Anderson Cooper 360

President Biden responded to today's decision by the Supreme Court to allow a controversial covid-era restriction on migrants to remain in effect while legal challenges play out. El Paso mayor, Oscar Leeser talks about what this means for his city.  

And the storm-related death toll is now at least 54, nationwide with 31, in the Buffalo area alone. Buffalo saw nearly four feet of snow and more than 37 straight hours of blizzard conditions. The travel nightmare is not over though, according to flightaware, of the nearly 3,100 cancelations in the country today, about 85% were Southwest flights. Southwest was responsible for more than half of all canceled flights. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called it a meltdown. Southwest's CEO put out a video statement, apologizing for the mess, and saying this by way of an explanation. Southwest captain second vice president of the Southwest pilots association, Tom Nekeoui joins to talk about the situation. 

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More than four days into one of the worst holiday storms on record and it is not over yet. It is hard to imagine, but some parts of Western New York could see another foot or more of snow, on top of the nearly four feet they already have. Buffalo's airport is still closed and the entire eastern part of the country is still in a deep freeze. Almost 4,000 flights canceled today and thousands more tomorrow. Nationwide, at least 49 people have lost their lives in this massive storm, with 27 in the Buffalo area alone. Nate Martin, commissioner of public works for the city of Buffalo talks about the issues facing the city. 

Andrea and Alex Campagna welcomed a group of South Korean tourists in from the cold, after the van they were in got stranded outside their Buffalo-area home. They also provided the kind of warmth that none of their visitors could have imagined when they knocked on their door.

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Millions of Americans are being impacted by a monster winter storm that’s bringing ice, wind, snow and bitter cold to multiple parts of the country. More than 5,000 flights have been canceled as people try to get home for the holidays. Buffalo, New York Mayor Byron Brown gives AC360 an update from his city, where wind gusts have been close to 80 mph and snow totals are expected to be measured in feet.

Plus, the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol released their final report and another batch of witness interview transcripts. CNN Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider tells AC360 the key takeaways from the report and what she’s learning from the newly released testimonies.  

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Wind chill alerts are in effect in nearly half of the U.S. population as a “once-in-a-generation” winter storm threatens to bring ice, wind, snow and life-threatening temperatures across the country. President Biden is urging Americans to take the storm “extremely seriously” and “heed the local warnings.” Meteorologist Derek Van Dam tells AC360 what people can expect as the storm heads to the East Coast just days before Christmas.

Plus, the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol still hasn’t released their full report that was expected to be made public yesterday but they have published some interview transcripts from key witnesses. One transcript reveals that then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told his aide, Cassidy Hutchinson, that former President Trump knew he lost the 2020 election but wanted to keep fighting to overturn the results. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Honig joins AC360 to discuss what Hutchinson told the committee.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed members of Congress after meeting with President Biden at the White House. In his first visit outside of his country since Russia invaded in February, Zelensky called for continued financial support from the U.S., telling Congress: “You money is not charity. It is an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way." Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton joins AC360 to react to Zelensky’s message. Plus, Olena Gnes recently relocated to the United States from her home in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she had been sheltering in a basement for the majority of the war. She tells Anderson Cooper why she was “very proud” of her President’s speech.

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President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are planning to meet at the White House Wednesday, according to two sources familiar with the planning underway. The visit would mark his first outside Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February. Plans are still being finalized but Zelensky’s trip to Washington, DC could also include an address to Congress while the Biden administration is trying to send Ukraine a new defense assistance package that will include Patriot missile systems. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego serves on the House Armed Services Committee and recently led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Kyiv. He joins AC360 to discuss how significant this visit is for Zelensky. Plus, sources tell CNN that former President Trump’s White House ethics lawyer, Stefan Passantino, told Cassidy Hutchinson to give misleading testimony to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Olivia Troye is a former homeland security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence. She tells AC360 if she’s surprised by this allegation against someone in the former President’s orbit.

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The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol referred former President Trump to the Department of Justice on four criminal charges including insurrection and obstruction. The panel will release their full report on Wednesday, marking the end of its expansive probe into the deadly riot. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin is a member of the committee. He tells AC360 why he thinks it was important to make the criminal referrals today.

Plus, Sarah Matthews, former Deputy White House Press Secretary for Trump, joins AC360 to discuss how the former President and his allies are reacting to these referrals and the ongoing criminal investigations by the DOJ.

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A source tells CNN the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol is considering recommending the Department of Justice pursue at least three criminal charges against former President Trump. The criminal charges being considered are obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the federal government, and insurrection. Elliot Williams is a former federal prosecutor and former deputy assistant attorney general. He tells Anderson Cooper whether he thinks a criminal referral helps or hurts the DOJ.

Plus, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson joins AC360 to discuss the influx of migrants at the Texas-Mexico border and how the problem can be fixed.  

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A Texas federal judge says President Biden can’t end the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” immigration policy, which sends certain non-Mexican citizens who entered the U.S. back to Mexico instead of detaining them or releasing into the United States while their immigration proceedings play out. Elie Honig is a CNN Senior Legal Analyst and a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He joins AC360 to explain the legal implications of this ruling.

Plus, CNN Special Correspondent Jamie Gangel sits down for an exclusive interview with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to talk about their friendship and Pelosi’s plans after she leaves her leadership position. 

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It’s been ten years since a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and murdered 26 students and staff. Four survivors are now young adults trying to lead lives forever scarred by the tragedy. Audrey Nichols, Saahil Ray and Cyrena Arokium were in second grade and Jordan Gomes was in fourth grade. They tell Anderson Cooper about what they remember about that day and how they’re trying to take action against gun violence.

Plus, at least three people are dead and several are injured after a tornado ripped through the New Orleans area. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser joins AC360 to give an update on what he’s hearing from officials across the state.

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