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>> EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED THE VIDEO, AND SONG LATER TODAY. >> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ARE MOVING FORWAR A FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK TURNED RADIO HOST IS SPARKING SOME CONTROVERSY THIS MORNING AFTER FLOATING A CONSPIRACY THEORY ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS. BOOMER ESIASON SUGGESTED PLAYERS FROM POWERHOUSES LIKE LSU AND CLEMSON ARE CATCHING CORONAVIRUS ON PURPOSE. >> A LOT OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE COMING DOWN WITH COVID-19. ODDLY ENOUGH SO ARE THEY TRYING TO HERD IMMUNITY THEIR TEAMS SO THESE GUYS CAN GET SICK NOW? AS OPPOSED TO GETTING SICK DURING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IF, IN FACT, THERE IS ONE. AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, AS OF NOW, THE SEASON IS EXPECTED TO START ON AUGUST 29th. >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO.

THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >>> AS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON APPROACHES, FORMER PRESIDENTS TIPPED THEIR CAPS TO CELEBRATE THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES >> I'M TIPPING MY HAT TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, WHO LEFT A CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF TALENT AND SPIRIT AND DIGNITY ON OUR COUNTRY. >> THE NEGRO LEAGUES MADE BASEBALL BETTER AND AMERICA BETTER >> THE PRESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES, AND RECOGNIZED SOME LEGENDS OF THE GAME LIKE WILLIE MAZE, ERNIE BANKS, AND COOL PAPA BELL. >> LAST WEEK, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE REMOVING THE NAME OF FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON FROM ITS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DUE TO HIS RACIST THINKING AND POLICIES WELL, THAT DECISION HAS EARNED PRAISE FROM FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA IN A TWEET, THE PRINCETON ALUM SAYS SHE WAS HEARTENED BY THE NAME CHANGE ADDING THAT SHE WAS EVEN PROUDER OF THE STUDENTS WHO'VE ADVOCATED FOR IT BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION.

IN A TWEET, HE BLASTED THE NAME CHANGE, BY CALLING IT INCREDIBLE >>> GAME OVER. GAME OVER. >> THAT'S SHAQ CALLING GAME AGAINST ROB GRONKOWSKI IN HORSE, RIPPING THE RIM OFF THE BACKBOARD IN THAT THUNDEROUS DUNK. >> THAT'S THE WAY HE DOES IT RIGHT THERE. >> YEAH. GRONK WAS KNOWN FOR SPIKING THE FOOTBALL BUT NOBODY SPIKES THE RIM LIKE THAT. MY GOD. >> VET CELEBRATED ITS 40th YEAR AS A NWORK AND ITS 20th AWARD SHOW WITH THE 2020 B.E.T. AWARDS SUPERSTARS JOINED FORCES IN MOVING A CALL FOR CHANG.

NBC'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS MORE. >> 12-YEAR-OLD KEDRANT BRYANT SET THE STAGE WITH A MESSAGE ♪ I JUST WANNA LIVE ♪ >> THE BET AWARDS USING ART TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SYSTEMIC RACISM PUBLIC ENEMIES CLASSIC ANTHEM. STILL, HOLDS MEANING, 31 YEARS LATER. MICHELLE OBAMA JOINING THE CAST OF STAR-STUDDED PRESENTERS, GIVING BEYONCE THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD. >> YOU INSPIRE ALL OF US. >> WE HAVE TO VOTE, LIKE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE IT DOES. >> THERE IS, ALSO, A TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK-AMERICANS. >> BREONNA TAYLOR. >> ERIC GARNER. >> WHOSE NAMES BECAME A MOVEMENT RAPPER DA BABY, PERFORMING HIS HIT SONG, WHILE UNDER THE KNEE OF AN OFFICER, PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MILLIONS WHO PROTESTED. ON WHAT'S TYPICALLY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC SUPERSTARS USING THEIR STAGE AS A PLATFORM.

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR TOO OFTEN. WE HAVE A WARMING TREND THAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE SOUTH POLE. NEW DATA THAT'S OUT. THE SOUTH POLE HAS WARMED OVER THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE SINCE 1989 THIS WARMING PERIOD IS MAINLY DRIVEN BY CLIMATE — TROPICAL CLIMATE DATA ALSO, INTENSIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES THIS STUDY FOUND THAT ANTARCTICA, IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, WAS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS' WARM TEMPERATURES AND THE PACIFIC, WHICH HAVE REALLY INCREASED THE WARMTH OF OUR OCEANS AND HAS LINGERED INTO THE SOUTH POLE BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE OF THE PENGUINS THEY ARE REALLY, STILL, GOING STRONG BUT WHAT THIS IS REALLY SAYING IS >>> WE ARE BACK WITH A STORY ABOUT HELPING AND HEALING IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC AND HOW ONE CHEF IS PROVIDING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A GOOD MEAL. HERE'S NBC'S KATE SNOW >> Reporter: CHEF CHAD HOUSER IS ON A MISSION. >> THE ENTIRE INITIATIVE, LITERALLY, LAUNCHED IN 72 HOURS. >> THE TOP-RATED CHEF OWNS CAFE MOMENTUM IN DALLAS AND WHEN BUSINESS SLOWED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, HE SAW A CHALLENGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PIVOT. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE. >> THAT CHANGE FEEDING THE HUNGRY ACROSS HIS CITY SINCE MARCH, HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE DELIVERED AN ASTOUNDING 350,000 MEALS ACROSS TA DALLAS THE MAJORITY, GOING TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> THIS HAS BEEN A TRUE GAME CHANGER FOR FAMILIES THOSE WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES AND THIS TOOK ONE HUGE WEIGHT OFF OF THEIR SHOULDERS >> BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO THE STORY. THIS ISN'T CHEF HOUSER'S ONLY MISSION. >> OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT CAFE MOMENTUM SAYS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. >> CAFE MOMENTUM DOESN'T JUST SERVE FOOD, IT PROVIDES A SECOND CHANCE HIRING TEENS WHO HAVE BEEN IN JUVENILE DETENTION.

>> I FACED A LOT OF HARDSHIPS WHILE WORKING HERE, JUST LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE JOB AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP ME THERE WAS A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE FOR ME. >> THE JUVENILE JUSTICE INDUSTRY TERM TO DESCRIBE THE POPULATION THAT WE WORK WITH IS THROWAWAY FOR THEM, IT'S A SCARLET LETTER THEY WEAR ON THEIR CHEST THAT SAYS THIS IS WHO I AM. IT'S NOT WHO I WANT TO BE, BUT IT'S WHO I'VE BEEN TOLD I AM. >> FOR FIVE YEARS, CHEF HOUSER HAS BEEN STAFFING HIS RESTAURANT WITH THESE TEENS IN NEED AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN STUNNING OF THE 900 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE WORKED WITH HIM, ONLY 15% HAVE ENDED UP BACK IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW >> I THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING US.

>> HIS STRAURESTAURANT IS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER TO SAVE IT HIS OPERATION IS RUNNING ON DONA DONATIONS TO, BOTH, FEED THE HUNGRY AND TO KEEP HIS TEENS WHO ARE DEFYING EXPECTATIONS, EMPLOYED. >> THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, WHO WE PUT A LABEL ON, NOT ONLY SHED THAT LABEL BUT, SHOWED THE WORLD HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE THEY REALLY SHINED WHEN THE WORLD NEEDED THEM TO, THE MOST. >> AND THAT WAS KATE SNOW REPORTING. CHEF HOUSER HOPES THAT HE CAN REOPEN CAFE MOMENTUM FOR SIT-DOWN MEALS AS SOON AS IT'S SAFE AND OKAY TO DO SO BUT RIGHT NOW, WOW WHAT A GREAT MODEL FOR OTHER CHEFS, OTHER RESTAURANTS, TO LOOK UP TO. >> YEAH. WE APPLAUD WHAT HE DID EXACTLY.

AND THEY SHOULD FILL UP WITH PEOPLE VISITING HIS RESTAURANT A FAMILY IN WISCONSIN WENT OUT FOR AN EVENING OF FISHING WHEN THEY SPOTTED A BEAR SWIMMING ALONG WITH A JAR ON ITS HEAD AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DOG. BUT ONCE THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT FAMILY SPRUNG INTO ACTION. AFTER TWO TRIES, THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE JUG FROM THE BEAR'S HEAD AND THAT BEAR MADE >>> THIS MORNING THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE WITH ALMOST THREE DEATHS IN STATES SEEING A RISING CASES. AND THE GOVERNORS TAKING ACTIONS TO STEM THE SPREAD >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE A JUDGE WHILE THERE IS MAINLIOR RULING >> A DECISION ON ABORTION. THE COURT STRIKING DOWN A LAW IN LOUISIANA. JOHN ROBERTS WITH A DECIDING VOTE. >> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TELLS POTENTIAL DONORS I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF TRUMP'S $2 TRILLION TAX CUT AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE THAT. >> AND A MAN WALKING THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. EARLY TODAY STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD TUESDAY MORNING.

>> GLAD YOU'RE WITH US THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY. WE HAVE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE WE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH SINCE THE VIRUS CLAIMED FIRST LIFE BACK IN LATE FEBRUARY CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA, OREGON, AND KENTUCKY ARE NOW JOINING THE RING OF FIRE WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS. >> IN ARIZONA, BARS, GYMS, MOVIE THEATERS AND WATER PARKS HAVE ALL BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS. AFTER THEIR SEVENTH DAY OF AT LEAST 3,000 CASES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 17th. >> IN ALSO LSLOS ANGELES, ALL BS AND PIERS ARE CLOSED THEY CANNOT RISK HAVING CROWDS >> THE PRICING FOR THE COVID-19 TREATMENT WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S.

PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120 THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> AND AFTER PAUSING THE SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. AND A $50 MILLION FUND IS BEING CREATED TO HELP THE NEARLY 3500 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. >> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN YOU MUST FILE BY JULY 15th >> THEY'RE TRYING TO SURGE THE INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES, BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE NOT WEARING A MASS KK NOW COST YOU $50 >> BEACHES SHUT DOWN FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY >> I GET IT. AT THE SAME TIME IT REALLY SUCKS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH >> THIS STEP IS NECESSARY.

AGAIN TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY >> I ADMIRE ANYONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION >> SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR MAYORS. >> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT >> GET OVER IT IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS ANY OTHER FLU. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID-19 IS RISING IN 29 STATES, 11 OF THEM BY MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE LOUISIANA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GYMS, AND RESTAURANTS TO CLOSE DOWN FOR A MONTH CALIFORNIA IS CLOSING BARS AGAIN INCLUDING L.A. WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH. >> WE DON'T LIKE THE TREND LINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONT LINE WORKERS TAKEN ABACK. >> I'M TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR.

I'M WATCHING HIM STRUGGLE TO GET AIR. IT'S SCARY >> A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES IN OCEAN BEACH, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW MOST OF THE HOTEL GUESTS CANCELED. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN KNFLORIDA ARE TESTN POSITIVE. >> WHAT SCARES YOU MORE, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS RUNNING AT 5% POSITIVE TEST RATE AND NOW IT'S RUNNING MUCH HIGHER THAT'S THE ISSUE >> THE BEACHES ARE OUT FOR NOW THE MOVIE BUSINESS IS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS.

AND AMC ANNOUNCING THE THEATERS REOPEN NATIONWIDE BY THE END OF JULY SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI BEACH. >> THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE FOR REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL TROOPS IN AFRG "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT JOINING US NOW WITH MORE CONGRESS IS DEMANDING ANSWERS. >> SOME REPUBLICANS GOT ANSWERS. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE BIG SEST WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW WHEN? THE WHITE HOUSE IS DENYING THAT REPORT THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED AT ANY POINT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING IT WAS PART OF HIS WRITTEN DAILY BRIEFING BACK IN FEBRUARY WHICH SHOULD BE VERIFIABLE THE PENTAGON SAYS THEY HAD NO CORROBORATION THAT TROOPS WERE IN DANGER AND RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT. >> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I CONSIDER IT TRUE, BUT THIS IS 100% BULL.

LET'S TURN TO MINNEAPOLIS. FOUR EX-FLOPOLICE OFFICERS WERE COURT. PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGAN FOR THE FOUR MEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. >> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THEY WERE ROOKIE COPS AND FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN. THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE WOULD CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL. NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT.

>> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS. THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED.

THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >> I'M SHAKING MY HEAD IT IS SEVERE WEATHER SYSTEM AND THIS BACK END OF THE SYSTEM IN NEW ENGLAND REALLY PUSHED INTO NEW YORK CITY OVERNIGHT. AND WE SAW THESE STORMS REALLY PICKING UP WE SAW WIND GUSTS 69 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE BROOKLYN AREA. TODAY, WE HAVE THAT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AND I THINK THIS REALLY STARTS TO BROAD OUT FOR THE MIDWEST SO POTENTIALLY, SAGGING TO THE SOUTH WITH DAMAGING WINDS. IT'S NOT A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER. YOU CAN SEE THE FLOOD THREAT EXPANDING. RIGHT NOW, SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE UNDER IMPACT OF FLASH FLOODING THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY. HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. RAPID CITY COOLING OFF A LITTLE BIT. WE'RE IN THE UPPER 70s HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT TO THE EAST WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT JUNE AIR SETTLING INTO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST.

JACKSONVILLE TODAY, 97 WE'RE WATCHING SEVERE WEATHER. WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE THAT IS WARMING UP >> THAT'S OUR HALFTIME SHOW FOR 2020, MELTING POLES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> SHAQUILLE O'NEAL MAY BE FRIRD BASKETBALL IN 2011 HE STILL HAS IT. IN A GAME OF HORSE, HE CALLED GAME WITH THIS DUNK AND RIPPED THE RIM OFF THE COURT. IT BENEFITED THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA AND THE NAACP. >>> COLIN KAEPERNICK AND EVA ARE TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES. >>> TOYOTA IS RECALLING PRIUS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN KICK INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE AND LOSE POWER. 750,000 CARS ARE AFFECTED IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY COVER 2013 AND 2015 MODELS. DEALERSHIPS CAN FIX THE ISSUE WITH A FREE SHOT OF WARE UPDATE.

>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED ON ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, AND THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE COURT THIS TIME, ON ABORTION ON MONDAY, THE HIGH COURT RULED LOUISIANA'S TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY STRIKING DOWN A LAW THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. HERE IS NBC'S PETE WILLIAMS. >> Reporter: IT'S ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THIS CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT AND A VICTORY FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABORTION, LIKE KIMBERLY O'BRIEN, OF NEW ORLEANS DEVASTATED TO LEARN THAT THE CHILD SHE WAS CARRYING WOULD HAVE SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS, SHE AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY.

EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT KAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS KAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS. >> GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED HIS COURT TO PRESIDE OVER HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE, ON RECORD, A >>> IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FEW CRAVINGS BOX TODAY FOR ANYONE THAT SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT AND DOWN LOADS THE APP IT COMES WITH A SUPREME, BURRITO, CRUNCHY TACO, CINNAMON TWISTS AND A DRINK >> KANYE WEST HAS A NEW SONG FROM THE UPCOMING ALBUM. THE RAPPER IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE A VIDEO LATER THIS MORNING.

>>> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSE ACHE WARDS ARE GOING FORWARD IN PERSON IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT BARCLAY'S CENTER ON AUGUST 20th. ANDREW CUOMO SAID THE SHOW WILL BE HELD WITH LIMIT ORDER NO AUDIENCE >> THANK YOU TO THE WORKERS WITH CASH BUT FIRST, JOE BIDEN DELIVERED SOME NEWS. HE SAYS SOME CAMPAIGN DONORS MAY NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT WE HAVE THIS STORY NOW FROM LONDON WITH THE LATEST STEVE, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU YEAH, QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

YOU HAVE THAT VIRTUAL CAMPAIGN EVENT. I WANT YOUR MONEY AND THEN TAKE YOUR MONEY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED SO JOE BIDEN WHO WE STILL HAVE TO CALL THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, HE RAISED $2 MILLION PLUS AT THIS VIRTUAL FUND-RAISER. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOT MONEY OFF YOU, MY CAMPAIGN DONORS. I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF THINKS $2 TRILLION TAX CUTS AND CLOSE CAPITAL GAINS AND I'M GOING TO RAISE A CORPORATE TAXATION UP TO 28% WHICH WILL RAISE $1.3 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. I'M GOING TO SPEND THAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPEND THAT ON CLEAN ENERGY ELSEWHERE, WHAT IS AMERICA DOING DURING THE LOCKDOWN? WE KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THEY'VE BEEN FIXING HOMES. THAT'S WHY LOWE'S, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GROUP IS PAYING FULL TIME HOWLY EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA $300 BONUS, WELL EARNED I'M SURE PART TIME WORKERS GETTING $150 THEY RAISED EMPLOYEES SALARIES BY $2 AN HOUR. LOWE'S GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY BACK TO THOSE REALLY, REALLY WELL EARNED EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

BACK TO YOU BO >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THIS AREA SINCE 1989 IT'S ALL DUE TO THE TROPICS AND WARM AIR PUMPING INTO THAT AREA. STRONG WARMING OVER ANTARCTICA DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS IS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS, WARM OCEAN TEMPERATURES WHICH INCREASED THE DELIVERY OF WARM AIR FOR THE SOUTH POLE SO REALLY DOESN'T >>> IRAN HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IT WAS ISSUED OVER THE DRONE STRIKE THAT KILLED AN IRANIAN GENERAL. ACCORDING TO IRANIAN MEDIA, HE IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT INCLUDES 36 PEOPLE HE WAS THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD COMMANDER. TEHRAN'S TOP PROSECUTOR SAYS THEY'LL BE PURSUING CHARGES EVEN AFTER TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY ENDS. >> TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. IT WAS CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS. BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO A VERY LONG MARCH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. ONE MAN IS WALKING ALL THE WAY FROM HIS HOME IN ALABAMA TO THE SITE WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN MINNEAPOLIS. CAROLYN PETERSON FROM OUR MADISON AFFILIATE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN WISCONSIN >> ONE MAN TAKING ON NO SMALL FEAT >> I TRY TO GET ABOUT 40 MILES A DAY. >> TERRY WILLIS IS MAKING A 1,000 MILE TREK ON FOOT. >> IT'S ONLY ONE MAN BUT ONE MAN TWO FEET IS WHAT THEY SAY >> MAKING EVERY STEP FROM ALABAMA TO MINNESOTA COUNT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE >> JUST SEEN AS EQUALS THAT'S IT.

>> Reporter: THEDEATH OF GEORG FLOYD INSPIRED HIM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE >> I COULD HAVE BEEN A GEORGE FLOYD. I'VE BEEN INCARCERATED I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP. I'VE BEEN IN HANDCUFFS YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT STORY. >> Reporter: HIS GOAL, TO BRIDGE DID IT VIDE. >> THE BLACK, THE WHITE, WE JUST NEED TO DROP THOSE LABELS AND COME TOGETHER AS ONE >> Reporter: CHANGING THE WORLD HIS YOUNG SON WILL GROW UP IN KEEPS HIM GOING.

>> HE'S GOING TO GET OLDER I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITHOUT BEING JUDGED, NOT JUST BY PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US >> Reporter: HIS MESSAGE REACHING ALL THE WAY TO MADISON. >> WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> HERE IT WAS, NICE TO MEET YOU. >> Reporter: COUNTLESS PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIS JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK >> I APPRECIATE THE LOVE I REALLY DO. >> Reporter: WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN 200 MILES TLOLEFT TO GO >> I GOT LOVE FROM EVERY CITY. MORE LOVE I CAN EVER IMAGINE >> Reporter: HE IS READY TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. >> I'M ON MY LAST LEG. I'M TIRED. I'M TIRED. ALONG THE WAY I JUST MET THE MOST INCREDIBLE PEOPLE >> Reporter: THANKS FOR OUR AFFILIATE FOR THAT REPORT. >> THE GEORGE FLOYD TRAGEDY SPARKED ACTIVISM IN SO MANY PEOPLE. >> WE'RE SEEING THIS ONE WITH EACH AND EVERY STEP LITERALLY ALSO ALONG THE WAY AND HOPING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER END OF IT.

>> YEAH. PROFOUND IMPACT. >> THANKS FOR WATCHING "EARLY TODAY. >> WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW HERE IN NEW YORK CITY FIRST IN A >>> THIS MORNING, THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE, WITH ALMOST THREE-FIFTHS OF STATES SEEING A RISE IN CASES AND STATES TAKING NEW ACTIONS TO TRY TO STEM THE SPREAD >> BREAKING OVERNIGHT, NEW DETAILS CONTINUE TO POUR IN OVER THE BOUNTY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY PUT ON U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN WAS THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY BRIEFED ON THIS, AS FAR BACK AS 2019 >>> PLUS A WARNING FROM THE JUDGE IN THE CASE AGAINST THE FOUR OFFICERS CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

FIRST HALF OF 2020 "EARLY TODAY" STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD MORNING, I'M FRANCES RIVERA. >> AND I'M PHILLIP MENA. THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THE UNITED STATES IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY. WE'VE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE, WE'VE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH, SINCE THIS VIRUS FIRST REARED ITS UGLY HEAD BACK IN MARCH. WITH CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA AND NOW KENTUCKY ARE JOINING WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS. >> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SAYS THEIR CONVENTION WILL FOLLOW JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA'S HEALTH GUIDELINES WHEN THEY MEET THERE IN AUGUST. AND NOW, THE CITY IS REQUIRING THE PUBLIC TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS. >> MEANWHILE, A TOP REPUBLICAN IS SHOWING HIS SUPPORT FOR WEARING FACE COVERINGS. >> WE MUST HAVE NO STIGMA, NONE, ABOUT WEARING MASKS WHEN WE LEAVE OUR HOMES AND COME NEAR OTHER PEOPLE. >> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING MEMBERS OF THE PARTY, BESIDES THE VICE PRESIDENT, TO ENDORSE MASKS.

>> GILEAD SCIENCES ANNOUNCED THE PRICING FOR ITS COVID-19 TREATMENT, REMDESIVIR, WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120. THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> THE CDC HAS ADDED THREE NEW SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS TO ITS LIST CONGESTION OR RUNNY NOSE, NAUSEA OR VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA, ARE NOW CONSIDERED SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. >>> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN, AFTER POSTPONING IT FROM APRIL DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 2019 RETURNS OR REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION MUST BE FILED BY JULY 15th TO AVOID A PENALTY.

>> I THINK IT'S A VERY TOUGH THING FOR THEM TO DO BUT I ADMIRE ANYONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> BUT SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR MAYORS. >> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT. >> GET OVER IT YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS I FEEL LIKE ANY OTHER FLU. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID IS RISING IN 29 STATES 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100%, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GYMS, AND WATER PARKS TO SHUT DOWN, FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR, NOW CLOSING BARS, AGAIN, IN SEVEN COUNTIES, INCLUDING L.A., WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH. >> WE DON'T LIKE THE TRENDLINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONTLINE WORKERS, TAKEN ABACK BY THEIR YOUNG PATIENTS. >> I REMEMBER TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR, NOT BUT THREE YEARS OLDER THAN I AM.

NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS. HEALTHY. AND WATCHING THIS PATIENT STRUGGLE TO BREATHE, GASPING FOR AIR, BECAUSE OF COVID. IT'S SCARY. >> NOW, THE COVID SURGE DEALING A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES, HERE, IN MIAMI BEACH ON FAMED OCEAN DRIVE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN, AGAIN, FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR HOTEL GUESTS HAVE CANCELLED THEIR RESERVATIONS. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE, SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR, WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

>> WHAT CONCERNS YOU MORE? 10,000 CASES IN A SINGLE DAY OR THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE >> THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE THE STATE OF FLORIDA WAS RUNNING AT ABOUT 5% POSITIVE TEST RATE AND NOW, IT'S RUNNING MUCH HIGHER THAT'S THE ISSUE. >> THE BEACHES ARE OUT FOR NOW BUT THE MOVIE BUSINESS IS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS. AMC ANNOUNCING ITS THEATERS WILL REOPEN, NATIONWIDE, BY THE END OF JULY. SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI BEACH. >> MORE ON THE INFECTION AND A QUESTION, COULD YOUR BLOOD TYPE OR GENETIC MAKEUP MAKE YOU MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONTRACTING COVID-19 RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE INVESTIGATING THIS THEORY. AND SCIENTISTS HAVE RELEASED SEVERAL UNPUBLISHED STUDIES ON THE ISSUE. THIS MORNING, DR. FRANK McGEORGE, MEDICAL REPORTER FOR WDIV IN DETROIT, HAS A LOOK AT THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH. >> SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A RESEARCH PAPER LOOKING AT PATIENTS IN WUHAN AND SHENZHEN, CHINA, SUGGESTED HAVING TYPE A BLOOD WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGHER RISK OF ACQUIRING COVID-19 AND TYPE O BLOOD APPEARED TO HAVE THE LOWEST RISK OF INFECTION.

THIS PAPER REMAINS UNPUBLISHED AND HAS NOT GONE THROUGH PEER REVIEW SUBSEQUENTLY, THOUGH, A GROUP OF RESEARCHERS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK LOOKED AT THE BLOOD TYPE AND SEVERITY OF DISEASE IN OVER 1,500 PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19. THEY, ALSO, FOUND A HIGHER PROPORTION OF BLOOD TYPE A PATIENTS AND A LOWER PROPORTION OF PATIENTS WITH TYPE O BLOOD WHO WERE COVID-19 POSITIVE THEY DID NOT, HOWEVER, FIND THAT BLOOD TYPE HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THE RISK OF REQUIRING INTUBATION OR DYING FROM COVID-19 NOW, THIS PAPER IS, ALSO, PRELIMINARY, AND CURRENTLY UNPUBLISHED.

BUT, TAKEN TOGETHER, BOTH OF THESE PAPERS RAISE THE QUESTION OF HOW SOMEONE'S BLOOD TYPE AND, ULTIMATELY, THEIR GENETICS, COULD BE IMPORTANT TWO MORE EVEN NEWER STUDIES ARE TRYING TO ANSWER THAT. A PRE-PRINT STUDY FROM GERMANY EVALUATED THE GENOME OF NEARLY 2,000 COVID PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY FAILURE FROM SEVEN HOSPITALS IN ITALY IN SPAIN. THEY FOUND VARIATIONS IN A PERSON'S GENES IN AT LEAST TWO PARTICULAR PLACES IN THE HUMAN GENOME WERE ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF RESPIRATORY FAILURE. ONE OF THOSE PLACES INCLUDES THE GENE FOR BLOOD TYPE. >> THAT WAS DR. FRANK McGEORGE REPORTING. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE FOUR EX-POLICE OFFICERS WERE IN COURT. PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGAN FOR THE FOUR MEN INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

HERE'S NBC'S GABE GUTIERREZ. >> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THOMAS LANE AND ALEX KING WERE ROOKIE COPS, THEIR LAWYERS HAVE SAID AND WERE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN. THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE'D CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL, NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KING'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D PLEAD NOT GUILTY, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE AND AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE.

A LAWYER FOR THAO WOULD NOT COMMENT, EXCEPT FOR OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY. >> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT. IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE, IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS. THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED.

>> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE WEATHER AND THE STORMS THAT HIT OVERNIGHT IN CERTAIN SPOTS HERE IS NBC METEOROLOGIST, JANESSA WEBB GOOD MORNING, JANESSA. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, YOU TWO. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAD THOSE FEISTY STORMS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY LAST NIGHT. GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN THAT AREA STARTS TO PUSH OFFSHORE BY LATER ON TODAY BUT THEN, THE NEXT THREAT IS HEIGHTENED FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS IT WILL QUICKLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE NORTHEAST SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A VERY SMALL SECTION OF THE COUNTRY BUT I THINK IT STARTS TO GET BROADER, THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, DUE TO THE HEAT THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THESE STORMS IS GOING TO BE THE FLOOD THREAT ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S., INTO THE MIDWEST, WHERE 6 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGHOUT TODAY THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY OF THE DAY HEA HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD.

BILLINGS TODAY, 71 DEGREES BUT THOSE STORMS START TO PICK UP FOR FARGO. LOOK AT HIGHS TODAY. BACK IN THE LOWER 90s. HEAT CONTINUES TO BUILD FOR ORLANDO, ALL THE WAY TO RALEIGH-DURHAM AREA, IN THE LOWER 90s. THOSE STORMS ARE GOING TO MOVE QUICKLY. BUT ALSO, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE SOUTH POLE, HOW IT'S WARMING WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT COMING UP. >> SOUTH POLE. WOW. OKAY WE'LL WANT TO HEAR THAT, JANESSA. THANK YOU. AS MLB SEASON APPROACHES, FORMER PRESIDENTS TIP THEIR CAPS TO CELEBRATE THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES. >> I'M TIPPING MY HAT TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, WHO LEFT A CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF TALENT AND SPIRIT AND DIGNITY ON OUR COUNTRY. >> THE NEGRO LEAGUES MADE BASEBALL BETTER AND AMERICA BETTER >> THE TEXAS RANGERS. >> ALL THE PRESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES AND RECOGNIZED SOME LEGENDS >>> LEADING THE NEWS THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE THIS MORNING FOR ITS RESPONSE TO REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.

"THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY. BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DENIED REPORTS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. OUR KEIR SIMMONS HAS MORE. >> GROWING OUTRAGE OVER REPORTS RUSSIA OFFERED CASH FOR KILLING AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN. OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE INTELLIGENCE TELL NBC NEWS THAT THE U.S. GATHERED INFORMATION SHOWING THAT RUSSIAN OPERATIVES OFFERED BOUNTIES TO THE TALIBAN. ONE OFFICIAL SAYING, AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED, AS A RESULT.

THOUGH, OTHER OFFICIALS TELL US THE INTELLIGENCE WAS UNCORROBORATED PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETING, INTEL JUST REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY DID NOT FIND THIS INFO CREDIBLE. AND, THEREFORE, DIDN'T REPORT IT TO ME. NOW, PRESIDENT PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN PUSHING BACK IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. >> MAYBE, I CAN SOUND A LITTLE BIT RUDE BUT THIS IS 100% [ BLEEP ]. >> BUT BIPARTISAN CALLS IN CONGRESS FOR AN INVESTIGATION. REPUBLICAN LIZ CHENEY TWEETING, WHO DID KNOW AND WHEN? WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROTECT OUR FORCES AND HOLD PUTIN ACCOUNTABLE PRESIDENT PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN TELLING NBC NEWS, RUSSIA AHAS RECEIVED NO COMPLAINT FROM AMERICAN OFFICIALS. >> HAS ANYONE RAISED THIS WITH YOU? COMPLAINED TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS? OR SAID THAT THERE WILL BE IMPLICATIONS >> AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, NONE OF AMERICA'S REPRESENTATIVES HAS EVER RAISED THIS QUESTION AGAINST RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVES.

>> WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING TOP REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THERE IS AN ONGOING >>> "EARLY TODAY" IS ON INSTAGRAM. YOU CAN FOLLOW US AT NBC UNDERSCORE "EARLY TODAY" FOR NEWS UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. >> WITH COVID-19 CASES OVER 2.5 MILLION IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HUNT FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT HAS LED A GROUPF RESEARCHERS TO LOOK AT AN UNLIKELY ANIMAL. NBC'S KARI SANDERS WENT TO THE LLAMA RANCH IN GROVELAND, FLORIDA, WHERE RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING THEIR ANTIBODIES. >> LLAMAS, A DOMESTICED ANIMAL FROM SOUTH AMERICA, ARE BOTH INTELLIGENT AND SOCIAL. >> SHE'S VERY ALERT. SHE'S EXTREMELY AWARE OF EVERYBODY. >> VERY FRIENDLY. >> BUT THEY MAY, ALSO, HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. >> LLAMAS PRODUCE AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF ANTIBODY, IN ADDITION TO A CONVENTIONAL ANTIBODY, THAT HUMANS MAKE. >> SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG TURNED TO LLAMAS FOR ANTIBODY RESEARCH. FROM HIV TO INFLUENZA. IN 2016, RESEARCHERS WERE STUDYING TWO EARLIER CORONAVIRUSES IN A LLAMA NAMED WINTER IN BELGIUM. NOW, HER APT BODIES FROM A BLOOD DRAW ARE BEING STUDIED BY A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS WHO ARE FUNDED, IN PART, BY THE NIH TO FIND A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19.

>> SORT OF LIKE ONE SIDE OF A PIECE OF VELCRO. SO THE VIRUS HAS A BUNCH OF THESE STICKING OUT OUR CELLS ARE THE COUNTERPART TO IT AND IT TRIES TO STICK AND ATTACH THE VIRUS TO OUR CELLS LIKE VELCRO AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS COME UP WITH AN ANTIBODY THAT COMBINES AND COVER ONE SIDE OF THE VELCRO AND THEN, IT CAN NO LONGER STOIC ST STICK TO OUR CELLS.

>> AND DESTROY IT? >> AND DESTROY IT. >> DESSCIENTISTS WILL THEN TAKE WINTER'S ANTIBODIES AND COPY THAT ANTIBODY AS A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19. >> WOULD YOU INJECT THIS TO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE CORONAVIRUS? >> YEAH, POTENTIALLY ANTIBODIES CAN BE USED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THEY CAN BE USED PR PROPHYLACTICALLY, BEFORE SOMEBODY IS INFECTED AND THIS CAN BE REALLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR HIGH-RISK PEOPLE, THAT MAYBE ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS.

YOU COULD THINK OF, LIKE, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, NURSES IN HOSPITALS. YOU COULD INJECT THEM. THEY'D PROBABLY BE PROTECTED FOR ONE TO TWO MONTHS. THE ANTIBODIES WOULD WANE OVER TIME, SO THEY WOULD NEED ANOTHER INJECTION EVERY MONTH OR T FIGHT COVID-19 >> YEAH. THAT'S POTENTIALLY THE OTHER WAY. IS USING THE ANTIBODY FOR TREATMENT. PARTICULARLY, IF IT'S EARLY ON IN THE INFECTION, THERE WILL BE SOME TIME WINDOW, MAYBE A FEW DAYS AFTER INFECTION, WHERE YOU COULD ADMINISTER THE ANTIBODY.

AND THEN, IT WILL HELP THEIR BODIES FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS AND MAYBE, THAT WILL DECREASE THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE OR SHORTEN THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. >> THE RESEARCHERS ARE NOW PREPARING TO CONDUCT PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES IN ANIMALS. THEN, TESTING IN HUMANS. IN THE HOPES TO FIND AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC >> IS WINTER GOING TO BE OUR HERO >> I HOPE SO YEAH WINTER'S — WINTER'S BEEN RETIRED.

SHE'S LIVING COMFORTABLY ON A FARM IN BELGIUM. SHE'S PRODUCED A REALLY INTERESTING MOLECULE THAT'S BEING PUSHED FORWARD RAPIDLY FOR CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT. >> SUCH A STRANGE PLACE TO BE LOOKING BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, AS A SCIENTIST. >> YES THAT'S WHAT — AS PART OF SCIENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPLORE EXPLORATION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US FROM A PANDEMIC >> ALL RIGHT THANKS TO KARI SANDERS FOR THAT. AND RESEARCHERS SAY AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT IS AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY. WHEN THIS PANDEMIC FIRST HIT >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY I TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SO FAR, IT HAS APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS, WORTH NEARLY $518 BILLION.

BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >> COLIN KAEPERNICK TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYER'S EARLY LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES. >> THE PANDEMIC HAS STOLEN SO MANY MEMORIES FROM HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, WHICH IS WHY A SOUTH JERSEY BASEBALL COACH IS DOING SOME SPECIAL FROM OUR AFFILIATE WCAU, HAS THE STORY. >> Reporter: IN SOUTH JERSEY, BASEBALL IS BACK THE CORONAVIRUS CANCELLED THE SPRING SEASON BUT IT COULDN'T SHUT DOWN THIS MAN. >> I PROMISE YOU, WE'RE GOING TO AT LEAST PLAY ONE GAME YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK OFF THE FIELIN YOUR UNIFORM. I MADE THEM THAT PROMISE. >> JOHN SCANZANO IS A MAN OF HIS WORD ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER MIKE, HE IS HOSTING THE ONE MORE GAME SENIOR DAY.

>> THE IDEA JUST POPPED INTO MY HEAD TO, YOU KNOW, HONOR THE SENIORS. GIVE THEM A MEMORY OF, AT LEAST, WALKING OFF THE FIELD ONE LAST TIME THAT LAST TIME TO BE AROUND YOUR COACHES, MAN, TO BE AROUND YOUR TEAMMATES. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. >> THE LAST WEEKEND OF JULY, THE SCANZANOS WILL BRING SENIORS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTH JERSEY TO THIS FIELD GAMES START AT 10:00, AND RUN UNTIL 8:00, WHEN THE DAY WRAPS WITH A HOME RUN DERBY, UNDER THE LIGHTS. >> INSTEAD OF REMEMBERING NOT HAVING THE SEASON, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAD A LITTLE EVENT. WE GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME AND MAYBE HIT A COUPLE HOME RUNS, WHY NOT? >> AMONG THOSE HELPING PUT THIS TOGETHER, FILLIES MINOR LEAGUE CLOSER AND SOUTH JERSEY NATIVE JEFF SINGER.

>> THE FRIENDSHIPS I STILL HAVE FROM BEING ON THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES YOU THAT LAST CHANCE TO GET ON THE DIAMOND WITH YOUR FRIENDS. >> FOOD TRUCKS AND DUNK TANKS WILL ALSO BE ON HAND FOR THE MORE THAN 200 KIDS WHO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP. ONE MORE GAME FOR SENIORS, WHO HAD THEIR SEASON STRIPPED AWAY. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GIVE THE KIDS LIKE A GREAT DAY. ONE MORE GREAT DAY >> OUR THANKS TO DANNY FOR THAT REPORT.

>> I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL AND MY FAVORITE SEASON WAS MY SENIOR SEASON. AND MY FAVORITE GAME WAS MY LAST GAME, TOO. SO I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ONE MORE GAME, TOO. >> MAKE IT EXTRA SPECIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE PLAYERS BUT THE COACHES. AND FOR THE FAMILIES. >> BIG >>> ON THIS LAST DAY OF THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, THE CORONAVIRUS IS SPIKING IN DOZENS OF STATES. SMASHING RECORDS, AHEAD OF THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY BUT THE TREATMENT IS, ALSO, PROVING PRICEY WITH THE PROMISING DRUG REMDESIVIR. >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE THE JUDGE, WHILE THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION BATTLES DEFUNDING. >> THE RUSSIANS ARE CALLING BS ON REPORTS THEY ALLEGEDLY OFFERED A BOUNTY TO THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. SOLDIERS. THIS MORNING, NEW INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE MAY HAVE LEARNED OF THE DETAILS. >> AND ALARMING DATA COMING OUT OF ANTARCTICA, THAT THE SOUTH POLE IS WARMING THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. >> HALL OF FAMER SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, TAKING THE RIM AND GOING HOME IN A CHARITY GAME OF HORSE AGAINST NFL ROB GRONKOWSKI "EARLY TODAY" STARTS RIGHT NOW GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, I'M PHILLIP MENA.

>> I'M FRANCES RIVERA. THE COUNTRY IS IN A PANDEMIC FREEFALL, CAUGHT IN THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF CORONAVIRUS WE HAVE NOW REACHED OVER 2.6 MILLION INFECTIONS THAT'S GREATER THAN THE POPULATION OF HOUSTON, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. AT THIS RATE, OVER 43,000 AMERICANS HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19, EACH MONTH. >> MORE THAN 200 GYM GOERS, WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO COVID-19 AT A WEST VIRGINIA PLANET FITNESS. LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT SENT OUT A WARNING SAYING SOMEONE WHO WORKED OUT THERE TESTED POSITIVE ALSO, URGED ANYONE WHO USED THE GYM TO SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS. >> AMC THEATERS IS PUSHING BACK PLANS TO REOPEN. SAYS IT NOW PLANS TO REOPEN 450 LOCATIONS ON JULY 30th THE REMAINING 150 LOCATIONS WILL OPEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. >> AND MONDAY MARKED THE FIRST MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY IT WAS OVER THE EAST RIVER FUTURE SHOW TIMES AND LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN UNANNOUNCED, IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE CROWDS. >> AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BROADWAY WILL BE OFF FOR A BIT LONGER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 39 PLAYS ARE SHUT DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR WHILE THEY PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR, THEATERS ARE EXTENDING TICKET REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES THROUGH JANUARY 3rd, 2021.

>> NATIONWIDE, COVID-19 IS RISING IN 29 STATES. 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR NOW SHUTTING DOWN BARS AGAIN IN SEVEN COUNTIES MEANWHILE, IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORM IS THREATENING THE STATE'S PRISTINE SHORES. THE SURGE OF CASES MORE THAN 23,000, IN THREE DAYS , SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR FOURTH OF JULY. OUR JOE FRYER IS IN HOUSTON WHERE THE SITUATION IS GROWING DIRE. >> STRAINED HOSPITALS ARE CARING FOR MORE AND MORE PATIENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER. MANY, WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. >> WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS A INCREASED RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION, OF 20 TO 40-YEAR-OLDS. >> THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THEY ARE SEEING AT BAYLOR ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP BUT THE AGE IS GOING DOWN.

EVEN THOSE IN THEIR 20s ARE ENDING UP IN THE ICU. >> SO IT'S CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT, IF I WERE YOUNGER, I WOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT I AM GOING TO BE IMMUNE TO HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS. >> YOU'RE SEEING THAT FIRSTHAND. >> SEEING THAT VERY FIRSTHAND, ABSOLUTELY. >> 36-YEAR-OLD VERONICA MADRANO SPEND OVER A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL HER PARENTS AND BROTHER GOT SICK, TOO. >> THAT EXPERIENCE IS AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD NEVER WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

>> EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. IT IS A REAL DEAL. IT'S A REAL THING. AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. >> FOR SOME PATIENTS, THE ANTIVIRAL DRUG REMDESIVIR HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SHORTEN RECOVERY TIMES. IT WAS REVEALED FOR PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE, THE DRUG WILL COST ABOUT $3,100 FOR A FIVE-DAY TREATMENT DRUGMAKER GILEAD DISAGREES. >> WE PRICED IT AT THE PRICE THAT ALLOWS FOR ACCESS, ACROSS THE DEVELOPED WORLD. >> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW SECURED HALF A MILLION TREATMENT COURSES OF REMDESIVIR TO GIVE TO HOSPITALS THROUGH SEPTEMBER. >> AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE, WITH OUR STATES, TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO THE HOSPITALS MOST IN NEED. >> ALSO, IN NEED, TESTING, WHICH IS IN HIGH DEMAND, FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS, TO ARIZONA. >> TOOK A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR LIKE BETTER PART OF TWO WEEKS. >> ACROSS THE SUNBELT, MORE SCENES ARE SURFACING OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LONG LINES, WHILE STREAMS OF CARS AT DRIVE-THRU SITES STRETCH FOR BLOCKS.

>> THEY ARE TRYING TO SCREEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND YET, THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON TESTING. >> A GROWING STRUGGLE TO GET AHEAD OF A SPREADING VIRUS JOE FRYER, NBC NEWS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE THIS MORNING FOR ITS RESPONSE TO REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. "THE NEW YORK TIMES," NOW REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY. OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT TRACIE POTTS JOINS US WITH MORE. AND, TRACIE, CONGRESS IS DEMANDING ANSWERS HERE >> RIGHT, FRANCES. WELL, SOME REPUBLICANS ALREADY GOT ANSWERS. THEY GOT BRIEFED ON MONDAY ABOUT THIS DEMOCRATS, A FEW OF THEM, ARE EXPECTED TO BE BRIEFED TODAY BUT THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STORY ABOUT RUSSIA OFFERING BOUNTIES, OFFERING CASH, TO HUNT DOWN AND KILL U.S.

SOLDIERS IN FACT, THERE ARE NOW REPORTS, AT LEAST ONE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL, TELLING NBC THAT AMERICANS WERE KILLED, AS A RESULT OF THIS ALTHOUGH, OTHERS SAY THAT THE INFORMATION REMAINS UNCORROBORATED THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT BRIEFED AT ALL, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION COULDN'T BE VERIFIED, DESPITE THIS LATEST "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT AND THE PENTAGON SAYS THEY HAD NO CORROBORATION THAT TROOPS WERE IN DANGER RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT. >> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO — TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I — I — I CAN SOUND A LITTLE BIT RUDE.

BUT THIS IS 100% [ BLEEP ] IT'S — IT'S NONDIPLOMATIC THING BUT IT'S [ BLEEP ]. >> AT LEAST ONE OFFICIAL TELLING NBC THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER VERIFIED BUT SEVERAL SAYING THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NOT VERIFIED BUT AT LEAST ONE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL TELLING NBC THAT TROOPS WERE NOT ONLY IN DANGER, BUT THAT TROOPS AND AFGHAN CITIZENS WERE KILLED. BACK TO YOU. >> TRACIE, THANK YOU >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE LATEST IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE IN MINNESOTA. PRETRIAL HEARINGS WERE HELD FOR THE FORMER POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN FLOYD'S DEATH. NBC'S GABE GUTIERREZ IS IN MINNEAPOLIS. >> Reporter: OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THOMAS LANE AND ALEX KEUNG WERE ROOKIE COPS, THEIR LAWYERS HAVE SAID AND WERE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN. THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE'D CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL, NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH.

>> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE, THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE TO TALK ACBOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR WHAT REASON? BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KEUNG'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT OFFER COMMENT, EXCEPT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY.

>> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT, IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM. IT WAS ABOUT HUMANITY. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO, YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER ARE PLANNING TO QUIT OR RETIRE DUE TO MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE OFFICERS THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. >> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, AND THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE COURT THIS TIME, ON ABORTION ON MONDAY, THE HIGH COURT RULED LOUISIANA'S TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY STRIKING DOWN A LAW THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS.

HERE IS NBC'S PETE WILLIAMS. >> Reporter: IT'S ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THIS CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT AND A VICTORY FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABORTION, LIKE KIMBERLY O'BRIEN, OF NEW ORLEANS DEVASTATED TO LEARN THAT THE CHILD SHE WAS CARRYING WOULD HAVE SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS, SHE AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY. BUT SHE HAD TO GO TO TEXAS >> I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO 350 MILES AWAY TO HAVE MY ABORTION BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET A PROVIDER TO DO IT IN NEW ORLEANS. >> THE RULING STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN HARDER. REQUIRING ABORTION DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JOINED THE COURT'S FOUR MORE LIBERAL MEMBERS IN THE 5-4 DECISION HE SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO ONE FROM TEXAS THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN FEWER YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT CAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS CAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS.

>> GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED HIS COURT TO PRESIDE OVER HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE, ON RECORD, AS EVISCERATING SOME KIND OF ABORTION RIGHT. >> AND THANKS TO PETE WILLIAMS FOR THAT REPORT. >> NBC METEOROLOGIST JANESSA WEBB HAS BEEN TRACKING SOME SEVERE WEATHER FOR US OVERNIGHT. MORNING, JANESSA. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, FRANCES AND PHILLIP. WE HAVE SOME REALLY FEISTY STORMS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND CENTRAL NEW YORK YESTERDAY WE DIDN'T HAVE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE FORECAST YESTERDAY. BUT THESE STUBBORN CELLS REALLY PICKED UP. WE HAD GUSTS UP TO ABOUT 69 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE BROOKLYN AREA.

TODAY, WE HAVE THAT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AND I THINK THIS REALLY STARTS TO BROAD OUT FOR THE MIDWEST SO POTENTIALLY, SAGGING TO THE SOUTH WITH DAMAGING WINDS. IT'S NOT A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER. BUT, PLEASE, BE ON YOUR TOES THIS AFTERNOON AS THE HEAT CONTINUES TO BUILD NOW, 7 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER FLASH-FLOOD RISK THROUGHOUT YOUR AFTERNOON INTO YOUR EVENING, WITH THESE CELLS PROVIDING SOME TORRENTIAL RAIN. THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY OF THE DAY HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. SO YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE HEAT BUILDING AND IT'S GOING TO SAG TO THE MIDWEST THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE IN THE UPPER 80s FOR CHICAGO. 97 FOR JACKSONVILLE. THE STORMS MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST INTO THE RALEIGH-DURHAM AREA, EVEN CHARLOTTE THIS AFTERNOON GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SEVERE WEATHER BUT WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE IT'S WARMING UP. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, COMING UP.

>> WHAT NOW FOR 2020 THANK YOU. IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FREE CHALUPA CRAVINGS BOX FOR EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT. COMES WITH A BEEFY FIVE-LAYER BURR RAY TOE, CRUNCHY TACO, CINNAMON TWISTS, AND A DRINK. >> EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED THE VIDEO, AND SONG LATER TODAY. >> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ARE MOVING FORWAR A FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK TURNED RADIO HOST IS SPARKING SOME CONTROVERSY THIS MORNING AFTER FLOATING A CONSPIRACY THEORY ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS. BOOMER ESIASON SUGGESTED PLAYERS FROM POWERHOUSES LIKE LSU AND CLEMSON ARE CATCHING CORONAVIRUS ON PURPOSE. >> A LOT OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE COMING DOWN WITH COVID-19. ODDLY ENOUGH SO ARE THEY TRYING TO HERD IMMUNITY THEIR TEAMS SO THESE GUYS CAN GET SICK NOW? AS OPPOSED TO GETTING SICK DURING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IF, IN FACT, THERE IS ONE.

AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, AS OF NOW, THE SEASON IS EXPECTED TO START ON AUGUST 29th. >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >>> AS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON APPROACHES, FORMER PRESIDENTS TIPPED THEIR CAPS TO CELEBRATE THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES >> I'M TIPPING MY HAT TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, WHO LEFT A CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF TALENT AND SPIRIT AND DIGNITY ON OUR COUNTRY. >> THE NEGRO LEAGUES MADE BASEBALL BETTER AND AMERICA BETTER >> THE PRESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES, AND RECOGNIZED SOME LEGENDS OF THE GAME LIKE WILLIE MAZE, ERNIE BANKS, AND COOL PAPA BELL.

>> LAST WEEK, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE REMOVING THE NAME OF FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON FROM ITS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DUE TO HIS RACIST THINKING AND POLICIES WELL, THAT DECISION HAS EARNED PRAISE FROM FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA IN A TWEET, THE PRINCETON ALUM SAYS SHE WAS HEARTENED BY THE NAME CHANGE ADDING THAT SHE WAS EVEN PROUDER OF THE STUDENTS WHO'VE ADVOCATED FOR IT BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION. IN A TWEET, HE BLASTED THE NAME CHANGE, BY CALLING IT INCREDIBLE >>> GAME OVER. GAME OVER. >> THAT'S SHAQ CALLING GAME AGAINST ROB GRONKOWSKI IN HORSE, RIPPING THE RIM OFF THE BACKBOARD IN THAT THUNDEROUS DUNK. >> THAT'S THE WAY HE DOES IT RIGHT THERE. >> YEAH. GRONK WAS KNOWN FOR SPIKING THE FOOTBALL BUT NOBODY SPIKES THE RIM LIKE THAT. MY GOD. >> VET CELEBRATED ITS 40th YEAR AS A NWORK AND ITS 20th AWARD SHOW WITH THE 2020 B.E.T. AWARDS SUPERSTARS JOINED FORCES IN MOVING A CALL FOR CHANG. NBC'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS MORE.

>> 12-YEAR-OLD KEDRANT BRYANT SET THE STAGE WITH A MESSAGE ♪ I JUST WANNA LIVE ♪ >> THE BET AWARDS USING ART TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SYSTEMIC RACISM PUBLIC ENEMIES CLASSIC ANTHEM. STILL, HOLDS MEANING, 31 YEARS LATER. MICHELLE OBAMA JOINING THE CAST OF STAR-STUDDED PRESENTERS, GIVING BEYONCE THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD. >> YOU INSPIRE ALL OF US. >> WE HAVE TO VOTE, LIKE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE IT DOES. >> THERE IS, ALSO, A TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK-AMERICANS. >> BREONNA TAYLOR. >> ERIC GARNER. >> WHOSE NAMES BECAME A MOVEMENT RAPPER DA BABY, PERFORMING HIS HIT SONG, WHILE UNDER THE KNEE OF AN OFFICER, PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MILLIONS WHO PROTESTED. ON WHAT'S TYPICALLY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC SUPERSTARS USING THEIR STAGE AS A PLATFORM. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR TOO OFTEN. WE HAVE A WARMING TREND THAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE SOUTH POLE.

NEW DATA THAT'S OUT. THE SOUTH POLE HAS WARMED OVER THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE SINCE 1989 THIS WARMING PERIOD IS MAINLY DRIVEN BY CLIMATE — TROPICAL CLIMATE DATA ALSO, INTENSIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES THIS STUDY FOUND THAT ANTARCTICA, IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, WAS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS' WARM TEMPERATURES AND THE PACIFIC, WHICH HAVE REALLY INCREASED THE WARMTH OF OUR OCEANS AND HAS LINGERED INTO THE SOUTH POLE BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE OF THE PENGUINS THEY ARE REALLY, STILL, GOING STRONG BUT WHAT THIS IS REALLY SAYING IS >>> WE ARE BACK WITH A STORY ABOUT HELPING AND HEALING IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC AND HOW ONE CHEF IS PROVIDING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A GOOD MEAL. HERE'S NBC'S KATE SNOW >> Reporter: CHEF CHAD HOUSER IS ON A MISSION. >> THE ENTIRE INITIATIVE, LITERALLY, LAUNCHED IN 72 HOURS.

>> THE TOP-RATED CHEF OWNS CAFE MOMENTUM IN DALLAS AND WHEN BUSINESS SLOWED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, HE SAW A CHALLENGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY. >> WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PIVOT. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE. >> THAT CHANGE FEEDING THE HUNGRY ACROSS HIS CITY SINCE MARCH, HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE DELIVERED AN ASTOUNDING 350,000 MEALS ACROSS TA DALLAS THE MAJORITY, GOING TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> THIS HAS BEEN A TRUE GAME CHANGER FOR FAMILIES THOSE WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES AND THIS TOOK ONE HUGE WEIGHT OFF OF THEIR SHOULDERS >> BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO THE STORY.

THIS ISN'T CHEF HOUSER'S ONLY MISSION. >> OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT CAFE MOMENTUM SAYS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. >> CAFE MOMENTUM DOESN'T JUST SERVE FOOD, IT PROVIDES A SECOND CHANCE HIRING TEENS WHO HAVE BEEN IN JUVENILE DETENTION. >> I FACED A LOT OF HARDSHIPS WHILE WORKING HERE, JUST LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE JOB AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP ME THERE WAS A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE FOR ME. >> THE JUVENILE JUSTICE INDUSTRY TERM TO DESCRIBE THE POPULATION THAT WE WORK WITH IS THROWAWAY FOR THEM, IT'S A SCARLET LETTER THEY WEAR ON THEIR CHEST THAT SAYS THIS IS WHO I AM. IT'S NOT WHO I WANT TO BE, BUT IT'S WHO I'VE BEEN TOLD I AM. >> FOR FIVE YEARS, CHEF HOUSER HAS BEEN STAFFING HIS RESTAURANT WITH THESE TEENS IN NEED AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN STUNNING OF THE 900 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE WORKED WITH HIM, ONLY 15% HAVE ENDED UP BACK IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW >> I THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING US.

>> YEAH. WE APPLAUD WHAT HE DID EXACTLY. AND THEY SHOULD FILL UP WITH PEOPLE VISITING HIS RESTAURANT A FAMILY IN WISCONSIN WENT OUT FOR AN EVENING OF FISHING WHEN THEY SPOTTED A BEAR SWIMMING ALONG WITH A JAR ON ITS HEAD AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DOG. BUT ONCE THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT FAMILY SPRUNG INTO ACTION. AFTER TWO TRIES, THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE JUG FROM THE BEAR'S HEAD AND THAT BEAR MADE >>> THIS MORNING THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE WITH ALMOST THREE DEATHS IN STATES SEEING A RISING CASES. AND THE GOVERNORS TAKING ACTIONS TO STEM THE SPREAD >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE A JUDGE WHILE THERE IS MAINLIOR RULING >> A DECISION ON ABORTION. THE COURT STRIKING DOWN A LAW IN LOUISIANA. JOHN ROBERTS WITH A DECIDING VOTE. >> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TELLS POTENTIAL DONORS I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF TRUMP'S $2 TRILLION TAX CUT AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE THAT. >> AND A MAN WALKING THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

EARLY TODAY STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. >> GLAD YOU'RE WITH US THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY. WE HAVE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE WE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH SINCE THE VIRUS CLAIMED FIRST LIFE BACK IN LATE FEBRUARY CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA, OREGON, AND KENTUCKY ARE NOW JOINING THE RING OF FIRE WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS. >> IN ARIZONA, BARS, GYMS, MOVIE THEATERS AND WATER PARKS HAVE ALL BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

AFTER THEIR SEVENTH DAY OF AT LEAST 3,000 CASES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 17th. >> IN ALSO LSLOS ANGELES, ALL BS AND PIERS ARE CLOSED THEY CANNOT RISK HAVING CROWDS >> THE PRICING FOR THE COVID-19 TREATMENT WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120 THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> AND AFTER PAUSING THE SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THEY'RE WORKING TO RESTRUCTURE AND A $50 MILLION FUND IS BEING CREATED TO HELP THE NEARLY 3500 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. >> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN YOU MUST FILE BY JULY 15th >> THEY'RE TRYING TO SURGE THE INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES, BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE NOT WEARING A MASS KK NOW COST YOU $50 >> BEACHES SHUT DOWN FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY >> I GET IT.

AT THE SAME TIME IT REALLY SUCKS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH >> THIS STEP IS NECESSARY. AGAIN TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY >> I ADMIRE ANYONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION >> SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR MAYORS. >> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT >> GET OVER IT IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS ANY OTHER FLU. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID-19 IS RISING IN 29 STATES, 11 OF THEM BY MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE LOUISIANA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GYMS, AND RESTAURANTS TO CLOSE DOWN FOR A MONTH CALIFORNIA IS CLOSING BARS AGAIN INCLUDING L.A. WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH. >> WE DON'T LIKE THE TREND LINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONT LINE WORKERS TAKEN ABACK. >> I'M TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR. I'M WATCHING HIM STRUGGLE TO GET AIR. IT'S SCARY >> A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES IN OCEAN BEACH, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW MOST OF THE HOTEL GUESTS CANCELED. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN KNFLORIDA ARE TESTN POSITIVE. >> WHAT SCARES YOU MORE, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS RUNNING AT 5% POSITIVE TEST RATE AND NOW IT'S RUNNING MUCH HIGHER THAT'S THE ISSUE >> THE BEACHES ARE OUT FOR NOW THE MOVIE BUSINESS IS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS.

>> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I CONSIDER IT TRUE, BUT THIS IS 100% BULL. [ BEEP ] IT'S NONDIPLOMATIC THING >> NOW ONE OFFICIAL FAMILIAR WITH THE INTELLIGENCE SAYS THAT AMERICAN TROOPS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THESE BOUNTIES THAT RUSSIA REPORTEDLY PUT ON OUR SOLDIERS THERE. BUT OTHERS SAY THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER CORROBORATED. >> ALL RIGHT TRACIE POTTS WITH THE LAYEST FOR US TRACY, THANK YOU FOR DECADES THEY ARGUE THE MONUMENT IS ON STOLEN LAND AND THERE WAS A RALLY GLORIFYING WHITE SUPREMACY. THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR CHRISTY NOME >> THE DNC IS DOING A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. HONESTLY THAT, TWEET RIGHT THERE REPRESENTS THE CHOICE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS ELECTION I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP IT IS NOT REQUIRED AT THAT EVENT. LET'S TURN TO MINNEAPOLIS. FOUR EX-FLOPOLICE OFFICERS WERE COURT.

PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGAN FOR THE FOUR MEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. >> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THEY WERE ROOKIE COPS AND FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN. THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE WOULD CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL. NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT.

THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KING'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D PLEAD NOT GUILTY, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE AND AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE. A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT COMMENT, EXCEPT FOR OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY. >> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT. IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE, IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS.

THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. >> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE WEATHER >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >> I'M SHAKING MY HEAD IT IS SEVERE WEATHER SYSTEM AND THIS BACK END OF THE SYSTEM IN NEW ENGLAND REALLY PUSHED INTO NEW YORK CITY OVERNIGHT.

AND WE SAW THESE STORMS REALLY PICKING UP WE SAW WIND GUSTS 69 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE BROOKLYN AREA. TODAY, WE HAVE THAT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AND I THINK THIS REALLY STARTS TO BROAD OUT FOR THE MIDWEST SO POTENTIALLY, SAGGING TO THE SOUTH WITH DAMAGING WINDS. IT'S NOT A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER. YOU CAN SEE THE FLOOD THREAT EXPANDING. RIGHT NOW, SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE UNDER IMPACT OF FLASH FLOODING THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY. HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. RAPID CITY COOLING OFF A LITTLE BIT. WE'RE IN THE UPPER 70s HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT TO THE EAST WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT JUNE AIR SETTLING INTO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST. JACKSONVILLE TODAY, 97 WE'RE WATCHING SEVERE WEATHER. WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE THAT IS WARMING UP >> THAT'S OUR HALFTIME SHOW FOR 2020, MELTING POLES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> SHAQUILLE O'NEAL MAY BE FRIRD BASKETBALL IN 2011 HE STILL HAS IT. IN A GAME OF HORSE, HE CALLED GAME WITH THIS DUNK AND RIPPED THE RIM OFF THE COURT. IT BENEFITED THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA AND THE NAACP.

>>> COLIN KAEPERNICK AND EVA ARE TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES. >>> TOYOTA IS RECALLING PRIUS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN KICK INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE AND LOSE POWER. 750,000 CARS ARE AFFECTED IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY COVER 2013 AND 2015 MODELS. DEALERSHIPS CAN FIX THE ISSUE WITH A FREE SHOT OF WARE UPDATE. >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED ON ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, AND THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE COURT THIS TIME, ON ABORTION ON MONDAY, THE HIGH COURT RULED LOUISIANA'S TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY STRIKING DOWN A LAW THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS.

>> GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED HIS COURT TO PRESIDE OVER HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE, ON RECORD, A >>> IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FEW CRAVINGS BOX TODAY FOR ANYONE THAT SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT AND DOWN LOADS THE APP IT COMES WITH A SUPREME, BURRITO, CRUNCHY TACO, CINNAMON TWISTS AND A DRINK >> KANYE WEST HAS A NEW SONG FROM THE UPCOMING ALBUM. THE RAPPER IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE A VIDEO LATER THIS MORNING. >>> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSE ACHE WARDS ARE GOING FORWARD IN PERSON IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT BARCLAY'S CENTER ON AUGUST 20th. ANDREW CUOMO SAID THE SHOW WILL BE HELD WITH LIMIT ORDER NO AUDIENCE >> THANK YOU TO THE WORKERS WITH CASH BUT FIRST, JOE BIDEN DELIVERED SOME NEWS. HE SAYS SOME CAMPAIGN DONORS MAY NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT WE HAVE THIS STORY NOW FROM LONDON WITH THE LATEST STEVE, GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING TO YOU YEAH, QUITE EXTRAORDINARY. YOU HAVE THAT VIRTUAL CAMPAIGN EVENT. I WANT YOUR MONEY AND THEN TAKE YOUR MONEY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED SO JOE BIDEN WHO WE STILL HAVE TO CALL THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, HE RAISED $2 MILLION PLUS AT THIS VIRTUAL FUND-RAISER. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOT MONEY OFF YOU, MY CAMPAIGN DONORS. I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF THINKS $2 TRILLION TAX CUTS AND CLOSE CAPITAL GAINS AND I'M GOING TO RAISE A CORPORATE TAXATION UP TO 28% WHICH WILL RAISE $1.3 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. I'M GOING TO SPEND THAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPEND THAT ON CLEAN ENERGY ELSEWHERE, WHAT IS AMERICA DOING DURING THE LOCKDOWN? WE KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THEY'VE BEEN FIXING HOMES. THAT'S WHY LOWE'S, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GROUP IS PAYING FULL TIME HOWLY EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA $300 BONUS, WELL EARNED I'M SURE PART TIME WORKERS GETTING $150 THEY RAISED EMPLOYEES SALARIES BY $2 AN HOUR.

LOWE'S GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY BACK TO THOSE REALLY, REALLY WELL EARNED EMPLOYEES AS WELL. BACK TO YOU BO >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THIS AREA SINCE 1989 IT'S ALL DUE TO THE TROPICS AND WARM AIR PUMPING INTO THAT AREA. STRONG WARMING OVER ANTARCTICA DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS IS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS, WARM OCEAN TEMPERATURES WHICH INCREASED THE DELIVERY OF WARM AIR FOR THE SOUTH POLE SO REALLY DOESN'T >>> IRAN HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. IT WAS ISSUED OVER THE DRONE STRIKE THAT KILLED AN IRANIAN GENERAL.

ACCORDING TO IRANIAN MEDIA, HE IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT INCLUDES 36 PEOPLE HE WAS THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD COMMANDER. TEHRAN'S TOP PROSECUTOR SAYS THEY'LL BE PURSUING CHARGES EVEN AFTER TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY ENDS. >> TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. IT WAS CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS. BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO A VERY LONG MARCH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. ONE MAN IS WALKING ALL THE WAY FROM HIS HOME IN ALABAMA TO THE SITE WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN MINNEAPOLIS. CAROLYN PETERSON FROM OUR MADISON AFFILIATE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN WISCONSIN >> ONE MAN TAKING ON NO SMALL FEAT >> I TRY TO GET ABOUT 40 MILES A DAY.

>> TERRY WILLIS IS MAKING A 1,000 MILE TREK ON FOOT. >> IT'S ONLY ONE MAN BUT ONE MAN TWO FEET IS WHAT THEY SAY >> MAKING EVERY STEP FROM ALABAMA TO MINNESOTA COUNT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE >> JUST SEEN AS EQUALS THAT'S IT. >> Reporter: THEDEATH OF GEORG FLOYD INSPIRED HIM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE >> I COULD HAVE BEEN A GEORGE FLOYD. I'VE BEEN INCARCERATED I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP. I'VE BEEN IN HANDCUFFS YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT STORY. >> Reporter: HIS GOAL, TO BRIDGE DID IT VIDE.

>> THE BLACK, THE WHITE, WE JUST NEED TO DROP THOSE LABELS AND COME TOGETHER AS ONE >> Reporter: CHANGING THE WORLD HIS YOUNG SON WILL GROW UP IN KEEPS HIM GOING. >> HE'S GOING TO GET OLDER I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITHOUT BEING JUDGED, NOT JUST BY PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US >> Reporter: HIS MESSAGE REACHING ALL THE WAY TO MADISON. >> WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> HERE IT WAS, NICE TO MEET YOU. >> Reporter: COUNTLESS PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIS JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK >> I APPRECIATE THE LOVE I REALLY DO. >> Reporter: WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN 200 MILES TLOLEFT TO GO >> I GOT LOVE FROM EVERY CITY. MORE LOVE I CAN EVER IMAGINE >> Reporter: HE IS READY TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. >> I'M ON MY LAST LEG. I'M TIRED. I'M TIRED. ALONG THE WAY I JUST MET THE MOST INCREDIBLE PEOPLE >> Reporter: THANKS FOR OUR AFFILIATE FOR THAT REPORT.

>> THE GEORGE FLOYD TRAGEDY SPARKED ACTIVISM IN SO MANY PEOPLE. >> WE'RE SEEING THIS ONE WITH EACH AND EVERY STEP LITERALLY ALSO ALONG THE WAY AND HOPING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER END OF IT. >> YEAH. PROFOUND IMPACT. >> THANKS FOR WATCHING "EARLY TODAY. >> WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW HERE IN NEW YORK CITY FIRST IN A >>> THIS MORNING, THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE, WITH ALMOST THREE-FIFTHS OF STATES SEEING A RISE IN CASES AND STATES TAKING NEW ACTIONS TO TRY TO STEM THE SPREAD >> BREAKING OVERNIGHT, NEW DETAILS CONTINUE TO POUR IN OVER THE BOUNTY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY PUT ON U.S.

SERVICE MEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN WAS THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY BRIEFED ON THIS, AS FAR BACK AS 2019 >>> PLUS A WARNING FROM THE JUDGE IN THE CASE AGAINST THE FOUR OFFICERS CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. FIRST HALF OF 2020 "EARLY TODAY" STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD MORNING, I'M FRANCES RIVERA. >> AND I'M PHILLIP MENA. THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THE UNITED STATES IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY. WE'VE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE, WE'VE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH, SINCE THIS VIRUS FIRST REARED ITS UGLY HEAD BACK IN MARCH. WITH CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA AND NOW KENTUCKY ARE JOINING WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS.

>> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SAYS THEIR CONVENTION WILL FOLLOW JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA'S HEALTH GUIDELINES WHEN THEY MEET THERE IN AUGUST. AND NOW, THE CITY IS REQUIRING THE PUBLIC TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS. >> MEANWHILE, A TOP REPUBLICAN IS SHOWING HIS SUPPORT FOR WEARING FACE COVERINGS. >> WE MUST HAVE NO STIGMA, NONE, ABOUT WEARING MASKS WHEN WE LEAVE OUR HOMES AND COME NEAR OTHER PEOPLE. >> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING MEMBERS OF THE PARTY, BESIDES THE VICE PRESIDENT, TO ENDORSE MASKS. >> GILEAD SCIENCES ANNOUNCED THE PRICING FOR ITS COVID-19 TREATMENT, REMDESIVIR, WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120. THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> THE CDC HAS ADDED THREE NEW SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS TO ITS LIST CONGESTION OR RUNNY NOSE, NAUSEA OR VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA, ARE NOW CONSIDERED SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. >>> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN, AFTER POSTPONING IT FROM APRIL DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 2019 RETURNS OR REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION MUST BE FILED BY JULY 15th TO AVOID A PENALTY.

>> OFFICIALS ARE RESORTING TO DESPERATE MEASURES TO TRY TO CONTAIN THE SURGE IN CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES TO BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH, WHERE NOT WEARING A MASK CAN COST YOU 50 BUCKS. >> IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORM THREATENING THE STATE'S PRISTINE SHORES. A SURGE OF CASES MORE THAN 23,000, IN THREE DAYS. SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. >> I GET IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT JUST REALLY SUCKS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH. >> THIS STEP IS NECESSARY. AGAIN, TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE WE SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY. >> I THINK IT'S A VERY TOUGH THING FOR THEM TO DO BUT I ADMIRE ANYONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> BUT SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR MAYORS. >> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT. >> GET OVER IT YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS I FEEL LIKE ANY OTHER FLU. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID IS RISING IN 29 STATES 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100%, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

AND THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GYMS, AND WATER PARKS TO SHUT DOWN, FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR, NOW CLOSING BARS, AGAIN, IN SEVEN COUNTIES, INCLUDING L.A., WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH. >> WE DON'T LIKE THE TRENDLINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONTLINE WORKERS, TAKEN ABACK BY THEIR YOUNG PATIENTS. >> I REMEMBER TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR, NOT BUT THREE YEARS OLDER THAN I AM. NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS. HEALTHY. AND WATCHING THIS PATIENT STRUGGLE TO BREATHE, GASPING FOR AIR, BECAUSE OF COVID. IT'S SCARY. >> NOW, THE COVID SURGE DEALING A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES, HERE, IN MIAMI BEACH ON FAMED OCEAN DRIVE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN, AGAIN, FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR HOTEL GUESTS HAVE CANCELLED THEIR RESERVATIONS. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE, SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR, WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

A PRE-PRINT STUDY FROM GERMANY EVALUATED THE GENOME OF NEARLY 2,000 COVID PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY FAILURE FROM SEVEN HOSPITALS IN ITALY IN SPAIN. THEY FOUND VARIATIONS IN A PERSON'S GENES IN AT LEAST TWO PARTICULAR PLACES IN THE HUMAN GENOME WERE ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF RESPIRATORY FAILURE. ONE OF THOSE PLACES INCLUDES THE GENE FOR BLOOD TYPE. >> THAT WAS DR. FRANK McGEORGE REPORTING. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE FOUR EX-POLICE OFFICERS WERE IN COURT. PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGAN FOR THE FOUR MEN INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. HERE'S NBC'S GABE GUTIERREZ. >> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THOMAS LANE AND ALEX KING WERE ROOKIE COPS, THEIR LAWYERS HAVE SAID AND WERE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN. THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE'D CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL, NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH.

>> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KING'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D PLEAD NOT GUILTY, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE AND AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE.

>> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS. THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. >> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE WEATHER AND THE STORMS THAT HIT OVERNIGHT IN CERTAIN SPOTS HERE IS NBC METEOROLOGIST, JANESSA WEBB GOOD MORNING, JANESSA. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, YOU TWO. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAD THOSE FEISTY STORMS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY LAST NIGHT. GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN THAT AREA STARTS TO PUSH OFFSHORE BY LATER ON TODAY BUT THEN, THE NEXT THREAT IS HEIGHTENED FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS IT WILL QUICKLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE NORTHEAST SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A VERY SMALL SECTION OF THE COUNTRY BUT I THINK IT STARTS TO GET BROADER, THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, DUE TO THE HEAT THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THESE STORMS IS GOING TO BE THE FLOOD THREAT ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S., INTO THE MIDWEST, WHERE 6 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGHOUT TODAY THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY OF THE DAY HEA HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD.

BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DENIED REPORTS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. OUR KEIR SIMMONS HAS MORE. >> GROWING OUTRAGE OVER REPORTS RUSSIA OFFERED CASH FOR KILLING AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN. OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE INTELLIGENCE TELL NBC NEWS THAT THE U.S. GATHERED INFORMATION SHOWING THAT RUSSIAN OPERATIVES OFFERED BOUNTIES TO THE TALIBAN. ONE OFFICIAL SAYING, AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED, AS A RESULT. THOUGH, OTHER OFFICIALS TELL US THE INTELLIGENCE WAS UNCORROBORATED PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETING, INTEL JUST REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY DID NOT FIND THIS INFO CREDIBLE. AND, THEREFORE, DIDN'T REPORT IT TO ME. NOW, PRESIDENT PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN PUSHING BACK IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. >> MAYBE, I CAN SOUND A LITTLE BIT RUDE BUT THIS IS 100% [ BLEEP ]. >> BUT BIPARTISAN CALLS IN CONGRESS FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

REPUBLICAN LIZ CHENEY TWEETING, WHO DID KNOW AND WHEN? WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROTECT OUR FORCES AND HOLD PUTIN ACCOUNTABLE PRESIDENT PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN TELLING NBC NEWS, RUSSIA AHAS RECEIVED NO COMPLAINT FROM AMERICAN OFFICIALS. >> HAS ANYONE RAISED THIS WITH YOU? COMPLAINED TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS? OR SAID THAT THERE WILL BE IMPLICATIONS >> AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, NONE OF AMERICA'S REPRESENTATIVES HAS EVER RAISED THIS QUESTION AGAINST RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVES. >> WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING TOP REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THERE IS AN ONGOING >>> "EARLY TODAY" IS ON INSTAGRAM. YOU CAN FOLLOW US AT NBC UNDERSCORE "EARLY TODAY" FOR NEWS UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. >> WITH COVID-19 CASES OVER 2.5 MILLION IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HUNT FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT HAS LED A GROUPF RESEARCHERS TO LOOK AT AN UNLIKELY ANIMAL. NBC'S KARI SANDERS WENT TO THE LLAMA RANCH IN GROVELAND, FLORIDA, WHERE RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING THEIR ANTIBODIES. >> LLAMAS, A DOMESTICED ANIMAL FROM SOUTH AMERICA, ARE BOTH INTELLIGENT AND SOCIAL.

>> SHE'S VERY ALERT. SHE'S EXTREMELY AWARE OF EVERYBODY. >> VERY FRIENDLY. >> BUT THEY MAY, ALSO, HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. >> LLAMAS PRODUCE AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF ANTIBODY, IN ADDITION TO A CONVENTIONAL ANTIBODY, THAT HUMANS MAKE. >> SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG TURNED TO LLAMAS FOR ANTIBODY RESEARCH. FROM HIV TO INFLUENZA. IN 2016, RESEARCHERS WERE STUDYING TWO EARLIER CORONAVIRUSES IN A LLAMA NAMED WINTER IN BELGIUM. NOW, HER APT BODIES FROM A BLOOD DRAW ARE BEING STUDIED BY A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS WHO ARE FUNDED, IN PART, BY THE NIH TO FIND A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19. >> SORT OF LIKE ONE SIDE OF A PIECE OF VELCRO. SO THE VIRUS HAS A BUNCH OF THESE STICKING OUT OUR CELLS ARE THE COUNTERPART TO IT AND IT TRIES TO STICK AND ATTACH THE VIRUS TO OUR CELLS LIKE VELCRO AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS COME UP WITH AN ANTIBODY THAT COMBINES AND COVER ONE SIDE OF THE VELCRO AND THEN, IT CAN NO LONGER STOIC ST STICK TO OUR CELLS.

>> AND IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THE CORONAVIRUS NO LONGER BECOMES A THREAT TO US >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE PREVENT IT FROM ATTACHING TO OUR CELLS AND INFECTING US. >> IF CORONAVIRUS IS LIKE AN INVADING ARMY IN OUR BODY, THEN, WHAT ARE THE ANTIBODIES? >> THE ANTIBODIES ARE THE SOLDIERS THAT WE TRAIN TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE THAT INVADING. >> AND DESTROY IT? >> AND DESTROY IT. >> DESSCIENTISTS WILL THEN TAKE WINTER'S ANTIBODIES AND COPY THAT ANTIBODY AS A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19.

>> WOULD YOU INJECT THIS TO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE CORONAVIRUS? >> YEAH, POTENTIALLY ANTIBODIES CAN BE USED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THEY CAN BE USED PR PROPHYLACTICALLY, BEFORE SOMEBODY IS INFECTED AND THIS CAN BE REALLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR HIGH-RISK PEOPLE, THAT MAYBE ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS. YOU COULD THINK OF, LIKE, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, NURSES IN HOSPITALS. YOU COULD INJECT THEM. THEY'D PROBABLY BE PROTECTED FOR ONE TO TWO MONTHS. THE ANTIBODIES WOULD WANE OVER TIME, SO THEY WOULD NEED ANOTHER INJECTION EVERY MONTH OR TWO BUT THIS WOULD PROTECT THEM FROM HOPEFULLY GETTING INFECTED. >> AND WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INFECTED AND TRYING TO FIGHT COVID-19 >> YEAH. THAT'S POTENTIALLY THE OTHER WAY. IS USING THE ANTIBODY FOR TREATMENT. PARTICULARLY, IF IT'S EARLY ON IN THE INFECTION, THERE WILL BE SOME TIME WINDOW, MAYBE A FEW DAYS AFTER INFECTION, WHERE YOU COULD ADMINISTER THE ANTIBODY. AND THEN, IT WILL HELP THEIR BODIES FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS AND MAYBE, THAT WILL DECREASE THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE OR SHORTEN THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> THE RESEARCHERS ARE NOW PREPARING TO CONDUCT PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES IN ANIMALS. THEN, TESTING IN HUMANS. IN THE HOPES TO FIND AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC >> IS WINTER GOING TO BE OUR HERO >> I HOPE SO YEAH WINTER'S — WINTER'S BEEN RETIRED. SHE'S LIVING COMFORTABLY ON A FARM IN BELGIUM. SHE'S PRODUCED A REALLY INTERESTING MOLECULE THAT'S BEING PUSHED FORWARD RAPIDLY FOR CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT. >> SUCH A STRANGE PLACE TO BE LOOKING BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, AS A SCIENTIST. >> YES THAT'S WHAT — AS PART OF SCIENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPLORE EXPLORATION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US FROM A PANDEMIC >> ALL RIGHT THANKS TO KARI SANDERS FOR THAT.

AND RESEARCHERS SAY AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT IS AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY. WHEN THIS PANDEMIC FIRST HIT >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY I TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SO FAR, IT HAS APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS, WORTH NEARLY $518 BILLION. BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >> COLIN KAEPERNICK TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYER'S EARLY LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS STOLEN SO MANY MEMORIES FROM HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, WHICH IS WHY A SOUTH JERSEY BASEBALL COACH IS DOING SOME SPECIAL FROM OUR AFFILIATE WCAU, HAS THE STORY. >> Reporter: IN SOUTH JERSEY, BASEBALL IS BACK THE CORONAVIRUS CANCELLED THE SPRING SEASON BUT IT COULDN'T SHUT DOWN THIS MAN. >> I PROMISE YOU, WE'RE GOING TO AT LEAST PLAY ONE GAME YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK OFF THE FIELD IN YOUR UNIFORM.

I MADE THEM THAT PROMISE. >> JOHN SCANZANO IS A MAN OF HIS WORD ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER MIKE, HE IS HOSTING THE ONE MORE GAME SENIOR DAY. >> THE IDEA JUST POPPED INTO MY HEAD TO, YOU KNOW, HONOR THE SENIORS. GIVE THEM A MEMORY OF, AT LEAST, WALKING OFF THE FIELD ONE LAST TIME THAT LAST TIME TO BE AROUND YOUR COACHES, MAN, TO BE AROUND YOUR TEAMMATES. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. >> THE LAST WEEKEND OF JULY, THE SCANZANOS WILL BRING SENIORS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTH JERSEY TO THIS FIELD GAMES START AT 10:00, AND RUN UNTIL 8:00, WHEN THE DAY WRAPS WITH A HOME RUN DERBY, UNDER THE LIGHTS. >> INSTEAD OF REMEMBERING NOT HAVING THE SEASON, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAD A LITTLE EVENT. WE GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME AND MAYBE HIT A COUPLE HOME RUNS, WHY NOT? >> AMONG THOSE HELPING PUT THIS TOGETHER, FILLIES MINOR LEAGUE CLOSER AND SOUTH JERSEY NATIVE JEFF SINGER. >> THE FRIENDSHIPS I STILL HAVE FROM BEING ON THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES YOU THAT LAST CHANCE TO GET ON THE DIAMOND WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

>> FOOD TRUCKS AND DUNK TANKS WILL ALSO BE ON HAND FOR THE MORE THAN 200 KIDS WHO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP. ONE MORE GAME FOR SENIORS, WHO HAD THEIR SEASON STRIPPED AWAY. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GIVE THE KIDS LIKE A GREAT DAY. ONE MORE GREAT DAY >> OUR THANKS TO DANNY FOR THAT REPORT. >> I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL AND MY FAVORITE SEASON WAS MY SENIOR SEASON. AND MY FAVORITE GAME WAS MY LAST GAME, TOO.

SO I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ONE MORE GAME, TOO. >> MAKE IT EXTRA SPECIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE PLAYERS BUT THE COACHES. AND FOR THE FAMILIES. >> BIG >>> ON THIS LAST DAY OF THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, THE CORONAVIRUS IS SPIKING IN DOZENS OF STATES. SMASHING RECORDS, AHEAD OF THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY BUT THE TREATMENT IS, ALSO, PROVING PRICEY WITH THE PROMISING DRUG REMDESIVIR. >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE THE JUDGE, WHILE THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION BATTLES DEFUNDING.

>> THE RUSSIANS ARE CALLING BS ON REPORTS THEY ALLEGEDLY OFFERED A BOUNTY TO THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. SOLDIERS. THIS MORNING, NEW INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE MAY HAVE LEARNED OF THE DETAILS. >> AND ALARMING DATA COMING OUT OF ANTARCTICA, THAT THE SOUTH POLE IS WARMING THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. >> HALL OF FAMER SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, TAKING THE RIM AND GOING HOME IN A CHARITY GAME OF HORSE AGAINST NFL ROB GRONKOWSKI "EARLY TODAY" STARTS RIGHT NOW GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, I'M PHILLIP MENA. >> I'M FRANCES RIVERA. THE COUNTRY IS IN A PANDEMIC FREEFALL, CAUGHT IN THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF CORONAVIRUS WE HAVE NOW REACHED OVER 2.6 MILLION INFECTIONS THAT'S GREATER THAN THE POPULATION OF HOUSTON, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. AT THIS RATE, OVER 43,000 AMERICANS HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19, EACH MONTH. >> MORE THAN 200 GYM GOERS, WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO COVID-19 AT A WEST VIRGINIA PLANET FITNESS. LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT SENT OUT A WARNING SAYING SOMEONE WHO WORKED OUT THERE TESTED POSITIVE ALSO, URGED ANYONE WHO USED THE GYM TO SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS. >> AMC THEATERS IS PUSHING BACK PLANS TO REOPEN.

SAYS IT NOW PLANS TO REOPEN 450 LOCATIONS ON JULY 30th THE REMAINING 150 LOCATIONS WILL OPEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. >> AND MONDAY MARKED THE FIRST MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY IT WAS OVER THE EAST RIVER FUTURE SHOW TIMES AND LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN UNANNOUNCED, IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE CROWDS. >> AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BROADWAY WILL BE OFF FOR A BIT LONGER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 39 PLAYS ARE SHUT DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR WHILE THEY PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR, THEATERS ARE EXTENDING TICKET REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES THROUGH JANUARY 3rd, 2021. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID-19 IS RISING IN 29 STATES. 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR NOW SHUTTING DOWN BARS AGAIN IN SEVEN COUNTIES MEANWHILE, IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORM IS THREATENING THE STATE'S PRISTINE SHORES. THE SURGE OF CASES MORE THAN 23,000, IN THREE DAYS , SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR FOURTH OF JULY.

OUR JOE FRYER IS IN HOUSTON WHERE THE SITUATION IS GROWING DIRE. >> STRAINED HOSPITALS ARE CARING FOR MORE AND MORE PATIENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER. MANY, WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. >> WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS A INCREASED RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION, OF 20 TO 40-YEAR-OLDS. >> THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THEY ARE SEEING AT BAYLOR ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP BUT THE AGE IS GOING DOWN. EVEN THOSE IN THEIR 20s ARE ENDING UP IN THE ICU. >> SO IT'S CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT, IF I WERE YOUNGER, I WOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT I AM GOING TO BE IMMUNE TO HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS. >> YOU'RE SEEING THAT FIRSTHAND. >> SEEING THAT VERY FIRSTHAND, ABSOLUTELY. >> 36-YEAR-OLD VERONICA MADRANO SPEND OVER A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL HER PARENTS AND BROTHER GOT SICK, TOO. >> THAT EXPERIENCE IS AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD NEVER WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. >> EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

IT IS A REAL DEAL. IT'S A REAL THING. AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. >> FOR SOME PATIENTS, THE ANTIVIRAL DRUG REMDESIVIR HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SHORTEN RECOVERY TIMES. IT WAS REVEALED FOR PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE, THE DRUG WILL COST ABOUT $3,100 FOR A FIVE-DAY TREATMENT DRUGMAKER GILEAD DISAGREES. >> WE PRICED IT AT THE PRICE THAT ALLOWS FOR ACCESS, ACROSS THE DEVELOPED WORLD. >> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW SECURED HALF A MILLION TREATMENT COURSES OF REMDESIVIR TO GIVE TO HOSPITALS THROUGH SEPTEMBER. >> AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE, WITH OUR STATES, TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO THE HOSPITALS MOST IN NEED.

>> ALSO, IN NEED, TESTING, WHICH IS IN HIGH DEMAND, FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS, TO ARIZONA. >> TOOK A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR LIKE BETTER PART OF TWO WEEKS. >> ACROSS THE SUNBELT, MORE SCENES ARE SURFACING OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LONG LINES, WHILE STREAMS OF CARS AT DRIVE-THRU SITES STRETCH FOR BLOCKS. >> THEY ARE TRYING TO SCREEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND YET, THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON TESTING. >> A GROWING STRUGGLE TO GET AHEAD OF A SPREADING VIRUS JOE FRYER, NBC NEWS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE THIS MORNING FOR ITS RESPONSE TO REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. "THE NEW YORK TIMES," NOW REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY. OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT TRACIE POTTS JOINS US WITH MORE. AND, TRACIE, CONGRESS IS DEMANDING ANSWERS HERE >> RIGHT, FRANCES. WELL, SOME REPUBLICANS ALREADY GOT ANSWERS. THEY GOT BRIEFED ON MONDAY ABOUT THIS DEMOCRATS, A FEW OF THEM, ARE EXPECTED TO BE BRIEFED TODAY BUT THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STORY ABOUT RUSSIA OFFERING BOUNTIES, OFFERING CASH, TO HUNT DOWN AND KILL U.S.

SOLDIERS IN FACT, THERE ARE NOW REPORTS, AT LEAST ONE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL, TELLING NBC THAT AMERICANS WERE KILLED, AS A RESULT OF THIS ALTHOUGH, OTHERS SAY THAT THE INFORMATION REMAINS UNCORROBORATED THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT BRIEFED AT ALL, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION COULDN'T BE VERIFIED, DESPITE IS LATEST "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT AND THE PENTAGON SAYS THEY HAD NO CORROBORATION THAT TROOPS WERE IN DANGER RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT. >> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO — TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I — I — I CAN SOUND A LITTLE BIT RUDE.

>> TRACIE, THANK YOU >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE LATEST IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE IN MINNESOTA. PRETRIAL HEARINGS WERE HELD FOR THE FORMER POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN FLOYD'S DEATH. NBC'S GABE GUTIERREZ IS IN MINNEAPOLIS. >> Reporter: OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THOMAS LANE AND ALEX KEUNG WERE ROOKIE COPS, THEIR LAWYERS HAVE SAID AND WERE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN.

THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KEUNG'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT OFFER COMMENT, EXCEPT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY. >> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT, IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM.

IT WAS ABOUT HUMANITY. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO, YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER ARE PLANNING TO QUIT OR RETIRE DUE TO MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE OFFICERS THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. >> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, AND THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE COURT THIS TIME, ON ABORTION ON MONDAY, THE HIGH COURT RULED LOUISIANA'S TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY STRIKING DOWN A LAW THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS.

EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT CAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS CAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS. >> GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED HIS COURT TO PRESIDE OVER HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE, ON RECORD, AS EVISCERATING SOME KIND OF ABORTION RIGHT. >> AND THANKS TO PETE WILLIAMS FOR THAT REPORT. >> NBC METEOROLOGIST JANESSA WEBB HAS BEEN TRACKING SOME SEVERE WEATHER FOR US OVERNIGHT. MORNING, JANESSA. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, FRANCES AND PHILLIP.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY FEISTY STORMS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND CENTRAL NEW YORK YESTERDAY WE DIDN'T HAVE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE FORECAST YESTERDAY. BUT THESE STUBBORN CELLS REALLY PICKED UP. WE HAD GUSTS UP TO ABOUT 69 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE BROOKLYN AREA. TODAY, WE HAVE THAT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AND I THINK THIS REALLY STARTS TO BROAD OUT FOR THE MIDWEST SO POTENTIALLY, SAGGING TO THE SOUTH WITH DAMAGING WINDS. IT'S NOT A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER. BUT, PLEASE, BE ON YOUR TOES THIS AFTERNOON AS THE HEAT CONTINUES TO BUILD NOW, 7 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER FLASH-FLOOD RISK THROUGHOUT YOUR AFTERNOON INTO YOUR EVENING, WITH THESE CELLS PROVIDING SOME TORRENTIAL RAIN. THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY OF THE DAY HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. SO YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE HEAT BUILDING AND IT'S GOING TO SAG TO THE MIDWEST THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE IN THE UPPER 80s FOR CHICAGO.

97 FOR JACKSONVILLE. THE STORMS MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST INTO THE RALEIGH-DURHAM AREA, EVEN CHARLOTTE THIS AFTERNOON GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SEVERE WEATHER BUT WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE IT'S WARMING UP. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, COMING UP. >> WHAT NOW FOR 2020 THANK YOU. IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FREE CHALUPA CRAVINGS BOX FOR EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT.

>> A LOT OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE COMING DOWN WITH COVID-19. ODDLY ENOUGH SO ARE THEY TRYING TO HERD IMMUNITY THEIR TEAMS SO THESE GUYS CAN GET SICK NOW? AS OPPOSED TO GETTING SICK DURING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IF, IN FACT, THERE IS ONE. AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, AS OF NOW, THE SEASON IS EXPECTED TO START ON AUGUST 29th. >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >>> AS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON APPROACHES, FORMER PRESIDENTS TIPPED THEIR CAPS TO CELEBRATE THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES >> I'M TIPPING MY HAT TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, WHO LEFT A CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF TALENT AND SPIRIT AND DIGNITY ON OUR COUNTRY. >> THE NEGRO LEAGUES MADE BASEBALL BETTER AND AMERICA BETTER >> THE PRESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES, AND RECOGNIZED SOME LEGENDS OF THE GAME LIKE WILLIE MAZE, ERNIE BANKS, AND COOL PAPA BELL.

STILL, HOLDS MEANING, 31 YEARS LATER. MICHELLE OBAMA JOINING THE CAST OF STAR-STUDDED PRESENTERS, GIVING BEYONCE THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD. >> YOU INSPIRE ALL OF US. >> WE HAVE TO VOTE, LIKE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE IT DOES. >> THERE IS, ALSO, A TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK-AMERICANS. >> BREONNA TAYLOR. >> ERIC GARNER. >> WHOSE NAMES BECAME A MOVEMENT RAPPER DA BABY, PERFORMING HIS HIT SONG, WHILE UNDER THE KNEE OF AN OFFICER, PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MILLIONS WHO PROTESTED. ON WHAT'S TYPICALLY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC SUPERSTARS USING THEIR STAGE AS A PLATFORM. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR TOO OFTEN. WE HAVE A WARMING TREND THAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE SOUTH POLE.

>> THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, WHO WE PUT A LABEL ON, NOT ONLY SHED THAT LABEL BUT, SHOWED THE WORLD HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE THEY REALLY SHINED WHEN THE WORLD NEEDED THEM TO, THE MOST. >> AND THAT WAS KATE SNOW REPORTING. CHEF HOUSER HOPES THAT HE CAN REOPEN CAFE MOMENTUM FOR SIT-DOWN MEALS AS SOON AS IT'S SAFE AND OKAY TO DO SO BUT RIGHT NOW, WOW WHAT A GREAT MODEL FOR OTHER CHEFS, OTHER RESTAURANTS, TO LOOK UP TO.

>> AND A MAN WALKING THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. EARLY TODAY STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. >> GLAD YOU'RE WITH US THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY. WE HAVE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE WE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH SINCE THE VIRUS CLAIMED FIRST LIFE BACK IN LATE FEBRUARY CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA, OREGON, AND KENTUCKY ARE NOW JOINING THE RING OF FIRE WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS.

>> IN ARIZONA, BARS, GYMS, MOVIE THEATERS AND WATER PARKS HAVE ALL BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS. AFTER THEIR SEVENTH DAY OF AT LEAST 3,000 CASES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 17th. >> IN ALSO LSLOS ANGELES, ALL BS AND PIERS ARE CLOSED THEY CANNOT RISK HAVING CROWDS >> THE PRICING FOR THE COVID-19 TREATMENT WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120 THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> AND AFTER PAUSING THE SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THEY'RE WORKING TO RESTRUCTURE AND A $50 MILLION FUND IS BEING CREATED TO HELP THE NEARLY 3500 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. >> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN YOU MUST FILE BY JULY 15th >> THEY'RE TRYING TO SURGE THE INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES, BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE NOT WEARING A MASS KK NOW COST YOU $50 >> BEACHES SHUT DOWN FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY >> I GET IT.

WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH. >> WE DON'T LIKE THE TREND LINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONT LINE WORKERS TAKEN ABACK. >> I'M TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR. I'M WATCHING HIM STRUGGLE TO GET AIR. IT'S SCARY >> A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES IN OCEAN BEACH, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW MOST OF THE HOTEL GUESTS CANCELED. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN KNFLORIDA ARE TESTN POSITIVE. >> WHAT SCARES YOU MORE, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS RUNNING AT 5% POSITIVE TEST RATE AND NOW IT'S RUNNING MUCH HIGHER THAT'S THE ISSUE >> THE BEACHES ARE OUT FOR NOW THE MOVIE BUSINESS IS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS.

A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT COMMENT, EXCEPT FOR OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY. >> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT. IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE, IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS. THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED.

>> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE WEATHER >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >> I'M SHAKING MY HEAD IT IS SEVERE WEATHER SYSTEM AND THIS BACK END OF THE SYSTEM IN NEW ENGLAND REALLY PUSHED INTO NEW YORK CITY OVERNIGHT. AND WE SAW THESE STORMS REALLY PICKING UP WE SAW WIND GUSTS 69 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE BROOKLYN AREA.

HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. RAPID CITY COOLING OFF A LITTLE BIT. WE'RE IN THE UPPER 70s HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT TO THE EAST WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT JUNE AIR SETTLING INTO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST. JACKSONVILLE TODAY, 97 WE'RE WATCHING SEVERE WEATHER. WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE THAT IS WARMING UP >> THAT'S OUR HALFTIME SHOW FOR 2020, MELTING POLES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> SHAQUILLE O'NEAL MAY BE FRIRD BASKETBALL IN 2011 HE STILL HAS IT. IN A GAME OF HORSE, HE CALLED GAME WITH THIS DUNK AND RIPPED THE RIM OFF THE COURT. IT BENEFITED THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA AND THE NAACP. >>> COLIN KAEPERNICK AND EVA ARE TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES.

>>> TOYOTA IS RECALLING PRIUS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN KICK INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE AND LOSE POWER. 750,000 CARS ARE AFFECTED IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY COVER 2013 AND 2015 MODELS. DEALERSHIPS CAN FIX THE ISSUE WITH A FREE SHOT OF WARE UPDATE. >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED ON ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC >> THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, AND THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE COURT THIS TIME, ON ABORTION ON MONDAY, THE HIGH COURT RULED LOUISIANA'S TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY STRIKING DOWN A LAW THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. HERE IS NBC'S PETE WILLIAMS. >> Reporter: IT'S ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THIS CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT AND A VICTORY FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABORTION, LIKE KIMBERLY O'BRIEN, OF NEW ORLEANS DEVASTATED TO LEARN THAT THE CHILD SHE WAS CARRYING WOULD HAVE SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS, SHE AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY.

BUT SHE HAD TO GO TO TEXAS >> I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO 350 MILES AWAY TO HAVE MY ABORTION BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET A PROVIDER TO DO IT IN NEW ORLEANS. >> THE RULING STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN HARDER. REQUIRING ABORTION DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JOINED THE COURT'S FOUR MORE LIBERAL MEMBERS IN THE 5-4 DECISION HE SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO ONE FROM TEXAS THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN FEWER YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT KAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS KAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS.

THE RAPPER IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE A VIDEO LATER THIS MORNING. >>> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSE ACHE WARDS ARE GOING FORWARD IN PERSON IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT BARCLAY'S CENTER ON AUGUST 20th. ANDREW CUOMO SAID THE SHOW WILL BE HELD WITH LIMIT ORDER NO AUDIENCE >> THANK YOU TO THE WORKERS WITH CASH BUT FIRST, JOE BIDEN DELIVERED SOME NEWS. HE SAYS SOME CAMPAIGN DONORS MAY NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT WE HAVE THIS STORY NOW FROM LONDON WITH THE LATEST STEVE, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU YEAH, QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

I'M GOING TO SPEND THAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPEND THAT ON CLEAN ENERGY ELSEWHERE, WHAT IS AMERICA DOING DURING THE LOCKDOWN? WE KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THEY'VE BEEN FIXING HOMES. THAT'S WHY LOWE'S, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GROUP IS PAYING FULL TIME HOWLY EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA $300 BONUS, WELL EARNED I'M SURE PART TIME WORKERS GETTING $150 THEY RAISED EMPLOYEES SALARIES BY $2 AN HOUR. LOWE'S GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY BACK TO THOSE REALLY, REALLY WELL EARNED EMPLOYEES AS WELL. BACK TO YOU BO >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THIS AREA SINCE 1989 IT'S ALL DUE TO THE TROPICS AND WARM AIR PUMPING INTO THAT AREA.

STRONG WARMING OVER ANTARCTICA DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS IS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS, WARM OCEAN TEMPERATURES WHICH INCREASED THE DELIVERY OF WARM AIR FOR THE SOUTH POLE SO REALLY DOESN'T >>> IRAN HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. IT WAS ISSUED OVER THE DRONE STRIKE THAT KILLED AN IRANIAN GENERAL. ACCORDING TO IRANIAN MEDIA, HE IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT INCLUDES 36 PEOPLE HE WAS THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD COMMANDER. TEHRAN'S TOP PROSECUTOR SAYS THEY'LL BE PURSUING CHARGES EVEN AFTER TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY ENDS.

>> TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. IT WAS CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS. BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO A VERY LONG MARCH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. ONE MAN IS WALKING ALL THE WAY FROM HIS HOME IN ALABAMA TO THE SITE WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN MINNEAPOLIS. CAROLYN PETERSON FROM OUR MADISON AFFILIATE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN WISCONSIN >> ONE MAN TAKING ON NO SMALL FEAT >> I TRY TO GET ABOUT 40 MILES A DAY.

I'VE BEEN IN HANDCUFFS YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT STORY. >> Reporter: HIS GOAL, TO BRIDGE DID IT VIDE. >> THE BLACK, THE WHITE, WE JUST NEED TO DROP THOSE LABELS AND COME TOGETHER AS ONE >> Reporter: CHANGING THE WORLD HIS YOUNG SON WILL GROW UP IN KEEPS HIM GOING. >> HE'S GOING TO GET OLDER I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITHOUT BEING JUDGED, NOT JUST BY PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US >> Reporter: HIS MESSAGE REACHING ALL THE WAY TO MADISON. >> WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> HERE IT WAS, NICE TO MEET YOU. >> Reporter: COUNTLESS PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIS JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK >> I APPRECIATE THE LOVE I REALLY DO. >> Reporter: WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN 200 MILES TLOLEFT TO GO >> I GOT LOVE FROM EVERY CITY. MORE LOVE I CAN EVER IMAGINE >> Reporter: HE IS READY TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. >> I'M ON MY LAST LEG. I'M TIRED. I'M TIRED.

ALONG THE WAY I JUST MET THE MOST INCREDIBLE PEOPLE >> Reporter: THANKS FOR OUR AFFILIATE FOR THAT REPORT. >> THE GEORGE FLOYD TRAGEDY SPARKED ACTIVISM IN SO MANY PEOPLE. >> WE'RE SEEING THIS ONE WITH EACHND EVERY STEP LITERALLY ALSO ALONG THE WAY AND HOPING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER END OF IT. >> YEAH. PROFOUND IMPACT. >> THANKS FOR WATCHING "EARLY TODAY. >> WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW HERE IN NEW YORK CITY FIRST IN A >>> THIS MORNING, THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE, WITH ALMOST THREE-FIFTHS OF STATES SEEING A RISE IN CASES AND STATES TAKING NEW ACTIONS TO TRY TO STEM THE SPREAD >> BREAKING OVERNIGHT, NEW DETAILS CONTINUE TO POUR IN OVER THE BOUNTY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY PUT ON U.S.

AND NOW, THE CITY IS REQUIRING THE PUBLIC TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS. >> MEANWHILE, A TOP REPUBLICAN IS SHOWING HIS SUPPORT FOR WEARING FACE COVERINGS. >> WE MUST HAVE NO STIGMA, NONE, ABOUT WEARING MASKS WHEN WE LEAVE OUR HOMES AND COME NEAR OTHER PEOPLE. >> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING MEMBERS OF THE PARTY, BESIDES THE VICE PRESIDENT, TO ENDORSE MASKS. >> GILEAD SCIENCES ANNOUNCED THE PRICING FOR ITS COVID-19 TREATMENT, REMDESIVIR, WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120. THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> THE CDC HAS ADDED THREE NEW SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS TO ITS LIST CONGESTION OR RUNNY NOSE, NAUSEA OR VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA, ARE NOW CONSIDERED SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. >>> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN, AFTER POSTPONING IT FROM APRIL DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 2019 RETURNS OR REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION MUST BE FILED BY JULY 15th TO AVOID A PENALTY. >> OFFICIALS ARE RESORTING TO DESPERATE MEASURES TO TRY TO CONTAIN THE SURGE IN CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES TO BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH, WHERE NOT WEARING A MASK CAN COST YOU 50 BUCKS.

>> IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORM THREATENING THE STATE'S PRISTINE SHORES. A SURGE OF CASES MORE THAN 23,000, IN THREE DAYS. SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. >> I GET IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT JUST REALLY SUCKS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH. >> THIS STEP IS NECESSARY. AGAIN, TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE WE SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY. >> I THINK IT'S A VERY TOUGH THING FOR THEM TO DO BUT I ADMIRE ANYONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> BUT SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR MAYORS. >> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT. >> GET OVER IT YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS I FEEL LIKE ANY OTHER FLU. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID IS RISING IN 29 STATES 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100%, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GYMS, AND WATER PARKS TO SHUT DOWN, FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR, NOW CLOSING BARS, AGAIN, IN SEVEN COUNTIES, INCLUDING L.A., WHERE CASES HIT A RECORD HIGH.

>> WE DON'T LIKE THE TRENDLINE. >> IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FRONTLINE WORKERS, TAKEN ABACK BY THEIR YOUNG PATIENTS. >> I REMEMBER TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR, NOT BUT THREE YEARS OLDER THAN I AM. NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS. HEALTHY. AND WATCHING THIS PATIENT STRUGGLE TO BREATHE, GASPING FOR AIR, BECAUSE OF COVID. IT'S SCARY. >> NOW, THE COVID SURGE DEALING A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES, HERE, IN MIAMI BEACH ON FAMED OCEAN DRIVE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN, AGAIN, FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR HOTEL GUESTS HAVE CANCELLED THEIR RESERVATIONS. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE, SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR, WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI BEACH. >> MORE ON THE INFECTION AND A QUESTION, COULD YOUR BLOOD TYPE OR GENETIC MAKEUP MAKE YOU MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONTRACTING COVID-19 RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE INVESTIGATING THIS THEORY. AND SCIENTISTS HAVE RELEASED SEVERAL UNPUBLISHED STUDIES ON THE ISSUE. THIS MORNING, DR. FRANK McGEORGE, MEDICAL REPORTER FOR WDIV IN DETROIT, HAS A LOOK AT THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH. >> SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A RESEARCH PAPER LOOKING AT PATIENTS IN WUHAN AND SHENZHEN, CHINA, SUGGESTED HAVING TYPE A BLOOD WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGHER RISK OF ACQUIRING COVID-19 AND TYPE O BLOOD APPEARED TO HAVE THE LOWEST RISK OF INFECTION. THIS PAPER REMAINS UNPUBLISHED AND HAS NOT GONE THROUGH PEER REVIEW SUBSEQUENTLY, THOUGH, A GROUP OF RESEARCHERS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK LOOKED AT THE BLOOD TYPE AND SEVERITY OF DISEASE IN OVER 1,500 PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

THEY, ALSO, FOUND A HIGHER PROPORTION OF BLOOD TYPE A PATIENTS AND A LOWER PROPORTION OF PATIENTS WITH TYPE O BLOOD WHO WERE COVID-19 POSITIVE THEY DID NOT, HOWEVER, FIND THAT BLOOD TYPE HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THE RISK OF REQUIRING INTUBATION OR DYING FROM COVID-19 NOW, THIS PAPER IS, ALSO, PRELIMINARY, AND CURRENTLY UNPUBLISHED. BUT, TAKEN TOGETHER, BOTH OF THESE PAPERS RAISE THE QUESTION OF HOW SOMEONE'S BLOOD TYPE AND, ULTIMATELY, THEIR GENETICS, COULD BE IMPORTANT TWO MORE EVEN NEWER STUDIES ARE TRYING TO ANSWER THAT.

THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE'D CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL, NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KING'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D PLEAD NOT GUILTY, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE AND AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE. A LAWYER FOR THAO WOULD NOT COMMENT, EXCEPT FOR OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY.

>> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT. IT WAS BIGGER THAN RACISM. >> A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HERE VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT >> DO YOU THINK THAT POLICE, IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW? >> I SURE DO YEAH. >> LIEUTENANT BOB KROLL IS HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH.

TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY. BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DENIED REPORTS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. OUR KEIR SIMMONS HAS MORE. >> GROWING OUTRAGE OVER REPORTS RUSSIA OFFERED CASH FOR KILLING AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN. OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE INTELLIGENCE TELL NBC NEWS THAT THE U.S. GATHERED INFORMATION SHOWING THAT RUSSIAN OPERATIVES OFFERED BOUNTIES TO THE TALIBAN. ONE OFFICIAL SAYING, AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED, AS A RESULT.

>> WITH COVID-19 CASES OVER 2.5 MILLION IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HUNT FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT HAS LED A GROUPF RESEARCHERS TO LOOK AT AN UNLIKELY ANIMAL. NBC'S KARI SANDERS WENT TO THE LLAMA RANCH IN GROVELAND, FLORIDA, WHERE RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING THEIR ANTIBODIES. >> LLAMAS, A DOMESTICED ANIMAL FROM SOUTH AMERICA, ARE BOTH INTELLIGENT AND SOCIAL. >> SHE'S VERY ALERT. SHE'S EXTREMELY AWARE OF EVERYBODY. >> VERY FRIENDLY. >> BUT THEY MAY, ALSO, HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. >> LLAMAS PRODUCE AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF ANTIBODY, IN ADDITION TO A CONVENTIONAL ANTIBODY, THAT HUMANS MAKE. >> SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG TURNED TO LLAMAS FOR ANTIBODY RESEARCH. FROM HIV TO INFLUENZA. IN 2016, RESEARCHERS WERE STUDYING TWO EARLIER CORONAVIRUSES IN A LLAMA NAMED WINTER IN BELGIUM.

NOW, HER APT BODIES FROM A BLOOD DRAW ARE BEING STUDIED BY A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS WHO ARE FUNDED, IN PART, BY THE NIH TO FIND A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19. >> SORT OF LIKE ONE SIDE OF A PIECE OF VELCRO. SO THE VIRUS HAS A BUNCH OF THESE STICKING OUT OUR CELLS ARE THE COUNTERPART TO IT AND IT TRIES TO STICK AND ATTACH THE VIRUS TO OUR CELLS LIKE VELCRO AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS COME UP WITH AN ANTIBODY THAT COMBINES AND COVER ONE SIDE OF THE VELCRO AND THEN, IT CAN NO LONGER STOIC ST STICK TO OUR CELLS. >> AND IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THE CORONAVIRUS NO LONGER BECOMES A THREAT TO US >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE PREVENT IT FROM ATTACHING TO OUR CELLS AND INFECTING US. >> IF CORONAVIRUS IS LIKE AN INVADING ARMY IN OUR BODY, THEN, WHAT ARE THE ANTIBODIES? >> THE ANTIBODIES ARE THE SOLDIERS THAT WE TRAIN TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE THAT INVADING. >> AND DESTROY IT? >> AND DESTROY IT. >> DESSCIENTISTS WILL THEN TAKE WINTER'S ANTIBODIES AND COPY THAT ANTIBODY AS A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19.

>> YES THAT'S WHAT — AS PART OF SCIENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPLORE EXPLORATION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US FROM A PANDEMIC >> ALL RIGHT THANKS TO KARI SANDERS FOR THAT. AND RESEARCHERS SAY AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT IS AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY. WHEN THIS PANDEMIC FIRST HIT >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE WE HAVE A WARMING TREND OVER THE SOUTH POLE, WITH NEW DATA THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED THE RATE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY I TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, CREATED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES MAINTAIN PAYROLL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SO FAR, IT HAS APPROVED MORE THAN 4.7 MILLION LOANS, WORTH NEARLY $518 BILLION.

BUT THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS MORE THAN $140 BILLION IN LOAN MONEY REMAINS UNCLAIMED. >> COLIN KAEPERNICK TEAMING UP FOR A NEW NETFLIX SERIES ON THE FOOTBALL PLAYER'S EARLY LIFE THE SIX-EPISODE SERIES TITLED "COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE" WILL FOCUS ON HIS FORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED HIM TO BECOME THE ACTIVIST HE IS TODAY DAVERNE WILL SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND KAEPERNICK WILL APPEAR, HIMSELF, AS NARRATOR OF THE SERIES. >> THE PANDEMIC HAS STOLEN SO MANY MEMORIES FROM HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, WHICH IS WHY A SOUTH JERSEY BASEBALL COACH IS DOING SOME SPECIAL FROM OUR AFFILIATE WCAU, HAS THE STORY. >> Reporter: IN SOUTH JERSEY, BASEBALL IS BACK THE CORONAVIRUS CANCELLED THE SPRING SEASON BUT IT COULDN'T SHUT DOWN THIS MAN. >> I PROMISE YOU, WE'RE GOING TO AT LEAST PLAY ONE GAME YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK OFF THE FIELD IN YOUR UNIFORM. I MADE THEM THAT PROMISE. >> JOHN SCANZANO IS A MAN OF HIS WORD ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER MIKE, HE IS HOSTING THE ONE MORE GAME SENIOR DAY.

>> INSTEAD OF REMEMBERING NOT HAVING THE SEASON, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAD A LITTLE EVENT. WE GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME AND MAYBE HIT A COUPLE HOME RUNS, WHY NOT? >> AMONG THOSE HELPING PUT THIS TOGETHER, FILLIES MINOR LEAGUE CLOSER AND SOUTH JERSEY NATIVE JEFF SINGER. >> THE FRIENDSHIPS I STILL HAVE FROM BEING ON THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES YOU THAT LAST CHANCE TO GET ON THE DIAMOND WITH YOUR FRIENDS. >> FOOD TRUCKS AND DUNK TANKS WILL ALSO BE ON HAND FOR THE MORE THAN 200 KIDS WHO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP. ONE MORE GAME FOR SENIORS, WHO HAD THEIR SEASON STRIPPED AWAY. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GIVE THE KIDS LIKE A GREAT DAY.

ONE MORE GREAT DAY >> OUR THANKS TO DANNY FOR THAT REPORT. >> I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL AND MY FAVORITE SEASON WAS MY SENIOR SEASON. AND MY FAVORITE GAME WAS MY LAST GAME, TOO. SO I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ONE MORE GAME, TOO. >> MAKE IT EXTRA SPECIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE PLAYERS BUT THE COACHES.

AND FOR THE FAMILIES. >> BIG >>> ON THIS LAST DAY OF THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, THE CORONAVIRUS IS SPIKING IN DOZENS OF STATES. SMASHING RECORDS, AHEAD OF THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY BUT THE TREATMENT IS, ALSO, PROVING PRICEY WITH THE PROMISING DRUG REMDESIVIR. >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE THE JUDGE, WHILE THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION BATTLES DEFUNDING. >> THE RUSSIANS ARE CALLING BS ON REPORTS THEY ALLEGEDLY OFFERED A BOUNTY TO THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. SOLDIERS. THIS MORNING, NEW INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE MAY HAVE LEARNED OF THE DETAILS. >> AND ALARMING DATA COMING OUT OF ANTARCTICA, THAT THE SOUTH POLE IS WARMING THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. >> HALL OF FAMER SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, TAKING THE RIM AND GOING HOME IN A CHARITY GAME OF HORSE AGAINST NFL ROB GRONKOWSKI "EARLY TODAY" STARTS RIGHT NOW GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, I'M PHILLIP MENA.

>> AMC THEATERS IS PUSHING BACK PLANS TO REOPEN. SAYS IT NOW PLANS TO REOPEN 450 LOCATIONS ON JULY 30th THE REMAINING 150 LOCATIONS WILL OPEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. >> AND MONDAY MARKED THE FIRST MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY IT WAS OVER THE EAST RIVER FUTURE SHOW TIMES AND LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN UNANNOUNCED, IN AN ATMPT TO MINIMIZE CROWDS. >> AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BROADWAY WILL BE OFF FOR A BIT LONGER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC 39 PLAYS ARE SHUT DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR WHILE THEY PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR, THEATERS ARE EXTENDING TICKET REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES THROUGH JANUARY 3rd, 2021. >> NATIONWIDE, COVID-19 IS RISING IN 29 STATES. 11 OF THEM, BY MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR NOW SHUTTING DOWN BARS AGAIN IN SEVEN COUNTIES MEANWHILE, IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORM IS THREATENING THE STATE'S PRISTINE SHORES. THE SURGE OF CASES MORE THAN 23,000, IN THREE DAYS , SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR FOURTH OF JULY. OUR JOE FRYER IS IN HOUSTON WHERE THE SITUATION IS GROWING DIRE.

>> STRAINED HOSPITALS ARE CARING FOR MORE AND MORE PATIENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER. MANY, WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. >> WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS A INCREASED RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION, OF 20 TO 40-YEAR-OLDS. >> THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THEY ARE SEEING AT BAYLOR ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP BUT THE AGE IS GOING DOWN. EVEN THOSE IN THEIR 20s ARE ENDING UP IN THE ICU. >> SO IT'S CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT, IF I WERE YOUNGER, I WOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT I AM GOING TO BE IMMUNE TO HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>> YOU'RE SEEING THAT FIRSTHAND. >> SEEING THAT VERY FIRSTHAND, ABSOLUTELY. >> 36-YEAR-OLD VERONICA MADRANO SPEND OVER A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL HER PARENTS AND BROTHER GOT SICK, TOO. >> THAT EXPERIENCE IS AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD NEVER WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. >> EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. IT IS A REAL DEAL. IT'S A REAL THING. AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. >> FOR SOME PATIENTS, THE ANTIVIRAL DRUG REMDESIVIR HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SHORTEN RECOVERY TIMES. IT WAS REVEALED FOR PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE, THE DRUG WILL COST ABOUT $3,100 FOR A FIVE-DAY TREATMENT DRUGMAKER GILEAD DISAGREES. >> WE PRICED IT AT THE PRICE THAT ALLOWS FOR ACCESS, ACROSS THE DEVELOPED WORLD. >> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW SECURED HALF A MILLION TREATMENT COURSES OF REMDESIVIR TO GIVE TO HOSPITALS THROUGH SEPTEMBER. >> AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE, WITH OUR STATES, TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO THE HOSPITALS MOST IN NEED. >> ALSO, IN NEED, TESTING, WHICH IS IN HIGH DEMAND, FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS, TO ARIZONA.

>> TOOK A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR LIKE BETTER PART OF TWO WEEKS. >> ACROSS THE SUNBELT, MORE SCENES ARE SURFACING OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LONG LINES, WHILE STREAMS OF CARS AT DRIVE-THRU SITES STRETCH FOR BLOCKS. >> THEY ARE TRYING TO SCREEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND YET, THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON TESTING. >> A GROWING STRUGGLE TO GET AHEAD OF A SPREADING VIRUS JOE FRYER, NBC NEWS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE THIS MORNING FOR ITS RESPONSE TO REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. "THE NEW YORK TIMES," NOW REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY.

OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT TRACIE POTTS JOINS US WITH MORE. AND, TRACIE, CONGRESS IS DEMANDING ANSWERS HERE >> RIGHT, FRANCES. WELL, SOME REPUBLICANS ALREADY GOT ANSWERS. THEY GOT BRIEFED ON MONDAY ABOUT THIS DEMOCRATS, A FEW OF THEM, ARE EXPECTED TO BE BRIEFED TODAY BUT THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STORY ABOUT RUSSIA OFFERING BOUNTIES, OFFERING CASH, TO HUNT DOWN AND KILL U.S. SOLDIERS IN FACT, THERE ARE NOW REPORTS, AT LEAST ONE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL, TELLING NBC THAT AMERICANS WERE KILLED, AS A RESULT OF THIS ALTHOUGH, OTHERS SAY THAT THE INFORMATION REMAINS UNCORROBORATED THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT BRIEFED AT ALL, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION COULDN'T BE VERIFIED, DESPITE THIS LATEST "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT AND THE PENTAGON SAYS THEY HAD NO CORROBORATION THAT TROOPS WERE IN DANGER RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT. >> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO — TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I — I — I CAN SOUND A LITTLE BIT RUDE.

THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE'D CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL, NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE, THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE TO TALK ACBOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR WHAT REASON? BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KEUNG'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT OFFER COMMENT, EXCEPT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY.

>> THE RULING STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN HARDER. REQUIRING ABORTION DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JOINED THE COURT'S FOUR MORE LIBERAL MEMBERS IN THE 5-4 DECISION HE SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO ONE FROM TEXAS THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN FEWER YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT CAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS CAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS.

IT'S NOT A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER. BUT, PLEASE, BE ON YOUR TOES THIS AFTERNOON AS THE HEAT CONTINUES TO BUILD NOW, 7 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER FLASH-FLOOD RISK THROUGHOUT YOUR AFTERNOON INTO YOUR EVENING, WITH THESE CELLS PROVIDING SOME TORRENTIAL RAIN. THAT'S A LOOK AT THE BIG WEATHER STORY OF THE DAY HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR DAY AHEAD. SO YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE HEAT BUILDING AND IT'S GOING TO SAG TO THE MIDWEST THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE IN THE UPPER 80s FOR CHICAGO. 97 FOR JACKSONVILLE. THE STORMS MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST INTO THE RALEIGH-DURHAM AREA, EVEN CHARLOTTE THIS AFTERNOON GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SEVERE WEATHER BUT WE HAVE THE SOUTH POLE IT'S WARMING UP. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, COMING UP. >> WHAT NOW FOR 2020 THANK YOU. IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FREE CHALUPA CRAVINGS BOX FOR EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT.

COMES WITH A BEEFY FIVE-LAYER BURR RAY TOE, CRUNCHY TACO, CINNAMON TWISTS, AND A DRINK. >> EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED THE VIDEO, AND SONG LATER TODAY. >> THE 2020 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ARE MOVING FORWAR A FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK TURNED RADIO HOST IS SPARKING SOME CONTROVERSY THIS MORNING AFTER FLOATING A CONSPIRACY THEORY ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS. BOOMER ESIASON SUGGESTED PLAYERS FROM POWERHOUSES LIKE LSU AND CLEMSON ARE CATCHING CORONAVIRUS ON PURPOSE. >> A LOT OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE COMING DOWN WITH COVID-19. ODDLY ENOUGH SO ARE THEY TRYING TO HERD IMMUNITY THEIR TEAMS SO THESE GUYS CAN GET SICK NOW? AS OPPOSED TO GETTING SICK DURING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IF, IN FACT, THERE IS ONE. AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW. >> WELL, AS OF NOW, THE SEASON IS EXPECTED TO START ON AUGUST 29th. >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH.

THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >>> AS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON APPROACHES, FORMER PRESIDENTS TIPPED THEIR CAPS TO CELEBRATE THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES >> I'M TIPPING MY HAT TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES, WHO LEFT A CENTURY-LONG LEGACY OF TALENT AND SPIRIT AND DIGNITY ON OUR COUNTRY. >> THE NEGRO LEAGUES MADE BASEBALL BETTER AND AMERICA BETTER >> THE PRESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES, AND RECOGNIZED SOME LEGENDS OF THE GAME LIKE WILLIE MAZE, ERNIE BANKS, AND COOL PAPA BELL. >> LAST WEEK, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE REMOVING THE NAME OF FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON FROM ITS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DUE TO HIS RACIST THINKING AND POLICIES WELL, THAT DECISION HAS EARNED PRAISE FROM FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA IN A TWEET, THE PRINCETON ALUM SAYS SHE WAS HEARTENED BY THE NAME CHANGE ADDING THAT SHE WAS EVEN PROUDER OF THE STUDENTS WHO'VE ADVOCATED FOR IT BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION.

AWARDS SUPERSTARS JOINED FORCES IN MOVING A CALL FOR CHANG. NBC'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS MORE. >> 12-YEAR-OLD KEDRANT BRYANT SET THE STAGE WITH A MESSAGE ♪ I JUST WANNA LIVE ♪ >> THE BET AWARDS USING ART TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SYSTEMIC RACISM PUBLIC ENEMIES CLASSIC ANTHEM. STILL, HOLDS MEANING, 31 YEARS LATER. MICHELLE OBAMA JOINING THE CAST OF STAR-STUDDED PRESENTERS, GIVING BEYONCE THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD. >> YOU INSPIRE ALL OF US. >> WE HAVE TO VOTE, LIKE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE IT DOES. >> THERE IS, ALSO, A TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK-AMERICANS. >> BREONNA TAYLOR. >> ERIC GARNER. >> WHOSE NAMES BECAME A MOVEMENT RAPPER DA BABY, PERFORMING HIS HIT SONG, WHILE UNDER THE KNEE OF AN OFFICER, PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MILLIONS WHO PROTESTED. ON WHAT'S TYPICALLY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC SUPERSTARS USING THEIR STAGE AS A PLATFORM. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR TOO OFTEN.

WE HAVE A WARMING TREND THAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE SOUTH POLE. NEW DATA THAT'S OUT. THE SOUTH POLE HAS WARMED OVER THREE TIMES THE GLOBAL RATE SINCE 1989 THIS WARMING PERIOD IS MAINLY DRIVEN BY CLIMATE — TROPICAL CLIMATE DATA ALSO, INTENSIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES THIS STUDY FOUND THAT ANTARCTICA, IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, WAS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS' WARM TEMPERATURES AND THE PACIFIC, WHICH HAVE REALLY INCREASED THE WARMTH OF OUR OCEANS AND HAS LINGERED INTO THE SOUTH POLE BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE OF THE PENGUINS THEY ARE REALLY, STILL, GOING STRONG BUT WHAT THIS IS REALLY SAYING IS >>> WE ARE BACK WITH A STORY ABOUT HELPING AND HEALING IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC AND HOW ONE CHEF IS PROVIDING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A GOOD MEAL.

HERE'S NBC'S KATE SNOW >> Reporter: CHEF CHAD HOUSER IS ON A MISSION. >> THE ENTIRE INITIATIVE, LITERALLY, LAUNCHED IN 72 HOURS. >> THE TOP-RATED CHEF OWNS CAFE MOMENTUM IN DALLAS AND WHEN BUSINESS SLOWED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, HE SAW A CHALLENGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY. >> WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PIVOT. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE. >> THAT CHANGE FEEDING THE HUNGRY ACROSS HIS CITY SINCE MARCH, HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE DELIVERED AN ASTOUNDING 350,000 MEALS ACROSS TA DALLAS THE MAJORITY, GOING TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> THIS HAS BEEN A TRUE GAME CHANGER FOR FAMILIES THOSE WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES AND THIS TOOK ONE HUGE WEIGHT OFF OF THEIR SHOULDERS >> BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO THE STORY. THIS ISN'T CHEF HOUSER'S ONLY MISSION. >> OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT CAFE MOMENTUM SAYS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. >> CAFE MOMENTUM DOESN'T JUST SERVE FOOD, IT PROVIDES A SECOND CHANCE HIRING TEENS WHO HAVE BEEN IN JUVENILE DETENTION. >> I FACED A LOT OF HARDSHIPS WHILE WORKING HERE, JUST LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE JOB AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP ME THERE WAS A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE FOR ME.

>> THE JUVENILE JUSTICE INDUSTRY TERM TO DESCRIBE THE POPULATION THAT WE WORK WITH IS THROWAWAY FOR THEM, IT'S A SCARLET LETTER THEY WEAR ON THEIR CHEST THAT SAYS THIS IS WHO I AM. IT'S NOT WHO I WANT TO BE, BUT IT'S WHO I'VE BEEN TOLD I AM. >> FOR FIVE YEARS, CHEF HOUSER HAS BEEN STAFFING HIS RESTAURANT WITH THESE TEENS IN NEED AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN STUNNING OF THE 900 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE WORKED WITH HIM, ONLY 15% HAVE ENDED UP BACK IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW >> I THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING US.

CHEF HOUSER HOPES THAT HE CAN REOPEN CAFE MOMENTUM FOR SIT-DOWN MEALS AS SOON AS IT'S SAFE AND OKAY TO DO SO BUT RIGHT NOW, WOW WHAT A GREAT MODEL FOR OTHER CHEFS, OTHER RESTAURANTS, TO LOOK UP TO. >> YEAH. WE APPLAUD WHAT HE DID EXACTLY. AND THEY SHOULD FILL UP WITH PEOPLE VISITING HIS RESTAURANT A FAMILY IN WISCONSIN WENT OUT FOR AN EVENING OF FISHING WHEN THEY SPOTTED A BEAR SWIMMING ALONG WITH A JAR ON ITS HEAD AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DOG.

BUT ONCE THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT FAMILY SPRUNG INTO ACTION. AFTER TWO TRIES, THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE JUG FROM THE BEAR'S HEAD AND THAT BEAR MADE >>> THIS MORNING THE CORONAVIRUS ENTERS A NEW PHASE ON THIS FINAL DAY OF JUNE WITH ALMOST THREE DEATHS IN STATES SEEING A RISING CASES. AND THE GOVERNORS TAKING ACTIONS TO STEM THE SPREAD >> THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FACE A JUDGE WHILE THERE IS MAINLIOR RULING >> A DECISION ON ABORTION. THE COURT STRIKING DOWN A LAW IN LOUISIANA. JOHN ROBERTS WITH A DECIDING VOTE. >> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TELLS POTENTIAL DONORS I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF TRUMP'S $2 TRILLION TAX CUT AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE THAT. >> AND A MAN WALKING THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. EARLY TODAY STARTS RIGHT NOW >> GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. >> GLAD YOU'RE WITH US THE PANDEMIC IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, SENDING THIS COUNTRY INTO AN ABYSS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN INFECTION RATES AND MORTALITY.

WE HAVE NOW REACHED MORE THAN 126,000 DEATHS AT THIS RATE WE LOST 30,000 LIVES PER MONTH SINCE THE VIRUS CLAIMED FIRST LIFE BACK IN LATE FEBRUARY CASES IN FLORIDA IGNITED, ARIZONA, OREGON, AND KENTUCKY ARE NOW JOINING THE RING OF FIRE WITH RECORD HIGH NUMBERS. >> IN ARIZONA, BARS, GYMS, MOVIE THEATERS AND WATER PARKS HAVE ALL BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS. AFTER THEIR SEVENTH DAY OF AT LEAST 3,000 CASES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 17th. >> IN ALSO LSLOS ANGELES, ALL BS AND PIERS ARE CLOSED THEY CANNOT RISK HAVING CROWDS >> THE PRICING FOR THE COVID-19 TREATMENT WILL COST AN AVERAGE U.S. PATIENT WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE $3,120 THE COMPANY PLANS TO START CHARGING FOR THE DRUG IN JULY. >> AND AFTER PAUSING THE SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THEY'RE WORKING TO RESTRUCTURE AND A $50 MILLION FUND IS BEING CREATED TO HELP THE NEARLY 3500 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. >> THE IRS SAYS IT IS NOT EXTENDING THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE AGAIN YOU MUST FILE BY JULY 15th >> THEY'RE TRYING TO SURGE THE INFECTIONS FROM BEACHES, BARS, RESTRICTIONS ARE RAMPED UP OUR SAM BROCK IS IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE NOT WEARING A MASS KK NOW COST YOU $50 >> BEACHES SHUT DOWN FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY >> I GET IT.

>> I'M TAKING CARE OF ONE PATIENT IN PARTICULAR. I'M WATCHING HIM STRUGGLE TO GET AIR. IT'S SCARY >> A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES IN OCEAN BEACH, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS JUST GOT THE BEACHES BACK ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN FOR THE CRUCIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. >> OUR HOTEL GUESTS COME TO GO TO THE BEACH SO NOW MOST OF THE HOTEL GUESTS CANCELED. >> THERE'S NO CHOICE SAYS MIAMI-DADE MAYOR WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN KNFLORIDA ARE TESTN POSITIVE. >> WHAT SCARES YOU MORE, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS RUNNING AT 5% POSITIVE TEST RATE AND NOW IT'S RUNNING MUCH HIGHER THAT'S THE ISSUE >> THE BEACHES ARE OUT FOR NOW THE MOVIE BUSINESS IS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS. AND AMC ANNOUNCING THE THEATERS REOPEN NATIONWIDE BY THE END OF JULY SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI BEACH. >> THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER FIRE FOR REPORTS THAT RUSSIA OFFERED TO PAY THE TALIBAN TO KILL TROOPS IN AFRG "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING THE PRESIDENT GOT A WRITTEN BRIEFING ON THE POSSIBLE BOUNTIES IN FEBRUARY OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT JOINING US NOW WITH MORE CONGRESS IS DEMANDING ANSWERS.

>> SOME REPUBLICANS GOT ANSWERS. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE BIG SEST WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW WHEN? THE WHITE HOUSE IS DENYING THAT REPORT THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED AT ANY POINT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOW REPORTING IT WAS PART OF HIS WRITTEN DAILY BRIEFING BACK IN FEBRUARY WHICH SHOULD BE VERIFIABLE THE PENTAGON SAYS THEY HAD NO CORROBORATION THAT TROOPS WERE IN DANGER AND RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT. >> THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS TO SPREAD THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. >> YOU DON'T THINK THAT — WELL, IF IT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD — >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE I CONSIDER IT TRUE, BUT THIS IS 100% BULL.

[ BEEP ] IT'S NONDIPLOMATIC THING >> NOW ONE OFFICIAL FAMILIAR WITH THE INTELLIGENCE SAYS THAT AMERICAN TROOPS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THESE BOUNTIES THAT RUSSIA REPORTEDLY PUT ON OUR SOLDIERS THERE. BUT OTHERS SAY THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER CORROBORATED. >> ALL RIGHT TRACIE POTTS WITH THE LAYEST FOR US TRACY, THANK YOU FOR DECADES THEY ARGUE THE MONUMENT IS ON STOLEN LAND AND THERE WAS A RALLY GLORIFYING WHITE SUPREMACY. THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR CHRISTY NOME >> THE DNC IS DOING A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. HONESTLY THAT, TWEET RIGHT THERE REPRESENTS THE CHOICE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS ELECTION I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP IT IS NOT REQUIRED AT THAT EVENT. LET'S TURN TO MINNEAPOLIS. FOUR EX-FLOPOLICE OFFICERS WERE COURT. PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGAN FOR THE FOUR MEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. >> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS STAYED SILENT AS THEY LEFT THEIR PRETRIAL HEARING THEY WERE ROOKIE COPS AND FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SENIOR OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

THE JUDGE WARNED ATTORNEYS TO LIMIT PRETRIAL PUBLICITY OR HE WOULD CHANGE THE VENUE OF THE TRIAL. NOW TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT WE ALL ARE GATHERED HERE, TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAMN MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. >> CHAUVIN, WHO APPEARED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, IS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER HIS ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO COMMENT. THE THREE OTHER EX-OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER ALL FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON, IF CONVICTED IN A COURT FILING, KING'S ATTORNEY SAID HE'D PLEAD NOT GUILTY, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE AND AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE.

HE ESTIMATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EITHER PREPARING TO QUIT OR RETIRE, DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AN OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH. >> KROLL SAYS THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE FORMER OFFICERS. THE UNION SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THE INCIDENT HERE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. >> OUR THANKS TO GABE FOR THAT REPORT. >> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE WEATHER >> THE NBA IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS THE SEASON RESUMES NEXT MONTH. THEY'RE REPORTEDLY PLANNING ON WRITING BLACK LIVES MATTER ON ALL THREE COURTS THAT WILL BE USED IN ORLANDO. THIS COMES AS THE LEAGUE REPORTEDLY WILL ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPLACE THEIR LAST NAMES ON JERSEYS, WITH MESSAGES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE WNBA IS CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, WHEN THEY RETURN TO PLAY >> I'M SHAKING MY HEAD IT IS SEVERE WEATHER SYSTEM AND THIS BACK END OF THE SYSTEM IN NEW ENGLAND REALLY PUSHED INTO NEW YORK CITY OVERNIGHT.

>> THE RULING STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THAT EVEN HARDER. REQUIRING ABORTION DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JOINED THE COURT'S FOUR MORE LIBERAL MEMBERS IN THE 5-4 DECISION HE SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO ONE FROM TEXAS THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN FEWER YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH HE DISSENTED IN THE TEXAS CASE, HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENT SO LOUISIANA'S LAW CANNOT STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO NOMINEES, NEIL GORSUCH AND BRETT KAVANAUGH WERE AMONG THE DEFENDERS KAVANAUGH DIDN'T GO THAT FAR AND SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK THE RULING IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BUT BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED, ONLY GRUDGINGLY, IT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS.

>> GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED HIS COURT TO PRESIDE OVER HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE, ON RECORD, A >>> IN TODAY'S QUICK HITS, TACO BELL IS GIVING AWAY A FEW CRAVINGS BOX TODAY FOR ANYONE THAT SIGNS UP FOR A TACO BELL ACCOUNT AND DOWN LOADS THE APP IT COMES WITH A SUPREME, BURRITO, CRUNCHY TACO, CINNAMON TWISTS AND A DRINK >> KANYE WEST HAS A NEW SONG FROM THE UPCOMING ALBUM. THE RAPPER IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE TEST TEST TEST D SO. HE SAYS SOME CAMPAIGN DONORS MAY NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT WE HAVE THIS STORY NOW FROM LONDON WITH THE LATEST STEVE, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU YEAH, QUITE EXTRAORDINARY. YOU HAVE THAT VIRTUAL CAMPAIGN EVENT. I WANT YOUR MONEY AND THEN TAKE YOUR MONEY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED SO JOE BIDEN WHO WE STILL HAVE TO CALL THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, HE RAISED $2 MILLION PLUS AT THIS VIRTUAL FUND-RAISER. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOT MONEY OFF YOU, MY CAMPAIGN DONORS. I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BULK OF THINKS $2 TRILLION TAX CUTS AND CLOSE CAPITAL GAINS AND I'M GOING TO RAISE A CORPORATE TAXATION UP TO 28% WHICH WILL RAISE $1.3 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

I'M GOING TO SPEND THAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPEND THAT ON CLEAN ENERGY ELSEWHERE, WHAT IS AMERICA DOING DURING THE LOCKDOWN? WE KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THEY'VE BEEN FIXING HOMES. THAT'S WHY LOWE'S, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GROUP IS PAYING FULL TIME HOWLY EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA $300 BONUS, WELL EARNED I'M SURE PART TIME WORKERS GETTING $150 THEY RAISED EMPLOYEES SALARIES BY $2 AN HOUR. LOWE'S GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY BACK TO THOSE REALLY, REALLY WELL EARNED EMPLOYEES AS WELL. BACK TO YOU BO >>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THIS IS A RARE STUDY. DATA HAS JUST COME OUT AND WE HAVE A WARMING TREND IN THE SOUTH POLE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE GLOBAL RATE OF THIS WARMING SINCE 1989.

THE WARMING PERIOD IT IS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS, CLIMATE AND AN INCREASE IN GREENHOUSE GASES. THE STUDY FOUND WARMING OVER ANTARCTICA DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS DRIVEN BY THE TROPICS, WARM OCEAN TEMPERATURES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN WHICH IS INCREASE THE DELIVERY OF WARM AIR FOR THE SOUTH POLE. IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT, IT IS A REMOTE LOCATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING. >>> TODAY'S TOP STORIES, AND ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IT WAS ISSUED OVER THE DRONE STRIKE THAT KILLED ARABIAN GENERAL QASSEM SOLEIMANI. HE'S AT THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT INCLUDES SIX PEOPLE. >>> ALL ARE WITNESSES TODAY ARE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. SOME SENATORS ARE PARTICIPATING BY VIDEOCONFERENCE. BEFORE I MAKE MY OPENING STATEMENT I WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT MASKS. THE OFFICE OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN HAS ADVISED US THAT WE MAY REMOVE OUR MASK AND TALK INTO THE MICROPHONE AS LONG AS WE ARE SICK FEET APART. SO THAT IS WHY MY MASK IS OFF RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE I AM SIX FEET AWAY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT LIKE MANY OTHER SENATORS, WHEN I'M WALKING THE HALLWAYS AROUND THE SENATE FLOOR, I AM WEARING A MASK. PEOPLE WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THE CDC HAS SAID QUOTE, SIMPLE CLOTH COVERINGS SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND HELP PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE THE VIRUS AND DO NOT KNOW IT FROM TRANSMITTING IT TO OTHERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SIMPLE LIFE- SAVING PRACTICE HAS BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL DEBATE. IT SAYS THIS, IF YOU ARE FOR TRUMP YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK IF YOU ARE AGAINST TRUMP YOU DO. THAT IS BECAUSE I SUGGESTED THE PRESIDENT OCCASIONALLY WEAR A MASK. EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO DO SO. THE PRESIDENT HAS PLENTY OF ADMIRERS AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD. IT WOULD HELP AND THE POLITICAL DEBATE, THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH FOR THIS POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT PRO- TRUMP AND ANTI- TRUMP MASKS TO CONTINUE.

AROUND HERE SENATORS AND STAFF WEAR MASKS BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO MAKE EACH OTHER SICK. FOR EXAMPLE I WAS EXPOSED TO COVID-19 BY A PRESYMPTOMATIC STAFF MEMBER ON MY WAY TO DULLES AIRPORT AND AS A RESULT HAD TO SELF QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE SENATE PHYSICIAN TOLD ME ONE REASON I DID NOT BECOME INFECTED WAS BECAUSE THE STAFF MEMBER WAS WEARING A MASK AND THAT, IN THE PHYSICIAN'S WORD GREATLY REDUCED THE CHANCES OF AN EXPOSURE. IT IS ALSO PRETTY GOOD WAY TO MAKE A STATEMENT. I LIKE TO WEAR MY PLAID MASK. DR. FAUCI USES HIS MASK TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOYALTY TO THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS. SENATOR KAINE IS A COWBOY OR A BANDIT, I'M NEVER SURE WHICH. IF YOU WANT TO CALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL TO RETURN THIS FALL, THIS IS WHAT THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SAYS. IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SEE FOOTBALL THIS FALL, WEAR A MASK. THAT MIGHT HAVE MORE INFLUENCE THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN TENNESSEE.

THE UNITED STATES IS IN THE MIDST OF A VERY CONCERNING RISING COVID-19 CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN MANY STATES. THE EXPERTS IN FRONT OF US HAVE TOLD US THAT WASHING OUR HANDS, STAYING APART, WEARING A MASK ARE THREE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE RULES COMMITTEE, THE SERGEANT AT ARMS, THE PRESS GALLERY, THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL, THE CAPITAL POLICE, COMMITTEE STAFF BOTH REP DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN — AND ALL FOR THEIR HARD WORK TO KEEP US SAFE. NOW SENATOR MURRAY AND I WILL HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT AND WE WILL TURN TO OUR WITNESSES, WE THINK FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. 812 FIVE MINUTES. WE ASK YOU TO SUMMARIZE YOUR TESTIMONY IN FIVE MINUTES. THEN THE SENATORS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK FIVE-MINUTE ROUNDS OF QUESTIONS. WE HAVE FULL PARTICIPATION TODAY IT LOOKS LIKE. IT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MORNING. AMONG THE CASUALTIES OF THIS DANGEROUS AND VERY SNEAKY COVID-19 VIRUS, ARE THE 75 MILLION STUDENTS WHO WERE SENT HOME FROM SCHOOL AND COLLEGE IN MARCH. ADD TO THE CASUALTIES, THE TEACHERS WHO WERE NOT PREPARED TO TEACH REMOTELY AND WORKING PARENTS WHO SUDDENLY HAD CHILDREN AT HOME AND WERE PREPARED TO HOMESCHOOL.

AT THE LOST SPORTS SEASONS AND THE ONCE-IN- A-LIFETIME GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THERE WERE UNPRECEDENTED DILEMMAS FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND INADEQUATE SCHOOL BUDGETS. BEING SENT HOME FROM SCHOOL DOESN'T RANK WITH THE SICKNESS AND DEATH THAT THE VIRUS HAS CAUSED. UNITED STATES HAS OVER 2.5 MILLION CASES OF THE VIRUS AND OVER 125,000 DEATHS ACCORDING TO THE JOHNS HOPKINS. WILL STATES AND COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, NOTHING WAS MORE DISRUPTIVE TO AMERICAN LIFE AND NOTHING WOULD HEADED BACK TOWARD NORMALCY MORE RAPIDLY THAN FOR THOSE 135,000 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND 6000 COLLEGES TO REOPEN THIS FALL. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THIS COMMITTEE HEARD FROM COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND SCHOOL LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PLANS FOR SAFELY REOPENING THIS FALL. THIS HEARING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN UPDATE AND TO HEAR FROM THE NATION'S TOP HEALTH EXPERTS ON HOW TO — HAD MATCHES, PRINCIPALS, CHANCELLORS AND COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TO OPEN SCHOOL SAFELY, JUST A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW. THIS COMMITTEE, LAST HEARD FROM TODAY'S WITNESSES ON MAY 12 13 OF THE FOUR WERE QUARANTINED AND MOST OF THE SENATORS WERE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST VIRTUAL SENATE HEARINGS IN HISTORY AND SURELY THE BEST WATCHED.

EVERY NETWORK CARRY THE TWO AND HALF HOURS OF STATEMENTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SOME SENATORS. THE QUESTION BEFORE THE COUNTRY TODAY IS , NOT WHETHER TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR CHILDCARE OR WORK. BUT HOW TO DO IT SAFELY. EVEN THOUGH COVID-19 IS NOT, IN GENERAL HURTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS NEARLY AS MUCH AS OLDER AND MORE VULNERABLE AMERICANS, THERE IS HEALTH RISK. THAT IN MY VIEW, THE GREATER RISK IS NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. GUIDANCE FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS, TELLS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THE FOLLOWING. OUR ACADEMY STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT ALL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR SHOULD START WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING STUDENTS PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN SCHOOL. THE ACADEMY CONTINUES. THE IMPORTANCE OF IN PERSON LEARNING IS WELL- DOCUMENTED. THERE IS ALREADY EVIDENCE OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN BECAUSE OF SCHOOL CLOSURES IN THE SPRING OF 2020. LENGTHY TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL AND ASSOCIATED INTERRUPTION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OFTEN RESULT IN SOCIAL ISOLATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS IMPORTANT DEFICITS AS WELL AS CHILD AND OSLO — ADOLESCENT PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE USE, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION. THIS, IN TURN PLACES CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AT CONSIDERABLE RISK OF MORBIDITY AND IN SOME CASES MORTALITY.

BEYOND THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF SCHOOL CLOSURES, THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THAT IS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS. DR. LLOYD FISHER, INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF THAT ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS, TOLD REPORTERS, WHILE FOR MOST CHILDREN COVID-19 HAS NOT HAVE A DEVASTATING AND LIFE-THREATENING PHYSICAL HEALTH AND FACTS — EFFECTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN ADULTS, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL, END QUOTE. NOTHING CAN TAKE THE LACE OF DAILY FACE-TO- FACE INTERACTION OUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHEN ATTENDING SCHOOL IN PERSON, DR. FISHER SAID. ANY AMERICAN COLLEGES, OVERALL CONSIDERED THE BEST IN THE WORLD WILL BE PERMANENTLY DAMAGED OR CLOSED IF THEY REMAIN CLOSED. MITCH DANIELS, THE PRESIDENT OF PURDUE WROTE IN A WASHINGTON POST OP-ED, QUOTE, FAILURE TO TAKE ON THE JOB OF REOPENING WOULD NOT ONLY BE ANTI-SCIENTIFIC BUT ALSO AN UNACCEPTABLE BREACH OF DUTY.

SO TODAY IN ADDITION TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE CONCERNING RISE OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN SOME STATES, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WITNESSES IN THEIR STATEMENTS AND ANSWERS TO STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE PLACE OF ONE OF AMERICA'S APPROXIMATELY 14,000 SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OR THE PRINCIPAL OR HEADMASTER OF ONE OF 135,000 SCHOOLS OR AS PRESIDENT OR CHANCELLOR OF ONE OF 6000 COLLEGES. HELP THEM ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW TO REOPEN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES SAFELY.

DR. FAUCI, I HOPE IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT ARE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL SUGGESTS TO OPEN SCHOOL SAFELY. NOT ONLY TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE BUT TO KEEP SAFETY FOR ADULTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS WITH WHOM THEY COME INTO CONTACT. DR. HAHN, WILL THERE BE TREATMENTS OR MEDICINES THIS FALL? THAT WILL HELP SPEED THE RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 OR REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH? I BELIEVE THE FEAR OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL OR GOING ANYWHERE THESE DAYS IS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF SEVERE ILLNESS OR EVEN DEATH. IF THAT RISK CAN BE LESSENED BY NEW TREATMENTS IT SHOULD INCREASE CONFIDENCE IN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND DR. HAHN AND THE WORK THE FDA DID TO GET TESTS ON THE MARKET QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. SINCE THEN, THE FDA HAS WORKED OUT WHICH TESTS HAVE NOT WORKED AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD AND TAKEN REPS TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE MARKET. THAT IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN THE URGENCY OF A PANDEMIC.

ADMIRAL, IN THE LAST HEARING YOU SAID YOU EXPECTED 40 TO 50 MILLION DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AVAILABLE EACH MONTH BY SEPTEMBER. IS THAT STILL TRUE? AND EXACTLY, HOW IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING ABOUT MAKING SURE IT GETS THE TESTS? AND WHO PAYS FOR THEM? WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FROM THE SHARK TANK AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH THAT THERE WILL BE NEW, RELIABLE AND INEXPENSIVE TESTS SO WE CAN HAVE EVEN MORE WIDESPREAD TESTING. AND DR. REDFIELD, YOU ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON UPDATED GUIDELINES ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SAFELY. AND OUR CDC EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP THEIR PLANS. AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THE FLU SEASON THIS FALL AT THE SAME TIME AS COVID-19? THIS IS A LOT TO DISCUSS BUT THERE WILL BE TIME DURING THE NEXT 2.5 HOURS TO ANSWER MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONS. LET ME HIGHLIGHT THREE AREAS THAT HAVE COME UP IN OUR AREA EARLIER HEARINGS THAT NEED CLARIFICATION.

FIRST ON CONTACT TRACING. NO DOUBT, CONTACT TRACING IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT. IT IDENTIFIES PEOPLE WHO MIGHT'VE BEEN EXPOSED SO PEOPLE DON'T IN TURN EXPOSE SOMEONE ELSE. ACCORDING TO AN NPR REPORT ON JUNE 18, STATES HAVARTI HIRED AT LEAST 37,000 CONTACT TRACERS. STATE OFFICIALS AND JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY ISSUED A REPORT ESTIMATING THE NEED FOR AS MANY AS 100,000 CONTACT TRACERS. SEVERAL REPORTS SUGGEST CONGRESS APPROPRIATE MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE TRACERS. THE REALITY IS, CONGRESS ALREADY HAS. ON APRIL 24, CONGRESS APPROPRIATED $11 BILLION WHICH HAS BEEN SENT TO STATES AND TRIBES FOR THE EXPENSES OF TESTING. THAT LEGISLATION EXPLICITLY SAID, THE MONEY COULD BE USED FOR CONTACT TRACING. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO $755 MILLION FROM THE FIRST EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION LEGISLATION ON MARCH 6 THAT COULD BE USED FOR CONTACT TRACING. AND THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE MARCH 27 LEGISLATION IN WHICH CONGRESS APPROPRIATED $150 BILLION — $1.5 BILLION IN THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT FOR STATES, TERRITORIES AND TRIBES TO USE FOR COVID PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE. THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT ALSO INCLUDED THE $150 BILLION TO STATES BUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT $150 BILLION HAS NOT BEEN SPENT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ALL DESIGNATED FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO COVID-19. WHICH INCLUDES CONTACT TRACING. FOR EXAMPLE, TENNESSEE'S GOVERNOR HAS TOLD ME HE'S RESERVING AS MUCH AS $1 BILLION OF THAT SO HE CAN DETERMINE WHAT FLEXIBILITY HE HAS IN SPENDING THE MONEY. WASHINGTON STATE HAS NOT SPENT AS MUCH AS $1.2 BILLION. MISSOURI, STATE TREASURY SAID THEY HAVE NOT SPENT ABOUT $1 BILLION. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT BY STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS AND JOHNS HOPKINS THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR CONTACT TRACER IS A LITTLE MORE THAN $35,000. THIS ADDS UP TO $3.5 BILLION FOR 100,000 CONTACT TRACERS. SO THE POINT IS THAT CONGRESS HAS ALREADY SENT THE STATES PLENTY OF MONEY TO HIRE ALL THE CONTACT TRACERS THAT ARE NEEDED. SECOND, WHO PAYS FOR THE TESTS? THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT, CONGRESS VOTED TO MAKE ALL COVID-19 TESTS AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS AT NO COST.

THIS MEANT INSURERS WOULD COVER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. WHICH DETECTS WHETHER A PERSON IS CURRENTLY INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS. AND ALSO ANTIBODY TEST WHICH INDICATE WHETHER A PERSON HAS HAD COVID-19 IN THE PAST. AND NOW MAY HAVE SOME PROTECTION IN THE FUTURE. GUIDANCE FROM THE LABOR DEPARTMENT, TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES SAID LAST WEEK, THAT INSURERS ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR TESTS WITHOUT PATIENT COST-SHARING IF A DOCTOR ORDERS IT. I AGREE WITH THAT. BUT GIVEN THAT THE CDC SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDS DOCTORS ORDERS TESTS IN TWO SITUATIONS, WHEN A PERSON HAS SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 OR RECENTLY HAD CONTACT WITH KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO HAVE COVID-19, WHO PAYS FOR THE TESTING AT OTHER TIMES? I BELIEVE CONGRESS WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO FURTHER CLARIFY WHO PAYS FOR TESTING AT OTHER TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE A SCHOOL MAY WANT TO DO RANDOM TESTING. PERHAPS IT SHOULD MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE STATE TO PAY FOR THAT.

OR PERHAPS CONGRESS NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT. AND AUTOMAKER WANTS TO TEST ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE PLANT EVERY TWO WEEKS. PERHAPS THE AUTOMAKER SHOULD PAY FOR THAT IS PERHAPS THE STATE WOULD WANT TO PAY FOR THAT. THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED. FINALLY, FLU SHOTS. THE CDC HAS SET MORE PEOPLE NEED TO GET FLU SHOTS THIS FALL SO HEALTH CARE WORKERS CAN BETTER DISTINGUISH BETWEEN COVID-19 AND THE FLU. THE CDC SAYS THE PARTY IS FOR ALL CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF SIX MONTHS TO BE VACCINATED FOR THE FLU SO THEY DON'T BECOME SICK AND PASS IT TO MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO COULD HAVE MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. ON JANUARY 24, SENATOR MURRAY AND I HOSTED OUR FIRST BIPARTISAN BRIEFING ON CORONAVIRUS AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE ONLY FOUR CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SINCE THEN, THIS COMMITTEE HAS HAD FOUR MORE BRIEFINGS. TODAY IS OUR EIGHTH HEARING ON CORONAVIRUS AND U.S. PREPAREDNESS. LAST WEEK'S HEARING WAS ABOUT STEPS TO TAKE THIS YEAR WHILE OUR EYES ON THE BALL TO BETTER PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC. I HAVE ISSUED A WHITE PAPER OUTLINING FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONGRESS TO PREPARE AMERICANS FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC. THAT PAPER HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 350 SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. AFTER ALL SENATORS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, I WILL CONCLUDE THE HEARING BY ASKING OUR WITNESSES IF THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE SUGGESTIONS STEPS CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE THIS YEAR TO DEAL WITH THE NEXT PANDEMIC, MOST OF WHICH WILL ALSO HELP WITH THIS ONE. THIS HEARING IS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW. AS ADMINISTRATORS PREPARED TO REOPEN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, EXPERTS UNDERESTIMATED THIS DANGEROUS AND SNEAKY VIRUS AND THERE IS MUCH THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT WE DO KNOW THE BASIC STEPS TO TAKE TO REOPEN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN 2020 BEFORE THERE IS A VACCINE.

THOSE ARE THESE. SOCIAL DISTANCE, WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS, TEST, CONTACT TRACE, AND ISOLATE THOSE EXPOSED AND SICK. HOPEFULLY BY THE FALL THERE WILL BE TREATMENTS TO MAKE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISEASE LESS SEVERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR DISTINGUISHED WITNESSES, SCHOOL LEADERS AND COLLEGE PRESIDENTS CAN SAFELY REOPEN 135,000 SCHOOLS AND 6000 COLLEGES . AND ALSO LEARNING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON TESTING AND TREATMENTS THAT WE CAN EXPECT DURING THE YEAR 2020 BEFORE A VACCINE ARRIVES. SENATOR MURRAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR JOINING US TODAY. AND OF COURSE, THANK YOUR STAFF ARE SETTING UP THE TECHNOLOGY SO WE CAN ATTEND THE HEARING SAFELY. I WANT TO GET TO THE POINT QUICKLY AND I WILL BE BLUNT ABOUT IT. THE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN OUR COUNTRY IS STILL A DISASTER. 126,000 LIVES LOST WHEN ONCE THE ESTIMATE WAS ON THE HIGH END OF THE SPECTRUM.

THE YEAR IS HALFWAY OVER AND IT IS NOW A GRIM REALITY. WE HAVE LOST MORE AMERICANS TO COVID-19 THEN WE LOSE TO THE FLU EACH YEAR AND WE LOST TO THE OPIOID CRISIS LAST YEAR AND MORE LIVES THAN WE'VE LOST IN EVERY AMERICAN WAR EXCEPT FOR THE CIVIL WAR AND WORLD WAR II. DESPITE WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS THE PANDEMIC IS NOT RETREATING, FAR FROM IT. SEVERAL STATES ARE SEEING RAPID, RECORD- SETTING INCREASES AND THE COUNTRY JUST SAW ITS LARGEST SINGLE DAY INCREASE TO DATE. WHILE THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE SEEN THE LEADERSHIP CRISIS RAGING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. AS THE PRESIDENT PROVES, TIME AFTER TIME, HE CARES LESS ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND MORE ABOUT HOW IT MAKES THEM LOOK. JUST CONSIDER HIS APPALLING, CONTINUED FAILURE ON TESTING. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ANYONE WHO WANTS A TEST, CAN GET A TEST. THEY STILL CAN'T. HE SAID, TESTING WAS OVERRATED. IT IS NOT. HE SAID WE PREVAILED ON TESTING.

WE HAVE NOT. NOW HE'S SAYING WE SHOULD BE DOING FEWER TESTS AND TESTING MAKES US LOOK BAD. IT CLEARLY DOES NOT AND WE CLEARLY NEED TO BE DOING MORE. THE MOST HONEST THING HE HAS SAID ABOUT TESTING IS THAT HE DOESN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. IT IS WHY CONGRESS ACTUALLY TOOK BIPARTISAN ACTION IN THE LAST COVID-19 RESPONSE BILL TO REQUIRE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE, NATIONAL TESTING PLAN. THAT IS WHY I'M STILL PUSHING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE MORE DETAILS IN THE PLAN AND TAKE MORE STEPS TO RAMP UP TESTING. BECAUSE WE ARE STILL NOWHERE NEAR THE TESTING AND TRACING CAPACITY WE NEED TO SAFELY REOPEN OUR COUNTRY AND ANY SUPPORT FOR AND AT TESTING SITES WHILE SITTING ON THE BILLIONS IN FUNDS THE CONGRESS PROVIDED IS NOT GOING TO GET US THERE. THE ONGOING STRUGGLE TO GET PRESIDENT TRUMP TO TAKE TESTING SERIOUSLY SHOULD BE A STARK WARNING TO CONGRESS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO A VACCINE, WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE THE ADMINISTRATION TO ITS OWN DEVICES.

WE HAVE TO HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE. WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC WILL NOT END. UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE THAT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND CAN BE WIDELY PRODUCED AND EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED. AND THAT IT IS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. WHICH IS WHY WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE, NATIONAL VACCINE PLAN FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE TESTING PLAN, WHICH CONGRESS ONLY RECEIVED AFTER FORCING THE ADMINISTRATIONS HAND WITH TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. WE NEED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO GET A VACCINE PLAN, MUCH EARLIER AND AVOID THE MISSTEPS WE HAVE SEEN WITH TESTING. I HOPE REPUBLICANS WILL WORK WITH ME IN A BIPARTISAN WAY ONCE AGAIN TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUT FORWARD A PLAN. WE NEED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO SHOW US HOW THEY WILL ENSURE A VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

I AM IS EAGER AS ANYONE FOR A VACCINE. BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DOING SOMETHING FAST, IT IS ABOUT DOING IT RIGHT. THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO KNOW THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A VACCINE THAT IS RIGOROUS, INCLUSIVE, IT'S JIM PARENT AND IS SCIENCE DRIVEN. IN LIGHT OF THE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE — AND MOVE REMOVAL OF DR. BRIGHT FOR QUESTIONING THE EFFORTS OF THAT TREATMENT, WE CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THE PROCESS WILL BE FREE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE. WE HAVE TO DEMAND SERIOUS — OVERSIGHT. IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PUBLIC FULL CONFIDENCE THAT A VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO COMMIT NOW TO BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE STANDARDS THAT A VACCINE WILL BE EXPECTED TO MEET AND RELEASE THE CRITICAL TRIAL DATA THE FDA USES TO EVALUATE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS. WE ALSO NEED A PLAN, DETAILING HOW TO REDUCE AND DISTRIBUTE VACCINES NATIONWIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN ACTUALLY GET THEM. WE SAW WITH TESTING HOW AVOIDABLE BOTTLENECKS CREATE DAMAGING DELAYS WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO STEP IN AND LEAD LIKE IT NEEDS TO DO IN A TIME OF CRISIS. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE SAW DISPARITIES THAT ARE EXACERBATED WITHOUT A PLAN TO OVERCOME THEM AND THE INCOMPLETE DATA WE CURRENTLY HAVE SHOWS BLACKS, LATINO AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ACCESS THAN WHITE COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS AN INJUSTICE AND WE MUST NOT REPEAT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES. WE ALSO NEED A PLAN TO GUARANTEE VACCINES ARE FREE SO THAT COST IS NOT A BARRIER FOR PATIENTS. IT IS WORTH NOTING, WE NEED TO MAKE A COVID- 19 TREATMENT AVAILABLE AT NO COST TOO. THE PLAN MUST ADDRESS BARRIERS LIKE VACCINE HESITANCY AND MISINFORMATION, WHEN ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SOURCES OF MISINFORMATION SO FAR HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WHILE THE DISCOVERY OF AN EVENTUAL VACCINE MAY BE FAR OFF, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED THE ADMINISTRATION TO ANSWER NOW. SO I HOPE REPUBLICANS WILL REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE VACCINE PLAN AND ADDRESS MANY OF THE URGENT ISSUES IN THE PANDEMIC. ARE BUSINESSES, WORKERS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SAFELY RETURN TO WORK OR SCHOOL PERIOD. OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM, DOCTORS, NURSES, FRONT- LINE WORKERS CONTINUE TO FACE UNIMAGINABLE RISK, STRESS AND FATIGUE. THEY NEED CONGRESS TO STEP UP AND HELP THEM CONTINUE TO SAVE LIVES. AND FAMILIES NEED US TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE BASIC SERVICES AND CAN KEEP FOOD ON THEIR TABLES.

THE HOUSE PASSED THE HEROES ACT, 46 DAYS AGO GIVING RELIEF TO FRONT-LINE WORKERS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. IT IS WELL PAST TIME FOR LEADER McCONNELL AND THE SENATE REPUBLICANS TO SIT DOWN WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATS AND GET TO WORK. THERE IS NO QUESTION, OUR COUNTRY IS STILL IN CRISIS. AND EVERY DAY THE SENATE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION, IS A DAY WE ALLOW IT TO GET WORSE. I ALSO HOPE MR. CHAIRMAN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ANOTHER HEARING ON THIS CRISIS SOON WITH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHOSE TESTIMONY IS LONG OVERDUE. SECRETARY A CZAR, SECRETARY — AND SECRETARY SCALIA. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WITNESSES AND THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR THEM. >> THANK YOU SENATOR MURPHY. WE ASK EACH WITNESS TO SUMMARIZE HIS TESTIMONY IN FIVE MINUTES. PLEASE WELCOME OUR WITNESSES. EACH OF YOU ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19. HELPING US GO SAFELY BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO WORK.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. ARE FOR WITNESSES DR. ANTHONY FAUCI. HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH. HE HAS HELD THIS POSITION SINCE 1984. HE IS LED THE RESEARCH RELATED TO HIV AIDS, INFLUENZA, MALARIA, EBOLA AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES. HE'S ADVISED SIX PRESIDENTS ON DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES AND IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS OF THE EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF IN 2014 HE WAS INVOLVED IN TREATING EBOLA PATIENTS AT NIH AND WORKED ON VACCINE TRIALS FOR EBOLA. NEXT, DR. ROBERT REDFIELD. DIRECTOR OF THE U.S.

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. THE CDC. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS HE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH CLINICAL RESEARCH RELATED TO CHRONIC HUMAN VIRAL INFECTIONS AND DISEASES INCLUDING HIV. FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RETROVIRAL RESEARCH AND RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE U.S. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS. THIRD, ADMIRAL BRENT — HE IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. HE OVERSEES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY. SPECIFIC TO COVID-19, RESPONSE, HE HAS TAKEN ON TESTING AND TESTED — WITH EXISTING TECHNOLOGY. HIS FEDERAL SERVICE INCLUDES DIRECTING THE DEFENSE OFFICE OF THE DEFENSE ADVANCED PROJECTS, AGENCY AND A VARIETY OF OTHER IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES. FINALLY WE WILL HEAR FROM DR. STEPHEN HAHN. DR. HAHN IS COMMISSIONER OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, THE FDA. BEFORE JOINING THE FDA HE HELD A LEADERSHIP POSITION AS CHIEF MEDICAL EXECUTIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER. AND IS CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. EARLY IN HIS CAREER HE WAS SR. INVESTIGATOR AT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE , AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. HE'S COMMANDER OF THE U.S.

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS IN 2005. WELCOME OUR WITNESSES. DR. FAUCI, WELCOME. LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBER MARY. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY WITH YOU TODAY THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND RESEARCH ADDRESSING COVID- 19. AS YOU INDICATED MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL, DURING THE QUESTION PERIOD AND ALLUDED TO IN THE PRESENTATION ADDRESS THE ISSUES REGARDING SCHOOLS. THE NIAID AND H STRATEGIC PLAN FOR COVID INVOLVES FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS. THE FIRST IS TO IMPROVE THE FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF UNDERSTANDING THE BIOLOGY OF THE VIRUS AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS IN ORDER TO BETTER INFORM US IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC THERAPEUTIC AND VACCINES.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW INFORMS VERY GREATLY HOW WE WILL ADDRESS THE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY UNDERSTANDING THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE VIRUS THAT INDUCE THE APPROPRIATE IMMUNE RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, WE WILL DEVELOP AND ARE DEVELOPING ANIMAL MODELS A PROPER TO WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT CHILDREN AND SCHOOL, WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED HEROES WHICH IS HUMAN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RESPONSE TO SARS CORONAVIRUS WHICH IS DETERMINING THE INSTANCE AND TRANSMISSIBILITY AMONG CHILDREN.

A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OPENING SCHOOLS. AND THE IMPACT THAT MIGHT HAVE. IN ADDITION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTICS, POINT-OF-CARE, SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTICS UNDER THE PROGRAM INCLUDING — FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THIRD, TO CHARACTERIZE AND TEST THERAPEUTICS. YOU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, AS WE OPEN SCHOOLS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS VERY ACTIVE THAT HAVE ALREADY SHOWN EFFICACY OR NOT IN SOME DRUGS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS THAT ARE ONGOING.

ONE, IN PARTICULAR WAS THE FIRST RANDOMIZED PERCEIVED CONTROL TRIAL SHOWING THE DRUG REMDESIVIR DIMINISHES BY ABOUT 32% THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET TO RECOVERY AND PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED DISEASE, PULMONARY INVOLVEMENT. IN ADDITION WE HAVE ANOTHER STUDY COMBINING THIS WITH AN ANTI- INFLAMMATORY AGENT. NEXT, WE HAVE VACCINES. SEVERAL HAVE MENTIONED IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS GLOBALLY. IN THAT REGARD, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER, MYSELF AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE MAGAZINE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHAT WE CALLED A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO CORONAVIRUS 19 VACCINE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. IT IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF VACCINE BUT IT IS A STRONG PLAN REGARDING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY. AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE, IN THIS WE HAVE A HARMONIZED EFFECT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY VACCINES THAT ARE IN TRIAL NOW AT VARIOUS STAGES. AND WHAT WE DID, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THINKS THE GENEROSITY OF CONGRESS, HAVE PUT CONSIDERABLE MONEY IN ORDER TO HARMONIZE THE TRIALS OF MULTIPLE CANDIDATES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

SO WE HAVE COMMON ENDPOINTS, COMMON DATA SAFETY MONITORING BOARD AND COMMON IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED. AND ARE BEING PURSUED. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLATFORMS THAT ARE BEING PURSUED SO WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE IS RIGHT NOW, GETTING READY AS WE APPROACH NEXT MONTH OF GOING INTO PHASE 3 TRIALS AND OTHERS WILL BE STAGGERED ALONG THE WAY IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER AND END OF SUMMER . THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ANYONE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN VACCINE KNOWLEDGE HE WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE BUT WE HAVE CAUTIOUS OPTIMISTIC LOOKING AT ANIMAL DATA AND THE EARLY PRELIMINARY DATA THAT WE WILL AT LEAST KNOW THE EXTENT OF EFFICACY, SOME KIND IN THE WINTER AND EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR.

AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES AND INVESTMENT MADE BY THIS CONGRESS, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE FEEL ASPIRATIONAL HE HOPEFUL ABOUT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS. I WILL STOP THERE MR. CHAIRMAN AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LATER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU DR. FAUCI. DR. REDFIELD, WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN ALEXANDER, RANKING MEMBER MURRAY AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH MY HHS COLLEAGUES. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE FACED AS A NATION IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

IN THE UNITED STATES, DAILY CASES ARE INCREASING. AFTER AN EXTENDED DECLINE , WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST REGIONS OF THE NATION. A NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS AND UPWARD SURE DR. HE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE, NOW 29 OF 55 JURISDICTIONS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY. THE EVIDENCE TELLS US THE CASES ARE DRIVEN BY MANY FACTORS, TO INCLUDE INCREASED TESTING, COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION AND OUTBREAKS IN THE SETTING SUCH AS NURSING HOMES AND OCCUPATIONAL SETTINGS. HOSPITALIZATIONS, NOW, ARE GOING UP IN 12 STATES. AS OF THIS WEEKEND, DAILY DEATH HAS INCREASED IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THE CDC IS CLOSELY MONITORING THESE INCREASES AND HAVE 48 TEAMS WITH MORE THAN 140 STAFF CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN 20 STATES AND TWO TERRITORIES. THE CDC IS PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY CONTACT TRACING AND COMMUNICATION. BEYOND PROVIDING THIS CRITICAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THE CDC IS WORKING WITH STATES AND COMMUNITIES AND OTHER WAYS.

THE CDC IS SPEAKING WITH STATES, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ON A DAILY BASIS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO STOP COVID WHILE REOPENING BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS. THE INITIAL GUIDANCE FOR INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING, WHICH SHARED IN MARCH IN K-12 SETTINGS THAT WE SHARED IN FEBRUARY, BOTH GUIDANCES HAVE BEEN UPDATED SINCE AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISSEMINATE THAT MORE BROADLY. THE CDC RELEASED CONSOLIDATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID TESTING , INCLUDING INTERIM TESTING GUIDELINES FOR NURSING HOMES AS WELL AS TESTING OPTIONS FOR HIGH DENSITY, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORK PLACES AFTER A COVID CASE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. TOASTING GUIDANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND K-12, HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD BE POSTED TODAY AND K-12 LATER THIS WEEK. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED TESTING GUIDELINES AND ARE MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE THE GUIDANCE OF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

THE CDC CONTINUES TO ADVANCE SCIENCE AROUND THE COVID- 19 IMPACT ON CERTAIN POPULATIONS AND THOSE WHO ARE AT HEIGHTENED RISK FOR SEVERE OUTCOMES. OUR MOST RECENT ANALYSIS OF THE UNITED STATES CASE DATA FROM THE PANDEMIC HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE SIX TIMES HIGHER AND DEATHS, 12 TIMES HIGHER AMONG THOSE WITH REPORTEDLY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, COMPARED TO THOSE WHO DID NOT HAVE THESE CONDITIONS. WE HAVE EXPANDED THE LIST OF UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WHERE THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT THEY PUT PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS. THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, COPD, WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM, OREGON PLANS TRANSPLANT, OBESITY, HEART DISEASE, SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND TYPE II DIABETES.

WE PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE EPIDEMIC. WHAT IT IS THE BACKBONE OF THE RESPONSE, CONTAINING THE OUTBREAK IN DEPENDS ON FOUR THINGS. — TIMELY ISOLATION OF NOUN CASES AND QUARANTINE TO BREAK THE TRANSMISSION. WE ARE NOT DEFENSELESS AGAINST THIS DISEASE. WE HAVE POWERFUL TOOLS THAT ARE AT OUR DISPOSAL. SOCIAL DISTANCING, WHERE A FACE COVERING AND PUBLIC CAN BE DISCIPLINED ABOUT FREQUENT HANDWASHING. IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE TAKE THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID- 19. AND EMBRACE THE OWNER'S — UNIVERSAL USE OF FACE COVERINGS. I'M ADDRESSING THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, MILLENNIAL AND GENERATION Z. THOSE ARE THAT ARE LISTENING, SPREAD THE WORD. BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW THE CDC IS ASSISTING THE FRONT LINES OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO FIGHT COVID. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE CDC HAS AWARDED $12 MILLION TO 64 JURISDICTIONS. DATA MONETIZATION IS UNDERWAY, LABORATORIES ARE BUILDING RESILIENCE, THE NUMBER OF CONTACT TRACES HAVE GROWN 345%.

THE DISEASE IMPACTS US ALL. AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO STOP IT. TOGETHER I BELIEVE WE CAN ACHIEVE THE POSSIBLE. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU DR. REDFIELD. ADMIRAL GIROIR, WELCOME. >> CHAIRMAN ALEXANDER, RANKING MEMBER MURRAY, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU . I WANT TO CLARIFY MY CURRENT ROLE. ON MARCH 12, LAZAR REQUESTED I LEAD TESTING EFFORTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. TO BE CLEAR, ALTHOUGH I AM ASSUMING SOME OF MY TRADITIONAL DUTIES AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY I AM MAINTAINING MY ROLE OF CORRELATING TESTING. INCLUDING NOW AT THE NIH WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM ALONG WITH DR. COLLINS. TO ASSURE THAT INNOVATIONS ARE IMMEDIATELY TRANSLATED INTO PRACTICE. IN ORDER TO GET BACK SAFELY TO WORK AND SCHOOL, THE OVERARCHING MOST CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL ACTIONS THAT WE MUST FIRST ACCOMPLISH IS TO CONTROL THE VIRUS. MEANING RAPIDLY EXTINGUISHING ANY OUTBREAKS AND MINIMIZING COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION. ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT DATA FROM SEVERAL STATES. INDICATING RISING INFECTIONS NOW IN UPTAKE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH. EVEN AS OTHER STATES AND THE MAJORITY OF COUNTIES ARE MAINTAINING A LOW INFECTION BURDEN.

KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW ABOUT ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TODAY IN TERMS OF MITIGATION STRATEGY, PPE AND TESTING, WE CAN REVERSE THESE CONCERNING TRENDS. IF WE WORK TOGETHER. FIRST, WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BE DISCIPLINED ABOUT OUR OWN BEHAVIOR. MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING, WHERE A FACE COVERING WHENEVER YOU CAN'T PHYSICALLY DISTANCE. WASH HER HANDS. STAY AT HOME IF YOU FEEL SICK. IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE INFECTED OR IN A GATHERING WITHOUT APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS, GET TESTED. SHIELD THE ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE OF ANY AGE. FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOR OPENING UP AMERICA AGAIN. THE CRITERIA ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND ARE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WHEN WE RELEASED THEM. IN ADDITION, THIS WEEK WE ARE INITIATING TESTING IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES OF HIGHEST CONCERN AND COORDINATE WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. BACK TO SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES. AS DR. REDFIELD STATED, THE CDC WILL RELEASE RECOMMENDATIONS ON K-12 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND GENERAL BUSINESS REOPENING. THESE WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTEGRATING TESTING, ESPECIALLY SURVEILLANCE TESTING INTO A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY. AS YOU ASKED ME MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU ARE SUPERINTENDENT OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM OR PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, NUMBER 1, APPLY THE CDC GUIDELINES IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SO THAT TESTING IS A PART OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WHICH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE PREVENTION AND CLEAR MECHANISMS TO ISOLATE POSITIVE STUDENTS. NUMBER 2, ASSURE YOUR TESTING NEEDS ARE INCORPORATED INTO YOUR STATE TESTING PLAN. AS WE OUTLINED IN THE NATIONAL TESTING STRATEGY, EACH STATE HAS DEVELOPED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON A CUSTOMIZED TESTING PLAN DEVELOPED IN FULL COORDINATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE NEXT ITERATION COVERING JULY THROUGH DECEMBER IS DUE ON JULY 10. THE STATE PLANS DRIVE THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN SCARCE RESOURCES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN MAY AND JUNE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTRIBUTED NEARLY 26 MILLION COLLECTION SWABS AND OVER 19 MILLION TUBES OF TRANSPORT MEDIA. HHS PRIORITIZED THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN KEY LABORATORY POINTS LIKE POINT-OF-CARE TESTS ACCORDING TO STATE SPECIFIC NEEDS. THERE ARE ALSO STRATEGIES, PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO SURVEILLANCE TESTING. ESPECIALLY IN UNIVERSITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, POOLING OF SAMPLES, MEANING COMBINING TWO OR MORE SAMPLES AND POSSIBLY UP TO 10 INTO A SINGLE TEST MAKES SENSE WHEN THE PREVALENCE OF INFECTION IS LOW. AND AS SUCH, POOL SURVEILLANCE TESTING CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A RESEARCH LAB OUTSIDE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT IF A POOL SAMPLE IS POSITIVE FOR COVID EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE POOL WOULD BE TESTED THROUGH THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY RECOGNIZING MY FELLOW OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSION COURT. THE UNIVERSE — UNIFORMED SERVICE ALLEY. OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. EXEMPLIFYING THE CARE AND COMPASSION THAT ALL OF US FEEL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED DURING THIS PANDEMIC. I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ON THEIR BEHALF, SINCERELY THANK ALL OF YOU IN CONGRESS FOR SUPPORTING OUR TRAINING NEEDS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A READY RESERVE CORPS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR RANKS DURING INEVITABLE FUTURE NATIONAL EMERGENCIES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THESE REMARKS.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ADMIRAL GIROIR. WELCOME DR. HAHN. >> THANK YOU TERMON ALEXANDER, RANKING MEMBER MURRAY AND MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR OUR EFFORTS DURING THIS TIME OF COVID-19. THE FDA HAS A VITAL ROLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. ONE OF OUR CORE MISSIONS IS TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC HEALTH BY HELPING TO SPEED MEDICAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. WE HAVE PROVIDED APPROPRIATE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITIES TO ASSURE THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO CRITICAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS AND SAFE FOOD AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR DECISIONS THAT ARE BASED ON MEDICINE AND SCIENCE. SINCE THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WITH — WAS DECLARED THE FDA ISSUED MORE THAN 100 EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, VENTILATORS, OTHER DEVICES AND DRUG PRODUCTS.

WE HAVE ISSUED MORE THAN 50 GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF HEALTH CARE IN THE FOOD SUPPLY. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TODAY THE FDA IS TAKING ACTION TO AID THE TIME — TIMELY DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE TO PREVENT COVID-19 ARE PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPERS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DATA NEEDED TO FACILITATE MANUFACTURING, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL. WE RECOGNIZE THE URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE TO PREVENT COVID-19 AND WE WANT TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH INDUSTRY, RESEARCHERS AND OTHER PARTNERS TO ACCELERATE THE EFFORTS. WHILE THE FDA IS COMMITTED TO HELP EXPEDITE THIS WORK, WE WILL NOT CUT CORNERS IN OUR DECISION-MAKING AND WE ARE MAKING CLEAR IN OUR GUIDANCE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE NEED THAT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO MEET REGULATORY STANDARDS OF APPROVAL.

THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS WE KNOW SOME ARE SKEPTICAL OF VACCINE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. THE FDA STRONGLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE , DIVERSE POPULATIONS IN ALL PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING POPULATIONS MOST AFFECTED BY COVID-19 AND SPECIFICALLY RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES , AS WELL AS ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION IN TRIALS OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE WITH MEDICAL COMORBIDITIES. WE HAVE INFORMATION IN THE GUIDANCE ABOUT INCLUDING WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AS WELL AS PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENTS OF SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS. AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WE HAVE NOT LOST SIGHT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN OUR REGULATORY INDEPENDENCE AND ENSURE THAT OUR DECISIONS RELATED TO ALL MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDED COVID- 19 VACCINES ARE BASED ON SOUND SCIENCE AND AVAILABLE DATA. THIS IS A COMMITMENT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN AND THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD PERSONALLY. WHILE VACCINE RESEARCH IS ONGOING, RAPID TESTING AND THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT CAN AID IN THE SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND WORKPLACE. THE FDA IS CONSTANTLY EVALUATING NEW DATA THAT WE RECEIVE ON TESTING SO THAT WE CAN PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND BETTER TESTS. AND REMOVE TESTS THAT ARE NOT RELIABLE FROM THE MARKET.

AND WE HAVE PUT INTO PLACE AND INITIATIVE TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENT CALLED THE CORONAVIRUS TREATMENT ACCELERATION PROGRAM. WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROGRAM SUCH AS THE AUTHORIZATION OF REMDESIVIR IN RECENT INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER THERAPEUTICS THAT MIGHT BE A BENEFIT TO PATIENTS OF COVID-19. WE ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO AND REVIEW PROPOSALS FROM COMPANIES CLIENT , SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS. WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF ADDRESSING THIS EVOLVING CRISIS. IT IS MISSION CRITICAL THAT THE AGENCY EVALUATE WHETHER OUR PROCESSES ARE MAXIMAL TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THEREFORE WE ARE BEGINNING A COMPREHENSIVE REAL-TIME REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF ACTIONS TO DATE TO ADDRESS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. I'M GLAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT REVIEW. I WANT TO THANK MORE THAN 17,000 FDA EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHT AND DAY TO HELP EXPEDITE MEDICAL PRODUCTS BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY OVERSIGHT WITH APPROPRIATE SCIENCE AND DATA.

WE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS REMAINS WITH US. THE FDA IS COMMITTED TO THE CRITICAL WORK THAT WILL GET THE COUNTRY BACK TO THE POINT IN WHICH AMERICANS JUDGE IT SAFE TO RETURN TO WORK, SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE DEDICATED WOMEN AND MEN OF THE FDA WHOSE COMMITMENT TO DEFEATING THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN UNWAVERING. I CAN ASSURE YOU THE FDA WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, EXPERTISE, GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION AS WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE AND FULFILL OUR MISSION TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. I WILL NOW BEGIN AROUND A FIVE MINUTE QUESTIONS. ALL OF THE SENATORS PARTICIPATING TODAY, ALMOST ALL, I ASKED SENATORS AND WITNESSES TO TRY TO KEEP EACH SEGMENT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. DR. FAUCI, ASSUME I'M SUPERIENDENT OF ONE OF 14,000 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY . WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS FOR CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. BUT WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE RISK TO THEIR EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS A GREATER RISK IF THEY DON'T GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT WHAT HE OR SHE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AS CHILDREN GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN A FEW WEEKS AND TO KEEP IT SAFE? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION MR. CHAIRMAN. IT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT I THINK WE NEED TO POINT OUT THAT IT REALLY WILL DEPEND ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE OUTBREAK IN THE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS, WHERE THE SCHOOL IS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE AND HAVE BEEN EMPHASIZING, IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PARTICULAR AREA OF SO-CALLED OPENING AMERICA AGAIN. ARE YOU AT THE GATEWAY, PHASE I, PHASE II, PHASE 3.

THE CDC HAS GUIDELINES ABOUT THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THOSE CHECKPOINTS. THE BASIC FUNDAMENTAL GOAL WOULD BE, AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AND TO USE THE PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS AS A TOOL TO HELP GET CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL, LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN. IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE HAD HERE TO GUIDELINES OF WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IN MANY OF THESE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE PHYSICAL TESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, USE OF MASKS, THINGS LIKE THAT WILL HELP KEEP THE LEVEL OF INFECTION IN THE COMMUNITY DOWN WHICH WILL THEN MAKE IT EASY TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFECTION DYNAMIC THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CREATIVELY BE DONE ABOUT MODIFYING THINGS LIKE THE SCHOOL SCHEDULE.

ALTERNATING DAYS, MORNING VERSUS EVENING, ALLOWING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ONLINE, VIRTUAL LESSONS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MAKING THE GOAL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. FOR THE UNINTENDED NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT OCCUR, WHEN WE KEEP THEM OUT OF SCHOOL. >> THANK YOU. DR. REDFIELD, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WOULD BE THAT CHILDREN, WHO GENERALLY SPEAKING HAVE NOT BEEN DAMAGED AS MUCH AS ADULT , PARTICULARLY ELDERLY ADULTS BY THIS VIRUS MIGHT CARRY THE VIRUS TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS AT HOME.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE AVAILABLE OF TREATMENT THIS FALL, MEDICINE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF SICKNESS AND DEATH COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT IN INCREASING CONFIDENCE IN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE IN YOUR TESTIMONY. ARE THERE OTHERS? WHAT WILL THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENTS BE THIS FALL? AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ABOUT SO- CALLED ANTIBODY COCKTAILS, THE KIND THAT WERE DEVELOPED FOR EBOLA AND APPROVED BY THE FDA? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT QUESTION ALSO FOR DR. FAUCI. I'M GOING TO MAKE A SMALL STATEMENT AND HE MAY WANT TO ADD TO IT.

CLEARLY WE DO HAVE REMDESIVIR AS YOU MENTIONED. WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT YOUR RIGHTS CAN IMPROVE THERAPY AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE A CONVALESCENT PLAZA PLASMA, USING THE ANTIBODIES FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GOT BETTER FROM COVID, THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER EVALUATION AND POTENTIALLY WILL BE AVAILABLE. >> I HAVE A MINUTE DR. REDFIELD. ME GO TO DR. HAHN AND LET HIM ANSWER THE QUESTION TOO. >> AS I MENTIONED, REMDESIVIR HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BASED ON REDUCTION IN HOSPITALIZATION DAYS, STEROIDS ARE MENTIONED. CONVALESCENT PLASMA, WE HAVE EVALUATED SAFETY THROUGH A LARGE PROGRAM AT THE MAYO CLINIC AND IT IS FOUND TO BE SAFE. OVER 20,000 PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD IT ADMINISTERED. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE SAFETY DATA AND WE WILL PASS THE DATA ALONG TO THE SPONSOR OF THE PROGRAM. I THINK THE ANTIBODY DATA WILL HELP US IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIBODIES.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPONSORS WHO HAVE COME IN FROM THE ANTIBODY STUDIES AND WE ARE ALREADY WELL INTO THAT TREATMENT. ANTIBODIES ARE DATES THAT ARE SYNTHETIC AND THE THEORY IT IS THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION FROM THE VIRUS. WE HOPE THAT THE STUDIES BY LATE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY. >> YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE WILL BE MORE THAN ONE TREATMENT AVAILABLE THIS FALL FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OLDER ADULTS? >> YES, SIR, I AM OPTIMISTIC.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR MURRAY. >> THANK YOU TO ALL OUR WITNESSES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR WORK. DR. FAUCI, LAST TIME YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, YOU WARNED US OF NEEDLESS SUFFERING AND DEATH IF WE BEGAN REOPENING TOO EARLY. JUST OVER A MONTH LATER NOW, WE ARE SEEING A RECORD NUMBER OF CASES AND WE DO NOT HAVE AN ANTIBODY — AND WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CONTACT TRACES. YESTERDAY THE CDC SAID WE HAVE TOO MUCH VIRUS TO CONTROL IN THE U.S. I QUOTE, THIS IS REALLY THE BEGINNING. OUR STRATEGY HASN'T WORKED. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MORE THAN 30 STATES WITH RISING CASE NUMBERS NEED TO DO TO REVERSE THIS PATH? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. SENATOR MURRAY, I AM ALSO QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING EVOLVE RIGHT NOW. IN SEVERAL OF THE STATES, AS YOU KNOW, FOUR OF THE STATES, FLORIDA, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA, MORE THAN 50% OF THE NEW INFECTIONS ARE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE ARE SEEING SURGES.

THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND YOU ALLUDED TO IN YOUR QUESTION TO ME, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN STATES START TO TRY TO REOPEN AGAIN, THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFULLY LAID OUT WITH REGARD TO CHECKPOINTS. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN SEVERAL STATES ARE DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THAT. PERHAPS, MAYBE IN SOME, GOING TOO QUICKLY AND SKIPPING OVER SOME OF THE CHECKPOINTS. BUT EVEN IN THE STATES IN WHICH THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNORS, THE MAYORS DID IT RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT WE SAW VISUALLY ECLIPSED AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR COMMUNITY DOING AN ALL OR NOTHING PHENOMENON. WHICH IS DANGEROUS. BY ALL OR NONE, EITHER BE LOCKED DOWN OR OPEN UP IN A WAY THAT YOU SEE PEOPLE AT BARS, NOT WEARING MASKS, NOT AVOIDING CROWDS, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING. I THINK WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS PART OF A SOCIETAL EFFORT TO END THE EPIDEMIC, THAT WE ALL HAVE TO PLAY A PART IN THAT.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE VISUALS, WHAT WE SAW WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAYBE FELT THAT BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE INVULNERABLE AND WE KNOW THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT, BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING SERIOUS DISEASE, THAT THEREFORE THEY ARE GETTING INFECTED AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE ELSE. WHEN IN FACT IT DOES. BECAUSE IF A PERSON GETS INFECTED, THEY MAY NOT BE SYMPTOMATIC. BUT THEY COULD PASS IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, WHO PASSES IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, WHO THEN MAKES SOMEONE'S GRANDMOTHER, THEIR GRANDFATHER SICK UNCLE OR LEUKEMIC CHILD ON CHEMOTHERAPY GET SICK AND DIE. WE'VE GOT TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT, THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO ATTAIN THIS, WE'VE GOT TO CONTAIN IT TOGETHER. >> I ASSUME THAT WOULD MEAN COMMUNITY LEADERS NEED TO MODEL HEALTHY BEHAVIOR AND WEAR A MASK. >> WE RECOMMEND MASKS FOR EVERYONE ON THE OUTSIDE.

ANYONE WHO COMES INTO CONTACT INTO CROWDED AREAS. AVOID CROWDS AND POSSIBLE. WHEN YOUR OUTSIDE AND NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF MAINTAINING DISTANCE, YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES. >> THANK YOU. DR. REDFIELD, LAST WEEK –, THE CDC DIRECTOR UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TESTIFIED THAT IF SHE WERE IN CHARGE ONE OF HER TOP PRIORITIES WOULD BE THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL VACCINE PLAN THAT DIRECTS SCIENCE, DEVELOPMENT, ALLOCATIONS, TECHNIQUE AND MONITORING VACCINES. QUOTE WE KNOW IT IS IN OUR FUTURE AND WE ARE NOT READY FOR IT. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. IF THAT PLAN HAS TO DETAIL HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SCALE UP MANUFACTURING — IT NEEDS TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION AND VACCINE EVIDENCE THE. AND MAKE SURE THAT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION ADDRESSES HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND A LOT MORE. DR. REDFIELD, DO YOU AGREE THAT A PLAN LIKE THAT IS NEEDED? >> SENATOR I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN INTEGRATED PLAN FOR THIS VACCINE. >> WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE ONE? >> I WILL ASK DR.

HAHN IF HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. I KNOW RECENTLY THEY HAD A VACCINE PLAN FOR AT LEAST THE FDA'S PERSPECTIVE. THE CDC IS WORKING ON THE ISSUES, THAT YOU SAID IS SO IMPORTANT, IN BUILDING VACCINE COMPETENCY. >> WILL THE CDC BE GIVING US THEIR PLANS? >> WE ARE DEVELOPING A PLAN , AS WE SPEAK. AGAIN, WE KEEP BUILDING ON THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE TO REBUILD WHAT I CALL VACCINE COMPETENCE, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL. AND ON TOP OF THAT THERE WILL BE A DEFINED PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS VACCINE, PRIVATIZATION OF THIS VACCINE.

MONITORING FOR SAFETY. >> A COUPLE OF WEEKS? A COUPLE OF MONTHS? THE END OF THE YEAR? ANY ESTIMATE ON THAT PLAN? >> CURRENTLY IT IS IN DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE GROUP. AND I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SEE THAT PLAN IN THE NEAR WEEKS AHEAD, SENATOR. >> — IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. THE CDC IS WORKING ON THE PLAN, LITERALLY FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 10 OR 12 WEEKS. >> WE NEED TO SEE THAT PLAN AND KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I HOPE THAT WE URGE THE PLAN TO BE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU SENATOR MURRAY. SENATOR BURR. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. AFTER WORKING ON THE PANDEMIC POLICY FOR 17 YEARS I'M REMINDED THIS MORNING THAT TONY FOUND SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT TWICE AS LONG AS I HAVE AND MOST OF AT AS WELL.

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT EACH OF THEM SAY. , ,, ATTENTION TO WHAT EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SAY BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE PREDICTABLE, CONGRESS IS A % FULL-FLEDGED PARTNER AND FUN THINGS WHEN THERE IS AN URGENT THREAT OUT THERE. AND I KNOW TONY YOU'VE SEEN OVER WERE EARS IN THERE ISN'T THAT THREAT THINGS GET SHELVED LIKE PLATFORMS. THAT WE COULD HAVE DEVELOPED AND HAD BETTER COUNTERMEASURES TODAY, PLATFORMS THAT THEN COULD ADDRESS VACCINES AT A MUCH FASTER PACE THAN MAYBE WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT WE SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE BLAME E THEN WE DO WITH FOCUSES ON HOW THE FUTURE SHOULD LOOK.

AND WHILE ALL OF US, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND PEOPLE WITHIN GOVERNMENT WISH THAT WE COULD GET ATBACK TO NORMALCY, YOUR AGENCIES AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ALSO IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE WE MAP THE FUTURE SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE BETTER PROTECTIONS THAN WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT IS WHY I APPLAUD THE CHAIRMAN FOR HIS WHITE PAPER. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERY MEMBER OF THAT DAIS TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH US ABOUT WHERE CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE AND WHERE THEY DON'T NEED ANTO BE MADE. DR. REDFIELD I THINK YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT WITH M , TESTING AND SURVEILLANCE ON THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST PERFORMANCE BY CDC, I DON'T WANT TO DWELL ON WHERE WE COME UP SHORT BUT SHARE WITH THESE MEMBERS AND MYSELF WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS FROM CDC THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE PAST HAS LOOKED LIKE. >> THANK YOU SEN. FOR THE QUESTION, I THINK THE CDC WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL TRAVEL, TERRITORIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S TO BUILD CAPACITY AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT FOR DECADES THERE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT UNDERINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN THIS NATION AND THE CORE CAPABILITIES TO DO THAT JOB DAY TODAY, PREDICTIVE DATED ANALYSIS, WORKFORCE, VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND THAT CONGRESS PROVIDED, THESE ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND THE REALITY IS THEY'VE BEEN UNDER INVESTED.

,, THE CDC RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY PROVIDING 50 TO 75% OF ALL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING TO EACH STATE. WE NEED TO HAVE A MUCH MORE ROBUST INVESTMENT IN CORE CAPABILITIES AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE BECAUSE OF CONGRESS ACTING, THE CDC HAS PROVIDED NOW $12 BILLION TO THE LOCAL STATE TERRITORIAL TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO BEGIN TO BUILD THAT CORE CAPABILITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BUILT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, SO THAT THERE IS ENHANCED TESTING AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE THIS VIRUS IS SO ASYMPTOMATIC FOR SO MANY SO TRADITIONAL METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND CONTACT TRACING AND ISOLATION ARE GOING TO BE INHIBITED FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AND THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE BROADER COMMUNITY-BASED SURVEILLANCE STRATEGIES. THOSE PLANS AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE ADM., WE'VE RECEIVED THEM FOR DUE IN JULY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND THEY WILL HAVE THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY TO THE REST OF THE YEAR, AND WE ARE WORKING SIDE- BY-SIDE WITH THEM TO CONTINUE TO AUGMENT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY AND RESPOND TO THIS COVID VIRUS WITH BASICALLY ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE AND ENHANCED EARLY DIAGNOSIS, CONTACT TRACING, ISOLATION AND BEGIN TO BRING THIS OUTBREAK UNDER CONTROL.

>> I HOPE SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE THE SYSTEM AT CDC, THAT IS ANTIQUATED . >> SIR I AGREE WITH YOU THERE AND I THINK AS THOSE OF YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS JOB, VERY EARLY ON WITHIN A MONTH I RECOGNIZED THAT THE CORE CAPABILITIES OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT THERE PARTICULARLY THE ONE THAT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, DATA MODULARIZATION, PRODUCTIVE DATA ANALYSIS AND THAT IS IN PROGRESS. IT CAN'T HAPPEN TOO SOON AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT THAT CONGRESS HAS GIVEN AND I DO THINK IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY CRITICAL TO BRING OUR DATA SYSTEM, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE DATA PERSONNEL WE KNOW, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THERE, AND AS WE NEED TO HIRE THOSE INDIVIDUAL STRATEGICALLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PREMIER PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY IN THIS COMMENTARY HAS, COUNTRY HAS THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT IT NEEDS BUT I WILL SAY A BIGGER ISSUE WE NEED TO CORRECT IS TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HEALTH, STATE AND LOCAL TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL HAVE AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF DATA. >> DR. HAHN I THINK YOU'VE USED YOUR AUTHORITIES UNDER — AT THE FDA IN A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY AND THE FDA HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY CUTTING RED TAPE AND MAINTAINING THE AGENCY'S GOLD STANDARD FOR REVIEW OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL PRODUCTS.

HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED INNOVATIVE CLINICAL TRIAL DESIGNS AND THE USE OF REAL- WORLD DATA AS AREAS WHERE THE FDA GAINED GROUND DURING THE RESPONSE TO COVID, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRESS IS MAINTAINED LONG AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE IS OVER? >> THANK YOU SEN. BURR, CRITICAL ISSUES THAT YOU BRING UP IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING ON THE REVIEW SIDE TO ACTUALLY EXPEDITE REVIEW AND WORK WITH INNOVATORS AND DEVELOPERS, WE WILL CONTINUE. PART OF OUR REVIEW OF OUR ACTIONS TO DATE, SO OUR MID- ACTION REVIEW, WILL INFORM HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. NO QUESTION THE FACT THAT REAL- WORLD EVIDENCE AND MODERNIZATION OF OUR DATA SYSTEMS ARE NEEDED PARTICULARLY AROUND SUPPLY CHAIN AND DEMAND FOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS BUT ALSO ON THE REVIEW CYCLE AND THE INNOVATIVE CLINICAL DESIGN TRIALS AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> ESTHER CHAIRMAN I DO HOPE THAT YOU OR ANOTHER MEMBER WILL ALLOW DR. FAUCI AT SOME POINT TODAY TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE REPORTS THAT THERE IS A NEW SWINE FLU THAT THE CHINESE HAVE APPARENTLY IDENTIFIED AND HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE IN THIS COUNTRY. COUNTRY.,, >>> WELL, DR. FAUCI WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT NOW, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT A SWINE FLU? >> THE CHINESE OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO HAVE IDENTIFIED A VIRUS IN THE ENVIRONMENT BUT IT IS NOT YET SHOWN TO BE INFECTING HUMANS, BUT IT IS EXHIBITING WHAT WE CALL REASSORTMENT CAPABILITIES, IN OTHER WORDS WHEN YOU GET A BRAND- NEW VIRUS THAT TURNS OUT TO BE A PANDEMIC VIRUS, IT IS EITHER DUE TO MUTATIONS AND/OR THE REASSORTMENT OR EXCHANGES OF GENES AND THEY ARE SEEING THE VIRUS IN SWINE AND PIGS NOW, THAT HAVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 29 H1 IN ONE, OF THE ORIGINAL 1918 WHICH MANY OF OUR FLU VIRUSES HAVE REMNANTS OF THAT IN IT, AS WELL AS SEGMENTS FROM OTHER HOSTS LIKE SWINE.

WHEN THEY ALL MAKES UP TOGETHER AND THEY CONTAIN SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER SWINE FLU TYPE OUTBREAK AS WE HAD IN 2009. IT IS SOMETHING THAT STILL IS IN THE STAGE OF EXAMINATION, IT IS NOT WHAT YOU CALL AN IMMEDIATE THREAT WHERE YOU ARE SEEING INFECTIONS BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON JUST THE WAY WE DID IN 2009 WITH THE EMERGENCE OF THE SWINE FLU. IT'S CALLED G4, THAT'S THE NAME OF IT. >> SEN. SANDERS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHAIRMAN AND LET ME THANK ALL OF OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

LET ME ASK A QUESTION THAT HAS JUST BOTHERED ME LATELY, OF ALL OF YOU AND I THINK MOST AMERICANS UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT SOCIAL DISTANCING IS, WE ARE TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE CHAIRMAN TOLD US IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING, STAY APART AT LEAST 6 FEET APART IF YOU CAN. AND JUST THE OTHER DAY HOWEVER AMERICAN AIRLINES ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FILL UP ALL OF THEIR PLANES. AND OTHER AIRLINES HAVE DONE THE SAME. SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE GOING FROM NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA, FLYING FOR HOURS SITTING INCHES APART FROM EACH OTHER. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT BUSES ALL OVER AMERICA WHERE PEOPLE ARE PACKED IN LIKE SARDINES. I QUESTION IS, WHY HASN'T THE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT IS THE CDC OR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ISSUED GUIDELINES PROHIBITING THOSE VIOLATIONS OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW TO BE COMMON SENSE? DR. FAUCI DO YOU WANT TO START ON THAT ONE? >> THANK YOU SEN.

I'M NOT THE CDC BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT AND MAYBE BOB WOULD ALSO. OBVIOUSLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF CONCERN, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT LED THEM TO THAT DECISION- MAKING BUT I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING TO MITIGATE AGAINST THAT BECAUSE I KNOW AS WE SAID, AND I CONTINUE TO REPEAT IT, THAT AVOIDING CROWDS AND STAYING DISTANT AND WHEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT WEARING A MASK, I THINK IN THE CONFINES OF AN AIRPLANE THAT BECOMES EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC.

>> GENERALLY I UNDERSTAND THE MASK THING BUT DOESN'T IT SOUND A LITTLE BIT SILLY AND IN VIOLATION OF EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TO HAVE PEOPLE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, FOR FIVE OR SIX HOURS IN AN AIRPLANE? OR CROWDED INTO A BUS? QUESTION IS, WHY HASN'T THE PRESIDENT ISSUED A LOT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS? WHY HAVEN'T WE STOPPED THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY AND TOLD THE AIRLINES AND BUS COMPANIES THAT IT IS UNHEALTHY? ,, >> SEN. I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S A CRITICAL AREA. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED AT THE OTHER DAY OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DISAPPOINTMENT WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES, REMEMBER THE AIRLINES HAD DECIDED TO KEEP THE MIDDLE SEAT THING AND I CAN'T SAY IT IS UNDER CRITICAL REVIEW RIGHT NOW BY US AT THE CDC, WE DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT MESSAGE AS YOU POINTED OUT.

AGAIN, WE THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN WHETHER IT'S A BUS OR A PLANE OR A TRAIN , OR SOCIAL DISTANCING TO A DEGREE THAT'S FEASIBLE AND AT LEAST HAVE A RELIABLE FACE COVERING. >> THANK YOU, I JUST HOPE VERY MUCH THAT THE CDC OR THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY BASICALLY TELLS THESE COMPANIES THAT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND YOU ARE ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THEY GO FOR ANOTHER QUESTION AND I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS BUT NOT A LOT OF TIME SO I APPRECIATE BRIEF ANSWERS. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTH THERE, INDICATED THAT IF 95% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE TO WEAR MASKS WE COULD SAVE SOME 30,000 LIVES.

A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING SOUTH KOREA, FRANCE, TURKEY AND AUSTRIA HAVE PROVIDED LOW COST OR FREE MASKS TO ALL OF THEIR PEOPLE, SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IN. WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN EFFORT TO GREATLY INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY MASKS IN THIS COUNTRY AND DISTRIBUTE THEM FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN AMERICA? >> YES, OF COURSE. I THINK MASKS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND WE KEEP HAMMERING HOME AND I THINK WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IS AS IMPORTANT. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WEARING MASKS PROTECTS YOU AND HELPS YOU TO BE PROTECTED SO IT IS PEOPLE PROTECTING EACH OTHER, AND ANYTHING THAT FURTHERS THE USE OF MASKS, WHETHER IT IS GIVING OUT FREE MASKS OR ANY OTHER MECHANISM, I AM THOROUGHLY IN FAVOR OF. >> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT SEN. IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, I CALLED ON AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE, UNIVERSAL MASKS.

I THINK IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO . >> THAT'S GREAT. WHEN YOU REFERRED TO A CALL FOR UNIVERSAL MASKS WHICH I AGREE WITH YOU ON, WOULD YOU BE SUPPORTING THE INCREASED PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY MASKS AND BASICALLY DISTRIBUTING FREE OF CHARGE? TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN AMERICA? I THINK THAT IS GOING TO SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, WOULD YOU AGREE? >> SEN. SANDERS YES, I AGREE THAT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO SUPPORT MASK WEARING AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT DR. ESPER HAS CONTRACTED FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF CLOTH-BASED COVERINGS THAT COULD BE DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THOSE KINDS OF PROCESSES, AND THEY ARE BEING THOUGHT OF. WHEN I'M NOT IN UNIFORM, I WEAR THEM. THEY ARE VERY T EFFECTIVE AND I THINK THEY ARE A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> MY VERY LAST QUESTION IS AN ISSUE I'VE RAISED NOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. ALL OF US HOPE TO GOD, WHETHER A GOOD SAFE VACCINE WILL BE DEVELOPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT THE VACCINE MAY NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO A LOW INCOME PERSON WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THESE VACCINES AND BY THE WAY AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO DRUG COMPANIES TO HELP DEVELOP THE VACCINE AND THAT'S OKAY. WHAT WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT AFTER THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN, EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY CAN GET A VACCINE REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME? >>> YES. >> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT? >> YES SEN. >> YES SEN. >> GOOD, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SEN. SANDERS, SEN. PAUL? >> THANK YOU. FATAL CONCEIT IS THE CONCEPT THAT CENTRAL PLANNING WITH DECISION- MAKING CONCENTRATED IN A FEW HANDS CAN NEVER FULLY GRASP THE MILLIONS OF COMPLEX INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS OCCURRING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE MARKETPLACE.

IT IS A FATAL CONCEIT TO BELIEVE ANY ONE PERSON OR SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO DIRECT AN ECONOMY OR DICTATE PUBLIC HEALTH BEHAVIOR. I THINK GOVERNMENT HEALTH EXPERTS DURING THIS PANDEMIC NEED TO SHOW CAUTION IN THEIR PROGNOSTICATIONS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT A SOCIETY MEEKLY SUBMITS TO AN EXPERT AND IF THAT EXPERT IS WRONG A GREAT DEAL OF HARM MAY OCCUR WHEN WE ALLOW ONE MAN'S POLICY OR ONE GROUP OF SMALL MEN AND WOMEN TO ENFORCE THAT ON AN ENTIRE NATION, TAKE FOR EXAMPLE GOVERNMENT EXPERTS WHO CONTINUE TO CALL FOR SCHOOLS AND DAY CARES TO STAY CLOSED. OR THAT RECOMMEND RESTRICTIONS THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SCHOOL TO FUNCTION. FOR A TIME THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS IN CHILDREN BUT NOW THERE IS. THERE ARE EXAMPLES FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD THAT SHOW THAT YOUNG CHILDREN RARELY SPREAD THE VIRUS.

LET'S START IN EUROPE. 22 COUNTRIES HAVE REOPENED THEIR SCHOOLS AND HAVE SEEN NO DISCERNIBLE INCREASES IN CASES. THESE GRAPHS SHOW NO SURGE WHEN SCHOOLS OPENED, THE RED LINE IS WHERE SCHOOLS OPENED AND THERE IS DATA FROM AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, NO SPIKE WHEN SCHOOLS ARE OPEN. CONTACT TRACING STUDIES IN CHINA , ICELAND, BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS, THEY ARE ALL COULD NOT FIND A SINGLE CASE OF CHILD TO ADULT INFECTION. HERE AT HOME CHILDCARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS CONTINUES TO BE AVAILABLE AND IN SOME STATES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. BROWN UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS COLLECTED DATA ON DAYCARE SO IT REMAINED OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, OVER 25,000 KIDS IN THEIR STUDY AND FOUND THAT ONLY .16% GOT COVID AND WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE CONFIRMED CASES FOR STAFF THERE WAS ABOUT 1% OF MORE THAN 9000 STAFF. THE YMCA ALSO HAS PUT FORWARD STATISTICS, 40,000 KIDS AND 1100 SITES, THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAKS OR CLUSTERS.

DR. JOSHUA SHARP STEIN OF JOHNS HOPKINS WRITES THERE IS CONVERGING EVIDENCE THAT CORONAVIRUS DOES NOT TRANSMIT AMONG CHILDREN LIKE THE FLU AND THAT IT IS A LOWER RISK, JUST YESTERDAY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS WE'VE GOT TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL. WE WANT THEM PHYSICALLY'S PRESENT IN SCHOOL AND THEY EVEN CITE MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO CONTRACT THE VIRUS. ULTIMATELY THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO THE FATAL CONCEIT THAT CENTRAL PLANNERS HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE SOMEHOW TO TELL A NATION OF 330 MILLION PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO.

PERHAPS OUR PLANNERS MIGHT THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY LAY IN ON EVERY SUBJECT, PERHAPS OUR GOVERNMENT EXPERTS MIGHT HOLD THEIR TONGUE BEFORE EXPRESSING THE OPINION OF WHETHER WE CAN PLAY NFL FOOTBALL OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. PERHAPS OUR EXPERTS MIGHT THINK TWICE BEFORE TELLING THE WHOLE WORLD THAT A COVID VACCINE LIKELY WON'T PREVENT HERD IMMUNITY. WE DON'T KNOW, WHY WEIGH IN WITH THESE OPINIONS WHEN WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE? THESE ARE FORECASTS THAT MAY WELL BE WRONG. PERHAPS OUR EXPERTS MIGHT CONSIDER THE UNDUE FEAR THEY ARE INSTILLING IN TEACHERS WHO ARE NOW AFRAID TO GO BACK TO WORK.

NO ONE KNOWS THE THESE TO QUESTIONS AND WE SHOULDN'T PRESUME THAT A GROUP OF EXPERTS SOMEHOW KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYONE. — HAD IT RIGHT, ONLY DECENTRALIZED POWER AND DECISION-MAKING BASED ON MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALIZED SITUATIONS CAN ARRIVE AT WHAT RISKS AND BEHAVIORS EACH INDIVIDUAL SHOULD CHOOSE. THAT IS WHAT AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON. NOT A HERD WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON TELLING US WHAT TO DO AND WE LIKE SHEEP BLINDLY FOLLOW. THIS ALL BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT DO WE TELL PEOPLE, THAT IT'S OKAY TO TAKE THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL? DR. FAUCI EVERY DAY WE SEEM TO HEAR FROM YOU THINGS WE CAN'T DO. BUT WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO CAN WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL I DON'T HEAR MUCH CERTITUDE AT ALL, I HEAR MAYBE, IT DEPENDS. ALL THIS BODY OF EVIDENCE ABOUT SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD SHOWS NO SURGE. ALL OF THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT IT'S RARE. WE HAVE SO POLITICIZED THIS , IT MAY BE POLITICALLY CORRECT, THE WHO RELEASES THAT IT'S RARE AND OUR SCIENTISTS ARE MOST — GIVING THEIR OPINION AND SHE'S BLACKBALLED IN HER REPORT IS TAKEN OFF THE WEBSITE.

WHEN YOU GO TO HER SPEECH AND TRY TO CLICK ON THE LINK THE WHO HAS SCREENED IT FROM US BECAUSE IT SAID SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT AND GUESS WHAT? IT IS RARE FOR KIDS TO TRANSMIT THIS. I HEAR NOTHING OF THAT COMING FROM YOU. ALL I HEAR IS WE CAN'T DO THIS AND WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE CAN'T PLAY BASEBALL. EVEN THAT IS NOT BASED ON SCIENCE. FLU SEASON PEAKS IN FEBRUARY AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT COVID WILL BE LIKE THE FLU SEASON, IT MIGHT BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT WE WOULDN'T BAN SCHOOL IN OCTOBER. YOU MIGHT CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS WHEN THEY GET THE FLU BUT WE NEED TO NOT BE SO PRESUMPTUOUS THAT WE KNOW EVERYTHING. I QUESTION TO YOU IS CAN'T YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON SCHOOL SO WE CAN GET BACK TO SCHOOL, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF EVIDENCE AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT KIDS ARE NOT TRANSMITTING THIS, IT'S RARE AND KIDS ARE STAYING HEALTHY AND YES WE CAN OPEN OUR SCHOOLS. >> MR.

CHAIRMAN DO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME? [ LAUGHTER ] THAT WAS WELL OVER FIVE MINUTES. >> PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION . >> VERY QUICKLY SEN. PAUL I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THIS IDEA ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING TO PUT THEIR OPINIONS OUT WITHOUT DATA AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE EXTRAPOLATIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU NEED TO AT LEAST GET SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATION.

BUT IF YOU WERE LISTENING AND I THINK YOU WERE TO MY OPENING STATEMENTS, AND MY RESPONSE TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. I THINK WE ARE A LOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY VERY BRIEFLY, IS THAT WHEN THINGS GET IN THE PRESS OF WHAT I SUPPOSEDLY SAID, I DIDN'T SAY, I NEVER SAID WE CAN'T PLAY A CERTAIN SPORT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE IN THE SPORT INDUSTRY, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, OWNERS, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE HEALTH OF THE PLAYERS, ASK ME OPINIONS REGARDING CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, WHAT THE DYNAMICS ARE. I GIVE IT AND THEN IT GETS INTERPRETED THAT I'M SAYING YOU CAN'T PLAY THIS SPORT ARE YOU CAN'T PLAY THAT SPORT. I AGREE WITH YOU, I AM COMPLETELY UNQUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHETHER YOU CAN PLAY A SPORT OR NOT. THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN DO IS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY GIVE YOU THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE ASSOCIATING WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE OUTBREAK.

THANK YOU. >> WE JUST NEED MORE OPTIMISM. >> MR. CHAIRMAN THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HEARING AND I WANT TO THANK OUR WITNESSES FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE. ESTHER CHAIRMAN LET ME START WITH DR. HAHN THEN I WILL MOVE TO ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR. DR. HAHN I WANT TO ASK ABOUT VACCINES AND MEASURE TESTIMONY INDICATES AND AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING OVER TIME, AS RESEARCHERS WORK TO DEVELOP VACCINES TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FINAL FDA APPROVED PRODUCTS HAVE THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. A VACCINE DOESN'T HELP IF PEOPLE DON'T CHOOSE TO IN FACT BE VACCINATED. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS GIVEN THAT WE'VE SEEN VERY HIGH RATES OF VACCINE REFUSAL AS WELL AS SKEPTICISM, WHAT ROLE CAN THE FDA PLAY IN THE COMING MONTHS TO EARN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST THAT THE COVID- 19 VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. THAT IS QUESTION NUMBER ONE, AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE AS FDA COMMISSIONER TO BOLSTER PUBLIC CONFIDENCE? >> THANK YOU SEN. FOR THE QUESTION, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN VACCINES IS SO IMPORTANT.

TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO USE ALL OF OUR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THAT ANY VACCINE THAT COMES BEFORE US, WHETHER FOR AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL, MEETS OUR STRINGENT STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ISSUED THAT GUIDANCE THAT I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT WAS TO PROVIDE REGULATORY CLARITY AROUND WHAT FDA EXPECTS WITH RESPECT TO THIS DATA. WE WANT TO SEE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE DATA SO WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD AND TO THE NATION AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR RIGOROUS STANDARDS WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY AND EFFICACY. THE OTHER THING WE'VE DONE IS DRAW A VERY BRIGHT LINE BETWEEN FDA AND THE REGULATORY INDEPENDENCE AND ALL THE SPONSORS PUTTING FORTH VACCINE APPLICATIONS TO US.

THAT INCLUDES OPERATION WARP SPEED. WE ARE PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SPONSORS BUT WE ARE NOT PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR REGULATORY INDEPENDENCE. I WILL NOT PREJUDGE, THE AGENCY WILL NOT PREJUDGE ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THIS. WE WILL USE THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA. WITH RESPECT TO WHAT I CAN DO PERSONALLY SEN. I COMMIT TO YOU THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE EMPHASIZING THE REGULATORY INDEPENDENCE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNICATIONS IN PROGRESS TO COMMUNICATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THE STANDARDS WE ARE GOING TO UPHOLD OUR FIRM, THEY ARE ROOTED IN SCIENCE AND DATA AND THAT THEY WILL ENSURE THAT WE MEET THE USUAL HIGH STANDARDS OF FDA WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY AND EFFICACY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH DR. AND I MIGHT CEMENT A QUESTION FOR THE RECORD TO DR. REDFIELD AS WELL BUT JUST SO I CAN GET MY SECOND QUESTION IN, TO THE ADMIRAL, ADM. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TESTING AND INSURANCE COVERAGE. TESTING AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE EMPHASIZED IN THIS HEARING, IT IS SO FUNDAMENTAL. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID- 19. HUNDREDS ACTED UPON THAT KNOWLEDGE BY MANDATING FULL COVERAGE OF COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC AND ANTIBODY TESTING BOTH IN THE FAMILIES FIRST BILL AS WELL AS THE CARE ACT.

WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT AMERICANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A DIME FOR A COVID-19 TEST. BUT WE ARE HEARING ALARMING REPORTS OF PEOPLE NOT BEING TESTED, OFTEN FOR ONE OF TWO REASONS. THEY ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TESTING AND PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TESTED ARE RECEIVING SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE THAT APPEARS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH CONGRESSIONAL INTENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE. SO WE HAD SOME CONFUSION HERE. I WOULD ASK YOU ADM., CAN YOU ENSURE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL FULFILL THE INTENT OF BOTH THE FAMILIES FIRST BILL AND THE CARES ACT AND ENSURE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE PROVIDED WIDE ACCESS TO COVID- 19 TESTS WITHOUT COST OR LIMITATION? >> THANK YOU SEN. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING AND ELIMINATING ANY BARRIERS THAT THERE COULD BE. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT I CERTAINLY SPEAK AS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND AS THE TESTING PERSON THAT WE FIRMLY BELIEVE AND SUPPORT , THE CONCEPT OF NO-COST TESTING. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A DISINCENTIVE IN ANY SINGLE WAY TO GET THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT YOU NEED TO GET TESTED DURING SCREENING OR FOR THE SEROLOGY TEST AS CONGRESS INTENDED SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE DO NEED TO KEEP GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE TO HAVE. >> THANK YOU ADM. AND THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN . >> THANK YOU SEN. CASEY. SEN. COLLINS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR WITNESSES TODAY FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. IT HAS REALLY BEEN IMPORTANT. THE CHAIRMAN RAISED SOME VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO PAYS FOR THE TESTING WHEN A PERSON HAS NO SYMPTOMS. AND NO KNOWN EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS. AND I WOULD ADD ANOTHER KEY QUESTION AND THAT IS HOW ARE SUCH TESTS EVEN ACCESSED? THESE ARE CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. UPON WHICH THE ECONOMY DEPENDS.

IN MAY FOR A TOURIST TO COME AND VISIT, THAT OUT-OF-STATE VISITOR, ONE OPTION IS TO SHOW A RECENT NEGATIVE COVID TEST. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN HOTEL OWNERS IN MAINE SURVEYED TESTING SITES IN 10 STATES, THEY FOUND THAT 90% OF REQUESTS FOR A TEST FOR TRAVEL PURPOSES WERE DENIED. NOW THIS LACK OF ACCESS TO TESTING IS DEVASTATING FOR REOPENING MAINS TOURISM BUSINESSES. ONE INNKEEPER TOLD ME THAT LAST YEAR IN THE MONTH OF JUNE SHE HAD HAD AN OCCUPANCY RATE OF 94% BUT THIS YEAR IT WAS 6%.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT AT THAT IN. GIVEN THE IMPACT ON REOPENING SCHOOLS AND ON JOBS IN THE TOURISM AND OTHER INDUSTRIES, HOW IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING WITH STATES TO BETTER MATCH DEMAND FOR TESTING WITH SUPPLY? AND TO OVERCOME THESE GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS, ADM. I DIRECT THAT QUESTION TO YOU. >> THANK YOU MA'AM AND I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF AND NOT TAKE MUCH OF YOUR TIME BUT WE WERE VERY CAREFUL IN OUR PRIORITIZATION THAT WE DO PRIORITIZE PERSONS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS WHO ARE PRIORITIZED BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR CLINICIANS FOR ANY REASON INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH MONITORING, SURVEILLANCE OR SCREENING OF OTHER A SYMPTOMATICALLY INDIVIDUALS ACCORDING TO STATE AND LOCAL PLANS. SO THAT IS A PRIORITY THAT IF IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE, THOSE ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS CAN BE SCREENED. THE SECOND ISSUE, JUST TO BE BRIEF, IS WE HAVE WORKED INDIVIDUALLY WITH EVERY SINGLE STATE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR STATE TESTING NEEDS ARE, HOW ARE THEY ORGANIZED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CDC, AND WE ARE SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED TO MEET THAT. SO EVERY WEEK SHIPMENTS OF THE BASIC SUPPLIES GO TO EVERY SINGLE STATE ACCORDING TO THEIR STATE TESTING PLANS AND WE KEEP A LITTLE BIT AND RESERVE RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS AN OUTBREAK SOMEWHERE THAT WE NEED A SURGE, WE DO HAVE THAT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THE STATE TESTING GOALS FOR JULY ARE SOMEWHERE ABOUT 13.9 MILLION TEST , THAT IS THE FIRST LINE GOAL AND WE WILL MATCH THOSE STATE TO STATE. >> I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US GET THAT WORD OUT TO TESTING SITES IN STATES FROM WHICH A LOT OF TOURISTS USUALLY COME TO MAINE, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US. DR. FAUCI LET ME TURN TO YOU, EARLIER THIS MONTH HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS IN MAINE ISSUED A FRAMEWORK FOR SAFELY RETURNING TO CAMPUSES THIS FALL. THAT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING AND THE NEED TO INCLUDE FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING INSTITUTIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS IN ORDER TO MAKE SUFFICIENT TESTING PROTOCOLS POSSIBLE. LAST WEEK YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF POOL TESTING STRATEGIES, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO BE TESTED USING FEWER RESOURCES, AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF STANFORD CLINICAL VIROLOGY LAB SUGGESTS THAT THIS MAKES PARTICULAR SENSE IN AREAS WITH LOW RATES OF COVID-19 WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT THE LARGE MAJORITY OF TESTS TO BE MADE THAT COULD YOU EXPAND ON THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING POOL TESTING AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT? >> YES AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION SEN., WHAT THAT REALLY IS, IF YOU WANT TO GET A FEEL FOR THE PENETRANCE OF INFECTION IN A COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN TESTING MULTIPLE EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON WHICH TAKES RESOURCES AND TIME, WHAT YOU DO, AND YOU CAN DO A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS NOT LOSING SENSITIVITY BY POOLING LET'S SAY 10 OR 15 OR FIVE TOGETHER, SO YOU PUT ALL THESE TESTS TOGETHER AND DO ONE TEST.

IF THAT TEST IS NEGATIVE THEN YOU KNOW THOSE 10 PEOPLE ARE ALL NEGATIVE. SO INSTEAD OF UTILIZING 10 TESTS YOU TO UTILIZE ONE TEST AND THEN YOU GET ANOTHER BATCH OF THE SAY 10 OR SO AND IF YOU FIND ONE IS POSITIVE THEN YOU GO BACK TRACK AND FIGURE OUT WHO THAT PERSON IS. IF YOU DO THE MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF RESOURCES AND USE THE TESTING FOR A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS YOU WOULD NEED. IT'S A REALLY GOOD TOOL THAT CAN BE USED IN ANY OF A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND EVEN IN SCHOOLS IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT. SO WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR COMMENT OFF, IT CLEARLY COULD BE EXTRAPOLATED TO THAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCELLENT TECHNIQUE FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO USE. >> INC. YOU SEN. COLLINS. SEN. BALDWIN? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR WITNESSES TODAY FOR JOINING US. LIKE SO MANY MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NEW OUTBREAKS AND INCREASING CASES AND CERTAINLY I'VE SEEN THEM IN MY HOME STATE OF WISCONSIN AND I KNOW WE ARE SEEING THAT NATIONALLY.

AT CDC, AND OSHA THEY'VE ISSUED RECOMMENDED SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES AND THIS GUIDANCE IS NOT ENFORCEABLE. MANY BUSINESSES ARE TRULY TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN PROTECTING WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS, SO WE ALSO HAD A PREVIOUS DISCUSSION I THINK , SEN. SANDERS RAISED THE ISSUE OF AMERICAN AIRLINES FILLING UP THEIR PLANES AND SOME OTHERS THAT ARE STILL NOT TRYING TO DO SO BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

WE ALSO HAD ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR WHO PULLED UP WHAT HE CALLED CRITICAL GUIDANCE, PLEASE FOLLOW THIS CRITICAL GUIDANCE. DR. REDFIELD, SHOULD WE BE SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS BY FULLY IMPLEMENTING CDC AND OSHA'S RECOMMENDED SAFETY GUIDANCE? YES OR NO? >> YES. WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THOSE BUSINESSES. >> NOW CAN YOU CONFIRM, YES OR NO, THAT ALL BUSINESSES HAVE ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED THIS GUIDANCE AS THEY'VE OPENED UP? >> I THINK SEN. YOU KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. >> SO IT IS AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD AND IT HURTS BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY VOLUNTARILY ADOPTING CDC AND OSHA SAFETY GUIDELINES, BECAUSE THEIR COMPETITORS DON'T HAVE TO INCUR THE SAME SAFETY AND HEALTH COST. AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE GOOD ACTORS THEN SHOULDN'T WE CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD BY ISSUING AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD TO REQUIRE ALL BUSINESSES TO ADOPT AND COMPLY WITH ENFORCEABLE SAFETY STANDARDS? >> TO COMMENTS SEN., THE FIRST ONE IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO SAY, THIS IS A TIME THAT EVERYONE IN THE NATION EXCEPTS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT DR.

FAUCI AND I SPOKE ABOUT TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY NOT JUST TO PROTECT HIMSELF BUT TO PROTECT OTHERS. BY SOCIAL DISTANCING, FACEMASKS AND HANDWASHING. SECONDLY, AGAIN AS WE LOOK AT THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, TO SEE WHERE IN FACT THAT ENFORCEABILITY WOULD BE, WHETHER IT IS IN THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE FEDERAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I THINK AGAIN WE SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN GET BEHIND THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THAT RESPONSIBILITY MAY FIND IN FACT THEIR BUSINESS IS BETTER THAN BUSINESSES THAT DON'T. >> I WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, AND I APOLOGIZE DR. REDFIELD, BUT MY TIME IS LIMITED. THE PANEL RIGHT NOW IS COMPOSED OF PEOPLE REPRESENTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS. OSHA IS OUR LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY FOR PROTECTING WORKERS SAFETY AND HEALTH. HAVE YOU HAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND OSHA ABOUT ISSUING MANDATORY ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS RATHER THAN THIS VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE? >> SECRETARY SCALIA IS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE AND HE IS IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH US, THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT CHAIRS, THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION DIRECTLY BUT WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS IN REVIEW OF THE GUIDANCE THAT WAS PUT TO BUSINESSES, BOTH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND NONCRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE BUSINESSES WITH OSHA.

>> SO, I HAVE LIMITED TIME LEFT BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE REOPENING FOR CLASSES IN THE FALL, THEY RELEASED A PLAN CALLED SMART RESTART AND IT CALLS FOR ABOUT 2000 TESTS PER WEEK ON CAMPUS. THEY WILL NEED SUPPLIES TO DO THIS INCLUDING PPE, AND EVERY HEARING ON COVID- 19 WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SHORTAGES OF THE SUPPLIES. THAT IS WHY I INTRODUCED THE MEDICAL SUPPLY TRANSPARENCY AND DELIVERY ACT TO UNLOCK THE FULL AUTHORITY OF THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF CRITICAL SUPPLIES, THE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED TO CONDUCT WIDESPREAD TESTING. ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE TESTING IN THE FALL? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH SEN., AND I WANT TO COMMUNICATE THIS AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANY UNIVERSITY, WE COORDINATE WHAT WE GIVE TO THE STATES THROUGH THE STATE PLAN.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT UNIVERSITIES COORDINATE THROUGH THE STATES AND WE SUPPLY THOSE MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN THE STATE, WHO DISTRIBUTES THEM. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SWABS NOW. PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF INCREASED DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, AND WE ARE DISTRIBUTING ABOUT 20 MILLION SWABS PER MONTH. >> — >> REAGENTS WE DO NOT PURCHASE CENTRALLY BECAUSE THE MARKET IS A LITTLE BIT MORE MATURE SO WE CAN TRUST WITH AN ALLOCATION STRATEGY THAT WE ALLOCATE, WE SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION TO DIFFERENT STATES DEPENDING ON THEIR NEEDS SO WE HAVE MAPPED EVERY SINGLE MACHINE AND EVERY SINGLE STATE AND COUNTY AND CITY AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY IF THEY WANT THAT CAN GET IT. SO WE REALLY DO A MATCHING GAME TO UNDERSTAND SPECIFIC NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE IN ALASKA IT IS VERY RURAL AND THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT THEY HAVE SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED VERSUS OTHER STATES THAT CAN BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE. >> I'M AFRAID WE ARE WELL OVER TIME AND WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SENATORS WHO WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS SO I WOULD RENEW MY REQUEST THAT SENATORS AND WITNESSES TRIED TO KEEP THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THEM, WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.

SEN. CASSIDY? >> THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES, CAN I ASK THE STAFF TO SHOW THE FIRST TWO SLIDES? SO HERE IN SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING POORLY RELATIVELY TO COUNTRIES THAT ARE DOING IT BEST AND YOU CAN ARGUE THAT TAIWAN IS MUCH SMALLER THAN WE BUT TAIPEI IS A VERY CONGESTED CITY SO IF YOU CONSIDER OUR CITIES JUST A COLLECTION OF TAIPEI'S FOR EXAMPLE, THEN IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING IS LESS ROBUST AND WHATEVER ADJECTIVE YOU WANT TO USE THAN COUNTRIES THAT ARE DOING IT BEST. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS IS DEVELOPED OUT OF A GROUP AT HARVARD, AND THEY WILL BE SPEAKING AT A ROUNDTABLE THURSDAY MORNING AND YOU CAN GET DETAILS FROM MY OFFICE IF YOU WISH. BUT KIND OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN COLLECTING, DURING THE TESTING, TRACING THOSE AND COMPILING YOUR DATA, KNOWING WHERE THE HOTSPOTS ARE AND TRACING, AND EVERYONE ON THIS PANEL KNOWS THAT THIS IS DONE AND YOU MENTION YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A STRATEGY COMING OUT LATER ON. IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION WHY HAS IT BEEN SO LONG AND I'M NOT ACCUSING I'M JUST CURIOUS.

BUT THIS HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED, YOU CAN TAKE THE SLIDE DOWN PLEASE, SO KNOWING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY AND KIND OF BUILD UPON WHAT SEN. BURR MENTIONED, WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE STRATEGY, IS THE GOAL OF THE STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE SUPPRESSION? THAT'S NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, WHAT METRICS WILL YOU USE AND KNOWING THAT CDC IS THE ONE WHO REALLY GIVES GUIDANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, I'M HOPING DR. REDFIELD THAT IT WON'T BE UP TO THE STATES AND LOCALS WHO PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER BUT IT WILL BE THE CONSIDERABLE INTELLECTUAL FIREPOWER OF THE CDC AND GIVE A PRETTY DETAILED, IF YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY THIS IS WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT IS WHAT YOU DO, BECAUSE THAT IS THE KIND OF ROLE CDC IS EXPECTED TO PLAY.

DR. REDFIELD ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH SEN., A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. ON YOUR FIRST SLIDE AS A QUICK COMMENT AND I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK, I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES ILLUSTRATE BACK TO THE COMMENTS THAT WE TRIED TO MAKE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REALLY PRACTICE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING . >> AND DR.

REDFIELD I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GO QUICKLY BECAUSE I LIMITED TIME, THAT'S A GIVEN BUT THERE HAS TO BE A TESTING ASPECT TO THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T, YOU AWAKEN THEM TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY KNOW THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED BUT IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED THEY TEND TO BE MORE COMPLACENT SO PLEASE FOCUS UPON THE TESTING DATA AND TRACKING . >> YES SEN., INITIALLY OBVIOUSLY, EARLY CASE IDENTIFICATION AND CONTACT TRACING AND ISOLATION, OBVIOUSLY TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING WITHOUT ISOLATION HAS LITTLE VALUE. THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN WHEN WE LEARNED IN MARCH THAT THIS VIRUS IS SIGNIFICANTLY SYMPTOMATICALLY TRANSMISSIBLE, THEN THEREFORE REQUIRING ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES, THE STRATEGY THAT WE ARE EVALUATING NOW IS MORE OF A COMMUNITY LED TESTING STRATEGY WHERE YOU GO INTO A BROADER COMMUNITY AND ACTUALLY TEST A WIDER NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AS OPPOSED TO >> BUT DO YOU HAVE METRICS THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING AND IS THERE SPECIFIC STRATEGY THAT IS GOING TO BE GIVEN TO STATE AND LOCALS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS? AT THE VERY HIGH LEVELS WHAT WE NEED IS GRANULARITY AND THAT IS MY QUESTION.

>> WE DID THE INITIAL STRATEGY AS WE SAID AND WE ARE EVALUATING THIS COMMUNITY TEST LEAD STRATEGY IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES NOW. THE METRICS ARE SIMPLE, IT'S THE PERCENT CASES THAT ARE POSITIVE, WE WERE DOING WELL THERE FOR A WHILE. >> SORRY TO INTERRUPT BUT IF YOU TAKE THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS OR SHREVEPORT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME THAT ARE HOTSPOTS AND SOME THAT ARE REALLY FAIRLY SAFE. SO I GUESS I'M POINTING TO THE GRANULARITY, SHOULD THERE BE A CENSUS TRACT, SHOULD IT BE A HOTSPOT, A BUILDING WITH MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, ETC., BECAUSE WHEN I — THEY ARE NOT GETTING THAT GRANULARITY FROM CDC. THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE WE GET TO WHERE SEOUL SOUTH KOREA IS AND I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING .

>> WE ARE SHARING RIGHT NOW AT THE COUNTY LEVEL THE EXACT KINETICS AND WE HAVE ABOUT 130 COUNTIES OUT OF MORE THAN 3000 THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE AND CONTINUING TO GET THE GRANULARITY AND I THINK YOU SAID IT SEN., IT'S CRITICAL AND GOING TO BE A VERY LOCAL FOCUSED RESPONSE AT THE GRANULAR LEVEL. >> BUT DR. REDFIELD WE HAVE THAT GRANULARITY? WE'VE BEEN OUT THIS FOR THREE MONTHS AND WE HAVE ALL THIS DATA AND WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE LIVE WHO WERE TESTED, WE HAVE A FEDERATED SYSTEM WHICH YOU ALLUDE TO EARLIER AND IS THE PLAN COMING OUT TONIGHT THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT GRANULARITY, AND MR.

CHAIRMAN IF YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR AN ANSWER I APOLOGIZE. >> MY COMMENT WOULD BE THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THAT GRANULARITY AND WE APPRECIATE SOME OF THE CHANGES IN REPORTING TO THE CDC IN TERMS OF TESTING THAT CONGRESS RECENTLY DID. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT THE GRANULAR LEVEL AND WE DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE BEHIND IT, IT'S THAT GRANULAR RESPONSE TO CONTROL AS MANY OUTBREAKS WHICH IS GOING TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL. >> THANK YOU SEN. CASSIDY. SEN. MURPHY? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN IF THIS WERE THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE RECOMMENDATION AND GUIDELINES BEING GIVEN BY OUR PANELISTS TODAY, WE WOULD LIKELY NOT BE IN THE SITUATION WE ARE WITH A VIRUS BACK ON THE MARCH SPREADING AT RAPID RATES THROUGHOUT BIG PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE PROBLEM IS OUR FOUR PANELISTS DO NOT SET THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOES. SO WHILE OUR PANELISTS TELL US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING MASKS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS RE- TWEETING ARTICLES FOR EXAMPLE ENTITLED MANDATORY MASKS ARE NOT ABOUT SAFETY, THEY ARE ABOUT SOCIAL CONTROL.

HE RETWEETS PEOPLE THAT ARE CRITICIZING HOW FOLKS LOOK WHEN THEY WEAR MASKS. THOUGH OUR PANELISTS TODAY ARE TELLING US ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS HOLDING RALLIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HE DELIBERATELY PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM DISTANCING. HIS STAFF RIPS SIGNS OFF OF CHAIRS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER. THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ALLIES ARE OUT THERE ON TV EVERY DAY SAYING THAT WEARING MASKS ARE DEHUMANIZING.

SOMEBODY SAID THE OTHER DAY, A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, THAT VIRUSES DO WHAT VIRUSES DO IN THE ONLY WAY YOU GET IMMUNITY IS TO GET EXPOSED, THESE ARE THE PRESIDENT'S ALLIES TRYING TO CURRY FAVOR WITH HIM. SO WE HAVE THESE TWO PARALLEL MESSAGING OPERATIONS AND I JUST THINK IT IS WORTH STIPULATING THAT EVERYTHING WE ARE HEARING TODAY IS RESPONSIBLE AND BASED ON EVIDENCE, BUT THE AGENCIES REPRESENTED HERE TODAY HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWINGS OF ABOUT 5 MILLION PEOPLE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS A FOLLOWING OF 82 MILLION. SO, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY FOLKS ARE CONFUSED OUT THERE. THEY HEAR THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DR. FAUCI AND DR. REDFIELD BUT THEN THEY HEAR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CRITICIZING A REPORTER FOR WEARING A MASK BECAUSE THAT REPORTER IS BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT. % CORRECT.,, THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN THE POSITION WE ARE IN TODAY WHERE YOU SEE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE NOT COMPLYING WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE HEARING SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THEY ARE WATCHING HIM BEHAVE IN A MANNER AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT IS DIRECTLY CONTRARY TO WHAT WE ARE BEING TOLD TODAY.

IT JUST PROBABLY REQUIRES SAYING THAT OUT LOUD AT THIS HEARING. LET ME ASK A FEW QUESTIONS MR. CHAIRMAN IF I CAN ABOUT GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T COVERED THAT HERE YET TODAY. DR. FOUND SHE THIS VIRUS GOT HERE VERY QUICKLY , AND WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS CAN HELP OR GIVE YOU TIME BUT THEY CAN'T FULLY PREVENT A DISEASE FROM ARRIVING HERE. SO EVEN IF WE DO TURN THE CORNER IN THE UNITED STATES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, SO LONG AS THE VIRUS EXISTS IN LARGE QUANTITIES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WE ARE STILL VULNERABLE. IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT SIR. >> SO DR. REDFIELD, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT JOINED THE GLOBAL VACCINE EFFORT, WHY ARE WE NOT IN SOMETHING LIKE –, AN ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH OTHER NATIONS TO TRY TO COORDINATE NOT ONLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VACCINE BUT ALSO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE? >> I THINK THE US IS OBVIOUSLY DEVELOPING AN AGGRESSIVE COMPETENCE OF PROGRAM BUT SEN.

IT WOULDN'T PRECLUDE BEING PART OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ALSO. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE LEGISLATION PENDING RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE THAT WOULD PUT THE UNITED STATES INTO THESE GLOBAL VACCINE EFFORTS BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO MANY OF US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AS TO WHY THE TRUMPET MINISTRATION HAS NOT JOINED. AND FINALLY, ADM., JUST MAYBE HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WHO IS TODAY RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THAT THE PRESIDENT DECLARED THAT WE WERE PULLING OUT OF THE WHO, NOT THAT WE WEREN'T JUST GOING TO FUND IT BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEVER A RELATIONSHIP WITH IT, YOU WERE CONFIRMED AS A SEAT ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

HAVE YOU BEEN RECALLED FROM THE WHO? ARE YOU ATTENDING MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATING? WHAT ARE THE DETAILS SURROUNDING OUR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WHO WHICH BY THE WAY, , IS MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS IN MY OPINION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HIS DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. WHAT IS OUR STATUS AND WHAT IS YOUR STATUS AS A CONFIRMED MEMBER OF THAT BOARD? >> THANK YOU SEN. AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE CONFIRMATION, I WAS CONFIRMED ON MAY 7 AND I DID ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON MAY 22. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WAS VIRTUAL, TO SUPPORT OUR MULTILATERAL COMMITMENT. I HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY DIRECTION TO RECALL MYSELF IN ANY WAY, THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING PROBABLY IN OCTOBER AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US ON OUR PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS STILL WORK WITH THE WHO, AS A PARTNER FOR EXAMPLE WE PARTICIPATE WITH THE WHO ON A GLOBAL AL,, SICKLE-CELL MEETING TWO DAYS AGO, SO WE CERTAINLY WORK FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT DIRECTION ON THE OFFICIAL WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO BE A MEMBER OR WHETHER I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, I HAVEN'T GOT THAT DIRECTION YET.

>> THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WERE TERMINATING OUR RELATIONSHIP TO WHO, PROBABLY REQUIRES SOME ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SEN. MURPHY, SEN. MURKOWSKI? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY BUT ALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. I THINK I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH ONE OF YOU ABOUT THE ALASKA SPECIFIC ISSUES, MOST NOTABLY WITH REGARDS TO OUR SEAFOOD PROCESSING, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE TYPICALLY WELCOME 1 MILLION+ TOURISTS AS WELL AS MANY THOUSANDS THAT COME UP FROM THE LOWER 48 AND OTHER PLACES TO HELP WITH SEAFOOD PROCESSING. AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY ANXIOUS TIME I THINK FOR ALL OF US IN ALASKA AS WE SEE OUTSIDERS COMING IN, WE HAVE SEEN OBVIOUSLY ELEVATED CASES OF CONFIRMED COVID, OUR NUMBERS, I THINK, ARE ENVIABLE WHEN OTHER STATES LOOK AT US TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ABOUT 500 ACTIVE CASES RIGHT NOW, ABOUT DOUBLE THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC.

, BUT, AGAIN, WE KNOW AND YOU HAVE STATED THAT WE DON'T HAVE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN LOOK TO TO NEIGHBORING STATES, WE ARE KIND OF ON OUR OWN ISLAND THERE IN TERMS OF RESOURCING. SO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP FACILITATE, WHETHER IT IS THE PLANS FOR THE SEAFOOD PROCESSORS AND THE GUIDANCE, THE ABILITY TO COME IN ON AN AS NEEDED, IF THE SITUATION DEMANDS, WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE SEEN THE BENEFIT OF HOW THESE VERY RIGOROUS PLANS HAVE WORKED. AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COMES UP TO WORK IN A SEAFOOD PROCESSING FACILITY IS TESTED BEFORE THEY COME TO THE STATE, THEY ARE TESTED WHEN THEY GET TO THE STATE, THEY ARE PUT IN A 14 DAY QUARANTINE AND WE HAVE SEEN POSITIVE CASES ONCE PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT THE PLAN CALLS FOR WHICH ,, IS THAT CONTACT TRACING AND ISOLATION AND KEEPING THINGS TO A MINIMUM. SO I THINK IT DOES DEMONSTRATE THAT THESE HEALTH PLANS REALLY CAN WORK. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE THOUGH. IF YOU ARE BRINGING IN SEVERAL HUNDRED OR PERHAPS 1000 WORKERS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM UP IN A HOTEL FOR 14 DAYS, WITH PAY, WHEN YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH PROTOCOLS, THIS IS COSTLY.

I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR INPUT AND PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR THE RECORD IN TERMS OF WHICH AGENCIES CAN BEST HELP FACILITATE THESE SEAFOOD PROCESSORS WITH NOT ONLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE BUT HOW WE CAN BE DEALING WITH THE COST. WE DO RECEIVE SOME BENEFIT FROM THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS PROVIDED TO THE STATES WHAT I THINK WE WOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THAT LIKE ,, THE MEATPACKING FACILITIES, OUR SEAFOOD PROCESSORS ARE AN IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL INDUSTRY NOT ONLY TO ALASKA BUT TO THE COUNTRY. SO WE WANT TO WORK TO ADDRESS THAT. I DO WANT TO SPEAK VERY QUICKLY THOUGH, TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE. I AM TOLD THAT IN ALASKA AS WE ARE DOING OUR CONTRACT TRACING IT IS STILL A PAPER COPY, EXCEL SPREADSHEET FAXED TO THE EPIDEMIOLOGY LABS, THIS IS HOW WE ARE DOING OUR TRACING. I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT IS JUST ALASKA AND I'M TOLD BY DR. ZINK WHO YOU'VE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL.

THAT TO ME IS NOT A CONTACT TRACING SYSTEM. NOT ONE THAT WORKS AND IS EFFICIENT. SO I WANT TO ASK ABOUT NOT ONLY YOUR VIEW OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF CONTACT TRACING, AND THIS IS PROBABLY FOR YOU DR. REDFIELD, BUT THEN DR. FAUCI I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE WITH CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE PUBLIC MISS TRUCK JUST — MISTRUST OF VACCINES IN GENERAL. MY FEAR IS THAT WE MAY GET TO THE PLACE WHERE, WE WILL GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THAT SUCCESSFUL VACCINE BUT WE STILL HAVE THE CONCERN OF MANY AND A MISTRUST IN WEATHER ,, IT IS VACCINE HESITATION OR VACCINE CONFIDENCE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUZZWORD IS BUT I'M WORRIED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO FIRST CONTACT TRACING AND THEN THE VACCINE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH SEN. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF DATA SYSTEMS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT THEY REALLY ARE IN NEED OF AGGRESSIVE MODERNIZATION AND AGAIN WE THANK CONGRESS FOR THE FUNDING THERE BUT IT IS A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COUNTIES STILL DOING THIS PEN AND PENCIL AS YOU COMMENTED AND WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SYSTEM THAT IS NOT ONLY ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IN REAL TIME BUT ACTUALLY CAN BE PREDICTIVE. IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE GREAT I THINK INVESTMENTS OF OUR TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN ONCE AND FOR ALL. AND THAT IS REALLY FUNDAMENTAL, TO BE ABLE TO OPERATIONALIZE CONTACT TRACING, CONTACT TRACING IN THIS CASE AND I'LL BE VERY QUICK REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY VALUE UNLESS YOU CAN DO IT IN REAL TIME. IT DOESN'T HELP ,, , LIKE I JUST DID FOR THE AIRLINES, WHERE WE HAD PEOPLE FLYING FROM AFGHANISTAN BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION UNTIL DAY 14 OR 15 OR 16, IT'S IRRELEVANT.

SO AGAIN WE LOVE THE PARTNERSHIP TO GET AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SYSTEM NOT JUST FOR CDC BUT FOR ALL OF OUR JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE NATION. INTO ONE TIMELY INTEGRATED SYSTEM. >> SEN. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, >> IF YOU CAN BE SO SYNCED WE ARE OVERTIME . >> WILL BE QUICK. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT IS EMBEDDED WITH IN THE SITES WHERE THE VACCINE TRIALS WILL BE DONE BECAUSE WE ARE THOROUGHLY AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND IT IS A REALITY. A LACK OF TRUST OF AUTHORITY, A LACK OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, AND THE CONCERN ABOUT VACCINES IN GENERAL. WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY BY BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND GETTING COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE POPULATIONS THAT HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN TREATED FAIRLY BY THE GOVERNMENT. MINORITY POPULATIONS, AFRICAN- AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, AND WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY OPERABLE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. >>> THANK YOU SEN. MURKOWSKI, SEN. WARREN? VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. DR. FAUCI YOU CAME BEFORE THE HEALTH COMMITTEE SEVEN WEEKS AGO. TO DISCUSS THE COUNTRY'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19. AT THE TIME YOU TOLD ME THAT THE U.S. DID NOT HAVE, BY ANY MEANS HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OF THIS OUTBREAK. BUT YOU ALSO TOLD ME, WE WERE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ON THE DAY YOU TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, MAY 12, 2020, THERE WERE ABOUT 21,000 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS. YESTERDAY, THEY WERE ABOUT 40,000 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS. DR. FAUCI, DO THESE NUMBERS SHOW THE COUNTRY IS, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS UNDER CONTROL? >> I THINK THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DOING WELL, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY IN THE FOUR STATES THAT ARE ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 50% OF THE NEW INFECTIONS. BUT THE OTHER VULNERABLE STATES , I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURVES OF THE NEW CASES. WE REALLY GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND WE NEED TO DO IT QUICKLY. SHORT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS, CLEARLY WE ARE NOT IN TOTAL CONTROL RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CASE NUMBERS ARE GETTING WORSE AND THE DEATH RATES WILL GET WORSE. DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, SOME OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CONTROL THE VIRUS. THEY ARE REPORTING FEWER CASES EACH DAY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TARGETED TESTING . AND TO KEEP IT UP SO THEY CAN TELL WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND FOLLOW-UP, IF THERE IS AN OUTBREAK. IN OTHER WORDS, CONTROLLING THE CORONAVIRUS CAN BE DONE. BUT BECAUSE OF BAD FEDERAL LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. DR. FAUCI, THE LAST TIME YOU ARE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE YOU TOLD ME THAT IF THE U.S. DID NOT HAVE QUOTE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE , THAT THE COUNTRY WOULD, HAVE CONSEQUENCES OF MORE INFECTIONS AND MORE DEATHS. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS. HALF MEASURES WILL NOT SAVE LIVES.

DR. FAUCI I'M ASKING YOU TO BE FORWARD ON ALYSSA. IF WE DON'T IMPLEMENT THE PRACTICES THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO AGREE WE NEED, CAN WE EXPECT A SPIKE IN AFFECTION TO KEEP HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY? >> THANK YOU SENATOR I AM ALWAYS DIRECT WITH YOU. AND I WILL TELL YOU A DIRECT ANSWER. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE FILM CLIPS YOU HAVE SEEN OF PEOPLE CONGREGATING, OFTEN WITHOUT MASKS, OF BEING IN CROWDS AND JUMPING OVER AND AVOIDING AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GUIDELINES THAT WE VERY CAREFULLY PUT OUT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF HEART, IF THAT IS NOT STOP.

>> IF WE DO NOT GET OUR ACT TOGETHER, NORMAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL SEE THESE DANGEROUS SURGES OF COVID- 19. DR. FAUCI BACK IN MARCH YOU ALSO SAID, LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW , YOU EXPECTED THERE TO BE BETWEEN 100,000 AND 200,000 CORONAVIRUS DEATHS. AND MILLIONS OF INFECTIONS IN THE U.S. IN THE U.S. LET'S FLASH FORWARD TOO LATE JUNE. HERE WE ARE. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN 126,000 DEATHS WITH INFECTION RATES RISING RAPIDLY. DR. FAUCI, BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW , HOW MANY COVID-19 DEATHS AND INFECTIONS SHOULD AMERICA EXPECT BEFORE THIS IS ALL OVER? >> I CANNOT MAKE AN ACCURATE PREDICTION.

BUT IT WILL BE VERY DISTURBING, I WILL GUARANTEE YOU THAT. WHEN YOU HAVE AN OUTBREAK IN ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THEY ARE DOING WELL, THEY ARE VULNERABLE. I MADE THAT POINT VERY CLEARLY LAST WEEK AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. WE CANNOT JUST FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE HAVING THE SURGE. IT PUTS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AT RISK. WE ARE NOW HAVING 40+ THOUSAND NEW CASES A DAY. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE GO UP TO 100,000 A DAY IF THIS DOES NOT TURN AROUND.

SO I AM VERY CONCERNED. >> CAN YOU MAKE ANY KIND OF ESTIMATE ON WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OVERALL ON THE NUMBER OF DEATHS BEFORE THIS IS OVER? YOU MADE AN ESTIMATE IN MARCH BETWEEN 100,000 AND 200,000. BUT WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION NOW AND WE ARE ALREADY AT 126,000 DEATHS. >> I CANNOT MAKE AN ESTIMATION BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MODELED OUT. WHEN MODELS ARE DONE, THAT IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL NUMBERS CAME FROM, SENATOR. AS I SAID VERY OFTEN, MODELS ARE AS GOOD AS THE ASSUMPTIONS YOU PUT INTO THE MODEL. AND THOSE ASSUMPTIONS OFTEN CHANGE DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE RESPONSE IS. I WOULD REALLY BE HESITANT TO GIVE A NUMBER THAT WILL COME BACK AND EITHER BE CONTRADICTED OR OVERBLOWN OR UNDER BLOWN. THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT COULD GET VERY BAD. >> ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT DR. FAUCI. WE ALL WANT — I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES — >> YOUR TIME IS UP SENATOR WARREN.

I HAVE BEEN JUST AS FAIR TO YOU AS I HAVE BEEN — SENATOR WARREN. I ALWAYS TREAT YOU FAIRLY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTING THE CHAIRMAN'S RULES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT, DO IT. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONING MY FAIRNESS AND PRESIDING OVER THE HEARING. >> BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE, YOU ARE ALLOWING MORE TIME. >> WHEN YOU ARE CHAIRMAN YOU CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE CANNOT KEEP PRETENDING THIS VIRUS IS GETTING BETTER WHEN IT IS NOT.

THAT IS HOW WE ENDED UP WITH SITUATIONS LIKE IN TEXAS. RACING TO REOPEN TO SIN AND SCRAMBLING TO CLOSE DOWN BEFORE THE HOSPITALS GET COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. IF WE DON'T GET OUR ACT TOGETHER, THIS IS OUR FUTURE. SEESAWING BETWEEN TWO FEW RESTRICTIONS AND EXPLODING CASES AND REPEATED SHUTDOWNS. IN THIS FUTURE, THOUSANDS MORE AMERICANS WILL DIE AND OUR ECONOMY WILL BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES. WE HAVE TO HAVE A NATIONAL STRATEGY THAT MAKES TESTING AVAILABLE TO ANYWHERE WHERE AMERICANS COME TOGETHER. WE NEED TO EXPAND CONTACT TRACING AND WE NEED LEADERS, STARTING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO HAVE YET TO FACE REALITY, DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES, SET STANDARDS AND STICK TO THEM. IF WE DO NOT, THE RESULT IS GOING TO BE MORE ECONOMIC WRECKAGE AND MORE DEATH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. WHAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO IN THIS HEARING IS TO ASK SENATORS TO STAY WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. AND THE ANSWERS WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. IF THE ANSWERS GO BEYOND THAT, I HAVE TRIED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT. BUT I WOULD ASK SENATORS NOT TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS INTO WELL PAST FIVE MINUTES AND EXPECT TO MAKE A SPEECH AT THE END.

SENATOR SCOTT. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WILL CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR TIME LIMITS. I THINK WE ALL SHOULD DO THAT. FRANKLY, AS WE ARE ASKING DR. FAUCI FOR AN ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MANY LIVES MAY BE LOST, I BELIEVE THE FIRST ESTIMATES WERE BETWEEN 1 MILLION AND 1,000,001.4 MILLION. PERHAPS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR WHERE WE ARE NOW , AND FORCE OURSELVES TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT CONTINUING TO FLATTEN THE CURVE IS BECAUSE THE ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH IS EFFECTIVE. WE JUST NEED AS MUCH COOPERATION FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS CONCEIVABLY POSSIBLE IN EVERY STATE AROUND THE COUNTRY IN ORDER FOR US TO SEE THESE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS OPPOSED TO SPIKE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

I THINK ABOUT THE OPERATIONS WARP SPEED ALONG WITH THE CRUCIAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND ACCELERATING GROUND BREAKING TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD ERADICATE COVID- 19 AND REVOLUTIONIZED FRANKLY THE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE. BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS BY INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA AND GOVERNMENT, WORKING IN CONCERT, WE COULD SEE A VIABLE CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATES IN A MATTER OF MONTHS FOR A VACCINE. THE CAUSE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF LARGE-SCALE MANUFACTURING AGREEMENTS WITH COMPANIES, PRODUCING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ACCESS . THIS IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR MOST DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES. THAT SAID, EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF WIDESPREAD ACCESS WHILE ESSENTIAL ARE ONLY PART OF THE EQUATION. IF AND WHEN, I FEEL OPTIMISTIC IT IS WHEN, WE GET A VIABLE VACCINE, WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHOOSE TO GET VACCINATED. I WAS REALLY CONCERNED WHEN I SAW A RECENT AP SURVEY THAT SHOWED THAT ONLY 49% OF AMERICAN ADULTS PLAN TO GET VACCINATED ONCE THE COVID- 19 VACCINE CAME TO MARKET. A FULL 20%, SAID THEY DID NOT PLAN TO GET VACCINATED AND ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS WERE NOT SURE.

GIVEN THE PUBLIC'S RECENT AND VITAL FOCUS ON HEALTH DISPARITIES, IT IS WORTH NOTING, THAT AMONG CERTAIN GROUPS, THESE FIGURES ARE EITHER MORE ALARMING. 25% OF BLACK AMERICANS, 37% OF HISPANIC AMERICANS PLAN TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS. MY QUESTION TO THE FULL PANEL, WHAT STEPS CAN WE TAKE AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR COME WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE A PROACTIVE, EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND OUTREACH STRATEGY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED BOTH FOR COVID-19 AND FRANKLY EVEN MORE BROADLY? >> I WILL TAKE A SHOT AT IT FIRST, SENATOR. IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER QUESTION , THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY OPERATES OUT OF OPERATION WARP SPEED THE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM COMPONENT OF THAT. ALSO THERE NEEDS TO BE ENGAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO THE COMMUNITY TRUST. PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOTED SPORTS FIGURES OR WHOMEVER.

WHEN WE WERE INVOLVED AND CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN IMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH HIV, WE USED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO GO OUT, WHO LOOKED AND LIVED AND ARE LIKE THE PEOPLE THEY ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE. IT IS VERY CRITICAL. I SHARE WITH YOU THE CONCERN THAT WE GET TO THE HOOP AND GET THROUGH IT WITH A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE, ONLY TO FIND THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION DO NOT WANT TO GET VACCINATED. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THAT PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT GENERALLY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE SENSE OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES. AFRICAN- AMERICANS, LATINO, NATIVE AMERICANS, WHO IN FACT BECAUSE OF UNDERLYING CONDITIONS MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT IF THEY DO GET INFECTED, THEY WOULD HAVE A POOR OUTCOME.

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IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE THEM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER DR. FAUCI. LET ME CLOSE WITH MY 40 SECONDS I HAVE LEFT AND RESPECTING THE TIME AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. THE PANDEMIC HAS TRIGGERED A DROP OF 60%-80% OF IMMUNIZATION RATES AMONG CHILDREN. AND EVEN NOW THAT STATES ARE REOPENING, WE ARE NOT SEEING THE REBOUND IN THE RATES NECESSARY. THIS CREATES A REAL RISK OF SECONDARY INFECTIONS AND DISEASE OUTBREAK THAT ARE NOT ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S RADAR AS WE RECKON WITH THE CHIEF CRISIS AT HAND. I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW YOUR STRATEGY AS IT RELATES TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PERHAPS PEOPLE OF NOTORIETY TO CHALLENGE US TO GET INVOLVED AND TAKING VACCINES.

THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING FOUR SECONDS OVER MY TIME. >> THANK YOU SENATOR SCOTT FOR RESPECTING THE TIME. WE HAVE EIGHT SENATORS REMAINING THAT HAVE QUESTIONS AND WE SHOULD HAVE TIME FOR ALL OF THEM TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK A QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. DR. FAUCI US ON INTERVIEW WITH YOU LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT A CONCERN THAT THERE IS TWO SIZABLE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT DOES NOT LIKE SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS AND ADVICE FROM SCIENTISTS. I HEAR EMOTION IN YOUR VOICE AS YOU EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE GATHERING IN LARGE GROUPS AND WITHOUT MASKS. I GATHER THAT IS THE KIND OF ANTI- SCIENCE CONCERNED THAT YOU WILL WORRY ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT INTERVIEW LAST WEEK.

>> THAT IS PART OF IT, SENATOR. BECAUSE OF THE DISREGARD OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME FROM AUTHORITIES, ONLY BECAUSE IT IS A RECOMMENDATION. I THINK THE ATTITUDE OF PUSHING BACK FROM AUTHORITY AND PUSHING BACK ON SCIENTIFIC DATA IS VERY CONCERNING. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CATASTROPHIC OUTBREAK AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE GUIDED BY SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. >> THIS COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD IF WE GET TO A VACCINE BUT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET THE VACCINE. WE ALL HAVE TO MESSAGE THIS PRETTY STRONGLY. DR. REDFIELD, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHY DOES THE CDC'S GUIDANCE FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION NOT EVEN MENTION THE WORD TESTING? AS SOON AS YOUR TESTIMONY WAS DONE THIS MORNING THE CDC WEBSITE CHANGED. AND THERE ARE NOW GUIDELINES FOR THE INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITH FAIRLY EXTENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDANCE, NOT MANDATES ABOUT TESTING. I DID NOT READ THEM BUT I SAW THEM POP UP ON THE CDC WEBSITE. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOUR TESTIMONY, DR. REDFIELD AND SOME OF THE WRITTEN TESTIMONY , YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM RELIES ON TIMELY AND ACCURATE DATA SYSTEMS. BUT WE HAVE UNDER INVESTED AND THE CRISIS HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO MODERNIZE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS. LAST YEAR I INTRODUCED A BILL CALLED THE, SAVING LIVES DO BETTER WITH DATA ACT. AND COLLEAGUES WERE HELPFUL IN THIS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET $50 MILLION IN DECEMBER IN THE APPROPRIATIONS DEAL. AND ANOTHER $500 MILLION IN THE CARES ACT. BUT I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO MORE BECAUSE THE REQUEST FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITIES IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SIZABLE. I HOPE WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET THAT INTO THE NEXT COVID-19 PACKAGE. DR. FAUCI , THIS IS A CHALLENGING QUESTION. CHALLENGING HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT. THE CDC LAST WEEK SAID THAT A NEW GROUP THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AT RISK IS PREGNANT WOMEN AND LACTATING WOMEN. THE TESTING A VACCINE TESTING OFTEN DOES NOT INCLUDE PREGNANT WOMEN. FOR SOME SAFETY REASONS. WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND ACCESS TO VACCINES.

HOW WOULD WE BE TRYING TO DO RESEARCH AND TESTING SO THE WOMEN CAN SAFELY ACCESS THESE TREATMENTS? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. THAT APPLIES ALSO TO CHILDREN. WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE VACCINE, YOU DO A PHASE I TRIAL IN NORMAL, HEALTHY ADULTS. NOT PREGNANT. NOT CHILDREN. AND YOU SHOW INITIAL SAFETY. THEN WHEN YOU MOVE INTO PHASE 2 AND 3 STUDIES, IF YOU GET EVEN THE SLIGHTEST GLIMPSE OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY IN THAT POPULATION, YOU GO BACK AND DO A PHASE I IN PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN AS WELL AS IN CHILDREN. IF THAT IS SAFE, YOU BRIDGE THE DATA SO YOU CAN USE THE EFFICACY DATA YOU ALREADY STARTED TO APPLY BACK TO PREGNANT WOMEN. THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT. >> AT THIS POINT, IS THE NATIONS GO WITH RESPECT TO CORONAVIRUS TO MITIGATE OR SUPPRESS IT? >> VACCINES RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VACCINES? >> NO.

WHAT IS OUR GOAL? TO MITIGATE OR SUPPRESS? >> IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE. THERE IS CONTAINMENT IN MITIGATION. IF YOU HAVE A LEVEL OF VIRUS THAT IS LOW ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN ADEQUATELY CONTAIN BY THE STANDARD WAY OF IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION, CONTACT TRACING, PARTICULARLY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LINK THE IDENTIFICATION WITH ISOLATION. IF YOU JUST DO CONTACT TRACING WITHOUT ISOLATION, IT WILL NOT WORK. WHEN YOU GET INTO A SITUATION — >> IF I COULD, DR. FAUCI. I DON'T WANT TO GO OVERTIME. I WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT TESTING .

ADM. GIROIR WHEN YOU WERE HERE LAST YOU SAY WE WOULD HAVE CAPACITY TO DO 40 MILLION TESTS UP TO 50 MILLION TESTS. BY MAY 12 WE HAD DONE ABOUT 310,000. YESTERDAY WE DID 560,000. ONLY GOING TO GET TO 1.3 MILLION TESTS A DAY BY SEPTEMBER? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT. WE WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. IT IS DEPENDING ON THE NEED.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, A FEW WEEKS AGO THE NEED FOR TESTING WAS MUCH LESS THAN IT IS NOW. WE HAD A GOOD SYSTEM. IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND INCREASE IN POSITIVITY VERY EARLY. OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE OUTBREAKS WE ARE HAVING NOW WE NEED TO MASSIVELY SURGE TESTING IN THOSE AREAS. WE WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY ACROSS THE BOARD . WE WILL HAVE THAT. THAT IS ASSUMING NO PULLING. WHEN WE START DOING THAT, YOU DO THE MATH. I AM NEVER GOING TO BE HAPPY UNTIL WE HAVE MORE TESTS AND WE NEVER HAVE TO SAY THE WORD TEST AGAIN. BUT WE WILL BE IN REASONABLY GOOD SHAPE GIVEN THE PARAMETERS. >> THANK YOU SENATOR ROMNEY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU TO EACH OF THE PANELISTS FOR THE SACRIFICE AND THE EFFORTS YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, SEVERAL MONTHS AS WELL AS YEARS. BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THIS VIRUS, WE ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BASICALLY SHUT DOWN THEIR LIVES. CUT BACK ON FLYING, FAMILY REUNIONS, FUNERALS, CHURCH SERVICES, RESTAURANTS, THEATERS.

EVERYTHING GOT SHUT DOWN. NOW IT IS THE END OF JUNE. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THIS COULD BE ACTUALLY SPREAD. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO GO BACK OUT. THEY ARE GOING BACK OUT. WE SAW PEOPLE AND WE SAID THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. MY IMPRESSION WAS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE, IT WAS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS THIS, WHERE IS THE RISK GREATEST? HOW IS IT IT IS SPREADING? IS IT SPREADING INDOORS, SPREADING IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS, IS IT OKAY TO BE OUTDOORS AND PERHAPS NOT SOCIALLY DISTANCE? OUR FAMILY REUNIONS OKAY? CAN YOU GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE? BASED ON HOPEFULLY WHAT WE KNOW AS TO WHERE THE RISKS ARE GREATEST? I KNOW YOU KEEP SAYING SOCIAL DISTANCE AND MASKS. PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN AIRPLANES. THEY ARE GOING TO RESTAURANTS. WHERE IS THE RISK GREATEST AND WHERE RELATIVELY SAFE? CAN YOU HELP US DO THAT? FAMILY REUNIONS. CAN WE GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILY REUNIONS OUTDOORS? IS IT SAFER OUTDOORS THAN INDOORS? CAN YOU DO THAT? >> THANK YOU SENATOR.

FIRST AND FOREMOST THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THAT ASSESSMENT IS KNOWING AT THE GRANULAR LEVEL WHAT THE KINETICS OF TRANSMISSION ARE IN THE COMMUNITY . AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE 130 COUNTIES RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE WE CONSIDER THEM HOTSPOTS. WE HAVE MANY OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE IS VERY LIMITED TRANSMISSION. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS KNOWING IF YOU ARE IN THAT AREA OF ACTIVE TRANSMISSION. SECONDLY, IT IS KNOWING WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT AREA OF ACTIVE TRANSMISSION. AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS ONE TAKES.

>> I HAVE TO BE BRIEF. I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES >> THOSE ARE TWO THINGS. THERE IS MORE AND MORE DATA SHOWING THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS AND MASKS ON EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION. IN THESE GATHERINGS. I THINK WE WILL COME BACK AND TELL YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IF YOU ARE IN A COMMUNITY WITH LIMITED TRANSMISSIONS AND YOU'RE WEARING A FACE MASK OR THERE IS SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION AND YOU ARE WEARING A FACE MASK AND YOU PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HANDWASHING, THAT IS THE BEST THING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. >> IN ADDITION, SENATOR, OUTDOOR BETTER THAN INDOOR. BARS ARE REALLY NOT GOOD. REALLY NOT GOOD. CONGREGATION AT A BAR INSIDE IS BAD NEWS. WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP THAT. RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU HAVE AREAS THAT ARE SURGING LIKE WE SEE RIGHT NOW. IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, OUTDOORS IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN INDOORS. OUTDOOR DISTANCE , WEAR A MASK IF YOU CAN. BUT YOU CAN HAVE SOME SOCIAL INTERACTION. ONE POINT TO MAKE BRIEFLY, WE SHOULD NOT LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH ENDEAVORS AS BEING AN OBSTRUCTION TO OPENING UP. WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT AS A VEHICLE TO OPENING UP.

SO THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST RESTRICT EVERYTHING. PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT. SO YOU CAN GET OUTDOORS, YOU CAN INTERACT, WEAR A MASK, TRY TO AVOID CLOSE CONGREGATION OF PEOPLE. WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. DON'T JUST MAKE IT ALL OR NONE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THEMSELVES WITHIN THE SAFE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE. MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH WORK FOR YOU AS OPPOSED TO AGAINST YOU. >> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THOSE RESPONSES. I THINK IT WOULD BE EXTRAORDINARILY HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US AS WE GO ABOUT OUR LIVES, IF THERE WAS DATA THAT INDICATED WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING INFECTED WORTHY IN A BAR? WORTHY IN A RESTAURANT? WHERE THEY OUTDOORS? OUTDOORS AT A POOL? I HAVE HAD REPORTS THAT VIRTUALLY NOBODY HAS BEEN AFFECTED IF THEY ARE OUTDOORS. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT TRUE? GIVEN HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE GRANULAR DATA SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THERE IS GREATER RISK.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF FLYING ON AIRPLANES? WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT. IF WE COULD PUBLIC THAT INFORMATION FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THEY WILL KNOW WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE. CONTINUE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING MASKS, BUT WE NEED THAT DATA. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTURBING THE VACCINE? WHAT PERSON OR AGENCY DETERMINES HOW THE VACCINE, WHEN AVAILABLE, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED? >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. THIS IS A CENTRAL FUNCTION OF CDC. WERE WE HELP WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

>> SO THAT IS THE CDC. THAT IS ON YOUR SHOULDERS THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND ALL THE WITNESSES FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE TEAMS YOU LEAD. I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYBODY IS WORKING. DR. REDFIELD, I WANT TO START WITH A QUESTION TO YOU . 43% OF THE DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN A NURSING HOMES OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. IN MY STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 80% OF DEATHS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. IN MID-MAY THE WHITE HOUSE URGED STATES TO COMPLETE COVID- 19 TESTING ON EVERY NURSING HOME WORKER AND RESIDENT WITHIN 14 DAYS. A MONTH AND HALF LATER, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. CDC HAS SINCE PUT OUT DIFFERENT GUIDANCE ON NURSING HOME TESTING. CALLING FOR BASELINE TEST FOR RESIDENTS AND WEEKLY TESTING FOR NURSING HOME WORKERS. GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD OUTBREAKS WITHIN NURSING HOMES, A UNIQUE RISK POST TO RESIDENTS, WHAT IS CDC DOING TO ENSURE THAT STATES CARRY OUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NURSING HOME TESTING ISSUED BY CDC ON JUNE 13? AND HOW MANY STATES HAVE MET THESE GUIDELINES SO FAR? >> THANK YOU.

WE ARE WORKING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH CMS ON THAT ISSUE. WE ARE NOT IN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> BUT I AM ASKING — MY TIME IS SHORT. I AM ASKING WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP TRACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH GUIDELINES? 43% DEATH RATE NATIONWIDE IS HUGE. AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO YOU FOR GRANULAR GUIDANCE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIND OUT WHO IS IN COMPLIANCE AND WHO IS NOT? >> I WAS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CMS WHICH HAS THE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT. WE ARE THERE TO CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THE GUIDANCE AS YOU MENTIONED WHICH WE THINK IS CRITICAL. AND WE THINK WE DO HAVE TO GET EVERYONE SCREENED IN NURSING HOMES AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE WEEK. UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL THINK WE NEED TO KEEP VISITORS ISOLATED FROM THE HOMES RIGHT NOW PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WITH HIGH JURISDICTIONS. THE REGULATORY FUNCTION OF THIS IS CMS.

WE ARE MEETING WITH THEM DAILY TO SEE WHAT MORE WE CAN DO TO TRY TO ENSURE THERE IS GREATER COMPLIANCE. >> I THANK YOU FOR THAT. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO THE CDC FOR NOT ONLY VERY CLEAR ON GRANULAR GUIDELINES, YOU HAVE HEARD THAT ALL THROUGHOUT THE QUESTIONING. BUT PARTICULARLY WITH NURSING HOMES AND LONG- TERM CARE FACILITIES. THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE. AND WE ARE STILL HEARING THEY ARE NOT GETTING USABLE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ALL THE TIME EITHER. THEN THEY GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION . DR. FAUCI I WILL START WITH YOU. WE HEARD A DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MEASURES TAKEN IN EUROPE IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE DISPARITY BETWEEN NEW CONFIRMED CASES PER MILLION RESIDENTS OVER THE PREVIOUS SEVEN DAYS, TO THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, CANADA AND JAPAN.

THE DISPARITY IS EYE-POPPING. SURVEYS SUGGEST THAT MASK WEARING IN THE UNITED STATES OCCURS LESS FREQUENTLY THAN IN EUROPE. YOU AND OUR WITNESSES HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MASK WEARING IN PUBLIC PLACES. DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN EUROPE TO MORE WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS? OR ARE THERE ALSO OTHER SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT POLICIES OR INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES THAT YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY? >> CERTAINLY MASKS PLAY A ROLE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ALTHOUGH MULTIFACETED THINGS IN EACH OF THOSE VERY DISTURBING GRAPHS THAT SHOW. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME CLEAR, WHEN WE SHUT DOWN AS A NATION , IN REALITY, ONLY ABOUT 50% OF THE NATION SHUT DOWN. WITH REGARD TO OTHER THINGS THAT WERE ALLOWED. IN MANY OF THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, 90%, 95% OF ALL ACTIVITIES WERE SHUT DOWN. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU SAT PARTICULARLY IN ITALY, WHICH SHUT DOWN TO A MUCH GREATER EXTENT THAN WE DID, THE CASES CAME WAY DOWN IN A SHARP CURVE DOWNWARD. IT IS NOT ONLY MASKS, IT IS THE FACT THAT COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND OTHER COUNTRIES YOU HAVE, HAD A MUCH MORE UNIFORMED RESPONSE. WE ARE A HETEROGENEOUS COUNTRY AND WE HAD A HETEROGENEOUS RESPONSE, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE NORTHEAST, SOUTHERN, WEST OR WHAT HAVE YOU THERE A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS .

PROBABLY SOME WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND. >> THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE ON TO ONE OTHER ISSUE. IT IS TO URGE DR. REDFIELD AND THE CDC TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR ON REOPENING. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE CONTINUING TO DO THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT THE CDC HAS RELEASED FAQS, DOCUMENTS ON THINGS LIKE YOUTH SPORTS WHICH PROVIDES CONCRETE AND USEFUL INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES. I AM HOPING YOU WILL DO THE SAME KIND OF FAQ DOCUMENTS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL REOPENING PLANS. LIKE WHAT HAPPENS ? WHAT SHOULD A SCHOOL DO SPECIFICALLY IF ONE OR TWO POSITIVE CASES COME UP IN A CLASSROOM? OR A TEACHER? WHAT SHOULD PARENTS AND TEACHERS EXPECT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIONS TO DO? WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I HAVE TWO SETS OF QUESTIONS. I WANT TO GET THE BROAD NUMBERS , I THINK DR. REDFIELD YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ON RECORD YOU THINK THERE IS 10 TIMES AS MANY CASES OUT THERE . I KNOW THAT IS A GUESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF THAT IS THE CASE, ALL THE SUDDEN THE FATALITY RATE GOES FROM 5% DOWN TO .5%, 20 TIMES MORE CASES, THE .25%. HOW MANY CASES DO YOU THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE? AND THEN, HOW MANY VACCINATIONS AND THE HERD IMMUNITY COMBINATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION DO WE NEED TO GET TO FOR THIS THING TO BE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR? WE HAVE A FEW BIG NUMBERS TO KIND OF RELATE THE JOURNEY AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. QUICKLY, WE NOW KNOW THAT THE VIRUS BEGAN TO SPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES IN MARCH. IN BETWEEN MARCH AND THE END OF MAY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ANTIBODY TESTING AND THAT IS WHAT ALLOWED US TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE REALLY INFECTED.

DURING THAT PERIOD, IT WAS OUR BEST ESTIMATE ABOUT 10 , TO 1. I WANT PEOPLE TO ASSUME THAT IS THE SAME RATIO NOW IN JUNE AND JULY GOING FORWARD. >> YOU THINK IT IS MORE THAN THAT? >> I THINK IT IS LESS BECAUSE WE ARE DOING MORE AND MORE TESTING. CLEARLY, IT GIVES US A GOOD IDEA OF THE EXTENT OF INFECTION WAS MORE IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY. NOT TO MILLION INDIVIDUALS BUT MORE CLOSER TO 20 MILLION INDIVIDUALS. >> WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WE NEED VACCINATED AND/OR HAVING HERD IMMUNITY BEFORE THIS THING GOES INTO THE REARVIEW MIRROR? >> IT IS REALLY GOT TO BE OVER 70% OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS TO BE IMMUNE BEFORE WE SEE IMPACT OF HERD IMMUNITY. >> DR. FAUCI. >> I TOTALLY AGREE. GIVEN THE TRANSMISSIBILITY WHICH IS HIGHLY EFFICIENT, YOU WILL NEED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 75% AND 85%. 70% AT THE LOWEST . >> SECOND SET OF QUESTIONS WOULD BE ON THE ISSUE OF HERD IMMUNITY.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE. I AM GUESSING, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY IT HAS TO ACTUALLY CONFER IMMUNITY IF YOU GET IT IN THERE MAY BE SOME — LET'S ASSUME YOU GET THE IMMUNITY. WHAT IS — HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THE APPROACHES WE HAVE USED TO THIS POINT, IS HERD IMMUNITY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WILL MARCH THROUGH IF WE TAKE THE STRATEGY OF HAVING A DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO HAVE LOWER HOSPITALIZATION RATES AND LESS OF IT IN CONSEQUENCES? I THINK IT IS ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO KNOW IS I THINK THAT ALREADY WILL BE DONE BY EACH INDIVIDUAL IN A WAY AS A SIZE UP THEIR OWN PERSONAL RISKS.

HOW MUCH CAN WE COUNT ON HERD IMMUNITY? >> I WILL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER QUICKLY. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE EVEN NOW WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 5% AND THE 8% OF AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT IS EXPERIENCE THE VIRUS. FOR ME, HEARD IMMUNITY AS A BASIC STRATEGY, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A MULTIYEAR STRATEGY. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY IS A BIOLOGICAL COUNTERMEASURE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VACCINE. >> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE COMPLICATING, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF A SHOW STOPPER BUT WE HAVE TO REALIZE, AS SENATOR PAUL SAID, WE HAVE TO BE HUMBLE AND NO THERE IS A LOT WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW IS THE DURABILITY.

IF YOU WIND UP GETTING HURT IMMUNITY TO 75% OR 80%, WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN AND ONLY TIME WILL TEACH US THIS, HOW LONG THIS IMMUNITY LAST. IS IT LESS? IS IT MONTHS? WE DON'T KNOW. WHEN WE FIND OUT, THAT WILL INFORM US AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IF YOU GET A VACCINE HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO BOOST IT. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IN ANY DEFINITIVE WAY. >> AT LEAST THAT GIVES SOME PARAMETERS TO LIVE WITHIN. A SENATOR STRESSED THE POINT OF PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE. TO ME THE ONE THING IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD CERTAINLY DO IS TO TAKE THE HIGHEST RISK GROUP FROM THE DATA WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN AND BUILD AN IRON DOME AROUND THEM AS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO, WHERE YOU GET CERTAIN RESULTS. I THINK THAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE AS THE UNCERTAINTY OF HERD IMMUNITY AND WHEN WE GET AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE ACTUALLY CONVERGE. >> I MAY ADD THAT WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY WITH REGARD TO NATURAL INFECTION AND/OR VACCINATION.

BUT WHEN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE, WE WANT TO SEE IF SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT PROGRAMS BY PASSIVE TRANSFER OF PLASMA OR MONOCHROMAL ANITBODIES OR HYPER IMMUNOGLOBULIN. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE UNTIL WE DO GET AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR SMITH. >> WE NEED ROBUST TESTING IF WE ARE GOING TO SAFELY REOPEN OUR ECONOMY AND SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES. TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT A CONDUIT FOR INFECTION. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS NEW YORK STATE WHERE EMPLOYEES IN NURSING HOMES ARE REQUIRED TO GET A COVID-19 TEST TWICE A WEEK.

IF YOU ARE WORKER TAKES THE TEST, IS THAT THE EMPLOYER OR PRIVATE INSURANCE OR DO I PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY POCKET? AND THINKING ABOUT THE LOW WAGE WORKER WORKING IN CHILDCARE OR FOOD PROCESSING OR SECURITY WORKER JANITOR. THE AVERAGE COST OF A TEST IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 75 THE AVERAGE COST OF A TEST IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $75 UP TO $150. THERE WERE REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING CHARGED OVER $6000 TO BE TESTED. THIS IS MY THIRD QUESTION. LAST WEEK FEDERAL AGENCIES POSTED GUIDANCE ON THIS QUESTION AND THE GUIDANCE SAID THAT HEALTH PLANS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COVER THE FULL COST OF TESTS FOR OCCUPATIONAL REASONS. THE FEDERAL TESTING PLAN WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE VALUE OF SURVEILLANCE TESTING AND OCCUPATIONAL TESTING IS SILENT ON THIS. LET ME ASK YOU, DR. FAUCI COMMENT DO YOU AGREE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE BETTER ABLE TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID- 19 AND SAVE LIVES IF WE HAVE SURVEILLANCE TESTING? >> NO DOUBT.

SURVEILLANCE TESTING WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY THE CURRENT VIRUS IN SOCIETY BUT WHERE IT IS GOING. THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE. >> WITH THE PRICE OF THE TEST OR ABILITY TO PAY FOR THE TEST BE A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO HAVING THE SURVEILLANCE HAPPENED? >> I THINK COMMON SENSE TELLS YOU THAT, IF PEOPLE CANNOT PAY FOR IT THEY WILL NOT DO IT. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT HAVING THE STRESS OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS. >> THE WORRY OF COURSE IS THAT THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THE SURVEILLANCE TEST OR THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE TESTING COULD REALLY EXACERBATE UNDERLYING INEQUITIES. SINCE A LOT OF FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FROM HOME A MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE BLACK AND BROWN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, ISN'T THAT RIGHT? >> AS IN ALL CASES, PEOPLE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BENEFIT OTHERS, IN GENERAL, THEY GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK ON THAT AND WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> RIGHT. I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO WORK TOGETHER AS WE EXPAND SURVEILLANCE TESTING, OCCUPATIONAL TESTING WE LOOK AT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS OF HIGHER EDUCATION COMING BACK, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS AND THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THAT HAS BEEN A BARRIER. I THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. I WILL ASK A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO VACCINES. A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TRUST THE VACCINES. THAT THEY ARE SAY . THEY WORK IN THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS, WE UNDERSTAND THOSE. LET ME JUST ASK YOU AGAIN, DR. FAUCI. HOW WOULD WE TRUST A VACCINE THAT HAS ONLY HAD A SHORT NUMBER OF MONTHS POTENTIALLY, BEING TESTED IN HUMAN BODY? >> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS TO OVERCOME THAT.

FIRST, YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE TRIAL. THE TRIALS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW WILL HAVE 30,000 PEOPLE IN THE TRIAL. AND MAYBE EVEN MORE, IN SOME OF THEM. YOU CAN GET A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SAFETY DATA. BUT THEN THERE IS A PROCESS AFTER A VACCINE, MAYBE WOULD SHOW EFFICACY, TO DO FURTHER STUDIES FOLLOWING AVAILABILITY. I WILL LET DR. HAHN COMMENT ON THAT MORE. THAT BECOMES INVOLVED WITH THE FDA AUTHORITY IN MAKING SURE WE DO HAVE SAFE VACCINES. >> IF I COULD PUT A FINER POINT ON THE QUESTION, DR. HAHN . WHAT IF A MANUFACTURER WERE TO SAY THEY COULD GET A VACCINE TO MARKET IN JANUARY, BUT ONLY IF THEY WERE RELEASED FROM LIABILITY. WHAT IS THE FDA POLICY ON THAT? >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. WE WOULD NOT GET INTO THE ISSUE OF LIABILITY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SPONSOR. WHAT WE WOULD DO, THAT IS WHY WE RELEASE THE GUIDANCE THIS MORNING. WE WOULD ENSURE THAT OUR NORMAL REGULATORY APPROACH AND OUR STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND EFFICACY ARE MET.

WHILE WE ARE ALL — >> BUT YOU WOULD NOT RELEASE THE MANUFACTURER FROM LIABILITY? >> THAT IS NOT AN FDA AUTHORITY WE WOULD USE. >> HOW DO YOU GUARD — >> WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE LATE. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION. >> HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE EASY. I AM WORRIED ABOUT, THERE IS PRESSURE PUT ON THE DECISION MEASURES TO ANNOUNCE A VACCINE IN OCTOBER 2020. HOW CAN PEOPLE TRUST THIS? >> THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND REALLY IMPORTANT AND LEADS TO THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

IT IS WHY WE RELEASED OUR GUIDANCE TODAY. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE STANDARDS AND THE DATA WE WILL NEED TO MAKE A DECISION AND WHAT FACTORS GO INTO THOSE DECISIONS. I WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HEAR ME WHEN I SAY WE USE SCIENCE AND DATA FROM THE TRIALS. WE WILL ENSURE THAT HIGH LEVELS OF STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND EFFICACY ARE MET. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SORRY I CANNOT BE THERE IN PERSON. I WANTED TO ASK, DR. REDFIELD, CAN YOU OUTLINE WHAT STEPS THE CDC IS TAKING TO LOOK AT, AS WE PREPARE FOR HANDLING THE FLU AND COVID-19 SEASON SIMULTANEOUSLY THIS FALL, I KNOW THE CDC RECENTLY DEVELOPED A TEST THAT DIAGNOSES BOTH COVID-19 AND THE FLU.

WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES IS THE AGENCY ENGAGED IN? ARE THERE ANY NOVEL APPROACHES THAT YOU SEE IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THE AGENCIES PROCESS FOR APPROACHING THIS SEASON THIS FALL. AND YOUR THOUGHTS . >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT WITH FLU AND COVID-19 THIS FALL. FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO TRY TO INCREASE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE FLU VACCINE. LESS THAN 50% ACCEPT IT. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BEGIN TO REACH OUT, PARTICULARLY TO GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED TO TRY TO BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IN VACCINATION.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS TO SEE IF THEY COULD BOOST THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE AVAILABLE. THEY ARE NOW INCREASED THEIR COMMITMENT TO ALMOST 189 MILLION DOSES. CDC BOUGHT ANOTHER 7.1 MILLION DOSES. NORMALLY WE BY ABOUT 500,000 TO BE ABLE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE STATES AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR UNINSURED ADULTS. WE HAVE INCREASED THAT TO 7.1 7.1 MILLION DOSES. WE HAVE AUGMENTED OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN VACCINE PROGRAM, ANTICIPATING THERE WILL BE MORE CHILDREN THAT WILL QUALIFY IN LIGHT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE BEGUN TO PREPARE FOR. >> THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION IS FOR DR. HAHN . THE PANDEMIC AS EXPOSED TO VULNERABILITIES AND WE HAVE A RELIANCE ON IMPORTS FROM COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA THAT CAN QUICKLY POSE A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.

IN THE FACE OF AN OUTBREAK OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY TO BOOST OUR PRODUCTION HERE, WITH PHARMACEUTICALS AND SUPPLIES. I HAVE INTRODUCED SOME LEGISLATION TITLED, DEEP CHINA ACT TO OFFER INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES THAT BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT ADDITIONAL STEPS THE POLICYMAKERS TAKE TO BOOST OUR CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE THE SUPPLIES AND PHARMACEUTICALS DOMESTICALLY? >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. I THINK ONE ISSUE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON IS THE LACK OF REDUNDANCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND THE DEPENDENCY THAT WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE COVID- 19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE AGENCY'S PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN ON, INSTILLING REDUNDANCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, PARTICULARLY A PHARMACEUTICALS BY DIVERSIFYING THE SUPPLY CHAIN. AND REALLY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING. WE, OF COURSE, ON THE REGULATORY SIDE PROVIDE GUIDANCE AS WELL AS REGULATIONS AROUND THE MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS TO ENSURE QUALITY OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND OTHER MEDICAL PRODUCTS .

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT PARTICULARLY IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SPACE IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SEE HOW WE CAN CREATE THE PROPER INCENTIVES TO HAVE THAT REDUNDANCY AND PARTICULARLY TO HAVE AS MUCH DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING AS POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR JONES. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY, CONSISTENCY OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IT HAS TO BE SOMEWHAT DISCOURAGING TO ALL OF YOU AS IT IS TO US TO SEE THESE NUMBERS. I WANT TO KIND OF FOCUS ON SCHOOLS.

AS WE WILL START OPENING SCHOOLS UP IN ALABAMA IN AUGUST. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME CHRONOLOGY. THE STATE OF ALABAMA BEGAN TO OPEN UP ITS ECONOMY MORE IN MAY, A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARD THE END OF MAY. AND FOR MEMORIAL DAY, WE SAW THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS OF EVERYBODY HAVING A BIG TIME. NOW AT THE END OF JUNE. WE ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. THE LAST 14 DAYS HAVE SHOWN OVER 10,000 CASES.

WHICH IS 28% OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE SEEN HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST 14 DAYS. AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, WE HAVE THE JULY 4 HOLIDAY COMING UP. WE WILL SEE A DELAY OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM RIGHT NOW. IF WE DO THE SAME THING ON JULY 4 WE WILL HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM AT THE END OF JULY AND EARLY AUGUST WHEN WE OPEN SCHOOLS UP. OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SAID THIS WEEK IT WILL CAUSED ABOUT $1.8 MILLION FOR THE AVERAGE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THOSE THINGS NECESSARY TO TRY TO PROTECT KIDS IN THE FACULTY. BUT I HEARD SENATOR PAUL IN HIS COMMENTS IN DISCUSSING A NUMBER OF THINGS TO WHERE YOU WOULD GET THE IMPRESSION THAT WE COULD JUST OPEN SCHOOLS BACKUP WITHOUT SPENDING ANY OF THAT MONEY. MY QUESTION PRIMARILY TO DR. FAUCI AND DR. REDFIELD, COULD YOU COMMENT ON SOME OF THE STATISTICS AND THINGS YOU HEARD ABOUT CHILDREN TRANSMITTING THIS DISEASE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO SPEND SOME ADDITIONAL MONIES OR DO THINGS LIKE HAVE EXTRA PPE TO HAVE THINGS LIKE POTENTIALLY HIRING ADDITIONAL HEALTH OFFICERS? TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

OTHERS GOING TO BE NECESSARY BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM SENATOR PAUL AND WHAT HAPPENED ON HIS CHARTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES? DR. FAUCI AND DR. REDFIELD . >> I WILL QUICKLY GIVE IT A SHOT AND THEN HANDED OVER. WE DON'T KNOW PRECISELY. I THINK THE DATA THAT WAS INTERESTING THAT SENATOR PAUL SHOWED ABOUT SCHOOL OPENINGS AND NOT SEEING ANY REAL OBVIOUS SURGE IN CASES IS IMPORTANT. BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE EFFICIENCY OF SPREAD IS. FIRST OF ALL HOW MANY CHILDREN GET INFECTED? THAT WAS THE REASON IN MY OPENING STATEMENT I MENTION THE STUDY WE ARE DOING AT THE NIH OF 6000 FAMILIES, LOOKING AT CHILDREN.

WHAT IS THE RATE OF INFECTION AND HOW OFTEN DO THEY INFECT THEIR FAMILIES? IF IT IS TRUE, THAT THE RATE IS DOWN, WE WOULD KNOW THEY DON'T GET SERIOUSLY ILL WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS WHEN THEY GET INFECTED. IF THE RATE OF INFECTION IS DOWN AND THEY DON'T READILY TRANSMIT TO THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THAT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT. IN THE DECISION- MAKING PROCESS OF OPENING SCHOOLS. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL FIND THAT OUT REASONABLY SOON BY THE STUDY WE ARE DOING. >> I WOULD ECHO WHAT DR. FAUCI SAID. CDC HAS A NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD STUDIES GOING ON TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DOES THE VIRUS GET INTO A HOUSEHOLD. WHO BRINGS IT IN? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT IS IN THE HOUSEHOLD? HOW DOES TRANSMISSION VARY DEPENDING ON HOW THE HOUSEHOLD RESPONDS, IN TERMS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ETC.? THERE IS INFORMATION WE ARE GATHERING.

I THINK WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT THAT CHILDREN HAVE YET ON THE TRANSMISSION CYCLE. I THINK WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THE GREATER THREAT OBVIOUSLY, IS CHILDREN TO THE VULNERABLE. BUT ONE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR THAT COULD PREVENT THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE, TO EMPHASIZE, I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY. THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AND WORK TO REOPENING SCHOOLS IN A SAFEWAY. THE CDC NEVER REALLY RECOMMENDED CLOSING SCHOOLS. IT JUST SORT OF HAPPENED, AS YOU KNOW. WE COULD DO TARGETED SCHOOL CLOSINGS IF WE HAVE TO IN A PARTICULAR REGION, LIKE WE HAVE DONE FOR OTHER VIRAL DISEASES. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD NOW AND WORK TO REOPEN SCHOOLS SAFELY. >> THANK YOU. ADM. GIROIR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TUNED IN A WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT. ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET VACCINES DISTRIBUTED IN THE MOST VULNERABLE OF COMMUNITIES? THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE SO MUCH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, IN THE RURAL SOUTH? ARE YOU MAKING SPECIFIC PLANS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT INTO RURAL AREAS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ALL WORK ON PARTS OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CDC ACTUALLY CONTROLS THE DISTRIBUTION. BUT WHAT MY OFFICE DOES, RUNNING THE NATIONAL VACCINE PROGRAM, DOES THINGS LIKE THE MOREHOUSE GRANT, A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. THAT REALLY REACHES INTO THE ROLE, INTO HISPANIC, INTO AFRICAN-AMERICAN , TO REALLY HAVE THE COMMUNITIES, THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY LINKED TO SERVICES LIKE TESTING BUT TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR VACCINE ACCEPTANCE. WE KNOW THAT THE BURDEN OF DISEASE IS FUNDAMENTALLY BURDENED FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE, ASSUMING THE SCIENCE WORKS OUT, THAT WE WANT TO GET VACCINATED FIRST.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE KNOW THE WITNESSES NEED TO LEAVE ABOUT 1:00 AND WE WILL TRY TO RESPECT THAT. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. WE CAN. >> GOOD MORNING. I WILL TRY TO BE AS QUICK AS I CAN TALKING ABOUT ANTIBODIES THIS MORNING. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN ALEXANDER, RANKING MEMBER MURRAY AND ALL THE WITNESSES TODAY. AS OUR COMMUNITY IS FOCUSED ON HOW TO SAFELY GET BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND ADAPT TO NEW INFORMATION. BE SURE WE ARE MAKING TIMELY, TARGETED AND THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS TO PROTECT LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS. DR. FAUCI, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE MONOCHROMAL ANITBODIES TREATMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT CONVERSATION, IF WE COULD. AS WE HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS, HOW IT FUNCTIONS, HOW IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, WHAT UPDATES CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREVENTATIVE TREATMENTS THAT BLOCKS THE VIRUS FROM ATTACHING TO THE CELLS THAT IS TARGETING? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, SENATOR. YOU MENTIONED MONOCHROMAL ANITBODIES . THEY ARE GOING INTO TRIALS RIGHT NOW A NUMBER OF TRIALS BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS. HOPEFULLY WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME WE WILL GET INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS EFFECTIVE, BOTH IN THE PREVENTION AS WELL AS IN THE TREATMENT. THOSE ANTIBODIES ARE DIRECTED AGAINST A COMPONENT OF THE VIRUS THAT IS WHAT IS CALLED, THE SPIKE PROTEIN. THAT PROTEIN IS THE ONE THAT BINDS TO THE NOW WELL-ESTABLISHED RECEPTOR IN YOUR BODY FOR THE VIRUS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER STUDIES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ANTIBODY STUDIES. BUT STUDIES THAT HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VIRUS ITSELF AND ITS INITIAL REPLICATION. IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION THAT THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED JUST A BIT AGO, THERE WILL BE THERAPIES THAT WE WILL BE GIVING SOME FOR TREATMENT EARLY ON AND OTHERS FOR PROPHYLAXIS.

WE HOPE AS WE GET INTO THE FALL AND WINTER, WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING FROM SMALL MOLECULE TREATMENT AND PROPHYLAXIS TO THE KINDS OF ANTIBODIES THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. SO THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON TO DO THAT EARLY IN DISEASE, BOTH FOR PREVENTION AND FOR THE TREATMENT OF EARLY DISEASE. >> I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF SEROLOGY TESTING .

AND INDIVIDUALS ARE PRESENTING WITH ANTIBODIES. OUT OF THE FIVE TYPES OF ANTIBODIES PEOPLE ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE, WHICH ONES DO THEY SHOW? AND IF ONE OF THE SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES ARE PRESENT, DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? AND IF THE PATIENT COULD BE REINFECTED OR NOT? ARE THEY EFFECTIVELY IMMUNE FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME? WHAT KIND OF ANSWERS DOES THIS GIVE US IF YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE OF A CERTAIN ANTIBODY ? >> I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A REALLY RECITES, SCIENTIFICALLY BASED ANSWER. BUT THE FACT IS, WE DON'T KNOW.

STANDARD WISE WHEN YOU GET INTO ACUTE INFECTION YOU GET A I GM ANTIBODY. AS YOU DEVELOP A MORE MATURE IMMUNITY RESPONSE IT BECOMES SAID IGG. THERE ARE SUBCLASSES AND SOME MORE PROTECTIVE THAN OTHERS. THE THING WE DON'T KNOW SENATOR, WE WILL KNOW IN TIME BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME TO KNOW IT. WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY AND BONDING ANTIBODIES THAT DON'T NEUTRALIZE, WHAT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TIGHTER AND DEGREE OF PROTECTION? AND WHAT IS THE DURABILITY OF PROTECTION? WE HAVE SEEN SOME PUZZLING THINGS. WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE RECOVER FROM COVID-19 INFECTION AND FIND OUT THEY DON'T HAVE VERY HIGH LEVELS OF ANTIBODY. COULD IT BE A CELL MEDIATED RESPONSE THAT GOT THEM TO THE ONUS? SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE VERY HIGH LEVELS AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THOSE LEVELS LAST.

WE ARE GETTING THERE WITH REGARD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS TO A YEAR TO BE ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE ROLE OF ANTIBODIES IN PROTECTION FOLLOWING NATURAL INFECTION. >> BUILDING UPON THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS IS MULTIORGAN. THEY CAN AFFECT THINGS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ANTIBODIES, IS IT STOPPING THE VIRUS FROM CAUSING HARM REGARDLESS OF WHICH ORGAN IT ATTACKS? HOW CAN WE HELP DIRECT FUNDING FOR THE KIND OF RESEARCH THAT YOU WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS MULTI-OREGON ATTACK OF THIS VIRUS, IF YOU WILL? >> IT'S A RESPIRATORY VIRUS AND IT GETS INTO THE RESPIRATORY TRACT. IF THE VIRUS STAYS IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT AND DOES NOT GO SYSTEMIC TO INVOLVE OTHER ORGANS, THAT IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET VERY SICK. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSE IS NOT AS POTENT.

WHEN YOU GET SYSTEMIC INVOLVEMENT INVARIABLY YOU WILL HAVE A MORE POTENT AND ROBUST IMMUNE RESPONSE. SO MANY PEOPLE, AND PROBABLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS, THEY HAVE A REASONABLE TITER OF VIRUS IN THEIR NASAL FAIL NEXT. BUT THE VIRUS DOES NOT GO ANY OTHER PLACE IN THEIR BODY. PEOPLE WHO GET MULTISYSTEM DISEASE THAT GET TRIGGERED BY THE VIRUS, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT UNFORTUNATELY GET MORE SICK, BUT ALSO THE ONES THAT MAKE A MORE POTENT IMMUNE RESPONSE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. >> THANK YOU. VERY INTERESTING QUESTIONS. SENATOR MURRAY, DO YOU HAVE CLOSING REMARKS? >> I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION AND THEN CLOSING REMARKS. I WANTED TO ASK ADM. GIROIR ONE QUESTION. DESPITE SOME OF THE LIMITED DATA WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 IS KILLING BLACKS, LATINO AND NATIVE AMERICANS MORE THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

HOW IS HHS COMMITTING TO REDIRECTING SOME OF THE $14 BILLION IN UNSPENT FUND CONGRESS PROVIDED FOR THOSE DISPARITIES? >> I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE TRIED TO FOCUS ON HIGH VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE MADE A MAJOR PUSH THAT THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS THAT TAKE CARE OF ONE OUT OF THREE OF THOSE IN POVERTY, 1300 ARE OFFERING TESTING. AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE AWARD TO MOREHOUSE SCHOOL MEDICINE LAST WEEK THAT HAS A LARGE COALITION TO CREATE A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO REACH MINORITIES.

INFRASTRUCTURE TO REACH THE MINORITIES AND THE UNDERSERVED. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING AND IN MY OFFICE, WE DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS. EVEN WITHOUT A PANDEMIC. YOUR SECOND QUESTION, I DON'T COMMIT THE MONEY. SO, I CERTAINLY THINK WE NEED CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THIS AREA AND CONTINUED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WITH THE 40 MILLION DOLLARS AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON HOW TO BEST REACH THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO TALK TO OMB ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. >> WE WILL ASK THEM. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION AND I WILL FOLLOW UP TO TRACK THIS.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I APPRECIATE OUR WITNESSES TO COME AND UPDATE THE COMMITTEE ON THE COURSE OF THIS PANDEMIC AND OUR EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO IT. I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU, AS WELL AS OTHER KEY ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ABOUT THIS. THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING WE COULD DO IS TO PRETEND THIS CRISIS IS OVER WHEN IT IS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THAT IT IS NOT TRUE. THE REALITY IS, THE PANDEMIC — ANY FURTHER DELAYS — IT'S REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS PRESIDENT TO TAKE THIS CRISIS SERIOUSLY AND LEAD AND WE NEED CONGRESS TO ACT.

I HOPE WE CAN GET BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS, OUR BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. WE NEED TO GET TESTING WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD A SAFE, EFFECTIVE, WIDELY AVAILABLE VACCINE AND STRENGTHEN OUR TIES TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN CUT THEM. >> THANK YOU SENATOR MURRAY. OUR WITNESSES HAVE A MEETING THEY NEED TO GO TO AND I WILL ABBREVIATE MY REMARKS BUT ONE THING I WANT TO ASK, IN ONE MINUTE OR LESS, I'VE PUT OUT A WHITE PAPER IN RECOGNITION OF WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE SAID AND IN BETWEEN PANDEMICS, WE HAVE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC. IF THERE WERE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT YOU THOUGHT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO, NOW, IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC, WHAT WOULD THOSE ONE OR TWO THINGS BE? DR. FAUCI? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS AN APPRECIATION ON THE PART OF OUR ENTIRE NATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONDING AS A NATION, AS A WHOLE AND NOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WHEN YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE SUCH AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE VERY DISPARATE RESPONSES.

WE'VE GOT TO DO IT IN A COORDINATED WAY BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO DO, NOW, IS TO CEMENT IN OUR MINDS AS WE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE, THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT FORGET THAT WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE UNIMAGINABLE TURNED OUT TO BE THE REALITY THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW. SO, IT RELATES TO THE KIND OF APPRECIATION THAT OUTBREAKS HAPPEN AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE AND PROACTIVE WAY. >> DR. REDFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN SAY IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS, OUR NATION NEEDS TO BE OVER PREPARED, NOT UNDERPREPARED. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, DECADES OF UNDER INVESTING IN THE CORE CAPABILITIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DATA MODERNIZATION AND LABORATORY RESILIENCE WORKFORCE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IT'S FUNDAMENTAL.

WE'VE REALLY BEEN HIT WITH THIS SIMPLE VIRUS. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GOING TO COST OUR NATION TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I THINK THAT WE HAVE A MOMENT OF TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE ATTUNED. I WOULD SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE LOCAL, TERRITORIAL, TRIBAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL SO THAT THIS NATION FINALLY HAS THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM NOT ONLY THAT IT NEEDS, BUT THAT IT DESERVES. >> ADMIRAL GIROIR? >> OF COURSE, I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND WE ARE SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMNAL HERE. I WILL SAY REALLY, NUMBER ONE, DATA INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY VENTILATORS WERE IN USE AND HOW MANY TESTS WERE OUT THERE AND IF THEY WERE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND WHO WAS BEING TESTED. IT WAS A COMPLETE SOUP TO NUTS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS. YOU NEED THIS DATA TO MAKE DECISIONS AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND WE BUILT THIS ON THE FLY BUT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT.

SECONDLY, RESILIENCY, YES, WE NEED TO ATTACK COVID BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERYTHING ELSE? WE'VE SEEN CANCER SCREENINGS GO DOWN TO 80% SOME CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS PLUMMET. IT'S AFFECTING EVERYTHING ELSE AS A SACRIFICE FOR THE COVID RESPONSE. IT'S NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO. THE THIRD THING IS WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON HEALTH DISPARITIES. IF EVERYONE WAS HEALTHIER IN THIS COUNTRY AND REINVESTED INTO THOSE WITH HYPERTENSION, DIABETES AND OBESITY ON THINGS THAT COULD BRING THE GENERAL HEALTH UP, YOU WOULD NOT SEE THE HORRIBLE OUTCOMES IN ANY PANDEMIC. WORKING ON HEALTH DISPARITIES IS CRITICAL TO RAISE OUR GENERAL HEALTH AND PREPARE FOR WHAT WILL HIT US. >> DR. HAHN, YOU CAN HAVE THE LAST WORD. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WHITE PAPER. THERE ARE TWO THINGS TO EMPHASIZE. ONE IS THE DATA MODERNIZATION AND FROM THE FDA PERSPECTIVE, THE MANUAL PROCESS FOR COLLECTING DATA ON DEMAND AND ALSO, FOR THE SUPPLY CHAIN. WE NEED A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE NEED A ROBUST, REAL WORLD, EVIDENCE APPROACH SO THAT WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS IN REAL TIME DURING AN EMERGENCY, AND DOCTORS DO THAT ALL THE TIME AND AGENCIES DO THAT DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE DATA INFRASTRUCTURE TO COLLECT REAL- WORLD EVIDENCE AND FEED IT BACK TO THE DECISION.

THEN, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE AGENCY. THE SECOND THING IS TO MY PREVIOUS COMMENT, THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED REDUNDANCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND WE NEED REDUNDANCY IN MANUFACTURING AND WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING. >> THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. THE ONE THING THIS SNEAKY AND DANGEROUS VIRUS HAS REMINDED US IS THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SNEAKY AND DANGEROUS VIRUS ONE DAY.

WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT IT MAY BE EASIER TO TAKE THE STEPS YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED WHILE OUR EYES ARE ON THE BALL RATHER THAN BETWEEN PANDEMICS BECAUSE WE GET INTERESTED IN OTHER ISSUES. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE WITNESSES FOR YOUR TIME AND I THINK THE SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR CAREFUL AND INSIGHTFUL AND COURTEOUS QUESTIONING. THE HEARING RECORD WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR 10 DAYS AND MEMBERS MAY SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITHIN THAT TIME, IF THEY WOULD LIKE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE COMMITTEE WILL STAND ADJOURNED. >>> YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WE'VE GOT BREAKING NEWS. >>> IF THEY GO BACK TO THEIR JOBS, YOU WANT TO BE PROTECTED. PROTECTED. >> IT'S NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE, WEEKDAYS AT 6:00 a.m. EASTERN. >>> IN A MATTER OF DAYS, BEACHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE CLOSED. >> THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN OR CANNOT GO. >> FIRST, SOUTH FLORIDA AND NOW, LOS ANGELES WITH THE COUNTY PUTTING CLAMPS ON THE OCEAN ACCESS FOR THE JULY 4th WEEKEND.

>> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SAVING LIVES PUT >> THE SINGLE BIGGEST DAILY TOTAL, NEARLY 3000 NEW CASES AND L.A. COUNTY, OVERALL, PAST 100,000. THE NUMBERS ARE NOT NEARLY AS DAUNTING AS THE REALITY FOR THIS FAMILY. >> MY LAST WORDS TO MY DAD WAS THAT I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE IT. MAYBE MY DAD WAS LIKE — IF YOU ARE GOING, I'M GOING, TOO. >> Reporter: HE LOST HIS FATHER TO COVID-19 AND 28 MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THE VIRUS AND THEIR PATRIOTIC DYED THE DAY BEFORE FATHER'S DAY. >> THE LAST THING MY DAD SAW WAS ME SUFFOCATING. I HAD NO CHANCE OF TELLING MY DAD THAT I'M OKAY. >> Reporter: GOVERNORS ARE TRYING TO PREVENT FUTURE PAIN, INCLUDING THE ARIZONA HEAD OF STATE TO JUST PULL THE PLUG ON BARS, GYMS AND POOLS FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS.

>> WE CAN'T BE UNDER ANY ILLUSION THAT THIS VIRUS WILL GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT NEXT WEEK OUR NUMBERS WILL BE WORSE. >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE. I CAN'T TELL WHETHER YOU ARE SMILING OR NOT, BUT THANKS FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW. FOR WEEKS, YOU CAN SEE THE WARNING SIGNS. NUMBERS DON'T LIE. INFECTION RATES ARE GOING UP MORE THAN DOWN.

MORE THAN 125,000 PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AND THOSE NUMBERS IN NEW INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO GROW AT ALARMING RATES. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S CONFRONTING THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WITHOUT A RIGOROUS PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH. THEY ARE NOT SEPARABLE. DESPITE THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPAGANDA THAT THE RESPONSE SHOULD BE A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION, DESPITE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S REQUEST THAT WE SHOULD SLOW DOWN TESTING BECAUSE WE THINK IT MAKES HIM LOOK BAD, WITH COVID- 19, IT'S STILL HERE AND THE DAILY THREAT TO AMERICAN HEALTH AND PROSPERITY IS CONTINUING. IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. MONTH AFTER MONTH , AS OTHER LEADERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES TOOK THE NECESSARY STEP TO GET THE VIRUS UNDER CONTROL, DONALD TRUMP FAILED US. MONTH AFTER MONTH, AS MANY OF US URGED HIM TO STEP UP AND DO HIS JOB, HE FAILED US. JUST LOOK AT THE RECORD.

IN JANUARY, I, ALONG WITH OTHERS, SOUNDED THE ALARM THAT THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK WAS COMING. TRUMP TOLD THE COUNTRY THAT COVID-19, QUOTE, WAS TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL. EVERYTHING WILL, QUOTE, WORK OUT WELL. IN FEBRUARY, I WARNED ABOUT THE FAILURE TO GET INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THE PRESIDENT DEMANDED TO PRODUCE THE EVIDENCE AND TRUMP SAID, QUOTE, WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AND IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS, QUOTE, DOING VERY WELL. IN MARCH, I SET FORTH A DETAILED PLAN FOR 500 FEDERALLY FUNDED TESTING SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS GUARANTEED EMERGENCY PAID LEAVE. LATER THAT MONTH, I CALLED FOR A FULL AND IMMEDIATE USE OF THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, CRITICAL FOR DELIVERING SUPPLIES THAT WERE BASICALLY NEEDED. TRUMP ACCUSED HEALTH CARE WORKERS OF STEALING MASKS, WHAT HE SAID. HE SAID HEALTH CARE WORKERS WERE STEALING THE MASKS AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE THEM. IN APRIL, I RELEASED A PLAN TO SECURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND A PANDEMIC TESTING BOARD.

I LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE HEALTH CORPS TO FOCUS ON CONTACT TRACING. TRUMP'S SUGGESTIONS? AMERICANS SHOULD INJECT DISINFECTANT INTO THEIR BODY. IN MAY, I CONDEMN THE FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN PRESERVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ECONOMY AND URGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO FOCUS ON THE BASE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES LIKE TESTING TO ENABLE US TO SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. TRUMP'S RESPONSE , HE PUSHED FOR REOPENING WITHOUT REGARD TO SAFETY AND CALL TESTING, QUOTE, FRANKLY, OVERRATED. THIS MONTH, I OUTLINED A PATH TO REOPEN OUR COUNTRY SAFELY AND SUSTAINABLY. IT PROVIDED WORKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE TOOLS AND RESOURCE AND GUIDANCE THEY WOULD NEED. TRUMP'S PROPOSAL? HE SET A CUTOFF DATE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OF TESTING SITES IN SEVERAL STATES AND ACTUALLY WENT TO COURT TO TAKE AWAY HEALTHCARE FOR 22 MILLION PEOPLE BY TRYING TO GET RID OF OBAMA CARE.

NOW, DONALD TRUMP IS IN RETREAT. REMEMBER, BACK IN MARCH WHEN I CALLED AND HE CALLED AND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO ACT LIKE WE WERE LORDS OF THE VIRUS, HE CALLED HIMSELF A WARTIME PRESIDENT. REMEMBER WHEN HE TOLD THE NATION TO SACRIFICE TOGETHER AND, QUOTE, IN THE FACE OF THIS INEVITABLE AND INVISIBLE ENEMY. WHAT HAPPENED? NOW, IT'S ALMOST JULY. HE WAVED THE WHITE FLAG AND LEFT THE BATTLEFIELD AND TODAY, WE ARE FACING A SERIOUS THREAT. WE HAVE TO MEET IT AS ONE COUNTRY. WE CAN'T CONTINUE. HALF IS PLANS AND HAVE COPING FOR THE BEST. WE LIFTED RESTRICTIONS PREMATURELY AND LIFTED THE RESTRICTIONS TO RAISE THE LIKELIHOOD OF NEEDING WE IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS. UNTIL THE SCIENCE CATCHES UP TO REALITY AND UNTIL WE HAVE BETTER TREATMENT FOR THOSE, THEY ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE. TODAY, I'M INTRODUCING A PLAN WITH STEPS I BELIEVE DONALD TRUMP SHOULD UNDERTAKE IMMEDIATELY TO BUILD ON THE ROADMAP I RELEASED BACK IN MARCH THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED LIVES , HEADED BEEN BEEN ADOPTED.

IT'S A PLAN TO SAVE LIVES FOR THE MONTH AHEAD. MORE TESTING IS NOT ONLY HOW YOU FOUND THE CORONAVIRUS, IT WAS HOW YOU STOPPED THE CORONAVIRUS CASES. TESTING, FOLLOWED BY RIGOROUS CONTACT TRACING AND QUARANTINING AND ISOLATION PROTOCOLS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. PEOPLE AREN'T WAITING IN LINES FOR MILES AND MILES LONG IN BAKING HOT CARS FOR DRIVE THROUGH NASAL SWABS FOR THE FUN OF IT.

THEY ARE DOING IT SO THEY CAN PROTECT THEM SWELLS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE A MASK ON THEY ARE PROTECTING OTHERS. PROTECTING OTHERS. WE KNOW WE ARE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN TESTING. THERE ARE HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE TESTS THEY NEED. TESTING IS HOW WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S OUR EYES ON THE GROUND. WITHOUT THAT TESTING, WE ARE FLYING BLIND. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO TESTING EVERYWHERE. WE NEED TO INCREASE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR TESTING. THAT INCLUDES DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF DRIVE- THROUGH TESTING SITES AND KEEPING THE INCREASE ON THEM UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE LINES. WE SHOULD CREATE A PANDEMIC TESTING BOARD TO SPEARHEAD A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN SO THAT EVERY WORKER CALLED BACK TO THEIR JOB CAN HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY AND THEIR FELLOW WORKERS ARE NOT INFECTED .

YOU KNOW, EXPERTS AGREE THAT WE NEED MORE CONTACT TRACERS TO TRACK THE PATH OF THE VIRUS COULD INDIVIDUAL STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA ARE ALREADY HIRING TRACERS BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE, INCLUDING HIRING AT LEAST 100,000 FEDERALLY FUNDED WORKERS TO PERFORM CONTACT TRACING AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH TASKS. THEY SHOULD BEGIN TO BE TRAINED NOW. SECOND, EVERY SINGLE FRONTLINE WORKER SHOULD HAVE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE. FIVE MONTHS INTO THIS CRISIS AND THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE STILL SCRAMBLING FOR SUPPLIES AND HAVE TO REUSE MASKS SHIFT AFTER SHIFT. HUNDREDS OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE DIED FROM COVID- 19. TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE BECOME INFECTED.

IT SHOULD BE ZERO ON BOTH COUNTS FOR THESE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, IF THEY HAD THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. YOU KNOW, WAITING THIS MANY MONTHS, WE STILL DON'T HAVE WHAT WE NEED. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AT THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT. YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, USE YOUR AUTHORITY, MR. PRESIDENT. USE IT THIS WEEK TO SCALE UP THE N95 MASKS. THE STEPS YOU ARE TAKING, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT DONE, MR. PRESIDENT. TAKE THE SHORTAGE OF PPE BEFORE YOU TURN ANOTHER ROUND THROUGH. YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WE NEED THESE MASKS AND GLOVES AND FACE SHIELDS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE NEED TO BE READY AND WE NEED TO KNOW MORE IS COMING. WE SHOULD BE LASER FOCUSED ON TREATMENT AND VACCINE. WE SHOULD BE LEADING A COORDINATED AND GLOBAL APPROACH ON THE SCIENCE AND NOT JUST REGARDING THE EXPERTS PUSHING DANGEROUS AND DISPROVED DRUGS AND DISPARATE TREATMENTS. LET'S LEND PROGRESS TOWARD TREATMENTS AND VACCINES BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HASN'T BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT MANUFACTURING ENOUGH DOSES TO MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF SCALE. I HOPE THEY ARE DOING IT NOW.

THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING 250 MILLION DOLLARS WITH A PLAN NOW FOR EXACTLY HOW THEY DISTRIBUTE THIS SO EVERY AMERICAN HAS ACCESS WHEN AND IF THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE. THEY MAY BE DOING IT, BUT THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY. THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD REPORT WEEKLY ON THIS AND WE CAN'T END UP WITH THE SAME DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS WE HAD. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CUSTOMERS AREN'T BEING GOUGED BY NEW DRUG THERAPIES WHEN THEY ARE DEVELOPED. WE HAVE TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. FOR ALL ITS SHORT COMINGS, THIS WAS WHY W.H.O. WAS CREATED. FOR THE GLOBAL RESPONSE DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE U.S. SHOULD BE LEADING THAT RESPONSE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. COVID-19 WILL LIKELY WORSEN AT THE OUTSET OF FLU SEASON THIS YEAR AND WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE MEASURES NOW, NOW.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THE SEASONAL FLU THAT VACCINE CAN BE READY TO ADMINISTER SAFETY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS. WE NEED REAL PLANS, REAL GUIDELINES WITH UNIFORM AND NATIONWIDE STANDARDS TO HELP US CHART OUR ECONOMIC REOPENINGS. WHATEVER WE'VE BEEN DOING NOW IS NOT WORKING. THE STATE-BY- STATE APPROACH WILL ONLY PRODUCE CONFUSION AND SLOW ANY PROGRESS. YOU KNOW, YOU ALL REPORTED THAT THE CDC TRIED TO CLEAR GUIDELINES ABOUT THE STAGES OF REOPENING AND WHAT THEY SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THE ADMINISTRATION DELAYED AND SCALED BACK THOSE PLANS. WE NEED CLEAR EVIDENCE, CLEAR EVIDENCE BASED STEPS THAT STATES CAN ADOPT, NOW. IT'S BOTH THE STANDARDS TO BE MET TO SAFELY PROCEED WITH FURTHER OPENINGS AND THE REPOSITIONING OF SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WHEN CASES BEGIN TO RISE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. WE NEED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS SO PARENTS, IF AND WHEN THEY CAN RETURN TO WORK, ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE SAFE AND CARED FOR.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE HOLDING AND PROVIDING THE STICKERS THAT SAY, SAFE FOR SHOPPERS AND THEY ARE MINIMIZING THE RISK OF EXPOSURES. FOR THE TOP OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EVERYONE NEEDS TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC, PERIOD. WEAR A MASK. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU. IT'S ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, IT'S ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS. IT'S ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ABOUT KEEPING OTHER PEOPLE SAFE.

IT HELPS YOU, YES. IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OTHER PEOPLE SAFE. IT'S A SIMPLE MEASURE AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS WE CAN DO THE RIGHT THING. IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT AND UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AS AN AMERICAN TO PROTECT YOUR COWORKERS AND NEIGHBORS. FINALLY, WE NEED TO PROTECT THE POPULATIONS MOST AT RISK, OUR SENIORS, OUR BLACK AND BROWN POPULATIONS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING HIT THE HARDEST. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN CASE NUMBERS IS CAUSING A LOT OF FEAR AND ANXIETY AND PEOPLE HAVE LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES AND I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME, THEY ARE SIMPLY SCARED, FRIGHTENED.

THIS IS TAKING A TOLL ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND IT'S AN EMOTIONAL COST AS WELL. WE CAN'T EXPECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO QUARANTINE INDEFINITELY WITHOUT SUPPORT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY WILL BE MY RESPONSIBILITY IF I'M THE PRESIDENT. I WILL NOT ABANDON YOU. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE FIVE STRAIGHTFORWARD STEPS THAT WILL HELP DEFEAT THIS PANDEMIC. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT A LOT OF THESE STEPS ARE THE SAME SORTS OF THINGS I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN MARCH WHEN I RELEASED MY FIRST COVID-19 RESPONSE, YOU WOULD BE RIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE HEARING THE EXPERTS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES FOR MONTHS, AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT.

THESE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE STEPS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO PUT IN PLACE TO MEET THE THREAT. STATEWIDE LOCKDOWNS THAT SO MANY AMERICANS LIVED UNDER FOR MONTHS WERE INTENDED TO BUY US TIME TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER. THAT'S INSTEAD OF USING THAT TIME TO PREPARE OURSELVES. DONALD TRUMP'S SQUANDERED IT AND HERE WE ARE MORE THAN THREE MONTHS LATER AND HARDLY BETTER PREPARED THAN WE WERE IN MARCH. INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE AND THE THREAT OF MASSIVE SPIKES THAT OVERWHELM THE CAPACITY OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS ON THE HORIZON. AMERICANS ARE ANXIOUS AND OUT OF WORK AND FEARFUL FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS. DONALD TRUMP IS DOING NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT IT. MR. PRESIDENT, THE CRISIS IS REAL. THE CRISIS IS REAL. IT'S SURGING, MR. PRESIDENT. YOUR PROMISES AND PREDICTIONS AND WISHFUL THINKING PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR, AND NOT ONLY DOING THE COUNTRY NO GOOD, BUT MAKING THEM LOSE MORE FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. AMERICA KNOWS THIS CRISIS ISN'T BEHIND US. IT'S THE SAME AS YOU KNOW AND THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING EVEN IF YOU REFUSE, MR.

PRESIDENT. THEY KNOW WE NEED A COORDINATED NATIONAL PLAN AND WE NEED IT NOW EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T, MR. PRESIDENT AND WON'T DO IT. YOU CALLED YOURSELF A CHEERLEADER AND WE DON'T NEED A CHEERLEADER, MR. PRESIDENT. WE NEED A PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LEVEL WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WHO WILL TELL US THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH AND A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BLAMING OTHERS. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS AND FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK AND A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LEAD WITH THE EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION. WEAR A MASK. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. LIMIT THE SIZE OF CROWDS. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL- BEING OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T MAKE ENORMOUS SACRIFICES SO THEY CAN JUST WAIT AND WASTE THEIR TIME. YOU CAN WASTE THE EFFORTS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN WITH YOUR MIDNIGHT RANTINGS AND TWEETS. THEY DON'T MAKE THE SACRIFICES SO YOU CAN IGNORE THE SCIENCE AND CHART RESPONSIBLE STEPS LIKE WEARING MASKS INTO A POLITICAL STATEMENT. THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T DO IT, MR. PRESIDENT, SO YOU COULD WASH YOUR HANDS AND WALK AWAY FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY. MAYBE THERE ARE TIMES THIS NATION NEEDS A CHEERLEADER AND NOW IS NOT ONE OF THEM. AMERICA NEEDS A PRESIDENT. WHATEVER TRUMP DOES OR DOES NOT DO, WE CAN'T KNOW TODAY WHAT THE STATE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WILL BE NEXT JANUARY. I'M ALMOST CERTAIN AND I HOPE I TURN OUT TO BE WRONG, I'M ALMOST CERTAIN IT WON'T BE OVER.

IF I SHOULD HAVE THE HONOR TO BE THE ELECTED PRESIDENT, ON THE DAY I'M SWORN IN, I'LL GET RIGHT TO WORK IMPLEMENTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE RESPONSE THAT REMAIN UNDONE. I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT MY DAY ONE COVID-19 AGENDA IN THE WEEKS TO COME. MY RESPONSE WILL BEGIN WELL BEFORE I TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE AND WILL START AS SOON AS THE ELECTION IS A SIDE. I WILL BE A PRESIDENT OF RESPECT FOR SCIENTISTS, WHO WON'T CENSOR THEIR ABILITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WILL REACH OUT TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI AND THAT HE WILL CONTINUE HIS INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. I WILL HAVE, FROM DAY ONE, READY TO GO, THE BEST MEDICAL EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS TO ADVISE OUR RESPONSE. MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WILL LISTEN TO THEM AND LET THEM SPEAK FREELY AND I WILL WORK WITH THE GOVERNORS AND MAYORS OF BOTH PARTIES IN EVERY STATE, TERRITORY AND TRIBE. IT'S A SIMPLE PROPOSITION, FOLKS. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT THIS TOGETHER. WE WILL EMERGE FROM THIS STRONGER BECAUSE WE DID IT TOGETHER AND I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. THEY GAVE ME A LIST AND IS ALEX FROM A.P. OUT THERE? CAN'T TELL WITH THE MASKS ON. >> WE WILL WORK WITH THAT. WE REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS BRIEFED AS EARLY AS MARCH 2019 THAT RUSSIA HAD ORDERED OR OFFERED BOUNTIES TO THE TALIBAN FOR THE KILLING OF U.S. SOLDIERS. YOU CALLED HIS INACTION ON THIS ISSUE A BETRAYAL. BROADLY, WHAT CONSEQUENCES SHOULD THE PRESIDENT FACE FOR THAT BETRAYAL AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRESS AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITIES FROM THE CONGRESS OF BOTH PARTIES SHOULD DEMAND THE FACTS.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A MOVING STORY. AS I WAS LEAVING, I HAD THE TELEVISION ON AND I UNDERSTAND THERE IS EVEN MORE INFORMATION THAT HAS COME OUT TODAY ABOUT WHAT WAS KNOWN. ONE OF TWO THINGS. THIS PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT COGNITIVE CAPABILITY AND HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT IS GOING ON. HE EITHER READS AND/OR GETS BRIEFED ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND FORGETS IT OR HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY THAT HE NEEDS TO KNOW IT. BUT, THE FACT IS THAT AT A MINIMUM, AT A MINIMUM, THE DISCREPANCY ALLEGEDLY BETWEEN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AS REPORTED — SOME THOUGHT IT WAS MORE CERTAIN AND OTHERS THOUGHT LESS CERTAIN.

THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED PER THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE, ON DAY ONE, SAID, I WANT YOU TO COME BEFORE ME IN THE SITUATION ROOM AND LAY OUT THE DIFFERENCES AND DISCUSSIONS. WHO IS SAYING WHAT? LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, IT'S CLEAR TO ME — AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE DID — YOU SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND GOTTEN THEM ALL IN ONE ROOM AND SAT AND SAID, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT THIS? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREPARE TO DEAL WITH THIS, IF THIS IS HAPPENING AND HOW ARE WE DOING THIS AND WHAT ARE WE DOING? HE SHOULD HAVE, AT A MINIMUM, PICKED UP THE PHONE AND SAID VLADIMIR, OLD BUDDY, IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE — AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME YOU'VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM — A BIG PROBLEM — AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH — AND I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ANYMORE — BUT WHAT I'VE HEARD OVER THE LAST WEEK, AND THE RECENT REPORTING THAT IT WASN'T A PRESIDENTIAL DAILY BRIEF, THE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS SOMETHING I READ EVERY SINGLE DAY AS VICE PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT READ IT EVERY DAY AND THAT WAS BRIEFED EVERY MORNING BEFORE I GOT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN AGAIN. THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW HE DIDN'T KNOW OR WAS BEING BRIEFED, IT'S A DERELICTION OF DUTY IF THAT IS THE CASE. IF HE WAS BRIEFED AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THIS, THAT IS A DERELICTION OF DUTY IN THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO END THIS — I WAS TALKING TO JILL — MY WIFE, JILL — AND I DON'T SEE HER GET OUT RAGED VERY OFTEN AND SHE STARTED ASKING — I ASKED HER, JILL, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE AND THIS INFORMATION HAD COME OUT IF MY SON, BEAU, SERVING IN IRAQ — WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WHAT ARE THE PARENTS THINKING OUT THERE AND WHAT ARE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND HUSBANDS AND WIVES THINKING? IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DERELICTION OF DUTY. THAT IS IF ANY OF THIS IS REMOTELY TRUE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR AN ANSWER SHOULD COME QUICKLY. >> WHAT IF THESE REPORTS ARE TRUE? >> OF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE AND HE DID NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THIS, THEN THE PUBLIC SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT THIS MAN IS NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I WAS TOLD BY NBC — MIKE? HE'S FOLLOWING ME AROUND THE COUNTRY. >> YOU ARE LOCKED IN A DIFFICULT NOMINATION BATTLE. THE POLLS SHOW YOU WITH A SIZABLE NATIONAL LEAD AND A LOT OF STATES CRITICAL TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. WHAT ABOUT THIS IS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT, AS YOU LOOK AHEAD AND CAN YOU MAINTAIN THIS ADVANTAGE WITHOUT CAMPAIGNING IN A TRADITIONAL WAY, ESPECIALLY THIS FALL WHEN VOTERS TUNE IN? >> THIS IS THE MOST UNUSUAL CAMPAIGN IN MODERN HISTORY. I START OFF WITH THE PREMISE THAT I WILL FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR THE COUNTRY AND THAT MEANS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE HOLDING RALLIES AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE — FOR EXAMPLE — YOU ALL WERE HERE BUT WE NEED TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH EVERYBODY HAVING MASKS ON AND WHEN I FINISH THIS, I WILL PUT MY MASK BACK ON.

IT HAS ALMOST ALL BEEN VIRTUAL BUT I HAVE GONE TO HOUSTON AND I HAVE GONE TO PENNSYLVANIA AND I HAVE TRAVELED. WHEN I DO, I GET IN, I MAKE MY CASE, TAKE QUESTIONS AND LEAVE. YOU KNOW ME. I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I GET THE GREATEST FEEL. I CAN GET A SENSE OF THEM WITH THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES AND BY THE PLAINTIFF VOICES THEY HAVE, WHAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, I'VE BEEN SURPRISED. THE IRONY IS, WE PROBABLY REACH MORE PEOPLE DIRECTLY WITH THIS, RATHER THAN ONE-ON-ONE. YOU PEOPLE AT THE TELEVISION STATIONS, YOU WILL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE ON ON, YOU HAVE A ONE TO ONE CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE OUT THERE. ONE PERSON IN THE TV IS LOOKING AT YOU. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY. THEY TELL ME 200 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE WATCH WHAT I HAVE DONE FROM HOME AND HALF A DOZEN THINGS WE'VE GONE OUT AND DONE.

THE IRONY IS WITH ALL THE COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY AND IN DETAIL WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN WE WOULD HAVE, OTHERWISE, I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE DOING IT IN PERSON. SO FAR, I DON'T WANT TO JINX MYSELF AND I KNOW THE POLLING DATA IS VERY GOOD. I THINK IT'S REALLY EARLY, MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENT. WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. MY ECONOMIC PLAN WILL BE LAID OUT IN DETAIL TO DEAL WITH THIS. IT WILL BE WHAT I WILL DO IF I AM ELECTED PRESIDENT, SO THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS COMING.

>> HAVE YOU REQUESTED A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING, AS YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO AS THE NOMINEE IF THEY OFFERED YOU A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING? >> THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING AND AS THIS PROCEEDS, I MAY VERY WILL DO THAT. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO — I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORT FOREIGN-POLICY STAFF, AS YOU KNOW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, DOZENS OF THEM. I HAD A LONG MEETING WITH MY FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, ETC. I GOT THERE READ OF WHAT THEY'VE HEARD SO FAR. BUT, IF IT DOESN'T GET CLEARED UP QUICKLY, THEN I WILL SEEK AND ASK IF I CAN BE BRIEF. >> HAVE YOU PREPARED FOR THE DEBATE AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> I CAN HARDLY WAIT. >> OVER THE WEEKEND, PRINCETON DECIDED TO REMOVE THE NAME OF WILSON FROM THEIR SCHOOL, DUE TO RACIST THINKING AND PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED THAT DECISION INCREDIBLE STUPIDITY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DECISION OF PRINCETON AND THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS AND MORE BROADLY, AS THE NATION IS IN THIS MOMENT OF RECKONING WITH RACE, WE SEE THE REMOVAL OF STATUES AND ALSO THE REMOVAL OF NAMES FROM INSTITUTIONS.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH TO COME TO TERMS WITH OUR NATIONS HISTORY AND THE LEADERS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE REMOVAL OF THE STATURES? >> THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF THAT. ONE, ANY INSTITUTION THAT WANTS TO JETTISON A NAME IS A DECISION THEY WOULD MAKE. I'M ASSUMING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY MADE THE JUDGMENT ABOUT THE WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL AND I DON'T KNOW BUT IT WAS MADE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE INSTITUTION THAT CHOSE THAT NAME AND NOW NO LONGER WANTS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT NAME.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT — WELL, SECONDLY — THERE IS A DISTINCTION AS THE FORMER MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS SAID, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REMINDERS AND REMEMBRANCES OF HISTORY AND RECOVERING FROM HISTORY. SO, THE IDEA OF COMPARING WHETHER OR NOT GEORGE WASHINGTON OWNED SLAVES OR THOMAS JEFFERSON OWNED SLAVES AND SOMEBODY WHO WAS COMMITTING TREASON AND TRYING TO TAKE DOWN A UNION AND KEEP SLAVERY, THERE IS A DISTINCTION. THE IDEA OF BRINGING DOWN THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS WITH CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND GENERALS, ETC., WHO STRONGLY SUPPORTED SECESSION AND MAINTAINED THE NAMES OF SLAVERY AND GOING TO WAR TO DO IT, THOUGH STATURES BELONG IN MUSEUMS, NOT IN PUBLIC PLACES AND I THINK WE WILL GO OUT TO THE STATUES AND MONUMENTS THAT ARE LIKE THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL. THERE IS AN OBLIGATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROTECT THOSE MONUMENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT AND THAT IS A REMEMBRANCE, NOT DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, REVERING SOMEBODY WHO HAD THAT VIEW. THEY HAD MUCH BROADER VIEWS AND MAY HAVE HAD THINGS IN THE PAST THAT ARE DISTASTEFUL BUT THAT IS A JUDGMENT FOR EXAMPLE. TAKING DOWN AND TOPPLING THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE IN THE GEORGE WASHINGTON STATUE, ETC., I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT FROM HAPPENING.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THESE PUBLIC EVENTS FOR THE PAST MONTH, AND IT HAS PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH MORE PEOPLE. HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS? IF SO, HOW FREQUENTLY? >> NO. I HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. IT'S FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, I'VE HAD NO SYMPTOMS AND MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, KNOCK ON WOOD AND NUMBER TWO, I HADN'T WANTED TO TAKE ANYONE ELSE'S PLACE IN THE PROCESS BUT THE SECRET SERVICE ALL GETS TESTED AND THEY ARE AROUND MY HOME AND ANYONE WHO COMES INTO MY HOME, INCLUDING STAFF, ARE TESTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE HAD THE VIRUS.

I EXPECT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I'M MOVING TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE HERE, IS TO BE TESTED RELATIVELY SOON. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN TESTED AND WAS IN FLORIDA, A SOCIAL WORKER WORKING WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SHE CAME HOME AND BEFORE SHE CAME HOME, SHE'S BEEN TESTED TWICE , TO MAKE SURE SHE IS CLEAR AND QUARANTINED. SHE LIVES IN PHILADELPHIA. BUT, I HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED, YET. >> WHO SHOULD I GO TO NEXT? >> WHAT ABOUT THE WILMINGTON NEWSPAPER? >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I KNOW YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS THROUGH NOVEMBER. >> WHERE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I WILL DO IT. >> TWO QUITS QUESTIONS. YESTERDAY, YOU SAID AT A FUNDRAISER REGARDING VLADIMIR PUTIN, QUOTE, I'LL CONFRONT PUTIN AND STRENGTHEN NATO AND I WILL MAKE CLEAR TO PUTIN THAT THERE WILL BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR INTERFERENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SPECIFICALLY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO PUTIN TO GET THIS THROUGH AND IN GENERAL, FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? >> I CAN, BUT I WILL NOT.

HERE'S THE DEAL. THE IDEA THAT PUTIN OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN LEADER CAN ENGAGE IN ATTEMPTING TO MANIPULATE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — THE IDEA THAT HE CONTINUES THE ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE THAT HE IS DOING AND THE IDEA THAT IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF I'M PRESIDENT IN MY ADMINISTRATION. THAT RINGS FROM EVERYTHING TO MAKING SURE WE GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, ALL THE WAY TO CLOSING SANCTIONS THAT WOULD BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE ACTIONS HE HAS TAKEN AS AN APPROPRIATE.

I HAVE HAD SOME VERY BLUNT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN WHEN I WAS VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE THAT AND ONE REASON WHY, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH HE DOESN'T WANT ME TO BE MORE AS PRESIDENT, WE WILL HAVE MORE BLUNT CONVERSATIONS. >> THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WILL ISSUE AN UPDATED LIST OF POTENTIAL NOMINEES TO THE COURT. YOU HAVE SAID YOU WOULD PUT A BLACK WOMAN ON THE COURT SHOULD A SPOT OPEN UP BUT THERE ARE GROUPS CALLING FOR YOU TO RELEASE A LIST OF SPECIFIC NAMES. WOULD YOU DO THAT? >> ONE THING I HESITATE TO DO IS FOLLOW ANYTHING THE PRESIDENT DOES AT ALL BECAUSE HE USUALLY DOES IT ALL WRONG. WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST WITH A GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO BE IN THE COURT AND I'M NOT GOING TO RELEASE THAT UNTIL WE GO FURTHER DOWN THE LINE WITH BETTING THEM, AS WELL. JUST LIKE THE LOGICAL QUESTION ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT, I'M NOT RELEASING THE NAMES OF ALL THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL POTENTIAL NOMINEES AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WOMEN OF COLOR AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LATINO WOMEN AND ASIAN WOMEN ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE ARE JUST UNDER WAY IN THE HARD VET OF GOING TO THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, ANYWHERE FROM 6-8 WEEKS TO BE DONE AND THE COMMITTEE IS FORMED AND IT'S UNDER WAY. IN EARLY AUGUST — I CAN GUARANTEE AUGUST 1, BUT IT WILL BE EARLY AUGUST, SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE CONVENTION, I BELIEVE. >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT AND THIS IS A 2-PART QUESTION WITH RUSSIA. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF THOSE REPORTS ARE TRUE, THAT TRUMP IS GUILTY OF VIOLATING HIS OATH OF OFFICE? AND, ON YOUR VP CHOICE, YOU'VE SAID THAT YOU WANT YOUR RUNNING MATE TO BE READY ON DAY ONE TO DO THE JOB. DO YOU THINK SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE NATIONAL SECURITY OR FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERIENCE CAN BE READY ON DAY ONE? >> YES. AND THAT DEPENDS. LOOK, ONE THING WE'VE TRIED TO DO — AND I'VE TALKED AT LENGTH OVER THE YEARS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ABOUT THIS, WE TRY TO FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BACKGROUND AND AN EXPERTISE THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE.

ONE OF THE REASONS PRESIDENT OBAMA PICKED ME, IS BECAUSE I HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CONGRESS AND SECONDLY, I HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WITH FOREIGN POLICY AND HE HAD CLEAR VIEWS OF WHAT HE WANTED TO DO AND WHAT HIS STRATEGY WAS IN TERMS OF AMERICANS AROUND THE WORLD. HE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE AND KNEW A LOT OF THE WORLD LEADERS. SO, I THINK ALTHOUGH THAT IS A HELPFUL THING TO HAVE, IT'S NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE I START OFF WITH THE TWO PLACES I STILL HAVE SOME EXPERTISE, IN BOTH THOSE PLACES. UNITING THE COUNTRY AND THE CONGRESS AND FOREIGN POLICY. SO, IT IS ALMOST ALL OF THE WOMEN I'M CONSIDERING THAT HAVE HAD SOME EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE ISSUES, SECURITY ISSUES.

BUT, THAT IS NOT A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THEY HAVE THE INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, AS WELL AS THE TEMPERAMENT AND AS WELL, LEADERSHIP QUALITIES THAT LEND EVERYONE TO BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE READY ON DAY ONE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WITH REGARD TO WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT — IT DEPENDS ON EXACTLY WHAT HE DID AND WHAT HE KNEW, AT A MINIMUM. EITHER HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HIS JOB AND IS HAVING DIFFICULTY SITTING DOWN AND BEING ABLE TO READ A REPORT — BECAUSE REPORTS COME ACROSS.

HE SAYS I DIDN'T READ IT, DIDN'T SEE IT OR KNOW IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD NOT KNOW, NOT READ AND NOT SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. BUT, IT CLEARLY IS A DERELICTION OF DUTY AND IT IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYONE, INCLUDING MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS AND MY REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THAT THEY ARE WORRIED, AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. WHERE IS THE WOMAN FROM THE DELAWARE NEWS CHANNEL? THAT'S MY HOMETOWN TEAM AND I BETTER CALL ON THEM. >> HOW ARE YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. >> LIKE OTHER STATES, DELAWARE IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN CORONA VIRUS CASES. DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR DELAWARE OFFICIALS AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR HOW THEY'VE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC SO FAR AND HOW TO HANDLE IT, GOING FORWARD? >> THEY'VE HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL, SO FAR. NOW, THE GOVERNORS MAKING ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTICK.

IT'S NOT TREMENDOUS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTICK. IT WAS A STATE AND I GET BRIEFED EVERY DAY BY A GROUP OF LEADING DOCTORS AROUND THE WORLD, AROUND THE COUNTRY. MICK MURTHY AND DR. BENNETT. ANYWAY, I GET A PRINTOUT OF THE STATES THAT ARE DOING BETTER AND DOING WORSE. UP UNTIL NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE AND NOW, IT'S OPENING UP, SLIGHTLY. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE GOVERNOR TODAY. MY GUESS IS — ONLY A GUESS — THAT HE WILL BE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY TO WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DELAWARE BEACHES, NOW AND HOW THAT HAS OCCURRED AND THE RESTAURANTS AND THE BARS. I DON'T KNOW THAT, THOUGH. THE GOOD NEWS, IT FLATTENED OUT AND THE BAD NEWS, THERE IS A SLIGHT UPTICK AND I HAVE NOT GONE INTO THE DETAILS, AND I SPEAK TO HIM NOT INFREQUENTLY, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH, THREE OR FOUR TIMES A MONTH AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ADVICE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S POPPING UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE. TELL HIM I WILL BE LATE. >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. >> HOURS GET IN TROUBLE ON THE LAST QUESTION. >> THREE PONDS TO THE PANDEMIC HAS BECOME POLITICIZED AND EVEN WEARING A MASK HAS BECOME POLITICAL. IF ELECTED, HOW WILL YOU GET AMERICANS ON THE SAME PAGE AND CAN YOUR PLAN BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY AREN'T? >> WELL, THE WAY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE — AND I WILL TRY TO SAY THIS POLITELY — IT'S TOO LOWER THE RHETORIC BASED ON DIVISION. STOP APPEALING TO THE — LET'S SAY SOCIETY. INSTEAD OF, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE PRESIDENT TWEETS OUT ABOUT WHITE SUPREMACY, DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT. BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER. WE ARE GIVING A PORTION OF THE POPULATION WHO HAS RESPONDED TO THIS SORT OF — A SORT OF FREE PASS — IT GENERATES DIVISION AND WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT IT, IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT TALKING ABOUT MANHOOD AND BEING STRONG.

YOU DON'T NEED THE MASK. I THINK WE HAVE TO START APPEALING TO THE BETTER SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE BY POINTING OUT THAT THE MASK IS NOT SO MUCH TO PROTECT ME, IT'S IF I HAVE AN UNDIAGNOSED — IF I HAVE IT, IT PROTECTS YOU AGAINST ME AND PROTECTS OTHER PEOPLE. IT'S CALLED PATRIOTISM. IT'S CALLED RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S CALLED MAKING SURE YOU LOOK OUT FOR THE OTHER PERSON. WE HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME — THE PRESIDENT PUTS EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF HIM AND I'M NOT BEING FACETIOUS. EVERYTHING IS HIM. IT'S I DON'T THINK OR IF I DON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, OR I DIDN'T DO THAT OR I BELIEVE THAT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT, IT'S ABOUT US. CHANGING THE TONE OF THE ADMINISTRATION ACROSS THE BOARD, ALLOWING SCIENTISTS TO SPEAK AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE FACTS AND WITH THAT, WHEN A MISTAKE IS MADE, YOU SAY, I MADE A MISTAKE, I WAS WRONG.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY AND WE SHOULD DO IT THIS WAY. I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE AND LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING THIS — I APOLOGIZE IF YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE — THE WORDS OF A PRESIDENT MATTER, NO MATTER WHO THE PRESIDENT IS IN NO MATTER HOW RESPONSIBLE OR IRRESPONSIBLE THE PRESIDENT IS. WHOEVER THE PRESIDENT IS, THEY CAN TAKE US TO WAR OR BRING PEACE AND MARKETS CAN RISE OR FALL. APPEAL TO THE SENIOR SIDE OF HUMANITY AND IT MATTERS. IT REALLY MATTERS. SO, I THINK IT IS ABOUT THAT AND IT GOES ACROSS THE BOARD. I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THIS. I KNOW I WAS CRITICIZED, LEGITIMATELY CRITICIZED, DURING THE PRIMARY.

DURING THE PRIMARIES, I SAID I PLANNED ON UNITING THE COUNTRY AND BRINGING DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TOGETHER. YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE CAN'T FOCUS. WE HAVE TO BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER. ON THIS PIECE, IF WE STAND UP — AND BY THE WAY — DON'T HOLD ME TWO NUMBERS, PLEASE — YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THIS, BUT SOMETHING LIKE 70 OR 74 OR 75% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK FOR THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THINK WE SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND OPEN MORE SLOWLY.

I THINK — YOU KNOW — WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO OUR VETERANS AND ACTUALLY MAKING PEOPLE INDIRECTLY FEEL GUILTY FOR NOT DOING IT. APPEAL TO THEIR BETTER NATURE. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS ALMOST IDEALISTIC, BUT IT'S NOT. REMIND PEOPLE, IF YOU DON'T WEAR THIS MASS, YOU END UP HURTING SOMEONE OR YOU GET INFECTED AND YOU TAKE IT HOME TO YOUR CHILD OR TAKE IT HOME TO YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE, YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION BECAUSE IT REALLY IS, IT REALLY IS. THANK YOU. I REALLY DO HAVE TO GO AND I APOLOGIZE. I'M GOING TO GET IN REAL TROUBLE AND I'M PROBABLY ALREADY IN TROUBLE.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, WHAT IS THE LAST THING? I'M SORRY. >> VICE PRESIDENT, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE DELINEATION ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MONUMENTS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FATHERS OF THE COUNTRY, WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON, WORTHY OF PRESERVATION. OUR CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS WORTHY OF PRESENTATION AND SHOULD THEY BE TEAR TORN DOWN WITHOUT THE VOTE OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS? >> I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFERENT. IT'S BETTER IF THEY ARE TAKEN DOWN AND TAKE THE CONFEDERATE FLAG DOWN, THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO DO IT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ANGER AND THE ANGUISH THAT PEOPLE FEEL BY HAVING, FOR YEARS AND YEARS, BEING UNDER THE STATUE OF ROBERT E.

LEE — IT'S A DIFFERENCE. IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO DO IT PEACEFULLY. IT'S A DISTINCTION. I SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY AND I THINK THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHERE THOSE STATUES ARE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REMOVE THEM. PUT THEM IN MUSEUMS AND GET THEM DOWN. DON'T EXPECT THAT IF YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, AND YOU FINALLY, FINALLY ARE GOING THROUGH ANOTHER STAGE OF RESPONDING TO THE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND WHAT HAPPENS, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE PULLS DOWN THE STATUE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

IT'S BETTER THAT THEY DO NOT BUT IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN PULLING DOWN THE STATUE OR GOING TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL — NOT LINCOLN MEMORIAL — THAT WAS A BAD EXAMPLE. THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL — >>> TWO QUICKIES. WILL YOU COMMIT? >> YES. I'M COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL DEBATE GROUPS AND WHO THEY PICK AS MODERATORS AND IT'S BEEN THIS WAY A LONG TIME. THE FIRST ONE IS A ONE-ON-ONE DEBATE WITH THE MODERATOR AND THE SECOND IS LIKE A TOWN MEETING AND THE THIRD ONE IS A NORMAL DEBATE, AGAIN. I COMMIT TO THOSE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM. >> LAST QUESTION, REAL QUICK. >> YOU ARE A LYING DOG. >> YOU ARE SUBJECT TO A DEGREE OF COGNITIVE DECLINE. I'M 65 AND I DON'T HAVE RECOLLECTION I USE TO HAVE AND I FORGET MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. YOU'VE GOT 12 YEARS ON ME, SIR. HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED FOR SOME DEGREE OF COGNITIVE DECLINE? >> LOOK, ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS WATCH ME. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO COMPARE MY COGNITIVE CAPABILITIES TO THE COGNITIVE CAPABILITY OF THE MAN I'M RUNNING AGAINST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NTS STATEWIDE ARE IN HOSPITAL BEDS WITH FEARS THAT NUMBER WILL ONLY GROW IN THE COMING WEEKS. THIS MORNING THE CORONAVIRUS SURGE CONTINUES IN TEXAS. INFECTIONS STATEWIDE NOW TOPPING 150,000 WITH JUST OVER 2400 DEATHS. DOCTORS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM AS INFECTIONS SKYROCKET. >> WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING THIS INFECT YOUNG PEOPLE. >> Reporter: AT HOUSTON METHODIST, EIGHT HOSPITALS, ABOUT 60% OF THE COVID-19 PATIENTS ARE NOW UNDER PATIENTS ARE NOW UNDER 50 AND ON THE FRONT LINES IN HOUSTON THE DOCTOR IS SEEING A DISTURBING INCREASE. >> WE HAVE HAD A BROAD AGE GROUP EVEN IN THEIR 20s IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ON LIFE-SUPPORT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS LIVE WITH OLDER PEOPLE. >> TEXAS BARS REMAIN CLOSED AND RESTAURANTS ARE LIMITED TO HAVE CAPACITY WITH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS LOOKING TO RETURN TO UT AUSTIN AND ANY IN PERSON CLASSES WILL BE CAPPED AT 40% AND MASKS MANDATORY. >> PEOPLE ARE DENYING THE VIRUS EVEN REAL AND IT'S INSANE. >> THE 23-YEAR- OLD LAW STUDENT IS RECOVERING FROM COVID AND SAID STOPPING THE VIRUS IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY. >> WEARING T.MASKS AND IF YOU FEEL BAD DON'T GO OUT.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT WHEN INDIVIDUAL. >> THE 36-YEAR- OLD WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 12 DAYS. >> IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. I HAD NEVER BEEN HOSPITALIZED BEFORE. >> HER PARENTS TI AND HER BROTHER WERE ALSO SICK AND THEY ALL RECOVERED. >> CURTIS AND BETTY DID NOT SURVIVE THE VIRUS , TOGETHER FOR 53 YEARS AND THEY DIED WITHIN ONE HOUR OF EACH OTHER HOLDING HANDS WORK >> HIS LAST WORDS TO HIS MOTHER WERE SENT BY TEXT. >> IT'S SAD THAT — SHE WAS A GREAT MOM BUT SHE WILL BE A BETTER ANGEL. >> THE DOCTOR TOLD ME IF CASES PEAK IN JULY EVEN AT THE END OF JULY HE THINKS HOSPITALS WILL BE OKAY BUT IF THEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE AFTER I JULY IT COULD BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. >>> THIS MORNING TH THE FALLOUT INTENSIFYING OVER THE EXPLOSIVE REPORT , THE RUSSIANS OFFERED THE TALIBAN MONEY FOR KILLING U.S. SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN. THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT AMERICAN OFFICIALS PROVIDED A WRITTEN BRIEFING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT THE ALLEGED PLOT.

THE EFITH INVESTIGATION HAD FOCUSED ITS HEART ON APRIL 2019 CAR BOMBING THAT KILLED THREE MARINES AS ONE SUCH POTENTIAL ATTACK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED ON THE ISSUE AS FAR HA BACK AS MARCH 2019 INCLUDING BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, JOHN BOLTON BUT THAT UNDERCUTS THE CENTRAL ARGUMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THE ISSUE AND A POINT ECHOED BY HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR IN THE STATEMENT OVERNIGHT. ROBERT O'BRIEN RIDING IN PART THAT THE RECENT PRESS ARTICLES HAD NOT BEEN VERIFIED OR SUBSTANTIATED BY THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON IT. RE THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY WAS ASKED EARLIER IN THE DAY ON WHETHER THE INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED IN THE E WRITTEN BRIEFINGS.

>> HE WAS NOT PERSONALLY BRIEFED ON THE MATTER AND THAT'S ALL I CAN SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. >> TOP OFFICIALS BLASTING THE LEAKED INFORMATION INCLUDING THE CIA DIRECTOR WHOG WROTE OVERNIGHT, LEAKS COMPROMISE AND DISRUPT THE CRITICAL INNER AGENCY WORK TO COLLECT AND DESCRIBE CAPABILITIES. THIS ALL IBCOMES AMID BIPARTISAN CALLS FOR ANSWERS AND HOURS THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN WILL BE AMONG NINE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS BRIEFED ON THE MATTER AT THE WHITE HOUSE >> IS THIS ANOTHER SI SITUATION WHETHER PRESIDENT WAS EITHER TOLD AND REJECTS IT OR IS PEOPLE ARE LATOO SCARED TO TELL HIM BECAUSE IT CONTRADICTS THE NARRATIVE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN BEING HIS BUDDY.

>> OVERNIGHT A SPOKESPERSON FOR JOHN BOLTON SAID NOTS COMMENT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE REPORT THAT BOLTON HAD BRIEFED THE PRESIDENT ON THE RUSSIAN MATTER LAST YEAR AND MEANWHILE THE VETERAN REPORTER WHO HELPED BREAK THE WATERGATE SCANDAL REPORTS THAT BASED ON HUNDREDS OF HIGHLY CLASSIFIED PHONE CALLS TO FOREIGN LEADERS, PRESIDENT TRUMP W WAS CONSISTENTLY UNPREPARED FOR DISCUSSIONS THAT A NUMBER OF HIS FORMER SENIOR OFFICIALS BELIEVED HE POSED A DANGER TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS FIRED BACK SAYING, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A WORLD-CLASS NEGOTIATOR WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY FURTHERED AMERICAN INTEREST ON THE ET WORLD STAGE. >>> PRESIDENT PUTIN SPOKESPERSON TELLING NBC NEWS THAT PRESIDENT T T TRUMP'S TWEETS CLAIMING YES INTELLIGENCE DID NOT FIND CREDIBLE INFORMATION ABSOLVES RUSSIA BLAME. >> IT INDICATES THAT THOSE REPORTS ACTUALLY AREN'T OR WERE NOT SO VALUABLE. AND ALSO TRUSTFUL. THAT'S WHY WE BETTER SPEAK TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> USING FORCEFUL LANGUAGE. >> IF RUSSIA WAS PAYING MONEY TO REWARD MEMBERS OF THE TALIBAN FOR THE KILLING OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE TAN ACT OF CT AGGRESSION BY RUSSIA? WE DO SEE IT AS SERIOUS AS THAT? >> I DON'T THINK THE SITUATION IS AS POSSIBLE EVER.

>> THIS IS 100% NOT TRUE. >> THAT IS STRONG. >> IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN NAMED IN REPORTS OF SECRET RUSSIAN OPERATIONS OVERSEAS. 12 OFFICERS WERE INDICTED DURING THE INQUIRY ON CHARGES THEY HACKED COMPUTERS. IN ORDER TO IMPACT THE 2016 ELECTION AND 2018 , THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCUSED GRU OPERATIVE OF CARRYING OUT THE POISONING OF ONE OF THEIR OWN. THE FORMER OFFICER AND HIS DAUGHTER IN THE UK. THAT LED TO THE EXPULSION OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS BY MORE THAN 20 WESTERN ALLIES INCLUDING THE U.S. NOW THERE ARE CALLS FOR ACTION OVER THE AFGHANISTAN CLAIM. >> IN GENERAL, AMERICA IS INTRODUCING SO- CALLED SANCTIONS ONCE IN A WHILE. THIS IS A JOKE. >> THIS WEEK THE RUSSIANS ARE VOTING ON N WHETHER TO ALLOW THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN RE12 MORE YEARS WHICH MEANS PRESIDENT PUTIN COULD BE IN OFFICE LEAVING THE COUNTRY FOR RY36 YEARS, WHATEVER AMERICA DECIDES TO DO NOW COULD HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES. TR >>> THE LATEST SURPRISE, MONDAY'S RULING ON ABORTION RIGHTS STRIKING DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE DOCTORS PERFORMING ABORTIONS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT NEARBY HOSPITALS AND THE CHALLENGER SAID IT WAS MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY AND WOULD HAVE LEFT THE ENTIRE STATE WITH A SINGLE FF N DOCTOR TO OFFER THE SERVICES TOOK >> HAD WE N.LOST THE CASE TWO OF THE THREE CLINICS CURRENTLY PROVIDING ABORTION CARE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HADBA TO CLOSE.

>> THE CHIEF JUSTICE JOINED THE FORMER LIBERAL JUSTICES AND SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE IN TEXAS STRUCK DOWN FOUR YEARS AGO HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRESIDENTS. HE HAS BEEN KEY TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES THIS TERM CASTING THE DECIDING VOTE TO SAVE THE DACA PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW YOUNG UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE KNOWN AS STREAMERS TO REMAIN IN THE U.S.

IN JOINING THE 6-3 MAJORITY THAT EXISTING CIVIL RIGHTS LAW BAN DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE LAST BIG DECISIONS TO COME ON EFFORTS BY CONGRESS AND THE NEW YORK PROSECUTOR TO GET PRESIDENT TRUMP TAXES AND MENTAL RECORDS? TWO PREVIOUS RULING SAID PRESIDENTS NIXON, CLINTON WERE NOT IMMUNE BUT THE TRUMP CASE SEEKS PERSONAL RECORDS FROM HIS BANKERS AND ACCOUNTANTS. THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS S SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE ENOUGH THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS REASON TO BE WORRIED EVEN WITH TWO PRESENT TRUMP'S APPOINTEES NOW IN COURT. >>> HALTING A HIGH-POWERED RIFLE AND WIELDING A PISTOL THE VIRAL IMAGES, SHE LOOKED READY FOR A GUN FIGHT. NOW THE WELL- KNOWN N LOCAL ATTORNEYS ARE DEFENDING THEIR ACTIONS. >> WEARING BODY ARMOR AND ONE PERSON PULLED OUT A LOADED PISTOL MAGAZINE AND CLIPPED IT TOGETHER AND SAID YOUR NEXT. >> THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED SUNDAY AS DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED TO THE MAYOR'S NEARBY HOUSE TO DEMAND R' HER RESIGNATION IN THIS AFTER SHE GAVE OUT NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF DEMONSTRATORS DEMANDING POLICE REFORM FRIDAY ON THE FACEBOOK A LIVE VIDEO.

>> THEY SAY TENSIONS ESCALATED WHEN THEY TWERE THREATENED. >> THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY >> WHEN HE PICKED UP THE GUN THAT'S WHEN THINGS WENT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. >> THE VIRAL IMAGES DRYING OUTRAGE AND SUPPORT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENT RETWEETING THE VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT AND OVERNIGHT NITHE CITY'S FIRST BLACK CHIEF PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCED SHE IS INVESTIGATING SAYING IN PART — >> YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST AND ANY INTIMIDATION OR USE OF FORCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. RA >> PATRICIA McCLOSKEY APPEARS TO POINT A GUN AT PROTESTERS AS HER HUSBAND CLUTCHES HIS RIFLE AND THE COUPLE REPORTED FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES SEVERAL WITNESSES. >> SHE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR WITH THE PISTOL THAT SHE ACTUALLY HAD HER FINGER ON THE TRIGGER OF THE PISTOL.

AND SHE WAS VISIBLY NERVOUS. >> I CANNOT BLAME MY WIFE FOR BEING TERRIFIED AND A DOING WHAT SHE COULD TO CTPROTECT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS HER LIFE >> THE CROWD BROKE DOWN THE GATE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY. >> IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE LEFT IT UNLOCKED WAS ALREADY BROKEN BECAUSE PEOPLE WALKED UP AND ECT OPENED IT. >> BUSTED DESPITE THE TENSE, ARMED ENCOUNTER APPEARS NO LAWS WERE BROKEN AND THE COUPLE IS INSISTING THEY TR DO NOT OPPOSE THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT THAT WERE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILY.

AND THIS MORNING ANOTHER COMMUNITY IN AMERICA OON EDGE REELING FROM A CLOSE ENCOUNTER THAT COULD HAVE EASILY ESCALATED. >> IT APPEARS MNO ONE — NO LAWS ARE BROKEN BUT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN? >> THEY HAVE SOME OF THE ELUSIVE GUN LAWS IN PLTHE COUNTRY MARK McCLOSKEY SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH VIOLENCE AND HE'S BOARDED UP HIS OFFICE AS A PRECAUTION BUT AN ATTORNEY TELLS US THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE ANTI-BLACK LIVES MATTER GROUP BUT WERE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR HOME. >>> A BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR THE FORMER SECOND LADY, DOCTOR JOE BIDEN — DOCTOR JILL BIDEN. AND SHE HAS ALSO WRITTEN A CHILDREN'S BOOK THE STORY OF JOE BIDEN .

AND DOCTOR BIDEN JOINS US NOW. >> NICE TO SEE YOU. >> I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU FOUND TIME TO RIGHT A BOOK ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND BUT THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES AND CAMPAIGNING AND IT'S A BIT UNUSUAL. YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLES AND VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS. I SAW INONE LAST WEEK THAT THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT GAVE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ARE YOU PLANNING ON IN DOING ONE OF THESE WITH THE FORMER FIRST LADY, MICHELLE OBAMA >> NOTHING IS PLANNED AT THIS MOMENT I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT CAMPAIGNING BUT I'M DOING IS HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY AND LAST NIGHT I WAS ON WITH THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SO WE ARE IN DIFFERENT STATES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HELPING QUITE VOCAL ABOUT HOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN HANDLED ON L. A FEDERAL LEVEL. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY OR WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING DIFFERENTLY RIGHT NOW? >> RIGHT NOW, CERTAINLY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT IN THAT THEY ARE NOT WEARING THEIR MASKS AS THE DOCTORS HAVE ADVISED AND THEY ARE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. I WAS OUT THE OTHER DAY AND I SAW ONE PERSON WITH A MASK ON. THERE WERE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE I SAW AND I THINK PEOPLE, THE NUMBERS ARE SPIKING AGAIN AND PEOPLE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS AND HAVE TO HEED THE ADVICE. WE HAVE TO BE SAFE.E THE ONLY WAY WE WILL DO THAT IS TO WEAR OUR MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE. >> >> THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MAKING SPEECHES BY AND LARGE IN AND AROUND WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE MAJOR POLLS RIGHT NOW, CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTRY DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HURTING HIM. IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THIS IS HOW HE RUNS THE REST OF HIS CAMPAIGN? >> YOU DON'T KNOW JOE IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT HE WANTS TO BE OUT WITH PEOPLE. HE CANNOT WAIT TO GET OUT THERE AND CAMPAIGN. RIGHT NOW HE IS THE MAIN FROM 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M. AND HE IS REACHING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BUT HE TA REALLY WANTS TO BE OUT THERE TALKING TO PEOPLE PERSONALLY BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS TOO DANGEROUS SO WE ARE JUST TAKING IT STEP- BY-STEP AND LISTENING TO THE DOCTORS WORK >> THERE HAVE BEEN Y A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN WHO HE WILL PICK AS HIS VICE PRESIDENT. I KNOW YOU AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY PRETTY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AND I WOULD IMAGINE GIVING ADVICE. WHAT COUNSEL ARE YOU GIVING THE VICE PRESIDENT WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING A NUMBER TOO? >> JOE REALLY KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS IN A VICE PRESIDENTDE AND CERTAINLY BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN THERE AND HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, THE WOMAN HE CHOOSES WILL HAVE THE SAME VALUES AND THE SAME VALUES ON HOW TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR AND I'M THRILLED THAT HE CHOSE A WOMAN AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHO HE CHOOSES. CERTAINLY, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS, CERTAINLY YOU WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IT WITH YOUR SPOUSE, BEST FRIEND AND ADVISOR. YOU HAVE THIS LOVE FFAFFAIR TOGETHER AND ISN'T THAT WHAT A MARRIAGE IS? >> YES, ON ITS BEST DAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW THE VICE PRESIDENT. I WILL ASK ABOUT ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR KAMALA HARRIS REPORTEDLY ON THE SHORTLIST. AND THERE WAS ON THE DEBATE STAGE LAST YEAR WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT BUSING AND SEGREGATION AND THEY HAVE SINCE MADE UP AND ST ENDORSED HIM. ON THE SHORTLIST, WHERE IS SHE? >> SHE IS ON THE SHORTLIST. >> HOW HIGH ON THE SHORT LIST? >> YOU HAD TO TRY. >> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME THIS MORNING BUT FOR THE RECORD YOU DID NOT DENY YOU KNOW BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BOOK. WHAT MADE YOU READ THE BOOK IN THIS MOMENT? >> I WANTED YOUNG CHILDREN TO SEE WHO JOE WAS AS A CHILD.

THEY SEE HIM ALL THE TIME ON THE NEWS BUT AS A CHILD, HE WAS FULL OF ADVENTURE AND FUN AND NEVER REFUSED TO DARE WHAT HE WAS ALSO A CHILD WHO DEALT WITH THE STARTER AND HE OVERCAME THAT STUTTER AND I WANT THE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS IN AMERICA TO LOOK AT JOE AS A ROLE MODEL AND NO THAT HE OVERCAME HIS STUTTERING AND LOOK WHO HE IS NOW AS VICE PRESIDENT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

EVEN IF YOU COME UP WITH — IF YOU'RE FACED WITH HARDSHIP IN YOUR LIFE, KNOW THAT YOU CAN OVERCOME IT AND YOU CAN DO AND BECOME WHATEVER OR WHOEVER YOU WANT TO BE. >> THERE IS A PHRASE THAT APPEARS IN THE BOOK, GIVE ME THE BALL. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THAT PHRASE? >> WHEN I WAS RIDING THE BOOK — WRITING THE BOOK I HAVE NO IDEA HOW RELEVANT THAT PHRASE WOULD BE THERE RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY, I THINK IT IS SO FITTING THAT JOE BIDEN IS SAYING TO AMERICANS, GIVE ME THE BALL. GIVE ME WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND LET ME HANDLE IT AND LET ME TAKE THESE BURDENS AWAY FROM YOU AND CARRY THEM ON MY SHOULDERS. WHETHER THAT IS HEALTHCARE OR WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR WHETHER IT'S AN EQUITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK THAT JOE IS READY TO TAKE THIS ON AND HE IS A MAN I THINK EVERY PRESIDENT IS KNOWN FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL AND I THINK JOE WOULD BE THE 46th PRESIDENT AND I THINK THAT HE WILL BE KNOWN FOR HIS EMPATHY AND HOW HE CAN RELATE TO PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS.

HIS DAD LOST ISHIS JOB AND HE DEALT WITH THE STUTTER . HE GOT INVOLVED IN THE RI CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND HE KNOWS HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. I THINK JOE IS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY AND THE PERFECT PRESIDENT. >> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE. ALWAYS GOOD NITO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THE BOOK IS CALLED JOEY, THE STORY OF JOE BIDEN. BY THE WAY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DR. BIDEN HAS BEEN MARRIED TO JOE BIDEN FOR 43 YEARS. WE COULD DO AN ENTIRE SEPARATE SEGMENT ON HOW ONE DOES THAT.

THANK YOU. >>> IT BRINGS ME NO JOY TO DO THIS BUT WE HAVE NO CHOICE. PA >> THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR PRESSING PAWS ON REOPENING ENTER DIETING ON WHAT HE CALLS KNUCKLEHEADED BEHAVIOR LIKE OVERCROWDING AND DISREGARDING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND NOT WEARING MASKS. WE WERE WILL > NOT TOLERATE PATRONS WHO THINK THE RULES DO NOT APPLY TO THEM AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE ELSE. COMPLIANCE IS A NOT A POLITE SUGGESTION. IT IS REQUIRED SELFLESSNESS, NOT SELFLESSNESS — SELFISHNESS. >> IT HAS FLATTENED ITS OWN CURVE. >> WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH IN THE STATE TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE. >> THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN THE U.S. OVER 176,000 AND 15,000 DEATHS. >> WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN AND STAY POSITIVE. >> I SPOKE LIVE TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND GOVERNOR MURPHY TO MARK S PHASE 2 OF THE REOPENING WHICH ALLOWED RESTAURANTS TO SERVE CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE AND WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW T REALITY OF CORONAVIRUSES, HOW HAS IT CHANGED HOW INNGYOU OPERATE? >> YIIT CHANGED A LOT.

YOU HAVE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WON'T GO AWAY. >> THE GOVERNOR SAID AT THE TIMES WE SAW THE CROWDS IN OUR STATE. >> WOULD YOU CLOSE IT UP AGAIN? >> I HOPE TO GOD WE DON'T HAVE TO . >> BUT HERE WE ARE. AND JOINING US NOW IS ERTHE GOVERNOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD TO BE HERE. >> WE START RIGHT THERE, THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE YOU WISHED WOULD NOT HAPPEN HAS HAPPENED. FOR FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING THERE GOING, OUR NUMBERS CAME DOWN AND THE WORST IS BEHIND US. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE MEASURE TO POSSE REOPENING AND NOT ALLOW INDOOR DINING YOU HAD PLANNED? >> THE NUMBERS HAVE COME WAY DOWN AND WE PAID A AHUGE PRICE.

15,000 FATALITIES AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS GO THROUGH AGAIN . POSITIVITY RATES ARE A LOT BETTER AT THIS VIRUS INDOORS AS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BEAST THAN IT IS OUTDOORS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA AND ARIZONA, TEXAS AND OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, WE CANNOT GO THROUGH THAT. OUTDOOR DINING IS GOING REALLY WELL. FOLKS ARE BEHAVING OUTSIDE AND WE WANT TO GIVE OURSELVES A COUPLE MORE WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DRIVE THIS CLOSER TO THE GROUND. >> I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU SAW, YOU MENTIONED KNUCKLEHEADED BEHAVIOR BUT ALSO IS IT ABOUT LOOKING AT THE OTHER STATES AND SEEN WHAT HAPPENS THERE? >> IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS. IT IS SOME NONCOMPLIANT BEHAVIORAN THOUGH OVERWHELMINGLY NEW JERSEYANS HAVE BEEN RW FABULOUS THAT IT IS LOOKING AT OTHER STATES WHERE WE KNOW THE SPIKES ARE COMING FROM INDOORS, RESTAURANTS OR AU BARS AND IT'S THE WEIGHT OF HAVING COME THROUGH FOR ALL OF US >> ALL 9 MILLION OF US HAVE PAID AN ENORMOUS PRICE AND WE CRACK THE BACK OF THE VIRUS AND LIKE ANY OTHER STATES AND I CANNOT FATHOM GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN AND WE KNOW THAT INDOORS THIS THING IS A LOT MORE LETHAL THAN IT IS OUTDOORS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU 350,000 FOLKS IN NEW JERSEY WORK IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REOPENING OF INDOOR DINING 25 BUT ONLY 25% CAPACITY AND I'M SURE THEY SAY WE GET IT BUT OUR BUSINESSES ARE COLLAPSING. DO WHY CAN'T WE JUST DO 25% CAPACITY? >> WE WILL GET THERE WE JUST FEEL THAT T IT IS TOO EARLY TO GO THIS THURSDAY.

WE WILL ABSOLUTELY GET THERE, GOD WILLING SOONER THAN LATER. WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE PAIN. I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT COMPLETE SYMPATHY FOR HY THAT BUT I ALSO HAVE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT PUBLIC HEALTH CREATES ECONOMIC HEALTH AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE CANNOT AFFORD TRANSPOSING THE STEPS OR JUMPING THE GUN. MY FEAR IS THAT IT COULD REIGNITE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND THAT'S LESS THING WE CAN AFFORD. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INDOOR DINING BEING A BRIDGE TOO FAR, HOW ARE SCHOOLS GOING TO REOPEN AND WHAT IS YOUR LATEST THINKING ABOUT THAT? >> WE PUT OUT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAST WEEK IN TERMS OF GUIDANCE.

THAT IS LITWO MONTHS FROM NOW AND THAT IS A LIFETIME. I CANNOT FATHOM TWO MONTHS AGO WHAT WE WOULD BE THINKING HERE ON JUNE 30 LIKEWISE TWO MONTHS HENCE FROM NOW AND WE ARE CONFIDENT WE COULD GET BACK TO SCHOOL BUT IT WILL BE A NEW NORMAL. SC IT WILL BE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SOME AMOUNT OF STAGGERING AND SOME AMOUNT OF VIRTUAL FACE COVERINGS AND IT WILL NOT BE LIKE THE OLD DAYS BUT BACK TO SCHOOL, GOD WILLING. IT SEEMS THE FIRST WAVE IS NOT OVER.

>> DO YOU FEAR THAT THE VIRUS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IS GOING TO COME BACK IN A MORE SIGNIFICANT WAY IN THE NORTHEAST? THE SOUTH AND WEST ARE UNDER THE GUN RIGHT NOW BUT YOU BASICALLY ASSUME IT'S COMING BACK? >> WE ARE ASSUMING. WE ARE HOPING A FOR THE BEST AND PREPARING FOR THE WORST. EVEN IF WE BET 1000, MY BEST CASES ITE COMES BACK TO THE POINT OF OPTIMISM THAT FOLKS HAVE TO REMEMBER, EAWE HAVE IN N PLACE IN NEW JERSEY AND MANY STATES IN THE COUNTRY ATTESTING CAPACITY LIGHT YEARS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO AND THE CONTACT TRACING CORE AND A PLAN TO ISOLATE SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF IT WILL COME BACK BUT WHEN IT COMES BACK AND CAN YOU SPOT IT AND RO SURROUND IT AND ISOLATE IT AND DRIVE IT BACK INTO THE GROUND? I HAVE A MUCH HIGHER DEGREE OF HE CONFIDENCE ON ALL OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. >>> UNLIKE MUCH OF TEXAS, THE CAPITAL CITY REMAINS UNDER ESTATE HOME ORDER UNTIL AUGUST 15. THE MAYOR IS ALSO CLOSING ALL PARKS FOR THE JULY 4 HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND HIS JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US. >> LET'S BEGIN HERE. S ON FRIDAY THE TEXAS GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED STEPS TO REVERSE THE REOPENING PROCESS RNAND YOU SAID ON LOCAL TELEVISION YESTERDAY, WE TRIED TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY AND THAT WILL Y,NOT WORK. WHEN DID THE STATE GO WRONG? >> THERE WERE THREE ATTHINGS >> FIRST IS WE STARTED TO ASSUME . WE SHOULD UP BIT PER BETTER CAPACITY FOR TESTING AND TRACING AND SHOULD'VE WAITED UNTIL WE MET THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE WE STARTED. ONCE WE STARTED, WE DID IT IN PHASES WHICH I THINK IS GOOD THAT WE WENT FROM ONE PHASE TO THE NEXT PHASE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE DATA BETWEENE PHASES TO TEST AND SEE IF WE WERE HEADED IN AT THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE TRY TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY THE WAY THAT THE ECONOMY HAD BEEN OPENED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND LIKE YOU JUST SAID, THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK. THE PRIZE FOR BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY HAS TO BE THINGS LIKE EVERYONE WEARING MASKS. WHEN YOU'RE AROUND ANYONE ELSE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WE ARE GOING D TO HAVE TO DO THAT INDEFINITELY UNTIL THERE IS E A VACCINE BUT IT IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY AND IT DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT THAT AND THAT IS THE LESSON WE ARE LEARNING RIGHT HT NOW.

>> ON THAT NOTE ON GFRIDAY CLOSED D BARS AND REDUCED RESTAURANT CAPACITY FROM 75% TO 50%. DO YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH AND THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS, THE MAIN CAUSE OF DO THE SKYROCKETING CASES? >> AT THIS POINT IN OUR CITY WE HAVE SUCH WIDESPREAD INFECTIONS THAT WE CAN POINT TO ONE PARTICULAR THING E LIKE BARS. IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH. I WISH WE GHEHAD A MANDATORY STATE WHERE EVERYBODY HAD TO WEAR A MASK. I THINK THAT SINCE A CONFUSED MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE OUR GOVERNOR IS SAYING EVERYBODY SHOULD WEAR MASKS AND IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT MANDATORY, PEOPLE THINK IT T IS OIONAL. WE ARE NOT GETTING THE ADOPTION THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TRAJECTORY WHICH HAS IS OVERWHELMING HOSPITALS BY MID- TO-LATE JULY. >> WHAT ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES? I KNOW THEIR CLOTHES FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND AND THOSE OF THE BUSIEST DAYS BUT DO YOU REALLY SEE THAT MAKING MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE? >> IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT TO EXTEND PAST THAT POINT.

WE HAVE RULES THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM GATHERING IN PARKS AND EVEN WHILE YOU ASK PEOPLE TO STAY HOME IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO GET OUTSIDE. IT'S ONE OF THOSE BALANCING ISSUES. WE WILL START WITH JULY 4 AND IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF WE DON'T EXTEND IT IN MANY OF THE PARKS AFTER THAT. >> GOING BACK TO MASKS, YOU G DIRECT PEOPLE TO USE FACE COVERINGS YET THERE IS NO STATE MANDATE TO WEAR MASKS. IS THAT LEADING TO MORE INFECTIONS BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ON BOARD TO MAKE IT WORK. >> EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ON BOARD BUT IT HAS TO BE ADOPTED WIDELY. BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL WE HAD A MANDATORY MASK ORDER IN PLACE RD AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WERE DOING IT AND THE USAGE WAS RISING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MORE INCLINED TO WEAR W A MASK IF EVERYONE AROUND THEM IS WEARING IT. IF NO ONE AROUND THEM IS WEARING IT THEY ARE LESS INCLINED TO DO IT.

THE GOVERNOR TOOK AWAY IHER ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE MASK ORDINANCE AND WITH THAT PEOPLE STOPPED USING THEM IN GREATER NUMBERS. WE HAVE NOW GOT BACK PART OF THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE IT AND WE CAN'T DO IT DIRECTLY THROUGH INDIVIDUALS AND WE HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH BUSINESSES. IT DOESN'T COVER MASK USE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESSES AND IT'S A CONFUSED MESSAGE >> THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING THE RIGHT THING BUT I JUST WISH HE WOULD GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT. WHEN WE HAD IT BEFORE WE NEVER ARRESTED OR TICKETED ANYBODY BUT THE MESSAGE WAS SO IMPORTANT. ED >> WE ONLY HAVE A FEW WESECONDS LEFT BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THERE ARE SCARY PROSPECTS, WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING IN THE HOSPITALS? S >> WE HAVE A PLAN TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE BEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THAT IS THE LAST RESORT. NOT ONLY THE BEDS BUT THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND DOCTORS AND JU NURSES BUT WHAT WE NEED IS FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS.

>> I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME AND WE THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US THIS MORNING. >>> AMONG THE CHAOS, I FOUND A FATHER TRYING TO TEACH HIS SON ABOUT PEACE. >> WE RETALIATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY. THAT'S ALL I WANT HIM TO SEE. >>> TODAY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY CALLING IT A PANDEMIC. NONE OF US IS UNAFFECTED BY IT. >> WE ARE GOING TO TRY EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP LIFE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY. >> IF IT GETS INTO AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS IT WILL SPREAD LIKE RAPID FIRE. >> A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT ARE NOT BEING DONE RIGHT NOW. >> IN NOVEMBER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR STABILITY. >> HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK. >> YOU DON'T PREPARE FOR GIVING BIRTH IN A PANDEMIC. >> THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC IS TO KEEP OUR SPIRITS UP. >> JOIN ME AS WE GO INTO AMERICA TO HEAR FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE GRAPPLING WITH THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME.

>> WE LIKE TO THINK WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL AMERICA BUT WE ARE REMINDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DO NOT WORK >> I WATCH THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA AS AS A MOM TO RAISE HER SON. >> I REMEMBER HER COMING HOME SAYING WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONYTAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRLS. >> I CHERISH THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. >>> YOU'RE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. IT'S NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M.

EASTERN. >>> A VIRUS THAT KNOWS NO BORDERS. >> CATASTROPHE HAPPENING HERE IN BRAZIL. >> THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID IF THEY DON'T WORK THEN THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES >> WE HAVE TEAMS AROUND THE GROUND LEARNING FROM WHERE IT'S BEEN. >> SO YOU CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW IT WILL IMPACT US HERE. >> LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL. IT JUST DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE SAME NORMAL AS BEFORE. >>> THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF. >>> THESE ARE THE UNITED STATES , A UNITED PEOPLE WITH UNITED THIRST.

>> A GREAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVED TO DEFEND A GREAT NATION. >>> ALL OF US CAN EXTEND A HAND TO THO IN NEED. >>> IN FLORIDA, THE CORONAVIRUS STORMTH. A SURGE OF CASES, MORE THAN 23,003 DAYS SHUTTING DOWN BEACHES FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. >> I GET IT BUT IT JUST REALLY SUCKS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH. >>> THE STEP IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE WE ENSURE THE HEALTH OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY. >> IT'S A ITOUGH THING TO DO BUT I ADMIRE ANYONE WHO HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> SOME RESIDENTS ARE FURIOUS. >> WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. >> IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SICKNESS OR FLU. FL >> COVID IS RISING IN 29 STATES AND 11 MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND LATE TODAY THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR ORDERED BARS, GEMS AND WATER PARKS TO SHUT DOWN FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH. IN CALIFORNIA THE GOVERNOR CLOSING BARS AGAIN IN SEVEN COUNTIES INCLUDING LA WHERE CASES ARE AT A RECORD HIGH.

T >> A TRENDLINE THAT PROMPTED THE LA COUNTY OFFICIAL TO CLOSE DOWN THE BEACHES FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. IN SOUTH FR CAROLINA, FRONT- LINE WORKERS TAKEN ABACK BY THE YOUNG PATIENTS >>TA THERE YOUNGER THAN I AM WITH NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HEALTHY WALKING AND GASPING FOR AIR BECAUSE OF COVID. >> NOW THE COVID SEARCH DEALING A CRUSHING SETBACK TO BUSINESSES HERE IN MIAMI BEACH, RESTAURANTS AND IV HOTELS JUST OPEN ONLY TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN.

D. >> MOST OF THE HOTELS HAVE CANCELED RESERVATIONS. >> THERE IS NO CHOICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE MAYOR WHEN AROUND 15% OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE TESTING POSITIVE. >> WHAT CONCERNS YOU MORE, 10,000 CASES IN A CERTAIN DAY OR THE % OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE? >> WE WERE TAA RUNNING 5% POSITIVE AND NOW IT'S MUCH HIGHER. THAT IS THE ISSUE.E >> THE BEACHES ARE AROUND FOR NOW BUT THE MOVIE BUSINESS HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS. AMC ANNOUNCING THEATERS WILL REOPEN BY THE END OF JULY. >>>> I'M IN HOUSTON WHERE STRAINED HOSPITALS ARE CARING FOR MORE AND MORE PATIENTS WHO ARE T YOUNGER AND MANY WITH UNDERLYING G CONDITIONS.

>> WHAT WE SEE HERE IS AN INCREASED RATE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND 20-YEAR-OLDS AND 40-YEAR-OLDS IZS WORK >>ep THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP AT UPTHE AGES GOING DOWN EVEN THOSE IN THEIR 20s ARE ENDING UP IN THE ICU. >> IF I WERE YOUNGER I WOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT I WILL BE IMMUNE TO HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS. >> YOU SEE THAT FIRST HAND. >> THE 36-YEAR- OLD SPENT OVER A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL. HER PARENTS AND BROTHER GOT SICK TOO. AN >> THAT IS AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD NEVER ODWANT ANYONE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. >> EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. IT'S A REAL THING AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

>> FOR SOME PATIENTS ANTIVIRAL DRUG RENT IS SEVERE HAS BEEN SHOWED TO HELP THE DRUG WILL COST $3100 FOR FIVE DAY TREATMENT BUT ONE CONSUMER GROUP CALLS ATHE PRICE TAKEN OUTRAGE AND THE DRUG MAKER JUST AGREES. >> epWE PRESSED HER FOR ACCESS ACROSS THE WORLD. >> HAVE SECURED 500,000 TREATMENTS TO GET HOSPITALS THROUGH SEPTEMBER. >> WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO THE HOSPITALS S MOST IN NEED.

>> ALSO IN NEED IS TESTING WHICH IS A HIGH DEMAND TO ARIZONA. >> ACROSS THE SUNBELT MORE SCENES ARE SURFACING THE PEOPLE STANDING IN LONG LINES STREAMS OF CARS AT DRIVE-THROUGH SITES STRETCH FOR BLOCKS. TH >> WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON TESTING. >> AGRARIAN STARKEL STRUGGLE TO GET AHEAD OF A GROWING VIRUS. >>> EVEN AS CORONAVIRUS CASES SPIKE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS ALL POLICY Y CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR SHOULD START WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING STUDENTS PHYSICALLY PRESENT. >> KIDS LEARN BETTER IN PERSON THAN VIRTUALLY. . >> HER SON REALLY STRUGGLED . >> HE E MISSED THE INTERACTION AND INSTRUCTION AND DID NOT CARE TO READ SOMETHING AND DO OLO SOMETHING. >> THEY WORRY WITHOUT GOING TO SCHOOL KIDS WILL LOSE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD PROGRAMS ON OUR SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND STUDENTS WITHOUT INTERNET CONNECTIONS ARE FALLING BEHIND THAT PARENTS LIKE RENEE IN HOUSTON SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

>> I WILL NOT ALLOW MY KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. NO MATTER WHAT. >> ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS HAS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. >> THEY MISSILE THEIR FRIENDS BUT AT THIS POINT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. I THINK SAFETY COMES FIRST. >> THEY SUGGEST KIDS COULD BE AS CLOSE AS THREE FEET APART PARTICULARLY IF WEARING MASKS AND DOORWAYS LEFT OPEN SO NO ONE HAS S TO TOUCH THE KNOB. >> PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THIS AND SAY WHY WOULD YOU PUT KIDS AT RISK? >> THERE ARE RISK ASSOCIATED BUT THE RISKS ARE LOWER FOR CHILDREN BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE IN ACCOUNT ALL THE OTHER RISKS OF NOT HAVING THEM IN SCHOOL. >> THEY WILL C ULTIMATELY MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND MANY ARE CONSIDERING SOME IN PERSON AND REMOTE LEARNING BUT THE PEDIATRICIANS WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE THEY STAND. >>> IT'S ANOTHER SURPRISING RULING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT AND A VICTORY FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABRUPTION.

DEVASTATED TO LEARN THAT THE CHILD SHE WAS CARRYING WOULD HAVE SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS, SHE AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY THAT SHE HAD TO ERGO TO TEXAS. >> I HAD TO GO 350 MILES AWAY TO HAVE OMY BRO ABORTION BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET T A PROVIDER TO DO IT IN NEW ORLEANS. >> THE RULING STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD'VE MADE IT EVEN HARDER REQUIRING ABORTION DOCTORS TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES. THE CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JOINED THE LIBERAL MEMBERS IN THE DECISION AND SAID THE LAW WAS IDENTICAL TO ONE FROM TEXAS THAT THEY STRUCK DOWN FOUR YEARS AGO EVEN THOUGH HE DESCENDED IN THE TEXAS CASE HE SAID IT IS BINDING PRECEDENTS SO THE LOUISIANA LAW CANNOT STAND. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO TNOMINEES WERE AMONG THE DEFENDANT — DEFENDERS >> KAVANAUGH SAID THE COURT SHOULD HAVE SENT THE CASE BACK TOGETHER MORE FACTS ON HOW THE LOUISIANA LAW WOULD WORK. IT IS A BIG WIN FOR ADVOCATES OF ABORTION RIGHTS BECAUSE ROBERTS JOINED ONLY GRUDGINGLY AND LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORK RESTRICTIONS.

>> GOING INTO O ELECTION YEAR IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU S WANT THE COURT TO PRESIDE OVER AND HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE ON RECORD AS EVISCERATING ABORTION-RIGHTS. >> STILL TO COME ARE RULINGS ON WHETHER THE STATE PROSECUTOR CAN GET PRESIDENT TRUMP 'S STATE TAX RETURNS. >>> TONIGHT ON THE KEY ELECTION OFFICIAL SOUNDING AN ALARM LAABOUT EXPANDING VOTE BY MAIL. >> IT SEEMS SIMPLE TO THE VOTER BUT IT IS NOT IF YOU'RE ADMINISTERING G THE ELECTION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A DISSERVICE TO VOTERS TO THROW IT OUT. WE CAN FLIP A SWITCH AND EVERYONE CAN VOTE BY MAIL. ep >> THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO KNOW. THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE OF RUNNING ELECTIONS ONE OF ONLY FIVE ALTHOUGH BY MAIL STATE IN THE COUNTRY THE 18 DAY VOTING PERIOD IS A VOTE BY MAIL AND HAS BEEN NOW THEY'RE GETTING CALLS FOR ADVICE FROM OTHER STATES. SHE SAYS THEY WILL NEED D SYSTEMS TO ENSURE BALLOTS ARE NOT FRAUDULENT AND NEW EQUIPMENT. >> THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROJECTION THEY WILL HAVE TO ILPUT ONON. >> SO FAR ADDITIONAL HELP orAD DOES NOT SEEM TO BE FORTHCOMING AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO ELECTION OFFICIALS TO SEE WHAT MEASURES THEY PUT ESES WIN PLACE AND WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THEY REQUIRE. 33 STATES OFFER NO EXCUSE NEEDED ABSENTEE BALLOTS WHILE 17 BAOTHERS OFFER WITH AN EXCUSE. AT LEAST 10 OF THE STATES ARE EXPANDING DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. MICHIGAN ELECTION OFFICIALS TELL US THEY NEED T ANOTHER R $30 MILLION FOR PPE, POSTAGE, MAILING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA OFFICIALS SAY THEY NEED 30,000 POLL WORKERS AND WHAT THEY EXPECT TO BE IN TIDAL WAVE OF BALLOT APPLICATIONS AND CT ACTUAL BALLOTS.

AND AS MUCH AS SHE BELIEVES IN VOTING EXCLUSIVELY BY MAIL, SHE TELLS MA US IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION FOR TE STATES WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE. H >> FOUR MONTHS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO SET UP WHAT WE NEED TO SET UP I THINK YOU WILL SEE A HYBRID MODEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> STATES LIKE MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO DECREASE IN- PERSON VOTING LOCATIONS IF THEY CAN NGAVOID IT. BUT MAKING POLLING PLACE IS SAFE AND LINES SHORT WILL BE A CHALLENGE. >> WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO DO IT RIGHT. I >> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND. >> WE WERE BEHIND THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION. >>> TONIGHT THE GROWING OUTRAGE OVER REPORTS THAT RUSSIA PAID FOR KILLING AMERICAN SOLDIERS.

THE U.S. GATHERED INFORMATION SHOWING THAT SUS RUSSIAN OPERATIVES OFFERED BOUNTIES TO THE TELE- BAND. WHEN OFFICIAL T SAYING THAT AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBERS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED N AS A RESULT. THE INTELLIGENCE WAS UNCOORROBORATED OVERNIGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETING, INTELLIGENCE JUST REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND IT CREDIBLE AND THEREFORE DID NOT REPORT IT TO ME AND NOW PRESIDENT PUTIN SPOKESPERSON PUSHING BACK IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS. IN >> THIS IS 100% NOT TRUE. >> NOW CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION A REPUBLICAN TWEETING WHO DID KNOW AND WHEN AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROTECT AIR FORCE'S AND HOLD KUC PUTIN ACCOUNTABLE? RUSSIA HAS RECEIVED NO RS COMPLAINTS FROM AMERICAN OFFICIALS. R >> HAS ANYONE RAISE THIS WITH NE YOU AND COMPLAIN TO THE RUSSIAN ME GOVERNMENT ABOUT THIS OR SAID THAT THERE WILL E BE IMPLICATIONS? >> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, NONE WILL BE REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY EVER RIGHT THIS QUESTION AGAIN.

>> TONIGHT THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFED REPUBLICANS WHO SAID NOW AN ONGOING REVIEW TO DETERMINE THE ACCURACY OF THE INTELLIGENCE. >>> TONIGHT AS PROTESTS PERSIST THE PRESIDENT IS AGAIN STOKING TENSIONS ON TWITTER SHARING A VIDEO OF SSA WHITE COUPLE IN AN UPSCALE ST. LOUIS NEIGHBORHOOD POINTING FIREARMS AND SHOUTING AT PEOPLE PROTESTING. THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT COMMENTED ON THE VIDEO THAT IT COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE PRESIDENT RETWEETED ANOTHER VIDEO SHOWING AN APPARENT TRUMP SUPPORTER AT A FLORIDA RETIREMENT COMMUNITY SHOUTING WHITE POWER AS ANTI- TRUMP PROTESTERS.

THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE TWEET AT DOWN AMID BIPARTISAN BACKLASH AND AFTER HIS ANALLY CALLED THE TWEET INDEFENSIBLE. >> THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE RETWEETED IT. >> JOE BIDEN TWEETING WHITE SUPREMACY SHOULD BE ROOTED SIOUT AND RELEGATED TO PAGES OF HISTORY AND NOT PROMOTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> WE DID NOT HEAR THAT PARTICULAR PHRASE WHEN HE TWEETED OUT THE VIDEO >> IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE PRESIDENT HAS SPARKED CONTROVERSY OVER PROTESTERS AND THE ISSUE OF RACE AND HAS DISPARAGED UNRULY DEMONSTRATORS AS THUGS AND RECENTLY TWEETED WHEN THE LOOTING STARTS, THE SHOOTING STARTS REMARKS THAT QUOTED THE MIAMI POLICE CHIEF WHO WAS WIDELY CRITICIZED FOR CONTRIBUTING TO RACE RIOTS AND IT COMES AS A REPUBLICAN MAYOR OF JACKSONVILLE DECIDED IN THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION ANNOUNCED EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS W AND MIGHT MIKE PENCE RGURGED PEOPLE TO WEAR ONE.

>> THE PRESIDENT SENT MIXED MESSAGES ON MASKS AND HAVE NOT URGED PEOPLE TO WEAR ONE AND HAS ONLY BEEN PICTURED WEARING GH ONE ONES. >>> OUT ON BAIL, TWO OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS OFFICERS LEFT THE PRETRIAL HEARING THEY WERE ROOKIE COPS THEIR LAWYERS SAY AND WERE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF SETHE SENIOR OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN . THE TRIAL TENTATIVELY SET FOR MARCH. >> IT'S INSANE WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY NEPHEW GETTING MURDERED BY A DAM MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, FOR WHAT REASON? THE 50COLOR OF HIS SKIN.

>> HE IS CHARGED WITH SECOND- DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER AND HIS ATTORNEY HAS HER PUTATIVELY — HAS REPEATEDLY DECLINED COMMENT . AND A COURT FILING LATE TODAY J. ALEXANDER KUENG'S ATTORNEY SAID NEHE PLED NOT GUILTY CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE. A A LAWYER FOR TOU THAO WOULD NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. >> WHAT THEY DID TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY DID IT, HE WAS SICKENED BY IT. >> A FEW DAYS AGO THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO DEFEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> DO YOU THINK POLICE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER EATTACK? >> I SURE DO >> THE HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE UNION ESTIMATES ONE QUARTER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING TO EITHER QUIT OR RETIRE DUE TO LOW MORALE. >> AND OFFICER DID A HORRIFIC THING BUT YOU A DON'T GET TO PAINT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT SAME BRUSH >> THE UNION IS NO LONGER REPRESENTING DEREK CHAUVIN BUT IS STANDING BY THE OTHER THREE OFFICERS .

>>> THE 12-YEAR- OLD SET THE STAGE WITH A MESSAGE. THE BET AWARDS SHINED A LIGHT ON SYSTEMIC RACISM. PUBLIC ENEMY, IT STILL HOLDS MEETING MEANING WITH MICHELLE OBAMA JOINING THE CAST GIVING BEYONCE THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD. E >> YOU INSPIRE ALL OF US. WE HEIGHT — WE HAVE TO VOTE LIKE HER LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. >> -THERE WAS ALSO A TRIBUTE FOR THE BLACK AMERICAN WHOSE NAMES BECAME A MOVEMENT.

THE RAPPER PERFORMING HIS HIT SONG WHILE UNDER THE ME IT OF AN OFFICER PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEORGE FLOYD AND THE TOTOMILLION WHO PROTEST. ON WHAT IS TYPICALLY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC SUPERSTARS USING THEIR STAGE AS A PLATFORM. >>> IT IS SAID THERE IS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME. TO FULLY REALIZE THE DREAM UPON WHICH THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. >> IT'S NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING A 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. >> INTRODUCING PEACOCK. WHAT IS PEACOCK? THIS IS PEACOCK. IT IS STREAMING, LAUNCHING, PREMIERING, EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS, ORIGINAL CHARACTERS SPORTS , IT'S QUICK STUFF, TOUGH STUFF, LOVE STUFF , IT'S TRENDING, MINDBENDING, LATE-NIGHT, EARLY-MORNING. YOU WATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE? >> IT'S FOR YOU. AND IT'S FREE. THAT'S PEACOCK AND THAT IS WHO, WHAT, WHY YOU CAN'T NOT WATCH.

>>> WE LIKE TO THINK WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL AMERICA AND WE ARE REMINDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DO NOT. >> I WATCH THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA ACT AS A MOM TRYING TO RAISE HER SON. >> I REMEMBER COMING HOME SAYING, WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONYTAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRL. >> I CHERISH THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. >>> IT'S BETTER TO BE A WARRIOR IN THE GARDEN THEN AT WAR. >> WARRIORS IN THE GARDEN.

>> I'M JUST WALKING DOWN FIFTH AVENUE. AND I SEE 1000 PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE STREET PROTESTING AND I'M LIKE WOW. WHO IS LEADING THIS? I LEGET TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE AND MEET ONE OF THE LEADERS AND UNLIKE, YOU'RE A KID. >> I WAS GOING TO PROTEST AND I NOTICED NO BLACK WOMEN WERE SPEAKING. >> I HATE MYSELF JUST BECAUSE I'M . BLACK AND THAT IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. >> I THINK THEY WERE LIKE, WE NEED THIS GIRL SO HERE I AM. WE MUST BRING UP A SOLUTION. >> WE UNDERSTAND THE FIGHT AND WE NEED TO O BE PROTESTING. WE NEED TO BE VOTING AND WE NEED TO BE RUNNING FOR POSITIONS. >> I'M 22 YEARS OLD. I'M GEN Z, BLACK AND AND I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL. >> I'M TIRED. >> MY POLITICAL AMBITIONS IS DEFENDING AND I ALSO WANT TO TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS. >> IN TERMS OF CHANGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOW THE LAWS ENFORCED AND IF WE DO CHANGE IT, WHAT IS STOPPING AN OFFICER? >> IT'S REALLY SCARY.

WE WON'T STOP AND ARE STILL MOTIVATED. WILL STILL REACH OUR GOAL. >> MY RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION. EVEN IF I DON'T WIN THE ELECTION , I THINK I'M STARTING THE CONVERSATION. AND NOT ONLY WILL THE CITY HERE BUT THE COUNTRY WILL HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY AND I THINK I'M VOCALIZING WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID. >>> ELIJAH McCLAIN'S FAMILY IS FILING A LAWSUIT.

HE DIED LAST YEAR AFTER A POLICE HELD HIM AND IT CHOKEHOLDS AND ADMINISTERED KETAMINE. >> ALL EYES ARE ON THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL READY TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE WILL FIND THE CHARGES SHOULD BE HFILED HE HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION CONDUCTING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. HIS DEATH HAPPENED 10 MONTHS AGO THE INTENSE PROTEST AROUND THE COUNTRY DREW MORE ATTENTION TO THE CASE BUT THE LOCAL. NOT ONLY ARE THEY BUT ERNED ALSO THE DRUG THAT WAS ADMINISTERED. >>>, CHARGE NURSE . IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HOTSPOT. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE HOTSPOT IN THE FIRST SENTENCE I GOT CHILLS. HOTSPOT TO ME IS NEW YORK CITY AND WE WENT — GREENVILLE CANNOT BE HOTSPOT.% AND I LOOKED AT MY BOARD AT WORK AND SAW HOW MANY PATIENTS WERE THERE. COVID IS HERE AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. >> 31 OVER TWO WEEKS AGO AND IT'S A CONCERN LATELY BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO OPEN UP THE CITY. NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HEALTHY AND WATCHING THE PATIENT STRUGGLE TO BREATHE AND GASPING FOR AIR.

BECAUSE OF COVID. >> WE HAVE FAMILIES WHERE ONE PERSON HAS HAD IT AND THEN EVERYBODY COMES DOWN WITH IT. AND WE HAVE HAD IT WHERE ONE PERSON HAS HAD ITS AND NO ONE ELSE CONTRACTS IT AND IT DEPENDS ON YOUR TECHNIQUE OF HANDWASHING, WEARING A MASK AND STICKING TO THE RULES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU STICK TO THE RULES. WEAR YOUR MASS, SOCIAL DISTANCE.

>> IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO ARE SICK AND DON'T NEED TO BE SICK. IT'S THE KIND OF ILLNESS THAT IF YOU TAKE SIMPLE MEASURES YOU DO A FEW EASY THINGS LIKE WEAR A MASK, HAVE SOCIAL DISTANCINGG , WASH YOUR HANDS SOAND YOU HEE SPREAD OF THIS AND THE FACT A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T DOING RELATIVELY MINOR THINGS TO HELP PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORS, TO HELPHE PROTECT THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE CANCER, HAD BEEN MARROW TRANSPLANTS, SICKLE CELL, DIABETES EVEN, THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT. IT IS A FRUSTRATING WE ARE NOT ALL TRYING A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. >> HEY EVERYONE. YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NEWS NOW. LETS GO TO NBC NEWS NEWS NOW CORRESPONDENT. SHE HAS THE VERY LATEST HEADLINES. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >>NE HEY, ALLISON. GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS. LOTS OF NEWS IN THIS HOUR. THERE DOCTOR FAUCI GAVE THIS WARNING. >> WE ARE NOW HAVING 40,000 PLUS NEW CASES A DAY. I WOULD NOTNE SURPRISED IF WE GO UP TO 100,000 A DAY IF THIS DOES NOT TURNY AROUND AND SO I AM VERY CONCERNED.

>> NOW FROM ALEXANDER SMITH, THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL START OH TO REOPEN THEIR BORDERS TOMORROWW TO AS MANY AS 15 COUNTRIES, THE UNITED STATESS NOT BEING ONE OF THEM. THE LIST OF COUNTRIES WAS CHOSEN BASED ON THE VIRUS NUMBERS. THAT LIST WILL BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE SUPREME COURT RULING IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS TOTI BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SAME FUNDING BENEFITS. THE 5-4 RULING WAS ABOUT A CASE IN MONTANA ABOUT WHERE SOME PARENTS INTENDED TO USE SAFE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO SENDIN S THEIR CHILDREN TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS. JUSTICE ROBERTS WROTE THE MAJORITY OPINION%RT SAYING QUOTES COULD NOT QUOTE DISQUALIFY SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE RELIGIOUS. >>> MISSISSIPPI'S GOVERNORS. DESIGNED A BILL OFFICIALLY MANDATING THE REMOVAL OF THE STATE'S FLAG WHICH INCLUDES THE CONFEDERATE FLAG EMBLEM. THEEAT SYMBOL HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE FLAG FOR MORE THAN 120 YEARS. >>> MEAN WHILE A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPANIES ARE — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] MOST RERE Y — RECENTLY SHE JOINED ON PROTESTING HOW FACEBOOK ADDRESSES IT ON THEIR PLATFORM.

SOME SAYOKSEEI IT CD BE A BIG SACRIFICE FOR BUSINESSES. AE OTHERS SAY EXISTING PRESSURES TO CUT COST DURING CORONAVIRUS ALSO PLAY AS ROLE. >>> LASTLY COMEDY LEGEND CARL PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN CALIFORNIA LAST NIGHT. HE WAS 98 YEARS OLD AND HAD BEEN A CELEBRATEDD ACTOR, WRITER PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE. EMMY HALL OF FAME IN 1999. HIS SONON IN A TWEET POSTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT CALLING HIS FATHER A QUOTE GUIDING LIGHT. >>> THOSE ARE THE LATEST HEADLINES FOR THISIS HOUR. ALLISON, AS ALWAYS I WILL BE JOINING YOU AGAIN A LITTLE LATER WITH SOME UPDATES. BACK TO YOU. >>> THE NATION'S TOP MEDICAL OFFICIALS TESTIFYING BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY. THEY SAID THEYIF WERE SEEING A SURGE OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS BECAUSE SEVERAL STATES REOPENED TOO SOONNS AND PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES. >> EVEN INSA STATES IN WHICH THE E LEADERSHIP IN THE FORM OF THE GOVERNORS AND THE MAYORS DID IT RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT WE SAWTI VISUALLY IN CLIPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY DOING AN ALL OR NONE PHENOMENON. EITHER BE LOCKED DOWN OR OPEN UPDO IN A WAY WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE AT BARS, NOT WEARING MASKS, NOT AVOIDING CROWDS,S, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING. WE HAVE TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT. THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. >> NBC NEWS CAPITOLTO HILL CORRESPONDENT JOINING ME NOW. >> THEEN POINT OF THIS HEARING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT SCHOOLS REOPENING IN THE FALL. OF COURSE MEMBERS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. FOUR MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, THE FOUR OFFICIALS DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ANSWERS JUST YET. THEY SAID A LOT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, ON E LOCATION. JUST SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION. THEY DIDFF SAY TESTING IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO OPENING SCHOOLS IN THE FALL. THEY ARE COMING UP — DR. FAUCI KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OFT POOL TESTING WHERE YOU GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GIVENC ALL THESE PEOPLE A — THE SAME TEST WHETHER THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS ORR NOT.

THAT IS A WAY TO REALLY TAKE THE — JUST GET AT THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF TESTING THAT IS GOING TOS IN BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GET THESE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, ALLISON. >> DR. FAUCI SAID WE COULD SEE 100,000 NEW COVID-19 CASES A DAY IN THE U.S. IT IS A TERRIFYING NUMBER. HOW DID HE EXPLAIN THAT? >> I WAS IN THE HEARING ROOM WHEN I SAID THAT. HE SHOCKED ME, TOO. IT WAS A STARK REALIZATION THAT FAUCI PUT OUT THERE THAT — REMEMBER RIGHT NOW WE ARE HITTING THE HIGHS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT 40, 42,000 CASES A DAY.

DR. FAUCI IS SAYING IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY ARE NOW, IT WILL NOT BE SURPRISING TO SEE 100,000 CASES A DAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT — HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT AS FAR AS HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ICU BEDS IN THIS RAMPANT SPREAD. HE SAID THAT — AS FAR AS SPECIFIC MEASURES, HE SAID ONEICUR OF THE THINGS THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM THEY ARE LEARNING IS BARS. HE CALLED BARS BAD NEWS AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CLOSE. THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE SEEING SO MANY SPREADS. THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE CONTRACTING THE DISEASE AS WELL. THAT WAS DEFINITELY A MOMENT IN THIS HEARING THAT REALLYLY GAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHIPLASH AND REALLY SET IN THE SEVERITY OF WHAT COULD COME DOWN THE PIPE. >> I MEAN JUST FOR THINGS LIKE GOING TO A BAR. I MEAN IT REALLY MAKES YOU REALIZE HOWOW CAREFUL WE STILL NEED TO BE. THE MASK DEBATE ANOTHER HUGE B ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY.

>> THIS HEARINGWA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT SCHOOLS WHICH THEY TOUCHED ON THE ISSUE BUT THE MAIN ISSUE THE BIG NEWS OF THIS HEARING WAS THIS ISSUE OF MASKS.IN YOU HAD THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN LAMAR SDER OF TENNESSEE WHO USED HIS OPENING STATEMENT TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS. LISTEN TO HIM. >> UNFORTUNATELY THIS SIMPLE LIFE SAVING PRACTICE HAS BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL DEBATE THAT SAYS THIS. IF YOU ARE FORBA TRUMP, YOU% DON'T WEAR A MASK, IF YOU AGAINST TRUMP YOU DO. THAT IS WHY I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WEAR A MASK. EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR HIMRY TO DO SO. THE PRESIDENT HAS PLENTY OF ADMIRERS. THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIS. LEAD. IT WOULD HELP END THIS POLITICAL DEBATE. THE STAKESIC ARE TOO HIGH FOR THIS POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT PRO-TRUMP, ANTI-TRUMP MASKS TO CONTINUE. >> THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT LAMARIN ALEXANDER WAS NOT THE ONLY FOREIGN BRING IT UP. YOU HAD SOME DEMOCRATS BRING IT UP A AST% WELL.

IT WAS THIS ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE HEARING. THE FACT THAT — SENATOR ALEXANDER, A REPUBLICAN CAME A OUT AND SAID THIS, HE IS JUST ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SAYING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR MASKS, THAT THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD COME OUT AND WEAR A MASK TOO. YOU HEARD FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER KEVIN OF CALIFORNIA WHO RARELY, RARELY BREAK — CAME OUT– ON FOX NEWS TODAY SAYING THE PRESIDENT SHOULD WEAR A MASK. EVERYONEID SHOULDOU TO DO THE SAME. WE HEARD ONCE AGAIN FROM SENATE MAJORITY MITCH MCCONNELL WHO HAS SAID MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR A MASK.

HE JUSTA DID SO AGAIN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE JUST MOMENTS AGO. SO,, MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE REALLY BREAKING FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THIS ISSUE. THEY SEE IT NOT ONLY AS AN ISSUE OF LIFE AND DEATH BUT THEY ALSO IT AS A POLITICAL ISSUE AS WELL. THE PRESIDENT'SLL WHOLE NUMBERS ARE TANKING AS HIS HANDLING OF THISIS COVID CRISIS CONTINUES TO — TO FLUCTUATE AND BE INFLUX. THEY ARE COMING OUT AND SAYING MASK WEARING IS ESSENTIAL.

>> I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE SAID THIS ABOUT SOIS MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES ALREADY JUST SIX MONTHS INTO 2020. IF YOU — IF YOU TOLD ME THAT WE WOULD BE DEBATING THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK TO SAVE YOUR LIFE THIS SUMMER, I NEVER WOULD BELIEVED IT. YET, HERE WE ARE THE LAST DAY OF JUNE AND ITS THE HOT TOPIC. >> YEAH, THIS IS A DEBATE THAT WAS HAPPENING MONTH AS GUY, TOO. REMEMBER HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE SAYING MASKSO.KS AREN'T GOING TO PROTECT YOU. WELL, THEY COME OUT NOW% — THE REASON THEY SAID THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY. THEY NEEDED TO SAVE THE MASK FOR HEALTH OFFICIALS. THE CDC GUIDELINES HAVE SAID FOR MONTHS NOWC — THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK NOT ONLY TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE BUT TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

IT IS A DEBATE THAT IS ON GOING AND HAS BECOME A POLITICALLY TOXIC ONE. >> UNBELIEVABLE. THANK YOU. >>> WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL RUSSIAN BOUBTYS TO KILLUT AMERICANSN — BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS IN AFGHANISTAN AND% WHEN DID HE FIND OUT? THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THEY RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE ON THOSE BOUNTIES A YEAR EARLIER THAN WE THOUGHT. THEY SAID THE WHITE HOUSE AND COUNCIL WEREHO MADE AWARE OF THAT IN EARLY 2019. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DENIED BEING BRIEFED ON THE MATTER. SENATOR WHITE HOUSER SHANNON AND NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT KEN — I WILL START WITH YOU ININ APRIL OF 2019 THERE WAS A FATAL ATTACK ON U.S. MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND WHETHER ANY AMERICANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THAT RUSSIAN — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> THREE U.S. MARINES WERE KILLED IN THAT ATTACK AND THREE OTHERS WERE WOUNDED. THIS ATTACK IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLY — POSSIBLY STEMMING FROM THE POINTIES. OUR INFORMATION IS UNCONFIRMED. THISOM.% IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS. THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE SUPPORTING THE TALIBAN FINANCIALLY. WE ARE PAYINGIA BOUNTIES.

A FORMER CIA OFFICER WHO ISIN WORKING THIS ISSUE TOLD ME IT IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH HOW IT WORKED. THAT THEY WERE PAYING THE% TALIBAN TO — THE KILLING OF AMERICANS. SO FAR FROM BEING NOT KRED BELIEVE AS PRESIDENT TRUMP CHARACTERIZEDTR THIS ENINTELLIGENCE, IT MAY BEIG UNCORROBORATED. THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE. ONE OFFICIAL WHO HAS SEEN THIS TOLD ME HE IS FAIRLY WELL CONVINCED THAT AMERICANS AND AFGHAND CIVILIANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS. >> SHANNON A GROUP OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS BRIEFED TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. >> THE PRESIDENT CALLED THIS A HOAX PUBLICLY. NOTHING IN THE BRIEFING WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED LED ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A HOAX.

THE RIGHT% PEOPLE WERE NOT IN THE ROOM TO GIVE US THEE KIND OF BRIEFING WE NEED TO GET. >>BR WHY DOESN'T THE PRESIDENT STAND UP FOR THE UNITED STATES? FOR GOD'S SAKE — THESE ARE OUR SOLDIERS. IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROTECT THEM, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? IT BEHIND — DIDN'T LEAVE ME WITH NO ANSWER. >> SHANNON, HOUSE DEMOCRATS CLEARLY NOTCR HAPPY. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BRIEFING? >> WE HAVE GOTTEN A FEW MORE — AS TO WHO WAS LEADING THIS BRIEFING. ONE THING NBC T NEWS HAS LEARNED IS MARK MEADOWS WAS THE ONE LEADING IT. E MARK MEADOWS WAS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS ON THE HILL BEING AN INTELLIGENCE EXPERT WASON NOT ONE OF THEM. HE WAS NOT ONE OF THE MORE PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TO BE INVOLVED.

THE CIA DIRECTOR WASN'T THERE. THEY WERE QUESTIONING WHY SHE WASN'T THERE.'TETI THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE BRIEFINGS ON THIS TOPIC AND STILL THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THIS. >> ANYTHING FROM THE ADMINISTRATIONTH TODAY? >> WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT PUBLICLY. HE HAS NOT TWEETED ONES THIS ISSUE. AS OF YESTERDAY THEY WERE SAYINGE. THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT. THE REPORTING ON THAT NOW SEEMS TO INDICATE HE WAS TOLD ABOUT IT.

THERE WILL BE A PRESS BRIEFING BY THEIT PRESS SECRETARY IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM NOW. I'M SURE THATOU WILL BE A QUESTION MY COLLEAGUES ARE ASKING. >> THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THERE WERE OPINIONS ABOUT THE OFFER OF RUSSIAN BOUNTIES WITHIN THE ENTELECOMTY. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY? >>IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, THE PENTAGON'S DIGITAL SPYING ARM WAS DESCENDING OR NOT CONVINCED WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE THIS INTELLIGENCE IS TRUE. THE CIA IS LEANING FURTHERTH FORWARD INTO IT.

THAT IS VERY COMMON. SOMETIMES THAT DISPUTE IS NEVER RESOLVED. THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HAS TOE MAKE A CALL AND DECIDE HOW MUCHLL CONFIDENCE TO% GIVE THEM AND WHAT POLICY SHOULD FLOW FROM IT. WHAT IS UNUSUAL IS THAT NEVER APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED. THEY DON'T APPEAR TO% INFORM THE PRESIDENT BY THEIR OWN ACCOUNT EXCEPT IN WRITING IN THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF WHICH WE KNOW HE DOESN'T READ. NOBODY PUSHEDAD BACK AGAINST RUSSIA WHEN THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY OFFERING BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS.NG >> TOP DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO, DEFENSE SECRETARY MARK. ANY RESPONSE FROM THOSE TWO? >>. NOT DIRECTLY. POMPEO DID SAY HE SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE TALIBAN TODAY.

HE WAS — TALKING ABOUT THEKI TALIBAN REITERATING THEY HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD DIRECTLY FROM HIM. THEY DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THEY CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THIS EVIDENCE SAYING THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE THEMSELVES THAT COULD CORN RATE THIS. AND THAT THEYE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REALLY VALIDATE THE ACCURACY SOE FAR. THAT IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. >> STILL 10 MANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE. THANKS FOR FILLING US IN. APPRECIATE IT. >>> IN BEACHES IN FLORIDA CLOSED THIS NORTH OF JULY WEEKEND. PEOPLE WHO GO ANYWAY WILL GET A FINE. I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN A MOMENT.

FIRST THE STATE REPORTING ANOTHER 6,000 COVID CASESRT TODAY. WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION THERE? >> THE NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING. THAT NUMBER TODAY 6, 012. THE NUMBERS ARE STILL CLIMBING AND WHILE THE NORTHEAST MAY HAVE SEEN A DROP, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A WAVE MOVING DOWN TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP. IT IS THE FIRST S WAVE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON THE BEACH. THIS IS IN BROWARD COUNTY LAUDERDALE. FOLKS OUT HERECO DOING A GOOD JOB. PROW WARD COUNTY TO THE NORTH OF ME, PALM BEACH COUNTY TO THE SOUTH, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND DOWN INTO THE KEYS HAVE DECIDED ON JULY 4TH. IN FACT BEGINNING ON FRIDAY, THEY WILL CLOSE TO SORT OF KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BECAUSE OTHER WOULD I SAYER THEY WOULD BE CROWDED. IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE STATERO IT IS A HOT SPOT. IF I TAKE YOU NORTH SAY TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH HERE ON THEH EAST COAST, THE PEACH WILL BE OPEN BUT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO AT LEAST CANCEL THE FIREWORKS.

THEN WE GO INTO THE OPANHANDLE. IN MAN CITY BEACHES WIDE OPEN. THINGS WILL BEBE THE SAME WAY THEY ARE EVERYDAY. RIGHT NOW IT IS HOT. IT IS LIKE 93 DEGREES. JUST ABOUT EVERY BEACH IT IS 90 SOME THING DEGREES IN FLORIDA TODAY. >> YOU ARE VERY DRESSED FORDA V SOMEONE WHO IS AT THE BEACH TODAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN FLORIDA. WHAT ARE THEYOR TELLING YOU ABOUT THE SPIKE? WHAT IS THE REACTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON THERE? >> IT IS REALLY INTERESTING. THEY ARE ALMOST SHAMING PEOPLE THAT AREN'T WEARING MASKS. THERE IS A WHOLE OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS. IT SEEMS TO ME A DEEP ROOTED SUSPICION IN THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF. TAKE A LISTEN. >> THEY HAVE RAMPEDGO UP THE TESTING AS YOU CAN SEE. THOUSANDS OF TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE. ARE THEY ACCURATEN OR INACCURATE? >> SO YOU QUESTION THAT? >> I AMNA QUESTIONING THE ACCURACY.

>> PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING THERE IS NOT A RULE FOR EVERYBODY TO WEAR A MASK. >> THIS 1 AMERICA. WE ARE INDEPENDENT. WE ARE DEMOCRATIC. WE ARE NOT A COMMUNIST STATE. >> SO THE IDEA OF HAVING ONE. RULE ACROSS THE STATE TO YOU IS? >> NOT RIGHT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT LIKE OUR FINGERS. DIFFERENT FINGERS. DIFFERENT SIZES. >> OF COURSE THATFI IS THE WAY IT WORKS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND MUCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HERE YOU HAVE A PATCH WORK %AND IT MAY BE THAT IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT B OF HISTORY BUT IFIF YOU LOOK AT WHAT ISSING IF ON RIGHT NOW, INT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE PATCH WORK OF RULES ONLY MAKES THINGS MORE COMPLICATED. >> IT IS CLEAR NOT EVERY ONE PLANS ON FOLLOWING ALL OF THE RULES THERE OR THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS INTO WEARING MASKS OR STAYING AT HOME.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE VIOLATES THIS STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH ORDER THIS WEEKEND? WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES? >> IT IS NOT JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH, IT IS THE WEARING OF THE MASK. ARTHERE MAY BE ONE PERSON WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS TO COURT, CHALLENGE THE FINE BUT IN THE MEANTIME THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH, GETTING A FINE, NOT WEARING A MASK, IF NOTHING ELSE IT WILL BEAS A HASSLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE CONSCIOUSLY NOT TO DO IT.

I WILLSL SAY THIS, I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I JUST FOR THE BACK FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA. THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENCES DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA IT SEEMSMSTE TO ME MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE, WEARING MASKS. AS YOU GET UP INTO THE PANHANDLE, THERE IS A MORE RELAXED ATTITUDE. WHEN YOU GET INTO RURAL FLORIDA THERE IS ALL MOST A SENSE OF, WHY.NTNTOS WOULD I D TO WEAR A MASK? THIS IS NOT JUST IN THOSE URBAN CRUSHED AREAS AS WE HAVE SEEN ALONG THE BEACH. I HAVE TO POINT OUT, EVERYBODY IS SOCIALLY DISTANCED HERE TODAY. >> GOOD TO HEAR. GOOD TO SEE. I KNOW YOU SAID IT IS HOT OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUT THERE, WEARING A MASK, KEEPING IT SAFE FOR US. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >>>S. TEXAS STRUGGLING WITHLI THE SURGE OF NEW COVID-19 CASES. NEARLY 6,000 PEOPLE — ALONE AND NOWLO SOME TEXANS ARE STRUGGLING TO GET TESTED. >> HEY THERE. THIS IS THE ENDES OF THE LINE FOR THIS TESTING CENTER IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

LET ME TELL YOU WHEN IT BEGAN. LONG BEFORE DAYBREAK HERE PEOPLE BOR LEANING — LINING UP TO TRY TO GET TESTED. THERE HAS BEEN A REAL SURGE HERE IN TEXAS AFTER A SURGE IN POSITIVE CASES. A BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW YOU HAVEE ESN THE GOVERNOR WHO IS NOT ONLY PAUSED HIS AGGRESSIVE REOPENING BUT ROLLED BACK SOME OF THE THINGSGR%K THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE. THEY CLOSED DOWN BARS ALL TOGETHER. THESE PEOPLE WAITING SOME THREE, FOUR HOURS TO GET INTO THIS PARKING GARAGE WHERE THEY ARE TESTED. THEY WIND UP AND AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE, GET THE TESTGE DONE. ANOTHER BIG CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET THE RESULTS. IF YOU GO TO A PRIVATE LAB IN THE DALLAS AREAPR THE MOST IT WILL TAKE IS ABOUT THREE DAYS. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE SAY THEY WAIT FOUR, FIVE HOURS FOR THE TEST AND THEN THEY WAIT A FULL WEEK OR MORE FOR THE RESULTS. VERY CONCERNINGLT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO TEST POSITIVE.

THEY TRY TO STAY ISOLATED UNTIL THEY GET THOSE RESULTS. IT IS JUST PART OF THE SITUATION UNFOLDING AS THE SPIKE CONTINUES HERE IN TEXAS. BACK TO YOU. >>> AMERICANS WON'T BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE EUROPEAN UNION WHEN IT REOPENS ITS BORDERS TOMORROW. 15 COUNTRIES WILLBO BE ALLOWED TO VISIT BUT THE U.S. IS NOT ONE OF THEM. WHY WAS THE U.S. LEFT OFF THE LIST? >> SIMPLY PUT IT IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE U.S. IS STILL TOO HIGH. . ALLOWING COUNTRIES WHO HAVE COMPARABLE NUMBER OF NEW CASES OR BETTER AND THE THING IS THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN CALCULATION. THEY SAY IN THE EU OVER A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS, PER 100,000, THAT AVERAGE NEW CASES IS 16. WHEN WE HEAR A WARNING FROM DR. FAUCI IF NOT CONTAINED THE NUMBER COULD GO UP TO 100,000, THE KIND OF NEWS THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO.

TAKE A LISTEN. >> I AM AN — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> THERE YOU GO, ALLISON. GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE COUNTRIES WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE EU. WHO ARE THEY LETTING IN RIGHT NOW AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING RIGHT THAT WE ARE NOT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES? >>TH WELL, ON THAT LIST YOU HAVE COUNTRIES THAT REALLY HAVE DONE WELL INCLUDING — THIS IS A SENSITIVE PART HERE, CHINA. THAT HAS TREAD INTO SOME — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ITS ALL DOWN TO THE NUMBERS.

WHAT THE EU IS LOOKING AT IN PART FROM LOWER NUMBER OF CASES, AVERAGE CASES, IT IS A DECLINING TREND OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD. PLUS WITH HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH DETEENING THIS. ALL OFWI THIS IS AND A LONG CHECKLIST. THIS IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THIS LIST IS QUITE RIGHT NOW. >> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS PRIMARILY A HEALTH DECISION. THE EU MAKES A LOT OF MONEY. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC CONCERNS RIGHT HERE? >> BIG ECONOMIC CONCERNS. AMERICANS MAKE UP. A HUGE PORTION OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT COMES IN HERE. JUST IN 2019, THE FIRST TEN MONTHS IT WAS 16.6 MILLION AMERICANS THAT CAME IN HERE. THIS IS A MASSIVE IMPACT. IT IS SUMMER,VE ALLISON. NORMALLY A LOT OF AMERICANS WOULD BEN. L COMING AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. HE SAID THEY LOVE HAVING AMERICANS. AMERICANS STAY A LONG TIME. THEY SPENT A LOT MORE.

HE SAID THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND WHY THE EU HAS TO — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY. >>PA HAD THE EU SAID WHEN IT PLANS TO UPDATE THIS LIST? IS THERE A CHANCE U.S. COULD MAKE THE CUT THE NEXT TIME? >> THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS LIST EVERY TWO WEEKS, ALLISON. IS THERE A CHANCE THE U.S. COULD MAKE — IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE U.S. HANDLES THE CRISIS — THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THERE AT THE MOMENT. THOSE NUMBERS HAVE TO GO DOWN.

ALLISON. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. WE HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS. >> IT IS NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. IT IS NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. PLAN — WHAT IS PEACOCK? THIS IS PEACOCK. IT IS STREAMING. LAUNCHING. PREMIERING. IT IS TV, MOVIES, EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS, ORIGINAL CHARACTERS, DUH.

IT IS SPORTS. STOCKS. TUNES. >> WAIT, THERE IS MORE? >> MORE? >> YES, YES, MORE. >> IT IS TRENDING, MIND BENDING, LATE NIGHTS, EARLY MORNINGS. DID YOU SEE THIS? YOU REMEMBER THAT? YOU WATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE. IT IS FOR YOU, FOR EW, FOR AWE. IT IS FREE. THAT IS PEACOCK. THAT IS WHO. THAT IS WHAT. THAT IS WHY YOU CAN'T NOT WATCH. WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE DO NOT. >> I THINK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR KIDS. >> I REMEMBER HER COMING HOME SAYING WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONY TAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRL? IT IS OKAY TO NOTICE YOU DIFFERENT, YOU JUST CAN'T FEEL LESS THAN. >> I CHERISH THE FACT WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. TH YOU GUYS.% , WILL KIDS BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL? SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN REOPEN SAFELY. HERE IS WHAT DR. FAUCI SAID SUPERINTENDENTS SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. >> IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFECTION DYNAMICS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CREATIVELY BE DONE ABOUT MODIFYING THINGS LIKE SCHOOL SCHEDULE, ALTERNATE DAYS, MORNING VERSUS EVENING, ALLOWING OF CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ONLINE VIRTUAL LESSONS.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE NEED TO — CONSIDER BUT ALSO ALWAYS MAKE THE GOAL THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE UNINTENDED NEGATIVE CONVINCE CONVINCESES THAT OCCUR WHEN WE KEEP THEM OUT OF SCHOOL. >> JOINING ME NOW, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CDC. WHAT ARE YOUR HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT KIDS AND TEACHERS RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL? >> IT IS — IT IS A BIG CHANGE. I'M A PARENT.

I'M ALSO A PEDIATRICIAN. IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT, FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THAT BEDO BE — WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. THANKFULLY MOST CHILDREN TO GET THIS INFECTION WILL DO WELL. THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN IN TERMS OF LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES. MOST CHILDREN WILL DO WELL. WE HAVE TO WORRY AS WELL ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS TO STAFF AND TO TEACHERS. LOOKING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MODIFY. YOU DO SOCIAL DISTANCING IN CLASSROOMS? CAN YOU DECREASE THE CONTACT THAT TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH STUDENTS? I KNOW THERE IS PLANNING GOING ON ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT IS NOT — IT IS REALLY NOT THE SAME FOR CHILDREN TO BE DISTANCE LEARNING AS IT IS TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM. ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN — THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROADBAND INTERNET, TO EVEN BE ABLE TO DO THE DIGITAL LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY. >> I KNOW IT IS SUCH A CHALLENGE. I'VE SPOKEN WITH EDUCATORS TO SAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE. WE ALSO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO GET BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. AS IT GETS HOTTER THIS SUMMER, SOME PEOPLE ARE HEADING INDOORS LOOKING TO COOL OFF. WE ARE HEARING SOME LEADERS IN SOUTHERN STATES NOW WONDERING IF AIR CONDITIONING IS CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THE SPIKES THEY ARE SEEING? COULD THE AC BE MAKING THINGS WORSE? >> IT IS ALWAYS A QUESTION YOU WANT TO ASK AND THEN YOU WANT TO USE SIGNS TO TRY AND ANSWER IT.

TO DATE THERE IS NO STRONG EVIDENCE THAT AIR CONDITIONING PROVIDES A RISK. SO FURTHER STUDIES WILL BE IMPORTANT IN LOOKING TO SEE WHEN THERE ARE OUTBREAKS INDOORS, WHETHER AIR CONDITIONING COULD HAVE BEEN A ROLE. THE BIG CONCERN ABOUT INDOOR GATHERINGS APPEARS TO BE THE DIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WHEN YOU SEE IN SOME SETTINGS RESTAURANTS THAT ARE CROWDED, IT IS PRETTY EASY TO IMAGINE HOW THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTING THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. PEOPLE CLOSE TOGETHER AREN'T WEARING MASKS — THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM. >> THE FDA IS SETTING SOME VACCINE CONDITIONS SAYING A VACCINE WILL NEED TO BE 50% MORE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE VIRUS THAN A PLACEBO. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW LIKELY DRUG MAKERS ARE TO MEET THAT STANDARD? >> YEAH, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VACCINES, VACCINES — SOME ARE THEM ARE HIGH HE EFFECTIVE. — HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. VACCINES ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THAT. IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE A VACCINE TO EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE WANTED TO CUT TOWN YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING COVID BY AT LEAST HALF. THAT IS THE 50%. YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SAFE AND SO — IN THE GUIDANCE THEY ARE PUTTING FORWARD THEY ARE CALLING FOR SIGNIFICANT TRIALS TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINES PROVIDE NOT JUST THOSE ANTIBODIES BUT WHEN THEY ARE USED THAT IT TRULY REDUCES THE RISK TO GET THE INFECTION.

I THIS THEY IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. THEY DON'T WANT TO GET A VACCINE THEY THINK IS NOT GOING TO WORK. THEY DON'T WANT TO GET A VACCINE THEY ARE NOT SURE IS SAFE. THOSE TRIALS WILL TAKE TIME. HAVING CONFIDENCE THE VACCINES WORK WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT. >> I ALSO ASK YOU ABOUT THE OP-ED YOU WROTE FOR U.S. A TODAY ABOUT HOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS BEING POLITICAL SIZED. WILL YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU WROTE HERE AND HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE DATA WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH OTHER NOISE OUT THERE? >> I THINK IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE ARE SEEING THIS INCREDIBLE CLASH OF MESSAGES. PUBLIC HEALTH IS SAYING THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS. WE NEED TO DO MORE TO CONTROL THIS. WHAT I POINTED OUT IN THE OP-ED PIECE IS THAT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET DATA. THINGS CAN LOOK GOOD AT A STATE LEVEL. DOWN IN A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD THERE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. IF YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT DATA AND INFORMATION THAT WAY, THERE COULD BE PARTS OF EUROPE POPULATION, PARTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY GETTING HIT.

THEY COULD BE PROTECTED IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT TO DATE BLACK AMERICANS, LATINO AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN HIT SO HARD WITH THIS PANDEMIC. THE SAME GROUPS WILL GET HIT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GO OUT AND ABOUT IN THEIR ACTIVITIES AND WHEN THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPOSURE. >> IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. I HOPE WE SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON. >> THANKS SO MUCH, ALLISON. >>> JOE BIDEN GIVING HIS STRONGEST CRITICISM YET OF HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS HANDLED THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. TODAY BIDEN SAID THE PRESIDENT HAS FAILED US. >> CALL YOURSELF A CHEERLEADER. WE DON'T NEED A CHEERLEADER, MR. PRESIDENT. WE NEED A PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT. A PRESIDENT WILL LEFTL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TELL US THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH.

A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BLAMING OTHERS. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS. FOLLOW THE SCIENCE. ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LEAD AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION. >> NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT JOINING ME FROM WILMINGTON. MIKE, A BIG DAY TO DAY. WHAT ELSE DID HE HAVE TO SAY TO THE PRESIDENT? >> THIS IS — WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE EVERY WEEK. HE GIVES SOME SORT OF PUBLIC SPEECH FOCUSED ON THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE. I'M CALLING THIS ONE'S JOE BIDEN I TOLD YOU SO SPEECH. WE HEARD HIM LAY OUTSIDE BY SIDE, MONTHS BY MONTHS WHAT HE WAS SAYING ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS, HIS ADVICE, HIS RECOMMENDATIONS AGAINST WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING AND DOING STARTING IN JANUARY WHEN BIDEN WARNED THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT PREPARED FOR IT.

IN FEBRUARY WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WOULD INSIST ON AMERICA HAVING INSPECTATORS ON THE GROUND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. SURPRISE, SURPRISE THE BIND CAM — BIDEN CAMPAIGN SHOWS TRUMP FAILING IN THAT REGARD. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE PRESIDENT BEGAN TRYING TO MOVE ON. EVEN AS BIDEN WAS ATTACKING HIM FOR GOING ON THE GOLF TRYING TO IGNORE THE CORONAVIRUS. REOPENING AND NOW HAVING TO CLOSE BACK DOWN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS. >> THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN ALSO GAVE SOME MORE DETAILS OF HIS PLAN TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT ARE THEY? >> I LOST HER. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> MIKE, I WILL ASK YOU AGAIN. DO YOU HAVE ME? >> I JUST DON'T HEAR ANYTHING, YEAH. >> MIKE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT, THINK WE LOST MIKE. WE WILL TRY TO GET HIM BACK A LITTLE LATER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> BARS, GYMS AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA ARE CLOSED FOR THE NEXT MONTH AS THE STATE TRIES TO CONTAIN A MAJOR CORONAVIRUS SPIKE. VON JOINING ME NOW FROM PHOENIX. VON, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THERE? >> TO GOVERNOR IMPLEMENTED THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS JUST YESTERDAY. IT ALSO MOVED BACK THE START DATE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THERE IS A GOOD NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE STATE THAT USUALLY START IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY. THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED PACK TO AUGUST 17TH. ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ALSO RESTRICTS THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT CAN BE GATHERED TO NO MORE THAN 50.

OF COURSE THE BIG QUESTION MARK IS — WHAT IS NOT IN THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS? THAT IS WHERE FROM THIS GOVERNOR FOR A MONTH AND A HALF — RESISTED IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES AFTER HE LET THAT STAY AT HOME ORDER EXPIRE ON MAY 15TH AND ALLOWED BUSINESSES AND RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS TO REOPEN AND YOU HAVE SEEN MOSTLY LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL HERE ACROSS THE STATE. THAT IS WHAT LED TO FINALLY WITH THE SURGE IN CASES, NEARLY 4,000 A DAY AS WELL AS RECORD NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ICU BEDS IN USE AND VENTILATORS IN USE. IT LED TO THIS ACTION CULMINATED INTO THIS ACTION BY THE GOVERNOR LAST NIGHT. >> VON, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS STATEWIDE BUT NO NEW STAY AT HOME ORDER. WHAT DID THE GOVERNOR TELL YOU? >> EXACTLY.

AS YOU ARE SEEING THESE NUMBERS SKYROCKET, A NEAR DOUBLING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN JUST THE LAST TWO WEEKS. NEARLY DOUBLING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS. YOU SEE THIS RUNNING AWAY. THAT IS WHERE I ASKED THE GOVERNOR THE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION, WHY NOT REIMPLEMENT A STAY AT HOME ORDER AND SHUTDOWN THE STATE AGAIN. TAKE A LISTEN TO PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. >> I THINK ARIZONIANS ARE SMART AND HAVE COMMON SENSE AND WILL DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBILITY. >> COULD IT BE ON THE TABLE NEXT WEEK A STAY AT HOME ORDER? >> I SAID I WAKE UP EVERYDAY AND WE SOLVE THEM IN THEIR TURN. SO THE HUE MELTY OF THIS IS TO NOT GUESS OR SPECULATE BUT TO PREPARE. >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HUMILITY BEGOT TO —-WE GOT TO ROLL IT PACK A LITTLE WAYS. BACK IN APRIL THERE WAS A STAY AT HOME ORDER IN PLACE. DURING THAT TIME PERIOD THERE WAS THE SERIOUS NATURE OF JUSTIFYING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REOPEN BUSINESS. THAT TOOK UNDER THE WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE'S GUIDELINES SAYING THERE HAD TO BE A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY.

AND THE PERCENT POSITIVE CASES THIS HOSPITALIZATIONS. WE ARE FAR PAST THAT. WE ARE NOWHERE CLOSE TO EVEN MEETING THOSE PHASE 1 REQUIREMENTS YET. STILL SO MUCH OF THE STATE IS OPEN. RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS ARE STILL OPEN. MALLS ARE STILL OPEN. THERE IS BIG QUESTION MARKS HERE. TO WHAT EXTENT THERE WILL BE ENS FORMENT? EN — ENFORCEMENT? THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT ARIZONA AND ITS HOSPITALS AND ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS IS FACING. >> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A CORONAVIRUS REPORTING ERROR MANY ARIZONA. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? >> THIS IS A TOUGH PART OF TESTING AND PROCESSING. THERE IS A DIGITAL AREA OR. THAT IS WHY INITIALLY THROUGH THE DAY YESTERDAY YOU SAW SUCH A — THAT PLAYS INTO A CONVERSATION THAT YOU AND I HURT FROM THE LABS JUST YESTERDAY AS THE AMOUNT OF TESTING IS — IS SUDDEN THINK DEMAND FOR TESTING IS SO SUBSTANTIAL IN THE DEMAND FORGETTING THOSE TESTS PROCESSED, THIS SON-IN-LAW BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT. THE STRAIN IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT. THESE LABORATORIES — BUT AS WELL AS THE STATE IN REPORTING THIS DATA AND OUR ABILITY TO GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC THE SEVERITY OF WHAT IS AT HAND.

>> THANK YOU. >>> CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE SURGING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. WITH MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL. HERE IS WHAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 ARE SEEING IN THEIR OWN WORDS. >> THINK WE ARE ALL LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE TO SEE WHAT IS AHEAD OF US STILL. IF THE NUMBERS STAY UP — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I THINK WE HOPE WE WILL HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO PUSH THROUGH. >> YES, CASES IN TEXAS ARE GOING UP. I'VE SEEN A LOT MORE CASES EVERYDAY. TYING NOSED MORE PEOPLE — DIAGNOSED MORE PEOPLE WITH COVID-19 OVER THE WEEKEND. MOST OF THEM ARE YOUNG, HEALTHY PEOPLE. MOST OF THEM AREN'T TERRIBLY SICK BUT MOST OF THEM STILL ARE. >> THE ONES THAT AREN'T ABLE TO GO HOME ARE VERY SICK. >> SEEING THE NUMBERS GO UP AND SEEING SOME PUSH BACK, FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUARANTINE FATIGUE AND ARE KIND OF TIRED OF FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWING HOW THAT CAN AFFECT OUR NUMBERS HERE — ITS TROUBLE SOME >> I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THE NOVEMBER REQUEST TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC TO PHARMACIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE VIRUS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE COVID ARE ASYMPTOMATIC. IF THEY DON'T WEAR MASKS THEY WILL SPREADING IT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH CONDITIONS OR VULNERABLE. >> NOW THEY FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THAT GOES A LONG WAY. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T SEE THE RESULTS OF YOUR WORK. WE KNOW WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE DURING THIS TIME AND — WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WEAR THOSE MASKS AND TO WASH YOUR HANDS AND — STAY SAFE. >> SOME CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS ARE STILL REPORTING SYMPTOMS MORE THAN 100 DAYS AFTER THEY FIRST GOT SICK AND NOW MAJOR MEDICAL CENTERS ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE NOT GETTING BETTER.

ERIKA, WHAT KIND OF SYMPTOMS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND HOW SEVERE ARE THEY? >> HI, ALLISON. A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING FATIGUE, HEADACHE, ACHES AND PAINS, COUGH, TIGHTNESS IN THE CHEST, RACING HEART, VAN LOW GRADE FEVER FOR MORE THAN 100 DAYS. THEY HAVE THIS SIMMERING 100 10 DEGREE FEVER FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS ON END. HOW LONG WILL THESE PEOPLE HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS? IS THIS NOW JUST A CHRONIC ILLNESS THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH? ALSO JUST WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BODY? SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS DON'T KNOW ENOUGH YET ABOUT THIS. FOR SURE I TALKED WITH A WOMAN THE OTHER DAY WHO SAID SHE WAS ON DAY 111 OF THE FEVER.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. ALLISON. >> THAT SOUNDS AWFUL. I KNOW THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. DO THEY HAVE ANY THEORIES ABOUT WHY THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING? >> SO THE THEORY IS THAT THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM WENT INTO OVER DRIVE TRYING TO ATTACK THIS VIRUS. EVEN THOUGH THE BODY HAS NOW CLEARED THE VIRUS, IT JUST — IT STAYS IN THIS CHRONIC STATE OF LOW LEVEL INFLAMMATION. THE GOOD NEWS IS A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOW STARTING TO REALIZE THAT — THESE REPORTS — IT — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] BOTH RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A REAL THING. NOW AS YOU SAID, MAJOR MEDICAL CENTERS ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION. THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. STANFORD OUT IN CALIFORNIA, PENN MEDICINE IN PHILADELPHIA. ALL TRYING TO PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING SO THEY CAN COME UP WITH A GOOD TREATMENT, PLAN, PROTOCOL THAT WILL HELP THESE FOLKS. >> ALL RIGHT, IT IS A FRIGHTENING CONDITION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> LETS GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE PRESS SECRETARY IS BRIEFING REPORTERS. >> WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO BE A SOURCE OR AN ASSET? WHICH ALLIES WILL WANT TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH US IF THEY KNOW THAT SOME INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CAN SPLASH THAT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT PAGE OF A MAJOR U.S. NEWS PAPER? SPES THERE ARE TWO BAD SCENARIOS THAT REMERGE. NUMBER ONE, THIS MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO COME TO A CONSENSUS ON THIS MATTER. NUMBER TWO, THIS LEVEL OF CONTROVERSY AND DISCORD PLAYS INTO THE HANDS OF RUSSIA AND UNFORTUNATELY SERVES THEIR INTEREST. SINCE BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP ASSUMED OFFICE DOCTOR — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ACCORDING TO THE DOJ, CLASSIFIED LEAKS SURGE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. THERE WERE UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA JUST 39 ON AVERAGE CRIMINAL LEAK REFERRALS. THIS ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE SEEN 100 CRIMINAL LEAK REFERRALS TO THE DOJ IN 2017. 88 IN 2018. 104 ON AVERAGE PER YEAR. WE HAVE SEEN TARGETED LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFO INFORMATION AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT AND IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. PHONE CALLS WITH FOREIGN LEADERS, MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND NOW REPORTS OF ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAMAGES OUR ABILITY AS A NATION TO COLLECT INTELLIGENCE. AS THEY NOTED JUST YESTERDAY, TO THOSE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO BETRAY THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES BY LEAKING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION YOUR ACTIONS ENDANGER OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. THE ODNI SAID THIS LEAKING OF ANY CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DISRUPTS THE AGENCY WORK TO COLLECT, ASSESS AND MITIGATE THREATS AND PLACES OUR FORCES AT RISK. IT IS ALSO SIMPLY PUT A CRIME. FINALLY THE CIA SAID THIS. THAT LEAKS COMPROMISE AND DISRUPT THE CRITICAL INTERAGENCY WORK TO COLLECT, ASSESS AND DESCRIBE CULL P ABILITY. TO THE ANONYMOUS SOURCES WHO LEAKED CLASSIFIED INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS. YOU MAY SEEK TO UNDER MINE OUR PRESIDENT BUT IN FACT YOU UNDERMINE OUR COUNTRY'S SAFETY AND SECURITY. THE PRESIDENT WAS NEVER BRIEFED ON THIS. THIS INTELLIGENCE BILL HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED. THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AMONG THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> STILL TO THIS DAY HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED AND — THERE ARE SEVERAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES ON THE RECORD NOTING THAT. YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAYING THAT THERE HAS — THEY HAVE NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE TO VALIDATE THE RECENT ALLEGATIONS.

WE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED TIN EL BEGINS REFERENCE IN RECENT MEDIA REPORTINGS. THAT DIDN'T STOP THE NEW YORK TIMES FROM PUTTING IT OUT IN THE VERY FIRST PAGE OF THEIR NEWS PAPER AND STOPPING US FROM GETTING TO AN ULTIMATE CONCLUSION AND ULTIMATE PLACE OF HAVING A CONSENSUS ON THE ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE. >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> THE PRESIDENT HAS ALWAYS TAKEN TOUGH ACTION AGAINST RUSSIA.

WE SAW THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE ON THE WEST COAST OF OUR COUNTRY OF RUSSIA BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT CLOSED THE CONSULATES. WE SAW HE EXPELLED 60 RUSSIAN INL INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SANCTIONED HUNDREDS OF TARGETS , WITH DREW FROM THE TREATY AND MANY OTHER ACTIONS. MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS PRESIDENT IS PREPARED TO ACT AND WILL ALWAYS ACT IN PROTECTING OUR AMERICAN TROOPS. WE SAW IN SIR — SYRIA AND THE STRIKE IN 2018, HE WILL ALWAYS ACT TO PROTECT AMERICAN TROOPS.

THAT IS INDEED HIS TRACK RECORD. >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] . >> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON WHAT IS UNFORTUNATELY IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN BECAUSE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE OR RE#1307SABLE LEAK . >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID HE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH MASKS. HE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO MAKE WHATEVER DECISION IS BEST FOR THEIR SAFETY AND TO FOLLOW WHAT THEIR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS SAY . HIS DECISION WHETHER TO MAKE A MASK.

>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> UM, I WANTED TO LOOK BACK ON YOU SAYING THE PRESIDENT HASN'T BEEN BRIEFED. I THINK THERE IS SOME DISPUTE ON WHETHER IN FEBRUARY IT INCLUDED THIS INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SAY WHETHER OR NOT — HE MAY NOT HAVE READ THE — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> IT IS A TOP SECRET DOCK THAT TIME IS WIDELY DISSEMINATED AMONG GOVERNMENTS. I WILL NEVER SIT HERE AND CONFIRM OR DENY WHAT IS A TOP SECRET DOCUMENT. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. ONE THING I WILL SAY THAT IS ROUTINE IS WHEN THERE IS ENINTELLIGENCE, I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE FOLKS OVER IN NCS ABOUT THIS EARLIER. WHEN WE GET INTELLIGENCE VERIFIED OR UNVERIFIED, WE DEEM CREDIBLE OR NOT CREDIBLE, DEEMED CONSENSUS OR NO CONSENSUS, IF THAT INFORMATION IN ANYWAY DEPENDED UPON THE SAFETY OF OUR TROOPS, THAT INFORMATION GOES TO OUR TROOPS ON THE GROUND AND TO OUR ALLIES SO THEY CAN TAKE THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES. WHAT IS BRIEFED IS UP TO THE PRESIDENT IN THIS CASE WAS NOT CASE, WAS NEVER BRIEFED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS.

IN THIS CASE IF THERE WITH A STRATEGIC DECISION TO BE MADE, THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE BRIEFED TO THE PRESIDENT. IN THIS CASE IT WAS NOT BRIEFED TO THE PRESIDENT. THERE IS NO CONSENSUS. IT WAS NOT CREDIBLE. THIS PRESIDENT WILL ALWAYS PROTECT AMERICAN TROOPS. >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> IF — THE PRESIDENT DOES READ AND HE ALSO ASSUMES INTELLIGENCE VERBALLY. THIS PRESIDENT IS THE MOST INFORMED PERSON ON PLANET EARTH WHEN IT COME TO THE THREATS WE FACE. HE IS CONSTANTLY BEING ENFORMED AND BRIEFED ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE NEW YORK TIMES TO DICTATE WHEN WE GIVE TOP SECRET INFORMATION AND DON'T GIVE TOP SECRET INFORMATION. >> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> YES. >> THANKS, HALEY. [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> SO NO COMMENT SPECIFICALLY. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT WAS FUNDED BY THE DEMOCRAT NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN AND WAS USED TO SPY ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

>> THERE ARE A WHOLE THE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FOR. >> WHY WAS IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS? WHY WASN'T IT TELEVISED GIVEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST? >> THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR CONGRESS. I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW HIS ANSWERS. >> ONE MORE ABOUT LEAKERS. LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR A BRIEFING FROM INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. IS THERE A CONCERN TO BRIEF DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LEAK OUT OF THE COMMITTEE. >> I THINK DEMOCRATS SHOULD COME FORWARD IN GOOD FAITH AND IF ANYONE HAS POLITICIZED INTELLIGENCE WE'VE HAD "NEW YORK TIMES" ACTING IR RESPONSIBLY AND THE PARTY POLITICIZING THIS SITUATION WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL. >> McCONNELL SAID THAT RUSSIA SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THE SUMMIT. DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP AGREE? >> I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HIM ON THAT MATTER. THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES WE HAVE TO HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE TOP ECONOMIES OF THE WORLD.

NO ONE HAS BEEN TOUGHER ON RUSSIA THAN THIS PRESIDENT. I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL OF THE ACTIONS. I WOULD NOTE WHEN IT COMES TO ACTING A VIABLE ACTIONABLE, CREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE WHO HAS ACTED MORE FORCEFULLY THAN THIS PRESIDENT. HE HAS A TRACK RECORD OF THAT. HE HAS MADE PROTECTING AMERICAN TROOPS OVERSEAS ITS HIGHEST AND STRONGEST PRIORITY. AS YOU KNOW SOLEIMANI WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH OF 600 AMERICANS AND THOUSANDS MAIMED FROM EXPLOSIVELY FORMED PEN TRAY TORRS, OTHER IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, IMPROVISED ROCKET ASSISTED MUNITIONS, SMALL ARMS, SNIPERS, OTHER ATTACKS IN IRAQ. THIS IS WHAT SOLEIMANI DID TO OUR AMERICAN TROOPS. YOU HAD PRESIDENT BUSH WHO DECLINED TO STRIKE SOLEIMANI WHO WAS "IN THE CROSS HAIRS" ACCORDING TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES." YOU HAD BIDEN WHO NEVER MADE AN EFFORT TO STRIKE SOLEIMANI. YOU HAD THIS PRESIDENT AND WHEN HE HAD ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE TO PROTECT TROOPS, HE DID IT. HE TOOK THE OPTION. HE WAS CRITICIZED BY DEMOCRATS. DEMOCRATS CONDEMNED TRUMP STRIKE ON SOLEIMANI. NBCWHY KILL SOLEIMANI NOW? WE REMOVED SOLEIMANI FROM THE BATTLEFIELD. PRESIDENT TRUMP DID TO PROTECT OUR AMERICAN TROOPS BASED ON CREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE.

HE DID THE SAME WITH AL-BAGDADI RESPONSIBLE FOR 300 PUBLIC BEHEADINGS, KILLED THOUSANDS CAPTURED PRISONERS OF WAR. WHEN THIS PRESIDENT HAD ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, HE TOOK ACTION AND CRITICIZED BY DEMOCRATS ABOUT IT. BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS PRESIDENT DOES. >> WHO IS DOING THE TARGETING AND WHY ARE THEY DOING IT? >> GREAT QUESTION. THESE ARE ROGUE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IMPERILLING OUR TROOPS LIVES. WE WILL VERY LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO GET A CONSENSUS ON THE INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS LEAKED TO "NEW YORK TIMES." YOU HAVE NSC, ODI, CIA NOTING WHAT DAMAGE THIS LEAK DOES NOT JUST TO THE SAFETY OF THE TROOPS WHICH IS PARAMOUNT BUT TO THE ABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES TO AGGREGATE FROM ALLIES AND GET THIS VALUABLE INFORMATION.

>> MEMBERS OF THE IC ARE GOING AFTER TRUMP? >> IT VERY POSSIBLY COULD BE. IF THAT'S THE CASE IT IS ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE. >> IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOING ANYTHING, TAKING ACTION LIKE AUDIT OF THE IC OR WHAT STEPS ARE YOU PLANNING ON TAKING TO TRY TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK? >> D.O.J. HAS DONE SEVERAL LEAK CRIMINAL REFERRALS, 88 IN 2018, 104 ON AVERAGE PER YEAR UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE DO TAKE THE STEPS. WE DO HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO ULTIMATELY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE SAFETY OF OUR TROOPS, HE DOESN'T TAKE IMPULSIVE ACTION. HE TAKES DELIBERATE ACTION. WE SAW THAT IN THE KILLING OF SOLEIMANI, KILLING OF AL- BAGDADI, PROTECTION OF OUR TROOPS. YOU HAD IRAN WHO STRUCK DOWN A DRONE AND HE CHOSE NOT TO STRIKE BACK.

HE CHOSE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AND OUR TROOPS. IT WAS A MEASURED RESPONSE. THE ULTIMATE WAY TO PROTECT AMERICAN TROOPS IS NOT GET INTO NEED LESS FOREIGN WARS. THIS PRESIDENT IS ON RECORD FOR DECADES AND DECADES OPPOSING FOREIGN WARS. IRAQ IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. A NEARLY TWO DECADE WAR YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT WHO WHEN WASHINGTON WAS UNANIMOUS SAYING WE ARE GOING TO IRAQ THE PRESIDENT SAID NO, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT DECISION. HE HAS WOUND TRUE PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND ULTIMATELY PROTECTED TROOPS AND KEPT THE COUNTRY SAFE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS A STRONG FOREIGN POLICY RECORD TO BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. THANK YOU. >>> YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. LET'S GO TO OUR NBC NEWS NOW CORRESPONDENT. SHE HAS THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM NBCNEWS.COM. ALEXA, HOW ARE YOU? >> Reporter: HEY. GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS. LOTS OF NEWS IN THIS HOUR WITH CORONAVIRUS CASES SURGING IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. AT LEAST 16 CASES HAVE CLOSED IN EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE NEW OUTBREAK.

DR. FAUCI TESTIFIED AND GAVE THIS WARNING. >> WE ARE NOW HAVING 40 PLUS THOUSAND NEW CASES A DAY. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE GO UP TO 100,000 A DAY IF THIS DOES NOT TURN AROUND. SO I AM VERY CONCERNED. >> NOW FROM NBC'S ALEX ANDER SMITH, EUROPEAN UNION WILL START TO REOPEN BORDERS TO AS MANY AS 15 COUNTRIES, UNITED STATES NOT ONE OF THEM. THE LIST WAS CHOSEN BASED ON VIRUS LEVELS AND UNITED STATES HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES AND CORONAVIRUS DEATHS IN THE WORLD. THAT LIST WILL BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND POTENTIALLY ADJUSTED BASE THE ON EVOLVING CONDITIONS OF THE PANDEMIC. THE SUPREME COURT RULING IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FROM RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE FUNDING BENEFITS A STATE AFFORDS OTHER SCHOOLS.

THE RULING WAS ABOUT A CASE IN MONTANA WHERE SOME PARENTS INTENDED TO USE STATE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO SEND CHILDREN TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS. JUSTICE ROBERTS WROTE THE MAJORITY OPINION SAYING STATES COULD NOT DISQUALIFY SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE RELIGIOUS. CRITICS SAY THIS CAN FURTHER BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. >>> REEVES WILL SIGN A BILL OFFICIALLY MANDATING REMOVAL OF THE FLAG WHICH INCLUDES THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE EMBLEM. THEY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEASURE OVER THE WEEKEND. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE FLAG FOR MORE THAN 120 YEARS. MEANWHILE, A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPANIES ARE BOYCOTTING AS ON FACEBOOK AS PART OF THE HASH TAG. THERE ARE MORE THAN 240 ORGANIZATIONS PROTESTING HOW FACEBOOK ADDRESSES AUDIT PLATFORMS. SOME SAY IT CAN BE A BIG FOR COMPANIES ESPECIALLY SMALLER BUSINESSES WHO ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON THE NETWORK. OTHERS SAY EXISTING MEASURES TO CUT COSTS DURING CORONAVIRUS ALSO PLAYS A ROLE. >>> CARL RHINER PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN CALIFORNIA LAST NIGHT. HE WAS 98 AND HAD BEEN A CELEBRATED ACTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR CONDUCTED INTO EMMY HALL OF FAME IN 1999.

HIS SON IN A TWEET POSTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT CALLING HIS FATHER A "GUIDING LIGHT." THOSE ARE THE LATEST HEADLINES FOR THIS HOUR. AS ALWAYS I WILL BE JOINING YOU AGAIN A LITTLE LATER WITH MORE UPDATES. >> THANKS SO MUCH. WE'LL SEE YOU THEN. >>> THE NATION'S TOP MEDICAL OFFICIALS TESTIFYING BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY. THEY SAID WE ARE SEEING A SURGE OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS BECAUSE SEVERAL STATES REOPENED TOO SOON AND PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES.

>> EVEN IN STATES IN WHICH LEADERSHIP IN THE FORM OF THE GOVERNORS AND MAYORS DID IT RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT WE SAW VISUALLY IN CLIPS AND IN PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY DOING AN ALL OR NONE PHENOMENON WHICH IS DANGEROUS. BY ALL OR NONE I MEAN EITHER BE LOCKED DOWN OR OPEN UP IN A WAY WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE AT BARS, NOT WEARING MASKS, NOT AVOIDING CROWDS, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. >>> NBC NEWS CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT JOINING ME, DR. FAUCI SAYING WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WHAT WERE SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHTS, IMPORTANT POINTS FROM THE HEARING TODAY? >> THE POINT OF THIS HEARING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT SCHOOLS REOPENING IN THE FALL. OF COURSE MEMBERS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, FOUR OFFICIALS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ANSWERS JUST YET. THEY SAID A LOT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, ON THE LOCATION. IT'S JUST SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION. THEY DID SAY TESTING IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO OPENING SCHOOLS IN THE FALL. DR. FAUCI KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF POOL TESTING WHERE YOU GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GIVE ALL THESE PEOPLE THE SAME TEST, WHETHER THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OR NOT.

THAT'S A WAY TO REALLY TAKE THE — GET AT THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF TESTING THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GET THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL. >> DR. FAUCI SAID WE SHOULD SEE 100,000 NEW COVID CASES A DAY IN THE U.S. THAT NUMBER STARTLED ME SO MUCH I HAD TO CHECK TWICE TO BE SURE IT WAS CORRECT. IT'S A TERRIFYING NUMBER. HOW DID HE EXPLAIN THAT? >> I WAS IN THE HEARING ROOM WHEN HE SAID THAT, AND IT SHOCKED ME TOO. IT WAS JUST THE STARK REALIZATION THAT FAUCI PUT OUT THERE. REMEMBER RIGHT NOW WE ARE HITTING THE HIGHS IN THE COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE SEEN, ABOUT 40, 42,000 CASES A DAY. DR. FAUCI IS SAYING IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY ARE NOW, IT WILL NOT BE SURPRISING TO SEE 100,000 CASES A DAY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT AS FAR AS HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ICU BEDS. HE WAS SAYING AS FAR AS SPECIFIC MEASURES HE SAID ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THEY'RE LEARNING IS BARS. HE CALLED BARS BAD NEWS AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CLOSE. THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SEEING SO MANY SPREADS. THAT'S WHY YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE CONTRACTING THE DISEASE AS WELL. THAT WAS DEFINITELY A MOMENT IN THE HEARING THAT REALLY GAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHIP LASH AND REALLY SET IN THE SEVERITY OF WHAT COULD COME DOWN THE PIPE. >> I MEAN, JUST FOR THINGS LIKE GOING TO A BAR, IT REALLY MAKES YOU REALIZE HOW CAREFUL WE STILL NEED TO BE. THE MASK DEBATE IS ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY. HOW DID THAT COME UP AT THE HEARING TODAY? >> AT THE HEARING, LIKE I SAID IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT SCHOOLS, WHICH THEY TOUCHED ON THE ISSUE.

THE MAIN ISSUE, BIG NEWS OF THE HEARING WAS THE ISSUE OF MASKS. YOU HAD THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE REPUBLICAN LAMAR ALEX ANDER OF TENNESSEE WHO USED HIS OPENING STATEMENT TO SAY IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS. LISTEN TO HIM. >> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SIMPLE LIFE- SAVING PRACTICE HAS BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL DEBATE THAT SAYS THIS. IF YOU ARE FOR TRUMP YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK. IF YOU ARE AGAINST TRUMP, YOU DO. THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT OCCASIONALLY WEAR A MASK EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO DO SO. THE PRESIDENT HAS PLENTY ADMIRERS. THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD. IT WOULD HELP END THIS POLITICAL DEBATE.

THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH FOR THIS POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT PRO TRUMP, ANTITRUMP MASKS TO CONTINUE. >> THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT LAMAR ALEXANDER WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO BRING IT UP. IT WAS AN ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE HEARING. ALLISON, THE FACT THAT SENATOR ALEXANDER, A REPUBLICAN, SAID THIS, HE IS JUST ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SAYING PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR MASKS. THEY SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD COME OUT AND WEAR A MASK TOO. YOU HEARD FROM HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY OF CALIFORNIA WHO RARELY BREAKS WITH THE PRESIDENT, CAME ON FOX NEWS TODAY SAYING THE PRESIDENT SHOULD WEAR A MASK. EVERYONE AT THE 4th OF JULY CELEBRATIONS SHOULD DO THE SAME. WE HEARD ONCE AGAIN FROM MITCH McCONNELL WHO SAID MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR A MASK. HE JUST DID SO AGAIN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE JUST MOMENTS AGO. MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE REALLY BREAKING FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THIS ISSUE. THEY SEE IT NOT ONLY AS AN ISSUE OF LIFE AND DEATH BUT ALSO SEE IT AS A POLITICAL ISSUE AS WELL, THE PRESIDENT'S POLL NUMBERS ARE TANKING AS HIS HANDLING OF THIS COVID CRISIS CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE AND BE INFLUX.

SO REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL ARE COMING OUT AND SAYING THAT MASK WEARING IS ESSENTIAL. >> I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE SAID THIS ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES ALREADY JUST SIX MONTHS INTO 2020. IF YOU TOLD ME WE WOULD BE DEBATING THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK TO SAVE YOUR LIFE THIS SUMMER, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT. YET HERE WE ARE ON THE LAST DAY OF JUNE AND IT'S THE HOT TOPIC. >> THIS IS A DEBATE THAT WAS HAPPENING MONTHS AGO TOO.

REMEMBER HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE SAYING MASKS AREN'T GOING TO PROTECT YOU. THEY SAID NOW THE REASON THEY SAID THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY. THEY NEEDED TO SAVE MASKS FOR HEALTH OFFICIALS. CDC GUIDELINES HAVE SAID FOR MONTHS THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK TO NOT ONLY PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE BUT TO PROTECT YOURSELF. IT'S A DEBATE THAT'S ONGOING AND HAS BECOME A VERY POLITICALLY TOXIC ONE. >> UNBELIEVABLE. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANKS A LOT. >> YOU TOO. >>> WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL RUSSIAN BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS IN AFGHANISTAN, AND WHEN DID HE FIND OUT? NBC NEWS HAS CONFIRMED THE WHITE HOUSE AND TOP NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE ON THE BOUNTIES A YEAR EARLIER THAN WE THOUGHT, A PERSON WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE TELLING NBC NEWS THE WHITE HOUSE AND COUNSEL WERE MADE AWARE IN EARLY 2019. THE PRESIDENT HAS DENIED BEING BRIEFED ON THE MATTER. JOINING ME NOW IS A SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER AND NBC NEWS NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT. KEN IN APRIL 2019 THERE WAS A FATAL ATTACK ON U.S. MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND WHETHER AMERICANS DIED AS A RESULT? >> THREE U.S. MARINES WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK AND THREE OTHERS WERE WOUNDED AS WELL AS AN AFGHAN CONTRACTOR. THIS ATTACK IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLY STEMMING FROM THE BOUNTIES BUT OUR INFORMATION IS IT IS UNCONFIRMED. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS. WHAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A QUESTION IS THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE SUPPORTING TALIBAN FINANCIALLY, WERE PAYING BOUNTIES. A FORMER CIA OFFICER WORKING THIS IN 2018 TOLD ME IT IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE RELATIONSHIP WORKED. THEY WERE PAYING TALIBAN TO INCENTIVIZE KILLING OF AMERICANS. FAR FROM BEING NOT CREDIBLE AS PRESIDENT TRUMP CHARACTERIZED INTELLIGENCE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN CORROBORATED BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE. ONE TOLD ME HE IS FAIRLY WELL CONVINCED AMERICANS AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS RUSSIAN BOUNTY PROGRAM. >>> A GROUP OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS BRIEFED TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. >> THE PRESIDENT CALLED THIS A HOAX PUBLICLY. NOTHING IN THE BRIEFING THAT WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED LED ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A HOAX.

IN MY VIEW THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE ROOM TO GIVE US THE KIND OF BRIEFING WE NEED TO GET. >> WHY DOESN'T THE PRESIDENT CONDEMN WHAT PUTIN HAS DONE AND STAND UP FOR THE UNITED STATES. FOR GOD SAKE, THESE ARE OUR SOLDIERS. IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROTECT THEM, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? IT REALLY LEFT ME WITH NO ANSWER, DIDN'T REALLY COME AWAY KNOWING ANYTHING MORE THAN I KNEW BEFORE. >> SHANNON, HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE CLEARLY NOT HAPPY. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BRIEFING. >> WE FOUND A FEW MORE DETAILS AS TO WHO WAS LEADING THIS BRIEFING. ONE THING NBC NEWS LEARNED IS MARK MEADOWS CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE PRESIDENT WAS LEADING IT WHILE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER CHIMED IN AS IT WAS DESCRIBED EVERY NOW AND THEN. MARK MEADOWS IS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS ON THE HILL. BEING AN INTELLIGENCE EXPERT WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. HE WAS NOT ONE OF THE MORE PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES. SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE UNUSUAL, THAT MARK MEADOWS WAS THE ONE REALLY LEADING THIS CONVERSATION.

SECOND FROM DEMOCRATS THAT THE CIA DIRECTOR WASN'T THERE, QUESTIONING WHY SHE WASN'T THERE. DEMOCRATS STILL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HER. THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE BRIEFINGS ON THE TOPIC UNTIL THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. >>> ANYTHING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS TODAY? >> WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT PUBLICLY. HE HAS NOT TWEETED ON THIS ISSUE. AS OF YESTERDAY THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT. OF COURSE THE REPORTING ON THAT NOW SEEMS TO INDICATE HE WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS IN WRITING POTENTIALLY THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD VERBALLY ABOUT THIS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A BRIEFING BY THE PRESS SECRETARY IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM NOW. I AM SURE THAT WILL BE A QUESTION MY COLLEAGUES ARE ASKING. >>> CAN THE WHITE HOUSE SAY THERE WERE DESCENDING OPINIONS ABOUT OFFER OF RUSSIAN BOUNTIES WITHIN INTEL COMMUNITY. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY? >> THAT'S VERY COMMON.

IT'S CLEAR FROM THE REMARKS SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE MADE FROM MY REPORTING THAT THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, PENTAGON'S DIGITAL SPYING ARM, WAS EITHER DISSENTING OR IS NOT CONVINCED WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS INTELLIGENCE IS TRUE WHEREAS CIA WHICH COLLECT INTELLIGENCE FROM HUMAN SOURCES IS LEANING FURTHER INTO IT. THAT IS VERY COMMON. SOMETIMES THAT DISPUTE IS NEVER DISSOLVED AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HAS TO MAKE A CALL AND DECIDE HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE THE INTELLIGENCE AND WHAT POLICY SHOULD FLOW FROM IT. WHAT'S UNUSUAL HERE IS THAT NEVER APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED. NOT ONLY THAT THEY DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE INFORMED THE PRESIDENT BY THEIR ACCOUNTS EXCEPT IN WRITING AND THE DAILY BRIEFING WHICH WE KNOW HE DOESN'T READ.

NOBODY PUSHED BACK AGAINST RUSSIA WHEN THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY OFFERING BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS. THAT I THINK IS WHAT DEMOCRATS SEE AS THE SCANDAL HERE. >>> SHANNON, TOP DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING FOR INFORMATION FROM MIKE POMPEO, DEFENSE SECRETARY MARK ESPER. ANY RESPONSE FROM THOSE TWO? >> NOT DIRECTLY. POMPEO DID SAY HE SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE TALIBAN TODAY, ESSENTIALLY THE SMALL READ OUT WE GOT ON THAT WAS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TALIBAN, REITERATING THEY HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD DIRECTLY FROM ESPER BUT THERE WAS A STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAYING THEY CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE SAYING THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE THEMSELVES THAT COULD CORROBORATE THIS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REALLY VALIDATE THE ACCURACY SO FAR. THAT'S WHAT I CAN TELL YOU AT THIS POINT. >> STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS ON THIS. THANKS FOR FILLING US IN ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. APPRECIATE IT. >>> MANY BEACHES IN FLORIDA ARE CLOSED THIS 4th OF JULY WEEKEND. PEOPLE WHO WERE THINKING ABOUT GOING ANYWAY WILL GET A FINE. OUR NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT IS JOINING ME FROM FLORIDA.

I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN A MOMENT BUT FIRST THE STATE IS REPORTING ANOTHER 6,000 COVID CASES TODAY. WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION THERE? >> Reporter: THE NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING. THAT NUMBER 6,012 IS THE 4th HIGHEST IN FLORIDA SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. IT REALLY PUTS A FINE POINT ON THE FACT THAT THE NUMBERS ARE STILL CLIMBING. WHILE NORTHEAST MAY HAVE SEEN A DROP, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A WAVE MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTH AND THE SOUTHWEST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP AS OPPOSED TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, A SECOND WAVE. THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST WAVE IN FLORIDA. THIS IS BROWARD COUNTY, LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA. FOLKS OUT HERE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, SOCIALLY DISTANCING, DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. BROWARD TO THE NORTH, PALM BEACH COUNTY TO THE SOUTH, MIAMI DADE, THE KEYS, MONROE COUNTY HAVE DECIDED ON JULY 4th BEGINNING FRIDAY THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE CROWDED. IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE STATE IT'S A HOT SPOT. IF I TAKE YOU NORTH TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH, THE BEACH WILL BE OPEN BUT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO AT LEAST CANCEL THE FIREWORKS BECAUSE THEY FELT RESPONSIBLE, CITY OFFICIALS SAID, IF THEY HAD THE FIREWORKS IT WOULD BRING PEOPLE OUT AND THEY WOULD CROWD TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY SPREAD CORONA TO OTHER PEOPLE.

WE GO TO THE PANHANDLE, BEACHES ARE WIDE OPEN. THINGS WILL BE THE SAME WAY THEY ARE EVERY DAY. RIGHT NOW IT'S HOT. I AM I AM OUT HERE AND IT'S LIKE 93. JUST ABOUT EVERY BEACH IS 90 SOMETHING DEGREES IN FLORIDA TODAY. >> YOU ARE VERY DRESSED FOR SOMEONE AT THE BEACH TODAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN FLORIDA. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN TELLING YOU? WHAT'S THE REACTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON? >> Reporter: IT'S INTERESTING. SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AND ARE ALMOST SHAMING PEOPLE THAT AREN'T WEARING MASKS IN A CONFRONTATIONAL WAY. THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUSPICIOUS, NOT ONLY SUSPICIOUS OF THE VALUE OF A MASK BUT IT SEEMS A DEEP ROOTED SUSPICION IN GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

TAKE A LISTEN. >> THEY'VE RAMPED UP THE TESTING AS YOU CAN SEE. THOUSANDS OF TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE. ARE THEY ACCURATE? ARE THEY INACCURATE? >> YOU QUESTION THAT? >> I AM QUESTIONING ACCURACY OF THE CORONAVIRUS. >> PEOPLE NOT FROM FLORIDA HAVE CRITICIZED, WHY DOESN'T THE STATE HAVE ONE RULE FOR THE STATE? EVERYBODY WEAR A MASK. AS OPPOSED TO THE PATCH WORK OF A COUNTY AND CITY AND DIFFERENCE HERE AND DIFFERENCE THERE? >> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS AMERICA. WE ARE INDEPENDENT. WE ARE DEMOCRATIC. WE ARE NOT A COMMUNIST STATE. >> Reporter: SO THE IDEA OF ONE RULE ACROSS THE STATE TO YOU IS? >> IT IS NOT RIGHT. EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT LIKE OUR FINGERS. DIFFERENT FINGERS, DIFFERENT SIZES. >> Reporter: OF COURSE THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND REALLY MUCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHEN YOU COMPARE FLORIDA SAY TO SOUTH KOREA WHICH IS ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE IN POPULATION, THEY'VE BASICALLY HAD ONE RULE FOR THE COUNTRY.

HERE YOU HAVE A PATCH WORK. IT MAY BE THAT IT TAKES HISTORY. IF YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE EASY TO CONCLUDE, SAY HEALTH OFFICIALS, THAT THE PATCH WORK OF RULES ONLY MAKES THINGS MORE COMPLICATED. >> IT'S CLEAR NOT EVERYONE PLANS ON FOLLOWING ALL THE RULES THERE OR THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS INTO WEARING MASKS OR STAYING AT HOME. WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE VIOLATES THE STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH ORDER THIS WEEKEND? WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES? >> Reporter: IT'S NOT JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH.

IT'S THE WEARING OF THE MASK. THE BEST EXAMPLE IS MIAMI BEACH. THEIR FINES ARE DRAMATIC. THEY START OUT AROUND $50 BUT CAN GO UP TO $500. THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WILL MAKE ANYBODY LOOK UP. ULTIMATELY THERE MAY BE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS TO COURT, CHALLENGE THE FINE. IN THE MEANTIME THE PROCESS OF GETTING A FINE, NOT WEARING A MASK, IF NOTHING ELSE, IT WILL BE A HASSLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE CONSCIOUSLY NOT TO DO IT.

I WILL SAY THIS. I TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I JUST GOT BACK FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA. THERE ARE ABSOLUTE DIFFERENCES. IN SOUTH FLORIDA IT SEEMS MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE AND WEARING MASKS. IN THE PANHANDLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THERE IS A RELAXED ATTITUDE. IN RURAL FLORIDA THERE IS ALMOST A SENSE OF WHY WOULD I NEED TO WEAR A MASK? UNDERSCORING THAT IN LAKE COUNTY FLORIDA, AN EXTREMELY RURAL AREA, THEY JUST HAD A RECORD NUMBER IN A SINGLE DAY. THEY HAD 122 CASES. THIS IS NOT JUST IN THE URBAN CRUSHED AREAS AS WE SEE ALONG THE BEACH. I'VE GOT TO POINT OUT EVERYBODY IS SOCIALLY DISTANCED HERE TODAY. >> GOOD TO HEAR. GOOD TO SEE. I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S HOT OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUT THERE AND WEARING A MASK, KEEPING IT SAFE FOR US. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY. >>> AMERICANS WON'T BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO EUROPEAN UNION WHEN IT REOPENS BORDERS TOMORROW.

15 COUNTRIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO VISIT BUT THE U.S. IS NOT ONE OF THEM. OUR NBC NEWS GLOBAL CORRESPONDENT JOINS US. WHY WAS U.S. LEFT OFF THE LIST? >> Reporter: SIMPLY PUT IT'S BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE U.S. IS STILL TOO HIGH. WHAT THE E.U. HAD BEEN LOOKING AT IS ALLOWING COUNTRIES THAT HAVE COMPARABLE NUMBER OF NEW CASES OR BETTER.

THE THING IS THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR CALCULATION. THEY SAY IN THE E.U. OVER TWO WEEKS PER 100,000, AVERAGE, THE AVERAGE CASES. THE U.S. IS FAR FROM MAKING THE LIST. LET ME GIVE A WARNING FROM DR. FAUCI IN THAT IT IS NOT CONTAINED, NUMBER CAN GO UP TO 100,000. THIS IS THE KIND OF NEWS THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO. WE SPOKE TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND HE SAYS IF YOU ASK HIM RIGHT NOW, HE WOULD COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. >> UNFORTUNATELY IF I MAY BY THE WAY IN WHICH THE CURRENT AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION HAS DEALT WITH THE VIRUS, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EUROPEAN LEADER TO BASICALLY LET AMERICANS IN AT THE MOMENT.

>> THERE YOU GO. >>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COUNTRIES. >> GO AHEAD. >>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT COUNTRIES WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO E.U. WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING RIGHT THAT WE ARE NOT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES? >> ON THE LIST YOU HAVE ALGERIA, COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE WELL. THIS IS THE SENSITIVE PART. CHINA IS ON THE CONDITION OF RECIPROCITY. THAT TREAD INTO SOME SENSITIVITY BUT IT'S ALL DOWN TO THE NUMBERS. WHAT THE E.U. IS LOOKING AT APART FROM LOWER NUMBER OF AVERAGE CASES, IT'S A DECLINING TREND OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD.

PLUS THE GENERAL STRATEGY OF THE GOVERNMENT ON HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH CONTAINING THIS. THE TESTING, THE CONTACT TRACING, SURVEILLANCE, ACCESS OF REPORTING. ALL OF THIS IS A LONG CHECK LIST. THIS IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE LIST IS REALLY QUITE SHORT RIGHT NOW. >> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS PRIMARILY A HEALTH DECISION. THE E.U. MAKES A LOT OF MONEY FROM U.S. TOURISTS ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC CONCERNS HERE? >> Reporter: BIG ECONOMIC CONCERNS. AMERICANS MAKE UP A HUGE PORTION OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT COMES IN HERE. JUST IN 2019, FIRST TEN MONTHS, 16.6 MILLION AMERICANS CAME. THIS IS MASSIVE IMPACT ESPECIALLY ON EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT RELY ON TOURISM. IT'S SUMMER. NORMALLY A LOT OF AMERICANS WOULD BE COMING AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

WE SPOKE TO THE GREEK TOURISM MINISTER AND HE SAYS THEY LOVE HAVING AMERICANS. AMERICANS STAY A LONG TIME AND THAT MEANS SPEND A LOT MORE AND IT IS A BOOST TO THE ECONOMY. THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND WHY THE E.U. HAS TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY. IT IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE IMPACT REALLY ON THE ECONOMY. >> HAS E.U. SAID WHEN IT PLANS TO UPDATE THE LIST? IS THERE A CHANCE THE U.S. COULD MAKE THE CUT THE NEXT TIME? >> THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS LIST EVERY TWO WEEKS. IS THERE A CHANCE U.S. CAN MAKE IT? IT DEPENDS ON HOW U.S. HANDLES THE CRISIS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. AT THE MOMENT THE NUMBERS HAVE TO GO DOWN. E.U. SAYS IT WILL BE HARD TO JUSTIFY PUTTING U.S. ON THE LIST IF IT DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA THEY SET FOR EVERY OTHER COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> IT IS SAID THERE IS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME TO FULLY REALIZE THE DREAM UPON WHICH THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. >>> YOU'RE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. WE'VE GOT SOME BREAKING NEWS. >> WE SAW A LARGE CONVOY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD COME THROUGH HERE. >> IT'S NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD, LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M.

EASTERN. >>> INTRODUCING PEACOCK. WHAT'S PEACOCK? THIS IS PEACOCK. >> LET'S GO! >> IT'S STREAMING, LAUNCHING, PREMIERING. IT'S TV, MOVIES, EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS, ORIGINAL CHARACTERS. >> DUH. >> SPORTS. >> BREAKING NEWS. >> STOCKS. >> WAIT, THERE'S MORE. >> MORE? >> MORE. >> TONS. >> IT'S QUICK STUFF, IN STUFF, TOUGH STUFF, LOVE STUFF, TRENDING, MIND BENDING, LATE NIGHT, EARLY MORNING. DO YOU SEE THIS? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? YOU WATCHED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE? IT'S FOR YOU, FOR AWW, PAWNEE, AND IT'S FREE. >> FREE! >> THAT'S PEACOCK. THAT'S WHO. THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHY. >> COME ON. >> MIC DROP. >> YOU CAN'T NOT WATCH. >>> POST RACIAL AMERICA, WE ARE REMINDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DO NOT. >> AFTER I WATCHED MAYOR OF ATLANTA ACT AS MOM TRYING TO RAISE HER SON AND I THINK ABOUT YOU AND THE KIDS. I REMEMBER HER COMING HOME SAYING WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONY TAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRLS? YOU CAN BE DIFFERENT.

>> I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. >>> WILL KIDS BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL WITH MORE CORONAVIRUS SPIKES CROPPING UP? SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN REOPEN SAFELY. HERE IS WHAT DR. FAUCI SAYS SUPERINTENDENTS SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. >> IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFECTION DYNAMICS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CREATIVELY BE DONE ABOUT MODIFYING THINGS LIKE THE SCHOOL SCHEDULE. ALTERNATE DAYS, MORNING VERSES EVENING, ALLOWING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ONLINE VIRTUAL LESSONS. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY ALWAYS MAKE THE GOAL THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE UNINTENDED NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT OCCUR WHEN WE KEEP THEM OUT OF SCHOOL. >> JOINING ME NOW IS THE FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CDC. DOCTOR, WHAT ARE YOUR HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT KIDS AND TEACHERS RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL? >> IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. I AM A PARENT AND ALSO A PEDIATRICIAN.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT, FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. YOU WANT TO DO IT THOUGH IN A WAY THAT IS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. THANKFULLY, MOST CHILDREN WHO GET THIS INFECTION WILL DO WELL. THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN IN TERMS OF LONGTERM CONSEQUENCES BUT THANKFULLY MOST CHILDREN WILL DO WELL. WE HAVE TO WORRY AS WELL ABOUT HEALTH RISKS TO STAFF AND TEACHERS. LOOKING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MODIFY, TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND STAFF ARE WEARING MASKS, CAN YOU DO SOCIAL DISTANCING IN CLASSROOMS, CAN YOU DECREASE CONTACT TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH STUDENTS. I KNOW THERE IS PLANNING GOING ON ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THE SAME FOR CHILDREN TO BE DOING DISTANCE LEARNING AS IT IS TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WHERE THERE IS SUCH A DIGITAL DIVIDE WHERE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROADBAND INTERNET TO EVEN BE ABLE TO DO THE DIGITAL LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY. >> I KNOW IT IS SUCH A CHALLENGE.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH EDUCATORS WHO SAY WE WANT TO BE SURE THE KIDS ARE SAFE. WE ALSO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO GET BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. AS IT GETS HOTTER THIS SUMMER, SOME PEOPLE ARE HEADING INDOORS LOOKING TO COOL OFF IN AIR CONDITIONING. WE ARE HEARING LEADERS IN SOUTHERN STATES WONDERING IF AIR CONDITIONING IS CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THE SPIKES. COULD THE A/C BE MAKING THINGS WORSE? >> IT'S ALWAYS A QUESTION YOU WANT TO ASK. THEN YOU WANT TO USE SCIENCE TO TRY AND ANSWER IT. TO DATE, THERE REALLY IS NO STRONG EVIDENCE THAT AIR CONDITIONING PROVIDES A RISK. AND SO FURTHER STUDIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN LOOKING TO SEE WHEN THERE ARE OUT BREAKS INDOORS, WHETHER AIR CONDITIONING COULD HAVE BEEN A ROLE. THE BIG CONCERN ABOUT INDOOR GATHERINGS APPEARS TO BE DIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WHEN YOU SEE IN SOME SETTINGS RESTAURANTS THAT ARE CROWDED, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO IMAGINE HOW THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTING IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. PEOPLE CLOSE TOGETHER WHO AREN'T WEARING MASKS, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

>> DR. BESSER, FDA IS SETTING VACCINE CONDITIONS SAYING A VACCINE WILL NEED TO BE 50% MORE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING A VIRUS THAN A PLACEBO. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW LIKELY DRUG MAKERS ARE TO MEET THAT STANDARD? >> YES. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VACCINES, VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT MEASLES VACCINE, YOU GET THAT VACCINE AND IT REDUCES YOUR CHANCES BY ABOUT 95%. OTHERS AREN'T AS GOOD AS THAT. WHAT THE FDA IS SAYING IS IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE A VACCINE TO EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY, WE WANT IT TO CUT DOWN YOUR CHANCES TO GET COVID BY AT LEAST HALF. 50%. YOU ALSO WANT TO BE SURE IT IS SAFE. IN THE GUIDANCE THEY'RE PUTTING FORWARD, THEY'RE CALLING FOR SIGNIFICANT TRIALS TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINES NOT JUST PROVIDE THE ANTIBODIES, PROTECTIVE FACTORS, BUT WHEN USED IT TRULY REDUCES THE RISK TO GET THE INFECTION.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. THEY DON'T WANT A VACCINE THEY DON'T THINK WILL WORK. THEY DON'T WANT A VACCINE THAT THEY'RE NOT SURE IS SAFE. THE TRIALS WILL TAKE TIME. HAVING CONFIDENCE THAT THE VACCINES WORK WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT. >> I ALSO WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE OP ED YOU WROTE FOR USA TODAY ABOUT HOW CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS BEING POLITICIZED. WOULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU WROTE HERE, AND HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE DATA WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH OTHER NOISE OUT THERE? >> YOU KNOW, IT'S, I THINK, A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE ARE SEEING THIS INCREDIBLE CLASH OF MESSAGES BETWEEN SOME POLITICAL LEADERS SAYING LET'S GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND BACK TO THEIR SOCIAL LIVES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS SAYING THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS. WE NEED TO DO MORE TO CONTROL THIS. WHAT I POINTED OUT IN THE OP ED PIECE IS IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET DATA, THAT WE GET INFORMATION AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL AND THAT THE DATA IS BROKEN DOWN BY RACE, BY ETHNICITY, BY GENDER.

THINGS CAN LOOK GOOD AT A STATE LEVEL. DOWN IN A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD IN A COMMUNITY, THERE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. IF YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT DATA AND INFORMATION THAT WAY, THERE COULD BE PARTS OF YOUR POPULATION, PARTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE GETTING HIT THAT COULD BE PROTECTED IF YOU WERE AWARE OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT BLACK AMERICANS, LATINO AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN HIT SO HARD WITH THE PANDEMIC, IF WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT DATA CRITICALLY AND USING IT TO DRIVE ACTION, THE SAME GROUPS WILL BE HIT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GO OUT AND ABOUT WITH THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY PER EXPOSURE.

>> IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. I HOPE WE SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON. >> THANKS SO MUCH. >>> JOE BIDEN IS GIVING HIS STRONGEST CRITICISM OF HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS HANDLED THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. TODAY BIDEN SAID THE PRESIDENT HAS FAILED US. >> YOU CALLED YOURSELF A CHEERLEADER. WE DON'T NEED A CHEERLEADER, MR. PRESIDENT. WE NEED A PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT. A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LEVEL WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TELL US THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH, A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BLAMING OTHERS, A PRESIDENT WHO WILL LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS, FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK, A PRESIDENT WHO LEADS TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION.

>> OUR NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT JOINS ME FROM WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, JOE BIDEN'S HOMETOWN. A HUGE DAY, YOU FINALLY GOT TO ASK THE FORMER V.P. SOME QUESTIONS. WE WILL GET TO THOSE. FIRST, BIDEN HAD PRETTY STRONG WORDS FOR THE PRESIDENT TODAY. WHAT ELSE DID HE HAVE TO SAY? >> Reporter: WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO THIS. HE HAS BEEN DOING WEEKLY 'S MOSTLY FOCUSED ON CORONAVIRUS. TODAY IS WHAT I WOULD CALL JOE BIDEN'S I TOLD YOU SO SPEECH. HE DID A MONTH BY MONTH SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF WHAT HE HAS BEEN SAYING ABOUT CORONAVIRUS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING VERSES WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID AND WHAT HE HAS OR HASN'T DONE IN SOME CASES. HE STARTED IN JANUARY WHEN HE WROTE OP ED FOR USA TODAY WARNING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS ILL PREPARED TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC. HE TALKED IN FEBRUARY HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN CHINA MAKING SURE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS HANDLING THIS AND BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THEN IN MARCH HE TALKED ABOUT THE PLAN HE ROLLED OUT FOR WHAT HE WOULD DO. AT THE TIME IT WAS HERE IN WILMINGTON HE SAID HE HOPED THE PRESIDENT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE AND TAKE SOME OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. AT EVERY POINT HE SAID THE PRESIDENT HASN'T. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS ATTACKING JOE BIDEN SAYING HE WAS BEING ALARMIST. IF WE HAD FOLLOWED RECOMMENDATIONS THE COUNTRY WOULD NOT BE REOPENING. WHAT ARE WE SEEING? STATES THAT HAD BEGUN TO OPEN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY THEY'RE NOW CLOSING AGAIN AS WE SEE THE NUMBERS SPIKE. WHAT JOE BIDEN'S POINT TODAY WAS TO SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T HAVE A PLAN TO DEAL WITH IT.

HE CALLED HIMSELF A WAR TIME PRESIDENT BUT NOW HE IS SURRENDERING IN THE FACE OF THE CORONAVIRUS. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM JOE BIDEN ABOUT IN THE WEEKS AHEAD MORE THAN ANY OTHER ISSUE. >> THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN GAVE DETAILS OF HIS PLAN TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC. WHAT WERE THEY? >> Reporter: A LOT OF WHAT THEY PUT ON PAPER WAS ACTUALLY MOSTLY A REPACKAGING OF WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST TALKING ABOUT SURGING PPE RESOURCES TO THE STATES, ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FALL WHEN WE MIGHT SEE CORONAVIRUS COMBINE WITH SEASONAL FLU.

AND TAKING CARE OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, OFFERING FEDERAL BACK STOP TO BUSINESSES TRYING TO REOPEN. THE BIGGEST PIECE OF NEWS WHICH I FOUND FASCINATING WAS JOE BIDEN SAYING HE IS NOT SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT BUT ON THE DAY HE IS ANNOUNCED AS PRESIDENT ELECT IF HE SHOULD BE ELECTED THIS NOVEMBER, HIS FIRST CALL WILL NOT BE NECESSARILY TO DONALD TRUMP IN TERMS OF CONCESSION, NOT TO MAYBE SOME SUPPORTERS OR PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR INSTANCE, HIS FIRST CALL WILL BE TO ANTHONY FAUCI TO ASK HIM IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE IN ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL. JOE BIDEN IS SAYING HE WANTS HIM TO BE PART OF THE 7th AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OVAL OFFICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UNVARNISHED TO THE PUBLIC WHETHER IT IS CONVENIENT OR NOT. >> MIKE, LET'S GET TO THE QUESTIONS WE KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME TO BE ABLE TO ASK BIDEN.

IT'S BEEN MONTHS NOW. YOU ASKED ABOUT THE CLASSIFIED BRIEFINGS ON THE RUSSIAN BOUNTY SITUATION. WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT? >> THE FIRST QUESTION HE TOOK FROM A REPORTER WAS TO COMMENT ON WHAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPING STORY ABOUT WHETHER IN FACT THE PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ABOUT WHETHER RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS PAYING BOUNTIES TO TALIBAN TO KILL AMERICAN SOLDIERS. IT'S BEEN INTERESTING AS BIDEN HAS COMMENTED TODAY AND SOME OF HIS COMMENTS IN RECENT DAYS HOW CAREFUL HE IS IN DISCUSSING THIS. HE IS NOT NECESSARILY SAYING HE BELIEVES THAT THE REPORTS ARE TRUE. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WAS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFING.

HE DID SAY THE PRESIDENT CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. EITHER IT WASN'T IN THE BRIEFING AND HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OR IT WAS THERE AND HE WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO IT. I ASKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING AND WOULD HE REQUEST THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE HE IS NOMINEE. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THE ANSWER. >> THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED CLASSIFIED BRIEFING. AS THIS PROCEEDS, I MAY VERY WELL DO THAT. >> Reporter: HE WENT ONTO REMIND EVERYBODY HE CONTINUES TO HAVE A STABLE OF FOREIGN POLICY ADVISERS WITH DEEP EXPERIENCE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK WITH HIM QUICKLY TO, AS HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA IF ELECTED, HE SAID HE WILL SAVE THAT CONVERSATION FOR PRESIDENT PUTIN BUT HE HAS A LOT OF FOLKS AROUND HIM WITH EXPERIENCE TO HELP GUIDE HIM IN THE PROCESS.

>> I KNOW YOU ASKED ABOUT HAVING TO CAMPAIGN VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT THAT? >> Reporter: THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG HEADLINES TO ME. THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY. I HINTED WE MIGHT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU YESTERDAY BUT THE FACT THAT HE FINALLY TOOK QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST THREE MONTHS, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SAME ROOM AS THE CANDIDATE I COVER FOR BASICALLY THAT LONG. I ASKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF POLLS ARE RIGHT AND IF THE ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY, HE WOULD BE ELECTED PRESIDENT, WHETHER HE BELIEVES THOSE POLLS AND WHETHER HE CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT ADVANTAGE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAMPAIGN IN PERSON. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO HOW HE RESPONDED. >> THE IRONY IS I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY IN DETAIL WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN WE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE.

BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE DOING IT IN PERSON. SO FAR, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I DON'T WANT TO JINX MYSELF. I KNOW THE POLLING DATA IS GOOD BUT I THINK IT IS MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENT. >> THE BOTTOM LINE, THE BEST THING FOR HIM TO DO MEDICALLY WHICH IS DO A LIMITED SCHEDULE AND DO THEM SOCIALLY DISTANCED AS WE ARE TODAY IS ALSO THE RIGHT THING POLITICALLY. HE JOKED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND IT IS ONLY HURTING HIM WHILE BIDEN CONTINUES TO LEAD IN THE POLLS. >> GETTING SO PREDICTABLE. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, DID BIDEN OFFER MY CLUES ABOUT WHO HIS PICK FOR A RUNNING MATE MIGHT BE? >> Reporter: I WAS THINKING OF YOU WHEN I GOT INTO IT. HE WAS ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD RELEASE A LIST OF POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT NOMINEES.

HE WASN'T ASKED ABOUT V.P. HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE CONVERSATION. HE MADE A LITTLE BIT NEWS IN TERMS OF HOW HE DISCUSSED IT. FIRST HE SAID HE DOES INTEND TO ANNOUNCE HIS RUNNING MATE IN EARLY AUGUST. HE HAD SAID BEFORE AUGUST 1. HE SAID IT MIGHT NOT BE AUGUST 1 BUT IT WILL BE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION BEGINS AUGUST 17. USUALLY SOMETIMES IN THE PAST BIDEN HIMSELF WAS CHOSEN TWO OR THREE DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE 2008. HE INDICATES HE WANTED MORE TIME BETWEEN WHEN HE ANNOUNCES AND WHEN THE CONVENTION BEGINS. HE WAS ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD CHOOSE ANYBODY WITHOUT OBVIOUS FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE. HE SAYS HE HASN'T STARTED DOING THESE IN PERSON INTERVIEWS. HE SAID JUST ABOUT EVERYONE HE IS CONSIDERING DOES HAVE SOME FORM OF FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE BUT THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFICATION HE IS LOOKING FOR IS THE PERSON IS READY TO STEP IN ON DAY ONE AND ASSUME THE PRESIDENCY THEMSELVES SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. HE BELIEVES HE IS CHOOSING FROM A LIST OF QUALIFIED WOMEN WHO CAN DO THAT. >> THE QUESTIONS CONTINUE.

BUT WE DID GET MORE ANSWERS TODAY, MIKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I KNOW WE WILL KEEP CHATTING ABOUT IT AT LEAST UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, THANKS. >>> BARS, GYMS, OTHER BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA ARE NOW CLOSED FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT MONTH AS THE STATE TRIES TO CONTAIN A MAJOR CORONAVIRUS SPIKE. OUR NBC REPORTER IS JOINING ME NOW FROM PHOENIX. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THERE? >> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR IMPLEMENTED THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS JUST YESTERDAY.

THEY INCLUDE THE SHUTTERING OF BARS, GYMNASIUMS, MOVIE THEATERS, WATER PARKS, TUBING OPERATIONS. IT ALSO MOVES BACK THE START DATE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE STATE THAT USUALLY START IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY. THAT'S NOW PUSHED BACK TO AUGUST 17. ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ALSO RESTRICTS THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT CAN BE GATHERED TO NO MORE THAN 50. OF COURSE THE BIG QUESTION MARK IS WHAT IS NOT IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS? THAT IS WHERE FROM THIS GOVERNOR FOR A MONTH AND A HALF ESSENTIALLY RESISTED IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES AFTER HE LET THE STAY-AT- HOME ORDER EXPIRE ON MAY 15th AND ALLOWED BUSINESSES AND RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS TO REOPEN. ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE SEEN MOSTLY LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL HERE ACROSS THE STATE. THAT'S WHAT LED TO FINALLY WITH THE SURGE IN CASES, NEARLY 4,000 A DAY, ESPECIALLY VENTILATORS IN USE, IT LED TO THIS ACTION BY THE GOVERNOR LAST NIGHT. >> THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS STATEWIDE BUT NO NEW STAY-AT-HOME ORDER.

I KNOW YOU PRESSED THE GOVERNOR ON THIS ONE. WHAT DID HE TELL YOU? >> Reporter: IT IS ACTUALLY INTERESTING. THE NUMBERS SKY ROCKET, A NEAR DOUBLING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN JUST THE LAST TWO WEEKS. NEARLY DOUBLING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS. YOU SEE THIS JUST RUNNING AWAY. THAT'S WHERE I ASKED THE GOVERNOR THE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION. WHY NOT REIMPLEMENT A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER AND ESSENTIALLY SHUT DOWN THIS STATE AGAIN? TAKE A LISTEN TO PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. >> I THINK ARIZONA NS ARE SMART AND HAVE COMMON SENSE AND WILL DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBILITY. >> COULD IT BE ON THE TABLE NEXT WEEK, A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER? >> I SAID I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SET OF PROBLEMS AND WE SOLVE THEM IN THEIR TURN. THE HUMILITY OF THIS IS TO NOT GUESS OR SPECULATE BUT TO PREPARE.

>>> IN MARCH AND APRIL THERE WAS THAT STAY-AT- HOME ORDER IN PLACE. DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, IT WAS THE SERIOUS NATURE OF JUSTIFYING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REOPEN BUSINESS. THAT TOOK UNDER THE WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE'S GUIDELINES SAYING THERE HAD TO BE A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY. WE ARE NOWHERE CLOSE TO EVEN MEETING THE PHASE ONE REQUIREMENTS, YET STILL SO MUCH OF THE STATE IS OPEN. RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS, MALLS ARE STILL OPEN. THERE ARE QUESTION MARKS OVER THIS 4th OF JULY WEEKEND, TO WHAT EXTENT WILL THERE BE ENFORCEMENT IN FOLKS UNDER 50 PERSONS OR MORE. SOME CITIES STILL HAVE FIREWORKS PLANS. ARIZONA, CONSEQUENTLY, ITS HOSPITALS ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS IS FACING.

>> I ALSO ASK ABOUT A CORONAVIRUS REPORTING ERROR IN ARIZONA. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? >> Reporter: THIS IS A TOUGH PART OF TESTING AND PROCESSING. YESTERDAY THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASES INITIALLY REPORTED. THAT'S BECAUSE THE LABS WHICH PROCESSES ABOUT 80% OF THE STATE'S TEST, THERE WAS A DIGITAL ERROR WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF GETTING THOSE NUMBERS IN. THAT'S WHY INITIALLY THROUGH THE DAY YESTERDAY YOU SAW SUCH A FEWER NUMBER. THAT PLAYS INTO A CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAD JUST YESTERDAY AS THE AMOUNT OF TESTING IS SUDDENLY THE DEMAND FOR TESTING IS SO SUBSTANTIAL AND THE DEMAND FOR GETTING TESTS PROCESSED, THIS IS ONLY BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT. THE STRAIN IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT ON THESE LABORATORIES AND AS WELL AS THE STATE IN REPORTING DATA IN OUR ABILITY TO GET TO THE PUBLIC, THE SEVERITY OF WHAT'S AT HAND.

>> I KNOW YOU WILL KEEP ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND KEEP PRESSING FOR ANSWERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANKS, MY FRIEND. >>> YOU'RE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. >> WE'VE GOT BREAKING NEWS. >> IF THEY GO BACK TO THEIR JOBS THEY WANT TO BE SURE THEY'RE PROTECTED. >> NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. >>> IT IS SAID THERE IS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME TO FULLY REALIZE THE DREAM UPON WHICH THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. >>> YOU'RE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW.

>> WE'VE GOT BREAKING NEWS. >> WE ACTUALLY SAW A LARGE CONVOY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD COME THROUGH. >> NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. >>> INTRODUCING PEACOCK. WHAT'S PEACOCK? THIS IS PEACOCK. LET'S GO! IT'S STREAMING, LAUNCHING, PREMIERING. IT'S TV, MOVIES >> WATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE. IT'S FOR YOU, FOR AWW, IT'S FREE. >> FREE. >> FREE! >> WHO IS WITH ME? >> THAT'S PEACOCK. THAT'S WHO. THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHY. >> COME ON! >> MIC DROP. >> YOU CAN'T NOT WATCH. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE LIVE IN SOME SORT OF POST RACIAL AMERICA. WE ARE REMINDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DO NOT. >> AFTER I WATCHED MAYOR OF ATLANTA ACT AS MOM TRYING TO RAISE HER SON AND I THINK ABOUT YOU AND THE KIDS.

I REMEMBER HER SAYING WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONY TAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRLS? IT'S OKAY TO NOTICE YOU ARE DIFFERENT. YOU JUST HAVE TO NOT FEEL LESS THAN. THAT'S THE THING. >> I CHERISH THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. >>> SOME CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS ARE STILL REPORTING SYMPTOMS MORE THAN 100 DAYS AFTER THEY FIRST GOT SICK AND NOW MAJOR MEDICAL CENTERS ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE NOT GETTING BETTER. NBCNEWS.COM REPORTER ERICKA EDWARDS JOINS ME. WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW SEVERE ARE THEY? >> Reporter: HI. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING FATIGUE, HEADACHE, ACHES AND PAINS, COUGH, TIGHTNESS IN THE CHEST, RACING HEART, EVEN A LOW-GRADE FEVER FOR MORE THAN 100 DAYS.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE REPORTING THEY HAVE THIS SIMMERING 100- DEGREE FEVER FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS ON END. THEY'RE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED BUT IT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS. HOW LONG ARE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE THE SYMPTOMS? IS THIS NOW JUST A CHRONIC ILLNESS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH? ALSO, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BODY? SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS SIMPLY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH YET ABOUT THIS. I TALKED WITH A WOMAN THE OTHER DAY WHO SAID SHE WAS ON DAY 111 OF FEVER. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. >> OH GOODNESS. THAT SOUNDS AWFUL. I HAVE KNOW DOCTORS AND MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. DO THEY HAVE THEORIES ABOUT WHY THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING? ARE THEY ONTO ANY LEADS HERE? >> Reporter: THE THEORY IS THAT THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM WENT INTO OVER DRIVE TRYING TO ATTACK THE VIRUS. EVEN THOUGH THE BODY HAS CLEARED THE VIRUS, IT STAYS IN THIS CHRONIC STATE OF LOW-LEVEL INFLAMMATION.

THE GOOD NEWS IS A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOW STARTING TO REALIZE THESE ANECDOTAL REPORTS, IT'S A REAL CONDITION. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION BOTH RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A REAL THING. NOW AS YOU SAID MAJOR MEDICAL CENTERS ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. MOUNT SIGH MY IN NEW YORK CITY, STANFORD IN CALIFORNIA, PENN MEDICINE IN PHILADELPHIA TRYING TO PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING SO THEY CAN COME UP WITH A GOOD TREATMENT, PLAN, PROTOCOL THAT WILL HELP THESE FOLKS. >> ERICKA EDWARDS, IT'S A FRIGHTENING CONDITION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >>> CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE SURGING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES WITH MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL. HERE IS WHAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 ARE SEEING IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL KIND OF LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WITH TREPIDATION, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A SENSE OF DREAD AND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE TO SEE WHAT'S AHEAD OF US. WE JUST HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FORTTUDE TO GO THROUGH. >> CASES IN TEXAS ARE GOING UP. I AM SEEING A LOT MORE CASES EVERY DAY THAN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, DIAGNOSED MORE PEOPLE OVER THE LAST WEEKEND THAN I SAW OVER THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH AND APRIL. MOST OF THEM ARE YOUNG HEALTHY PEOPLE. MOST AREN'T TERRIBLY SICK BUT MANY STILL ARE. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING IN IN THEIR 20s, 30s, 40s.

A LOT OF THEM ARE ABLE TO GO HOME BUT THE ONES THAT AREN'T ARE VERY SICK. >> WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THEIR HEARTS DESTROYED DUE TO THIS VIRUS. >> SEEING THE NUMBERS GO UP AND SEEING SOME PUSH BACK, PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUARANTINE FATIGUE AND JUST ARE KIND OF TIRED OF ALL THE RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWING HOW THAT CAN AFFECT OUR NUMBERS HERE. IT'S TROUBLE SOME. >> I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY, ASKED TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC TO GROCERY STORES, PHARMACIES, THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THE VIRUS. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE COVID ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

IF THEY DON'T WEAR A MASK THEY'RE SPREADING IT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH CONDITIONS OR ARE VULNERABLE. DON'T SEE THE% RESULTS OF YOUR% WORK.% WE KNOW WE ARE% MAKING A% DIFFERENCE DURING THIS TIME% AND — WE EVERYONE TO WEAR THOSE MASKS AND TO WASH YOUR HANDS AND — STAY SAFE. >>> HEY EVERYONE. YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. LETSTS GO TO NBC NEWS NOW. SHE HAS THE LATEST HEADLINES. ALEXA, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. WE ARERE STARTING OFF OUR HEADLINES THIS HOURS ON CAPITOL HILL. DR. ANTHONYOL FAUCI TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS TODAY WARNING LAWMAKERS THAT THE OUTBREAK IN THE% UNITED STATES COULD TOP 100,000 NEW CASES A DAY. TAKE A QUICK LISTEN. >> ITS SOMETHING THAT IS STILL IN THE STAGE OF EXAMINATION, IT IS NOT STILL CALLED ANOT IMMEDIATE THREAT WHERE YOU ARE SEEINGME INFECTIONS BUT ITS SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON JUST THE WAY WE DID — THE 2009 WITH THE EMERGENCE OF THE SWINE FLU.

>> MEANWHILE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SLAMMED PRESIDENT TRUMP VJO FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. >> TNA NOW IT IS ALMOST JULY. IT SEEMS LIKE OUR PRESIDENT SURRENDERED. WAVED THE WHITE FLAG. AND LEFT THE BATTLE FIELD. >> MEANWHILEHE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE UNTIL TONIGHT TO APPLY FOR LOANS UNDER THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

TREASURY SECRETARY TOLD CONGRESS TODAY HE HOPES LEGISLATION WILL BE PASSED IN JULY TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS. >> THERE APPEARS TO BE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO RE-PURPOSE THE $130 BILLION FOR PPE EXTENDING IT TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE MOST HARD HIT. THAT HAVE A H REQUIREMENT THAT — THEIR REVENUES HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. THINGS LIKE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AND OTHERS WHERE IT ISAN%% CRITICAL% TO GET PEOPLE BACK THE WORK. >> NOW FROM N PC AMY HAS WON KENTUCKY'S DEMOCRAT EDGE PRIMARY THEY FEEDING CHARLES BOOKER TO FACE OFF MITCH MCCONNELL IN NOVEMBER. BOOKER TURNED OUTNN TO BE A TOUGHER THAN EXPECTED OPPONENT. ABOUT 161,000EX PEOPLE VOTED IN PERSON LAST TUESDAY WHILE MORE THAN L HALF A MILLION VOTED BY MAIL. >>> LASTLY A JUDGE IN NEW YORK HAS TEMPORARILY BLOCK ADD TELL ALL BOOK FROM BEING PUBLISHED.

IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED ON JULY 28TH. LEROBERT TRUMP'S LAWYERS ARGUE MARY TRUMP SIGNED A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT THAT BARS HER FROM WRITING THIS TYPE OF BOOK. REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH PARTIES WILL MEET. >>>TAIE NO FIREWORKS DISPLAYS, NO BEACH ACCESS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS FOURTH OF JULY. THE COUNTY SHUTTING THEM DOWN. NBC NEWSM CORRESPONDENT JOINING ME NOW FROM MANHATTAN BEACH CALIFORNIA. MANHATTAN BEACH IS ONE OF THE BEACHES THATBE%% WIL BE CLOSING. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHATAC% IS GOING ON WITH THE CORONAVIRUS CASES THERE? >> HERE IN MANHATTAN BEACH CASES ARETA ON THE RISE UP SOME 30%. ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WE ARE SEEING A SIMILAR PICTURE OF 45% OVER THE LAST 7 DAYS. STILL APPEARING FROM GOVERNOR GAVIN ALSO SAYING TODAY THE IN HIS BRIEFING THEHE SITUATION APPEARS TOHE BE GETTING WORSE.

THERE AREE 19 COUNTIES ON HIS WATCH LIST. THAT LIST IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY FOURCT COUNTIES OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HE DIDN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY WHICH ONES. SO HE WILL BE TAKING ACTION. % HE HASP SOME SORT OF ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE TOMORROW PERTAINING TO ENFORCEMENT PRESUMABLY OF EXISTING RULES. WE KNOWEN% THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS CAUSING THE SURGEIA ACCORDING TO EXPERTS. THEY ARE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. THEY ARE NOT WEARING THEIR MASKS. BUSINESSES AS WELL. OFFICIALS HERESKNE HAVE SAID THAT — OVER 30% OF RESTAURANTS ARE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL IN PLACE. 49% OF BARS ARE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS. WE ARE SEEING BAR CLOSURES ORDER SHUTDOWN ACROSS SEVEN COUNTIES. RDSIT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TOMORROW ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING RULES.

HE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT FAMILY GATHERINGS OVER THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY WEEKEND. WE KNOW THAT THAT IS SEEN AS A KEY SOURCE OFF SPREAD BY EXPERTS AS AN EXAMPLE JUST HERE IN L.A. COUNTY. A FAMILY OF 28 MEMBERS CONTRACTED COVID-19. THENT FAMILY 'S PATE ARK DIED — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >>>> WHAT ARE PEOPLE TELLING YOU ABOUT CLOSING THE BEACHES? HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT IT? >> WE ARE GETTING MIXED REACTION FROM PEOPLE THAT WE WILL TALKING TO. I WASKI TALKING TO STUDIO CITY, PEOPLE IN STUDIO CITY JUST YESTERDAY YOUNG AND OLD.

THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MEASURES. THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION SPIRALLING OUTBO OF CONTROL. THEY SAY THEY ARE STAYING HOME THIS WEEKEND. HAD– JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO WAS SPEAKING TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM. TAKE A LISTEN. >> I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO BE HONEST. I THINK THE BEACH IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND FAMILIES TO GATHER. THERE IS FRESH AIR, THERE IS SUNSHINE. I WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THIS ACTION. >> AND THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE DIVISION THAT EXISTS WITHIN CALIFORNIA AS A STATE AND WE KNOW FROM EXPERTS THAT WHEREVERRT THEY ARE IS DIVISION, THE VIRUS FIENDS OPPORTUNITIES, ALLISON.

>> ARE THEREDI ANY OTHER NEW RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THERE? >>NE NOT AT THE MOMENT. WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR SAYING HE HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE TOMORROW SPECIFICALLY ON ENFORCEMENT. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HE WILL NOT ANNOUNCE ENFORCEMENTS. >> WE KNOW LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS REPORTING THEAN MOST CASES IN THE STATE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SITUATION AT THE HOSPITALS THERE? >> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING EXTREME CONCERN ABOUT HOSPITALS ACROSS L.A.CE COUNTY. THEY SAY THEY COULD BE AT CAPACITY. THEY SAY THE ICUS ARE LIKELY TO DE-REACH CAPACITY. WE ARE HEARING FROM THEM SAYING AT THE MOMENT THEY DOO% HAVE HOSPITAL BEDS, THEY DO HAVE SUPPLIES.

THE SITUATION IS STRAINED. TAKE LISTEN TOIO WHAT ONE NURSE HAD TO SAY. >> TO BEHA QUITE HONEST WE ARE — WE ARE JUST EXHAUSTED. UM — ITS JUST — ITS BEEN A LONG HAUL. NOW I THINK WE ARE ALL KIND OF LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WITH — MAYBE VAN LITTLE BIT OF DREAD. >> EXPERTS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SHARE — THEY SAY THE SITUATION COULD QUICKLYIO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN AND TAKEN SOON. >> THANK YOU. >>>ON THE NATION'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE TODAY.

HERE IS WHAT THEYE SAID ABOUT THE STATE OF THIS PANDEMIC. >> CDC HAS SAID QUOTE — SIMPLE CLOTH COVERINGS, SLOW SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND HELP PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE THE VIRUS AND DO NOT KNOW FROM THE TRANSMITTING IT TO OTHERS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS SIMPLE LIFEFERS SAVING PRACTICE HAS BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL DEBATE THAT SAYS THIS. IF YOU ARE FOR TRUMP, YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK, IF YOU ARE AGAINST TRUMP, YOU DO. THAT IS WHY I'VE SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT OCCASIONALLY WEAR A MASK. >> ALL I HEAR DR. FAUCI IS WE CAN'T TO THIS, WE CAN'T TO THAT, WE CAN'T PLAY BASEBALL. >> WHEN THINGS GET IN THE PRESS OF WHAT I SUPPOSEDLY SAY, I DIDN'T SAY. I NEVER SAID WE CAN'T PLAY A CERTAIN SPORT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLEWH IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY ASKS ME OPINIONS REGARDING CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, WHAT THE DYNAMICS ARE. I% GIVE IT AND THEN IT GETS INTERPRETED I'M SAYING YOU CAN'T PLAY THIS SPORT OR YOU CAN'T PLAY THAT SPORT. I AGREE WITH YOU I AM COMPLETELY UNQUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHETHER YOU CAN PLAY A SPORT OR NOT. THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO THE BESTN OF MY ABILITY, GIVE YOU THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS OUTBREAK. >> JUST THE OR DAY AMERICAN ALLIES ANNOUNCE THAT THEY BEFORE GOINGN TO FILL UP ALL OF THEIR PLANES AND OTHER AIRLINES HAVE DONE THE SAME.

WHY HAVEN'T WE STOPPED THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY AND TOLD THE AIRLINES AND BUS COMPANIES THAT SUN HEALTHY? >> — IS UNHEALTHY? >> I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DISAPPOINTMENT WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES. I CAN SAY THIS IS UNDER CRITICALIC REVIEW RIGHT NOW BY US AT CDC. WE U DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT MESSAGE. >> BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW, HOW MANY COVID-19 DEATHS EXPLAINFECTIONS SHOULDTH AMERICA EXPECT — DEATHS AND INFECTIONS SHOULD AMERICA EXPECT BEFORE THIS IS ALL OVER? >> IT T PUTS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AT RISK. WE ARE NOW HAVING 40 PLUS THOUSAND NEW CASE S A DAY. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS GOES UP TO 100,000 PLUS A DAY IF THIS DOES NOT GET CONTROLLED. >> WHERE IS THE RISK GREATEST? HOWED IS IT THAT IT IS SPREADING? IS IT SPREADING MORE AT RESTAURANTS AND BARS? ISISD IT OKAY TO BE OUTDOORS AND PERHAPS NOT SOCIALLY DISTANT? >> REALLY NOT GOOD. REALLY NOT GOOD. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS, WEAR A MASK IF YOU CAN. YOU CAN HAVE SOME SOCIAL INTERACTION.

>> NBC NEWS MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT JOINING MEDI NOW. DR. JOHN, THIS AFTERNOON DR. FAUCI WARNED THAT THE U.S. COULD HIT 100,000 NEW CASES A DAY IF WE DON'T GET THIS OUTBREAK UNDER CONTROL. THAT NUMBER JUST SO SHOCKING. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT PREDICTION? >> I THINK HE IS EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. WHAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT SOMETIME IN THE PAST IS WHEN THE REOPENING HAPPENED, WE KNEW WE WOULD START SEEING MORE CASES. THE BIG WARNING WAS THOSE SPIKES, IF THEY STARTED TURNING INTO OUTBREAKS IS WHEN IT BECOMES CONCERNING. MEAT IS THE CORNER WE ARE TURNING RIGHT NOW. STARTING TO LOOK AT OUTBREAKS IN THOSE SOUTHERN STATES. DR. FAUCI, DR. REDFIELD AREOS ALL SAYING THE SAME THING. WE NEED THE MAKE SURE WE — NUMBER ONENE PEOPLE WEARER MASKS AND THAT STARTS AT THE TOP WITH THE EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS. NOTWE POLITICALIZING THIS. THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE, NOT POLITICAL ISSUE. I THINKPO IF WE CAN DO THAT AND SHUTDOWN THE BARS AT LEAST ON THE INSIDE, SHUTDOWN THE RESTAURANTS ON THE INSIDE, WE CAN DO THINGS OUTSIDE.

WE CAN OPEN UP. WE CAN OPEN UP SAFELY AND WE CAN KEEP THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL BUT THAT ISMI NOT THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADING IN RIGHT NOW, ALLISON. >> ANOTHER BIG TOPIC, VACCINE SAFETY. MORE THAN 100C, CORONAVIRUS VACCINES ARE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW AT RECORD SPEED. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE DRUG COMPANIES ARE NOTLS CUTTING CORNERS WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. HOW CAN WE BE SURE OF THAT? >> THEY ARE NOT CUTTING CORNERS BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL DOING THE THREE PHASES. INSTEAD OF DOING THE PHASES LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO WHICH ISTH PHASE ONE, THEN THEY TAKE A LONG TIME ANALYZING THE DATA, RECRUITING PEOPLE FOR PHASE TWO AND RECRUITING PEOPLE FOR PHASE THREE.

THEY ARE DOING ALL THAT AT THE SAME TIME. ON TOP OF THAT THEY ARE STARTING THE PRODUCTION. SOG THEY ARE COME PRESSING ALL OF THIS TIME FRAME DOWN INTO ONE YEAR INSTEAD OF THE 11 YEARSER TOTOR FOUR YEARS WHICH IS THE FASTEST TO DATE. THEY ARE STILL DOING THE SAFETY MEASURES. THE FDA IS STILL MAKING SUREMA THEY ARE GOING FORWARD WITH THAT. I TALKED WITH DR. HAHN ANDRW% HE SAID YES,DR THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG PRIORITIES IS TO MAKEPR SURE WE KEEP THIS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT VACCINE THAT COMES OUT, IT WILL BE A SAFE VACCINE. IT WILL BE AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE. THE CONCERN IS, THE QUESTION% IS HOW EFFECTIVE WILL IT BE? THAT IS WHERE TIME WILL TELL.

AS FAR AS SAFETY, NOT A BIG ISSUE. THE EFFECTIVENESS IS A BIGGER ISSUE. THAT VACCINE IS WHAT WE NEEDE. RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS GAME CHANGE. >> ANOTHER CONCERN IS WHETHER PEOPLE GET THAT VACCINE OR NOT. A RECENT WASHINGTON POST STUDY FOUND THAT 7 IN 10 AMERICANS ARE LIKELY TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE. WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE% SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE DON'T GET VACCINATED? >> SO, IF WEN' CAN GET THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED WE CAN GET THAT HERD IMMUNITY.

IT MEANS ENOUGH PEOPLE ARETY PROTECTED. BOTH THROUGH THE VACCINE AND POSSIBLY THROUGH ANTIBODIES FROM HAVING COVID-19 TO PROTECT EVERYBODY ELSE. THOSE THATCT DON'T OR CAN'T GET THE VACCINE. SO WE STRUGGLE'T% WITH THIS EVERY YEAR WITH THE FLU. WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS WITH MEASLES WITH KIDS. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARET GETTING IT. THAT HERDTI IMMUNITY IS BREAKING DOWN. ONCE THAT BREAKS SEE, WE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. THIS IS THE PANDEMIC SITUATION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. GETTING THAT HERD IMMUNITY, GETTING THAT HIGH NUMBER OF% H H PEOPLE VACCINATED AND WE ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT NUMBER. WE KNOW IT HAS TO BE A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED O AND THAT IS THE GOAL HERE. >> HEARING TODAY HEALTH OFFICIALS TALKED ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL BEFORE WE HAVE A VACCINE. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUTIN KIDS HEADING BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS? WHAT DOO WE NEED BE THINKING ABOUT HERE? >> I THINK WHAT WEHI ARE LOOKING AT IS WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HAPPENED, EVERY THEY CAN WAS SHUTDOWN TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL.

AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE NOT REALIZING WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO SOME KIND OF NORMAL. THEY HAD SAYING WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO SCHOOL. THAT MEANS TAKING THE MEASURE, SOCIAL DISTANCING. WEARING MASKS, DIFFERENT CREATE I WAYS TO GETSO THEM BACK TO SCHOOL. AT LEAST ON THE PART-TIME BASIS SO.% THEY CAN GET THAT EDUCATION AND GET THAT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WE CAN STILL KEEP THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL. NOT JUST KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE, KEEP THING THE STAFF SAFE AND KEEPING THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME SAFE AS WELL.

>>T THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU BET. >>> COVID-19MU CASES ARE ON THE RISE IN TEXAS AND FOLKS ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING TESTED. SOME SITES HAVE WRITE TIMES LONGER THAN THREE HOURS AND OTHERS TESTS ARE RUNNING OUT. DAVID IS AT A TESTING SITE IN HOUSTON. WHAT IS IT LIKE GOINGTO TO A TESTING SITE IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW? >> THE ONE YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS A HOUSTON CITY TESTING SITE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE 650 DRIVERS A DAY. I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY HERE WATCHING IT ALL TRANSPIRE. THIS IS AN UPTICK FROM WHAT IT WAS AT. OMYOU HAVE TO BE PRE-SCREENED. YOU HAVE% TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE TO COME HERE. YOU LEAN UP. — LINEUP. WHEN YOU GET TO THEWH WHITE TENT THAT YOU SEE END ME, CAR DRIVES IN, SWAB IS ADMINISTERED BY SOMEBODY WEAR THING PPE. THAT IS DROPPED IN THE BAG. IN A FEW DAYS YOU NOTIFIED WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. IT IS FAIRLY EFFICIENT ONCE YOU GET TONC THE TENT. WE SEEN V SEEN PEOPLE WAITING IN CARS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WHILE WE ARE WAITING OUT HERE, SOMEBODY PULLED UP.

HEUL WAS TURNED AWAY. THE GATE WAS CLOSED TEMPORARILY. HE ASKED US WHAT WAS GOING ON. AT THE END WE SAID ARE YOUNENE HEE CAUSE YOU ARE SICK ORSA H CAUSE YU WANT TO BE TESTED? HE SAID HIS SENSE OF THIS PLACENT% IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS IN ORDER TO BE TESTED. SHE SAID HE HAS SYMPTOMS AND WANTS TO GET THAT TEST. IT KIND OF EPITOMIZES — THE WAY THINGSHE ARE HERE. YES, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CAPACITY IN TEXAS. THE DEMAND HAS RISEN MORE THAN CAPACITY.

>> DAVID, SPEAKING OF CAPACITY, WE HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF ICUS RUNNING LOW. WHAT ARERE YOU HEARING ABOUT WHATAR IS GOING ON AT HOSPITALS THERE? THE KINDS OF PATIENTS THEY ARE SEEING AND THE ROOM THEY HAVE FOR NEW ONES? >> HOUSTON PROUDLY CALLS ITSELF A MEDICAL CAPITOL. THE TEXAS MEDICALIT CENTER IS THE LARGEST HOSPITAL FACILITY IN THE WORLD. IT IS FULL OF A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS. THERE WAS A SCARY NUMBER. S.S IT LOOKED AS THOUGH ALL THE ICU BEDS IN THAT HOSPITAL COMPLEX WERE FULL. VERY QUICKLY THE TEXAS MEDICALHE CENTER SAID THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THIS DATA THE NOT BEING REPRESENTED PROPERLY.

IT TOOK DOWN THAT ILLUSTRATION. THERE WAS NO DATAINS FOR A COUPLE % OF DAYS. THAT DASH BOARD ISS. NOW UP ON A DIFFERENT FORMAT. YOU HAVE THE HEAD OF THAT INSTITUTION VERY ADAMANT SAYING WE ARE NOT NEAR CAPACITY YET. WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THE DATA THEY HAVE SEEN, WHEN THEY SEE THE UPTICK, THE KIND OF SURGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, CONCERN COMES FROM THAT. PEOPLE WHO SAW WHAT PLAYED OUT, GET CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE SHARP RISE IN CASES THEY ARE SEEING, MAYBE THE MEDICAL CENTER MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT MANY CASES IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. >> TEXAS WAS ONEHO OF THE FIRST STATES TO REOPEN BACK IN APRIL. NOW THE GOVERNOR CLOSING BARS, PAUSING ELECTIVE SURGERIES IN SOME AREAS. WHAT ELSE IS GOVERNOR ABBOTT ROLLING BACK AND CONSIDERING ROLLING BACK? >> LET ME A TAKEIN N TIME WHAT YOU SAID. I WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT HE HASN'T DONE.

IT THINK THAT IS THE BIGGER STORY HERE. IF YOU TALK TO DOCTORS,RY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, THERE IS A SENSE HE DID THAT WAY TOO QUICKLY. AS HE MENTIONED WHEN THESE CASES BEGAKLN TO RISE, HE DID CLOSE THOSE BARS AGAIN. THAT HAS LED TO A LOT OF ANGER AMONG THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THIS WAS A PROTEST TODAY IN AUSTIN OF BAR OWNERS. THEY CLAIM BARS ARE NOT HOW. THIS IS BEING SPREAD IN TEXAS OR RIGHT NOW. HE IS TAKING A LOT OF HEAT FROM THEM. ANOTHER THING HE HAS REFUSED TO DO IS HE HAS NOT INSTITUTE ADD SINCE — INSTITUTED A MASK RULE. THERE ARE MANY CITIES, MANY COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAVE MANDATORY MASK REQUIREMENTS PUT IN PLACE.

HE SAIDEN I DON'T NEED TO DO THAT IF THAT IS THE CASE. HE IS GETTING A GOOD DEAL OF PRESSURE THERE. TODAY THERE IS A COUNTY JUDGE — EFFECTIVELY A COUNTY MANAGER WHO HAS BEENUN PUSHING FOR A LONG TIME FOR THERE TO BE A NEW ORDER. THE GOVERNOR HAS TO APPROVE FOR A REQUEST TO DO THAT ASK HE HASN'T. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTEND SOMETHINGET THAT — IS A DISASTER DECLARATION OF SORTS. HE WILL HAVE TO DO THAT TILL THE END OF AUGUST. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CASES, WHEN YOUU HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH, TRYING TO GET TESTS, REFERRING TO PERHAPS AS DISASTER DECLARATION SEEMS MORE APPROPRIATE.

THANK YOU. >>> THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS NOT BRIEFED ON INTELLIGENCE THAT RUSSIA OFFERED THE TALIBAN R BOUNTIES TO KILL U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. NOW NBC NEWS HAS CONFIRMED THE WHITE HOUSE AND TOP NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE ON THOSE BOUNTIES A%EN YEAR EARLIER THAN WE THOUGHT. A PERSON WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE TELLING NBC NEWS THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE COUNCIL WERE MADE AWARE OF THAT IN EARLY 2019. WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW CREDIBLE THIS INTELLIGENCE IS.

A HANDFUL OF LAWMAKERS FROMELIS BOTH PARTIES BRIEFED ON THE SITUATION AT THE WHITE HOUSE BUT MANY OF THEM STILL WANT MORE ANSWERS. >> THAT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR BRIEFING ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE BUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GIVE THE BRIEFING REALLY WERE NOT IN THERE ROOM. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE HEADS OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. >> THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. WE ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS ONTI THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES SHOULD KNOW THAT ANY TARGETING T OF U.S. FORCES BY RUSSIANS, BY ANYONE ELSE WILL FACE A VERY SWIFT AND DEADLY RESPONSE. >> HERE NOW NBCNEWS.COM REPORTERONNO AND CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US. WHAT IS THEH WHITE HOUSE SAYING ABOUT THIS NEW REPORTING? >> NOT MUCH.

THE PRESS SECRETARY GAVE M A BRIEFING A SHORT WHILE AGO. SHE REITERATED THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS INFORMATION TILL IT APPEARED IN NEWS REPORTS. SHE SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT VERIFIED AND WAS NOT CORROBORATED. TAKE LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. >> THE PRESIDENT WAS NEVER BRIEFED ON THIS BE. THIS INTELLIGENCE BILL. HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED. THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AMONG THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE ROGUE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO ARE — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET A CONSENSUS ON THIS INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS LEAKED TO THE NEW YORK TIMES. >> NOW IN PASSED T — ADMINISTRATIONSLY NOTE — THAT IS PARTT OF WHAT IS PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT. OFFICIALS WILL HAVE THIS PHONE INFORMATION, THIS — THE DNI DISAGREES WITH T IT OR THERE IS NOT A CONSENSUS. AS SHE IS SAYING — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> YOU CAUGHT UP WITH THE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE BRIEFED T AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY. WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU? >> THAT IS RIGHT, ALLISON. THEY ARE ABOUT ALMOST A DOZENOZ DEMOCRATS WERE BRIEFED AT THE WHITE HOUSE. DEMOCRATS ONLY. RIGHT AFTER THEY CAME BACK TOSE THE CAPITAL AND GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE MAIN MESSAGE THEY HAD IS THAT THAT BRIEFING WAS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BRIEFING THEY REALLY WANT.

THAT IS ONE THAT IS DONE BY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. THE PEOPLE WHO BRIEFED THEM TODAY WAS THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS. THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE JOHN RATCLIFFE. IT WAS AAL MEMBER OF CONGRESS, A REPUBLICAN VERY CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF CONGRESS TWO MONTHSNS AGO AND THEN HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ROBERT O'BRIEN. I AM TOLD THAT MARK MEADOWS LED THE BRIEFING AND THAT THERE WASN'T A — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> — ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE ALSO SAYING THAT IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT PRESIDENT WAS NOT — WAS NOT USING THIS INFORMATION EVERY SINGLE TIME HE SPOKE ON THE PHONE WITH PUTIN.

THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ESSENTIAL RATHER — WHETHER HE WAS — WE HAVE GOTTEN REPORTING IT WAS IN A PRESIDENTIAL DAILY BRIEFING. HEY SAID IF DOESN'T READ, THEN THAT IS HIS PROBLEM. THEY NEEDED TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO HIM. THEY HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS, ALLISON, ON THIS ISSUE. >> HOW ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS? WHAT HAVE THEY SAID SINCE THEIR PREEFG YESTERDAY? >> THEIR REPUBLICANS ARE SPREADING A MUCH MORE — DIFFICULT LINE HERE.

WHAT IS NOTABLE ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS IS THEY ARE NOT SAYING THAT — THIS IS [ INDISCERNIBLE ] NG THE REPUBLICAN LEADER THAT THIS MORNING AS WELL. I SAID IS THIS STORY BY THE NEW YORK TIMES OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS — ARE THOSE LEGITIMATE? HE SAID — YES, THEY ARE LEGITIMATE. BUT THEY ARE ALSO SAYING THAT — IT IS COMMON SENSE THAT RUSSIA IS NOT OUR FRIEND. THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED. THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCUSE AND EXONERATE THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IN THIS AND SOMETHING THAT — THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS AND EVERYONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT RUSSIA IS BAD ACTORS, ESPECIALLY IN A WAR ZONE.

ALLISON. >> DO WE KNOW IF THE WHITE HOUSE GAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THE SAME ACCESSCC TO INFORMATION DURING THESE BRIEFINGS? >> WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE. WEFI DON'T KNOW BECAUSE — THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED. AS YOU CANATEY TELL FROM LISTENING TO LEE JANUARY, IT DOES SOUND LIKE THEY, WERE GIVE WON THE VERY DIFFERENT BRIEFINGS FROM WHAT THE TAKEAWAYS WERE FROM BOTH SIDES. >> TOP DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WROTE A LETTER TO DEFENSE SECRETARY, ALSO TO SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO TODAY. THEY ARE DEMANDING THEY ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS INTELLIGENCE. ANY RESPONSE TOERIS THOSE REQUESTS OR ANY INDICATION IF THEY WILL GET A RESPONSE TO THOSE REQUESTS? >> THIS ADMINISTRATION STS NOT BEEN THE MOST UP FRONT WITHTH RESPONDING TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHEN IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT.

SO, ITS NOT — UNCLEAR IF THEY ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THOSE REQUESTS. ONE THING THAT — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] % HER COMMITTEE IS GOING TO CONTINUE — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] LOOK INTO THISGO% ISSUE. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE. THIS BRIEFING WAS NOTE. SOMETHING THAT ANSWERED ALL OF HER QUESTIONS. LAWMAKERS ARE ALSOTI PUTTING THIS IN THE BIG PICTURE. DEMOCRATS SAID THAT — THIS INFORMATION IS REALLY TROUBLING. ESPECIALLY WHEN VERYNG RECENTLY THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE G-7 TO THE G-8 TO INCLUDE RUSSIA SO THEY ARE SAYING ALL THESE DOTS HAVE TO BE CONNECTED AND THAT THE PRESIDENT — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IF RUSSIA SHOULD BE PART OF THE G-7. HE HAD A VERY SHORT AND SPECIFIC ANSWER AND SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT. THISAI STORY IS NOT BY ANY MEANS OVER. THEY VOW TO CONTINUE TO SEEK ANSWERS AND SEE WHERE THIS GOES, ALLISON. >> SHANNON, SHE MENTIONED THIS HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT READ HIS DAILY BRIEFINGS.

HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR SAID THAT IS NOT ANTEE EXCUSE. >> IT IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION TO SAY THAT — THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE READ WHATEVER HAS.IALS HE IF HE DOESN'T READ, HE DOESN'T READ. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT BY NOW. IT IS SOMETHING HE NEEDS TO KNOW. THE WHITE HOUSE SAID WHETHER THAT INTELLIGENCE WAS IN FACT IN THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEFING AT ANY POINT? >> WELL, NO AND — LIKE YOU MENTIONED THAT IS WHY THIS IS RELATIVE BECAUSE THERE IS SOME REPORTING OUT THERE NOW THAT INDICATES THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED IN THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEFING WHICH IS FROM A WRITTEN BINDER OF INFORMATION THAT — THAT THIS PRESIDENT, ALL PRESIDENTS RECEIVE THAT SORT OF SUPPLEMENT THE VERBALNT BRIEFING THAT THE PRESIDENT GIVES.

HE USUALLY HAS AN INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING TWO OR THREE TIMESCE A WEEK. THERE IS A WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT IS GIVEN TO HIM THAT SUPPLEMENTS THAT. AS YOUATPL SAID — A REPORTING BY NBC NEWS AND OTHERS — HAVE H INDICATED THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT REGULARLY READ THAT BRIEFING. HE DEPENDS ON THE VERBAL BRIEFINGS HE RECEIVES. HER RESPONSE WAS THAT THE PRESIDENT DOES READ IT. SHE WENT ON TO SAY THIS PRESIDENTIALLY TELL YOU IS THE MOST INFORMED PERSON ON PLANET EARTH WHEN IT COMES TO THE THREATS WE FACE. SO THAT IS THE LINE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AT THIS POINT. SHE DECLINED TO SAY SPECIFICALLY WHETHER THIS INFORMATION WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED IN THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEFING OR IN A WRITTEN FORM. >> WELL, THERE IT IS. STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN. SHANNON, LEEANN THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. >>> YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. WE WILL TRY EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP LIFE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> IF IT GETS INTO AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS IT WILL SPREAD LIKE RAPID FIRE. >> WE WILL BUILD THIS ECONOMY BACK STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. >> THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS I WOULD BE DOING THAT ARE NOT BEING DONE RIGHT NOW. >> COMING IN NOVEMBER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING NOT FOR A PERSON BUT FOR STABILITY. >> I HAVE TO PLAN A FUNERAL AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK? >> YOU DON'T PREPARE FOR GIVING BIRTH IN A PANDEMIC. >> THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC IS TO KEEP OUR SPIRITS UP. >> JOIN ME AS WE GO INTO AMERICA TO HEAR FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE GRAPPLING WITH THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME. YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW.

WE HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS. >> WE SAW A LARGE CONVOY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD COME THROUGH HERE. >> IT IS NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. A VIRUS THAT KNOWS NO BORDERS. >> A REAL CATASTROPHE HAPPENING HERE IN BRAZIL BEFORE OUR VERY EYES. >> OUR GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST IT UNITES US. >> HERE IN MEXICO CITY THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID THEY DON'T WORK, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. >> OUR NBC NEWS AND SKY TEAMS ARE ON THE GROUND LEARNING FROM WHERE IT HAS BEEN. >> THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT IS BRINGING STUDENTS BACK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IN STAGES. >> SO THAT YOU CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW IT WILL IMPACT US HERE. >> LIFE ACROSS ITALY IS BACK TO NORMAL. IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SAME NORMAL AS BEFORE. THE FORMER ATLANTA MIFF CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF RAYSHARD BROOKS IN COURT TODAY .

BLANE ALEXANDER JOINS ES MANY ME NOW. WHAT DID HIS LAWYERS ARGUE THAT CONVINCED THE JUDGE HE SHOULD BE RELEASED ON BOND? >> WELL, ALLISON A NUMBER OF ARGUMENT THEY MADE. ONE SAYING HE WOULD NOT BE A DANGER. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TO INDICATE HE WOULD LEAVE TOWN OR FAIL TO SHOW UP FOR MY FUTURE HEARINGS. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY SAID CLEARLY IN THAT HEARING TODAY. THEY ALSO SAID THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WOULD BE A RISK. THEY PRESENTED A NUMBER OF CHARACTER WITNESS LETTERS TO THE JUDGE AT THE TIME.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] SO THAT IS WHAT THEY HAD THE SAY. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS STRONG EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THE OFFICER — BASICALLY HE WAS LEGALLY JUSTIFIED IN FIRING THOSE SHOTS THAT NIGHT. >> WE ALSO HEARD FROM RAYSHARD BROOKS' WIDOW IN COURT TODAY. WHAT DID SHE SAY? >> SHE GAVE A VERY — TEARFUL, EMOTIONAL VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT. SHE WAS ASKING THE COURT TO DENY BOND. SHE SAID MENTALLY IT WASN'T SOMETHING SHE NO WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE. HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT SHE NEVER REALIZED SHE WOULD BE REFERRED TO AS A WIDOW. HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY TODAY. >> IT IS JUST ME AND MY CHILDREN. [ CRYING ] THAT IS ALL I HAVE. MY BEST FRIEND HAS BEEN TAKEN. MY HEALTH HAS BEEN TAKEN. NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS I WOULD IMAGINE MYSELF BEING CALLED A WIDOW. [ CRYING ] >> SHE SPOKE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TODAY.

I ARE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF BOND THOUGH. $500,000, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WERE REQUESTING $50,000. THAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF BOND GRANTED TO THE OTHER OFFICER CHARGED IN THIS CASE. THE STATE DIDN'T WANT ANY BOND. THEY SAID IF THERE DOES HAVE TO BE BOND, CAN IT BE $1 MILLION? THE JUDGE SETTLED IN THE MIDDLE, HALF A MILLION. WITH THE NUMBER OF CONDITIONS. HE HAS TO SURRENDER HIS PASSPORT. HE IS NOT ABLE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER ATLANTA POLICE OFFICERS AND HAS TO ABIDE BY A 6:00 P.M. CURFEW AMONG OTHER THINGS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> ITS AN INCIDENT THAT HAS GRIPPED THE NATION. 23-YEAR-OLD MCCLAIN A BLACK MAN, DIED LAST AUGUST IN POLICE CUSTODY.

NBC NEWS LEGAL ANALYST AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY TWEETING THIS ABOUT THE CASE. THE CASE PUT AS SPOTLIGHT ON AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE DEGREE OF EVIDENCE POLICE NEED TO INITIATE A POLICE CITIZEN CONTACT. INITIATION OF THESE CONTACTS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUE. IT IS HOW INCIDENTS ESCALATE. WE DECIDED TO REVIEW THE DETAILS OF DANNY AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SIDNEY. >> STOP RIGHT. THERE STOP RIGHT THERE. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. I HAVE A RIGHT TO STOP YOU CAUSE YOU ARE BEING SUSPICIOUS. >> HOW DO WE GET FROM THE POLICE PULLING UP TO MAKE — MCCLAIN TO GETTING OUT AND LAYING HANDS ON HIM? THEY SAY POLICE SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST SOMEBODY ON THE STREET BUT THEY MAY HAVE ARCTICABLE SUSPICION THAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS — IF THEY DO THEY CAN CONDUCT A LIMITED PAT DOWN AND DETAIN THE PERSON FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

>> WHEN THE 911 CALL COMES IN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE IS KNOW ALLEGATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE 911 CALL. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> THERE IS NO ALLEGATION THERE IS A WEAPON. >> WERE ANY WEAPONS INVOLVED? >> NO. >> THERE IS NO ALLEGATION THAT ANYONE IS IN DANGER. THE OFFICER OR ANY OTHER PERSON. SO THAT IS IN VERY IMPORTANT IN THE — ANALYSIS THAT THE COP IS MAKING AS HE SEES THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET. THEY ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO STOP HIM OR TOUCH HIM UNDER THE LAW. THERE IS NO REASONABLE SUSPICION OF ANY CRIMINAL WRONG DOING. THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE CAR AND SAY HEY, WE HAVE HAD A CALL. THEY CAN CHAT WITH HIM IF THEY WANT. THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T TOUCH HIM. THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T STOP HIM OR IMPEDE HIM FOR REMOVEMENT IN ANYWAY LEGALLY. >> WHEN HE ASKS THE OFFICERS TO STEP BACK, THE OFFICERS DON'T TELL HIM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF HE IS FREE TO LEAVE OR IF HE IS BEING DETAINED. >> RELAX OR I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE SITUATION.

>> OFFICERS DON'T TELL YOU THAT IN SO MANY WORDS. SO, HE IS LEFT WONDERING WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING TO ME? ONCE A DETAINED PERSON RESISTS WITH ANY FORCE OR PROBABLY MOVING OUTSIDE — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THAT WAS JUST CREATED A AS STOPGAP BETWEEN HAVING ZERO SUSPICION WHATSOEVER AND PROBABLE CAUSE FOR AN ARREST. IT RAISES THE QUESTION WHY DID AT NO TIME OFFICERS ASK HIM ANY QUESTIONS? HE COULD HAVE BEEN FREE TO LEAVE IF HE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS CORRECTLY. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> LETS JUST ADMIT — [ INDISCERNIBLE ] MY INITIAL REACTION AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS PROSECUTED POLICE CASES AND LOOKED AT HUNDREDS OF POLICE REPORTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS ON EXCESSIVE ABUSE OF FORCE, MY DUT GUT REACTION IS THAT IS PROBABLY NOT TRUE.

>> THIS STUFF IS ESCALATED INTO A DEADLY SITUATION FOR THE OFFICER AT LEAST IN HIS OR HER MIND AND — ITS A JUSTIFICATION FOR USING FORCE IN THAT MOMENT. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> CERTAIN THINK WILL IS SITUATIONS WHERE POLICE CAN ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND THERE IS NO APPARENT BEING CONDUCTED. MAYBE SOMEBODY MENTALLY ILL REACTS IN A TEAM ROUS WAY TO THE POLICE. WITH NO UNDERLYING CRIME SO POLICE DO NEED SOME DEGROW OF AUTHORITY IN THOSE SITUATIONS AND MENTAL ILLNESS ACCOUNTS FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF 911 CALL OUTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF MAGIC WORDS IN THE THROUGH WORDS — LAW THAT POLICE KNOW THEY HAVE THE USE IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY WHAT THEY DO ON THE STREET. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME POLICE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE THAT AS A CRUTCH IF THEY DON'T HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO MAKE AN ARREST BUT SIMPLY WANT TO DETAIN SOME ONE.

IT IS A REALLY FINE LINE. >> AN AUTOPSY FOUND THAT HIS DEATH WAS DUE TO QUOTE UNDETERMINED CAUSES. THE STATE IS REVIEWING THE CASE. MEANWHILE HIS FAMILY SAYS THEY PLAN TO FILE A CIVIL LAWSUIT. >>> A TROUBLING INTERNAL MEMO SHOWS HOW BAD THINGS GOT AT AN AMAZON FACILITY IN MINNESOTA DURING THE PANDEMIC. ACCORDING TO THE MEMO AT LEAST 45 WORKERS AT A FACILITY KNOWN AS MSP 1 CONTRACTED THE VIRUS AT AN INFECTION RATE OF 1.7%. THAT IS NEARLY 5 TIMES HIGHER THAN INFECTION RATE IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. JAKE WORD JOINS ME NOW. THIS CONTRADICTS WHAT AMAZON EXECUTIVES HAVE BEEN SAYING. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? >> THAT IS RIGHT. AMAZON HAS SAID CONSISTENTLY THAT THE INFECTION RATES THEY SEE INSIDE THEIR FACILITIES ROUGHLY CORRELATE WITH THE COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE BUT THIS NEW MEMO THAT — SEEMS TO COME FROM INFORMATION AS RECENTLY AS MID-MAY, SEEMS TO CONTRADICT THAT SHOWING IN FACT EMPLOYEES ARE CONTRACTING THE VIRUS AT A MUCH GREATER RATE THAN IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

DEFINITELY A BIG DEPARTURE. >> AMAZON WON'T DECEMBER CLOSE — DISCLOSE HOW MANY OF THEIR WORKERS HAVE BEEN INFECTED. >> THERE ISN'T ANY IMMEDIATE INDICATION THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE SHARING THAT TONE INFORMATION OR EVEN BEGIN TO. SINCE THE BEGINNING AMAZON HAS REFUSED TO DISCLOSE A FULL COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS AND DEATHS THEY HAVE SEEN IN THEIR FACILITIES IN SPITE OF REQUESTS FROM THE MEDIA, FROM EMPLOYEES AND FROM LAWMAKERS WANTING TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO SO THEY ARE NOT DOING IT. THE COMPANY SAID TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, IT WOULD NOT BE USEFUL. AGAIN IT IS INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONSIDERING HERE IN THIS MEMO WE ARE SEEING A GREATER NUMBER THAN WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE. A REPORT THEY SHOWED — OR THAT WAS SEEN BY C NBC AS WELL AS BY BLOOMBERG SEEMS TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A VERY GRAIN LAR LEVEL OF REPORTING GOING ON AT LEAST INSIDE THE COMPANY.

THE REPORT EVEN SHOWS WHETHER THEY SHARE AN APARTMENT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THAT INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON. >> SOMETHING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE DEMANDING THAT MINNESOTA FACILITIES SHUTDOWN FOR CLEANING. HOW ARE THEY DESCRIBING THE CONDITIONS THERE? >> THE CONDITIONS INSIDE THESE FACILITIES ARE A PRETTY CLOSELY KEPT SECRET. SOME INSPECTORS HAVE GONE IN AND SAID THEY ARE IMPRESSED BY THE MEASURES TAKEN. WE NO SO LITTLE ABOUT THIS VIRUS WHETHER IT IS THE AIR OR SHARED SURFACES THAT COULD MOVE IT AROUND. ALL OF THAT STUFF IS HARD TO GAUGE. CERTAINLY WHAT THESE EMPLOYEES WANT TO DO IS HAVE GREATER TRANSPARENCIES. THAT TOTAL COUNT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY AMAZON. THERE IS NOT SENSE THEY — NO SENSE THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT ANYTIME SOON. >> I KNOW AMAZON IS NOT RELEASING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CASES BUT WHAT IS AMAZON DOING OR SAYING THEY ARE DOING TO KEEP THEIR WORKERS SAFE? >> WE HAVE SEEN — REPORTS FROM SPOKESPEOPLE AT AMAZON THAT SAY THERE ARE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE.

THAT CORONAVIRUS TRACKING MEASURES, CONTACT TRACING ARE ONE OF MANY TOOLS THAT AMAZON USES TO HELP IT DETERMINE THE FULL PICTURE IN OUR BUILDINGS RELATED TO COVID-19. OTHER TOOLS INCLUDE SOCIAL DISTANCING AUDITS AND HAVE A A ROW VIEW TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY MEASURES. THE COMPANY SAID THEY ARE TAKING ALL OF THESE STEPS. THE DIFFICULTY IS THERE ARE NO REGULATORY REQUIREMENT THEY REPORT WHAT THE INFECTION RATE HAS BEEN, WHAT THE DEATH RATE HAS BEEN.

ALL OF THAT IS JUST HELD WITHIN THE COMPANY. WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD THAT THEY ARE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN. AS WE ARE SEEING FROM THIS NEWLY RELEASED MEMO, THIS IS A GREATER ENFECTION RATE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING AND A GREATER RATE THAN OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THAT FACILITY. >> ABSOLUTELY. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING. >> THANKS, ALLISON. >> COLORADO'S VOTE BY MAIL SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD. IT COULD SERVE AS A MODEL.

NBC NEWS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN JOINING ME NOW DENVER. WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES COLORADO SYSTEMS SO SUCCESSFUL? >> WELL, AS THEY SAY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. COLORADO HAS BEEN DOING MOSTLY ALL MAIL-IN ELECTION FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THEY ARE USED TO SEEING THE INFLUX OF MAIL-IN PALLETS. ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THE KEY TO IS A SUCCESSFUL ELECTION IS ACCESSIBILITY AND RESOURCES. COLORADO ALLOWS YOU THREE OPTIONS. YOU CAN EITHER MAIL IN YOUR BALLOTS, YOU CAN DROP OFF DAY OF OR YOU COME VOTE IN PERSON. PEOPLE HERE REALLY PREFER TO VOTE BY MAIL BECAUSE ITS CONVENIENT AND ITS ACCESSIBLE.

THEY CAN DO IT FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOMES. OFFICIALS ALSO TELL ME THAT HAS IMPROVED TURN OUT. IT GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY — IT INCREASES THE TURN OUT IN THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES. MORE PEOPLE ARE VOTING IN THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES. VOTERS HERE PREFER VOTING BY MAIL OR BY DROP OFF. THEY ACTUALLY — IT IS A VERY TRUSTED SYSTEM HERE IN THE STATE. >> THE PRESIDENT HAS STEPPED UP HIS ATTACK ON MAIL-IN VOTING CLAIMING IT WILL LEAD TO THE MOST CORRUPT ELECTION IN U.S. HISTORY. WHAT SAFE GUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT THAT KIND OF VOTER FRAUD. >> SO ELECTION OFFICIALS HERE TELL ME THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT POINTS TO WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD WHEN IT COMES TO MAIL IN PALLETS.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF CHECKS THAT GO INTO PLACE. COLORADO HAS A REALLY COOL SYSTEM THAT WILL NOTIFY YOU VIA TEXT OR E-MAIL. IT WILL LET YOU NOW WHEN IT RECEIVED ITS PALLET. THEN YOU WILL GET A CONFIRMATION TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BALLOT HAS BEEN PROCESSED AND THAT ITS OFFICIAL HI COUNTED. IT WILL LET YOU KNOW IF IT WILL TO SO. THEY ALSO CONDUCT AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT DOUBLE VOTING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

FOR EXAMPLE IF SOMEONE WERE TO MAIL IN THEIR APPROXIMATELY — BALLOT AND ALSO COME IN PERSON. THEY DO ALL THESE SORTS OF CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. ONLY 62 BALL LOTS OUT OF 1.5 MILLION WERE FLAGGED IN THAT AUDIT. >> FOR STATES YOU ARE LOOKING HERE AND THINKING WE WOULD LIKE TO MIRROR COLORADO'S SUCCESS. HOW CAN THEY DO THAT? >> COLORADO IS REALLY LOOKING TO BE A ROAD MAP FOR ALL 50 STATES. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR. I SPOKE WITH AMBER. THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF OUTREACH WORKING FROM THE DENVER AND COLORADO PERSPECTIVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER STATES ON HOW TO MIMIC AND REINVENT THE COLORADO PROCESS SO THEY CAN DO THE SAME CONSIDERING ITS KIND OF THE ONLY SAFE WAY WE CAN VOTE DURING A PANDEMIC COME NOVEMBER.

TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT AMBER TOLD ME WHAT HER CONCERNS ARE. >> I KIND OF KEEP SAYING THE STATES DON'T — DON'T INVENT BUT REPLICATE. REPLICATE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE WELL. ADOPT THOSE PRACTICES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THEM. THERE IS A TON OF WORK TO DO. MOST STATES WERE NOT READY TO HANDLE VOTING IN PANDEMIC. THE STATES THAT ARE THE MOST READY ARE THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THE MOST MAIL-IN VOTING UP TO THIS POINT. TIME IS A CRITICAL FACTOR RIGHT NOW. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME BEFORE NOVEMBER. IT TAKES A LOT TO PLAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT IS HUGE OPERATION. MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES INTO IT IN THE BACK END.

TIME IS USUALLY THAT CRITICAL FACTOR THAT NOBODY HAS A LOT OF. COVID HAS INTRODUCED A WHOLE NEW SET OF DIFFICULTIES. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AT THIS POINT. >> SO, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE, IT COMES DOWN TO TIME AND MONEY. A LOT OF THE RESOURCES NEEDED IN ELECTIONS COST MONEY. ONE THING THAT SHE MENTIONED THAT STATES ARE LACKING BECAUSE THEY ARE ARE SEEING HIGHER VOLUMES IN PRIMARIES. YOU NEED TO HIRE EXTRA PEOPLE TO COUNT THOSE BALLOTS. ANOTHER HICCUP SOME STATES ARE SEEING IS THAT THE LAW THAT IS IN PLACE MAKES SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN'T START COUNTING THE BALLOTS TILL ELECTION DAY WHICH IS WHY WE VEIN SOME STATES LIKE KENTUCKY WHICH TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO COME ABOUT. PENNSYLVANIA TOOK ALMOST TWO WEEKS. THERE SLEDGE ISOLATION IN PLACE THAT FORBIDS TO START COUNTING THE BALLOTS TILL ELECTION DAY. WE WILL KNOW THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S PRIMARY A LOT SOONER THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER STATES. THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT CAN CHANGE IN OTHER STATES.

>> AIL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> IT IS SAID THERE IS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME TO FULLY REALIZE THE DREAM UPON WHICH THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. >> WE HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS. >> IT IS NEWS MADE FOR YOUR STREAMING WORLD. LIVE WEEKDAYS STARTING AT 6:00 A.M. EASTERN. WHAT IS PEACOCK? THIS IS PEACOCK. IT IS TV. MOVIES. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS. ORIGINAL CHARACTERS. IT IS SPORTS. STOCKS. >> THERE IS MORE. >> MORE? >> YES, MORE. >> TONS. >> IT IS TOUGH STUFF. IT IS TRENDING. MIND BENDING. LATE NIGHTS, EARLY MORNINGS. >> YOU SEE THIS? YOU REMEMBER THAT? YOU WATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE? IT IS FEW. FOR EW, FOR ALL. IT IS FREE. >> FREE. >> FREE. >> FREE. >> FREE FROM THAT IS PEACOCK. >> THAT IS PEACOCK. THAT IS WHO. THAT IS WHAT. THAT IS WHY. >> YOU CAN'T NOT WATCH.

>>> WE ARE REMINDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DO NOT. >> I THINK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR KIDS. I REMEMBER HER COMING HOME SAYING WHY DON'T I HAVE A PONY TAIL LIKE THE WHITE GIRLS? IT IS OKAY TO NOTICE YOU DIFFERENT. YOU JUST HAVE TO NOT FEEL LESS THAN. THAT IS MY THING. >> I CHERISH THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. I FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU GUYS. TH YOU GUYS.% , SPRING TRAINING STARTS TOMORROW. THE 60 GAME BASEBALL SEASON SET TO START AT THE END OF JULY. SOME SAY THEY WON'T PLAY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS. TOM HAS THE LATEST FROM NATIONALS PARK. >> GOOD DAY. OF COURSE THIS IS THE HOME OF THE DEFENDING WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS. RIGHT NOW TWO PLAYERS ON THE NATIONALS TEAM HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY THIS SEASON. A PLEAER ON THE ARIZONA DIAMOND BACKS WILL NOT PLAY. THE REASON, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSING THEIR FAMILIES TO THE CORONAVIRUS. THE QUESTION IS, WILL OTHER PLAYERS OPT OUT? AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PREPARES TO RETURN, MULTIPLE PLAYERS ARE ANNOUNCE THEY WILL NOT PLAY BALL.

RYAN SIM SIM ZIMMERMAN AND JOE ROSS, IAN AND ARIZONA DIAMOND BACKS PITCHER MIKE OPTING OUT OF THE 2020 SEASON. ZIMMERMAN SAYING IN A STATEMENT WHILE HE WOULD LOVE COME TO COMPETE I HAVE DECIDED NOT PARTICIPATE. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE EITHER ONE UNTIL THE SEASON WAS OVER AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING HE IS WILLING TO DO. THE NATIONALS STANDING BY THEIR PLAYERS WRITING WHILE ZIMMERMAN AND ROSS FOCUSED ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES, THE TEAM IS 100% SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR DECISION TO NOT PLAY THIS YEAR. HE TOOK TO INSTAGRAM WRITING IN PART, WITH A PREGNANT WIFE AND FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN HOME IS WHERE I NEED BE RIGHT NOW.

>> WHILE HIS AGENT SAY THE PITCHER AND THEIR FAMILY TOOK COUNTLESS FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION, MANY OF WHICH ARE PERSONAL. >> THIS IS A REMINDER THAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE HUMAN BEINGS TOO. >> THE NATIONALS FIRST EVER DRAFT PICK BACK IN 2005, ZIMMERMAN HAS BEEN THE FACE OF THE FRANCHISE. LAST YEAR ZIMMERMAN HIT THE FIRST WORLD SERIES HOME RUN IN NATIONALS HISTORY. >> THEIR DECISION TO SIT OUTCOMES ON THE HEELS OF A LENGTHY LABOR BAT — BATTLE THAT THREATENED TO WIPE OUT THE BASE BALL SEASON ALL TOGETHER. >> LAST WEEK THE LEAGUE'S PLAYERS AND OWNERS SIGNED OFF ON A 60 GAME SLATE. THIS WEEK CLUBS ARE NOW FACING A NEW CHALLENGE THAT SOME EXPERTS SAY COULD BE A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME. >> THERE ARE NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO ARE OPENLY CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO OPT OUT.

JUST WEIGHING JUST — AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CHOICE BETWEEN PLAYING AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> SO IF A PLAYER OPTS OUT, THEY WILL LIKELY SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR SALARY ALTHOUGH IF THEY ARE HIGH RISK AND THEY ARE DEEMED TO BE HIGH RISK, HE COULD STILL GET THE SALARY THEY ARE AGREED TO GOING FROM 162 GAMES, DOWN TO 60 GAMES. THAT IS THE ISSUE. IF A PLAYER IS HIGH RISK, THEN THEY COULD STILL RECEIVE THEIR FULL — IF THEY ARE NOT HIGH RISK, THEN THEY WOULD FORFEIT THE COMPENSATION THEY HAD AGREED TO. TO.% , >>> AFTER A LOT OF THOUGHT, HE HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT. >> IT WORKED OUT PERFECTLY. >> Reporter: IF CARL REINER HAS SOMETHING TO SAY, CHANCES ARE IT IS FUNNY. >> THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN TO GET A LITTLE LAUGH. AND MAKES EVERYONE HAPPY. >> Reporter: OVER HER CAREER THAT SPANNED OVER SEVEN DECADES, HE PENNED, DIRECTED, AND ACTED IN SOME OF COMEDY'S GREATEST HITS.

FROM THE SEMIAUTOBIOGRAPHICAL " DICK VAN DYKE SHOW,"AND THE 2000-YEAR-OLD MAN. >> YEAH, YOU BETTER! >> Reporter: REINER'S ADD LIVE ROUTINE WAS WITH HIS CLOSE BUDDY, MEL BROOKS. ARE YOU SURPRISED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE LOVED THAT SKETCH? >> HE'S THE FUNNIEST HUMAN BEING OF THE WORLD. HE'S CONNECTED TO THE TRUTH, THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. YOU TELL THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH, AND YOU GET A LAUGH. >> Reporter: IS A TRUE? HERE ARE TWO OF THE FUNNIEST GUYS ON THE PLANET. TOUGH GIVE YOU STOP, THEY PUT YOU AWAY. >> Reporter: IS A WRITER, ACTOR, DIRECTOR, REINER WORKED WITH THE WHO'S WHO'S OF COMEDY.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD RELATIONSHIP? >> MY WIFE SAID IT BEST. MARY SOMEONE WHO CAN STAND YOU. MY SON ROBBIE, WHEN HE DID "WHEN HARRY MET SALLY," SHE'S THE ONE WHO DELIVERED THE LINE THAT SAID I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING. GOOD COMEDY IS ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL. YOU FIND THINGS TO LAUGH AT IN A SITUATION. YOU FIND THINGS TO LAUGH AT GRANDPA WHAT WHAT YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE? >> MY LEGACY IS ALREADY THERE. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE MOST PROUD OF. >>> YOU ARE WATCHING NBC NEWS NOW. LET'S GO TO NBC NEWS NOW CORRESPONDENT, ALEXA LEE ODO. SHE HAS THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM NBCNEWS.COM. ALEXA, HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS. LOTS OF NEWS IN THIS HOUR WITH CORONAVIRUS CASES SURGING IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

AT LEAST THREE STATES HAVE HIT PAUSE ON REOPENING. THEY GAVE THIS WARNING. >> WE'RE NOW HAVING 40+ THOUSAND NEW CASES A DAY. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE GO UP TO 100,000 A DAY IF THIS DOES NOT TURN AROUND, SO I AM VERY CONCERNED. >> NOW FROM NBC'S, ALEXANDER SMITH, THE EUROPEAN AND NEW UNION WILL CONTINUE OPENING ITS BORDERS TO AT LEAST 15 COUNTRIES TOOK THE UNITED STATES NOT ONE OF THEM. THAT LIST WILL BE REDUCED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND POTENTIALLY ADJUSTED BASED ON EVOLVING CONDITIONS OF THE PANDEMIC. >>> SUPREME COURT RULING TODAY IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SAME FUNDING BENEFITS AS A STATE AFFORDS OTHER SCHOOLS. THE 5-1 RULING WAS IN MONTANA WITH PARENTS WHO USE THEIR STATE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS. THEY COULD KNOCK WHAT I DISQUALIFY SOME SCHOOL SOLELY BECAUSE THEY ARE RELIGIOUS CRITICS SAY THE RULING FURTHER BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. >>> THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE VOTED ON THE MEASURE OVER THE WEEKEND.

>>> MEANWHILE, A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPANIES ARE BOYCOTTING ADS ON FACEBOOK IS PART OF THE HASHTAG #STOPHATEFORPROFIT. 240 ORGANIZATIONS ARE ADDRESSING HOW FACEBOOK ADDRESSES CONTENT ON ITS PLATFORM. OTHERS SAY EXISTING PRESSURE TO CUT COSTS DURING CORONAVIRUS ALSO PLAYS A ROLE. >>> THE GREAT COMEDY LEGEND CARL REINER PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT. HE WAS 98 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN A CELEBRATED WRITER, ACTOR, PRODUCER, AND DIRECTOR WHO WAS INDUCTED IN THE EMMY HALL OF FAME IN 1999. HIS SON POSTED A TWEET ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT, CALLING HIS SON A SHINING LIGHT. THOSE ARE THE LATEST HEADLINES FOR THIS HOUR. I WILL BE JOINING YOU A LITTLE LATER WITH SOME MORE UP DATES. >> ALEXA, THANKS SO MUCH. WE WILL SEE YOU THEN. >>> THE NATION'S TOP MEDICAL OFFICIALS TESTIFIED BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY. THEY SAY WE'RE SEEING A THIRD OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS BECAUSE SEVERAL STATES REOPENED TOO SOON AND PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES. >> THE STATE IN WHICH THE LEADERSHIP IN THE FORM OF THE GOVERNOR'S AND THE MAYORS DID IT RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT WE SAW VISUALLY IN CLIPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY DOING IT ALL IN ONE PHENOMENON, WHICH IS DANGEROUS. EITHER BE LOCKED DOWN OR OPEN UP IN A WAY WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE AT BARS, NOT WEARING MASKS, NOT AVOIDING CROWDS, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> NBC NEWS CAPITAL HILL CORRESPONDENT LEIGH ANN CALDWELL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS HEARING TODAY? >> Reporter: THE POINT OF THIS HEARING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT SCHOOLS REOPENING IN THE FALL. OF COURSE, NUMBER MEMBERS HAD QUESTIONS OF THAT, FOUR MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ANSWERS JUST YET. THEY SAID A LOT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, ON THE LOCATION. IS JUST SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION. THEY DID SAY TESTING IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO OPENING SCHOOLS IN THE FALL. DR. FAUCI KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF POOL TESTING WHERE YOU GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GIVE THESE PEOPLE A TEST WHETHER THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OR NOT, AND THAT IS A WAY TO REALLY TAKE, JUST GET AT THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF TESTING THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GET KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, ALLISON. >> LEIGH ANN, DR. FAUCI SAID WE COULD SAY 100,000 NEW COVID CASES A DAY IN THE U.S. I HAD TO ECK THAT NUMBER TWICE JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT YOU GET THE TERRIFYING NUMBER.

HOW DID HE EXPLAIN THAT? >> YEAH, I WAS IN THE HEARING ROOM WHEN HE SAID THAT. IT SHOCKED ME TOO. IT'S THIS STARK REALIZATION THAT WITHOUT YOU PUT OUT THERE. RIGHT MAYOR, WE ARE HITTING THE HIGHS AND THE COUNTRIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT 40, 42,000 CASES A DAY. DR. FAUCI IS SAYING IF THIS CONTINUES AS THEY ARE NOW, IT WILL NOT BE SURPRISING TO SEE 100,000 CASES A DAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HELP OFFICIALS ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT AS FAR AS HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ICU BEDS. HE WAS SAYING THAT AS FAR AS MEASURES, HE SAID ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THEY ARE LEARNING IS BARS. HE CALLED BARS BAD NEWS AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CLOSE THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SEEING SO MANY SPREADS, AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CONTRACTING THE DISEASE IS.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY A MOMENT IN THIS HEARING REALLY GAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHIPLASH AND REALLY SET IN THE SEVERITY OF WHAT COULD COME OUT OF THAT. >> YEAH, JUST TO THINK GOING IN A BAR, LEIGH ANN, AND MAKES YOU THINK HOW CAREFUL WE STILL NEED TO BE. THE MASS DEBATE, ANOTHER ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY NOT GOING AWAY. HOW DID THAT COME UP IN THE HEARING TODAY? >> Reporter: THE HEARING, LIKE I SAID IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT SCHOOLS, WHICH THEY TOUCHED UPON THE ISSUE. THE MAIN ISSUE, THE BIG ONE OF THIS HEARING WAS THIS ISSUE OF MASKS. YOU HAVE THE COMMITTEE WHO USED HIS OPENING STATEMENT TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS.

LISTEN TO HIM. >> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SIMPLE, LIFESAVING PRACTICE HAS BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL DEBATE THAT SAYS THIS. IF YOU ARE FOR TRUNK, YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK. IF YOU ARE AGAINST TRUMP, YOU DO. THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT OCCASIONALLY WEAR A MASK, EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO DO SO. THE PRESIDENT HAS PLENTY OF ADMIRERS THAT WOULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD. IT WOULD HELP END THIS POLITICAL DEBATE, THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH FOR THIS POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT PRO TRUMP AND ANTI- MASKS TO CONTINUE. >> Reporter: THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT LAMAR ALEXANDER WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO BRING IT UP. WE HAD SOME DEMOCRATS BRING IT UP AS WELL. THAT WAS AN ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE HEARING, BUT ALLISON? THE FACT THAT SENATOR ALEXANDER, A REPUBLICAN, SAID THIS? HE'S JUST ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SAYING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR MASKS, THAT THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD COME OUT I WEAR MASKS TOO. YOU HEARD THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER, KEVIN McCARTHY IN CALIFORNIA, WHO RARELY, RARELY BREAKS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

HE WENT ON FOX NEWS SAYING TODAY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD WEAR A MASK . EVERYONE AT THEIR FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS SHOULD DO THE SAME. WE HEARD FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL WHO SAID MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR A MASK. HE DID SAY SO AGAIN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE JUST MOMENTS AGO, SO MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE BREAKING FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THIS ISSUE. THEY SEE IT NOT ONLY AS AN ISSUE OF LIFE AND DEATH, BUT THEY ALSO SEE IT AS A POLITICAL ISSUE AS WELL, THE PRESIDENT'S POLL NUMBERS ARE TANKING, AS HIS HANDLING OF THIS COVID CRISIS CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE AND BE IN FLUX, SO REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL ARE COMING OUT AND SAYING THAT MASK WEARING IS ESSENTIAL, ALLISON. >> LEIGH ANN, I KNOW YOU WHAT I HAVE SAID THIS ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES ALREADY JUST SIX MONTHS INTO 2020, BUT YOU TOLD ME THAT IF WE WOULD BE DEBATING THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK TO SAVE YOUR LIFE THIS SUMMER, I WOULD'VE NEVER BELIEVED ME, YET HERE WE ARE THE LAST DAY OF JUNE, AND IT IS A HOT TOPIC.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A DEBATE THAT WAS HAPPENING MONTHS AGO TO A. REMEMBER, HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE SAYING MASKS AREN'T GOING TO PROTECT YOU. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY. THEY NEEDED TO SAVE THE MASKS FOR HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT THE CDC GUIDELINES HAVE SAID FOR MONTHS NOW THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK TO NOT ONLY PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE, BUT TO PROTECT YOURSELF, SO IT'S A DEBATE THAT IS ONGOING AND HAS BECOME A VERY POLITICALLY TOXIC ONE, ALEX AND. >> UNBELIEVABLE. LEIGH ANN CALDWELL ON CAPITOL HILL, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> YOU TOO. >>> WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL RUSSIAN BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS IN AFGHANISTAN, AND WHEN DID HE FIND OUT? NBC NEWS HAS CONFIRMED THE WHITE HOUSE AND TOP NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE ON THOSE BOUNTIES A YEAR EARLIER THAN WE THOUGHT.

PERSON WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE TELLING NBC NEWS THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE COUNCIL WERE MADE AWARE OF THAT INTELLIGENCE AND 2019-nCoV THE PRESIDENT THOUGH HAS DENIED BEING BRIEFED ON THE MATTER. JOINING ME NOW, NBCNEWS.COM SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER SHANNON PETTYPIECE. THERE WAS A FATAL ATTACK ON U.S. MARINES ON AFGHANISTAN. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TIMING ON THIS BOUNTY INTELLIGENCE, AND WHETHER ANY AMERICANS DIED AS A RESULT OF THAT RUSSIAN PLOT? >> ALLISON, THREE U.S. MARINES WERE KILLED IN THAT. THE OTHERS WERE WOUNDED, AND AFGHAN CONTRACTOR, AND THIS ATTACK IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLY STEMMING FROM THE BOND TEASE, BUT ALL THAT INFORMATION IS UNCONFIRMED. WHAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN QUESTION IS THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE SUPPORTING THE TALIBAN FINANCIALLY, WERE PAYING BOUNTIES.

A FORMER CIA OFFICER WORKING THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2018 TOLD ME IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR UNDERSTANDING WITHOUT THE RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TALIBAN WORKS. THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE TUB AND TO PAY THE TALIBAN AND TO KILL AMERICANS. WHAT OFFICIAL HAD SEEN THIS INTELLIGENCE TOLD ME HE'S FAIRLY CONVINCED THAT AMERICANS HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS. >> SHANNON, A GROUP OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS BRIEFED AT THE WHITE HOUSE. HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. >> THE PRESIDENT CALLED THIS A HOAX PUBLICLY. NOTHING IN THE BRIEFING THAT WE'VE JUST RECEIVED LED ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A HOAX. WHY HASN'T THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMED CONDEMNED THIS? WHY DOESN'T THE PRESIDENT STAND UP FOR THE UNITED STATES? I MEAN, FOR GOD SAKES, THESE ARE OUR SOLDIERS, AND IF WE'RE NOT COMING TO PROTECT THEM, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? A LEFT WEEK WITH NO ANSWER.

I DID NOT COME AWAY KNOWING ANYTHING THAT I KNEW BEFORE. >> TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS CLEARLY NOT HAPPY, SHANNON. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BRIEFING? >> WHO WAS LEADING THIS BRIEFING. ONE THING IS THAT MARK MEADOWS WAS REALLY THE ONE LEADING IT AS THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY CHIMED IN EVERY NOW AND THEN. SO MARK MEADOWS WAS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS ON THE HILL. THE INTELLIGENCE EXPERT WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. HE WAS NOT ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. QUESTIONING WHY SHE WAS NOT THERE. THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HER. MORE BRIEFINGS ON THIS TOPIC. >> SHANNON, ANYTHING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS TODAY? >> WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT PUBLICLY. HE HAS NOT TWEETED ON THIS ISSUE. AS OF YESTERDAY, THEY WERE SAYING HE HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT. HE WAS TOLD IN WRITING.

YET BEEN TOLD VERBALLY ABOUT IT. THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY BY THE PRESS SECRETARY 30 MINUTES FROM NOW. I'M SURE THAT WILL BE A QUESTION THEY WILL BE ASKING. >> THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THAT THERE WERE DISSENTING OPINIONS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN BOUNTIES AND INTEL COMMUNITY. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY? >> ALLISON, THAT'S VERY COMMON. IT'S CLEAR FROM LAWMAKERS THAT NATIONAL SECURITY, THE PENTAGON IS SPYING ON THEM.

THEY WERE EITHER NOT CONVINCED WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT INTELLIGENCE IS TRUE, WHERE AS THE CIA IS LEANING FURTHER OR ITS WAY. THAT'S VERY COMMON. THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HAS TO MAKE A CALL AND DECIDE HOW MUCH AND WHAT POLICIES. THAT APPEARS NEVER TO HAPPEN. EXCEPT IN WRITING, SAYING THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T READ, SO THERE IS REALLY A POLICY INERTIA HERE THAT INTELLIGENCE NEVER ACTED ON, SO NOBODY PUSHED BACK ON RUSSIA WHAT THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY OFFERING BOUNTIES TO KILL AMERICANS, AND THAT IS WHAT AMERICANS SEE AS A SCANDAL HERE. >> SHANNON, TOP DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO, DEFENSE SECRETARY MARK ESPER. ANY RESPONSE FROM THOSE TWO? >> WELL, NOT DIRECTLY. POMPEO DID SAY HE SPOKE TO THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE TALIBAN AND TODAY. THAT WAS THAT HE WAS TALKING. WE HAVE NOT HEARD DIRECTLY FROM EXPERTS , BUT THE DOJ DID POINT OUT A STATEMENT YESTERDAY THAT YOU NEED TO EVALUATE THIS EVIDENCE, SAYING THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE THEMSELVES TO COOPERATE THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO VALIDATE THE ACCURACY SO FAR.

THAT IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU FROM THIS POINT, ALLISON. >> STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE. SHANNON, KEN, THANKS FOR FILLING US IN WITH WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. >>> MANY BEACHES IN FLORIDA CLOSED THIS FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND, AND PEOPLE WERE THINKING ABOUT GOING ANYWAY. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT KERRY SANDERS JOINING ME NOW FROM WATER DALE IN FLORIDA. I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES THERE IN A MOMENT, BUT THE STATE REPORTING ANOTHER 6000 COVID CASES TODAY. WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION THERE? >> WELL, THE NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING.

THE NUMBER TODAY, 6012. IT'S THE FOURTH HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SINCE THIS PANDEMIC BEGAN, SO IT REALLY PUTS THE NUMBERS CLIMBING. WHILE THE NORTHEAST MAY HAVE SEEN A DROP, LOOKS LIKE THE WAVE IS MOVING DOWN TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP AS OPPOSED TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT THE SECOND WAY. THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST WAVE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUT ON THE BEACH, THIS IS NOT.

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