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Brits Facing Tougher COVID Rules; U.S. Passing 200,000 COVID-19 Deaths; Dr. Fauci Warns Americans to be Vigilant; Alexei Navalny Out of the Woods; Beijing Defends their COVID Response; Iran Complains of Harsh U.S. Sanctions; Russia Interfering with U.S. Elections; United States Supreme Court Showdown On Trump's Pick; President Trump to Announce Nominee Saturday; How Pandemic and Protesters Could Impact Voter Turnout; FBI Warns of Foreign Disinformation on Election Results; Screaming Protest in China; Israel's Cases Surging as Government Weigh Tighter Measures; Trump, 2021 will be Best Year Economically; Mnuchin and Pelosi Reach Funding Agreement; Prince Harry and Meghan Weigh in on U.S. Election; Race to Save Hundreds of Beached Whale Off Tasmania. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired September 23, 2020 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead, England could be under new coronavirus restrictions until the spring if the country doesn't get its second wave under control.
More than 200,000 Americans are dead from the virus, and the U.S. president is pointing the finger at China. We will have a reaction from Beijing.
The U.S. Election already faces foreign interference. Now, authorities are warning about hackers spreading disinformation about the results.
For a brief window in England, there were hopes that the pandemic could be coming to an end. But with COVID-19 infections skyrocketing, the government is ramping up restrictions for up to another six months. It wants people to work from home if possible, wear masks indoors, in public places and, mandating pubs and restaurants close early.
Just three weeks ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people were going back to the office, and it was the right thing to do. But here is what he is saying now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We can see what is happening in France and Spain. And, we know, alas, that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring. And that the vast majority of our people are no less susceptible. And the iron laws of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths. Many more families, losing loved ones before their time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Wales and Northern Ireland will also be adopting similar members, and Scotland is going even further.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLA STURGEON, FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND: So, after careful consideration, we have decided that from tomorrow, to be reviewed every three weeks and with exceptions that I will come onto visiting other households will not be permitted.
There will be exceptions for those living alone or alone with children, who form extended households. For couples and non-cohabiting relationships, for the provision of informal childcare by, for example grandparents and for treats people. But for everyone else, visiting each other's houses will for now not be permitted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: CNN's Scott McLean joins me now live from London. Good to see you, Scott, extensive restrictions, all in an effort to avoid a national shutdown. So how likely is it that this will work? And what's been the reaction so far?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, we are about to find out the answer to that question, Rosemary, about whether it will work. But the bottom line is that COVID infections have been rising across England. In fact, yesterday, this country saw the highest single day case count that it has had since early May.
And so, this summer of relative freedom that Brits have had since restrictions have been eased, it is effectively over. Yesterday, the prime minister announced a whole host of new restrictions, starting with the fact that bars and restaurants will have to close early at 10 p.m. Plans to bring back fans into soccer stadiums are being put on hold indefinitely.
What used to be guidelines for wearing masks indoors will actually become a legal requirement now. And, if you can work from home, you should. And as you pointed out, Rosemary, this is a big reversal from the messaging that we are hearing from this government just a month ago who is trying to get employers to send their employees back into the office, saying look, if the officers are COVID secure, there is no reason not to.
He's also promising to give more money to police forces to actually better enforce these rules, even giving forces the option to call in the military. The prime minister gave a special TV address last night. Here is how you solve it to the public.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHNSON: And to those who say, we don't need this stuff. And we should leave people to take their own risks, I say that these risks are not our own. The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else's death nail. And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable, with all the suffering that would entail, I must tell you that this is just not realistic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:04:58]
MCLEAN: So, the prime minister there, trying to find this middle ground between those who would rather just let the virus run ramp and go back to normal life, and those who would prefer a second national lockdown.
As for how long these rules might last, well, the prime minister says in the absence of a massive breakthrough on mass testing, or a new vaccine, he said, prepare for them to be in place for the next six months. And if they don't work to curb the virus, well, prepare for even tougher restrictions to come in, maybe even that a second nationwide lockdown, which is the government's absolute last resort.
And one of the things to mention, and that's with the enforcement of this rule of six, which actually came into effect last week, this limit on gatherings of six people. Well, it could make Christmas or Hanukkah this year just an immediate family kind of thing, or on the other hand, it might end up having a lot of illegal family dinners, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Yes. And we've seen similar with other countries that strict measures get results. So, we'll watch to see what happens in the U.K. Scott McLean joining us live from London, many thanks.
Well, the U.S. past 200,000 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, the most in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. And the U.S. president called it a shame. He also held a campaign rally, with many supporters not wearing masks. And here is what he said about the staggering death toll.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Well, I think it's a shame. I think if we didn't do it properly, and do it right, you would have two and a half million deaths. If you take a look at alternatives, you could have two and a half million deaths or something there about. But it's a horrible thing. It should never, ever happen. China let this happen, and just remember that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, his Democratic rival, Joe Biden says the U.S. is paying the price for Mr. Trump's inability to ineffectively lead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The virus was too big for him. All his life, Donald Trump has been bailed out of any problem he faced. With this crisis, a real crisis, the crisis that required serious presidential leadership, he just was not up to it. He froze. He failed to act. He panicked. And America has paid the worst price of any nation in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering new rules that would push any vaccine approvals past election day. Officials say the new policies may have vaccine makers wait about two months after giving half or all trial participants a second vaccine dose to ensure its safety. The rule would push its release past President Donald Trump's hoped for vaccine day of November 3rd.
Well, new forecast from the University of Washington predicts 180,000 more deaths by the end of the year.
CNN's Nick Watt reports on how the U.S. is faring through the pandemic.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We passed 200,000 dead. That's a hard, horrific fact.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CELINE GOUNDER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: This is one of the greatest tragedies in American history, not least because these 200,000 deaths, those deaths were preventable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Two hundred thousand people dead, killed by a disease we didn't even know existed a year ago, among them, Darlene and Johnny Lee Peoples, from North Carolina. Married 48 years, killed by COVID within minutes of each other holding hands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, and in some respects, stunning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Only heart disease and cancer will kill more Americans this year. And this bears repeating over and over. The U.S. accounts for a little over 4 percent of the world's population, but a little over 20 percent of the world's COVID-19 deaths. And it's far from over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: We are entering into a risk period.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WATT: It was October that proved the deadliest month for the 1918 flu pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: I would like to see us go into that at such a low level, that when you have the inevitable cases, you can handle them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Average daily deaths are now rising in 20 states. Average daily case counts are now rising in 24 states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: Masks work, physical distancing works, avoiding crowds work, that is the fact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: But as we try to fight this virus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMESH ADALJA, SENIOR SCHOLAR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY: As with many things on coronavirus, the person not to listen to is the president. Because most things he says are misleading, or outright lie.
TRUMP: It affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Do the opposite. Wear a mask, take this seriously.
Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
CHURCH: So, let's talk now with Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert and professor at Vanderbilt University. Thank you, doctor, for talking with us and for all that you do.
[03:10:04]
WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY: My pleasure to be with you, Rosemary.
CHURCH: So, sadly, the United States past the tragic milestone on Tuesday of more than 200,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. And that's more than any other nation in the world. Sadly, most of those deaths were preventable.
Dr. Fauci warns we are now moving into a truly risky period, as we go into the flu season. So how is it possible, that the richest country in the world appears to have no national strategy in place with a president who thumbs his nose at testing and the wearing of masks, despite ensuring that he receives all of these daily tests, and he is protected, but the rest of this country is not, apparently?
SCHAFFNER: Well, how is that possible indeed? It would have been, to most of us in public health and infectious diseases, literally unthinkable. But this is happening. The entire response to COVID has been inadequate and politicized. And so, we have this heterogeneous response across the United States, which is more effective in some parts of the country, but in most of the country, it kind of stutters along into very uncertain ways.
And all of these deaths resulted, each of these persons has family that's in mourning, and so many of them, so many of them really preventable, and an uncertain future. Here is influenza coming, which will complicate the circumstances.
So, we're out there urging everyone to be vaccinated against influenza. Not only for their own protection, but to take some strain off a healthcare system that is in many places, still stress with dealing with COVID.
CHURCH: And hopefully, people will go out and do that. And of course, now we know the Food and Drug Administration has submitted tougher new standards for COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to boost public trust.
Let's just look at some numbers right now, and this Kaiser poll shows that 54 percent of Americans say they would not get vaccinated if a COVID-19 vaccine came out before an election.
So, doctor, this is all about gaining trust, isn't it? But how likely is it that these new FDA guidelines will be approved by the White House? Because that's where they've gone for approval, if it means that President Trump can't fulfill his promise to have a vaccine available around the time of the election?
SCHAFFNER: Yes. We're in very dangerous and turbulent uncharted waters here. This is so unorthodox. We need the trust of the American people to accept the vaccines once they are licensed. We are going to hear in this conversation assume that they will achieve a level of effectiveness, such that they will be released, probably under an emergency use authorization.
But to get people in, to roll up their sleeves, they will have to believe that the vaccines are not only worthwhile, effective but safe. And given the political cover that has enveloped this vaccine, that's going to be very, very difficult.
Those of us in public health and infectious diseases will be out on the frontlines telling the truth, trying to be transparent, reaching out, reassuring. We will have a substantial task in front of us.
CHURCH: Indeed, you shall. And doctor, President Trump falsely claims that virtually nobody who is young has or will be affected by COVID- 19. This, despite more than 200,000 Americans as we've said have died from the virus. Does that message encourage more reckless behavior when young people think it doesn't affect them? They've heard it from the president.
And is that what we are seeing at the president's rallies? People crowded together with few masks to be seen?
SCHAFFNER: Well, that's all very evident. The United States population is divided into two groups, the careful group and the careless group, the careful group masking, six-foot distancing, staying at home, avoiding groups. The others are out there in a rather careless way, exposing themselves, exhilarating the spread of the virus.
You know, the virus has only one job. Spread to someone else and keep spreading beyond. It's doing that very effectively over much of the United States. And I think with the lack of leadership, that's going to be the status quo for some time in the future.
CHURCH: Dr. William Schaffner, many thanks.
SCHAFFNER: My pleasure.
[03:14:57]
CHURCH: Just getting this breaking news in. We are hearing that Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader in Russia who was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok recently, has just been discharged from hospital.
And doctors there in Berlin are saying that he is expected to basically have a complete recovery. We understand he has improved sufficiently to be discharged at this point. And he should have complete recovery. He said -- they said that that is possible. However, it is too early to gauge whether there would be any long-term effects.
So, we'll keep a very close eye on that but a very good -- some very good news there for Alexei Navalny and his family. He has been discharged from hospital there in Berlin. We'll keep an eye on this.
Still ahead, diplomatic drama, President Trump calls for the United Nations to punish China, and the country's ambassador fires back.
And a new report suggests Russia is targeting Joe Biden with a misinformation campaign ahead of November's presidential election. The details on the other side of the break.
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CHURCH: A complete failure. That is what China's ambassador to the United Nations is calling the U.S. response to the coronavirus. He defended Beijing's handling of the pandemic after U.S. President Donald Trump try to pin blame for the virus on China. Mr. Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday in a prerecorded message. He called for the U.N. to punish China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China. In the earliest days of the virus, China lock down travel domestically, while allowing flights to leave China, and infect the world. The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used his address to slam the U.S. over strict sanctions. He says Iran is, quote, "grappling with the harshest sanctions in history."
And for more on this, we have Sam Kiley in Abu Dhabi, and Steven Jiang in Beijing. Welcome to you both. Steven, let's start with you. President Trump blamed China for the pandemic and called on the U.N. to punish Beijing. What -- what did China say when it struck back?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, Rosemary, the fact that Mr. Trump delivered a speech on a day when the U.S. death toll surpassed 200, 000, it certainly made it easy for Chinese officials and state media to make their rebuttals. And they have done so with the Chinese ambassador to the U.N. as you mentioned, basically calling Mr. Trump a liar, saying if anyone should be held accountable. It will be the U.S. government for causing so many people to die with their, quote, unquote, "irresponsible behaviors."
But what really stood out on Tuesday of course, was the contrast between the two speeches delivered by Mr. Trump and the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who's obviously trying to take the high road.
[03:20:03]
He did not mention Mr. Trump or the U.S. by name. Instead, he struck a more familiar and a calm tone, really emphasizing a lot of the usual themes that U.N. global cooperation, multilateral approach. He reiterated Beijing's commitment to the U.N. and pledging $100 million for two different causes.
So, he really was trying to protect this image of China being the responsible adult in the room. And saying a lot of things the audience there wanted to hear. But the problem is, what he had said doesn't necessarily translate into the reality.
You know, he talked about China not seeking hegemony, and then look at what's happening in the South China Sea. He talked about China not wanting a cold or hot war, but the Chinese military is getting increasingly aggressive across the Taiwan Strait. And he also highlighted China's plan to be carbon neutral in 2060. And experts say that China is actually increasing its use of coal.
So, Rosemary, at the end of the day, to borrow favorite phrase of the Chinese government, we should watch, we should not only listen to what they say, but also watch what they do. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Yes, most definitely. And Sam, let's go to you now. And Iran's president slammed the U.S. over strict sanctions. What impact have they had? And what's likely to happen next with these sanctions?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are two sets of sanctions being discussed simultaneously, which make it very confusing. The first set of sanctions are the ones imposed unilaterally or bilaterally by the United States after it withdrew from the famed nuclear deal with Iran, that lifted the United Nations imposed sanctions back in 2018.
Those sanctions have been very crippling to the Iranian economy. The economy is in dire straits with collapsing currency, and its main effort, or its support structure is the export of oil. And even though the rest of the world effectively does not have sanctions on Iran, the trade in oil is rendered very, very difficult for Iran because it has to be done in dollars. And if you do it in dollars, you can fall foul of U.S. sanctions.
Now what the Trump administration has been trying to do, is it gets the United Nations to reimpose the sanctions that existed before the nuclear deal. But the Europeans in particular have said very publicly that since they withdrew from the nuclear deal signed multilaterally with Iran, they have no standing in that matter.
And that was something that was reinforced by President Macron when he was speaking at the U.N. General Assembly. The French president said that the American policy on Iran was not working. The policy of maximum pressure was simply not working and the way forward was diplomacy and engagement. That is a significant schism between the rest of the world, really and United States on Iran.
CHURCH: All right. CNN's Sam Kiley in Abu Dhabi, and before him Steven Jiang. Many thanks to you both. I appreciate it.
Well the CIA believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is probably directing a campaign to interfere with the upcoming U.S. election. That is according to a CIA assessment reported by the Washington Post.
And it says in par, we assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of, and probably directing Russia's influence operations aimed at denigrating the former U.S. vice president, supporting the U.S. President, and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November.
And speaking with CNN's Jake Tapper, former national security adviser H.R. McMaster says Russia is simply feeding off the dissent that already exists in the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: What do you make of the fact that so many of the criticisms that you are talking about, the Russians are trying to do to make us and the public not trust our election integrity, the election is rigged, Joe Biden has dementia, and all of this stuff is stuff that we are hearing repeated by leaders, by American political leaders?
H.R. MCMASTER, FORMER UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: Yes, it's just wrong, Jake. I mean, it's making it easy for Vladimir Putin. And I think it's really important for leaders to be responsible about this, because really, as you know, Putin doesn't create these divisions in our society. He doesn't create these doubts. He magnifies them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And Fiona Hill, President Trump's former adviser on everything Russian echoed that sentiment, saying the U.S. is destroying itself from within.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIONA HILL, FORMER SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE & RUSSIA, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: We are increasingly seen as an object of pity including by our allies. Because they are so shocked by what's happening and certainly how we are eating ourselves alive with our divisions. You know, we are the ones who are creating all this. It's not, you know, the Russians or the Chinese or anyone else. I mean, we are doing this to ourselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:25:02]
CHURCH: And on national voter registration day in the U.S., federal authorities warned Americans to be on guard for false information on election night. The FBI and the nation's cybersecurity agency say foreign actors might spread disinformation about election results. The government is encouraging voters to be patient with results as officials count an expected avalanche of mail-in ballots.
Joining me now is CNN national security analyst Steve Hall. He is also the former CIA chief of Russia and Ukraine operations. Good to have you with us.
STEVE HALL, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Great to be here.
CHURCH: So, the Washington Post's Josh Rogin reported on a highly classified CIA assessment that revealed Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, was probably directing operations aimed at denigrating Joe Biden, while at the same time supporting Donald Trump and fueling public divisions ahead of the U.S. elections.
What is your reaction to that article, and why do you think Putin is working so very hard to keep Donald Trump in office?
HALL: Well, Rosemary, it shouldn't be really any surprise to anyone when you read the contents of this report that says that, you know, Russia and Vladimir Putin specifically are seeking to divide the United States or to create greater chasms, if you will, between, you know, some of the difficult issues that we are dealing with right now in the run up to the election.
So, you know, Putin's first goal is really to divide the United States. He's not a Republican supporter, he's not a Democratic supporter. He is somebody who wants to -- a divided United States, because a divided United States and our western allies as well divided democracies are less of a threat to Vladimir Putin. So that's why he is working so hard to create those divisions. The more riots we have in the streets, the more questions about the electoral, you know, system, system in the United States, how it works, whether it will be effective. Those all played very strongly to what he wants to accomplish in Russia, which is again, to create a weakened United States.
With regard to Donald Trump, you know, he sees not, you know, a friend in Donald Trump but he sees somebody who would be very, very divisive. I mean, Trump is probably the most divisive president that we've had in modern history.
So, those are some of the elements that Vladimir Putin is trying to pull together not only as we go into this election but probably in the days and weeks immediately following it.
CHURCH: Yes. They almost seem to have the same talking points. Don't they? So, this is the first time that we've heard about Putin's direct involvement. How do you think this top-secret CIA document ended up in Josh Rogin's hands?
HALL: Yes. You know, Josh is a good reporter. So, I don't know who his sources were, but it's basically got, sort of fall into three camps. He's either got to have people who were talking to him inside the intelligence community, although the report indicates that it's people who have seen the reporting.
So that could be somebody in the congressional oversight committees from either party, or it could be somebody in the White House, of course, who would also see those types of -- this type of information.
But again, this is not, you know, Vladimir Putin's direct involvement or interest in this is, again, not a surprise. Putin himself is a former intelligence officer and he understands that the main enemy of both himself personally and Russia is the United States.
And so, this is a big deal for him, and it's really no surprise that he, himself, where at the very least, would be kept, you know, regularly briefed on this if not participated in it directly. That wouldn't surprise me at all.
CHURCH: Right. And of course, it comes as we receive a warning from the FBI about foreign actors spreading disinformation about 2020 results. What's your reaction to that warning, coming at this time, and how does the U.S. need to respond to this threat?
HALL: Yes. So, you know, for a long time we've been seeing sort of, really, since 2016, we've been seeing the buildup to this point as the elections draw closer and closer. But the FBI indication that we also need to be looking very carefully at what happens in the post-election time is, in my view, particularly concerning.
It should be concerning to all Americans, really, and everybody who is part of the democracy, because there have been several scenarios laid out as too, OK, what if, for example, the results of the election or not immediately cleared here in the United States? We're used to getting those election results either the night of the election or the very next day.
But if there is, you know, contentious, if there are contentious issues that are surrounding it or if mail-in voting slows the process down, it will be a really, really delicate situation where neither side really knows what's happened either the Republicans or the Democrats.
And you can be sure that Vladimir Putin is going to do everything he can to again get into that, get under the American skin, and try to -- try to o make it a really, really divisive time where we're kind of going against each other. And that plays straight into Vladimir Putin's hands.
CHURCH: Yes, it certainly does. Steve Hall, many thanks for joining us. I appreciate it.
HALL: Sure.
CHURCH: And we'll have much more on the U.S. presidential election in just a moment, including why experts say voter turnout could exceed anything the country has seen in the last 100 years.
[03:30:00]
And speculation of President Trump Supreme Court pick is swirling around this woman, what we know about Amy Coney Barrett. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: President Trump said, he will announce his Supreme Court nominee on Saturday, despite an outcry from Democrats. Mr. Trump says, in his view, it's key to have a justice in place by Election Day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We need nine justices. You need that. With the unsolicited millions of ballots that their sending, it's a scam. It's a hoax. Everybody knows that. And the Democrats know it better than anybody else. So, you are going to need nine justices up there. I think it's going to be very important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Senate Republicans seemed to have the votes needed to fast- track hearings and a confirmation vote. Mitt Romney, who voted to convict President Trump during his impeachment trial, now says he's on board with considering a nominee before the election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UH): I think at this stage, it's appropriate to look at the constitution and to look at the president, which has existed over process since the beginning of our country's history.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: President Trump has vowed to nominate a woman to replace late
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And one judge appears to be the overwhelming favorite.
Pamela Brown has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Officials tell CNN Trump seemed very enthusiastic about Amy Coney Barrett after a meeting yesterday at the White House that lasted several hours. After the meeting, the president telling people he believe she will be very well received by quote, his people. Barrett began her career as a law clerk for late Justice Antonin Scalia.
AMY CONEY BARRETT, APPELLATE JUDGE: It was intimidating working for him. You know, when he called you in his office, you had to be prepared to just go to the mat and talk about whatever it was. And he was always five steps ahead of you.
BROWN: She went on to become a law professor at Notre Dame, her alma mater.
BARRETT: Before I was a judge, I was a law professor.
BROWN: Where in 2012 she signed on to a public letter, protesting that abortion and contraception coverage of the Affordable Care Act were quote, an assault on religious liberty.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): You are controversial. Let's start with that.
BROWN: Barrett's devout catholic faith became a point of contention during her 2017 confirmation hearing for the 7th circuit appeals court.
FEINSTEIN: When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that's of concern.
[03:35:08]
BROWN: Barrett pushed back, insisting no judge's religious belief should have any bearing on their interpretation of the law.
BARRETT: If you asking whether I take my faith seriously and I'm a faithful Catholic, I am, although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge. It's never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge's personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else on the law.
BERGEN: Barrett also talked about being a mother of seven during the hearing, including two adopted children from Haiti and a son who she learned had down syndrome when she was pregnant with him.
BARRETT: Benjamin has special needs, and that presents unique challenges for all of us.
BROWN: Barrett's personal story and conservative credentials have endeared her to grassroots, pro-life conservatives.
MALLORY QUIGLEY, Vladimir Putin OF COMMUNICATIONS, SUSAN B. ANTHONY LIST: Someone like Amy Coney Barrett would be a very powerful choice to fire up the base. She's extremely brilliant jurist and her personal story I think speaks to her pro-life beliefs.
BROWN: Pamela Brown, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Well, the United States is just 41 days away from the election, but multiple crises could affect how many voters actually cast a ballot.
CNN's Brian Todd has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Long lines for early voting in Fairfax County, Virginia.
KATE HANLEY, ELECTORAL BOARD SECRETARY, FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: It is very exciting to have all these people turn out, far more than we expected.
TODD: With voter interest off the charts and the stakes so dramatically high, many indications point to a massive turnout at the polls this fall.
BERNARD FRAGA, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, EMORY UNIVERISTY: Frankly, this year, many election experts are predicting we are going to see voter turnout that exceeds anything we've seen in the last hundred years. This could really be a tidal wave of voter turnout.
TODD: The coronavirus pandemic, though, could throw a wrench into that if voters feel it is safer to stay home and don't want to rely on mail-in ballots. But President Trump's divisive personality and his handling of the pandemic, experts say, could drive more Americans to the ballot box, fans and foes alike.
JAN LEIGHLEY, PROFESSOR, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Many individuals are suffering from direct consequences of the pandemic, from their own health, to their jobs, to the economy, and much of what I think citizens will evaluate will be filtered through that.
TODD: The racial justice movement this year could also energize the electorate. It's been that way throughout American history. Highly charged issues off and driving surges in voting.
The record for the highest turnout percentage in American history, 1876, when women couldn't vote, and minorities were routinely disenfranchised. More than 82 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. Rutherford B. Hayes won a tightly contested race as Americans engaged in a heated debate over reconstruction.
FRAGA: One reason why turnout was high was because of the extreme level of political polarization and the work with parties were doing to mobilize their supporters.
TODD: In the modern era, 2008 saw an exceptionally high turnout. Barack Obama's historic run invigorating millions of new voters. Some of the lowest turnouts in American history experts say, came during the 1970s.
LEIGHLEY: In part, you are coming off of the 1960 election, 60, 64, 68, where there was a vigorous civil rights movement and youth movement and women's movement that was engaging a lot of people in politics on key issues. In 70s, frankly there weren't quite the -- perhaps compelling issues and conflicts of the day.
TODD: This, year if the issues of racial justice and the pandemic are the engine for voter turnout, specific segments of the American population could fuel that engine. Some groups of people consistently turn out to vote more than others, analysts say.
FRAGA: One of the patterns we've seen historically and that we expect for this year as well is that older voters, more wealthy, higher education voters and white voters, will be much more likely to go to the polls.
TODD: Meaning, younger, lower income, lower education and minority voters could have less impact.
Who could be helped or hurt this year if voter turnout is exceptionally high? Republicans have traditionally thought that lower voter turnout overall is better for them. And President Trump has openly alluded to that. But the experts we talked to say the voting data since the 2000 election at least does not make that at all clear. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
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CHURCH: Joining me now is Richard Hasen, a CNN election law analyst and law professor at the University of California-Irvine. He's also author of a new book, Election meltdown, dirty tricks, distrust, and the threat to American democracy. Thank you, sir for being with us.
[03:40:03]
RICHARD HASEN, CNN ELECTION LAW ANALYST: Great to be with you.
CHURCH: I want to start by asking you how big a delay you expect to see in the vote count for the 2020 presidential election. And of course, when we talk about delay, let's clarify that. Because there is the expectation that results would come out on the night. So, really, anything beyond that isn't truly a delay.
So, talk to us about that, but I also want to ask you what your greatest concern is about the optics and consequences of what is perceived as a delayed result? Now that we learned of a warning from the FBI that foreign actors are likely to spread disinformation about the 2020 results.
HASEN: Well, the first thing to know is that because we have the Electoral College for choosing the president, we are going to be getting our results state by state. And some states are going to be able to count fairly quickly. Those are states where they have a lot of experience counting mail-in ballots. And where they are able to process them in advance.
So, Florida for example is going to have a lot of mail-in ballots, but they process them pretty quickly. Other places like Arizona, which has a lot of mail-in ballots or California, tend to take a few weeks to get the results.
I'm especially concerned about places like Michigan and Pennsylvania, because they just do not have a lot of absentee balloting. They are going to have a lot now, because of the pandemic, and because they've opened up their absentee balloting to whoever would like to use it, given the pandemic and just given the convenience to voters.
So, if one candidate is ahead in the Electoral College by a lot of votes, we may know by the time that we go to sleep, at least out where I am on the West Coast of the United States. We may know who the winner is. If it's a close election, it could take a week or longer before enough ballots are processed in states that matters for the Electoral College outcome. Before we know the actual winner.
That creates a period of uncertainty and it's not just foreign adversaries who might be spreading disinformation or trying to mess with the American public. It could be President Trump himself, because he has said that if he doesn't win the election, it's rigged.
CHURCH: Let's talk about the possibility of President Trump contesting this on the basis that he has perceived it as delayed and that if there is this red mirage or blue shift that everyone talks about, these scenarios, what would be the legal basis of that? What would be the possible legal outcome of him contesting an election on the basis of that?
HASEN: He could try to go to court and challenge the vote count in particular states, claim that there is fraud, and this is the kind of thing that could get tied up in the courts for some time. It will dependent if there is evidence of irregularities in the election. If they are really aren't I think the courts would probably pretty quickly tell him he's got to put up his evidence or you know, take his loss and that's it.
CHURCH: and of course, we are aware of some meddling going on within the U.S. Postal Service. What impact would you expect that to have on the outcome of the counts of mail-in votes?
HASEN: So, I think there's been a lot of publicity in the United States about problems with the Postal Service and delays with election. There's been a lot of messaging that if you're going to vote by mail, you should not wait until the last minute.
But we know that they are going to be people who are going to wait for the last minute. That's why we are seeing a lot of litigation now, Democrats and voter rights groups are trying to extend the time for the receipts of absentee ballots, so in some states, as long as they're by Election Day. They could come in days later. These disputes may end up going all the way to the Supreme Court.
So, there's fighting over what those roles are going to be with the backdrop that there is concern that as we get close to the election with all of the controversies about the postal that some ballots could be delayed in arriving back at election headquarters in each state to be counted.
CHURCH: All right. Richard Hasan, thank you so much for talking with to us.
HASEN: Thank you.
CHURCH: Well, they can't hit the streets, but Chinese protesters may have found a way to make their voices heard. We'll explain what all the noises about on the other side of the break. Stay with us.
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CHURCH: Israel just hit a new daily record for coronavirus cases with more than 6,800 reported on Tuesday. And this comes as the government considers even tighter restrictions, including limitations on prayer and protest.
CNN's Oren Liebermann joins us now live from Jerusalem. So, Oren, what's going on here and why haven't the earlier restrictions had an impact?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: Rosemary, it is a stunningly large number according to the Ministry of Health that we just saw yesterday in terms of daily coronavirus cases, 6,861.
A new record far surpassing the old record set about one week ago, which was just 5,523. That itself was a stunning number, but Israel has surged past that number. Of course, this comes as Israel has already started its second general lockdown as you pointed out. That kicking in on Friday.
Too recently for that lockdown to have any effect on the surging coronavirus numbers and the infection rate, but there are concerns that even if we waited for two weeks to see the impact of that lockdown, it wouldn't be there.
Why? Because critics have said since the beginning that this is second general lockdown not as strict as the first one we saw in April. It has too many loopholes and too many exceptions to truly bring down the infection rate.
Exceptions, for example, for public demonstrations, for prayer, there are exemptions for public and private work spaces. You're allowed a kilometer outside of your home as opposed to April, where you are allowed a 10th of, that only 100 meters, and that's why critics have said the only damage that this lockdown will do as of right now is to the economy, without truly containing the infection rate.
But it is because of these numbers that the coronavirus cabinet met for hours yesterday, but still wasn't able to come to any decisions on whether to tighten the restrictions or to leave them as is. With the expectations coming, that coronavirus cabinet will meet again to figure out what it can do.
The government looking specifically at prayer as a way of limiting prayer and therefore trying to limit the infection rate, especially with a major holiday coming up in just a few days and large public demonstrations which at this point are still allowed. The question, what, if anything at this point will be able to contain and bring in this coronavirus numbers.
Meanwhile, the organization of internal medicine units at hospital here says that out of about a total of about 110 internal medicine units, about a third of them have been changed over to coronavirus units with more being added to that list every day, because of the rising numbers. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. CNN correspondent, Oren Liebermann, joining us live from Jerusalem, many thanks. Well, some college students in China are so furious they are yelling from their windows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD SHOUTING)
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CHURCH: Those are reportedly the shouts of students in central China, hopping mad over their universities strict COVID-19 measures. State media report they can be heard shouting lift the lockdown.
Here is CNN's Selina Wang.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Screaming for 30 minutes from their dorm rooms, that's how students at the University in China protested the COVID-19 restrictions on campus. CNN cannot independently verify this video that was widely shared on Chinese social media. State media said students were yelling for the school to quote, lift the lockdown and solve the problems.
Several students contacted by CNN would not comment. According to state rules, students weren't allowed to leave campus during the spring semester. For the fall semester, students can leave, but only with strict precautions, including filling out an application form. The students at Xi'an International Studies reportedly complained that they were locked on campus during the pandemic with access only too expensive and subpar food.
[03:50:08]
Some mentioned long bathroom lines and difficulties taking a shower. In response to the screaming protests, the University said it would simplify the procedures for students leaving campus.
They'd also said it extends service hours for meals and showers and cracked down on the price hikes. There's been this heated debate in China over how schools should balance or return to normalcy with COVID precautions. That's a challenge schools around the world are grappling with.
Selina Wang, CNN, Hong Kong.
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CHURCH: And the pandemic has plunged the global economy into recession. But the White House insists the U.S. is recovering quickly. At a campaign rally Tuesday, President Trump had this forecast.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I will tell you, you see what's happening. You see the numbers as well as I do. You are on your way to, I think, maybe, economically, the best year. This next year will be the best year we've had. And the third quarter, wait until you look at the third quarter. Look at the numbers. They will be up before the election. What I predict they'll be very good. By the way, if they are not, I deny I ever said this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: John Defterios is in Abu Dhabi. He joins us now live. So, John, is there any evidence to support President Trump's forecast? That 2021 will be the best year economically?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: The simple answer, Rosemary is no. And even the president made a pledge to create 10 million jobs over 10 months in 2021, all after the election. That's never been done before, but you can see the strategy taking shape here at the White House.
The president letting everything ride on the third quarter. His economic adviser, Larry Kudlow said we are in a v-shaped recovery, but we have to remember the collapse a record 31 percent in the second quarter. So, you have to go up from there.
The real question mark is, is it sustainable? And the (inaudible) assessment came from the Federal Reserve board chairman, Jerome Powell on Capitol Hill, who keeps on repeating, on certain times ahead. He is particularly worried about youth unemployment rising, black unemployment, because there's an exposure to the retail sector itself. We still have better than 13 million people without jobs, 8.4 percent, Rosemary. That's more than three times the level back in February.
And more corporate restructuring is taking place. Sizzler restaurants, going in to -- file for chapter 11 bankruptcy in shuttering 14 restaurants on the West Coast. And the giant mall operator, Brookfield is going to be laying off 20 percent of its workforce.
We know, prior to COVID-19, there was a shift to digital purchasers like Amazon. That was accelerated because of the pandemic of course. But the hollowing out of mainstream America is a real issue and it will get deeper as time goes on, as you can see.
CHURCH: Yes. And John, it looks like a major stimulus package is off the table for the U.S. election. But a budget disaster will be avoided, so what has been worked out?
DEFTERIOS: When all out fails, Rosemary, shall we say, you compromise. That's what we have here. It is -- a House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, they were wrestling over this for the last, basically 60 days and came out with not a major stimulus package of $1.5 trillion or more. But a package that carries us through the elections to December 11th to get this off the table of government shutdowns.
There was something in this package for everyone, farm relief for the Trump base, also meals programs for those who are suffering right now because of the pandemic. But Rosemary, we don't know for example what happens in the airlines sector, which was looking for another $32 billion. They're going piece by piece now, because there was no true consensus to move forward.
CHURCH: Exactly. CNN's John Defterios, joining us live from Abu Dhabi, many thanks.
Well, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are known for breaking norms. Now, they are speaking out about the upcoming U.S. election and hate speech.
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[03:55:00]
CHURCH: An army of volunteers is working feverishly to head off a wildlife catastrophe in Tasmania, Australia. More than 450 whales have stranded themselves in a harbor and on a sand bar off the islands West Coast, the largest mass whale beaching in Tasmania's history.
Experts believe more than a third of the whales have died. One biologist says any whale we save, we are considering a real win. It's not clear what's prompting the whales to do this.
Well, time and again, we've heard how vitally important the upcoming U.S. election will be. And now even the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are weighing in. In a virtual event for the Time 100, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle warned of the need to reject hate speech, misinformation and negativity online.
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MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: What we are exposed to online seeped into how we engage with each other offline. It can train us to be kind or it can train us to be cruel. PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: When the bad outweighs the good, for
many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity on line, the effects are felt exponentially.
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CHURCH: The duchess noted how we always hear this is the most important election of our lifetime, but this year she says, it truly is.
And thanks so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter at Rosemary CNN, and I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Stay with us.
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