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Kerry Blasts Trump's Foreign Policy "Blooper Reel"; EU Commission Calls For New Elections; Most Of Victoria's COVID-19 Cases Tied To Hotel Quarantine; Joe Biden Formally Nominated For U.S. President; Military Leaders Force Malian President To Resign; PSG Advance To First UEFA Champions League. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 19, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm pleased to announce that Vice President Joe Biden has officially been nominated by the Democratic Party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HALA GORANI, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: U.S. Democrats officially nominating Joe Biden as their best chance to defeat President Donald Trump
in November. Also this hour, European leaders call for new elections in Belarus after allegations of fraud, violence and widespread protests.
We're live in Minsk. And Lebanon is imposing a new lockdown because of a surge in COVID cases just weeks after thousands of homes were wrecked in a
deadly blast.
Hello, I'm Hala Gorani in London working from home, and this is "Connect the World." Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden as President Tuesday
night with a virtual roll call that emphasized diversity across the country state by state.
Delegates from all 50 states and 7 U.S. territories read the vote totals. They spoke in front of scenic sometimes symbolic backdrops meant to show
America as a tapestry of different people and also different cultures.
Some offered powerful messages on topics ranging from gun control to LGBTQ rights. Rising stars from the party combined to give the night's keynote
speech, and the progressive wing was also which heard, albeit briefly.
It culminated with Joe Biden making his own brief appearance to accept the nomination, flanked by his wife and grandchildren.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, all. It means the world to me and my family
and I'll see you on Thursday. Thank you, thank you. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Biden's wife Jill gave the closing speech of the night from the classroom of the school where she once taught. She told Americans that
her husband can unify a divided nation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JILL BIDEN, JOE BIDEN'S WIFE: The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders. I know that if we entrust this nation to
Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours. Bring us together and make us whole. Carry us forward in our time of need. Keep the promise of
America for all of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: While Joe Biden never mentioned Donald Trump's name, Former President Bill Clinton directly attacked the current President, taking aim
at Mr. Trump's response to the coronavirus.
(BILL CLINTON SPEECH)
GORANI: Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump on the global stage, calling the U.S. President an
embarrassment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Donald Trump inherited a growing economy and a more peaceful world. And like everything else he
inherited, he bankrupted it. When this President goes overseas, it isn't a goodwill mission, it's a blooper reel. He breaks up with our allies and
writes love letters to dictators. America deserves a President who is looked up to, not laughed at.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
GORANI: While the convention to continued to highlight Republicans who support Biden over Trump because of their disdain and dislike of Trump, for
instance, John McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, was part of a video highlighting the friendship and partnership her husband shared with Biden,
and Former Republican Secretary of state Colin Powell also spoke on behalf of the Democratic nominee.
Now, it's worth noting that even though Powell is a long-time republican, he's endorsed democrats in the past. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, ORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I support Joe Biden because beginning on day one he will restore Americans' leadership and our moral
authority. He'll be a President who knows that America's strongest win, as he has said, we lead both by the power of our example and the example of
our power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, night three may be the most star studded evening of the convention. 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, Former President Barack Obama and
Vice Presidential pick Kamala Harris all scheduled to deliver speeches to the American people. Let's talk about this with CNN Political Commentator
Bakari Sellers.
So thank for being with us. So first of all Bakari I want to ask you for just your overall impression after two evenings because it is a huge
challenge to overcome to do all of this virtually. Before we sort of break down strategically whether or not the Democratic Party is highlighting the
right speakers, what did you think of the energy that was projected?
BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's difficult, it really is, because I've spoken on that stage in 2016, and that energy, the balloons,
people chanting your name, it's palpable and it gives you a rise. And so it's kind of difficult to break through on a laptop computer, sitting miles
and miles away from where the arena actually is.
However, Democrats have done a great job with the production of this. Last night's roll call was epic, and the two people who have really broken
through are both unelected women. I think that is just a powerful sentiment and a powerful statement.
Michelle Obama on night one, 19 minutes of pure oratory brilliance, and last night Jill Biden really rose to the occasion. So I think that what
we're seeing tonight is a star-studded night with Hillary, with Kamala and with Barack, but the first two nights really teed us up for this moment.
GORANI: You mentioned the roll call, and this is the one moment, I think, of this convention that across the board even among Republicans that really
there was a positive response to this because it showed the real cultural diversity and rich cultural tapestry that makes up the United States.
One of the obvious rising stars in the left wing of the Democratic Party is Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. She was on very briefly, about a minute and a
half, but I want to run a clip of her appearance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): In a time when millions of people in the United States are looking for deep, systemic solutions to our crises of
mass evictions, unemployment and lack of health care and speedy to the - and out of a love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator
Bernard Sanders of Vermont for President of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: This was procedural. This is what she was brought on to do because Bernie Sanders got more than 300 delegates. But was it a missed opportunity
not to give someone like AOC more time to draw in more of those progressive voters?
SELLERS: So there are a couple of things. One, it's weird, because every time AOC does anything that is not controversial at all, I wake up and she,
like, breaks people's thinking. It's amazing her impact, and people simply go haywire any time she speaks.
Last night was not controversial at all. She was brought on to second a nomination. It was very procedural. It was what was supposed to be done and
she did it as eloquently as only AOC can do.
To your larger point, though, yes. I don't think those who are to the left are losing their minds, I think that there is some truth to the fact that
there are a great deal of Republicans who are speaking at this conference, and a voice like AOC, as powerful as it is, needs more than one minute,
that I believe to be true.
I think the larger and more bold point, though, is that we can't necessarily take too much of the way that Joe Biden will govern starting in
January from these conventions, because the moment will dictate that in the Coronavirus, the response thereof and the reckoning will cause him to go
big regardless of what happens in this convention.
GORANI: So the Republicans, I understand, are bringing out - the Democrats had the security guard of the "New York Times," which was a very charming
moment, but with the Republicans, we believe they'll be doing, will be bringing out people like the gun-toting couple who waved
With the republicans, what we believe with the republicans, what we believe they'll be doing is bringing out people like that gun-toting couple that
waved their firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters in Florida and that kind of thing.
[11:10:00]
GORANI: So when it comes to showmanship and viral moments, forget the ideology there, but it seems like they're going to try and go in that
direction. Do the Democrats need to do anything to balance that out in terms of, you know, memorable moments, or do you think they're achieving
what they set out to do?
SELLERS: Well, listen, I think that the Democratic Party with the speaker such as Michelle Obama and Jill Biden on the first two nights, tonight with
Hillary, Barack and Kamala, tomorrow night with Joe Biden, the oratory that will be presented the unifying the nation, the diversity is something that
I think are very valuable.
Next week or the week after next and the RNC is going to be one that's rooted in fear, a dystopian nation that they want to show an America that
hearkens back to a time in the past, and I think Democrats are trying to move to the future. It's a very clear contrast.
They can have Anthony Sabato and every other act that had a hit in 30 years, and we're just going to work toward the future.
GORANI: My last question is, with polls tightening, the Democratic Party is rolling out huge A-list names. You mentioned, I mean, Bill Clinton, Hillary
Clinton and others. These are really the centrist Democratic establishment. At this stage and this is kind of similar to my AOC question, but perhaps -
it's related but not exactly the same. At this stage, how do you move the party forward in the minds of voters to get to energize voters and increase
turnout?
SELLERS: Well, I mean, I think that what you saw on the first night with Bernard Sanders as AOC so eloquently called him, his speech was very good.
It talked about the fierce urgency of now. This week is not necessarily about a platform, it's about raising the awareness and saying that we have
someone in the White House who is taking our country backwards and we're ripping the foundations of our country up from the root.
And so when you think about that, this week is about building that urgency and progresses it's the largest tent I've ever seen. Progressives to
disaffect the Republicans are all coming together.
But you know Bernie support of not only Joe Biden but actually saying that Kamala Harris was his favorite pick to be vice president just goes to show
you that we don't have Dems in disarray, we have Dems who are focused on beating Donald Trump. We just have to make sure everybody has access free
and fare access to the ballot.
GORANI: All right Bakari Sellers, thanks very much for joining us. Yes, we would normally all be in a big giant arena. It's very, different this year
this time. Thank you so much.
SELLERS: I miss seeing you in that environment.
GORANI: And you can watch CNN's coverage of the - go ahead.
SELLER: No, I was saying I miss seeing you in that environment. We have a lot of fun together. Maybe in four years, we can get back together.
GORANI: Yes. I miss being in that environment. Thanks so much, Bakari. I was telling our viewers that tonight obviously is night 3 of the virtual
Democratic National Convention starting one hour earlier than the past two nights midnight here in London, 7:00 am in Hong Kong.
Senator Kamala Harris will formally accept the nomination for Vice President. Former President Barack Obama will also speak, as will Hillary
Clinton.
The EU is talking tough to the man known as Europe's last dictator as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko clings to power. The European
Council says it does not recognize the Belarus election result saying that country' recent vote was "Neither free nor fare"
EU leaders held an emergency meeting a short time ago to try to resolve the crisis that has sparked days of anti-government protests. For reaction to
these developments let's head to Belarus. Fred Pleitgen is standing by for us in Minsk. So talk a little bit about the reaction among demonstrators
and protesters to these EU pronouncements, and specifically what Angela Merkel had to say?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Hala. Well, certainly what the opposition, the main thing that it wanted and the
main thing that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya wanted.
And certainly a lot of the protestors have called for is for the European Union said they don't recognize the election results of that election this
past Sunday here in Belarus, which of course the opposition has said was not free or fair, and in fact, they said, was largely rigged.
So they certainly will be quite happy with that, to hear that is exactly what the European Union is doing. The European Union is also calling for
dialogue with the opposition. That of course is the main thing that the opposition has been calling for here as well.
They've already set up that coordination council to make that happen. At the same time, of course, we are also seeing very clear signs that
Alexander Lukashenko does not plan to go anywhere, at least any time soon.
[11:15:00]
PLEIGTEN: We are also seeing very clear signs that Alexander Lukashenko does not plan to go anywhere, at least any time soon. He's already come up
with some dangerous rhetoric, actually, in the past couple hours where he has called the opposition here being anti-Russian, saying that they were
being paid from western countries.
And he's also said he's actually increased defenses and put his troops at high alert on the western borders of Belarus. Of course, all of those
things are quite dangerous rhetoric in light of the fact that everybody here is looking to see what Russia is going to does next?
Some pretty tough talk also from Lukashenko towards the protesters saying that he intends to keep security forces out in the streets as well, let's
just listen into what he said earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO, BELARUS PRESIDENT: If someone thinks that the power here is failing and shaking, you're wrong. I want to say that the power has
someone to rely on, so we will not waiver. We will go our way as it should. Those who, today, especially abroad, and this is clearly visible, are
plotting against us will get a serious rebuff.
The leaders of the western countries offer us negotiations, conversations, and at the same time they continue to stick with their way. We also see it,
understand it, but do not accept it. I want them to hear it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: There you have Alexander Lukashenko essentially placing blame as he has done for the past couple days and so called outside forces for some
of the things that have been going on here. At the same time, you do feel security tightening up here once again.
We clearly have to say that, Hala. The place that you see behind me is actually the area around the interior ministry building here in Minsk, and
there was supposed to be a small demonstration going on here with people marching in that area.
That has been completely cordoned off by security forces now, and we do see riot police in many locations here in the city once again, Hala.
GORANI: All right, thanks very much. Fred Pleitgen live in Belarus. Let's go to Melissa Bell in Paris now with more on what the EU is saying. These
are obviously public statements from the European Union, but how far are they willing to go, these EU countries?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: That was the big question as they went into this emergency summit, Hala. On one hand under pressure from some
of their own member states, and more specifically those that surround Belarus that have borders with it, but also all of the Baltic states, who
by their history and geography, were particularly concerned that the EU needed to send an early and very strong message to the people of Belarus.
On the other hand, there were those who were more cautious about what the EU needed to do. Take, for instance, Emmanuel Macron, who has been much
more these last two months about engaging in dialogue with Moscow than taking them on as brutally perhaps as they have in the past.
So there was that tension within in and in the end they probably went as far as the bloc could go, not only - not recognizing the elections,
announcing sanctions against those responsible both for the - and the repression that followed.
But also, Hala, an awful lot of money already the EU had been given Belarus about 30 million a year. That money will now be channeled away from the
state authorities that would traditionally go and straight to the people extra money as well 53 million Euros on top of that, they will also be
channeled straight to people like - things like the health service to help with Coronavirus relief, to victims of repression and civil society groups.
So that is a bold statement, it has money behind it, and yes, in everything they've said, you really haven't heard very much about the opposition
leader. You haven't heard very much her name specifically, and that's because they want to be absolutely clear, even as they went that far, even
as they sent that strong message, to make clear that it was for the people and that it was in the name of democracy and that this was not about
choosing sides.
And that of course is important, because as Fred Pleitgen was just saying, that narrative coming from Alexander Lukashenko is very much about the EU
potentially interfering in those internal questions of the sovereign state.
They do not seem to be doing that, and yet because of the nature of their membership and their geography, they could not be seen as not doing
anything at all, Hala.
GORANI: Okay. Melissa Bell, thanks very much. Ahead, a new lockdown is about to further cripple Lebanon's already fragile society. We'll take you
to Beirut, a city hit by not once, but two disasters in as many means. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
GORANI: Well, deaths from COVID-19 are edging toward 800,000 globally with more than 22 million cases according to Johns Hopkins' Data. Take a look at
the seven day moving average it's been hovering at around 250,000 cases new per day.
The Americas are accounting for a worrying percentage of cases and deaths. In fact, the Pan-American Health Organization says 64 percent of global
deaths are in that region. South Korea is also at a critical juncture in controlling a recent outbreak.
Seoul wants a Church linked to hundreds of new cases to pay damages. In Lebanon, rising cases have overwhelmed hospitals, forcing the government to
impose another lockdown. That's where we find our Ben Wedeman he joins me now live from Beirut. And of course with so many homeless because of this
horrific explosion in Beirut a few weeks ago this lockdown is really going to be very difficult for many people to manage.
BEN WEDEMAN, CN N SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's just another catastrophe that Lebanon is grappling with. What we've seen, Hala,
is this month so far, 5,203 new cases of Coronavirus compared to in June just 558, the health system was struggling before the blast 15 days ago.
But that blast took completely out of operation three hospitals and three others are barely functioning. So those COVID patients who are in those
hospitals have been transferred to other institutions that have now essentially reached capacity.
But just to keep it all in perspective, 180 people were killed in the blast 15 days ago. So far since the 21st of February since the first case of
Coronavirus was reported in Lebanon, 107 people have died. This is a country where people are so concerned about the economic situation that in
a sense COVID pales in comparison.
The World Bank says as many as 50 percent of the population will be below the poverty line this year alone, so their concern is more with starvation
at this point than this disease that certainly has further complicated a situation that many Lebanese are having a hard time dealing with at the
moment, Hala?
GORANI: All right. Ben thanks very much. Well, Australia has struck a deal with the drug company AstraZeneca for a potential Coronavirus vaccine. The
hope right with all of these vaccine programs underway, one of them will actually yield a working vaccine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured the AstraZeneca labs in Sydney. If the clinical trials are successful, 25 million Australians will get the vaccine
for free. Australia is also in talks with other researchers around the world. Will Ripley is following the story from Hong Kong. Will, talk to us
about this AstraZeneca initiative and what the Australian government hopes will come to fruition, will yield a working and effective vaccine?
[11:25:00]
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think, Hala, what we can expect in Australia, and frankly, many other countries in the coming months is a
debate about whether to make vaccination compulsory. Because Australian government officials estimate 95 percent of the population needs to be
vaccinated and immune to eradicate the virus and essentially get life back to normal.
That obviously raises a huge ethical debate, a medical debate, and that's, of course, assuming that they actually find a vaccine that works. They're
also learning in Australia, there is an inquiry underway right now about how they had this brutal second wave?
And what they're learning is that even the smallest details, the smallest mistake, can mean many deaths. Australia's brutal second wave began as a
ripple, a ripple in the shape of one unnamed family who arrived in May.
Infected with Coronavirus, they quarantined at the Ridges Hotel in Melbourne, one of several the government is using for international rivals.
Weeks later, Victoria declared a state of disaster, putting 6.6 million people on lockdown thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths since May.
Genomic sequencing has now linked 90 percent of cases in the state back to that one family of four.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. CHARLES ALPREN, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, VICTORIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICE: It is likely that the large majority, I said in my statement
approximately 90 percent or more of COVID-19 infections in Victoria, can be traced to the Ridges Hotel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Epidemiological evidence makes the damning conclusion. A months- long battle against the virus in Victoria may have been avoided if hotel quarantine had done its job. Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrew says the buck
stops with him. He's established a judicial inquiry in to what went wrong? Returned travelers will appear at the inquiry on Thursday. They have
already spoken out about what they think was the problem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE HYSLOP, QUARANTIEN HOTEL GUEST: The security people--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People that should have been looking after.
HYSLOP: Yes, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They weren't wearing masks. They would sleep on the ground.
HYSLOP: Quite often they wouldn't even hear us open our door because they would have their earphones in or be on their phone or, you know, talking
with another security guard, having a laugh. The whole idea of the hotel quarantine seemed like a joke.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: The inquiry has heard security guards contracted to enforce the quarantine were not properly trained. An online course security staff took
indicated that not everyone needed to wear a mask to prevent COVID-19. Guards were not told they should always wear correct PPE. That was all it
took for three workers to get infected, spreading it through the state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL ANDREWS, VICTORIAN PREMIER: In terms of the Chain of command and who is responsible, I think I make myself abundantly clear today that the way
it operates, it stops with me, I'm accountable, I understand that. I have every day that I had the honor of having this job. I have never moved away
from that not one inch. I understand that to be the case. Next I'll set up an inquiry and give you the answers that all I want and that Victorians are
interrogative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: The inquiry will publish its findings in November. Until then, Victoria remains in the grip of the pandemic as deaths mount each day. At
least 450 Australians have died and the nation is approaching 24,000 cases. This is a pandemic that most of us have never experienced in our lifetime,
and you learn as you go.
That's why neighboring New Zealand is now deploying or they are planning to deploy hundreds of additional army troops to guard the hotels where COVID
patients and their families and close contacts are in isolation, Hala.
They're also in New Zealand stepping up the testing of those front line border employees, the people at the airport who greet travelers coming in.
Because you know New Zealand is also grappling with its own second cluster after they had declared themselves COVID-19 free after more than 100 days.
GORANI: All right Will Ripley, thanks very much. So how is the virtual format for this year's Democratic National Convention working for you, the
viewers? We'll take a look at the readings, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
GORANI: Well, it was only a formality and a foregone conclusion, but it was still a powerful moment on Tuesday night when Democrats officially
nominated Joe Biden to be their nominee for President of the United States.
It was a long road for Joe Biden. He first ran for President in 1988. The evening also featured more Republicans endorsing Biden and the first major
speech by Biden's wife, Jill. CNN's Jessica Dean has a rap of the second night of the DNC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Former Vice President Joe Biden now officially the Democratic Nominee for President, following a virtual
delegate roll call that took viewers across the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For our next President, Joe Biden!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Biden's wife Jill offering the night's closing speech, speaking to her husband's ability to unite the country, focusing on his character and
faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours. Bring us together and make us whole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Biden spoke to viewers from an empty classroom in a Wilmington high school where she once taught English, striking a note with families
struggling with the decision to send their children back to school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: We just need leadership worthy of our nation. Worthy of you, leadership to reimaging what our nation will be? That's Joe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Another top speaker of the evening, Former President Bill Clinton, who only spoke for about five minutes but offered this biding rebuke of
President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: At a time like this, the oval office should be a command center. Instead it's a storm center. There's only chaos. If you want a president
who defines a job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media, he's your man. Then I distracting into many works great, if
you're trying to entertain or inflame, but in a real crisis, it collapses like a house of cards. COVID just doesn't respond to any of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke for only a minute and a half to nominate Senator Bernie Sanders, as is traditional for any
candidate who passes the delegate threshold. She reached out to the grassroots movement that supported him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: A movement that realizes the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities
of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: The night focused on health care and national security with endorsements from across the political spectrum. Former Republican
Secretary of State Colin Powell.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: With Joe Biden in the White House, you will never doubt that he will stand with our friends and stand up to our adversaries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: And Former Democratic Secretary of State John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: When this President goes overseas, it isn't a good will mission, it's a blooper reel. He breaks up with our allies and writes love letters
to dictators. America deserves a President who is looked up to, not laughed at.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Progressive Health Care Activist Ady Barkin giving this plea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADY BARKIN, ACTIVIST AND ALS PATIENT: We must elect Joe Biden and put on his desk a bill that guarantees us all the health care we deserve.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: And another of the more poignant moments of the night, Cindy McCain spoke in a video about the long-time friendship her late husband Republican
Senator John McCain shared with Joe Biden.
[11:35:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CINDY MCCAIN, WIFE OF JOHN MCCAIN: They would just sit and joke. It was like a comedy show sometimes to watch the two of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Another touching moment of the night featured Jacqueline Brittany's speech to nominate Biden. Brittany is a New York Times security guard whose
elevator exchange with Biden went viral earlier this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUELINE BRITTANY, SECURITY GUARD, NEW YORK TIMES: I could tell he really saw me that he actually cared, that my life meant something to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And that was Jessica Dean reporting. This year's Democratic National Convention is unlike any we've ever seen, going almost completely
virtual but have viewers tuned in. Let's bring in CNN's Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter live in New York.
So, I haven't been able to watch this live because the convention itself starts at 1:00 in the morning, but then I catch up the following day
online. How have the TV ratings been this year?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Most people are doing what you're doing, Hala, they are consuming this in bits and pieces, usually
afterwards, through video clips.
But the television ratings for the prime time event, the live one-hour portion that's being shown on like ten different channels here in the
United States, the numbers have been okay, they've been fine, but not as strong as 2016 when Hillary Clinton was accepting the Democratic
Nomination.
About 20 million viewers watched the first night's events live that was keynoted by Michelle Obama. It's down by about 25 million for the same
night in 2016. So why are the numbers down? Well, partly because television trends are moving in that direction more number of people are watching
online instead of on TV.
But I think there is a broader issue about people feeling fatigued, tired of politics. Of course, there are some junkies, politics junkies in
America, but a lot of other people are tired of it, and I think they are the ones that are consuming bits and pieces.
And if you think about what the message the Democrats are conveying, they're conveying some big broad beams that are breaking through whether
you watch live or not. They're talking about Republicans crossing the aisle for Biden. They're talking about restoring decency and optimism to the
country. And even if you don't watch the live event, those themes are still soaking through, I think, in the news coverage.
GORANI: How much of that is because the convention is virtual and you don't have that energy in a big arena?
STELTER: Right, this is a big factor. If you think about normally the way conventions work, there are days of pre-game coverage, every big TV
newscast is live from the convention city, and that does create a sense of momentum.
Officials on the Biden Campaign have said to me they're not surprised the ratings are what they are given there hasn't been that kind of momentum or
hype ahead of time. They also say this is a digital convention and they believe the priority is making those viral moments and those clips that
will be shared on the web.
I also think the overarching message that I get as a viewer, watching the show the Democrats are putting on, is that this is a party that's just in
the mainstream of American life that it's not far to the left, it's just a normal moderate political part.
And the reason why that message matters, even though it's a pretty obvious message is that, Donald Trump every single day claims Joe Biden as a tool
to the left, he claims Democrats are going to - they will send the country into chaos.
He claims the party as a bunch of crazy people that's basically what he says every day. So what the Democrats are putting on is a show all about
America, about mainstream America, and of course that is in stark contrast to what Trump will claim at the Republican Convention next week.
GORANI: Just briefly, what has been the most viral moment so far?
STELTER: I think Michelle Obama's speech is still the one to top because there were so many clips that made news. Even the necklace she was wearing
that said "Vote" became a sensation online. It's hard to top Michelle Obama, but Kamala Harris has a chance later today.
GORANI: All right, thanks so much, Brian Stelter. And tune in to CNN for our Special Coverage of the third night of the DNC. As Brian mentioned,
Kamala Harris will officially accept the vice presidential nomination, and we'll hear from Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton. It starts at 7:00 pm in
the U.S., midnight here in London, 7:00 am in Hong Kong.
America's top infectious disease expert says work is being done to get COVID-19 test results sooner. We've been hearing stories about people
waiting five days, seven days for their test results in the U.S. Dr. Anthony Fauci says results taking five to seven days is actually part of
the problem.
And others at the World Health Organization now says, young people are increasingly driving this pandemic just as more students are returning to
in-person learning facilities and schools. Rosa Flores reports.
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This morning the spread of the Coronavirus complicating the move to in-person learning. Michigan State University
asking students planning to live on campus this fall to stay home since the semester will now begin online.
[11:40:00]
FLORES: And Notre Dame and Indiana, reporting more than 80 positive tests. Undergraduates will attend class remotely for at least the next two weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. JOHN I. JENKINS, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: The objective of these temporary restrictions is to contain the spread of the virus so that
we can get back to in-person instruction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: And as some grade schools reopen, the virus is also entering the classroom. Over 300 students in Martin County, Florida are now under
quarantine since the school district opened last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KYLE RAMOS, STUDENT, MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT: There is one thing that I value even more than in-person education, and that is human
life. How much is one life worth?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: In Ohio, both high school and college athletics have the green light to move forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE DEWINE, OHIO GOVERNOR: We will not have spectators other than - other than family members, people very close to that particular child.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Los Angeles will begin the academic year online, and the school district is planning on testing its over 600,000 students and 75,000 staff
members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AUSTIN BEUTNER, SUPERINTENDENT, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: If we want to keep schools from becoming a Petri dish and we want to keep all in
the school community safe, we need to test and trace at schools.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Testing is still a major problem across much of the United States, and Dr. Anthony Fauci says delays in results are contributing to the
transmission of the virus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATL. INST. OF ALIERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It's five to seven days, it almost obviates the purpose of
contact tracing, because that means somebody was out there for five to seven days potentially spreading the infection. We're trying hard and we
are correcting it in many areas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Even with lower case counts in recent days, experts warn the country is not out of danger yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. LEANA WEN, ER PHYSICIAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Even if we're at a plateau of 40,000 cases, that is far too high, and if we have young
people coming back to class and school, we are going to see surges and outbreaks among young people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, that was Rosa Flores reporting. Let's get up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar. A new study estimates there is at
least ten times more plastic polluting the Atlantic Ocean than we previously thought. Scientists now measure the huge amount of tiny micro-
plastics beneath the surface.
The UK National Oceanography Center says the true amount of plastic in the Atlantic is around 200 million tons. Rain triggered flooding has forced
more than 7000 people to evacuate their homes in low lying areas of Central China. Look at this building being swept away completely by the raging
waters. Chinese media report parts of the Jialing River had reached up to three meters above the flood alert level.
And two large earthquakes have struck off Indonesia's Coast scientists monitoring the 6.8 and 6.9 magnitude tremors say there is no threat of a
Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. They don't expect major damage because the quakes were offshore and the shaking was fairly light.
Coming up, Malian soldiers have forced the President to resign. We'll look at how the military took control and what's next for Mali?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
GORANI: Soldiers in Mali have forced the country's President to resign. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has faced months of deadly protests over
corruption and a long-running insurgency. The President did not go willingly.
He said he wanted to avoid more bloodshed and his televised resignation and the situation has brought condemnation internationally. Let's get to David
McKenzie, David McKenzie who has been following this story. What's next for Mali now? Is the military basically now in charge?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes. These young officers that orchestrated this coup appear to be in charge at this point. It's pretty
calm today in - after the confusion of yesterday, Hala. Just a few moments ago, the U.S. Secretary of State, Pompeo released a statement also adding
to the many international voices now condemning this.
He called it a mutiny, say that those government officials and their families that have been detained need to be released and need to be
released without harming them, and they need to move back towards a constitutional pathway.
Now, that is very similar wording that you've seen from the regional bloc, from the EU, the African Union. Also just a couple of minutes ago, in fact,
the African Union of peace and security organ, as it were, has removed Mali from the African Union, they say temporarily until they can restore
constitutional order there.
So these military leaders, the mutineers, are certainly isolated. There was a dramatic moment in the middle of the night when the President got up, and
as you said, Hala, that he really resigned through force. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IBRAHIM BOUBACAR KEITA, RESIGNING MALIAN PRESIDENT: If today it please some elements of our armed forces to conclude that it should end with their
intervention, do I really have a choice because I do not wish for any blood to be spilled to keep me in office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well the real nervousness for many western nations, particularly the French and the Americans, will be the security situation in the
country. The last coup in 2012 really caused chaos that led to a broad insurgency in the northern part of the country.
The headache and the insecurity from that they're still dealing with, both the Malians and the French and international actors. There will be a lot of
pressure for this to be sorted out constitutionally.
But the tricky thing is that, Kati in the last few months, especially because of those allegations you described, Hala, has become pretty
unpopular President. So it will be potentially delegate negotiations in the coming days with those military leaders at this point, Hala?
GORANI: And what's been the reaction among protesters and demonstrators who have opposed the President who was deposed?
MCKENZIE: Well, the initial reaction was jubilation by many of them, at least in the Capital. You saw those scenes of people cheering on the
military mutineers. There was also sporadic looting overnight, including of private establishments, also looting of the President's son's house.
Pretty incredible scenes of people taking a swim in the luxury house of the President's son who himself was one of the catalysts for this protest
movement when he was given a plush government job after the legislative election.
So there is a lot of anger at the alleged corruption and patronage system within Mali and the lack of progress against this extremist movement in the
north of the Capital. But the reaction today is kind of calm.
I spoke to at least one civil servant who said he felt saddened that it didn't need to come to this after these months of protests. We haven't
heard much from the opposition groups, though. They have stood by the fact that they wanted the president to go. They for a long time said they wanted
this to be in a constitutional manner, though, Hala.
GORANI: All right. David McKenzie, thanks very much.
[11:50:00]
GORANI: We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, these were the scenes in Paris last night thousands on the streets celebrating a PSG
victory. It got a little out of hand in some parts of the city. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. The big spenders from Paris are finally in the Champions' League final. Don Riddell can tell us more. Hi, Don.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORL SDPORT: Hi, Hala, yes, indeed. Finally, remember, this is the team that spent roughly a billion dollars and they didn't
invest all that money just to be the best team in France, they want to be the best football team in Europe.
And it has been a painfully disappointing quest in the last few years. But having knocked out RB Leipzig on Tuesday, they are now in touching
distance. Angel Di Maria set up the opening goal here. It was headed in by Marquinhos and by half time, PSG were 2-0 ahead.
It has to be said Leipzig give themselves absolutely no favor that was a dreadful clearance from the goalie. It came back to haunt him as Neymar
deafly assisted Di Maria for the second goal. And after ten of the second half, it was all over, really. Again Di Maria instrumental crossing to the
near post for Juan Bernat (ph) he has headed good enough, but Neymar was on hang just to make sure.
So 3-0 the final score. PSG will now face either Bayern Munich or Lyon in Sunday's final. Those two teams will play in the second semi in the coming
hours. Now last week, the club marked its 50th Anniversary. And now the team is giving the fans something really big to celebrate.
These were the things in Paris on Tuesday night. And supporters took to the streets, shrugging off Coronavirus concerns, and as you can see, letting
their emotions run free. I would imagine that many more will be out on Sunday if they can go all the way and finally lift that elusive trophy.
All of the players badly want this, but arguably none more so than Neymar. When the Brazilian superstar joined in 2017, he became the most expensive
player in the world. And he was expected to deliver this trophy, but it's not been easy and sometimes it seems as though the pressure has just been
too much for him.
First Christina MacFarlane spoke to Neymar the day that he arrived in Paris and she's been following his journey since. Good to see you again,
Christina. It has been quite the story for Neymar, hasn't it?
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORT: It really has been a bit of a long journey for him Don, hasn't it? It was actually this month three years ago
that Neymar arrived at the proms after his Qatari owners have dropped a whopping 263 million on his transfer feed, the highest in history.
And as you say, I was lucky enough to be one of the first journalists to sit down with him in the stadium. And I remember at the time with the foray
going on, almost as calm, relaxed and non nonchalant he was at the time, given the sort of high expectations that came with that high price tag.
The biggest expectation of course was to win the Champions' League. But what transpired in the years to come was not that. His first two seasons
were sort of mired by untimely injuries and internal divisions within the squad.
In all of that time, the pressure has been mounting on him to deliver. And I think in the last couple of champions' league fixtures we've seen, we've
seen that play out on the pitch. He seemed somewhat frustrated at times in front of goal. He's kind of fluffed his lines actually in terms of
delivering on those goals.
But we've also seen something else as well, Don, and that is the hunger this time around for him to win collectively with his team.
[11:55:00]
MACFARLANE: He has been disciplined, he's been focused, and especially in last night's game, we saw him galvanizing the team around him so
effectively alongside Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe of course.
I think perhaps what might have helped him this time around Don is the fact that Paris Saint-Germain and all the French teams have had to take an
enforced break because of COVID-19. It's meant that Neymar has managed to go injury free and has managed to maintain his focus without being drawn by
how the match is going on at the same time, like the French Cup, for instance.
But I think what we saw at that easy win against Leipzig last night was that, this is no longer a team of individuals, it is a collective unit
pushing towards a goal, and they are now, of course, just one win away from lifting the champions league for the first time. It looks like it is coming
together, doesn't it, Don, at the right time?
RIDDELL: Yes, they haven't done it yet. Yes, they are in the final, but that still won't be good enough if they don't actually lift the trophy on
Sunday.
MACFARLANE: Certainly not job done just yet, although I'm sure they feel that Katarion is breathing down their necks. And I think it's not unfair to
say that perhaps the most likely opponents on Sunday could be Bayern Munich. And certainly if that is the case, it will be the toughest test
that they've faced yet.
But I mention that triumph the players that we've seen coming forward, Di Maria and Bapi Neymar specially in last night's game, that could be the key
on Sunday. These players playing together as a unit could be the key to unlocking that Champion's League trophy.
But as we know, they are desperate to shed the image of the sort of high- profile underachievers. They have not gone past the last 16 for the last three years in a row. And collectively right now on the pitch Don, their
combined transfer cost of all the players is $930 million.
I mean, it really is - if they're not going to do it now, when are they going to do it, and of course it would be quite something to do it in Paris
Saint-Germain's 50th anniversary year.
RIDDELL: Yes, nor as they would have imagined though without anybody there to cheer them on and celebrate in the stadium. But hey, we're all in the
same for this year. Christina MacFarlane, great stuff. Thanks very much. And Hala, that's all we have time for with the sport just now back to you.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much, Don. Well, those fans had no problems celebrating in person in Paris. Thanks very much. And thank you all for
watching. I'm Hala Gorani. We'll have more news coming up after a very short break. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
