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Some Progressives Rally Around Harris As Biden's VP Pick; NY Lawmaker Questions How State Counts Nursing Home Deaths; Big 10 & Pac- 12 Won't Play Football This Fall. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired August 12, 2020 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:31:03]

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: The newly minted Democratic team of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris make their first joint appearance this afternoon. There are many tests at this moment but with the Democratic Convention on tap for next week, one as a priority, keeping peace in the Democratic family.

A chance for history is part of the unity pitch to Democrats. Harris is the first black woman and the first Indian American to be named to a major party ticket. And she would be the first woman to serve as vice president if the Democrats win. Now most leading progressives are cheering this choice and making clear the party's overriding goal must be to deny President Trump a second term. But there are some grumblings on the left. Harris is a former prosecutor and several other women considered by Biden are more liberal.

Let's discuss, Angela Rye is a Democratic strategist, a former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, Bankole Thompson is a columnist for The Detroit News and editor-in-chief of the PuLSE Institute, great to see both of you today. Angela, I want to start with you overwhelmingly from the progressive side the reaction has been positive, the Biden campaign smart in the rollout quickly, Senator Bernie Sanders part of the response very quickly tweeting.

Congratulations to at Kamala Harris who will make history as our next vice president. She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all, and take down the most corrupt administration in history. Let's go to work and win. That is important. A lot of people take their cues from Senator Sanders on the left. But there are some grumblings, this is Hank Newsome, a cofounder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York saying, the Biden-Harris ticket needs to inspire and motivate these people, meaning the young activists and protesters, and where they hit a roadblock is she's a former prosecutor who had a less than admirable record as a prosecutor.

Angela, you understand the base of the party pretty well, you know Senator Harris very well. Is this just some grumbling, which is normal or is it a problem?

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No. I think that anytime you get to a place where folks are starting to merge interest, there's a problem. But I think the greatest thing is that iron sharpens iron. And so what we have to do is ensure that Kamala and Joe Biden are listening to what people have been saying throughout the primary, throughout this the most recent racial tensions that we know exists because there are problems that have not been addressed for years and centuries in this country.

And so what really has to happen is the Biden campaign has now has to demonstrate a willingness to not just schedule listening sessions and Zoom calls, but to ensure that those listening sessions and Zoom calls, turn into policy shifts. I know firsthand, from seeing Kamala work diligently on justice -- in the justice and policing act that she does that. Then it goes from a Zoom call and a phone call to a policy shift.

And I think him having her on his side will demonstrate just that. And if there's not a notable change, leading up until November with her being there, I would be completely surprised.

KING: Bankole, where you live Detroit, Michigan, it will be one of the key tests. Can you get significant African-American turnout and win with other constituencies as well. You wrote a pretty tough call them on Saturday, as Joe Biden was nearing the end of his search. The headline was Joe Biden insults Black voters VP pick his shot at redemption. And you wrote, among other things, just because Biden served under the nation's first black president, Barack Obama, doesn't make him an authority on black consciousness. He was placed on the Obama ticket to appeal to a segment of white voters not to legitimize the ticket.

What is your take on this choice? Do you believe it will help him a keep, he has significant support in the black community, let's not understate that, but will it help him with enthusiasm, help him with turnout or do you have questions?

BANKOLE THOMPSON, COLUMNIST, THE DETROIT NEWS: Well, I think it is good that we move past the question of the black female VP. And I was happy to see, John, that Governor Gretchen Whitmer was not selected to be on that ticket because it would have been the greatest political travesty in modern Democratic politics.

I think we've moved past the VP selection that black women have always been the bane of the Democratic Party's existence. They've worked for the party. They've done everything to make Democrats successful. And it is time to see a black woman at the ticket as a VP. Now we have to talk about policy here. I think Kamala Harris, Senator Harris has to go beyond the pale of just been selected as a VP to now really get into the black community and talk to communities of color and talk to black people in Detroit.

[12:35:10]

Detroit is the epicenter of the urban crisis, John. I've said it on your program before. This is the nation's largest black city. And what Senator Harris needs to do is to come here and speak to people who are speaking in the streets. I mean, the Black Lives Matter movement, I would think, as a former prosecutor, she should be in a guilty position to really want to show the opposite, that in fact, she supports criminal justice reform. She supports the end in the qualified immunity doctrine for police officers, to support those things that are coming out of the Black Lives Matter movement.

And let's not forget, John, that, you know, Joe Biden is not without clean hands. I mean, he altered the 1994 crime bill, there's still, you know, a tournament to be made for that. And I think now the burden is on Senator Harris. And Joe Biden himself to really say, look, this is what we plan to do, and it cannot be studied score anymore. You know, I think the fact that we were able to demand to have a black person on this ticket shows that it can no longer be a status quo ticket.

KING: I hope all of the candidates -- I hope all of the candidates -- yes, please, Angela, jump in.

RYE: I'm sorry about that, John. I just want to say really, really briefly. You know, I think that it's important to understand her record in the Senate as well. We talk about her record as a prosecutor as if after that she wasn't elected statewide as California's Attorney General as if after that she wasn't elected against statewide in that same role, and then after that, elected statewide to serve in the Senate for California.

While she's been in the Senate, she hasn't just been an advocate for Californians. She's been an advocate for black issues, for black priorities, and especially criminal justice reform, in fact, noted by data, that she is one of the most progressive senators in the United States Senate. I think that's important. I believe, to your point that she should go to Detroit and I believe she would be honored to go and listen.

KING: I think Bankole, that's part of the issue whether you're talking about Vice President Biden, former Vice President Biden or Senator Harris, in the sense that, you know, some of these young activists, and I applaud their activism, some of them just weren't alive. So they read about the 1984 crime bill or they're told about the '84 crime bill. Will they take into account in your view? And do they need that face to face encounter, to say, OK, that's what I did then? Joe Biden has said there were some things wrong about that bill, and he says, this position have changed. As Angela just noted, Kamala Harris today is different from Kamala Harris, the San Francisco prosecutor. Do you get credit for evolving or do you get held free where you were, you know, the one thing that people oppose?

THOMPSON: You get credit for evolving, but your past matters. When we look at national office, we look at the totality, the sum total of your entire political life. And I think when you look at Senator Harris I think they're different chapters. The California Chapter is very significant. But quickly to the Biden issue, though, what Joe Biden, what the Biden ticket should avoid is what Hillary Clinton did. When she encountered Black Lives Matter in 2016, she was repulsive. In fact, she said, no one has ever asked me to apologize. That's what she said, it's on the record.

And Bill Clinton came out and apologized, but it was too late. So if you're going to talk to young activists, if you are going to talk to this new emerging leaders, in this new American reality, you have to go and be humble enough to say, look, I accept my responsibilities. I made some bad decisions, and how can we move together to make this nation whole again.

RYE: I agree with about 70 percent of sorry, John, again, really quick, really quick, about 70 percent of what you said. But just one quick fact, Hillary Clinton actually did apologize for her role in the crime bill which wasn't significant because she wasn't in the Senate, but she apologized even for the rhetoric.

In fact, hold on, let me just offer you this because I think it's important. This is where we agree. Joe Biden on the other hand, went on an interview on The Breakfast Club. And when he was asked when Hillary Clinton apologized for the crime bill, his response was, well, Hillary was wrong. And what I think we agree on, right, is the atonement part of this. He cast to say that was then there were things that were different, if I had known what I know now, I wouldn't have taken this road, especially given where we are, especially given these times. This is not where we should be. He's not yet made that pivot. But again, with Kamala there I think he'll be one step closer to it.

KING: Bankole and Angela, grateful for your time. This is proof of the conversation, just beginning and it will carry over through next week.

RYE: Thanks John.

KING: Thank you both so much. I'm grateful for your insights.

RYE: Thank you.

KING: And this conversation will continue which is why you want to watch CNN special live coverage of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. For all the biggest moments, the big debates, the big speeches. Our coverage begins Monday night 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

[12:39:52]

Coming up for us, the coronavirus impacts on nursing homes across the country, including New York State by some lawmakers think the governor might be cooking the box.

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KING: A new CDC study says facility wide testing is critical controlling the spread of coronavirus in nursing homes and other long term facilities. How we know from the early days that these facilities are highly vulnerable. And six months in, the numbers are stunning. And in some places those numbers are in dispute. Look here, Pennsylvania reports 68 percent of its COVID deaths were in long term care facilities. New Jersey reports 44 percent. But New York data says only 20 percent of the state's COVID deaths were in long term care facilities. Those New York numbers now facing scrutiny from state lawmakers who don't think Governor Cuomo's administration is counting properly. [12:45:00]

With us now is Priya Chidambaram. She's a Medicaid and uninsured policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Gustavo Rivera, chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Health. Priya, I want to start with you first because of some troubling new numbers Kaiser has put before us. And I think they deserve attention. You're looking at long term COVID-19 deaths in an hotspot states, there are 26 of those up 13 percent of late and then long term coronavirus cases in these hotspots cases have increased four times the rate as long term is a non-hotspot states. What do you see as this -- why, why are these spikes and what needs to be done?

PRIYA CHIDAMBARAM, MEDICAID AND UNINSURED POLICY ANALYST, KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION: Sure. So what the data really tells us is, the data helps us correct a misconception that we've been seeing over the last couple of months that just because, you know, just because cases are rising, those new cases are in young people, but the data tells a different story. These increasing cases, these increasing deaths are because of the community transmission. If there are cases in a community then there will be cases in the nursing homes and other long term care facilities in that community. And unfortunately, when you have cases in these types of facilities, you're inevitably going to see deaths.

KING: Senator Rivera, you question the 20 percent number. You think the Cuomo administration is distorting the count by counting in different ways? We asked the state Health Department and they said, no, they think they've been more transparent than anybody here trying to do this. Why do you think the numbers aren't wrong?

STATE SEN. GUSTAVO RIVERA (D-NY): Well, I disagree. Because when you when you listen to what Priya just describe, what you see is the way the numbers are calculated in other states gives us an idea that the percentages of deaths among people we know are more vulnerable to this disease are much higher.

And listen, look, ultimately, the series of hearings that we're doing, we've done 23 hours of them so far, are about accountability first, but second, about making sure that we establish policy going forward to avert unnecessary deaths. And unfortunately, if we do not have the best and most accurate data, we're not going to be able to do that.

KING: And Priya back to the point about the spiking cases. Yes, I agree with you, Senator. We need transparent data. And it would be nice if everybody counted the same way so that we could compare and contrast and make these choices. The CDC Priya says, more testing, and we've been having this conversation for six months that we've known from the very beginning that nursing homes, other long term care facilities have been a problem. Is there still a deficiency in the testing? And how significant is it?

CHIDAMBARAM: Sure. So what we know about testing in nursing homes and other long term care facilities is really centered in the idea that a lot of states have prioritized universal testing of residents and staff members in these facilities and prioritized isolating those who test positive. All that being said, universal testing, you know, similar to testing that's going on at the community, it is vulnerable to flaws if someone gets tested one day and doesn't get the results back until three, four days later. There's a chance they could have gotten it in those three or four days if they weren't properly quarantine. So the flaws and testing that you're seeing in the community. You know, the testing in nursing homes and other long term care facilities certainly suffer from the same flaws.

KING: Priya Chidambaram, Senator Rivera, appreciate your insights today. I wish we had more time. This is an important issue. We will circle back to it, I promise you that.

[12:48:14]

When we come back, though, the coronavirus disruption continues in other sectors as well. No fall football for the big 10 or the Pac-12. What that decision means for the rest of the college conferences.

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KING: There'll be a fall without football this year for the big 10 and the Pac-12. So what about the other major conferences? Will they file a suit? Or will they try to go alone? Andy Scholes joins us now with more. Beginning to learn a bit more, Andy, but still some questions.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Still some questions, John. But as of right now, it looks like we're going to have a college football season but with only three of the power five conferences. And, you know, it's rather incredible that on one side you have the Pac-12 and big 10 saying that their doctors and medical experts are saying, they cannot play football right now with what's going on with the pandemic.

And then on the other side, you've got the SEC, ACC, and big 12 saying well, their medical experts say, they can go on as planned with a football season. And the big 12 just announced their plans to join the SEC and ACC in playing football this fall just a few moments ago. And I'll read you the statement from Bob Bowlsby, the big 12 Commissioner, he said, opinions vary regarding the best path forward as we've seen throughout higher education and our society overall, but we are comfortable in our institutions' ability to provide a structured training environment, rigorous testing, and surveillance, hospital quality sanitation and mitigation practices that optimize the health and safety of our student-athletes.

Now Notre Dame is going to be playing in the ACC come this fall and their coach Brian Kelly was on the Today Show this morning, John, and he said, it's definitely going to be a challenging environment. But he thinks with the health and safety protocols in place, they can play safely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN KELLY, NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH: We believe based upon the medical information that we have. And we believe that we have some of the best that are advising us and taking enhanced medical procedures as long as we have a committed group and our student athletes have been committed since day one.

DAELIN HAYES, NOTRE DAME LINEBACKER: I would rather take that risk playing the game that I love and fighting for my career once I leave Notre Dame. So I mean, I think a lot of guys feel that way. I think a lot of people will express their sentiment, especially players across the country in the last and or junior year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[12:55:01]

SCHOLES: I'd tell you what, John, if SCC, big 12, and ACC end up playing football and the big 10 and Pac-12 are on the sidelines, I mean, it might forever change the landscape of college football and college sports moving forward because say you're a big high school recruit and you're choosing between Texas and Ohio State, where you going to go?

KING: That's a great point. It's a great point to coronavirus disruption is everywhere in our schools, in our sports, in our politics. Andy Scholes, appreciate the update there. We'll stay on top of it.

Up next for us, a fringe far right candidate celebrates her big primary win in Georgia by going on a profanity laced rant about the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then she kicks the reporter who witnessed it out of the room. That reporter join CNN live, coming up.

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