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Don Lemon Tonight

Coincidence or Intended Action by USPS; Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) Was Interviewed About His Take on USPS' Move; Former POTUS Warn Americans; Anticipated Problem in D.C.; Judge Demands Proof from Trump Campaign; No Sign Coronavirus is Done. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired August 14, 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]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: John Berman, I appreciate it. Be sure to catch the premier of the CNN's special report Count on Controversy: Inside the Electoral College. So that is tomorrow night 10 Eastern right here on CNN. John Berman.

Also, join us Sunday night for a special edition of 360 from 8 to 10 as we preview the Democratic National Convention which, again, starts Monday. And we have special coverage all week.

The news continues. Let's turn things over to Don Lemon for CNN Tonight. Have a great weekend.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon. Thank you very much, everyone.

We do have some breaking news to report to you. As you know with this administration the news comes fast. And it comes furious. I've just been handed this latest wire copy which is saying that something that every American need to pay attention to.

I'm talking about the Trump administration monkeying around with the Postal Service, potentially interfering with your right to vote.

So, this is just in to CNN. We have just learned the Postal Service is going to stop the removal of letter boxes. Stop the removal of mailboxes in the regions 13 states until after the election. We're talking about the western states. OK. I'm going to explain this to you in depth here.

But let me tell you, they're going to stop the removal of these mailboxes in 13 states, western states. And here they are. Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Alaska, Nebraska, and then small parts of Wisconsin and Missouri. We'll give you a fuller detail in a moment.

But again, I just want to tell you, they're going to stop the removal. It's not clear if that removal that froze would go into effect all across the nation. That's what we're trying to figure out in this moment. We're going to get some people to help us out with that. Much, much more on this straight ahead. This story is extremely important to you and your right to vote, your constitutional right as an American to take part in this election. We have all the breaking news. We'll give you all the details. Our reporters and our producers are our crews are on top of this right now.

The only thing that matters as why know to this president is winning, winning at all costs. That's what I have this breaking news at the top of the shows. That's why we've been covering this. All costs. No matter what gets damaged in the process, even if it's the Postal Service that we all rely on for bills, prescriptions, on and on to communicate with our loved ones, including representative democracy, right?

Trump plans to win reelection and it's looking more and more like he will do whatever it takes to get there. But you see what the outrage people who were so upset in those western states. Do you see the power that they had? They complained. They were upset, Democrats and Republicans, people across the board. And they stopped the removal in the western states. You do have the power. You do have the power. So, speak out.

I want to get to the former President of the United States Barack Obama who is sounding a warning tonight for the second time in two weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The single thing that I am most concerned about between now and November, it is that we do everything humanly possible to ensure that everybody who wants a change in administration actually registers that change at the ballot box, whether that is in person or mail in voting.

What we've never seen before is a president say, I'm going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to encourage voting. And I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Think about it. Do you think this is a coincidence? You know what President Obama is talking about. He's talking about what President Trump told us right he said it to our faces. That he is going to undermine the election through voter suppression. And he's going to block millions of mail-in ballots by starving the Postal Service of funding. The funding it needs to make sure it can process and deliver all those ballots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: They want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent. That's election money basically. They want three and a half trillion -- billion dollars for the mail-in vote. OK. Universal mail-in ballots, three and a half million.

[22:05:00]

They want $25 billion, billion, for the post office. Now they need that money in order to have the post office work. So, it can take all of the millions of ballots. Now if we don't make a deal that means they don't get the money. That means they can't have universal mail-in voting. They just can't have it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He keeps pushing to the phony claim that voting by mail leads to massive fraud. I've said it over and over again. And I'll say it -- I'll say it again. There is no evidence, no evidence to support that claim. None. That's why he doesn't provide any evidence because he doesn't have any. It does not exist.

And by the way, OK, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump casting their votes in Tuesday's Florida primary by absentee ballot. That is hypocrisy. Hypocrites. Voting by mail and absentee ballots is the same thing in many states, the same thing.

Concern is growing tonight as documents reviewed by CNN reveal the dismantling of mail sorting machines. And there's an outcry what's going on with those mailboxes. Earlier, I said that it was the second time that President Obama has addressed this in just two weeks. This was the first time. It was at Congressman John Lewis's funeral.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: We may no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot. But even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darnest (ph) to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations. And targeting minorities and students with restrictive I.D. laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision even undermining the Postal Service in the run up to an election. That's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don't get sick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Everything he said there was exactly right, one big reason that this current president doesn't really care for the former president. Because he is smart, and because he is warning you about what's going on, he is telling you the truth. I'm talking about President Obama. He's not giving you an alternative reality or alternative facts. He is telling you the truth, voter suppression. He is sounding the alarm. Listen to him.

But Republicans on Capitol Hill cowards when it comes to standing up to this current president. But at least as has been the case in recent history, Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah you'll remember ran for president himself, lost to President Obama. Dealt with the that loss graciously and without trying to interfere with the will of the people. He has the courage to express concern that our democracy is as stake if our elections are not free and fair.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): It is essential in my view for a nation

which is the leading nation of Democratic nations in the world, the leader of free world for us to show that elections can be held in a free and fair manner. And we should make every effort to assure that people who want to vote get the chance to vote.

And that's more important even in the outcome of the vote. We've got to preserve the principle of democracy or the trend we're on is a -- is going to continue to get worse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: In these times, you have to thank people like Senator Romney. Thank you, Senator Romney. You have to thank people like the former President Obama. Thank you, President Obama. Thank you for telling the truth, thank you for standing up. Thank you for having class and dignity for leveling with the American people.

For understanding the seriousness of the taking an oath in the Oval Office. Respecting it and respecting the American people. Thank you, Senator Romney, thank you, President Obama.

So, I have these questions for President Trump. These are my questions and you should ask them of him and yourself. OK? Think about this. If you have made America great again, President Trump, and you want to keep America great, why wouldn't you want to make it easy for people to vote for you?

If it is so great, if what you have done is so great, wouldn't everybody want to vote for you? Why won't you want to make it easy for Americans to vote for you? Right?

[22:10:04]

They're going to vote for you if they love you so much. And what you have done they vote for you right? Shouldn't you sending people stamps or you should be sending voter registration or mail-in voting ballots with free postage on them if you have made America great so much. You should be sending people stamps so that they can prove how much they love you, their favorite president. Shouldn't, shouldn't that be the way? It should be.

If I know someone loves me and they are going to vote for me, please, here's the vote. Here's the ballot. Go vote. Not restricting people. Or maybe it is this, president. What you are so afraid of. That people may not do it.

Clearly, he is afraid that he will lose the election if he doesn't suppress mail-in ballots. Is that what you're afraid of? We are not stupid. The American people aren't stupid. The American people like to be able to get their mail and to send it out. They like the Postal Service to work properly as it has worked over the years. Not perfect. But it has worked for the most part for everyone.

It's part of what we enjoy what we expect the privilege of being an American is to have a postal service that is robust. That we can rely on and count on especially in times like this when we have a pandemic and not everyone wants to leave their homes which officials and scientists are telling you many people not to do. Stay home, to self- distance, to quarantine.

But yet, you don't want people to have the right to vote. Think about it. Are you afraid of losing? And there's this at his briefing today. President Trump asked about Kamala Harris being chosen by Joe Biden as his running mate. Specifically, does he have a problem with a strong woman of color being on a national presidential ticket?

He said he doesn't. But this is my former colleague who used to work here, careful. She was my co-anchor as a matter of fact. She will ask the tough questions let me tell you, and she did today. But why is he using if he's not afraid, sexist and racist language about her?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Extraordinarily nasty. The meanest, the most horrible, angry, mad.

The mad woman. I call her.

So, I just heard that -- I heard it today. That she doesn't meet the requirements.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He knows better, an old white man. Yes, I said it, pushing a racist birther conspiracy against a black woman, an accomplished black woman, better resume than him, smarter, more accomplished, more deserving of the office of the presidency actually than him.

Using the same ugly conspiracy, he used against President Obama. Pathetic. It is pathetic. But then, you know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in the Trump White House.

Son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, fixer of all things, was interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour, that was earlier today. And as they say, he couldn't get out of his own way on the ugly issues of birtherism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His words where I don't know anything about that. I'll take him at his word that he said he doesn't know anything about that.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: Kamala Harris is African-American. She's Indian-American. And she's a woman. So, you've got racist overtones, you've got misogynistic overtones, why would the president want to be associated with somebody who wrote that?

KUSHNER: So, Christiane, again, I have so much respect for you. So, I'll answer this in the most polite way possible. Which again is that, the president was asked a question he said he didn't know anything about it. AMANPOUR: Would you apologize on behalf of your candidate for that,

for him spreading that information?

KUSHNER: Look, the president is about to do a press conference any minute. I'll let the CNN reporters ask him about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Come on. There's very easy way to answer that. It's just mindboggling. And if you're making excuse for this behavior, you're wrong. Stop it.

[22:14:57]

If Trump and his minions think that they are going to intimidate Kamala Harris with nasty words or ugliness, the ugliness of birtherism, someone who is interviewed her in person, debate town hall. I'm going to advise you fasten your seat belts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Joe Biden had the audacity to choose a black woman to be his running mate. How incredible is that? And what a statement about Joe Biden, that he decided that he was going to do that thing that was about breaking one of the most substantial barriers that has existed in our country. And that he made that decision with whatever risk that brings.

I think as much as anything it's a statement about the character of the man that we're going to elect as the next president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So much for Trump's bullying tactics. She's clearly not going to fold. And as I reported to you last night we reached out to her colleagues. Right? Her Republican colleagues. I'm happy to let you know that at least some of Senator Harris's Republican colleagues are willing to go public to knock down this birther theory. Happy to report that.

We spent the last couple of days reaching out to her colleagues in the Senate see if they would repudiate this. And here's what we heard back. OK. So first up, Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate issuing a statement, Republican in the Senate, right, besides Kamala Harris.

Issuing a statement in his own name saying, while I will not be voting for Senator Harris, there is zero doubt she is eligible to run. This campaign is about whether America wants to embrace socialist ideas like the New Green Deal. Not bonus internet rumors about Senator Harris' background.

OK? That was Tim Scott. He's the only Republican black man is what I meant. Senator Rick Scott, close ally of the president. We heard from his communication director today. Senator Scott disagrees with Senator Harris on almost everything and will work every day to make sure Donald Trump is reelected. But suggestions that Senator Harris doesn't meet the qualifications to serve as V.P. are nonsense.

Senator Ben Sasse, also got back to us just through a spokesman. Here's the quote. There are a whole bunch of reasons Senator Harris doesn't -- shouldn't, I should say, be vice president. But where she was born isn't one of them. This is silly.

Senator Susan Collins who has a real race on her hands up in Maine. She sent this. She's like, Kamala Harris is born in the United States and if elected is eligible to serve as vice president.

Thank you so much for responding. And you all are welcome on this program any time to be interviewed, to talk, debate, to agree or disagree, whatever it is. So, thank you.

So, our breaking news this evening here on CNN at 10.18 p.m. The U.S. Postal Service says they will stop removing mailboxes in western states until after the election. That's after people all across the country reported their removal in their own communities.

Our justice correspondent joins us now. Jessica Schneider. Jessica, thank you so much. We had this breaking news tonight. The western regional spokesman -- spokesperson says that they are going to stop removing those blue mailboxes but the national spokesperson can't or won't say whether that will be true for every single state. Clarify this. What do you know, Jessica?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was a swift reversal by the U.S. Postal Service, Don. You know, just hours after we reported this story all of a sudden now, they're saying that these collection boxes will remain at least in the western region which compromises of about more than a dozen states. But the question is what's going to happen in other states.

You know, we've actually obtained photos that show some of these collection boxes in a storage area in the Bronx, some of them even behind chains. So, the question is, you know, as we go into this election, we're less than three months out from it, where we're expecting a just rush of mail in ballots, millions of people probably voting by mail.

The U.S. Postal Service is going to be more crucial than ever. Why all of a sudden are they removing thousands of these blue collection boxes that you see on the street from states all across the country?

Tonight, they say that they won't remove them in the western states. About 16 states that they're going to halt this removal. But what happens in the rest of the country?

[22:19:59]

You know, this is something that Joe Biden talked about today. He called it bizarre. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon one of the states affected called it downright voter suppression.

So, it appears, Don, that at this later hour on a Friday night when all of this criticism and question has been mounting, now the Postal Service is suddenly reversing course, at least when it pertains to these western states. But we're not sure yet what happens in the rest of the country.

LEMON: Yes.

SCHNEIDER: Now the USPS sort of dismissed this as this was routine. We often take out these letter carrier mailboxes off the streets and reallocate them. But from what we've seen they've just been taken off the streets and not reallocated. So that's the big question here is what's happening to them and why are they doing this so close to the election, Don?

LEMON: There are people who work within the postal service I've been interviewed on other networks and in other press locations and newspapers and so on and they don't believe that this is a cost saving measure. They fear that something else is going on. And they feel that will of the American people -- the right, I should say, of the American people for a free and fair election that it is being interfered with.

I'm wondering, Jessica, what more do you know about this warning to states from the Postal Service they can't guarantee their mail-in ballots would get there in time to be counted? What do you know about that?

SCHNEIDER: Yes. So, there were two things going on here. You talk about those cost cutting measures, Don. There's actually an I.G. report into that. But we can get into that later.

As for the warning from the USPS, they have sent out letters to all of the states warning some of those states most of them actually, that if they stick with their current deadlines, that it's possible that some of those ballots actually won't be returned by election day.

And the post office says that it's really a matter of simple math. So, I've looked at these letters and Florida jumps out of me. It's a crucial battleground state. And the way USPS puts it, is that they say, look Florida, they sent this to the secretary of state in Florida. And they said your current rules say that voters can request these mail-in ballots up to 10 days before the election.

But when you do the math here, that's problematic. Ten days before the election, well, when it's requested it actually has to get out to that voter. First class mail takes between three and five days.

LEMON: Yes.

SCHNEIDER: The voter gets the ballot and then has to send it back. That takes another three to five days. So, it is likely that it won't get back to the proper election officials by election day. So that's exactly what the USPS is warning here in this letter that has gone out to all these states. So, some of the states they have already changed some of their deadlines. Pennsylvania, for example, they've asked the Supreme Court in their state if they can still count ballots three days after election day.

LEMON: Well, --

SCHNEIDER: That would allow for some of that lag in the counting and in the mail delivery. So, you know, I think voters should be prepared here, the American public should be prepared that this will not be likely an election night. This will likely be an election week, if not an election month. It's going to take a while to get these ballots back and then of course get counted, Don.

LEMON: For those of us who were here for hanging chads. We are not looking forward to that. Thank you, Jessica. I really appreciate that. Hey, listen, when they say it's rigged, maybe they know something we don't.

More on our breaking news tonight. Senator Jon Tester has been calling for the removal of boxes to stop. Demanding answers from the new postmaster general, a big time Trump donor. He joins me next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: What are Republicans doing where you are so scared of people voting. That you are now willing to undermine what is part of the basic infrastructure of American life?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[22:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're back now with our breaking news.

Thea U.S. Postal Service says that it will stop taking letter collection boxes off the streets in western states. So, if this was something normal why would they stop it? After the outrage, if it was so normal, think about that, if you're making excuses about it.

The change coming amid accusations that the removals would further limit voter's ability to vote by mail.

Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana joins me now. Senator, I'm so happy you're here, because in large part you're responsible for at least stopping some of this. I thank you for that. I thank you for joining us. Good evening.

A spokesman for the USPS, Rod Spurgeon, confirming to CNN that they are going to stop collecting boxes in 16 states. It seems like there was something about seeing those iconic blue boxes being taken away that really got to people. Tell us your understanding of this?

SEN. JON TESTER (M-MT): Well, I wish I knew. I mean, their actions raise more concern and raise more questions than they answer. And quite frankly, you know, I guess it's just a pattern it's happened since Postmaster DeJoy became postmaster. They are trying to destroy the postal system. There's no doubt about it. Whether it's, you know, delivering ballots or social security checks or prescription drugs. You name it.

The service is being deteriorated as we speak. By, you know, taking away sorting machines, taking the blue boxes where folks can mail or their packages and letters. I don't get it myself, Don. I will tell you that the Postal Service is really important to the country as a whole and it's really, really important in rural America. And this postmaster and the President of the United States obviously doesn't get that.

LEMON: Senator, help us out with this if you know something. Why is it only western states? Do you think that they are going to stop it everywhere and will they put any of them back? What do you know? Do you anything?

TESTER: All I know is that they were removing boxes, I raised just think about it. And now they quit it. And now they quit in Montana. My understanding is that they quit it all over the United States, whether it's western states or anywhere else.

[22:30:06]

That's what I know about it. Why they did it, I don't have a clue. Other than it fits a pattern of trying to diminish the Postal Services service, and quite frankly that's not acceptable.

And for Postmaster DeJoy to do this kind of stuff. It's just a pattern. This has happened, the removal of sorting machines has happened. I've got -- I've got neighbors that aren't getting prescription drugs at a timely basis. You can bet it's the same thing for social security checks. You can bet it's going to be the same thing for ballots.

And maybe that's what it's about, Don. Maybe it's about trying to screw up the election. I don't know. But the bottom line is the postal service is important. We need to have it there not only for the election but for everything else, particularly rural America.

LEMON: I like the sound of your clock. So, listen, you had complained -- I want to go on a little bit more about what you're saying. Because you complained to the new postmaster general demanding answers why the post -- the postal service has started reducing post office operation hours, removing mail sorting equipment and the issue of these mailboxes.

Do you -- what do you think is behind it? You said you think it's the election. But what do you think? Can you dig deeper into that for me?

TESTER: Well, I mean, look, since I have been in the Senate now for a couple terms. And when I first got there, there were people that thought that the postal service should go the way of the pony express. But the fact of the matter is the postal service is important. The president got up yesterday or maybe it was today and said look, I

don't want the postal service to be able to deliver ballots because I don't think that that's the right thing to do. That's a problem.

And I'm going to tell you that I don't know what his calculus is in all of this. But I don't think it's going to work in rural America. I think people understand, my neighbors understand that the postal service is something that's really important. And rural free delivery mail is really important.

And so, for him to do this stuff makes no sense to me. And as I said, the postmaster general's actions for the last two months have raised more questions than they've provided answers. But in the end, it is pretty obvious that what they want is a postal service that doesn't work. And that doesn't work for this country.

And I'm going to continue to hoot and holler and do everything I can to make sure that the postal service delivers the mail on time and in a timely manner. They've been a stall work in this country. It's listed in the Constitution.

They've checked on people not only delivered mail but check on people when they're sick. They've just performed incredible service to this country. And for this president to say, you know what, I don't think it's worth the time. I'm going to destroy it. It's completely unacceptable. And I hope the American people understand that.

LEMON: Well, I hope people follow your advice, to hoot and holler, to make a difference so to keep this from happening.

Senator, I know that you have work to do. I know that you've been doing some farming today. I've heard from the producers. So, get back to farming. But thank you and continue the great work and keep hooting and hollering.

TESTER: Don, thank you very much for covering this story. This is a really important story for this country. Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you.

A federal judge in Pennsylvania ordering the Trump campaign to show them the proof by tonight, proof of the claims that they keep making about voter fraud in that state.

Pennsylvania's attorney general responds here, next.

[22:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, we have the breaking news. There's more breaking news tonight. The postal service warning most states that it may not be able to deliver mail-in ballots to election offices on time.

The Washington Post is reporting that 46 states in Washington, D.C. received letters from the postal service warning about the potential problem.

So, let's bring in now Pennsylvania's Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Josh, thank you for joining us. I should say, Mr. Attorney General, thank you for joining us. There is great anticipation about you being on this program. I know because I've been told by folks who read the social media, that everyone is excited that you're here.

So, thank you and please, I know you're going to give us the truth. Your state is on that list. The list of states that have been warned by the U.S. Postal Service that mail-in ballots may not make it in time. Give me your reaction. What are you hearing from Pennsylvanians?

JOSH SHAPIRO, PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, Pennsylvanians are deeply troubled and I think it's in the rural parts of our state. It's our 800,000 veterans who are concerned deeply about making sure that their mail arrives and their ballot is counted. And I think all Pennsylvanians are concerned that their vote be secured, be protected and be counted.

Look, Don, every single night you come on the air, you correctly point out that when the president tries to distract us with the outrage of the day, he's really probably just trying to hide something. And in this case, what he's hiding is really in plain sight. He is doing everything in his power to undermine our democracy and undermine the vote in November.

And in fact, what he is doing in Pennsylvania is suing the commonwealth and suing local jurisdictions to make it harder for people to vote. He went out as you pointed out at the top here, and suggested over and over again that there was widespread fraud in mail- in balloting. Something we do here in Pennsylvania.

And so, a federal judge has said put up or shut up. Show us the evidence. Then he had the postmaster general in his cronies and the other postal officials send letters to the commonwealth saying that, hey, you know what, your ballots might not be counted here in Pennsylvania because of delays.

[22:40:05]

And so, we went right into court the next day, Governor Wolf and others then said then give us extra time. Because we're going to do everything in our power, I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure that people's right to vote is protected. Whether they show up in person on November 3 or they cast their vote legally by mail.

LEMON: I know that you'll do it as a former Pennsylvanian from Philadelphia, P.A., I used to live there. I know that you --

SHAPIRO: Right.

LEMON: -- will do what you say. So, listen, give me your advice to Pennsylvanians, please.

SHAPIRO: Yes. Pennsylvanians who want to protect -- protect themselves from the coronavirus. But also want to make sure that their vote will be counted. What's your advice to them?

SHAPIRO: Well, we're in court fighting like heck to make sure that whether they vote by mail, whether they vote by dropping off their ballot in a drop box, or whether they show up on Tuesday November 3, that their vote will be counted.

But make no mistake what's going on here is the President of the United States here in Pennsylvania and in other states across the country is trying to undermine the vote for some.

And, Don, let's examine the data and examine the evidence here in Pennsylvania. In our primary, which was largely uncontested across the board, there were two million mail-in ballots requested. Two-thirds of them were requested by Democrats. He is scared of what the voters of Pennsylvania ultimately are going to say about him, particularly those who are going to vote by mail.

And he is particularly focused on trying to disenfranchise people of color. People who can't afford to take off that Tuesday in November and go stand and wait in line who want to make sure that their voice is heard in our democracy. And want to be able to cast a legal ballot by mail, something that is afforded to them under our Pennsylvania law.

I won't let the president undermine the vote here in Pennsylvania. I need every Pennsylvanian to know that as the attorney general I'm doing everything in my power to ensure that their vote is secure, protected, and counted.

LEMON: Well, listen, I'm glad you said that. I made the same point earlier today with my colleague Jim Acosta on the situation room. He said when it comes to voters of color. You articulated it much better than I could have.

Thank you for speaking out. Keep doing what you're doing. And please come back any time. Keep us updated on the situation. Thank you, Mr. Attorney General.

SHAPIRO: Sure will. Visit us back in Philly sometime.

LEMON: I will, of course. Once -- I'm just right around the corner. I'll see you.

We'll be right back.

[22:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Now to our other big story. The coronavirus death toll in this country now topping 168,000. More than 1,000 Americans have died every day for the last 18 days straight. Joining me now is Dr. Tom Inglesby. He is the director of the Johns

Hopkins Center for Health Security. Thank you, doctor. Good to see you. I appreciate you joining us.

TOM INGLESBY, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY, JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Good to see you.

LEMON: So, during this pandemic, more than 800 U.S. counties have been named COVID-19 hotspots at least for a day. That amounts to 80 percent of the population. Is it any wonder people are questioning the wisdom of reopening more -- reopening more like, things like schools?

INGLESBY: Yes. I mean, I think the fact that we have had so many different places in the country be hotspots over the period of time from March to July shows us how widespread this pandemic is. And how many places are potentially at risk. And that count of 800 different counties that ended a month ago.

So, in the last month, I suspect there have been many more hotspots that have occurred. We just haven't had a chance to count them yet. And I think you're right. Yes, I think we should be concerned about the impact of universities in K through 12 schools potentially increasing those numbers.

LEMON: I want to talk to you about this now about this new NPR/Marist poll that shows 35 percent of Americans would not get a coronavirus vaccine if it was available. Sixty percent would. Five percent are unsure. What happens if 30 or 35 percent of Americans choose not to take it?

INGLESBY: Well, I think that ultimately increases the risk not only to those people but increases the risk to the rest of us. We've seen that in times when we've had, for example, low measles vaccination rates, that measles outbreaks occur. Sometimes very large measles outbreaks occur.

So, ideally for the country we'd like as many people to get vaccinated with a safe and effective vaccine when that vaccine does get developed and approved by FDA.

So, I think it's going to be really important for us to understand why do those 35 percent of people not want to get the vaccine. Do they feel it's an unsafe vaccine? Do they -- are they not feeling like they're at risk from this disease or just something else going on?

I think we need to understand why that's happening and then be able to address those concerns.

I do have a little bit of hope because we know back in the 50s initially with polio vaccine, which has turned out to be an incredible lifesaver around the world. About a third of Americans were against that vaccine at the time. And at this point, more than 93 percent of kids are vaccinated with polio vaccines. So, I think we can turn this around. We just need to understand more about what's going on.

LEMON: OK. So, listen, there's so much misinformation. And I hear people repeating so much false information about herd immunity. Do what does this -- what does that mean for herd immunity that Marist poll that I read about 30, 35 percent. And does this mean that the government needs to find a way to convince people to take it, the PSA or something?

[22:50:02]

INGLESBY: Yes. I think it's more than one PSA. It's a campaign of information about the vaccine. It's letting people know that no corners were cut because of safety. It's letting people know that the vaccine development process went through like the scientific rigor of a normal vaccine development process. But it's not going to be one message. It's going to be having to talk to people in different kinds of communities, people who are minorities, people who speak different languages.

So, it's a very concerted effort that's going to have to be made. And ultimately, you know, the concept of herd immunity is basically, that if we -- if we have enough of us that are immune either from vaccination or unfortunately from prior infection, then that prevents large outbreaks from happening. It doesn't keep us all safe from infection but it really decreases the likelihood that big outbreaks are going to occur. And so, it's an important phenomenon.

LEMON: Doctor, thank you. I'll see you soon. I appreciate you coming on.

INGLESBY: Thanks so much. Take care.

LEMON: We'll be -- we'll be right back.

[22:55:00]

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LEMON: We've got much more breaking news ahead on the U.S. Postal Service, the coronavirus, and an interview with NASCAR's Bubba Wallace. But I also want to make sure that you know about my podcast because it's pertinent to what's happening right now in this country.

Silence is Not an Option, it's called. I'm taking on hard conversations about race relations in America, being black in America. In this week's episode I'm going to speak with sports journalist Bill Rhoden on the intersection of race and sports. Everyone should hear from this man.

(BEGIN VOICE CLIP)

BILL RHODEN, SPORTS JOURNALIST: Actually, Don, I would argue that I hated to see sports come back. We were so focused as a nation on all real issues. And we didn't have diversions. You know, where at first they had to fill broadcasting time with real issues and have people like me on talking about.

Now, they can have, you know, now they can have balls and strikes, back to balls and strikes. Thank God. You know so, obviously, I mean, I work for ESPN, The Undefeated, so on a business sense. It's good to have sports back. But in terms of salvaging the moral, our souls as a nation, I'm not sure if having sports back is a step in the right direction.

(END VOICE CLIP)

LEMON: Make sure to tune in to that. Plus, I want you to stay with us for our breaking news. The U.S. Postal Service announcing they'll stop - stop removing mailboxes in some western states after people across this country reported their removal from their communities.

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