Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trump Confirms Participation in Thursday Debate with Biden; Trump Insults Fauci, Calls Biden and Journalists Criminal; Record Number of Early Votes Transforming Election; John Fogerty Latest Artist to Ask Trump to Stop Using Song; Chines City Offers Some People Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine; U.K. Signs Contract for First Virus Human Challenge Trials; Russia Reports New Record in Daily COVID-19 Cases. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 20, 2020 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: The President's team has confirmed he'll take part in Thursday's debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. But Mr. Trump, and his campaign are already claiming the debate will be unfair based on the topics. A rule change that will allow microphones to be muted and what they call a biased moderator.

Well, President Trump is on a campaign sprint across the country holding packed rallies, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more now from the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: While President Trump continuing his mad dance to election day on Monday, barnstorming the state of Arizona with two stops, one in Prescot, and one right here in Tucson, Arizona. Now this is a state that President Trump won by four points in 2016.

But now, according to the most recent polling averages the President is down, trailing Biden by an average of the same margin. Four points once again. And so, this is certainly a must win state for the President.

And again, what we are seeing from him familiar lines of attack throwing out red meat to the base and attacking the Biden family calling them a criminal enterprise at this rally here in Tucson by focusing on those unsubstantiated and false allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden.

So, it's clear that while the President is appealing to the base, not quite clear yet how he is appealing to those voters turned off by him, particularly the issue of the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump on Monday really continuing to downplay the pandemic, attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci who is the most trusted public health expert and the government's leading expert on this virus and on infectious diseases. But the President seems to have decided at this point that he is just going to focus on himself and on doing what he wants to do as it relates to the virus.

And that certainly includes continuing to have these large-scale rallies where thousands of people attended as they did in Tucson, Arizona on Monday. Now what's interesting here is that the President's advisers, including his campaign manager Bill Stepien and the RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, back in July when coronavirus cases were surging then, they advised the President not to resume his rallies. But now as cases are surging once again the attitude seems to be that there are just two weeks left until election day. And therefore, the president just needs to carry on.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN in Tucson, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: More than 28 million Americans have cast ballots in this election, shattering early voting records, and later today, voters in Hawaii, Louisiana, Utah, and Wisconsin will get their chance. CNN's Pamela Brown has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ODALYS PEREZ, FLORIDA VOTER: There's a chance that your voice is not going to be counted. Why risk it?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Many voters are taking no chances. Already more than 28 million votes have been cast nationwide. That number representing almost 20 percent of the more than 136 million total ballots cast four years ago. Ballots are now available in all 50 states and D.C. with in-person voting beginning in several key swing states in the coming days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning.

BROWN: Today, it started in 52 Florida counties. And rain this morning in south Florida didn't stop voters from lining up before sunrise. For those voting by mail by midday Monday, more than 2.4 million ballots have been cast in the Sunshine State. That's only about 260,000 ballots fewer than all the mail-in ballots tallied in 2016.

PEREZ: I did have an absentee ballot, but I wasn't comfortable with everything that you hear on the news. So, I just decided to come in myself.

BROWN: Thirty percent of ballots coming from Republicans, 49 percent Democrats, and 20 percent with no party affiliation, which political experts say is a growing trend in Florida as more voters are turning their backs on both parties.

In Georgia, early voting continues to shatter records a week in. A massive 653 percent increase in absentee ballots cast by mail over 2016. Today in Colorado, vote counting begins, as does in-person voting.

TRUMP: Say this is very incorrect -- BROWN: Meanwhile, President Trump continues to give Democrats every reason to be concerned about a potential peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose to Joe Biden.

TRUMP: Then they say, if you lose will you have a friendly transition? I say I want a fair election.

BROWN: CNN is now learning that Congressional Democrats, the Biden campaign, and outside groups are working on contingency plans behind the scenes, coming up with the two-part strategy in anticipation of that very scenario. Preparing for a post-election legal battle and messaging war into combating misinformation about voting.

Pamela Brown, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[04:05:00]

CHURCH: The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a Republican attempt to require mail-in ballots be received by election day in Pennsylvania. The court says officials can count these ballots if they're received within three days of election day, even if they don't have a postmark. Lawyers for the Republicans tried to argue that accepting ballots after November 3rd would inject chaos into the election process. Pennsylvania of course is a key battleground state in this election.

Well, campaign rallies are all about creating as sense of excitement and energy around a candidate, often using music. And the President's events are no different. But now John Fogerty of Credence Clear Water Revival is demanding the Trump campaign stop using his song, Fortunate Son. The lyrics talk about avoiding the draft and paying taxes. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN FOGERTY, MUSICIAN, SINGER, AND SONGWRITER, (singing Fortunate Son): JOHN FOGERTY, MUSICIAN, SINGER, AND SONGWRITER, (singing Fortunate Son): It ain't me It ain't me I ain't no fortunate one, no

Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand Lord, don't they help themselves, y'all But when the taxman comes to the door Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yeah

It ain't me It ain't me I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Released in 1969, Fortunate Son became an anthem against the Vietnam War. Fogerty told CNN he doesn't support the current President. He also says he wrote the song to be critical of people just like Mr. Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOGERTY: One of the subjects that really ticked me off as I began to hear about Senators sons, and rich people's sons avoiding the draft or getting cushy jobs, they say, in the military, like, you know, entertainment director or something, and it just, you know, rubbed me the wrong way. I ended up writing this song. You could say I wrote this song about Donald Trump, although I didn't know him at the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, one city in China is offering some people an experimental vaccine for COVID-19. Now many are race to go try and get it without even knowing if it's safe. Back with that in just a moment.

[04:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: The Chinese city of Yiwu is offering an experimental COVID-19 vaccine to select members of the public. There are two doses for about $60 but the supply is limited, and demand is apparently very high.

CNN's David Culver is following the story from Shanghai. Good to see you, David. So, any concern that selling this experimental COVID-19 vaccine to the public without being fully tested could result in negative side effects or worse, and will they be monitoring these people?

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Rosemary, good to see you as well.

You know, you hear the word experimental, and I think you and I both would be a bit uneasy to jump in on getting this vaccine. But the reality is we're seeing a mix of emotions here. There's hesitation for some, no question, but then you have an eagerness, you have a desperation, a determination from others who want this vaccine. They want immunity against COVID-19 here.

And you've got to understand, this is not about the concerns within China because the reality is here most people are even taking off their masks. Life has come back to near normal. It's about leaving China. It's about these folks who want to be able to return to international business and education, and for that reason, they are tracking down any opportunity to get this vaccine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER (voice-over): They arrived early from all over China, folks lured to the international manufacturing hub of Yiwu city, specifically to this small community hospital. This is one of the first public locations where China's rolled out an experimental COVID- 19 vaccine. They began injecting people over the weekend. The cost, about 60 U.S. dollars for two doses.

Word spread quickly. Some showed up Monday thinking they would get a shot. Annie Choo among them.

This is something important to you. Isn't it? I asked her. Yes, she replied. Adding, because, well, if you have the vaccine it's much safer to leave the country.

For more than twenty years Choo's worked in import/export, in Chili and returned home to China amidst the outbreak. She flew to Yiwu the night before we met her. It's a two-hour flight from her home in southern China. Either and admittedly a bit desperate for immunity.

(on camera): And so, they told you they don't have any and so you have to go and find another place.

(voice-over): Hospital staff confirmed to CNN they had run out. Local officials later announced this distribution was only for those with specific foreign travel needs and preapproval. Choo was not the only one disappointed. Notice the groups of people waiting around the hospital parking lot. Some of them traveled in from neighboring provinces, wanting the vaccine.

(on camera): Yes, would you take the vaccine?

(voice-over): Originally from Syria, we met Anas Chahouta, as he pulled up with his young daughter and wife in the backseat of their car. He was curious, if not also a bit hesitant.

(on camera): If you were to walk in there, and they had it, would you take it today?

ANAS CHAHOUTA, YIWU RESIDENT: Actually, I don't know, I don't have the answer.

CULVER: As you kind of go through this main interest here, we do know folks are going in to inquire about how they might be part of this trial, essentially. Because you've got to remember, this is part of the emergency approval use granted by the Chinese government. This is not an actual release of an approved drug as of yet.

(voice-over): The vaccine distributed at this Yiwu hospital is made by Sinovac Biotech. CNN took you through the Beijing-based biotech company in August. It is more than a dozen Chinese companies working on a coronavirus vaccine. At the time of our visit in late summer, they were construct a new facility to meet the production demands, while still going through phase 3 clinical trials which have not yet concluded. It all seemed to be happening at rapid speeds.

HELEN YANG, SINOVAC YOU BIOTECH: None of the staff is sacrificing any quality of our vaccine. Because Sinovac's goal is to provide a vaccine that's good quality, good safety, good in (INAUDIBLE) to the people in the world.

CULVER: China has been trying to push past the early allegations of mishandling, cover ups and silencing of whistleblowers surrounding the initial outbreak in Wuhan. And instead, officials here have highlighted their swift and seemingly successful responses to many cluster outbreaks. The most recent Qingdao, last week following a major travel holiday.

After only a handful of confirmed cases surfaced health officials began strict contact tracing and tested more than 10 million people in less than a week, and life it seems quickly returned to near normal again.

But that's mostly within China, a bubble of sorts. For some whose livelihood is rooted in other parts of the world where cases are surging once again, their only hope may be the vaccine.

[04:15:02]

Annie Choo and others on to the next location to track one down.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER: And it's not just Yiwu, that city that we took you to there. We've also learned that Shaoxing, a city about 90 minutes away from where we are here in Shanghai is likewise rolling out a similar vaccination opportunity for folks. They're having a preapproval process, Rosemary, so essentially, they're trying to find people who have international travel needs, mostly for business. So, that shows how important the economy is in all of this.

But to your question as to, are they just giving it to these folks and not tracking them? The companies behind these vaccines and there's about 13 here in China alone -- are certainly monitoring those who are receiving the vaccine, and they're also trying to determine if they have issues going forward. In fact, right now there is a news conference underway in Beijing in which two companies are discussing the current progress of these vaccine. And they say as of now they've have had no serious issues. So, there moving forward with it.

CHURCH: Wow, that is amazing. We'll watch it very carefully. It's extraordinary how this pandemic has pushed us to do remarkable things, hasn't it? David Culver, many thanks for bringing us to up to date on the situation.

Well, urgent new restrictions are being imposed in countries across Europe as a second wave of coronavirus begins to take its toll. A sudden spike in both infections and hospitalizations has meant the Czech Republic is once again making masks mandatory. The rule applies in urban areas and for people in cars with other people who are not part of their household.

Starting Wednesday, Ireland will impose some of Europe's strictest measures. No social gatherings in homes or gardens and restaurants and bars can only offer takeout. Wales will see a new two weeklong lock down beginning Friday. Everyone will be forced to stay home except for critical workers and those in jobs where work from home is not possible.

The U.K. will conduct the first human challenge trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines at the beginning of next year. The British government is working with Irish pharmaceutical company Open Orphan on the trials, which involve deliberately infecting a participant with a disease under control conditions. Some critics call the process unethical since there is no proven cure for COVID-19.

Let's turn to CNN's Phil Black. He's following the story from London's Royal Free Hospital. So, Phil, human challenge trials, very controversial. How is this going to work exactly?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So Rosemary, a small number of volunteers will receive a potential vaccine, and a few weeks later, they will be brought here to a secure facility at London's Royal Free Hospital, and then they will be deliberately dosed with the virus. And doctors will essentially assess, watch, see what happens, and determine whether or not that potential vaccine is effective.

The idea is that this is a more efficient way to assess and identify the most promising of the many vaccines that are being developed around the world. More efficient because you're dealing with fewer volunteers and because you know with certainty that those volunteers will be exposed to the virus.

And that's the key difference between a challenge trial and regular large scale field trails where thousands, many tens of thousands of people are given a vaccine, and then released to go about their everyday lives in the hope and the assumption that they will then at some point be exposed to the virus, and that data can then be assessed.

It is controversial though, as you say. Because critics will point to the fact that the volunteers are young and healthy. They do not represent those in the community who most desperately need protection from an effective vaccine, and it is potentially risky. Because there's no guaranteed treatment for COVID-19. All of this will be closely assessed by an ethics committee. And they'll be looking at a simple calculus of risk versus reward. They will need to see that the potential reward of these trials outweighs significantly the potential risk to the volunteers who are taking part -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: and they are some very brave volunteers too. Phil Black, many thanks for brings us up to date on that.

Well, officials in Russia believe they can avoid another full lock down despite a surge in coronavirus infections. A live report for you from Moscow next.

[04:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Russia marked a new record in daily increases as it reported nearly 16,000 new COVID-19 cases Monday. Russia has seen a surge in cases since early October. But officials believe they can avoid a full lock down.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins us live from Moscow. Good to see you, Fred. So, with a new daily record of nearly 16,000 COVID cases, how do Russian officials think they can avoid any lock down here?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, first of all, you're absolutely right, they are by almost all means trying to avoid another -- or trying to avoid another national lock down. Because the last time people went through this, it was difficult for people in here Moscow and in other cities as well, who basically had to sit in their apartments for well over 2 months.

So essentially, they're trying several measures to try and avoid all of that. First of all, as far as schools are concerned, especially in the Moscow region which by far is the largest epicenter for a new infections with the coronavirus here in this country, they're telling some classes to stay at home to do distance learning rather than going to school.

And then essentially what you're seeing from the -- especially the administration here in Moscow but also in other places as well, is they're trying to keep older people especially who are of course more vulnerable to having severe cases of COVID-19, trying to get them to stay at home, rather than going to work. They're telling them to please stay in their apartments. They've also ordered businesses to have a proportion of their work force stay at home and do home office rather than come to work simply to try and avoid people from bunching up in public spaces.

[04:25:00]

And the other thing that you're really seeing and that we've certainly seen over past week and a half, this past weekend especially, is that you do see more police in public places enforcing some of these mask wearing mandates, which of course, especially in indoor areas are very important.

One of the things that the administration here in Moscow said is that for the Moscow metro system, which is very beautiful, also very, very large and has a lot of people that it transports every day, that mask wearing was almost ubiquitous over the past weekend. Which is very, very important because that was something that was a very large concern for folks here in this country.

One of the things that the Russians so far don't seem to be counting on is for their vaccine, which they approved in August, I believe, without going through the main tests for safety and efficacy for a vaccine, that that is going to be the solution in the short-term. They are saying, look, it might be available in a couple of months to the broad parts of the population but right now they say they have to get through this very difficult time without too many losses as they put it.

And one of the reasons why the central government here says they believe they can avoid a full lock down is they say over the past months they've built up hospital capacities, hospital bed capacities, and so therefore, they say that they can also deal with more people having to be hospitalized which is already happening. In fact, just yesterday there was a public event here in Moscow where two new hospitals were opened in public spaces as well -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: And of course, wearing masks is key in all of this for everyone right across the globe. Frederik Pleitgen, many thanks, appreciate it.

And thank you for your company, and I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is coming up next. You're watching CNN, have yourselves a great day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)