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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Joe Biden Accepts Democratic Nomination for President, Delivers Hopeful Message; CDC Chief Says Deaths Could Start to Fall Next Week; At Least 19 States Reporting Cases at Colleges, Universities; Belarus President Declares Opposition Council Illegal. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired August 21, 2020 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:31:27]

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JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Make no mistake, united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.

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LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: A hopeful message in an anxious time. How Joe Biden made his pitch to reclaim the soul of the nation.

Good morning, this is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. It is Friday. We made it to Friday, folks, in a convention week. I'm Christine Romans. It is 31 minutes past the hour.

And last night the Democratic acceptance speech half a century in the making.

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BIDEN: So it's with great honor and humility I accept this nomination for president of the United States of America.

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ROMANS: Joe Biden's rhetorical themes of darkness and light trying to draw a clear contrast to President Donald Trump without explicitly focusing on the man he wants to replace. Biden did, however, take direct aim at the president's failures when it comes to coronavirus and the broader implications.

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BIDEN: The president keeps telling us the virus is going to disappear. He keeps waiting for a miracle. Well, I have news for him, no miracle is coming. And after all of this time, the president still does not have a plan. Well, I do. I'll have a national mandate to wear a mask, not as a burden but as a patriotic duty to protect one another. In short, we'll do what we should have done from the very beginning. Our current president's failed in his most basic duty to the nation.

He's failed to protect us. He's failed to protect America. And my fellow Americans, that is unforgivable.

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JARRETT: Biden also made a point of reaching out to both parties after the president has repeatedly showed favoritism to states where he thinks more people support him.

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BIDEN: While I'll be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president. I'll work hard for those who didn't support me, as hard for them as I did for those who did vote for me. That's the job of a president, to represent all of us, not just our base or our party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Four years after President Trump called for the end of what he called American carnage, Joe Biden is calling for the end to American darkness.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has more now from Wilmington.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Laura, the Democratic convention now in the books. 74 days until Election Day. Joe Biden accepting the Democratic nomination for president, delivering indeed the most important speech of his long life in politics. He implored Americans to choose hope over fear.

It was a blistering assessment of President Trump's leadership on coronavirus, of his stewardship of America's place in the world. But it was also filled with optimism. But first of course he did focus directly against the man he's trying to defeat, President Trump.

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BIDEN: He's failed to protect us. He's failed to protect America. If he's given four more years, he'll be what he's been for the last four years. The president takes no responsibility. Refuses to lead. Blames others. Cozies up to dictators and fans the flames of hate and division. He'll wake up every day believing the job is all about him, never about you.

Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy. They're all on the ballot. Who we are as a nation, what we stand for, and most importantly, who we want to be? That's all on the ballot.

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[05:35:09]

ZELENY: But the former vice president also urged optimism. He talked about the possibilities ahead for America and suggested that his presidency would be a return to normalcy here in America. He struck optimistic tones particularly at the end of his address.

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BIDEN: Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. And light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission.

Now history will be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight, as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation and this is a battle we will win and we'll do it together. I promise you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Now the convention here in Wilmington ended with fireworks literally as the former vice president and his wife Jill, and his running mate Kamala Harris and her husband Doug, stepped out of this convention hall and watched fireworks above them here in Wilmington.

There was a crowd honking their horns, waving American flags in the air. It was the setup of a drive-in movie theater, if you will. In fact the Biden campaign organized several of these across the country. No question the Biden campaign knows it has a lot of work to do. They have an uncertain sense of what the campaign ahead will be like particularly as the Republican convention begins next week in Washington.

But there is a sense of confidence inside the Biden campaign at how this virtual convention was pulled off. So going forward here into the next chapter, Joe Biden is not getting on a bus, he's not getting on a plane, a train, or a boat as many Democratic nominees have in years past. He's going home to Wilmington. He'll be doing events virtually and interviews of course, but the next weeks of the campaign are a bit uncertain because of the pandemic. The Biden campaign now believes that plays to their advantage -- Christine and Laura.

JARRETT: All right, Jeff, thank you so much.

Of all the testimonials to Joe Biden on the final night of the Democratic convention, none stood out quite like the one from 13-year- old Brayden Harrington. Brayden met Joe Biden back in February at a campaign event in New Hampshire. And last night he told America how Biden who stuttered as a child made him feel more confident about his own stutter.

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BRAYDEN HARRINGTON, 13-YEAR-OLD BOY BIDEN MET IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: Hi. My name is Brayden Harrington and I'm 13 years old. And without Joe Biden I wouldn't be talking to you today. About a few months I met him in New Hampshire. He told me that we were members of the same club. We -- stutter. It was really amazing to hear that someone like me became -- vice president. He told me about a book of poems by Yates he would read out loud to practice. He showed me how he marks his addresses to make them easier to say out loud so I did the same thing today. And now I am here talking to you today -- about the future, about our

future. My family often says when the world feels -- better before talking about something normal, like going to the movies. We all want the world to feel better. We need the world to feel better. I'm just a regular kid, and in the short amount of time Joe Biden made me feel more confident about something that's bothered me my whole life.

Joe Biden cared. Imagine what he could do for all of us. Kids like me are counting on you to elect someone we can all look up to, someone who cares, someone who will make our country and the world feel better. We're counting on you to elect Joe Biden.

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JARRETT: Brayden, bravo. So amazing there. Joe Biden credits his mother for reminding him that his stutter did not define him.

ROMANS: All right. The head of the CDC expects the coronavirus death rate to be begin dropping in parts of the U.S. by next week. Robert Redfield says people have been doing more now to control this virus.

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DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, CDC DIRECTOR: These interventions are going to have a lag. That lag is going to be three or four weeks. You and I are going to see the cases continue to drop and then hopefully this week and next week, you're going to start seeing the death rate really start to drop again.

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ROMANS: Another 1,078 American lives lost Thursday.

[05:40:02]

The average daily death toll has stayed above 1,000 for almost a month. At that rate, 30 people have died just since the start of this program. But the seven-day average of new cases has been falling. It has not been this low since July 2nd, down more than 30 percent in a month.

JARRETT: At least 19 states are reporting coronavirus cases at colleges and universities, and that doesn't even include cases at K-12 schools. Video obtained by CNN appears to show students gathered at Penn State campus on Wednesday. The school's president publicly asking students, quote, "Do you want to be the person responsible for sending everyone home?"

Meanwhile, the White House formally declaring teachers as essential workers. It's part of an aggressive push to encourage schools to reopen for in-person learning this fall. But that designation doesn't come with any mandates. It's important to point this out. Still calls on teachers to return to the classroom even after potential COVID exposure.

There's also renewed concern in major parts of Europe right now. You see the curve. A clear resurgence is taking place right there. You can see it. Much of it since the lockdowns were lifted. Germany just recorded its highest number of new cases in a day since April. Italy registered its highest daily increase in cases in almost three months. And France is reporting its biggest daily jump since the end of the lockdown there in mid-May. Masks will be required in shared indoor spaces starting September 1st.

ROMANS: President Trump's postmaster general is in the hot seat. Louis DeJoy testifies before the Senate today. Now his aggressive new strategies have upended the United States Postal Service just as it heads into one of the most consequential moments of its history, the vote by mail election of 2020.

DeJoy's administration has by his own admission slowed delivery, removed high speed letter sorters, reduced post office hours across several states and more.

JARRETT: In Florida and other states being dismantled, just put in dumpsters and otherwise being disposed of. DeJoy has now suspended changes until after the election he says but it looks like the damage in some places is already done. A new e-mail obtained by CNN shows managers being told not to reconnect the sorting machines which handle envelopes, including ballots, heading to voters.

ROMANS: All right. Many have called the coronavirus recession the "she-cession" because women predominantly work in the sectors devasted by the pandemic. It has been even harder for women of color. Data shows Hispanic women face the most damaging economic effects of the pandemic. Lower wages and less access to job related benefits have exacerbated the effects of the pandemic it has had on Hispanic workers and their families.

In July the jobless rate for white women over 20 years old was 10.3 percent. It was 14.4 percent for Hispanic women. Latina women earned 64 cents for every dollar their white male counterpart makes. And while 2/3 of women workers can earn paid sick days, less than half of Hispanic workers have that benefit.

For more stories on moving equality forward go to CNN.com/represented.

With the Democratic National Convention behind us, it's the Republicans' turn to take the virtual stage. All week long we're covering the big speeches and important moments at the Republican convention. It all begins Monday night with special coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern live on CNN.

We'll be right back.

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[05:47:37]

JARRETT: This morning Belarusian opposition leaders are speaking out just hours after embattled Alexander Lukashenko declared the opposition council illegal.

Senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen is live for us in Belarus -- Fred.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Laura. Yes, in that first press conference, actually the first press conference, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who's currently in Lithuania, or is still ongoing there, and she's answered some questions, actually first and foremost, if she feels safe or when she'll feel safe to return here to Belarus. She says at this point in time she doesn't know when that is going to be the case, but of course she is still calling for change and she is still calling for the protests that have been going on here in this country for almost two weeks now, for those protests to continue.

In fact, earlier today she also recorded a video message where she specifically said that she believes that strikes need to continue. Of course strikes have been very important for the opposition here as they've been hitting the economic heart really of this country and also of the Lukashenko regime. There were some strikes in tractor factories. Also in some of the raw materials mines as well that have been very damaging to Alexander Lukashenko.

And at the same time, we can also see that Lukashenko and his security forces are clamping down on these protests once again. As you've noted, the coordination council that was put in place to try and bring about change, they've been deemed illegal and actually some of their leaders have had to go to court this morning to defend themselves. And then also we've seen more security forces out in the street.

We've seen also Lukashenko blaming the opposition saying that they are financed by foreign money and also saying that they are against Belarus as a whole. So you can see Lukashenko still trying to make a resurgence while the opposition is also trying to maintain their momentum as well -- Laura.

JARRETT: All right, Fred, thank you so much.

ROMANS: All right, new this morning, California fire officials tell CNN nearly two dozen major wildfires have burned 660,000 acres across the state. Four people killed in a raging inferno in northern California. The L&U Lighting Complex Fire by itself has burned 215,000 acres. It is zero percent contained. A separate fire in Santa Cruz county has forced new mandatory evacuations including at the University of California Santa Cruz.

JARRETT: The pandemic is putting a strain on resources for battling these fires. California usually relies on prisoners to fight wildfires but because of COVID outbreaks in prisons and early releases, few inmates are available and people crowding into shelters are taking a COVID rest, too.

[05:50:10]

And then there's the issue of the smoke. New satellite images show smoke drifting some 600 miles from the fire. The smoke is making California's air quality some of the worst in the world. And doctors warned ordinary cloth mask won't protect you from the smoke. And this is what you might call a peak 2020 image. A sign at a senior

center urging precautions and staying safe being consumed by the flames.

ROMANS: Tragedy there. We should (INAUDIBLE) this morning as they battle it another day.

The ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft to get a temporary reprieve from the California Appeals Court. The court delaying an order that would have forced them to reclassify their drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. The deadline was today. Now the change would entitle drivers to minimum wage, paid sick leave and other benefits. So this decision bottom line allows Uber and Lyft to continue operating in California after they had threatened to pull out, saying the order would force them to shut down.

JARRETT: Two tropical systems could threaten the Gulf Coast in the coming days. A tropical storm watch is up for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Here's our meteorologist Derek Van Dam.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Great Friday morning, Christine and Laura. This is very on point for 2020. Just as we near the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, we're monitoring three separate areas as the tropical wave train starts to pick up across the Atlantic hurricane basin.

We're paying very close attention, however, to the newly formed tropical depressions, that's 13 and 14 just east of the Leeward Islands and just east of Honduras and Nicaragua. These two storms, both have the potential to impact the southeastern United States within the next five days. I'll show you the details here. 3500 mile per hour sustained wind with tropical depression 13. The storm has not yet been named. It still needs to get its act together. But nonetheless there are still tropical storm watches across the Leeward Islands, as well as the British Virgin Islands into Puerto Rico.

However, the official track from the National Hurricane Center has this intensifying and brings it right across the Bahamas and into southern Florida, and eventually emerging into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Something to monitor.

Tropical depression 14 just off the coast of Honduras. That will make a landfall across the Yucatan Peninsula. Reemerge into the Gulf of Mexico potentially as a category 1 hurricane. We'll keep a close eye and keep you updated.

JARRETT: Derek, thank you for that update.

Well, Chi Chi DeVayne, the star of the reality TV show "RuPaul's Drag Race" has died.

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CHI CHI DEVAYNE, REALITY TV STAR: My name is Chi Chi DeVayne, and I don't get ready. I stay ready.

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JARRETT: The southern drag queen was a fan favorite competing on the show's eighth season and season three of the spinoff all-star edition. The cause of the death is not clear but DeVayne was recently hospitalized with pneumonia. In a statement, RuPaul says she will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Chi Chi DeVayne was just 34 years old.

ROMANS: All right, 52 minutes past the hour. Friday edition. Let's get a check on CNN Business this morning. Look at markets around the world. You can see small gains in Asian shares, better performance there in Hong Kong. And European shares have opened slightly higher here as well.

On Wall Street, futures at the moment are also leaning higher. Look, the Dow closed up 47 points Thursday. The S&P 500, the Nasdaq also up. And when the Nasdaq rises now, that means it's a record high. A record high for the Nasdaq up, 25 percent so far this year.

Wall Street once again, though, not reflecting the pain on main street. Look at this. First time unemployment claims rose above a million again last week. That's 22 weeks of pain and layoffs. Continuing jobless claims decreased a little bit to 14.8 million. That number is still staggeringly high. That's all people who are on regular state unemployment programs. But it is still the lowest level since the first week of April.

All right, Tesla and other electric car makers have some new competition. Chinese automaker Kandi is bringing two new affordable electric cars to the U.S. The K-23 retails for $20,000 after federal tax breaks and promotions. The K-27, $10,000. It is a far cheaper than the Tesla model 3 which starts at over $37,000 and any other electric car currently sold in the U.S. Kandi plans to start deliveries in the fourth quarter this year.

JARRETT: All right. A barbecue restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is serving up hundreds of free meals every day for the victims of last week's devastating storms there. Cedar Rapids suffered some of the worst damage. Many are still out of their homes. Willie Fairley, owner of the Willie Ray's Q Shack, has become a local hero. Neighbors are asking for donations and nominating Willie for the Discover Card's "Eat It Forward" that awards $25,000 to black-owned restaurants.

ROMANS: That is what we call Iowa nice in my home state, where people take care of their neighbors. Good for you, Willie. And I hope the donations come rolling in.

[05:55:02]

Thanks for joining us, everybody. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. Have a great weekend. "NEW DAY" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Great honor and humility, I accept this nomination for president of the United States of America. Our current president has failed. He's failed to protect us. That is unforgivable. Light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment, this is our mission. History would be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we're going to start to see a decline more next week.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thousands of K-12 students across the country have been asked to quarantine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to make sure these schools are safe right here. We don't think they're safe and ready, they won't be open.