racing toward what janet yellen calls economic catastrophe, thanks to congress and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle engaging in a game of chicken with the economic recovery at stake. america is on the verge of default unless congress raises the debt limit. house democrats expected to vote today on a bill that would essentially dare republicans to vote against it. minority leader mitch mcconnell indicating he's not budging. >> since democrats decided to go it alone, they will not get senate republicans' help with raising the debt limit. >> default or economic catastrophe would be the worst birthday present ever for brianna keilar. it is her birthday today. happy birthday. >> thank you. >> on top of that, house speaker nancy pelosi says the fate of president biden's economic agenda faces a critical 48 hours. she's trying to lock down a deal on the huge spending package. also the bipartisan infrastructure deal. but as reported, it is currently open warfare between progressives and moderates within the democratic party. pelosi set a deadline of next monday to vote on the infrastructure deal, but progressives say they won't vote on that bill until the budget deal is passed, something that will be virtually impossible to get through in under a week. still, pelosi publicly is expressing optimism. >> we're just moving in forward direction. i'm very pleased with the hard work that the members have done. it's a question now of finalizing. everything is on schedule. >> cnn's lauren fox is joining us now to talk about the crucial days and weeks ahead here. lauren, tell us about the first deadline here that congress has to deal with. >> look, congress has less than a week, brianna, to actually get through their infrastructure and social safety net agenda. that's for a few reasons. remember, the speaker promised moderates she would bring the bipartisan senate-passed infrastructure bill to the floor of the house by monday of next week. but now progressives are saying unless she can also muscle through that $3.5 trillion social safety net bill, they're going to vote no on the infrastructure bill. that's a problem. because if progressives start voting in mass against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, then republicans would have to make up the difference in votes. right now, thaey're saying thats on democrats. if they can't get their party together, we're not providing the votes to get this out of the house of represent tatives and the president's desk. it is really in peril right now. the next six days are going to be critical to getting republicans and democrats on the same page on that infrastructure bill, and progressives and moderates on the same page on the social safety net bill. a lot of differences remain. you have the fact that you have two moderate members of the senate still saying the price tag is too high. $3.5 trillion, joe manchin says, isn't going to be something he can vote for on the social safety net pbill. you have differences over the tax increases as well as a provision to lower the cost of prescription drugs. a lot of moving parts here, and not much time to get the differences resolved. >> i always love this twofer that congress can set up with the debt ceiling and then with a looming government shutdown. can you tell us what's happening there with this critical moment that house democrats are testing today? >> look, democrats are basically daring republicans to shut down the government because they do not want to vote to increase the debt ceiling. here's what democrats have done. they've tied these two things together. you have a september 30th deadline to fund the government. that has to happen or you get a government shutdown. now, democrats are saying, republicans, you don't want to raise the debt ceiling? too bad. if you want to keep the government open, which a lot of republicans do, you have to vote yes on this entire package. we're going to see a test vote today in the house of representatives. i expect that not many republicans, if any, are actually going to vote with democrats to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government because so many are opposed to increasing the debt ceiling. they're arguing democrats need to do this by themselves. but this becomes a real problem, once you get to the u.s. senate. over there, you need republican votes. you have to get to 60 to fund the government. now, republicans are arguing, we are not going to do this under any circumstances. you have someone like mitt romney who told me last night, no way. he is going to be a no, no matter which way you shake this up. he is not raising the debt ceiling. he is arguing democrats could do it on their own with the special budget process. you have the minority leader who is telling his members, vote no. we're united. he has said that every way, on the senate floor, press conferences, publicly, privately. he is not changing his mind on this. a showdown is coming by the end of the month, brianna. >> oh, the theater, and not the good kind. lauren fox, thank you so much for that. >> joining me is cnn economics commentator and "washington post" opinion columnist. cath catherine, what's the problem if they don't extend the debt limit? what's the problem if the u.s. essentially defaults? >> so it is never a good time to default on eyour debt, especialy right now when we have so many other crises going on. i'd put it into a few different buckets. one, we have difficulty paying social security checks, military service members' salaries, any creditor who has ever lent us money before who is expecting repayment. that's problem number one. pretty big deal. number two is it would violate the constitution. the constitution says the public debt shall not be questioned. so might be a little bit of a problem there. number three, and the biggest one, i would argue, is that it could set off a worldwide financial crisis. that's because right now, u.s. debt is considered the safest of safe assets, basically risk free. if we prove that we are not a reliable borrower, and all other assets are kind of benchmarked to our debt as being the safest of safe, that can set off panic not only through treasury markets but through every other financial market in the world. never a good time to have a financial crisis. probably not right now. >> that all sounds incredibly bad. like an economic catastrophe, as janet yellen says. >> yes. >> look, this almost happened but didn't in 2011, 2013. why is there reason to believe it could happen this time? >> well, republicans held it up in the past, and we got to this sort of brinksmanship period. we didn't hit crisis. the republican has gotten more nihilistic since then, i'd argue. mitch mcconnell is right, democrats can do this on their own. they don't need republican votes. now, the way the democrats would do this on their own is complicated. it might expose them to some more political blowback because of way they have to raise the dollar number of the debt limit rather than suspending it for a while, which is what both parties have been doing for the last few years. it's also legislatively complicated. there are intermediate legislative steps they have to take to do it. we don't know when we're going to hit that drop dead deadline when the government runs out of money. if it requires a lot of floor time and we are unable to pay our bills sooner than expected, that's where you hit catastrophe. >> democrats say, look, we voted to suspend or extend the debt limit when trump was in office. how come you're not doing this now when there is a democratic president? you say to that, yeah, but. >> i mean, it's true. of course, republicans are being hypocritical here. they should take their own share of responsibility for the fact that, again, this is paying for bills already owed. this is not authorizing new spending. but republicans don't seem to abide by any principle here. they don't care that democrats staved off default in the past, that they've joined in with republicans to suspend the debt limit. i think mitch mcconnell lis hapy to let the world burn as long as democrats take the fault. >> democrats have to do it? >> i think they have to. i understand the frustration. they think it is unfair that they always have to be the grown-ups on this. republicans have proven that they don't care. they don't care if we're on the brink of default and possible financial crisis and raising our borrowing costs for the rest of time, which is another possible consequence of all of this. they don't care. they think that it's better to put democrats in the uncomfortable position of having to do this on their own. there's a lot of public confusion about what the debt limit is. people seem to think it's about authorizing new spending. again, it's not. >> it's for paying what they already promised, what they voted for in the last several years. >> yeah. including the $7 trillion of debt added under president trump. but republicans are happy to take advantage of the fact the public is generally confused about this and say, let's make democrats take full responsibility and confuse, conflate the issues of, again, paying the old bills versus democrats forward-looking spending agenda. two different things. >> catherine, thank you for laying out the stakes here, which are enormously high, to be cheer. >> yes. >> appreciate it. >> brianna? >> consequential here. we have new reporting about another incident of havana syndrome. this time, it involves a member of c the cia director's team. it happened during a trip to india earlier this month. kylie atwood is joining us on the story. what's the latest? >> reporter: earlier this month, the cia director bill burns traveled to india. during the trip, a member of his team reported symptoms similar to, consistent with havana syndrome. it is the mysterious illness that has impacted u.s. diplomats and intelligence officers around the world since 2016. starting in havana, cuba. hence the name havana syndrome. i'm told that this specific incident truly set off alarm bells within the u.s. government. left burns himself fuming with anger, according to one source. we should note, this is the second time in less than a month that these reported incidents at the location have impacted the travel of senior administration officials in the biden administration. vice president kamala harris went to vietnam at the end of last month. there were reported incidents around her travel, as well, which slightly delayed her visit. but this specific incident also has some really serious potential implications here. u.s. government officials are concerned about those implications. that's because the cia director's travel is very tightly held. they don't announce where he is going ahead of where he is going, so there are concerns about how the perpetrator here would have known potentially where he was traveling and then been able to plan and carry out such an aggression, if chthey were, indeed, targeting those traveling with the cia director. the cia spokesperson said they don't comment on specific incidents of havana syndrome or specific officers. there are protocols in place for anyone who experiences these sym symptoms, including medical attention they receive. this person did receive medical attention on the trip and when they returned to the united states. but the u.s. still doesn't know who or what is the perpetrator behind these mysterious illnesses that are now impacting u.s. diplomats and u.s. intelligence officers. i'm told it looks like a faster pace than they were in the earlier years. this is something that continues to be under investigation, and we'll continue to watch this. because it does seem that this could be getting closer and closer to top biden administration officials. brianna? >> it's so alarming and so little is known about this. kylie, thank you for staying on this story. in a few hours, president biden will address a critical meeting of world leaders at the united nations. the stakes are so high after the messy withdrawal from afghanistan, and extreme tension with allies like france in recent days. the question is not whether america wants to lead the world any longer but whether it can. joining me now is my friend and former colleague, host of "the recount daily" podcast and founder of good trouble productions, reporting extensively abroad. good to see you. what does the world want to hear from president biden? >> can america continue to lead the world? so much of the focus will be on a lot of issues that are front and center. climate change, human rights. i think we're looking through the lens of covid. you know, stockpiling vaccines. what's the plan the u.s. has to help other countries? also looming in the background is china, john. i think when we saw the blowup between france and the u.s. over the nuclear-powered submarines that are going to australia, over the course of the next few days, while president xi won't be attending the u.n. general ass assembly, there will be messaging from the white house. >> president xi doesn't need to be at the united nations in order for china to overhang everything and dominate it. what does president biden need to accomplish? >> setting the tone matters in this moment. i think more than words, people will be looking to actions from the white house. what are they planning to do on issues like climate change, human rights, the democracy summit in a few months, what will it mean for the world? what is the white house trying to achieve? i really go back to china and that relationship, of what people are looking through the lens. the white house made this calculus that there is this blowup between france and the u.s. what they are building with this situation with the australians and the british. there's reports out of the uk today that they, too, are going to move their nuclear-powered submarines over to australia. this is a larger play. this is just sort of the many ways the first building block. while president xi isn't there, you can be certain having the two other bigger economies beyond china, japan and india, they're at the white house with australia, the quad, later this week, it's sending a significant message to china. this is a bigger play the white house is hoping to make. >> joe biden told the world, america is back. that really was an intentional, specific contrast to the previous administration. the trump administration. does the world believe it? to what extent does the world believe that now that they've seen what happened in afghanistan, now that they've seen what happened with australia and france? >> john, when the whole pullout was happening in august, my 10-year-old son asked me, do you think the taliban will show up at our door, at our home? i keep thinking about that question that jack posed to me. that is what we're waiting to see. can extremism and counterintelligence be dealt with from afar? you know, what is the plan? you've got to get more countries involved in that meeting with india later this week, as well. you know, they're concerned, does afghanistan become an extension of pakistan? so i think a lot of people will be watching to see how does the u.s. continue to deal with counterintelligence in a country they've pulled out of? also, a country that you're worried about extremism and poverty. the u.n. will have a huge hand in helping deal with that. the taliban is not allowing the u.s., but the u.n. is welcome there, and rightfully so. they know they need the help and the assistance. >> it'll be fascinating to watch the president today. i think the world is watching with a more critical eye than they might have been a few months ago. reena, so nice to see you. >> you, as well. new evidence in the gabby petito investigation, incloudin odd text messaging her mother said made her concerned something was wrong. plus, a lawsuit filed against a doctor who said he violated the state's abortion policies on purpose. plus, aggressive tactics used at the border. the head of the department of homeland security will join us this morning. as someone who resembles someone else... i appreciate that liberty mutual knows everyone's unique. that's why they customize your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. oh, yeah. that's the spot. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty ♪ who pays more for prescription drugs than anyone else in the world? americans do. and whose tax dollars does big pharma use to develop those same drugs? that's right. our tax dollars. it's a big pharma scam. they get rich and we get ripped off. and it's why pharma is spending millions on lies and scare tactics to stop a plan that lets medicare negotiate lower prices. congress, stop the big pharma scam. let medicare negotiate lower prices. my plaque psoriasis... ...the itching ...the burning. the stinging. my skin was no longer mine. my psoriatic arthritis, made my joints stiff, swollen... painful. emerge tremfyant™. with tremfya®, adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis... ...can uncover clearer skin and improve symptoms at 16 weeks. tremfya® is the only medication of its kind also approved for adults with active psoriatic arthritis. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. tremfya®. emerge tremfyant™. janssen can help you explore cost support options. ♪ payday, payday♪ ♪ ♪ monday, payday♪ ♪ tuesday, payday♪ ♪ wednesday, payday♪ ♪ thursday, payday♪ ♪ friday, payday♪ ♪ saturday, payday♪ ♪ sunday, payday♪ ♪ ♪ payday, payday♪ ♪ ♪payday♪ (man 1) oh, this looks like we're in a screen saver. (man 2) yeah, but we need to go higher. (man 1) higher. (man 2) definitely higher. (man 1) we're like yodeling high. [yodeling] yo-de-le-he... (man 2) hey, no. uh-uh, don't do that. (man 1) we should go even higher! (man 2) yeah, let's do it. (both) woah! (man 2) i'm good. (man 1) me, too. (man 2) mm-hm. (vo) adventure has a new look. (man 1) let's go lower. (man 2) lower, that sounds good. (vo) discover more in the all-new subaru outback wilderness. love. it's what makes subaru, subaru. there's new evidence this morning about the relationship between gabby petito and her fiance brian laundrie, as the search for laundrie intensifies. investigators obtained a search warrant for a hard drive found in petito's van. the warrant mentions text messages that petito sent her mother, showing more and more tension with laundrie. cnn's leyla santiago is in north port, florida, where the laundrie family lives. she has more on this. what is the latest here, leyla? >> reporter: well, brianna, the home here where the couple lived with laundrie's family is still roped off. even though fbi says it has concluded its search here. in the meantime, today we expect the autopsy of the human remains believed to be gabby petito. we're hoping that that gives more insight as to the identity, final confirmation. in the meantime, the question remains, where is brian laundrie? investigators are working to track down brian laundrie this morning, intensifying their efforts just days after authorities say they discovered a body that could be his fiance, gabby petito. the fbi is searching the florida home laundrie shares with his parents for hours. agents removing items, towing away this ford mustang, and seen escorting laundrie's parents back inside the house. >> we're looking for potential dna evidence, fiber evidence and, of course, maybe most importantly, any evidence with respect to something that would leave a digital footprint. hard drives, ipads, smartphones. >> reporter: petito vanishing last month while traveling with laundrie. >> i think our plan for today is to just hang out here in the tent. >> reporter: the couple posting their criss-cross drive in a white ford transit van on social media. >> i love the van. >> reporter: but there were reportedly some problems between the two during the trip. a witness dialing 911, saying he saw a domestic dispute between laundrie and petito. >> we drove by, and the gentleman was slapping the girl. >> slapping her? >> yes. then we stopped. they ran up and down the sidewalk. he proceeded to hit her. hopped in the car, and they drove off. >> reporter: this call sending police to pull petito and laundrie over on august 12th. responding officers writing in their report that it was petito that was slapping laundrie, and concluding the situation was more likely a mental health crisis than a domestic assault. >> he wouldn't let me in the car before. >> reporter: that van could also provide some insight on just what happened to petito. investigators executing a search warrant last week, finding a hard drive inside the vehicle they say may contain viable digital tforensic data that coud have helped find her location. petito communicated regularly with her mother and there, quote, appeared to be more and more tension between her and laundrie. the documents also saying petito's mother says she received an odd text from her daughter on august 27th. this final text writing, quote, can you help stan? i just keep getting his voice mails and missed fathers. petito's grandfather by the first name, which her mother said she didn't call him. youtubers showing this video of petito in laundrie's van near the grand teton national forest. the location not too far from where investigators say they discovered human remains that could be the missing 2 the attorney for the laundrie family was supposed to have some sort of press conference or make a statement to the media this afternoon. we have now learned that he has canceled this at the fbi's request. >> all right. leyla, thank you so much, live for us from florida. the death toll from coronavirus in the u.s. just surpassed that of the 1918 flu pandemic. we're going to talk to a doctor who says he is scared about what comes next, as his hospital rations care. in a newly revealed memo, it shows just how much planning went into former president trump's scheme to overturn the 2020 election. when we found out our son had autism, his future became my focus. lavender baths calmed hi ♪ find a northwestern mutual advisor atm.com pool floaties are like whooping cough. amusement parks are like whooping cough. even ice cream is like whooping cough, it's not just for kids. whooping cough is highly contagious for people of any age. and it can cause violent uncontrollable coughing fits. sometimes followed by vomiting and exhaustion. ask your doctor or pharmacist about whooping cough vaccination because whooping cough isn't just for kids. [sfx: radio being tuned] welcome to allstate. ♪ [band plays] ♪ a place where everyone lives life well-protected. ♪ and even when things go a bit wrong, we've got your back. here, things work the way you wish they would. and better protection costs a whole lot less. you're in good hands with allstate. click or call for a lower auto rate today. ♪ ♪ ♪ in business, it's never just another day. it's the big sale, or the big presentation. the day where everything goes right. or the one where nothing does. with comcast business you get the network that can deliver gig speeds to the most businesses and advanced cybersecurity to protect every device on it— all backed by a dedicated team, 24/7. every day in business is a big day. we'll keep you ready for what's next. comcast business powering possibilities. as of this morning, more than 675,000 americans have been killed by coronavirus. that is more deaths than in the 1918 flu pandemic. it's approximately 1 in 490 americans, mothers, fathers, friends, brothers, all gone. that many people could fill almost ten nfl stadiums. nearly 2,000 americans are dying every day now. cnn's dr. sanjay gupta takes a look at how we reached this devastating toll. >> reporter: a little more than a century ago, an influenza pandemic ravaged america. >> there were four waves in the 1918/1919 pandemic. the two greatest occurred in the fall of 1918 and the winter of 1919. >> reporter: dr. howard marquel studied epidemics in american history. >> there were no vaccines for influenza. we didn't know it was caused by a virus. >> reporter: best projections, 675,000 people died. fast forward to today, a grim milestone. deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have surpassed that figure. more than 675,000 people have now died of covid-19 in the united states. >> just sadness. because it didn't have to be this high. >> reporter: it is true that back in 1918, the population was a third of what it is today. but that entire population was at the mercy of the pandemic. because there were no vaccines. but today, a different problem in the united states. a relu reluctck -- reluctance t the vaccine. >> it is what is driving the surge in hospitalizations' need for intensive care unit and also the record number of deaths that we're seeing. >> we have had some capacity open up, and it is not because these patients are miraculously getting better and going home. it's because they're dying. >> reporter: federal health officials say we're in a pandemic of the unvaccinated. >> when 99% of the people who are dying of covid today don't have a vaccine, that's perfect proof that you need to be vaccinated. >> reporter: it all raises an uncomfortable question. what are we willing to accept when it comes to deaths? this is the death toll over time so far. 1,000 in march of 2020. 300,000 by the end of last year. twice that many by the summer. some now ask, could there be a million tragic deaths before this is all over? >> i certainly hope not. i hope not. i don't believe at all that that is something that is an inevitability by any means. if we get theover overwhelming proportion of the population vaccinated, we're not going to see that at all. >> reporter: but that means getting most of some 70 million eligible adults vaccinated. an effort that has been poisoned by politics and misinformation. the worst it has been in a hundred years. >> it's never been this level of anger and politicization and distrust. >> reporter: 2021 isn't 1918. they lacked the science to prevent 675,000 deaths. whereas, we, to a great extent, have lacked the will. dr. sanjay gupta, cnn, reporting. >> thanks to sanjay for that. this morning, the white house is condemning disturbing new video that shows law enforcement charging migrants at the border. plus, republicans say their new election laws are designed to prevent fraud, but brand-new evidence out of florida shows that is not the case. [slow electronic notes fade in] [fast upbeat music begins] [music stops] and release. [deep exhale] [fast upbeat music resumes] [music stops] ♪ ♪ i can turn anyone into a beach bum. i bring families together for a living. i make memories for people i don't know yet. i know this view is too good not to be shared. i am a vrbo host. ♪ ♪ visible is wireless that doesn't play games. no surprise fees, legit unlimited data, for as little as $25 a month. and the best part? it's powered by verizon. but it gets crazier. bring a friend every month, and get every month for $5. which is why i brought them. two $5-a-months right here. (both) hey. plus the players in my squad. hey. what's up? then finally, my whole livestream. boom! 12 months of $5 wireless. (announcer) visible. unlimited data as low as $25 a month. or bring a friend and you both get a month for $5. wireless that gets better with friends. i had no idea how much i wamy case was worth. c call the barnes firm to find out what your case could be worth. we will help get you the best result possible. ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪ when a truck hit my car, ♪the insurance companyed, wasn't fair. eight million ♪ i didid't t kn whahatmy c caswa, so i called the barnes firm. i'm rich barnes. it's hard for people to k how much their accident case is worth.h barnes. t ouour juryry aorneneys hehelpou "new day" weather brought to you by servpro. helping make fire and water damage like it never even happened. this morning, some stunning new images that show california's famed groves of giant sequoias wrapped in a fire retarded aluminum foil, as crews are desperately trying to save them from fires that are burning through the rugged sierra nevada moun mountains. that includes one of the largest trees in the world, the general she sherman. rain is on the way for the midwest and northeast. chad myers joining us now with a look here. those pictures out of california, that is just -- especially as a californian, chad, i've never seen anything like it. >> no. we had a wind event there yesterday and a little bit more today that will again increase the fire danger out there. we've had 86, 87 days in a row with the fire danger being the highest number possible on the fire rating category. so here we go. yes, cold air is coming into the northeast, along with rainfall. a beautiful, unboelievably beautiful weekend. brought to you by servpro, making make i it like it never even happened. 2 to 4 inches of rain coming, could be problems if you have saturated ground. rainfall is coming through with the cold front you'll remember. it's the cold air that you will remember. cold front is going to get all the way down to new orleans. the high in new orleans by the weekend will be 78. won't that feel good for the people still picking up the pieces down there in louisiana. cooler air across the great lakes and the northeast. 70s by the weekend. the same story all the way down across the gulf coast. we'll take this weather for sure. brianna? >> chad, we will. thank you. to the white house. images of border patrol agents on horseback confronting haitian migrants are horrific. the department of homeland security is investigating. footage shows them twirling something at migrants who crossed the border near del rio, texas. the agents trying to corral the migrants. some 10,000 are living in desperate conditions under the international bridge in del rio, awaiting processing as the u.s. exaccelerates deportation. the journey begins in southern mexico, and that's where matt rivers joins us live. matt, it is important to point this out. this is a continental problem. it is not just one place or one town on the u.s./mexico border. >> reporter: absolutely, john. i mean, what we're seeing at the u.s. border didn't start there. i mean, you have migrants who made a very long journey to get to that point. that's the end. the thousands and thousands and thousands of people that you see at the u.s. border right now. ten days, two weeks ago, they were here in southern mexico, moving through this area in a way that immigration activists tell me they've never really seen before. a packed street in southern mexico resembling something out of port-au-prince. hundreds of haitian migrants fill the sidewalks of the city. this is often a stop for those traveling north to the u.s., but the amount of haitians making that journey right now, both government officials and activists say, is unprecedented. we've seen lots of migration before, says figueroa, but never this many people from haiti. it is unbelievable. nearly 19,000 haitians and counting have applied for asylum in mexico this year. already three times higher than all of 2020. but for many, asylum claims won't keep them here. they will head north, arriving by any and all means. here, a few days ago, dozens of migrants, many haitian, take a ferry to cross the river. the only way to get across. most will pay a few dollars to a motorcycle taxi to take them along the next leg of the journey. [ speaking foreign language ] >> reporter: he's basically saying he's never seen this amount of haitian migrants come through here before. the goal for many is to make it to a place like here. seven hours away in a town where there is fierce competition to get on the buses boiling ove. arguments attic et stations. these buses will take them to the u.s., which is how recent scenes of thousands of haitians trying to get to the u.s. came to be. the u.s. says they'll deport the people by the thousands, but there are more coming. >> this space in southern mexico until a few days ago was a place where hundreds of haitian migrants were staying on a temporary basis every single day. this community set up this shelter because of this recent influx. now, it's empty. all the haitians that were here left. they're headed north to the united states. >> reporter: this surging migration has every chance to continue after a devastating earthquake struck haiti six weeks ago. hundreds of thousands were displaced. immigration activists say many could leave the island soon and eventually end up right back here in southern mexico, u.s. bound. what government officials are tells us is that the vast majority of haitians that have come through here to southern mexico, going to the u.s., they are haitians that have left the island years ago, after the earthquake in 2010, hurricane matthew in 2016. these are people who had been living in south america but chose to make this journey all the way north, up to the u.s. due to economic hardships, primarily, throughout this pandemic. amazing when you think about the fact that even though there was this major earthquake, john, six weeks ago now, those people who will be leaving the island, and make no mistake, people will migrate as a result of the earthquake, they haven't even made it here yet. this is the kind of scene that we could see again in the future. >> it's not even this disaster in haiti that is driving people to the border today. it's ten years ago, five years ago. such an important reminder. matt rivers, thank you for your reporting. new text messages show what motivated some republicans in florida to craft new restrictive voting laws. it has nothing to do with fraud. plus, just in, johnson & johnson says its two-dose vaccine provides protection at a 94% rate, putting it on the level of moderna and pfizer. we'll have details about that ahead. ently, so you can focus on what matters most. that's how we've become the leader in 5g. #1 in customer satisfaction. and a partner who includes 5g in every plan, so you get it all. at usaa, we've been called too exclusive. because we were created for officers. but as we've evolved with the military, we've grown to serve all who've honorably served. no matter their rank, or when they were in. a marine just out of basic, or a petty officer from '73. and even his kids. and their kids. usaa is made for all who've honorably served and their families. are we still exclusive? absolutely. and that's exactly why you should join. it's another day. and anything could happen. it could be the day you welcome 1,200 guests and all their devices. or it could be the day there's a cyberthreat. get ready for it all with an advanced network and managed services from comcast business. and get cybersecurity solutions that let you see everything on your network. plus an expert team looking ahead 24/7 to help prevent threats. every day in business is a big day. we'll keep you ready for what's next. comcast business powering possibilities. ♪ look good feel good play good. gillette proglide, five blades and a pivoting flexball to get virtually every hair on the first stroke. look good, game good. gillette. and there you have it— -woah. wireless on the most reliable network nationwide. wow! -big deal! ...we get unlimited for just $30 bucks. sweet, but mine has 5g included. relax people, my wireless is crushing it. that's because you all have xfinity mobile with your internet. it's wireless so good, it keeps one upping itself. switch to xfinity mobile and save hundreds on your wireless bill. plus, save up to $400 when you purchase a new samsung phone or upgrade your existing phone. learn more at your local xfinity store today. new this morning, internal text messages with republican lawmakers in florida, undercutting the claims the state's new, more restricting voting law was not politicly motivating. a senate proposal was defended to cancel all existing mail-in ballot requests, saying it would be devastating to republicans to keep them valid heading into 2022 election, when desantis and other state republican officials are up for re-election. that proposal did not ultimately make it into the final bill, but republicans did shorten the time the ballot requests would be remain valid. joining us now, florida man, the political reporter who broke this story and obtained this information. gary, always a pleasure to see you. great reporting here. very revealing. what did these text messages show that these republican leaders were worried about, and how were they trying to remedy it? >> well, what it showed is that the concerns about mail-in balloting were also tied to partisan advantage, to political gain, as opposed to just it's a concern about election integrity and security. >> they were specifically saying that keeping the rolls open, basically people who apply for mail-in ballots this time would get them again this time no matter what, allowing that would help democrats too much? am i reading that correctly? >> well, right. basically, in the 2020 election, as the effect of the pandemic, you know, caused a change in electoral behavior, the democrats really pushed to get people to vote by mail opposed to voting in person. and going into the 2020 election, they had a significant advantage in the number of people who were getting their ballots through the mail. so what the legislation was about was basically one of the things that it did was it basically said, well, if you hadn't gotten in your request by -- if you already had an old request or a request from the last cycle, it was automatically going to be canceled. you'd have to apply again. the florida law had been that your mail-in ballot request was good for two election cycles. the law that was ultimately passed changed it from two to one. the text messages show that part of the discussion about this was how is this going to impact the republicans going into the election? not, is this a good idea or bad idea because of election security. >> it is bad for us as republicans, not it's bad for us in florida because, dot, dot, dot, security issues. reminder, this is a reversal of the political situation in florida from five, ten years ago, when more republicans used to vote by mail, correct? they only became worried about this mail-in balloting when more democrats started doing it. >> i think it is important to note that in florida, florida has excuse-free mail-in balloting. what used to be known as absentee balloting. that was put in place by the republicans following the debacle that was the 2000 recount. so all of these things that have happened in mail-in balloting over the years had allowed the republicans to do a good job and keep their control over state government. what has happened is in the last couple of cycles, as you've seen more and more democrats voting by mail, whereas republicans have been going more to early voting and voting on election day. >> so tell me, besides intrepid reporting, how you came upon these text messages, and what the long-term impact might be to democrats or interest groups. any recourse here? >> basically, how we were able to obtain these text messages and some emails was basically that there are groups that have sued the state and the legislature and the governor over this new election law. there was discovery that went on in the case. so what i was able to do is i made public records requests to the governor's office, to the h house and senate, to find out what they'd delivered to the lawyers. for the ramifications, well, i mean, the lawsuit is ongoing. we'll see how that plays out. there's several groups. multilawple lawsuits wers were after this was signed. this could effect, you know, voting of the elderly, minority groups, things of that nature. the lawsuit will play out over the months ahead as we head into the 2022 elections. now, i would say as to the overall impact, i mean, i don't know. what's interesting is, as you pointed out, republicans used to be really good at mail-in ballots. i guess we're going to see, was what happened in 2020 sort of a one year situation, where because of the pandemic, or are all the changes they've done with mail-in ballots, will it wind up hurting republicans in the end? >> gary fineout, i should not have said besides intrepid reporting, how'd you come across this, because it was only intrepid reporting. great to see you. thank you. >> thank you. is the crisis that the united states is going through right now as bad as the civil war? one of america's most prolific documentarians says yes. meanwhile, the united states facing the possibility of economic catastrophe amid a showdown on capitol hill. we'll break down what's at stake. can you be free of hair breakage worries? we invited mahault to see for herself that new dove breakage remedy gives damaged hair the strength it needs. even with repeated combing hair treated with dove shows 97% less breakage. strong hair with new dove breakage remedy. [sfx: radio being tuned] welcome to allstate. ♪ [band plays] ♪ a place where everyone lives life well-protected. ♪ and even when things go a bit wrong, we've got your back. here, things work the way you wish they would. and better protection costs a whole lot less. you're in good hands with allstate. click or call for a lower auto rate today. trelegy for copd. ♪ birds flyin' high, you know how i feel. ♪ ♪ breeze drifting on by you know how i feel. ♪ ♪ it's a new dawn... ♪ if you've been taking copd sitting down, it's time to make a stand. start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd medicine has the power to treat copd in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler, trelegy helps people breathe easier and improves lung function. it also helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. take a stand and start a new day with trelegy. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy. and save at trelegy.com. we're carvana, the company who invented car vending machines and buying a car 100% online. now we've created a brand-new way for you to sell your car. whether it's 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 car's value and gives you a real offer in seconds. when you're ready, we'll come to you, pay you on the spot and pick up your car, that's it. so ditch the old way of selling your car, and say hello to the new way at carvana. ken burns, one of america's most prolific documentaries recently went on a podcast where he made this claim about the context of the state of america right now. >> you've been making films about the american experience and about america for the, you know, whatever it's been, over 40 years. do you have a cynical view now of where we're headed and where we've come from? is it doom and gloom, or are you -- do you feel okay? >> well, i don't think anybody has the luxury at this moment of being cynical. cynical is a, you know -- debauchery is a luxury of too much time and too many things you're not doing with your hands that you begin doing with your hands. >> yeah. >> it's really serious. there are three great crises before this. the civil war, the depression, and world war ii. this is equal to it. >> wow. joining us is natasha alford and cnn political commentator and the host of "smerconish" on cnn, michael smerconish. michael, do you agree with ken burns? >> i can't match his historical analysis. i can only say that i've been paying close attention for the last three decades. i'm not accustomed to having the level of concern that i have today about the security of the united states. i don't mean from foreign threat. i mean from domestic threat. i worry about the stability of our country in ways that i never have previously. i've grown up politically worried about things like will social security be there? what should be the tax rate? yes, to an extent, the cold war. but i think we face real crisis from within. sadly, my answer is yes. >> natasha, what do you think?i political polarization we see produces casualties that amount to what we would see in a war, right? think about the 675,000 covid death number. it's a really gruesome milestone. yet, if you go on any mainstream social media site today, you will see that there are people who question that that number is real. can you imagine? there are people who have died, and there's so many americans who are falling in the camp of saying, we just don't think the number is real. and so when we can't agree basic things in a society, like what the facts are, you get the result of only 54% of americans being vaccinated, which is not how we end a pandemic. so it does beg the question of, where do we go as a country when people are willing to both die and put others' health at risk, all for their sense of what personal liberty is. >> you know, michael, i think one of the reasons -- well, a couple reasons that what ken burns is saying really raises eye eyebrows, is because he mentions the civil war, which obviously he is very familiar with, right? he has the documentary on it. of course, you know, slavery and the context of what life was like for so much of the country during that time. but also the fact that these things he's highlighting are existential threats, which means that's what he sees right now as. >> true. and i think natasha is on to something. truth has become an elastic concept. we can't even agree on basic facts. one of the reasons that i think we baseic facts is there is diminished confidence in our institutions, in government, certainly in the media, the police, even the military. it is hard to know where you can go for information on which you can rely. i think technology has proven to be an accelerant on this fire. things won't get better until people start drawing on more sources of information as they decide what they're going to accept, and get out of these silos of misinformation. >> do you think this division is unsustainable, natasha? >> absolutely. it is unsustainable. brianna, i do feel that it is something that's always been with us. i think of the civil war comparison. we had states that wanted to keep slavery. it was essential to their economy and way of life. we still have states that are talking about it. political leaders, activists, an

Related Keywords

Phone , Samsung Phone , Store , Xfinity , 400 , 00 , Brianna Keilar , John Berman , Viewers , United States , Around The World , September 21st , Tuesday September 21st , 21 , Catastrophe , Congress , Stake , Recovery , Thanks , Lawmakers , Game , Sides , Racing , Aisle , Chicken , Verge , Janet Yellen , Something , Republicans , Debt Limit , Democrats , Mitch Mcconnell , Default , House Of Representatives , Birthday , Help , Joe Biden , Deal , Nancy Pelosi , Fate , Agenda , Spending Package , Top , 48 , Moderates , Progressives , Infrastructure Deal , Deadline , Budget Deal , Warfare , Members , Direction , Optimism , Work , Question , Everything , Cnn , Lauren Fox , Finalizing , Reasons , Speaker , Infrastructure , Social Safety Net Agenda , Problem , Infrastructure Bill , U S Senate , Social Safety Net , Floor , 5 Trillion , 3 5 Trillion , Votes , Voting , Party , Infrastructure Package , Difference , Thats , Thaey , 1 2 Trillion , 2 Trillion , Page , Out , House Of Represent Tatives , Peril , Desk , Six , Lot , Fact , Differences , Joe Manchin , Safety Net Bill , Price Tag , Two , Prescription Drugs , Tax , Cost , Provision , Isn T , Moving Parts , Social Safety Net Pbill , Debt Ceiling , Government Shutdown , House , Twofer , Government , Things , September 30th Deadline , 30 , September 30th , Test Vote , Package , Saying , Many , Any , Me Last Night , Someone , Circumstances , Arguing , Mitt Romney , 60 , Matter , Up , Special Budget Process , No , Kind , The End , Press Conferences , Showdown , United , Mind , Theater , Debt , Commentator , Cath Catherine , Defaults , Economics , Opinion Columnist , Washington Post , One , Crises , Military Service , Eyour Debt , Buckets , Salaries , Social Security Checks , Especialy , Number , Money , Constitution , Repayment , Number One , Creditor , Bit , Three , Crisis , Safest , Borrower , Safe Assets , World , Safe , Assets , Market , Markets , Benchmarked , Panic , Yes , Didn T , Sounds , 2013 , 2011 , Sort , We Didn T Hit Crisis , Nihilistic , Dollar Number , Blowback , Parties , Steps , Office , Trump , Bills , Course , Responsibility , Share , Spending , Burn , Principle , Lis Hapy , They Don T , Care , Fault , Grown Ups , Brink , Frustration , Care , All , They Don T Care , Consequence , Borrowing Costs , Rest , Position , People , Public , President , Confusion , 7 Trillion , Trillion , Advantage , Issues , Say , Conflate , Reporting , Stakes , Spending Agenda , Cheer , Team , Trip , Director , Incident , Member , Cia , C , Kylie Atwood , Havana Syndrome , Reporter , Story , Symptoms , Diplomats , Illness , To , India , Latest , Bill Burns , Officers , Intelligence , Alarm Bells , Left , Havana , Name Havana Syndrome , Cuba , 2016 , 2016 Starting , Location , Administration , Officials , Incidents , Anger , Travel , Source , Kamala Harris , Implications , Visit , Well , Vietnam , Concerns , Perpetrator , Traveling , Syndrome , Aggression , Spokesperson , Chthey , Place , Anyone , Attention , Person , Protocols , Still Doesn T Know , Illnesses , Investigation , Little , Pace , Meeting , Tension , France , World Leaders , Withdrawal , Allies , Afghanistan , United Nations , Podcast , Friend , Host , Colleague , The Recount Daily , Focus , Human Rights , Center , Climate Change , Founder , Trouble Productions , Plan , Countries , Blowup , Lens , China , Stockpiling Vaccines , Background , Covid , White House , Submarines , Ass Assembly , Australia , Messaging , President Xi Won T , President Xi Doesn T , General , It , Actions , Order , Tone , Words , Overhang Everything , Democracy Summit , Relationship , Situation , Calculus , Building , Australians , British , Ways , Play , Economies , Japan , President Xi Isn T , Building Block , Message , Contrast , The Quad , Extent , Son , Pullout , 10 , Home , Taliban , Extremism , Counterintelligence , Door , Jack , Afar , Extension , Pakistan , Country , Hand , Poverty , Evidence , Eye , Assistance , Gabby Petito Investigation , Reena , Mother , State , Doctor , Lawsuit , Incloudin , Plus , Abortion , Border , Policies , Tactics , Head , Purpose , Department Of Homeland Security , Everyone , Unique , Someone Else , Liberty Mutual , Spot , Liberty , Car Insurance , Pay , Tax Dollars , Pharma , Drugs , Scare Tactics , Lies , Big Pharma , Big Pharma Scam , Prices , Medicare , Let Medicare , Plaque Psoriasis , Skin , Burning , Itching , Stinging , Tremfya , Psoriatic Arthritis , Adults , Moderate , Joints , Emerge Tremfyanttm , Painful , 16 , Risk , Medication , Reactions , Infections , Ability , Vaccine , Cost Support Options , Infection , Janssen , Payday , Payday Monday , Payday Tuesday , Oman , Screen Saver , Looks , Payday Sunday , Payday Friday , Payday Thursday , Payday Wednesday , Payday Saturday , 2 , 1 , Both , Yo De Le He , Yodeling High , Uh , More , Look , Vo , Adventure , Lower , Love , Let S Go Lower , Sounds Good , Hm , Subaru Outback Wilderness , Gabby Petito , Brian Laundrie , Search , Text Messages , Florida , Leyla Santiago , Hard Drive , Investigators , North Port , Search Warrant , Warrant , Van , Fbi , Family , Family Lives , Human Remains , Insight , Confirmation , Question Remains , Identity , Autopsy , Body , Efforts , Authorities , Agents , Parents , Fiance , Shares , Items , Home Laundrie , Ford Mustang , Hard Drives , Footprint , Dna Evidence , Fiber Evidence , Respect , Petito Vanishing Last , Drive , Tent , Ford Transit Van On Social Media , Criss Cross , Problems , Gentleman , Domestic Dispute , Dialing 911 , 911 , Wasn T Fair , Police , Girl , Sidewalk , Call , Laundrie Over On August 12th , August 12th , Report , He Wouldn T , Mental Health Crisis , Slapping Laundrie , Assault , 12 , Vehicle , Investigators Executing A Search Warrant , Quote , Tforensic , Documents , Have , Fathers , Voice Mails , Text , Text Writing , Odd , Daughter , 27 , August 27th , Video , Name , Grandfather , Van Near , The Grand Teton National Forest , Youtubers , Request , Media , Statement , Press Conference , Laundrie Family , Attorney , Flu Pandemic , Coronavirus , Death Toll , Memo , Hospital Rations Care , 1918 , Election , Planning , Scheme , 2020 , Autism , Whooping Cough , Lavender Baths , Advisor , Pool Floaties , Northwestern Mutual , Kids , Ice Cream , Coughing , Age , Amusement Parks , Vaccination , Pharmacist , Exhaustion , Fits , Allstate , Band Plays , Radio , Sfx , Life , Bit Wrong , Hands , Protection , Auto Rate , Back , Business , Presentation , Sale , Network , Nothing , Businesses , Cybersecurity , Gig Speeds , Device , Big Day , Business Powering Possibilities , 24 7 , 675000 , Deaths , Friends , Mothers , Brothers , Stadiums , Nfl , Ten , 490 , Influenza Pandemic , Dr , Toll , Sanjay Gupta , 2000 , Waves , Howard Marquel , Four , 1918 1919 , 1919 Reporter , 1919 , Vaccines , Influenza , Virus , Projections , Grim Milestone , Studied Epidemics In American History , Fast Forward , Pandemic , High , Figure , Sadness , 19 , Population , Third , Mercy , Relu Reluctck , Patients , Surge , Intensive Care Unit , Record , Hospitalizations , Need , Capacity , Health , Covid Today Don T , Unvaccinated , Proof , 99 , 1000 , March Of 2020 , 300000 , Over , Summer , A Million , Means , Proportion , Most , Inevitability , 70 Million , Misinformation , Level , Effort , Politics , Politicization , Distrust , 2021 , A Hundred , Sanjay , Will , Science , Fraud , Laws , Law Enforcement Charging Migrants , Case , Music , Notes , Release , Music Stops , Deep Exhale , Families , Beach Bum , View , Living , Memories , Vrbo , Part , Data , Surprise Fees , Verizon , Doesn T Play Games , 5 , 25 , Players , Livestream , Squad , Announcer , Low , Two 5 A Months , Boom , , Idea , Result , Best , Barnes , Worth , Worth C Call , Eight Hundred , Eight Million , Accident Case , Truck Hit , Worth H Barnes , Firm , Insurance Companyed , Rich Barnes , Didid T Kn Whahatmy C Caswa , Aorneneys Hehelpou , T Ouour , Fire , Make , Weather , New Day , Water Damage , Servpro , Fires , Images , Crews , Foil , California S , Sierra Nevada , Famed Groves , Giant Sequoias , Way , Rain , Pictures , Trees , Midwest , Moun Mountains , The General , She Sherman , Chad Myers , Anything , Danger , Wind Event , Row , 87 , 86 , Unboelievably Beautiful Weekend , Rainfall , Northeast , Fire Rating Category , Cold Air , Rain Coming , 4 , Won T , Cold Front , Weekend , Ground , Air , Pieces , Feel Good , New Orleans , Louisiana , 78 , The Weekend , Great Lakes , Gulf Coast , Border Patrol , 70 , Migrants , Horseback , Footage , Del Rio , Texas , Conditions , Processing , Bridge , Deportation , Exaccelerates , 10000 , Journey , Town , Southern Mexico , Matt Rivers , Mexico Border , U S Border Didn T Start , Thousands , Point , Area , Hundreds , Immigration Activists , Sidewalks , Street , Port Au Prince , Southern Mexico Resembling , Haitians , Activists , Migration , Government Officials , Amount , Stop , City , Lots , Traveling North , Figueroa , Asylum Claims Won T , Times , Counting , Asylum , 19000 , North , River , Ferry , Dozens , Motorcycle Taxi , Leg , Language , On The Buses Boiling Ove , Competition , Goal , Seven , Stations , Buses , Scenes , Arguments Attic Et , Influx , Community , Basis , Space , Shelter , Coming , Island , Earthquake , Chance , Hundreds Of Thousands , Majority , Hardships , Hurricane Matthew , 2010 , Haven T , Scene , Mistake , Reminder , Disaster , Five , Johnson , Voting Laws , Moderna , Rate , Details , Pfizer , 94 , Partner , 5g , Leader , Customer Satisfaction , Ently , Military , Usaa , Officer , Basic , Rank , Marine , 73 , Guests , Cyberthreat , Devices , 1200 , Threats , Services , Cybersecurity Solutions , Comcast Business , Feel , Hair , Gillette , Gillette Proglide , Flexball , Blades , Stroke , Pivoting , Game Good , It Woah , Sweet , Bucks , 0 Bucks , Bill , Save , Wireless , Internet , Voting Law , Proposal , Ballot , Requests , Heading , Desantis , 2022 , Florida Man , Ballot Requests , Re Election , Information , Leaders , Pleasure , Gary Fineout , Concern , Balloting , Integrity , Gain , Ballots , Security , Rolls , What , Mail , Change , Effect , Behavior , Legislation , Law , You Hadn T , Cycle , Discussion , Ballot Request , Election Cycles , Election Security , Reversal , Dot , Security Issues , Absentee Balloting , Recount , Debacle , State Government , Election Day , Job , Cycles , Control , Groups , Impact , Recourse , Interest , Governor , Discovery , Election Law , Legislature , Emails , Records , H House , Lawyers , Ramifications , Plays Out , Minority Groups , Elderly , Multilawple Lawsuits Wers , Elections , Don T Know , Nature , Is , The Civil War , Documentarians , Possibility , Showdown On Capitol Hill , Remedy , Dove Breakage , Strength , Dove , Hair Breakage Worries , Breakage , Dove Breakage Remedy , Mahault , 97 , Trelegy , Copd , Dawn , Birds Flyin , Stand , It S Time , Medicines , Copd Medicine , Inhaler , Power , Down , High Blood Pressure , Breathing Problems , Flare Ups , Rescue Inhaler , Heart Condition , Lung Function , Pneumonia , Thrush , Breathing , Vision Changes , Chest Pain , Spain , Trelegy Com , Osteoporosis , Mouth , Problems Urinating , Swelling , Tongue , Car , Car Vending Machines , Company , License Plate , Carvana , 100 , Questions , Techno Wizardry , Offer , Value , Ken Burns , Context , Documentaries , Claim , Experience , Films , Doom , Gloom , 40 , Luxury , Debauchery , Anybody , Natasha Alford , Depression , World War Ii , Michael , I Can T Match His Historical Analysis , On Cnn , Michael Smerconish , Threat , Stability , Tax Rate , Answer , Will Social Security , Cold War , War , Polarization , Casualties , Death Number , Social Media , Milestone , Site , Facts , Society , Camp , 54 , Sense , Others , Couple , Documentary , Eye Eyebrows , Slavery , Concept , Truth , True , Confidence , Technology , Institutions , Division , Sources , Accelerant , Silos , Drawing , States , Comparison , Natasha , Economy ,