♪ our close shave comes from our 5 german-engineered blades designed to start sharp and stay sharp. and we never upcharge you for high quality. so for those of us who don't want just the same, harry's razors are here. harry's. not the same. available in store and at harrys.com. got to get the vaccine. got to get the information. got to track the science. and we have to be smart. and we'll have moments like the chevalas. time for the big show. "cnn tonight" with the big star, d lemon. >> i haven't seen my mom in over a year. and after being home in quarantine, i would not suggest that she try to pick me up. >> i could tell, when i was watching that grandma's face, that she had to sink with the knees, a little bit more, when he ran into her. she was like, whoo. but you know what? for whatever reason, whether it's right or wrong, grandparents love to know is that your kids are gaining weight. >> oh, my gosh. too skinny. you're too skinny. >> i know, right? i hear that all the time with mario. we all want to be the chevalas. we all want that moment. >> and we can be. >> i am going away next week. bella just turned 18. she's the big shot. she just got into another college. >> oh, wow. >> got a scholarship to the first one. i said, we're done. we're done. you're getting money. you go to that school. it's fine. we need choices? so, we are going to go away for the break because, you know, the kids have been denied so many memories. >> yeah. >> and we see families a lot. i mean, don and i, we see each other's family, all the time. you have to understand. >> i saw your wife and your son today. why is he wearing leg weights? >> he -- how crazy? i hope he is watching right now. he's wearing ankle weights around, because he thinks it's going to make him jacked. >> he's like a bean pole. not going to happen. and listen. let me tell you about this. when i was his age, i would take weight-gain powder, right? remember, that was in? you take weight-gain powder. and my mom said to me, one day, you are going to regret that. and now, i need weight-loss powder because, you know, it'll come, in time, mario, relax. >> he's built like tarzan, that guy. he's going to be great. he's got his mother's genes. let me ask you something. >> yep. >> i had natasha alfred on, right? smart. she says, i know what they want. they want me to come on here, and be all, you know, hot and angry about this. and outraged about what ron johnson said. but, no, because i know the game they're playing. >> yeah. >> that bothers me. everybody should be outraged by this. unless he's really ignorant. and i have to tell you, the combination of saying i don't need a vaccine, and white rioters don't bother me but black ones do. maybe, he's just ignorant. maybe, he is. he's a u.s. senator. i mean, he is certainly wrong but maybe, he doesn't get it. >> i was going to say, you took the words -- we have been tooth way too long. you tooks words right out of my mouth. many people don't know they are being racist. he doesn't know. and in his mind, it is okay to say. that was his reality. that maybe, he wasn't afraid. he probably was not afraid of the -- >> i mean, look, he was the one pitching the big lie. he -- he should've felt comfortable. he -- he should've, you know, welcomed them, with open arms. those are the guys he was telling, this is robbed, this was stolen. this is that. and then, he's the one who said it. what did he say about january 6th? i didn't know who it was. >> as james baldwin said, he said that -- he said two black people that they were going to have to help their -- their white brothers and sisters because they were trapped in a history that they didn't understand. and ron johnson is trapped in a history that he does not understand. he has come out of american soil, that has taught him, that what he is saying and what he believes. those thoughts that he has, that it's okay. that it's right. and it is -- and he completely believes, in his head. i believe that he does believe it. so, that makes him ignorant. i believe that he thinks it's okay. and that, that was his reality. that those white rioters weren't going to harm him. >> right. >> because they were of like mind and complexion. but, the -- if they were black rioters or black protestors, that he might be harmed not just because they're of a different complexion, because he believes that they're of different beliefs. >> but he also knows -- >> but hang on. hang on. but what is that? that's racism. >> oh, absolutely. >> that's the essence of racism. sorry, go on. >> absolutely. absolutely. maybe, though, he's just making us -- he's making the right play for him because the combination of these guys are better than the black version of them, works in that base. and the oh, they're coming after me, they are going to cancel me now, race card, race. that works, too. that works, too. so, he's got the sword and the shield. and i have to tell you, there is this nonsense that i haven't figured out how to get through, yet. where people will say, about january 6th, you weren't that upset about that stuff, last summer. i said, what act of terrorism against the u.s. capitol happened last summer? oh, no, but all-summer long, they were running around, you know, doing all those violence and you didn't think it was bad, then. now, i will tell you the truth. >> what was the act of provocation in the summer? sorry, what was the act of provocation on the 6th? who were -- who were driving -- who were driving cars and -- and instigating and trying to goad the protestors? none of that happened on january 6th. now, i'm not saying there wasn't violence this-past summer. but to compare the two is really just bogus. >> first of all, one was an act of terror and insurrection of the u.s. capitol that tried to stop the certification of an election. okay? that's a standalone. now, i don't really care what the provocation was, on one level. i, absolutely, believe that there is systemic inequality, and we have problems with policing in communities, that disproportionately affect minorities. period. i don't care why you choose to destroy a building, or hurt a cop. you're a criminal. and you have become what you oppose, at a minimum. but what i'm saying is there is too much of a quickness, in our country right now, to say, they did it, too. we are not united, in the way we need to be in this country, don. and it is very frightening, to me, because if it's not about race, then why did you pitch that blm stuff as some arm of the democratic party that was coming to get you, who's not blm? why is it that all the election fraud happened in black communities? why is it that january 6th wound up being something that is now being maulfied? why is it that your response to the election is the biggest wave of suppression, since jim crow. if it has nothing to do with race, why is it all about race, on every level? >> i'm always asking those questions. and so, i think we will leave it at that. i'll let you ask those questions. >> really got a punch to it. you say it, it's kind of like, you know? >> no, no, no. i don't think you should make fun of that. no, no, i am being completely serious. i think those are pertinent questions to answer. >> they're rhetorical questions. >> yes. >> we know the answers. >> yep. >> they are living in abject denial of the answers. ron johnson knows that he is making the right play for himself. >> yeah, but ron johnson is ignorant. and ron johnson is, also, racist. >> how about all the senators who let him say that? if i ever said anything like that, anything close to it, you wouldn't let me finish the sentence. >> no, and i would come over to the next studio because you're in the next studio. and i'd beat your you know what. >> nobody said anything. the silence, i'll be silent now. but for a different reason. i love you, d lemon. >> i love you, too. let's keep talking like this. i know it's uncomfortable for some people. but not for us. >> not for us. makes us better. makes us understand things. you are a great benefit to me. you are a gift in my life and i love you. >> this is "cnn tonight." thank you, sir. this is "cnn tonight." i am don lemon. so, guess what? y'all, there is some optimism. 100 million shots, in arms. amen. that's great. 100 million checks, in pockets. you keep asking, where the good news is? there it is. 100 million shots in arms. 100 million checks in pockets. who doesn't want a check in the mail? i know i do. all, in the next ten days. that's the promise, from the president joe biden. >> over the next ten days, we will reach two goals. two giant goals. the first is 100 million shots in people's arms will have been completed within the next ten days. and 100 million checks, in people's pockets. >> that's from the new president in office. just -- just a little bit more than 50 days and the new vice president. kamala harris. in las vegas, today, with americans getting some of those 100 million shots in arms. and while the president and the vice president are working to sell their desperately-needed, massive covid-relief plan to the american people. the republican party, the party of no, no, no, no. the party of, cancel culture, mr. potato head, dr. seuss, doubling down on the racism, again, today. we just talked about ron johnson. remember this? ron johnson. senator ron johnson, defending the rioters who dattacked the u.s. capitol. >> i knew those were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to -- to break a law. and so, i wasn't concerned. now, had the tables been turned, joe, this could get me in trouble. had the tables been turned and president trump won the election, and those were tens of thousands of black lives matter and antifa protestors, i might've been a little concerned. >> this will get me in trouble. had it been black lives matter protestors, might get him in trouble. it's black lives matter. you're afraid of them. come on, brother. we ain't stupid. we heard you. you heard him. said he wasn't concerned about the trump supporters who actually rioted at the capitol and hurt police officers. one of whom died. but he would have been terrified, he would have been afraid, if they had been black lives matter or antifa. afraid, if they had been black lives matter or antifa. by the way, black lives matter and antifa did not riot at the capitol. you heard him. you heard him say that he knows that that will get him in trouble. he knows it'll get him in trouble. but, he says it, anyway. because he -- he wants people to hear it. he is not afraid. he wants to say the racist part, out loud. totally, unrepentant, today. >> there was nothing racial about my comments. nothing, whatsoever. this isn't about race. this is about riots. i wasn't surprised, but it's still pretty shocking, that it would take, what i consider, completely innocuous comment, and turn it into, you know, use the race card on me. and, you know, say there's some kind of racist comment involved in that. there was none. >> he -- you don't even -- he doesn't even believe that. yet, when somebody's talking like this, you know, with a smile? i mean, come on. they just taking it -- i'm just making this up off my head. it's just the race card. i mean, come on. i'm not. when somebody's smiling at you about like this. you know what that means, don't you? that's not what i meant at all. i mean, as i'm perspiring and smiling through my teeth while i'm talking. we didn't just fall off the turnip truck. i'm from baton rouge, louisiana. i have seen that face, and i have heard that voice for 50-some-odd years. i know it, when i see it. and i know it when i hear it. using the race card on him? seriously, ron johnson? let's remember, it was rioters at the capitol, who openly paraded the confederate-battle flag. it's all about a deliberate attempt to normalize what happened on january 6th. and there was nothing normal about it. to say he wasn't concerned about the rioters who chanted, hang mike pence. really? >> hang mike pence! hang mike pence! hang mike pence! >> he wasn't concerned about them, because they were law abiding, and they really stuck up and respected law enforcement. they would never do anything to break the law, like enter the capitol, illegally. how do you normalize people like the army reservist -- these are our cases in point. okay? the army reservist charged with storming the capitol. a well-known white supremacist and nazi sympathizer at the navy base where he worked, who was even rebuked for his hitler-style mustache. how do you normalize that? how do you normalize the two men arrested and charged with assaulting capitol police officer brian sicknick? who died after they allegedly sprayed him with a toxic chemical. how do you normalize that? hmm? how do you -- how do you -- how do you normalize that? how? i just -- you know? and let's not forget, the blatant appeal to racism. of congressman glenn grothman. claiming that black lives matter doesn't like what he calls the old-fashioned family. >> the strength that black lives matter had in this last election. i know it's a group that doesn't like the old-fashioned family. disturbed that we have another program here, in which we are increasing the marriage penalty. >> i think we're all pretty clear on what he thinks that old-fashioned family looks like. the old-fashioned family, that he claims, black lives matter doesn't like. here's another one just digging himself deeper and deeper and deeper into a hole. >> well, the tax credits were one more anti-marriage provision in the tax code. and when we have had such influence of "black lives matter." an organization that when founded made clear on their website that they are opposed to what they refer to as the western-prescribed nuclear family. nuclear families are, of course, worldwide. but i think, it's important to, always, point out that there are people who are anti-marriage, who keep making anti-marriage provisions in federal law. >> that was a long explanation, that said nothing. see, it's all about the tax code. and if you believe that, well, anyway. if it's all about the tax code, then you got to wonder why congressman, the congressman, keeps bringing up black lives matter. because, as far as i can see, black lives matter had precisely-zero influence on the tax code. but, there's something that bothers him about blm, and i wonder what that could be. because, he just keeps trying to defend his flat-out racist claim that black lives matter doesn't like the old-fashion family. okay. so, you know, we like facts, first, on this show. the fact checkers looked at what blm says about families, and they want people to support one another, beyond -- let me just get this clear. they want people to support one another, beyond the nuclear family. and they call for family-friendly spaces and equal rights for mothers. so, if parents are working, maybe, grandparents step in. or aunts and uncles or sisters and brothers. millions of families, not just black families, raise their children that way. right? but the congressman. well, what the congressman wants to do is cast dispersions on them. wants to otherize them. he wants you to think that they are a threat to the american way of life. so, while all that is going on, the assault on voting rights is happening, right under our noses. >> it is the re-dux of jim crow in a suit and tie. we know the only thing that precipitated these changes. in fact, secretary of state and the governor went to great pains to assure america that georgia's elections were secure. and so, the only connection that we can find is that more people of color voted. and it changed the outcome of elections in a direction, that republicans do not like. >> so, the gop, what used to be the party of lincoln, is fighting to take away your voting rights. more than 250 bills, nationwide, to roll back voter access. to try to get -- to make it harder for people to vote. to get fewer people to vote, rather than as many as possible. trying to disenfranchise voters. mainly, people of color, who voted for joe biden. now, think about this. and chris said this to me today, as we were talking, and he had a very good point. now, all of these people in all of these places had voted for donald trump or republicans. you think they'd be trying to change the laws? hmm? nope. and there it is, again. it's racism. right at the heart of this. as it is, in so much of american life. it's been there, from the very beginning. and we can't keep sweeping it under the rug. we've got to do the work. you've got to do the work. you have to do the work. you can't just say, i want to try to do something. what can i do? what can i do? and then, when people tell you what to do. you, ah, it's too hard. can't do it. i need something that's more practical and easier. you got to do the work. and you got to talk about this, one on one. it's all about relationships. that's why i wrote my book "this is the fire. what i say to my friends about racism" that's what it's all about. it starts with conversations. conversations with people, who don't look like you. who just need to talk openly. and listen. not that hard. we can't keep sweeping it under the rug. so like i said, racism is at the heart of all of this. just look at the effort nationwide to disenfranchise voters. most of them, voters of color. you know who i want to talk to? i want to talk to the former vice president, al gore. is this going to get worse, as republicans try anything to get back into power? that's the question. you can try to predict the future or you can create it. we're driving it. everywhere. we emit optimism, not exhaust. we plug in our vehicles as naturally as we charge our phones. we. we are generation e. we want smart. clean. and safe. to also be fun, easy and powerful! ultium! a battery that charges fast. runs long. it fits everyone. nobody will be left out. and that, changes everything. ♪ ♪ the harry's razor is not the same ♪ because some of us are not the same ♪ our close shave comes from our 5 german-engineered blades designed to start sharp and stay sharp. and we never upcharge you for high quality. so for those of us who don't want just the same, harry's razors are here. harry's. not the same. available in store and at harrys.com. harry's. not the same. tonight... i'll be eating roasted cauliflower tacos with spicy chipotle sauce. [doorbell chimes] thank you. [puck scores] oooow yeah!! i wasn't ready! you want cheese to go with that whine?? so, president biden is hitting the road tomorrow, traveling to pennsylvania as part of his administration's tour to promote the nearly-$2 trillion he signed last week. in the next ten days, lots to discuss now. former vice president al gore, founder of the climate reality project and he joins me now. mr. vice president, thanks so much. it is an honor to have you on. >> and congratulations on your new book coming out tomorrow, "this is the fire." good luck with it. i know it's -- it's going to be great. >> thank you very much, mr. vice president. that means a lot. let's talk about this. i want to talk some policy with you. and then, i also, i know you have some strong feelings about this pipeline that is going through predominantly black communities but let's start with what the president is doing right now. the president and his top aides are spending the next few weeks traveling country. trying to sell this $1.9 trillion rescue package. the bill was passed. so, why is it -- the sales job that he is doing so important? >> well, first of all, i am so proud of president joe biden. really and truly, this is not a partisan comment, don. our country needs this kind of leadership. i, honestly, think that he is off to a stronger start, in the first 50-some-odd days that -- of -- of any president, since franklin delano roosevelt. i really -- i -- i see it. and he's -- he's -- he's offering healing words to the country. he is trying to encourage people to get vaccinated. that's the answer to your question. he's going out there, and promoting the vaccination program. and making sure that the economic rescue is fully implemented. >> the next, big battle, you know, is going to be over the gop-led effort to restrict voting rights. it is apparent that a lot of these bills target black and brown voters. mr. vice president, is this only going to get worse as demographics continue to change and republicans are increasingly in the minority? to try to disenfranchise voters, especially those of color? >> absolutely. i mean, this is really and truly unamerican, don. it is a naked effort to try to suppress black, brown, and indigenous votes. suppress any kind of votes, from people who they think will not go for the -- the far-right, you know, promote the interest of the wealthy program. they -- you know, let me give them their credit. i think they, actually, believe that this country would be better, if the wealthy and powerful had more control over all of the decisions. and that's an argument, that's been raging in this country since the very beginning. but history has proven that, when we expand the right to vote, and when more people vote. and when all points of view and backgrounds and perspectives are, all, brought together, we make better decisions. that's been one of the secret strengths of america. so, we need to expand access to voting. you know, everybody who is an american citizen ought to be automatically registered to vote. we ought to have voting on weekends, instead of on, you know, tuesday, on -- on a workday. we -- we ought to have more absentee voting. there's no record of voter fraud. one or two little cases, every once in a while. we ought to invite everyone in to the voting booth. and have everyone take part in helping to guide this nation. >> you know, we have -- we have seen how the filibuster has been used, in the past, to try to derail civil-rights legislation. your father, senator from tennessee, was in the senate in the '60s when civil rights legislation was being filibustered. you served in the senate, yourself. does the filibuster need to go, mr. vice president? >> oh, absolutely. it -- it has long since outrun any justification. and yes and it's been modified, in the past. if they -- if they don't have the votes because, you know, senators from small states, sometimes, are tempted to hang onto the filibuster, not for ideological reasons. but -- but there -- they've made exceptions to it. they ought to make an -- at least make an exception for the protection of voting rights. but -- but here's another idea and it comes from joe manchin. a man, who i don't agree with him on a bunch of things. but i really respect him, a lot. and he recalled that great movie, "mr. smith goes to washington" with jimmy stewart, you know? and i remember, as a boy, when my father was in the senate. they used to make them stand there and talk, until they ran out of breath. or, you know, couldn't stand up, anymore. well, what? you know, why don't we go back to that? rather -- at least. i mean, we ought to get rid of it, altogether. but if we took joe manchin's suggestion, and -- and just made them do it the old-fashioned way. the way they used to. then, we -- we would have a better chance of -- of the majority outlasting them. and when they feel strongly enough about something, like protecting voter rights, they can get it done. >> as if you're not passionate enough. as i mentioned in the top of the program, you want to talk about this issue because i know this is on -- on your mind and on your heart. you were in memphis, yesterday. protesting the oil-connection pipeline. we have a picture of you up there right now. you were protesting it from being built through predominantly-black communities. now, here's how you described it. and then, we'll talk. >> this pipeline project is a reckless, racist ripoff. when the pipeline representatives said, this is the path of least resistance. that was a gaffe because he told the truth, accidentally. least resistance? i see a lot of resistance here, today. >> it's a company that's building this pipeline. they put out a statement, saying they chose to route the across mostly mostly-vacant property. but speak to the larger issue here and this fight for environmental justice, will you? >> yeah. look. black, brown, and indigenous people are far-more likely to have these polluting facilities located in their communities or adjacent to them. this is a -- not only a historically significant, overwhelmingly black community. it's a friedman's community. it's called box town because they built it in 1865, when the slaves were freed from the parts of the boxcars that had brought war material from -- with the union army down in the civil war. and they are running it right through this black community. and their truth -- it's not the truth but -- because it's not least resistance. but their truth is they thought there would be less resistance there. it's racist. it's, also, reckless, don, because memphis has a million people who rely, 100%, on drinking water from an aquifer, directly underneath where they want to put this high-pressure, giant oil pipeline not for the benefit of this country. but to take oil from the permian basin fields in texas and oklahoma. right through this black community. over to another pipeline, down to new orleans where they can ship it to foreign countries. all of the risk is on memphis. and there has, already, been a threat to this aquifer. you know, groundwater, they think it's out of sight and out of mind. look at what's going on, still, in jackson, mississippi. mainly, in the black areas there. where they're still having to boil water because the climate crisis has implicated in that hard freeze two-three weeks ago, where the water infrastructure couldn't be used, anymore. so, they have to boil water. that happened in memphis, too. and when this oil is sent out there, it's burned. and it adds to the climate crisis, which is threatening the survival of human civilization. so, it is reckless. it's a ripoff because it -- this oil-and-gas industry is going -- is losing its markets because solar and wind and electric vehicles are beginning to take over. they just want to rush up, and get as many short-term profits as they can. even though it puts this black community at risk. >> the oil connection pipeline. we need to pay attention to that. and other issues. similar issues, going on, especially through predominantly black communities. really, it's a sin and i'm glad you are on top of it. we'll continue to report. and we thank you for coming on tonight, mr. vice president. thank you so much. >> good luck with your book tomorrow. >> thank you very much. i really appreciate it. gop senator, ron johnson, doubling down about fearing black lives matter, more than the capitol rioters. i'm going to talk to john kasich about it. he's next. e of us is connected. everyone. everywhere. where everyone is included. where everyone has access to information, education, opportunity. ♪ ♪ ♪ when everyone and everything is connected. that's really beautiful. anything is possible. good morning. cisco. the bridge to possible. senator ron johnson is doubling down on his defense of the violent mob, who stormed our capitol. joining me now, former republican governor of ohio, john kasich. governor, good to see you. thank you for joining us. >> thank you. >> so, how can senator johnson say that there is nothing racial about suggesting -- i can't even get the question out, and you're laughing. how -- how can he say there is nothing racial about that? and, you know, and it's black lives matter. i mean, what do you think? >> i -- i -- how can a guy even make a statement like this? i mean, is he running, again? i -- i was -- we were talking about it, tonight, among some friends. this statement. some -- one of my other friends. we were on a call, and he read johnson's statement. and somebody said, is he running again? i mean, i don't have any -- how could you say that i was never worried about these people who were rampaging in, who, by the way, were involved in such violence in the capitol. and then, you say, but i wasn't really worried about them. but if it was black lives matter, i would have really been freaked out. how -- how does somebody -- how do they say that? how do they think that? makes no sense, to me, whatsoever. >> and he said that they loved this country. >> yeah. well, you know what? he's off his rocker, when he says this. i mean, i -- i -- i don't want to be, you know, i mean -- i -- i just can't believe it. i mean, how do you say something like that? god bless the man, you know? i don't wish him any harm. of course, by any -- any stretch. but how do you say something like this? i mean, people there -- he must be -- i'll tell you what i thought, when i first heard it. can you imagine the credibility that he is losing in the united states senate? i mean, nobody's going to listen to this guy. >> that's i dwhy i talked aboute way he is talking through his teeth and turning red or whatever. but i wanted to talk to you about something else that is really important. about vaccine hesitancy. this is a new cnn -- excuse me -- a new, npr/pbs/marist poll. and shows only 6% of democratic males say the same thing. why do you think the number's so high, among republican men? >> you know, there's some skepticism about this virus, from the beginning. i -- i ran into a friend of mine. very smart guy. who -- six months ago and he says, oh, you know, i don't -- i don't pay any attention. this is all hyped up. and i don't understand. it's like masks. why is it that people don't want to wear masks? i mean, the first thing about the mask is you're protecting somebody else, not just yourself. and when you're -- when you are not getting the vaccination, you know, then you're, also, potentially, hurting somebody else. don, one thing we've got to focus on are these younger kids. like, my daughters are 21 years old. you know? we've got to make sure that, when the time comes and they can get the vaccine, they go and get it. it's really important that we don't have this kind of a dropoff. and the -- the interesting thing is -- i just read an article yesterday about effectiveness of it in israel and how i think they have vaccinated like 80% of the population. they are going to solve this. so, i can't tell you. it's just people that don't believe science or don't believe authority. whatever. i think, they're just wrong. and they need to get it. and so do the young people. >> so, you'll be happy to know that, when "the new york times" asked me which book was on my nightstand, i said i"it's up to us" by john kasich. and i also said ten lessons for a post-pandemic world by fareed zakaria. so, congratulations. >> hey, don. here -- here's the thing. what i tried to say in that book is something that you and i have never really gotten into, but i'd like to, at some point. >> sure. >> and that is, we live in a culture of i and not a culture of we. and when we look at politicians not doing their job. when we look at business ripoffs. when we look at abuse in sports. when we look at a media that's fixated on eyeballs. it's because we're in an i culture, and not a we. we, we look at other people and we consider their worth. we consider their problems. we consider their pain and we celebrate them. we, now, live in this i culture and it has to change. and what i was saying, in that book, is that change has to come from the bottom up. >> yeah, it has to come from the people and it comes from relationships. thank you very much, sir. >> yes. >> yes. similar message. >> thank you. >> thank you. similar message. my new book. "this is the fire what i say to my friends about racism." it's coming out tomorrow, so i hope you can check it out. and john's book, as well. so, republicans like senator johnson trying to downplay the capitol riot. even as police make new arrests, including two suspects charged with assaulting officer brian sicknick, who died after the attack. the harry's razor is not the same ♪ because some of us are not the same ♪ our close shave comes from our 5 german-engineered blades designed to start sharp and stay sharp. and we never upcharge you for high quality. so for those of us who don't want just the same, harry's razors are here. harry's. not the same. available in store and at harrys.com. tonight, new developments in the investigation of the death of capitol police officer, brian sicknick, who died after defending the capitol during the january-6th siege. two men, appearing before a federal judge today, charged with assaulting officer sicknick. federal investigators allege footage from police-body cam show the two men spraying a toxic chemical at three officers, including officer sicknick. so, joining me now to discuss is cnn's senior justice correspondent, evan perez. and elizabeth newman, former assistant secretary of homeland security. good evening, to both of you. evan, what are we learning about these charges and the suspects involved here? >> well, these two men, don, are charged -- are -- are facing nine counts, in total. their names are julian khater and george tanios. according to the fbi, they're seen in some of the surveillance video, as well as some of the body-worn camera footage. appearing to use some kind of chemical-spray irritant. now, this is not identified what, exactly, it is in the court documents. but i'm told that the investigators believe it is some kind of bear spray that there was used to overcome these officers. now, what we know about the -- the -- the -- the events that day is that officer sicknick, along with a couple of other officers, were sprayed with this substance. and then, later on, sicknick goes back to his office. he falls ill and he is taken to the hospital. he dies, the following day. one of the things that's interesting is obviously these men are facing, again, nine counts. they're -- they're -- they -- they're charged with assault on officer sicknick and these other two officers. there is not a murder charge, don. that's partly because investigators are still waiting for the final medical-examiner report, that would show what the cause of death for officer sicknick is. >> elizabeth, we expect more than 400 people will be charged before the riot investigation is but you warn that extremists see the sixth as a rallying cry. are these arrests enough of a deterrent from maybe changing things or a possible future event? >> you know, i think it's extremely important and very helpful that these arrests are happening, that the fbi is transparent about what they are discovering, particularly around areas of conspiracy. but sadly, no. this is not going to be a deterrent. we are going to have individual actors in particular. those are the hardest for law enforcement to detect because they tend to act alone. they're inspired by this movement. they may participate in online chats and get riled up and incited. and when they have targets of opportunity, particularly as we reopen and we start to have mass gatherings, i expect we'll see attacks. and then we also have more organized groups, and january 6th did serve as an opportunity to recruit into those organized groups, and it did serve as them boldening moment. and i think we're going to see as we reopen, other grievances take over. we've already seen some anti-vaccination attacks, some calls for attacks on social media companies or individuals. so their targets are varying depending on what the grievance of the moment is. but i think we're in this state of heightened alert for a while. >> evan, prosecutors revealing more information tonight about an army reservist. his name is timothy hale cusanelli. who is being described as a nazi sympathizer. what do we know about him? >> don, this is a guy who in his fbi interview -- >> wait. are these pictures real? what? him dressed like hitler. okay. go on. >> yes. during his fbi interview, he denied that he was a white supremacist, but as you are showing right now, the fbi has the receipts. and so according to the affidavit, this is a court document that the fbi filed over the weekend. they say that there was a navy investigation because he was a military contractor at a base -- at a military facility in new jersey. they interviewed -- apparently the navy interviewed 44 of his colleagues and 34 of them said that he held extremist or radical views pertaining to jewish people, minorities, and women. so it appears that there is something to the white supremacist nazi-type thing. those pictures you were showing were apparently where he showed up wearing a hitler mustache and apparently nobody really thought much of it until now. >> yeah. elizabeth, my sentiments exactly. thank you. thank you both. i appreciate it. former president trump unable to reach his base quite like he used to, but one host on the fox propaganda network, well, is just filling the void. these folks, they don't have time to go to the post office they have businesses to grow customers to care for lives to get home to they use stamps.com print discounted postage for any letter any package any time right from your computer all the services of the post office plus ups only cheaper get our special tv offer a 4-week trial plus postage and a digital scale go to stamps.com/now and never go to the post office again. donald trump is out of the white house permanently banned from twitter, and generally out of sight, but his steady stream of lies and distortions hasn't gone away. it can all be found every night on the fox propaganda network, on tucker carlson's show. here's cnn's chief media correspondent brian stelter. >> imagine if lying was your job. >> reporter: everywhere you look these days, there's tucker. >> a massive threat to the fraud industrial complex. >> reporter: with donald trump off twitter and out of sight, tucker carlson is taking his place, not in the white house of course, but carlson is like the new trump, thrilling the maga base, antagonizing liberals, and setting the gop's agenda. >> the usual cancel culture gone mad. >> reporter: during the trump years, carlson rose up the fox ranks and became the highest rated performer on the channel while telling many of the same stories as the president. >> they're the most corrupt left-wing mobs. >> left-wing mob. >> reporter: and that's what sells on right-wing tv. carlson used his power with trump. >> can you get re-elected if google's against you? >> i've been hearing that. >> reporter: yeah, trump was hearing it from tucker. for years and years, trump echoed the propaganda that he heard from fox news. >> last night in sweden. >> reporter: even conjuring up an imaginary terror attack due to a tucker segment. but now trump is off the rally stage, and carlson is on. >> the pentagon condemns fox news host tucker carlson for his comments about women serving in the u.s. military. >> reporter: daily outrages and memes make their way from carlson's show to social media, offending millions, delighting others, generating news and often stoking distrust, even about vaccines. >> his plan consistenting esse of vaccines. >> reporter: carlson turning biden into a boogeyman after last week's address to the nation, acting like biden's dictator. >> we might have to rescind that right, but it's possible if you're obedient, you'll get it. who are you talking to? this is a free people. this is a free country. how dare you tell us who we can spend the fourth of july with? >> reporter: every day carlson finding a new way to take up space in political brains. that sounds a lot like a recently retired president, doesn't it? >> tucker carlson. >> i'm pretty sure tucker carlson has spent the last 12 hours foaming at the mouth. >> reporter: and all of this may benefit carlson. he's under a long-term contract, but that has not stopped the tucker 2024 chatter. >> and here are the results. >> reporter: in this unscientific cpac straw poll of party loyalists, carlson had fans. >> governor kristi noem in second place followed by don junior, mike pompeo, ted cruz, tucker carlson. >> reporter: leaving many critics feeling like they have to tak