such a great one. we thank him for his time. that does it for the beat. we'll be back tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. eastern. the "the reidout" is up next. good evening, in for joy reid. today, a landmark moment in the global fight against the pandemic. the united kingdom the worlds first western nation to begin vaccinating citizens rolling out a program using a two shot dose developed by pfizer. here in the u.s., the food and drug administration is expected to endorse the vaccine this week. and released analysis affirming lt previously stated vaccine effectiveness of 95%. trump wasted no time hosting a summit designed to take credit

for the vaccine breakthroughs. touting the unclear contribution made by his administration. he signed an executive order to ensure americans had first priority for vaccines produced in the u.s. what trump did not mention are the almost 300,000 americans who have died from coronavirus. nor did he mention the u.s. just recorded its highest weekly covid-19 death toll. since the start of the out break. today we obtained a copy of the white house coronavirus task force report. that included the dire warning that the current vaccine implementation will not substantially reduce viral spread or fatality until the 100 million americans can be fully immunized which will take until late spring. no one from the incoming biden administration was invited to participate. despite being tasked with the

effort to distribute the vaccine to millions of americans in the coming months. we heard from president-elect biden anyway. in his own event. where he formally introduced his health department team laying out the goals of his first 100 days. >> i'm convinced that in 100 days we can change the course of the disease. and change life in america. for the better. masking, vaccinations, opening schools. these are the three key goals for my first 100 days. we didn't get into this mess quickly. it will take time to fix. we can do this. that's the truth. telling you the truth. it's what this team will always do. give it to you straight from the shoulder. >> joining me now.

congresswoman karen bass of california. a member of president-elect joe biden's covid advisory board and a former secretary of health and human services. in the obama administration. thank you for being here. today was sort of an escalation of crazy. i want to play this first sound bite. from the chief sign adviser for operation warp speed. >> i don't quite understand it. foreign countries won't be able to get the vaccine until everybody in the united states gets it. pfizer made deals with other country that is will limit the supply here. >> frankly i don't know. and i'm staying out of it. i can't comment. >> you don't know? >> you're the chief science adviser for operation warp speed. >> our work is rolling. we have plans with the vaccines

as needed. i don't exact what the order is about. >> he has no idea what the president is talking about. and as a member of the president-elect covid advisory board i wonder do you have visibility into those plans that the chief science adviser was saying they have? >> no, unfortunately we don't know either. we have been wanting to dig deeply into the plans and have a better understanding of where the current add mergs is. and the doors are finally open. and we can start looking at those. as of now we don't have a full or clear picture of what is set to take place. over the next two weeks. that is our goal to have that information sooner than later. >> here's part two in the escalation of the crazy. take a listen to what the former fda commissioner said today.

>> pfizer did offer an additional allotment coming out of the plant. the sektd second quarter to the united states government. multiple times. and as recently as the data came out. they're betting more than one vaccine will get authorized and there will be more on the market. that could be why they didn't take up that additional 100 million option agreement. which really wouldn't have required them to front money. >> so, secretary, you have him there former fda commissioner on the board of pfizer. who said they are betting more than one vaccine blah blah blah. wasn't this a foolish bet on the part of the trump administration? >> a couple of things. you have to understand is that the government did not have to

put forward money unless the vaccine was safe and effective. this wasn't like he had to buy something and then you have to throw it all away. if it didn't work. this was a contingency financing. to turn down an additional 100 million doses and sign an order that means nothing. it doesn't overturn contracts that pharmaceutical companies have with countries arntd the world. you get in line behind the contracts. i don't care how many pieces of paper the president now signs. it doesn't change the reality that we have some doses coming from pfizer. but not nearly enough. we hope that the data will also be viewed as safe and effective. we hope the fda will move this week on pfizer and next week on the modern a issue.

we'll find this roll out to be slower than we would like. to have that extra doses woultd save potentially thousands and thousands of americans. >> i'm glad you made that connection between crazy sound bite one and sound bite two. i was wondering. how is this going to be possible now that we know that the trump administration let 100 million doses go? without taking them. let's go to escalation number three. listen to president trump today as his summit. >> the next administration will be the one that implements the distribution of the vaccine and over see much of the future of the way operation warp speed goes forward. why not include members of the biden transition team as part of the summit? >> we'll have to see who the next administration is. we won. and the swing states. there was terrible things that

went on. we'll see when the next administration is. >> okay, before i ask you a question. i'm going to say flat out president trump didn't win. he will not be the president of the united states january 20. at noon. that's off the table. let's talk about the distribution of the vaccine. the question i want to ask you is so let's say there's vaccine and the biden administration has a good and solid plan. we have seen poll numbers out there showing that lots of americans don't trust this forthcoming vaccine. they're saying they won't take it. the group of people who are least likely to take it among those surveyed are african-american. what can be done to convince people particularly african-americans that the vaccine is something that they can, should and must take?

>> first of all i don't know why we would be surprised people would be leery of the vaccine. it's because they're leery of the president. they know that everything he has said so far like a few minutes ago he still debating whether he won the election. so what i believe that the biden team will do when they are sworn in january 20, we'll have to have a mass i public education campaign with one message coming out. he didn't care about the vaccine. because in my opinion he subscribed to herd immunity. he was spreading the virus every time with a rally. he did that a few days ago. i toedon't think that is surprising. we have to send trusted messengers. african-americans. people with medical backgrounds into the community to let people know this is not trumps deal. this is based in science and it will be safe by the time it's ready for mass distribution.

>> you and i spoke either for "washington post" live earlier this year, you were the first person in government who i heard say when i asked, what is this the president's plan. you said flat out he dint have a national plan. his plan is herd immunity. here we are six months later. you're even more convinced-over that now. >> absolutely. i also think right now he's in complete disarray. he's been chaotic from the beginning. now he's trying to come to grips the fact he is about to get an eviction notice. i can't wait for it to come fast enough. i worry about the damage he's going to do between now and january 20. we need to educate our people all of our people to make sure that they understand this virus is not a hoax. we need to rely on science and we can get passed this.

>> let me -- i need to know from you since you were on the president-elect covid advisory board. given that kwlou don't have any visibility into anything that the trump administration is doing or not doing, are you able to cobble together even the skeleton of a plan that you can implement once the president-elect becomes president? >> yeah, sure. we know as scientists we can at least rely on the science and evidence base that the congresswoman is speaking to. we know what works and masks work for example. we know that if given the choice between a vaccine or contracting covid. we want people to get the vaccine. she's right we have to get in front of the message. we know the president-elect is has been trying to depoliticize and deescalate the controversy around masks and vaccines. the 100 day challenge to mask

up. and has the goals around vaccine delivery. had knows how critically important it will be. in the long run. we know we have a listening way to go. especially with regard to the survey data you mention at the start of show. it's sad. but understandable people are reluctant. and it will be our job at the least to build a plan. develop a plan that will help the president-elect actually restore trust and faith. and science and the innovations so we can save lives. >> i almost forgot there's an escalation number four. it has to do wtd things that were happening on capitol hill today. take a listen to senator romney reacting to a hearing that took place that ron johnson had is that featured an antivaxer. >> i wasn't there today. i'm sorry to have missed that. is that the antivax person?

>> the secretary, to have an antivaxer be given a platform. such as a senate hearing. how dangerous is that? >> it's a life and death issue. it is extraordinarily dangerous to have information presented as if it has a scientific base. as if it is legitimate. is if there's a debate. in addition to the antivaccination message that he was pushing. he had alleged healthcare providers who were touting medications that haven't been approved and haven't been proven as safe and effective. this is really dangerous stuff. everyone in this country as the numbers rise, as the deaths rise, as the hospitalizations increase and run out of

incredible important medical personnel to deal with the sick people, everyone is terrified. to have the united states senate host a hearing of flawed and faulty science and antivaxer is just extremely dangerous. and could again cost lives. i know it sound like somehow we're being overly dramatic. i think the three of us on this program and you and when you hear information that is just flawed. herd immunity is not about how many people should get sick for gods sake to have a virus then reek havoc. it's about how many people should be vaccinated. in order to protect the few who cannot be vaccinated. so i have a six month old granddaughter. whether or not this vaccine will be appropriate for her will be

left to the science. she couldn't take a flu shot. so herd immunity means everyone in contact with that child should be vaccinated in order to protect her. that's what herd immunity means. this administration turned it on its head. how many people should be dead. the president also said it's great we have so many infections in the united states. he said that. it's great. we're up to 15%. i think this is total insanity. >> there's only so much crazy i can cram into one block. congresswoman, we're out of time. i can't have you on the program and let you go without asking this question. vice president-elect harris is senator harris from california. come january 20, she will no longer be senator. that seat will be open. governor newsom will be his job

to fill that seat. is that a seat you're interested in filling? >> let me tell you what i do think is important. that there be an african-american woman in the u.s. senate. and when the senator harris, vice president harris departs there will not be. that is critical. whether it is me or someone else. that is important. and now our governor has two positions to fill. because he has an attorney general to fill. we will see what happens. >> all right. thank you for being here. up next, the pathetic final chapter of trump's coup attempt. he's still working the phones begging state leaders to declare him the winn winner. he met with civil rights leaders and one will join me.

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donald trump fight to steal the presidential election hit a big wall today. safe harbor day the deadline for states to certifiless results and resolve legal challenges locking congress into accepting the vote ahead of next week electoral college meeting. wisconsin will be the only state to miss the deadline. thanks to a trump campaign lawsuit. as trump himself continues to try to subvert the election he lost. tonight the supreme court struck another big blow. refusing to take up a trump challenge to pennsylvania mail in voting.

to over turn certification in the state. the "washington post" first reported that trump had called pennsylvania house speaker twice last week. to ask for help to over turn results. he pressured michigan republican lawmakers and georgia governor. but one republican trump loyalist in a state he did win, threw out an even stranger hail mary today. attorney general of texas skz the supreme court to invalidate results in georgia, michigan, and pennsylvania to block them from voting in the electoral college. claiming rules to make voting easier in a pandemic violated the law. it's well past time for the president and our fellow states and elected officials to stop misleading the public about this years election and to acknowledge the results certified in our states reflect

the decisions made by the voters in a free, fair and secure election. in a spokeswoman for the georgia's republican attorney general said the texas attorney general quote is constitutionally legally and factually wrong. about georgia. >> joining me now the mayor of atlanta. and michael steel. former chairman of the rnc. thank you both for being here. mayor i want to start with you. do you agree with the spokesperson for the republican attorney general of georgia and what she said about what the texas attorney general is doing? >> first of all, congratulations to you. secondly, i do agree. i am finding myself at a loss for words. this abuse of power and attempt

to interfere with elections is astonishing to me. it's disturbing. i feel when i'm watching the news and having some type of outer body experience. it's difficult to concept liz this is america in 2020. you win some and lose some. i lost my first election and came back and beat seven people without a run off. because i learned something from the loss. that is what good elected officials do. this is not little league baseball. everybody doesn't get to go home with a trophy. sometimes you lose. donald trump lost. >> chairman steel, can we talk about your party and the people in your party? with these lawsuits and hail marys. just explain. >> i don't know these people. who are you talking about?

these aren't republicans. these people have been body snatched. come on. no. >> chairman, they may have been body snatched. but they are republicans and i read about the things they are doing i wonder how does this not tear at the foundation of the our republic? >> it does. to be first off i share the mayors congratulations with you. looking forward to the launch on sunday. officially. so, to be serious for a moment, it is tearing at the foundation of the country. it is serious. what you're seeing is a protracted effort to steel an election that was won by joe biden. that was voted on and the decision decided by the american people. to now have not only effort as

we have seen in recent weeks to disenfranchise african-americans. in wisconsin, atlanta, and milwaukee. you have this -- it's not a hail mary. it's an offense to the hail mary pass. what this idiot is trying to do. in suing the states to get in front of the supreme court. the reality of it is you lost. the good mayor said we have all lost campaigns. so what do we do? pick ourselves up and get ready for the next one. if he wants to be president of the united states, shut the crap down. figure out what you did wrong. we know. it's called covid and other stuff. and come back in 2024. you don't get a do over here. you're not handed a second place prize. you won't be given a prize. pack your stuff and move on. to have other republicans continue to participate in this,

it's probably the greatest offense. they know, they know what the end game is. donald trump leaves the white house on january 20. everything they do between now and then in this regard under mines the integrity of the process. and certainly the confidence of the american people in it. >> chairman, everything you say is right, true and fair. the president shoultd move on. and folks recognize that. there are followers of the president who don't want to move on. i don't know it yo saw this. there's an arizona gop sent out a tweet that promotes giving your life to the fight for trump. i'm willing to give my life for this fight. arizona gop tweets that. he is, are you? >> i can answer that. no. i ain't.

and a whole will the of americans aren't that stupid. it's not a cult. if somebody wants to sit in the closet with whatever, go do that. that's on you. i can't help. i have said it many times before. we need to stop coddling stupid. we need to stop pretending like the people actually matter in the process. here's the dangerous part. i take away from that. somebody could get hurt. somebody could get killed. because of what republicans or promoting and pushing these non-sense and the president himself is out there saying that these lame rallies. that this matters. it doesn't matter. he lost the election. and here's the bottom line, the seed bed is being laid down for republicans in future elections. heed this, not just at the

presidential level but local races. you're setting up a challenge in future for against everything you doing will come back to haunt you when somebody decides you weren't legitimately elected as a congressman, senator or dogcatcher. you have opening a box that you have no control over. what you do today will come back to you tomorrow. >> the headline we have. georgia county cut back early vote sites ahead of senate run off. alarming advocates. four of the ten most populous counties in georgia are reducing places you can vote early. cob county. election officials have announced five early voting locations fewer than half of the eleven used for early voting ahead of last months general

election. senate run off elections are january 5. your reaction to this news in that story. will that really impact voter turn out? >> it's deeply concerning. what i have said all along is that we can't rely on the republicans in this state to imploed. we can't -- we have to show up sp vote. we have to show up and vote in record numbers. so often people don't come back to run off elections. many people don't understand the concept of a run off. it's the reason that we are encouraging people we're educating people and telling people go and vote early. clearly there is an attempt to make it more difficult in this state of georgia to vote. we can't use it as an excuse. bha concerned me when i look at the numbers from the november election. we had a record turn out in the state. nearly 5 million people. turn out to vote.

nearly 1 million african-americans who were eligible to vote, did not show up and vote in november. we have to continue to make the case as to why elections matter. why this run off is so important. to have the opportunity to send two senators from this state. is an opportunity that i have not seen in my lifetime. and we have to do our part and not worry about the rest. >> we have to leave it there. mayor. and michael steel. i can't wait to hear about your backdrop tonight. >> keeping it festive. >> president-elect making a historic addition to his cabinet. more on defense secretary. who he might choose for attorney general. still fresh

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president-elect joe biden announced today he is nominating retired 4 star army general lloyd austin for defense secretary: the first african-american in charge of the pentagon. in a piece he writes that austin's many strengths and intimate knowledge of the department of defense and government. are uniquely matched to the challenges and crisis we face. he is the person we need in the moment. the president-elect responded to concerns over the fact he would require a congressional waiver. to serve as defense secretary. because he retired less than zen years ago. position is reserved for a civilian. om two other nominees including james mattis under trump received such waivers. biden writes i hope that congress will grant a waiver to the secretary. just as congress did for

secretary mattis. given the immense and urgent threats. i respect. also biden plans to nominate ohio congresswoman fudge to lead the department of housing and urban development. and tom ville sack. for agricultural secretary. he held that in both terms of the obama administration. this afternoon he met with civil rights leader after reporting last week prominent civil rights add ha advocates said they haven't been consulted about key cabinet pix and hadn't met with biden since the election. and reporting on front runner for attorney general.

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reporting that out going alabama democratic senator doug jones is a leading con tnder to be attorney general. two men have a long relationship and jones who is white is seen as an attractive nominee because of his track record on issues related to race and civil rights. in the case of his career he prosecuted two former kkk members for the 1963 bombing of the 16th street church in birmingham. civil rights leader met with biden today. naacp president called on biden to create a new position. national adviser on racial justice equity and advancement. i'm joined by national president and ceo of the naacp. and paul butler georgetown law professor and former federal prosecutor.

thank you for being here this evening. i have to ask you, tell me about the national adviser on racial justice and advancement. who is that person? what do you want that person to be charged with? in charge of. >> first of all i want to congratulate you on the show. i can watch to see how to tie my tie. if you look at corporate america, many of them take diversity serious have established the diversity inclusion officers. individuals who send a report to the president. corporations understand the value of the diverse customer base. if we want to look at the opportunity of the diversity for the future we need someone to hold true the commitment that president-elect biden is said he wanted to in terms of racial equality. we only get what we measure. what we measure must be accountable and you have to have somebody to over see that. he let out a big vision during

his campaign and victory speech. we want to make sure there's someone charged with the the responsibility of carrying it out. >> give us a flavor of what this meeting was like. >> i think it was a very positive meeting. it was open. it was long over due and an opportunity for us to share and listen. about the direction of the administration. as the civil rights community has long wanted to address what we see over the last few years. it was our opportunity to talk about how we can be partners and make a democracy work for everybody. that is most important. >> you said that you were there to listen. so what did you hear? did you like what you heard from the administration. add i said we were reporting that civil rights leader were not happy that they hadn't met with the president-elect since the election. >> it's concerning.

the nations oldest rights large largest civil rights organization. we understand the value of setting the table for inclusion around a new administration. as we look forward. now we have an opportunity with the commitment from the administration to have ongoing dialogue and talk about how we can make democracy work. how we can open up opportunities and how we can -- through the potential. >> let's talk about the potential of doug jones the out going democratic senator from alabama. being the next attorney general. his name is in the mix. as is garland. the district judge here in washington. who was denied a supreme court seat. and sally yates former deputy

attorney general. how do you what do you make of the people who are being considered? >> congratulations to you. i'm so happy for you. the next attorney general needs expertise in public corruption. to decide whether trump can be prosecuted. and expertise in racial justice. which president-elect biden has said is one of his core commitments. doug jones prosecutor of the kkk terrorist who bombed the birmingham church. we need know mer about the civil rights agenda. how for example he or sally yates would attack the gop attack on voting rights. and resume the federal investigation of police departments that barr and trump have brought to a stop. how they would push back geps the endless attacks on affirmative action and encollusion efforts.

other prominent names demonstrated expertise. if president-elect biden chooses one of the other folks the number two the deputy must have expertise. in civil rights. >> real quickly, i know you're not too thrilled about the idea of doug jones. >> i want to make sure whoever takes the head of the department of justice understand how on day one to execute a plan. the issues that we are confronting here are too serious for someone to have on the job training. i don't know enough about his experience with doj. there are qualified individuals who can walk in the door day one. garner the confidence of the career staff. understand where all the bathrooms are and execute a plan to not only protect civil rights.

address corruption and the violation on election system. address the antitrust legislation. it's too vital for us to take six months to learn on the job. there's too much work to do. >> we're running out of time. i have to ask about this story. trump plots mass pardons. even to people not asking. but discussing them like christmas gifts to people who haven't even asked him. recently told an adviser we was going to pardon every person who ever talked to me. and one concern is he'll pardon his family. but himself. do you have concerns about this christmas gift pardons? >> huge concern. he's mad at the world. that's a dangerous state. he remains the most powerful person in the world for another few weeks. you already said it's a

conclusion he pardons his children. and based on the way he's already used his power pardon power to buy loyalty from michael flynn and roger stone. certain to pardon giuliani, manafort. steve bannon. they have the goods on trumps possible criminality. he must be worried about them snitching on him. they're on the christmas list. >> paul and derrick. thank you for being here. with vaccines on the horizon, health professionals are having to make tough choices about who gets it first. and how has to wait. newly elected democratic congressman joins me next. this is decision tech. find a stock based on your interests or what's trending. get real-time insights in your customized view of the market. it's smarter trading technology for smarter trading decisions. fidelity.

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while the arrival of the vaccine is great news, the pandemic continues to take a devastating toll. and congress is nowhere near approving supplemental aid for

individuals, businesses, and states that are in desperate need of help. low-wage employees, many in the service industry living in diverse communities, have borne the brunt of this disaster. the neighborhood of west farm in the bronx is a microcosm of this tragic new reality. the bronx has the highest rates of coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths of any new york city borough. it is the city's poorest borough with a 17.5% unemployment rate. the highest in the state. hope here in washington is slipping away as politicians continue their drawn-out debate on what to do to help. joining me now is congressman-elect ritchie torres who was just elected to represent new york's 15th congressional district in the south and west. congressman-elect, thank you very much for being here. >> it's an honor to be here. >> so, congressman-elect, when i saw the front page of the "new york times" this morning, the headline jumped ut at me

"pandemic unemployment has disproportionately hurt the bronx." and it jumped out at me because it reminded me of the conversation you and i had on my podcast at the "washington post" talking about your election to congress, but also where you're from. and it was something that you said when i asked you about your mom and how proud she might be of you being from the south bronx, being elected to congress. and you said to me that, you know, your mother is proud, but your mother was like many moms in the south bronx. single mom living in poverty. but these were essential workers, the single moms there in your district. talk about your district and how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting it. >> well, the south bronx is ground zero for racially concentrated poverty. we know covid-19 affects all of us, but it affects us unevenly. it has a disproportionately destructive impact on places like the south bronx and on

communities of color. what we're experiencing is a tale of two cities. in the upper east side of manhattan the unemployment rate is 5%. in west farms and the south bronx it's 25%. there's no single economy in america. there are multiple economies. there are places like the upper east side which have close to full employment. and then there are places like west farms that have depression-level economic insecurity and unemployment. >> and so how much hope do you have? or do you expect that you are soon-to-be colleagues will actually get something done before they go on recess before the end of the year? >> my neighbors in the bronx cannot wait. like, i have -- there are mostly women of color who are the leaders of the essential workforce, who are leaders in the families of the south bronx who are struggling to put food on the table, to pay the rent and hold onto their homes and keep their families afloat.

we desperately need an infusion of federal funding from washington, d.c. to stabilize our families. and for me the surest way to strengthen our families and stimulate our economy is to put money in the pockets of working people and essential families because their spending creates income not only for our businesses but for the workers employed by our businesses. the road to recovery runs through families. it runs through women of color where the heart and soul of the essential workforce and the heart and soul of the american family. >> one of the things we've been talking about on the show yesterday and today is the concern that there are millions of americans who say that they don't trust the vaccine, and they're not going to take it once one is available. are you hearing that on the ground there in the south bronx among your constituents? >> look, there's a lack of confidence in the process because of the trump administration. we're about to embark on the

largest mass vaccination campaign in american history. we've never had to vaccinate so many people in so little time in the face of so much distrust and disinformation. but that's why the election of joe biden is going to be a game changer. i think it's going to restore confidence in a vaccination campaign. and i'm hopeful that there's going to be a way forward. >> and on a scale of one to ten, how hopeful are you that things can actually get done in congress once you take your seat? >> you know, i have no choice but to be optimistic. but it depends on the senate. if the democrats win control of the senate, then it's going to dramatically improve the prospects for bringing relief to state and local governments, to our public transit systems, to our families and businesses. but if republicans retain control of the senate, the obstructionism of mitch mcconnell is going to be a stumbling block to bring relief

to families in greatest need. >> and one thing i didn't point out in my introduction of you but that i think is very important because you lean into it. you will be the first only gay afro latino member of congress. how excited are you about making history in that way? >> look, it's -- i never thought as an only lgbtq person of color that i would ever become a united states congressman. i was raised by a single mother who raised three children on minimum wage, which in the 1990s was $4.25. i grew up in slum conditions in public housing. i never thought in my wildest dreams as an only lgbtq afro latino i would go on a journey from public housing to washington d.c. >> congressman ritchie torres, can't wait to see you here in washington. thank you very much for being

here. and that is tonight's "reidout." joy is back tomorrow. happy birthday, joy. and i will see you tomorrow morning 10:00 a.m. eastern for the sunday show. tiffany's show is on sunday morning also on 10:00 a.m. eastern. "all in with chris hayes" starts right now. ♪ tonight on "all in," the supreme court denies the trump push to overturn pennsylvania as vaccines begin in the uk and the president-elect unveils his hundred-day strategy to fight covid. tonight the outgoing chaos and incoming competence of senator chris murphy. then as the safe harbor deadline locks in the biden victory, why the electoral college is still a ticking time bomb for democracy. and as america prepares for shots in arms, how did the trump administration allow 100 million doses to walk out the door? >> so pfizer has going t