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U.S. Passes 200,000 Coronavirus Deaths, Highest In The World; "Washington Post:" FDA To Announce Tougher Standards For Vaccine That Make It Unlikely One Will Be Cleared By Election Day; FBI Warns Against Disinformation Regarding 2020 Results; "Washington Post:" CIA Assessment Says Putin "Probably Directing" Influence Campaign Against Biden. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired September 22, 2020 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Just go to powerthepolls.org. It is a nonpartisan organization. And be sure to go to cnn.com slash vote to find your state's voting deadline and local voter resources.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now. See you tomorrow.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We're following breaking news. On this first day of fall the U.S. death fell from the coronavirus pandemic now stands at that more than 200,000 Americans, the highest death toll of any country in the world. And it's more than the number of Americans killed in World War I, Vietnam and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq combined.

Dr. Anthony Fauci calls the number and I'm quoting him now, "sobering and stunning." But the White House is defending President Trump's pandemic response after he falsely claimed virtually nobody young is affected by COVID.

Meanwhile, "The Washington Post" has just reported that the FDA will be announcing tougher new standards that will make it unlikely, unlikely that a vaccine will be available before Election Day as the President has suggested.

Let's get some more in the breaking pandemic news. First CNN's Nick Watt is joining us from Los Angeles.

Nick, the coronavirus is now the third leading cause of death here in the United States.

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. And as you just mentioned, this is interesting news coming out of the FDA, apparently they are going to be unveiling some stricter standards for approving a vaccine. They're hoping to regenerate some public trust. It has been eroding this reporting all according to "The Washington Post."

And meanwhile, Wolf, far too many Americans are still dying. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATT (voice-over): Today we passed 200,000 dead. That's a hard, terrific fact.

DR. CELINE GOUNDER, INFECTIOUS DISEASES SPECIALIST AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST: This is one of the greatest tragedies in American history. Not least because these 200,000 deaths, those deaths were preventable.

WATT: Two hundred thousand people dead, killed by a disease we didn't even know existed a year ago. Among them, Darlene and Johnny Lee Peoples from North Carolina. Married 48 years, killed by COVID within minutes of each other, holding hands.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering and in some respects, stunning.

WATT: Only heart disease and cancer will kill more Americans this year. And this bears repeating over and over.

The U.S. accounts for a little over 4 percent of the world's population, but a little over 20 percent of the world's COVID-19 deaths. And it's far from over.

FAUCI: We are entering into a risk period.

WATT: Today is the first day of fall. It was October that proved the deadliest month for the 1918 flu pandemic.

FAUCI: I'd like to see us go into that at such a low level that when you have the inevitable cases, you can handle them.

WATT: But we're not. Nationwide over 50,000 new COVID-19 cases logged yesterday. Might be a blip? Probably not.

Average daily deaths are now rising in 20 states. Average daily case counts are now arising in 24.

FAUCI: Masks work, physical distancing works, avoiding crowds work, that is the fact.

WATT: This is not just a disease of the elderly.

FAUCI: More and more young people you see when you look at it are getting into some significant trouble, not a lot, not a high percentage, that's true.

WATT: And the long term impact on the recovered of any age still frighteningly unclear.

FAUCI: You can see things like inflammation of the heart. Now, they may not be symptomatic but we want to make sure that six months or a year from now they don't wind up with unexplained arrhythmias or premature heart attacks or cardiomyopathies.

WATT: But as we try to fight this virus.

DR. AMESH ADALJA, SENIOR SCHOLAR, JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY: As with many things on coronavirus, the person not to listen to is the President because most things he says are misleading or outright lies.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing.

WATT: Do the opposite. Wear a mask. Take this seriously.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT: A couple more things that show that this year is like no other, the CDC is already discouraging trick or treating this Halloween and three NFL teams have been fined a quarter million dollars each because their coach wasn't wearing a mask.

The next benchmark, Wolf, is likely going to be 7 million cases in this country and that's not very far away. Thank you.

BLITZER: Yes. And that 200,000 number sadly, that could almost double in the next few months unless something dramatic is done and done immediately.

[17:05:00]

All right, Nick, thanks very much.

Let's go to the White House right now. Our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta is on the scene for us as he always is.

Jim, so far, no acknowledgement from President Trump --

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

BLITZER: -- the 200,000 Americans have died in this pandemic on his watch. Is that right?

ACOSTA: That's right, Wolf. And White House officials are trying to do some damage control after President Trump said the coronavirus, "affects virtually nobody" when it comes to younger Americans. That's just not true.

The President made these false comments as the U.S. reached the horrific milestone of 200,000 lives lost from COVID-19. When asked how he would grade the administration's response to the virus, top White House health expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci agreed and said, just look at the numbers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): With U.S. now soaring past 200,000 deaths from the Coronavirus, White House officials are trying to pull a fast one insisting the administration has beaten expectations, when the reality is they have it. (on camera): What do you say to Americans who are outraged over this and blame this administration for so many lives lost in this country?

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, as you've heard several doctors in the Task Force note from this podium, we were looking at the prospect of 2 million people potentially perishing from the coronavirus in this country.

ACOSTA (voice-over): But hold on, that initial forecast of 2 million deaths was based on the administration doing nothing. Top health experts like White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. Anthony Fauci aren't giving the U.S. an A plus for its response, as Mr. Trump did this week.

FAUCI: The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering and in some respects, stunning.

Take a look at the numbers and make up your own mind. I mean, you know, we don't need a soundbite from me. Take a look at the numbers.

ACOSTA: Still, the President continues to spread false information at his rallies, maintaining COVID-19 does not pose a threat to younger Americans, even though they can spread the virus to the elderly.

TRUMP: Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing.

ACOSTA (on camera): Shouldn't the President be telling people the truth about this virus at his rallies,

MCENANY: The Presidents telling people the truth. And you're right, Jim, that he was talking about --

ACOSTA: No he's not. He's saying that it affects virtually nobody and that it doesn't affect young people. He's not telling the truth.

MCENANY: Jim, but you're again, taking the President out of context. I have his full quote here. And you're right that he was referring to young people. He said this --

ACOSTA: Well, I'm not taking it out of context.

MCENANY: It is not a disease that affects young people in the same way as older people, which is the exact point the President was making last night.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Another whopper from the President, he claims he's seeing plenty of masks at his rallies. But those rally goers in masks tend to be positioned behind Mr. Trump, while most in the crowd aren't protecting themselves.

TRUMP: I must be honest, I see a lot of people with masks. I also see a little bit of a spreading out. One of the reasons I do the rallies in outside settings is because it's much better. It's, you know, recommended.

ACOSTA: In a virtual speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the President is blaming it all on China.

TRUMP: As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China.

ACOSTA: On the White House push to quickly replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Republican senators are falling in line even occasional past Trump critic Mitt Romney.

SEN. MITT ROMNEY, (R) UTAH: I've indicated that what I intend to do is to proceed with the consideration process and if a nominee actually reaches the floor that I will vote based upon the qualifications of that nominee.

ACOSTA: With Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett looking like the clear front runner GOP leaders are pledging to support the President before he's announced his pick.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): The nominee is going to be supported by every Republican in the Judiciary Committee. And we've got the votes to confirm the judge -- the justice on the floor of the Senate before the election and that's what's coming.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: And the President is planning on unveiling his Supreme Court pick at the White House on Saturday. He's expected to meet with another judge on a shortlist, Barbara Lagoa later this week.

A more conservative Supreme Court is likely to overturn Obamacare, and yet, the President has yet to produce his own health care plan. White House officials, again, said today that that plan is coming in the next two weeks. Of course, they've said that before and Mr. Trump, we should point out, promised a plan last month. He didn't deliver on, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. He's been promising for two weeks. He's been promising it will be delivered in two weeks for months and months and months. So far, no plan.

All right, Jim Acosta, thanks very much.

Let's get some more on all of this, our Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is with us, along with CNN Medical Analyst, Dr. Leana Wen.

Sanjay, is it just incredible. In my opinion, it is to think that 200,000 Americans have now lost their lives to this virus. I know you've written before about what you would do if America was your patient.

So what's your advice to the country right now? We don't want to see that number doubled in the next few months.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Wolf. I mean, you know, earlier on, you know, I had the country been my patient or anybody's patient, I think. It was a situation treating more localized less invasive disease at that point.

[17:10:07]

So, had we applied some of the measures that we've talked about for months, you know, and done it pretty consistently, the disease would not have spread as much. Now we have to sort of recognize that this is a much more widespread infection in the country. And it may require more aggressive treatment for a while. Things like, you know, near universal mask wearing, could make a huge difference, really being smart about indoor locations where the virus can spread, you know, bars and restaurants.

You've got to essentially bring the overall amount of virus that's spreading down for a period of time, so you can get your arms around this.

Wolf, one thing I wanted to show you, in 1918 is maybe one of the closest models we have to what's happening right now. If we look at the graph of what happened in 1918, just in terms of lessons learned Wolf, first six months of that pandemic, about 75,000 people died.

As you just pointed out, the first seven months of this pandemic, 200,000 people have died. Obviously, the population is much larger now. But look at the second peak, Wolf. That's when things really got problematic.

In 1918, 195,000 people died in a single month, and that month was October. That's exactly what we're trying to prevent from happening now.

We know how to do it. We've seen evidence of how it can work in places around the world. We've just got to do it. I mean, and some of it's not that hard.

BLITZER: It's really important.

And you know, and Dr. Wen, the first death from this virus was recorded February 29, right at the end of February. We've never seen anything like this before. But are you surprised at how quickly we actually got to this awful 200,000 mark?

DR. LEANA WEN, FORMER BALTIMORE HEALTH COMMISSIONER: It's important that we talk about the individuals for part of that 200,000 because otherwise we could become numb to this number. It's a horrific toll that our country has gone through.

I mean, 200,000 people, we're talking about loved ones who will never see their family members again. And we're also talking about millions of people who have recovered from coronavirus but who may be living with side effects, in some ways, some side effects of which we don't even know the extent of it yet.

And so I am surprised. But at the same time, I think I'm saddened whether anything else, because we know that what happened didn't have to be this way. And the next 100,000 next 200,000 deaths, also, it doesn't have to be this way either. Because as Sanjay just laid out, by now we know the science, we know what it would take for us to change the trajectory of this disease. We're not powerless here.

And I think that's what I want every viewer to know that we don't have to be passing the infection on to others. There are ways for us to protect ourselves and our loved ones and for us to stem the tide so that we don't have to have the same conversation after 200 more thousand deaths.

BLITZER: You know, Sanjay, we just received this report from "The Washington Post" that the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, is now planning to enact tougher standards for an emergency use off or authorization for a vaccine. The goal is to boost Americans trust.

So what's changing? And how could that impact the timeline to reach a vaccine? The President keeps saying he hopes and believes there could be one by the November 3 election.

GUPTA: I think there's two main things that came out of this and we started to get some hints of this, Wolf. If you look at like trying to determine if a vaccine is safe and effective.

In terms of safety, how long do you wait after you've given the vaccine before you say, look, it seems like it's safe. That's been sort of a subject of debate a little bit.

I can tell you from talking to Moncef Slaoui and looking at the FDA database, most people who develop some sort of side effect from one of these vaccines are expected to do it within the first 42 days to two months. So that's one of the first things that the FDA is now putting forth. They want to wait at least two months after both shots are given to say yes, look, we're seeing a favorable safety profile.

The other thing is, you know, you're trying to figure out are people who are receiving the placebo more likely to get infected than people receiving the vaccine? Well, some of the protocols said, well, even if there's mild infection in the placebo group, those should count.

Well, the FDA is basically saying not so fast. We want to see if there's significant infections in the placebo group and compare those to essentially not getting infected in the vaccinated group to be confident that the vaccine is actually protecting against serious infections.

That could take a while as well, Wolf, to actually see those serious infections in the placebo group. So put the timeline together. And yes, I think you're talking, you know, end of the year, before you really have that kind of data.

BLITZER: Yes. And Dr. Wen, the President, as I noted, he keeps saying there could be a vaccine before the November 3 election. Previously, he railed against what he called the deep state, the deep state over at the FDA. How do you expect to him to respond to this latest announcement from the FDA. [17:15:01]

WEN: I don't know how he'll respond. I hope that he doesn't. Because the more that the President speaks about a particular date, and especially if he ties it to the elections, every time we see that the percentage of people who say that they're willing to take the vaccine, that it decreases. And that's because we need to be sure, the American people need to be sure that the process that's used to determine safety and efficacy is completely based on science and not driven by political pressure.

So, I agree with Sanjay. I mean, I think that the FDA, if they are to make this announcement about this very clear process for emergency use authorization, very clear metrics set ahead of time, and making the data also fully accessible and transparent, that's what's going to help the trust issue. And that's what's actually going to give people confidence in the vaccine.

BLITZER: Dr. Leana Wen, thank you very much. Sanjay, thanks to you as well. I know you'll be back later here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Coming up, the economic impact of the pandemic that's now killed more than 200,000 Americans.

Plus this, a CIA assessment that reportedly says Russian President Vladimir Putin is probably directing an influence campaign against Joe Biden. I'll talk about it with the former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:20:37]

BLITZER: We're following breaking news, the FBI just putting out a new warning that foreign actors and cyber criminals are likely to spread disinformation regarding the results of the 2020 presidential election here in the United States.

I want to bring the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers.

Mike, thanks so much for joining us. Specifically, they're saying this, this is the FBI, and what's called the cyber security and infrastructure security agency issuing this statement, "The increased use of mail and balance due to COVID-19 protocols could leave officials with incomplete results on election night. And that would highlight the possibility that foreign actors and cyber criminals could use disinformation to exploit the time required to certify and announce election results."

So what's your reaction to that?

FORMER REP. MIKE ROGERS (R-MI): I completely believe that's accurate, number one. Number two, we have watched the way that the Russians primarily. And other nation states are trying to get in on the game, unfortunately, have used any bit of angst in America against ourselves.

And so imagine that on election night, you will have the in person voting tallies, and one candidate may be winning and 30 days later, because it may take that long or 60 days later, there it might be a different election. All of that time is mischief time for these cyber actors.

And again, their whole purpose is they don't want, a, Americans to like each other, number one. And number two, they want you to not believe in our system of democracy in the way we vote. That's a big win for countries like Russia. And that's exactly what -- there's no doubt in my mind that's what's coming.

BLITZER: So, when they say foreign actors, you believe, as so many other experts believe they're talking about Russia, is that right?

ROGERS: Yes. When -- Wolf, when you look at the way the Russians acted even prior to 2016 in in other countries, primarily, they were focused on ethnic speaking Russians living in other countries, the Baltic states is a great example, and how they were trying to cause government disruptions by misinformation. And they had some brutal ones.

A matter of fact, in one case, they actually accused Germans of raping a 14-year-old girl in a place where that still had resonance. All of it was made up. None of it was true. But they were trying to create this angst and this anxiety and it worked.

Well, 2016 they've exported that to the United States. They were trying to at least get Americans, you know, groups of Americans targeting each other. 2018 we saw them actively trying to get involved.

Now, the good news is our National Security Agency under General Paul Nakasone, excuse me, was very, very effective at pushing them back. Well, guess what, they're back in 2020, they'll be here with a vengeance.

And because they'll take the angst that you see in America, and American cities, so that's a real thing. There's some racial tensions there for sure. And what they'll do is just pour a little gasoline on it, they want to take a real event like that, and then use misinformation to get people anxious, angry, mad at each other.

Same thing they're going to do with the 2020 election, because they know because of COVID, we won't probably know the election results right away. That is absolutely a playground for people who have maligned intention for the United States of America.

BLITZER: And we know based on the 2016, the U.S. intelligence community's assessment based on what they're saying right now, the goal of the Russians is specifically to sow dissent, to create as much political chaos here in the United States, to undermine the US democracy as much as possible, to get people fighting each other as much as possible. That's what the Russians want to see because they want to see a weaker United States. And it follows this latest statement from the FBI, which is very disturbing. It follows this report today in "The Washington Post" that Vladimir Putin may be personally, personally involved in Russia's election meddling here in the U.S. I want to read the assessment from this August 31 classified report. This is from the CIA with input from the National Security Agency and the FBI.

And they say this, "we assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of and probably directed Russia's influence operations aimed at denigrating the former U.S. vice president supporting the U.S. president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November."

[17:25:11]

Josh Rogin of "The Washington Post" broke this news earlier today, we're going to be speaking to him in the next hour. What's your reaction to this bombshell report?

ROGERS: Can the -- Wolf, we've seen this happen, we've seen this movie before by the Russians. They've been engaged in these kind of activities for a very long time. Matter of fact, in the race riots, in the '60s in the United States, they tried the same thing.

They were trying to get black activist groups targeted against white nationalist groups, and vice versa, to get them to fight, to get chaos, to get those kind of T.V. images that you wanted to see. They weren't very effective, because they'd have to do it by putting paper leaflets on windows of cars. It wasn't really a very effective tool.

Today, they took that same playbook and modernized it with social media, and they're effective. And there's no doubt in my mind, this would be considered something akin to a covert action, one of the most sensitive things that a U.S. government would participate in. Same with foreign governments. Same with Russia.

Of course, Amir Putin is involved in this, there's no doubt in my mind. Again, his goal -- and by the way, I think people will, I think, make a mistake, if they're so wrapped around the axle that he wants to help the current president in office.

You know, I'm sure he he's trying to pick a team and causing some trouble. But he has no interest in what happens after the election other than that chaos, difficulty governing, having Americans still at each other's throats. That is exactly what he wants to accomplish through his activity.

So there's no doubt in my mind, and by the way wildly successful so far.

BLITZER: Yes.

ROGERS: You know, a lot of Americans don't like each other. Some of that's fan flames from what these Russian information operations are conducting. And that's why it's so dangerous. That's why we have to be unified, our legislature, the executive branch, we need to be on one team on this.

To me, it's just absolutely critical important that we don't allow them a gasp of air in their malign activities.

BLITZER: Yes, and the president, President Trump, he keeps belittling this Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election. They keep saying, why are you talking about Russia, Russia, Russia start talking about China, China, China, but the U.S. intelligence community has concluded it is Russia, Russia, Russia.

Mike Rogers, thanks so much for joining us. We'll continue this conversation.

Coming up, the political fallout of the president giving himself an A plus, not an A, but an A plus, at his handling of the coronavirus as the U.S. death toll passes 200,000.

Plus, it looks like Republicans have the votes to put another conservative on the U.S. Supreme Court. Is this a done deal? We'll let you know what we know when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:32:48]

BLITZER: More now to breaking news, more than 200,000 Americans now dead in the coronavirus pandemic, a number Dr. Anthony Fauci calls, and I'm quoting him now, sobering and stunning.

Let's dig deeper with our Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, and our Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger. Dana, 200,000 Americans dead but the President is giving himself an A plus for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how Dr. Anthony Fauci responded to that during a discussion earlier today with our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Take a look at the numbers and make up your own mind. I mean, you know, we don't need a sound bite from me. Take a look at the numbers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Obviously, Dr. Fauci is reluctant, perhaps understandably. So, to get into politics, he's a doctor. But I think it's pretty clear how he feels. What do you think?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: He has such a gift in his ability to say something without saying it. Because, yes, he is a doctor, but he has his finger on the pulse of kind of the politics of the moment because he's had to deal with it. And, of course, he does not think that this had to happen.

And it's terrible. And it's a terrible milestone. And it is one -- despite what the President says about the grade that he gave himself that he has to deal with -- when it comes to the voters. It's their grades that they're going to give him. And right now, if you look at any poll, whether it's a national poll or key state polls, in swing states, he doesn't get a very good grade at all.

And that is the main reason -- aside from the fact that separate from politics and policy, Joe Biden understands he has to give an alternative but on the politics, it's the main reason why Joe Biden, regardless of the debate happening here in Washington about the Supreme Court, he is staying focused as much as he can on the coronavirus issue.

BLITZER: Yes, he certainly is. You know, Gloria, according to The Washington Post, the FDA is now implementing tougher new standards for potential vaccine. That would make it much less likely that the agency would issue any Emergency Use Authorization for a new vaccine before November 3rd election day here in the U.S. That would be a major blow to the President's hopes, wouldn't it be?

[17:35:11]

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Of course. You know, the President has been saying everybody in the country is going to get vaccinated by April, there is going to be a vaccine for everybody before Election Day. And in August, the President was already complaining about the FDAs. And he tweeted this, he said, the deep state or whoever over at the FDA is making it difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines.

So, he's already on the warpath about this. The reason they're doing it, as Sanjay was saying to you earlier, is that they understand that the vaccines have to have some kind of credibility here. You know, in May, about 70 percent of the American public said, OK, we would take a vaccine. That numbers down to about half of the American public.

Why are they not trusting the vaccine? Because they understand that the President seems to be pushing it very quickly, because he wants to be able to brag about it before the election. And they're going to wait for somebody like Tony Fauci, who has ultimate credibility to say, you know what, I'm going to take this vaccine, and you should take this vaccine. But not a moment before, but this will upset the President because it's not his timeline.

BLITZER: You know, Dana, I want to make the turn to the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy right now. Senator Mitt Romney announced today he would consider voting for President Trump's nominee if it reaches the Senate floor. So it looks like this is pretty much a done deal for the President and the Republicans, is it?

BASH: It looks that way, which is kind of remarkable, since we don't have the nominee yet. But it just shows you the pressure that is on Republicans that Mitch McConnell is putting on Republicans because of the condensed timeline that he insists should take place.

Mitt Romney's statement today was, if you look at his record, and you consider the fact that he is a true conservative, he's not a Trump conservative, but he's a true conservative, it's understandable, given the fact that the people so far, the two nominees that Donald Trump has put forward could have been nominees that Mitt Romney had he won the White House, put forward himself.

But what this means is that the Republican led Senate is very likely to have a vote on the nominee to be determined, we think, on Saturday before the election, which is warp speed. But it is the kind of politics that Mitch McConnell plays, especially when it comes to the bench.

BLITZER: What do you think, Dana -- I mean, Gloria. Gloria.

BORGER: People get us confused all the time.

BLITZER: Yes.

BORGER: Well, I think Dana is 100 percent right. This is what Mitch McConnell lives for lives for, lives for two things, keeping control of the Senate, and putting conservative judges on the bench. This is a big prize, this Supreme Court nomination. He believes that by pushing this through early, it may help him with a couple of seats, keeping a couple of seats perhaps in North Carolina, for example. Keeping -- maybe it'll help Lindsey Graham, who's chairman of the committee, the Judiciary Committee.

So, he wants to get this done now. There isn't that much the Democrats can do about it now, Wolf, but they can threaten to say, OK, we're -- if we win this election, we're just going to add some seats to the court. Maybe we'll make the District of Columbia a state and maybe we'll add a couple more Democrats in the Senate. Who knows? But as for now, I don't think there's that much they can do about it.

BLITZER: Well, we do know that today is a very, very special day because it's Gloria's birthday. On behalf of all of our viewers who are in the U.S. and around the world, Gloria, happy, happy birthday.

BASH: Happy birthday, Glo (ph).

BORGER: Thank you.

BLITZER: And many, many more.

BORGER: Thank you, virtual hugs.

BLITZER: All right. Thank you.

Coming up, our look at coronavirus headlines from around the world including Prime Minister Boris Johnson now warning that Britain is at a perilous turning point and ordering new restrictions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:43:28]

BLITZER: And coronavirus headlines from around the world, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is imposing new restrictions and warning his country is at what he calls a perilous turning point. CNN's Anna Stewart is in London for us. Anna, tell us what's changing?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, from Thursday, pubs in England will be ringing the bell for last orders a little bit earlier than usual. The U.K. government has decided, as a result of COVID-19 cases rising in the country that they're going to impose new restrictions on the hospitality sector in England. So, from Thursday, pubs, restaurants and bars will have to close their doors by 10:00 p.m.

There will be no service at the bar, it'll be table service only, and staff are going to have to wear face coverings. So will customers actually if they're moving around the premises. You can only take it off if you're sat down at your table. And the fine for not wearing a face mask is set to double to 200 pounds that's a little over $250.

Now, the trade body that represents this sector, U.K. hospitality say 100,000 jobs have already been lost, 900,000 are still at risk. The businesses I've spoken to today say unless the government does more to help them, they're going to have to start to let staff go. Wolf?

BLITZER: Anna Stewart in London for us, thank you.

Britain certainly is not alone. Countries across Europe right now are struggling to contain a new surge in coronavirus cases. CNN's Melissa Bell is monitoring the situation for us from Paris. Melissa, what are you seeing?

[17:45:01]

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, here in France, the proportion of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to rise with fears for ICUs in some of those French cities that are being hardest hit by this second wave here in the greater Paris region. Local authorities are warning that within two weeks, the health system could come under severe strain with some operations having to be canceled.

And in another sign of how bad things are here in France, Italians have decided that anyone coming into the country from one of those hard-hit French regions will have to be tested. Meanwhile, in Madrid, 850,000 people remain under lockdown. This time, a city wide lockdown as European countries try all they can to avoid a dreaded second national lockdown even as those figures continue to rise. Wolf.

BLITZER: Melissa Bell in Paris for us, thank you.

Coming up, we're going to have more on the new report just out that the FDA will adopt tougher new standards of making a coronavirus vaccine here in the United States unlikely, unlikely before November 3rd Election Day. Plus, other breaking news. The U.S. death toll in the pandemic now topping 200,000 Americans, the highest death toll of any country in the world.

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[17:51:07] BLITZER: Today is National Voter Registration Day here in the United States this year, it comes just 42 days before one of the country's most consequential presidential elections. And CNN is taking the day to take a closer look at issues that are important to our viewers.

Let's go to CNN's Brian Todd. Brian, there are multiple crises facing the country right now that could potentially impact voter turnout. What are you learning?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Wolf. You know, if history is any guide, the coronavirus pandemic President Trump's handling of it, the movement for social justice and other crises, could energize huge numbers of voters this year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): Long line for early voting in Fairfax County, Virginia.

KATE HANLEY, ELECTORAL BOARD SECRETARY, FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: It is very exciting to have all these people turn out far more than we expected.

TODD (voice-over): With voter interest off the charts and the stakes so dramatically high, many indications point to a massive turnout at the polls this fall.

PROF. BERNARD FRAGA, DEPT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Frankly this year, many election experts are predicting we're going to see voter turnout that exceeds anything we've seen in the last 100 years. So this could really be a tidal wave of voter turnout.

TODD (voice-over): The coronavirus pandemic, though, could throw a wrench into that if voters feel it's safer to stay home and don't want to rely on mail-in ballots. But President Trump's divisive personality and his handling of the pandemic, experts say, could drive more Americans to the ballot box. Fans and foes alike.

PROF. JAN LEIGHLEY, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Many individuals are suffering from direct consequences of the pandemic, from their own health, to their jobs, to the economy. And much of what I think citizens will evaluate will be filtered through that.

TODD (voice-over): The racial justice movement this year could also energize the electorate. It's been that way throughout American history, highly charged issues often driving surges in voting. The record for the highest turnout percentage in American history, 1876, when women couldn't vote and minorities were routinely disenfranchised. More than 82 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. Rutherford B. Hayes won a tightly contested race as Americans engaged in a heated debate over reconstruction.

FRAGA: One reason why turnout was so high was because of the extreme level of political polarization and the work that parties were doing to mobilize their supporters. TODD (voice-over): In the modern era. 2008 saw an exceptionally high turnout, Barack Obama's historic run invigorating millions of new voters. Some of the lowest turnouts in American history, experts say, came during the 1970s.

LEIGHLEY: In part, you're coming off of the 1960 elections, '60, '64, '68 where there was a vigorous civil rights movement and youth movement and women's movement that was engaging a lot of people in politics on key issues. In '70s, frankly, there weren't quite the, perhaps, compelling issues and conflicts of the day.

TODD (voice-over): This year, if the issues of racial justice and the pandemic are the engine for voter turnout, specific segments of the American population could fuel that engine. Some groups of people consistently turn out to vote more than others, analysts say.

FRAGA: One of the patterns we've seen historically and that we expect for this year as well, is that older voters more wealthy, higher education voters and white voters will be much more likely to go to the polls.

TODD (voice-over): Meaning younger, lower income, lower education and minority voters could have less impact.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Now, who would be helped or hurt this year if voter registration and voter turnout is exceptionally high? Well, Republicans have traditionally thought that lower voter turnout overall has helped them and President Trump has openly alluded to that. But the experts we spoke to say the voting data since the 2000 -- the 2000 election, excuse me, suggest that that is not at all clear.

Now, to our viewers given that today is National Voter Registration Day, we want to make sure that you know how to register to vote. You can go to cnn.com/vote to learn more. Wolf?

[17:55:09]

BLITZER: Good idea. Brian Todd, thank you very much. There's more breaking news we're following, a truly terrible new chapter in the coronavirus pandemic as the United States death fell now top 200,000 Americans.

Plus, the FDA reportedly taking new steps that will make a vaccine by Election Day November 3rd, possible as President Trump has suggested that is now more and more unlikely. We'll be right back.

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