Around the country today, even more people will receive their first dose of the Pfizer Vaccine. But even with that encouraging news, the reality today is bleak. The u. S. Reported more than 3,000 new deaths from covid just on tuesday, this marks the third highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. For the past week the country has averaged more than 212,000 new daily cases and set hospitalization records for ten Straight Days now. We will get to all of that in a moment, but lets begin with the breaking news this morning, so lets go to capitol hill. Our colleague cnn Congressional CorrespondentSunlen Serfaty joins us now. What do we know about negotiations, ie, are they going to vote on this soon and to jims really good point does it include direct stimulus payments . Reporter thats all of those things, poppy, that the negotiators and the leadership from the house and senate are sorting out right now, but they do at this moment appear very close to striking a deal. That expectation is that they could announce it as soon as this morning. We are starting to hear some of those Little Details about whats actually in this bill, how much it cost, including, this is from my colleague manu raju, a source tells him that the price tag for this deal thats being negotiated 900 billion. We will be getting details, of course, over does this include a stimulus payment, another round of stimulus checks to people, to individuals in this country. That of course a big thing that the white house is pushing for, what progressives were pushing for, and the big question of course does this include Liability Protections, thats something republicans are pushing for and aid to state and local governments, something that democrats wanted, those two things widely seen as concessions that likely will have to be made here. Here is senator joe manchin who of course was a part of that bicameral, Bipartisan Group that drew up a proposal that largely framed the contours it sounds like of this deal coming together. Here is what he spoke to moments before about what hes hearing is in this deal. Im understanding that it could be maybe some direct payments in lieu of state and local. What would those look like, the direct payments, because that was a big Sticking Point and obviously the progressives in the house really want that, so how much . That i dont know. I cant speak to that. I know it wouldnt be more than 1,200, but i think it will be in the 600, probably 500, 600 range to try to help through these most difficult times. That would be my guess. I have no knowledge of this whatsoever. Im telling you i think and this is the conversations weve been hearing for the last day or so. So theyre looking for a pathway forward. That might have been the pathway. Reporter so, again, him focusing there on the second round of stimulus checks that so many people fought for to potentially be included in this deal. It is worth remembering that they are really up against the wall, up against this big deadline, you have the clock ticking towards a midnight friday deadline. They wont attach this deal to the government funding deadline to get that done. A lot procedural needs to happen. Just when they reach a deal later today likely does not mean that its across the finish line. A lot needs to happen. Well, the deadlines matter, right, because for a lot of people those benefits will run out the day after christmas which of course would be a horrible prospect to face. Sunlen serfaty, appreciate it. We know you will be on top of it. Today another major story were following this morning, doses of pfizers vaccine are arriving at more and more facilities across the country. One of them Loyola Medical Center in maywood, illinois, thats where cnns Adrienne Broaddus is. So tell us how youre seeing this roll out there and how many folks are getting their shots per day . Reporter lots of anticipation here. Among the eligible staff, already 400 people have already signed up to receive the vaccine. It hasnt arrived here yet, but when it does arrive the hospital is anticipating 16,000 doses will be delivered here. Its unclear if the first shipment will contain all of the 16 or if it will follow up later. Meanwhile, the hospital conducted a survey about two weeks ago, they wanted to find out if Staff Members would be willing to take the vaccine. The staff here about 9,400 total, among those people who were surveyed, at least 70 responded by saying yes. They want the vaccine. And right now i want to bring in dr. Rich freeman, he is the chief clinical officer. He can tell us a little bit more about their plans here and the rollout. Doctor, thanks for taking time to join us this morning. Lets begin by talking about what this vaccine will mean for you and your staff. Good morning. Yes, were very excited about receiving the vaccine. It will mean the first positive move that weve made in months toward preventing covid in our staff in the general population. So we are very excited to start vaccinating hopefully tomorrow. Reporter hopefully tomorrow. We know those 400 who have already signed up are the employees who are working directly with covid19 patients. Indeed, hope is on the horizon with this vaccine, but what is the message in the coming days . What do people really need to do . Really theres two things to keep in mind, number one, it will take months to get us all vaccinated so we need to continue to wear masks and socially distance and we need the general population to be patient because it will take several months to get all the frontline workers and the highrisk people vaccinated before the general population can receive the vaccine. Reporter thank you so much for your time, dr. Freeman. He is underscoring what we heard from chicagos mayor yesterday when that first shot in chicago was administered on the citys west side. It will be weeks or months before we see widespread vaccination. Poppy and jim . Were so close so do your part, stay healthy, keep everyone else healthy and we will get there together. Adrienne, thank you for the good news this morning. Were joined by kathleen sebl yus, former health and Human Services secretary under president obama. Its wonderful to have you, thank you for the time this morning. Good to be with you. Secretary, what do you make of the rollout so far . Well, its great news. It is a triumph of science to have an effective vaccine within 11 months of the identifying this novel coronavirus. Its great news for the public that help is on the horizon, but as you said, poppy, at the beginning of this broadcast, we are in some very difficult times. The death toll is as high as its ever been, hospitals are full, emergency workers are exhausted and i think people watching the vaccine travel around the country are thinking, okay, its over. We have months and months to go and theres some real uncertainty about how much vaccine will be available, how quickly and so people really have to be patient and be very vigilant about the rules that are mask wearing and social distancing and staying out of indoor gatherings when you cant stay away from other people. A lot of folks, a lot of organizations rose to the occasion here, pharmaceutical companies, National Institutes of health, around the world, too, but i wonder do you give the Trump Administration credit for helping to shepherd this along, to get to a vaccine remarkably quickly and get to the distribution of that vaccine now . Well, i think definitely the investment in multiple candidates for the vaccine and sort of prepaying for vaccines that were going to work was hugely effective, convincing pharmaceutical companies there was a willing buyer and accelerating this whole scientific endeavor. This is a triumph of science and the scientists did their work in record time. I have no idea why the administration turned down the opportunity as late as november to purchase additional doses of the Pfizer Vaccine. I wish we had done that. We had an opportunity to have up to 400 million more doses from pfizer. Didnt have to pay for it until we had all the evidence that it was safe and effective and approved, but we turned that down. So those contracts have gone elsewhe elsewhere. Thats a problem. There is a real problem pending with money running out for state and local governments to conduct this Vaccination Campaign. Theres been about 10 billion spent by the administration in producing a vaccine, but about 380 million passed out to states around this country and local jurisdictions to mount the most massive Vaccination Campaign that this country has ever seen. People need to be hired, data need to be kept, we need to have this amazing logistics of very cold storage going to potentially remote and rural areas. That financing isnt there, its desperately needed. This vaccination only works really if you have a high number of people that are vaccinated around the world, right . Because we travel outside of the United States and people come to this country all the time. So the new research out overnight that says that it looks like about half the planned doses of vaccine have been bought up by highincome countries like the u. S. , japan, australia, the uk and that means that a lot of the world the poor nations wont get vaccinated until 2022. This is exactly what bill and Melinda Gates have been warning about a lot and i just wonder what your advice for the Biden Administration is. Because right now as i understand it the Trump Administration has not paid into whats called co vacs to help distribute the vaccine outside the u. S. Is that one of the first things the Biden Administration should do . Absolutely, poppy. We need to reengage immediately with all of the international partners, with the w. H. O. Where the United States has always been a leader, thats the organization that facilitates distribution and purchasing throughout the world, we need to immediately become an active participant in covacs which is the joint vaccination effort to purchase vaccine for developing countries but also, again, stand up the vaccinators so that they are ready to go, because a disease anywhere is a disease everywhere. There are no borders that keep out viruses as we very well know, watching covid travel from other countries and ravage the globe. So we need to get the world vaccinated. It is the Trump Administration has withdrawn the United States from all of the international efforts, from all of the Collaborative Partnerships and thats just dangerous for the american public. As you say, we travel back and forth and viruses clearly travel back and forth. They dont have passports, they can easily get on airplanes, they dont need tickets and no one in the United States is safe and secure until we can get herd immunity throughout the world, which is about a 70 vaccination rate. Long way to go. We all need patience. Kathleen seebl yus, thanks so much. Sure. Still to come this hour growing confidence of a stimulus agreement finally will be reached up there on capitol hill. We will speak to the Senate Democratic whip, dick durbin. Thats next. For an update. Also President Trump lashes out overnight at Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell while senator mcconnell tells republicans to get in line. Senator mcconnell tells when youre through with powering through, its time for theraflu hot liquid medicine. Powerful relief so you can restore and recover. Theraflu hot beats cold. With acetaminophenction 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. For all the diamonds in your life. Get 30 off everything and find one of a kind deals at the you are my diamond event, now extended through december 19th. Shop online with a virtual consultant. Zales. The diamond store. All right. Welcome back. Some good news finally it appears on capitol hill with stimulus negotiations still under way, some potential developments this morning. Senator joe manchin telling cnn just moments ago that a bill could be on its way and include direct stimulus payments to americans. Joining me now to discuss this and other issues illinois senator dick durbin, he is minority whip and a member of the judiciary and appropriations committees. Thanks for taking time this morning. Good to be with you, jim. We are hearing a lot of hope from the hill from your colleagues on both sides of the aisle on the hill. We have heard hope before. Will a deal get done . Well, i think we have an excellent opportunity. I was part of the group of Bipartisan Group that put together this package. I think President Trump is right that 916 billion should be our target in spending. That should include help for state and local governments from my point of view, i think many of us feel that way, but it also ought to include the 748 billion that we had as a consensus agreement. Give you an exam. We put money in here for testing, treatment, tracing and also for the logistics of the vaccinations. We put a lot of money in. But not enough. More will be needed. So lets not short change that. If we are going to sit down and put more money into this project i would certainly put more money into vaccines. Senator manchin seemed to suggest that direct payments to americans in this bill might replace state and local aid. Are you saying that state and local aid is still in play . It is for me. Its a priority. I can tell you in my state and in the city of chicago and other major municipalities in illinois theyve taken a real beating. Revenues are down dramatically and we know why. People dont go out to eat anymore, they dont shop in the neighborhoods as much as they used to. So direct payments. So what would these involve . Exactly how much and to how Many Americans . Well, thats a good question. I would say that with the current amount much money that we have talked about, 900 billion, you couldnt do state and local payments as well as direct payments. I think the state and local are absolutely critical. When it comes to direct payments im not opposed to them but we have to up the ante. I think its money well spent to give to families a helping hand at this point in our economy. Many families have no savings, little or no savings and they are in a desperate situation. If we would give the money, say, to those making 50,000 a year or less, individuals, 100,000 per couple, i think it would cost somewhere in the range of 200 billion and im just speculating to do that across the nation. Liability protections of course that had been the price in effect for republicans or at least the suggested exchange from the Bipartisan Group, state and local aid for Liability Protections. Are Liability Protections guaranteed in this latest version of a bill . No, we werent able to reach an agreement. Theres some real difference of opinion about the giving to corporations immunity from liability. I do not want Small Businesses or any businesses to be harassed by ridiculous lawsuits but i dont want to close the courthouse doors to individuals who have no other recourse for what theyve suffered in terms of damages or pain and suffering or even death in their family. We cant close that door because that really is the option for justice. Okay. I want to move on to another topic and that is a massive hack of multiple government agencies. It appears by russia. Senator Richard Blumenthal who is on one of the relevant committees has tweet that had out. I wonder it appears russia was inside crucial u. S. Systems at crucial u. S. Agencies for months. Who is to blame . Well, the press reports say that it went undetected for months. Listen, lets get to the bottom line here. Russia is relentlessly trying to invade americas cyberspace and to compromise individual identities as well as critical and sensitive information. Theyve been at it for years and they continue to do so. Apparently with some success. Lets put it on the line here. We need an honest reset in terms of relationships between the United States and russia. We cant be buddies with Vladimir Putin and have him at the same time making this kind of cyber attack on america. This is virtually a declaration of war by russia on the United States and we should take it that seriously. As happens so often the president has yet to make a Public Comment about this. He is tweeting about fox news commercials this morning. In your view was the Trump Administration asleep at the wheel here . Completely compromised. On one hand we knew what the russians have been doing during the last four years and how much they put americas security at risk and what it means to our own personal privacy, and the president with his armor on his shoulders of Vladimir Putin is calling his best friend. So we cant have that kind of dichotomy between policy and reality. Senator dick durbin, thanks so much for joining the program this morning. Thank you, jim. Quite a statement, jim, from him on compromised. On russia, right . And essentially a declaration of war. A lot more the Incoming Administration to deal with. Great interview. Okay. Ahead for us Front Line Health Care workers who have see