On this "Face the Nation" broadcast moderated by Margaret Brennan:
Click on right here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: Omicron's winter wave continues to threaten the unprotected.
We'll speak completely this morning with Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Throughout America, temperatures are plunging, COVID circumstances are spiking, and the Biden administration is struggling to speak simply the place we're with COVID and the way finest to battle it.
(Start VT)
JOE BIDEN (President of the US): Having COVID within the setting right here and on the earth it's in all probability right here to remain. We're going to have the ability to management this.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is the criticism of the administration's messaging on COVID justified?
We'll speak with the brand new mayor of New York Metropolis, Democrat Eric Adams. His metropolis is an epicenter of the Omicron surge, and going through the problem of maintaining youngsters secure in colleges. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb will even be with us.
Plus: With the clock now ticking in a midterm election 12 months, congressional Democrats are feeling the strain to get issues accomplished quick, first merchandise up, reforming voting legal guidelines.
(Start VT)
SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL (R-Kentucky): It is not a voting rights invoice. It is a sprawling, sweeping takeover of our democracy.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: However standard issues. Republicans should not on board.
Exterior Washington, some states have handed legal guidelines limiting poll entry. Others have expanded it.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rebuffed former President Trump's try and tamper with the outcomes of the 2020 election. Now he is overseeing controversial new voting legal guidelines in his state.
Election skilled David Becker will even be with us.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
It was a sobering first full week of the brand new 12 months, marked by hovering COVID infections, depressing climate in many of the nation, and painful recollections evoked by the primary anniversary of the January 6 rebellion.
However it's a new week.
And we wish to flip our focus to what's forward in 2022, significantly in an election 12 months.
And there may be maybe no higher visitor than the Speaker of the Home, Nancy Pelosi.
Good morning to you, Madam Speaker.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (D-California): Good morning. Good morning to you, and completely satisfied New Yr.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Joyful New Yr.
I do not assume any of us needed to begin with this Omicron surge that we're seeing occur. And I do know, in Congress, you're seeing infections spike as properly, N95 masks now being given to workers.
How will this surge affect the work that you'll be able to do within the coming weeks?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, earlier than I am going into that, I simply wish to say that I come right here on this Sunday morning contemporary from the service celebrating the lifetime of Majority Chief Harry Reid.
Two presidents of the US spoke. The management of the Congress, the vp was there, governors, everybody. However nothing was as eloquent than the voices of his -- the voices of his youngsters who spoke about their father.
So, being right here on this on the Senate facet, I've to start by praising and remembering Harry Reid.
COVID is -- it's the middle of all of it. It is concerning the well being of the American individuals, in fact, nevertheless it's additionally about its affect on our economic system, the training of our youngsters, the protection of everybody at work or at school.
So, the -- I stay up for our making the most of advances in science on this, that there's a capsule that may be capable of intervene early -- in early levels. And we wish to have the assets out there to do this.
The problems earlier than the Supreme Courtroom might be crucial, as two payments -- excuse me -- two circumstances there, one about well being care employees, one concerning the president's mandate for going past well being care employees.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: So, there's a whole lot, whether or not it is laws for extra assets, whether or not it is the courtroom's choice and the remaining. And, additionally, it is nearly our personal taking private duty to remain secure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If you say laws for extra assets, $6 trillion has already been spent over the course of this -- has been allotted over the course of this pandemic.
Are you saying that you simply want extra coronavirus reduction? And can that go within the spending invoice when authorities funding runs out subsequent month?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, the -- once more, we've to guard the funding that's there. Most significantly, we've to guard the well being of the American individuals.
Now, the administration has not made a proper request for extra funding, however it's clear from the chance that's there and the -- once more, the problem that's there from the resilience of this virus.
And viruses are -- the extra they unfold, they're transmitted, the extra they mutate. So the nice recommendation, for everybody to get vaccinated, to be masked, to have spatial distancing, and the remaining, and to be examined, examined, examined, proceed to be vital.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When you've this authorities funding deadline, February 18, I imagine it's...
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: ... you've that chance to bundle collectively maybe another issues right here.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will you attempt to prolong the kid care tax credit score at the moment, because it has expired?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, that is a distinct invoice.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: That's within the Construct Again Higher laws.
Within the appropriations invoice, which is to maintain authorities open, we're in these negotiations now underneath management in our Home of Rosa DeLauro, our distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee, and we should discover a resolution.
Now, I am an appropriator. That is my tradition in Congress appropriations and intelligence. And I imagine that, left to their very own units on either side of the aisle, that the appropriators can get the job accomplished.
The -- one thing like extra funding may be in there. It may be fenced off for emergencies, as can be COVID.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: The kid tax credit score, we've to have that battle, that dialogue within the Construct Again Higher laws.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you will not be pulling that out as any form of stand- alone or any form of attachment at this level?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, I might hope to. However as a way to do that -- as a way to go the Construct Again Higher, it is underneath reconciliation, we solely want 51 votes.
The invoice that's the reconciliation, the appropriations invoice requires 60 votes within the Senate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: So, we've to do what is feasible there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, Senator Manchin has made clear it is not attainable at this level.
It appears like you are attempting to revive these talks. Are you -- the place is that? Have you ever spoken to the senator?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, I've spoken to the senator over time.
I do assume there's an settlement to be reached. It is so vital for our nation, whether or not we're speaking about proper now the necessity for youngster take care of mothers and dads whose youngsters might or will not be at school. Youngster care is so vital on a regular basis, extra vital even now, after we're speaking about common pre-Okay and youngster care, and we're speaking concerning the youngster tax credit score, we're speaking about residence well being care...
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: ... all of these issues, develop the Inexpensive Care Act to incorporate those that weren't expanded underneath Medicaid in a few of these states.
However along with that, we see climate. And that climate it is telling us that we should do what's within the invoice to deal with the local weather disaster, which is inflicting so many uncommon pure disasters, not all of them from local weather, however exasperated by it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
Effectively, the White Home is placing its shoulder behind this push for voting rights and election legislation vs. Construct Again Higher, within the coming days, not less than.
I wish to ask you, if you look across the nation, there are various states which might be altering their very own election legal guidelines, and it may enhance the prospect for partisan interference on the subject of certifying an election final result.
Have you considered that situation for these midterm races? Would you decide to seating an elected particular person if their election will not be licensed within the state that they're elected out of? I imply, whatever the final result, will you seat them?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, first, let's get the invoice handed.
I believe that the order of issues may be very applicable. There's nothing extra vital for us to do than defend our Structure and our democracy.
What the Republicans are doing throughout the nation is known as a legislative continuation of what they did on January 6, which is to undermine our democracy, to undermine the integrity of our elections, to undermine the voting energy, which is the essence of a democracy.
So, we've to do this invoice. There isn't any extra vital invoice. That allows us to help and defend the Structure of the US.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There should not the votes within the Senate for that at this level. So I am -- how will you deal with...
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, we simply should preserve engaged on that. We simply should preserve engaged on it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However have you ever thought -- have you considered that situation? As a result of it's a potential situation for these upcoming races, the place you've this dispute on the state stage. How will you deal with that?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Effectively, it is not a query of how we are going to deal with one thing a 12 months from now.
What's vital proper now's how we defend and defend the Structure and the voting rights. What they're doing -- and also you identified very clearly, and I thanks for that -- that they don't seem to be solely suppressing the vote, suppressing the vote; they're nullifying elections, saying, properly, it would not matter who will get extra votes. It issues who the three individuals we appoint to research that, what they resolve.
We can not let that occur. And on this laws -- thanks for taking us down this path. On this laws, there are stiffened penalties for what they're doing to election officers...
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: ... what they're doing and threatening elective officers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively...
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: This can be a very main menace on our democracy.
This laws is crucial. And we've to maintain working as a way to get the job accomplished.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: As a result of it's as very important as any laws we may ever go.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're going to be speaking about election integrity later in this system.
Thanks very a lot, Madam Speaker, to your time this morning.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: It was my pleasure to be with you.
Joyful New Yr to you. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Joyful New Yr.
Face the Nation might be again in a minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to COVID-19.
Information continues to recommend that the Omicron variant is much less extreme than others. However the CDC warns that the surge will stress the well being care system within the coming weeks, essentially the most weak, youngsters, who're both too younger to be vaccinated or who're simply not vaccinated in any respect, together with these over age 65.
This is Mark Strassmann.
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MAN: These individuals are not in line. Do not give them one!
MARK STRASSMANN (voice-over): It is the identical scene throughout, People on a scavenger hunt for COVID exams.
AUTOMATED VOICE: At the moment, we're bought out of COVID exams.
MARK STRASSMANN: Empty cabinets, lengthy traces, Colorado, Indiana, even Massachusetts, residence to one in all America's highest vaccination charges.
And but, one way or the other, Florida, lengthy a bullseye for the virus, managed to let as much as a million COVID exams expire in a warehouse. One critic known as it heartless.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS (R-Florida): There wasn't a whole lot of demand for them. They've been sending them out as requested.
MARK STRASSMANN: COVID anxiousness and COVID testing are each spiking now that the vacations are behind us. That is Glynn County, coastal Georgia. Six instances as many individuals lined up for exams the primary week of January than the week earlier than.
Omicron now surges all over the place with astonishing velocity. Contract tracing is just about nugatory. Contemplate this. It took six months for the U.S. to report its first 4 million circumstances. The final 4 million took one week.
That is Southeast Georgia Well being System close to Savannah. Its COVID sufferers greater than doubled in a single week.
MACEY FLOYD (Nurse, Southeast Georgia Well being System): Each mattress is taken. The E.R. is full.
MARK STRASSMANN: Nurses like Macey Floyd preserve working a COVID marathon.
MACEY FLOYD: I do not know when a end line might be. I do not see one. I believe COVID is one thing we will be coping with for some time.
MARK STRASSMANN: Much more worrisome, the CDC says pediatric hospitalizations have hit a pandemic peak, largely youngsters underneath 4, too younger for the vaccine.
On this week's COVID follies, the CDC's ever-evolving, constantly complicated steering. Practically two weeks in the past, the company halved its isolation advice for contaminated individuals from 10 days to 5, then rejoin the world with out passing a check first.
Its new steering? Taking that check is as much as you.
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY (CDC Director): If that check is optimistic, individuals ought to keep residence for these additional 5 days.
MARK STRASSMANN: The American Medical Affiliation is having none of it: "These suggestions should not solely complicated, however are risking additional unfold of the virus."
Consultants predict Omicron's surge throughout the U.S. to peak quickly, however no query our subsequent couple of weeks might be tough.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mark Strassmann reporting in Brunswick, Georgia.
We go now to former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who sits on the board of Pfizer.
Good morning to you, Physician.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB (Former FDA Commissioner): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You mentioned we'll be working previous the Omicron wave by February. Do you stand by that trajectory? And will we get to breathe a sigh of reduction at that time?
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Hopefully, we do,
I imply, many individuals, together with myself, have predicted that Delta can be the final main wave of an infection. Then Omicron and got here alongside, which was -- represented form of divergent evolution, I believe shocked us that the virus was capable of mutate so closely and evade the immunity that we've acquired.
However in the event you look what's occurring throughout the East Coast proper now in New York Metropolis, Washington, D.C., Maryland, in all probability Florida as properly have already peaked, perhaps Delaware and Rhode Island. You are going to begin to see that within the statistics this week. You are going to begin to see these curves, these epidemic curves bend down.
You're already seeing that in New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C. The chance proper now's to the Midwest, the place you've rising an infection, the place they don't seem to be within the thick of their Omicron wave but. And you've got states that had excessive hospitalization charges going into this. That they had a whole lot of Delta an infection. That they had been popping out of their Delta wave, so their hospital census was already excessive.
And now they're seeing Omicron infections choose up. On the nice facet, hospitalizations are down relative to circumstances, however circumstances are up considerably, so it is urgent hospitals. Most of the hospitals on the East Coast are going to succeed in or surpass their earlier hospitalization totals.
New York Metropolis might be town that is finest geared up to deal with it. They're about at 55 p.c of the hospitalizations that they noticed throughout that devastating first wave. However in different states, they're extra pressed. They're near one hundred pc of the hospitalizations they noticed in earlier
waves.
Lastly, on the nice facet, size of keep is down considerably, so size of keep has gone from 4 days to 1.6 days within the survey by Kaiser, for instance. In order that's permitting hospitals to show over beds. However the sheer velocity of the unfold proper now and the variety of hospitalizations is urgent them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, the velocity of that is simply unimaginable.
What ought to mother and father do over the following two to 3 weeks? As a result of the unprotected are these ages 4 and underneath. We all know it is simply not sensible for fogeys to not drop their youngsters off at day care tomorrow or not ship their youngsters to preschool.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Look, there's a whole lot of threat proper now.
I believe you need to look in on what the precautions are within the settings by which you are placing your youngsters and attempt to encourage those that are caring for your youngsters in these settings to place in place measures to attempt to defend them.
The chance is to younger youngsters proper now. In case you take a look at New York Metropolis, for instance, absolutely 55 p.c of the hospitalizations, the pediatric hospitalizations are youngsters ages zero to 4, and so they solely characterize 26 p.c of the inhabitants. So, we're seeing a whole lot of hospitalizations in these youthful age teams, the place the youngsters are largely unvaccinated...
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: ... 5 to 11 as properly, the place vaccination charges are very low. Solely 16 p.c of 5-to-11-year-olds have been absolutely vaccinated.
I believe the previous guidelines apply. Attempt to encourage social pods in these settings, hand hygiene. I believe masks may be useful the place they are often worn. It is arduous with the very younger youngsters.
Making an attempt to maintain youngsters distanced. The perfect factor that colleges may very well be doing proper now's serial testing. Once more, arduous to do with the very younger youngsters, though you are able to do pooled samples, like saliva exams. And in addition maintaining them in social pods, so, when you've got a category of 10 attempting to interrupt it down, so all the youngsters aren't intermingling, so when you've got a single introduction, it is not going to take down an entire class.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the CDC tips -- we have talked about this for years now -- they proceed to be altering. They proceed to be murky.
Are you able to assist -- if I tick via a few of these fundamentals, are you able to assist give us some readability right here? The U.Okay. says 10 to 13 p.c of individuals will nonetheless be infectious from COVID on day six. On day six in the US, the CDC says you'll be able to return to work, you'll be able to return to highschool, however they inform you do not go to a restaurant and do not journey.
What do you do on day six, Physician?
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Proper.
And, look, the CDC'S steering really useful that you simply put on a masks for 5 days after your isolation interval, recognizing that a sure cohort of individuals are nonetheless going to be exhibiting the virus.
I believe what underlies the CDC advice there's a recognition that that is an epidemic that is not being instigated, unfold, if you'll, by individuals who get recognized, isolate for 5 days, and return into public circulation day six. Whereas a sure share of them will nonetheless be
infectious, they are not driving the pandemic.
What's driving the pandemic proper now's the truth that we're in all probability solely diagnosing someplace between one IN 5 and one in 10 precise infections, and there is lots of people strolling round with delicate sickness or asymptomatic an infection who do not know it who're spreading it.
So, in the event you begin from that premise, and if CDC was form of up entrance about that premise, what it actually tells you is that, in the event you're -- in the event you're somebody who's remoted for 5 days, and, on day six, you are going to return to work, you could be conscious of what the setting is that you simply're reintroducing your self into.
Are you caring for people who find themselves weak at residence? Are you going right into a well being care setting or one other setting the place there's weak individuals? And, in case you are, you could be extra vigilant. Perhaps use a diagnostic check to ensure you're not shedding virus. You actually put on a masks in that circumstance.
However I believe, if CDC was extra granular, extra descriptive in what they have been really doing and why...
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: ... and the truth that they acknowledge that there is going to be a sure variety of people who find themselves infectious, individuals may take extra actions on their very own.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If individuals can discover a check.
The Biden administration will start distributing them to households. The reporting is, by January the fifteenth, they are going to begin delivery out 500 million of them. That is probably not going to assist individuals on the East Coast proper now who're looking for within the midst of this surge a approach to check such as you're describing.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Yeah, look, it is unlucky. We began this late. We should always have accomplished this earlier.
You are proper. These exams are going to be distributed as this epidemic is declining in lots of components of the nation, not all components of the nation. So, for sure components of the nation, the exams are going to get there in time or in time for the height an infection.
I believe they might have been higher served by immediately subsidizing the exams and having them delivered via regular retail channels, like pharmacies, relatively than delivery these via the mail. We have to begin to normalize the availability chain for the instruments that individuals want to guard themselves from this pandemic.
It is not simply the diagnostic exams, but in addition the vaccines and the therapeutics. We have to begin occupied with how we distribute these via regular retail channels, the place individuals are used to accessing well being care providers, and never these government-directed channels, that are going to make it tougher for individuals to get these in a well timed vogue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have been very clear final Sunday that you'll not be protected in the event you're carrying a fabric masks as a result of that is an airborne virus.
Given how transmissible that is, what counts as an publicity as of late? Does the quarter-hour at six ft of distance imply something, or is you strolling down the road and passing somebody by going to show you simply the identical?
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Sure, look, I actually do not assume, in an outside setting, it represents the identical stage of threat. And that is been constant all over.
However the actuality is that your threat is binary. You may have an informal encounter and contract the sickness. You may have a protracted encounter and never. CDC, with these sorts of suggestions about quarter-hour of cumulative publicity or issues like that, with six ft of distance, they're attempting to gauge, on common, the place the best threat of publicity happens, and
it happens with extended exposures in confined settings with people who find themselves contaminated. We all know that.
However the actuality is, with an airborne sickness like that -- this, in the event you're in a setting, a confined setting...
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: ... that has poor air circulation, it would not matter in the event you're six ft or 10 ft. You are going to be liable to contracting it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, which is why...
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: And this is not like radiation, the place you've a cumulative threat.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, which is why the masks issues a lot.
Dr. Gottlieb, thanks to your time right this moment.
We'll be proper again with extra Face the Nation. Stick with us.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Thanks rather a lot.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now to the disaster in Japanese Ukraine, the place Russian forces seem poised for an invasion.
Tonight, U.S. and Russian officers will start talks, with the Biden administration already saying they're open to limits on NATO navy workouts or missile placement within the area, if it is going to assist defuse tensions.
Our Holly Williams reviews from Ukraine.
HOLLY WILLIAMS: Good morning.
Right here in Japanese Ukraine, they've been preventing in opposition to Russian-backed separatists since 2014. And trenches like these now carve up this a part of the nation. The battle has turned farmland and villages into killing fields. And greater than 14,000 individuals have misplaced their lives, in response to the Ukrainian authorities.
Now, this winter, there are fears of a Russian invasion. Tens of 1000's of Russian troops, as much as 100,000 Russian troops, in response to one rely, are massed alongside Ukraine's border. And alarm bells are ringing in Washington.
Now, in response to some, a floor invasion involving tanks and artillery and armored autos is unlikely till the bottom right here freezes over. However, right here within the trenches, they've advised us they assume that it may occur at any time.
The massive query is what Russia's President Vladimir Putin is pondering and what his true targets are. He claims that Russia is a sufferer of Western aggression. And he is demanding safety ensures in return for defusing these tensions, together with rolling again NATO troops from Japanese Europe.
However right here in Ukraine, some individuals have advised us that President Putin is basically taking part in a recreation of hen, a Chilly Conflict-style recreation of brinkmanship, that's ratcheting up tensions, attempting to extract concessions from the U.S. and its European allies, and thereby maybe extending
Russian affect right here in Japanese Europe.
Now, final 12 months, the U.S. authorities gave Ukraine practically half-a-billion dollars in navy help, together with anti-tank missiles. And President Biden says that, if Russia invades, the U.S. will reply with -- quote -- "extreme penalties," financial penalties, however he has dominated out sending in U.S. fight troops -- Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Holly Williams in Ukraine.
We might be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
We flip now to the mayor of New York Metropolis, Eric Adams.
Good morning to you, Mr. Mayor.
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D), NEW YORK CITY: Good morning. Good to be on with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks.
You have got mentioned that someplace round 70 p.c of hospital beds in your metropolis are at the moment occupied. Are the hospitals near be overwhelmed?
ERIC ADAMS: No, by no means. My each day briefings with my well being care professionals -- I had one earlier right this moment -- they acknowledged that we're steady. And so they're doing a tremendous job. And people heroes and sheroes who're the nurses and docs and hospital workers, we simply want to essentially commend them for the job. And we're watching this carefully. And we're going to verify we reply and pivot as Covid continues to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, we glance -- we want you luck with that.
You have got the most important college district within the nation in your metropolis, in fact, and you've got been very clear you're maintaining colleges open. To try this, you have giving out N-95 masks, required workers be vaccinated, everybody's received to be masked, you have received air purifiers, you've routine
screening, however you are not requiring a adverse check earlier than college students return to the classroom. That is one thing they're doing right here within the District of Columbia.
Are you assured you'll be able to preserve the extent of transmission low?
ERIC ADAMS: You understand -- and it is so vital that you simply laid out the issues that we put in place, as a result of Covid is a formidable and transferring goal, and we've to pivot and shift based mostly on that. And our insurance policies have been rooted in, I would like my youngsters at school. And if my medical professionals inform me, Eric, we've to do a mandated vaccine, we will do this. However, proper now, we've introduced over 1.5 million exams in our colleges, as you indicated, N-95 masks, in addition to different assets and instruments. And we've been doing a tremendous job due to one factor, coordination and communication with our UFT and different businesses concerned. And I imagine we're doing the precise factor for our youngsters, having them within the most secure place, and that's within the college constructing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That -- you are speaking concerning the union there.
However you have stored colleges open, however the plain truth of the matter is, individuals are nonetheless going to get sick. And I do know you've had some workers scarcity because of that. Attendance at school this previous week was about 70 p.c. So about 300,000 out of 1,000,000 college students missed class.
Are you going to should elongate the varsity 12 months to make up for all this?
ERIC ADAMS: You understand, I am so glad you mentioned that as a result of I believe many individuals are lacking it. There was a tremendous article in "The New York Instances" that acknowledged that is the primary time we spent extra time and power round defending adults than the way forward for our youngsters. I am troubled that we virtually had a two-year loss for our youngsters. They're behind in math, behind in English. We will sit down with my new chancellor and state it, how will we begin doing the catch-up. As a result of distant choices should not actually getting used and cannot be used appropriately for these youngsters who haven't got entry to high-speed broadband, want the meals that they want.
I do know we've to take a look at a distinct way of life with Covid every time a brand new variant comes out.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
ERIC ADAMS: And one space is training.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you do have these staffing shortages, as many faculties are seeing across the nation. The federal authorities says they're giving out loads of cash so that you can rent individuals to return in, however how do you get somebody to take a job as a trainer proper now, in the course of a pandemic, at a low wage?
ERIC ADAMS: Effectively, we'd like them in. And our academics are paid accordingly to an excellent union contract, and so they get the help that they deserve. And we have to entice individuals to do what I prefer to say, educating is a calling. We're not simply attempting to verify we fill a job applicant. No, we would like the very best in entrance of our youngsters.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
ERIC ADAMS: And what we've accomplished efficiently right here within the metropolis is pivot and shift based mostly on the wants and the way Covid is altering. We should study to dwell with Covid, and we've to do it in a secure means.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, we might should dwell with it, however for the an infection price, once I take a look at the New York State Division of Well being report, which I simply did, it mentioned, potential elevated severity of the omicron variant might also play a task in elevated price of hospitalizations for youngsters underneath age 11.
What makes you assured that omicron is not inflicting unhealthy outcomes in youngsters when the state makes this level?
ERIC ADAMS: Effectively, let's take a look at one thing else the state -- town has acknowledged. A baby is 4 instances extra more likely to be hospitalized if they are not vaccinated. So, I'm saying to my mother and father and the individuals of New York, get vaccinated and get booster photographs. We do not have to really feel helpless, like the start of this virus in 2020. Science and international communities got here collectively. We now have the instruments that we'd like. So, let's empower ourselves with the vaccination and booster photographs.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
ERIC ADAMS: If we do this, we are going to carry down these hospital charges, and that's what I am encouraging mother and father to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However some mother and father are simply not vaccinating their 5 to 11-year-olds, at that youthful demographic. However what about youngsters who're 4 and underneath? They do not have an choice to take a vaccine, and that's the place you are seeing the quickest rising an infection price in response to the New York State Division of Well being.
Are you going to maintain daycares services open? Are you going to maintain pre- colleges open when these youngsters cannot be vaccinated?
ERIC ADAMS: Sure, we're. We will proceed to do what we're doing, coordinating with our well being care professionals. If you begin to disrupt the soundness of childcare, of daycare and training, it has a rippling affect all through our whole metropolis. Mother and father cannot preserve their youngsters residence. They should work.
The economic system can also be a part of this disaster that we're going through. And with the right steadiness of making a secure setting inside our daycares, our colleges and different areas, or mother and father can go and do the job they should do. And that's what I have to face within the metropolis. We've got to insure the monetary eco-system is wholesome, in addition to our youngsters and our households are wholesome on the identical time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Mayor, we'll be watching. Thanks to your time this morning.
ERIC ADAMS: Thanks. Take care.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All over the world we've reached one other milestone. There have now been greater than 300 million reported infections for the reason that pandemic started.
Our Elizabeth Palmer reviews from Bangkok.
ELIZABETH PALMER: Good morning.
The Beijing Winter Olympics video games are going to begin in lower than a month now, and China is desperately attempting to maintain Covid at bay, however the outbreaks have not stopped.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH PALMER (voice over): Most lately in Tiangjing (ph), commuting distance from Beijing, a military of well being care employees are testing town's 14 million residents after two omicron circumstances have been confirmed.
Within the northern metropolis of Tiang (ph), state media confirmed authorities meals deliveries to among the 13 million residents in lockdown since December twenty third. Different heavy-handed ways embrace welding shut the doorways of anybody suspected of getting been uncovered to the virus.
In Serbia, there have been demonstrations in help of the world's top-ranked tennis participant and native son, Novak Djokovic. His visa was canceled when he arrived unvaccinated in Melbourne for the Australian Open. He is now grounded in his lodge. Some tennis followers and most anti-vaxxers are livid as an Australian courtroom prepares to resolve whether or not he'll be allowed to play or be despatched residence.
Lastly, omicron is surging in Europe, with greater than 300,000 new circumstances yesterday in France alone. In Britain, hospitals are at capability. However there are, finally, very early indicators that the surge has peaked, not less than in London. Whereas Israel is now providing a second booster, that may be a fourth vaccination, to the weak.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH PALMER: Contemplate vaccine inequality, although. The world's richest nations have now given extra booster photographs alone than all of the vaccines administered by the world's poorest nations put collectively.
Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Elizabeth Palmer, thanks.
We'll be proper again.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Because the 2020 elections, Georgia has grow to be floor zero within the battle over election integrity. The state's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger joins us now from Atlanta.
Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE: Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply to remind our viewers, you grew to become identified nationally within the wake of that election since you refused to succumb to strain from President Trump when he particularly requested you to, quote, discover 11,780 votes. President Biden, in fact, gained that state by 11,779 votes.
Now you are up for re-election, and you're being primed by a Republican congressman who objected the even certifying the president's victory.
I'm wondering, do you concern that sooner or later Republicans officers in your state might attempt to change the end result of an upcoming election for purely political functions?
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Effectively, the particular person I am working in opposition to, Congressman Hice, he is been in Congress for a number of years. He is by no means accomplished a single piece of election reform laws. Then he licensed his personal race with those self same machines, those self same ballots, and but for President Trump he mentioned you could not belief that. That is a double-minded particular person. And as a pastor, he ought to know higher.
So, I'll run on integrity and I'll run on the reality. I do not know what he'll run on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However to that time, is the extent of what is at stake right here the likelihood that an election final result in your state may very well be manipulated?
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: The legal guidelines that we've in place, there have been considerations raised. However, no, the outcomes would be the outcomes. And people would be the outcomes that might be licensed. You can't overturn the need of the individuals. And so that will not matter. However, on the finish of the day, I might be re-elected and he won't be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, let me ask you about one thing that the previous president claimed this week, which, as soon as once more, he says there was fraud in Georgia. He says individuals have been being paid $10 for his or her ballots.
I do know that asking a 3rd occasion to drop off your absentee poll, one thing known as poll harvesting, is unlawful within the state of Georgia. However I'm wondering, has there been any proof that any of these ballots have been really fraudulent or forged by ineligible voters?
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: It's an ongoing investigation. What I can inform you is that we simply received that info in November 2021, a 12 months after -- over a 12 months after the election. So we would favored -- want we might have gotten it an entire lot sooner. However we have opened up an investigation. However there's – nobody has alleged that these are fraudulent ballots
These have been lawful voters and the allegation is that then they have been collected and delivered by an individual. However that is one factor that I do assume we'd like is to make it possible for nationwide there must be a legislation that bans, , poll harvesting. I do not assume that poll harvesting is nice. The one particular person that ought to contact your poll is you and the election official. So I believe that is one stable, election reform measure.
Quantity two, I believe that we must always have a constitutional modification, a U.S. constitutional modification, that solely Americans vote in our elections. And I believe we also needs to have photograph ID. We now have photograph ID for all types of voting in Georgia. We've got --
MARGARET BRENNAN: Solely U.S. residents do at the moment vote in elections, however go on.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: However we do not have a constitutional modification. Now you see cities are attempting to push non-citizen voting. And I imagine that solely Americans must be voting in our elections. And that is supported by all kinds --
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: A large majority of all People, similar to photograph ID is supported by all demographic teams and a majority of each political events. And that is what they have been utilizing in Minnesota for over 11 years for his or her absentee balloting. In order that's one other, , stable, frequent sense federal reform measure, in the event that they actually wish to get collection about election reform.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I assume there you are referring to the president and the vp, who might be touring to your state within the coming days. They're doing so to marketing campaign for 2 legal guidelines, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Proper. And the --
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Freedom to Vote Act really does promote a nationwide commonplace for states which have an ID requirement for in-person voting. You possibly can use a financial institution assertion, a utility invoice.
I'm wondering, why do you assume Republicans --
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: It doesn't have -- it doesn't have photograph ID. And photograph ID is essentially the most safe means of utilizing and ensuring that you could determine who the voter is. And I believe that is crucial. After which additionally they need same-day registration. And that is simply -- , very tough for any election official to handle. And I believe that undermines belief in elections. And proper now we have to restore belief wherever we will.
In Georgia, we have been preventing this theme of, , stolen election claims from Stacey Abrams, about voter suppression, and in 2020 it was about voter fraud. Each of them undermine voter belief.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They might each undermine voter belief, however I am certain you draw a distinction between somebody who would not maintain any form of workplace and the president of the US actively placing strain on you to search out and manufacture votes. They are not equal.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Effectively, January sixth was horrible, however the response would not have to be eliminating photograph ID after which having same-day registration. And if you do not have the suitable guardrails in place, then you definately're not going to have voter confidence within the outcomes.
In Georgia, we have really elevated the variety of days of early voting.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: We've got extra early voting now than New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I -- I perceive. However if you have been speaking about Stacey Abrams, I used to be simply acknowledging that there's a distinction, that she did not name on individuals to assault the state capitol when she was questioning the end result of the 2018 gubernatorial race.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: The president is the highest, , official that we've in our nation. And, clearly, that place of energy is simply a lot larger than a candidate working for governor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: However, be that as it might, when individuals lose races, I believe the right factor to do is admit that you simply lose. And if you wish to run once more, by all means achieve this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
Georgia has a painful previous with racial discrimination. And till 2013, states, like Georgia, needed to search some federal pre-clearance the place it got here to altering their election legal guidelines. I will not get into the entire particulars of it, however this is among the provisions that the White Home says is so vital within the John Lewis Voting Proper Act.
Do you see any benefit in the concept that there must be extra federal oversight in states which have a historical past of racial discrimination?
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Georgia has moved to this point forward. We're not the place we have been in 1965. And also you take a look at -- we hare extra early voting than all of the --
MARGARET BRENNAN: However this was in place till 2013.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: I do know. And I believe that we've proven that Georgia has honest and trustworthy elections. We've got report registrations. We've got report turnout. Anybody that desires to vote in Georgia has super alternatives to vote early, vote with no excuse absentee voting, with photograph ID, after which additionally present up on Election Day. And I will evaluate our report in opposition to different states.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Actually, we have been simply acknowledged by Heritage because the primary state for election integrity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively -- by Heritage. And I believe the general public will hear a distinct model after they -- when the president goes to your state, and that is why we needed to speak to you right this moment.
Mr. Secretary, thanks to your time.
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we are going to go immediately now to the director and founder for the Heart for Election Innovation and Analysis, David Becker.
Good morning to you, David.
DAVID BECKER, FOUNDER, CENTER FOR ELECTION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If -- I wish to speak about quite a few issues, however is there something there that the secretary laid out that you simply wish to reply to? I do know particularly on voter ID and what he known as poll harvesting, you've some views?
DAVID BECKER: Effectively, I imply, I believe there -- there's room for disagreement within the states on a wide range of the executive insurance policies round elections. What number of ballots a 3rd occasion would possibly be capable of ship from a spot like a nursing residence, how ridge an ID system must be and what sort of failsafe is there to make it possible for eligible voters do not exclude it as a result of -- do not get excluded from voting as a result of they do not occur to have ID.
However I believe what we're actually frightened about at this -- on this second in time, proper now, due to the lies being unfold by the dropping presidential candidate, are the efforts to stitch confusion and chaos into the vote counting and certification course of. That is what I am actually engaged on and within the states. And it is one thing I do know Secretary Raffensperger and his colleagues, each Republican and Democrat, across the nation are .
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we talked about that earlier with the speaker of the Home.
However wanting nationwide, 25 states enacted 62 legal guidelines that expanded voting since 2020. Practically all of them have Democratic-controlled legislatures. Nineteen states enacted 34 voting restrictive legal guidelines. All of these had GOP- managed legislatures.
If you take a look at that breakdown, what does this say to you? And when it comes particularly to Georgia, is it actually the case that what they've accomplished is Jim Crow on steroids, as President Biden refers to it, as a result of the secretary of state there says that is not what he is seeing?
DAVID BECKER: Effectively, I believe what you are seeing -- clearly, that is not the signal of a wholesome democracy. And our democracy is in disaster proper now. I am as involved as I've ever been. And definitely in these states the place
Republicans management majorities within the legislatures, these majorities are being fueled by the lies from the dropping presidential candidate of their occasion. We at the moment are over 400 days after what was, by any measure, essentially the most safe, clear, scrutinized and verified election in American historical past, extra audits of these ballots than ever earlier than, ore courtroom scrutiny and verification of the outcomes than ever earlier than, together with judges appointed by the dropping presidential candidate himself.
And so in states like Texas, Florida, Arizona, and, sure, even Georgia, we see election coverage being thought of in a means that is not fully constructive. It's partisan. It is based mostly on some false premises about how properly the election was run. The info are, in Georgia, and in these different states and all through the nation, the election was run exceedingly properly. It is outstanding how properly it was run with assets being scarce, with the best turnout we have ever seen.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
DAVID BECKER: And in the course of a world pandemic.
So, in Georgia, it is true, in comparison with many of the different states, Georgia really has fairly accessible voting insurance policies. However that being mentioned, the legislature eliminated some powers from Secretary Raffensperger, who he and his workers did a remarkably good job in 2020. They've injected some chaos into the counting certification course of that does not have to be there. However in different states like Texas it is even worse, the place the voting legal guidelines are far more restrictive and there is much more chaos being injected into the method.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, due to what's occurring on the state stage, the White Home is making the broader argument that there must be extra federal election legislation crafted. They're placing their shoulder behind two payments, and we will hear from the president within the coming days concerning the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Proper Act.
The White Home says these are completely important. They do not have the votes to go both of them. However on the premise right here that there must be extra federal oversight, do you agree?
DAVID BECKER: I believe that there may very well be some worth proper now given the unprecedented assault on our democracy, and the truth that tens of tens of millions of Americans have been led to imagine, fueled by lies, that our system doesn't have integrity. And simply to be clear, we've essentially the most integrity in American elections than we have ever had in American historical past at this second in time, and that may proceed to develop.
However there may very well be some use for some federal requirements. There's a whole lot of good issues in these two payments. However as you famous, it is extremely unlikely that both has even 50 votes to go the Senate. But when there may very well be a very bipartisan effort to take a look at the disaster points in our democracy and attempt to discover methods to resolve them in order that we do not have confusion and chaos within the post-election interval, that the one who will get essentially the most votes is asserted the winner underneath programs which might be clear, that will be actually good.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
So one of many concepts that was floated prior to now week was attempting to replace the Electoral Depend Act. In order that's one thing that -- even among the Democrats on the January sixth committee, together with Congresswoman Lofgren, had supported updating that form of archaic legislation, which was on the coronary heart of among the premise of disputing January sixth. However each of vp and the Senate minority chief each actually shot that down this week.
Actually, Senator Schumer mentioned, clarifying the Electoral Depend Act is a distraction and so, this can be a quote, it is form of like saying, properly, I'll rig the sport, however then I'll ensure you rely the rating precisely. What the hell is the purpose in the event you rig the sport to rely the rating precisely?
Had been you shocked to listen to that form of language from the Democratic chief, and may or not it's reformed, the Electoral Depend Act?
DAVID BECKER: Sure, properly, there's, clearly, a whole lot of politics being performed proper now when it comes to getting no matter payments that may be handed moved within the subsequent 12 months as we enter the mid-term elections. However I agree with many specialists and members of each events that it might be good to make clear and revise the Electoral Depend Act of 1877 -- 1887, relatively, and to make it clear that the joint session of Congress is only a ceremonial session.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
DAVID BECKER: They're simply counting the vote. It is actually -- it is actually just like the Oscars. They are not voting on who gained finest image, they're simply asserting who gained finest image.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely. Precisely.
DAVID BECKER: And, equally, that is what the joint session (INAUDIBLE), and I believe that will be actually out there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely.
Thanks, David Becker, to your perspective, as at all times.
We'll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us right this moment. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week, for FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
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