Anderson Cooper 360

Six bystanders who witnessed George Floyd die took the stand on the second day of Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. The jury heard testimony from a 9-year-old, three high school students, a mixed martial arts fighter and a Minneapolis firefighter. MMA fighter Donald Wynn Williams II said he “felt the need to call the police on the police” because “I believe I witnessed a murder.” Former federal prosecutor Laura Coates tells AC360 testimony like Williams’ helps the prosecution “tremendously” because it builds upon what other witnesses are testifying. Plus, all 50 states have expanded or have plans to expand their Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and up as cases rise in 24 states. Dr. Peter Hotez is the co-director at the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital. He joins AC360 to discuss to the spike in cases and says it’s a matter of “not doing reckless things until we can vaccinate the American people.”  Airdate: March 30, 2021   Guests: Laura Coates Dr. Peter HotezTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky shared a feeling of “impending doom” with Covid-19 cases spiking throughout the country and said “I’m scared.” President Biden called on state and local officials to “please” reinstate the mask mandates. Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency room physician and the former Baltimore health commissioner. She tells AC360 we’re making so much good progress and “that’s why this is so frustrating because we are so close.” Plus, opening statements began in the criminal trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who’s charged with the murder of George Floyd. Chauvin’s defense argued he "did exactly what he had been trained to do" as a police officer. Mark O’Mara is a criminal defense attorney and successfully represented George Zimmerman, who was found not guilty for the murder of Trayvon Martin. O’Mara joins AC360 to discuss where he thinks the defense will go in this trial.   Airdate: March 29, 2021   Guests: Dr. Leana Wen Mark O’MaraTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden called a new Georgia law that imposes voting restrictions “Jim Crow in the 21st century” and an “atrocity.” When asked if there was anything the White House could do to protect voting rights in Georgia, the President said “the Justice Department is taking a look.” Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tells AC360 we have to “bring people to the polls to stand up for those votes suppressed.” Plus, in an exclusive interview, former CDC director Robert Redfield said he believes Covid-19 came from a Chinese lab but didn’t provide any evidence. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins AC360 to discuss Redfield’s comments and whether or not he thinks his theory could be correct. Airdate: March 26, 2021  Guests: Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Dr. Sanjay GuptaTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Georgia Republicans sped a sweeping elections bill into law that imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water. In President Biden’s first White House news conference he said he will “do anything” in his power to halt efforts to restrict voting rights. CNN Political Commentator Van Jones tells Anderson Cooper the new law is “an attack on democracy and civil rights.” Plus, Erika and Ellen Mahoney join AC360 to remember their dad and husband, Kevin Mahoney, who was one of the ten lives lost when a gunman opened fire in a Boulder grocery store. Airdate: March 25, 2021 Guests: Van Jones Erika and Ellen MahoneyTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of people lined the streets as a hearse transferred the body of Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley to a funeral home in Aurora. His patrol vehicle parked in front of the police station has become a shrine full of flowers, wreaths and cards. Talley was one of ten people killed when a gunman opened fire in the Boulder supermarket. Survivors have been returning to the scene to honor the victims and pay their respects. Kimberly Moore is a pharmacy technician at the King Soopers grocery store. She tells Anderson Cooper about the terrifying moments she was hiding in the pharmacy and remembers her co-worker Rikki Olds, who was one of the ten lives lost.  Plus, a new video obtained by the New York Times appears to show the attack on Officer Brian Sicknick during the Capitol riot on January 6th. Sicknick collapsed in his office after fighting off protestors and died the following day. Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe joins AC360 to discuss the new video and how it could help the investigation.   Airdate: March 24, 2021   Guests: Kimberly Moore Andrew McCabeTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Police identified the ten people killed in the Boulder, Colorado grocery store shooting. One of the victims was 51-year-old Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, who was one of the first officers on the scene. He leaves behind a wife and seven children. Pres. Joe Biden praised the heroism of Office Talley saying “that’s the definition of an American hero.” Maggie Montoya is a pharmacy technician at the King Soopers grocery store. She joins AC360 to describe the terrifying moments she spent hiding with her co-worker wondering where the shooter was and if he was going to find them. Plus, the President said he would do everything in his power to keep Americans safe and urged the Senate to immediately pass two House-passed bills on gun reform. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has been advocating for gun reform since the horrific Sandy Hook shooting that took the lives of 26 people, including 20 children. He tells Anderson Cooper why he thinks there’s a pathway to 60 votes to get the bills passed in the Senate.   Airdate: March 23, 2021   Guests: Maggie Montoya Sen. Chris MurphyTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Multiple people have been killed, including one police officer, in a shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. Authorities said one suspect is in custody. A witness told CNN affiliate KCNC he was inside the grocery store at the time of the shooting and said “everybody was running.” CNN’s Lucy Kafanov is on the scene and gives Anderson Cooper the latest updates. Plus, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe joins AC360 to react to the latest details.   Airdate: March 22, 2021   Guests: Lucy Kafanov Andrew McCabeTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pres. Joe Biden condemned the “skyrocketing” hate crimes against Asian Americans in the wake of the Atlanta-area shootings that left eight dead, including six women of Asian descent. He said Asian Americans have been “attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed.” Asian American Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth tells Anderson Cooper “we have been marching towards more and more violent hate crimes against AAPIs in the last year, in particular in the past four years under the Trump presidency.” Plus, while Biden toured the CDC and thanked the staffers for their work fighting Covid-19, his team announced they met their goal of 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days, 42 days early. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins AC360 to discuss how the acceleration of the vaccine rollout is affecting the case and death projections.   Airdate: March 19, 2021   Guests: Sen. Tammy DuckworthDr. Sanjay GuptaTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reports of anti-Asian hate incidents have been on the rise in recent months and Asian American lawmakers are asking their Republican colleagues to tone down rhetoric in the wake of attacks on their community. GOP Rep. Chip Roy used a hearing on anti-Asian violence to invoke lynching by bringing up an “old saying in Texas” about finding “all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree.” Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland, who is half Korean, joins AC360 to react to Rep. Roy’s comments and says “what we need to do is speak out against that ignorance and hate.” Plus, Republican Sen. Rand Paul went off on Dr. Anthony Fauci about masks and called them “theater.” Dr. Fauci responded by saying “masks are not theater. Masks are protective.” Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency room physician and the former Baltimore Health Commissioner. She tells Anderson Cooper masks are our ticket back to normalcy.   Airdate: March 18, 2021   Guests: Rep. Marilyn Strickland Dr. Leana WenTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began Asian Americans throughout the United States have been verbally harassed, spat on and injured in a “disgusting pattern of hate.” Even though police haven’t determined a motive, the Atlanta spa shootings that killed eight people, most of them Asian, jolted a community already on edge. Professional basketball player Jeremy Lin revealed he was called “coronavirus” on the court. He joins AC360 to discuss the rise of attacks and violence against the AAPI community since the start of the pandemic and the racism he’s personally experienced. Plus, Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez tells Anderson Cooper why he called one of his Republican colleagues’ remarks about the Capitol insurrection “racist,” “hurtful” and a “stain” on his office.   Airdate: March 17, 2021   Guests: Jeremy Lin Sen. Bob MenendezTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices