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Early Voters Enduring Long Lines to Cast Ballots in Georgia and Texas; Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Discusses Florida Football Cluster Breaking Out After Gators Coach Wanted 90,000 Fans; Trump's Ironic Rally Playlist Illustrates Alternative Reality; Update on Coronavirus Responses Across the Country. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired October 14, 2020 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In fact, in Gwinnett County, north of here, a spokesperson there told me yesterday the system crashed for about a half hour. This morning, starting at 8:00 a.m., they were getting complaints from voters saying that the system was moving way too slowly.

But, hey, you know what the story also is, the determination of the voters, Brianna. I've been talking to voters all day today and yesterday. They said, look, we don't want to wait but we're willing to wait because, to them, the stakes are just too high.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAVONTAE JOHNSON, ATLANTA VOTER: I'm standing in the line because my life depends on it. This presidential election is so important because we have someone in office who is just showing no effort or care for people that look like me. We need someone -- won't even recognize systemic racism in the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Georgia is seeing a record turnout for early voting. We are told that 10 percent of Georgia's 7.6 million registered voters have already cast their ballot in person or by mail.

Let's head now to my colleague, Ed Lavandera, in Plano, Texas, where early voting is also under way -- Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amara, across the state of Texas yesterday, we saw records being shattered on the first day of early voting.

To put it in perspective, more people, over 130,000 people voted in Harris County where Houston is than in the entire state of Georgia yesterday. That enthusiasm continues.

We're at a polling location in Plano, Texas, which is one of the areas that is going to be intensely watched here in this election cycle.

Because this is one of those suburban counties in the Dallas area where the departure from Trump supporters is being monitored and watched very closely and could very well determine the outcome of the election here in this state.

The president understands that. In fact, he was at a rally last night essentially urging suburban women to like him, to continue their support for him.

As we've talked to voters here in Collin County, we have gotten that sense that there are many people simply who have been turned off by the tone of the politics during these last four years.

Now, the question becomes: Is that disillusionment with the state of the politics enough for Joe Biden to take Texas?

There are many people that remain incredibly skeptical in the state of Texas, given this state has been controlled by Republicans for 25 years.

A Democratic presidential candidate has not won this state since Jimmy Carter did back in 1976.

But many of the voters we have talked to, even if they are skeptical of the tide turning here in Texas, say do not fall asleep on Texas, pay attention to what is happening here -- Brianna?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Ed, yes, we'll be watching, too.

Ed Lavandera, Amara Walker, thank you so much to both of you.

Wisconsin is opening up a field hospital as cases are surging there. And Denver is considering new restrictions as cases grow there.

Plus, as the president courts seniors, he mocks Joe Biden as elderly and disabled.

And what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to answer in a contentious interview with our Wolf Blitzer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:37:58]

KEILAR: Saturday's SEC showdown between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers is in jeopardy.

The University of Florida announced it is pausing all football activities after an uptick in positive coronavirus tests, including 19 of its players.

Before the news broke, the Gators head coach was calling for 90,000 fans to pack the university stadium, known as the Swamp, for this game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN MULLEN, HEAD COACH, FLORIDA GATORS: It was certainly a factor in this game. I will certainly say that.

I know the governor passed that rule so, hopefully, the university administration decides to let us pack the Swamp for LSU next week. And 100 percent because that crowd was a major factor in the game.

So I certainly hope our university administration follows the governor. Our governor has passed a rule that we're allowed to pack the Swamp. We have 90,000 in the Swamp to give us that home-field advantage that Texas A&M had today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: I'm joined now by Florida's commission of agriculture and consumer services, Nikki Fried. She's Florida's lone statewide-elected Democrat.

OK, Commissioner, you have 19 football players testing positive for coronavirus. The governor has dropped attendance restrictions on stadiums.

Do you think something like this will change his mind?

NIKKI FRIED, (D), COMMISSIONER, FLORIDA COMMISSION OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES: No. Unfortunately, we have seen the governor dig in even deeper on his response to COVID.

We just saw what he did two nights ago up here in the state of Florida, which is absolutely appalling. A packed area here in Stanford, Florida, waving high five, high fiving everybody and touching his nose.

I don't think it's going to make a difference. And it's unfortunate.

Look, I was past student body president of Florida. I am a -- bleed orange and blue. I understand the magic of packing the Swamp and having all of our fans, especially the home game against LSU.

But really, Coach Mullen should be more focused on getting a new defensive coordinator because we are being slammed in our secondary and going through our front lines and the run.

That's where our focus should be, not putting all of our fans and visitors to the stands and into the Swamp at risk for the not only getting COVID but spreading it across the state and the country.

[13:40:06]

KEILAR: What do you say to people who might look at this and say, yes, 90,000 people, that is a lot. That's a lot in the middle of a pandemic. But they will say, they are outside. We've seen gatherings. I know

there are people who will say we've seen large gatherings of people. We've seen protests and haven't seen spikes of people outside.

What is the big concern here? What do you think the consequences are of packing 90,000 people together in the middle of a pandemic?

FRIED: We have, in fact, been seeing spikes. Here in the state. The governor opened up the state. We're seeing our spikes go again.

Just recently, I was told that we have over 1,000 individuals, senior citizens, who have died in our assisted living facilities and long- term care facilities because now that they are open and our reduction of testing.

What happens is, even though you are outside, it's still hot here in the state of Florida. Everybody is sweating.

Even when you are kind of going through the stands and going through the concessions and waiting in line at the bathrooms and getting in, that you have the opportunity to be spreading this virus.

A lot of our fans are 65 and older. People that are going to be coming to the games are not going to be taking those precautions. Certainly, I would discourage anything of this magnitude.

Again, we understand how important it is to get football season, especially SEC football, back into where it used to be in normal seasons and packing the stands. But not at the risk of so many people across the state and our country.

This is really a poor decision and an opportunity to really spread this virus and put a lot of people's lives at risk.

KEILAR: Commissioner, I can tell, though, you miss your football.

(LAUGHTER)

FRIED: I certainly do, especially my home games.

KEILAR: Thank you so much for being with us, Nikki Fried. We appreciate it.

FRIED: Thank you.

KEILAR: Even before he was elected, the Trump campaign's playlist raised a lot of questions. We got used to the lack of irony and contradictory messages. But his recent music selections are taking an even different turn. We're going to roll the tape.

And a Sweet 16 that was anything but. The punishment for a party turned super-spreader event.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:46:45] KEILAR: There are few things more 2020 than the subtext of a Trump rally soundtrack where classic rock and pop anthems abound, and are often ironic or seem unmistakably pertinent to the time we're living in.

For instance, this tune, which played as the president made his triumphant return to the campaign trail Monday night for his first rally since being sidelined by the coronavirus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: "Macho Man" by all male disco group the Village People. Makes sense in that projecting strength and mocking what he considers weakness pretty much sums up President Trump's reelection messaging in the middle of a pandemic.

Even though the way that he does it is anti-science and a danger to public health.

For Trump, acting like you're in a pandemic is weak. Pretending you're not in a pandemic, strong. Wear a mask, weak, as he sees it. Not wearing a mask, strong.

I should note that the following songs, apparently without intended irony, have been played at the president's rallies during this deadly pandemic: "Knocking on Heaven's Door."

"My Heart Will Go On," the super ballad from the movie "Titanic," which is, of course, about a giant ship hitting an iceberg and sinking.

And "Losing My Religion," which, according to REM, is about being at the end of your rope.

But perhaps the most ironic song he plays is this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: "Fortunate Son," by Credence Clearwater Revival, an anthem for the anti-war movement at the height of the Vietnam War.

But I won't explain the lyrics. Let's have lead singer, John Fogerty, do it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN FOGERTY, LEAD SINGER, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: Recently, the president has been using my song "Fortunate Son" for his political rallies, which I find confounding to say the least.

I wrote this song in 1969. Back in those days, we still had a draft.

And something I was very upset about was the fact that people of privilege -- in other words rich people, or people that had position -- could use that to avoid the draft and not be taken into the military.

I found that very upsetting that such a thing could occur. And that's why I wrote "Fortunate Son." That's really what the whole intent of the song -- that was the inspiration for the song.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The president, born of privilege, famously avoided serving in Vietnam, receiving five deferments to not have to serve, one of which cited bone spur.

So technically, based on Fogerty's explanation, "Fortunate Son" is about someone like President Trump.

Fogerty even said he could have written the song about today's events.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOGERTY: The very first lines of "Fortunate Son" are, "Some folks are people born, made to wave the flag, ew, they're red, white and blue. But when the band plays 'Hail to the Chief,' they point the cannon at you."

[13:50:05]

That's exactly what happened recently in Lafayette Park when the president decided to take a walk across the park. He cleared out the area using federal troops so that he could stand in front of the St. John's Church with a Bible.

It's a song I could have written now. And so I find it confusing, I would say, that the president has chosen to use my song for his political rallies, when, in fact, it seems like he is probably the fortunate son.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And considering the president's proclivity for not playing taxes, revealed recently in a "New York Times" report, these lines from "Fortunate Son" are particularly odd to play at a Trump rally:

Quote, "Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand, lord, don't they help themselves. But when the tax man comes to the door, lord, the house looks like a rummage sale."

We should note, Fogerty joins a long list of artists or estates from late artists demanding the president stop playing their songs at his rallies where their music associates - associates them with the candidate against their will. There's Queen, Neil Young, Adelle, the Stones, Aerosmith, Pharrell, Guns N Roses, as well as the estates of Tom Petty, Prince, Pavarotti and George Harrison.

And then, yes, also the Village People.

In June, singer, Victor Willis, who you would recognize as the police officer, sometimes the Navy officer in the Village People ensemble, said, "I ask that you no longer use any of my music at your rallies, especially 'YMCA' and 'Macho Man.' Sorry but I can't support what you're proposing."

He was talking about the administration's response to Black Lives Matter protests.

The president is still using these songs, by the way.

And I'm pointing all of this out, this irony, because the president is pushing an alternate reality of coronavirus himself. That's apparent even on thinks playlist.

And to borrow from those tunes, what the president, this "Fortunate Son" is doing, is acting like a "Macho Man" who wasn't just staring down the possibility of "Knocking On Heaven's Door" less than two weeks ago.

A big fine for the band the Chain Smokers after COVID violations at a Hamptons party.

Plus, backlash against NBC for hosting a dueling town hall with President Trump at the same time as a Biden town hall after Trump refused to debate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:57:12]

KEILAR: New York State is slapping a $20,000 fine on the promoter of the musical group the Chain Smokers. Large crowds at a July concert in South Hampton were seen ignoring public health guidelines like mask wearing.

The town itself has also been sanctioned and can no longer issue permits for group gatherings without state approval.

Let's check in now with our CNN correspondents who are around the country for the latest pandemic headlines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Adrienne Broaddus outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a field hospital opens today to accommodate COVID-19 patients. The goal is to relieve pressure from local hospitals dealing with severe cases.

The new facility has the potential to house 530 patients. Here's the deal. It's not your traditional hospital. You can't walk up if you're experiencing COVID-like symptoMs. You must be referred by a health care provider.

This, as Wisconsin sees an explosion of new cases. More than 3,000 confirmed new cases yesterday and 34 people died in 24 hours.

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Lucy Kafanov in Denver. The city's mayor is warning residents they could face new restrictions if COVID-19 infections continue to rise.

He said that recent case counts are as high right now as they were at the height of the pandemic back in May and that hospitalizations have also soared.

Denver health officials said the seven-day daily average is 127 cases per day and that hospitalizations have climbed 37 percent in the last week.

If the trend continues, the city's mayor warns Denver residents that they could go back to level-three restrictions, which could require businesses and indoor dining to cut their capacity in half.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Alexandra Field in New York. On Long Island, a cluster of COVID cases is being connected to a super-spreader Sweet 16.

The party happened back on September 25th. And 81 people were there in violation of the state's restrictions on nonessential gatherings. As a result, the venue has been slapped with a $12,000 fine.

Twenty-nine people at that party tested positive. A total of 37 cases are connected to the party.

Eight different schools have reported positive cases as a result of that party. And some 270 people were put under quarantine.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York. After Michigan recorded its highest seven-day average of COVID-19 cases since April, officials there are focusing on schools, where cases jumped 26 percent in one week, according to a state report released this week.

The state's Department of Health and Human Services reported 26 new outbreaks Monday in both K through 12 schools and colleges. The largest, at Kalamazoo College, included 21 reported cases.

[14:00:03]

In total, more than 80 schools across the state are currently experience been outbreaks.