And i think were going to look back on this moment as a major turning point in this pandemic. It really is a remarkable scientific accomplishment. With covid19 on a rapid tear in the United States, states and hospitals around the country are reporting record high numbers of cases. Cases are coming out of the woodwork and they are very, very sick. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we still have to get through this tunnel. This is new day with Alisyn Camerota and john berman. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is new day. It is monday, december 14th, 6 00 here in new york and its a big day. Today, the First Americans will get vaccinated against coronavirus. Trucks and cargo planes packed with nearly 3 million dose fanning out across the country. This is just 11 months after the first reported case in the United States. Of course, its not a moment too soon. More than 109,000 americans are hospitalized with the virus this morning. The death toll in america will surpass 300,000 people today. More than 31,000 americans have died in just the past two weeks. Also, it is the first monday after the second wednesday in december, and you know what that means, kids . Oh, its Electoral College day . Its Electoral College day. What did you get me . i got you 538 electors meeting in capitals all around the country to cast their official votes for president. We will watch this distinct ceremonial and frankly bizarre process unfold all day right here on cnn. Joe biden will win, again, just as he did on election day, just as he did in the Supreme Court on friday. So in some ways, this is a formality when the eelectors the actually cast their votes. It is a hugely important moment historically and constitutionally. And it will provide senior republicans, many of whom have stoked undemocratic, dangerous conspiracy theories, perhaps their best chance to acknowledge the reality of joe bidens victory. Well see if they stop lying today. The Michigan House and Senate Offices are closed today, because of Credible Threats of violence over all of this. Now, in the face of all of these developments, president elect joe biden plans to address the nation tonight. We begin, though, with his historic moment on vaccines, people will start getting shots today. Cnns martin vasavidge live at Ohio State University hospital in columbus with that. Good morning, mar the u. N. Good morning to you, john. This news could not come at a much more needed time, as many hospitals in states across this country are reporting record new numbers of coronavirus cases, and of course, deaths. This pandemic, in many states, is now at its worst point ever, but finally, hope. 11 months after the United States recorded its first coronavirus case, the longawaited vaccine issen i on way. This morning, shipments of the Pfizer Biontech vaccines are making their way across the country after clearing the final hurdle from the cdc overnight and vaccinations are expected in some parts of the u. S. As early as today. I couldnt be more confident in the distribution of the vaccination. Weve worked incredibly hard over many months doing test shipments, improving our shippers, making sure they can maintain temperature during the entire journey. Workers in michigan applauding as the first vaccines were loaded on to trucks. Nearly 3 million doses of the vaccine are to be packed into cargo planes and flown out of kalamazoo, michigan. And u. P. S. And fedex will be delivering the vaccines to all 50 states. Hospitals racing to prepare for their arrival and states will have to determine who will be vaccinated first. Fda commissioner steven hahn giving this warning and recommending americans with allergies read product labeling. If you have an allergy to any component of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine, you should not receive it. We also said that those environments where the places where the vaccine will be given, there should be the tools available to administer medications and support should someone have a severe reaction, allergic reaction. Reporter this coming as the United States on more than 100,000 coronavirus patients hospitalized for the 12th consecutive day. And so far this month, the u. S. Has recorded more than 31,000 deaths from the virus. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we still have to get through this tunnel. And we really would just implore everyone to hunker down in the meantime. Because otherwise, thousands of people are going to die every single day, on our way out of this very dark period. Reporter with the rollout underway, Health Officials are hoping americans can embrace the vaccine to get back to normal, while cautioning that it may take time. Unfortunately, there was so much Politics Around in the context of developing these vaccines that theres been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are taking, if we cut corners or anything like that, i can guarantee you that no such things have happened. The first doses of this vaccine are expected here at the Ohio State Medical Center arriving shortly after 9 00 this morning. And they hope within an hour to an hour and a half of that arrival to begin the first vaccines of 20 to 30 already selected Front Line Health Care workers. Yesterday, i talked to some other Health Care Workers about the vaccine and they actually broke down and choked up as they spo spoke. This pandemic has been so bad and this vaccine means so much, you cannot overat a time that, with john. It is pushing so many people to the brink, which is why its so emotional for these front line workers. Today is a turning point. The beginning of the end. Just the beginning, the fights not over, but it is such a key moment. Thanks so much for being with us. Yeah. So these vaccines will arrive in all 50 states today. Cnns pete muntean live at the pfizer plant in michigan where they were all shipped from, and youve had this incredible Vantage Point over the last few days. What a moment here, john, especially considering the fact that we first learned about this virus only about a year ago. And now the vaccine is leaving from here. U. P. S. And fedex trucks carrying the Pfizer Vaccine rolled out of here 8 30 yesterday morning, onboard 189 boxes of the vaccine, about a thousand vials to each box. That means about a million doses are now going to all 50 states. Operation warp speed says 600 individual locals. Places like hospitals and pharmacies, cvs and walgreens. We know that the deliveries start this morning. The bulk of the deliveries really, tomorrow morning. Pfizer says months of planning, months of dry runs and preparation went into this major achievement. Seeing these trucks go by, it just gave you a thrill to know that we are helping the world. Friday night, when i got the news over our phones, i actually got a tear in my eye, because this is so, so exciting. This is history being made, right here in call kalamazoo co. Its going to take some time, because you cant fix it overnight, but its certainly a step in the right direction. Reporter the trucks that were leaving here were escorted by u. S. Marshals, as they went to airports. You know, those vaccine flights which are arriving in many states today are getting priority clearance from air Traffic Controllers to move them more quickly through the air Traffic Control system. This is a massive movement, alisyn, and it all begins right here in michigan. It sure does, pete. Wow its just incredible to watch the enthusiasm and how happy people are that they were willing to pull this off. Thank you very much. Joining us now, cnn medical analyst, dr. Jonathan reiner, professor of medicine at george wl yoofrt a Washington University and dr. Abdul sayyed. Doctor reiner, tell us what youre thinking as you watch the doses of this vaccine fan out across the country . Im a little emotional, actually. I was thinking yesterday as i was driving in to do rounds about a patient i took care a couple of months ago that had been in the hospital trying to recover from covid for four months. And he was finally discharged, so, you know, hes emblematic of resilience and seeing us now finally start to go on the offensive shows me how resilient this country is. You think about how magnificent this achievement is. This is akin to john f. Kennedy in 1962 saying that the u. S. Will go to the moon. And instead of it happening in seven years, it happens in 11 months. So im thrilled. We have a lot of work to do. The next few months are going to be very painful for this country, but now i know with certainty that were going to get through this. Theres a lot of work to do, but the skies are finally looking bright on the horizon. Its really poignant. Its an overwhelming achievement in the face of overwhelming loss. Weve lost so much over the last year, but overcome so much as well. And its just amazing to see. Its just amazing to see what science had been able to accomplish. And to think about what this will change over the next eight months. Thats right, john. This really is a medical marvel. I cant imagine, i remember sitting down, not that long ago, and reading about mrna and the idea that it could be used for a vaccine and now watching as weve created a vaccination, safe and effective, in less than a year since we even knew that a virus existed. But it is poignant today that we will cross 300,000 deaths on the same day that people will get their first vaccinations. And it is a reminder that all that has come before and all the work that we need to do to get to the end. And im also thinking about all of the folks on the ground, in all 50 states, in these 145 Different Centers who are doing the work of scrambling to make sure that we can get this safe and effective vaccine into peoples arms. And im thinking about the fact that though we have spent about 10 billion to develop this vaccine, weve really spent about 240 million to be able to do the all of the work of outreach and all of the work of logistic within states and cities to get this vaccine out. We need a lot more effort there, but the end is near. This is the beginning of the end. And it really is a moment to reflect and pause and to appreciate that we are nearing the end of this. But weve still got a lot more work to do. We do. And people obviously need to get the vaccine and well see, starting today, how that goes, if it can actually be distributed and, you know, injected into peoples arms successfully. And if people show up to get it and heres what dr. Frances collins of the nih director said in terms of the level that we need to get to to really be able to breathe a sigh of relief. Here he is yesterday. We need 70 to 80 of americans to be immune before this virus will basically give up and it will be gone. And we think we can get there by june or so, for almost all of the 330 million americans who are interested in getting this vaccine. But if only half of them do so, this could go on and on and on. Dr. Reiner, do you think june is realistic . I think its ambitious. And were ambitious people. Its going to take a lot of work. Theres also of vaccine resistance. Theres a lot of unnecessary concern about safety. Ive spoken to some docs who have maybe not wanted to be amongst the first to be vaccinat vaccinated vaccinated. I want to be vaccinated. Ill wait my turn and get vaccinated as soon as possible, but we need to educate people that this really is a safe vaccine. That although the manufacturers and the fda and the clinical trialists moved quickly, they did not rush. This is not a rushed vaccine. And we need a Massive Public health campaign, Public Education campaign to show folks just that. I understand the hhs is about to roll that out. Well see where that goes. But it starts in doctors offices. Every single time i see a patient in a clinic, i ask them if theyre going to take the Covid Vaccine when its available and we talk about safety. We talk about their concerns. This has to happen on the grassroots level. Our goal should be not vaccinating 70 to 80 of this country. Our goal should be vaccinated 1 100 of this country. Its an ambitious goal to do this by june, but i think we can do it. Look, i dont think theres anything wrong with asking the questions, but people should be very reassured by the answers about vaccine safety, particularly the safety around this vaccine and what the data has shown so far. To that end, dr. El sayyed, there was a mini controversy overnight where it was reported that white house staffers, senior white house staffers would be among the first to be vaccinated this week. President trump has backed off and said now they wont be first. Well figure out exactly when they go. Im not so sure its the controversy people think it is. I know theres probably a lot of people who were pointing fingers about the irony of this, noting that people around the president had been the ones not to wear masks and why should they get the vaccines when theyve been sort of tempting fate for so long by not Wearing Masks and not believing the science here. But, a, you want continuity of government and make sure that things can go on and we can fight this vaccine or virus with all the senior people we have. And number two, i think that americans should see or need to see as many people in power as possible endorsing the safety of this vaccine. Your view . Yeah, well, i will say this. It is important that we get folks at the very top of government vaccinated. Because at the end of the day, youre right. The multiple outbreaks that have occurred in the white house have been very disruptive to the work there. But at the same time, i can understand why people are upset. You have a white house that has at every turn pushed and peddled misinformation about this virus. And to watch them now get vaccinated against something they called a hoax, against something they said would just go away, is ironic. Now, that said, i do think youre right. I think we need everybody doing what they can to make sure that they are protecting themselves and their families. And that means getting a vaccine when its available. Weve got to make sure, though, that the attention right now is being paid, as dr. Reiner said, and as you spoke to, being paid to building a culture around what is very clear safety data. I spent several hours poring over the safety and efficacy data of this vaccine. It is remarkably safe. And aside from, you know, some pain at the injection site or maybe the malaise that youll get with your immune system kicking up to learn the code of this coronavirus, so that it can fight it, aside from that, it is extremely safe and very effective. And so we need everyone and anyone getting vaccinated when they can. And i think youre right, having that example from the white house is important. Dr. El sayyed, and dr. Reiner, thank both so much for being with us this im glad you get to watch this today along with the rest of us. Thank you. Coming up in our next hour, dr. Sanjay gupta will interview pfizers ceo live about this historic moment in the pandemic and whats next. So the Electoral College will make it official today. Joe biden is the next president. Let me be the first to tell you. Will republicans now accept the results . Thats next. Sofi made it so easy to pay off my student loan debt. chime choosing sofi was literally one of the best decisions i could have ever made because it gave me peace of mind. Who invented were car vending machines and buying a car 100 online. Now weve created a brandnew way for you to sell your car. Whether its a year old or a few years old. We wanna buy your car. So go to carvana and enter your license plate answer a few questions. And our techno wizardry calculates your cars value and gives you a real offer in seconds. When youre ready, well come to you, pay you on the spot and pick up your car, thats it. 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It is the first monday after the second wednesday in december, which by law, by law, means that 538 electors spanning 50 states in washington, d. C. , will meet in their respective states and they will formally vote on joe biden to become the next president of the United States. Joining us now, ana palmer, senior washington correspondent for politico and author of the politico playbook. Also with us, toluse olorunnipa, a White House Reporter for the Washington Post. So this is the day when the electors meet. By this bizarre quirk of the u. S. Constitution, these 538 people, theyre the runs who officially get to choose the president of the United States. News flash, its going to be joe biden, ana. But its significant. Even though as a formality, its significant this year, because it gives these republicans, who have been lying about the process so far, a chance it gives them an offramp. It gives them a chance to say, joe biden won, hes the president elect. What do you expect to see today . I dont think a lot will change. Although youre right, its another opportunity for republicans to get onboard with joe biden being the president elect. So far, they have really remained in support of President Donald Trump. I think youre actually going to see some potential shenanigans in january when they actually go and vote on it on the senate and house floor. So look for not much to change. I dont think that this is going to do much for anyone who wants to stay in president Donald Trumps good graces. And that includes the vast majority of House Republicans and even many senate republicans. Toluse, to that point, i mean, we have heard people like senator ron johnson, people like congressman Steve Scalise signaling that its not over for them today. And that they do plan to somehow well, they are open to gumming up the works, somehow on january 6th. But some others, like senator lamar alexander, are saying out loud that president elect joe biden won, so here is senator alexander yesterday. I mean, the states have counted, certified their votes, the courts resolved the disputes. It looks very much like the electors will vote for joe biden. And when they do, i hope that he puts the country first. I mean, the president , that he takes pride in his considerable accomplishments, that he congratulates the president elect and helps him get off to a good start. Okay, so is this over, toluse . Or is it not over, because some of the republicans are saying theyre going to do something in january . Well, its over in terms of the reality that joe biden is going to be the next president and all the theatrics that were seeing from the republican party. Its not going to change that. The only thing that were likely to see is that they are going to continue those theatrics and i dont to sort of performtively rye to support the president s cause, go out, make press statements saying that they believe that the president still has a chance, that he should still fight his battles in the courts, while privately realizing that joe biden will be the next president and preparing for that. So this is, unfortunate, dangerous to the democratic process. But for several of these republicans, they see it as more of a, you know, kind of a Public Private thing, where in public, they are pretending that President Trump still has a chance to be president , while in private, theyre preparing for president joe biden. So i dont expect that dynamic to change, until joe biden is actually sworn in and is in the oval office. I think as long as President Trump is tweeting, you know, we have only just begun the fight, hes going to keep his party in line and all of these republicans who dont want to get on his bad side and receive nasty tweets are going to continue to deny reality and theyre going to continue to pretend as if he has a chance to have a second term. They sound like john belushi in animal house. This is them saying, was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor . Whos with me . thats literally as ridiculous as the claims theyre making right now. Its been over, it will be over when the electors cast their votes today, and the Performance Art you speak of on january 6th is really just that. Yes, they can object. They can object on january 6th, which will delay things by several hours and make america in some ways, its unfortunate, because people will look at it and say, oh, my gosh, theres objections here. But it doesnt. Both houses of congress would need to vote to sustain those objections in order for them to count. They wont do that. This election is completely over, ana. I will say, its having an impact, though, on people. You can see this violence that weve watched over the last few days around the country. In michigan, they have to close the legislature today, because of threats that have been made there. Its unfortunate. Yeah, absolutely. The temperature is just getting turned up by the president over and over again, almost calling for inciting violence in some ways by a lot of his supporters. We looked at the protests over the weekend here in washington, d. C. , where i live. They definitely turned violent. Its unfortunate because, i think, as we can all agree, that this country has been through a really divisive period of time and President Donald Trump isnt putting the country forward, isnt trying to have a healing part of kind of moving the country forward into the next phase. I think youre going to hear today from joe biden, who continues to try to make the case that its time to come together, that cooler heads need to prevail. But, unfortunately, you really have this split screen in political theatrics at this point, which is not helpful. No, its ugly. Its ugly, whats happening. Its horrible. There is violence and its just getting ugly. Somebody needs to step up right now and try to, as you say, quell it. On the republican side. I mean, the president. To be honest, thats who would get peoples attention. Toluse, obviously, we think about this all the time. So Many Americans are struggling. Some are about to be evicted. There are food lines that stretch for miles. Whats happening this week with stimulus . Yeah, so this moderate group of senators say they are going to put out their bill later today. Well have to wait and see, as to whether or not thats able to get traction. It does appear that President Trump has largely checked out of the negotiations, but he may still try to reengage as we get closer to the deadline. I do think that the deadline wall of these millions of americans that will lose these benefits that are really keeping them in their homes and keeping them safe and being able to put food on the table, the fact that those are going to expire in just a matter of days may galvanize some level of bipartisanship and we may see some sort of a deal in which maybe some of the more controversial parts of these negotiations fall by the wayside and theyre able to pass something in the interim, before Joe Biden Takes Office that most people agree on. I think, for the large majority of the members of congress, they agree on the basic components of this. And if theyre able to just put a aside some of the things they dont agree on, maybe they can provide some relief for the American People before christmas. Toluse, ana, thank you so much for being with us on this Electoral College day. I should note, cnn is going to be following this all day long. Its really interesting to watch and youll see it play out in granular detail. It will be an education for all of us. Thank you both. A significant data breach targeting the u. S. Government and all signs point to russian hackers. We have new details, next. Experience the power of sanctuary at the lincoln wish list sales event. Sign and drive off in a new lincoln with zero down, zero due at signing, and a complimentary first months payment. With zero down, zero due at signing, youre choosing to get connected to the most to xfinity mobile, Reliable Network nationwide, now with 5g included. Discover how to save up to 400 a year with shared data starting at 15 a month, or get the lowest price for one line of unlimited. Come into your local xfinity store to make the most of your mobile experience. You can shop the latest phones, bring your own device, or trade in for extra savings. Stop in or book an appointment to shop safely with peace of mind at your local xfinity store. Developing overnight, the Commerce Department confirming to cnn that they are the victim of a data breach, believed to be linked to russia. The Washington Post reports russian government hackers also targeted the Treasury Department and other government agencies. The fbi is investigating and the post also reports the same russialinked group also breached the elite Cybersecurity Firm fire eye, which says in a statement the actors behind this campaign gained access to numerous public and private organizations around the world. This campaign may have been begun as early as spring 2020 and is currently ongoing. So such an historic day in the course of this pandemic. The First Americans will be vaccinated today. Shipments of the Pfizer Vaccine, you can see pictures there of them going out from the distribution plant, they arrived in all 50 states today. Cnns sara sidner is live at university of michigan hospital in ann arbor with more. Theyre going to get their vaccines, we expect, at some point today, im sure. Sarah, what will we see . Reporter thats right. In fact, weve just learned that they are expected to get the Pfizer Vaccine here at 8 45 in the morning. So just two hours and change from now, john. And it really is an important and historic and exciting day. Most of us dont think of excitement when it comes to vaccines, but this country and across the world, we have gone through so much and lost so many people that this is so important, especially to those front line workers who we expect at some point they will be the first to get the covid19 vaccine from pfizer. I can tell you that this Hospital System is really heavily awaiting this. And that theyve already treated and released about 1,200 plus patients here who had covid. They were able to release from the hospital, but they are still in this Hospital System 89 patients that are dealing with covid and that are being treated with covid. And those front line workers are exposing themselves every single day. So to be able to give them this vaccine, you obviously, with pfizer, you take one dose and three weeks later, you take the second dose. Theres also some logistics that we should talk about. Ive been talking to doctors and nurses in hospitals across the country. And they have to stagger this, because you cant give it to your entire team, just in case there are some, you know, people getting a little bit sick, weve been hearing that people sometimes are getting fevers, that only last a couple of days and it show ys you the vaccine working, but they want to make sure they stagger this across the country. But right now it is all about the vaccine and getting it into the arms of those front line workers and then we will go from there. Sarah, thats really interesting. I didnt know about those logistics and how to stagger this for front line workers. Thank you very much for reporting on the ground for us. Meanwhile, in new york city, they are launching a Vaccine Command Center today to handle logistics like those and to try to win the Publics Trust through community outreach. Cnns Shimon Prokupecz is live at that command center with more. Hows it going to work there, shimon . Yeah, and that is one of the biggest things, alisyn, is getting the public behind this vaccine and building the trust. And thats exactly what is going to be take on as part of this command center thats being set up here in new york city. The mayor announcing this command center thats going to oversee the distribution of the vaccine across the city. Of course, today some of the first doses being distributed. And then in the days to come, in the weeks to come, half a million doses to be distributed all across the city, by january. And so this command center behind me is going to be targeting specific communities. Of course, communities of the minority communities across the city, which the city is putting a special bifrg effort behind that, because the equity and the Fair Distribution of this vaccine is key to fighting the pandemic here in new york city, which saw many members of the black and Brown Community affected most by this pandemic. And so that is what the command center is going to be doing. Its going to be working realtime to see where the vaccine is going. Trouble shooting any problems as its distributed across Nursing Homes and pharmacies and hospitals, all across the city. In the weeks to come. Shimon, do we know what time or who will be the first person . So we dont know. Its expected, like in other places across the country, its going to be Health Care Workers. Those doctors and nurses on the front line, in the hospitals that are dealing with covid patients. So we do expect some of that this morning. We dont know exactly when or where, but we do expect that some of the first vaccine some of the first shots to be to occur this morning, we dont know yet where or exactly how thats going to take place, alisyn. We have mayor bill de blasio coming up soon in the program, so well ask him those questions also. Shimon, thank you very much for the reporting. So Indoor Dining is now banned in new york city. But contact tracers find that restaurants are not the biggest source of spread. So whats the strategy . Thats next. the Marilyn Monroe collection of fine jewellery. Exclusively at zales, the diamonds are a girls best friend store. Less oral steroids. Taking my treatment at home. Nucala is a oncemonthly addon injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. Not for sudden breathing problems. Allergic reactions can occur. 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Once dry, microban forms a bacteria shield that keeps killing bacteria for 24 hours, even after multiple touches. Try microban 24. This has been medifacts for microban 24. Developing this morning, states across the country will begin vaccinating Health Care Workers and the elderly. A record 109,000 americans are hospitalized this morning with the virus. And this comes as new york city has halted Indoor Dining, starting today, for at least the next two weeks to try to cut down on the spread. Joining us now is william haseltine, the chair and president of Access Health international, and a former professor of at harvard medical school. Professor, great to see you this morning. Let me just this is such an historic day and its such an encouraging day that the vaccinations are coming, but at the same time, there was 109,000 americans waking up in the hospital this morning. And that, you know, spike, as you can see on your screen is just going up exponentially. So all sorts of leaders are trying to figure out how to keep the hospitals from reaching capacity and from being overwhelmed. So new york is banning Indoor Dining, but contact tracers have found that thats not the source of the biggest spread. The source of the biggest spread are small family gatherings and gatherings with friends. So whats the answer . Well, ill give you a voice from doctors in california. We cant save everyone from themselves. And another doctor in california in the Central Valley where the infection rate is extremely high, we can save many people, but we cant save everyone at once. Thats a voice that i think everybody should hear. When you look at a place like california, you think of it as hightech, movie stars, but california is like the United States. Its quite diverse. North can be very rural, and there are some rates that are truly extraordinary. We call a zone red when theyre 15 per 1,000 per day. Theyre over 3,000 per 1,000 per day in some parts of northern california. And others 200, and others 100. That is way above what anybody thought could happen. Thank god theres a vaccine on the way. Yeah, i understand. I hear you. And we cant save people from themselves, and of course elected leaders are loathe to try to police indoor gatherings of families. How would they even do that . So theyre doing something at least here in new york and i know other places, cities and states are considering this, that they can control. And thats the Indoor Dining of restaurants. But do you support that . Do you think that will make a dent . It will make a small difference, for sure. Bars and restaurants are places where people gather and they do get infected. But as you say. Most of the infections can be stopped by people who are willing to take the effort to protect themselves and their family. You know, we know it works extremely well. Ive seen numbers in europe, for example, france, through very Strict Lockdown measures, has dropped their infection rate by 20 times and they thought they were going to release it over the Christmas Holidays and theyre not. Theyre protecting their people. Some of their people dont like it, thats understandable. But they enforce their rules and the result is control of the infection just before we get the vaccine. I just hope like many people hope that we can hold on and change our behavior until the vaccines are available to most people. It shouldnt be many months now. But its really important, because were not doing everything. Were the worst in the world by far in control of this pandemic. The worst in the world. I know, its such a horrible thing to be noted for, that the u. S. Is doing this so poorly. So some governors are considering stayathome orders now and again, theyre very reluctant to do that. The public doesnt want that to happen. Do you think its time . I think it probably is time, but i know, as you know, theres tremendous resistance. Part of that resistance is political. But part of it isnt. Part of it is people that need to get to work, people who dont have the adequate safety net in order to survive during this time. People we call essential workers. Its certainly essential for them to live. Because they dont have any other support. And the needed support from our government isnt forthcoming. Its a pretty complicated issue for many people. What can they do to protect themselves when theyre not receiving the kind of protection that they need from the government thats duty it is to protect our people . Professor haseltine, thank you very much for helping us see where we are today. Appreciate talking to you. And lets all pray for the vaccine soon. Absolutely i mean, i think your prayers are being answered this morning. And hopefully we will see vaccinations going into arms, even on our show this morning, perhaps. Thank you very much. Thank. Okay, whoever president elect joe biden selects as attorney general will be tasked with overseeing a federal investigation of joe bidens son. So how much does that complicate the choice and the nomination . We discuss that, next. New advil dual action with acetaminophen fights pain in two ways. Advil targets pain at the source. While acetaminophen blocks pain signals. The future of pain relief is here. New advil dual action. The only thing a disaster cant destroy is hope. Donate now at redcross. Org an herbal stress reliever ashwagandha, that helps you turn the stressed life. Into your best life. Stress less and live more. With stressballs. I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas word is youre working out if so, nice job but i need proof holy s thats awesome hahaha are you serious . dont just buy a gift make a cameo spread the word make a cameo each febreze car vent clip gives you up to 30 days of fresh air. So, you can have open window freshness. Even with all the windows up. Enjoy fresh, any time, with febreze. So while 2020 may go down in history as a year many people would like to forget, last night, cnn heroes revealed the most inspiring moment our viewers chose this year. First of all, the heroes event last night was fantastic. I hope everyone had a chance to see it. This is the moment that people chose as the most inspiring. Patrick hutchison carrying a white counterprotester to safety at a black lives matter protest in london. Also, Meghan Markle, duchess of sussex, made a surprise appearance to honor everyday heroes who stepped up to ensure the basic needs of communities were met during this pandemic. They made sure that those around them did not have to suffer in isolation. They nourished their neighbors in more ways than one. And they showed us, all of us, that even in the darkest times, when we come together, we have the power to remind someone else that there is hope and that we will be okay. This is the first time weve heard from markle since she wrote an oped revealing shed had a miscarriage earlier this year. It was a great, inspiring program. And im sure people can find it online. It was really wonderful. Great to see Meghan Markle doing that. I think she is using her voice in such a constructive way. And again, were lucky to have her here in the United States. You are a fan i think shes terrific honestly, i think shes terrific. I do too. And the message she is sending is one of global empathy. The message shes sending is one of global empathy. America wins. America wins. Well be right back. If these beautiful idaho potato recipes are just side dishes, then im not a real idaho potato farmer. Genuine idaho potatoes not just a side dish anymore. Always look for the grown in idaho seal. That selling carsarvana, 100 online wouldnt work. But we went to work. Building an experience that lets you shop over 17,000 cars from home. 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Whoever joe biden does pick as the next attorney general will be tasked with overseeing his own sons investigation. Joining me now is katie benner, the Justice Department reporter at the new york times. Katie, thanks so much for being with us. Youve got a terrific article that really focuses on two separate things here. Number one, people within the Justice Department or who have recently left talking to you about what they want to see in the next attorney general and changes they want to see in the Justice Department. And that as distinct from the hunter biden issue. Lets start with the former. What do people at justice want to see in the next attorney general . Sure. I think that people within the Justice Department and people who have recently left, mostly, i spoke with people who worked under the trump administration. They all talked about the fact that the last four years have made the department extraordinarily politicized. You have a president who has talked about the department, talked about the departments work in ways never before done. And ways also implied that the department was there to serve at the personal pleasure of the president , not just to enact political policies, but to go after his own political enemies and save his friends. And that feeling, that perception really hurts the work of the department overall. It makes it difficult for them to do things like prosecute somebody whos highprofile, especially if that person is connected to the president. And have the public believe the prosecution is fair and that it was really the rule of law that determined whether or not to prosecute the person. So they want that changed. They want no more politicization. And they want a leader who can credibly come in and say, hey, listen, this is not what were going to do anymore. And on top of that, they say, look at this landscape. We have Huge National security issues. We just saw the breach that happened at the treasury by russian hackers. And on top of that, big civil rights issues brewing in this country. They say, we need somebody that can hit the ground running and work very, very quickly from day one. The idea of getting politics out of it. Everything they saw with roger stone and Michael Flinn and bill barr overturning Robert Mueller in a way, the barr letter. How does the hunter biden investigation now, which came to light only last week, how does that complicate what theyre looking for . Its interesting, because it is in some ways related to what theyre talking about and does risk making the department a very, very political hot potato once again. Because it is the president s own son being investigated by the Justice Department. And so that makes the pick of attorney general extremely important and extremely fraught. You had a race that really included three people for the longest time. Sally yates, the former Deputy Attorney general, doug jones, a former senator from alabama. Merrick garland, who served in the d. C. Circuit right here, who was also seen as somebody whos very reliable and somebody whos very fair. Now, doug jones was being talked about as a frontrunner in large part because hes such good personal friends with joe biden. That was something that was extraordinarily important and really seen as an advantage. But now people are wondering inside, is that a disadvantage . Is it bad to have one of the president s closest friends, the attorney general whos investigating his son . Sally yates was a clear preference for the people i spoke with, and it was in large part because so many of them had worked with her. Not just when she was Deputy Attorney general, but also when she was a prosecutor, when she was working her way through the department and they liked the fact that she is really just fresh out of the department. And she is extremely familiar with every issue that they are going to face in the next few years. And shes worked on these issues and they are a little worried that the confirmation process will scare the Biden Transition Team off from her. What theyre saying is, we should not be focusing on two days, but two or even four years. Its a terrific article. Thanks so much for sharing your reporting with us this morning. Nice to see you. New day continues right now. Announcer this is new day with Alisyn Camerota and john berman. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is new day and what a day, what a moment. A moment of true achievement in the midst of almost unspeakable tragedy. Some time in the next few hours, we dont know exactly when, but soon, the First Americans will receive the first vaccinations against coronavirus. Trucks and cargo planes packed with the first shipment of nearly 3 million doses of the Pfizer Vaccine, fanning out across the country to all 50 states at this moment. Well speak to the ceo of pfizer shortly to add even more meaning to the moment. The vaccine comes on the very day that the death toll in the United States will pass