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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump Claims U.S. Is "Corona-Free" On Deadliest Day In Months; Biden Says He'll Pick Running Mate Next Week; A.G. Barr Clashes With Democrats In Combative Hearing. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired July 29, 2020 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We are just about 30 minutes past the hour. Great to see you this morning, Laura.
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Always great to have you, Boris.
And this morning, thousands are dying, hundreds of thousands are sick and facing long-term damage, millions are wondering if they have coronavirus, some waiting for weeks for their test results -- and yet, this is what the president thinks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You can look at large portions of our country -- it's corona-free.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Where is it corona-free? Deaths are increasing now in 29 states. The rate of new deaths keeps climbing.
Twelve hundred people died yesterday alone. That's the most since late-May. Cases are still increasing also in 22 states.
So what's the president's main concern?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It sort of is curious. A man works for us, with us, very closely -- Dr. Fauci -- and Dr. Birx, also highly thought of -- and yet, they're highly thought of but nobody likes me. It can only be my personality -- that's all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The president focused on his popularity and deciding to peddle advice from another doctor, one of several he endorsed in a tweetstorm Monday night. So who is this doctor? Stella Immanuel is a Houston pediatrician and a preacher known for touting highly unconventional and unscientific theories involving aliens, demons, witches, reptilian Illuminati-linked beings running our society, and the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STELLA IMMANUEL, CAMEROONIAN PHYSICIAN, AUTHOR, PASTOR: This virus has a cure. It is called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax. I know you people want to talk about masks. Hello? You don't need masks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: She's endorsing treatments that the president wants endorsed and she's reportedly asked for a meeting with Trump. We've yet to see a response from the president, but when CNN's Kaitlan Collins tried to follow up with him, watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: And I thought her voice was an important voice but I know nothing about her.
Yes, go ahead -- Paul (ph) -- go ahead.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Last week, you said masks -- last week, (INAUDIBLE). Last week you said masks --
TRUMP: OK, thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Apparently, didn't want to face Kaitlan's question there.
And so, as for actual medical news, Dr. Anthony Fauci says there are signs the recent surges we're seeing may be peaking in Texas and Florida, but other states could be on the verge of more outbreaks.
So how is this different from what happened back in March and April? Well, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's COVID response coordinator, points to the largescale community spread among younger people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DEBORAH BIRX, RESPONSE COORDINATOR, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE: Talking about increasing mitigation efforts now because if you wait until you see increased hospitalizations it is really way too late. Because what we are experiencing now is very different than March and April. It's very different from the outbreaks of May that was quickly contained.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Dr. Birx knows the majority of young people are asymptomatic. So by the time the hospitalizations start climbing, like right now in Mississippi, Alabama, and the Carolinas, community spread has escalated incredibly quickly, Boris.
SANCHEZ: Yes, Laura.
Meantime, the clock is ticking for reopening schools. Of the largest 101 districts in the United States, 53 are starting the year completely online.
In Philadelphia, the superintendent is backtracking from a hybrid reopening, now proposing online learning only, at least, until November.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is acknowledging that students are in a tough spot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: In many respects, unfortunately -- though this may sound a little scary and harsh, I don't mean it to be that way -- is that you're going to be actually part of the experiment of the learning curve of what we need to know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: It's not clear how quickly younger children can actually spread this virus but Fauci says the studies show that kids 10 to 19 years old can spread it as easily as adults. And health experts are concerned if students do return to classrooms there could be outbreaks like the one that put the Miami Marlins' season on hold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM HASELTINE, CHAIR AND PRESIDENT, ACCESS HEALTH INTERNATIONAL: There's very little difference between the way the virus spreads in young baseball players, many who are just barely into their 20s, and how it's going to spread in high schools.
Just look at what's happening in Florida right now. It may not get infected at the same rate, but the moment they're all at school together they're going to get infected. They will infect their families, their families will infect others, and we're about to have a disaster on top of a disaster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: And many are watching sports as a testing ground for reopening procedures at schools and at workplaces. And now, 11 Major League Baseball games are postponed as a result of the Miami Marlins COVID outbreak, as even more players reportedly test positive.
Andy Scholes has more in this morning's Bleacher Report. Andy, good morning.
[05:35:00]
Derek Jeter, the owner of the Marlins, saying that the team is having a difficult time dealing with this.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes -- and Boris, it's something that baseball says they were preparing for to happen but the first weekend into the season, I don't think anyone expected something like this to happen just so soon, considering all the protocols that they thought they had in place that were safe. According to multiple reports, four more Marlins players testing positive for coronavirus over the weekend. That brings the total number of cases on the team to 17.
And, Major League Baseball announcing it was postponing the team's games through Sunday in order for the Marlins to focus on providing care for their players. Officials say everyone who tested positive is currently in isolation. And, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter announced the team has moved to daily testing.
Now, the Marlins, they're next scheduled to play on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies. That game would be in Miami. Now, the Phillies were the team that Miami was playing against when the outbreak hit. Major League Baseball postponing their games until Friday just to be safe.
And in order to add flexibility to the schedule down the line, the Yankees, who are supposed to be playing the Phillies, are now going to travel to play the Orioles, who are supposed to be playing the Marlins. Those games are going to happen now, today and tomorrow.
Now, the Nationals were supposed to play in Miami this weekend. Their manager, Dave Martinez, revealing that the team had voted not to play that three-game series in South Florida before it ended up being postponed. And, Martinez says he was happy that it didn't come to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE MARTINEZ, MANAGER, WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Well, I think MLB did the right thing. It's all about keeping us safe -- myself, the players, our staff, everybody.
Not only do we have to compete on the field but it's almost like we've got to compete off the field, too, and make sure we follow all the protocols. I'm constantly on the players about wearing masks, washing hands. We're doing all these things to try to stay safe but it's tough. We're in some tough times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Yes, and the outbreak certainly concerning, Boris. But, Major League Baseball says right now, it's a Marlins problem. They said they've conducted 6,400 hundred tests since Friday and it had zero positives on the other 29 clubs.
SANCHEZ: Yes, and then you hear the concern there from Dave Martinez saying that you're not just competing on the field, you're competing off the field, too. And even taking all of these mitigations -- all these things you can do to protect yourself, there's still tremendous fear and headaches now dealing with these postponed games.
Andy Scholes, thank you so much for the update.
SCHOLES: All right.
JARRETT: The Republican stimulus plan is running into resistance from Republicans and President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Are there certain aspects that they have put forward that you don't support?
TRUMP: Yes, there are, actually, and we'll be talking about it. There are also things that I very much support, but we'll be negotiating. It's sort of semi-irrelevant because the Democrats come with their needs and asks and the Republicans go with theirs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: The president is right about that. Talks with Democrats are ongoing with no clear path to a deal and extra unemployment benefits expiring Friday.
The GOP plan calls for cutting the extra federal help from $600 to $200 a week, then transitioning to a model where someone can make roughly 70 percent of their prior earnings when combined with state assistance.
SANCHEZ: Joe Biden says he will choose his running mate next week. Biden has said he will pick a woman for vice president and he's faced pressure from within the Democratic Party to choose a woman of color.
It turns out you don't have to look too far for clues of who might be on his mind. On Tuesday, Biden was photographed holding talking points with Sen. Kamala Harris' name at the top, including this note -- take a look -- possibly a note to himself -- "do not hold grudges." Remember, Harris grilled Biden during several of the Democratic debates.
On Capitol Hill, Monday, Biden was also seen, coincidentally or not, with California congresswoman Karen Bass.
JARRETT: Well, a very combative day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Attorney General Bill Barr clashing with Democrats as he defended his response to politically sensitive cases and to protests across the country. Portland is just the latest flashpoint after the Trump administration sent federal officers to protect a courthouse there.
In his first congressional appearance in more than a year, Mr. Barr disputed the idea that the president is using federal police as an election year show of force.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM BARR, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: What unfolds nightly around the courthouse cannot reasonably be called protests. It is by any objective measure an assault on the government of the United States.
We are on the defense. It's -- we're not out looking for trouble. And if the state and the city would provide the law enforcement services that other jurisdictions do, we would have no need to have additional marshals in the courthouse. (END VIDEO CLIP)
[05:40:00]
SANCHEZ: Regarding longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, Barr claimed he's not seen President Trump's tweets praising Stone for not testifying against him -- a far cry from Barr previously saying the president's tweets can make it impossible for him to do his job.
We should also note the White House has said that President Trump's tweets are official presidential statements.
Democrats also grilled Barr over his decision to intervene to shorten Stone's sentence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: I said all -- Stone was prosecuted under me. And I said all along I thought that was a righteous prosecution, I thought he should go to jail, and I thought the judge's sentence was correct.
But the lying prosecutors were trying to advocate for a sentence that was more than twice anyone else in a similar position had ever served. And this is a 67-year-old man, first-time offender, no violence, and they were trying to put him in jail for seven to nine years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Now, unlike President Trump, Barr says he does not think the election is rigged. But he did, however, echo the president's false claim that there's a high risk of voter fraud with mail-in ballots.
JARRETT: Four of the world's most powerful tech CEOs are set to testify this afternoon. The chiefs of Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon will appear virtually before the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel.
Each of the companies has pushed back against antitrust claims. Some stress the competition they face from each other, as well as the Chinese.
Big tech is under more scrutiny these days, especially in an election year, after the recent hack of verified Twitter accounts. We should note no Twitter executive is set to appear at today's hearing.
SANCHEZ: There is another significant storm brewing in this record- breaking hurricane season. Puerto Rico facing tropical storm warnings and the system appears it could track toward Florida this weekend.
Here is meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Boris and Laura, good morning, guys. Yes, we're watching potential tropical cyclone nine. This particular storm has everything it takes to become our next named tropical system. We are on to the letter "I" when this storm would be named Tropical Storm Isaias.
And take a look at the potential trajectory of this particular feature here because the models really break apart as far as the forecast cone is concerned on the latter end of this forecast period.
Some models suggest this will head on in towards portions of the island of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic. That's the very mountainous area here that could really break the system apart and not allow it to significantly strengthen.
And you'll notice the forecast does keep it into a tropical storm strength there throughout the entire forecast track. But if it takes the eastern trajectory, as we think is possible, of course, that allows the storm system to become far stronger.
Regardless, heavy rainfall across the U.S. Virgin Islands on into the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.
And here is the model-by-model breakdown here -- the spaghetti plot as they're known here. It kind of breaks down the uncertainties beyond this. Again, a western track of this would take it over the mountains of Haiti and Dominican Republic. The eastern track could skirt east of Florida but then bring it closer to the Carolinas by this weekend -- guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JARRETT: Pedram, thank you.
A quick programming note. All parents, of course, want great schools for their kids, but Kamau Bell uncovers why that's simply not possible for some. Go inside the public school system on an all-new "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA," Sunday at 10:00 p.m. on CNN.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:47:37]
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
The president of Belarus, who dismissed coronavirus as psychosis, now says he caught the virus. Alexander Lukashenko says he recovered without symptoms. He has been widely criticized for refusing to impose restrictions and suggesting that a sauna or vodka could make the virus go away.
CNN reporters are covering the pandemic around the world. Here are their reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jomana Karadsheh in Istanbul.
Islam's most important annual pilgrimage, the Hajj, is underway in Mecca right now. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's Hajj is more of a symbolic one. In previous years, more than two million people from around the globe would participate in the Hajj, but this year the Saudis have restricted it with about 1,000 people, including foreigners residing in Saudi Arabia and Saudi nationals.
They've had to go through a rigorous selection process, medical checks, COVID testing. They've had to quarantine before the Hajj and will do afterwards, too. And also, authorities have put in place strict hygiene measures and social distancing.
Officials describing this as a truly exceptional Hajj.
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: I am Stefano Pozzebon in Bogota, Colombia.
And, coronavirus continues to spread all across South America. One of the most critical situations is that of Bolivia, where no less than 16 government officials tested positive for the virus. One of them, the latest on Tuesday morning, was the mayor of the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.
The president, itself, after contracting the virus, said on Monday that she was completely recovered. But for the rest of the country, the situation remains very, very serious.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Fred Pleitgen in Berlin, where the German government continues to grapple with the rise in coronavirus infections. And one of the things that really has the Merkel government concerned is they say that these infections are not large, isolated incidents, but are happening in broad parts of the country.
There's more and more districts in this country where the number of coronavirus infections are on the rise. The German government says that makes it more and more difficult to actually contact trace where these infections are coming from.
The government says that some people here in this country may have become a little bit lax in enforcing the rules for trying to stop the pandemic and they're calling on people to urgently start sanitizing, start physical distancing and, of course, wearing masks as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[05:50:06]
JARRETT: All right. Thanks to our correspondents for all of those reports.
Police say a Florida man used taxpayer-funded small business money to buy himself a Lamborghini. Bank fraud charges have been filed against David Tyler Hines. He's accused of spending over $318,000 on that car and nearly $5,000 at Saks.
Bank records obtained by investigators show Hines received almost $4 million through three low-interest, forgivable loans that were supposed to be used to help small businesses keep their employees during the pandemic.
SANCHEZ: Researchers say a new blood test can identify Alzheimer's and even detect signs of the disease 20 years before symptoms appear. According to the study, the test looks for tiny amounts of a certain protein, which is elevated in people with the illness.
Scientists say it has the potential to make diagnosis simpler, more affordable, and widely available. Experts estimate that it could be available for clinical use in as little as two to three years.
Well, before COVID, the Astros' sign-stealing scandal was the biggest story in sports. Things came to a head overnight in Houston during a game between the Astros and the L.A. Dodgers, who they faced in the World Series just a couple of years ago.
In the sixth inning, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw a fastball behind Alex Bregman's head. Then, Kelly threw a pitch -- it did not appear to be a fastball but still nearly hitting Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, knocking him down.
After Correa struck out to end the inning, Kelly taunted him as he went to the dugout -- watch this. The two being jawing at each other and then the benches cleared. Not a great look amid a pandemic. No punches were thrown, though.
Last night was the first time the two teams met since it was revealed that the Astros stole signs in 2017 that included their seven-game World Series win over the Dodgers.
JARRETT: All right, let's take a look at markets around the world. Markets in Asia closed mixed. European -- Europe opening mixed as well.
On Wall Street, futures basically unchanged. U.S. stocks closed lower Tuesday as investors worry drawn-out negotiations could threaten a new stimulus deal. And U.S. consumer confidence fell more than expected in July, threatening the prospects of an economic recovery.
Today, Wall Street will get earnings from some big companies like Boeing and GM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCENE FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES "FAST AND FURIOUS."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Universal and AMC Theaters striking a deal to allow new films to play at home sooner. This deal upends the model that studios and theaters have followed for decades. Universal's new films will now have just 17 days of exclusivity in theaters rather than the usual 70. This means when the next film in the "Fast and Furious" franchise hits theaters in April, fans can watch it in theaters or wait just three weeks to buy it or rent it at home.
Well, Budweiser's new beer is missing a key ingredient, alcohol. Anheuser-Busch-InBev launches Budweiser Zero nationally today. The alcohol-free lager is said to taste similar to the parent brand.
Retired NBA player Dwyane Wade helped create the product's taste and packaging and will be central to the national ad campaign that debuts today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCENE FROM NETFLIX.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Netflix dominating nominations for the 70-second primetime Emmy Awards. The streaming giant scored the most nominations ever by a platform with 160 nods. From "THE MANDALORIAN" to "ZENDAYA," the Emmys offer a nominee lineup made for the Internet age.
HBO's "WATCHMEN" earned the most nominations by any individual program with 26, followed by Amazon's "THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD PITT, ACTOR, PORTRAYING DR. ANTHONY FAUCI ON NBC'S "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Good evening, I'm Dr. Anthony Fauci. First, I'd like to thank all the older women in America who have sent me supportive, inspiring, and sometimes graphic e-mails.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Oscar-winner Brad Pitt has been nominated for his "SNL" cameo as Dr. Anthony Fauci back in April.
JARRETT: And he can thank Alisyn Camerota for that -- for asking Dr. Fauci about it.
Well, 900 miles from Boston to Michigan in 10 days. Two college hockey players from the University of Massachusetts in Boston turned in their skates for rollerblades to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Twenty-one-year-old Jacob Adkins and 22-year-old Andrew Walker say they bought rollerblades because of pandemic boredom.
Well, the good thing is that boredom actually serving a cause there.
SANCHEZ: That's right. Pandemic boredom a good excuse as any to start rollerblading.
[05:55:02]
Thank you so much for joining us this morning. I'm Boris Sanchez in for Christine Romans.
JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. Have a great day, everyone. "NEW DAY" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump touting hydroxychloroquine as a cure for coronavirus.
TRUMP: It doesn't cause problems. I had no problem. I had absolutely no problem.
FAUCI: The overwhelming prevailing clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bill Barr standing his ground, holding firm that he is not using his position to do the president's bidding.
BARR: I agree the president's friends don't deserve special breaks, but they also don't deserve to be treated more harshly than other people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.
END
