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Trump Still Refuses to Concede Despite Election Loss; Biden Advisers to Speak with Drug Companies About Vaccine; COVID Cases Soar Across U.S. While Trump Refuses to Concede; Concerns That Transition Delay Could Threaten National Security; New York Governor Threatens to Sue Over Trump Vaccination Plan; U.S. Surpasses 11 Million COVID-19 Cases. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired November 16, 2020 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: 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'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, digging in his heels, President Trump says he won't concede the election alleging widespread fraud. But that's not stopping President-elect Joe Biden from forging ahead with his transition plans.

Plus, a bleak outlook, confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States surge past 11 million. One medical expert tells me why hospitals could soon become overwhelmed.

And lifting off into the history books. We'll explain why this mission to the international space station is a first.

Good to have you with us. While the U.S. grapples with a pandemic spiraling out of control, the man currently leading the country seems focused only on his own troubles. The U.S. passed 11 million confirmed coronavirus cases Sunday. That's far more than any other nation in the world. The outgoing President meanwhile spent the day golfing and tweeting. Donald Trump finally admitted on Twitter that he did lose the election before almost immediately backtracking and insisting he will not concede. He's now once again falsely claiming victory tweeting in all caps that he won the election. He did not, of course.

However, that's not keeping President-elect Joe Biden from getting to work. He and Vice President elect Kamala Harris will talk about their economic plans Monday and discuss COVID strategy with drug maker Pfizer later in the week. But the new administration won't take over for more than two months, meanwhile, the President seems obsessed with the election he lost. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, for a brief moment on Sunday morning, President Trump acknowledged something that he has not acknowledged before, and that is that Joe Biden has won this Presidential election, the President saying in two words, he won, but the rest of the President's tweet for the rest of the day on Sunday were filed with the usual garden variety of conspiracy theories. Baseless allegations about the 2020 election and lies about fraud in this election.

The President making very clear in a follow up tweet that he was not at all conceding this election as some Republicans are beginning to hope that he will do.

Saying quote, I concede nothing, and saying that he still has a long way to go in terms of contesting the results of this 2020 election.

The President's comments on Twitter were really reminiscent of what we have seen from the President over the last week. Sources have told me over the course of the week that the President has really vacillated between two states. On the one hand, this combative desire to pursue every possible legal avenue as it relates to contesting the results of the election, and at other moments, the President appearing to start to come to grips with reality. But as of Sunday night, it was very clear that the President intends to continue fighting this out. He said that his administration or rather his legal team will be pursuing more lawsuits in courts in key battleground states.

So far, the President's team and other Republican allies who are trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, they have been unsuccessful. Nine cases on Friday alone were either dropped by those legal teams or dismissed by federal courts, many of which really laughed out some of the claims that were made by these lawyers who were not able to provide any substantive evidence of voter fraud.

The Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, they in a joint statement with other local and state election officials, they said in a statement very clearly that the 2020 election was the most secure election in American history, and that there's no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The President's top coronavirus adviser urged the state of Michigan to reject new coronavirus measures. Scott Atlas criticized the new restrictions tweeting Sunday, the only way this stops is if people rise up. You get what you accept. Later on CNN, Michigan's governor dismissed Atlas's comments saying she would continue to follow the science.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:05:00]

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D) MICHIGAN: We know that the White House likes to single us out here in Michigan, me out in particular. I'm not going to be bullied into not following reputable scientists and medical professionals. I listen to the people that actually have studied and are well respected worldwide on these issues, not the individual that is doing the President's bidding on this one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Meantime, Joe Biden is pushing ahead with his COVID-19 response as President Trump refuses to concede. Members of Biden's coronavirus task force say the President-elect wants a greater focus on testing and contact tracing when he takes office. And sources say his team is also looking to meet with drug companies and is seeking back channels to get around resistance from the Trump White House. CNN's Jessica Dean has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA DEAN, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: With a new week on the horizon for the Biden transition team, we're learning from incoming chief of staff Ron Klain that the team will meet with drug manufacturers including Pfizer to discuss a vaccine distribution plan. This as they continue to try to build their plan for a seamless transition on January 20th, while still not being able to speak directly to people in the federal agencies to coordinate with them. People like on the White House coronavirus task force or in health and human services who are also developing a distribution plan. That's because the General Services Administration, that federal office that's responsible for signing off on the transition has yet to do so.

So that means that the Biden transition team is ham strung in that way, but they are working around it. We're told they're also back channeling to local governments, to people in the medical community as they try to get their plans together for when Biden takes office on January 20th.

Now, on Monday afternoon, we are expecting to see and hear from the President-elect and the Vice President elect, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, set to give remarks on the economy and building back better. That was their slogan on the campaign trail. Now we wait to hear their plans for action when they take office on January 20th.

Jessica Dean, CNN, Wilmington, Delaware.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Maria Cardona is a Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator. She joins me now from Washington. Alice Stewart is the former director of communications for the Ted Cruz campaign, and she's also a CNN political commentator joining us from Alexandria in Virginia. Great to have you both with us.

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thanks, Rosemary.

ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So Alice, I do want to start with you, and despite record COVID case numbers during the deadly pandemic, the outgoing President playing golf again and tweeting that he's conceding nothing while still peddling his false claim the election was rigged. You're a Republican. Why aren't there more in your party speaking out loudly and boldly against this false claim of a stall in election, and where is Donald Trump hoping to go with all of this.

STEWART: Well, we're starting to see more that are actually accepting reality. Look, I firmly believe that every legal vote and legitimate vote should be counted but those who've actually look at the numbers have accepted the fact that we can count all the votes that are still out there, but it's not going to change the outcome. And it is critical that while we make sure we ensure the integrity of the election, we also ensure a peaceful transfer of power, which includes providing the correct information to the incoming administration about COVID.

Look, whether we're talking about national security issues or the COVID pandemic, this is about the security of the American people and not the ego of the American President. And it is critical that we make sure that the correct information gets in the right hands. And I think while the numbers that we're seeing, Rosemary, with 11 million cases now in the United States is tragic. I'm encouraged by the new vaccine. I'm hopeful that it will provide the boost that we need.

It's troubling, we're seeing lock downs, breaking out again in Europe. We're hoping that America doesn't go the same way, but let's just hope that this vaccine gives the confidence and the boost that Americans and people across the world need to get to the other side of this vaccine or this pandemic.

CHURCH: Hopefully more Republicans will speak out and say what you are saying there, Alice. Maria, turning to you. How should President-elect Joe Biden respond to the blocking of his transition to power by the outgoing President, and how difficult will it be for Joe Biden to hit the ground running come January 20th if he doesn't have access to security briefings or pandemic plans?

CARDONA: Well, I think that what the new Joe Biden and Kamala Harris transition teams are doing is exactly what they need to do.

[04:10:00]

Look, they can't keep waiting until this President concedes because this President is never going to do the right thing. We have seen that in the four years that he's been in office, which is why the American public have kicked him out of office.

But what the Biden transition team is doing is they are proceeding as if Joe Biden is already in the White House in whatever manner that they can. He put in a COVID task force, one of the first things that he did. He is already hitting the ground running in terms of focusing on the global pandemic that has now killed more than 240,000 Americans. He is doing the job that President Trump has refused to do because he is incompetent, and he only cares about his own ego.

And look, it is important for more Republicans to start stepping out and find their backbones, which they have lost in the last four years to say to this President, stop it, enough is enough. Our American democracy is on the line. Rosemary, I can't even imagine what our allies and frankly, our adversaries are thinking right now at this point. People who have been on the receiving end of America being the ones to push democracy are now looking at us saying, oh, my goodness, look what's going on in the United States. It's embarrassing, but luckily Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will put an end to that on January 21st.

CHURCH: It is a surprise how intimidated some of these Republicans are by Donald Trump. So Alice, while the outgoing President sulks about the outcome of this free and fair election, which is exactly what it was, he puts this country in danger. We already know the 9/11 attack was in part due to a late trans transition of George W. Bush after the delayed 2000 election results. So how is it possible that Donald Trump's inability to accept these results is allowed to put this nation in jeopardy?

STEWART: Look, I think as Maria said, the incoming administration is working through the channels that they can, to access the information that is critical to the security of this nation.

Look, again, you have to keep in mind, we're talking about American democracy. This was a very close election. Half of Americans supported Donald Trump and they want to make sure that the results of this election are valid and accurate and fair, and that's the important process. But I think we can walk and chew gum in America at the same time, and I think we can make sure that these numbers are accurate.

But also as I said, it's important that the President put aside his ego and put forth the peaceful transfer of power, open up the documents, get the GSA to provide this information to this incoming administration. I don't see it being a problem with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with his background and his experience, his learning curve is not as great as others that don't have the experience. I have the confidence that they can step in when the time is right.

But I do wish that we would speed up this process because he does need to hit the ground running when he is sworn in, and I hope that over time, the President and the administration and more Republicans will acknowledge the same thing.

CHURCH: So Maria, how vulnerable is this country?

CARDONA: I think it's quite vulnerable, and it is a scary thing to think that the President of the United States is the one who is culpable for putting us in a position to be vulnerable, to be open to any kinds of attacks that our adversaries are now looking at us and saying, maybe now is the time, maybe now is when we can take advantage of this opportunity. And it is going to go be -- he's going to go down in history as not just one of the most incompetent presidents that the United States has ever had but one of the most dangerous and irresponsible because of exactly what he's doing now.

And look, yes, there were 71 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump, but right now, the numbers that Joe Biden got in the electoral college are equal to the ones that Donald Trump got, and Donald Trump called his, a landslide. In addition, Joe Biden has gotten 5 million, almost 6 million more votes in the popular vote than what Trump has gotten. Look, this is a mandate. The American people spoke loudly and clearly. This President needs to get over it. He needs to get out of the way and is stop putting America in danger.

CHURCH: Maria Cardona, and Alice Stewart, many thanks for a great discussion. Appreciate it.

STEWART: Thank you, Rosemary.

CARDONA: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: And coming up, hospitals across the U.S. are reaching a breaking point as the country battles a surge in coronavirus cases. The latest after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: America's coronavirus numbers keep spiraling out of control. Johns Hopkins University says the country topped 11 million infections on Sunday, just six days after it recorded 10 million. That is the nation's fastest time to a million new cases since the pandemic began. And the country has seen more than 100,000 new infections for 13 straight days. Hospitalizations also keep breaking records. The COVID tracking project shows the U.S. closing in on 70,000.

And this as President Trump refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden. The nation's top infectious disease expert says America's COVID-19 response needs an easy political transition. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I've been through multiple transitions now, having served six Presidents for 36 years, and it's very clear that that transition process that we go through, that time, the period measured in several weeks to months is really important in a smooth handing over of the information as well as -- it's almost like passing a baton in a race. You don't want to stop, and then give it to somebody. You want to just essentially keep going.

[04:20:00]

That's what transition is. So it certainly would make things more smoothly if we could do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And it's not just the President-elect facing resistance from President Trump. New York's governor now says he'll enforce the state's legal rights if the current administration doesn't change their vaccination plans. CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New York governor Andrew Cuomo threatening to sue the federal government if the vaccine distribution plan is not equitable enough to hit communities he says may not be served by the current plan by this White House.

The White House plan says the vaccine should be distributed through hospitals and pharmacies and other medical facilities. Groups like the NAACP and other groups have said those kinds of plans, those kinds of facilities just aren't common enough in communities that have been hit the hardest by the virus in its worst days. In a fiery speech at a church in Manhattan on Sunday, Governor Cuomo echoed those concerns and said that the vaccine distribution plan must be fair.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D) NEW YORK: Let me be clear, the black and brown communities that were first on the list of who died cannot be last on the list of who receives the vaccine period.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Cuomo is hoping to change the way this vaccine is distributed when it's distributed. And whatever changes he's able to make could have broad implications across the country. Because whatever happens here in New York to those communities hit hardest by the virus, could have implications across the country.

Evan McMorris-Santoro, CNN New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Dr. Leana Wen is a CNN medical analyst. She's also the former Baltimore Commissioner of Health. And she joins me now from Baltimore. Thank you, doctor, for talking with us and of course for all that you do.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Thank you, good to join you.

CHURCH: So, we are see skyrocketing new COVID cases in the U.S. One million new cases in the last six days taking the total number above 11 million with 1,200 deaths in just one day. State governors sounding the alarm. Yet the outgoing President is playing golf and refusing to accept election results while blocking Joe Biden's transition to the presidency. So what needs to happen in this country right now to bring those cases down along with record hospitalizations and deaths?

WEN: The entire United States is a fire storm of COVID-19. It's a hot spot everywhere in the country. And we are in a dire position. Hospitalizations are at a record high, and the reason I'm so worried about this is the hospital numbers reflect the number of infections three to four weeks ago. We were at 80,000 daily infections at that point. Now we're at double that number. What is it going to look like in three to four weeks' time?

This is a time for us to absolutely all be wearing masks. We know that masks to save lives. They reduce transition my more than 70 percent. And importantly, people need to stay outdoors, not socialize or gather indoors, even with loved ones, with extended family and friends. Our loved ones could carry coronavirus just as much as strangers do. And with Thanksgiving and other holidays coming, it is so critical for everyone to not gather indoors with anyone except those in our immediate household.

CHURCH: Yes, that is such an important point as we count down to Thanksgiving. And due to his transition being blocked. President-elect Biden and his team are looking for back channels now so they can get on top of the COVID-19 pandemic. What might some of these alternative canals alternative channels be, and how horrified are you as a doctor that the outgoing president is putting politics above saving lives.

WEN: We're entering this extremely deadly winter ahead. And what President Trump should be doing every day as his number one priority is to focus on the coronavirus. But actually, he has not met with his task force, it's reported, for five months, which I just mind unimaginable. Imagine if this were a war that we're in against a foreign adversary, and the President has not met with his top generals for five months.

And so it is a major problem that the President-elect is having to go around this current team. I think they can do a lot. They can meet with private companies, with state and local health officials, but they need to have the information from the current administration in order to make plans for something as basic as vaccine distribution, testing, masks, all of these things need to be ramped up right now, and it's unconscionable to prevent the incoming team from doing these lifesaving actions.

CHURCH: And that was CNN medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen.

[04:25:00]

Coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, a state that Joe Biden won by less than half a percentage point is conducting a hand recount. And we will update you on the progress in Georgia, that's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Well, mixed messages from the outgoing U.S. President who seems to be having trouble accepting his election loss. Donald Trump spent Sunday golfing and tweeting. Most of his tweets were flagged for misinformation. In one, he did admit he lost the election but that tweet no longer appears on his feed. Hours later he tweeted in all caps that he actually won. Of course he still hasn't conceded, and his administration hasn't released resources to Biden's transition team.

But that's not stopping President-elect Joe Biden. He and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will talk about their economic plans Monday and discuss COVID strategy with drug maker Pfizer later in the week.

Well, the hand recount of votes from this month's election has finished here in Fulton County, Georgia. CNN has called the state for Joe Biden by a slim margin. But the recount goes on in other counties. And CNN's Amara Walker has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The hand recount of the 5 million ballots that were cast in the presidential election is still underway here in Georgia. Here in Fulton County, which is the largest county in the state of Georgia, we are told that all the audit teams involved in the hand counting of the 528,000 ballots that were cast have finished. Those counts will now be uploaded to the Secretary of State, and it will be Secretary Brad Raffensperger who will be announcing the final results.

Now, the Fulton County election director says that.