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The Situation Room
Sen. Kamala Harris Questions Trump's Supreme Court Pick; First Lady Reveals Barron Trump Had COVID-19 Without symptoms; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) Is Interviewed About Nancy Pelosi's Rejection Of The Stimulus Bill; Trump Retweets False Conspiracy Theory About Bin Laden Raid; Trump Trying To Recreate 2016 Pennsylvania Success. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired October 14, 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]
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Employees must have the capacity to act collectively in order to match their employers cloud and setting terms and conditions of employment. She urged the court to consider the, "extreme imbalance", of power in our nation's workplaces and avoid further undermining Congress's passage of labor laws to protect workers and place them on equal footing.
Do you recognize Justice Ginsburg's point that there is, "extreme imbalance of power" between large corporations and individual workers?
JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT, SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: Senator Harris, I'm going to give you the same answer that I gave you with respect to the sentence that you quoted me from Chief Justice Roberts opinion in Shelby County that I just -- I'm not going to engage in critiquing or embracing portions of opinions, especially opinions that have been recently decided and are contentious from the court.
HARRIS: And, you know, you've been on the bench a short time, but I'm going to just point out that I do believe and commentators have noted a pattern that you've had of ruling against workers and in favor of corporations. For example, in Burlaka v. contact transportation services, you ruled against long haul truckers seeking, overtime pay for additional work, and Wallace v. Grubhub Holdings you ruled against delivery drivers seeking overtime pay, forcing them out of court and into private arbitration.
And Harris v W -- YRC Worldwide, you ruled against four black truck drivers who allege their employer, assign them less desirable routes when compared to their colleagues. And Smith v. Illinois Department of Transportation, you ruled against a black worker who was called a racial slur by his supervisor.
And in fact, if you go on according to an independent analysis of your decisions, Judge, it appears you have sided with business interest over workers and consumers in about 85 percent of your business related cases.
Moving on climate change, as many have mentioned is an existential threat and it affects are all around us. In California, we've had five -- the six largest wildfires in the state's history. Thirty-one people have been killed by wildfires in California since August alone, including at least two firefighters and a helicopter pilot.
Across the state over 9,000 homes and structures have been burned and California's have been forced to breathe dangerous smoke. All of this obviously during a pandemic which attacks the respiratory system.
But rather than work to combat climate change, the Trump administration has rolled back environmental protections and removed the word -- the term climate change from government agency websites including the EPA.
In 2007, in Massachusetts versus EPA, the Supreme Court decided by a five to four ruling that states could sue the EPA for its failure to combat climate change during the Bush administration. Justice Ginsburg was the crucial fifth vote in that case.
Following that ruling, the EPA responded by unequivocally finding that climate change and its impacts are a danger to the public health and welfare.
Justice Barrett, yesterday you said that, you have "read things about climate change," but you would not say you "have firm views on it." In response to Senator Blumenthal today, you say, you are "not competent to opine on what causes global warming" and that you, "don't think your views on global warming or climate change are relevant to the work you do as a judge."
I certainly do believe your views are relevant. And I'm very concerned about your statements since the Massachusetts v EPA scientific consensus has grown even more and stronger that climate change is real. And it is caused by manmade greenhouse gas pollution and it poses significant threats to human life.
If a case that comes before you would require you to consider scientific evidence, my question is will you defer to scientists and those with expertise in the relevant issues before rendering a judgement?
BARRETT: If a case comes before me involving environmental regulation, I will certainly apply all applicable law deferring when the law requires me to. And as I'm sure you know, Senator Harris, the Administrative Procedure Act does require courts to defer to agency fact finding and to agency regulations when they're supported by substantial evidence.
HARRIS: Yes.
BARRETT: So, yes, I would apply that law and defer when the law requires me to defer.
HARRIS: And do you accept that COVID-19 is infectious?
BARRETT: I think yes, I do accept the COVID-19 is infectious. But that's something of which I feel like, you know, we could say you take judicial notice of. It's an obvious fact. Yes. [17:05:07]
HARRIS: Do you accept that smoking causes cancer?
BARRETT: I'm not sure exactly where you're going with this. But you know, the notice that smoking causes --
HARRIS: Question is what it is, you can answer it if you believe it or no.
BARRETT: Senator Harris, yes, every package of cigarettes warns that smoking causes cancer.
HARRIS: And do you believe that climate change is happening and is threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink?
BARRETT: Senator, again, I was wondering where you were going with that. You have asked me a series of questions like that are completely uncontroversial, like whether COVID-19 is infectious, whether smoking causes cancer and then trying to analogize that to eliciting an opinion on me that is a very contentious matter, opinion from me, that is on a very contentious matter of public debate. And I will not do that. I will not express a view on a matter of public policy, especially one that is politically controversial, because that's inconsistent with the judicial role as I have explained.
HARRIS: Thank you Judge Barrett. And you've made your point clear that you believe it's a debatable point.
Mr. Chairman, these proceedings, I believe, lack legitimacy in the eyes of the people of our country. Americans are right now suffering from a deadly pandemic. And we are also suffering a historic economic crisis.
The Senate should be working day and night to provide economic relief to families and not rushing a Supreme Court confirmation.
We are also in the middle of an election, more than 12 million Americans have already voted. The American people want whomever wins this election to fill this seat. My Republican colleagues know that, I believe.
This hearing has done nothing to alleviate the concerns raised about why this nominee was chosen and why this is being rushed, when the American people deserve to be heard.
So again, I would say let us not pretend that we don't know what consequences rushing this confirmation will have to the American people. There are countless issues at stake. And to be candid, people are very, very scared.
They are scared that allowing President Trump to jam this confirmation through would roll back rights for generations. Scared about what it means to the future of voting rights. But what it means for civil rights, for worker's rights, for consumer rights, for climate change, and the right to a safe and legal abortion, not to mention access to health care, regardless of income or preexisting conditions.
They are also deeply concerned about what this means for our nation's continued pursuit of the timeless principle equal justice under law. And I share those concerns.
Sadly, my Senate Republican colleagues are doing, I believe, great harm with this illegitimate process. And if they are successful, it has the potential to do great damage.
And I believe that damages to the people of our country and to the United States Supreme Court.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Thank you, Senator Harris. Senator Kennedy.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room.
We're following breaking news. We're going to talk about what we just heard from Democratic vice presidential nominee, Senator Kamala Harris and U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Joining us right now, our Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger and CNN Senior Legal Analyst, former Federal Prosecutor Laura Coates.
Will you give me your analysis, Laura, first of all on that exchange we heard from the senator and the judge.
LAURA COATES, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: At the very end, we had that comment about not wanting to essentially make even obvious judicial notice of things. She was talking about how she doesn't want to comment on things that are politically controversial.
A common theme throughout her last two and a half days of testimony where she tries to adhere to this Ginsburg principle of no previews, no hints, no forecasts, all the while selectively deciding what time she would like to weigh in and decide which cases she would like to actually offer insight on, which of course Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her confirmation hearing actually gave and stated and are clear answer about at least one issue of consequence the right to choose an agency over (INAUDIBLE).
But what you saw there, of course, Senator Kamala Harris, making very clear, especially going through the analysis on an issue of utmost importance, a mere 20 something days away from the presidential election, about the consequences of the Supreme Court's decision relating to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, recognizing and going through the history from, of course, our late Congressman Lewis, all the way to the decision in the Shelby County case to gut a preclearance formula. She's noted the very high brow issues that are most important.
And I think you saw some tension there about the fact that I think Amy Coney Barrett, Judge Amy Coney Barrett excuse me, would have been more inclined to answer had she not been on the hot seat and writing judicially or in an academic setting.
[17:10:10]
BLITZER: At the very end, Laura, she said something I've heard from some other Democrats as well, when she said what the Republicans are trying to do and rush this through this confirmation process. At the very end, just days before the presidential election, she called it an illegitimate process.
So, what is she talking about? What is illegitimate or illegal about what the Republican chairman of the committee, Lindsey Graham, with the majority leader are trying to do?
COATES: Well, technically, the Senate Judiciary Committee is supposed to be in a position to give advice and consent to the President when a nominee for a vacancy on the Supreme Court opens up. We of course see a conflict in between what happened in 2016, when that very premise was not only questioned but the actual opportunity denied based on what's happening now.
So you're seeing a little bit of a political retaliation and a political statement of if that was not a legitimate process by which former President Obama tried to undertake more than 200 days prior to an election, then this really cannot be now hypocrisy angled.
The other aspect of this, of course, is this is the first time that Senator Lindsey Graham noted on the very first day of testimony, this is the very first time that you have after July you have an after people have already begun to vote, not talking about the idea of maybe they'll name the DNC nominees soon or the RNC nominees soon, we've won over 10 and a half million people by the new reporting have already cast their ballot.
We're not talking about the will of the people as a hypothetical, we're talking about the will of the people waiting simply to have their vote tabulated not to be cast. That legitimacy she's talking about in the cloud of suspicion over the proceedings, trying to rush this person through rather than actually wait for the will of the people to be tabulated, Wolf.
BLITZER: Gloria, you've been following this for the past couple of days as well, what jumped up -- what jumped out at you?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, what we've seen, you know, to echo Laura, a bit, what we've seen is testimony, which is effectively is the sky blue? Well, I can't really tell you, the sky is blue, because whether it was a question of whether the sky is blue, may come up at some point before the Supreme Court. And therefore no matter how obvious it is, in the country and in the world, no matter how obvious the question is, I'm just not going to answer it.
And so when she was asked by Kamala Harris, do you agree with Justice Roberts that voting discrimination still exists? The answer was no comment. And it became pretty tense. And so as Kamala Harris was saying, the Democrats believe that this, with reason I believe, that this entire session lacks legitimacy.
Since they believe it lacks legitimacy, for the reasons Laura stated, which is that it's going on actually in the middle of an election, what they've decided to do is treat it as something that's going on in the middle of an election and they are using this not to attack Judge Barrett, but rather to make their political points, which is yes, climate change does exist. Yes, voting discrimination does exist.
And oh, by the way, last night, the judge was asked, you know, do you recall hearing the President say that he really wanted another judge on the bench before the election, before the ACA case comes up? And the judge said, no, I really -- the only people I ever heard that from were Democrats who were talking to me. Now, that was pretty much all over the news all the time. So that's the way she's just decided to answer these questions, which is to say she's not answering them at all.
BLITZER: Yes. Barring some major unforeseen development. It does look like the Republicans have certainly have the votes to confirm her in the coming days even before the election.
All right, Gloria and Laura standby. We're going to get back to both of you.
But there's other breaking news out of the White House we're following. The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, just revealing that her son Barron contracted COVID-19 along with her and the President, but did not show any symptoms. President Trump briefly commented on the news as he was leaving the White House just a little while ago for a rally later tonight in Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is Barron sir?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Barron's fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: He said Barron's fine. That's good to hear.
Let's go to our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta. He's already in Des Moines, Iowa for us.
So one more coronavirus case inside the White House now reveal.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Oh, that's right, Wolf. And it is good news that Barron Trump is now testing negative for the coronavirus according to the First Lady. He did test positive in recent weeks but has since tested negative and was not showing any symptoms for COVID-19.
[17:15:00]
In the meantime, we're on the tarmac for the Des Moines airport here in Iowa. The President will be here later on this evening for a rally.
And the scene remains the same, Wolf, as we've seen in other rallies. Trump supporters here, largely not social distancing, largely, not wearing masks.
But Trump supporters don't seem too worried about it, as one supporter told me heading into this rally earlier this evening, if I get sick and die, I guess it was my time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): Slumping in the polls with 20 days to the election, President Trump is sounding more detached from reality, arguing that many Americans can go back to their pre pandemic lives even as coronavirus cases are soaring across the U.S.
TRUMP: We must allow lower risk Americans to resume normal activity.
ACOSTA: The President is boasting about the large crowds that has recently resumed rallies despite warnings from health experts that they are potential super spreaders.
TRUMP: We're having lines of people 30, 40, 50,000 people lining up to see his speech with one day notice. And my opponent is getting 22 people with working very hard to get them.
ACOSTA: Recovering from his own bout with the virus, Mr. Trump is claiming without evidence that people who've had COVID-19 are now immune from catching it again, when scientists warn that may not be the case.
TRUMP: To everyone fighting to recover from the virus, I feel your pain because I felt your pain. And we will beat this virus together. And for those who has had it, who has had it here, who's had it?
Yes, a lot of people, a lot of people. We are the people I want to say hello to because you are right now immune. You're right now immune. Oh they say that.
ACOSTA: Even as some on his own party worry the President's medical misinformation may be alienating elderly voters. Mr. Trump is suggesting democrat Joe Biden should be in a nursing home.
Another key demographic turned off by the president suburban women. A problem Mr. Trump tried to address in Pennsylvania.
TRUMP: Suburban women, will you please like me?
Please.
I saved your damn neighborhood. OK.
ACOSTA: With this week's debate scrap the President and Biden will be holding dueling town halls on Thursday night. Top administration health experts including Dr. Anthony Fauci have reviewed Mr. Trump's latest test results with the National Institutes of Health saying in a statement, "They affirm that all current evidence indicates that the President is not infectious for anyone else.
The President will go into that town hall without a key talking point as federal prosecutors have concluded an investigation into some of the origins of the Russia probe without bringing any charges blowing a hole in Mr. Trump's accusations against the Obama administration.
TRUMP: We caught him. And by the way, that's Biden, that's Obama. They spied on my campaign. It's never happened before. It's treason.
ACOSTA: As for the President's latest rally in Iowa, what we're Democrats have rented out a Trump COVID Super spreader event billboard near the venue site, supporters say they're not worried about catching the virus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not worried. I figured the sooner we all get it, the sooner we'll be done with it.
ACOSTA: And you don't think that could lead to a lot of people, you know, dying perhaps from the virus?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the numbers are vastly inflated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now if I'm going to get sick and die, I guess it's my turn. But I trust God and I'm not scared.
ACOSTA: But if you don't put yourself at risk, you might not die.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I put myself at risk every time I go to the grocery store, I go to McDonald's. I go to work. I do anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Now the President's rally here in Iowa this evening and his upcoming schedule, all indications that he's facing an uphill battle and his fight for reelection.
The President will be in North Carolina and yes, Georgia. That's right, Georgia later on this week. That means the President will be spending his campaign resources in states. That's really already be in the Trump column, instead of in those critical battlegrounds, where this election could ultimately be decided. Wolf.
BLITZER: All right Jim Acosta, standby, we'll get back to you. Doesn't look like there's much social distancing behind you in that crowd.
Want to get some more of the breaking pandemic news right now. CNN's Nick Watt is joining us from Los Angeles.
Nick, the rising death toll here in the United States, the number of new cases, the positivity rate in so many states, all of this very, very ominous.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, there's not much that's looking good right now.
In Indiana, the Health Commissioner just announced she has tested positive. Pennsylvania, more than 1000 cases a day for nine days straight now.
And the mayor of Denver, Colorado said that the Trump administration's response has been an absolute failure, that municipalities have been left the battle this on their own while the President makes light of the virus.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WATT (voice-over): A field hospital opened outside Milwaukee today. Why?
GOV. TONY EVERS, (D) WISCONSIN: Over the last month or hospitalizations have nearly tripled. Now at an all-time high in Wisconsin, similar situation in these five states, record numbers in the hospital now.
DR. MARK MCCLELLAN, FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER: Maybe people are just getting a little bit tired of having to deal with a pandemic. The trends are very worrisome.
[17:20:03]
WATT: Average new COVID-19 case counts rising in a staggering 36 states, not a single state moving in the right direction.
Florida once more on the rise. Saturday, the Gators football coach was bullish.
DAN MULLEN, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: Hopefully the university administration decides to let us pack the swamp for LSU next week.
WATT: That game now postpone their entire football program paused, 21 players have tested positive.
Across this country, we're averaging more than 50,000 new cases a day for the first time in two months.
DR. JONATHAN REINER, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: For the short term we have to hunker down.
WATT: There are masks, distancing, regulations in many public places. But we're spreading the virus at small family gatherings, says the CDC director. Got to be vigilant at Thanksgiving.
REINER: Frankly, I'd rather do it a Zoom Thanksgiving with people that I love than expose them to something that might kill them.
WATT: Some new info about this deadly virus, immunity after infection can last months according to three new reports. Good news for the vaccine hunt, and good news if your blood type O, you might be at less risk of infection or severe illness, according to two new studies.
Meanwhile, some White House advisors reportedly pushing a herd immunity strategy, protect the elderly but let the virus spread amongst the young. The aim effectively immunize enough people to slow spread.
WILLIAM HASELTINE, FORMER PROFESSOR, HANARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: I'm extremely concerned that the President is being advised by people who speak of herd immunity. Herd immunity is another word for mass murder.
WATT: In New York, they're playing life or death whack a mole right now. A sweet 16 on Long Island just spawned nearly 40 cases. And in the city --
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, (D) NEW YORK: Were threatened with a full blown second wave in New York City. If that happens, the entire city would have to go back to the restrictions we knew in March and April.
WATT: And here's another harsh reality check.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, (D) NEW YORK: This is not going away anytime soon. I think best case scenario we're looking at another year by the time even if everything works out well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATT: Now, I just mentioned cases are going up in 36 states right now and President Trump is on a whistle-stop tour of a few of them and ill-advised whistle-stop tour.
Iowa tonight where a group called Rural America 2020 is put up this billboard near the venue. Tomorrow, North Carolina, Florida on Friday, Wisconsin on Saturday.
Now, the President himself may no longer be contagious, but there's a reasonable chance that a few people amongst the mega crowds will be contagious who may attend those events. Wolf.
BLITZER: You're absolutely right. Thanks very much Nick Watt reporting from L.A.
Let's get some more on all of this. Our chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is with us.
Sanjay, as you heard the First Lady says Barron Trump, the son, had no real symptoms, has since tested negative for coronavirus. So what is Barron's infection illustrate about the highly contagious nature of this virus especially among family members? The mom, the dad, the son all got it?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, you know, it is a very contagious virus.
You know, it's interesting, Wolf, when you look at the data, the question is, look, I have coronavirus, what's the likelihood? I'm going to pass it on to my own family members.
A lot of it's very dependent on, you know, how you behave? Are you able to isolate yourself in some way? But I think surprisingly, Wolf, about 60 percent, maybe even more of the time, family members don't necessarily get it.
The real concern, I think, to your question, Wolf, is when you start bringing people together, lots of people together in a smaller space, poor ventilation, indoors, all the things that we've been talking about. So it is possible to even as a family member to create a situation where you're not likely or as likely to be infected. But as soon as you start bringing more and more people into the mix, the risk goes up significantly.
BLITZER: Really happy Barron is OK.
In her statement, the First Lady Melania Trump also said this about her condition as she came down with coronavirus. And I put it up on the screen, there you see it.
"I was very fortunate as my diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, though they hit me all at once. And it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after. I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches and felt extremely tired most of the time."
Those are pretty common symptoms and fortunately she got through them as well.
GUPTA: Yes. I mean, you know, look, those are pretty common symptoms, but it does sound like she was, you know, really not feeling well for a period of time. Again, which is not surprising, Wolf, but I think it does go to show that even with minimal symptoms, it really can knock you down for a few days like, you know, other significant respiratory viruses do.
[17:25:09]
I think that concern, Wolf, as you know, with this particular virus, whether it's first lady or the president or anybody else, they have to be mindful of the possibility of these long hauler type symptoms as well. And even Barron for that matter.
There's not a strict correlation between severity of symptoms, and the likelihood of having long hauling. I -- this is something we reported on some time ago, Wolf. You'd think that, look, the sicker you were, the more likely it is those symptoms would persist, doesn't really seem to work that way. So they just got to be vigilant that their symptoms are truly going away.
BLITZER: Yes. It's really, really significant. And you never know, as you point out when they might come back.
You heard the President insists that his son, Barron is fine. We're all happy about that. The President has repeatedly downplay the severity of this coronavirus, including regards to his own illness, but so many Americans have not been so lucky in their own fight against this deadly virus right now.
So, give us the big picture, what's going on in our country?
GUPTA: Well, Wolf, I mean, the numbers are all going in the wrong direction. That the tragedy of it right now.
I mean, we could have been in a different position. But if you look at the map of the country, or you look at the specific states, you're seeing some real concerns.
Now, one thing that we were sort of wondering, Wolf, is that even as the case rates, the number of people who are newly infected goes up, what about hospitalizations? What about -- look at this map, you don't see any green at all. It's all red, dark, red or yellow. So the numbers are not getting better.
What about hospitalizations? Well, you find in many states now around the country, that even their Intensive Care Unit beds are starting to fill up. More than 70 percent occupancy in many states.
That -- Why is that significant? Because, Wolf, we're going -- we haven't even really gone into significant flu season yet. So you get flu on top of coronavirus. That's the twindemic that people talk about, and there's going to be a significant demand for, you know, hospital beds.
You know, the same conversations I remember having with you back in March and April, Wolf, where in New York, for example, they went to the Javits Center and they said, can that act as a surge capacity for people who might need it? Wisconsin's building tense, it's going to get cold outside. So, what are they going to do then?
These are the real conversations that are happening now among planning committees in cities and states around the country.
BLITZER: Yes. I'm really glad I got my flu shot today. Sanjay, you told me it's more important than ever to do it right now because of the coronavirus. I recommend everyone get the annual flu shot as quickly as possible.
All right, Sanjay, thanks so much for joining us.
Up next, the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi facing some criticism for rejecting the latest White House economic stimulus proposal. I'll talk about that with Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna. The Speaker called him out by name yesterday. He's standing by live. We'll discuss when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:32:17]
BLITZER: The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing some criticism for rejecting the latest White House $1.8 trillion dollar offer for a pandemic economic stimulus bill including some criticism from her -- within her own Democratic Party. Joining us now to discuss this and more, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California.
Congressman, so -- thanks so much for joining us. Here's what unfolded last night, when I interviewed the Speaker and I quoted you to her, I want you to watch this little clip. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: He said people in need can't wait until February. $1.8 trillion is significant and more than twice the Obama stimulus. Make a deal, put the ball in McConnell court. So what do you say to Ro Khanna?
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: What I say to you is I don't know why you're always an apologist. And many of your colleagues, apologists for the Republican position. Ro Khanna, that's nice. That isn't what we're going to do. And nobody's waiting until February.
Ro Khanna, he's lovely. They are not negotiating this situation. They have no idea of the particulars. They have no idea of what the language is here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, so, Congressman, you've said you have a lot of ideas and you know a lot about what's going on in your district where so many people -- even though it's an affluent district in Silicon Valley, in California -- so many people are struggling, can't pay their rent, can't even put food on the table. How do you respond to the Speaker when she accuses you of having no idea what's going on?
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, first, Wolf, as you know, I have tremendous admiration for Speaker Pelosi. She's a tough negotiator and I respect that. And to paraphrase Lin-Manuel Miranda, I'm probably not in the room where it matters. But I do have a constituency I represent.
And in my affluent district, the food banks are longer than they've ever been. Just today, I was speaking to a constituent, his wife lost his job. He can't make his mortgage payments, he may have to leave. Working families are not being able to pay rent. Immigrant families who spent 20, 30 years to create restaurants are losing them.
I have a moral obligation to speak out for them. And what I'm saying is the American people want us to get something done. And this is a sentiment that many members of Congress share.
BLITZER: Have you heard directly from her, from the Speaker, since the interview last night when she went after you?
KHANNA: No, and I don't -- that's not her job. I -- she has to get something done. I have heard from many other members of Congress, though, who believe that we need to work towards a solution. This is the biggest crisis that certainly I faced since being a member of Congress. It's arguably the biggest crisis in my lifetime other than 9/11.
[17:35:00]
And this is why we're elected to Congress. We have not given people the aid, they can't wait for a few months. You know, the stock market may be able to wait. They may be able to calculate expected value in three months from now, they're going to get something done. But what do you say to someone who says, I can't feed my kids? What do you say to someone who says, I'm going to lose my house. What do you say to someone who says, I haven't had unemployment benefits for a couple of months? Just wait, we have an obligation to get something done.
BLITZER: Because I've been hearing privately from several of your Democratic colleagues in the House, whether they're progressives and liberals or more moderates, and many of them are saying to me exactly what you're saying that they want the Speaker to go, have a deal with the President, have a deal with Steve Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, and then let the House pass it. And then let the President force Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate to do the same thing. Does that all -- at all with these final days of the campaign sound credible or realistic to you?
KHANNA: I do hope so. And look, the Speaker deserves credit. The state and local aid weren't on the table, now, they are. Rent wasn't on the table, now, the proposal says let's give people aid for rent. Childcare wasn't on the table, now, we have childcare.
So, a lot of the bill that the President is proposing has a lot of what the Speaker has fought for and she deserves credit. And what we're now saying is, let's close the deal. We have a few more things we need. Let's have a national testing plan. Let's get that $75 billion. But let's not have a view that we can go past the election and not get anything done. I believe that sentiment is much more widespread that is reported. Most people feel that this is a moment that Congress has to act.
BLITZER: So you have no doubt, Congressman, that if the $1.8 trillion bill came up for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives, it would pass and then go to the Senate. Is that what I'm hearing?
KHANNA: Well, I said make a deal not take the exact proposal. I have no doubt that if it's around $1.9 trillion. If there are a few edits, I think we need to have a national testing plan. There have to be a couple more provisions. But I have no doubt that the parties are closed, and then a deal can be made. And that would have the votes in the House.
And then put the ball in McConnell's court. I mean, right now, everyone says a pox on all their houses, Congress is dysfunctional, we can't get anything done. If we create a vote in the House, if we cut a deal with the White House, then force McConnell and people will know who should have the responsibility.
BLITZER: So what are you going to say to your constituents who are struggling right now, Congressman, if there's no deal, and they have to continue to struggle without any additional assistance from the federal government in the coming days and weeks, and maybe even months?
KHANNA: Well, it's very hard. I had to talk to someone today, who, as I mentioned, is losing their house. I say our government is failing you. This is a time where we need to do a lot more. And it pains me that we're not being able to deliver for them. And that's why I'm going to come out and say that we need to get something done with as much power as I have.
I acknowledge that I'm not a committee chair. I acknowledge that I don't have as much power in the institution. But you know what, I'm an equal member of Congress. I represent a constituency, just like 435 other members, and all of our perspectives really do matter. And what I'm saying is coming from the heart, it's coming because I've been affected by the impact in my district, which is the heart of Silicon Valley.
Think about this, Wolf. If in one of the richest districts in the world, you have this much suffering, imagine how much suffering there is across this country.
BLITZER: Well, if you just walk around the District of Columbia as I do, you see it on the streets of Washington, I've lived here for many years, and you see a lot of people who are struggling out there on the streets. And as I asked the Speaker yesterday, why should you let the perfect be the enemy of the good, why not simply make a deal and start getting some of the assistance to all those people. Millions of Americans we're in desperate need right now.
Representative Ro Khanna of California, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks for everything you're doing. We appreciate it.
KHANNA: Thank you, Wolf. Thank you for having me.
BLITZER: Thank you.
Coming up, investigators find no proof to back up President Trump's claims of what he's called the Obama administration spying. And in just a minute, I'll speak about that and more with the former CIA Director, John Brennan, there you see him. We'll discuss when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:42:54]
BLITZER: After months and months of work by investigators and despite President Trump's repeated claims of scandal and even treason, the U.S. Justice Department has just ended its probe of whether anyone in the Obama administration improperly requested the names of people listed anonymously in various intelligence reports. It's a process called unmasking and investigators found no substantive wrong doing.
We're joined now by the Obama administration CIA Director John Brennan. His new book, by the way, is entitled, "Undaunted: My Fight Against America's Enemies, At Home and Abroad". An important read for our viewers out there. Director Brennan, thanks so much for joining us. This is certainly something the President and his allies, whether in the news media or in his political world, they've been hyping this issue not just for months, but for years. I want you to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The unmasking is a massive -- it's massive thing. It's -- I just got a list that it's -- who can believe a thing like this.
They were spying on the campaign. They were doing actually worse than that.
The Obama campaign spied on our campaign and they've been caught.
They got caught spying on our campaign. And it's treason.
It's a very grave crime. It's a biggest political crime in the history of our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: It's not just the President's energy, Director Brennan, that was spent on this, a lot of government resources, a lot of time, taxpayer money that all gone down chasing these various theories. Are you surprised to see that after all of that, the Justice Department came up with nothing and didn't even bother to file a report because it wasn't worth it?
JOHN BRENNAN, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: I'm not surprised at all, Wolf, because this was a politically motivated probe from the very beginning. Very clear that Attorney General Barr is trying to do everything possible to please Donald Trump. And going after those former administration officials in the Obama administration for unmasking, we all knew and intelligence professionals understand that those unmasking requests were part of the everyday sort of activities that go on inside the government when there is a reason to ask for a redacted name to be unmasked.
[17:45:06]
And I must say that I never had any experience in the Obama administration of anybody just asking for not any good reason to have something a name unmasked.
BLITZER: Yes, the President repeatedly was accusing you and others, including the former President Barack Obama and Biden of committing treason, treason, which is, you know, potentially a capital crime. The President has been publicly calling for various arrests as you heard for a long time.
He wouldn't say today, if you'd actually keep the Attorney General Bill Barr around, if he were to win a second term. But Barr -- but even if Barr doesn't deliver, is there some damage that's already been done to your reputation, other -- General Clapper's reputation, the former president, the former vice president?
BRENNAN: No, I think all of us where Donald Trump's criticism as a badge of honor, because clearly he has demonstrated that he is willing to -- the corrupt, you know, official that is going to try to use and abuse the instruments of government and his presidential authorities and powers to try to undertake these vendettas against his political rivals. So, I don't mind at all. If I hear that Donald Trump is criticizing me or others, I know exactly what I did during my government tenure. And I am comfortable talking to any investigative body, whether it be the Department of Justice or congressional committees. And it just -- it's clear that Donald Trump continues to just grasp at straws because he knows that the polls indicate that he is going down to the feet.
BLITZER: You know, it was really stunning earlier today, when I saw a tweet, the President now actually promoting a new conspiracy theory incredibly outrageous. But he retweeted posts suggesting that Osama bin Laden's death was a hoax. You, of course, were there in the White House Situation Room, as the operation unfolded.
Show a picture to our viewers as it was taken. Asa you described in your book, "Undaunted" what was going on, what goes through your mind when you see the President of the United States sowing doubt about what you call the most well-planned and successful operation you, personally a longtime member of the U.S. intelligence community, witnessed?
BRENNAN: Well, unfortunately, Wolf, it just reinforces my view that Donald Trump is a deeply disturbed individual who, unfortunately, has the future of this country in his hands right now, since he's occupying the Oval Office. And it's clear that he continues to push out these conspiratory -- these conspiracies. And, again, it's delusional. And, unfortunately, I think we have to be used to this until he is voted out of office, but I'm sure he's going to continue to do this once he leaves office
And, again, I think we -- I just shake my head. And when I talk to my, not just fellow citizens, but also people from around the world, they look at what's happening in Washington and with Donald Trump, and they're saying what's going on in America. And I tell them that Donald Trump is an aberration and that we're going to get through this. But I think the damage has already been done, in terms of how he has abused his authorities, and I'm just hoping that we're going to be able to recover quickly from the damage he has brought.
BLITZER: Director John Brennan, the former Director of the CIA, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for your service to the U.S. Intelligence Community over many, many years. And I just want to note your new book. Once again, I'll put it up on the screen, "Undaunted: My Fight Against America's Enemies, At Home And Abroad". Thanks very much for joining us.
BRENNAN: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: Coming up, could President Trump recreate his 2016 success in Pennsylvania, a key, key battleground state? We're going to take a closer look at how his supporters are trying to win over new voters when we come back.
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[17:51:54]
BLITZER: The Trump campaign is trying to recreate a success -- 2016 success in Pennsylvania. CNN's Dana Bash is joining us right now. Dana, the President's supporters, they are going all up.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And we've recently visited Pennsylvania where in 2016, you remember he was the first Republican to win Pennsylvania in almost three decades. This year, the President's campaign sees Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes as likely crucial to his re-election and the strategy squeezing even more votes out of his base.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): A line forms outside well before opening, waiting to enter the Trump house.
LESLIE ROSSI, THE TRUMP HOUSE OWNER AND CREATOR: We're ready for the next group, come on in.
BASH (voice-over): A mecca of sorts for the President's supporters in southwest Pennsylvania, where Trump's record turnout four years ago helped deliver his surprise Pennsylvania victory and the White House.
ROSSI: Shirt or hat per person, you get sign or flag.
BASH (voice-over): Leslie Rossi created the Trump house in 2016, where she pushed disaffected Democrats and never before voters to choose Trump.
ROSSI: We gave people a place to come to to believe they could win.
BASH (voice-over): Now, Trump supporters show up daily for swag and yard signs and help registering to vote.
SCOTT HARRER, TRUMP SUPPORTER: We need Trump in there again. I'm 65, I think it's time to register.
BASH (on-camera): Have you not voted ever?
HARRER: No.
BASH (voice-over): Rural Westmoreland County seen a surge in Republican registrations. They help with that here too.
RITA BLAIR, CHANGED PARTY AFFILIATION FROM DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICAN: Changed my registration from Democrat to Republican.
BASH (on-camera): Why?
BLAIR: From what I've seen in the last past couple of years, I was ashamed to say I was a Democrat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great honor to have you here in this row.
BASH (voice-over): But Joe Biden isn't giving up here, campaigning in Westmoreland County this month. Hillary Clinton didn't come here in the general election.
(on-camera): Not an area Democrats come and campaign very often but you're here, why?
JILL BIDEN, JOE BIDEN'S WIFE: I'm here because like I said, I -- we are not taking any vote for granted.
GINA CERILLI, WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMISSIONER: They've seen the past four years with the --
BASH (voice-over): Gina Cerilli is county Commissioner in Westmoreland, PA. 10 years ago, she was Ms. Pennsylvania in Donald Trump's Ms. USA pageant. Now, she's an elected Democrat working to blunt Trump's advantage here.
CERILLI: In 2016, Donald Trump was a fresh face. He was new to politics. Everyone was excited. He made big promises, bring back jobs. But, frankly, Donald Trump broke those promises.
BASH (voice-over): In small town Pennsylvania, signs matter. Trump's are everywhere. Big and bold. But Biden's are out there too.
CERILLI: When you see signs like this, it makes the Republicans and the Democrats that voted for Trump in 2016 realize I'm not alone.
BASH (voice-over): A big Biden challenge, his supporters are being COVID careful.
PHYLLIS FRIEND, HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF WESTMORELAND: Never did we think we would be meeting by Zoom.
BASH (voice-over): Phyllis Friend, head of Democratic Women of Westmoreland County organizes from home. She's clear-eyed about the Democrats goal here in Trump country.
FRIEND: We can't win Pennsylvania forum but we can add to the total numbers.
JOE: Hey, David, this is Joe. I'm a volunteer with the Trump campaign. How are you doing?
BASH (voice-over): As for Republicans, they never stopped traditional ways of getting out the vote. Knocking on doors, walking in neighborhoods in masks and using a GOP data driven app to find and persuade voters.
[17:55:08]
BRITTNEY ROBINSON, RUNS THE PENNSYLVANIA RNC OPERATION: Depending on who that voter is. We're able to tailor that message at the door and on the phone to how we think we need to target that voter and turn them out.
BASH (voice-over): Given the President's struggles in the suburbs, boosting the vote here is critical for Trump.
(on-camera): How important is it for him to get his numbers even higher than it was four years ago? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do think that we need to increase our voter turnout here for the President to offset some of what might be happening in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania.
BASH (voice-over): Back at the Trump house, Leslie Rossi shows us the log of visits from thousands of Trump supporters.
(on-camera): What do you think this year?
ROSSI: Oh, my numbers have tripled, tripled. Four years ago, my work was really hard here. I had to convince the voters to vote for the candidate. I had to convince them President Trump was the best choice for them. This time, I don't have to do any of that. They're all in.
BASH (voice-over): Whether enough are all in could determine whether Trump wins Pennsylvania in a second term.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And Republicans we spoke with in rural Southwest Pennsylvania, we're really candid about the fact that the President is having a very hard time in the suburbs. The President himself said that last night in Pennsylvania. They feel pressure to deliver big for Trump if he has any chance of winning the Keystone state again, Wolf, and, of course, a second term.
BLITZER: Dana Bash reporting for us, thank you very much.
Up next, new details of Barron Trump's COVID-19 infection.
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