i love it. again, 11 hours from now. i get a couple days off until my next show. but i am so glad to be on with you. thank you so much, michael. great to see you. >> you, too, laura. thank you. bye-bye. >> this is "don lemon tonight." i'm laura coates, in for don lemon. senate republicans voting to block the creation of a bipartisan commission. a commission, to investigate the insurrection at the capitol on january 6th. a riot, in which five people died. now, the final vote, 54-35. under that final vote, 54-35. six republicans breaking ranks and joining with democrats. but it wasn't enough. two democrats didn't vote. but still, it would not have made a difference, because 60-yes votes were needed. ten republicans had to stand up

for democracy. the country fell four short. a total of nine-republican senators, as you see there, nearly-one-tenth of all members of the senate didn't bother to show up and go on record against the legislation. only one of them, senator pat toomey, of pennsylvania, said that he would have voted in favor of the bill. but, again, it would not have mattered. the gop fix was in. senate-republican leader, mitch mcconnell, vehemently opposes the commission. and he spent yesterday lobbying fellow republicans to vote against the bill. as a personal favor to him. a personal favor? why would you need that? republican senators, falling in line behind him. and trump, who, also, opposes the investigation. majority leader chuck schumer called him out.

>> out of fear, or fealty, to donald trump, the republican minority just prevented the american people from getting the full truth about january 6th. this vote has made it official. donald trump's big lie has now fully enveloped the republican party. >> republicans in, both, the house and senate, ridiculously, trying to what was recorded on video, what he saw. playing down the violence on january 6th. one, calling it a peaceful protest. another saying it looked like tourists were just visiting the capitol. maybe, senators didn't want to dig too deeply into why rioters were saying, well, things like this, that ugly day. >> i think cruz would want us to do this so i think we're good. >> and tonight, growing calls among house democrats for speaker nancy pelosi to create a select committee.

with subpoena power. she has, yet, to indicate that she'll go down that route, but has always made it very clear that it is an option that she could take. a lot to discuss tonight with cnn senior political commentator, david axelrod, a former he senior adviser to president obama. and mark mckinnon, former adviser to george w. bush and john mccain. i am glad to have you both here, mark and david. let me begin with you, david. let me see if i got this right. so here we are, you lose a vote in the senate. 54-35, because republican senators can exert their minority power to now block an independent, bipartisan commission. one, that was negotiated by, both, republicans and democrats, to look into one of the worst events in our history. do i have that right? >> you've got it right. i think the republicans have finally clawed their way to the bottom. and, you know, the one, good outcome of this may be that joe

manchin, now, finally, has the evidence that he needs that republicans are never going to negotiate. they're never going to compromise. they are never going to work in a bipartisan fashion. if you can't get a single vote on covid and can't get a vote on this, i think the filibuster may be pretty shortlived. at least, i think that would be the right democratic strategy, at this point. but it's really striking, to me, that republicans who called for 33 committee hearings on benghazi. where more people were killed -- more u.s. citizens were killed in benghazi, and they refuse to call a committee. and i think, strategically, it doesn't make sense to me because the original proposition republicans opposed because they didn't have equal numbers on the commission. they didn't have subpoena power. so they asked for all that. they got it. and they said, actually, no, we don't support that either. so now, they are probably going to get the select committee. i think pelosi should go ahead and do that. why not? and they are going to get exactly what they didn't want in the beginning.

>> so, david, let's listen to what joe manchin this to say. he put out a video statement. here's what he said. >> choosing to put politics and political election above the health of our democracy is unconscionable. and the betrayal of the oath that we, each, take is something they will have to live with. and every american who watched in horror, as our capitol was attacked on january the 6th, you deserve better and i am sorry that my republican colleagues and friends let political fear prevent them from doing what they know, in their hearts, to be right. >> so, david, i mean, given what he had to say, should this change the calculation for manchin and the democrats, moving forward? >> well, the calculations for the democrats all rely on manchin because they need 50 democrats in the senate to move forward with the vice president breaking the tie. and if manchin doesn't go along, then you -- you can't change the filibuster. you can't pass reconciliation. you know, he is the key man.

and we'll see. he said, this week, that he -- he wasn't going to -- he wasn't going down the road of doing what mark suggests, which is to do away with the filibuster. but i want to go back, laura, for a second to something that mark said. you know, regardless of what the republicans said that they wanted in equal voice on this commission, which they got. i think they prefer to the speaker appoint a select committee so that they could it political. i think their great fear was that you would have a -- a -- a -- not a bipartisan commission. and they would come -- and their findings would be embarrassing to president trump and some of his supporters. and they couldn't abide that and they'd rather call whatever select committee does political. i think that's what mcconnell's game is. and, you know, he has made very clear to his members, he thinks it will be bad for the republican party if a select committee -- if a commission

were appointed, bipartisan, and reported back at the end of the year. he said he thought it would hurt them, in the midterm elections. now, i don't know whether that's because trump would be angry about it. or -- or whether the findings were going to be such, that it would be an embarrassment to trump and, therefore, to all those who adhere to him. but clearly, he wanted to kill this commission. if he hadn't done what he did, we would have a bipartisan commission right now. >> i mean, david, the notion of bipartisanship as being a poison pill to democracy is something, i think, people did not have on their bingo card here. i want to go to you, mark, because edward isaac, he tweeted an anecdote about the insurrection in his new book called "battle for the soul." in it, he writes cory booker noticed that the secret service was rushing mike pence off the senate floor before he heard the noise of the mob. when he had been mayor of newark, he was known for chasing

down muggers, rescuing a freezing dog, carrying a woman out of a burning house. he started scanning doors of the chamber and taking stock of the other senators on the floor, assessing which ones could help in a fight. and which were the elderly ones they would need to protect. when they evacuated, he was the last on the floor protecting the flank. now, when we read this, it's really, yet, another, story showing the extraordinary danger of january 6th. and so surprised to think, remember, i know it's the people's house. but these are actually -- they were in the room, it was happening to them. it was happening around them. they were the ones taking off, you know, their pins and whatnot to not show people that they were members of congress. and be even more vulnerable. i mean, how are they willing, now, to ignore that memory and all that they endured and we, all, saw? >> it's really striking, laura. it really is. and it's -- it's unconscionable. that they would deny the reality that they, themselves, experienced and witnessed.

and, you know, the other thing about the commission, laura, is that republicans, you hear this from -- from representatives and their supporters. as you mentioned, in the report, oh, it was just a peaceful protest. it wasn't that big a deal. or that it was completely a liberal setup. that it was a bunch of antifa protestors that were actually doing all this. well, if you had a real commission, you could -- you could determine whether or not those facts that all those trump supporters believe and affirm it. so, if you actually believe that that's what happened, and -- and -- and reflect what -- what you say your constituents believe. you could prove it or disprove it by having a commission. >> wish we had more time. sure, real quick. >> you know, the thing i worry about is the future, not the past. you had matt gaetz out, yesterday, saying the second amendment was important in case we have to take up arms against the government. you have republicans, who are actually provoking future events. and a senate that's turning its back on looking at the root

causes of this. i worry about what's going to happen down the line, because of the events of the last-24 hours. >> you are so right. david, mark, a republic, if you can keep it, right? thank you for your time. i appreciate hearing from both of you. we will talk again, soon. because i want to bring in cnn presidential historian, douglas brinkley, in. speaking of the idea of having an eye toward the fapast versus the future. i want to read this tweet from a friend of the show, matthew dowd. because what he says is any republican, who voted against the january-6th commission, and shows up at a memorial day event, is a complete hypocrite. how can you honor those who died for our democracy, even when you -- when you won't even defend it with a vote? i mean, does that sum it up for you, douglas? >> it sums it up, exactly, laura. it's well written by matthew dowd, as usual. i mean, here we are memorial day weekend. we go to national cemeteries,

graves of fallen heroes. and what we think about is how they gave their lives for free-and-fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. you can think about abraham lincoln in the middle of the civil war holding a free-and-fair election. you can think about fdr doing it in world war ii. but more to the point that we have law enforcement in -- in the capitol. the men in blue, the women in blue. that have been abandon ed by th republican party. and now, they are making a mockery of the gop in a shameless way on memorial day weekend, that we can't even do an investigation into the riot of the u.s. capitol. the good news, laura, history will end up having a house-select committee. we will get what really happened. there may be a presidential commission. but as of this evening, the republican party is anti-democratic, in spirit. i'm afraid, we've known it for a while but nothing is blazed forward quite like this non-vote

that took place. >> i wonder if that timeline, the idea of having that select commission will come to fruition, either, president biden will have some role in creating one as well. but i want to say 59% of americans say -- 59% say the republican party is not acting in the best interest of democracy. that's according to a recent, quinnipiac poll. so, when they take a vote that puts democracy at risk. i mean, if 59% of the voters -- americans say that is not in the interest of democracy. i mean, couldn't this backfire? >> it could but mitch mcconnell thinks there is a short-term gain here. i thought it was very interesting, lisa murkowski kind of got in the face of mitch mcconnell and said where is your conscience? this happened when joe mccarthy was operating the 1950s. mitch mcconnell becomes a very dark and sorid figure in american history. january 6th was a moment of

mobility for him when he gave that famous speech after the insurrection. and now, to see him organizing that we don't want to have the real facts that occurred because it might somehow damage donald trump is really, probably, one of the lowest if not the lowest moment in u.s.-civic affairs. it's mind boggling. i just would say, laura, george w. bush, 9/11 happened on his watch and a commission went forward. some people were going to blame george w. bush for not having our country ready or alert for a terror attack. but we go forward with this and trump would have been all right at the end of the line. but mitch mcconnell smelled politics and he refused to do the right thing. and our country's a lesser place, because of it. >> you know, it's crazy to think that people could use the idea the law of unintended consequences when -- with transparency. and oh, we don't want that to happen because, god forbid, people actually discover the truth. that was never the intention. and when the gop is actually out there, frankly, many of them,

still, contesting the election. i mean, look at this sham audit in arizona. and also, changing voting laws in so many respects, to minimize people's ability to be a part of our democracy. to favor themselves. i mean, tell me, just contextually, how much danger is our democracy in, really? i mean, could there be worse, yet, to come? >> there could be worse, yet, to come. but as we mentioned, you do have a house-select committee. you might have a presidential commission. and then, there are other options. i mean, there are -- what if there is a new-conservative party? i mean, how much do we have to listen to mitt romney and murkowski and collins complain? what if there is a new-third party movement? you know, in 1912, theodore roosevelt broke the republican party in two. there might be a need now for a new, conservative party. that would ensure the end of trumpism and this sort of nativist, xenophobic,

anti-democratic spirit that seems to be encompassing, unfortunately, over a hundred million americans. >> well, past is prolog, you are the one to tell us. thank you so much for yourp time, douglas. nice speaking to you this evening. >> thank you. only-six republicans voting in favor of the commission to investigate, just -- just to investigate -- the insurrection. even the mother of a fallen capitol hill police officer couldn't stop the majority of republicans from embracing donald trump's big lie. but that mom is, still, having her say. officer brian sicknick's mother, gladys, and his partner, speaking out to cnn. that's next. >> we knew they weren't sincere. they weren't sincere. >> and they didn't want to get to the bottom of what happened? >> no, no, and i don't understand it. i -- we -- we -- they are elected for us, the people. and they don't care about that. ♪ na na na na ♪ na na na na...

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all talk, and no action. that's how loved ones of the late capitol hill police officer brian sicknick described the republican senators who voted against a january-6th commission just today. sicknick died a day after protecting lawmakers from the violent mob that stormed our capitol. his mother and his partner were on the hill, yesterday, trying to convince republicans to vote in favor of the investigation.

here is part of their exclusive interview with cnn's jake tapper. >> sandra, let me just start with you. what was your reaction, when you saw the vote today? that -- that the senate republicans, with six exceptions, voted to block the creation of this commission? >> well, i was very disappointed, obviously. i was very optimistic and hopeful, yesterday. but for, you know, obviously, you know, some of them, i was not surprised, that voted no. but still, clinging to that hope based on our passionate pleas to them. but i think, you know, it -- it speaks volumes to how they really feel. not only about the events of that day, but they are also speaking volumes to their constituents. you know, and how much they really care. because it's not just our pleas about how we felt about brian

and, you know, his brothers and sisters in blue, and everything that they did that day. but also, the safety of them and everyone else that was in the capitol that day. if they can't do their jobs, if something happens to them, that also speaks volumes about, you know, how they feel about our democracy, in general. how can they do their job, if they are no longer here? >> what about you, gladys? what was your reaction to the news today? >> i was disappointed, but i realized that was going to happen. i -- i really did. it was just vibes that we got yesterday. >> what were the vibes? >> i don't know. just -- just feeling. that, you know, they -- they -- they went through their motions but you can tell. you know, underneath, they were being nice to us. >> you know, we hear a lot about backing the blue from politicians, especially. talked about the importance of backing our men and women in blue, who protect us.

what does it mean, in that sense, when -- because you are -- you know you are going to hear some of these 35 republicans talk about, in the future, how important it is to back our men and women in blue. what -- what will you think, when you hear that? >> unbelievable, that they think like that. you know? it just -- if they had a child that was hurt, was killed on -- on a day like that. they would think very differently. or if they were hurt. i mean, they could have very well -- somebody could have been killed. one of the congressmen, one of the senators. but apparently, they just think, well, you know, we're safe because of the men in blue. but they don't think any further from that. >> what do you think? i mean, is -- gladys said it was a slap in the face, to -- to not have this commission created. >> i think, you know, it's all talk and no action. clearly, they're not backing blue. and yesterday, having officer

fanone and officer dunn there, to talk about their experiences. i mean, i even learned more about what actually happened on that day, hearing their stories. you know, close and upfront, and live and in color. and i was, absolutely, appalled. so, you know, they heard it firsthand. some of that stuff has not been put out in the media. and, you know, it's -- it's devastating because, you know, they could have, especially officer tfanone, he could have been murdered. and, you know, this cannot happen again. it cannot. so, for them to vote no is, you know, it's -- it's not protecting law enforcement. and you know, more importantly, it's -- it's not protecting our democracy. you know, people there were not only hurting law-enforcement officers. i mean, of course, like i said yesterday, there is the ripple

effect of trauma, that's still continuing today. >> oh, of course. >> and again, i mean, though there was some tense moments yesterday, i'm hopeful that at least they'll be able to reflect on some of what we said. as the days go on. and they'll be able to, you know, start to get the ball rolling, fast. and say we need to do something now. and i think, more importantly, is to listen to the officers that were there that day, on the ground. because there's this misconception that there was no firearms there. that those people in the crowd had no firearms. there were firearms there. and i am talking about handguns, not just the, you know, general term, weapons. i'm talking about actual handguns. people had handguns on them. so, you know, this is serious. this is serious stuff. i actually heard the former d.c. police chief here, that was on this network. >> yeah. >> charles ramsey. that was talking about, you know, they need to get serious about this because, you know,

some bad stuff is going to happen. and they need to take this seriously, if not for themselves, about the other employees that are in the capitol, the staffers, the architect of the -- i mean, yeah -- the architect of the capitol. i was very moved by senator klobuchar's opening statement in the hearings. >> yeah. >> when she talked about the gentleman who hid in the closet. that was part of the cleaning crew. >> yeah, it's terrifying. >> and he came out and had to clean up urine and feces in the building. you know, this is ridiculous. they need to do something and they need to act now. >> gladys, i know some of the -- sandra just alluded to it -- some of the moments in the meetings were -- were tense. >> uh-huh. >> one of the things that i think people don't -- it doesn't really even matter. but brian was a republican. i mean, so it's not just turning their backs on american. they are turning their back on a fellow republican.

whatever you're comfortable with, tell me about the tense moments and the senator -- with the senators that you met with. you don't have to name them, if you don't want. >> no, no, i'm not going to do that. just they were very charming. and they -- they knew what they were doing. they knew how to talk to us. and -- but we kind of held back. and it's just -- it was just -- it was tense. and we just made believe, you know, everything was fine. and we were very nice to them, for the most part. >> well, it was just tense because? >> because of -- because we knew -- i think, because we knew they weren't sincere. they weren't sincere. >> and they didn't want to get to the bottom of what happened? >> no, no. and i don't understand it. we -- they are elected for us, the people. and they don't care about that. they care about money, i guess? their pocketbooks? their -- their -- so they'll be in front of the cameras when

they feel like it and they just don't care. and it's -- it's not right. >> sandra, were you surprised some of the senators didn't even agree to meet with you? >> no, i wasn't surprised. you know, it's much easier to do interviews with people, who are not moved by their actions. you know -- you know, by losing a family member, a loved one, like gladys and i were, right? you know, to do something from afar. it's very different, when you have to face someone who has been touched, personally, by something like gladys and i were. so, you know, it -- you know, it's about having courage and a backbone and saying, you know, i'm willing to meet with you. which, i respect those who were. even if they didn't agree with us, i still have respect for those who were. you know? and them willing to listen and, hopefully, you know, even though some of them did decide, ultimately, to vote no.

my hope is that they will, eventually, do something. because that needs to happen. >> gladys, you met with senator cassidy from louisiana. >> uh-huh. >> he voted yes. >> uh-huh. >> you met with senator portman from ohio. he voted yes. senator toomey had a family commitment so he didn't vote, but he would have voted yes, he said. does it mean -- is that -- give you any sense of satisfaction that you may have -- >> oh, definitely. >> -- changed some minds? >> definitely. i don't know how -- were they -- i don't know if they were on the fence, or not. that, i'm not sure of. were they all on the fence? i'm not sure. >> well, we only knew of three ahead of time that were going to vote yes. romney, murkowski, and collins. >> uh-huh. >> so ultimately, three more voted yes. >> so maybe, we changed their minds. that would be great. that would be great. >> it's not nothing. >> right. >> i mean, a bipartisan majority did vote to create the commission. >> uh-huh. >> it just wasn't enough. >> yeah, what bothers me is that all these people that are, you

know, backing, you know, the wrong people, i should say. they don't understand what they're doing. i mean, what kind of country do they want? do they really want to live in a country that -- that they are creating? >> what kind of country do they want? you know, they gave a standing ovation for an officer, who protected them on january 6th. but now, they are passing the buck on investigating the attack. why today's vote shows republicans think this is, well, all someone else's problem. i'll make my case, next.

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so, you don't want to investigate the origins of the january-6th insurrection? because, as minority-leader mcconnell suggests, they -- they don't want to duplicate efforts. >> i do not believe the additional, extraneous commission, that democratic leaders want, would uncover crucial, new facts or promote healing. i do not believe it is even designed to do that. so, i will continue to support the real, serious work of our

criminal-justice system in our own senate committees. and i will continue to urge my colleagues to oppose this extraneous layer, when the time comes, for the senate to vote. >> extraneous. you know, it made me think of his explanation for not voting to convict former-president trump, after his second-impeachment trial. remember this? >> president trump is, still, liable for everything he did while he was in office. as an ordinary citizen. unless the statute of limitations is run, still, liable for everything he did while he's in office. didn't get away with anything, yet. yet. we have a criminal-justice system, in this country. we have civil litigation. and former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one. >> it always seems to be someone else's problem to solve. let someone else deal with it, right?

i mean, imagine if everyone had this philosophy. our service members, our first responders, our teachers, our vaccine scientists, our allies. in fact, minority leader, imagine if the brave men and women who risked their lives to protect congress, the capitol, and the people who were inside of it. imagine, if they had subscribed to that philosophy. and decided not to duplicate efforts, on january 6th. as a violent mob was scaling walls to attack you. some, salivating, to harm or even kill duly-elected officials. and not because the election was rigged but because it was fair. you know, there were, already, capitol officers assigned that day. so, why should the d.c. police officers duplicate their efforts and help you? there was, already, someone securing the chambers.

so, why should eugene goodman duplicate efforts, and lead the mob away from the open door? i mean, there were already locks on those doors, so why expend human capital to duplicate efforts? vice president mike pence? well, he already had secret-service men and women assigned to his detail, and so does speaker pelosi. so, why should anyone have duplicated efforts to help save them? there were, already, physical barricades erected outside the capitol building. so why should there be any manpower, at all? imagine what could have been. had everyone decided to let someone else deal with it. but instead, heroism prevailed. even as the last line of defense was crumbling. even when outnumbered. even when they were out-weaponed. even when they were exhausted and there was no reinforcement in sight.

they didn't think about duplicating efforts. and as you waited to vote, officer eugene goodman stood outside of the very door, to give his life for you, yet again, prepared to do so. so, how can it be that there is even a single senator who could say that they were unwilling to investigate, investigate, what caused the insurrection? the same senators, who gave officer eugene goodman a standing ovation, can't stand to assemble a bipartisan commission? you know, i -- i, often, wonder what it's like for the dedicated-public servants, like officer goodman, to watch this all unfold. and yet, still, return, each and every day, with the same resolve to serve. the same resolve to protect. the same resolve to defend.

how do they feel, about the people that smile in their face? relay that perfunctory greeting? probably, didn't wait for the answer. and run for cover, behind them, when they are afraid. but won't lift a finger, to protect them, in the end. but then, i remember whose house officers, like eugene goodman, were really protecting. and who it stands for. the people. not one party. not one politician. not one king or kingmaker. they do it, because they know they are defending the united states of america. and the sanctity of our democratic system. they stand guard against enemies, foreign and domestic. they duplicate the efforts of our founding fathers.

and here we are, on the cusp of another memorial day. commemorating those who sacrificed their lives for humanity. they are not here, today, because they refused to let someone else deal with inhumanity. and you know what? they deserve better. frankly, we, all, do. you know, they were there, in wuhan, when the pandemic, first, began. and now, there are renewed questions about the wuhan lab and the coronavirus. we asked our team on the ground, in china, to take a closer look at the investigation into how the disease spread, from wuhan, to the world. that's up next. ble with a cfp® professional. a cfp® professional can help you build a complete financial plan. visit letsmakeaplan.org to find your cfp® professional. ♪

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the white house ramping up efforts to determine the origins of covid. as new intelligence raises

questions about what china knew. and when they knew it. cnn's david culver has the story. >> reporter: president biden ordering u.s. intelligence to dig deeper into the origin of covid-19. putting renewed focus on the chinese city where it was first publicly detected. wuhan. the white house says, there are two-possible origin theories. the first, a natural spread from animals to humans. possibly, amplified inside this once-crowded wuhan seafood market. the second, and far-more controversial possibility, a leak of the deadly virus from this wuhan lab. >> we know that china engaged a massive coverup starting from day one. involve -- including destroying samples, hiding records, imprisoning people asking -- in china, asking basic questions and placing a gag order. >> reporter: it has been well over a year since the initial outbreak. and still, no conclusive answers. former-president trump made claims, last spring, that it started in the wuhan institute

of virology lab. but never provided evidence. the chinese, along with many scientists, dismissed trump's lab-leak theory as a conspiracy. president biden took office, supporting an international approach in investigating the origin. this week, three sources, familiar with the matter, tell cnn that biden, also, shut down a trump-state department inquiry into the origins over concerns about the quality of the evidence. but now, with newly-reported intel, there are new questions of what china knew, and when. "the wall street journal" reporting, this week, that a u.s. intel report found that several researchers at the wuhan lab got so sick, they had to go to the hospital, in november, 2019. that is weeks before china reported the first patient with covid-like symptoms to the w.h.o. it has led to mounting pressure on the biden administration to find answers. in january of this year, we were in wuhan, as the w.h.o. sent a

field team into china to investigate. visiting the now-shuddered market, once believed to have been the original-ground zero. it's since been wiped clean. we drove we by the wuhan institute of virology. heavily secured and despite multiple requests, we were not granted access to enter. this was as close as we got. the w.h.o. scientist, however, were allowed in. their conclusion? that it's very likely the virus spread naturally, from animals. and that a lab leak was extremely unlikely. >> there is no evidence of that at all. but it is something that we talked about with people at the wuhan lab and got really honest and frank. and -- and good, informative answers to. >> reporter: but that's the issue with the w.h.o. investigation. according to some of the scientists who took part. it relied mostly on conversations with the chinese scientists, taking them at their word. some of the experts complained china has blocked them from crucial data and those like

peter dasich have been criticized for their personal ties to the wuhan lab having helped fund and take part in research in the facility before the outbreak. virologist, marian coatmans was among the w.h.o. team in wuhan in january. she is careful to characterize the team's work as research gathering, not as an inspection. she also welcomes biden's efforts to get more swintel on e origins, hoping he will share the findings. >> so, if -- if there is really something to it, well, then, it needs to be followed up. >> reporter: meantime, china is pushing back with its own narrative. calling the u.s. efforts a smear campaign. their motive is vicious, the spokesperson says. chinese officials have relentlessly pushed an unfounded conspiracy that the virus began in the u.s. but there is no evidence of that. chinese-state media has labeled the virus as an imported threat. even baselessly suggesting it came from outside china. on frozen foods. from the chaos and confusion of the initial outbreak, to the

surge and panic as the number of deaths soared and the virus spread. to hopes that vaccines might bring us back to life, pre-covid 19. we're still left with a question, how did all this really begin? laura. >> david culver, thank you you so much. that reporting. the number of people flying is setting pandemic records. and tempers are on the edge.

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correspondent pete muntean. >> reporter: the newest problem facing pent-up demand for travel is pent-up frustrations in the sky with federal agencies citing a serious surge of in-flight fights. >> are you serious? >> reporter: in a new letter, southwest flight attendants say unruly passenger incidents are becoming intolerable and more aggressive. these images are from a southwest flight on sunday when a flight attendant had two teeth knocked out by a passenger according to their union. >> they seem to be almost angry before they step onboard the aircraft, and they are verbally attacking flight attendants, calling them names, pulling on their lanyards, getting aggressive. we've had to deal with almost riot-like incidences. >> reporter: even if you are fully vaccinated, masks are still required on all public forms of transportation and in terminals by the tsa. it is now investigating 1,300

cases of people violating that mandate. the federal aviation administration says it has received 2,500 reports of unruly passengers just this year. 1,900 of them about mask compliance. >> started antagonizing other passengers. >> reporter: a crew member on this jetblue flight says an unruly passenger cut this coast to coast trip short causing it to land in minneapolis. >> gesturing stabbing motions towards the other passenger, and there was also observed erratic behavior and snorting a white substance. >> we want to be clear that anyone causing a disturbance onboard an aircraft or within the airport environment will be punished with fines and possible criminal charges. >> reporter: even still, health officials are telling fully vaccinated americans to enjoy memorial day. aaa says the rush to return to travel is on with 37 million people headed out this holiday weekend. only a 13% drop compared to

2019. airports that were a ghost town last year are now filling up. tsa figures show air travel has already hit 90% of pre-pandemic levels compared to 13% a year ago. >> it's been a stressful year, and i'm just going to go by myself and have some fun in the bahamas. >> it can be a little crowded but i feel pretty safe. i got my vaccine and my mask, hand sanitizer. so should be good to go. >> reporter: the latest forecast from the u.s. travel association says 77% of americans will take at least one trip this summer, up from 29% last year. but flight crews hope with people rushing to return to normal, this does not become the new normal. >> these actions onboard the aircraft, what may start out as little actions can become really big problems really quickly, and we're stuck in a metal tube where we can't call for help or people cannot walk away. so we've all got to treat each other with respect. >> reporter: southwest airlines is permanently banning the woman

accused of that assault on their flight attendant. also the airline now says it is not resuming alcohol service like it had planned to do starting in june. laura. >> pete muntean, thank you. it's unbelievable. and thank you all for watching. our coverage continues.

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hi. welcome to "cnn newsroom." i'm robyn curnow live in atlanta. so coming up, insurrection rejection. why republican lawmakers blocked a capitol riot commission. the email that russian hackers sent out to thousands of people to execute a global attack. the options the u.s. has to fight back. and when was the last time you heard an e.r. doctor say this? >> i had an entire shift yesterday where i didn't have a single covid-19 patient. >> the u.s. getting closer to normal with each shot in the arm. ♪