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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump and Biden Duel Over Coronavirus; Former Top Aide to Pence Endorses Biden; Judge Orders USPS to Halt Recent Changes. Aired 5- 5:30a ET

Aired September 18, 2020 - 05:00   ET

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


[05:00:20]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You see what his audience, they've got cars. They have like cars in a parking. It's the weirdest thing.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: He knew it. He knew it and did nothing. It's close to criminal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Dueling leadership on stage in swing states. President Trump leans on his brand. Joe Biden leans on science as coronavirus cases start a dangerous climb.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: She was a vice president's top aide on the pandemic task force. Now she's endorsing Joe Biden. Her why in her own words.

ROMANS: And an intentional effort to disrupt the election. Strong words from a federal judge who orders the Postal Service to reverse recent changes.

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

JARRETT: And I'm Laura Jarrett. It's Friday, September 18th. Happy Friday, everyone. It's 5:00 a.m. in New York, 46 days until the November election.

But we start this morning with the Labor Day dangers of the pandemic all the experts warned us about now in plain sight. A whopping 30 states adding new cases compared to this time last week. It was just nine states on Monday. Almost 198,000 Americans have now lost their lives.

That was the backdrop as Joe Biden fielded questions from socially distant voters at a CNN drive-in town hall last night, relying on science and facts. Biden also shared some emotional moments with voters when talking about his son Beau and empathizing with those who have been hit hardest by this pandemic. He says America is not safe under president Trump's leadership and touted his own ability to unify the country.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has more now from Pennsylvania.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura and Christine, here in Pennsylvania, Joe Biden participated in his first CNN town hall since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee and he took aim at President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling his actions close to criminal and calling the administration thoroughly irresponsible.

Now, Biden also took issue with recent comments from Attorney General Bill Barr who compared the coronavirus lockdowns to slavery. Biden said that it was the president's inactions that has jeopardized the freedom of Americans. Take a listen.

BIDEN: You lost your freedom because he didn't act -- the freedom to go to that ball game, the freedom of your kid to go to school, the freedom to see your mom or dad in the hospital, the freedom just to walk around your neighborhood because of failure to act responsibly.

SAENZ: Now, Biden also talks about the need for an effective vaccine saying he's going to trust the scientist's decision and not President Trump's word alone. Biden also made an appeal to working class voters, framing this as a campaign between Scranton and Park Avenue, suggesting President Trump has prioritized the stock market over working class Americans.

Now, this was the first of a kind drive-in style town hall, and featured some of the most extensive, in-person live questions Joe Biden has recently received, offering a bit of a preview of what a debate might look like.

Biden and Trump are set to face off in less than two weeks. Biden saying he is looking forward to debating the president and offering a different vision for where he would take the country -- Laura and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

Before Labor Day, warnings were everywhere. Take precautions, social distance, avoid large holiday crowds, stay safe or risk spreading the virus. So, how did we do?

Well, since then, the case curve has spiked upward. Still, President Trump holding another rally in contrast with Biden, with no social distancing, no masks in site. He was in Wisconsin where new cases have almost doubled in two weeks.

The president mocked the social distancing at Biden's town hall. For Trump, it's all about branding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: By the way, officially this is called a protest, you know that? We no longer call it rallies. We don't use the term rally, OK? Rachel knows.

We don't call them rallies anymore because, you know, you're not allowed to have a political rally with more than 10 people. You're not allowed to go to church. You're not allowed to meet. You're not allowed to talk to anybody.

You have to stay in a prison. Your home has become your prison.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: These new coronavirus fallout across the country. New York City has delayed Monday's start for in school learning for most students. Providence College in Rhode Island switched to online learning. The pandemic is taking a sweeping toll on education with low income students paying the real price. An analysis of federal data shows 100,000 fewer high school seniors completed financial aid applications this year.

[05:05:04]

ROMANS: Meantime, a fan who attended the Kansas City Chiefs opening night game last week has tested positive. Now, people who sat near this fan must quarantine. Everyone wants to know when the vaccine might be ready, but worried about safety and political interference in the process may be scaring people away.

Get this, a new poll shows only 51 percent of Americans say they would get a COVID vaccination. That's a 21 point drop since May.

But the surgeon general says the virus can be tamed now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEROME ADAMS, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: The tools to stop this virus are already in our communities. Look at New York City. They've gone from worst in the world to a less than 1 percent positivity rate for several weeks ongoing. And so it proves we don't need to wait until we get a vaccine or some miracle drug to get this virus under control. We can do it right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Contrary to that message, two states where many people chose to ignore the warnings and headed to beaches over Labor Day are actually expanding their reopenings. In Miami-Dade County, Florida, bowling alleys, movie theaters, concert halls and arcades can open at 50 percent capacity. And parts of Texas where hospitalizations are down, most businesses can now increase their capacity to 75 percent.

ROMANS: A former top aide to Vice President Mike Pence is accusing President Trump of gravely mismanaging the country's response to the pandemic, joining the growing list of former Trump administration officials who are endorsing Joe Biden. Olivia Troye was a homeland security advisor and Pence's lead staffer

on the task force until she left last month. She now says the president failed to protect the American public because he only cares about himself and getting re-elected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLIVIA TROYE, FORMER CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE AIDE: It was shocking to see the president saying that the virus was a hoax, saying that everything's okay when we know that it's not. The truth is he doesn't actually care about anyone else but himself.

The president said maybe this COVID thing is a good thing. I don't like shaking people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people. Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about. These are the people that go to his rallies today who have complete faith in who he is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Troye's criticism particularly striking because of her role on the coronavirus task force, which was headed -- is headed by Pence. He is dismissing her criticism of the president. He's calling her a disgruntled former employee.

JARRETT: A federal judge temporarily blocking and in some cases reversing a wide range of policy changes at the U.S. Postal Service that could have delayed the mail ahead of the U.S. election. The judge accuses Trump-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy of engaging in voter disenfranchisement and suppression. The judge ordered the Postal Service to undo all those controversial changes made in the last few months, including restrictions on late night, and extra delivery trips.

The judge also ordered the Postal Service to go back to treating all election mail as first class and reinstall any equipment that was uninstalled if necessary to achieve that. The Postal Service says it is exploring its legal options now.

ROMANS: FBI Director Christopher Wray sounding the alarm about the upcoming election, telling Congress that Russia is at it again, actively engaged in the disinformation campaign, this time with a goal of denigrating Joe Biden. That assessment echoes the risk of the intelligence community, but puts the director at odds with the president and top advisers, including the attorney general and the acting homeland security chief.

But Wray is standing by the intelligence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: We certainly have seen very active, very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020 through what I call more of maligned foreign influence side of things -- social media, use of proxies, state media, online journals -- to primarily to denigrate Vice President Biden and what the Russians see as kind of an anti-Russian establishment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Wray also says the vast majority of protestors in the streets of America are peaceful contradicting the message of violence being peddled by the president and his attorney general.

All right. Big news overnight that could affect 100 million TikTok users in the United States.

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ROMANS: All right. A big step overnight to keep 100 million TikTok users online in the U.S. U.S. regulators have tentatively agreed to a deal between an app Chinese parent company with an ByteDance and its U.S. partner, Oracle. That's according to a person familiar with the agreement.

TikTok will become a global company with headquarters in U.S. Oracle will host the apps, user data, and review its code for security.

One huge caveat here, under this deal, ByteDance would still be a majority shareholder. Now, remember, President Trump said he conceptually doesn't like a deal that leaves ByteDance with majority control. He's citing national security concerns.

Still, TikTok is preparing as if this deal is going to go forward. TikTok Global expected to file for an IPO in about 12 months and plans to be a listed company on the U.S. Stock Exchange. Also, Walmart may become a possible minority investor and e-commerce partner, but no final decision has been made. Trump's deadline for this deal is Sunday.

JARRETT: This morning, in a CNN television explosive, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, sits down with our David Culver to talk about his tenure, the pandemic and why he's leaving at such a critical time for U.S./China relations.

David joins us now from Beijing. David, the timing of this was so curious. What did he tell you?

DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura, it really was. I just wrapped up this interview in the past couple of hours. That's what stood out to us when he was stepping down before the election. I mean, if you look at the diplomatic situation right now, it's at an all-time low between the U.S. and China.

And yet, he looks at many of the accomplishments that he pointed out to me in particular. He says getting supplies, medical supplies badly needed, getting diplomats back into the country after the coronavirus outbreak.

And the big one, and, obviously, this is a line with President Trump in the campaign, phase one trade deal. That's what they're heading hard.

However, outside of that, there are several other multifaceted messes really. You've got South China Sea, you've got Xinjiang and the widespread allegations of human rights abuses. You've got Hong Kong, the national security law. Those are just a few of the things that are happening.

And yet, this departure is leaving things a bit unsettled. However, you're hearing the rhetoric from this outgoing ambassador, very much aligned in campaign mode with what President Trump has been saying, particularly when it comes to the coronavirus outbreak. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY BRANSTAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: The Chinese system was that they covered it up and they even penalized the doctors that we're pointing it out at the very beginning. So, the result was, what could have been contained in Wuhan ended up becoming a worldwide pandemic and that what's so sad. Now --

CULVER: What do you assess of President Trump's dealing with President Xi, because you know what it's like to deal with President Xi. President Trump's approach has been a little bit all over the place, to be quite honest. I mean, earlier this year, we saw he was saying President Xi was a good friend, a gentleman, complimenting his leadership, even as the outbreak was starting.

And now, we've seen he has not criticized President Xi by name but he's clearly slamming China and the party.

Is that the right approach, do you think?

BRANSTAD: There's been more telephone contact between President Trump and President Xi than any other American president with a Chinese leader. And initially, I think President Trump believed the Chinese when they said what they said about the virus. Then he and the rest of the world found out that what they said was not true. Misinformation and cover-ups occurred and the result was, we are faced with a worldwide pandemic.

And it's really I think becoming a system of China and their unwillingness to admit wrongdoing that caused this whole thing to happen. And that's what the tragedy of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CULVER: It was interesting, Laura, to hear Branstad come out that hard against China, especially given that this is a guy who got a 35- year personal relationship with President Xi before he was even in national leadership here in China. However, it seems he has shifted to align himself, Branstad that is, with President Trump's campaign rhetoric.

And it's not surprising that he's going back to his home state of Iowa where he was governor for years and we do expect and he said, you know, that if he's going to be called by President Trump to help out with the campaign, he'll jump in.

ROMANS: Yeah, he could be a really valuable, David, he could be pretty valuable campaign operator for this president in the Midwest where the farm sector has been hit by tariffs, by the trade war with China. But the narrative he'll try to sell is this is the first president that's ever been tough on China, and that narrative, there's such of a narrative in the Midwest.

All right. David Culver, thank you so much.

CULVER: Right.

ROMANS: Laura?

JARRETT: All right. Raging wildfires in the West shutting down one of America's most treasured national parks.

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[05:22:46]

JARRETT: Well, firefighters are finally making some progress on those historic wildfires in the West. There are now 59 uncontained large fires burning, but that's down from almost 100 earlier this week. Still, smoky air remains a threat. California officials say the state remains dry and ripe for wildfires.

Thanks to a drought, more than 130 million dead trees are fueling the flames. Yosemite National Park closed due to the hazardous air quality. Meanwhile, a storm front is expected to help firefighters in Oregon, although there are flash flood watches and the rain could cause mudslides.

ROMANS: All right. The Miami Heat are now just two wins away from the NBA finals after another thrilling comeback against the Boston Celtics.

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

Happy Friday, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Happy Friday to you, too, Christine. And, you know, a year ago, the Miami Heat didn't make the playoffs. But you add Jimmy Butler, and some great draft picks and trades from Pat Riley, and look where you are, six wins away from another NBA championship.

Game two of the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston Celtics had another huge lead. They're up 17 in the second quarter but Jimmy Butler just relentless there. The steal, amazing save and the slam on the other end. He cut it to one.

And under two minutes to go, Goran Dragic, just step at 3 right there put the Heat up 5. They hold on to win, 106-101. The Celtics could be heard having a loud exchange in their locker room after the game.

Jayson Tatum saying the team just frustrated.

All right. Week two of the NFL season kicking off with the battle of Ohio and former Heisman winning quarterback Baker Mayfield and top pick Joe Burrow. About 6,000 fans were in the stands to watch the Browns take on the Bengals.

And a rare sight in this one. Baker hooking up with Odell Beckham Jr. on a 43-yard touchdown pass in the first half. That was the first of two TD passes for him.

Burrow kept bringing the Bengals back in this game, and threw for three touchdowns. But still wasn't enough. Cleveland wins this one, 35-30, on the NFL's 100th birthday.

All right. The Tampa Bay Lightning are heading to the Stanley Cup Finals, both eliminating the Islanders in an overtime thriller in last night's game six. Anthony Cirelli, the hero, scoring the game-winning goal, 2-1 victory.

[05:25:05]

The Lightning apparently not very superstitious though. They touched and lifted the Prince of Wales trophy for winning the conference title. Most don't do that and only wait to touch the Stanley Cup as Tampa Bay going to face the Dallas Stars for the title game one tomorrow night.

All right. Less than a week after winning the women's single title, the U.S. Open, Naomi Osaka pulling out of the French Open which is set to kick off at the end of the month. Osaka posting on Twitter, my hamstring is still sore, so I won't have enough time to prepare for the clay. These tournaments came too close to each other for me this time.

Osaka had her thigh wrapped the entire time during the U.S. Open in New York after suffering the injury before the tournament had started. She'll have to wait for the Australian Open next year for the fourth grand slam title. Laura, you know, when the pandemic first started, we were craving

sports. We didn't really have anything. Now, we've got everything. We got NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball, hockey, U.S. Open going on right now, it's just sports overload.

So, you know, definitely, definitely worth it after waiting so long with nothing.

JARRETT: Yes. I can see the enthusiasm and hear it in your voice. You are a happy man about all of these sports. Andy, have a nice weekend. Thanks so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

JARRETT: All right. One of the most anticipated moments of this election season is almost here. Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off in the first presidential debate. Watch it live on CNN. Special coverage, Tuesday, September 29th, starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)