Biden visits Pfizer manufacturing site amid vaccine delays; Biden: “I believe we’ll be approaching normalcy by the end of this year… but I can’t make that commitment to you”; Power grid operator urges Texans to conserve energy despite end to electricity emergency; Israel study: Covid infections plummeted 85% after first dose of Pfizer vaccine, Canada researchers find 90% drop; Thorny political issues hang over Garland’s confirmation hearing;
The Lead with Jake Tapper
CNN
3.5 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 19 February 2021
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
WH: Backlog of 6 million vaccine doses due to weather; Biden defends Covid aid plan, says “I’m open” to GOP’s suggestions on cutting costs responsibly; 5% of U.S. population fully vaccinated; Experts estimate 70-85% needed for herd immunity; Officials: Have to work “double time” to make up for vaccine delays; Biden says teachers should be a vaccine priority; CDC says it’s not a requirement for reopening schools; Texas hit by water, food shortages after days without power; Abilene, TX fire Chief: Elderly couple reluctant to leave their freezing home later found dead; Frozen fire hydrants slowed crews battling apartment fire; Sewage seeped into Texas city after water treatment plant knocked offline; Texas governor calls on execs of power grid operator to resign; About half of Texas’ population under boil water advisory; Biden’s pushes to unravel Trump foreign agenda; Biden WH willing to sit down for nuclear talks with Iran; U.S. rejoins Paris climate deal after exiting under Trump; Biden to world leaders: U.S. will “earn back” leadership position; Dem Senator Manchin to oppose Biden pick for budget office; Sen. Graham heads to Florida to meet with Trump this weekend; Sen. Graham heads to Mar A Lago to play peacemaker, as McConnell-Trump feud rages within GOP; Sen. Thune defends Republicans who voted to convict Trump; CDC Dir: Schools can open despite community spread if masks, social distancing, other protections are in place; Manhattan D.A. investigating possible fraud claims by former Pres. Trump; GOP Sens demand Garland commit to investigating Gov. Cuomo; Garland’s opening statement to focus on independent Justice Department;
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the lead. I'm Jake Tapper and we begin with breaking news today. Just moments |
| 0:08.0 | ago, President Joe Biden wrapped up a visit to a vaccine manufacturing site in Michigan, |
| 0:13.4 | thanking employees at the Pfizer plant in Portage right outside Kalamazoo and encouraging |
| 0:18.0 | all Americans to take the vaccine once it is available to them. President Biden has previously |
| 0:23.7 | promised vaccines for anyone who wants one by July of this year. And today, Pfizer CEO |
| 0:29.9 | says they accepted a challenge from President Biden to try to produce vaccines even faster. |
| 0:34.5 | But the president says he's making no promises when it comes to getting life back on track. |
| 0:41.4 | I believe we'll be approaching normalcy by the end of this year. And God willing, this Christmas |
| 0:49.4 | will be different than last. But I can't make that commitment to you. |
| 0:53.2 | The vaccine rollout, which was already lagging, is now facing a new challenge, |
| 0:58.3 | widespread severe winter weather that has shut down shipping hubs and canceled appointments, |
| 1:03.6 | as well as transportation vaccinations. In all 50 states have been affected. The distribution |
| 1:09.0 | of vaccines in some places has been brought to a grinding halt, as Dr. Anthony Fauci put it. |
| 1:14.4 | Officials say this means the U.S. will have to work double time to catch up. CNN's Jeff Zeleny's |
| 1:20.1 | traveling with President Biden in Michigan and Jeff. The U.S. is approaching, any day now, |
| 1:25.6 | it's 500,000th COVID death. Far higher, according to official numbers than any other country in the |
| 1:32.3 | world, President Biden under a lot of pressure to ramp up vaccinations. What is he saying today? |
| 1:39.3 | Jackie absolutely is under pressure. And he knows that he owns this challenge and problem. |
| 1:43.7 | It's why he wanted to come here to the Pfizer plant behind me in Portage, Michigan to see first hand |
| 1:49.5 | and make the case that A vaccines are safe. We have not heard this message in a while because |
| 1:55.7 | there has been a shortage of vaccinations quite frankly. But as they ramp up supply, there is a worry |
| 2:00.4 | inside the White House and across the administration that the people who need the vaccines may not be |
... |
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