covid-19. within a week she had passed leaving family members grieving for two relatives they adore. may they rest in peace, and may their memories being a blessing. "erin burnett outfront" starts right now. "outfront" next, breaking news, the u.s. coronavirus death toll topping 150,000 tonight. top experts warn the country must completely reset. as the president spends his day fundraising, visiting an oil rig in texas. plus republican congressman louie gohmert testing positive the coronavirus, claiming he got it by wearing a mask. why president trump seems to embrace the most dubious characters in medicine. let's go "outfront." and good evening. i'm erin burnett. "outfront" tonight the breaking news, more than 150,000 americans have now died from coronavirus. that number up about 50% from

just two months ago. that number, the president once casually claimed the united states would never -- never -- hit. >> and look, we're going to lose anywhere from 75,000, 80,000 to 100,000 people. >> that was may 3rd. the president was wrong. and to put this terrible and avoid able number into perspective, 150,000 dead americans is equivalent to the death toll on 9/1150 times over. a new study tonight warns unlike many countries in the world, the united states is not on course to get control of the epidemic. it is time to reset. another key medical group warning the united states must get the pandemic under control or the deaths could go into the multihundreds of thousands. and the president's response today? he travelled to texas, not to address the state's 9,000 reported cases today, but to raise money for his election and to tout energy dependence. and you can see, there he is,

not wearing a mask. governor of texas, of course, was. almost everyone else on the tarmac was, but he doesn't wear one. setting an example doesn't matter to him. he went to a fundraising lunch. tickets went for $100,000 each and he attended an event at an oil rig. let me show you video of the president's day in texas. this is how he marked the death toll. it was standing room only in mid land, texas, the crowd waiting for the president. you can see them. take a look. it's 2020 guys. it's the summer of 2020. you might not know that if you look at this picture. there's no masks, no social distancing. people not wearing masks or social distancing because why? i don't know. is it political? do they think it's not cool? do they think they don't look tough? do they think it's weak? do they want to get coronavirus or give coronavirus? i don't know. it is clear they didn't worry about infecting each other at all. the only that got somewhat of mass treatment was the president

whch . when he spoke, some in the back of the room wore masks but@front of the they did not set an example. also the former doctor at the white house, dr. ronny jackson, a medical doctor, congressionaling candidate standing there with no mask on a day his state reports over 6,000 deaths. there was a notable absence, congressman louie gohmert. he was supposed to be there. he was supposed to travel with the president. he tested positive for coronavirus. he e are fused to wear a mask. jeremy diamond begins our coverage. any reaction from the white house on gohmert's positive test? >> reporter: there's no reaction from the president so far but we did hear from the white house chief of staff mark meadows while he was on capitol hill earlier today. he says he believes congressman

gohmert's positive test should be a sign to test up testing. the white house has offered to provide additional testing to test members of congress and senators. but beyond that what this really is also about, erin, is this double standard we have seen from the president when it comes to testing. we have heard him time and again talk about the fact that adishal testing creates additional cases, talk about the fact he would like to slow down testing in the united states when he has benefitted from the most robust testing system for coronavirus anywhere in the country and that is a testing system that today prevented the president from being in close contact with not one but two republicans who had coronavirus. and that's not just texas congressman louie gohmert but also a congressional district who was set to meet the president at the airport in texas today. so, very clearly the president is benefitting from this system.

but of course this is also a story about the plit zags of masks, something the president has of course repeatedly participated in. louie gohmert has been one of those republicans who has taken the president's lead and gone further with it nerm of politicizing masks and being reluctant to wear one. the president has begun to inch away from that slowly. louie gohmert is instead trying to blame masks for getting coronavirus. there is no evidence to back that up at all. >> i want to go fou to dr. jonathan reiner, director of the cardiac cath lab at george washington hospital. dr. shaf nerks let me start with you. i want to show again the video from the president's events today. and you know, no mask, no social distancing for a lot of people, which is deeply troubling.

and former energy secretary rick perry presumably coming in contact with the president, would have been tested, but no example of being set. the vips, no one wearing them at all. and the dr. ronny jackson, no mask. what goes through your mind when you see this dr. schaffner? >> the three d's, depressing, distressing, and as we say in our family, d-u-m, dumb. it's inappropriate. we should be wearing masks, all of us all the time. we're not going to get this virus under control until we all do that. and i mean all of us from the top to the bottom, from maine to southern california, all across the country. we really have to do that.

6 foot distancing. where are they there in that large group? they shouldn't be gathering in groups. >> it doesn't make sense. you know, and it just lends itself why these people are pretty bright people. and it comes on the day we pass 150,000 people dead from coronavirus. 509/11s. you would think people would notice. johns hopkins says the united states needs to completely reset to get control of the pandemic. but the president goes to a state in the midst of this which he's done before with oklahoma and florida and arizona. and he goes to texas and he's fundraising. what's his strategy? >> i was just about to say that. the president doesn't have a strategy. there is no strategy here. think of it this way. if the united states were attacked by a foreign enemy, and

the administration said to the state's governors, you're on your own. call up the national guard if you want, but we're out of this. that's exactly what the federal government has done to the effort to defeat the coronavirus. they've shunted to the states the responsibility for testing. we have no national testing strategy. we originally had a strategy to open states carefully and safely. they shunted that back out to the states and we encourage them to hurry up. there is no national defense against this enemy. and we are very much at war with this enemy and we have no national strategy. >> the point you raise about testing, it gets more cases. he's the one benefitting, right?

because he is the one with serious underlying conditions and age at great risk, right? and he was not around his national security adviser, congressman louie gohmert, voe clal against mask wearing supposed to be with the president today. he got tested. they took him away. wesley hunt, the republican running in texas, supposed to be with trump, tested positive, gets taken away. and as i mentioned the national security adviser. so, what -- is the white house playing with fire? you have all these people who -- i'm not saying all of those individuals, but certainly mr. gohmert disdain mask wearing and social distancing, and the only thing between them and the president is a test. >> so, these two different things. mask wearing prevents the virus from spreading. testing helps you identify who's already been infected. look, the white house is using an effective strategy to protect the president which is testing everybody. well, that's the strategy that

every public health expert in the united states has advocated for the country, let's test everybody. let's test 30 million people a week. let's test everyone going to work. let's test them with both the kinds of systems we have available now. let's test them with cheaper, very rapidly accessible antigen tests, let's test a massive number of people and do exactly what the white house is doing. when it comes to workers positive, they go home. let's do that. >> so, dr. schaffner, congressman gohmert yesterday walking right next to the attorney general, bill barr, who is obviously older and heavier -- there he is, no mask, and gohmert has coronavirus. here he is talking to a federal congressman. both have their masks down at some point. this is before gohmert got tested. and you had members of congress still not wearing masks on the house floor today even after this. and speaker pelosi now says it's

going to be mandatory. but you've got gohmert, some of his colleagues, they just -- they haven't been doing it. they haven't been doing it repeatedly. we see these hearings. and now there's an increasingly partisan divide, not fully. i don't want to say all republicans won't, but that's who isn't not wearing masks. how reckless is it at this point. if you would say to them you've been elected to represent the american people. you're refusing to wear a mask. how reckless are they? >> it's reckless and foolish and it's not modeling really appropriate behavior. as we have learned from time to time, if things can't be persuaded f persons can't be persuaded by good educations and good facts, then we have to mandate it. so, speaker pelosi is saying, all right, the floor of the house is going to be a solid mask floor. you can't go on if you don't wear a mask. and i think we're going to have to do that across the country.

in my own state there are parts of the state where people are not just indifferent to masks, they're hostility against them. we're going to have to get everybody on the same page here working together not only to protect themselves. but this is a communicable infection, highly, highly contagious. we have to protect those around us also. >> all right. thank you both very much. i appreciate your time. and next, congressman gohmert has tested positive and he blames his mask. blames his mask. >> i'm bound to getting virus on the mask. >> rarely does he wear one but we're going to give you the facts about that. that allegation with our expert bye yolgs. plus deaths rising in california and florida, reporting record

deaths. >> like whack a mole, it's going to keep popping up. and why is the president so openly impressed by the doctors who have at best questionable views? experience the joy of a bigger world in a highly-connected lexus vehicle at the golden opportunity sales event. lease the 2020 es 350 for $359 a month for 36 months. experience amazing at your lexus dealer. we've seen what can happen we're at a crossroads. when we elect a leader determined to divide us. as president, joe biden will forge a new path by growing an economy that works for working families, getting small businesses back on their feet, and expanding access to affordable health care. joe biden will lead us on the path forward, paved with opportunity for us all. i'm joe biden and i approve this message. did you know liberty mutual customizes your car insurance ta-da! so you only pay for what you need? i should get a quote.

do it. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ no no no no no, there's no space there! maybe over here? hot! hot! oven mitts! oven mitts! everything's stuck in the drawers! i'm sorry! oh, jeez. hi. kelly clarkson. try wayfair! oh, ok. it's going to help you, with all of... this! yeah, here you go. thank you! oh, i like that one!

[ laugh ] that's a lot of storage! perfect. you're welcome! i love it. how did you do all this? wayfair! speaking of dinner, what're we eating, guys? [ heavy breathing ] breathe more freely with congpowerful claritin-d.you? claritin-d improves nasal airflow two times more than the leading allergy spray at hour one. [ deep inhale ] claritin-d. get more airflow. there are so many toothpastes out there, which one should i use? try crest pro/active defense. it neutralizes bacteria for a healthier mouth than even the leading multi-benefit toothpaste. crest. even if you're on a statin? are you still at risk for a heart attack or stroke? statins may lower some risks, but may not be enough. that's why science delivered vascepa. for people who have persistent cardiovascular risk factors and take a statin only vascepa is clinically proven to provide 25% lower risk from heart attack and stroke. don't take vascepa if you're allergic to icosapent ethyl

or any inactive ingredient in vascepa. tell your doctor about any medicines you take, and if you are allergic to fish or shellfish. stop taking vascepa and seek medical help if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction. serious side effects may occur like heart rhythm problems and bleeding. heart rhythm problems may occur in more people with persistent cardiovascular risk or who have had heart rhythm problems. tell your doctor if you have symptoms such as irregular beat, lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or fainting. possible side effects include muscle and joint pain. proven by science, fda approved. vascepa can reduce your risk and add cardio protection. call your doctor about vascepa today. tonight republican congressman louie gohmert of texas positive for coronavirus, not getting on air force one because he found out before he was to be with the president. he says he may have gotten it by

wearing a mask. >> i can't help but think if i hadn't been wearing a mask so much in the last ten days or so, i really wonder if i would have gotten it. but i know, moving the mask around, getting it just right, i'm bound to put some virus on the mask. that's most likely what happened. >> "outfront" now professor teaching biology at the university of massachusetts dartmouth and cnn contributor. gohmert repeatedly floating this idea. he rarely wears masks to begin with. that he actually contracted the virus by wearing one. how likely is that? >> thanks for having me on tonight, erin. i have to admit that's one of the silliest, the dumbest things i've heard all week. that's not the way that it works. if anything, his mask saved him

from getting a higher dose of the virus if that's truly what actually happened. >> wow, it's just pretty incredible that he would even put something like that out there. i mean, we do, to my point, he doesn't like to wear a mask anyway. and he's been saying they don't work. so, he didn't wear a mask around other people. yesterday he was with the attorney general bill barr, he was not wearing a mask. he was not wearing a mask when he was talking to congressman doug collins before yesterday's hearing in the judicial committee. gohmert pulled his mask down to talk. there's that. he wears a bandana usually not over his mouth or his nose. so, when our reporter manu raju asked him i y he wasn't wearing a mask on the house floor last month, he said, i want to quote, i don't have the coronavirus. turns out as of yesterday, i've never had it, but if you get it,

you'll never see me without a mask. okay. what's wrong with that logic? >> he -- i mean, in order for him to get the coronavirus, he has been around people. he's been having interactions that we've been saying for six months that we cannot have, especially in indoor environments. he has gone for the last four months without a mask as he's walked around capitol hill around his fully staffed office. that experiment has really played out and it's quite obvious now you cannot have a fully staffed office and expect not to get infected by coronavirus inside that space. >> so, you mention his staff -- i'm sorry to jump in on you professor. but one member of his staff told "politico" that the congressman, congressman gohmert, would berate them for wearing masks. he wanted every member of his

staff to show what reopened looked like. he said they all had to come in and he would berate them for wearing a mask. first of all, how far could the spread be. but also what's your feelings about somebody who would say that and do that? >> yeah, unlike you and i, congress has access to rapid testing and they can be screened very readily for all these things. and there's a chance that we caught the infection really early and he hasn't had a chance to spread it to others. but he obviously caught it either in his private life or in his life at work. and so really what we have to worry, he's had people in his office, and again a fully staffed office, and they're having interactions and he caught it from one of them, that means the rest of his staff has also been expoedsed. if we've caught itti late on hi and he's infectious and able to infect others, he's the one that will have spread it to his

staff. he's been part of the problem, part of the transmission chain. and this argument about not wearing masks and only wearing it when you're infected, you don't know. and he would not have known he was infected if he didn't have access to the resources put in place for congress. >> professor, a appreciate your time. i thank you very much. i wanted to let everyone know the cdc director said we don't have to wait a vaccine. we have a mask. this virus can be dephotoed if people just wear a mask. that is what you need to know and not people saying complete and utter bs about the topic. the justice department is sending federal officers to detroit to crack down on violence. plus back to school, is it worth the risk. one district in georgia opening schools on friday. one family says they worry more about keeping their kids at home. wabba wabba!

all new, plant powered creative roots gives kids the hydration they need, with the fruit flavors they love, and 1 gram of sugar. find new creative roots in the kids' juice aisle.

and look, it feels like i'm just wasting time.

that's why td ameritrade designed a first-of-its-kind, personalized education center. oh. their award-winning content is tailored to fit your investing goals and interests. and it learns with you, so as you become smarter, so do its recommendations. so it's like my streaming service. well except now you're binge learning. see how you can become a smarter investor with a personalized education from td ameritrade. visit tdameritrade.com/learn ♪ visiyou say the customer'srn maklet's talk data.s. only xfinity mobile lets you switch up your wireless data whenever. i accept. 5g, everybody is talking about it. how do i get it? everyone gets 5g with our new data options at no extra cost. that's good. next item, corner offices for everyone. we just have to make more corners in this building. chad? -your wireless, your rules.

only with xfinity mobile. now that's simple, easy, awesome. switch to xfinity mobile and save up to four hundred dollars a year on your wireless bill. plus, get two hundred dollars off when you buy an eligible phone. zblonchts florida and california breaking a grim record rkts both states with a record number of deaths in a single day, 216 in

florida. erica hill is "outfront." >> reporter: masks, social distancing, good hygiene. the tools are there but the virus just keeps spreading. >> like whack a mole with hotspots all over this country. it's going to keep popping up if we don't doing in nationally. >> reporter: that lack of a national plan could result in hundred of thousands of additional deaths according to the association of american medical colleges which released a road map today for a coordinated response. >> having common standards sets expectations, provides consistency so we don't get these continuous waves of infection that have followed our premature reopening so far. >> reporter: while the president is urging governors to reopen, his own administration is warning that 21 states in red on this map, they may need stronger restrictions. the yellow states also being watched closely. dr. deborah birx noted young

adults are fuelling the spread in those areas. >> remember the majority of those are asymptomatic. so if you expect to see hospitalizations by the time you see hospitalizations your community spread, it's widespread. >> reporter: indiana, one of the states closing beaches in eerie today for two weeks if cases continue to rise. indoor gatherings also causing concern across the country. >> we simply cannot have crowded house parties. they are not safe. >> reporter: deaths are rising in 29 states, california and north carolina posting new daily highs on wednesday. fa fla reporting record numbers for the second day in a row. the governor focusing on the new school year. >> i would absolutely have my kids in school. i do think that it's safe to do so. i believe this is something low risk for kids. >> reporter: the governor noting his kids aren't old enough for

school. statewide school closures last spring helped reduce the number of infections and deaths as dr. anthony fauci offer this is blunt warning to teachers. >> so, in many respects unfortunately, though this may sound a little scary and harsh -- i don't mean it to be that way -- is that you're going to be actually part of the experiment of the learning curve of what we need to know. >> well, part of that learning curve, erin, of course also includes how the virus impacts children, how they can spread it. we know they can be asymptomatic spreaders even if symptoms are less severe than most adults. michigan is seeing a rise in cases among cases 19 and younger. that 0 to 19-year-old age group cases have increased nearly 80% erin in just the last three weeks. >> thank you very much. we've seen that age group, you know, we're seeing it across the

country. they're back out. and i appreciate your time very much, erica. so, erica brings up michigan. i want to go to governor gretchen whitmer of the state of michigan. it's good to have you back. erica increased the huge increase, 80% in the past few weeks in kids, people age 0 to 19. that's the highest increase you've had this month only behind 20 to 29 years old. so, how concerning is it for you? >> it's very concerning. i mean, our hope is to get kids back in the classroom this fall. our actions today are going to determine whether or not that's feasible. and we know that we've got to put the safety and health of our kids and our educational work personnel, their families at the center of any decision we make as a state. but also we need that to be on the national level as well. the problem that we had throughout this whole experience of covid-19 is a lack of federal leadership when it comes to a natural strategy, a national

messaging campaign, a national embracing of consistent and accurate information. this is a disease that doesn't stop at state line. it doesn't stop at party line. we've got to get this right. and the enemy is a virus, and the only way it travels is through human contact. that's why every one of us has to take this seriously. >> so, you have two daughters in those age groups. so, you know, you are dealing with it as a parent, you're going through what tens of millions of parents are going through which is figuring out school. i'm sure you're just as afraid as i am and many people watching about their kids. you just mentioned you've got a back to school plan where your state, every region is in a phase where they can do in person learning if they choose to. so, when you look at these increases in these age groups, does that threaten that right now? >> absolutely because if we see this increase continue, we're going to have to move back.

that means we will have to do distance learning. erin, i talked to a teacher the other day, and she is terrified because she is in a classroom in a young age of students that may not be able to tolerate masks. she's worried about being exposed to potentially covid-19 and bringing it home to the parents she cares for, a father who's got congenital heart disease, and she's got three kids in school as well. this is not just about the kids in class, but of course that is our paramount concern. it is about families as well and their teacher and their bus drivers and everyone who's a part of making schools work. we've got to get this right. keeping kids out of school is not a good option. but if the alternative is putting them and perpetuating the spread of covid-19, there's no choice to be had. >> i want to ask you about another issue at the heart of your state. the justice department sending

federal agents to detroit to tackle violent crime. 53% increase in detroit according to the justice department. the police chief say they welcome the help to stop gun violence, obviously a significant thing for them to say. do you agree? >> i think what the mayor and chief have said is that we have not seen violence coming out of protests around policing. we've not seen that. we've seen righteous protests in the name of george floyd and so many others who have that same horrible, horrifying outcome after a confrontation with police. what we are worried about, of course, is that the federal government is going to come in and do what they did in portland. that is not acceptable. that is not necessary. we have seen peaceful protests in detroit. so long as the representations from the feds are they're going to come in and supplement local

police forcing in combatting crime, that's fine. but if it's something different than that, that's not going to be okay. >> when you mentioned portland and seattle, obviously you've had these forces going in there. they did not come in when you were, people were threatening you with death and lynching and horrific things. yesterday, this came up at the house judiciary hearing. they were saying this, doing this, and threatening you and trying to bang on the capital with guns. they were mad at your stay-at-home orders at the giping of coronavirus. let me play the exchange. >> are you aware these protesters called for the governor to be lynched, shot and beheaded? >> no. >> major protests in michigan, you're the attorney general, and you didn't know that the protesters called for the governor to be lynched, shot and beheaded, so obviously you can't

be bothered with that. >> well, there are a lot of protests around the united states. >> he said he had no idea. do you believe him? >> i don't. and kudos to representative. she did a phenomenal job. i think the american people deserves answers and that includes governors who could have used support from the governor when we're trying to save lives here and people are threatening to take ours. >> governor, i appreciate your time. thank you. next, one family about to send their children back to school this week. they just toured the classroom. they're going to send them back, but they have serious concerns. they're going to tell you what they saw and why. why doesment trump trust doctors spouting things that are not true like this? >> there's all kinds of dna to treat people, mixing human

beings with demons. that's why salesforce created work.com it's an all-new suite of apps, expertise, and services. to manage this crisis today, and thrive tomorrow. everything companies need to return to the workplace. let's reopen. safely. here's another cleaning tip from mr. clean. cleaning tough bathroom and kitchen messes with sprays and wipes can be a struggle.

there's an easier way. try mr. clean magic eraser. just wet, squeeze and erase tough messes like bathtub soap scum... and caked-on grease from oven doors. now mr. clean magic eraser comes in disposable sheets. they're perfect for icky messes on stovetops... in microwaves... and all over the house. for an amazing clean, try mr. clean magic eraser, and mr. clean magic eraser sheets.

tonight education secretary betsy devos arguing against the need for a national plan on

reopening american schools. >> you know, there's not a national superintendent, nor should there be. therefore, there's not a national plan for reopening. >> one of the first school districts will reopen this friday, and it is in jefferson, georgia. that is a small city about an hour northeast of atlanta. it comes as hospitalizations in georgia rise. right now icu beds in that state are at 88%. "outfront" now amber and zack davys. they have two sons that go to schools in this district. i appreciate you both so much taking the time as a parent myself. so, amber, why do you think it's important for your sons to be back in class? i know this wasn't an easy decision, but you're going back. how come? >> well, to start, we're not able to go back on friday because our oldest son, he has coronavirus right now and i'm presumed positive. so, my husband and i are in

different rooms of the house right now because we are quarantined. so, they're going to have a late start, but they are going to go back once we're cleared medically. but we love this town. we love the people in this town. we love the teachers in the community. but we just really feel like they have not had a very good solid plan for reopening. we're concerned. it was so easy for our son to contract coronavirus even though he was doing all the right things, all the precautions. our family was doing all the precautions, no vacations or anything, wearing masks. and he just contracted it so easily and brought it to me and i'm considered high risk because of lupus. so, just watching how easily he contracted it, it concerns me because when these kids go back to school, it's just going to be a big issue. but our kids are going back, to answer your question, because they don't really have another option. we were told initially that there was no virtual option,

that everybody would be in class, and that if we wanted -- we needed to contact the special education department. and i didn't want to put my kids in special education. and then recently, it's come to light that there is a third party not through jefferson city where you can put your children into, i guess it's a home school, and then eventually they would rejoin with their jefferson classmates. but i just feel like they wouldn't be on the same playing field, and they would miss their friends, their teachers. they would miss that. >> oh, gosh, amor, i hope you're okay. i talk about being higher risk, and you mentioned your older son. i know he's 14 and he tested positive for coronavirus after summer camp. so, zack, amber's talking about the camp took all the precautions and you all were taking precautions. you were wearing masks, cabins sanitized at the camps, temperatures were taken. you were told these things are

in place to protect them but there was still an outbreak. what do you take from this that you did everything right and now here you are? >> it's scary because, i mean, like you said, the camp, they've gone and done all the precautions they can and now we're just about to shuttle all of our kids back to school. and they say, you know, you can wear masks. we're not going to make it mandatory. we recommend it. kids are going to be kids. kids are going to be -- my 8-year-old, he's going to be on the playground playing tag and running around and sneezing and coughing. kids are going to be kids. and my biggest concern is he catches something and brings it back to my wife. i feel our children are going to be fine. they'll bounce back. but somebody with lupus and -- it's a tougher fight for her. i mean, a common cold for me and you, we're down maybe two days. something like that for her, we're looking at weeks. and it's just scary.

and i mean, if you look at the nba, they're playing in a bubble right now. nfl players have people opting out of contracts because they feel it's unsafe. i feel like our kids don't really have the option to opt out because then they'll be either a, left behind -- i just wish there was a more firm plan implemented. >> it's pretty incredible they aren't. amber, i know you went to an open house for your third grader and you're concerned about the classrooms and how they're set up. what did you see that made you worry? >> first of all, it was -- i think it's just ridiculous. as much as i love this town and the people, this is a very loving town and we love kids. and we're divided. some people are ready to send their kids back and others stand with me on our side where it's just too soon and we need more options. when i went back, first of all i thought it was crazy because

they did it in small groups. so, we met in the cafeteria. there was not very many parents there, maybe 20 or 25 if i had to guess. we were all socially distanced in the cafeteria with our masks on. then they walked us around and we went to the classrooms and the desks are just kind of -- i guess they call it socially distanced but they are like boom, boom, boom. i was like oh, my gosh, this is so unsettled. some of the classrooms are round tables so you've got children across from each other and next to each other. and there's just no way to socially distance that. so, i asked the principal at the open house, i approached him very lovingly because we come from a place of love. we don't want to take our kids out of school or anything. but i went to the principal and just said what is your plan for the school buses? how can you social distance on a school bus when you have three to four children per seat? >> and he said we're doing the best that we can. and i guess he did not want to

discuss it, so i just went about my way. but i think it's so important that the parents socially distance when in a few days we're going to open the flood gates wide open and there's no way to trace. once the kids go from one class to the next class to the next class, they cannot do the tracing. we've already experienced tracing because elijah is positive and they're presuming me to be positive. so, the health department has called and we've had to be very transparent with who we've been in contact with. and i just are don't see how the high school, the middle school or for the little ones how are we going to trace because when you go home you don't know if the kid has asthma, what their parents are dealing with. >> i hope elijah is healthy and he's able to go back as i know obviously he can't go back right when they're starting. but this is one of the first districts to start. and i hope amber that you stay well. i know everyone watching hopes you stay well. both of you thank you and good luck. >> thank you for having us on. next, why is president trump

wasting his time touting doctors who say this? >> doesn't make people feel better. so, we scientists know that the masks are really quite foolish. >> no scientists don't know that. and there's a renewed push tonight to restore a key part of voting rights act in the wake of john lewis' death. will it happen? with their financial needs. with over 90 years' of investment experience, our thousands of financial professionals can help. go to prudential.com or talk to an advisor.

little things can become your big moment. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. otezla. show more of you.

tonight dr. anthony fauci made my doctors promoted by president trump. trump said he was, quote, very impressed by. brian nobles direct access to some of the most talented and respected medical minds anywhere in the world. but instead of relying on the experts, many from his own administration, the president is spreading bogus claims from doctors like this. >> all kinds of alien dna to

treat people. missioni mixing human beings with aliens. >> dr. stella immanuel much like trump is passionate about hydroxychloroquine, a drug studies have shown not to be effective in treating coronavirus. she's said some gynecology problems are the result of sex with demons and witches. still, trump has stood by her coronavirus claims. >> i was very impressed with her and other doctors that stood with her. >> reporter: she's not the only doctor whose questionable views are retweeted by the president. a collection of these protrump doctors met with mike pence yesterday, among them was dr. simone gold. >> does it make people feel better? we scientists know the masks make people feel foolish. >> this will pass. he was wrong. dr. fauci said don't ban china. don't ban china. i did.

he admitted i was right. >> reporter: trump's desire to find physicians that praise him or tell him he's right is a pattern. during his campaign he went to his long-time doctor that signed off on what trump dictated himself with a glowing recommendation of his health. today the president aforppeared with ronny jackson that went out to tote the president's stamina. >> he might live to be 200 years old. i don't know. >> reporter: politician and physician said wearing a mask should be a personal choice even though the science is clear, it can slow down the spread of the virus. and the president's desire to lean into doctors with no basis, his insistence to promote hydroxychloroquine left some supporters with a false impression. >> even if you have it, you're not worried about it? >> no. even if i did get sick from it, there is so many positive studies with the

hydroxychloroquine and zinc. >> reporter: the president's campaign fully supports his approach to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, in fact, a few weeks ago, they went in search of doctors that would back him up and his claims how to treat the virus and less than an hour from now, one of those doctors will appear on the campaign's nightly live stream. erin. >> thank you, ryan. next, new details about congressman john lewis' funeral and the important role president obama will play. just over a year ago, i was drowning in credit card debt. sofi helped me pay off twenty-three thousand dollars of credit card debt. they helped me consolidate all of that into one low monthly payment. they make you feel like it's an honor for them to help you out. i went from sleepless nights to getting my money right. so thank you. ♪

thabsolutely, it intelligently senses your movements and can it help keep me asleep? so thank you. automatically adjusts to keep you both comfortable. and now, save up to $500 on select sleep number 360 smart beds. plus no interest until january 2023 on all smart beds. only for a limited time. an army family who is always at the ready. so when they got a little surprise... two!? ...they didn't panic. they got a bigger car for their soon-to-be-bigger family. after shopping around for insurance, they called usaa - who helped find the right coverage for them and even some much-needed savings. that was the easy part. usaa insurance is made the way liz and mike need it- easy.

ulookentertainmentoure the experience: xfinity x1.t- it's the easiest way to watch live tv and all your favorite streaming apps. plus, x1 also includes peacock premium at no extra cost. this baby is the total package. it streams exclusive originals, the full peacock movie library, complete collections of iconic tv shows, and more. yup, the best really did get better. magnificent. xfinity x1 just got even better, with peacock premium included at no additional cost. no strings attached. live pictures from georgia while john lewis is being honored amid a push to restore a key part of the historic voting rights act in the wake of his death. abby phillip is "outfront." >> reporter: it was the work of his life and now, it may be his final call to action.

>> i gave blood on that bridge in alabama for the right to vote. >> reporter: the death of civil rights icon and congressman john lewis is jump starting a push to renew the 1965 voting rights act, a key part of which was largely invalidated by the u.s. supreme court in 2013. the court invalidated a key section of the act that required these states and counties with histories of discrimination to seek permission from the federal government to make election changes like eliminating or moving polling places. >> i think that we ought to dedicate this election year to john lewis. >> reporter: this year, the stakes are higher than ever democrats and civil rights activists say. >> we started 2020 seeing intense levels of voter suppression and voting discrimination and that picture has becoen compounded by the pandemic. >> reporter: across the country republican officials are

resisting efforts to expand mail in voting. >> i'm very worried about mail in voting. >> reporter: with long lines for primary voters in states like georgia and wisconsin where polling places had been moved or consolidated because of the pandemic. meanwhile, congress is frozen largely along partisan lines on additional election funding for states during the pandemic and on the voting rights act. but it wasn't always this way. >> every renewal of the voting rights act was signed into law by a republican. >> reporter: today, 12 senate republicans who voted to extend the voting rights act in 2006 are still in office. in the 2013 supreme court ruling, the justices told congress that they had the power to fix it. the democratic led house voted to restore rights in december with lewis presiding. that bill was renamed this week for the late congressman, but the senate refuses to take it up.

since the 2013 supreme court ruling, a study conducted by a civil rights group found 1,688 polling place closures from 2012 to 2018 in the states and counties that have previously been covered by the voting rights act. >> we can't under score enough, how much backsliding we have faced in the country since the 2013 ruling. >> reporter: the stakes are high l politically, too with the voting act gutted, battle ground states like arizona, georgia, florida, michigan and north carolina are no longer closely monitored. while mitch mcconnell praised lewis this week, he dismisses voter suppression as a factor telling the "wall street journal" there is very little tangible evidence in this voter suppression nonsense the democrats are promoting. former vice president joe biden calling on republicans to back their words with action. >> we heard since he passed,

especially from many of our republican friends, back it with some action. protect that second right to vote that he's willing to die for. >> reporter: abby phillip, cnn, washington. >> thanks so much to abby and thanks to you for joining us. anderson starts now. good evening. more than 150,000 american haves now died in this country's reckoning with covid-19 and though it a milestone, a terrible one to be sure it's neither just a number or statistic. it is one parent, one grandparent, a lost child and absent friend. one less measure of love in the world and many more tears, that times 150,000. i wish i could tell you the president of those 150,000 dead and their families and all of us said something about those deaths today, about the grief that so many families are feeling, but he did not. today crossing that miserable milestone of 150,000 deaths, the president ignored it. nothing about the 197