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NBA Players Boycott Games Over Police Shooting; Unrest In Kenosha, WI; Kenosha Curfew Hours Away As Justice Department Sending Federal Law Enforcement; U.S Coronavirus Deaths Tops 179,000 With 5.8 Million Cases, Official Says CDC Pressured From Top Down To Recommend Fewer Tests; Fauci Says He Was In Surgery When Task Force Discussed CDC Testing Guidelines; Hurricane Laura Intensifies To Category 4, Threatens "Unsurvivable" Storm Surge As It Approaches Gulf Coast. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired August 26, 2020 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:05]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We're tracking multiple breaking stories this hour.

First, new developments on the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a 17-year-old is now under arrest in connection with a deadly overnight shooting. Another citywide curfew is about to go into effect just ahead of what could become the third night of protests over the shooting of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, at the hands of police.

All of tonight's NBA playoff games, all three of them, are now postponed until further notice amid a player-led boycott in protest of the shooting.

Also breaking, the coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more than 179,000 lives here in the United States. There are more than 5.8 million confirmed U.S. cases, this as CNN has learned that the Trump administration pressured the CDC from the top down into recommending that fewer people actually get tested for the virus. Hard to believe.

We're tracking Hurricane Laura as well now, an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm. Laura is projected to make landfall near the Texas- Louisiana border within hours. We are going to have a brand-new forecast for you. That's coming up.

First, let's go to CNN's Sara Sidner. She has all the late-breaking developments from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Sara, update our viewers. What can you tell us?

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, the unrest here in Kenosha turning even more violent, even deadly overnight.

We have seen a man with a long gun, a white man walking down the street, shooting at protesters. Two people are now dead, one person injured.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER (voice-over): Desperate cries for a medic and rapid-fire gunshots are heard in new video obtained by CNN. Witnesses say this man with the long gun shot directly at protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tuesday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, he just shot them!

SIDNER: Two people have been killed and one injured in two separate shootings.

DANIEL MISKINIS, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, POLICE CHIEF: Last night, unfortunately, a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident, and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident lost their lives to the senseless violence.

SIDNER: Now, police in nearby Antioch, Illinois, say they have arrested a 17-year-old suspect in the shooting, his name, Kyle Rittenhouse.

Police, though, have not confirmed whether it is the same person seen in videos, the guy with the gun strapped to his chest seen walking past multiple police vehicles with his hands up, but he is not apprehended at the time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These situations that are high stress, you have such an incredible tunnel vision. Again, I am not making an excuse. I'm just telling you, from personal experience, what could have done that.

SIDNER: Witness C.J. Halliburton talked to the man with the long gun.

(on camera): Describe to me what you saw, this man with the gun.

C.J. HALLIBURTON, WITNESS: Just looked like a terrified young man with a very large gun. The gun looked big for me to carry, and I am not a small person. And he looked young, and his eyes were like dinner plates. You could tell he was terrified.

SIDNER (voice-over): He adds, the young man was one of many armed civilians out during the protest that night.

HALLIBURTON: There is no respective collective uniform at all, just individuals holding guns, and they were being clear that they were there to protect businesses.

SIDNER: A county supervisor says there is an unwelcomed armed militia from outside Kenosha at the protests overnight.

ANDY BERG, KENOSHA COUNTY, WISCONSIN, SUPERVISOR: Well, there was apparently a citizens brigade that decided they wanted to rally up the American patriots, if you want to call them, and come armed to Kenosha to protect our city. We didn't ask them to come here.

SIDNER: Facebook is now investigating a group promoting an event last night in Kenosha called Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property. The sheriff today denounced social media posts promoting violence at the protest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come, wear your black outfits. Wear black masks. Bring your backpacks filled with Molotov cocktails.

SIDNER: There is no indication the group has ties to the shooting.

For three nights, protesters have taken to the streets outside Kenosha's courthouse in the name of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old father of six who was shot in the back by police on Sunday.

PATRICK SALVI JR., ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF JACOB BLAKE: We know that he was shot at least seven times. It actually may have been eight. But he is likely to have at least partial, if not complete paralysis.

SIDNER: In light of the protests, the highly anticipated NBA playoff games have been postponed, the Milwaukee Bucks leading the way on refusing to play.

Video shows Blake returning to his vehicle, where three of his sons were waiting, when police began shooting at him. His family attorney now says Blake did not have a weapon.

Addressing the destructive protests, Blake's mother said:

[18:05:00]

JULIA JACKSON, MOTHER OF JACOB BLAKE: It doesn't reflect my son or my family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: Now, we also heard from the sheriff, imploring people not to be violent, if they are going to protest, protest peacefully.

But there is another curfew tonight that has been set. The sheriff also saying something interesting, that he had someone call him asking for him to deputize citizens who have weapons. He responded with, hell no, that -- was trying to stop what happened last night.

He doesn't want to see that happening again. We also heard from him. He talked about vigilantism in the street, trying to stop that as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And, as you said, there is a 7:00 p.m. curfew in Kenosha tonight. Hopefully, it'll be quiet. Let's see.

Sara Sidner on the scene for us. Be careful over there, Sara. Thank you very much.

Let's bring in our CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan for more on the NBA boycott. It is truly extraordinary, an extraordinary moment in history for the NBA, the sports world, writ large, Christine.

What more are you learning, first of all, about how all of this unfolded?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Wolf, over the last couple days, there were a lot of conversations among players, different teams, not just Milwaukee, although the Milwaukee Bucks make the most sense, of course, because they are so close to Kenosha, just 40 miles away.

They're the hometown team, basically, for Wisconsin and Kenosha and all of that. And there were a lot of conversations, players speaking out. We heard drips and drabs of it, saying, why are we -- we are in a bubble down here and that is going on back at home.

And I think what happened, was it all reached critical mass with the Bucks and their playoff game, and the NBA leadership understood this immediately. There was no hesitation. They saw the situation. The NBA has always been really leading the way of all of our major men's pro sports leagues in terms of social justice and cultural issues and bringing up these very important points, especially back in their communities.

And in the wake of these unarmed black men continuing to be shot by the police, it has just reached to the point where they made the decision, and the NBA leadership accepted that and supported that decision.

And that is why you're seeing this united front today, with the entire slate of playoff games postponed. No one is forfeiting. It's all the NBA together. And that came together within a couple-hour time period, showing the great leadership of the NBA, understanding the magnitude of the situation.

BLITZER: Yes, and the NBA put out a formal statement in all of this.

Christine, stand by. I want to bring in the great Charles Barkley, who is joining us right now.

Charles, thank you so much for joining us. You have been covering all of these NBA playoff games. How remarkable of a moment is this in American history? What do you make of it, what happened today?

CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Well, I'm not sure yet, Wolf, because I don't know what their game plan is. You know, this was all started by the Milwaukee Bucks. They deserve a lot of credit.

The Orlando Magic was on the court warming up. They didn't even give the Magic a heads-up. So, that was surprising. I wish they had told the Magic in advance.

And then it put pressure on the other guys. They couldn't play once the Bucks decided not to play today. But my question is, what is their next game plan? They canceled the games for today. I think that puts tremendous pressure on the players not to play tomorrow also.

So, are they boycotting today and tomorrow? Are they not going to play again? I would like to talk to the players personally and see what their game plan is. BLITZER: Have you ever seen anything like this? Forget the sports

world. Let's just specifically focus on the area that you know best, the NBA.

BARKLEY: No, I have never seen anything like this.

And, like I say, you got to give the Milwaukee Bucks a lot of credit. This happened in their home state. They felt the most pressure. I know other teams have been talking about it, but it took the Bucks to lead the forefront. Giannis and Coach Budenholzer, those guys, it took great courage.

I say, the only problem I had, I wish they'd have gave the Orlando Magic a heads-up, because they were actually on the court getting ready for the game. That game was supposed to tip off at 4:00.

BLITZER: Yes.

BARKLEY: Then, when the Bucks didn't show up, they informed the Magic that they were boycotting.

And, like I say, once they boycotted, the other teams had no choice but to boycott tonight. But, like I say, I want to know what their next game plan is, because it's going to put pressure on those teams who were going to play tomorrow also. So, I think the players need to get together with the NBA and try to figure out what to do next.

BLITZER: Yes, this is a major development.

Let me read the statement, Charles. I want to get your reaction.

This is a formal statement the NBA put out.

"The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today announced that, in light of the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to not take the floor today for game five against the Orlando Magic, today's three games, Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trailblazers, have been postponed. Game five of each series will be rescheduled."

[18:10:03]

We have no idea when they will be rescheduled. There are a lot of questions, as you correctly point out, that need to be answered.

BARKLEY: Well, listen, we -- this is a fluid situation.

The thing that I'm thinking, I think it puts tremendous pressure on the team that were supposed to play tomorrow to stand in unison with these guys who canceled the games, boycotted the games today.

But I think we need to get together with the NBA and come up with a game plan, because they said rescheduled. I'm not sure what that means, because we got games every day right now.

So are these guys -- I want to know what the players are going to do next. That would be my first question. I think it is courageous what the Milwaukee Bucks did today. I think the other players had no choice but to stand with those guys.

But I just want to know what the game plan is for the games tomorrow and going forward.

BLITZER: The NBA players, they are obviously very angry over what happened to this 29-year-old young man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake.

I don't know if you saw the tweet that LeBron James posted just a little while ago. I will put it up on the screen. We blacked out the first word. It starts with F. But he said: "We demand change. Sick of it."

Is that what you're hearing? And you are one of our best analysts on TNT, our sister network. And you do all these NBA games. Is that what you're hearing from the players in the aftermath of these kinds of shootings?

BARKLEY: Well, Wolf, the bottom line, it is exhausting being black, especially when you are a celebrity.

You know, I love Tom Brady, but nobody asks him about what is going on in white America. Nobody asks Luka Doncic what is going on in America. White players are -- you know, they have been amazing, but they don't live with the pressure these young black guys are going through every day.

And if you look at the last -- just in the last couple months, going back to Ahmaud Arbery, Mr. Floyd -- you had the young lady that was screaming at the black guy in New York. Now you have got Mr. Blake, who just got shot. It is something all the time.

I admire these guys for standing up, but, Wolf, it is exhausting being black, because there is a double standard when you are black, because I have to comment on everything that happens in the black community, and it just gets -- and the same thing with LeBron, who is our most prominent player, but, man, it's just -- you get tired of something all the time.

BLITZER: You certainly do.

And I don't know if you saw the clip. I'm going to play it for you, Charles.

Doc Rivers, the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, he got very emotional when he spoke about what happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOC RIVERS, L.A. CLIPPERS HEAD COACH: All you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear.

We're the ones getting killed. We're the ones getting shot. We're the ones that were denied to live in certain communities. We have been hung, we have been shot.

And all you do is keep hearing about fear. It's -- it's amazing to me why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What is your reaction, Charles, when you hear Doc speak like that?

BARKLEY: Well, you know, Wolf, when you saw it last night, it was powerful.

And I don't think a lot of people know, Doc Rivers' dad was a cop. So he knows about all this stuff firsthand. And he's got to be torn. If my father was a cop and all this stuff was going on, you have got to be torn.

But, man, I think the point he was trying to make, what I was saying earlier, it's always something going on that we have to talk about. We just can't play basketball and live normal lives. There is something always racially happening.

And when you are a celebrity, you have to speak on it. It is a double standard. That's just how it is. But it does get to be exhausting all the time, and you see the same thing keep happening over and over.

BLITZER: There is a player, as you well know, from the Milwaukee Bucks, Sterling Brown. There was an incident he was involved in. He just wanted to go into a convenience store, parked in a handicap spot just for a few seconds to run in and out.

And you know what happened to him. A lot of -- these players may all be millionaires. They may be well-known on the basketball court. But when they're just hanging around, potentially, they face some serious problems.

[18:15:03]

BARKLEY: You know, I have always said that I thought TV had a huge and negative effect on the black community and Hispanic community, because we are so segregated in this country the way we live.

So, police interaction, and most white people, they are not around black people or Hispanics. The only black people they see are criminals on television and TV shows. The only Hispanics they see are criminals on TV shows and in movies.

You know, you think about the Muslim people, who are amazing. The only Muslims we see on television are terrorists. So white America has this misguided perception of what black people are like, what Hispanic people are like, and what Muslim people are like.

And, listen, whether you are a good cop or a bad cop -- and there are a lot more good cops than bad cops -- I think there is a psychological factor that makes you -- the way you look at a certain ethnic group, and especially if you are never around them.

BLITZER: That's an important point, indeed. That is why all of us should be hanging out with each other, getting to know each other. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen enough.

Let's talk a little bit about what is happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And I know you have been following it closely, Charles.

You see this 29-year-old man going into his car. Three little sons, three little boys are in there. He goes in. Then he is shot in the back, what, seven times by this police officer. And there is anger as a result of that. We don't know all the circumstances. There is an investigation.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is now investigating all of this. Federal authorities, the FBI, they have launched an investigation as well. But we have seen some violence, serious violence, in Kenosha, burning and looting that is going on.

And last night, we saw two individuals who were protesting shot and killed by someone who's now been charged, a 17-year-old guy who came in. When you see this, Charles, what is your reaction?

BARKLEY: Well, listen, I think peaceful protests are important and significant.

I'm never going to be against looting and rioting and things like that. But the thing that bothers me about the Blake incident, listen, I am not going to cast aspersions on anybody involved, because I don't know everything.

I know there was a fight prior. There was a fight prior to him walking to his car. But there's got to be a better way to de-escalate that situation than shooting him seven times in the back.

And this thing could have really been awful, because you see he had three young kids in the car. When you're shooting in the car, you don't have any idea whether a bullet is going to ricochet or whatever.

But listen, three cops, one guy, there's got to be a better way than him getting shot in the back seven times.

BLITZER: Yes, he's now in the hospital. He's going through multiple surgeries.

He's -- the doctors say he is going to be paralyzed as a result of all of this. Fortunately, it looks like he is going to live, and we're grateful for that. But you are absolutely right. These police officers, if they want to arrest him, if they want to handcuff him, they want to bring him down, they don't have to shoot them in the back seven times as he is getting -- trying to get into his car.

There's other ways of dealing with the situation. But it is under investigation. And, presumably, we will know more. The police are not saying much about this at all.

So, where do you see this unfolding in the days ahead, Charles?

BARKLEY: Wolf, I wish I could give you an answer.

I told you earlier I want to know from the players what their agenda is. Like I say, once the Milwaukee Bucks didn't show up today, those other teams had no choice. They could not play tonight, or they would have got a lot of grief, a lot of grief.

Now, tomorrow, those teams are going to feel the same amount of pressure. So, I think the next 24 hours is going to be monumental between the NBA and the players. I don't know what the players are going to do tomorrow. I think they're going to feel tremendous pressure not to play tomorrow. That is my just optimistic guess.

But, after that, I have no idea what is going to happen. Your guess is as good as mine. And I just don't know.

BLITZER: I'm going to leave you, Charles.

And I will just read to you the statement that the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks posted: "Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and organization shows that we're fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I am incredibly proud of our guys, and we stand 100 percent behind our players, ready to assist and bring about real change," Alex Lasry, one of the owners of the Milwaukee Bucks.

And we are getting strong statements, of course, from other owners, all the players, most of the players, at least, and, certainly, the commissioner, Adam Silver. They all deserve a lot of credit for what is going on.

Charles, I know you got to run. As usual, thanks so much for joining us, and thanks for everything you are doing.

BARKLEY: Thank you, Wolf. You all -- you try to have a good night.

BLITZER: All right. We will try. It is going to be difficult, but we will try.

[18:20:00]

Just ahead, the attorneys for Jacob Blake, they are standing by. We have lots to discuss.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're following lots of breaking news here in THE SITUATION ROOM today, including in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where unrest has roiled the city following the shooting of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, by police.

Let's continue the discussion with two attorneys representing Jacob Blake and his family. Patrick Salvi is joining us, Patrick Salvi Jr., and B'Ivory LaMarr.

Guys, thank you very much for joining us.

LaMarr, let me ask you first, how is Patrick doing?

B'IVORY LAMARR, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF JACOB BLAKE: Patrick is -- I'm sorry -- Jacob is doing -- he's doing a lot better.

[18:25:00]

BLITZER: I mean Jacob. I'm sorry.

LAMARR: He has -- he still has several surgeries that he is having. His care is still critical. I know Pete has more information as to his direct medical condition.

BLITZER: Well, Patrick, let me ask you, how is Jacob doing?

SALVI: Well, he did have a very long surgery yesterday.

During the press conference, we told everyone -- that was at 3:00 p.m. Central -- that he was in surgery, and that surgery went past midnight. So he is continuing to recover from that surgery, but he has now been able to see his father, as we call him, big Jacob, Jacob Blake Sr.

And so that was wonderful for both of them. But he remains in very serious condition and is potentially never going to walk again. So, this is just a devastating injury for the young man.

BLITZER: And, B'Ivory, what about the family, the mom, the dad, the kids, those three little boys who were in the car when their dad was shot?

LAMARR: You know, it is very disturbing. It's very hard. There is a lot of emotion in just dealing with Jacob's condition, but even more so when you think about those three little boys who actually had to witness their father get shot, you know, seven to eight times.

It is tremendous pain. It is unnerving. There is a lot of sentiment in the family, as far there's a lot of different beliefs. And it is very difficult to deal with these situations. So, the family is relying in large part on their faith and carrying them through this type of situation

BLITZER: I know they are a religious family.

Patrick, you say that Jacob Blake, 29 years old, didn't have a weapon in his car. When I last spoke with your colleague Ben Crump, he told me several witnesses had reached out to him.

Have you been able to confirm any more details involving the timeline, how all of this escalated? We have all seen the very disturbing video, of course.

SALVI: Right.

Well, unfortunately, Jacob has been anesthetized for so much of the time since this happened because he had to undergo several surgeries. He is also heavily medicated, due to severe pain from the injuries, as well as nerve pain emanating from the spinal cord injury.

So we haven't been able to fully speak with him to get his entire version of the story.

But when you look at the video and have a basic understanding of the facts, Jacob had his -- three of his most prized possessions in that car, his three boys, 8, 5, and 3 years old. So the suggestion that he was going to his car in order to start some sort of a fight with police officers, with their guns drawn, is basically absurd.

And so that is at least one reason why point-blank firing at least seven, if not eight shots into his back is just absolutely outrageous conduct and excessive use of force.

BLITZER: B'Ivory, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is leading the investigation. I spoke in the last hour with the mayor of Kenosha.

Have you received any explanation at all for why the officer who shot Jacob Blake and the other officer involved, they haven't even been identified?

LAMARR: No, we have not heard anything from the Wisconsin Department of Justice at this point.

And that is one of the things, in these type of cases, that is very frustrating. You know, we demand transparency in these circumstances. The family, the community, the state of Wisconsin, and the country all deserve answers. The officers should be named.

More importantly, those officers should be charged. You know, while we greatly support the NBA in taking this strong stance today in boycotting all of the games, I believe that the law enforcement agencies across America, what they need to protect then is what I believe is America's favorite sport, which is football.

And they need to learn how to tackle. Officers in this country need to learn how to tackle to restrain individuals, instead of resorting to shooting. And I think that, if that was the case, we wouldn't be here today and we wouldn't be having this conversation, and the NBA would be playing games today.

BLITZER: Patrick, you and I spoke earlier. You told me that the Milwaukee Bucks, some of the players are actually reaching out to you? Tell us about that.

SALVI: Yes, Wolf.

So, the Milwaukee Bucks reached out to the family. They wanted to speak to Julia, Jacob's mother, and Jacob Sr. So, we were able to put them in touch.

They told Jacob's parents that they were behind them 100 percent.

[18:30:00]

They expressed their sympathies and empathies for what has occurred.

And I thought what was touching for everybody, because they all agree, the Bucks, as well as Julia and Jacob Sr., Julia and Jacob Sr. expressed back to the Milwaukee Bucks that, please use your platform to accomplish peace. Please use your platform to encourage people protest in non-violent ways.

What we're doing B'Ivory and myself and Attorney Ben Crump, who we're very thankful for bringing on to his wonderful team, we have a great legal team, it is the civil justice system, civil, civil justice system that is going to allow us to pursue compensation for these horrible injuries.

And on Sunday the police officer, he did not act civilly, but we are going to act civilly because that is how we resolve disputes here in our great country of America. So we're going to use the civil justice system and we ask that everybody be civil and protest in a civil, non- violent way. And that's at least in part what they talked about when the parents of Jacob Blake talked to the Milwaukee Bucks.

BLITZER: Please pass along our best wishes to the family and to Jacob himself, the family, the mom, the dad, they all deserve a lot of credit. They are appealing to everyone. You can protest but do so peacefully, no violence. That is not what Jacob would have wanted by any means at all.

Patrick Salvi thank you so much for joining us. B'Ivory Lamarr, thanks to you as well. We'll continue our conversations down the road. I appreciate it very much.

Just ahead, some states are now vowing to define new testing guidelines from the CDC. I'll ask the former acting CDC director about the controversial update that has just been announced.

Then later, we'll have the latest forecast for Hurricane Laura, now a dangerous, get this, Category 4 storm. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:35:00]

BLITZER: There's more breaking news coming into The Situation Room. President Trump is vowing to crack down on unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as the U.S. Justice Department plans to send in federal law enforcement officers.

Also breaking now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, he says he was in surgery while a controversial new update to coronavirus testing guidelines was being discussed. Our White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, is tracking all these stories for us.

Kaitlan, what are you hearing? What is the latest? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, when it comes to Wisconsin, the Justice Department is now saying they are going to be sending in federal law enforcement there, including FBI agents and U.S. marshals to help with what we are seeing unfolding on the streets there. That comes amid some confusion over this phone call that happened between the White House and the Wisconsin governor's office over whether they wanted that federal help.

But, Wolf, it's not the only confusion at the White House, because tonight, Dr. Anthony Fauci is telling our colleague, Sanjay Gupta, he was not part of those discussions about changing the CDC guidance when it came to testing. In fact, he said during one meeting where it was discussed, he was under anesthesia, undergoing surgery on his vocal cords and was not part of those discussions to change it. And, Wolf, he says he is concerned about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The abrupt change in coronavirus testing guidance from the CDC was the result of pressure from the White House. A senior federal health official tells CNN the CDC quietly modified its guidelines to say people without COVID-19 symptoms don't need to be tested, even if they've been recently exposed to the virus. Experts called the change potentially dangerous but Testing Coordinator Brett Giroir defended the revision.

ADM. BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: The new guidelines are a CDC action. As always, guidelines received appropriate attention, consultation and input from task force experts, and I mean the medical and scientific experts.

COLLINS: The change comes after the White House also pressured the FDA to speed up emergency approval for plasma treatments and was later accused of misrepresenting the data.

On the second night of the Republican Convention, First Lady Melania Trump went where most administration officials have refused to go by expressing sympathy for those affected by coronavirus.

MELANIA TRUMP, U.S. FIRST LADY: I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I want you to know you are not alone.

COLLINS: It was a sharp break from Trump's top economic adviser who talked about the pandemic as if it was in the past.

LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: It was awful. Health and economic impacts were tragic. Hardship and heartbreak were everywhere.

COLLINS: Last night, the rose garden was filled with guests not wearing masks who weren't required to get tested, save for the few seated near the president.

Tonight, Vice President Mike Pence will address coronavirus as he headlines night three of the convention, where he'll also talk about the racial unrest unfolding in Wisconsin. After two people were killed Tuesday night, President Trump spoke with Wisconsin's governor, Tony Evers, and announced he is sending in federal law enforcement as reinforcements to the National Guard already in Kenosha.

Trump, who is running on a law and order message, tweeted, we will not stand for looting, arson, violence and lawlessness on American streets.

[18:40:03]

But the Wisconsin governor's office said the president's tweet was news to them. His deputy chief of staff told CNN they declined offers for federal law enforcement instead saying more state National Guard were being sent to the scene.

Trump hasn't commented yet on the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man shot in the back seven times as his children watched from the back seat. But the president has been briefed on the matter by Attorney General Bill Barr.

Last night, Melania Trump called for unity in the nation.

M. TRUMP: I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice and never make assumptions based on the color of a person's skin.

COLLINS: But with the unrest building in Kenosha and Texas and Louisiana bracing for a Category 4 hurricane, and a pandemic still spreading across the country, all eyes will be on President Trump as he addresses the nation from the White House Thursday night. Today reinforcements were being added to the White House perimeter in advance of his speech.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Now, Wolf, we were already expecting the vice president to comment on what is happening in Wisconsin here tonight in his speech. It is unclear how what's unfolded in the last 24 hours has changed what it is he is expected to say.

So far, the president hasn't publicly commented on it beyond his tweets but he also hasn't said anything about what is going on with the NBA and the boycott of their games. We know that in the past, the president has called NBA players, quote, very nasty for kneeling during the national anthem in protest, of course, of police brutality.

BLITZER: All right. Kaitlan, thanks very much. Kaitlan is in Fort McHenry near Baltimore.

There's more breaking news tonight. The California governor, Gavin Newsom, says his state will defy new coronavirus testing guidelines that have just been released by the Centers for Disease Control. CNN's Nick Watt has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Increasing testing --

DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, CDC DIRECTOR: Get that testing --

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE COORDINATOR: On the testing piece -

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's been a mantra, test, trace, isolate. Not anymore? The CDC just changed its testing guidance from testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with infection to this, if you've been in close contact but do not have symptoms, you do not necessarily need a test.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Shame on the people in the CDC. What possible rationale is there to say, you're in close contact with a COVID positive persons and you don't need a test?

WATT: It's coming from the top down, one senior federal health official tells CNN, from the White House.

GIROIR: Our surge testing sites really look for asymptomatic individuals. We are trying to get appropriate testing, not less testing.

CELIN GOUNDER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: I think it's more likely that this is an intentional effort by the administration to conceal the true extent of transmission and the numbers.

WATT: Already in just the past month, the average number of tests per day has fallen 17 percent.

DR. CARLOS DEL RIO, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN, EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM: We want to decrease cases by decreasing transmission, not by decreasing testing.

WATT: Nationally, the number of new cases is also falling even faster. 20 states holding steady, 20 more seeing average case counts drop.

DEL RIO: While we are coming down, we're nowhere close to where we need to be. And, again, when people say we're coming down, we are coming down from a very high peak.

WATT: And right now, actually record high average case counts in parts of the Midwest, Iowa, Kansas, both Dakotas, and yesterday, a record high death toll down in Mississippi.

GOV. TATE REEVES (R-MS): Don't have parties with 150 to 250 people there. That is not going to work out well likely for everyone else.

WATT: Thousands of cases now on college campuses and hundreds suspended for breaking rules around social gatherings. Montclair State in New Jersey just texted students is the next message you want to get, pack your bags and go home.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WATT: And, Wolf, you mentioned the governor of California saying he will defy this new CDC guideline on testing, a state official in North Carolina also saying, yes, the CDC might have changed their guidance but North Carolina has not. Wolf, this is just yet another political spat when we should be just trying to fight this pandemic and, frankly, save lives. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, Nick Watt reporting for us. So, Nick, thanks very much.

Let's get some analysis from the former acting CDC director, Dr. Richard Besser. Dr. Besser, thanks so much for joining us.

And as you heard a senior official tell CNN that the CDC was actually pressured from the top down to change these coronavirus testing guidelines, the president of the American Medical Association says this is a recipe for community spread and more spikes in coronavirus.

You're the former acting CDC director. In your time in that role, did you ever see anything like this at all?

[18:45:03]

DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER CDC DIRECTOR: Well, what we're seeing, Wolf, is really concerning. Whenever there is a significant change in guidance, what you want to see is CDC out front explaining why it's taking place, what they've learned, what new science is there to drive this change.

But there isn't new science. You know, the recommendation by CDC and every state leader in public health has been you need to do everything you can to identify every case you can to prevent transmission. People who have had prolonged contact with someone who is infected with COVID are at risk of being infected, whether or not they have symptoms.

So, this is very concerning. This kind of move where it looks like politics influenced public health will do nothing but undermine the trust that we have in CDC at a time when we really need to be able to trust our public health agency.

BLITZER: You know, a man you know well, Dr. Anthony Fauci, tells our Sanjay Gupta, that he was in surgery, and he was in surgery the other day on his vocal cords when the task force actually met to discuss these changes to the testing guidelines. He says he is worried this would give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread isn't a great concern. What's your reaction to that?

BESSER: Well, it's very concerning. We know now that up to 40 percent of people who spread this have no symptoms whatsoever and it's identifying those people and you do that by, you know, doing testing, doing contact tracing, and then testing the contacts to know whether or not they are sick. It doesn't mean that if you're a contact and you have one test that is negative that you don't have to worry about it because you could be positive the next day. It means, though, that you need to have even more testing available so that you can follow people during that period when they can turn positive. What this says to me, Wolf, is that the recommendations coming out of

CDC become more and more irrelevant and what you'll see is what Nick Watt was describing where states are saying, look. We know what to do here. We're going to lead on this. In some states, they're going to do the right thing. They're going to continue to test people who have been in contact with active cases of COVID.

But it may give other states the opportunity to say, OK. We're going to roll back on this kind of testing. We don't need to worry about that. And that's extremely dangerous.

BLITZER: And if the American public begins to lose faith in the CDC or the FDA for that matter, that's a huge problem.

BESSER: It's a huge problem. It's a huge problem for FDA, as new treatments are developed, vaccines come down the line. And it is an incredibly huge problem for CDC because so much of what we do around the nation is based on the best available public health science and recommendations. And if you can't trust what is coming out of CDC, and we're not even hearing from CDC in terms of why is there this change, it will undermine the trust that is so essential to the response and to the health of the nation.

BLITZER: Yeah, they should be briefing everyone every single day to make sure we know exactly what's going on. Dr. Besser, thank you so much for joining us.

BESSER: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. There's more breaking news coming up next. The disturbing new forecast just out for Hurricane Laura now closing in on the Gulf Coast as a major category 4 storm threatening catastrophic damage.

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[18:52:55]

BLITZER: More breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM.

We've just learned that the Wisconsin attorney general, the Wisconsin attorney general, will be giving a news conference, an update on the Kenosha police shooting right at the top of the hour. Stay with CNN for the very latest.

There's other breaking news we're following, very disturbing, Hurricane Laura continues to strengthen as it surges towards the Louisiana coast.

Jennifer Gray is in the CNN weather center.

What's the latest forecast? When will this massive storm likely make landfall?

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's expected to make landfall tonight around 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. local time. And so, this is going to be a big one. This could be the biggest if not the strongest storm to make landfall in Louisiana.

So, there is still time for strengthening, unfortunately, 145-miles- per-hour winds with gusts of 175, moving to the northwest at 15. You can see that eye is very tight. It has been tightening the last couple of hours. It's a very symmetrical storm, shows signs of even further strengthening before making landfall.

It's still about 100, 125 miles from the coast. You can see those outer bands already starting to make it on shore. We had a couple in the afternoon.

But you can see, it is -- it is too late to flee this storm, to protect your property because it is knocking on your back door. We are going to have storm surge inundating south Louisiana, could make it all the way up to I-10. We're talking about half of the city of Lake Charles under water, 20 feet of storm surge. We are talking about 20 feet of storm surge in this area.

And so, that is going to come all the way up to I-10 in a lot of locations. So, we're talking about towns, Parishes completely under water with this storm.

BLITZER: Terrible situation indeed.

Jennifer, thank you very, very much.

And stay with us. There's more news just ahead.

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[18:59:40]

BLITZER: We close tonight by remembering some of the truly wonderful people we've lost during this coronavirus pandemic.

James Murabito of Harrison, New York, was 55 years old. James enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting and most importantly his family.

Earl McCullers of Smithfield, North Carolina, was 87. Earl was a military man, proud of his service in the U.S. Navy.

May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.

Thanks for watching. I'll be back in an hour for CNN's special coverage of the Republican National Convention.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.