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Trump Embraces QAnon Conspiracy Group Because "They Like Me"; DNC lineup Draws Complaints That It Features Too Few Latinos; Virginia Launches Smartphone App To Trace COVID-19 Spread. Aired 12:30-1p ET
Aired August 20, 2020 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:30:00]
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: You need to get it way lower than that. But the admiral's point is if people get -- suddenly get lacks again, masks, social distancing and the like, it'll go right back up.
DR. PAUL OFFIT, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER DIRECTOR, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: You know, I think we've been consistently lacks, actually. I mean, this really shouldn't be that hard. I mean, why is it that we have 4 percent of the world's population and 20 percent of the world's deaths, it's because we're not good at wearing masks, not good at social distancing.
As Dr. Redfield, the head of the CDC, said about a week ago, just do that and we would dramatically get on top of these cases. But we just can't seem to do that. It's really hard to watch.
KING: And as you see these college cases pop up. Notre Dame now above 300 cases, it was 222 in this hour yesterday. You saw 16 states now reporting on college campus. A Yale professor wrote about this back in the summertime, Psychology Professor Laurie Santos. She was worried about that. She wrote, decisions we make about social distancing and other aspects of our behavior can have life-or-death consequences, especially for our vulnerable staff who won't have the same choice you have to remain off-campus. So this is again raising the question, was it safe to bring people back? Will students listen to the advice and do the right thing?
OFFIT: I think we asked too much of those students. I mean, what you're asking them to do is to come back to college and not have a college experience. I mean, they're used to doing things like partying, drinking, I mean, you know, gathering together, whether on or off campus and to ask them not to do that is to ask, I think too much of these young adults who basically at that age, consider themselves to be invulnerable.
KING: You're an expert in vaccines, which is why we have frequent conversations with you because everybody is waiting and hoping because that would get us sort of out of this ditch. The Russians today holding a news conference and saying some remarkable things about the vaccine that still in trial, it's still in trial. And yet they are publicly saying we're going to send it around the world. We think it's a platform for a great flu vaccine down the road. When you hear what they're saying, should we believe it? Should the world be at all optimistic about what is coming out of the Russians?
OFFIT: No. I mean, what they've done is they've done a small phase one dose ranging trial of 39 people, in which case, presumably, no one died. They induce a good immune response in those people who got that vaccine. And now, they're going to start a phase three trial.
I should also point out, by the way, that there are two strains in that vaccine. One of the strains, which has sort of the fancy name, replication defective human adenovirus type five, was used by Merck, when they were trying to make an HIV vaccine, HIV being the virus that causes AIDS. What they found was that when they use that particular vaccine, it actually increased your risk of AIDS because people who've been previously exposed to a similar virus, then when they were given this particular vector actually increased the risk of getting AIDS.
And I just think that that never is part of the discussion. It worries me, frankly, that Russia would distribute this vaccine not only to their own population, but to other populations that they've talked about, like Vietnam. I just -- they don't hold them to any sort of standard. And I do worry deeply about that.
KING: Dr. Paul Offit as always grateful for your expertise and your insights, we'll continue this conversation to see how we're doing developing the vaccine here in the United States as well. Appreciate your time, Sir. Thank you.
Up next for us, the President publicly embraces a fringe group of conspiracy theorists.
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[12:37:45]
KING: The President of the United States is now publicly embracing a group his own FBI worries could inspire domestic terrorism. QAnon, it seems, passes the President's most important test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much which I appreciate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And is this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals? Does that sound like something you are behind or --
TRUMP: Well, I haven't heard that. But is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it. I'm willing to put myself out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: The President playing all this down QAnon has been called a virtual cult. It started by trafficking in a conspiracy theory about so called devil worshipping politicians and celebrities. The QAnon says abused children and run the government. Now it's gaining followers and widening its conspiracy theories to include fabrications, tales, call them what you will about mass shootings, vaccines, and 5G wireless networks.
CNN White House correspondent John Harwood joins us now. John, I spent nearly a decade in that briefing room to hear President of the United States saying, well, they like me, it must be OK. It's all right. This is a crackpot group.
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's absolutely a crackpot group. And we've heard criticism of that kind from everyone from Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, former presidential candidate to Republican members of Congress calling on the President to distance himself.
But look, as Rich Lowry, our colleague at National Review, wrote a few couple of weeks ago that President has weakened the antibodies within the Republican Party against this kind of crackpot stuff in part because he circulates the material himself. Now we did hear from Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary yesterday, insisting that the President wasn't all that aware of the details, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He's talking about his supporters. He believes his supporters are good hardworking people that love this country. He's not in the business of basket of deplorable politics. He doesn't talk about QAnon. He doesn't think about it.
[12:40:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does he want the support of that group?
MCENANY: He doesn't even -- he has not at all looked into who QAnon is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARWOOD: But of course, the President, as you indicated at the top has one test for whether or not he's going to associate himself with people. And that is, how do they feel about him? Do they advance his cause? We heard that this morning from Miles Taylor, on New Day, the former DHS chief of staff who said, if somebody praises the President, he's going to be with them. And that's true of QAnon and many other groups as well.
KING: And just remarkable candor from the press secretary that the President hasn't looked into them, the President hasn't done his homework. We've heard that on a number of different issues. This one happens to be a little dangerous. John Howard, at the White House, appreciate it very much.
Up next for us, one of Joe Biden's former primary rivals thinks the Democratic Convention should be even more diverse.
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[12:45:32]
KING: The 2020 Democratic Convention lineup is the most diverse in history, last night among those speaking, an 11-year-old whose mother was deported by the Trump administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESTELA JUAREZ, 11 YEARS OLD: My mom is my best friend. She came to America as a teenager over 20 years ago without papers in search of a better life. My mom worked hard and pay taxes. And the Obama administration told her she could stay. Now, my Mom is gone. Every day that passes you deport more moms and dads and take them away from kids like me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That was a very powerful moment and part of a remarkably unified Democratic Convention. But one of the candidates from the Democratic primaries believes there should be more such moments that the Convention could do a better job celebrating Latino voices.
Joining me now is the former candidate, Julian Castro. It's good to see you, Mr. Castro. Are you more satisfied now? Coming into the debate, you were worried that Latinos were not getting enough of a say, not getting enough of the program, if you will. Are you in a better place now than you were coming into this convention?
JULIAN CASTRO (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes. Look, there's no question that our Democratic Party is the big tent party and that we have two fantastic leaders in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris who represent embody bringing people together.
Last week when the Primetime lineup was announced, out of 35 primetime speakers, there were only three that were Latino or Latina. And there were no Native Americans, no Muslim Americans. And so somebody asked me, how do you feel about that? I said that I didn't think that reflected the beautiful diverse coalition that Democrats have put together that helped us win big in 2018. And that we're absolutely going to need in November.
Over the weekend, the DNC made some additions to the lineup, which I think have been great. The young woman that was highlighted last night and the story about her mother and their immigration story. Kristin Urquiza, who is from Arizona, that folks will remember, gave testimony about her -- how her father passed away to COVID-19 because he trusted Donald Trump and did not take the virus as seriously as he ought to.
So the voices have been there. I do think there's always room for improvement. I do think that there are a lot of diverse voices out there who are leaders too, you know, it's not just about the issues. It's also about the leadership. And my hope is that all of us are going to work together to win in November and the Democratic Party is going to continue to be the party that showcases great diverse talents.
KING: I've been doing this for a long time. And this is by far and maybe it's because it is mostly online. But this is by far the most unified Democratic Convention in my lifetime, I go back to 1988. Maybe there are some people out there who remember one worse. There are some people on Team Biden who didn't appreciate it when you went public and said they need to do more. And some of them attributed to some lingering tensions from the campaign, including this moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: They do not have to buy in. They do not have to buy in.
CASTRO: You just said that. You just said that, two minutes ago. You just said two minutes ago that they would have to buy in. You said they would have to buy in. Are you forgetting what you said two minutes -- are you forgetting already what you said just two minutes ago? I mean, I can't believe that you said to me minutes ago that they had to buy in, and now you're saying they don't have to buy in. You're forgetting that. I'm fulfilling the legacy of Barack Obama and you're not.
BIDEN: I'll be surprised to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: There are some people in Team Biden who think memories of that is why you don't have a prominent speaking role at this convention and that you weren't happy about that, is that true?
CASTRO: Oh, I doubt that. I think that, you know, not only Vice President Biden, but many of us on those debate stages went at it like you do in debates and exchanging ideas. And, you know, you want to get your point across. And, you know, I think Vice President Biden has done a good job since the primary ended, of bringing all of the candidates together, including me.
You know, I said very early on, that we needed to get behind Joe Biden. I have endorsed him. I got to do everything I can. I'm doing everything I can right now during this convention. I have been part of state delegation, caucus visits, and other caucus meetings that have been going on. So yes, I mean, look, this is an all hands on deck election. We cannot afford to leave anything on the table as we defeat Donald Trump. And so I know that I'm going to work as hard as I can to make sure that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win on November 3rd. And we're going to have a great Vice President and President.
[12:50:18]
So, you know, I don't think it was that. I think, you know, but the critique stands that this is the DNC and this is the DNC lineup that we always need to make sure that everybody's voices are being heard. And so I'm not -- I'm never going to back down from pointing out where we can improve. But between now and November 3rd, all of us are going to be working to make sure the Joe Biden wins. KING: Julian Castro, grateful for your time today. We'll continue the conversation as we go through this campaign. It's going to be fascinating one. Democratic Convention ends tonight, Republican convention up next week.
And up next for us, back to the coronavirus, tracking the spread of COVID-19, guess what, there's an app for that. But does it work?
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[12:55:37]
KING: Virginia now hoping smartphones help it control the spread of the coronavirus. The Commonwealth using a new smartphone app it believes can dramatically improve contact tracing. The app has already been downloaded more than 300,000 times.
Dr. Norman Oliver is the Virginia health commissioner and joins us now live. Sir, so walk me through how this works. I have my phone here. If I download this app and I'm walking around, the idea is that it will record, it exchanges Bluetooth codes with anybody else I come in contact with. And then if a week from now I realize I might have COVID, it notifies them, is that right?
DR. NORMAN OLIVER, VIRGINIA HEALTH COMMISSIONER: Yes. That -- you've gotten it pretty well. The other person has to also be a user of the app. So it can -- anyone who has the app every 10 to 15 minutes or so, there's a random key that the app downloads to the phone and it shares it across Bluetooth with other phones who are also using that app.
And like you said, if you were two days from now, test positive for COVID-19 and you chose to enter that into the system, the phone, the app checks the lists of keys. And if there was a match, it would notify you that you might have been exposed to COVID-19 and give you suggestions on what you can do to help yourself and also help prevent the spread of that disease to others.
KING: It's a fantastic potential use of technology in the sense that it takes a lot of shoe leather out of it, right? I test positive. I call up the Health Department. I give you the names of the 20 people I've seen in the last couple of days. You got to get on the phone or go knock on some doors and talk to them. So it could potentially. But you've had 376,000 plus times people have downloaded this app, 17 Virginian so far have anonymously reported positive tests. Are you confident that people will be honest, A, there are enough people will download it and have confidence in it and B, then they will be honest when it happens to them?
OLIVER: Yes, so the app has been downloaded nearly 400,000 times since you said. We have launched -- we launched this app on August 5th. So it's only been a little over two weeks. We're launching a major marketing campaign to get as many Virginians as possible to download and to use this app.
And Oxford studied and looked at the use of this Google Apple frame framework says that one infection can be prevented for every one to two users of the app. So every single person who does this is helping themselves and helping the rest of the Commonwealth. And we encourage everyone to go to covidwise.org, get more information on it. You can go directly to the app store or to Google Play to download the app.
We really need everyone to do this. And do I believe people will help out? Yes. One of the things that we saw in this spring with the response of the population here in Virginia to staying at home and wearing masks and washing their hands and so on, we really clamped down on the spread of COVID-19. And it was because of the response of the population that we were able to do that. And I think they will respond in a like manner using this app to help us continue, to keep down the spread of COVID-19.
KING: You mentioned we have about a minute left. You mentioned the advertising campaign. I would assume I saw a press release from Virginia Tech yesterday talking about some cases that they found on campus. I would assume, especially with younger people, as we get back into this campus environment, this could be enormously helpful. Is it all voluntary or could a school and the state system require its students say, you want to be on campus, you need to have this.
OLIVER: It's -- from our part, it's all voluntary. You opt into this. You can opt out at any time. We have been working with the university and college presidents across the Commonwealth. They're very excited about this. I think they will be encouraging students to download this app. And I think that will be a good thing for Virginia.
KING: Dr. Oliver, grateful for your time and insights. I hope it works. Keep in touch. Let us know as the numbers go up. We'll see good use of technology. Appreciate your time, Sir. Thank you very much.
[12:59:56]
And thank you for joining us. We'll see you back here this time tomorrow as well. Don't forget final night of the Democratic Convention tonight. Join us for a special coverage as well. Don't go anywhere, very, very busy News Day. Anderson Cooper picks up our coverage right now. Have a good day.
