A very warm welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. And public here on the cnn newsroom. Joe biden tested positive for covid19. Reminder that cases have been rising across the u. S. As scientists track the variance of this virus. Russian president , Vladimir Putin may student me with koreas kim jongil and to talk about weapons. What we are learning about the potential visit and that burning man exodus. Thousands of people have been making their way out of the Festival Site after every rain turned a desert into a microphone. [music] live from cnn central. This is cnn newsroom with pollination. [music] we begin here with the United States first lady, joe biden has tested positive for covid19. The white house says she is currently experiencing mild symptoms and will only in fact remain in bidens home in delaware. However, President Joe Biden has tested negative for the virus and thats good news. Both were in delaware though for the Labor Day Weekend. Officials tell cnn that there are currently no changes to the president s schedule at this time. The president is scheduled to depart for the g 20 summit in india later this week. And as covid cases increased across the United States, a lot of tests indicate that the new Coronavirus Grant might be less contagious than previously thought. Vaccinated americans should have some protection against the per Scientists Say the new be 8228 six variant is highly mutated. Its been detected in 11 countries so far including the u. S. Two groups of scientists. One in china and one in sweden have also reported the results of the analysis of the virus. Doctor, president and ceo of the premier medical group aa so good to see you again. Here we are again talking about covid. Ongoing is still the headline for the New York Times. They said it seems everybody has covid. They asked why. Im sure joe biden wants to know. Doctor biden wants to know why she has as well. Just to state the facts here. Shes doing fine. She 72 years old. In very good health. What can you tell us about any risks that those people that age might encourage with people getting covid and which you benefit from pacs loaded . What a way to stop it thats exactly what happens and what i would say. I really hope that she is on pacs love it because you know pacs love it has worked so well. It does reduce up to 90 percent of risk of hospitalization and even higher with death. Now with first lady biden, the good news is from what we know publicly that shes in pretty good health for what . 72 . So that also goes in her favor. But i really hope that she is on pacs low bid right now. And back to your other point at the beginning. Masks in public. We dont see any masks anywhere. Especially in anywhere and ludlum politicians in our area. People over 65 probably should be wearing a mask when they are in public. You know, like everybody and everything about this virus, continues to be debated whether or not the masks where effective. You aaintroducing the most recent studies. What do you think . The major study that was produced was so flawed that you know, the professional world we look at it and shake our heads. So the bottom line is masks work. We wear them in the healthcare study. Ive been around literally Hundreds Of Thousands of positive covid people on them out in the field or working in the office. Same with my staff and we are able to keep our staff. Same thing. They are working at an intensive care unit. Those people rely on masking. Another question is are you wearing the right type of mask . And are you wearing it appropriately . All this has seen a mask where their noses coming out or to open on the sides. Does not work. Cloth masks dont work. But if you werent for good at 95 and k 95, they significantly work. So please still wear them. And again aamore information that we all need. Should we be getting the next vaccine . Does include this new variant . The good news is that perhaps its not as contagious as once thought. Yes. Thats very important right now. Now the good news is in the Laboratory Studies that have been done with this type of virus and the mutation, you know, as you alluded to has 35 different changes in the spike protein. Very significant. It doesnt show the early studies that this new vaccination is going to be effective. So right now aawe are back at square one. Anyone over the age of 65 should be getting it. All of the nursing home residents should be getting it. Anybody whos on immunosuppression should be getting up at some of the early looks we are getting are that the lines could be long and they come out in a few weeks and at the same time, please everybody get your flu shot. Add adults now over 65 get the new rsp vaccination. Its an important time to prevent infection that will be happening for sure. Were going to see increases in covid through the fall season. No doubt. Yes, i hate to tell everybody that its back and apparently back with the first family as well. We will continue to wish them well and hope of course that the president really stays covid free. Good to see you again. I appreciate it. Nice to see you, thank you. Two pariah states might be closer to Sealing Weapons deal that could impact the war in ukraine. U. S. Officials say conjunct loan is expected to travel with president Vladimir Putin, whose expecting to see more firepower for his war effort. The u. S. Is accused north korea of delivering arms to russia last year for use by the wagner group. Cnns kristi russo is covering us live from hong kong and kristi aain terms of covering that nuts and bolts of the story, which i know youre doing, its also interesting to see how china will react to something immediately like this. Yes, we are monitoring waiting for a fresh reaction when the foreign fair meeting comes off. This is this potential reported meeting were conjunct and meets with russian president , Vladimir Putin in russia. This is what weve learned from the u. S. National Security Council and they are set to discuss potential arms deals with russia to get even more north korean weapons to use against ukraine and the timing of this meeting is unclear. According to the New York Times aafirst reported about the potential meeting. The time says kim says she would travel from pyongyang to vest out and meet with prudent and economic form set to run from september 10, roughly the same time as a g 20 in delhi. Hes not far from north korea. Its also where the scene took place a couple of years ago in 2019 were conjunct loan and putin met for the very first time and cant made this journey on this famous highly armored trade. For this new potential meeting aathe times reports in exchange for north korean weapons with conjunct and wants is advanced technology from the russians prefer technology for satellites and Nuclear Powered submarines as well as desperately needed food aid. Now this potential meeting follows that recent visit in july by the Russian Defense minister. He visited north korea then. It also comes as the United States says that these two countries are actively advancing their talks over another potential arms dealer. Now last year aathe same accident. Delivered rockets and missiles to russias spot. Wagner forces, which is something that north korea denied. Now russia north korea the aa the relationship is getting stronger. In fact, we know the Russian Defense ministry Military Exercises are currently being discussed. And kim and putin have been exchanging letters to each other pledging to increase their cooperation. On assure you this letter. This is published in august 15 by the news agency. Kims message to put say im firmly convinced that the friendship and solidarity between the d prk and russia will be for the developed into a longstanding strategic relationship not the two countries will always emerge victorious. Now the u. S. Is urging north korea to and its Weapons Talks with russia. Back to paula. Christine aaill continue to stay with you in the coming hours to see what chinas reaction may be to this. If they have any reaction at all. Christine live for us in hong kong. I appreciate it. Here in the u. S. , the senate will reconvene after its august Recess Ithcoming hours in the house returns next week. Now lawmakers have to resolve major diffens over funding the government before october 1. It will not be easy. They will not be able to get on the same page, the country faces a government shutdown. Stop me when this sounds familiar. As republican, mike simpson tells us to buckle up. Its can be crazy for september, october, november, december. The next four months are going to be wild. Both the white house and house speaker, Kevin Mccarthy are pushing for a shortterm bill that will fund the government until later this year. Allowing more time to address the broader issue. Several republican president ial candidates spent the Holiday Weekend campaigning and one of the most crucial states in this election. New hampshire, home of the first president ial primary of 2024. And our Jeff Sullenly is there. The republican president ial primary entering a new post Labor Day Phase. Several candidates campaigning throughout the Labor Day Weekend in New Hampshire. Of course, a critical step to the white house. Iowa will vote first next january followed by New Hampshire. Several candidates were fanning out making their case to voters, republicans of course and independent voters as well. Also important here in New Hampshire. Mike pence, who made the case that the race is not at the end. Its at the beginning per. I dont know about the rest of you, but labor day is when campaigns begin. [laughter] and im here because on [indiscernible] different times call for different leadership. And i promise you that im good to continue working on that. The holdup of banner of common sense conservative values. Strong National Defense and American Leadership in the world for fiscal responsibility and freemarket economic. Traditional values in line. To some people to say those are not the values of the Republican Party anymore, right . I beg to differ. Theres no question that former president , Donald Trump Holds a Strong National lead and a slightly smaller lead statebystate. But its also a sense that Many Republican voters and certainly independent voters have open minds. Many want to turn the page from the trump style of leadership. Others do not believe he can win a general election. On into the fall stages of the campaign aaone thing is clear. This field of republican candidates is to try at least to distinguish themselves and differentiate themselves. Donald trump has not been on the Campaign Trail for a while. These can be returning to the Campaign Trail and other parts of the country this week is it even with his legal cases around him. With the post Labor Day Phase of the campaign. The question really is the race really near the end . Or as mr. Pentz said aajust beginning . Jeff sullenly, cnn, right New Hampshire. In the meantime, President Joe Biden ramped up his Reelection Campaign americas labor day holiday. Rallying bluecollar workers in philadelphia. Mr. Biden pointed out his administrations achievements and job creation. Listen. [cheering] Job Satisfaction is higher than its been in 36 years. All employment is down and inflation is down. Economics is a blueprint for america. Its for you. My plan for thcotry is to make the economy work. For people likyou because the work for people like you, works for everybody. Many americans simply do not appear to share mr. Bidens rosy assessment. A Wall Street Journal poll in late august indicated 50 percent of americans think the economy got worse during the last new two years. While the toy 24 president ial election is still about 14 months away, a recent Wall Street Journal put a race between President Biden and former President Trump dead even. At 46 percent even. At the election were held today. Political analyst, michael joins me from los angeles. Hes a president of the Global Policy institute. Marymount university. Hes also the author of the modern presidency, six debates that define the institution aa we will talk about the fact that donald trump is not going to debate at least so far. But we want to start with President Biden. He has been running hard on his academic record. He really wants this to be the cornerstone of his Reelection Campaign. But so far michael, americans are not buying it. Why not . Its been an uphill battle because surprisingly aa because in a Perfect World you get credit when things go well. Biden is getting virtually no credit. 37 percent of the public approves of how hes handling the economy. Disapprove. And so aahes getting zero credit. The democrats have said obama said it now and now biden. We are not messaging well. I think it goes deeper than that. There are two factors that work well here. One is distinction and the juncture between reality and perception. People perceive things going quickly. All the numbers are going in the right direction. 3. 8 percent in employment. 3. 2 stock market is up. Economic growth aathats one factor that perception is guiding rather than evidence. The second thing is that virtually everything in american Politics Today comes down to tribalism. And therefore, bidens numbers are hardly immutable at all because republicans if you cure cancer, they would not give them approval ratings. So aai think what we are seeing is everything is filtered through the eyes of partisanship. Yes, partisanship and there is this other issue of President Biden and his age. Listen to them First Talking about it on monday. Somebody said, you know, that biden, hes getting old, man, tell you what . Guess what . Guess what . The only thing that comes todays a little bit of wisdom. Had been doing this longer than anybody and guess what . Im gonna continue to do it with your help. [laughter] . He does not need their help. As much as that was a receptive audience, age is still a factor here is in it . It is. 73 percent of the American Public thinks biden is too old and 80 to be president for another term. Trump himself is 77. 47 percent think hes too old. They are both quite the same basket because donald trump exams energy on the Campaign Trail were as biden seems a little slow and sluggish. And so aathats a real albatross around his neck. The problem is that it seems like were gonna have a choice between two very senior possibilities for the next president. Americas not hay about that either. But as you pointed out aamore so it seems to be a problem with biden. Lets talk about the gop race michael paired what race . K you look at this latest poll from the Wall Street Journal. Trump is not only the overwhelming choice. The gap between him and any of the challengers has only grown with the indictments. Some have suggested that hes running more like the incumbent president. Meaning there is no debate about who the gop nominee will be. What you think . He is a 46 percent gap between donald trump and his leading rival, rhonda santos, is about 1816 percent depending on the polls. I think youre right. You pointed out that he seems to do better after he gets indicted. And thats partly because 78 percent of republicans believe that the indictments are illegitimate and that he actually behaved legitimately and trying to overturn the election. Its pretty amazing. But most of the candidates are New Hampshire never donald trump is not there. So wheres waldo . Usually New Hampshire, voters expect even demand a little more reach out politics. Pressing the flesh. Doing some comparison shopping. Donald trump doesnt need to go there. And that suggests that he thinks it might be over and the numbers look very bad for any potential rival. We dont have a lot of time left, but when you take somebody like [indiscernible] weve had some kind of momentum, is there anybody like that was gonna be able to punch through this . We keep on waiting for somebody to jump ahead. To move ahead of the pack. Nobody has done it so far in this because theres not a lot of room to remove donald trump has captured most of the party. He owns that party. It really is the party of donald trump and more and more thats were not by the news polls. Michael, thank you so much. Its so great to see you. Thank you paula. Still to come for us aaorganizers of a burning man festival lift mosa driving ban that they imp after so iconditions and thousa that som res