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Connect the World
Coronavirus Looms Over Vice Presidential Debate; Pence & Harris Dodge Key Questions In VP Debate; Trump Calls Experimental Drug Cocktail He Received "A Cure"; Hospital In Lebanon Teeter On The Edge As Cases Spike; Fact-Checking U.S. Vice-Presidential Debate; Prince William: We Are Now At The Point Of No Return. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 08, 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)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well hello, world. Whoever gets to be the American President after the U.S. election will change our lives in ways
untold but we're the international on lookers doesn't get to have a say, do we? We just have to watch the spectacle of it.
And this hour Donald Trump want as he is toward quick changes in the dash of chaos, throwing the next presidential debate up in the air, insisting he
won't go, he won't do it if it stays in a virtual format. Well, the commission's vote to hold it like that unanimous after the president got
infected with Coronavirus. The American President for now, at least, doesn't like that idea one bit. No sorry, he took to the airwaves virtually
to voice his displeasure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I heard that the Commission a little while ago changed the debate style, and it's not
acceptable to us. I'm not going to waste my time in a virtual debate. That's not what debating is all about. You sit behind a computer and do a
debate, it's ridiculous. And then they cut you off whenever they want. They called up two minutes ago and it was announced, and they are trying to
protect Biden.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, instead of debating, Mr. Trump now planning to hold a rally next Thursday night. So, you could have Joe Biden on a virtual debate stage
alone, and Mr. Trump bringing it more people together in yet another potential super spreader event. That's because Biden, for his part, says
he's more than happy to take part in what is this new format, throwing some doubt, along with some shade, on the president's debate defiance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We don't know what the president is going to do? He changes his mind every second. For me to comment on that
now would be irresponsible. I'm going to follow the Commission's recommendation. If he goes off and is going to have a rally, I don't know
what I'll do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We are a few weeks and change out from Election Day, but we are 60 years after this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL SHADEL, NEWS ANCHOR, CBS RADIO AND ABC TELEVISION: Good evening. I'm Bill Shadel of ABC News. It's my privilege this evening to preside at this,
the third and the series of meetings on radio and television on the two major presidential candidates. Unlike the first two programs, however, the
two candidates will not be sharing the same platform.
In New York the Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator John F. Kennedy, separated by 3,000 miles in a Los Angeles studio, the Republican
Presidential Nominee Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The third presidential debate back in 1960 there between JFK and Nixon held remotely. Let's fast forward back to today in the first and only
vice-presidential debate. A relatively civil affair compared to last week's chaotic presidential one.
The pandemic that has now killed over 211,000 Americans was by far the main focus last night. The U.S. saw some 50,000 new cases alone on Wednesday.
Senator Kamala Harris slammed the Trump Administration, saying it forfeited its right to re-election based on its handling of the Coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential
administration in the history of our country. And here is the thing. On January 28th, the vice president and the president were informed about the
nature of this pandemic.
They were informed that it's lethal in consequence, that it is airborne, that it will affect young people and that it would be contracted because it
is airborne. And they knew what was happening, and they didn't tell you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Vice President Mike Pence, of course, leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force defended their position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Before there were more than five cases in the United States, all people who had returned from
China, President Donald Trump did what no other American President had ever done, and that was he suspended all travel from China, the second largest
economy in the world.
Now, Senator, Joe Biden opposed that decision. He said it was xenophobic and hysterical.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Well, there were exemptions to that travel suspension. It is not clear that Joe Biden even knew about the travel ban when he called Trump's
record xenophobic. Mike Pence also played down the Rose Garden event last month that seemingly infected President Trump and several others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PENCE: Many of the people who were at that event, Susan, actually were tested for Coronavirus, and it was an outdoor event, which all of our
scientists regularly, routinely advised. The difference here is President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interest
of their health.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Pence and Harris were separated by 12 feet and by plexiglass for social distancing. Both candidates avoided answering
questions and interrupted each other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Susan, this is important.
PENCE: Susan, I want to--
HARRIS: Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking.
PENCE: I have to weigh in.
HARRIS: I'm speaking.
PENCE: --the Trump tax cuts.
HARRIS: Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking. I'm speaking. If you don't mind letting me finish, we can then have a conversation. OK?
PENCE: Please.
HARRIS: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So who won? Well, Kamala Harris, at least in a CNN instant poll camp came out ahead about six in ten who watched the debate said she had
won. 38 percent said Mike Pence had the better night. The Caveat Poll the some poll of debate watches was 38 percent Democratic, 29 percent
Republican.
But while our invited guest may actually have stolen the show last night, this little fly sat on Pence's head for several minutes. The Biden Campaign
was quick to fly with the moment they have introduced this fly swatter which reads truth over flies. The item has created a buzz and has already
sold out.
Well, our Senior Political Analyst David Gergen has been a White House Adviser to four presidencies joins us now with his take on the debate and
the presidential politics. Did you grab a fly swatter before they sold out by any chance, David?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: No, but it gave plenty of ammunition to the comedians. They've been stretching to finding things most
recently.
ANDERSON: Didn't it just? In the past hour Donald Trump was on Fox News repeatedly calling Kamala Harris a monster. He said she was unlikable,
claiming she was a communist. What do you make of comments like that?
GERGEN: Well, you know, it's been such a mad week. We've been in the grips of the madness now since the president went into the hospital. He has come
out and he's even more erratic than when he went in. That's unfortunate.
Many people think, I included, that probably the drugs he's taking, perhaps the steroids have had some influence on him and that he will emerge from
this back in full health. In the meantime I think it's beneath him and inappropriate to go after a woman that way, especially a woman, and
especially to call her a monster.
And also something that you know so much better than I do, but women have to prove that they're likable? Men don't have to prove that, but there's
sort of a gender contradiction there. I think he played right into that, by calling her - oh, she's likable enough.
They did the same thing to Hillary last time out. Overall it doesn't usually work. I think Kamala Harris showed last night she can take a punch.
She can also deliver one.
ANDERSON: Question is will it move the dial for either of the campaigns? What do you think on the performance?
GERGEN: I don't think it moved the dial for the overall election. My most vice presidential debates do not move the dial. But that does not mean that
this debate was inconsequential because that Trump people desperately needed to have the dial move.
We have now a presidency that's crumbling before our eyes and a president who is basically in freefalling in a lot of the polls. Most elections like
this, the gap between the leader and the number two person closes in the final weeks.
In this case, the gap is actually widening. And I don't think anybody expected that. What it meant for Trump is that this debate was one of the
last moments he had to turn this campaign around and his team was unable to do it. I thought Vice President Pence gave a good account, one of the best
accounts, best defenses of Trump that we've heard, but he was playing low cards all night.
It would be easy for Kamala Harris to come in and say, but you're on this. You're wrong on this. You're wrong on that. So from the point of view of
the Trump people, this was not a good night.
ANDERSON: Of course, it's not over till it's over.
GERGEN: That's right.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: The president is now refusing to participate in a virtual debate. The Debate Commission, of course, has called that today and they say that
they've decided that unilaterally. They didn't speak to either of the candidates beforehand.
David, you've been around the block. Empty chair debating has been done in the past. Is it possible that they will do this time around?
GERGEN: You just showed a clip from 1960, the third debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. That debate went very smoothly. In fact those
set of three debates are often regarded as the best debates we've ever had. It proved that you can do this remotely.
So for whatever reason the president doesn't want to do it, I think it's a mistake on his part. He needs these debates and he needs two more bites of
the apple before voters finally can conclude their choices. He can't leave it to his surrogates.
He's not going to be able to hold big rallies, given his health and potential contagious quality. I'm just surprised he wouldn't consider it
and at least think I'll turn this to my advantage.
ANDERSON: I mean, might change his mind, of course because he want to do that.
GERGEN: He might change his mind.
ANDERSON: Yes. What about empty chairing him? Is that a possibility, do you think, or not?
GERGEN: I don't think the Commission would do that. It would be one thing had they pre-negotiated the remote. As you say, they decided unilaterally
to tell the candidates this is what they're doing. If they had negotiated and then he refuses to show up, you could then show the empty chair. But
when you've done it over his objections, it seems to me, let's not play cricket.
ANDERSON: Right, OK. I just want to show our viewers David something - well I want them certainly to listen to something that you had to say about the
president earlier this week. Have a listen.
GERGEN: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERGEN: We're in the grips of a madman. And it's going to take a while to get out; we'll get back to normal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What did you mean by it's going to take time to get back to normal? Are you saying that even if Joe Biden were to win this election
that the atmosphere that Donald Trump has created will take time to sort of fade away?
GERGEN: Yes, I believe that. I do not think you can do this with ay light switch, flip a switch and everything goes as rosier or we can all get along
together and sing Kumbaya. It's going to take time. There are very bruised people in politics and the base on each side is very angry at the other
one.
It's no longer just a question of distaste. It's anger. It's really just repugnance at the other side. I think Joe Biden has a potential to be a
healer. But we should not think it's going to come easily. He has big plans. What if the Republicans oppose him at every turn?
They might smile at him but what if they oppose him? He can't get things done. What if they go ahead and jam through this candidate for the Supreme
Court, which I think they're going to try to do? That's going to leave lasting scars.
So it's going to take a major effort. I think he is going to have to if Biden wins, he and Kamala Harris - and I think she, by the way, came out as
more of - last night. I think she has now convinced a lot of people that should they call her to the presidency, the country would be in reasonably
safe hands. That's a big advance for her.
ANDERSON: Yes, is--
GERGEN: I just don't think we can have a - please.
ANDERSON: Go on, sorry. Apologies for jumping in there, there was some actual debate last night, wasn't there?
GERGEN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Not necessarily answers to the moderator's questions. Have a listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN PAGE, MODERATOR: How would your administration protect Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to affordable insurance if the
Affordable Care Act is struck down?
PENCE: Well, thank you, Susan, but let me just say, addressing your very first question, I couldn't be more proud to serve as vice president to a
president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life. If Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United
States, are you and Joe Biden, if somehow you win this election, going to pack the Supreme Court to get your way?
HARRIS: The American people are voting right now, and it should be their decision about who will serve on this most important body for a lifetime.
PAGE: Thank you, Senator Harris.
PENCE: And people, Susan, are voting right now. They would like to know if you and Joe Biden are going to pack the Supreme Court if you don't get your
way in this nomination.
HARRIS: Let's talk about packing. Come on.
PENCE: Once again gave a non-answer, Joe Biden gave a non-answer.
HARRIS: I'm trying to answer you now.
PENCE: The American people deserve a straight answer. If you haven't figured it out yet, the straight answer is they are going to pack the
Supreme Court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And you brought this up, David. It has to be said.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Joe Biden did dodge the same question about court packing in the- -
GERGEN: Yes.
ANDERSON: --first debate. What do you make of that?
GERGEN: Well, listen, if I were advising Joe Biden I would say you don't have to answer that yet. Let's see what happens on the Supreme Court
nomination of Ms. Barrett and see if that goes though and let's hear from the voters before you make why would you raise an issue that you don't have
to resolve now and create a diversion that the Trump Campaign can spend the next three weeks you always heard about?
Don't have to wait until it is appropriate. It's also true you know the Trump Campaign is not answering a lot of questions, too, especially about
people who have pre-existing conditions, health conditions, can they maintain their insurance if the bill, the legislation is struck down by the
Supreme Court and there's a good chance it will be struck down.
Both sides have to - the big question that candidates, both candidates are dodging here is you have got two candidates for the first time in American
history who is both in their 70s. It's really important that the American people hadn't and see the health records of both candidates.
It is important before people vote that they know as much as possible about what the likely course what the great probabilities are going to be for
either candidate. To Biden and Trump and both of them are ducking.
ANDERSON: Sure.
GERGEN: And I think it's a disservice to the country.
ANDERSON: One of our colleagues described this as less an election, more a selection process at this point. We're a couple of weeks and change out
from this U.S. election, and it does, at this point, look as if its Joe Biden's to lose.
GERGEN: Correct.
ANDERSON: If you were advising him at this point, what would your advice be?
GERGEN: Keep your foot on the pedal. Do not get complacent. That happened to the Clinton people last time. Serious Democrats are still not convinced
he's going to win. I think the betting odds have changed. The odds seem to be a little more than 50 percent likely that Biden would take the whole
thing and would win the White House and, indeed, the Senate.
Those odds have gone now up to probably 2-1. He's up to about 65 percent likelihood that he'll win. So things have changed and they're continuing -
I just can't tell you - I haven't sensed a presidency crumbling like this since Richard Nixon, and in the closing days and final days of Richard
Nixon.
Everything was coming apart. What has that sense now about the Trump Presidency, and that's going to obviously affect the election returns.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. David, it is an absolute pleasure, having you on your inside analysis is so important to the international viewer, as we
sit and watch, as observers to what is, as we described it, this great spectacle.
GERGEN: I look forward to talking to you another time.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much, indeed. What goes on in America does not stay in America. It has a great bearing on all of us. We're taking a very
short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: U.S. President Donald Trump is praising the experimental antibody cocktail that he got during his COVID-19 treatment calling it, without
scientific proof, a cure. Well, now Regeneron the drug company behind it is asking the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization. The antibody treatment is
currently in clinical trials. The company says plans are in the works to offer it to hundreds of thousands of Americans in the next few months if it
gets the green light.
Well, it hasn't even been a week since Mr. Trump announced that he tested positive for COVID-19, yet he says he's not contagious at all and ready to
start campaigning again. Joe Johns has more on the president's big push to get back to business.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: As the White House struggles to contain a major outbreak within its walls President Trump
returned to the West Wing, despite testing positive less than a week ago. He met with his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and his Social Media Director
Dan Scavino in the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK MEADOWS, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Obviously with the president, he continues to work. We've got a number of safety protocols with full PPE,
masks, goggles and the like for any direct interaction with the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: An isolation cart stocked with yellow medical gowns, respirator masks and plastic goggles was placed outside the President's offices for
anyone who needs to be in contact with Trump. A source telling CNN Meadows and Scavino were in full protective gear when they met with the president
who entered the Oval Office from the outside exit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, CDC: If you're infected you need to stay away from other people. For someone who has the ability to
stay away from other people, they need to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Trump posting a bizarre video produced by the White House, framing his Coronavirus diagnosis as a net positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it. This was a blessing in disguise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: It's unclear when the video was made. But in it Trump called the antibody treatment he received a cure. Though there is no cure for the
virus. And he said Coronavirus patients should receive it for free.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I view these - I know they call them therapeutic, but to me it wasn't therapeutic it just made me better, OK. I call that a cure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: The treatment the president received has not been approved yet by the FDA and is not widely available to Coronavirus patients.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is not even a therapy that has emergency use authorization yet. But there's not a lot of
data around this. 275 people in this first trial and we didn't even see that data.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's talk more about all of this with the World Health Organization's COVID-19's Special Envoy. Dr. David Nabarro, we are very
pleased to say that you are a regular guest on this show. You make time for us which are so important.
You're joining us today via Skype from Geneva in Switzerland. I do want to get your response firstly to the president calling the Regeneron antibody
cocktail a miracle drug. Just in the last hour the U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar spoke about that. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX AZAR, U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: While we make this world leading progress on vaccines, I want to note that we've applied the
same methods to supporting therapeutics, too. That includes for instance support for both development and manufacturing of Regeneron's antibody
cocktail, of which we could have tens or hundreds of thousands doses this fall, pending FDA Authorization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I do want to put you on the spot here, David. Should this drug be authorized for use?
DR. DAVID NABARRO, COVID-19 SPECIAL ENVOY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Thanks, Becky. This is a really important question. Within the World Health
Organization, we are supporting trials of therapies all over the world. They're called solidarity trials and we are very clear that any potential
therapy ought to go through full clinical trials before it is made available to everybody.
However, there are always possibilities for some kind of special licensing of more experimental therapies. And I'm assuming that that's what the
Secretary for Health was referring to, and that's a national government decision. That's not within the purview of the World Health Organization.
ANDERSON: But you have no problem with the U.S. doing that? I'm not talking about as an employee of the World Health Organization. I'm just saying as
somebody who knows what's going on. COVID is your world. Do you have a problem with that?
[11:25:00]
NABARRO: I want to be quite careful at this point. This is an experimental drug with potentially great value, and I think that every one of us who is
at risk of COVID, including myself, would very much like to know whether or not it is shown to be effective when used under appropriate conditions. We
all, I think, benefit if trials are put through the proper - drugs are put through the proper evaluation process. Before that happens, we have to say
this is experimental.
ANDERSON: Well, Donald Trump certainly believes that it works. He says it's a miracle cure. Is it safe to be back at the White House at this point for
him?
NABARRO: I, again, to be clear. I just want to bring it to myself, OK? I'm 71, so I'm younger than the president. If I get COVID, I'm going to be
really careful, particularly because I know that I can be infectious to people near me for probably two weeks after I first have my symptoms.
I'm worried about that because not everybody gets through this illness and recovers straight away. So I think my advice to everybody, whoever they
might be, who has actually been diagnosed with COVID with a positive test is please respect the general principles about being careful about being in
contact with other people.
And make certain that everybody who is in contact with you realizes that this is a very dangerous virus. So that's my only comment on this, Becky.
ANDERSON: And being responsible would be self isolating, as I understand the kind of guidelines, and those guidelines issued by the CDC. Self
isolate for a period of up to 14 days. You have to wonder, as we look at the videos being released by Donald Trump on his Twitter feed whether he
is, indeed, self isolating, whether or not he's coming into contact with other people around the White House? You must be wondering the same thing,
aren't you?
NABARRO: Well, we are reading reports of a major spreading episode that's happened in Washington around the White House. And one is always worried
when one sees that. And so I think it's incumbent on everybody involved to follow the full protocols.
After all, we do not know who we're going to infect, and we don't know who they might infect and perhaps later some unfortunate consequences. This is
terribly serious for everybody. Do follow the protocols. They're there for a reason.
They're not put there just for you to really disregard. To everybody, please follow the protocols on mask wearing, distancing, self-isolation,
hygiene and protecting those most at risk. It's very important.
ANDERSON: Well, I think we can safely say that the U.S. President isn't listening to you. But let's move on. Your colleague, Mike Ryan, earlier
this week said that about 10 percent of the global population may have been infected by this virus.
That is an estimate David that is far higher than the total global confirmed cases reported by governments. If that were to be the case, we
are talking about nearly 800 million people, sir. How realistic is that?
NABARRO: Well, Becky, I followed the work that Mike has been doing. We don't have very clear surveys of all populations so that we can have
absolute results. It's an estimate, but I think it's a pretty good estimate.
It's 20 times the number of cases that have currently been notified, but I wouldn't be surprised if it certainly is between 10 and 20 times the
current total. So I'm personally sticking with that. But let me say to viewers, there's something very important underneath this.
It's not the number who has been infected. It's the number who has not been infected. What we're basically hearing from Mike is that 90 percent of the
world's population is still susceptible. That means this virus has got a long, long way to go.
And please remember, even if we have a brilliant vaccine coming available in the next few months, it will take a very large number of months for
everybody in the world to be vaccinated.
[11:30:00]
NABARRO: That's why, as humanity, we've got to learn to live with this virus as a constant threat. And that means all of us doing everything we
can to avoid the virus catching us and making us sick.
ANDERSON: David, it's a pleasure having you on, sir. Thank you very much indeed for joining us and your closing narrative there, exactly the
narrative you started discussing with me and laying out more than six months ago.
NABARRO: Yes.
ANDERSON: Let's hope that people are listening. And if they're not, they should be. Thank you, sir.
NABARRO: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Ahead on the show, Iran and Lebanon on the brink both countries record their highest number of daily COVID cases ever. We're going to take
you live to Beirut after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching "Connect the World." I'm Becky Anderson. We've been watching the pandemic all over the world this hour. So take a look at
this you can see Iceland in blue there really spiking. We spoke to the Prime Minister last hour as I asked her about potentially another lockdown
to international visitors.
Well, here in the Middle East, Iran in green as well, ticking up again after being hit so mercilessly at the beginning of all of this and Lebanon
there in white, jumping up in a really big way, and it's a really significant leap in cases.
Both are now recording their highest number of cases per day and that's as both are facing huge financial difficulties as well. CNN's Ben Wedeman has
seen a lot of - well, have seen Beirut take a lot of hits and, indeed. He's seen a lot hits around the region in his decades of reporting. He is with
us to give us some context on all of this.
Ben, let's start with Lebanon because the country's health care system, they're already struggling before several hospitals were of course badly
damaged by the port explosion back in August. What's the situation on the ground right now?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The situation is getting worse by the day. On the 4th of October, 111 Lebanese towns were
put under a complete lockdown until at least the 12th of this month, as the numbers grow.
Yesterday we saw the highest daily increase yet. That's 1,428 and the Head of the Lebanese Parliament's Health Committee said that Lebanon is close
approaching the Italian scenario. And we've also heard from the head of the main government hospital that treats COVID patients that it's time to ring
the alarms.
[11:35:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FIRASS ABIAD, DIRECTION GENERAL, RAFIC HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: At the moment, the COVID-19 in Lebanon is not under control. We are seeing
increasing in numbers. We are seeing a high positivity rate. When we look at the capacity of the hospitals, we see that we're working really high
occupancy rate. We are worried that with the rising numbers, we reach a stage where those beds will be full and then patients will not have access
to hospitals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: And in fact the situation here, if you look at the per capita number of COVID cases, Lebanon has far exceeded the worst phase in Italy's
outbreak. But what's interesting is that the death toll, which is just 430, is surprisingly low. It's not all together clear why.
But what is without a doubt is that Lebanon is facing a financial catastrophe in the next few months because the government is going to run
out of the money it has to subsidize medicine and, therefore, this very severe outbreak that this country is suffering from could get much, much
worse. Becky?
ANDERSON: You're making some very, very valuable points. Ben, Iran of course remains the worst hit country in the region recording its highest
daily infection since the beginning of the pandemic. The question is how badly is U.S. sanctions impacting the country's fight against this
pandemic?
WEDEMAN: Yes, Becky. In fact, yesterday they recorded their largest daily death toll. There's no question that the U.S. sanctions, which are by most
standards, the most severe the United States has ever imposed on any country. It is having a serious impact on the country's ability to buy
medicine and also to buy medical equipment.
And this situation, which is already very grave, is about to get much worse, because the United States is going to announce shortly the
imposition of blanket sanctions on all Iranian financial institutions regardless of their affiliations with the government.
And the European Union has come out strongly in opposition to these proposed sanctions because they will have a devastating impact, not on the
regime in Iran, but on the people of Iran who have seen their economy fall to pieces because of these sanctions, which the American officials and
Israeli officials, who are very much partners in these sanctions, have made it clear.
Their goal is to bring the Iranian economy to its knees. Of course, the collateral damage in that is going to be the 80 million civilians who live
in Iran. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman on both the story in Iran and, indeed, that of Lebanon reporting for you tonight from Beirut. Ben, thank you. Well, let's
get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are our radar right now. And the Czech Republic has seen its highest daily COVID case counts
since the pandemic began on Wednesday.
More than 5300 new cases reported there. The country has overtaken Spain as the EU country with most cases per 100,000 one way of measuring these
things.
Next door in Slovakia, they're reporting more than 1,000 daily cases for the first time ever Prime Minister there warning health care workers are
barely coping with the onslaught of new infections. 57 people have died there, one of the lowest per capita death rates in Europe.
Italy now requiring mandatory face masks in all outdoor spaces. Those who do not comply across the country could face a fine of up to $1100. On
Wednesday the country reported its highest daily report of cases in more than five months.
And Poland reporting its highest number of positive cases and deaths according to the country's Health Ministry, more than 4,000 COVID cases and
76 new fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours nearly 3,000 poles have died since the pandemic started. These numbers speak for themselves, don't
they? The second wave, it seems, is truly upon us. It's not discriminating as far as geography is concerned.
Well, spin versus reality. We're going to try to draw the line between one and the other in what was the U.S. vice presidential debate. Stay with us
for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: U.S. President Donald Trump putting a very positive spin on his Coronavirus infection. I know that he was mad to say doesn't it, but he is.
The White House releasing a video Wednesday in which Mr. Trump says getting sick with the virus was a blessing from God. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: For me, I walked in. I didn't feel good. A short 24 hours later, I was feeling great. I wanted to get out of the hospital. That's what I want
for everybody. I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president, because I feel great. I feel like perfect.
So I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it. This was a blessing in disguise. I caught it. I heard about this drug. I said let me
take it. It was my suggestion. I said let me take it. And it was incredible the way it worked, incredible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the President's Democratic rival had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I think it's a tragedy that the president deals with COVID like it is something not to worry about. Over 210,000 people have died. I think
it's a travesty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We've been talking this hour about President Trump's comments, that he won't take part in what is a newly announced virtual presidential
debate next week. His Vice President, along with Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris did hold their one and only debate on Wednesday night in
person but socially distanced.
Mike Pence and Kamala Harris faced questions on everything from the Coronavirus, the health, to the economy, and climate change. Accuracy and
clarity not necessarily the strongest parts of their answers.
To help us separate spin from fact we are joined by our Senior Political Analyst John Avlon speaking with us from New York. It's great to have you
on, sir. First of all, although Kamala Harris seems to have been the winner of the debate, they did both dodge an awful lot of questions asked, don't
you think?
JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: They did. This was a game of dodge ball and while it was comparatively civil and substantive compared to
the dumpster fire we saw a week ago in the presidential debate.
There's nothing more frustrating than to hear a moderator ask a perfectly reasonable, clear direct question and seeing the candidates refused to
answer it. Pivoting to talking points and we saw it over and over again. Particularly, it must be said, from Vice President Pence, who projected the
art of deflection, but also in cases from Kamala Harris.
ANDERSON: The main topic of the debate on the agenda, of course, it was the Coronavirus pandemic, and rightly so. Kamala Harris called it America's
greatest failure. Mike Pence, on the other hand defending the Trump Administration's response.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: I want our viewers to have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PENCE: Before there were more than five cases in the United States, all people who had returned from China, President Donald Trump did what no
other American President had ever done, and that was he suspended all travel from China, the second largest economy in the world. Now Senator Joe
Biden opposed that decision. He said it was xenophobic and hysterical.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Was what Mike Pence said accurate, John?
AVLON: No. President Trump did not suspend all travel from China. He did restrict travel from China but still around 40,000 folks flew in and out of
the country during those initial months. It was a controversial decision, but it's also not true that Joe Biden called that decision xenophobic.
Ultimately, he said he agreed with it. What he did call xenophobic was Trump's pattern of calling it the China virus, saying that they're trying
to demonize the virus with the in foreign country was itself inviting xenophobia.
ANDERSON: Vice President also casting some blame for the U.S. Coronavirus response on the Obama Administration. Let's have our viewers just hear
this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PENCE: If the swine flu had been as lethal as the Coronavirus in 2009 when Joe Biden was Vice President, we would have lost 2 million American lives.
His own Chief of Staff Ron Klain would say last year that it was pure luck that they did, quote, everything possible wrong. And we learned from that.
They left the strategic national stockpile empty. They left an empty and hollow plan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: In fact, all fiction. Was that stockpile actually depleted?
AVLON: Sure. Well, let's start with the stockpile. Short answer is no. There were 16,000 ventilators, for example, in place. There was enough
smallpox vaccine, for example, for every American. Some areas had been depleted over time.
But the idea also that they had an empty playbook is fundamentally wrong. The Obama Administration had a thick playbook for dealing with pandemics,
something that had been begun under George W. Bush in a separate division of the National Security Council, both of which were not utilized and in
the second case disbanded.
ANDERSON: Wasn't it seen as the number one threat to the United States? The economy still issue number one in the election, have a listen to what
Kamala Harris had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Because of a so-called trade war with China, America lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. We are in a manufacturing recession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now this will really, really riled the president because bringing jobs back to America has been a big pillar of this term. What are your
thoughts on what you heard from the Senator?
AVLON: All right, this is a relationship status complicated but bear with me here. First of all, manufacturing jobs have been growing steadily since
the great recession under Obama. They really saw significant growth at the beginning of the Trump Administration.
Then came the China trade war and by January of this year, technically, we were in a manufacturing recession, despite having grown over 400,000 jobs
at the outset. After COVID, it falls off a cliff. So right now the United States is down under Trump around 160,000 manufacturing jobs. So it is true
we are in a manufacturing recession, but a lot of that is due to COVID.
ANDERSON: John Avlon, it is a pleasure having you on, sir. Do come back.
AVLON: Anytime, Becky, any time.
ANDERSON: John Avlon in the house viewers as you can imagine whenever the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls go head-to-head it gives the
late-night comedies plenty of grist for their mill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: The big star of the debate tonight was a fly that landed quite symbolically on the vice president's head. I
assume the fly thought he was a light bulb and was attracted to it. It stayed on his head for 2:03. Technically that fly is now his running mate.
JIMMY FALLON, HOST, THE TONIGHT SHOW: New safety measures were taken for tonight's debate. Harris and Pence were seated about 12 feet from each
other and separated by plexiglass. Here is a photo of the stage. That's not a debate stage. It looks like two bank tellers feuding with each other.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, THE LATE SHOW: Harris reminded voters that Trump and Pence were too slow to respond to this deadly virus.
HARRIS: Can you imagine if you knew on January 28th, as opposed to March 13th, what they knew, what you might have done to prepare?
COLBERT: Four words, toilet paper shopping spree.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Just coming in to CNN on a story that we have been covering the past couple of hours, this virtual debate that the Commission has now said
would go ahead on next week in Miami. Well, the Biden Campaign is now saying that because President Trump has expressed that he will not
participate in that virtual debate, something that Trump said earlier on today.
Joe Biden will now find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th, as he has done on several occasions in recent
weeks, and I'm quoting his campaign there.
Right, Britain's Prince William wants to reward those with environmental solutions. Coming up, we'll speak here on CNN to the Duke of Cambridge
about his Earth Shot initiative and why he says the world must take action now? Do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Let's talk about who is prepared to lead our country? Over the course of the next four years on what is an existential threat to us as
human beings. Joe is about saying we're going to invest that in renewable energy. It was going to be about the creation of millions of jobs. We will
achieve net zero emissions by 2050, carbon neutral by 2035. Joe has a plan.
PAGE: Vice President Pence, do you believe climate change poses an existential threat?
PENCE: As I said Susan the climate is changing, we'll follow the science. Once again, Senator Harris is denying the fact that they're going to raise
taxes on every American.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was last night's vice presidential debate. We've been covering that the past several hours. So while America's VPs dodged
questions on climate change or at least the current one did, there are others who are making sure this critical issue is front and center.
Case in point, Britain's Prince William. The Duke of Cambridge is seen here chatting with historian and conservationist sir David Attenborough about
his plan to reward environmental work around the globe. Now it's called the earth shot prize.
Consider it a noble prize for the environment. Five rewards of about $1.3 million each will be given out every year over the next decade. The goal is
to have 50 solutions to some of the planet's biggest challenges by 2030.
It all comes at such a desperate time. Remember, we just lived through the hottest September ever. Right now a dangerous hurricane is battering the
U.S. Gulf Coast. Massive wildfires scorch millions of hectares across the American West. Prince William spoke to my colleague, Max Foster, about his
Earth Shot initiative.
PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: We've got a prize that's really the most prestigious environmental global prize that's ever been on the environment.
It's about turning the debate from - or the challenge from being pessimistic and negative to optimistic and hope.
Because we always feel that there's a lot of weight on this. And people feel how can I help? It's very difficult. What can I do? We want to change
the conversation and show that we can provide solutions, we can tackle this and in ten year's time we can make our planet more sustainable and more
prosperous and better for everyone.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: When people say this is just another campaign, what are you saying back? What's different about it?
[11:55:00]
WILLIAM: So I think, obviously we've learned a lot from other campaigns. We've talked to them. We discussed and used what they've done. But I think
what's different about the prize is like I say is about this optimism. It's about this idea that we can find solutions and we can drive change.
I think rather than saying it's all doom and gloom and really there's nothing more we can do about it, and endless headlines of sadly extinctions
and problems in environment around the world. We want to say to people listen, next ten years if we can set these ambitious targets and these
goals and inspire people to rise to the challenge.
There are wonderful people doing incredible things around the world all in small communities everywhere. One of them will have an amazing idea. We can
scale that up and we can use that to really tackle some issues.
FOSTER: A member of your team was talking about a tipping point. I mean, how would you describe it? How bad is it?
WILLIAM: I think according to the experts and what they're saying it really is the point of no return. We have ten years to fundamentally fix our
planet so that we can live in a better, more prosperous world and it's sustainable. FOSTER: That debate which comes off about you knows whether
the science is there on climate change, what's your response to that at this time?
WILLIAM: Very much so. The science is definitely there. It's irrefutable. We need to make these changes and we have to make these changes if we want
to live our lives like we do, without having to sacrifice all the things that we really, really enjoy. We can change, we can develop, we can use the
best of human ingenuity to tackle these challenges and fix them.
FOSTER: You talked about how you were inspired in this work initially by the work of your father and your grandfather, undoubted pioneers in this
area. How are you going to measure your success and how do you allow Prince George, for example, to inherit this?
WILLIAM: Like you said, my grandfather started doing stuff with conservation a long time ago, WWF particularly. My father was ahead of his
time talking about climate change. I don't want to be ahead of my time because then we're already too late and now are the time to act.
My children look to me and ask me lots of questions. They love the natural world. They want answers and they want to know why there's so much
negativity and why everyone is worried and how bad can it get?
And I want to turn around to them and say we have solutions. We can find a way through this. You know human ingenuity and human spirits of innovation
is huge. We put a man on the moon. We can do this.
FOSTER: The genesis of this was before the pandemic. The pandemic hit. How has the pandemic, from what you're seeing, affecting the wider cause? Can
you learn something from this process we've been through?
WILLIAM: Obviously going through COVID has been pretty horrendous for everybody and we've lost a lot of people very sadly. I think what COVID has
taught us is that it's the first kind of difficult time that in my generation and younger generations have faced.
Obviously your generations have been through the war and there was nothing like that. It was truly horrendous. But this has been a tricky time for
everyone a very difficult time. And I think if there is any kind of tiny ray of lights that can come of this is the people have outside more.
They have experienced nature, they've seen it. They've heard the birds because the airplanes have been less, the roads have been calmer. I hope
people had that moment to connect and realize how special the green and natural world around them is?
And so I think if we can find the money, collaboration and willpower to tackle COVID, as we have done we can do this for the environment as well.
FOSTER: OK. Your highness, thank you very much, indeed.
WILLIAM: Thanks Foster.
ANDERSON: What a jolly good message there is a lot of good in the world remember that seriously. We can all help. So let's do it. Stay safe. Stay
well. Good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Hello to our viewers in United States and around the world. I'm John King in Washington. Thank you for sharing your day with us,
a very important day breaking political news. The presidential debate scheduled now in jeopardy. This began this morning. The Commission on
Presidential Debates deciding to change the format for debate scheduled one week from tonight.
The Commission saying because the president was diagnosed with Coronavirus deciding next Thursday's Town Hall would be conducted virtually meaning Joe
Biden and the president in separate locations. Voters gathered with the moderator in Miami. The president objected to that saying he is fine.
END
