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The Situation Room

Biden Promises To Have Enough Coronavirus Vaccines For All Americans By The End Of Summer; Biden Announces Plan To Buy 200 Million More Vaccine Doses; Senators Sworn In For Trump's Historic Second Impeachment Trial; Interview With Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI); CDC Publishes Study Saying In-Person Learning With Minimal COVID-19 Spread Is Possible With The Right Precautions; CNN: At Least 150 Suspects In Capitol Riot Charged By Feds. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired January 26, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And even using some other personnel to administer some of the vaccines. And I think it's something Democrats, Republicans governors alike have call for.

We're also expanding testing, which will help schools and businesses reopen safely and protect the most vulnerable. And we formalize the health equity task force to ensure that equity is at the core of everything we do in urban and rural communities alike, to make sure those people most significantly damaged have access, access. We have to change we have to move in a direction for those communities that are hard to get to.

But the brutal truth is, it's going to take months before we can get the majority of Americans vaccinated, months.

In the next few months, masks, not vaccines are the best defense against COVID-19. Experts say that we're a mask from now on just until April would save 50,000 lives who otherwise will pass away if we don't wear these masks. That's why I'm asking the American people to mask up for the first 100 days. I've issued Executive Orders requiring mass on federal property and interstate travel trains and planes and buses.

One congressman pointed out, a guy I -- well, he used a very, very colorful term to say wearing a mask I told him to kiss my ear. I'm not going to wear a mask. Well, guess what? Not very American. The fact is you want to be patriotic, you're going to protect people.

And new COVID-19 variants are -- we are instituting new measures to deal with these individuals flying in the United States from other countries. You've all hold, if you can hold a second you all -- you've all heard about the strain, the British strain, the Brazilian strain and South African strain and they are -- they seem to be more transmittable more easily. So, in addition to wearing masks, everyone flying to the United States from another country, we need to test before they get on the plane and self-quarantine when they arrive in America. I'm going to close with this.

I now have a national -- we now have a national strategy to be COVID- 19. It's comprehensive. It's based on science, not politics. It's based on truth, not denial. And it is detailed.

It's going to require Congress to pass the American rescue plan to provide funding to administer the vaccines, to ramp up testing, to help schools and businesses reopen and deliver immediate economic relief to Americans who are badly needed through no fault of their own.

And our plan will take time. Progress from our plan will take time to measure as people getting infected today don't show up in case counts for weeks. And those who perish from those from disease die weeks after that exposure.

You know, despite the best -- our best intentions, we're going to face setbacks, which I will always explain to you and acknowledge.

And let me be clear, things are going to continue to get worse before they get better. The death toll experts tell us is likely to top 500,000 by the end of next month, this February, and cases will continue to mount.

We didn't get into this mess overnight. It's going to take months for us to turn things around.

But let me be equally clear. We're going to get through this. We will defeat this pandemic.

And to a nation waiting for action, let me be clearest on this point, help is on the way. We can do this if we come together, if we listen to the scientists.

As I said, tomorrow, I say to the press, the entire team will be back in the business of my COVID team of answering all your detailed questions. So, thank you very much for your patience. Keep the Faith we're going to get this done. And I'll always level with you about the state of affairs.

Thank you.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: One talk from the President United States.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We just been listening to President Biden announcing a major boost to the country's lagging coronavirus vaccination effort. The administration is now promising to have enough vaccine for all Americans by the end of summer.

The President announcing a plan to buy immediately 200 million more doses evenly divided between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. And he says distribution to the states out there will increase by 1.4 million doses starting next week.

[17:05:00]

A very significant statements on the number one issue facing the United States right now the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic. Let's go to our Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins.

Kaitlan, he was very, very blunt. He said the brutal truth is he says this is going to take months. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And he talked about the immediate measures that people can take Wolf because yes, a lot of this is about vaccines. That's the hopeful news that everyone is looking forward to. But he said still wearing a mask and still social distancing is just as important right now. Because he said he's not exaggerating when he is comparing this to a wartime effort.

But Wolf, what he was announcing is important on several fronts. One is what's going to be the most immediate. And that's -- he said they are increasing the supply that is going to be going out to state so far. It's been proportioned based on state size and population.

He says starting next week, they are going to get an increased supply to the states earlier. His COVID coordinator, Jeff Zients, who was standing right there next to him said that's going to be roughly around 16 percent. That's what he told governors on a call before the President spoke just now.

And then Wolf, another thing that we've heard a big complaint from state officials about is knowing how much vaccine they're going to get, because you've heard criticisms of some states not using all of theirs. They say that's because they're saving those second doses that are needed for people who got the first doses.

And President Biden said there that now states will get a more reliable forecast three weeks in advance of what it is that they are going to be receiving, so they know how to plan for what's going on. So we'll see how that's actually carried out, how it works logistically with states.

But of course, Wolf, the ultimate take away from that was that President Biden said they have secured commitments from the two vaccine companies that are currently authorized, the ones that you're seeing going out right now, for 200 million more doses of those vaccines. Those are just the commitments. That doesn't mean they actually have the vaccines yet, because, of course, they're still under production.

But what he said Wolf, and what is really key here is he said he believes there will be enough vaccine doses because of these new commitments to vaccinate all 300 Americans, adult Americans by the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall. That means it would likely have, if it goes to 300 million, you know, that means they would have enough.

Of course, Wolf, the challenge it would still be facing them with those numbers is vaccine hesitancy and actually getting those vaccines into arms once they are shipped out to states. Because, of course, we've seen the roadblocks that have been put up with that. That's still going to be some challenges that Biden administration is working through.

But the fact that there would be enough for all Americans by the end of next summer or the beginning of the fall is a pretty notable development they are coming from the president.

BLITZER: Yes. He didn't sugarcoat anything. He said by the end of February, a half a million Americans will have died from the coronavirus.

And he also said, you know, Kaitlan, he said that the vaccine program that the Biden administration inherited from the Trump administration was -- it was in much worse shape than they ever expected. And they didn't realize how bad it was until the final few days before the inauguration.

COLLINS: Yes, Wolf, he sounded very disappointed with what it was that they inherited.

And you know, some of those officials who were working with Operation Warp Speed are still working with the Biden administration on what's going on.

But he -- and this is kind of what we've heard from other officials. I don't think we've heard it this bluntly from the president yet that they were disappointed with the framework that they've got. You know, we've heard of Dr. Anthony Fauci say they weren't starting from scratch. They did inherit a program. Of course, people were vaccinated. We can see those numbers ourselves playing out.

But he said basically, what they got was not what they were hoping to get. And it sounded like it was kind of a surprise to them exactly what the state of that was.

And Wolf, we've kind of seen that play out over the last few days. Even in the press briefing today. No real clear answer on how many doses are currently in the federal stockpile of vaccines so far.

As officials said, behind the scenes, they're still trying to get a grasp on that, really. And so, of course, we're in the early days of the administration, but this is the problem they inherited. And so we're seeing what steps they're taking on upping the vaccine supply.

The next big challenge once those vaccines are actually available, is going to be actually getting them into the arms of the American people.

BLITZER: Yes. Standby, Kaitlan, I want to bring in our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He was listening very closely as well.

Also with us our CNN Political Reporter Nia-Malika Henderson.

Sanjay, President announcing -- President Biden announcing that the U.S. is buying 200 million more doses of the coronavirus. He says 100 million more doses from Pfizer, a 100 million more doses from Moderna. That's going to increase the U.S. stockpile from 400 million to 600 million. Does that seem realistic to you that 600 million, if you need to doses, that' 300 million Americans potentially who could get the vaccine?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think it does seem realistic. I mean, I've had conversations with people at Pfizer, including Albert Burleigh. And this is a company that's sort of planning on making, you know, hundreds of millions of doses, a billion doses and in 2021.

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Most of them earmarked for other countries. But the point is that their manufacturing capacity can be significant. Moderna is a newer, smaller company, they haven't done this. So they're going to have to scale up.

But I do think it seems pretty realistic. And I can show you the overall number of doses purchase now, by the United States. As you mentioned, going up to 300 million for Pfizer, 300 million for Madonna. Keep in mind, yet 300 million have also been purchased for AstraZeneca, 100 million from Johnson and Johnson, and that's a one shot vaccine that we may be getting some data on that over the next several days.

So if you start to put all the math together, I think you're starting to get into a position where overall vaccine supply it does seem realistic we could meet that.

It is a question not just of how much but when you get the vaccines as well. I mean, it is -- it is something that we talk about a lot. But you got to vaccinate people quickly.

Also, the more that the virus continues to spread, the more mutations that accumulates and potentially more variants. So, how much but how fast as well, Wolf.

BLITZER: So far, only Moderna and Pfizer have been approved for emergency use authorization in the U.S., although Johnson and Johnson they're getting closer, right?

GUPTA: Yes, they really are. And the way that we know that is because one thing that the FDA asks for is two months of safety data from these vaccine makers. And when we look at the calendar, we know that two month mark will actually be within the next several days.

Even possibly this weekend, they'll sort of be hitting that two month safety market. That point, they'll likely do what's called unblinding the data and they're going to find out how many people got COVID in the placebo group. How many people got COVID in the vaccinated group and see what the difference is.

You remember with the Pfizer and the Madonna trials, they show that it was 90 percent protective against people getting sick. We'll see what Johnson and Johnson is. But the early data looks promising in that. The vaccine was making a lot of antibodies. Just got to see, does that translate and actually reducing illness?

BLITZER: You know, Nia, the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki today said that even when President Biden is in a meeting about another issue, he pushes his team for coronavirus updates. This is the number one issue facing the United States right now.

It's clear that getting a handle on this pandemic, Nia, specifically on vaccine distribution is, is so important right now and it's topping the agenda for this new president.

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Very much so and very different from the way we saw President Trump, former President Trump handle the coronavirus, wasn't very interested in going to briefings, having briefings and you see a very different footing from this president.

Having the kind of announcements, having Dr. Fauci talk to the American people who are worried about the rollout of this vaccine so far, worried about whether or not they can get it, there has been a real dearth of information in these individual states.

I don't know how many folks out there have tried to get their relatives vaccinated. It's a real kind of maze and a patchwork of different systems in different states. So, you know, having kind of this information from the White House in a national plan, and a national sense of urgency. That's also what I think Biden is bringing, it's so different from the outgoing administration.

But also some hope you saw at the end of his talk there. He said, keep the faith, right. There are a dark days ahead, but there is also a national plan and some hope that by the summer, the fall, people who want to get vaccinated from all age ranges and all groups can actually get that vaccination.

So listen, this is the big challenge of this country. It's the big challenge of President Biden. All presidents have some big huge challenge they must face and solve. So he, I think is hitting the ground running right away with this problem that every American is dealing with in some way or the other in their individual lives.

BLITZER: Yes, he said the brutal truth is it's going to take months, he said. We're going to face setbacks, he added. But as you pointed out, he said help is on the way.

You know, Kaitlan, there was some initial confusion within the Biden administration about just how many doses of the vaccines that the U.S. actually had on hand. Have those questions now been answered?

COLLINS: We still haven't gotten a full clear picture of what exactly is in the stockpile right now. I've talked to officials behind the scenes that we've been dealing with on this. They say there's a lot of complications that go into that, what's being distributed, what's being shipped, what's actually being injected. It's not just an easy picture to just check what's there.

But of course, that is key to knowing to what your goals are going to be. And so that's been a big question for the White House given we've talked so much about that 100 million doses in 100 days goal that Biden set for himself.

And so, Wolf, the other question is these qualifications that come with getting a vaccine. You know, every single person knows what it is the age limit in their states if what your job is qualifies you for a vaccine. And yesterday, President Biden said he believed by this spring that everyone who wanted one would be able to go and get one, meaning those restrictions would not likely apply, not meaning there's enough supply for everyone.

[17:15:08]

But today, the press secretary said that's an aspirational timeline. So, that's been a big question as well is when those are going to look differently.

And so that will likely be affected by, of course, these numbers when they actually get these updated timelines for when they can receive these additional doses of vaccines. But no, we still haven't gotten a clear look at what it is that's in the stockpile. And so that's a big question that, of course, remains as we are moving forward through what's going on. And it's been a big question for states too.

BLITZER: Yes. President Biden said there will be a 15 percent increase in supply of the vaccines to the states from 8.6 million, he says, to 10 million doses. And that's going to be significant.

All this happening, Sanjay is there's a lot of interest in what's going to happen to the children and the schools out there. The CDC researchers actually find the schools can be a safe, can be very, very safe, as long as precautions are taken.

If schools aren't contributing to increase community spread, as these officials are not suggesting, Sanjay, is there any reason schools shouldn't be open at this point?

GUPTA: I think the evidence is accumulating that there really isn't a reason. I mean, you know, this was another study, it was an important study that you're referencing, Wolf, that came out of the CDC. And we can show it. I mean, basically, they followed 17 schools in rural Wisconsin for the fall semester. And they're just basically trying to answer a how big a deal is spread in schools. And they found that it was 37 percent lower in schools versus the surrounding community.

It's an important fact, basically saying, look, schools, if they are handled correctly, in terms of the safety precautions can be a safer place than the surrounding community. That in total, there were about 5,300 students and staff. Out of the out of that there was 191 cases that were found.

But of those 191 cases, only seven were actually linked to transmission within the school. So, this is something we've seen before, Wolf. This is another piece of evidence.

I think, you know, there's a couple of caveats. One is that every school may not have the same resources. You got to make sure you have the masks and the proper ventilation and the physical distance.

And we do have to keep an eye on these variants still, because of the variants end up being more transmissible or more transmissible among young people, that's something we're going to want to know. But other than that, I think schools appear to be, you know, much safer than I think people originally thought they would be.

BLITZER: Yes, well, that's pretty encouraging, indeed.

Everybody standby. There's more breaking news we're following.

Senators have now been sworn in as jurors in former President Trump's historic second impeachment trial. But a key vote is raising questions about whether the former president of United States Donald Trump will be convicted.

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[17:21:35]

BLITZER: We're following breaking news up on Capitol Hill where senators have been sworn in as jurors for former President Trump's historic second impeachment trial. And in a revealing move, 45 Republicans just voted to question whether the entire trial is actually constitutional.

Our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju is joining us.

Manu, today's 55, 45 vote suggests Democrats simply do not have enough Republican support to convict the former president.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no question about it. Sixty-seven votes would be needed to convict Donald Trump. And then after they would get 67 votes, then a simple majority of 51 senators could bar Trump from ever holding office again.

But it is clear after today's vote, those votes simply do not exist. Even despite what everybody saw here on January 6, that deadly rat riot that ransacked Capitol Hill that led to the deaths of several individuals, including a Capitol Police Officer terrorize the public senators, Democrats and Republicans alike in the House and the Senate. Nevertheless, Senators, in their view, Republicans don't believe these proceedings are constitutional, overwhelmingly siding on a procedural motion with Senator Rand Paul to essentially throw out the proceedings.

Now, the people who side with Paul are top Republican members, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who privately for weeks has contended that what Donald Trump did was impeachable.

Today I asked McConnell directly, was it an impeachable offense that Donald Trump did, leading up to that January 6 riot, he would not say. But his conference has been moving closer and closer to Donald Trump's position over the last couple of weeks, raising concerns about, in their view, that is not proper for the Senate to go after a former president once he has left office.

That is going to be a central question now in this trial going forward. I am told, along with our colleague Jeremy Herb, about the House Democratic managers' impeachment case that they plan to bring and argue on the Senate floor in the week of February 8.

They plan to detail video evidence, visceral evidence about exactly what occurred on Capitol Hill that day trying to show how Donald Trump influence the actions of the rioters both in his public comments and both. They're trying to also understand what he is doing privately.

There's still discussions about whether they can bring witnesses in or whether some individual could perhaps shine some light on Donald Trump's thinking. But if not, they plan to detail what he did with video evidence.

Now, at the same time, Wolf, there's still questions about how long this proceedings will last. Democrats believe it will take some time to make their case that these proceedings are constitutional.

In the aftermath of what we saw today, Democrats know that is going to have to be a central thesis of their argument that there is nothing in the constitution that prohibits the Senate from trying a former federal officer if he or she were to resign their office.

So that is going to be a key part going forward. But no question about it, today's vote indicates the high hurdle Democrats face in trying to convict the former president, despite what happened here on January 6, Wolf.

BLITZER: You're absolutely right.

All right, Manu, thank you very much.

When the senators were sworn in for the impeachment trial, each one actually signed a juror book promising to do impartial justice. Among them, Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii who's joining us now.

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Senator Hirono, thank you so much for joining us.

Just heard Manu's report, only five of your Republican colleagues voted with all of the Democrats today saying the impeachment trial is constitutional. Five is not enough. You need 17 to vote in favor of convicting the president. Do you believe there's any chance at all that this former president of the United States could be convicted in light of the vote today?

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): The Republicans continue to show that they don't want to hold this president responsible for inciting an insurrection, which we all witnessed, by the way. And so they continue to be more afraid of Trump and his base than their responsibility to face up to what the president did. And so there you go.

And, frankly, the trial being unconstitutional as a fringe position. But it's their use it is their escape hatch, so that they can continue do not hold this president responsible.

BLITZER: Well, I think you agree, I think you agree, Senator, that if these 45 Republican senators think the whole thing is unconstitutional, that there should be no trial of a former president of the United States, they say that would be unconstitutional. The chances of them voting to convict him and what they regard as an unconstitutional trial are about nil, right?

HIRONO: Yes, they're calling this unconstitutional is just an escape hatch for them. As I said, that is a fringe position.

People like Larry Tribe, there are a lot of constitutional lawyers who say there's absolutely nothing that prevents the Senate from holding this president accountable for inciting an insurrection. So, it's just another excuse as far as I'm concerned.

And I think it's a -- it does such a disservice to our country into democracy to have these Republicans be more afraid of Trump and his base than living up to their constitutional responsibility to hold them accountable. But there you have it. And that doesn't mean that this file should not continue.

If the Republicans cannot gather up enough courage to listen to the evidence, and by the way, we were all witnesses to this violent insurrection, then they're going to have to live with themselves. And that's it, that is how I view it.

Individuals have to look to their own conscience. But we've already seen a sign of where the Republican of conscience is. It's nowhere.

BLITZER: Even though it's five Republican senators who said --

HIRONO: Yes.

BLITZER: -- it was constitutional.

HIRONO: Yes. Except for those five.

BLITZER: There's no -- there's no, no guarantee, though, they will vote to convict. They're just saying it's a constitutional --

HIRONO: Yes.

BLITZER: -- trial. We'll see what happens.

Senator Hirono, thank you so much for joining us.

HIRONO: Thank you. Take care.

BLITZER: There's more breaking news here in THE SITUATION ROOM with more than President Biden's dramatic new efforts to boost our country's lagging COVID vaccination effort. We're going to talk about that and more with the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo who's standing by live.

Plus, the latest on the manhunt for the rioters who actually attack the U.S. Capitol. At least 150 of them have now been charged.

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[17:32:38]

BLITZER: This hour's breaking news and a major announcement just a little while ago, President Biden outlined his plan to increase the supply of coronavirus vaccines to the states. He's planning to order an additional 200 million doses of the two vaccines and he's promising to have enough vaccine for 300 million Americans by the end of this summer. We can only hope and pray.

Let's discuss with the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. He's also Chairman, by the way, of the National Governors Association. Governor, thank you so much for joining us. And I understand you were actually on the phone call earlier today when the President said coronavirus coordinator, Jeffrey Zients told governors of that vaccine allocations for the states would increase, he said by about 16 percent starting next week. How was that announcement received?

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Oh, great. It's great, great news. From a governance point of view, you know, I say Amen, Wolf. We've been dealing with this COVID. It seems like a lifetime. The federal government never really accepted responsibility, right? President Trump's whole point was leave it to the states. It's up to the States.

Now, you have a new federal government with totally different approach. They came in after six days. They said we want to partner. And you have a competent, professional federal government that tells the truth.

Look at what President Biden said. Literally, he said, to solve this problem, we need the vaccine, that's the weapon that wins the war, we understand that and he's going to order it. In other words, they hadn't even ordered enough vaccine, Wolf. You have 300 million people requires two dosages, you needed 600 million. And President Biden said I'm going to order the 600 million because there was only 400 million ordered. And the end will be towards the end of the summer when we can do the 300 million vaccinations or as close as we can get with her immunity.

That's the truth. And that's competence. And that's taking responsibility short term, because you have this week to week chaos that's been going on with the federal government, where they said everybody was eligible, but there's no supply. So you have this almost public panic. Now, the states will know what they're getting every week for the next three weeks, and we're getting about 16 percent to 17 percent more.

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So at least now, we can do a schedule for three weeks and we can schedule appointments, and start to run on an efficient basis rather than what's been going on.

BLITZER: So what questions, if I could ask, did you and your fellow governors, and you're the Chairman of the National Governors Association, what questions did you have for Jeffrey Zients and the new administration?

CUOMO: Well, you know, the governors are in charge of actual managing and doing, right? So, we tend to be granular and specific in our questions. We had questions about how much federal aid will be provided in the distribution through agencies like FEMA, how we can use the National Guard. And we got good news on both the federal government will reimburse for the National Guard and FEMA, they'll pay all the federal share, which is a very big deal for us.

And then the predictability so we can actually schedule. And when we start to see a ramp up, and that's -- that they're going to order the medicine because the cupboard was bare, they're going to order enough vaccines, so it can be done in six months. And I think now you can give the American people a timetable. Because what's caused so much confusion right now in our state, by the federal guidelines, seven million people, Wolf, are eligible for the vaccine. But I only get 250,000 dosages.

So they told seven million New Yorkers, you're eligible, but it would take seven months for you to get the vaccine. That's just madness. And it made people more anxious.

Look, incompetent government can kill people. This is not a joke, and more people died here than needed to. And what you hear -- heard from President Biden as just on a professional level, not a partisan level, Jeffrey Zients, Dr. Walensky, these are pros and it's a pleasure.

BLITZER: As you know, Governor, I don't have to tell you this, but I'll share it with you. There's some new research just came out from the CDC that finds in person education is not necessarily linked to a significant increase in coronavirus transmissions as long as the schools take all the serious precautions. Based on this guidance, is there any reason that schools across New York State shouldn't be open?

CUOMO: No. But I don't think that's breaking news. I mean, the CDC did just say it. But countries around the world had been showing that for weeks, if not months. I said here in New York months ago, that all the data says the schools are safer than the surrounding community.

And if the school is safer than the surrounding community, keep the schools open and keep the children in the school. We do more testing in New York, Wolf, than any state in the country. So we know what the testing is in the community, what the infection rate is in the community and what the infection rate is in the school. And it is almost across the board always lower in the school.

So my position has been keep the schools open, they're safer. Plus, you're actually educating children. When you go to this remote learning, there's all sorts of disparate impact on who actually has a computer, who has internet access, who has somebody to help. And it's the poor, the black and the brown child that tends to be left behind. So, I'm glad the CDC confirmed that. But all data up until this point has said the same thing.

BLITZER: So when do you think all the schools in New York State will have i-class learning went back to normal?

CUOMO: Well, I think you're going to see it on a locality by locality basis. And frankly, it's going to be a big item for the teachers union. But we know we can do the testing. We know it's safer than the surrounding community. So why wouldn't you keep the schools open? That has been my position?

BLITZER: Because the argument is that the teachers union, the biggest obstacle, they don't want it, is that right?

CUOMO: Well, in many areas, yes. Now, I think the teachers union, if they know that it is safe, and there is testing and you see the data, and it's safer than shopping in your local community, what's the argument. And part of President Biden's plan is he's going to provide more testing capacity to get more testing in schools to prove that very point.

[17:40:01]

BLITZER: Good luck with all of -- I know the parents they want their kids back in schools. Kids want to be back in school. Good luck with this. This is so, so significant.

Governor Cuomo, thanks so much for joining us. We'll stay in close touch.

CUOMO: Thank you very much. Thanks for having me, Wolf, a pleasure.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Coming up, at least 150 suspects now face federal charges as a result of the Capitol law riot. Standby, we have new information on the nationwide (INAUDIBLE).

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BLITZER: Breaking news, federal authorities now has charged at least 150 suspects in connection with the Capital riot. They gave an update of the investigation during a news conference earlier today. Let's go to our Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider. Jessica, so how much progress have they actually made?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, they are laying it out all by the numbers and it goes something like this. They've identified 400 suspects so far and the Fed say that this list is growing by the hour. They say that they've gotten tips on these people from their family and their friends as well. And the acting U.S. attorney is now telling us that anyone who had criminal intent on January 6th regardless of whether they actually entered the Capitol, that they will be charged and that includes people who may have assaulted law enforcement officers.

Now, we have seen 150 people charged federally so far and the charges will be getting a lot more serious. Prosecutors, they're building toward charging many of these riders with seditious conspiracy that carries a hefty penalty of 20 years in prison.

[17:45:05]

In fact, the feds talking about the fact that they've already charged three people with conspiracy, including one paramilitary group leader from the group oathkeepers. So they'll really be building more charges against people who may have planned extensively for this attack. And the DOJ also announcing that they have devoted special teams investigating the deaths of that Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, and the protester who was shot and killed.

Plus, they are still actively searching for any suspects involved implanting those pipe bombs. Remember, that was near the DNC and the RNC just blocks from the Capitol and they do keep asking the public for any tips, Wolf, they can help make this arrest. They've been putting this play out now for three weeks. But they're still waiting for more information on that, Wolf?

BLITZER: Yes. They need more information. Jessica, we also heard today that the Acting Capitol Police Chief actually apologized to the lawmakers for having been unprepared for this deadly riot. Tell us about that.

SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's right. So this is acting Chief Yogananda Pittman and she admitted that there were major missteps, and that the department was just not prepared for what they knew was coming. She now admits that the lockdown of the Capitol, it may have not been implemented properly, that radio communication may have just been hard to hear, and that there was too little manpower.

So this is what she said in a statement to lawmakers putting it this way. "We knew that militia groups and white supremacist organizations would be attending. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. We knew that there was a strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target."

But they just were not prepared here. And that speaks to what we've previously reported, Wolf, many officers with Capitol Police, they felt abandoned and betrayed by the leadership at the department. And now the Acting Chief herself admitting that there were many failures here, Wolf?

BLITZER: Yes, it was a major, major failure indeed. They got to learn the lessons to make sure it doesn't happen again. Jessica Schneider, thanks for that report. Appreciate it very much.

There's more breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM, President Biden announcing a dramatic new effort to get more Americans vaccinated against the coronavirus. And the stage is now set for former President Trump's historic second impeachment trial as senators are sworn in as jurors.

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BLITZER: The White House says President Biden confronted the Russian President Vladimir Putin over several issues today in their first phone call since President Biden took office. Among them, the poisoning and now detention of the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Tens of thousands of Russians have been demonstrating in the streets in support of Navalny including a notable number of young people.

Let's go to CNN's Fred Pleitgen, he's joining us now. He's got details. So Fred, what's the latest? What are you learning?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf. You know, a lot of those young people, I was at that demonstration that took place here in Moscow, and of course, there were many others across Russia at this past weekend.

A lot of those young people said, look, they've never really known another leader here in this country except Vladimir Putin and a lot of them are very unhappy about a lot of things that are happening here in this country, not the least of which is the treatment of Alexei Navalny, and they believe that they need to stand up and speak up now. Here's what we're learning.

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PLEITGEN (voice-over): Tonight, supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gearing up for more protests after coming out last Saturday demanding his release from prison confronted by scores of riot cops and a heavy-handed response. Russia without Putin, some yelled, clearly noticeable the mainly younger people in the crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Generally, I'm happy about how things are going in Russia and as well I'm really -- I feel sad for us, I feel sorry for him because he definitely does not deserve this.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Russian state media is trying to portray the protesters as radicals, but especially the younger ones also as shallow and naive, brainwashed by content on social media. But political science student and TikToker Mihail Petrov says their grievances are real.

MIKHAIL PETROV, STUDENT, TIKTOKER: I don't want to be under the Putin's regime anymore because they've been living under this regime of their whole life and they want something better.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Alexei Navalny called for the protests after being detained as he returned to Moscow after five months recovering from poisoning by the chemical nerve agent Novichok. Navalny's group also released an investigation into Vladimir Putin's alleged wealth, calling it, quote, Putin's palace.

In a sign that the claims made in the investigation and the nationwide protests are becoming a problem for the Russian leader, Putin, who won't even mention of only by name, used an event with handpicked youths (ph) to publicly deny and try to mock the allegations. It's boring girls, Putin said, but the joke might be on Putin himself.

Social media already ridiculing his alleged extravagant taste like this rap video taking aim at an aqua disco that Navalny's investigation claims is installed inside the palace. However, the anger many Russians feel over alleged government repression and corruption are very serious. The head of Navalny's organization in Russia tells me.

At these rallies, people came out to support Alexei Navalny, he says, but there are so many problems and grievances in their minds, a lot of anger that's been building up. And Alexei Navalny's group doesn't plan to stop. They've called for the next major protests across all of Russia for this weekend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[17:55:12]

PLEITGEN: And, Wolf, just to give you an idea of how emboldened Alexei Navalny supporters feel right now, you know, Moscow really well. Well, the next protest that's set to happen, the one that's set to happen here in Moscow is going to be around Lubyanka Square that is, of course, the home of Russia's Intelligence Service, the FSB, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, just stay safe over there. Fred, thank you very, very much. Fred Pleitgen in Moscow.

There's more breaking news we're following, President Biden's new vaccine promise. We'll update you on that when we come back.

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