Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Early data Show COVID-19 Vaccine More Than 90 Percent Effective; Biden Says Combating Pandemic Will Be His Top Priority; Top Republicans Backing Trump's False Claims Of Fraud. Aired 10:00-11a ET
Aired November 09, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:01:20]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will name the group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisors to help take the
Biden-Harris colored planet converted into an action blueprint.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leaders from all around the world congratulating President-elect Joe Biden. But a few have remained silent as President
Trump refuses to concede.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The President wants to take this show on the road and the President has continued to push these baseless accusations that this
election is fraudulent.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Trump has not lost. Do not concede, Mr. President. Fight hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, the dust from the American election barely settling and we'll get to all of that this hour. But right
now we are following breaking news that is eclipsing at this hour. A potential game changer on the cure for the pandemic. I'm Becky Anderson.
Hello and welcome to your two-hour news fest. This is CONNECT THE WORLD.
One of the most powerful drugs companies in the world, Pfizer issuing early data showing its coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective.
Remember, 50 percent or more considered very strong. America's top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci telling CNN that it's
extraordinarily good news. Here's the Pfizer CEO speaking to CNN a short while ago. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERT BOURLA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PFIZER: Ninety percent it's game changer. 90 percent now you're hoping to have a tool in your war against
this pandemic that could be significantly affected. How long this protection will last is something that we don't know right now. But it's
part of the objectives of the study. We will follow up the 44,000 people that they received, they are part of this study for two years.
And during this follow up, obviously, we will be looking also the durability of the immune responses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it's needed more than ever, of course. Case numbers soaring everywhere, including the U.S. two levels never seen before. And the U.S.
President-elect Joe Biden vowing to make fighting COVID-19 the top priority in his incoming administration. I got to tell you, U.S. stocks are going
wild today, the Dow is up just under 4-1/2 percent as we speak. That's over 1000 points in early trading. It's actually off its highs.
Futures soared immediately after this news ahead of the opening on the big board. And that follows, of course big gains overnight in global markets.
And last week back end on the anticipation that Joe Biden would win the election. There's bring in Julia Chatterley who was in New York watching
these markets and talk about tearing out the gates and no real surprise when you consider this virus which is a major risk to the economy and
markets.
So news of a potential vaccine of course, the panacea that we have all been waiting on, Julia.
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Light at the end of a very, very dark COVID-19 tunnel. It is early days but investors
never wait around for that. They react immediately. I called it vaccine (INAUDIBLE) today. I mean stocks globally impacted by this as you said
we've got four, five percent gains that the Dow just easing back slightly a little bit here. We were at record highs, fresh record highs earlier.
We are and remain at record highs for the S&P 500. No surprise that what we're seeing here is these gains driven by growth type stocks. So I'm
talking about tourism, travel, all the things that we would love to go back to if we had a vaccine and the global economy could get back to some form
of normality.
[10:05:08]
CHATTERLEY: Just to give you a sense of one of these carnival, the cruise lines currently up 32 percent in the session, better perspective, it's
still down around 65 percent year to date. So there's a lot of recovery that's still required in these stocks. But that's not curbing enthusiasm.
Today, Europe, also up six to seven percent. Oil, of course, one of the big determinants of global growth, that seeing eight to 10 percentage point
gains in the -- in the session as well, Becky.
There is just huge optimism and it's adding to the optimism that we were seeing. And you mentioned that as well, the election enthusiasm that we've
seen, for the last several sessions, since we sort of decided, I think that the prospect of this election result is divided government in a blue White
House and investors liking that too. So there's a double whammy here.
ANDERSON: Yes. Let's just explain why global sucks, as you rightly point out, it already notched up significant gains out of the open on Wall
Street. This Biden victory, of course, providing a shot in the arm that investors want. And what they want, of course, is a bit of clarity over
uncertainty. That's always good for the markets. And it doesn't matter which side of the political aisle investors may sit on.
The sort of, you know, the kind of short-term relief is palpable in these markets, isn't it? The question is what happens next? And as we move
through the next sort of 70 odd days and into a Biden administration, these markets, of course will sit back and look at what the economic plan will be
going forward, whether or not the U.S. gets a stimulus plan which is so sorely needed at this point.
And what that may mean for the economy going forward. And of course, that may change the equation about how people feel about the U.S. and its stock
markets in the long term, correct?
CHATTERLEY: Absolutely. And I have to say the only thing we were certain about going into this election was that there would be a period of
uncertainty. And that's what we got. So, investors, I think, are also playing a tails I win heads I win type scenario as well. I mean, we were
talking about a blue wave being optimistic for stock markets, if there was a Democratic sweep, and now we're optimistic about the prospect of a
divided government and not seeing greater regulation and tax rises as a result.
I think one of the risks that we're starting to talk about here and we'll continue to talk about is what happens in the State of Georgia, the fact
that there's going to be run off elections there, and it could therefore see two seats, one by the Democrats, and that would give the Democrats the
balance of power in Congress, it would be good for the stimulus negotiations. It might be worse, longer term if we see tax rises and we see
greater regulation.
But quite frankly, for now, Becky, everything seems to indicate higher for investors and they're not asking the tough questions yet.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Absolutely. Julia, always a pleasure. Thank you. Julia is on the markets for you that. Dow Jones Industrial average, very
much reflecting I have to say, the state of the European markets and some of those Asian markets, not all of them, but some of those Asian markets in
their trading day, which of course is ahead of the U.S. trading day. All right. Well, that's the story for you, my goodness.
There are of course, jewel fights going on. In America. today. The new U.S. President-elect Joe Biden making the coronavirus pandemic his top priority
as he starts his transition to the White House. And President Donald Trump refusing to concede and peddling false claims of widespread voter fraud in
the election that he lost. Biden forging ahead today announcing his COVID advisory board and there is a familiar name on that board.
Rick Bright, the whistle blower doctor who was ousted from his COVID response post after saying his earlier warnings about the pandemic were
ignored. When his victory speech on Saturday, Joe Biden imploring that all paths to economic recovery start with combating COVID.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Our work begins with getting COVID under control. We can repair the economy restore vitality or relish life's most precious moments. Hugging
our grandchildren, our children, our birthdays, weddings, graduations. All the moments that matter most to us until we get it under control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Biden's victory speech also called for unity and healing or doing something Donald Trump never did appealing to people who voted for
his opponent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I pledged to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify. Who doesn't see red states and blue states only sees the United States. And
work for all my heart with a confidence of the whole people to win the confidence of all of you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:10:06]
ANDERSON: Well, for Republicans, let's face it that could take a while. And for President Trump, likely never. He continues to peddle false accusations
that widespread voter fraud cost him the election and supporters including some key Republican senators are on board with that. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: Trump has not lost, do not concede, Mr. President. Fight hard.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I believe President Trump still has a path to victory. And that path is to count every single legal vote that was cast,
but also not to cast any votes that were fraudulently cast or illegally cast and we have a legal process to determine what's legal and what isn't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the President's legal team is throwing what appears to be frivolous lawsuits and all the battleground states where Biden has slim
leads and is on track to win. Those lawsuits have got nowhere because as we said, there is no widespread evidence of voter fraud. Well, CNN's senior
political analyst John Avlon Joining me now. And just -- before we get into the kind of the nuts and bolts of where we are at what happens next. And
there's an awful lot of that to talk about, John, just in light of the news of Pfizer's progress on a vaccine.
Joe Biden, just in the past hour or so congratulating the breakthrough, but urging caution that the battle against COVID-19 is still months away. How
about that for tone?
JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Exactly, right. I mean, how about trying to temper expectations under promise and over deliver as opposed to
being a hype man without substance to back it too often. Look, Biden, his campaign, and on dealing with COVID through science, and that means not
promising the moon. That means saying that we're going to focus on the doctors that this this seems to be an enormous breakthrough. And that is
great news.
But we've got to temper expectations, until all the trials are done and the fact that he's beginning his transition by announcing a top tier of
respected doctors, many of whom are public figures in the United States and enjoy widespread credibility to show that this issue is front and center,
that you can't get the economy fully back on track until you deal with COVID. And that this is a step in the right direction.
But we're going to deal with this methodically and put science first overhype. That's a departure. And it's notable that he's taking this step
at the -- at the open of his transition. And it's a sign of the administration he wants to deliver even while Donald Trump is in denial.
ANDERSON: And Joe Biden entering this race saying that he would be the transitional candidate. The America though of today is very different from
when he first launched his campaign. We've got of course, we're in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic, the resulting unemployment, a reckoning
on racism, and the worsening climate crisis. And now, of course, in addition to Democratic Party searching for direction, can he be
transitional or does he need to be transformative at this point?
ANDERSON: Well, I think that presidents often are the sum of what the challenges they meet in office, you know, Woodrow Wilson famously said at
the start of his administration, it would be an irony of fate, if I were called to deal with foreign affairs, and then world war one happened. And
so, you know, there are not optional challenges. That's what we hire a president to deal with. This one is known because we've been dealing with
it rather disastrously for, you know, several months now.
And the United States, it's spiked to unseen levels. So, you know, you could -- Biden is saying by bigger transitional fingers saying, look, you
know, I recognize I'm the oldest president ever to be -- vice president ever to be elected president. And I want to bring in a new generation of
change, but the issues he's dealing with require transformational response. That doesn't mean radical response. It means simply the challenges are big,
and the solutions need to be big as well.
And to try to unify America in the process of solving them. Common ground, what a crazy concept.
ANDERSON: Right. And you make a very good point there. And I want to talk about whether he -- even if he wanted to be could be radical, let's talk
about where the Democrats are at this point because Biden got the most votes for a president in the history of the country. The second most, of
course, was Donald Trump. Democrats may have won the White House, they lost house seats. They didn't make the gains they expected in the Senate, which
means exactly was for Joe Biden and the Democrats going forward?
AVLON: It's a great question. As you point out, look, if you had shown Democrats, the electoral map that we are expecting when all the votes were
finally counted, they would be thrilled. It was a big win, as you say, the biggest popular vote when in presidential history by a lot, at least more
than five million votes from increased over the previous record. And record turnout election. But the down bound problems Democrats had were real.
[10:15:04]
AVLON: There's going to be a lot of -- already a lot of debate within the Democratic caucus as to why that is. In some cases, you know, they lost two
house seats in Miami. And it appears to be that the Republicans attacks on socialism may have hurt those folks, what the net effect is, is that
Congress is going to be the narrowly controlled by Republicans, or if Democrats peel off these two Georgia races in January, narrowly controlled
by Democrats.
What it means is, though, that the far left or the progressive caucuses hopes to really drive the agenda is going to be very difficult to achieve.
Instead, what we're likely to see is an administration that actually is consistent with the way Joe Biden campaign. I'm a proud Democrat, but I'm
going to be an American president, I'm going to find a way to bring us together to solve big challenges, because that's what that structure of
government requires.
It's going to require some give and take, it's going to require to finding common ground and not being ideological exercise, because that's simply
impractical. Whether you want it to be that way or not.
ANDERSON: John, it is an absolute pleasure having you on. Come back. There is so much to discuss. Our international viewer has been glued to CNN with
our colleagues doing what they do best and taking us through what has been an historic election, what we do for the International view and next is so
important, which is really talking about the impact of what happens in the States, both in the States and its impact around the world. Thank you, sir.
AVLON: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: But the first order of business for Joe Biden is the coronavirus records being set almost daily. Biden will name his Coronavirus Task Force
today but President Trump sit in office of course for 10 more weeks. The American president has been leading the hunt for a vaccine with operation
warp speed, now brand new information on that just days after losing the election.
And early analysis shows Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90. Let me repeat that. 90 percent effective. Let's s go behind that headline or
beyond as it won't dig into the details. The interim analysis found that out of the 94 people who were part of the study and contracted the virus,
less than 10 percent of those were people who received the vaccine. The rest got placebos. The company says there are no safety concerns so far.
Well, Pfizer now plans to apply for emergency authorization by the U.S. FDA and expects to have 1.3 billion doses available next year. Just how
significant is this? Let's bring in CNN's Sanjay Gupta who is in Atlanta for more. One of the real implications here, sir?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, no matter how you look at it, Becky, I mean this this is good news. We are -- we are
early days in the sense that even the Pfizer CEO who I spoke to about this just a little bit ago, he hasn't seen the data. Nobody at Pfizer has seen
the data, the researchers conducting the trials haven't seen it. Even the people who received the shots, don't know, did I get placebo or do they get
vaccine?
It's just this independent monitoring board that at periodic intervals, basically unblinds the data and looks at it. And they found exactly what
you said that there was some 44,000 people in the trial, 94 people got infected. The question was there a difference between the vaccinated group
and the placebo group. And as you pointed out, Becky, there was. People who got the vaccine are far less likely to become infected.
Nine percent effectiveness with this vaccine. But the -- there's still some questions. First of all, does it prevent serious disease in people, right?
Older people, people have pre-existing conditions, how well does it work at preventing disease? Keep in mind, 80 percent of people recover anyways,
right after the infection have minimal or no symptoms. So 90 percent is great. But what about the people who are most at risk?
Two is safety data, they're going to wait until probably third or fourth week of November to make sure they have two months of safety data. And then
this vaccine is a -- is a brand new vaccine, has to be stored at super cold temperatures. And ultimately, the world needs this vaccine or how are you
going to distribute it? Those are still questions that remain here, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Huge questions which remain unanswered. Of course, one of the questions though, I'm sure many of our viewers want answered as quickly
as possible is how soon can we? When I talk about we, you know, I'm talking on behalf of the sort of the world market here, not just in the States. How
soon can we expect people to be vaccinated?
GUPTA: I, you know, I asked Mr. Albert Bourla, he's the CEO of Pfizer. I talked to him just a bit ago. I asked him that same question and as you
hear his answer just keep in mind that something unusual is been happening and that these companies had been manufacturing the vaccine at risk.
[10:20:10]
GUPTA: Meaning there's no authorization or approval yet. But they're -- usually you'd wait for that before you start spending a lot of money
manufacturing. They've already been doing it. Here's how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOURLA: We believe that we are in good situation to have up to 50 million doses this year, globally. And I believe we are in a very, very good
situation to have 1.3 billion doses global.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: So, you know, 1.3 billion doses he's talking about next year now. Now, again, it's two shots. So that would be 600 and 50 million people
globally, Becky. You know, it matters that as you point out, the world gets vaccinated because, you know, an infection outbreak anywhere is an
infection outbreak everywhere in today's era of global travel and everything. So, there will be -- it sounds like a lot of doses available if
this thing does get authorized.
And there's other vaccine makers as well, which we shouldn't forget about. Their trials are ongoing. And they're, you know, I think, you know, within
the next year, within the next several months, there may be more options in terms of vaccines for people. We'll see. But it's encouraging based on what
we've seen so far.
ANDERSON: Yes, not least the Chinese state pharmaceutical companies center Sinopharm who's running a phase three trial here in the UAE, with some 120
nationalities. Some 31,000 people have been part of that trial. And in fact, they've already given emergency approval for that vaccine here in the
UAE. And 29,000 people here have already taken it, they say they will be ready with manufacture and distribution of vaccine by the end of this year
if not beginning of next to the tune of 75 to 100 million doses.
So it's a really interesting development today from Pfizer. There's stuff going on behind the scenes as you and I well know, and the world, you know,
continues to wait and see what happens next. We're going to leave it there for the time being, sir. I know that you are in huge demand today. So,
thank you for making the time for us here on the international channels. Sanja, it's always a pleasure. Thank you.
GUPTA: Anytime, Becky. My pleasure.
ANDERSON: Well, Donald Trump tried to reinvent Middle East policy but in four years, some will say very little has been resolved. Others say perhaps
that's slightly unfair. We're going to take a look at the approach, his replacement might take and what that could mean for U.S. allies in this
region. And while world leaders congratulate Joe Biden on his election when the White House divided over Donald Trump's next step. So far, the current
president refusing to concede. More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:25:08]
ANDERSON: So, the U.S. President-elect and his team have hit the ground running with 10 weeks to prepare for the transfer of power which of course
is in January of 2021. The bide narrows to do list is long, and it includes a rollback of Trump era foreign policy decisions. Here is part of their
plan for day one as we understand it, rejoining the Paris Climate accord, reestablishing ties with the World Health Organization and an infamous
travel ban on several Muslim majority countries just to name a few.
A list of international good wishes is also long with congratulations flowing in from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for example, along
with Germany, France, European Commission, India, Israel, and the list goes on. And don't forget NATO, and indeed, the head of the World Health
Organization who must be much relieved that you have had a terrible relationship with the Trump administration.
We are also keeping an eye for you, on Beijing and Moscow. They are doing a bit of a sidestep cloaking themselves in bureaucratic language for now,
those statements from Chinese state-run media sound cautiously optimistic that ties with the United States could improve under a Biden
administration. Well, CNN's Nic Robertson has more on why the world has been glued to this election. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: A closely watched election, not just in the United States but around the world. Many leaders quickly sending messages of congratulations to President-elect Joe
Biden.
SCOTT MORRISON, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: I look forward to forging a great partnership.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: It is clear now that the 46th President-elect is Joe Biden.
ROBERTSON: Even the U.K.'s Trump friendly P.M. Boris Johnson shifting gears.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I look forward very much to working with President Biden.
ROBERTSON: The win for Biden is a hope for many U.S. allies that relations strained after four years of Donald Trump's America First presidency will
return to what they once were.
Well, this is the image that people in Europe are waking up to for the next American president, aviator sunglasses and all. And I think this
encapsulates the message here that people around the world wonders well, time to heal. You have it here in this newspaper as well. Time to heal
America, but time to heal the world as well as a real feeling that President Trump has bruise relations all around the world. People are
looking to Biden to change that up.
But some Trump allies still slow to shift. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who benefited from Trump moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to
Jerusalem took more than 12 hours to issue a statement on the election results. And Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador whose country
shares a border with the U.S. says he is waiting until the legal fighting is finished.
ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, MEXICAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I can congratulate one candidate or the other. I want to wait until the electoral
process is over.
ROBERTSON: Iran is reacting with caution. Its foreign minister says it will wait to see if Biden abandons the " lawless bullying of the outgoing
regime." Biden has said he would try to revive the nuclear deal with Iran struck by former President Barack Obama, which Trump withdrew from two
years ago. Many people in Iran say they would welcome relief from crippling us sanctions that have hurt their economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I feel things are somehow calmer, that will and things would get even better for us the people of Iran. China
also was had a rocky relationship with the Trump administration over trade. Some residents in Beijing hope that will change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I hope when Biden becomes president, he can control the pandemic well and improve the bad
relationship with China.
ROBERTSON: But overwhelmingly, many people across the globe say they've grown weary of the tweets and the tone coming from the current White House.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really hoping that you know outside of the late night reality show we never have to see him again.
ROBERTSON: In London at the world famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. They're working on just that. Trump not quite disappearing but off to play
golf.
ANDERSON: Let's get Nic in now for you live out of London. Perhaps the one relationship that Donald Trump touted more than any other bar Israel was
his relationship with the Saudis, most notably with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
[10:30:09]
ANDERSON: Now, the incoming President Joe Biden, not as friendly with his words, when it comes to Riyadh. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: We were going to in fact, make them pay the price and make them in fact the pariah that they are. And I would also as pointed out I would end
the subsidies that we have, end the sale of material to the Saudis, who are they're going in and murdering children, and they're murdering innocent
people. And so they have to be held accountable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And that was Joe Biden this time last year, I know that you have been speaking with your sources for Saudi reaction to this election. What
have they been telling you?
ROBERTSON: Well, you have the sincere congratulations, coming from the king and from the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But I think, you know, the
conversations that I've been able to have, and speaking to a senior Saudi diplomat, just before the election, they asked him look, you know, can you
get on with either outcome here? With either with either Trump or Biden? And the answer was, yes. I mean, we can work with whoever it is.
That's not going to be a problem. But I think my big takeaway from the arc of the conversation was having listened to everything, you know, that
Biden's comments on the campaign trail, really didn't make him the Saudis first pick. But that didn't mean that they were entirely happy with
President Trump either. You know, what I've understood from other Saudi sources is, you know, go back to the attack on the Saudi oil facilities
about a year ago now that was pointedly blamed on Iran or being launched from Iranian basis.
The Saudis I understand from my sources actually told Trump the Trump administration, not to retaliate, because they wanted to. So there was this
concern on the Saudi side, where you've got a strong ally, you know, against a regional nemesis, I -- Iran. But at the same time, it's an
unpredictable ally, potentially dangerous. So, you know, there are pluses and minuses. They recognize -- the conversation that I had, they clearly
recognize that President-elect Biden is going to have a different approach to Iran.
But they do -- they do feel that the relationship with the United States, with the White House can be can be had on an even keel, can be not a whole
lot different to what it is today. They think that there are there are conversations to be had points to be made. You know, for example, one of
the things President Biden was talking about on the campaign trail was we heard him there throttling back on arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Something President Trump trumpeted, on his first overseas trip when he arrived in Saudi Arabia. How big is the weapons, U.S. weapons sales we're
going to be the Saudi. But there's a feeling that, you know, those weapons sales, the economy, the money that brings into the United States that Saudi
is providing the United States is valuable, is important. And all of these things will sort of be seen in the balance and the round.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson on the story for us. Nic, thank you. And what a Joe Biden administration means for this region and the rest of the world is
hugely important and is a story that we are doing today. And you will expect us to do in the days and weeks to come as we get ready for what will
be a Joe Biden administration come at the end of January. Well, the rest of the world accepts that Mr. Biden won the election. Mr. Trump's own
supporters simply won't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe that Donald Trump won the election. I believe that they tried to steal the election.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A slew of misinformation across social media is feeding the idea of voter fraud. That is coming up. Plus, President Trump himself also
refusing to accept the results of last week's election as Joe Biden begins his transition into the White House. The latest from Washington is after
this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:36:46]
ANDERSON: U.S. presidential election has come and gone. But for many the races still not over.
Well, many Trump supporters across the country refused to accept defeat after viral posts and videos alleging voter fraud spread across social
media. Much of the information is blatantly false. But both Mr. Trump and his supporters are using it as evidence of a rigged election. Well, since
Danielle O'Sullivan spoke to Trump's supporters in Pennsylvania who say the election was stolen from the current U.S. president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's legal for them to count votes in Pennsylvania, two days after the election on November 3rd?
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're wrong. Go. I don't even want to talk to you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe that Donald Trump won the election. I believe that they tried to steal the election.
O'SULLIVAN: Stop the steal, a movement of Trump supporters that gained hundreds of thousands of followers online in the hours after the election
has inspired protests across the country.
The ballots that you said you saw are lying around the place or in trash cans or whatever.
Where are you hearing that from?
ANDREW WALKER, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Well, I mean, it's there -- the videos are going viral everywhere. I've seen him on TiTtok. I've seen him on Facebook.
I've seen him on Fox News. I've seen him on the local news around my area.
MELISSA, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I've seen too much pieces of different evidence so far that shows that at this point, I would be OK with a repo.
O'SULLIVAN: Really?
MELISSA: Yes, absolutely. When you have video footage of people taking bags of ballots and showing that they are for Donald Trump and lighting them on
fire.
O'SULLIVAN: I help try to fact check on CNN on that particular video. The election officials said that video has been going around for a few days.
They are printout ballots, they're not real ballots.
MELISSA: So you used the information of the election officials.
O'SULLIVAN: Somebody like me comes along tries to research it, tries to fact check it. And then I fact check, you'll come back and say well, the
election officials would say that.
MELISSA: But wouldn't they though? That's the thing, though, question everything, right?
O'SULLIVAN: The video actually showed sample ballots not real ballots. The videos assertion is false. But even the president some tweeted it to his
millions of followers. Election officials in Virginia are the sample ballots were from told CNN they had spent days trying to correct the online
misinformation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went to bed on election night when they told us they stopped counting. We woke up and there was a vertical spike right for
Biden. 130,000 votes approximately. That's when I knew there was a problem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now my buddy Steve Bannon says if you're going to, be believable about it because you do not have 138,000 votes come in and
135,000 of them come in for Biden.
[10:40:00]
O'SULLIVAN: This is what I think you guys might have been talking about on election night. Michigan 138,000s. This was from a website called Decision
Desk H. But they came out and they said, we messed up there was an error and how votes came back and reported. And that's why there was this spike
in the map.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
O'SULLIVAN: But, you know, the election officials in Michigan then all confirmed to say, yes, there was this error. They are not real ballots.
Those ballots never existed.
President Trump himself even shared a post about the Michigan error. Twitter labeled his post as misinformation. Are you concerned that just as
how people on the left can fall for misinformation that maybe sometimes --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, yes, they're -- no, me -- I'm very thorough with the information I look at. I have my opinions, obviously. But I'm not just
going to go around retweeting blatantly false information or things that I believe that are just -- it's just, I look at things are suspicious.
O'SULLIVAN: Some people at the protest told us to delays, news outlets projecting a winner contributed to their that Biden steal the election.
You don't think there's any way Trump could last?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
O'SULLIVAN: Really?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. How do you go from almost losing 200,000 in five hours, you're down to 30,000 votes away from winning?
O'SULLIVAN: A lot of Democrats voted in the mail. They voted absentee. They voted before Election Day. And in a lot of states, those Election Day votes
got counted first. That's why Trump had that early lead. And then once those other votes started getting counted, that is how Biden caught up and
--
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So where are all the Trump ballots that were mailed in? Why are we finding them laying around in different places?
O'SULLIVAN: But Trump was telling everybody not to mail it in, right? That's why there's so much more mail in Democratic votes, you know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
O'SULLIVAN: Many of the false claims alleging voter fraud spread on social media, Facebook and Twitter labeled some as misinformation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that's wrong. I think -- I -- that's not their place. We're like one big science experiment for social media. If I'm
seeking a certain viewpoint, and I seem to -- and they seem to see that I favor that viewpoint more. That's the viewpoint that they're going to to
feed me. And then the other side's going to get a different viewpoint.
O'SULLIVAN: Does that concern you as a Facebook user?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, it concerns me Yes. Because of the fact that unfortunately, people fail to think for themselves. They feed into
everything that they're seeing without questioning it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'SULLIVAN: That's Donie O'Sullivan reporting for you. Donald Trump, echoing those calls foul play, insisting that he was the victim of the
presidential election and not Joe Biden. Well, sources tell CNN Mr. Trump is being urged by several people in his inner circle to hold rallies across
the country, pushing for vote recounts. The Trump campaign also planning a so called messaging blitz to fuel allegations of fraud.
One of their tactics is to show a bit trees of people they will claim voted in the election. Here's the problem. There is absolutely no evidence to
support that. Well, meanwhile, the White House banking on a string of lawsuits to change the election results. From more than that. Let's bring
in our legal analysts here at CNN Elie Honig who is live for us today in New Jersey. It's good to have you. So, do these pending lawsuits have any
chance of success?
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Becky, based on what we've seen so far, the pending lawsuits are just junk. They are not supported by evidence. And
look, it's one thing to spread a message by viral disinformation, the kind of videos we just saw in that piece that preceded us. But it's another
thing to have to go into court and prove your case with actual evidence, actual facts. And as a result, we are seeing these lawsuits get spit out
and dismissed by the courts, essentially, as quickly as they're being filed by the Trump campaign.
We've seen dismissals in Michigan, in Georgia, in Arizona and Nevada. And I'll give you one example that I think illustrates the deficiency here. In
the Michigan case the Trump campaign alleged that there was ballot tampering. But when they went into court, the judge said, what's your basis
for that? And the answer was, we have a witness who heard from an unnamed other person, who heard from a third person that there was ballot
tampering.
I mean, that is triple hearsay, that does not stand up in court. That is not evidence. And that's why we're seeing these lawsuits fail so far.
ANDERSON: Elie, explain what the Pennsylvania case is and whether the Supreme Court could take that out?
HONIG: Yes, Becky. So this is the one case that may have a chance of legal success, but practically it's not going to make a difference. So
essentially, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said it's OK to count mail-in ballots that arrived three days after November 3rd up until November 6th.
That has been contested in the Supreme Court.
[10:45:02]
HONIG: Thus far the Supreme Court has this has declined to take the case on an expedited basis, but they might and they've given signals that if they
do take it they actually may throw out those very small subset of ballots. But practically speaking, the margins are important here. First of all, it
is looking increasingly like Joe Biden doesn't even need Pennsylvania in order to win. If he wins Georgia or Arizona, he's going to have enough of a
cushion.
So even if by some miracle, Pennsylvania flipped over, Joe Biden still has enough electoral votes. And this is important. The number of ballots at
issue in Pennsylvania is way less than Joe Biden's margin, which last check was over 45,000 ballots, there doesn't appear to be anywhere near that many
ballots at issue. So it may be a legal win, potentially, but it's not going to change anything in terms of the result.
ANDERSON: OK. And so, whether or not that's the case. We will continue to hear I'm sure for the Trump campaign for a period of time. What kind of
legal powers? When I talk about a period of time, we're talking about 70 odd days that Donald Trump still has as the President of the United States.
What kind of legal powers does he retain during this transition? And is there potential for some trouble here?
HONIG: Yes, Becky. So the President retains all of his constitutional powers, all of his legal powers until 11:59 and 59 seconds a.m. on January
20th. But that is when the inauguration happens of the new president under our constitution. He retains the power for example, to pardon people and it
is not uncommon for our presidents to issue a lot of pardons, including some dubious ones on their last day or last days in office.
I fully expect Donald Trump to issue pardons to his political advisors, potentially people like Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos,
people who are convicted in the Robert Mueller investigation. It'll be interesting to see whether he tries to pardon his own family members who
are under investigation by state authorities. Now, a presidential pardon can only cover you from Federal charges, not state charges.
But I suppose you'd rather have some protection than none. And then the big question, the big unknown is, will the President tried to pardon himself?
That is never happened. No president has ever done it. The constitution doesn't say anything either way. So there could be a real interesting sort
of constitutional question. It reminds me of law school, when they ask you these hypotheticals, and you just don't know the answer. The only way to
find out is by giving it a shot and the courts.
ANDERSON: Well, I'll tell you what the student is going forward may have an answer for that, because there may just be some precedent going forward.
Who knows at this point? Elie, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir.
HONIG: Thanks, Becky.
ANDERSON: There's a lot going on, isn't it? And there's a lot to pick apart when it comes to foreign policy. The difference between Donald Trump and
Joe Biden is like, night and day. Coming up. What Middle Eastern countries can expect from this incoming administration?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:13]
ANDERSON: Well, let's have a look at the coronavirus pandemic for you at this point and a staggering -- I mean staggering threshold the world is
just cross. Specifically, more than 50 million cases. That is how many people have been infected since the pandemic began. Now according to Johns
Hopkins University, that number was crossed on Sunday, the U.S. alone now approaching 10 million cases.
And the world is seeing more than half a million new infections every day. Three numbers that none of us wanted to have to report. In Europe, the case
crown -- count is growing and so is the pressure for new lockdowns to contain it. In Italy a doctor's association is now calling for a full blown
national lockdown similar to ones in some other E.U. countries without it, they say Italy could see 10,000 new deaths over the next month.
But in Hungary for example, the government already pushing for new lockdown measures they include restaurant closures. Overnight curfews and limits on
public gatherings. Prime Minister Viktor Orban says without those steps, hospitals will soon be overwhelmed. The new measures will go into effect on
Tuesday if lawmakers in Hungary approved them.
Well, lockdowns already in place in some parts of Europe. And indeed in Britain Of course, as Scott McLean now reports the military is now stepping
in to help that nation fight the outbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Less than a week into lockdown 2.0 it's all quiet on the normally bustling streets of London. Instead, it's
England's hospitals that are bustling with activity. in Liverpool the coronavirus hotspot the British Army has been called in to help test the
entire city. And for the first time since the pandemic began even the Queen was spotted wearing a face mask in public.
This four-week lockdown isn't quite as strict as the first one in the spring. Nor is it unique. Cross Europe the number of new COVID-19 cases
continues to rise with few signs of slowing in with the number of deaths in Europe on track to eclipse the peak of the first wave. France has re-
imposed a lockdown even requiring exemption forms from people who need to leave their homes. Greece, Austria and Latvia have also reentered some
version of a national lockdown, while regional versions are multiplying in parts of Italy Europe's original epicenter.
Even in Rome, the streets are eerily quiet after curfew. In Spain movement has been severely restricted in a popular vacation destination of Andalusia
and a local lockdown has been extended across much of Madrid.
MANUEL RUBIO, OWNER OF COFFEE AND TEASTAND (through translator): Before people were stocking up, but I think that now economically people are not
strong enough to stock up.
MARIA ELENA SANCHEZ, MADRID RESIDENT (through translator): I am confident that we will soon get out of this so I am calm. Bored but calm.
MCLEAN: Belgium is locked down too. ICUs in the capital have hit their limits, forcing smaller hospitals to take on the country's sickest
patients. Belgian troops have been deployed to help inside overwhelmed hospitals. While police enforce a strict curfew and mask mandate on the
streets. Belgium's top epidemiologist says the second wave may have reached its peak. Country's infection rate is among the highest on Earth.
So it was the Czech Republic's where locked down measures have come too late for some hospitals. This one in the town of Zlin is too full to take
new patients, instead sending them with a police escort to Prague. Next door and Slovakia most of the adult population was tested in a matter of
days. And now officials plan to retest areas with higher than average case counts. Despite the resurgence of the virus, Europeans are growing weary of
the tighter restrictions.
Protesters in Leipzig clashed with police just as German officials promised a vaccine early next year. Danish officials are expressing concerns about
vaccine development as they confront a mutated version of COVID-19 linked to mink farms that's now showing up in humans. Denmark will call its entire
population of 17 million mink.
JEPPE KOFOD, DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER: We would rather go a step too far, then take a step too little to combat COVID-19.
MCLEAN: World Health Organization report found the mutated virus has moderately decreased sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies, but the more
research was needed to fully understand the implications. Scott McLean, CNN London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I want to give a quick bit of breaking news at this point out of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he has tested positive
for the coronavirus. He says he is self-isolating.
[10:55:03]
ANDERSON: He said this message on Facebook, there are no lucky people in the world for whom COVID-19 is not a threat. Despite all the quarantine
measures, I also received a positive result however, I feel good. I promise to isolate myself and keep working. Most people overcome COVID-19 I will
get through it as well. Everything will be fine, he said, and we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how here is the host Jeopardy, Alex Trebek.
ALEX TREBEK, AMERICAN-CANADIAN TELEVISION PERSONALITY: Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of all of us, welcome to America's favorite
answer and question game, Jeopardy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, friends, family and fans mourning the loss of an icon legendary Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek died over the weekend at 80 years old.
That clip we just saw, that was the first episode of Jeopardy hosted by Trebek back in 1984. He worked right up until the end, taping his final
episode on October the 29th. Less than two weeks ago. Trebek announced early last year that he was battling pancreatic cancer.
Episodes hosted by Trebek will air through Christmas Day. No word yet on a successor. We will be right back after a very quick break. Just the head on
the show we are expecting to hear from Joe Biden and his plan to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
