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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Biden Delivers Closing Argument To Voters At Rally In Georgia While Trump Sharpens Focus On Midwest And Suburban Women Voters; Experts Warn It May Not Be Clear If Coronavirus Vaccine Works Until It Is Used; Dodgers Win World Series, Star Exits Game Due To COVID. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired October 28, 2020 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: As the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, doctors warn the dangers may not be known until one is already being used.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And Los Angeles celebrates another major sports title, but a cloud hangs over the festivities -- a positive COVID test on the field.
Good morning, this is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
JARRETT: And I'm Laura Jarrett. It's about 30 minutes past the hour here in New York.
In just one week from now, the country will be waking up from Election Day. Now, we may not know who won but we do know Americans are voting early in record numbers -- about 69 million votes already cast. That's more than half of the entire vote total from 2016.
And overnight, America's terrifying new normal was once again on display. Over 73,000 new coronavirus cases reported. That's the fourth-highest number ever. Almost 227,000 Americans have died.
And yet, the White House, amazingly, is claiming credit for ending the pandemic on its list of science and technology accomplishments. That's right -- to this White House, the pandemic is over.
ROMANS: On the flip side, Joe Biden campaigning in Atlanta at a socially-distanced rally after his closing argument in Warm Springs. He's trying to expand the map to nail down 270 electoral votes and thinks a pitch for decency is the way to get there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I believe this election is about who we are as a nation, what we believe, and maybe most importantly, who we want to be. It's about our essence. It's about what makes us Americans. It's that fundamental.
I run to unite this nation and to heal this nation. I've said that from the beginning. It is badly necessary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Later today, Biden will be briefed by public health experts before he speaks about the virus and health care costs.
JARRETT: President Trump heads to Arizona today after a three-state swing through the Midwest. He's turning back the clock to win over suburban women -- not to 2106, much further back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know what else? I'm also getting your husbands -- they want to get back to work, right? They want to get back to work. We're getting your husbands back to work and everybody wants it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: If the Trump campaign is wondering why the president is struggling with women right now they should take a look at that tape. It is 2020 and yet, the president seems to think that the dynamics of women in the workplace haven't changed since he was a kid in Queens.
Not to mention, while the president is focused on husbands, the pandemic has been gobbling up the jobs that women had been doing. Six hundred seventeen thousand women left the workforce in September alone. So where is the plan to help women get back to work?
CNN's Jeff Zeleny is on the ground with the Trump campaign in Omaha.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Laura, six days now until the final voting next week on Election Day. President Trump plans to have rallies every day, multiple times a day in battleground states across this country trying to get his base supporters out.
At this late rally last night here in Omaha, Nebraska, the president was chasing one single electoral vote. Of course, Nebraska and Maine split their electoral votes by congressional districts. That is what brought the president here to Omaha, a clear sign that he is trying to turn out his base wherever he can, even here in deep-red Nebraska.
But as he talks, he was diminishing the importance of coronavirus. He said the media is simply fixated on coronavirus. But the issue here is this. Nebraska, for the fourth week in a row, has had record high cases. It's the same in Wisconsin, in Michigan, in Pennsylvania. So cases of coronavirus -- the reality of coronavirus is following him as he campaigns.
Now there is no doubt in the final six days of this race there could be twists, there could be turns. But this president knows that his path to winning reelection -- those 270 electoral votes -- is very narrow. It's why he's threading the needle in places like here in Omaha. He'll be campaigning out west today -- Laura and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right, Jeff Zeleny. Thanks for that, Jeff.
Just six days to the election. It's time for three questions in three minutes. That means it's time for our senior political analyst John Avlon.
JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
ROMANS: So, John, nice to see you this Wednesday morning.
Joe Biden, he wants to heal the nation; Donald Trump having big rallies in pandemic-stricken states. And the president wants men to go back to work -- men, the husbands, the husbands -- appealing to women.
AVLON: I can't imagine why that 1950 redux would resonate with you.
ROMANS: And we know that 617,000 women, just in September, dropped out of the labor market. It's the women who are bearing the brunt of this. Does the president not understand that? Is this how you get the women's vote?
[05:35:00]
AVLON: No, the president does not understand that. I guarantee that stat that you just cited has never crossed his particular transom. This is part of the problem of running a nostalgic campaign, which is difficult to do, especially during a pandemic.
Look -- but I do want to -- the point you started with is really key. Both candidates are making closing messages, in effect, that crystalize their campaigns.
Donald Trump is being Donald Trump. He is playing to the base. He is dividing to conquer on the Electoral College as he sees it.
Joe Biden speaking in Warm Springs yesterday and the ads he's been running during the World Series, it's the opposite of that message. He is running to unite the nation. That is his closing message. I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat, we've got to find a way to work together.
You could not have a clearer contrast in approaches, visions, and ultimately, reflections of character.
JARRETT: John, the White House is somehow amazingly claiming credit for ending the pandemic. Breaking news -- I guess the pandemic is over.
AVLON: Yes.
JARRETT: This is on some list of science and technology accomplishments. You would think it was a typo but it looks like it's not. How in the world do they think that anyone is going to buy this when
the reality of this virus is so apparent and in everyone's lives every day?
AVLON: And getting exponentially worse right now, right? We are seeing major spikes -- we discussed and Jeff Zeleny -- in so many other places this is getting worse.
And yet, the White House has a prefab paragraph to put under accomplishments because so much of their appeal is based on a reality distortion field. You know, do as I -- you know, just don't listen -- just don't look at what's happening, listen to what you're being told.
It's obviously a mistake but it's worse than that. It's an insult to the people who've died and the people who are getting sick right now in record numbers.
ROMANS: You know, we've seen these early voting numbers, John. They're historic --
AVLON: Yes.
ROMANS: -- by any measure. Half of the entire vote from 2016 is now early voting.
It started with Democratic voters. That gap has narrowed. Still, Republicans up and down the ballot are betting on strong Election Day turnout.
Was that a good strategy or did they miss an opportunity with mail-in voting, do you think?
AVLON: I mean, some of this is mail-in, some of this is early voting. It is stunning. I mean, if you look at -- look at states like Texas where you've got nine counties that have exceeded their total in 2016.
ROMANS: Right.
AVLON: Look, it cuts both ways. A lot of folks getting out early now to bank their vote. With rising pandemic levels in some states, banking on a big Election Day could be kind of risky. Look, you always want to have the votes banked rather than betting on them to come in later.
But this is historic turnout. It is a reflection of a real enthusiasm unlike last time, which was the lowest turnout in 20 years. This is historic. We are living history right now, but everybody should go and vote.
JARRETT: Sixty-nine million and there are still some days to go here --
AVLON: It's stunning.
JARRETT: -- so it is now even over yet -- six days.
All right, John, I hope you are getting plenty of sleep gearing up for this.
AVLON: Well, you know the answer to that -- no.
JARRETT: You're right.
AVLON: None of us are.
JARRETT: All right, thanks so much.
AVLON: Take care.
JARRETT: See you. All right.
Experts issuing a sobering warning overnight. It may not be clear whether coronavirus vaccines even work until after they're already being used. A team led by doctors at Oxford says protection is difficult to assess in phase-three trials because not enough volunteers are involved.
The U.S. is now averaging almost 72,000 cases per day, more than doubling in the last six weeks.
ROMANS: Wisconsin is facing a particularly dire situation there. Eighty-four percent of hospital beds are occupied. It took the state more than seven months to pass 100,000 cases and only 36 days to double that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. TONY EVERS (D), WISCONSIN: There's no way to sugarcoat it. We are facing an urgent crisis and there is an imminent risk to you, your family members, your friends, your neighbors, and the people you care about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Meantime, Denver has moved back to level-three restrictions after a sharp rise in new cases. Now, fewer people will be allowed in restaurants and in stores.
Washington, Oregon, and Nevada are joining California in a coalition to independently review the safety of a coronavirus vaccine.
And in an effort to prevent students from bringing the virus home for the holidays, the State University of New York system is preparing to test each of their 140,000 students before they leave for Thanksgiving break. Students that test positive will quarantine before leaving campus.
ROMANS: All right.
With eviction bans nearing their end, the U.S. could be facing its next housing crisis. Millions of Americans have been unable to pay some or all of their rent since the pandemic began in March.
Without additional federal aid, Moody's estimates outstanding rent payments could reach $70 billion by the end of the year. That's millions of renters owing an average $5,400. It's all due in January.
So far, eviction moratoriums have kept renters in their homes, but most expire by the end of 2020. That would leave up to 40 million Americans not only homeless but with outstanding rent bills. There's currently no plan for rental forgiveness.
A wave of evictions would also disproportionately affect people of color. They are more likely than white households to be behind on rent, according to the census.
[05:40:05]
You've got a real, real rent problem coming up at the end of this year.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JARRETT: All right.
The Dodgers win their first World Series in 32 years, but one of their star players tests positive for coronavirus during the game.
Andy Scholes has more in this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Laura.
So, Major League Baseball finishing this World Series just in time. They hadn't had a player test positive for COVID-19 the entire post- season, but one of the Dodgers' star players testing positive on the night they clinch the World Series titles.
So, third baseman Justin Turner was pulled from the game in the eighth inning after Major League Baseball learned he had tested positive in the latest round of testing.
[05:45:00]
ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that they got the results of Monday's test in the second inning. Those came back inconclusive. Samples taken from Tuesday then arrived and were run and sources told ESPN they showed up positive.
The Dodgers were leading three to one when Turner left the game in the eighth. Julio Urias striking out Willy Adames to get the final out and clinch that elusive World Series title for L.A.
Corey Seager was named World Series MVP. The Dodgers champs for the first time since 1988 and Seager saying it was tough for Turner not to be out there at the end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREY SEAGER, WORLD SERIES MVP: To take that away from him, you know, it's gut-wrenching. It hurts me. I can't imagine how he feels. If I could switch places with him right now, I would.
CLAYTON KERSHAW, PITCHER, LOS ANGELES DODGERS: I'm sure it's really hard tonight and we all feel for him, but I hope that he can take solace in the fact we're not here without him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Now, Turner tweeting after the game that he's asymptomatic and couldn't believe he couldn't be out there at the end to celebrate with his guys.
Now, Turner did eventually return to the field wearing a mask. He hugged some of his teammates and then sat next to his manager, Dave Roberts, for a team photo. He even lowered his mask a couple of times during that photo opp.
Now, the president of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, says the team was all going to be tested for coronavirus when they got back to their hotel. And, Christine, he added he's not sure actually when they're going to be able to fly back to Los Angeles pending those test results.
ROMANS: Wow, just in the nick of time, right?
SCHOLES: Yes.
ROMANS: I so hope they're all well. He said he's asymptomatic, right, so he's feeling great.
SCHOLES: Asymptomatic -- feeling good -- no -- yes.
ROMANS: All right, thanks, Andy.
All right. The United Kingdom is struggling with a spike in coronavirus cases. The city of Blackburn, just north of Manchester, reporting the highest infection rate in the country. Staffers in the area's main intensive care unit enduring abuse and unrelenting pressure with one-third of their patients dying this past weekend -- just tragic.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh just visited the hospital and he joins us live from Blackburn. What'd you see?
NICK PATON WALSH, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Absolutely, Christine, it's quite startling. The U.K. really, by some measures, hit the worst during the first wave across Europe. Now the second wave is certainly upon them and it's patchy -- certain areas hit hardest.
And this, Blackburn, has the highest infection rate for new infections in the last week in England. And nowhere more clearly do they see it than in the ICU behind me. As you said, a third of their patients dying in that unit since Friday -- eight people, themselves. Quite startling.
And the pressure upon the staff there from those locals who don't want to follow social distancing and who don't want to obey the rules, adding to the pressure on staff here that has been so relentless.
Here's what we saw.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): In this, one of Britain's hardest-hit ICUs, the worst of the pandemic isn't behind them, it's just happened.
LINDA GREGSON, MATRON IN CRITICAL CARE, ROYAL BLACKBURN HOSPITAL: We've also had eight deaths. It's been the worst weekend that we've had. And that the trouble of it (ph) because you have death and unfortunately, there is somebody to go in that bed. Change the mattress, (INAUDIBLE).
WALSH (voice-over): A third of the COVID patients in this ICU have died since Friday. There are 197 total in the hospital, 30 new this weekend.
Outside, the northern city of Blackburn, last week, had the worst rate of new infections in England.
WALSH (on camera): It's extraordinary just how frenetic, how busy this ICU ward is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Sunday afternoon it was literally patient in, stabilized. It was almost doing traffic control to make sure that they weren't banging into each other when they came in.
WALSH (voice-over): The pandemic never really eased for some who are here -- they're exhausted -- by only two weeks since March without a COVID patient.
DR. IAN STANLEY, CONSULTANT ANAESTHETIST, ROYAL BLACKBURN HOSPITAL: And it's when I see those very senior experienced nurses -- it's when I see them crying is when I don't really have an answer. But it's when they say yes, but when? When's it going to end? When are we going to get back to some degree of normality?
WALSH (voice-over): But they are all so exhausted by a general public disobeying and angry at the rules.
GREGSON: You know, we've given absolutely everything and yet, we're being called liars and we're being abused on the phone.
And there's nurses withdrawing (ph) treatment on patients and doing end-of-life on a Zoom call. And having a wife or a husband or a daughter on the other side of that camera crying and saying please, will you hold my (INAUDIBLE) hands or please, will you do whatever. And then the next telephone conversation might be somebody who (INAUDIBLE).
Unfortunately, on several occasions, we've had to stop the Zoom calls because there's been numerous relatives in a room, not social distancing. The other day there was at least 45 in a room so we had to stop it.
WALSH (voice-over): Better treatments keep the patients conscious now, able to talk clearly of how dangerous the disease is.
Retired carpenter, Jack, has no idea where he got it or why people insist on breaking the rules.
[05:50:02]
JACK RATCLIFFE, COVID PATIENT: Ridiculous. I just don't understand why they do it. They have -- they have no idea of the consequences of it, you know.
DR. BETHAN GAY, ROYAL BLACKBURN HOSPITAL: It really does weigh you down when patients and workers, really unwell, dying and dying in a very specific way. And yet, those people who know nothing about the virus saying that it's not real and it doesn't exist.
Yes, last weekend on my nights, as soon as I arrived a lady had come to the ward and unfortunately, passed away almost immediately. You know, giving some relatives a bag and a stick of a lady who has passed away in the bed in front of them, it's quite difficult. It's difficult for them and it's difficult for us as well.
WALSH (voice-over): While outside may seem to want to be less aware of the disease, inside they grow more aware of its victims' suffering and its stark random viciousness.
WALSH (on camera): What is the one thing that you've learned about this disease in the last seven or eight months?
GREGSON: You can't beat it and I hit it (ph). From the pit of my stomach, I hit it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: You know, what is startling is the U.K.'s national conversation is still very much debating the severity of the wave ahead of them here -- whether social distancing restrictions are entirely necessary. That debate rages every single day.
But there is no debate at all behind me here. Yes, certainly, one part of England, not all of it. But it is increasingly deadly it seems, this disease, to people locally here.
It seems anecdotally to the staff here a disease that outsmarts them -- that's so hard to read, as you heard there. And also to the change in the treatment they're able to give patients leaves them conscious, leaves them often in so much better condition. But still, occasionally, you prey to sudden deterioration. But it also means that relationships between the carers and the patients are stronger because they're more conscious and able to talk.
And that toll upon the staff, you saw it there -- so distinct and so palpable behind these doors here. And the real fear is they're going to see this get worse. It's so busy in there. So much busier than the ICUs you've seen around the world. It's startling to see this picking up again -- Christine. ROMANS: Nick, thank you so much for going behind those doors and showing us that story because I think you have some fatigue in this country, too. People tired of mitigating and changing their behavior. But really important to see what's really happening there behind those closed doors. Thanks, Nick.
JARRETT: All right.
The leader of the self-help group Nxivm, Keith Raniere, sentenced to 120 years in prison on Tuesday. He was convicted last year on multiple charges, including sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child, and forced labor.
Now, former Nxivm members say Raniere preyed on people with his promise his expensive self-help workshops would unlock their potential, only to be forced to provide what he called collateral, like nude photos. All of this was detailed in HBO's recent documentary, "THE VOW."
Raniere still claims he is completely innocent.
ROMANS: All right.
The U.S. Gulf Coast bracing for Zeta. The storm has restrengthened into a hurricane. Winds of 85 miles an hour. Concerns now about flooding and life-threatening storm surge all the way from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
Storm-weary residents getting sandbags ready again. They've already been battered by six storms this season.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, FORMER HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Welcome to "THE DAILY SHOW." I'm Jon Stewart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Apple is bringing back Jon Stewart to television. Five years after leaving "THE DAILY SHOW," Stewart is set to host a new hour-long current affairs show on Apple TV+. It's expected to start next year with a focus on what's happening in the world and Stewart's advocacy work.
I can't believe it's been five years.
ROMANS: I know.
All right, looking at markets around the world right now, a tough start to the Wednesday session. A mixed performance in Asia, but Europe has opened sharply lower here.
And on Wall Street, futures look like they are set for another tumble this morning. Look, investors are concerned that U.S. coronavirus cases are rising with no stimulus in sight right now.
The Dow and the S&P 500 closed lower yesterday. Tech stocks, though, lifted the Nasdaq higher.
Speaking of tech, the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google head to Capitol Hill today. There, they will face scrutiny over how they're handling misinformation.
Tech companies have been thriving during the pandemic, including Microsoft. Microsoft saw big sales last quarter as homebound Americans bought up cloud services and video games. Cloud revenue rose 20 percent from last year as many people worked from home. Personal computing up, largely due to Xbox sales.
All right, deck the halls with 11 herbs and spices? KFC is already bringing back a viral holiday item, the KFC 11 herbs and spices fire log. It's a yule log designed to make your house smell like fried chicken. KFC is launching it early and selling it on walmart.com.
[05:55:02]
Of course, I prefer real fried chicken that you can eat. That's what I like my house to smell like.
JARRETT: Yes. It's one thing if your house smells like it because you're actually cooking it. I think I might have to do a pass on that one.
ROMANS: Thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans.
JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: Six days now until the final voting next week on Election Day.
BIDEN: This election is about who we are as a nation. I run to unite this nation and to heal this nation.
TRUMP: COVID -- you turn on the news, COVID, COVID. You know when they're going to stop talking about it so much? November fourth, you're right -- November fourth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's showing up at these reckless rallies and not only is he spreading misinformation, he's also spreading the virus.
