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Postmaster General Faces Grilling Over Post Office Changes; Joe Biden Accepts Nomination For U.S. President; German Doctors See Kremlin Critic At Siberian Hospital; Trump Aims For Blockbuster Republican National Convention; Family Loses Daughter And Faith In Lebanese Government; Bayern To Face PSG In Champions League Final. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 21, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
LOUIS DEJOY, POSTMASTER GENERAL, U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: Units where carriers go out in the morning and carry it and come back at night. This whole thing
in lines schedule in theory on paper and there are lots of imbalances that we're finding as we went through this process.
But the big thing to try and get everything aligned around is that transportation schedule. And now we have taken that up - all that mail that
was on that truck was also late mail. Right now we have advanced the mail. Just some of the mail coming off the processing lines, we did - we found
these imbalances and we did not as great a job as we should in recovering for it. But we will we're seeing improvements now.
Once that comes together mail will be moving around the country at 97 percent on time and I'm very, very excited and committed to trying to do
that. That, again, enables us to balance the front end and the back end of delivery end of the system and saves us all that money that you saw in the
auto report, and it's in billions, not millions.
SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): So as a former manufacturer, I realize if you don't have a good process, you don't have a good product. So, you came in
and identified some real process breakdowns. In a very short period of time you made a pretty dramatic improvement in terms of on-time patch level in
terms of the transportation system.
Now you obviously have COVID which is affecting our entire economy and obviously it affects the postal system as well. Basically what I'm hearing
out of your testimony is the delivery delays are primarily being caused by the issues related to COVID, but the changes you made in terms of process
are certainly, in theory, if you haven't improved it already, it's certainly going to set you up for improvement and cost reductions in the
future.
DEJOY: A substantial portion of our delays are receipted to COVID. I won't go so far as to say that we had maybe a 4 percent or 5 percent hit on our
service level delay, all sort of mail, marketing mail, everything. It got stuck on a docket.
We're drastically bringing that down. Once that is aligned, we should have a smooth-running system at a much more high-performance rate.
JOHNSON: Some of the stuffs you have the change but again those changes are trying to make cost savings and improvements in the future.
DEJOY: This is very doable sir, FedEx and UPS do it.
JOHNSON: OK, great. Senator Sinema.
SEN. KYRSTEN SINEMA (D-AZ): Thank you, Chairman, for holding this important hearing, and I want to thank the Postmaster General DeJoy for joining us
today. The U.S. Postal Service has always been a critical lifeline for communities across Arizona and during this pandemic it is even more true.
Over the past week, my office has heard from over 18,000 Arizonans about the importance of the Postal Service. Arizonans want to ensure the Postal
Service will continue to deliver prescription drugs, assist small businesses and support their right to vote. Arizona has led the way on safe
and secure mail-in voting for years.
The Postal Service must act to support our upcoming election, especially since we will see increases in vote by mail due to the pandemic. But our
hearing today shouldn't just be election ballots. My constituents have also shared stories about prescriptions that took so long to arrive; they worry
whether the medication is spoiled.
Others are concerned their small business will go under without reliable Postal Service or that rent checks and bill payments now take a week longer
to reach their destination than just a few months ago. So Mr. DeJoy, I'm pleased that you hear requests from me and my colleagues to answer
questions about the operational services - postal services making.
It's critical that you and your team demonstrate a commitment to - customers to get the service they rely on every day, and successfully
communicating with Congress, stakeholders and election officials is a big part of that effort.
So my first question in Arizona we expect 85 percent to 90 percent of the electorate to vote by mail this general election. That's personally 2.4
million ballots moving through the postal network in Arizona in the weeks before the election.
Given that significant volume unexpected challenges will certainly arise and adjustments will need to be made. I have been working closely with the
Arizona Secretary of State office to ensure that they and other local election officials get their questions answered regarding mail issue so
that we can have fair elections.
And I'm going to continue to share the questions in my office - and your team, and of course their top concern is the timely delivery of ballots. So
will local postal managers be authorized to make decisions, and have postal employees make extra trips or late trips work overtime in order to deliver
ballots to ensure that plants and post offices don't fall behind in processing election mail?
DEJOY: Yes, ma'am. Effective October 1st, we will have redundant resources and liberalization and aggressive efforts to make sure everything is moving
timely.
[11:05:00]
SINEMA: I appreciate that. Could you tell me what steps your office is taking to communicate this policy to postal managers, election officials
and stake hold stakeholders, even to the people in Arizona so everyone feels confident that citizens have their access to voting by mail?
DEJOY: Yes, ma'am. In general, I think we started back in February we reached out, we've had over 50,000 contacts with elected officials around
the country. As you know, we've sent a number of letters. We are making videos that will go online with the union leadership and myself to
communicate out our commitment to this, and we'll continue to work with the state boards.
In our board we decided to put together a bipartisan committee on the board to kind of oversee everything that we're going to be doing. So we are
emphasizing - in fact, I think in September, we're going to send a letter to every American with what our process is going out to every American
citizen?
So I think - I feel good, I appreciate the question, and I feel good about what the whole organization, from the Board of Directors down to our letter
carriers and plant personnel, we're very, very proud of what we're doing, and we're going to deliver for the American people.
SINEMA: Well, thank you for that. I appreciate it. Postal processing plants are the critical piece to ensure that every day mail arrives in a timely
fashion and that all votes are counted. And so we want to make sure that process - operations remain smooth and efficient.
Earlier this week in your announcement, you said you would not close any postal processing facilities before the election, but I don't think you
specifically ruled out consolidations of processing plants.
So my question is, is the postal service planning to modify or reduce capacity at any postal processing facilities before the election, and if
so, what specific steps are you taking to ensure that the postal service can continue to meet service standards for both election and regular mail
in the communities served by those facilities?
DEJOY: Senator, I promise you, we are not making any changes until after the election.
SINEMA: I appreciate that. That was a very concise and direct answer. I love it. As you know, I recently wrote to you regarding the cherry bell
processing plant in Tucson. It's very important to mail service in our communities throughout Arizona.
If the postal service considers consolidations or closures of processing plants in the future would you require new area mail processing studies for
any impacted facility or other similar analysis before moving forward with a consolidation or a closure?
DEJOY: Thank you, Senator. I'm not totally familiar with it, but there is a whole process, a pretty detailed process that we need to go through before
we close a facility, and we'll take that down. If that facility ever gets on, I'll make sure we will reach out to you in advance and let you know.
But there is a whole public awareness process, a detailed analysis as to how mail is going to be processed. It's not an easy thing to do, so - but--
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody, I'm Hala Gorani. We are live from London. This is CONNECT THE WORLD and you have been watching the U.S.
Postmaster General Louie DeJoy there being grilled by Senators. Here's why it's a big deal in the United States?
DeJoy is a Trump appointee, he's a big Republican donor. He is pushing back against acquisitions related to his changes at the U.S. Postal Service, and
Democrats say the goal to get rid of some sorting machines was to sabotage the service ahead of the upcoming Presidential Election.
Now mail-in-voting is expected to surge because of the Coronavirus, and a slowdown in mail delivery could delay election results and potentially
throw the election into chaos. Louie DeJoy is denying that that was his intention and that any significant changes will be delayed until after the
election.
However, he also said that those sorting machines that have been dismantled, that have been removed will not be put back. Pamela Brown joins
me now live from Washington with more on this hearing. Pamela?
PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you. We did hear from the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. He's been under
scrutiny for several weeks based on these changes that you just pointed out that Democrats charged were to impact election by mail-in voting as the
president made claimed that mail-in voting was fraudulent, that Americans should not be engaged in universal mail-in voting.
[11:10:00]
BROWN: But today Louis DeJoy clearly trying to separate himself from the president who he was appointed by, saying he has a confidence in mail-in
voting, it's something that he does himself that he believes the Postal Service will be able to get the mail-in ballots on time if the voter does
send the ballots seven days before they're due.
And so, he did express that confidence. Also, what's noteworthy in this is that he said all election mail will be expedited, that it will be treated
as first class mail. Meaning he did say that 95 percent of election mail would arrive within three days.
That is notable, because CNN had obtained documents that said the Postal Service was looking at making election mail that was not posted as first
class mail to be in with regular mail, which would be slower, but Louis DeJoy saying today that that is not going to happen, that all election mail
will be treated as first class mail.
So, it's really notable that he is clearly trying to distance himself from the president who has made clear he is not a fan of that universal mail-in
voting. But you did note there also that he said any of the sorting machines that have been taken out of service will not be put back.
Now, there are those who say that the equipment, that equipment mail sorting machines are antiquated, but critics also pointed out, why would
you take away sorting machines? Why would you take away machines to potentially help you with this influx of election mail that's going to be
coming?
GORANI: All right, Pamela Brown thanks very much with more on that Louis DeJoy hearing grilled by Senators in Washington. All of it was in fact was
virtual because of COVID. Thank you very much, Pamela Brown, in Washington.
It is not the convention the Democrats envisioned at the beginning of this year. It's not the convention any of us envisioned at the beginning of this
year, but the party is calling it a big success, nonetheless.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is with great honor and humility I accept this nomination as President of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Joe Biden accepting the Democratic Nomination for President Thursday night in Delaware. He wrapped up a convention that was largely
virtual, instead of balloons there were fireworks. Instead of a crowded convention hall, there was a parking lot with socially distanced Biden
supporters in their cars.
It looked like a drive-thru movie situation. And his acceptance speech, he promised to an end to what he calls the country's season of darkness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: The current president has cloaked American darkness for much too long, too much anger, too much fear, too much division. Hope is more
powerful than fear, and light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment, this is our mission. May history be able to say that the end of
this chapter of American darkness begin here tonight as love and hope and light join in the battle for the soul of the nation. And this is a battle
we will win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Biden also took Donald Trump to task on his Coronavirus response. He says the president has failed at his most fundamental duty.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: The president keeps telling us the virus is going to disappear. He keeps waiting for a miracle. Well, I have news for him. No miracle is
coming. Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to the nation. He's failed to protect us. He's failed to protect America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Biden also spoke about the youths of America, saying it's his responsibility to make a better tomorrow for them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: They're speaking to the inequity and injustice that has grown up in America economic injustice, racial injustice and environmental injustice. I
hear their voices. If you listen, you can hear them, too. And where there's existential threat posed by climate change, the daily fear of being gunned
down in school or the inability to get started in their first job will be the work of the next president to restore the promise of America to
everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, let's bring in CNN Contributor Errol Louis, the Political Anchor at New York 1 News. Errol, thanks for being with us. So Democrats
obviously are saying this was a huge success, but when you look at polls, a vast, vast majority of Americans say they've already made their minds up.
They're not likely to change their mind on Election Day.
[11:15:00]
GORANI: Why do Democrats believe that Biden will be able to convince because he needs an overwhelming national win and certainly a win in key
states to convince those voters and actually beat Donald Trump in November?
ERROL LOUIS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, there are a lot of signs Hala that the Democrats are on their way back. Just two years ago, in 2018, they won a
series of elections and took control of the lower House of the legislature.
All of the polls show that people are more trustful of Joe Biden than Donald Trump when it comes to accuracy of information and plans for a
response to the pandemic. So the Democrats have good reason to think that they can pull this off, and if you listened day after day to the
convention, much of the messaging was aimed not at Democrats but at Republicans who maybe are sick of President Trump.
Aimed at independents, people who vote sometimes Republican and sometimes Democratic, and most of all aimed at people who did not vote four years
ago. So the strategy is to try and get all of those people who don't normally fall into the Democratic column or don't necessarily come out to
vote to see that the 170,000 deaths.
I mean, we're experiencing 1,000 deaths a day at this point that the mass unemployment that we're dealing with, in some places it's as high as 20
percent. The problems that this country has, the Democratic argument is that we've got to do something different, and Joe Biden is the man to get
that done.
GORANI: All right, but this is a man who first ran for president in 1988, and one of the big challenges, of course, is to, as you say, Errol, get
people who didn't vote four years ago. Maybe they were even too young four years ago, to vote.
Billie Eilish a teen young star has a huge young fan base and then there is a comedian Sara Cooper who became a huge internet sensation with her lip
syncing of Donald Trump. They actually gave her as much time as they gave Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I just want to play a clip of her appearance
yesterday. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH COOPER, COMEDIAN: Who signed them? Were they signed at the kitchen table and sent in? Will they be counterfeited by groups inside our nation?
Will they be counterfeited maybe by the millions by foreign powers?
Let me put this in my own words. I heard Donald Trump say some pretty unhinged things. I heard them over and over and over and over again. But
nothing is more dangerous to our democracy than his attacks on mail-in voting during a pandemic, OK? Here's the truth. Donald Trump doesn't want
any of us to vote because he knows he can't win fair and square.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, Errol, is this effective, this strategy?
LOUIS: We'll find out on November 3rd, I guess, is the short answer, but it is quite striking, Hala, if you think about it, for any President of the
United States to be so openly mocked, so repeatedly mocked, and to have his predecessor Barack Obama speak during the convention.
And he said it, Michele Obama said it, multiple speakers said it. They're saying at this point that President Trump cannot do the job, not just that
he is doing the wrong things or that he has got bad intentions, they said all of that. But they also said he's simply not capable of doing the job.
And they have a lot of evidence on their side. What they keep saying to voters and potential voters over and over again is that we have mass
unemployment. We have inadequate response to the pandemic. We have a thousand people dying every day, and we have a president who goes out and
plays golf on the weekends and says there is going to be some miracle and it's all going to turn around.
And so mocking him, saying that he's simply incapable of growing into the needs of the job, the requirements of the job, is a devastating kind of
dismissive attack of a kind I've never seen before, really.
You almost have to almost go back to 1980 when Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter, the sitting president, who asked people stared into the camera and
asked American voters, look, are you better off than you were four years ago? If you're not, it's time for a change. Ultimately that is Joe Biden's
argument.
GORANI: But I guess it's a very different political landscape now. So much more polarized, so little bipartisanship, and one of the polls that I found
most striking was about a month ago that revealed 49 percent of white Americans still support Donald Trump.
And from an international perspective, you know, looking at the management of COVID and the economy collapsing and unemployment going up, I guess
people would have assumed outside the U.S. that the support for Donald Trump among white Americans would have been lower. How do you still explain
- you know, it's almost half the white population?
LOUIS: Sure. Listen, a majority of white voters have gone to the Republican Party ever since the civil rights laws were passed in the 1960s.
[11:20:00]
LOUIS: So there has always been a current of racial division in voting patterns in this country. Donald Trump has explicitly been a racial
backlash candidate. He just said it this week, as a matter of fact. He said the only reason he got elected was because Obama had been president.
He didn't finish that thought, but the reality is he began with birther Birtherism. He began by attacking the very validity of the Obama
Presidency. He has over and over again, whether you're talking about the policy of trying to stop migration or banning Muslims from coming into the
country, over and over and over again.
He has made explicit appeals to racial division. It is one of the things that the Democrats really took him to task for this week. The difficulty,
of course, is that the Democrats have to assemble a very broad, very varied coalition if they hope to win, and sometimes that's easier said than done,
trying to get Latinos and trying to get Asian voters and trying to round up black voters and get a certain amount of progressive whites.
It's always been a little bit difficult, but that is the reality your perception is not wrong at all. This is a candidate who has made explicit
appeals to Donald Trump to racial division since day one.
GORANI: Errol Louis thanks so much for joining us live in New York. I appreciate it. Well, next week it's the Republicans' turn and we'll be
talking about that a little later in the program. Tune in for CNN's special coverage of the Republican National Convention, and that starts on Monday
night. And we'll look with Ana Navarro about what we can expect next week from the Republican Party?
Coming up, the EU is trying to help a top Kremlin critic. But as Alexei Navalny fights for his life from a suspected poisoning his Russian doctors
are saying he may have some more health problems. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. German doctors are now at the Siberian hospital that is treating Kremlin critical Alexei Navalny. An air ambulance is standing
by ready to take the Russian opposition leader to Germany for treatment of suspected poisoning.
His aides have asked the European court of human rights for help and securing that transfer but Russian doctors say Navalny is too ill to go
anywhere and they've found nothing toxic in his system. The committed anti- corruption campaigner and Kremlin critic is possibly the most famous thorn in the side of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When Navalny collapsed Thursday possibly from drinking tea, this is a short of him at the airport before boarding that flight. Observers say it had all
the hall marks of a Kremlin hit. And this is not the first time Russia has been suspected of using poison to try to silence critics.
[11:25:00]
GORANI: In what observers called a culture of political violence. You'll remember in 2006, Former Russian leader Alexander Litvinenko died from
radioactive poisoning in London Polonium 210 had been put into his tea that he drank in a hotel in the British Capital.
His Widow Marina Litvinenko joins me now live from Italy. First of all, your reaction when you heard news of Alexei Navalny, what happened to him
and the suspected poisoning that he was a victim of?
MARINA LITVINENKO, ALEXANDER LITVINENKO'S WIDOW: Good afternoon. It was absolutely horrible news. I didn't expect I would again comment some kind
of poisoning of as a person who might be was too critical to Putin, but now when we see what happened to Alexei Navalny, I would say it's another dark
page of history of modern Russians.
GORANI: You said that you were quoted as saying this was a, "New Tactic". What did you mean by that?
LITVINENKO: Alexei Navalny was well known for a long time, and he was very critical to current regime in Russia, and he was arrested a few times. He
spent almost one year under house arrest. His brother spent a few years in prison.
But nothing stopped him, and people in Kremlin just realized he became a more active, more outspoken and sometimes is very effective. He helped to
provide a very special election last year. They called this as a smart election, when people voted not for United Russia Party but for
alternative.
And they just afraid it became more and more common, and people in Russia will more understand a reward for anybody else, not just United Russia. And
Alexei Navalny was the face of this new election.
GORANI: Is it possible though because Alexei Navalny is obviously an anti- corruption campaigner. Is it possible that he angered powerful interests that also might have wanted to harm him?
LITVINENKO: It's absolutely true, your question is very right, because we're not only talking about political critics but about business critics
as well because corruption in Russia is at such a high level. But until you don't know what kind of poison hit Alexei, we don't know what the level of
order was taken.
Because only when Polonium what killed my husband, Alexander Litvinenko, we realize is only state order because - active Polonium. You can't buy, you
can't find anywhere. This is the case of Alexei Navalny. Why is he being kept in a Russian hospital? Why will they not allow German doctors to take
him to Germany and to find what poison hit him?
GORANI: That was going to be my next question, because the EU and Emanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, they've said they are willing to offer Alexei
Navalny asylum and medical care, but there are these reports that authorities are just not facilitating this. They're not providing his wife
with the necessary documentation to allow this to happen. Why do you think that is and what's your reaction to that?
LITVINENKO: It's absolutely devastating and disgusting. I will remind you made - of very different but very similar. 20 years ago when Putin became
President of Russia, Russian Submarine - and there was a lot of international help provided.
But Russia said they don't need it. We can do it ourselves. And what happened, more than 100 people died because it was not help provided in a
certain time. Now is a very similar case. They tried to say they have enough doctors, we know how to treat him, but everyone who sees this
hospital in this city, Omsk, it is not high standard at all.
And when they say we can't allow him to travel because it is dangerous. I think it is more dangerous to keep him in this hospital. Any trial would be
much better to him.
GORANI: So do you because I spoke with Vladimir Kara-Murza yesterday, who is an opposition politician who was also poisoned, he says twice. He told
me he believes that standard of care is very high, but you believe potentially that doctors and hospital staff could be under pressure from
authorities to keep Navalny where he is, even though he could benefit from better care elsewhere?
[11:30:00]
LITVINENKO: First of all, Vladimir say, he was in Moscow hospital, and I believe it was different treatment. When you're talking about Alexei
Navalny is he is so far from Moscow is City of Omsk, and everything - I hear today and particularly what his brother said, it's a very low standard
of facilities, and they don't have enough everything to help Alexei.
And now they just tried to prevent to take him to the better place, to Germany, and it was already provided a flight was a special boat with all
facilities for everything, for emergencies. But again, until this poison agent in his blood still be cached, I think they just don't like take him
out from this hospital.
And they even make this - and they tried to say it's all rights of a doctor to decide or Alexei has a right to travel or not. Not his wife. It's
unbelievable, and his wife Yulia had a very, very sympathy and I wish her and all family of Alexei Navalny strengths and all my support. She asked
Putin to allow taking Alexei to Germany. I don't know what will --.
GORANI: And have you spoken - have you spoken to his wife at all or sent a message, and are you personally acquainted with Alexei Navalny?
LITVINENKO: I'm not personally, have never been introduced to Alexei, I've never met. I hope he knows who am I, and I can just wish the best to him
and be very, very strong. And what's important to Yulia, his wife, of course, who I don't know and I would be very happier to directly to send
all my support to say, never give up.
Try everything that is possible to save life of your husband. And it's very important they have friends. But it's different compared to me. I was in
the UK and knew I would be supported, anyway. And of course, it was a difficult situation, and what happened to my husband wasn't discovered
immediately. And I hope in Russia it will be not covered what happened to Alexei. I hope.
GORANI: Right. Thank you very much. Your husband, of course, was poisoned in 2006 and you spent many, many years advocating for him and fighting to
get answers. Thank you so much for joining us, Marina Litvinenko whose husband Alexander Litvinenko was murdered in 2006 after being poisoned with
polonium in London. Thank you for joining us. We appreciate your time today. And we'll be back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:35:00]
GORANI: Returning now to the U.S. Democratic National Convention and a career-defining moment for Former Vice President Joe Biden. More than three
decades after his first presidential run, Biden officially accepted his party's nomination for President of the United States on Thursday night.
He made a passionate speech to reclaim the soul of America and overcome what he called the nation's season of darkness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy, they're all on the ballot. Who we are as a nation, what
we stand for, and most importantly, who we want to be, that's all on the ballot. The choice could not be more clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, now that the Democratic National Convention has wrapped up, political watchers are looking ahead to the republican national convention
next week. U.S. President Donald Trump seems determined to outshine the democrats with his convention concept. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think we're going to have more of it as live than what they did. I think it's pretty boring when you
do tapes. I'm going to go live and do mine live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, taking a page from his past work in reality television, President Trump is hoping for a blockbuster style convention, one that will
look vastly different from the all-digital event that democrats staged. CNN Political Commentator Ana Navarro joins me now from Miami, Florida. Let's
look forward to the RNC, a virtual RNC unlike any convention we've ever covered before.
The speakers are obviously big-name Republicans. Not all of them because some of them are notably absent. But then you have sort of like the couple
that waved guns at BLM protesters in front of their mansion and things like that. What are the Republicans trying to achieve here?
ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think you're going to see a stark contrast and two very different visions of America. Joe Biden thinks that
he can win, and his strategy, his vision is a unifying one. You saw a convention that featured Republicans who did not want to vote for Trump.
You saw a convention that featured Latinos and African-Americans, people of all faiths, people of all colors, a lot of women, a lot of focus on civil
rights icons like John Lewis, like the suffragettes who brought the 19th amendment, the right to vote 100 years ago to light.
I think what you're going to see from Donald Trump is what you've seen from him consistently since the 2016 election, which is division, fear and
stoking angst and distress and outrage.
I think Donald Trump thinks that is his plan to victory that he won that way, by using issues like immigration, like social issues. I think this
year it will be a lot about the funding the police. I think you will hear a lot of that in the republican convention, two completely different tactics
and visions for America.
GORANI: But when you look at polling four years ago, exactly four years ago and polling today, it's not far off in some key battleground states. Do you
think this time is different, or do you think we might, as observers, as analysts, as journalists, be making the same mistake that we made four
years ago and discounting some of the Trump support that might actually carry him in some parts of battleground states that are not necessarily as
covered?
NAVARRO: I don't think anybody should discount Trump support and Trump. We did that in 2016, and I think that we should all have learned our lesson
not to underestimate Trump. And this time he's got all the power of the government apparatus on his side, things like the U.S. Postal Service, you
know things like the bully pulpit, the platform that the presidency gives things like the ability to deploy the National Guard to go cause friction
and a conflict.
So I think nobody should be discounting Trump and his support, and I think that message was actually brought home for democrats and by democrats.
Hillary Clinton reminded people, you could win by 3 million votes and still lose the election, still lose the Electoral College.
[11:40:00]
NAVARRO: And I saw a lot more unity from people like Bernie Sanders than I did four years ago in terms of supporting, strongly supporting, Joe Biden.
So I think some of the lessons that democrats learned four years ago was, look, some of us at home didn't go because our primary candidate, our
preferred candidate had not won, so we decided to issue a protest vote, and have lived with buyer's remorse for four years. I think you're seeing some
of those lessons.
GORANI: And also, obviously, it's a very different country. There are the Black Lives Matter protests, there's COVID, there's an economic collapse
caused by COVID largely. How will those things all play into November? Are Americans blaming the Trump Administration for some of these issues,
specifically the management of the COVID pandemic?
NAVARRO: I think if you are a Trump supporter, you don't blame Donald Trump for COVID mismanagement or for anything. And I think Americans who are
Democrats, who are independents, who are disenfranchised, not Trump supporting Republicans do blame him.
And do lay some responsibility at his feet for mismanagement, for not taking it seriously enough, for putting politics over science, for not
wearing a mask and not promoting wearing a mask, for trying to whitewash the numbers and make this seem less serious than it is.
And you are absolutely right it's a very different country today than it was four years ago. We've had the "#metoo movement". So I think you've got
a lot of women that are empowered and were very frustrated by the election of Trump, could not believe that somebody we all heard boast about sexual
assault in his own voice on tape that he left, you had the "#metoo movement", you had the Black Lives Matter.
Those are the words you heard in the Democratic Convention, black lives matter, that you are not going to hear, certainly not as an affirmation in
the Republican Convention. And we are all suffering the effects of COVID, particularly in some various important swing states like the one I'm in
Florida and Arizona.
GORANI: Yes, Florida now has more deaths, COVID deaths than all of Germany, which was really startling when I saw that statistic yesterday. Is that -?
NAVARRO: Very difficult, Hala.
GORANI: --my animal on sofa - yes, is that a dog on your sofa, or is that a stuffed animal? Because I couldn't tell he or she is so still.
NAVARRO: OK. She is my 5-pound poodle. I picked a really good year to get an emotional support animal, and she is very well trained to sit - here's
what happens. If I put on the other - if I leave her out of the room, she'll bark up a storm and will interrupt. If I leave her on the sofa and
she's just here, she's fine. I do believe she is right now the best informed dog in America.
GORANI: Well, actually, I think my dog Louie would give her a run for her money. He's - also I have to keep him nearby otherwise he barks, so we have
something in common there. Thanks so much, Ana Navarro, live from Miami.
NAVARRO: Thank you, Hala.
GORANI: Always a pleasure talking to you. Well, let's get you now to Lebanon which is in a two-week nationwide lockdown because of the
Coronavirus. It came into effect earlier today even as the country is struggling to recover from that massive blast that destroyed much of
Beirut.
More than 600 new COVID cases were reported on Thursday alone, and that is the highest daily increase the country has faced yet. Really, just imagine
having to deal with the aftermath of the blast, the economic meltdown and these Coronavirus cases. Now, the total number of infection stands at
nearly 11,000 in the country.
The International Rescue Committee says cases increased 180 percent since that deadly explosion. CNN's Ben Wedeman introduces us to one couple who
lost their daughter in that blast as well as their trust in their government.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: She was their world. Alexandra was born in Beirut, Tracy and Paul Naggear's only child. And at
the age of three, she died in Beirut, her life cut short in a blast that tore away and tore apart so many lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRACY NAGGEAR, BEIRUT BLAST VICTIM: Alexandra hit her head with something, I don't know what, and then I hit my head as well and then I covered her.
And I had two doors and ceiling and this is on my back ---.
[11:45:00]
PAUL NAGGEAR, BEIRUT BLAST VICTIM: The shock on her head was too big that it caused an edema that damaged her brain too much, so this is what caused
her passing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: These young couple entrepreneurs who took Alexandra to last year's demonstrations demanding a better Lebanon is still in shock and despair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAGGEAR: We were aggressed and killed in our houses. The only shelter or the place of safety that you thought was still there, you don't have any
more. It's just too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Repairs are underway in their neighborhood next to the port. Beyond repair, perhaps, is faith in a country falling apart in so many
ways.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAGGEAR: People at - can't keep living in a criminal state. You can't live in a country anymore where the government and the parliament are against
you.
TRACY NAGGEAR: Hope and I still have hope. The only difference, I guess, is that the bridge we have today is exponentially growing, and reality is
hitting us. It is the last chance we have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Paul and Tracy, like so many others, are contemplating giving up and moving abroad. Reality in Lebanon has hit them too hard. Ben Wedeman,
CNN, Beirut.
GORANI: So difficult. We'll be right back. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is now blaming the United States for the unrest and his country. He made
the remark, while on a visit to the subverts near Minsk. Factory workers who are on strike last weekend are the ones who gathered there.
They are being urged by the opposition to go on strike again as a peaceful form of protest. At the same time they face pressure from their employers
to go back to work and then you can make a living.
Maria Kolesnikova is the last opposition leader still in Belarus, and she joins me now live from Minsk. So how has it been just in the last few days
with all these nationwide demonstrations? We saw huge, huge crowds. What is the atmosphere now, do you believe that Lukashenko will be able to stay in
power?
MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: Hello from Minsk. Yes, we saw many demonstrations in Belarus, and even now we have a lot of people in
the whole Belarus in every small and big city, and of course it's very inspiring, and to be sure that Lukashenko has to go. It's always a question
of time.
[11:50:00]
GORANI: Svetlana Tikhanovskaya obviously the other opposition politician left Belarus. She was worried for her children. Do you have any concerns
for your safety?
KOLESNIKOVA: No, and I will be not alone, and I feel very safety in Belarus. Now also because when I go out on the street, I saw many people,
and as they are giving me high - and smile and for me it's very important because I know that to stay in Belarus, it's very important for every
Belarusians. And I would like to stay.
GORANI: Do you have any concerns at all that Russia will interfere? We know Vladimir Putin is a supporter of President Lukashenko, and if you are
worried about that, what worries you specifically?
KOLESNIKOVA: I have no worries and I hear only a manipulation from our President about Russia. As we know, Russia and Putin is very pragmatic
persons and perhaps it's not the best way to have communication with Belarusian people, and that's why I'm not worried. I don't think it's
possible.
GORANI: So what are your goals right now? Would you like the vote to take place again, what would you like to see happen now in Belarus?
KOLESNIKOVA: First of all, I would like to stop violence. Because, of course, for the last weeks, we have this violence in all of Belarus, it was
awful and we don't like to have it one more time.
Second point, it's very important for us, we need that all persons, political prisoners and as a person have to be at freedom. And of course we
need new elections. It's our main goal is a coordination committee. And for example, today we upload to the Supreme Court with the results of elections
for last two weeks.
GORANI: What do you want from Europe? Because obviously the German Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken about the unrest in Belarus and other
organizations have called the vote - have called the vote irregular, that it was not conducted in a transparent way. What would you like European
countries to do now?
KOLESNIKOVA: Now for us it's very important to feel the support of Europeans and also of international community. And the main goal for us,
it's very important to speak about problems we have in Belarus as well as we need to make a dialogue with soldiers in Belarus.
And - don't like to speak with us, this several society, perhaps it is one a variance is that we can make dialogue with European community, Russia as
well, and Belarus.
GORANI: All right, Maria Kolesnikova, thank you very much. The last remaining opposition politician in Belarus, they are calling for a new vote
and an end to the violence. Thank you so much for joining us from Minsk. We really appreciate it.
KOLESNIKOVA: Thank you very much.
GORANI: Thank you. We'll be right back with sports news. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:55:00]
GORANI: All right, it's a big day on Sunday for football. Patrick Snell is here to tell us what to look forward to. Hi, Patrick?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hi, Hala. Hi there. It's a big few days ahead, no question. Two big matches, in fact, coming our way as the climax
to European club competition reaches its panicle. Later on this Friday, it's all eyes on Germany where Inter Milan take on Sevilla, these Spanish
club I tell you what very much the specialist in this tournament as they seek to win it for a six time.
While on Sunday, it's the mouthwatering prospect of the Champions' League final. Bayern Munich coming face to face with Paris Saint-Germain, the
variant giant is aiming for a six title as well in this competition. The French team, they'll be going all out for their first ever.
The stage is set there. - Let's bring in our contributor, Darren Lewis, a superstar like Robin Levandosky is always going to grab the headlines, no
question Darren. But why do you make - younger players? You've also made quiet the impact, haven't they?
DARREN LEWIS, CNN WORLD SPORT CONTRIBUTOR: They have, indeed, Patrick, and one of those players is Alphonso Davies (ph) the left back who plays for
Bayern Munich. He's only 19 years of age, but he has emerged as a real superstar in the last couple of years, and this season in particular, he's
made a devastating impact on the Champions' League.
He played in the 8-2 win for Bayern Munich over Barcelona in the quarterfinals. He asked Lionel Messi for his shell, Messi too upset to give
it to him. But I would imagine that's done nothing to giving the fire of Davis. Because we at CNN, we spoke to him a couple of years ago, and he's
always had that really positive attitude, Patrick. Have a look at what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALPHONSO DAVIES, JOINED BAYERN MUNICH FROM MLS AT END OF 2018: think the one lesson I've learned is to always keep playing the game you love,
because it can be taken away from you easily. Always have a smile on your face while you're playing. You don't want to be angry side, while you're
playing the sport you love. So the bigger the smile is, the better you play.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEWIS: Yes, so a terrific attitude. And you kind of see when he does play the game, Patrick that that attitude is exemplified in the freedom with
which he goes about his business, and he will be a key component in that Bayern side on Sunday that will go up against the champions of France.
Thomas Tuchel and Paris Saint-Germain will look to maybe take the steam out of Bayern Munich's cells, because they've been outstanding going into
battle with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe being scoring the goals and thrilling the fans. The only sad thing, Patrick, is that there will be none in the
stadium on Sunday evening.
SNELL: Yes. We shall see. Darren, thank you so much, looks forward to it. I know what I'm doing on Sunday, I tell you that. All right, thanks to Darren
Lewis. Hala, I'm going to send it right back to you.
GORANI: All right. I was reading that PSG jerseys were now banned in Marseilles. That's how passion at people is about.
SNELL: There is a certain rivalry between those two clubs, shall we say.
GORANI: We don't want any trouble. Thank you, Patrick Snell for joining us. Have a good time this weekend. I'm Hala Gorani. We'll have a lot more news
coming up after a very short break. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
