Republican ibts kncumbents kell loeffler and purdue. Trump performed worse in counties where he held large rallies ahead of the election. Joining me now, aaron haynes, latasha brown, tia mitchell, washington correspondent for the Atlanta Journal constitution and jelani cobb, political analyst for msnbc. If you all will indulge me for a month, im going to paraphrase right now. Weep have research that trump showing up actually harms him beep have a graphic that shows trump as performed worse in county where he performed. What do you think his motivation is for showing up in valdosta, georgia . That might be one scenario why he does show up in georgia. I dont think that given the kind of perspective and, you know, tendency toward selfaggrandizement that weve seen from the president that shes likely to even concede that he might be a drag on loeffler and purdue. It was a weird dynamic even before. The other thing ill say about this when you look at the fact that david purdue got more votes in georgia than donald trump did and the number of people who potentially voted down ticket but did not vote for president ial candidate or even the heresy of voting for a democratic candidate, it really is a head scratcher that people think theyre going to have this rally. It may be a case that they have the rally and if theyre smart senatorial conditions, they wont be anywhere near it. I think its a damned if you do, damned if you dont situation. If he didnt show up, it might be a bad sign. If youre loeffler and purdue, does it help anyone or is this just selfaggrandizement for the president 40 days before hes out of office . That remains the question. There were republicans in georgia that supported purdue and loeffler but didnt necessarily support the president. A lot of people may have said they didnt like the president s rhetoric but what he was saying on twitter but were totally fine with the policies hes enacted over the last four years. So moving the republican agenda forward may be something they are willing to get on board with. Theres also the message that is happening on a National Stage that is focused on georgia saying loeffler and purdue were the last fire walls standing between republicans and whatever chaos the Incoming Democratic administration could cause with the election of joe biden and kamala harris. But i think organizers like latasha and others who have been on the ground for years working to expand the election track in georgia are keeping this race local. As we know, all poll titics are local. So what the issues are that matter to actual georgians, especially in the midst of the economic crisis raging in this pandemic may be the thing that resonates most of ul and motivate and galvanizes and energizes voters a month from today when they are casting their ballots under really extraordinary circumstances in our country. And i want to move with that point to latasha brown, who i tell people all the time in a fair world would be the most famous political analyst on the face of the earth. Theres no people who have done more for people with less than latasha brown. Weve heard numbers about high requests for absentee ballots but what are some of the cutoffs and deadlines . What are some of the issues people are dealing with right now . On january 5th, people will speak. Ultimately what i think is happening is that there is this attempt in georgia right now to close up even early voting centers. Youre looking at cobb county and several sites that are slated to be closed that were open during the general election. Youre looking at several other counties that theyre trying to restrict access. The Biggest Issue in the Voter Suppression tactic used in the state has been restricting access. I think were looking at a number of things but the most imminent danger is the closing of recall voting sites. In a state where we had very important leadership around covid19 and i want to remind the Africanamerican Community in the state have been devastated by covid19. Early on in april of this year, 80 of all hospitalizations in the state of georgia were africanamericans and a state that we represent less than 30 of the population. I think it going to be key and critical that what were dealing with right now is the closure of early voting sites, that when were looking at the deadlines, the deadlines for recall registration is on this monday. When were looking for inperson voting, it starts on december the 14th. I think what is going to be critical is that we also make sure we have access for people to have the same kind of access to vote and runoff as they did in the general election. Tia, i want to continue with this theme here. While thousands are the getting sick and hundreds are dying every day in states like georgia because of the pandemic, it seems like the local government is only concerned with oppressing and harassing people trying to protect everybodys right to vote. Theres a recent story about an investigation into voter organizations and get out of vote organizations in georgia. Whats going on with that right now . And how is that being perceived on the ground that in the midst of this health care crisis, theyre still trying to keep organizations from getting to the polls . And i think that investigation by secretary of state Brad Raffensperger is proof that even though democrats and folks critical of President Donald Trump have praised the secretary of state for standing up for the integrity of the election, this investigation hes launched shows hes still a tried and true conservative. He has a lot of policies and thinkings and proposals that have frustrated organizations that are on the ground, particularly those that are focused on Democratic Candidates or progressive issues. And so this investigation is about organizations that have sent mailers and postcards encouraging people to register to vote. And hes insinuating that some of those were not in good faith, but again, its not illegal to send someone a postcard, even if they doesnt meet the register to vote or if theyre not even if theyre gone or incapacitated. But thats what hes insinuating. That shows that he is still a conservative, still a trump supporter, even if in recent days hes said thing that have angered President Donald Trump. This is what sort of galls me, the moment any republican says something reasonable, like, hey, maybe you should stott encouraging Death Threats again state officials or, hey, i did a paper recount and theres no fraud here, that i aaron, from your perspective, how is this being perceived down south, this internal battle going on with rab sm do you think this is damaging loelff le re and purdue or do you think it doesnt make a difference . I think it definitely has the ability to do damage. You have some Trump Supporters like Rudy Giuliani and mcdaniels saying vote for purdue and loeffler but another, an attorney in georgia saying if they dont get on board with the president s legal challenges, maybe they doesnt deselfyorve vote in this rigged system. Its even leading to threats of violence, which is why you had that very impassioned flea pla fr plea from the election official who was saying enough is enough down there. I think tias point, using tactics they know that could span the electorate, trying to frame that as voter intimidation. Its something they are fully on board with and fully willing to pursue because it is not directly affecting them and their party. Yes, jelani. I just want to say really quickly this has been something that republican strategists were aware of. Going back to the point when the democrats were in the primaries and you were already hearing the rhetoric about the election being rigged and so on and telling people not to vote by mail. Flrp lots of republicans concerned by that bus typically, many raeb, especially Older Americans were voting by mail. If you tell people the system is rigged against them, they will Rocket Science to see they could fongsly have blow back around this. Youre now seeing between whats in the best interest of the Republican Party, what is in and thats playing out publicly. I want to end with latasha here. This idea of threats and concerns about violence that republicans are now complaining about, i want you to talk to some of the threat and violence against activists and organizers on the ground. I was not moved given some of the things that i know have happened to you and with police and can you tell us some of the United States. Two years ago we had 45 seniors that were told they couldnt [ inaudible ]. We have had our bus where we pulled up to places and they would say we were closed. We had to get extra security to secure the bus. On within weve gotten so manyin Death Threats on our motion mia this himself been real. And even this last tleks, in the general election now in albany, georgia, there was a white woman in line, who actually pulled a gun on our workers. And so it has been a very ten use situation for black voters who have been doing this work forever and are doing this work on the ground. So i think its quite interesting that now were speaking about the ballots, even though there are many of us who have been talking about this all the while. As usual, straight truth. Thank you guys so much for starting off the show. Jelani will be back in our next hour. Up next, the latest on americas horrific coronavirus numbers. As horrific coronavirus numbers vicks vapopatch. Easy to wear with soothing vicks vapors for her, for you, for the whole family. Trusted soothing vapors, from vicks one of the worst things about a cois how it can make you feel. But, when used at the first sign, abreva can get you back to being you in just 2 and a half days. Be kinder to yourself and tougher on your cold sores. I think we have not yet seen the postthanksgiving peak. The number in and of themselves are alarming. And then you realize it likely well see most of the surge as we get the thanksgiving holiday. That abuts right on the Christmas Holiday as people start to travel and shop and congregate. As the u. S. Breaks records for covid19 cases, hospitalization and deaths on nearly a daily basis. The cdc is now warning that nearly 20,000 americans could die during the week of christmas alone. The death toll every day is nearing the number of People Killed on 9 11, which as new republic writer matt for reported led to a massive reorganization of the federal government. But now nine months in there is no Effective Response at all from the federal government as we hit numbers like that every day. Meanwhile, president elect biden is calling on all americans to wear masks for the first 100 days of his administration and pleading with people to stay vigilant. I dont want to scare anybody here but understand the facts, were likely to lose another 250,000 people dead between now and january. You hear me . Because people arent paying attention. Joining me now is dr. Mercedes carnathon and dr. John ashby of the committee to protect medicare. I am known for being very cynical and critical. Joe biden saying hes going to ask americans to wear masks for a hundred days. That doesnt seem like it going far enough to me. Everyone who is going to wear a mask has already started. Asking people nicely is not going to move anything. Do you think thats a enough or will he have to push for a legislative mandate to make people wear masks . Thanks for the question, jason. So i want to put this in context for everyone when it comes to mandates. As an africanamerican, knowing our history very well, any time i hear the world mandate and hearing the criminal justice will enforce that, i worry it will be enforced disproportiona disproportionately against people of color. Having said that, we all know Wearing Masks work, they save lives. So as long as we can have some form of a plan, mandate or not, to increase the usage of masks that doesnt disproportionately fine people are color, i am all the way through with it. But we have to understand very clearly that the pandemic is killing black and latino americans at a disproportionate rate. Were three times more likely to die. I would like to call on the Biden Administration to start his initiative in the pandemic now. Trump has abdicated his responsibilities and he needs to do daily updates and communicate directly with the public. As you nensed, a lot of folks will die between now and when he takes office and thats way too much unnecessary bets. This is a call for the Biden Administration to step up, please. Dr. Carnathon, what does stepping up need to look like . What does that need to look like . We can already tell by the difficulty people have in getting to the dmv or getting a new drivers license or even voting, from a distribution standpoint, plans are hard to implement in america. What does bidens plan need to look like to get through the Holiday Season . Thank you for having us back to speak with you about this. One of the things ive been doing during the course of this pandemic is to think about how best leadership can help. We are currently in a crisis. One of the principles of crisis leadership is leading with empathy and communicating regularly. Those are two critical ones i want to focus on right now. I think biden is taking an important step forward by speaking directly to the pandemic, by describing what his plans are, including this 100day mask mandate. What makes me feel encouraged about the 100day mask mandate is he has stated very clearly what the kbining and the end are. Part of being a crisis leader is needing to be agile in the context of what happens. If his Team Continues to its possible the is 00 days may need to be extended but it a starting point that if we can make a short behavioral commitment, we may have longterm benefits. So you talk about leadership, dr. Carnethon, bill clinton and barack obama said were willing to take the vaccine publicly and encourage people do it. Im curious whether or not you think that will actually have an impact on people taking this vaccine when its been available. You can have rheana and cardi b. Come out and take this and people will still be skeptical. What do you think it going to take for people to take this when it becomes available in the spring . I think where were falling short is acknowledging their very rational concern. We always refer to the tuskeegi experiment. Were americans and we believe in the constitution. So when black americans talk about their distrust, we need to acknowledge that. But in addition to that, were fighting a war on two front, one with the pandemic obviously but also with misinformation. A lot of folks who echo this distrust for the government but then jump off a cliff and talk about microchips and all other things that dont make any sense. Unfortunately they have a voice, a platform in social media and folks like myself and dr. Corbet from nih who was at the helm of developing this vaccine need to be given a platform and correct directly with our people. Unfortunately we are shouldering the burden of this pandemic. So 20 years ago, dr dr. Carnethon, after 9 11 they said you got to start taking off your shoes at the airport. Weep literally moved parking lots so you couldnt be so close to the airport. There were fundamental changes in our lives. I kind of believe those who complained then are marching now saying a mask is oppression. What do you think at the local levels needs to be done what do mayors and governors need to do to get everybody ready for this eventual implement is coming. What do local governments need to do to be ready . Its what our Legal Leaders are influencing the daytoday lives of individual americans. Leading by example is critical in this case. When i am heartened to see her wearing a mask when i see joe biden, he wears a mask, takes it on i think enforcement of mask wearing policies, and promotings sos did tansing. What you dont want to see are leaders throwing large holidays for the holidays. I read word of pending parties at the white house for the Christmas Holidays. Thats not the sort of example in leadership we need to see. We are all being forced to make sacrifices right now for the greater good and thats what we need to do to keep our eyes focused on the end game. I want to mention, africanamericans and latinos are three times as likely to die from covid as white americans. Very quickly, dr. Ashby, how do we get this message through and make sure people understand before christmas, unlike thanksgiving, that you could literally kill grandma if you go home . Listen, it all has to do with making all americans a priority. Any time up see a group of people dying at a high rate, all of our resources not all but a good amount of our atex should be directed at addressing that population. What we know with america is when things affect black and folks. When it affected white as a business pro targs ally rate where you have that many are the den p def essentially we have to mack a priority. But it fundamentally says, listen, we have to al owe case resources, manpower, money, everything towards mitt dpating this. That has not happened yet and i hope and im hope. That the Biden Administration will do this and follow up on tlp rhetoric th their rhetor talked about during the campaign. Thank you, Bernard Ashby and dr. Carnethon. Coming up, a look at the longterm damage the virus could have on americas birth rate. N e at dell technologies, we started by making the cloud easier to manage. But we didnt stop there. We made a cloud flexible enough to adapt to any size business. No matter what it does, or how it changes. And we kept going. So you only pay for what you use. Because at dell technologies, we stop. At nothing. If you ntry gain flings. To fresh laundry because at dell technologies, we stop. At nothing. They have more freshness ingredients compared to bargain liquid detergent. They have 3 super powered ingredients that fight stink oxi boost febreze odor remover and concentrated detergent. Try gain flings and smell the difference. Heart monitors that let your doctor watch over you, just like you watch over your best friend. Another lifechanging t