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Trump Ends Stimulus Talks, Then Appears to Backtrack; Pence Team Agrees to Plexiglass Barrier on Debate Stage; FDA Approves Stricter Vaccine Guidelines. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired October 07, 2020 - 06:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The White House has turned into the epicenter of what is clearly a major outbreak.

[05:59:38]

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Stephen Miller, he has been self-quarantining for five days but, nevertheless, tested positive. We're taking all necessary precautions.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The president put out this tweet that surprised everybody on Capitol Hill. It makes it clear that there will not be a stimulus deal before the November elections.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is so irresponsible when millions are suffering.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the president has mishandled the coronavirus pandemic from the get-go. And I think now that's the only thing on the president's mind.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We can't undo what has been done. We can't go back. We can do so much better.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, October 7, 6 a.m. here in New York.

And the White House is a growing coronavirus hot spot and a virtual ghost town this morning. So many staffers having to quarantine at home after testing positive. It's hard to see how the business of the country is getting done.

In a new interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci says the outbreak could have been prevented, and he warns that hundreds of thousands of Americans could still die this winter. Stephen Miller, President Trump's senior adviser and speechwriter, is

the latest aide to test positive. He is the 21st person in Trump's orbit to become infected.

"The New York Times" reports that, even though the White House created the impression that President Trump was being tested every day, he was not.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden is pledging to restore national unity and lead the nation out of the pandemic. And his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, is preparing to square off with Vice President Mike Pence tonight in what could be the most consequential vice-presidential debate in history. This morning, we have new details about what to expect.

BERMAN: Also this morning, millions of Americans are in desperate need of economic relief. The president abruptly and unilaterally ended negotiations, sending the stock market reeling.

The Federal Reserve chairman warned that, without relief, the economy and a possible recovery are in peril.

And then suddenly overnight, the president seemed to backtrack some. Frankly, this morning, no one knows where the president is on this, including possibly the president.

Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni in "The New York Times" report that, overall, some White House staff members wondered whether Mr. Trump's behavior was spurred by a cocktail of drugs he's been taking to treat the coronavirus, including dexamethasone, a steroid that can cause mood swings and can give a false level of energy and a sense of euphoria.

So let's begin at the White House this morning with what we know, what we can see, and I think, frankly, Joe, the confusion inside the building behind you -- Joe Johns.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, John.

And the number of people in the president's orbit continues to expand who have tested positive for coronavirus. The president, for his part, both erratic and defiant, announcing on Twitter that he is unilaterally shutting down those talks with congressional Democrats on an economic stimulus package; then just a little while later, indicating that he would sign a smaller, a much smaller economic stimulus bill if it reaches his desk.

All of this as millions of Americans continue to be desperate for financial aid in the middle of the pandemic.

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JOHNS (voice-over): The coronavirus outbreak inside the White House continues to grow, with senior Trump policy adviser Stephen Miller becoming the latest to report a positive test.

MCENANY: He has been self-quarantining for five days, but nevertheless, tested positive, based on a prior exposure.

JOHNS: Dr. Anthony Fauci says the spread of the virus there was avoidable.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: That is a reality, right there. And every day that goes by, more people are popping up that are infected. It's not a hoax. It's an unfortunate situation when you see something like that, because that could have been prevented.

JOHNS: Former Vice President Joe Biden making a stop in Gettysburg in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, reminding Americans that taking the pandemic seriously is not a partisan issue.

BIDEN: Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It's a scientific recommendation. This virus doesn't care whether you live -- where you live, what political party you belong to. And it infects us all. It will take anyone's life. It's a virus. It's not a political weapon.

JOHNS: And just one day after staging a dramatic and reckless return to the White House, President Trump making a stunning announcement regarding negotiations on Capitol Hill for a new economic stimulus package, writing in a series of tweets, "I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election."

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): They didn't want to get a deal this soon. We'll reengage after the election, as the president said. I think we do need another rescue package, but because of the pending election, we simply weren't able to get together.

JOHNS: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling Trump's decision an act of desperation, writing in a statement, "President Trump showed his true colors, putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP members of Congress."

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): The president, for whatever reason, basically said, No, I'm not interested anymore, and, you know, those who are in trouble be damned. I'm just going to do my own thing.

[06:05:08]

JOHNS: Trump is off the campaign trail for now but insists he will be at next week's debate, despite his COVID-19 diagnosis.

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Up to the first ten days, he is contagious. He should be going nowhere. He has not been careful and he has not followed guidelines.

JOHNS: Meanwhile, Biden says, he'll listen to advice from scientists about whether it's safe to attend.

BIDEN: I think if he still has COVID, we shouldn't have a debate. Too many people have been infected, and it's a very serious problem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: No events on the president's schedule today.

Important to say, the White House is not the only place in the nation's capital on a serious COVID watch. At the Pentagon, all but one of the joint chiefs of staff is now quarantining after the second in charge of the Coast Guard, Admiral Ray, tested positive for coronavirus.

John, back to you

JOHNS: All right, Joe. Thank you for keeping us posted. Please stay safe at the White House this morning.

Developing overnight, Vice President Mike Pence dropped his objection to a plexiglass barrier on his side of the stage for tonight's debate with Senator Kamala Harris.

CNN's Jason Carroll live in Salt Lake City, site of the debate, which will go on, by all accounts, tonight, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It will go on. And right now, there are a number of critics of the vice president who are questioning why there was a debate about the plexiglass to begin with. Why wasn't there the initial thought to err on the side of caution, especially when you consider the fact, that, John, the vice president is head of the vice -- of the White House's task force on coronavirus.

You look at what happened with Stephen Miller, testing positive. His wife, Katie Miller, is press secretary for the vice president, works alongside him. She tested negative and went home yesterday. But the optics of this is very clear.

And this is something that Senator Harris is sure to key in on tonight. She is going to be painting the vice president and the president as basically being two peas in a pod when it comes to this administration's failure to respond to the coronavirus.

Vice President Pence, for his part, will do -- will do what he can to try to portray Senator Harris as too liberal, too progressive for the country.

In terms of the format of the debate, a couple of things. Again, there will be that plexiglass there separating the two candidates. They'll be 12 feet apart, 12 feet 3 inches apart from each other there on the stage. Ninety minutes broken into 10-minute segments. The moderator, Susan Page from "USA Today." And of course, masks will be required by anyone in attendance.

In terms of the tone of the debate, you know, these are two people who have done their homework, obviously, but they're also known as two people who know how to debate and argue an issue without yelling, without name calling, and remaining calm.

And so, I spoke to one political observer who said tonight, perhaps, will be the first debate where we can actually see two candidates actually debating the issues without yelling, without screaming, something we didn't see very much of during the presidential debate -- Alisyn.

It will be interesting on so many levels. Jason Carroll, thank you very much for a preview.

And this morning, half the country is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Twelve states reporting a more than 50 percent increase in deaths. This comes as Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that hundreds of thousands of Americans could die this winter.

CNN's Alexandra Field joins us now this morning. Alex, what's the latest?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

Yes, the numbers are astonishing. Just take a look at the map. Cases up in 25 states across the country. If you think these are just mild cases, well, you've got deaths ticking up in 22 states.

The state of Wisconsin, being hit very hard, issuing an emergency order, limiting public gatherings to just 25 percent occupancy of any building or room.

That as that state records its highest number of cases, its highest number of hospitalizations, its highest death toll. That's how serious it is.

Meanwhile, at the White House, there has been a push for a speedy vaccine approval process all along. Now the director of the National Institute of Health is saying there will be very little room for, quote/unquote, "mischief."

That after the FDA has issued guidance saying they'll require two months of data following the second dose of any vaccine given to volunteers in a trial. That would seem to put political pressure aside.

The president has, not surprisingly, tweeted his displeasure, but the FDA says they're going to do it this way with or without White House approval. It is a critical sign from regulators that they are putting safety and efficacy first when it comes to the vaccine approval process, not politics. And Alisyn, I realize, it is both weird and alarming that we need to continue to reaffirm that.

CAMEROTA: Alexandra Field, thank you very much for all of that reporting.

[06:10:04]

So the White House is in chaos this morning. Another Trump aide testing positive as the president sows lots of confusion over financial help for millions of Americans. We take that up, next.

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[06:14:21]

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BIDEN: Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It's a scientific recommendation. Social distancing isn't a political statement. It's a scientific recommendation.

This pandemic is not a red state or a blue state issue. This virus doesn't care whether you live -- where you live, what political party you belong to. It infects us all. It will take anyone's life. It's a virus. It's not a political weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was Joe Biden, calling for unity during a speech in Gettysburg and saying that the U.S. is in a, quote, "dangerous place." This as the White House coronavirus outbreak grows bigger.

[06:10:03]

BERMAN: Yes, the White House is a dangerous place.

CAMEROTA: The White House is a hot spot. And it just -- every day, we find out new information. And here's another one. The senior adviser, Stephen Miller, becomes the 21st person in President Trump's orbit to test positive.

Joining us now is CNN political commentator Errol Louis; and Margaret Talev, CNN political analyst, and politics and White House editor at Axios. Great to have both of you here this morning.

Margaret, when you visualize what's going on behind the scenes at the White House, I mean, Maggie Haberman in "The New York Times" has done some reporting on this. Staffers in full PPE. People in hazmat suits spraying things and sanitizing it. A ghost town. The president having to quarantine in the residence.

I mean, this is just one picture of the eerie ghost town that is the White House. It's hard to see how any of the country's business is able to get done right now.

MARGARET TALEV, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, in some ways, Alisyn, like we have all been living through some version of this. It reminds me of those early days of mid-March or early April when everybody was literally just terrified. And you would, like, walk the dog and put bleach wipes on your hands and, you know, that kind of stuff.

But now it's actually happening at ground zero, which is the White House. And you do have a situation where people are having to really rely on those kind of remote conversations rather than in-person conversations. As we all know, because we've all been living in it, it's much harder to actually coordinate like anything that way.

And then many of these key advisers are sick, some degree of sick, which, yes, for politics probably makes it harder to run a campaign, but also for governance.

And I think even though the imagery of the White House is so stark, the guys in the white suits spraying stuff down is really what happened at the Pentagon and the joint chiefs with national security or military officials needing to separate and be at home, where it really hit home for me in terms of the impact of this.

BERMAN: The joint chiefs are in quarantine this morning. The joint chiefs of staff. Why? Well, because vice commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Charles Ray, has tested positive. He's been in a meeting with all of them. He was at the White House. He is now positive for coronavirus. So the entire top strata of the U.S. military this morning is in quarantine. It's a great point.

So Errol, there is confusion about what's going on inside the White House. We didn't see the president yesterday. We were told, Jeff Zeleny reports he did tape a video about the treatments he's on, but we didn't see it for whatever reason. You would think if White House aides thought it would help his case, they would have released it. So we did not see him.

We did hear from him, though, on Twitter in this dizzying array of tweets. First, unilaterally walking away from economic relief negotiations, despite what the Fed chair says. And then, overnight, trying to maybe inch his way back in. It does create some confusion, I think, this morning.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Nothing but confusion. In fact, the -- the president may have put himself into a corner, because by staging, by so carefully staging this return to the White House and taking off the mask very theatrically and saluting and so forth, he made it seem as if everything is behind us.

On the other hand, we know that he's in a phase of this disease where it could take a catastrophic turn for the worse. We also know those who have had the disease have certainly told us over and over again, it makes you feel awful. It makes you feel low energy. It's really hard to sort of get up and do the things that you would expect a president to do.

So if they don't show us more of these propaganda shots of him saluting and dramatically going around without a mask, you have to assume the worst. You have to assume that he's not feeling well, which is, I think, what most people would have imagined. That's why he got hospitalized in the first place. And so we don't know what's going on.

The -- the fact that the defense leadership is now in quarantine is really quite alarming, because the questions that now have to be asked, what about their aides? What about command and control? What about the nuclear umbrella? Who's in charge of all of this? How are they feeling? What's the level of infectious spread, and how is it going to be brought under control?

Those are all really, really important questions that this White House is not answering right now, John.

CAMEROTA: Errol, do we know the answer to any of those?

LOUIS: We don't -- not only do we not know the answer, we're not likely to know the answer, because we're -- we're hearing from White House sources all -- all the time that they're not going to talk to the press.

Contact tracing is not being done. That would be the first level of trying to at least get your hands around what's going on. And then some kind of rational conversation through the media, with the American people, about what the situation is.

Instead, all we've gotten is propaganda. It's really very unfortunate that the president's role as a campaigner in the closing 30 days of a campaign is taking precedence over his much more important role as leader of the country.

[06:20:10]

BERMAN: Margaret, talk about the economic situation right now with these negotiations. Because this was really surprising. The president unilaterally walked away from negotiations. I don't know if a deal was possible or not, but they were talking. They were negotiating. Steve Mnuchin and Nancy Pelosi were.

And it was the president, I think, without any of their knowledge, who said, OK, we're done completely.

And then last night all of a sudden to go back and start proposing things that are really a few weeks ago in terms of where they were in negotiations.

It just isn't clear to me that there's any linear thought, which brings me back to that comment that I read from Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni that their piece, which is that staffers inside the White House are wondering whether or not the drugs are affecting the president's thinking.

TALEV: Yes. Well, John, this is really important. The state of play with the stimulus is that Democrats have sought around $2 trillion and Republicans want to give less, and that's where they were. And Pelosi and Mnuchin were going back and forth over this.

And there were some fault lines that we think some of these talks have, you know, stalled around, both including the overall dollar amount and some of the provisions for government -- you know, provisions of health care or care for immigrants or whether it could involve coverage of abortion. That would be natural fault lines that the two parties would fight over and they were disagreeing over those things.

But Mnuchin thought he was working on a deal, and this was very abrupt yesterday and it really, threw many Republican lawmakers for a loop, just as a matter of course.

Like Jay Powell, you know, is saying the Federal Reserve chair is saying, this stimulus needs to go into the economy to prevent bigger problems.

Politically, many Republicans in swing districts or swing states have no idea how to explain to their constituents the fact that their team pulled the plug on these talks now.

And because the president is saying that, you know, a Supreme Court nominee has to be signed off on before election day at all costs, it's just a slightly harder argument to make when you're saying the stimulus doesn't have to happen, but the Supreme Court nominee does.

So I think politically, it's very complicated; and it's given Democrats an upper hand. It seemed like when he walked it back, what he was saying was, I would like my name on a $1,200 check before election day. I don't want to talk about any of the other details. And obviously, for, you know -- for Democrats, that's a non-starter. It's just not the way things work.

BERMAN: He's negotiating with himself, and he's losing in the negotiation with himself. I mean, honest-to-God, that's what's happened over the last 20 hours. I don't mean to laugh. It's really hard to figure out what's going on.

And I know that both Democrats and Republicans would love to know. And probably people in the White House would love to know what's going on with this right now. So Margaret Talev, Errol Louis, thank you both for being with us this morning.

CAMEROTA: As would so many Americans who are waiting --

BERMAN: That's a great point.

CAMEROTA: -- for these checks, who are desperate. We're going to be talking to some of them coming up in the program. This is the difference for them between whether they have enough food or don't have enough food.

BERMAN: And you're right to bring that up, and that should have been the first thing that I said. This is a very real issue for people.

CAMEROTA: Meanwhile, the widow of Broadway star, Nick Cordero, speaking exclusively to CNN about her loss and how President Trump has now added to her pain. That's next.

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[06:27:45]

FAUCI: The models tell us that, if we do not do the kinds of things that we're talking about in the cold of the fall and the winter, we could have from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths. That would be just so tragic if that happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Dr. Anthony Fauci with a dire warning for Americans about what will happen if coronavirus precautions are not followed. Not followed like, say, they have been not followed in the White House. This morning, half the country seeing a rise in cases. All the states

there you're seeing in red. The beige countries, by the way, just means it's leveled off, but leveled off at a place that's dangerous.

Joining us now is William Haseltine. He's a former professor at Harvard Medical School, and chair of the -- and president of Access Health International.

Professor Haseltine, thanks very much.

I want to put up on the screen -- I don't know if you can see it, but it's a chart that alarms me. And this is hospitalizations in Wisconsin. Look at how fast they are going up. Look at the rise there in the seven-day moving average of hospitalizations.

And this isn't asymptomatic people. This is people so sick they have to be hospitalized. And across the country, we're starting to see a rise in hospitalizations, as well, Professor. So what's going on?

WILLIAM HASELTINE, CHAIR/PRESIDENT, ACCESS HEALTH INTERNATIONAL: Well, what's going on is that people have come back to work. Some are going back to school, and they're not taking the proper precautions. We see that not just in the United States; we see that around the world.

And there's always a delay between the rise in the cases that we've seen, the rise in hospitalizations, and sadly, the number of deaths. And that's happening all around the world.

If you look at Spain, there are four times as many people being infected as were being infected at -- just at the peak last -- last spring. So if you relax, this is what happens.

And let me just say, winter is coming. This is not the second -- the feared second wave. This is just merely sloppiness on the part of government and people individually. They're not wearing masks. They're not social distancing. And this, unfortunately, is the result.

And what Tony said, that there may be 300 to 400,000 people dead by the end of the winter, is not a fantasy. It's an unfortunate reality if we don't.