Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Harris Accepts Historic Nomination, Obama Repudiates Trump; Birx Thousands of Tests Needed to Manage COVID on Campus; Aide: Navalny In Intensive Care After Being Poisoned. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired August 20, 2020 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:00:19]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We will speak truth and we will act with the same faith in you that we asked you to place in us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Kamala Harris makes history accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president. Her opening act, President Obama eviscerating his successor in a way he has never done before.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: And it could take thousands of tests a day for colleges to manage the spread of coronavirus. Now, a top official warns hopeful trends could reverse if people aren't careful.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: Nice to see you, everybody, this morning. I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, August 20th. It's 5:00 a.m. in New York.

And it is 75 days now to the election. On night three of the Democratic convention, the most prominent members of the party injecting a fierce sense of urgency for the Biden/Harris ticket. Running mates became the recurring theme of the night. President Obama at the convention for his former VP, delivered a striking takedown for his successor.

On the same night, Biden's own vice presidential pick accepted her historic nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: I am here tonight as a testament to the dedication of generations before me, women and men who believe so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty and justice for all. I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP) JARRETT: Ahead of Biden's speech tonight, one ally tells CNN, so far, the convention has made Biden look real, decent, normal. And that, the source says, is exactly what the country wants right now.

We get more now from CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Laura, Senator Kamala Harris accepted the nomination to be the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket during a rousing speech last night in Wilmington, Delaware. She made history being on that stage as the first black woman as the first Indian-American woman to accept a major party's nomination.

If elected in November, she would, of course, reach the highest heights of any woman elected official in this country. She did not dwell on that, particularly in her speech, her presence certainly made that point clear. But Senator Harris also focused on the challenges facing the country. She only mentioned President Trump's name twice, but she left no question that she is running, that Joe Biden is running to repair a wounded nation.

HARRIS: So make no mistake, the road ahead is not easy. We may stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly.

We will speak truths, and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. And let's be clear, there is no vaccine for racism. We've got to do the work, for George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, for our children.

ZELENY: Of course, another very powerful speech on Wednesday night at the convention, from former President Barack Obama. He was speaking virtually at this convention from Philadelphia, talking about democracy.

The location was picked for a reason. He said in blunt terms, the democracy of this country is indeed at stake. He almost was delivering a presidential-like address. It was not a convention address, because, of course, there was no applause. But he was summoning Americans to come to their better natures and do a course correction in November. But he did have very strong words for President Trump.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I've sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who were running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope for the sake of our country that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously.

But he never did. For close to four years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground. No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends.

Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job, because he can't. And the consequences of that failure are severe.

[05:05:01]

ZELENY: And those words were striking in the fact that a former president made them against a sitting president. But nothing has been usual about this relationship. Of course, Donald Trump spent years going after Barack Obama and his family. But that is not what drew the former president to the stage. He came to the stage and gave this type of speech because he believes America is at a turning point.

So, finally, at the end of the evening, Joe Biden surprised the convention by appearing on stage with his wife Jill Biden and waving across the way to his new running mate Kamala Harris who is joined by her husband Doug. Certainly different than previous years. No balloons were falling but it was that moment of unity.

Now, looking ahead to tonight's speech, of course, this is the biggest moment of Joe Biden's political life. He's been running for president really for three decades or so, but has never reached this period. If he were to win, he would be the second vice president in American history to run and win outside the Oval Office, outside of the presidency, outside of the White House. Richard Nixon, of course, ran after living as vice president as well.

But Joe Biden, I am told is going to try to deliver an optimistic message, a forward-looking message, this election now less than three months away -- Christine and Laura.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thank you so much for that, Jeff.

It would take thousands of tests every day for colleges to stay as coronavirus-free as possible. The response coordinator for the White House, Dr. Deborah Birx, held a call yesterday with state and local leaders.

Here's what he said in an audio obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR: This last trip through the heartland really brings attention to how each university not only has to do entrance testing, but what we talked to every university about is being able to do surge testing. How are you going to do 5,000 samples in one day or 10,000 samples in one day?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

JARRETT: What she's talking about here is how schools are facing mounting challenges as they try to reopen. Several students at the University of Connecticut were evicted from their dorms after an on- campus party. At Notre Dame, football practices were paused while the school was moved to online learning. Remember, Notre Dame had been set to host a presidential debate.

Massachusetts plans to require flu vaccines for children to stay in the public schools and daycare facilities, becoming the first state to require flu shots for children over the age of 5.

ROMANS: Now, friends and family of more than 1,300 Americans lost a loved one yesterday. The death toll remains stubbornly high even as the number of people hospitalized in the United States begins to decline.

It's also possible new cases are being undercounted because testing is falling in more than a dozen states. The nation's top official in charge of testing says encouraging trends can turn quickly.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

ADM. BRETT GIROIR, ASST. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, HHS: We need to be absolutely diligent about adherence to public health recommendations, or else we could have flares and outbreaks. This thing could turn around very quickly if we're not careful.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

JARRETT: In other words, it's easy for a good trend to turn bad.

One person who spent hours at a bar during the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota last week has now tested positive for the virus. Remember, hundreds of thousands attended that rally, and health experts are worried it could turn out to be a super spreader event.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is staying true to his threat. He's authorizing the city to shut off power at a Hollywood Hills party house which "The New York Times" reports is rented by TikTok star Bryce Hall.

ROMANS: And trouble persists for businesses nationwide. CNN affiliate WCCO reports the Mall of America is entering into a forbearance agreement in order to keep its doors open. It is three months behind on its $1.4 billion mortgage. And AMC, the world's largest movie chain will reopen 100 locations today. They're offering 15 cent tickets promoting the deal as 1920 prices in 2020.

The school year is starting and many parents have to choose between their jobs and staying home to take care of their kids and educate their kids. And that choice often falls on mothers. New data shows 1 in 5 working age adults is unemployed because coronavirus changed their child care arrangements. Women are nearly three times more likely than men to stay home for the kids.

Now, some parents may be unable to work from home but it's not an option for people who have to physically be at their jobs. Like health care workers and people going back to retail jobs, a lot of those positions are held by women.

And the jobs crisis has been worse for women than men. In July, the unemployment rate for women over 20 years old was 11.1 percent. It's even higher worse for black and Hispanic women. In a few hours, we'll find out how many Americans filed for the first time for unemployment benefits last week. Jobless claims fell below a million in the first week of August, around the time that extra $600 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits ended. With no stimulus in sight, millions of Americas are in limbo wondering what's next.

JARRETT: Christine, that child care issue is the issue on minds of almost every family I know right now.

[05:10:03]

ROMANS: I agree.

JARRETT: So much stress surrounding what is going to happen when kids go back in the fall.

ROMANS: Absolutely.

JARRETT: All right. Breaking overnight, a top critic of Vladimir Putin rushed to intensive care. It's the suspected he was poisoned.

CNN is live in Moscow, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JARRETT: Breaking overnight, a top Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic has been hospitalized after a suspected poisoning.

CNN's Matthew Chance is live for us in Moscow with more.

Matthew, what more do we know about what happened here?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that Alexei Navalny is the name. He's Russia's top opposition figure, the most prominent anti-Kremlin campaigner in the country. He's now unconscious on a ventilator in an emergency hospital in Siberia, after the commercial airliner he was flying back to Moscow had to make a forced landing when he was taken ill on board.

There is horrific video, which is filmed by a fellow passenger of the medics getting on board when the plane was or the tarmac.

[05:15:04]

You can hear Alexei Navalny screaming with agony in while he's taken off on a stretcher. Just how stressful the position he's in has been.

Now, his supporters say and his lawyers say this was outright poisoning for his political activities. They demanded a police investigation be started into that. The doctors at the hospital in Siberia saying, hang on a minute, we haven't quite got that diagnosis yet. And they're still carrying out, they say, lots of tests to determine what's the cause of his acute condition.

But what we do know is that in Russia, top opposition figures, outspoken critics of the Kremlin do tend to get silenced. They've been poisoned in the past. They've been killed in past. And there's a great deal of speculation right now, Laura, that this is just the latest in a long line of attacks against critics of the Kremlin.

JARRETT: All right. Matthew, thank you for staying on top of this one for us.

ROMANS: All right. Back here, one of the nation's best known sportscasters could be out of a job after an anti-gay slur on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:20:37]

ROMANS: All right. Welcome back. Twenty minutes past the hour.

The Cincinnati Reds TV play by play announcer left the booth in the middle of the game after using an anti-gay slur on the air.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, Andy, what happened?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Good morning, Christine.

So, long time broadcaster Thom Brennaman, he was pulled off the air and suspended immediately for calling the Cincinnati Reds games.

Now, the comment he made coming back from a commercial break during the double header between the Reds and the Royals in Kansas City. Not known what led to the comments, but before Brennaman left the booth in the middle of the game, he offered an apology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOM BRENNAMAN, CINCINNATI REDS TELEVISION BROADCASTER: For the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with, for anybody that I've offended here tonight, I can't begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am. That is not who I am. Never has been.

And I'd like to think maybe I could have some people that -- that can back that up. I am very, very sorry. And I beg for your forgiveness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And Brennaman is also one of the top NFL play by play guys for Fox. No comment yet from them.

The Reds say they're going to address their broadcast team in the coming days.

All right. Facing criticism after postponing the fall sports season, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren says the decision is final. In an open letter published online yesterday, Warren explained why the conference made the controversial call. Warren says the vote by the big ten presidents and chancellors was overwhelmingly in support of postponing fall sports and will not be revisited. Adding the decision was thorough and deliberative and based on sound feedback, guidance and advice from medical experts.

He went on to say there was too much medical uncertainty and too many unknown health risks and its impact on our student athletes.

But some are still not satisfied. Randy Wade whose son plays for Ohio State is organizing a protest outside of Big Ten headquarters tomorrow morning demanding more answers.

All right. The Raptors getting a win over the Nets yesterday, and take a 2-0 lead in their series. After the game the players recreating to new video released of the incident during last night's NBA Finals between a San Francisco Bay police officer and team president Masai Ujiri.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NORMAN POWELL, TORONTO RAPTORS GUARD: I'm glad that we were able to get to the real bottom line. Everybody can see what really happened, you know, but it's exactly what we're fighting for, you know, for justice to be served for the cops that are, you know, taking the law a little bit into their own hands unnecessarily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yeah, the video shows the Officer Alan Strickland shoving Ujiri twice as he tries to get to his team. Strickland sued Ujiri for alleging assaulting him, causing him great pain and suffering. Ujiri's countersuit which includes the NBA and Raptors as plaintiff says Strickland's account of what happened is a complete fabrication, and offered this video as evidence.

Now, CNN has reached out to Strickland's legal team and the Alameda County sheriff's office but does not yet heard back.

Now, finally, Mavericks star Luka Doncic leading the Mavs to a win over the Clippers last night to even their series in a game apiece. Luka scored 28 points, giving him 70 in his first two post-season games. That's the second most all-time.

Laura, you got to remember, Luka, just 21 years old, still incredible what he's doing out there on the basketball court. Four more games today, including LeBron and the Lakers trying to even their series against the Blazers, a big one for them tonight.

JARRETT: It's crazy, there's four more days and we're in August.

All right. Andy, nice to see you this morning. Thanks so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

JARRETT: Well, tonight is the final night of the Democratic National Convention. Joe Biden delivering his big speech after accepting the nomination for president. Our special coverage of the DNC continues tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN. And last night, Kamala Harris took the stage to accept a historic

nomination as Biden's running mate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: I have fought for children and survivors of sexual assault. I fought against transnational criminal organizations.

[05:25:03]

I took on the biggest banks and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges. I know a predator when I see one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We will speak truths, and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Kamala Harris.

END