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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Tonight, Biden Will Accept Democratic Nomination for President; Biden Set to Deliver Biggest Speech of His Life; CNN Special Report Explores Women's Rights This Saturday; Trump Refuses to Denounce QAnon Labelled by the FBI as a Terrorism Threat. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired August 20, 2020 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: There were criticisms after the 2004 convention. The last time there was an incumbent Republican, that Democrats made a strong case against George W. Bush but they didn't make a strong enough case for John Kerry and what Kerry would do for the American people. Is the Biden campaign concerned at all about repeating that mistake?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well. In short, no, but obviously there are these questions that kind of, if you look at polling, how enthusiastic is a Biden voter? Are they voting for Joe Biden or against President Trump?

But to that point if you go back over the last several nights, you've heard Kamala Harris, Barack and Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, all talking about Joe Biden and the campaign the DNC has taken step to make sure that his biography and his story was woven into all of the different vignettes that they would play and also the speeches that people gave to really highlight Joe Biden.

But, again, Jake. Expect tonight for the spotlight to really be on Biden and his biography. They're really, in a way, re-introducing -- he's a very well-known figure in American politics at this point. But again, they've got people's attention, maybe people who haven't tuning into the race and they know that this is really a time to reintroduce him to some of those people.

TAPPER: All right, Jessica Dean in Wilmington, Delaware, thanks so much. Good to see you again.

You can watch our special coverage of Joe Biden's big night, it all begins at 7:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

I want to bring in two more voices into this conversation about Biden and what he needs to do, what he needs to achieve in tonight's speech. Stay with me. That's next.

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TAPPER: Former Vice President Joe Biden is set to make the biggest political speech of his life. Tonight, at the final evening of the Democratic Convention with much of the convention dedicated to tearing down Trump and building up Biden. Expectations are quite high.

Here with me to discuss is CNN's chief political correspondent Dana Bash and CNN senior political reporter Nia-Malika Henderson. Dana, with all of this buildup to Biden's speech tonight over the past few days, casting as someone with great empathy, someone who actually cares about other people. I have to say, he's not really particularly known for his great oratory. What does he need to do tonight?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: No, that's very true and it is difficult in any circumstance to live up to expectations on a speech like any presumptive and soon to be actual nominee of a party needs to give. And what he needs to do is show that the kind of confidence that people are ascribing to him and putting on him. Particularly from people who really, really want to get the guy in the White House out, that he can deliver on that. I mean, it's really, I think as basic and rudimentary as that.

I mean he's got, of course, hit all the right notes for progressives, for moderates, for maybe disaffected Republicans. But I think if you kind of boil it all down, it's that he has to show that he's got what it takes for the people who really are relying on him to do so.

TAPPER: Nia-Malika, given all the attacks coming from the Trump campaign alleging all sorts of things about Biden's mental acuity, his capability, fair or not and frankly hypocritical or not, how important is it that he delivers his speech in a way that shows he's sharp?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Sharp and strong. Right? Because that is part of the attack that you see coming from Republicans and coming from this President. He's got to be steady. He's got to, I think, not make as many gaffes.

We have covered Biden for many, many years now. As you said, he isn't the strongest speaker, but I think in some ways this setting, the intimate setting, there is no crowd. Which is good for Biden, because he isn't a guy who is known for kind of the stem-winder style of speaking that we have come to know from Bill Clinton and certainly Barack Obama.

So, this kind of -- kind of more personal and intimate setting I think will do him well, because that's what he's good at, right. You watch Biden out on the stump, he's a very close talker, in some ways that has gotten him, in trouble in some ways, but I think tonight that's going to good for him.

He's got to convince people, A, that there is in fact a mess on the hands of this country at this point and he's the guy to clean it up. He can make a difference and a change in people's lives.

You've heard Kamala Harris talk about the way people feel, there's all this anxiety and stress out there. So here is Biden, he's got to convince people that he can be the person to really guide the country to -- through this very anxious time that people are feeling.

TAPPER: So, Dana, the couple things that I am looking for tonight and I wonder what you think? That I haven't really seen the Democrats been able to make the case for. One, why would a young progressive vote for this guy? I get why a middle-aged Republican would vote for him if they don't like Trump. But the young African-American voter, the young LGBTQ voter, like why would they vote for this guy? Why would they be excited about him.

And, two, what does it mean for somebody's pocketbook? Like what is he going to do for jobs, for health care, et cetera? Are those important do you think for him tonight?

BASH: Absolutely. Those are two really important points, Jake, particularly on the economic question. I mean the economy is completely topsy-turvy now because of the pandemic.

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But when and if it comes down to, you know, what we have known as reality. The question is, what does that mean for people who, for example, don't really love Donald Trump on his character, on the way he conducts himself. But really, have they liked the fact their bank accounts look good and their stock portfolios look good. How is that going to translate? And is it going to translate?

Historically, a good Democratic candidate has been able to pull some of those voters over, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton. We're not sure if that's the case.

And you're so right about the young voters. That, you know, obviously as we've seen for the past two cycles, the irony is, the man who had been oldest candidate, Bernie Sanders, he had been the one exciting the young voters.

And the question is whether or not he can capture the idea and encapsulate the idea that kind of what President Obama did last night that this is about their future in a way that matters as much if not more than the specifics that they're really worried about from climate change to other really important issues.

TAPPER: And Nia-Malika, Biden is 77 years old, he would be the oldest person to assume the presidency ever. I'm old enough to remember when Ronald Reagan was elected, and I think he was like 69 and people made a huge issue out that. His age, frankly, it's an issue. How much of a factor do you think it will be going forward?

HENDERSON: It is going to be a factor. I think it's less of a factor because Donald Trump is 76, 75 or something like that. And typically, when you've had an older candidate, they've run against a younger candidate, you saw that with Barack Obama, for instance, and Bill Clinton. Running against Bob Dole in many ways, Bill Clinton didn't exactly try to make an issue of it. I think he said it's not a problem. It's not your age. It's the age of your ideas.

And in this case, in some ways that is probably the problem for Biden. He's sort of moderate, you know, lane that he's in, and I think you have people like Bernie Sanders, people like Hillary Clinton, people like Michelle Obama and Barack Obama trying to talk to those young folks to say, listen, you have a chance to be John Lewis in ways, right. This idea that the country is in deep peril, that this democracy is in danger and you should go to the ballot box, vote early, right now, mail your ballot, if you can, to turn this thing around.

So, you saw them making that impassioned argument last night and I think you'll see it going forward and hopefully with Joe Biden's age it won't be so much of an issue for these voters.

TAPPER: I just Googled it. Donald Trump is 74. But -- yes, point taken.

HENDERSON: OK.

TAPPER: -- yes, point taken. Nia-Malika, Dana Bash, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

This is a big week for women and women's rights. A new CNN special report explores 100 years since that 19th Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote nationally. The special is called "Represented." It profiles women such as Jessica Cox who's taking courage to new elevations. Take a look.

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JESSICA COX, WORLD'S FIRST LICENSED ARMLESS PILOT: Knowing that I'm doing this in a modified airplane, just flying with my feet. It is the most incredible sense of freedom.

It's still a mystery as to why I was born without arms. As a child I found myself very frustrated because everyone was telling me, you can't do that, because you don't have arms. You have a disability.

I have had some wonderful opportunities. I am a scuba diver. I've surfed. I have a fourth-degree black belt in American Tae Kwon Do.

The summer after my college graduation I remember being approached by a fighter pilot, he asked me if I wanted to go flying. Losing contact with the ground was a terrifying thought to me.

I made the commitment after that first flight that I would do everything it takes to become a pilot. Preparing for flying is as critical as flying the airplane itself. You check the oil. You check the fuel quantities. As once you're in the sky, you don't have any other choice but to fly that plane.

Clear for takeoff.

It is a tremendous deal for me to be the first woman to fly an airplane with just your feet and to be certified to do so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very smooth.

COX: It has given me a vehicle to inspire people with disabilities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: So cool. You can see the CNN special report "Represented" Saturday night at 10:00 Eastern only here on CNN.

Despite all advancements there is a group striking to set this country back with crackpot conspiracy theories and President Trump just seemed to embrace this virtual cult. Stay with us.

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TAPPER: In our politics LEAD today, President Trump is not only refusing to denounce but actually seems to be embracing a conspiracy theory group called QAnon. The group's views are frankly deranged. They believe there is a secret cabal of Satan worshiping cannibalistic pedophiles who run the government. But it's no joke.

The FBI has warned that the followers of this theory could pose a domestic terror threat. And the ideology has led to acts of violence including kidnappings and murder. But asked about QAnon expanding footprint, President Trump said this.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much. Which I appreciate. But I don't know much about the movement. I have heard that it is gaining in popularity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The crux of the theory is this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Does that sound like something you are behind?

TRUMP: I haven't heard that. But is that supposed to be bad thing or a good thing. You know, if I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it. I'm willing to put myself out there.

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TAPPER: Joining me now to discuss the former Republican Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a former FBI agent who served as a special agent, rather, Congressman Mike Rogers. Mr. Chairman, thanks so much for joining us as always. What do you make of fact that President Trump wouldn't denounce this conspiracy group that the FBI has warned in an internal memo could pose a domestic terror threat?

MIKE ROGERS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I mean you can give the guy one shot at not knowing about it. I think if I had to school myself up in the last couple of weeks about who they are and what they stand for. But it gets to point where he's got to come out and condemn what they're doing. And this clearly is a fringe of a fringe movement, but the problem is,

they are using lots of common threads to attract people to their message including by the way fighting human trafficking, right. Who's against that? And they're kind of ratcheting these people up and then you get the delusional folks like the guy in New York who ended up killing somebody in the name of this organization. That's where it gets troubling. And the President is going to have to come out and condemn this group at the very least.

TAPPER: Do you think President Trump's actions are enabling to these groups? I mean after the President refused to condemn them and in fact seemed to praise them, there were news reports about how people who are part of QAnon were rejoicing.

ROGERS: Well clearly and again, they use any clue that they have. Remember the whole point of a conspiracy -- remember the movie or the sitcom "Cheers." And remember when Cliffy the mailman comes in, he always had these kind of wild and crazy stories and he always had an odd set of facts. That's how these conspiracy things start.

So, they can be fairly innocuous, your pal at the bar. But what's going on with this, is they're ratcheting people up and they're attracting people who already start out delusional and then they latch onto this. They call it confirmation bias. And so that, yes, there must be something going on and I'm the only one that knows what to do. So, when the President comes out and even jokingly encourages this behavior, I don't think he realizes what impact that will have.

The people who have already gone through the process of the first layer and second layer and third layer of this organization now are thinking, hey, there must be something to this. The President of the United States said, yes, maybe, I might be going after this secret organization that's been running the world for the last few years and it's dangerous.

And the sad part about this is, Jake, is that it spread to 71 countries. And so, I will guarantee you that there are foreign nations taking a look at this -- looking at this and seeing if there's an opportunity to kind of continue to fan these flames.

That's what I think -- that's what I worry about, sure. And I know the FBI is curious about this as well. And they're very worried about people getting promoted and worked into until they get worked up and commit an act of violence. And that's why the President needs to come out and set this thing straight, right yesterday.

TAPPER: Well, one of these deranged people just won a Republican nomination for a Congressional seat in Georgia and now you have the President of the United States seeming to lend them credibility and talk about how they great are.

The FBI has warned that this organization poses a domestic terror threat. You talked about how it's spread to other countries. In Germany I think there was a mass shooting partly inspired by this. I don't even understand how he could think this is funny. ROGERS: I don't either. Candidly, I don't. Let's be charitable, maybe

he didn't quite understand who they were, and he thought it was kind of humorous that they said he's saving the world. And you might think that President Trump might be encouraged by that kind of attitude. And so, he thought that this was kind of an interesting and funny thing, not realizing.

Well, it's well past not realizing. He has access to the FBI material. If he hasn't, he should read it. And he should understand what they're saying and why this is so dangerous, and why it's escalating. And when he promotes it in any way, it adds gas to this fire that will become dangerous over time.

Remember, not everybody that goes on, you know, they lure these people in by saying would you help us stop human trafficking? Oh, OK, I'm against human trafficking.

TAPPER: Sure.

ROGERS: I know you're against human trafficking.

TAPPER: Yes.

ROGERS: So, you can see how somebody gets in and then they just try to step them up. Well, a lot of people will get in and go, whoop, that's not for me, this sounds a little crazy.

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But the people that won't are the folks that end up in New York shooting somebody. They end up Germany tying themselves to a shooting because they think, in a delusional sense, remember this confirmation bias, I think something's going on and I might be the only one that understands how bad it is. That confirmation bias sets them to an act of violence. That's what we have to worry about.

TAPPER: All right, Mike Rogers, thank you, as always good to see you again.

The President may not denounce QAnon, but he did try to separate himself from Steve Bannon arrested today on fraud charges, due in court soon. I'm going to get reaction from former Justice Department official Sally Yates. One of first people to warn the Trump administration of legal trouble among their officials. Stay with us.

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