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Biden: Trump Quit On America With His Mishandling Of Pandemic; Trump And Biden Must-Win States 10 Days Until Election; Trump Hits Biden On Fracking In Midwestern Battlegrounds; Rep. John Garamendi (D- CA) Is Interviewed About The Trump And Biden Race; More Than 52 Million Americans Across The Country Have Already Cast Their Ballots In Early Voting; Community Fridge Feeds Hungry New Yorkers During Pandemic. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired October 24, 2020 - 12:00   ET

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

[12:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He hasn't done a thing. But ladies and gentlemen, we're going to build roads, bridges that are crumbling. Climate change is accelerating more frequently and extreme weather events. Just look at the wildfires in California, the hurricanes along the Gulf coast.

My state Delaware, one of the lowest lying states above sea level on the verge of being flooded. According to the best data we have, southeast Pennsylvania including Bucks County is warming faster than any part of the state. How long before a flood start picking up along the Delaware River?

We can do something about this and we better get it done. We better get it done. And by the way, we don't do things like those chumps out there with the microphone are doing, the Trump guys. It's about decency. Look, we got to come together.

I was reminded that earlier this month when I went to the sacred ground of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln told us a house divided cannot stand. But remember what Donald Trump said when COVID-19 deaths reached 200,000 in America, he said if you look at the blue states with the Democratic governors and just look at the red states with Republican governors, we're doing well.

Well, first of all it's not true. The great rises have been in most of the red states. But that's not the point. Think of what he's saying about what's going on in America. He's saying if you live in Pennsylvania, you're not his problem. If you live in a red state, Alabama, he may think about you.

He's not responsible to your family's wellbeing if you're in a blue state. Folks, I don't see the president that way. I don't see it that way. I don't see America that way. I'm running as a proud Democrat but I will govern as an American president for everybody.

I'll work as hard for those, I'll work as hard for those who don't support me as those should do including those chumps with the microphone out there. Look, that's the job of a president, the duty to care for everyone, the duty to heal and you too have a sacred duty and that's to vote.

It matters. Pennsylvania matters. So please vote. Help, get out the vote. Visit iwillvote.com/pa. Return your ballot as soon as possible, make sure everyone you know does the same. Folks, as Bobby Case, you know as I've served with the senate can tell you, my colleges would always kid me as I remember one sentence from President Kennedy's speech about going to the moon.

He answered the question that wasn't asked but was implied. He said we're going to do it because we Americans, we refuse to postpone, I refused to postpone the work we must do. There's nothing beyond our capacity. There is no limit to America's future. The only thing that can tear America apart is American itself.

Look folks everybody knows you Donald Trump is, let's show him who we are. We choose hope over fear. We choose unity over division, science over fiction, truth over lies and yes, honor and integrity over lying.

So it's time to stand up. Let's take back our democracy now. We can do this. There's nothing we cannot do. God bless you and may God protect our troops. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: All right, Democratic nominee Joe Biden there at a drive-in rally there in Bucks county, Pennsylvania focusing on the hardships that have come from coronavirus and the need for a new plan to tackle it. Promising tax relief to the middle class, preserving or perhaps even resurrecting the medical care plan that he and President Obama he said worked so hard to get.

And saying with just 10 days until Election Day, it is go time. Joining me right now CNN Political Correspondent M.J. Lee and CNN business lead writer Matt Egan. M.J., let me begin with you to the crowd there and Joe Biden, kind of reiterating much of what we have been hearing from him particularly since debate night but talk to me about the importance of where he is with this message.

M.J. LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes Fred, let me just help, set the scene for a second. We are at Bucks county community college and where the former Vice President was speaking is actually a little ways behind me, behind this parking lot.

[12:05:00]

And if you hear any honking, if you see any Trump flags, it's because some 20 to maybe 30 minutes ago, a bunch of folks who are clearly Trump supporters and Trump voters have driven into this parking lot to show their show of support for the president, waving a lot of flags and so, this is kind of emblematic of the kind of state and area that we're in, right?

And it is the reason that we heard Joe Biden as you mentioned off the top, saying it's go time, it's game day and this election might come down to the state of Pennsylvania as we have been talking about all morning. This is a state that President Trump won and won narrowly back in 2016 and this time around, Joe Biden and Democrats are hoping that they can shift that state back into the win category for Democrats.

Recent polls have shown Biden with a lead in this state but as you can tell, even just with visual force of support from Trump supporters again just goes to highlight that this is a critical state and is an important battleground state for Biden and as far as just what we heard from the former Vice President, you're absolutely right, that his focus - the focus of his speech of what was central to his speech was the coronavirus pandemic.

And it was really a blistering repudiation of what he believes has been sort of the failures from the president. You know he said we have had some 200,000 - more than 200,000 people die from the virus across the country. He noted that in recent days we have seen a record number of new cases per day and yet, the president is out there saying, we are turning a corner.

I thought it was also interesting that Biden said we don't want this to be a superspreader event, clearly a jab at the kinds of events that President Trump has been holding. Again, a very stark contrast from this kind of drive-in rally that we're seeing Joe Biden holding Fred.

WHITFIELD: Right. So not to be confused, folks just now joining in M.J. Lee is actually at the drive-in rally for Joe Biden even though the backdrop, now you have a lot of people who've driven up who have Trump signs and Joe Biden making reference to them, calling them the chumps with the microphones you know in the back, not to be distracted by.

All right, so Matt well Joe Biden covered a lot. For a moment it sounded like he was not going to go in the area of the fracking which is what you and I were talking about, you know right before going to Joe Biden but he did. He tried to offer some clarity instead saying you know, I'm not banning fracking in Pennsylvania or anywhere else.

Instead he'll make the effort to protect jobs. Why was that important for him to offer that kind of clarity particularly after President Trump has made fracking and Joe Biden's position on that an issue?

MATT EGAN, CNN LEAD WRITER: Right Fred, so Joe Biden had to do some clean up there as you mentioned, he said let me be clear, I am not banning fracking in Pennsylvania or anywhere else and he had to address this because fracking is a really big deal. It's a big employer in Pennsylvania and Joe Biden has kind of confused his message here.

Remember, climate activists they want to ban fracking to save the planet and some leading Democrats who ran for president including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, they did run on a plan to ban fracking.

Joe Biden however his plan never included that. He has taken a more moderate stance. He's talked about banning new drilling on federal lands but during the debate, he sort of confused the message so it was important that he addressed that.

He also and I think this is also important as you know he's got a sort of balance the jobs' impact here with the climate crisis and so he did bring that up. He said you know climate change is accelerating extreme weather events. He talked about wildfires out in the west and flooding and then he brought it home to Pennsylvania.

And he said, listen, you know how long until the Delaware River starts flooding. He talked about warming in Bucks County, so I think he's trying to thread the needle here and he also talked about the importance of jobs. He brought up how his great grandpa was a coal mining engineer in Pennsylvania and he learned that you know a job is about more than paycheck, it's about dignity and respect. And he said that's a lesson is never going to forget so he's clearly trying to balance the jobs impact with the climate crisis.

WHITFIELD: All right Matt Egan, M.J. Lee, thank you so much. Appreciate that. So you see Joe Biden is really going to be crisscrossing the state of Pennsylvania while the President of United States is kind of crisscrossing the map from the south east to the Midwest. He is about to arrive right there in North Carolina where he's set to speak at a rally. Dianne Gallagher is there. The stage is set. Lot of people in that kind of arena setting.

[12:10:00]

What's the expected message? What's the expectation there?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the expected message is he needs these people in North Carolina to come out and vote for him but they're also dealing in North Carolina much like the other states that are on his hattrick if you will, today, Ohio and Wisconsin with record number of COVID-19 infections.

Yesterday was the highest number of one-day totals of new infections in the state of North Carolina and so you can probably see behind me, there are plenty of people sitting very close together, there's a smattering of masks here but not a whole lot of social distancing.

Now look Fred, there's another message here and it's very specific to the county that we are in. Robson county North Carolina is one of the most diverse counties in the entire nation and it is a swing county in a swing state. Robson County went for President Obama in 2008 and 2012 but went for President Trump in 2016.

And he's trying to see if he can recreate that magic. A big push is the recognition, the federal recognition that he now says he supports for the Lumbee Indian tribe. They're the largest non-federally recognized tribe in the west - east of Mississippi. He says he supports it now. Fred, Joe Biden said that he supported that back on October 8.

WHITFIELD: All right, we will see whose voice seems to resonate loudest among that tribe so Dianne, President Trump also you know casting his own ballot today in person instead of mailing it in as he did it in the spring during the primary so why did, what's the explanation behind why the President chose this manner?

GALLAGHER: The president said he chose this manner because he thought it was more secure. I'm going to let you listen to what he says but I want to make it very clear, voting by mail is very secure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a very secure vote, much more secure than when you send in a ballot, I can tell you that. Everything was perfect, very strict. Right by the rules. When you send in your ballot, could never be like that, could never be secure like that. They've done a fantastic job over here. Great people inside so but it's an honor to be voting. It's an honor to be in this great area which I know so well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: Yes, just no evidence to back up what the president says. Voting by mail is very secure. Here in North Carolina, more than half a million people have already voted by mail, Fred. More than 16 percent of those are Republicans registered in this state and so was they're dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases, many people are still considering voting early in person like the president but also sending in both mail-in ballots.

WHITFIELD: All right, 50 million and counting have already taken advantage of the early voting opportunities. Mail and in person across the country. Dianne Gallagher, thank you so much. All right, coming up two drug makers restart vaccine test in the U.S. but we still don't know how the volunteers developed a serious health issue. Dr. Mathew Heinz will offer his perspective straight ahead.

Also ahead, long lines and early voting records shattered across the country so are coronavirus prevention message working at the polls. Then later, as Americans await for a stimulus deal, two teachers take matters into their own hands, creating a community fridge to make sure families don't go hungry. They'll join me live next.

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[12:15:00]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Johnson and Johnson is now taking steps to resume its coronavirus vaccine trial in the United States, nearly two weeks after one of the participants fell ill with an unexplained illness. The company awaiting approval to restart the trial in the coming days after finding no clear cause for the participants recording now serious medical event.

And the FDA is also authorized AstraZeneca to resume a human vaccine trial after a volunteer died. Joining me now to discuss is Dr. Matthew Heinz, hospital physician and internist in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Heinz, it's good to see you. So should Americans feel comfortable about these pauses and then restart? DR. MATTHEW HEINZ, HOSPITAL PHYSICIAN AND INTERNIST: Absolutely. In

fact, this is exactly how the process is supposed to work. There's a lot of trial and error and the vaccine making process is very complicated and it often doesn't work out. So it's very important that we see these companies taking the appropriate pauses for safety and to make sure that there's not a connection between the vaccine itself and whatever it is they're observing in terms of the serious illness that they recently - recently described.

That that's not positive situation so this is very normal and I'm happy to hear they're taking these precautions.

WHITFIELD: Even though there are you know, there are setbacks I guess. That's why it is a trial. So Dr. Francis - yes, Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institute of Health is expressing concerns about the trepidation many Americans you know have about getting vaccinated. Dr. Collins warning that the coronavirus could be here for years if only half of Americans take the vaccine. So how concerned are you about this?

HEINZ: Absolutely and that is something that we have fortunately have seen just quite - kind of political contexts that we've seen with coronavirus which we do not see with strokes and heart attacks, you know or even flu. Hopefully, everyone's gotten their flu shot, not really very - this isn't something that people usually argue too much about politically.

Same thing, we have to get people to the point where they're comfortable taking a COVID vaccine once those are FDA approved and available and making sure that we can get to a level where it can't spread around randomly like it is right now.

WHITFIELD: So the U.S. has not joined the World Health Organization's coronavirus vaccine initiative but Dr. Collins says you know the nation still needs to be on board with the idea.

[12:20:00]

How important is it you know to have the World Health Organization behind the efforts that American scientists, doctors are making?

HEINZ: You know, I've been pretty dismayed at some of the steps that I have - that we've seen from the administration in terms of trying to pull out of the World Health Organization and not fully embracing the World Health Organization and not only with COVID but just in general and it is very important, it is vitally important that moving forward, that that we do that.

So that American citizens are able to get the latest information, the best information and so that what we're finding out can help to inform you know others across the world that are working to end this terrible viral pandemic as soon as possible and that's through collaboration globally.

WHITFIELD: I know you don't like to get political but we are 10 days away from Election day, you know and one of the Vice President's priorities, Joe Biden has been saying to tackle the pandemic, it includes expanding access to testing, delivering on a free vaccine. He even likes the idea that you know there would be a federal mandate state to state on wearing a masks.

Are those ideas that could make a significant impact on the virus, where it's going how long it will stay?

HEINZ: Oh yes, absolutely and what the Vice President is describing is a comprehensive national strategy which looks at testing and looks of course at a viral surveillance to the testing process, making sure those tests are happening where they need to be happening and when we find folks or hot spots basically, we get those folks isolated.

And that that is happening all across the country, everywhere and should be happening and that when is available and approve that there is a distribution to - in a priority probably starting with health care workers, first responders, within those who are most vulnerable and those who are caring for those most vulnerable, getting these folks the vaccine when it becomes available and overall, just having that national strategy which to this point unfortunately, we have lacked and including mandating masks if folks are truly not wearing masks in certain states then that really has to be looked at as well.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Matthew Heinz, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much and be well.

HEINZ: My pleasure, you too.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. All right, still ahead, President Trump and Joe Biden have two very different views of the pandemic so what does a Biden surrogate have to say about that? I'll talk with Congressman John Garamendi about coronavirus, election security and so much more, coming up.

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[12:25:00]

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WHITFIELD: Hard to believe but Americans have just ten more days to choose who they want to lead the country out of a worsening coronavirus crisis. The U.S. is now reporting its highest number of new infections in one day since the pandemic started. More than 83,000 new cases added yesterday and as we near Election day, both presidential candidates are taking polar opposite approaches to how they plan on dealing with the pandemic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We're rounding the turn with or without the vaccine. We have the vaccines, they're going to be great but with or without, we're rounding the turn. Normal life, that's all we want, fully resuming.

BIDEN: We're not learning to live with it. We're learning to die with it. This is a dark winter ahead. Already more than 220,000 people in the United States of America have lost their lives to this virus. 220,000 empty chairs at dinner tables all across this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, joining me right now Congressman John Garamendi of California. He was one of the first members of Congress to endorse Joe Biden and is now working as a surrogate for the Biden campaign. Congressman, good to see you.

REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (D-CA): Good to be with you Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So Joe Biden you know is warning of a "dark winter ahead" you know for American voters want to be inspired at election time. Is there a danger with using language that may scare Americans or is that the type of straight talk needed?

GARAMENDI: Every successful president in a crisis talking straight to the public, giving them the facts is going to be successful and that's precisely what Biden during that debate. We are headed into a dark winter. 83,000 today and the hospitalizations are going up. Yesterday and here's where real leadership is shown.

Yesterday Biden gave in the remarkable and critically important speech about how he will crush the virus beginning the day after he wins the election, bringing together the governors, putting in place the full power of the president of the government, all of its administrative pieces and on the Inauguration Day sign the legislation to make it happen.

The virus can't be crushed. If we all work together and when it is, we can restart the economy. The economy isn't going to get going again as long as this virus is raging across the country so Biden's plan was clearly laid out yesterday and every detail that is necessary.

[12:30:04]

Unfortunately, the President is going exactly the opposite direction, bouncing around the country spreading the virus. It's unconscionable, but it is his reality. And his reality, unfortunately, is that we're going to live with the virus. And all of the deaths we got to have -- we've got to have the Biden plan in place right now.

WHITFIELD: The President is dotting the map within person, you know, rallies today, along the east coast, southeast, and even the Midwest. But earlier in South Florida, he cast his in-person, you know, ballot today, early voting. 50 million Americans have cast their ballots early. What's the impact, in your view of the President of the United States, planting seeds of doubt about the safety and security of mail- in ballots? He did that today, he's done it before, but he did it today, just prior to casting his ballot.

GARAMENDI: Well, he didn't do the same thing last -- earlier this year when he cast his vote by mail in the primary in Florida. The reality is he's playing a horribly dangerous game, bringing into doubt the sanctity of the American election. Putin could not be happier. Putin has been trying for four or five years now to cast doubt about the American election. And now, Iran is also piling on. And the President is simply there helping them along the way.

In fact, in fact, mail-in ballots are a secure, safe and appropriate way to vote. You can go to the polls and millions of Americans are doing that also, both are secure. Both are neither are subject to fraud in any significant way. The fact of the matter is mail-in ballots work. Now, President with the Post Office, with his rhetoric over the last several months, is casting that doubt.

And as I said a moment ago, Putin is delighted, Putin doesn't have to do it. The fact of the matter is the President is doing it for Putin. The American democracy is at stake in this election. And we need to power through, we need to do everything we can so that every vote counts. And when we get a new president, a new Senate and House, we must pass voter security laws so that every person has -- that has the right to vote can vote safely and securely and every vote be counted. We just cannot have this democracy disrupted as the President is doing right now.

WHITFIELD: Congressman Garamendi, the President on the campaign trail, you know, continues to, you know, accuse Biden of wanting to get rid of fossil fuels, such as oil and fracking, after Biden said during the debate that he wants to transition away from fossil fuels. And then Biden said just moments ago in Pennsylvania that he's not banning fracking in Pennsylvania or anywhere else. But is the damage already done giving Trump an opening to, you know, slam Biden?

GARAMENDI: Well, certainly Trump's going to try to do that. But the reality is Biden has been very, very clear and the Republicans and the President have distorted his position. Now, Biden's position happens to be the position of the major American auto manufacturers. They are transitioning to electric vehicles. Certainly we talk about Tesla, but we're not. But we need to talk about the fact that G.M., Chrysler, and Ford are all transitioning.

In fact, the entire world is transitioning to electric vehicles. If we stay with the gas guzzlers, we will lose our auto industry. We're going to have to move to a different transportation economy. And that's what Joe Biden recognizes and understands, and that's where his policy is driving us.

WHITFIELD: All right. Before I let you go, any update on any hope for a stimulus plan for so many Americans who are suffering, who are desperate for some assistance? We certainly see an urgency in the Senate for confirmation of the next Supreme Court justice. But is there urgency on this stimulus plan?

GARAMENDI: Well, you just pointed out a very significant dichotomy as to who thinks what's important. The Senate thinks it's important to confirm a Supreme Court justice, the House of Representatives, the Democrats, we want a stimulus plan. We voted out two stimulus plans already. Our Speaker Pelosi is negotiating every day with the White House. The Senate is absent.

Nevertheless, what we have to do is do it right. We don't need more money going to the corporations to the wealthy. We need that money to go to Main Street, to the small businesses, to mom and pop out there. And we need money for local governments so that they can actually do the testing, tracing and provide the health care and the money for the first responders.

[12:35:13]

All of that is necessary. That's what we need. We've got to get this done. Can we do it before the election? Yes, if the Republicans and if the White House would agree to the basic things that I just said. Take care of the people, families first.

WHITFIELD: Congressman John Garamendi, thank you so much. Continue to be well. Appreciate it.

GARAMENDI: And you too.

All right, Election Night in America, and our special coverage starts Tuesday November 3rd at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, and we'll be right back.

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WHITFIELD: Fueled by the fear of a pandemic and the possibility, the Post Office won't be able to handle mail-in ballots. Early voters are turning out in record numbers across the country.

[12:40:05]

More than 52 million Americans have already voted in the 2020 presidential election. We have correspondents in both states. And CNN's Rosa Flores is in Miami, CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro joining us from Queens, New York where early voting started today. So Evan, what are you seeing there?

EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Fred. This is the first day of early voting in New York. I'm outside the library in Jackson Heights, Queens. The doors open at 10. The lines snakes all the way around the block. People waiting about three hours in line to vote today. I'm getting reports from across the city that that's happening everywhere.

Now, here in Jackson Heights, we're getting some insights as to why people are lining up like that. This is one of the hardest hit areas by the pandemic back in the spring. And what happened here in the spring is fueling people to come out and make their voice heard today. I spoke to one of them in line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people lost jobs, a lot of people, unfortunately, passed away due to COVID. Every day, if you walk throughout different areas of this community, there's food pantry lines that are just as long as this line. So, people are outraged. We need support for the Latinos. And this is why we're here. We're using our voice, we're using our right and we have to vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MCMORRIS-SANTORO: So, this morning, I've seen first time voters I've seen longtime voters and I've gotten the same message from all of them. What's fueling this turnout today is anger. They wanted to have their voice heard all year, and now they're getting their chance and they're doing it, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, that's in New York. Let's go to Florida now. Rosa Flores, what are you hearing and seeing in Miami?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, this is the longest line that we found in the Miami area. Walk with me and I'll show you around. You can see that this lines, it's around the building. There are dots on the floor to facilitate social distancing.

Here in the state of Florida, 5.2 million people have already voted. Here's the breakdown. More than 3.5 million have voted by mail that shatters the 2016 total by more than 790,000. 1.7 million have voted early. And from talking to people here, they say that there are different reasons why they wanted to vote for (INAUDIBLE), it was about good versus evil.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a very important decision that we have to make this year. It's a matter of good against evil, I would say for this country. It's extremely important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: And as we take another live look, you can see that the line wraps around the building, Fred. This is the first day of voting early that's available across the state of Florida in all 67 counties, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Wow, day one on this Saturday. All right, thank you so much. Rosa Flores, Evan McMorris-Santoro, appreciate both of you.

So, this highly charged atmosphere of this election cycle has city and federal authorities across the country bracing for possible unrest on Election Day, going so far as to rehearse potential disaster scenarios. CNN National Security Correspondent Vivian Salama is following these developments and joining us now from the nation's capital. So, Vivian, what are you hearing?

VIVIAN SALAMA, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Fred, contingency planning isn't new surrounding election, especially a general election and, of course, security in D.C. is always pretty tight when we do have a general. But the potential for uncertainty surrounding the results immediately on election night has been federal, state and local authorities on high alert. And they're taking a lot of precautions and have been planning for almost a year for this upcoming election night.

And so, we have the Secret Service, the FBI and other federal agencies that are getting new equipment, even laser blocking equipment for the Secret Service and other things for the potential that there could be some unrest surrounding within protests that just basically spin out of control. And so, what authorities have been telling me is that either way, there are several scenarios if President Trump wins, if Vice President Biden wins, or if we have no results at all on election night, the potential for maybe left-wing groups -- very far left-wing or very far right-wing groups, kind of co-opting these protests and trying to turn them violent.

Now, of course, people have the First Amendment right to protest, and so, law enforcement officials are trying to respect that, be mindful of that, while also making sure that other groups don't try to take advantage of that and foment some violence in the streets. And so, you have the Secret Service already training and parks around the White House already sealing off to the public in the hope that they can kind of mitigate and control the crowds come election night. And so, a lot of preparations underway here in our nation's capital, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Vivian Salama, thank you so much. We'll be right back.

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[12:49:45]

WHITFIELD: All right, right now, two major issues are dominating the debate on Capitol Hill, but only one of them is actually getting traction and seeing urgency this hour. This weekend, lawmakers are preparing for a vote on Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court confirmation. Republicans want her on the bench before Election Day. But with millions of Americans unable to pay rent, mortgage and put food on the table, the need for new stimulus help is desperate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[12:50:10]

STEVEN MNUCHIN, TREASURY SECRETARY: We've made lots of progress and lots of areas but there's still some significant differences that we're working.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: We put pen to paper, we're writing the bill. And, hopefully, we'll be able to resolve some of the attributes (ph). We could do that before the election if the President wants to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: My next guests see the struggle firsthand. They created a community refrigerator in the Bronx, New York so families can get food for free. Daniel Zauderer and Charlotte Alvarez are also teachers. Good to see both of you.

DANIEL ZAUDERER, CO-CREATOR, MOTT HAVEN COMMUNITY FRIDGE: Thank you so much for having us.

WHITFIELD: So Daniel, you first, what inspired this act?

ZAUDERER: Sure. So, this act was really inspired by witnessing firsthand the suffering of the families that we work with in the Mott Haven community of the Bronx. So, our communities are mostly undocumented. 80 -- about 80 percent of our families are undocumented. 95 percent of our students are not only reduced price lunch, but are completely free lunch. So, we live in a community with so many struggles.

And when the pandemic hit, it was just crisis mode for so many of our families. And because they're undocumented, many of them felt like they had nowhere to turn, they feared reaching out to pantries and these other sources of food. So, Charlotte and I just knew that we had to do something.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And Charlotte, you know, thank goodness, children are honest, they will tell it like it is. So, clearly, a lot of kids, I mean, you all are teachers, you're hearing it firsthand from these kids, what their worries are, what their needs are, and is that also in part, what inspired this, what let you know, you know, how great the need was?

CHARLOTTE ALVAREZ, CO-CREATOR, MOTT HAVEN COMMUNITY FRIDGE: Thank you again so much for having us on the show. We've been so moved by all the support that we've gotten in the past three weeks. As teachers, yes, we talk a lot with our students, and they are feeling the brunt of this pandemic. They're -- you know, a lot of them are just concerned, and it affects the way that they're learning and the way that they're interacting in school. And we just saw the need for providing food as our biggest need right now.

You know, we work in a middle school, South Bronx, and it really (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: So, Daniel, tell me how it works. You've got this refrigerator. You know, where is it? How is it that families can come and either get food out or perhaps even put food in to help other people? What's the system that you created?

ZAUDERER: Yes. Sure. So, the first thing that I really want to emphasize here is that it's a total community partnership. So, it wasn't just me and Charlotte, I brought it to the Bronx Community Foundation and they introduced me to a community advocate named Amanda Septimo. And together, the three of us reached out to a local bodega, called Chickie's (ph) Mini Market. They've been in the local Mott Haven community for 50 years. They're a Dominican family. And they decided to host our refrigerator outside of their store.

Now, their refrigerator is literally open 24/7, it's chained to the street. And it's a freestanding 24/7 access to food, no questions asked. So, anybody can take produce (ph) or food inside the refrigerator. And anybody can also leave and donate to the refrigerator. And it's completely all access.

WHITFIELD: Charlotte, how do you know it's making a difference? What kind of stories have you heard? What have you seen in people who are benefiting from this free fridge?

ALVAREZ: Right. So, something that has moved us incredibly as we spend time with the fridge is the agency and self-advocacy that it's cultivated within the community. There's a lot of members that love being around the fridge. And I spoke with one lady who actually collects food for a neighbor fresh produce, who's the neighbors currently battling some health issues with her kidney, and she relies on this fresh produce so that she can make her health sheets every morning, and I was just so moved by the neighbor coming to provide that for her neighbor.

And, yes, so there's a lot of people just coming together around the fridge and helping other neighbors that are in need as well.

WHITFIELD: Well, thanks to the generosity of you and your entire team making this happen. I know a lot of folks are incredibly grateful. Charlotte Alvarez, Daniel Zauderer, thank you so much for what you're doing. Appreciate it.

[12:55:00]

ZAUDERER: Thank you so much for having us. We just really hope that people can get involved in their own local community fridge movements. If they want to learn more about the fridge movement, they can go to our website at motthavenfridge.com and donate to our fundraiser. We just need to spread the word and help each other, help neighbors, keep feeding neighbors.

WHITFIELD: Great. Give that website one more time, because I know there's also a GoFundMe page, but give me give us that name again.

ZAUDERER: Yes, so it's motthavenfridge, M-O-T-T H-A-V-E-N F-R-I-D-G- E.com. And there, you'll get information about the community fridge movement as a whole. So --

WHITFIELD: Great.

ZAUDERER: -- we want to just encourage people out there that anybody can start a community fridge. All it takes is a local business willing to host a fridge outside.

WHITFIELD: So nice.

ZAUDERER: And that means there were more hungry families, so.

WHITFIELD: All right. Daniel, Charlotte, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Of course, we've got more news in a moment. But first, California is struggling with its worst wildfire season on record for the thousands of people who lost their homes. 2019 CNN Hero, Woody Faircloth is working to provide them with RVs a shelter.

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WOODY FAIRCLOTH, DONATING RVS TO CAMP FIRE SURVIVORS: Unfortunately, this fires really affected a lot of first responders, six of the seven volunteer firefighters and Berry Creek, California lost their homes, including the chief. And so, Luna (ph) and I did what we do. We sourced a couple of donated RVs and we headed out to California. We delivered one to Chief Reed Rankin.

CHIEF REED RANKIN, BERRY CREEK VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER: I just can't say thank you enough, but thank you. I deeply appreciate this. We won't be coming on here another month and a half, and at least we got somewhere to be.

FAIRCLOTH: You know, he loves his community.

RANKIN: It's huge. I mean, I just don't have much words, but it's huge.

FAIRCLOTH: A couple thousand of his neighbors are left homeless. 15 people were killed in the fire. And, you know, they've been through a lot but the Chief is still out there every day on the line fighting the fire.

RANKIN: I can start over somehow and I just got to get everything done up here and get the fire completely out, get people back in and see the stuff, then I can start trying to figure out what I'm going to do. But I'm definitely standing Berry Creek, I'm definitely going to somehow rebuild. Hopefully, FEMA will help us out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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