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Massive Biker Rally Going On Despite Objections From Most Locals; Picture Of Crowded Hallway Raises Concerns As Schools Reopen; Biden Expected To Announce Vice President Pick Soon; Mayor Carlos Gimenez (R), Miami-Dade County, Discusses Rising Coronavirus Cases, Lag In Testing; Trump To Sign Executive Orders After Stimulus Talks Break Down. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired August 08, 2020 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:00]

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Just a few minutes from now, President Trump is expected to appear live and take questions at his golf resort in New Jersey. This coming at a day when we're just shy of 5 million people in the United States confirmed infected with the coronavirus. 5 million people, millions more out of work, need help paying bills and their rent.

It's good to have you with us this afternoon. I'm Erica Hill in for Ana Cabrera.

Talks on Capitol Hill falling apart last night, discussing the next stimulus bill aimed at helping those people. The president promising to go it alone if there is no deal. Well, that press conference should start soon and we will bring it to you live.

Also happening, right now, what is probably the biggest close gathering of people in this country since the deadly pandemic began, the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally. Now, most of the people who live in that town of 7,000 said, no, they really didn't want to hold it this year. A quarter of a million bikers are expected to come anyway. We are live in South Dakota. we will take you there as well.

Plus, as the coronavirus continues to spread, an estimated 250,000 bikers from around the country, as we mentioned, are making their way to Sturgis. It's the 80th annual rally there. Masks are not required, though attendees are encouraged to follow the CDC guidelines.

CNN's Ryan Young is there now on the ground for us.

Ryan, masks are optional. I see you've chosen to wear yours, my friend. In all seriousness, what kind of precautions are you seeing because there's quite a crowd behind you there?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The crowd has been amazing so far in terms of the sheer number of bikers that we've seen this area. But then you add in all the support services that are included in this from restaurants to people selling clothing, all of that has been put into this area. You are talking about a town of 7,000 swelling to more than 250,000, you understand how large this event is.

Just take a look from above and see the stretch that goes all the way behind us with how the street has been filled out with bikers from across the country. We've seen tags from Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. Some of the people feel comfortable here because of the fact that the low number of cases here in this area. In fact, don't forget, there was that 4th of July celebration with the president and no COVID spikes from that 4th of July celebration. That's what a lot of people have been pointing to.

As you look down the street though, you can also see -- you can notice very easily that people are not wearing masks. That's something they have decided to do. They feel like riding a bike, some of them choose not to wear helmets, why would they wear a mask? And we heard that over and over again.

Take a listen to a few of the folks that we talked to a little earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are trying to kind of social distance. We haven't like -- when we went to the bar, just a drink here or there and then leave. If it's too crowded, we really stepped out. So, trying to still practicing social distancing while enjoying the event.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One thing I know is I know how the people act. Look at everybody out here. They're ready to ride. Everybody is cooped up from the coronavirus. Everybody is ready to have fun. And, hell, so am I.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Erica, a few things here, a lot of folks don't want to talk politics, but they have no problem showing their allegiance to the president. You see shops like this all over the area that say Trump 2020. You see signs all over the place. And people have expressed the desire for the president to win again. They're saying -- as these people go by with a flag on their bike, you see a lot of that sort of support here.

I also will tell you, we did see a COVID tent where people can stop to get hand sanitizer and masks. We didn't see a lot of people at that. They feel like the air outside will clean the virus away, some folks have said, and there's so much space, this is not an urban area, they're not afraid of bumping into anyone who has the virus. So that's what they think so far.

We do know that health officials do have extra hospital beds in this area. But, of course, the outcome of what may happen after the seven- day event here will probably take weeks to kind of figure it all out.

HILL: And with people coming from all over, the impact could be felt across the country potentially as we look for that. Ryan Young, great to have you on the ground. Thank you.

Also with us, the mayor of Sturgis, Mark Carstensen.

Mr. Mayor, good to have you with us. A survey polling the residents of your city revealed 60 percent of them actually wanted the event postponed this year. The city council voted overwhelmingly to hold the event anyway. Are you concerned that important tourism -- and I understand how important this is financially to Sturgis, are you concerned that that's being put ahead of the concerns of your residents, ahead of public health?

MAYOR MARK CARSTENSEN, STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA: I guess as far as the residents are concerned, we've also -- we've done the good deeds program for the City of Sturgis where we deliver goods to their house. And after the rally, we've provided the opportunity for citizens to take tests, take COVID tests.

So we're trying to provide all the tools that we have to keep people safe, let them stay home if they so choose, and be able to react afterwards with the best data we can possibly have.

HILL: In terms of those tests, I know you're making them available for employees, for residents, how many tests do you have and how often can you test people?

[15:05:05]

What's the setup?

CARSTENSEN: Currently, we've purchased 1,300 tests. Our town has approximately 7,000 people in it. At this point in time, we're not going to use all of them, it appears, but we'll see what develops as time moves forward.

HILL: And are you concerned at all about the results, getting them in a timely fashion? We've heard a lot about the lag time increasing around the country.

CARSTENSEN: Without a doubt. And we've worked with the local healthcare provider and we truly hope the results come back quickly because that's part of the reaction to be able to make the next steps, as we move forward, is getting the information, finding out who needs to stay home and seeing what the impact is.

HILL: I know you told some of my colleagues here on CNN earlier this week you can't stop people from coming. There is some concern you're, acknowledging that concern and you said you can't stop them from coming, but you're also leading a ride, as I understand it, right? Aren't you leading a ride on Monday?

CARSTENSEN: You bet. And ultimate social distancing out in the Black Hills on your motorcycle, it's -- the riding is what brings people back here, and, truly, that's the -- the gatherings are the night events. But the daytime rides, I mean, there's not that many people that gather during that. You're actually enjoying the nature and the beauty of the Black Hills.

HILL: So you're not getting close to anybody? CARSTENSEN: We start at one point and end at one point together. I think there's probably 150 people participating, roughly, maybe a little bit more. But, yes, the rides are about the only city events that are continuing to go this year, the rides that we help facilitate, keep safe and have a starting and ending point.

HILL: And as you say, and I can appreciate just the beauty of the nature around you, right, and that is what brings a lot of people there for obvious reasons. But to just hear you say, on the one hand, listen, we can't stop people from coming, and you're leading a ride, right? So you're like, hey, I'll be there as the mayor, come along with me. Are you worried about any sort of mixed messaging that that may send?

CARSTENSEN: Well, the message that has been consistent across South Dakota through this process is we are open and people have come here. So I think our messaging is personal responsibility and we want you to choose what you want to do and these are what the city is providing and we're providing some rides.

And if people want to come along, we welcome them. And there is some restrictions on just the size of rides from the Department of Transportation well before COVID-19. So the restrictions are already in place and it's just a number. There can only be 200 bikes. So --

HILL: Up to half a million people expected, and we know this is a major event every year and some of the people that our folks talked to on the ground said no matter what, they would have been there. Here is what one gentleman told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What were you thinking when you were coming from Florida?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm doing it no matter what's going on. I'm going, I don't care if it's closed down. I'm going. They can all kiss my ass. I'm going.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've heard talk about social distancing, wearing masks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's crap. That's crap. We don't agree with it. We think it's political.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Think some of it is political. Do you think this is becoming a more political event this year?

CARSTENSEN: Without a doubt. In the past, I guess, during election years is when we do get a lot of national media. And this year, we have obviously seen a lot of national media. But I think where our country is at currently is that's where we automatically go to.

And I think that, as Americans, we should be better than that and we should work on what we have in common and build our foundations. And we're going to get through this and we're going to get through it together. It's a difficult time, for sure.

HILL: Are you concerned about what could happen after folks go back to their home states, to their cities?

CARSTENSEN: It's a concern that's been in existence since -- I guess May is when it got busy throughout the Black Hills and the State of South Dakota. It's something that these people chose to come here and we can't control where they go when they leave. And it is a concern, but it's something that we've already been dealing with.

So our states remained pretty much open the entire time and we've been facing a lot of visitors from all over the United States for a long point in time.

HILL: Mayor Mark Carstensen, I appreciate you joining us today. Thank you.

CARSTENSEN: Thank you.

HILL: President Trump is set to speak soon as stimulus negotiations on Capitol Hill have stalled. Jeremy Diamond joins me now.

So, Jeremy, what more do we know about what the president may say this afternoon?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, yesterday, we saw the president come out with that hastily arranged news conference after negotiations broke down on Capitol Hill. And he made clear that he will move to executive action if indeed there is no deal between Democrats and his White House on this phase four stimulus package.

Now, two White House officials are indeed now telling me that the president will sign those executive orders today.

[15:10:02]

And as the president outlined yesterday, the president intends to use executive action in order to extend the supplemental unemployment benefits that millions of Americans have been receiving. It is unclear though whether he will keep those at the $600 per week level that Democrats had been pushing for.

We also expect the president to implement a payroll tax holiday, essentially waiving the payroll tax for employers and employees, as well as deferring student loan payments indefinitely, and also extending that moratorium on evictions.

So far, though, we don't know exactly what the mechanism is that the president is going to use to do this, or, frankly, what authority the president believes that he has in order to do this. Specifically on that question of the payroll tax cut, there is a huge question mark over whether that's something that the president can do unilaterally. Typically, taxing is the power of Congress, not the power of the president, as it is outlined in the Constitution. So some huge, huge legal questions here. And you can make sure, Erica, that the president here, no doubt, is going to be challenged on these. Democrats have already made clear that they will make legal challenges to the president's authority to actually do this.

But it is important to keep in mind that this comes after about two weeks of negotiations between the White House chief of staff, the treasury secretary and the top Democrats on Capitol Hill, about 20 hours of negotiations that still left both sides more than a trillion dollars apart and no closer to a deal.

HILL: Jeremy Diamond with the latest from Washington, Jeremy, thank you.

Well, as we wait on that news conference from President Trump, the nation is closing in on 5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus. We're going to let you know when that moment happens. We'll keep an eye out for the press conference with the president.

Meantime, as students return to the classroom, pictures like this one really raising concerns and prompting questions about just how risky it may be to have kids back in school.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:00]

HILL: In just moments, President Trump will speak live from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He is expected to sign executive orders, he has said, which could likely include a payroll tax deferment, extending unemployment benefits and extending an eviction moratorium, also deferring student loan payments and even forgiving interests. We're going to bring you the news conference live when it happens.

And as the president urges schools to reopen and schools worked (ph) if the parents it's safe to do so, there's an image of a crowded high school hallway that's now making its way across the country, a sign of how impractical social distancing may be in buildings meant to hold as many kids as possible.

Here is CNN's Gary Tuchman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A jam-packed high school hallway, as students, many of whom are not wearing masks, change classes. Sophomore Hannah Watters took the photo and posted it on Twitter.

HANNAH WATTERS, SHARED PHOTO OF CROWDED SCHOOL HALLWAY: I took it out of mostly concern and nervousness after seeing the first day of school.

TUCHMAN: North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, about 45 miles northwest of Atlanta, had its first day of school this week. While many schools in the country have or will have mandates for mask wearing, this one does not.

WATTERS: I was concerned for the safety of everyone in that building and everyone in the county.

TUCHMAN: After Hanna hosted the picture, she was told she had been suspended for violating several of the school's code of conduct, only one of which she acknowledges breaking, violating student's privacy by taking a picture of them and posting it on social media.

But she channels the late Georgia congressman and civil rights hero, John Lewis.

WATTERS: I like to say that this is some good and necessary trouble, so I don't regret this because it needed to be said.

TUCHMAN: School officials have not responded to CNN. But in a letter to parents, the superintendent does admit there is no question that the photo does not look good, but he also says he believes the photo is being shown out of context to criticize the school's reopening efforts. And he defends the lack of a mask mandate by making this debatable statement, wearing a mask is a personal choice and there is no practical way to enforce a mandate to wear them.

And the school's principal made another statement, according to Hannah and her mother, a personal one, calling Hannah's mother and telling her, the suspension has been overturned, that the suspension will not appear on her daughter's record.

WATTERS: Behind every teacher, student and staff member, there's a family, there's friends, and I just want to keep everyone safe.

TUCHMAN: Hannah Watters will be back at school Monday.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Joining us now, Pediatrician, Dr. Glenn Budnick. He's Chairman of Pediatrics Reliance Medical Group. Good to have you back with us.

We just heard in Gary's piece there, the school superintendent had released this statement, and it's part of that statement. He also said that the students are in this hallway environment for just a brief period as they move to their next class.

He went on to say he'd attached a document from the Department of Public Health that states, exposure of COVID-19 occurs after being within six feet of a sick person for about 15 minutes.

Taking all of that into account. is he right? Is a crowded high school hallway less of a risk because kids aren't there for a long period of time?

DR. GLENN BUDNICK, CHAIRMAN, PEDIATRICS RELIANCE MEDICAL GROUP: Erica, I disagree with the principal. I think we should try to keep obviously social distance. I think masks should be worn at all times when they're in the hallway and not able to have a six-foot social distance. And this is a significant disease. We're going to have to learn to live with it. And part of the way you learn to live with it is wearing a mask and social distancing.

Gathering together in hallways, it's a thing of the past for now. You've got to move on. You've got to live with this disease and you have to wear a mask and you have to social distance.

[15:20:00]

HILL: So you say you have to wear a mask when you're in the hallways or you can't social distance. Just give us a sense though, when kids are in classrooms, right, and I know -- I just got literature from my school district, they're trying to figure this out and trying to let us know when our kids will have to wear masks. If they're sitting at their desk in a classroom and the desks are spaced far enough apart, do they need masks then?

BUDNICK: My preference as a physician is that they keep the mask on. The parents or many people are pushing that for a period of time they take the masks off. The medical preference is to keep the mask on and to have a period of time after the class where they can go outside, outdoors, and take the mask off for five or ten minutes apart from each other and work that into the schedule.

Some people prefer that they would be able to take the masks off. Medically, my preference is that they keep the mask on during class.

HILL: When it comes to masks, the superintendent, in a response, also said, quote, wearing a mask is a personal choice. There's no practical way to enforce a mandate to wear them. Well, most schools, including this school district and the particular high school in North Paulding, Georgia there, we looked up the dress code. I was looking at it earlier today. They've got a dress code. They say they can enforce it. I mean, is wearing a mask difficult to enforce, in your view?

BUDNICK: It's difficult to enforce, but I think it's something that we should put out in the open initially when the parents are signing up to school. There is always the online option if people want to take the choice and not wear the mask.

It's a public health decision. Not wearing a mask could affect your child, another child, and I think this is a public health decision. If they want the freedom not to wear a mask, then I think they should opt out for online school.

I think in schools, we should wear masks, social distance as best we can. And as far as going in the classroom, just as you said, most classrooms are going to require the mask. But they may take them off and there may be barriers at the desks also.

HILL: When it comes to getting to school each day, if your district is having some form of in-person learning, we're all looking at our kids more closely and ourselves these days. Is that just a sniffle, is that a sign of COVID? So when you're looking at your child, right, taking a temperature is one thing. How do you know though if a runny nose is a symptom of COVID-19 or if it's just a kid with a runny nose?

BUDNICK: Well, it's an excellent question. First and foremost, if your child is sick at all, even with just a runny nose in this environment, if there are any signs or symptoms, the preference would be not to send your child to school that day. Also, we should have in the schools random testing of both teachers and students, statistically significant random testing, so we can see if there's been any asymptomatic spread in the school system.

So I think testing would help obviously in the school system, and also parental decisions. If your child seems sick, let's not send them to school. Let's err on the side of keeping them home.

HILL: The testing would be great. As we know, that's a hurdle in a lot of areas, and not just in terms of getting the testing and the supplies, but also in terms of the turnaround time to process those results. When it comes to symptoms that we should look for, children, overall, from what we've learned so far, tend to have less severe symptoms, not that it can't happen. But do we know yet if there are certain symptoms of this virus that are more prevalent in children?

BUDNICK: The symptoms are certainly not the -- all the time the classical symptoms of respiratory distress and cough in children, which would be unusual. It's just mainly symptoms that are of many viral infections, cough, cold, low-grade fever, and also there can be some nausea and vomiting along with it. Typical viral symptoms, any virus now, err on the side, taking your child home.

And also before we go, I just want to say that everybody should get the flu shot this year. Very important that we don't have two diseases bothering us at the same time and get your flu shot so we don't get the flu this year.

HILL: Yes. We definitely don't need that on top of everything else. Dr. Glenn Budnick, good to see you again. Thank you.

BUDNICK: Thank you, Erica.

HILL: We are waiting to hear from the president. President Trump is set to hold a news conference any minute now. This, as the nation is approaching 5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus. We're going to bring you that news conference when it happens.

Also, Miami-Dade County in Florida, one of the hardest-hit areas in the nation when it comes to coronavirus, the mayor joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:25:00]

HILL: You are looking at live pictures at Bedminster, New Jersey. You see, of course, the seal of the president of the United States there on the podium. We're waiting for President Trump. He is set to speak. We are told that, according to sources, he will be talking about executive orders, which he's signing. This after stimulus talks broke down on Capitol Hill. So we'll bring you that event as it happens.

While we're waiting for that though, former Vice President Joe Biden, we're learning, is, of course, the final stages of selecting his running mate for his own 2020 White House bid. The clock is ticking here. CNN has learned that the former vice president met with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, making her one of the possible finalists.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has a closer look now at several women who may be among the top contenders.

[15:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: The best vice president America has ever had, Mr. Joe Biden.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: It was a role Joe Biden loved playing.

OBAMA: He's been unafraid to give it to me straight, even if we disagree. In fact, especially when we disagree.

ZELENY: As the former vice president enters the final stages of finding a running mate of his own, it's the relationship with Barack Obama that's enlightening and complicating his search.

When they left the White House, Obama and Biden were friends and trusted allies. But it didn't start out that way. It was a surprisingly easy bond, even to them.

JOE BIDEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES & DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: About six months in, the president looked at me and said, you know, Joe, you know what surprised me? How we've become such good friends.

(LAUGHTER)

BIDEN: And I said surprised you?

ZELENY: Friends of Biden tell CNN his partnership with Obama offers one of the most instructive guides for how he's making his decision.

BIDEN: It's been very orderly. Every one of the women we've interviewed is qualified and I've narrowed it down. You'll find out shortly.

ZELENY: Five months ago, Biden set the parameters of his search during the final primary debate with Bernie Sanders.

BIDEN: I would pick a woman to be my vice president.

ZELENY: Since then, aides tell CNN eleven women have undergone vetting of financial records, personal backgrounds and medical history.

People close to the search believe California Senator Kamala Harris and former Obama national security adviser, Susan Rice, are among those he's most seriously considering.

With steep challenges from coronavirus to the economy awaiting the next president, friends of Biden tell CNN he's intent on finding a governing partner, not simply a campaign one.

Yet, one moment from the campaign trail still reverberates loudly, when Harris questioned his record and fight against federally mandated bussing to desegregate schools.

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA): You know, there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me.

ZELENY: Privately, Biden's friends and family, including his wife, Jill, were furious. Publicly, Biden has brushed it aside, including to an interview released today.

BIDEN: I don't hold grudges. And I've made it really clear that I don't hold grudges. I think it was a debate. It's as simple as that. And she's very much in contention.

ZELENY: That's another lesson from his time with Obama, who, in 2007, Biden once referred to as clean and articulate. He apologized and went on to serve alongside the nation's first black president.

As Biden searches for his own Biden, the dynamic is different. She will be a history-making choice. But above all, his friends say, he's looking for someone who can ultimately say this.

OBAMA: That's why my family is so proud to call ourselves honorary Bidens.

(LAUGHTER)

ZELENY (on camera): Now, Biden is looking to replicate that rapport he had with President Obama, a governing partner whose loyalty is unquestioned.

But important to remember, 12 years ago this week, Obama sat down for his one-on-one interview with Biden. The two barely had any relationship at all. It's a partnership that grew over time.

We're expecting an answer from Biden early to mid-next week.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Any minute now, the president is set to hold a news conference in Bedminster, New Jersey. According to sources, he'll sign executive orders after stimulus talks broke down on Capitol Hill. We'll bring you the event as soon as it starts.

While we wait on that, we want to check on the state of Florida, particularly south Florida. In this state, Florida is reporting more than 120 deaths in a single day. More than 130,000 Floridians have been hospitalized since the onset of the pandemic.

And right now, Miami-Dade County accounts for most of the hospitalizations across the state, as you can see on the screen, just over 1,500.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez joins me now.

Mayor Gimenez, it's good to have you back with us.

We know that asymptomatic spread is a serious issue. There's a very serious lag in testing results in Miami-Dade, according to data obtained by CNN. One day, last week, it took some labs more than seven days to get results for nearly 20 percent of patients.

How are you addressing that lag right now?

MAYOR CARLOS GIMENEZ (R), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: We are addressing the lag in the state of Florida by increasing the lab capacity here. We're testing thousands and thousands of people here in Miami-Dade and across the state and so the laboratory capacity is lagging a little bit behind.

We're also testing some new technology. We're looking at the antigen tests. And I know that some testing sites are doing that also. You can get that result back in about 15 minutes.

Although you do have a high rate of false negatives. So we're running a study on that now with the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital to see exactly what the false positive is and then run those negatives through again through a PRC test.

But at least you'll know pretty quickly that you're positive if the antigen test works out the way it's supposed to work.

HILL: Right, as opposed to walking around for potentially days or --

GIMENEZ: Yes.

HILL: -- even more than a week in some cases.

GIMENEZ: Yes.

[15:35:02]

HILL: When it comes to what we're seeing in Miami-Dade County, there's been such a focus on south Florida, there has been a decline in hospitalizations.

You tweeted out news about this yesterday, thanking people for wearing masks. You want to emphasize that things are working. I know that.

How do you keep people motivated to follow the rules? We know it's getting tough for folks around the country. It's tough financially and for their businesses. You don't want to lose the gains that you've made. GIMENEZ: No, I don't. And so we don't want to recreate some of the

mistakes that were done the last time we kind of opened up a lot more. A lot of people thought, hey, it's over, we can do back and do what we normally do and that's just not the case.

The new normal is you have to wear a mask, keep your distance and wash your hands. As long as we do that as a community, we can continue to see this downward trend that we're seeing in hospitalizations.

We had a high of about 2,300 people in the hospital about two weeks ago. We're down to about 1,700. And we're going down. And also the positivity rate on our tests is going down, too.

So we've got to get to a much lower rate before we really start to reopen those things that we closed back about two to three weeks ago.

HILL: As you look for that rate to come down, look, it's still a tough place to be in. It's not where you want to be in Miami-Dade County.

On August 8th, what is your biggest concern?

GIMENEZ: My biggest concern is that we continue to -- look, we're enforcing wearing masks indoors, outdoors. We look and inspect thousands of businesses every single day.

The message is consistent throughout this community, you've got to wear your mask indoors and out. You've got to keep your distance. You've got to wash your hands and this is not over. And we, as a community, have to face that and face a new normal, that that's the way it's going to be.

Even when we start to reopen some of these businesses that have closed down, we're going to have to wear masks all the time, keep distance and wash our hands. That's just what we need to do.

That's the new normal. That's the message that's continuing to come out of Miami-Dade.

And I disagree with you. Miami is a pretty nice place to be. I live here. I love this town.

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: I didn't mean it that way.

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: I love Miami.

GIMENEZ: Yes, we have an issue. We have an issue. But we're a strong community. And we're going to rebound stronger yet when this is all said and done.

And so I'm proud of the way that our community is responding. It's responding in the right way. We're taking the right measures. They are measured, the things that we're doing. But, you know, we're seeing positive results. And I'm optimistic that

we're going to get there sooner rather than later.

HILL: Mayor Carlos Gimenez, appreciate you joining us this afternoon. Thank you.

GIMENEZ: It's my pleasure. Have a good one.

HILL: You, too.

We, of course, are still waiting on this press conference from President Trump. You see the live pictures there of the podium, set to go. Table there one would imagine with the executive orders he's expected to sign. He had said they will be executive action.

We're also watching the number of confirmed cases in this country, not too far off now from five million.

Again, we're going to continue to follow all of this for you. Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:42:19]

HILL: As we wait on this news conference from President Trump, expected to happen at any minute, we're told he'll be signing executive orders. You see the table there for him to sit down and sign.

Those orders expected to include a payroll tax deferment, an extension of unemployment benefits or a reinstatement at this point, and also the eviction moratorium. He will address that, we're told. And deferring student loan payments and forgiving their interest.

I want to bring in CNN's Chief Business Correspondent, Christine Romans.

The student loan part of it, we haven't talked a lot about it. I'm sure that will be well --

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: -- received and welcome.

One of the things that stands out to me is that the president, from the very beginning, has been fixated on payroll taxes. There may be a payroll tax deferment --

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

HILL: -- but for that to have an impact, people have to have a paycheck.

ROMANS: Right, and this rewards employers and employees. It doesn't necessarily get people back to work. That's one reason why the Republicans have been cool on it. And the Democrats have been cool on it because they don't want to mess around with Social Security.

These are taxes that fund Social Security at a time when we are spending way more money than we have and blowing up deficits. So there hadn't been really any bipartisan support for the president's payroll tax holiday. But he has been fixated on it and he would like to do it and says he's going to do it.

One thing that's interesting is what the president announced or we're expecting him to announce today. Congress has the power of the purse. So one wonders how far he can really go here.

It is Congress that is the tax-and-spend body of the federal government. So he may have some challenges there from Congress.

One thing as well, the Democrats have already passed many of these things way back in May. They passed another stimulus check. They passed an extension of unemployment benefits. They passed more small business loans. So even bigger numbers, $3.5 million worth.

So the Democrats kind of already gave him a big goose to the economy heading into the election, but the Republicans were not going to see eye to eye on that.

HILL: No, and part of the problem is the numbers. The numbers of the package we have seen, how far apart they are in the overall price tag, in addition to some of the actual line items.

Also with us, CNN White House Correspondent, Jeremy Diamond.

Jeremy, I want to bring you on this point as well on, as Christine brought up, the Congress has the power of the purse. And there could be some legal issues here with what the president is trying to do.

How is the White House addressing that? Are they at this point?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no question. Democrats have already made clear that they will challenge these executive actions in court, which makes a huge question mark about whether these will actually stay in place, whether the president authorizing these enhanced unemployment benefits to go out and the payroll tax cut.

[15:45:01]

All of these things could go into effect and then a federal court could potentially put some kind of a stay barring the president from actually going forward with this until it is adjudicated.

Now, the White House hasn't provided any details about exactly what the mechanism is that the president is using here or what authority specifically he has to actually do this.

It does appear that the president will try and use unspent funds from the CARES Act. That's the most recent stimulus bill as it relates to coronavirus relief, in order to fund these things. But, again, still a huge question mark. And you heard the president yesterday, when he was asked whether or

not he expects his administration to be sued over this, whether he expects to face some kind of legal challenge, and the president kind of threw up his hands and said, look, I get sued on everything that I try and do.

But it is especially true here, particularly as we look at the taxing power that typically and constitutionally lies in the hands of Congress.

HILL: I have to say that's fascinating. The president is saying, I get sued on everything I do.

So the president trying to move things forward, saying nothing is happening in Congress, I'm going to take care of it myself. But then essentially admitting that there's a good chance that his action could actually lead to more inaction.

DIAMOND: Yes. And we've seen this repeatedly from the president. This is a strategy that he employs, which is that he tries to push the limits of executive power and of his executive authority.

He has done it time and again, whether it is on issues like immigration or on issues of law enforcement. We have seen the president push those bounds.

And so, you know, the president likes to see the show of signing these executive actions into law, potentially getting the political boost, at least from his supporters, of looking like someone who is trying to get something done and is trying to provide much-needed relief to the American people.

But then comes the second hat that has to drop, which is, can these actually stay in effect. What does this actually do to the future of negotiations?

Right now, the president is essentially saying, after two weeks of negotiations, 20 hours between my administration officials and those Democratic negotiators, it hasn't gone anywhere, so I'm giving up. That's it. We are done with doing this in the way that it should be done, which is negotiating with Congress and getting a bipartisan agreement here.

And we have to note as well that as these negotiations have taken place, the president has really taken a back seat to this.

We have been told that he has been in constant communication with his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and his treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin. But the president notably has not said one word directly to Democrats about these negotiations.

And this is as we are seeing millions of Americans still unemployed and the country is really hurting and looking for some kind of leadership. The president has not wanted to provide it as it relates to getting directly involved with those negotiations. We should note, Erica, the president has not spoken with the speaker

of the House, Nancy Pelosi, since last October when he stormed out of a meeting that they were both in at the White House.

HILL: It is remarkable when you see the political gamesmanship, which we all know exists. But at the end of the day, there are millions of Americans who need help for reasons that are beyond their control. And this is where we sit today.

Again, we are waiting on the president, waiting to learn more from him.

Jeremy Diamond, Christine Romans, I know you'll be with us throughout the afternoon.

Stay with us, everyone.

As we wait for that press conference, we're also, of course, approaching a really sobering number. The country nearing five million confirmed coronavirus cases.

Stay with us as we wait on the president. We'll bring you this event, live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:53:24]

HILL: Moments from now, President Trump is set to speak from Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is expected to sign executive orders after stimulus talks broke down on Capitol Hill.

Joining us, CNN's fact-checker, Daniel Dale, and CNN Chief Business Correspondent, Christine Romans.

So this will be the second time that we've heard from the president in as many days.

He called a news conference yesterday, Daniel, but it wasn't really a news conference, from what we could see, in a ballroom at his resort there. And talked a little bit about what was or, I should say, was not happening in Washington.

As we look at what we're expected him to sign today, from a factual standpoint, do we know if this is going to hold, legally? There's some real questions because, again, Congress has the power of the purse.

DANIEL DALE, CNN REPORTER: Congress does. The president, as Jeremy Diamond said just a few minutes ago, Trump likes to push the envelope on executive action, as presidents have before.

I'm hesitating to speculate on what may or may not hold up in court because the president has won in cases that people predicted he would lose, especially when it goes up to a largely friendly Supreme Court.

So we've had early analysis that some of what he is talking about may well be legal. Other stuff, particularly the unemployment benefits piece, he might have a harder time getting courts to sign off on.

But as we know, legal processes take a long time and so this is an emergency situation. By the time the courts rule on some of this stuff, the money might be out the door.

HILL: Christine, from a practical standpoint, for people at home who need this relief now, from what we know, could some of this provide immediate relief? I mean, that's the real question here.

[15:55:03]

ROMANS: Well, we know they need it, right? And we know that the aid for the economy can't be pulled away right now if you really expect a V-shape recovery. I mean, I just think there's no question about that.

So the president is playing to the emotional piece here, which is, Wall Street is soaring, Washington is bickering, and the president is saying, hey, I know out there you need an extension of unemployment benefits, I know you need new stimulus checks, I know you help to avoid eviction, I know you need help with your student loans.

His pet project is this payroll tax holiday. He couldn't get Republicans on board. Democrats have been cool to that from the very beginning. So this is the president trying to step outside of Washington and say, look, I'm going to do this for you.

And the numbers show -- you heard the president yesterday talking about three best months of job creation in history. It's true. It's after the three worst months of job destruction in history, right, so everything we're doing is unprecedented in big and bad.

So Wall Street, Washington, business as usual. But Main Street is in a crisis right here.

The money, the extra unemployment benefits just expired. That money was going directly into the economy. So you will have an economy that struggles if you don't get more funding into the system.

HILL: Yes.

Stay with us. We are going to fit in one more quick break before, hopefully, the president takes the podium.

Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Erica Hill, in New York, in for Ana Cabrera.

We are waiting for President Trump at this hour. He's expected to speak any minute and to take questions. This is coming from his golf resort in New Jersey.

The White House says the president will touch on the stalled coronavirus stimulus package, meant to help millions of Americans cover their bills, their rent, help them put food on the table.

The president has promised a series of executive orders if there's no deal. And two senior White House officials tell CNN he will sign executive orders today.

[16:00:07]

As we wait for the president and his press conference, stay with us. We're going to bring it to you live when it begins.