>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE ON TRACK TO MAKE DONALD TRUMP THE FIRST PRESIDENT EVER IMPEACHED TWICE, UNLESS MIKE PENCE GETS THERE FIRST.

CAN THEY SUCCEED AND SHOULD SENATORS HAWLEY AND CRUZ BE THE NEXT TO GO?

THEN, LATER, WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUT LAGGING, AND COVID-19 SPREADING AND KILLING FASTER THAN EVER, A LOCAL PHYSICIAN IS PREDICTING ANOTHER ROUND OF LOCKDOWNS ARE IMMINENT.

AND, FINALLY, MY THOUGHTS ON TRUMP'S LATEST CHOICE FOR THE NATION'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR: PATRIOTS' COACH BILL BELICHICK.

>>> WE KNEW IT WAS BAD AS WE WATCHED, IN REALTIME, THE HORDES DESCENDING ON CAPITOL HILL ON WEDNESDAY, SCALING WALLS, SMASHING THROUGH BARRICADES, AND BREAKING WINDOWS.

BUT WITH EVERY NEW DETAIL WE LEARN, THE MORE CHILLING IT ALL BECOMES, WITH VIDEOS OF POLICE OFFICERS GETTING CRUSHED BY RIOTERS, GETTING DRAGGED DOWN THE CAPITOL STAIRS AND BEATEN WITH A FLAG.

IMAGES OF PEOPLE WHO CLEARLY CAME PREPARED FOR BATTLE, WITH WEAPONS AND ZIP-TIE HANDCUFFS, AND THE SOUNDS OF CHANTS, TELLING US EXACTLY WHO THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND WHY.

>> HANG MIKE PENCE!

HANG MIKE PENCE!

HANG MIKE PENCE!

HANG MIKE PENCE!

>> Braude: FEDERAL AGENTS ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT JUST HOW MUCH ADVANCED PLANNING WENT INTO THE SIEGE AND WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE MOB HAD INTENDED TO HOLD MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS HOSTAGE, AND OFFICIALS SAY MANY MORE ARRESTS MAY BE STILL TO COME.

FOR THE RECORD, AND DESPITE RIGHT-WING MEDIA ASSERTIONS, THE F.B.I.

HAS SAID THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT ANTIFA ACTIVISTS WERE INVOLVED IN WEDNESDAY'S ATTACK.

BUT THE BIG QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO THE MAN WHO SPARKED THIS ALL?

THE WASHINGTON, D.C. ATTORNEY-GENERAL HAS SAID HE'S LOOKING AT CHARGING THE PRESIDENT WITH INCITING VIOLENCE AFTER HE LEAVES OFFICE.

AND IF DEMOCRATS HAVE THEIR WAY, THAT TIME WILL BE UP SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

HOUSE LEADERS FORMALLY INTRODUCED A SINGLE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT TODAY, CHARGING TRUMP WITH INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION, AND SAY THEY'LL TAKE UP THE MEASURE WEDNESDAY IF VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE DOESN'T INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT FIRST.

PELOSI IS GIVING PENCE 24 HOURS FROM THE TIME THE HOUSE PASSES A RESOLUTION ON THE ISSUE.

THAT VOTE IS EXPECTED TOMORROW, AFTER HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCKED AN EFFORT TO GET IT THROUGH TODAY BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

I'M JOINED BY JEANNIE SUK GERSEN, A PROFESSOR AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER AT "THE NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE, AND BEN CLEMENTS, A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND CHAIR OF THE GROUP "FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE," WHO CO-AUTHORED AN OP-ED IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE" JUST BEFORE WEDNESDAY'S ATTACK, CALLING ON CONGRESS TO IMPEACH TRUMP AGAIN, BAR HIM FROM FUTURE OFFICE, AND THIS TIME GET IT RIGHT.

HE'S ALSO A CO-AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, "THE CONSTITUTION DEMANDS IT: THE CASE FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP."

>> Braude: JEANNIE AND BEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JIM.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: A PLEASURE.

JEANNIE, IN YOUR NEW YORKER PIECE THIS WEEKEND, YOU SAY THERE WILL BE TIME TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE A CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

YOU SAY THE URGENT ISSUE IS DONALD TRUMP REMAINING PRESIDENT UNTIL JANUARY 20th.

HOW WILL IMPEACHMENT, WITH NINE DAYS LEFT, ADDRESS THAT MORE URGENT ISSUE?

>> WELL, FOR ONE THING, WHEN I WROTE THE PIECE, IT WAS POSSIBLE, AND IT IS STILL POSSIBLE, FOR CONGRESS TO ACTUALLY SHORTEN ITS PROCEDURES.

WE SAW AN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS, MONTHS EVEN, BUT THAT NEED NOT BE THE CASE.

IT IS, IN FACT, POSSIBLE FOR CONGRESS TO CHANGE ITS PROCEDURES IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MOVE MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

NOW, IT LOOKS VERY, VERY LIKELY, AS INDICATED BY MITCH McCONNELL, THAT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE WILL STICK TO THE SCHEDULE, WHERE IMPEACHMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE THROUGH WITH TRIAL AND CONVICTION UNTIL INAUGURATION DAY OR AFTER.

SO RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT LOOKING LIKE IMPEACHMENT REMOVAL IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Braude: BEN, EVEN IF THERE WAS ADEQUATE TIME, IT SEEMS TO ME YOU WOULDN'T BE SATISFIED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS NOT JUST IMPEACHMENT, BUT A PERMANENT BAR FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN.

AND YOU CAN'T GET TO THAT MAJORITY VOTE UNTIL YOU GET THROUGHLTHE TWO-THIRDS CONVICTION VOTE.

AM I CORRECT ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, YOU ARE, JIM.

BUT YOU CAN'T GET TO ANY OF THAT WITHOUT STARTING IMPEACHMENT IN THE HOUSE, AS THE HOUSE HAS DONE.

AND, CERTAINLY, MY VIEW IS THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT RIGHT AFTER THEY VOTED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

AND THEY'VE WAITED TOO LONG ALREADY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD WAIT MORE.

THEY SHOULD MAKE THE SENATE DO THEIR JOB.

>> Braude: AND, BEN, YOUR VIEW, OBVIOUSLY, THEY CAN VOTE TO DO THIS, CONVICT AND BAR POST-INAUGURATION OF A NEW PRESIDENT.

JEANNIE, ONE OF THE PRIMARY ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD MADE BY EVERYBODY, FROM NANCY PELOSI ON DOWN, AMONGST THE DEMOCRATS, THIS IS ALL ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

REGARDLESS OF SPEED ISSUES, REGARDLESS OF POTENTIAL GREATER POLITICAL DIVIDE.

IT IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

IS THAT THE CORE ARGUMENT FOR IMPEACHING THIS PRESIDENT WITH SUCH LITTLE TIME TO GO?

>> I DO THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AN IMPEACHMENT, EVEN IF ULTIMATELY THERE WOULD BE NO CONVICTION, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD STILL BE AN IMPEACHMENT.

AND HE WOULD BE THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED TWICE.

AND THAT WOULD BE A STATEMENT THAT WOULD LIVE ON IN OUR HISTORY.

AND, IN FACT, THAT IS ACTUALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY.

I DO THINK WE SHOULDN'T BRUSH UNDER THE RUG THE ACTUAL DANGER THAT REMAINS AS HAVINGS HAVING THIS MAN IN THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

>> Braude: I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, BUT EVEN YOU SAID, A MINUTE AGO, AN UNLIKELY SCENARIO, BUT A BEST-CASE SCENARIO, WE MIGHT SEE A CONVICTION AND A REMOVAL, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CAVEATS THERE, BY MAYBE THE 19th.

IN THE BEST CASE, MAYBE AT LEAST A WEEK MORE, EIGHT DAYS MORE, AND LIKELY NINE DAYS MORE, THIS PRESIDENT, NO MATTER HOW URGENT AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS CONSIDER IT TO BE, CORRECT?

>> WELL, IT IS CORRECT IF THAT IS -- IF IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY AVENUE THAT WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT IS STILL THE CASE THAT PELOSI HAS MADE CLEAR THAT WHAT SHE WANTS IS FOR PENCE TO INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT.

AND IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CABINET WERE TO JOIN THEM, THE REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES WOULD BE IMMEDIATE.

>> Braude: IF I MAY FOR A SECOND, JEANNIE, IN THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF YOUR PIECE IN "THE NEW YORKER" THIS WEEKEND, YOU SEEM TO BE MAKING THE CASE -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M MISUNDERSTANDING YOU -- THAT A RESIGNATION FOR PARDON WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME.

THE GOOD NEWS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE SUPREME COURT LAW TO BE, THE SUPREME COURT DETERMINED ABOUT A CENTURY AGO THAT ACCEPTING A PARDON IS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING GUILT.

THAT'S, I GUESS, THE GOOD NEWS.

BUT WHY WOULD DONALD TRUMP EVER ACCEPT THIS IN LIGHT OF THE FACT HE IS LIKELY TO BE PROSECUTED IN NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY, EVEN IF HE WERE TO GET A PARDON, FROM AN ACTING PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE?

>> I THINK HE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN A PROSECUTION IN NEW YORK, THE STATE PROSECUTIONS, WHICH MAY WELL OCCUR, THEY ARE STILL REMOTE AND THEY MAY NOT WORK OUT.

IF HE GETS A PARDON, A REAL ONE FROM ACTING PRESIDENT PENCE, THEN HE COULD SAY THAT HE GOT A GOOD DEAL.

THAT HE GOT A PARDON AND HE AGREED TO RESIGN, AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE.

AND MAYBE -- MAYBE, JUST LIKE WITH EVERYTHING, HE COULD SPIN IT TO MEAN I DIDN'T ACCEPT GUILT, BUT I GOT A PARDON OUT OF IT.

SO I WOULDN'T COMPLETELY GIVE UP ON THAT LINE OF ATTACK.

I DON'T THINK IT IS LIKELY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

>> Braude: BEN, I TRAWCHTEDINTERRUPTED YOU A MINUTE AGO.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> IN TEPS TERMS OF YOUR POINT, JIM, THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT, AND HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY BE CONVICTED AND EVICTED.

THE VERY NEXT DAY DONALD TRUMP ENCOURAGED, CONDONED, AND ESSENTIALLY INCITED THAT RIOT ON THE CAPITOL.

SO MITCH McCONNELL'S POSITION TODAY MIGHT NOT BE HIS POSITION TOMORROW.

THERE ARE DANGEROUS, NATIONAL SECURITY-THREATENING THINGS DONALD TRUMP COULD DO NOW AND BETWEEN THE END OF HIS TERM.

SO TO HOLD BACK AND JUST RIDE THIS OUT IS A BIG MISTAKE.

>> Braude: BEN, I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU AND TALK ABOUT ANOTHER MOVE THAT CONGRESS IS TALKING ABOUT, EXPELLING SOME OF THEIR FELLOW MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY JOSH HAWLEY AND TED CRUZ, WHO THEY CONSIDER TO BE PART OF THIS INCITING BY THEIR DECISION TO LEAD THE CHARGE AGAINST THE ELECTORAL CERTIFICATION.

HERE IT IS "EACH HOUSE MAY DETERMINE THE RULES OF HIS PROCEEDING AND PUNISH ITS MEMBERS FOR DISORDERING BEHAVIOR, AND WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF TWO-THIRDS EXPEL A MEMBER."

THE WAY I READ THIS, BEN, STARTING WITH US, IS THIS LIKE GERALD FORD, WHEN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE -- I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO IMPEACH JUSTICE DOUGLAS -- JEANNIE, YOU'RE NODDING -- AND HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS MEANS WHATEVER WE SAY THEY MEAN AT THE MOMENT.

IT SEEMS TO ME THIS LANGUAGE PROVIDES GREAT LATITUDE TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IF THEY THINK BY A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE EXPELLED, THEY CAN BE EXPELLED.

THERE IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD FOR COMPULSION, IS THERE?

>> NO, THERE IS NOT.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT OF A HIGH CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE SENATORS THAT YOU REFERRED TO, AND THE OTHERS WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN THIS REBELLION AGAINST THE COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY BE PROVEN TO HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS.

THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IF A MEMBER HAS ENGAGED IN CONDUCT UNBEFITTING OF A MEMBER, AND FOR THAT REASON VOTE BY TWO-THIRDS.

AND THERE IS A SEPARATE PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE 14th AMENDMENT, SECTION THREE, THAT ACTUALLY DISQUALIFIES, MEMBERS, ANY FEDERAL OFFICER, WHO HAS ENGAGED IN REBELLION AGAINST THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE FROM HOLDING OFFICE.

SO ARGUABLY, CRUZ, HAWLEY, AND OTHERS ARE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL WITHOUT THE TWO-THIRDS VOTE, AND CERTAINLY THERE IS PRECEDENT GOING BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR FOR A UNITED STATES ATTORNEY TO BRING, QUOTE, "WARRANTED PROCEEDINGS" TO REMOVE SUCH AN OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE.

>> Braude: JEANNIE, DO YOU THINK EXPELLING ANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD ADVANCE ANY CAUSE THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TIME AND THINK ABOUT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE, THE SPECIFIC ROLE, THAT THESE MEMBERS PLAYED IN THE VIOLENT INSURRECTION, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE DEBATABLE.

AND, REALLY, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE 14th AMENDMENT, AND SECTION THREE, AND I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF SITUATION WHERE IF HAWLEY AND CRUZ WANTED TO RUN AGAIN, THAT THEY WOULD FACE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THE IDEA OF USING THE 14th AMENDMENT, SECTION THREE, IS MORE OF A REMOTE ONE AND ONE THAT IS INTRIGUING, AND YET NOT VERY PLAUSIBLE.

>> Braude: CAN WE SPEND THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES ON SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS LESS OF A LEGAL ISSUE, EVERY DAY BEFORE I GO ON THE RADIO, LITERALLY, THE LAST THING I DO, I'M EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT, I GO TO REAL DONALD TRUMP ON TWITTER, TO SEE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AT ABOUT TWO MINUTES OF 11:00.

TODAY WHEN I WENT, I FORGOT HIS ACCOUNT HAD BEEN SUSPENDED, WHICH ALSO REMINDED ME THAT PARLER HAS BEEN DEPLATFORMED, WHICH IS SORT OF THE DARKER, RIGHT-WING VERSION OF TWITTER, HAS BEEN DEPLATFORMED BY PLACES LIKE GOOGLE AND APPLES.

PEOPLE LIKE AL ANGELA MERKEL AND OTHERS HAVE VOICED GREAT CONCERNS, STARTING WITH YOU, JEANNIE, IT IS NOT A LEGAL ISSUE OR A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE -- AT LEAST I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS, THEY'RE PRIVATE CORPORATIONS -- ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE SPEECH OF EVEN PEOPLE LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND OTHERS.

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?

OR DO YOU THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THING?

>> I DO THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE OF THIS EMERGENCY, THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL CRISIS.

A REASONABLE FEAR AND DANGER THAT FURTHER VIOLENCE COULD BE INCITED BY THIS MAN.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT ALL THINGS THAT YOU DO IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY AND CRISIS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND FOR DONALD TRUMP.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED BECAUSE DO WE WANT TWITTER TO HAVE THE POWER TO DEPLATFORM ANYONE THEY WANT?

RIGHT NOW IT IS A VERY TARGETED SITUATION, HAVING TO DO WITH A VIOLENT INSURRECTION THAT ALREADY OCCURRED AND MAY CONTINUE STILL, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE DEPLATFORMING OF DONALD TRUMP IN THIS SITUATION.

WHETHER IT EXTENDS TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH VIEWPOINTS THAT MAY BE MORE IN THE GRAY AREA, THAT'S A REAL ISSUE.

AND ON THAT I WOULD POSSIBLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO THINK MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOU, BEN?

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

>> I AGREE THEY ABSOLUTELY DID THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK THEY DID IT TOO LATE.

I THINK THE DANGER THAT WAS BEING IMPOSED BY THE ITEMINCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE WAS GOING ON FOR TOO LONG.

IT IS NOT THE QUESTION DO WE WANT TWITTER TO HAVE THE POWER TO DEPLATFORM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS DO WE WANT TWITTER AND Facebook AND THESE OTHER GIANT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO HAVE THE POWER TO AMPLIFY FASCIST, ANTI-DEMOCRATIC RACIST INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE, THAT HAVE DESTROYED DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD, THAT HAVE LED TO GENOCIDE IN ONE COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD.

THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR FEDERAL REGULATION OF THESE COMPANIES.

>> Braude: BEN AND JEANNIE, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: WHEN JOE BIDEN IS SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT NINE DAYS FROM NOW, HE HAS PROMISED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

WITH BIG PLANS TO OVERHAUL THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

STEP ONE, RELEASE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE DOSES RIGHT AWAY, TO GET IT TO PEOPLE BIGGER.

AND BIDEN, OF NOTE, DID GET HIS OWN SECOND DOSE TODAY, AS DID OUR NEXT GUEST, BY THE WAY.

BUT WITH 25 MILLION VACCINES DISTRIBUTED, AND LESS THAN NINE MILLION FIRST DOSES ADMINISTERED SO FAR, IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME AVAILABILITY IS THE PROBLEM IN THIS ROLLOUT, WITH SEVERAL REPORTS OF VACCINES GOING UNUSED AND HAVING TO BE THROWN OUT BECAUSE ADMINISTRATORS CAN'T FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO WERE CLEARED FOR THEIR FIRST DOSES AND WILLING TO TAKE THEM IN TIME.

AND ALL THE WHILE THE PANDEMIC IS SPINNING FURTHER OUT OF CONTROL BY THE DAY.

WE HIT ANOTHER RECORD HIGH FOR DAILY DEATHS IN THE U.S. OVER THE WEEKEND.

MORE THAN 4100 PEOPLE SATURDAY ALONE.

AND MANY HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AT OR NEARING CAPACITY.

IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE'RE AVERAGING AROUND 5,000 NEW COVID CASES TODAY, AND HAVE SEEN SEVERAL DAYS ABOVE 7,000 CASES RECENTLY, PROMPTING GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER TO EXTEND STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO LET UP TODAY.

BUT MY NEXT GUEST SAYS THAT LIKELY WON'T BE ENOUGH, PREDICTING WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS MORE LOCKDOWNS AFTER A HOLIDAY SURGE.

DR. ABRAAR KARAN IS FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>> Doctor: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: YOU WERE QUOTED IN THAT PIECE ABOUT A WEEK AGO SAYING THAT A LOCKDOWN WAS IMMINENT.

IS IT ALL ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS SURGE?

ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE VARIANT BEING AROUND?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

>> Doctor: I THINK THAT ALL OF THESE FACTORS THAT MENTIONED ARE PLAYING INTO THIS.

WE HAVE A MORE TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANT WE'RE DETECTING, AND IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN HERE LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT, AND WE HAD CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR AS WELL.

SO WE EXPECT INCREASED TRANSMISSION.

THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE ROLLOUT GOING.

SO WE HAVE A GOAL THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.

SO WHEN I SORT OF TWEETED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY NEED A NEXT ROUND OF LOCKDOWNS, WHAT I'M REALLY GETTING AT HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO DO TWO THINGS: WE NEED TO BE VACCINATING PEOPLE AS EFFICIENTLY AND AFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE, AND WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN TRANSMISSION AS FAST AS WE CAN.

>> Braude: I WANT TO GET TO THE VACCINATION ISSUE IN A MINUTE.

YOU SAID SOMETHING IN THIS BOSTON.COM PIECE THAT WAS PRETTY HEAVY.

YOU SAID PEOPLE ARE DYING WITHOUT ACCESS TO HOSPITAL BEDS, WHICH IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH RE-ELECTION.

WE'LL GET ACTION FROM POLITICIANS.

I KNOW THAT'S THE SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE FROM, IN L.A. COUNTY.

ARE WE APPROACHING THAT POINT, THAT THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE HOSPITAL BEDS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS?

>> Doctor: I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS WITH ME IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AS OF NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE STILL MANAGING.

BUT OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE DEFINITELY UNDER STRAIN.

AND THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN YOU HAVE EXPONENTIAL SPRED OF THE VIRUS, YOU CANNOT SCALE UP HOSPITAL CAPACITY AS QUICKLY AS THE VIRUS SPREADS.

AND ONE OF THE LIMITING FACTORS IS STAFF.

A LOT OF THE STAFF ARE EXHAUST FRANCHISE THIS ENTIREFROM FIGHTING THISPANDEMIC.

>> Braude: THE GOVERNOR SAID IF OUR BED CAPACITY WERE SURPASSED, I THINK 80% MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER, THAT THE RATIO OF NURSES TO PATIENTS IN I.C.U.

COULD BE BROKEN.

I THINK IT IS ONE TO ONE, AND ONE IN TWO WHERE THE PATIENT IS FAIRLY STABLE.

THE HEAD OF THE MASS NURSES ASSOCIATION, KATIE MURPHY, WHO WORKS AT YOUR HOSPITAL, BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S, SAID THAT INCREASE IN THE RATIO COULD BE, QUOTE, "DEADLY."

DO YOU AGREE WITH HER?

>> Doctor: ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN L.A. COUNTY RIGHT NOW, WHERE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WORK, ONE OF THE HOSPITALS HAD A RATIO OF ONE I.C.U.

NURSE TO FIVE PATIENTS.

WE KNOW THAT NURSING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN TERMS OF PATIENT OUTCOMES AND CRITICALLY-ILL PATIENTS.

YOU NEED SOMEBODY WHO WATCHING YOU CLOSELY.

WHEN OUR NURSES ARE BURNED OUT, WE'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

>> Braude: SO WHAT IS THE STAFFING SOLUTION?

>> Doctor: YOU CAN'T JUST BRING THESE EXTREMELY HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF OUT OF THIN AIR.

WE NEED TO MOVE STAFF AROUND TO HELP PLACES THAT ARE HARD HIT.

>> Braude: THE GOAL IS TO GET TO A VACCINE ALIVE.

I DON'T EVEN MEAN THAT AS A JOKE.

ONE OF THE WAYS TO GET THERE IS MASKS.

THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PERSON FROM DELAWARE, HER NAME IS LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, AND SHE IS HANDING OUT MASKS TO A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS WHO WEREN'T WEARING THEM DURING THAT LOCKDOWN DURING THE ATTACK ON WEDNESDAY.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS REFUSED THAT MASK.

AND THE REASON I BRING HER UP IS I KNOW YOU HAVE CO-WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE BIDEN TRANSMISSION TEAM ARGUING THAT HIGH FILTRATION MASKS BE SENT TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE COUNTRY.

WHILE I LOVE THE IDEA, ISN'T BLUNT ROCHESTER RIGHT THAT THAT ISN'T THE PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT AVAILABILITY; THE PROBLEM IS UNWILLINGNESS OF A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE POPULATION STILL TO WEAR THEM EVEN IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

IS THAT NOT THE CASE?

>> Doctor: THINK OF IT THIS WAY: NOTHING THAT WE DO IN THE EPIDEMIC IS GOING TO BE DONE 100%.

YOU NEED TO DO EVERY INTERVENTION, AND IT IS ALL ADDITIVE.

IT IS A MEASURE OF HOW THE VIRUS IS GROWING TO GET BELOW ONE, SO IT STARTS TO SHRINK.

IF YOU WERE TELL ME THAT PEOPLE AROUND YOU WERE NOT WEARING A MASK, I THINK IT IS MORE OF A REASON FOR YOU TO HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGHER FILTRATION.

WE NEED MASKS THAT DO TWO THINGS: ONE, THEY PROTECTER THE WEARER, AND TWO, IF THE WEARER IS INFECTED AND DOESN'T KNOW, IT WILL STOP THAT PERSON FROM TRANSMITTING TO OTHER PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU AFFECTLY STOP TRANSMISSION.

THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET THAT TO, THE BETTER IT IS.

>> Braude: I'M NOT CLEAR IN THE CASE OF JOE BIDEN, THAT HE IS ATTACKING THE RIGHT PROBLEM, EITHER.

THE GOAL IS TO GET ALL OF THE DOSES OUT, AND NOT TO HOLD ANY BACK, IN THE HOPES THEY CAN MANUFACTURE SECOND DOSES QUICKLY ENOUGH.

AGAIN, WE HAVE ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THE DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ADMINISTERED, SO, AGAIN, IT SEEMS TO ME THE PROBLEM IS NOT RELEASING ALL THAT HAS BEEN MANUFACTURED.

THE PROBLEM IS STICKING PEOPLE IN THE ARM, LIKE YOU WERE TODAY.

>> Doctor: ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE KEY HERE IS NOT JUST VACCINES, IT IS VACCINATING PEOPLE.

AND OPERATIONALIZING THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PROCESS AND SEE WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE.

IF THE BOTTLENECKS ARE IN STAFFING, YOU CAN SEND TONS MORE VACCINES OUT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO SIT IN FREEZERS UNTIL YOU CAN GET THE STAFF TO ADMINISTER THEM.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, YOU AND JOE BIDEN HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THE SAME DAY TODAY.

HE GOT HIS SECOND DOSE.

YOU GOT YOUR SECOND DOSE.

WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

I DON'T MEAN IN YOUR ARM.

PSYCHOLOGICALLY, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO GET THAT SECOND DOSE.

WE ONLY HAVE 20 SECONDS LEFT?

>> Doctor: IT FEELS INCREDIBLE.

I'VE TAKEN CARE OF PATIENTS ALL LAST YEAR AND ALL THE WAY UNTIL NOW.

SOMETIMES WE WANT TO GO INTO THE ROOMS AND BE THERE FOR THE PATIENTS, BUT WE WANT TO KNOW WE'RE PROTECTED BECAUSE WE GO HOME TO OUR FAMILIES.

SO GETTING THE VACCINE MEANS EVERYTHING TO THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

>> Braude: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Doctor: THAT IS CORRECT SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Braude: THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF HIS JOB THAT DONALD TRUMP IS IGNORING IN HIS FINAL DAYS IN OFFICE.

LIKE DOING ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT A PANDEMIC THAT IS KILLING AROUND 4,000 PEOPLE ADAY, A DAY OR HELPING WITH THE TRANSITION OF POWER.

BUT THERE IS ONE ASPECT OF THE JOB HE IS KEEPING UP WITH: AWARD CEREMONIES.

PROBABLY NOT THE BIGGEST SHOCK FOR THE MAN WHO ROSE TO NATIONAL ATTENTION ON A REALITY SHOW.

BUT AFTER AWARDING ONLY HALF AS HIS PREDECESSORS IN A SINGLE TERM, TRUMP IS SUDDENLY GIVING THEM OUT LIKE HAPPY MEALS.

ACCORDING TO MOBILE REPORTS, THE LATEST RECIPIENT IS PATRIOTS COACH BILL BELICHICK.

IT IS TO GO TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SECURITY OF NATIONAL INTERESTS OF U.S., TO WORLD PEACE, OR TO CULTURAL OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENDEAVORS.

AND NOW IT IS GOING TO THIS GUY.

>> WE'RE ON TO CINCINNATI.

IT IS NOTHING ABOUT THE PAST OR THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE PREPARING FOR CINCINNATI.

>> Reporter: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE TALENT YOU HERE IS GOOD ENOUGH?

>> WE'RE GETTING READY FOR CINCINNATI.

>> Reporter: I'M JUST ASKING, DO YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH -- >> WE'RE GETTING READY FOR CINCINNATI.

>> Braude: THE PREVIOUS MEDAL RECIPIENTS WERE MAYA ANGELOU, MUHAMMAD ALI, JACKIE ROBINSON, NEIL ARMSTRONG AND JOHN GLENN, AND CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER ROSA PARKS.

AND WHO HAS GOTTEN THE AWARD UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP?

THREE GOLFERS, AND THE TWO MEN WHO MOST FIERCELY DEFENDED THE PRESIDENT IN HIS FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, DEVIN NUNES AND JIM JORDAN, THE FORMER, A MAN WHO HAS BEEN LINKED TO EFFORTS TO DIG UP DIRT ON THE UKRAINE.

AND THE LATTER WHO SERVED AS TRUMP'S CONGRESSIONAL ATTACK DOG AGAINST EVERYONE FROM ROBERT MUELLER TO ANTHONY FAUCI, AND WHO MULTIPLE CREDIBLE WITNESSES HAVE SAID IGNORED THEIR WARNINGS WHEN HE WAS AN OHIO STATE WRESTLING COACH THAT THE TEAM DOCTOR WAS SEXUALLY ABUSING MORE THAN 170 YOUNG MEN.

BOTH NUNES AND JORDAN GET TO FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF RUSH LIMBAUGH.

SO WHO IS NEXT?

THIS GUY?

AND WHY IS BELICHICK GETTING A NOD?

WELL, HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMP APPARENTLY GOES WAY BACK.

TRUMP EVEN READ A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM BELICHICK THE NIGHT BEFORE THE 2016NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

BELICHICK SAID LATER IT WAS NOT WRITTEN OUT OF FRIENDSHIP, BUT OUT OF LOYALTY.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL BE BEFORE TOM BRADY OR MR. KRAFT GET THEIR HONORS, TOO.

AND BELICHICK HASN'T SAID YET WHETHER HE WILL BE ACCEPTING THE AWARD, BUT THE FACT HE DIDN'T COME OUT REFUSING IT THE SECOND THIS STORY LEAKED YESTERDAY, TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

I WONDER HOW HIS PLAYERS FEEL ABOUT THAT?

YOU KNOW, THE GUYS GOING OUT ON THE FIELD EVERY SUNDAY, RISKING COVID EXPOSURE BECAUSE WE NEVER EVEN TRIED TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL, MANY OF WHOM HAVE TAKEN PART IN BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS IN VARIOUS FORMS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND LED SOCIAL JUSTICE COMPAIGNS, ONLY TO BE MET WITH THIS.

>> President Trump: WOULDN'T YOU LOVE TO SEE ONE OF THIS NFL OWNERS, WHEN SOMEBODY DISRESPECTS OUR FLAG, TO SAY GET THAT SON OF A BITCH OFF THE FIELD RIGHT NOW.

OUT.

HE'S FIRED.

>> Braude: FUNNY.

YOU KNOW WHO ELSE THAT STATEMENT COULD BE APPLIED TO THESE DAYS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK.

E-MAIL US, TWEET US, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW.

I'LL TALK TO THE HARVARD PROFESSOR WHO IS CALLING ON THE UNIVERSITY TO CUT ALL TIES WITH THE LAWMAKERS AND TRUMP OFFICIALS WHO INCITED LAST WEEK'S ATTACK.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

PLEASE STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org