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Trump Did Not Pay Tax For Ten Years; Biden And Trump Prep For Debate; Dubai Port Opens To Israel; Trump's Tax Returns Revealed by New York Times; India's Surging COVID-19 Cases; Coronavirus Gets Downplayed Again by Trump; Armenia and Azerbaijan Fight Over Disputed Region. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired September 28, 2020 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching "CNN Newsroom" and I am Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, a stunning new report about Trump's taxes. What we are learning about how much he paid and the debts he must repay in the coming years.

No signs of slowing, India hits a coronavirus milestone as concerns grow around the world about the upcoming flu season. And --

(VIDEO PLAYING)

Long simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flare up with deadly consequences.

Good to have you with us. With just weeks before the U.S. election, an explosive report from "The New York Times" is putting the spotlight on President Donald Trump's tax returns during an examination of more than two decades of filings.

The report found Mr. Trump paid no taxes for 10 out of the 15 years before his election, and he paid just $750 in 2016 and again that same amount in 2017.

The report catalogues years of business losses and hundreds of millions of dollars of outstanding debts Mr. Trump must repay in the next few years. He dismisses the report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's fake news. It's totally fake news. Made up, fake. We went through the same stories. You can ask me the same questions. Four years ago I had to litigate this and talk about it, totally fake news. No. Actually, I pay tax, but -- and you will see that as soon as my tax returns -- it's under audit. They've been under audit for a long time. The IRS does not treat me well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's John Harwood has further details on "The Times" report.

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: On the eve of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, a bombshell report in "The New York Times," reporting that the president paid only $750 in taxes, the first year he was president.

And a broader picture, of a president under financial pressure who is relying on his status as president to keep himself afloat financially. This "New York Times" report says that in 10 of the previous 15 years before he became president, Donald Trump paid no income taxes.

It says that he has $300 million in loans that he has personally guaranteed, coming due within the next 4 years, potential loss of another $100 million from a disputed tax refund that he received from the IRS.

It paints a picture of a president who is there for using his properties to attract business from lobbyists from the U.S. government, from foreign officials, all because of the tightening financial squeeze that they depict him as being under right now.

Now, this is a president, of course, who sold himself to the American people as a highly successful businessman and said his success was the reason why they should hire him as president to turn the country around.

This report cast out on whether he had that success at all, whether he's a billionaire as he has claimed, and whether or not it shakes his own voters.

Many of those small donors, those blue collar voters, who support the president, they may not defect from him, but this report takes away time, which is the one commodity the president doesn't have very much. He just has a few weeks left in the general election.

He's trailing significantly nationally and in battleground states to Joe Biden. And the more time he has to spend defending himself against this charge, the more difficult it is for him to come back and you can bet that he's going to be defending it on that debate stage with Joe Biden on Tuesday night. John Harwood, CNN, the White House.

CHURCH: In a statement Sunday, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Richard Neal, said this. "Today's report underscores the importance of the Ways and Means Committee's ongoing lawsuit to access Mr. Trump's tax returns and ensure the presidential audit program is functioning effectively without improper influence.:"

He went on to say, "I remain confident that the law is on the committee side and that our request meets the standard the Supreme Court set with its July 2020 rulings. Our case is very strong, and we will ultimately prevail."

[02:04:59] Well, meantime, Joe Biden's campaign is lashing out at President Trump over the report on his tax returns. The Democratic presidential nominee's deputy campaign manager was on CNN earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATE BEDINGFIELD, JOE BIDEN'S DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I mean, look, it's the latest reminder how clear the choice is here between, in this race, between Park Avenue and Scranton.

You have, in Donald Trump, a president who spends this time thinking about how he can work his way out of paying taxes, of meeting the obligation that every other working person in this country meets every year.

You know, with Joe Biden, you have somebody who has a completely different perspective on what it means to be a working family in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, Renato Mariotti joins me now. Good to have you with us.

RENATO MARIOTTI, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, thank you.

CHURCH: So, after years of hiding his tax returns, "The New York Times" now has access to two decades of Donald Trump's tax documents, revealing he paid no income tax at all for 10 years, except for $1,500 in 2016 and 2017.

He enjoyed vast write offs while his property struggled. He is currently in an audit battle with hundreds of millions of debt about to come due. Donald Trump, calls it fake news. What do you say to that?

MARIOTTI: Well, if he wants to prove "The New York Times" wrong, then he can release his tax returns like everyone else does when they run for president of the United States.

I have to say, this is a matter that is causing so much speculation and so much concern that, really, if he doesn't want to release his tax returns ordinarily, this is the sort of thing that you would think either the Department of Justice or Congress would want to investigate.

CHURCH: So, if he doesn't release his tax returns can we assume that this is all right then?

MARIOTTI: I wouldn't say that at all. First of all, obviously, there is an ongoing federal audit. And I think that right now, of course, the Department of Justice is under control of the Trump administration.

So, I think what we're going to have to do is wait and see what happens after he leaves office, and of course, New York State authorities here in the United States are investigating his state tax returns so there may be some news there as well.

CHURCH: So, his tax data also reveals that he is using the presidency to keep himself afloat. So, what will happen when and if he loses office? What's his legal vulnerability here?

MARIOTTI: You know, it will be interesting to see what the next administration does. I have to say, there are some matters here that seem worthy of investigation.

Mirror for example, incorrectly taking deductions is not a crime, but if for example there was a false statement here that Trump knew about when he signed it that potentially could be a criminal violation.

And it seems on its face that his documents are at odds with Trump's financial disclosures which show him with significant assets and don't list the debts that are listed here by "The New York Times."

CHURCH: And we've also learned that he's in the middle of a tax audit that involves $72 million dollar tax refund that he requested. Did that presumably was the red flag here? So, what have you learned about that?

MARIOTTI: Well, what we have learned here of course is that that audit is still ongoing. I will say, I represent lots of people who run into tax trouble and it is possible to delay those investigations significantly, but I am surprised that Trump has been able to delay at this long.

And I think that Congress needs to provide oversight and see whether or not Trump or any of his allies in the administration are interfering with the IRS.

CHURCH: And what's your sense of how these documents fell into the hands of "The New York Times?" Do you think someone within the IRS wanted to see these go public?

MARIOTTI: It is more likely someone, for example, Trump's accounting wanted to see them go public. There's been a huge battle here in the courts over those tax returns and, in fact, his accounting firm actually was willing to comply, but had to wait for the Supreme Court of the United States to issue a ruling on those lines.

So, it seems that since this ruling has delayed release until after the election, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at the accounting firm took it into his or her hands to release these before the election.

CHURCH: And what about the legal vulnerability of his company?

MARIOTTI: Well, his company very well could have -- is more likely to have liability than him because the company itself is, you know, making these statements and it's a little bit easier to prove that the company is doing so woefully than it is for Trump individually because Trump's own head, it can be difficult to decipher in terms of his intent. So, I think there is potential liability for his company and we're

going to have to see whether or not he wins re-election because I think we can count on the Justice Department not take action until he leaves office.

[02:10:03]

CHURCH: All right. We'll watch to see the ramifications of all of this. Renato Mariotti, thank you so much.

MARIOTTI: Thank you.

CHURCH: Coming up on "CNN Newsroom," India sees a dramatic jump in cases. And the rest of the world is approaching a troubling milestone.

Plus, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are flaring up again with deadly results. We will explain what's behind the latest unrest. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Global coronavirus deaths will soon reach 1 million. That is according to Johns Hopkins University. There are now nearly 33 million cases around the world. The virus is still going strong in the U.S., South America, and in Europe.

Several countries that had gotten a foothold are now fighting back new flare-ups. And health experts say things will keep getting worse as colder weather reaches the northern hemisphere.

India, just announced it has topped 6 million confirmed coronavirus cases.

[02:15:01]

That is the second highest in the world behind the United States. Vedika Sud is live in New Delhi and she joins us now. So, Vedika, that is a shocking milestone. What is the government doing about this and how might it change restrictions that are in place?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Well, Rosemary, let me start with a few figures for you and our viewers. The last 1 million positive cases of COVID-19 had been reached in just 12 days. In the month of September, India has witnessed over 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19.

But the Indian government states that we should not be looking at figures as far as the total numbers are concerned, but the number of positive cases existing currently. So their claim is, look at it this way. About 82 percent recoveries have already been recorded, so they're saying about 18 percent of the cases remain active, of those 6 million plus COVID-19 cases that we're talking about.

Also, this has made the government rethink its policies in a way because we've had the Indian government come out and talk about how they could double the expenditure for the health sector in the next five years. This is extremely important because as of now, about 1.15 percent of the entire budget is allocated to the health sector, which is quite nominal compared to the 1.36 billion population that India has.

Yes, unlocking continues across India. We're very soon going to hear from the Indian government by the end of the month, on the next phase of unlocking, which is the easing of restrictions farther than where it stands as of now given that India has already clocked over 6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The death toll stands at over 95,500. The worry has been Rosemary, that ever since the 2nd of September, every day of the month, over 1,000 cases of COVID-19, which have unfortunately turned fatal are being reported. So, since 2nd of September, over 1,000 deaths have been reported on a daily basis.

That remains one of the big worries here from India, but along with that, the government of India has stated over and over again, it's time to co-exist with COVID-19. We have to continue with reopening our sectors because the economy has been suffering as we have seen from the first quarter of the GDP figures that were reported a few weeks earlier. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Right, Vedika Sud, bringing us the very latest there from New Delhi. Many thanks.

Well, there is good news coming from Australia's state of Victoria. Health officials recorded only five new infections within 24 hours. That is the lowest daily increase in more than 100 days. Now, the state's premier says they are going to start easing lockdown restrictions there.

Well, despite all evidence to the contrary, the U.S. president keeps insisting that the pandemic is winding down. As you can see on the map, cases are trending up across much of the country. It had two days this past week with more than 50,000 new cases.

Just Friday, New York saw daily cases above 1,000 for the first time since June. Florida, just surpassed 700,000 coronavirus cases. Plus, a new study found that fewer than 10 percent of the U.S. population has antibodies to the virus.

Anne Rimoin is a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She joins me now. Good to talk with you.

ANNE RIMOIN, PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, UCLA FIELDING SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: It's nice to be here.

CHURCH: So, President Trump continues to insist that the pandemic is winding down despite the loss of more than 204,000 American lives to the coronavirus and case counts are on the rise across the country. Is there anything to suggest we are turning any corner here as Donald Trump keeps insisting?

RIMOIN: Rosemary, there is no condition that we're turning any corner except the corner towards more cases. We have now seen spikes in several states in the United States. We've seen spikes globally. This makes sense.

It's getting colder. We're going to see people go inside. And so the big fear from all public health professionals who's been very vocal about this, is that as people turn to move indoors, it will create more opportunity for the virus to spread.

So there is absolutely no indication whatsoever that this virus is slowing down and I think it's really important that we start listening to the science and not the political rhetoric.

CHURCH: Right. And Dr. Anthony Fauci has pointed out that the White House has pivoted away from daily task force meetings. How concerned are you that this is an effort to make it look like COVID-19 is starting to go away as the presidential elections draws nearer and as Donald Trump focuses on the economy instead.

RIMOIN: I don't think that the American public should be listening to the White House press briefings as the sole way of determining whether or not where we are with this virus.

[02:20:00]

There are plenty of evidence to suggest where we are going looking at the daily trackers, looking at the Johns Hopkins website, looking at the state's website where we live, listening to any public health professional on the news, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Redfield, even Dr. Hahn.

I think if you listen to the public health professionals, they'll tell you we are still in the thick of it. And whether or not we have the task force meetings, which tend to be very political in nature, the fact still remains, we are seeing a lot of cases. We are seeing more case. We're seeing cases spike in many places and we're going to continue to see this.

CHURCH: All right. And a recent study just showed that fewer than 10 percent of Americans have COVID-19 antibodies so, we are nowhere near herd immunity. And a vaccine for the whole population is a very long way off. So, how likely is it that we will all be wearing masks throughout next year? Do we just need to get used to that idea?

RIMOIN: Rosemary, even if we do have a vaccine that comes available even this -- at the end of this year or beginning of next year, it's going to take a very long time for that vaccine to be distributed to the entire population.

And a vaccine is not likely to be so effective that it will be the only measure in place. We are still going to be needing to wear masks, do social distance, to use hand hygiene.

And so, I think that the American public, I think that the world needs to get used to wearing masks. Masks do work, and in fact, we could be saving lives right now by wearing a mask because we do know how effective masks are.

We don't know what vaccines candidates are out there. And so I think we need to stop waiting for a magic bullet and do what we can right now, which is wear a mask and to get used to it because it is something that can save your life and save other people's lives as well.

CHURCH: And just very quickly, last year less than half of the American adult population got the flu shot. If that same proportion of American gets the COVID-19 vaccine once it's made available, what could that mean in terms of getting on top of this new virus?

RIMOIN: Well, not only do we need a vaccine that's effective, we need it to be a vaccine that people trust so the people get it. If we have the most effective vaccine in the world, if only 50 percent of the population would get it, we wouldn't have enough herd immunity to be able to stop the spread of the virus.

So, you know, the bottom line is if we -- given the vaccine hesitancy that exists not only just here in the United States, but in Europe and globally, we are going to have trouble getting everybody to get this vaccine.

And so that's why the data needs to be very transparent. We need -- the process needs to be transparent and we need to have really good buy-in from not only the government, but from a scientific community at large, both nationally and globally that we have vaccines that are effective and safe.

CHURCH: We appreciate your scientific guidance as always, Anne Rimoin, many thanks.

RIMOIN: My pleasure.

CHURCH: New clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh have reportedly left several people dead. The two countries have long been at odds over the area, which sits inside Azerbaijan, but is controlled by ethnic Armenians.

Both sides are now blaming each other for the latest fighting. CNN's Kim Brunhuber has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of the world's oldest conflicts has re-erupted. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared up in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region on Sunday, with each side, blaming the other for attacking civilians.

CNN has been unable to independently verify claims by either side. While Armenia says it was responding to missile attacks launched by its neighbor --

ANNA NAGHDALYAN, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN: The Azerbaijan forces launched a large scale aggression including missile attacks along the line of contact with (inaudible) Nagorno-Karabakh.

BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Azerbaijan claims it was Armenia who struck first. ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: It is no secret that the first

fire, including artillery fire, was opened by Armenia. And the first to die, was Azerbaijani serviceman. Azerbaijan gave a decent response to the enemy and the enemy could not move an inch.

BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Meanwhile, Armenia's prime minister says his country has responded by destroying three tanks and shooting down a couple of helicopters and three drones.

And after Turkey, Armenia's longstanding foe, re-affirmed that solidarity with Azerbaijan following the clashes, he warned that any possible interference by Turkey will destabilize the situation in the region. The neighboring former Soviet Republics have long been at odds over the territory, which is situated within the borders of Azerbaijan and fought a war over it that finished in 1994.

[02:25:01]

As a result of Sunday's escalating tensions, both countries imposed martial law with Armenia calling for a general mobilization to confront its neighbor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We expected Azerbaijan to start a war. Lately they've been talking about it all the time with their war rhetoric and we ae gathered here to help, to go and support our army.

BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Fearing the worst, the U.N., E.U. and NATO have all issued statements calling on both sides to immediately stop fighting. A clear sign that the international community doesn't want to see a repeat of the 1990's. Kim Brunhuber, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: It was the first weekend since the secret inauguration of Belarus president, Alexander Lukashenko. And it wasn't a quiet a one. In Minsk, the country's capital, tens of thousands of people took part in demonstrations against his election saying the results were not legitimate.

It's the 50th day of such protest which have gained international support. The European Union and the United States say they also do not recognize Lukashenko as the country's legitimate leaders.

CHURCH: The police were out in force across the country, detaining dozens of people and using tear gas and at least one city to clear the streets. Protesters have been turning out by the thousands each week to support an opposition candidate now living in exile, and demand an end to Lukashenko's regime. Some say they won't stop until there is real change in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be honest, we want peace, not violence so that the authorities finally understand that there is no longer the old Belarus, which was scared and patient.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, the first U.S. presidential debate is less than two days away. Ahead, what both candidates are doing to prepare and why this event will look a lot different than previous years. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and, of course, all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church and you are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

I want to return now to the "New York Times" report that President Trump did not pay any taxes for 10 of the 15 years before 2016. He paid just $750 in taxes the year he won the election, and that same amount again the first year of his presidency.

The report said Mr. Trump has had more success playing a business mogul than actually being one.

President Trump dismissed the report as fake news. But it's sure to come up in Tuesday's debate with Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has more on how both men are preparing for the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Joe Biden and President Trump will face off here for the first time in Cleveland as they're heading into that first general election presidential debate.

And each of the candidates has been preparing in their own ways. Joe Biden spending the weekend in Wilmington, Delaware and he's been meeting with his top advisers as he strategizes how to take on president Trump.

And the president has also said that he's prepared a little bit but ultimately says that the job of the presidency is what has given him preparation heading into this debate.

Now this debate will look completely different from past general election presidential debates due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There will be no hand shake between President Trump and Joe Biden as they take the stage, one of the precautions that's being taken because of COVID-19.

The audience will be much smaller. Sometimes these debates can have up to 900, even 1,200 people, depending on the venue.

This one, we're told, will have between 60 to 70 audience members. Everyone who is on hand will be tested for COVID-19 as the debate commission has really adapted to ensure that the candidates and the audience is safe and healthy in the middle of this pandemic.

But this will be the first time that Biden and Trump will be on stage, face to face, making their case to general election voters.

Biden has said that he expects a lot of the president's attacks to turn personal as they are both preparing to make their case to voters on Tuesday.

Arlette Saenz, Cleveland, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And be sure to tune in. CNN will carry Tuesday's debate live. Our special coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. That's midnight Wednesday in London and 7:00 a.m. in Hong Kong, for our international viewers.

Well, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Brad Pascale, has been hospitalized after reports of attempted suicide.

Police responded to a call from Brad Pascale's wife who said her husband was armed and threatening to harm himself.

Officers took him to a medical center for temporary detention and evaluation. Pascale was demoted from his job earlier this year but still maintains a senior position in the Trump Campaign.

The campaign says they are ready to support him and his family in any way possible.

For our viewers in the United States. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at the number below. And we'll be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:35:00]

CHURCH: Welcome, everyone. Well, access to a port in Dubai was a critical part of the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations.

The Abraham Accords, as they're known, will impact multiple economic sectors including shipping, technology, and banking.

Now the chairman of international logistics company, Dubai Ports World, says it will make the entire region more secure.

CNN's John Defterios joins me now from Dubai with more. Good to see you, John.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR:. Thank you.

CHURCH: So is business advancing the cause of normalization between the UAE and Israel, especially when it comes to trade?

DEFTERIOS: There's seems to be a common interest. Let's put it that way, Rosemary. This is a massive site, by the way, at DP World in Jebel Ali. This is terminal three that extends kilometers into the desert where they have the big free zones and the manufacturing facilities that Israel is very interested in.

What we're talking about is access to the wider neighborhood. This is a population of only ten million in the UAE but access to two billion people on the Asian sub-continent and then stretching down to the horn of Africa.

But if you take a step back, the real issue here is business driving peace [ph] as you're suggesting, even when it comes to the Palestinian cause, according to the chairman of DP World.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SULTAN AHMED BIN SULAYEM, GROUP CHAIRMAN & CEO, DP WORLD: We have been wasting our time in confrontation and -- we can call cold war, hot war. It didn't work -- for us at least.

And we believe that this is going to strengthen their position in resolving this issue [ph]. In the meantime, as UAE, we are looking at an opportunity that can come out of this that help both.

DEFTERIOS: Many believe that you signed a number of MOUs and it's, as we say in English, window dressing -- a lot of show, nothing inside. What's the counter argument to that, what's been signed so far?

BIN SULAYEM: Not at all. Actually, one thing you know in UAE, we don't make short time [ph] MOUs. MOUs are just a kind of document to set the pace for what you're going to do. But we know what we want to do, we know the business. And we know how we can get the business.

It's about technology adoption, it's about logistics, it's about connection, it's about ability, of both, to trade and do business.

We need something from them in technology, they need something from us. They need our market, they need our location, they need to learn how we do business in UAE.

Because the way we do our business is totally different. They've been in isolation for a long time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: That isolation is ending really quickly, Rosemary.

It's fascinating. Because they've signed on to four sectors already but there's more in the pipeline. In defense, particularly when it comes to security; energy -- Israel has made huge gas lines in the eastern Mediterranean -- they have the expertise here in the UAE, obviously as a major oil and gas producer.

[02:40:00] Food security, of course, because of the challenge of COVID-19 and

imports into these ports. And exports as well.

And even in areas like tourism and property development. Emirates Air, for example, starting up kosher catering for new passengers coming in and out of Israel when they establish those air links going forward.

And finally, the other thing I think we should keep on is the Haifa port in Israel. The U.S. is very much against China going in, that deal looks like it's going to go forward.

But DP World is working with an Israeli partner to take the existing site right now, refurbish it and have a foothold there so you have two-way trade between Israel and the UAE at the same time. Back to you.

CHURCH: All right. John Defterios, many thanks. Joining us live from Dubai.

Well, a federal judge says TikTok will still be available in U.S. app stores, for now at least. It is a temporary win for the social media giant, which was set to be a lou just hours before the ruling.

TikTok's Chinese parent company is working to sell part of its U.S. operations to American companies in order to appease the Trump Administration.

The White House claims TikTok's ownership poses a national security risk.

Well, thanks so much for joining us. For our international viewers, WORLDSPORT is next.

For our viewers here in the United States, I'll be back in just a moment with more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:45:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court is heading toward one of the quickest confirmations in modern U.S. history. The Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham says he expects the Committee to sign off on Amy Coney Barrett on October 22. That could set up a full Senate vote to send her to the high court just days before the November 3 election.

Democratic leaders say the president is in a hurry so his nominee can invalidate the Affordable Care Act. That's the healthcare law known as Obamacare. CNN's Jessica Schneider reports from Washington.

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Democrats are really drilling into this idea that a confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, in particular, a speedy confirmation would be detrimental to healthcare in this county. That's because one week after the election, on November 10, the

Supreme Court will hear arguments about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, in particular whether that individual mandate, which has been struck down to zero dollars penalizing people if they don't get insurance, whether that is constitutional and if it's not, if the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down.

Now, it was back in 2012, where the Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberals to save the Affordable Care Act, ruling that the individual mandate was constitutional because it was a tax.

But in 2017, Amy Coney Barrett, before she was on the Seventh Circuit, she wrote this about the decision, saying Chief Justice Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond it's plausible meaning to save this statute.

And it's that line that's giving Democrats pause as to how Amy Coney Barrett will come down on the question of the Affordable Care Act and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying it could have huge practical affects all across the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: It doesn't matter what the process is here. What matters is what means personally to the American people. If you have a preexisting medical condition that benefit will be gone.

If you were a woman, will be back to a time where being a woman is a preexisting medical condition. If your children are on your policy, say your adult children are on you policy, no longer will they be, and that in a time of a pandemic. And if you have seniors in your family who are having long-term care paid for by Medicaid, they're going to be pretty soon moving back home and living with you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: The Trump Administration is advocating for the Affordable Care Act to be struck down. In fact, the president tweeting on Sunday that it would be a, quote, big win if the Affordable Care Act was struck down, saying that they would come up with something to replace it. However, the president so far has only issued an executive order with really no teeth about preexisting conditions, saying they will be protected, but not really explaining how.

Now, the arguments, while they will be one week after the election, a decision likely wouldn't come down from the Supreme Court until the spring or early summer of 2021. Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: If President Trump is able to replace the late Justice Ginsburg, the Supreme Court will tilt six to three in favor of conservatives. Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, occasionally sides with liberals, but even in those cases they other conservatives could prevail five to four. This means there is the potential for many laws to be changed. We mentioned, moments ago, one of the most significant is the

Affordable Care Act. Other laws under threat include reproductive issues like a woman's right to have an abortion, protections for LGBTQ people and environmental regulations could also face serious challenges.

Nancy Northup is the President of the Center for Reproductive Rights and she joins me now from New York. Thank you so much for being with us.

NANCY NORTHUP, PRESIDENT OF CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: Thank you.

CHURCH: I wanted to start by getting your reaction to this very rushed nomination and inevitable confirmation vote of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

NORTHUP: Well, the Center for Reproductive Rights is quite alarmed, both by the nomination of Judge Barrett and by this steamroll process of trying to get a vote through in the next five weeks. It's not enough time and it's not enough time for considering a lifetime appointment.

And the concerns about Judge Barrett are that she is quite conservative in her views. She's been very clear about her conservative judicial philosophy and in the two cases on abortion rights that she has already reviewed as a judge on the Appellate Court of Appeals, where she's just been for three years, in both those cases she was part of opinions against the abortion rights position.

[02:50:00]

So we have her nominated by President Trump who said he wants to put someone on the Supreme Court who would overturn Roe versus Wade. He has put two justices on who have voted against abortion rights already. So the concern about Judge Barrett is very, very high.

CHURCH: Right. So as you say, President Trump has made it clear that his motivation for nominating Amy Coney Barrett is to overturn Roe versus Wade automatically. To take away a woman's right to choose when it comes to her own fertility.

When you look at Barrett's decisions to date, as you point out, on the issue of abortion, and some of her statements suggesting she would not allow her own religious views to influence her decisions, how likely is it that she and other conservative justices would actually move to overturn Roe versus Wade?

NORTHUP: Well, right now the Center for Reproductive Rights and other organizations have dozens of cases on abortion rights that are moving through the federal courts right now. And so there are already over a dozen cases sitting at the Court of Appeals, so just one step away from the Supreme Court, and many of those cases are challenging Roe.

There are bans as early as six weeks before a woman even knows she's pregnant. There are bans on the reason that a woman would have an abortion, and that's not something that the government can dictate or interrogate.

And that is what is concerning about Judge Barrett, is she has suggested an opinion she signed onto in the Appellate Court that she does think it's okay for the government to interrogate a woman's reason why she chooses to have an abortion before fetal viability, which the Supreme Court has been really clear for almost five decades, that decision is for the women.

And, in fact, one in four women in the United States does decide to end a pregnancy. And so this is an issue of great concern and great impact for a lot of women in the U.S.

CHURCH: And there has been very little that the Democrats can do about the upcoming confirmation vote of Barrett. They simply don't have the numbers in the Senate to block this. But should the Democrats win, there is a possibility they would expand the Supreme Court to include two more liberal justices.

Do you see that as a viable option here?

NORTHUP: Well, I don't want to be jumping past the election and jumping into a hypothetical about what could happen past the election. I think what's really important right now is that Americans -- and over 70% want abortion to be safe and legal. And that it is critical for them to be focused on this vote in the Senate. To be clear that it is way too rushed and she's way too conservative.

CHURCH: All right. Nancy Northup, thank you so much for talking with us. Appreciate it.

NORTHUP: Thank you.

CHURCH: Meanwhile, the president keeps pushing false rhetoric about widespread mail-in ballot fraud, telling the media on Sunday that he hopes Judge Barrett is paying attention to potential cases.

(BEGIN CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I do. I'm sure she is. I think everybody is. I think everyone in the country. I think we've made it a very big issue, and it's an issue that the Democrats tried to get away with. I don't think they're getting away -- I mean, so many reports now of phony ballots.

(END CLIP)

CHURCH: Anticipating President Trump will contest the election, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to her Democratic colleagues urging them to focus on winning state delegates. She wrote, "How many state delegations the Democrats win in this upcoming election could determine who our next president is".

Well, new evacuation orders have been issued in Napa County, California after a wildfire burned at least 2,500 acres overnight. Nearly 2,000 people are under mandatory evacuations as the Glass Fire continues to spread. The fire is burning near Saint Helena in California, just east of Santa Rosa. And CNN's Paul Vercammen has the latest.

(BEGIN CLIP)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN REPORTER: Another fire outbreak in Napa County. This one forcing thousands of evacuations from homes as well as the Saint Helena hospital. The Glass Fire roaring through some rugged terrain there. They had to go through neighborhoods and issue what they call the high/low siren alert. Sheriff's deputies saying when you hear that siren, it is time to go.

UNKNOWN: Warning. Fire evacuation in progress.

VERCAMMEN: And some tough news in Southern California. Since Thursday, they've been searching for this firefighter, 35-year-old Carlos Alexander Balthazar. He's with the Big Bear Hotshots.

His vehicle was discovered somewhere in the Big Bear area. It had been in a collision with a guardrail. Balthazar's backpack was found nearby. Bloodhounds are looking for him. A helicopter is searching.

He's with the Big Bear Hotshots, as we said, the same unit that lost its supervisor in fire earlier this month.

[02:55:00]

And how about just one little glimmer of something positive? Fire fighters rescued Baby Yoda they nicknamed this cat. She got a bath. She was cleaned up after - she was in the road covered in ash and smelled like smoke. So Baby Yoda reportedly doing fine. Many animals just flushed out by wildfire this season. Back to you now.

CHURCH: Well terrifying moments inside the home of former NFL Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana. Police say Montana confronted a woman who broke into his house and tried to kidnap his grandchild. Police say she went up to the second floor of his Malibu home and grabbed the 9-month-old from a playpen and held the baby in her arms. Montana attempted to deescalate the situation while his wife pried the child away. The woman was arrested after she fled to a nearby house.

And some NFL history was made Sunday when not one, not two, but three women worked in various sideline roles. The Cleveland Browns taking on the Washington Football Team with female coaches on both sidelines and a female official on the field. It was a first for a regular season game, but for these women being first is not new. Back in February, Washington hired Jennifer King as a coaching intern, making her the first black woman to coach in the NFL. In 2015, Sarah Thomas became the first full-time female NFL official, and three years later Callie Brownson was hired by the Cleveland Browns as their Chief of Staff. How about that?

Well thanks for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Do stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)