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EARLY START

100,000 Airline Jobs Could Be Cut; Barreling Toward Election, Trump Sticks with His Gut; Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny Blames Putin for Poisoning; Lakers Dominate Heat in NBA Finals Game 1. Aired 5- 5:30a ET

Aired October 1, 2020 - 05:00   ET

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


[05:00:30]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: One hundred thousand American jobs are now at risk after emergency funding for airlines runs dry. Two, two airlines already letting workers go.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Battling to save his presidency, a belligerent President Trump is sticking with his impulses despite private worries from his top aides.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: Good Thursday morning, everyone. I'm Christine Romans. It is October 1st. It's 5:00 a.m. in New York, and 33 days until the election.

And the dreaded day has arrived for airlines in the U.S. A hundred thousand jobs at risk as funding from the CARES Act expires today. Thirty-two thousand jobs are already being cut, 19,000 at American Americans, 13,000 at United. Both airlines say they will recall furloughed employees of Congress reaches a stimulus deal soon.

Now, House Democrats held off in their vote on their $3.2 trillion stimulus proposal to allow more time for bipartisan negotiations in this last ditched effort to reach a deal. Now, there were optimistic words from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. But sources briefed on the talk said they're still really far apart.

More stimulus is, of course, desperately needed. New data showed the collapse of global air travel could wipe out 46 million jobs around the world. Remember, planes in the air prop up jobs on the ground like engineers, factory workers, air traffic control, car rentals, hotels, and all kinds of businesses that rely on the global supply chain. Many experts don't expect air travel to recover until the year 2024.

JARRETT: Well, the fallout from the presidential debate dominated Wednesday's headlines, another 946 Americans died from coronavirus yesterday. Their families grieving in a nation that has become all too numb to this tragedy. Among the latest victims, 19-year-old Chad Dorrill, a sophomore at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, who's a healthy former high school basketball player.

It's highlighting the danger of this virus on the young, something that is now underscored by a contact tracing study from India which shows young adults are the primary spreaders of this virus. In the U.S., another day with more than 40,000 new cases. The country so far proving incapable of lowering this growth in a sustained way, 27 states adding new cases, representing most of the northern half of the U.S.

ROMANS: The vaccine maker Moderna says it will not have enough data to file for emergency use until November 25th. The vaccine is not widely available until spring. That's the best case. That's one of the ten vaccine candidates in late stage, large clinical trials around the world.

And the CDC now plans to keep all cruises docked through October. Agency director Robert Redfield wanted to extend the no sail order into next year but lost his fight with the White House over that. Barring cruises longer would have displeased the tourism industry in the crucial swing state of Florida.

JARRETT: Meantime, an alarming trend here. The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID is starting to creep up again. These are not asymptomatic people staying home, they are sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. Wisconsin is reporting its highest number of cases and hospitalizations, just 18 percent of beds are available there.

And the president was scheduled campaign rallies in hotspot metro areas like Lacrosse and Green Bay this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TONY EVERS (D), WISCONSIN: Number one, he could not come. The second thing that could be done is for him to insist that if people are there, they wear a mask. He could make that happen. He could wear one, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: In the absence of a national COVID plan, states are still giving mixed signals. The governor of Mississippi lifting a statewide mask mandate, excepting schools. But in neighboring Alabama and Georgia, public health restrictions have been extended until after the election.

JARRETT: American families are paying a heavy price in this pandemic. A new survey shows a majority of families with children 18 across racial and ethnic groups report serious financial hardship. And 2/3 of Americans have delayed or skipped scheduled cancer screens because of the pandemic.

Well, to politics now, even when it doesn't serve him, President Trump sticks with his instincts when backed into a corner, and his handling of the criticism of his performance at Tuesday's debate is no different. Behind the scenes and even publicly, several trusted aides think he was too aggressive and likely turned off the moderate voters he so desperately needs to win the race.

One long-time Trump advisor claimed to be particularly furious at the president's refusal to condemn white supremacy, telling our Jim Acosta, quote: F the Proud Boys.

[05:05:09]

There, I said it. Not that hard.

GOP lawmakers for the most part are doing what should be easy but so often they refuse to do, distancing themselves from the president's stance for the second time now in two weeks. The last time equally worthy of condemnation after the president wouldn't commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

Listen to the only black Republican senator, Tim Scott.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): I think he misspoke. He was asking Chris what he wanted to say. I think he misspoke. I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: So, given the chance to correct the record, the president picked option B.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know who the Proud Boys are. You'll have to give me a definition because I really don't know who they are. I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.

REPORTER: White supremacists, they clearly love you and support you. Do you welcome that?

TRUMP: I want law and order to be a very important part. It's a very important part of my campaign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: But he called the Proud Boys right out of the air when he was at that debate.

There are now less than two weeks until the next presidential debate. It's his hopes depend on a major change in tactics, the famously stubborn Mr. Trump is in trouble here. Both candidates are back on the campaign trail, where the president still couldn't condemn hate.

We begin with chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, he's on the road with the president in Minnesota.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Laura and Christine, at a rally in Minnesota, President Trump tried to declare victory despite the fact that some advisers inside his campaign say that he lost that match-up with Democrat Joe Biden for his failure to condemn white supremacy. During one minute at this rally in Minnesota, the president falsely said that Joe Biden is going to cancel on the next two presidential debates. That is despite the fact that the Biden campaign says the former vice president will be there.

TRUMP: You know, Biden lost badly when his supporters are saying he should cancel the rest of the debates. Now I understand he's canceling the debates. Let's see what happens. I think that's not going to be a good move.

ACOSTA: And at this rally in Minnesota, the president falsely alleged that Joe Biden would flood the state with refugees, that is one night after he failed to condemn white supremacy at the face-off with Joe Biden.

It's a different night, but the same playbook for the president -- Laura and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: All right, Jim. Thank you.

Well, it took a day, but Joe Biden finally got a word in. On a train tour in the industrial Midwest, the Democratic nominee is trying to bring critical swing state voters back into the Democratic tent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: He didn't speak to you all in that debate, he spoke about him. He didn't talk about the concerns of the American people one single time. Trump said he ran for office because he was concerned about the forgotten man. Well, as soon as he got elected, he got inaugurated, he forgot the forgotten man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Our political correspondent M.J. Lee is on the road with Biden in Pennsylvania.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MJ LEE, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the day after a chaotic debate, Joe Biden spent almost all day on a train making stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania, clearly trying to win over voters, including rural white working class voters in areas where Donald Trump performed very well back in 2016. What the Biden campaign is signaling about how they feel like things went at this first debate is that they presented a clear contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump and they're emphasizing two things that they feel like Donald Trump failed to do on the debate stage.

First is really talking in detail about the coronavirus pandemic and sort of addressing the pandemic, suffering and the suffering people have seen across the country and then the second thing, of course, is Donald Trump not saying on the debate stage he disavowed the proud boys.

Here's what Joe Biden had to say yesterday as he campaigned across Pennsylvania.

BIDEN: My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacist group is cease and desist. That's not who we are. This is not who we are as Americans.

The president of the United States conducting himself the way he did, I think it was a national embarrassment.

LEE: Now, one other thing that Joe Biden addressed was his hope that the Debate Commission can make sure that there are fewer interruptions in future debates and clearly the commission agrees with that sentiment. They announced that they are looking forward to make some changes to ensure that future debates are more orderly.

Christine and Laura, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. MJ, thank you for that.

As for those changes, the Debate Commission is promising more structure for the two remaining face-offs. "The New York Times" reports that could include cutting microphones or the time penalties.

[05:10:01]

The Biden's team says it's looking forward to the candidates' meeting in Miami. Biden team says the president will have to choose between responding to voters, repeating his, quote, unhinged meltdown.

The Trump campaign claims the bipartisan Debate Commission is helping Biden by moving the goalposts in the middle of the game. Tuesday's moderator Chris Wallace reflecting on that hectic night and tells "The New York Times," I'm just sad with the way last night turned out. I never dreamt it would go off the tracks the way I did. I'm a pro. I've never been though anything like this.

JARRETT: Well, you can certainly understand why they want to make all these changes, Christine --

ROMANS: Yeah.

JARRETT: -- given how it went.

But I think doing it is going to absolutely play to everything that President Trump has already said about being tilted towards Biden.

ROMANS: It could be -- the town hall format might be easier to manage because you'll have to let the people ask the questions from the debate floor. JARRETT: Yes.

ROMANS: So, that could maybe --

JARRETT: He can't step on voters the way he steps on Chris Wallace.

ROMANS: Right, right.

JARRETT: All right. Well, after Tuesday night, all eyes will be fixed on the Mike Pence/Kamala Harris face-off. The only vice presidential debate of 2020, Wednesday on CNN. Our special coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:15:15]

ROMANS: All right. Just out of the hospital, Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critic, Alexey Navalny, directly blames the Russian president for his poisoning with a nerve agent.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen is live in Berlin where Navalny was treated.

How he's doing and what's he saying about what happened to him?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Christine.

Well, this is the first interview that he gave. It was a print interview, not a TV interview. And I think one of the reasons for that is that the folks who interviewed him said that he is doing a lot better, he said that he was energetic, but he is still certainly very much affected by the fact that he was poisoned by a chemical weapon called Novichok. He apparently doesn't have all of his motor skills back just yet.

And in that interview, he talked a lot about the time that he fell ill on August 20th. He said that he didn't feel any pain, but he knew that he was dying. He said this happened on an airplane. It took about 30 minutes for him to start feeling the effects of this poison to the moment that he passed out.

He did, indeed, as you pointed out, that he believes Vladimir Putin must have been behind it. He says he doesn't have any other version and he believes that in Vladimir Putin's Russia, it could only have been Vladimir Putin who would okay the use of a chemical weapon to try and kill, as he put it, an opposition figure.

Now, of course, after all of this happened, the big question many people are asking is, would Alexey Navalny ever go back to Russia? And, of course, as w noted, he's still going through a lengthy rehab right now, to try and regain a lot of his skills. Not sure if his skills will come back. But he did say that he does plan to go back to Russia. He says he believes he needs to be a fearless figure right now and he says he doesn't have any fear. He also said that he believes not going back to Russia would be a gift

to Vladimir Putin and that's a gift he does not want to make the Russian president, Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Fred Pleitgen for us in Berlin, thank you so much, Fred.

JARRETT: Well, the NBA bubble has been flawless keeping its players safe. But now, the NFL has to delay its first game because of the pandemic. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:21:39]

JARRETT: All right. The Lakers dominated the Heat in game one of the NBA Finals.

Carolyn Manno has this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, Carolyn.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Laura.

The Lakers certainly are not short on motivation. LeBron adding to his legacy, the passing of Kobe Bryant, being back in the finals for the first time in a decade. It was a game one like no other.

But that did not mean stars did not show up virtually. Former President Barack Obama had a front row seat. Obama gave a shout out to all of the poll workers offering their services in the upcoming election.

The players also showing their support wearing "vote" t-shirts during the national anthem. LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way for the L.A. as the team began its quest for a 17th NBA championship playing in his 50th NBA finals game.

LeBron finished with 25 points. Contrast that with Davis who impressed in his first finals appearance leading all scorers with 34. Lakers up by as many as 32. They cruised to an 18-point win.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS FORWARD: We have so much more work to do. The job is not done. We're not satisfied. We're winning one game. It's that simple.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANNO: Game two of the NBA final set to tip off tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. So, a little bit late, but hopefully you'll stay up for that.

In the meantime, the NFL postponing a game for the first time this season because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Sunday's scheduled game between the Titans and Steelers being pushed back after four Tennessee players and five staff members tested positive. The teams could end up playing on Monday or Tuesday for just a second time in 70 years.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel saying that nobody should be blamed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE VRABEL, TENNESSEE TITANS HEAD COACH: We're in a pandemic. Unfortunately things happen. We are conscious of everything we did. It's a very unfortunate situation but one that we're confident we will be able to handle safely with the football team, players best interests in mind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANNO: Meantime, the NFL reminding coaches to wear face coverings or they'll face $100,000 fine. The league says coaches who do not comply with the protocols could be suspended, and their teams could possibly lose upcoming draft picks. So, the stakes is getting higher.

There will be fans at the World Series this fall. Major League Baseball confirming 11,500 people can catch the fall classic in person. Games will be played at the Rangers brand-new Globe Life Field, that's a neutral site, which is a first in MLB history.

The Yankees one step closer to making it there. DJ LeMahieu with the clutch, the single, the drive and game-winning run at the top of the 9th, to complete the comeback and eliminate Cleveland. The Yankees now flying cross-country to Southern California for the next two rounds of the playoffs.

And, you know, Christine, back to former President Barack Obama. He used a sports analogy to thank the poll workers. He said, democracy only works if everybody does it. It's like playing with half a team versus the whole team.

ROMANS: Yeah.

MANNO: But the video that he posted on social, over a million views already.

ROMANS: Oh, wow.

All right. Carolyn Manno, nice to see you this morning. Have a great day.

MANNO: Thank you.

ROMANS: All right. Congress had months to work out a new stimulus for the American people. Time has run out for one major industry, 100,000 jobs on the line, 1/3 of them already gone.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:29:29] ROMANS: A hundred thousand American jobs now at risk after emergency funding for airlines runs dry. Two airlines already letting workers go.

JARRETT: Battling to save his presidency. Down in the polls, President Trump still won't condemn white supremacy despite private worries from his top aides.

Good morning. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: Good morning, Laura. I'm Christine Romans. It's 29 minutes past the hour this Thursday morning. First day of October, new month, new quarter.

And that means the dreaded day has arrived for airlines in the U.S., 100,000 jobs are at risk, as funding for the CARES Act expires today. Thirty-two thousand jobs are already being cut, 19,000 jobs at American Airlines, 13,000.