Return to Transcripts main page

Don Lemon Tonight

U.S. Postal Service will Stop Removing Letter Collection Boxes in Western States until after the Election; CDC Warns of Increasing Rate of COVID-19 in Children; Watchdog Report Finds DHS Appointment are Invalid; NASCAR's Bubba Wallace Speaks Out on Social Justice and Sports; State of the Race: Democratic National Convention Kicks Off Next Week; Virginia Mayor Apologizes After Online Post Claims Biden Chose "Aunt Jemima" as VP Pick; Texas Man Marries Fiancee While Battling Coronavirus in Hospital. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired August 14, 2020 - 23:00   ET

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

[23:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: This is CNN Tonight, I'm Don Lemon. It may be Friday. But there is big breaking news tonight, it is 11:00 p.m. here on the East Coast. We are following all the breaking news for you.

First up, the U.S. postal service saying it will stop taking letter collection boxes off the streets in most western states. They're going to do that until after the election, they'll stop doing it, the change coming amid warnings from the postal service that it may not be able to deliver mail-in ballots to election offices on time, the Inspector General reviewing postal service policy changes.

Also tonight, the coronavirus death toll surging in the U.S. More than 168,000 Americans have died from the disease. And the CDC is reporting a steadily increasing rate of COVID-19 in children. The new guidance suggesting up to 45 percent of cases in children may be asymptomatic, 45 percent of cases in children maybe asymptomatic, raising major concerns about what to do about school reopening.

Plus, a government accountability office report finding the appointment of two top leadership roles at the Homeland Security Department are invalid. It is major rebuke to the Trump administration which repeatedly tries to avoid the confirmation process.

We're going to break down all these stories and more for you in the hour ahead. Plus, NASCAR Bubba Wallace is back on the show tonight and you're going to want to hear what he has to say has happened since the controversy over the confederate flag, Black Lives Matter and the investigation into a noose in his garage stall.

The former president Barack Obama weighing in on President Trump's efforts to undermine the postal service. Suggesting we're in uncharted territory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Officially, the

Republican Party for quite some time has actively tried to discourage people's votes from counting in all kinds of ways. 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. That's sort of unheard-of, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, here to discuss it, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Russell Berman, the staff writer for the Atlantic. I'm happy to have both gentlemen on this evening. Thank you so much.

Attorney General Tong, I'm going to start with you because the postal service stopping the removal of letter collection boxes in western states until after the election. That after the USPS had already reducing post office operation hours in several states removing those boxes. What do you say to what's going on right now?

WILLIAM TONG, CONNECTICUT ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think the president is clear, it's intentionally trying to defund the postal service and block us from voting. And disenfranchise and suppress the vote for potentially millions of Americans across the country. I think the president is clearly trying to sabotage this election and snatch victory away from a race he seems very clearly losing.

LEMON: But not even trying to hide it.

TONG: Not even trying to hide it. You talked about the blue mailboxes. We haven't talked about the big mail sorting machines in big cities, almost 600 of them or more than 600 of them that the postal service is decommissioning out of the blue, 10 percent of these big sorting machines so they can't process the mail. Why are they doing that in major cities across the country where there are large pockets of urban voters, voters of color, Democratic voters? We all know why?

LEMON: Before the election. Why? I wonder. Russell, I want to bring you in. You've got an article in the Atlantic, it's not really the bad or overfunding the postal service that scares most experts but rather what one congressman calls a very different formed of massive voter's suppression. Explain the massive voter suppression to me.

RUSSELL BERMAN, STAFF WRITER, THE ATLANTIC: Well, the first thing to know is that the postal service has bot the funding and the capacity to handle the election. The postal service handles nearly 500 million pieces of mail a day.

[23:05:10]

At Christmastime, it's a few billion, a week before Christmas. So even if every one of the more than 150 million voters dropped their ballot in a mailbox, the postal service should be able to handle it. The problem is, the policy changes that the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, a Trump donor, Republican donor as we mentioned instituted right after he took office in June that's already causing a slower mail delivery. And that is really sparking concerns that if that continues, you could

have a real nightmare in the week or two before the election. As people are requesting their absentee ballots from their local election offices and then sending them back.

And you know, if somebody doesn't get their Christmas card until December 26, they are not disenfranchise, but you know, if a ballot doesn't get to the election precinct until November 4th in many cases that ballot won't be counted.

LEMON: Yes. Sometimes my cards don't even go out until December 26th, because I've been working all the time, but anyway that's another story, that all another show. Attorney General, you're talking with other Attorney General about how to protect the postal service. What are you considering?

TONG: So, We've been on the phone all day. I talked to Josh Shapiro, who is just on your show, talked to my good friend the Attorney General Washington State, Bob Ferguson, we're considering every legal option, every possible legal claim states across the country are getting ready. And we're going to do this on a coordinated basis.

There are a number of states who are going to join forces. We're going to focus on harm to our states and in particular our citizens, we are going to focus on how the president and the postmaster general are abdicating their responsibility to run the postal service, and to ensure a fair, open and accurate election.

And we're going to focus on the ways in which this president and this effort to gut the postal service, to kneecap it, to quote President Obama, really prejudices each and every state. And we look to fight those legal claims with this administration.

LEMON: Hey, listen, I have got a couple of questions here for you, Attorney General. Just quickly, do you know anything about the boxes they've already removed, if they are going to be putting them back? And do you know anything about states other than western states?

TONG: I don't yet, but I do know that they're still dismantling and decommission these big mail sorting machines in cities and where there is large pockets of Democratic votes. That's deeply concerning.

LEMON: Yes, because that's how, you know what Russell said, that's how all that mail gets through. That's how they're able to get all that mail through is it with the help of those machines and other mechanisms.

Russell, CNN has the recent memo to the postal workers, outlining new policies the part of it, and it says this is -- it says, one aspect of this changes that may be difficult for employees is that, temporarily, we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks which is not typical. Does this line up with keeping -- you know, with kneecapping I should say that President Obama is talking about?

BERMAN: Well, that's the concern. There's a couple of concerns there. One is that change from what I understand goes against the culture, the DNA, as the president of the American postal workers' union, said of the postal workers and the postal service.

They are trained that when mail comes in, mail goes out. And if that means an extra trip at the end of the shift or that means waiting for a delivery truck that is coming into the station, the post office a little late, waiting so that you can take the most amount of mail out on your route, that's what they do.

And in the name of efficiency, apparently, they're going to -- they are stopping those policies to, you know, cut costs and be more efficient. But they're doing so right in the middle of a global pandemic in which as many as 40,000 postal workers have been quarantined or sick with the coronavirus. So, they are obviously going to need more overtime, and more sort of, you know, more work from the people who are on the job.

And then the other issue is, will the postal service prioritized and really move mountains as they have in the past when they get election mail close to the election.

From what I understand is, even if ballots were not paid for with first class mail, they were paid for with a less expensive bulk rate, postal workers would still, if it's close to the election, pick up those bags and give them high priority.

And there is some signal of this year, based on what the postal service is saying, that that might or might not be the case. And so that is a big concern to voting advocates, and people who watch the postal service very closely.

[23:10:04]

LEMON: They're trying it, they're trying hard. Gentlemen thank, you I appreciate your time, also you be back here soon. I want to get to CNN's chief legal correspondent now, Jeffrey Toobin -- Jeffrey what the hell is going on? How are you by the way?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: I'm good. I'm good. This is scary, Don. I got to say, I mean, you know, it's been Republican Party policy for decades to try to stop Democrats from voting. You know, whether it's, you know, closing polling places in the south, whether it's, you know, photo I.D. requirements, limiting early voting, limiting absentee voting. This has been the national policy.

But it's usually kind of dressed up as something other than it is. Well, there's not even any pretense about what the president is doing now. He is saying he wants to starve the postal service, because he wants Democrats not to vote. He said that. This isn't an interpretation, this is what he said.

And the chilling thing about it is, given the structure of the federal government, there is really not a lot that the Democrats or anyone can do about it. He's the president. They run the administration, they are only 80 some or so days until the election. There not subpoenas that can be issued from the House. You can't force the postal service to do its job. Only the people running the postal service can force them to do his job, and the people running the postal service seem determined to try to limit participation in this election.

LEMON: Wow.

TOOBIN: And how are you?

LEMON: Other than that, how is the play you know how that goes right?

TOOBIN: Yes.

LEMON: So listen, Jeffrey I also want to get your reaction to this new (INAUDIBLE) report that finds that the appointment of Chad Wolf, Ken Cuccinelli at the Homeland Security Department, that they are both invalid. If they are not eligible to hold these positions, then what does this mean? What happens next? Does the administration just say, so what? What goes on?

TOOBIN: I think they, I mean they will do what they did during impeachment, when they received subpoenas and document requests from the Congress. They will just ignore it. But, you know, we have a structure in this country that relies on the good faith of the participants. We have norms. But the idea is, cabinets -- the people who run the cabinet departments, are have to be confirmed by the Senate. I mean, you know, that's been true for decades.

And what the president has done in department after department is just say I'm going to put people in as acting secretary, as acting leaders of the department. So they can serve, run these gigantic important parts of the government without Senate confirmation.

And the Senate, which is, you know run by Mitch McConnell, who is just an enabler for the president does not protest. And now, someone has the integrity to point out that it's all completely illegal. I don't know if there's anything anyone can do about it.

LEMON: No recourse?

TOOBIN: (Inaudible), lasts for months and months -- but, you know, this is just how the Trump administration rolls.

LEMON: Wow. I just wonder if, there is you know, President Biden and the Vice President Harris, what Republicans will do if they did the same behavior. I think we know what the answer is.

TOOBIN: I mean, you know, how many times have we said -- you know, if president Hillary Clinton had done acts, how quickly would she have been impeached by Republican House of Representatives. You know, what we have, is, you know, the Republican Party is simply an enabling operation. They have abandoned any sort of independent judgment. And just deferred whatever, whatever the president wants.

And it's particularly important in the Senate, because it is supposed to be the Senate that has the responsibility to confirm these nominees. If the Senate does not care, then I do not know -- I do not know if there's not much -- I don't know if there's anything the courts can really do about it. LEMON: Give it some time, we will be back here, and I will tell you

when I said this. Thank you sir, have a good evening. I appreciate you joining us, be well.

Now I want to get to the CDC. Just reporting now the rate of COVID-19 in children steadily increasing. Let's discuss Dr. Jonathan Reiner is here, he is a director of the Cardiac Catheterization Program at George Washington University Hospital. Doctor, good evening. What a night of news. How old am I now? I feel like I've aged 20 years, seriously I'm not kidding.

[23:15:03]

So let's talk about this -- what the CDC is now suggesting up to 45 percent of coronavirus cases and kids may be asymptomatic? What does that mean for students and teachers heading back to school, the kids have it they don't know it, they are spreader's and don't know it? Is that what it means?

JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Yes, that's exactly what it means. And if that number 0f 40-45 percent sounds familiar, it's the same number of asymptomatic people who are adults.

So, look, we know that certainly kids over the age of 10 seemed to spread the virus as readily as adults. There's even some data in kids less than 10, some data from that Georgia Camp that also suggests pretty robust spread from a younger children. There is data from Israeli schools and elsewhere that shows how rapidly a virus can spread in the school environment and then out of the school environment.

But what people need to know is, you know, the concern really is not so much for the safety of the children. Some children will get sick, no doubt about it.

And you know, the more kids who get infected, the higher that number is. But they are risk is much lower than it is for adults, but the risk is to the community. And that is what's conveniently withheld from the people who say, sort of the partial truth, which is that kids, you know, tend to do OK with the virus.

But not all, but most. But the real risk, and the part that is left out is that, the kids will spread the virus to adults and others in the community. And that's how the virus continues. That's the real risk, continuing the spread of the virus.

LEMON: The White House testing are Admiral Brett Giroir was on CNN earlier today, this is what he said about testing in this country. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Has the administration actually exhausted it, to get more supplies like reagents and tips and other testing supplies in the labs, is that true? Everything has been done?

ADM. BRETT GIROIR, HHS ASSISTANT SECRETARY: I'm going to say definitively yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitively yes, there's nothing else that the administration can do to get more testing?

GIROIR: Well, you'll hear a DPA actions coming up early next week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you say enough has been done? Enough has been done to make sure that everyone who needs a test gets a test? In this country?

GIROIR: Everything that can possibly be done, has been done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So seriously, if they have done everything that can possibly be done, why is testing still a mess in this country?

REINER: So let me ask you a question. If we've done everything that we possibly can do, why are the results in this country so awful? Why are almost 170,000 people dead? Of course we haven't done everything that we could possibly do, every public health official who has really opined about this has said that we need to do maybe four to five times as much testing as we do now.

So maybe 30 million test per week. So how do you do that? You pool a lot of samples, and then test batches, with or positive results. You use new novel antigen base tests, which may be, you know, are a little bit less sensitive, but still find a lot of virus through the community.

You bring those out to the community, you develop tests that can be done at home and in offices. There's a lot that we can do, a lot more that we can do. We need to test much more. We need to find the asymptomatic people.

So, I completely disagree with Admiral Giroir. We need to find the asymptomatic people and they need to stay home. Asymptomatic people spread the virus. It's easy to find the symptomatic people, the reservoir lives in the asymptomatic people. And that is who we need to find. And that's why we need to ramp up testing.

The positivity rate in the United States is still over 7 percent. In places like Texas and Florida, it's like 17 percent. Mississippi 20 percent. It needs to be where it is in New York right now, which is 1 percent. That is where it has to be all over the United States. Only way to get there is by testing.

LEMON: Right. I want to get this in, before we run out of time please. So Dr. Reiner, Dr. Fauci was asked about a certain Fox News hosts, his constant bashing of him on that channel. Here's what he said to the Washington Post.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I'm not concerned of what he says, it's a little bit -- I mean I think you could say that, when he does that. That triggers some of the crazy's in society.

They are -- they're actually threatening me, which actually happens. I mean, who would have thought, when I was in medical school, doing things to save people lives, I'd have to be going around with a security detail. I mean, that is really ridiculous.

LEMON: So, he's talking about Fox News host, Tucker Carlson, and we on this side on the camera in this business know, we can always tell when a certain host or hosts over there talk about us, because what happens is exactly what Dr. Fauci says. So it says so much about where we are as a country now.

[23:20:05]

REINER: We are demonizing scientists. What is his agenda? He has no agenda other than the welfare of the people. He spent his life, his entire life putting down the most dread diseases, you know, 30 years, you know, defeating HIV AIDS; now, with an even greater challenge, this pandemic.

He's a scientist, he only has one agenda. And it's to defeat this virus. But he tells the truth and he repeats a message that runs counter to the administration's message. That's why you have not seen him at the White House at one of those pseudo-coronavirus briefings which aren't really coronavirus briefings.

You haven't seen him there and this is why the president now, has brought in people that will tell him what he wants to hear. It's incredibly dangerous, and I'll just say one other thing, as we get a vaccine, we need people like Tony Fauci to tell the public the truth about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. That's how you get more people to get vaccinated. You need the truth tellers, to promote that, and Tony Fauci will be essential. There is no one like him.

LEMON: Yes. We need him instead of one of those apprentice briefings. We get every day. Thank you very much I appreciate it.

REICHELT: Right. My pleasure.

LEMON: So he's got NASCAR, he got him to ban the confederate flag, he took a stand for Black Lives Matter, and there he is Bubba Wallace. Is just ahead. Plus, he's spouting lives conspiracy theories, it's not Bubba -- and going on the attack. But today, the president seems to want you to think that he is not worried about November.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have an issue with a strong woman of color being in this presidential race? You don't steer is a

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: None whatsoever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't see her as a threat?

TRUMP: As you -- no. none whatsoever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:25:00]

LEMON: Athletes from all professional sports have been speaking out this summer about racial injustice. And it hasn't always been so easy. It hasn't always been easy I should say. One of the biggest names in NASCAR, Bubba Wallace, has been vocal in supporting Black Lives Matter. He got some blow back after he spoke up and helped push NASCAR to ban confederate flags. Well, Bubba joins me now, the brave Bubba Wallace. Thank you. Good to see you, you doing all right?

BUBBA WALLACE, NASCAR DRIVER: Yes man I'm doing all right, how are you?

LEMON: I'm doing well. I'm asking you because, you know the last time we talked. You were mad. I mean, it was right after the federal investigation found that noose in your garage and then they said it was not a hate crime. And you are getting some vicious reactions on social media. What's happening? The haters still hating?

WALLACE: Every day my friend. Every day. It's still being called a hoax. I'm still being compared to Jussie Smollett. The whole thing is still there. And so we're still going on with that, but we have so much positive momentum going on right now.

Since the last time we've talked. We've announced new deals, new partnerships, Beats, Cash App, Columbia, (inaudible) so we are doing a lot. You know, and we've already have great partners, to be part of that mission as well, U.S. Air force, McDonald's. So, we're pushing the envelope and all the right areas.

LEMON: Listen I want to talk more about that, but just to get this out of the way, after you call for a ban on this confederate flag, there was some protests. Some people to define the ban, last month someone flew a small plane with the confederate flag over a race in Tennessee. Have there been many incidents though or these one-off's or few and far between. What's up with that?

WALLACE: Yes. Few and far between. It's the races, not all races where fans are allowed. So I think, it was Talladega was the first one. And then the all-star race at Bristol. So, it's a few and far between, people want to protest their peaceful rights. And let them so be it, it doesn't affect us at all.

LEMON: OK. So let's move on now. Because, you know, you talked about the new sponsors right? You are bringing them in. Why do you think that these companies are now on your side now? And they are signing up with you?

WALLACE: Yes, well, I can't speak for all of them. I have really good conversations with Columbia, with Columbia Sportswear. With DoorDash and having them share the same values that I do. You know, trying to spread more love, unity, understanding, openness and try to make it better for our local communities that really need a real change inside their areas.

So, we are trying to figure out to implement ways to do that. And it's really exciting to have those conversations. I didn't really think looking back, I would say six months ago, where we would be right now. We have always been, you know, searching for sponsorships. I knew that would never change.

But the way they are kind of flowing in right now, and wanting to do much more than just be at the racetrack and be on the race car. They want to make it a broader and bigger image and the representation of what we are really about off the racetrack. And to help the nation, help the world a better place especially for our next generation coming up through.

LEMON: This is made you a stronger better person.

WALLACE: Absolutely.

LEMON: And you're Columbia shirt that I see.

WALLACE: You like that? Hey, we're wrapping it. We are walking billboard right now, and hey, I am on cloud 9 right now so, you know, this sponsorships stuff has given me a couple grey hairs. So, I think that's why I got a hat on. But we are starting to see light at the end of that tunnel, and it's going to be a lot of fun.

You know, these are multiyear deals, so we're just getting started. We're bringing new sponsors in the NASCAR, you know, you are getting a lot of flak saying that NASCAR is dead. And it's going away but NASCAR is just starting, and we are bringing in some new life, new fans and it's going to be a lot of fun.

LEMON: Listen, you've got like a couple of gray hairs. People used to tell me I look 25. They don't say that anymore.

[23:30:00]

It's been a long couple years, Bubba I got to -- it's exciting, you go to Daytona tomorrow right?

WALLACE: I'll leave on Sunday morning, yes.

LEMON: So you're going to Daytona. That's great. Congratulations.

WALLACE: Thank you.

LEMON: Kick it, right? But you got --

WALLACE: That's right.

LEMON: We understand that you have an addition to the family.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: And look at that.

WALLACE: Yup.

LEMON: Oh, my gosh. Who is that puppy?

WALLACE: Yes. He's in time-out right now. He used the bathroom inside the house. He's been -- besides that he's been a really good puppy. He's been a really good puppy. We sit there. Amanda and I just sit over there and stare at him because he's the most adorable puppy ever.

LEMON: What is his name?

WALLACE: Maybe a little prize -- Asher.

LEMON: Asher.

WALLACE: Yes. And so he's been really good. I was actually getting to shower or something, getting ready for this hit here, I hear her yelling at him and screaming, and we had to put him in time-out. So, he's learning. He's a puppy. But, you know, we got to teach him that you got to go outside. We have the bells on the door and everything.

LEMON: You got it. Discipline him and then take him outside. But I have a carpet steamer vac that I'm going to recommend to you in the commercial break because you're going to need it.

WALLACE: Yes.

LEMON: It's not going to be the last time. Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: I appreciate that. Thank you.

LEMON: Congratulations. Good luck to you. We'll be right back.

WALLACE: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK, so, the 2020 race kicking into high gear as the democratic convention kicks off next week. Can you believe? The final weeks of the race for the White House likely to be some of the most fierce in modern political history.

I'm glad I have Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst, and Mr. Mark McKinnon, former advisor to George W. Bush and John McCain, also the executive producer of "The Circus" on Showtime back Sunday at 8:00 p.m. I will be watching. I hope you have something to cover. So, anyway, good evening to both of you.

So, Ron, I want to start with you because you write something in The Atlantic and you write that President Trump is weaponizing nearly everything to punish his enemies from the mail system to federal law enforcement. Is this all about helping him win in November? Yes!

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes. I mean, look, it is easy to miss the magnitude of what is happening when we get caught up in each individual controversy which is understandable.

But I think if we look at the totality of what he is doing, I talked to a number of experts in federal public administration who said, we have never seen a president who has gone as far as Trump in striking down all of the guardrails that usually govern the way the federal -- the executive branch operates.

I mean, we -- you know, it's not -- you know, when administrations change, it is not surprising environmental policy change, or public lands policy change. But there have always been agencies and departments that were considered somewhat non-combatant, somewhat insulated from political manipulation. That is gone.

We are seeing a systemic effort to tilt the census towards the Republican Party, to use the post office to benefit the president and the Republican Party, to interfere in justice department career criminal employees, to use the DHS and even the military, fire IGs, all with the acquiescence, really the abetting, of congressional Republicans who are kind of sitting there and allowing the president to weaponize virtually every aspect of the federal government as a tool for his advancement and to punish his enemies.

LEMON: It is astounding, really, how much --

BROWNSTEIN: When you look at all of it.

LEMON: Yes. Mark, the president flouting all standards of rules, norms, ethics, while the Democrats seem to be pushing the line of, you know, we will vote them out come November.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

LEMON: This is asymmetric warfare, isn't it?

MARK MCKINNON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It is, Don. Ron is right. He is weaponizing all branches of government. But I think that this may backfire in a big way and it may backfire in two ways. One is we can already see them dialling back. McCarthy is dialling his back, taking on the post office.

This is Americana. It's iconic. It's Norman Rockwell.

LEMON: Right.

MCKINNON: You know, this is mom and apple pie. You know, I mean, my son-in-law is a great example. He's from Northwest Arkansas. He was watching our coverage tonight. He was outraged by it. You know, he doesn't follow it every day like I do, but he was hearing a lot of it for the first time. And so I think a lot of Americans are reacting the same way.

So I think that that is going to blow up strategically because people are saying, you can't take down the post office.

Secondly, if he does, I think that at the end of the day, it's going to be the largest, biggest motivator of election turnout in history because Democrats, when they hear they can't vote, look out, they're going to vote.

LEMON: You know what? You're right. And if you don't believe how Americans feel about the post office, watch "Miracle on 34th Street." That will get your hackles up, right? When they come in with all the mail from the post office --

MCKINNON: Yes.

LEMON: -- they say, yes, there is a Santa Claus, and they proved that there is a Santa Claus because of the mail system, the post office in this country.

MCKINNON: Exactly right.

LEMON: Mark, listen -- Ron, I'm sorry, hang on a second. I got to show this because "The Circus" is back this Sunday. Your team spoke with a former Democratic VP nominee, Tim Kaine. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): The worst part of 2016, for me, which is, you know, front row center seeding (ph), like just the massage (ph) and the event of the century. Everything from hatred to subtle double standards to subconscious stuff that wasn't maybe affirmatively hateful but double standards applied to women --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, like --

KAINE: -- what they wear --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or there is something untrustworthy.

KAINE: -- are they like all the things that we don't really talk about with men, whether they're running for president or vice president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, he is already going against Kamala Harris. Is she going to face worse treatment than Hillary Clinton?

MCKINNON: I think it has already started. Yes.

[23:40:00]

MCKINNON: I mean, you know, she is both a woman and being attacked as a birther. She's getting it from all sides.

I think Tim Kaine did a good job there of saying, you know, I was close to that, at the heart of it, I saw how ugly it can get.

But, you know, listen, I think that -- I think it's not surprising anybody on the democratic side. I think they're locked and loaded and ready to stand.

LEMON: OK. Ron, don't get me in trouble. I know you wanted to say something. Can you do it quickly for me, please?

BROWNSTEIN: I was just going to say, attacking the post office is kind of the visible tip of the iceberg. Everything else that is happening with the acquiescence of congressional Republicans to weaponize every aspect of the federal government to benefit one party, that is -- the experts I've talked to said that is the definition of an authoritarian state.

When the federal -- when the executive branch is used to benefit your friends and punish your enemies. I think people have to look at the systemic totality of what is occurring beyond the post office, including the census, including career prosecution, including the use of federal law enforcement.

LEMON: My executive producer just said in my ear, he got you in trouble. That's OK. You know what? It's like John Lewis.

BROWNSTEIN: I thought I was fast.

LEMON: This is good trouble because the American people need to hear this stuff, right?

BROWNSTEIN: Good trouble.

LEMON: Thank you. I'll be watching on Sunday night. I can't wait. And you should be watching CNN, right, all the time. CNN has got special live coverage of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Watch all the biggest moments, the most important speeches, and insight on what it all means. That starts Monday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Next, a Virginia mayor posts that Joe Biden chose Aunt Jemima as VP. Take this. It didn't go well for him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Take this, a Virginia mayor, now apologizing for posting this. It was about Kamala Harris. Joe Biden just announced Aunt Jemima as his VP pick. Yup, Mayor Barry Presgraves of Luray, Virginia put that on his Facebook page.

According to The Washington Post, the mayor's posting was deleted once people on social media, including members of the Luray Virginia Town Council, called it out for being racist.

And now, the apology, Mayor Presgraves saying what he posted does not reflect what's in his heart.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MAYOR BARRY PRESGRAVES, LURAY, VIRGINIA: The last eight days have been the most difficult time of our community, my family, and me. I want to make this very clear to everyone, with absolutely no qualifications. I understand what I posted on social media was wrong, offensive and unbecoming. It does not reflect what is in my heart.

I also want to make a direct apology to all people of color and women. Passing of demeaning and worn-out racial stereotypes as humor isn't funny.

I now fully understand how hurtful it is. I can and will do better, and we can all do better. We must. From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry, and humbly ask for your forgiveness and your grace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. Look, you can forgive him if you want. But this is my question. If it wasn't in his heart, then where did that come from? And I know people who passed that around. I've seen it. Friends have shown me. Be careful with this person, they sent me this.

So if you're doing that, you're racist. OK? How many of you have done the monkey emojis and so on? You know you are doing it. I've seen evidence of it.

By the way, our team reached out to the mayor. We did not hear back. I find it extraordinary, that an elected official or anyone would think they could make that kind of comment. Use your brain so you don't have to find yourself having to explain what is really in your heart.

And I should note that comment was posted just a few days before Joe Biden nominated Kamala Harris. When all we knew was that she was a likely nominee. He was going to nominate a black woman.

So we came down to the coronavirus, the same week as her wedding, but that is not stopping my next guest. Carlos and Grace Muniz got married in the hospital. They will tell me all about it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: I really am honored to bring you this next story. And you must watch it. I order you to watch it, please.

Carlos and Grace Muniz married this week at Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, where Carlos has been since he was admitted with coronavirus on July 15th, the week of their wedding. A few days after being admitted, Carlos's condition became worse and he was transferred to ICU before being placed on ECMO, a form of life support.

Well, guess what? Joining me now, Carlos and Grace Muniz. Thank you so much. I really appreciate both of you joining us. Carlos, I'm going to start with you, first. You're there in the hospital. But now, you're married. Congratulations. How does that make you feel, with all that you're going through?

CARLOS MUNIZ, MARRIED IN HOSPITAL DUE TO CORONAVIRUS: I'm just so whole right now. I've been able to see Grace a couple times. She's been able to come in and just lift my spirits up, as well.

LEMON: Grace, congratulations to you, as well. I know it wasn't the day that you planned for. But we can see from the pictures. It was beautiful. Please tell us about it. Oh, my Gosh, what a beautiful bride.

[23:55:02]

GRACE MUNIZ, MARRIES IN HOSPITAL DUE TO CORONAVIRUS: It was actually -- it was actually very -- it was perfect. It was more than we could ask for. When they -- when they mentioned it to us that they could -- basically, we were talking to his nurse, Matt. He asked me how long we had been married. And I just couldn't lie to him. I told him that we had the certificate. We just didn't have signatures.

And he just started preparing the wedding and within, like minutes, he comes back and says we can marry you on Tuesday. So I was -- I am amazed at how fast they moved. And they called me and asked me for the colors that we chose. And they had flowers. They had a cake. I mean, they decorated his bed and put cans in the back of his bed as they rolled him in, that said, just married.

So, it was just a very, very special moment for us. And, honestly, I thought they were just going to allow us to just do the ceremony. I didn't know they were going to do all that. But they even had a Webex for our family and friends to join. So it was just -- it was amazing, amazing staff that works there at that COVID unit.

LEMON: You two give me and the -- you give hope. Thank you for giving hope.

Carlos, you know, I know you've been in the hospital. It's been a tough time. I'm sure this helps lift your spirits. And I can just say I know everyone around this country, everyone who's watching, is praying for you. What do you want to say to the people of America now?

C. MUNIZ: Just be aware. Make yourself aware of -- excuse me -- make yourself aware of the things that can happen with corona. Wear your masks. Definitely, you know, keep your hands clean. You know, social distance as much as you can.

Follow the guidelines of your states and what they have out there for you because this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and it's life-changing. It really is.

So, also, just a plasma donation. If you've had corona and if you've recovered, you have that option, to be able to give the plasma and to be able to give those antibodies and that's what -- that was a choice for me.

Actually, I had to wait five days because of the supply. And it helped out tremendously for me. But even after that, you know, just the medical staff and everyone here that has done just a phenomenal job of taking care of me.

LEMON: Well, we want to give you a break and make sure that you recover. But thanks for the hope. Long and happy life to both of you. Congratulations. We look forward --

G. MUNIZ: Thank you. Thank you so much.

LEMON: -- to the long and happy life and lots of kids and everything and family surrounded with love. Thank you. Bye-bye. Be well.

G. MUNIZ: Thank you.

C. MUNIZ: Thank you so much.

G. MUNIZ: Bye.

LEMON: There you go. There is hope. Always remember that. Good night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)