Return to Transcripts main page
CNN 10
Debate Goals of Vice-Presidential Nominees; Monetary Struggles of the U.S. Postal Service; Use of Video Surveillance in the NFL
Aired October 08, 2020 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: My name is Carl Azuz and you landed on CNN 10, your objective source for news in 10 minutes. We`re so happy to have you
watching this Thursday. Last night was another debate night related to the upcoming U.S. Presidential election but it wasn`t the presidential nominees
who were facing off. It was the Vice-Presidential nominees. Incumbent Vice-President Mike Pence, representing the Republican party, U.S. Senator
Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic party. Like the presidential debates, last night`s event was sponsored by the Non-partisan Commission on
Presidential Debates. It was scheduled to take place at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The moderator was Susan Page of USA Today and the plan was that the 90 minute debate would be broken up into nine segments of about 10 minutes
each. The corona virus pandemic was an expected topic and social distancing measures were on the stage. The candidates were seated at least
12 feet apart. Plexiglass panels were set-up between them. And as far as debate strategy goes, one political analyst put it like this. Candidates
in a vice-presidential debate have a straight forward series of goals. Portray their running mates as the best choice for voters, defend their own
records and attack the records of the opposing candidates. We got a glimpse of the candidates different approaches during their party
conventions over the summer when they were officially nominated for the job of vice-president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS: Make no mistake, the road ahead is not easy. We may stumble. We may fall short but I pledge to you that we will act boldly
and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths and we will act with the same faith in you. That we ask you to place in us.
VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: In there challenging times our country needs a president who believes in America, who believes in the boundless capacity
of the American people, to meet any challenge, defeat any foe and defend the freedoms we hold dear. And with President Donald Trump in the White
House for four more years and with God`s help, we will make America great again, again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Next up on the campaign calendar, a second presidential debate on October 15th. But that may depend on President Donald Trump`s corona virus
recovery. He`s now back at the White House after being treated last weekend at Walter Reed National Medical Center. The president says he`s
feeling great and looking forward to the debate. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says if the president still has COVID, the two candidates
shouldn`t have a debate. We`ll keep you posted.
10 Second Trivia. Which of these U.S. founding fathers never served as president? James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams or Thomas
Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin was an ambassador, a governor, the first postmaster general but never a president.
Quote, "for years, the U.S. Postal Service has been losing billions of dollars" and that`s true now but the quote came from a line I wrote in
2013. At that time, the reasons included email, fewer letters were being sent, a series of bad business decisions and the controversial retirement
fund it has which you`ll hear more about in a minute. But today, increased package deliveries and a steady of stream of First Class mail are bringing
in large amounts of revenue to the Postal Service. But the agency is still losing money and some observers are concerned about whether it will be able
to handle a larger number of mail-in ballots for the upcoming election, as more people avoid polling places out of corona virus concerns. Here`s a
closer look at some more factors in the Postal Service`s struggles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. Postal Service can trace its history back to 1775 when the 2nd Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as
Postmaster General. To help ensure that free ideas and information could be shared throughout the colonies. It was not intended to be a profitable
business.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s about service. Correct? Not about profit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today, there`s no other government agency or business that operates like the postal service. First of all the U.S. Postal
Service receives zero tax dollars for operating expenses. The postal service has to use its own revenue from things like stamps and package
deliveries to operate although it does receive indirect government subsidies such as having a protected monopoly on delivering First Class
mail.
Secondly, the postal service doesn`t set its own prices like FedEx and UPS do. Congress sets them. But by law, USPS has to deliver to every home in
the country. No matter how remote or unprofitable that delivery may be. Case in point to this day, the postal service delivers mail to a small
group of people living in the Grand Canyon by mule. This leads to the third problem. The U.S. Postal Service has been losing money for over a
decade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without change, our losses will only increase in years to come.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 2019, the postal service reported $71 billion in revenue but its expenses totaled almost $80 billion. If you dig into those
numbers though, the picture becomes a bit complicated. In 2006, Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. It requires the U.S.
Postal Service to pre-fund 75 years worth of retirees healthcare benefits in the span of about 10 years. Before this law went into effect, the
postal service was reporting profits. So, the U.S. Postal Service is subject to the Congressional oversight of other Federal agencies without
any of the taxpayer funding. It has the profit driven business model of private company, without the freedom to make financial decisions for
itself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Next up, efforts to keep COVID-19 out of professional sports. The games in America came back before the fans were allowed to. And in
addition to empty arenas, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball are playing their playoff games in a bubble. Meaning
selective stadiums, away from where the teams home courts and fields are. Measures designed to decrease the teams exposure to corona virus. So far
this season, the National Football League has postponed two games because of COVID-19 and the NFL just announced that 11 players and 15 staff members
tested positive last week. And it`s chief medical officer says all options are still on the table as far as more postponements or a possible pause in
games are concerned. CNN 10 Contributor Chris James reports on how the league has tightened its rules on measures like masks. Chris.
CHRIS JAMES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hey Carl. If there`s one thing that without a doubt connects you to me and each and every viewer watching right now,
it`s the fact that we`ve all had to adjust to a new normal during this confusing and sometimes scary era of corona virus. The National Football
League is no exception and this week they`ve made some significant changes in the hopes of preventing further outbreaks. On Monday, all 32 NFL teams
were notified of new, much stricter COVID-19 protocols. The changes were announced in a memo from Commissioner Roger Goodell obtained by CNN.
If its discovered that club personnel or players aren`t following the rules, the discipline could include heavy fines, the adjustment of loss of
draft choices and even the forfeit of a game which could create a major competitive imbalance. And get this, they`re even implementing a new video
monitoring system. They`ll be using this technology to make sure that everyone is complying with the leagues mandate. That team personnel wear
personal protective equipment, PPE at all times while in a team facility or traveling.
This comes as New England`s Patriots QB Cam Newton tested positive for the virus and at least 20 separate COVID cases were reported by the Tennessee
Titans. And the NFL is already putting its money where its mouth is, they`ve issued fines against 10 members of the Las Vegas Raiders a league
source told CNN. The fines come one week after the 10 Raiders players failed to wear face coverings while attending a fundraiser hosted by Tight
End Darren Waller. Waller was fined $30,000 while his nine teammates had to pay $15,000 each. Back to you Carl.
AZUZ: In a neighborhood of Boulder, Colorado, a female bear and her two cubs were recently caught and relocated. And in their mad dash back to
freedom, the camera was the casualty. Boom. Wildlife officials say bears get pretty bold this time of year looking for food anywhere they can get it
as they prepare to hibernate. These were safely and successfully relocated and the video is a reminder to stay out of their way. It`s not really
"polarizing" advice and you don`t have to be "spectacle" to "bearlieve" there`s a real danger if you "kodiakctually" find "claws" to get face to
muzzle with such a "beary" real threat. The outcome could be "grizzly".
Wakefield High School gets today`s shout out. The students watching in Arlington, Virginia. I don`t personally choose the schools we mention on
the shout out but I would love to take credit. But for a chance to get your school, city and state mentioned on CNN 10, start at our website,
CNN10.com. Click on this here link, that will take you to our official You Tube channel and if you subscribe and comment on our most recent show, the
most recent addition of CNN 10. We might be announcing you tomorrow. I`m Carl Azuz.
END
