Return to Transcripts main page
Don Lemon Tonight
Kamala Harris Chosen As Biden's Running Mate; Trump Reacts On Joe Biden's Running Mate Pick; Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) Is Interviewed About The Biden-Harris Ticket; Senator Harris' Passion To Serve; Russia Touts COVID-19 Vaccine; COVID-19 Affecting Sports. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired August 11, 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]
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon. And thank you so much for joining.
I want to do something a little bit unorthodox here. Is it very interesting day for me. Today would have been my sister's 61st birthday had she not died back in January of 2018. And I think today she would have been thrilled. I know she would have been thrilled by what happened.
So, if you'll bear with me, everyone. I want to speak directly so some people in my audience.
So tonight, America, I want to talk about black women, especially I want to talk about the black women out there in my audience. And I want America to know you like I know you, black women like my mother, like my sisters, my nieces and my friends who have fought for our freedom, for education, for food on the table for justice for every son, every father, every brother, sister and daughter.
Black women who were harder hit by the coronavirus pandemic, both economically and medically. Despite all that you do, year after year this country overlooking you, passing you over, not giving you your due.
Black women for tonight at least, America is not taking you for granted. Today is your day. And the day is historic.
Joe Biden choosing Senator Kamala Harris, a black woman, as his running mate on the 2020 Democratic presidential ticket, however you feel about politics, whether you are a Democrat or Republican, however conservative, liberal, this is historic. And at least this day for this part, it should be celebrated. It's progress in this moment.
The Biden campaign posting a photo on Instagram showing Biden calling Harris, letting her know that she is his choice. The campaign web site kicking into high gear, featuring Biden and Harris on its home page.
They'll hold their first event together as running mates tomorrow in Wilmington, Delaware. But tonight, Harris tweeting her excitement. Saying she is honored to
join the ticket. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of Joe Biden's decision for the first time. Black women are being recognized for the pair they long deserve on a national ticket.
Black women have long been the backbone or the Democratic Party for decades but were denied a seat at the table. Tonight, that is no longer the case. Biden says he is a bridge to the next generation of politics. He's 77 years old. Kamala Harris is 55 years old. Just one year older than me.
Doesn't it say something about the changing politics of America that tonight, when Harris was announced, some people said that it was a safe choice. Ask a black woman what it's like being a black woman in America. You'll hear a lot of things. So, I'm going to bet you that safe isn't one of the things that you'll hear. So that is an amazing thing.
Sources in the Trump campaign telling CNN that they are concerned about what she brings to the race. Part of the reason is that Trump does not poll well with all women.
The newest Monmouth University poll released just today shows Biden has a 29-point lead over Trump with women. And Biden is hoping to completely solidify that lead with Harris as his running mate.
But Trump in a radio interview this morning tried to throw cold water on Biden, saying early on in the campaign that he would pick a woman. Trump hinting that men would be insulted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that I would be inclined to go a different route that what he has done. You know, doing it the way, first of all he roped himself into, you know, a certain group of people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said he had to pick a woman.
TRUMP: He said that. And you know, some people would say that men are insulted by that. And some people would say it's fine. I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Men -- my gosh. Men would be insulted. Poor men. Give me a break.
The Trump campaign was clearly anticipating that Biden would possibly choose Harris. And here's what the president said just two weeks ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you rate Kamala Harris as a V.P.? There's rumor it's going to be her.
TRUMP: I think it's a fine choice, Kamala Harris. It's a fine choice. (END VIDEO CLIP)
[22:05:05]
LEMON: And apparently, he put his money where his mouth is. California records show that Trump donated $6,000 to Harris's past campaigns for attorney general. His daughter Ivanka Trump gave Harris four grand. But he ignored a question about that tonight from my CNN colleague.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Mr. President, why did you donate to Kamala Harris then?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: But before he left the White House briefing room, Trump went after Harris. So, he went to his old go to for powerful women. He called her, you guessed it, nasty. That's what he does when his goal is to demean them, except it says a lot more about him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Plus, she was very, very nasty to one of the reasons that surprised me. She was very -- she was probably nastier than even Pocahontas to Joe Biden. She was very disrespectful to Joe Biden. And it's hard to pick somebody that disrespectful when she said things during the debates, during the Democrat primary debates that were horrible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: He's called Harris nasty about other things as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: She was extraordinarily nasty to Kavanaugh. That was a horrible event. I think it was terrible for her, I thought it was terrible for our nation. I thought she was the meanest, the most horrible most disrespectful of anybody in the U.S. Senate.
Well, she was probably very nasty. I think she's got a little bit of a nasty wit. But that might be it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That act is not even getting old it's old. It's played out. It's just old, antiquated.
But here's the evidence of the stark contrast between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Primary fights are ugly. They are supposed to be. That's how winners are chosen. Remember all those people who sat up there on the stage with Donald Trump and said that he wasn't deserving of the office, talked about how he ran his businesses. That he ran off the backs of poor people, how he treated women and on and on. Many of went to work for him, still work for him, now defending him,
appeared on CNN over and over and over, nasty, nasty, nasty fight. That's how politics works. I don't need to tell you that. I'm not even a political person but that's how it works. So, it's no different this time.
But Joe Biden knows what politics are all about. And at the end of process, candidates in the same party come together to try to defeat the candidate of the opposing party. Politics. That's what it's about, winning.
President Trump would never choose a woman who was, quote, "nasty to him." Biden is choosing Kamala Harris because he clearly believes that she is the right person for the ticket and ultimately for the job. And we don't have to look too far back to see how he came to today's decision.
At a CNN town hall this was in February, long before he became the presumptive Democratic nominee. He answered a voter's question on he would go about choosing a potential running mate. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The first criteria, is that I have to particularly in my case because I'm older, just like John McCain, I have to pick someone if God forbid, something happened tomorrow. If I contracted what my son had or something like that. That the person is ready on day one to be President of the United States.
But the second criteria is I very much like my administration to look like the country. Like Barack and the administration looked like, black, brown, women, men, gay, straight, across the board to look like the country.
As vice president, I think it would be wonderful to have a woman or person of color as vice president.
One of the things I learned is that no president in the 21st century can handle the job all by themselves. It's just too much that lands on your plate. So, you've got be prepared to turn over significant responsibility as the president did with me on matters relating to a whole range of issues and turn it over and run it from beginning to end.
But I know one thing, you've got to be in the same page. Whomever I pick, man, woman, whoever it is has to agree with my strategic vision for the country. We can disagree on tactic. But unless you agree -- and they can be totally trustworthy. But if they don't agree on strategic where we are, it's impossible to say here, you take this responsibility with regard to Ukraine. You take care of it. And just do it.
[22:10:02]
You have to know you're on the same page. So that's the first criteria I know has to exist no matter who you pick. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Joe Biden making history. Choosing Kamala Harris to be his running mate. Black women, America sees you. It's about time.
Joining me now, Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, the Democratic majority whip. Congressman, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us.
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): Well, thank you very much for having me.
LEMON: It's a moment in history. Give me your reaction to the former vice president picking Senator Kamala Harris to be his running mate.
CLYBURN: I love it. I love it. I've been saying forever as a father of three black women, I can think of nothing that would make me more proud than for us to honor all black women, all women, and to be selfish about it those three daughters of mine.
LEMON: Yes. You know what people say behind your back, they say that this is all your fault, Congressman. Because your support, I mean, honestly, your support in South Carolina brought Joe Biden's campaign back from the dead. Really. It resuscitated him. It was black women who, you know, resurrected him.
Biden was their first choice. Kamala Harris didn't make a dent in the polls. So, what is different about how those women feel now about Senator Harris?
CLYBURN: Well, it's kind of interesting. You may recall that just on the eve of my endorsement, the thing that made it so emotional for me was a black woman. Sitting in the pew of the church in Richland County, who called me over to her and said to me, that people needed to hear from me. And she wanted to know who was I for.
When I told her, I wish you would see the look on her face. She said, I needed today hear that and this community needs to hear from you.
LEMON: Yes.
CLYBURN: I took it from that that Joe Biden was a big favorite among black women. My late wife loved Joe Biden. My three daughters are crazy about Joe Biden. And so, I think that Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris is (Inaudible) over the fact that he has a tremendous respect for what black women have done to our party.
LEMON: Do you think it's a double standard because people are saying, you know, in that last question I said well, she didn't make a dent in the polls or in the race. But many men have run for president, did not get it, didn't make a dent in the polls ended becoming vice president.
Do you think that's a double standard? Because someone may like you for one thing and they may not like for another. They may love Senator Harris as vice president now but maybe thought give it a couple years and then she can be president. Do you think that's a double standard? CLYBURN: Yes, it is. No question about it. That applies to women. It
applies to people of color. That's part of what we're trying to go through here in order to make this a perfect union. I know very well that time and time again throughout the campaign, South Carolina voters were saying to me, I would love to see a Biden, Harris ticket. That was almost universal.
So, this comes as no surprise to me and I think that black women at least throughout South Carolina and I think all across the country are very proud of this moment. And they are going to rally behind this ticket like they've never rallied before.
LEMON: Yes. Joe Biden launched his campaign talking about Charlottesville, Virginia, that ugly parade with the tiki torches and the neo-Nazis in khaki pants. That was three years ago tonight. Very fine people on both sides as President Trump said. Will Donald Trump's racism be an even bigger issue in this campaign moving forward?
CLYBURN: You know, I've said to several people today, if I were Pence, I would be on needles now. Because knowing this man as I do, Donald Trump, I would not be a bit surprised in jettison, Pence, in order to try to one up Joe Biden. So, if I were Pence right now, I would be wondering who I would have to be on guard against.
LEMON: Yes. Would you like to see a debate there between Senator Harris and the vice president?
CLYBURN: I would love it. I would love it. I think that he would love it. The fact of the matter is, I saw what went on between her and Kavanaugh, what went on between her and Attorney General Barr. I think that it will end for a real good campaign. She will demonstrate much like, I think, Al Gore did when he debated when he was the V.P. candidate. I think he will equip (Ph) him -- she will equip (Ph) us very, very well.
[22:15:04]
LEMON: Why do you think that -- why do you think that the president would jettison Vice President Pence at this -- it would be unprecedented.
CLYBURN: It would be. But here in recent years, but I have, you know, that Roosevelt Jettison Wallace in favor of Truman.
LEMON: But -- so why do you think for what reason? You don't think -- you think the vice president is not strong enough? Why would -- why would the president do that?
CLYBURN: You know, Trump can say what he wants to. Trump has a certain fear of Ms. Harris. I really think that Kamala is all that he wished he did not have to confront. And I really believe he's already seeking a way to make a headline. And he will sacrifice anybody or anything in order to make a headline.
And what better headline for him to make than to get rid of Pence and put somebody else on the ticket like a woman that he feels can go toe to toe with her.
LEMON: OK, so, listen. Let's talk about this. Because there are certain progressives who are concerned about the senator saying, you know, she has a reputation as a prosecutor that she's a cop. She's a police officer. We need to defund the police. And listen, I'm paraphrasing them here.
And they may be concerned about prosecuting black men and people of color and so on. Does she -- does she have some work to do with black voters or do you think that is simply a talking point or a political strategy on other people's parts?
CLYBURN: I think it's a talking point. Look, Don, we all work hard to get people of color into various positions. We want there to be police chiefs of color. We want there to be prosecutors of color. So, we should not hold it against prosecutors and police chiefs when they get to where we're trying for them to go.
We should judge people based upon how they conduct themselves in their office. Not if they hold the office. That's tantamount to judging people because of their skin color rather than their character.
You shouldn't look at me and say this is the way I judge you without knowing who I am or observing my performance. So, I believe that it is unfair and there's something about that I would put the label on it that I shouldn't tonight.
LEMON: I've never known you to hold your tongue. You don't want to say?
CLYBURN: No, I don't. I have three daughters who will be up against me if I did.
LEMON: Representative, thank you, and my regards to your daughters and your entire family. I hope you're safe. Listen, as someone who comes from all sisters and a mom who is single at one point, a family of women, I understand what you're going through. So, it's best that you did keep your mouth closed.
CLYBURN: Thank you.
LEMON: Thank you very much, Congressman. I appreciate it.
CLYBURN: I appreciate it.
LEMON: Best of luck.
CLYBURN: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: Big day for Senator Harris and the Biden campaign, the first black woman on a major party ticket. Could her family and friends have predicted this way back in the day? Well, I'm going to ask one. Her lifelong friend joins me next.
[22:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is official. Senator Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's vice president pick, Harris becoming the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.
So, joining me now Stacey Johnson-Batiste. She is a lifelong friend of Senator Harris. Look at that smile. I can tell just from that smile --
STACEY JOHNSON-BATISTE, LIFELONG FRIEND OF SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS: Hi, Don.
LEMON: -- how you feel today. Hi, Ms. Johnson Batiste.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: I am ecstatic. First of all, I watch you all the time. So, I'm thrilled to be here with you. I'm honored to talk about my friend. She and I have been friends since kindergarten, so for over 50 years. And this has been probably the best news I've gotten in 2020.
LEMON: Yes.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: I mean, there's been a lot going on. So --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We can use it, right?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: So, I'm very, very happy.
LEMON: We can use a lot of good news.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Exactly.
LEMON: So, listen, Stacey, if I may, if I may call you.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Yes.
LEMON: You have been friends with the senator, or as you know her Kamala Harris since kindergarten. Tell me, I know you said you're ecstatic, but how are you feeling tonight and how do you think Senator Harris is feeling night?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: I am very proud --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And by the way. Did you see that little picture right -- hold on a second. Can you put that picture back up? Do you -- can you see air?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: No.
LEMON: What grade was that? I think she's in green rubbing her eye. And I think you're in a plaid coat, if that's right. It must be grade school. Sorry. But it's courtesy of you.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: That was probably when we were coming back from a field trip. So, does it look like we were outside?
LEMON: Yes. You're outside and you're holding it looks like a lunch pail. But anyway, go on.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Right. No. OK. So, I'm behind Kamala. So, I'm the one kind of in the background with the two --
LEMON: With the pigtails.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: -- pigtails.
LEMON: OK. Got it.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Exactly.
LEMON: OK.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Yes.
LEMON: So how do you think she's feeling? Your buddy forever.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Gosh, I think, well knowing Kamala the way I do, she is full of energy. So, she is ready to roll up her sleeves and get the good work done. You know, as we know there's a lot that needs to be done, you know, with COVID, and you know, so many different things with the racial unrest.
You know, there's just a long laundry list of things that need to get done. And she's -- she's always been a courageous, caring leader. She's the one person that I know will always do the right thing. She cares about all people. She fights for all people. And you know, she always has.
[22:25:03]
So, when I was thinking back this afternoon on, she and I growing up, growing up in Berkeley, I mean it is so fitting considering Berkeley. That's where we grew up. And back in the 70s Berkeley was, you know, kind of a corner stone for civil rights --
LEMON: Right.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: -- and folks speaking out about, you know, what was not right, et cetera. And you know, Kamala's mom, our Aunt Mary and Uncle Sherman (Ph) who inspired her to be a lawyer; his wife, Mary, who was a professor of African-American studies; and her mom, Shyamala, who was a good friend of my mother who, you know, sought to cure breast cancer.
I mean, you know, just growing up in a very diverse environment. It just -- it just seems very fitting. She's the right person. She has the point of view of not only being the top cop of California. But also having friends and family that she has seen, you know, get pulled over just because they're black.
And you know, she has experienced a lot. So, for people who may think this just happened, no. She has spent decades, you know, fighting for what's right. And you know, being across a prosecutor and being the district attorney of San Francisco. I mean, she's seen it all. She's been on the crime scene.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And you've been right alongside her. I think we have some video of you two together. But you have been right alongside her obviously since you were kids. But there's, you know, photographs. You guys look great there. Big smiles all around.
But I've got to ask you, you know Joe Biden. Sometimes he can step in it, right, in terms of how he speaks, sometimes what he says about black Americans. Some people think he's maybe a little bit overly -- a little bit too familiar with black Americans and, you know, may sometimes -- that may sometimes get in the way.
But you know, he talks about black Americans and other issues. Do you think Senator Harris is prepared to help him navigate those waters with some may say even course correct when he needs to?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Absolutely. And you know, to me, they are the perfect match. They will balance. You know, he has decades of experience in the presidency. But she has decades of experience fighting for what's right. And she connects, I believe, with people. She cares about people. And so, does he.
So, I think, you know, even though he may, you know, misspeak on a few things or what have you, I think we can see his, you know, his heart. And Joe Biden has spent his career caring about all people as well and fighting for what's right. So, I think they make a good team.
LEMON: They play off of each other well. Well, listen, I have to go. I could talk to you all night. But I want to thank you for coming on. And as I said in my open tonight, this is, you know, this is it. I want to say how I felt about black women. And this is a day for black women. I know you're proud.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Absolutely.
LEMON: And I know you feel that. And you're very proud of your friend as well. So, enjoy this, OK?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Thank you.
LEMON: And best of luck. However it turns out, enjoy it, all right?
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Absolutely. Thank you, Don, for all that you do.
LEMON: Thank you. Thank you very much. I really appreciate that. That means more than you know. Thanks a lot.
JOHNSON-BATISTE: Thank you.
LEMON: Be well. And up next, the president won't stop talking about athletes who kneel
in protest, the winks and the nods that he is sending to his supporters now. We'll talk about that.
[22:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Take this. President Trump continuing to divide on race and the lead up to the 2020 election. Doubling down on attacks against athletes who protest racial injustice and police brutality during the national anthem.
I want you to listen to what he says about professional basketball and football.
(BEGIN VOICE CLIP)
TRUMP: I would say this. If they don't stand for the National Anthem, I hope they don't open. But other than that, I'd love to see them open and we're doing everything possible for getting them open. I think in protest in other ways they shouldn't protest our flag or our country. It's been horrible for basketball.
Look at the basketball ratings they're down -- they're down to very low numbers, very, very low. Now people are angry about it. They don't realize that. They don't want -- they have enough politics with guys like me. Some are very nasty, very, very nasty, and frankly, very dumb.
(END VOICE CLIP)
LEMON: And when asked to settle a debate over who the best basketball players, the president gives some insight on why he likes Michael Jordan more than LeBron James.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The number one debate among sports fans for the last 10 years probably has been who is better as a basketball player, Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Which do you think?
TRUMP: Michael Jordan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No doubt in your mind.
TRUMP: Well, I've seen them both. Michael Jordan is plus he wasn't political so people like him better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, what's the president's problem with black professional athletes getting political? LeBron James continues to protest racial injustice; he's also called the president out for dividing on this show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEBRON JAMES, NBA PLAYER, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: You know, we are in a position right now in America more importantly where this whole, this race thing is taking over, you know. And because, one, because I believe the president is kind of trying to divide us. But I think --
LEMON: Kind of?
[22:35:01]
JAMES: Yes. He is. He is. Not only as a kind of.
LEMON: Yes.
JAMES: He is dividing us. And what I notice over the last few months that he's used sport to kind of divide us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: LeBron speaks the truth that the president uses sports to divide on race which is exactly what the president was up to today. Speaking of today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD CHANTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well today happens to be, it happens to mark the three years, can you believe it, since the racist white supremacist march in Charlottesville.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD CHANTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Just after that, what the president said left a stain on his presidency that will never be erased.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You also had people that were very fine people on both sides. You had people in that group. Excuse me. Excuse me. I saw the same pictures as you did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: To this day the president continues to defend and even fight for monuments to traitors who fought for slavery, both sides indeed.
Up next, Russia claims to have a coronavirus vaccine already. But Dr. Fauci says he seriously doubts it's safe or effective. What about our very own Dr. Sanjay Gupta? What does he say about that? I'll let him tell you right after the break.
[22:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. Important segment we're about to do here. Dr. Anthony Fauci saying tonight that he seriously doubts that Russia has proven that its coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective.
So, we want to discuss now with CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Doctor, good to see you. Thank you so much for joining.
Russia is claiming they have a coronavirus vaccine. But I want you to listen to Dr. Fauci first before we talk and what he's saying about it. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I hope but I haven't heard any evidence to make me feel that's the case. I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective. I seriously doubt that they have done that.
But that's what I think people need to understand when they hear announcements from the Chinese or from the Russians that we have a vaccine. We're giving a vaccine. And people say, why aren't the Americans doing that? Well, because we have a way of doing things in this country that we care about safety and we care about efficacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What do you think?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I spoke to the Russian spokesperson, you know, who was describing this vaccine. And there's a couple things that sort of come to mine.
First of all, I think we, you know, we are well within our sort of right to be pretty skeptical of this because there's been no data that's been provided at all. I mean, I've been covering the story, you know, Don, for several months. Following these vaccine trials from the beginning we want to see data.
I mean, no matter where the vaccine is from, whether it's from China or the United States, the U.K. or wherever, to Russia, we need to see data. And there isn't data.
But here's the more salient point, I think, Don. Is that, there's three phases of trials. Most people know this by now, phase one, phase two, and phase three. I couldn't -- it's still confusing, but I don't think they've started phase three trials on this particular vaccine in Russia.
They have gone through phase one and two, they say. We haven't seen data. They say they're going to start phase three now. Well, you know, other companies have already started phase three. You got to get tens of thousands of people.
They say they are going to enroll a couple thousand people of primarily high-risk individuals like healthcare workers. That doesn't provide the sort of data that you need to try and prove that something works.
Does it work in elderly people, young people, people with preexisting conditions? Give a bunch of people the vaccine and compare very similar people over here that don't get the vaccine and see if it's protective. If one group doesn't get the infection as much, you know, you have to do that.
It takes time. Their time line doesn't make sense. The data hasn't been provided. And Don, finally, the bar is high with vaccines. They're giving medication to someone who is really sick, sure. You may try things that you otherwise wouldn't try. You're giving it something to healthy people at this point to try and prevent them from getting sick. It's a very high bar and I haven't seen the data that proves that this is meeting that bar.
LEMON: All right. Let's dig a little bit deeper on that in the vein of what you're talking about. Because Dr. Fauci says the U.S. takes precautions. Right? But do you worry that this could increase pressure on the U.S. to push out a vaccine before it is fully tested, or do we have just enough safeguards to place where this won't effect that process?
GUPTA: You know, Don, I don't want to sound naive and I get that it's very difficult to disentangle just about anything from politics nowadays. But you know, I do think there's several safeguards in place.
You know, the head of the NIH just came out and basically said that won't happen. There won't be political pressure in terms of getting a vaccine approval. I've spoken to the FDA commissioner myself. And there's a process that takes place at the FDA. It's not one person who says we're good to go. You know, it goes through a bunch of data scientists who look at the data, they compare it to other data and then they render these, you know, recommendations.
So, you know, what I would say is whether there's political pressure or not, maybe there will be. Whether it will manifest into an earlier than acceptable approval, I hope not.
And Don, you know what, I want to be doing my job as well, just like I'm asking for the data on this Russian vaccine.
LEMON: Right.
GUPTA: We want to see the data as journalists on this vaccine as well. The Moderna vaccine presumably you're asking about, we want to see that data before anything gets approved.
LEMON: Doctor, I appreciate your time. Thank you. I'll see you soon.
GUPTA: You got it, Don. LEMON: So, I just want to make sure you know about my new podcast and
the subject that we're going to cover in this week. We're going to talk about in the next segment on the show.
[22:45:00]
It's called Silence is Not an Option, taking on the hard questions about being black in America. You can find on Apple podcast or your favorite podcast app.
So, this is what we're going to talk about this week. You're going to hear about it on the podcast. They're not going to play. Some major college sports leagues postponing fall sports because of coronavirus. The executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the brother of the former first lady, Michelle Obama, the forever first lady, he talks to me -- tells me about what he thinks. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Two major college athletic conferences postponing football, all other fall sports over coronavirus concerns, the PAC-12 and the big 10 hoping to play football in the spring.
[22:50:04]
The big question now is whether sports starting later in the year will be forced to follow including NCAA basketball, so we'll see.
But let's talk about it now. Craig Robinson, the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. So good to see you. You doing OK?
CRAIG ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES: Doing fine, Don. And it's great to be with you here. I haven't seen you in a while.
LEMON: I know. It's been a minute. So, let's into this. We see what's happening with college football. It looks like that the dominoes are falling. Can college sports be played safely? Is it worth the risk at the collegiate level?
ROBINSON: Well, Don, the first thing I'll say to you when we're thinking about our student athletes our priority is their health, their safety, the coaches' health and safety and our community's health and safety.
So, any kind of decision that we make about the season is going to be based on that first and foremost. And then secondly, we want to use the guidance of the medical professionals, not coaches, not administrators. We need to let the experts do their jobs.
But I'm here to tell you, you know, I regularly engage with the folks at the NCAA as we talk about potential adjustments and alternatives to the upcoming basketball season. And the word of the day is flexibility, right, because as you can see, as you've seen, things change weekly.
And what we're hoping is that by football taking a step back if everybody starts to do the right things, wears a mask, socially distancing, washing your hands, good hygiene, we're looking forward to having basketball at the end of the fall in winter.
LEMON: Yes. Yes. Listen, I understand it's hard, though. You can't really socially distance. You can't, you know, you can't really wear a mask when you're playing basketball either, I don't think. So that's tough.
ROBINSON: I know.
LEMON: So as a coach, talk to me what do decisions like this mean for the teams and the players?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, as a coach you -- the first thing you want to -- you want to get your team together and sort of have a discussion about what's going on. Because a lot of times people don't realize that the players might not necessarily do the right thing because they want to play.
So, we're counseling our coaches to really pay attention to the mental health and welfare of their players. Stay connected. That's a word we've been using a lot at the NABC is we want our coaches to be connected to their players. Stay in communication. Let them know what's going on. Be truthful, be honest.
And then, you know, again, we want to -- we want to stay -- we want to stay nimble and flexible; you know. And you do those things and you can manage everyone's expectations.
LEMON: So, what about, listen, I, you know, I went to LSU and when you start getting talking about the SEC and you're talking about, you know, LSU and Alabama football, I wonder what this means. That's a lot of money and a lot of interests -- interest and which one is going to play out? Is it going to be the health, is it going to be the money, is it going to be the interest? Which one is going to win, win out?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, yes, it remains to be seen. But I will tell you the one thing that I like about basketball is that we've got a model in the NBA's bubble. You can play basketball in a bubble and the question remains can you play football in a bubble?
LEMON: Right.
ROBINSON: Can you -- can you use a dome, can you get that many people to a place and sort of lock them in and let them be healthy, be tested, be healthy and compete? You know, unfortunately, football has got to make a decision sooner than we do, but I really feel confident that there's something -- there's something there from a basketball standpoint especially when you look at what the NBA is doing.
LEMON: Listen, I know that you're not a political person but I have to ask you this because you have some insight and I hope you can answer. If not, I would certainly understand. But I just want to turn to Joe Biden's pick of Kamala Harris for his
V.P. You know what it went for President Obama and for your sister, the former first lady Michelle Obama to have trusted Vice President Joe Biden, someone's who's loyalty that they could rely on. Talk to me about how important that is, and do you think Kamala Harris fits that bill?
ROBINSON: Well, I will start by saying, you know, our family has got to know the Bidens extremely well, and we absolutely love Joe Biden and his family, the kids, the grandkids. Our kids got to be friends with them.
[22:55:01]
And it's so important -- it was so important for us as a family to know that Joe had Barack's back. And I am just thrilled that Joe picked Kamala to have his back. I think it's a great choice. He had all really good choices, and he made -- he made the best of a bunch of good choices.
LEMON: Yes. Craig, it's good to see you. Thank you. You be safe, and my regards to your entire family.
ROBINSON: Thanks. Great to see you, too, Don.
LEMON: Thank you.
ROBINSON: Take care.
LEMON: You, too. He's made his pick. Joe Biden announcing Kamala Harris is his running mate, the first black woman on a major party ticket. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us, everyone.
[23:00:00]
Eleven p.m. here on the East Coast following multiple breaking stories for you tonight, Joe Biden making history, picking Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.
