TO YOU AND DAD.
TO YOU AND DAD.
>>> THIS SUNDAY THE CORONAVIRUS
SURGE.
>> WE FIND OURSELVES CAREENING
TOWARD A CATASTROPHIC AND
UNSUSTAINABLE SITUATION.
>> HALF THE STATES SEEING A
STEEP RISE IN INFECTIONS.
>> TIME FOR PREVENTION MEASURES
WAS A MONTH AGO.
NOW -- I MEAN, THE WHEELS ARE
COMING OFF.
>> WE MIGHT FEEL LIKE WERE DONE
WITH COVID-19, BUT COVID-19
ISNT DONE WITH US.
>> STATES SLOWING REOPENINGS AS
YOUNGER AMERICANS DRIVE THE
SURGE.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
CORONAVIRUS REALLY?
>> IM REALLY NOT.
>> VICE PRESIDENT PENCE SPINS
THE ADMINISTRATIONS RECORD.
>> WE HAVE MADE TRULY REMARKABLE
PROGRESS.
WE SLOWED THE SPREAD.
WE FLATTENED THE CURVE.
>> WHILE ANTHONY FAUCI OFFERS A
WARNING TO THE YOUNG.
>> IF YOU GET INFECTED YOU WILL
INFECT SOMEONE ELSE WHO CLEARLY
WILL INFECT SOMETHING ELSE.
>> HEALTH AND HUMAN SECRETARIAL
EXSALAZAR AND ANDREW CUOMO.
JOHN BOLTON SPEAKS OUT ABOUT
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
>> THERE IS NO GUIDING PRINCIPLE
THAT I WAS ABLE TO DISCERN OTHER
THAN WHATS GOOD FOR DONALD
TRUMPS RE-ELECTION.
>> ITS A CLOSE RACE TO SEE WHO
COULD SEE THROUGH HIM THE
CLEAREST AND TRY TO MANIPULATE
HIM.
>> AND THE PRESIDENT STRIKES
BACK.
>> EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY
BECAUSE ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS
BOMB PEOPLE.
>> THIS MORNING MY ONE-ON-ONE
WITH JOHN BOLTON.
>> I BELIEVE AMERICA CAN RECOVER
FROM ONE TERM OF DONALD TRUMP.
I BELIEVE THAT VERY, VERY
STRONGLY.
IM MORE WORRIED ABOUT A SECOND
TERM.
>> ALSO MISSISSIPPI LAWMAKERS
TAKE STEPS TO REMOVE THE
CONFEDERATE BATTLE EMBLEM.
THE LAST OF THE SOUTHERN STATES
TO DO SO.
JOINING ME FOR INSIGHT AND
ANALYSIS ARE EDDIE GLAUDE JR.,
NBC NEWS CAPITOL HILL
CORRESPONDENT KASIE HUNT AND
HUGH HEWITT HOST ON THE SALEM
RADIO NETWORK.
WELCOME TO SUNDAY.
ITS "MEET THE PRESS".
>> FROM NBC NEWS IN WASHINGTON,
THE LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN
TELEVISION HISTORY, THIS IS
"MEET THE PRESS" WITH CHUCK
TODD.
>>> GOOD SUNDAY MORNING.
THROUGHOUT HIS PRESIDENCY THERE
HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS THIS IS IT
MOMENTS THAT OPPONENTS OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP FELT SURE WOULD
PUNCTURE HIS STANDING WITH
VOTERS.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, IMMIGRANT
CHILDREN IN CAGES, IMPEACHMENT,
JUST TO NAME THREE.
BUT NOTHING SEEMED TO MOVE MR.
TRUMPY
TRUMPS APPROVAL RATINGS ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER, AND HES NEVER
BEEN ABLE TO TWEAK, BLUSTER OR
BLUFF HIS WAY OUT OF.
ECONOMIC DISLOCATION THAT COME
WITH IT IS THERE FOR ALL OF US
TO SEE.
EVERY AMERICAN IS AWARE OF IT.
EVERY AMERICAN IS AFFECTED BY
IT.
EVERY AMERICAN HAS AN OPINION
ABOUT IT.
THE PAST WEEK FELT MORE LIKE
APRIL WITH STATES AND THEN THE
WHOLE COUNTRY SETTING RECORDS
FOR NEW CASES.
CITIES SHUTTING DOWN AND RENEWED
FEARS THAT HOSPITALS WOULD SOON
RUN OUT OF ICU BEDS.
THROUGH IT ALL PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAS BEEN IN DENIAL AND PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS BEEN THE OBJECT OF
AVOIDANCE, RIDICULE AND PITY
AROUND THE WORLD.
AT HOME, COVID HAS GIVEN
REPUBLICANS A PERMISSION SLIP TO
CRITICIZE OR IGNORE THE
PRESIDENT AND PROVIDED SPACE FOR
FORMER ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
WHO LIKE JOHN BOLTON WHO I WILL
INTERVIEW IN A MOMENT TO
CRITICIZE A PRESIDENT OF THEIR
OWN PARTY.
AS THE NUMBER OF CASES GOES UP,
MR. TRUMPS POLITICAL STANDING
GOES DOWN, MAKING HIM NOW THE
MOST DANGEROUS INCUMBENT SINCE
GEORGE BUSH LOST IN 1992.
>> WE FIND OURSELVES CAREENING
TOWARD A CATASTROPHIC AND
UNSUSTAINABLE SITUATION.
>> TEXAS AND FLORIDA PRAISED BY
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR BEING AMONG
THE FIRST TO REOPEN ARE NOW
BACKTRACKING.
ABRUPTLY SETTING NEW
RESTRICTIONS ON BARS,
RESTAURANTS AND BEACHES.
>> THERE WAS WIDESPREAD
NON-COMPLIANCE AND THAT LED TO
ISSUES.
>> IF YOU DO NEED TO GET OUT,
PLEASE WEAR A MASK.
ON FRIDAY THE U.S. SET A RECORD
FOR NEW CASES, IN 25 STATES
CASES HAVE INCREASED BY 25% OR
MORE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
IN NINE STATES CASES ARE UP MORE
THAN 100%.
>> THE TIME FOR PREVENTION
MEASURES WAS A MONTH AGO.
NOW -- THE WHEELS ARE COMING
OFF.
>> BUT ON FRIDAY AT THE FIRST
CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE BRIEFING
IN TWO MONTHS THE VICE PRESIDENT
APPEARED TO DENY THAT REALITY.
>> WE HAVE MADE TRULY REMARKABLE
PROGRESS IN MOVING OUR NATION
FORWARD.
>> THE NATIONS TOP INFECTIOUS
DISEASE EXPERT DR. FAUCI SAYS
CURRENT EFFORTS TO TEST SICK
PEOPLE, ISOLATE THEM AND TRACE
THEIR CONTACTS ARE NOT WORKING.
>> WE DONT EXTINGUISH THE
OUTBREAK, SOONER OR LATER, EVEN
ONES THAT ARE DOING WELL ARE
GOING TO BE VULNERABLE TO THE
SPREAD.
>> FOR MONTHS THE PRESIDENT HAS
MINIMIZED THE VIRUS.
>> WE HAVE IT TOTALLY UNDER
CONTROL.
ITS ONE PERSON COMING IN FROM
CHINA.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE BY APRIL IN
CHEERY WHEN IT GETS WARMER IT
MIRACULOUSLY GOES AWAY.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE GONE.
>> ITS GOING TO GO.
ITS GOING TO LEAVE.
ITS GOING TO BE GONE.
>> THIS WILL GO AWAY WITHOUT A
VACCINE.
>> SIX MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC
IN THE UNITED STATES, THE
MESSAGES DID MISSING THE VIRUS
HASNT CHANGED.
>> WERE DOING WELL AFTER THE
PLAGUE.
ITS GONE AWAY.
>> THIS IS A LOCALIZED
SITUATION.
>> WE SLOWED THE SPREAD.
WE FLATTENED THE CURVE.
WE SAVED LIVES.
>> BUT THE CURVE HASNT BEEN
FLATTENED.
THE VIRUS ISNT GOING AWAY AND
THE ISSUES THAT PLAGUED EARLY
TESTING EFFORTS REMAIN.
>> SO I SAID TO MY PEOPLE SLOW
THE TESTING DOWN, PLEASE.
>> DID YOU ASK TO SLOW IT DOWN?
>> IF IT DID SLOW DOWN, FRANKLY,
I THINK WERE WAY AHEAD OF
OURSELVESES IF YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE TRUTH.
WEVE DONE TOO GOOD A JOB.
WITH 25 MILLION TESTS YOURE
GOING TO FIND MORE PEOPLE.
>> SOME WOULD LIKE TO SEE
PRESIDENT TRUMP STOP
POLITICIZING MASK WEARING.
>> UNTIL WE FIND A VACCINE THESE
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS NOT AS COMPLICATED AS A
VENTILATOR.
>> JOINING ME NOW IS THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES ALEX AZAR.
WELCOME TO "MEET THE PRESS."
WHEN ARE WE FAILING WITH
COVID-19 WHEN SO MUCH OF THE
WORLD IS SUCCEEDING.
>> WE ARE SURGING IN CASES IN
COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
WEVE GOTTEN REPORTS FROM OUR
GOVERNORS THAT THE MAJORITY OF
THE POSITIVE CASES WERE SEEING
ARE AGE 35 AND UNDER.
A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE ARE
GOING TO BE ASYMPTOMATIC.
WE HAVE FATALITY RATES AND THE
HOSPITALIZATION RATES ARE THE
LEEST
LOWEST IN TWO MONTHS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
WERE WORKING WITH LOCAL
AUTHORITIES AND STATES.
THIS IS A COUNTY BY COUNTY ISSUE
SO GETTING IN THERE AND GETTING
TO THE BOTTOM OF WHY THE
CASES -- AND IN ADDITION TO THE
TRADITIONAL CONTACT TRACING,
WHAT WERE DOING NOW IS WEVE
GOT TO TEST ENTIRE COMMUNITIES
AND FIND ALL POSITIVE CASES
BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT
VIRUS WITH THE ASIFRM TOM ATTIC
SPREADING AND GET EVERY POSITIVE
CASE AND GET THOSE PEOPLE
ISOLATED.
WEVE GOT HOSPITAL CAPACITY IN
ALL OF THESE AREAS AND WE HAVE
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND WELL BE THERE TO BACK THEM
UP.
WE NOW HAVE TREATMENTS.
WE HAVE REMDESIVIR AND
CONVALESCENT PLASMA.
IF YOUVE HAD COVID, CALL YOUR
BLOOD BANK, AMERICAN RED CROSS
AND DONATE PLASMA TO INCREASE
OUR SUPPLIES.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO THIS.
WE JUST DID THIS IN NORTH
CAROLINA, BUT THE WINDOW IS
CLOSING AND WE HAVE TO ACT AND
PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO
ACT RESPONSIBLY.
WE NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND
WE NEED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS
IF WERE IN PLACES WHERE WE
CANT SOCIAL DISTANCE
PARTICULARLY IN THESE HOT ZONES.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, DID WE
BLOW IT DURING THE FIRST SHUT
DOWN?
I THOUGHT WE WERE TO GET OUR
TESTING UP AND MAKE SURE YOU HAD
CAPACITY UP AND ONE OF THE BIG
THINGS WAS CONTACT TRACING AND
SO IT SEEMS PRETTY OBVIOUS WHAT
HAPPENED HERE IF YOU ARE JUST
LOOKING BACK AT A LAYMAN.
YOU GUYS PUT OUT GUIDELINES IN
APRIL ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE
FOR A STATE TO OPEN UP.
NO STATE FOLLOWED THOSE
GUIDELINES AT ALL.
SOME STATES FOLLOWED THEM OKAY,
PRETTY CLOSELY OR CAME CLOSE,
BUT A LOT OF THE STATES IN THE
SOUTH DIDNT DO IT AT ALL, AND A
BUNCH OF THEM DONT HAVE CONTACT
TRACERS.
ISNT THAT WHY WERE HERE?
>> SO, CHUCK, THIS ISNT ABOUT
OPENING OR NOT REOPENING.
WE HAVE STATES THAT ARE JUST AS
COMMITTED AS THE SOUTHERN STATE,
BUT ARENT EXPERIENCING THIS.
WEVE GOT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF WHY WERE SEEING THESE CASES
SURGE IN THIS AREA, BUT AT ITS
CORE, WE ALL OWN AS INDIVIDUALS,
OUR INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE PRACTICING
APPROPRIATE SOCIAL DISTANCING
AND WEARING FACIAL COVERING WHEN
WERE NOT ABLE TO AND PRACTICING
GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE AND
PROTECTING OUR FIRST VULNERABLE
CITIZENS AND DR. BIRX AND DR.
FAUCI TALKED ABOUT THIS AT A
BRIEFING ON FRIDAY THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS ABOUT THIS VIRUS IS
THE ASYMPTOMATIC, AND IT IS A
NECESSARY AND NOT SUFFICIENT
PROTECTION.
WEVE GOT TO DO THAT, BUT IT
CANT JUST BE SITTING IN A
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE MAKING
PHONE CALLS.
WEVE GOT TO GET INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO GET DUST ON THE BOOTS
AND FIND PEOPLE AND TEST ENTIRE
COMMUNITIES TO GET OUR POSITIVE
CASES.
THATS THE TYPE OF ACTION WOOEE
SEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES.
>> MR. SECRETARY, I STILL DONT
UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE ENOUGH
CONTACT TRACERS.
THE HEAD OF THE CDC SAID WE HAVE
LESS THAN 100,000 NATIONWIDE.
WE SHOULD HAVE 300,000, SOME
EXPERTS HAVE THOUGHT AND AGAIN,
WEVE BEEN AT THIS FIVE MONTHS
NOW.
WHY DONT WE HAVE ENOUGH
PHYSICAL CONTRACT TRACERS IN
THESE SOUTHERN STATES?
>> WELL, CHUCK, THESE STATES
HAVE TO BUILD UP THEIR CONTACT
TRACERS AND THEY HAVE TO BUILD
UP GETTING OUT INTO THE STATES
AND GETTING OUT INTO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES IF THIS IS A VERY
COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT AT THIS
POINT.
WEVE SURGED PEOPLE INTO EVERY
ONE OF THESE STATES.
WERE WORKING WITH THEM ON THE
GROUND, BUT ITS ABOUT GETTING
OUT, WORKING WITH NGOs AND
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY, TRUSTED
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND GETTING
TESTING DONE AND GETTING PEOPLE
ISOLATED, BUT ITS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER WE NOW HAVE MANY MORE
TOOLS THAN WE HAD MONTHS AGO TO
DEAL WITH THIS.
WE HAVE THERAPEUTICS.
WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO VACCINES.
WE HAVE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND AGAIN ID SAY ANY
HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME THAT
NEEDS ANYTHING, BE SURE YOUR
GOVERNORS OFFICE KNOWS AND
WELL GET THAT INTO FEMA ASK
WELL MAKE SURE WERE THERE TO
SUPPORT YOU.
>> I ASKED THE GOVERNOR OF
ARKANSAS, REPUBLICAN ASA
HUTCHINSON IF HIS JOB WOULD BE
MADE EASIER TO GET HIS COMMUNITY
AND GET HIS STATE TO WEAR MASKS
IF THE PRESIDENT -- HE DIDNT
HAVE TO WEAR ONE, AND IF HE
WOULD JUST TWEET IT AND HERE WAS
HIS MESSAGE.
>> A CONSISTENT, NATIONAL
MESSAGE WEARING A MASK AND
SOCIAL DISTANCING IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE
IMPORTANCE OF IT.
NOTHING BEATS LEADERSHIP.
>> MR. SECRETARY, MULTIPLE TIMES
WITH ME IN OUR SEVEN MINUTES SO
FAR THAT YOUVE TALKED YOUVE
BROUGHT UP MASKS AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING, BUT WITHOUT THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
DOING THIS, HOW IS HALF THE
COUNTRY GOING TO LISTEN?
HAVE YOU DIRECTLY ASKED THE
PRESIDENT TO PLEASE ASK THE
COUNTRY TO WEAR A MASK?
>> SO IM THE PRESIDENTS
SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
IM TELLING YOU, PRACTICE SOCIAL
DISTANCING WHERE YOU CANT
APPROPRIATELY SOCIAL DISTANCE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WEAR A
FACIAL COVERING.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES STOOD ON STAGE, WALKED UP
ON STAGE WEARING A MASK EVEN
THOUGH HE DOESNT NEED TO IN THE
SENSE THAT EVERYONE AROUND HIM
IS TESTED AND HES IN A BUBBLE.
THE PRESIDENT, WE KNOW IS A VERY
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE AS LEADER OF
THE FREE WORLD AND HES TESTED
CONSTANTLY AND THOSE AROUND HIM
ARE TESTED CONSTANTLY AND KEPT
AT A DISTANCE EVEN WITH THAT.
WERE ALL SAYING THIS.
THE PRESIDENTS GUIDELINES FOR
REOPENING.
THE GUIDELINES HAVE SAID FROM
DAY ONE, PRACTICE SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
IF YOU CANT, WEAR FACE
COVERINGS.
PRACTICE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL
HYGIENE AND ALWAYS PLEASE
CONSIDER YOUR INDIVIDUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES AND THOSE OF YOUR
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.
PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE.
THOSE OVER 80.
THOSE OVER 65 WITH THREE OR MORE
OF THE SERIOUS CONDITIONS AND
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WE NEED TO
PROTECT RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU JUST ARTICULATED, DO AS I
SAY, NOT AS I DO.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES HOLDING INDOOR RALLIES
TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, AND ONE
IN A STATE SEEING THE POTENTIAL
OF AN OUT OF CONTROL SPREAD, AND
YOU AVOIDED THE QUESTION WHETHER
YOUVE ASKED THE PRESIDENT TO
WEAR A MASK.
WHEN HE DOESNT DO IT HIS PEOPLE
DONT LISTEN.
>> WELL, CHUCK, IM NOT GOING TO
TALK ABOUT POLITICS, BUT WEVE
SEEN MASS GATHERINGS OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WITH PEOPLE
RIGHTLY EXPRESSING FIRST
AMENDMENT AND POLITICAL VIEWS
AND THIS IS APPROPRIATE, BUT MY
MESSAGE IS ONE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
WHICH IS IF YOURE GOING TO
PARTICIPATE ANY TYPE OF LARGE
GATHERING I ENCOURAGE YOU,
CONSIDER YOUR INDIVIDUAL
CIRCUMSTANCE, CONSIDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCE OF THOSE YOU LIVE
WITH AND TAKE APPROPRIATE
PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE
TO YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> SECRETARY AZAR, I HAVE TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND
SHARING THE ADMINISTRATIONS
PERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, CHUCK.
>>> DURING THE FIRST PEAK OF THE
COVID CRISIS ANDREW KWEM OWE WAS
ONE OF THE FACES OF THE RESPONSE
GIVING DAILY TELEVISED PRESS
BRIEFINGS AS NEW YORK BECAME THE
EPICENTER OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE
UNITED STATES.
NOW CASES AND DEATHSES ARE WAY
DOWN IN NEW YORK AND INSTEAD OF
NEW YORKERS BEING QUARANTINED
WHEN THEY TRAVEL TO STATES LIKE
FLORIDA, ITS NEW YORK THAT IS
DOING THE QUARANTINING OF OUT OF
STATE VISITORS FROM PLACES LIKE
FLORIDA.
JOINING ME NOW IS THE GOVERNOR
OF NEW YORK ANDREW CUOMO.
GOVERNOR, I WANT TO START WITH
GOVERNOR, I WANT TO START WITH
WHAT I JUST HEARD FROM SECRETARY
A
A
AZAR AND OUR CONTACT TRACING
PROBLEM IS IN THE SOUTH, AND
THIS WAS SURGE, IN YOUR OPINION,
PREVENTABLE?
>> YEAH.
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, CHUCK.
FIRST, I DONT THINK THIS IS THE
SECOND SURGE.
WERE WORRIED ABOUT A SECOND
WAVE.
I THINK WERE STILL IN THE FIRST
WAVE AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION
OF THE FIRST WAVE AND IT WAS A
FAILED EFFORT TO STOP THE FIRST
WAVE IN THE COUNTRY, AND AS YOU
POINTED OUT, NEW YORK IS IN A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACE.
LOOK, IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THE
SECRETARY SAID AND IF YOU LISTEN
TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS AT
THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING THEYRE
SAYING WHAT THEY SAID THREE
MONTHS AGO.
THEYRE BASICALLY IN DENIAL
ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
THEY DONT WANT TO TELL THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH AND
THEY DONT WANT TO HAVE ANY
FEDERAL RESPONSE EXCEPT
SUPPORTING THE STATE, SUPPORTING
THE STATES.
SO I HEARD THAT, AND I
UNDERSTOOD WHERE THEY WERE.
I DIDNT NEED TO TORTURE THE
RHETORIC.
I KNEW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.
YOURE ON YOUR OWN, YOU KNOW?
>> RIGHT.
>> ITS NOT A GOOD FEELING, BUT
ITS SORT OF LIBERATING AND IN
NEW YORK WE JUST HANDLED IT
TOTALLY DIFFERENTLY, CHUCK.
WE HANDLED IT ON OUR OWN.
COMMUNICATION, CLEAR, AS YOU
MENTIONED EVERY DAY AND THEN WE
CAME UP WITH A PLAN AND DID THE
TESTING AND DID THE ISOLATION,
AND THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
>> YOU FOLLOWED THE SET OF
GUIDELINES I POINTED OUT.
I REMEMBER THIS DISTINCTLY, ONLY
ONE TIME DID WE HEAR THE WHITE
HOUSE DESCRIBE THE GATING
CRITERIA AND THEN THAT PHRASE
DISAPPEARED.
AND YOU GUYS CREATED YOUR OWN
AND IN ALL HONESTLY, HOW HARD
WILL IT BE HARD TO STOP ANOTHER
RESURGENCE IN THE STATE IF THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY IS
STRUGGLING THE WAY ITS
STRUGGLING.
>> WELL, THATS OUR PROBLEM.
LOOK, THE CDC GUIDELINE, FIRST
OF ALL ARE JUST GUIDELINES AND
THEY WERE VERY VAGUE AND I DONT
EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY MEANT.
THE TROISAJECTORY HAS TO BE COMI
DOWN AND WE PUT IN PLACE OUR OWN
METRICS WHERE WE USED SCIENCE
AND WE WOULDNT OPEN ANY REGION
UNLESS THEY HIT CERTAIN METRICS
AND THEN WE HAVE A PHASED
REOPENING AND WE LOOK AT A
NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND YOU
HAVE THE TESTING UP AND WE DO
MORE TESTING THAN ANY STATE IN
THE UNITED STATES, CHUCK.
WE DO MORE TESTING PER CAPITA
THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE GLOBE.
THE TESTING IS THE KEY.
YOU DO THE ISOLATION, AND YOU
HAVE ENOUGH PPE AND ENOUGH ICU
BEDS AND THEN YOU -- FROM THE
TESTING, YOU HAVE A RATE OF
TRANSMISSION THAT YOU CAN
MONITOR AND YOU PROCEED THROUGH
THE PHASES IF YOU HIT THAT RATE
OF TRANSMISSION.
THIS IS A VIRUS.
IT DOESNT RESPOND TO POLITICS.
YOU CANT TWEET AT IT.
YOU HAVE TO TREAT IT, AND WE
NEVER DID THAT.
NOW MY FEAR IS WE HAD TODAY FIVE
DEATHS.
NOW WE -- WE OFFER THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS TO EVERY DEATH IN OUR
STATE, BUT FIVE DEATHS IS THE
THE LOWEST NUMBER WEVE HAD
SINCE THIS STARTED, CHUCK.
WE ARE IN THE EXACT OPPOSITE
END.
WE HAVE LESS THAN 800 PEOPLE IN
HOSPITALS.
LOWEST NUMBER BASICALLY SINCE WE
STARTED.
HOW DOES THAT NUMBER GO UP IN
TWO WAYS.
LACK OF COMPLIANCE, AND IM
DILIGENT ABOUT STAYING AFTER NEW
YORKERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THAT HAVE TO POLICE IT.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND SECOND, IM NOW AFRAID OF
THE SPREAD COMING FROM OTHER
STATES BECAUSE WE ARE ONE
COUNTRY AND PEOPLE TRAVEL, AND
IM AFRAID THE INFECTION RATE IN
THE OTHER STATES WILL COME BACK
TO NEW YORK AND RAISE THAT RATE
AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IF GOVERNOR DESANTIS CALLS YOU
UP THIS AFTERNOON, AND GOVERNOR
ABBOTT CALLS YOU UP THIS
AFTERNOON OF TEXAS AND FLORIDA
AND SAID LETS SET POLITICS
ASIDE AND I KNOW WE MOUTHED OFF
AT YOU A LITTLE BIT, WHATS YOUR
RECOMMENDATION?
WHAT SHOULD WE DO HERE?
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
>> ILL TELL YOU, I DONT WAIT
FOR THEM TO CALL.
THIS IS NEW YORK.
WERE PROACTIVE.
MY TEAM HAS CALLED THEIR TEAMS
AND SAID LOOK, CAN WE HELP?
WHEN WE WERE IN TROUBLE, CHUCK,
WE HAD STATES ALL ACROSS THE
NATION WHO CAME TO HELP US.
WE HAD 30,000 VOLUNTEERS FROM
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHO
CAME TO HELP US.
SO I CALLED THOSE STATES AND I
SAID ANY WAY WE CAN HELP.
WEVE GONE THROUGH IT.
WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND WE
HAVE THE STAFF AND WE HAVE THE
TESTING PROTOCOLS AND WE HAVE
THE TESTING SOFTWARE AND WE HAVE
THE TRACING PROGRAM.
DID WE HELP?
ANYTHING YOU NEED, VENTILATORS,
ET CETERA AND THATS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO FROM A COMMUNITY
POINT OF VIEW AND A CITIZENRY
POINT OF VIEW.
THERES ALSO A PAROCHIAL
INTEREST WHICH IS IF THESE
STATES KEEP GOING UP, WELL HAVE
A NATIONAL CRISIS LIKE WE HAVE
NEVER SEEN.
THEY SAID THIS WAS THE WAY TO
HELP THE ECONOMY BY REOPENING
AND ITS BEEN THE EXACT
OPPOSITE.
EVERY TIME THE VIRUS GOES UP,
THE STOCK MARKET GOES DOWN AND
IF THOSE -- IF THOSE STATES
CONTINUE TO INCREASE YOULL SEE
IT GO ALL ACROSS THE NATION.
YOULL SEE NEW YORK ON THE RISE
AGAIN AND YOULL SEE THE OTHER
STATES STARTING TO GO UP EVEN
MORE.
>> HAS THIS -- YOU HAVE NOT
RELEASED A SCHOOL OPENING PLAN.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS OUT, BUT IM
CURIOUS NOW BECAUSE THIS IS MY
FEAR IS THAT THIS NEW SURGE OR
SPIKE THAT WERE SEEING IN THE
SOUTH IS NOW GOING TO DELAY
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICTS PLANS
FOR CREATING MAYBE A DUAL HYBRID
SYSTEM OF SOME IN PERSON, SOME
REMOTE, UNIVERSITIES.
ARE YOU NOW THINKING THAT MAYBE
WE MIGHT NOT SEE EVERYTHING GOES
REMOTE NOW IN THE FALL GIVEN
WERE LIVING WITH THIS VIRUS
UNTIL THERES A VACCINE?
>> WELL, FIRST -- ON THE FIRST
POINT, YES, I AGREE WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCE AND THE
PRESIDENT SAID WE SHOULD REOPEN
AND THATS GOING TO HELP THE
ECONOMY.
IT TURNED OUT TO BE EXACTLY
WRONG, BUT THERES ALSO A SOCIAL
CONSEQUENCE.
CHILDREN HAVE MISSED SCHOOLS.
CHILDREN HAVE MISSED INTERACTION
WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND THATS
PART OF THE SOCIALIZATION
PROCESS.
WE ARE PREPARING TO OPEN SCHOOLS
AND WE HAVE PLANS TO OPEN
SCHOOLS, BUT LOOK, CHUCK, ILL
BE HONEST WITH YOU.
ITS TWO MONTHS AWAY.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN TWO
MONTHS.
YOU LOOK BACK TWO MONTHS AND YOU
SEE HOW MANY THINGS HAVE
CHANGED.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE INFECTION
RATE IS AND WHAT THE DISEASE IS
DOING BEFORE WE PULL THE TRIGGER
AND MAKE THE DECISION.
WERE LOOKING AT THIS
KAWASAKI-LIKE SYNDROME THAT IS
NOW IS AN INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME
WHO AFFECTS CHILDREN WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY INFECTED WITH COVID.
I MEAN THSHGS IS COMPLICATED SO
LETS GET THE FACTS AND WELL
MAKE THE DECISION WHEN WE HAVE
TO, BUT WERE PREPARED AND IF
THIS CONTINUES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, YOURE RIGHT, CHUCK.
KIDS ARE GOING TO BE HOME FOR A
LONG TIME.
>> AND FINAL QUESTION, WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS, ABOUT NURSING HOMES
BEFORE, AND YOUVE TAKEN SOME
HEAT ON THE DIRECTIVE AND YOU
SAID YOU WERE FOLLOWING A
NATIONAL DIRECTIVE, BUT LET ME
ASK IT AGAIN, SIMILARLY AT THIS
POINT, DO YOU THINK THESE SENIOR
CENTERS ARE SAFE.
PERIOD?
>> YEAH.
LOOK, THERES -- IVE TAKEN
POLITICAL HEAT, OKAY?
THERE ARE FACTS AND THERES
POLITICS.
THERES NO DOUBT IN NURSING
HOMES ACROSS THIS NATION.
THATS WHERE WE SAW MOST OF THE
DEATHS AND NOT MOST, BUT ALMOST
50% OF THE DEATHS AND SENIOR
CITIZENS IN CON GROW GHANTT
SETTINGS AND IT IS BECOMING MORE
AND MORE CLEAR THAT THE
INFECTION AND THE NURSING HOMES
CAME FROM THE STAFF THAT GOT
INFECTED AND BROUGHT IT IN, BUT
IN NEW YORK WERE NUMBER 46 IN
THE NATION IN TERMS OF
PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS AT NURSING
HOMES COMPARED TO THE TOTAL
PERCENTAGE.
BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WERE
NUMBER 46.
SO ITS BEEN UNFORTUNATE.
IN EVERY STATE WE HAVE TO DO
MORE AND FIGURE IT OUT, BUT IF
THEY WANT TO POINT FINGER, NOT
AT NEW YORK.
WERE 46.
YOU HAVE 45 OTHER STATES TO
POINT FINGERS AT FIRST.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
ARE THESE SAFE?
ARE THESE FACILITIES SAFE IN
YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW?
>> THEY ARE AS SAFE -- THEY ARE
AS SAFE -- WELL, IN THIS STATE
WERE TESTING EVERY WEEK.
EVERY NURSING HOME EMPLOYEE,
RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
SO YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THEY ARE
SAFER THAN A SENIOR CITIZEN AT
HOME WHO IS RECEIVING CARE AT
HOME.
THE SAFEST ENVIRONMENT, MY
MOTHER, STAY HOME, DONT SEE
ANYONE.
IF YOU ARE AT HOME AND YOU HAVE
AN
AN AIDE COMING IN THAT AIDE IS
NOT TESTED AND IN A NURSING HOME
THAT STAFF IS TESTED ONCE A WEEK
AND SENIORS DO HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL WHEREVER THEY ARE.
>> GOVERNOR CUOMO, ID LOVE TO
KEEP GOING AND I APPRECIATE YOU
COMING ON SHARING YOUR
PERSPECTIVE WITH US.
STAY SAFE OUT
ITS BEEN ONLY FIVE DAYS SINCE
ITS BEEN ONLY FIVE DAYS SINCE
JOHN BOLTONS BOOK "THE ROOM
WHERE IT HAPPENED" HIT
BOOKSTORES.
IN THAT TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
CALL HIS FORMER NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER, A FOOL, CRAZY
AND SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO DROP
BOMBS ON EVERYONE.
BOLTON HAS DROPPED VERBAL BOMBS.
HES EASILY DUPED BY
ADVERSARIES, IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE
AND HAS USED HIS POWER AS
PRESIDENT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
JOINING ME IS THE AUTHOR OF SAID
BOOK.
WELCOME BACK TO "MEET THE
PRESS," SIR.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELL, BEFORE WE GET TO THE
SUBSTANCE OF YOUR BOOK, I WANT
TO GET TO WHAT WE JUST LEARNED
OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS.
THERE WAS REPORTING THIS WEEKEND
THAT AN ARM OF RUSSIAN MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE HAS SECRETLY BEEN
PAYING BOUNTIES TO
TALIBAN-LINKED MILITIAS TO KILL
AMERICAN AND OTHER COALITION
FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN.
THERES A LOT WE DONT KNOW.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
CONFIRMED OR DENIED THE
INTELLIGENCE REPORT.
THEY HAVE ONLY SIMPLY DENIED
THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS INFORMED
IN MARCH OF THIS.
IM JUST CURIOUS OF YOUR INITIAL
REACTION TO THIS REPORT,
AMBASSADOR.
>> WELL, AS YOU SAY, THERES A
LOT WE DONT KNOW SO WE SHOULD
BE CAUTIOUS, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW
FROM THE PRESIDENTS OWN TWEETS
THIS MORNING TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE
JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE
OF THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE.
I NEVER RECALLED A CIRCUMSTANCE
WHERE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF GOES
OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY HE WASNT
BRIEFED ON SOMETHING.
WE MAY BE IN WHAT THE DEFINITION
OF IS, IS HERE.
WHEN YOU SAY BRIEFED, DOES THAT
MEAN HES NEVER BEEN TOLD
ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT WE DONT
KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE
INTELLIGENCE OR THE EXTENT OF
IT, IF IT DOES GO BACK TO MARCH
THAT RAISES OTHER QUESTIONS, AND
THE KEY POINT IS IF THERES ANY
ACCURACY TO IT, IF THE RUSSIANS
HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PAYING TO SEE
AMERICANS KILLED, THAT IS A
VERY, VERY SERIOUS MATTER.
IM JUST CURIOUS.
IF THERE WAS AN INTELLIGENCE
ASSESSMENT LIKE THIS, CAN YOU
IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE IT IS
WITHHELD FROM THE PRESIDENT?
THAT PART OF IT JUST SEEMS
EXTRAORDINARILY
EXTRAORDINARILY HARD TO BELIEVE,
IS IT NOT FOR YOU?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE LEVEL
OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
INTELLIGENCE IS, I TRIED DURING
MY TENURE AT MY WHITE HOUSE TO
READ AS MUCH INTELLIGENCE AS I
COULD.
THAT DOESNT MEAN I PASSED ALL
OF IT ON TO TRUMP AND OTHERS.
I THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THERE NEEDS TO BE A
FILTER FOR ANY PRESIDENT, MAYBE
PARTICULARLY FOR THIS PRESIDENT.
THERES OBVIOUSLY MORE TO THIS
STORY, BUT IT IS REMARKABLE TO
SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING
OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY HE DOESNT
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WHY WOULD HE SAY SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
THE ANSWER MAY BE PRECISELY
BECAUSE AN ACTIVE RUSSIAN
AGGRESSION LIKE THAT AGAINST
AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS IS A
VERY, VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND
FLG
NOTHINGS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT, IF
ITS TRUE, FOR THE PAST FOUR OR
FIVE MONTHS.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE HES NEGLIGENT
AND HE COULD DISOWN EVERYTHING
IF NOBODY EVER TOLD HIM ABOUT
IT.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, DO YOU
THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
AFRAID TO MAKE PUTIN MAD BECAUSE
MAYBE PUTIN DID HELP HIM WIN THE
ELECTION AND HE DOESNT WANT TO
MAKE HIM MAD FOR 2020?
>> HONESTLY, I DONT THINK
THERES EVIDENCE FOR THAT, AND I
THINK ITS A MISTAKE ON THE ONE
HAND TO SAY THE RUSSIA COLLUSION
THEORY WAS TRUE WHICH SOME
OPPONENTS OF TRUMP STILL CANT
LET GO OF --
>> IM NOT SAYING COLLUSION.
IM NOT SAYING COLLUSION ON
THIS.
>> HANG ON.
HANG ON.
HANG ON.
VERSUS THE DONALD TRUMP APPROACH
WHICH IS THE RUSSIANS DIDNT DO
ANYTHING AT ALL IN THE ELECTION.
I THINK ITS CLEAR FROM ALL OF
THE DATA AND DISCUSSED PUBLICLY,
OF COURSE, THE RUSSIANS TRIED TO
INTERFERE IN THE 2016 ELECTION
AND THEYLL TRY TO DO IT AGAIN
THIS YEAR AS WILL THE CHINESE
AND MAYBE THE IRANIANS AND THE
NORTH KOREANS.
THATS WHY DURING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER THE
PRESIDENT WAS FULLY COGNIZANT OF
IT OR NOT, THE AGENCIES AND
DEPARTMENTS CHARGED WITH TRYING
TO PREVENT THAT WORKED VERY HARD
TO INCREASE OUR DEFENSES.
SO WHY IS THE PRESIDENT SO
DEFENSIVE ABOUT PUTIN?
I DONT -- AS I SAY, I DONT
READ ANYTHING INTO IT
NECESSARILY.
IF I HAD EVIDENCE I WOULD REVEAL
IT.
I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY
OTHER THAN HE LIKES DEALING WITH
STRONG, AUTHORITARIAN FIGURES.
>> YOUVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU
THINK THE PRESIDENT IS UNFIT FOR
OFFICE.
DO YOU THINK A SECOND TERM OF
DONALD TRUMP IS AN EXISTENTIAL
THREAT TO THE COUNTRY?
>> IM VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT.
I THINK DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE IN
THE FIRST TERM AND I LAY IT OUT
AS I SEE IT.
I BELIEVE AMERICA CAN RECOVER
FROM ONE TERM OF DONALD TRUMP.
I BELIEVE THAT VERY, VERY
STRONGLY.
IM MORE WORRIED ABOUT A SECOND
TERM AND ITS NOT JUST DECISIONS
IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE.
IM WORRIED ABOUT THE CORRUPTION
OF THE CIVIL DISCOURSE IN THIS
COUNTRY BY A PRESIDENT WHO SAYS
THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU
QUOTED AT THE OUTSET OF OUR
DISCUSSION.
I THINK IT -- I THINK IT
DEGRADES THE BODY POLITICS.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE
DOING THE SAME THING, DONT GET
ME WRONG, AND I THINK IT IS
UNPRESIDENTIAL TO BEHAVE THAT
WAY AND THAT WILL HAVE SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCEES.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE
IMPEACHMENT AND YOUR DECISION
NOT TO TESTIFY.
FIONA HILL, WHO IS THE NATIONAL
SECURITY COUNSELOR WHO DID
TESTIFY DURING THE HOUSE
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION AND
THERE WAS THIS ANECDOTE IN THERE
AMBASSADOR, AFTER HILLS
TESTIMONY BOLTON ASKED SARAH
TINSLEY, A LONGTIME AIDE TO
RELAY A PERSONAL MESSAGE.
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
IF IT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR
FIONA HILL, SIR, WHY WASNT IT
THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU?
>> BECAUSE I WAS IN A DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCE.
MY DEPUTY CHARLIE KUPPERMAN WAS
SUBPOENAED BY THE HOUSE NOT TO
TESTIFY.
HE WENT TO HOUSE.
YOU HAVE THE ONE BRANCH, THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SAYING ONE
THING AND THE JUDICIAL BRANCH TO
GET THE ANSWER AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WROTE THE
SUBPOENA.
IVE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK AND THE
HOUSE ADVOCATES OF IMPEACHMENT
COMMITTED IMPEACHMENT
MALPRACTICE.
I THINK THEY PLAYED RIGHT INTO
DONALD TRUMPS STRATEGY, AND
LOST TO HIM, CREATING A PARTISAN
ISSUE WHEN THEY MIGHT HAVE
GOTTEN SOME REPUBLICANS WHO
COULD HAVE HELPED OUT AND BY THE
END OF THE PROCESS I THINK
EVERYBODY, INCLUDING ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE BELIEVE THAT
THERE WAS A QUID PRO QUO IN
UKRAINE, BUT THE HOUSE EFFORT
DIDNT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE WHITE HOUSE
WOULD ARGUE SUCCESSFULLY THAT
EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE IT DIDNT
RISE TO THE LEVEL OF AN
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY TO
DO THIS.
WE SAW IT IN WATERGATE WHEN
THERE WAS BIPARTISAN
COOPERATION.
IF I WERE ONE OF THOSE THAT HAD
ADVOCATED IMPEACH AM IN THE
HOUSE I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR
OTHER PEOPLE TO BLAME AT THE
MOMENT, TOO.
>> FINAL QUESTION.
YOUVE MADE THE CASE THAT A
SECOND TERM OF DONALD TRUMP
WOULD BE REALLY DAMAGING.
YOU HAVE SAID, THOUGH, THAT YOU
CANNOT SUPPORT A JOE BIDEN
CANDIDACY.
WHAT IS WORSE, IN YOUR MIND?
A SECOND TRUMP TERM OR A FIRST
TERM OF JOE BIDEN?
>> ITS A COMPARISON OF APPLES
AND ORANGES.
IM VERY UNHAPPY AND I DONT
THINK IM UNTYPICAL OF A LOT OF
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO
REALLY WISH THERE WAS A
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN ON THE
BALLOT.
SOME WILL VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN.
I RESPECT THAT.
IM NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
IM GOING TO WRITE IN THE NAME
OF A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.
I THINK OTHERS WILL PROBABLY
JUST NOT VOTE AT THE
PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL AT ALL.
ITS NOT AN EASY CHOICE.
ITS NOT A HAPPY CHOICE AND I
WISH THERE WERE AN ALTERNATIVE.
MAYBE ONE WILL COME.
I DONT SEE IT, BUT THATS WHERE
WE ARE AT THE MOMENT.
>> AND YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU
REALLY WANT TO FOCUS HELPING
RESPECT REPS
REPUBLICANS KEEP THE SENATE.
SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE ENABLED
DONALD TRUMP TOO MUCH AND THEY
ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIS CRITIQUE?
>> WELL, I HAVE ENORMOUS RESPECT
FOR GEORGE WILL AND HAVE OVER
THE YEARS.
LOOK, THIS IS PART OF, I THINK,
THE DAMAGE TO THE POLITICAL
SYSTEM THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS
DONE, THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN
TORQUED AROUND DONALD TRUMP
PERSONALLY.
I THINK POLITICS IS ABOUT
PHILOSOPHY AND THATS WHY I
THINK ULTIMATELY IT IS CRITICAL
FOR THE REPUBLIC THAT THE
REPUBLICAN KEEP THE MAJORITY IN
THE SENATE WHETHER TRUMP WINS OR
LOSES.
>> AMBASSADOR BOLTON, I HAVE TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON,
SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
THE BOOK HAS MADE QUITE THE
FLASH, AND I HAVE A FEELING IT
MAY LINGER FOR SOME TIME.
GOOD LUCK OUT THERE.
>> WELL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE
POLLING, ALL THE POLLING HAS
POLLING, ALL THE POLLING HAS
GOTTEN MUCH WOR FORSE
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
THE PANEL IS WITH US FROM THEIR
REMOTE LOCATIONS.
EDDIE GLAUDE JR., NBC NEWS
CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT KASIE
HUNT AND HUGH HEWITT, HOST ON
THE SALEM RADIO NETWORK.
I WANT TO BEGIN WITH AN ANSWER
THAT HAS MADE THE ROUNDS IN THE
POLITICAL WORLD AND IT WAS AN
ANSWER THE PRESIDENT GAVE TO A
SIMPLE QUESTION SEAN HANNITY
ASKED HIM WHEN HE SAID WHATS
YOUR AGENDA FOR A SECOND TERM.
HERE IT IS, HUGH HEWITT.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITY
ITEMS FOR A SUCCESS TERM.
>> ONE OF THE WORD IS STILL VERY
GOOD.
I THINK TALENT IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EXPERIENCE, IVE ALWAYS
SAID THAT, BUT THE WORD
EXPERIENCE SAY VERY IMPORTANT
WORD.
ITS
IT HAS AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
I NEVER SLEPT OVER IN
WASHINGTON, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
IM PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
YOU KNOW THE STORY, IM RIDING
DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE WITH
THE FIRST LADY AND I SAY THIS IS
GREAT, BUT I DIDNT KNOW VERY
MANY PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON.
IT WASNT MY THING.
I WAS FROM MANHATTAN AND FROM
NEW YORK AND NOW I KNOW
EVERYBODY AND I HAVE GREAT
PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
YOU MAKE SOME MESSISTAKES LIKE
BOLTON WHO ONLY WANTS TO DROP
BOMBS ON EVERYBODY.
>> THE PRESIDENT DID WANT THROW
THE PITCH WHICH IS WELL GET
BACK TO 3.5% UNEMPLOYMENT IN
JANUARY, AND I HAVE TWO SUPREME
COURT JUSTICES AND 53 APPEALS
COURT JUDGES AND 143 DISTRICT
COURT JUDGES.
WERE GOING HAVE THE ECONOMIC
BLUE COLLAR BOOM BACK.
YOUVE GOT TO DELIVER ON THE
PITCH, BUT NO, I DIDNT THINK IT
WAS A ROGER MUDD MOMENT AT ALL.
>> KASIE HUNT, WE HAVE STARTED
THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME
PUBLIC ON THE RECORD CRITICISM
OF THE PRESIDENTS POLITICAL
MESSAGING, JOHN THUNE, PROBABLY
THE MOST PROMINENT.
IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A
CRACK, AT LEAST, IN A RHETORICAL
SPLINT BETWEEN SENATE
REPUBLICANS AND THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> WELL, CHUCK, WEVE ASKED
OURSELVES THAT OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, AND IT NEVER HAS
BEEN, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
PRESIDENT PREVIOUSLY WAS
WINNING.
HE HAD REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BEHIND
HIM AND THE THEORY WAS THAT THE
REPUBLICAN BASE WAS GOING TO GET
THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND
THEREFORE BRING SENATE
REPUBLICANS ALONG AND THIS
PANDEMIC, I THINK, HAS REALLY
SHATTERED THAT THEORY OF THE
CASE AS WE HAVE SEEN THIS
PRESIDENTS NUMBERS SINK IN A
SUBSTANTIAL WAY, AND I DONT
THINK YOU CAN DISCONNECT THAT
FROM THE RHETORIC THIS WERE
HEARING FROM SENATE REPUBLICANS.
AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS ISNT A
SITUATION WHERE THE ONLY
AMERICANS WHO ARE FOLLOWING
POLITICS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
THE MOST INVESTED, THE MOST
PARTISAN.
THE CORONAVIRUS HAS AFFECTED AND
TOUCHED EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN
HOUSEHOLD.
THE NUMBERS OF AMERICANS WHO
KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS DIED FROM
CORONAVIRUS ARE TERRIBLY HIGH,
AND THEYRE MUCH HIGHER AMONG
HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR WHO ARE ALSO
NEWLY RE-ENGAGED IN THE WAKE OF
GEORGE FLOYDS DEATH AND IF YOU
ARE SOMEONE WHO IS RELYING ON
THE PRESIDENTS COATTAILS TO GET
YOU ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN
NOVEMBER, THIS IS A VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE.
NOW, I THINK, THE SENSE IS GOING
TO BE ESPECIALLY FOR MANY VOTERS
WHO HAVE BEEN TUNED INTO THIS
ALL OF THE WAY ALONG THAT IT IS
FAR TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR
THESE REPUBLICANS TO BREAK WITH
THE PRESIDENT AT THIS STAGE,
CHUCK.
>> RIGHT.
>> EDDIE, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE
ITS BEEN THE VIRUS THAT HAS
PRODUCED THE FIRST CRACKS IN
THAT FLOOR OF SUPPORT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE NOTICED
THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SITTING
AT THE 44, 45 MARK STUBBORNLY,
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED AND THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME YOURE
STARTING TO SEE CRACKS AND HE
WENT DOWN A COUPLE OF FLOORS AND
HES MORE IN THE 40, 41 AGE.
WHY THE VIRUS -- HOW DID THE
VIRUS MAKE THIS HAPPEN WHILE
NONE OF THOSE OTHER STORIES DID?
>> IN SOME WAY, CHUCK, THE VIRUS
ISNT PARTISAN.
IT DOESNT CARE ABOUT POLITICS
TO MY MIND AND WHAT IT HAS DONE
IN SOME WAYS IT HAS CREATED A
CONTINUITY AND A SIMILARITY
ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES.
WERE ALL VULNERABLE, AND SOME
ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN OTHER,
AND WERE ALL STRONG DEAL WITH
THE FACT THAT SOME OF US HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES AND WE CANT
SEND THEM HOME.
WE CANT ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS
AND WE CANT CELEBRATE THEIR
LIVES LIKE WE WANTED TO, LIKE WE
WOULD DO.
SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE
DAY, ORDINARY PEOPLE AROUND THE
COUNTRY WANT A RESPONSE FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO A PANDEMIC
THAT HAS DISRUPTED EVERYTHING IN
OUR LIVES AND I THINK THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED AND IT
HAS FAILED NOT ONLY DEMOCRATS
AND INDEPENDENTS.
ITS FAILED ALL OF AMERICANS.
>> HUGH, HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE
THE PRESIDENT TO TURN THIS
AROUND?
IT DOES LOOK LIKE AT THIS POINT
THEYVE MADE THE DECISION AND
SECRETARY AZAR KEPT BRINGING IT
BACK TO THE STATES, BACK TO THE
STATES.
I UNDERSTAND THATS A FEDERALISM
RESPONSE, BUT ITS NOT WORKING.
>> WELL, YESTERDAY 500 AMERICANS
DIED, CHUCK, AND IN GERMANY 680
GERMANS DIED.
THE UNITED STATES DEATH TOLL
HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY FROM
MAY WHEN IT WAS 2700 AND IN
BETWEEN ITS BEEN A MONTH AND
THREE DAYS SINCE GEORGE FLOYD
WAS MURDERED.
IN BETWEEN WE HAD MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS EXPRESS THEIR ANGER AT
OVERZEALOUS POLICING AND THE
UNNECESSARY USE OF VIOLENCE
OFTEN LETHAL AGAINST
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND THAT WAS
AN EVENT IN THE STORY OF THIS
VIRUS.
THERES ANOTHER EVENT IN THE
STORY OF THE VIRUS.
THERES A VENTILATOR SUPPLY NOW
OF 50,000 THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT
DONE.
THERE IS A LOT MORE SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND A LOT OF OLDER
AMERICANS ARE INTUITIVELY
STAYING AWAY AND THE SHARP RISE
IN CASES IS AMONG YOUNGER
AMERICANS.
SO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TO DO,
LOOK, JOE BIDEN IS VERY
CONFIDENT.
HES MEASURE THE DRAPES IN THE
WHITE HOUSE BASEMENT ALREADY.
HE THINKS HES GOT THIS IN THE
BAG.
THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO GO BACK
TO HIS NUMBERS AND SAY HEY,
AMERICA, WHO WILL GET US BACK TO
WHERE WE WERE IN JANUARY.
JOE BIDEN IN THE BASEMENT AND
DONALD TRUMP, AND I THINK HE HAS
TO DO THAT WITH ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE INCLUDING
YOU AND PEOPLE THAT ARE TOUGH ON
HIM IN CONVERSATION AND AN
INTERVIEW, A ONE-ON-ONE.
>> DO THEY WANT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MORE
RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS RESPONSE?
>> YES.
YES.
ABSOLUTELY YES.
THIS HAS BEEN AN UNMITIGATED
DISASTER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
MANY OF THEM.
IM SORRY, BUT THIS PICTURE THAT
THE WORLD WAS IN JANUARY AND
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE ONE
TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT FRANKLY
CASCADED ON HIS WATCH SEEMS TO
ME TO BE CERTAINLY WHEN I TALK
TO SENATE REPUBLICANS BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS THEY DONT BUY.
?
IM GOING TO PAUSE THE
CONVERSATION HERE, BUT I PROMISE
EVERYBODYS GOT ANOTHER SHOT AT
THIS IN A MOMENT.
WHEN WE COME BACK, JUST HOW FAR
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
DATA DOWNLOAD TIME.
LETS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE
UNITED STATES IS DOING COMPARED
TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN
CONTROLLING THE CORONAVIRUS.
AT 107 CASES PER ONE MILLION
PEOPLE THE UNITED STATES HAS ONE
OF THE HIGHEST INFECTION RATES
IN THE WORLD.
BRAZILS IS HIGHER WITH A
SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF 763
INFECTIOUSES PER ONE MILLION.
RUSSIA AND INDIAN ARE ALSO IN
DOUBLE DIGITS PER ONE MILLION
PEOPLE AND WE CANT BE SURE HOW
ACCURATE THE REPORTING IS IN ALL
CASES.
AT OTHER END OF THE DATA,
GERMANY AND ITALY HAVE MADE
LARGE STRIDES IN CONTAINING THE
VIRUS.
BOTH WERE WITH 60 NEW INFECTIONS
PER MILLION AT ONE POINT AND ARE
NOW IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND AS
WE PASS THE SIX-MONTH MARK OF
THE VIRUS IN THE COUNTRIES, THE
DATA FIRST INFECTION DOES NOT
SEEM TO BE PLAYING INTO
INFECTION RATES EITHER.
THE EARLIEST INFECTION CASE WAS
JANUARY 21st WITH ALL OF THE
OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE BRAZIL
FOLLOWING A WEEK OR SO LATER.
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONLY
THE WEALTHIEST NATION.
WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST HEALTH
CARE SPENDING OF ANY OF THESE
NATIONS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ARGUES THE
NUMBERS ARE ONLY RISING BECAUSE
THE UNITED STATES IS TESTING
MORE, BUT THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT
OTHER FACTORS ARE DRIVING THIS
INCREASE.
THE UNITED STATES POSITIVE TEST
RATE IS 6%.
COMPARE TO GERMANY AT 8.9% AND
ITALY WHERE THE POSITIVE CASES
ARE LOWER THAN 1%, ACTUALLY.
ONE SPRING OF THE STRUGGLING
COUNTRIES THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE
IN COMMON IS LEADERS LIKE
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND BRAZIL WHO
HAVE PLAYED DOWN THE THREAT OF
THE VIRUS.
OF COURSE, NO ONE LEADER IS
ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
INFECTION RATES, BUT AS THE
PANDEMIC CONTINUE THE POLITICS
AND DATA SEEM TO CARRY A WARNING
THAT THE VOICES AT THE TOP
MATTER AND THEY MAY MATT AER
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
PANEL IS BACK.
KASIE HUNT, IM GOING TO START
BY GIVING A HAT TIP TO THE TEAM
WHO PUT TOGETHER A SORT OF WERE
HERE AT THE HALF WAY MARK OF
THIS CALENDAR YEAR ON THESE ARE
THE NOTABLE IMPORTANT NEWS
EVENTS OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS
OF THIS YEAR AND IT STARTS WITH
THE KILLING OF SULEIMANI.
IM SURE, MANY AMERICANS FORGOT
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THIS
YEAR.
REMEMBER THE IOWA CAUCUSES BROKE
DOWN.
WE DIDNT KNOW WHO THE WINNER
WAS THERE FOR A WHILE AND THERE
WAS A POINT JOE BIDEN WAS IN
FIFTH PLACE AND WE CAN GO ON AND
ON AND ON AND AT SOME POINT THE
VIRUS BECOMES A DOMINANT
FEATURE.
IN GOING THROUGH THIS EXERCISE
WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THERES
STILL A LONG TIME TO GO, AND I
LOOK AT THIS LIST, BOY, A LOT
HAS HAPPENED AND NOTHING HAS
CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS
FOR DONALD TRUMP.
>> CHUCK, I DO THINK THAT WHILE
ON THE ONE HAND ITS EASY TO
LOOK AT THAT LIST AND THINK,
MAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO ADD TO
IT BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.
THERE ARE MANY POSSIBILITIES
THAT I THINK A LOT OF US DONT
EVEN WANT TO CONTEMPLATE AND
HISTORY TEACHES US THAT HEADING
INTO ANY ELECTION THIS IS A
PERIOD OF TIME THAT SETS THINGS
NOT NECESSARILY IN STONE, BUT ON
A PRETTY FIRM TRAJECTORY THAT IS
VERY DIFFICULT TO ORIENT.
IF YOU REMEMBER TO WHEN BARACK
OBAMA WAS RUNNING AGAINST MITT
RM ME.
THEY DEFINED HIM IN THIS SPRING
AND SUMMER PERIOD AND THEY JUST
COULDNT COME BACK IN THE FALL
AND THATS THE BIG RISK HERE FOR
PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT THIS TIME
OF YEAR IS GOING TO CEMENT WHEN
HE IS ABLE TO DO OR NOT DO IN
THE FALL, AND I THINK, OF
COURSE, THE CHALLENGE FOR JOE
BIDENS CAMPAIGN IS AVOIDING
COMPLACENCY UNDER THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND I DO THINK
THEY ARE REMEMBERING TO WHAT
HAPPENED TO HILLARY CLINTON, AND
I THINK THAT COMPLACENCY IS NOT
AS BIG OF A RISK FOR HIM BECAUSE
OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
>> HUGH HEWITT, IF THERE WAS A
MESSAGE OF THE WEEK FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS THAT THEY
WANTED TO SHOW THAT THERE WAS A
CONCERTED EFFORT HERE AND THEY
WERE ON THE SIDE OF PROTECTING
STATUES AND THE ADMINISTRATION
AND YOU HAD THE BARR LETTER AND
YOU HAD THE LETTER TO SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THE SOCIAL
LETTER TO CHICAGO.
DO YOU THINK AN OLD-STYLE LAW
AND ORDER TYPE OF MESSAGING
REALLY IS THE RIGHT MESSAGING
RIGHT NOW?
>> I HEARD A DIFFERENT MESSAGE,
CHUCK.
I THINK THERES A CONSENSUS THAT
THE STATUES OF THE CONFEDERACY
HAVE TO COME DOWN.
THE BASES NAMED FOR TREASONOUS
PEOPLE HAVE TO BE RENAMED.
I THINK THE JOHN STENNIS CARRIER
HAS TO BE RENAMED AND HE WAS A
STONE COLD RACIST.
IT SHOULD BE CHANGED NOT BY MOB
VIOLENCE TALKING ABOUT MOB
VIOLENCE AND THE LINCOLNS
SPEECH WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.
I DO BELIEVE WHAT KASIE JUST
SAID COMPLACENCY IS THE DANGER
AND THEYVE GONE HARD LEFT AND
JOE BIDEN IS NOT GOING TO COVER
OVER THE AOC AND THE SQUADS
EFFECT ON THE PARTY.
>> EDDIE GLAUDE, YOUR SCHOOL,
PRINCETON, IS DROPPING WILSONS
NAME.
ITS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW YOU
WRITE ABOUT IN YOUR BOOK.
IT LOOKS LIKE MISSISSIPPI IS ON
ITS WAY TO DROPPING THE
CONFEDERATE EMBLEM THAT WAS IN
THEIR STATE FLAG BEING THE
SOUTHERN FINAL STATE TO DO THIS.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US AND
THE STORY OF AMERICA?
>> WERE AT A POINT OF
RECKONING.
I DONT THINK WHAT BROTHER
HEWITT JUST LAID OUT IN FEAR OF
THE RADICAL LEFT IS WHATS GOING
TO DRIVE US.
ITS OUR STORY AND WHO DO WE
TAKE OURSELVES TO BE.
MISSISSIPPI PUT IT ON THE FLAG
IN 1894 AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SEC SAID WE MIGHT NOT HAVE
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS IN YOUR
STATE IF YOU CONTINUE TO EMBRACE
THE CONFEDERACY.
SO THERES BIG BUSINESS THATS
BRINGING PRESSURE TO BEAR ASKND
THERES EVERYDAY ORDINARY PEOPLE
WHAT ARE YOU COMMENDING US WHO
HELD THIS VIEW THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE INFERIOR.
IN SOME SENSE, WE ARE AT AN
INFLEXION POINT AND WERE TRYING
TO IMAGINE OURSELVES DIFFERENTLY
AND IT WILL NOT JUST TAKE THE
FORM OF SYMBOLS.
IT WILL TAKE THE FORM OF POLICY
AND WE HAVE TO PUT THE TWO
TOGETHER IN A CLEAR AND CONCISE
WAY.
>> IM CURIOUS, VERY QUICKLY.
WOODROW WILSONS PLACE IN
HISTORY NOW, EDDIE, WHAT SHOULD
IT BE?
>> WELL, IT SHOULD BE -- VERY
QUICK, IT SHOULD BE JUST THE
FACTS.
WE SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT
WHO HE IS AND WHO HE WAS.
TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS AND TELL THE TRUTH
ABOUT HIS FAULTS AND FAILURES.
THATS WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE
NEED TO GIVE AN INTERPRETATION
OF HIS PRESIDENCY THAT ACTUALLY
REVEALS HOW FLAWED WE ARE AND
HOW WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE ROAD.
NOT TO NECESSARILY TO A MORE
PERFECT UNION, BUT TO A MORE
JUST SOCIETY.
SO WE NEED TO COMMEND THE VALUES
THAT WE UPHOLD AND CHERISH AS WE
TELL THE STORY OF THE PEOPLE
THAT MADE US WHO WE ARE.
>> WELL, BEFORE I SAY GOOD-BYE
THIS MORNING I WANT TO TAKE NOTE
THAT THIS IS THE 100th OF THE
FOUNDING OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES.
IT IS ANNOUNCING THE TIP YOUR
HAT CAMPAIGN, WHEN
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE BANNED
FROM ORGANIZED BASEBALL.
PRESIDENTS CLINTON, BUSH AND
OBAMA HAVE ALL TAKEN TRIBUTE
WHICH WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW.
IN HONOR, I TIP MY GRAYS HAT IN
HONOR OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
THATS ALL FOR TODAY.
WELL BE BACK NEXT WEEK BECAUSE
IF ITS SUNDAY ITS "MEET THE
PRESS."
♪
♪
♪
