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President Biden Campaigns In New York, Trump Holds Rally In Florida; Fight For The Senate Seat In Georgia; Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Is Interviewed About Trump's Subpoenaed Documents; Kyrie Irving Suspended By Brooklyn Nets For Five Days; Student's To Retake SAT Exam Again. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired November 06, 2022 - 17:00   ET

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

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[17:00:00]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Acosta in the battleground state of Georgia live in Atlanta. The clock is ticking and the stakes are climbing. The midterm elections are just two days away. Control of Congress, of course, hangs in the balance. The Senate could be decided by three key toss up races right here in Georgia. And in Nevada and Pennsylvania, other crucial states are also in play and are very tight.

The importance of Pennsylvania, though, came into sharp focus this weekend big time as three presidents past and present stumped for their parties' nominees in that state. You're looking live right now where Donald Trump has been sharing the stage with Florida Senator Marco Rubio. And on the other side of your screen, you can see right there, there is President Biden getting off of Air Force One.

Of course, he's going to be in Yonkers on just a short time from now. But former president of the United States Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, the current president of the United States holding dueling rallies in both York and Florida on this Sunday evening two days before election day. And there you see right now, Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, she's in a tight race just to keep herself in the governor's mansion.

You can see her right now shaking hands with President Biden. We can see Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also there. Other New York dignitaries there on the tarmac greeting the president there in Westchester County, NEW YORK. The president and that entire group will be heading over to this rally over in Yonkers in Westchester County in just a few moments.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is in Yonkers. He's going to be covering the president in just a few moments, but let's start with Kristen Holmes in Miami. Kristen, Trump's rally is actually competing with other events hosted by Governor Ron DeSantis. They're not going to be sharing the same stage on this Sunday before election day. A little 2024 drama that I'm sure some Republicans are not really welcoming right now. KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jim, that's absolutely

right. Many Republicans that I've spoken to were unhappy with former President Donald Trump last night after he said at a Pennsylvania rally, called Ron DeSantis wrong de-sanctimonious. Now, why we're talking about it right now is because Trump didn't really have to come to Miami to hold a rally for Marco Rubio.

Rubio had been leading in the polls. He is running for his third term and he was likely going to win with or without the help of Donald Trump. This was seen as a shot across the bow towards Florida governor Ron DeSantis who was largely seen as Trump's biggest competitor should they both run in 2024. But here is what is interesting. After he made those comments last night, Trump today, he dialed back that rhetoric.

He opened up here saying that everyone here at the rally should go out and vote for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and re-elect him to the governor's mansion. This is incredibly interesting. Afterwards, he said they should elect an entire MAGA slate many of whom, actually all of whom he said was here.

Well, DeSantis isn't here because DeSantis wasn't invited by Trump to participate in this event. In fact, he wasn't even told of the event until it was announced publicly. No surprise there, again, as DeSantis is considered a chief rival to President Trump should they both run in 2024.

Now, as we know, Trump is eyeing another, a third presidential run announcement in the two weeks before Thanksgiving and after the midterms, Jim. So, just as you said, a lot of drama.

ACOSTA: A lot of drama and probably more to come I would think in that equation there. Jeremy, let me go to you. Kathy Hochul is governor of one of the bluest states in the country. President Biden is making this 11th hour visit. They are concerned about this race going to the Republicans, which would be something we haven't seen in New York State in quite some time.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, no doubt about it, Jim. And President Biden was just the latest of the big-name Democrats to come here and stump with New York Governor Kathy Hochul. In the last few days, we've seen Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, all of this a sign of how much this race has heightened in the final weeks.

Democratic officials tell me that the president is coming here in the hopes of energizing the Democratic base. Westchester County where we are now went for President Biden with a 2 to 1 advantage in the last election. So, this is the place where Kathy Hochul is hoping that she can drive up her numbers to combat what we've seen as rising momentum from the Republican nominee, Congressman Lee Zeldin.

[17:05:04]

Of course, this tells us just as much about this current race in New York as it does about President Biden and his ability to campaign in these final weeks of the midterm elections. The president, of course, his approval ratings are under water and there's just a limit to the number of Democratic candidates who are willing to have President Biden campaign alongside of them.

That's why we haven't seen him in many of the states where the races are the most competitive, the tightest races that will determine control of Congress. So, we see President Biden focusing on Democratic strong holds. He was in California and then he was in Illinois and now of course we're seeing him here in New York.

Of course, the president will be stumping for Governor Hochul but we'll also hear his closing message overall in terms of drawing a contrast with Republicans making clear that this is a choice election not a referendum. Jim?

ACOSTA: Alright, Jeremy Diamond, Kristen Holmes, thanks to both of you. Really appreciate it. Let's continue this discussion right now. Joining me now is former Republican Congressman from Florida Francis Rooney and Keith Boykin, a former Clinton White House and Democratic strategist.

Francis, let me start with you. Let's begin in Florida, these dueling campaign events of former President Trump and Ron DeSantis, two days before the midterms. This is not the kind of distraction that your party wants right now, is it?

FRANCIS ROONEY (R), FORMER FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE: No, but Trump hasn't been the kind of distraction we've wanted for a long time. It's typically self-interested and destabilizing behavior by Donald Trump and I don't think it's going to hurt Ron a bit.

ACOSTA: But let me ask you just to follow up on that, Congressman, you know, you could have a situation emerge after these midterms where, you know, Donald Trump is out there on the campaign trail announcing that he's running for president again after a bunch of Republicans got elected and are going to no essentially contest their election results, they're not going to contest them if they won, what a strange juxtaposition for the Republican Party to see that play out.

ROONEY: Well, everything's kind of turned upside down given all the events of the 2020 election, and I hope that our people are mature enough to accept the results of these elections, hope a lot of our people win. But regardless of what happens we have a democracy to protect.

ACOSTA: And Keith, let me go to you on that point. President Biden has been saying that democracy is on the line in these upcoming midterms. He's about to be campaigning for Governor Kathy Hochul of New York here in just a few moments, but -- and that's been a close race. Feel free to comment on that on how close that has been.

But at the same time what about this prospect of having Donald Trump out there on the campaign trail. He still hasn't given up his lies about the 2020 election, campaigning for all these Republican candidates who appear to be willing and perfectly happy to share the stage with him. We saw it last night in Pennsylvania. He's there with Dr. Oz and so on.

KEITH BOYKIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Yeah. You know, Jim, I saw your interview last hour with Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State of Georgia. And this is an interesting possibility there could be a run- off election in Georgia. We saw the same thing happen in the last election cycle and it actually hurt the Republicans in that state because Trump was out there telling people that the election results were not credible, you couldn't trust the election process.

To have something like that happen again could cause Republicans to lose that seat. Meanwhile, Democrats need to have turn out. We need to have a high and strong turnout in order to pull this through to the finish line. The polls have been all over the place. They haven't been as strong as they were in December.

But I'm confident the Democrats can get back to the motivation they had after Roe versus Wade was overturned in the summer and get back to that level of enthusiasm. The Democrats can cross the finish line with the unexpected win.

ACOSTA: But, Keith, let me just follow up on that. Why do you suppose it's been so close in New York State with Governor Hochul?

BOYKIN: Well, you know, they view crime as a big issue here in New York. I'm in New York right now. The issue of homelessness, inflation, those are all issues Republicans have been sort of tackling, pushing forward on. And Democrats have been trying -- have been in this weird position because we -- most Democrats who are in power right now essentially inherited this crisis because it all started because of COVID 2020, which was when Donald Trump was the president.

But that is something that Joe Biden was elected to deal with. It's taken some time to get out of that crisis and crime is a direct effect of that as is inflation, as is homelessness, all these other issues. And there are also other issues that the Democrats are trying to focus Americans on as well that are extremely important like the fact, as you said, before that democracy is on the ballot or as Joe Biden said, you recording him saying that, that Democracy is on the ballot and we have all these election deniers who are running for office and that people who may not even accept the results of the election once we know the results on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[17:09:56]

That's a disturbing trend that could lead to potentially the disillusion of the way we do our politics in this country, and that's a very, very dangerous place to be.

ACOSTA: Francis, let me ask you about that. Do you think American democracy is on the ballot in these upcoming midterms the way that the president, other surrogates like Barack Obama have framed the issue? What are your -- what's your level of concern to see -- when we see Republican candidates in states across the country not committing to accepting election results, still clinging to lies from the 2020 election and so on? How do you talk some sense into your party? ROONEY: Well, I've been trying to do that for three or four years as

you know, Jim. I mean, I think that denying election results is a nonstarter in a democracy. But I do disagree with what the gentleman said about Biden getting a free pass to what's happened with inflation since he became president.

He has spent more money on the dumbest things in the last three years to make the situation worse, and now I think some of those chickens are coming home to roost. And we'll see if this is a wave election or not.

ACOSTA: Francis, let me ask you -- go ahead, Keith. Go ahead.

BOYKIN: Well, I just want to say, you know, historically, statistically, traditionally, the party in power tends to lose seats in the midterm election. The fact that Democrats are even competitive with the way inflation is a reflection of just how troublesome some of the Republican candidates are right now.

But honestly, you know, 57 percent of inflation is driven by corporate profits. Corporate profits are at a 70-year high right now. And there's price gouging going on. We see what's happening in the U.K. and Europe where inflation is a lot higher than it is in the United States. In the U.K. they tried tax cuts, which is what the Republicans have been trying for years, and that hasn't worked. That's called -- that's forcing the end of the government there. And so, we don't necessarily want to follow that route.

ROONEY: I disagree with that, without spending -- disagree with that 100 percent.

ACOSTA: What would you do to, I mean, because that's what a lot of Democrats are saying right now as we get close to these midterm elections, is what is the Republican plan to fight inflation? Do you know what it is?

ROONEY: Well, first of all I would stop spending money. The government, and it's not just Biden, okay, it's Trump, Obama and even back to President Bush. We have spent so much of our national patrimony and the Chinese have to love what we're doing. We have got to stop spending money, we have to get a defense budget that's focused on ships and not people and we have to toughen up our country if we're going to survive as a leading global power. This is a fight.

ACOSTA: Go ahead.

BOYKIN: But if you have to make the argument that Democrats are responsible for inflation when, A, inflation is much higher in Europe than it is in the United States. And, B, you just admitted, Francis, that it's not just President Biden's policies, but previous Republican policies as well.

And those Republicans policies (inaudible) Donald Trump was in response to this unprecedented crisis, the COVID epidemic, COVID pandemic. So, you not really offered a solution --

ROONEY: Biden -- Biden --

BOYKIN: (Inaudible).

ROONEY: -- didn't have (inaudible) this extra money when COVID was over. And the fact that the European's are feckless than we are is really not are argument. That's kind of like we're the tallest midget.

BOYKIN: Our inflation rate is lower than it is in Europe, that's the point I'm making. This is a global crisis. We have a war in Ukraine right now, we have a supply chain shortage because of the pandemic, and a lot of other international issues including oil prices that have nothing to do with President Biden. They're out of his control. He appointed or re-appointed the Fed chair who's tackling inflation right now with interest rates.

So, I don't really know what the Republican plan is other than tax cuts. And that policy did not work in the U.K. That cannot be the solution for everything. Anyway, the real issue I think that Americans have to be concerned about, though, is regardless of who wins, Jim, I think we're in a really difficult situation because if Republicans win, we'll be electing potentially hundreds of election deniers to the ballot and to positions of power.

And if they lose there's no guarantee they're even going to accept the results of the election. So, either way the Republicans have put this country in a very difficult position.

ACOSTA: Alright, Francis Rooney, Keith Boykin --

ROONEY: Well, it's not all Republicans, okay. I agree with you about the election deniers, okay? I'm not for those guys. That's not the party that I've been in for my whole life, President Reagan, two president Bushes were for. But beyond them, there's a lot of other good candidates after seeking re-election and seeking election.

ACOSTA: Alright. --

BOYKIN: They're on the ballot, 48 of the 50 states, though. That's a problem.

ACOSTA: And we're going to keep making note of that. Gentlemen, thanks to both of you. Francis Rooney, Keith Boykin, thanks so much. We'll see how all these issues play out in just a couple of day from now. Thanks so much.

Tonight, CNN has a very special night of coverage. CNN's Erin Burnett starts things off at 6:00 followed by Anderson Cooper 360 at 8:00, and then Dana Bash, Abby Philip at 10:00 with election week in America.

[17:15:01]

And I'm in the battleground state Georgia. Up next, we'll talk about what might be the biggest Senate race in the country between Senator Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.

And as we take a break, this is a live look in Miami. President Trump rally for Senator Marco Rubio continues. We'll monitor that and have more developments as they come in. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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ACOSTA: And we are live in battleground Georgia, a must watch -- a must watch state I should say on election day. And thanks to high profile races for Senate and governor and with the midterms just two days away. Let's check in now with CNN's Jeff Zeleny who is here with me now taking a brief break from the campaign trail.

Jeff, today you were at a rally for Senate hopeful Herschel Walker.

[17:20:02]

He's rolling that bus across the state of Georgia here and there and everywhere. What are you hearing from Herschel Walker and these other candidates as they make this final pitch?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The one thing he was talking about today, Jim, was that big Georgia-Tennessee football game last night. Of course, his whole, you know, biography is about his time on the football field. But he was also really talking about Joe Biden, but Joe Biden has not been in Georgia for several months. He's not stepped foot here, but take a listen to what Herschel Walker said about his Democratic candidate Senator Raphael Warnock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HERSCHEL WALKER, REPUBLICAN GUBERNATURIAL CANDIDATE, GEORGIA: People going to ask me why I'm running. I'm running because I'm sick and tired of this and right now, I want (inaudible) Warnock to know don't let that door hit you on the (inaudible) side as you walk out of the people's office. That's what you got to do. It's time for you to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, some strong language there from Herschel Walker to Senator Warnock. But Jim, one thing is clear really in the final days and hours even though 2.2 million people have already voted here in Georgia. It's clear Herschel Walker is still trying to get Republicans behind him. Several times throughout his event earlier today, he was talking about faith, he was talking about God and talking about team. So, the Republicans needs to come together as a team.

But again, the Biden agenda, first and foremost, was center of all this. We talked to a lot of voters asking if they had any concerns about, you know, the abortion allegations. They said simply Republican control of the Senate basically is worth, you know, some questions perhaps about the candidacy or so. Everyone has their jerseys on now clearly and Walker is trying to get Republicans out on Tuesday.

ACOSTA: We're hearing that as well. I was talking to a Republican voter yesterday --

ZELENY: Right.

ACOSTA: -- you know, who was saying, listen, I'm voting Republican except for Herschel Walker. And so, you're hearing different things from Republicans. It's interesting to see how all of this is going to play out. And of course, we could be in a runoff situation --

ZELENY: Right.

ACOSTA: -- here in the coming days.

ZELENY: Mark December 6 on your calendar of course, because that's the runoff if they don't make 50 percent.

ACOSTA: Alright, very good. Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much. Great report, as always. Make sure to join CNN for special election coverage starting Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. eastern.

Former President Trump we should note, he has missed a deadline to turn over documents to the January 6th Committee. So, what happens if he misses the next deadline? I'll ask a member of the January 6th Committee next.

And this is a live look at both New York and Miami right now. Presidential star power is out in force today. Trump is rallying support for Senator Marco Rubio, President Biden at a rally for Governor Kathy Hochul in New York. Stay with us. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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[17:25:00]

ACOSTA: This week, the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th U.S. Capitol insurrection, gave former President Donald Trump more time to turn over subpoenaed documents. They also warned the former president and his attorneys they will not change the date for Trump's deposition, Monday, November 14th.

But two sources tell CNN that Trump's team has specifically discussed November 14th as a possible date for him to announce a 2024 presidential bid. Maybe not a coincidence here. Joining us now to talk about this is Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California. A key member of the House January 6th Committee. She's been with us many times to talk about the committee's work.

Thanks so much for being with us. What do you do, Congresswoman, if he thumbs his nose at the committee and announces another run for the White House at the same time?

REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA): Well, you know, what he does politically is up to him. He has a legal obligation to come into the committee and testify. We have not changed the date. Of course, in terms of legal obligation I noticed yesterday that he said if he were elected president, he would pardon all the January 6th misconduct, I guess including the rioters who viciously beat police officers and are now sentenced to prison. He'd give them a free pass.

So, we'll see how committed he is to the rule of law. I do think, actually, since, if I may, with the election so close this is not just up to the committee but up to the voters of America to decide the direction they want their country to go in, one of lawlessness, a president who thumbs his nose at the law and embraces political violence.

Republicans are so sure they're going to win. They're now openly talking about cutting Medicare and social security. So, I hope people keep that in mind.

ACOSTA: But are you --

LOFGREN: The pundit class --

ACOSTA: Well, I was just going to --

LOFGREN: Go ahead.

ACOSTA: I know. I was just going to ask are you prepared to bring contempt charges if he doesn't -- if he doesn't comply?

LOFGREN: We're not going to get into what we'll do at this point. The law is on our side. He's obliged to come in. I think he owes the American public as well as the committee an explanation for what he did. He whipped up a mob. He knew they were armed with weapons and he sent them down to the capitol to overturn the election. That is a problem and he needs to come in and talk to us about it. If he does not, we will take whatever steps are necessary.

ACOSTA: Are you concerned he's just going to play games with you, though, and run out the clock?

LOFGREN: Well, and that really goes back to the election. The pundit class, you know, seems to think that this election is over. However, if you go race by race as I have, the early voting gives every indication the Democrats will retain control of the House despite what the pundits and, you know, columnists are saying, in which case we have greater options ahead of us. So, we will do what we need to do, and the American people need to do what they need to do.

ACOSTA: And as for other committee business, you've been having discussions with witnesses surrounding former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony that Trump got into an altercation with the Secret Service detail because he wanted to go to the capitol on January 6th.

[17:30:04]

Have you gotten more clarity on that, statements from witnesses supporting her account?

LOFGREN: If (inaudible) Jim.

ACOSTA: Yeah.

LOFGREN: He never testified that there was an altercation. She testified that Mr. Ornato told her there was an altercation.

ACOSTA: Right.

LOFGREN: The real issue is whether there was an argument. And it's very clear now that there was a heated dispute between the president and the Secret Service. He wanted to go down to the capitol, and that we have multiple pieces of evidence that make us confident that that is the case.

ACOSTA: And that includes some of this recent testimony?

LOFGREN: I, you know, we're not permitted to go into all the testimony, but it's not just focused on that issue. You know we got over a million documents from the Secret Service, and we've got public statements from the Service as well as testimony, and I will say that the documents don't always square up with the public statements and the testimony.

So, we need to figure out what happened and then we need to figure out what recommendations to make -- to make us safer. I mean, for example, because this was in a public hearing, there was clear evidence of the potential for violence in the morning of the 6th. There were reports of armed people.

The Secret Service knew that there were people who were going through the mags because they had, you know, assault weapons, and yet there is apparently that information was never relayed to those protecting the vice president. I think that's something that's concerning.

ACOSTA: And you have more information now as a result of your more recent work that that is the case, supporting what you've said?

LOFGREN: Oh, absolutely. I mean, that was presented in public. But as I say, we're going to interview the remaining few individuals in the next -- in the coming days and we will have I hope a complete picture that will allow us to ascertain exactly what happened, but also very importantly to make recommendations so that the president, vice president, and others will be safer in the future.

ACOSTA: And just very quickly, a timeline for when we might see a final report. Do we have any certainty on that?

LOFGREN: Well, we're busy writing it now. A lot of it has been written and we're working through the final pieces of it, and then of course we've got some editing that not only is the staff doing, that members are involved in. So, we're well-under way and certainly it will be done and out to the public before the end of this year.

ACOSTA: All right, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, thank you very much for your time. It's critically important work. We appreciate your time.

LOFGREN: Thank you.

ACOSTA: Alright. And we are live tonight in the battleground state of Georgia. In the meantime, can superstar Kyrie Irving earn his place back in the NBA after being suspended for his comments about a tweet linked to an anti-Semitic documentary? The head of the Anti-Defamation League joins me next. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:35:00]

ACOSTA: NBA star Kyrie Irving will miss the Brooklyn Nets game against the Dallas Mavericks tomorrow. It's the third of at least five games he will not be playing. The Brooklyn Nets suspended Irving for a failure to disavow anti-Semitism after he tweeted a link to an anti- Semitic documentary and then initially refused to apologize following his suspension. He did issue an apology. Former teammate Lebron James says he hopes Irving understands the impact of his actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: You know, there's no place in this world for it. Nobody can benefit from that. And I believe, you know, what Kyrie did caused some harm to a lot of people. And he has since over the last, I think today or was it yesterday, he apologized. But he caused some harm and I think it's unfortunate. But I don't -- I don't stand on the position to harm people when it comes to your voice or your platform or anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, the league's only Jewish player, Washington Wizards' forward, Deni Avdija, has also spoken out on all of this saying there need to be consequences for the actions that players do. I don't know the amount, the punishment that the league gives, but I think it needs to be known that there's no room for words like that.

And joining us now to talk about this is Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Jonathan, great to have you on. It's such an important topic. I hate that we keep coming back to this, but it's important to talk about it. The ADL returned Irving's $500,000 donation. What goes into a decision like that? What are your thoughts?

JONATHAN GREENBLATT, CEO & NATIONAL DIRECTOR, ANTI_DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Well, first of all, it's great to be back, Jim. And I'll tell you, this is a hard situation we find ourselves in. Let's just start with the context, right. Anti-Semitism has reached elevated levels the likes of which we haven't seen in decades. ADL's been tracking incidents for 40, almost 45 years. Last year was the highest level we've ever seen, nearly triple the number of incidents a few years ago.

Every day in Brooklyn there are acts of harassment and violence. So, let's remember in this context Jews are feeling alarmed and having anxiety.

[17:29:57]

And then the content, the movie itself, Jim, was -- it was and is toxic, lies about Jews, holocaust denialism, the works. And so then, now what we really need is honest conversation. I think Lebron had it exactly right. That caused harm when Kyrie used his platform to reach millions of people and validate a film.

Now he's showing a kind of contrition and we got to have dialogue. The Jewish community and the black community have so much in common. I mean, we're a multiracial community. They have a long history of faith. And together we both have a kind of trauma. So, my hope is now we don't have any more cancel culture. We have counsel culture and we come together because that's what we need in this time more than ever.

ACOSTA: And Jonathan, a reporting from "The Atlantic" indicates the Nets want Kyrie Irving to do several things to return to the team among them eating with the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish leaders in Brooklyn.

GREENBLATT: Yeah.

ACOSTA: What does that entail? How does that sound to you? Could that maybe make its way to a solution in all of this?

GREENBLATT: Jim, you are so right to lay it out that way. That's how we do get to a solution, through direct dialogue and conversation. Look, I don't want Kyrie's money. It's not about apologies. It's about accountability. You can't buy your way into that. You've got to do the work. So, yeah, I'm ready to meet with Kyrie tonight, tomorrow morning, as soon as possible to help him, help our communities and help the country get through this.

As Joe Tsai said, it's bigger than basketball. So, we're ready to work with the Nets, we're ready to work with Kyrie, Jim, so we can get through this. We can explain where we're coming from. We can hear where his head is at and then together, we can heal this divide.

ACOSTA: You know, Jonathan, critics have said though so that the NBA and the Nets did not act quickly enough. And some have gone as far as saying that the Nets should have just gotten rid of Kyrie Irving, cut him from the team. What do you think?

GREEENBATT: I'm glad I'm not Steve Nash and my job isn't to manage, you know, the Nets. They've got a whole set of challenges, but I can't talk about where we are, where we've been. We got to focus on where we are --

ACOSTA: Steve Nash was just fired as we all know.

GREENBLATT: Yeah, exactly. So, we got to focus on where we are today, where are we today. This is one of the most popular players in the league who even if inadvertently was endorsing a film filled with anti-Semitism -- but, look, hate crimes are up against all people. So, anti-Semitism should be intolerable like racism should be intolerable. So, let's not focus on where we were, let's focus on where we go and let's go there together. That's what we need right now.

ACOSTA: And Kyrie Irving and Kanye West, they have suffered financially for their comments. Does that sort of financial consequence run the risk of just forcing people underground, forcing folks like this who engage in this kind of ugliness underground rather than educating them? GREEENBLATT: Well, look, again, I've wanted to --

ACOSTA: I guess better underground than above ground, but, yeah.

GREENBLATT: Yeah, I mean, look, we do need to push prejudice back in the shadows. We've seen the main streaming of hate, the normalization of anti-Semitism that isn't okay, but there is a big difference between Kanye and Kyrie. Kanye West has been spewing anti-Semitic sludge for weeks, you know, whereas Kyrie elevated a film, there was a little bit of confusion, but I liked what he said the other day.

And although he might -- we might need him to go farther,0 I think he's engaging in a process of real discovery and dialogue that's totally different than Kanye West. And ADL will support him, and my guess is the Jewish community will support him if we do honest dialogue together so we heal.

ACOSTA: Alright, Jonathan Greenblatt, thank you so much as always. Such a critically important issue. We appreciate. Thanks so much.

GREENBLATT: Jim, I appreciate you. Thank you for covering it.

ACOSTA: You got it. As always, we do.

Still ahead with the midterms. Just two days away, some Democrats in New York are gearing up for big potential losses, potential losses. The election hasn't happened yet, but they are worried and they already have their fall guy according to some new CNN reporting that's coming up next.

And as we go to break, these are live images from New York where President Biden will soon arrive for a rally with Governor Kathy Hochul. More on all of that next. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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[17:45:00]

ACOSTA: President Biden is in New York to boost support for Governor Kathy Hochul. He's expected to speak at a rally for her any minute now. We'll keep our eyes on that. The surprisingly close matchup between Hochul and a Republican challenger, Congressman Lee Zeldin, has led Democrats to move millions of dollars and big star power to what is normally considered a deep blue state.

Democratic officials and strategists tell us they are now bracing for defeat and already know who they'll point their finger at, New York City Mayor Eric Adams. That's according to some new reporting now from CNN's Isaac Dovere. He joins me now to share this new reporting. Isaac, the mayor of New York has caused some heart burn from time to time for Democrats. It sounds like it might be happening again.

EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Certainly true, Jim. You've got Democrats in New York telling me that they are very worried about being able to get Kathy Hochul elected to a full term with Lee Zeldin running a very strong campaign against her and there are multiple House seats that are in danger as well. Democratic held House seats as well as House seats that they had at one point been hoping to flip from Republicans mostly in the suburbs around New York City.

And that these races are really coming down to fears about crime in New York City. A lot of Democrats saying that Eric Adams as mayor has really leaned into what they say is the Republican narrative that New York City is in bad shape.

[17:50:02]

And that's caused some tension in these last couple of weeks of the campaign, even these last couple of hours of the campaign. But you see Kathy Hochul trying to say that things are really good between her and the mayor and some comments to CNN that we should take a listen to.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHY HOCHUL, GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK: The governor and the mayor of New York never cooperated in a way that we are now. And it's going to take some time and I know the voters understand this, but nationwide crime has been a problem. Our numbers are better in New York city. Violent crime is up, but we look at murders and shootings and they're down about 3 percent, but that's not going to give anyone any comfort. It says we still have a problem. I understand that. But let's talk about real answers and not just give everybody all these platitudes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOVERE: And so that is what you see, Jim. The governor is saying that, yes, she is hearing the concerns about crime, the concerns are real, but the Republicans are talking about is just fear mongering and that she says their real solutions than she has and the Democrats have to talk about on these issues.

ACOSTA: Alright, Isaac, thank you very much for that reporting. More on our website if you want to read more of Isaac's reporting on this issue. Thanks so much. Great to see you. Appreciate it.

Have you ever had the nightmare about having to take a test that you're totally unprepared to take? Reality might be even worse for a few dozen hopeful college students from El Paso, Texas. Fifty-five high schoolers who took the SAT exam last month may have to do the whole thing all over again.

Yes, that's every student's nightmare. Their tests apparently flew out of the UPS truck that was transporting them. You heard that right. The school district says it is working with the college board which administers the SATs to determine a remedy for the students. They will be able to take the ACT, another popularized standardized tests next month. Doesn't sound like the dog ate their home work. It went out the UPS truck.

In the meantime, we are live in the battleground state of Georgia, but very soon in New York, President Biden will appear at a rally for Governor Kathy Hochul. There is Senator Kirsten Gillibrand right now, another surrogate for Kathy Hochul. She's in a tough election battle with Congressman Lee Zeldin. And don't forget, CNN's special election day coverage starts at 4:00 p.m. eastern on Tuesday afternoon. We'll be right back.

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[17:55:00]

ACOSTA: It's hard to come to Atlanta around election time and not hear the echoes of history. The echoes of the struggle for the right to vote in America. Of course, Georgia has long been home to this nation's civil rights heroes. Like the late Congressman John Lewis who demonstrated he was willing to sacrifice everything to make democracy a reality for all of us.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

JOHN LEWIS, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE OF GEORGIA: My dear friends, your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. who once preached here in Atlanta put it this way 65 years ago. He said, quote, "Give us the ballot and we will no longer have to worry the federal government about our basic rights." I had a chance to speak with MLK's son, Martin Luther King, III about why he believes we are now facing the most consequential election of our lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN LUTHER KING III: My dad said, also, a voteless people is a powerless people. And one of the most important steps that we must take is that short step to the ballot box.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: At the Martin Luther King national historic site in Atlanta, I met a group of young women who told us they are mindful of the power of the vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENESHA KNIGHT, GEORGIA VOTER: Voting is very important. It is something that I know this whole group of folks here, standing here, holds dear to our hearts. We know how important it is. We know the many sacrifices that were made for the opportunity for us to have the right to vote. So, it's very important that I cast my vote in this election and every election to come and that has passed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: They told us that the voting restrictions that were passed after the 2020 election have actually motivated them to get to the polls to do their part.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHUMAINE PRUITT: More recently we have seen the efforts that people have made to suppress our votes, to make it not as easy to vote, to make it a little more challenging. And so, for me, that gives me even more reason to say, you know what, I'm going to go and vote and I'm going to make sure that everyone that I know goes out to vote because apparently, it's really important for us to vote. They're trying so hard to keep us from voting. So, we'll definitely come to the polls in great numbers for sure. Absolutely.

ACOSTA: There might be something going on there if they're telling you -- if they're trying to make it not happen, right.

NIA PENNICK, GEORGIA VOTER: And I just want to say, continue to vote and just make sure you vote. And even if you don't have a way to vote, you can find a way as well with various resources available.

ACOSTA: Nothing is going to stop you from voting.

UNKNOWN: At all.

UNKNOWN: Absolutely not.

UNKNOWN: I've already voted.

UNKNOWN: Early voting.

UNKNOWN: I already voted the first day.

ACOSTA: I figured you'd say that.

UNKNOWN: Right.

PENNICK: But voting is important, again, regardless of what (inaudible). Just do it because your voice needs to be heard.

UNKOWN: Yeah. It's like Nike.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

UNKNOWN: Just do it.

(BEGOIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: There's not much time left before election day. The future of this democracy is in your hands. You still have the power to vote and hold on to this democracy. That's the news. Reporting from Atlanta, I'm Jim Acosta. I'll see you back here next week in Washington.

[17:59:58]

But don't go anywhere. CNN's Erin Burnett kicks off our very special CNN night of coverage of the upcoming midterm elections right now. Have a good night.

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