Skip to main content

tv   ABC7 News 400PM  ABC  December 14, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm PST

4:00 pm
months. governor gavin newsom made it clear this is not the time to let our guard down. governor newsom calling today -- >> a day of progress instead that fresh air of normalcy, but as stated, we have to be mindful about the moment we are there. >> the first batches of doses were delivered in four locations across the state. the first person to be vaccinated was a critical care nurse in l.a. >> i really consider encouraging everyone to receive the vaccine so we can put an end to this pandemic. >> reporter: but the state is still waiting for multiple rounds to meet its more than 320,000 doses committed by pfizer. as the virus spreads rapidly across california, governor newsom stressed, this is not the time to relax. >> today we received as many
4:01 pm
doses in the entire state of california as there were new cases in the state of california. over 33,000 new cases recorded today, averaging 31,000 new cases. >> freezers at hospitals across the state are on stand-by to receive their batch. governor newsom announcing 24 new locations will be next on tuesday and five more on wednesday. his hope, for moderna to obtain authorizations soon and for distribution to intensify. >> following up after pfizer with an additional 672, doses, potentially within a week or so. >> reporter: governor newsom also said the state is working on obtaining, quote, anywhere from 2.1 to 2.16 million doses by the end of 2020, but today was a good start. in the newsroom, luz pena,
4:02 pm
news. >> luz, do we know when the governor himself is going to receive the vaccine? >> he said he was going to wait. he'll wait until it's time for politicians to get it. right now the medical workers who are on the front lines of this pandemic will be first. we just got word that the first shipment for stantanta cl county is expected to arrive tomorrow and will go to staff members at long-term health care facilities. later doses will go the >> reporter: health officials know they have a monumental task ahead of them. >> many, many hours of planning to make sure we have the right people in place, the right product in place, the right sequencing with all the ethics in place. >> reporter: in santa clara county, 17,550 doses of the pfizer vaccine are scheduled to
4:03 pm
arrive this week. of that initial allotment, stanford health care is expected to receive 11,000 doses by friday with plans to vaccinate its work force on saturday. >> for the people who are on front line of health care and service, and they're not just doctors and nurses, they're environmental service workers, union assistance, anybody providing direct care in the higher acuity >> reporter: likely to get the vaccine is the health care person marian burian. >> i'm ready to stop the suffering for many people. >> reporter: santa clara county says they receive 35,000 doses of the vaccine next week and this is only the beginning. >> we hope this will spell the end of this pandemic. let's all stay safe, however, to be patient while we await our
4:04 pm
return to receive the vaccine. >> reporter: although it will be months before the vaccine is available to the masses, the community will ultimately decide what's best for them. >> we're trying to encourage people, give them transparent information about the vaccines and why we think it's a valuable thing to do, but it's one more decision that people need to make for themselves. >> reporter: in the south bay, chris nguyen, abc7 news. >> and santa clara county is reducing travel time for people who have tested positive for the coronavirus but are not showing symptoms. the same guidelines were put out today from the california department of public health. california has set more records with more people being hospitalized with covid-19. you heard the governor reference that at the top of the newscast. it's going up by 600 a day and now it's over 3600. the bay area capacity edged back up to 17.8%, staying above the
4:05 pm
state's threshold of 15. there were more than 33,000 newly diagnosed cases of the virus. the state's daily average for the past week has been 31,000. and while the vaccine is an extraordinarily positive step toward ending the pandemic, we are in no way out of the woods, not even close yet. abc7 anchor liz kreutz has more where things stand less than two weeks before christmas. >> reporter: as excited as we are with the covid vaccine, the current situation in california is not something to celebrate. cases continue to rise. today there were more than 33,000 new cases reported across the state. the current 14-day positivity rate is 10.5%. one week ago it was 8.4%. >> we are in the midst of the worst moment of this pandemic. today is hopeful. >> reporter: icu capacity is also still declining. the bay area is at a 17.8% capacity, not yet at the 15% threshold, but there is no sign yet the spread is slowing.
4:06 pm
in the central valley, icu capacity is currently zero. >> we are very close within the next week or so anticipating that to be replicated in other parts of this state. >> reporter: in san francisco, the county says this morning they received 2,000 doses of the vaccine at zucker hospital. at the same time cases are drastically surging. dr. grant colfax said the city has seen a 50% increase since thanksgiving. he's urging people to cancel all holiday travel. >> let's give the gift of health this holiday season. >> reporter: but there is a big question of enforcement. the current stay-at-home order has people traveling only for essential travel. i called places in san diego where my parents lived and usually i would visit for the holidays. the first four told me they
4:07 pm
would book me a place for vacation, no questions asked. one even said their pool is in use. there was a few that told me they weren't taking reservations. fa the fact they weren't being precaution means we have to. >> you certainly won't be able to get away with what you had before. >> reporter: now, if you're thinking you can stop wearing a mask after you get the vaccine, think again. experts say masks and social distancing will still be recommended and required for some time after people are vaccinated. the reason? at least two of the vaccines require two shots, and the effects are not immediate. and even once vaccine supplies start ramping up, getting hundreds of millions of shots into people's arms is expected to take months, so hang onto that mask for a while. for vet latethe very latest on
4:08 pm
vaccine, go to the vaccine app and get news as they happen. tonight you'll want to watch a special edition of sh shot." . xavier to seek covid info. >> if amazon the next day can deliver an 85-inch tv, it should be able to deliver to the department of justice the straightforward information we requested of them four months ago. >> the state wants to know which amazon facilities have the highest covid rates. it's also seeking documents about any lawsuits or investigations by other agencies or individuals. a busy day for firefighters in oakland and union city.
4:09 pm
sky 7 spotted two fires this morning, including this one showing a big rig engulfed in flames at a at elvarado and niles road. a huge plume of smoke was in the back at about 11:00. no one chs injured. a christmas tree was on fire in oakland. check out the smoke coming from the fourth floor of an apartment building on 7th and adeline. firefighters were able to contain the blaze to that one unit. no one was injured. vaccine watch continues. tomorrow we'll have more on double doses and the timeline. it is official. the electoral college has voted. saying goodbye. the cliff house iconic restaurant saying goodbye. what they told abc7 news today.
4:10 pm
a bright start to ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic®! ♪ (announcer) once-weekly ozempic® is helping many people with type 2 diabetes like emily lower their blood sugar. a majority of adults who took ozempic® reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. here's your a1c. oh! my a1c is under 7! (announcer) and you may lose weight. adults who took ozempic® lost on average up to 12 pounds. i lost almost 12 pounds! oh! (announcer) for those also with known heart disease, ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death. it lowers the risk. oh! and i only have to take it once a week. oh! ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic®! ♪ (announcer) ozempic® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles.
4:11 pm
do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to ozempic®. stop taking ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, itching, rash, or trouble breathing. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your doctor if you have diabetic retinopathy or vision changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
4:12 pm
stomach pain, and constipation. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ visit your volvo retailer for special offers during our holiday safely sales event. joseph r. biden from delaware, a democrat. ayes 55, no's, zero.
4:13 pm
>> and with that history at the state capital in sacramento, electors broke into applause after they pledged california's 55 electoral college votes for joe biden, pushing him past the 272 votes need to do win the presidency. the final step of the constitutional process comes on january 6th when the votes will be in a joint session of congress. joining us right now is california democratic party women's caucus chair christine pelosi fresh from the vote. christine, good to see you. >> good to see you. we're all just leaving the capital now. the electors and tellers and staff. >> i can see that you are enthusiastic, no doubt excited. you are a veteran elector so this is not your first go-round at this, but did this year seem different somehow? did this task seem weightier because of all the drama surrounding the election? >> if anything it felt lighter because we won.
4:14 pm
four years ago it was shrouded in negativity and concern about russian interference in our elections, and this time there was a clear winner in joe biden and kamala harris. there was such joy in the chamber for california's own kamala harris to be elected vice president of the united states, and there was a special pride that we took as californians because our 55 votes put the ticket over the top. >> what changes were made this year to the process due to covid? >> well, as you can tell, i'm in a mask. we were actually in these n-95 masks. everyone had to wear one, of course, and get their temperatures checked. in fact, there were a few electors who could not come, so mattie scott, susan pelosi's elector from the brady campaign, made a motion to put substitute
4:15 pm
electors in. we were all distant from each other, no observers, and the entire capital was closed with barricades up and around to make sure that everybody complied with the covid regulations. >> what about the actual vote? it was livecast, so i did get to see some of it, but what did you as an elector actually have to do to cast your vote and how many things did you have to sign? walk us through that process. >> i was a teller, so this year we were collecting signatures as opposed to signing them, but all the electors had to sign six different ballots for president and six ballots for vice president. they go to various places. some went right down the hall to the secretary of state's office, other copies will go to the national archives, to the white house, to the congress of the united states, and to the federal judge that sits in the northern district of california where sacramento is located. >> what about, you mentioned the capital and the security around
4:16 pm
there. i guess it all went pretty smoothly is what we're hearing, and i wonder if you feel a great sense of relief in that, as you know, in some states electors had to kind of keep their meeting room a secret due to threats of violence. is that something as an elector you had ever considered before? >> well, the fact of the matter is, the capital was closed. there was a big munitions truck that drove by, all black, with signs from the opposition on it. there were helicopters overhead. so there was some sort of a protest. but the whole capital here in california was barricaded. so no one could get into the capital park, friend or foe of the process, and you had to protest a couple blocks away. so that made it safe, but it was very eerie for us. because normally these events are civic events, they're full of people and crowds and media and, you know, protesters
4:17 pm
protesting everything, protesting that someone won, someone lost or what issues they want to care about, and it was all happening in a very h hermetically sealed environment. so it was really almost like being on a movie set. if you've ever been to a movie set where they're going to fill in the crowd later by virtual technology, but for now all we had were about, you know, 80 people in the capital and everybody else just watching from home or far, far away outside. >> so we mentioned january 6th is the next step, the big date. tell us what's going to happen that day, because there were talks about alternate electors, that perhaps the republicans can try to bring up. do you expect republicans to actually support that in any way on the floor? >> well, you never say never, but what happens is, and i've been in the capital twice when
4:18 pm
this has happened before, we have a peaceful transfer of power in america. we were ballots, not bullets, and we remember this today since it's the sandy hook anniversary. that's why i'm wearing green, for the school colors of sandy hook. the fact of the matter is what's happened before every single time is the vice president who sits as president of the united states senate goes to a joint session of congress, which is held in the house chamber. it's where people see the president make addresses to the joint session of congress, it's where foreign leaders address the congress. it's just a bigger chamber. so the vice president goes in and opens up all of those votes that have been sent, the copy that everybody signed to be sent to congress, they get unsealed and opened up, and the vice president of the united states, the president of the senate, reads the results. and at that point -- reareads t states and the electoral votes for each candidate.
4:19 pm
after that, members of congress can object to the acceptance of a particular state. and if they do, it takes a senator to second the motion to challenge the vote, and then at that point there is a debate. so we do anticipate that there will be some kind of motion made by the republicans and that a republican senator may second that motion. but even if they do, joe biden will still be president of the united states and kamala harris will still be vice president of the united states on january 6th. >> christine pelosi, chair of the democratic party women's caucus, thank you so very much in explaining what you did today as an elector. larry, of course, president-elect biden will be speaking at 4:30, as you know, and abc news will be carrying that. moving on. despite less than perfect conditions, people in south america were treated to a spectacular site today. those living in argentina and chile got to see day turn to night and back again this afternoon thanks to the only
4:20 pm
total eclipse of 2020. the moon blotted out the sun for nearly two minutes. coronavirus restrictions limited where people could stand. thousands of visitors went to chile and argentina kept the surge of watchers there. we saw rain coming down. a little bit of a break the next two days, though. >> it was fantastic, you guys. it was a soaking rain yesterday. we're drying out today but our next storm is quickly approaching, so more rain is coming this week. live doppler 7 along the satellite we're now showing you. we are dry, we have clear skies as the sun is slowly setting in the western hemisphere. high surf advisory out until 7:00 p.m. you can see wave heights anywhere from about 11 to 15 feet currently. breakers up to 20 feet are possible, but it's good that our
4:21 pm
ocean current is slowly relaxing over the next couple of hours, so we do anticipate those waves coming down in height. the coastal flood advisory in effect thanks to the king tides again. king tides are the highest tide we have all year, so next high tide tomorrow morning, shortly after 11:00 a.m., we could see mealized flooding. temperatures very december out there on this monday. 53 in the city, 58 in oakland, 56 in san jose, 57 in stantanta rosa. tonight the big story. we have clear skies early on, and then after midnight we'll find increasing cloud cover. we'll turn mostly cloudy, but still, it's a chilly night out there. numbers falling to the mid-30s and mid-40s first thing tomorrow morning. future weather, you'll find those clouds increasing first thing tomorrow morning. it's a partly sunny day as a warm front moves through. that warm front trying to spark a sprinkle from ukiah park, but
4:22 pm
most areas tomorrow will remain dry. highs on your tuesday, upper 50s to lower 60s. not as bright of a day thanks to that increased cloud cover, but soon those clouds will give way to rain on wednesday. the storm impact scale, a level 1 system we have here with rain arriving north to south wednesday night. the heaviest rain occurs overnight into thursday morning. it looks like most areas between a quarter and three-quarters inches of rain. we'll time out this system for you. wednesday evening just some light sprinkles in the north bay. it's not until after the sun goes down on wednesday, by 10:00 at night, that front is moving into the north bay. early in the morning on thursday, 2:00 a.m., there you can see that front essentially through the heart of the bay area, and then as you go through the morning hours, that front will continue to sink to the south. again, you can see rainfall potential. i think a good shot a quarter three-quarters inches of rain. we also have a winter storm watch in effect for the sierra.
4:23 pm
more snow coming there probably 6 to 9 inches with this storm. clouds increasing tomorrow. there's that rain arriving at night on wednesday. heaviest overnight into thursday. then thursday, morning rain to scattered showers, and we'll brighten up our skies as we head into the my body is truly powerful. i have the power to lower my a1c. because my body can still make its own insulin. and trulicity activates my body to release it, lowering my blood sugar from the first dose. once-weekly trulicity responds when my body needs it, 24/7. trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. it's not insulin. it isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer,
4:24 pm
or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include indigestion, fatigue, belly pain, decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting which can lead to dehydration and may worsen kidney problems. i have it within me to lower my a1c. ask your doctor about trulicity.
4:25 pm
twto treat acute, non-low back stmuscle and joint pain doctors with topical nsaids first. a formulation they recommend can be found in salonpas. a formulation they recommend can be found in salonpas. salonpas. it's good medicine. hisamitsu. welcome back.
4:26 pm
the santa clara supervisor is working to end period poverty in the south bay. they held a news conference today to discuss $1 million in funding for period products for women who can't afford them during the pandemic. she says thousands of women in the county are struggling to afford the products. >> we have a lot of our front line employees really wanting to go to work. if you don't have access to period products and you have to call in sick because you don't have a way to be clean and feel sanitary and feel the confidence you need to feel to go out in the world, then we are really double impacting high need populations. >> the board will hold a final vote on the contract tomorrow. don't want to panic you, but the clock is ticking. if you're sending gifts to loved ones and want to get them there in time for christmas, tomorrow is a big deadline for the u.s. postal service. it's the last day to ensure delivery by christmas for retail ground shipping. shipping for those items takes between two and eight business
4:27 pm
days. the vaccine is here. now what? a look at
4:28 pm
4:29 pm
we are at a crucial point in the covid-19 pandemic now that a vaccine is finally in use. abc7 news is dedicating this entire week to what you need to know right now. our team of reporters and medical experts will answer your questions every day. abc7 news reporter kate larson has a look at the latest of all four vaccines on trial in the u.s., the importance of double doses as well as the expedited trial timeline. >> reporter: herculean efforts
4:30 pm
by scientists and musicians around the world have meant more than 150 pandemics currently. focus is on the big four. on december 8, images of people in the u.k. receiving the pfizer vaccine, the first ever authorized covid vaccine, was celebrated around the world with celebration. a few minutes later, the food and drug administration authorized pfizer for the u.s. now americans are getting vaccinated. on thursday the fda will consider -- >> all right. we'll have more on the vaccines coming up, but right now a special report from abc news. let's hear from george stephanopolous. >> -- cast their votes for president and vice president in the united states is an act as
4:31 pm
old as the nation itself. in america, the rule of law, the constitution and the will of the people prevail. our democracy pushed, threatened, proved to be resilient, true and strong. the electoral college votes which occurred today reflect the fact that it's even stronger than what we're experiencing in our lifetimes. they voted in numbers. more voters voted this year than ever in america. more than 65 million votersss determined to have their voices heard. many were wondering how many americans would actually vote at all due to the pandemic. but those fears were unfounded. we found something very few predicted, even thought
4:32 pm
possible, the biggest voter turnout in the history of the united states of america. a number so big that this election now ranks as the clearest demonstration of the true will of the american people, one of the most amazing demonstrations of civic duty we've ever seen in our country. it should be celebrated, not attacked. more than 81 million of those votes were cast for me and vice president-elect harris. that, too, is a record. more than any ticket has received in the history of america. it represents the winning margin of more than 7 million votes over the number of votes cast for my opponent. together the vice president-elect harris and i earned 306 electoral votes while exceeding the 270 electoral votes needed to make history. 360 is the same number of
4:33 pm
electoral votes that vice president pence and president trump received in 2016. at the time, president trump calls the electoral college tally a landslide. by his own standards, these numbers represented a clear victory then, and i respectfully suggest they do so now. if anyone didn't know before, they know now. but it beawhat beats deep in th hearts of the american people is this: democracy. the right to be heard, to have your vote counted, to choose leaders of this nation to govern ourselves. in america politicians don't take power, people grant power to them. the flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago, and we now know nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power, can extinguish that flame. and as the people kept it
4:34 pm
aflame, so, too, did courageous state and local officials and election workers. american democracy works because america makes it work at a local level. one of the extraordinary things we saw this year was that everyday americans, our friends and our neighbors, often volunteers, democrats, republicans, independents, demonstrating absolute courage. they showed a deep and unwavering faith in and a commitment to the law. they did their duty in the face of a pandemic. and then they could not and would not give credence to what they knew is not true. they knew this election was overseen, was overseen by them and was honest, it was free, and it was fair. they saw with their own eyes and they wouldn't be bullied into saying anything different. it was truly remarkable, because so many of these patriotic americans are subject to so
4:35 pm
much. enormous political pressure, verbl abuse and even threats of physical violence. but we all wish that our fellow americans in these positions will always show such courage and commitment to free and fair elections. it is my sincere hope we never again see anyone subjected to the kinds of threats and abuse we saw in this election. it's simply unconscionable. we owe these public servants a debt of gratitude. they didn't seek the spotlight. you know, our democracy survived because of them, which is proof once more that it's everyday americans infused with honor, character and decency that is the heart of this nation. you know, in this election, their integrity was matched by their strength, independence and the integrity of our judicial system. in america, when questions are raised about the legitimacy of
4:36 pm
any election, those questions are resolved through the legal processes. and that's precisely what happened here. the trump campaign brought dozens and dozens and dozens of legal challenges to test the result. they were heard again and again. and each of the times they were heard, they were found to be without merit. time and again, president trump's lawyers presented arguments to state officials, state legislatures, state and federal courts, and ultimately to the united states supreme court twice. they are heard by more than 80 judges across this country, and in every case no cause or evidence was found to reverse or question or dispute the results. a few states went for recounts. all the counts were confirmed. results in georgia were counted three times. it didn't change the outcome. the recount conducted in wisconsin actually saw our
4:37 pm
margin grow. a margin we had in michigan was 14 times the margin president trump won that state by four years ago. our margin in pennsylvania was nearly twice the size of the trump margin four years ago. and yet none of this has stopped baseless claims about the legitimacy of the results. even more stunning, 17 republican attorneys general and 126 republican members of the congress actually -- they actually signed onto a lawsuit filed by the state of texas. that lawsuit asked the united states supreme court to reject the certified vote counts in georgia, michigan, pennsylvania and wisconsin. this legal maneuver was an effort by elected officials and one group of states to try to get the supreme court to wipe out the votes of more than 20 million americans in other states. and to hand the presidency to a
4:38 pm
candidate who lost the electoral college, lost the popular vote and lost each and every one of the states whose votes they were trying to reverse. it's a position so extreme, we've never seen it before. a position that refused to respect the word of the people, refused to respect the law and refused to respect our constitution. thankfully, a unanimous supreme court immediately and completely rejected this effort. the court sent a clear signal to president trump that they would be no part of an unprecedented assault on our democracy. every single avenue was made available for president trump to contest the results. he took full advantage of each and every one of those avenues. president trump was denied no course of action he wanted to take. he took his case to republican governors and republican secretary of state as he
4:39 pm
criticized many of them. to republican state legislatures, to republican-appointed judges at every level. in a case decided after the supreme court's latest rejection, a judge appointed by president trump wrote, quote, this court has allowed the plaintiff the chance to make his case, and he has lost on the merits, end of quote. lost on the merits. even president trump's own cybersecurity chief overseeing our elections said it was the most secure election in american histo history. and summarily was let go. let me say it again. his own cybersecurity chief overseeing this election said it was the most secure in american history. respecting the word of the people is at the heart of our democracy. even when we find those results hard to accept. but that's the obligation of
4:40 pm
those who have taken on a sworn duty to uphold the constitution. four years ago when i was a sitting vice president of the united states, it was my responsibility to announce the tally of the electoral college votes in the joint session of congress, who had voted to elect donald trump. i did my job. and i'm pleased, but not surprised, when a number of my former republican colleagues in the senate have acknowledged already the results of the electoral college. i thank them. and i'm convinced we can work together for the good of the nation on many subjects. that's the duty owed to the people to our constitution, to our history. you know, in this battle for the soul of america, democracy prevailed. we the people voted. faith in our institutions held. the integrity of our elections remains intact, and now it's time to turn the page as we've done throughout our history to
4:41 pm
unit, to heal. as i said in this campaign, i will be president for all americans. i'll work just as hard for those of you who didn't vote for me as i will for those who did. there is urgent work in front of us. getting this pandemic under control and getting the nation vaccinated against this virus. delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many americans who are hurting today. and then building our economy back better than it ever was. and doing so, we need to work together to give each other a chance, to lower the temperature, and most of all, we need to stand in solidarity as fellow americans. to see each other, our pain, our struggles, our hopes and our dreams. we're a great nation. we're good people. we comay come from different
4:42 pm
places, different beliefs, but we share in common a love for this country, a belief in its limitless possibilities. for we, the united states of america, has always set the example for the world for a peaceful transition of power. we'll do so again. i know the task before us won't be easy. it's tempered by the pain so many of us are feeling. today our nation passed a grim milestone. 300,000 deaths due to this covid virus. my heart goes out to each of you in this dark winter of the pandemic. you're about to spend the holidays and the new year with a black hole in your hearts without the ones you loved at your side. my heart goes out to all of you who have fallen on hard times through no fault of your own. unable to sleep at night, staring at the ceiling, weighed down by the worry of what
4:43 pm
tomorrow will bring for you, and equally important, for your family. but we faced difficult times before in our history. i know we'll get through this one but together. that's how we get through it, together. so as we start the hard work to be done, may this moment give us the strength to rebuild this house of ours upon a rock that can never be washed away. as in the prayer of st. francis, for where there is discord, union. where there is doubt, faith. where there is darkness, light. this is who we are as a nation. this is the america we love. and that is the america we're going to be. so thank you all, may god bless you, and may god protect our troops and all those who stand watch over our democracy. thank you. >> just a couple hours after the electoral college awarded joe biden 306 electoral votes,
4:44 pm
enough to make him president-elect as you see him give a hug to his wife, dr. jill biden, there. the president comes out and says the will of the american people has prevailed in about a 15-minute address where he repeatedly cleared his throat. he seemed to be fighting a cough or a cold. he talked about how he and kamala harris received more votes than any ticket in history. a decisive rebuke to the efforts of president trump the last couple of weeks to try to overturn this election. i want to bring in mary bruce who has been covering the biden campaign from washington, d.c. right now. the president-elect really seemed to be reaching out to those voters out there in the country who believe this election was rigged, who bought president trump's notion that there was somehow fraud involved in this election. he spoke directly to them with facts. >> and, george, joe biden is very clearly trying to close this divisive chapter in our nation's history and turn the
4:45 pm
page, speaking over and over again, as we have throughout this entire -- his entire campaign about the need to bring the country together and to heal, reaching out to all americans, not just those who supported him. he knows that he has a real challenge ahead of him here, especially as president trump and many of his supporters view joe biden as illegitimate given the president's repeated false claims and efforts to overturn the election results. what really struck me about those remarks is just how forceful joe biden was in his comments about the president. i think those are some of the strongest remarks we've heard from him yet throughout this really remarkable divisive six-week period since the election. joe biden systemically just tore apart the president's argument here, noting that he took every legal avenue, every possible avenue in front of him to try and fight these results, to try and fight that te will of the pe here, and yet he failed at every turn. and joe biden is saying, look, even if you do support the president, biden will be your president going forward, but
4:46 pm
that is a lot easier said than done, getting all of trump's supporters to now believe in and back the biden administration. >> may i remind everybody that four years ago he actually presided over the senate as vice president when the votes were counted for donald trump. mary, it's one of the questions right now as you've seen well over 100 republicans in the house support the president's lawsuits going to the supreme court. you've seen republican senators reluctant to acknowledge that president-elect biden is indeed the president-elect. is that starting to change in the wake of the electoral college vote today? >> a little bit of change. but, george, the majority of republicans still have refused to admit that joe biden will be the next president. and many of them have been pointing to the electoral college, giving them some cover in making that argument. well, that cover is now gone, so they are going to have to come out and face the reality that joe biden won this election. we have tonight seen some cracks in that republican armor, some top republicans coming out and
4:47 pm
acknowledging the reality here. but overwhelmingly, the majority of republicans still aren't willing to go there or aren't willing, even if they are willing to acknowledge that biden will win, they aren't willing to say to trump, mr. president, this fight is over. and it just goes to show that the republican party is donald trump's party. donald trump has a very strong grip on the republican party. and even if privately some may have been willing to acknowledge that biden, in fact, won this election, they have not been willing to do so publicly yet, many for fear that president trump could retaliate. we did see this really remarkable moment today, george. paul mitchell of michigan, a republican, coming out and saying he is leaving the party over the way that they have responded to this election, saying that his colleagues' refusal to admit biden's win was, quote, demoralizing and disgusting. he said, if you can't admit you lost, you shouldn't be in leadership. >> whether they acknowledged it or not, joe biden will be president on january 20th. he will take the oath of office at noon. the electoral voted today.
4:48 pm
306 electoral votes for joe biden, certified. that's actually two more than trump ended up getting back in 2016. we'll go back ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic®! ♪ (announcer) once-weekly ozempic® is helping many people with type 2 diabetes like emily lower their blood sugar. a majority of adults who took ozempic® reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. here's your a1c. oh! my a1c is under 7! (announcer) and you may lose weight. adults who took ozempic® lost on average up to 12 pounds. i lost almost 12 pounds! oh! (announcer) for those also with known heart disease, ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death. it lowers the risk. oh! and i only have to take it once a week. oh! ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic®! ♪
4:49 pm
(announcer) ozempic® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles. do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to ozempic®. stop taking ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, itching, rash, or trouble breathing. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your doctor if you have diabetic retinopathy or vision changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
4:50 pm
good giveaways are underway all across the bay area, including silicon valley. they staged day 2 of their
4:51 pm
holiday drive-thru gift card and food giveaway today. the pandemic, of course, is changing all that. >> we estimate 25% to 30% of people in sunnyvale, if not more, are going to be skipping meals and are going to be food-insecure. we're giving out gift cards, we're giving out lots of food today, and we hope some hope for the families who are really suffering right now. >> organizers say they're grateful to all those who have donated their time, money and energy to help the less fortunate. sacred heart community service in san jose began its annual distribution event today. the organization usually hands out toys to families that pre-register. this year they're giving away $50 target gift cards. more than 2300 families signed up. that actually is the same as last year, but staffers say this year it took only a week to fill all the appointments when usually it takes three to four
4:52 pm
weeks. the giveaway will continue through the end of the week. great to see people getting some help. >> absolutely. hey, we had some rain. that was next couple days. we'll find temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s. those clouds in advance of a storm we're tracking on wednesday. so the storm impact scale, level 1 light storm wednesday evening into thursday morning. the heaviest rain will fall overnight into thursday morning, about a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain expected. so there's those clouds increasing tomorrow. there's the storm we'll track wednesday night into thursday morning becausefore we brighten our skies for the rest of the forecast. just prior to hearing from president-elect biden, we were showing you a story about the vaccine. you can still see that story on abc7 news at 6:00. up next, the end o hi, i'm mike. jack hired me to tell you about his bagel breakfast sandwiches with bacon or sausage.
4:53 pm
jack i thought you hired me to be the spokesperson! why choose one when you can have two? my 2 for $5 bagel breakfast sandwiches. why choose one when you can have two? ♪ do you recall, not long ago ♪ we would walk on the sidewalk ♪ ♪ all around the wind blows ♪ we would only hold on to let go ♪ ♪ blow a kiss into the sun ♪ we need someone to lean on ♪ blow a kiss into the sun ♪ all we needed somebody to lean on ♪ ♪ ♪ the volvo xc90 recharge plug-in hybrid. ♪ ♪ pick the speed that's right for you, with options faster than gig. and get reliable internet with top-notch coverage. plus, help keep your data safe and private with security included. no antlers on the table.
4:54 pm
how come you get to eat first? get started with this great offer, or ask about our fastest speed, 2 gig up and down. switch today.
4:55 pm
bagel breakfast sandwiches with bacon or sausage. whoa, mark. jack hired me! i got a contract. you mean like this one? why choose one when you can have two? my 2 for $5 bagel breakfast sandwiches. . it's "the bachelorette", the men tell all. at 10:00, "the shot: race for the vaccine." stay with us for abc7 news at 11:00. it's the end of an era for the san francisco iconic cliff house. abc7 news reporter wayne freedman spent time inside today as the family that has run the franchise began to take it apart. >> if you believe only what you read, there will be service in san francisco's world-famous cliff house today.
4:56 pm
but that can be deceiving. if you haven't heard, prepare for the rude reality of a locked door. >> it's a disgrace. what's wrong with san francisco? what's going on? >> maybe it's the national park service for letting the lease lapse. >> let's put it this way. somebody didn't get their job done in a timely manner. >> mary hunt spoke with us long distance today. she and her husband first took the franchise in 1977. it's been family operated ever since. that's their son-in-law, ralph burton, the general manager. he's now in charge of closing up the place. the pandemic, their last straw. >> well, it's sad. you know, but it needs to get done. >> the sad part is that so many generations of san franciscans have great memories inside this building. the question now, what will become of it? the national park service won't say. we too are disappointed about
4:57 pm
the temporary disruption of services, the nps said in part. >> i just think they're in a disconnect with local, washington, and regional. >> it began as roadside attraction and changed with time. it burned down shortly after the 1906 earthquake and has witnessed ship wrecks and glamour. the 130 pictures here testify to a century's worth of who's who for whom the cliff house was a place to be. >> all the pictures you see here, they're all signed and autographed. it's a huge collection. >> now they're just interesting relics. the family might put everything in storage or auction it off. >> i hate to see it end like this, but this is the way it's going to probably go. >> the last 47 years, now another footnote in the history of this grand iconic structure. at the cliff house in san
4:58 pm
francisco, wayne freedman, abc7 news. joint pain, swelling, tenderness. my psoriasis. cosentyx works on all of this. cosentyx can help you look and feel better by treating the multiple symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms, if your inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, or if you've had a vaccine, or plan to. serious allergic reactions may occur. watch me! get real relief with cosentyx.
4:59 pm
try nature's bounty sleep 3 a unique tri layer supplement, that calms you helps you fall a sleep faster and stay a sleep longer. great sleep comes naturally with sleep 3 only from nature's bounty
5:00 pm
next at 5:00, shipments of the coronavirus vaccine to bay area counties begins. but one county says its supply is being delayed. a southern california nurse expressing her feelings about being among the very first to get the vaccine. seniors are among those getting priority for the vaccine. the question is, are they inclined to take it? jockeying for position. farm workers explain why they should be at the front line for the vaccine. people are getting vaccine injected into their arms. i mean, that is an historic, unprecedented achievement. >> that is dr. anthony fauci describing today's vaccine

75 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on