Anderson Cooper 360

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Former police officer Kim Potter was found guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright. The jury deliberated for about 27 hours over the course of four days. Potter’s sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2022. Jonathan Mason mentored Wright and was his high school adviser. He tells AC360 the verdict wasn’t justice for Daunte but “it’s accountability.” Plus, the CDC says healthcare workers who test positive for Covid-19 no longer need to isolate for ten days but can return to work after seven days if they are asymptomatic and test negative. Dr. Jerome Adams was the U.S. Surgeon General under former President Trump. He joins AC360 to discuss the latest CDC guidance and says “it’s a decision that’s been made necessary by the fact that the virus is spiraling out of control.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 as cases across the country continue to rise because of the Omicron variant. Both Washington, DC and New York state set a daily record for new coronavirus cases. Michael Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He tells AC360 the number of cases right now is “really unprecedented in any respiratory pathogen” he has ever seen and warns “we may have more people hospitalized than we ever did with Delta.”  Plus, the jury in the trial of the former police officer Kim Potter ended its third day of deliberations without a verdict. Criminal defense attorney Sara Azari joins AC360 to discuss what could be holding up the jury.To 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 said that people who are “not fully vaccinated” have “good reason to be concerned” as the Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread rapidly throughout the United States. The President reassured those who are vaccinated and have gotten boosters that they have “much less reason to worry” and to feel comfortable with your holiday plans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky joins AC360 to discuss the rise in cases and whether it’s safe to gather with family and friends during the holidays.  Plus, the jury in the trial of former police officer Kim Potter asked for guidance "if they cannot reach a consensus.” Mark O’Mara is a criminal defense attorney and was George Zimmerman’s attorney. He tells AC360 what he thinks is holding the jury up from reaching a verdict. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One day before President Biden addresses the nation on Covid, the CDC reports the Omicron variant of the virus is now the dominant strain of new cases in the United States.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Delta variant continues to spread in the United States but CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the Omicron variant is "increasing rapidly" and expected "to become the dominant strain” in the coming weeks. New York state just reported its highest single-day Covid-19 case count since the beginning of the pandemic. Dr. Francis Collins is the director of the National Institutes of Health. He joins AC360 to discuss what people can expect in the coming weeks and months.  Plus, sources tell CNN members of the January 6 committee investigating the attack on the Capitol believe that former Texas Governor and Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry was the author of a text message to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows the day after the 2020 election pushing “strategy” to undermine the results. Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar is a member of that committee. He tells Anderson Cooper he thinks it’s “more important” to understand the White House chief of staff was “entertaining text messages” like these about “overturning the elections.”To 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 sent a grim warning that a “winter of severe illness and death” is ahead for the unvaccinated as the U.S. sees a sharp increase in Covid cases from both the Delta and Omicron variants. New York City’s positivity rate doubled in just four days with a medical adviser to the mayor saying “we’ve never seen this before.” Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency room physician and the former Baltimore health commissioner. She tells Anderson Cooper she urges people to be “extremely cautious” when gathering for the holidays.  Plus, a judge is allowing a major defamation case against Fox News to move forward after it was found the network’s coverage of election fraud after the 2020 election may have been inaccurate. CNN Chief Legal Analyst and former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Toobin joins AC360 to discuss the win by Dominion Voting and says “it’s a very big deal but it’s not a surprise.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says there’s “no doubt” that fully vaccinated people will have breakthrough infections from the Omicron Covid variant. A study from the National Institutes of Health shows a third dose of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine offers protection against the variant that’s 20 times better than the antibody of just two doses. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells Anderson Cooper just how important boosters are in the fight against both Delta and Omicron variants. Plus, President Joe Biden visited Kentucky to assess the damage from the deadly tornadoes and storms that devastated the area last weekend. Multiple states are in the path of another intense storm system moving from the Rockies into the Plains that is producing tornadoes and damaging winds. CNN Meteorologist Tom Sater gives AC360 an update on the severe weather and what states are in the path.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The House is expected to vote on whether to hold former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he stopped cooperating with the January 6 committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. Dustin Stockton is a conservative activist and helped promote rallies leading up to January 6. He was subpoenaed by the committee and has been cooperating. He tells Anderson Cooper why he decided to comply with the subpoena.  Plus, the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in at least 32 states and Dr. Anthony Fauci says it’s likely to become the dominant strain in the U.S. Michael Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He joins AC360 to discuss the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the U.S. and says we’re witnessing a war between the “Delta variant and Omicron variant as to who’s going to become the king of the viral hill.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says the death toll now stands at 74 and 109 people are still unaccounted for after tornadoes tore through the state. Indianapolis Fire Department Division Chief Thomas Neal came to Kentucky to help and is leading the search and rescue efforts. He tells Anderson Cooper he has “high confidence” everyone is accounted for at a candle factory that was devastated by the tornado.  Plus, the January 6 committee investigating the attack on the Capitol unanimously voted to hold former President Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he stopped cooperating. Rep. Zoe Lofgren is a member of the committee. She joins AC360 to discuss why she voted to hold her former colleague in contempt.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices