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At Least 33 Dead As Wildfires Scorch The West Coast; Storm Expected To Make Landfall In Louisiana As Hurricane; Trump To Hold Two Indoor Rallies In Nevada; Mike Bloomberg To Spend At Least $100 Million In Florida To Support Biden; Jerry Seinfeld Pleads For Federal Funds To Save NYC Performance Venues; Two Sheriff's Deputies Ambushed By Gunman While In Their Car; Fighting For The Latinos; Champions For Change. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired September 13, 2020 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:42]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York. Thanks for being with us.

We are following several big stories this hour including an apocalyptic scene in parts of the West today. Take a look. Scorched trees, buildings reduced to piles of rubble, and thick clouds of ash and smoke filling the air as nearly 100 major wildfires rage across California, Oregon and Washington state. At least 33 people now confirmed dead. Dozens more are missing.

President Trump is set to visit California tomorrow to see the devastation firsthand. And Mother Nature is also threatening the Gulf Coast this hour. Forecasters expecting Tropical Storm Sally to make landfall as a category one or two hurricane. The governor of Louisiana declaring a state of emergency with mandatory evacuations issued now for some parts of that state's coastal communities.

And we have breaking news on the coronavirus front. Pfizer's CEO says there's quite a good chance that company will know if its vaccine works by the end of October so stay tuned. And in the meantime health experts expressing extra concern that yet again we will see the president hold a crowded rally tonight where masks aren't mandatory and this time it will be indoors in Las Vegas. The first time he has done an indoor event since the June rally in Tulsa. That was linked to a surge in virus cases there.

It was also the event attended by Herman Cain just a few days before he tested positive for the virus. A month later he died.

Let's start with those massive and terrifying wildfires blasting the West Coast right now from Southern California all the way to Washington state. Nearly 100 separate wildfires have destroyed millions of acres of forest and reduced several small towns to literally nothing.

CNN's Paul Vercammen is standing a few miles outside Los Angeles.

Paul, just enormous destruction and tragedy. PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And as you noted, the

governor calling this a climate emergency.

I am standing in Sierra Madre, California, where the fire has ducked against behind these hills. It's been a pattern all week long. This is the Bobcat Fire. You can see me behind me the CHP vehicle, the California Highway Patrol. We have mandatory evacuations just to the east of us, voluntary to the right. They're getting ready for a big firefight here.

And let's talk about the overarching numbers here. We've got in California alone, 3.3 million acres burned and there's 16,000 firefighters battling this blaze right now. They've gone deeper into those canyons to get after this one with water drops and more.

And let's give you a sense of what it's like because for the forest service firefighters and county firefighters and everyone else chipping in, the strategy may be to burn, backburn light fire later on today.

Let's hear Andrew Mitchell from the U.S. Forest Service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW MITCHELL, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: The goal today is really protect Sierra Madre and Arcadia. They're going to use air, ground, any kind of resources they have. And so there is opportunities to backburn or essentially fire places to put some black in where they can put it and anchor to really defend this area, they will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: So 30,000 firefighters spread out throughout the West, California, Oregon and Washington and other states. And something they are reckoning with, this terrible, terrible unhealthy highly polluted air, so polluted in the Los Angeles area today, Ana, they shut down the L.A. Zoo. Not because of any COVID concerns but because of wildfire smoke in the area.

CABRERA: Hard to breathe. Paul Vercammen, thank you for your update there and please stay safe.

And while the safe is dealing with fires, the Gulf Coast is dealing with another potential hurricane. CNN's Tom Sater is tracking Tropical Storm Sally.

Tom, tell us where and when this storm will start making trouble?

TOM SATER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Looks like tomorrow night. We'll look at a landfall overnight near New Orleans, but we're at the peak of the season now. Can you tell? Fifteen years ago, in 2005, we went through the entire alphabet then went six letters in to the Greek alphabet. We're outpacing that year by 20 days.

[16:05:01] Here is Sally. Most of the convection is off to the east. It will start to wrap around the core and when that happens, it most likely will become a hurricane. Could make a landfall at maybe a category two strength. So this is important. But I'm really concerned more about the speed at it which it's moving or the lack thereof. Because we've got today and you've got tomorrow.

By tomorrow night, you're going to see all of these flash flood watches here, all this rain that's going to be falling. It's going to be more concentrated right into the parishes of Louisiana, southeastern part of the state. All the models in pretty good agreement. At 8:00 p.m. tomorrow night, it's just off the shore of around the mouth of the Mississippi. By 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, it's only 40 miles inland.

So with that slow movement, it's going to drop a lot of rainfall. You can see in red the warnings that we have in effect. We may have a landfall just north of Plaquemines Parish. Take a look at these models, right, they're St. Bernard Parish right into New Orleans. This model keeps New Orleans on the wrong side of eye where the winds are the strongest. With that concern, the angle of approach is a big deal here because of all the inlets.

Every little stream and rivers are going to have this water pushed inland. And then dropping from the sky, a foot of rain could fall into New Orleans. Some areas could see 15, even 20 inches of rain. We have of course Lake Charles. They're still 50,000 without power from Laura moved into the area. The wind shouldn't be that hard in that direction. But again, wind, surge, heavy rainfall, we're going to be watching this.

Again, it moves in tomorrow, Ana. But really I think it's overnight tomorrow night that we'll possibly have this landfall at a category two strength.

CABRERA: And overnight is always of course the most dangerous when people can't see and people can't sleep.

SATER: Exactly.

CABRERA: You never know. OK, Tom Sater, thank you. We'll check back.

Let's head to the campaign trail now. President Trump has two campaign events today in Nevada. First he is hosting a Latinos for Trump roundtable and another rally this one in Henderson, just outside Las Vegas later this evening.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is there for us.

Jeremy, this will be the president's first in-door rally since Tulsa on June 20th and of course you and many of the other television networks are stationed outside because of safety concerns over COVID. Do we expect rally organizers or attendees to take any precautions against the virus?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Ana, first of all that is kind of the headline here is the fact that for several months the Trump campaign has really scaled town its Trump campaign rallies or tried to host them at least outdoors. Now even at those outdoor venues like last night where I was in Minden, Nevada, you still see thousands of supporters tightly bunched together.

Very few people actually wearing masks. Masks are not required at any of these campaign rallies. But they are at least outdoors, which can offer a certain degree of protection if not complete protection.

But tonight, Ana, the Trump campaign is just putting all of those safety precautions out the window it seems hosting thousands of supporters who are expected to attend this event at an entirely indoor venue. That will be the first time that we have seen the Trump campaign organize one of those indoor venues since that rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, back in June.

A couple of days after that we also saw the president rally thousands of supporters at a Students for Trump event in Phoenix, Arizona. That one was not hosted by the campaign but it was also indoors.

Now I asked the Trump campaign why they are doing this, why they feel that it is appropriate to have this campaign rally indoors with thousands of people, little social distancing, no mask requirements. Here's what the Trump campaign's communications director Tim Murtha told me in a statement. He says, quote, "If you can join tens of thousands of people protesting in the streets, gamble in a casino or burn down small businesses and riots, you can gather peacefully under the First Amendment to hear from the president of the United States."

And Ana, the response to that that I would offer is simply that when you go to casinos here in Las Vegas, here in the state of Nevada, you are required to wear masks. And of course the president's rally tonight not only is it indoors but it's still violating Nevada coronavirus regulations which say that you cannot have public gatherings of more than 50 people -- Ana.

CABRERA: Jeremy, a source confirmed to CNN the billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to spend at least $100 million in Florida to support Democratic nominee Joe Biden. What's the president saying in response to this?

DIAMOND: He's not happy, Ana. I'll tell you that much. He's not happy and it's evidenced by the president's Twitter feed this morning where he not only suggests that somebody should try and compete with Michael Bloomberg and his financial software that is widely used on Wall Street, but he also tweets this.

He says, quote, " I thought Mini Mike was through with Democratic politics after spending almost $2 billion and then giving the worst and most inept debate performance in the history of presidential politics. Pocahontas ended his political career on first question. Over, save New York City instead."

Obviously the president seems to be rattled here, Ana, by the fact that billionaire Mike Bloomberg spending $100 million to try and help Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the critical, must-win state of Florida -- Ana.

[16:10:01]

CABRERA: A lot of money. Jeremy Diamond in Las Vegas for us. Thank you.

Joining us now, Mark McKinnon, co-host of Showtime's "The Circus" and a former campaign advisor to George W. Bush and John McCain.

So, Mark, the president is holding these rallies. As polls are showing Biden leading in some key battleground states. He's ahead in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and then is within the margin of error in New Hampshire and Nevada, as well as some new polling out of Arizona. And now we learn billionaire and former presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is planning to spend at least $100 million to support Joe Biden in that crucial state of Florida where again polling shows the race neck and neck.

How big of a deal is that?

MARK MCKINNON, CO-HOST, SHOWTIME'S "THE CIRCUS": Hi, Ana. Big, big deal. You know, we've been wondering what Mike Bloomberg was going to do. We had a suspicion that he's going to make a big play at some point and this is a huge play and some very significant strategic one as well. Here's why. There's lots of ways that Joe Biden can win this election without winning Florida.

There's almost no way that Trump wins this election without winning Florida. He has to win Florida. And it's close right now. And $100 million in one state -- and by the way, it takes about that much. It takes about $60 million or $70 million to buy enough television to have a real impact and buy it statewide in Florida. So Mike Bloomberg has pulled the trigger in a way that should really get the attention of Republicans there because they know they've got take Florida or it's game over.

CABRERA: And as you know, this Bloomberg news comes right after the Trump campaign reported its August fundraising total. It was a lot. It was more of $200 million but it's also a whopping $154 million less than Biden's haul during that same window. So do you see that as a big red flag for the Trump team?

MCKINNON: Huge red flag especially for an incumbent president to be having money problems at this point of the campaign. This is where you really should be putting the money down, Ana, because people are making up their minds right now and because of the early voting that's going on. Not only are they making up their minds, they're voting right now. So it's critical to be having -- you know, to be in play on television getting your message out and keep battleground states. And there are a lot of places right now where Biden is outspending Trump at least 2-1.

CABRERA: Biden has called the president's visit to Nevada reckless. He's saying it ignored the realities of the pandemic. And then just moments ago the president hit Biden for not being on the campaign as much as he has. Listen to this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's in his basement right now, and he's saying, what do I do? He calls his handlers, what do I do about this? He hasn't left in 2 1/2 days. In the meantime I'm all over the place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Mark, do you think there may be voters in these battleground states in particular who are disappointed they're not getting more facetime with Biden on the trail?

MCKINNON: I don't know about that. I mean, he has been campaigning pretty steadily the last week or two or since before Labor Day really. And, you know, his message is, I want to do it, I want to be careful. I don't want to put people's health and safety at risk. Meanwhile, Donald Trump as you just noted in your last segment is going to be at a Nevada event tonight where they're not requiring masks which is contrary to state law and regulation.

And I just don't get it because any day that there's a referendum or discussion about how Trump is handling COVID is a win for Biden, so Biden is in his basement or he's out on the trail it doesn't matter because Trump is making the case Biden is trying to make which is he's not taking it seriously enough. And, you know, he says he doesn't want the country to panic. Well, you can't have rallies with people closely gathered together especially indoors, which he's doing tonight, and not put people's safety at risk.

So that's the big question that people are asking is, who's going to keep me safe? Joe Biden or Donald Trump? And when Donald Trump does an event like this, indoors with people without masks, a lot of people are going to say, well, maybe he doesn't really care about my safety.

CABRERA: Well, and the latest polling, as we circle back to what we were discussing at the top of the show is, I mean, when voters are asked who they trust more when it comes to coronavirus, Biden is winning across all of these recent polls we were seeing.

Let me ask you, though, about what the president is now saying about Kamala Harris. Here's what he said in Nevada last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And nobody treated him worse than Kamala, right? She's another beauty. She was like a dropping rock in water. She was going down so fast. And I would say she'll be president. If he ever won, she'll be president within the first month or so, I would say. I think it's just an excuse. Using him is just an excuse to get the super libs in there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Mark, what kind of voter do you think he's appealing to with a comment like that? MCKINNON: Well, you know, I -- he's trying to suggest as he has been

for all along really that, you know, (INAUDIBLE), you got to be believe, by this one it's intentional. But he's trying to suggest that she's sort of, you know, part of that radical left that's going to be, you know, a secret agent to pull Joe Biden further into the, you know, the communist sphere of the socialist Democratic Party.

[16:15:12]

And the reality is, you know, part of the reason that Kamala Harris didn't do better in the primaries is because she's not a radical lib, you know, just like Joe Biden. That's part of the reason Joe Biden won. He was able to position himself as the centrist that he is. And so I think that they're having trouble making that case against Joe Biden, so they're trying to make it against Kamala Harris.

CABRERA: All right, Mark McKinnon, as always, I appreciate your insights. Good to see you.

President Trump telling supporters the U.S. has rounded the corner regarding coronavirus but the numbers tell a different story. We'll break it down for you, next.

Also ahead, the hunt for a gunman after a brazen shooting caught on camera. He walked right up to a police car and opens fire.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Now to the push to get a coronavirus vaccine.

[16:20:02]

The CEO of Pfizer today says there is, quote, "quite a good chance" Pfizer will know if its vaccine works by the end of October. But listen, there is a qualifier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALBERT BOURLA, CEO, PFIZER: Our base case, we have a quite good chance, more than 60 percent, but we will know if the product works or not by the end the October. But of course that doesn't mean that it works. It means that we will know if it works.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Now the virus has killed nearly 194,000 Americans so far. And now a new forecast from researches at the University of Washington shows if the U.S. just continues as we are now, the COVID death toll will reach 415,000 by January 1st. But those researches predict if the U.S. further eases COVID restrictions this fall and winter, we could begin to see more than 10,000 deaths per day by Christmas eve.

In New York of course the pandemic has already wreaked havoc on the city's theater and music venues, among other industries, and the people who perform in those venues. Now to help bring relief, famous New Yorker and comedian Jerry Seinfeld is going public today adding his voice to the push for federal funds.

And CNN's Alexandra Field is following this for us. So, Alexandra, how did Seinfeld make his pitch?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Ana. Exactly in Seinfeld style. You know, it's been just a couple of weeks since he penned an op-ed railing against reports that New York City was, quote- unquote, "dead," saying it isn't. He is ever the defender of New York City and now he is pushing alongside New York Senator Chuck Schumer for federal funds that will help the stages that had to go dark at the start of this pandemic.

They are some of the businesses that were the first to close across New York City. You know, the theaters, the comedy clubs, the concert halls, the music venues. And those are some of the businesses that will be among the last to reopen. Seinfeld recalled the fact that he got his start on the stages of comedy clubs right here in this city and that it is still the place where all those aspiring to make it want to come. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY SEINFELD, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: Big cities like New York and New York attitude with a great tradition of theater and performing that we have, New York audiences are tough, but that's great. That's why we make great performers here. So this bill is so important to keep places going. It makes the city exciting to walk down the street and know right inside that door, some people are on stage and doing things. It gives the city energy and electricity, and it's more than just a business. It is the spark of our culture here in this town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: More than just businesses indeed. Of course he was again joined by Senator Schumer who's saying that it is critical to pass this act, this bill called Save Our Stages, that would provide federal relief for these venues. Schumer says it isn't just critical in terms of keeping these venues open, but it's also important to all of the industries that are tied to live events and entertainment here in New York City, industries like tourism and travel and hospitality of course, Ana.

CABRERA: OK. Alexandra Field in New York. Thank you.

Shocking shooting, caught on camera in Los Angeles. A gunman walked right up to a deputies' patrol car and opened fire. I'll have the latest on the two wounded deputies and the search for the gunman, next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:27:53]

CABRERA: Now to a developing story out of California, two Los Angeles sheriff's deputies are fighting for their lives after an ambush overnight in Compton. Surveillance video shows a gunman approaching their patrol vehicle. The sheriff's deputies say one man and a woman were shot multiple times. A search is still under way for a shooter. And CNN's Josh Campbell is following the investigation. He joins us outside the hospital in Linwood, California, where the deputies are being treated.

Josh, what can you tell us about how these deputies are doing first and foremost and what happened?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ana. We are learning that they are now out of surgery. Both of these deputies, they are still, according to the latest information we have, still in critical condition but outside of surgery. That of course stemming from the shooting that happened last night here around 7:00 p.m. We saw that video, CCTV footage, shows the patrol car outside a metro station.

You see a man come up, he appears to be attempting walk past the police car and stops and opens fire into the passenger side of that vehicle, and then flees in the opposite direction where he came from. Now that manhunt for that person continues at this hour. Police says at this point tells us that they don't have any suspects, there are multiple, multiple agencies and officers that are looking for this suspect. A lot of agencies offering assistance including the FBI.

We also are hearing from a number of officials here in the state of California condemning what they saw on that video including the governor of this state, Congressman Adam Schiff, whose district is just north of here, the Los Angeles mayor. The L.A. sheriff also speaking out very forcefully about that incident last night. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY: That was a cowardly act. The two deputies were doing their job, minding their own business, watching out for the safety of the people on the train, and seeing someone just walk up and just start shooting on them. It -- it pisses me off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, we're here outside of the hospital, Ana, where these two deputies are still recovering. This is a very secure facility right now. There are officers around the area.

[16:30:00]

That's because last night, there were some protests that were here. Authorities saying that some protesters attempted to block one of the entrances. They pushed people back. Still heavy police presence here right now.

Now, also, over at the scene of the shooting, which isn't far from where I'm standing right now. I was over there just a short time ago, and we saw a vehicle being loaded on the back of a tow truck, a sheriff patrol car, matching the description of that vehicle that we saw. That was being carted away.

The scene, itself, remains an active crime scene. Also, very heavy police presence there as they not only process that scene, but also try to search in a grid format this whole area in and around this incident.

Lastly, I'll say, outside here of the hospital, we also saw, a short time ago, a number of supporters of law enforcement coming out, a parade of vehicles with blue and black balloons were circling this building, trying to express their support.

Again, these deputies are still in the hospital right now. Authorities say that they are fighting for their lives after this very deadly shooting we saw last night -- Ana.

CABRERA: Oh, just an awful situation. Josh Campbell, thank you for your reporting.

President Trump is courting the Latino vote in Nevada this weekend. Ahead, my conversation with activist and actor, John Leguizamo, about how Latinos could be key in picking the next occupant of the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEGUIZAMO, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR OF "CRITICAL THINKING": With 32 million voters, that's a huge block. We're going to decide this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[16:31:22]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They're very disturbed by the poll numbers because we're very high and leading with Latinos. And Joe Biden has spent 47 years betraying the Hispanic-American community totally, sending their jobs to China, raising taxes on their family and small businesses, making their communities less safe, attacking their values and trapping their children, and failing government schools. He's totally opposed to school choice.

He's totally opposed to charter schools. Everything that you stand for. He's going to shred the Second Amendment, something very important to Hispanic-Americans. Also, the Second Amendment, their life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: That was President Trump moments ago in Nevada where he has been holding a round table with Latino voters. That, of course, is a key voting block. One that his challenger, Joe Biden, is also trying to woo, particularly in the state of Florida. And one prominent Latino actor, John Leguizamo, wants to make sure Latinos are heard and represented in any future administration.

We spoke, recently, for an interview I did as a contributor for "AMANPOUR AND COMPANY" that airs on CNN International and PBS. Here's part of our conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEGUIZAMO: Latin people, we're the largest voting block in America, 32 registered voters. We are going to decide this election. And what we need to do is just reach out to them. I mean, when you reach out like AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, did. She knocked on doors. She stopped. She made calls. And my mom stopped with her in Queens.

And Latin people, when you talk to us, we respond. We're loyal. But if you ignore us, we're going to ignore you. So, that's what my advice to everybody is. And I'm doing what I can. You know, I've talked to Beto O'Rourke. I've talked to Julian Castro.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: What about the current president? And the vice president, who's running to defeat President Trump, Joe Biden, how -- have you had any interaction or what's your take on how they're courting Latino voters?

LEGUIZAMO: Yes. You know, he's been courting me through -- and other Latinos through all his surrogates. He's definitely seeking the Latin voice in how to win our vote. And that, what I've been telling you, his campaign is name Latin people to your cabinet. Put Julian Castro in your cabinet. Put Veronica Soebarto (ph) in your cabinet. AOC. Put us in your cabinet and show us that you are including us.

You know, because we're 32 million voters. That's a huge block. We're going to decide this. You need to talk to us directly by including us and talking about our issues and that's the only way we'll see that it's true.

CABRERA: And you're right, according to Pew, Hispanic voters will make up, or have the potential to make up, the largest non-white voting block for the first time ever. And, in your mind, what's on the line in this upcoming election for Latino Americans?

LEGUIZAMO: I mean, a lot is at stake. I mean, this is the most important election in our lives in so many ways. I mean, it's a fight for our democracy, against cronyism, against being ostracized. I mean, does Trump even have any Latin people in the cabinet?

CABRERA: He doesn't have a lot of diversity. You're right about that. He does -- you know, Jim Mercetizalagf (ph), as an example of --

LEGUIZAMO: Yes. I mean, --

CABRERA: -- one of the people who's part of his administration.

LEGUIZAMO: -- we're 20 percent of the population. We should be 20 percent of his cabinet. I'm not asking for more. I don't want more. I just want parity. I just want equity. I want 20 percent of the roles in Hollywood. I want 20 percent of the children's picture books to be about Latin kids, so they can see themselves. I 20 percent of that cabinet. I -- that's what I want. I want equity. I don't want more. I don't want to take anything from anybody. I just want what belongs to me and my people and people who look like me and children who look like me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Joining us now from Miami, CNN Political Commentator Ana Navarro. We just heard, Ana, John Leguizamo saying Latino voters are loyal. But if political candidates ignore them, Latinos will ignore those candidates.

You're a Republican who supports Joe Biden in a crucial state. He is underperforming with Latinos in Florida right now. Is he not speaking to them and engaging with them in a meaningful way?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But going back to John's point about being loyal.

[16:40:03]

Look, the one thing I think Donald Trump has done right is, from day one, he has targeted, micro-targeted, in particular, the Cuban American vote in Miami and South Florida. He has been here several times. And he has been hammering the point that voting for any Democrat, X-Y-Z, means that they're going to turn Florida into Venezuela. They're going to turn America into Cuba.

The candidate could have been Bautista (ph) or Samosa (ph) or Margaret Thatcher and they would have used the same line. They're using it against Joe Biden. And I -- you know, I heard Michael Cohen say something this weekend in an interview. He says -- he said, Donald Trump says enough times, even if it's a lie, it'll get baked in. And that has certainly happened in Miami.

So, my hope is that Joe Biden does exactly what John Leguizamo is talking about. Talk directly to the community and say, look, this is ridiculous. I'm not a communist. Of course, I'm not a communist. Look at my history. But not only that. The guy who was -- who's sending executives to Cuba, violating the embargo in the 1990s, because he wanted to look at building a golf course or hotel. That was Donald Trump who now beats his chest and pretends that that's not the case. But those are the facts.

CABRERA: So, let's look at the numbers because Hillary Clinton won Florida's Latino voters in 2016 by a wide margin, according to the exit polls. I mean, it was nearly 30 percent over Trump. Right now, Biden is trailing President Trump among this group in two polls this week. And this NBC-Marist Poll which found Trump had 50 percent support among Florida's Latinos. Biden with 46 percent. There was the Quinnipiac Poll as well from Florida that has Trump at 45 percent among Hispanics. Biden at 43 percent. Do those numbers surprise you and what does Biden need to do better? NAVARRO: They don't surprise me, because I live here and I've seen it.

I've seen the transformation in the last four years. Look, Donald Trump, in 2016, won the Cuban-American vote by a very small margin, 50-51 percent. But that's -- that was significant.

Today, his numbers have solidified with the Cuban-Americans because of what I just told you. The lie, the narrative that Joe Biden is a communist. Ana, if you were here, you would think that this was a race for president of Nicaragua or president of Cuba. The mayor's race is about Maduro and Fidel Castro. The congressional races are Maduro and Fidel Castro.

I just finished seeing an ad -- a negative ad against a state rep where it's about Maduro, Ortega and Fidel Castro. And that message has hone -- he's honed it in. He's been hammering it in. He's been consistent. And it is now baked into the minds of people who, like me, fled communism and are traumatized.

People have to understand, you know, this -- it's -- when you -- when you've fled socialism and communism, you have an emotional trauma that Donald Trump has figured out how to exploit. And it's working for him.

So, what does Biden need to do? Biden needs to confront it in the same way he confronted the lie and the narrative of lawlessness and that he was in favor of those protestors, violent protesters, in Portland. And he came out and he talked about his history as a -- as a lawful citizen and somebody that didn't believe that.

He made that speech in Pennsylvania today. That's the same thing he's got to do on this issue. And he's got to do it quickly. Because absentee ballots go out in Florida --

CABRERA: Right.

NAVARRO: -- in just a couple of weeks.

CABRERA: I mean, it is worth noting that there was a new polling in Arizona today. And, obviously, there is a large Latino population there. There's a lot of diversity within that group, of course Latinos in Florida compared to Arizona. But it isn't. It isn't the same trend that's happening in Florida, Joe Biden is largely on par with what Hillary Clinton did, in terms of support with Latino voters in that state.

But let me come back to Florida real fast. And I want to get your take on this news we learned today about former New York City mayor and presidential candidate, Michael Bloomberg, who is now planning to spend at least $100 million in Florida to support Biden. And, how would you spend that money to have the biggest impact in Florida?

NAVARRO: Hell, I'd put an ad on the air of Fidel -- of Donald Trump hugging Putin, and Donald Trump with Kim Jung-Un, and Donald Trump with Erdogan and say -- and ask people, here in Miami, who do you think is the one who likes dictators? Who do you think has been running Venezuela and Cuba and Nicaragua? It's not the Russians and Putin. Do you think it's just a coincidence that the only strong man he doesn't like are the ones who have voters in South Florida?

And, Ana, people need to understand that when we're talking about those Latino polls in Florida, --

[16:45:03]

NAVARRO: -- it is -- it is largely being driven by the Cuban-American, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan-American vote. People who come from those social -- who fled those socialist countries. The number was completely different when it comes to Puerto Ricans in Central Florida.

CABRERA: But if Biden doesn't get those votes -- Ana, if Biden doesn't get those votes, can he win Florida? If Biden doesn't get those votes, can he win Florida?

NAVARRO: Well, he's have to get a lot more votes in -- from somewhere else. If he loses those votes, he's got to get the votes from somewhere else where he's doing well, in areas -- you know, college- educated whites.

CABRERA: Right.

NAVARRO: The problem is that it could -- it's -- it could -- it's not only -- it's not just Biden that's going to have a cost down ballot for Democrats --

CABRERA: Right.

NAVARRO: -- where, you know, usually Dade County -- Miami Dade County is very -- is a very strong area for them.

CABRERA: Well, thank you so much. Ana Navarro, you know that state and you obviously have such expertise when it comes to politics. Great to have you with us.

NAVARRO: And to Michael Bloomberg. (INAUDIBLE.)

CABRERA: All right. Good-bye, my friend. Thank you.

We'll be right back.

[16:46:12]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: All this week, in a special series called "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE," CNN will be highlighting people who are making a difference in the world through innovation and determination. These change makers came up with fresh solutions to big problems.

And, today, we're going to hear from a San Diego teen who empowers homeless people to work their way to a better life by paying them to clean up the community. And, in just three years, this program has built an impressive record of safer streets and improved lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN BARBER, CO-FOUNDER, WHEELS OF CHANGE: I think homelessness is just such a big issue that you can't try to tackle it all the once. And this program is very specific. It pays and empowers the homeless and that's it.

CROWD: Wheels of Change.

KEVIN BARBER: We're on track to employ about 5,200 homeless individuals this year. We employ 20 people a day who make $52 at the end of their four-hour shift.

EDWARD BIDWELL, HOMELESS WORKER, WHEELS OF CHANGE: Everything you see here that I'm wearing is purchased. This is not donations. I bought it with the money from Wheels of Change. The hat. The shirt. Everything. Shoes. By working for a living and having the stipend to give us dignity.

KEVIN BARBER: The other biggest part of our program is the homeless peer to peer outreach aspect. Our homeless employees go out to other homeless on the street and they offer them services such as rehab, shelter, permanent housing.

DR. CAROLYN BARBER, CO-FOUNDER, WHEELS OF CHANGE: I'm an emergency physician. I've been working here in San Diego for the last 25 years. In the E.R., you know, we see a lot of the homeless population. And you're just always trying to figure out, you know, is there something more you can do?

You know, when Kevin came to me with this idea, I kind of thought it was a knuckle head idea. I wasn't quite sure what we were doing. The non-profit we have running the program is called Alpha Project. And they have 35 different programs.

BOB MCELROY, CEO, ALPHA PROJECT: You know, people come in and pitch to us all the time. Kevin, this youngster, I know he is -- and he was three years younger then so that made him about, what, 14? I don't know.

KEVIN BARBER: So, I was 15 when I came up with the idea. And I was 16 when we actually got the wheels rolling. And now, I'm a sophomore at Santa Claire University.

MCELROY: You know, I'm cynical. I'm a cynical old guy, you know. But they were sincere about it and persistent. It fits in with what Alpha Project does perfectly.

KEVIN BARBER: So, before the Coronavirus pandemic, we were running our two vans five days a week and going all across the city and county to different hot spots with trash that needed help. Now, we're working out of the convention center where around 700 homeless individuals are being housed and they're walking all throughout the neighborhood and still cleaning up downtown San Diego.

I definitely love to challenge the conventional thinking that we see around, especially having a lot of people who don't really tend to engage with our communities.

CHERYL LOZANO, HOMELESS WORKER, WHEELS OF CHANGE: Just because we're homeless, doesn't mean that we don't want to work or that we can't work.

KENNETH ALLEN, SUPERVISOR, WHEELS OF CHANGE: Change is anybody. You've got to give people, you know, another opportunity and another chance. You know, I'm a prime example, a drug addict and former gang member. I turned my life around. And homeless. And look at me now. You know, I'm -- I got a beautiful family. Three kids. This is pretty where my miracle happened at.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all did a good job.

MCELROY: People are coming out with pizzas, sodas, waters. Thank you guys for being here. God bless you. We're so -- we're so proud of you. I mean, that self-esteem goes through the roof. The best medication I have for our mental health issues down here is accolades from the community.

MAYOR KEVIN FAULCONER (R), SAN DIEGO, CA: It's not only helping the individual, it's helping to clean up the community. We've had a lot of other cities want to come and see how it works in San Diego so they can emulate it and help people across the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went from homeless to a home.

MCELROY: This is true win-win.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Be sure to watch the "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE" one-hour special this Saturday at 10:00 p.m.

Heading back to school has been complicated for many parents in America, but it may be even more challenging for many of the 400,000 young people in foster care who don't have adequate support or resources. 2013 CNN hero, Danielle Gletow, and her organization, One Simple Wish, grants wishes to foster youth to make sure they don't get left behind.

[16:55:04]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIELLE GLETOW, FOUNDER, ONE SIMPLE WISH: We immediately created a COVID-19 response fund and started focusing on the things that we knew our young people were going to need. Those being laptops and other technology to keep them current with remote learning. As well as basic essentials, like food and assistance with rent or utility payments. We've seen an over 300 percent increase in needs coming in from our kids and young adults.

If you have ever been in foster care and you are struggling right now, please don't be ashamed to ask for help. We just want to make sure that everybody has a sense of support at a time when the whole world just feels completely out of control.

[16:55:46]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)