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Trump Loyalists Wanted DOJ to Intervene in Election; Florida School Board Votes to Mandate Masks; Team USA Basketball Plays for Gold; American Women Shine at Olympics; Seafood Industry Struggles; Jeopardy Producers in Talks for Host. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 05, 2021 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

MAX BOOT, COLUMNIST, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Try to deliver the election results for Trump. I mean imagine if this guy had actually been the acting attorney general and the Justice Department had done this. To my mind, the most significant part of that letter was where he tells the Georgia legislature, you have the power to overturn the election results. You have the power to select electors for the state of Georgia which are different from the ones that were chosen by the voters. So that was basically an invitation for the Republican- controlled state legislature to send electors to Washington pledged to Donald Trump rather than to Joe Biden, as selected by the voters.

Now, imagine this being done in multiple swing states. That could swing the election and return Donald Trump to the White House. And as I said before, we narrowly avoided that this time around but we may not avoid it four years from now. And so, clearly, we need to do whatever we can to prevent people like this from taking power again.

I think the big thing that we need to do, yes, by all means investigate Jeffrey Clark, investigate what happened, but I think the big thing we need to do, and I say this as somebody who is not a Democrat and was a lifelong Republican, the big thing we need to do is to make sure that Republicans don't wind up controlling both chambers of Congress in 2024 because if they do, I think all bets are off.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: I mean, look, and that is a very easy possibility that they do. That is just the prognosis, I think, for a midterm year like we're seeing.

Max, op-ed is great. Thank you so much for being with us this morning.

BOOT: Thanks for having me.

KEILAR: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis refusing to mandate masks in schools as cases surge. And we're going to talk to a school board member in a district where they are defying the governor's rules against masking rules.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, big come from behind win overnight for the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team. We are live in Tokyo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:36:07]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We can either have a free society or we can have a bio medical security state. And I can tell you, Florida, we're a free state. People are going to be free to choose, to make their own decisions about themselves, about their families, about their kids' education and about putting food on the table.

Why don't you do your job? Why don't you get this border secure? And until you do that, I don't want to hear a blip about COVID from you.

Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Governor DeSantis saying to the president, do your job. But some Florida schools are begging him to do his and to let them mandate masks.

The governor is not a fan of mask mandates. He has banned them in schools. He has threatened to withhold state funding from schools that require masks. But Alachua County is doing it anyways, instituting a two-week mask mandate when classes resume next Tuesday.

And joining us now is Alachua County School Board Member Tina Certain who is with us.

Tina, this is in defiance of the governor. He is threatening to withhold funds. Tell us why it was worth doing anyways.

TINA CERTAIN, ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, SUPPORTS MASK MANDATE: Well, I kind of disagree. I don't think it's in defiance of the governor. I don't think that there are clearly outlined rules that have been developed yet in the executive order. And we chose to listen to our local medical community, who came out in force (ph) to our recent meeting on August 3rd and detailed -- gave us a lot of detail about the current medical situation in Alachua County.

We were told that the cases are spiking in our county. Our hospitals are full. And that transmission is taking place between children under 18 against -- amongst school age children.

So we thought it prudent to provide a safe learning and work environment that we proceed forth with face coverings as a mitigation strategy to control the spread of the coronavirus.

KEILAR: His administration is threatening to withhold funds from school districts that require masks. Is it -- is it worth it to you even if funds are withheld?

CERTAIN: Well, I'm hoping the governor does not go forth and try to withhold -- and withhold funds from our local school district. The order says if we don't comply with the rules that are made, or policy, and currently right now we just have the executive order that talks about a lot of whereas, people can choose to not wear a mask for whatever reasons. But there has been no formal policy developed yet out of this executive order that tells districts that we cannot have a mask ordnance or mandatory mask amongst our students.

So we started out with a -- we will start with a two-week mask -- mandatory mask amongst our students. And if rules are created by the Department of Health and the Department of Education, we will then come back as a board and examine the policy that comes down to us and try to comply.

We want to make sure that we keep our community safe. We have a lot of students that will be on our campuses that are not eligible for the vaccine. And before students have even arrived on campus, we have a good number of employees that have turned up positive already. And just this week we had the death of two of our employees of our custodial staff.

So we -- we're weighing out the financial impact and we're not dismissing that because we cannot operate without state funds. But at the same time, we really need to provide a safe, working and learning environment for our students and our staff.

KEILAR: And your staff.

Real quick before I let you go, Tina, you have a -- there's a vaccine incentive for your district which says to staff, if you're vaccinated and you get a breakthrough case, you have ten days off work paid, right?

[06:40:09]

But if you're unvaccinated and you get COVID, the staff members actually, they're on the hook for paying for their own time off.

Is that encouraging staff members to get vaccinated?

CERTAIN: That is -- that's the goal of our superintendent. She reached out to the board and asked if we would support that. There's a financial incentive to get the vaccine and then if you have a breakthrough, of course, the leave would be paid by the district.

We took this route to encourage folks because, as we have been told by the CDC and all of the medical advisers is that one way that we can stop the coronavirus in its tracks is to be vaccinated and to wear face coverings, social distancing and avoiding large crowds. So that's the (INAUDIBLE) -- the position that our district has decided to take.

KEILAR: Well, Tina, look, we'll see what the state says. This story isn't over, but we appreciate you coming on to talk about it this morning. Tina Certain, thanks.

CERTAIN: Thank you.

KEILAR: American women leading the way for Team USA at the Tokyo games. But take a closer look at their success on the world stage. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:45:34]

BERMAN: Jason Tatum and the U.S. men's basketball team rally from a double-digit deficit to advance to the gold medal game at the Olympics.

Coy Wire in Tokyo with more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

The much maligned men's team getting the job done.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, it was a rough start. They did. They lost their opening game here but Team USA's bid for a fourth-straight gold medal is alive.

It wasn't easy, though. Australia led by as many as 15 in the first half. The U.S. went on a run to cut that deficit to three at the half. And it was once again Kevin Durant putting the team on his back, sparking a 20-0 run that started just before halftime.

And they held the Aussies without a bucket for nearly eight minutes at one point. KD finishes with 23. Final score is 97-78. They advance last month's loss in exhibition game to -- in Vegas to Australia. U.S. now plays the winner of Slovenia/France in the gold medal game.

And it wasn't gold but the U.S. women's soccer team is back on the podium, winning bronze after a win over Australia just a bit ago. Megan Rapinoe possibly playing her last Olympics, scoring two goals in the first half. And 39-year-old Carli Lloyd adding two of her own, passing Abby Wambach to become the all-time leading scorer in U.S. women's national team Olympic history. Ten in her career. It's a 4-3 win. The bronze medal is the first in women's team history after winning four golds but failing to medal in Rio. This could be the last hooray in the Olympics for soccer legends Carli Lloyd, who's 39, Megan Rapinoe, whose 36, team captain and superstar defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who's 36.

John, whatever the case may be, it's been an incredible run for some of the best to ever do it.

BERMAN: They looked like they were having fun this morning in the game, which you know, it matters. It matters if you actually enjoy what you're doing there.

Coy Wire in Tokyo, thanks so much.

KEILAR: And also developing overnight, the U.S. men failed to advance to the 4 x 100 relay final in track and field. But while the men have faltered from gymnastics to track and field to swimming, America's female athletes have shined during these Olympic games.

Selina Wang is live for us in Tokyo with more.

There is a contrast, Selina. SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. Just an incredible

performance from American women at these games. And for the third- straight Olympics, there are more women than men at the Tokyo games. They've won more than half of Team USA's medals. And they are some of the biggest stars, from Simone Biles to Katie Ledecky.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WANG (voice over): Women are leading the way for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nineteen-year-old Nevin Harrison from the United States on her way to the finish line.

WANG: Nevin Harrison bringing home the first gold medal in Olympic history in the women's 200 meter canoe sprint earlier today. American women winning 15 gold medals in the 2020 games so far. With swimming star Katie Ledecky earning two of them this year, including an historic victory in the inaugural 1500 meter freestyle race.

KATIE LEDECKY, USA SWIMMING 10X OLYMPIC MEDALIST: It's an amazing feeling to be bringing home two golds and two silvers here and to have competed in my third Olympics. It's something I never would have imagined.

WANG: The women of U.S. swimming standing on the podium for a total of 18 medals, including Lydia Jacoby, the 17-year-old Alaskan becoming an unexpected champion in the 100 meter breaststroke. And in track and field, Sydney McLaughlin breaking her own world record, speeding into first place in the 400 meter hurdles just ahead of teammate Dalilah Muhammad.

SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN, USA TRACK AND FIELD, 400M HURDLES GOLD MEDALIST: I just want to set a good example, be the best that I can be, and encourage people as well to be the best that they can be.

WANG: Valerie Allman winning the gold in women's discuss with a throw of 68.98 meters. And at 19 years old, Athing Mu is now the second youngest Olympic 800 meter champion.

Women have earned 11 event medals for Team USA in track and field in the games so far. Tamyra Mensah-Stock becoming the first black woman to win Olympic wrestling gold. Team USA's women's three on three basketball team earning the top spot in the inaugural tournament at the games. Ad in surfing, Carissa Moore riding the waves to become the first Olympic surfing champion.

CARISSA MOORE, USA SURFING GOLD MEDALIST: It means so much, especially coming from Hawaii. Surfing is our sport. And it means a lot to bring it home, not only for Hawaii, but the United States of America. To surf for something bigger than myself.

WANG: Women's gymnastics winning six medals in the games, including a team silver.

[06:50:02] Suni Lee is taking back a full set before she starts college this fall with the gold in the individual all-around competition.

SUNISA LEE, USA GYMNASTICS, USA GYMNASTICS, 3X OLYMPIC MEDALIST: This medal definitely means a lot to me because there was a point in time where I wanted to quit and I just didn't think I would ever get here, including injuries and stuff. So there are definitely a lot of emotions.

WANG: Simone Biles withdrawing from the women's team final and four individual events due to mental health concerns and a bad case of the twisties. The star gymnast returning to compete in the balance beam and ultimately walking away with the bronze medal.

SIMONE BILES, USA GYMNASTICS, 7X OLYMPIC MEDALIST: I'm pretty happy. I wasn't expecting to medal. I just came out here and just tried to do a good beam set. Just to have one more opportunity to compete at the Olympics meant the world to me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WANG: After she won, Tamyra Mensah-Stock talked about the significance of young girls seeing her take gold. She says it means they get to see someone like themselves up on that podium and it means that even they can accomplish the biggest of goals.

And, of course, Simone Biles showing the world what courage and resilience looks like.

Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, I just picture all of the little girls watching the Olympics and all that has been achieved.

Selina, thank you for that report.

Some labor unions are voicing strong opposition to vaccine mandates for their workers. Why? We'll have both sides of the debate, next.

BERMAN: And "Jeopardy" may be close to naming a new host. And they went with the Dick Cheney method of choosing, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:36]

BERMAN: Rock (ph) lobster, the seafood industry, on the rebound. Business is good, maybe too good, because owners are struggling to find enough workers to meet the increased customer demand.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's impossible to be in three places at once, but Nate Phillips is trying to do just that, fishing on his family's boat, running his new clam shack, and cutting the day's catch in his fish market.

NATE PHILLIPS, OWNER, GREENPORT SEAFOOD INC.: I've got two guys here besides myself. Normally I have seven.

YURKEVICH: It's the same in all three locations.

YURKEVICH (on camera): How many people's jobs do you think you're actually doing right now?

PHILLIPS: I don't even know if I could put a number on it, but for just the sake of saying, probably five.

YURKEVICH (voice over): The seafood industry, like so many others, is experiencing a labor shortage. And it's currently high season in Greenport, Long Island, where seafood is in demand.

YURKEVICH (on camera): How would you say business is going?

PHILLIPS: It's insane.

YURKEVICH (voice over): U.S. seafood prices are up 2.5 percent since last year, the fastest pace in years. This should be good news for Phillips, but he says customers often leave frustrated and without making a purchase. With little staff, people are forced to wait.

YURKEVICH (on camera): Are you missing out on potential business because of it?

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. I feel every day we are. Every day.

YURKEVICH (voice over): The U.S. imports up to 85 percent of the seafood we eat. But with slowdowns and international trade, there's even more pressure on U.S. operations to make up the loss.

In Louisiana, it's the tail end of the brown shrimp season. But a lousy harvest and fewer workers means less business for places like Louisiana Newpack Shrimp Company.

KARL TURNER, CO-OWNER, LOUISIANA NEWPACK SHRIMP COMPANY: We have to use temporary agencies to get people to come in. And it's hard to get them even today.

YURKEVICH: Karl Turner runs the plant and says many workers are either collecting unemployment or left the industry for good.

TURNER: People want to work in different industries, cleaner industries, and it's a challenge to attract people to work in the shrimp processing plant.

YURKEVICH: In the Gulf Coast bayous, Faith Family Shrimp Company owns this dock and five boats. But the family sold two because they couldn't find anyone to run them.

ANGELA PORTIER, OWNER, FAITH FAMILY SHRIMP COMPANY: If I would have known what I know now, five shrimp boats, a big shrimp dock facility, I would have had five sons. YURKEVICH: It's a grueling, messy, monotonous business but one that

takes skill.

PORTIER: We'll start people out at really good pay, a really good hourly pay, and in a week or two they quit. And we're like, what's going on? And it's very hard to replace them.

YURKEVICH: This is where Phillips says he needs to be. But the lack of workers leaves him to choose between working on land or at sea.

How often are you able to get out on the boat these days?

PHILLIPS: Myself, not that much anymore. This is the most important part to all of it. Without this, we wouldn't have anything else.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH: Now, companies often supplement their U.S. workforce with foreign labor. But you have to apply a year in advance for these seasonal worker visas. So you have seafood companies applying last year during the height of the pandemic not thinking that 2021 would be what it is today, this robust economy. So you have now the low -- excuse me, low U.S. workers and low foreign workers able to supplement the seafood industry during a time when they really need both most, John.

BERMAN: Vanessa Yurkevich, such an interesting look to hear that guy say, how's business? It's insane.

YURKEVICH: Insane.

BERMAN: But too much of a good thing.

Thank you so much for that.

KEILAR: All right, there's some big news about one of America's favorite game shows. "Jeopardy" has been trying out a number of celebrity guest hosts this year. I'm sure that you have noticed. From Levar Burton to our own Sanjay Gupta. But this morning, "Variety" is reporting that this man is in advanced talks to become the next host. So who is this guy?

CNN chief media correspondent and the anchor of "Reliable Sources," Brian Stelter with us now.

Who is that guy, Brian?

[07:00:00]

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: The answer is, who is Mike Richards. Mike Richards is an executive producer of "Jeopardy" and he filled in very early on, almost by accident.