Anderson Cooper 360

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Trump plans to hold in-person White House event Oct 10, 2020

Show notes

President Trump plans to hold an in-person event at the White House with thousands invited just a little more than a week after revealing on Twitter he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized for symptoms. He’s also planned a rally in Florida just a few days later despite the obvious risk of the virus spreading. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent and he tells AC360 the mass gathering at the White House, which falls exactly two weeks after the event Dr. Anthony Fauci called a super spreader event, is reckless and a terrible idea. Plus, Hurricane Delta made landfall near Creole, Louisiana as a Category 2 storm with winds near 100 mph. Delta is the fourth major storm to hit Louisiana this year. Tom Sater, an AMS and CNN Meteorologist joins AC360 to give an update on the path of the storm and the expected storm surge.

Airdate: October 9, 2020

Guests:

Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Tom Sater

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13 charged in plot to kidnap Michigan governor and overthrow several state governments Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

Thirteen people have been charged in an alleged domestic terrorist plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow several state governments that the suspects "believe are violating the U.S. Constitution,” according to a federal criminal complaint. Six people were charged federally with conspiracy to kidnap and Dana Nessel, the Attorney General of Michigan, announced state charges against the other seven associated with the group, “Wolverine Watchmen.” She tells Anderson Cooper groups like this one aren’t just a Michigan problem but an American problem. Plus, a new projection by the CDC predicts there could up to 230,000 deaths in the U.S. by the end of November. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, joins AC360 to discuss how concerned he is with cases rising across the country as the weather gets colder and flu season ramps up.

Airdate: October 8, 2020

Guests:

Dana Nessel

Bill Gates

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White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive for Covid-19 Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Trump, has tested positive for Covid-19. At least 11 people, including President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, have tested positive for the virus inside the White House. John Podesta was Chief of Staff for President Clinton and he tells Anderson Cooper the most damning thing for the American people is the President’s tweet to not be afraid of the coronavirus and it’s no worse than the flu. Plus, former First Lady Michelle Obama released her closing campaign message, calling out the President’s actions and urging voters to vote for Joe Biden like “your lives depend on it.” Both David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett worked in the Obama White House. They join AC360 to react to the former First Lady’s pitch to voters and discuss whether or not they think her message will get people to the polls in November.

Airdate: October 6, 2020

Guests:

John Podesta

David Axelrod

Valerie Jarrett

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Pres. Trump leaves Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and returns to White House Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

President Trump returned to the White House after being treated for coronavirus symptoms at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His return to the White House comes as more of his aides test positive and his doctors warn he isn’t “out of the woods yet.” Dr. Thomas Frieden, former CDC Director, tells Anderson Cooper “anyone who underestimates this virus is putting themselves at risk. They’re putting their family at risk and they’re putting those for whom they have responsibility at risk.”

Plus, shortly after Trump returned to the White House he tweeted a video about coronavirus saying “Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it.” Katie Coelho lost her husband, Jonathan, to Covid-19 back in April. Katie was left to raise their two small children by herself. She joins AC360 to react to the President’s comments and says he’s weak and asks “what does he have to lose to show sympathy?”

Airdate: October 5, 2020

Guests:

Dr. Thomas Frieden

Katie Coelho

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President Trump: “I think I’ll be back soon” Oct 04, 2020

Show notes

In a video posted to his social media accounts, President Trump says he “thinks I’ll be back soon.” His doctor told reporters "the President is doing very well.” But a source identified as White House chief of staff Mark Meadows by the New York Times and Associated Press told reporters, “the President’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical.” Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent joins AC360 to react to the conflicting reports about the timeline of when the President actually found out he tested positive for Covid-19. Plus, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie checked himself into the hospital as a precaution after testing positive for coronavirus. Christie helped with President Trump’s debate prep and sat next to him and others who also tested positive. Dana Bash, CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent tells Anderson Cooper the people who were around those who tested positive didn’t have a chance to protect themselves and their families early on because the White House hasn’t been forthcoming.

Airdate: October 3, 2020

Guests:

Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Dana Bash

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Pres. Trump hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center after testing positive for Covid-19 Oct 03, 2020

Show notes

President Trump took Marine One to Walter Reed Medical Center to stay “for at least a few days” after testing positive for Covid-19. In a short video tweeted out, Trump said, “I think I’m doing very well” and he’s going “to make sure that things work out.” The President was said to be spooked after he announced he tested positive, and has become increasingly alarmed by his diagnosis as he developed symptoms like a fever overnight, according to a person familiar with his reaction. Dr. Celine Gounder is an Infectious Disease Specialist and Epidemiologist, as well as a CNN Medical Analyst. She joins AC360 to react to President Trump’s hospitalization and says it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Trump was infected because daily testing may not actually be happening at the White House which makes it hard to contact trace. Plus, President Trump being hospitalized for coronavirus is the most serious health threat to a sitting President since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen was working in the Reagan White House at the time. He tells Anderson Cooper that experience taught him a lot of things, including how important it is for the government to be straightforward and truthful so the American people know the full story. .

Airdate: October 2, 2020

Guests:

David Gergen

Dr. Celine Gounder

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DHS unlikely to meet its deadline to release threat assessment, draft flagged White supremacist threat Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

The Department of Homeland Security is unlikely to meet its deadline to release its homeland threat assessment. All three drafts said that among domestic extremists, White supremacists will be the most “persistent and lethal threat” in the U.S. through 2021. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany deflected when she was asked why the President won’t fully denounce White supremacy, instead pointing to Trump’s prior comments and even blamed the media for popularizing the far-right group known as the Proud Boys, who Trump told to “stand back and standby” at the first 2020 Presidential debate. Elizabeth Neumann, Former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, worked to develop policies, laws and programs to help prevent domestic terrorism. She joins AC360 to explain why she says what Trump is doing is treasonous. Plus, a former close friend and adviser to Melania Trump shares phone recordings between her and the First Lady with AC360. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff’s role in the East Wing was terminated in 2018 after an investigation revealed her firm was paid nearly $26 million to put together President Trump’s inauguration. She says all but $1.6 million was paid to subcontractors and vendor. She tells Anderson Cooper “the Trump administration along with the Presidential Inauguration Committee tandemly created a narrative I wouldn’t follow and I needed to be the scapegoat with.”

Airdate: October 1, 2020

Guests:

Elizabeth Neumann

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

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Trump claims he doesn’t know Proud Boys after name-checking them at the debate Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

President Trump says he doesn’t know the far-right group, Proud Boys, a day after he told them to “stand back and stand by” and refusing to condemn white supremacy at the first 2020 Presidential debate. Susan Bro lost her daughter, Heather Heyer, three years ago when a self-professed neo-Nazi plowed through a crowd of counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia at the “Unite the Right” rally. Trump said back then there were “very fine people on both sides.” She tells Anderson Cooper she gasped when she heard what the President said at the debate but wasn’t surprised by Trump’s comments. Plus, Susan Rice, a former Ambassador to the United Nations and President Obama's former National Security Adviser, joins AC360 to react to the debate and says, “we have a racist-in-chief in the White House.”

Airdate: September 30, 2020

Guests:

Susan Bro

Susan Rice

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First 2020 presidential debate preview Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

On the eve of the first 2020 presidential debate, how are Pres. Trump and former Vice President Biden preparing and what do we know of how the debate will go? Anderson speaks with someone who has knowledge of how one would prepare to debate Pres. Trump, former Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta.

Airdate: September 28, 2020

Guests:

Arlette Saenz

John Podesta

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NY Times: Trump paid no income taxes in 10 out of 15 years beginning in 2000 Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Tax return data obtained by The New York Times shows Donald Trump reported he was losing significantly more money than he made and has paid no income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years beginning in 2000. President Trump claimed the report is “fake news” and said he pays “a lot” in federal income taxes. Tim O’Brien, Senior Columnist at Bloomberg Opinion and a Trump Biographer, joins AC360 and says “the taxes show that he’s an abysmally bad businessman and deal maker but someone who’s not shy at all about bending the tax code to the point that the IRS is now auditing him.” Plus, with the first 2020 presidential debate days away, John Kasich, former Republican Ohio Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate, who debated Trump, tells Anderson Cooper you can’t go into the gutter and “start throwing mud” because you’ll lose.

Airdate: September 27, 2020

Guests:

Tim O’Brien

John Kasich

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