nation needs presidential leadership right now.

SAENZ (voice-over): President-elect Joe Biden acknowledging the grim reality of the pandemic, after the U.S. hit a single day record of deaths from COVID-19.

BIDEN: More than 3,000 deaths in one single day. The highest single death count during this pandemic. That is more single deaths on the day we saw at 9/11 or at Pearl Harbor. This is serious business.

SAENZ: With the FDA on the brink of approving a vaccine, the president-elect tried to convince skeptical Americans to trust in the process.

BIDEN: You should have confidence in this. There is no political influence. These are first-rate scientists taking their time, looking at all of the elements that need to be looked at.

SAENZ: The president-elect also urged Congress to act on a stalled coronavirus relief package.

BIDEN: It has to get done before they go home. Millions and millions of Americans simply can't wait any longer.

SAENZ: As he is set to take office in 40 days, the president-elect is bulking up his cabinet bringing trusted allies from the Obama administration into his own.

BIDEN: Some are familiar faces. Some are new enter their roles. All are facing new circumstances and challenges.

SAENZ: The president-elect tapping Tom Vilsack to reprise his role as agriculture secretary and former White House Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

DENNIS MCDONOUGH, VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY NOMINEE: His marching order to me is very clear. Fight like hell for our veterans.

SAENZ: Obama's former national security adviser Susan Rice who Biden considered for secretary of state and vice president is set to lead the domestic policy council, a role that does not require Senate confirmation.

SUSAN RICE, INCOMING DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL: I have no illusions about the difficulty of making that vision real, but we are here to get hard stuff done.

SAENZ: Biden's pick for U.S. Trade representative would be the first woman of color to serve in the role and his choice for secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the only sitting member of Congress so far to be added to Biden's cabinet.

REP. MARCIA FUDGE, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY NOMINEE: We will take on the deep-set roots of poverty and homelessness. We will fight for housing in every community that is affordable, decent, and safe.

SAENZ: But Biden's reliance of a team of Obama-era officials have sparked some skepticism.

"Washington Post" columnist David Ignatius writing, "Biden understandably doesn't want a fractious team of rivals but he shouldn't have a team of retreads, either."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAENZ (on camera): Now, at the end of that even with the president- elect, I asked him how soon he plans to get a coronavirus vaccine once it is authorized. He did not answer that question but in the past, he has said that once Dr. Fauci says it is safe to do so, he would do so as well, so his team will be closely watching for this FDA authorization. Expect it in the coming days. Wolf?

[17:10:03]

BLITZER: It could come even as early as tonight. We're standing by for that. Arlette, stand by. I want to bring in our senior legal analyst, Laura Coates. Our chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta is back with us as well.

So, Laura, the president, he is calling calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to show, quote, "great wisdom and courage" in this Texas-backed lawsuit. For those of us without a legal background, just how ludicrous is this effort?

LAURA COATES, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: It's completely absurd. It doesn't really even have a snowball's chance in hell and if Supreme Court would like to show the great wisdom the president speaking of, they will not take a case that require them to usurp the role as nine justices of more than 300 million eligible voters.

They would be wading into territory at this point, Wolf, where not only would they be in a position to essentially throw out disenfranchised voters who relied on their own legislatures decisions, but also buying into the hypocrisy of the Texas attorney general whose own state used the pandemic as a reason to support the use of executive authority to change voting laws. Why didn't he sue his own state?

Well, perhaps because he was auditioning for a part or because the actual frustration here was the point. There is no legal course of action where Supreme Court would look at this and say this is the right case for us or the right case for Democracy.

BLITZER: That's an important point. Jim, we have seen more and more Republicans, though, they are jumping into this lawsuit, 126 members of the House of representatives, all Republicans, including the Republican leader Kevin McCarthy.

Do they want to secure the president's support for their own political futures? Is this what they are up to, given the fact that this is ludicrous?

ACOSTA: Yes. Wolf, I think it's really all about avoiding that Trump tweet. They are deathly afraid of heading into the next cycle when they have to run for re-election and the president potentially going out there and supporting a primary challenger. I think that is the long and short of it. I suppose there are some of these members who actually believe in the kraken even though the kraken doesn't exist.

And you know, I will tell you, Wolf, I talked to a White House adviser earlier today and I asked who among the president's advisers actually believe that the Supreme Court will weigh in and side in the president's favor and side in the favor of Texas and throw out these votes? This source said, quote, "nobody."

So, inside the president's team, there is almost zero belief that this is going to work out on the president's behalf. And yet, the Republicans in the House, the president's team, they are dragging the country through this just pathetic exercise that is just raising a lot of blood pressures across the country because people think, you know, potentially could Supreme Court do something like this? No, it's not going to happen as Laura was just saying a few moments ago, less than a snowball's chance in hell.

BLITZER: Yes. You know, Arlette, what, 40 days to go until inauguration when the president-elect becomes the president of the United States. What are they saying inside the Biden camp right now about this effort by President Trump, the Texas attorney general, 18 other state attorneys general, 126 Republican members of the House, what is the reaction? What are you hearing from inside the Biden camp?

SAENZ: Well, the president-elect and his team have been pretty consistent from the moment that he won this election about what these types of legal challenges or questions about the election will actually result in. They do not feel that there's anything that will change the fact that Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th.

And so, you don't see them responding every single time to every comment or non-comment from a Republican or any -- or all of these legal challenges. But they are very steadfast in their commitment that they believe that this is all a bunch of political theater that these people are engaging in and that they eventually will have to accept the reality of Biden becoming president. And you haven't seen the president-elect really trying to publicly pressure any of these Republicans.

He is trying to give people space to come to this moment that they will acknowledge that he is the winner and they believe that is quickly approaching especially with that electoral college vote coming on Monday. That will be a big moment that they think might turn the tide with many of us.

BLITZER: We will have special coverage of that electoral college official vote that comes on Monday as we are bracing for that. An important moment and historic moment, indeed.

You know, Laura, a lot of people suspect that President Trump is doing all this simply as a fund-raising effort to raise money for some sort of political campaign that he may or may not go forward with in 2024. He has already raised more than $200 million. He's probably raising a lot more. They keep sending out e-mail after e-mail seeking funds, citing what they call a fraud in this election.

[17:15:01]

COATES: What an un-Democratic shame to do so. I mean, at the cost of Democracy to pad's one electoral coffers where there is really no legitimate basis to bring a lawsuit here, other than perhaps to get that sort of donations. They have no standing in Texas to be able to say what another state is able to do when they oversee their own elections. They have a latches argument here which essentially says you waited until you didn't have the favorable outcome you wanted before you challenge the thing the voters are looking at. And ultimately, you know that unlike the Bush v Gore case here there is no real controversy as to who won. The only reason here is peak and frustration, period.

BLITZER: Everybody, stand by. We're continuing to follow the breaking news here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

There's more, will White House pressure on the FDA undermine confidence in the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

Also, we will talk about the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election with Georgia's Republican lieutenant governor. I'll ask him why he is not supporting it. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:20:27]

BLITZER: We are following breaking pandemic news right now. FDA decision on emergency use authorization for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine could come at any moment now. The first vaccinations happening potentially as soon as Monday.

Our national correspondent Erica Hill is joining us from New York right now. Erica, we all hope this is turning - this is going to be a major turning point in this pandemic that has cost so many lives.

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. There is so much focus on that vaccine, Wolf. And when those first doses will arrive. In the meantime, we are seeing more states and cities add new restrictions as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise here in New York City, a rise in hospitalizations according to Governor Andrew Cuomo is what led him to say today this is the last weekend for indoor dining. It goes away starting Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. LARRY BRILLIANT, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: This is a historic moment.

HILL (voice-over): Millions of doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine ready to move.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have informed all of our drivers across the country what is in those boxes and how important it is.

HILL: The FDA could give the green light at any moment. The first shots just days away.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We could be seeing people getting vaccinated Monday, Tuesday of next week.

HILL: And we need it because the virus is out of control.

MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-CA), LOS ANGELES: With 12,819 new infections, that is 2,000 more than the worst day we have ever had. It's happening so quickly, sometimes we can't even take in these numbers.

HILL: Nationwide, nearly a quarter million new cases on Thursday. More than 2,700 newly reported deaths. Hospitalizations also swelling to new highs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very frustrating for us because we are trying to save people and take care of you and people aren't listening to us.

HILL: The strain on hospitals prompting new restrictions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have tried the nuance approach. We tried layers of defense. We have tried to educate people and it's, obviously, not working.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): We are going to close indoor dining in New York City on Monday.

HILL: Pennsylvania also shutting down indoor dining and gyms. North Carolina stay-at-home order goes into effect tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The virus is upon us with a rapid viciousness like we haven't seen before.

HILL: The city of Miami will start enforcing a curfew this weekend. Virginia's kicks in on Monday. Gatherings limited to just 10 people. The religious services are exempt.

GOV. RALPH NORTHAM (D-VA): I strongly call on our faith leaders to lead the way and set an example for their members. Worship with a mask on is still worship. Worship outside or worship online is still worship.

HILL: The holidays looming and experts could not be more clear. This year has to be different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't care if I'm accused of being the grinch that stole Christmas. There is not a safe Christmas party in this country right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: An update for you too on what we know about that Moderna vaccine, the Department of Health and Human Services saying in a statement this afternoon, they are buying another. They plan to buy another 100 million doses and that would bring the total confirmed commitment to 200 million doses for Moderna's vaccine. An FDA advisory panel will review its application for emergency use authorization on Thursday, December 17th.

Just one other note on that. We actually learned from Governor Andrew Cuomo here in New York today that the state is preparing for some 346,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, the week of December 24th -- 21st rather. That is on top of the 170,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine which the governor says the arrival of those doses is, Wolf, in his words, eminent.

BLITZER: Yes. 200 million doses is enough for 100 million people because you need two doses three weeks apart. So, it's very, very important.

All right, Erica, thank you.

Let's get some more on all of this. The dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish Jha is joining us. Dr. Jha thank you so much for joining us.

You heard our report about the pressure that Trump administration is putting on the FDA commissioner to authorize this vaccine. This is exactly the kind of political influence that has made so many people skeptical of the entire process. Is there reason to be concerned that the FDA, that Commissioner Hahn specifically, is being led by anything other than science?

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Yes, Wolf. Thanks for having me on, Wolf.

You know, the FDA has worked incredibly fast on this and has done things by the book, has really been very thoughtful and careful about ensuring safety standards. I don't understand what the White House is doing. I think the FDA was going to authorize this today or tomorrow any way.

[17:25:02]

Maybe they have managed through political pressure to move things up by 12 hours. I think it's unnecessary. I don't think it's helpful. The FDA is acting on science.

BLITZER: It makes no sense because they were going to approve it, if not today, they're going to approve it tomorrow and then all of a sudden, this becomes a political issue by this story. I imagine it must be incredibly frustrating for you though as a physician to watch the Trump White House interfere at this critical moment right now, potentially giving Americans another reason to doubt the safety of this vaccine.

JHA: Yes. Absolutely. I think what most Americans need to do is just ignore the bluster coming out of the White House, follow the science, follow the scientists at the FDA. You know, what we saw yesterday in that hearing of the advisory committee was a great discussion about the science and the science on the Pfizer vaccine is pretty clear, it's safe, it's effective, and when people are eligible, when I'm eligible, I will take it so that is what we need to focus on right now.

BLITZER: Me too, obviously. When is the Pfizer vaccine is authorized, Dr. Jha, that will mark the beginning of a very complicated vaccine distribution process all across the country, what do you want people to understand about how and when these vaccines will get to them?

JHA: It's a very complicated logistical process. It's going to start, hopefully over the weekend. But vast majority of Americans are not going to be able to access a vaccine for at least a couple of months. And so, we have to protect ourselves, we have to make sure people are not getting infected now so people can be around when the vaccine is available.

Right now, it's going to a small group of people, healthcare workers in nursing homes, over time it will expand to others, people have to hold on and not expect the vaccine is going to bail us out in the next couple of months.

BLITZER: Yes. This is going to be a process and it's going to be a critically important process and people have to be patient. And in the meantime, wear a mask and social distance and stay safe out there because that could save lives. Dr. Jha, thank you so much for joining us.

JHA: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And stay with us. We are waiting to see if the United States Supreme Court will weigh in on the Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate millions of votes and overturn the presidential election. We are waiting for a decision. That is coming up.

And also, in a moment, I'll speak with Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, there you see him, Geoff Duncan. He is standing by live. Georgia, one of the states targeted by this Texas lawsuit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:32:22]

BLITZER: We're standing by for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on a far- fetched Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election, this decision could come at any moment. The lawsuit actually seeks to invalidate millions of votes in four states including votes in Georgia. We're joined now by Georgia's Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan. Lieutenant Governor, thank you so much for joining us. You're a Republican, Georgia's Governor is a Republican, Georgia's Attorney General, Secretary of State is top deputy, all of you are Republicans. I know you voted for President Trump, but you say this Texas lawsuit doesn't have merit. Tell us why.

LT. GOV. GEOFF DUNCAN (R-GA): Yes, we've spent a lot of time working with our Attorney General Chris Carr and his staff tried to better understand the suit and kind of what the purpose of it was and the merits of it. And, you know, I'm not a lawyer and so in my terms, it's been described, as you know, their --Texas Attorney General was not comfortable with the way that we operated our election here in Georgia, despite the count and two additional recounts, and have included us in the suit. I think it's hard to imagine that, you know, that's going to have to be taken up by the Supreme Court, but we're going to let them weigh in on that. Certainly, it could be at any time.

I think another point to make, Wolf, is, as a Republican, and one of our standards is really states' rights. And to watch this another state try to reach into our state and three other states is concerning. And, certainly, I think long-term would have even bigger ramifications if carried through.

BLITZER: Yes. And what's really amazing is all 50 states and the District of Columbia have now officially certified the count in their states. And they've suggested that they have the results that are official, including Georgia and Biden won in your state, as we know. The Attorney General of another state targeted in this suit. We're talking about Michigan right now. She says that if Texas prevails, quote, it is the end of democracy in the United States. Do you agree with her?

DUNCAN: Well, it's very concerning. You know, certainly, emotions are high at this point and folks like to win, and I certainly understand that. But, you know, this feels a lot like a solution in search of a problem. And, certainly, you know, we're proud of putting on a fair legal election. Unfortunately, Wolf, the guy voted for didn't win. That doesn't change our job description, that doesn't change our state's rights to defend ourselves and to make sure that we continue to operate without other states influencing us.

BLITZER: Because you're Republicans or Democrats, you're Americans, and you're going to do what's right. What do you make of the sheer number, though, of your fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives in other states Attorneys General, they're lining up behind the President on this one?

DUNCAN: Well, certainly they each have their own choice to make and their own decisions. I've made mine to stand behind facts and figures. I've made a decision for the last few weeks to really stand in a position of separating fact from facts.

[17:35:00] Wolf, it's unbelievable to watch the mountains of misinformation that continues to fly in. I said this last night that I think folks all across the country are going to wake up, millions of folks over the coming days and weeks and realize that they've been duped by this misinformation, that they've actually done their homework and research some of this stuff that they've seen on the internet, and realize it's just false and it's got to stop. It's time for us to stop playing the blame game and start acting like Americans again.

BLITZER: Unfortunately, President Trump says that with the help of what he quotes, certain very important people, he's going to win this election. What would you like to say to the President if he's watching you right now?

DUNCAN: Well, my call to action has been -- look, certainly everybody wants to win. And I certainly understand that everybody kind of loses differently and certainly we want to make sure he has every opportunity legally to follow through with his concerns, but we got to focus on the Senate race here on January 5th. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler need our support, they need our focus. My encouragement would be to change gears away from the misinformation around election fraud and give everything you've got to get Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue re-elected. It gives us an opportunity to protect President Trump's legacy for years to come.

BLITZER: Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for everything you're doing. We'll certainly want you back to continue this conversation. Appreciate it very much.

DUNCAN: Absolutely. Have a great weekend, Wolf.

BLITZER: You too, thank you.

Stay with us. We're monitoring also the FDA which could decide again at any moment now to grant Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. However, most states are expecting to exhaust their first shipment within days. The Colorado Governor Jared Polis, there he is, he's standing by. We'll discuss about his state's distribution plans. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:41:18]

BLITZER: Maybe a coincidence or not a coincidence. But look at this, immediately after our interview with the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, the Republican, this is what the President tweets. "Georgia, where his signature verification approval? What do you have to lose? Must move quickly. Then he cites Brian Kemp, the Governor Geoff Duncan, Lieutenant Governor of the Georgia Secretary of State. So, perhaps, perhaps it's a coincidence, but more likely the President was watching Geoff Duncan in that interview, clearly, not very happy about that.

We're also standing by for word from the Food and Drug Administration, which is expected to authorize the use of Pfizer's new coronavirus vaccines. Vaccinations are expected to begin in the coming days, but an administration official says most states expect to use up their first allotments of the vaccine very quickly within days. Colorado Governor Jared Polis is joining us right now. Governor Polis, thanks so much for joining us. I know your state last week announced it had ordered what, about 46,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine? Do you expect to get that many doses? Is that enough? When is this going to start?

GOV. JARED POLIS (D-CO): Yes, well, we've actually -- we ordered enough for everybody, over 5 million doses. But what we're told the first shipment we'll have which will be the Pfizer vaccine, hopefully Sunday or Monday, Wolf, Colorado will get 46,800, which is simply the share of the overall national population that Colorado has. They're being distributed by population. Do I have 100 percent confidence? We're going to get 46,800. No, but we are still being told that by the federal government up the supply chain, so I'm hopeful.

BLITZER: Yes, we're hopeful too. I know you plan, Governor, to vaccinate high risk health care workers, long-term care facility staff and residents. Tell us how this process will unfold?

POLIS: Yes, it's really focused on saving lives, ending the crisis. The people who are in the COVID wards, providing care nurses, doctors, they're going to be among the very first to get it. And then really focusing on that folks who live in residential care and nursing homes where we've just seen like every state, how devastating this virus can be, literally decimating, you know, one in 10 just wiping through and killing people. So saving lives from the most vulnerable, protecting the COVID workers in the wards that are helping with the patients, those are going to be our first few weeks of doses.

BLITZER: And do have the resources you need to get all these folks vaccinated?

POLIS: We do, and we have a big state. There's additional logistical concerns with the Pfizer vaccine. We have to identify where we have the freezers that are able to preserve it at the temperature that it needs to. The Moderna vaccine is a little bit more flexibility but we've identified a number of hubs or sites throughout our state.

We're getting it out there, the hospitals, the nursing homes, there are partners in administering it. We're going to require that every dose that we get out has to be in an arm within 72 hours or we will reallocate it to get it into an arm. We don't want delays in this, Wolf, lives are at risk.

BLITZER: Yes, it's so, so important. On a personal level, I know you and your partner are both recovering from the coronavirus. I understand your partner was released from the hospital earlier this week. How are you both doing and what did your personal experience teach you about this virus?

POLIS: You know, it's such a strange virus the way it affects everybody differently. I had very minor symptoms. Marlon, my partner had headaches for a few days, thought we were getting better but like so many people said day seven, day eight, had some respiratory issues. And our family doctor said you know what, out of an abundance of caution go to the hospital. He was given steroid treatment there for two nights.

[17:45:01]

He's back. We're all healthy. We're grateful. We're among the lucky ones and too many people aren't with this virus, Wolf, which is why people need to wear masks when they're around others, avoid interacting with. So socially with people outside their home and keep a distance. It's just we don't want other folks to go through it. We had to, or even worse what other families have gone through.

BLITZER: Is it getting worse in Colorado right now? I know the ski season is upon us. A lot of folks would like to go skiing. What's the latest?

POLIS: We have a stable trend the last couple weeks, slightly less hospitalizations. We're grateful, we were worried a few weeks ago at 1,800. Now, we're down to about 1,500, 1,600. But to put things in perspective, you know, over 1,500 people hospitalized in early October, it was only 350 people in our whole state. So, we hope that this trend gets better over time, the numbers go down. We think we've begun to see that. But it just depends on people's behavior in the coming weeks.

BLITZER: Well, I'm really happy that you and your partner are doing much better. Thanks, Governor, very much for joining us. We really appreciate it. Good luck out in Colorado.

POLIS: Always a pleasure, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Coming up, the U.S. is poised to begin an unprecedented vaccine rollout amid the worst public health crisis here in the United States. And essentially, we're going to take a closer look at how it's about to unfold. And we're standing by for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the widely ridiculed Texas lawsuit backed by President Trump and 126 House Republicans, all of them seeking to try to overturn the results of the election.

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[17:51:26]

BLITZER: With the first coronavirus vaccinations in the United States, hopefully just a few days away, a massive distribution operation is already underway. CNN's Brian Todd is working as part of the story for us. So, Brian, from production to vaccination, this is truly an unprecedented effort.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Unprecedented, complicated, and highly choreographed, Wolf. Tonight, we have new information on how the vaccine rollout will unfold from cold storage to the first recipients' arms.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): Operation Warp Speed is about to have its name put to the test again. Pfizer shipping its coronavirus vaccine from this production center in Michigan to hospitals and hubs all over the country, a highly choreographed process with potential pitfalls.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: There are so many small steps where things could go wrong because this is such a decentralized process that's going to be up to the states, that's going to be up local jurisdictions.

TODD (voice-over): UPS and FedEx will transport the Pfizer vaccine under escort by U.S. Marshals. The FAA will tell air traffic controllers those flights will have priority. The crates each have radios and GPS devices on them, plus a temperature probe to make sure the vaccines stay at more than 90 degrees below zero.

WES WHEELER, PRESIDENT, UPS HEALTHCARE: In the bottom, there's dry ice. In the middle, there's the payload and on top is more dry ice.

TODD (voice-over): Once the vaccine shipments arrive at hospitals or other hubs, a race against the clock.

DR. SUSAN MASHNI, CHIEF PHARMACY OFFICER, MOUNT SINAI HEALTH: Each of the doses needs to be put within the freezer within 90 seconds from the time it's unloaded from the box.

TODD (voice-over): From the ultra-cold freezer to the shot in your arm, it's not immediate.

MASHNI: Frozen suspension, so we need to be able to bring those up to room temperature that'll take about three hours.

TODD (voice-over): Hospitals and nursing home facilities are ramping up their staffs, hiring more people to administer the vaccines. CVS and Walgreens are sending vaccination teams into nursing homes to give the shots.

JONATHAN ROBERTS, EVP AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CVS HEALTH: And we'll be putting 9,000 pharmacists, technicians and nurses on the road that will actually go the facilities to administer the vaccines. And we're ready to get going.

TODD (voice-over): States are alerting hospitals how many doses they can expect. With 21 million health workers in the U.S. and 3 million nursing home residents, states will have to tell some of them to wait.

DR. NGOZI EZIKE, DIRECTOR, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: We don't think that we will be getting vaccine for all of those people in the first allotment with the first week that it comes out.

TODD (voice-over): Hospitals are setting up makeshift clinics in lobbies, cafeterias and gyms to vaccinate their workers.

NANCY PALAMARA, HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER: We'll have a group of staff ready to go within a day or two of receiving that vaccine. And the following week, we should be full-court press.

TODD (voice-over): Some will prioritize the most at-risk personnel. Others are considering a lottery or pulling staffers to see who wants to go first. Some hope within weeks to finish vaccinating frontline staffers. Still, any number of hiccups could complicate the rollout.

WEN: There may be some surprise events that may occur as well. For example, if individuals end up having side effects, there may be somebody who has a severe allergic reaction. There's so many contingencies that must be planned for.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: For that reason, experts are cautioning hospitals not to vaccinate all of their staffers at once in case some of them get sidelined with side effects from the virus -- from the vaccine after they get it. They're going to have to stagger the vaccinations of their frontline workers, Wolf?

BLITZER: Real logistical challenge about to unfold here in the United States. Brian Todd, thank you very much.

There's more breaking news we're following. We're waiting to hear from the U.S. Supreme Court at any moment on the last ditch lawsuit by President Trump supporters to actually go ahead, and believe it or not, throw out millions of certified votes and try to overturn the result of the presidential election.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:59:48]

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. At any moment now, the United States Supreme Court could respond to a widely ridiculed Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn President-elect Biden's victory.