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The Lead with Jake Tapper

1.4 Million Americans File for Unemployment, First Weekly Increase in Almost 4 Months. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired July 23, 2020 - 16:30   ET

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

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: You -- it's interesting you bring that up because it was very clear like a month or so ago that President Trump wanted the U.S. military to go into cities and then Milley and Secretary -- General Milley and Secretary Esper balked at that.

[16:30:08]

They didn't want that.

And now, he's doing this, and it seems like it's the same basic plan, OK, I can't get the military, I'll just use the Department of Homeland Security.

This is what people fear the department of homeland security was going to be back when it was formed during the Bush administration. And now they're seeing their fears realized in some ways, don't you think?

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, I think in this case, taking people from border patrol who should be at the border, by the way, and using them as crowd control actors is abusing. And we have seen, frankly, abuse of other departments, sometimes Department of Justice has done things that make people wonder what happened to the norms that professional prosecutors used to abide by.

The good thing as you saw with the military, that ultimately, these are reasonable (ph) organizations, that people that make up the rank and file of DHS I think want the department to function the way it is supposed to, protecting Americans in nonpartisan constitutional way.

TAPPER: President Trump attacked Tom Ridge as a never Trumper, a Republican in name only, a RINO, said he was squirming. Although I am guessing that former Vietnam veteran, Staff Sergeant Ridge, wasn't squirming much.

Do you worry Trump is going to go after you next?

CHERTOFF: Badge of honor.

TAPPER: The cities that President Trump is sending more troops to, Chicago, Albuquerque, Kansas City, it is true that they have seen an increase in crime. Chicago saw 34 percent more homicides than last year, Albuquerque's violent crime rate more than three times the national average. Kansas City is on track to record the most homicides ever. What tools can the president use to stop this? What should he be doing

differently?

CHERTOFF: OK. So what they're talking about doing in Chicago, at least as reported by the attorney general is different than the crowd control issue which I am troubled by in Portland.

What they're talking about doing in Chicago is sending investigators and prosecutors in to focus on violent drug games and drug smugglers and actors. That's something actually the U.S. government has done for years, when I was in U.S. attorney in New Jersey, because there are specific federal laws against smuggling guns and using them to commit felonies. And that means the government has a right and duty, in fact, to investigate and prosecute those that do it.

So, as long as the mission in Chicago is what Attorney General Barr declared it would be, it's perfectly appropriate, and I think the mayor would welcome that. What should not happen is to have it migrate into dealing with demonstrations, and crowds.

TAPPER: All right. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff from the George W. Bush administration, thank you so much. Good to see you again, sir.

CHERTOFF: Good to see you, Jake.

TAPPER: Breaking news. A U.S. Marine who assigned to the helicopter unit that transports President Trump, this Marine has been infected with the coronavirus. He tested positive after he flew to Bedminster, New Jersey, ahead of President Trump's upcoming visit this weekend. But a spokesman for the Marine Corps tells CNN that the Marine was never in direct contact with the president's helicopter itself.

More than a million more Americans filed for unemployment as we get new details on possible relief plans for workers. That story is next.

Plus, baseball is back with several virus-related changes. Former all- star Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, will me live to discuss how America's pastime will look very different.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:38:57]

TAPPER: Today's money lead now. For the first time in four months, weekly unemployment claims went up, 1.4 million Americans filed for benefits for the first time last week. And federal payments designed to help are about to run out.

Tomorrow, the temporary ban on evicting tenants ends, leaving renters at risk of losing their homes. And it is the last week that the $600 federal payments go out to the unemployed.

CNN's Manu Raju is live on Capitol Hill for us. Manu, today, the White House and Senate Republicans say talks are very productive on this new stimulus bill. What's on the table so far?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we actually haven't seen the details yet of this proposal because the White House and Senate Republicans are still haggling over some of the final details here, including a significant one, how to extend jobless benefits for millions of Americans who are about to see those expanded, benefits expire, those with roughly $600 a week about to go away. And Republicans at the White House don't have a specific plan ordeal on that specific issue.

But there's a general agreement on broad parameters of the plan which Republicans hope to unveil next week.

[16:40:00]

That -- this plan is supposed to cost roughly a trillion dollars. It's going to will include money that helps schools reopen, $105 billion for that, and it will include some wage replacement pertaining to those unemployment checks, we'll see exactly what the details are when it is unveiled. Provide another round of direct checks to Americans, also waiting for details on that, and it also extend some money from hard hit small businesses and provide billions of dollars of more in helping with vaccine research and distribution.

Now, this negotiation, Jake, has been going all week between the White House and Senate Republicans. The White House lost on several key fronts. They wanted to make money contingent on schools reopening. The Republicans in the Senate did not go that way. The president called for a payroll tax cut, that was dropped, and in Republican opposition, and also the White House was opposed to new money for testing and contact tracing, because they believe there's existing money in the pipeline. Republicans instead got an agreement for about $25 billion, including $16 billion more in new money.

So, Republicans have had a hard time coming together. We'll see if they can come together now with the Democrats, Jake.

TAPPER: Also, today, we're hearing more from Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about Republican Congressman Ted Yoho of Florida who accosted her and that called her an F-ing B in the presence of reporters.

Take a listen to this from Ocasio-Cortez.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): Representative Yoho called me and I quote, a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) bitch. Mr. Yoho mentioned he has a wife and two daughters. I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho's youngest daughter. I am someone's daughter too.

He gave permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, women in his community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Manu, what is Congressman Yoho saying about all this, and what about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy?

RAJU: Well, Yoho is not apologizing. He, in fact, put out a statement saying that no one was accosted, bullied or attacked. And then he went on to say in a statement, she has every right to give her account of the conversation, but she doesn't have the right to inflate talk about my family or give an account that did not happen for political gain. The fact still remains I am not going to apologize for something I didn't say. He is denying saying the F-ing B word about her.

Of course, a reporter for "The Hill" newspaper, an experienced reporter, Mike Lewis, heard him clearly say that as he was walking away from the conversation, which he called her disgusting, and wagged a finger in her face.

The Minority Leader McCarthy was asked about Yoho's comments and said that Yoho has apologized. Yoho had made some remarks on the floor yesterday and he -- McCarthy said he said I'm sorry to the congresswoman from New York, and that should be good enough.

Now, what Yoho said yesterday on the floor was that he apologized for the, quote, abrupt manner of the conversation he had with his colleague. He said they shouldn't be disrespectful. He continued it was just about a policy difference about poverty. But then, Jake, he ended his statement saying, I cannot apologize for my passion, for my -- loving my God, my family, my country -- Jake.

TAPPER: Yes, it's not the passion that's the issue, it is the misogyny, the bigotry, and crude term he used about her that he is clearly lying about and Kevin McCarthy is helping him.

Manu Raju, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

It is opening day for baseball with no fans, and new rules during these very different times. The legendary A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, will join me live next to talk about baseball in the age of coronavirus.

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[16:48:01]

TAPPER: In our sports lead: Baseball is back, though it looks drastically different than what we're used to.

There will be no fans in the stands. You will not see any celebratory high-fives or fist bumps or hugs. Instead, we will see empty seats and hear piped-in crowd noise.

One thing has not changed, the ceremonial first pitch. Besides President Trump, every previous president has thrown one out since William Howard Taft started the tradition in 1910. It is Dr. Anthony Fauci who gets the honor at tonight's Yankees-National game in Washington. And joining me now is former Yankee and retired All-Star and now sports broadcaster Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, who's calling tonight's game, the Nationals-Yankee game.

A-Rod, thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

Were you worried there wasn't going to be any season at all?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: Absolutely.

I mean, it's just the miracle that we're here. Just a tremendous job by the players and the clubs to get together and really figure out this protocol. And to be the first out of the gates, in front of basketball, in front of the NFL, I think gives us a chance tremendous competitive advantage.

And it is America's pastime. And we are the comfort food for American people. And, tonight, we're hopefully going to put on a great show.

TAPPER: Well, the Nationals star Juan Soto just tested positive for coronavirus. He will not be playing tonight.

I would assume he's been practicing with his teammates. If you were a player right now, would you be worried to take the field?

RODRIGUEZ: Yes, I would be worried.

And, look, both managers have said this is a risk that players know they're taking. Everybody has tested. They will get results here in the next 48 hours. But until you get those multiple tests back, I don't think someone can feel really, really comfortable.

Unfortunate situation for one of the biggest stars, but, listen, everybody's at risk. And we have to think about health is always first.

TAPPER: The fans contribute so much to the excitement and pressure of a game. Do you think empty stands, even with the piped-in crowd sounds, will have an effect on the players?

[16:50:00]

RODRIGUEZ: It will have an effect.

I have talked to several players. I talked to Torres just a couple nights ago, the shortstop of the New York Yankees. And he said he's been talking with his teammates, and he's going to have to pump himself up to get ready to play.

The fans are such a big part of our game. They are our game. And you play for the fans and for the excitement, both cheers and boos. And in New York, you get them both. So it's going to take a little bit of an adjustment, but I think they will be just fine.

TAPPER: Are you worried about what happens next? I mean, I guess we all hope that this truncated season happens and that there are no further infections and that this provides some relief and some enjoyment for a beleaguered American public.

But are you concerned? I mean, people could -- this could spread the virus.

RODRIGUEZ: I'm cautiously optimistic, but I'm cautious.

And anybody who is thinking about baseball should think about health first, then baseball. Sports comes after that. It's a place that we have never been before. We can't underwrite it. We can't forecast it. But we got to hope that -- we got to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

But I think everything that Major League Baseball has done, both at the owners' level and the players union's level, they have come together and done a fantastic job of setting protocols that, here we go, we're opening day, and we're ready to go.

TAPPER: I do want to ask you about one social issue.

The Washington, D.C., football team has removed its previous name. They're now officially, I think, the Washington football franchise or something like that. Do you think it is also time for the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians to change their names?

RODRIGUEZ: I don't have enough information on that, Jake.

I saw the Washington move. I saw it got mixed reactions. Obviously, that's above my pay grade. But I do think that things are moving in the right direction.

TAPPER: Dr. Anthony Fauci is going to be throwing out the first pitch.

I told him on Sunday, that home -- that plate is a lot farther away than you think it is.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: Do you have any advice for him?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, Dr. Fauci was -- he's from New York. He was a former point guard. He's been America's point guard for the last four or five months.

I just say, take a crow hop and throw a strike and move up a little bit. Sixty feet, six inches is further than you think.

TAPPER: The Yankees, your former team, playing against the Nats tonight, have you spoken to any of the players about how they feel coming back, what emotions they have?

RODRIGUEZ: I have spoken to a couple of the Yankee players and a couple of the National players. They feel good.

Everybody's excited. Players want to play. Fans want to watch. I think we're going to have a big audience at home watching. This is the first sport to come back. I know me, personally, I'm tired of all the movies and Netflix and this and that. I love them all, but there is nothing like sports.

Sports, and baseball specifically, is such a big fabric of what this country is all about. And we're back, opening day, and a great, great matchup with Yankees against the Nationals, Gerrit Cole against Scherzer. It does not get any better than tonight.

TAPPER: I'm excited for some live sports as well. There's only so many times I can watch the 1980 World Series.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: So, the MLB is asking for players, umpires and other on-field personnel to practice distancing as much as possible on the field.

What should fans expect to see tonight, beyond empty stands?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, you're not going to see any bat boys or bat girls. You're not going to see -- every time a ball touches the ground, you're -- going to be thrown out.

So, usually, you play with 10 dozen balls. Tonight, expect that we will have about 20 dozen balls, double. You're not going to see a lot of high-fiving, I don't think. But I think people will be very creative in how they celebrate.

I'm excited. Look, I'm watching, just like the fans at home. I am thrilled. This is something that's new. What I am excited about, I always say that the difference between AAA baseball and Major League Baseball is the sound of baseball, the crack of the bat, the way the pitchers make that mitt pop, and guys running, turning around -- turning the bases.

All those sounds, I hope we get a chance to hear some of it, if not all of it.

TAPPER: I have to ask how you think the Phillies are going to do this year.

RODRIGUEZ: I like the Phillies. I like the Phillies.

Joe Girardi is back. The bench coach, Thomson, is back. And those are the two that took us to the World Series in 2009 with the Yankees. They know how to win. They know how to prepare.

You have Harper. And you have some great young players. I think Phillies are in upswing.

TAPPER: All right, from your mouth to God's ears.

A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, thank you so much. Good luck tonight calling the game. Break a leg.

RODRIGUEZ: Thanks, Jake.

[16:55:02]

TAPPER: President Trump is expected to speak in just minutes, continuing the return of his daily briefing.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Before we leave you today, we want to take a moment to honor the life and work of 13 nuns from a single convent in Michigan.

The sisters are 13 of the more than 143,000 lives lost in the U.S. to this pandemic. The women belong to Felician Sisters Convent in Livonia, Michigan, near Detroit.

The youngest was 69. The oldest was 99. They were teachers for at-risk children. They were musicians. They were nurses. One published a history book about the convent. Another won a commercial script writing contest for Campbell's Soup with her second-grade class.

Sister Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak died first in April on Good Friday. She was followed by 11 others within a month. The 13th sister, Mary Danatha Suchyta, passed away on June 27.

To the Felician Sisters Convent, we are thinking about you. We are praying for you. Our deepest condolences. May their memories be a blessing.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now. Thanks for watching.

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