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Connect the World
Trump Says Only Lincoln Has Done More For Black People; Poll Shows African-Americans Largely Reject Trump's Leadership; Largest Prisoner Swap In Yemen's War; U.S. Reports Highest Daily Number Of Cases In Two Months; W.H.O. Speaks With CNN As Europe Hit By Second Wave; Gaza In The Time Of COVID-19. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 16, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Different candidates, different channels, different planets, it seems. Welcome to American
politics. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are already moving back into campaigning at light speed today with packed schedules on what is the
morning after the night before in the United States.
Last night their personalities on full display in a pair of dueling town halls broadcast to America and, of course, now to the rest of us around the
world. Joe Biden spoke in depth about the issues, not exactly exciting but full of facts and ideas and Donald Trump, you could argue, keeping it more
entertaining as he openly sparred with the moderator and dodged some of her questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When did you last remember having a negative test?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I test quite a bit, and I can tell you that before the debate, which I thought it was a very good
debate and I felt fantastically. I was - I had no problem before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you test the day of the debate?
TRUMP: I don't know. I don't even remember.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you take a test on the day of the debate?
TRUMP: If you ask the doctor, they will give you a perfect answer. They take a test and they leave and I go about my business.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, did you take a test on the day of the debate I guess it is the bottom line?
TRUMP: I probably did and took a test the day before and the day before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: While Coronavirus was the main focus of the two events, there were also questions about America's role on the world stage that, of
course, affects the billions of us not living in the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace is breaking out all over the world, our troops are coming home, Serbia is talking to Kosovo and the Arabs and Israelis are
talking peace which I believe is a modern day miracle what's going on. Does President Trump's foreign policy deserve some credit?
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: A little but not a whole lot. We find ourselves in a position where we're more isolated in the world than we ever
have been. Our allies, our go it alone, America First has made American alone. I do compliment the president on the deal with Israel recently, but,
you know, if you take a look, we're not very well trusted around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Joe Biden 18 days out from Election Day, so where is we in what is this final trust? Well, in one recent Quinnipiac Poll African Americans
have a dismal view of Donald Trump more than 80 percent reject his leadership, but the president sees a very different relationship here is
more from last night's town hall.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Prison reform, historically black colleges and universities, I got them funded. They were on a year-to-year basis. They could have been put
out of business as soon as our country had a little bad year. They could have said I'm sorry, not going to fund you. I got 10 years.
And some people don't like it when I say it but a lot of people agree. I've done more for the African American community than any president with
exception Abraham Lincoln, criminal justice reform, prison reform, historically black colleges and universities.
I got them funded. They were on a year-to-year basis. They could be put out of business. As soon as the country had a bad year they could have said I'm
sorry we're not going to fund you. I got them ten year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Donald Trump in response to one of the viewer question or audience question. Let's bring in longtime Georgia Lawmaker then Vernon
Jones. Vernon, you have a storied history in the state after a career as an active Democrat spanning decades and you are now part of what is a small
sliver of a can American supporters of Donald Trump.
That is quite a small sliver at this point. I wanted to bring you on to dig into your views and just, firstly, I can't help but notice the language
there in the background. And was that sent to you by the Trump campaign?
VERNON JONES, 2020 BLACK VOICES FOR TRUMP ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER: No more than backgrounds were sent to Democrats by the Biden Campaign. That is the
narrative that the liberal media including CNN International and CNN here in America, and you all do not want to hear what every black American has
to say unless he's attacking Donald Trump.
You don't want to hear from African-Americans like me who want to call out Joe Biden, the bigotry, his history with being segregationists and the
nerve to have say that if you don't vote for him you isn't black and ironically--
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Sir, hold on a minute. Hang on a minute. - to the show this is CNN International. I brought you on to this show because our viewers around
the world really genuinely need to hear from you and get your views, so please, with respect.
Let's keep this honest and non-partisan. I mean, I am here to conduct an interview with you. Let me ask you a question. Do you genuinely believe
that Donald Trump has done more for the African American community than any other president in history barring Abraham Lincoln? It's a very simple
question.
JONES: So, I want you to stop and I want you to be honest. There's more African American support for this president than a sliver, which you just
told your viewers. You said that Donald Trump dodged questions. No, Joe Biden dodged questions. Why can't you tell the American people is he going
to stack the court or not?
Why haven't you told your viewers that Donald Trump has done more. Clearly, he has more for African Americans in 47 months than Joe Biden has in 47
years. Joe Biden wrote a crime bill that incarcerated masses of black men and women.
Joe Biden called those same black men predators, sexual predators as well, like Hillary Clinton, and so Donald Trump, as an African American, Donald
Trump supports historical black colleges and increased the funding from where it was cut from the previous administration by 14 percent and wrote
it into law.
I went to one of those historical black colleges North Carolina Central University is 48 of them which had been the incubator for blacks going to
college where they couldn't go to majority schools.
ANDERSON: OK.
JONES: And as a matter of fact, Kamala Harris herself attacked Joe Biden on his bigot record about how he hung around with segregationists? Senators
including Robert Byrd who was a card-carrying chapter president of the Ku Klux Klan.
She also said and told that sob story how Joe Biden was against busing and the impact it could have on her. So if you want to let's be honest, let's
be honest and not mislead your listeners or your viewers, I should say.
ANDERSON: I asked you a question and I've allowed you to answer it. My question was simple has he done more than? Hang on, sir. This is my
interview that I'm conducting with you. Sorry, you've come on with an attitude, and so let's get really just very basic about what's going on
here? I asked you a question, and I've allowed you to answer it.
Please have the respect, sir, if that's the case and you believe that Donald Trump has done more than anyone other president bar Abraham Lincoln,
then why is it that Joe Biden is leading black voters by 81 percentage points according to surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center? It's a
very simple question.
JONES: Well, with all due respect I didn't come on your show being upset. As a matter of fact, you invited me. I didn't call you. So let's be clear
about that, and you asked me just like white liberals, like Joe Biden an insult did Donald Trump send me background they said Democrats failed back.
Hell no. Donald Trump didn't send this to me. I haven't been paid by his organization or I haven't paid by him or anyone.
ANDERSON: Fair enough, fair enough. I asked you a question. Fair enough.
JONES: --why do you not think that African Americans can't I think independently and make a decision based on policy and his record? I'll ask
you. What has Joe Biden done for African Americans other than put them in jail, absolutely nothing --?
ANDERSON: That wasn't the question,
JONES: Zero. And get on to say that African Americans are not as diverse in their thinking as other groups. That's bigotry. That is racism, but nobody
wants to ask Donald Trump I mean ask Joe Biden to elaborate on that and talk about his racist background, but you want to talk about it with Donald
Trump.
ANDERSON: He was asked by Kamala Harris. He was asked by Kamala Harris who has now picked. He has been asked the same question, sir. Come on. Listen
let's talk about last night's town hall.
JONES: He wasn't asked that question at the town hall last night about saying African Americans isn't black.
ANDERSON: He was asked a series of questions about policy, a number of questions last night that the moderator wasn't able to get to.
JONES: But they did not ask him - he admitted that he made a mistake on the prison - on the crime bill that he wrote, but he had eight years as vice
president working with African Americans to fix it.
Did he want to fix it, no, and the reason why many blacks are still supporting Joe Biden, which is decreasing, that's why for the first time
Joe Biden was afraid - he's spending more time in the African American community with commercials now than he has in the past 47 years. Why,
because Donald Trump has a growing number of a can Americans supporting him.
ANDERSON: OK.
JONES: As well as Donald Trump has gotten more black votes than any Republican in the past 50 years and it's growing.
[11:10:00]
JONES: Let me tell you. African Americans--
ANDERSON: Let me put this to you. Joe Biden addressed black voters last night sir, have a listen. Just have a listen to what Joe Biden said last
night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Besides you aren't black, what do you have to say to young black voters who see voting for you as further participation in a
system that continually fails to protect them?
BIDEN: Well, I say, first of all, as my buddy John Lewis said, it's a sacred opportunity to right to vote you can make a difference. If young
black women and men vote you can determine the outcome of the election. Not a joke, you can do that.
And the next question is am I worthy of your vote? Can I earn your vote? And the answer is there are two things that I think that care and I've
demonstrated I care about my whole career. One is in addition to dealing with criminal justice system to make it fair and make it more decent. We
have to be able to put black Americans and be able to gain wealth, generate wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And so he also held himself accountable for writing the crime bill of 1994.
JONES: He did not--
ANDERSON: Hang on. Please, hang on.
JONES: Let me respond.
ANDERSON: And said it was a mistake your thoughts?
JONES: A mistake he said where he had eight years as vice president to fix it. He did not fix it, and now after 47 years now for the crime bill he has
a dream about what he's going to do if we elect him this time?
And then again, the - the person was asking the question, didn't ask him, Joe Biden, what do you mean that a black person isn't black if he doesn't
vote for you? But first of all, isn't, he was trying to talk jive talk. I don't talk jive talk. That's pandering to blacks like Nancy Pelosi and
Chuck Schumer put on a Kinta cloth and get down on one knee and still don't do anything to help the black community.
He's talking about what he's doing for businesses. Well, guess what Donald Trump has the platinum plan to invest half a billion dollars in businesses,
black businesses. As a matter of fact, now, let's be clear.
More black people were employed prior to the pandemic than at any time in this history of this country going back to slavery. So you or nobody else
can tell me that anything Joe Biden has done for black people other than incarcerate them but now - see, that's the difference between he and Donald
Trump.
Joe Biden has a dream after 47 years black people I'll help you, if you elect me this time. But Donald Trump has been there 47 months. Look at
historical black colleges, look at opportunity zone districts. Look what he's done for prison reform.
Look what he's done with the platinum plan and look how many blacks that he's helped get their businesses going. So it's an insult to say that
Donald Trump has to send me a banner. It's an insult that says Donald Trump has a slither of black people.
That's like the polls in 2016. They said that Donald Trump had no pathway to the presidency. Well, the silent majority and a large number of blacks
came out.
ANDERSON: So, you are refuting the polls, sir. You're refuting the polls. Let me ask you this. With 18 days to go what does Donald Trump need to do
to increase his potential with the African American community to clearly underscore what you are saying today in that he has provided support for
the black community, and what does he need to do to convince people at these polls just don't reflect the community?
JONES: Well, first of all, the polls in 2016 did not reflect the community. Polls are push polls. They are only as good as the person who is presenting
these polls. You can shape a poll to get a person to say anything they want to say like your network and others shape a narrative to get people to
believe something that's fake news.
And so, when I look at this president, he can continue to do what he's doing. He's earned the black - he's done more to earn the black vote
clearly than any Republican or Democrat going back to Abraham Lincoln.
What needs to happen is Joe Biden and Democratic Party needs to stop taking the black vote for granted like ice cube just came out. They didn't think
ice cube would support President Trump. He was a part of shaping the platinum plan and a lot more of us are coming out and you're going to see
it reflected at the polls.
Joe Biden and the Democrat Party is a party of bigotry. They say they want diversity. They do in terms of color and in terms of shapes and sizes but
not when it comes to independent thinking, conservative-leaning blacks, and that's traditionally blacks have been far more conservative than whites but
they have hijacked us.
They care more about illegals. They care more about these other communities than the black communities. They want our vote and then they throw us off.
[11:15:00]
JONES: And so I'm - many of us blacks have left the plantation. We have turned the light off. We've given them the key to the suite. We don't want
to be a part of being taken advantage of and being used. Treat us like you treat the - the illegals.
Put us first. Treat us like you treat the LBGTQ Community. Put us first. Treat us like you treat many of the others and school choice. This
president is pushing for school choice that helps black families whose kids have been trapped in failing schools by Democratic policies.
This president supports law and order when Black Lives Matter, all black lives don't matter to them with ANTIFA. They have killed more black people
since they started Black Lives Matter, and Black Lives Matter is the direct attack on what, the black family, the straight black male, the father of
the family but nobody asks Joe Biden to denounce black lives matter. Why?
ANDERSON: OK.
JONES: Because you're trying to help Joe Biden wins?
ANDERSON: Listen, this is a show that puts every side of every argument and pleases don't accuse me of trying to help Joe Biden winning. This is an
International show broadcast from the Middle East. We're interested in what is going on in U.S. politics.
Thank you for spending the time with us, the ten minutes of time with us which is a long time by anybody's standards on this show. I appreciate--
JONES: How many times - people like me have you interviewed though?
ANDERSON: And I appreciate you accepting my invitation and I appreciate you putting your views across tonight and I respect you for that. Thank you.
Well, even by the standards of the pandemic this year, there's one of the most extraordinary standoffs in English modern history going on right now.
London urging the City of Manchester to accept its highest COVID-19 alert level tier 3 to help curb a new wave of infections.
The city officials rejecting the plan for new restrictions and a stimulus package they say doesn't do enough. Well, now Britain's Foreign Secretary,
that's the man London, relies on to negotiate with foreign governments urging Manchester's Mayor Andy Burnham to "Do the right thing and comply".
Let's bring you to both cities. Phil Black is in London and Salma Abdulaziz is in Manchester. Phil, let's start with you. Just what is going on here?
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, the British government, Becky, wants to avoid a national lockdown at all costs for all the negative consequences,
notably the economic impact but also political ones as well.
It would upset a lot of members of the prime minister's own conservative party. So they have come up with this tiered regional response, dividing up
the country into different areas of concern but to work it needs local leaders to cooperate.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, isn't really doing that, not by the government's standards, so whatever Andy Burnham says about the plan being
flawed or wanting more money to help those that are going to hurt the hardest, the government is interpreting that very differently.
The Foreign Secretary Dominic Robb today suggested that Burnham is blackmailing the government for money and politics. The prime minister went
even further implying that lives are being put at risk by Burnham's position. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Local leaders who have come forward and joined in the tier system showing the kind of leadership that I think
is necessary, and this is about saving lives. This is about us joining together locally and nationally to get the R down and to make these
regional restrictions these tier systems to work and to save lives.
And I think, you know, everyone in greater Manchester and all the areas which are still finding difficult should think about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Boris Johnson. Salma, how are they reacting in Manchester both on the streets and from government officials?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for now Becky the Mayor of Manchester is being essentially being openly defiant. He's in a standoff
with 10 Downing Street and he is refusing to back down and the people of Manchester, many who we spoke to today, feel that this Mayor is advocating
for them. Take a listen to what he said in a press conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY BURNHAM, MAYOR OF GREATER MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: They are willing to sacrifice jobs and businesses here to try and save them elsewhere. Greater
Manchester, the Liverpool City region and Lancashire are being set up as the canaries in the coal mine for an experimental regional lockdown
strategy as an attempt to prevent the expense of what is truly needed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: The Mayor's argument is essentially this. The government wants us to increase our level to tier 3 that would come with additional
restrictions. You're not giving me enough of an economic package to provide to businesses here that will have to shut their doors.
[11:20:00]
ABDELAZIZ: And the second part of his argument is the scientific advisers that consult the government, they themselves have argued for what is called
a circuit breaker. That's a short sharp but nationwide lockdown so the Mayor's argument is why single us out.
If the scientific advisers say the entire country shut down, if there's an open sense of defiance in the north of the country against significant
singling out these individual cities and towns, then what should happen is a national unity and a national effort?
And then also if you don't want a national unity or a national effort provide the economic means for businesses to survive another shutdown that
we do not know how long it will last. Becky?
ANDERSON: Salam is in Manchester and Phil is in London. Thank you both. You're watching "Connect the World" - and what is a critical part of the
world is the Middle East. Up next, a prisoner exchange in Yemen brings new hope for peace. I'll talk to someone who helped negotiate this prisoner
swap.
Plus, the Coronavirus and the candidates, a look at Joe Biden and Donald Trump's, very different responses to questions about COVID-19. Stay with
us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Former prisoners of war in Yemen now on their way home. You are looking at the largest prisoner swap in the conflict so far, and that swap
is still under way. It began on Thursday using planes flying from three different airports.
By the time that it's finished the Red Cross says that about 1,000 prisoners will be free again. This swap is not only about freedom for
prisoners, it's also about hope but after years of a horrific war, that maybe peace could be somewhere down the line.
This conflict is devastated Yemen which was one of the world's poorest countries to start with. About 8 to 10 people there now depend on aid, and
according to estimates tens of thousands of lives have been lost.
Well, I'm now joined by a man who helped broker the exchange that you've been looking at, Fabrizio Carboni he is the International Red Cross
Regional Director for the Middle East. He just flew from Sanaa where the exchange took place to Aiden where he's now joining us live.
Just explain how this operation took place? I've always wondered about the sort of complicated logistical challenges feats like this face? And this
one particularly how challenging was it?
FABRIZIO CARBONI, ICRC REGIONAL DIRECTOR, NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST: It was very challenging, but I think it's not just the logistic challenge, because -
operation you know we're not a taxi organization.
So for us it's about you know, knowing whether people are willing to go back? We interview all detainees wherever they are. We make sure that they
are in good health, that they can move, that when they are back home they are not afraid to go back home.
[11:25:00]
CARBONI: There is obviously there just big - you need to find planes and you need to plan planes and also there's really one specificity to
disagreeing which is quite neutral is that the first day all the planes had to take off at the same time at three different locations.
Saudi Arabia, Salah and Sayun on the other side of the front line so I would say complex, difficult, but very positive because today when I'm
talking to you we have 1,000 people released and we have 1,000 families who I believe they are celebrating this great news.
ANDERSON: Yes, and it's not over yet. Just how significant is this exchange? Does it really represent that moment of hope that we have all
been looking for and hoping for in what has been this bloody conflict?
CARBONI: I mean, to some extent that's what we want to believe. You know, the situation is so bleak that at one stage you need to believe that this
is the beginning of something. And to be honest I was in the - agreement, I was in the field when it happened.
And I think we need to take it as a very positive sign because you need a lot of political courage to agree on releasing detainees while the conflict
is still active. So I would not overestimate the impact of this release on the situation in Yemen.
But I would not underestimate the fact that finally I want to say, point is to this conflict showed a form of political courage, because at the end of
the day all conflict, especially the one in Yemen, will be solved by political courage.
ANDERSON: The U.N. Yemen Envoy, who I speak to quite regularly, Martin Griffith, described this as an airlift of hope but said that that is not
enough. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN GRIFFITH, U.N. ENVOY TO YEMEN: The Prisoners Agreement does not include many thousands more of Yemenis detained during the course of this
conflict, and it is, therefore, our obligation and the obligation of the parties to convene very soon to discuss further releases.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Just how many more prisoners are currently detained, and what can we expect in terms of more exchanges any time soon?
CARBONI: I mean, many thousands of people are detained, and I think what Martin says is totally right. I think today we need to celebrate because
it's not that we have many opportunities in Yemen to celebrate the good news, so let's celebrate this.
But tomorrow morning we should go back to work and today we focus on the release of detainees, really great. But there is a conflict and what
matters is to find a solution, a way out of this conflict because if we continue releasing detainees, and the conflict continues, I mean, we're
back to square one.
So today what we want and what is needed it's to move into the political discussion. It's to move and talk about the difficult issue. I mean, we
always say we need more assistance and support. Yes, for sure we need more, but that's not going to solve the problem, you know.
What it's going to solve of the problem is to stop needing action, and this is political solution, and today it's - it's an agreement of hope that is
possible.
ANDERSON: Well, I interviewed Martin back in February. Here is what he told me about a peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFITH: I think there are two things that need to happen probably simultaneously. First of all, recovering the calm that we've talked about
in the war and secondly, perhaps even more urgently is the beginning of preparations for a launch of the political process.
And in that regard, we're waiting for the creation by the government of Yemen under the Riyadh Agreement, as you know. One mediates by the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia of a new negotiating team on back of a new cabinet.
So we are - we're - we're very interested to see progress towards that happen, and if that happens over the next month or two, we will be ready to
call the parties, to sit down together, to talk and finally to negotiate, and finally to launch that political process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Do you believe that a peaceful political agreement is viable at this point?
CARBONI: I mean this is quite a difficult question. As humanitarian I can tell you why it's needed.
[11:30:00]
CARBONI: I can give you - you know, I was in the plane today with these 70 detainees going back home very intense. You know the flight of their life,
something that few people experience and if you can touch with your finger why peace is necessary?
You know, so I leave to Martin, I leave to the political actors the way to find a peace deal. What we don't fund is to be use as an excuse. We
shouldn't focus on the intense situation not to address the political issues.
And so my voice and the voice of - actors are to say that Yemeni people can't take it anymore. They really can't take it anymore so it's about time
to this political courage.
ANDERSON: With that we'll leave it there, but we thank you very much indeed for your time and do applaud your efforts. Thank you.
CARBONI: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Well, coming up next on "Connect the World", Robert Garcia Mayor of Long Beach, California, tragically lost both of his parents to COVID-19.
He calls the U.S. President's response to what called them infuriating. He'll join us on "Connect the World" up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Last night millions of Americans tuned in to view dueling town halls featuring Joe Biden and Donald Trump and one topic
dominating that events and for that matter the whole of to 2020 election is the American government's response to this pandemic.
Can you see here the U.S. approaching its third peek in Coronavirus infections, reporting more than 63,000 new infections on Thursday alone
that's the highest daily count since August, according to the data provided by Johns Hopkins University.
At least 32 states reporting more daily cases this week than last with only three green states on the map that we have here and the surge is right
across the U.S. at least 26 state more than half, are reporting more than 1,000 new daily cases. CNN's Adrienne Broaddus has more.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An un-seizing surge of new Coronavirus cases. On Thursday more than 63 new Coronavirus cases reported
in the U.S., the highest daily figure in more than two months.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, CDC: Each region of the nation is also seeing an increase in the number of hospitalizations and that's
what you see before you, seeing an increase in the number of deaths.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: New record numbers of patients admitted to the hospital in at least seven states, the Midwest leading this concerning new trend.
[11:35:00]
BROADDUS: Wisconsin on Thursday saw more than 3,700 cases, a new record for the state the test positivity rate standing at over 21 percent Kentucky
also seeing a spike in hospitalizations reporting 738 patients in hospitals Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY BESHEAR, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR: Everybody ought to be doing the right thing, and those that are out there that try to confront you for wearing a
mask or being a jerk, they are putting your health at risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: And in Missouri more than 1,400 hospitalizations reported for the third day in a row. Meanwhile, a new study released by the World Health
Organization concluded that the antiviral drug Remdesivir had little or no effect on mortality on patients in the hospital with COVID.
The W.H.O. described the conclusions as conclusive and disappointing. Remdesivir has Emergency Use Authorization for Coronavirus in the United
States, and President Trump received it while he was treated at Walter Reed Medical Center.
And rising outrage from many medical experts on White House's view of herd immunity, the idea that letting the virus spread throughout the country
with the goal of infecting a large percentage of the population in hopes of gaining immunity will end the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: We eliminated measles from this country by vaccination by
the year 2000. Small Pox was only eliminated by vaccination even though that too is a much more highly contagious disease and that too induces
lifelong immunity. So the notion of community immunity by natural infection is made up. It never happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Adrienne Broaddus reporting there. Joining me to discuss this third peak is the Mayor of Long Beach, California, Robert Garcia. I know
sir that you lost both your parents to COVID-19, and I'm so sorry for that.
You have said that listening to our president or your president downplay this pandemic which killed both of your parents is infuriating. I'm sure it
is. Have a listen to what he had to say last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our deaths per capita is among the highest--
TRUMP: --excess mortality, we're a winner. Well, excess mortality and what we've done has been amazing, and we have done an amazing job, and it's
rounding the corner, and we have the vaccines coming and we have the therapies coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Your thoughts, sir?
ROBERT GARCIA, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAYOR: Well, everything that he said was a lie. Donald Trump has had no plan in the United States to take on
COVID-19. We're nearing 220,000 deaths. We have a vaccine that is really not in place yet.
He keeps making up stories about how ready the vaccines actually are, and most importantly there's no national plan around a mask mandate. And to him
to call you know the progress amazing or to downplay COVID-19 is really shameful and a slap in the face over single family that has lost someone to
this pandemic.
Losing two parents was incredibly difficult, and every time that I or others have that lost them and hear him talk it's really angering because
he just continues to lie and downplay something that's very serious.
ANDERSON: If you look at a recent AXIOS IPSOS Poll only 21 percent of Americans said that they are more likely to wear a mask following the
president's COVID-19 diagnosis. I just wonder what you think that tells you about the American people and how they feel about this pandemic.
GARCIA: Well, we have a large population of the American people that unfortunately, do not listen to science and don't listen to reason. And I
put a lot of that blame on our president. When you have a president who continuously chooses not to wear a mask and that goes just a week after
infection into huge rallies not wearing a mask.
And invites people in to not be protected, that's just the highest level of irresponsibility. He is doing the opposite of taking care of this country.
He's killing people in our country by choose not to be responsible, and I think that's something you've got to be held accountable for.
He continues to this day to downplay COVID-19 for his own political purposes, and quite frankly against the advice of his own medical team and
scientists. It's completely shameful and quite frankly one of probably the worst moments in American history in any president.
ANDERSON: This is Joe Biden last night on a Coronavirus vaccine. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: If the body of scientists say that this is what is ready to be done and it's been tested, it's gone through the three phases yes; I would take
it and encourage people to take it. We should be talking about, depending on the continuation of the spread of the virus, we should be thinking about
making amends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: We know that something like just over 50 percent of people in the states are concerned about taking a vaccine if not outright will reject
one. Do you think there should be a mandate, whether or not that is even possible?
And I just do wonder whether you've heard enough from Joe Biden that were he to be elected as the U.S. President post-November the 3rd that you are
confident that he does in fact have a COVID-19 plan?
We've been reporting today on what is this awful, awful second wave across Europe. The governments are really struggling with. There is the
possibility that the same thing could happen again post-November in the United States.
GARCIA: Well, we're very worried. The numbers that are coming out now across the states is very frightening. I think that one of the things that
are important is a display of leadership, and I think what Joe Biden did last night was display leadership and he continues to do so by wearing a
mask, by having contact tracing even within his own staff and by listening to the science.
And I think as it relates to vaccines he's absolutely right. We need to make sure that a vaccine is not rushed. The vaccination process is complex,
so we have to listen to the CDC, the scientists, Dr. Fauci here in the United States and just to make sure that the plan is actually in place.
Right now I have no trust in the current government that they are actually going to do this the right way and not rush it for political purposes. And
so I trust a President Biden to do the right thing, and I think most of the country is going to as well.
ANDERSON: We're going to leave it there, sir. Thank you. We appreciate your thoughts.
GARCIA: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Ahead on the show, an idyllic Austrian Town now on lockdown trying to get ahead of what is this exponential increase in cases that
Europe is seeing? We'll speak to a family directly impacted by the new COVID-19 rules.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS KLUGE, W.H.O. REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE: We put up the list well - counts again more merciless. But there's good news also. I was mentioning
this in the press statement yesterday. There are some simple measures, systematic generalized mask-wearing together with a strict control on
social gatherings could save in this region about 281,000 lives in six months, and that's something that any government is and should be able to
implement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Words of empowerment from the World Health Organization's Europe Director Hans Kluge speaking to me earlier, the continent battling an
exponential surge in cases and Kluge calling on governments to step up to save potentially hundreds of thousands of lives as you heard him here on
the show.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, despite the skyrocketing cases, countries are resisting nationwide lockdowns. Hans Kluge told me that such lockdowns would be a
last resort or should be and we're not there yet. He instead called for local targeted measures which many countries are now trying to implement.
Let's zoom into Austria which has seen a record amount of daily cases over last week. One village Kuchl just outside of Salzburg is headed into a two-
week lockdown. Now, this small village doesn't have the capacity to deal with a major outbreak, so it's trying to get ahead of the curve.
To understand how these lockdowns these local lockdowns are impacting families in their everyday lives, the rather adorable I must say cobalt
family joining me now from Kuchl, Dani Kobald and Chris Kobald are with us along with their kids Vivi, Oscar and Frieda. It's a pleasure to meet you
all. Hello from Abu Dhabi to you all. Dani, cases as I understand it not too bad in Kuchl? Hello, guys.
These measures that have been put in place are about getting ahead of the outbreak. Do you agree with them?
DANI KOBALD, RESIDENT OF KUCHL, AUSTRIA: Well, basically we agree that the government has got different measures for different districts throughout
Austria because it only makes sense to react to the current situation.
All those measures are preventive measures so they actually - they want to avoid a total lockdown so they just do it regionally, but what's totally
new to us is the situation that just our little town is like insulate.
We're not allowed to go out anymore or go in, so this is really affecting daily life. People who own a company here, for example, like my sister, she
lives in a neighbor town but she's not allowed to come to our town to run her business.
And many people I hear that are working in neighbor towns but they are not allowed to go out so the whole restriction is totally new because this is a
small area. Just our town now is insulated from the rest.
ANDERSON: Yes. No, no, I understand, and then there were four, by with the way. Chris, you work at a boarding school. What happens to the kids at this
stage at this school?
CHRIS KOBALD, RESIDENT OF KUCHL, AUSTRIA: Yes, I work at a boarding school. It's a technical school. Our students are from 15 to 19 years old and as
the lockdown, this local lockdown would happen today, we closed down the school yesterday already to provide a trip all of them home.
They come from all over Austria, from Germany, from Italy, from Switzerland, so that was very important for us that they have - that they
safely come home and not find themselves in crowded trains, yes.
ANDERSON: Vivi, sorry, let me just put a question to Vivi here because I'm pretty sure you must be home schooling, correct?
VIVI KOBALD, RESIDENT OF KUCHL, AUSTRIA: Yes.
ANDERSON: How is that going?
V. KOBALD: You can't concentrate much and low motivation if you see everywhere makes this in the town and just you have to take that. But on
the other side you can sleep every time and you can sleep longer.
ANDERSON: Good for you. Are you missing your friends?
V. KOBALD: Yes. So I'm new in the school, and it's really hard, yes, and the teachers--
ANDERSON: Yes. And Oscar, how are you getting on? Are you enjoying doing your schooling at home?
OSCAR KOBALD, RESIDENT OF KUCHL, AUSTRIA: Yes. I don't like it. I like it more in the school because they are my friends, and, yes.
D. KOBALD: But right now the situation in Kuchl is that actually all the schools within Kuchl with students from Kuchl they are allowed to go there,
like primary schools and Kindies (ph) that will open, but Vivi for example she can't go out of Kuchl to her school because all the rest, all the other
districts are kind of running, yes, they are not insulated like we are now.
ANDERSON: Yes, no, I understand. I'm not sure whether Frieda wants - wants to tell me what's been going on in her life since lockdown? Probably not,
we'll let it carry on climbing over the sofa. Dani, I know you're a sports teacher and normally at this time of the year you would be getting ready to
take your kids and the students on school - on ski trips.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: There was a lot of controversy over the hesitation to shut down the ski slopes during the first wave. Do you believe those ski slopes
should be open this winter at all?
D. KOBALD: Well, everybody really hopes that they are open. It's really important for us Austrians because we all love skinning and it's important
for winter tourism and the whole economy. And I think skiing is not a problem because it's an outdoor activity.
What might be different may be this year is that - some mountains are closed or all the after-skiing parties won't happen. I guess, this might be
a big difference, but I guess and I still hope, there is still time until December that - to hold number of controls and the lifts and the slopes are
open so that people can return to their favorite sports.
ANDERSON: Sure and with a family like that I'm sure you don't do an awful lot of - ski, you ski and then you go home and have supper and go to bed
I'm sure. But listen, it's been fantastic speaking to you. Thank you so much and I hope isn't too restrictive over the next couple of weeks but
let's hope it makes a difference and that the places locally clear up. Thank you.
D. KOBALD: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Just next door to Austria, Italy and there a Governor arguing that there will be no Halloween in his region this year, all towards
justifying Coronavirus related curfews later this month but he didn't exactly use diplomatic language. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCENZO DE LUCA, CAMPANIA, ITALY GOVERNOR: I anticipate that during the weekend in October we will close everything at 10:00 pm and the weekend of
Halloween. Halloween is this immense idiocy, this immense stupid Americana that we have also imported into our country. Halloween is a monument of
stupidity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, there you have it that's on the offense. High unemployment and plenty of uncertainty that's making a life in Gaza already difficult
place to live even worse. Up next, we're going to show you what it's like in the time of COVID-19?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Right, a story that we have been following this hour for you. Out of the UK British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a new warning for
leaders in greater Manchester over their refusal to go into a tier three COVID lockdown.
Well, the city has seen a rise in Coronavirus cases, but leaders there concerned that a local lockdown would hurt the city's economy. Well, now
the Prime Minister, Mr. Johnson, says his government will have to intervene if an agreement is not reached soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: I urge the Mayor to reconsider and engage constructively. I cannot stress enough time is of the essence. Each day that passes before action is
taken means more people will go to hospital, more people will end up in intensive care and tragically more people will die.
[11:55:00]
JOHNSON: Of course, if agreement cannot be reached, I will need to intervene in order to protect Manchester's hospitals and save the lives of
Manchester's residents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is the story out of the UK. More on that, of course, as we get it. We've taken you to Europe and elsewhere an awful lot over the
past couple of days. What happens there matters, and it's absolutely the right thing for us to do.
But I want to look now at daily lives living in a place that's not often covered and that is Gaza and how they are coping with the COVID crisis with
few jobs and constant uncertainty? Not keen to get you pictures from officials to me there, so instead we're hearing from three voices, a
schoolteacher, an engineer and a performer. Here's what they are telling us about life in Gaza in the time of Coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJD MASHHARAWI, ENGINEER-ENTREPRENEUR: Gaza it is about 25 miles and 10 to 15 miles wide. We have around 2 million people living in a small area. It's
considered one of the most dense areas around the world with the highest unemployment ratio.
So imagine if almost 70 percent of your people don't have jobs, and the rest are having are - are working on daily jobs. I mean, a small shop to
sell vegetables, they have small supermarkets and small businesses and small entities.
So when the Coronavirus, you know, hit the country, it doesn't only affect the health system inside Gaza, the health system which basically we don't
have a proper health system but also it affects these small businesses that are thriving, that are fighting for survival.
AHMAD ABU HASIRA, PERFORMER: We are a very connected society. It's very hard for us to keep distance. COVID changed our social life. Every Friday
we used to go to the beach after prayer and perform there. There are no people here anymore. It's all empty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are changing the whole educational process to get used to this pandemic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We make sure that every student is socially distant from the other student.
HASIRA: The situation in Gaza is very hard, whether it's the Israeli siege or the economic situation and now COVID, but we try to do our best to make
people smile at least so we go wherever we see people sitting outside to perform. That's been our goal always.
MASHHARAWI: I think that people have different perspective about the COVID- 19. Part of them says oh, yes, this is a pandemic, we should be careful. It's a disease; you know our health is the most important thing in life.
Some people think it's just imagination; it's a lie so they don't believe it.
MALAK ANSHASI, TEACHER: We're trying our best to facilitate the whole process to make it more easy but day by day it's becoming so difficult. I
don't know if they are able to, like, have 24 hours of electricity. I don't know if they are connected all the day with the internet.
MASHHARAWI: So it's too much, you know. It's too much to be blocked for 13 years and now we another block because of the Corona. So I don't understand
how people could just afford this?
You cannot ask a handicap person to go run a marathon, OK. You cannot ask a blind person to go and watch a movie that makes no sense for them, so how
can you ask these people to talk about the impact of the Coronavirus when we are blocked?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Gaza, Kuchl, Austria, Long Beach, Atlanta, Copenhagen, London, Aiden, Yemen, Manchester and Bangkok, that was your world connected. Thank
you for joining us wherever you are in any of those places or beyond. Do look after yourselves. Stay well and have a very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
