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Don Lemon Tonight
President Trump Claims The Virus Is Dying Out; House Speaker Pelosi Dismayed Of V.P. Pence's Behavior; Atlanta Police Calling Out Sick; Officer Who Shot Black Man Outside Of Wendy's Charged With Felony Murder, Could Face Death Penalty If Convicted; President Trump Claims Coronavirus Is Dying Out; President Trump Not Worried About People Acquiring Coronavirus At His Tulsa Rally. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired June 17, 2020 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Best part of the night. Introducing D. Lemon and CNN Tonight.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Of course. Of course, it is. It had better be.
CUOMO: Makes me smile. It doesn't even matter when things are rough in the world. I always get a smile when I see your face. And I can't wait to hear what you say about the president tonight saying that --
LEMON: My God.
CUOMO: -- the virus is dying out. The only thing dying are people -- is people --
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: -- all over this country. And part of the reason why is this lackadaisical attitude about this thing that when you're emotionally done with it, it will go away.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: It's just not happening.
LEMON: Well, if it's something they don't want, they just, you know, they pretend it's not happening, right? And some would say that they're in a state of denial. But, I mean, just think about today, Chris. Everything that happened today. You had the coronavirus. You've got the Bolton book which I'm going to talk about.
You've got what happened in Atlanta. You still what's going on with George Floyd and the protesters. I mean, just think about just one day of news at any other time it may be stretched over a week or month. This is just -- these are just incredible times that we're living in right now.
CUOMO: So, a lot of fomented tension in the country because you got a vacuum of leaderships.
LEMON: Absolutely.
CUOMO: Because instead of having somebody that is working against what divides us, which is what we're used to as a dynamic. We have somebody who is fomenting division.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: And so, everything is heightened. Everybody is on edge. But this pandemic stuff and there's only one truth, you know. And I have to tell you, if he's going to have people sign releases at that rally, now that he's offering masks? I don't think that's right.
I think that if you're offering masks and you're recognizing the risk and you are having this rally anyway. Don't have people sign releases.
LEMON: Right.
CUOMO: That's dirty pool, man. You know they follow you and they want to come. But you are going to have sent yourself for many responsibility and liability when you're the president who is inviting them there. It's not right.
LEMON: Yes, I agree 100 percent. I got to get to it. We have a lot going on. Plus, we have the officers, remember, that you talked to the mayor about in Atlanta. Maybe she has a sick out on her hands. We'll see.
Thank you, Chris. See you soon. Love you, brother.
CUOMO: Love you, D. Lemon.
LEMON: This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.
So, OK. What is this president and his inner circle so afraid of? What are they so afraid of? They are trying everything in the book to stop a book from going public. So, you can't read it. Last minute legal maneuvers coming fast and furious to block the John Bolton book.
So, you watch the "Wizard of Oz", right? This is what they don't want. They don't want to pull back the curtain on this "Wizard of Oz" president and reveal the truth of his mediocrity and flim-flam. Look it up. Old word flim-flam, or two words put together.
They don't want you to know that right now, this president, President Trump and his top White House aides they're really in denial. They are in denial about the coronavirus pandemic. Just ignoring it at this point. They're in denial about racism in America despite America's streets exploding in angry protests about police brutality just over the past three weeks.
And they're in denial about who Donald Trump was elected to serve. Wait until you hear the explosive allegations in this new book by John Bolton. By the way, he was Trump's -- he is Trump's former national security adviser. So, we have a lot to talk about. But we want to start with the coronavirus. Despite what the president,
the vice president and others in this administration want you to believe, it's still a killer disease. But not according to Trump. Incredibly.
He is now claiming that it is dying out. Saying, if you look the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was. It's dying out. By the way, we're doing very well in vaccines and therapeutics also. I think there's going to be some big announcement on that in the not too distant future. But no, we're not concerned.
Sound familiar? Kind of like what he said in the very beginning, right? And then, more than 2.1. million confirmed cases in the United States and the nationwide death tolls right now is nearing 118,000.
[22:05:03]
Twenty-one states nearly half the states in the country now experiencing a rise in the number of new cases. Ten states seeing their highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per day since the pandemic began. Months ago. The virus is not dying out.
The president holding an event at the White House this afternoon invited guests, and as the cameras pull back, there you go, you will notice that pretty much everyone in attendance taking their cue from the president practically no one wearing a mask.
The coronavirus task force basically sidelined. Vice President Mike Pence the head of it ignoring the mask guidance. Dr. Fauci says he hasn't spoken to the president in two weeks.
And for those stats I just recited on the virus spreading, Trump resorting to an old rule from his play book. He just ignores the facts. As one administration official tells CNN Trump and his top aides are just in denial about the severity of the virus.
The president moving full steam ahead with his planned campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday. Twenty thousand people. Twenty thousand people will pack into an arena. Masks, not required. Oklahoma, one of the 21 states with the coronavirus cases on the rise. Dr. Fauci saying this. That he wouldn't go to a crowded event like that.
I want you to listen to this exchange today between CNN's Jim Acosta and the White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Will the president or the White House take responsibility if people get sick and catch the coronavirus at this rally on Saturday?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So, the campaign is taking certain measures to make sure this is safe rally. Temperature checks, hand sanitizers and masks. So, we are taking precautions.
ACOSTA: But you're not requiring masks.
MCENANY: They will be given a mask. It's up to them. Whether to make that decisions, CDC guidelines are recommended but not required.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Friendly warning to those planning to attend. Or you can call it a caveat. You're on your own. The Trump campaign is not interested in protecting your health. The rally is strictly about President Trump and his need to be the center of attention before adoring fans.
Think about this, if the president wasn't really concerned about coronavirus, would he make people sign agreements that they can't -- they have no recourse if they do get coronavirus? I mean, when he just says, you're not going to get it, it's fine. He's making people sign these agreements. Think about that.
The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bypassing the president taking Mike Pence to task for ignoring the dangers of the virus.
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REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: No, Mr. Vice president you make me sad because you're a person of faith. You're prayerful about praying for a cure and praying for vaccines. And praying for the good health of the American people. Not to minimize the risk that they are taking because the president doesn't want to wear a mask and he wants an ego trip in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: For the record the director of Tulsa's Health Department warning that anyone who attends the rally faces an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. President Trump and his top aides are also in denial about systemic racism tonight in the United States. Especially in law enforcement.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said you don't believe in systemic exists --
(CROSSTALK)
LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: I do -- I do not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At all in the U.S.?
KUDLOW: I do not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't think there's any systemic racism against African-Americans the United States?
KUDLOW: I will say it again. I do not.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We want to make sure we don't have any bad actors in there. Sometimes you'll see some horrible things like we witnessed recently. But 99, I say 99.9 but let's go with 99 percent of them are great, great people. And they've done jobs that are record setting.
WILLIAM BARR, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think there's racism in the United States still. But I don't think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Do you think systemic racism is a problem in law enforcement agencies in the United States?
ROBERT O'BRIEN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: No. I don't think there is systemic racism. I think 99.9 percent of our law enforcement officers are great Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Trump fancies himself a law and order president claiming that only a tiny number of police officers -- bad apples, as he calls them are responsible for acts of police brutality especially against African-Americans.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott the only black Republican in the Senate is leading the GOP's effort on police reform legislation. And he's sticking to the Republican position that plays down systemic racism.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): The fact that some people enjoy talking about systemic racism. The fact that some people want to define everything from a racism, racist perspective. I don't know how to tell people that the nation is not racist. I'll try again. We're not a racist country. We deal with racism because there's racism in the country. Both are mutually true. They are both true but not mutually exclusive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wow. Also, he said he's pulled over by police 10 times in a year. Now you ask yourself, how many times have you been pulled over in a year? How many? But he's been pulled over 10 times. According to him. But there's no systemic racism. Interesting.
By the way, Tim Scott, please come on the show. I'd love to talk to you.
The president's executive order on police reform no teeth in it. Suggestions. Not mandatory changes. Chokeholds are banned but there is a loophole. But he insists he is out in front leading the effort to reform criminal justice. And as usual bashing Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I passed criminal justice reform which nobody could get. President Obama couldn't get it. I don't know if he tried it. But he certainly didn't get it or didn't come close. Opportunity zones. Historically black colleges and universities, I got them funded.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But do you need to sound more empathetic?
TRUMP: Well, I think what I have to do is get jobs back. I mean, if you want to know the truth, I do. I am empathetic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: No, he's not. Donald Trump is the least empathetic president in any of our lifetimes. He's one of the angriest. And now we know why he is suing to stop the release of John Bolton's new book next week.
Former national security adviser making bombshell accusations against his former boss. Claiming in his book that President Trump personally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win the 2020 presidential election. That's what Bolton says. Bolton writing about Trump during a meeting last year with President Xi.
He then stunningly, and I quote here, "turned the conversation to the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Eluding to China's economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns. Pleading with Xi to ensure he win. He stresses the importance of farmers and increase Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome."
Bolton also claims that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once passed a note to him during a meeting with Trump in which Pompeo told Bolton that he believed Trump was quote, "so full of shit." That's what he says.
Also, tonight, we're going to talk a lot about this. Coming up. And that is a former Atlanta police officer now charged with felony murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks last week. He could face the death penalty.
And sources telling CNN that Atlanta police officers calling out sick tonight in protest. A lot coming up. The latest on all these stories. But first, straight to our White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond with the very latest from Washington.
Jeremy, good evening to you. Thank you so much for joining us. Despite rising numbers of cases in -- coronavirus cases in 10 states, President Trump says that the cases are, quote, "dying out." That simply is not true.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is not, Don. And what's most striking is the question that he was asked that led to this response. The question was about this rally that the president is hosting in Oklahoma on Saturday. And whether or not he's concerned that he could potentially put people at risk that people could get sick by attending this rally. The president saying the virus is dying out. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: If you look, the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was. It's dying out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: And so, you can hear there that's how the president is saying that the coronavirus is going. Of course, we know, Don, that the reality is that nearly two dozen states coronavirus cases are actually rising.
And today, Don, the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked whether or not President Trump would assume responsibility for the potential of an outbreak tied to his campaign rally. And instead she said that people are assuming personal risk. Just like when they would be going out to a baseball game. They would also be assuming personal risk.
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But of course, Don, what we know, baseball games aren't happening. The MLB is closed for business right now. And instead, what President Trump is doing here is hosting this rally. He's the one creating the risk of course for these rallygoers who will make their own choice about whether or not it is wise to attend.
But what we do know, Don, is that this all comes as President Trump is personally trying to move on from this pandemic. Not wanting to talk about it even behind the scenes in meetings. Instead, Don, the president is laser focused on the economy. Nothing is going to stop this reopening that the president has encouraged and that is currently underway.
And so, that is where the president's focus is. And why, Don? Because he knows it's his surest ticket to reelection. Don?
LEMON: Encouraging thousands and thousands of people into possible danger.
Jeremy Diamond, thank you very much. I appreciate your reporting.
We are going to get to this breaking news coming out of Atlanta. Charges against the two officers involved in the killing of Rayshard Brooks out today. One could even face the death penalty. And tonight, sources are telling CNN some police in Atlanta are not responding to calls in protest of those charges that I mentioned.
Stay with us. We'll be right back.
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LEMON: Here's breaking news tonight, it's out of Atlanta. Sources say that some police officers are calling out sick hours after a former police officer was charged with felony murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks.
I want to get straight to our CNN's Ryan Young who's on the ground with this new information. Ryan, you have this reporting tonight about Atlanta police officers not responding to calls? What's up with that?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Don. After this news came out from the D.A.'s office they were shocked by all of this. They were upset about it. And of course, a lot of officers were arriving to work. I was told some officers never went inside to even report. Some decided to walk in with their keys and left.
The real thing though is about tomorrow. Because right now we're being told there will be dozens and dozens of officers who plan to call out sick tomorrow to show their solidarity with these officers.
I also want to speak about tonight. Because I just got a text message from somebody who says there's more than 65 calls right now throughout the city that are not being answered. And look, it's broken down by precinct. And all through the city there are precinct that supposedly are not getting their calls answered right now.
And that is troubling of course to many people who work inside the police department. We've also heard that the city of Atlanta has asked for mutual aid from other agencies throughout the metro Atlanta area. And they are refusing to come help. Because obviously they don't want to put their officers in harm's way at this point.
This conversation has been ongoing for quite some time. The morale at the police department I've been told by many veteran officers is the lowest it's been in quite some time.
You have to remember, the chief stepped down. This was a chief that a lot of people liked. They didn't like how she was forced to step down. You had six officers who were fired before an investigation was completed because of how they treated two college students.
And now you have these two officers who were fired and charged. At least of them was. Another officer on administrative duty right now. But they were upset because the GBI hasn't finished their investigation.
In fact, listen to the mayor as she talked to Chris Cuomo tonight about what's going on in the city.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D), ATLANTA, GA: We don't have an account yet because we were in the midst of a shift change. But what I do know is that we do have enough officers to cover us through the night. And our streets won't be any less safe because of the number of officers who called out. But it's just my hope again that our officers will remember the commitment that they made when they held up their hand and they were sworn in as police officers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: Don, if you think about this, we're outside the police department. You think about the word she's using. There was a small protest that's just down the way over here.
LEMON: Yes.
YOUNG: People were having their voices heard. There are two officers who are blocking the road here. you've got to think about this. Every time there's a protest there's officers somewhere nearby that are sort of blocking the area. Tonight, we see two down this direction.
But a lot of calls to try to figure out exactly what's going on when it comes to officers pulling themselves off the streets.
LEMON: Well, if anybody should be covering the story it should be you, Ryan. How many years did you cover that Atlanta as a local reporter?
YOUNG: About 10 years here in the city.
LEMON: That's what I met you. I watched you. Yes, as I was there seven years. So, I watched you all of my seven years there in Atlanta. And you did a great job. And so keep on the story. Thank you, Ryan Young.
YOUNG: Thank you.
LEMON: I want to bring in now Justin Miller. Justin Miller is an attorney for the family of Rayshard Brooks. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Miller. We really appreciate it.
First, really quickly, I want to get your response to these reports that these officers are reportedly calling out or not responding to calls. Because of this.
JUSTIN MILLER, ATTORNEY FOR RAYSHARD BROOKS' FAMILY: Yes, man I think that this is -- you know, that's their right. I don't really understand, you know, and I haven't heard a statement from them as to why they're doing it if they're doing that.
But, you know, to do it for this guy, for this officer, Officer Rolfe, who shot Mr. Brooks and then didn't render aid and kicked him. I don't know why you would do that for that person.
LEMON: Now your reaction to this fired officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks. Facing eleven charges now including felony murder.
MILLER: Yes, I think that charges are good. That's always a good first step. But as you know, you know, that doesn't always result in convictions. And he's going to fight it. He has good lawyers on his side to fight for him. So, you know, that's just step number one. I'm glad the D.A.'s office pretty looked into this and hopefully we can get some justice out of this one.
LEMON: Let's talk about what happened today during that press conference what was announced. This is the Fulton County D.A. announcing that while Rayshard Brooks was fighting for his life after being shot, for two plus minutes they did not provide medical treatment. Again, that's according to the Fulton County D.A.
[22:25:00]
Instead, he says Officer Rolfe actually kicked Brooks while he was on the ground and Officer Bronson stood on his shoulder. Rayshard's widow, Tomika Miller, was asked about learning that news. Here she is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOMIKA MILLER, RAYSHARD BROOKS' WIDOW: I was very hurt. I can't imagine being there. Becasue I don't know what I would have done if I would have seen that for myself. But I felt everything that he felt just by hearing what he went through. And it hurt. It hurt really bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It is heartbreaking. I know that Rayshard's widow had to leave the courtroom when the D.A. was talking about how her husband was treated. I can't imagine how hard that was for her to hear.
MILLER: Yes, it's been really difficult for her especially dealing with those babies. Those three little girls. And her son too who really loved Rayshard by herself. So, she's having to go -- not dealing with it by herself. She has family around her. But I mean, dealing with it knowing that he's not coming back. So, it's a pretty difficult thing, man. And we're just trying to standby her as much as we can.
LEMON: The D.A. also said that Officer Rolfe uttered, quote, "I got him." At the time the shot was fired. What does all this mean for the case?
MILLER: I mean, to me, it clearly shows that he was not in the correct emotional state to effectuate that arrest. Saying you got somebody after a scuffle and you're supposed to be a professional is that's just way beyond the pay that any professional -- the behavior of any professional that I've ever seen.
The shooting him in the back. He was 18 feet in front of him when he shot him in the back. There are numerous other things he could have done to stop it from escalating to that point. I'm not saying by any stretch of imagination that Mr. Brooks is a saint or he was in that situation. But he didn't deserve to die. And he didn't deserve to get kicked or treated that way outside of that Wendy's that night.
LEMON: Nobody is a saint. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Justin Miller, thank you for your time.
MILLER: No problem. Thank you for having me.
LEMON: So, as we always say on the show facts first. I just want to correct something I said earlier. Senator Tim Scott was pulled over seven times. Not 10 times. Three fewer times than I said. But my question is still the same. How many times have you been pulled over in a year?
More on our breaking news tonight. What's going on behind the scenes with the Brooks case that the Atlanta police, that they are calling out sick tonight in protest. We'll talk about that.
[22:30:00]
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LEMON: Breaking news on the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, the fired Atlanta police officer who shot the 27 year-old black man in the back could be facing the death penalty. Fulton County District Attorney announcing eleven charges including felony murder against Garrett Rolfe.
Joining me now former federal prosecutor Laura Coates, also Cedric Alexander, he is a former president of the National Organization of Black Law Executives. Good evening, thank you both for joining tonight. This is really important story. Stunning news coming out of the Atlanta today, Laura. Walk us through these eleven charges including felony murder against this fired officer. Does this crime rise to a death penalty case?
LAURA COATES, CNN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ANALYST: Well, first of all, the idea there's a police officer who is now facing the death penalty for the killing of a black man in America right now is monumental given the idea of what's happened over the course of history and just how difficult even to bring charges against police. With issues of qualified and immunity and now of course, criminal prosecution. That in and of itself is jaw dropping.
But these charges, what's so important about them is they laid out at the initial stages now. This is not all the way to conviction. But the initial stages are very compelling case in which they focus on the conduct of the officers after the shots were fired. Specifically the failure to render aid, the statement of I got him. The kicking allegedly of one of the officer as well. One standing on the shoulders of Rayshard Brooks. Says he lay dying on the ground. No one administering aid to him, according to the prosecutors.
And you have the idea here that they used the idea that look, normally what shields police officers, Don, is a benefit of the doubt. That whatever was reasonable to be average or the reasonable police officer would be what you would use to show whether someone used excessive force.
Well, here, the policeman manual says it was excessive. You can't shoot a taser at somebody running away, let alone your actual firearms. So, that combination is what led to these charges. And eleven of them, one could lead to the death penalty if convicted is huge.
LEMON: SO, let me ask you, because -- there are some now who are saying police advocates, who are saying that this is an overcharge. And why is the charge felony murder and not manslaughter, Laura?
COATES: Well, felony murder is the basis they're using because you're saying aggravated assault was the under lying claim here. And they could most jurisdictions actually have different levels of murder. First degree, second degree murder. But in Georgia they have murder, and then they got manslaughter charge and other case.
Normally it's a matter of what the intent requirement is going to be. Or heat of passion is one thing that could be considered. Heat of passion is one claim you can say, whether there wasn't enough time for the person to be able to have common sense or humanity entering into the picture.
It seems that in this case the D.A. found that the amount of force that was used and the reason for it was actually perhaps retaliatory not an instance of having a knee jerk reaction and maybe intent did not want to come into the picture in comes in proving it at this point in time.
They could change the charges. It would behoove them perhaps to be consistent, if the evidence is already there for them. Just in terms of trying to make a case to the public as well and a jury pool. But that's their choice.
LEMON: OK. Cedric, quick question. Because I want to ask you something after this. A quick answer if you will. Do you think the charges are warranted?
[22:35:00]
CEDRIC ALEXANDER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW EXECUTIVES: I'm sorry, you cut out there.
LEMON: Do you think the charges are warranted against this officer?
ALEXANDER: You know, that's a question I really can't answer. I mean, that's more of a legal question. I think that's --
LEMON: What I mean, I think what I mean is when you look at the video tape, this is what I really want to know, do you think that the officer acted in a professional manner, or did he go outside of the bounds of what the police training and manual saying?
ALEXANDER: Well, in the manual, in their training, if anyone takes possession of a taser, anyone take possession of a baton, anyone takes any instrument that can do you harm and you feel and perceive that was the case, in that training manual you can use deadly force. So, the problem is going to be here is that you have a training manual which they were trained maybe contradicts what's in state law. And that's going to be the problem in this case. Unfortunate piece is here is that the community is confused. Or should I say the police officers right now at this very moment --
LEMON: Hang on. Before you go into that. So, even when running away, you think that there's a contradiction when someone is in pursuit and the subject is running away that he can -- an officer can still use deadly force?
ALEXANDER: You have several perceptions here of that video. And you have officers seeing this as him turning and firing. And the officer fired. That's what one -- and certainly that's how they see it. Now the mechanics of all of this, the speed the time the distance. All that comes into play.
LEMON: OK. ALEXANDER: But if you look at that video, to that officer, he probably
perceived that when he turned for whatever reason, by many (inaudible), he felt may have been there or not, he felt threatened. And that is the decision he made at that moment. Now he's going to have to be held responsible for.
LEMON: OK. Now let me ask the other question that I've been wanting to ask, because you have been watching the breaking news about Atlanta police officers calling in sick or not responding to calls because of the charges against these officers. What do you think about that? This is serious business.
ALEXANDER: This is serious business. But I'm going to tell you what's going on. These guys are very hurt. They are very frustrated. They are angry. They see what's happening nationally around the country in the words and the language that are being mentioned around defunding. Around reform. Around a variety of things that they feel can affect them directly.
And then we have these incidents that occurred most recently one there in Atlanta. Which leaving them puzzled, confused, angry. So, no, they didn't come to work tonight. But here's what I would say to them, Don, and I hope that they're listening. Your community there in Atlanta needs you tonight. The men and women that are still out there on the street. They need you. Because any time we're short, and we have calls for service in someone get in trouble, they are going to need you.
And I want to encourage them, with all of my heart, go back out there. Remember the oath that we took. And in spite of all this going on in the country today we are going to get passed this. We are going to move passed it. But we've got to be able to stand up right now and stay in this fight and not turn away, because of what's happening.
And you owe it to your community. You owe it to those citizens in Atlanta. You owe it your fellow men and women who are out there tonight. I implore you, get back on the saddle. Get back on this job.
And what's going to take place in a court of law, let it takes place. Because what I'm going to be part of, Don, and those who are listening, I'm going to be part of this reform. To make sure that there are policies in as much as I can encourage laws that are going to be consistent.
So that these officers know what to do under circumstances oftentimes that could be unpredictable.
LEMON: OK.
ALEXANDER: This is not at this moment, Don, a matter of getting into this debate. What is really -- I need these officers in that community. These officers tonight and I just expect them to come on back to work.
LEMON: All right. Cedric, thank you very much. I hope they are listening to you. Laura, as always, thank you as well. I appreciate that. So before we take a break, I'll tell you about something new that I'm doing to help out with the situation that we have been talking about here.
I want to share that tomorrow. I'm launching a new pod cast. OK? And this pod cast is called, something that I talk about all the time on this show, you know silence is not an option. Stand up. Be present. Not an option.
I'm hoping that it will be a chance for us to have a dialogue about America's racial divide. Arrive at some concrete steps, some concrete steps that we can all take to end racism at a practical, personal level. A lot of people reaching out to me asking what should I do, what do you think. All of this stuff. We are going to talk about all of it. It's a place where you can go and have this conversations. And learn. And learn.
[22:40:08]
So, you can listen for free on CNN.com or your favorite podcast app. First episodes drops tomorrow. I hope you'll join me. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: President falsely claiming the coronavirus is dying out. Despite multiple states reporting records in hospitalization and rates of daily new cases. Doctors in the House. CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta, I'm talking about. Doctor, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us this evening. This is really serious. Because the president says this virus dying out but when you look at the data that I just mentioned, it's just flatly not true.
[22:45:00]
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's not true. And I mean, the numbers don't lie here. Look at any metric you want. I mean, we can show you the story of what happened with this virus in the United States.
We know that coastal cities with big international airports, people flew into those airports and that's where the virus started to spread initially. Seattle, cities in California. Obviously there in New York. And even back then, Don, I'm talking March. The prediction was that at some point you would see these other waves around the country.
We can show you these waves now. You see what's happening in the northeast? You see that peak and start to come down. But then you look at south, you look at the west. You look at other parts of the country and the numbers are generally going up. Look at the south in particular.
Arizona which is about a third the population, Don, of New York, is probably going to surpass New York's hospitalization rate within the next several days. So, it's not going away. It just sorts of moved around the country. Which was exactly what was expected, it's not dying away.
LEMON: So, what do we need to do? What do states need to do to slow this down?
GUPTA: Well, you know, Don, even before states could reopen, you remember there was this gating criteria. It was announced at the White House briefing coronavirus task force briefing it was a big deal. And I looked at those gating criteria and I thought, well, these actually seem very sensible and reasonable. I talked -- interviewed many of the task force members.
I think within a week those gating criteria went out the window. I don't think any state in early May that started to open met basic criteria for opening. Which was a 14 day downward trend. And having enough testing in place. You test, so that you can find people who are infected. Isolate them. So they don't continue to spread the disease. And that didn't happen.
What needs to happen to your question are a couple things? One is that we have to have enough testing in these places to find people not just to have the numbers go up, but to actually have the numbers go down. Two is that there's a middle ground, Don. We think about shut or open. But the middle ground is that people wear masks in public. They maintain physical distance. And I know it sounds silly, because we have been saying this for four and half months now.
But you know what, it has worked in other countries around the world. There's countries around the world that measured their death rates, deaths counts in the hundreds. Not thousands or hundreds of thousands like we do. Why? They don't have a vaccine. They don't have anything else, they did the same things that we could have done and can still do. But it boggles the mind that we're not doing this basic public health measures that we know can make a huge difference.
LEMON: Well, Doctor, I tune in into your pod cast. Hope you'll tune in to mine tomorrow and you can offer me some advice as well on --
GUPTA: I just heard it. I heard about your pod -- I'm really looking forward to it. Yes.
LEMON: Drops tomorrow. So, I'll be calling you. What do I do, help. Thank you Dr. Gupta.
GUPTA: I really appreciate it.
LEMON: And also make sure you tune if for Dr. Gupta and Anderson Cooper. They are going to host coronavirus facts and fears live tomorrow night 8:00 p.m. of course, right here on CNN.
Calls growing for the president to postpone his rally in Tulsa as coronavirus cases rise there. My next guest, the Tulsa county commissioner and she says she's very concerned on every level.
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[22:50:00]
LEMON: President Trump saying tonight he is not worried about supporters at his upcoming rally in Tulsa getting sick from coronavirus. That despite Tulsa setting a record of daily new cases and Oklahoma seeing its highest seven-day average of new cases since the pandemic began. Let's discuss now. Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith is here. Commissioner, I appreciate you joining us. Thank you so much for your time.
KAREN KEITH, TULSA COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Thank you for the opportunity.
LEMON: You're among the Tulsa officials sounding the alarm about this. Give me your biggest concern.
KEITH: Well, we've just had a huge spike, a record spike in numbers, and we attribute a lot of that to the Memorial Day weekend. And we saw the big spike. And so of course with all these folks coming into town, we have concerns. We don't know where they're coming from. In just a little survey that I did down by the BOK Center, I met folks from Ohio, in Indiana, New York City, Michigan, and that's just the folks who were here now. And those are further away than the states that I expected to see.
So, I think folks are going to be coming in from all over and, of course, we don't know if those are any hot spots. I mean, Tulsa's a welcoming city, Don. We like, you know, having people come here. This is just a bad time for us.
LEMON: Well, what -- what are you doing to warn people about what's going on?
KEITH: Well, I mean, we had a press conference today just, you know, kind of letting people know what's going on and know -- we've done a great job here. Our mayor shut our city down early.
LEMON: Well, I mean, about what's going about -- warning people about going to the rally.
KEITH: Right.
LEMON: Because, I mean, I know that you guys are taking precautions in your city, but I mean, when you have that many, I mean 10s of thousands of people in an enclosed space.
KEITH: Well, I mean, I would urge people to not go and try to watch it some other way or experience it some other way than getting inside of the BOK Center or the convention center or, you know, we're expecting 100,000 people. This is not just, you know, the people inside the 19,000-seat arena, this is 100,000 people clustered within about a five-block area.
And, you know, between our convention center and the BOK Center is probably going to be 45,000 on the street with the band and then in our convention center. So, I mean, it's just a recipe for disaster.
[22:55:00]
LEMON: And what about when all those -- commissioner, when all those people go home, right, and then you're left to deal with whatever happens. KEITH: Right, right. Well, and they go home to their own states. And
they have problems. And then, of course, they bring their coronavirus here and it spreads among our community. Because we have citizens who I know are going to want to go and enjoy being there, but it's just -- the outcome is not going to be something that's good for this area. I just don't see how that works out well for us.
LEMON: Well, commissioner, good luck to you.
KEITH: Well, thank you.
LEMON: Seriously, we wish you the very best. You stay safe. We'll have you back to talk -- to discuss what happens.
KEITH: OK. Thank you so much.
LEMON: Thank you so much.
KEITH: Good night.
LEMON: Good night.
So, CNN obtaining John Bolton's book even as the Trump administration is making a last ditch effort to stop publication. The details they don't want you to know next.
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