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Impact of Back Voters in 2020; Vulnerable Seniors Face Holidays without Families; Pandemic Alters Meal Giveaway in Atlanta; Restaurant Industry in Danger. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired November 26, 2020 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

W. KAMAU BELL, CNN HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA" AND CO-HOST, "POLITICALLY RE-ACTIVE" PODCAST: So I think those two elections have the attention of every Democrat and progressive in the country right now.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: And, Hari, what do you think is going to happen there?

HARI KONDABOLU, COMEDIAN, WRITER AND PODCASTER: Oh, man. If I knew that, I wouldn't just be a comedian right now.

I mean I hope that there's, you know, again, record mobilization. And the fact that it -- it's a separate election and not part of the larger presidential election hopefully means that you have people that are coming out because they want change and not solely because they're voting for a presidential election and they're going along the ballot. Hopefully you get people that want to see change, you know, voting for the Dems in this if we're going to create change in this country.

CAMEROTA: How do you guys interpret what we saw with the black vote this year? So there was turn -- a big turnout, obviously. But if you look back at the previous election, Donald Trump also increased his share of the black vote. So in 2016, 8 percent went to him. This year, 12 percent. I mean this is according to exit polls, OK, Kamau. So how do you interpret what was happening there?

BELL: Well, as the black whisperer in -- head black whisperer at CNN, I would say that it's the same thing that I've said in the show since the -- probably the first season is, black is not a monolith. Black people are not a monolith. Sometimes that's great and sometimes that's frustrating.

So, yes, I think that it's great to see everybody politically motivated. I think the thing that we know for sure is if there wasn't so much voter suppression in this country, then Joe Biden's margin of victory would have been bigger and more black people would have voted for him.

CAMEROTA: Hari, how do you see it?

KONDABOLU: That sounds about right. I think that -- and, who knows, maybe some of the votes that they suppressed, you know, the last election were Trump votes. Like, who knows whose votes they're suppressing at this point. So maybe that explains the 4 percent jump.

I mean this election is really about protecting democracy. It's about actually like -- because, you know, if -- if they lose this election, you're going to have to deal with Mitch McConnell for another four years, obstructing any conversation or any potential compromise like they're stuck and -- and they've already -- they're already setting up the stage for the Democrats to fail. So this election really kind of determines in some ways the next four years.

CAMEROTA: And, you know, Kamau, just tell us a little bit more about what you're talking about, about voter suppression, because I'm not sure that everybody is aware of the instances that you all see.

BELL: I mean we're talking about things about, like, you know, we're talking about in Travis County in Texas, where there's only one -- there's only one place to vote -- to vote in advance for a place that has millions of people. We're talking about the number of polling places in different urban areas where people have to wait in line for hours and hours because there's simply not enough polling places. So we're talking about things that naturally suppress the vote. And then we're talking about systemic things, like if you have to -- if you have to have an ID to vote, which in many places you don't. Out here in California, they trust me that I am who I say I am. But, in many places, you have to have an ID and not everybody has access to an ID because ID's cost money. And so I think there are places where you can vote with our gun license but you can't vote with your college ID. So there's ways in which the system is naturally suppressing votes and that often affects black people in communities of color at a higher rate.

CAMEROTA: Hari, what effect do you think Black Lives Matter and the protests that we saw over the summer had on this election?

KONDABOLU: I mean there's a lot of talk about how that potentially led to more voters coming out to vote for Donald Trump because, you know, they were upset about the calls for police reform and, you know, there are some surveys that show that, like, people -- that was one of the big issues, people came out because of police reform and the discussions about police reform, abolishing the police.

But the thing is that -- that who is to say that that percentage of people who felt that was a big issue weren't people of color and other people who felt like the police have to change? You know, like, there's a lot of assumption that it hurt the Democrats. I don't think there's really any proof that it hurt the Democrats. In fact, I think it led to more people coming out, being passionate and wanting change and finally like doing something about it.

CAMEROTA: But, Kamau, do you think it's possible that President Trump was able to exploit those protests for his own purposes by making it seem as though all protests were violent and destructive? I mean he talked about that a lot.

BELL: Yes, I mean, I think he exploited it to every ability he -- that he had to exploit it to. And what it showed is that that's not actually a winning strategy. The winning strategy is one of inclusion, one in which people feel protected by the police. And the Democrats absolutely -- and by the Democrats I mean Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, absolutely have to know that Black Lives Matter was the engine of the activism that got them to win places like Georgia and Pennsylvania. That the -- the act -- the engine of that was community activism, leadership that was funneled and fueled by Black Lives Matter.

[08:35:01]

CAMEROTA: Gentlemen, great to get your take on all of this. Kamau Bell, Hari Kondabolu, we really appreciate it. And, again, the podcast is "Politically Re-Active."

Great to talk to you guys.

KONDABOLU: Thank you.

KONDABOLU: Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving.

CAMEROTA: Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Nursing homes continue to be prime hot spots for coronavirus outbreaks. A look at how the most vulnerable are spending this holiday, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: As coronavirus rages across America, the most vulnerable, senior citizens, remain a big concern. And many will now be spending the holidays alone in nursing homes. This, of course, follows months of isolation in the spring. CNN's Brynn Gingras has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CATHY COREY (ph): And I take (INAUDIBLE) at my sister-in-law's house.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Since the pandemic began, it's the physical connection with family Cathy Corey (ph) and other residents at this Connecticut nursing home ache for.

COREY: It's like my heart got ripped out sometimes.

GRACE BARNUM, LIVED AT BEECHWOOD LONG TERM CARE: Just waiting.

[08:40:00]

GINGRAS (on camera): Waiting for what?

BARNUM: Yes, to be able to hug again.

GINGRAS (voice over): Especially this time of year.

COREY: The holidays are all about memories of the family. It's hard enough not being with your family. But when they can't even come up and eat a meal with you or anything or visit, it's hard.

GINGRAS: In the spring, the coronavirus ravaged the northeast. Nursing homes may have paid the heftiest price. To date, residents in long- term care facilities make up 8 percent of all cases in the U.S., but nearly half of the country's total deaths.

BILL WHITE (ph), OWNER, BEECHWOOD LONG TERM CARE: It's like being in a battle. It's the same -- it's the same mentality.

GINGRAS: Bill White is the owner of Beechwood Long Term Care in Connecticut.

WHITE: What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

GINGRAS: To keep residents safe, White put in place a strict, multilayer system of checks to prevent COVID-19 from infiltrating these walls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you been to a hot spot state in the last 14 days?

GINGRAS: A health questionnaire and testing requirement for visitors.

Beechwood has gone through periods of denying visitations outright to allowing them with restrictions.

WHITE: You don't know what works. And, at the end, no one's going to care if you keep it out.

GINGRAS: So far, Beechwood's had just 14 cases since March, three of them residents, the rest staff. A success by all accounts.

BARNUM: We were really lucky to have such precautions taken. We didn't see that everywhere and the people really paid the price.

GINGRAS: In the last week alone, Connecticut saw 306 confirmed coronavirus cases of nursing home residents, 39 people have died. A sign of where the state may be headed, last week, this once abandoned nursing home became fully operational again. It's reserved for COVID- 19 positive long-term care residents. They're moved here to mitigate the virus spreading like a brush fire inside their home facilities.

NICOLE SHEEHEY, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, WESTFIELD CARE AND REHAB: The amount of referrals that we're getting and, you know, people calling, asking, can we take patients, you know, it's -- it's been very consistent since the day that we opened. I mean we haven't really had a slow moment.

GINGRAS: With help from the National Guard, the state first opened this facility in April. It was one of four like it needed in the spring to get control of cases. It closed in the summer when the numbers went down. For now, the state is relying on just this building, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility of needing more space as cases surge.

On this day, eight sick elderly patients were expected to arrive. We talked to Charles Miller, who was one of the first patients

admitted. He's a Beechwood resident who tested COVID positive while recovering from a stroke at the hospital.

CHARLES MILLER: It's tough on the elderly. But I think it's tough on everybody.

GINGRAS: Miller tries to keep a good spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You look good.

MILLER: I feel great.

GINGRAS: Because this Thanksgiving will be the first away from his wife and family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have next year.

MILLER: Yes, we sure do.

SHEEHEY: Seeing their loved ones face, even if it's just via a FaceTime visit, is sometimes a critical piece in their care.

GINGRAS: Miller's goal is to fight the virus.

MILLER: So we've all got to do our part.

GINGRAS: Get back to Beechwood and join the family these residents have become, as they stick together and stay healthy, all anxiously waiting for that one thing.

GINGRAS (on camera): You'll give them a hug after this is all over?

COREY: I will indeed. A lot of hugs.

GINGRAS: Brynn Gingras, CNN, New London, Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Well, right now people are lining up to get something to eat on this Thanksgiving. Congress, home for the holiday, without passing another stimulus bill, leaving millions of out of work Americans in limbo and in need. How you can help, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:47:43]

CAMEROTA: For the past 50 years, one non-profit in Atlanta has been feeding the hungry in a very big way every Thanksgiving. But this year's holiday meal will have a different look.

CNN's Ryan Young is live for us in Atlanta with more.

Happy Thanksgiving, Ryan.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Happy Thanksgiving.

Yes, definitely a different look now because so many more people need help.

I want to show you something. They've already queued some of the food up for people who are going to be going home. So all these boxes have items like this that have already been prepared for people who are showing up.

This year, of course, the community has a bigger need. They usually go to homeless camps and pick people up and do a whole day of washing, giving out clothes. But there already are people who have been lining up since 6:00 a.m. if you walk about this -- down this hallway here, you will see all the people who have sort of lined up to volunteer to be here as well.

And this is a part of the operation to serve more than 5,000 people today. And on top of all that, donations has been down because, obviously, there's a bigger community need. In fact, we talked to one homeless veteran who says he knows he's made mistakes, but he counts on organizations like this to help feed him in tough times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLOS ALANIZ, FOOD BANK RECIPIENT: Trying to survive now. I worked the day labor jobs, you know, making a little money and when I need help I go to these events.

Extremely grateful. Now, in my job field, when I'm working, I make good money. When I'm working in my job field, I pay it back, I pay it forward. That's what I do. Why? Because people have helped me. So when I can, I will. And I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Erica and Alisyn, as you can imagine, we've talked to some people in line who did not want to go on camera. The reason why is because, obviously, they never thought they would have to be here. We've talked to volunteers who say they know of other volunteers who this year their family needs the help here more than ever before.

And, of course, if you want to help out with (INAUDIBLE) Feed the Hungry, they're still taking donations. But as you can imagine, they're expecting thousands of people to queue through this line here. And there are people who are giving up their Thanksgiving to be here to help move this massive operation. Usually they cut hair, they provide baths, they give clothing. But because of COVID-19, obviously, they're having to shut down parts of that.

But when I was talking to a few homeless gentlemen in the back, they say they would not have holidays without an organization like this.

[08:50:03]

And they were surprised by all the families that are in cars that, obviously, some of them didn't want to be on TV, waiting to come and eat food as well. A tough holiday period. But thankful to see organizations like this.

HILL: Absolutely. And the many people who volunteer their time to make sure that it can happen, even if it has to be a little different this year.

Ryan, thank you.

An estimated 50 million Americans are facing food insecurity this holiday season. That's according to Feeding America. Congress, of course, has gone home for the holiday, leaving so many of those families struggling to make ends meet this Thanksgiving and beyond.

Joining us now is award-winning chef and restauranteur Tom Colicchio.

Great to have you back with us this morning.

Look, you've been sounding this alarm now for months about the need, about the need for Congress to put aside their politics and focus on the people. That's not happening right now.

Can you just put in perspective for us where we stand? The restaurant industry has been designated, especially smaller restaurants. What are they facing right now?

TOM COLICCHIO, AWARD -WINNING CHEF AND RESTAURANTEUR AND HEAD JUDGE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "TOP CHEF" ON BRAVO: Well, obviously, the closing of restaurants, and so many are closing across the country, is definitely adding to unemployment, which is definitely adding to hunger.

You know, we're looking at these numbers, 50 million Americans are food insecure. We're talking about another 42 -- 24 million Americans who say they didn't get enough to eat during the course of the week. One in four children are going to bed hungry. Seniors who are choosing between medication and food.

If we saw this on the news, if I was watching this on CNN, I would think I was looking at a third world country. Yet this is America. And we've chosen to do nothing about this right now. And it's great that you're depicting stories of people who are helping right now and people want to help around the holiday season, but the people are helping, they're going to be hungry tomorrow and the next day and the next day. And it's not going to be a Thanksgiving.

And so we need massive government help right now. The Heroes Act includes a 15 percent increase in the SNAP benefit program. But I think we need to get beyond that. And we need to actually start talking about ending hunger in this country because it's something that we can do. We're choosing not to.

CAMEROTA: I mean, Tom, you're talking about the ripple effect, obviously, of restaurants closing because then there's a whole supply chain domino effect that it has. So it's not just that, oh, we don't get to go out to a wonderful Saturday night that we like, that's relaxing and have a wonderful experience. It's devastating, as we're just seeing, for all of the people along those rungs. COLICCHIO: Sure. Sure. So we're having two conversations here, which

is, you know, there's hunger -- there's been systemic hunger in this country for a long time, but then there's the increase amount of hunger because of COVID. Hunger Free America just put out a devastating report. They released it yesterday. You can go to hungerfreeamerica.org to read that. It depicts skyrocketing instances of hunger right now.

On the restaurant side of things, yes, when we're talking about independent restaurants, we employ about 11 million people. But once you factor in farmers and fisherman and cheesemakers, then also let's drill down a little bit, plumbers, electricians, all those service industries that help service the restaurant. If restaurants disappear at the rate of 65 to 85 percent, and those are the estimates, without government help, 65 to 80 percent of all independent restaurants will close, that entire ecosystem comes down too.

So this is why, at the Independent Restaurant Coalition, we're focused so much on just getting the restaurants a lifeline to keep open so we get through this pandemic so when the economy starts to come back and people start feeling safe to go out to eat, restaurants will be there to employ everyone that we had to lay off.

And so it's a -- it's a tough position that the entire country is in right now because of the -- the inability to get our arms around this pandemic and have a plan to take care of it. Hopefully that's going to change soon.

HILL: Yes, there's no plan and it's been politicized from day one.

COLICCHIO: Right. Yes.

HILL: Which is a major issue when you talk about these restaurants that are hanging on by a thread. And we look at what's happening in Los Angeles Country, for example, outdoor dining closed as well as indoor dining.

COLICCHIO: Yes.

HILL: You know, how long do you think a lot of these smaller restaurants can survive on simply takeout or delivery only now that we're at the end of November?

COLICCHIO: They really can't. And L.A. County Closed indoor/outdoor. Minneapolis, they close -- they closed indoor. They may as well have outdoor closed because it's too -- it's too cold. New York City, I would imagine, you know, very shortly it's going to get shut down as well. We're seeing shutdowns across the country.

And a lot of restaurateurs are angry, but they're angry really because they're -- they're feeling helpless. We've done everything. We've pivoted to takeout. We've done grocery boxes. We've done, you know, set-up -- set up our restaurants as grocery stores. We tried everything. It's really not going to work. These are all Band-Aids. These are all just desperate, you know, we're desperate trying to fix a problem that we really can't. And so we need help. The Restaurants Act is part of the Heroes Act now. It has bipartisan support.

[08:55:00]

We have 48 co-sponsors in the Senate. We have 203 co-sponsors in the House. Bipartisan support. If this were put on the floor as a stand- alone bill, not part of the Heroes Act, it would easily pass.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

COLICCHIO: And it provides the lifeline that restaurants need.

CAMEROTA: And, Tom, very quickly, how can people help today? For -- I mean not only just the restaurants, hunger.

COLICCHIO: Yes, on hunger, listen, we have to start -- see -- I -- this is where I have some hope. When I see these long lines, these three hour lines, and the last segment your -- are the -- the last person who was talking, they had mentioned that, some people were ashamed to actually be on camera. Well, that's because we demonize the poor. We've -- we've made it your problem. I mean, pull yourself up by the bootstraps and maybe you made some mistakes. And so demonize poor people.

Well, people aren't born into -- you know, they don't ask to be born into poverty. But what I hope now, I hope there's a deeper empathy because when I see these long lines of three hours and four hours of people who were in their cars waiting, these were people who were solidly middle class, who had good-paying jobs. Eight months ago, they lost them. And so -- so now I hope that -- that, you know, there before the grace of God go I, I hope -- I hope that resonates and people realize that it's something very small can actually put you in a really difficult position.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

COLICCHIO: And so when we go to fund SNAP and we try to create programs that will benefit society and benefit people, especially people who are struggling, that more people will say, I'm on for this, I signed up for that and support those members of Congress that are trying to get that done.

CAMEROTA: And we know that our viewers are really generous and do open their pockets and do that.

Tom Colicchio, thank you very much. Great to talk to you. Happy Thanksgiving.

And Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Erica, great to see you. Thanks for being here.

CNN's coverage continues after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)