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GOP In Michigan And RNC Seek To Delay Election Certification For Two Weeks; U.S. Reports Highest Day Of New Cases To Date, More Than 195,000; Experts Urge Against Holiday Travel As Cases Soar To Record Levels; Pfizer & Partners Apply For FDA Emergency Use Authorization For COVID Vaccine; Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts Ramp Up Ahead Of Senate Runoff In Georgia. Aired 1-2p ET

Aired November 21, 2020 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:02:31]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin this hour with this country facing an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases as Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. The number of infections is quickly closing in on 12 million. Friday saw the highest day of new cases to date, more than 195,000. And more than 80,000 Americans are in the hospital heading into the Thanksgiving holiday week.

But America struggles, President Trump is seemingly ignoring this crisis, focusing instead on trying to overturn the presidential election results. And today, skipping a virtual G20 summit session on the pandemic to play golf. This as we've also learned the virus has once again infiltrated the president's inner circle.

President Trump's son, Don Jr., and the son of Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, both revealing that they have tested positive for COVID. That news now sidelining Giuliani from the president's baseless voter fraud case, he is now self-isolating.

Meanwhile, a vaccine could be headed to Americans very soon. The FDA is set to review Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and could make a decision about early use authorization by December 10th.

We begin with this "BREAKING NEWS". CNN has just learned that the RNC and Michigan Republicans are asking for a two-week delay in certifying the state's election results. President-elect Joe Biden won Michigan by more than 154,000 votes. But now, Michigan Republicans want to delay the state's certification.

We have a team of correspondents covering these developments. Kevin Liptak is at the White House. Let's begin with CNN justice correspondent Jessica Schneider.

So, Jessica, Michigan was set to certify Joe Biden's win on Monday. What changed and what does this request for a delay mean? JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, Fredricka, so far, this is just a request and it's all changed within the past hour or so. Certification right now in Michigan, it is still set for Monday at 1:00 p.m. But the wrinkle here is now the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, they're making this 11th-hour request to stop what would be this last step of the certification process. And they're saying they want to delay this process two weeks in order to allow time for an audit of only one county, heavily democratic, Wayne County, home to Detroit.

[13:05:01]

SCHNEIDER: So, the problem with this request though, is it's really not at this point completely clear if an audit can actually happen until after the vote is certified by the state board, something that Republicans are now looking to stop.

And because of that, you know, uncertainty here, the spokesperson for the secretary of state, they're really pouring cold water on this idea. They're saying this. They're saying we have no reason to doubt the canvassers will carry out their duty to certify. Republican and Democrat clerks have confirmed there is no evidence of widespread voter irregularities.

So, this request for a delay though, it's coming at the same time that there is some concern about whether the state board will even vote yes to certify when they meet on Monday. That's because the board here can -- it consists of four members: two Republicans, two Democrats.

And if the Republican members vote no, it would deadlock this vote at 2-2. That means it could go to the courts which could find those members in contempt, and then, maybe the certification would go through or the governor, Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, could then step in and try to appoint new Republican members who would then vote to certify the vote.

But you know, either way here, we've talked to election lawyers in this state, and they say that bottom line, the law in Michigan, it requires that the board sign off on this vote to certify the election for Joe Biden. It's already been a vote, Fredricka, that's been certified by 83 counties. So, there's no reason why this certification process can't move forward at this point. But unclear now given this late request to delay it two weeks.

WHITFIELD: All right, let me now bring in Kevin Liptak at the White House. So, Kevin, just yesterday, Michigan State Republicans met with the president at the White House and said that they're going to follow the law.

So, this messaging of a letter being sent now to request this delay just doesn't square with what these Republican leaders said when they left the White House yesterday.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: No, and this was really kind of a brazen meeting there in the Oval Office. The president's summoning our top Republican lawmakers from Michigan and what appeared like his attempt to try and cultivate these Republican leaders to either delay the certification of votes in their states or to reassign electors from Joe Biden to Donald Trump.

Now, in that meeting, I'm told that these Republican leaders explained to the president the laws in Michigan about certification. This person who I was speaking with said that the president didn't apply -- exert pressure on these Republicans, but that the message seemed clear.

Afterwards, they came out and said that we have not been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan.

So, clearly, they're trying to say that Joe Biden, at this point, has more than 150,000 votes over Donald Trump in Michigan, they haven't seen any evidence that would reverse those votes or take those votes away from Joe Biden.

And I think it's important to note like this is one part of a huge nationwide win for Biden. 150,000 votes in Michigan, it doesn't -- it's not clear where the Republicans and where the Trump campaign thinks that they will find those additional votes. And that's just in one state the vice president has won 306 electoral votes. There are states all across the country just reversing or delaying. Michigan doesn't necessarily mean that he'll win the election.

Now, the president seems like he took a different message from those Republicans this morning. He was tweeting this morning during the G20 that he was attending, he tweeted one of the statements that they put out that I just read, and he said that it was true, but it wasn't necessarily being interpreted correctly. He didn't necessarily clarify what he meant by that.

WHITFIELD: OK. The alternative facts issue, I guess. All right, Kevin Liptak, Jessica Schneider, thank you. Again, appreciate that.

Let's talk now with CNN Political Analyst, Carl Bernstein. Carl, good to see you.

CARL BERNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: OK, so, your reaction, you know, to this sudden move by Republicans in Michigan and the RNC, you know, to delay -- request the delaying of the certification of election results, you know, with this two-week delay request. What's your response to that?

BERNSTEIN: Well, the first thing is I think we need to know more. And we need to hear from some election law experts like Ben Ginsberg and others to see exactly what is happening and what others' interpretations are once they see the paperwork and see exactly what has transpired.

But I think there's a larger picture that we need to look at, and that is that we are watching the last shaking of the presidency of a mad king. And all of this is related to the final days of the mad king. And what he is attempting to do to overturn constitutional rule in this country, our constitutional traditions, our democratic traditions of fair election, and he also is trying to undermine the very basis of trust in our electoral institution, which is essential for having democracy.

[13:10:14]

BERNSTEIN: And Republicans on Capitol Hill, particularly in the Senate, know this. And they are talking with each other now about the rantings and doings of a "mad king". The word mad, you hear a lot up there these hours and days.

Meanwhile, though, what's happening in Michigan, is to the eternal shame of the Republican Party. The idea that one of our two parties would attempt and join an attempt by a president of the United States, who clearly has no regard for the rule of law, for the constitution, for the will of the people, or for the committee and unity of the people of this country.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BERNSTEIN: And that is what has marked this presidency throughout. And we're seeing it as he leaves in fits and starts and looking almost as if he's going to have to be dragged out the door.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, while you describe him as, you know, a mad king and these are his attempts to, you know, undermine democracy and jeopardize trust, you also see in these attempts that he is succeeding in those things. Succeeding in an erosion of trust, succeeding in trying to compromise the constitution.

(CROSSTALK)

BERNSTEIN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: And that's where the dangers are.

BERNSTEIN: Absolutely. Look, he got 70-some million votes. That doesn't mean that all those 70 million people are going to follow him blindly down this particular road and that all Republicans are going to support this or him in the end.

I suspect, as time goes on, we are going to see his base diminish and more and more Republicans may look for a genuinely conservative reconstituted Republican Party and pay much less attention to Donald Trump.

But at this moment, he does --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: But do you see that there would -- yes. Do you see that there's a diminished base, though? Because I mean, he is fundraising --

(CROSSTALK) BERNSTEIN: Not at this moment.

WHITFIELD: I mean, for a PAC which keeps, perhaps his influence going, even if he is not necessarily in office. It means money that will go toward others who are running for office, who are in step with his style, his point of view, his approach.

BERNSTEIN: Here, here is what I believe, and look, I don't have a crystal ball, but I do know what people on Capitol Hill, Republicans, are saying to each other. And that is, they think he is mad. Not all of them, but many, many of them do, particularly, in the Republican Senate.

And as time goes on, and as these Republicans realize that throwing in their lot with Donald Trump is going to be increasingly a dangerous business as we go through these 60 days and they've already started to conclude this as fearsome and craven as some of them have been about taking along Donald Trump.

And I would guess that we are going to see a diminution of Donald Trump's influence in this country because it's becoming apparent, more and more, to even people who voted for him. That his stability, that his processes are not those of someone who has got his feet firmly planted on the ground. And more and more, he is going to be defined by his instability and what we're witnessing now.

I -- now, might that not happen? Sure, but I think that's where we're heading. Especially as he tries to cling to office through this kind of unconstitutional --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: It's interesting.

BERNSTEIN: Or trying to cause a constitutional crisis in this country, which he succeeded in doing. We are in a constitutional crisis because of what he's doing.

WHITFIELD: So, Carl, this is something interesting that we've just learned since my intro to you. We talked about this, you know, meeting of the Michigan Republican leadership with the president yesterday, and while they had a statement that said we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan's electors.

Now, we're just now learning that both those Michigan lawmakers actually stayed at the Trump hotel last night. And left D.C. this morning. And then, now, we're hearing about this letter involving Michigan Republicans and the RNC to request a delay in certifying.

What do you see here beyond, you know, a real conflict of interest, you know, involving the president's hotel where these Republicans apparently, reportedly stayed in. But beyond that, how problematic or troublesome is this?

[13:15:00] BERNSTEIN: Well, look, we'll find out. We know that we have a grifter president, a grifter presidential family, a grifter presidency. We've never seen that in our history either. And that's part and parcel of what we're dealing with here, and we'll learn more about the facts. But certainly, those people have no business being in the Trump hotel on their -- on their way to the White House.

But let's look at one other factor here, Wayne County.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BERNSTEIN: What is this about they challenge the Wayne County which Biden won by --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: This heavily Democratic and very black voting.

BERNSTEIN: Well, not only that Biden won, Biden won by a huge margin. This is an openly racist attempt to overturn voting by black African Americans and other people of color in this country.

I covered the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. We have come in this country to the point where one of our two political party has become a party of open racism. This is openly racist. This isn't even a dog whistle.

And the notion that after all these years of the Voting Rights Act that the party of Lincoln would traffic in this kind of racism is a stain that is going to take a long time for the Republican Party to get over and particularly a Republican Party attached to Donald Trump and it is actions in the last days of his presidency.

WHITFIELD: Right. And remarkable too that it's right out in the open. It's obvious for all to see. Yet, we're watching it unfold just like this.

Carl Bernstein, thank you so much. Always good to see you, really appreciate it.

BERNSTEIN: Good to see you. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, the CDC's advice falling on deaf ears because just take a look, this is an area where people are boarding planes. Scenes just like this all across America. Many Americans either choosing to ignore the pandemic risks or perhaps undermining the pandemic risks. All in the name of traveling this holiday season.

Plus, new information on how the virus is spread. A live report next.

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[13:21:25]

WHITFIELD: The U.S. reported more than 195,000 new coronavirus infections, Friday, the most cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic. The record surge prompting experts to encourage against holiday travel in an effort to help slow the spread.

CNN's Polo Sandoval, joining me now from New York. So, Polo, what more are you learning?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Fred, for those folks who plan to actually follow that guidance that was just issued this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, their Thanksgiving plans will likely not take them near JFK or any other of the nation's airports.

Obviously, the goal there and the big concern is that this living room spread -- the viral spread among families that we could potentially see more of that, and that also could include actually getting to grandmother's house. And that's why they're trying to prevent scenes like this out of Phoenix.

I want to show you some video that was shot Friday morning at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport by our local affiliate there, Ed Westerfield, who actually shared that video with affiliate KTVK, KPHO, saying that he was waiting for his flight to Mexico when he saw this large crowd, they've been gathering in a gate area.

And when you see these pictures, it certainly is contrary to what the CDC had just issued this week. So, the big concern here is that we could see these kinds of scenes repeat themselves throughout the country as we get closer to Thanksgiving.

So, when you hear from officials, they say that right now is the time to stay home. Is to keep those celebrations really just contained to the household.

Even Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, saying that she herself is also sacrificing time with her family, and she explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR: I don't like it to be any number. I like it to be keep it to your immediate household. Because, you know, if you say it can be 10, and it's eight people from four different families, then, that probably is not the same degree of safe as 10 people from your immediate household.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: The numbers themselves, they are extremely telling, Fred. Let me give you just a quick comparison. If you go back to July, during one of the other spikes that we've experienced in certain parts of the country, the highest daily number of COVID cases at one point reached 77,000. Yesterday, that number was just over 195,000. And we've seen that number steadily climb. So, that is obviously a big source of concern. And when you see those pictures from Phoenix, they certainly are quite concerning for officials who are saying right now is not the time to actually take the trip. A quick note, by the way, according to the gentleman that shared the video, he said, people were trying to make an effort to socially distance, but when you have so many people in a tight space, Fred, it can get very difficult.

WHITFIELD: All right, Polo Sandoval, thank you so much.

Let's talk further about this. Let's bring in Dr. Mizuho Morrison, an emergency medicine physician in Southern California. Doctor, good to see you. So, what's your response when you see pictures like that, that many people in the boarding area at an airport?

DR. MIZUHO MORRISON, EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN: You know, I think it makes us all cringe, right? I get that there's travel, that's absolutely necessary for work or emergency purposes. But unfortunately, you know this is not the year to be traveling to visit grandma in another state or going on vacation.

And trust me, I mean, I think, we are all tired, right? Everyone is burnt out of staying home and hunkering down, myself included. I haven't really gotten to see more than a couple of minutes of my own parents since March, because we're just simply too high risk.

I know that many of my colleagues are the same way, and so, you know, it is challenging. I'd love to take a vacation too, but it's just not the time, it's not the year. And I think this is really a year to reconsider and not be selfish.

[13:19:58]

MORRISON: You know, I commend Dr. Birx, in terms of her practicing what she preaches, and I think that, that needs to be true for all of us. Right? Not just, you know, for those that feel like it's appropriate for them.

For this to really work and for these public health efforts to really be effective, it has to be -- including the top down, I'll say that it's very disappointing when I see government officials, you know, sort of being hypocritical to their own rules and regulations that they're laying down.

So, it's a slap in the face for those of us who are really trying to do the right thing. This is the year where personal responsibility and shared responsibility really needs to be taken into effect.

WHITFIELD: So, the latest projection from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School Of Medicine, now predicting 471,000 people will die from COVID-19 by March 1st.

The models show that some 65,000 lives could be saved if more Americans wore masks. So, in your view, even though the president- elect says he would be encouraging people to wear masks, do you think a mask mandate state to state is absolutely necessary, is it just too late at this juncture? What do you think?

MORRISON: Well, I think that, you know, there's no one magic bullet. I think that the -- sure, masks have been proven to show some decrease in spread of droplets. We know that for sure.

But is it 100 percent effective? It's not. I actually saw and retweeted a great infographic this morning that I loved that I think really demonstrates as well. If you imagine like a bunch of Swiss cheese layers, right? No one method or prevention is 100 effective, there's holes in it.

And so, if you think of masks as being one layer, and then, you know, hand hygiene, not touching your face, avoiding crowds, six feet apart, these are all layers that we can each do to help increase our personal responsibility to help diminish spread. It's a multi-factorial thing, it's not a single factor.

And so, you know you walk around the stores and you go outside, and you see people wearing a mask, but they're not really wearing a mask. Their noses is hanging out, it's under their chin. My -- you know, my middle schooler called it a chin diaper. I think it's a hilarious, you know, example of, you know -- wearing a mask, you have to truly wear it and keep it on. And I know it's hard, but when you remove it, you take it off your ear loops and you wash your hands.

So, it's a -- it's -- I don't want the false sense of security that if everyone just wears a mask, that's enough. It's not. It has to be this collective effort. And then, again, the shared responsibility, right? If you are sick or you think you may have been exposed, you go get tested, you avoid exposing our high-risk patient population.

And then, again, that government messaging and everyone complying with those, you know, recommendations, so that we can encourage and protect our elderly and most high-risk patients.

WHITFIELD: Vaccines, you know, how hopeful are you?

(CROSSTALK)

MORRISON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: I mean, experts are, you know, saying just like Dr. Fauci, coronavirus vaccine could be available for the most vulnerable populations by the end of the year and average Americans could possibly get vaccinated by April.

And then, there is this, this new Gallup poll showing that only 58 of Americans say they are willing to take a vaccine, which is actually up from a low of 50 percent in September.

MORRISON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: So, what do you interpret from, you know, this news that there maybe two, maybe even three, you know, vaccines, but then, availability will be limited depending on which category you're in? MORRISON: Yes. Well, listen, I mean, I think that for those who -- first of all, it is fantastic news that both of these are two -- we have potentially two or three vaccines with over 90 percent, you know, effectivity.

And so, this is early data. It's good data and it's really promising. I think that, you know, as anything, competition is always healthy, and so, it's nice to see a couple of companies that are now sort of, you know, jocking for that first place position of getting it out there.

Anything in above 60 percent in terms of vaccine efficiency or efficacy is fantastic news, and that certainly has promised to reduce mortality, which we're all really looking for.

I think, you know, to date, we've seen these press releases, and know that they're submitting for the emergency use authorization which is fantastic. I think that those of us in the medical community are still really anxious to see that raw data. You know, to see like, I mean, I will assume that the FDA will clear it through their safety boards before, you know, releasing this to the public.

But for those of us in the medical community, it's -- we still believe it's important to not cut corners and to make sure that this is something that we can strongly advocate for. So, you know, I think that as this rolls out, those of us would like to see the data to --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: At what stage would you see the data?

MORRISON: I mean it's really whenever they're willing to release it. Typically, it's after phase three, but it would be nice to see that data now, right?

Phase three has been -- has been done, they've published it. And so, it would be nice to make that transparent to increase our buy-in. Right? And, of course, as --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Does it make you nervous that you haven't seen it then yet? Probably, they're not sure.

MORRISON: I think it's pretty standard, you know, that they're not the first. Many pharmaceutical companies and, you know, different therapeutic, this is not -- this is not, not standard. But, you know, at the end of the day, let's look at risk versus benefit. Right? And clearly, if this is 94 percent effective in terms of, you know, reducing your risk of contracting COVID.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

MORRISON: And what they are describing, at least, what -- you know, if we take their accounts as valid, is that the safety profile is great, and there's been very, you know, low, low risk. WHITFIELD: Yes.

[13:30:00]

MORRISON: But, at the end of the day, let's look at risk versus benefit. Clearly, if this is 94 percent effective in terms of reducing your risk of contracting COVID.

And what they are describing, at least what -- if we take their accounts as valid is that the safety profile is great. And there's been very, you know, low, low risk.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

MORRISON: So let's look at risk versus benefit of mortality and certainly -- that's why.

If the FDA publishes or approves it, it's because the risks are far greater of not allowing this vaccine out and the mortality that we're anticipating that you stated.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Morrison.

MORRISON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: We are going to leave it there for now.

Dr. Mizuho Morrison, thank you so much. And I hope you're able to have a good, peaceful, safe Thanksgiving week.

MORRISON: Thank you. You, yourself.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

Straight ahead, the CDC is urging Americans not to travel over Thanksgiving. Stressing that the safest way to celebrate is at home with the people that you live with.

But what about college students? I'll talk to the chancellor of one of the largest university systems in the country, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:35:32]

WHITFIELD: All right. Universities are among the many institutions wrestling with difficult questions as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the country.

It's especially pressing right now as many students want to return home for Thanksgiving.

Joining me right now, Jim Malatras, chancellor of the State University of New York System.

Jim, good to see you. Chancellor, I should say, it's good to see you. (CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: All right.

So let me begin with the system that you oversee because it's huge. You have a huge student population. Hundreds of thousands across 64 schools.

And there was an early outbreak at one of your schools. We talked about it awhile back. What did it take for you to try to improve your response across all of these campuses?

JIM MALATRAS, CHANCELLOR, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM: Well, the one case we had early in our semester was a giant wake-up call.

We did a number of things to try to control the virus. We mandated campuses test regularly for the rest of the semester.

We put in place a compliance document that had tough penalties for people who failed to comply with not doing big partisan things like that. We did transparency.

And it's worked to date. We've done more than half a million tests on our campuses all across the system over the course of our semester. And our positivity rate was 0.5 percent.

That's not because of the actions of me. That's the action of our students doing the right thing.

So for the largest system of public higher education in the nation, we have done a pretty good job and that's a testament to our students.

WHITFIELD: Let me ask you your reaction to what took place on another campus, not yours. But we saw Columbia University, there was a banning of 70 students after they were found to violate the school's COVID policies.

Do you think that's acceptable, or is that in step with the management of campuses, you know, that there have to be some penalties, I guess, when people are not completely compliant?

MALATRAS: Yes, and we've had to suspend students as well. We have a zero-tolerance policy for violating COVID conduct because this is life or death, right?

This isn't just, you know, a party and then there's some bad choices being made. You can literally lead to someone's fatality by spreading the virus across communities. So we are taking it really seriously.

But since a couple of violations at the beginning of the semester, most of our students have been doing the right thing.

By the way, over the course of our semester, a large majority have been doing the right thing because they don't want to go home. They want to remain on campus learning. WHITFIELD: So you have also focused on exit testing ahead of the

Thanksgiving break. And just as important, none of those students will come back to campus for several months.

How did you decide on that approach?

MALATRAS: We're listening to the public health experts. We've listened to Dr. Fauci, our state health experts, thanks to the leadership of Governor Cuomo and all the testing they provided for us.

We're the largest system, probably one of the only systems to mandate exit testing. Many systems have offered exit testing. But we're mandating every one of our students exit test as an extra precaution.

Because what we're seeing is, like after Canadian Thanksgiving in Canada, there's been an uptick in cases, not because of large gatherings. Because of small family gatherings.

We wanted to take extra precaution. Our students wanted it because they didn't want to come home with the virus.

Over the past two weeks, we've been winding down our campus activities. We've already conducted more than 143,000 tests all across our system. And we've had 1100 positives.

Most of those students have been isolating and quarantining in our campuses. And hopefully, the health departments will work with us and they can go home after they're done.

WHITFIELD: What do you do about mental health? How are you gauging it? How are you addressing it?

Kids away from home, have been for a very long time. Everyone is handling it differently. Everyone is in a -- trying to navigate a whole new world, whole new existence.

How do you address, identify, assist these young people?

MALATRAS: I have met with hundreds of students at this point, and that's what I hear time and time again.

It has been a toll on students. It's been a toll on all of our society but a toll on our students on their mental health and wellbeing.

At SUNY, we've expanded mental health services under something we call Reach out SUNY campaign to every one of our students across all 64 campuses.

We expanded mental health to more than 400,000 students this semester. Because we heard from them time and time again, they feel isolation, loneliness. This is an unusual time. They are worried about their loved ones.

Whatever we could do to expand those services. We've had peer to peer, referral services to providers outside of our system, telehealth provisions and providers on our campuses. [13:40:10]

It's really helped to ease some of those issues that many of our students have been facing.

WHITFIELD: Chancellor Jim Malatras, thank you so much. I hope you and everyone on campus and your family can have a very safe holiday week.

MALATRAS: Thank you. You, as well.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.

Straight ahead, all eyes on Georgia as both Democrats, Republicans eye two key U.S. Senate seats. And the outcome could depend on the turnout of black voters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Georgia's governor has certified November's presidential election results and awarded the state to President-Elect Joe Biden.

But the voting isn't done in Georgia. Voters will get the chance to vote again January 5th in a runoff election for the state's two Senate seats.

[13:45:01]

As Kyung Lah explains, could come out to get-out-the-votes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Atlanta --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's do it again.

LAH: -- the heart of where Democrats flipped Georgia blue --

(CHANTING)

LAH: -- Jihan Gary helps get out the vote for January's crucial Senate runoff election.

JIHAN GARY, DEMOCRATIC VOTER: We can do it again.

LAH (on camera): Do you think you can do it again.

GARY: I think we can do it again. We're going to give -- I think we got a fighting chance. And I know the Republicans are mad as hell. But at the same time, it's a new day.

LAH (voice-over): She did not expect this just two years ago.

GARY: It was disrespectful. It was absolutely disrespectful. LAH: Gary, like so many other black voters, were angry with what happened to then-gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams.

(on camera): Did it discouraged you when she lost in 2018. How did it affect you?

GARY: I was pissed.

LAH (voice-over): The Democrat lost the race by 55,000 votes, one marred by allegations of voter suppression, mainly among black voters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to go back out and vote January 5th?

LAH: Abrams's loss set a wildfire under the grassroots movement she helped build for years. A movement that now turns to the two Senate runoff seats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator David Perdue and Jon Ossoff, Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock.

LAH: Democrats Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are running against Republican incumbent Senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Races that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to make sure that you are registered to vote.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have two Senate seats in the state.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you planning on voting for the runoff election?

LAH: This is Georgia STAND-UP one of several voting rights groups in the state.

In the run up to November, it and other grassroots groups that had worked with Abrams hit the pavement hard, registering new voters, motivating black turnout, and help flip Georgia for the Democrats in the presidential race for the first time in two decades.

DEBORAH SCOTT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGIA STAND-UP: I was surprised it took so long, but I wasn't surprised that it would happen. And I won't be surprised if it happens in January.

LAH: Deborah Scott has been in this fight for nearly 20 years.

SCOTT: We also have vote today.

LAH: When it comes to Georgia's voting rights, it's black women leading the charge.

SCOTT: Black women leading organizations and organizing and canvassing and phone banking and organizing youth and organizing churches and organizing in every pocket of Georgia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're going to print your name and you sign it here.

LAH: At the senior center, every worker helping these residents fill out absentee ballot applications is a black woman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Strong women is behind the Democratic Party.

HELEN BUTLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA: It's women that are really driving this ground game.

LAH (on camera): So do you think that black women are the ones who flipped the state of Georgia?

BUTLER: We are the highest demographic in turnout of any other besides our white. So, I would say, yes, we do.

LAH (on camera): Democrats will have to fight history in order to pull off a pair of Senate wins.

In 2008, the last Senate runoff, Republicans crushed Democrats by double digits, in part, because of poor Democratic turnout.

But the two Democratic Senate challengers say this is a new state now, and they plan on winning by outorganizing Republicans.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And this quick programming note. Tomorrow night on CNN, we take a closer look at former first lady, Hillary Clinton, and her many accomplishments, including a historic win for Senate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I am honored today to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate from New York!

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Hillary becomes the only first lady ever to run for public office.

KATE ANDERSEN BROWER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR & AUTHOR: It's an incredible moment in history. This is what she deserved. She had put up with years of lies and fighting for Bill. Now she was going to get her due.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is her first campaign tour ever on behalf of herself.

CLINTON: The energy in here is overwhelming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The CNN original series "FIRST LADIES" profiles Hillary Clinton tomorrow night at 10:00 right here on CNN.

[13:49:27]

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: While the U.S. is struggling with the surge in COVID cases, other countries, especially in Europe, are seeing more mixed results right now.

Here's the latest from CNN reporters around the globe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Matthew Chance in Moscow. And Russia has recorded nearly 25,000 new cases of coronavirus in a single day. A new grim record for a country which now has more than 2 million cases.

It's also been a record increase in deaths due to COVID-19. Up 467 people in the past 24 hours bringing the official death toll in Russia to nearly 36,000.

But because of the narrow way which Russia calculates its COVID numbers, independent statisticians tell CNN the real death toll may be much higher.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Bittermann in France, where the virus numbers have been slowly improving this week.

The rate of increase in hospitalizations and the number of ICU beds occupied by COVID patients have been slowly going down.

But it comes with a price. The country has been strict lockdown for three weeks.

[13:55:02]

President Macron is scheduled to address the nation on Tuesday night. And there's already speculation he'll ease some lockdown measures because of the economic and social hardships they're imposing. But nothing is sure until then.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. North of here in Scotland, new coronavirus rules have gone into place.

From Friday, Scots are banned from traveling to England. This went into force on the same day that the west of Scotland, in Glasgow, fell under the country's toughest restrictions. That means all nonessential shops and gyms have to close.

Meanwhile, here in London, England, we are over halfway into a month- long nationwide lockdown. And we're finally seeing positive signs that the curve is beginning to flatten.

This has led the health secretary, Matt Hancock, to say he expects the government will be able to ease restrictions in time for Christmas so that people can celebrate safely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Thanks to everybody for their reporting.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)