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Showdown in Portland; U.S. COVID-19 Testing Remains a Political Issue; California Becomes U.S.' Hardest Hit State; Beijing Vows Retaliation for Houston Consulate Closure; Egypt Silences Critics over Virus Outbreak; U.N. Relief Chief: Everyone Needs COVID-19 Vaccine; U.S. Republicans Prepare to Release New Stimulus Package Plan; U.K. Prime Minister Warns of Quadruple Winter Crisis; Five-Star Liverpool Lift Premier League Trophy. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired July 23, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're working with very talented people, very brilliant people, and it's all going to work out and
it is working out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Is it though?
As President Trump paints a rosy picture of the situation in the United States, in some parts of the country COVID-19 outbreaks spiral in record
numbers.
And --
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ANDERSON (voice-over): The scene in the city of Portland after more than 50 consecutive days of protests. CNN was on the scene, we explore what is
going on there. That's this hour.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Plus, what a night for the Reds. Liverpool fans go absolutely wild after their team is crowned English Premier League
champions.
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ANDERSON: Tonight, America on the verge.
I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to what is our expanded edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.
Within the next few hours, someone in the United States will be the 4 millionth person diagnosed with the coronavirus. Now when that happens, it
will have taken just 15 days to get there from the last 1 million milestone and getting from 2 million to 3 million, well, that took 28 days. From 1 to
2 million, about six weeks. And it took more than 3 three months to record the first million cases.
The growth, tremendous; some say, out of control. However, you wouldn't know any of that if you listened to president Donald Trump's Wednesday
briefing. It's not so much what he did say as what he didn't.
He didn't mention the 143,000 deaths that America has seen or California and Texas hitting highs in infections. Reporters, including our own Kaitlan
Collins, asked why his top health experts weren't with him at the briefings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I don't think we have really gotten an explanation yesterday on why the health experts are no
longer joining you at these briefings.
Can you explain why?
TRUMP: Because I'm briefing them. I just spoke to Dr. Fauci. Dr. Birx is right outside and they're giving me all they know as of this point in time
and I'm giving the information to you. I think it's probably a very concise way of doing it. It seems to be working out very well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, something Fauci and Birx and other health experts agree on is key and that is testing. Mr. Trump tells FOX News he is not a fan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: To me, it -- every time you test you find a case and, you know, it gets reported in the news we found more cases. If instead of 50 we did 25,
we'd have half the number of cases.
So I personally think it's overrated. But I am totally willing to keep doing it. Again, it makes us look bad but they say it's good. I don't mind
looking bad if it's a good thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, despite severe shortages in coronavirus testing supplies and lags in results, the Trump administration is still sitting on billions
of dollars in unused funding that Congress allocated months ago.
Why?
CNN White House correspondent John Harwood is as plugged in as anyone in D.C., with us live from the White House.
And this is a very simple question, this is funding, as I said, that Congress allocated months ago. Billions of dollars for testing.
Why is the White House sitting on it, John?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Becky, for precisely the reason that the president alluded to in that FOX News interview. He has
said and said consistently that he thinks that testing makes him look bad because it exposes more cases.
Sometimes he says it creates more ,cases which is obviously ridiculous. But it certainly exposes more cases, which all the public health experts say is
a vital piece of information for them to possess in order to figure out the appropriate response. But the president's reluctant. He said so out loud.
[10:05:00]
HARWOOD: And that's led to delays in the investment in this process and the president's refusal to create a national testing strategy as many
experts have urged for weeks.
ANDERSON: What he does want to do -- and he being the U.S. president -- is to get kids and college students back into school, in-class teaching. There
is a new stimulus package, a new COVID package, in the works in Congress at present. It has an enormous amount of money in order to help schools to
reopen.
What's the president's position on this?
HARWOOD: Well, first of all, the Republican bill has $100 billion for that purpose. That is one-fourth of the amount of money that the House
Democratic bill has for that purpose. It's a very challenging task to open school districts around the country and figure out ways to do that safely.
The president's position, as he expressed it yesterday, underscores the flaw in the briefing arrangement that he described in the -- in your lead-
in in response to Kaitlan's question.
"Fauci and Birx brief me and I pass on their information."
In fact, the information he passed on yesterday about reopening schools contradicted what all of the health experts say, which is, he said
schoolchildren do not acquire the virus and transmit it when they get home.
Well, we have a fresh study this week from South Korea showing that schoolchildren from ages 10 to young adults at 19 pass on the virus as
robustly as adults do.
So here you have the president again, in his desire to paint a rosy picture, in his desire to accelerate reopen, to spur economic growth and
help his re-election, is describing a reality that does not exist. It exists in his head but not in the real world.
ANDERSON: His rival for president, Joe Biden, has had some choice words to say about the way that Donald Trump has dealt with this crisis. He also had
a very strong message for him. Let me just play this out for our viewers.
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JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What President Trump has done in going -- his spreading of racism, the way he
deals with people, based on the color of their skin, national origin, where they're from, is absolutely sickening.
No sitting president has ever done this, never, never ,never. No Republican president has done this, no Democratic president. We have racists and
they've existed and they tried to get elected president. He's the first one that has.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Look, this is campaign season. But just a little more than a hundred days from this November election.
What's the reaction to what Joe Biden was saying there at the White House, John?
HARWOOD: Becky, Joe Biden was alluding to the stunning way in which the president has responded to racial unrest in the United States that was
instigated by recent episodes of police violence against African Americans.
He has responded to that with open appeals to racism. The president has not acknowledged that but he's continued to behave in that manner. He was asked
about it yesterday.
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TRUMP: So you look at employment, you look at opportunity zones and you look at criminal justice reform. You look at prison reform. I have done
things that nobody else -- I have said this and I say it openly and not a lot of people dispute it. I have done more for black Americans than anybody
with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARWOOD: In reality, Becky, virtually everyone with their eyes open disputes what the president said because, you know, he talks about economic
trends and low unemployment rate. Those are merely the continuation of trends that have been proceeding since the economic recovery that began
under President Obama.
Black unemployment continued to go down but the way that the president has stoked racial unrest as a political strategy is certainly not to the
benefit of the African American community.
African Americans recognize it. That's why his approval rating and the vote intention of African Americans are overwhelmingly tilted against the
president and towards Joe Biden.
ANDERSON: John Harwood in Washington. Thank you.
Well, California has taken a title from New York that neither state wants.
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ANDERSON: It is now the worst hit state in the United States. California's 12,000 reported cases Wednesday a daily high, bringing the state to the
total of 421,000 recorded infections. In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 quickly becoming, if not the leading cause of death, then certainly one of
them.
Meanwhile, San Francisco's mayor ordering more testing as the city goes on high alert because of increased cases and hospitalizations. The state's
governor announced Wednesday that he's made a deal with a Chinese manufacturer to provide more than 400 million masks. Stephanie Elam is
joining us from Los Angeles.
It does seem like, despite all of that, at least L.A. as a city, staving off another stay at home order, as I understand it, Steph.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, for now, Becky. At least that's where we stand.
The mayor, Eric Garcetti, had threatened we'd go into another stay at home order if the numbers do not stabilize. We have stabilized at a higher level
than any health officials would like to see; the positivity rate is 10 percent. Still, the mayor made it clear as to why this is why we're pausing
here for now. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-CA), LOS ANGELES: The COVID threat level tonight remains at orange. We are not moving to red. And we are not closing any
additional businesses or activities.
Between the closures two weeks ago and the renewed vigilance that I'm certainly feeling across the city, we'll know in the next week or so
together, guided by our county health department, by the data, where we are and where we're moving.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: Now for the fourth day in a row, we have seen hospitalizations above 2,200, although they came down a bit, still requiring a lot of attention.
The mayor and the governor asking everyone here to stay vigilant, keep social distancing stop getting together in groups, wearing masks and
keeping your hands clean. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes. Stephanie Elam for you in California.
Well, we are watching a dramatic escalation of diplomatic confrontation between the United States and China. The U.S. now claims a fugitive Chinese
scientist is hiding out in the consulate in San Francisco.
China's foreign ministry says they have no information about that but Beijing is threatening to retaliate against America for ordering the
closure of the consulate in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday.
Well, at the same time, the U.S. secretary of state has been in Europe. Some suggest that he's been whipping up anti-Chinese sentiment. He called
the Houston closure "red meat" for Donald Trump's base.
Some say this is an unprecedented escalation. I want to bring in David Culver, live for you in Beijing.
More tough talk from the foreign ministry. No word yet on how Beijing will respond. Is there any indication of the options that they might be
considering, David?
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we listened closely to those daily briefings. Today in particular, I was monitoring it, wondering if the
foreign ministry and their spokesperson would put out some sort of specifics as to how they plan to retaliate.
They said they'll retaliate, especially with regard to the most recent move. When, how, remains to be seen. I'm going to walk you through some
options but first I want to you to hear more from the spokesperson at the foreign ministry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WANG WENBIN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The U.S. asked China to close the consulate general in Houston which
seriously violates international law, the basic norms governing international relations and the bilateral consular treaty between the
United States and China.
It severely damages U.S.-China relations and it is breaking down the friendship bridge between both sides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULVER: Becky, I want to show you that map one more time showing the U.S. consulate and the embassy right here in China, including the one in Hong
Kong. There are five consulates in Mainland China; one in Hong Kong and, of course, the embassy in Beijing where we are.
But what we heard Reuters reporting it's the one in Wuhan closing, that's not likely given there are limited staff members representing the U.S.
Chengdu has been mentioned as relaying information back to Tibet.
But state media is pushing that Hong Kong would be the most effective if they're trying to strike hard against the U.S.
[10:15:00]
CULVER: The U.S. has considered the one in Houston, the Chinese consulate to be a front for spying as they have described it. State media is saying
the Hong Kong consulate for the U.S. is likewise a center of intelligence, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, right. Well, first, Houston in the U.S. and now San Francisco.
What's going on there and how are the Chinese responding?
CULVER: You're right. It's shifts from one consulate to another. All eyes on San Francisco and it is alleged, by the FBI that is, that a Chinese
biologist and researcher is essentially hiding out there, has been there for about a month.
They claim that she lied on her visa application to the U.S., not disclosing her military ties, her connections to the People's Liberation
Army here in China.
Now China is responding saying that essentially the U.S. is going after scholars and students and they're putting this out as a general warning. In
fact, I'll read you a little bit as to what the foreign minister and the spokesperson had to say.
"The U.S. asked China to close its consulate general in Houston, which seriously violates international law." They go on to say, "This is a
blatant political persecution." This with regards to the scholars.
"We urge the U.S. to stop using any excuses to limit, harass and crack down on the Chinese scholars and students in the U.S. China will use necessary
measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and safety of Chinese citizens in the U.S."
That ties into the rising nationalism that we have seen domestically and it tends to do well on state media and Chinese social media. However, they
again promise to retaliate. No specifics in that, Becky.
We are wondering, is it going to come in the next few days?
Are they going to hold out until November and figure out who they're dealing with on the other side?
ANDERSON: A calculation a lot of countries are making at the moment, I think. Thank you for that.
As this is going on, China has launched its first solo mission to Mars. Getting busy up there. It is sending a probe to the Red Planet just days
after the UAE did the same. NASA's Perseverance rover scheduled to launch July 30th as well. Here is Ivan Watson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may have been late to the game but China is now hoping to change that as part
of its 13th five-year plan that singles out space exploration as a top research priority.
Under President Xi Jinping, Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its space program. And in 2016, deputy chief of China's national space
administration declared the overall goal is that by around 2030, China will be among the major space powers of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ivan's full report coming to you next hour here on CNN. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
The U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo currently using his time abroad to drum up anti-China support.
But where do U.S. allies stand?
Well, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said the old days of hide your strength, bide your time and never take the lead are over. I'll be
speaking to him live next hour. It's a discussion you will not want to miss.
Right. CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.
Still to come, Egypt's doctors had enough to deal with as it struggling with COVID-19 but now their work is complicated with a regime that has
little tolerance for dissent.
Plus, Liverpool fans ignore all warnings to stay home and socially distance as they are crowned the Premier League champions. That and more coming up.
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ANDERSON: It's 20 past 6:00 in the UAE. We're broadcasting from Abu Dhabi.
The United Nations is warning that the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the Arab region. It's an area already facing steep challenges with 55
million people at risk and in need of humanitarian assistance.
Now the U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, is sounding the alarm. He says that the regional economy is expected to shrink by 5 percent; 17
million jobs lost and, with more dropping off the economic ladder, he sees one-quarter of the population faced with poverty.
Alarming figures also coming out of the small sheikdoms of Bahrain and Qatar, which now have the world's per capita rates of coronavirus
infections. For every 100,000 people in Bahrain, nearly 2,400 people have been infected. In Qatar, more than 3,800 have been infected.
Health officials in Bahrain and Qatar conducted aggressive testing campaigns in crowded labor camps and other sites. Some experts believe a
wider testing program would have worked better to contain the virus.
Well, meanwhile, in Egypt, where a fragile, fragile health system and authoritarian government meet, security agencies are trying to stifle the
criticism of the government's handling of the health crisis. I want to get to our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, previously the CNN
bureau chief there for years.
He is here to give us the details on what is happening.
And, Ben, you currently live in Beirut, of course. This is not a straightforward situation, the way that the government is responding to the
health crisis, is it?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the government is presenting a very rosy picture about how much it's doing. But the fact of
the matter is, Egypt's doctors are already having a hard enough time dealing with this coronavirus outbreak.
But it's been made much more difficult under the heavy hand of the pervasive security services.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
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WEDEMAN (voice-over): The message from the Egyptian army is clear. The military's mobilized its considerable resources to fight the scourge of
coronavirus, providing citizens with state of the art facilities and treatment.
Pull back the curtain, however, it's a different picture. The doctor appeals online for donations of masks. More than 120 Egyptian physicians
have died from coronavirus, according to the General Syndicate of Egyptian Doctors.
But those who speak out pay a price. According to the Doctors Syndicate, at least six doctors and one pharmacist have been arrested for criticizing the
government's efforts, accused by state security of being members of a terrorism organization, spreading false news and misusing social media.
A member of the syndicate, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said that detention is being renewed every 15 days and then
another 15 days, then another 15 days.
In a statement, the syndicate said the arrests are spreading frustration and fear among its members. For doctors, it's a stark choice says Amnesty
International's Egypt researcher.
[10:25:00]
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Officials in Cairo didn't respond to CNN's request for comment. Egypt has reported around 90,000 cases of coronavirus and
almost 4,500 deaths. Yet the pandemic has inspired private initiatives to help those in need.
Basma Mostafa prepares meals for those with mild cases of COVID-19, self- isolating at home. She started a Facebook group to make and to distribute meals throughout the twin cities of Cairo and Giza with a combined
population of around 20 million.
The response to her call for volunteers, she recalls, was an explosion.
"The explosion happened, she says, "because at the time everyone felt they were alone. That if they got coronavirus, they'd have to confront it
alone."
Before the meals are picked up for delivery, she writes a message on each.
"Made with love, we're with you, we love you."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN: And back to those doctors who have been detained. Actually, the number of those who have been detained is much likely more than that.
Others have been warned and threatened and some doctors have been transferred after speaking out far away from their homes and families.
Becky?
ANDERSON: That's the story in Egypt. The health crisis where you are in Beirut in Lebanon, just exacerbating an already awful economic situation. I
know the French foreign minister has been in Beirut.
What message did he bring with him from France and the international community?
WEDEMAN: Well, he was quite clear, the message was very simple. When he's met with his Lebanese counterparts today, it was help us so we can help
you.
The real problem in Lebanon, actually going back several years, many years, is that the donor community is very hesitant to give Lebanon any sort of
bailout. And it desperately needs it because the country, its banks are bankrupt.
The problem is that donors don't want to throw good money after bad. The worry is that the political elite is so corrupt that, whatever the donors
give, they'll pocket it.
Now so far there have been, I believe, 17 negotiation sessions between the International Monetary Fund and the Lebanese government over a bailout. But
the Lebanese negotiating team is divided into three different parts which don't agree with one another.
So it's going to be quite some time before the Lebanese side is going to come to an agreement -- be able to come to an agreement with the IMF.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman on Lebanon and on Egypt. We'll continue to discuss over the next few weeks. Ben, thank you.
Grossly inadequate, dangerously shortsighted, the United Nations relief chief Mark Lowcock blasting wealthy nations for the lack of coronavirus
aid, calling for billions more dollars in assistance. He said that on the heels of the E.U.'s trillion dollar stimulus package so I asked him what
steps he wanted to see taken next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK LOWCOCK, U.N. AID CHIEF: We have issued an update about global humanitarian response and for COVID-19, getting protective equipment to
people, sustaining health services, preventing famines. It's got a bill of $10 billion.
Frankly, on one level that's a lot of money and on another level, it's really pocket change if you think of the scale of the budgetary results
that the E.U. has just allocated. So I think the smart thing to do is to invest in the available institutions which can contain problems.
ANDERSON: The U.S. is terminating their relationship and funding for the WHO.
Is this the opposite of what you are calling for?
LOWCOCK: It is our view that the World Health Organization has a central role to play during the current crisis and everybody needs to work together
to support them and also to improve them.
You know, everybody will have lessons to learn from this crisis, including every U.N. agency. But the time to, you know, learn the lessons is not when
you have the fire engines at the scene with the fire at its peak. You do the lesson learning when you've got things under control.
[10:30:00]
ANDERSON: The global race for a vaccine, Mark, is not just a matter of getting one approved of course. Global distribution, especially to poorer
and more vulnerable nations, will be one of the toughest geopolitical tests that we face.
Are we at this stage capable of this challenge?
Are we set up for it?
LOWCOCK: Vaccines have been one of the things that's transformed life for people in developing countries over the last 30, 40 years. Infant mortality
has collapsed, dramatically lower than it used to be when I was first doing this kind of work and the vaccines are the biggest reason for that.
That system is under a lot of strain now because of lockdown, because of other pressures on the health systems and we are seeing a reduction in
routine vaccinations against measles and so on as another consequence of COVID.
So we absolutely need to rebuild that system and get ready for the moment when there will be a COVID vaccine. Everybody on the planet needs to get it
if anybody on the planet wants to feel safe from this virus.
ANDERSON: Mark, the U.N. warning that this pandemic could push 265 million people into starvation, triggering an increase in poverty for the first
time since 1990. We're talking generational stuff here.
Are you convinced that it is possible to avoid that reality?
LOWCOCK: There's been enormous progress on these issues over recent years. When I first started doing this work 35 years ago, famines were common all
around the world and now they're extremely rare and they're preventable. So it's absolutely doable.
But unless the richer worlds step up and, you know, see what's coming down the track, it won't be prevented. So now is the moment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Mark Lowcock speaking to me earlier. We'll take a short break. Back after this.
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ANDERSON: You're with CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. It is just after half past 6:00 here in Abu Dhabi.
Waiting for details to trickle out on the Republican proposal to provide another round of economic stimulus for the U.S. now that key senators have
agreed on funding for the package.
Now tension with the White House has delayed the release of the plan and although securing funding is a step forward, it is only a piece of what is
a $1 trillion final deal that will still need to be negotiated with House Democrats. Let's get you to CNN's politics congressional reporter, Lauren
Fox, on Capitol Hill with what as I understand is a new scoop, Lauren.
[10:35:00]
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially what we are learning now is that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has emerged from
McConnell's office and he said there's a, quote, "fundamental agreement" between the White House and Senate Republicans.
Now what that deal specifically looks like we're still getting more details but we do know there will be more flexibility for state and local
governments to use existing funding that they have received.
We also know that this bill will include another round of funding for the small business paycheck protection program, as well as more money to reopen
schools, about $105 billion, Becky. Some of that money will be tied to schools that physically reopen. So about $35 billion will go just to
schools that have in-person classes this fall.
But of course, Becky, this is a big win for Republicans, both at the White House and on Capitol Hill, because they have had a roller coaster of a
week. There had been shuttles of diplomacy negotiations happening across the capital.
But this is just a piece of the puzzle. Remember, they have to get an agreement with Democrats. And in order for any more stimulus money to be
signed into law by the president.
ANDERSON: Lauren Fox is on the story for you on the Hill.
Millions of Americans have lost their jobs since the pandemic started as part of that rescue package that we have been discussing, passed back in
March. Many people have been getting $600 a week in extra unemployment benefits.
But they may be about to see the end of that life preserver. Senate Republican leaders so far rejected a short term extension that JPMorgan
Chase said increased the consumer spending. This as we see a weekly rise in jobless claims, 1.4 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits last
week. Richard Quest joining us now.
So what's interesting here, looks like they have an agreement on a Republican deal. This is -- this is new stimulus on top of what we saw in
March, which means what to the man or woman worrying about the rent check at the end of the month, Richard?
RICHARD QUEST, CNNMONEY EDITOR AT LARGE: In blunt terms, that person who's receiving unemployment would see their weekly unemployment go down from
about $900 to $300 a week because there has been this $600 surplus during this crisis.
It's extremely expensive for the federal government and the deficit. But the jobs aren't coming back perhaps as fast as they would like. And of
course, as we're seeing this week, maybe some people are starting to lose their job once again because of the new lockdowns and the new restrictions.
So, Becky, the Republicans in the Senate really don't have much choice. They cannot put -- pull the rug out from underneath the tens of millions of
people who are now on unemployment by denying them this extra money for the next few months. But how they negotiate that will be the key point.
ANDERSON: And I hate to get political about this, given that we are talking about people's lives here, people who have lost their jobs and
there will be more going forward.
But this is political. You know, this is about Republicans and Democrats getting together and agreeing on something, just shy of 100 days and
counting to go before an election.
How impactful is that?
How much of an impact do you think there will be?
QUEST: Huge.
ANDERSON: Go on.
QUEST: Yes. So the Republicans want to spend an extra $1 trillion. The Democrats coming out with a plan for $3 trillion. Now you can -- since you
have taken us into the world of cynicism, you can say right, how many of those unemployed voters would go Republican versus Democrat?
Well, in previous elections, you probably would have said arguably more would have been Democrat. But so many people have lost their jobs with the
pandemic that there's a hefty dose of solid blue collar Republican voters, Trumpian voters, that have lost their jobs.
And that's why the Republicans are playing a very dangerous game if they try to alienate them in states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Philadelphia, the core
states that Trump has to win.
ANDERSON: Richard Quest in the house for you and in his, thank you, sir. Always a pleasure.
I want to get you now to Oregon and the northwestern part of the United States.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: Take a look at these pictures from last night. A group of protesters, rioters, set fire outside the Portland federal courthouse
Wednesday after U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to surge federal law enforcement into major U.S. cities.
Just consider that. The rioters mixed in with a crowd of peaceful protesters, they launched fireworks and set fires outside the federal
courthouse. Now that building has served as the epicenter of protests for 50 nights.
In turn, projectiles were launched and federal agents sprayed the crowd with tear gas. One protester is suing Donald Trump after an altercation
after a protest.
Protests are happening in Chicago where President Trump said he'll launch agents to quell the violence there. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she'll
cooperate but she'll take him to court if they infringe on people's rights and she is suspicious of the president's motives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT (D-IL), CHICAGO: If he cared about cities, if he cared about Chicago, there are meaningful ways that the president could
actually help. Instead, it's denigrate, divide and disparage. That's not leadership.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Chicago -- the Chicago mayor has expressed concern that Mr. Trump is targeting Democratic-led cities. Now here's what the president
said that raised red flags. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, I'm going to do something. That I can tell you, because we won't let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore
and all of these -- Oakland is a mess. We're not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You've heard of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Wall Street's quadruple witching. Now there's something new on the horizon. It
could be very scary for the United Kingdom. We'll get you live to Edinburgh next.
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ANDERSON: Britain apparently is facing a world of worry this winter, according to the prime minister there. He -- as he marks his -- what has
been an eventful first year at 10 Downing Street.
Boris Johnson is sounding the alarm over what he calls a quadruple crisis looming for the U.K. when the cold weather rolls around. And he has got the
army preparing. Let's break it down for you: a second coronavirus spike, flu season, flooding and the end of the transition period out of the
European Union.
[10:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, Brussels has been doing its get tough dance with Britain. So plenty on the PM'S plate including a new concern up north. Fresh fears
over the state of the union, driving Mr. Trump -- sorry, Mr. Johnson -- driving him to Scotland today. We have a lot to cover. CNN's Nic Robertson
joining me from live from Edinburgh to do that.
We know that the Scottish leader is keen on independence.
What did she have to say on the trip?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: She welcomes Boris Johnson's visit, she said this in a tweet, because every time he comes up
here that further shows the difference between her and him.
And really, one of the things that's become apparent during how the government up here in Scotland and the United Kingdom government in London
under Boris Johnson have handled coronavirus are really giving Nicola Sturgeon a political advantage.
The polls are bearing this out, that her poll ratings have gone up because people are trusting her. She's delivered a clear message, because they
understand she's putting health before the economy; whereas Boris Johnson's message has been more confusing.
Here, for example, in Scotland, they have instituted having face masks in shops, making it mandatory a couple of weeks ago. England only moves into
that tomorrow. That's just one of the differences.
So you have this situation, where the head of the Scottish National Party is surging in the polls. The British leader is diving in the polls. And
what that is done here, it drives up support for the first time in many generations, meaning there's now a majority for independence in Scotland.
That's why the prime minister has come up here. What he has tried to do is give the message that the union is strong. This is how he pitched it today
when he was up here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: The union is a fantastically strong institution, it's helped our country through thick and thin. It's very,
very valuable in terms of the support we have been able to give to everybody throughout all corners of the U.K.
And we had a referendum on breaking up the union a few years ago, I think only six years ago. That is not -- that is not a generation by any
computation. And I think what people really want to do is see our whole country coming back strongly together. And that's what we're going to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So here's a thing about the prime minister's visit to Scotland. The locations were kept secret until the last minute. More so than the sort
of normal concern when a leader moves around.
Not only that, the constituency that he has visited so far is a Liberal Democrat one. They have only four constituencies in the whole of Scotland.
The SNP, the Scottish National Party, are 48 and the other place we're expecting him to visit is a conservative constituency. They only have only
six constituencies in Scotland.
So Boris Johnson isn't publicizes his message, isn't going out to meet people here and isn't even going into the areas where he really needs to
double down on the message that the union is good for the country.
This -- we're in an unprecedented time, I have to say, Becky. I cover Scotland a lot. And I track this move towards independence. And it's taken
a significant shift right now.
I have been shocked at what I have been hearing from people, that they would not support it before but, based on this government and Scotland's
handling of the coronavirus, they would now support it.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. All right.
Well, one of the threats to the U.K., suggested by the prime minister himself, is leaving the E.U., of course. Despite the U.K. siding with the
U.S. on China, that doesn't seem to be a transatlantic trade deal on the cards anytime soon.
When you listen to Michel Barnier, who is negotiating for the trade deal on that side as well, we are hearing negative things.
What's going on, Nic?
ROBERTSON: Well, I think one of the things that Boris Johnson's critics would say is that he's always been an optimist and always says let's rise
to the challenge, let's be positive, let's be optimistic.
But now we're getting to the crunch period. He just had secretary of state Pompeo visit him in London and there were some cold realities laid out
there. Boris Johnson was hoping to get an interim trade deal because they had done what the United States wanted him to do in toughening the attitude
to China, particularly over Huawei and 5G.
[10:50:00]
ROBERTSON: And the reality is that the European Union has been saying clearly, what you're coming to the table with doesn't meet with what we
have previously agreed sort of in broad terms.
So the messaging has been coming to the prime minister that, what you're asking for, both to do with the U.S., what you're doing with the European
Union, is not currently on the table. The reality is the prime minister's optimism is not being matched by the reality. I think this is the political
difficulty he will face. As he said today, the country has massive challenges ahead of it.
ANDERSON: Nic, politics can be quite a snippy game. The prime minister getting a bit of a taste of that earlier. Explain, if you will.
ROBERTSON: Certainly. Look, the -- what he's faced here in Scotland is, you know, keeping the location of where he was going to visit, you know,
one could say, a secret. Certainly it wasn't publicized in advance, even this morning. We didn't know where he was going and even the details of
when he was visiting places was closely held.
Despite that, there were protesters out on the streets in the tiny island where, he went to the crab -- a crab processing plant there. Interestingly
of course, crabs are one of the products that are shipped to the European Union.
And I have spoken to the people -- some of the fishermen who are out getting the crustaceans from the seas around Scotland. And they have been
hugely concerned about Brexit because it slows down getting their product to market and maybe even they'll lose that market.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in Edinburgh, I appreciate it.
Now Liverpool have been English Premier League champions for a month but yesterday it was a moment 30 years in the making. An entire generation
longing to see the Reds lift a league trophy. We'll tell you why they are not slowing down anytime soon. That's coming up.
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ANDERSON: Liverpool finally got to lift the Premier League trophy on Wednesday but before that, they produced what was a stellar performance
against Chelsea. Don Riddell joining us now.
They had nothing to play for but pride but Chelsea needed a result to secure a top four finish. Once again, the Liverpool boys showing what they
are made of and why they are so special.
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Absolutely. It was thrilling to watch a great game, Becky.
One of Liverpool's best performances of the season coming when they didn't even need it, a 5-3 win against Chelsea in what was Liverpool's final home
game of the season. The Reds had wrapped up the title in record time but they put on a show against another top four side with half of the team got
on the scoresheet.
It had seemed as though Liverpool had kind of run out of steam after clinching the title. But this was a clear reminder of what they can do. It
got everybody in the mood for the players to receive Liverpool's first ever Premier League trophy after the game.
It was a great occasion for Liverpool and the fans, who all had to watch it from home. Well, Alex Thomas was watching it too.
Alex, thanks for being with us.
[10:55:00]
RIDDELL: What was it like when they finally got to touch for what has been an elusive Premier League trophy?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a real visual we had of Liverpool's past connecting with its present and possibly future, Don, the present
being these very strange coronavirus times that we live in.
And Captain Jordan Henderson, 30 years old, born the same year that the last time Liverpool were crowned champions of English football, lifting the
trophy in what would normally be a huge roar from the fans in the stadium, the famous Anfield arena empty of any spectators.
There were some outside. None allowed on the grounds because of the coronavirus crisis. And the club did the best they could to try and make
the atmosphere as authentic as possible, to recreate what would have been a triumphant moment for them.
Yes, we have known they have had the title for weeks and this is the official presentation. They can get the trophy in their hands. And they
tried to make it like a massive trophy lift.
But this Liverpool team, Don, they have gotten used to it. They did it in the Champions League last year, the World Cup as well. Champions in
everything it seems at the moment under Jurgen Klopp and the amazing transformation of this team.
There were a few thousand fans that came to the stadium outside, despite advice from the police and from Klopp, the manager, and the rest of the
officials at Liverpool, to urge them to watch from home. Police -- the police are saying that nine people were arrested in the end and people not
dispersing until 2:00 in the morning.
A 48 hour dispersal zone had to be put in place. Liverpool Football Club released a statement recently, saying they were disappointed at both scenes
outside but also praising the fans that had stayed at home.
Not as bad, the police stress, as the scenes we saw last month that appeared the day after Manchester City dropped points to Chelsea, meaning
Liverpool couldn't be caught at the top of the table. You can kind of understand it. Not great to see but there's huge excitement in the area.
You know that as well as I do.
RIDDELL: Yes, Alex.
How important do you think it was for Liverpool to make a big statement here in this game about next season?
THOMAS: Yes. I think so. Chelsea are undoubtedly going to be one of their title rivals. It would have been great if the eight-goal thriller had
decided the title on that night but it wasn't to be.
And the goal before halftime pulled them back into it and it's a sign that the entertainment that we'll get as football journalists, football fans
next season, it should be thrilling.
Some people have suggested that Jurgen Klopp might have to look to rebuild his team because so many of the senior players are getting towards their
late 20s but Mane has re-signed a new contract. But they've thrilled us so much.
RIDDELL: Exciting to watch if you're a fan of them or not.
Becky, that's all we have time for right now. See you in the next hour.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed. What a great game last night.
America is getting its allies to team up against China in diplomacy that is well, quite frankly, reminiscent of a cold war. We speak to the former
leader of one of Washington's closest allies, Australia, next.
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