this morning" a little bit later this morning. and you can follow us online any time at cbsnews.com. i'm kris van cleave. it's tuesday, october 13th, 2020. this is the "cbs morning news." wasting no time. president trump hits the campaign trail one week after being released from the hospital. plus, joe biden gives new insight on packing the supreme court. three weeks away as election day approaches, early voters in georgia wait hours in line to cast a ballot while bogus ballot boxes start showing up in california neighborhoods. breaking overnight, a possible vaccine setback. another company in the u.s. halts its clinical trial after a volunteer gets sick.

good morning. good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. we are going to start things off today with day two of confirmation hearings for supreme court nominee amy coney barrett. this morning she'll face tough questions with democratic senators who oppose her nomination, especially so close to the election. meantime, president trump is back in washington after holding his first rally since being diagnosed with the coronavirus. he talked for about an hour to supporters in florida claiming he's healthy and he even joked about kissing everyone in the crowd. so, laura podesta, you are in washington. laura, were there any coronavirus safety precautions in this event? >> there were a few. a rally was held outside. large crowds are asking for trouble. >> president trump tossed masks

into the crowd at this rally in florida last night though many in the audience weren't wearing one. >> i feel so powerful. >> reporter: mr. trump is feeling so powerful. >> i'll walk in there and kiss everyone in that audience. >> i'll kiss the guys and the beautiful women. when you're the president, you can't lock yourself in the basement. >> campaigning in ohio, joe biden criticized republicans for rushing through a supreme court nomination. >> in the middle of this pandemic, why do republicans have time to hold a hearing on a supreme court providing a significant economic need. >> reporter: on capitol hill they started the confirmation hearings with opening statements. republicans are defending their decision to fast track the process this close to election day. >> this is a vacancy that has

occurred through a tragic loss of a great woman and we're going to fill that vacancy with another great woman. >> i think this hearing is a sham. i think it shows real messed up priorities for the republican parties. >> reporter: for the next two days republicans are expected to grill on health care, abortion rights and the election. >> courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life. >> reporter: republicans hope to confirm her about one week before election day. senators will have 30 minutes each to question coney barrett today and tomorrow. chairman lindsey graham wants that committee vote to happen on october 22nd, anne-marie. laura, joe biden was also out there campaigning. he finally gave his clearest answer yet when it comes to adding seats on the supreme court, what people called packing the court. what did he say? >> reporter: he sure did. he told our cbs affiliate in

cincinnati he is not a fan of court packing. he said he is reluctant to talk about the future because the public should be focused on the confirmation hearings happening right now. he said, quote, that's the court packing the public should be focused on. anne-marie. >> laura podesta in washington. thank you so much, laura. >> thanks. we are now 21 days away from the presidential election. in georgia there was a big turnout as early in person voting kicked off yesterday. let's check out these long lines in atlanta. some voters reported waiting as long as six hours. one woman told us she thought that she beat the crowd by arriving early. >> i wanted to go back in my car and change my mind, go back home because the line was so long. i thought by me getting up early, i said, well, nobody will hardly be out here. this line is long. >> reporter: record turnout is expected for this year's presidential election. people are being encouraged to cast their ballots early amid

fears of exposure to the coronavirus. and in california there is a battle over unofficial ballot boxes set up by republicans in at least three counties, los angeles, orange, and fresno. the state's chief election officer has ordered gop lawmakers to remove the boxes saying they are illegal. now california's attorney general is threatening to prosecute anyone trying to improperly solicit ballots. >> please, if you see something that doesn't look right when it comes to the elections, to the proper way to vote, please say something. something will be done to make sure that your vote is protected. >> republicans have been ordered to remove the drop boxes by thursday. the california republican party said state law tows not specifically ban them from collecting ballots in a box. they say the law only prevents tampering or forging ballots.

breaking overnight, johnson & johnson is pausing its coronavirus vaccine trial after a volunteer suffered an unexplained illness. the company said it is looking into whether the illness is related to the shot. the late stage study is now the second one currently on hold here in the u.s. last month astrazeneca temporarily stopped its trial after a patient was diagnosed with a neurological condition. meanwhile, the mayor of manchester, tennessee, died from coronavirus. lonnie norman died. he was 79 years old. now his death comes as new cases of covid are on the rise in 39 states. average daily deaths are also going up in ten states compared to two weeks ago. one of the hardest hit spots is the midwest. adriana diaz reports from chicago. >> reporter: with the nation seeing nearly 50,000 cases

today, an ominous warning from public health officials. >> we are truly headed into the fall with a could he video individual virus disaster on our hands? >> reporter: seeing roughly twice as many cases as the spring. >> i hope these numbers jolt the american public into the realization it's on a trajectory of getting worse and worse. >> reporter: are we still in the first wave or is this the second wave? >> i don't believe this infection is being transmitted in waves. what it is, it's more like a coronavirus forest fire where, in fact, it burns, burns, burns. as soon as you let off the brake, then it all comes back again. >> reporter: there he is a flflairup in the northeast wher cases are up 40%. in wisconsin a judge ruled against a group voting against the mask mandate. >> i don't know if i'm going to make it. >> reporter: he's angry but resilient. >> i want to survive this so i

can take care of my family. i have a he got a 10-year-old boy. i'm going to fight this with every breath i got. it's going to take every breath i got. >> that was adriana diaz reporting. ahead on "cbs this morning," we'll talk with new york's governor andrew cuomo as his state sees rising cases and hospitalizations. he'll talk about the challenging fall season and the other chances of another state lockdown. five men facing federal charges in an alleged plot to kidnap michigan governor gretchen whitmer will be in court today. during the hearing a judge will decide whether the suspects should be detained before trial. they are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping which is punishable by life in prison. a sixth man is being held in delaware. according to a criminal complaint, they had conducted surveillance of whitmer's

vacation home in august and september. coming up on the "cbs morning news," the wife of pennsylvania's lieutenant governor said she was the victim of a racist attack. fans make a comeback. baseball fans hit the stands for the first time this season for the national league championship series. this is the "cbs morning news." is is the "cbs morning news." or, little things can become your big moment. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. for psoriatic arthritis, otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. 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.

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this has been medifacts for microban 24. a blast of immune support and the confidence to take on the day. that's why airborne is the only #1 pharmacist recommended immune support brand. airborne. your daily dose of confidence. roberta mccain, the mother of late arizona senator john mccain has died at the amg of 108. she is remembered for her feisty spirit on the campaign trail in 2008. she remained active well into her 90s. senator mccain's wids dow, cind said she couldn't have asked for a better role model or friend than her mother-in-law. well, the fans are back for major league baseball, and the second lady of pennsylvania said she was verbally attacked. those are some of the headlines on the morning newstand.

the pittsburgh "post-gazette" said the wife of pennsylvania's lieutenant governor was the target of a racial slur at a grocery store. she's originally from brazil. she said she was confronted on sunday by a woman who appeared to recognize her at the western pennsylvania store in forest hills. she says that the woman began harassing her in the store and again outside. wh when federman said she went to her car, she called her the "n" word. toppled statues were hauled away by city crews after protesters used chains and power tools to overturn them. it happened sunday night during what was called a declaration of rage against columbus day. both statues had stood since the 1920s. police say several buildings were also damaged. they declared a riot and three people were arrested. >> after people engaged in their

acts of criminal destruction and violence, they were bragging about it on social media, and they were celebrating their victory. and i want all of those folks to wake up this morning and realize what they actually did. >> portland has been the scene of violent protests over the past few months. statues of george washington and thomas jefferson have also been toppled. "usa today" says baseball welcomed back fans for the first time this year at last night's national league championship series opener. major league baseball says it is selling 11,500 tickets per game for the series at globe life field in arlington, texas. the los angeles dodgers and atlanta braves are playing at the neutral site because, of course, of the pandemic. fans have not been allowed at games since the season resumed in july. they have to wear masks except when eating or drinking. the braves won the game. all right.

so still ahead, a very rare gem. the world's largest diamond of its kind hits the auction block. how much this pink rock is expected to fetch. these are real people, not actors, who've got their eczema under control. with less eczema, you can show more skin. so roll up those sleeves. and help heal your skin from within with dupixent. dupixent is the first treatment of its kind that continuously treats moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis, even between flare ups. dupixent is a biologic, and not a cream or steroid. many people taking dupixent saw clear or almost clear skin, and, had significantly less itch. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which is severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems, such as eye pain or vision changes, or a parasitic infection. if you take asthma medicines, don't change or stop them without talking to your doctor.

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get your wallet ready. amazon prime day is officially underway. the company says great deals are available on a variety of products, including electronics, toys, beauty supplies and clothing. the event typically takes place in july but was delayed due to the pandemic. it lasts until the end of tomorrow. prime day sales could reach nearly $10 billion this year. on the "cbs moneywatch" now, microsoft takes down a hacking operation and a rare diamond hits the auction block. naomi ruchim is in new york with those stories and more. good morning, naomi. >> reporter: good morning to you, anne-marie. investors looking forward to a batch of corporate earnings results set for release this morning. it comes as stocks yesterday kicked off the week in positive territory. the dow rallied 250 points. the nasdaq jumped 296 points and the s&p 500 adding 57 points. microsoft announced it has

taken down a powerful hacking tool used by a major cyber crime digital network. the bot net called trickbot uses more than 1 million zombie computers to loot bank accounts and spread ransom wear. experts warn trickbot could be a major threat to the upcoming election in november. microsoft was ordered to take down the bot command centers. it is difficult to know how effective it will be. facebook is banning posts that defly ny or distort the holocaust. it will start directing people to authoritative sources. mark zuckerberg announced the policy yesterday. it's the latest attempt to take action against conspiracy theories and misinformation ahead of the election. and now's your chance to own this rare gem if you've got tons of cash.

this purple/pink diamond mined in russia will soon be on the auction block. it's more than 14 carats and is internally flawless. it's expected to fetch as much as $38 million. the oval gem is named after a russian ballet, the spirit of rose. it is the largest of its kind to be offered at auction. sotheby's says it will go under the hammer next month, anne-marie. hanukkah, christmas around the corner. maybe you're looking for a gift. >> yeah, i'll put that on the list and then i'll be hearing laughter from now until the holiday season. thank you very much. up next, a delayed vacation. how a stranded tourist finally got to fulfill his dream to sima chu picchu. this is hal. this is hal's heart. it's been broken. and put back together.

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in the air, slicing, over is margot fighting the sun. margot, oh, and he crashes over the wall and he's got the ball in his glove. >> an incredible catch by tampa bay rays right fielder manuel margot in the american league championship series against the houston astros. in the second inning yesterday margot tracked a fly ball into foul territory before tumbling over the wall. he was shaken up a little bit but stayed in the game. if that wasn't enough, margot also hit a three-run home run in the first inning. the rays won 4-2. they lead the best of seven series 2 games to none. after waiting seven months to tour the ruins of machu picchu because of the

coronavirus, japanese tourist got to fulfill his dream. he bought the ticket in march but he never got to go and was stranded in a nearby town when peru enacted international travel restrictions due to the virus. on saturday the government approved his special request and allowed him in for a private tour with the head of the park. the park is supposed to reopen to everyone else next month. and a tropical fruit is turning heads and you can have a piece of it yourself. del monte is selling rare genetically engineered pineap e pineapples that are pink on the inside. it's being sold online. they say the $49 pineapple is juicier and sweeter than a traditional pineapple. so coming up on "cbs this morning," grammy winning singer mary j. blithe tells us about her campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer. t her new campaign to raise

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our top stories this morning. the second day of confirmation hearings for supreme court nominee amy coney barrett will likely turn contentious today. democrats who are opposed to her nomination will grill her on topics including health care. republicans have scheduled an initial committee vote on barrett for thursday. and johnson & johnson is pausing its vaccine trial after a volunteer suffered an unexplained illness. the company is looking into whether the illness is related to the shot. the late stage study is now the second one currently on hold here in the u.s. last month astrazeneca temporarily stopped its trial after a participant was

diagnosed with a neurological condition. so the pandemic has given many americans a new perspective on life, and for some people that has led to them discovering family they never knew. chris martinez reports. >> reporter: fill harrisec knew he was adopted but never looked for his birth family until his son came home with a school project. >> it was a map. your origins where your family comes from. i had to tell him, i'm not sure. that kind of spark'd my interest. then when the covid hit we had so much time to do all of this. >> reporter: the 35-year-old took an ancestry dna test and discovered a connection. >> first thing i discovered was an aunt and mother. my aunt reached out to me immediately. >> reporter: this summer he was able to hug his aunt who lives a couple hours away. he hasn't met his mother but they've spoken by phone. >> reporter: phillip isn't the only one looking for family during the pandemic,

ancestry.com found 37% increase from march to july. jay is founder of birth parent saying the pandemic is causing people to think about their mortality and giving many adoptees a sense of urgency. in the past few months he's seen a big boost. >> our numbers have almost doubled. not quite but almost. pretty amazing. >> reporter: phil met some cousins and discovered a brother who he plans to visit. >> that was a crazy feeling. that was nuts. 35 years of being clueless and all of a sudden in ten seconds here's everything. >> reporter: after never knowing his heritage, phil discovered he's puerto ricoan. he hopes to take a trip there with his new found family. coming up on "cbs this morning," new york governor andrew cuomo talks about the latest coronavirus challenges and his new book "american crisis, leadership lessons from the covid-19 pandemic."

plus in on eye on innovation series, how horseshoe crabs play an important role in the development of coronavirus vaccine and why there's increasing concern about their survival. and grammy winning singer mary j. blige tells us about raising awareness among black women for breast cancer screenings. that's the "cbs morning news" for this tuesday. i'm anne-marie green. have a great day.