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Kenosha Police Union Defends Officers In Jacob Blake Shooting; Thousands March On Washington Amid Demands For Racial Justice 57 Years After MLK Speech; Police Union, Blake Family Offer Conflicting Accounts Of Shooting; President Trump Preparing To Tour Hurricane Area; One-Year-Old Boy Is Youngest COVID Victim To Die In Georgia; Top Aide To Russian Opposition Leader Speaks To CNN. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired August 29, 2020 - 12:00   ET

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

[12:00:00]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: Well, new conflicting details are emerging in the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The Kenosha Police Association has now released its own version of events that led up to Blake being shot in the back seven times. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is in Kenosha, Wisconsin this morning with the latest.

Shimon, what else are you hearing?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, those conflicting details now surfacing after the Police Union, the people who are defending this officer have put out new information surrounding the circumstances of the shooting.

Obviously the family here saying that some of this, they don't believe and they're raising those issues. A warning that some of the video that you're about to see may be disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PROKUPECZ: Thousands marched on Washington, Friday to bring recognition to those who have become household names.

JACOB BLAKE SR, JACOB BLAKE'S FATHER: Jacob Blake.

CROWD: Jacob Blake.

PROKUPECZ: For all the wrong reasons.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You must stand, you must fight but not with violence and chaos.

PROKUPECZ: Among those in attendance, the family of Jacob Blake who is unconscious after being shot in the back seven times by a Kenosha police officer. It all played out on video.

Authorities have revealed new details about Blake's past and the circumstances surrounding the shooting that left Blake paralyzed. The Sheriff says Blake had a felony warrant for his arrest from July for third degree sexual assault. The Wisconsin Department of Justice division of criminal investigation which is leading the shooting investigation has said that Blake admitted he had a knife in his possession.

And law enforcement agents recovered one from the driver's side floorboard of his vehicle. The Kenosha Professional Police Association saying that he confronted officers, put an officer in a headlock and carried a knife that he refused to drop when ordered to by police, the union said, moments before being shot.

For Blake's attorneys, the police union's narrative is merely a tactic to justify the officer's actions.

BIIVORY LAMARR, BLAKE FAMILY'S ATTORNEY: You know what, I think that it is the common strategy that police departments use in these types of circumstances. It's always trying to justify murder from misdemeanors. Arguably, even if Jacob did resist an officer or obstruct an office, let's just say if that was true.

The penalty that was - understand it is up to nine months in jail and up to a $10,000 fine. But we commonly see in these type of police brutality cases, they try to justify their actions and I think it's very clear. I think that the world watch that same 20 second video. They can clearly see I like my co-counsel, Patrick mentioned that Jacob never posed an imminent threat and their actions are completely unjustified and excessive.

PROKUPECZ: It's why the Sheriff's office says Blake would have woken up shackled to his hospital bed, a move the family have called cruel and the Sheriff called protocol. The handcuffs that restraint Blake while in the hospital have been removed and the criminal warrant that authorities used to explain the restriction has been vacated, his attorneys told CNN.

Blake's shooting led to days of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Tuesday night, two were killed and one wounded on the back end of demonstration. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17-years old in custody for the shootings after allegedly shooting and killing the first person, 36- year old Joseph Rosenbaum.

Another male approaches and the defendant turns and begins to run away from the scene as the defendant is running away, he can be heard saying on the phone, "I just killed somebody," according to the criminal complaint. Rittenhouse now faces six charges including first degree intentional homicide, first degree reckless homicide and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

His attorneys say he was acting in self defense.

BLAKE SR: That 17-year old Caucasian shot and killed two people and blew another man's arm off on his way back to Antioch, Illinois. He got to go home. He got water. They gave that guy water and a high five. My son got ICU and paralysed from the waist down. Those are the two justice systems right in front of me. You can compare them yourself.

PROKUPECZ: As for the officer who shot Justin Blake, officer Rustin Chesky, that investigation continues.

MAYOR JOHN ANTARAMIAN, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: I believe that the Attorney General is a good guy and he will do the right thing and so I believe that we will get a fair analysis from him as to the investigation. I have every hope and faith in him that that will occur.

[12:05:00]

PROKUPECZ: And Bianna, behind me hear in Kenosha, you could see some of the businesses reopening and what's going on out here today, you see all these locations that are boarded up and people have been painting murals and community coming together to try and bring some life back, some normalcy back to this community and that's what we're seeing here.

This as later this afternoon, Jacob Blake's family says they're going to gather and march, obviously demanding justice but there's still a lot of questions here and investigators are taking their time with answering some of those questions so we yet have to hear so much more as we get close to really a week.

Tomorrow will be one week since this shooting, Bianna.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: And so much has changed for that small town and the country in that week, a shattered town trying to pick the pieces up together. Shimon Prokupecz, thank you so much. Well, President Trump is addressing the shooting of Jacob Blake for the first time. The president did not talk about the shooting during the Republican National Convention but he was asked about it following a rally in New Hampshire, last night. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm looking into it very strongly. I will be getting reports and I'll certainly let you know pretty soon but I'll be - it was not a good sight. I didn't like the sight of it certainly and I think most people would agree with that but we'll be getting reports and very soon and we'll report back then.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Well, after that statement Kenosha's mayor told our Don Lemon that the president should stay out of any issues dealing with this and let the Wisconsin investigators do their jobs. Well, NBA players will be back on the court this afternoon after protesting several playoff games in the wake of Jacob Blake shooting.

CNN now learning that former President Obama counseled a small group of players including Chris Paul and LeBron James as they consider potentially boycotting the rest of the season. An Obama spokesperson says the group discussed establishing a social justice committee to ensure that the player's actions lead to meaningful engagement on criminal justice and police reform and joining me now to discuss from the NBA bubble in Orlando is coach John Lucas, an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets and the number one pick of the 1976 NBA draft.

Coach, you don't know what but I really grew up with you. I watched you as a Houstonian, as a fan of the Rockets and I've watched you play and I've watched you coach.

And I've watched you now take a leadership position in this really crucial, pivotal moment in this country. You have been in the NBA, both as a player and coach for over four decades now. Have you ever witnessed a moment quite like what you've seen this week across sports?

JOHN LUCAS, ASSISTANT COACH, HOUSTON ROCKETS: Well, first of all Bianna, I'm a big huge fan of yours and I was hoping I would talk to you but to get back to your point. Yes, when I spoke to the players before, I said, I've been in this league when the minimum salary was $35,000 and we have a long ways to go and we've always been in the forefront of changing and with all our leadership, we forget sometimes that these are young millionaires but they're still kids and they're finding their way as they go.

So one of the things that they want to do was to get some older guidance, some political guidance and some people who can make some change belonging themselves and to see what they could do to really, really help (inaudible) where they are. That was like to be able to get voting arenas, to be able to include more and the inclusiveness of more in the community. So it was a much bigger than Wisconsin, although that was important to the Milwaukee Bucks. But it was bigger for all the communities of all the 30 teams in the NBA.

GOLODRYGA: And getting the voting arenas for all of the cities, we're talking about potentially 28 arenas that are capable of holding tens of thousands of people. That's a really significant decision that could impact a lot of the voters, especially in the midst of a pandemic. What role did players and their decision making this week have in solidifying what was rolled out in that announcement?

LUCAS: Well, they had a big huge role. I know Chris Paul, Russel Westbrook, LeBron James and Andre Iguadola, all represented a group of our players and it was something that they did collectively and you know for us not to play, then all the things that we've done with our league as much as we fight from the commissioner, coaches' Association and the union, we're all still one big family.

We fight amongst each other but we're collectively together all the time. And on this issue I think, they come in together.

GOLODRYGA: And you come across as a not a dysfunctional family as we've seen in so many other professional sports. You really have a cohesive unit about you that that stands out as very progressive. I want to talk about the role you specifically played because in your time in the NBA, you've become one of the most influential, one of the most respected voices.

And so much so that it's been reported that you did speak to the players this week and you had some colorful powerful messages for them, reminding them of how important this moment is and telling them to not F it up. Did I accurately depict what was said and can you tell us more about that conversation you had with these players?

[12:10:00]

LUCAS: Well, once they decided not to play, it became a historic moment, it became to be bigger than just the game of basketball and that they are now in a position to make significant change. Now that you have everybody listening to you, what is the message you want to say? Convey your message, don't be so broad that we can't get a few things done right away because being young, you know, being a former player myself, I want instant gratification.

We can't get effort, instant gratification for what is going on with all of the things that are going on but if one of them can make your changes then they can make an impact. And then I think Chris Paul and the rest of the Union, Michelle Roberts grabbed it, took it, talked to the owners and then they got Barack Obama involved and had right politicians and people behind them and it's a significant statement.

You know one of the things, our league is primarily 80 percent black and the others - foreign players are white players. But there's one thing about the game of basketball, when you want to win, we don't know color, we're going to give the ball to the best player on the team.

GOLODRYGA: Were you surprised to see the motion that this sparked not just what among the young players but former players and coaches, players that you played with, Doc Rivers and that really powerful message that he presented last week as well saying, every time we love this country, it doesn't love us back and all I want to do is be a coach.

Did you feel yourself that sense of emotion this week?

LUCAS: I did. I think all of us if you've been black in society, you feel some tension where it was unfair and it goes deeper than just you, it goes to your family, your kids and you're explaining to them what society is, how to be when you go out, how to act, so everybody is affected by this on both sides, I think.

So until you really get a feel and talk about it and it affects your family and I think one of the things that was so emotional for our athletes was that all of them come from suburbs. They all come from inner cities, they come from all walks of life. So each one of us are affected differently but have experienced some type of separatism or racism that was there, that calls you to have a feeling of someway because I don't think anybody forgets how you feel when you've been treated different than everybody else.

GOLODRYGA: Of course, it stays with you for the rest of your life. I can only imagine and this as you know has become a political issue in this country and very divisive. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in- law had this to say in an interview this week. Let's play it.

Oh, actually don't have it but he said that the players were very fortunate to be able to take some time off and a night off. It came across as very dismissive and it preceded what the president said about this as well, I believe we have that tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I don't know too much about the protest but I know their ratings have been very bad and that's too - that's unfortunate. They've become like a political organization and that's not a good thing. I don't think that's a good thing for sports or for the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: What do you make of the president and his administration seemingly dismissing the message that players are sending and instead focusing on ratings?

LUCAS: Well, you know Bianna, one of the first things is I think they really short changed how smart our players are. I think because some of us come out of high school, go right to the pros. Some of us stay in college for a couple of years. Some of us stay for four years.

They really think that we're just basketball players. We're a very smart community. I think CNN, all of the channels our news are on is very important. Here, we can't do a lot here. Our players have sacrificed to be it so CNN is on every room and every channel and male room, they have all about.

So we all see what is going on and I don't think we'll be misled by what someone else says on the outside because I think society as a whole, has been tricked and I think that what we feel is that racism is a spiritual disease that starts way before today and it's something that leaves people emotionally empty, bankrupt and we have to find a way to eradicate that.

And in the end, there is the other part that until a generation passes on, you know you can't grow until you get rid of the old and I think as society changes, we begin to go out with the old and with the new and so as a newer generation comes, I think we'll see where more people come together and forget color and race and stop trying to see how to stay in power but to give power to one another.

[12:15:00]

GOLODRYGA: Well, this new generation, I mean, these players today are so lucky to have you as a mentor and I'd be remiss not to offer our condolences for the loss of your former friend and player, Cliff Robinson. He died at very young aged at 56. We just got news of that and so our deepest condolences to you and to the community there.

I appreciate your time, Coach John Lucas. There are reports you may be going from Houston to Philadelphia. Your name's on the list. I wish you all the best but selfishly, I'd like for you to remain in Houston so I've said my piece. Thank you so much for joining us.

LUCAS: All right, thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Have a great game tonight. LUCAS: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: OK. Well, the world is remembering an actor who took powerful roles and had a powerful impact on and off the screen. Ahead a look at Chadwick Boseman's shocking death at the age of 43. His remarkable career and the dangers of colon cancer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:20:00]

GOLODRYGA: People around the world today are mourning the loss of actor Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther star died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. According to a statement posted on his Twitter account, Boseman passed away at home with his family and wife by his side. He was only 43 years old.

Last hour former President Barack Obama reacted to Boseman's passing saying, "Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed to be young, gifted and black to use that power to give them heroes to look up to, to do it all while in pain. What a use of his years."

We're also hearing from Senator Kamala Harris who attended Boseman's alma mater Howard University. In a tweet Harris says she is heartbroken, calling Boseman brilliant, kind, learned and humble, adding that he left too early but his life did make a difference.

CNN's Stephanie Elam takes a look back at Boseman's illustrious career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From James Brown in Get On Up to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Chadwick Boseman rose to fame playing American icons. He died on the day baseball celebrated one of them, Jackie Robinson who Boseman embodied in this 2013 breakout film '42'.

But it was his portrayal of African super hero King T'Challa in Black Panther that made Chadwick Boseman, a household name.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN, ACTOR: I knew it was an opportunity to pull from real things so if anybody believes, that it didn't have empire, didn't have architecture, didn't have art, didn't have science, you know you see it in this movie.

ELAM: The action packed blockbuster clawed away more than $1.3 billion at the box office worldwide, becoming a cultural phenomenon and proving that a predominantly black cast could draw audiences. In 2019, Black Panther became the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

The film also won best ensemble cast at the SAG awards. Boseman accepted the award on behalf of the cast, speaking to the historic win and why it meant so much.

BOSEMAN: You have equal if not more talent at times and but you don't have the same opportunities. You don't necessarily have the same doors open to you, the same nepotism, the same money or resources that could be put towards your dreams.

ELAM: Raised in Anderson, South Carolina, Boseman moved to Washington DC to attend Howard University, earning a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in 2000. While at Howard, he studied under acclaimed actress Felicia Rashad who urged Boseman to pursue acting and helped him attend the British American Drama Academy in London.

He later moved to New York to work in theatre before heading to Los Angeles and a career on screen. In 2018 he returned to his alma mater where he was awarded an honorary doctorate before giving the commencement speech.

BOSEMAN: I stand here today knowing that my Howard University education prepared me to play Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and T'Challa.

ELAM: Boseman played the role of T'Challa in four Marvel movies, all while battling a major illness. After his death it was revealed what few knew. In 2016, Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. It eventually progressed to Stage 4. Remarkably, he continued filming, starring in several other movies, including Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods.'

He also produced and starred in 21 Bridges.

BOSEMAN: Every character changed and because you know, I was instrumental in like pinpointing what those things were, I - it was clear that I was going to be more than actor on this film.

ELAM: A post on his social media reads in part, "All were film during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther. Boseman leaves behind his wife, singer Taylor Simone Ledward. Chadwick Boseman was 43 years old.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: What incredible strength. I want to bring in Dr. Richina Bicette. She is a Medical Director and Assistant Professor at the Baylor college of Medicine and is an emergency medical physician.

Doctor, thank you so much for joining us. It's quite an emotional morning and when you listen to Stephanie's piece there about his life and filming those scenes in the midst of treatment, it makes it even more unbelievable that he was able to do that. Let's talk about colon cancer because that was shocking to hear that somebody at the age of 43 years old could pass away from that.

[12:25:00]

What is the wakeup call now for others about the importance of early screening? DR. RICHINA BICETTE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL PHYSICIAN: Look Bianna, before

I answer that question, I do just want to say that I am deeply saddened to hear about the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was a visionary, a true hero and someone that is the definition of a role model.

He was culturally aware enough not to take roles that would reinforce negative stereotypes of African-Americans in this country. Chadwick allowed little black boys and black girls to see themselves as kings, as queens, as superheroes and I would be remiss if I did not highlight his legacy and the fact that he's a true cultural icon.

That being said, this particular case does highlight the fact that health disparities in America as it relates to race and ethnicity have very little to do with socio-economic status or education level. We are seeing that African-Americans are disproportionately being diagnosed with and dying from colorectal cancer at earlier ages than other ethnicities.

So what we as a medical community have to push our focus towards is early screening for those that require it. Symptom recognition which means educating our patients and making sure that we are screening for these things.

GOLODRYGA: What are some of the warning signs of colon cancer?

BICETTE: So patients who have unexplained abdominal pain and by unexplained, I mean that you've gone to senior doctor and lab tests and imaging have not revealed the cause of your pain. Unexplained weight loss. Changes in your stool caliber, meaning the size of your stool. If you're noticing that you're having thin, pencil-like stools, that's a warning sign.

Unexplained blood in your stools. These are all potential symptoms of colorectal cancer and deserve discussion with your primary care physician if not a referral to a gastroenterologist.

GOLODRYGA: And it is true that black men are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, correct?

BICETTE: Absolutely. We are seeing that African-Americans are not only at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer but colorectal cancer in African-Americans is being diagnosed at later stages when the disease is already very aggressive.

Such as in Chadwick Boseman's case, his cancer was diagnosed when he was already in Stage 3. When the cancer is very aggressive, treatment options become limited.

GOLODRYGA: All right, Dr. Bicette, thank you so much and stay with us. We're going to have you back later in this hour to discuss the coronavirus pandemic as well. A lot to talk to you about this morning but coming up, the death toll from Hurricane Laura rises as President Trump travels to the hard-hit states today to get a first-hand look at the damage. We'll take you live to Louisiana, next. You're in the CNN News room. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:32:26]

GOLODRYGA: Happening right now, President Trump is preparing to tour the Lake Charles, Louisiana area after was slammed by Hurricane Laura this week. The storm has claimed at least 15 lives according to officials, Laura hit as a strong category four storm destroying buildings and flooding homes. More than half a million customers still have no electricity after the storm snap power lines. At least one hospital in the area is now evacuating remaining patients because of a lack of water in this city.

CNN's Gary Tuchman is in Lake Charles. Gary, great to see you. What do we know about the President's visit?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bianna, good seeing you to. President Trump left Washington a short time ago. He'll be flying here Lake Charles expect to the land within an hour. When he gets here he will be surveying damage with the governor of Louisiana. He will then go across the state line to Orange Texas about 35 miles away and do the same thing there.

Before he left Washington today, after he got up, he tweeted twice about the ratings of the Republican National Convention complaining about the official numbers. Suffice it to say that convention rating numbers are not a big topic of discussion here right now. Instead, it's the numbers of dead, the numbers of injured, the numbers of homes that have been destroyed, the number of businesses that have been destroyed, the number of people without power, the number of days it will take to get that power back. And this is a case in point.

This is a Golden Corral restaurant and there's a sad story behind this restaurant. It was just built in January. It opened up in January. And then in March it closed because of COVID. And then it was supposed to reopen this Wednesday. And that was the day the hurricane came. There's a T.V. tower right here.

This T.V. towers 250 feet tall. It belongs to a T.V. station right down the block. It collapsed from the hurricane, destroyed an insurance company, and destroyed this restaurant. And this is an idea of what so many people are going through here in Lake Charles, as you said hundreds of thousands of people without power, so many homes destroyed.

I would say most homes that we've seen as we've toured the city either have some damage, a lot of damage or been completely destroyed. But as you say, the death toll, it's 15, terrible that 15 people have died from this 12 in this state, three in Texas. But frankly, it's a lot lower than we could have expected.

And that's because, you know, we've been here for several days, people took this very seriously. Not everyone wanted to evacuate. A lot of people were scared to evacuate, Bianna, because of COVID. They were afraid to be with lots of other people to leave their homes. But everyone took it seriously. No one was wandering around in the 24 hours before. People went into their homes in the safest places in their homes they could go to where they evacuated. And that's why the death toll is 15. And hopefully it won't go much higher than that, Bianna?

[12:35:02]

GOLODRYGA: Yes. It could have been much worse human loss there. But Gary you look at the loss there behind you of debris surrounding you many, many homes. It's unbelievable. It looks like something out of a movie scene. And you're right. These are people who probably don't care much about ratings this week. Gary Tuchman in Lake Charles, Louisiana, thank you.

Well, the one year old boy has become the youngest victim of COVID-19 to die in the state of Georgia. The story is just ahead on CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: For your following some sad news out of Georgia, a one- year-old boy has become the youngest victim of COVID-19 to die in that state. Health officials say, the infant suffered from serious medical conditions. For more on this, let's bring in CNN's Natasha Chen. And Natasha, what more do we know about this young victim?

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianna, this was a one-year-old African American boy from Cobb County right outside of Atlanta. The Cobb County Public Health director of communications told me he did have serious medical conditions, like you said.

[12:40:05]

And what we know is that now he is the youngest in the state of Georgia to die of COVID-19. Before him, there was a seven-year-old from the Savannah area who had no underlying health conditions. And there have also been five teenagers who have died of COVID-19 in the States since the pandemic began.

If we're looking at the total number of cases, among really young children, we're seeing that there have been 900 cases of infants getting COVID-19 under the age of one in Georgia. And for those between age one and four, we're seeing that there have been 3,000 cases and now unfortunately with one death.

Of course, the conversation around whether children spread this virus easily, how sick they get, this has been a topic of conversation really, as schools have restarted, reopened, many of them having in person face to face instruction, some of them allowing people to choose virtual learning and some having a hybrid combination of both.

Teachers in the largest school system in Georgia in Gwinnett County also outside of Atlanta, they told me that they had some serious concerns, given that they were supposed to teach inside the classrooms, even with virtual classes. And some of the teachers told me that they felt they had to resign because they had issues with childcare. Here's what one teacher who resigned said about that situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHLEY NEWMAN, FORMER GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER: For them to see my resignation as just another number when I've contributed so much of my time and energy to making Gwinnett as great as they really want to be. It is very difficult to feel like my contributions are going unknown or unrecognized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHEN: And that school district in Gwinnett County told me that every year they have a number of teacher resignations for all sorts of reasons. But this year, 34 resignations due to COVID-19 reasons, Bianna?

GOLODRYGA: And this is a conversation teachers and school districts across the country are having as we speak so much concern about public safety as they returned to schools. Natasha Chen, thank you so much.

Well, I want to bring back in Dr. Richina Bicette. She is the medical director and assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and as an emergency medical physician, Doctor, we're keeping you busy today. But there's so much to discuss. Let's begin with deaths among young children. As we know, they've been extremely rare but they are not immune from its effects clearly with the loss of that one-year-old boy, our thoughts are with his family. What should parents with young children take away when they hear about this situation?

BICETTE: Absolutely. What you just said, Bianna. Children are not immune from COVID-19. Since the pandemic started, there have been over 440 cases, pediatric cases of COVID infection. There actually was an infant death back in March in Chicago. There have been infant deaths reported in China. So this is not something that is new though it is rare.

Children can catch COVID-19. If they have underlying medical conditions, they may be very ill for quite some time. And some of them are succumbing to their illness.

GOLODRYGA: Let me ask you about reinfection because researchers in Nevada have now identified a 25-year-old man who appears to have been infected with COVID twice and he had a rather bad bout of coronavirus. It wasn't a mild case. The study from a Nevada research team has not yet been peer reviewed by a journal. It's preliminary. But if studies show that reinfection turns out to be more common than expected, what does that say about a vaccine? And is this really a game changer?

BICETTE: Bianna, this pandemic is getting scarier as the months progress. There were actually reports out of China of cases of reinfection and now we have the case in Nevada. No one knows truly what this virus can do just yet. We are only in the ninth month of this pandemic and it takes years to be able to fully study a virus or any illness in order to really understand exactly what is going on with the virus and what potential sequentially it could cause.

Now the fact that this patient was able to be reinfected has a lot to do with vaccine development. The vaccines that are being developed right now are the strategies that are being used are basically antibodies, which essentially are immune molecules that you develop once you've been exposed to a disease. So one would think that if you've been exposed to COVID in the past, you would develop antibodies, and you would not be able to develop COVID again. But that theory is going to prove incorrect if we're seeing that patients actually are being reinfected.

GOLODRYGA: And we'll continue to follow that story out of Nevada. But let me ask you about the FDA which has issued emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma. Is this really the miracle cure that some people and including perhaps the President it appears thinks it is?

[12:45:01]

BICETTE: Well, Bianna, the medicine behind convalescent plasma makes sense. This is not a novel idea. This is not a new theory. In the 1800s plasma was being used to treat diphtheria, to be used -- being used to treat chickenpox. In the 1700s, there was an African slave who described the process of inoculation and use that to help combat the smallpox outbreak in Boston at that time.

So the thought behind convalescent plasma and why it may work is not a novel idea. However, I don't think it's the miracle cure that the President is touting it to be. As a matter of fact, just a couple of weeks ago, the FDA actually released a statement saying that it was not going to grant full approval for the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19.

Donald Trump with his ever so active Twitter fingers then took to social media to publicly voice his displeasure, accusing the FDA of having deep state agents and purposefully withholding a potential lifesaving treatment. Then suddenly last weekend, the FDA releases an emergency use authorization under federal pressure.

I don't think it's the miracle that people are touting it to be. I do think that we need more data. We should let the scientists manage the science and let the data drive our decision. There have not been any randomized control trials, which are the gold standard in the science world. And there hasn't really been any irrefutable evidence showing that there's an absolute reduction in mortality.

GOLODRYGA: And we should not let politics get in the way of what science says. Dr. Richina Bicette, thank you so much. Have a great weekend. We appreciate your time.

BICETTE: Bye-bye.

GOLODRYGA: With new details about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's fight against Vladimir Putin. Navalny is in a coma after suspected poisoning. His longtime friend and chief of staff talks to CNN, that's coming up. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:51:20]

GOLODRYGA: One of Russia's top opposition leaders and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin remains in a coma in a German hospital, the victim of a suspected poisoning. CNN's Phil black spoke to his chief of staff and longtime friend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russia's denials about harming Alexei Navalny mean nothing to his closest friends and family.

LEONID VOLKOV, ALEXEI NAVALNY'S CHIEF OF STAFF: Their refusal, to even open up a criminal investigation, proves that Mr. Putin is responsible.

BLACK (voice-over): Leonid Volkov and Navalny have worked together challenging Russia's president and political system for the last 10 years.

BLACK: Just to be clear, you believe this was the state?

VOLKOV: Based on the information I have at this point of time, I strongly believe that it was the state or some -- well, or is a part of the state. So as of now, we don't have the proof that Putin ordered it. So it might be some of the government agents. But the level of organization, the poisons that they used, it's not something you can buy in a pharmacy.

BLACK (voice-over): Volkov says Navalny always knew the risks. But together, they desperately hoped his popularity would protect him, making it too risky for anyone to seriously think about trying to kill him. They were wrong.

Last week, Navalny began screaming in pain aboard a Russian domestic flight. Soon after, he was in a coma. Russian doctors said there was no evidence of poison but that was quickly contradicted when he arrived here at Berlin's Charite Hospital. Tests here determined poison from a group of chemicals but not the specific substance. The Kremlin says that's why there is still no reason to open a criminal investigation.

VOLKOV: It only could have an intention to kill. If the emergency landing would take 20 more minutes, he would not be with us now.

BLACK (voice-over): Navalny is Russia's most prominent Putin critic through a mix of determination, charisma, and clever use of social media, he's shown repeatedly he can call huge angry crowds to the streets. He has exposed state corruption and the ruling elites' vast wealth. But if this was an attempted assassination, why now?

Volkov says the timing suggests it may have been Navalny's call for Russians to follow their neighbors in Belarus and hold mass protests against their own government. And Navalny's political machine has been working to influence coming local elections with a tactical voting campaign to stop pro Putin candidates.

Whatever the reason, Alexei Navalny's supporters believe some of his enemies made a cold calculation. The benefits of his murder would outweigh the risks of creating a political martyr.

Phil Black, CNN, Berlin.

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GOLODRYGA: We should note one week later and not one statement from President Trump.

Well, coming up tomorrow night tune in early for a special back to back all new episodes of United Shades of America W. Kamau Bell meets with Iranian immigrants to learn about their American experience.

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W. KAMAU BELL, CNN HOST: What was it like to come here as an immigrant from Iran?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My older brother was here already when I got here. Six o'clock in the morning, wakes me up. Let's go. So it takes me to a pizzeria. And they telling me, you got to clean off the tables, wash the floors, $2.75 an hour. I counted all my hours that week. The paycheck comes. It's not the amount that I want. So I tell the guy, what's going on, I've worked so many hours? He tells me Uncle Sam, I said, who the hell is Uncle Sam?

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GOLODRYGA: Immigrant stories do make this country. Well don't miss United Shades of America on Sunday, W. Kamau Bell challenges misconceptions about Iranians living in America. It's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and then explores the communities of Skid Row in Los Angeles at 10:00. It's Unite for Kamau, it's right here on CNN.

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