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Don Lemon Tonight
President Trump Busy With Jam-Packed Rallies; First Lady Absent From Trump's Rally; CDC Reports Grim Reality; COVID-19 On Its Second Wave; Police Officer Wears A Trump Mask; A Message Of Unity From Utah Candidates. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired October 20, 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]
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: We're just a call away. And Alice, God bless, the offer goes for you as well. Thank you for speaking to others --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Chris.
CUOMO: -- even in a time of pain you put in purpose to it. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
CUOMO: All right. Thank you for watching. "CNN TONIGHT" with D. Lemon starts right now.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Man.
CUOMO: Thank you for the grace, brother. I mean, you know my family very well.
LEMON: What a family.
CUOMO: There but for the grace. He's superman, Rob Roberts. Cop, strong, loving, community loved him, force loved him. He had no business dying from COVID.
LEMON: Yes. No one, right? But that family is amazing. No one has no business of dying from COVID. And especially the numbers -- number of people who have died. It didn't have to be this way. We say it all the time. My heart goes out to that family. That mom is amazing. How's your heart? Haven't had much time to think about myself. These are kids.
CUOMO: That's a mom.
LEMON: That's a mom. You know, you got to give it to the mothers. And there are so many people who are like that and those are the stories that need to be told right now, and those are the people that this president should be thinking about and he should be talking about every day and working as hard as he can every single day to try to make it right for them.
To try to get the proper testing, to tell them the truth, to tell them where we are in this to try to make, as he says, America great again. Well, America needs to be made great again. And I'm talking about great again about this coronavirus that he is pretending is just going to go away.
He needs to see that family. I hope he saw that story because there are thousands, thousands upon thousands of families who are dealing with that right now, 200 -- more than 200,000 families.
CUOMO: Yes, you know, I mean, I wasn't going to use them as a prop. I'm not going to talk politics about them. Alice wanted to talk about why it matters. Now even as a family, you know, who --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It's the truth, though, Chris.
CUOMO: -- were on the job. It is the truth because I got to tell you, I know a lot of people see them and they see them the way I do, which is, holy cow, they have 17, 13, and 11, two girls and a guy. I got 17, 14, and 10.
LEMON: Ten going on 35. but go on.
CUOMO: They had two girls and a guy. And when people say to me who support the president, you know, you seem to get so angry about stuff, you know, you should just be -- that family is why I get angry.
LEMON: There you go.
CUOMO: I don't get angry just about the policies. This isn't tax or not tax. Who gets how much percentage?
LEMON: Not about who gets re-elected, which is what's on his mind. This is about helping the American people. And then --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: And this is about people's pain.
LEMON: -- who gets re-elected is next.
CUOMO: That family will never be the same. Hey, who knows?
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: Those kids might wind up getting to a better place because the strength they'll find in another and their mother, and the other people who love them I'm sure.
LEMON: Yes. CUOMO: But it shouldn't have to be that way for one more family than
absolutely necessary. And for a president on his watch to ignore a crisis is unforgivable to me, especially when the words alone would matter. The words alone would matter. Not only does it not make sense to me here, as political strategy, I don't get not putting your arms around this pandemic and say, I'll do bet e the bet better, the states aren't getting it done. I don't get it here, Don.
LEMON: Yes. Well, listen, words are important.
CUOMO: I don't get it.
LEMON: Actions are more important. And listen, you know, equally as important. But I think taking some action, not pretending that it's not real, getting everything that is need, the testing and on and on, not misleading people about when a vaccine might come, not misleading people about hydro chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or would, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Just tear to wear the mask.
LEMON: Just tell them the truth -- the truth and wear the mask.
CUOMO: Just tell them to wear the mask.
LEMON: But I got, listen, I got to run. but I have to tell you, the story you did before that about the rich folks, it kind of dismantles that whole thing about economic anxiety was the reason that Trump was got elected. Those people have no economic anxiety. They're rich.
CUOMO: Well, they have economic anxiety. They don't want to give more money away to taxes.
LEMON: And what does that say?
CUOMO: That's like that used to be the traditional Republican which was you just don't want to get taxed anymore. You don't want to get --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I don't want to get taxed anymore. I don't want to get taxed anymore. Listen, you do what you want, I want to be able to buy a $250,000 dune buggy. But I don't want to help people who are, who may be in need. I don't want to -- I want to be able to buy whatever which is fine, but just own up to it. And stop pretending the reason is economic anxiety.
If you have enough disposable income to play dune buggies in the desert, listen, we all -- I like to have fun, you like to have fun. You like to go boating and fishing. That's -- but just be honest about what your intentions and what you think and stop pretending that it is something else. And stop ignoring the elephant in the room. It's not really economic anxiety. It's actually, I think, it is selfishness because, listen, I do well. I don't mind paying more taxes for people who are not doing well to
help other people out. This is America. I will be OK. How much do I need? I can cut back. I can pay more.
[22:05:01]
Listen, trust me, I don't like it, I don't like paying a lot of it, but I do it because, what, when you said it's here, it's also here because I realize that it was -- when preparation and luck meet, there's a certain degree of luck to where I am, to where you are, to where everybody gets. And so, everybody can't have that. Some people don't have bootstraps.
So, as Americans, as people, especially if you believe in the Christian values that you espouse, you're supposed to do unto others and help others. So, I do that as much as I can. I don't like it, but I don't mind it in a way because I am blessed and fortunate enough to be in this position to make this amount of money where I am -- I have the privilege, I have the privilege, to be able to do that.
No one likes to pay a lot of taxes, but we do it because we can. And not everybody can. So, maybe you buy one less dune buggy, maybe you guy one less fancy car. Maybe you buy one less boat, maybe you buy one less yacht. Maybe you buy one less apartment, one less mansion. But how much money do you really need? That's all I got to say.
CUOMO: As much as you want, I'm of the more pie variety.
LEMON: Well, I'm saying that -- I'm saying that -- no, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm not saying people can't be capitalist.
CUOMO: Right.
LEMON: You can have as much as you want, but let's just be -- let's be real about it.
CUOMO: Right. Not everybody backing Trump is because they're broke.
LEMON: Not everybody's backing Trump because they're broke and even the people -- even the rich people, they want to get richer.
CUOMO: Yes.
LEMON: OK. Fine. But then realize that you have a privilege that other people don't have. So, help -- help some folks out.
CUOMO: Yes. And if you don't want to pay more in taxes, increase the involvement of all the different assets we have in this society.
LEMON: There you go.
CUOMO: Called our diversity and there will be more pie.
LEMON: There you go.
CUOMO: If everybody's involved, then they don't the need. LEMON: There you go.
CUOMO: Through a system that keeps them unlikely.
LEMON: There you go. All right. Preach, brother.
CUOMO: More pie, that's my motto.
LEMON: I like the apple pie and the pecan, because I'm from -- as we say, pecan down south. I got to run.
CUOMO: Very nice. I love you, D. Lemon.
LEMON: I love you.
This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.
Let me get off my soap box now. But that's the truth. That's how I feel. I can't help it. That's how I feel. And, again, I'll tell you tonight, keep calm and carry on, whatever it is, it's going it be OK. Just keep moving. One foot in front of the other.
Two weeks ago to go until election day. You can feel the tension rising in this country as we get closer and closer to what will be the most consequential election in most of our lifetimes. And it is very clear. Clear as day that this president has no idea how to run as an incumbent. None. Because the fact is he has never governed.
He's abdicated his responsibility on the coronavirus, virus that has killed more than 220,000 Americans on his watch. He coasted on the Obama economy, coasted. And he coasted on the sugar high from corporate tax cuts. Until the -- until the economy came crashing down with this pandemic, he counted on chaos and conflict to keep the country divided and distracted, trying to pit us against each other.
And now two weeks out, what does he have left? What's left in his quiver? Attacks on Dr. Fauci? And 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl? What about that healthcare plan that he promised? Remember a couple -- it's going to come in two weeks, it will be in months, et cetera. What about the healthcare plan? And what about the vaccine?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERALDO RIVERA, CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE, FOX NEWS: So, what's the earliest we could see that, a vaccine?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Sooner than the end of the year. Could be much sooner. This comes really fantastic.
RIVERA: Sooner than November 3rd?
TRUMP: I think -- I think in some cases, yes, it's possible before. But right around that time.
We're on pace to have a vaccine available this year, maybe far in advance of the end of the year.
We are delivering life-saving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year or maybe even sooner.
We're going to have a vaccine very soon. Maybe even before a very special date. You know what date I'm talking about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A vaccine and the healthcare plan. What about the stimulus deal? What about that? The wall. All that stuff. The deal -- millions of Americans desperately need to help them pay for -- pay the rent, put food on the table.
This president has never governed, never done his job. The Americans are paying the price in lives lost. Livelihoods lost. Fourteen days until election day. Less than 48 hours until the scheduled final debate. And he takes a Trump show on the road to another risky rally. This time he's in Erie, Pennsylvania.
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I've said it before, you'd almost think that we were not in the middle of a deadly pandemic. President again tonight insisting that we are rounding the corner with more than 220,000 Americans dead. And he needs the crowd. He needs that crowd to reassure him that he still has a chance to win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: If they did a good job, I wouldn't have run.
(CROWD CHANTING)
TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And his opponent Joe Biden deep in debate prep tonight. As his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, tells a Wisconsin virtual rally this about their campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is about building back up better, it is about unifying our country, it is about speaking to our higher purpose and ideals and doing the work that is necessary to remind everyone, to remind everyone, that they are not alone. We are all in this together. And we're going to get through this together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And the President of the United States, what he is doing, his closing message is to lash out, to lash out at Biden, to lash out at Dr. Fauci, to lash out at 60 Minutes and Lesley Stahl, threatening to post the interview he taped with her today, an interview he walked out of, refusing to come back, which is exactly the opposite of what you do if you actually want to get your message out there in the final days of the campaign.
He sure didn't look happy leaving the White House after walking out of that interview. There's the picture right there. He's behind in the polls. He's trying to turn the clock back to 2016, trying to run the same playbook that got him to the White House.
Lesley Stahl says that Trump told her in 2016 that his attacks on the press were all about discredit -- discrediting any negative stories about him saying, and I quote here, "you know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe them." Said it out loud.
Like I said, trying to turn back the clock to 2016. Now, the fact is the president still has a chance right now in 2020. He really does. But his polling in states that he won four years ago shows Joe Biden is ahead. He seems furious over stories suggesting that he is headed for defeat.
Yesterday in Arizona, for example, he told reporters, I'm not running scared, I think I'm running angry. This is a president who seems to be decompensating, OK?
CNN fact-checker extraordinaire Daniel Dale says he's never seen Trump lie this much in all of his time in office. That's saying a lot. He can't even count on the first lady to be by his side in these last days of the campaign. Why, Melania Trump backing out of the rally tonight in Pennsylvania blaming a persistent cough as she recovers from the coronavirus and not offering a makeup date, by the way.
So, the first lady is going to peace out on the campaign with just two weeks to go. Something that's pretty unheard of as millions and millions of Americans are already voting, more than 32 million of you so far. During this presidency and the weeks leading up to this election, we cannot lose sight of what this country is supposed to be all about. And what has been done in our name.
And so, I wanted to end this part of my show, right, just this beginning part, by going back a couple of years in light of some new information we just learned tonight. Remember, remember the children? Some of them just babies, cruelly and heartlessly separated from their families by U.S. border officials in 2017, 2018.
Well, tonight we're learning that parents of 545 of those children still can't be found. A court filing says that some two-thirds of those parents are believed to have been deported without their children. Five hundred and forty-five kids that your government, our government, separated from their parents, possibly forever.
This is what the Trump administration, this is their zero-tolerance policy. Is that what it is? Zero tolerance. And it results -- its results are absolutely intolerable. It should be for anyone with a heart. Kaitlan Collins joins us now. Erie, Pennsylvania, tonight. Kaitlan,
good evening to you. Thank you so much for joining. So, here's what some of President Trump had to say at a rally in Pennsylvania tonight. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Before the plague came in, I had it made. I wasn't coming to Erie. I mean, I have to be honest, there was no way I was coming. I didn't have to. I would have called you, said, hey, Erie, you know, if you have a chance, get out and vote.
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We had this thing won. We were so far up. We had the greatest economy ever. Greatest jobs. Greatest everything. And then we got hit with the plague. And I had to go back to work. Hello, Erie, may I please have your vote?
And in conclusion, we'll make this a little shorter. You know it's like about 40 degrees. I don't want people -- I don't want to lose anybody. You got to go vote. So, we're going to go a little shorter because you got to go vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What kind of a closing message is that, Kaitlan?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's one to a state that we should note he's down to Joe Biden significantly here in Pennsylvania. And of course, this is a state the president carried by a small margin in 2016. He's obviously trying to do so again.
And then he's coming here with this message of I really am only here because I have to be, saying that if his prospects were as good as they were before the pandemic, he actually probably wouldn't likely be here in Erie rallying supporters.
It's really -- I mean, maybe it's a genuine message from the president, he actually feels that way, but it's not exactly what political aides are hoping to telegraph as they're trying to project this message that Joe Biden does not care about people of Pennsylvania in the way that the president does.
LEMON: Kaitlan, thank you very much, reporting from Erie, Pennsylvania, traveling with the president.
Two weeks from today we'll be in the thick of election night coverage. Where -- where will the candidates be? Where will they be on the road to 270? And where are we now? Kirsten Powers, Ron Brownstein, they're here, they're next.
[22:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: So, President Trump, Joe Biden, set to meet for their final face-to-face debate Thursday night in Nashville. Biden is at home in Delaware preparing for the face-off. Trump holding a campaign rally tonight in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania where there is a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. But in spite of that, the crowd was packed together, few people wore masks, same old story.
And with two weeks to go until election day, I'm going to check the statistic out. As of tonight, more than 33 million Americans have already cast an early ballot, 33 million.
I want to bring in now CNN senior political analysts, plural, Kirsten Powers and Ron Brownstein. Good evening to both of you. Good to see you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Don.
LEMON: Ron, two weeks out from election day, you say Vice President Biden is in a good spot to rebuild a blue wall.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
LEMON: His road to 270 is a lot easier than President Trump's. Why do you say that?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, look, I mean, the core tension in the modern electoral map is that the demography is more favorable for Democrats in the sunbelt which is growing more diverse. But their capacity to win back white voters is greater in the rustbelt.
And you know, if you look at the three states that made Donald Trump president, that he dislodged from the blue wall, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, that voted Democratic in every presidential election from '92 to 2012, Joe Biden is basically doing what he was hired by the Democratic Party to do.
He is improving among particularly white voters without a college degree. Hillary Clinton really cratered among them in 2016. Joe Biden isn't blowing the doors off among them. But if you look at all of the rustbelt states, not only those three states, Don, but also Iowa and Ohio, Biden is winning about 40 percent of them.
And when you combine that with a position that is now a clear majority in all of these states among college-educated whites and about four- fifths of African-Americans, that's enough to put him in the driver's seat at this point in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and keep him surprisingly competitive in Iowa and Ohio as well as a safe position in Minnesota.
LEMON: Kirsten, didn't Ron Brownstein, the person you're sharing the screen with right now, learn anything from 2016 not to be in the prediction business?
KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: He read my mind. No, you read my mind. Actually, but I think, Ron, you are the perfect person to answer this question that probably a lot of people watching are thinking.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
POWERS: Which is we heard this last time, you know, that obviously we now know that the battleground state polls, a lot of them were off. Why is it --
BROWNSTEIN: Right.
POWERS: -- different this time?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's not different in one sense. I mean, there is only one path for Donald Trump I think to win. Not only in the rustbelt but even in the sunbelt. And that is, in fact, to produce an electorate where non-college whites, his core voters, are a bigger share of the vote than they -- than the pollsters expect.
That's exactly what happened in 2016, as you noted, in those rustbelt states. But there are a couple challenges he faces. One is that as a share of the eligible voters, they're continuing to shrink. In all of these states non-college whites are two points less or three points less of the eligible voters than they were even in 2016.
And I think the bigger challenge while not ruling out that possibility at all, there's no question there's enormous enthusiasm for Trump in rural parts of these states and a lot of the small cities, but he's got another problem which is everybody is voting at high levels this time. And it's harder to have a turnout differential benefiting you if the entire pool is getting that much larger.
Look at what we're seeing in Dane County, for example, in Madison, just the enormous turnout there. To kind of overcome that, you know, through a rural turnout, it gets harder when that overall pool is getting bigger at the same time.
LEMON: Especially, it makes a difference, too, when you look at city centers. That's why cities -- cities are usually bluer, right, but there are more people --
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
LEMON: -- in cities than there are in rural areas.
POWERS: Right.
LEMON: And if people in the city go out to vote, which they usually vote blue, it's hard to make that up in the suburbs and in the rural areas. Am I correct?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, especially because the suburbs, the suburbs are now voting --
LEMON: Yes.
BROWNSTEIN: -- more like the cities than they are like the rural. LEMON: But listen, there are -- look at those rallies. I mean, I had
people saying that in Pennsylvania that people were pulling just their cars over on the road just to see the airplane --
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
LEMON: -- come in. Kirsten?
POWERS: Well, I mean, yes, there's no question that his base still loves him. I don't think there's any question that those people will turn out. I think another difference is that the, you know, Biden is ahead by more, I think, than Hillary was, and it's just --
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
POWERS: -- it's a more consistent and steady lead than we saw with Hillary. But I --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And also -- also, Kirsten, I mean, you know, with all due respect, Joe Biden is not Hillary Clinton. Joe Biden is this, you know, pretty much universally liked guy by -- by Democrats, right, and then by --
(CROSSTALK)
POWERS: Well, yes, I mean, he hasn't been demonized for 25 years.
LEMON: Yes.
POWERS: The way Hillary was.
LEMON: So then what -- do you buy into this, Kirsten, this whole hidden Trump voter thing that -- that people talk about?
[22:25:04]
There's a hidden Trump voter that doesn't necessarily -- that don't necessarily talk to pollsters or say who they're going to vote for and they're not being picked up in polls.
POWERS: I mean, anything is possible. I think, you know, if Democrats shouldn't take anything for granted. I think that, you know, people have to -- have to turn out to vote and I think that this is not something that people should consider in the bag or, you know, just write it off that Trump does have a very devoted base of support.
And, you know, when you are also relying on people crossing over, that's always a heavy lift and a hard sell even if you are somebody like Joe Biden that can appeal to those kinds of voters. I think that, you know, if you're the Biden campaign, you treat this like you're behind and you keep fighting for every single vote you can get.
LEMON: Ron, I want you to put -- you can respond to this, too but let me just -- I want to put up this map so you can -- BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
LEMON: -- you can do both of them.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
LEMON: The 2020 electoral map, 290 electoral votes right now for Biden, 163 electoral votes for Trump. Compare that to 2016 electoral map roughly two weeks out from that election, right, in 2016. So, look at it, 272, Clinton, 179 for Trump. So, there you go.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Well, look, we have an inner tier and outer tier of competitive states. The inner tier are the three key rustbelt states, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. Three key sunbelt states, North Carolina, Arizona, and Florida. And then kind of the outer tier, where Biden is pressing in Ohio, in Iowa, to some extent, Georgia and Texas to some extent, and Trump is hoping to put into play Minnesota and Nevada.
Right now, Biden is in a strong position in the first four, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. North Carolina is probably the toughest. Florida seems to be leading his way, but Florida is a Rubik's cube that is very hard for either side to solve and has been heartbreak hill for the Democrats in the last few elections.
The problem I think -- the problem the president faces is that there are, a, he's being outspent and b, Biden just has more pathways at this point. I mean, the president, really, Michigan seems to be almost off the table. Arizona seems very tough. Wisconsin seems surprisingly tough. So those three, alone, Don, would win.
Again, having said all that, I don't think shy Trump voters is really the way to think about it. It's more can he change the turnout mix? And by the way, there are Democrats who are concerned that in the early voting you are seeing high levels of engagement among non- college and rural whites, higher than among some of the core Democratic constituencies.
So, again, that's not off the table but that really is the one path he has to win, which is to produce an electorate different than any one -- any of the pollsters, at least, are expecting.
LEMON: One never knows. Remember, 2016. Thank you, both. See you soon.
The CDC saying that there have been nearly 300,000 excess deaths this year. Deaths that usually wouldn't happen. Even skyrocketing numbers for young people in the prime of their lives. What does it have to do with the virus? I'll tell you next.
[22:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So, with election day just two weeks away, the president's handling of the pandemic is on the ballot and this map tells you all you need to know about how the battle against the virus is going. Take a look at it. We're all well into the second wave right now.
Right? We are well into the second wave right now. Forty-nine states trending in the wrong direction or holding steady with only Hawaii, only Hawaii, in the green. Our daily average for new cases continuing to hover at around 60,000 today. With concerning spikes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
And according to new CDC -- a new CDC report released today, the coronavirus pandemic leading to deaths of approximately 300,000 more people than would be expected under normal conditions with about 198,000 of them or roughly two-thirds of those deaths coming directly from COVID-19.
The CDC also finding deaths among Hispanics and Latinos up 53.6 percent. And deaths among young adults between the ages of 25 and 44 up 26.5 percent.
So, let's discuss now with Dr. Leana Wen from Baltimore City -- the former Baltimore City health commissioner. Doctor, good to see you again. I appreciate you joining us here.
LEANA WEN, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Good to so you, too, Don.
LEMON: So, you heard the information I gave, but when you see the map, what does it tell you about this second wave?
WEN: Well, it tells us that we are headed into exactly where we did not want to be headed into the winter months. We had hoped that -- there was a chance that we could suppress the level of COVID-19 enough so that coming into the winter when people are gathering indoors, when it's going to be harder to be outdoors, when there are also the confluence of other respiratory pathogens, that we could be at a low enough level that that increase is not going to be so dramatic.
But I'm afraid that we are not there, and, in fact, we are on track to having 200,000 more deaths by the end of this winter.
LEMON: So, Dr. Wen, the former FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, warning in an interview that the U.S. may see a rapid acceleration. And that we are about two or three weeks behind where Europe is. We got a chart on the screen right now comparing the situation in the U.S. and the E.U. What do you think we should expect over the next two or three weeks here in the U.S., doctor?
WEN: Well, when we look at the U.S. Versus Europe, we see that both had this initial rapid surge, but unlike Europe that was able to suppress their level of infection, we never really did. We came down to a baseline level that was very high, then we had a second surge that involved the south, the sunbelt, and the west, and now we're experiencing a third surge on top of that.
And so, when we look at Europe, we see that, they're undergoing exponential spread, that's likely where we're going to be headed as well.
[22:35:01]
We have states like Nevada where the test positivity rate is almost 50 percent. That's one in two people who are testing are actually testing positive, which means that there's a very high level of infection that we're not detecting because of lack of testing. And there is a lot more community infection.
We also know that about 50 percent or more of the cases of COVID-19 in many communities cannot be traced back to a particular infection source which also means that there's a very high level of infection that we're just going to see balloon in the next few weeks.
LEMON: So, doctor, let's talk about that CDC report. Almost 300,000 excess deaths already this year. I mean, that is just devastating and the skyrocketing numbers for Latinos and young adults, that's particularly troubling. What is behind that, do you think? What is it?
WEN: Well, the numbers overall tell the true story of the pandemic's toll because there are individuals who may not have officially been diagnosed with coronavirus because of lack of testing, especially early on in the pandemic who died but it wasn't directly attributed to coronavirus.
Also, there are individuals who may have died from heart attacks or strokes. They just never sought care also because of coronavirus so that's the true toll. That number, the disproportionate impact on minorities, on black Americans, Hispanic-Americans, other people of color, that mirrors what we've seen for coronavirus overall.
And it's so tragic because coronavirus is not a virus that discriminates. It's not the virus that's doing the discriminating but it's our healthcare systems and these other social determinates. It's our structures in place that are doing the discriminating. And we've seen with young people, too. This number that you mentioned, it's also a reminder that no one is immune, not even young people from this virus.
LEMON: I hope everyone is listening to you. Thank you, doctor. I appreciate it. I'll see you soon.
WEN: Thank you.
LEMON: A police officer in uniform with badge and gun walks into a polling place wearing a Trump 2020 mask. Does this look intimidating to you? What you need to know ahead of casting your vote, next.
[22:40:00]
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LEMON: Story you should all pay attention to because we are just 14 days away from election day. And early voting is well under way all across the country. More than 33 million ballots already cast.
But as the president repeatedly tries to cast doubt on the legitimacy of this election with baseless claims of widespread fraud and calls for his supporters to poll watch, many Americans are still concerned about how to protect their votes. And that environment of political tension came to a head today in Miami. OK?
This is what I want you to see. Take a look at this. This was taken today. That is a Miami Police Department officer in full uniform carrying his firearm, wearing a mask that reads, "Trump 2020 no more bull."
Well, you know. The photo was taken by Steve Simeonidis, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party who said he photographed the officer who he identified as Daniel Ubeda wearing the mask at a voting site in Miami's government center.
A spokesperson for the Miami police declined to confirm the officer's name. Simeonidis tweeted out the photo which went viral saying, quote, "this is city-funded voter intimidation." The Miami Police Department tweeted about the incident saying the officer violated department policy and that it was -- it was addressing the matter immediately.
Matt Reyes, the vice president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police tells CNN the matter will become an open investigation so he can't discuss the details. He did, however, offer this statement.
Police officers also have first amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution as well as the right to vote in uniform pursuant to Florida state law.
OK. But that doesn't quite address the issue which is whether an armed police officer in full uniform which is allowed, wearing a Trump mask, which as a political message is not -- is not. That's not allowed. The mask. Is it intimidating to other voters? Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also addressed the controversy, speaking to reporters this afternoon.
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MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R), MIAMI, FLORIDA: The city of Miami and the Miami Police Department do not support or endorse any candidate for political party or elected office. The involved officer was not authorized to wear a mask with a political messaging, nor was he given any administrative direction to support a particular candidate or political party.
His actions have violated departmental policy and he will be disciplined. He is allowed to vote with his uniform on, so the fact that he's wearing a uniform while voting is not a per se, violation of state law. The issue was wearing political signage, political mask, that he was not authorized to use.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: As the mayor notes, we'll say it again, the officer is permitted to vote in uniform. And police officers should vote for whoever they want to vote for, but there is a bigger issue at play here in the lead-up to the election. In a country struggling with a vast political divide and deep mistrust between Americans, voter intimidation is clearly a concern, particularly as the president has called on his supporters to poll watch.
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TRUMP: I'm urging my supporters --
(CROSSTALK)
CHRIS WALLACE, ANCHOR, FOX NEWS: You go first.
TRUMP: -- to go into the polls and watch very carefully because that's what has to happen. I'm urging them to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: With two weeks until election day and a record number of people turning out, it's important, more important than ever, that everyone gets to vote freely, without intimidation, without interference. We all need to follow the rules including police officers.
[22:45:03]
We have our say at the polls. And then count the votes. And just when the political divide in this country seems to be too big to bridge, there is this. The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor of Utah teaming up, sending a message to the country. I can't believe this to put civility first.
They're going to both join me, next.
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LEMON: Can you believe it? It's only two weeks until election day and partisan tensions are running high. But in Ohio, Democratic and Republican candidates for governor are putting out a message for unity, and videos calling for civility and pledging to accept the results of the 2020 election.
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[22:50:04]
SPENCER COX (R), UTAH GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Spencer Cox, your Republican candidate for Utah governor.
CHRIS PETERSON (D), UTAH GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And I'm Chris Peterson, your Democratic candidate for governor.
COX: We are currently in the final days of campaigning against each other.
PETERSON: But our common values transcend our political differences and the strength of our nation rest on our ability to see that.
COX: We are both equally dedicated to the American values of democracy, liberty and justice for all people.
PETERSON: We just have different opinions on how to achieve those ideals.
COX: But today, we are setting aside those differences to deliver a message critical for the health of our nation.
PETERSON: That whether you vote by mail or in person, we will fully support the results of the upcoming presidential election regardless of the outcome.
COX: Although we sit on opposite sides of the aisle, we are both committed to American civility and a peaceful transition of power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I don't know how I got Ohio out of Utah. But my mistake. My bad. Sorry about that. I meant Utah. So, it kind of makes you want to elect both of them, right? Chris Peterson and Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox join me now. Utah, Utah, Utah. Good evening to both of you. Lieutenant Governor, whose idea was this?
COX: Well, Don, I almost had an aneurysm when you said Ohio. The truth is a friend came to me a couple of weeks ago and was really concerned about what happens in our country on November 4th. You know, we've seen civil unrest over the past few months and regardless of who wins I think there's a real fear that there could be some negative consequences here in our country.
And so, we started thinking about could we do something different, could Utah be an example. And so, my opponent Chris Peterson I have a great relationship, we started talking about what we could do and just came up with this idea that maybe we should -- we should film something talking about how we do things in Utah and that we're Americans first, Republicans and Democrats second. And it just came together very quickly.
LEMON: It sounds like you have a, you know, a Chris in your life like I have. We don't always agree with each other but, hey, you know, we're friends. So, Chris, these videos are going viral online, racking up more than a million views already. Why do you believe people are responding so positively to your message, especially when so many Americans are feeling angry right now?
PETERSON: Well, I think that most Americans are yearning for some sense of normalcy and the American people as well as Utahns are decent people. We're by and large loving and caring people on both sides of the aisle.
And to see two candidates who stridently disagree with each other about policy come together to try to have a positive message about civility and respect for our Democratic institutions is refreshing for people. And I think that's why it's taking off.
LEMON: So, Lieutenant Governor, I have to ask you, because, you know, the president has dodged and refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if Joe Biden wins. Are your comments about accepting the results intended to set a good example for him, for the people of Utah, the country wide? COX: Yes, yes, I think all of the above. That's the hope. Look, if we
-- I believe that our politicians are a reflection of us, we the people. And if we're expecting politicians in D.C. to show us how to do things better, then we're going to be very disappointed.
It really is on all of us to make sure that first of all we're electing people that hold the same values that we do and that we're ready to come together. It's something we do here in Utah. We're not unique, Chris and I aren't unique here. Most people believe that even if we have differences we should work together for the common good. And that's our -- that's our clarion call to everyone to come together after this election.
LEMON: Yes. I got to ask you. Chris, I'm sure you've seen the lines all over the country, and you know, record early voting all over America. How dangerous is it that the legitimacy of the American voting process is questioned by the president while this is happening?
PETERSON: It's extremely problematic. look, we need to renew our commitment as a people to both decency and democracy. The whole point of having elections is to count up all the votes, count up all the votes, and then we have to live with one another after that election and move forward to try to forge compromise and identify problems and then solve those problems. And if we can do that, we're going to feel better about ourselves because most people want to do the right thing.
LEMON: So, I got to tell you, I love what both of you are doing. Thank you for bringing civility into this process. But Lieutenant Governor, I got to tell you, you're going to have to up your bookshelf game, because Chris is -- Chris is winning the bookshelf game on the TV. So that's all I got to say.
PETERSON: Well, Don, I think -- right now, most important game.
(CROSSTALK)
[22:55:03]
LEMON: That's the spirit.
COX: I'll give him the bookshelf game.
LEMON: Yes. You'll take the poll game, right. Thank you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate both of you. Best of luck to both of you, OK? Thanks again. Be safe.
COX: Thank you, Don.
PETERSON: Thank you so much.
LEMON: Yes. two weeks, 14 days, only 14 days until election day and we are taking an in-depth look at the issues facing black voters. That's right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Well, it's 14 days until election day, and in the hour ahead we're going to examine the road to 270, and we're going to focus on the key issues facing black voters. And we have breaking news story tonight that could impact your vote.
President Barack Obama has just posted a brand-new video message as he prepares to hit the campaign trail tomorrow in Pennsylvania.
[22:59:59]
President Trump and Joe Biden set to meet in their final debate Thursday in Nashville. Black voters have a lot of power in 2020, so let's dig into it all right now.
