Anderson Cooper 360

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stood outside the White House two months ago declaring his state’s victory against the deadly coronavirus. Less than 10 weeks later, Florida has surpassed New York’s total count for Covid-19 cases, with at least 432,747. Democratic Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber wrote a letter to DeSantis blaming him for the “unconstrained growth” of Covid-19. Mayor Gelber joins AC360 to explain why he called the governor’s response “unprepared” and “failed.” Plus, Congressman John Lewis lies in state at the U.S. Capitol. Congressman James Clyburn tells Anderson Cooper about his friendship with Lewis dating back to the 1960s.

Airdate: July 27, 2020

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The U.S. is on track for topping 1,000 daily coronavirus deaths for the 4th straight day. In the last week President Trump canceled the Republican National Convention activities in Jacksonville, Florida, encouraged Americans to wear masks and changed his tone on the severity of the deadly virus. White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx said California, Florida, Arizona and Texas seem to be plateauing after weeks of surging cases and deaths. Dr. Joseph Donnelly is an emergency room physician in El Paso, Texas and has been treating Covid-19 patients throughout the pandemic. He joins AC360 to describe his experiences and says this virus is nothing like the flu. Plus, the CDC recently released new guidance to help schools reopen in the fall. Trump said he would be “comfortable” with his son and grandchildren returning to school for in-person learning. Arne Duncan, former Education Secretary for the Obama administration tells AC360 if we “had a White House that led, had a national plan, we wouldn’t be jeopardizing our children’s chance to go back to school in the next couple weeks.”

Airdate: July 24, 2020

Guests: 

Dr. Joseph Donnelly

Arne Duncan

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President Trump held another coronavirus briefing without the nation’s top doctors. He declared “cases remain low and very stable” as the U.S. nears 4 million cases and deaths have topped 142,000 people. California was one of the first states to shut down and seemed to have the virus under control, but after a resurgence, it has surpassed New York with the most coronavirus cases in the country. Dr. Barbara Ferrer is the Los Angeles County Public Health Director and says Covid-19 is set to become one of the leading causes of death in her county. Plus, the President says he will “surge” federal law enforcement officers to Chicago and other American cities even though local leaders are pushing back. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said it would be a “cold day in hell” before he would agree to a “unilateral, uninvited intervention.” He joins AC360 and says he’s disappointed with the President’s response and it seems like a “reality TV approach” to a very serious problem. 

Airdate: July 22, 2020

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In his first coronavirus briefing in months, President Trump admitted the Covid-19 crisis will probably get worse before it gets better. The President encouraged “everybody” to wear a mask and said “whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact.” Dr. Peter Hotez is the Dean of the School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor University in Texas where cases are spiking in the state and the reopening has been paused. He tells AC360 President Trump lacked empathy and compassion for the Southern states in dire situations and he showed no urgency in making a federal plan. Plus, protesters and federal agents continue to clash in downtown Portland, Oregon as local officials and lawmakers scrutinize the increased federal presence. Mayors of six large cities sent a letter to the administration slamming deployment of federal forces to stop protests. Democratic Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is one of those mayors and has been monitoring the protests in his city for weeks. He joins AC360 and says the presence of the federal officers and their actions is what’s making the people of Portland so angry especially when the protests were mostly peaceful. 

Airdate: July 21, 2020

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President Trump tweets out a photo of himself wearing a mask and says that “it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance” one day after an interview aired where he continued to downplay the impact of coronavirus in the United States. The President also said in that interview, “I don’t agree with the statement if everybody wear a mask everything disappears.”  CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta explains what is behind the President’s change in tone and why daily Coronavirus Task Force briefings are going to return. Also, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Florida International University infectious disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty discuss what needs to be done to get the pandemic under control in Florida and across the country. Plus, CNN’s Gary Tuchman takes us inside an intensive care unit treating Covid-19 patients in Georgia.

Airdate: July 20, 2020

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As Covid-19 cases continue to rise throughout the South and Southwest of the U.S., White House Task Force Member Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested the country might need to “reset.” At least 27 states have paused or rolled back their re-openings as the U.S. recently saw the highest daily number of cases, 67,417. William Haseltine, Chair and President of ACCESS Health International, tells Anderson Cooper we are in a very dangerous situation and desperately need guidance.  Plus, the Moderna coronavirus vaccine is showing “promising” safety and immune response results. Dr. Tal Zaks, Moderna’s Chief Medical Officer, joins AC360 to give an update on the trial and thinks the chances of this vaccine working are “pretty good.”

Airdate: July 15, 2020

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