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Biden Officially Becomes Democratic Presidential Nominee; Ocasio-Cortez Highlights Progressive Movement in Speech; Some Criticize for Lack of Latino Representation; Jill Biden Makes Case for Her Husband in DNC Speech; Mali's New Military Leaders Promise Election; Opposition Leader in Belarus Calls on Europe to Not Recognize Election; Lebanon to Impose Lockdown After Surge in Cases; Highlights of Biden's Presidential Nomination Night. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 19, 2020 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. Joe Biden has been officially nominated by the Democratic Party as its presidential nominee. This came on day two of the Democratic National Convention. He was endorsed by key members of his party, including former President Bill Clinton, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Before a roll call vote was taken across the country, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez symbolically nominated Senator Bernie Sanders to be the party's nominee. She did not mention Biden and used her minute-and-a-half time slot to lay out the progressive movement that Sanders championed during his campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): Infidelity and gratitude to a mass people's movement working to establish 21st century social, economic and human rights. Including guaranteed health care, higher education, living wages and labor rights for all people in the United States.

A movement that realizes the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many. And who organized the historic grassroots campaign to reclaim our democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN political commentator Angela Rye joins me now from Los Angeles. She is also the former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus. Also with us is Ana Navarro, CNN political commentator and Biden supporter from Miami, in Florida. Good to see you both.

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good to see you.

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thank you.

CHURCH: So, Anna, the DNC has already been criticized for a lack of Latino representation. Only three have their own speaking slots over the whole of the four nights. What do you that? And how can Biden and the DNC reach out to encourage Latinos to vote for a Biden/Harris ticket?

NAVARRO: I'll tell you. I was very bothered by that and I brought it up to Joe Biden himself. I spoke to him a few days ago and I brought it up to Kamala Harris and too many members of the campaign.

[04:35:00]

That being said, once I have actually seen the conventions, it doesn't feel that way. Yesterday the MC was Eva Longoria, a great actress and self- made woman. A woman from Texas, ninth generation American, but also a great activist and philanthropist. And a woman who stands up for a good causes. She was there the entire night.

We heard from Senator Cortez Masto. Is there more work to be done? Absolutely. Do the numbers with Latinos have to get better? Absolutely. Do Latinos feel that they should not be taken for granted and they want their votes to be earned and they want respect? Absolutely.

RYE: Can I say --

Rosemary, sorry just a really quick on this point. Because I think it's so important and I love being in discussion with Anna because I know she knows very well and we both love politics. But for the folks who look like both of us sitting at home that are very disenchanted with this process, to Ana's last point, that representation does matter.

That could be the difference between, you know, winning a state or not winning a state. And so, it isn't to say like, oh, this is terrible. Like it's just to say, hey, we've got a little bit more time to perfect this process. Let's get this right. Let's not be in churches two weeks before the election telling people what they must do. You know, let's not go on radio shows that are major to black and brown communities and say, you know, if you don't vote for me you ain't black. Like let's not do those things.

And I think part of that is around sensitizing folks with cultural competency. And that's why that representation is crucial especially to get across the finish line.

CHURCH: Right. And Ana, I'll put this question to both of you, but Ana first. We all watched and listened as Jill Biden made her address appealing to Americans to vote for her husband, Joe, to make families safe, bring love and compassion to the presidency. How will that message resonate with female voters? Ana, first.

NAVARRO: Look, I think it will resonate with all sorts of voters. I think the idea of a president and a first lady who showcase empathy, humanity, who are able to comfort other Americans. Who are able to rise from challenges and obstacles and great grief and continue. Put one foot in front of the other as she said about Joe Biden.

For me also, the beginning of that package, which was a video narrated by Cindy McCain, the widow of John McCain and then hearing John McCain in his own words. It brought back just the close friendship that there was between John McCain and Joe Biden for so many years and how much they believe in the institutions of government. And in democracy and in America being a shining beacon on a hill for the world, the entire world.

In comparison that to what we have in Donald Trump, who I think many, including myself, perceive as a threat to American values, a threat to American security, and a laughingstock internationally. So, I thought it was emotional, I thought it was beautiful and I thought -- you know, it brought Joe Biden the human, the family man, the father, the husband, the son into our homes.

CHURCH: And Angela, the last word goes to you on that.

RYE: Yes, Anna, you probably could make me cry but I don't know what's going on with my eyes. They were like, all of the sudden they are like burning. But I would say, you know, one of the most important things to me, Ana, throughout this process has been your voice, truly. Because I know you are always speaking your truth. And so, I know that if things are resonating with you, they did really well.

So, you know, again, I was floored by her speech and I thought she was phenomenal. You brought up the word that Michelle Obama, of course used it yesterday, empathy and the action behind empathy. And to see her in a classroom, they even had her styled like a teacher today was beautiful.

And then to hear Joe Biden talked about the strength she brought to their family and how she even said the way that you bring a broken country together is the same way you bring a broken family together, and that being her own personal testimony was incredibly powerful and (INAUDIBLE). So, kudos to the speech writers and for her for delivering.

CHURCH: Angela Rye, Ana Navarro, thank you.

NAVARRO:

RYE: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: An opposition figure calls on Europe to act while the President of Belarus turns to the Kremlin. The latest on the political crisis. That's next.

Plus South Korea is racing to contain new outbreaks of the coronavirus as the country records its highest numbers of new cases in months. The common link tying many of these cases together. That's next.

[04:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: Just a short time ago the leaders of Tuesday's suspected

military coup in Mali addressed the nation. A spokesman promised a political transition with elections within a, quote, reasonable time. The military announced all borders are closed until further notice as well as a nightly curfew.

On Tuesday Mali's President dissolved the government and resigned abruptly after the military allegedly arrested him and the country's Prime Minister. The military takeover has been condemned by the African Union, the United States, France and others.

To Belarus now, and the leader of the opposition is calling on Europe to not recognize the results of the country's recent presidential election. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says the August 9th elections were neither fair or transparent and results were falsified. She says President Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Mr. Lukashenko has vowed to remain in power despite more than ten days of major anti-government demonstrations.

Well, CNN's Melissa Bell is in Paris where EU leaders are meeting to discuss the situation in Belarus. Good to see you, Melissa. So how will EU leaders likely respond to these calls from the opposition not to recognize Lukashenko as the reelected president of Belarus?

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: I think in a word, Rosemary, very carefully. The EU is essentially treading a very difficult line here in how it approaches this particular crisis. Three of its member states, remember, are on the border of Belarus. It is also keeping a very close eye on how its reaction can be perceived, how far does it play into Lukashenko's narrative of foreign interference.

We saw yesterday a series of phone calls between Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, but also Charles Michel representing European Council in which each of them he expressed his concern of foreign interference.

[04:45:00]

So that is very much what both Moscow and Lukashenko are looking at. What will come out of today's meeting in terms of the message and how that plays into that particular narrative. That is very much on the mind of European leaders. It is, Rosemary, relatively rare for the EU to hold such an emergency summit on a single foreign policy issue. It tells you how important it is to it. It tells you also the pressure that's being brought on it by some of its member states, the bordering ones.

But more specifically the Baltic states. Who said their own historical and geographical reasons want the EU to come down firmly in favor of the opposition. The danger if they do that is how that might be perceived. So on one hand, they need to be clear in their message and in a sense just a holding of the summit -- which is due to begin in the next couple of hours -- is a strong show of support. But needs to be a strong show of support for the Belarusian people not for the opposition. I think that's what we're likely to hear when we get to the press conference later on today. Remember also, Rosemary, that at the forefront at the mind of the EU

leaders when they meet later on will be the lessons of the Ukrainian crisis and yet Europe has moved on so much since. With so many leaders not least Emmanuel Macron calling for restoring of the dialogue with Moscow over the last few months. That also will play into the caution that we're likely to hear expressed later on today Rosemary--.

CHURCH: Yes, we'll watch it closely on that. Melissa Bell, many thanks. Joining us live from Paris.

Well, South Korea is reporting its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since early March. Its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly 300 new infections today. This marks the sixth consecutive day of triple digit increases. The Prime Minister says all in person church services will be suspended after an outbreak linked to a church in Seoul.

The city's acting mayor is pursuing legal action to get compensation from that church. Authorities say it's tied to more than 560 cases. The church is accused of wasting the city's resources by complicating contact tracing efforts.

Well, Lebanon is set to impose a countrywide lockdown starting Friday after a surge in COVID-19 cases. The shutdown will remain in effect until September 7th and include tourists and sport facilities, open markets, restaurants and clubs. And CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us now live from Beirut. So Ben, what are health authorities saying there about the likely cause of this surge in COVID-19 cases?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it's widely believed, Rosemary, that one of the factors in the increase in cases is the Beirut blast that happened 15 days ago and rendered more than 300,000 people homeless.

Now we spent a lot of time in the areas worst affected and although many people were wearing masks, many people weren't and it was a very sort of crowded area. But what we've seen in Lebanon is from about 700 cases at the beginning of May, Lebanon at this point as of yesterday recorded 9,758 cases.

So initially the country dealt fairly well with the outbreak but certainly over the last few months we have seen a dramatic increase in cases. Although it's worth noting that at this point as of yesterday, 107 people had died from coronavirus as opposed to more than 170 from the Beirut blast itself.

So there are many things here that are going wrong. The economy is collapsing. You have a government that's basically bankrupt. But the health system is struggling to deal with this outbreak. It's also worth noting, Rosemary, that several of the hospitals that were treating COVID-19 patients prior to the blast were severely damaged, so many of their patients had to be moved to other hospitals which are at this point at capacity -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, many thanks to our Ben Wedeman, bringing us up to date on the situation there in Beirut. Australia has signed a deal with the U.K. based drug company for

access to a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Under the deal Australians would receive the vaccine for free should trials prove successful. The company AstraZeneca is developing the vaccine in partnership with Oxford University.

Meanwhile the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia's state of Victoria is being blamed on quarantine hotels. Officials say almost 99 percent of second wave cases can be traced back to two Melbourne hotels where international arrivals are being quarantined.

Well coming up next, packing a political punch from a safe social distance. We have all the highlights from an unprecedented Democratic nomination night. Back in a moment.

[04:50:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well the pomp and ceremony may be different during the pandemic but the Democratic National Convention managed applause, music and even some streamers on the night Joe Biden was officially given his party's nomination for President. Here are the highlights.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: This year all of us will have a say. And we've got a lot to say.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get real. There's a lot riding on this election.

STACEY ABRAMS, FORMER DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE IN GEORGIA: America faces a triple threat. A public health catastrophe. An economic collapse. And a reckoning with racial justice and inequality.

JOHN KERRY, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: When this President goes overseas it isn't a goodwill mission, it's a blooper reel. He breaks up with our allies and write love letters to dictators.

SALLY YATES, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Rather than standing up to Vladimir Putin, he fawns over a dictator who is still trying to interfere in our elections.

[04:55:00]

COLIN POWELL, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: With Joe Biden in the White House you'll never doubt that he will stand with our friends and stand up to our adversaries. Never the other way around.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At a time like this the oval office should be a command center. Instead it's a storm center. There's only chaos. Just one thing never changes, his determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame. JILL BIDEN, WIFE OF U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Yes, so many

classrooms are quiet right now. The playgrounds are still. But if you listen closely, you can hear the sparks of change in the air.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): A movement that realizes the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many.

J. BIDEN: We need someone with strong shoulders. I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours. Bring us together and make us whole.

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): Vice President Joe Biden has officially been nominated by the Democratic Party as our candidate for President of the United States.

JOE BIDEN, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: From the bottom of my heart thank you all. It means the world to me and my family. And I'll see you on Thursday. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And thank you. I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next. You're watching CNN. Do have yourself a great day.

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